House of Commons, Great Britain

“ I have a Steam Carriage now constructed, from which I could abstract 900lbs, of iron without making it too weak to travel even on rough roads, but I should not be induced to do so except as a matter of economy in case the tolls are levied upon the weight and at too high a rate. The Steam Carriage as used upon common roads, being an invention of recent date, sufficient has not been done with them for practical men to decide what arrangements of machinery are best for their construction. ”

“ I have constantly observed that all new invented machines entirely change shape, dimensions, weight and general arrangement of parts as they proximate to perfection, so that the perfect machine could not be recognized by persons unacquainted with the subject as being intended for the same purpose as the original machines, yet, during all these successive alterations, the principle of the machinery remained unchanged. ”

“ Likewise the danger from explosion will be increased if tolls are collected upon the weight of Steam Carriages, inasmuch as by loading the safety valve to double the pressure, a Carriage can be made to draw double the weight with only an alteration in the fire place, and an increase of water, air, and fuel; a diminution of weight will likewise take place to a considerable amount in the boilers and engines, although it is more essential an increase of strength should take place rather than any diminution. ”