"I remain, Sir, "Your humble servant, "RICHARD TREVITHICK." In 1804 an 8-inch cylinder high-pressure puffer-engine, with steam of 48 lbs. to the inch, worked a large hammer as well as a 28-inch cylinder atmospheric engine, and more economically than a Watt low-pressure steam vacuum engine with an 18-inch cylinder, which was five times as large as the little high-pressure. In consequence of this superiority those who came to witness the trial ordered several more of Trevithick's engines, one of which with a 15-inch cylinder and 6-feet stroke was to be at work in a few weeks. Watt wrote to Mr. Homfray "that he could not make any of his experiments in strong steam answer the purpose," and Trevithick declared Watt never could have tried any experiments with high steam. Dixon refused to pay patent right because the words of Mr. Watt's specification, "in cases where cold water cannot be had in plenty, the engines may be wrought by the force of steam only, by discharging the steam into the open air after it has done its office," "are enough to indemnify him." Eminent counsel were of opinion that "the words in Watt's specification will have no weight whatever." Marratt and Gibbs were inclined to rest on the difference in the construction of the two kinds of engines, while Erskine boldly said that the principle was different, and he cared little for the kind of construction. The admission by Watt that he could do nothing with high steam after an experience of thirty years from the date of his patent, shows how difficult the work was to those who had to find the way; yet Trevithick had several at work within a few months of his first mental sight of a steam-engine without condensing water, fitful glimpses of which passed and repassed while he sat unobserved in the crowded law court in 1796 hearing the remarks of engineers and counsel. "The public until now called me a scheming fellow, but their tone is much altered. An engine is ordered for the West India Docks, to travel itself from ship to ship, to unload and to take up the goods to the upper floors of the storehouses. "Boulton and Watt have strained every nerve to get a Bill in the House to stop these engines, saying the lives of the public are endangered by them, and I have no doubt they would have carried their point, if Mr. Homfray had not gone to London to prevent it; in consequence of which an engineer from Woolwich was ordered down, and one from the Admiralty Office, to inspect and make trial of the strength of the materials."[63] [Footnote 63: See Trevithick's letter, 22nd February, 1804, vol. i., p. 161.] After a week or two another letter states,[64]-- "We are preparing to get the materials ready for the experiments by the London engineers, who are to be here on Sunday next. We have fixed up 28 feet of 18-inch pumps for the engine to lift water.