NEW FIELD GATE. 23 



I did not ever intend to recommend my method as a perfea Mr. B.*s me- 



•'.... , thods have prac- 



«nd infallible geometrical problem applicable to the more^i^-aj m,ijty, 



fublime mathematical fpeculatlons, but as a more ready, and, 



permit me to add, more exa6l way than that in general ufe, 



for the humbler purpofes of common life, fuch as meafuring 



round timber, conduit pipes, engine cylinders, &:c. 



I am, &c. 



J. WHITLEY BOSWELL. 



VI. 



Defcription of an iinproved Gate for Fields, Bj/ Mr. Charles 

 Waistell ''*'• 

 Dear Sir, 



Jl HE various methods ufed in bracing common gates for 

 iields, prove that not one of them is greatly fuperior to ti^e 

 rieft ; for, if it was, that method would have been general!)' 

 adopted. Moft gates are loaded with fuperfluous timber in Imperfections of 

 fome of their parts, and are conftruaed upon fuch bad princi-^""''"""^^^^^ 

 pies, that ihey are frequently broken by their own weight, 

 aided by the concuffion of the head againft the falling-poft ; 

 a«d this, long before any part of the wood has begun to decay. 

 I have for fome time given this fubje^ confiderable attention, 

 being imprelTed with tht idea, that if common gates could be Great faving in 

 conftructed with lefs timber, :ind upon better principles, the^''" "'V ff 

 faving of timber only would be of national importance; for cumberfome, 

 Wse have many millions of gates to uphold in Britain, and 

 their numbers are annually increafing. The refuk of my la- 

 bours has been the plan which accompanies this letter. Gates New plan, 

 made according to it, polTefs great ftrength, are very light, and 

 of eafy and fimple conftru6tion. Although uniformity of ap- 

 pearance be not edential in a common gate, yet is worth having 

 when it can be obtained, as in this gate, without addit4,onal 

 expenfe. 



My gate is made with -fliort, und confeqiiently lefs valuable. Account of the 

 oak or afli timber, than thofeof the coramonefl: conftruftion ; its^"'^°*''^ """ dj 

 flrength is much greater than any other gate made with a like .Jhuih 



; - .. .s;/:a 



* Communicated in a letter to Charles Taylor, Efq. Secretary 

 of the Society of Arts, who returned tlieir thanks for the lame. 



yd. XXII. nm. 



quantity 



