[ENGINEERING] Interesting set of memoirs in a large in-8 volume comprising: - Analyse du projet présenté par le Sr Perrache, approuvé par l'Administration municipale de la ville de Lyon, pour des objets de necessité, d'utilité et d'agrements publics, et autorisé par Arret du Conseil et Lettres-Patentes du Roi, du 13 octobre 1770. Handwritten annotations. Lyon, Aimé de la Roche, 1770. 12 pages. - M. Perrache's reply to a Paris financier's questions about his company. Lyon, Chavance, 1771. 18 pages. - Anonymous letter written to Sieur Perrache about his business. Lyon, Aimé de la Roche, 1770. 8 pages. - ORFFYREUS (BESSLER (Johann), dit). An Account of the Automaton, constructed by Orffyreus, in two letters, the one from Professor Gravesande to Sir Isaac Newton, the other from Baron Fischer to Dr. Desaguliers. London, s.n., 1770. 28 pages. - SMEATON (J). An Experimental Enquiry concerning the Natural Powers of Water and Wind to Turn Mills, and Other Machines, Depending on a Circular Motion. Extract from Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society, volume 51 (1759 - 1760), pages 100 to 174. Important handwritten annotations on two pages. (first three pages torn but not missing). Rare and interesting collection of engineering projects and inventions dealing with Perrache's project to redirect the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers southwards to create a new district in Lyon, which would later bear his name. It is accompanied by an account of the invention of Bessler, known as Orfyrreus, who claimed to have created a perpetual motion wheel, and a very rare article by Smeaton, considered the father of British civil engineering, on the motive power of water and wind. The latter is annotated in ink, probably by Lovell Edgeworth, who in 1771 began building a dam to divert the course of the Saone. Bound in contemporary half calf, 5-ribbed spine, red morocco title-piece. Ex-libris Richard Lovell Edgeworth. (some handwritten annotations, missing headpieces, paper missing from boards). Expert : Mr. Nicolas Asvisio