"I have your favour of the 3rd inst., informing me that Messrs. Fox and Williams have engaged to quarry the stone for e breakwater at Plymouth, but does not say whether you hold any share with them in the contract or not. Therefore I cannot understand from your letter whether you wish to see an engine fitted to the purpose of the breakwater, or for pumping the water from the foundations of the Exeter Bridge. Please to inform me which of the two purposes you wish to see the engine calculated for, and about what time you think you shall want it, and I will get one finished suitable to the purpose you intend it for.
"JAS. GREEN, ESQ., _St. David's Hill, Exeter_.
"N.B.--To what extent have Messrs. Fox engaged, and what parts of the work do they perform? I think more good might be done by loading, carrying, and discharging, than by quarrying only."
Trevithick was equally ready with the application of steam-power either for pumping of water or for boring and removing rock. The use of chisels and rock-breakers in the Thames in 1803[4] had prepared the way for the more perfect engine for boring, lifting, and carrying rock from the quarries to its destination at the Plymouth Breakwater in 1812.[5]
[Footnote 4: See Stonebreaker of 1803, vol. i., p. 239.]
[Footnote 5: See Steam-crane, vol. i., pp. 162, 274.]
"106, HOLBORN HILL, _November 26th, 1812_.
"I am in receipt of yours of the 22nd inst. Mr. Giddy informs me that Mr. Fox and Mr. Williams are to have 2_s._ 6_d._ per ton for making the breakwater at Plymouth, and he considers that they can do it for 2_s._, which he thought would give them 50,000_l._ profit. If you meet those gentlemen, I have to caution you not to LEARN THEM anything until you make a bargain, as I know Mr. Williams will endeavour to learn all he can and then you may go whistle.
"If 6_d._ per ton will give 50,000_l._ profit, a halfpenny per ton would give upwards of 4000_l._ Would they agree to give you that for your labour only? However, this will depend in a great measure on the time it will take in doing. If it takes eight years it would be 500_l._ a year for you (according to Mr. Giddy's calculation).
Mr. Harvey knew Trevithick's weakness in money matters. Rennie had been employed to report on the proposed Plymouth Breakwater, and in 1811 was desired by Lord Melville, the head of the Admiralty, to proceed with the work. "The price paid in 1812 for taking and depositing rubble in the breakwater was 2_s._ 9_d._ per ton; it was afterwards reduced to 1_s._ per ton. A piece of ground was purchased from the Duke of Bedford at Oreston, up the Catwater, containing 25 acres of limestone, well adapted for the purposes of the work; and steps were taken to open out the quarry, to lay down railways to the wharves, to erect cranes."[6] The idea of the plan to be followed in conveying stone with greater economy and dispatch than was contemplated by Rennie, originated with Trevithick, while the former received the credit and the pay, as he before had done with the steam-dredger.