And fourth, improved rotary engines.

One of the latter was set to drive the machines in his private workshop, and continued in nearly constant work and in perfect use for about thirty years.
In 1801, Murdock sent his two sons William and John to the Ayr Academy, for the benefit of Scotch education.

In the summer-time they spent their vacation at Bellow Mill, which their grandfather still continued to occupy.

They fished in the river, and "caught a good many trout." The boys corresponded regularly with their father at Birmingham.

In 1804, they seem to have been in a state of great excitement about the expected landing of the French in Scotland.