第109章

Important as these engines were in themselves, from their immediate utility, they were more so in their effects.Men's minds were directed to the advantage of what is termed machinery, instruments that is giving new velocity and direction to motion, and to the power of inanimate agents, generatire of motion, of both which the mill afforded the first eminent instance.Examples of the possibility of executing by other powers than the human hand, or the strength of the inferior animals, one of the most difficult of the operations that the necessities of mankind called for, being brought freshly before the eyes of almost all Europe, naturally prompted the genius of reflective men to conceive the idea of applying them to other, and even less easy processes.This general stimulus to the inventive faculty, conjoined with others, acting vigorously, but occasionally and partially, and already referred to, carried the improvement through a great variety of operations.Mills of all sorts, came to be constructed, driven commonly by water, as the more forcible, and manageable power.To trace the course of invention through these, were not to mark the principles regulating the progress of that faculty, but to enter on a description of European art.It may be sufficient to observe, that, in conformity to these principles, not only was each difficulty overcome by it, a benefit to the particular art it was meant to serve, but to art in general, each conquest extending its authority, not alone over lhe province where it was achieved, but over the whole region which it was its object to gain.If, for instance, comparing the ingenious and complete machinery of a well-constructed flour-mill of the present day, with a model of the rude and imperfect engines of the sort that existed two hundred years ago, we ask the cause of the difference, we shall.probably be told, the improvement of mechanics; but, if we trace the progress of this improvement carefully, we will find, that it was the fitting of the machinery of this very engine, to other arts that was one of the main producers of it.The productions of the union of arts also propagating others, like all generators, their increase goes on, to borrow a phrase of common use in inquiries connected with these, when there are no retarding checks, not in a simple arithmetical, but in a geometrical progression.

The effects, produced, by the passage through different arts, of this improvement on a very ancient engine, important as they were, have been far exceeded in extent of consequences, by one of altogether modern invention.

I allude to the steam engine, the progress of which, we will find to have regulated itself almost altogether according to the above principles.

As the progress of order, civilization, and art, covered the island of Great Britain with a numerous population, the stores of fuel which its cold and moist climate required, and its forests had at first afforded, were by degrees exhausted.Its situation prevented its receiving the supplies, which, had it made a part of the continent, might have been brought down rivers, issuing from interior regions.Necessity thus taught its inhabitants the general use of coal, in which, happily, its territory abounds.But what of this material lay close to the surface, and the fields immediately beneath, having been wrought out, the miner was urged on by the increasing wants of his countrymen, and the abundant materials before him, to penetrate still deeper, and the labors of generations formed large excavations, in regions far beneath the surface.Here, however, he was met by an enemy continually gathering strength as he advanced on him, and threatening completely to bar his future progress.The farther he penetrated, water poured in upon him in greater quantity, while to free himself of it he bad to elevate it to a greater height.A period seemed approaching, when very many of the mines must be abandoned.In this extremity, it was natural to the men engaged in this occupation, to cast about, and endeavor to discover some devise, through help of which they might successfully continue its pursuit.

The resources of all powers hitherto known having been tried, as far as in such situations they could be effectually employed, and seeming to be on the point of yielding, it could not but occur to attentive thinkersp that, if they were to succeed, the probability was it would be through some one hitherto unemployed.Of those, steam was perhaps the most apparent, and manageable.Its force must have been at least in some measure, known to many, and had been previously pointed out by one distinguished individual, as capable of producing the greatest effects.The operation to be performed by it, too, seemed peculiarly fitted for its action.Water is moved in pipes, and, it is only in confinement that the power arising from the tariffration, and condensation of steam becomes sensible.It appeared then by no means impracticable, to manage the condensation and ratification within metal pipes, so connected with those in which the water had to be raised, as to supply the force necessary to produce its elevation.On this principle the attempt was made, and succeeded, in first practically establishing the power of an agent, destined, we cannot doubt, to produce effects, far greater than any which has hitherto been placed within the hands of man.