2

Dignity of the Mechanic Arts.

VOL. I.

of the arrow, as best constructed for the "The arrangement is supplied with an common blunderbuss, and may be propelled appendage for illuminating the flight of the immediately from the shore, or carried with arrow and scene of shipwreck. It consists the life boat. The butt-end carries a thin simply of a cylindrical sheath, or socket, metallic shield, or plate, which may be made containing the materials of illumination, conof copper. The point is sharp and barbed, sisting of a mixture of finely-powdered chloto fasten where it may strike, or act as a hold-rate of potassa and sugar-candy intimately fast on the tackling or rigging of the wreck. blended together. A spindle supplied exterIt is shod with iron, as well to subserve this nally, with a flat head, enters by its extreme purpose as to secure its direction, and com-end into a miniature phial supplied with sulpete with the resistance it must encounter phuric acid, sealed with a drop of bees wax. in a storm. The wood used is hickory, or As soon as the arrow leaves the gun, the ash, or, still better, lancewood; the more co-reaction of the air on the head of the spindle hesive the fibre the better; this is withed in drives inward the plug of wax and liberates its extreme length with whip thread or line; the acid, which instantly kindles the mixbands or ribbons of thin metal strengthen ture, the brilliant flame immediately fills the the arrow, where the bent extremities of the globular cage of wire gauze which surmounts parallel iron rod pass through, and which it, and the intensity of the light is rendered last are further secured by a shoulder on one still more dazzling and splendid by adding side and a nut on the other. Along this par- a bit of phosphorus to the inflammable powallel rod glances the iron ring to which the der. This part of the apparatus is made altoline is attached, the instant it leaves the gun, gether independent of the arrow, and may and a bit of cork, or caoutchouc, toward the be easily attached when circumstances reend of the arrow, interposed between the quire it, as when the darkness of the night rod and the body of the arrow, acting as a renders it imperative. The combustion recoil spring, will so far subdue the effect of which forms the source of the illumination, friction. cannot be quenched either by the sea spray or a deluge of rain, the medium of support being supplied from itself, altogether independent of the external atmosphere, however charged with watery vapor or rain, and the combustion is too fierce to be at all affected by the wind, even at its maximum degree of strength.'

"The entire weight of the arrow, thus plumed and shod, is from two to three ounces, eighteen inches long, and three quarters of an inch in diameter. These dimensions and weight have been found most efficient and successful when applied to a blunderbuss sixteen inches long in the barrel, and 1 1-10 inch diameter in the calibre. The entire The "experiments" alluded to in the preweight of the arrow and its appendages, to- ceding extract are detailed more at length in gether with the strong whip-cord attached a subsequent part of the pamphlet, and leave to it, was two pounds and one ounce, and no doubt on our minds, that Mr. Murray's were carried to an extent of nearly one hun-apparatus is by far the most efficient that dred yards by two drachms of gunpowder. has yet been devised; while, at the same The cord was of sufficient strength to pull a time, it is so cheap and portable, that inclinarope from the shore large enough to form a tion alone is all that can be wanting to bring communicating medium of escape from the it into universal use. wreck.

"The lowest figure exhibits the arrow ap- Dignity of the Mechanic Arts. plied to a three-pounder swivel, the calibre of which, however, though not represented If the true dignity of things may be meain the plate, it ought nearly to fill. In this sured by their importance to mankind, there case, the arrow and its various adjustments is nothing, perhaps, which can rank above weigh together nearly two pounds; and with the mechanic arts. In fact, they may be three ounces of gunpowder a line of consicalled the lever, the fulcrum, and the power derable strength and power will be propelled upwards of a hundred and fifty yards. In which moves the world. They do not want this instance a macharel, or deep sea-line, the "whereon to stand" of Archimedesmay be used. The cord is represented as coiled in the form of what is called French they have a sufficient foundation in themfaking, and was the plan adopted in all our selves. What, asks a late writer, gives to experiments, while it seems best adapted to civilized nations their superiority over the preserve the coils from being entangled-a savage? The answer is, chiefly the mecircumstance of the highest importance in chanic arts. By them the beautiful and conexperiments of this description. The barb is removed here to render the appearance less venient mansion is substituted for the rude complicated. and uncomfortable hut; and "scarlet and

No. 1

Dignity of the Mechanic Arts.

3

fine twined linen” supply the wardrobe, in || things with great,”) like the sun in the place of the skins of wild animals. They heavens, which renders light, and warmth, and comfort to mankind, without itself being conscious thereof.

There is a philosophy in the mechanic arts. The mechanic who brings to his occupation an inventive, enlightened, and inquiring mind, who is master of his craft, in theory as well as practice, has more of real philosophy in him than twenty of those minute philosophers, who spend their lives in puzzling the world with empty metaphysical speculations, and of whom Cicero speaks with so much deserved contempt. The mechanic who perfectly understands his trade, as well in the principles as the practice of it, gets himself a degree of no inconsiderable rank and honor, and that without the intervention of a college, or the formal vote of a learned corporation. To become an ingenious

are the foundation of nearly all the improvements and conforts of life, and, further, we may say, of the glory and the grandeur of the world. By them the farmer ploughs the land, and by them the mariner ploughs the ocean; by them the monarch is adorned with his crown, and by them the peasant is clad in comfortable garments; by them the triumphal arch is raised to the hero, and by them the temple ascends to the Deity; by them the wealthy foll in chariots and loll on couches; by them the sword is polished and the axe is tempered; by them the table is spread, and the bed is decked, and the parlor is furnished. To them the poet owes the perpetuation of his fame, and the warrior the evergreen of his laurels; by them Homer sings and Cæsar triumphs in all ages. Through them we are instructed by the wis-and enlightened mechanic, it is necessary dom of Plato, and charmed by the eloquence of Cicero: through them we admire the jus

tice of Aristides and the heroism of Leonidas.

And much of this is owing to two single arts, that of printing, and the manufacture of paper. By the former, learning has been rescued from the gloom of the dark ages; but, without the latter, the benefit of printing would be circumscribed to very narrow bounds. It is by means of the press, chiefly, that so much of Christendom owes its escape from the thraldom of superstition.

that the youth who is destined for a trade, should bring to his employment a mind inquisitive, stadious, busy, and inclined to mechanic pursuits. Such a mind, with ordinary attention to its cultivation, can scarcely fail of becoming in a very considerable degree enlightened. But to the common sources of information, a good many mechanics add a very laudable attention to books, to the periodical publications of the day, and to associations for mutual improvement. Mechanics' and apprentices' libraries are established, and mechanics' societies are formed, which, by inducing studious habits,

But in speaking of the dignity of the mechanic arts, we would not confine them to the mere hand that executes, without think-interchange of ideas, and collision of sentiing of the head that plans; for without the

latter but little more credit would be due to the person who exercises these arts than to the automaton Turk, who mechanically astonishes the world at the game of chess. To produce the great effects, we have mentioned above, to do so much to enlighten, to beautify, and improve the world, to labor for the glory and happiness of others, and yet be ignorant of the springs by which these important movements are carried on, would ill comport with the dignity of the mechanic. ? would be ("if we may compare small

ments, must tend to improve the minds of the members in a high degree. There is, in fact, at the present time, a very large share of information and solid practical knowledge among the mechanics of this country.

The life of the mechanic, it is true, is a life of labor, and while he wipes the sweat from his brow, he may, perhaps, murmur at his fate, and envy what he considers the easy lot of other professions. But where is the business which exempts a man from a life of labor? The life of a judge, and of the first officer under Government, is a life of la

4

Mechanics, No. 1.-Mechanic Powers.

bor. But can these "honorable men" build a ship, or raise a spire to heaven, or exercise all or any of the arts which add so much to the comfort and grandeur of the world? These the mechanic can do, and if he duly reflects on the importance of his labors, he can scarcely repine at his lot.

MECHANICS.-No. 1.

In the strict sense of the word, MECHANICS signifies the method of constructing machines

VOL. I.

our notion of the actual or possible situation
We may
of things amongst themselves.
rather call space an extension considered as
without bounds, immoveable, but penetrable,
by matter. In this sense it may be termed
absolute space.

5. RELATIVE SPACE is that variable dimension, or measure of absolute space, which our senses define by its relation to bodies within it.

6. PLACE, or absolute place, is that limited portion of infinite space occupied by a body. Relative place is the situation which any body occupies when taken in relation to another body or set of objects.

7. MOBILITY is that property by which bodies are capable of being transferred or to be put in motion, and to answer some nse-removed from one part to another, or of exful end, by certain powers, which are either fisting in different parts of space. 8. MASSES.-All bodies are porous, from natural or artificial. It will thus be evident which cause, taken with the extreme minutethat the nature of the powers themselves is ness of the particles of which they are comnot the object of mechanical investigation, posed, it so happens that fluids have the but rather the effect of them upon the passive power of insinuating themselves into all bodies; so that a mixture of two fluids will bodies, which have received the conventional be less in bulk, and occupy less space, than appellation of Mechanics, and the construct-when they are separate, and that the same ing of these in such a manner that the powers may act upon them with the smallest possible obstruction. We shall treat of this subject in its application to the various practical pur-a poses of human life, embodying these in our description of what are usually denominated

the mechanic powers.

bulk may contain different quantities of mat

ter or masses.

9. DENSITY, strictly speaking, denotes vicinity or closeness of the particles of which body is composed. In mechanies, however, it is employed to signify the proportion of the number of equal particles, or the quantity of matter in one body, when compared with the number of equal particles, in the same bulk of another body: density, therefore, is directly as the quantity of matter, and inversely as the magnitude of the body. For example, a pound of fir-wood 1. MATTER is a term denoting that sub-will occupy a much larger space than a pound stance of which every thing perceived by our senses is composed. Its relation to mechanics consists in its extension, impenetrability, and inertness.

INTRODUCTORY DEFINITIONS.

of lead; hence it is said that lead is a more dense body than wood.

10. MOTION is a simple idea. When a boy whips a top, it turns round, or is in motion; but when he desists, it falls down, or is at rest.

point in fixed space to another; and in relative motion while its position is varying with respect to other bodies.

2. BoDy is matter rendered palpable to our senses by its being collected in quantity. Solid bodies are such as are composed of par- The motion of bodies is considered either ticles of matter, with such an adhesive absolute or relative. A body is in absolute affinity, the one for the other, that they can-motion while it is actually passing from one not be separated without effort; as exemplified in wood, stone, the metals, &c. There are also fluid bodies, whose particles adhere so slightly that they can easily be separated one from the other; as in air, wine, water, &c. 3. DIVISIBILITY is either a real or imaginary quality of bodies. Every substance may be divided into surprisingly minute parts by mechanical means; such as grinding, hammering, wiredrawing, &c.

When a body is in motion, as much force is required to make it rest, as is required, while at rest, to put it in motion. Thus, suppose a boy strikes a ball from a trap, and another stands by to catch it, it will require as much strength or force to stop the ball, or put it in a state of rest, as the other gave to 4. SPACE is usually defined by the order put it in motion, allowing for the distance of things which co-exist; in this sense, how-the two boys stand apart. No body or part ever, it is a mere abstract idea arising from of matter can give itself either motion ot

No. 1.

Elements of Mechanics.

5

rest; and, therefore, a body at rest will re- || so that, on the whole, this apparently simple main so forever, unless it be put in motion inquiry becomes sufficiently complex to baffle by some external cause; and a body in mo- the proudest efforts of human intelligence." tion will move forever, unless some external 11. TIME.-As motion cannot be instancause stops it. For example, the reason why taneous, the consideration of time is necesthe top stops when the boy leaves off whip-sarily involved in it. ping, is, that the friction of its point upon the ground (or, if a boy were driving a hoop, and desisted from striking it,) and the resistance of the air, soon put it at rest. Somewhat too, might be said on the gravity and attraction between the top and the hoop, and the earth.

A body in motion will always move on in a straight line, unless it be turned out of it by some external cause. Thus we see that a ball rolled along the ice, if the surface be very smooth, will continue its motion in a straight line till it is stopped by the friction of the ice and air, and the force of attraction and gravitation.

12. ABSOLUTE TIME is a portion of duration whose quantity is only known by a comparison with another portion: the relation, therefore, between any two parts of absolute time, is not to be discovered. Relative time is a portion of duration which elapses during any motion of a body, or any succession of external appearances.

"There is a striking analogy between the affections of space and time; hence it is, that time may be represented by lines, and measured by motions. Hence, also, we say that an instant is the boundary between any two contiguous portions of time, as a point is the boundary of any contiguous lines. A moment is any small portion of time. To render time susceptible of mathematical dis

The swiftness of motion is measured by the distance of place, and the length of time in which it is performed. Thus, if a golf-cussion, it must be conceived as measurable; ball and a cricket-ball move each of them twenty yards in the same time, their motions are equally swift; but if the cricket-ball move two yards while the golf-ball is moving one, then is the motion of the cricket-ball twice as swift as the other.

and, to this end, it is necessary to return to some event which we imagine uniformly requires equal times for its accomplishment. We are furnished with such an account in the complete rotation of the earth upon its axis, which makes out a natural day as an But we must also consider the quantity apt and obvious unit of time; this is divided of the motion measured by its swiftness, as into twenty-four equal parts, called hours: in the above instances, and the quantity of each of these into sixty equal parts, called matter moved at the same time. Thus, if the minutes: and each of these, again, into sixty cricket-ball be equal in bulk and weight to equal parts, called seconds. A second is the the golf-ball, and move as swiftly, then it unit of time generally employed in mathehath an equal quantity of motion. But if thematical disquisitions.' cricket-ball be twice as big and heavy as the 13. VELOCITY.-The quantity of motion golf-ball, and yet moves equally swift, it is determined by velocity. It is that term hath double the quantity of motion; and so which expresses the relation between the in proportion. space described, by a body that is in motion. and the time which elapses during its description. This is determined by the space uniformly described during a given time.

With respect to relative and absolute motion, Dr. Gregory says, "It is obvious that these two kinds of motion can only coincide when the bodies to which the reference is 14. THE DIRECTION OF A MOTION.-This made are fixed: in other cases, a body in is the position of the line, along which a relative motion may or may not be in absolute body moves from one point to another. If a motion. The determination of the absolute body moves on a straight line, it is termed motions, by means of observations on the the direction of the body; but if it moves relative motions, is always a matter of great on a curved body or line, its direction is condifficulty; nay, is generally absolutely im-tinually changing. possible. Thus, when a ball is discharged from a piece of ordnance, it is possible, by means of the ballastic pendulum, and other contrivances of ingenious men, to ascertain its relative motion; that is, its motion with respect to that place on the earth's surface from which it is projected; but, in order to determine its absolute motion, the diurnal and annual motions of the earth about the sun, and probably the motion of that luminary about the centre of some more extensive system, must be taken in the account;

15. FORCE OF POWER.-This, when applied in a mechanical sense, is that which effects a change in the state of a hody, whether that state be rest or motion. The muscular power of animals, as well as pressure, impact, gravity, electricity, galvanism, &c. are considered as forces, or sources of motion. Bodies exposed to the free action of either of these are put into motion, or have the state of their motion changed. All forces, however various, are measured by the effects they produce in like circumstances,

6

Imitation of Cabinet Woods.

VOL. I.

whether the effects be creating, accelerating, || wood; taking care that each washing over is retarding, or deflecting motions. dry before the next is laid on.

16. EQUILIBRIUM signifies an equality of weights, powers, or forces of any sort. When bodies are at rest, they are in a state of equilibrium, or when they are acted upon by different forces, so as to be completely balanced, and have no tendency to move in any direction. Bodies are in motion when in a state of equilibrium-when the resistance to motion and the power producing it are so adjusted, that the result shall be uniform motion. It is by an accurate knowledge of both kinds of equilibrium that the theory can be applied to good practical purposes. Mechanics, therefore, comprehends the doctrine of the rest, the equilibrium, and the motions. It has been divided into two branches, namely, mechanics, properly so called, and hydraulics. The former of these embraces statics, or the balance-rest of solid bodies; and dynamics, which is a consideration of the motion of solid bodies, and their force during the continuance of motion. The latter branch comprehends hydrostatics, which|| refers to the resting equilibrium of liquids or non-elastic fluid bodies; and hydrodynamics, which treats of such bodies in motion. Pneumatics, or the doctrine of the weight, pressure, and effects of elastic fluids, as air and gaseous bodies, is also referable to this branch of mechanics.

Sycamore wood, dyed by an infusion of Brazil wood, either by itself or with madder, is made like light-coloured mahogany: if alumed before the Brazil is applied, and finished with a wash of verdigris, it resembles pomegranate wood: if, after being dyed with Brazil wood, it is washed over with spirit of vitriol, it resembles coral wood.

Sycamore, dyed with the nankeen dye, that is to say, annotto and subcarbonate of potasse, imitates light-red mahogany: if dyed with gamboge, dissolved in spirit of turpentine, it imitates citron wood: if dyed with an infusion of madder, and the dyed wood washed over with a solution of sugar of lead, it becomes a veined brown wood; but if the second wash is given with spirit of vitriol, it becomes a veined green wood.

Sycamore, dyed with logwood alone, imitates brown mahogany; but if the logwood dye was very strong, and the wood is afterwards washed over with a solution of verdigris, the wood becomes quite black.

Maple wood, dyed with Brazil, imitates light-coloured mahogany; with turmeric, it imitates yellow wood; with logwood, brown mahogany; with logwood, and then washed with spirit of vitriol, coral wood; with logwood, the wood being previously alumed, it becomes brown; with logwood, and then washed with verdigris, it becomes black.

Poplar wood, dyed with Brazil wood and madder, imitates dark mahogany.

Chestnut wood, dyed with saffron, or old chestnut, dyed with gamboge, imitates dark

Imitation of Cabinet Woods. Although many of the foreign woods are to be had in seaport or large towns at a rea-mahogany. sonable price, and at all times, yet the fash- Beech wood, dyed with turmeric, beion of using these woods in preference to the comes yellow; with madder, and then washnative being general, means have been founded with spirit of vitriol, it becomes green, to give to the native woods the appearance with veins; and being first alumed and then of the foreign. dyed with logwood, it becomes brown.

The wood ought to be well planed, and polished with Dutch rushes or pumice-stone, that it may take the color in a uniform manner. The pieces into which it is sawn ought not to be too thick, but rather in slips or veneers, that they may be covered by the dying bath. If the wood is in thick pieces, the dye is applied hot by repeated washes. It is advantageous to keep the wood in a hot room, or even a stove, for a day and night, to get rid of the moisture, and render it dry. When much wood is to be dyed, a long copper, like a trough, is most convenient: in a vessel of this kind set in brick-work, the wood may be boiled in the different baths until the color has penetrated a quarter of an inch deep. But if the wood is too large to be boiled, the boiling liquor is to be washed over the wood with a soft brush four or five times, according to the porousness of the

Aspen wood, dyed with turmeric, becomes yellow; with alum first, and then logwood, brown; with a strong dye of logwood, and then washed with verdigris, black.

Limetree wood, dyed with turmeric and muriate of tin, becomes orange colored; with madder, and then washed over with sugar of lead, brown, with veins; with a strong bath of logwood, and then washed with vir digris, black.

Pear tree wood, dyed with gamboge or saffron, becomes a deep orange satin wood,

Hornbeam, dyed with Brazil wood, or logwood, and then washed with spirit of vitriol, imitates coral wood.

Planetree wood, by the same means, also imitates coral wood, that is to say, the wood of the courbarel; dyed with madder alone, it imitates lignumvita; with madder, and then washed with sugar of lead, it becomes brown.