Page:A Letter on the Subject of the Cause (1797).djvu/32

 At the ſame time, my Lord, I can produce very many men, unable even to read, who, unaſſiſted by any knowledge but that which they have derived from being labourers only to a practical Engineer, will readily perform the whole.

Of the above named Gentlemen, Mr. Cummings and Profeſſor Robinſon in making this attempt would certainly have the preference. The former altho’ a man of uncommon information and genius, the powers of which have been through a ſeries of many years exerciſed in one of the moſt eminent mechanical branches, that of Watch-making; and having turned his thoughts to, and practiſed many other objects, and eſpecially organiſed machines; would, I think, be much perplexed in accompliſhing the taſk I mention, unaſſiſted by any other help than a knowledge of Newcomen’s Engine and this Specification: though this knowledge and the advantages above mentioned, would place him before every man in this Country not a profeſſed Engineer.

With reſpect to Profeſſor Robinſon, my Lord, I have no doubt he would experience ſtill greater difficulties in the junction of all the parts of a machine, after the plan on which Boulton and Watt build Engines. Notwithſtanding in his evidence he declared he had been at the elbow of Mr. Watt during nearly the whole time of his experiments, which he ſet forth to be ſix years. And I obſerved they had mutually ſtudied