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Editorial
November 26, 1806
Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger
Norfolk, Virginia
What is this article about?
Satirical editorial mocking Thomas Jefferson's mechanical ignorance through a failed pendulum-powered saw mill experiment at the Navy-Yard, contrasting his genius in trivial matters with practical failure.
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COMMUNICATION.
Democratick Economy.--Great men are often guilty of great blunders, and men of the greatest genius sometimes commit the greatest blunders.-- Mr. Jefferson, without doubt could give a most correct treatise on the anatomy of the flea's fore shoulder, or calculate with precision how many ephemera must be shaved to produce beards enough for making a hair mattress; yet he may be entirely ignorant of the first principles in mechanics.
Some time since a person produced a model of a SAW MILL to go by a PENDULUM. Mr. Jefferson examined and approved of it, and consented that one thousand dollars might be expended in an experiment. The ponderous wood was shaped, and the massy iron wheels cast. The pendulum weighed we know not how many tons--All to no purpose.
It was conjectured that a pendulum operating above as well as below, would answer the purpose; but all was vain-It would not go.
There is some little ingenuity in the idea, and in the construction of this PENDULUM SAW MILL; but one of the first and most obvious principles of the laws of mechanics at first blush showed the fallacy.
The ruins of the mighty monument of Mr. Jefferson's mechanical sagacity may still be seen at the Navy-Yard, till he shall take it to his cabinet of curiosities at Monticello, to be placed with his WING CHAIR.
(Wash. Fed.)
Democratick Economy.--Great men are often guilty of great blunders, and men of the greatest genius sometimes commit the greatest blunders.-- Mr. Jefferson, without doubt could give a most correct treatise on the anatomy of the flea's fore shoulder, or calculate with precision how many ephemera must be shaved to produce beards enough for making a hair mattress; yet he may be entirely ignorant of the first principles in mechanics.
Some time since a person produced a model of a SAW MILL to go by a PENDULUM. Mr. Jefferson examined and approved of it, and consented that one thousand dollars might be expended in an experiment. The ponderous wood was shaped, and the massy iron wheels cast. The pendulum weighed we know not how many tons--All to no purpose.
It was conjectured that a pendulum operating above as well as below, would answer the purpose; but all was vain-It would not go.
There is some little ingenuity in the idea, and in the construction of this PENDULUM SAW MILL; but one of the first and most obvious principles of the laws of mechanics at first blush showed the fallacy.
The ruins of the mighty monument of Mr. Jefferson's mechanical sagacity may still be seen at the Navy-Yard, till he shall take it to his cabinet of curiosities at Monticello, to be placed with his WING CHAIR.
(Wash. Fed.)
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Partisan Politics
What keywords are associated?
Jefferson
Pendulum Saw Mill
Mechanics Blunder
Satire
Democratick Economy
Navy Yard
What entities or persons were involved?
Mr. Jefferson
Navy Yard
Monticello
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Mockery Of Jefferson's Failed Pendulum Saw Mill Experiment
Stance / Tone
Satirical Ridicule Of Jefferson's Mechanical Ignorance
Key Figures
Mr. Jefferson
Navy Yard
Monticello
Key Arguments
Great Men Commit Great Blunders
Jefferson Excels In Trivial Knowledge But Ignorant Of Mechanics
Approved Model Leading To $1000 Experiment Failure
Pendulum Saw Mill Did Not Work Despite Modifications
Fallacy Evident From Basic Mechanics Principles