98 Animadversions on Mr. Genet's Memorial, tyc. 



propelling power in the paddle wheels, a main feature in 

 the apparatus. These wheels which are estimated to act 

 upon the air with a force of 4200 lbs. per minute, are each 

 furnished with sixteen wings, or fins, five feet in length, and 

 two and a half in width. Eight of these on each side, are to 

 act at once, the other eight being doubled up, within a case, 

 or curb, to prevent their neutralizing those which are in ac- 

 tion. Allowing it to be practicable to fold in these wings, 

 without an immense loss of power, let your readers turn to 

 the plate, and see what will be the action of the eight 

 which remain ; that is, what portion of their power will be 

 employed in urging the balloon forward. It will be at once 

 perceived that the wings which are first liberated, tend to 

 drive the aeronaut back, just as much as those below, tend 

 to drive it forward, and that the only apparent effect, would 

 be to elevate it, by the descent of those which are interme- 

 diate. I am a little surprised that this case or curb, was not 

 placed upon the top ; this certainly would have been an im- 

 provement, at least to the apparent power of propulsion, 

 for although the thing would still have been nearly pow- 

 erless, it would have looked as though it might possess 

 power. 



Before I close, I will offer another mode of estimating the 

 power of the horses, founded upon data, given by Mr. Ge- 

 net. A section of the aeronaut, the car, the wheels, &c. 

 would measure about 2500 square feet. A brisk breeze* 

 according to the tables of the memorial, travels at the rate 

 of about eleven miles per hour, and exerts a force of about 

 eight ounces upon every square foot, this upon 2500 feet, 

 would be 1250 lbs.; and this therefore is the force, which when 

 a brisk breeze blows, tends to carry the balloon, eleven miles 

 per hour. This is equal to the power of about 60 of Mr. Ge- 

 net's horses ; and were it not for the intervention; of his 

 wheels and pinions, it would be necessary to employ this 

 number, at least, notwithstanding the bird-like form of his 

 balloon. 



But after all, may not the aeronaut burst ? The probabili- 

 ty of this is confessed ; but although, without freight, pas- 

 sengers, or additional horses, the articles taken up are esti- 

 mated to weigh 13,400 lbs. Mr. Genet assures us that "the 

 downfall would be as light as a feather," as he is confident 

 that the whole would form an immense parachute. Should 

 he err as widely in this estimate, as in those which have 



