It has been my lot, during a long and eventful passage through life, to have my attention forcibly drawn to a multitude of Mechanical Subjects; the present review of which permits me to hope, that in making them publicly known, I should render an important service to the Arts and to Society. But the manner of doing this has been so long a question with me, that I have sometimes feared my ability would be extinct before I could do it at all. The reasons, however, that urge me to make the attempt acquire strength with the lapse of time: and whenever my declining health bespeaks the approach of that “night in which no man can work,” I feel deep regret, that this tribute should not have been thrown into the treasury of human knowledge while yet, by the favour of a good Providence, the means of doing it were more fully at my disposal.

I have determined therefore to publish these Inventions. Not because they have been matured into a regular System of Mechanical truth; but because they consist of many distinct objects of immediate application:—coupled with some ideas of a more comprehensive nature, that may probably extend the usefulness of this admirable study, in the hands of Artists yet unborn.

The form, or rather the title of this work, has but one example, that of the illustrious Marquis of Worcester; whose name may, perhaps, prolong the remembrance of mine: an event the rightful anticipation of which, I confess, would give me pleasure. Not that I either covet or regard what is commonly called popular applause: but the approbation of the wise and good I do regard, and aspire to obtain; since that alone seems to fulfil the adage—“Vox populi vox dei.”

On the subject of our respective Inventions, my views are somewhat different from those of the Noble Marquis; whose description of his labours, as the custom then was, seems chiefly calculated to excite the desire of knowing them better: whereas my wish is to infuse, at once, the knowledge of my subjects into every head capable of receiving it.

This Work then, treats less of Theory than Practice. What are called Principles in Mechanics, are, and must be, founded on numerous suppositions; to present which to “the mind’s eye” requires often a forest of signs, which some readers will not, and others can not penetrate; so that, for many, Theory might as well not exist. This evil is increased when, as it sometimes happens, these suppositions are laid so far from reality, as to leave the result, though correctly deduced, further from the truth than the point to which a sound understanding unassisted by science, would have carried it. To this extreme discrepance of views between theoretical and practical men, may be ascribed their well-known antipathy to each other—in indulging which, they are alike to blame! since no theory inconsistent with fact can be complete; nor any fact be adduced, that a perfect theory will not account for and confirm.

Happily these discussions do not affect my present purpose. For although I shall offer nothing contrary to sound theory, I do not consider that as my subject; but make it my business to present rational methods of producing useful effects.—In other words to describe these Inventions as connected with immediate Practice. And if, hereafter, it should become desirable to resume the discussion of any principle relating to these subjects, I shall cheerfully enter upon it; but hasten, mean while, to do what seems more important—to place the subjects themselves beyond the danger of being wholly lost, whatever may befall me in the course of those events which are still among the secrets of Heaven.

In the pursuit of knowledge, in general, it is often desirable to trace it from its upper source; and to know all the circumstances that have attended its progress, down to the very moment when it falls under our observation. Nor is it a matter of indifference to examine the minutest form which talent assumed, in the young mind whose subsequent efforts have engaged our attention, or gratified us with more varied and solid productions. In this view I have presumed to think myself justified in commencing this Work, by a succinct reference to those feeble efforts which marked my first steps in this career. Young I then was, and my musings puerile indeed! But they were original: they were the links of a chain which time has not yet snapt asunder—and of which my honoured Father saw the connection with my subsequent labours, long before I thought, myself, of any thing but working for the purposes of amusement; or, in the childish phraseology, of “playing at work.”

Should any reader then enquire what were my first avocations? the answer would be, I was (in imagination) a Millwright, whose Water-wheels were composed of Matches. Or a Woodman, converting my chairs into Faggots, and presenting them exultingly to my Parents: (who doubtless caressed the workman more cordially than they approved the work.) Or I was a Stone-digger, presuming to direct my friend the Quarry-man, where to bore his Rocks for blasting. Or a Coach-maker, building PhÆtons with vaneer stripped from the furniture, and hanging them on springs of Whalebone, borrowed from the hoops of my Grandmother. At another time, I was a Ship Builder, constructing Boats, the sails of which were set to a side-wind by the vane at the mast head; so as to impel the vessel in a given direction, across a given Puddle, without a steersman. (See Plate 2. Fig. 3.) In fine, I was a Joiner, making, with one tool, a plane of most diminutive size, the [relative] perfection of which obtained me from my Father’s Carpenter a profusion of tools, and dubbed me an artist, wherever his influence extended. By means like these I became a tolerable workman in all the mechanical branches, long before the age at which boys are apprenticed to any: not knowing till afterwards, that my good and provident Parent had engaged all his tradesmen to let me work at their respective trades, whenever the more regular engagements of school permitted.

Before I open the list of my intended descriptions, I would crave permission to exhibit two more of the productions of my earliest thought—namely, an Instrument for taking Rats, and a Mouse Trap: subjects with which, fifty years ago, I was vastly taken; but for the appearance of which, here, I would apologize in form, did I not hope the considerations above adduced would justify this short digression. If more apology were needful.... Emerson himself describes a Rat-trap: and moreover, defies criticism, in a strain I should be sorry to imitate! my chief desire being to instruct at all events, and to please if I can: without, however, daring to attempt the elegant Problem, stated and resolved in the same words—“Omne tulit punctum, qui miscuit utile dulci.”

The town of Cirencester (my native place) is intersected by several branches of the river Churn, whose waters are pure and transparent, and whose banks, formerly, were much perforated by the industry of the Rats that had made them their residence. These holes had generally two openings; one at or near the surface of the ground, and the other near the bottom of the river: so that the rats could range the fields from the former, and dive into the water from the latter—where they were often seen gliding along the bottom, either up or down the stream. The Instrument for taking them in these circumstances, was no other than my Father’s Walking-stick, (represented at A. Fig. 1. Plate 2.) connected with the curve B by the joint C; the curve having a string fastened to it, which, passing through the body of the stick, rose to the hand at D, for the purpose of closing the fork at the proper moment. The Machine, thus constructed, was put over the rat’s back while in the act of diving; and by pulling the string C D, he was sufficiently pinched to be drawn out of the water, where a Dog stood ready to dispatch him.

On the Mouse-trap (Fig. 2. and 4.) more thought was bestowed. It appeared adviseable (I remember) to lay the deceptive plan rather deep: and to lull the little animal into a false security till the snare had taken full effect; and even then to hide from her some of its horrors till she was far enough from this vestibule of misery, not to deposit there any of those tokens of distress that might deter other mice from following her example. The trap then, consisted of a long passage, formed spirally round the surface of a Cone, like the figures we have of the Tower of Babel. This passage is uncovered in Fig. 4 to shew the entrance E, and the subsequent gates F G H, &c. which like the valves of a pump, gave easy entrance to the victim, but forbade her return. At the length of a mouse from the outer gate E, was placed the first bait N, say a small rind of cheese, well toasted to allure, but nailed down to prevent its removal. Its position was further indicated by a train of meal reaching from it to the outer gate E; which latter was nicely hung on pivots inclined a little to the perpendicular, so as to open with ease but never fail to close itself again. It had besides an horizontal plate O, fixed to its bottom on the inside, so that if the mouse attempted to open it that way, she trode on this plate and destroyed the result of her own efforts.

When, therefore, the little wretch had passed this barrier, she was in reality taken: but unconscious yet of danger, she nibbled the first bait with pleasure, and then skipped forward in search of more substantial food: but to obtain this she must pass more of these faithless gates, F G H, &c. which with progressive effort she opened, and at length found the inner compartments replete with good things, on which she fed to satiety, and then only began to think of her situation. Nor yet, with much alarm: for at the end of this labyrinth, so easy of access, she hoped to find an easy exit. But alas, these hopes were illusive. Instead of light, she found the dark gallery O; the least evil of which was to be too narrow for two mice abreast, since it overhung a tremendous cavern, Q, that entirely occupied the Cone below, and was filled with water deep enough to drown her, were she to fall, or be jostled into it. And one of these disasters she could hardly escape! for other mice would not fail to be beguiled into this cruel Bastille; to reach the same spot; and finally, to plunge her into this watery grave.

Having endeavoured to recollect the substance of these youthful attempts to unite cause and effect, or to fulfil a given purpose by preconcerted means, I now turn to things of greater importance, and more worthy to be the theme of my readers’ attention. The subjects to be presented will observe a miscellaneous order; since they have not only originated at different periods, but offer likewise different degrees of interest—to equalize which throughout the Work, appears a desirable attempt. As to the manner of treating each subject, it will be, generally, to describe the Machines by a reference to the Figures; and then to add some remarks on their date, construction, properties, and uses.