No. LVII.
An ebbing and flowing water-work in two vessels, into either of which, the water standing at a level, if a globe be cast in, instead of rising, it presently ebbeth, and so remaineth, until a like globe be cast into the other vessel, which the water is no sooner sensible of, but that the vessel presently ebbeth, and the other floweth, and so continueth ebbing and flowing, until one or both the globes be taken out, working some little effect besides its own motion, without the help of any man within sight or hearing: but if either of the globes be taken out, with ever so swift or easy a motion, at that instant the ebbing and flowing ceaseth; for if, during the ebbing, you take out the globe, the water of that vessel presently returneth to flow, and never ebbeth after, until the globe be returned into it, and then the motion beginneth as before.
NOTE.
This invention, which is evidently more a matter of curiosity than of real utility, is no doubt effected upon the principle of an ebbing and flowing spring; the throwing in of the ball, by causing a commensurate rise of the water, fills a syphon, and sets the water-work in motion, but as the effect of this would cease after the two vessels attained an equilibrium, the machine must be assisted by a moving power attached to one or both of the vessels, as the Marquis merely says, that it may be performed "without the help of any man within sight or hearing."