Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Comparison Between The Ancients And Moderns In Science And Literature.
which was discovered to the world by the celebrated Dr . Franklin iq America , by means of an electrical kite , which the doctor ' s ingenuity had invented for that purpose . And curious as it may appear , it was . discovered in a similar manner , nearly about the same period , by some philosophers in France ; a circumstance which not uni ' requently occurs to the observation in perusing the annals of philosophical discoveries and inventions . The great utility resulting from our acquaintance with this fact , is the method that has been adopted for the prevention of the bad effects which li ghtning has too frequently
produced upon edifices , by means of metal conductors , which are now in universal use . It has likewise served to correct those erroneous opinions which were before so prevalent , and to dispel those idle fears and superstitious apprehensions , concerning one of the most common phenomena in the natural world , which filled the minds of the generality of mankind ; and has obviously shewn that to be the result of natural causes , which was before often regarded as the effect of divine
interposition . The man whose mind once would have shuddered at the awful sound of thunder , and would have trembled at the view of the vivid flash , now regards these fulminations in the atmosphere with a philosophic calmness , which would strike the ignorant and super- ; stitious spectator with astonishment ; and considers them as the effects of that struggle of nature to preserve an equilibrium , which he knows . to be a universal law in the material system . Of all the branches of natural philosoplty , none is capable of display- ; ing a greater variety of curious experiments than pneumatics ; nor
has any received greater improvement from the active curiosity and ingenuity of modern philosophers . The weight and elasticity of the air , its absolute necessity to respiration and animal life , and to the exr istence of fire ; that it is the medium of sound , and has the quality of refracting li g ht ; that by the agency of this subtile fluid the clouds and vapours are buoyed up , and the rain distilled in drops , are facts with which the ancients were totally unacquainted ; but wliich are now
capable of the most indisputable proof , and the clearest exemplification , from the air pump . It is a fact , not unworthy of remark , that this ingenious instrument , the utility of which is so apparent , and to which science is so much indebted , derived its ori gin from the same source with the electrical machine . One of the most valuable discoveries that has resulted from an acquaintance with the pressure and elasticity of the atmosphere , is that of the barometer , which indicates the weight of the air with great precision , and thus enables us to deduce pretty accurate conclusions .
concerning the state of the weather . B , ut there is another , which , from its infinite utility in common life , deserves to be mentioned , and which goes under the denomination of a pump . The inconveniences , obviated by this simple philosophical contrivance are too glaring , and must have been too often experienced prior to . its existence , to require specifying . The more recent inventions , likewise , of the air balloon and the diving bell , must not be omitted , as they are new instances of the wonderful effect ^ capable of being produced by the cultivation of phi-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Comparison Between The Ancients And Moderns In Science And Literature.
which was discovered to the world by the celebrated Dr . Franklin iq America , by means of an electrical kite , which the doctor ' s ingenuity had invented for that purpose . And curious as it may appear , it was . discovered in a similar manner , nearly about the same period , by some philosophers in France ; a circumstance which not uni ' requently occurs to the observation in perusing the annals of philosophical discoveries and inventions . The great utility resulting from our acquaintance with this fact , is the method that has been adopted for the prevention of the bad effects which li ghtning has too frequently
produced upon edifices , by means of metal conductors , which are now in universal use . It has likewise served to correct those erroneous opinions which were before so prevalent , and to dispel those idle fears and superstitious apprehensions , concerning one of the most common phenomena in the natural world , which filled the minds of the generality of mankind ; and has obviously shewn that to be the result of natural causes , which was before often regarded as the effect of divine
interposition . The man whose mind once would have shuddered at the awful sound of thunder , and would have trembled at the view of the vivid flash , now regards these fulminations in the atmosphere with a philosophic calmness , which would strike the ignorant and super- ; stitious spectator with astonishment ; and considers them as the effects of that struggle of nature to preserve an equilibrium , which he knows . to be a universal law in the material system . Of all the branches of natural philosoplty , none is capable of display- ; ing a greater variety of curious experiments than pneumatics ; nor
has any received greater improvement from the active curiosity and ingenuity of modern philosophers . The weight and elasticity of the air , its absolute necessity to respiration and animal life , and to the exr istence of fire ; that it is the medium of sound , and has the quality of refracting li g ht ; that by the agency of this subtile fluid the clouds and vapours are buoyed up , and the rain distilled in drops , are facts with which the ancients were totally unacquainted ; but wliich are now
capable of the most indisputable proof , and the clearest exemplification , from the air pump . It is a fact , not unworthy of remark , that this ingenious instrument , the utility of which is so apparent , and to which science is so much indebted , derived its ori gin from the same source with the electrical machine . One of the most valuable discoveries that has resulted from an acquaintance with the pressure and elasticity of the atmosphere , is that of the barometer , which indicates the weight of the air with great precision , and thus enables us to deduce pretty accurate conclusions .
concerning the state of the weather . B , ut there is another , which , from its infinite utility in common life , deserves to be mentioned , and which goes under the denomination of a pump . The inconveniences , obviated by this simple philosophical contrivance are too glaring , and must have been too often experienced prior to . its existence , to require specifying . The more recent inventions , likewise , of the air balloon and the diving bell , must not be omitted , as they are new instances of the wonderful effect ^ capable of being produced by the cultivation of phi-