Royal Arsenal

Here Samuel used to spend all his leisure time, and soon acquired considerable skill in handling tools, for when only thirteen years old he had managed to construct with his own hands a carriage for a young friend and playmate, Miss Cornelia Knight.

At the age of fourteen he exhibited so strong a taste for naval matters that his father yielded to his wishes and bound him apprentice to the master shipwright of Woolwich Dockyard.

At that time the superior officers of a royal dockyard were exempted from keeping their apprentices at hard labour, so that time might be allowed for general instruction.

Samuel, however, soon perceived that practical manipulation was no less essential than theoretical knowledge, and used therefore to work at the dockside till breakfast time and devote the rest of the day to scientific acquirements.

In time Samuel and his master were removed from Woolwich to Chatham Dockyard, by which he was enabled to obtain a practical knowledge of the behaviour of vessels at sea, for he was often permitted to sail in the British Channel and sometimes extended his voyages further.

About this period his brother, Jeremy Bentham, had returned from college and used to instil into him many of the first ideas of political economy.

On these occasions Samuel would take advantage of the Saturday afternoons to walk from Chatham to his brother's chambers in Lincoln's Inn.

In this patent, which he secured in 1801, he also produced sundry improvements in the boilers, as well as modifications in various parts of the engine.

The man's name was Arthur Cadogan West.

He was 27, unmarried, and a clerk at Woolwich Arsenal.

Ah.

Now, do be quiet, Sherlock.

What did the young man do? Where was he employed?

He was a clerk at Woolwich Arsenal.

Ah, government employee.

There we have it, Watson.

British government, Woolwich Arsenal, technical papers.

That's why Mycroft is involved in this affair.

I don't understand.

It was fortunate that we could not foretell the even greater troubles that were still in store for us.

One memorable Friday morning, exactly a fortnight after my call at Wiltshire House, a rumor ran through the town to the effect that Woolwich Arsenal had been destroyed.

Knowing the precautions that were taken at that splendid institution to guard against such a thing, the report was at first discredited.

It was soon found, however, to be only too true.

It had been carefully planned.

But then, so had the disappearance of Waller and the Colonial Secretary.

The destruction of Woolwich Arsenal was a work of devilish ingenuity, while the blowing up of the transport, Sultan of Sedan, at Madeira, was arranged to a nicety.

In the case of the Prime Minister, the servants and members of his household were interrogated, but were all dismissed from the case as being beyond suspicion.

As serious as that.

What did the young man do? Where was he employed? He was a clerk at Woolwich Arsenal.

Ah, government employee.

There we have it, Watson.

British government, Woolwich Arsenal, technical papers.

That's why Mycroft is involved in this affair.

I don't understand.