The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-06

The SECRET OF PAINE's Gas LIeHT-TaK Pc
Triton OF JoHS WISE, TIE AKRoSAUT.-Wep publish
TO days article the appar asus used by Mr.. H M
Paine, Of Worcester, for producing his gas light.
There has been much controversy on this subjectfor
many months, and it is agreeable to find some
approach 10 the termination of the discussion. The
scientific world appear now to have the means of
generating the gas, as well as Mr.. Paine himself;
and should the results OF the discovery be such
are claimed, the invention will Immediately have
an effect upon society everywhere. The descrip-
ton OF the apparatus is simple, and will not escape
the attention of any inquirng mind.
In addition TO the great results anticipated from
the successful use of Mr.. Paine's alleged Disco
very, we are in fair way Of having some grand
effort over our heads, from the genius of Mr. John
Wise, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Mr.. Douglass
has prese nted the petition Of the aeronaui to Con-
arees, and we have the pleasure of placing the
remarkable document before the public. Mr.. Wise
has been quite bold adventurer in the wilderness
of the air. Having made more than hundred
ascensions, he has frequently come down, like
Icarus, or Idomeneus, heels foremost, TO the sub
stantial feor of the earih--of course, unframed,
or he would not now be retitoning Congress for
an appropriation Of twenty thousand dollars, to
enable him to put girdle round about the
earth, like Puck, in "The Midsummer Nights
Dream" in forty minutes. Mr. Wises pro-
ject may seem absurd to some people. Even
grave members Of Congress laughed when
the petition was prescntes-but laughing is
by no means demonstration or argument. The
railroad project was laughed a, once. Crossing
the Atlantic IN a steamer was made, few years
ago, subject for ridicule, and Columbu. was
treated o. a mailman. The genius GO ahead and
the idiot Incredibly, are twin brothers.
In Spain, the government have appropriated
sum Of money for a favorie seronaut's project and
the Congress Of the United States can make, az
they have made, more foolish appropriation than
giving twenty thousand dollars 10 enable Mr.. Wise
to beat the Spanish adyenturer 10 the castles in the
air We think that twenty thousand dollars will
be small sum TO appropriate, II by giving II we
can have a complete eucidltion of the theory Of
navigating the air, well as have an opportunity
Of estimating the sagacily and wisdom Of the men,
bers Of Congress. M. Wise proposes to send mis-
siles down upon the Capitol The sport from the
innocuous engines would probably be so great that
il would be worth pretty round sum TO have the
exhibition. The city Of Washington would be
benefited TO the amount Of forty or sfty thousand
dollars by the experiment, for, probably, not less
than four or FIVE thousand persons would visit the
capital city, TO see pyrotechncs on an extensive
scale launched BY modern Jupiter on the sea
Of air.
Wen, eli things considered, Yanseedom isa great
land We have produced Fulton, a Franklin, a
More and House, the great heralds Of Prcgressi
scienc, and should Paine and Wise ou.strip these,
IN doing what has never yet been accomplished,
we shall not despair Of conesting for greatness and
distnctios in any practical discovery, however inn
probable il may seem upon first thoughts. Let US
have all sorts OF experiments, and all sorts Of re-
suits. II cannot be but that out Of every bad lot
something good may be expected