PERPETUAL MOTION 55 



" On the side AB of the triangle, the weights bbb, etc., 

 hanging perpendicularly alongside the band of sponge, the 

 band is not compressed by them, and its pores being left 

 open, the water at the point x, at which the band meets its 

 surface, will rise to a certain height y, above its level, and 

 thereby create a load, which load will not exist on the as- 

 cending side CA, because on this side the chain of weights 

 compresses the band at the water's edge, and squeezes out 

 any water that may have previously accumulated in it; so 

 that the band rises in a dry state, the weight of the chain 

 having been so proportioned to the breadth and thickness 

 of the band as to be sufficient to produce this effect. The 

 load, therefore, on the descending side AB, not being op- 

 posed by any similar load on the ascending side, and the 

 equilibrium of the other parts not being disturbed by the 

 alternate expansion and compression of the sponge, the 

 band will begin to move in the direction AB; and as it 

 moves downwards, the accumulation of water will continue 

 to rise, and thereby carry on a constant motion, provided 

 the load at xy be sufficient to overcome the friction on the 

 rollers ABC. 



" Now to ascertain the quantity of this load in any par- 

 ticular machine, it must be stated that it is found by ex- 

 periment that the water will rise in a fine sponge about an 

 inch above its level; if, therefore, the band and sponge be 

 one foot thick and six feet broad, the area of its horizontal 

 section in contact with the water would be 864 square 

 inches, and the weight of the accumulation of water raised 

 by the capillary attraction being one inch rise upon 864 

 square inches, would be 30 lb., which, it is conceived, would 

 be much more than equivalent to the friction of the rollers." 



The article, inspired no doubt by Sir William, then goes 

 on to give elaborate reasons for the success of the device, 

 but all these are met by the damning fact that the machine 

 never worked. Some time afterwards Sir William, at 

 considerable expense, published a pamphlet in which he 

 explained and defended his views. If he had only had a 

 working model made and the thing had continued in motion 



