The American Library of Useful Knowledge, Volume 1 |
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Page 21
... fall a preternatural stupor . Their misfortune is that , so beau- tifully touched by the poet " But knowledge to their eyes her ample page , Rich with the spoils of time , did ne'er unroll . " I might remark in the next place , that the ...
... fall a preternatural stupor . Their misfortune is that , so beau- tifully touched by the poet " But knowledge to their eyes her ample page , Rich with the spoils of time , did ne'er unroll . " I might remark in the next place , that the ...
Page 22
... fall from a tree , and is told for the first time , that its fall is regulated by the law of gravitation , the simplicity of the truth may scarcely awaken his curiosity . When he is told , that the same law regulates the plumb line ...
... fall from a tree , and is told for the first time , that its fall is regulated by the law of gravitation , the simplicity of the truth may scarcely awaken his curiosity . When he is told , that the same law regulates the plumb line ...
Page 43
... fall of water , which is but gravity acting on fluids , air , heat , and animal strength . For the useful direction and application of the four first of these , that is , of all of them which belong to inanimate nature , some ...
... fall of water , which is but gravity acting on fluids , air , heat , and animal strength . For the useful direction and application of the four first of these , that is , of all of them which belong to inanimate nature , some ...
Page 50
... fall to hands much more able to sus- tain it . The slightest glance , however , must convince us that mechanical power and mechanical skill , as they are now exhibited in Europe and America , mark an epoch in human history , worthy of ...
... fall to hands much more able to sus- tain it . The slightest glance , however , must convince us that mechanical power and mechanical skill , as they are now exhibited in Europe and America , mark an epoch in human history , worthy of ...
Page 52
... falls of water , and various other causes , have led her citi- zens to embark , with great boldness , into extensive manu- factures . The success of their establishments depends , of course , in no small degree , upon the perfection to ...
... falls of water , and various other causes , have led her citi- zens to embark , with great boldness , into extensive manu- factures . The success of their establishments depends , of course , in no small degree , upon the perfection to ...
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ages ancient animals applied Archimedes Aristotle arts ascer astronomy bodies branches calculated called Cape Horn causes chemistry circle common contrivance curve cycloid degree discovered discovery distance doubt earth effect ellipse employed enabled equal existence experience fact feet force genius give Greek hand human ical important improvement inquiry instance intellectual invention Julius Cæsar Jupiter kind knowledge labor laws of nature less Leucippus light live Lord Bacon machinery mankind mathematical matter means mechanical mechanical philosophy men's party ment method mind moon moral motion move natural philosophy navigation Newton Novum Novum Organum object observation operations Organon parabola physical planets Plato pleasure practical prejudices principles properties proportion pursuit reasoning remark round safety-lamp sense side society speculations steam-engine substances supposed telescope things tion true truth whole wonderful words
Popular passages
Page 231 - It is true, that a little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism ; but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion : for while the mind of man looketh upon second causes scattered, it may sometimes rest in them, and go no farther ; but when it beholdeth the chain of them confederate and linked together, it must needs fly to Providence and Deity.
Page 9 - Soon shall thy arm, unconquered steam, afar Drag the slow barge or drive the rapid car ; Or, on wide-waving wings expanded, bear The flying chariot through the fields of air...
Page 50 - ... comes the potent agency of steam. In comparison with the past, what centuries of improvement has this single agent comprised, in the short compass of fifty years ! Everywhere practicable, everywhere efficient, it has an arm a thousand times stronger than that of Hercules, and to which human ingenuity is capable of fitting a thousand times as many hands as belonged to Briareus. Steam is found in triumphant operation on the seas ; and under the influence of its strong propulsion, the gallant ship,...
Page 304 - Led by this indication he tries the effect of iodine on that complaint, and the result establishes the extraordinary fact that this singular substance, taken as. a medicine, acts with the utmost promptitude and energy on goitre, dissipating the largest and most inveterate in a short time, and acting (of course, like all medicines, even ihe most approved, with occasional failures,) as a specific, or natural antagonist, against that odious deformity.
Page 301 - ... direction of the intended separation, along which a groove is cut with a chisel about a couple of inches in depth. Above this groove a narrow line of fire is then kindled, and maintained till the rock below is thoroughly heated, immediately on which a line of men and women, each provided with a pot full of cold water, suddenly sweep off the ashes, and pour the water into the heated groove, when the rock at once splits with a clean fracture. Square blocks of six feet in the side, and upwards of...
Page 203 - This, however, does by no means hinder us from applying the rest of our time, beside what nature requires for meals and rest, to the study of science ; and he who, in whatever station his lot may be cast, works his day's work, and improves his mind in the evening, as well as he who, placed above such necessity, prefers the refined and elevating pleasures of knowledge to the low gratification of the senses, richly deserves the name of a True Philosopher.
Page 11 - I elevated myself upon a platform, and addressed the assembly. I stated, that I knew not what was the matter ; but if they would be quiet, and indulge me for a half hour, I would either go on, or abandon the voyage for that time.
Page 271 - Nothing, then, can be more unfounded than the objection which has been taken in limine, by persons, well meaning perhaps, certainly narrow-minded, against the study of natural philosophy, and, indeed, against all science, — that it fosters in its cultivators an undue and overweening self-conceit, leads them to doubt the immortality of the soul, and to scoff at revealed religion. Its natural effect, we may confidently assert, on every well-constituted mind, is and must be the direct contrary.
Page 243 - Homoeomera of Anaxagoras; the Atoms of Leucippus and Democritus; the Heaven and Earth...
Page 204 - The highest of all our gratifications in the contemplations of science remains : we are raised by them to an understanding of the infinite wisdom and goodness which the Creator has displayed in all his works. Not a step can we take in any direction without perceiving the most extraordinary traces of design ; and the skill...