"I am in receipt of yours of the 22nd inst. Mr. Giddy informs me that Mr. Fox and Mr. Williams are to have 2_s._ 6_d._ per ton for making the breakwater at Plymouth, and he considers that they can do it for 2_s._, which he thought would give them 50,000_l._ profit. If you meet those gentlemen, I have to caution you not to LEARN THEM anything until you make a bargain, as I know Mr. Williams will endeavour to learn all he can and then you may go whistle. "If 6_d._ per ton will give 50,000_l._ profit, a halfpenny per ton would give upwards of 4000_l._ Would they agree to give you that for your labour only? However, this will depend in a great measure on the time it will take in doing. If it takes eight years it would be 500_l._ a year for you (according to Mr. Giddy's calculation). "Your well-wisher, "HENRY HARVEY. "MR. RD. TREVITHICK, _Camborne_." Mr. Harvey knew Trevithick's weakness in money matters. Rennie had been employed to report on the proposed Plymouth Breakwater, and in 1811 was desired by Lord Melville, the head of the Admiralty, to proceed with the work. "The price paid in 1812 for taking and depositing rubble in the breakwater was 2_s._ 9_d._ per ton; it was afterwards reduced to 1_s._ per ton. A piece of ground was purchased from the Duke of Bedford at Oreston, up the Catwater, containing 25 acres of limestone, well adapted for the purposes of the work; and steps were taken to open out the quarry, to lay down railways to the wharves, to erect cranes."[6] The idea of the plan to be followed in conveying stone with greater economy and dispatch than was contemplated by Rennie, originated with Trevithick, while the former received the credit and the pay, as he before had done with the steam-dredger. [Footnote 6: 'Lives of the Engineers,' by Smiles, vol. ii., p. 260.] [Rough draft.] "MR. FOX Jun., "CAMBORNE, _January 29th, 1813_.