The Nevada journal., 1855-03-02
SaIOmOn De CauS,

IL Is 10 their cOuntryman, Solomon de
Caus, that the French ascribe the honor
OF Inventing the steam engine, while they
willingly yield to James Watt the merit
OF perfecting it, and of rendering steam
power, as moving force, applicable, so
extensively, to practical purposes.
The history of De Caus is melancholy
one. He lived before the age to which
his genius was suited 1t is only since
the power of steam, as moving force,
has excited the attention of scientific Eu-
rope, and its utility has been tested in ten
thousand different ways, that the discover
les Of De Caus, nearly two handred and
fifty years ago, have become generally
noticed.
During the reign of James l., De Caus
was invited over from Normandy to Rich
mond, in Surrey, and employed in erect
ing water-works, fountains, grottoes, &c,
in the gardens of a palace for the Prince,
afterwards Charles l. The Elector OF
Bavaria afterwards engaged his services;
and in Germany he published small
work descriptive of his invention of a
method of raising water by partially heat
ing it, so that a portion Of the fluid should
be converted into steam, and by its ex-
pensive force, drive the remaindcrthrough
a tube prepared to conduct it to a rescr-
voir.
The steam machine, however, which he
described, must be considered little
more than a toy, which might suggest
ideas to other inventors Unhappily for
himself, this man of genius, of whom
France is now justly proud, returned
thither to give his native country the ben
eft Of his supposed inventions. He had
then distinguished himself as an engineer,
a painter, and an architect His zeal in
soliciting the patronage of Cardinal Rich
lieu, the all-powerful minister of Louis
NH, caused him to be placed in the
Blcetre as a madman.
A celebrated lady of Paris was doing
the honors Of that city to the Marquis Of
Worcester, so famous for his scientific
studies, recorded as every one knows, in
his "Ccntury of Inventions Gle leads
me-" writes his cicerone, "from curiosity
to curiosity; selecting always the most
sad and serious, speaking little, listening
attcntively, and fixing on those he ques-
tons, two great blue eyes, which seem to
penetrate to the bottom of their thoughts
Besides, he is never content with the cx-
plantations that are given to him; and he
will not take things on the side they are
shown to him"
One day as these two personagcs were
traversing the madmen's court in the
Bicetre, and whilst the lady, more dead
than alive with fear, clung to her COM
panion, hideous face showed itself be-
hind the bars, and began to cry in a hol-
low voice
IL am MT mad / have made dis
covery which would enrich my country" :"
"And what is his discovery - asked
the English nobleman of the keeper who
was showing the house.
"Ah!' said the man; Struggling his
shoulders, "something simple enough ''--
Y ou could never guess tit is the use of
the steam of boiling water" :"
The lady began to laugh-thc abSurdity
of the thing caused her to forget even her
fright.
'This mans name is Salomon dc Caus,'
continued the keeper, "He came from
Normandy some years ago, to present to
the King book he had written on the
marvellous effects which he said might be
obtained from his invention According
to him, with steam you might turn mills,
make carriages go, and perform thou
sand miracles. The Cardinal dismissed
the fool without listening to him. Not
discouraged, De Caus set about following
his Eminencc everywhere; who weary of
finding him forever at his heels, and of
being importuned by his follics, ordered
him to be confined in the Bicetrc, where
he has been shut up for three years and
a half He calls out to every visitor, as
he did to you, that he is not mad, and
that he has made Il wonderful discovery
He even composed book on the subject
which | have"
The Marquis asked to see the book.
"Ths man is not mad," said he, after
; reading some pages ; 'and in my country,
instead of shutting him up, we should
have loaded him with riches Lead me to
him. [ wish to question him."
He was conducted to the cell, but re-
turned sad and thoughtful
"Now indeed" exclaimed he, "he is
mad misfortune and suffering have driven
away his reason !or ever. But when Sal
onion de Caus was cast into this dungeon.
there was cast there the greatest genius OF
the age!'
The two visitors then departed; and
henceforth the genius of Salomon de Caus
was constantly the theme of the Marquis
of Worcester's conversation