THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF ILLINOIS 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
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LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 
CAPT? JOSEPH ■PDDAftM.R.S 
 
 Subs. 6l. 
 
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A BRIEF MEMOIR 
 
 OF THE LATE 
 
 CAPT 8 - JOSEPH HUDDART, F.R.S. 
 
 AND AN ACCOUNT OF HIS 
 
 INVENTIONS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CORDAGE, 
 
 AS CONTAINED IN A 
 
 LETTER TO JAMES WALKER, ESQ. L.L.D.F.R.S.L.&E. 
 
 €jn I'resiiiEHt nf tjrr Snstitntinn of Cinil (fngittms, 
 
 AND NOW PRINTED BY THE PERMISSION OF THE 
 COUNCIL OF THAT INSTITUTION. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 SCHOOL-PRESS, GOWER’S WALK, WHITECHAPEL. 
 
 1855 . 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2017 with funding from 
 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Alternates 
 
 https://archive.org/details/briefmemoiroflatOOcott 
 
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 PREFACE 
 
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 The following Letter, addressed in 1838 to Mr. James Walker, 
 at that period the President of the Institution of Civil Engineers , 
 was deemed worthy of the honor of a Telford Medal, which was 
 awarded to the Writer hy the Council of that Society, although he 
 had no expectation of deserving so much notice, or of exciting any 
 permanent interest. 
 
 As only a short Abstract of the Letter vjas printed in the 
 minutes of the proceedings of the Institution, the Writer received 
 several suggestions for its being published in extenso, for which, at 
 the instance of Mr. Walker, he obtained the permission of the 
 Council; but a pressure of important avocations, and subsequently 
 severe illness, prevented him, for a considerable time , from devoting 
 himself to the task of preparing it for the press. On eventually 
 examining the manuscript, it did not appear necessary to do more than 
 to change a few words for the purpose of more clearly expressing the 
 meaning of a sentence , which would otherwise have appeared obscure. 
 
 The object in view , when Captain Huddart's beautiful Rope¬ 
 making Machinery was sold to the Admiralty , was to preserve it, as 
 
 68(5025 
 
IV 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 a lasting memorial of his scientific knowledge and mechanical 
 powers. It was thought that in a National Establishment it would 
 not be subject to those contingencies by the death of Partners, or their 
 retirement, or other circumstances, which, in mercantile concerns , 
 frequently lead to the breaking up of such machinery; and particularly 
 that which is on a great scale, and more particularly that, which is 
 fit only for a large establishment. Huddart's machinery was fixed 
 by the Admiralty in the yard at Deptford, and there was added to it 
 some of the best machinery that had been invented for the spinning of 
 rope-yarn; and under Captain Sherriff, the intelligent Superinten¬ 
 dent of the Naval Depot, who had superintended its erection, it would 
 have continued to perform its work in the same accurate and efficient 
 manner it had done at Limehouse. Most excellent drawings of all 
 the machinery, and a very clear statement of its powers, appeared in 
 the 5th Vol. of the Professional Papers of the Corps of Royal 
 Engineers. It is there stated, that “ Captain Brandreth, R.E. 
 dedicated much time to the investigation of the merits of these 
 Inventions, and whose able report to the Lords of the Admiralty 
 induced Her Majesty's Government to determine on the erection of 
 the Rope-mahing Machinery in Deptford Dock Yard." 
 
 The determined hostility to Captain Huddart's first and most 
 important invention, a the register plate and tube," which established 
 his great principle ofgiving to each yarn its proper lenyth and position, 
 had, ceased; and, when his patent was out, was adopted in every rope- 
 
PREFACE 
 
 V 
 
 ground as it had been for sometime in the Navy yards. After the 
 proof that had been given at Limehouse of the poivers and accuracy 
 of the laying machines, (the largest of which, with only two persons 
 to attend it, had in 6 days made 10 cables for first-rates for the 
 North Sea Fleet) it was not expected that there would have been any 
 hostility against its use in the Government yards; but it is grievous 
 to think that this was not the case, and has led, not only to the 
 discontinuance of the use of this machinery, which had been 
 admired by every scientific person who had seen it in operation, but 
 to its most wanton destruction, accomplished at a great and useless 
 expense . 
 
 Had the Admiralty thought it expedient, from any cause, to 
 discontinue its use, and had it been offered for sale in its complete 
 state, many persons, and certainly the Writer of this Letter , would 
 have been disposed to purchase it in order to its preservation; but 
 on his return to London, after a lengthened absence, he was surprised 
 and grieved to hear, that the machinery had been pulled to pieces, every 
 bit of gun metal, wrought iron and steel, separated with great labor, 
 the beautiful and costly patterns of the wheels and frame-work 
 destroyed, and to his additional surprise he found, on further 
 enquiry, that the parts of the machinery were to be immediately 
 sold by auction, together with a large quantity of other materials 
 in 13 lots, and that a part of each machine was put into almost 
 every lot, as if to prevent the possibility of their ever being put 
 
VI 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 together again. There was no time for remonstrance, and an order 
 was immediately given by the Writer to purchase every lot , and the 
 machines, in this sad mutilated state, were again brought to Lime- 
 house, and deposited in a warehouse there. On application to the 
 Admiralty, a large quantity of gun metal, which had belonged to 
 these machines, and which had been sent to Woolwich to be melted, 
 was purchased at the price of new metal, and has thus been secured. 
 
 The greater part of the machinery was purchased at the price 
 of old metal, and the cost of the total amount of the lots purchased 
 could noty it has been thought, have paid the expense of the useless 
 pulling them to pieces. It was probably unfortunate that the Rope- 
 Yarn Spinning Machinery was sold at the same time,for against this 
 there was a strong prejudice on the part of the rope-makers; but this 
 machinery, of recent construction by Messrs. Blyth, which would 
 have sold readily in its perfect state, was pulled to pieces in the same 
 manner as Huddart's Rope-Machinery; useless labor having been 
 devoted to its destruction, even to the severance of the little steel 
 points from the gun metal in the machines , rendering the whole of 
 little value, except as old metal. 
 
 Time has not in any way diminished the Writer s perfect confi¬ 
 dence in the accuracy of Captain Huddart's Rope-Machinery, and 
 but for the advance of age, and a desire to retire from business and 
 give his attention to other objects, the last Partner of “ Huddart and 
 Co.” would have repaired all the injury so sadly inflicted on the 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 vii 
 
 Rope-Machinery, and shewn it, at work again, at Limehouse . Some 
 
 i 
 
 hope was entertained that the Admiralty would he disposed to re¬ 
 consider the subject, and the machinery was offered at what it had 
 cost the present possessor, and he would he willing to part with it to 
 any party on the same terms if with a fair prospect of its being 
 preserved. 
 
 Some additional observations have been added as notes, rather 
 than inserting them in the Letter . 
 
 Bournemouth, 
 
 22nd March, 1855 . 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 ■ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lime house, 8th February , 1840. 
 
 My dear Sir, 
 
 Before I proceed, in compliance with your 
 request, to give an account of Captain Huddart’s in¬ 
 ventions in the manufacture of cordage, and of the 
 beautiful machinery by means of which he carried the 
 principle of his inventions into operation, and to which 
 the important Society over which you preside has done 
 so much honor; I am desirous of offering a few obser¬ 
 vations as a testimony of respect to my departed 
 friend, whose great powers of mind, indefatigable in¬ 
 dustry, and high principles, raised him to a most honor¬ 
 able position in the ranks of men of science. 
 
 You were well acquainted with Captain Huddart 
 when in the zenith of his well established reputation, 
 and can with me bear testimony to the unaffected sim¬ 
 plicity of his mind and manners, to the masterly man¬ 
 ner in which he grappled with any difficult question, to 
 the patience with which he entered into the views of 
 
 A 
 
2 
 
 tliose who had not attained the scientific knowledge 
 and experience as he had acquired, and to the bene¬ 
 volent feeling which at all times prompted him to guide 
 and assist them in their pursuits. 
 
 The distinguishing feature of Captain Huddart’s mind 
 was an undeviating integrity of purpose. In his inves¬ 
 tigations he had no preconceived views, and no inte¬ 
 rested motives to serve. 
 
 The pure love of scientific knowledge appeared to 
 actuate all his mental powers, and conducted him to the 
 best practicable result, as will be the case with every 
 enquirer in proportion to his information and experience. 
 In the highest sense of the term Captain Huddart was 
 an honest man. 
 
 Soon after his death a memoir of him was printed for 
 private circulation, under the direction of his son. It 
 contains much valuable information respecting Captain 
 Huddart, and particularly with reference to his progress 
 towards that honorable station he ultimately filled. This 
 memoir, a copy of which 1 have the honor to send, I re¬ 
 commend, as well deserving the perusal of the members of 
 your Scientific Institution. In reference to the early life 
 
3 
 
 of Captain Huddart, and the various pursuits in which he 
 was engaged, some additional facts may be stated, and a 
 few observations made, which will, I venture to think, 
 promote one of the great objects of your Institution, that 
 of encouraging the future Engineers of England fully to 
 prepare themselves for their honorable employment, 
 by inciting them to pursue that steady course which 
 will be beneficial to themselves and advantageous to their 
 Country. From Captain Huddart’s history they will 
 learn, that there is no situation of life so removed from 
 exterior advantages, which can prevent the steady and per¬ 
 severing efforts of a great mind from attaining sound 
 scientific knowledge, and that the surest course to render 
 that knowledge valuable, is to unite indefatigable industry 
 to inflexible integrity. 
 
 Joseph Huddart was an only child, and was born at 
 Allonby in Cumberland on the 11th of January, 1740. 
 His father w T as a shoe-maker and farmer. From his 
 mother he inherited a vigorous constitution, and a strong 
 and determined spirit ; from her he, moreover, imbibed 
 frugal habits, and those correct and moral principles, 
 
4 
 
 which he maintained through life, and which rendered 
 him an upright man and essentially a gentleman. His 
 parents were anxious to procure for him the best educa¬ 
 tion in their power. He was sent to a day school kept 
 by Mr. Wilson, the clergyman of the village; and from 
 Mr. Wilson’s son, his father’s assistant, who had studied 
 at Glasgow, and who saw and encouraged the natural 
 genius of his father’s pupil, Huddart acquired a know¬ 
 ledge of the elements of mathematics, including as¬ 
 tronomy. In these sciences Huddart ultimately attained 
 great proficiency. 
 
 Asa proof that he was not in early life disposed to be 
 satisfied with superficial instruction it may be mentioned, 
 that an itinerant music-master, from whom Huddart and 
 his village companions had taken some lessons in singing, 
 found, on his return to them after some considerable inter¬ 
 val, that instead of having forgotten any of his precepts 
 they had made progress; and that Huddart had made him¬ 
 self acquainted with the theory of music, and had con¬ 
 veyed information to his young friends; upon this discovery 
 the music-master observed, that he found his scholar had 
 become a teacher, and that he was no longer required. 
 
5 
 
 In very early life Huddart also gave many other 
 indications of an original mind, combined with inde¬ 
 fatigable industry and unwearied patience. 
 
 Having observed some workmen constructing a dour 
 mill, he determined to make a model of it; and by fol¬ 
 lowing their example as they advanced in their work, he 
 finished his model as they completed the mill. He 
 obtained a treatise on ship-building and navigation by 
 Mungo Murray, and was so delighted with the accurate 
 and clear delineations in the work, that he determined on 
 making a model of a 74-gun ship according to the direc¬ 
 tions laid down by Murray, with its ribs, planks, bolts, 
 and rigging; this he accomplished by incredible labor, 
 ingenuity, and patience. 
 
 About this time Huddart was occasionally employed to 
 herd his father’s cows on a hill which commanded a view 
 of the coast of Scotland. Instead of idling his time 
 in the way that might have been expected of a village 
 shoe-maker’s boy, he carried a desk of his own making 
 into the field, and employed himself in reading and in 
 mathematical drawing and calculations. His stock of 
 books was very small, as his parents could only oc¬ 
 casionally purchase a book for him. 
 
6 
 
 His parents being much opposed to his adopting a 
 seafaring life, for which he had a strong bias, instructed 
 young Huddart in his father’s trade of shoe-making ; but 
 even in this employment he found opportunities to pursue 
 his favourite studies; and his bench, upon which were cut 
 mathematical figures, shewed that geometry, rather than 
 shoe-making and shoe-mending, had chiefly occupied 
 his thoughts. 
 
 In the year 1756 an event occurred, which in some de¬ 
 gree reconciled his father to his son’s inclination for the 
 sea, and determined his destiny. In that year large 
 shoals of herrings came into the Solway Frith, and the 
 elder Huddart traded in conjunction with a Herring¬ 
 fishing Company, as is not unusual with small tradesmen 
 on the coast on similar occasions. Young Huddart took 
 his place in the boats, declining no labor or exposure in 
 his new employment. 
 
 Even then, when a youth of about 16, he gave a strik¬ 
 ing proof of self-command and of a superior mind. For 
 while his companions, after the fatigues and expo¬ 
 sure of the night, were indulging themselv.es in the ale¬ 
 house, he was generally found occupied in making nauti- 
 
7 
 
 cal observations, in examining the set of the tide and 
 currents, and in taking the bearings of the coast. His 
 superiority in conduct and ability was soon acknowledged 
 by his fellows, and they yielded him a deference, which 
 early in life prepared him to direct others. 
 
 Huddart continued in these employments of shoe¬ 
 making and fishing, at Allonby, until 1762, when, on 
 the death of his father, he succeeded to a share in the 
 fishery and immediately took the command of a sloop, 
 which was employed in carrying the salted herrings to 
 Cork, and to other ports in Ireland, for the supply of the 
 West-India markets. This introduced him to a knowledge 
 of St. George’s channel, convinced him of the insufficiency 
 of the charts then in use, and ultimately led to his making 
 a complete survey of that sea, and to the publication of 
 his own most valuable chart, and which is still the best 
 published. 
 
 In the year 1763 the herrings having left the Frith, 
 Huddart became master of a brig belonging to a rela¬ 
 tion of his ; intending, as soon as he had the power, to 
 build one for himself. This with his uncle’s assistance 
 he accomplished in 1768 according to a model of his own ; 
 
8 
 
 every timber Laving been moulded with his own hand; 
 and when the vessel was completed, he gave her the 
 appropriate name of “Patience,” a quality which in this, 
 and every other undertaking, greatly distinguished him. 
 
 In this vessel he made his first voyage to North 
 America; his friends, some of whom had probably assis¬ 
 ted him with capital, being apprehensive that through in¬ 
 experience he might not reach his destined port in safety, 
 engaged a person, who had frequently made the voyage, 
 to accompany him as sailing master. Huddart had such 
 confidence in the course he had taken, and in his own 
 observations and reckoning, that he determined to sail 
 direct into his intended port, in opposition to the counsel 
 of his experienced sailing master, who protested against 
 his rashness. He so far indulged his sailing master, as 
 to allow him a boat to go adiead and enquire ; but he 
 followed his own course to a successful end, and to the 
 mortification of his intended guide. 
 
 The year 1771 brings us to a very important era in 
 Huddart’s life. Being on a visit to a paternal uncle 
 Huddart, a wealthy tradesman in Westminster, he was 
 introduced by him to his two sons-in-law, Sir Richard 
 
9 
 
 Hotham and Mr. Dingwall: the former, an extensive 
 East-India ship-owner, the latter a wealthy proprietor of 
 East India stock. Huddart’s independent, meditative, 
 and sedate manner soon attracted the attention of 
 Sir Richard; and on a visit they made together to 
 Mr. Dudman’s ship-yard at Deptford, in order to see 
 a vessel Sir Richard was building for the China trade, 
 he was so struck by Huddart’s observations, and the 
 knowledge and judgment he manifested, that he deter¬ 
 mined, if possible, to secure his services; and ultimately 
 induced him to leave his brig, and to engage in the 
 East-India Mercantile Marine. 
 
 In his new and more extensive field of usefulness, 
 Huddart evinced the superiority of his talents and his 
 inflexible integrity. At a time when the science of 
 navigation had not arrived at its present state of preci¬ 
 sion, it was soon known that his observations and 
 example were the best guides to the other captains of 
 the fleet, and it was in this occupation that my 
 respected father, Joseph Cotton, first became acquainted 
 with the Philosopher. 
 
 When Huddart’s ship was in the Madras roads, and 
 
 B 
 
10 
 
 he was ordered to a port on the coast, my father, on 
 going on board Huddart’s ship, found him in a state of 
 much discomfort in consequence of an order he had 
 received, and which he considered it his duty promptly 
 to obey; because it would prevent him from observing 
 an annular eclipse of the sun, to which he had been 
 directing his attention. Nor was he reconciled to his 
 change of destination, even when the pecuniary advan¬ 
 tages which he might derive from the voyage were 
 explained to him. 
 
 It may be mentioned as an instance of disregard of 
 personal comfort, and even of personal safety when the 
 interests of science were concerned, that at the Cape of 
 Good Hope where Huddart had gone in his boat to de¬ 
 termine the exact position of a sunken rock on which a 
 vessel had struck, his boat was upset near the shore, and 
 Huddart was missing, but on examination he was found 
 clinging to the boat’s thwarts and grasping firmly in his 
 hand the instrument with which he had been making an 
 observation. 
 
 It was on his voyage to China that his attention was 
 drawn to the construction of cordage, which led to his 
 
11 
 
 improvement in its manufacture. Of Captain Huddart* s 
 inventions in rope-making I purpose, in compliance with 
 your request, to give a particular account, but on some 
 of his other works 1 will venture first to offer a few 
 observations. 
 
 Huddart’s scientific knowledge, and high character, intro¬ 
 duced him into the Trinity House as an Elder Brother, and 
 also into the Committee of the Ramsgate Harbour Trust, 
 and into the London and East-India Dock Directions. In 
 all these situations he was eminently useful. At the Tri¬ 
 nity House every enquiry relating to lights, light-houses, 
 and charts, was mainly confided to him or managed under 
 his direction. The light-houses at Hurst Point were built 
 under his superintendence, and when some important obser¬ 
 vations were to be made or directions given, Huddart 
 resided on the spot, living in a small cabin attached to the 
 old light-house. His services at the Trinity House will be 
 long remembered, and the works he directed will remain as 
 monuments of his skill. The determination of the position 
 of the lights, the building of the light-houses, and the form 
 of the reflectors, all engaged his attention. 
 
 At the London Dock Huddart was much annoyed by, 
 
12 
 
 what he considered, an unnecessary outlay of capital on the 
 proposed thickness of the walls of the warehouses, and other 
 expenses, which, in his opinion, might have been avoided. 
 At the East-India Docks he concurred with the late 
 Mr. Ralph Walker, formerly also a sailor, and then, 1801, 
 an eminent civil engineer, in recommending that the boun¬ 
 dary-wall, 25 feet high, should be built on a concrete of 
 gravel, made on the artificial surface formed by the ex¬ 
 cavation, instead of carrying the brick-work a great depth 
 to the gravel. This plan he adopted at Hurst Point, and 
 at many other places. 
 
 I shall not attempt to submit to your notice a regular 
 history of Huddart’s life; but I must allude to a few 
 passages in it, which in my opinion serve to elicit his gen¬ 
 eral character for kindness and consideration for others. 
 
 To the family of the friend (Mr. Thornthwaite) who re¬ 
 ceived him into his house when he first came to London, he 
 was much attached; and when a son of his, who was him¬ 
 self a valued friend, fell from the roof of his house (30 feet) 
 and was severely, but not, as was at first apprehended, 
 mortally injured, the Surgeon’s assistant said it was only a 
 little tumble, the Philosopher’s attention was excited, and 
 
13 
 
 he exclaimed, “ My God ! How little has he had to do in 
 calculating the velocity of falling bodies ! ” When a young 
 man, who was employed with him on a raft, fell into the 
 river and was with difficulty rescued, Huddart remarked, 
 “ He is indebted to his high-crowned hat for his safety 
 having, even at a time of such anxiety as he manifested, 
 observed, that the air in the hat of his assistant had floated 
 him to the surface. 
 
 You, Sir, are well acquainted with many of the subjects 
 to which Captain Huddart’s attention was directed, and the 
 solid and valuable advice he gave on many occasions. 
 Subjects of the greatest importance were referred to him, 
 together with the other eminent engineers of the day, and 
 his opinion was at all times much relied on. Even when 
 not directly engaged, he was always ready to offer his 
 valuable suggestions and assistance to the engineer who 
 might be employed. But there was one favorite pursuit of 
 Captain Huddart to which I have already alluded, which, 
 as it was nearly the first, was also the last that occupied 
 his thoughts; and when that illness, which terminated his 
 life, rendered him incapable of following it, after expressing 
 his submission to the Divine will, he said he should have 
 
14 
 
 liked to have completed his investigation; particularly as 
 the introduction of the power of steam on the water would 
 have given him a steady velocity to experiment on, which 
 he had in vain sought for. Even in his last illness, his 
 disposition to enquire into causes and effects had not 
 forsaken him. His body was gradually wasting; and, by 
 weighing himself from time to time, his attention was 
 directed to the quantity of moisture which escaped by the 
 breath and by insensible perspiration. 
 
 The favorite pursuit to which I have alluded, was ship¬ 
 building ; and the determination of the lines, which, con¬ 
 sistent with stability and what might be required of capacity 
 for stowage, would give to the vessel the greatest velocity 
 through the water. It is much to be wished that some 
 person, with competent scientific knowledge and leisure, 
 would follow up Huddart’s experiments and investigations, 
 and establish the great principles which ought to regulate 
 the construction of our vessels. 
 
 Much has, no doubt, been lately done to improve ma¬ 
 rine architecture; but, I believe, it will be admitted, that it 
 still falls very far short of a science. It has been stated 
 that Huddart, at an early period of his life, became a ship- 
 
builder; and when at Bombay he instructed the Parsee, 
 Homangie Bomangie, in the art of ship-building ; and thus 
 introduced the principles of English ship-building into our 
 Indian empire. On his retirement from the service of 
 the East-India Company he engaged again in his favorite 
 pursuit, by laying down an experimental vessel at Mary port. 
 This vessel was afterwards fitted with a conical bow and 
 bows of other forms; and, by towing her under various 
 circumstances, he endeavoured to ascertain the resistance 
 resulting from the division of the fluid, and from the 
 cohesion of the water to the surface. The after lines of this 
 vessel were very fine, and were carried out in the rudder, 
 which had in consequence a fine edge. 
 
 Huddart’s attention had long been directed to ascertain 
 what proportion of the power, required to give velocity to 
 a body moving through water, was expended in overcoming 
 the friction of the fluid against its sides; and this he 
 endeavoured to ascertain, by towing a plane having the same 
 surface as the immersed part of the vessel, and at the same 
 velocity as he had towed the vessel itself. Planes of wood, 
 of painted sailcloth, metal and other substances, were used 
 for the purpose. The result proved what the superior 
 
16 
 
 sailing of copper-sheathed, over wood-sheathed vessels, had 
 exemplified, viz., that the friction was a considerable element 
 in the resistance. The velocity with which a fish, apparently 
 with little effort, darts past a fast-sailing ship, had frequently 
 attracted his notice; and he was of opinion, that this was 
 much aided by the great reduction of friction, caused by 
 the oil which exudes between the scales or from the skin of 
 the fish. 
 
 From the facts Huddart had thus with great care 
 acquired, he proceeded, by very elaborate drawings and 
 numerous calculations, to shew the lines which would offer 
 the least resistance; and as a fluid, when disturbed, has a 
 tendency to regain its natural position by the most direct 
 course, the lines were considered, not merely with reference 
 to their horizontal figure, but from one square frame to 
 the nearest distance of another. 
 
 A plane of mahogany, which he could adjust by screws 
 to a great variety of curves, with an application of floats at 
 a short distance from each other to indicate the resistance 
 and cohesion of the fluid, was suspended in the water 
 between two rafts, united above the water at each end. On 
 this raft, protected by a small wooden hut, Huddart passed 
 
17 
 
 much time, at an advanced age, observing the action of the 
 fluid; at times moored under an arch of a bridge over the 
 Thames in order to have the advantage of a stronger 
 current. 
 
 After a series of drawings and calculations, founded on 
 these experiments, he built another experimental vessel of 
 25 tons. In this vessel he was frequently experimenting, 
 until his age and infirmities rendered him unable to per¬ 
 severe. The lines of this vessel were, at that time, considered 
 very peculiar ; although they have since, in many instances, 
 been copied with advantage. Huddart placed the extreme 
 width near the centre of his vessel, and the bow and after 
 lines bore a much greater similarity to each other than, 
 before that time, had ever been attempted: and when, some 
 time after his death, the lines of the “Saucy Jack” American 
 privateer, which had so frequently escaped by her superior 
 sailing, were taken off, and compared with those of Hud- 
 dart’s vessel, their similarity was very apparent. 
 
 It was Huddart’s wish to have tried this vessel with a 
 coppered bottom in order to diminish the friction, as he 
 said her length made the friction an important item of 
 resistance; and when, after his decease, she was bought for 
 
 c 
 
18 
 
 a droger and coppered, the correctness of his observation 
 became apparent on her voyage to Madeira, where she 
 was unfortunately lost. 
 
 Hud dart gave his attention also to the mechanical 
 construction of ships; and submitted to the Admiralty 
 plans for strengthening the large men-of-war. This he 
 proposed should be done by means of trussed bulk-heads 
 to the kelson, very similar in principle to the trusses 
 which have since been found so effectual in the long steam- 
 vessels. He also laid down the frame of a line-of-battle 
 ship, which was submitted to the Admiralty, but was never 
 acted on. 
 
 I am well aware that it requires one far more deeply 
 conversant with the great principles of Huddart’s scientific 
 pursuits to do justice to his memory; but I am confident 
 that what I have ventured to say of them will be kindly 
 received. 
 
 I shall now proceed to a subject with which I am better 
 acquainted—his inventions for the manufacture of Cordage. 
 
 In such a mind as Captain Huddart’s the progress of 
 a discovery, and the means by which it is carried into 
 
19 
 
 practical operation, is not the sudden flash of an ingenious 
 thought, and the repetition of unsuccessful trials till the 
 means are discovered by which it can be realized, but that 
 steady advancement, which, founded on calm observation 
 of facts, is carried to perfection by diligent and persevering 
 study. 
 
 The history of Captain Huddart’s inventions for improving 
 the manufacture of cordage will exemplify the progress of 
 many of his other important works. 
 
 It was on a voyage from India to China, through the 
 straits of Sunda, when the ship he commanded was com¬ 
 pelled frequently to anchor, that, on heaving up the 
 anchor, Huddart’s attention was directed to the fact, that 
 many of the outer yarns of the cable were frequently bro¬ 
 ken ; and to his philosophical mind, the cause of this 
 circumstance became a subject of enquiry. On opening a 
 piece of cable, to ascertain the condition of the yarns, his 
 attention was forcibly directed to the construction of cor¬ 
 dage, and particularly to the fact, that the whole strain was 
 thrown on the exterior yarns of the strands, from the yarns 
 being originally of the same length; and the strand, in the 
 process of twisting, becoming shortened. The interior yarns 
 
20 
 
 being drawn up into kinks, and being loose, bore very little 
 of the strain applied to the rope, and in proportion to the 
 increased angle at which the strand was laid up and short¬ 
 ened, was the diminution in the strength of the rope in 
 proportion to its size. 
 
 It had long been known that a selvagee or yarns placed 
 parallel to each other was their strongest combination. But 
 a selvagee was absorbent of water; and Huddart’s enquiring 
 mind was, in consequence, directed to the means of giving 
 to each yarn its proportion of the strain on the rope, and at 
 the same time to render the combination impervious to 
 water. This he proposed to accomplish by giving to 
 each yarn its proportionate length according to the angle it 
 described, and its distance from the centre of the strand; 
 and on his return to England he constructed a machine 
 in his garden for the purpose of carrying his principle into 
 effect; and having practically demonstrated its correctness, 
 he then considered it desirable to take out a patent for his 
 invention, and to offer it to the public. His great principle 
 (concentric circles) was accomplished by what he called a 
 register plate, which gave to every yarn the same strain, 
 and its proper position in the strand, which was compressed 
 into the desired form through a tube. 
 
21 
 
 About this time several patents were taken out for the 
 improvement of cordage, and one of them by a Captain 
 Balfour for forming the strand over, what he called, a top 
 minor, was adopted in the king’s yards. But they have, 
 without exception, been superseded by Huddart’s plan ; and 
 are now generally adopted in other rope-grounds. 
 
 Captain Huddart having realized a property in the 
 service of the East-India Company, and being very mode¬ 
 rate in all his habits and desires, had no intention or 
 expectation of making any pecuniary advantage by his 
 invention, beyond a very moderate remuneration for his 
 trouble, and for the expense he had incurred; as it was 
 indeed his anxious wish to devote his whole time to scien¬ 
 tific pursuits. 
 
 With these feelings he offered his invention to the East- 
 India Company, whom he considered his patrons; and who 
 at that time, from their large marine, were deeply interested 
 in every improvement in articles of naval equipment. They 
 declined the offer, but encouraged the rope-makers in their 
 employ to accept it, and promised their patronage to those 
 who should do so. This was declined, from a natural 
 attachment to the old practices in their trade, the expense 
 
22 
 
 of the machinery, and the apprehension of disturbances 
 amongst their workmen if they introduced the steam-engine 
 into their works. 
 
 To the Government the invention was then offered, but 
 with similar success. It was referred by the Admiralty to 
 their practical officers, who were much prejudiced against 
 any improvement originating in the merchant service, and 
 particularly against machine-made rope, in consequence of 
 the failure of the plan already mentioned. But out of this 
 negociation originated the arrangement which secured to 
 the world the benefit of Huddart’s inventions, and the 
 inestimable advantage of his personal attention to carry it 
 into effect. 
 
 Huddart was so much disheartened by the little value set 
 on his improvement, that he was on the eve of departing 
 from London and devoting himself to other pursuits, 
 when one of the Lords of the Admiralty, (Admiral Gambier,) 
 who, as a sailor, understood and appreciated Huddart’s 
 plan, suggested that the only chance of its being fairly 
 tried was by the association of a few gentlemen into a 
 partnership or company, who should establish a new rope- 
 factory on Huddart’s principle. 
 
23 
 
 The great James Watt, in his most important of ail 
 inventions—the steam engine,—which has given value to 
 every subsequent one, found a Boulton to join him; and 
 Huddart found a Wigram, a Woolmore, and a Turner ready 
 to devote their capital and their commercial knowledge 
 and influence, in order to carry his inventions into effect. 
 They offered him a liberal remuneration if he would join 
 them, and give the benefit of his scientific knowledge in 
 the establishment of the requisite works and machinery. 
 He, in reply, stated his disinclination to engage in trade, 
 but would not consent to any risk being incurred by 
 others, in which he did not participate: and thus originated 
 the firm of “ Huddart and Co.,” each partner carrying into 
 the concern, besides his portion of capital, the talent and 
 power he possessed. 
 
 The Philosopher left his house at Highbury, where he 
 had erected an observatory, and many of his favorite 
 scientific occupations, and planted himself in a small 
 cottage near a farm at Limehouse; where a considerable 
 rope-making establishment was soon formed. The machi¬ 
 nery, being designed by Huddart, was made under his 
 direction. That machinery, and its progress, I will now 
 endeavour, as briefly as possible, to describe. 
 
24 
 
 I have already mentioned the register plate and tube; 
 these might be applied, and had been so by Huddart, 
 as they are now used in most of the rope-grounds in the 
 metropolis, by a machine travelling down the rope-ground, 
 and twisting the yarns into a strand as they were drawn 
 through the tube; but this did not satisfy his mathematical 
 mind, as he clearly perceived that the twist could not be 
 passed up a small elastic body like a strand, resting on a 
 number of bearers to the length of 150 fathoms, without 
 causing a great variation in the angle of the yarns, thus 
 making the strand irregular in strength and elasticity. 
 
 He, therefore, applied a registering machine, which 
 preserved the same distance from the tube from the com¬ 
 mencement to the end of the strand, some of which, as for 
 the rope for the Birmingham rail-road, have been 2500 
 fathoms in length without the least perceptible variation. 
 In this machine (beautiful drawings of which have been 
 executed for your Institution) the sun and planet wheels 
 were introduced, and by their connection with riggers 
 (which drew the yarns through the tube) the velocity of 
 which was regulated by shifting wheels according to the 
 size of the rope required, a definite length of strand was 
 
25 
 
 drawn through the tube for every revolution of the machine, 
 and a great regularity of angle in the yarns preserved. 
 
 The strand so formed was wound on a barrel or reel 
 within the machine, which was driven by friction, and thus 
 moved slower as the diameter increased, and a beautifully 
 constructed spiral moved a guide from side to side of the 
 reel, and laid the strand regularly upon it. 
 
 The yarns for the cordage, spun in the usual manner, 
 were wound singly from the winch on to bobbins by a 
 simple winding machine; and were then passed separately 
 through the tar, and wound on other bobbins placed on what 
 is called a tarring machine; these bobbins, being driven by 
 friction occasioned by their own weight and increased 
 diameter, as they filled, were ready for the registering- 
 machine. 
 
 The result of the experiments on the cordage thus con¬ 
 structed was most satisfactory; and each yarn having its 
 proper duty assigned it, a 7-inchrope, so formed, was found 
 double the strength of a 7-inch rope, made the old way. 
 
 Having thus carried into successful operation his great 
 principle of an uniform distribution of strain to every 
 yarn, Huddart directed his attention to further improve- 
 
 D 
 
26 
 
 merits. And it occurred to his powerful mind, that some 
 portion of the additional strain which was thrown on 
 the exterior yarns of the strands in the process of twisting 
 them into a rope, in order to prevent the centre yarns from 
 bearing an undue strain, might be avoided by making the 
 strand more compact and less compressible; and other ad¬ 
 vantages he also contemplated when he took out his patent 
 for warm registering, or forming the yarns into a strand as 
 they came out of the tar-kettle. In forming strands from 
 yarn which had previously been tarred, the compactness of 
 the strand was effected by the rigidity of the yarns either 
 from a low temperature or other cause ; and in order to 
 render them impervious to water, it was necessary to register 
 them at a higher angle, and this, as I need not explain, 
 unavoidably reduced their strength. 
 
 Having thus formed perfect strands, he directed his 
 attention to the means possessed of forming them into 
 a rope; which was at that time accomplished, in making 
 a large cable, by the combined power of 70 or 80 men; 
 one gang twisting the ropes into a cable, and three other 
 gangs twisting each of the three ropes, and giving them 
 the requisite counter turns. The force by which the ropes 
 
27 
 
 were compressed together being a sledge, weighted accor¬ 
 ding to the size of the rope 
 
 Any deficiency in the action of these gangs of men, or 
 irregular movement of the sledge, rendered the rope 
 imperfect; and, in order to err on the safe side, too much 
 twist and pressure were generally given to the cables, which 
 made them rigid and difficult to coil, and in some degree 
 affected their strength. 
 
 Thus, notwithstanding the great increase in the strength 
 of Huddart’s rope had been obtained by the registering 
 machine, by which every yarn had its proper length, po¬ 
 sition, and duty to perform, there was still a defect. By 
 constructing a Laying Machine, which carried out his 
 principle, he gave the same length and twist to every strand, 
 and a uniform angle and pressure to the rope or cable; 
 which was thus completed without the uncertainty of 
 manual labor, necessarily attendant upon the exertions of 
 a large number of persons in separate gangs. 
 
 The beautiful drawings of Huddart’s laying machine, 
 which have been executed at your request for the Institu¬ 
 tion, will explain better than any words of mine the means 
 by which he accomplished this accuracy of construction in 
 the rope or cable. 
 
28 
 
 The principle of the sun and planets which had been 
 applied in the registering machines, to give a determinate 
 motion to the wheels within for every revolution round the 
 sun or fixed wheel, was again applied to the laying machine. 
 Three machines, on each of which a strand was wound, 
 revolved round a centre pillar, on which a sun-wheel was 
 fixed, and which communicated with a wheel attached 
 to each machine, and gave the same requisite counter 
 turn to each strand, when, by revolving round a common 
 centre, they were twisted into a rope or cable, a regulated 
 length of which was drawn away for every revolution 
 of the machine; thus preserving a uniform angle from end 
 to end of the rope or cable. 
 
 Each strand from the reel or cylinder on which it was 
 wound passed over two riggers united by equal wheels, and 
 so formed as to prevent any slipping of the strand ; and the 
 riggers on each machine were united by a combination of 
 wheels to one wheel on the centre of the pillar, so as 
 effectually to prevent any one strand being longer than 
 another in the rope; a resistance to the movement of this 
 centre wheel was given by a friction block attached to it, 
 the pressure being regulated by a spring giving a uniform 
 
29 
 
 tension and compression to the strands as they were formed 
 into a rope or cable. 
 
 Instead of the twist being passed up an elastic body 130 
 fathoms in length, the same length of strand and rope were 
 exposed to the action of the machine, and the tension of the 
 strands by the friction block was uniform in its operation, 
 instead of the irregularity of the sledge, which, requiring 
 more power to put it in motion than to keep it moving, 
 gave an occillating pressure to the rope. 
 
 In order to put the heavy machinery in motion without 
 retarding the steam-engine, or give a sudden velocity to 
 the machinery, Huddart early constructed a friction 
 block, the power of which was regulated by a spring 
 adjusted by a screw; by which he was able to give a grad¬ 
 ual movement to a machine, which required a 5 or 6-horse 
 power to keep it in motion, without any risk to the shafts 
 and wheels, or inconvenience to the engine. 
 
 Huddart’s views were carried out with the full 
 concurrence and assistance of his partners; no expense 
 being grudged which he deemed necessary. But it should 
 be observed, that Huddart was always scrupulous of 
 increasing expense when it was to fall on others; and few 
 
30 
 
 manufactories, on a large scale, were ever formed in which 
 so little unsatisfactory expense was incurred by the work 
 being done twice over; and for this advantage the partners 
 were as much indebted to Huddart’s indefatigable industry, 
 as to his scientific knowledge. 
 
 Every machine, before its construction was commenced, 
 was accurately laid down on paper. The size of the reels 
 and the other parts for holding the rope was fully ascer¬ 
 tained, in order that there might be no unnecessary space in 
 the machine, and unnecessary power required to drive it, 
 and the strength of every part was determined by accurate 
 calculations. 
 
 Huddart not only determined the principles on which 
 his machinery was to be constructed, but he performed 
 the duty of a skilful and ingenious mechanic. He was 
 his own draftsman, and the superintendent of the work 
 under execution When a registering machine was to be 
 made by one of the most skilful engineers and mechanics 
 of his day, various schemes were considered for improving 
 the construction; but they ended in the conviction, that it 
 was best to adhere to that which had been laid down by 
 Huddart. 
 
31 
 
 The laying machine, weighing nearly 20 tons and resting 
 entirely on one bearing, has long been considered one of the 
 most beautiful pieces of machinery in the world for the per¬ 
 fect proportion of its parts, and the gracefulness of its motion. 
 This first laying machine was constructed from Captain 
 Huddart’s drawings, and principally during his absence 
 from London; and when set to work, no alteration was 
 found necessary, except the substitution of rollers on a qua¬ 
 drant on the top of each machine, instead of horizontal 
 rollers, over which the strand had to pass, in order that the 
 surface of the rollers might move in the same direction as 
 the surface of the strand, and prevent that friction from the 
 adhesive nature of tar which had a tendency to throw the 
 strand off the roller. And when a second laying machine 
 was made by Huddart, and a third after his death, ex¬ 
 perience and consideration did not suggest any deviation 
 from his plans, or any material alteration in their execution. 
 
 The introduction of chain cables, and the abandonment 
 of the large ships in the East-India Company’s service, for 
 which and for the Navy these machines were constructed; 
 the difficulty which was experienced in entering into a 
 competition for a supply of cordage, when more attention, 
 by the majority of consumers, was given to price than to 
 
32 
 
 quality, induced all the partners but myself to retire from 
 the business, and I have now availed myself of an offer, 
 made by the Admiralty, to transfer Huddart’s machinery 
 to one of the Royal Dock-yards, where alone it can be 
 adequately employed, and where I trust it will long continue 
 a useful monument of the Inventor’s Scientific Knowledge. 
 
 From my connection in business with Captain Huddart 
 L have enjoyed many advantages : but much fewer, I fear, 
 than I should have done, had I been prepared to receive all 
 the information he was able and willing to give me. But 
 I have ever had prominently in view one advantage, that it 
 has brought me into frequent communication with men of 
 science and high attainments; and it has now been the 
 occasion of bringing me to the notice of your important 
 Institution, and has led you to request that I would submit 
 to its members these observations; which request I feel to 
 be an honor, although I am sensible that I have very 
 inadequately complied with it. 
 
 I have the honor to be. My dear Sir, 
 
 Ever sincerely yours, 
 
 WILLIAM COTTON. 
 
 To James Walker , Esq. F.R.S. 
 
 President, of the Institution of Civil Engineers , 
 
 Sfc. 8fc. Sfc. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 Page 4. 
 
 Hud dart always retained a taste for music; and 
 when, at an advanced period of life, (about 74,) he went into 
 Limehouse Church, his animated expression of delight proved how 
 much he enjoyed the music of the fine organ, on which a lady was 
 performing. 
 
 Page 7. 
 
 Mr. Lamont expressed himself highly pleased with 
 Captain Huddart’s Chart of the Western Coast and Islands of 
 Scotland. He said, “As to Captain Huddart’s results in latitude 
 et and longitude and my humble attempts, nothing ever afforded me 
 u more genuine satisfaction than the almost incredible coincidence 
 “ of our two observations at a distant period, the observers being 
 “ total strangers to each other; insomuch that, of the ten or eleven 
 “ different positions which he settled in Scotland, and which are in- 
 eluded in very nearly five hundred that I have observed, none differ 
 “ equal to the breadth of the lines usually drawn on maps or charts.” 
 
 E 
 
34 
 
 Page 9. 
 
 Governor Hornby offered to Captain Huddart the 
 appointment of ‘Superintendent of the Naval Establishment at 
 Bombay/ 
 
 Page 16. 
 
 The plane of mahogany, about 12 feet long and 
 about 30 inches broad, was suspended in the water, so as to be 
 nearly immersed, between two rafts, and was held against the 
 stream by a steelyard, shewing its resistance to the current. To 
 the interior surface of the plane, perpendicular tubes were attached, 
 at short distances from each other; a hole was made through each 
 tube and the plane,—that from one tube being opposed to the cur- 
 rent,—that in the next being in the direction of it In each of 
 these tubes there was a cork float with a light piece of wood 
 attached, rising above the top of the tube; and the rise or depres¬ 
 sion of these pieces of wood indicated the altered resistance and 
 cohesion of the fluid, as the plane was adjusted to different curves. 
 
 Page 21. 
 
 Through life Huddart was very moderate in all his 
 habits, except in smoking, which he had been recommended to 
 resort to in early life, and which he continued to his last illness. 
 He said it helped him to think; and, when his mind was deeply 
 
35 
 
 engaged in solving some difficult question, both smoker and pipe 
 appeared for a long time to be at rest, until, having brought his 
 thoughts to a satisfactory conclusion, he poured forth a cloud of 
 smoke, and then was attentive to his companion or anything that 
 was passing before him. 
 
 Until late in life he had no carriage, and was fond 
 of walking exercise; and when he had one, it was rather the 
 coachman’s carriage than his own. All his domestic arrangements 
 were of the simplest character. He had a lad in his house, whom 
 he instructed to be useful to him in all his Astronomical and Ma¬ 
 thematical pursuits; who would attend to any friend’s horse who 
 called on him,—would bring up dinner or tea and then partake 
 of it along with his master,—join him in a rubber at whist, and 
 then go with him into the observatory to register observations. 
 Huddart was a very early riser, his dinner being sometimes over 
 before the ordinary breakfast hour of others. To every one, 
 even those of the humblest station who were of good character 
 and intelligence, he was very kind and hospitable, making the 
 ingenious and modest mechanic welcome and comfortable at his 
 table. 
 
 On one occasion, when walking with a young Friend and 
 talking to him on the recent discoveries in Astronomy by Arago, 
 accounting for the irregular motion of the moon, he observed, 
 that every apparent difficulty in lunar observations appeared to be 
 
36 
 
 removed ; and that, except in the discovery of some additional planet 
 or star, he thought little could be expected from Astronomical 
 observation, except to raise our admiration of the wonders of 
 creation, and to exalt our reverence for the Creator. 
 
 Page 23. 
 
 Huddart’s Equatorial Instrument, made with his 
 own hand or under his own immediate direction and superinten¬ 
 dence, which had cost only six hundred pounds, was purchased 
 at the sale of his effects by Sir James South, who considers it 
 superior, for astronomical observations, to one constructed abroad 
 which cost six thousand pounds. Astronomers and Astronomical 
 Instrument Makers have often expressed a great desire to examine 
 the construction or framing of the tube of this instrument, in 
 order to ascertain how Huddart had succeeded in preventing any 
 vibration; but this, Sir James South, who is justly proud of his 
 possession, has never permitted, for fear of derangement of any of 
 the parts. 
 
 Page 25. 
 
 Previously to the formation of Huddart’s Ropery at 
 Limehouse, no means had been adopted for determining, with 
 accuracy, the heat of the tar. Those who were in the habit of 
 superintending the process of tarring the yarn formed their opinion 
 
37 
 
 of the heat of the tar by its appearance, and by spitting on it. This 
 did not satisfy Iluddart; and having, by various experiments, 
 ascertained what heat was requisite, in order to tar every fibre of 
 the hemp, he gradually raised the heat of the tar to 400 degrees, 
 when it entirely destroyed the strength of the hemp. He then had 
 a copper tube, closed at the bottom, fixed in the heated tar, and 
 reaching down nearly to the bottom of the tar-kettle; in which 
 tube a thermometer was suspended, indicating correctly the heat of 
 the tar, which the workman was directed to keep at a temperature 
 between 212 and 220 of Fahrenheit. 
 
 Page 29. 
 
 When Huddart was upwards of 70 years of age, and 
 was greatly interested in the construction of the laying machines, 
 he was anxious to determine what effect was produced on the angle 
 of the strand as laid in the rope, by the elasticity of the strand, 
 about 3 feet long between the machines and the point where the 
 strands were united together; and he was seen sitting on the top of 
 the machine, which was moving round at a considerable velocity, 
 with a piece of chalk in his hand, and holding it against one of the 
 strands in order to mark the spiral, formed by the revolution of 
 the strand and its motion up to the spot where it was to be united 
 to the other strands. His mind was so absorbed by the object he 
 had in view T , that he was quite unconscious of any danger. 
 
38 
 
 Extract from Muirhead's Life of Watt , page 6 vol. 1. 
 
 “James Walker, Esq. so eminent by his own great 
 “ works of civil engineering, as well as by his acquaintance with all 
 “that has been done in the past history of his profession, has re- 
 “ marked, that Watt and Huddart were indeed kindred spirits. I 
 “ have seen them, he adds, together, and at the same time; and 
 “ since, I have often thought, that never were two men better paired 
 
 “ in person and bearing as well as in mind ! ”- Address of the 
 
 President of the Institution of Civil Engineers to the Annual 
 General Meeting , \lth January, 1643. 
 
 Since the above Extract was made, I have received the 
 following Letter from Mr. Walker. 
 
 “23, Great George Street , Westminster , 
 “ 18 th July , 1855. 
 
 t( My dear Sir , 
 
 “ As you ask more particularly the grounds of the opinion 
 J expressed in my Address from the Chair of the Institution of 
 Civil Engineers in 1843, of the similarity in the characters of Watt 
 and Huddart , I will now make a few observations in proof of it. 
 
 “ I could not boast of the intimate acquaintance and friend¬ 
 ship with Huddart which you enjoyed , although I knew him much 
 better than I did Watt; but I have always looked upon them as the 
 two greatest mechanical and practical Philosophers of my time — 
 
39 
 
 a pair of giants mentally. Watt's great discoveries in the applica¬ 
 tion and economy of Steam have been attended with consequences 
 very much greater than any invention of Huddart, or perhaps oj 
 any other individual; hut had the Allonhy Cobbling and Cow-herd 
 Boy been bred, like the Carsedyhe Boy, a Mathematical Instrument 
 Maker; and had the Glasgow College Model of Newcomen's Steam 
 Engine been, by good chance, placed in his hands for repair, with 
 such men as Black and Robison to confer with and to encourage him, 
 I think there is the probability, to say the least, that he would not 
 have let the model out of his hands without observing the waste of 
 steam, nor out of his head without discovering the remedy by a 
 separate condenser. In saying this, I must not be accused of wish¬ 
 ing to lessen the splendour of Watt's great discovery, or the resources 
 of his inventive mind, which have lately been so well brought out by 
 Mr. Muirhead's publication. All I aim at is to place Huddart by 
 his side. The Rope Machine was entirely the creature of Huddart's 
 own brain; for nothing worthy of the name of machinery had before 
 been applied to Rope-making; and yet, without the power of the 
 Steam-engine, it would have been comparatively useless; so here 
 we have the great inventions of Watt and Huddart acting together 
 to make the perfect Machine. 
 
 “ I have always considered that part of the machinery for 
 uniting the strands into a rope, and the rope into a cable, which yon 
 have so well described , as perhaps the most magnificent machine T 
 
40 
 
 have ever seen,—so large, so powerful,—so grand and rapid, yet so 
 quiet in its movements and operations,—all made, as you say, from 
 his own designs and drawings, and as perfect when it first started 
 as when, years after, I saw and admired it. The motion of the 
 various parts in different directions, the various speeds with 
 which they turned upon their own axes, and all carried round upon 
 the huge frame, which also had its circular motion round its own 
 axis, while it revolved round a common centre, often put me in mind 
 of a large well adjusted Orrery. It was this feeling of admiration 
 and conviction of practical utility that led me to direct the attention 
 of the Admiralty to it, which ended in a purchase by their Lordships. 
 I am sorry to see that the result has been such as you describe; but, 
 as you have recovered all the parts, a hope may still be entertained 
 that these grand machines may be again seen in operation. This was 
 Huddart's Great Machine. His Observatory no doubt contains 
 instruments made by his own hands equally ingenious, such as the 
 Equatorial, of which Sir James South is naturally so jealous. 
 
 “ Again. While Huddart's sea-going habits led his great 
 mind to the study of Astronomy and Ship-building, Watt's early 
 associations and employments rendered the study of Chemistry as well 
 as Mechanics a favorite pursuit. Both the Philosophers were also 
 Surveyors : Watt made the first survey for an inland navigation of 
 the line of what is now the Caledonian Canal. Huddart surveyed 
 not only St. George's Channel, (a much more extensive and arduous 
 
41 
 
 work,) the chart of which , as you observe, is still considered the best 
 yet published, but made also many other surveys, the charts from 
 which are highly valuable. 
 
 “ Both Huddart aud Watt were also Civil Engineers. You 
 have given proofs of this as respects the former in your letter. 
 
 “ My Uncle, ( Mr . Ralph Walker,)—the designer of the West 
 and East-India Bocks in this Port,—was his intimate friend, and 
 entei'tained the highest opinion of his character and abilities. I 
 never heard him speak of any cotemporary Engineer with the same 
 enthusiasm. And your excellent Father, the Promoter and first 
 Chairman of the East-India Bock Company, and my Uncle s steady 
 patron and friend, had, I am sure, the same opinion . 
 
 “ The excellent portrait of Huddart, by Hopner, which teas 
 presented to me, when President, by Mr. Turner , remains in the 
 Meeting-room of the Institution. 
 
 “ 1 am, my dear Sir, 
 
 “ Faithfully Yours , 
 
 “ JA MES WA LKER.' 
 
 “ To William Cotton, Esq . F.R.S., B.C.L. 
 
 Spc. Spc. Spc.” 
 
 LONDON : SCHOOL-PRESS, GOWEll’s WALK, WHITECHAPEL. 
 
 F 
 

 
 
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