VARIOUS INVENTIONS. 17 



but as you wished me not to mention anything about your 

 intentions, and not receiving your orders to make a minute 

 inquiry and estimate, I cannot answer your letter so fully as I 

 should wish, fearing that giving a random and imperfect state- 

 ment might be apt to lead you into errors, and also make me 

 look simple. If an engineer were employed to survey and esti- 

 mate after me, every information in my power is at your 

 service ; therefore be pleased to state particularly what informa- 

 tion you wish, and I will attend to the business and answer your 

 questions as early as possible. 



" I have received a letter from Sir John Sinclair requesting 

 correct drawings and statements of the thrashing engine to be 

 forwarded to the President of the Board of Agriculture, which I 

 shall attend to. He also says that he has sent my letter to the 

 Navy Board, in hopes that the experiment of propelling vessels 

 by steam may be tried under its sanction and expense. 



" Perhaps it might be proper to wait the answer of the Navy 

 Board before writing to Mr. Praed about propelling the canal 

 boats. I am very much obliged to you for writing to Captain 

 Gundry, about the Wheal Friendship engine. I expect to 

 have a portable steam-whim and stamps at work at my own ex- 

 pense in a few days, which will prove for itself its utility ; that 

 being the only way to introduce new things. I would be very 

 much obliged to you to say if Mr. Halse is to pay me for my 

 past attendance at St. Ives about the breakwater. Enclosed 

 you have a letter to Sir John Sinclair, unsealed for your inspec- 

 tion, which, if you approve of, please to forward. 



" I remain, Sir, 



" Your very humble servant, 



" KICHARD TREVITHICK." 



Trevithick's skill did not prevent his being reason- 

 ably modest, or cause him to be envious of others; 

 neither did his dear-bought experience, that one's own 

 pocket must pay for making public one's own inven- 

 tions, prevent his again soliciting the assistance of 

 persons of influence, though it- does not seem that 



VOL. II. C 



