402 Description of a Lock designed for 



The sluice gates for this lock may be formed in the usual way; 

 but as the old plan is liable to much leakage, and is frequently 

 disordered by obstructions ; as for instance, by ice in frosty 

 weather: the inventor proposes to obviate these imperfections by 

 the following contrivances. 



Fig. 1 is a cast-iron half-circular groove with flanges. This 

 is let flush into the gate-post, and there secured by nails through 

 its flanges, and into the groove is swung a cast-iron spindle by 

 pivots in the centre of each end. To this spindle the gate is se- 

 cured, as represented by the section fig. 4. 



Fig. 2 is a cast-iron cock, which, being set into a brick water- 

 course, is intended to serve the purpose of a sluice. 



Fig. 3 also is a cock for the same purpose, but so formed that 

 it may be united in the centre of a cast-iron cylindrical water- 

 course 



By the introduction of these contrivances, it must be evident 

 that the inconveniences arising from leakage, and obstructions, 

 will be removed in a very material degree ; and were the whole 

 lock and its contrivances well executed, with the introduction 

 of cast-iron water-courses, there is no reason for saying that a 

 lock of this description may not last for a series of years. The 

 cocks are to be turned by levers set into their respective drum- 

 heads, which are fixed breast-high above ground; and as the 

 cocks are situated in the centres of the several water-courses, it 

 is presumed they are not liable to be set fast by frost. 



Signed R. F. C, a candidate for the reward of 100 guineas 

 offered by the Regent's Canal Companv, for the best design of 

 a double or single lock to produce a saving of water, ?inA faci- 

 lity to the passage of vessels. 



This design is accompanied by a sealed letter; and if the above 

 plan is not approved, R. F. C. presumes that it will be returned 

 to him on his applying to Messrs. Edwards and Lyon. 



Dated September 1 -I, 1S12, and addressed to Messrs. Edwards 

 and Lyon, Solicitors to the Regent's Canal Companv, Great 

 Russell-street, Bloomsbury. 



N. B. The foregoing explanation was written on the same 

 sheet of paper which contained the drawing of the lock, to a scale 

 of one-eighlh of an inch to a foot. 



The principle and plan of this lock being now established 

 throughout the line of the Regent's Canal, from Paddington, 

 round the back of London, to Limchouse, in its simplest form; 

 that is, without the several cast-iron contrivances to save leakage 

 and avoid obstructions; induced the inventor to feel that he was 

 entitled to the offered reward of 100 guineas; which gave rise to 

 the following conx^nnndence, whereby it will appear, that with- 

 out 



