PERPETUAL MOTION 75 



Such is the account given by the Marquis himself, and 

 that he exhibited such a wheel at the time and place which 

 he names, I have not the least doubt. And that some of 

 the weights on one side hung a foot further from the cen- 

 ter than did weights on the other side is also no doubt true, 

 but, as the judging of the "consequence" is left to our- 

 selves we know that after the first impulse given to it had 

 been expended, the wheel would simply stand still unless 

 kept in motion by some external force. 



Fig. 17. 



Mr. Dircks in his " Life, Times and Scientific Labours 

 of the Second Marquis of Worcester," gives an engraving 

 of a wheel which complies with all the conditions laid down 

 by the Marquis and which is thus described : 



" Let the annexed diagram, Fig. 17, represent a wheel of 

 14 feet in diameter, having 40 spokes, seven feet each, and 

 with an inner rim coinciding with the periphery, at one 

 foot distance all round. Next provide 40 balls or weights, 

 hanging in the center of cords or chains two feet long. 

 Now, fasten one end of this cord at the top of the center 



