560 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



would then observe at once if a car became detached, an axle 

 broken, or, in fact, any accidents that might occur. 



I beg leave to propose a subject for future consideration, " The 

 cause of the oscillating motion in locomotiv^e engines at high ve- 

 locities, and a method of correcting it." 



The Club then adjourned. 



H. MEIGS, Secretary. 



February 27, 1856. 



A stated meeting of the Club was held this Wednesday, Feb. 

 27, 1856, at 7^ o'clock. 



Present — The Chairman, Mr. S. D. Backus; the Secretary be- 

 ing absent, John W. Chambers was appointed Secretary pro 

 tem. 



Messrs. R. L. Pell, Wm. B. Leonard, Edwin Smith, Wm. G. 

 Creamer, Geissenhainer, Fisher, Godwin — in all 36 members. 



The minutes of the last meeting was read and approved. 



The Chairman stated that the two subjects adopted by the com- 

 mittee fur discussion, this evening, were viz: "The future of 

 locomotion," and " The best method of raising sunken vessels." 



Mr. A. L. Holly being present, read the following paper on 

 the " Future of Locomotion." 



The discovery of natural forces and their laws, the invention 

 and adaptation of mechanical combinations, and the securing of 

 regulated, multiform, yet unlimited power, is the highest success 

 of intellectual labor. No philosopher, nor school, nor people, 

 can claim such achievements. They are the work of laborious 

 ages, and they will only be complete when tlie final struggle of 

 matter and force shall work the rene"wed dominion of chaos, and 

 the end of time. 



But in the solution of this grand problem of motion, the present 

 age is brilliant -with victory. On that boundless arena, where 

 mind struggles with force and matter, signal success is rather the 

 issue of an arduous campaign, than the rapid triumph of a battle. 

 A few honored heroes discover and attack the enemies' vulnera- 

 ble point, but the steady march of improvement can alone ensure 

 complete success. 



The future of such enterprises is prophesied by the history of 

 the steam engine. The vacuum and its deceptions, in the hands 

 of the Greeks and Egyptians, the exploits of Hero, and the re- 

 membrance of the ^lopile. had well nigh been forgotten, when 

 De Caus proposed to navigate the ocean by steam. The damps 



