194 SCIENTIFIC APPARATUS. 



indicated horse-power of a steam-engine per hour. Few engines 

 at the present time produce an amount of work estimated at one 

 indicated horse-power per hour with a less consumption than 

 2\ Ibs. of coal, or about ten times the theoretical expenditure. If 

 the next generation of engineers were to effect a general saving of 

 one half only of the ordinary consumption of fuel for the produc- 

 tion of steam power, the gain to the nation would be enormous ; 

 and just as the science of telegraphy has advanced under the com- 

 plete union of the highest mathematical research with the prac- 

 tical experience due to continued observation of experiments, it 

 may be hoped that when theoretical investigators meet their prac- 

 tical fellow-labourers on common ground, such as that now referred 

 to, a new era of progress and discovery may be marked out, having 

 for its aim the wiser and better " direction of one of the great 

 sources of power in nature," namely, the store of energy existing 

 in a bed of coal. 



J. M. GOODEVE. 



