condemn what they cannot comprehend, yet they are
now known to be generally, if not universally, prac
ticable." Edit. 1794, pp. 220223.
The "Athenaeum" of the 6th December, 1862,
520 THE CENTURY,
announced that U A very remarkable talking auto
maton is exciting the curiosity of the Parisians. It has
been constructed by M. Faber, late Professor of Mathe
matics at a German university, and is stated by our
contemporary, Cosmos, to be by far the most suc
cessful effort that has been yet made to imitate the
human voice. The figure, which is that of a woman,
is exhibited on the Boulevard Magenta. 1
We may here add the following comment on
\_A Stamping Engine^] u An engine, without y e least
noyse, knock, or use of fyre, to coyne and stamp 100 Ib.
in an houre, by one man." See Harleian MS. No. 2428.
In " Humane Industry," published 1661, at page 36,
it is observed, that, " At the Mint of Segovia, in Spain,
an engine that moves by water, distendeth an ingot of
gold."
The Coining Mill, or Press, was first introduced from
France into England during Elizabeth s reign, but was
shortly after abandoned for the old hammer process of
stamping with two dies. The invention of the mill is
ascribed to an engraver, who used it in 1553 for coining
the French king s counters. The new process of
coining was completely established in France in 1645,
but not in England until 1662, the year before the
" Century 7 was published, which sufficiently accounts
for its author not printing the present article.
According to the Eev. Eogers Euding, in his " Annals
of the Coinage," 1840, no improvement was attempted
for upwards of a century, the modern coining-mill
having been invented by Mr. Boulton, in 1788.
89.
White Silk knotted in the fingers 8
of a Pair of white Gloves, and fo
8 finger.
WITH NOTES. 521
contrived without fufpicion, that
playing at Primero at Cards, one
may without clogging his memory
keep reckoning of all Sixes, Sev
ens and Aces which he hath dif-
carded. 9
9 without foul play. MS. and P.
[Primero Gloves^] Although we cannot give a clue
to this contrivance for registering reckonings in card-
playing, it is worth noticing the old game indicated :
Primero, according to Dr. Johnson, is derived from
the Spanish, which Minsheu, coupling with the Italian,
thus explains, "primum et primum visum, that is, first,
and first seen, because he that can show such an order
of cards, wins the game." He then quotes as ex
amples :
"I left him &\, primero with the Duke of Suffolk." Henry VIII.
" The Spaniard is generally given to gaming, and that in excess ; their common
game at cards is primera." HoweWs Letters, i. iii. 32.
" Give me your honest trick, yet, at primero, or gleek." Ben Jonsovfs Al
chemist.
Mr. S. W. Singer affords some curious information
on Primero, in his excellent u Eesearches into the
History of Cards," quarto, 1816. It appears to be
uncertain whether it is of Italian or Spanish origin.
Primero, prime, and primavista, are the same game,
differently designated. It was very popular in the
reign of Queen Elizabeth; and, as we have seen, is
mentioned by Shakespeare ; indeed, it is supposed to
have been one of the earliest played card games in
England.
90.
A moft dexterous Dicing Box,
with holes tranfparent, after the
522 THE CENTURY,
ufual fafhion, with a Device fo dex
terous, that with a knock of it
againft the Table the four good
Dice are fattened, and it 1 loofeneth
four falfe Dice made fit for his 2 pur-
pofe.
1 it omitted. 8 this for his. P.
\_A Dicing -box.~\ It would be doing deep injustice to
the Marquis of Worcester, to judge him in all respects
rigidly by modern fashions, customs, and habits of
thought. The modern critic, in simple ignorance of
the age, might exclaim with just indignation against
the promulgating an invention to cheat at dice. We
have many examples to prove, that the Marquis was
not singular in proposing so questionable an invention,
and we can only consider such schemes put forth as
marvels in themselves and warnings to the unwary.
We find, as early as 1594, that Sir Hugh Plat, in his
"Jewel House of Art and Nature," describes u A per
spective ring that will discover all the cards that are
neere him that weareth it on his finger 5" an effect
produced by a hollow crystal stone or glass, with a good
foil on the concave part, to act as a mirror. The
apology he offers for publishing this scheme, will well
apply also in the present instance ; he says : " I have
discovered this secret rather to discorage yong novesses
from card-play, who by one experiment may easily
ghesse, how mannie sleights and cousenages, are dayly
practised in our dicing and gaming houses, not doubting
but that the general publication thereof will make the
same so familiar with al men, as that I shall not justly
be charged of anie to have taught old knaves new-
schoole pointes."
WITH NOTES. 523
John Bate, in his u Mysteries of Nature and Art,"
1634, page 151, or the edition of 1635, page 242, gives
directions, " How to make five or six dice of the ordi
nary bigness of dice, such as you may game withal,
and such as would be taken by their looks to be
ordinary dice, and yet all of them to weigh not above
one grain." To effect this : u Take a piece of elder,
and pith it, lay the pith to dry, and then make thereof
with a sharp knife five or six dice, and you shall find
it true that I have said."
So far as the deceptive part goes, we have an example
in reference to another game, afforded by Van Etten,
in his " Mathematical Kecreations," Problem XVII.
" Of a deceitfull Bowie to play withall." The whole
trick consists simply in producing an undue bias by
means of a secretly inserted pellet of lead.
Walpole says of the " Century," that " It is a very
small piece in which he (the Marquis) affirms having,
in the presence of Charles the First, performed many of
the feats mentioned in the Book." As however only two
are named, No. 56 and No. 64, the foregoing mis-state
ment requires no stronger refutation. He proceeds :
" The work itself, which is but a table of contents ; being
a list of one hundred projects, most of them impossibilities,
but all of which he affirms having discovered the art of
performing." Consequently, either the Marquis, or
Walpole occupies a most unenviable position : for one
or the other, alone speaks the truth. u Some of the
easiest (lie adds) seem, (among others) how to form an
universal character 5 how to converse by jangling of
bells out of tune 5 how to take towns, or prevent their
being taken ; how to write in the dark how to cheat
with dice ; and in short how to fly." He then proceeds
to comment on them, observing : " Of these wonderful
inventions (but why wonderful if the easiest?), the last
524 THE CENTURY,
but one [how to cheat at dice] seems the only one of
which his Lordship has left the secret ; and, by two
others [the universal character, and flying], it appears
that the renowned Bishop Wilkiiis was but the Mar
quis s disciple. But, perhaps, too much has been said on
so fantastic a man." It was by such unmeaning causti
city that the accomplished Walpole could degrade his
pen, display his own sterility in scientific acquirements,
and perpetuate his incapacity to judge aright of the
mathematical and mechanical acumen of the Marquis
of Worcester.
91.
An artificial Horfe, with Saddle
and Caparizons fit for running at 3
the Ring, on which a man being
mounted, with his Lance in his
hand, he can at pleafure make him
Hart, and fwiftly to run his career,
ufing the decent pofture 4 with bon
grace, may take the Ring as handfom-
ly, and running as fwiftly as if he
rode upon a Barbe.
3 at omitted. 4 postures,
[An artificiall Ring-horse.~\ The nearest approach to
this automaton was that of a mechanical horse, the
invention of Colonel De Hamel, of the Wurtemberg Ca
valry. This was, until lately, exhibited at Mason s
establishment, Piccadilly, but is now in Germany. It is
made of wood, covered with a natural skin, and contains
machinery which can be operated by a lever to pro
duce any variety of action, from that of the most gentle
to the fiercest of an unruly horse. But the animal
WITH NOTES. 525
possesses no locomotive power, being restrained to one
spot by a strong pillar underneath, working at the
centre in a cup-and-ball joint, so that it can fall
sideways, backwards, or forwards, unless prevented by
equestrian skill ; it was, however, more than master of
the greater number of many excellent horsemen who
subjected themselves to its astonishing gambols.
The Marquis s automaton was possibly intended for
a kind of circus, and we may suppose that a strong post
being in the centre, a long wooden bar was so placed
across it as to revolve with the horse attached to one
end, and a weight or counterpoise on the other ex
tremity, motion being given to the horse s legs by
internal machinery, and acting to propel it so long as
the rider pleased, or the mechanism permitted.
I 9 2 -
A fcrue made like a Water-scrue,
but the bottom made of Iron-plate
Spade-wife, which at the fide of a
Boat emptieth the mud of a Pond,
or raifeth Gravel.
[A Gravel Engine. ] The principle of the modern
dredging machine is to be seen in Besson s " Theatrum
Instrumentorum et Machinarum," 1578, where about
25 hampers or buckets are attached to two endless
chains passing over two drums, one at the bottom of
two strong inclined poles, the other at the top of the
same, where a workman turns it by means of an ordinary
winch applied to an endless screw; while labourers
below are actively filling the ascending vessels. The
Marquis may have had in view to make each bucket
dig up its own supply of gravel, &c. as indeed is the
present practice.
This antiquated dredging machine, in some other
526 THE CENTURY,
form, had been contemplated in 1558. The Petition of
George Cobham, Tomazo Chanata, and others, was
presented to Queen Elizabeth, for the sole use of an
engine to cleanse and carry away all shelves of sand,
banks, &c. out of all rivers, creeks, and havens. See
Cal. State Papers, Dom. Series, 1547-1580. Edited by
B. Lemon, F.S.A. 8vo. 1856, page 119, No. 56.
In 1583, an inventor, whose name does not appear,
proposed, as one out of twenty inventions : " An engine
for cleansing or taking away of any shelves or shallow
places in the river of Thames, or any such river 5
the same device may serve for cleansing of ditches
about cities or towns, ponds, or any such like standing
waters." Eara Mathematica, edited by J. 0. Halli-
well, F.E.S., &c. 8vo. 1841.
John Gilbert obtained a patent, dated 16th July, 1618,
for a water plough, for the taking up of sands or banks
out of the river Thames or other places. And the same
John Gilbert, with James Freese, obtained a patent,
dated 8th July, 1631, for engines or instruments, called
water ploughs, for the taking up of sands, gravel,
shelves, and banks out of the Thames and other havens.
Also Symon Hill, on the 30th May, 1633, patented his
invention for taking away of beds of sand and gravel
from rivers.
93-
An Engine whereby one man
may take out of the water a Ship
of 500. Tun, fo that it may be
calked, trimmed and repaired with
out need of the ufual way of ftocks,
and as eafily let it down again.
\_A Ship-raising Engine. ] We find in Besson s admi-
rablv illustrated folio work on Instruments and Ma-
WITH NOTES. 527
chines, 1578, many means delineated for raising vessels ;
for taking them bodily out of the water ; or, for laying
them high and dry on shore for repairs, as in plates 55,
56, and 58. All such methods are naturally, however,
not only very rude and imperfect, but are at best only
applicable for small craft.
In 1636, Sir John Christopher Van Berg, Moravian
Knight, dispossessed of all his property " by the devour
ing wars in Germany," patented eleven inventions ;
the fifth being "An assured way how the very
greatest ship may be drawn up again, though it be
sunk 80 fathoms deep."
94-
A little Engine portable in ones
Pocket, which placed to any door,
without any noife, but one crack,
openeth any door or gate.
[A Pocket Engine to open any door.~\ Doppelmayr
gives an account of the screw-jack invented by Leonard
Banner in 1550. It must have been well known in the
following century, and we can readily understand how
the principle of its action may have occurred to the
Marquis for application to a pocket instrument that
would exactly accord with his statement.
Bishop Wilkins, in his " Mathematical Magick,"
1648, treating on the employment of multiplied wheels,
refers to Eamelli, Figure 160, observing: "Hither
also should be referred the force of racks, which serve
for bending of the strongest bows, as also that little
pocket engine wherewith a man may break or wrench
open any door, together with divers the like instru
ments in common use." Chap. 13, pages 91, 92.
528 THE CENTURY,
S " ; V : 95- ^:: r : : :-^ : (
A double Crofs-bow, neate, hand-
fome and ftrong, to {hoot two Ar
rows, either together, or one after
the other, To immediately that a
Deer cannot run two fteps but, if
he mifs 5 of one Arrow, he may be
reach d with the other, whether the
Deer run forward, fideward, or Hart
backward.
s be missed.
[A double Cross-bow.~\ The employment of the cross
bow still lingered when this was first published in 1663.
The invention is so obvious that any particular descrip
tion would be superfluous, the whole effect consisting
in either shooting the two arrows singly, or together.
In an article on Cross-bows, in Fosbroke s Encyclo
pedia of Antiquities, 1840, it is stated that " In a letter
remissory, dated 1420, it is said, 4 lequel Haquinet a
chevauchie tendu crenequins et arbalestes a croc ? that
is, which Haquinet rode along with crenequins bent, and
arbalestes on the hook. By the croc or crook is meant
the hook, into which the trigger caught ; of use both in
bending the bow and shooting.
96.
A way to make a Sea-bank fo firm
and Geometrically-ftrong, that a
ftream can have no power over it ;
excellent likewife to fave the Pillar
of a Bridge, being far cheaper and
ftronger then Stone-walls.
WITH NOTES. 529
\_A way for Sea-banks. ] This article stands alone in
the " Century" as an example of a singular divergence
from its author s main course of pursuits. It is more
than likely that his idea in the present instance was the
mere use of loose stones, laid down at such a curvature
as to break rather than resist the force of heavy seas and
rapid torrents, for such a plan would be decidedly
" cheaper and stronger" than any masonry, especially if
presenting a vertical surface to the surging sea.
97-
An Inftrument whereby an igno
rant perfon may take any thing
in Perfpective, as justly, and more 5
then the Ikilfulleft 6 Painter can do
by his eye.
5 more so. P. 6 most skilful. P.
[A perspective Instrument. ] John Bate, in his " Mys
teries of Nature and Art," 1635, gives, at page 155,
" A very easie way to describe a Towne, or Castle :
being within the full sight thereof." A vertical square
frame is divided by means of a number of threads,
crossing each other at equal distances. A vertical
pillar opposite, has a spy-hole at the top, through
which the town, or other prospect is to be viewed, and
to be drawn square by square, on paper placed on the
table below, until the whole is completed, as shown
in a wood-engraved illustration. No doubt the Marquis
had refined on this, or some like invention.
98.
An Engine fo contrived, that
working the Pnmum mobile forward
or backward, upward or downward/
7 forwards or backwards, upwards or downwards.
2 M
530 THE CENTURY,
circularly or cornerwife, to and fro,
ftreight, upright or downright, yet
the pretended Operation continueth,
and advanceth none of the motions
above-mentioned, hindering, much
lefs Hopping the other ; but unani-
moufly, and with harmony agreeing
they all augment and contribute
ftrength unto the intended work
and operation : And therefore I call
this d. Semi-omnipotent Engine, and
do intend that a Model thereof be
buried with me.
[ A Semi-omnipotent Engine.~\ The Marquis, previous
to the publication of this article, had permitted a written
notification of a few of this inventions to be circulated,
which is given at length, in Appendix A. In the com
mencement of this MS. we recognize an earlier read
ing of the foregoing, as follows : " The quintessence
of motion, or a collection of all kinds of mouvements, to
wit ; circular, to and fro, perpendicular, upwards and
downwards ; side-motions, to the right and left ; straight
motions, forwards and backwards, with a circular vehi-
culum, to which any of these may be applicable, or
moveable to all the points of the compass ; at each of
which, it will be as powerful as if it were fixed to one
place or centre.
44 All and every of these, by height of Art, Industry,
and Experiment, working the same individual and in-
trinsical effect, without disturbance one to the other ; and
yet by these absolutely contrary motions, so performed,
most strange and incredible effects may be brought to
WITH NOTES. 531
pass, to the admiration of even the greatest mathema
ticians.
" The knowledge of these things rendering all things
as feasible to him that is master of this art, as it is to
make a circle with a pair of compasses, or a straight
line with a square or ruler ; they being a direct abstract
of arithmetic contrived by me."
No. 98 may be read as a second notice of his steam
engine ; No. 68, developing the broad principle of its
source of action, while the above indicates the working
parts. He may allude to the facility of communicating
motion to levers, forces, pistons, or plungers, in any
direction, by turning on steam to variously arranged
pipes, so that to his mind it appeared as though it were
something of super-human origin. While the beauty,
novelty, and success of his new design overawed his own
mind, it was a matter of infinite surprise to him that he
could not immediately impress others with a sense of
the immense value and unbounded importance of an
invention which superseded animal power: placing
at man s disposal a greater and more controllable
mechanical agent than even the elements of nature,
under the most favourable circumstances, had ever
supplied.
He expressed his own solemn impression, on seeing
the successful issue of this great work, when he said
" T call this a semi-omnipotent engine, and do intend
that a model thereof be buried with me."
99 .
How to make one pound weight
to raife an hundred as high as one
pound falleth, and yet the hundred
2 M 2
532
THE CENTURY,
pound 8 defcending doth 9 what no
thing lefs then one hundred pound 8
can effect.
8 pounds. P.
to do.
[A most admirable way to raise Weights. ~\ In his MS.
of a select number of his inventions, we have, in No. 6,
the following earlier reading of the above :
" By these (his quintessence of motions) I can make
one pound raise an hundred, as high as the pound falls ;
and the one pound taken off the 112 pounds shall again
descend, performing the entire effect of an hundred
weight, that is, have the force which nothing less than
112 pounds can have any other way. An incredible
effect till seen, but true as strange." See Appendix A.
Keeping in view Nos. 25 and 27, we have here a third
application of the same principle, by which it is proposed
with one pound to raise a hundred " as high as one pound
fallefh" In the engraved figure of this demonstrative
model, one steam cylinder B, is shown,
with its steam pipe and valve at A ;
one end of a cord is attached to the
piston B, and passing over the drum
wheel D, is attached to the weight
X. As condensation ensues, the des
cent of B, will raise X ; and it may
be reset for another lift by drawing
off the condensed water at E, and re
admitting steam.
Here we are required " to make one
pound weight" so that it shall be able to
raise 100 times its own weight, always bearing in mind
"as high as onefaHeth." This being no Archime-
dian experiment would be unintelligible to any man
WITH NOTES. 533
ignorant of steam, and some mode of applying its pro
perty of condensation,
James Rollock,* in his doggerel verses, attempts some
description of this principle as applied to raising water,
when he says :
" Here little David curbs the Giant s brood,
Small drop* of Rain contend nifh Xoa^sjlood ;
One -weighs a thousand coming down apace,
Weighs but himself when he hath ran his race.
The Heavens admire, the Centre stands amaz d,
To see such Streams by go small Forces raisVL
Great is the Work, but greater Is die Fame
Of that great Peer who did invent the same.**
The plain English of Bollock s feeble lines is, that a
stream of water falling like " small drops of rain," on
the steam cylinder, caused the elevation of a hundred
or more gallons, which he likens to u Xoah s flood," in
illustration of the greatness of the result ; while the
steam " weighs but itself, being condensed. " Here
little David," is no more than the single attendant on
the " Giant s brood," the Water-commanding Engine.
The distribution of the three articles, Xos. 25, 27, and
99, is evidently adopted to conceal their connection ; as
we have already seen in the instance of Xos. 22, 23,
and 58, which, although related to each other, are yet
separated, as though they were quite independent.
100.
Upon fo potent a help as thefe
two laft mentioned Inventions a
Waterwork is by many years ex-
j j j
perience 1 and labour fo advantage-
t-vpeueei for experience.
See Appendix C.
534: THE CENTURY,
oufly by me 2 contrived, that a
Child s force bringeth up an hun
dred foot 3 high an incredible quantity
of water, even two foot 3 Diameter,
4 fo naturally, that the work will not
be heard even into the next Room ;
and with fo great eafe and Geome
trical Symmetry, that though it
work day and night from one end
of the year to the other, it will not
require forty {hillings reparation to
the whole Engine, nor hinder ones
day-work. 4 And I may boldly call
it The moft Jtupendious Work in the
whole world: not onely with little
charge to drein all forts of Mines,
and furnifh Cities with water, though
never fo high feated, as well to
keep them fweet, running through
feveral ftreets, and fo performing
the work of Scavengers, as well as
furnifhing the Inhabitants with suffi
cient water for their private occa-
fions ; but like wife fupplying Rivers 5
2 by me omitted. 3 feet. P.
1 The sentence : " So naturally, that the work will not be heard even in the next
room, and with so great ease and geometrical symmetry, that though it work day
and night from one end of the year to the other, it will not require forty shillings
reparation to the whole Engine, nor hinder one s day-work" does not appear in the
MS. and is omitted by Partington in his edition.
5 the rivers. P.
WITH NOTES. 535
with fufficient to maintaine and
make them portable 6 from Towne to
Towne, and for the bettering of Lands
all the way it runs ; with many more
advantageous, and yet greater effefts
of Profit, Admiration, and Confe-
quence. So that defervedly I deem
this Invention to crown my La
bours, to reward my Expences, and
make my Thoughts acquiefce in
way of further Inventions : This
making up the whole Century, and
preventing any further trouble to
the Reader for the prefent, meaning
to leave to Pofterity a Book, where
in under each of thefe Heads the
means to put in execution and
vifible trial all and every of thefe
Inventions, with the ihape and
form of all things belonging to
them, shall be Printed by Brafs-
plates. 7
In Bonum Publicum
&
Ad Major em DEI Glorlam.*
6 make navigable for, make them portable.
7 Thus ends No. 100 of the first printed edition ; but Mr. P. continues the para-
graph by adding from the MS. what is clearly only a Postscript to the entire
" Century." He then concludes with the Latin phrase, thus following neither
work entirely.
* The folloAving concluding part cf the MS., added as a postswipt, does not
536 THE CENTURY,
[A stupendious Water-worJcJ] The present article
concludes the Marquis of Worcester s own observations
on his Water-commanding Engine. His engagements
in hydraulic engineering, as we have already seen,
commenced about, or before, 1628; but we have later
and more satisfactory evidence of his having had the
invention, which is here indicated, absolutely at work,
under the management of his engineer Kaltoff, at Vaux-