The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-06-28

Character and instead Of sending over trinkets to
excite the admiration Of vulgar idlers, they have,
with seriousness that gives dignity to the nation
al character, sent works calculated to engage
the attention of the highest intelligences Tho
models OF machinery in the Exhibition, although
not attractive from their ornamentation, yet dis
play tho incest finish and the very highest order Of
mechanical skill while, in the principles they in
volve, they challenge comparison with the scenti-
fc inventions Of the rest Of the world. Neither
France, Germany, nor England, has contributed
any thing to the Great Exhibition that displays so
highan order ofinventivc genius Of the work
ing models Of machinery to be found in the much
snecrcd at and dcrided American department; and
when the awards Of medals shall DO made have
but little doubt that shall carry off the highest
honors Of the Exhibition. We can well afford to
bide time; but il 10 extremely Notifying to see
Americans undertaking. the superiority of their
own countrymen, in the arts that ennoble mankind,
~ It Il exasperating to bear up under tho marked
neglect and contempt which the press here have
shown towards every thing emanating from the
United States. Some competent person should
have been delegated to make faithful report of the
American contributions, that the public at home
and abroad might have known exactly how we ap-
pear here. This may be done by Mr. Stansbury,
but it will be - long before his official statement
will appear, that the idea of inferiority 20 in
dustrisusly circulated by the English and French
Journalists will have been patented in the public
mind. II il said that there s nothing like travel
for taking the nonsonsc out of man, and there il
good deal of truth in the nying; but. on the
other hand, there is nothing like travel for kind
ling the fame of patriotism in ones bosom. never
knew how strong the love of country was until
came abroad, nor knew how to value the
, great qualities of our countrymen. The Times
said, some months ago, that America was az
much behind England in machinery as we
were ahead Of her in ship building. But the
truth is that we are as much in advance
of England in machinery as in ship build .
ing; and our contributions to the Great Exhibi-
ton will, alone, prove it. The superiority OF our
ships il fact that could not be denied and the
Iymss, while with show of magnanimity comforting
it, endeavored to neutralze the fact by Boosting of
the superiority Of English machinery. The Pacific
has since shown we equal to the English in
constructing engines we'll as in constructing
'ships.
One of tho most conspicuous objects in the Exhi-
bition and which has attracted most attention
from scientific visitors, is the caloric engine of
Captain Ericsson, of New York. Fire being
prohibited in the Crystal Palace, this splendid
ample Of inventive genius and scientific know
ledge cannot be exhibited in motion; but it 10
deemed of 90 much Importance that building il
to be erected. near the palace expressly TO display
and test its powers learn from the agent Of Cap
tain Ericsson that he has been eighteen years
gagged upon this machine, and in bringing tito the
state of perfection in which it s now, for the first
time, exhibited to the world. The other important
inventions which he has bestowed upon mankind
during this time have been merely tho recrea-
tons of his leisure hours; the caloric engine
a. E-ll IA
promise, he may we'll be content with the fruit
of his eighteen years. labor / cannot pre-.
tend to give any thing like description of the ca
loric engine, but l understand that one will soon
be published. l do not suppose that man of
Captain Erricsson's experience and scientific
knowledge would exhibit an imperfect machine,
or one that will not accomplish all that he claims
for il therefore, think that the time is close at
hand when the steam engine will be found to have
fulfilled Its mission, and be compelled, like many
other faithful servants, to give up its place to ts
betten. Captain Ericsson has several other very
important and ingenious inventions in the Exhib-
ton, which should themselves be sufficient to gain
the respect of vsitorsas they do, In fact of all who
pretend to scientific knowledge-for the Amer
lean department, and secure it from witless
snecrs These inventions form most interesting
collection OF instruments, and the of sending
tucIu ncrc muhI nave OCcu very BTedts uuucT-
stand that the calorc engine alone, cost six thou
sand dollars in New York. Three of these instru-
ments are of the highest importance to maritime
nation one of them ID called " distance instru-
meAt," and 10 intended to measure the distances
between objects at sea this is done with mathe-
NAUTICAL precision, with rapidity, and without the
trouble of making figures. Its usc in an engage
ment between ships at sea, In enabling officer TO
elevate his guns with accurate aim, will be of in
calculabIc value, and by reducing naval gun
merry to an art of scientific precision will be
a most cfectual aid in dispensing with gun
merry altogcther for when two ships approach
each other, with certainty Of destruction each
side, other method of settling national diff
cultes will have to be invented beside that of gun
merry. But the distance instrument can be made
az useful In tho mercantile navy on board Of
ships Of war. The "Aarm Barometer 10 the name
Of another invention which should be universally
adopted on ship board It is simply an improve
ment in the barometer, by which it can be made to
sound gong when the mercury falls to = certain
point, 20 that ample timc may be given to shorten
sail or prepare for blow; and the captain Of ship
may go TO sleep without foar Of being caught by =
squall from the carlcssncss of the officer watch
The lead, of which there is mod here, 10 most
valuable invention for obtaining the exact depth Of
water at sea without stopping the Roadway Of the
ship. believe that this Instruments now in use by
coast survey. It has also been adopted, under
stand, in the British navy, by order of the Admi-
rally. The "Pyrometer" is another most valuable
contribution TO science by Captain Ericsson; it is
what the world has long nocdec-a standard nea-
sure of temperature, from the freezing point OF
water up to the melting point of iron; the tension
Of permanent volume Of atmospheric air, or
arote, measured by the height of a column Of
mercury under vacuum, being the indicator.
Besidcs these beautiful instruments, Captain
Ericsson has contributed to tho Exhibition a
''Hydrostatic Gauge for measuring the volume OF
fluids under pressure, Incorporating Fluid Me-
ter" and q "Rotary Fluid Meter" These inven-
tions are all of the first Importance in practical
science, and cvince the highest order Of mechani-
cal genius. They part Of the American por-
ton Of the Great Exhibition, and are better worth