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[Page 146]
Wed[nesda]y 6 Jan. Till to-day I have been working late every night at the steam plough & have now at last got a scheme on paper. I rec[eive]d a sketch from Fowler this morning in which he places the drums between the wheels & drives with a universal joint, but in considering this over I am convinced it has too many drawbacks to answer.
R Rapier has determined to take the job of draughtsman at Ransomes which I offered to Berkeley_
Jem Foggan has also agreed to take the foreman’s job at Burrills of Thetford & I have written to those firms to that effect.
William Dixon one of our premium apprentices died
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of brain fever in his lodgings about three weeks ago.
Jenning’s [sic] engine, for which I made a new arrangement of pipes, with governor, has been tried: at first it did very badly from the large size of the governor valve, & the long distance of the throttle valve from the engine.
Boring a few (6) ¼” holes in the valve, has cured it in a great measure, by preventing it cutting the steam dead off _ We are going to put a smaller valve in.
The saw mill engine has been started & does well she only wants a cataract.
I am now busy finishing up the drawings of 86 Shotley engines, & waiting till Mr Stephenson comes
