Suche löschen...
Mechanics magazine
- Bandzählung
- N.S. 5=74.1861
- Erscheinungsdatum
- 1861
- Sprache
- Englisch
- Signatur
- A146
- Vorlage
- Universitätsbibliothek Chemnitz
- Digitalisat
- Universitätsbibliothek Chemnitz
- Digitalisat
- SLUB Dresden
- Lizenz-/Rechtehinweis
- Public Domain Mark 1.0
- URN
- urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-db-id507363582-186100013
- PURL
- http://digital.slub-dresden.de/id507363582-18610001
- OAI-Identifier
- oai:de:slub-dresden:db:id-507363582-18610001
- Sammlungen
- Projekt: Bestände der Universitätsbibliothek Chemnitz
- LDP: Bestände der Universitätsbibliothek Chemnitz
- Strukturtyp
- Band
- Parlamentsperiode
- -
- Wahlperiode
- -
- Digitalisat
- SLUB Dresden
- Strukturtyp
- Ausgabe
- Parlamentsperiode
- -
- Wahlperiode
- -
-
Zeitschrift
Mechanics magazine
-
Band
Band N.S. 5=74.1861
-
- Titelblatt Titelblatt -
- Register Index I
- Ausgabe January 4, 1861 1
- Ausgabe January 11, 1861 19
- Ausgabe January 18, 1861 33
- Ausgabe January 25, 1861 49
- Ausgabe February 1, 1861 69
- Ausgabe February 8, 1861 85
- Ausgabe [February 15, 1861] -
- Ausgabe February 22, 1861 121
- Ausgabe March 1, 1861 137
- Ausgabe March 8, 1861 153
- Ausgabe March 15, 1861 173
- Ausgabe March 22, 1861 189
- Ausgabe March 29, 1861 211
- Ausgabe April 5, 1861 227
- Ausgabe April 12, 1861 243
- Ausgabe April 19, 1861 259
- Ausgabe April 26, 1861 281
- Ausgabe May 3, 1861 297
- Ausgabe May 10, 1861 313
- Ausgabe May 17, 1861 329
- Ausgabe May 24, 1861 345
- Ausgabe May 31, 1861 361
- Ausgabe June 7, 1861 377
- Ausgabe June 14, 1861 393
- Ausgabe June 21, 1861 409
- Ausgabe June 28, 1861 425
- Ausgabe No. 106 I
- Ausgabe No. 107 I
- Ausgabe No. 108 I
- Ausgabe No. 109 I
- Ausgabe No. 110 I
- Ausgabe No. 111 I
- Ausgabe No. 112 I
- Ausgabe No. 113 I
- Ausgabe No. 114 I
- Ausgabe No. 115 I
- Ausgabe No. 116 I
- Ausgabe No. 117 I
- Ausgabe No. 118 I
- Ausgabe No. 119 I
- Ausgabe No. 120 I
- Ausgabe No. 121 I
- Ausgabe No. 122 I
- Ausgabe No. 123 I
- Ausgabe No. 124 I
- Ausgabe No. 125 I
- Ausgabe No. 126 I
- Ausgabe No. 127 I
- Ausgabe No. 128 I
- Ausgabe No. 129 I
- Ausgabe No. 130 I
- Ausgabe No. 131 I
-
Band
Band N.S. 5=74.1861
-
- Titel
- Mechanics magazine
- Autor
- Links
- Downloads
- Einzelseite als Bild herunterladen (JPG)
-
Volltext Seite (XML)
THE MECHANICS' MAGAZINE. LONDON, FRIDA Y, JANUARY4, 1861. NEW YEAR REFLECTIONS. If any class of men whatever are entitled to step hopefully into a new year, it is they who worthily share the labours and win the tri umphs of science. No matter whether he im prove a trade, or manage a factory, or invent an engine, or toil at abstract studies—the man who in any noble way serves science, or promotes those mechanical industries which spring from the application of science to life’s affairs, is well entitled to move from year to year confidently and cheerfully. Whether we reflect upon the physical or the 'mental improvement of the human family, it is easy to see that a knowledge of the laws of tho universe—which is the essence of science—is playing a splendid part in the working out of lofty human destinies. If the physical con dition of the people is more cared for now than ■i, ever before in this and other lands, it is because the lights of knowledge have lately burnt more brightly and broadly than of old, and not be cause priests, or kings, or other leaders of men have of themselves grown enlightened or hu mane. And, in like manner, if the mental, or let us say the spiritual, condition of the multi tude has been improved—if men’s sympathies have been enlarged, their faculties clierished ; their intellects taught to range through those elevated realms to which they are native with- greater freedom than in bygone ages—it is be cause a knowledge of God’s laws and liberties, as revealed now in the material universe and now in the inspirations of genius and piety, has diffused itself through the world like light, and glowed like sunshine on the natures of men. It is profoundly interesting to watch the entire and absolute change which is rapidly passing over human affairs. Only a few cen turies ago even in Britain, there were few great deeds done—few great men created—few roads to eminence or honour opened. A little rude agriculture, and a little ruder hand-manufac ture, constituted the sum of our civil and lay callings ; add a priestly class, a fighting class, and a few doctors, lawyers, and rulers, and the British life of that day was complete. Now the country resounds with such a noise of noble industries that the whole world listens in wonder. Its echoes roll to the farthest ex tremities of the globe. The minds of Watt, and Oort, and Arkwright, and Stephenson have passed into bodies of brass and iron, and given life to that vast army of mechanic Titans which now shakes every land, and stirs every sea, with its mighty and unwearying labours. Mechanism, although dead and powerless of itself, is the most hopeful agency now at work in the world. It breaks down all weak and foolish barriers from between man and man ; draws the streams of wealth into new and numerous channels ; enables men of active life and large experience to assume posts of influence; and clears a broad and level path for all the fresh intellect and the bright invention that spring up among men. T n the workshops and factories of the land are forged the sword and the buckler with which Freedom fights her way through the vanities, and superstitions, and tyrranies that have held the world in their dreary meshes so long. It is our pride, then, to take part week by week in the diffusion of mechanical science, and we hope it is also the pride of not a few of our readers to follow with us the steps and strides with which the mechanists of the world march onward along their happy path. The extension and multiplication of railroads, steam ships, electric telegraphs, steam-ploughs, sew ing machines, and the like—these are the hopes of the world. A race which gives daily and hourly development to these—which delves undaunted beneath the earth, and sweeps courageously over the sea—which neither ton-id suns nor thick-ribbed ice can deter from the pursuit of knowledge and of the power that knowledge gives—such a race, we say, may well exclaim with the poet— “ Man is man, and master of his fate.” The absorbing question of the past year has been that of our national defences ; and it seems likely that this same question will en gage very much of the public thought during 1861. It may be a profitable new year’s occupa tion, therefore, to look a little into the condition of this subject. We wish some person would undertake the task of writing a scientific and popular book upon it. Such a work is much needed at present. We have plenty of trea tises on the Wealth of Nations ; Political Economy is a popular science, and its exponents in Parliament hold the balance of power. In fact, we might almost say that there are only two parties in this country at the present moment: the peace party and the war party ; the political economists and the statesmen. The former teach the doctrine that the means of national defence should be kept down to the lowest point possible, ~or consistent ' with national safety. The latter feel that we must keep our rank amongst the great powers of the world ; but they have no creed, are guided by no theory, have no settled principles of action, and obey only the blind impulses of national instinct or national pride. This is our position in relation to other kingdoms. It must be apparent to every one who will take the trouble to reflect on this subject that the latter party, or any party which advocates the increase of our naval and military power, must in most instances prevail. Englishmen never permit considerations of economy to prevent them from emjiloying whatever means they believe necessary for insuring their safety, or even preserving their rank amongst nations. In all questions involving our safety or our honour we shall err on the safe side. The illustration and proof of these statements properly belongs to the political periodicals ; we make them merely to enable our readers to comprehend the importance of certain questions in which engineers, shipbuilders, and manu facturers are interested more deeply than most of their countrymen. For the preservation of our lives, liberties, and honour we rely, first upon the patriotism of the people, next upon the skill and numbers of those engaged for their preservation ; and chiefly upon the skill of those who either build our ships, or manu facture our weapons of war. To what have we been chiefly indebted for our latest successes in war ? What has enabled us to subdue the most populous empire on the globe ?—for our triumphs in the east have been in reality the conquest of China. Our superior knowledge, and the chief embodiments of that knowledge in the means of war—our navy and our cannon have given us the victory. Our manufacturers of warlike weapons, our naval architects, our engineers, are the backbone of the nation ; if they should fail us, the power of Britain is gone. On them chiefly we rely for the means of attacking an enemy abroad, or defending ourselves at home. To these classes we may address a few ques tions which deserve their attention. They are certainly as much interested in the science of National Defence as in the science of Political Economy, and we therefore ask, Who has studied the question of national power ? What are its elements ? Who are its deposi taries 1 Through whom should it be exerted 1 When should it be employed ? and, How may it be put forth most economically and advan tageously ? We are more deeply interested in the scien tific treatment of these questions than some people suppose. The dissensions of the Italian and French philosophers, and especially of Adam Smith and his followers in this country, regarding political economy, have produced a mighty change in the opinions and. policy of England. They sowed the seeds of which we are now reaping the fruits in the rapid increase of our wealth. Free trade has been the result of a scientific study of national wealth ; and why should not peace be the result of a scientific study of national power? But is there a man in Great Britain who can answer satisfactorily to himself the two simple ques tions, What is peace between two nations ? And what are the best means for any people of maintaining it ? Even the first of these questions, apparently so simple, is not easily answered. According to the most reliable accounts from China, we have always been at peace with the Chinese, but we have lately been at war with the Chinese Emperor. Has it been peace or war with China ? We are no less ignorant of what is national power than what is peace or war. Instinct teaches us to defend ourselves, but how to do it is a question still unsolved. The doctrines of the political-economy party, that we should keep the means of defence as low as is barely con sistent with our safety, is so repugnant to our feelings, that it will never meet with general acceptance. No man would think of neglecting or undervaluing his health and strength for the mere accumulation of wealth; and no people will ever be taught to believe that riches are more valuable to them than power. We want some one, therefore, to teach us the means of increasing at the same time our wealth and our power. At present we know not these means, because we have no correct theory regarding the elements of a nation’s strength. Many complaints have been made regarding our expenditure for our army and navy. Will some one undertake the task of solving this problem ? What means should a nation employ to obtain the maximum of power with the minimum of expenditure ? How can we get the most destructive ships of war, or cannon, for the least money ? Certainly not by means of a monopoly of their manufacture in the hands of Government, if there be any truth in the teachings of political economists. When we wish to defend our shores from invasion we call on the people, and there starts into being an army of volunteers. When wo wish our Colonies to be secure from attack, we expect them to do all they can to defend themselves. When our merchant vessels are in danger, why should not they also act in self-defence, and be prepared for it ? When we want cannon, ships, or anything of a similar kind, for our protec-- tion, we call upon those skilled in their manu faeture to provide them; to invent, improve? and construct. Is it the business of Govern ment to make these means of defensive and
- Aktuelle Seite (TXT)
- METS Datei (XML)
- IIIF Manifest (JSON)