100 FERGUSON'S LECTURES. 



g re& t or small wheels are foremost ; and therefore the 

 great wheels do not help in the least to push on the 

 small wheels in the road. 



Hang the scale to the fore-cord,, and place the fore- 

 wheels (which are the small ones) in two holes, cut 

 three eighth parts of an inch deep into the board ; then 

 put a weight of 32 ounces into the carriage, over the 

 fore-axle, and an equal weight over the hind one : this 

 done, put 44 ounces into the scale, which will be just 

 sufficient to draw out the fore-wheels : but if this weight 

 be taken out of the scale, and one of 16 ounces be put 

 into its place, if the hind-wheels are placed in the holes, 

 the 16 ounce weight will draw them out ; which is little 

 more than a third part of what was necessary to draw 

 out the fore-wheels. This shews, that the larger the 

 wheels are, the less power will draw the carriage, espe- 

 cially on rough ground. 



Put 64 ounces over the axle of the hind-wheels, and 

 32 over the axle of the fore ones, in the carriage ; and 

 place the fore- wheels in the holes : then put 38 ounces 

 into the scale, which will just draw out the fore-wheels ; 

 and when the hind ones come to the hole, they will find 

 but very little resistance, because they sink but a little 

 way into it. 



But shift the weights in the carriage, by putting the 

 32 ounces upon the hind-axle, and the 64 ounces upon 

 the fore one ; and place the fore-wheels in the holes : 

 then, if 76 ounces be put into the scale, it will be found 

 no more than sufficient to draw out these wheels ; which 

 is double- the power required to draw them out, when 

 the lighter part of the load was put upon them : which 

 is a plain demonstration of the absurdity of putting the 

 heaviest part of the load in the fore-part of the wagon. 



Every one knows what an outcry was made by the 

 generality, if not the whole body, of the carriers, against 

 tne broad-wheel act ; and how hard it was to persuade 

 them to comply with it, even though the government 



