OF STEAM 



A slight examination of the principle upon which this simple 

 apparatus is constructed, will shew that no very considerable 

 force could have been obtained ; as the steam, passing through 

 the atmosphere in its passage to the wheel, must, to a certain 

 extent at least, be converted into water. 



After the publication of this scheme, which it is probable was 

 never put in practice with any very useful effect, nearly thirty 

 years elapsed ere the farther consideration of this important 

 subject was resumed by the Marquis of \Vorcester. 



The mode of employing steam recommended by the Marquis, 

 and which he describes in his " Century of Inventions," to hav e 

 been completely carried into effect, was entirely different from that 

 of his predecessors ; and it is evident that the noble author had 

 received no previous hint of Brancas's invention, as he ex- 

 pressly states, in another part of the above work, that he " de- 

 sired not to set down any other men's inventions," and if he had 

 in any case acted on them, " to nominate likewise the inventor." 



It is said that the Marquis, while confined in the Tower of 

 London, was preparing some food in his apartment ; and the 

 cover having been closely fitted, was, by the expansion of the 

 steam, suddenly forced off, and driven up the chimney. This 

 circumstance attracting his attention, led him to a train of 

 thought, which terminated in this important discovery. 4 * 



The Marquis's account of his invention is as follows. ** An 

 admirable and most forcible way to drive up water by fire, not 

 by drawing or sucking it upwards, for that mast be as the 

 philosopher calleth it, Infra Sp/iferam activitrttis, which is but 



49. Vide Historical and Descriptive Account of the Steam 

 Engine, by C. F. Partington, p. 6. 



M 2 



LECT. 

 V. 



