I would propose as the best mode of altering the motion of the wheels to alter the cog wheels & to leave the sun and planet wheels as they were—this will give the proper motion to the fly & diminish the friction. Let the cog wheels be made smaller and have no more cogs than the trunnel rounds, or only so many more as will serve to give the motion we require. Nor will this alteration be attended with more trouble than the one at first proposed; but even if it is, it is so essential to give the flys a rapid motion that we must, now we have gone so far, submit to this trouble and expense to have this experiment properly made. _I say nothing on the subject of_ WHEELS OVER THE SIDES _as I am perfectly convinced from a variety of experiments of the superiority of those we have adopted_. I expect to be down the last of this month when I shall see you & make such money arrangements as we may find necessary. In the meantime I hope to hear how you go on. I flatter myself no delay will be incurred which can possibly be avoided, every moment being precious. Mr. Mark will I hope forward this to you the moment it arrives, so that the necessary alterations may be made before you proceed far on any difficult plan. I am very much hurt that you should construe any part of my former letters into a reflection on your candour. I am sure that nothing of this kind was ever intended & I flatter myself that if you attend a little more to the expressions (tho: I cannot now recollect them) that they will not bear this harsh construction.[4] I am dear Sir, with esteem, your most ob: hum: servt: ROB. R. LIVINGSTON. N. J. ROOSEVELT TO R. R. LIVINGSTON. Experiment made & Opinion of the Spanish Minister—Again Coaxes to have Vertical Wheels tried. Second River, _Oct. 21st, 1798_. Dear Sir, I dropped you a line in haste on Friday last, since which I received your favour of the 10th: the person to whom you gave it in charge did not put it in the post office until yesterday. Your instructions therefore came too late for the rims, as they had by your former request been left off and no bad consequence has resulted. I have not yet seen Mr. Stevens, but have been expecting him every day, as he requested me by letter to inform him what time we would be ready, which I did. Had I received your letter sooner I would also have sent to see if Mr. Mouchet was still at N. Ark & requested him to come up.