Inthis，asinmanyothermatters，Bramahshotaheadofthemechanicalnecessitiesofhistime；andhencemanyofhispatentsofwhichheheldatonetimemorethantwentyprovedaltogetherprofitless。Hislastpatent，takenoutin1814，wasfortheapplicationofRomancementtotimberforthepurposeofpreventingdryrot。

　　Besideshisvariousmechanicalpursuits，Bramahalsofollowedtoacertainextenttheprofessionofacivilengineer，thoughhismoreurgentengagementsrendereditnecessaryforhimtorefusemanyadvantageousoffersofemploymentinthisline。Hewas，however，ledtocarryoutthenewwater-worksatNorwich，betweentheyearsl790

　　andl793，inconsequenceofhishavingbeencalledupontogiveevidenceinadisputebetweenthecorporationofthatcityandthelessees，inthecourseofwhichhepropoundedplanswhich，itwasalleged，couldnotbecarriedout。Toprovethattheycouldbecarriedout，andthathisevidencewascorrect，heundertookthenewworks，andexecutedthemwithcompletesuccess；besidesdemonstratinginaspiritedpublicationelicitedbythecontroversy，theinsufficiencyandincongruityoftheplanswhichhadbeensubmittedbytherivalengineer。

　　ForsometimepriortohisdeathBramahhadbeenemployedintheerectionofseverallargemachinesinhisworksatPimlicoforsawingstoneandtimber，towhichheappliedhishydraulicpowerwithgreatsuccess。Newmethodsofbuildingbridgesandcanal-locks，withavarietyofothermatters，wereinanembryostateinhismind，buthedidnotlivetocompletethem。HewasoccupiedinsuperintendingtheactionofhishydrostaticpressatHoltForest，inHants——whereupwardsof300treesofthelargestdimensionswereinaveryshorttimetornupbytheroots，——whenhecaughtaseverecold，whichsettleduponhislungs，andhislifewassuddenlybroughttoacloseonthe9thofDecember，1814，inhis66thyear。

　　Hisfriend，Dr。CullenBrown，*

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