Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-06-18

tons may be formed from the present stock of scientific
knowledge This is true but the inventions thus pro-
duced must be restricted to kind and though they
unlimited in number, they not character No
combination of known principles before the discovery of
galEanism, sufficient Tor the invention by the most
ingenious synthetcal mind OF the electro tee
graph but after the discoveries made by Galvani and
Oersted, this invention became possible.
In the history of the progress and development of
branch of science condition is reached when its prnc
pies become applicable to some practical purpose and il
is instructive observe how this period it suddenly
assumes in the public mind high degree Of Importance
The who makes the application, though he may not
have spent 1.-THE of the labor and thought on the sub
ect which bestowed it by those who brought it to
its practical state, is crowned the dscoyerer of the
whole After this, however, competitors arise who claim
share of the reward if not the honor of the invention
These labor show that the first inventor derived his ideas
from the discoveries The public mind then takes another
turn and disposed to do injustice the other side
and it is only after series of oscillations in public opin
ion that the true state of the becomes generally
known and acqniesced in.
With reference the second proposition we may state
that SO important element is the state of public intel
gence in regard TO the of invention that many
OF the most important processes of art have been the
result of the actual spirit and of the age than the pro-
duct of the ingenuity and knowledge of individual
and in such cases the invention frequently broughtorh
simultaneously by number of different individuals The
art of printing may be placed in this category Att
tain period in the history of the world this invention
loudly called for by the pressing necessities and peculi-
arities OF the times. 1t then produced but had the
IL,
result would probably have been n failure. We have
similar example in the application of steam navigation
The world had for years before this invention, been
possession Of the engine and boat had been
propelled by steam the Clyde in Great Britain but the
invention was not appreciated Neither the time the
place were favorable to its introduction and it
served for our country with its immense plexus Of nayi
gable rivers and its broad OF internal lakes to
call for this addition to the of occmoton, and for the
genius OF Fulton to give successful response Even in
this case the Importance OF the invention manifest
and its means Of attainment simple, that several
petors conended for the prize; and had any accident
happened to retard for few weeks the completion Of Full
toms first boat he would have been anticipated in the
suit of his enterprise by the fortunate experiment of the
elder Stevens. In making this statement would not
wish to detract from the real merit of individuals they
have sufficient claims for remuneration and reputation in
being among the first to appreciate properly the value of
the improvement and to avail themselves at the earliest
point of time of the necessary of accomplishing it.
may remark in passing that from the foregoing views
and statements, it is plain that the steamboat is empha
cally American invention 1t in this country that
premiums first offered for its production and the
Hudson in 1907 was first reduced to practice. 1t was
not adopted in England until 1872, and not until 1916 in
France.
due consideration of the proper time and place. many in
genious minds have wasted their energies in frutess
labor waged with fortune unequal and sunk into
the grave the victims of disappointed hopes Such men
frequently said to 6 live before their time; but it
remains to be proved whether in the aggregate of
they have done good evu and whether they most
deserve our admiration or our PITY. premature, and
unsuccessful attempt often preudces
the public mind against invention that when the
per time actually arrives for its introduction public
tment is found arrayed against it, and difficulties have
be which would not have existed had the first
essay never been made.
The of true genius lives before his time he
undertakes impossbilities and always embarks in
his enterprise at the suitable place and period Though
he may catch glimpse Of the coming light it glds the
top long before it has reached the eyes Of his
and though he may hazard prediction
to the future, he acts with the present.
There some partial exceptions to this rule, and
among them would mention, with high respect that of
Oliver Evans than whom man in this country has ever
done to improve the art Of locomoon He indeed
predicted that steam wagons would be used
roads, and made attempts to reduce his idea TO practice
The me however for the introduction of this invention
has not yet arrived and at present pros
pec of its coming. But he successful in the
invention of the American pressure engine, which
essential to the development Of the
of the interior regions of continent This engine was
at the time of its introduction admirably adapted in its
cheapness simplicity Of rnallnsse of di
mensons and great power to the abundance of fuel the
extent of transportation and the primitive state of the
arts in country. The lowpressure engine used by
Fulton procured from England and had steam navi
cation been confined to the employment of this complex
and ponderous machine, the Mississippi and its trbuta
res would have remained for years unnavgated except
by the Of the native the atboat Of the pioneer
The invention and introduction of this engine required
the application of genius energy, and courage. The use
of high steam had been proposed in England but had
been account
its USE and reserved for this country to de-
monstate its practical Importance Without precursory
labors equivalent to those of Evans the present railway
locomotive would not have been in existence.
1t gives pleasure to pay this passing tribute to the
memory Of one TO whom country deep debt
of gratitude, and whose deserves conspcu
place than it holds in the history Of American
inventors.
Every age of the world since the Of the
historic period has been characterized by leading
dominant idea and each age has bequeathed some
thing Of value to- made biding impression on,
that which followed. We doubt whether any great and
important truth has been lost; and though some
may have apparently lain dormant for time, yet they
have continually produced results. Some arts have
doubtedy fallen into dsuse, because they longer
required because they have been superseded by
perfect processes We however think it be clearly
established that modern science capable reproducing
every invention Of ancient art and az indefinite
my Of human time and human labor.
know frequently referred TO the immense
Of stone transported and wrought by ancient art
which are found among the ruins Of Baabec and Thebes
and frequently told that the management Of these
would far transcend the skill and power Of modern eng
Such assertions are, however rather intended to
convey idea Of the impression produced upon the be-
holder Of these venerable ruins than declaration of alb
soute truth As sufficient illustration Of this may
mention the fact that, in New York, large buildings
the inhabitants remain undisturbed within. Or may
point the Menai Strait tubular bridge Of
castiron many hundred in weight suspended in mid
air over a chasm several hundred feet deep.
The pyramid Of Cheops is said to have employed the
power Of 100000 for twenty years in its erection
But, is this pile, the steam engines employ
cd Of large cities directed TO the task of rearing
Of equal magnitude the whole would be accomplished
in few weeks
have said that no arts Of Importance have been lost