290

MOTIVE POWER EMPLOYED

mechanical action, and the same law extendsto their application upon Rail-roads.

After the observations I have previously made,respecting- the use of loco-motive engines, andthe principles of their construction, it will bescarcely necessary for me to say, that I deem themworthy of attention; and that I think they willultimately be made generally useful, and beextended, on suitable lines of road, in prefer-ence to horses, in the conveyance of goodsalong Rail-roads: I must, however, beg leaveto state, that 1 am far from believing theyare at present arrived at any way near toa state of perfection; on the contrary, Ithink them far from perfect: the most ridi-culous ideas have been formed, and circu-lated, of their powers; and though I am ofopinion, when made the subject of attentionamongst engineers, they will advance in im-provement like other machines, they must as yethe considered only in their infancy, and as nothaving reached beyond the trammels of preju-dice. It is far from my wish to promulgate tothe world that the ridiculous expectations, orrather professions, of the enthusiastic speculistwill be realised, and that we shall see themtravelling at the rate of 12, 16, 18, or 20 milesan hour: nothing could do more harm towardstheir adoption, or general improvement, than