Clementwasonvariousotheroccasionsinvitedtoundertakeworkrequiringextraskill，whichothermechanicswereunwillingorunabletoexecute。Hewasthusalwaysfullofemployment，neverbeingunderthenecessityofcanvassingforcustomers。Hewasalmostconstantlyinhisworkshop，inwhichhetookgreatpride。Hisdwellingwasovertheofficeintheyard，anditwaswithdifficultyhecouldbeinducedtoleavethepremises。OnoneoccasionMr。BruneloftheGreatWesternRailwaycalleduponhimtoaskifhecouldsupplyhimwithasuperiorsteam-whistleforhislocomotives，thewhistleswhichtheywereusinggivingforthverylittlesound。ClementexaminedthespecimenbroughtbyBrunel，andpronouncedittobe”meretallow-chandler’swork。”Heundertooktosupplyaproperarticle，andafterhisusualfashionheproceededtocontriveamachineortoolfortheexpresspurposeofmakingsteam-whistles。Theyweremadeandsupplied，andwhenmountedonthelocomotivetheeffectwasindeed”screaming。”Theywereheardmilesoff，andBrunel，delighted，orderedahundred。Butwhenthebillcamein，itwasfoundthatthechargemadeforthemwasveryhigh——asmuchas40L。theset。Thecompanydemurredattheprice，——Bruneldeclaringittobesixtimesmorethanthepricetheyhadbeforebeenpaying。”Thatmaybe；”
rejoinedClement，”butminearemorethansixtimesbetter。Youorderedafirst-ratearticle，andyoumustbecontenttopayforit。”
Thematterwasreferredtoanarbitrator，whoawardedthefullsumclaimed。Mr。WeldmentionsasimilarcaseofanorderwhichClementreceivedfromAmericatomakealargescrewofgivendimensions”inthebestpossiblemanner，”andheaccordinglyproceededtomakeonewiththegreatestmathematicalaccuracy。Buthisbillamountedtosomehundredsofpounds，whichcompletelystaggeredtheAmerican，whodidnotcalculateonhavingtopaymorethan20L。attheutmostforthescrew。Thematterwas，however，referredtoarbitrators，whogavetheirdecision，asintheformercase，infavourofthemechanic。*
[footnote……
HistoryoftheRoyalSociety，ii。374。