The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-02-17
Gelcftc0.
JOHN ERICSSON.

Looking over an old volume OF the
Glasgow Practical Mechanic" We find
a sketch of Capt. Ericsson, in lecture
delivered in this country by John o
Sargent, on the improvements in steam
navigation. 1t will be new and possibly
interesting to many of our readers al
this time.
JOHN Ericsson was born in 1903, in
the province of Yermeland, among the
iron mountains of Sweden. His father
was mining proprietor, so that the
youth had ample opportunities to watch
the operation of the various engines and
machinery connected with the mines.
These had been erected by mechanicians
of the highest scientific attainmcnts, and
presented fine study to a mind OF
mechanical tendencies. Under such
influences, his innate mechanical talent
was early developed. At the age Of
ten years, he had constructed, with his
own hands, and after his own plans, a
miniature saw-mill, and had made nu-
merous drawings Of complicated mechan-
ical contriyances, with instruments of
his orsn invention and manufacture.
In 1914 he attracted the attention of
the celebrated Count Platcn, who had
heard Of his boyish efforts, and desired
an interview with him. After carefully
examining the various plans and draw
ings which the youth exhibited on this
occasion, the count handed them back
TO him, Simplifying observing, in an i'm
pressive manner" Continue as you
have commenced, and you will one day
produce something extraordinary. y
Count Platcn was the intimate personal
friend of Bcrnadotte, the King of Swe-
den, and was regarded by him with u
feeling little short of vcncration. 1t
was Count Platen who undertook and
carried through, in opposition to the
views of the Swedish nobility, and of
nearly the whole nation, that gigantic
work, the Grand Ship Canal of Sweden,
which connects the North Sea with the
Baltic. He died Viceroy of Norway,
and left behind him, in the North of
Europe, the reputation Of one of the
greatest men of the country The few
words Of kind encouragement, which he
spoke on the occasion to which have
referred, sunk deeply into the mind of
the young mechanician, and confirmed
him in the career on which he had en-
tered.
Immediately after the interview,
young Ericsson was appointed cadet
III the corps of engineers, and after SIX
months tuition, at the age of twelve
years was appointed nivelleur at the
Grand Ship Canal, under Count Platen.
In this capacity, in the year 1916, he
was required to set out the work for
more than six hundred men. The canal
vas constructed by soldiers. He was
at that time not tall enough to look
through the levelling instrument, and
in using it he was oblied to mount upon
stool, carried by his attendants for that
purpose. AS the discipline in the
Swedish army required that the soldier
should uncover his head in speaking to
his superior, gray-hcaded men came,
cap in hand, to receive their instructions
from this mere child. While thus en-
ployed in the summer months, he was
constantly occupied during the winter
with his pencil and pen and there are
many important works on the canal con.
structed after drawings made by Ericsson
at this early age During his leisure
hours, he measured up and mad, work
ing drawings of every implement and
piece of machinery connected with this
great enterprise, so that, at the age OF
fifteen he was in possession Of accurate
plans of the whole work, drawn by hi:
own hand.
His associations with military men on
the canal had given him tendency foi
military life, and at the age of seventeen
he entered the Swedish army as an en-.
sign, without the knowledge of his friend.
and patron, Count Platen. This ster
excited the indignation of the count, who
tried to prevail on him to change his
resolution but finding all his arguments
useless, he terminated his angry inter-
view by bidding tho young cnsign to
"go TO tho deyil." The affectionate
regard which he entertained for the
count, and gratitude for the interest
taken by him in his education, caused
the circumstances Of this interview to
make deep impression upon Ericsson,