188 IMPROVEMENT In THE 
To explain this, let a, b, figure 8, reprefent the tongue, 
c, d, e, the quill, firmly fixed at c, then bent upwards and 
brought through a hole, which is large enough for the 
quill to play freely therein. But the curved part of the 
quill at d, being fo forcibly bent, will in fome inftances 
{pring back (as reprefented in the figure) not keeping clofe 
to the back of the tongue, as it fhould do: And as there 
is no wafte room, the curve d, will be apt to touch the ftring 
behind it, when the ftop is pufhed back, I acknowledge 
that this inconvenience occurs in fome few inftances in the 
inftrument Mr. Broadwood has fent me; but would ob- 
ferve that as it does not a/ways happen, it is a fault in the 
execution and not in the principle. Yet, as it may be dif- 
ficult to guard againft it, I have confidered how this evil 
may be effectually prevented. 
Inftead of punching the {mall hole, in which the quill 
is to be fixed, ftraight through the tongue, let it be punch- 
ed flanting downwards; this will relieve the quill from 
that ftrained pofition which caufes it to {pring back. Ac- 
cording to the firft mode of application the curve formed 
by the quill will be as at a, figure g, in the fecond as at 3. 
I have conftruéted many tongues in this way, and found 
none of them liable to the inconvenience complained of, 
or fhewing any tendency whatever to {pring back; but to 
remove all jealoufy on this head, fhould any remain, it 
will be eafy to drive a {mall wire ftaple againft the bottom 
of the curve behind, which muft effectually retain it clofe 
to the back of the tongue. 
I mention this expedient of the wire ftaple merely with 
a view of removing all doubt; but I do not think it ne- 
ceflary; the objection being perfectly remedied by the 
other method: To prove this, | have cut out the entire 
bloclk. between the two holes, in the manner of a mortife, 
and drove a pin acrofs the upper part of it. I then caufed 
the quill to lie in this flanting mortife, and bending it 
round brought it over the pin; and I found it would re- 
main 
