49c gineer in the Arsenal, we may rest assured he was clever as a workman, & qualified for his task; but without conduct, tact, & cool judgment, the highest – ability must fail in the long run. A greater contrast could not well be imagined than Tom Bell as a boy and farmer’s hack, than Don Tho-mass (Bell) as principal engineer on board ship or in the Arsenal at Havannah! The boy, with corduroys, – thick, ill-fitting shoes, fustian (or red) waistcoat, & a slatternly jacket made out – of the cast-off togs of some one slightly better off than himself with a red face & – dirty nose, trudging wearily to school, or geese or pigs in stubble fields, “minding” driving horses, living upon poor tea or coffee, eating tough cakes or sad bread, chewing rancid bacon & swallowing broth by the gallon made from mawky beef or mutton, or sheeps’ heads! The man, in – 50d the West Indies, a little swell, with a large number of men at his beck, all of his own choosing, £30 per month clear of all but his living expenses, & everything that mortal man could desire, yet was he not content, & missed tide” in “the feathering his nest, or laying by sufficient for his future necessities! “ballast” Surely, Tom’s was a chance that occurs only once in a lifetime; & glad should we all be, at even the shadow of such a privilege. It is worthy of remark, that both the Gells & Bells were of a sarcastic turn, & partial to tricks of fun or ridicule. As an instance, the following may be recited:-- When living at Norton, there was a custom of holding at the houses of the various members of the “class-meetings,” Methodists. On one occasion, the turn came for the gathering to take place under father’s roof. On the fact being made known, Tom & John became to “curious
49c gineer in the Arsenal, we may rest assured he was clever as a workman, & qualified for his task; but – without conduct, tact, & cool judgment, the highest ability must fail in the long run. A greater contrast could not well be imagined than Tom Bell as a boy and farmer’s hack, than Don Tho-mass (Bell) as principal engineer on board ship or in the Arsenal at Havannah! – The boy, with corduroys, thick, ill-fitting shoes, fustian (or red) waistcoat, & a slatternly jacket – made out of the cast-off togs of some one slightly better off than himself – with a red face & dirty nose, trudging wearily to school, or “minding” geese or pigs in stubble fields, driving horses, living upon poor tea or coffee, eating tough cakes or sad bread, chewing rancid bacon & swallowing broth by the gallon made from mawky beef or mutton, or sheeps’ heads! – The man, in 50d the West Indies, a little swell, with a large number of men at his beck, all of his own choosing, £30 per month clear of all but his living expenses, & everything that mortal man could desire, yet was he not content, & missed “the tide” in feathering his nest, or laying by sufficient “ballast” for his future necessities! Surely, Tom’s was a chance that occurs only once in a lifetime; & glad should we all be, at even the shadow of such a privilege. It is worthy of remark, that both the Gells & Bells were of a sarcastic turn, & partial to tricks of fun or ridicule. As an instance, the following may be recited:-- When living at Norton, there was a custom of holding “class-meetings,” at the houses of the various members of the Methodists. On one occasion, the turn came for the gathering to take place under father’s roof. On the fact being made known, Tom & John became “curious to
Bell_manuscript.docx