New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-12-14
SKETCHES OF LECTURES.
The Poetry Of Mechanism; or The Future
of the Useful Arts.
BY REV. SAMUEL osGooD.

Bh hEf SAM EL Vo1OoD.
The second lecture Of the annual course be-
fore the members Of the Mechanics Institute, was de.
vered last evening at Mechanics Hall, No Az Broad.
way before large audience The lecturer Of the eve.
ming Rev. Mr. Osgood who selected as his subject
The Poetry Of Mechanism the Future of the Useful
Arts which he considered under four separate heads
- ldoality of Mechanical Science Beauty Of Art
yssness of its Power and Grandeur OF its Destiny. In
commencing. he spoke substantially as follows;
When Franklin upon seeing some flies restored to
life that had for some months been immersed in wine
declared that he would gladly be drowned in the SAND
manner it, after the lapse of hundred years he could
be resuscitaed and be allowed the of things
in this country that time he little thought how far the
reality would surpass his most sanguine expectation.
So varied and startling have been the events of the last
century that its sober history II stated beforehand
prophecy, would have been deemed about prOba
bic some Oriental legend narcotic dream
Yet, al the very opening OF modern history, those
powers began to exhibit themselves that have
wrought these signal changes Before the gateway OF
that palace OF historical wonders into which Christen
DOM for three centuries has been passing and where
as press on each year Is adding some new mlrvel
and prompting the question, What next "What
nextT as the veil before unexpored recess Is be-
ginning to culver; before that gateway stand three
forms who have given the chief impulse to all modern
history. Central stands stout figure that cannot
easily be mistaken; in his hand he holds an open
Bible, and al his feet nmong a pile of controyer
sal folios may be n SCROLL bearing the
title An Address to the Magistrates of Germany In
behalf of Public Schools" On one side of him stands
manly form, with a face blending the refinement of
the gentleman with the daring of the sailor and you
Loo ~ halr hafo
him to connect him with the On the other side
stands one with far less imposing air yet with the in
bred dignity characteristic of earnest intelligent
industry. lie leans upon rude printing press, as
seeking rest after anxious thought and severe toll
These are the three; you know them at once-Luther
Columbus Gutenberg-three heroes-arbiters Of mod
ern history The opened Bible, she New World the
printing press-with these powers what vast revolu
tons associate Themselves Luther and Columbus
have long been fayorte names in poetry and romance
Every free thought 10 breathe the spirit OF the
grea, Reformer, and every oceanwaye to murmur the
requiem Of the hero Navigator. They need no word
from us But as stand at the gateway, we pause in
grateful reverence before the of the hero of less
stately men, and then crossing the threshold prepare
TO trace the wonders OF mechanism quite as eager as
the glories of literature or the romance OF the sea.
You are aware that the interest of what speaker
saws depends upon the man being at home with his sub
ject although he may sometimes be but mere trav'
eler there go beg you to listen to me as neretray'
eler there.
The fret view OF the Poetry OF Mechanism that sus
itself comes through the deaty Of its principles
To the science ascribe Ideally TO the arr beauty
The chief philosophers Of have been also emi.
nent in science in the Of Newton and others
Consder what the science Of mathematics IL. Il Is
purely IDEAL An angel nigh, be the best uathema-
tcisu. Now the science Of mechanism Is formed
from the union Of ideals Ct pnre mathematics
with the forces of nature. Many men are
won't 10 turn away from the mechanical view
Of nature thinking il stupid and uninteresting. But
wherever there i power, aud art and motion there Is
the mechanical view OF nature And Of the phllo-
sophy Of nature men trace out the general laws Let
us look for moment al one remarkable aspect oI
Chemistry Those little people, the atoms taey are
no, 10 be despised. new world Is opened 10 Us by
EN- we are in the realms Of atom win the mechan-
les eye These ,tle people have their likes and dis
I Likes Just as greater siouis have, and we can do
/ nothing with them until we understand these
likes and di.nkes The atoms Of water part IN
heat and 10 steam Time would fail
Us to name, even by class the powers pro.
duced by the laws of atoms Already 1000 mechanic.
combinations are enumerated as implied in the use Of
the mechanical arts All nature bears the stamp OF shi:
divine idea; and wherever thus study interpret
H. ia the sublime view When the science Of nature
combined with the science Of numbers, the science
Of mechanism i the result AIT and science 90 To-
eether. like music and is notes The instrument Illus
,rstes notation just art illustrates science Tas
hand touches the keys, and the sounds resulting be-
come melody The pages Of Bowdi.ch are forbidding
to the look but the stars above sing them as they shine
and as they roll To whatever mechanical force we
spree- that response Is heard
We pass now from this abstract view OF the subject
! to q view which would If we had the time, demand
cur earnest astent;on-nAmely TO The beauty OF An
and thus judge of the principles BY their practical sp
pl!cations Here we are At home. Select any machine
or any piece Of mechanism, whatever you VII, and
look upon them with philosophic eye-examine into
the history Of each material and the origin OF each
force snG strsghtwsy every Seulty OF man. the gii''
of Providence, asserts Itself with teaf construction
Every piece of iron instructive to the man OF ooser
walton.
Would you know what man has done lust behold
what be has done with this one grea. material iron II