154 MR. WILLIAM FAIllBAIRN : MEMOIR 



I constructed by making tliem bevils^ and placing their 

 axis vertically to get motion from an upright shaft, which 

 produced the same effect as the spur wheels."* 



In addition to his improvements of the mule, Mr. Ken- 

 nedy was also the pioneer in forwarding the interests of 

 the cotton trade, by improvements of the other machines 

 employed in that manufacture. He was one of the first to 

 suggest and carry out improvements in the roving frame, 

 and the differential motion for winding the roving upon 

 the bobbin owes much of its success to his sagacity and 

 skill. Por many years Mr. Kennedy carried on a series 

 of experiments connected with this motion, and although 

 it has been greatly modified in form and construction since 

 his time, it still bears the impress of his mind, and remains 

 the same in principle as when he experimented upon it. 

 This beautiful and ingenious machine is also indebted to 

 the late Mr. Ewart for some useful modifications ; but the 

 perfecting of the differential motion is due to Mr. Henry 

 Houldsworth, of this city, assisted by the late Sir Peter 

 Tairbairn, of Leeds. 



As a proof of Mr. Kennedy's sound judgment on ques- 

 tions relating to mechanical improvement, he was consulted 

 on the subject as to whether the Liverpool and Manchester 

 Railway should be worked by locomotive or stationary 

 engines. He was also appointed Umpire in the competi- 

 tion trials at Rainhill in 1830, and to his honour be it 

 stated that this country and all others are indebted to him 

 for advancing the railway system, by his appreciation of 

 the different qualities of the engines, and his correct and 

 just decision in this case. 



As a spinner Mr. Kennedy was most successful in all 

 his undertakings, and realised a large fortune. He was a 

 most accurate observer, was endowed with a retentive 

 memory, a clear perception, a sound judgment ; and every 



* This was done for Mr. Kennedy by the writer of this memoir in 1823. 



