Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-04-09
USEFUL DISCOVERIES.

Numerous instances, in the history of inventions,
would seem to prove that great discoveries often
the fruits of concident conceptions in divers minds
and OF successive efforts made at different times and
different places This suggestion has been prompt
ed by the perusal of the annexed articles-the first
from Galgnani's Paris Messenger Of February
10; the second an extract from ARTHUR Young S
well known Travels in France
GALIGNAsI
The CALoRIo INVENTION NOT NRw-We have no wish
to say word against the method of propulsion that
is about to be tested in its application to the Ericsson
which vessel in the of short period may be
pected 10 arrive in this country from America All that
we wish to draw attention to- without dsparagement
any successful modification that Capt Ericsson may put
in operation connected with heated air as motive power
is the fact that the invention said to be his is not
About thirty years ago vessel named the Highland
Lad that many Of our readers will remember as pas
sage-boat on the Clyde, fitted up by Messrs Claud
Girdwood Co.. of Glasgow, with calorc engine, the
invention, we believe, of the Rev. Mr. Stirling min
lister OF parlsh-Gaston, we think-near Kilmarnock
This engine propelled the vessel at the moderate rate
that gave satisfaction in those days being estimated
working to twenty horses power 1t was subsequently
removed from the vessel in consequence of the working
parts yielding to the heat and thereby becom
ing soft and giving way, and its place was supplied by
ordinary steam engine We fear that Captain Ericcsons
engine will labor under like disadvantage but be that
as 1t may he must content himself ranking in this
country as the modfer of the invention of Mr. Stir
ling whose caoric engine working regularly
Dundee, in 1874, in factory Glasgow advertiser.
Our Minister in England, MIR. INGERsoLL, in his
speech at Birmingham, made an allusion similar to
the above, and in reference to the discovery of the
magnetic telegraph, expressed an opinion substan
tally the same as the one contained in our intro
ductCry remark. For the utterance of that opin-
ion some of our papers hastily censured the worthy
Minister; but we think the quotation which we
subjoin from ARTHUR Young will show that his
remark was well con,idered and sustained by the
fact
Arthur Youngs Travels in France" were pub
lished in 1892 He records that he spent the even
ing of the 10th of September, 1887, in the com
pany of M. Lomond, whom he describes as very
ingenious and inventive mechanic, who had made
improvements in machinery for spinning cotton
He then proceeds:
"In electricity he has made remarkable discovery
You write two three words paper, he takes il
with him into room and turns machine enclosed in
cylindrical case at the top Of which Is eecromeer,
a small fine pithe ball; wire connects with similar
cylinder and eectromeer in distant apartment, and
his wife, by remarkng the corresponding motions of the
ball. writes down the words they Indicate from which it
appears he has formed alphabet of motions As the
length of the wire makes difference in the effect,
correspondence might be carried at any distance
within and without beseged town for instance for
purpose much more worthy and thousand times more
harmless between two lovers prohibited prevented
from any better connexion. Whatever the may be,
the invention is beautiful Young adds that NJ Lo-
mond has made many other curious machines, all the
tire work of his hand Mechanical invention seems
to be in him natural propensity"
The above may be found in the London Athe
neum, No. 1l47, page 1868, head " Electric Tele
graph"