shadow of britain

Chapter 142 Another new invention?

While listening to Faraday and Arthur explaining the working principle of the 'Faraday cage' to him, Goulburn wiped the sweat from his forehead with the handkerchief drawn from his coat pocket.

Goulburn asked suspiciously: "The excess charge on the charged conductor only exists on its surface, and will not affect any objects enclosed within it? In other words, the reason why Mr. Faraday was not shocked is because the excess charge is all distributed on the outer surface of the iron cage?"

Faraday nodded slightly: "There is no problem with your understanding."

Goulburn managed to stabilize his mood, and he asked, "Then is there any use for this principle in the field of application?"

Arthur smiled and replied: "Knowing this, you don't have to worry about lightning strikes from God anymore. I assure you that if you go out in the rain with such an iron cage, then no matter whether it is the Nordic Thor or the Greek Zeus, neither of them can do anything to you."

Goulburn thought about it, and finally nodded slowly: "It sounds reasonable, and this principle does prove the safety of electric current... Well, Mr. Faraday, your new achievement has won the affirmation of the Ministry of Finance, and we will add an additional research funding of about 3000 pounds to your research in the field of electromagnetism."

When Arthur heard this, he wanted to question whether the money was a little low.

But when he thought about it again, the cost of the 'Rocket' steam locomotive that killed Huskisson was only 789 pounds. In comparison, 3000 pounds seems quite generous.

Sure enough, Arthur noticed that Faraday's expression became much brighter because of the injection of 3000 pounds of scientific research funds.

Faraday bowed slightly: "Your Excellency, I guarantee that the Ministry of Finance will not regret this investment in the future. When electromagnetic technology matures, the whole of Britain will benefit from it, and it is only a matter of time before the Ministry of Finance recovers the cost."

When Arthur heard this, he looked up again to see Henry Goulburn's hesitant to speak and finally just smiled.

Of course Arthur understood that what Goulburn's Ministry of Finance wanted was not to win in the future, but to win in the present.If the scientists of the Royal Society can express their support for the Tory Party, I believe it will definitely help the maintenance of Wellington's cabinet.

Arthur saw that Goulburn was not easy to speak, so he knocked on Faraday's side and said: "Compared to investing in electromagnetism, I think the Ministry of Finance is investing in you. This money is paid for your project, which may be more important than anything else."

Upon hearing this, Goulburn echoed with a smile: "That's right, Mr. Faraday, the Ministry of Finance trusts your good scientific research reputation more than the project. Of course, this also includes the affirmation of Mr. Hastings, the best electromagnetic expert in Great Britain after you. Investing in your electromagnetics project is comparable to investing in Mr. Babbage's Difference Engine..."

Goulburn just said this, and hurriedly shut up, and then he seemed to remember something, and the chancellor who was still in the mood to chat just now suddenly asked Faraday to resign: "Well, Mr. Faraday, I still have official business today, so I won't be with you any more. I wish you a good afternoon."

After saying that, Goulburn limped out of the laboratory with a cane. Looking at the way he was walking, it seemed that the fall just now was not light.

After watching him go away, Arthur asked Faraday, "What is Babbage's difference engine?"

When Faraday, who is the head of the Royal Society laboratory, heard this, he also showed a headache like Goulburn.

"It's a computer driven by steam power. I have seen Mr. Babbage's design plan, and I have to say that the structure of that thing is far more complicated than that of a locomotive. If he is really asked to make it, it will probably be a huge monster that can only be accommodated in several rooms.

So, Arthur, you know, the more this kind of thing is, the more money it burns.The Duke of Wellington was very optimistic about this thing. He believed that if the difference engine was manufactured, it would greatly improve the computing power of the battlefield staff.Therefore, the Ministry of Finance has previously approved a research fund of up to [-] pounds for the production of the difference engine.

However, judging from Mr. Babbage's reaction, the ten thousand pounds may be just a drop in the bucket.He told me that there may be more than [-] parts for the difference engine he is going to use.The funds of [-] pounds may not even be able to cover the money he ordered for parts.

So these days, Mr. Babbage has gone to the Ministry of Finance to ask for additional investment whenever he has the opportunity. You can tell from the expression of His Excellency Goulburn that for this seemingly bottomless investment, unless the Duke of Wellington personally orders it, the Ministry of Finance will not give even a penny more. "

After hearing this, Arthur felt a little interesting in his heart.

He knew that the computer must be an epoch-making invention, and there was no objection.But steam-powered computers...

Arthur imagined for a moment, if Mr. Babbage really made this kind of thing, would it be possible to play games in the future with a towel around his neck, naked upper body, and run to the boiler room?
What sauna theme cafe?
A combination of steampunk and cyberpunk?
Just when Arthur thought of this, Faraday suddenly asked, "Arthur, did you encounter any problems when you came to find me today?"

"Ah...that's not true. It's just that I want to ask you today if you have some simple and easy-to-understand experiments, preferably the kind that can be popularized at banquets."

"Banquet?" Faraday immediately understood when he heard the word, "Did the Blue Sox Club invite you?"

Arthur nodded, and recounted the ins and outs of Codrington's invitation to him.

After hearing this, Faraday just shook his head helplessly: "Actually, I don't have any prejudice against the Blue Sox Club. If it can carry out the original intention when it was established, of course I would like to explain the scientific principles to the ladies there.

After all, the Blue Sox Club was one of the first upper-class groups to embrace poor scientists like us.

Speaking of its name, you may not know that it is called the "Blue Sox Club" because it invited the first scholar to give a lecture, Benjamin Stilling Flint, who lived in poverty and couldn't afford the black and white silk stockings that the upper class usually wears at banquets, so he could only wear a pair of blue socks to the meeting.

But the ladies don't care about that, and now... well... Arthur, with all due respect, the Blue Sox Club is almost indistinguishable from a normal social group.

But this is also normal, just like chemicals, as long as anything is exposed to the air, it will probably be air-dried and oxidized.

So, instead of wasting energy on them, you might as well do a few more cases, or come and study with me in the field of electromagnetism. "

When Arthur heard this, he probably understood what was going on.

No wonder General Codrington shuddered at the mention of Faraday's name. It seemed that he must have invited Faraday for his wife before, but what happened at the banquet disappointed the British scientific star.

Faraday didn't want to talk about it, and Arthur didn't want to force it.

Instead, he shifted the topic to Charles Wheatstone whom he had seen at the gate of the academy.

"By the way, Mr. Faraday, can you arrange for me to meet Mr. Wheatstone? I'm a little interested in his megaphone."

Faraday couldn't help being surprised when he heard the words: "Have you started to study acoustics again recently? Even Wheatstone himself is turning in the direction of electromagnetism. Why did you choose to jump out of electromagnetism?"

Arthur smiled and replied: "This is not considered jumping out, just a little personal interest. But from your description, I like acoustics, and Mr. Wheatstone wants to turn to electromagnetism. Maybe there will be a lot of common language between us?"

Faraday smiled and shook his head: "Forget it, see you. I remember he told me last time that he also wants to see you. But see you, you have to be careful and don't let him run away. Otherwise, we won't be able to explain this to the Duke of Sussex."

(End of this chapter)