Excerpt from A Treatise on the Steam Engine: Historical, Practical, and Descriptive The high state of wealth and civilization which the English people have attained within the last half century, has been greatly promoted by the application of the power of the steam-engine to various purposes of the useful arts, in aid of manual labour. In an uncultivated state of society, all that the higher classes consume must he obtained by the degradation and slavery of the mass of the population; for unless the industry of the working class is systematically applied, and aided by the use of machines, there can be but little surplus wealth to maintain an educated class in society, and produce that state of general affluence which is conducive to the progress of civilization, and the development of intellect. It is only in comparatively modern times, that the natural powers of currents of wind and water have been applied to facilitate laborious operations; but at the commencement of the last century, in addition to the general application of wind and water powers, a new element was subjected to the laws of mechanics in England, and with the greatest success. The productiveness of labour has been so greatly increased by this gigantic auxiliary, and by the improved system of manufactures and commerce to which it has given birth, that those conveniences of life, and attributes of wealth, which were formerly considered to be one of the distinctions of the first classes of the community, are now acknowledged to belong equally to that middle class which may be said to consist of labourers, who apply their minds to useful industry, instead of their hands. This change has produced a great advancement, in the state of society. The desire of supplying the artificial wants thus created, has excited a great energy of mind, and an active exercise of knowledge amongst that middle class, which has influenced the whole mass of society, so as to have produced a high state of civilization; and in its consequences has induced a refinement of habits, manners, and sentiments, which can only result from a general diffusion of wealth and knowledge. The condition of the labouring class has been greatly improved at the same time, and a more rapid improvement will follow, from a perseverance in that system of education which is now in active operation amongst the common people. The history of the origin and progress of so important and useful an invention, cannot fail to be an object of interest to every intelligent inquirer. The principles upon which useful results are to be obtained from the application of steam power, should be studied in detail, by all those who take any part in the direction of productive industry, and it will be found, that although much has been done, there are frequent occasions for new applications of those machines. The object of the present treatise is to give a historical, practical, and descriptive account of the steam-engine, and its application to useful purposes. The historical part is intended to form a complete account of the invention, from its first origin, to its present state of perfection, from which the statesman and political economist may observe the influence that the adoption of steam power has exercised upon our national prosperity and advancement, during a century past, and may form an opinion of the future advantages to be expected from more extended applications of the same principles. The practical and descriptive part is intended to form a course of instruction for professional students, in the practice and principles of making and using steam-engines. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com