CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING VESSELS
Year: 1825

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, J, CHARLES
MERCY, of Edwards Buildings, Stoke Newington, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Eighth day of September, in the sixth year of His reign,
did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Charles Mercy, His especial licence, that I, the said Charles Mercy,
my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles
Mercy, my exors, adñors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING VESSELS;" in which said Letters Patent
there is contained a proviso obliging me, the said Charles Mercy, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
and to cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within two calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in
part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto
had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Charles Mercy, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and

page_text: the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described
and ascertained in and by the Drawing hereof, and the following description
thereof (that is to say):-
-
E are
A, the axle, which may pass over or under the deck, as in the common
paddle wheels, on the ends of which is fixed a block B. One, two, or more
spokes C, made flat, are screwed or bolted on to the ends of the block B,
opposite each other, and spread 2, 3, or more feet. At the ends, between the
spokes C, are fixed box paddles D, one, two, or three, as may be most conve-
nient, and are hung upon pivots. The box paddles have a rim 2 or more
inches deep, on the top and sides, to keep the water from going off except at
the bottom of D, D. These paddles, being hung upon pivots, will swim upon
the water at the back stroke, by which means the back water is avoided; on
the spokes behind the paddles is fixed a ledge to prevent them going back, by
which means they hold tight against the water, and propel the vessel.
stays or braces, to keep the spokes firm; E, the, pulling bar or lever, which
may be fixed horizontally, perpendicularly, or any convenient way, with a
screw or pin G to take off. or put on... The longer in proportion the lever. is,
the more power is gained to work the paddles. At the end of the lever is a
hole or ring G, G, in order to fix it to the beam or crank of the engine, which
will force the paddles backward. or forward, and so propel the vessel. The
paddles may be worked at the bow or any part of the ship, and may be worked
by hand for small and light boats. The spokes may be shifted up or down, as
may be wanted, by having the holes H in the spokes an equal distance.. If the
machine is placed on each side the keel, instead of one axle you may have
two short ones, one through each block, which may rest upon two or more
brackets fixed under the bow projecting two or more feet J, and are worked
by a pulling bar in each block, screwed and bolted through the block F, F;
the upper end having a hole or ring, to which a rod is fixed, K, and commu-
nicates to the crank or beam of the engine, and may have two motions, one to
pull forward, the other to push back alternately.. A middle spoke may, be
added, if necessary, to have two paddles in one line, and others. over them:
For larger vessels, a guard or breakwater L, if necessary, may also be fixed
on to the vessel. The size of the machine will depend upon the power required
to propel the vessel.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Mercy, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and twenty-five.
CHA' MERCY. (L.S.)
;

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Fifth day of November, in the
year of our Lord 1825, the aforesaid Charles Mercy came before our
said Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to
the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Seventh day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and twenty-five.