"Sir,--Yours of the 17th April I received about twenty days since, and from that time to the present have been in treaty with Messrs. Plummer, Barham, and Co., for your engine. We have now closed for an engine complete, of the power of twelve mules at a time, with suitable duplicates, chains, &c., for 210_l._ I very much wish for your engine to be set to work by your own workmen, to show the planters the simplicity and easy management of the machine, and also save the expense of an engineer, which will tend to promote their use. The engine will be set to work before it is sent off, and every possible care taken to execute it in the most perfect order. From the experience I have had with common labourers keeping these engines in order, since I wrote to you, I have no doubt you will get on satisfactorily. "I hope to get the engine ready in five or six weeks, but I fear there will be loss of time in shipping it. You may rest assured that I will spare no time or attention to promote the performance of this engine. I am so far satisfied with the probability of its fully answering your purpose that I voluntarily offered Messrs. Plummer, Barham, and Co., that if you return it to me for working repairs within four years, I will refund the whole of the sum I am to receive for it. I will take particular care to mark every part and send you a full description. "Enclosed I send you a sketch of the engine attached to a sugar-mill. Please write to me by return of the packet; it may be in time, before the engine is shipped, to alter, or send you such things as I may not be acquainted with. I shall be glad to know the number of yards your mules travel in an hour when going at what you call a fair speed, in the mill, and also what number of rounds you wish the centre roll to make in an hour when worked by the engine. "I remain, Sir, "Your very humble servant, "RD. TREVITHICK. "R. W. PICKWOOD, Esq., "_St. Kitts, West Indies_." These are not the remarks of an uncertain schemer; every sentence having the impress of the ability and fixed intention of perfecting the work, and the belief that the simplicity of the engine would enable a common labourer to use it. [Rough draft.] "SIR CH. HAWKINS, Bart., "CAMBORNE, _5th July, 1812_. "Sir,--If your friend Mr. Trecothick intends to have a sugar-mill engine immediately finished and sent out with the one I am now making for Mr. Pickwood, he ought not to lose any time in giving his orders. I have made inquiry at Falmouth about sending out Mr. Pickwood's engine for St. Kitts on board a packet, which would save much time, but I fear it cannot be granted unless application is made by some person of note to the Post Office in London. Mr. Banfield of Falmouth told me that if application was made to send out a model as a trial, he had no doubt but it would be granted.