| Description | [They tried their engine for the first time, although not all parts were ready. They were pleased with its performance].
to James Watt Rotterdam, 15 March 1776
I never should have thought that I was the first of us both, which would give one another good advice of the good issue of our several undertakings; following your promise by your agreable favour of July last. I expect since two or three months to know the particulars of the sise and power of some Engines, which you was about erecting in that time, and which you expected to be completed in about four months after. I doubt not, but that she will have been completed and already set to work, but that your many occupations will have hindered you to fulfil your promise. I have now the pleasure of informing you that last Saturday we tryed our Engine for the first time, having hath no patience to wait any longer time, notwithstanding many parts of it were not ful completed, and our house water pump not yet giving water, so that we could make no use as of the water, which was by hand pumped up in the cistern, but which has been enough to let th' Engine given about thirty strokes with two pumps which are fixed to the middle or great leaver and which are 6 feet square, and the one 6 feet deep th' other three feet; making the quantity of 320 cubic feet of water, which th' Engine has raised at every stroke with the greatest ease of the world. I am able further to assure you that the boiler does his work very well, and that before and in the time of our working th' Engine the steam was prodigious strong, and the consumption of fuel not extraordinary, not so much as commonly th' Engines of the size as ours built about coal mines do consume. the working of th' Engine was exceeding soft nice and easy, without making any noise at all; this first tryall has satisfied extremely all who are concerned with me in the success as well as our Engineer self. we will now do no more tryalls before all things are in due order, and that we can work with the eight pumps at once of which I hope in any time afterwards to give you no less favourable advice as I do now; In the meantime I hope that you will find an opportunity of fulfilling your promise and rejoyce me with th' agreeable news of your having succeeded compleatly in your undertakings, which is th' ardent wish of
Dear Sir Your most ob: Humble Sert
J:D: Huichelbos van Liender |