We doubt whether any event or circumstance has transpired within the present century, which has served to develope the ignorance and gullibility of the citizens of New York, to so great an extent, as that of the introduction of Signor Muzzi's contrivance for aerial locomotion. We have indeed been distressed with mingled sensations of regret and vexation, to witness the applause of several of the most popular city papers, and the names of several of our professors of sciences, and men of reputed scientific attainments, appended to a certificate of commendation of a contrivance, the futility of which is so palpable at first sight, that a school boy of nine years would be censurable for dullness if he could not readily detect it. But without proceeding further with our own opinion, we will present an illustrated description of the apparatus to our readers, that they may exercise their own judgment on the subject:
This cut sufficiently represents the machine; which consists of a balloon or ball, (A) made of oiled silk or paper, and filled with hydrogen gas. To this balloon are attached to inclined planes (B B) which are also constructed of light material and secured in their position by cords. In addition there is a triangular vane, tail or rudder (C) by which the machine is steered on the principle of a helm. The plan, or mode of operating the machine, is to supply it with a sufficient quantity of gas to cause it to ascend, while the inclined planes, encountering some degree of atmospheric resistance, naturally shoot off in an oblique direction, drawing the balloon with them. Then, when the machine has ascended to a sufficient height, a part of the gas is to be let off or compressed, so as to cause the balloon to descend, and by a simple contrivance, the position of the two planes is reversed, the depressed ends being brought to the front, they give the balloon an oblique direction in its descent. Thus, by ascending a mile and again descending, a mile of horizontal distance is gained; and if the atmosphere be entirely calm, a mile may be travelled about as quick as a lame man would walk the same distance. But if there be the least breeze of head wind, the game is up. And by what means the balloon is to be made to again ascend, without a fresh supply of gas, the inventor has not informed us-perhaps he does not exactly know.
Such gentle reader, is the invention which has been lauded by our first men and biggest editors, and of which an awkward model has received "rounds of applause" from a "select and fashionable audience" (who paid fifty cents each to witness the wonder.) as the nearest approach to successful aerial navigation that has ever been thought of, notwithstanding that ten years ago, in a popular public journal of this city,-and again four years ago, in another city paper,-a plan was presented to them, with ample illustrations, explanations and demonstrations of an aerial apparatus, on perfectly rational and established principles, that will evidently navigate the atmosphere at a speed of one hundred miles per hour, with safety, and perfectly at command; being in the form of an eliptic spindle, with a buoyancy of several tons and driven forward by the power of steam, applied to revolving, spiral fan- wheels *. Why then, it may be asked, has this new plan produced so much excitement amongst the very people who appeared totally indifferent to the rational plan? The answer is, simply, that the scientific plan was introduced by an American, while the new apparatus was invented by an Italian gentleman,-the audience knowing but little of the merits of either.
With regard to the inventor,-Signor Muzzi,-he appears to be an unassuming gentleman, desirous of procuring assistance to put his invention in successful operation on a large scale. In this we may well sympathize with him, and heartily wish him all possible success; but we should be glad to have our citizens of scientific pretensions, become better informed in the principles of natural philosophy, than they have manifested on this occasion.
We had intended to add some remarks on Mr. West's eloquent lecture on this subject, but must defer them till next week.
*We have a large engraving of this apparatus in progress, and shall present it with full explanations in two or three weeks.