Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1833-10-17
ANTIQUITY OFMECHANICAL SCI.
ENCE.

We read in Genesis, that ships were
as old, even on the Mediterranean, as
the days of jacob. We likewise read
that the Philistines brought thirty thou
sand chariots into the field against Saul;
so that chariots were in use 1910 years
before Christ. And about the same time
archtec ture was brought into Europe -
And 1880 years before Christ, Ammon
built long and tall ships with sails, on the
Red Sea and Mediterranean. And, a
bout ninety years after, the ship ArgoI
was built; which was the first Greek
vessel that ventured to pass through the
sea, by help of sails, without sig ht Of
land, being guided only by the stars
Dndalus also, who lived $50 years be-
fore Christ, made sails for ships, and in
vented several sorts Of tools, for carpen-
ters and Joiners to work with. He also
made several moving statues, which
could walk or run of themselves. And
about 800 years before Christ, we find Cd
Chnon. XIV, that Uzziah made in Jeru.
salem, engines invented by cunning men,
TO be on the towers and upon the bul-
warks, to shoot arrows and great stones
withal. Corn-mills were early invented !;
for we read in Deuteronomy, that it was
not lawful for any man to take the neither
or the upper milestone to pledge; yet
water was not applied to mills before .he
year Of Christ, GOO, nor wind mills used
before the 1900. Likewise, $50 years
before Christ, we read in jeremiah, xviii,
of the potier's wheel. Architas was the
first that applied mathematics to mechan-
les, but left no mechanical writings be-
hind him; he made wooden pigeon that
could fly about. Archimedes, who lived
about 200 years before Christ, was a
most subtle geometer and mechanic
He made engines that drew up the ships
Of Marcelus at the seige Of Syracuse
and others that would cast stone Of q
! prodigious weight TO IA great distance, o,
else several lesser stones, as also darts
and arrows; but there have been many
fabulous reports concerning these en-
gines. He also made sphere which
showed the motions of the sun, moon ,and
| planets. And Posdonius, afterwards,
made another, which showed the same
thing.
In these days, the liberal arts flourish
ed, and learning met with proper encour-
agement; but, afterwards, they became
eglected for long time. Aristotle
who lived about two hundred and ninety
! years before Christ, was.one of the firs
that writ any methodical discourse Of me.
chanics. But, at this time, the art wa.
contained in very little compass, there
being scarce any thing more known a
bout it, than the six mechanical powers
In this state, it continued tillthe sixteen,
century, and then elock-work was invent
ed; and about 1850, were the first clock
: made. AT this time, several of the mos
I eminent mathematicians began to cons
der me echanics; and, by their study an
: industry, have prodigiously enlarged j,
bounds, and made a most comprehensv
science. 1t exteads through heaven an
earth; the whole universe, and every paI
Of it, is its subject. Not one particle @
: matter but what comes under its laws. =
I For what else is there in the visibl
: world, but matter and motion? and tn
properties and affections of both these
are the subject Of mechanics Emerson