Note 328 — Chapter XX · Prosperity of Soho—Young Boulton and Watt—The Riots—William Murdock.

There was a great deal of graphic vigour in Watt’s correspondence about engines. Thus, in the case of an engine supplied to F. Scott and Co. to drive a hammer, it appears that instead of applying it to the hammer only, they applied it also to blow the bellows. The consequence was, that it worked both badly. They had also increased the weight of the hammer. Watt wrote,—“It was easy to foresee all this; and the only adequate remedy is to have another engine to blow the bellows. It is impossible that a regular blast can be had while the engine works the hammer and bellows, without a regulating belly as big as a church.... They have been for having a pocket bible in large print. If they mean to carry on their work regular, they must have a blowing engine; otherwise they will lose the price of one in a few months.”