Chapter XII (3)

It is puerile in the extreme to be foretelling defeat when
so many other objects may be gained by the highly laudable
pursuit, perhaps of greater advantage to society at large than
the discovery in question. * * * In a word, were the perpetual
motion discovered tomorrow, it would be wise of all the
governments of the world to offer a very high reward for some
species of discovery that would be universally sought after,
although it might never be found out. * * * The effects of
industry are--enlargement of the mind, accumulation of knowledge,
and rendering ourselves ignorant of the torments which idleness
and dulness always engender. * * * In the next place, there
are no solid grounds for the assertion that the discovery of
a perpetual motion is an impossibility. In the present state
of human knowledge respecting the powers of nature, it is not
demonstrable one way or another. * * * The study of what relates
to the perpetual motion has this great advantage, that it
directs to the discovery of error as well as of truth; whereas,
what are they which are called truths of science at present but
vacillating human opinions, or erroneous assumptions of what
we call natural causes? What are they but such as consist in
mere assumption, sanctioned by time, and admitted by existing
authorities in science, and of course generally acquiesced in,
without previous investigation?

So far, then, from being guided in our decision respecting what
is possible by the "unerring laws of nature," by "mathematical
demonstration," and by "experimental proofs," we are continually
misled by an erroneous faith in the nonentity, attraction.

On such an imperfect knowledge of the causes of phenomena, who
should say he knows what can or what cannot be discovered?

Article From Pamphleteer

In the "Pamphleteer," published in London, the following by a correspondent whose name we cannot give was published in March of 1822:

"A few words inducing towards the discovery of Perpetual Motion, perhaps the actual discovery thereof:"

London, March, 1822.

What is meant by the term "Perpetual Motion?" Is it supposed
that there is an undiscovered substance in the world, that will
of itself perpetually move, with as little apparent cause as
that which actuates the needle in becoming motionless in one
particular position? Or, is it to be found in the combined
reaction of mechanical powers?

The first idea is stamped with a degree of probability, by the
mystery of the needle; yet I imagine the latter is relied on
with the greater confidence of mankind, and is the pith of the
following few words:

It is well known that the weight of a pendulum will almost regain
the level from which it descended, losing a little space at every
vibration, until it becomes motionless; if of itself it could
exceed or even regain the level, doubtless it would become a
perpetual motion.

To find a power that will aid the motion of the pendulum, and
in conjunction renew its strength, is what is wanted to create
perpetual motion.

What I shall endeavor to explain will at least induce towards the
discovery of this power.

The principal parts of the machinery about to be shown are in
number three:

A vibrating pendulum.

A revolving pendulum, and

A tubular lever.

A vibrating pendulum in motion describes a segment of a circle,
and returns on the same segment, and at every vibration its
described segment decreases.

A revolving pendulum is composed of two or more pendulums, united
at their lighter extremities, there revolving on an axis, the
heavier extremities being placed at equal distances in the outer
circle: this, I believe, is what is termed a fly-wheel when
affixed to hand-mills, etc.

The tubular lever is the chief instigator of the whole, and must
contain a weight apportioned to the weights of the two pendulums.

Fix the lever on a cross axis; thus, on an axis within a circle,
the circle on an axis at opposite angles, thereby is given to
each extremity of the lever a revolving power of motion; attach
one extremity of the lever to the outer circle of a revolving
pendulum, the other extremity confine within the bar of the
vibrating pendulum; thus combined, the effect to be produced when
put in motion will be this:

The two pendulums will guide the motion of the lever, which
then partakes of the power of a pendulum, giving fresh impulse
at every vibration of the pendulum, and every half revolution
of the revolving pendulum; for, as each extremity of the lever
rises, the weight within falls to the opposite extremity, and
gives fresh impulse to the whole: thus (if my idea is correct)
will be produced motion perpetual--that is to say, perpetual so
long as the materials of which it is made will hold together. I
have given this short description merely by way of example, as I
believe there are several ways of combining these three powers,
so as to produce perpetual motion, if my idea on the subject is
correct.

The lever may contain mercury or a solid orb of heavy substance;
and if the tube be exhausted of air the weight will pass more
freely, and certainly increase the power of the lever.

J. Welch

In 1825 the following article was published in "Mechanics' Magazine," having been contributed by J. Welch:

Those who condemn the notion altogether seem to have taken but
a very confined view of the subject. What they say about mere
matter is right enough; but they seem to forget that there are
other active agents in nature which possess wonderful powers,
that have nothing to do with either bulk, weight, or form. Such
are electricity, magnetic attraction, capillary attraction,
and the irregular pressure of the atmosphere. The powers of
electricity are great, and, indeed, it seems to be the _primum
mobile_ that gives life and motion to the animated part of the
creation. Dr. Franklin shows us how to give a circular coated
plate, revolving on an axle, sufficient power to roast a chicken,
merely by once changing (charging?) it. Could not a plate of this
kind be made to turn a small electrical apparatus, so situated as
to keep the charge in the plate always at its maximum? The whole
might be kept dry by having it enclosed in a glass case.

It has often been attempted to give motion to a wheel by the
power of a loadstone, but hitherto without effect; no substance
in nature being found to have the power, by interposition, of
cutting off its attractive property. Still I think it should
be further investigated. Is a small piece of steel in the form
of a wedge as strongly attracted at the smaller end as at the
thicker? And would not twenty or thirty pieces of steel, of that
form, placed round the circumference of a circle, the point of
one towards the head of the other, cause a magnet placed in the
centre, to revolve in the direction in which their points lie? I
think, perhaps not; but still such experiments should be tried.

In capillary attraction we have a power that at once raises
fluids above their level. It is this which carries the oil up
the wick of a lamp as fast as the flame consumes it. Water and
other fluids rise through cotton even quicker than oil; and he
who can contrive to collect them as they arrive at the top will
discover perpetual motion. Would not water run constantly through
a siphon, one leg of which was made of a collection of capillary
tubes, and the other in the usual way? or would the water above
and below the tubes neutralize and destroy their power?

I now come to the pressure of the atmosphere, a thing easily
understood. * * * Make a cast-iron barometrical tube, with a top
sufficiently large to contain 2 cwt. of mercury; invert it in a
basin large enough to contain 2 or 3 cwt. more, and let a piece
of iron of 10 or 12 stones weight float on the mercury in this
basin, so as to rise and fall along with it at every change of
the weather. We have here both motion and power. The motion,
indeed, will sometimes stand still, but then it can easily be
regulated, and made a constant quantity in the machine to be
attached. I have no doubt but clocks, etc., may be made to derive
their chiming principle from a contrivance of this nature.

Article From Mechanics' Magazine

In 1831, the following article was contributed by an unknown correspondent to, and published in "Mechanics' Magazine":

"Yes; we shall conquer! All those dangers past
Will serve to enrich the future story."

The application to the subject, on my part, has been accompanied
by continual experimental elucidations of the subjects
considered, and comparisons of these with the axioms, theorems,
and demonstrations of one of the best authorities, if I may be
allowed so to call my favorite author, Emerson, whose _I says_
are generally correct.

I disagree with Mr. B., and do trust that even a perpetual motion
seeker might deserve encouragement, if it be found that such a
character may exist in a person who is not so ignorant of first
principles as Mr. B. supposes _all_ are who have this bias;
especially if it be found that the person's researches have been
connected with subjects of a more tangible nature, relating to
the improvement of the useful arts, and particularly to some
modern inventions of high importance that are not perfectly
correct in their construction.

In this article, Mr. B. advises those who are misspending their
time in this pursuit, to consider the question in its most simple
form, divested of more complicated operations, which simple form
is that of a pulley accurately constructed so as to reduce the
resistance to motion as much as possible. He says, "it will be
found, as long as the weights are equal," there will be no motion
produced, but wherever the weights are placed they will remain;
and to produce vertical motion in the smallest degree, it will
be necessary to add a weight to one of the former to create a
preponderancy. This weight he calls the mechanical loss, and an
insurmountable bar to perpetual motion, etc. We need not follow
Mr. B. to his conclusion, as I think this insurmountable bar
can be easily removed; and I shall be able to show that this
equilibrium, for such it merely is, can be destroyed without
adding to one of the weights, or absolutely taking from the
other; though this may virtually be considered to be the case,
inasmuch as we can at least produce an effect on the system as
if the weight were reduced. Mr. B. says, under this arrangement,
"wherever the weights are placed they will remain, unless an
addition is made to one of them." We will therefore suppose the
following diagram to represent the arrangement on a small scale,
delicately constructed.

A B are the two weights connected to each other by the string
passing over the pulley, and being nicely equalized in their
weight, here would, of course, be an equilibrium on the principle
of the lever. But take a flat piece of wood, such as a ruler,
and place it obliquely in a way so as not to interfere with
the pulley _m_ in the direction _d_, and then bring the weight
to impinge upon it in a way so as not to move the weight A
_m_, C _d_, the least, or alter its position. What will be
the consequence? Some would say, why, the weight A would then
descend, and cause the weight B to ascend. But I should rather
say, the reaction of the plane when acted on by the weight B,
having destroyed the equilibrium of the forces, motion takes
place. Now, if we attribute this motion to the reaction of the
plane on the weight, though we will not go so far as to say
motion is generated, yet if we say, by this simple arrangement
the equilibrium is destroyed and motion takes place, the least
we can admit is, that motion is communicated to the system, and
that by the agency of part of the machine itself, the apparatus
employed being considered as such. Then, why so much objection
to the term self-moving machine in limited sense? But I will not
dispute about words, which are but the images of things, and
images may be strangely distorted by the medium through which
they are received--of which distorting mediums, there is none
equal to that of prejudice in favor of abstract notions--which
notions perhaps, if rigidly examined, would be found to have no
foundation in facts or in common sense.

Another demonstrator of the impossibility of perpetual motion,
is Mr. Mackinnon (see "Mechanical Magazine," Vol. 1, Page 363).
As no doubt the different attempts to produce, or communicate,
continued and perpetual motion, at least, such as are often
brought forward by persons unacquainted with the science of
mechanics, are generally to those who are acquainted with that
science, if not absolutely ridiculous, yet of a nature to excite
a smile at their futility: still there are a few (perhaps a
very few) who entertain an opinion that such a thing is not
impracticable, and who have, from practical experience as well
as study, acquired a tolerable insight into the laws of nature
(so far as relate to this subject); who in their turn cannot
help smiling at the weak reasoning of some other would-be
philosophers, who gravely give their dictum in the case. In
this class I include Mr. Mackinnon, who very gravely goes to
work to prove, etc., and flatters himself he shall, if rightly
understood, help to prevent much future waste of time on the
subject. He then goes on to give us his definition of inertia, by
which he informs us that a body in a state of rest will remain so
until it is moved (wonderful!)--that it cannot move itself--that
it has not that power--and that no mechanical contrivance can
give it that power. (How profound!)

SUMMARIZED TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
Introduction 3

Contents 5-6

Preface 7-10

Introductory Essay 11-21