the river, and fires having been laid, the three were lighted at the
same moment, and the makers were ordered to commence working into a
tank at sixty feet distance as soon as they had attained a steam
pressure of 100 lbs. to the square inch.

Messrs. Merryweather's engine attained the pressure named in 12
minutes 10 seconds, Messrs. Shand and Mason's large engine in 18
minutes 30 seconds, the small engine in about 30 minutes, some
mismanagement having occurred which compelled them to draw the fire in
the latter and light it a second time. Messrs. Merryweather's engine
commenced working as arranged when the steam-gauge indicated a
pressure of 100 lbs., and was 2 minutes and 50 seconds at work before
water passed through the nose-pipe. Notwithstanding this very serious
defect, this engine had poured 500 gallons of water into a tank 60
feet distant in 17 minutes and 15 seconds from the time at which the
fire was lighted. After the difficulty of drawing the water had been
surmounted, this engine worked well, and threw an admirable jet,
losing 15 lbs. steam-pressure during the first trial. After three
trials this engine became disabled; it was, however, repaired on the
ground in about an hour and a half, and resumed work at the ninth
trial, continuing to work well until the thirteenth, when it became
again disabled, and was withdrawn by the maker, to the great regret of
the Committee, who were thus left to continue the experiments with
only two engines, both made by one firm.

Messrs. Shand and Mason's large engine was 18 minutes 30 seconds
getting up steam to 100 lbs., and when started drew water instantly,
losing during the first trial 5 lbs. of steam-pressure.

This engine was severely tested, and worked without accident
throughout the day, the seventeenth trial lasting no less than 63
minutes, during which the steam and water were both kept to a pressure
of 90 lbs. on the square inch throughout, working through a 1-3/8 inch
nose-pipe.

At the eighteenth and last trial this engine threw a good vertical
jet.

Messrs. Shand and Mason's small engine did not raise the steam to 100
lbs. in less than 30 minutes, owing, of course, partly to the
mismanagement already mentioned, and partly to the nature of the
boiler and fire-box, which, according to the makers' account, are not
adapted for raising steam in the shortest possible time. After the
engine got to work the steam-pressure was well sustained, and the
engine cont