JOHN ERICSSON. 207 



Ericsson's plans at this early period. His contact with mihtary 

 men incited him, much against Count Platen's will, to become a 

 soldier, and he entered the army as an ensign. He was very 

 soon promoted to a lieutenancy. 



The posts of government surveyors being open to competi- 

 tion by military officers, Ericsson entered his name as a com- 

 petitor, and of course he gained a prize. His industry in his 

 new employment was most untiring; maps which he executed 

 at this period are still preserved at Stockholm. Not satisfied 

 with doing more work than others in this employ, he directed 

 his energies to the drawing and engraving plates for the illustra- 

 tion of a w^ork on the Gotha Canal. He invented a machine 

 engraver for this work. He next turned his attention to the 

 construction of a flam'e-engine. One was made with ten-horse 

 power, and was successful. Ericsson now obtained leave to go 

 to England; he arrived there in 1826 with his invention, and 

 did not return to his native country. He sent in his resigna 

 tion from the army, which was not accepted until he had been 

 promoted to the post of captain, and then only with much 

 regret. Alas ! for the flame-engine ; it proved a failure with the 

 English sea-coal. He had to begin and experiment anew, and 

 was at last successful in getting a machine constructed and 

 patented and sold to John Braithwaite, who was a friend in need to 

 the inventor. His inventions at this time are said to have been, 

 "A pumping-engine on a new principle, engines with surface con- 

 densers and no smoke-stack, and blowers supplying the draught, 

 applied to the steamship Victory in 1S28. Apparatus for mak- 

 ing salt from brine ; mechanism for propelling boats on canals; 

 a hydrostatic weighing machine, to which the Society of Arts 

 av/arded a prize ; an instrument now in extensive use for taking 

 soundings independently of the length of the lead-line ; a file 



