ADDRESS. IxV 



Here we have, as to force-absorption, an analogous result to that of the for- 

 mation of coal from carbonic acid and water ; and though this is a mere illus- 

 tration, and may never become economical on a large scale, still it and similar 

 examjiles may calm apprehension as to future means of supplying heat, 

 should our pi-esent fuel become exhausted. As the sun's force, spent in 

 times long past, is now retui-ned to us from the coal which was formed by that 

 light and heat, so the sun's rays, which are daily wasted, as far as we are 

 concerned, on the sandy deserts of Africa, maj' hereafter, by chemical or 

 mechanical means, be made to light and warm the habitations of the denizens 

 of colder regions. The tidal wave is, again, a large reservoir of force hitherto 

 almost unused. 



The valuable researches of Prof. Tyndall on radiant heat afford many in- 

 stances of the power of localizing, if the term be permitted, heat which would 

 otlierwase be dissipated. 



The discoveries of Graham, by which atmospheric air, di-awn through films 

 of caoutchouc, leaves behind half its nitrogen, or, in other words, liecomes 

 richer by half in oxygen, and lience has a mucli increased potential energy, 

 not only show a most remarkable instance of physical molecular action, 

 merging into chemical, but afford us indications of means of storing iip force, 

 much of the force used in working the aspirator being capable at any 

 period, however remote, of being evolved by burning the oxygen with a com- 

 bustible. 



What changes may take place in our modes of applying force before the 

 coal-fields are exhausted it is impossible to predict. Even guesses at the 

 probable period of their exhaustion are uncertain. There is a tendency to 

 substitute for smelting in metallurgic processes, liquid chemical action, which 

 of course has the effect of saving fuel; and the v/aste of fuel in ordinary 

 operations is enormous, and can be much economized by akeady known pro- 

 cesses. It is true that we are, at present, far from seeing a practical mode 

 of replacing that granary of force the coal-fields ; but we may with confidence 

 rely on invention being in this case, as in others, born of necessity, when 

 the necessity arises. 



I will not further pursue this subject ; at a time when science and civiliza- 

 tion cannot prevent large tracts of country being irrigated by human blood in 

 order to gratify the ambition of a few restless men, it seems an over-refined 

 sensibility to occupy ourselves with providing means for our descendants 

 in the tenth generation to warm their dwellings or propel their locomo- 

 tives. 



Two very remarkable applications of the convertibility of force ha^'e been 

 recently attained by the experiments of Mr. "VVilde and Mr. Holz ; the former 

 finds that, by conveying electricity from the coUs of a magneto-electric ma- 

 chine to an electro-magnet, a considerable increase of electrical power may 

 be attained, and by appljiny this as a magneto-electric machine to a second, 

 and this in turn to a third electro-magnetic apparatus, the force is largely 

 augmented. Of course, to produce this increase, more mechanical force must 

 be used at each step to work the magneto-electric machines ; but provided 

 this be supplied there hardly seems a limit to the extent to which mechanical 

 may be converted into electrical force. 



Mr. Holz has contrived a Franldinic electrical machine, in which a similar 

 principle is manifested. A varnished glass plate is made to revolve in close 

 proximity to another plate having two or more pieces of card attached, which 

 are electrified by a bit of rubbed glass or ebonite ; the moment this is effected 

 a resistance is felt by the operator who turns the handle of the machine, and 



1866. e 



