On tfw Means of gaining Power in Mechanics, 273 



conclxisions which are quite erroneous and ill founded : — 

 for as to the former, I had pointedly remarked that this 

 novelty (of gaining power) was inadmissible on the esta* 

 bii.^^hed principles of mechanics : and respecting the latter, 

 his arguments, against his own supposition, concerning la- 

 tent propertied in the mechanical powers, of which I never 

 had any idea, by no means proved the impossibility of my 

 discovering what had escaped the superior abilities of other 

 men ; because things full as unlikely do sometimes happen. 

 Nor is he more successful in his confident assertion, that the 

 engine I have constructed will, at a certain period, require 

 as much external power to restore it to its former state, as 

 it had apparently gained power beyond the laws of mecha- 

 nics by its first effort; because this engine is announced as 

 an exception to the rules on which he forms his opinions : 

 and the facts are, that it effects what the established max- 

 ims held out as being impossible, and that it does not re- 

 quire such great external poiver to restore it as he supposes. 

 Hence it may properly be called a novelty. It is, however, 

 what has long been sought, and what great numbers of 

 well-informed geniuses in this and other countries are even 

 now assiduously endeavouring to gain, with the established 

 principles at their fingers' ends. 



To give a drawing or particular description of this engine 

 in any Magazine, or taking out a patent, would be making 

 it too public, by putting our continental neighbours, who 

 are now most closely confederated against us, and intent on 

 doing us all the injury in their power, on the same footing 

 with ourselves ; and perhaps give them advantages, which, 

 being the birth-right of my countrymen, shall, as far as 

 rests. with me, be wholly secured to them. 



It will therefore suffice, f(>r the immediate gratification of 

 your readers particularly interested in this subject, to state in 

 general terms, that this engine is a singular, though very sim- 

 ple, combination and disposition of the mechanical powers. 



I lake this opportunity to request the favour of an ansvver 

 from some of your ingenious and obliging correspondents 

 to the following question : 



Is it possible so to dispose a moving power, (suppose a 

 Vol. 30. No. 119. ^pW/ 1 SOS. S one 



