Othermindswereatwork。Watt，whenonlytwenty-threeyearsold，attheinstigationofhisfriendRobison，madeamodellocomotive，providedwithtwocylindersoftinplate；buttheprojectwaslaidaside，andwasneveragaintakenupbytheinventor。Yet，inhispatentof1784，Wattincludedanarrangementbymeansofwhichsteam-powermightbeemployedforthepurposesoflocomotion。Butnofurthermodelofthecontrivancewasmade。
Meanwhile，Cugnot，ofParis，hadalreadymadearoadengineworkedbysteampower。ItwasfirsttriedattheArsenalin1769；and，beingsetinmotion，itranagainstastonewallinitswayandthrewitdown。TheenginewasafterwardstriedinthestreetsofParis。Inoneoftheexperimentsitfelloverwithacrash，andwasthenceforwardlockedupintheArsenaltopreventitsdoingfurthermischief。ThisfirstlocomotiveisnowtobeseenattheConservatoiredesArtsetMetiersatParis。
MurdockhaddoubtlessheardofWatt’soriginalspeculations，andproceeded，whileatRedruth，duringhisleisurehours，toconstructamodellocomotiveafteradesignofhisown。Thismodelwasofsmalldimensions，standinglittlemorethanafootandahalfhigh，thoughitwassufficientlylargetodemonstratethesoundnessoftheprincipleonwhichitwasconstructed。Itwassupportedonthreewheels，andcarriedasmallcopperboiler，heatedbyaspiritlamp，withafluepassingobliquelythroughit。Thecylinder，of3/4inchdiameterand2-inchstroke，wasfixedinthetopoftheboiler，thepiston-rodbeingconnectedwiththevibratorybeamattachedtotheconnecting-rodwhichworkedthecrankofthedriving-wheel。Thislittleengineworkedbytheexpansiveforceofsteamonly，whichwasdischargedintotheatmosphereafterithaddoneitsworkofalternatelyraisinganddepressingthepistoninthecylinder。
Mr。Murdock’sson，whilelivingatHandsworth，informedthepresentwriterthatthismodelwasinventedandconstructedin1781；but，afterperusingthecorrespondenceofBoultonandWatt，weinferthatitwasnotreadyfortrialuntil1784。ThefirstexperimentwasmadeinMurdock’sownhouseatRedruth，whenthelittleenginesuccessfullyhauledamodelwaggonroundtheroom，——thesinglewheel，placedinfrontoftheengineandworkinginaswivelframe，enablingittorunroundinacircle。
Anotherexperimentwasmadeoutofdoors，onwhichoccasion，smallthoughtheenginewas，itfairlyoutranthespeedofitsinventor。Onenight，afterreturningfromhisdutiesatthemineatRedruth，Murdockwentwithhismodellocomotivetotheavenueleadingtothechurch，aboutamilefromthetown。Thewalkwasnarrow，straight，andlevel。Havinglitthelamp，thewatersoonboiled，andoffstartedtheenginewiththeinventorafterit。
Shortlyafterhehearddistantshoutsofterror。Itwastoodarktoperceiveobjects，buthefound，onfollowingupthemachine，thatthecrieshadproceededfromtheworthyvicar，who，whilegoingalongthewalk，hadmetthehissingandfierylittlemonster，whichhedeclaredhetooktobetheEvilOneinpropriapersona！
WhenWattwasinformedofMurdock’sexperiments，hefearedthattheymightinterferewithhisregularduties，andadvisedtheirdiscontinuance。ShouldMurdockstillresolvetocontinuethem，WatturgedhispartnerBoulton，theninCornwall，that，ratherthanloseMurdock’sservices，theyshouldadvancehim100L。；and，ifhesucceededwithinayearinmakinganenginecapableofdrawingapost-chaisecarryingtwopassengersandthedriver，attherateoffourmilesanhour，thatalocomotiveenginebusinessshouldbeestablished，withMurdockasapartner。Thearrangement，however，neverproceededanyfurther。PerhapsadifferentattractionwithdrewMurdockfromhislocomotiveexperiments。Hewasthenpayingattentiontoayounglady，thedaughterofCaptainPainter；andinl785hemarriedher，andbroughtherhometohishouseinCrossStreet，Redruth。
Inthefollowingyear，——September，1786——Wattsays，inalettertoBoulton，“Ihavestillthesameopinionconcerningthesteamcarriage，but，topreventmorefruitlessargumentaboutit，I
haveoneofsomesizeunderhand。Inthemeantime，IwishWilliamcouldbebroughttodoaswedo，tomindthebusinessinhand，andletsuchasSymingtonandSadlerthrowawaytheirtimeandmoneyinhuntingshadows。“InasubsequentletterWattexpressedhisgratificationatfinding“thatWilliamappliestohisbusiness。“Fromthattimeforward，MurdockaswellasWatt，droppedallfurtherspeculationonthesubject，andleftittootherstoworkouttheproblemofthelocomotiveengine。
Murdock’smodelremainedbutacurioustoy，whichhetookpleasureinexhibitingtohisintimatefriends；and，thoughhelongcontinuedtospeculateaboutroadlocomotion，andwaspersuadedofitspracticability，heabstainedfromembodyinghisideasofthenecessaryengineinanycompleteworkingform。
Murdockneverthelesscontinuedinventing，forthemanwhoisgiventoinvent，andwhopossessesthegiftofinsight，cannotrest。Helivedinthemidstofinventors。WattandBoultonwereconstantlysuggestingnewthings，andMurdockbecamepossessedbythesamespirit。In1791hetookouthisfirstpatent。Itwasforamethodofpreservingships’bottomsfromfoulnessbytheuseofacertainkindofchemicalpaint。Mr。Murdock’sgrandsoninformsusthatitwasrecentlyre-patentedandwasthecauseofalawsuit，andthatHislop’spatentforrevivifyinggas-limewouldhavebeenaninfringement，ifithadnotexpired。
Murdockisstillbetterknownbyhisinventionofgasforlightingpurposes。SeveralindependentinquirersintotheconstituentsofNewcastlecoalhadarrivedattheconclusionthatnearlyone-thirdofthesubstancewasdrivenoffinvapourbytheapplicationofheat，andthatthevapoursodrivenoffwasinflammable。ButnosuggestionhadbeenmadetoapplythisvapourforlightingpurposesuntilMurdocktookthematterinhand。Mr。M。S。Pearsehassentusthefollowinginterestingreminiscence:“Sometimesince，whenintheWestofCornwall，I
wasanxioustofindoutwhetheranyonerememberedMurdock。I
discoveredoneofthemostrespectableandintelligentmeninCamborne，Mr。WilliamSymons，whonotonlydistinctlyrememberedMurdock，buthadactuallybeenpresentononeofthefirstoccasionswhengaswasused。Murdock，hesays，wasveryfondofchildren，andnotunfrequentlytookthemintohisworkshoptoshowthemwhathewasdoing。Henceithappenedthatononeoccasionthisgentleman，thenaboyofsevenoreight，wasstandingoutsideMurdock’sdoorwithsomeotherboys，tryingtocatchsightofsomespecialmysteryinside，forDr。Boaze，thechiefdoctoroftheplace，andMurdockhadbeenbusyalltheafternoon。Murdockcameout，andaskedmyinformanttorundowntoashopnearbyforathimble。Onreturningwiththethimble，theboypretendedtohavelostit，and，whilstsearchingineverypocket，hemanagedtoslipinsidethedooroftheworkshop，andthenproducedthethimble。HefoundDr。BoazeandMurdockwithakettlefilledwithcoal。Thegasissuingfromithadbeenburntinalargemetalcase，suchaswasusedforblastingpurposes。
Now，however，theyhadappliedamuchsmallertube，andattheendofitfastenedthethimble，throughthesmallperforationsmadeinwhichtheyburnedacontinuousjetforsometime。“[7]
Afternumerousexperiments，MurdockhadhishouseinCrossStreetfittedupin1792forbeinglitbygas。Thecoalwassubjectedtoheatinanironretort，andthegaswasconveyedinpipestotheofficesandthedifferentroomsofthehouse，whereitwasburnedatproperaperturesorburners。[8]Portionsofthegaswerealsoconfinedinportablevesselsoftinnediron，fromwhichitwasburnedwhenrequired，thusformingamoveablegas-light。
Murdockhadagaslanterninregularuse，forthepurposeoflightinghimselfhomeatnightacrossthemoors，fromthemineswherehewasworking，tohishomeatRedruth。Thislanternwasformedbyfillingabladderwithgasandfixingajettothemouthpieceatthebottomofaglasslantern，withthebladderhangingunderneath。
Havingsatisfiedhimselfastothesuperioreconomyofcoalgas，ascomparedwithoilsandtallow，forthepurposesofartificialillumination，MurdockmentionedthesubjecttoMr。JamesWatt，jun。，duringabriefvisittoSohoin1794，andurgedtheproprietyoftakingoutapatent。Wattwas，however，indifferenttotakingoutanyfurtherpatents，beingstillengagedincontestingwiththeCornishmine-ownershisfather’srightstotheuserofthecondensingsteam-engine。Nothingdefinitewasdoneatthetime。MurdockreturnedtoCornwallandcontinuedhisexperiments。AttheendofthesameyearheexhibitedtoMr。
Phillipsandothers，atthePolgoothmine，hisapparatusforextractinggasesfromcoalandothersubstances，showeditinuse，litthegaswhichissuedfromtheburner，andshowedits“strongandbeautifullight。“HeafterwardsexhibitedthesameapparatustoTregellesandothersattheNeathAbbeyCompany’sironworksinGlamorganshire。
MurdockreturnedtoSohoin1798，totakeuphispermanentresidenceintheneighbourhood。WhenthemineownersheardofhisintentiontoleaveCornwall，theycombinedinofferinghimahandsomesalaryprovidedhewouldremaininthecounty；buthisattachmenttohisfriendsatSohowouldnotallowhimtocomplywiththeirrequest。HeagainurgedthefirmofBoultonandWatttotakeoutapatentfortheuseofgasforlightingpurposes。
Butbeingstillembroiledintheirtediousandcostlylawsuit，theywerenaturallyaversetoriskconnectionwithanyotherpatent。Watttheyounger，withwhomMurdockcommunicatedonthesubject，wasawarethatthecurrentofgasobtainedfromthedistillationofcoalinLordDundonald’star-ovenshadbeenoccasionallysetfireto，andalsothatBishopWatsonandothershadburnedgasfromcoal，afterconductingitthroughtubes，orafterithadissuedfromtheretort。Mr。Wattwas，however，quitesatisfiedthatMurdockwasthefirstpersonwhohadsuggesteditseconomicalapplicationforpublicandprivateuses。
Buthewasnotclear，afterthelegaldifficultieswhichhadbeenraisedastohisfather’spatentrights，thatitwouldbesafetoriskafurtherpatentforgas。
Mr。Murdock’ssuggestion，accordingly，wasnotactedupon。Buthewentoninventinginotherdirections。Hethenceforwarddevotedhimselfentirelytomechanicalpursuits。Mr。Bucklehassaidofhim:——“Therisingsunoftenfoundhim，afteranightspentinincessantlabour，stillattheanvilorturning-lathe；
forwithhisownhandshewouldmakesucharticlesashewouldnotintrusttounskilfulones。“In1799hetookoutapatentNo。2340，embodyingsomeveryimportantinventions。First，itincludedtheendlessscrewworkingintoatoothed-wheel，forboringsteam-cylinders，whichisstillinuse。Second，thecastingofasteam-jacketinonecylinder，insteadofbeingmadeinseparatesegmentsboltedtogetherwithcaulkedjoints，aswaspreviouslydone。Third，thenewdouble-Dslide-valve，bywhichtheconstructionandworkingofthesteam-enginewassimplified，andthelossofsteamsaved，aswellasthecylindricalvalveforthesamepurpose。Andfourth，improvedrotaryengines。Oneofthelatterwassettodrivethemachinesinhisprivateworkshop，andcontinuedinnearlyconstantworkandinperfectuseforaboutthirtyyears。
In1801，MurdocksenthistwosonsWilliamandJohntotheAyrAcademy，forthebenefitofScotcheducation。Inthesummer-timetheyspenttheirvacationatBellowMill，whichtheirgrandfatherstillcontinuedtooccupy。Theyfishedintheriver，and“caughtagoodmanytrout。“TheboyscorrespondedregularlywiththeirfatheratBirmingham。In1804，theyseemtohavebeeninastateofgreatexcitementabouttheexpectedlandingoftheFrenchinScotland。ThevolunteersofAyramountedto300men，thecavalryto150，andtheriflemento50。“Theriflemen，“saysJohn，“gototheseashoreeverySaturdaytoshootatatarget。Theystandat70pacesdistant，andoutof100shotstheyoftenputin60
bullets！“Williamsays，“GreatpreparationsarestillmakingforthereceptionoftheFrench。Severalthousandofpikesarecarriedthroughthetowneveryweek；andallthevolunteersandriflemenhavereceivedorderstomarchatamoment’swarning。“
Thealarm，however，passedaway。Attheendof1804，thetwoboysreceivedprizes；WilliamgotoneinarithmeticandanotherintheRector’scompositionclass；andJohnalsoobtainedtwo，oneinthemathematicalclass，andtheotherinFrench。
Toreturntotheapplicationofgasforlightingpurposes。In1801，aplanwasproposedbyaM。LeBlondforlightingapartofthestreetsofPariswithgas。Murdockactivelyresumedhisexperiments；andontheoccasionofthePeaceofAmiensinMarch，1802，hemadethefirstpublicexhibitionofhisinvention。ThewholeoftheworksatSohowerebrilliantlyilluminatedwithgas。
Thesightwasreceivedwithimmenseenthusiasm。Therecouldnowbenodoubtastotheenormousadvantagesofthismethodofproducingartificiallight，comparedwiththatfromoilortallow。Inthefollowingyearthemanufactureofgas-makingapparatuswasaddedtotheotherbranchesofBoultonandWatts’
business，withwhichMurdockwasnowassociated，——andasmuchasfrom4000L。to5000L。ofcapitalwereinvestedinthenewworks。
Thenewmethodoflightingspeedilybecamepopularamongstmanufacturers，fromitssuperiorsafety，cheapness，andilluminatingpower。ThemillsofPhillipsandLeeofManchesterwerefittedupin1805；andthoseofBurleyandKennedy，alsoofManchester，andofMessrs。Gott，ofLeeds，insubsequentyears。
ThoughMurdockhadmadetheusesofgas-lightingperfectlyclear，itwassometimebeforeitwasproposedtolightthestreetsbythenewmethod。TheideawasridiculedbySirHumphryDavy，whoaskedoneoftheprojectorsifheintendedtotakethedomeofSt。Paul’sforagasometer！SirWaiterScottmademanycleverjokesaboutthosewhoproposedto“sendlightthroughthestreetsinpipes；“andevenWollaston，awellknownmanofscience，declaredthatthey“mightaswellattempttolightLondonwithaslicefromthemoon。“Ithasbeensowithallnewprojects