202 Notes of Ike Month on [FEB. 



it was made accordingly, in the port of Barcelona, on the 17th of June, 1543. 

 Garay would not uncover his machinery or shew it publicly ; but it was evi- 

 dent that it consisted of a caldron of boiling water, and of two wheels set in 

 motion by that means, and applied externally on each side of the' vessel* The 

 experiment was made on the Trinidad, a ship of 200 tons, laden with corn. 

 The persons commissioned by the Emperor to report on the invention, in 

 general approved of it, and praised, in particular, the readiness with which 

 the vessel tacked about. The treasurer, Ravage, however, who was hostile 

 to the plan, said, that a ship with the proposed machinery might go at the 

 rate of about two leagues in three hours ; that the apparatus was complex 

 and expensive ; and, finally, there was great danger of the boiler bursting. 

 The other commissioners maintained, that a vessel so equipped might go at 

 the rate of a league an hour at the least, and would tack about in half the 

 time required by an ordinary ship. When the exhibition was over, Garay 

 took away the apparatus from the Trinidad. The woodwork was deposited in 

 the arsenal at Barcelona : the rest of the machinery he kept himself. Not- 

 withstanding the objections raised by Ravago, the Emperor affected to favour 

 the project of Garay ; but his attention at the time was engrossed by other 

 matters. He promoted Garay, however; gave him a sum of money, besides 

 paying the expences of the experiment made at Barcelona, and shewed him 

 other favours." 



So much for philosophy in the 16th century ! But how can any body 

 publish such things as possessing the slightest probability ? Can any 

 engineer of the present day believe, that steam was ever so applied three 

 centuries ago ? Or that a vessel of boiling water in those days could 

 have been applied to move a boat, or anything, or do any thing beyond 

 washing a shirt, or scalding the philosopher's fingers ? 



The Local Law Bill, on which we made some observations in our last 

 number, continues to excite a great interest among lawyers. The Lord 

 Chancellor's zeal and experience are on the one side, and the alarms and 

 experience of the practising members of the profession are on the other. 

 No?i nostrum est. But we give a remarkably striking and manly letter 

 from one of the most intelligent individuals of that profession or of any 

 other, which to us seems to set the question in a clear point of view, and 

 which must go a great way to decide the controversy. The letter, it 

 will be seen, was written a short time previously to the Lord Chancellor's 

 appointment to office. 



" To Henry Brougham, Esq., M. P. 



" Dear Sir, I have carefully read and re-read your Local Jurisdiction Bill 

 and abstract, with a view to draw the account of fees by way of schedule, as 

 desired. But I have been unable to do so on a scale of any in the least degree 

 adequate remuneration for any practitioner of liberal education, and desirous 

 of holding a decent situation and honest character in society. 



" Under this aspect, I cannot but consider your measure as calculated to 

 become the greatest civil scourge ever inflicted on this country, by creating an 

 indefinite and universal appetite for litigation, with no other break or interval 

 in the exercise of it than the halcyon month of August. This immediate 

 effect of the act will be industriously promoted and extended with corres- 

 ponding energy by an accession to the profession in increased numbers, of that 

 class of practitioners designated as pettifoggers, whom to discountenance and 

 extinguish has been a primary object with all the best and leading solicitors 

 of the present day. 



"It appears to me utterly inconsistent with the avowed purposes of the 

 Common Law Commission, the repeal of the Law Taxes, the appointment of 

 additional judges, the intended laying open of the Court of Exchequer, and the 



