Warrant, 31 December 1695, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the twelve day of December J^aj vi^c nyntie five yeirs

D1695/12/29

D1695/12/29¹

Act

Act Dupine anent a water engine

Anent the petitione given in to the Lords of his majesties privie Councell be Niccolas Dupine Esquire with the carefull and painfull assistance of other ingeniows artists Sheuing That wheras the petitioners have at ther own excessive and verie great coast and charges both in forraigne pairts and at home Contrived and brought to perfectione tho yet never befor knowen airt and misterie of drewing water owt of coall pitts sheffs and armes of any profwnditud whatsoever at a very easie charge for in Twentie fathoms Deep wee can raise in two minuts tyme a twn of water provided the pitt or Sheff will admitt of two Such casks to pass one another And this wee will doe by the Strenth of bibour very easiely for by the trwe proportiones and rwles of Hidrostaticks Hydroneumaticks and Hydrauliacks wee performe our work It is too tedious to informe the Saids Lords of all the properties of this our machin Swch as all maner of Corne mylnes work wher water is Scarce or frozen by Such ane engine as ours is uee can grind by our mans hand als much as any water mylne doeth Also for Draueing of Lochs or bringing of water to any place wher water is wanting or for cleareing of Harboure mouths from great rocks or sand and in a short tyme any vast weight that seemes to be past lifting by mens strenth This our engine Shall lift by one mans Strenth more than twentie men Shall doe being present altogither to the Same lift And the petitioners haveing also made another Lesser Sort of Engine which is fitt and wsefull for furmering and flitting of either mineralls and mettalls or vegitables and for minceing of tallo for tallo chandlers And for one very exact way of cutting tobacco And for cutting of tanners bark at ane much swifter and easier way then yet extant without the assistance of either wynd or water which may be made wse of in any privat house als well as out of Doors All which it will performe by one mans Strenth and more then twentie men will doe without it and severall other very propper conveniencies the petitioners can doe with these ther engines And wheras by the ancient custome of all well giverned² nationes ther hath allway bein allowed to the inventars or contrivers Some certaine Space of yeirs according as the rarietie of the inventione deserveth and being verie well satisfied of the Saids Lords of privie Councell ther constant practise in the Same to any artist doeth humbly imbolden the petitioners to desyre a patent for fourtein yeirs or Such tyme as the saids Lords pleases under the great seall of this antient kingdome of Scottland And wheras Severall noblemen and gentlemen are about treating with the petitioners concerning ther coall pitts that are Drowned by water the petitioners cannot themselvs sett any of ther engines in work without they be cloathed of the Saids Lords of privie Councells patent in ther favours As the said petitione bears Which petitione being this day red and considered be the saids Lords of privie Councell They heirby grant full pouer And Libertie to the petitioners to make wse of his water engine mentioned in the petitione And discharges all wther persones whatsomever to make any such ingine or wse the Same for the Space of Eleven yeirs efter the day and date heirof except the petitioner himself and Such as Shall have Speciall warrand from him for that effect