Chapter 142: Another New Invention?
Chapter 142: Another New Invention?
Goulbourne listened to Faraday and Arthur stating for him how the ‘Faraday Cage’ worked while wiping the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief drawn from his jacket pocket.
Goulburn asked skeptically, “The excess charge on a charged conductor exists only on its surface and has no effect on anything enclosed within it? In other words, Mr. Faraday was not electrocuted because the excess charge was distributed all over the outer surface of the cage?”
Faraday nodded slightly, “You have no problem understanding that.”
Goulburn managed to stabilize his mood as he asked, “Then is this principle of any use in the field of application?”
Arthur smiled and responded, “Knowing this, you will never have to worry about lightning strikes from God again. I promise you, if you go out on a rainy day with an iron cage like this on top, then no matter if it’s the Norse God of Thunder Thor or the Greek Zeus, neither of them can do anything to you.”
Goulburn thought left and right, and finally still slowly nodded: “It sounds like there is so much truth, and this principle does prove the safety of the electric current …… Well, Mr. Faraday, this new result of yours has won the affirmation of the Ministry of Finance, and we will follow up with an additional sum of about 3,000 pounds for your research in electromagnetism. with an additional research grant of around £3,000.”
Hearing this, Arthur was about to question whether this sum was not a little low.
But on second thought, the cost of the ‘Rocket’ steam locomotive that killed Huskisson was only 789 pounds, so in comparison, it seems that 3000 pounds is quite generous.
As expected, Arthur noticed that Faraday’s expression also brightened up a lot because of this 3000 pounds of research funds.
Faraday bowed slightly, ”Your Excellency, I guarantee that the Ministry of Finance will not regret for this investment in the future. When the electromagnetism technology matures, the whole of Britain will benefit from it, and it will only be a matter of time before the Ministry of Finance recoups its costs.”
Hearing this, Arthur looked up again and saw Henry Goulbourne’s expression of wanting to say something and eventually just smiling.
Arthur understood, of course, that what Goulbourne’s Treasury wanted was not to win in the future, but to win in the present. If the scientists of the Royal Society could take a stand in favor of the Tories, I’m sure it would certainly help to maintain Wellington’s cabinet.
Seeing that Goulbourne was not in a good position to speak, Arthur side-stepped Faraday and said, “More than investing in electromagnetism, I feel that the Treasury is investing in you. The money is being handed over to your program, which is probably more important than anything else.”
Hearing this, Goulbourne smiled and agreed, “That’s right, Mr. Faraday, the Treasury trusts your good scientific reputation more than your projects. Of course, this also includes recognition of Mr. Hastings, the best electromagnetism expert in Great Britain after you. An investment in your electromagnetism project would be more reassuring than an investment in Mr. Babbage’s differential machine ……”
Gulben just said here, rushed to stop his mouth, then he seems to remember what, just had the mood to chat with the Minister of Finance suddenly opened his mouth to Faraday to open his mouth to ask for resignation: “That, Mr. Faraday, I still have official business today, so I will not accompany you, I wish you to have a good afternoon.”
At the end of the sentence, Gulben limped away from the laboratory with his cane, looking at his walking appearance, it seems that the fall was not light.
Arthur watched him walk away before he rushed to Faraday and asked, “What is Babbage’s differential machine?”
When Faraday, who was the head of the Royal Society’s laboratory, heard this, he actually showed a headache expression like Goulburn.
“It’s a steam-powered driven computer. I’ve seen Mr. Babbage’s design proposal, and I have to say that the structure of that thing is far more complex than a locomotive. If he did make it, it would probably be a behemoth that would take several rooms to fit.
So, Arthur, you understand, the more of this sort of thing there is the more money it burns. The Duke of Wellington used to think very highly of this thing, and he thought that differential machines, if they were ever made, would greatly enhance the computing power of the battlefield staff. That’s why the Ministry of Finance has already approved a research grant of up to 10,000 pounds for the production of a differential machine.
But, judging by Mr. Babbage’s reaction, this ten thousand pounds may be a drop in the bucket. He told me that the number of parts to be used on and off the differential machine he was going to make would probably exceed twenty thousand. The £10,000 might not even cover the money he would have spent ordering the parts.
That’s why Mr. Babbage has been going to the Treasury at every opportunity for a while now to ask for additional investment, and as you can see by the look on His Excellency Goulburn’s face, the Treasury shouldn’t be able to give even a penny more for what looks like a bottomless pit of investment unless the Duke of Wellington himself orders it.” Arthur’s mind was slightly amused after hearing this.
The computer he knew, it was certainly an epoch-making invention, no argument there. But a steam-powered computer ……
Arthur imagined, if really let Mr. Babbage come up with this kind of thing, it’s hard to believe that in the future, you have to play games with a towel around your neck, naked, and run to the boiler room?
What sauna-themed internet cafes?
Steampunk meets cyberpunk?
Arthur just thought of this, Faraday suddenly opened his mouth and asked, “Arthur, did you come to see me today because you encountered any problems?”
“Ah …… that’s not true. It’s just that I want to ask you today if you have some simple and easy to understand small experiments here, preferably the kind that can be used to popularize science at banquets.”
“Banquet?” Faraday immediately understood when he heard this word, “The Bluestocking Society invited you?”
Arthur nodded and recounted all the causes and consequences of Codrington’s invitation.
After hearing this, Faraday just shook his head helplessly, “Actually, I don’t have any prejudice against the Blue Sox Society. If it can carry out the original intention when it was founded, I am certainly willing to go and explain some scientific principles to the ladies and gentlemen there.
After all, the Blue Stocking Society is also considered one of the first upper class groups to embrace us poor scientists.
Speaking of this name of its, you may not know that it was called the ‘Bluestocking Society’ because Benjamin Stillingfleet, the first scholar it invited over to give a lecture in the first place, was so poor that he couldn’t afford to buy the black-and-white stockings that the upper class often wore at banquets, and could only go to the meeting wearing a pair of blue socks.
But those ladies didn’t care about that, and now …… well …… Arthur, with all due respect, the Bluestocking Society is now almost on the verge of being indistinguishable from your average social group.
But that’s normal, it’s like chemicals, anything that is exposed to air is more than likely going to air dry and oxidize.
So instead of wasting your energy on them, why don’t you work on a few more cases, aka come work with me on something in the field of electromagnetism.”
Arthur heard this and probably understood what was going on.
No wonder General Codrington balked at the mention of Faraday’s name, it seemed that he must have invited Faraday on behalf of his wife before, but what happened during the banquet was a big disappointment to the science star of Britain.
Faraday didn’t want to talk much, and Arthur didn’t want to force himself.
He turned the topic to Charles Wheatstone, whom he had met earlier at the entrance of the academy.
“By the way, Mr. Faraday, can you arrange for me to meet with Mr. Wheatstone? I’m a bit interested in that 10,000 voice cylinder of his.”
Faraday was surprised when he heard this, “Have you started working on acoustic stuff again recently? Even Wheatstone himself is turning toward electromagnetism, so how come you chose to jump out from electromagnetism?”
Arthur smiled and returned, “It’s not exactly jumping out, it’s just a bit of personal interest. But from the way you describe it, I love acoustics and Mr. Wheatstone wants to move to electromagnetism, so perhaps there will be a lot of common language between the two of us?”
Faraday smiled and shook his head, “That’s just it, let’s meet. I remember he told me last time that he would like to meet you as well. But seeing is seeing, you have to be careful, don’t let him get away. Otherwise we all can’t explain this matter to the Duke of Sussex.”
(End of chapter)