2. Seasoning timber to prevent the dry-rot in ships, churches, and other buildings.
3. To deepen the water on bar-harbours, and in navigable rivers, so as to give easy access to all friends, and to shut out, when necessary, the enemies of our highly favoured land!
4. To build _breakwaters_ in any depth, not exceeding twelve or fourteen fathoms water, of materials that will not yield to the surge of the sea, and, when immersed in the briny flood, will become tenacious and durable as _terra-firma_, even as the granite rock.
5. To secure the banks of rivers, [subject to encroachments,] and to support [endangered] buildings of any magnitude.
6. To improve low, wet, barren lands, near tide-flowing rivers, that bear up only mire and dirt, by draining on the ebb and warping on the flood-tide.
7. To draw off the foul and inflammable air from coal-pits and other mines liable to explosion.
8. To lay out new streets, nearly level, over uneven ground, with vaults under them for containing fuel, etc. for the inhabitants, and so arranged as to admit of pipes for gas, water, etc., being laid or altered without molesting the pavements.
9. To improve the hanging of venetian blinds in windows, [and to render them more manageable and useful] for keeping out the sun.
10. To prepare oatmeal for the table by a new method of drying and shelling the corn.
12. To improve the making of _lasts_, so that the boot or shoe may comfortably fit the foot of the wearer.
13. An improved method of pulling down decayed buildings in towns, in order to rebuilding, as also of making new roads, to the honour of the British nation, the accommodation of trade, commerce, and of the public.
14. Lastly, To beautify the Church and draw man unto it, [not by mere outward architecture and adorning, however admirable,] but by appointing and supporting _faithful pastors_ now when the current of prejudice is setting in so strongly against it!”
Some few of my Father’s original ideas, on such topics as these, were occasionally elicited in conversation, but, unfortunately, no record was made of them by those immediately in intercourse with him, nor were any papers, generally expository of his views, met with among those amid which this curious and interesting document was found.