The North-Carolina standard., 1850-06-26

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GREATEST DISCOVERY OF THE AGE.
If all that has recently been said of the discovery
by Mr. Henry M. Paine, Of the decomposition oi
water, and the production of an infammable gas
that is safe and easily managed, and be applied
to domestic uses be true, then this must attain pa'
einece the rank we have assigned it at the head o
this article. couple of gentlemen of this City,
few days since, addressed letter to Mr. Paine, max
ing inquiries on the subject of this gas In reply,
he with much courtesy invited them to come to Wor-
cesteE, where he would be happy to show its opera
tion, and give them any information they might de-
Worcester; and their report is that they were we'll
repaid for their journey They learnt from Mr.. Paine
that he had disposed of the right to use his invention
in the United States to parties Of gentlemen in Bos
ton and New York. He was very courteous, and
gave the gentlemen all the information he could,
without infringing the rights of the propre-
tors. -'5
A fortnight since he would have been pleased to
have shown the entire instrument, but, the matter
stands, he did not feel at liberty to show it.
patents in Europe, and when secured, the right of
use will be offered for sale at cost within the
means of all.
Mr.. Paine does not claim the discovery of decom-
posing WATER which was known IS years ago; but
he does claim the discovery of a new principle of
very rapidly produced, and at merely cost.
An hour was spent in hearing him discourse upon
the subject, and if all he claims for the discovery is
verified, it cannot fail to revolutonize many depart
ments of modern commerce. To see the purest flame,
clear that the intest tnts of blue and green can
be readily distinguished, and of such quality, that
the eye is not panied in gazing on it, certainly speaks
we'll for the superiority of the light. 1t burns with
an even and steady consumption about cubic foot
in three to four hours, sufficient to light common
IL IL H.. Al
The flame is Opaque, and the power of the jet tre-
mendous.
During the last winter, Mr. Paine erected light
house upon hill in front of his house, from which
he directed the rays, by reflector, to village oppo-
site Worcester, and mile and sixth distant in
an air line. The light powerful, that persons
in the village could read by it.
Another illustration of the character of this light
is in the fact, that excellent DaguerreotyPe has
been taken by it.
Mr.. Paine exhibited the stove, which warmed his
room. 1t was about ID inches in diameter, compos-
ed of two circular pieces of sheet iron, between
which flame issues, and the cold air rushing in it
gives forth most delightful heat. The stove may
be used for cooking, and in fact for all purposes,
where heat and light are required. The entire labor
required to make days supply of gas for COM
mon dwelling house does not occupy two minutes in
turning crank and the machine takes up about as
much room as common mantel clock.
Writing upon this subject, Elihu Burritt, the
81 learned blacksmith, ;, says: "Ihere is not only a
saving of expense, but of work, and the nconveni-
ence and care of WOOD coal and ashes and the dam
ger from fire almost completely annihilated This is
not supposition; the lights, followed the
pipes to the cellar, and the apparatus employed
Tor the decomposition of the water; and must say
we can hardly find words to express our astonish-
ment at the simplicity of the machine. when the
same time we think of the greatness and grandeur of
the discovery. This must rank, if not above. cer-
ainy equal with the greatest discoveries and inven-
tons of the age. Wood and coal, and oil, and fluid,
may all be dispensed with, by the use of Mr. Pane's
apparatus"
Mr.. Burritt further says: 1.-TWO jets, such as were
burning in his house, would be sufficient to light
moderate sized hall every night expense Of the
interest the of the machine, (about six dol
lars per annum.) with only the little trouble of
casionally filling the water cistern.''
1t is understood that Mr. Paine had disposed of
his proprietary right to his discovery for which
may at first seem incredible, but moments consid-
Grafton will show that the purchasers will have got
good bargain if all that is said of the capabilities
and cheapness of the light can be established. The
terms of purchase reported to be five millions of
a million down.
Mr.. Paine is expecting a visit from the committee
on gas Of city government at Worcester to-day,
to look into this matter. Boston Transcript.