New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-30
Paine. Great Discovcry j..

PnineFs afrFlt DtsCoFcFf'
The Editor of the Boston Ctroaotyps,
whose description of Paine's wonderful in
venlion for producing light blythe simple
decomposition of Water we have already
published, in reply to a criticism of the
Philadelphia Nor0-Americaa, sets forth at
length and more minutely the process by
which Mr. Paine produces his Illuminating
Gas, showing that the turpentine through
which it finally passes is not consumed
thereby and that the water is not decom
posed, in the usual sense of that term, but
entirely converted into Hydrogen, as it
may be into Oxygen, by reversing the poles
of the electrical machine. He proceeds
1.-THE great question of all, then s, what does
the motion cost by which Mr. Paine gets the by
droden or the oxygen the case may be, from
the water That he gets the first rapidly, we
know for we saw IL. That ne gets the other, by
a reversal of the poles we believe, on his own
testimony and that of others because we saw
him get the hydrogen. The only question where
we have felt any liability to mistake 10 In regard
to the expense Of the mechanical motion OF the
helices to excite the electric current here
We cannot help reasoning ourselves directly OUT
of doubt 1t might be imagined that there would
be some force requisite to overcome the attrac-
ton Of the magnets Tor the steel taggots inside
of the helices and TINT this would operate as
resistance to the rotation OF the hellces varying,
perhaps, with the effect produced. This suppo-
sition occurred to us at the first blush, but was
dissipated by recurrence to the fundamental
laws of motion. GraytatlOn toward one or any
number of b dies is no resistance to the rotation
of wheel on its axis in any possible case be-
= Il, eNIf
revolution ID accelerAtes IN another The same
must be true OF magnetic or any other attraction.
We have then no resistance on the whole, what
ever but the friction Of the pivot aud the poles
and this if not exactly constant, does not vary
with the gas Produced and compared with the
motive power arising from the combustion or en-
plosion Of that gas, ii is a mere tribe. Astound-
ing as the conclusion 49, we cannot help arriving
at it. that by Mr.. Paine discovery, n smaller me-
cbaaicaL power mag b. m0de N generate larger
oHe "a conclusion which, if sound, makes the
mightiest revolution in human affairs ever seen
since Adam. 1t makes man creator, bringing
into existence n sort OF lower lte-a race OF ma
chimes that sustain themselves and propagate
their species; or at east sustain themselves and
work well beside.
The Ctroaogpc thus describes Mr..
Paine's machine and process
What we saw was Just this Placed on a
a magnetic electric machine consisting OF two
horse shoe or [ magnets, with pair OF hellces
revolving between their poles, Second, large
flint glals jar about hall full OF pure colorless wa
ter Of the ordinary temperature, having inverted
in il bell class with brass cap, through which
the two poles from the electric machine passed
10 the eiectrOde or point OF action within the wa
ter Third, q small ar, OF the capacity OF three
pints perhaps about half full Of spirits Of tarpen
line This Jar had in il, dipping beneath the eur
face of the spirits Of turpentine what appeared 10
be q common argand gas burner inverted. 1t
passed up through the cork and Was connected by
q small copper tube with the brass cap OF the bell
class aforesaid There was also tabe which
passed through the cork Of the jar OF spirits OF
furpentine which did not like the other go below
the surface and at the eud Of this tube was line
Jet for burning the gas.
To this simple apparatus there was no adjunct,
and nothing could possibly have been connected
with it, through the table otherwise. Every
piece OF it vas movable, aud the gas was under
the eye from It's generation TO its combustion
While the electrical machine, which communi-
Gated with the jar OF water only by Nat strips OF
copper about One.quarter cf an inch VIDE ana Oh
half the thickness Of a cent, was at rost, not one
bubble Of gas could be seen IN the water, nor
could the Jet be lighted. There was, IN fact, to
nv certain knowledge, nothing in the jars above
the cold water in the one, and the cold spirits oil
turpentne in the other, but common AR. Inc
moment the helices Of the electric machine were
pns ia motion bubbles Of gas began to arise In the
water from the small metallic box which contained
the electrode, and which Was at some distance
above the bottom OF the water in the jar, and had
no connection with it. This gag was first allowed
10 expel the common air in the bell-glass which
was then closed. IL then passed by minute oub-
bles and considerable ebullition through the nu-
merous fine holes in the argand gas burner i'm
mersed in the spirlts of turpensne, and coming
on. through the jet, was lighted, and burned
strongly and brilliantly. But the burning Of tbs
let could not consume the gas as last as II "as
produced even by slow motion Of the helicss'
and that had 10 be stopped in hail a minute OF
So The let then continued 20 burn ~ s9e nydfo-
static pressure until the equilibrium OF the Wasef
within and without the bellglsss was restored.
The quality Of the gas generated IN me wassr waS
tested before reaching the splrts OF turpentine,
and il was found to be hydrogen by iss burning
with the peculiar fame of that gas
HoIDIye OyER-The sherifs, Clerks, Treasu'
.er. Auditors. &c of Counties in Michigan, whose
,arrns expire on tie 3lst inst, nave found pro-
vision in che new Constitution OF thar StsEe'
which they claim, Authorizes them 70 mold thsf
pIaces for t8o or three years longer; Inc as
co7ery Of the important passage has been 1.ade
since the election otherwise the new Constlgn'
tiou would have been blown cut OF water The
question Is TO 90 to the Supreme Court
>---------aes---------------
r,rAvr ny APoyLExY-The Coroner on Satar-
1av I-Ia an fnauest AZ the Beieyqe Dead House
MON the body Of an unknown man, about 90
Lara OF sae who feH in Grand st. on Friday night
and suddenly expired The decsa&ed was dreesed
m " oite Canton flannel under'snlrs and drawers
blue hose, black cloth pants, blue cloth Vess daFk
| mixed oyeg-coat and good shoes. yeroiS% "
i -akEr a1A