I have worked two days at one and spoiled it, principally from the want of steadiness." For Watt, it must be remembered, was now a very old man.
He then proceeded to send Murdock the drawing of a "parallel motion for the machine," to be executed by the workmen at Soho.

The truss braces and the crosses were to be executed of steel, according to the details he enclosed.

"I have warmed up," he concludes, "an old idea, and can make a machine in which the pentagraph and the leading screw will all be contained in the beam, and the pattern and piece to be cut will remain at rest fixed upon a lath of cast iron or stout steel." Watt is very particular in all his details: "I am sorry," he says in one note, "to trouble you with so many things; but the alterations on this spindle and socket [he annexes a drawing] may wait your convenience." In a further note, Watt says.

"The drawing for the parallel lathe is ready; but I have been sadly puzzled about the application of the leading screws to the cranes in the other.

I think, however, I have now got the better of the difficulties, and made it more certain, as well as more simple, than it was.