This unfinished rough draft was intended for one of the men who had gone to Lima, less fruitful in emergency than Trevithick, who, without a moment's hesitation, would have constructed a fire-place outside the boiler, when the internal tube fire-place was found to be too small for a wood fire. Trevithick's proposing sixty years ago to make his way over the almost unknown track from Buenos Ayres, on the Atlantic, to Lima, on the Pacific, was perhaps characteristic of his daring spirit, that turned all things to good account; but he dreamed not that his grandson and namesake would at this time be conducting the steam-horse on the same line of march on the Central Argentine Railway from Rosario to Cordoba, in the Argentine Republic.
[Rough draft.]
"Gentlemen,
"Camborne, August 19th, 1813.
"I received yours at Bridgenorth of the 19th July, ordering a steam-engine for rolling sugar-cane. I immediately set the founders to work on one for you, which is to be ready by my return to Bridgenorth about the end of September. I intend to ship it for Bristol, and will call on you on my journey down to Cornwall, as I intend to set it to work at Bristol for your inspection before it is put on board ship. The price I cannot accurately say at present, as the engine now making is on a new principle; and as it will be more simple in construction, I hope to be able to render it within the price before stated to you. As it is on a new plan I cannot fix the price until I know the cost of making. All I can say at present is that it shall not exceed what I stated to you in my former letter.
"I remain, Sirs,
"Your humble servant,
"Rd. Trevithick.
"Messrs. Pinneys and Ames, Bristol."
The engine for the sugar plantations in Jamaica, on an improved plan, was to be constructed in the short space of six weeks, and if a saving in cost was effected, the inventor would hand the whole of it to the purchaser.
[Rough draft.]
"Sir,