Nero Publications. 381 



to be the consequence. Great exertions were accordingly made by several 

 intelligent individuals to remedy this defect, and between the years 1783 and 

 1807, no fewer than twenty-two patents were taken out for improvements in 

 the art, and for machines of various descriptions, — these it is not to our purpose 

 to describe. It may be sufficient to state, that the one invented by Captain 

 Huddart of London, was greatly approved of, and obtained the highest cele- 

 brity. This plan was introduced into Greenock in 1802 by the late firm of 

 Messrs John Laird & Co., but was in some measure superseded a few years 

 after by tlie method now in use, and which, by the aj)plication of the same 

 princi|)le, but of a more simjjle construction, was found to secure the same ob- 

 ject, while, at the same time, it was better adapted for general purposes. 

 For this imjjrovement on Captain Huddart's plan we believe we are indebted 

 to IVfr W. Chapman of Newcastle. The principle by which an increase of 

 strength in the Cordage was effected (amounting to about 30 per cent.), is 

 simply by so constructing the strand of the rope as that every yarn is made to 

 hear its own proportion of the strain. Tliat the apjilication of such a principle 

 should be folhiwed by such a result, must be apparent to every one, and it is 

 by carrying out this same principle to iti full length, as we shall afterwards shew, 

 that we have been enabled to effect an additional increase of strength, and, 

 consequently, of durability to the rope. 



" That a great improvement in rope-making was effected by these gentlemen, 

 there can be no question, but that perfection in the art might be attained, it 

 was stni necessary that the mode of preparing the yams should also be impro- 

 ved. The usual process of hand-sjjinning was considered very defective, as 

 evidently it did not impai't to the yarns that degree of strength which it was 

 thouglit the material was capable of affording. Endeavours were accordingly 

 made to obviate this defect also. Three patents were even taken out for ma- 

 chines, but these were found not to answer expectation ; those constructed 

 by j\Jr Chapman are still used by some houses in England, but as they are 

 very defective, they have never been introduced into general practice. A 

 moment's consideration must be sufficient to convince any person, the least 

 conversant in rope-making, that, if the strength and durability of the rope 

 depend on the pro])er arrangement and equal bearing with each other of the 

 yarns in the strand, so its strength and durability must also depend on 

 the just arrangement, regular twisting, and consequent equal bearing of 

 the fibrous substances which are employed in the composition of the yarns. 

 Indeed, after the improvement above alluded to, this was the only thing re- 

 quisite to complete the scientific construction of cordage ; and by the appli- 

 cation of machinery on a principle somewhat analogous to that which we have 

 already referred to, this desideratum has also been supplied. Mr Lang, who 

 had for many years directed his attention to the subject, and was convinced 

 of its practicability, upon taking the active management of our works, got a 

 set of machines constructed under his own direction, which, on rejieated trial, 

 were found completely to accomplish the object. By this invention, the re- 

 gular spinning of the yarns which had hitherto been prepared in a tedious 

 and clumsy manner by hand-labour, is one object which has been effected ; 

 but this, although in itself important, is one of its least advantages. By the 

 same plan, the hemp, to whatever purpose applied, being drawn over a suc- 

 cession of gills, or small hackles, is dressed in the highest degree ; hence the 

 fibrous substances of the hemp are regularly split and subdivided ; they are 

 also multiplied to such an extent as that their number in a Patent-spun yarn 

 will be found more than double the quantity of those which compose a hand- 

 spun yarn of equal grist ; this, every one will admit, must increase its strength 

 in no inconsiderable degree. Again, while the fibres are thus greatly multi- 

 plied, they are also completely elongated and laid straight, so as to admit of 

 being regularly twisted, and each fibre being stretched its full length and 

 laid parallel to the others in the yarn, they are all made to bear at the same 

 time, and equally, in the strain ; thus every fibre of the hemp is called into 

 action, and contributes its own proportion of strength to the labric : this is 



VOL. XVIII. NO. XXXVI. APRII. 1835. c c 



