THE CORNISH PUMPING ENGINE. 
PART I. 
HISTORICAL NOTICE OF THE APPLICATION OF THE STEAM ENGINE TO THE PUR 
POSE OF DRAINING THE MINES OF CORNWALL, AND OF ITS PROGRESSIVE 
IMPROVEMENT IN THAT DISTRICT. 
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 
1. The most important feature of the steam engine is its economy. Notwithstand 
ing the immensity of its power, and the universality of its application, it is its cheap 
ness alone which renders it a useful machine. Although it may be made to forge 
an anchor, or point a needle;—to master the fury of the waves, or transport us over 
the face of the earth with the rapidity of the wind ;—to drain our deepest mines, or 
supply our largest cities with water;—although, in short, it may be applied to every 
purpose requiring the most gigantic powder or the most delicate accuracy ;—yet if its 
action could not be commanded at an economical rate of cost, it would become but 
an ingenious philosophical toy, fit rather for the lecture-table than the workshop, 
and of little use or benefit to mankind. 
2. If, then, the steam engine be valuable on this ground, it may be naturally 
inferred that if any one of the many and diversified modifications of the machine 
by which steam power is obtained, is found to produce this pow T er at a cheaper 
rate than all others, such variety may be pronounced, in this respect at least, the 
most perfect engine, and worthy of the most particular consideration and careful 
study. 
Such a variety is found in the Cornish Pumping Engine. It is a truth now no 
longer controverted, that the saving of fuel in this engine has been carried to such 
an extent as leaves far behind the utmost attempts at economy made with any other