[PLATE: THE EARL OF ROSSE.]
Lord Rosse was endowed by nature with a special taste for mechanical
pursuits. Not only had he the qualifications of a scientific
engineer, but he had the manual dexterity which qualified him
personally to carry out many practical arts. Lord Rosse was, in
fact, a skilful mechanic, an experienced founder, and an ingenious
optician. His acquaintances were largely among those who were
interested in mechanical pursuits, and it was his delight to visit
the works or engineering establishments where refined processes in
the arts were being carried on. It has often been stated--and as I
have been told by members of his family, truly stated--that on one
occasion, after he had been shown over some large works in the north
of England, the proprietor bluntly said that he was greatly in want
of a foreman, and would indeed be pleased if his visitor, who had
evinced such extraordinary capacity for mechanical operations, would
accept the post. Lord Rosse produced his card, and gently explained
that he was not exactly the right man, but he appreciated the
compliment, and this led to a pleasant dinner, and was the basis of a
long friendship.
I remember on one occasion hearing Lord Rosse explain how it was that
he came to devote his attention to astronomy.
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