Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-06-04

doctor upon examining his leg, and recoilcc-
ting tina; he was Just then III want of Il sub
liect cut Il carefully ot}' and took it away
witt! him In MS carriage, to lecture upon II
TO his pupils. So Mynhccr Wodcnb!ock, IL
ware that hc had been hitherto accustomed
TO walk, and not TO hop, and being perhaps
! somewhat prCiudlccd i'll favour of the former
mode ofactiop, sent TO our friend at the ca
: nal basin, in order that he might give e!i-
rcctons about the substitute with which he
wished TO be supplied in the place Of his
lost member.
! The artificcr entered the wealthy burehcrs
apartment. He was reclining on Il couch
with his left leg looking as respectable as c.
,For but with his unhappy right stump wrap
ped up IN banoagcs, as If conscious of is
Town httieness.
"Turningvort, YOU have heard Of my mis-
toftt;nc, it has thrown NC Into ii fever, and
all Rotterdam into confusioI--b,it let it pass.
You must make me u leg; and it must be
tho best leg, sir, you ever made in your life
Turningvort bowed. Il do not care what
i costs''-Turningyort bowed vet lower--
'rro'ldcd 1t outdoes every thing you have c.
'cr yet made Of a similar sort. am for
! nonc OF your wooden spnileshanks Make
1t OF cork: lei it be light and elastic, and cram
it Us tuii OF springs Is watch. | know no.
! specific il my directions, but this am deter
mined on, that shall have u leg as good as
the one have lost. know such a thing is to
DC had; and II get it from you, your reward
rs q thousand guineas.'' The Dutch Prone
ineus declared, that 20 please Mynhecr Won
w odcnblock he would do more than human
ingenuity had ever done before: and under
took to bring him within six DAYS, a !er
winch would laugh 10 scorn the mere COM
! mon legs possessed by common men,
! Ihis assurance was not meant us an idle
boast. Iurnlngvort vas man of specuIa-
tive, as well as practical sense; and there was
Il iaYorite discovery which he had long been
endeavo;ing to make, and in accomplishing
which he very truly imagined he had at last
.uccec'cd that very morning. Like all 9th
cr manufactures Of terrestrial legs. be had g.
yer found the chief difficulty in his progress
towards perfection, to consist Oh its beinu
apparently impossible to introduce into them
any thing III the shape OF Joints, capable of
ncing regulated BY the will, and of perform
ing those important functions achieved un-
DER the present system, by means of the ad-
miTahia mechanical construction ut the knee
and dncie. Oar philosopher had spent years
III 2ndeayounng TO obviate this great iucon-
FcnIcncci and though he had undoubtedly
nlaac greater progress than any body else.
1t vas not till now that he believed himself
completely master OF the great secret. His
first attempt to carry it into execution, was
to lie in tie leg he was about 10, make for
Mynieer Won Wodenblocb.
1t was on The evening Of the sixth! dav
from that to which have already alluded.
'ilat with his magic leg, carefully packed
up, tie acute artisan again made his APP
Poaranco before the expecting and impatient
Wodenbloc!l. There was q proud twjnk-
ing lii Iurningvort's grcy cyc, which seem
cd to indicate that he valued even the thou
sand Guineas, which h. intended for
5!anchc's tnaEfage portion, less than the ce-
!eoiiSE, tile glory, the immortality, of which,
nc was at length so sure. He united the
precious bundle, and spent some hours il,
,aSpiayIng and explaining to the delighted
hHf@Aor, ihc number Of additions he had
made 10 the internal machinery. aud The
purpose which each was iutcn,!cd 10 serve.
1hc evening wore away in these discus
Sons, concerning wheels within wheels ana
springs acting upon springs. When it was
time 10 retire to rest. both we're curaliv s:-
listed O, the perfection oftlc work; and at
ms employer request, the artist consented
70 remain where lie was for the rcsna;.,dcr
o. Tic night, III order that next morning he
might fl or The limb, ard sec how il Perform
cd lis duly.
H"Fij-tao next Eiorling all tic necessary
"ffaDE cncn;s were completed; and Myn-.
beer Won 'NodanbIoch walked forth % The
street III ecatacg, blessing ihc inventive pow Z
crs 81 orc, who vas able TO make so excel !
lent hand Of RS leg. Il seemed, indeed.
10 act 10 his admiration. liz the merchants
mode o.: '*ling Here vas no stiffness, no .
effort, ~ coHsira!ut--ai tho joints perform
ext Their Office, without the aid of either bone
Or nl'i3c!r. Hobody. not oven Il connoi.scur
~ samencs y.o,lid have suspected thal,
there vas any thing uncommon, any great
coiicch2n OF reuTately adjusted clock work,
under the fall well siashcd pantsIoone Of
the substantial looking EutcEman. TaJ il
not been for slight trerGulcus motion, oc-
caaioncd by the rapid whirlag Of 20 ,naN
wheels IN the interior, and a constant click.
ing, itkc th1t OF d watch. though somewhat
louder, he would even hjnsoIfhava forgotten