The Life Of Thomas Paine, Vol. 2. (of 2): With A History of His Literary, Political and Religious Career in America France, and EnglandConway, Moncure Daniel
History
The Life Of Thomas Paine, Vol. 2. (of 2): With A History of His Literary, Political and Religious Career in America France, and England
Conway, Moncure Daniel
Paine, Thomas, 1737-1809
He had brought with him from America, as we have seen, a model of a
bridge of his own construction and invention, which model had been
adopted in England for building bridges under his own direction. He
employed part of his time, while at our house, in bringing this model to
high perfection, and this accomplished to his wishes. He afterwards,
and according the model, made a bridge of lead, which he accomplished b/
moulding different blocks of lead, which, when joined together, made the
form that he required. This was most pleasant amusement for him. Though
he fully relied on the strength of his new bridge, and would produce
arguments enough in proof of its infallible strength, he often
demonstrated the proof by blows of the sledge-hammer, not leaving anyone
in doubt on the subject. One night he took off the scaffold of his
bridge and seeing that it stood firm under the repeated strokes of
hammer, he was so ravished that an enjoyment so great was not to be
sufficiently felt if confined to his own bosom. He was not satisfied
without admirers of his success. One night we had just gone to bed, and
were surprised at hearing repeated strokes of the hammer. Paine went
into Mr. Bonneville's room and besought him to go and see his bridge:
come and look, said he, it bears all my blows and stands like a rock.
Mr. Bonneville arose, as well to please himself by seeing a happy man as
to please him by looking at his bridge. Nothing would do, unless I saw
the sight as well as Mr. Bonneville. After much exultation: "nothing, in
the world," said he, "is so fine as my bridge"; and, seeing me standing
by without uttering a word, he added, "except a woman!" which happy
compliment to the sex he seemed to think, a full compensation for the
trouble caused by this nocturnal visit to the bridge.
A machine for planing boards was his next invention, which machine he
had executed partly by one blacksmith and partly by another. The machine
being put together by him, he placed it on the floor, and with it planed
boards to any number that he required, to make some models of wheels.
Mr. Bonneville has two of these wheels now. There is a specification
of the wheels, given by Mr. Paine himself. This specification, together
with a drawing of the model, made by Mr. Fulton, were deposited at
Washington, in February 1811; and the other documents necessary to
obtain a patent as an invention of Thomas Paine, for the benefit of
Madam Bonneville. To be presented to the Directory of France, a memorial
on the progress and construction of iron bridges. On this subject the
two pieces here subjoined will throw sufficient light. (Memoir upon
Bridges.--Upon Iron Bridges.--To the Directory.--Memoir on the Progress
and Construction &c.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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