410 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



Mr. J. Dixon. — While listening to the article just read on American 

 watches made by machinery, I was reminded of what has been done in this 

 country by machiner}' over manual labor, I was carried along in my mind 

 to the Springfield armory, where everything is made by machinery, where 

 each particular piece is a duplicate of the other. I also recollected how 

 the English had the machinery made here, the tools and all, and sent to 

 England, and not only that, but they had also our American workmen sent 

 out to them to' show them how to use these tools, and now they make their 

 small arms as well themselves. 



Let us take the Achromatic object glass which we now make from fifteen 

 to eighteen inches in diameter; in my recollection five inches was consi- 

 dered a ver}'^ large glass. While in Boston, some time ago, I called on my 

 friend Alvin Clark, and he showed me some letters he received from an 

 English astronomer, in which he said he was much surprised to see an 

 eight-inch object glass, and what he saw through it surprised him still 

 more. He again states that he tried another glass, eight and one-eighth 

 inches in diameter, which so far eclipsed the first that he did not know what 

 to sa3^ Clark has lately successfully finished a glass of more than twenty 

 inches diameter. It is a common phrase that we are a fast people, and I 

 think we are. I can remember well the progress of steam on the North 

 river. I have seen the sills of the first shop where Fulton built his first 

 engine in Jersey city, and it was here on the North river that he effected 

 the practical establishment of navigation by steam. The Clermont was 

 the first vessel which was ever wholly and effectually propelled by steam* 

 And I should not be surprised but that many here will live to see the 

 American watch, which will be greatly improved hereafter, take the place 

 of the European article. It will not be long, however, before the art will 

 be stolen from us; but as our benevolence is large, and we have furnished 

 Europe with inventions and improvements before, we can spare this with 

 the rest. 



On motion of Dr. Parmelee, the subject of " Horology " was continued 

 for the next meeting. 



Adjourned. 



'■\ 



American Institute Polytechnic Association, 

 uMaij 2Sth, 1863. 



Chairman, Mr. S. D. Tillman, Esq.; Secretary, Mr. John W. Chambers. 



Mr. E. Stevens read a paper on sugar, and its effects on the human sys- 

 tem, in which he endeavored to show that sugar is often injurious, and that 

 it is the common practice in this country to eat too much of this article. 



Mr. Benjamin Garvey presented some specimens of minerals found on 

 the coast of Long Island, which were referred to Dr. Stevens for exami- 

 nation. 



Horology. 



The Chairman said among the modern improvements for measuring time 

 the American clock stands prominent. We now make cheap clocks for 

 nearly the whole world. In the year 1197, Mr. Eli Terry, then of Litch. 

 field, Connecticut, took out his first patent for making wooden clocks; un- 

 fortunately the destruction of the Patent Office by fire some forty years 



