A history of the growth of the steam-engine . g. 145), vessels having a total weight of 8,000 to 10,000tons, and propelled by steam-engines of as many horse- 418 THE STEAM-ENGINE OF TO-DAT. power, carrying guns whose shot penetrate solid iron 20inches thick, and having a power of impact, when steamingat moderate speed, sufficient to raise 35,000 tons a foot high. Far more huge than the Monarch among the iron-cladseven is that prematurely-built monster, the Great Eastern(Fig. 147), already described, an eighth of a mile long, andwith steam doing the work of a stud of 45,000 horses. Thus we are
A history of the growth of the steam-engine . g. 145), vessels having a total weight of 8,000 to 10,000tons, and propelled by steam-engines of as many horse- 418 THE STEAM-ENGINE OF TO-DAT. power, carrying guns whose shot penetrate solid iron 20inches thick, and having a power of impact, when steamingat moderate speed, sufficient to raise 35,000 tons a foot high. Far more huge than the Monarch among the iron-cladseven is that prematurely-built monster, the Great Eastern(Fig. 147), already described, an eighth of a mile long, andwith steam doing the work of a stud of 45,000 horses. Thus we are to-day witnessing the literal fulfillment ofthe predictions of Oliver Evans and of John Stevens, andalmost that contained in the couplets written by the poetDarwin, who, more than a century ago, before even theearliest of Watts improvements had become generallyknown, sang: Soon shall thy arm, unconquered Steam, afarDrag the slow barge, or drive the rapid car;Or, on wide-waving wings expanded, bearThe flying chariot through the fields of CHAPTER Vn. THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE STEAM-ENGINE. The History of its Growth ; Eneegetics and Thek- mo-dtnamics. Op all the features which characterize this progressive economicalmoTement of civilized nations, that which first excites attention, throughits intimate connection with the phenomena of production, is the perpetualand, so far as human foresight can extend, the unlimited growth of manspower over Nature. Our knowledge of the properties and laws of physicalobjects shows no sign of approaching its ultimate boundaries; it is advan-cing more rapidly, and in a greater number of directions at once, than in anyprevious age or generation, ami affording such frequent glimpses of unex-plored fields beyond as to justify the belief that our acquaintance withNature is still almost in its infancy.—Mill. The growth of the philosophy of the steam-engine pre-sents as interesting a study as that of the successive changeswhich have occurred in its me
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