Roubo reveals a clear passion for leaving the generations after him in good stead regarding their access to the knowledge he has compiled. Clearly he reflects with pleasure the task he has just completed in the below passages from his work.
— Don Williams
… it is to be hoped that perfection results from the care and zeal with which I created these volumes. I am persuaded that if it were perfect, the Public, and especially my young companions, would have nothing to desire in this regard. I can well assure you that I have not spared pain nor expense in creating this work(*), so that nothing could compete with its perfection either in the order and arrangement of materials which are presented here, or regarding the research and experiences that I have been obliged to recount.
(*) The most considerable expense which I have been obliged to incur, and that which has been the most onerous to me, is the loss of my time (at least with regards to my establishment) which has necessarily impacted my well-being, a loss perhaps irreparable, and of which nothing can reimburse me other than the pleasure of having been useful to my co-citizens. To be happier still, if my work and my troubles can be really useful, and if the sacrifice which I made (of which I don’t regret, however) can count for something, and counter-balance is some way the inadvertent mistakes of which my work is surely not exempt!
I have also not taught anything by combining example and precept without making remarks of the advantages and disadvantages, and the different occasions where certain forms of works, or certain ways of operating, should be preferred over others, and of which I have shown the advantage on other occasions. This has sometimes placed me in the position of making critiques, perhaps a bit lively, but when speaking badly of a piece I have always respected the worker, at least that was my intention.
As to the arrangement and division of this work (set of books), I have paid attention to do it so that the woodworkers could access the part necessary to them while remaining independent of others, although all the portions fit together and make a complete body of work they should however acquire for the reasons which I gave above. Finally, after seven years of continuous and assiduous work spent in composing and making the designs of the many plates of my work I enjoyed the sweet satisfaction of seeing it completed….
Can’t wait to read the book….Truly an empassioned craftsman dedicated to honoring his craft.