Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-02-12
Eram Tie Baltimore .ameriecn.

engine. A part Of the Introductory discourse an
pears in the New York Mercantile Advertiser Pro
lessor Renwck beng the author of the article on
the same Subject in the American Quarterly Review,
which we have before noticed, some of the remarks
in this discourse have been anticipated. The sketch
gwen in the discourse. of the powers of the steam
engine, and It's influence on national power and ,he
general comfort of the race may. however be peru
sed with interest more than once. Steam as the,
Professor remarks, has become by far the most inl-
pottant OF all the great natural agents which man
brings to his aid, IN his perpetual conflict with time
space and the elements. In the history of the en-
gine we pass from the region of mechanical ploddps
to that of poetry and the imagination The wild
iWagnings OF classic and fairy lore more than re-
alzed IN 1t. The self moving chariot of Milton; the
wondrous horse Of brass on which the Tartar King
did ride: and the phantom ship of the Cape of Good
Hope, urged III the teeth of the tempest but family
shadow forth, says the Professor ''the substantial
iorms OF the locomotive carriages of Gurney and
Stephenson" In war, the phalanxes of Alexander
ana the eglons OF julius have altered the desi-
mes OF the species in neat the same degree as the
instrument OF the matchmaker of Glasgow.
'.Ghe steam-engne, he continues, SIS now a self.
acting machine. 1t supplies itself with water roo
uates and governs its own speed, registers its own
'hotohs OILS and cleunses its own parts and brines
new surfaces 70 supply for time the of those
most exposed TO irctIon provides for its own safe
ty, makes the consumption of con,bustb]e nronor
tomato TO the quantity of work and finally regulates
the supply of fuel that is necessary for its acion
Nothng then remains to be performed by manual la
bour, nut TO place the combustible in the position
whence may descend by it's own weight to tho an.
paraus tibet feeds the furnace. So small ton is the
weight of fuel when compared with that which tho
engine capable of raising that IS NOT hevopd The
limit of possibility, that. If placed in proner n,si
ton, 1t might dig and raise the coal it consumes ond
thus realize the often fanced and much soupht for
vision OF the perpetual motion; that is to say of ma
chine, which if put in action will cont;nre "a
work thereafter, long as the materials of which
is composed shall be capable of enduring It isnot
preten6cd that such an attempt could in any event
be useful, but it May be demonstrated that in the
case before u.s. when the great and ever actinu phv
sicala agents, and chemical anites are once brouuIt
into play it is within the limit of possibility that
the effect they produce, may be rendered as con-
slant as the causes.'
1t is remarked in this discourse that orr o1y, cor
try has perhaps already derived more direct and i'm
portant benefits from the steam engine than any other
nation; 1t might almost be said as much as all the
resi- or the world united population remarkably
scattered has been brought into most close and
tive communication. Wo have been enabled. we
might say, TO make Of all parts of our fertile and
extensive domain, without virtual separation Here
%here vast bodies of fertile and peoped lands are
found far IN tile INTERIOR the products of which must
still come to market the benefits of steam hav We been
proportionably felt. AS we have derived more than
proportonabe benefit from the application of steam
10 iocomotIon already made, shall continue to reap
advantage III the excess, from those and
about to be made. If, moreover the nature NJ our
circumstances seems to render these improvements
particularly useful to us, the genius of most ac
tive and intelligent population is not slow to put them
to the best account Within thirty Years the canoe of
the savage has given place SUCCESSFULLY to the fiat baa
o. the emgran the open kecl-boa Of the trader the
hat-rooied ark, and the majestic steamboat These
strides IN Improvement are certainly wonderful and
striking IN young country; but in England whore
capital and men were more accumulated, the effects
haze been enormous, and almost Incredible We
quote some passages this subject entire from the
discourse.
"Wthn the same thirty years ENGLAND ba bro,nht
into action mechanical strength superior TO that ex
erted by the whole world united before the ntrodrc
ton OF the Steam engine. Four hundred thousand
persons are there employed in manufact cries. of which
steam is the mover, and by its aid produce as many
hnished goods as two hundred millions would do with
out its assistance. Now the whole number of men
OF active age upon the surface of the earth does not
exceed the latter number. priority in the use of
this Important invention, and therefore increase of
the power and wealth of Great Britain in a manner
hardly conceivable has brought that nation success
luy out OF one OF the most arduous struggles record
Gu IN history. For this struggle the steam enrine
furnished both men and money; men, by DISPENSING
with me use OF great potion OF the manufacturing
population; money, by opening new sources of manu-
,ac'uring wealth She was thus enabled on the one
hand TO Keep In check maicontent subject nation
and on the other, 20 resist the united strength of the
whoie OF Europe; at last the same fertile source of
wealth. ienabed her to set in motion not only the
helghoorfng nations but the distant nations of Sibe
ran SteFpes, and Caucasian mountains, until tho
greatest captain this world ever saw bowed before
the genius of Watt
Ihe same cause which thus elevated England TO
the nelght OF power, is again reducing her TO her ma
tura rank not by direct attack but by increasing the
strength OF other nations. France and Germany have
now become possessed Of the same source of wealth
and arc rapidly using to increase their consequences
England has not less absolute strength than before
but her competitors acting upon the wise system of
encourag ing their own industry have acquired new
force and energy
The great general effect oftbese improvements has
been to extend the Injuries and eegancies of life to
tho middle classes of society," to increase the comfort
and enIoyments of the lower, and although partial
laws may IN some cases operate TO accumulate the
wealth thus created in few hands, the final result
cannst fail to be in the increase of the happiness of
the whole human race.
The New Yo'k Lien law has been finally disposed
Of IN the legislature of that State It passed through
the House by vote of 10 to 10. The bill has been
much modified since it first introduced to the at
tentlon of the legislature. The following expana-
'''s 80 I rms oil Is gwen IN the Albany Argus:
New York, and gives every mechanic, workman or
other persons doing work furnishing materials to
IF fry-6 ,,o jo1I