from the description, that the hollow, metallic cylinder would occupy
the middle of the box, without touching it on either side; and that,
on pouring water into the box and filling it to the brim, the cylinder
would be completely covered and surrounded on every side by that fluid.
And, further, as the box was held fast by the strong, square iron rod
which passed in a square hole in the centre of one of its ends, while
the round or cylindrical neck which joined the hollow cylinder to the
end of the cannon could turn round freely on its axis in the round hole
in the centre of the other end of it, it is evident that the machinery
could be put in motion without the least danger of forcing the box out
of its place, throwing the water out of it, or deranging any part of the
apparatus."

Everything being thus ready, the box was filled with cold water, having
been made water-tight by means of leather collars, and the machinery put
in motion. "The result of this beautiful experiment," says Rumford, "was
very striking, and the pleasure it afforded me amply repaid me for
all the trouble I had had in contriving and arranging the complicated
machinery used in making it. The cylinder, revolving at the rate of
thirty-two times in a minute, had been in motion but a short time when I
perceived, by putting my hand into the water and touching the outside
of the cylinder, that heat was generated, and it was not long before the
water which surrounded the cylinder began to be sensibly warm.

"At the end of one hour I found, by plunging a thermometer into the
box,... that its temperature had been raised no less than forty-seven
degrees Fahrenheit, being now one hundred and seven degrees Fahrenheit.
... One hour and thirty minutes after the machinery had been put in
motion the heat of the water in the box was one hundred and forty-two
degrees. At the end of two hours... it was raised to one hundred and
seventy-eight degrees; and at two hours and thirty minutes it ACTUALLY
BOILED!

"It would be difficult to describe the surprise and astonishment
expressed in the countenances of the bystanders on seeing so large a
quantity of cold water heated, and actually made to boil, without any
fire. Though there was, in fact, nothing that could justly be considered
as a surprise in this event, yet I acknowledge fairly that it afforded
me a degree of childish pleasure which, were I ambitious of the
reputation of a GRAVE PHILOSOPHER, I ought most certainly