The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-05-24

uinary engine oil war, which mas proved entireiy
successful and cannot fail TO arrest the Alteration
of the government nj this crisis, when such an in
venton must be deemed highly advantageous,
and emncntly worthy of immediate adoption in
the naval and military service of this country
This invention has been before the country for the
last eight years; but our pacific relations
with foreign powers, and culpable carelessness
on the part of the government, have allowed it,
Ike many other useful and valuable improve
ments in modern science--to pass unnoticed, and
without encouragement to the inventor. This de-
structive weapon is called by the inventors Messrs
Benjamin Reynolds & Brothers, of Undertook, a
" Projecting Engine" The principle upon which
1t is constructed, is perfectly simple-and it is
pable of propelling twenty, thirty or any number
balls by centrifugal power, to the ordinary dis
lance as that by either cannon musket, and with
equal force and velocity. This engine is worked in
the same manner as the fire engne-by the aid of
manual abo.-and with the power of steam,
could be made far more effective, III storming n
fortress than n regular battery. There is neither
steam, nor powder, nor gas, nor any Of the ordi-
nary aids which are required to work engines of
war. The model, which we have seen, resembles
awindass, placed horizontally, at the upper verge
ofwhich is placed small barrel, about the size Of
blunderbuss. Fourteen leaden balls, weigh
ing each one and half ounce, were placed at
certain part of the engine, and four men were set
to work, in the same manner if they We're turn
ing winnowing machine. Having worked the
engine, which was placed distance of seventy or
eighty yards from target with moderate strength,
the balls were propelled with velocity equal to
that of a musket, and shattered to pieces and per-
g. a.
capable of projecting one thousand balls minute,
and could do execution equal to one hundred
muskets. But this model is capable of being APP
piled to large cannon At cost Of few thousand
dollars, within two months, the inventor could
construct one or more projecting engines, capable
Of propelling cannon-ball, with equal power and
velocity as if shot from the ordinary cannon by
the aid of powder; also, of discharging one thou
sand per minute, by the aid of steam-power
The present model was carried out to Havana in
the ship Norma, by the gentlemanly captain of
that vessel, Richard II. Ellis, and was exhibited
before the Governor of Cuba, who expressed him.
selfhghly pleased, and gave his decided appro-
baton of the invention. Generals Storms and
Arcularius Robert McClelland, H. Vail, and
several distinguished men of science and mi
litary tactics, have, also, expressed themselves
highly satisfied with the success which has
attended the experiment. Some of the bullets
projected from this extraordinary engine, remain
at our Office, and are fiat as Mexican dollar
We trust that Mr.. Reynolds will make another ex-
permen,on more extended scale, as such an en-
CINE at present would be powerful auxiliary to
our naval and military service.
RELIGION AND ARr.-In the primitive days of
our puritan fathers, when our supplemented
and devout ancestors were paving the way
for Christian enlightenment, they offered up
their prisons in edifces of simple design and
construction; and, doubt, their prayers were as
acceptable and efficacous as those of their more
refined and civilized descendants. These were
times when the rude hut, and RECONSTRUCTED
log-cabin, formed the chief tenement for the
religious and tho dsvont and often. too. nnder
the naked canopy of heaven, have those hardy
pioneers Of Christianity been wont to offer up
their matn worship. But these days have passed
away, to be succeeded by the "Golten Age"
in the churches. Temples Of modern worship
have been constructed in various parts o. the
country, and particularly in this city, that surpass
in gorgeous design and costiness of execution,
some of the palaces Of our European sovereigns
Apart from the vast outlay of money required for
transporting the materials from some neighborng
State, the gorgeous design and execution of some
of onr modern edifices of public worship, are to-
tally at variance with the spirit of true religion,
and OF the republican institutions under which we
i've For instance, Trinity Church. This superb edi-
flee has recently been finished, and the rich style
of architecture-the magnifcence ofthe interior
showing refinement in art and execution,
that nearly equals the best efforts of some of the
ancient masters in the arts-would make this tenn
pie of worship a suitable edifce for some snowy
monarch of the old world, to worship in state
The great window, in the aisle ofthe church, sur
passes any thing of the kind on this continent !;
and may be said to equal any thing of its kind
also, in Europe The highly polished marble
foor-the soft and downy cushioned pew-the
luxuriant style in which the whole interior is fitted
up-with the superb ndjuncts of a costly organ,
and costly chime of bells, betray desire on the
part of the spiritual guides who keep the souls
of their congregation in their holy keeping, to
wed religion and art together, and carry out the
design, perhaps, through the whole of the church,
es on this continent. Grace Church next follows
suit. St. Paul's and St. Johns are less pretend
ing; and should this thirst for show succeed re-
gion will undoubtedly meet with a check which
may prove fatal to its true interests. When
Christ preached to his followers, he sought not the
downy couch, nor the carpeted floor for his Cos
pei tells us 'His path was strewed with thorns;"
and we question if prayer be more acceptable to
the GREAT JEHOVAH in such costly buildings, than
in our chaste and simply constructed churches
However, we must Ego with the stream" as the
proverb says; for It's 'the taste of the age"
OCEAN STEAM NAvIGArIoS.-We have glanced
AT an act passed by our Legislature, at the con-
cluson of its last session, authorizing the ncorpo-
ration of company, for "Ocean Steam Naviga-
ton," in this city-with view to open line be-
tween this port and some OF the ports of Europe
The act, after citing the name Of the proposed
company-"Ocean Steam Navigation Company
and making provision for the appointment OF
a board Of directors, and the opening Of share