[ [37] A pamphlet published in 1712, entitled ‘An Impartial Inquiry into the Management of the War in Spain,’ contains the following reference to Savery:—“Sums allowed by Parliament for carrying on the war in Spain ... for the year 1710. To Thomas Savery, Esq., for Thomas Cale, surgeon, for care of disabled soldiers, 306l. 6s. 4d.”
[ [38] Newcomen’s house occupies the centre of the above engraving—the house with the peaked gable-end supported by timbers.
[ [39] Pamphlet on ‘Dartmouth: the advantages of its Harbour as a Station for Foreign Mail Packets, and a Short Notice of its Ancient and Present Condition.’ By A. H. Holdsworth. London, 1841.
[ [40] Switzer, ‘Introduction to a System of Hydrostatics and Hydraulics,’ p. 342.
[ [41] Harris, ‘Lexicon Technicum.’
[ [42] It has been stated that Newcomen took out a patent for his invention in 1705; but this is a mistake, as no patent was ever taken out by Newcomen. It is supposed that Savery, having heard of his invention, gave him notice that he would regard his method of producing a speedy vacuum by condensation, as an infringement of his patent, and that Newcomen accordingly agreed to give him an interest in the new engine during the term of Savery’s patent. It will, however, be observed that the principle on which Newcomen’s engine worked was entirely different from that of Savery.
[ [43] Scogging is a north country word, meaning skulking one’s work, from which probably the boy gave the contrivance its name. Potter, however, grew up to be a highly-skilled workman. He went abroad about the year 1720, and erected an engine at a mine in Hungary, described by Leupold in his ‘Theatrum Machinarum,’ with many encomiums upon Potter, who was considered the inventor.
[ [44] The illustration shows the several parts of Newcomen’s atmospheric engine. a is the boiler; b, the piston moving up and down; c, the cylinder; d, a pipe proceeding from the top of the boiler, and inserted into the bottom of the cylinder, having a cock, e, to interrupt the flow of steam at pleasure; f, cold-water cistern, from which the cold water is conveyed by the pipe g, called the injection-pipe, and thrown in a jet into the cylinder, b, on turning the injection-cock, h; the snifting-valve, i, enables the air to escape from the cylinder, while the siphon-pipe, j, enables the condensed steam to flow from the same cavity in the form of water; k, the main lever beam; l, the counterpoise or weight hung on the balance-beam, or on m, the pump-rod which works the pump, n.
[ [45] Mr. Lemon eventually became the principal merchant and tin-smelter of Cornwall. Mr. Davies Gilbert says:—“The energies of his mind were not limited to these undertakings, great though they were. He cultivated a taste for literature, and, which is extremely unusual, acquired, amidst business, and at a middle age, the power of reading the classic authors in their original language.... He was distinguished in his district as “the great Mr. Lemon,” but such were the impressions of his abilities, his exertions, and general merit, that a progress so rapid and unexampled does not appear to have excited envy, or any of those bad passions which usually alloy the enjoyment of prosperity.”—‘History of Cornwall,’ ii. 84.
[ [46] “It may be interesting to know that it required three hands to work Newcomen’s first engines. I have heard it said that when the engine was stopped, and again set at work, the words were passed “Snift Benjy!” “Blow the fire, Pomery!” “Work away, Joe!” The last let in the condensing water. Lifting the condensing clack was called “snifting,” because on opening the valve, the air rushing through it made a noise like a man snifting. The fire was increased through artificial means by another hand, and all being ready, the machine was set in motion by a third.”—Cyrus Redding, ‘Yesterday and To-day.’ London, 1863. The “snifting clack” was a valve in the cylinder opening outwards, which permitted the escape of air or permanently elastic fluid, which could not be condensed by cold and run off through the eduction-pipe.