Page:A Letter on the Subject of the Cause (1797).djvu/30

 I will now take the liberty to intrude on your Lordſhip a few obſervations on the Plaintiffs’ evidence.

I remark that the evidences Mr. De Luc, Dr. Herſchel, Profeſſor Robinſon, Mr. Cummings, and Mr. Ramſden are not practical Engineers or Engine-builders; and that in the account they ſeverally gave on examination of their occupations and profeſſions, they none of them ſaid this. But on the contrary, I think theſe very reſpectable witneſſes confeſſed they never did make a Steam Engine, or ever had one conſtructed under their directions, but only implied they had no doubt they could. Now, my Lord, whatever confidence theſe truly ingenious men may have in their phyſical powers, I am well perſuaded ſo much depends on practice in this Art, that none of them could, without much extra trouble and expence (all of which would be avoided by an experienced Engineer) even complete an Engine on the long-known principle of Newcomen. And if ſuch difficulties would attend this undertaking, what muſt be the conſequence of the ſame perſons having to conſtruct an Engine, ſo much more complex in its nature, numerous in its parts,