If this engine answers the expectations of the inventor, (and we believe no one can assign a reason why it should not,) it is destined to produce the greatest revolution in the commercial and mechanical interests which the world has ever witnessed. We may consider the period as commencing when machinery in general will be propelled by power concentrated upon the plan of this engine; when the vessels of all commercial nations will be guided to their point of destination and urged forward in their course by the same agent, triumphantly contending against winds and tides, with the silent sublimity of unseen but irresistible power. The prophetic ken of science is happily exhibited by Dr. Lardner, in his treatise on the Steam Engine. His far-seeing genius seems to have anticipated the invention of which we are speaking. " Philosophy," said he, "already directs her finger at sources of inexhaustible power in the phenomena of electricity and magnetism, and many causes combine to justify the expectation that we are on the eve of mechanical discoveries still greater than any which have yet appeared; and that the steam engine itself, with the gigantic powers conferred upon it by the immortal Watt, will dwindle into insignificance in comparison with the hidden powers of nature still to be revealed, and that the day will come when that machine, which is now extending the blessings of civilization to the most remote skirts of the globe, will cease to have existence except in the page of history." From the integrity, perseverance, and mechanical skill of Ransom Cook, Esq. who has himself made an important invention in this engine, and has undertaken to bring the same into use, we anticipate a speedy introduction of its merits to the public. It is hoped that he may prove a second Livingston to another Fulton. He is about to depart for our large cities, in some of which he contemplates the erection of powers for mechanical purposes. Several individuals, agents of Messrs. Davenport & Cook, are also departing with models to secure letters patent in the different countries in Europe and South America, [From the New-York Herald, April 27, 1837.] A REVOLUTION IN PHILOSOPHY; DAWN OF A NEW CIVILIZATION. We mentioned slightly, the other day, a few particulars, descriptive of the electro-magnetic machine now preparing for exhibition in this city. We shall now go a little deeper into this most extraordinary discovery - probably the greatest of ancient and modern times - the greatest the world has ever seen the greatest the world will ever see. Some months ago a notice of the discovery was published in a Saratoga paper. It did not create much attention. Many of the ignorant and impudent pretenders of the day, who assume to control public opinion, laughed and ridiculed the idea of an electro-magnetic machine. We saw the notice at the time in the Saratoga paper - read it - perceived at once its principle and probability - and republished it. We have since seen and examined the machine, or rather several machines, and must be permitted to say, that it far exceeds our most sanguine expectations, in originality, power, simplicity, and magnitude. In February last, Mr. Davenport took out a patent. He has since exhibited his machine to Professor Silliman of NewHaven, who has pronounced an opinion entirely in its favour. It is difficult to describe its operations so as to be understood by the general reader. The machine now in this city, consists of two parts - the galvanic apparatus and the magnetic. The galvanic apparatus consists of the usual galvanic trough or jar, with the convolutions of copper and zinc plates, immersed in acidulated water, and united at the top with galvanic conductors. The voltaic pile or battery was formerly used in galvanic experiments - but the trough is now generally the mode of generating the mysterious fluid. The next branch of the apparatus is the magnetic wheel. This is formed of several magnets of a semicircular form, surrounding a wheel of a singular form, that has to be seen to be understood. The simple application of the conductors of the galvanic trough to the conductors of the magnetic horizontal wheel, at once sets the apparatus in motion. This motion is produced by the invisible power of electricity or galvanism acting on the magnets by a certain arrangement of the parts. A child can set it agoing or stop its motion. It only requires a simple contact of the conductors to bring the power into action - and to stop the whole, the removal of these conductors is sufficient. The only waste of material is in the plates of zinc, which, by the action of the acidulated water, slowly corrodes. Its power is immense. A small galvanic trough of ten inches deep and six inches diameter, with the alternate convolutions of zinc and copper, immersed in the acid, will generate galvanic power enough to set the magnetic wheel of six inches in motion, equal to raise a weight of twenty-eight pounds. A larger trough, which I tried by a heavy weight, generated 400 pounds resistance or energy. The calculation is, that a galvanic, or, as it is called, an electro-magnetic engine, constructed on this principle, will cost only one-tenth the expense of steam power, and only occupy one half of the space. There can be no doubt, in our mind, but the days of steam power, and animal power, and water power, are gone for ever. This is no idle vision - no fancy's sketch. Messrs. Davenport and Cook are now busy constructing a larger machine than the present one they have, for the purpose of demonstrating to the community the great importance and truth of their truly magnificent discovery. We are in the commencement of a revolution in philosophy, science, art, and civilization. The occult and mysterious principle of galvanism is now beginning to be developed in all its magnificence and energy. All the phenomena of nature, our Vermont Newton believes, can be explained by this mysterious principle. Gravitation, life, muscular action, the thunder of heaven, the aurora borealis - every thing in motion we see around us, receives its energy from this secret and mysterious principle. " Your brain," said Mr. Davenport to me, " is only a galvanic trough, formed of convolutions, or layers for generating the fluid - and when you walk or move, you do it by the galvanic action of that trough, operating on the limbs by its conductors, the nerves and muscles." The lovely women walking Broadway are, therefore, so many beauteous galvanic engines in motion. Thus much for to-day. It is utterly impossible to give vent to all those burning thoughts which crowd upon our mind at the contemplation of this discovery. It surpasses any discovery of ancient or modern times. The generalization of this principle, and its undoubted identification with all the phenomena of nature - with motion - with animal life with earthquakes - with gravity - with electricity - with the motion of the earth and planets round the sun, must and will create an entire revolution in all science, in all art, in all philosophy, and in all future civilization. Indeed we may go further, and however droll it may appear, we have strong suspicions that the friendship, esteem, and the mysterious love between the sexes is founded on the same principle with which Mr. Davenport turns his wheel, and the lightning flashes from heaven - and the aurora borealis spreads out its garments of rosy light in the sky - and the very planets themselves run their races round the sun from eternity to eternity. Enough for the present. We have long been a student in chemistry, electricity, galvanism, and such like sciences. We shall illustrate our views at our leisure. Meantime we bid all prepare for an organic revolution in science, philosophy, religion and civilization. We are just entering upon a wonderful age. [From the Baltimore Daily Gazette, May 3, 1837.] Our readers have seen by the article which we copied on Monday from the American Journal of Science, and which was written by the justly celebrated Professor SILLIMAN, the conductor of that valuable Journal, that he has come to the conclusion from the facts within his knowledge, "that electromagnetism is quite adequate to the generation of rotary motion; that the power so generated may be indefinitely prolonged - that it may be increased beyond any limit hitherto attained; probably beyond any which can be with certainty assigned - and that it can be generated cheaply and certainly." This deliberate opinion, formed by a prudent, scientific man, after repeated experiments, and so confidently expressed as we find it in the essay published, ought to be proof sufficient to satisfy every reasonable mind, that, in the language of the Professor, "Science has placed in our hands a new power of great but unknown energy - a power everywhere diffused through nature." The practical use of this power will effect changes of the most extraordinary description both by land and sea - water, wind, and steam, long the useful and obedient servants of man, if not rendered wholly unnecessary as motive agents, will become comparatively unimportant, and the labour of the world in the movements of all kinds of machinery - in its agriculture, its transportation, and travelling - will soon be principally performed by the agency of electro-magnetism, and the general benefit to man will be immense from the safety and cheapness with which this new agent can be employed. It must be obvious that the use of such a power -- so safe, so cheap, so free from every thing that could cause annoyance in its use will be, to Rail Roads, an acquisition of immense value - in the reduction of the expenses of transportation. The costly article of fuel with all the annoyances of sparks, cinders, tender and watertank, and of a special attendant to the fire in each engine - will be wholly dispensed with. This saving for one engine in daily use throughout the year, may be reasonably estimated at three thousand dollars. And in repairs there will be a saving more than equal to the whole probable expense of transportation, and repairs of a locomotive, moved by the newly discovered application of power. |