J 38 



J:* operation. 



; i^t:iace ca- 

 ret 



The plan has 

 been tried. 



OS PREVENTING OR SUPPRESSING FIRES- 



Suppose, for example, this clock be so constructed, that 

 a pin shall be pressed down every quarter of an hour, and 

 the proof of this being done shall rest with the director ©t* 

 the watchmen, in the first instance, simply by looking at 

 the clock every quarter of an hour; it is evident, that the 

 neglect of a watchman cannot exist longer than this space 

 of time, if the director fail not in his duty. This man 

 should himself be watched with the most scrupulous suspi- 

 cion, aud detected in his own failure, in the same manner 

 as he should detect the failure of the watchmen ; that is, 

 by the proof of a clock on the same principle as the above, 

 placed on the outside of the building, and under the abso- 

 lute examination of the police, or any other superintend- 

 mice satisfactory to those most interested. If the director 

 be correct, instant alarm would be led to the section of any 

 watchman whose duty should appear to be neglected; and 

 if the director be incorrect, the alarm would be ulterior, 

 and as active as in the case of positive danger. It may be 

 thought difficult for one man to examine many clocks at 

 the same moment: if it should be found so each clock 

 might be set differently, and every watchman have a clock 

 in his section set by his proper clock in the director's cham- 

 ber. 



Hence, in case of fire, a discovery would not only soon 

 take place, but personal assistance would be on the spot, 

 and, with proper access to water at all times ensured, with 

 the best means of applying it, an increase of the first evil 

 would almost certainly be prevented, until additional as- 

 sistance could be procured : and alarm bells or other sig- 

 nals, by the sound or character of which the particular 

 building might be made known to firemen, could, if neces- 

 sary, be instautly sounded or displayed, and a constant in- 

 flux of proper persons would take place in the .very infancy 

 of danger. 



It is not improbable, that this plan may be thought by- 

 many persons too elaborate and expensive. To such it will 

 be satisfactory to know, that very extensive and valuable 

 buildings in my neighbourhood, the property of some 

 highly ingenious aud respectable gentlemeu (one of whom 

 Ls the inventor of the clock) have been watched for several 



\ ears 



