Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-01
4ataI anS AefsomaL.
AM ItInerant ANA Unrewardea Genlus.--

An ItInerant and Unrewarded Genius.--
The name Of Edward d. Tppett is familiar to our
older citizens, especially.
In 1885, as appears by letter Of the late Gene
ral-in- Chief, A. Macomb, he was employed in the
War Department in the capacity of clerk, " as
an act Of charity" TWAS found in the process Of
time, however, according 70 the same authority,
athat Tppetis mind being engrossed with va
rieiy Of projects, he was unfit for the place in
which he was" Our old friend published PAM
phlet, broadsiding high executive officials for his
dismissal, and denying the charge He admitted
that he boosted too much Of his qualifications as
grammarian mathematician" and of his beau
tiful writing" which he had sometimes said could
not be beaten, il il was according gunter, etc.
Having been thrown out of employment in the
War Department, he resorted TO one Of his cher
ished projects" as means Of livelihood, and
commenced perfeciing ''cold-water steam en-
ginep Ofien was the model seen in the neighbour
hood of the Capitol--about eighteen years ago
with the inventor near by, explaining TO honora-
BILE members Of Congress the merits Of the new
invention, one which was the prevention of
steamboiler explosions; events not so common in
those days as now.
But. his genius in this line was not appreciated.
He left this city; and the next we heard of him,
he was displaying his model TO the people OF Lou
isvile, where, gentlemen not extending proper
encouragement, ladies' generously contributed Of
their pecuniary means TO enable him TO prosecute
his experiments. AS 10 the result OF them we
have not been informed nor have we seen any
notice Of the adoption of his invention by the
steamboat proprietors ofthe west.
Several months ago, the City Councils ofWash-
ngton having issued proposals for the erection ola
new bridge over Rock creek, we accidenty met
our old friend carrying in his hand model for
such structure, the peculiar advantages (Which
he was kind enough to explain. 1t was arranged
on strictly mathematical principles, and probably
would have answered all travelling purposes; but
it was not adopted by the corporate authorities.
Mr.. Tippeit, his genius telling 10 be appreciated
in this metropolis, proceeded to New-York, where,
he had been led to believe, he would find wealthy
friends to aid him in his "cold-water steam
engine experiments. There, too, unfortunately
for him, he was sadly disappointed.
That Mr. Tippett possesses genius, none who
are acquainted with him will deny but il has not
been directed in the proper channel--or, in other
words, he is not compensated for his mental and
bodily tolls. = Perseverance is still his motto.
We have been led TO the making ofthe foregoing
remarks in consequence of the annexed article,
which, several days since, appeared in the Nsw-
ark IN. j. DAILY Advertiser, from which il will be
seen that Mr.. Tppett has, for the present, thrown
aside his projects for travelling on land and water,
and is devoiing his talents 10 the subject of erial
voyaging:
< ga NAVIGATING BALLooN--Mr. E. d. Tippett,
from Washington, has just exhibited 10 us the
model Of balloon invented by him, and recently
exhibited in the hotels Of New York and this city.
II is attached 10 a metallic machine, furnished
with novel arrangement of wheel propellers,
operated by windlass and by means OF copper
tubes he proposes TO condense or expand The gas.
so as 10 rise and fall at pleasure, and move in a.y
desired direction. He wishes il distinctly under
stood that he is mathematician and philosopher,
and moreover asserts that this navigating the air
depends entirely on mathematical principles;
pneumatics having nothing 10 do with II, as other
philosophers have supposed. Mr. Tippett, we
understand, is also the inventor OF perpetual
motion, and other things impossible TO common
mortas."
fMr. Tippett should not succeed in this fight
Of fancy, he will be in no worse a condition than
Mr.. Pennington and Mr.. Porter, both of whom
have published TO the world, from this city, the
practicabity of navigating the air, according TO
their respective plans. II should not, however,
be supposed by our friends al distance that all
the inventive genius developed in this metropolis
has reference to floating "castles in the air.