Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-08-02
,nox rHE "sassHAs's 5ouasAt, ENGLAND.
"Wdkcy Cas. as.-Nhepords Patenk.

gas which 10 proposed subsitue for coal gaA &c
Since the period at which the American discovery was am
nounced German chemist Of great emnencs has announced
the discovery ofs process BY which the water may decom-
posed and the carburesd hydrogen formed at little more
than nominal cost with unerng cssiny snd practically
10 unlimited quantity. The gas 20 nsoduced il said 10
illuminating power r exceeding thai OF ordinary coal
gas and capable Of producing 10 the act OF combustion
such amount Of cslorc constitute an economic sub
sute for coal in the generation Of for the pro-
puson of boats and locomotives This invention has been
patented in Of the countries Of the European contnen
10 England and Scotland and Ireland, BY Mr. Shepard an
English gentleman whose intimate connexion with the
nensai States afforded him peculiar facilities for the great
enterprise In which he hes embarked We uuders.nd that
the gas produced by Mr. Shepsds paen il not ony capsbe
Of being used fuel for the generation Of steam from
ter but in itself capable Of being adapted to all the uses
to which steam power is now apped-the expansive gas
itself performing the functions Of high pressure steam Seve
raj great English companies have already entered into con-
tracts for the use Of this patent which, If II should realize
the expectations Of the paenee, destined creae revo-
luton little inferior to that created the application Of steam
as locomotive power"
The London Times thus audes to this ine,ast;n0 in
vention, viz:
One two Of the principal railroad companies have
lately entered Into an arrangement with Mr. Shepard who
has patented invention for The decomposition Of water
and negotiations are pending with steamboat and gas
companies for the application Of this patent prope
boats locomotives and other engines, BY which the Of
working machinery and generating gas likely TO be greatly
reduced"
But what neither Paines A,sn. nor shepard's patent
should accomplish in iu the ends proposed that
son why the principles should be abandoned According
my mode Of reasoning as 10 practical results floating log
the rst approach to floating and floating canoe
with band paddle for propeller. the next approach
boat with oars for propulsion and boat with
gives place TO the vessel with sails and the vessel with sails
70 followed BY the vessel with and doubt not with
Messs Paine, and Pare and Shepard that the vessel with
gas VIII follow pG pdssu. the vessel now driven BY steam
also think with Page that vessel driven by electrical force
IIxod kavIlu
likewise think that vessel driven by pure and free caoc
acting through intervening medium uter the equa-
nmy OF The professional corps then existing, and that then
Will follow vessel driven BY the united forces of electricity
and calorc, as have elsewhere said realizing the most g
gantc mechanical power which shall reach But
this leads to the heading Of this articIevx
"Otber positions verifed-and with it, to the principal
object had in view in taking up my pen at this time
First what positions have taken heretofore that have been
realized Second, what being just now realized
By the article published ia the National In
telgencer April 20tb 1851, you will find that there repeat
varous conclusions and predictions to science snd scien
thc invention made by years previous More than ten
ago assumed the position any square inch Of
solid substance contained sufficient quantity Of electric
in Lacn condition, which, il rendered free and sensible
would be capable Of generating power Of almost aH meal
culabe magnitude. This position has been thoroughly sub
staniiated BY Faraday within the last years Again.
secen or eight years ago asserted the speedy accomplish
ment OF the of the products Of water
through the nstrumenay Of electricity in sufficient guam
heating and lighting entirely practicable" Mr. Henry NJ
Paine and others have subsanaed this prediction within the
last tt0o years.
Again. t,occ years ago. proclaimed electricity to be
the cause Of cohesion Of the qualities Of attraction
M Pare has proven the "eecc d be the corrective
agent Of cohesion" TO his word within the last
years These of the positions in science assumed
BY me, years ago which may be considered practically
realized TO say nothing Of other ess striking and less
important points, among which may be mentioned the idea Of
latent electricity principle fixed that Of latent
calorc announced by publicly in 1882 but advanced
prior to that time which idea becoming prevalent for
the first tme with the earthly and divine right Of phoso
piers
But, in tho article published in the Tntelsencsr Of the
2Sh April say that "I do doubt but that shall live
to atmospheric air brought bear substitute
to say TO you particularly that gentleman from New Or
leans Of ssgacous intellect and inventive geniusI
Dr. William Rcharsonhas visited this city for the purpose
OF having constructed machine TO realize the conception
He has 70 knowledge, succeeded at length after
counieng and overcoming numerous difficulties, 10 perfect
ing the necessary mechanical bring bear the agent
employed. and control the principles used regret that
cannot with sacy enter into moute detail Of the whole
langemenf might leopard his rights sotodo form Yankee
land we have goody number Of sharpers who consider
alton princpleo steal away fanoher
brain feel, however, perfectly justified in saying tha.
verify believe Dr. Richardson's invention destined be
Of the most important that the world has Witnessed and
that will seriously threaten the subversion Of steam, and
COAL and cubEous engines and filth, and weight and smoke
and heat and ell other parts Of the dangerous and bulky
parapbernsla incident the approved modes Of
ocomoon Any extent Of power may be Obtained and the
Of this may be had wherever whether
by land The invention will enable the whole space
between decks in ship to be gained free Of any kind Of
cumbrance the whole machinery used may be placed
the bottom Of the ship beneath the water ne avoids the
danger Of e fire is used Il avoids the danger of boil
bursting, boilers used. In point of il will
be much less than the of eam and in point of safety
and comfort there no comparison 10 be instituted ndeed
cannot use terms too comnendaory Of this important in
vehon The Doctor proposes to patent 1t throughout Eu
rope as we'll in this country and well assured that
he cannot fail to realize from in the Of few years
fortune large human heart may desire, provided the
patents properly secured He attracted to through
the publication in the Inegence mentioned above and since
first interview have him often, and be has kept
constantly informed Of his daily progress which consideration
his part have appreciated highly for nothing gives
pleasure than to steal at times hour from my regular
pursuits talk matter of science with man Of
intelligence and good breeding.
In conclusion may be asked Of How have you reach
cd your results thrown out in the various papers you have
given the public through the press Why do you rely upon
the propositions stated by you in the article published In the
nteligencer the 2Sth April, admitting you do that
you neither manipulator machinst My answer
simple have reasoned my conclusions from oil the
facts and experiments which have had access sduce
Conducted and compiled by those who machiaiss and
manipulaor, well from obsance Of the thousands
upon thousands Of natural phenomena which have daily
CURED around me. have done this with eye single TO
truth and not for the purpose Of dragging myself into public
notice and public favor BY the coasks Of any man, how
distinguished Thus whenever in any book Of science
else where, have with fact which conadiced the
nature Of the principle sought 10 be sbshed