382

MILL-SAWS.

for expression of the same sense : he commends the beantyof its marble, whilst Pliny speaks of its different kinds:the fonner viewed it as an architect, whilst the latter in-spected it as a naturalist. It certainly does also appearfrom other writers, that the harder and precious kinds ofstones were cut in the same manner, as Pliny speaks of abuilding adorned with agate, cornelian, lapis-lazuli, andamethysts. Yet there is no mention made of milts forcutting wood; or, admitting they had been invented, it isprobable they shared the fate of many other ancient inven-tions: had been forgotten, or else some considerable modernimprovement had been made in their construction.

Since the time of their first invention, they have beenerected in various parts of Europe , and even carried intoand beyond the Atlantic Ocean . There appears to havebeen one erected in the vicinity of Augsburg, as early as1337; at Erlinger, in 1417.

Upon the discovery of the isle of Madeira, in 1420, theInfant Henry sent settlers to that island, and causedEuropean fruits of every kind to be carried there, andamongst other European productions, saw-mills, and othermachinery, to cut the valuable timber found there intoportable pieces, which were afterwards transported to Por-tugal. In 1724, the city of Breslau had a saw-mill, whichproduced the yearly rent of three marks. 3 In 14f>0, themagistrates of Erfurt purchased a forest, and built a mill ofthis description. In Aorway, a country covered with wood,there was one built in 1530. This mode of manufacture wascalled the new art; and because the exportation of deals wasby that means increased, a royal impost was introduced byChristian III . in 1545, called the deal-tythe. Soon afterwards,Henry Ranzau caused the first mill to be built in Holstein. Inthe year 1555, the Bishop of Ely being ambassador from thePrincess Mary of England to the court of Rome, saw asaw-mill in the neighbourhood of Lyons: the writer of histravels thought it worth particular description:—“The“saw-mill is driven with an upright wheel; and the water“ that maketh it go, is gathered whole into a narrow trough,“ which delivereth the same water to the wheels. This“ wheel hath a piece of timber put to the axle-tree end,“ like the handle of a brooch, and fastened to the end of the“ saw, which being turned with the force of the water,

* Peritsol’s Itinera Mundi, printed with T. Hyde’s annotations, in UgoJino,Tliesaur. antiquitatum sacrarum, vol. vii. Venctiis, 1747.