The Hartlib Papers

         Some obseruations & Aduices concerning

               Sir Edward Ford's Water-worke.

Sir

     Edward Ford is a Gentleman much to bee honored for his goodwill to these Noble Arts & his good intention of the public good & aduantage.

A man is not altogether to bee blamed that falls short at what his fancie first promised; for if this bee a sin, I think no Artist of any kind, in any age, no not Archimedes himselfe can clearly pleade not guilty.

But if a mistake haue happned to any man in his buisines, it remaines onely to enquire, where, when or how the error came to passe, & is, & <how> to mend it.

Let us therfore humbly begge leaue to examine this noble designe of Sir Edward's & if it bee found faulty or fayling, let us endevour to amend, or renue it, that neither hee may loose his money, nor his honor, nor the world their expectation.

This may bee done, either by calculating the respectiue relations, motions, powers or operations therof, or by comparing this worke, & what it should doe with some other of the best workes extant, & what that doth doe, & then wee shall see how much this exceeds or comes short of that First to calculate.

Sir Edward himselfe told me, there would fall within his line aboue 6000 houses of all sorts.

Very many of these are great houses & great families, so as to one house with the other cannot bee allowed lesse then one hogshead per day, which amounts to 1500 tuns per day at least

Besides, there are so many Brewers to serue as will expend 100 tuns per day

Lesse cannot bee allowed for all invisible leaques then 100 tuna per day. And for all grand & visible leaques & non-vsancies 300 tuns per day; all which amounts to 2000 tuns per day.

Now let us see whether Sir Edward's worke will answer this account, & (if not) how farre it falls short.

Sir Edward's worke after all tryalls & amendements goes but with two iron schanks & can endure no more, nor well those, the worke beeing too hard for 4 horses to hold out at. And not aboue 3 full turnes per minute, each schancke, working upon 4 iackes, strickes (when all things are in right order) foure stroakes at each full turne, which is per minute with both schancks 24 stroakes, each of which stroakes raises, (when all things are right) 2 gallons, which is in all per minute 48 gallons. This is the utmost that this engine can doe, or bee hoped it should doe, but it really is at least one full 4th part more then can bee expected from it one time with another, & yet all is but 10 tuns per houre, or 200 tuns per day, but at the holding rate, but 7 tuns & ´ per houre, & 150 tuns per day.

Of which (at the highest) if wee take out but 60 tuns a day, for invisible leaques remaines 140 tuns.

Of which if wee allowe the Brewers but 60 tuns per day (which is doubtles too litle) remaines 80 tuns.

Of which if wee allowe for all visible leaques, stops & non-vsancies but 30 tuns, remaines 50 tuns.

Which 50 tuns at an hogs-head per house per day will furnish or serue but 200 houses. And thus there is about 5800 houses unserued; or if no Brewers bee served, there [catchword: re-]

Againe by comparing this with some other worke (as for example Broken wharfe, it may also appeare, that this is defectiue, & in what proportion.

I doe affirme & can make it appeare (it beeing that which I doe perfectly know) that one of their chaine workes at Broken wharfe, (for there is two distinct workes moved with foure horses in each of them) doth one time with another, all causes of deduction beeing allowed for) raise compleatly 100 gallons per minute while they worke, which is about 12 houres to the day (for they never worke all night) which amounts to aboue 20 tuns per houre, which is considerably more then double per houre to Sir Edward's; but for that Sir Edward intends his shall goe night & day (i.e.) 20 houres in 24 (for more must not bee counted upon or expected) wee will (in favour of this worke) say that one of the workes at Broken wharfe, shall bee counted but equall with his; But then the other fully (at least) doubles his (I feare both may bee found to trebble his upon a more neere survey): yet doth both these not serue aboue 600 houses, & those comparatiuely very small houses, & which (fish street excepted) spend much lesse water; And not this but by the aduantage of stopcocks.

Thus it appeares by plaine demonstration both wayes, that Sir Edwards worke wants abundantly, & comes short of the intended perfection & that is indeed really necessary.

The truth is one tun & a halfe will doe the worke per minute (& that is all) for it may bee remembred, that by the former account there was found necessary for the compleat doing of the worke 2000 tuns for euery 24 houses, which) allowing the worke to goe effectually but 20 houres in 24, is 100 tuns per houre, which is compleatly 10 times as much as Sir Edward's worke raises at his highest pitch, & is per houre 10 tuns more then one tun & ´ per minute.

But two full turnes per minute would indeed compleate the worke to a great increase both of honor & profit to Sir Edward, & to the full content of all parties, beeing 20 tuns per houre or 4000 tuns per day more then is directly necessary which (if kept all the night in banck will plentifully serue Sunday, when the worke stands still. And this much I knowe may bee raised to that hight in that house (if it stand but) & by 4 good horses in one single worke, in their spells, & then 4 more to relieue them &c. (i.e.) by 16 horses in all.

If any thought shall present it selfe to Sir Edward that may make up what is wanting by multiplying more houses & horses & distinct workes in the way hee is now in, hee may hereby easily perceiue how vane that conceit is.

On the other side to sit downe & rest contented with what is alreddie done, would bee worse, for Sir Edward cannot rationally nor safely (i.e.) to make himself but a Saver) allow himselfe in the first place double interest for his money, & 6 per cent more for universall insensible decayes, by the continuall gnawings of times strong teeth upon the whole matter, besides all accidentall repaires of visible breakings. So as, if hee have or shall disburse 10000 lib. (Some talke of much [catchword: more]

Now let us see, Though wee should discompt nothing from his highest account which is 200 tuns to bee raised per day & night, yet would all that serue but 800 houses at an hogs head per day per house, Nay if wee should which would never hold) suppose but a barrell per day per house, yet would it serue but 1600 houses, from which could not bee expected (so serued) aboue 20 lb. per annum one with the other, so as still hee must sit downe looser by this accompt of 400 per annum.

As to such a course as I haue heard some mention of, Namely to sell his water out by the hogshead to the Carts, I cannot think Sir Edward so disingenuous as to doe so, for then hath hee lost his honor & the honor of his undertakings aboue measure & that without profit, Then hath hee lost all his pipes & out workes, And which is more, all those fines, which should haue reeimburs'd him in a great part at least. Thenceforth it will bee ridiculous to claime or use the priviledge of a patent for a new invention, when it will manifestly appeare there is nothing done which deserues one; for nothing in iustice & sound reason can bee priviledged & defended by a patent, but what is manifestly better, euery way then any thing formerly knowen or used, wheras this comes manifestly short of divers other workes, That at Broken wharfe for one. Thus it would too plainely appeare (though I hope such thoughts rest not in his brest) that Sir Edward should seeke not the public good with or aboue his owne, as hee hath alwayes affirmed, & the world iustly expects from him, but his owne unjust & oppressive profit right or wrong; which thing bee farre from him. Lastly neither will this yet make him so much as a saver, And that so much the lesse, by how much hee will find him self justly opposed, prevented & discustomed.

On the other side can hee find, will hee competently, nobly reward & secure the man that can helpe him out, Namely to raise in the same house to the same hight, with the same number of horses viz: 16; - 2 tuns per minute compleate.

This (though it should cost him before hee haue fully setled all things double (viz.) 20000 lib., yet would hee bee safe in his honor, in his Conscience, & a great gainer to boote. For example 6000 houses reckoning them one with the other (the brewers onely excepted) at but 2 lb. fine, & 20sh. per annum rent, which is the least imaginable, yet would the fines amount to 12000 lb. & the revenue to 6000 per annum, So as there is yet a cleere revenue to Sir Edward Ford, & those that are or shall bee interessed with him of 4000 lb. per annum. Besides what will arise by the same rule from his worke, belowe bridge upon much better & easier termes then here in proportion, if his owne unnecessary hast prevent it not.

All which as I haue faithfully & I hope plainely laid open before him, & thus offer to his more serious & iust consideration, so I must & doe humbly submit it to his better iudgment. And wish him all true prosperitie honor & peace.