The Sun.
London, England, 1826-05-25 00:00:00

PNEUMATIC ENGINE.

At an early hour yesterday morniig, the applica-
tion.of Mr. Brown's newly invented pneumatic engine
for propelling a carriage against the ascent of a sharp
acclivity, 'was successfully tried upon the steepest part
Of 'ShoOter's-lii.ll. .The place chosen for this trial,
was where the ascent gains 13' inches: in 12 feet, and
where . the. sandy surface of the 'new made road, by
affording a yielding and clogging bed for coach-wheels,
presented 'every obstacle to.the •suceess of such an ex-
periment. Notwithstanding these local disadvan-
tages, Mr. Brown's engine, which was , constructed
upon.a fourwheeled body,‘ steadily conquered ;the
ascent, .and established its 'extraordinary power
to move onwards against the impediment of a pre-
cipitous surface. Its power of .motion upon .a level-
plain,was never denied; but; until .this experiment de-
rhonstrated the fact, many contendedthat it could hot
surmount perpendicular 'resistance. 'We Could not
learn exactly the weight'of the machine; but as it
cended the hill sevenpersons sat on the 'shafts; With-
gut: .making by their incuiribrance .ally perceptible
alteration., in its 'thotiorh, -Some sailors, who were
accidentally passing 'at the time, iiirounded the en-
gine, and expressed their amitzenierif at itS'
ling power, and being better 'Adapts in the Production
of' fun than .of "machinery, they placed. a young
ehitnney,sweeper who was' cairght on -the spot; upon
the board corresponding-with the coach:box, and. (41i=
ferred upon 'the little' urchin thilionoUr *hid' in the
dark ages would have devoted'his bones to-the flames
instead_:of.the -chimney, of being time first conductor of
a heavily Warr vehicle up Shociter'vhill Withontilie
agency of horses. The power which is capable of.
practical- •applieltion by the' piinciple of this engine
appears very Considerable, and its steady momentum
at the, very instant of starting showed the certainty of
its action The ,steam;trignit can only be applied to
aid 'inediarrical .-upon a slightly inclined"
plain, and with the 'aid .of rail-road ; while 'this
Pn6uniatiC. inYerition
.wo,rks .at ,once: vp.on such
a road as we have described, notwithstanding
the. zouginset impediments. There. appears to be
one important advantage which the principle of
this engine has Over any otherthat science has hitherto
supplied for pra_et__64l; purposes- of the. same nature:
The o ccurrepce -of Attiden't cannot possibly attended
be T

with danger. The force of a steam-engine necessarily
depending upon its expansive properties,-is capable of
producing considerable mischief in the event of any
untoward explosion ; but the pneumatic engine, de-
riving its power from the atmospheric air, only exposes
the cylinder, under any circumstances, to the pressure
of its action externally. The cylinder, from any weak-
ness of the'material, or inequality in its circumference,
might have its surface bulged inwards from the- external
atmospheric pressure, or become squeezed into a
shapeless tube, but there cannot be any explosion, or
scattering expuhion of its fractured parts. The ex-
periment, to a mere observer, was certainly curious
and satisfactory ; and so far as the power of ascent
was involved, was clearly demonstrated. It is for
scientific persons, who have leisure for these pursuits,
toystimate and .assign the degree of me* of the in
-
venture