[220]. Private James Weir was perhaps the most daring sapper in building stages for the observatories. Like the chamois he could climb heights almost inaccessible, and stand or sit at work on ledges, copings, pinnacles, vanes, and pieces of timber, where scarcely any human being would dare to venture without all the accessories and appliances which precaution could command for insuring safety and preventing alarm. At Ely minster, the tower of which is about 200 feet high, and at Norwich cathedral, the spire of which is the most elevated in England, being 327 feet from the ground, he was as agile and self-possessed as in an ordinary workshop. At Norwich spire, a brace broke under him, and he fell a distance of nine feet, but in his descent he caught hold of another brace, and thus saved his life. The accident did not in the least daunt him, for the next moment he was at work again, as cool and as brisk as ever. At Keysoe, in Bedfordshire, the builder who contracted to take down a portion of the spire was about to relinquish his engagement as hopeless, but our adventurous scaffold-builder was lent for the occasion, and the removal was soon accomplished. Weir took up his ladders and fixed them, but before placing the last one, he climbed the spire, unaided by scaffolding or supports, and, to crown his success, took off the vane, and brought it down with him. He achieved a still bolder feat at Swaffham in Norfolk. Upon a projecting joist which he had fixed, the dimensions of which were four inches wide by twelve feet long, he walked steadily forward to its end, at a height of about 120 feet, and with astounding coolness and dexterity performed his hazardous duty. At Thaxted, in Essex, he climbed the outside of the spire by the crockets, and at the giddy altitude of about 210 feet from the ground, sat upon the creaking vane, and whirled himself round upon its grating pivot. This was on the 11th April, 1844. A drawing of the scaffold and stage was given in the ‘Illustrated London News’ of that date. At Danbury, in July, 1844, his services were very distinguished. To take the initiative or first step in any one of these perilous services was always the most important task; but however difficult or dangerous it promised to be, Weir never shrank from its performance. Climbing the inside of the steeple, he reached its topmost sounding aperture, in which he secured a piece of timber. This projected some feet beyond the spire. Upon the end of this joist he stood, and after hauling up a ladder, fixed it upon the projecting timber, and then ascended by the shaking ladder to the top of the spire. There he hauled up the block and tackle, made it fast to the steeple, and descended amid the cheers and wonder of the crowd who witnessed his fearful exploits. The services of this daring man were frequently alluded to with especial particularity by the provincial press, and alike insured the applause of his comrades and the approbation of his officers. He afterwards served on the exploration survey for a railway in North America. In May, 1848, he purchased his discharge, and set himself up in business in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His industry and mechanical ingenuity soon brought him success in his new line of life, and he received the appointment of superintendent to the Water Company in that town, which he fulfilled, at a salary with other emoluments, of about 200l. a-year. On receiving this appointment the company purchased his stock of goods from him for about 700l., and he bids fair, in a few years, to be a wealthy man.
[221]. ‘Army and Ordnance Exp.,’ 1849, p. 503.
[222]. Colonel James, ‘On the figure, dimensions, and mean specific gravity of the Earth,’ read before the Royal Society, May 8, 1856.
[223]. ‘Professional Papers, R.E.,’ N. S., iii., p. xxiii.
[224]. Sergeant Robert Meade is perhaps the most distinguished in this department of duty; for, combining the powers of a ready intellect and keen perception with unsparing assiduity and patience, he has succeeded in unravelling some extraordinary cases. Skelton in Cleveland, Yorkshire, in which had existed a dispute from time immemorial affecting the legal appropriation of nearly 2,000 acres of moor and enclosed lands, was decided, on his exposition, by the officer intrusted with the responsibility; and the boundary between the townships of Ryhill and Camerton, in the same county, was altogether unknown to the authorities of the respective townships till he obtained access to some old documents, which enabled him to mark out the ancient line of boundary. Indeed, it may here be added, that scarcely a single township is perambulated without the non-commissioned officer finding it necessary to rectify some error in the rating of lands and premises, or to draw up a report, detailing the circumstances of some feud between neighbouring parishes, respecting boundaries or parochial apportionments.
[225]. ‘Army and Ordnance Exp.,’ 1849, App. H, p. 1056. This is the last official statement published. It was wished to afford a similar statement, to the latest cardinal date in these records, but the information could not be procured.
[226]. ‘Aide Memoire, R.E.,’ iii., p. 613.
[227]. ‘Companion to the British Almanac,’ 1849, p. 37.
[228]. ‘Hampshire Advertiser,’ January 17, 1852.
[229]. ‘Hampshire Chronicle,’ March 13, 1852.