New-York tribune., 1841-12-15
d., LARps1R's sEvEsTH LscrvnE-The Lee


a larger audience than we have before seen present,
and though OF less interest in ssme respects
than his former Lectures, in others it surpassed
them all. The exhibition Of his si-am-engins
models. Of hi, diagrams representing the Moon
and Of his magnificent moving diorama OF the
Heavens, furnished the principal attractions. But
the opening remarks concerning Steam Navigation
in Europe and America possessed considerable IN
,erest and value He remarked TIA, steam navi-
CATION uron rivers and internal waters had il birth
and cradle in Arner<s. While IS applied 10 trans
Dortation upon the sea, England, mainly from her
insular position, had taken the lead. He thought
j, distinctive Of English character that they were
always in favor of following, rather than OF leading
experience, and that they aFe strongly prejudiced
against whatever Is new. Watt. name. from n,
connection with tie Steam-Engine, IS absolutely
revered in England to this day; and whatever
opinion or principle he espoused was received
ins1llibly true Watt had srrong prejudice
assins, hish-pressure engines-;hose in which the
steam Is allowed To pass OF without being con-
densed. Consequently, nothing could induce the
English to reIincuish the lor.pressure engines.
The length of the cylinder in which the piston was
placed in the engines u. ed by Watt about twice
IT'S diameter, and the beam was necessarily at
great hight from the engine.
But it was soon found necessary TO diminish the
hight OF the engine and in order TO do this, they
did not invent It new one, as the Americans would
have done, but attempted to amend tho old one 50
as 10 pat it into the -hiP. First the dimensions OF
the cylinder were reduced 30 tina; il length and
diameter were just equal, and the beam was brought
below the cylinder. As it must necessarily be at
ono side of the engine, in order TO avoid the obque
motion which must Ons.e, a beam was placed upon
the other side, and thus Two engines were rendered
necessary The vessels OF tie British Marine all
have two engines. four beams, and four connect
ns rods.
Another discovery, exclusively applied in prac-
tice by the Americans. Is that of employing
the expansive power of steam; the steam is let
into tho cylirder until the piston is driven third
OF The distance to the bottom, when the supply Of
steam is shut off and the expansive power OF that
already in the cylinder IS left to do the rest OF the
work This IS the kind of engines used in all
American rivers, hut English preJudices have never
allowed its introduction there.
In 1885, DR.. Lardner stated that ne made
thorough and careful investigation Of the character
and speed of the British steamers, and he found
that their average rate was seven and fourth mile,
an hour The impression is very generally pteva
lent that English steamers surpass ours in speed
but this is erroneous. In the course OF MS lecture,
Dir. Lardner alluded to the marine Of France, and
the other nations of Europe their vessels were ali
Of nearly the same character. Lord Palmerston,
late Secretary for Foreign Affairs, had always been
opposed to the introduction OF war steamers into
the French marine believing tina; in the event Of
q war, commercial steamer, could easily be pro-
cured which could readily be converted into yes
sells of war. Dr. Lardner proce ded to show that
tins was most unwse, as the vessels required for
the two services are of an entirely different
character. The exposure OF the paddle wheels,
which is of no consequence in steam vessels for
trading purposes become. of great moment in war
steamers In the latter moreover, the chimney,
should be got rid of, and the whole engine placed
out of the range OF gun shot.
Three large war steamers are now in progress
in this coustry, in all which clearly di,cerned
the proofs of American enterprise and genius
Their. is no blind adherence 10 old prejudces, but
in each of them some improvement upon old plans
has been introduced, and in one, which is being
built in Philadelphia, under the care of Captain
stockton, the Ericsson engine ard propeller 10
be introduced. The Clarion it remarked, is
furnished with the propeller only; the engine
used being OF the same kind as those commonly
employed.
Dr. Lardner then entered into an explanation 9
the construction of this aewly invented engine, and
illustrated his remarks by u most beautiful, full
sized model. This model, which was of an engine
Of lI5 horse power, did not occupy space of
more than FIVE or SIN feet in length and four in
width The engine instead OF having Two cyn-
ders has two half cylinders laid upon their curved
sides at suitable distance apart. The Pistons
instead Of moving up and down have vibrating
so,ion Ike pendulum, and are attached by
beautiful combination Of levers to the axle to be
turned In the passage leading from the boilers to
the cylinder valve is placed which Is turned as
to admit the steam successfully aPon each side OF
Inc piston. The whole machinery Is extremely
simple--intini,ely more SO than the engines in
common use, and must crelons supersedc all 9th
-rs The xPlanatioa q the propeller was reserved
Ter another occasion
Diagrams of the Moon were then exhibited and
tue character Of this body described. The first