The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-03-03
From The Ne,O York Daily Times, Feb. 25.
New Inventions

The letter which we published yesterday morn.
ing from the Secretary of the Navy to Captain Err
lesson concerning his caloric engine, is in the
highest degree creditable not only to Mr. Kennedy
himself, but to the American Government, on be-
half OF which he writes and acts The occasion
which called it forth, and the letter ITSELF in them
selves seem perhaps trfling and commonplace
enough. But it is really something new under the
sun-something significant of nobler spirit than
has hitherto prevailed-thus to see the Government
of great nation extending a cordial welcome to
new discovery In science or new invention in
mechanics. Fully aware of the distrust widely
felt and loudly expressed in scientific quarters Of
the value and success of the new invention-Mr
Kennedy, nevertheless, expresses on it's behalf the
warmest good wishes, and assures the aborious
and sing hearted inventor of the friendly feelings
and encouraging favor of the American Govern
nent, as an offset to the hostility which he meets
from other quarters 81 regard it," he saws, "as
an obligation upon this Department to contribute
whatever may be in my power to promote the full
development OF your invention, and to aid in the
most eftectual means to test its value" These are
noble words, and will be remembered by the world
in years to come.
Scientific discoverers-the inventors to whom the
world is indebted for much of the advance it has
made in civillzation-have hitherto received but
little favor from governments. Here and there
they may have found patron in some official
parsonage; but generally public men, and the
Sofo'h'i1ohto tuCy I0icu, nave only given them
countenance when they have been driven TO do go
by public opinion The natural conservatism of
society-that repugnance to vary from what in the
past has been found serviceable and safe for the
sake of novelties of which the worth is unknown
which is one OF the strongest tendencies of the
minds among the sternest and most relentless
foes with which discoveries and inventors have to
contend. No new invention, however useful ever
yet obtained foothod in the world without hard
tight. The proposition made in 1855 to light the
streets OF London was assailed by the few who did
not treat 1t with ridicule, plot to set the CITY
on fire. The advertisement Offering to carry pas
Eengers by coach forty miles day, was once
treated in England among the dangerous nov
elites by which all sense of security was to be ban
ished from the world. And 80 has it been with
each one of the countless inventions by which
since that date, the face of the world and of society
has been completely changed. The English gov
eminent treated Ericsson's propeller, when first
brought to their notice by practical demonstration
of it's value, with lofty contempt and derison now
no English government steamer of any kind ia
furnished with any other kind of propulsive me-
chanism In 1888, when the principle Of the calorc
engine was explained by Captain Ericsson, and
working model of fve- horse power was shown to
MIR. Brunei and high officials in the English gov.
eminent, they secuted the notion of it's feasibility
Now Englishmen of science are lecturing upon t.
and the English press in the true British spirit Of
insolent injustice is every where claiming it as an
English invention, If the heavens ever should fall
in consequence of justice being done the provoca-
ton will not come from any part of the British
dominions.
We hail the spirit of Mr.. Kennedy's letter as
creditabe to the country whose high places he 30
greatly honors.