all the gold that was occupied for the work

Lord Kelvin did not reveal that heavier-than-air flying machines were impossible; he mistakenly believed it. The verb reveal is factive.

He unstrapped his knapsack, put it, with his stick, on the hedge-bank, and opened the gate.

As Sodomes Apples, neere th’Asphalticke lake, Of specious shew, yet touch’t, to ashes turning, So are sinnes poysons sweete, yet bane to take;