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inventor, or the proprietors of them, that ⟨Government⟩ would strike in as usual for the greatest share ⟨of the⟩ profits. Parliament could easily lay a heavy ta(illegible text) either the machines, or the passengers, and the(illegible text) proprietors of the machines would be reduced ⟨to the⟩ situation of mere tax gatherers. In that case ⟨perhaps it⟩ might have been as well for either the copper ring (illegible text) machines ever to have been thought of. But if this (illegible text)tion is obviated, and it be fully determined upon, tha(illegible text) copper ring shall be made, and the machines set a(illegible text)ing on it, with travellers in them making the to(illegible text) the world. If these travellers possess any abili(illegible text) all, they never can be at a loss to fine the ⟨latitude of⟩ the place where they are. At least, we may ⟨rationally⟩ suppose, that in each machine, there will be ⟨always⟩ some passenger or another, that will know how to ⟨find⟩ the latitude. Indeed it would be no great ⟨difficulty⟩ for all travellers, going the tour of the world, to ⟨learn⟩ how to find the latitude before they set out. It (illegible text) very easy matter the finding of the latitude; but (illegible text) great difficulty lies in the finding of the ⟨longitude⟩ I would strongly recommend to engrave in le(illegible text) characters, on this great copper ring, so plain th(illegible text) who runs may read, the degrees, minutes, and ⟨seconds⟩ of longitude. Travellers would then know at ⟨once⟩ (illegible text) the machine whirled along the ring, what part ⟨of the⟩ globe they were upon. But in case of objections (illegible text)ing raised against the copper ring and machines, (illegible text) prepared for the worst. I have got two strings t(illegible text) bow. I will submit to your consideration ⟨another⟩ scheme. A copper ladder may be made of the ⟨National⟩ Debt, to reach from the earth to the ⟨moon⟩ Each of the sides of the ladder will be more ⟨than⟩ (illegible text) tenths of an inch in diameter, twelve inches ⟨each in⟩ length, and 14 inches asunder. As Philosophers ⟨have⟩ long disputed about the Moon's atmosphere—height of its mountains—its seas; The Moon's in(illegible text)
