A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 2

193
John Winthrop, Jr., to John Winthrop1
Winthrop, John, Jr. Winthrop, John

1630-01-18

To the Worshipfull his very loving father John Winthrop Esqr. dd at mr. Downings house in Peterborough Court over against the Conduict in fleet street. London
Sir,

My humble duty remembred I receyved your letters, reioycing much to vnderstand of the Continuance of your welfare, wee are heere (God be praised) all in good health. I am glad you have made an end with my brothers businesse vpon so good termes; he and she are both very glad of it, it would have bred much trouble if it could not now have beene put of, besides what hinderance it would have bene to the intorn. I was last weeke at Colchester with mr. Heath the Kinges workman, who made the fort at Langer point,2 I have now a perfect plot therof with the dementions of the whole and partes, I will have it ready against you come downe.

I have now made a rude modell (as only to shew, that it is feasable) of that wind motion, which I tould you of, then only imagining it speculatively but now have seene the experience of it, and doe affirme that an Instrument may be made to move with the wind horizontally to equall if not to exeed the ordinary verticall motion of the windmill sailes, both in swiftnesse, and force, for the winges of it (which may be eyther 4: 6, or 8, or as many as the workman will) in the one semicircle shalbe allwais with their broad superficies oposite to the wind, the other semicircle (allowing only such bredth as for strength the timbers of the winges shall require) shall be in respect, only liniarily oposite to the same, and where there is any broad superficies pressed vpon by the violence of windes we may conceive the force it carrieth, by the great weight that it moveth, as shipes etc. and where it is placed vpon a center, and farr distant from the same, we may iudge with what violence it would whirle round, by the effect it worketh vpon shipes sailing close by a wind (which tendeth towards a round motion save that it continually as it declineth changeth his center, and falleth on a new one) that sometyme through the force of it, it oversetteth them though poised with reasonable weight, swiftnesse much sic needes proceed proportionably from force. I conceive it may be aplied to many laborious vses as any kind of milles Corne milles saw miles etc., and I thinke a cornemill of this to performe with the ordinary verticall milles may be made for little more Cost then a good horse mill, and so may hold proportionably in the other 194sortes as saw milles oyle milles etc. which are not made eyther for wind or water without great cost; for this may be made as low as the workman will, wheras the verticall milles must be made very hye, which maketh them so chargeable: And one spetiall property wilbe in them that they allwaies stand right for the wind whersoever it bloweth: If there may be made any vse of it, I desire New England should reape the benifit for whose sake it was invented. Et soli deo gloria.

heere was to day a youth from Halsted to be enterteyned for New England, but knowing you were full I bid him not loose his labour to come any more to speake with you etc. I pray remember my duty and love to my vncle and aunt Downing, with my love to my Cosens and freindes. thus desiring your blessing and praiers I Commend you to Godes protection and rest Your obedient sonne

John Winthrop Grot. Jan: 18: 1629–30.
1.

W. 1. 69; L. and L. , I. 367–369; 5 Collections , VIII. 23–24.

2.

Landguard fort, on the Suffolk side of the mouth of the Stour, erected under James I to defend the entrance to Harwich harbor. See page 178, note 6 179 note 12 , and page 277, note 2 281 note 6 .