Award of Medals, ^r., at Kilburn. 
755 
realising with such expenditure a force equal to four horses, and 
thinks it probable that Trevithick meant 19 gallons instead of 9. 
But how the boiler could work for six hours without feed, or 
consume only 1 bushel of coal in 4j hours, which equals only a 
little over 5 lbs. per horse power per hour, appears an incredible 
result with such an engine. To a certain extent Trevithick's 
statement is borne out in a report of three gentlemen called in 
to see the machinery in operation : — 
Cornwall, Feb. 20th, 1812. 
Having been requested to witness and report on the effect of steam applied 
to work a mill for thrashing com at Trewithen, we hereby certify that a fire 
was lighted under the boiler of the engine five minutes after eight o'clock, and 
at twenty-five minutes after nine the thrashing mill began to work, in which 
time one bushel of coal was consumed. That from the time the mill began to 
work to two minutes after two o'clock, being four hours and three-quarters, 
1500 sheaves of barley were thrashed clean, and one bushel of coal more was 
consumed. We think there was sufiScient steam remaining in the boiler to 
have thrashed from .50 to 100 sheaves more barley, and the water was by no 
means exhanste<l. We had the satisfaction to observe that a common labourer 
regulated the thrashing mill, and in a moment of time made it go faster, 
slower, or entirely to cease working ; we approve of the steadiness and the 
velocity with which the machine worked, and in every respect we prefer the 
power of steam as here applied to that of horses. 
(Signed) Mathew Eobeets, Lamellyn. 
Thomas Kaxkiville, Grolden. 
Mathew Doble, Barthlever. 
The writer in the ' Engineer ' suggests, in reference to the 
above, that possibly these gentlemen, as to whose knowledge of 
machinery no evidence appears, may have failed to notice or 
understand the use of the feed-pump which is now attached to 
the engine, and no doubt was then. Be this as it may, this 
great curiosity has been at work till within a very recent 
period, and, barring some repairs to the boiler, is precisely the 
same in form and operation as when first made bv Trevithick 
in 1811. 
In reference to steam cultivating inventions, the exhibition of 
ancient implements was disappointing, as the oldest, viz.. 
Smith's windlass, only dates back to 1856 ; and, with the excep- 
tion of a model of a steam digging machine, on the rotary prin- 
ciple, lent by the Patent Office, we find no illustration of the 
numerous inventions which led up to a practical result. Usher's 
plough, Bethell's rotary digger, Romaine's invention, Boydell's 
Avheels, and the ingenious attempts of a tenant farmer, Mr. 
John Allen Williams — models of all these would have been 
^igbly interesting. The earliest of Fowler's inventions was a 
steam plough engine, shown by Mr. H. Pye, of St. Mary's Hall, 
Rochester, 14-horse power, built by Messrs. Ransomes and Sons, 
and was the first engine in which the steam engine and windlass 
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