DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1311#0218
OF THE "WORLD'S INDUSTRY. 185
motion will stop." The impostor refused to put his machine to such a test; and for a
sufficient reason. It was afterwards discovered that a cord passed through this post into
the cellar, where an individual was stationed to restore the weights at every revolution.
The studies, labours, and ingenuity of Perkins were employed on so great a variety of
subjects, that the task of specifying and describing them must be left to one more fully
acquainted with the history of the mechanical arts in the United States. He discovered
a method of softening and hardening steel at pleasure, by which the process of engraving
on that metal was facilitated in a most essential degree. He instituted a series of ex-
periments, by which he demonstrated the compressibility of water, a problem which for
centuries had baffied the ingenuity of natural philosophers. In connexion with this dis-
covery, Perkins also invented the bathometer, an instrument for measuring the depth of
the sea by the pressure of the water; and the pleometer, to measure a ship's rate of sail-
ing. Perkins continued to reside in his birth-place till 1816, when he removed from
Newburyport to Boston, and subsequently to Philadelphia. His attention was occupied
by steam machinery, which was beginning to acquire importance in the United States.
His researches led to the invention of a new method of generating steam, by suddenly
letting a small quantity of water into a heated vessel. After a short residence in Phila-
delphia, he removed to London, where his experiments with high-pressure steam and
other exhibitions which he gave of his inventive powers, at once brought him into general
notice. His uncommon mechanical genius was highly appreciated; and his steam-gun
was for some time the wonder of the British metropolis. This gun he invented in the
United States, and took out a patent for it in 1810. It attracted the notice of the
British government in 1823, and Perkins made experiments with it before the Duke ol
Wellington and a numerous party of officers. At a distance of thirty-five yards he
shattered iron targets to pieces, and sent his balls through eleven planks, one inch thick
each, and placed an inch apart from one another. This gun was a very ingenious piece
of workmanship, and could discharge about one thousand balls per minute. Perkins con-
tinued in London during the remainder of his life. He never became rich. He lacked.
one quality to secure success in the world—financial thrift. Everybody but himself pro
fited by his inventions. He was, in fact, too much in love with the excitement of the
chase, to look very strongly at the pecuniary value of the game.
We shall close our present chapter with a short notice of Josiah Wedgwood, whose
name fully deserves to be recorded in the list of English worthies. To many artists this
may be a name but little known; it therefore becomes the more necessary, in a work of
this description, to state a few facts connected with the life of this extraordinary man.
He was born on the 12th of July, 1730, at Burslem, in Staffordshire, where his father car-
ried on business as a potter. The limited opportunities afforded him for acquiring edu-
cation may be judged of by the statement of his biographer; that at eleven years of age
he worked in his elder brother's pottery as a " thrower." This occupation he was com-
pelled to relinquish in consequence of an incurable lameness in his right leg, caused by
the small pox. After a time he entered into partnership with a person named Harrison,
at Stoke; and during this period his talent for the production of ornamental pottery first
displayed itself. A dissolution of partnership ensued, and, in connection with a person
named Wheildon, he manufactured knife-handles in imitation of agate and tortoise-shell,
also imitative leaves, and similar articles. Wedgwood returned to Burslem, and com-
menced the manufacture of a cream-coloured ware called " Queen's" ware. He was, by
Queen Charlotte, appointed her potter. His business greatly improving, he, in conjunc-
tion with Mr. Bentley, a man of taste and scientific attainments, obtained the loan of
specimens of sculpture, vases, cameos, intaglios, medallions, and seals, suitable for imita-
tion by the processes Wedgwood had discovered. His ingenious workmen, trained in his
VOL. II. 3 b
motion will stop." The impostor refused to put his machine to such a test; and for a
sufficient reason. It was afterwards discovered that a cord passed through this post into
the cellar, where an individual was stationed to restore the weights at every revolution.
The studies, labours, and ingenuity of Perkins were employed on so great a variety of
subjects, that the task of specifying and describing them must be left to one more fully
acquainted with the history of the mechanical arts in the United States. He discovered
a method of softening and hardening steel at pleasure, by which the process of engraving
on that metal was facilitated in a most essential degree. He instituted a series of ex-
periments, by which he demonstrated the compressibility of water, a problem which for
centuries had baffied the ingenuity of natural philosophers. In connexion with this dis-
covery, Perkins also invented the bathometer, an instrument for measuring the depth of
the sea by the pressure of the water; and the pleometer, to measure a ship's rate of sail-
ing. Perkins continued to reside in his birth-place till 1816, when he removed from
Newburyport to Boston, and subsequently to Philadelphia. His attention was occupied
by steam machinery, which was beginning to acquire importance in the United States.
His researches led to the invention of a new method of generating steam, by suddenly
letting a small quantity of water into a heated vessel. After a short residence in Phila-
delphia, he removed to London, where his experiments with high-pressure steam and
other exhibitions which he gave of his inventive powers, at once brought him into general
notice. His uncommon mechanical genius was highly appreciated; and his steam-gun
was for some time the wonder of the British metropolis. This gun he invented in the
United States, and took out a patent for it in 1810. It attracted the notice of the
British government in 1823, and Perkins made experiments with it before the Duke ol
Wellington and a numerous party of officers. At a distance of thirty-five yards he
shattered iron targets to pieces, and sent his balls through eleven planks, one inch thick
each, and placed an inch apart from one another. This gun was a very ingenious piece
of workmanship, and could discharge about one thousand balls per minute. Perkins con-
tinued in London during the remainder of his life. He never became rich. He lacked.
one quality to secure success in the world—financial thrift. Everybody but himself pro
fited by his inventions. He was, in fact, too much in love with the excitement of the
chase, to look very strongly at the pecuniary value of the game.
We shall close our present chapter with a short notice of Josiah Wedgwood, whose
name fully deserves to be recorded in the list of English worthies. To many artists this
may be a name but little known; it therefore becomes the more necessary, in a work of
this description, to state a few facts connected with the life of this extraordinary man.
He was born on the 12th of July, 1730, at Burslem, in Staffordshire, where his father car-
ried on business as a potter. The limited opportunities afforded him for acquiring edu-
cation may be judged of by the statement of his biographer; that at eleven years of age
he worked in his elder brother's pottery as a " thrower." This occupation he was com-
pelled to relinquish in consequence of an incurable lameness in his right leg, caused by
the small pox. After a time he entered into partnership with a person named Harrison,
at Stoke; and during this period his talent for the production of ornamental pottery first
displayed itself. A dissolution of partnership ensued, and, in connection with a person
named Wheildon, he manufactured knife-handles in imitation of agate and tortoise-shell,
also imitative leaves, and similar articles. Wedgwood returned to Burslem, and com-
menced the manufacture of a cream-coloured ware called " Queen's" ware. He was, by
Queen Charlotte, appointed her potter. His business greatly improving, he, in conjunc-
tion with Mr. Bentley, a man of taste and scientific attainments, obtained the loan of
specimens of sculpture, vases, cameos, intaglios, medallions, and seals, suitable for imita-
tion by the processes Wedgwood had discovered. His ingenious workmen, trained in his
VOL. II. 3 b