""My dear Sir,
"Immediately after the receipt of your last, which I only received after twelve o'clock on the 7th, I went to the Ordnance Office, where, though Colonel Gossett was no longer an official personage, I had the good luck to meet him. He told me that the model of the gun was at Woolwich, and could not be got at in time to stop the progress of the other patent, and which he considered of but little moment, as he thought it very unlikely there could be any collision between the two inventions. He likewise said that from the official changes that had taken place in the office, much loss of time might be incurred by recalling the model, which was in train of being examined. To-day I have received a letter addressed to you from the Ordnance, by which it appears that your model has passed through an unsuccessful ordeal before the special committee.
"'Office of Ordnance, 21st February, 1828.
"Sir,
"'I am directed by the Master General to acquaint you that the Select Committee of Artillery Officers, to whom your model of a 42-pounder carronade and carriage on a new principle were referred, have reported that on examination of the invention, they consider it to be wholly inapplicable to practical purposes. Your model is at the Ordnance Office, and will be delivered on your sending for it.
"'I am, Sir,
"'Your most obedient humble servant,
"'Lowndes.
"'R. Trevithick, Esq.'
"My poor mother, who I regret to say has been very delicate ever since your departure, and is now again confined to bed, desires me to say that she is very sorry she is not Master General of the Ordnance, to give it a fair practical trial, as she thinks Captain Trevithick's opinions, though she cannot pronounce his name, may be fairly placed in opposition to that of the special committee of artillery officers.
"Ever faithfully yours,
"J. M. Gerard."
The recoil gun-carriage was his first occupation after twelve years of travel in countries where mechanical appliances were less thought of than weapons of war. He commenced this, his second era of inventions, with what he called a new thing, though it was but an extension of his schemes of 1809, when he patented iron vessels, hollow sliding masts and yards, self-reefing sails, and sliding keels.