Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-06-28
MECHANISM, No vIn.-Br JOSIAH Hor,.oor
FoR THE NATIONAL IsrELIIsHscEn.

FoR THE NATIONAL ISrKLLIexscER
In mathematics an empty cask and stick of timber ara
both solids; slso lumber Of water and bar Of iron -
empty room and block Of granite, cave and mountain
perfect vacuum and mass Of patina The terms air.
gas vapo liquid and vacuum have place in pure ma.he-
mates they belong to chemistry Any figure with length
BREADTH and thickness is mathematical solid Five sucb
figures called irregular solids" Three Of these are am
closed in equistera sngles. Their respective number Of
sides are four eight and twenty; and they are hence called
tsuanedron octahedon and cosahedron One of the Ave il
enclosed IN sx squares and is hence called or
more commonly cube The remaining one of il an
closed 10 twelve penagon fvesded surfaces and called
VI each Of the five regular Solids the Sides
corners and edges are all alike No matter which side
corner or edge presented to the eye the appearance is the
same This true and be true Of no other plain figure
but one of the regular sods-a Of great IN the
subject of mechanism.
NOT long Since chemist paid carpenter nine dollars for
set OF regular Solids made of some wood say
three inches in diameter Thousands have been made by chill
dren, as their richest amusement far superior in many
and much more instructive from being made by The pups own
hands Being made Of pastsbosd the outspead surface s
showing the mode of combining as well as the solid in
its regular form.
Not long since boz containing the cue, modified by Sc
vera sections and combinations procured from France
at the cost of six dollars Last winter girl years DID,
the daughter Of member of Congress made principally I'M
der the instruction Of another girl years DID, set of illus
taions far complete in affecting their object than those
procured from France though in workmanship inferior Of
To pupil and Ache it need not be said the work
amusing instruction, and instructive amusement With
tbs cube nnder se.ea divisions and combinations the other
regular solids varousy modified, also formed by the
same young pupil aided by her Juvenile teacher.
BY these practical lessons the facts that an inch cube are
pIOht ha inchc In
cubes and that in founoh cube are inch cubes
and the whole principle Of the ratio of increase in all solids
become familiar both teacher and pupil that lead is
heavy and cork light any other physical truth learnt by re-
oeaed experiments. The doctrine of the cube thus fami
iary because practically andageeaby learnt Of very great
IMPORTANCE being at the foundation Of thousands of daily
business operations with that importance greatly increased
rom the constant and gross bunde in business arising
ne general ignorance of this fundamental principle Of cubic
MEASURE even among most intelligent business The
i've regular solids together the foundation Of the beau
u wonderful and instructive science Of crystallography as
hey Of natural and artificial mechanism generally as e1-
lbi,ed in the works Of God and One or two hundred
lolars frequently paid for models Of crystals imported
rom France
ExPERsMENr.-The clerk of steamboat once CHARGED
feght for pile Of rope for passing inclined plane
according to his measurement oneouh Of the price intend
ID; not having learnt the difference between eghoot cube
md eight cubic feet other mysteries Of the cubeaso lock-
I'd up from thousands to whom would be well if they were
pread out in broad daylight
We think il due to the esmabe author Of these essays
place in our columns the annexed testimony their value,
rom the honorable Senator SHIELDS, of Illinois, for which
purpose we solicited copy Of the letter:
BELLEyILLE, JUNE ii, 1851
Dean SrR have just received the first number of your
Essays 90 Mechanism" It will give great pleasure
contribute to its circulation in this State hope to your
Essays on Geology" and "Mechansm" in every common
choo 10 this State for the purpose Of primary instruction 1t
would be impossible find greater quantity Of useful nfor
nation in smaller compass.
Yours, respectfully, JAS. SHIELDS.
JOSIAH HoLBRooK, ESQ., Washington.