,illustration3 ,,captain ,,thomas       
,,savery1 ,the inventor of the steam    
engine - see frontispiece4gif   ,,the   
,,miner',s ,,friend2 ,,or1 ,an ,engine  
,,to ,,raise ,,water ,,by ,,fire1       
,,described4 ,,and ,,of ,,the ,,manner  
,,of ,,fixing ,,it ,,in ,,mines2 ,,with 
,,an ,,account ,,of ,,the ,,several     
,,other ,,uses ,,it ,,is ,,applicable   
,,unto2 ,,and ,,an ,,answer ,,to ,,the  
,,objections ,,made ,,against ,,it4 ,,by
 ,,thomas ,,savery1 ,gent4  ,pigri est  
ingenii contentum esse his1 qu ab aliis 
inventa sunt4                           
,,seneca4  ,,london3 ,,prinetd ,,for ,s4
 ,,crouch1 ,,at ,,the ,,corner ,,of     
,,pope',s ,,head-,,alley ,,in           
,,cornhill4 #agjb4  ,reprinted1 #ahbg4  
,,london3 ,printed by ,w4 ,clowes4      
,stanford-street     ,,to ,,the ,,king4 
,,sir1 ,your ,majesty having been       
graciously pleased to permit an         
experiment before you at ,hampton-court1
 of a small model of my engine described
 in the following treatise1 and at that 

time to show a seeming satisfaction of  
the power and use of it2 and having most
 graciously enabled me1 by your royal   
assent to a patent and act of           
parliament1 to pursue and perfect the   
same4 ,by which your royal              
encouragement1 it being now fully       
completed1 and put in practice in your  
dominions with that repeated success and
 applause1 that it is not to be doubted 
but it will be of universal benefit and 
use to all your ,majesty's subjects4 ,of
 whom1 your ,majesty being the universal
 patron and father1 all arts and        
inventions that may promote their good  
and advantage1 seem to lay a just and   
natural claim to your ,majesty's sacred 
protection4  ,it is upon this           
consideration ,i am encouraged1 with a  
profound respect1 to throw this         
performance of mine1 with the author1 at
 your ,majesty's royal feet1 most humbly
 beseeching your ,majesty1 that1 as it  
had birth in your ,majesty's auspicious 
reign1 you will vouchsafe to perpetuate 

it to future ages by the sanction of    
your royal approbation1 which is the    
utmost ambition of1      ,may it please 
your ,majesty1         ,your ,majesty's 
most humble1 most loyal1         and    
most obedient ,subject1                 
,,thomas ,,savery4     ,,to ,,the       
,,royal ,,society4   ,at the request of 
some of your members1 at the weekly     
meeting1 at ,gresham-college1 ,june the 
#adth1 #afii1 ,i had the honour to work 
a small model of my engine before you1  
and you were pleased to approve of it4  
,since which ,i have met with great     
difficulties and expense1 to instruct   
handicraft artificers to form my engine 
according to my design2 but my workmen1 
after so much experience1 are become    
such masters of the thing1 that they    
oblige themselves to deliver what       
engines they make me exactly tight and  
fit for service1 and as such ,i dare    
warrant them to any body that has       
occasion for them4  ,your kindness in   
countenancing this invention in its     

first appearance in the world1 gives me 
hopes the usefulness of it will make it 
more acceptable to your honourable      
,society1 as they are the most proper   
judges of what advantage it may be to   
mankind4 ,and it would be ungrateful in 
me not to make use of this opportunity  
to return you my most humble and hearty 
thanks for the honour and favour you did
 me in approving my design1 and         
publishing it to the world1#a which     
shall be always acknowledged by         
,your most obliged             and most 
humble ,servant1                        
,,thomas ,,savery4   #a ,philosoph4     
,transact4 ,numb4 #beb4     ,,to ,,the  
,,gentlemen ,,adventurers ,,in ,,the    
,,mines ,,of ,,england4   ,i am very    
sensible a great many among you do as   
yet look on my invention of raising     
water by the impellent force of fire1 a 
useless sort of a project1 that never   
can answer my designs or pretensions2   
and that it is altogether impossible    
that such an engine as this can be      

wrought under ground1 and succeed in the
 raising of water1 and draining your    
mines1 so as to deserve any             
encouragement from you4 ,i am not very  
fond of lying under the scandal of a    
bare projector2 and1 therefore1 present 
you here with a draught of my machine1  
and lay before you the uses of it1 and  
leave it to your consideration whether  
it be worth your while to make use of it
 or no4 ,i can easily give grains of    
allowance for your suspicions1 because  
,i know very well what miscarriages     
there have been by people ignorant of   
what they pretend to4 ,these ,i know    
have been so frequent1 so fair and      
promising at first1 but so short of     
performing what they pretended to1 that 
your prudence and discretion will not   
now suffer you to believe any thing     
without a demonstration1 your appetites 
to new inventions of this nature having 
been balked too often2 yet1 after all1  
,i must beg you not to condemn me1      
before you have read what ,i have to say

 for myself2 and let not the failures of
 others prejudice me1 or be placed to my
 account4 ,i have often lamented the    
want of understanding the true powers of
 nature1 which misfortune has1 of late1 
put some on making such vast engines and
 machines1 both troublesome and         
expensive1 yet of no manner of use1     
inasmuch as the old engines1 used many  
ages past1 far exceeded them2 and ,i    
fear1 whoever1 by the old causes of     
motion1 pretends to improvements within 
this last century1 does betray his      
knowledge and judgment2 for more than an
 hundred years since1 men and horses    
would raise by engines1 then made1 as   
much water as they have ever since done1
 or ,i believe ever will1 or according  
to the law of nature ever can do2 and   
though my thoughts have been long       
employed about water-works1 ,i should   
never have pretended to any invention of
 that kind1 had ,i not happily found out
 this new1 but yet a much stronger and  
cheaper force or cause of motion1 than  

any before made use of4 ,but finding    
this of rarefaction by fire1 the        
consideration of the difficulties the   
miners and colliers labour under by the 
frequent disorders1 cumbersomeness1 and 
in general of water-engines1 encouraged 
me to invent engines to work by this new
 force2 that though ,i was obliged to   
encounter the oddest and almost         
insuperable difficulties1 ,i spared     
neither time1 pains1 nor money1 till ,i 
had absolutely conquered them4 ,i hope  
this will1 at least1 encourage you to   
read over this small treatise ,i now put
 into your hands1 for the further and   
more particular information of the      
nature and uses of this engine for      
raising water by the force of fire2     
after which1 ,i shall patiently submit  
to any judgment you shall please to pass
 upon me or the invention1 and may have 
reason to believe you will not any      
longer suffer your judgments to be      
imposed on by those1 whose profit and   
interest it may seem to be to condemn   

both right and wrong2 ,i mean such who  
make your common gins1 and their friends
 and acquaintance among you2 though ,i  
am very sure the promotion of the use of
 this engine is their true interest1 as 
,i very plainly prove thus3--  ,the     
cheaper water is drawn1 the more is the 
miner encouraged to adventure2 the more 
the miner adventures1 the more pits or  
shafts must be sunk2 the more shafts or 
pits are sunk1 the more wood-work will  
be necessarily employed in timbering    
them1 or supporting the sides from      
falling in where the earth is loose2    
besides windlasses and all other        
utensils of wood used in mines1 or the  
trades depending thereon must be more1  
which1 by increasing the carpenters'    
trade in general1 will make them        
sufficient amends for the loss of a     
small part of that branch of their      
trade1 called gin-making4 ,as for       
pump-making1 that part of the trade will
 be much improved by my engine2 for ,i  
must use board and timber for pipes1 and

 have considerable employment for       
pump-makers and carpenters for timber   
used about my engine2 but shall never   
employ any other person in making pipes1
 or any other carpenter's work ,i shall 
have to do1 but the person who was      
before employed in the work1 or such as 
shall be recommended1 as a person       
employed in the mines of the country    
wheresoever ,i shall fix engines1       
provided they will work as cheap1 and   
fairly1 and observe the orders and      
directions given them2 for my design is 
not1 in the least1 to prejudice the     
artificers1 or1 indeed1 any other sort  
of people by this invention2 but1 on the
 contrary1 is intended for the benefit  
and advantage of mankind in general1    
especially the people of my own nation2 
and wherein1 you gentlemen concerned in 
mines1 may1 if you please1 reap the     
greatest profit4  ,and although ,i do   
not question but the plan and draught of
 my engine will be very well and readily
 understood with many gentlemen1 by the 

description here given2 yet it will     
require a longer time in others to      
employ their minds and thoughts more    
intensely about it1 especially such as  
have not been familiar and acquainted   
with things of this kind2 but should the
 engine1 to the apprehension of some1   
seem intricate and difficult to be      
worked1 after all the description ,i    
have given of it in this book1 yet ,i   
can1 and do assure them1 that the       
attending and working the engine is so  
far from being so1 that it is familiar  
and easy to be learned by those of the  
meanest capacity1 in a very little time2
 insomuch1 that ,i have boys of thirteen
 or fourteen years of age1 who now      
attend and work it to perfection1 and   
were taught to do it in a few days2 and 
,i have known some learn to work the    
engine in half an hour4 ,we have a      
proverb1 that interest never lies2 and  
,i am assured that you gentlemen of the 
mines and collieries1 when you have once
 made this engine familiar in your      

works1 and to yourselves and servants2  
not only the profit1 but abundance of   
other advantages and conveniences which 
you will find to attend your works in   
the use thereof1 will create in you a   
favourable opinion of the labours of    
,your real ,friend and humble ,servant1 
,,thomas ,,savery4    ,london1 ,sept4   
#bb1 #agja4     ,a ,,description ,,of   
,,the ,,draught ,,of ,,the ,,engine1    
,,for ,,raising ,,water ,,by ,,fire4    
a1 a1 ,the furnaces4   b1 ,b1 the two   
fire-places4   c1 the funnel or chimney4
   d1 the small boiler4   e1 the pipe   
and cock of it4   f1 the screw that     
covers and confines its force4   g1 a   
small cock1 a pipe going within eight   
inches of its bottom4   h1 ,a larger    
pipe going the same depth4   i1 a clack 
on the top of the said pipe4   k1 a pipe
 going from the box of the said clack or
 valve1 into the great boiler1 about an 
inch into it4   l1 the great boiler4    
m1 the screw with the regulator4   n1 a 
small cock and pipe going half way down 

the great boiler4   o1 ,o1 steam-pipes1 
one end of each screw to the regulator1 
and the other ends to the receivers4    
p1 ,p1 the vessels called receivers4    
q1 q1 the screws which bring on the     
pipes and clacks in the front of the    
engine4   r1 r1 ,r1 ,r1 valves or clack 
of brass1 with screws to open and come  
at them upon occasion4   s1 the         
force-pipe4   t1 the sucking-pipe4   v1 
a square frame of wood1 with holes round
 its bottom in the water4   x1 a cistern
 with a buoy-cock coming from the       
force-pipe4   y1 a cock and pipe coming 
from the bottom of the said cistern4    
z1 the handle of the regulator4         
,,chapter ,,first4 ,,manner ,,of        
,,working ,,the ,,engine4  99 99 99 99  
99  ,,the ,,manner ,,of ,,working ,,the 
,,engine4   ,the first thing is to fix  
the engine in a good double furnace1 so 
contrived that the flame of your fire   
may circulate round and encompass your  
two boilers to the best advantage1 as   
you do coppers for brewing4 ,before you 

make any fire1 unscrew g and n1 being   
the two small gauge-pipes and cocks     
belonging to the two boilers1 and at the
 holes1 fill l1 the great boiler1       
two-thirds full of water1 and d1 the    
small boiler1 quite full2 then screw in 
the said pipes again as fast and light  
as possible2 then light the fire at b4  
,when the water in l boils1 the handle  
of the regulator1 marked z1 must be     
thrust from you as far as it will go1   
which makes all the steam rising from   
the water in l pass with irresistible   
force through o into p1 pushing out all 
the air before it1 through the clack1 r1
 making a noise as it goes2 and when all
 is gone out1 the bottom of the vessel1 
p1 will be very hot2 then pull the      
handle of the regulator to you1 by which
 means you stop o1 and force your steam 
through o into the p1 until that vessel 
has discharged its air through the      
clack1 r1 up the force-pipe4 ,in the    
mean time1 by the steam's condensing in 
the vessel p1 a vacuum or emptiness is  

created1 so that the water must1 and    
will1 necessarily1 raise up1 through t1 
the sucking-pipe1 lifting up the clack1 
r1 and filling the vessel1 p4  ,in the  
mean time1 the vessel1 p1 being emptied 
of its air1 turn the handle of the      
regulator from you again1 and the force 
is upon the surface of the water in p1  
which surface being only heated by the  
steam1 it does not condense it1 but the 
steam gravitates or presses with an     
elastic quality like air2 still         
increasing its elasticity or spring1    
till it counterpoises1 or rather exceeds
 the weight of the water ascending in s1
 the forcing-pipe1 out of which1 the    
water in p will be immediately          
discharged when once gotten to the top1 
which takes up some time to recover that
 power2 which having once got1 and being
 in work1 it is easy for any one that   
never saw the engine1 after half an     
hour's experience1 to keep a constant   
stream running out the full bore of the 
pipe1 s2 for1 on the outside of the     

vessel1 p1 you may see how the water    
goes out1 as well as if the vessel were 
transparent2 for1 as far as the steam   
continues within the vessel1 so far is  
the vessel dry without1 and so very hot1
 as scarce to endure the least touch of 
the hand2 but as far as the water is1   
the said vessel will be cold and wet1   
where any water has fallen on it2 which 
cold and moisture vanishes as fast as   
the steam1 in its descent1 takes place  
of the water2 but if you force all the  
water out1 the steam1 or a small part   
thereof1 going through r1 will rattle   
the clack1 so as to give sufficient     
notice to pall the handle of the        
regulator to you1 which1 at the same    
time1 begins to force out the water from
 p1 without the least alteration of the 
stream2 only1 sometimes1 the stream of  
water will be somewhat stronger than    
before1 if you pull the handle of the   
regulator before any considerable       
quantity of steam be gone up the clack1 
r2 but it is much better to let none of 

the steam go off1 for that is but losing
 so much strength1 and is easily        
prevented1 by polling the regulator some
 little time before the vessel forcing  
is quite emptied4 ,this being done1     
immediately turn the cock or pipe of the
 cistern1 x1 on p1 so that the water    
proceeding from x1 through y1 which is  
never open but when turned on p1 or ,p2 
but when between them1 is tight and     
stanch2 ,i say1 the water1 falling on p1
 causes1 by its coolness1 the steam1    
which had such great force just before  
to its elastic power1 to condense1 and  
become a vacuum or empty apace1 so that 
the vessel1 p1 is1 by the external      
pressure of the atmosphere1 or what is  
vulgarly called suction1 immediately    
refilled1 while p is emptying2 which    
being done1 you push the handle of the  
regulator from you1 and throw the force 
on p1 pulling the condensing pipe over  
p1 causing the steam in that vessel to  
condense1 so that it fills1 while the   
other empties4 ,the labour of turning   

these two parts of the engine1 viz4 the 
regulator and water-cock1 and attending 
the fire1 being no more than what a     
boy's strength can perform for a day    
together1 and is as easily learned as   
their driving of a horse in a tub-gin2  
yet1 after all1 ,i would have men1 and  
those1 too1 the most apprehensive1      
employed in working of the engine1      
supposing them more careful than boys4  
,the difference of this charge is not to
 be mentioned or accounted of1 when we  
consider the vast profit which those who
 use the engine will reap by it4  ,the  
ingenious reader will1 probably1 here   
object1 that the steam being the cause  
of this motion and force1 and that steam
 is but water rarefied1 the boiler1 l1  
must in some certain time be emptied1 so
 as the work of the engine must stop to 
replenish the boiler1 or endanger the   
burning out or melting the bottom of the
 boiler4  ,to answer which1 please to   
observe the use of the small boiler1 d1 
when it is thought fit by the person    

tending the engine to replenish the     
great boiler1 which requires an hour and
 a half1 or two hours' time to the      
sinking one foot of water2 then1 ,i say1
 by turning the cock of the small       
boiler1 e1 you cut off all communication
 between s1 the great force-pipe1 and d1
 the small boiler1 by which means d     
grows immediately hot1 by throwing a    
little fire into b1 and the water of    
which boils1 and in a very little time  
it gains more strength than the great   
boiler2 for the force of the great      
boiler being perpetually spending and   
going out1 and the other winding up1 or 
increasing1 it is not long before the   
force in d exceeds that in l1 so that   
the water in d being depressed in d by  
its own steam or vapour1 must           
necessarily rise through the pipe1 h1   
opening the clack1 i1 and so go through 
the pipe1 k1 into l1 running till the   
surface of the water in d is equal to   
the bottom of the pit1 h2 then steam and
 water going together1 will1 by a noise 

in the clack1 i1 give sufficient        
assurance that d has discharged and     
emptied itself into l1 to within eight  
inches of the bottom2 and inasmuch as1  
from the top of d to the bottom of its  
pipe1 h1 is contained about as much     
water as will replenish l1 one foot1 so 
you may be certain l is replenished one 
foot of course2 then you open the cock1 
i1 and refill d immediately2 so that    
here is a constant motion without fear  
or danger of disorder1 or decay1 if you 
would1 at any time1 know if the great   
boiler1 l1 be more than half exhausted1 
turn the small cock1 n1 whose pipe will 
deliver water1 if the water be above the
 level of its bottom1 which is half way 
down the boiler2 if not1 it will deliver
 steam4 ,so1 likewise1 will g show you  
if you have more or less than eight     
inches of water in d1 by which means    
nothing but a stupid and wilful neglect1
 or mischievous design1 carried on for  
some hours1 can any ways hurt the       
engine2 and if a master is suspicious of

 the design of a servant to do mischief1
 it is easily discovered by those       
gauge-pipes2 for if he come when the    
engine is at work1 and find the surface1
 c1 of the water in l1 below the bottom 
of the gauge-pipe1 n1 or the water in d 
below the bottom of g1 such a servant   
deserves correction1 though three hours 
after that1 the working on would not    
damage or exhaust the boilers2 as that1 
in a word1 the clacks being in all      
water-works always found the better the 
longer they are used1 and all the moving
 parts of our engine being of like      
nature1 the furnace being made of       
,stourbridge1 or ,windsor brick1 or     
fire-stone1 ,i do not see it possible   
for the engine to decay in many years2  
for the clacks1 boxes1 and mitre-pipe1  
regulator1 and cocks1 are all of brass2 
and the vessels made of the best        
hammered copper1 of sufficient thickness
 to sustain the force of the working the
 engine4 ,in short1 the engine is so    
naturally adapted to perform what is    

required1 that even those of the most   
ordinary and meanest capacity may work  
it for some years without any injury1 if
 not hired or employed by some base     
person on purpose to destroy it2 for    
after the engine is once fixed1 and at  
work1 ,i may modestly affirm that the   
adventurer1 or supervisor of the mine1  
will be freed from that perpetual       
charge1 expense1 and trouble of repairs1
 which all other engines ever yet       
employed in mines for the raising of    
water1 are continually liable unto4     
,,chapter ,,second4 ,,of ,,the ,,uses   
,,that ,,this ,,engine ,,may ,,be       
,,applied ,,unto4  99 99 99 99 99  ,,of 
,,the ,,uses ,,that ,,this ,,engine     
,,may ,,be ,,applied ,,unto4   ,it may  
be supposed that there are few people   
among us so ignorant1 but must          
necessarily know of what value the falls
 of water are in most places1 as being  
applicable to mills1 which are made     
after various kinds and forms1 according
 to the different genius and abilities  

of the millwright1 for mill-work being  
in a manner infinitely diversified2 and 
had ,i leisure to comment thereon1 and  
give you an account1 not only of the    
vast variety that ,i have seen and heard
 of1 but 7when encouraged7 what may yet 
be brought to work by a steady stream1  
and the rotation or circular motion of a
 water-wheel1 it would swell these      
papers to a much larger volume than was 
at first designed1 and frustrate my     
intended brevity4 ,i only just hint this
 to show what use this engine may be put
 to in working of mills1 especially     
where coals are cheap4  ,i have only    
this to urge1 that water1 in its fall   
from any determinate height1 has simply 
a force answerable and equal to the     
force that raises it4 ,so that an engine
 which will raise as much water as two  
horses working together at one time in  
such a work can do1 and for which there 
must be constantly kept ten or twelve   
horses for doing the same1 then1 ,i say1
 such an engine will do the work or     

labour of ten or twelve horses2 and     
whereas this engine may be made large   
enough to do the work required in       
employing eight1 ten1 fifteen1 or twenty
 horses to be constantly maintained and 
kept for doing such a work1 it will be  
improper to stint or confine its uses   
and operation in respect of water-mills4
  #b4 ,it may be of great use for       
palaces1 for the nobility's or          
gentlemen's houses2 for1 by a cistern on
 the top of a house1 yoy may1 with a    
great deal of ease and little charge1   
throw what quantity of water you have   
occasion for to the top of any house2   
which water1 in its fall1 makes you what
 sorts of fountains you please1 and     
supplies any room in the house1 and it  
is of excellent use in case of fire1 of 
which more hereafter4  #c4 ,nothing can 
be more fit for serving cities and towns
 with water1 except a crank-work by the 
force of a river4 ,in the composing such
 sort of engines1 ,i think no person    
hath excelled the ingenious ,mr4 ,george

 ,sorocold2 but where they are forced to
 use horses1 or any other strength1 ,i  
believe no ingenious person will deny   
this engine to have the preference in   
all respects1 being of more universal   
use than any yet discovered or invented4
  #d4 ,as for draining fens1 marshes1 c4
 ,i suppose ,i need say no more than    
this1 that that force which will raise  
great quantities of water a height of   
above eighty feet1 must necessarily     
deliver a much greater quantity at a    
lesser height2 and that it is much      
cheaper1 and every way easier1          
especially where coals are water-borne1 
to continue the discharge of any        
quantities of water by our engine1 than 
it can be done by any horse-engines     
whatsoever4  #e4 ,i believe it may be   
made very useful to ships1 but ,i dare  
not meddle with that matter1 and leave  
it to the judgment of those who are the 
best judges of maritime affairs4  #f4   
,for draining of mines and coal-pits the
 use of the engine will sufficiently    

recommend itself in raising water so    
easy and cheap2 and ,i do not doubt1 but
 that1 in a few years1 it will be a     
means of making our mining trade1 which 
is no small part of the wealth of this  
kingdom1 double1 if not treble to what  
it now is4 ,and if such vast quantities 
of lead1 tin1 and coals1 are now yearly 
exported1 under the difficulties of such
 an immense charge and pains as the     
miners1 c4 are now at to discharge their
 water1 how much more may be hereafter  
exported1 when the charge will be very  
much lessened by the use of this engine 
every way fitted for the use of mines8  
,for the far greater part of our richest
 mines and coal-pits are liable to two  
grand inconveniences1 and thereby       
rendered useless1 viz4 the irruption and
 excess of subterraneous waters1 as not 
being worth the expense of draining them
 by the great charge of horses1 or hand 
labour4 ,or1 secondly1 fatal damps1 by  
which many are struck blind1 lame1 or   
dead1 in these subterraneous cavities1  

if the mine is wanting of a due         
circulation of air4 ,now1 both these    
inconveniencies are naturally remedied  
by the work of this engine1 of raising  
water by the impellant force of fire4   
,for the water1 be the mine ever so     
deep1 each engine working it sixty1     
seventy1 or eighty feet high1 by        
applying or setting the engines one over
 another1 as shall be showed at large   
hereafter in the following pages1 you   
may1 by a sufficient number of engines1 
keep the bottom of any mine dry2 and    
when once you know how large your feeder
 or spring is1 it is very easy to know  
what sized engine1 or what number of    
engines will do your business4  ,the    
coals used in this engine is of as      
little value as the coals commonly      
burned on the mouths of the coal-pits   
are2 for an engine of a three-inch bore1
 or thereabout1 working the water up    
sixty feet high1 requires a fire-place  
of not above twenty inches deep1 and    
about fourteen or fifteen inches wide1  

which will occasion so small a          
consumption1 that in a coal-pit it is of
 no account1 as we have experienced4    
,and in all parts of ,england1 where    
there are mines1 coals are so cheap1    
that the charge of them is not to be    
mentioned1 when we consider the vast    
quantity of water raised by the         
inconsiderable value of the coals used  
and burnt in so small a furnace4 ,what  
the quantity of coals used for one      
engine in a year is cannot easily be    
ascertained1 because of the different   
nature of the several sorts of coals4   
,as for the cure of damps by this       
engine1 the air perpetually crowding    
into the ash-hole and fire-place1 as it 
is natural for it to do1 and with a most
 impetuous force discharged with the    
smoke at the top of the chimney1 the    
contiguous air is successively following
 it2 so that not only all steams or     
vapours whatsoever1 that may or can     
arise1 must naturally force its way     
through the fire1 and so be discharged  

at the top with the smoke1 but this     
motion of the fire will occasion the    
fresh air to descend from above down all
 the pits1 and every where else in the  
mine1 but down the chimney2 provided you
 have a heading drift1 or passage from  
all the shafts or pits in the work1 to  
that place where the engine stands2     
whether the mouth of the said pit and   
chimney be lower or higher than the     
mouths of any of the rest of the pits or
 shafts in the same work it matters not1
 for here will be a perpetual           
circulation of the air1 and with that   
swiftness as is hardly to be believed4  
,this ,i have tried and know to be true1
 so leave the ingenious miner to his own
 judgment1 whether1 when all the air is 
in a swift motion1 that any stagnation  
of air 7which has always been adjudged  
the cause of damps7 can happen in any   
pit4     ,,chapter ,,third4 ,,the       
,,manner ,,of ,,fixing ,,the ,,engine   
,,for ,,water-,,mills1 ,,palaces1 ,,and 
,,gentlemen',s ,,seats1 ,,and ,,draining

 ,,fens1 ,,and ,,supplying ,,houses     
,,with ,,water ,,in ,,general4  99 99 99
 99 99  ,,the ,,manner ,,of ,,fixing    
,,the ,,engine ,,for ,,water-,,mills1   
,,palaces1 ,,and ,,gentlemen',s ,,seats1
 ,,and ,,draining ,,fens1 ,,and         
,,supplying ,,houses ,,with ,,water ,,in
 ,,general4   #a4 ,for mills4 ,the      
engine must be made and proportioned    
according to the quantity of water      
required to drive the mill you would    
make use of4 ,now suppose you would make
 a mill on a plain place1 where you will
 have only a pond1 and a small spring of
 water no bigger than a quill2 then you 
must build your mill-house thirty-six   
feet high1 in which you may make what   
motions1 and what sort of mills you     
please4 ,by the side of which house     
without1 may be placed your water-wheel 
of thirty-two1 thirty-three1 or         
thirty-four feet diameter4 ,for the     
height of either house or wheel ,i would
 confine no person too exactly1 but ,i  
guess that a convenient height1 and no  

more than what is common enough4 ,under 
the wheel ,i would have a pond1 and on  
the top of the house a cistern of wood  
lined with lead4 ,the engine may be     
fixed in any corner of the mill-house1  
twenty1 twenty-one1 twenty-two feet1 or 
more1 from the level of the pond3 there 
two boilers must be fixed1 as shown you 
in the draught for fixing the engine2   
and round each of them it is convenient 
to have a hoop of iron1 with straps     
coming from them to rest on the         
brick-work1 to support and strengthen   
them4 ,your clacks and pipes in the     
front being supported by wood1 and the  
vessels standing on pedestals of wood1  
it is convenient that the flue1 or      
chimney1 be so contrived as to draw very
 sharp1 and the flue to circulate round 
both the boilers1 so that you may lose  
no part of your strength4  #b4 ,for     
palaces1 or the nobility's or           
gentlemen's houses1 you may fix the     
engine in any remote or out-room1 whose 
floor is not above twenty feet from the 

level of your water1 and you may        
continue your force-pipe to the top of  
your house1 with a convenient cistern to
 hold your water2 into which lay the    
pipes which may convey the water as you 
want it1 either for pleasure or common  
occasions4 ,this way of cisterns on the 
top of your houses or palaces would be  
of singular use in case of fire1 as is  
said before2 for in every staircase a   
pipe may go down the corner1 or behind  
the wainscot1 so as to be no blemish    
even to the finest of staircases4 ,at   
every floor there may be a turn-cock    
with a screw4 ,at the utmost end have   
likewise a small leather pipe1 kept well
 oiled in a cupboard1 or cavity in your 
wall1 which may not be seen1 but on the 
opening some part of the wainscot1 or   
such other contrivance as the ingenious 
builder shall think fit to make use of4 
,this pipe of leather must be long      
enough to reach from the landing-place1 
or stair-head1 in all rooms depending   
thereon4 ,one end of this pipe has a    

screw to fit the cock in the other pipe1
 and at the other end a pipe like the   
nose of a pair of bellows2 so that      
wherever1 though under a bed1 or the    
remotest part of any room in the house1 
the fire breaks out1 or is discovered1  
any servant having screwed the pipe to  
the cock1 stops the nozle with his thumb
 till he comes to the place where the   
fire is1 when1 taking away his thumb1   
he1 by directing the nozle to the fire1 
immediately extinguishes it1 which being
 liable to be instantly used1 ,i think a
 house1 palace1 c4 that has this        
invention1 may be said to be morally out
 of danger of being destroyed1 or so far
 injured as ,whitehall and ,kensington  
have been within a few years4 ,this     
command of water must be allowed to be  
of vast advantage to any house          
whatsoever4 ,where brewing1 washing1 c4 
is used1 the copper standing high may be
 filled as easy as if it stood low1 by  
which means the hot liquor may be       
contrived to go to all your coolers1 and

 other vessels1 either by a syphon1     
stop-cock1 c4 without the hand-labour of
 pumping or bailing with buckets4 ,but  
more conveniencies than we can at       
present foresee will be discovered in   
the use of this engine for palaces1     
houses1 c4  #c4 ,for fens1 and the like1
 it is convenient that these engines be 
made very large2 for at all small       
heights a small quantity of fire will   
deliver prodigious quantities of water4 
,for suppose we force but thirty feet1  
and suck twenty feet1 if the boiler does
 but fill the vessels1 called receivers1
 with steam strong enough to            
counterpoise or exceed the force of the 
atmosphere1 or spring of the common air1
 it will discharge them at so small a   
height as thirty feet force in a very   
little time2 and the steam having very  
little force or spring is immediately   
condensed1 so that it will presently    
suck full in one of the vessels while   
the other is discharged4 ,now1 inasmuch 
as the fire being more or less adds     

nothing to the suction4 ,i think such   
lifts1 being seldom above thirty-six    
feet1 or under six feet1 all the        
directions further needful for fixing   
the engine for this use is1 in all lifts
 under twenty-four feet1 to place your  
engine so as a little above your        
force-clacks may be the place of the    
delivery of your water into a convenient
 trough or lander1 to be carried off at 
the most proper place for its discharge4
 ,if it be any height above twenty-four 
feet1 you have nothing to do but to     
continue the length of your force-pipe  
to the height required4 ,it ought to    
have a shed or covering round it1 and to
 be placed at the lowest place of your  
fen or bog1 as other engines designed   
for that purpose commonly are4  ,as for 
fixing the engine in ships1 when they   
may be thought probably useful1 ,i      
question not but we may find conveniency
 enough for fixing them4  ,in mines and 
coal-pits the manner of fixing the      
engines is this2 your pit being sunk1   

and a sump1 or proper well1 or bottom   
cistern1 made to receive the water      
coming from the several feeders or      
springs4 ,supposing an engine1 carrying 
three and a quarter inch bore1 is to be 
fixed to deliver water about seventy    
feet high1 constant running a full bore2
 in such case you make a small room in  
your shaft or pit1 which1 together with 
your shaft or pit1 is nine feet square  
every way4 ,as for example1 suppose your
 shaft six feet by four1 take three feet
 out of one side1 and five out of       
another perpendicular nine feet1 making 
a small floor or platform of boards over
 that part of the shaft which goes down 
to your sump or bottom cistern1 so you  
have a complete room big enough for your
 engine1 where ten or twelve people may 
stand on occasion4 ,this floor may be   
about eighteen1 nineteen1 or twenty feet
 from the water1 at the lowest you ever 
will draw the water into the sump or    
bottom cistern4 ,if your ground be      
loose1 it is convenient to line this    

room with brick2 if rock1 it may support
 itself4 ,but in this the miner's       
judgment must direct him4 ,that the     
engine will stand best in the side of   
the pit where most is dug away1 you may 
see in the second figure of the engine1 
being fixed in a mine4 ,your pipes1 c4  
must be fixed with cramps of iron1 wood1
 or such materials as are convenient1 to
 the side of the pit or shaft1 so as to 
make it stand as firm as the very shaft 
itself4 ,your furnace must be so        
contrived1 that your flame take a turn  
or two round each of the boilers1 which 
any brick-layer used to furnaces can do2
 it being performed by running a row of 
bricks round them both like a screw or  
worm1 which being contiguous to the wall
 of the furnaces and the boilers1 makes 
it1 as it were1 a worm-funnel round them
 both2 from whence you may continue your
 chimney to the top of your work1 which 
you fasten to the sides of your shafts  
in the corners as you please1 either    
with iron or wood1 or both1 according to

 the nature of the ground4 ,and wherever
 you make a sudden bend or nook near a  
right angle in the chimney1 have a loose
 brick or stone to take out the soot1 if
 any should settle in such place1 which 
in long working it may do4     ,,several
 ,,objections ,,against ,,the ,,working 
,,this ,,engine ,,answered1 ,,in ,a     
,,dialogue ,,between ,a ,,miner ,,and   
,,the ,,author4     ,a ,,dialogue       
,,between ,a ,,miner ,,and ,,the        
,,author4   ,miner4 ,sir1 having been   
some time concerned in the engines now  
used for drawing water out of our mines1
 and hearing so much talk of this       
wonderful invention of yours1 of raising
 water by fire1 ,i was very desirous to 
enter into some discourse with you      
concerning the nature1 use1 and         
application of your engine1 so strangely
 differing from all other engines ever  
yet invented for our works1 and which1  
you positively affirm1 will every way   
tend so much to our advantage in the use
 of them2 and ,i do not doubt of meeting

 with that plainness1 freedom1 and good 
humour1 that your discourse is generally
 accompanied with4 ,and with the same   
freedom resolve me in such questions as 
the general sense of us miners may      
naturally propose to object against the 
use of your engine1 especially such of  
us as are yet ignorant of its use and   
operation1 who are more capable to judge
 of fact1 than of the nature and power  
of that force which raises your water4  
,author4 ,sir1 ,i am extremely obliged  
to you for your freedom1 and shall      
readily embrace all opportunities to    
inform and explain to you the true use  
and nature of my engine2 and1 therefore1
 desire you1 with all imaginable        
freedom1 to proceed and ask what        
questions you please1 either as to your 
own thoughts1 as well as what has been  
suggested to you by others4 ,and you may
 be assured of a plain and candid answer
 to all your objections4  ,miner4 ,then1
 sir1 which way will you go to work with
 your engine to clear an old work full  

of water8  ,author4 ,why1 sir1 to deal  
plainly with you1 if your shafts are1 or
 may be cut straight1 your tub-engines1 
or chain pumps1 may draw forth the      
water4 ,and the charge1 in that respect1
 is not to be accounted for1 because no 
mine would be thrown up or neglected but
 on account of the feeders or springs1  
which being certain1 and constantly to  
be carried off winter and summer1 the   
prospect of being likely to succeed1    
makes your mine worth working or        
emptying within twenty feet of the      
bottom1 if ever they were worth sinking1
 though you work or drain by the common 
way of tubs or chain-pumps4 ,and could  
the constant charge of those engines be 
afforded1 numbers of them will empty and
 keep under any work2 but it is the     
constant charge of carrying off what the
 springs bring in is the chief thing to 
be considered in the business of mines1 
which constant charge is what we lessen 
very much by this engine of mine4       
,miner4 ,what signifies your engine     

then1 sir1 if it be not capable of      
sinking or forking an old mine8         
,author4 ,hold1 my good friend1 a little
 patience2 ,i have dealt plainly and    
impartially with you about the use of   
your old engines3 and for my engine1 it 
will clear an old work1 if full of      
water1 as readily as your tub-gins or   
chain-pumps1 provided the shafts are    
good4 ,the method ,i propose to clear an
 old mine1 if sixty feet deep1 and full 
of water1 the feeders not above two-inch
 bore1 which is done at a very small    
charge after this manner2 viz4 ,i fix my
 engine on the top of the mine1 and only
 suck and deliver a three and a quarter 
inch bore2 as soon as we have sunk the  
water as far as our suction will go1    
which will be some twenty-two1          
twenty-four1 or twenty-six feet deep    
below the surface1 there ,i make a room 
fit to receive another engine1 which ,i 
fix with his force-pipe to go up to the 
top of the pit2 and when ,i have sunk   
about twenty-four or twenty-six feet    

more1 then ,i fix a smaller engine of   
two inches bore1 which1 sucking twenty1 
and forcing forty1 does your work and   
keeps all safe2 or let your small engine
 be kept at work1 while you remove the  
larger engine from the top to the middle
 station1 and then you will have        
occasion for no more than two engines1  
the greatest of which may be removed as 
soon as the smaller is fixed in the     
lowest or proper station4 ,and that you 
may be convinced of my impartiality1 it 
is my opinion1 that in gaining an old   
work1 or sinking a new one1 you use your
 old engines of tub or chain-pumps3 this
 engine of mine being most proper1 when 
you are come fairly to the bottom either
 of the ore or coal2 for then1 if you   
have but one lift1 one station or       
engine-room will be sufficient4 ,and by 
having two sumps or bottom cisterns1    
your water may1 in some measure1 settle 
in one of them in its passage to the    
other4 ,so that the miners working      
tolerably clean1 and suffering as little

 dead or loose coal or ore as is        
possible to mix with the water1 you may 
have the water to draw only a little    
discoloured2 for you know1 as well as   
,i1 that generally the water coming from
 mines or coal-pits1 while they work by 
the gins now in use1 is almost clear    
water4  ,miner4 ,sir1 ,i thank you for  
your candour in relation to the clearing
 of an old work4 ,but supposing that our
 water arises thick and muddy1 which you
 know will sometimes happen1 what shall 
we do with your engine then8  ,author4  
,what you say1 sir1 ,i know to be very  
true1 that sometimes you have thick1    
muddy gravel and nasty water4 ,to       
prevent which from coming into1 or      
offending our pipes1 we have a frame of 
board made full of holes round about the
 bottom of our pipe that receives the   
water1 for sluge or fine dirt it will do
 my engine no injury4 ,indeed1 the      
clearer our water is in our boilers the 
better it is for our work2 but for our  
receivers and their clacks you may clear

 them as you work it from stones1 coal1 
ore1 or any other annoyance1 though hung
 in the very clack2 for by emptying of  
one or both the receivers of their      
water1 you cause the motion1 either of  
suction or force1 immediately to be so  
strong1 as to clear and blow out all    
before it to the top of the pit2        
insomuch1 that ,i have found filings of 
copper1 large bits of metal1            
considerable quantities of coal and     
stone1 delivered and thrown up with     
water out of my engine above sixty feet 
high4 ,however1 clear water is          
preferable before the dirty water in the
 work of mine engine4  ,miner4 ,but1    
dear sir1 if sixty1 seventy1 or eighty  
feet be the determinate height for      
raising of water by your engine1 how    
shall we use your engine in a mine or   
pit that requires water to be raised    
three times eighty feet1 as you know    
some of our works do4  ,author4 ,i      
heartily thank you1 sir1 for this last  
proposal1 because ,i have now an        

opportunity to acquaint you1 that the   
force used in my engine is in a manner  
infinite and unlimited1 and will raise  
your water five hundred or one thousand 
feet high1 were any pit so deep2 and    
that you could find us a way to procure 
strength enough to support such an      
immense weight1 as a pillar of water a  
thousand feet high must certainly       
produce4 ,however1 to give you an       
answer1 ,i must entreat you to give my  
engine as kind entertainment and fair   
quarter as you do to your engines now in
 use3 for1 ,i am sure1 you are not      
ignorant of a custom used in very deep  
mines1 7in several parts of ,england17  
of raising their water by several lifts1
 from cistern to cistern1 to a very     
great height1 although some of their    
lifts may not be above twelve1 sixteen1 
or twenty feet a lift at the most4 ,and 
suppose that your engine now in use at  
twenty feet the lift1 and my engine at  
sixty1 seventy1 or eighty feet1 for at  
any of these lifts we raise a full bore 

of water with much ease1 then one lift  
of my engine at sixty feet answers to   
three lifts of your engines at twenty   
feet1 and also to four of your lifts at 
eighty feet1 c41 which you may please to
 take for a sufficient answer to your   
last objection4 ,i have known1 in       
,cornwall1 a work with three lifts1 of  
about eighteen feet each lift1 and      
carrying a three and a quarter inch     
bore1 that cost forty-two shillings per 
diem1 reckoning twenty-four hours the   
day1 for labour1 besides wear and tear  
of engines2 each pump having four men   
working eight hours1 at fourteenpence a 
man1 and the men obliged to rest at     
least one-third part of that time4      
,miner4 ,you have1 sir1 hitherto given  
me undeniable answers to my former      
objections1 for which ,i thank you2 but 
,i fancy ,i shall puzzle you1 when ,i   
ask you how you will manage your engine 
to draw up our water1 where the shafts  
are not direct1 but turn and wind to and
 fro8  ,author4 ,sir1 this last question

 is so far from being any hardship put  
upon my engine1 that no engine ever yet 
invented was so naturally adapted to    
work in these crooked shafts as mine is2
 for let the windings or turnings of the
 shafts be what they will1 the          
perpendicular weight of water is all    
that my engine has to account for1 and  
is the same as if it made the figure of 
a distiller's worm1 and went through the
 straightest pipe imaginable1 except a  
little inconsiderable friction of the   
water against the side of the pipe that 
is crooked1 more than is in the straight
 pipe1 which is so small a matter1 that 
a very nice judge would hardly be able  
to distinguish whether the crooked or   
straight pipe carried off most water in 
the working4 ,for the flue that carries 
the smoke1 experience sufficiently      
instructs you1 that you may turn and    
wind it any way you please1 and that    
such windings in their drawing most air 
do rather improve than prejudice your   
flue1 as any one experienced in building

 of furnaces can inform you4  ,miner4   
,well1 sir1 ,i find that our crooked    
shafts will not any way incommode your  
engine3 but what think you of           
accommodating your engine to the service
 of the lead mines1 whose shafts are    
many times so narrow1 that it will be   
very difficult to get your engine down8 
,author4 ,i perceive1 sir1 you are yet  
much a stranger to the nature of my     
engine1 which is so furnished with brass
 screws1 and as strong as the very metal
 itself1 that you may take it to pieces1
 and with ease put it together again fit
 to work in a few hours' time2 and so   
contrived1 that where a man can well go 
down1 there ,i can put down my engine in
 several pieces and fix them below1 for 
the greatest boiler belonging to my     
engine is between twenty-four and thirty
 inches diameter1 and may1 if occasion  
require1 be made yet much narrower and  
deeper4 ,and that if it be difficult to 
bring the shaft of the mine to fit my   
engine1 ,i can1 with much ease1 make my 

engine to fit the shaft of any mine4    
,miner4 ,but will not these brass valves
 that you speak of in your engine1      
speedily wear out and stop your work8   
,author4 ,no3 they cannot fail me2      
because experience shows us1 that brass 
valves improve1 rather than grow worse1 
by twenty or thirty years use in any    
force-work1 where constantly worked1 and
 where they rise and fall twenty times  
oftener than my valves will do4  ,miner4
 ,but what think you1 sir1 if you should
 meet with such corrosive water in some 
of our mines1 as will1 in a little time1
 eat through your copper vessels4       
,author4 ,truly1 sir1 this question does
 a little startle me1 because ,i never  
expected to meet any water of such a    
corrosive quality in any mine3 and could
 ,i find out a mine1 whose water abounds
 with such acid particles1 as to destroy
 or injure the copper vessels of my     
engine1 ,i would drain that mine for    
nothing but the water ,i shall take up2 
because the water would be more valuable

 than any ore 7,i believe7 in ,england4 
,and were there even a tenth part of    
aquafortis to nine-tenths of common     
water1 which is impossible to suppose it
 should be1 ,i say1 such a water could  
have no effect on the coppers1 were that
 water to lodge some time in the copper 
vessels1 much less in passing through   
them with that celerity and rapid motion
 that always accompanies it4  ,miner4   
,but1 sir1 will not such a continual    
fire1 as must be kept under your        
boilers1 burn them out in two or three  
months' time1 and spoil the work of your
 engine8  ,author4 ,i can assure you    
they will not decay in some years1      
unless some fellow be hired or employed 
on purpose to do it4 ,and should any    
villain be employed to burn1 break1 or  
destroy any of the engines now used in  
your works for raising of water1 we are 
then on the same level with you in that 
point4 ,but ,i will give you one reason 
why my engines will not easily decay1   
and ,i am sure that will go further with

 you than all the affirmation ,i can    
make4 ,for1 first of all1 although a    
white heat will melt copper1 and a red  
heat1 and sudden cooling it again1 will 
scale the copper1 yet such a heat as is 
possible for it to have or suffer while 
water is in the boiler can have no ill  
effect1 or cause any alteration in our  
copper4 ,a friend of mine has coppers   
used in sugar boiling of twenty years'  
standing4 ,they may be a small matter   
worn with cleaning on the inside1       
whereas on the outside there does not   
appear the least visible decay3 for as  
soon as the fire has thrown a thin coat 
of soot on the outside of the boiler1   
the flame has no other effect on it than
 to cause the water in it to boil4      
,miner4 ,but we have often combustible  
vapours in our mines1 which taking fire 
from the candles used there1 do1 by a   
sudden explosion1 destroy both the mine 
and the miner2 and therefore ,i am      
afraid that the fire used in your engine
 will be very dangerous1 and apt to     

kindle those combustibles more than our 
candles4  ,author4 ,to answer this      
objection1 ,i will desire leave to give 
you my notion of those combustibles1    
which1 in short1 is this3 that when your
 miners come into a close place1 where  
there is no circulation of air to carry 
off the effluvia1 or atoms constantly   
rising like fine dust in a powder-mill1 
they by knocking and working do increase
 to be very numerous1 like to those     
loose particles in a powder-mill4 ,but  
it is the work of some time for those   
vapours to come to perfection2 for ,i   
have heard several experienced miners   
say1 that it is common to avoid the     
danger of those vapours1 by retiring as 
soon as they see the flame of their     
candles burn longer than ordinary1 which
 may be1 discerned sometimes long before
 the air is thick enough of this        
combustible matter to take fire at once1
 and1 like gunpowder1 to destroy all4 ,i
 did hear one say1 that from an inch and
 a half1 once the flame of his candle   

did gradually increase to two feet long1
 and yet he escaped4 ,which makes it    
very plain1 that stagnation of air is   
the sole cause of this inconvenience in 
mines1 which may be totally prevented by
 a pipe going from the ash-pit of our   
furnace to any part of the mine liable  
to stagnation4 ,for the air will press  
with great violence through the pipe    
into the fire1 before the combustible   
matter can be ready to do any hurt1 and 
passing through the fire1 make way for  
fresh air to descend in the room of it4 
,so that our fire1 instead of blowing up
 of your works1 is the best means that  
can be used to prevent so fatal an      
accident2 and will likewise carry off   
all unwholesome vapours1 damps1 or      
steams1 which may proceed from          
corruption of air1 by stagnations or    
vapours arising from any poisonous earth
 or mineral4  ,miner4 ,this notion of   
yours carries reason and demonstration  
along with it1 which pleases me         
wonderfully4 ,but1 sir1 is not your     

price too great for these engines of    
yours8  ,author4 ,by what ,i shall offer
 to you1 as to my price1 ,i am sure to  
have you a friend to me and my engine   
for ever4 ,for ,i must tell you1 that ,i
 would never have sent my engine into   
the world1 if it would not raise your   
water with more ease and conveniency to 
you and your servants1 and also much    
cheaper than any other engine ever used 
in your works1 without which ,i could   
never propose any advantage to myself by
 it4 ,and to convince you of the truth  
of my assertion1 ,i dare undertake the  
engine shall raise you as much water for
 eightpence1 as will cost you a shilling
 to raise the like with your old engines
 in coal-pits4 ,by this one article the 
miner will save one-third part of his   
former charge1 which is thirty-three    
pounds six shillings and eightpence     
saved out of every hundred pounds4 ,a   
brave estate gained in one year out of  
such great works1 where three1 six1 or  
it may be eight thousand pounds per     

annum is expended for clearing their    
mines of water only1 besides the charge 
and repair of gins1 engines1 horses1 c4 
,i hope you will not now account my     
engines dear under such conditions as ,i
 now offer2 but if ,i should1 with you1 
suppose my engine proportionably dear1  
or as dear as the engines you now use   
for drawing up your water1 which is     
impossible1 my engine will be preferable
 before yours in many respects1         
insomuch1 as mine prevents your damps1  
and the evil effect of them3 and as it  
will be my interest to allow those that 
first set my engine at work considerable
 advantages1 so ,i hope ,i may assure   
myself of due encouragement from the    
ingenious1 who are ever studious to     
promote all inventions useful and       
beneficial to the public2 for they must 
conclude1 that an engine which for some 
time has daily employed the best        
artificers to work on it1 was not to be 
brought forth in one day3 and to bring  
it to that perfection you now find it1  

must have cost me and my friends not a  
little money to make the workmen capable
 of their work with that certainty and  
exactness they now do4 ,and for working 
the engine any person may have his      
servant taught it1 it being to be learnt
 in a very short time by one of an      
ordinary capacity4  ,miner4 ,but there  
are people who pretend to do great      
things in the improvement of engines to 
work by hand or horses1 the hope and    
expectation of which has hindered some  
of us in our work and tired others1 so  
as to make them out of love with all    
engines1 and almost with the trade of   
mining4 ,and though ,i wish the         
contrary1 ,i fear this may prove some   
hinderance to the promoting your        
interest4  ,author4 ,true1 sir1 ,i own  
that time out of mind there have been   
mountebanks and impostors in all        
faculties who pretend to great things1  
but do perform nothing effectually4 ,and
 it would be hard if that should be     
drawn into consequence1 that because    

some are knaves1 therefore none are     
honest4 ,i know the notions of the      
perpetual motion1 or self-moving engine1
 and many such like whims are pretended 
to by designing men1 and believed by    
ignorant ones3 but the judicious man1   
who considers the laws of motion1 knows 
it is an infallible rule1 that          
whatsoever matter is to be removed      
upward1 must have a force superior to   
the weight to be lifted up1 if its      
motion be required as swift as the      
motion of the moving cause2 if slower1  
proportionably less strength will do2 if
 swifter1 then the moving cause1 as     
men's hands1 horses1 or dead weight1    
then must the strength of the moving    
cause be increased proportionably1 or no
 motion can be produced4 ,and the       
experience of ages shows us this to be a
 most sure rule1 allowing for friction1 
which is larger1 the more wheels or     
parts an engine consisteth of2 and1 of  
consequence1 the fewer parts or wheels  
an engine consisteth of the easier it   

works2 so that by barely looking on a   
pump1 if it has more parts or wheels    
than the common crank-work1 you may     
conclude it worse2 if a chain-work or   
tub-work the same4 ,so that all that can
 be expected is1 to make those go easier
 than they are now made to go by        
ingenious workmen expert in making them4
 ,and if you try how small a matter will
 move those engines when not loaded with
 water1 you will find the friction so   
small as not worth any mending1 could it
 be done1 especially the tub-gin1 whose 
friction increases the least in being   
loaded of any2 but the others are vastly
 increased by the leathers of their     
suckers being forced broader1 and       
rubbing with much greater force against 
the barrel they work in1 according to   
the height the pipes are raised4  ,and  
,i hope1 when it is considered how far  
this engine of mine differs from the    
bare pretensions of ignorant or         
designing men1 and that any persons may 
see what my engine will perform before  

they contract for it1 there will be     
found no ground for the least suspicion 
in any person concerned to employ them  
in mines2 but1 to the contrary1 afford  
us a generous encouragement in a        
business so conducive to the increasing 
the mining trade1 and thereby enrich    
themselves and the nation1 and increase 
the king's revenue4  ,i could heartily  
wish all miners1 for their own as well  
as their country's interest1 were good  
mechanics1 and truly understood the     
nature1 use1 and application of all     
kinds of engines2 for1 ,i am sure1 those
 that do will be my best friends1       
without expecting that horses1 or men1  
or any other strength1 can or will do   
more than what nature and the laws of   
motion has allowed them4                
,illustration3 ,figure ,i   - see       
figure#a4;gif ,illustration3 ,figure    
,,ii  - see figure#b4;gif ,illustration3
 ,figure ,,iii - see figure#c4;gif      
,illustration3 ,figure ,,iv  - see      
figure#d4;gif     ,transcriber's note3