Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-11-11
NUMBER Sc.
WAS IT A STEAM ENGINEi


Some remarkably ingenious experimental
ISIS nourlShed about the middle of the seven
ieenth century, whose names have persisted !;
ana OF their labors nothing is known. except
an enumeration of the use 10 which some Of
their inventions could be applied. Az ex-
ample of this is furnished by an anopymous
pamphlet, published in 1861, from which
the following extract is taken. The device
referred 10 seems 10 have possessed every
attribute of modern high-pressure engine.
and the various applications Of the latter
appears to have been anticipated: Wbere-
as, by the blessing of God, who only il the
giver of every goud aud perfect ylt, while
was searching after that which many. far
before me in all humane Tearning, have
Sought but not yet found, viz: Il perpetual
motion, or a lessening the distance between
strength and time; though ! say, NOT that
have fully obtained the thing itself, YET have
advanced so near II that already can, with
the strength or helpe of four men, do any
work which is done in England whether by
wlnde, water, or horses, as the grinding Of
wheate, rape, or raising of water; not hy
/ any power or wisdomc of mine own, but
by Gods assistance and q humbly hope af-
ter sorte) immediate direction. | have
been guided IN that search to trade III anotb-
+ or paihe than ever any other man, that can
hear or reade OF, did trade before me : yer.
with SO good success, that ! hare alreqdU
erected one httie engine, or great model, at
Lambeth, able 10 give sufficient denonstra-
ton To either artist or other person that nv
invention is useful and beneficial (let others
say upon proof how much more) as any
other way of working hitherto known or
used" And he proceeds TO give g. list Of
the uses or applications for which these en-
gnes are fit. for il is very difficult, il not
impossible, to name them all at the same
time. To grind malt, or hard corne to
grind seed for the making of oyle TO grind
colours for potters, painters, or glasse-
houses; to grind barke for tanners; to grind
woods for dyers; to grind spices, snufle, to-
bacco; To grnde brick, tile, earth, or stones
for plaster; TO grind sugar-canes; to draw
up coales, stones, ure, or the like, or mate
rails for great and high buildings; to dra,c
icyre; To draw water from mines, meers, or
fens; to draw water to serve cities, towns,
castles and 10 draw water 10 flood dry
grounds, or TO water grounds; TO drap or
hale ships, boats, &c., up ricers against The
stream; 10 drGtc carts, wagons, Sc, as fast
wiihom cattel; TO draw the plough ,e,ihom
caitel 10 The same despatch If need be; to
brake hempe, flax, Sc; TO seeigh anchors
Nth less trouble and sooner; to spin cordage
or cables; to bolt 'meaIo faster aud fine; to
saw stone and timber; to polish any stones
or METALS TO turae any great works in rood,
stone, metals, &c, that could hardly he done
before 10 file much cheaper in all great
,vorks; 10 bore icood, stone metals, to
thrashe cornc, if needle be; TO winnow corne
at all times better, cheaper, Sc. For pa
per rlills, thread mills, iron mills, plate mills;
Gun, n,uliis aiits." II this extraordinary en-
CINE of motion, observes Mr.. Stuart, to whom
we are indebted for the extract, was not some
kind of "A steanl-engine, the knowledge of
an equally plastic and powerful motive agent
has been utterly lost.
Steam is not here indicated, but il is diff
cult to conceive any other agent, unless some
explosive compound be supposed, by which
the pressure of the atmosphere was excited.
That the engine consisted of working cyl
Under aud piston, aud the latter moved by
steam, must we think be admitted; for nj
though most OF the operations mentioned
might have been performed by forcing up
water on an overshot wheel, by AN apparatus
similar TO Papin's or Savery's steam-engnes,
there are others TO which such mode was
quite inapplicable, as raising of anchors, or
propelling carts, wagons, and ploughs. The
inventor, whoever he was, has given proofs
of an extraordinary sagacty, for every OPP
GRAFTON named by him is now effected by the
steam-engne, except raising the anchors of
steun-vessels and ploughing. The latter is
at present the subject Of experiment, and the
former will in all probability be soon adopt
ed. The authors labors were most likely
not appreciated by his contemporaries, and
as the world is always too apt 10 think the
worst in such cases, the whole will probably
no,c be set down by some persons as the
dream OF IL sanguine proJector-the jndg-
nent commonly passed upon those who are
in advance ofthe uge they live in.--Ewbank's
hydraulics.