"A stupendous, or a water commanding engine, boundless for height or quantity, requiring no exter nal, not even additional help or force to be set or con tinued in motion but what intrinsically is afforded from its own operation, nor yet the twentieth part thereof. And the engine consistcth of the following particulars: A perfect counterpoise for what quantity soever of water.
A perfect countervail for what height soever it is to he brought unto.
A primuin mobile, commanding both height and quantity, regulator-wise.
A vicegerent. or countervail, supplying the place and performing the full force of man, wind, beast, or mill.
A helm or stern, with bit and reins, wherewith any child may guide, order, and control the whole opera tion.
A particular magazine for water, according to the intended quantity or height of water.
An aqueduct capable of any intended quantity or height of water.
A place for the original fountain or river to run into, and naturally of its own accord incorporate it self with the rising water, and at the very bottom of the aqueduct, though never so big and high.
By divine providence and heavenly inspiration, this is my stupendous water commanding engine, bound less for height and quantity.
Whosoever is master of height is master of force; whosoever is master of water is master of both; and consequently to him all forcible actions and atchieve ments are easie." That the engine thus described was actually con structed and put to the test of experiment in some form or other however rude, we think cannot well be doubted. There is nothing in the character of the noble Marquis to justify the supposition that he could deliberately record a falsehood; and still less that he could leave behind him the prayer which he offered up to heaven on the completion of his experiment. This curious document is entitled, " The Lord Mar quesse of Ilarcester's ejaculatory and extemporary thanksgiving prayer, when first with his corporal eyes he did see finished a perfect trial of his water command ing engine, delightful and useful to whomsoever hash in reeommendation either knowledge, profit, or pleasure." In this prayer he thanks God, next to his creation and redemption, for "vouchsafing him an insight in soe great a secret of nature beneficial to all mankind as this my water commanding engine."
Those who have opposed the claims of the 'Marquis of Worcester, have alleged that it is impossible to construct a steam-engine on the principles which he has laid down; but this is not entirely true, and we have great pleasure in giving the following sketch of what was probably the first steam-engine, communi cated to us by our able and ingenious correspondent, Mr. Scott of Ormiston.
In Plate DIV. Fig. 4. A represents a boiler placed in a common air furnace; a b c d, and e f g h, two wa ter vessels; i k I, the steam pipes, and k the steam cock; xxxx the force pipe; RS a cistern, which may be supposed to be placed at the height of forty feet above the engine, to receive the water from the force pipe; and v v valves placed within the force pipe to prevent the return of the water; nz n o the cold water pipes, and n the cold water cock; the dotted lines b z e represent the cold water fountain, which is here supposed to be immediately behind the engine, and the water in it standing nearly upon a level with the stop of the cold water vessels. Fig. A is a ground plan of the fountain, where nz n o represent the cold water pipes, n the water cock, and F the reservoir. Fig. 6. represents a section of the two cocks, which arc in every respect similar; the black circle a b e re presents the key of the cock, and the black shaded part the passage through the key; the dotted circle r s t u the shell or body of the cock, the two dotted lines t z the pipe that leads from the boiler, the two dotted lines s z the pipe that leads to the right hand water vessel, the two dotted lines z u the pipe that leads to the left hand water vessel, and the curved dotted line x z y the top of the boiler.
From an inspection of Fig. 11, it will appear that by a quarter turn of the key of the cock lc, (Fig. a.) the steam may either be directed into the right or left hand water vessel, and in like manner, by a quar ter turn of the key of the cock n, cold water may be permitted to pass into either of the vessels.