Through the influence of Mr. Whitworth, we received an order from Trinity House, which is the British lighthouse board, for two engines to drive the machinery of an electric light. The English and the French governments each made an exhibit of such a light, at the summit of a high tower. The current was produced by rapidly revolving magnets, a large number of which were set in a wheel. Everything in this English exhibit was in duplicate. The requirement was that either engine should drive either or both electric machines. This involved the use of four clutches and a lot of gearing. I measured the power required by one machine, at the works in London where they were made, indicating their shop engine with the light on and with the light off. To make sure I repeated this three times. I found that one of my engines, 6×12 inches, non-condensing, at 300 revolutions per minute, would drive the two machines, with the steam pressure we were to have, I think 70 pounds, and cut off at one quarter of the stroke, while it was capable of following five eighths of the stroke. So two of these engines were furnished. The exposition was well advanced before this machinery was ready for its trial. A large crowd had assembled to witness it. With both machines on, the engines could only crawl along. The superintendent of the British mechanical section ordered one machine taken off. There was very little improvement. Then this royal engineer, detailed from the army, and whose qualifications for his position consisted in absolute ignorance of anything mechanical, declared the trial finished, and strutted off with the remark, “There has been a great blunder made here in providing the power.” The men in charge of the machinery looked at me quite speechless. I asked them to throw off the other machine also. This was done, when it appeared that both engines, with steam following five eighths of the stroke--for I had indicators on both of them to show it--could not drive the gearing, except at a snail’s pace. They were then driven to examine the gearing for resistances, and found the teeth wedged in the spaces throughout. This gearing was removed and proper running gears substituted for it, and after ten days’ delay away went the engines at full speed. On this second trial one engine could drive both machines, cutting off at one-quarter stroke, precisely as my measurement of the power had shown. They then ran perfectly through the exposition and were accepted by Trinity House. Did the superintendent apologize to me for his hasty judgment or congratulate me on my success? He never made the slightest allusion to it.