In the year 1698, Capt. Thos. Savery, a commissioner of the sick and wounded, obtained a patent for a new invention for raising water, and occasioning motion to all sorts of mill-work, by the impellent force of fire. The patent states, that the invention will be of great use for draining mines, serving towns with water, and for working all sorts of mills. In June 1699, he ex

before the Royal Society; and in their transactions for that year, No. 253, vol. xxi, there is the following register: "Mr. Savery, June 14th, 1699, entertained the Royal Society with shewing a small model of his engine for raising water by the help of fire, which he set to work before them: the experiment succeeded according to expectation, and to their satisfaction." In 1702, Mr. Savery published an account of his engine, and of the various uses to which it might be applied, answering at the same time, some objections that might be urged against his invention.

seems to have originated with the Marquis of Worcester, in the reign of Charles II. This nobleman in the year| 1655, wrote a small pamphlet, which was published in 1663, entitled, "A Century of the names and scantlings of the Marquis of Worcester's Inventions." In No. 68, of this pamphlet, which was addressed to the King and Parliament, he gives the following account of this important discovery.--" Anhibited a working model of his engine admirable and most forcible way to drive up water by fire; not by drawing or sucking it upwards; for that must be, as the philosopher calleth it, intra sphæram activitatis, which is but at such a distance. But this way hath no bounder, if the vessel be strong enough; for I have taken a piece of cannon, whereof the end was burst, and filled it three quarters full of water, stopping and screwing up the broken end, as also the touch-hole; and, making a constant fire under it, within twenty-four hours it burst, and made a great crack: so that having a way to make my vessels, so that they are strengthened by the force within them, and the one to fill after the other, I have seen the water run like a constant fountain-stream forty feet high; one vessel of water, rarefied by fire, driveth up forty of cold water. And a man that tends the work is but to turn two cocks, that one vessel of water being consumed, another begins to force and re-fill with cold water, and so successively, the fire being tended and kept constant, which the self-same person may likewise abundantly perform in the interim between the necessity of turning the said cocks."

It is very obvious, that the preceding quotation has an immediate reference to the grand principle on which modern steam-engines have been variously constructed, though it must also be acknowledged, that the description is involved in much obscurity. The Marquis concluded the above pamphlet, with a promise, that he intended leaving a book to posterity accompanied with plates, through which the invention might be carried into execution; but as this book never appeared, it is not improbable, that the whole was treated as a chimera, existing only in the head or imagination of a visionary projector.

About forty years elapsed from this period, before any thing was done towards the erection of steam-engines.

After several improvements had been made in Captain Savery's engine, all tending towards the perfection of the discovery, the next grand movement was made by Mr. Thomas Newcomen, an ironmonger, of Dartmouth, in Devonshire. This gentleman had been in the habit of visiting Cornwall, in which place Captain Savery was also well known, from his attempts to introduce his engines to drain the mines, which at that period were greatly reduced through the want of some powerful and cheap machines, that should become a substitute for muscular exertion. Savery, however, proving rather unsuccessful in his experiments, Mr. Newcomen made an effort to supply the deficiency; and it is to his genius, and that of his associate Crawley, that science is indebted for the application of a piston with machinery, by which the indirect action of the steam a little stronger than the atmosphere, or rather the direct action of the atmosphere upon a piston, is made to act with safety and effect against the most This engine, after receiving a variety of improvements, was at length carried to the utmost height of perfection of which it seems to have been susceptible, by Mr. John Smeaton. Such was the progressive movement of invention in this grand piece of machinery, from the crude idea first thrown out by the

severe pressure.

Marquis of Worcester, until the time | ledge. Among these, were Dr. Black, when the celebrated James Watt Dr. Robison, and Dr. Roebuck, of arose, like another Newton, to illu- Kenniel, near Burrowstoness. The minate the world of science. year following that of his marriage, he Mr. James Watt was born at Gree-invented his celebrated steam-engine, nock, in 1736. His grandfather and although his patent was not taken out uncle were both distinguished as ma- until 1769; and he formed a particular thematicians and land-surveyors. The connection with the last mentioned latter was known as author of a sur- gentleman, chiefly to carry his discovery vey of the river Clyde. His father into effect. was a merchant, and a magistrate of Greenock, and a zealous promoter of improvements in that town. The education which Mr. Watt received, was at the public seminaries of his native place. In his early years, his constitution was so remarkably delicate, that whatever his inclinations might have been, it prevented him from associating with his school companions, in those hardy exercises which distinguish the youthful race. This circumstance, together with a studious propensity, led him into retirement, which finally settled into a habit, that accompanied him through life.

His partiality for the scientific arts, discovering itself at an early period, he went at the age of eighteen to London, and placed himself under the tuition of an eminent mathematical instrumentmaker; but the air of the city, and unavoidable confinement, proving injurious to his health, he was compelled to return to Greenock, after he had been absent about one year. This seems to have been the only instruction that he ever received; in all other respects he was self-taught. It appears, however, that either through the strict attention which he paid to the instruments that passed under his inspection, and to the principles upon which they were constructed, or through the energies of his natural talents, he made such proficiency, that in 1757, when he was only in his 21st year, he was appointed mathematical instrumentmaker to the University of Glasgow, having apartments assigned him in the college, in which he continued to reside until 1764, when, upon his marriage with Miss Miller, to whom he was somewhat related, he removed to the town.

Possessing a truly philosophical mind, and being conversant with the various branches of science, he soon formed an association with men who were among the most celebrated that Scotland could at that time produce in these departments of useful know

It was

The circumstances which led to this event, though apparently insignificant in themselves, can hardly fail to prove interesting to the reader. about the time of his marriage, that he undertook to repair a working model of a steam-engine belonging to the University of Glasgow. While thus employed, he observed, that à great loss of steam was occasioned by the condensation of the cold surface of the cylinder, which Mr. Smeaton, with all his improvements, had not yet learnt to prevent. Mr. Watt noticed, that a great quantity of heat is contained in a very minute portion of water, in the form of elastic steam. For when a quantity of water is heated several degrees above the boiling point, in a close digester, if a hole be opened, the steam rushes out with great violence, and in three or four seconds, the heat of the remaining water is reduced to the boiling heat. If the steam be condensed, the whole of it will afford only a few drops of water, yet this small quantity, in the state of steam, carried off with it all the excess of heat from the digester. Mr. Watt reasoned, that if so great a quantity of heat is contained in a certain quantity of steam, the economical use of the steam was a matter of the first importance; more so than the construction of the furnace, which had been the chief objeet of former efforts to improve the engine.

Having, by a number of experiments, furnished himself with data, he was enabled to ascertain, that the loss of steam in alternately heating and cooling the cylinder according to the common practice, was not less than three or four times as much as would fill the cylinder and work the engine. His first attempt to remedy this evil was, by employing a wooden cylinder which would transmit the heat more slowly. This method had been previously tried by Mr. Brindley; but neither with him, nor Mr. Watt, was the experiment attended with much suc

cess. He then cased his wooden cy- | linders in a wooden case with light wood ashes; by which, and using no more injection than was absolutely necessary, he reduced the waste of steam nearly one half. But by using so small a quantity of cold water, the inside of the cylinder was hardly brought below the boiling temperature, and consequently there remained in it a steam of very considerable elasticity, which robbed the engine of a proportionable part of atmospheric pressure. It was in the year 1765, that he first formed the idea of performing the condensation in a separate vessel from the cylinder. He conceived, that if a vessel, which he afterwards called the condenser, was made to communicate with the cylinder by a pipe, and filled with steam at the same time, an injection being thrown into the latter vessel would condense the steam therein, and cause a vacuum. This being done, the steam in the cylinder would instantly rush into the condenser to restore the equilibrium; but this steam being condensed immediately by the continuance of the injection, the vacuum would still remain, and draw off the remaining steam from the cylinder, thus producing a vacuum without reducing the temperature of the cylinder below the boiling point. Having thus obtained the vacuum sufficient to cause the descent of the piston, the subsequent re-ascent could be procured by cutting off the communication between the cylinder and the condenser, and admitting into the former a fresh supply of steam from the boiler; but it was not necessary to admit any fresh steam from the boiler into the condenser, as the vacuum already produced still remained, and it would be prepared to receive and condense the steam from the cylinder, as soon as the piston arrived at the top of it, ready to make another stroke.

(To be concluded in our next.)

WESLEYAN MISSION MEETINGS.

Warrington. On Good Friday, March 31, a Missionary Meeting was held in this town, and much interest was excited. The congregations that assembled, were numerous and respectable. In the morning, an excellent discourse was delivered by the Rev. R. Newton, of Liverpool, and in the evening another by the Rev. J.

Stephens, of Manchester. The public meeting began about two in the afternoon, and continued until nearly halfpast five. At its commencement, James Wood, Esq. of Manchester, was called to the chair. The report, which was comprehensive without being tedious, gave a general view of the advantages which had resulted, and that might be expected to result from the continuance of missionary exertions. Several strangers, as well as the preachers of the Warrington circuit, spoke on the occasion, to an attentive audience, whose feelings of satisfaction were expressed by the liberality of their contributions. Three collections were made in the course of the day, the whole of which amounted to about 40%. Manchester. On Monday April 3, Missionary Meeting was held at Oldham-street chapel, in this large and populous town, which was numerously and respectably attended; J. Marsden, Esq. in the chair. Several strangers were present, and their animating speeches afforded much gratification to the vast concourse that crowded the chapel. The sums collected during the different services connected with this meeting, amounted to about 2501.

a

Chester. On Monday, April 10th, a Missionary Meeting was held in the city of Chester, Alderman Bowers in the chair. This meeting also was numerously and respectably attended, and the occasion excited much interest. The collections connected with this meeting, amounted to about 1007.

Liverpool. On Tuesday the 11th of April, a Missionary Meeting was held in Brunswick Chapel, which, though large, was crowded to excess, by an orderly and highly respectable congregation. The chair was taken at 11 o'clock by the Rev. Adam Clarke, LL.D. and the meeting continued until nearly half-past four. Several strangers were present, among whom were James Montgomery, Esq. and two Dissenting Ministers, who spoke admirably on the occasion. Several preachers of the Methodist connection also distinguished themselves, among whom were the Rev. Mr. Harvard, late Missionary from Ceylon, and the Rev. Robt. Wood. Few public meetings have excited greater interest than this. The people present, though belonging to various denominations, appeared to be actuated by one harmonious impulse. In the evening the chapel was

385 Bible Society, Liverpool.—Answer to W. Lamb's Question. 386

again crowded at seven o'clock, when the Rev. Mr. Storey preached about an hour. But notwithstanding their great confinement during the day, scarcely any person seemed to be either weary, or impatient to be gone. The collections on this day, and on the preceding Sunday, amounted to 2407.

AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY,

LIVERPOOL.

people (about 1500 in number) listened with much apparent satisfaction, and seemed to be deeply interested in the issues of the meeting. Several gentlemen of the Establishment, and from among the Dissenters and the Methodists, addressed the auditors. In their various observations, no party feeling was suffered to appear. Like the sacred Book which they had united to recommend, the views of the speakers seemed to embrace mankind; and in favour of its universal circulation, all appeared to have imbibed one common spirit. The parent society was represented by the Rev. Mr. Burns, of Birmingham, and the Rev. Mr. Langley of Shrewsbury.

ON Wednesday the 19th of April, 1820, another anniversary of this noble institution was held in the Music-Hall, Bold-street; Admiral Murray in the the chair. The business of the day commenced about twelve o'clock, at which time a vast concourse of people The speeches delivered on the occaassembled. These continued to in- sion were animated and appropriate; crease so rapidly, that before one sometimes descending to the local o'clock this spacious apartment was wants of the various districts of this completely filled. The Report, which large and populous town, and then exwas read, had been drawn up in a panding into views which comprehendmasterly manner. The style was ele-ed in one wide embrace, the moral congant; and the survey which it took of the great object of the institution, was not only comprehensive, but the various allusions which were made to past occurrences, and existing incidents, fully justified on the ground of analogy the prospects which were enjoyed in pleasing anticipation.

Although the Report was long, the

dition of the heathen world. We live in an age remarkable for the spirit of benevolence which it displays; and in Sunday Schools, in Missionary Societies, and in Bible Associations, we perceive the mighty engines at work, which promise to evangelize mankind. The collections at the doors amounted to about 30%.

It will be easily seen that A, B, C, D, E, and F, seized respectively in the proportion of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, to their original property; minus the same multiple of the sum given to each. Whence the following simple method of solving the question:

59 X 2 = 18 the sum seized by A.
59 × 3 = 42

ditto

by B.

ditto

by C.

by D.

61 x 7 427.

504

59 x 6

150

ditto

by E.

by F.

455 Proof.

27

3)1593 9) 531 59

To the preceding Question, we have answers from the following correspondents:-G. Brummit, of Tunstall, Staffordshire; G. D. of Porchester, a self-taught arithmetician; Robert Corteen, of Douglas, Isle of Man; J. B. of Dublin; Edward Flowers, classical |

and mathematical academy, Chichester; Arithmeticus, of Macclesfield; J. Twist, of North Meols; J. F. of Edinburgh; John Gordon, of White Abbey; and George Skelton, pupil in Mr. Putsey's school, Pickering, Yorkshire.