"My first essay at making a steam engine was when I was fifteen. I then made a real working; steam-engine, 1 3/4 diame…"

"The characteristic feature of our modern mechanical improvements, is the introduction of self-acting tool machinery. …"

"Our history begins before we are born. We represent the hereditary influences of our race, and our ancestors virtuall…"

"Everything connected with war and warlike exploits is interesting to a boy."

"We may fill our purses, but we pay a heavy price for it in the loss of picturesqueness and beauty."

"Time passed by. I had furnished steam hammers to the principal foundries in England. I had sent them abroad, even to …"

"In all well-conducted concerns the law of "selection of the fittest" sooner or later comes into happy action, when a …"

"The arrangement we greatly preferred was to employ intelligent, well-conducted young lads, the sons of labourers or m…"

"Among the many things that I showed Sir John while at Hammerfield, was a piece of white calico on which I had got pri…"

"The success of the trade unions stimulated technical change, by giving employers and incentive to introduce labour-sa…"