TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 217 



On Thomas Newcomers Steam-engine (1712). By Thomas Lidston. 

 Nothing could happen, save the crack of doom, which would parallel in its 

 ettects on mankind a general breakdown of steam-engines. This is one way of 

 asserting that we are imminently dependent on the steam-engine for the supply of 

 our general wants and comforts. And this consideration may form the plausible 

 excuse for reminding the Members of the British Association that they are meetin- 

 tins year in the county where this machine was invented, and cause them to 

 listen to a word or two about the Inventor. 



Thomas Newcomen, an ironmonger, residing at Dartmouth in Devonshire, made 



<£u self-acting steam-engine," about the year 1712. 



m ' The model of Newcomen's engine which Watt was repairing when he invented 



his improvements" still exists, and belongs to the Glasgow University. It was 



exhibited last year at the special loan collection at South Kensington, bavin- been 



sent from Glasgow for that purpose. ° 



Newcomen's engine is called by Hugo Eeid "the first really efficient engine." 

 rredgold (in his treatise) says, "Newcomen's engine, as compared with all pre- 

 ceding attempts, produces all the difference between an efficient and an inefficient 

 en ^ n v * u m ey ™ mark8 >, " Savory could not succeed, but Newcomen succeeded very 

 jell, bmiles calls it " the first engine made use of." Ewbank, of New York, says, 

 a- lo J;e w comen belongs the honour of laying the foundation of the modern engine." 

 bir William Fairbairn wrote, "There cannot be a doubt that Newcomen was tho 

 nrst to introduce the steam-engine as a working ' machine.' " 



It has been the custom to speak of Newcomen as a blacksmith, and his invention 

 ot the atmospheric steam-engine as having been the result of a lucky accident. On 

 tlie contrary, Newcomen conducted his experiments on scientific data. A o-entle- 

 men of culture and of means, we find him the correspondent of Dr. Hooke,°of the 

 Koyal bociety, on this his pet project. Convinced of their importance, as a true 

 iTod-learing man, he continued his labours as with a conscience in his work. From a 

 paper in the possession of his descendants, to which I have been permitted to have 

 access, it has been shown that in the latter part of his clays he devoted himself to 

 the work exclusively, and in the year 1729 proceeded to London to take out a 

 patent. Unfortunately he was taken down in fever from over-exertion there, and 

 died before the patent was secured. 



On the Cytoscope. By Professor M'Leod. 



On a view Mechanical Furnace used in the Alkali Manufacture and for Calci- 

 ning-purposes generally. By James Macteak. 

 The author exhibited and explained the construction of a worldng model of tho 

 1 urnace which he has introduced for the calcination or so-called carbonating of soda- 

 nsh, and which is also applicable to many other operations, notably that of calcining 

 copper-ores, especially as required in that branch of copper-manufacture called the 

 wet process. 



These furnaces are now being widely adopted by alkali manufacturers with great 

 success, the saving in labour having been over 60'per cent., and of coal over 20 per 

 cent., while the quality of work done is much superior to hand-work. 



On the Saltash Bridge. By P. J. Haegabt. 



On Perhina'i High-pressure Engine. By Lofttjs Peeeins, 



On certain Dynamometers. By Professor 0. Reixoids, F.E.S. 



On Compound Turlines. By Professor 0. Rutsoim, F.R.S. 

 1877. 17 



