308 PETITION TO PATCTJAMENT. 



made in the strain-engine, for which your petitioner has not 

 hitherto been remunerated, and for which he has no prospect 

 of being ever remunerated except through the assistance of 

 your Honourable House. 



" That the duty performed by Messrs. Boulton and Watt's 

 improved steam-engines in 1798, as appears by a statement 

 made by Da vies Gilbert, Esq., and other gentlemen associated 

 for that purpose, averaged only fourteen millions and half 

 (pounds of water lifted 1 foot high by 1 bushel of coals), 

 although a chosen engine of theirs, under the most favourable 

 circumstances, at Herland Mine lifted twenty-seven millions, 1 

 which was the greatest duty ever performed till your petitioner's 

 improvements were adopted, since which the greatest duty 

 has been sixty-seven millions, being more than double the 

 former duty. That prior to the invention of your petitioner's 

 boiler the most striking defect observable in every steam-engine 

 was in the form of the boiler, which in shape resembled a tilted 

 waggon, the fire applied under it, and the whole surrounded 

 with mason-work. That such shaped boilers were incapable of 

 supporting steam of a high pressure, and did not admit so much 

 of the water to the action of the fire as your petitioner's boiler 

 does, and were also in other respects attended with many dis- 

 advantages. 



" That your petitioner, who had been for many years em- 

 ployed in making steam-engines on the principle of Boulton 

 and Watt, and had made considerable improvements in their 

 machinery, directed his attention principally to the invention 

 of a boiler which should be free from these disadvantages ; and 

 after having devoted much of his time and spent nearly all his 

 property in the attainment of this object, he at length succeeded 

 in inventing and perfecting that which has since been generally 

 adopted throughout the kingdom. 



" That your petitioner's invention consists principally in 

 introducing the fire into the midst of the boiler, and in making 

 the boiler of a cylindrical form, which is the form best adapted 

 for sustaining the pressure of high steam. 



"That the following very important advantages are derived 



1 See Mr. Taylor's report on Ilcrlaiul enjLjiiu', vol. ii. p. 118. 



