46 Meclianical PhUosophj, [Chap. I, 



ing original or very interesting views of the sub- 

 ject. Among these it would be improper to pass, 

 v/ithout respectful notice, the vakiable services 

 rendered to practical mechanics by Mr. Smeaton 

 and Mr. Dramah, both of Great Britain. The in- 

 stances of the ingenious application of mechanical 

 principles to the construction of different machines, 

 hy which the last century is distinguished, are too 

 numerous, and the authors of many of them too 

 well known, to render a detailed view of them pro- 

 per in this place. 



SECTION V. 



HYDRAULICS. 



In the principles and practice of this part of sci- 

 ence great improvements have been made, by the 

 philosophers of the last age. To calculate upon 

 sure and accurate grounds the resistance and mo- 

 tion of dense fluids, so as to furnish a residt which 

 might be relied on by engineers, and other mecha- 

 nics, was considered at the beginning of the cen- 

 tury one of the most interesting and difficult pro- 

 blems in mechanical philosophy. Newton first 

 endeavoured to reduce the laws of moving fluids 

 to the ])recise form of mathematical calculation. 

 In this, however, thougli he displayed great inge- 

 nuity, he was unsuccessful. His demonstrations, 

 when brought to the test of practice, were found in- 

 accurate and inappHcable. Guglielmini,a celebrated 

 Italian, siiccetded Iiim, assuming his principles, and 

 aiming to attain the object in view by the same 



