148 Machine for Shoemakers . 
I conceive an officer and six men quite sufficient, The 
use it seems most adapted to is, when a mountain or high 
ground is in front, and it is wished by the commanding 
officer to know what may be on the other side, by dis- 
patching such a number of men intelligence can be at 
once conveyed by changing the front of one or more men 
to express numbers or permanent signals, as agreed on, as 
the boards of a telegraph ; and by the officer placing 
himself on either flank, centre, or rear, the numbers would 
be quadrupled. I know by experience it may be distin- 
guished at a great distance. Should you think this wor- 
thy of notice, it will be a satisfaction to, sir, your obe 
dient servant, 
EL I. B, 
August, 181 1. 
The model consists of little tin casts of six horse sol- 
diers and one officer, see PL IS, Fig. 10. These are 
placed on a slip of wood, and each is moveable on a 
pivot, so that it may be turned into any position. 
No. 53. 
(With a Plate.) 
Account of a Machine for performing the Thread - Work 
in Shoe-making in a standing Posture ; contrived , and 
for many Years constantly used by Thomas Holden, 
Shoemaker , of Fettleworth , near Petworth , Sussex.* 
A very moderate observation of the different processes 
of handicraftsmen will shew how extremely various 
are their habits of manipulating. Every different position 
of standing, sitting, and, perhaps, lying, may be found 
among them ; and in works apparently of the same na- 
* Nicholson, v. 14. p 155.— For which the Society of Arts gave a premium 
of fifteen guineas. See vol. xxii. of their Transactions. One of the machines it 
in their Repository. 
