226 On the Priiiciplcs of Pump-Uork, 



sitruction is necessarily too clumsy and coarse to admit of 

 any benelit from such nice applications. 



I take no notice here of the small power (or purchase, as 

 it is called) that the manner of working this pump allows of; 

 nor the 2;real disadvantage of applying the power in a circu- 

 lar motion ; with many other things that one would think no 

 judicious mechanic could ever appear an advocate for. And 

 therefore it must be presumed the chain-pump could never 

 have continued so long in uoc, but because other pumps, not 

 subject to the same imperfections and inconveniencies, have 

 not, as yet, been offered, though many have been contrived 

 and proposed in lieu thereof. 



The ill success of others, however, has not deterred me 

 from speculations of this kind. I thought, if pumps cou'd 

 not be made without friction and loss of water or time in 

 working theui, it should seem as if nature itself had been in 

 this case wanting in its usual perfection. But as no such 

 thouoht could be admitted, it was clear to me that the most 

 perfect method of constructing pumps had not yet been 

 made public. As 1 knew it was a matter of the last conse- 

 quence, I applied myself to consider which way water miaht 

 be raised without friction or loss of time; and with little 

 reflection, it appeared that nothing was wanting but a right 

 application of the several parts concerned in the structure of 

 a pump, to make it answer all the purposes which could be 

 expected from the principles of hydrostatics, hydraulic?, 

 and mechanics, all united together. 



That the public may have no doubt of this, I have for 

 their satisfaction given a summary of a\\ those principles (as 

 far as pump-work requires), and illustrated the same in a 

 variety of copper-plate figures : every position or principle 

 here advanced the reader may find demonstrated in my Phi- 

 losopliia Bntunnka, and Phy sko- Mathematical Instit7ites. 

 These principles I have here put together in one view, as I 

 know of nothing more wanting in our language, to assist 

 the mind in forming a right judgment of the nature and due 

 construction of a pump. And I must lurthcr observe to 

 the reader, that whoever may think fit to criticize upon the 

 pump here offered to the public, unless he is known to un- 

 derstand these principles, his judgment, objections, , or cen" 

 sure, ought to pass for nothing, 



Howes'er, it would, after all, be trifling with the public to 

 talk to them about a pump in theory only. I knew so well 

 the nature of the construction which the theory directed to, 

 that I made no demur about putting it into execution at 



large ; 



