Animadversions on Mr. Genetfs Memorial, fyc. 93 



to do this, I carefully examined the work, but alas, it was in 

 vain. 



" To propel boats on a high level destitute of water, and to 

 lower them to a water level,'''' is the next scheme ; it is the child 

 of the former and resembling it in so many of its features, 

 may be dismissed in a few words. There are to be rail-ways, 

 with balloons and buildings, fixed as before, for raising the 

 boats to a summit level ; other balloons are to be placed, with 

 similar appurtenances, at suitable distances from each other, 

 these, in their ascent, are to draw the boats along ; after which, 

 the balloons are to be successively "recalled down," that 

 they may renew their labors. 



" To relieve steam boats stranded, or grounded.' 1 '' The 

 boats are to be furnished with empty balloons, which are to 

 be filled instantly of course, with " ignited air," cooled by 

 passing it through water, and with coal gas ; which gases, 

 we are told, are, in general, dissipated without any ad- 

 vantage. Coal gas in the chimney of a steam engine ! 

 This is a discovery of Mr. Genet's, which his masters in chem- 

 istry and philosophy never dreamed of; they would have look- 

 ed there for carbonic acid, and nitrogen, and would have 

 expected to find but little else ; and with these they never 

 would have thought of filling aerostats, excepting to promote 

 the art of sinking. 



Passing over various applications of the same means, we 

 come to the " applications of the cerostatic and hydrostatic 

 powers combined.'''' Mr. Genet has performed some experi- 

 ments, by means of an instrument, which he calls an hy- 

 droaerostatometre ; a hollow tin vessel filled with air, and of 

 the capacity of half a cubic foot. By the use of this instru- 

 ment, he professes to have ascertained, that, using the old 

 French standard, of 70 lbs. to the cubic foot of water, the 

 upward force of the instrument, when immersed in water, 

 was 1 00 lbs. for every cubic foot. Although this is 30 per cent, 

 more than could be obtained by any other philosopher, we 

 may let it pass, as this difference will add but little to the ef- 

 ficiency of his machines. 



The hydroaerostatometre, gives birth to the hydrostat, 

 which, in principle, is the. same with the aerostat, substitu- 

 ting copper for silk, atmospheric air for hydrogen, (or for 

 carbonic acid, and nitrogen,) and water for atmospheric air. 

 The hydrostat, is, in fact, a copper vessel filled with air, 

 and is to be used " to raise, or lower, vertically, canal boats. 



