* * * * *
In the department of Lighthouses, he had experiences265 which, it may be safely said, none of his compeers possessed8, and I think it will be admitted that in his general practice he displayed powers of observation of a high order. Acting9 as he did with Rennie, Telford, Nimmo, and afterwards with Walker, George Rennie, and Cubitt, with all of whom he ever remained in friendly intercourse10, his experience was both large and varied11, and the whole of his practice as an Engineer was distinguished12 by full preliminary investigation13 of his subject—great caution in forming his conclusions—elaborate preparation of his reports and designs, and, as specially14 called forth15 at the Bell Rock Lighthouse, masterly skill, indomitable energy, and unwavering fortitude16 in carrying his designs into execution.
* * * * *
My father was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1815, and soon after joined the Antiquarian and Wernerian Natural History Societies, taking an active part at their meetings and communicating papers to their proceedings17. He was a Fellow of the Geological and Astronomical19 Societies of London, a Member of the Smeatonian Society, and of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
He was also one of the original promoters of the Astronomical Institution, out of which has grown the present establishment of the Royal Observatory20 of Edinburgh, and the following account of the early origin of the Institution was drawn21 up some years before Mr. Stevenson’s death at the request of Professor Piazzi Smyth, the Astronomer-Royal of Scotland:—
266 “There was a young man named Kerr—an optician—in Edinburgh, who, on commencing business, brought about the formation of a Club, somewhat like a Book Club, for procuring22 philosophical23 instruments for the use of its members. These were more particularly optical instruments and theodolites, etc., for surveyors, which were also to have been lent out for hire. I think the subscription24 was a guinea. The meetings were, perhaps, monthly; they were held in the office of Mr. James Ogilvy, Accountant, Parliament Square.
“I attended two, or perhaps three, meetings in the year. The Club was formed before I was invited to become a member. At the first meeting I found present Mr. James Bonar, treasurer25 of the Royal Society; Mr. Christison, mathematician26; Mr. Brown, bookseller, opposite the college; Mr. Ogilvy, and Mr. Kerr.
“After attending one or two meetings of this very modest Society for the advancement27 of science, Mr. Bonar and I had some conversation upon its prospects28, and the difficulties attending such a scheme of procuring philosophical instruments, and systematising the lending out, and keeping in efficient order theodolites, levels, telescopes, etc.; and we concurred29 in opinion that the scheme could not succeed. We deemed it advisable rather to endeavour to get Short’s observatory on the Calton Hill occupied as a ‘Popular Observatory.’ We spoke30 to some of the magistrates31 on this subject, who, on the part of the town, were quite favourable32 to the idea. We also applied33 to Mr. Thomas Allan, then an active member of the Royal Society, and he joined us in a communication to Sir267 George Mackenzie of Coul, who warmly entered into our views; and ultimately we had an interview with Professor Playfair, who, in his mild and placid34 manner, agreed to consider the subject, but felt some difficulty on account of his colleague, the Professor of Practical Astronomy. After a time Professor Playfair undertook to draw up a statement for the public, which he did in his usual elegant and concise35 style. Thus, step by step, we succeeded in obtaining subscribers, and under the countenance37 and support of Playfair, many were found who patronised the proposal of establishing an observatory on the Calton Hill.
“Our idea was that we might look forward to a Popular Observatory which would not interfere38 with the existing Professorship of Astronomy, but have an establishment to which, with our families, we might resort in an evening with the advantage of oral and ocular demonstrations39 in the science of Astronomy, treated after a popular form.
“The present characteristic and beautiful building was then erected40, and with the aid of Government, it was furnished with some of the chief instruments; but much to my regret the establishment has been exclusively limited to the purposes of a scientific observatory, without any provision of a popular description for which it was originally intended.
“Unfortunately there was nothing to keep our constitution alive in the minds of the public—nothing to allure41 additional subscribers to our funds, so as to extend the building, and fit it with a theatre and apparatus42 for popular purposes—no Lecture was established, and, in short, the original object fell dead in the hands of the268 Directors. I thus personally lost my object in this establishment, and in all my uphill journeys and manifold meetings, I had chiefly in view the pleasure of interviews with my excellent friend the late Thomas Henderson, the Professor of Astronomy in the University.”
* * * * *
Passing from what may be regarded as Mr. Stevenson’s public character as an engineer, it is only natural that I should conclude this Memoir by adding a few paragraphs descriptive of his social bearing as a man.
In politics my father was a decided43 conservative, but he never took a prominent part in political or municipal affairs. He was, however, from his earliest days a loyal subject of the king; and, as we find from his Journal, a zealous45 supporter of the Government. He says:—“After my return from the Pentland Skerries in 1794, I enrolled46 myself as a private in the 1st Regiment47 of Edinburgh Volunteers raised as the local Defenders48 of our Firesides against the threatened invasion by the French, and served about five years in the ranks of that corps49. However, when the war became hot, and invasion was fully50 expected, other corps of Volunteers were embodied51, when I was promoted to be a Lieutenant52 in the ‘Princess (Charlotte’s) Royals,’ and afterwards Captain of the Grenadier Company.”
His connection with the volunteers seems to have been of a very agreeable and satisfactory character, proving that such loyal and patriotic53 services were not then and are not now incompatible54 with the most ardent55 pursuit of those studies and duties which are to qualify a269 man for the business of life. On his promotion56 to the Royals he received the following friendly letter from his Colonel, Charles Hope, Lord Advocate, and afterwards Lord President of the Court of Session:—
“24th January 1804.
“Sir,—I always part with any of my friends in the Regiment with great regret, especially such as belonged to the old Blues57. But I cannot object to your leaving me in order to be more extensively useful in another corps. I therefore heartily58 wish you every success in your new undertaking59, and have no doubt that you will prove a valuable acquisition to the discipline of the Spearmen.
Notify to Captain Spens your resignation, that he may send for your arms.—I am, Sir, yours sincerely,
C. Hope,
“Lt.-Col. 1st. R.E.V.
“Mr. Robert Stevenson,
“Capt., Spens’ Company.”
Mr. Stevenson remained several years in his new corps, until he was obliged, on commencing the Bell Rock Lighthouse, to tender his resignation, when he received a letter from Colonel Inglis conveying the request of the Regiment that he should continue as an honorary member of the corps:—
“Edinburgh, 9th April 1807.
“Sir,—My anxious desire to have, if possible, devised means for detaining you among us, must plead my excuse for being so long of replying to your letter; and it is with most sincere regret, that, after the most mature consideration, I am obliged to express my fears that the rules of the Volunteer Corps must deprive us of270 your services, in consequence of your active charge of a work of national importance, rendering60 your absence from Edinburgh unavoidable for years, during the months of drill.
“While I feel myself impelled61, therefore, to accept of your proffered62 resignation, I beg to assure you of my own sense, as well as that of all the other officers, of the loss we sustain, and of our great personal regard.
“And I am directed to entreat63 you will do us the favour of continuing as an honorary member of a corps which has been so much indebted for your zeal44 and exertions65.
“I cannot conclude without returning you my thanks for the obliging sentiment contained in your letter towards myself; and have the honour to be, with much esteem66, sir, your faithful obedient servant,
“William Inglis, L.C.C., L.E.S.
“Captain Stevenson, Etc.”
Many of his personal friends have recorded the pleasant satisfaction with which they continued through life to look back upon the days spent in my father’s company on board the lighthouse tender, while making his annual inspection67 of the lighthouses. On one of these voyages he was accompanied by his friends Patrick Neill, LL.D., the Botanist68; Charles Oliphant, Writer to the Signet; and John Barclay, M.D., the Anatomist; who presented him with a piece of plate in remembrance of “the many happy hours they passed in his company on sea and shore.”
On another occasion in 1814, the Commissioners69 of Northern Lighthouses invited Sir Walter Scott to accompany them on their annual tour. Mr. Lockhart, in his life of Scott, says, “The company were all familiar friends271 of his, William Erskine, then Sheriff of Orkney, Robert Hamilton, Sheriff of Lanarkshire, Adam Duff, Sheriff of Forfarshire, but the real chief of the expedition was the Surveyor Viceroy, the celebrated71 Engineer Stevenson, and Scott anticipated special pleasure in his society.” “I delight,” Scott writes to Morritt, “in these professional men of talent; they always give you some new lights by the peculiarity72 of their habits and studies, so different from the people who are rounded, and smoothed, and ground down for conversation, and who can say all that every other person says, and—nothing more.” I quote a single paragraph from Scott’s diary of this memorable73 voyage, in which he gives an amusing account of the first landing of the Commissioners on the rock on which the celebrated Skerryvore lighthouse has since been erected by Alan Stevenson, who succeeded my father as Engineer, on his retirement74 from the Scottish Lighthouse Board in 1843.
“Having crept upon deck about four in the morning,” says Sir Walter, “I find we are beating to windward off the Isle75 of Tyree, with the determination, on the part of Mr. Stevenson, that his constituents76 should visit a reef of rocks called Skerry Vhor, where he thought it would be essential to have a lighthouse. Loud remonstrances77 on the part of the Commissioners, who one and all declare they will subscribe36 to his opinion, whatever it may be, rather than continue this infernal buffeting78. Quiet perseverance79 on the part of Mr. S., and great kicking, bouncing, and squabbling upon that of the yacht, who seems to like the idea of Skerry Vhor as little as the Commissioners. At length, by dint80 of exertion64, come in sight of this long ridge81 of rocks (chiefly under water), on272 which the tide breaks in a most tremendous style. There appear a few low broad rocks at one end of the reef, which is about a mile in length. These are never entirely82 under water, though the surf dashes over them. To go through all the forms, Hamilton, Duff, and I resolve to land upon these bare rocks in company with Mr. Stevenson. Pull through a very heavy swell83 with great difficulty, and approach a tremendous surf dashing over black, pointed84 rocks. Our rowers, however, get the boat into a quiet creek85 between two rocks, where we contrive86 to land well wetted. I saw nothing remarkable in my way excepting several seals, which we might have shot, but in the doubtful circumstances of the landing, we did not care to bring guns. We took possession of the rock in name of the Commissioners, and generously bestowed87 our own great names on its crags and creeks88. The rock was carefully measured by Mr. S. It will be a most desolate89 position for a lighthouse, the Bell Rock and Eddystone a joke to it, for the nearest land is the wild island of Tyree, at fourteen miles’ distance. So much for the Skerry Vhor.”
In family life Mr. Stevenson was a man of sterling90 worth. As a husband, a father, and a friend, he was remarkably91 distinguished by the absence of selfishness. His exertions in forwarding the progress of young men through life were generous and unwearied; and few men had more solid grounds than he for indulging in the pleasing reflection that, both in his public and private capacity, he had consecrated92 to beneficial ends every talent committed to his trust.
He was a man of sincere and unobtrusive piety93; and although warmly attached to the Established Church of Scotland, of which for nearly forty years he had been an elder, and for many years a member of the General273 Assembly, he had no taint94 of bigotry95 or of party feeling, and he died calmly in that blessed hope and peace which only an indwelling personal belief in the merits of a Redeemer can impart to any son of our race.
* * * * *
At a statutory general meeting of the Board of Northern Lighthouses, which was held on the 13th July 1850, the day after my father’s death, the Commissioners recorded their respect for his talents and virtues96 in the following Minute:—
“The Secretary having intimated, that Mr. Robert Stevenson, the late Engineer to the Board, died yesterday morning,
“The Board, before proceeding18 to business, desire to record, their regret at the death of this zealous, faithful, and able officer, to whom is due the honour of conceiving and executing the great work of the Bell Rock Lighthouse, whose services were gratefully acknowledged on his retirement from active duty, and will be long remembered by the Board, and to express their sympathy with his family on the loss of one who was most estimable and exemplary in all the relations of social and domestic life. The Board direct that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to Mr. Stevenson’s family, and communicated to each Commissioner70, to the different lightkeepers and the other officers of the Board.”
The End
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
sketches
|
|
| n.草图( sketch的名词复数 )；素描；速写；梗概 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
memoir
|
|
| n.[pl.]回忆录，自传；记事录 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
dealing
|
|
| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
perusing
|
|
| v.读（某篇文字）( peruse的现在分词 )；（尤指）细阅；审阅；匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览（某篇文字） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
foresight
|
|
| n.先见之明，深谋远虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
originality
|
|
| n.创造力，独创性；新颖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
remarkable
|
|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
acting
|
|
| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
intercourse
|
|
| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
varied
|
|
| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
distinguished
|
|
| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
investigation
|
|
| n.调查，调查研究 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
specially
|
|
| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
fortitude
|
|
| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
proceedings
|
|
| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
proceeding
|
|
| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
astronomical
|
|
| adj.天文学的，（数字）极大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
observatory
|
|
| n.天文台，气象台，瞭望台，观测台 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
procuring
|
|
| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
philosophical
|
|
| adj.哲学家的，哲学上的，达观的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
subscription
|
|
| n.预订，预订费，亲笔签名，调配法，下标（处方） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
treasurer
|
|
| n.司库，财务主管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
mathematician
|
|
| n.数学家 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
advancement
|
|
| n.前进，促进，提升 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
prospects
|
|
| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
concurred
|
|
| 同意（concur的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
magistrates
|
|
| 地方法官，治安官( magistrate的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
favourable
|
|
| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
applied
|
|
| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
placid
|
|
| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
concise
|
|
| adj.简洁的，简明的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
subscribe
|
|
| vi.(to)订阅，订购；同意；vt.捐助，赞助 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
interfere
|
|
| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
demonstrations
|
|
| 证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
ERECTED
|
|
| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
allure
|
|
| n.诱惑力，魅力；vt.诱惑，引诱，吸引 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
apparatus
|
|
| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
zeal
|
|
| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
zealous
|
|
| adj.狂热的，热心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
enrolled
|
|
| adj.入学登记了的v.[亦作enrol]( enroll的过去式和过去分词 )；登记，招收，使入伍（或入会、入学等），参加，成为成员；记入名册；卷起，包起 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
regiment
|
|
| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
defenders
|
|
| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
corps
|
|
| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
embodied
|
|
| v.表现( embody的过去式和过去分词 )；象征；包括；包含 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
lieutenant
|
|
| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
patriotic
|
|
| adj.爱国的，有爱国心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
incompatible
|
|
| adj.不相容的，不协调的，不相配的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
ardent
|
|
| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
promotion
|
|
| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
blues
|
|
| n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
heartily
|
|
| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
undertaking
|
|
| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
rendering
|
|
| n.表现，描写 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
impelled
|
|
| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
proffered
|
|
| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
entreat
|
|
| v.恳求，恳请 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
exertion
|
|
| n.尽力，努力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
exertions
|
|
| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
esteem
|
|
| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
inspection
|
|
| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
botanist
|
|
| n.植物学家 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
commissioners
|
|
| n.专员( commissioner的名词复数 )；长官；委员；政府部门的长官 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
commissioner
|
|
| n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
celebrated
|
|
| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
peculiarity
|
|
| n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
memorable
|
|
| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
retirement
|
|
| n.退休，退职 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
isle
|
|
| n.小岛，岛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
constituents
|
|
| n.选民( constituent的名词复数 )；成分；构成部分；要素 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
remonstrances
|
|
| n.抱怨，抗议( remonstrance的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
buffeting
|
|
| 振动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
perseverance
|
|
| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
dint
|
|
| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
ridge
|
|
| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
swell
|
|
| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
creek
|
|
| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
contrive
|
|
| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
bestowed
|
|
| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
creeks
|
|
| n.小湾( creek的名词复数 )；小港；小河；小溪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
desolate
|
|
| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
sterling
|
|
| adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
remarkably
|
|
| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
consecrated
|
|
| adj.神圣的，被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 )；奉献 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
piety
|
|
| n.虔诚，虔敬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
taint
|
|
| n.污点；感染；腐坏；v.使感染；污染 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
bigotry
|
|
| n.偏见，偏执，持偏见的行为[态度]等 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
virtues
|
|
| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |