[Illustration: CHAIN BRIDGE. See page 68.] A HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF USEFUL INVENTIONS AND SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES: BEING A MANUAL OF INSTRUCTION AND ENTERTAINMENT. BY GEORGE GRANT, AUTHOR OF “PANORAMA OF SCIENCE,” “THE HISTORY OF LONDON,” ETC. ETC. LONDON: PARTRIDGE AND OAKEY. MDCCCLII. PREFACE. It has been demonstrated that the desire of obtaining knowledge is one of the most natural, and, at the same time, most ennobling attributes of the human mind. There is at the present time a great number of inquiring minds among the working classes of this kingdom, and a still greater number of the young of all classes thirsting for information, who in entering upon a course of general reading must be greatly at a loss for many things which are familiarly alluded to in ordinary conversation, with which everybody is understood to be acquainted, or would have people to think so, but which, in reality, are only familiar to persons who have been living for a considerable time in intimate converse with the world. The “Historical Account of Useful Inventions and Discoveries in Science,” is intended in some measure to supply such information to the anxious inquirer after knowledge. Of the numerous articles here treated of, it will be perceived that each has been traced to its origin in as lucid a style as possible, and in so doing we have endeavoured to combine instruction with amusement. As a proof of this we need only refer to the table of Contents. CONTENTS. PAGE. Printing 11 Stereotype 25 Engraving on Wood 27 ” ” Copper 28 ” ” Steel 30 Lithography 32 Paper 36 Paper Hanging 41 Painting 45 Statuary 48 Drawing 55 Architecture 62 Chain Bridges 68 Clocks 69 Watches 74 Water Clocks 77 Spinning 80 Stocking Manufacture 84 Coaches 95 Saddles, &c. 104 Horse-Shoes 107 Gunpowder 111 Guns 114 Astronomy 119 Navigation 155 Light-Houses 159 Electricity 167