314 CONCERNING THE STEAM ENGINE. 



much time to bring fuch a complication of apparatus to per- 

 fedlion, for which they were criticifed more out of jealoufy 

 than reafon ; however, they brought their engine to perform 

 by hand as well as poffible for that time, much to their honour, 

 as well as to that of a country boy whofe name was Humphry 

 Potter, and who, to give himfelf time to play, contrived 

 tackles to make the engine work itfelf. 



The bringing this engine to perforns as it did, proves that, 

 when nature is ingenious, it finds out the way to come to its 

 ends without the humdrum pedantry of fchools. An iron- 

 monger, a glaiier, and a country boy, brought to perfedtion 

 the lever fire-engine, which all the univerfities and academies 

 of Europe had not the leafl: notion of before thefe ingenious 

 mortals appeared. This difcovery has not been improved 

 but in acceflaries, and by no means as to principles, as 

 thefe are more fimple, and can work with lefs fuel than 

 tliofe fo much vaunted, if care is taken in making them. 



As foon as thefe happy inventions came to light, Beighton, 

 another ingenious man, flept forth and made tables for the 

 ' dimeniions of veff^ls, in proportion to the weight of the 



• atmofphere, which proportions are followed to this day. This 

 has made the world believe that the whole art of fire-ma- 

 chinery is concentered in Newcomen and Cawley*s lever- 

 engine. 

 Defaguljers, In 1718, Do6lor Defaguliers made an amendment (ac- 



1718, and cording to him) on Saverv's engine; but his method was not 



Moura, their ^„'', .r.,,,ri i-i n. 



improvements, followed, as it caufed the death ot the manager ; which mult 



often happen when the dimenfions are in the manner he con- 

 trived them. 



After this engine, Mr. Moura, a Portuguefe gentleman, 

 invented fome geers to make an engine, on Savery's princi- 

 ples, to work itfelf: they were ingenious, but too complicated 

 to be put in pradice. 



The making a fire-engine for York-buildings gave an op- 

 portunity to improve as to the manual part, and to be lefs 

 expenfive. 

 Large cylinders, Experience in making fire-engines has brought Mr. Darby, 

 of Colebrook-dale, to make the cylinders large enough to 

 have a vacuum in them, equal to the weight of 80,000lb. of 

 atmofphere, ten and fifteen times in a minute. This per- 

 fe£lion of workmanftiip has procured to England a great ex- 

 4 portation 



