I have done an excellent head of John Hunter in hard white in shorter time than usual.

I want to show it you before I repair it." At last Watt seems to have become satisfied: "The lathe," he says, "is very much improved, and you seem to have given the finishing blow to the roofed frame, which appears perfectly stiff.

I had some hours' intense thinking upon the machine last night, and have made up my mind on it at last.

The great difficulty was about the application of the band, but I have settled it to be much as at present." Watt's letters to Murdock are most particular in details, especially as to screws, nuts, and tubes, with strengths and dimensions, always illustrated with pen-and-ink drawings.

And yet all this was done merely for mechanical amusement, and not for any personal pecuniary advantage.