Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1836-11-16
Antiquitx Of Mechanical Sciencs.-We

Amtiquity of Mechanical Science.
read in Genesis that ships were as old, Q.
ven on the Mediterranean, as the days Of
Jacob. We also learn that the Philistines
brought thirty thousand chariots into the
field against Saul so that chariots were in
use 1910 years before Christ. And about
the same time architecture was brought in
to Europe; and 1880 years before Christ,
Ammon built long and tall ships with sails
on the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean
And about ninety years after, the ship Argo
was built; which was the first Greek YES
sel that ventured to pass through the sea,
by the help of sails, without sight of land,
being aided only by the stars. Dedalus al.
so, who lived $50 years before Christ, made
sails for ships and invented several sorts OF
tools for carpenters and joiners to work
with. He also made several moving stat.
TIES, which could walk or run of themselves.
And about 800 years before Christ, we
find in Chronicles, XIV. that Uziah mnde
in Jerusalem engines, were invented by Gun.
ming men to be on the towers and upon the
bulwarks, 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 nethern
mill stone, yet water was not applied to
mills, before the year of Christ 600, nor
windmills used before the year 1900.
Likewise, $50 years before Christ, we read
in Jeremiah XVIII. of the po.ter's wheel.
Architas was the first that applied mathe-
matics to mechanism, but left no mechanic.
al writings behind him: he made wood.
en- pigeon that could fly about. Archime-
des, who lived 200 years before Christ was
a most subtle geometer and mechanic.
He made engines that drew up the ships Of
Marcelus at the siege of Syracuse: and
others that would cast stone Of prodigiou;
weight to great distance, or else severa
lesser stones, as also darts and arrows bu
there have been many fabulous reports con
corning these engines. He also made {
sphere, which showed the motions of the
sun, moon, and planets and Posdonius, af
forwards, made another which showed the
same thing. In these DAYS the liberal art.
nourished, and learning met with proper
encouragement: but afterwards they be
came neglected for time. Aristotle, who
lived about 900 years before Christ, wa.
the first that wrote any methodical Discourse
Of mechanics.--But, a: this time, when thu
art was contained within very little com
pass, there being scarce any thing more
known about it than the six mechanical
powers. In this state, it continued till the
sixteenth century, and then clock-work was
invented: and about 1850, were the frs
clocks made. At this time, several Of the
most eminent mathematicians began to con
slider mechanics; and by their study anC
industry, have prodigiously enlarged it
bounds, and made it most comprehensive
science. 1t extends through heaven anc
earth: the whole universe, and every par
of it, is its subject. Not one particle o
matter but what comes under its laws. Fol
what else is there in the visible world, bu
matter and motion? And the propertie:
and affections of both these are the subject:
of mechanics.