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ADDENDA TO "NOTES ON NEW YORK."*

HAD this article been brought down to the present time, it would have shown that the progress of our state has continued, in a signal manner, onward in all that relates to population, arts, manufactures, literature, science, internal improvement, and mechanical discovery.

Among the triumphant exhibitions of science in these, our own times, in behalf of the progress of nations in commerce and humanity, might be cited the application of steam to land-carriages and railroads, now so widely adopted by different nations, both in Europe and America. This vast application reflects perpetual honor on its discoverer, the late John Stevens, a native of the city of New York, who, at a time when not a locomotive existed in the world, devised the plan of this now so successful method of travelling and conveyance. The fact is indubitable, that this philosophic and benevolent man, so early as in 1812, had worked out in his own mind, the theory of such an application of steam. In a pamphlet which he published in that year, entitled "Documents tending to prove the Superior Advantages of Railways and Steam-carriages over Canal Navigation," published in New York, by T. & J. Swords, we find the most satisfactory details of his views and results. This valuable tract of some forty pages excited little attention at the time, and Stevens like Fulton, was pronounced a visionary projector; yet, with his illustrious friend, he lived to see the realization of his noble projects. The distinguished president of Columbia College, Charles King, LL.D., in his "Progress of the City of New York" during the last fifty years, has, with such patriotic feeling, set forth the claims of Stevens, that a short extract from his discourses may not inappropriately be here inserted.

"Next in succession among the operative causes of our growth as connected with steam," says Dr. King, "was its application to land-carriage, and soon the railroad and the locomotive were constructed to soothe and to satisfy, as far as that can be done, our national go-ahead spirit. And here again, New York was the point whence proceeded the first railroad enterprise, which was to connect this city with Philadelphia, by the Camden and Amboy railroad, in 1831; and here again Colonel John Stevens claims our admiration and gratitude. He had clearly marked out, in his own mind, long before any locomotive was constructed in Europe, the theory of such an application of steam, and the actual form in which it could be advantageously made, as well as the cost of constructing and working a railway for the use of locomotives. Long before any experience existed to justify his anticipation, he said and published, that there was no limit to the speed of a locomotive on a rail, but the strength of the materials; that it might be easily made to run as fast as a pigeon could fly, and it is one of the striking incidents connected with the opening, or the early use of the Camden and Amboy railway, that a flock of pigeons which had settled on the track, being *Notes on the application of steam to locomotives, on Morse's magnetic telegraph, and Hoe's printingpress, were furnished by John W. Francis, M. D., LL. D.

disturbed in its approach by the rapid engine, took wing in the direction of the track, and that one of them, attempting to cross in front of the car, was struck down by it, thus most literally verifying the prediction, that the locomotive would equal in velocity the 'pigeon's flight.' Among the prophetic views which Colonel Stevens entertained in relation to locomotives, is the following: 'I can see nothing,' says he, 'to hinder a steam-carriage from moving, on these ways, with a velocity of one hundred miles an hour.'" Stevens was born in 1749, and died in 1838, at the advanced age of eightynine years.

Among other most conspicuous occurrences which characterize the present period of active advancement in practical and commercial science, is to be recorded the great discovery of the magnetic telegraph. SAMUEL FINLEY BREESE MORSE seems justly to have the claims of the great discovery, and it is worthy of note, that after much study, reflection, and labor, he, in 1835, demonstrated the practicability of his invention, by completing and putting in operation, in the New York University, a. model of his "Recording Electric Telegraph," the whole apparatus, with the exception of a wooden clock, which formed part of it, having been made by himself. From the history of the progress of his invention, as published on substantial authority, it would appear that Professor Morse, while on his return from Europe in 1832, in the packet-ship Sully, a gentleman on board, in describing the experiments that had just been made in Paris with the electro-magnet, a question arose as to the time occupied by the electric fluid in passing through the wire, stated to be about one hundred feet in length. On the reply that it was instantaneous (recollecting the experiments of Franklin), he ́suggested, that it might be carried to any distance, and that the electric spark could be made a means of conveying and recording intelligence. This suggestion, which drew some casual observation of assent from the party, took deep hold of Professor Morse, who undertook to develop the idea which he had originated, and before the end of the voyage, he had drawn out and written the general plan of the invention with which his name will be inseparably connected. In 1840, Morse perfected his patent at Washington, and set about getting his telegraph into practical operation. In 1844 the first electric telegraph was completed in the United States, between Baltimore and Washington, and the first intelligence of a public character which passed over the wires, was the announcement of the nomination of James K. Polk as the democratic candidate for the presidency, by the Baltimore convention. Since then, says the writer from whom this statement is taken, he has seen wires extended all over the country, to the length of more than fifteen thousand miles, an extent unknown elsewhere in the civilized world.*

The type-revolving, fast-printing machine, which, in its results, constitutes a new era in the progress of the typographic art might here also be dwelt on, as reflecting additional lustre on the genius and enterprise of the metropolitan city, New York. R. Hoe and Brother, are the acknowledged inventors of this vast improvement of the printing-press. The detailed account of this extraordinary machine for the diffusion of knowledge, would require space not now at command. Suffice it to say, that four impression cylinders are capable of printing ten thousand impressions per hour. Four persons are required to feed in the sheets, which are thrown out and laid in heaps by self-acting flyers, as in the ordinary cylinder press. A press with eight impression cylinders will print sixteen thousand or more impressions per hour. The Hoes are natives of New York: their mammoth press has found both indigenous and foreign patronage, and its adoption abroad testifies to its value.

*See "Men of the Time." New York. Redfield. 1852.

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(206, 215 Hamilton, Alexander, Notes on.....62, 66

Universal, considered..... | 278, 305 | Harrison, W. H., elected President... 294

Elective Franchises considered.............. 276
EMANCIPATION, Notes on, Dawning of,

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Hautville, Madame D', Case of, Veto. 374
Hawley, Gideon, Notes on.
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