A WATER ENGINE FOR QUENCHING AND EXTINGUISHING FIRES
Year: 1725

page_text: GEORGE, by the grace of God, &c., to all to whom these Presents shall
come greeting.
WHEREAS our trusty and welbeloved RICHARD NEWSHAM, of our City of
London, hath by his peticon humbly represented vnto vs, that in the year One
thousand seven hundred twenty and one, he did obtain our most gratious
Letters Patent for the sole making and vending "A WATER ENGINE FOR
QUENCHING AND EXTINGUISHING FIRES," which was therein mentioned to be
wrought with severall winches or cranks and four halfe wheels, so fixed that
one forcer began to force the other forcer had left its forceing, and thereby
caused a continual stream: That the petitioner, after much experience, has
made and invented very considerable improvement to the said water engine
for quenching and extinguishing fires and other vses, which he now makes long
and narrow, and thereby gains much more power and force by working with a
number of hande along the sides of the engine, and others with their feet
vpon the engine,.or with hand or feet separately, by which means the longest
size will force out one hundred and seventy gallons of water each minute at
about forty yards distanco in a constant stream, the forcers being guided by
the arch of a double wheel, and chains or racks and teeth, which cause a per-
pendicular stroke, and is so contrived to go through any narrow passage or
common door case without alteračon, having nothing to take off or put on, but
is in a constant readiness to work, which said Invenčons and improvements,
appearing to be entirely new and every way adapted to the purposes designed,
and is of greater vse and service to the publick in case of fires than any thing
that has hitherto appeared, in so much that several of our subiecte have of

page_text: late and are daily practiceing to make water engines in imitacon of the
peticoner's water engine for quenching and extinguish fires, as well as for other
vses, and his new Invention and improvements thereon, and in opposition and
contempt of our said Letters Patent, which do not fully comprehend and
protect the said new Invention and improvemente, which he humbly conceives
to be piracy and an invasion of his property to the same: that the petičoner
has also, through much labour, time, and expence, invented three severall
new method of different kinds for raising water to any height required, the
first out of deep wells or mines, with or without suction; the second, from
rivers or ponde by a given power moving circularly vpon the forcers; and the
third, from the surface or otherwise by the wind: that he hath also invented
and made a new and vsefull bush or box for the spindle neck of a corn mill to
run in, which totally prevente many ill consequences that frequently happen
in the method now unversally in practice, and will work with much less
water, wind, or any other given power that has hitherto been found out:
that the peticoner, conceiving the said Inventions all of them to be entirely
new, bath therefore humbly prayed vs to grant him our Royal Letters Patent
for the term of fourteen years, according to the Statute in such case made
and provided, for securing his property in the said water engine, and for
quenching and extinguishing fires, and other vses, and his new Invention and
improvement thereon, and in the said three Inventions for raising water to
any height required, as also in the said bush or box for corn mills, and to and
in all further improvements he shall make to them, or any of them, or any
part thereof, as well for his greater encouragement and enabling him to
carry on and promote the great vsefulness thereof, wee, being willing to give
encouragement to all arts and inventions which may be of publick service and
benefit, are gratiously pleased to gratifie him in his request.
KNOW YEE, THEREFORE, that wee, of our especial grace, certain know-
ledge, and meer motion, have given and granted, and by these Presents, for
vs, our heires and successors, do give and grant vnto the said Richard
Newsham, his executors, administrators, and assignes, our speciall lycence,
full power, sole priviledge and authority, that he, the said Richard Newsham,
his executors, administrators, and every of them, by himselfe or themselves, or
by his or their deputy and deputies, servants or agente, or such others as he, the
said Richard Newsham, his executors, administrators, or assignes, shall at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the
term of years herein expressed, shall and lawfully may make, vse, and exercise
his said new invented water engine for quenching and extinguishing fires, and
other vses, and his improvements thereon, and his said three new Inventions for

page_text: raising water to any height required, and also his said new Invention of au
vsefull bush or box for the spindle neck of a corne mill to run in, as above
described, and all further improvements he shall make to them, within that
part of our Kingdom of Great Britain called England, our Dominion of
Wales, and Town of Berwick-vpon-Tweed, in such manner as to him, the said
Richard Newsham, his executors, administrators, and assignes, or any of them,
shall in their discretions seem meet. And that he, the said Richard Newsham,
his executors, administrators, and assignes, shall and lawfully may have
and enioy the whole profit, benefit, comodity, and advantage from time to
time coming, growing, accrewing, and ariseing by reason of the said Inventions
and improvement for and during the the term of yeares herein mentioned, to
have, hold, exercise, and enioy the said lycence, powers, priviledges, and advan-
tages herein-before granted vnto the said Richard Newsham, his executors,
administrators, and assignes, for and durcing and vnto the full end and terme of
fourteen yeares from the date of these psents next and imediately ensuing,
and fully to be compleat and ended, according to the Statute in such case
made and provided. And to the end that the said Richard Newsham, his
executors, administrators, and assignes, and every of them, may have and enioy
the full benefit and the sole vse and exercise of the said Inventions and improve-
ments, according to our gratious intention herein-before declared, wee do by
these Presents, for vs, our heires and successors, require and strictly command
all all and every person and persons, bodies politick and corporate, and all other
our subiect whatsoever, of what estate, quality, degree, name, or condi-
tion soever they be, within that said part of our Kingdom of Great Britaine
called England, our Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-vpon-Tweed
aforesaid, that neither they nor any of them, at any time during the con-
tinuance of the said term of fourteen yeares hereby granted, either directly
or indirectly, do make, vse, or put in practice the said Inventions and
improvement, or any part of the same, so attained vnto by the said Richard
Newsham as aforesaid, nor in any wise counterfeit, imitate, or resemble
the same, nor shall make or cause to be made any addition thereunto
or substracčon from the same, whereby to pretend himself or themselves
the inventor or inventors, devisor or devisors thereof, without the lycence,
consent, or agreement of the said Richard Newsham, his executors, adminis-
trators, or assignes, in writing under his or their hand and seales first had
and obtained in that behalfe, vpon such pains and penalties as can or
may be justly inflicted on such offenders for their contempt of this our royal
command, and further to be answerable to the said Richard Newsham, his
executors, administrators,. and assignes, according to law for his and their

page_text: damages thereby occasioned. And moreover wee do by these Presente, for
vs, our heires and successors, will and command all and singular the justices
of the peace, mayors, sheriffs, bailiffs, constables, headboroughs, and all other
officers and ministers whatsoever of vs, our heires and successors for the time
being, that they or any of them do not, nor shall at any time hereafter during
the said term hereby granted, in any wise molest, trouble, or hinder the said
Richard Newsham, his executors, administrators, or assignes, or any of them,
or his or their deputies, servante, or agente, in or about the due and lawfull
vse or exercise of the aforesaid Inventions and improvement, or any thing
relating thereto: Provided always, and these our Letters Patente are and
shall be vpon this condition, that if at any time during the said term hereby
granted it shall be made appear to vs, our heirs or successors, or any six or
more of our or their Privy Council, that this our grant is contrary to law, or
Piudicial or inconvenient to our subiecte in general, or that the said Inven-
Cons and improvement, or any of them, are not new as to the publick vse
and exercise thereof in that said part of our Kingdom of Great Britaine
called England, our Dominion of Wales, or Town of Berwick-vpon-Tweed
aforesaid, or not invented and found out by the said Richard Newshanı as
aforesaid, then, vpon significacon and declaration thereof, to be made by vs, our
heires or successors, vnder our or their signet or privy scal, or by the Lorde
and others of our or their Privy Council, or any six or more of them, vnder
their hande, these our Letters Patente, as to any of the above-mentioned
Invenčons only which shall at any time hereafter be signified or declared as
aforesaid to be not new or not in ented and found out by the said Richard
Newsham, shall forthwith cease, determin, and be vtterly void to all intents and
purposes, any thing herein-before contained to the contrary thereof in any wiso
notwithstanding: Provided also, that these our Letters Patents, or any thing
herein contained, shall not extend or be construed to extend to give priviledge
vnto the said Richard Newsham, his executors, administrators, or assignes,
or any of them, to vse or imitate any invention or work whatsoever which hath
heretofore been found out or invented by any other of our subiects whatsoever,
and publickly vsed or exercised in that said part of our Kingdome of Great
Britaine called England, our Dominion of Wales, or Town of Berwick-vpon-
Tweed aforesaid, unto whom like Letters Patente or priviledges have been
already granted for the sole vse, exercise, and benefit thereof, it being our
will and pleasure that the said Richard Newshain, his executors, administrators,
and assignes, and all and every other person and persons to whom like Letters
Patent or priviledges have been already granted as aforesaid, shall distinctly
vse and practise their severall inventions by them invented and found out,

page_text: according to the true intent and meaning of the same respective Letters
Patent and of these Presente: Provided likewise, nevertheless, and these
our Letters Patente are vpon this express condition, that if the said Richard
Newsham, his executors or administrators, or any person or persons which
shall or may at any time or times hereafter during the continuance of this
grant have or claim any right, title, or interest in law or equity of, in, or to
the power, priviledge, and authority of the sole vse and benefit of the said
Inventions hereby granted, shall make any transferr or assignment or any pre-
tended transferr or assignement of the said liberty and priviledge, or any share
or shares of the benefit or profit thereof, or shall declare any trust thereof to
or for any number of persons exceeding the number of five, or shall open or
cause to be opened any book or books for publick subscripcons to be made by
any number of persons exceeding the number of five, in order to the raising
any sume or sumes of money vnder pretence of carrying on the said liberty
or priviledge hereby granted, or shall, by him or themselves, or his or their
agents or servante, receive any sume or sumes of money whatsoever of any
number of persons exceeding in the whole the number of five for such or the
like intents or purposes, or shall presume to act as a corporate body, or shall
divide the benefit of these our Letters Patents, or the liberty and priviledges
hereby by vs granted, into any number of shares exceeding the number of
five, or shall commit or do or procure to be committed or done any act, matter,
or thing whatsoever during such time as such person or persons shall have
any right or title, either in law or equity, in or to the said premisses which
would be contrary to the true intent and meaning of a certain Act of Parlia-
ment, made in the sixth year of our reign, intituled (An Act for the better
securing certain Powers and Priviledges intended to be granted by His
Maiestie by Two Charters for Assuranco of Ships and Merchandizes at
Sea, and for lending Money vpon Bottomry, and for restraining several
extravagant and vnwarrantable Practices therein menconed), if these our
Letters Patents had not been granted, or in case the said power, privi-
ledge, or authority shall at any time hereafter become vested in or in trust
for more than the number of five persons or their representatives at any
one time (reckoning executors or administrators as and for the single person
whom they represent as to such interest as they are or shall be intituled
in right of such their testator or intestate), that then, and in any of the said
cases, these our Letters Patent and all liberties, priviledges, and advantages
whatsoever hereby granted shall vtterly cease, determine, and become void,
any thing herein-before contained to the contrary thereof in any wise notwith-
standing. And lastly, weo do by these Presents, for vs, our heires and suc-

page_text: cessors, grant vnto the said Richard Newsham, his executors, administrators,
and assignes, that these our Letters Patents, or the inrollment or exempli-
fication, shall be in and by all things good, firm, valid, sufficient, and effectual
in the law, according to the true intent and meaning thereof, and shall be
taken, construed, deemed, and adiudged in the most favourable and beneficial
sense for the best advantage of the said Richard Newsham, his executors,
administrators, and assignes, as well in all Courts of Record as elswhere, and
by all and singular the officers and ministers whatsoever of vs, our heirs
and successors, in that part of our said Kingdom of Great Britain called
England, our Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-vpon-Tweed afore-
said, and amongst all and every the subiect of vs, our heires and successors,
whatsoever and wheresoever, notwithstanding the not full and certain de-
scribing the nature or quality of the said Invention, or of the materials
thereto conducing and belonging.
In witness, &c. Witness our selfe at Westñi, the Fifth day of June.