A seventeenth century fire squirt, John Keeling's fire engine. In the absene of efficient pumps and flexible hose, fire-fighting equipment was hopelessly inadequate to cope with any large-scale outbreak. Taken from Pepys, Samuel English diarist and naval administrator; kept diary 1660-1669 (published 1893-1899); president of Royal Society 1684-1686 _1633-1703