in both cylinders. forced up the pipe, o, into the lower cylinder, and rising upwards moves the floating ball attached to the cock or the pipe, g; this opens it, and permitting the air to fill the upper receiver, the farther rise of the water is prevented-the steam cock is now opened and the injection cock shut, and the vapour presses the air from the upper cylinder into the lower, and this in its turn forces the water beneath it through the pipe a, into the eduction pipe. The escape of the air through the pipe g, at the commencement of the operation, is prevented by the operation of a small valve placed at the end of the pipe which opens upwards. When the air has been expelled from the upper receiver, its decent has in its turn forced the water from the under vessel into the reservoir. The injection cock is then opened, and the vapour is condensed; the air in the lower vessel expands upwards, and forming a partial vacuum in both, permits the rise of the water from the cistern ;-its ascent again lifts the ball cock and opens through the pipe, g, the communication with the atmosphere and upper cylinder which is again filled with air; the injection cock being shut, and the steam cock opened, the vapour forces the air before it, and that communicates its motion to the water, as has been described, and these alternations produce the effect intended. On trial the scheme failed, and Blakey was added to the list of unsuccessful speculators-not, however, without exerting the privilege of complaining of patronage being withheld, and promises broken. Water from the cistern is The various views of the atmospheric engine which have been already given, may probably be considered more than sufficiently numerous for the illustration of a mechanism whose use is soon to become obsolete; but justice to those who are to follow, as much as to those who have gone before, required ample notices of the various forms Newcomen's apparatus received, before it was superseded by another combination. The most perfect models will be found described at great length in the works of Smeaton. "This eminent man was born an engineer; his playthings were not those of children, but the tools men work with, and he had always more pleasure in observing artificers work than in joining in juvenile amusements."* The elder Smeaton was an attorney, and the son, yielding to parental wishes, attended the courts at Westminster, to fit him for practising his father's profession. But his disgust of what he called "the sordid employment " overcame his strong filial resolution, and following the impulse of his genius, he began his brilliant career as an experimental philosopher, engineer, and mechanic. Early in life, he attracted the notice of the duke and duchess of Queensberry, from a strong resemblance to their favourite Gay, the poet. The commencement of this acquaintance was singular, but the continuance of their esteem lasted through life. Their first meeting was at Ranelagh, where walking with Mrs. Smeaton, he observed an elderly lady and gentleman fix an evident and marked attention on him. After some turns, they at last stopped him, and the duchess, of eccentric memory, said, "Sir, I don't know who you are, or what you are, but so strongly do you resemble my poor dear Gay, we must be acquainted, you shall go home and sup with us; and if the minds of the two men accord as do the countenance, you will find two cheerful old folks, who can love you well, (and I think or you are an hypocrite,) you can as well deserve it." The invitation was accepted, and as long as the duke and duchess lived, the friendship was as cordial as uninterrupted; indeed, their society had so much of the play which genuine wit and goodness know how to combine, that it proved to be among the most agreeable relaxations of his life-a sort of amicable and pleasant hostility was renewed, whenever they met, of talent and good humour, "It was a favourite maxim of his, that the abilities of the individual were a debt due to the common stock of public happiness or accommodation. This governed his actions through life; for the claim of society, (thus become sacred,) his time was devoted to the cultivation of talents by in the course of which, he effected the abolition of that inconsiderate indiscriminate play amongst people of superior rank, or fortune, which compels every one to join, and at their own stake too; he detested cards, and, his attention never following the game, played like a boy. The game was Pope Joan, the general run of it was high, and the stake in the " pope" had accidentally accumulated to a sum more than serious-it was Smeaton's turn by the deal to double it, when regardless of his cards, he busily made minutes on a scrap of paper, and put it on the board. The duchess eagerly asked him, "what it was," and he coolly replied, Your Grace will recollect the field in which my house stands, may be about five acres, three roods, and seven perches; which at thirty years' purchase, will just be my stake; and if your grace will make a duke of me, I presume the winner will not dislike my mortgage." The joke and lesson had alike their weight; they never after played but for the merest trifle."p. 29. vol. 1. Reports of the late John Smeaton, "The submission of his temper, naturally warm, to reason and benevolence, is strongly illustrated by the following circumstance:-A man formerly employed by him as a clerk, and for whom, having the highest confidence and esteem, he procured a similar though more lucrative situation in a public office, where he served with a fidelity, which in time promoted him to a station of high trust and responsibility, and Smeaton became bound with another gentleman for his conduct in a considerable sum. It were needless to say by what degrees in error this man fell. At last, he forged a false statement to meet the deficiency-was detected and given up to justice-the same post brought news of the forfeiture of the bond; of the man's compunctions and danger; and of the refusal of the other surety to pay the moiety. Yet, although Smeaton disbursed the whole, amounting to some thousands, all that could soothe the remorse of a prisoner, every means which could save him, (which did at least from public execution) were exerted that could be prompted by the most active benevolence."P. 28, vol. 1. ibid. which he might benefit mankind, and afterwards to the unwearied application of them. The arrangement of his time was governed by a method as invariable as inviolable; professional studies were never broken in upon by the calls of pleasure or indolence." By his unremitting industry, unyielding integrity, and habitual caution, he stood without a rival in his profession and was called upon for his advice and direction in the greater number of public works which, during his life, were undertaken in his own and other countries. The steam-engine had a great share of his attention; and if there is nothing which can be pointed out as having been added by his invention, he is probably that individual to whom is due the greatest share of the merit of giving the most perfect form and proportion to those materials supplied by his predecessors and cotemporaries. |