Page:On the economy of machinery and manufactures - Babbage - 1846.djvu/79

Rh summit the barrel is released from the axis, and friction being applied to moderate its velocity, the boat is allowed to descend.

(54.) Clocks occupy a very high place amongst instruments by means of which human time is economized: and their multiplication in conspicuous places in large towns is attended with many advantages. Their position, nevertheless, in London, is often very ill chosen; and the usual place, half-way up on a high steeple, in the midst of narrow streets, in a crowded city, is very unfavourable, unless the church happen to stand out from the houses which form the street. The most eligible situation for a clock is, that it should project considerably into the street at some elevation, with a dial-plate on each side, like that which belonged to the old church of St. Dunstan, in Fleet-street, so that passengers in both directions would have their attention directed to the hour.

(55.) A similar remark applies, with much greater force, to the present defective mode of informing the public of the position of the receiving houses for the twopenny and general post. In the lowest corner of the window of some attractive shop is found a small slit, with a brass plate indicating its important office so obscurely, that it seems to be an object rather to prevent its being conspicuous. No striking sign assists the anxious inquirer, who, as the moments rapidly pass which precede the hour of closing, torments the passenger with his inquiries for the nearest post-office. He reaches it, perhaps, just as it is closed; and must then either hasten to a distant part of the town in order to procure the admission of his letters, or give up the idea of forwarding