The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-06-21
TFron, Carser's Letters

honor TO call, was our. celebrated coun-
tryman Perkins. His conversation is al
ways instructive as we'll as agreeable.
he sat with US two or three hours, and
was 80 kind as to show US all the letters,
which had passed between him, the
Duke of Wellington, Mr.. Canning, and
Lord Liverpool, respecting his invention
ofstenm-guns. They pay high CON-
pliment to his ingenuity, and, after visit
ing his mandatory, express a favoura-
bic opinion as 10 the practcabiity of
this mode of warfare. The Duke of
Wellington remarked, that he saw no
reason why it should not produce new
era in military science; and he thought
no troops. could be brought up to face
park of artillery, dischargiDg a shower
of shot with such rapidity. This is
high authority, in which the two minis
tiers concur. The invention will be
equally effective by land and sea. A
public experiment was TO be tried in
Regents Park on the 9th of December,
at which the staff of the army and the
great men ofthe metropolis were TO be
present. No doubt was entertained as
to the result, nor that steam will at no
distant period supersede the use of gun
powder.
Invited by the comforts Of the hearth,
k1r. Perkins entered somewhat at length
into philosophical and mechanical spec.
ulations, giving the result of his expert
ments in hydraulics, TO prove the CON-
pressibility of water. His Investigations
have led him to full conviction, that
the ocean, at the depth of FIVE hundred
miles from its surface, ceases TO be liq-
uid, becoming from mere pressure a
solid, dense, mass of matter, constituting
the central portions Of the globe. He
related an amusing anecdote connected
with this subject. Soon after his arriv-
al in London, he went one evening TO
listen TO the instructions of a Professor
of Philosophy. The subject of the lee
ture happened to be hydraulics, in
which the incompressibility of water
was inculcated as an axiom. Al the
close Of the exercise, the American
philosopher entered into discussion of
the punt with the professor, and SO full
,ly satisfied hin of the falsity of the AK
som, that on the following evening he
had the candor TO retract his doctrines,
and give another lecture, to his class on
the comPressibility of water. Mr. Per-
kins also gave, US a detail of his expert
menis, which were successful, for con-
peciing air into a permanent visabIe
t4Iqsld. In short, he seems to play with
the elements; and, above all, has been
the first 10 bring into complete subjec.
ton the fiery and iptractable. power of
steam.
G1ias gentleman takes lively inter.
es,in the inventive genius of his coun-
trymen, to whom his situation in the
focus Of mechanics, his acquaintance
with London, and above all his owrr ex-
peFience, enable him TO afford great as
sistance. He spoke in very free and
favourable terms Of the invention for
converting iren into steel by simple
process, entertaining no doubt of IFS
success, northat the patentee will real
ize an immense fortune The celebrat-
ed banker Goidschmidt has purchased
one quarter of. The patent for 10000,
and says he would not part with il for
ten times that amount If my informa-
ton is correct, the real inventor has
been defrauded of the reward of his in-
genuity, and another person is likely to
reap the profits.
An anecdote was related to us of a
Philadelphia in London, who has an in
ssention for Extracting cGlcuh. | have
examined the ingenious instrument, and
witnessed the method Of using it. fit
shall succeed, IL viii superseue 1ne hor-
rible operation of liihotomy. Like
many men of genius, the inventor has
= the misfortune not TO be 10 afiuent cir
cumstances, and on that account met
with some difficulties 10 securing the
benefits of his skill and industry. One
= Of the most distinguished physicians in
! London, after examining the apparatus
and satisfying himself of its merits, sat
down and wrote check for f5OO,
handing il TO our countryman, and say
ing that it the invention should form a
source of profit, the money might be
refunded; but if not, he would please
to consider it as gratuity. Such, acts
Of hberality do more to subdue. national
prejudices than all the wars that were
ever waged.
The extensive importance of the date
tree is one Of the most curious subjects
lin natural history. A considerable part
Of the inhabitants of Egypt, of Arabia,
and Persia, subsist almost entirely upon
its fruit. They boast also of its medici.
nal virtues, -Their camels feed unon