CONCERNING THE STI-AM ENGINE. 313 



In the memoirs of the Academy of Sciences at Paris, page Amonton's 

 112, 1699, is to be feen an account of Mr. Amonton\s, who J^^^^^'^ ^"2*"''^' -, 

 fliewed the drawing of an engine, in which fire heated air» 

 which was to force up water on a wheel, to make itturn. We ' ' ■ - 



fuppole he under/iood his theory ; but to me it appears im- 

 practicable, though it mull: be faid that Monfieur Amonton's 

 notions are ingenious and ufeful for thofe who defire to know 

 to what degree the expanlion of air, for procuring power, can 

 be brought. 



There is alfo feen in the fame Academy's works, " Mr. D'Alefoie 1705 

 D*Alefme*s propofal to raife water by means of fteam, pro- 

 ceeding from hot water ; in a machine (a fort of aeolipile) in 

 which the elallicity of the fteam makes the water fpout to a 

 great height, fo ftrong is that expanfive power." Auguft 5, 

 1705. 



In 1707, the famous Papin publiflied, at Caflel, a freatife P^pin, 1707. - 

 on a new machine for raifing water hf means of fire; he 

 thought his manner was better than Savery's. He fays, " All 

 the world ftiall know that it is the Landgrave of Hefle to whom 

 this invention is due, and by him it was brought to the per- 

 fection it is in, though many obliacles were found in the ex- 

 ecution." 



I cannot help remarking, what a pity it is that fuch an inge- 

 nious man as Papin fliould take fo much pains lo acquire the 

 reputation of being the4irft in the invention of fire^machinery. 

 To appear lefs partial, he takes from his own merit to flatter 

 the landgrave, who certainly did not underfland thofe matters 

 fo well as he : but, notwithftanding the confideration that h 

 due to a fovereign and to the celebrated Papin, I make bold 

 to fay, that this engine was far from having the merit of 

 Savery's ; and I can fay more, experience has made me believe 

 that no man has feen the doctor's engine work a couple of 

 hours, as may be conceived from the difficulty he found in 

 making fteam, and encreafing its elaftic power in his receiver. • 

 Papin has neverthelefs given us demonftration in upwards of 

 forty pages of calculations, which prove his underftanding and 

 learning. This machine is in my academical works. 



In 1710, Thomas Newcomen, ironmonger^ and John Newcomen ani 

 Cawley, glafier, at Dartmouth, contrived to work a pifton ^^^^'^y'^ 2;™°^- 



1' 1 • 1 r 1 r , pneric engine, 



in a cylmder, by the weight of the atmofphere only, when with a pifton, 

 they had formed a vacuum in their veffel; but it took them *7i»» 



much 



