No. 112] 89 



the old beaten track and a suspension of opinion in most cases till 

 time and experience shall have developed the full merits of any 

 new invention. That this is a desideratum, "facts" which "are stub- 

 born things" can be adduced to prove. The very irregular propelling 

 power on board of steamboats particularly, and on railroad trains, 

 is perceptible enough to any man of common observation, and if 

 the same irregularity is carried into the manufacturers' depart- 

 ment we may easily imagine it the cause of frequent breaking 

 of threads and other inconveniences. The correction of these 

 evils is hy no meaus all the advantage to be obtained by a uni- 

 form motion. The question will naturally occur to the readers 

 of this report whether this invention will not follow in the track 

 of all its predecessors? It may be so, but we think that we see in it 

 features calculated to insure its success. The inventor has ex- 

 plained to our full satisfaction and comprehension the features 

 which distinguish this from those which have preceded it and the 

 lack of which has evidently been, to say the least, a partial want 

 of success in them. If this one should result as we trust it may, 

 then no award consistent with the means of the society would be 

 too larae to mark their appreciation of so great an advance in 

 mechanical science, for it should be remembered that an undue 

 appreciation is not only an injustice done to meiit, but manifests 

 a want of perception on the part of the society. No pecuniary 

 reward that your committee control would at all manifest their 

 sense of the value of this effort, as an effort merely, and we as the 

 only resource left us, recommend that both a diploma and medal 

 shall be awarded to the exhibitor of the '' Revolving Pi<:ton En- 

 gine.'''' The inventor has it in view to test the applicabilily of 

 this en;]jine as a propelling power 0:1 our enlarged canal, to which 

 the new engine seems well adapted by its compactness and other 

 great advantages. If successful, it would aflbrd an opportunity to 

 the Society to maik their full appreciation of this contribution to 

 science. 



The following remarks on the Hot-air Furnace of Giles & 

 Walker, Rome, which had been examined by another committee, 

 as well as this, and which received the award of a silver Medal 

 are given sliowing undoubtedly that it is a most valuable furnace. 



