present age. This will be accomplished if we can show a single sphere suspended, and rendered stationary in air, by laws and powers similar to those which we suppose to govern our planetary system, and, as far as we may form an opinion from analogical reasoning, the system of the material universe: viz. those of Gravitation and Attraction. The experiment may be made on a very small scale. A loadstone, for instance, may be fixed in the cieling of any allowed space, or room, let us observe no great difficulty so far. Neither can there be any in assuring ourselves, that, between such loadstone and the floor below, an atmospheric station, or point, exists, where the attractive power of said loadstone on a sphere of iron, and the force of central gravitation acting thereupon, would, operate in an equal ratio. Should we be able to discover that point, and therein fix our metallic sphere, be it hollow or solid, the result of this equal quantity and force of physical action in the two contending powers, (viz.) magnetic attraction and central gravitation, must necessarily retain the metallic sphere, in equipoise and in air. An attainment so simple and so obvious as this, may proceed to the fabrication and display of a floating orrery. A time was, that, when we marked the bubbles mounting in air from the head of a tobacco pipe, as they were collected and blown by the child from his bowl of soap and water:time was, when we did not foresee that a bubble, formed on corresponding principles, under the direction of a similar philosophy, was to transport the adventurous aeronaut with rapidity and with safety across the Irish channel: nor while, in former date, the patient was occupied in the act of imbibing the steam of hot water from the spout of a tea-pot, by order of his physician, did either patient or doctor foresee, that by a further acquaintance with this simple vapour, by the progress of general science and of particular arts, the hour was approaching when a vapour, exactly agreeing with that then stealing almost invisibly from the lip of the teapot, was to impel a large ship, in opposition to wind and tide, across the mighty waters of the ocean, carrying the dispatches, and thereby executing the business of states, in times and seasons when no other character of ship could keep the sea, or even quit the harbour. Vain will ever be the idea of limiting the excursions of mind, and of affixing an imaginary stop to the advances of improvement. A progressive creature must remain for ever progressive. Such is man : and because he is so, he is never to despair, or even to doubt of any attainment within compass of possibility. The time may arrive, when instead of posting a balloon, which way we will, by a four-in-hand of eagles or of wild geese, which I have heard proposed under a partly jocular, partly serious, cast of self feeling, we may be able to navigate that fine machine by a rudder and a sail. The morn of illuminaion and invention may also break forth pon us, when, aided by the dexterity of at, my little metallic sphere, poised in air, by the powers of magnetism and gravitition, shall become the pledge and harbnger of a floating orrery— What a consummation would be here !! |