The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-05-03


any mechanical purpose, and the absence
of danger.-Gaiyanic batteries constructed
in this manner give no shock they ma,
be handled with the same impunlty as any
other piece of metal. The rotary motion is
Obtained without the interpositon of any
awkward contriyance diminishing the in-
tensity of the force. With single small
magnet it might put in motion the lightesl
and most delicate machinery /; with a num-
her of l,rger magnets it might drive loco
motive carriage, or set revolving, thousands
of spindes. The power which rends the
cloud, splits the oak, and lays dead the
creatures gathered under its shelter, may be
made to toll in our factories and on our
highways, to drag Wagons, blow the black
smiths bellows, and spin aud weave.
The machine will be exhibited to the
public in few days.
The Editor of the New Era after speak
ing in high terms of the importance of the
invention gives the following description Of
the Engines he saw in operation.
ain the last number of Professor Silliman's
Journal, we find clear and accurate des-
criPlion of a rotary machine which Messrs.
Davenport and Cook have nowin operation
and which we have been favored with an
opportunity Of inspecting.-Our time and
the limits of our paper do not at present al
low us either to copy this explanation, or
write one from our own observation, lbat
would do justice TO the high claims of the
invention. We shall supply this deficiency
hereafter; and IN the meantime it may be
only necessary to state u few important
facts which we have personally tested, /.
We saw n small cylindrical battery, about
nIne inches in length, and three or four in
diameter, produce magnetic power of
about 300 lbs, and which therefore we
could not move with our utmost strength.
= We saw small wheel, five and half
inches in diameter. performing more than
00O revolutions, in n minute, and lift n
weight "a lbs. one foot per minute, from
the power of a battery of still smaller di-
menslons. 3. We saw the model of loco
motive engine, travelling on n circular rail-
road with immense velocity, and rapidly as
cending an inclined plane Of far greater
than any hitherto uscended by
And these, and various 9TH
er experiments which we saw, convinced
us OF tho truth of the opinion expressed by
Professors Sllliman, Renwick, aud others
that the power of machinery may be in
creased from this source beyond any as
signable limits. 1t is computed, by these
learned men, that circular galvanic bat
terry, about three feet in diameter, with mag
nets of a propor,ionabIe surface, would pro-
duce at least nm hundred horse power, and
therefore that two such batteries would be
sufficient to propel ships of the largest size
across the Atlantic. The only materials
required to generate and continue this pow
er for such voyage, would be few thin
sheets of copper and zinc, and few gallons
of mineral acid.
Whilst the cost Of this new motive pow
er is merely nominal, it is perfectly safe and
There is no; a possibility of
my shock or explosion, and the whole
machinery might be conducted by child. !
We hastily announce these important fea- !
ures of this intellectually importan, inven-
ion, preparatory to a more scientific and
PRACTICAL elucidation.