98 On painting Linen doth in Oil Colours . 
dium of the Society of Arts, &c. I beg leave further to 
relate how I have, for the last three years, saved the la- 
hour of three men out of four in grinding colours with 
the common mills employed for that purpose. One mill 
has ever been considered sufficient for a man to turn, 
whereas one man can now, with perfect ease, turn four 
mills ; this is effected by placing two mills on each side 
of the winch, so close as only to leave room for the fly 
wheel to play between them. The spindles of each on 
either side are locked together by a small iron collar, 
with a pin passing through it. The distance of the mills 
thus paired from each other, in order for the man’s stand- 
ing between them to turn, is two feet six inches. The 
distance of the arms of the winch screwed on the end of 
the spindles on either side, is two feet two inches ; the 
length of the arm is one foot six inches from the spindles 
to the bar across which the man clasps in order to turn. 
Flywheels at the extremity are impediments. Neces- 
sity was truly the mother of invention to me in this case, 
as I had great demand for paint, and I was not allowed 
men sufficient for the work in the common way. 
Persons will scarcely believe, without seeing the ex- 
periment, the ease with which they turn. If a little ex- 
traordinary motion is first given them, and they are then 
left alone, they will continue to go round sixteen times ; 
so that a man with one hand may turn them. I am, &c, 
William Anpersqn* 
Portsea , May 0 , 1807. 
To C, Taylor, M. D. Bee. 
Sir— I have stated to the Admiralty Board the seve- 
ral improvements made by me in paint work; and in con- 
sequence thereof they have desired the principal officers 
of our yard to report iq them on their merits. The offi 
