148 INTRODUCTION. 



of professor Hasler as principal, and James Ferguson of Albany, and Edmund 

 Blunt of New- York, assistants. 



The charts used throughout the United States, both of the coast of the United 

 States and the West Indies, are published by E. and G. W. Blunt, and they 

 have entirely superseded the foreign charts, being original drawings, continuing 

 the new discoveries and corrections with the general outline adopted in the 

 English charts. 



In connection with this subject, it is proper to state that directions have been 

 given for an accurate triangulation of the Niagara river at Niagara falls, and the 

 result will be given in one of the following volumes. 



Unhappily there is not in this, nor in any other country, a taste sufficiently 

 general for the study of the useful arts. Occasionally a brilliant invention arrests 

 the attention of mankind, and homage is involuntarily yielded to a discoverer 

 who has contributed to the well-being and happiness of our race. But the laws 

 of mechanics, although fixed, invariable and easy of comprehension, remain un- 

 studied and unregarded. Neglecting inquiry into the processes by which results 

 have been attained, society is content to pay its tribute of admiration for the 

 results themselves. Inventions are brought into general use, and curiosity con- 

 cerning the inventor, and the progress of his discovery, ceases altogether ; or if, 

 like the printing press and the steam engine, the invention marks a new era in 

 the march of civilization, a confused association of the author's name with his 

 invention takes possession of the public mind, and millions repeat his praises 

 without at all inquiring into the justice of the award. Although mechanical in- 

 ventors are busy among us, we have few trophies of the genius of our citizens 

 besides the application of the steam engine to navigation. MacAdam, the in- 

 ventor of the well-known improvement in the mode of constructing common 

 roads, was a native of New- York, although his genius received its development 

 in England, whence we have received his invention. Paul K. Hodge has 

 published a work called " The Steam Engine, its origin and gradual improve- 

 ment from the time of Heron to the present day, as adapted to manufactures, lo- 



