The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-15

ment of science AS to which of these il will prove
we are not prepared TO offer an opinion; yet we
confess that in our imaginings upon the bare pos
sibility Of the fulflment Of his promises we have
permitted ourselves to indulge in anticipation the
highest feelings of pride and exultation. As we
understand, he claims TO have made discovery by
which he is enabled, almost toitho eIpense to pro-
duce, from pure toater, constant and most brilliant
light; and by which, also, he can produce heat and
mOtiUs poioT 10 any desired ertent.
The evidences before US are by means salts
factory, yet their tendency to confirm the state
ments made by Mr.. Paine and those who incline
TO believe in his professions. writer In the New
York Tribune states that he held a conversation
with Professor Henry, of this city, upon the sub
ject and he reveals to us the arguments and illus
trations made of by that distinguished scien-
tifc gentleman in opposition to the project of MIR.
Paine Professor HIS position was, that "Lts force
exerted by Tie bodies separated could not be greater
than that required to separate them" Mr.. Pnne
proposes" the writer states, Shy the aid of small
weights, TO separate bodies that TO give great
power after they are separated. If he has discov-
cred this secret, he has discovered much more, for
he has an entire system Of philosophy to
create. The earth is attracted to the sun under
the law that mention, which is the great law and
must be proved to be false before that Of Mr. Paine
can be true"
To these objections the Tribune replies, that Mr..
Paine's answer is that he has discovered new laws
and a method of applying electricity to wa
ter - and that journal continues as follows:
1.-The whole Of Professor Henry's reasoning is OBJ
waited by the assertion that Mr. p. does not scpa
rate the gases, but produces them contemporane
ously from two separate bodies Of water, convert
ing one of these bodies entirely into oxygen and
the other into hydrogen gas, according the posi-
tive the negative pole Of his electrical machine
is inserted into either. Thus from the water yield
ing oxygen no hydrogen is produced, and oics
..Mr. Paine claims to generate electricity, not by
a galvanic battery, but by means OF ordinary mag
nets, except that into the heices he has introduced
a substance never before employed for that pur-
pose. What this substance is, is the secret and the
only secret which he does not now communicate to
the public. The process itself is open to the
ination of any who may desire to see it. We
yesterday conversed with an intelligent gentleman
who had visited Worcester for the express purpose
Of examining into the alleged discovery, and who
assured US that after using every means to detect
none whatever. He himself produced hydrogen in
liberal quantities, from jar of water which he
placed upon table, entirely isolated from every
other source from which gas could be derived; he
even went far as to detach the machine from the
clock work, by which it Is usually put in motion,
and turned it with his own hands. He came away
convinced Of the gcnuineness of the discovery, and
only uncertain as to whether 1t could be applied on
a sufficiently large scale to perform the entire light
ing and heating OF great city like New York or
London.
'But the opinion of an individual can have little
effect in settling the public mind as to whether Mr..
Paine has produced the mightest discovery yet
made, only grand and ingenious hunbug.
That question cannot be answered by abstract rea-
soning general assertions either side, but
only by conclusive experiment on such "a scale
and in such manner as to silence every doubt.
Such an experiment we are happy to say is now on
foot Arrangements in progress for lighting the
Astor House by this process, and ii is expected
that the trial will be made within month;
soon, indeed, as the machine can be prepared for
the purpose. That establishment is now lighted
by gas made by its proprietors on the premises,
and has connection with any gas company
whatever. The pipes and burners now used are
perfectly adapted to burn Mr.. Paine's carbonated
hydrogen; all that will be necessary will be to de-
tach them from the present apparatus and join
them TO the new one. The experiment will be tried
under the eye Of the proprietors and other gentle
men, and collision or trick will be impossible.
Every means will be taken to ensure fair trial. all
the parties being DESTROYS of success Mr..
Paine or his friends can be. II it succeeds. the
thing will be established. II it fails, that will be
the end of the affair.
"This experiment ia to be made to satisfy num-
Der of highly respectable and responsible parties,
who propose to buy in the patent right in case Of
success. The conditions are, that Mr.. Paine shall
bring machine Of his construction to New York,
and produce at nominal expense, say five cents
per thousand cubic feet, gas enough TO light the
Astor House for six successive nights. Before he
commences, the parties in question are to deposit
one hundred thousand dollars with some person ac
ceptable TO the proprietor-John c. Pedrick, esq,
of Boston, who has aided Mr.. Paine in carrying on
his experiments for the past two years-to be paid
TO Mr.. p soon as the trial is declared sue
cessful. This is by way OF bonus or guarantee, in
there should be a failure 10 pay 10 him
the sum Of one million, which is TO render those
parties part proprietors of the invention. The value
Of the patent for the United States (the city of
Worcester excepted, which is reserved for Mrs.
ia lxe at az n
joint stock company is To be formed to manage it.
In this company MIR. Pedrick is TO hold from one
third 10 one-half the stock on the remaining part,
which he sells, the million handed over immediate
ly the success Of the experiment is TO be consd
cred an nstalment, and the balance is TO be made
up by sales OF rights. Thus the parties buying in
will receive dividends until MIR. Pcdrick shall
have been fully paid
"Such is the arrangement agreed upon between
Mr.. Pedrick and these gentlemen. II the trial here
should prove successful 1t will no doubt be carried
into effect; If not, the New York spectators will
lose nothing, and the invention will be heard of no
more Mt present. We dcvoutly hope for a success
ful result, though we shall not be very keenly dis
appointed by failure"
The New York Mirror also contains the following:
"THE NEWLY INVESTED LIoHr.-We are unwill
ing 10 endorse all find stated with respect 10 the
new and extraordinary invention, or discovery, by
which gas, heat, and motive power, are produced
from water by means of electricity. Still there APP
pears TO be some foundation for the stories that are
tested at the Aston Housc in this city. Mr. Paine,
the inventor, somewhat notorious some years
since, from the fact Of his many marvellous escapes
from death at the hand Of some unseen assassin,
who appeared 10 be very fond Of making a target
Of his person; and from which circumstance he OBJ
tanned the soubrquet Of the great shot at He
does not claim the discovery, Il seems, Of decom
posing water, which was known many years ago;
but that of rapidly producing II, and at a merely
nominal cost. The fiame IL Is said burns with an
even and steady consumption, about one cubic foot
in three to four hours, sufficient TO light common
sized room. There is no smell smoke TO the gas
The flame Is Opaque, and the power Of the jet trc-
mendous.
1--WE sec IL stated, that during the last winter, Mr.
Paine erected lighthouse upon hill in front Of
his house, from which he directed the rays, by
reflector, to a village opposite Worcester, and one
mile and sixth distant in air line. The light
was 80 powerful that persons in the village could
read by IL. Another illustration Of the character Of
this light Is in the fact, that excellent daguerrc
otype has been taken by il. He also warmed his
room in the same manner; the stove being about
fourteen inches in diameter, composed OF two cir
cular pieces of shect-iron between which flame
and the cold M rushing in. IL 0ives n