FOOTNOTES:

fifth

The engine suggested by Savery for the purpose of raising water, consisted of a boilerafurnished with a safety valvev. The steam-vesselrwas connected with the wellH, by a suction pipen; and when water was to be raised the vesselrwas filled with steam, which rushing in, soon expelled the air: when that was completely effected, the communication with the boiler was closed, and the steam condensed, which diminishing its bulk, formed a vacuous space within the vessel; the pressure of atmosphere then operating upon the surface of the water in the well, drove it up the pipe. In this form of the apparatus, the inventor was seldom able to raise water more than thirty feet: and when a greater altitude was required, it was effected by the impellent force of high pressure steam. This was accomplished by the ascending pipek, which was sometimes carried sixty feet higher than the steam-vessels; and a reference to the great expansive force of steam will show that this operation must be attended with considerable danger. After condensing the steam and filling the vesselrwith water, a new supplyof steam was then introduced, which pressing on the surface of the water, drove it up the pipek; and it will be evident that the pressure on the internal surface of the boiler must be proportioned to the height of the column of water thus raised by the steam.

The principal objection to this form of the engine arises from the great consumption of fuel, a considerable portion of the caloric employed in the generation of the steam being absorbed in heating the new surface of cold water last raised from the well; and where great heights are required, there appears no mode of completely obviating this objection. Should it, however, be required merely to raise water about thirty feet, there are few contrivances more economical or better adapted for general use.

While speaking of Savery's apparatus it may be adviseable to notice the very ingenious adaptation of the same principle to the construction of agas engine, by Mr. Brown. In the latter case a vacuum is formed by the introduction of an inflamed jet of carburetted hydrogen gas, which consumes the oxygen, and rarefies the nitrogen, by the increase of temperature which ensues. The vacuum thus produced is much more perfect than would at first view have been supposed, from the nature of the process resorted to by the patentee; but the economy of employing carburetted hydrogen gas as a substitute for condensible vapour is still somewhat problematic.[10]

To more fully understand the nature of Mr. Brown's engine, it may be better to revert to a diagram, which will sufficiently explain its general principles.

sixth

In the above view, the cylinderscandd, are the vessels in which a vacuum is alternately effected;g i gandh j hare two pipes, leading into the lower cylindersxx, shewn in the next page, from which the water rises along those pipes to fill the vacuum cylinders alternately. The water thus supplied is discharged through the pipesBinto the tank or troughz, where it falls upon the overshot water-wheel, and, by the rotatory motion thus produced, gives power to such machinery asmay be connected to it. The water runs from the wheel along a case surrounding the lower half, into a reservoirv, from which the lower cylindersxx, are alternately supplied.

The gas is supplied to the cylinders by the pipeskkk, which must be, of course, attached to a gasometer, or some other reservoir of gas. The gas also passes along the small pipell(which communicates also with the gasometer), and being lighted at both ends of that pipe, is kept constantly burning in order to ignite the gas within the cylinders.

The gas being admitted along the pipek, the flame from the pipelis now freely communicated to the gas in the cylinder, through the orifice, by the opening of the sliding valves, which is raised by the armr, lifted by the rodoby means of the beam.

The water in the reservoirvpassing down one of the pipesw, into one of the lower cylindersx, causes the floatyin that cylinder to rise, and, pushing up the rodo, raises the endbof the beam, which, of course, draws up with it the capf, and forces down the capeof the other cylinderc.

seventh

Thealternateaction of each cylinder is produced by chains and rods, attached to a glass or iron vesselp, more than half filled with mercury, and turning upon a pivot; each end receives its movements of elevation and depression from the rise and fall of the projecting armsq, by the action of the beam above; the mercury within flowing to the lower end, giving an impetus, and thus regulating the supply of gas to the cylinders, and the movement of the slide in the troughv. By this action the water from the reservoir flows down the pipew, into the vesselx, and produces the elevation of the floatyand the rodn, and raises the capeby the ascent of the beam ata.

The motion thus produced in one part of the machinery, operates upon the corresponding parts on the other side, and hence a corresponding motion is obtained: the slider in the troughv, moved by the action of the mercurial tubep, being removed from its position, allows the water to fall into the other pipew; and, as it ascends, suffers the floatyto descend, and rising into the main cylinder, then lifts again the beam atb, and its connexions, and forces down the capeon the top of the other cylinder.

When the vacuum is produced in the cylinders, the air must be admitted to allow the water to be discharged, and the caps to be raised: this is effected by a sliding valve in the air-pipemm, acted upon by chainstt, attached to the floats in the reservoir, and as motion is given to them, the valve is made to fly backwards and forwards, so as to allow the free admission of atmospheric air.

Chainsuu, with suspended weights, open thecocks in the pipekk, and produce the alternate flow of the gas, and regulate and modify its supply. In the pipesgig, andhjh, are clacks to prevent the return of the water, when the air is admitted into the cylinders.

A piston may be worked as is above described, with the machinery attached; but it may also be worked in a distinct vessel so as to communicate with several cylinders, and, consequently, several pistons may work at the same time, the air and vacuum valves being opened and closed by similar means to those adapted to work the induction and eduction valves of steam-engines.

The atmospheric engine comes next in order, and its claim to practical utility is of a very early date.

eighth

The cylinderb, is in this engine placed over a boilern, and if we suppose the pistonpmade tofit air-tight, it will be evident, that it must be driven up by the action of the steam beneath, should a sufficient supply of heat be applied; when this is effected, the condensible vapour may be reduced to its original bulk, by the introduction of water from the cisterni. In the working engine however, the ascent of the piston is effected by the action of the levere g, acting on the fulcrumf. To the endgof this lever or working beam is attached the pump-rodh, and it will be evident that whenever that preponderates over the pistonp, that the latter must be drawn up. On the readmission of the steam, a new supply of condensing water is introduced by turning the cockl, and the pressure of the atmosphere above the piston being unbalanced by any resistance beneath, the endeis again depressed, and the pump-rod again elevated. The pipegis employed to carry off the condensing water, which would otherwise accumulate within the cylinder; and the small forcing pump, with its rodv s, supplies the condensing cisterni, by the pipet.

At the beginning of the last century, the atmospheric engine had made considerable progress in the mining districts, and in 1718, the patentees agreed to erect an engine for the owners of a colliery, in the county of Durham, where several hundred horses had previously been employed. Mr. Henry Beighton, who was engaged as an agent in this concern, materially improved the engine by making it self-acting, and divesting it of nearly all the complicated machinery, which had been previously employed for that purpose.

A very simple and at the same time ingeniousmode of illustrating the operations of an atmospheric steam-engine will be found in the annexed apparatus, suggested by Professor Brande, and employed in his lectures at the London Institution.

ninth

The glass tube and bulbbis shewn with its pistona, the rod being hollow and closed by a screwc. If steam be generated by the spirit lampd, the air will speedily be expelled, and after this is effected, the screwcmay be closed, and a working stroke produced by artificial condensation.

We come now to a new and distinct era in the history of this important invention, and in noticing the labours of Mr. Watt, we may almost speakof his engine as the gigantic offspring of a hand giving birth to an automaton, no less powerful than that of the fabled enchanters of the olden time.

Mr. Watt's first great improvement in the engine of Newcomen may be best understood by reference to the annexed diagram, in whicharepresents the cylinder, andbits plug or piston made to fit air-tight. The pipedis furnished with a stop-cock, by means of which the elastic vapour is occasionally admitted.—A similar pipe, furnished with a stop-cock atf, passes from the other side of the cylinder, and enters the vesselg;ebeing the reservoir to contain water.

tenth

If we now suppose the piston at the bottom of the cylinder, and steam admitted by the piped, its expansive force will elevate the piston, and when the air is expelled, the whole internal cavity of the tube will be filled with condensible vapour. On closing the steam-cock, and opening that connected with the vesselg, a portion of the vapour will immediately expand itself, and coming in contact with the cold sides of the vessel, a portion of its heat must be absorbed by the water ate. A new portion of steam then descends, and is also condensed, and indeed the same process continues till the whole of the steam is drawn from the tube. A vacuum being thus formed, the pressure of the atmosphere will preponderate, and the piston rod be depressed to the bottom of the tube. On closing the stop-cockf, a new supply of steam may be admitted by the other pipe, and after raising the piston, the process of condensation may be readily repeated.

The advantages that arise from this mode of forming a vacuum are very considerable, not the least important of which, is a saving of nearly half the fuel.

In the old engine, the condensing water must reduce the temperature of the internal surface of the cylinder to that of the atmosphere, before a vacuum could be produced, and when the condensing water was applied more sparingly, the elastic vapour remaining in the cylinder was found to materially reduce the pressure of the air operating above. From this it will be seen that the great advantage of Mr. Watt's apparatus consists in performing the condensation in a separate vessel,so that the cylinder is always preserved at the temperature of boiling water.

Having thus produced a vacuum without the intervention of condensing water beneath the piston, Mr. Watt's next improvement consisted in closing the top of the cylinder, so that the piston-rod worked through an air-tight hole in the centre of the cap; and to ensure the necessary pressure within the cylinder, steam with an elastic force greater than that of the atmosphere was admitted above the piston. The atmospheric engine of Newcomen was thus converted into a steam-engine, and its power was easily regulated.

A cylinder and piston constructed on the most improved principles may now be examined.

eleventh

In the annexed diagram, the cylinderAis furnished with a steam-tight piston, the rod of which is supposed to be connected with the working beam. B represents the pipe which admits the steam from the boiler, the quantity being regulated by the throttle valvec, and the elastic vapour is now passing through the boxdd, so that it enters beneath the piston. At the same instant of time, a communication is formed through the aperturemnto the pipep, which leads to the condenser. When the piston reaches the top of the cylinder, the sliding bridge or valve has its direction changed, so that the piper, and consequently the bottom of the cylinder, is connected with the condenser, while a passage is opened from the pipemnto the steam box. Thus a communication is alternately made between the top and bottom of the piston.

The slide-valve represented above is not invariably employed in the double-acting engines, and we frequently find the annexed contrivance resorted to, in some of the best engines.

twelfth

The pipe 14 represents the passage to the cylinder,and a communication is now opened with the steam chamberg. The raised valve is perforated and a similar valve beneath closed by the rod which passes through it. On closing the valveg, the lower valvehis opened, and a free passage between the condensing pipe beneath and the upper part of the cylinder is the result. If we now suppose a similar double valve placed at the bottom of the cylinder, it will easily be seen that an effect similar to that described in the sliding valve will be produced.

The speed of the engine is regulated by a very ingenious contrivance introduced by Mr. Watt, called thegovernor, and represented beneath.

thirteenth

The ballsiiare supported by the bent levershf, and as they are made to revolve with the fly wheel axis, by means of a band passing round the pulleyc, any increase in the speed of the engine will cause the balls to diverge. The moment thistakes place, the shorter arm of the levernis depressed, and as the extremitylis connected with the steam-pipe by the throttle valve, the supply of steam must of necessity be diminished, and the speed of the engine reduced.

As the working power of the engine depends very materially on the accurate fitting of the piston, it may be adviseable to examine some of the modes of effecting this important object.

Mr. Smeaton, who greatly improved the atmospheric engine, coated the under side of the piston with elm or beech planks about two inches thick; the wooden bottom being screwed to the iron with a double thickness of flannel and tar, to exclude the air between the iron and the wood. By the adoption of this improvement, its property of conducting heat was reduced, and the wood having been previously jointed, with the grain radiating in all directions from the centre, was not liable to expand by the heated steam. This piston was kept air-tight by a small stream of water continually falling on its upper surface; but in Mr. Watt's engine he was compelled to make the piston fit tight without any other media than the oil that was employed to lubricate it.

The piston is now cast with a projecting rim at bottom, which is fitted as accurately as possible; the part above the rim being about four inches less than the cylinder, thus leaving a circular groove for the hemp which forms the packing. To keep this in its place, a lid or cover is put over the top of the piston, with a projection which enters into the circular groove for the packing, and pressing upon it, the plate is forceddown by screws, which work into the body of the piston. By this means the packing is made to fill the internal part of the cylinder with tolerable accuracy, and thus prevents for a time any steam passing between the piston and the cylinder. When, however, by continued working, the packing ceases to fit, it occasions a waste of steam, to remedy which, the cylinder cap must be removed, and as this is attended with a considerable degree of trouble to the engine-man, it is seldom attended to till a considerable loss of power has arisen. There are two improvements on the piston, by which this inconvenience is to a certain extent obviated.

In the first, by Mr. Woolfs, each of the screws is furnished with a wheel or nut, and these are all connected together by means of a central wheel, working loose upon the piston-rod in such a manner, that if any one of the screws be turned, a similar motion is given to the remainder.

fourteenth

In a piston thus constructed, there is little difficulty in drawing down the packing, by applying a key to the square head of the projecting screw,employed to communicate with the rest: the key-hole being afterwards closed by a cap.

The second contrivance is by Mr. Barton, a diagram of which, accompanied by a piston as it is usually constructed, is shewn beneath.

fifteenth

In the first piston, the screwsiiare made to compress the packinghh, by acting upon the platenn, the piston-rodrbeing firmly attached by the nutc.

In one of the modifications ofBarton's piston, on the contrary, the packing is dispensed with, as the flexible springstttpress upon the wedgesccc, and expand the intermediate plates. A break-joint is readily formed, by making the series of plates double; the second set of plates falling upon the spaces which occur between the first row.

The action of thehigh pressureengine depends upon the great elastic force acquired by steam, when exposed to the action of heat at very high temperatures.—It may indeed be considered as a return to the principle of Brancas and the Marquis of Worcester, as in this engine no condensing water is necessary; and it acts merely by the elastic or repellant force of steam. In the highpressure engine, the condenser is taken away; and the steam, instead of being converted into water by artificial cold in a close vessel, is allowed to escape into the atmosphere from one side of the piston, while it is acting forcibly on the other.

The advantages of the high pressure engine over that used with a condenser, are cheapness in construction, and a saving of the whole expense attendant on procuring a sufficient supply of condensing water, which in some cases is an object of considerable importance.

sixteenth

In the annexed section, the pistonBpasses through an air-tight stuffing box, and the steam is entering beneath it, by the four-way cockE. If we now suppose the piston at the top of the cylinder, a new arrangement of the communicatingpipe takes place, as the steam which was beneath escapes, while a fresh supply enters above. The four-way cock may be best explained by a section in the opposite direction. Two pipes are seen at the lower extremity of the cock, which communicate with the upper and under sides of the piston. The apertureDopens to the air, while the pipeCserves for the admission of steam from the boiler.

seventeenth

We have now to notice the double cylinder engine constructed by Woolfs, which will be found, by reference to the diagram in the preceding page, to consist of a high pressure cylinder, connected with a condensing apparatus.

AandBrepresent the two cylinders, in the larger of which the steam is allowed to expand itself, after passing from the high pressure cylinderB. The steam, which in the first instance is of considerable elasticity, is admitted to the cylinderB, by the tube and valveE, and entering the cylinder above its piston, impels it to the bottom. When this is effected, a communication is opened between the upper part of the cylinderB, and the under side of the cylinderA. The communication between the cylinderBand the steam-pipeE, is now reversed, and the steam is made to press on the under side of the pistonB, a communication being at the same time formed between the upper part of the cylinderA, and the pipe leading to the condenser which is seen beneath. So that if we suppose the two pistons connected by means of their rods with one end of an ordinary working beam, the upward and downward strokes of each will be performed at the same time. We have hitherto considered the steam as passing direct from the boiler to the cylinderB; this, however, is in reality effected by a more circuitous route, as it is in the first instance admitted to the steam-case of the larger cylinder by the pipeC, and passing round a similar case, encircling the cylinderB, it is then made to enter atE. The pipe atDis merely intended to form a communication for carrying back to the boilerany water that may be produced by condensation in the steam-case, before the engine arrives at a proper temperature for working.

Having thus briefly examined the nature of Mr. Woolf's engine, it may now be advisable to revert to the boiler, by which he proposes to generate steam of sufficient elasticity for the use of the small cylinder, which requires elastic vapour of great expansive force. The boiler, represented by the diagram beneath, consists of a series of tubes, of cast-iron, connected by screw-bolts with the under side of a larger vesselA A, communicating with the engine. The upper boiler is furnished with four, and in some cases, with five apertures; the first of which is intended for the admission of water, to supply the waste which continually arises from evaporation. The safety valves, man-hole, and water-pipe are also shewn.

eighteenth

The mode of setting this boiler is also of considerable importance, as it is advisable to give a long and waving course to the chimney.

nineteenth

A A still represents the principal boiler, while the figures 1, 2, 3, &c. indicate the passage of the flame and heated air; a section of the chimney being shewn atO.

The steel-yard safety-valve which was employed in all the early engines is simple, and the nature of its construction may readily be understood. A represents a portion of the upper part of the boiler;Bthe safety-valve or plug made to fit air-tight on the valve-seat beneath;Cthe lever working on its axis atD, and furnished with a moveable weightE, adjusted to balance the pressure of steam within the boiler.

twentieth

When steam of great elasticity is required, the weight is placed at the extremity of the lever, and as such, acts with greater force on the safety-valve, than when removed to a point nearer to the axis on which it revolves: so that shouldlowpressure steam, or that which has a less expansive force, be required, it will only be necessary to remove it nearer towards the axis on which it turns.

The lever and balance-ball safety valve already described, appear but little calculated for those engines in which high pressure steam is employed, as the engine-man, in an over anxious zeal for the full performance of the machinery confided to his care, has been frequently known to increase the internal pressure of a large boiler many thousand pounds beyond the resistance to which it was originally proved. To prevent a recurrence of those accidents, which first drew the attention of the legislature to this important part of the engine, it appears advisable to inclose the safety-valve in an iron case, of which a section is annexed.

twentyfirst

The valveBin this case rests upon a conical seat in the boilerA, and is furnished with a series of small moveable plates letteredc, which areemployed to increase or diminish the entire weight of the safety-valve, the whole being covered by the boxD; and as this is pierced with a number of small holes, the steam readily escapes when the expansive force exceeds the resistance offered by the loaded valve.

The patentrevolving wheelinvented by Mr. Masterman, appears to promise the best results of any rotatory engine yet invented, the friction being much less than in any other apparatus in which steam is employed as a prime mover. In this engine, Mr. Masterman proposes to employ water, or the fluid metal mercury as the immediate agent, which he effects by inclosing it in the tubular rim of a large wheel, furnished with valves opening in one direction. This wheel, as is shewn in the opposite diagram, is made to revolve on a hollow axis connected with the steam boiler. The arms or spokes which radiate from the axis are also hollow; and on the admission of steam from the boiler, it is conducted through the arm immediately opposite, and entering the rim of the wheel, comes in contact with, and presses against the column of water beneath and the closed valve above the arm. The water being previously heated to the boiling point, no condensation ensues, but the whole weight of water, which was previously balanced in two columns of equal height, is driven, by the pressure of the steam, to the side opposite to that at which the elastic vapour entered, and that side of the wheel will necessarily preponderate. If this process be repeated, the steam being allowed to blow through each radiating arm in succession, a continuousrotatory motion will be produced. Should it be advisable to employ steam of less elasticity, a condenser may be added, and that too without materially increasing the expense.

twentysecond

The application of steam-engines to thepropellingofcarriageson the public road, has hitherto been considered as a refinement in mechanics, rather to be wished for than a matter of reasonable expectation. Thelocomotiveengine was first employed for this purpose by Messrs. Trevithick and Vivian, in 1802; and it found a ready introduction to the mining districts where rail-roads are general. In some cases, five, six, and even ten waggons laden with coal are dragged up an inclined plane by means of these vehicles; and ofcourse impelled by a high pressure engine, from the utter impossibility of carrying condensing water in a moveable vehicle.

An engine of four horses' power, employed by Mr. Blenkinsop, impelled a carriage lightly loaded on a rail-road at the rate of ten miles an hour, and when connected with thirty coal waggons, each weighing more than three tons, its average rate was about one-third of that pace.

When the locomotive engine was first tried, it was found difficult to produce a sufficient degree of re-action between the wheels and the tract road; so that the wheels turned round without propelling the vehicle. This inconvenience was, however, obviated by Mr. Blenkinsop, who, when he adopted the locomotive engine, took up the common rails, on one side of the whole length of the road, and replaced them by a series of racks, or rails, furnished with large teeth. The impelling wheel of the engine was made to act in these teeth, so that it continued to work in a rack which insured a sufficient degree of re-action.

From the great weight of an ordinarylocomotive engineas well as the construction of its impelling wheel, it must be evident that the employment of this species of prime mover on the public roads would be in the highest degree destructive; and as such that its use will for some years to come be partially confined to the mining districts, in which the greatest facilities are offered for its general adoption. Indeed, we find in one neighbourhood alone, and within a space of less than thirty square miles, more than twenty miles of road admirably adapted for this species of conveyance;and it is a well known fact, that there are many situations in which iron rail-roads might be advantageously employed, in which it would be quite impossible to open a navigable canal. In illustration of the above fact, it may be proper to state, that a company, with a large capital, is now forming for the express purpose of facilitating the conveyance of goods by locomotive engines.

The mode of applying the steam-engine to the purposes of navigation is equally simple with its employment in our manufactures.

It is generally supposed that thesteam-boatis of very recent invention; on the contrary, however, the possibility of employing steam as a prime mover in the propelling of vessels was suggested as far back as the reign of Charles I.

In one of the old tracts preserved in the library of the London Institution there is a very curious representation of a steam-boat, constructed by an engineer of the name of Hulls. And this individual, now so little known, was undoubtedly the first who applied a steam-engine to the purpose of navigation.

To impel a vessel by this means, two paddle wheels, like those used in an under-shot water-wheel, are connected by means of a long axis and crank, with the working beam of the steam-engine; and if this motion is not found sufficiently rapid, a wheel and pinion are added, which, although itdecreasesthe effective power of the engine, yetincreasesthe velocity of the paddle wheels.

To illustrate the great advantages possessedby the steam-engine, even in its rudest state, over every other species of prime mover yet enumerated, it may now be advisable to examine its effective force when employed in the working of pumps. It has been found that one hundred weight of coals burned in an engine on the old construction, would raise at leasttwenty thousand cubic feetof water twenty-four feet high; an engine with a twenty-four inch cylinder doing the work ofseventy four horses. An engine on Capt. Savery's plan, constructed by Mr. Keir, has been found to raise nearlythree millionsof pounds of water, and Mr. Watt's engine, upwards ofthirty millionsof pounds the same height.

To the mining interests this valuable present of science to the arts has been peculiarly acceptable; as a large portion of our now most productive mineral districts must long ere this have been abandoned, had not the steam-engine been employed as an active auxiliary in those stupendous works. In the draining of fens and marsh lands, this machine is in the highest degree valuable; and in England, particularly, it might be rendered still more generally useful. In practice it has been ascertained that an engine of six-horse power will drain more than eight thousand acres, raising the water six feet in height; whilst the cost of an engine for this species of work, including the pumps, will not exceed seven hundred pounds. This is more than ten windmills could perform, at an annual expenditure of several hundred pounds; while, in the former case, the outgoings will not exceed one hundred and fifty pounds per annum. To the marineralso, the steam-engine offers advantages of a no less important and novel nature than those which have already been described. By its use he is enabled to traverse the waters both against wind and tide, with nearly as much certainty, and, as the machinery is now constructed, with much less danger, than by the most eligible road conveyance. It too frequently, however, happens that the faults of any new invention are unjustly magnified, while its real advantages are seldom duly appreciated; and this axiom has been fully verified, in the clamour so unjustly raised against the application of the steam-engine to nautical purposes. Accidents are now, however, but of rare occurrence; and it is more than probable, that the great improvements which have been made in the boiler and safety-valve will effectually secure these parts of the engine from a recurrence of such tremendous explosions as characterised the first introduction of steam navigation. And, lastly, the political economist must hail with the most heartfelt gratification, the introduction of so able and efficient a substitute for animal labour as the steam-engine. For it has been calculated that there are at least ten thousand of these machines at the present time at work in Great Britain, performing a labour more than equal to that of two hundred thousand horses, which, if fed in the ordinary way, would require above one million acres of land for subsistence; and this is capable of supplying the necessaries of life to more than fifteen hundred thousand human beings.[11]

An ingenious foreigner, who lately visited England, has published an estimate of the mechanical force set in action by the steam-engines of this country.

He supposes that thegreat pyramidof Egypt required for its erection the labour of more than 10,000 men for 20 years:—but if it were required again to raise the stones from the quarries, and place them at their present height, the action of the steam-engines of England, which are managed at most by 36,000 men, would be sufficient to produce the same effect in 18 hours.

THE END.

LONDON:PRINTED BY C. ROWORTH, BELL YARD,TEMPLE BAR.

FOOTNOTES:[1]Some idea of the almostRegalsplendour of the noble possessor of Ragland castle at this period, and an interesting picture of baronial manners in the early part of the seventeenth century, may be found in the following authentic document, which has been accurately copied from the original MS.List of the Household, &c.At eleven o'clock in the forenoon the castle gates were shut, and the tables laid, viz. two in the dining-room, three in the hall, one in Mrs. Watson's apartment, where the chaplains eat, (Sir Toby Matthews being the first,) and two in the house-keeper's room, for the ladies women.TheEarlentered the dining-room attended by his gentlemen.As soon as he was seated, Sir Ralph Blackstone, steward of the house, retired.The comptroller, Mr. Holland, attended with his staff, as did the sewer, the daily waiters, and many gentlemen's sons, with estates from two to seven hundred pounds a year, who were bred up in the castle: and my lady's gentlemen of the chamber.At the first table, satThe noble family, and such of the nobility as came there.At the second table, in the dining-room, satKnights and honourable gentlemen, attended by footmen.In the hall, at the first table, satSir Ralph Blackstone, Steward—The Comptroller. The Secretary—The Master of the Horse—The Master of the Fish Ponds, my Lord Herbert's preceptor, with such gentlemen as came there under the degree of a knight, attended by footmen, and plentifully served with wine.At the second table in the hall, served from my Lord's table, and with other hot meats, satThe Sewer, with the gentlemen waiters, and pages, to the number of twenty-four.At the third table in the hall, satThe Clerk of the Kitchen, with the yeomen, officers of the house, two grooms of the chamber, &c.The other officers of the household, wereChief Auditor—Clerk of the Accounts—Purveyor of the Castle—Ushers of the Hall—Closet Keeper—Gentlemen of the Chapel—Keeper of the Records—Master of the Wardrobe—Master of the Armoury—Twelve master Grooms of the Stables, for the War horses—Master of the Hounds—Master Falconer—Porter and his man—two keepers of the Home Park—two keepers of the Red deer Park—and footmen, grooms, and other menial servants, to the number ofone hundred and fifty![2]His lordship was created Earl of Glamorgan a few days prior to his departure for Ireland, and Carte, who in every point in which Charles was concerned, invariably concealed whatever tended to cast a stain on the king's character, and whose gross partiality in this particular instance we shall hereafter more fully notice, has even questioned the propriety of the Marquis's assuming the title of Earl of Glamorgan. To support this argument, it is said that his Majesty ordered Secretary Nicholas to acquaint the Earl of Ormonde, "that, the patent for making Lord Herbert Earl of Glamorgan had never passed the great seal;" and the apologist for Charles, anxious to make the most of this equivocation in the king, adduces it as an objection to the authenticity of the Irish commission. Sandford, however, who in an intimate acquaintance with the history of the royal grants was surpassed by none, says, "that there now remains in the signet office a bill, under the royal sign manual at Oxford, if a patent did not thereupon pass the great seal, in order to his creation into the honour of Earl of Glamorgan."[3]There is scarcely to be found on record, a more enthusiastic instance of loyalty and self-devotion than was exhibited by his lordship on this occasion; for with the damning proofs which he then possessed of his Majesty's complete concurrence and participation in the whole matter, there could not for an instant have been a doubt of his own honourable acquittal. There was also a certain assurance of procuring the favour of the Parliament: who required nothing more than these documents to colour the proceedings they were then meditating, and which, indeed, afterwards formed one of the principal charges against this ill-fated monarch.[4]Lord Orford describes this bill to have passed on the "simple affirmation of the discovery that he (the Marquis) had made;" but his lordship's palpable want of candour in this statement will be apparent when it is known that there were no less than seven meetings of committees on the subject, composed of some of the most learned men in the house, who, after considerable amendments, finally passed it on the 12th of May.—Vide,Journals of the Lords and Commons for 1663-4.[5]A popular author, to one of whose mistatements we alluded in a preceding note, describes the Marquis as "a fantastic projector," and his "Century as an amazing piece of folly." Having however, in the notes appended to this work, fully demonstrated not only the practicability of applying the major part of the inventions there described, but the absolute application of many of them, though under other names, to some of the most useful purposes of life; we shall leave it to the public to judge, whether the man who first discovered a mode of applying steam as a mechanical agent, an invention alone sufficient to immortalize the age in which he lived, deserves the name of a fantastic projector.The second edition of the "Century" was published in 1746; the third in 1767: while the fourth, which may be considered as the best edition, is a reprint from the first, and is furnished with an appendix "containing an Historical Account of the Fire Engine for Raising Water." It is dated Kyo, near Lancaster, June 18, 1778. The fifth is a reprint from the Glasgow copy, "by W. Bailey, Proprietor of the Speaking Figure, now showing, by permission of the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, at No. 42, within Bishopsgate," 1786. The sixth edition was confined to 100 copies, and dated London 1813.[6]The above Letter, as appears by the envelope, was directed to his Grace the Duke of Albermarle.[7]Charles V., after his abdication, retired to the monastery of St. Justus, in Estramadura, where he amused himself, during the latter period of his life, in the making of automatons, in which he was assisted by a very ingenious artist named Turriano.[8]History of Inventions, vol. iii. p. 326.[9]VideHistorical and Descriptive Account of the Steam-engine, by C. F. Partington, p. 6.[10]Since writing the above, the Editor has seen a report on Mr. Brown's engine by Professor Millington, in which it is distinctly stated that the apparatus is fully adapted to the purpose for which it is intended.[11]VideHistorical Account of the Steam-engine, by C. F. Partington.

[1]Some idea of the almostRegalsplendour of the noble possessor of Ragland castle at this period, and an interesting picture of baronial manners in the early part of the seventeenth century, may be found in the following authentic document, which has been accurately copied from the original MS.List of the Household, &c.At eleven o'clock in the forenoon the castle gates were shut, and the tables laid, viz. two in the dining-room, three in the hall, one in Mrs. Watson's apartment, where the chaplains eat, (Sir Toby Matthews being the first,) and two in the house-keeper's room, for the ladies women.TheEarlentered the dining-room attended by his gentlemen.As soon as he was seated, Sir Ralph Blackstone, steward of the house, retired.The comptroller, Mr. Holland, attended with his staff, as did the sewer, the daily waiters, and many gentlemen's sons, with estates from two to seven hundred pounds a year, who were bred up in the castle: and my lady's gentlemen of the chamber.At the first table, satThe noble family, and such of the nobility as came there.At the second table, in the dining-room, satKnights and honourable gentlemen, attended by footmen.In the hall, at the first table, satSir Ralph Blackstone, Steward—The Comptroller. The Secretary—The Master of the Horse—The Master of the Fish Ponds, my Lord Herbert's preceptor, with such gentlemen as came there under the degree of a knight, attended by footmen, and plentifully served with wine.At the second table in the hall, served from my Lord's table, and with other hot meats, satThe Sewer, with the gentlemen waiters, and pages, to the number of twenty-four.At the third table in the hall, satThe Clerk of the Kitchen, with the yeomen, officers of the house, two grooms of the chamber, &c.The other officers of the household, wereChief Auditor—Clerk of the Accounts—Purveyor of the Castle—Ushers of the Hall—Closet Keeper—Gentlemen of the Chapel—Keeper of the Records—Master of the Wardrobe—Master of the Armoury—Twelve master Grooms of the Stables, for the War horses—Master of the Hounds—Master Falconer—Porter and his man—two keepers of the Home Park—two keepers of the Red deer Park—and footmen, grooms, and other menial servants, to the number ofone hundred and fifty!

List of the Household, &c.

At eleven o'clock in the forenoon the castle gates were shut, and the tables laid, viz. two in the dining-room, three in the hall, one in Mrs. Watson's apartment, where the chaplains eat, (Sir Toby Matthews being the first,) and two in the house-keeper's room, for the ladies women.

TheEarlentered the dining-room attended by his gentlemen.

As soon as he was seated, Sir Ralph Blackstone, steward of the house, retired.

The comptroller, Mr. Holland, attended with his staff, as did the sewer, the daily waiters, and many gentlemen's sons, with estates from two to seven hundred pounds a year, who were bred up in the castle: and my lady's gentlemen of the chamber.

At the first table, sat

The noble family, and such of the nobility as came there.

At the second table, in the dining-room, sat

Knights and honourable gentlemen, attended by footmen.

In the hall, at the first table, sat

Sir Ralph Blackstone, Steward—The Comptroller. The Secretary—The Master of the Horse—The Master of the Fish Ponds, my Lord Herbert's preceptor, with such gentlemen as came there under the degree of a knight, attended by footmen, and plentifully served with wine.

At the second table in the hall, served from my Lord's table, and with other hot meats, sat

The Sewer, with the gentlemen waiters, and pages, to the number of twenty-four.

At the third table in the hall, sat

The Clerk of the Kitchen, with the yeomen, officers of the house, two grooms of the chamber, &c.

The other officers of the household, were

Chief Auditor—Clerk of the Accounts—Purveyor of the Castle—Ushers of the Hall—Closet Keeper—Gentlemen of the Chapel—Keeper of the Records—Master of the Wardrobe—Master of the Armoury—Twelve master Grooms of the Stables, for the War horses—Master of the Hounds—Master Falconer—Porter and his man—two keepers of the Home Park—two keepers of the Red deer Park—and footmen, grooms, and other menial servants, to the number ofone hundred and fifty!

[2]His lordship was created Earl of Glamorgan a few days prior to his departure for Ireland, and Carte, who in every point in which Charles was concerned, invariably concealed whatever tended to cast a stain on the king's character, and whose gross partiality in this particular instance we shall hereafter more fully notice, has even questioned the propriety of the Marquis's assuming the title of Earl of Glamorgan. To support this argument, it is said that his Majesty ordered Secretary Nicholas to acquaint the Earl of Ormonde, "that, the patent for making Lord Herbert Earl of Glamorgan had never passed the great seal;" and the apologist for Charles, anxious to make the most of this equivocation in the king, adduces it as an objection to the authenticity of the Irish commission. Sandford, however, who in an intimate acquaintance with the history of the royal grants was surpassed by none, says, "that there now remains in the signet office a bill, under the royal sign manual at Oxford, if a patent did not thereupon pass the great seal, in order to his creation into the honour of Earl of Glamorgan."

[3]There is scarcely to be found on record, a more enthusiastic instance of loyalty and self-devotion than was exhibited by his lordship on this occasion; for with the damning proofs which he then possessed of his Majesty's complete concurrence and participation in the whole matter, there could not for an instant have been a doubt of his own honourable acquittal. There was also a certain assurance of procuring the favour of the Parliament: who required nothing more than these documents to colour the proceedings they were then meditating, and which, indeed, afterwards formed one of the principal charges against this ill-fated monarch.

[4]Lord Orford describes this bill to have passed on the "simple affirmation of the discovery that he (the Marquis) had made;" but his lordship's palpable want of candour in this statement will be apparent when it is known that there were no less than seven meetings of committees on the subject, composed of some of the most learned men in the house, who, after considerable amendments, finally passed it on the 12th of May.—Vide,Journals of the Lords and Commons for 1663-4.

[5]A popular author, to one of whose mistatements we alluded in a preceding note, describes the Marquis as "a fantastic projector," and his "Century as an amazing piece of folly." Having however, in the notes appended to this work, fully demonstrated not only the practicability of applying the major part of the inventions there described, but the absolute application of many of them, though under other names, to some of the most useful purposes of life; we shall leave it to the public to judge, whether the man who first discovered a mode of applying steam as a mechanical agent, an invention alone sufficient to immortalize the age in which he lived, deserves the name of a fantastic projector.The second edition of the "Century" was published in 1746; the third in 1767: while the fourth, which may be considered as the best edition, is a reprint from the first, and is furnished with an appendix "containing an Historical Account of the Fire Engine for Raising Water." It is dated Kyo, near Lancaster, June 18, 1778. The fifth is a reprint from the Glasgow copy, "by W. Bailey, Proprietor of the Speaking Figure, now showing, by permission of the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, at No. 42, within Bishopsgate," 1786. The sixth edition was confined to 100 copies, and dated London 1813.

The second edition of the "Century" was published in 1746; the third in 1767: while the fourth, which may be considered as the best edition, is a reprint from the first, and is furnished with an appendix "containing an Historical Account of the Fire Engine for Raising Water." It is dated Kyo, near Lancaster, June 18, 1778. The fifth is a reprint from the Glasgow copy, "by W. Bailey, Proprietor of the Speaking Figure, now showing, by permission of the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, at No. 42, within Bishopsgate," 1786. The sixth edition was confined to 100 copies, and dated London 1813.

[6]The above Letter, as appears by the envelope, was directed to his Grace the Duke of Albermarle.

[7]Charles V., after his abdication, retired to the monastery of St. Justus, in Estramadura, where he amused himself, during the latter period of his life, in the making of automatons, in which he was assisted by a very ingenious artist named Turriano.

[8]History of Inventions, vol. iii. p. 326.

[9]VideHistorical and Descriptive Account of the Steam-engine, by C. F. Partington, p. 6.

[10]Since writing the above, the Editor has seen a report on Mr. Brown's engine by Professor Millington, in which it is distinctly stated that the apparatus is fully adapted to the purpose for which it is intended.

[11]VideHistorical Account of the Steam-engine, by C. F. Partington.

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