"SUCMIKE FORTAKiXflf LA&QE STOSES OUt? OP THE QROUN0,i ^Of 



Mr. Richardson submits its examination to the Society, 

 and I conceive it will be very useful and bencticial m cases 

 of new enclosures of land. I do not think it would answet 

 for soft stones, or safe to use for raising stones in buildings, 

 it being so easily disengaged by any lateral blow. By add» 

 ing wheels to the tackle machine, or having it upon a sledge> 

 a great deal of timeand trouble would be avoided. I pur»» 

 pose to employ this method next summer in making an em» 

 bart-kment against the sea ; the facility it will give in raising 

 and removing large stones will expedite the woi'k grfcatly. 

 If any farther certificates of the performance of this plug be 

 required by the Society, I will with pleasure transmit them 

 to you. I will ansv/er for its extracting any stone not ex* 

 ceeding five tons weight out of the ground, w>ithout any 

 previous moving of the earth ; and it is of importance to 

 preserve large stones entire. 



I am, with respect, dear Sir, 



Your obedient humble Servant, 



J. C. CURWEN. 

 Workington Hall, Feb. 19, 1S08. 



Sir, 

 1 am favoured with your tetter, desiring ftiy opinion of Fai fiver re- 

 the utility of the iron plug invented by Robert Richardson, "i''rk'^on iu 

 of Keswick. That which I use is about six inches long, 

 and one inch and a quarter in diameter ; it requires a hole 

 6f its own size, only two inches deep ; the plug is to b*^ 

 driven in a little short of the bottom, and will raise u stone 

 of six or eight tons, with the assistance of three men, in the 

 course of ten minutes after the hole is prepared ; and I do 

 not hesitate to say, that three men, thus furnished, will 

 clear the ground of large stones in less time, and more ef- 

 le6hially, than twelve men by any other method yet come 

 to my knowledge. The plug should be made of good 

 beaten Iron. The simplicity and cheapness of the whole 

 apparattTs is a great object, as a good plug of the size I use 

 will cost only two shillings and sixpence. I am fully of 

 opiiuon, that by adding more and stronger ro[)esand puUies, 

 't^ioflS'riiight be done by it to an amazing extent. I have 

 !^<'wpcd great advantage in my farm from the aid of the iron 



