Washington telegraph., 1850-01-09

PERPETUAL MOTIuN-It was annOunc-
ed short time since that person In
Georgia had discovered the long sought
for perpetual motion. No description of
the machine was given, but we find the
following description of it in letter writ
ten to the N. Y. Journal of Commerce:
Two days since it was my fortune to
he tarrying for few hours in Madison, at
the Opportune moment when the inventor
for the first time drew aside the curtain
that had concealed the mighty mystery,
and invited the public to enter his house
and inspect the completed machine. All
entered inorrduious; all departed with the
conviction forced upon them that the-per
petual motion was discovered.
Within glass case, about the size of
a common Yankee clock, is held brass
wheel and its adjuncts composing the
machine. The motive power is gravita-
ton, operating upon weights thrown oil
from one side of the wheel. Leaden
weights slide along the circumference of
the wheel; to each of these is attached
an arm, coupled with brass bar, i'll such
a manner as to throw out the bar, with
brass Wei9 ht attached to the extreme end,
unfolding these bars in turn, much as If
the hand that had been held drawn up to
the shoulder were thrown outward from
the body by the Strengthening of the elbow
Joint, the extended cIenched fist occupy
ing the position of the brass weight. The
brass weights carry their side of the
wheel downward, and as each eaden
weight, which had slidden forward and
downward upon its passing the vertical
point, passes the opposite point below,
past which it is carried by the gravitation
of the brass weights it slides or falls back,
and this movement in turn moves the
inner end of the bar to which the brass
weight is attached, in such manner as
to cause the bar and weight TO fold them
selves up. This position they occupy
within the circumference of the wheel
until again the leaden weight passes the
vertical point, and they are in turn acted
upon through the coupling joints, ana
thrown out from the wheel as before. 4
cord passing around the shank of this
lower motive wheel, is carried over a
wheel above, carrying what may be called
the escapement works of clock with a
pendulum. The pendulum, and the motive
wheel below will continue its revolutions;
stop the motive wheel below and the
pendilum above stops, showing that the
motive power lies in the wheel with its
weights below, and not III the works
above.
Loosen the cord that passes over the
shank of the motive wheel below and it
carries the works above. and at once the
motion of the large wheel below is ac-
celerated, constantly increasing in speed
with its own revolutions, and throwing
off the weights with a rapidity and force
that, unchecked, would soon cause the
machine TO tear itself into pieces The
inventor finds it necessary to keep the
cord quite tight around the shank of the
great wheel, III order to prevent his
machine, when i'll motion, from destroy
inc itself by the mere force of its own
propelling power
The existence of this power being ad-
mitted the next question that suggests
ilSeIiis, the practicablity of its application
TO machinery, and the probable extent of
thai application. Mr. Richter, who has
abored fourteen years i'll bringing he
machine 10 lt> present state, believes that
another machine like this, which he de-
sigues making, and into which he will
Introduce some improvements lmparting
strength, will be adopted TO clock work.
That Is, thar wheel twelve inches in
diameter may carry the works OF clock,
making an expensive clock machinery,
and therefore only adopted 10 those of
high finish. He also believes that
wheel of forty feet diameter might carry
a turning lathe.