“A, is the furnace; B, the boiler; C, tw_The Life, Times, and Scientific Labours of the Second Marquis of Worcester To which is added a reprint of his Century of Inventions, 1663, with a Commentary thereon.

steam from the bottom in order to discharge it again at the top; D,

which convey the steam by turns, to the vessel D. the vessels which

receive the water from the bottom in order to discharge it again at

the top; E, valves; F, cocks which keep up the water, while the

valves on occasion are cleaned; G, the force pipe; H, the sucking

pipe; and I, the water.”

[Illustration: Savery’s Engine, 1699]

Neither at the time nor afterwards does the invention appear to have

attracted any further notice in that quarter. The next account we have

of it is afforded by “The Miners Friend, or an Engine to raise Water by

Fire,” by Thomas Savery, Gent., 1702; in which the invention appears

with two furnaces, instead of one, and with other details. In his

description he refers to two vessels, marked P, No. 1, and P, No. 2,

which correspond with the two receivers above, marked D, D.

Remarking on these, in In the above 68th Article, the

“The Miners Friend,” Savery Marquis of W “A man _that tends

says:--“So that P, No. 1, is by the work is but to turn two

the external pressure of the cocks_, that _one vessel of water

atmosphere, immediately refilled, being consumed, another begins to

while P, No. 2, is emptying; force and refil with cold water_,

which being done, you push the and so successively, the fire

handle of the regulator from you, being _tended_ and kept constant,

and throw the force on P, No. 1, which the self-same person may

pulling the condensing pipe over likewise abundantly perform

P, No. 2, causing the steam in between the necessity of _turning_

that vessel to condense, _so that the said cocks.”

it fills while the other empties_.

The labour of _turning these two And in No. 100, he says,

parts_ of the engine, viz. the “a _child’s force_ bringeth up an

regulator and water-cock, and hundred feet high, an incredible

_tending the fire_, being no more quantity of water.”

that what a _boy’s strength_ can

perform for a day together * * *

yet, after all, I would have men.

* * *”

We do not purpose to press any charge against Savery, but simply to

relate what is on record respecting the engine he put forward; and to

notice here the remarkable coincidence between his description, and

that given by the Marquis 32 years before. The Marquis writes in the

singular number of “_the fire_,” thereby indicating a single furnace;

and in Savery’s first drawing we find the model represented with

one furnace. Then in “The Miners Friend,” we have parts described

agreeing precisely with the preceding article, No. 68. And at the

particular point just quoted, we have even a closer analogy, in the

use of the very same words in reference to the same parts--_turning_

and _tending_. And while, in No. 100, the Marquis informs us what

“_a child’s force_” can perform; here Savery speaks of “_a boy’s

strength_,” which is enlarged on, however, by recommending a man’s

services.

The next earliest notice we find of this engine is given by Richard

Bradley, F.R.S., in his “New Improvements of Planting and Gardening,”

8vo. 1718, who, in the third part, at page 175, supplies an engraving

of “the late Mr. Savory, F.R.S.,”[N] his engine, as set up by him “for

that curious gentleman Mr. Balle of Cambden House.” It is represented

as a spherical boiler, capable of holding forty gallons, supported on

a tripod, with a fire on the ground underneath. It is connected with

a bell-shaped receiver of thirteen gallons capacity, supplied below

with a pipe sixteen feet long, and above with a pipe to elevate the

water, forty-two feet. The steam pressure is stated to be capable of

discharging fifty-two gallons per minute, the pipes being of three

inches bore; and the original cost of the whole was £50.

In 1729, Stephen Switzer published his “Introduction to a general

system of Hydrostaticks,” in two volumes quarto. He says:--

“Amongst the several Engines which have been contrived for the

raising of water for the supply of houses and gardens, none has been

more justly surprising than that of the raising of water by fire; the

particular contrivance and sole invention of a gentleman, with whom I

had the honour long since to be well acquainted; I mean the ingenious

Captain Savery, some time since deceased, but then a most noted

engineer, and one of the Commissioners of the Sick and Wounded. This

gentleman’s thoughts (as appears by a preface of his to a little

book, entitled, ‘The Miners’ Friend’), were always employed in

Hydrostatics and Hydraulics; and the first hint from which it is said

he took his engine, was from a tobacco pipe, which he immersed to

wash or cool it, as is sometimes done; he discovered by the

rarefaction of the air in the tube by the heat or steam of the water,

and the gravitation or impulse of the exterior air, that the water

was made to spring through the tube of the pipe in a wonderful

surprising manner; though others say, that the learned Marquis of

Worcester, in his ‘Century of Inventions,’ (which book I have not

seen), see page 68, gave the first hint for this raising water by

fire.”--Vol. ii. p. 325.

Thirty-four years later, Dr. J. T. Desaguliers, F.R.S., and Chaplain to

His Royal Highness, Frederick, late Prince of Wales, &c., published his

“Course of Experimental Philosophy,” in two volumes, quarto, 1763. His

13th section is a discourse on the “Fire-engine,” as the steam-engine

was then designated. And the following lecture treats largely on the

Marquis of Worcester’s present article in the “Century,” which he

quotes and then observes:--

“Captain Savery, having read the Marquis of Worcester’s book, was the

first who put in practice the raising Water by Fire, which he proposed

for the draining of mines. His Engine is described in Harris’s Lexicon

(on the word _Engine_), which being compared with the Marquis of

Worcester’s description, will easily appear to have been taken from

him; though Captain Savery denied it, and the better to conceal the

matter, bought up all the Marquis of Worcester’s books that he could

purchase in _Pater-Noster-Row_, and elsewhere, and burned them in the

presence of the gentleman his friend, who told me this. He said that

he found out the power of steam by chance, and invented the following

story to persuade people to believe it, viz., that having drank a flask

of Florence at a tavern, and thrown the empty flask upon the fire, he

called for a bason of water to wash his hands, and perceiving that

the little wine left in the flask had filled up the flask with steam,

he took the flask by the neck, and plunged the mouth of it under the

surface of the water in the bason, and the water of the bason was

immediately driven up into the flask by the pressure of the air.”

Desaguliers doubts the veracity of this bottle story, and we may well

agree with him, when we find that in another version the discovery is

attributed to a tobacco-pipe.

He proceeds:--“Captain Savery made a great many experiments to bring

this machine to perfection, and did erect several, which raised water

very well for gentlemen’s seats; but could not succeed for mines, or

supplying towns, where the water was to be raised very high, and in

great quantities: for then the steam required being boiled up to such

a strength, as to be ready to tear all the vessels to pieces. I have

known Captain Savery, at York-Buildings, make steam eight or ten times

stronger than common air; and then its heat was so great, that it would

melt common soft solder; and its strength so great as to blow open

several of the joints of his machine: so that he was forced to be at

the pains and charge to have all his joints soldered with spelter or

hard solder.”--Pp. 464–467.

The serious accusation made against Savery of deriving all his

information from the Marquis of Worcester’s invention, and destroying

all he could procure relating to the Marquis, rests solely on the

authority of Desaguliers, to whom it was related by one of Savery’s

friends! In 1699, the Marquis’s Act had yet 63 years unexpired, had

the Duke of Beaufort felt disposed to investigate how far Savery’s

engine interfered with his father’s invention; but no such interest was

excited, nor had Savery at any time so much success as to induce such

an inquiry. But, in 1699, the Marquis had only been dead 32 years, and

we have proof that his engine was in existence in 1670, reducing the

space of time to 29 years; by no means an unlikely period for Savery to

find parts of the large engine, or models of a small one, or drawings,

or MS. descriptions, or verbal details from eye-witnesses, from among

some of the many visitants to Vauxhall, if, indeed, not directly from

descendants of the “incomparable workman,” Kaltoff.

Savery’s connection with the mining interests of the country would

appear to have first drawn his attention to the value of a scheme,

proposing to raise vast bodies of water by the aid of a most stupendous

power. He might, when a mere youth, have heard enough of the Marquis’s

invention, however vaguely communicated, to excite his curiosity, and

decide him on a course of action whenever an opportunity should occur.

After a lapse of more than a century and a half, Savery’s claim is

not likely to be materially disturbed; but it will always be a matter

of interest to observe the close similarity there is between the

simple model he exhibited before the Royal Society, and the Marquis of

Worcester’s brief summary of the parts and nature of his own engine.

And it is not very favourable to a belief in Savery’s independence of

the Marquis’s invention, that the former should be the sole inventor

of a single marvellous production of ingenuity, without producing any

novelty either before or afterwards, or displaying any particular

inventive ability to improve on this early effort, which he left as at

first produced.

“The Miners Friend” is not unlike an imitation of the “Exact and

true definition of the most Stupendous Water-commanding Engine;” for

example:--

The MARQUIS’S invention is SAVERY recommends the Engine

recommended “to every he proposes:--

individual, if he either have 4. “As for draining fens and

surrounded Marsh-ground to marshes,” &c.

drain, or dryland to improve.”

“Thus whole cities may be kept 3. “Nothing can be more fit for

clean, delightful, and serving cities and towns

wholesome.” with water.”

“Or, if he have (I further say), 6. “For draining of mines and coal

Mines wherewith to enrich pits, the use of the engine

himself withal.” will sufficiently recommend

itself in raising water so

easy and cheap.”

“Houses to be served, or 2. “It may be of great use for

gardens to be beautified by palaces, for the nobilities,

plentiful fountains, with or gentlemen’s houses; for

little charge, yet certain in by a cistern on the top of

ever so dry a Summer.” a house * * * which water

in its fall makes you what

sorts of fountains you

please.”

Savery says:--“And though my thoughts have been long imployed about

water-works, I should never have pretended to any invention of that

kind, had I not happily found out this new, but yet a much stronger

and cheaper force or cause of motion than any before made use of.

But finding this of rarefaction by fire, the consideration of the

difficulties the miners and colliers labour under by the frequent

disorders, cumbersomness, and in general of water-engines, incouraged

me to invent engines to work by this new force, that tho’ I was obliged

to incounter the oddest and almost insuperable difficulties, I spared

neither time, pains, nor money till I had absolutely conquer’d them.”

Savery is reputed to have died in 1715, therefore he was very probably

between 40 and 50 years of age in 1699; and he might have commenced his

investigations into the existence of the Marquis’s inventions, models,

books, papers, drawings, and traditional statements at 25 or 30 years

of age, still leaving him from 15 to 20 years to complete his search

for information. If he died at 60 years of age, he would be 12 years

old when the Marquis died. At all events he had ample leisure, and the

period was promising for such an inquiry.

In his time neither writers nor inventors were very scrupulous in their

adoption of the labours of others; the wholesale literary plunder then

practised by compilers, would not be permitted in modern times, nor

would it be attempted by any author of moderate reputation. Invention,

on the contrary, has always been a doubtful sort of preserve, the

rights of which have been contested with fearless impunity by every

poacher down to the present period. In the 16th and 17th centuries

particularly, no rights were so ill defined as those of the inventor,

even in the face of patents, and Acts of Parliament. But the rights of

a deceased inventor were still less sacred in public opinion, and there

never has been, at any time, an organized body interested in detecting

and exposing unjust assumptions of being a true and first inventor.

Savery claimed perfect independence of the Marquis of Worcester, and

promulgated a story to parallel that of the pot-lid, usually related

in reference to his predecessor’s invention, while (as is pretended)

he was a prisoner in the Tower. Let us now compare certain dates and

circumstances to see how far they favour Dr. Desaguliers’ charge.

On the 25th of July, 1698, Thomas Savery, Gentleman, had granted to

him a 14 years’ patent for “A new Invention for raising of Water and

occasioning motion to all sorts of Mill Work by the impellent force of

fire.”

Within six months afterwards, on the 21st of January, 1699, died the

only son and heir of the Marquis of Worcester, Henry Duke of Beaufort,

at 70 years of age.

Within three months after his Grace’s decease Savery had a Bill brought

into the House of Lords, which, on the 6th of April, was reported to

the House of Commons, and passed on the 25th of the same month. This

private Act extended the patent privilege over 21 years further, making

35 years.

On the 14th of June following, it is stated in the Royal Society’s

Transactions, “Mr. Savery entertained the Society with shewing the

model of his engine for raising water by the help of fire.” (See page

485.)

Dr. Hook was then living, but died on the 3rd of March, 1702. Above

38 years had elapsed since his visit to Kaltoff, to see the engine at

Vauxhall; and he could have spoken to the merits of Savery’s engine,

as compared with what he had earlier seen, had his age and health

permitted, or his inclination prompted him so to act.

On the decease of Dr. Hook, there was published “The Miners Friend,”

(1702), by Thomas Savery,[O] Gentleman. He there speaks of his model

shown to the Royal Society, “June the 14th, 1699,” thanking the

Society for “your kindness in countenancing this invention IN ITS

FIRST APPEARANCE IN THE WORLD;” that is, within six months _after the

death of the Duke of Beaufort_.

The Patent of 1698, like all patents of that period, contains no more

account of Savery’s engine than the mere title, or designation of the

nature and intention of the invention; therefore, when the Act of

Parliament was applied for and obtained, there had still been no

publication indicating the _modus operandi_. It was not until the

14th of June, 1699, that the Invention made _its first appearance in

the world_, in the rooms of the Royal Society. And it was not until

1702, that Savery published any account of his invention, and we then

expect to learn something interesting in regard to the wonderful

discovery. But all he has to say on the matter is in these few lines

“And though my _thoughts_ have been _long_ employed about

water-works, I should never have pretended to any invention of that

kind, _had I not happily found out this new, but yet a much stronger

and cheaper force or cause of motion than any_ BEFORE _made use of_.

But _finding_ this of rarefaction by fire, the consideration of the

difficulties the miners and colliers labour under by the frequent

disorders, cumbersomeness, and in general of water-engines,

_encouraged me to invent engines to work by this new force_, that

though I was obliged to encounter _the oddest_ and _almost

insuperable difficulties_, I spared neither _time_, _pains_, nor

_money_, till I had absolutely conquered them.”

This stoicism and total absence of the least ray of mental enthusiasm

are the first remarkable circumstances to strike our observation.

Here, after a lapse of three years, some encouragement, and writing

on the matter of a great discovery, the precious jewel is treated as

if it were of the nature of the most ordinary pump. “And though my

_thoughts_ have been long employed about water-works,” yet we are to

presume that he never heard of the great “Water-commanding Engine”

at Vauxhall, 30 years previous. He believes in his having “found out

this new, but yet a much stronger and cheaper force than any _before_

made use of,” yet never, even remotely, declares how or in what way

he came by it. “But _finding_ this of rarefaction by fire,” as he

says, we on our part naturally ask, And pray where and how did you

_find_ it? He names the considerations that “encouraged him to invent

engines to work by this new force;” but from the time of producing

the model of 1699 to the last improvement of 1702, there was no

essential difference; the invention remained the same throughout. The

only difficulties in his way were, in his own words, “the oddest and

most insuperable,” but we are left to guess in what their _oddness_

consisted.

He finally states, in his first chapter:--“I may modestly affirm

that the adventurer or supervisor of the mine will be freed from

that perpetual charge, expence, and trouble of repairs which all

other engines ever yet employed in mines for the raising of water are

continually liable unto.”

In Article No. 100, of the “Century,” however, it is shortly but

expressly urged, as one important point, that the engine works, “with

_little charge_, to drain all sorts of mines, &c.”

It appears from documents dated 1664, relating to Vauxhall, that Caspar

Kaltoff is named therein as “lately deceased.”[P] So that in 1699

Thomas Savery was left in full possession of the field he had entered

upon. The facts and dates now furnished, are not very favourable to the

genuineness of Savery’s Invention. For it is not likely that all trace

of the “Water-commanding Engine” would have been lost between 1670 and

1699, when Kaltoff’s family were still living, as also many persons

who had witnessed the performance of the great engine at Vauxhall. It

is true that the last we hear of it is not later than 1670, but it was

then the property of the Dowager Marchioness, who died in 1681, and

her Ladyship would most likely, from respect, as well as from personal

interest in the matter, not permit the engine to be sold or destroyed.

Then from 1681 to 1699, reduces the probability of its existence up

to a period within 18 years, taking the dates to the uttermost limit,

although we can easily understand that for the whole or a large portion

of those 18 years Savery was in possession of all the facts he would

require for coming before the public on the decease of Kaltoff, the

Dowager Marchioness of Worcester, and the Duke of Beaufort; the latter

being the last party interested in the invention, and likely, during

his life, to frustrate such a design.

But what papers could he procure at Paternoster Row for destruction?

1. There was a pamphlet, being the Definition and Act, the latter

printed in black letter. 2. There was the “Definition” itself, printed

in the form of a posting bill. And, 3, there was the “Century.” All

these were printed 1663 to 1664, and are editions which are now

remarkably scarce. There are only about three copies of the Act,

and one of the “Definition,” known to exist, while the few copies

of the “Century” of 1663, are rarely indeed to be found in private

collections. But, besides these, it was quite possible to procure,

within 15 or 20 years after his decease, even manuscripts, drawings,

and books, the property of the deceased Marquis, more or less

referring to his great invention.

Even admitting that Savery was an independent inventor in 1699,

notwithstanding so many conflicting circumstances pointing to a

different conclusion, he could not have been working many years at York

Buildings in the Strand, without hearing of the Engine at Vauxhall,

invented by the proprietor of Worcester House in the Strand. This

very propinquity alone was sufficient to excite in the mind of some

intelligent, inquisitive, and observant visitor the fact, which so

singular a coincidence would obviously suggest.

While, however, everybody else is viewing the engine of Savery’s

reputed invention with astonishment, Savery himself is present to our

mind only as a cold calculating man, proud, not of being a Captain

over Mines, but of being designated “Gentleman;” and while thus

precise to inform the world of his gentility, he leaves us in perfect

ignorance of his mental acquirements, or the origin of the marvellous

engine. It may appear to some, that his exhibiting of the model before

the Royal Society is at once evidence of straightforwardness and

uprightness of conduct. But this view is open to the objection, that

he had never before shown the model, and he thanks the Royal Society

for “countenancing this Invention on its _first appearance in the

world_.” From the 25th of July 1698, to the 14th of June 1699, he had

been nursing the invention in secret. What doubts could remain in his

mind, when all persons likely to be most interested were no longer in

existence? Men of science alone remained, who might possibly disturb

his claims, and what means could be found more likely to set this doubt

at rest, than a bold appeal to that learned body? And come of it what

might, there would still remain to him the question of _improvements_;

supposing the grand claim to originality to become a matter of dispute.

But to Savery’s great satisfaction, if not to his greater surprise, so

far from a word of dissent being raised, there was (contrary to all

precedent) a certificate given in favour of the invention at Savery’s

request.

Savery’s career may be taken as commencing in 1699, thirty-two years

after the decease of the Marquis of Worcester, thirty-six years from

the date of the “Century of Inventions,” or thirty-nine years after

the establishment of the Royal Society, and yet his operations made

slight impression on the public, and scarcely any on scientific

society. This circumstance removes much of the surprise we might

otherwise seriously entertain respecting the occasion of the Marquis of

Worcester’s own publications and personal labours, during four arduous

years of excessive mental and physical activity, leaving little behind

to attest the extent of his operations and the precise nature of the

difficulties with which he had to contend. Great strides must have been

made in arts, manufactures and trade, during the intervening thirty-two

years, all in favour of Savery’s progress, and yet, with the exception

of Dr. Papin, scientific men were not attracted by the remarkable

results which Savery prominently placed before the public; and Savery’s

own exposition before the Royal Society is abridged to a single

copper-plate engraving, and the shortest possible printed reference to

its several details. Thus was this true mechanical prodigy of the age

treated as though it were of little or no interest.

When we compare this long continued apathetic feeling, this absence

of forecast to form some strikingly favourable judgment of the value

of the novelty thus published, although in its earliest stage, with

the superior knowledge on the subject evinced by the writings, labour,

and conduct of the Marquis of Worcester, at least thirty-six years

before Savery; it is then, and then only, perhaps, that we become fully

alive to his almost prescient judgment, that could, as if inspired,

prognosticate so truthfully as he did the future benefits of his

invention to mankind.

69.

A way how a little triangle[2] scrued Key, not weighing a

Shilling, shall[3] be capable and strong enough to bolt and

unbolt round about a great Chest an hundred Bolts through fifty

Staples, two in each, with a direct contrary motion, and as many

more from both sides and ends, and at the self-same time shall

fasten it to a place beyond a mans natural strength to take it

away: and in one and the same turn both locketh and openeth it.

Footnotes

[2] triangle and. MS. and P.

[3] not weighing a shilling - omitted. MS. and P.

[_A triangle Key._] This ingenious trifle may be really only one part

of another instrument, just as we see in the cutting portion of a

centre bit, which, if its operation were attempted to be described

after the same fashion, would afford a perplexing and seemingly

paradoxical statement. Yet no doubt the little triangle key was

capable to the full of performing the duty here stated.

70.

A Key with a Rose-turning pipe, and two Roses pierced through

endwise[4] the Bit thereof,[5] with several handsomly-contriv’d

Wards, which may likewise do the same effects.[6]

Footnotes

[4] endwise; together with. P.

[5] together--for thereof.

[6] effect.

[_A Rose-Key._]

71.

A key perfectly square, with a Scrue turning within it, and more

conceited then any[7] of the rest,[8] and no heavier then the

triangle-scrued Key, and doth the same effects.

Footnotes

[7] either--for any. P.

[8] other--for rest.

[_A square Key with a turning scrue._] These two contrivances are

simply variations on Article No. 69, and may depend for sufficient

leverage on some source purposely kept out of view.

72.

An Escocheon[9] to be placed before any of these Locks with these

properties.

1. The owner (though a woman) may with her delicate hand vary the

wayes of coming to open the Lock ten millions of times, beyond

the knowledge of the Smith that made it, or of me who invented

it.

2. If a stranger open it, it setteth an Alarm a-going, which the

stranger cannot stop from running out; and besides, though none

should be within hearing, yet it catcheth his hand, as a Trap

doth a Fox; and though far from maiming him, yet it leaveth such

a mark behind it, as will discover him if suspected; the

Escocheon[9] or[1]. Lock plainly shewing what monies[2] he hath

taken out of the Box to a farthing, and how many times opened

since the owner hath been in[3] it.

Footnotes

[9] A Schuchion. MS. escutcheon. P.

[9] Scuchion. MS. escutcheon. P.

[1] or the.

[2] money. P.

[3] at it. MS. and P.

[_An Escocheon for all Locks._] Stow, in his Annals of Queen Elizabeth,

has particularly distinguished Mark Scaliot as a clever blacksmith;

and Dr. Robert Plot, in his “Natural History of Staffordshire,” 1684,

especially notices the elaborate, ingenious, and expensive locks

made by several eminent Staffordshire locksmiths. He observes:--“The

greatest excellency of the blacksmith’s profession, that I could hear

of in this county, lies in their making locks.” He then explains at

large a certain kind of locks with a master’s key, and inferior keys

for the servants; and supposing any servant to trifle with such locks,

the master or mistress can “certainly tell how many times that servant

has been in, at any distance of time; or how many times the lock has

been shot for a whole year together.” He also says: “I was told of a

very fine lock made in this town (Stafford) sold for twenty pounds,

that had a set of chimes in it, that would go at any hour the owner

should think fit.”

73.

A transmittible Gallery over any Ditch or Breach in a Town-wall,

with a Blinde and Parapit Cannon-proof.

[_A transmittible Gallery._] The perusal of the elaborately illustrated

works of Vegetius, Vitruvius, Fludd, and other writers of the sixteenth

and seventeenth centuries, would abundantly furnish the Marquis of

Worcester with hints to show what had been done in such warlike

machinery, and to stimulate him to make improvements. Such an invention

as the present one, with others of a like magnitude, he probably never

proved practically beyond satisfying himself by means of well made

models, that whatever modifications he proposed to introduce were

mechanically practicable.

74.

A Door, whereof the turning of a Key, with the help and motion of

the handle, makes the hinges to be of either side, and to open

either inward or outward, as one is to enter or to[4] go out, or

to open in half.

Footnote

[5] to--omitted.

[_A conceited Door._] Van Etten, in his Mathematical Recreations,

offers as Problem XV. “How to make a Door or Gate, which shall open

on both sides.” It is represented that “All the skill and subtilty

of this, rests in the artificiall disposer of four plates of iron.”

The description, which is very imperfect, concludes--“the gate will

open upon one side with the aforesaid plates, or hooks of iron; and

by the help of the other two plates, will open upon the other side.”

[Oughtred’s ed. 1653, page 30.] The Marquis may have conceived his own

plan to be a most decided improvement upon this primitive design.

75.

How a Tape or Ribbon-weaver[5] may set down a whole discourse,

without knowing a letter, or interweaving any thing suspicious of

other secret then a new-fashioned Ribbon.[6]

Footnotes

[5] riband-weaver. P.

[6] riband. P.

[_A Discourse woven in Tape or Ribbon._] This article should have

followed article No. 43, of which it seems to be one of the

“variations” therein contemplated.

76.

How to write in the dark as streight as by day or candle-light.

[_To write in the dark._] This would appear only to require a box of

any form, the top or lid of which being of ground glass, it could be

illuminated by means of a small night-light placed below, within the

box; when it would be possible to write on paper laid on the glass,

in a totally dark room. Such a device might be useful to an inexpert

artist for making a tracing of any drawing.

77.

How to make a man to fly; which I have tried with a little Boy of

ten years old in a Barn, from one end to the other, on a Hay-mow.

[_A flying man._] One feels disposed to believe, on reading this

article, that the Marquis, in multiplying his experiments with fire and

water, might have tried in different ways the effects of heating air,

and actually gone far to anticipate Montgolfier in producing a balloon.

However, it was confidently believed in the 17th century that flying

was possible, provided proper machinery could be invented. There is

a curious little work on this subject, “De arte Volandi,” by Frid.

Hermannus Flayder, small 12mo. 1627.

Milton, in his “History of Britain,” 1670, speaking of the

prognostications of Elmer, a monk of Malmsbury, during the reign of

Harold, mentions that--“He in his youth strangely aspiring, had made

and fitted wings to his hands and feet; with these on the top of a

tower, spread out to gather air, he flew more than a furlong; but the

wind being too high, came fluttering down, to the maiming of all his

limbs; yet so conceited of his art, that he attributed the cause of his

fall to the want of a tail, as birds have, which he forgot to make to

his hinder parts.” See also Kennet’s History of England, 1st vol. 1706,

fol.

In “Friar Bacon’s discovery of the miracles of Art, Nature, &c.”

published in 12mo. 1659, treating “Of admirable artificial

instruments,” the following occurs among other inventions: “It is

possible to make engines for flying, a man sitting in the midst

whereof, by turning only about an instrument, which moves artificial

wings made to beat the air, much after the fashion of a bird’s

flight.” Chap. iv. page 17. He states that he has seen all his other

named inventions, “excepting only that instrument of flying, which I

never saw, or know any who hath seen it, though I am exceedingly

acquainted with _a very prudent man, who hath invented the whole

artifice_.”

The learned Dr. Robert Hooke, Professor of Geometry at Gresham College,

in 1655, made many ineffectual trials to accomplish this object, which

he communicated to the celebrated Bishop Wilkins, who considered his

plans were very ingenious.

Lord Bacon was not above recommending experimental investigation of

means for flying. And Bishop Wilkins suggests, that the most obvious

way for effecting the desired purpose is “by wings fastened immediately

to the body, this coming nearest to the imitation of nature;” and

further, “this is that way which Fredericus Hermannus [Flayder], in his

little discourse, De Arte volandi, doth only mention and insist upon.”

In 1679, Dr. Robert Hooke, while Secretary of the Royal Society,

published “Lectiones Cutlerianæ, a collection of Lectures made before

the Royal Society,” 4to. consisting of a series of pamphlets, among

which, No. 1 of the “Philosophical Collections,” contains eleven

articles, the fourth being, “An account of the Sieur Bernier’s way of

Flying,” as follows:--

“Having lately seen an account from France of a person there, who,

with some considerable success, has attempted to raise and sustain

himself, and so to move and fly in the air by the help of mechanical

or artificial wings, agitated only by his own strength, without the

assistance of any other either animate or inanimate power; I thought

it might not be unacceptable to the curious to receive some (though

imperfect) account thereof.

“It is, I confess, no new design, since there has hardly been an age

wherein some one or other of these Dædalian engineers have not been

trying the strength of their invention about it. The story of Dædalus

and Icarus might have its ground from the attempts of some persons

about this matter, though poetic relations have made it seem romantic.

What the performances of Simon Magus were is uncertain; they might have

[been] somewhat mechanical. That attempt of one of our English kings

is delivered to us for true history: whether so or no, I determine

not. But without doubt, it was believed possible, and attempted also

in the time of our famous Friar Roger Bacon, who lived about 500 years

since. Now, though he was believed a magician or conjuror, and to have

performed what was related of him by the help of diabolical magic,

yet from the perusal of several of his excellent works yet extant,

I esteem him no such person; but I rather find him to have been a

good mathematician, a knowing mechanic, a rare chemist, and a most

accomplished experimental philosopher, which was a miracle for that

dark age. This man affirms the art of flying possible, and that he

himself knew how to make an engine,[Q] in which a man sitting, might

be able to carry himself through the air like a bird. And affirms that

there was then another person who had actually tried it with good

success. The stories of Architas his wooden dove, and Regiomontanus

his wooden eagle, are not much doubted of. Questionless, those

persons did make some kind of engines to perform what was

considerable in this art of flying. Busbequius his story of the Turk

at Constantinople, that attempted to fly, is not doubted. Nor are

other relations of late attempts made in Germany, and elsewhere

disbelieved. We have not wanted late instances, even here in England,

of several ingenious men who have employed their wits and time about

this design. Particularly, I have been credibly informed, that one

Mr. Gascoyn did about 40 years since try it with good effect; though

he since dying, the thing also died with him. And even now there are

not wanting some in England who affirm themselves able to do it, and

that they have proved as much by experiment.

“But of all these, we have little or no account of the ways they

have taken to effect their designs, and therefore conjectures will

be much at random; only we may conclude them defective in somewhat

or other, since we do not find them brought into common use, which

the desirableness and usefulness of any one that should succeed would

certainly cause it to be. I shall desist therefore from inquiry further

concerning them, and acquaint you with two ways lately published

in print, and more particularly described, which pretended to some

considerable performance of this kind.”

The first is inserted in the “Journal des Scavans” of the year 1678.

Then follow a letter on the subject, and an account of Lana’s flying

chariot. The latter is like a boat with wheels and sails; the former

was the invention of Sieur Besnier, a smith of Sable in the county

of Maine. The engraving represents a nude figure with two poles held

horizontally on each shoulder, about the centre, and having at each end

flags or wings, in form of folio book backs, with the two back ends of

the poles attached by strings to the feet; affording altogether a very

feeble attempt to obtain the desired object.

The privilege of flight by any mechanical means is denied to man;

his figure, weight, muscular constitution, all operate against his

imitating the bird, which, admirably proportioned, light in frame, yet

concentrating powerful muscular strength in its wings, well adapt it

for enduring prolonged aerial flight, although the medium in which it

floats is eight-hundred times lighter than water.

If flight in the air is ever to be mechanically attained, it will be by

a machine, worked independently of man’s power, and which possibly will

neither be so safe nor so manageable as the common balloon, with all

its hazards and wayward guideless journeyings.

78.

A Watch to go constantly, and yet needs no other winding from the

first setting on the Cord or Chain, unless it be broken,

requiring no other care from one then to be now and then

consulted with concerning the hour of the day or night; and if it

be laid by a week together, it will not erre much, but the

oftener looked upon, the more exact it sheweth the time of the

day or night.

[_A continually-going Watch._] A watch having the dial enclosed under a

metal case, as in hunting watches, is no doubt to be so contrived that

the opening and closing of such case, to ascertain the time, shall act

more or less to wind it up. A room door has been thus made to transmit

power through attached levers to keep a clock constantly wound little

by little, every time on opening and closing the door.

His list of certain of his inventions gives a different reading to

this article; as follows:--“I can render an ordinary watch, which,

being once wound up, will go constantly during a man’s life, being

used but once in 24 hours; and, though oftener looked on, it is still

the same; and though not looked on for a week, still the same, if not

bruised.”--See Appendix A.

And in his patent of 1660, we have again a third reading, viz:--“To

make a watch or clock without string or chain, or any other kind of

winding up but what of necessity must follow, if the owner or keeper of

the said watch or clock will know the hour of day or night; and yet if

he lay it aside several days or weeks without looking or meddling with

it, it shall go very well, and as justly as most watches that ever were

made.”--See Appendix B.

In “Humane Industry,” chapter I, occur the following remarks, “On

Dials,” page 8:--“The wit of man hath been luxuriant and wanton in the

inventions of late years; some have made watches so small and light,

that ladies hang them at their ears like pendants and jewels; the

smallness and variety of tools that are used about these small engines,

seem to me no less admirable than the engines themselves; and there

is more art and dexterity in placing so many wheels and axles in so

small a compass (for some French watches do not exceed the compass of a

farthing) than in making clocks and great machines.” It is also stated

at page 9, that “In some towns of Germany and Italy, there are very

rare and elaborate clocks to be seen in their Town Halls; wherein a

man may read Astronomy, and never look up to the skies.” We are next

informed: “But the exactest clocks and watches that are, are defective,

and want correction; for in watches, the first half hour goes faster

than the last half, and the second hour is slower than the first, and

the third then the second.” Page 12.

79.

A way to lock all the Boxes of a Cabinet, (though never so many)

at one time, which were by particular Keys appropriated to each

Lock opened severally, and independent[7] the one of the other,

as much as concerneth the opening of them, and by these[8] means

cannot be left opened unawares.

Footnotes

[7] this--for these.

[8] this--for these.

[_A total locking of Cabinet-boxes._] The fact that by this means no

one of the several cabinets can “be left opened unawares,” exposes the

source of security, namely something like a long key-rod to take hold

of each, or a bar extending down one side to overlap, when each cabinet

drawer or door is closed.

80.

How to make a Pistol Barrel no thicker then a Shilling, and yet

able to endure a Musquet proof of Powder and Bullet.

[_Light Pistol-barrels._] One might almost suppose the Marquis

contemplated a method similar to that recently introduced by Mr.

Longridge, of winding the barrel with wire.

See also article No. 44, which may, or not, refer to the same

description of barrel.

81.

A Combe-conveyance carrying of[9] Letters without suspicion, the

head being opened with a Needle-scrue drawing a Spring towards

them[1]; the Comb being made but after an usual form carried in

ones Pocket.

Footnotes

[9] of--omitted.

[1] one--for them. MS. and P.

[_A Comb-conveyance for Letters._] The entire ingenuity of the kind of

conveyance proposed consists in the skill of the workman to provide a

receptacle in so small an article, not open to suspicion when handled

by a spy.

82.

A Knife, Spoon or Fork in an usual portable Case, may have the

like conveyances in their handles.

[_A Knife, Spoon or Fork-conveyance._] William Bourne’s 73rd Device

is--“How for to convey letters secretly.” One means is to be found in

a Dog’s collar. Another in a water-tight metal case, to be inserted

within a bottle of wine. “Inventions or Devices,” 1578.

83.

A Rasping-mill for Harts-horn, whereby a child may do the work of

half a dozen men, commonly taken up with that work.

[_A Rasping-mill._] This description of mill is largely in use for

rasping dye-woods, and has undergone a great variety of

modifications.

84.

An Instrument whereby persons[2] ignorant in Arithmetick may

perfectly observe Numerations and Substractions[3] of all Summes

and Fractions.

Footnotes

[2] a person.

[3] numeration and substraction. MS.

[_An arithmetical Instrument._] There is in the British Museum a

manuscript description, with a large engraving, of the serpentine

scale invented by Thomas Browne, of Fenchurch Street, London, in 1631,

by means of which “instrument all kinde of questions in Arithmetike,

Geometry, &c. are speedily resolved.” Brit. Mus. Birch MS. No. 4407.

Sir Samuel Morland, in 1672–3, published a small treatise, being--“The

description and use of two arithmetick Instruments;” a second

title mentions, “A new and most useful Instrument for Addition and

Substraction of pounds, shillings, pence, and farthings,” which he

“invented and presented to his most excellent Majesty, Charles II.

1666.”

85.

A little Ball made in the shape of a Plum or Pear,[4] being

dexterously conveyed or forced into a bodies mouth, shall

presently shoot forth such and so many Bolts of each side and at

both ends, as[5] without the owners Key can neither be opened

or[6] filed off, being made of tempered Steel, and as effectually

locked as an Iron Chest.

Footnotes

[4] which being.

[5] as that.

[6] nor. MS. and P.

[_An untoothsome Pear._] It is difficult to understand the intended

use of this proposed instrument, but it is more likely to have been

suggested from a feeling of humanity than from any other motive. A

desperate and ferocious enemy, thus rendered helpless before being

manacled, would assuredly be less dangerous than he could otherwise be

considered; and it would not, therefore, be requisite to take his life,

for personal safety; once thus secured he would be likely to listen to

any terms of mercy.

86.

A Chair made _a-la-mode_, and yet a stranger being perswaded to

sit in’t, shall have immediately his armes and thighs lock’d up

beyond his own power to loosen them.

[_An imprisoning Chair._] In the “Memoirs, illustrative of the life

and Writings of John Evelyn, F.R.S.” &c., edited by William Bray, 2

vols. 4to. 1819, occurs the Diary of his continental travels in 1644.

On the 17th Nov., Evelyn being at Rome went to the “Villa Borghese, a

house and ample garden on Mons Pincius.” In one of the chambers, he

says, “are divers sorts of instruments of music; amongst other toys

that of a satyr with so artificially expressed a human voice, with the

motion of eyes and head, that it might easily affright one who was not

prepared for that most extravagant sight. He showed us also a chair

which catches any one who sits down in it so as not to be able to stir

out, by certain springs concealed in the arms and back thereof, which

at sitting down surprises a man on the sudden, locking him in by the

arms and thighs, after a true treacherous Italian guise.”--Vol. i. p.

106–107.

M. de Blainville, in his travels, 1757, relates, in passing through

Italy, and describing the Villa Borghese, raised under the Popedom of

Paul V. uncle of Cardinal Scipio Borghese, that, “In the fourth room of

the apartment, on the south side, called the room of the Three Graces,

there stands a remarkable chair, said to have been formerly used to

very evil purposes, by one of the Borghese family. The machine is very

artfully contrived, and strangers who are not acquainted with the trick

are infallibly caught, as in a trap, when they are prevailed upon

to sit in this chair. By this stratagem the housekeeper gets a good

many fees, which the enticed people are obliged to pay him for their

deliverance out of captivity. In all appearance, these innocent deceits

were the only thing intended by this piece of machinery.”--Vol. iii.

page 34.

87.

A Brass Mold to cast Candles, in which a man may make 500. dozen

in a day, and adde an Ingredient to the tallow which will make it

cheaper, and yet so that the Candles shall look whiter and last

longer.

[_A Candle-mold._] This invention seems to include some recipe to

whiten the tallow. When the idea of improving candle-moulds suggested

itself, the Marquis had probably been over some manufactory, and on

seeing the customary mode of candle-making, the present suggestion may

have occurred to him. We have placed it among the few others (only nine

in number), in his numerous list, as belonging to the Domestic Class,

of which it is the last.

88.[R]

How to make a Brazen or Stone-head, in the midst of a great Field

or Garden, so artificial and natural, that though a man speak

never so softly, and even whispers into the ear thereof, it will

presently open its mouth, and resolve the Question in French,

Latine, Welsh, Irish or English, in good terms uttering it out of

his mouth, and then shut it untill the next Question be asked.

[_A Brazen head._] In a MS. list of five Inventions,

“Life, Times, &c.” page 316, the present article is briefly stated to

be:--“A brass head capable to receive at the ear a whisper, and the

mouth thereof to render answer in any language to the interrogator.”

In “The famous History of Frier Bacon,” [1630?] a black letter quarto

of 24 leaves unpaged, the fifth article relates, “How Frier Bacon made

a brazen head to speak, by the which he would have walled England about

with brass.” He and Friar Bungey, it is stated, “with great study and

pains so framed a head of brass, that in the inward parts thereof there

was all things like as in a natural man’s head.”

The same account may be read at length in the modernised edition of

“Early English Prose Romances,” edited by W. J. Thoms, F.S.A., first

volume, 12mo. 1858, page 205. The unfortunate head only survived to

speak thrice, and then fell to pieces!

See also “Miscellanea Antiqua Anglicana,” London, Printed for Robert

Triphook, 1816, 4to. Vol. I.

In the “Inventions or Devices,” by William Bourne, 1578, “The 113th

Device is, as touching the making of strange works, as the brazen

head that did seem to speak, or birds of wood or metal made by art

to fly, and birds made of wood or metal to sing sweetly at certain

hours appointed, &c., which the common people doth marvel at.” He then

proceeds to say:--

“As touching the making of any strange works that the world hath

marvelled at, as the brazen head that did seem to speak: and the

serpent of brass for to hiss: or a dove of wood for to fly: or an eagle

made by art of wood and other metal to fly; and birds made of brass,

tin, or other metal to sing sweetly, and such other like devices, some

have thought that it hath been done by enchantment, which is no such

thing, but that it hath been done by wheels, as you may see by clocks,

that do keep time, some going with plummets, and some with springs, as

those small clocks that be used in tablets to hang about men’s necks.

And as the brazen head, that seemed for to speak, might be made by such

wheel work, to go either by plummets or by springs, and might have time

given unto it, that at so many hours’ end, then the wheels and other

engines should be set to work: and the voice that they did hear may go

with bellows in some trunk of brass or other metal, with stops to alter

the sound, may be made to seem to speak some words, according unto the

fancy of the inventor, so that the simple people will marvel at it. And

for to make a bird or fowl, made of wood or metal, with other things

made by art, to fly, it is to be done to go with springs, and so to

beat the air with the wings, as other birds or fowls do, being of a

reasonable lightness, it may fly: and also to make birds of metal to

sing very sweetly, and good music, it may be done with wheels, to go at

any hour or time appointed by plummets, and then to have pipes of tin

or other fine metal, to go with bellows, and the pipes to have stops,

and to go with a barrel, or other such like device, and may be made to

play or sing what note that the inventor shall think good when he doth

make it; and also there may be divers helps to make it to seem pleasant

unto the ears of the hearers, by letting the sound or wind of the pipes

pass through or into water, for that will make a quavering as birds do,

&c. And also you may make a small puppet, either like a man or woman,

to seem to go by wheels and springs, and shall turn and go circular,

according unto the setting of the wheels and springs, and also the

birds made to fly by art, to fly circularly, as it shall please the

inventor, by the placing of the wheels and springs, and such other like

inventions, which the common people would marvel at, thinking that it

is done by enchantment, and yet is done by no other means but by good

arts and lawful.”

Thomas Tymme, in 1612, published “A Dialogue Philosophicall,” written

in the form of a Dialogue between Philadelph and Theophrast. In the

third chapter, the former observes:--“I have heard and read of many

strange motions artificiall, as were the inventions of Boetius, in

whose commendation Cassiodorus writeth thus: you know profound things

and shew mervailes, by the disposition of your Art, mettals doe lowe in

sundrie formes: Diomedes picture of brasse, doth sound a trumpet loude:

a brasen serpent hisseth: birds artificiall, sing sweetly. Very strange

also was the moving of the Images of Mercurie: The brasen head which

seemed to speake, made by Albertus Magnus: the Dove of wood, which

the Mathematician Architas, did make to flie, as Agellius reporteth.

Dedalus strange Images, which Plato speaketh of: Vulcans selfe-movers,

whereof Homer hath written: the Iron fly, made at Noremberge, which

being let out of the Artificers hand, did as it were flie about by

the guests that were at the Table, and at the last, as though it were

weary, returned to his masters hand againe. In which Citie also an

artificiall Eagle was so ordered to flie aloft in the ayre toward the

Emperour coming thither, that it did accompany him a mighty way.”--Page

63.

It is mentioned in Evelyn’s Memoirs, that when in Italy, in 1644,

he visited the Villa Borghese at Rome, where he saw the figure of a

satyr, that “artfully expressed a human voice.”--See Note, Article

86. And in his Diary, he records:--“13 July, 1654. We all dined at

that most obliging and universally curious Dr. Wilkins’s, at Wadham

College [Oxford]. He had contrived a hollow statue, which gave a voice,

and uttered words by a long concealed pipe that went to its mouth,

whilst one speaks through it at a good distance.” He also entertained

his visitors with “many other artificial, mathematical, and magical

curiosities.”

Bishop Wilkins, in his “Mathematicall Magick,” 1648, observes:--“There

have been some inventions also which have been able for the utterance

of articulate sounds, as the speaking of certain words. Such are some

of the Egyptian idols related to be. Such was the brazen head made by

Friar Bacon, and that statue, in the framing of which Albertus Magnus

bestowed thirty years, broken by Aquinas, who came to see it, purposely

that he might boast, how in one minute he had ruined the labour of so

many years.” Proceeding further to consider such inventions, he says,

“Walchius thinks it possible entirely to preserve the voice, or any

words spoken, in a hollow trunk, or pipe.”--P. 176, 177.

Dr. W. Hooper, in the second volume of his “Rational Recreations,” has

an article on “The Conversive Statue,” requiring the employment of

two concave mirrors, a statue, and an interlocutor. In regard to this

arrangement, it is remarked:--“This recreation appears to be taken from

the Century of Inventions of the Marquis of Worcester; one of those men

of sublime genius, who are able to perform actions infinitely superior

to the capacity, or even the comprehension, of the mere scholar or man

of business; and though his designs, at the time they were published,

were treated with ridicule and neglect, by the great and little vulgar,

who, judging by their own abilities, are ever ready to condemn what

they cannot comprehend, yet they are now known to be generally, if not

universally, practicable.”--Edit. 1794, pp. 220–223.

The “Athenæum” of the 6th December, 1862, announced that--“A very

remarkable talking automaton is exciting the curiosity of the

Parisians. It has been constructed by M. Faber, late Professor of

Mathematics at a German university, and is stated by our contemporary,

‘Cosmos,’ to be by far the most successful effort that has been yet

made to imitate the human voice. The figure, which is that of a woman,

is exhibited on the Boulevard Magenta.”

We may here add the following comment on--

[_A Stamping Engine._] “An engine, without ye least noyse, knock, or

use of fyre, to coyne and stamp 100 lb. in an houre, by one man.”--See

Harleian MS. No. 2428.

In “Humane Industry,” published 1661, at page 36, it is observed, that,

“At the Mint of Segovia, in Spain, an engine that moves by water,

distendeth an ingot of gold.”

The Coining Mill, or Press, was first introduced from France into

England during Elizabeth’s reign, but was shortly after abandoned for

the old hammer process of stamping with two dies. The invention of

the mill is ascribed to an engraver, who used it in 1553 for coining

the French king’s counters. The new process of coining was completely

established in France in 1645, but not in England until 1662, the year

_before_ the “Century” was published, which sufficiently accounts for

its author not printing the present article.

According to the Rev. Rogers Ruding, in his “Annals of the Coinage,”

1840, no improvement was attempted for upwards of a century, the modern

coining-mill having been invented by Mr. Boulton, in 1788.

89.

White Silk knotted in the fingers[8] of a Pair of white Gloves,

and so contrived without suspicion, that playing at _Primero_ at

Cards, one may without clogging his memory keep reckoning of all

Sixes, Sevens and Aces which he hath discarded.[9]

Footnotes

[8] finger.

[9] without foul play. MS. and P.

[_Primero Gloves._] Although we cannot give a clue to this contrivance

for registering reckonings in card-playing, it is worth noticing the

old game indicated:--

Primero, according to Dr. Johnson, is derived from the Spanish, which

Minsheu, coupling with the Italian, thus explains, “_primum_ et _primum

visum_, that is, first, and first seen, because he that can show such

an order of cards, wins the game.” He then quotes as examples:--

“I left him at _primero_ with the Duke of Suffolk.”--_Henry_

_VIII._

“The Spaniard is generally given to gaming, and that in excess;

their common game at cards is _primera_.”--_Howell’s Letters_,

i. iii. 32.

“Give me your honest trick, yet, at _primero_, or gleek.”--_Ben_

_Jonson’s Alchemist._

Mr. S. W. Singer affords some curious information on Primero, in his

excellent “Researches into the History of Cards,” quarto, 1816. It

appears to be uncertain whether it is of Italian or Spanish origin.

Primero, prime, and primavista, are the same game, differently

designated. It was very popular in the reign of Queen Elizabeth; and,

as we have seen, is mentioned by Shakespeare; indeed, it is supposed to

have been one of the earliest played card games in England.

90.

A most dexterous Dicing Box, with holes transparent, after the

usual fashion, with a Device so dexterous, that with a knock of

it against the Table the four good Dice are fastened, and it[1]

looseneth four false Dice made fit for his[2] purpose.

Footnotes

[1] it--omitted.

[2] this--for his. P.

[_A Dicing-box._] It would be doing deep injustice to the Marquis of

Worcester, to judge him in all respects rigidly by modern fashions,

customs, and habits of thought. The modern critic, in simple

ignorance of the age, might exclaim with just indignation against the

promulgating an invention _to cheat at dice_. We have many examples to

prove, that the Marquis was not singular in proposing so questionable

an invention, and we can only consider such schemes put forth as

marvels in themselves and warnings to the unwary.

We find, as early as 1594, that Sir Hugh Plat, in his “Jewel House of

Art and Nature,” describes “A perspective ring that will discover all

the cards that are neere him that weareth it on his finger;” an

effect produced by a hollow crystal stone or glass, with a good foil

on the concave part, to act as a mirror. The apology he offers for

publishing this scheme, will well apply also in the present instance;

he says:--“I have discovered this secret rather to discorage yong

novesses from card-play, who by one experiment may easily ghesse, how

mannie sleights and cousenages, are dayly practised in our dicing and

gaming houses, not doubting but that the general publication thereof

will make the same so familiar with al men, as that I shall not

justly be charged of anie to have taught old knaves new-schoole

pointes.”

John Bate, in his “Mysteries of Nature and Art,” 1634, page 151, or

the edition of 1635, page 242, gives directions, “How to make five or

six dice of the ordinary bigness of dice, such as you may game

withal, and such as would be taken by their looks to be ordinary

dice, and yet all of them to weigh not above one grain.” To effect

this:--“Take a piece of elder, and pith it, lay the pith to dry, and

then make thereof with a sharp knife five or six dice, and you shall

find it true that I have said.”

So far as the deceptive part goes, we have an example in reference to

another game, afforded by Van Etten, in his “Mathematical Recreations,”

Problem XVII. “Of a deceitfull Bowle to play withall.” The whole trick

consists simply in producing an undue bias by means of a secretly

inserted pellet of lead.

Walpole says of the “Century,” that--“It is a very small piece--in

which he (the Marquis) affirms having, in the presence of Charles the

First, performed _many_ of the feats mentioned in the Book.” As however

only _two_ are named, No. 56 and No. 64, the foregoing mis-statement

requires no stronger refutation. He proceeds:--“The work itself, which

is but a table of contents; being a list of one hundred projects, _most

of them impossibilities_, but all of which he affirms having discovered

the art of performing.” Consequently, either the Marquis, or Walpole

occupies a most unenviable position: for one or the other, alone speaks

the truth. “Some of the easiest (he adds) seem, (among others) how

to form an universal character; how to converse by jangling of bells

out of tune; how to take towns, or prevent their being taken; how to

write in the dark; _how to cheat with dice_; and in short how to fly.”

He then proceeds to comment on them, observing:--“Of these wonderful

inventions (but why wonderful if the easiest?), the last but one [how

to cheat at dice] seems the only one of which his Lordship has left

the secret; and, by two others [the universal character, and flying],

it appears that the renowned Bishop Wilkins was but the Marquis’s

disciple. But, perhaps, too much has been said on so fantastic a man.”

It was by such unmeaning causticity that the accomplished Walpole could

degrade his pen, display his own sterility in scientific acquirements,

and perpetuate his incapacity to judge aright of the mathematical and

mechanical acumen of the Marquis of Worcester.

91.

An artificial Horse, with Saddle and Caparizons fit for running

at[3] the Ring, on which a man being mounted, with his Lance in

his hand, he can at pleasure make him start, and swiftly to run

his career, using the decent posture[4] with _bon grace_, may

take the Ring as handsomly, and running as swiftly as if he rode

upon a Barbe.

Footnotes

[3] at--omitted.

[4] postures.

[_An artificiall Ring-horse._] The nearest approach to this automaton

was that of a mechanical horse, the invention of Colonel De Hamel, of

the Wurtemberg Cavalry. This was, until lately, exhibited at Mason’s

establishment, Piccadilly, but is now in Germany. It is made of wood,

covered with a natural skin, and contains machinery which can be

operated by a lever to produce any variety of action, from that of

the most gentle to the fiercest of an unruly horse. But the animal

possesses no locomotive power, being restrained to one spot by a strong

pillar underneath, working at the centre in a cup-and-ball joint, so

that it can fall sideways, backwards, or forwards, unless prevented

by equestrian skill; it was, however, more than master of the greater

number of many excellent horsemen who subjected themselves to its

astonishing gambols.

The Marquis’s automaton was possibly intended for a kind of circus, and

we may suppose that a strong post being in the centre, a long wooden

bar was so placed across it as to revolve--with the horse attached to

one end, and a weight or counterpoise on the other extremity, motion

being given to the horse’s legs by internal machinery, and acting to

propel it so long as the rider pleased, or the mechanism permitted.

92.

A scrue made like a Water-scrue, but the bottom made of

Iron-plate Spade-wise, which at the side of a Boat emptieth the

mud of a Pond, or raiseth Gravel.

[_A Gravel Engine._] The principle of the modern dredging machine is

to be seen in Besson’s “Theatrum Instrumentorum et Machinarum,” 1578,

where about 25 hampers or buckets are attached to two endless chains

passing over two drums, one at the bottom of two strong inclined poles,

the other at the top of the same, where a workman turns it by means of

an ordinary winch applied to an endless screw; while labourers below

are actively filling the ascending vessels. The Marquis may have had in

view to make each bucket dig up its own supply of gravel, &c. as indeed

is the present practice.

This antiquated dredging machine, in some other form, had been

contemplated in 1558. The Petition of George Cobham, Tomazo Chanata,

and others, was presented to Queen Elizabeth, for the sole use of an

engine to cleanse and carry away all shelves of sand, banks, &c. out of

all rivers, creeks, and havens.--See Cal. State Papers, Dom. Series,

1547–1580. Edited by R. Lemon, F.S.A. 8vo. 1856, page 119, No. 56.

In 1583, an inventor, whose name does not appear, proposed, as one out

of twenty inventions:--“An engine for cleansing or taking away of any

shelves or shallow places in the river of Thames, or any such river;

the same device may serve for cleansing of ditches about cities or

towns, ponds, or any such like standing waters.”--Rara Mathematica,

edited by J. O. Halliwell, F.R.S., &c. 8vo. 1841.

John Gilbert obtained a patent, dated 16th July, 1618, for a water

plough, for the taking up of sands or banks out of the river Thames or

other places. And the same John Gilbert, with James Freese, obtained a

patent, dated 8th July, 1631, for engines or instruments, called water

ploughs, for the taking up of sands, gravel, shelves, and banks out of

the Thames and other havens. Also Symon Hill, on the 30th May, 1633,

patented his invention for taking away of beds of sand and gravel from

rivers.

93.

An Engine whereby one man may take out of the water a Ship of

500. Tun, so that it may be calked, trimmed and repaired without

need of the usual way of stocks, and as easily let it down again.

[_A Ship-raising Engine._] We find in Besson’s admirably illustrated

folio work on Instruments and Machines, 1578, many means delineated

for raising vessels; for taking them bodily out of the water; or, for

laying them high and dry on shore for repairs, as in plates 55, 56, and

58. All such methods are naturally, however, not only very rude and

imperfect, but are at best only applicable for small craft.

In 1636, Sir John Christopher Van Berg, Moravian Knight, dispossessed

of all his property “by the devouring wars in Germany,” patented eleven

inventions; the fifth being--“An assured way how the very greatest ship

may be drawn up again, though it be sunk 80 fathoms deep.”

94.

A little Engine portable in ones Pocket, which placed to any

door, without any noise, but one crack, openeth any door or gate.

[_A Pocket Engine to open any door._] Doppelmayr gives an account of

the screw-jack invented by Leonard Danner in 1550. It must have been

well known in the following century, and we can readily understand

how the principle of its action may have occurred to the Marquis for

application to a pocket instrument that would exactly accord with his

statement.

Bishop Wilkins, in his “Mathematical Magick,” 1648, treating on the

employment of multiplied wheels, refers to Ramelli, Figure 160,

observing:--“Hither also should be referred the force of racks, which

serve for bending of the strongest bows, as also that little pocket

engine wherewith a man may break or wrench open any door, together with

divers the like instruments in common use.”--Chap. 13, pages 91, 92.

95.

A double Cross-bow, neate, handsome and strong, to shoot two

Arrows, either together, or one after the other, so immediately

that a Deer cannot run two steps but, if he miss[5] of one Arrow,

he may be reach’d with the other, whether the Deer run forward,

sideward, or start backward.

Footnote

[5] be missed.

[_A double Cross-bow._] The employment of the cross-bow still lingered

when this was first published in 1663. The invention is so obvious

that any particular description would be superfluous, the whole effect

consisting in either shooting the two arrows singly, or together.

In an article on Cross-bows, in Fosbroke’s Encyclopedia of Antiquities,

1840, it is stated that--“In a letter remissory, dated 1420, it is

said, ‘lequel Haquinet a chevauchie tendu _crenequins_ et arbalestes

a croc’--that is, _which Haquinet rode along with_ crenequins _bent,

and arbalestes on the hook_. By the _croc_ or _crook_ is meant the

hook, into which the trigger caught; of use both in bending the bow and

shooting.”

96.

A way to make a Sea-bank so firm and Geometrically-strong, that a

stream can have no power over it; excellent likewise to save the

Pillar of a Bridge, being far cheaper and stronger then

Stone-walls.

[_A way for Sea-banks._] This article stands alone in the “Century” as

an example of a singular divergence from its author’s main course of

pursuits. It is more than likely that his idea in the present instance

was the mere use of loose stones, laid down at such a curvature as to

break rather than resist the force of heavy seas and rapid torrents,

for such a plan would be decidedly “cheaper and stronger” than any

masonry, especially if presenting a vertical surface to the surging sea.

97.

An Instrument whereby an ignorant person may take any thing in

Perspective, as justly, and more[5] then the skilfullest[6]

Painter can do by his eye.

Footnotes

[5] more so. P.

[6] most skilful. P.

[_A perspective Instrument._] John Bate, in his “Mysteries of Nature

and Art,” 1635, gives, at page 155, “A very easie way to describe a

Towne, or Castle: being within the full sight thereof.” A vertical

square frame is divided by means of a number of threads, crossing each

other at equal distances. A vertical pillar opposite, has a spy-hole at

the top, through which the town, or other prospect is to be viewed, and

to be drawn square by square, on paper placed on the table below, until

the whole is completed, as shown in a wood-engraved illustration. No

doubt the Marquis had refined on this, or some like invention.

98.

An Engine so contrived, that working the _Primum mobile_ forward

or backward, upward or downward,[7] circularly or cornerwise, to

and fro, streight, upright or downright, yet the pretended

Operation continueth, and advanceth none of the motions

above-mentioned, hindering, much less stopping the other; but

unanimously, and with harmony agreeing they all augment and

contribute strength unto the intended work and operation: And

therefore I call this _A Semi-omnipotent_ _Engine_, and do intend

that a Model thereof be buried with me.

Footnote

[7] forwards or backwards, upwards or downwards.

[_A Semi-omnipotent Engine._] The Marquis, previous to the publication

of this article, had permitted a written notification of a few of this

inventions to be circulated, which is given at length, in Appendix A.

In the commencement of this MS. we recognize an earlier reading of the

foregoing, as follows:--“The quintessence of motion, or a collection of

all kinds of mouvements, to wit; circular, to and fro, perpendicular,

upwards and downwards; side-motions, to the right and left; straight

motions, forwards and backwards, with a circular vehiculum, to which

any of these may be applicable, or moveable to all the points of the

compass; at each of which, it will be as powerful as if it were fixed

to one place or centre.

“All and every of these, by height of Art, Industry, and Experiment,

working the same individual and intrinsical effect, without disturbance

one to the other; and yet by these absolutely contrary motions, so

performed, most strange and incredible effects may be brought to pass,

to the admiration of even the greatest mathematicians.

“The knowledge of these things rendering all things as feasible to

him that is master of this art, as it is to make a circle with a pair

of compasses, or a straight line with a square or ruler; they being a

direct abstract of arithmetic contrived by me.”

No. 98 may be read as a second notice of his steam engine; No. 68,

developing the broad principle of its source of action, while the

above indicates the working parts. He may allude to the facility of

communicating motion to levers, forces, pistons, or plungers, in any

direction, by turning on steam to variously arranged pipes, so that to

his mind it appeared as though it were something of super-human origin.

While the beauty, novelty, and success of his new design overawed his

own mind, it was a matter of infinite surprise to him that he could

not immediately impress others with a sense of the immense value and

unbounded importance of an invention which superseded animal power:

placing at man’s disposal a greater and more controllable mechanical

agent than even the elements of nature, under the most favourable

circumstances, had ever supplied.

He expressed his own solemn impression, on seeing the successful issue

of this great work, when he said--“I call this a semi-omnipotent

engine, and _do intend that a model thereof be buried with me_.”

99.

How to make one pound weight to raise an hundred as high as one

pound falleth, and yet the hundred pound[8] descending doth[9]

what nothing less then one hundred pound[8] can effect.

Footnotes

[8] pounds. P.

[9] to do.

[_A most admirable way to raise Weights._] In his MS. of a select

number of his inventions, we have, in No. 6, the following earlier

reading of the above:--

“By these (his quintessence of motions) I can make one pound raise an

hundred, as high as the pound falls; and the one pound taken off the

112 pounds shall again descend, performing the entire effect of an

hundred weight, that is, have the force which nothing less than 112

pounds can have any other way. An incredible effect till seen, but true

as strange.”--See Appendix A.

[Illustration: Engine to raise weights]

Keeping in view Nos. 25 and 27, we have here a third application of

the same principle, by which it is proposed with one pound to raise

a hundred “as _high_ as one pound _falleth_.” In the engraved figure

of this demonstrative model, one steam cylinder B, is shown, with its

steam pipe and valve at A; one end of a cord is attached to the piston

B, and passing over the drum wheel D, is attached to the weight X. As

condensation ensues, the descent of B, will raise X; and it may be

reset for another lift by drawing off the condensed water at E, and

readmitting steam.

Here we are required “to make one pound weight” so that it shall be

able to raise 100 times its own weight, always bearing in mind--“as

_high_ as one _falleth_.” This being no Archimedian experiment would be

unintelligible to any man ignorant of steam, and some mode of applying

its property of condensation.

James Rollock,[S] in his doggerel verses, attempts some description of

this principle as applied to raising water, when he says:--

“Here little David curbs the Giant’s brood,

_Small drops of Rain contend with Noah’s flood_;

One weighs a thousand coming down apace,

Weighs but himself when he hath ran his race.

The Heavens admire, the Centre stands amaz’d,

To see such Streams by so small Forces rais’d.

Great is the Work, but greater is the Fame

Of that great Peer who did invent the same.”

The plain English of Rollock’s feeble lines is, that a stream of water

falling like “_small drops_ of rain,” on the steam cylinder, caused

the elevation of a hundred or more gallons, which he likens to “Noah’s

flood,” in illustration of the greatness of the result; while the steam

“weighs but itself,” being condensed. “Here little David,” is no more

than the single attendant on the “Giant’s brood,”--the Water-commanding

Engine.

The distribution of the three articles, Nos. 25, 27, and 99, is

evidently adopted to conceal their connection; as we have already seen

in the instance of Nos. 22, 23, and 58, which, although related to each

other, are yet separated, as though they were quite independent.

100.

Upon so potent a help as these two last mentioned Inventions a

Waterwork is by many years experience[1] and labour so

advantageously by me[2] contrived, that a Child’s force bringeth

up an hundred foot[3] high an incredible quantity of water, even

two foot[3] Diameter, [4]so naturally, that the work will not be

heard even into the next Room; and with so great ease and

Geometrical Symmetry, that though it work day and night from one

end of the year to the other, it will not require forty shillings

reparation to the whole Engine, nor hinder ones day-work.[4] And

I may boldly call it _The most_ _stupendious Work in the whole

world_: not onely with little charge to drein all sorts of Mines,

and furnish Cities with water, though never so high seated, as

well to keep them sweet, running through several streets, and so

performing the work of Scavengers, as well as furnishing the

Inhabitants with sufficient water for their private occasions;

but likewise supplying Rivers[5] with sufficient to maintaine and

make them portable[6] from Towne to Towne, and for the bettering

of Lands all the way it runs; with many more advantageous, and

yet greater effects of Profit, Admiration, and Consequence. So

that deservedly I deem this Invention to crown my Labours, to

reward my Expences, and make my Thoughts acquiesce in way of

further Inventions: This making up the whole Century, and

preventing any further trouble to the Reader for the present,

meaning to leave to Posterity a Book, wherein under each of these

Heads the means to put in execution and visible trial all and

every of these Inventions, with the shape and form of all things

belonging to them, shall be Printed by Brass-plates.[7]

_In Bonum Publicum

Ad Majorem_ DEI_ Gloriam._[T]

Footnotes

[1] expences--for experience.

[2] by me--omitted.

[3] feet. P.

[4] The sentence:--“So naturally, that the work will not be heard

even in the next room, and with so great ease and geometrical

symmetry, that though it work day and night from one end of the

year to the other, it will not require forty shillings reparation

to the whole Engine, nor hinder one’s day-work”--does not appear

in the MS. and is omitted by Partington in his edition.

[5] the rivers. P.

[6] make navigable--for, make them portable.

[7] Thus ends No. 100 of the first printed edition; but Mr. P.

continues the paragraph by adding from the MS. what is clearly

only a Postscript to the entire “Century.” He then concludes

with the Latin phrase, thus following neither work entirely.

[_A stupendious Water-work._] The present article concludes the

Marquis of Worcester’s own observations on his Water-commanding

Engine. His engagements in hydraulic engineering, as we have already

seen, commenced about, or before, 1628; but we have later and more

satisfactory evidence of his having had the invention, which is here

indicated, absolutely at work, under the management of his engineer

Kaltoff, at Vauxhall. Hitherto we have confined our notice of any

express date to the period of the passing of the Act in 1663, securing

to him the profits in his invention for 99 years. We are, however, now

prepared to show that, during the reign of Charles the First, in and

before 1647, the Marquis was occupied on the mechanical arrangements

of his engine, when one William Lambert, a brass-founder, was engaged

under him at Vauxhall, in providing material “founded in brass,”

expressly for “water-work.” This evidence, being afforded under

circumstances very different from any attempt to establish the present

statement, is all the more trustworthy, coming as a mere evidence

of personal employment in the Marquis’s service, while soliciting

from Charles the Second, after his restoration, to be reinstated at

Vauxhall, in accordance with an order from the late king.

We shall now give entire the exceedingly interesting and important

petition and royal order, from the original in the State Paper

Office:--[U]

“TO THE KING’S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY,

“The humble Petition of William Lambert.

“Humbly sheweth,

“That your Petitioner was founder to his late Majesty of blessed memory

in Ffoxhall under the Marquis of Worcester, for gun and waterwork or

any other thing founded in brass; and in the late unhappy war, your

Petitioner was dispossessed of his employment, and left to the value of

£2,000. and driven to exile by that usurpers authority.

“That your Majesty was graciously pleased at Brussels to grant your

petitioner the place of founder for your Majesty’s works at Ffoxhall,

upon your Majesty’s happy restoration, whereupon your Petr. depended;

and deserted the King of Spain’s service; yet, nevertheless, the house

was disposed to one Mr. Calthoofe, now deceased.

“Your Petitioner most humbly prayeth, That your sacred Majesty

would be graciously pleased to confer upon your Petitioner some

part of your Majesty’s house at Ffoxhall, to make a

Founding-house for your Majesty’s use and service.

“And your Petitioner (as in duty bound) shall pray, &c.”

The following is the grant above named:--

“CHARLES R.

“Our pleasure is, That WILLIAM LAMBERT, Founder for our Works at

Ffoxhall, shall and may, with his family and servants, abide in and

possess to our use, our house at Ffoxhall aforesaid, together with

the outhousing and appurtenances of the same, and there proceed in

the work as formerly he hath done, without any molestation to him or

his, until further express order from us.

“Given at our Court at Oatlands, the 20th day of August, 1647.”[V]

These documents are highly interesting, as they establish, beyond a

doubt, the Marquis’s early connection with gunnery and with water-work

operations at Vauxhall, and account for the practical character of

inventions mentioned in the “Century,” which might reasonably be

thought to be beyond the scope of a private individual.

Kaltoff died in, or before, the year 1664, and it is not unlikely,

therefore, that the Marquis countenanced Lambert’s present application.

For more on Vauxhall and Kaltoff, see Appendix G.

The Marquis of Worcester had principally in view, in this invention,

raising water for private and public purposes, and the general

draining of mines or other inundated property. Its great value was

evidently to supply cities and towns with water, and to drain mines

of their superfluous quantity. The mineral wealth of this country was

drowned treasure, until the steam engine’s powerful aid placed it

within the power of man to eject the water in greater volume than it

entered. Until the 17th century, this apparently obvious application

of the steam engine was entirely overlooked, and had Savery done

no more than impress on public notice its applicability for that

invaluable purpose, he would still deserve the highest commendations

of posterity. Many remarkable works were, no doubt, effected even with

ordinary appliances, and men do not willingly abandon the experience

of generations. We find that in the middle of the 16th century,

viz.--July 2, 1565, Wm. Humfrey wrote to Sir William Cecil, concerning

the working of copper mines; recommending an Almain engineer, who,

he represents, can raise water one hundred fathoms high, by a newly

invented engine.--Cal. State Papers, Dom. Series, 1547–1580. Edited by

R. Lemon, F.S.A., 8vo. 1856, page 254. No. 73.

That the ordinary draining of land had made no material progress in

the 17th century, we gather from the correspondence collected in

“Samuel Hartlib his Legacie: or an enlargement of the Discourse of

Husbandry,” 4to. 1651; where there is a letter written by Cressy

Dymock, in which he remarks--“I went into the Isle of Ely, to see

one of the Holland-mills, for dreyning; though set up there and kept

by certain Frenchmen. The Invention seemed to me but mean and rude,

and Mr. Wheeler’s way much more ingenious.” “I saw at Wicklesen the

manner of your Holland sluices. The ruines also of a cochlea, for the

emptying and dreining of water, of which Ubaldus hath writ a whole

treatise.”--Pages 109, 110.

The Act of Parliament, of May, 1663, states in regard to the Marquis’s

Invention, that he “hath by long and indefatigable pains and study,

and with great and vast expenses, invented and found out a Secret in

Nature, never heretofore discovered, being a Water-commanding engine,

of greater force and advantage than hitherto hath been known; and being

no pump or force now in use, nor working by any suckers, barrels,

or bellows heretofore used for the raising and conveying of water;

which said Engine will yield very great benefit and advantage to the

Commonwealth, by draining of all sorts of Mines, Marish, Oazie, or

overflown Grounds, by furnishing of Rivers and Cutts with water to make

them Navigable and Portable from Town to Town; by improving of Lands

wanting water; by the supplying and bringing in of water into the City

of London, or into any other places; and by divers other ways and means

whereby great Encouragement will be given to the People of the Nation,

to undertake to work rich Mines, to drain and gain in many Marish,

Oazie, and surrounded Grounds, which hitherto they have been deterred

to endeavour the improvements of, by reason of the vast sums of money

which must be necessarily expended by the draining and conveying away

the water out of the same. * * * * * And that a Model thereof be

delivered by the said Marquis, or his Assignes, to the Lord Treasurer,

or Commissioner for the Treasury, for the time being, at or before the

29th of September, 1663.”--See Appendix C.

We trace the early use of steam in some of the simple apparatus of

various forms, called Æolipile, to a period anterior to the Christian

era. Greece and Rome, France, Holland, and Germany, have each

contributed some instrument or other indicative of a knowledge of the

expansive property of steam, pent up in close vessels, to give slight

motions to, or force water from small delicately constructed apparatus,

designed for amusement, or at most only to occasion a strong blast for

blowing a fire, as figured in “Vitruvio de Architectura,” folio, 1521.

Some of these early stages of progress we shall further notice here.

Besson, in his folio work on Instruments and Machines, 1578, among

other contrivances shows, in plate XVIII, a cylindrical vessel,

containing a coiled spring, above which is a close fitting disc,

secured underneath to a cord, which, passing through the coiled spring,

passes out at the bottom of the vessel, by which means it can be used

to pull down the disc, so as to compress the spring, while the vessel

is being filled with water, and its cover, with a jet in the centre,

secured; on releasing the spring, we have here a piston acting from

below upwards, to produce a fountain.

[Illustration: Porta’s steam apparatus]

John Baptista Porta, in his “Spiritalia,” quarto, 1606, gives a rude

wood engraving, as here exactly represented, a metal flask-shaped

boiler, fitting the top of a small furnace, while its neck proceeds

through the bottom of a cistern of water, within which there is a

syphon on the right hand side, and an aperture at the top through which

the cistern can be refilled. By this arrangement, the steam presses on

the surface of the water, when all is closed, except the syphon, from

which the water will rush with increased velocity.

In the 16th century, motive and other Æolipile were well known, and

are described and illustrated by Vitruvius, Hero, and other early

writers. In 1606, Porta made a slight advance, and John Rovinson,

patentee of improvements in the manufacture of iron, in his “Treatise

of Metallica,” 1613, among other necessary parts of his invention,

describes the following:--“A new-devised vetible, round and hollow,

with a long spout, to be made of some mettall or potter’s earth,

wherein water being put, and the same placed on a fire, as it heateth,

and the _water evaporateth by the spout_, it maketh a _continuall

blast_ to kindle, or increase the fire in furnaces, or fire-workes,

_and may be converted to many other excellent uses_; and same may be

made in severall peeces with the top or upper part removeable at

pleasure, so as the lower part being made to stand on feet, may serrve

at pleasure for a possenet, skellet or boylatory; and when the top is

put on, and when fastened and luted, it may then serve for the ventible

to make the blast.”

In 1615, De Caus invented, or at all events published an account

of a small hot-water fountain; in 1617, Robert Fludd published his

voluminous work, “Historia Macrosmi,” containing descriptive and

engraved illustrations of the effects produced on water heated in close

flask-shaped vessels.

In 1629, Branca suggested the rotating of a wheel, acted on by a jet

of steam, as a simple kind of stamping or pounding mill. But the

author, who seems to have taken a more practical and enlightened view

of the subject, and to have considerably contributed to the Marquis’s

enthusiasm, was John Bate, who, in 1634 and 1635, published editions of

his “Mysteries of Nature and Art.” His treatise, “The first Booke of

Water-workes,” contains, as stated at the commencement, “Experiments of

drawing water by the crane (syphon), and by engines; of forcing water

by ayre compressed, and by engines; of producing sounds by ayre and

water; by _evaporation of water by fire_, and by engines; of _motions

by evaporating water_, and by rarifying ayre.”

[Illustration: A blowing Æolipile]

Among his “Experiments of producing sounds by evaporation of water by

ayer,” the following is given:--“Prepare a round vessell of brasse, or

lattin, having a crooked pipe or necke, whereunto fasten a pipe: put

this vessell upon a trevet over the fire, and it will make a shrill

whistling noyse.”--Page 27.

He figures a blow-pipe for glass-working, as in the annexed

engraving, which he thus describes:--

[Illustration: A steam blow-pipe]

“Let there be a vessell of copper about the bignesse of a common

foot-ball, as A; let it have a long pipe at the top as D, which must

be made so that you may upon occasion screw on lesser, or bigger vents

made for the purpose. Fill this one-third part with water, and set it

over a furnace of coals, as E, G, H, I, and when the water beginneth to

heat, there will come a strong breath out of the nose of the vessel,

that will force the flame of a lampe placed at a convenient distance as

K.”--Page 158.

[Illustration: A fire-blowing Æolipile]

Sir Hugh Plat, in his “Jewel House of Art and Nature,” 1594, gives an

account of the ordinary fire-blowing Æolipile. He says:--“A round ball

of copper or lattin, that will blow the fire very strongly, only by the

attenuation of water into air; which device will also serve to perfume

with.--A round ball of copper or lattin, of the bigness of a small

bowl--a round pipe or neck, of 3 or 4 inches in length, less than a

goose quill--and an elbow of a less pipe no bigger than a straw, whose

vent in the end must be no bigger than a pinhole.” “Heat the same well

in the fire, and then put it into a vessel of cold water, and it will

suck some of the water into it, you may heat the same so often, till by

the peize (poise?) thereof you may be assured that it is more than half

full. Then set this ball on a few glowing coals, and you shall find

the same to give a very strong blast.... I make no question but that

the same may be made so large as that they will blow one whole hour

together without any intermission.”--Page 25.

In the second edition of Dr. French’s “Art of Destillation,” 1653,

page 150, he describes the “Philosophicall Bellowes:” one is to blow a

furnace fire; another a candle, serving as a blow-pipe; and the third

for a common fire. He notes “that these kind of vessels must be made of

copper, and be exceedingly well closed, that they may have no vent but

at their noses.” He recommends, in preparing them for use, that “you

must first heat them very hot, then put the noses thereof (which must

have a very small hole in them, no bigger than a pin’s head may go in)

into a vessel of cold water, and they will presently suck in the water,

of which being then full turne the noses thereof towards the candle or

fire which you would have blown.”

The third figure, instead of being a copper ball is formed like the

human face, and is held by a long stick or handle attached to the

back. It is represented and described by Schwenteri, in his “Deliciæ

Physico-Mathematicæ,” 1638, along with two tubulated balls for similar

use.

Such then were the suggestions the Marquis had before him to excite his

experimental inquiries, independent of other sources. But whatever he

may have known on the subject of these applications of steam, however

much he may have experimented on them, there are two things, of

which no one has yet given him the credit of possessing any knowledge

whatever, the one is, condensation; the other, a piston. How the

Marquis of Worcester could have been experimenting at the cost of

£50,000, and upwards, at Vauxhall, and been occupied in this particular

class of experiments during a large portion of thirty-eight years,

in perfect ignorance that cold water will condense steam, is past

all comprehension. Nay, such ignorance would be a greater matter of

surprise, than the exhibition of his utmost ingenuity in the mechanical

contrivances connected with his engine. Condensation was no mystery.

Every work on distillation spoke on the subject, and supplied the forms

of refrigeratory worms, and refrigerating heads for alembics. His very

allusion to the strength of his vessels must have had reference, first

to internal distension, as well as to collapse from external pressure.

John Bate, in his first book, “Of Water Works,” describes a kind of

weather glass, which he calls, “the moveable perpendicular glass;” for

the construction of which his directions are--“First prepare the glass

A, B, fill it almost top full of water, provide also the glass K, L,

having a loop at the top of it: divide it into so many equal parts as

you would have degrees, and on the mouth thereof fasten a thin board,

that will easily slip in and out of the bottom glass; make then a

weight of lead or brass somewhat heavier than both the glass and board

fastened thereunto; and then tie a little rope to the loop of the

glass A, B, and the weight at the other end thereof. _Rarifie_ the air

contained in the glass L, and reverse it into the glass A, B, filled

with water, and hang the plummet over two little pulleys fastened in a

frame made for the purpose; and as the glass K, L, _cooleth_, the water

will ascend the same, and so by the change of the outward both the

glass and water will move accordingly.”--Pages 42–43.

[Illustration: A weather glass]

From all that has been advanced, an impartial reader must feel

satisfied that there existed abundant sources of popular information,

highly suggestive to such an inquisitive and inventive mind as the

Marquis possessed. Van Etten mentions the filling of a cannon with

water, the plugging it up, and exploding it by the action of fire

applied to its trunnion. And here John Bate suggests an experimental

apparatus on a small scale, which the Marquis would be almost certain

to test, and in so doing to vary the construction and application.

_Rarefaction_ too is here recommended; and the effect of _cooling_ or

condensation is particularly noted, the stated result being, “_the

water will ascend_.” We can readily imagine the Marquis varying such an

experiment with infinite delight, and modifying and enlarging it to

produce some practical application.

In considering these minuter points, we must never lose sight of the

extraordinary perseverance shown by the Marquis throughout a long life,

in conducting and varying his experimental inquiries. It was the one

pursuit of a studious life-time, the heaviest source of expenditure in

his private disbursements. Perhaps we should be very much under the

mark in saying that he must have expended above a hundred thousand

pounds in experiments alone; which would be represented by nearly

ten times that amount in our day. And not only was this outlay very

great, but he had for above thirty-five years kept his workman, Caspar

Kaltoff, constantly engaged on his models and on practical trials of

his variously constructed inventions.

The Act for his Water-commanding Engine received the Royal assent in

June, 1663, and the same year he published his “Century of Inventions”

(as here reprinted); a pamphlet was next issued, with no other title

than the following heading at the top of the first page--“An exact

and true definition of the most stupendous Water-commanding Engine,

invented by the Right Honourable (and deservedly to be praised and

admired) Edward Somerset, Lord Marquess of Worcester, and by his

Lordship himself presented to His most Excellent Majesty, Charles the

Second, our most gracious Sovereign.”--See Appendix C.

This pamphlet appears to have had some connection with means for

giving publicity to the formation of a public company for carrying out

the great design on a sufficiently large and remunerative scale. The

author, or editor, was James Rollock, who here flourishes in a poetical

vein, observing, “After the Act of Parliament, there is here set down

a Latin Elogium, and an English Panegirick, both of them composed

through duty and gratitude _by an ancient servant of his Lordship’s_.”

He afterwards adds: “This ancient servant of his Lordship’s, hath for

forty years been an eye witness of his great ingenuity, indefatigable

pains, and vast expences in perfecting for publique service, not

onely this most Stupendious Water-commanding Engine, but likewise

several other rare, useful, and never formerly heard of Mathematical

conclusions, of which he hath owned a Century, and thereunto I refer

you: though this alone were enough to eternalize his Name to all Ages

and future times.”

The “Definition” given in the pamphlet agrees with that which has

already appeared in the “Life, Times, &c.,” pages 224, 225, from

another source, and is here stated as follows:--

“The Engine consisteth of the following Particulars;

“1. A perfect Counterpoize for what Quantity soever of Water.

“2. A perfect Countervail for what Height soever it is to be brought

unto.

“3. A _Primum Mobile_ commanding both Height and Quantity

Regulator-wise.

“4. A Vicegerent or Countervail supplying the place, and performing

the full force of a Man, Wind, Beast, or Mill.

“5. A Helm or Stern, with Bitt and Reins, wherewith any Child may

guide, order, and control the whole Operation.

“6. A particular Magazine for Water, according to the intended

Quantity or Height of Water.

“7. An Aquaduct capable of any intended Quantity or Height of Water.

“8. A place for the Original Fountain or even river to run into, and

naturally of its own accord incorporate itself with the rising

Water, and at the very bottom of the same Aquaduct, though never

so big or high.”

We cannot do otherwise than consider that the articles, Nos. 68, 98,

and 100, refer to descriptions of the several parts of his remarkable

steam engine. In No. 68, we have the two vessels, with two cocks,

connected with a furnace, and so arranged that “one vessel of water

being consumed, another begins to force and refil with cold water.” In

No. 98, we have intimation of “the _primum mobile_,” forming the 3rd

division of the particulars enumerated above; being some portion of the

engine capable of every variety of movement. And in No. 100, we have

no mechanical suggestions, but in their place a bare enumeration of

results, and of advantages to be derived from the employment of such

engines.

What then are we to understand by the preceding list of particulars?

“1. A perfect _counterpoise_,” would suggest that the Marquis had

contrived a complete system of pumping; “2. A perfect _countervail_,”

appears to be only a different kind of counterpoise, as though the

one were derived from weight, and the other from the action of the

steam; 4. “A vicegerent,” may be the force or piston; 5. “A helm or

stem, with bit and reins,” can hardly be mistaken for any other than

levers, acting on valves, and in some positions connected with chains

running over guide pulleys; while the parts 6, 7, and 8, refer wholly

to reservoirs, cisterns, and other external arrangements. But this

statement is simply made to remind the reader that the Marquis’s

Engine was not so entirely simple in its construction as to consist

only of a boiler and receiver, and to depend wholly on the effect

of the direct action of steam on a large surface of cold water, as

generally intimated. It is usual entirely to set aside this full and

clear statement of details. So indefinitely has the Marquis’s claim

hitherto been stated, that it is always assumed, that while using this

early steam engine, he was quite unacquainted with condensation; or,

at least, with any mode of employing it to produce a useful effect.

On the other hand, it is not only more rational to suppose that he

could not be otherwise than fully acquainted with it, but that, having

ascertained its various results, he finally succeeded in employing

condensation to produce a vacuum for refilling his vessels, and for

giving motion to a force or piston. Indeed, we find in the foregoing

statement--“6. A _particular_ Magazine for Water, according to the

intended _quantity_ or _Height_ of Water.” A _particular_ Magazine,

one for a special purpose, for which it was particular to have

such a supply; and for size, form, and situation, it had reference

“to the quantity and height of water,” for a small cistern would

supply sufficient water for condensation, but a larger cistern would

be required in proportion to more extended service. Then, “7. An

Aqueduct,” might be the vertical main pipe; and “8. A place for the

original fountain,” peculiarly arranged reservoirs, with suitable

valves, floats, &c.

Uniting his several descriptions, we readily make out a construction of

apparatus answering many of the conditions he has stated, as shown in

the engraving[W] on the opposite page from a sectional drawing designed

by the author.

[Illustration: The Marquis of Worcester’s Engine]

[W] DESCRIPTION OF THE ENGRAVING.

A, A' Two cold water vessels, connected by--

B, B'--the steam pipe, with--

C, the Boiler, set in--

D, the furnace. The cold water vessels A A', also are connected with--

E, the vertical water pipe by means of--

F, F', continuations of the same pipe conducted into and nearly

touching the bottom of each vessel A, A'.

G, G', are two water supply pipes, with valves _a_, _a'_, dipping into--

H, the well. It is obvious that by uniting these pipes, and placing the

valves in the upper bend of each, it would be sufficient for a single

pipe to dip into the water to be raised.

On the steam pipe B B' is--

_b_, a four-way steam cock, operated by--

_b'_, its lever handle; and on the horizontal portion of the water pipe

F F', is--

_c_, a four-way water cock, operated by--

_c'_, its lever handle.

*.* The four-way cock is figured and described as early as 1618, by

Robert Fludd, in “Historia Macrosmi,” folio, page 467.

* * * * *

In the “Life, Times, &c.,” page 20, we have a view of the deep

grooves cut in that side of the Citadel of Raglan Castle, on which

the Marquis of Worcester’s Water-works were situated. The grooves

would admit the insertion of pipes of about one foot external

diameter, either round, or square, and they would carry water nearly

twenty-five feet high. In the early use of his engine, he may have

forced the water direct from the boiler, or by the using of an

independent boiler, as employed by Porta, in 1606; but either way,

the arrangement of his Raglan works would seem to have been that of

employing a main vertical pipe for each boiler or receiver, instead

of each receiver being connected with a four-way cock with one

vertical pipe, or “aquaduct.”

With these observations we close our comments on the various articles

of the “Century,” after having supplied a mass of most important

references to contemporary and earlier scientific authors; as well as

offered several entirely new solutions; and reduced the problematical

character of this singularly interesting work to one only, being No.

56, which alone remains open to the charge of being a paradox.

Footnotes

[A] See, at page 263, M. Sorbière’s enumeration of inventions

considered exceedingly curious in 1663.

[B] A letter from lord Herbert, to Mon. Grubendol, London. MSS.

in the Library of the Royal Society. His Lordship alludes to

M. Grollier de Servière’s Cabinet, of which a Catalogue was

published at Lyon, 1719.

[C] The Life of the Rt. Hon. Francis North, Baron of Guilford,

Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, under King Charles II, and

King James II. By the Hon. Roger North. 2nd ed. 2 vols. 8vo.

1808. Vol. 2, p. 251.

[D] See page 223.

[E] Appendix A.

[F] See Appendix B.

[G] The Marquis, in the 19th article of the “Century,” twice alludes

to “_a child_;” and patenting his invention, which applied to

Coaches, he introduces the expression in the 3rd article of his

patent of 1661:--“a _child_ of six years old may secure from

danger all in the coach,” and “the _child_ being able” to loosen

the horses.

[H] See page 302.

[I] We meet with the following singular passages recorded by his

biographer, as introductory to the Inventions of James Watt, in

the second edition of his Life, 1859. At page 145, it is

remarked:--

“When we consider the whole of the contrivances invented by Savery,

as described by himself in ‘The Miner’s Friend,’ we cannot but accord

to him the praise of very great ingenuity, independent of the merit

of having made THE FIRST WORKING STEAM ENGINE, (if he was not

preceded in that by the Marquis of Worcester); but, at all events, of

having been the first who introduced it into use.”

We give this passage as printed, and proceed to the next, at page

156, which is not recorded either in the Contents or Index, only

distinguishing certain words:--

“We think it right to add that the language used by Savery in his

‘Miner’s Friend,’ in treating of the advantages, whether ascertained

or prospective, of his invention, presents a strong contrast, in point

of plainness, simplicity, and modesty, to the more high-flown phrases

in which the Marquis of Worcester _magnifies_ the performances of

his ‘semi-omnipotent’ engine. Savery was evidently a practical man,

possessed of great [1] common sense as well as of [2] ingenuity; and

although it would _probably_ be wrong to deny to Lord Worcester the

possession of a good deal of the _second_ of those qualities, it may

_well be doubted_ how far he is entitled to the claim of any very

considerable share of the _first_” [common sense]!

We believe that the author of this strange composition is a Scotch

Advocate of some standing; now it is far from being the character of

the legal profession, as a body, to commit to paper such reckless

reproach of even the dead; but assuredly it does not require the

caution induced by a knowledge of common law to point out the propriety

of treating with respect the memory of a man of high birth and

untainted reputation, such as was the Marquis of Worcester. But this is

not all, we are introduced to a “FIRST ENGINE,” at the risk

of a second “first,” as declared by the same pen! And without fear

of contradiction we say the last should be first, and the first last

in this category.

[J] From the Lansdown MSS. 121. See also Letters Illustrative

of Science. Edited by J. O. Halliwell, F.R.S. &c. 8vo. 1841.

[K] Among the Additional Manuscripts in the British Museum occurs

No. 6176, a MS. volume, containing at folio 16, _b_, a

“Certificate of the Armory in the Tower,” signed among others by

“W. Balfour,” Lieutenant of the Tower, “17th Dec. 1640.”

[L] Almain engineers seem to have been in much repute.

[M] The original drawing is preserved in the archives of the Royal

Society, coarsely executed on paper, measuring 24 by 27 inches.

[N] Savery is supposed to have died in 1715, but no particulars are

on record respecting his death and burial.

[O] His address “To the Gentlemen Adventurers in the Mines of

England,” is dated “London, Sep. 22, 1701.”

[P] See Appendix G.

[Q] On the contrary, he expressly declares he had never seen such an

engine.--H. D.

[R] The Harleian MS. “Century” has for Article No. 88, “A Stamping

Engine,” in lieu of the “Brazen Head.” Mr. Partington alters

this to “A Coining Engine.”

[S] See Appendix C.

[T] The following concluding part of the MS., added as a postscript,

does not appear in the 1st edition, 1663:--“Besides many omitted,

and some of three sorts willingly not set down, as not fit to be

divulged, least ill use may be made thereof; but to show that

such things are also within my knowledge, I will here in myne

owne cypher set down at least one of each, not to be concealed

where duty, and affection obligeth me.”

[U] This Petition is calendared under the date “1665?” but probably

belongs to 1664.

[V] Cal. State Papers, Dom. Series, 1665–6. Edited by Mary A. E.

Green, 8vo. 1664, p. 153. No. 138, and No. 138, i.

[Illustration]

ADDENDA.

No. 5. _Cipher writing._ At Page 398, reference is made to a Cipher

letter, engraved in “The Life,” at page 180. It was written by the

Marquis, as now appears, at Dublin, the 29th of September, 1645. The

author having made out the character, is able to supply the following

key, or alphabet.[A]

[Illustration: The Marquis of Worcester’s Cipher Alphabet]

Curiously enough it is the document given at page 139, so that Carte

must have obtained a deciphered copy as well. But the words, “the King

of the assent,” should be “the King of his assent.” The words, “towards

your Excellency” (in the 10th line) are not in the original. Also the

words, “And my intention was ever to acquaint your Honour herewith,”

should be “and mine intent was ever to acquaint you herewith.” There is

no signature to the original, but the written direction shows it was

from the Earl of Glamorgan.

We have now authentic proof of the construction and character of at

least one Cipher method of writing adopted by the Marquis, eighteen

years prior to the publication of the “Century.”

[Illustration: Construction of a water-screw]

No. 53. _An hollowing of a water-screw._ A slight addition to the

comment on this article will be easily understood by reference to the

adjoining three figures, and probably throw some light on what the

Marquis may have actually intended. Being desirous to construct a

model screw, some years ago, the author designed the following method

of making one of tin or zinc, which may be easily shown by cutting

out the same in thin pasteboard. Form a number of discs of thin metal

like No. 1, say three inches diameter, with a hole in the centre one

inch diameter, and the metal cut through at A. Rivet, solder, or

otherwise fasten them together, commencing by placing No. 2 on No.

1; now secure the cut edge of A, to the similar edge of _b_, and so

on in succession, until a sufficient pile is obtained. They may now

be extended to form a screw, as in No. 3, of any desired pitch. The

minuter details of construction will be obvious to any clever artizan.

APPENDIX A.

[The following is from Birch’s MSS. in the British Museum, No.

4459; and portions have been quoted in the Commentary, under each

article of invention named herein.]

INVENTIONS OF YE E’ARLE OE WORCESTR.

The Qvint E’ssence of Motion, or a C’ollection of all kinds of

Movements, to wit, C’ircular, to & fro; Perpendicular, upwards &

downewards; side motions, to ye right & left; straight Motions,

forewards & backwards with a Circular Vehiculum, to wch any of these,

may bee applicable or moveable to all ye points of ye C’ompasse: At

each of wch, it will bee as powerfull as if it were fixt to one place

or Center.

All & every of these, by hight of Art, Industry, & Experimt working

ye same Individuall & Intrinsecall effect, without disturbance one to

ye other: & yet by these absolutely contrary Motions soe perform’d,

most strange & incredible E’ffects may bee brought to passe, to ye

Admiration even of ye greatest Mathematicians.

The knowledge of these things, rendring all things as feacible to him,

yt is Master of this Art, as it is to make a C’ircle with a paire of

C’ompasses, or a straight line, wth a sqvare or Ruler. They beeing

a direct abstract of Arithmetick, contrived by mee. And by ye power

of those, I have perfected these following Conclusions, wth some

hundreds besides all experimented by mee.

(1) I can render an ordinary Watch, wch beeing once wound up, will goe

constantly, during a Mans life, beeing vsed but once in 24. houres, &

(though oftner look’t on:) it is still ye same, & though not look’t on

for a weeke, still ye same, if not bruised.

(2) By this I can make a Vessel of as great burthen, as ye River can

beare, to goe agt ye streame, wch ye more rapid it is, ye faster it

shall advance, & ye moveable part yt workes it, may bee by one man

still guided, to take ye best advantage of ye streame, & yet to steer

the boat to any point. And this E’ngine is applicable to any Vessell or

Boate, whatsoever; without being therefore made on purpose; And worketh

these effects. It roweth, it draweth, it driveth (:if need bee:) to

passe London bridge agt ye streame at low water: And a boate lying at

Anchor, the E’ngine may be used for loading or vnloading.

(3) By this I can make an Artificiall Bird to fly wch way & as long

as I please.

(4) By these I can make a ball of S’ilver or G’old wch throwne into a

pale or poole of Water, shall rise againe to ye perfect houre of any

day or night: The superficies of ye Water shall still show the houre

distinctly, even ye minutes, if I please.

(5) By this I can make a C’hilde in a C’oach, to stop ye horses

(run̄ing away) & shall be able to secure hims. & those yt bee in

ye C’oach, having a little E’ngine placed therein, wch shall not bee

perceived in what posture soever ye horses draw: a C’hildes force

shall bee able, to disengage them, from overturning ye C’oach or

prejudicing any body in it.

(6) By these I can make one pound raise an hundred, as high as ye

one pound falls, & ye one pound taken off ye 112lb shall againe

descend, performing ye entire effect of an hundred waight (i.e.) have

yt force wch nothing lesse, then 112lb can have any other way. An

incredible effect till seene, but true as strange.

(7) By these a C’hilde shall raise as much water 100 foot high

(speaking within C’ompasse) as 6. horses can force vp any other way.

(8) By these I can stop any other Mans Motion, & render it Null, since

from any point of ye C’ompasse, I can forceably & effectually cause a

counterbuffe or absolute obstruction of such Motion, wch way I please

all wayes, beeing indifferent to mee to worke a perfect resistance, &

to countermine their Intentions, or to force their Motions a cleane

contrary way.

The 9 was left out in ye Original C’opy. (9)

S’oe here yu have 9 figures represented, wch in Arithmetick, make all

numbers imaginable, soe by ye helpe of these Motions, noe Manufacture,

but may be demonstrated exqvisitely & demonstrably & with great ease

and facility. And noe Conclusion in ye Mathematicks or Mechanicks, but

may by these bee brought to passe in great perfection & to admiration.

Yet as ye most excellent tooles cannot worke alone; nor any C’ymeter

is soe sharp to cut wthout an arme to guide it. S’oe without

Knowledge, Art, & Ingenuitie, these are fruitlesse. But being set to

worke by one of noe more Knowledge then myselfe, am capable off, they

will performe wt is here asserted & more then I could write, from one

end off ye yeare to ye other.

(_Note._--No. 9 is here stated to be left out, but may not the first

named, or “Quintessence of Motion,” be No. 1, so making up Nine in

all? [See pp. 530, 531.] In the next line the copyist has first

written 8 and then altered it to 9, to accord with the sense of the

passage.)

APPENDIX B.

[ABRIDGED FROM THE PRINTED SPECIFICATIONS OF THE PATENT

OFFICE.]

MARQUIS OF WORCESTER’s PATENT.--SIGNET BILL.

A.D. 1661. . . . NO. 131.

Clocks, Guns, Carriages, Boats, &c.

CHARLES R.

CHARLES THE SECOND, by the grace of God, &c., to all to whom

these presents shall come greeting.

WHEREAS our right trusty and entirely beloved couzin EDWARD,

Marquesse of WORCESTER hath for many yeares applied his thoughts and

studies, and hath beene at very great charges, to contrive and

perfect divers rare and new Invenc̃ons, contenting himselfe with the

good and advantage which will redound to the publique and to every

particuler industrious workman or curious persons who shall make vse

of the said Invenc̃ons, the products of his extraordinary expences

and ingenuity: And whereas, amongst other vsefull and new Invenc̃ons

of farr greater consequence, the said Marquesse hath found out and

experimented these severall new Invenc̃ons herein-after perticularly

menc̃oned (that is to say)--

“1. To make a watch or clock without string or chaine, or any other

kind of winding up but what of necessity must follow if the owner or

keeper of the said watch or clock will know the hour of day or night;

and yet if he lay it aside several days and weeks without looking or

meddling with it, it shall go very well, and as justly as most watches

that ever were made.

2. And also an Invention to make certain guns or pistols, which in the

tenth part of one minute of an hour may, with a flaske contrived to

that purpose, be recharged, the fourth part of one turne of the barrel,

which remains still fixt, fastening it as forceably and effectually

as a dozen threads of any screw, which in the ordinary and usual way

require as many turns.

3. Also an Invention to make an engine applicable to any coach, by

which a child of six years old may secure from danger all in the coach,

and even the coachman himself, though the horses become never so

unruly, the child being able in the twinckleing of an eye to loosen

them from the coach, in what posture soever they draw or turne, be it

ever so short, or to either hand.

4. Lastly, an Invention to make a boat that roweth, draweth, or setteth

even against wind or stream, yea, both, and to any part of the compass

which way soever the streame runs or wind blows, and yet the force of

the wind or streame causeth its motion, nothing being required but a

steersman, and whilst the boat stayeth to be loaded or unloaded, the

streame or wind shall perform such work as any water mill or wind mill

is capable of.”

All which new Invenc̃ons being of publique vse and benefitt if the

same were put in practice, and the lawes of England haveing especially

provided for the incouragement of such as are the first authors and

inventors of profittable and ingenious Invenc̃ons.

KNOW YEE, that wee, of our especiall grace, certaine knowledge, and

meere moc̃on doe for vs, our heires and successors, give and grant

vnto the said Edward, Marquesse of Worcester, his executors,

administrators, assignee, and assignes, full power, licence, liberty,

priviledge, and authoritye, that hee, they, and every of them, by

themselves or his or their deputy and deputies, servants, agents, and

workmen, or any of them, from tyme to tyme, and at all tymes

hereafter dureing the terme of yeares hereafter in these presents

expressed, shall and may vse, exercise, and imploy all and every or

any of the aforesaid Invenc̃ons, before in and by there presents

perticulerly described, in such manner as to him, them, or any of

them, in his and their best judgments and discrecc̃ons, shall seeme

meete, &c., &c.

May it please yor most excellent Majestie.

Yor Majtie is hereby graciously pleased to grant vnto Edward,

Marquesse of Worcester the sole vse and exercise of his severall new

Invenc̃ons concerning watches or clocks, guns or pistolls,

coaches, and boates, for fourteene yeares according to the forme of the

Statute in that behalfe made and provided, and with such other clauses

as are vsuall in grants of like nature.

Signified to be yor Majesties pleasure vnder yor royall signe

manuall.

T. PALMER,

15 Nov. 1661.

[Record mutilated.]

APPENDIX C.

WATER-COMMANDING ENGINE, ACT, ETC.

[From page 559 to 567, is the reprint of a rare quarto tract of

22 pages, of which there is a copy in the library of his Grace

the Duke of Beaufort; and another in the British Museum, C. 31.

d. 1.]

An exact and true Definition of the most Stupendious

Water-commanding Engine, invented by the Right Honourable (and

deservedly to be praised and admired) _Edward Somerset_, Lord

Marquess of _Worcester_, and by his Lordship himself presented to

his most Excellent Majesty _Charles_ the Second, our most

gracious Sovereign.

An Act of Parliament thereupon granted, with great applause of both

Houses, being through his Majesties particular favour passed, by

special Commission to the Right Honourable the Earl of _Clarendon_,

Lord High Chancellour of _England_; the Earl of _Southampton_, Lord

High Treasurer; the Lord _Roberts_, Lord Privy Seal, third Officer of

the Crown, preceding all Dukes, not of the Blood Royal; the Duke of

_Albemarle_ his Grace, most deservedly by his transcendent merits never

to be forgotten, Lord General of his Majesties Land-forces; the Lord

Marquess of _Dorchester_, and the Earl _Lynsey_, Lord High Chamberlain,

by his place preceding all Earls, both likewise of the Privy Council:

They passed the said Act upon the third of _June_, 1663. For the more

expedition, and in Testimony of the great consequence thereof to the

King and Kingdom.

His most Excellent Majesty having the tenth part, without deducting

of Charges, freely given him by the said Lord Marquess, and there

evidently accruing a considerable Profit and Benefit to every

individual Subject of the whole Nation, if he either have surrounded

Marish-ground to drein, or dry Land to improve; Commodities to sell

portable from Town to Town, and through the Countrys to the Towns by

Cuts thus fed by water; or if he have (I further say) Mines wherewith

to enrich himself withall, Houses to be served, or Gardens to be

beautified by plentiful Fountains with little charge, yet certain

in ever so dry a Summer: and there being indeed no place but either

wanteth water, or is overburdened therewith, and by this Engine either

defect is remediable, that is to say, water necessary to man-kind,

furnished with the pleasantness thereof, procured, and the water

unnecessary, as easily rejected.

Thus whole Cities may be kept Clean, Delightful and Wholesome, needing

no other Scavengery then by means thereof to void their dirt, and avoid

noisomness, the Cause of Infection, Sicknesses, and Contagion it self,

by Stenches commonly ingendring and fomenting the same.

After the Act of Parliament, there is here set down a Latin _Elogium_,

& an English _Panegirick_, both of them composed through duty and

gratitude by an Antient Servant of his Lordships, presuming to begin

the way to the greatest Wits and Poets to dilate upon so plentiful and

admirable a Theam, and so deserving a person of King and Kingdom, and

of all that ever knew him.

This Antient Servant of his Lordships, hath for forty years been an eye

witness of his great ingenuity, indefatigable pains, and vaste expences

in perfecting for publique service, not onely this most Stupendious

Water-commanding Engine, but likewise several other rare, useful, and

never formerly heard of Mathematical Conclusions, of which he hath

owned a Century, and thereunto I refer you: though this alone were

enough to eternalize his Name to all Ages and future times.

I think it not amiss to give further notice in his Lordships behalf,

that he intends within a moneth or two to erect an Office, and to

intrust some very responsible and honourable persons with power to

Treat and Conclude with such as desire at a reasonable rate to reap the

benefit of the same Water-commanding Engine, in any of the aforesaid

useful and beneficial operations, whereof his Majesty is to reap the

first fruit; and then the whole Kingdom in general, before his Lordship

is re-imbursed, and his reward beginneth; whose laudable inventions

Almighty God prosper with blessings on earth, and reward in heaven.

MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN,

The same individual Definition of my Water-work, which I formerly

presumed to put into Your Royal Hands, I again adventure to present to

Your Majesty; praying Your Belief of it, as Your Majesty shall find it

true by comparing it with the real Effect; which, if found punctually

agreeing, Vouchsafe then not to be apt hereafter to lend a believing

Ear to such persons, as Malice causeth to detract from, or Ignorance

to slight what shall (though never so seemingly strange) be averr’d by

me, who will never be convinced of a Falshood in Word or Deed towards

Your Sacred Majesty; before whom I shall ever speak as in the presence

of Almighty God, whose Vicegerent on Earth I deem You: And to Your

Majesties transcentdent Judgment I submit all, and will presume to

subscribe my self,

Sir,

_Your Sacred Majesties_

_Faithfully-Devoted and passionately-_

_Affected, Useful, if cherished,_

_Subject and Servant_, WORCESTER.

_A Stupendious or a Water-Commanding Engine, boundless for Height, or

Quantity, requiring no External, nor even Additional help, or force to

be set, or continued in motion, but what intrinsecally is afforded from

its own Operation, nor yet the twentieth part thereof: And the Engine

consisteth of the following Particulars_;--

1. A perfect Counterpoize for what Quantity soever of Water.

2. A perfect Countervail for what Height soever it is to be brought

unto.

3. A _Primum Mobile_ commanding both Height and Quantity

Regulator-wise.

4. A Vicegerent or Countervail supplying the place, and performing the

full force of a Man, Wind, Beast, or Mill.

5. A Helm or Stern, with Bitt and Reins, wherewith any Child may

guide, order, and controul the whole Operation.

6. A particular Magazine for Water, according to the intended Quantity

or Height of Water.

7. An Aquaduct capable of any intended Quantity or Height of Water.

8. A place for the Original Fountain or even River to run into, and

naturally of its own accord incorporate it self with the rising Water,

and at the very bottom of the same Aquaduct, though never so big or

high.

_By Divine Providence, and Heavenly Inspiration, this is my

Stupendious Water-commanding Engine, boundless for Height and

Quantity._

Whosoever is Master of Weight,

Is Master of Force;

Whosoever is Master of Water,

Is Master of both:

And consequently, to him all Forceable Actions and Atchievments are

easie, which are in any wise beneficial to or for Mankind.

_Exegi Monumentum ære perennius,_

_Regalíque situ Pyramidum altius;_

_Quod non imber edax, non Aquilo impotens,_

_Possit diruere, aut innumerabilis_ Horace.

_Annorum series, & fuga temporum:_

_Non omnis moriar, multáque pars mei_

_Vitabit Libitinam,_

_dum stabit Anglia._ Capitolium.

Reader observe, This tells us how to keep

Our morning-Thoughts awake, while others sleep:

’Tis Art and Nature’s product, scan’d by some:

Judge of it by th’ Effects, then give your doom.

_To God alone be all Praise, Honour and Glory, for ever

and ever._ Amen.

WORCESTER.[B]

AN ACT to Enable _Edward_ Marquess of _Worcester_ to Receive the

Benefit and Profit of a Water-Commanding Engine by him Invented;

One Tenth part whereof is appropriated for the Benefit of the

Kings Majesty, His Heirs and Successors.[C]

The Life, Times, and Scientific Labours of the Second Marquis of Worcester To which is added a reprint of his Century of Inventions, 1663, with a Commentary thereon. · 第 20 / 22 章

“A, is the furnace; B, the boiler; C, two cocks which convey the