Annual Report 317 



such a reward is entirely honorary, and to be expected only as 

 such, it may scarcely be advisable to be prodigal in applying 

 our pecuniary resources in this manner, except a case should 

 occur in which extensive experiments may be required for the 

 elucidation of the proposed subject. The Council, however, 

 proceeded to fulfil the intention of this vote as well as circum- 

 stances admitted, by resolving" to present two medals in cases 

 where they judged that a mark of your esteem and approbation 

 was called for; as shall presently be detailed. 



The only result of this proposal of the Institution, has been 

 the transmission of a new model of a carriage intended to be 

 used in conveying any kind of goods, with less waste of power 

 than in common wagons, and in regard to it the Council have 

 had a report in nearly the following terms : 



"That there does not appear in tins model that degree of 

 originality in the invention, or of probable advantage iu the 

 adoption of the construction proposed by the contriver, which 

 the Institution ought to seek in bestowing their premiums. The 

 structure of the model offers confessedly a copy of the invention 

 of another, with modifications so slight, as can scarcely have 

 been overlooked ; and, therefore, were probably contemplated 

 by the original inventor. But to the principle of the contrivance 

 itself, and to the exertions of the individual who here first 

 brought it into notice, the Council may think it incumbent on 

 them to direct their attention. The carriage of liquids in large 

 casks, rolling on their sides, appears to ha\e been first proposed 

 here by Mr. Nande three or four years ago, and he has since, 

 by numerous additions and improvements, brought it to the 

 form exhibited in a model transmitted to vou by Mr. Hertzog ; 

 and, though the idea be not a very recondite one, the principle 

 being in some cases in common employment, and different car- 

 riages of (he same nature having been at different times proposed, 

 used, and forgotten, yet the circumstances in which the present 

 attempt was made, and the energy aud perseverance of the con- 

 triver in his different improvements of it, do abundantly entitle 

 him to such marks of esteem as the Institution have proposed to 

 confer on zeal and talent employed for the public advantage. A 

 patent for the same contrivance has been taken out in North 

 America, and is described in a late number of the Franklin 

 Institute; but, as from the different proposals in regard to it, 

 some of the advantages of the construction .seem to be overlooked, 

 it may he advisable here to explain, shortly, whence is derived 

 the advantage of the construction: — The resistance opposing the 

 progress of a common carriage is of two kinds; 1st, the friction 

 of the axle; 2d, the resistance created at the rim of the wheel. 

 The first of these arises from the vertical pressure of the load 

 upon the axle, modified by the strain or effort exerted by the 

 moving power ; and the real resistance so produced appears to 

 ke very constant, or nearly independent of the velocity of pro- 



