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and began to bully him。 This he could not stand。 He stript；
selected the biggest； and put himself into a fighting attitude。
They set to； and in a few minutes Murdock's powerful bones and
muscles enabled him to achieve the victory。 The other men； who
had looked on fairly； without interfering； seeing the temper and
vigour of the man they had bullied； made overtures of
reconciliation。 William was quite willing to be friendly。
Accordingly they shook hands all round； and parted the best of
friends。 It is also said that Murdock afterwards fought a duel
with Captain Trevethick； because of a quarrel between Watt and
the mining engineer； in which Murdock conceived his master to
have been unfairly and harshly treated。＇5＇
The uses of Watt's steam…engine began to be recognised as
available for manufacturing purposes。 It was then found
necessary to invent some method by which continuous rotary motion
should be secured； so as to turn round the moving machinery of
mills。 With this object Watt had invented his original
wheel…engine。 But no steps were taken to introduce it into
practical use。 At length he prepared a model； in which he made
use of a crank connected with the working beam of the engine； so
as to produce the necessary rotary motion。
There was no originality in this application。 The crank was one
of the most common of mechanical appliances。 It was in daily use
in every spinning wheel； and in every turner's and
knife…grinder's foot…lathe。 Watt did not take out a patent for
the crank； not believing it to be patentable。 But another person
did so； thereby anticipating Watt in the application of the crank
for producing rotary motion。 He had therefore to employ some
other method； and in the new contrivance he had the valuable help
of William Murdock。 Watt devised five different methods of
securing rotary motion without using the crank； but eventually he
adopted the 〃Sun…and…planet motion；〃 the invention of Murdock。
This had the singular property of going twice round for every
stroke of the engine； and might be made to go round much oftener
without additional machinery。 The invention was patented in
February； 1782； five Years after Murdock had entered the service
of Boulton and Watt。
Murdock continued for many years busily occupied in
superintending the Cornish steam…engines。 We find him described
by his employers as 〃flying from mine to mine；〃 putting the
engines to rights。 If anything went wrong； he was immediately
sent for。 He was active； quick…sighted； shrewd； sober； and
thoroughly trustworthy。 Down to the year 1780； his wages were
only a pound a week； but Boulton made him a present of ten
guineas； to which the owners of the United Mines added another
ten； in acknowledgment of the admirable manner in which he bad
erected their new engine； the chairman of the company declaring
that he was 〃the most obliging and industrious workman he had
ever known。〃 That he secured the admiration of the Cornish
engineers may be obvious from the fact of Mr。 Boaze having
invited him to join in an engineering partnership； but Murdock
remained loyal to the Birmingham firm； and in due time he had his
reward。
He continued to be the 〃right hand man〃 of the concern in
Cornwall。 Boulton wrote to Watt； towards the end of 1782：
〃Murdock hath been indefatigable ever since he began。 He has
scarcely been in bed or taken necessary food。 After slaving
night and day on Thursday and Friday； a letter came from Wheal
Virgin that he must go instantly to set their engine to work； or
they would let out the fire。 He went and set the engine to work；
it worked well for the five or six hours he remained。 He left
it； and returned to the Consolidated Mines about eleven at night；
and was employed about the engines till four this morning； and
then went to bed。 I found him at ten this morning in Poldice
Cistern； seeking for pins and castors that had jumped out； when I
insisted on his going home to bed。〃
On one occasion； when an engine superintended by Murdock stopped
through some accident； the water rose in the mine； and the
workmen were 〃drowned out。〃 Upon this occurring； the miners went
〃roaring at him〃 for throwing them out of work； and threatened to
tear him to pieces。 Nothing daunted； he went through the midst
of the men； repaired the invalided engine； and started it afresh。
When he came out of the engine…house； the miners cheered him
vociferously and insisted upon carrying him home upon their
shoulders in triumph！
Steam was now asserting its power everywhere。 It was pumping
water from the mines in Cornwall and driving the mills of the
manufacturers in Lancashire。 Speculative mechanics began to
consider whether it might not be employed as a means of land
locomotion。 The comprehensive mind of Sir Isaac Newton had long
before； in his 'Explanation of the Newtonian Philosophy；' thrown
out the idea of employing steam for this purpose； but no
practical experiment was made。 Benjamin Franklin； while agent in
London for the United Provinces of America； had a correspondence
with Matthew Boulton； of Birmingham； and Dr。 Darwin； of
Lichfield； on the same subject。 Boulton sent a model of a
fire…engine to London for Franklin's inspection； but Franklin was
too much occupied at the time by grave political questions to
pursue the subject further。 Erasmus Darwin's speculative mind
was inflamed by the idea of a 〃fiery chariot；〃 and he urged his
friend Boulton to prosecute the contrivance of the necessary
steam machinery。＇6＇
Other minds were at work。 Watt； when only twenty…three years
old； at the instigation of his friend Robison； made a model
locomotive； provided with two cylinders of tin plate； but the
project was laid aside； and was never again taken up by the
inventor。 Yet； in his patent of 1784； Watt included an
arrangement by means of which steam…power might be employed for
the purposes of locomotion。 But no further model of the
contrivance was made。
Meanwhile； Cugnot； of Paris； had already made a road engine
worked by steam power。 It was first tried at the Arsenal in
1769； and； being set in motion； it ran against a stone wall in
its way and threw it down。 The engine was afterwards tried in
the streets of Paris。 In one of the experiments it fell over
with a crash； and was thenceforward locked up in the Arsenal to
prevent its doing further mischief。 This first locomotive is now
to be seen at the Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers at Paris。
Murdock had doubtless heard of Watt's original speculations； and
proceeded； while at Redruth； during his leisure hours； to
construct a model locomotive after a design of his own。 This
model was of small dimensions； standing little more than a foot
and a half high； though it was sufficiently large to demonstrate
the soundness of the principle on which it was constructed。 It
was supported on three wheels； and carried a small copper boiler；