438
[Book IV.
Nothing more is necessary to convince us that Worcester here speaksof a steam-engine working a pump. No other solution can be given— noother conclusion arrived at. No one could have written and spoken as hehas done without having either seen or possessed a steam engine. Of itsvalue he was fully aware; for in the patent granted by Parliament in1663 to himself and his heirs for the long term of ninety years, those whopirated the invention were to forfeit five pounds for every hour they nsedit. He teils us that it was the result of “ many years experience andlabor,” and when it was complete, he poured out his feelings in an ad-dress to the Deity , a copy of which was found among his papers, entitled“ The Lord Marquis of Worcester ’s ejaculatory and extemporary thanks-giving prayer, when first with his corporeal eyes he did see finished aperfect trial of his water-commanding engine, delightful and useful towhomsoever hath in recommendation either knowledge, profit or pleasure.”Can any one suppose he here was mocking his Creator, when, in the pri-vacy of his closet, he prayed that he might not be “ puffed up ” with theknowledge of this great machine, and returned thanks next to his creationand redemption “ for an insight into so great a secret of nature,” and finallydesired no greater monument than to have one buried with him 1 Somemen have lost their reason by the excitement attending their discoveries.Pythagoras offered a hecatomb to the gods, and Archimedes ran nakedthrough the streets of the city. Worcester acted more like a philosopherand a Christian. Had he imitated the Syracusan , he had probably beenmore successful in securing attention to his discoveries.
From the latter part of the 99th proposition, we infer that Worcester used a forcing pump, as he intimates that the effect was produced by thedescent of a weight (on the pump-rod,) not by its ascent; and this agreeswith the description and figures of old water-engines. In “ Art and Na-ture,” published as before observed in 1633-4, they consist of forcingpumps worked by large tread and other wheels^-i. e. the pistons are raisedby these but are carried down by their own weight, or that of weightswith which they are loaded. These weights were sometimes attached tothe rod, at others to the end of the working-beams to which the rods wereconnected; and hence they were named “ beetle-beams,” from their re-semblance to a large hammer. Loading the piston-rod of pumps did nottherefore originale with Moreland or Newcomer, since the practicewas older even than Worcester . The piston in Fludd’s pressure-engine is an example. Such pistons were named “ heavie forcers,” (asolid piston being named “ a forcer,” and the upper box of a commonpump “ a sucker.”)
As Worcester is believed to have applied steam to work a pump, it willbe asked, did he not perceive its application as a mover of machinery ingeneral—-to propel boats, &c. % Yes ; and he has left a proof of this also.In a manuscript (see Stuart’s Anecdotes, vol. i, 56) he observes, speakingof the device No. 99, “ I can make a vessel of as great a bürden as theriver can bear, to go against the stream, which the more rapid it is, thefaster it shall advance, and the moveable part that works it, may be byone man still guided to take advantage of the stream and yet to steer theboat to any point; and this engine is applicable to any vessel or boatwhatsoever, without being therefore made on purpose; and it workeththese effects : it rowetb, it draweth, it driveth (if need be) to pass London Bridge against the stream at low water; and a boat laying at anchor, theengine may be used for loading and unloadin g.” Besides the Century,Worcester published what he called “An exact and true Definition of themost stupendous Water-commanding Engine, invented by the Right Ho-