The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

From the Massachusetts-Gazette, of October 16.

Mess. DRAPERS,

Please to let the following have a Place in your valuable Gazette, and you'll oblige your's. E. E.

AS I was lately viewing a new invented Machine, by observing the Modification of its Parts, it gave me such Hints as led me to consider to what an infinite Degree a Small Strength might be increased by the Multiplication and proper Position of Wheels: and as there were several Persons present I took Occasion to tell them, that the Strength of a single Hair might be increased to a Degree sufficient to rend up the largest Tree by the Roots. This I spoke not considering how apt many Persons are to think every Thing impossible and ridiculous that does not come within reach of their Knowledge; and many Persons being, as they imagine, sufficiently convinced of the utter Impossibility of the Thing, have been pleased to treat me with Ridicule: Therefore, to convince such Persons that every thing is not beyond the Reach of Art, that does not fall within the Sphere of their Reasoning, if any Gentleman, or Number of Gentlemen, or Persons in this Province, will advance the Sum of Forty Pounds and give me sufficient Security for the same, to defray the Charges of making a Machine, I will undertake with a single Hair to pull up a Tree that will girdle three Foot of the sturdiest Texture; and will forfeit the same Sum in Case of Non performance. It may be that I shall have Occasion to make Use of Several Hairs before the Stubborn Tree will yield its Roots, but nothing more than a single Hair shall be made use of at a Time, and the Tree shall be as entirely drawn up by the Strength of a Hair as a Clock is moved by its Weights; and in like Manner the largest Tree that can be found may be drawn up by a single Hair. Indeed it would be impossible to make a Machine that would remove the Earth by the Strength of a Hair: but this Impossibility would not arise for want of sufficient Strength in the Hair, neither because it would be difficult to invent such a Machine, which I can easily demonstrate to any ingenious Person by plain Consequences, drawn from the Machine with which the Tree shall be drawn up, if ever it is made. Perhaps such a Performance might serve as a Lesson to improve the Minds of ingenious Persons, and exhibit such Ideas as would assist them in inventing other Things of a useful Nature.

Here I would invite the Persons above hinted at to embrace this Opportunity to convince me of my Error, or else for ever hereafter pay me (at least) a tacit Acknowledgment that they, and not I, are most deserving of Ridicule,

ENOCH ELLIS.

Walpole, Sept. 24, 1766.