“My original ideas on this subject were prior to my invention of the improved engines, or before the crank or any other rotative motions were thought of. My plan then was to have two inverted cylinders with toothed racks instead of piston rods, which were to be applied to the ratchet wheels on the axletree, and to act alternately; and I am partly of opinion that this method might be applied with advantage yet, because it needs no fly, and has other conveniences. “From what I have said, and from much more which a little reflection will suggest to you, you will see that without several circumstances turn out more favourable than has been stated, the machine will be clumsy and defective, and that it will cost much time to bring it to any tolerable degree of perfection; and that for me to attempt to interrupt the career of my business to bestow any attention to it, would be imprudent. I even grudge the time I have taken to write these comments on it.” Boulton was accordingly recommended in the first place to endeavour to dissuade Murdock from pursuing the subject further, but if he could not succeed in that, rather than lose him, he was to let him have an advance to the extent of 100_l._, to enable him to prosecute his experiments; and if within a year he succeeded in making an engine capable of drawing a postchaise carrying two ordinary persons and the driver, with 200 lbs. of luggage, fuel for four hours, and water for two hours, going at the rate of four miles an hour, then a partnership was to be entered into, in which Boulton and Watt were to find the capital, and Murdock was to conduct the business and take his share of the profits. Murdock, however, had so many urgent matters to attend to, that, sanguine though he continued to be as to the success of his scheme, he could not find time to pursue it. He was a man after Boulton’s own heart, unsparing of himself and indefatigable in whatsoever he undertook; nor was Boulton sparing of praises of him in his confidential letters to Watt.