The Express.
London, England, 1864-01-12 00:00:00

4 NEW MOTIFS POWER.

We wets admitted yesterday to a private view,
at the Cryntal Palace, of a machine by which it is hoped to
introduce • new principle into locomotion. The invention
mess to 113 from France, and is due to the ingenuity of a
asussiereial gentleman of Meaux (Seine et Marie% M.
Illesimir Noel. Though in no way connected with me-
chanics, this gentleman, after several years' thought on the
subject, came to the conclusion that weight might be con-
verted into motive power in the propelling of vehicles. The
principlP s not now, being already to some extent developed
in the velocipede, and in the well-known action of the lathe
in machinery. Some twisty years ago, moreover, the
rialto(' at the then popular Adelaide Gallery sew • simi-
lar application of motive power in the centrifugal
railway, on which the cars were whirled down one
iodise rod up another by their own ponderosity ; and. if
we reoolle.t rightly, it was proposed by certain enthusiastic
theorist shout that time to (conduct the traffi: of railways
by some modification of the same force. M. Neel seems
S. have givens more practical character to the abstract idea.
The VOLOt ire& is a mere toydand the centrifugal railway was
an impossibility foranyof the serious purposes of locomotion.
But the machine which we saw at work yesterday appears
to be ospd,le of being usefully applied in various ways. A
car boa bees constructed which will move either with or
without nib/ to go upon (though of course it is all the better
if so assisted), and in which the weight of the bodies placed
OM it is to adjusted that with • very slight initiating and
directing power—whether human muscles, or Lome, or
steam—locomotion is effected with an immense saving of
foss& The sales of the car are made with minim, moved
elcagated spiral springs ; and the whole, With
several persons as it, may be set going by one man, working
lie feet on a moveable part of the machine. The axles
instead of being connected with the navesof the wheels,.
bear ou the main spokes at each wheel (only two spokes Are
asosesszy to the principle, though more are added for
strength, : and the weight falling on the spoke continues
the motion which the operator has commenced. In this
way we moved the car for some distance along one of the
galleries : and, although the process is rather fatiguing to
any on.: unaccustomed to it, we have no doubt that to a
'teem; who Lis acquired the proper mode of managing
the body, the expenditure of strength is not eikaissnve.
We were enabled to wheel four hundred weight of stone
eo • barrow constructed on this principle, though the same
weight on a common barrow is far beyond any ordinary
mane strength. U constructed on this principle a steam
locomotive engine of three-horse power is as we are
Wormed, to one of thirty-bone power, end one horse in an
sea ilic o would do the work of four or live.
The patentees of this invention are all foreigners ; but
tMmachots is exhibited under the supervision, end with
the ohl:giog explanations, of Mr. Frederick Bonsfield, the
asperintendeet of the exhibitors department of the Crystal
Palace. M. Noel. we understand, has not yet exhibited
his invention in France, lassies a higher *plaice of the
practical genius of the English people. The car which we
sew at work yesterday is the production of the very imper-
fectly instructed engineers of Meaux, and is therefore ad-
mittedly open to gnat improvements; but it suffices to
establish the theory. Of course, the great point is, bow
far the theory will sumer in actual everyday lasi; but it
it eroded that IL. di Leave has ordered some of the
barrows for the excav dors of the Saes Can..% and this is
eartainly a great testimoisy to tlie west:cal value of the
invention.

Mr. •1. W. ANSON'S DRAMATIC ALMARAC.—This
little boo. —a oompeadium of theatrical matioe—has
red made its eighth annual appearance. It is full of histo-
rical foots °mewled with the stage, is an exoelleet dramatic
bunions director?. and eau be carried in the waistcoat
pocket. The profit. derived front this useful publication are
still given b► Mr. Amos to the Dramatic, Equestrian, mad
Sick

ROl A L GALLEET OF ILLUSTRATioN.—The Opera
di Carcent, Lee, by Mean. Ozenford And Madames,
win after a limited ausalier of representations, give Oboe
te Mr. and Mrs. German Reed's new Egyptian entertain
meat, written by Shirley Brooks, and in which Mr. Jobs
Parry it announced to appear. The groat success, however,
of the opens, which is one of Kr. Madmen's freshest end
mat metodimui compositions, Las suggested a return to the
Cial/wy (after a tour which will be immediately commanead)
ea Owe mornings that are not devoted to the ferthoomin
g
memity. Sepses highly of Mr. Shirley
win& The of the piece, we hear. is novel, and th:
aillamtioes aro hi y humorows and effective. The mammy
balsam painted by Mr. William Tribes.