1856.] Mr. Siemens on a Regenerative Steam- Engine. 227 



Webster, John, M.D. F.R.S. M.J?./.— Observations on the Medical Profession 



Bill. 8vo. 1856. 

 Wediiwood, Hensleigh, Esq. M.A. M.R.I, (the Author)— Geometry of the 



Three first Books of Euclid from Definitions alone. 12mo. 1856. 



Anderson, Eustace, Esq. M.R.I— V'lece of Granite from the Petits Mulcts (near 



the summit of Mont Blanc J), broken otf during his ascent, Aug. 16, 1855. 

 Vela Rue, Warren, Esq. M.R.I, (through Ren . I Barlow, Sec. R.I.)— Two 



Specimens of Lithium, prepared from the fused Chloride, by means of 



Voltaic Electricity. 

 Moore, Mr. Josiah — Model of his Patent Ventilator. 

 Smith, Mr. C. H.—Two specimens of the Lizard Rock, Cornwall. 

 'i'ayler, J. W. Esq. — Two Crystals of Columbite. 

 Specimens of Cryolite, St>dalite, Tautalite, Sapphirin, and AUanite, from 



Greenland. 

 Tanlor^ Rev. VK.— Taylor's Reflecting Tube. 



WEEKLY EVENING MEETING, 



Friday, April 11. 



Sir Charles Fellows, Vice-President, in the Chair. 



C. AV. Siemens, Esq. C.E. 

 On a Regenerative Steam-Engine. 



The application of the steam-engine to our various purposes of 

 manufacture and locomotion is of very recent date, although the 

 elastic force of steam was known even by the ancients ; for we read 

 in Hero of Alexandria, on Pneumatics (translation by Woodcroft), 

 that the Egyptian priesthood made use of it for their somewhat 

 undignified purpose of performing pretended miracles before an 

 ignorant population. The first suggestion of its useful application 

 for^raising water is due to the Marquis of Worcester, and dwelt 

 upon in his " Century of Inventions." 



The idea was taken up by Papin, Savory, and Newcomen, who 

 added important elements towards its practical realization ; but to 

 James Watt belongs the merit of having laid down a comprehensive 

 principle of the steam-engine, and of having devised means to 

 render the same capable of performing the rudest as well as the 

 most delicate operations. 



• If any proof were wanting of the great genius of Watt, it would 

 be sufficient to observe that the steam-engine of the present day is, 

 in point of principle, still the same as it left his hands half a cen- 

 tury ago, and that our age of material progress could only affect its 

 form. Great honour, however, is due to Fulton, Stephenson, 

 Nasmyth, and others, for having adapted the same to the most 

 important purposes. 



