"Well!" said Boulton, at last, "I will enquire at the works, and
see if there is anything we can set you to. Call again, my man."
"Thank you, sir," said Murdock, giving a final twirl to his hat.
Such was the beginning of William Murdock's connection with the
firm of Boulton and Watt. When he called again he was put upon a
trial job, and then, as he was found satisfactory, he was engaged
for two years at 15s. a week when at home, 17s. when in the
country, and 18s. when in London. Boulton's engagement of
Murdock was amply justified by the result. Beginning as an
ordinary mechanic, he applied himself diligently and
conscientiously to his work, and gradually became trusted. More
responsible duties were confided to him, and he strove to perform
them to the best of his power. His industry, skilfulness, and
steady sobriety, soon marked him for promotion, and he rose from
grade to grade until he became Boulton and Watt's most trusted
co-worker and adviser in all their mechanical undertakings of
importance.
Watt himself had little confidence in Scotchmen as mechanics. He
told Sir Waiter Scott that though many of them sought employment
at his works, he could never get any of them to become first-rate
workmen. They might be valuable as clerks and book-keepers, but
they had an insuperable aversion to toiling long at any point of
mechanism, so as to earn the highest wages paid to the
workmen.
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