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was supported on three wheels； and carried a small copper boiler；
heated by a spirit lamp； with a flue passing obliquely through
it。 The cylinder； of 3/4 inch diameter and 2…inch stroke； was
fixed in the top of the boiler； the piston…rod being connected
with the vibratory beam attached to the connecting…rod which
worked the crank of the driving…wheel。 This little engine worked
by the expansive force of steam only； which was discharged into
the atmosphere after it had done its work of alternately raising
and depressing the piston in the cylinder。
Mr。 Murdock's son； while living at Handsworth； informed the
present writer that this model was invented and constructed in
1781； but； after perusing the correspondence of Boulton and Watt；
we infer that it was not ready for trial until 1784。 The first
experiment was made in Murdock's own house at Redruth； when the
little engine successfully hauled a model waggon round the
room；the single wheel； placed in front of the engine and
working in a swivel frame； enabling it to run round in a circle。
Another experiment was made out of doors； on which occasion；
small though the engine was； it fairly outran the speed of its
inventor。 One night； after returning from his duties at the mine
at Redruth； Murdock went with his model locomotive to the avenue
leading to the church； about a mile from the town。 The walk was
narrow； straight； and level。 Having lit the lamp； the water soon
boiled； and off started the engine with the inventor after it。
Shortly after he heard distant shouts of terror。 It was too dark
to perceive objects； but he found； on following up the machine；
that the cries had proceeded from the worthy vicar； who； while
going along the walk； had met the hissing and fiery little
monster； which he declared he took to be the Evil One in propria
persona！
When Watt was informed of Murdock's experiments； he feared that
they might interfere with his regular duties； and advised their
discontinuance。 Should Murdock still resolve to continue them；
Watt urged his partner Boulton； then in Cornwall； that； rather
than lose Murdock's services； they should advance him 100L。； and；
if he succeeded within a year in making an engine capable of
drawing a post…chaise carrying two passengers and the driver； at
the rate of four miles an hour； that a locomotive engine business
should be established； with Murdock as a partner。 The
arrangement； however； never proceeded any further。 Perhaps a
different attraction withdrew Murdock from his locomotive
experiments。 He was then paying attention to a young lady； the
daughter of Captain Painter； and in l785 he married her； and
brought her home to his house in Cross Street； Redruth。
In the following year；September； 1786Watt says； in a letter
to Boulton； 〃I have still the same opinion concerning the steam
carriage； but； to prevent more fruitless argument about it； I
have one of some size under hand。 In the meantime； I wish
William could be brought to do as we do； to mind the business in
hand； and let such as Symington and Sadler throw away their time
and money in hunting shadows。〃 In a subsequent letter Watt
expressed his gratification at finding 〃that William applies to
his business。〃 From that time forward； Murdock as well as Watt；
dropped all further speculation on the subject； and left it to
others to work out the problem of the locomotive engine。
Murdock's model remained but a curious toy； which he took
pleasure in exhibiting to his intimate friends； and； though he
long continued to speculate about road locomotion； and was
persuaded of its practicability； he abstained from embodying his
ideas of the necessary engine in any complete working form。
Murdock nevertheless continued inventing； for the man who is
given to invent； and who possesses the gift of insight； cannot
rest。 He lived in the midst of inventors。 Watt and Boulton were
constantly suggesting new things； and Murdock became possessed by
the same spirit。 In 1791 he took out his first patent。 It was
for a method of preserving ships' bottoms from foulness by the
use of a certain kind of chemical paint。 Mr。 Murdock's grandson
informs us that it was recently re…patented and was the cause of
a lawsuit； and that Hislop's patent for revivifying gas…lime
would have been an infringement； if it had not expired。
Murdock is still better known by his invention of gas for
lighting purposes。 Several independent inquirers into the
constituents of Newcastle coal had arrived at the conclusion that
nearly one…third of the substance was driven off in vapour by the
application of heat； and that the vapour so driven off was
inflammable。 But no suggestion had been made to apply this
vapour for lighting purposes until Murdock took the matter in
hand。 Mr。 M。 S。 Pearse has sent us the following interesting
reminiscence： 〃Some time since； when in the West of Cornwall； I
was anxious to find out whether any one remembered Murdock。 I
discovered one of the most respectable and intelligent men in
Camborne； Mr。 William Symons； who not only distinctly remembered
Murdock； but had actually been present on one of the first
occasions when gas was used。 Murdock； he says； was very fond of
children； and not unfrequently took them into his workshop to
show them what he was doing。 Hence it happened that on one
occasion this gentleman； then a boy of seven or eight； was
standing outside Murdock's door with some other boys； trying to
catch sight of some special mystery inside； for Dr。 Boaze； the
chief doctor of the place； and Murdock had been busy all the
afternoon。 Murdock came out； and asked my informant to run down
to a shop near by for a thimble。 On returning with the thimble；
the boy pretended to have lost it； and； whilst searching in every
pocket； he managed to slip inside the door of the workshop； and
then produced the thimble。 He found Dr。 Boaze and Murdock with a
kettle filled with coal。 The gas issuing from it had been burnt
in a large metal case； such as was used for blasting purposes。
Now； however； they had applied a much smaller tube； and at the
end of it fastened the thimble； through the small perforations
made in which they burned a continuous jet for some time。〃＇7＇
After numerous experiments； Murdock had his house in Cross Street
fitted up in 1792 for being lit by gas。 The coal was subjected
to heat in an iron retort； and the gas was conveyed in pipes to
the offices and the different rooms of the house； where it was
burned at proper apertures or burners。＇8＇ Portions of the gas
were also confined in portable vessels of tinned iron； from which
it was burned when required； thus forming a moveable gas…light。
Murdock had a gas lantern in regular use； for the purpose of
lighting himself home at night across the moors； from the mines
where he was working； to his home at Redruth。 This lantern was
formed by filling a bladder with gas and fixing a jet to the
mou