A MACHINE WHICH I CALL A. RETREAT OR ESCAPE FOR THE MORE EXPEDITIOUS, SAFE, AND EASY CONVEYING PERSONS, AND: VALUABLES, OUT OF A HOUSE WHEN ON FIRE, WHICH, AFTER MUCH TIME, LABOUR, AND EXPENCE; I HAD HAPPILY EFFECTED, AND WHICH MACHINE IS IN ITSELF SO SIMPLE. THAT, MAY IT, AND; AND BY THIS CONTRIVANCE GROWN PERSONS AND CHILDREN, HOWEVER HELPLESS, MAY BE CONVEYED OUT OF A HOUSE WITHOUT THE LEAST DANGER OR DREAD OF FALLING; AND, SHOULD NECESSITY REQUIRE IT MACH
Year: 1773

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOACHIM
SMITH, of the Parish of Saint Paul, Covent Garden, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting...
WHEREAS I, the said. Joachim Smith, did, by my Petition, humbly
represent to His present most Excellent Majesty King George the...Third,
that I had, in consequence of the many dreadfull fires which have happened of
late, applyed myself to the studying and contriving of "A MACHINE WHICH I
CALL A. RETREAT OR ESCAPE FOR THE MORE EXPEDITIOUS, SAFE, AND EASY
CONVEYING PERSONS, AND: VALUABLES, OUT OF A HOUSE WHEN ON FIRE, WHICH, AFTER
MUCH TIME, LABOUR, AND EXPENCE; I HAD HAPPILY EFFECTED, AND WHICH MACHINE
IS IN ITSELF SO SIMPLE. THAT, ANY PERSON MAY MANAGE IT, AND MAKE IT READY
FOR USE IN THE SPACE OF ONE, MINUTE; AND BY THIS CONTRIVANCE GROWN PERSONS
AND CHILDREN, HOWEVER HELPLESS, MAY BE CONVEYED OUT OF A HOUSE WITHOUT THE
LEAST DANGER OR DREAD OF FALLING; AND, SHOULD NECESSITY REQUIRE IT, ONE PERSON
MAY GO UP THE MACHINE AT THE SAME TIME THAT ANOTHER PERSON IS COMING DOWN;"
and that in regard I was the first and sóle Inventor thereof, I therefore most
humbly prayed His said Majesty that He would be graciously pleased to grant
unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, His Royal Letters Patent
for the sole use and benefit of my said Invention within that part of Great
Britain called England for the term of fourteen years, according to the
Statute in that case made and provided; His said Majesty, being willing to give
encouragement to all arts and inventions which might be for the publick good,

page_text: was graciously pleased to condescend to my request, and therefore, by His
Royal Letters Patent, bearing date at Westminster, the Fifteenth day of May,
in the thirteenth year of His reign, of His especial grace, certain knowledge,
and meer motion, for Himself, His heirs and successors, did give and grant
unto me, the said Joachim Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
His especial licence, full power, sole priviledge and authority, that I, the said
Joachim Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and every of them,
by myself and themselves, or by mine or their deputy or deputies, servants or
agents, or such others as I, the said Joachim Smith, my executors, administra-
tors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term of years therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend my said Invention within
that part of His said Majesty's Kingdom of Great Britain called England,
His Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in such
manner as to me, the said Joachim Smith, my executors, administfors, and
assigns, or any of us, should in our discretions seem meet; and that I, the said
Joachim Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should and lawfully
might have and enjoy the whole profit, benefit, commodity, and advantage from
time to time coming, growing, accruing, and arising by reason of the said
Invention; to have, hold, exercise, and enjoy the said licence, powers,
priviledges, and advantages therein-before granted or mentioned to be granted
unto me, the said Joachim Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
for and during and unto the full end and term of fourteen years from the date
of the said Letters Patent next and immediately ensuing, and fully to be
compleat and ended, according to the Statute in such case made and provided;
in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that if I, the said Joachim
Smith, should not particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, and cause the same to be inrolled
in His said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within four calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, that then
the said Letters Patent, and all liberties and advantages whatsoever thereby
granted, should utterly cease, determine, and become void, anything therein-
before contained to the contrary thereof in anywise notwithstanding, as in
and by the said Letters Patent (relation being thereunto had, may more fully
and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joachim Smith, in compliance with the
said proviso, do hereby describe the nature of my said Invention, and declare
that the same is to be performed in manner following (that is to say) :-

page_text: In order to explain the manner of making my machine, which I call an
escape or a retreat from fire, I shall describe it under two heads, vizt, the Shoot
and the Case.
The Shoot is that part by which persons may convey themselves and
valuables out of a window with expedition, ease, and safety, and may be made
of any kind of strong cloth or canvas, either plain or painted. The Shoot
consists of a bottom and two sides. The bottom is about two yards at the.
lower end and one at the upper end longer than the sides. Those extra lengths
are left, the one to fasten it to the axletree and wheel, or to an iron frame in
the Case, the other to form a catch flap at the bottom of it, which flap serves
to break, the force of anything that may run down with a quick motion.
There are strong ropes sewed in and down the seams, on each side of the
bottom cloth, the ends of which are left three or four feet longer than the
sides. At the bottom ends are weights of about six pounds each. There are
two other stronger ropes of twice the length more or less o* these bottom
ones, which are fastened one on each side of the front, which is about a yard
and a half longer than the cloth at the upper end, and each runs through two
rings or gromits which are fastened within a foot, more or less, of the end of
the catch flap, so that the flap slides up and down according to the weight that
comes against it, and the remainder of these ropes serves to fasten the shoot
whenever thrown into the street. There are bars of iron or wood which are
fastened across, one at the top, the other at the lower part of the front of the
two sides as well as in the middle, in order to keep it open. There is also a
rope that comes down the middle of the front, which is rattled across like the
shrouds of a ship with a guide rope down the middle, by means of which
persons may go up at the same time that others are coming down. A little
below the play of the catch flap there may be a pocket for the purpose of
holding a large hammer and two or more tent pins, that where there are no
opposite railes these may be at hand to be driven into the ground to fasten
the ropes to. And for the greater convenience of those who chuse to have
these machines, they are contrived to serve two or more floors at the same
time, by adding to them other shorter shoots, which may be comprised in the
same case.
The Case may be made of any kind of wood or metal, either plain as a box
or chest, or have the appearance and use of a musick desk, drawing table,
toilette, commode, drawers, sideboard, &c., &c. The top is fastened down on
the front by a catch on each side, which, as soon as touched, comes away,
together with the front, in an instant. There may be made also two strong
boxes which may slide in and out at the bottom, and look like drawers, which

page_text: will serve to keep valuables in; the Case to have lifting handles and two or
more iron pins at bottom to fasten it to the floor. In the inside of this Case
the Shoot is fastened either on an axletree and wheel or to a folding iron frame,
this depending on the fancy of those who order them, as they may be used
singly or together, or the Shoot may be made to act without either the
axletree and wheel or folding iron frame, by fastening it to the Case by
hooks and rings, and to hitch up the mouth of the Shoot to the sides of
the window.
There is also a bag contrived which may go up and down the inside of the
Shoot, either by a spring pully or a roller and double rope, for such as chuse
to have them after this manner. There is also a small mattress fixt to the
machine to prevent being hurt by the sill of the window. .
In witness whereof, I, the said Joachim Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand seven hundred and seventy-three, and in the
thirteenth year of the reign of our said Sovereign Lord George, the
Third, by the grace of God of Great Britain, France, and Ireland
King, Defender of the Faith, and so forth."
j
Sealed, and delivered (being first duly
stampt) in the presence of
ROBT LEMON.
JOACHIM SMITH. (L.S.).
BIGOE HENZELL.
AND BE IT REMEMBRED, that the Seventh day of September, in
the year above written, the said Joachim Smith came before the said Lord
the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Instrument aforesaid, and
all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above, written.
And also the Instrument aforesaid was stampt according to the tenor of the
Statute made in the sixth year of the reign of the late King and Queen William
and Mary of England, and so forth.