The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-11-01

he impossible in the common W~:-Mr
French has a number OF .,-.lcr improve
ments in canaling ana Supplying canals with
water, OF the utmost Importance, especially
'or diiflcuit places 10 carry Il Canal, and for
supplying where there is a want of water ;
and by means OF his Improvements, inland
navigation: may be perfected and an easy
communication secured from one part to an
ether where 1t would be altogether imprac-
ucaoic III the common ways of canaling and
lock navigation.-n many places his new
plans viii save at least SO per cent in the
whoic cxpcnce, ;ss he pledges himself to
make appear TO demonstration to those
VINO wish to be Interested Or employ him in
said business.
. Mr. Mr.. trcach has at his lodgings Model of
a Machine for removing the earth to form
the bed of canals. This will deliver the
earth on one or both sides of the canal, & is
worked by cattle, or horses ; and where the
nature OF the earth will admit of its opera
tion, will save S-4ths OF the expence in FORM
ing the bed OF ,hc canal.
We are Informed, that Mr.. French has
many other very valuable Improvements &
inventions, among which is one fer making
Shingles. In this plan, bolts of a suitable
width and length arc applied tothe macEine,
which splits and slaves them in the aeatcst
manner, and is capable Of making $4,000
per day, II well supplied and attended,
ms may be worked b. any convenient and
suineient power, as that Of cattle, horses,
water, steam &c. Mr.. French has one of
these nearly completed in this City, which
my DE seen III operation in few days at
his lodgings.
Another important Improvement of Mr.
French is in the art OF distillation---
hy THIS improvement, pure spirit or Alcohol
Is drawn at one operation ; and as all ar
dent spirits when pure, are the same, rs good
spirits viii be obtained from Maize or
indian corn, as can be obtained from wine CT
any other liquor that contains it when the
spirit is obtained in this pure state, you may
give 1t what Favour you please to suit the
palate. In this Improvement, are some
things peculiar as LIST You cannot from the
nature OF the improvement obtain any spi-
rlt but what is pure Or nearly so. Secondly,
the liquor will boil at less than one
half OF the temperature of heat, that boils
WAFER III the common way /; and may in
truth be made to boil with a temperature
nearly as low as that of Blood heat The
great advantages of this are evident, as in
the distiliation OF grains, there will not be
any danger of burning to give the liquor an
empeurimatic or burnt oily taste or smell,
the heat not being sufficient to volatilize the
olis or make any smoke. Again, the saving
OF tuelis immense, as it will not take one
obtain the same quantity of spirit Again,
the spirit will be worth fifty per cent more
Ill Market than that usually drawn from
corn, as 1t will be as good by havouring as
the french Brandies most in esteem. Some
things IN this statement Mr.. French is "a
ware will be looked upon as mysterious, if
not impossible but to those versed in mo-
dern chemistry, it will be easy to understand,
and to others who wish to be interested, Mr..
RON ,x,l1 No. IL,
operation, as he thinks to their satisfaction,
and give the greatest encouragement by
making the terms safe and easy to those
Whc wish to encourage this improvement;
tor he will bargain on condition, that if it does
not answer the expectation, he will not have
any pay, and if it is found las he has no
doubt every one will be satisfied even BY ex-
amlnation) to answer the purpose as des-
cribed, the premium will be small for each
set OF works, and terms of payment may be
made to suit the purchaser.
The same principle of evaporation Mr..
French proposes to use in obtaining saline &
saccharine substances and as salt at this
Tune bears such high price, he thinks that
his new principle could be applied with eve
ny great advantage, as the saving of fuel is a
great object IN such establishments
Mr.. French has also obtained letters pa
tent under the seal of the United States for
an improvement on the steam engine and
boat. by his improvement of the Engine,
1t is stript of that multiplicity of parts
which 1T has hitherto been burthened with, ii
IS now rendered simple, cheap and easy to
understand, anc it is applicable to boats,
mills, and all kinds Of Machinery with very
great advantage. Mr.. French intends in a
few days to exhibit model of this Engine,
driving a Wagon and intends to apply it in
Il in he e
from the pits to the landing in this place
we are informed, that company in Balti-
more has agreed to put Mr.. French's i'm
provements III the steam boats into operation
for packets to run from that City to the head
OF the navigation of Elk River & other pla-
ces. The steam boat OH this new plan IS
much better calculated for rough waters .hai,
those now i'll use, and the construction so We
~ simple, that there is not one separate
piece to one hundred compared to the en-
gines and boats now in use it is much east
CT to keep III repair and cheaper to build.
The same Mechanist has a very simple *
cheap plan Of putlng mills and Machincries
OF any kind i'll operation by water without
the use Of any kind II alter wheel and in
this way Mills and Other Machines may be
put III motion with very small stream or
riil OF water, where the thing would be al.
together smpTacticabe by the use Of any
Kind Of whccis. This plan will be very du-
rab!c, and where there is a scarcity of wa
ter, may in many places be applied with the
-. al