Chapter 13: is, “concerning an universal character that may be legible (3)

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.

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.