The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1823-09-09
Miscellany.
From Doctos Brewsters Edinburgh Philosophical
Journal

There has never been in our day an inven-
tion which has created such sensation in the
scientific and 10 the manufacturing world. The
steam engine of Mr. Watt had been 50 lone
considered as the greatest triumph of art and
science, that it was deemed a sort of heresv tn |
regard it as capable of improvement and
Notwithstanding all that has been done by Mr..
WooIf, and other eminent engineers, the IN |
doubted merit of their engines has scarcely |
vet been admitted by the public Under such |
circumstances, Mr.. Pefkins's claims were
likely to meet with various kinds of opposition.
Instead OF haiing il as an invention which
was to do honor to the age in which we live,
and to add new and powerful arm to British
industry. imperfect experiments and confined
views were urged against the principle of its
construction, the jealousies Of rival traders
were arrayed against it, imaginary apprehen-
sions of danger we're excited, and shortsightl
ed politicians sounded the alarm that such an
invention would precipitate our country from
fts lofty pre-eminence among the manufacture
ing nations of the world.
Most of these grounds of opposition have
been now removed by direct experiment.
Mr. Perkins's engine is actually at work.
It's operations have been witnessed and mi
nutely examined by engineers and philosophers
of all kinds; and the most unreasonable scep-
tics have been compelled to acknowledge the
business of its principles, as well as the energy
of its operation. The active and inventive
mind of Mr.. Perkins, however, did not remain
satisfied with this experiment He has dis
covered method, which we consider equal in
value TO his new engine, by which he can con.
vey the benefit of his original principle to
steam engines of the old construction and
this has recently been succeeded, we are told
by most extraordinary discovery, that the
same heat may be made to perform its part
more than once in the active operations of the
engine.
Great as the invention is,yet we are disposed
to think that the application Of the principle
to old steam-engines is not less important
When we consider the enormous capital which
is at present embodied in Great Britain in the
substantial form of steam engines, and the
admirable elegance and skill with which these
noble machines impel and regulate the vast
population Of wheels and pinions over which
trey reign, we feel as if some vast innovation
were proposed upon our established usages, by
the introduction of Mr.. Perkins's engine. The
very idea that these potentates Of the me-
chanicai world should be displaced from their
thrones; that their strong holds should be dis
mantled their places demolished, and their
whole affairs placed under a more economical
management, is somewhat startling to those
who dread change, and admire institutions that
both work and wear well. Mr.. Perkins, how
ever, has saved them from such degradation
He has allowed them to retain all their hon.
ours and privileges, & propose only to inyigor-
ate them with fresh influence and power.
In this new system, the old engines tcih
their boilers. are retained unaltered. The fur
naces are alone removed. Mr.. Perkins con.
structs a generator consisting of three hori-
zontal tubes of gun metal, connected together
filed with water, and supplied with water
from forcing pump, as in his own engine.
This generator is exposed to heat in an anal
ogous manner, so that, by means of loaded
valve, which opens and shuts, the red hot fluid
may be constrained till forced out Of the gen.
orator into the water, in the boilers Of Bolton
and Watts. By this means, as much low
pressure steam of four pounds on the sqnare
inch, may be generated by one bushel If Goals,
as could be produced in the old engine by nine
bushels. This most important result was OBJ
tanned by actual experiment.
Since these great improvements have been
effected, Mr.. Perkins has made discovery :,
that seems in its practical Importance, to sur
pass them all. He now entirely dispenses
with the use of the condenser, and works the
engine against the atmosphere alone; and
by methods with which we are not acquainted
and which indeed it would not be prudent for
him 70 disclose at present, be is enabled to ar
rest 1te heat after ii has pertoTmsd ats meohan-
zeal functions and actually pump IL back TO the
generator, to unite 1eih fresh portion Of loG-
ter and renel0 its useful lGbours. 10 an oper-
alton like this, considerable portion of the
heat must still be lost, but the wonder is that
any should be saved, and we venture to say,
that the most sanguine speculator on the ON
Impotence Of the steam engine, never dared
even to imagine the possibility of such an in
venti0n.
We are well aware that in announcing this
discovery, we are exposing ourselves to the
criticisms Of those whose 5elief is naturally
limited BY their own experience but it is sat
isfactory TO know. that Capt Basil Hall,
(whose account Of Mr.. Perkins's discoveries
snd Inventions delivered before the Royal
Society of Edinburgh, gave such universal sat.
isfaction,) has been entrusted with Mr.. Per
kin's discovery. and that he speaks confident
ly Of the sonnduess Of its principles, as well as
the practicability of its application. After
the I9th June, DIR. p. is ready to take or
ders for his new Engines, and his apparatus
for producing low pressure steam for working
the ordinary Eagiaes. The price we believe,
of tue new Engine, is only half that Of Bolton
and Watts, with one third Of the savings OF
fuel for period Of years, which we have not
heard stated.
To an article 10 the last Quarterly Review,
On the subject of the British Navigation Laws.
and the scheme which now exists in Great
Britain Of removing many Of the restrictions