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:s . I
^s- -••
THE
MECHANICS' MAGAZINE,
MUSEUM,
AND ' ' . ,
GAZETTE,
JULY 1st — DECEMBER 30th, 1848.
EDITED BY J. C. ROBERTSON.
VOL. XLTX.
X
•' When the victory can leap ^ • '
A hanrett cro««'d 'with triumph, toil Is cTieitp." ^.
fORD. ^ t
■■/
LONDON :
ROBERTSON AND CO..
MECHANICS' MAGAZINE OFFICE, No. 168, FLEET-STREET.
AGENTS: FOR EDINBURGH, J. SUTHERLAND;
GLASGOW, W. R. M'PHUN, AND DAVID ROBERTSON;
DUBLIN, MACHIN AND CO., 8, D'OLIER STREET;
PARIS, A. & W. GALIGNANI, RUE VIVIENNB;
HAMBURGH, W. CAMPBELL.
1848.
/
INDEX
TO THE FORTY-NINTH YOUlMR
Acid, Cimne nd JalUon't potent I AzaUc oumiiciipt, on t cextaln,
ImpTovemente in the maimfluv
tttze of, 43
, oxalic, LunlDf['i patent In-
proTementi in, Alb
— , Solomoni bdA Azula^'i pa-
tent improvements in the manu-
facture of, 547
hy Jamee Cockle, Esq., M.A.,
Bairitter-at-law, 80
Archimedean boiler fteraaoe,
Maudtlaf's patent, 241
Arehltectore, Treatiie on,Leed<'s,
(rcTiew), 568
Arctic ocean, temperature of, 187
, Barnes' patent ImproTemeiet I; Arm strong's patent improvemeots
in distillina, 573 * . . * • '> in water-pressure engines, 501
Adams, Mr. 1. P., pension loftlZ ^ Articles of utility, registered de-
Adeock's patent improYeD«^flt| in. signs for, 22, 46, 71, 04, \\9,
ftimaces and fire-places, «53> " ""' '*' "*" "*" """
Aerating liqnort, Bursill's patent
improvements in, 548
Atrial locomotive, 169, 257
Agricultnnl implements; prixes
and medals awarded at the R4nral
Agricultural SodatT's txhiUtloB
at York, 69
Agriculture, aid rendered by me-
chanics to, 94
Air, compressed, locomotive. Ba-
ron von Rathen's, 6! ; first trial
of; on common r^ads, 165, 186
Alabaster, method of bringing out
sculpture in, 80
Alban's, Dr., improved steam
boiler, 49
, new mode of sheep
washing, 179
Algebra, on the signs used in, 200
, on the principles of , as a
system of general reasoning,
293, 317. 346, 374. 392
Algebraic equations. Notes on the
theory of, by James Coclde, Esq.,
M.A., Barrister- at -Law, 10
Algebraicae, Hora, by James
Cockle, Esq.. M.A., 364, 517,
555
Algebraical and geometrical stu-
dies, 626
Alliott's patent apparatus for re-
gulating the working of steam-
boilers, 337
patent platform weigh-
ing machine, 409
Alloys of ores, new method of
extracting gold from, 489
Althan's, Mr. H., historical notice
of the coming comet, 16
America, carpetmanufacturein, 21
, electric telegraph law-
suit in. 406
American patents, recent, 31, 142,
458, 476
fast printing-press, 193;
of English origin, 237, 271
electro - magnetic
tele-
graph, 340
Andrews, Mr. Thomas ; mode of
electric insulation, 363, 430
Aneroid barometer, 204
Angell. Mr. J,; on the term "infi-
nite," 443
Animil nroducts, Louis's patent
method of preserving, 525
Aqueous solutions, test for organic
matters in, 498
143, 167, 191, 215, tS8, 262, 287,
311, 885, 859, 883, 407, 480j 455,
479, 503, 627, 551, 574, 560, 623,
647
Artificial stone, Orsi's, 308
Arthur's decimal money, weights,
and measures, 85
Arts, decorative, Miss Wallace's,
patent improvements in. 224
Arts and Sciences, Weale's Rudi-
mentary Treatises : Dr.Lardner's
Steam-Engine, TomUnson's Na-
tural Philosophy, Leeds's Archi-
tecture, 566
Ashley, Lord, letter to, on model
lodging-houses for the working-
classes, £4
A tt wood's railway wheels, 476
Augers, Newton's improvements
in, 142
Aurora Borealis of 18 Oct., 4H
Axle-boxes, Normanville's patent
improvements in, 458
, Wrighton and Nor-
manville's, 645
Aytoun, R. Esq. ; plan for the im-
provement ut Dover haibour, 344
Bacon's safety fuze, 31
Baddeley, Mr. W. : Report on the
London Fires for 1847, 101 ;
sanitary reform v. the insanity
of science, 160; Deane, Dray,
and Deane's ces&pool cleanser,
134, 218; Cro&kili's improved
liquid manure cart, 249 ; potato
disease— effects of steam meteor-
ologically contidered, 284 ; appli-
cation of gutta percha to the
insulation of electric wires, 309 ;
Paul's patent excavator and
drain - cutting machine, 323 -,
sanitary measures—trapping and
ventilating sewers, 413, 414;
steam - boiler regulator, 465 ;
Gossage's engine pump, 560;
Tyler's water closet, 609
fiaggs', Mr., lectures on eh ctridty,
84; discoveries in electricity, 129
Baker's safety gun-lock, 466. 515
Baldwin's locomotive steam-en-
gine. 454
Balloon, a governable, 169, 257
Bands, hat, Walker's patent Im-
provements in. 646
Barber, John T., Esq. ; observa-
tions of the aurora boreals of
18 Oct., 414
Barber's patent improvements in
sawing machinery. 570
Barlow and Foster's patent im>
pror ements in electric telegraphs
and apparatus, 497
Barometer, the new French, Ane-
roid, 204
Bars, furnace, Fellows' improve-
ments in, 183
metal, Turton's patent im-
provements in bending, into car-
riage springs, 570
Barsham^s patent improvements
in mats, 570
Barnes' patent improvements in
gas, &c.. 573
B^e's patent improvements in
steam-engines, propelling and
preventing Incrustation, 599
Beauregard's patent steam-engine,
411
Becquerel, M. C. ; coloured photo-
graphic image of the solar
spectrum, 213
Bell, W., Esq., on the motion of
the sea, 155
, Improved diving, 219
Bentham, Brig.-Gen. Sir Samuel;
mode of constructing sea-walls,
83 ; application of water to dif-
ferent kinds of fuel, 140; on the
means of fastening together the
component parts of vessels for
navigation, 150, 171 ; system of
employing buoyant masses for
foundations in deep water, 278;
employment of iron in the con-
struction of ships, 350 ; floating
atf ssoon gate of the great basin
in Portsmouth dockyard, 441 ;
collateral uses to which sea-walls
!may be applied, 461 ; storing
tiniber, 531 ; niachanical prtnci-
Bjes of ba^ijig, rigging, and
' Cbct n fnmcXwg 'saw-mills
•♦ teto En, land, 599 ; mounting
ordnance on the non-recoil prin-
ciple, 634
Binomiil coefficients, on some
properties of, 2 TO
I Bird's patent improvements in
liquid measures, 1 S9
Black's patent improvements in
evaporation, 183
Blackwell's patent improvements
in evaporating furnaces, 121
Blast-furnace Merthyr 'Tydvil,
I remarkable accidi.-nt at, 447, 466
Blasting, galvanic, 415
: Blowing machines, Llo>d'6 patent,
] 265
I Boardman and Wells' improvement
: in clucks and time-pieces, 31
Bodies, falling, on the deviation
I of from the peri>endicular, 13
Boilers, steam, incrustation in, 475;
Seaton's patent iuiprovements
in preventing and removing,
I 549; Beale's patent method of
I preventing, 599
Bdlert, ittan : Dr. Altmn'!, 40 ;
Howes' watcr-gaiiKe, 75; Eatl of
Dnndonald'i patent Improve-
m«nU, 183; Maudilay's patent
Arehhnedean f urn ace, 241 ; Al-
Uotfs patent apparatna for re-
galatiiif the working of, 337 ;
mode of regulating the supply of
water to, S97, 451 ; Yalentlne'a
fanproTementa in, 458; Badde-
ley and Moy's regulators, 465
Booles' theory of the mathematical
basis of logic, 254
Boame*s strictures on the Cornish
steam-engine, 195
Boatigny's discoreries In heat..
411 ?
Bowstring girders, Fox.Hendersgih
and Co.'s, 285
Boxes, Stacker's patent, 474
Boyden'swater wheels, 476 /
Branson's, Dr., mode of electro
painthjg, 41
Breakwaters composed of tertical
floats, by Lient.-Coh Yule,
R.B., 1
, Bruce's pate/it method
of constructing, 97
, should they be sloping
or Tertical r 76, 129, 136, 154,
181, 196, 201, 233, 254. 282, 28G,
328, 342, 368, 399, 426, 445, 469,
515, 537, 559
-, the Plymouth, 342
Bricks, ornamental, Orsi's, 308
Brldgo^ tubular, the InTcntor of,
21
, Remington's, at Shir-
leywieh, 133, 161
, wrought-iron, bowstring
girders for, 285
. Niagara suspen^tlon, 332
.Dredge's foot suspension,
at Shadwell, 356
Brindley's patent improvements
in papier marh6, 573
British Association at Swansea, 186
Brown and Redpath's smiths'
portable forge, 94
Bruce's patent method of con-
structing piers and breakwaters,
97
Budd, Mr. J. P., on the apiilica-
tion of the gases evolTCd from
b!ast furnaces to heating pur-
poses, 2o8
Bullions, Dalton's patent improve-
ments in, 597
Bulwarks, stone, elasticity of,
613
Bnnnett's self acting efDurla-trap,
444
Buoyant masses, Sir Samuel Ben-
tham's system rf employing, for
foundations in deep water, 278
Bursill's patent iraprnvementK in
aerating liquors, 548
Bosh's patent compass, 521
Butterworth, the mathemaUcfan,
biographical particulars of, 297,
377
Cables, chain, Dunn and Elliott's,
machine for testing, 19
Caissoon, floating gate, of thcGrcat
Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard,
411
Cambridge, reforms at, 449. 485
Caoutchouc, Hancock an ; Phillips'
patent improrements in the
manufacture of, 45
, vulcanized, socket
Joints, 617
INDBX.
Capper's, patent method of pre-
paring and' cleaning minerals,
ftc. 596
Cards, show, Stocker's patent, 474
Carpentei^s, Captain, quarter pro-
peller», 222
Carpet^ manufaeture in America,
Carpats, Wood's, patent improve-
m«nts in weaving and printing,
Carriages, railway : Henson's pa-
^tent, 385 ; Normanville's, patent,
.' 453; Harding's, safety addi-
tions, 534; Turton's, patent im-
provements in benaing metal
Slates into springs for, 5/0 ;
fsnsell's, patent, 571
Cart, liquid manure, Croskill's
improved, 249, 307
Cart and Watson's patent im-
provements in the manufacture
of gas, 179
Cash box, railway. Spark's, 81
Caspian, the, steam navigation
on, 118
Cata-dioptric system, for light-
house lights, Mr. Gordon's, 262
Cave's method of preventing
incrustations in steam boilers,
475
Caulking, improvements in, 306
Cements, Orsi's patent improve-
ments in, 308
the new Portland, 325
Cesspool cleanser, Deane, Dray
and Deane's, 184, 185, 248, 307
Chain cables, Dunn and Elliott's,
machine for testing, 19
Chair -pin, railwav, pressing ma-
chine, Harrlson^s, 32
Challenge to the mathematicians
of the 19th century, 639
Chamberlain's patent apparatus
for recording votes at elections,
598
Chanec's patent improvements in
furnaces and manufacture of
glass, 184
Charcoal, Solomons and Azulays'
patent improvements in, 547.
Chesnel, T. G. de, Esq., on the
electric telegraph. 342
Chimneys, sioolcy, Sir H. Hait's,
patent apparatus for preventing,
598
Chrononietric governor, Mr.
Joseph Woods', 1 1 8
Chninomeiers, Restel and Clark's,
patent improvements in, .'>02
Circular sawing, experiment in,
18
Clark, Hyde, Esq., on the diffu-
sion of sound, 218, '2CiS
Clip desk, Wedgewooci's, 405
Clocks and time pieces, Board-
man and Wells's improvements
in, 31
Coal mines. Mr. Gurney's plan for
the ventilation of, fi33
Coaling of ships' bottoms, 214
Cockle James, Esq., M.A., Bar
rister at Law ; theory of al;.'c-
brnicequations, 10, onacertain
Arnbic manuscript, SO; fragment
on loijic, 79 ; Horae Alge-
bj aim?. 304, 517, 555
Coefficients, binuinial, en some
properties of, 270
Cof?ee, Remlngton'.-J improve-
ments in roasting, 31
Coins, how to obtain prints from,
132
III
Coke, catting properties of, 208
Cole's patent high-pressure and
expansion double cylinder beam
engine, 301 ; safety vaire, 529
Combing wool, Sargent's patent
improvements in, 142
Combustion, spontaneous, 21
Comet, the coming, historical no-
tice of, 16
Compass, Bush's patent, 521
Compressed air locomotive. Baron
Von Rathen's, 61 ; first trial of,
on common roads, 165, 186
Concussion shells, 190
Condie's patent steam-hammer,
330
Congeneric surd equations, by
Professor Young, 463
Cooch's patent improvements in
sackholders, 524
Coode's patent system of liquid
manure distribution, 369
Copper, Low's patent improv**^
ment in the manufacture of, 35
Penny's patent improve-
ments in obtaining, frcm ccp
per ores, 549
Cornish steam-engine, and Mr.
Bourne's strictures. 135
Cork-cutting, Travers's improve-
ment in, 142
Corrugated r.iilway wheels, Lath-
rop's patent, 56S. 573
Cottage range, Newark, Nichol-
son's, 73
Cotton yams, Hague and Frith's
patent Improvements in doub-
ling and twisting, 549
Crane and Jullion's patent im-
provements in the manufacture
of acids and salts, 42
Croskill's improved liquid manure
cart, 249, 307
Cube root of a line, how to find by
rule and compasses, 632
Culvers hot air furnace, 477
Cunningham and Carter's patent
railway signal apparatus, 348
Currency, nn expansible, 21
Customs, the, maladministration
of, 258
Cutting properties of coke, 208
Cutler's patent welded lap-iron
tubes, 54
Cylinder casting at the Haigh
foundry, 5S9
Dalston's patent improvements
in fringes, gimps, and bullions,
597
Darlu's patent improvements in
obtaining motive power, 597
Davies. Professor, F.R.S., L. & E.
Geometry of the line and plane,
82, 291, 440. 495, 535
Davies's, Is., patent rotary steam
engine, and steam-tight metallic
packing. 433, 4.51, 4i7, 481, 516
Day's improved wind-guards,
217
Dcane, Dray and Dean's portable
lire engine and water pump, 75,
118; cesspool cleanser, l64, 185,
Decimal money weights and mea-
sures. Arthur's, 3S
Decorative arts. Miss Wallace's
patent improvements In, 224
Desijin^, registered, for articles of
utility, 22, 40, 71, 91, 119. 143,
I(j7, lyl, 21j. 239, 262, 287, 311,
335, 3'.9, 3S2, 407, 430, 455, 479,
503, 527, 561, 574, 5(50, 623, 647
302211
IV
DeBk'Clip, 'Wedgewood% 405
Despatch-box, rallTray, Sparke's,
SI
Diary, the Lady's and Gentleman's,
547
Diffusion of sound, 218, 268, 447
Diffusibility of the electric light,
611
" Dispatch" monster press, 644
Distillation, Maltby and Webb's
patent improvements in, 18
Tottie's, ditto, 182
Diving-bell, improved, 219
Division, synthetic, 111
Dodd's rail-straightening machine,
12
Doubling cotton-yams, &c. .Hague
and Firth's patent improve-
ments in, 549
Douglass', Sir Howard, Protest,
368, 427, 4C9, 515, 537
Douglas's syphons, 476
Dover harbour of refuge, and Six
Samuel Bentham's mode of con-
structing sea walls, 33 ; Mr. Ay-
toun's plan for the improvement
of. 344
Drainage plan for London, 630
Drain-flushing apparatus, Salter's
patent, 505, 540
Drains for laying pipes or tiles,
method of cutting, 276
cutting machine, Paul's
patent, 823
Dredge, Mr., and Weston-super-
mare pier and bridge company,
156
Dredge, W. Esq., C.E. ; seawalls,
should they be sloping or ver-
ticnl f 77, 1D6, 233, 254 ; impro-
ved mode of trussing girdeis,
112: foot suspension bridge,
Shadwell, 356; Mr. Stephen-
son's experiments on the lateral
force of waves, 538; elasticity
of stone bulwarks, 613
Dondonald's, Earl of, patent im-
provements in marine steam
boilers. 183
Dunham's, expansion-Joint for
steam engines, 142
Dunn and Elliott's machine for
testing chain cables, 19
Dynamics, questions in, 213
Earth, investigation of the pres-
sure of, against revetementwalls,
466, 524
Ebullition, remarkable experi-
ment* in, 405
Eccentric roller, Mr. W. B. John-
son's, 35
Eddystone lighthouse, 342, 868
Effluvia, self-acting trap, Bun-
nett's, 444
Egan, J. B., Esq. ; cheap railways
for India, 250
Elasticity of stone bulwarks, 613
Elections, Chamberlain's patent
apparatus for recording votes at,
598
Electrical machines, 69
Electricity.Mr. Bagg's lectures on,
84 ; his discoveries in, U9; firing
shells by, 298
Electricligbt,Sta!te's,382, 522. 546
, diTusibllity of, 611
Electricus, gymnotus, the, 178
Electro-painting, Dr. Branson's
mode of, 41
magnetism, employment cf
as a motive power, I hG
INDEX.
Electro-motive engine, Mr. Era-
ser's, on the supposed principlei
of muscular attraction, 299, .171,
428, 459, 545
Electro - telegraphy ; improved
modes of insulating electric wires
by gutta percha, by J. H. Ham-
merton, Esq., 272, 880; by Fran-
cis \?hishaw, Esq., 309: by A.
Bain, Esq., 309; by Z. U„ 310;
by Mr. Reed, 339 ; by Mr. Tho-
mas Andrews, SOS, 430; by
VolU, 898 ; by M.G.,400 ; Barlow
and Foster, 497 ; improved in-
struments, by J. N. Holmes,
Esq. 330, 342 ; Professor Morse's
claims, 340, 406 ; Hammerton's
testing box for electric telegraph
under-ground tubes, 464
Eromoti's patent improvements in
fuel and furnaces, 622
Engine pump, Gossage's, 560
Enrolment offices, new act for the
reform of, 260
Equations, algebraic, notes on the
theory of, by JamesCockle,M. A.,
Barrister-at-Law, 10
congeneric surd, by
Professor Young, 463
Equipping ships, mechanical
principles of, 582
Evaporating Furnaces,Blackweir8
patent improvements in, 121
— — ^— Bhick's patent Im-
provements In, 183
Excavator, Paul's patent, 323
Expansible, currency, an, 21
Expansion joint for steam engines,
Dunham's, 142
Explosion of a stationanr steam
engine, report of the Franklin
institute on, 470
" Ex-reviewer" at fault, 357
Extinction of fires in railway
trains, 342
Extinguisher, spark, Gibson's,
Fabrics, looped, Mowbray's patent
improvements In, 646
, textile, Robertson's pa-
tent improvements In the ma-
nufacture of, 93
Falling bodies, on the deviation
of, fVom the perpendicular, 13
Farmers' and graziers' portable
mill, Remington and Whitton's,
608.
Fastening together the component
parts of model vessels, by Sir
Samuel Bentham,150, 171
Fellow's improrements in fUmace
bars, 1S.1
File-handle, double, Groves and
Son's, 12
Fire engine, portable. Deane,Dray,
andDeane\ 75.118
proof, Payne's process of ren-
dering wood, 140
at New York, 162
Fires, London, Mr. Baddeley's re-
port on, for 1847, 101
, extinction of, in railway
trains, 842
Firing shells by electricity, 298
Floats, vertical, on breakwaters
composed of, by Lieut. Col.
Yule, R.E., 1
Fluctuating steam engine slider,
Rowan's, 373
Fluids, Humphry's patent im-
provements in apparatus for
raising, exhausting and forcing,
36
Fluids, Uaigh's patent improre-
ments in measuring, 475
Flushing drain apparatus, Salter's
patent, 505, 540
Foot's patent improvements in
making skeins of silk, 597
Forge, smith's portable. Brown
and Redpath's, 94
Form, Idea of, to be attached to
the higher powers of numbers,
200, 244
, relation between number
and, 326
Forster, T. E., Esq., on Mr. Gur-
ney's plan for the ventilation of
coal mines, 638
Forsyth's patent railway wheels,
390
Fox, Henderson and Co's. bow-
string girders, 285
Foundations,SirSamuelBentham'a
system of employing buoyant
masses for. In deep water, 278
Fountain pump, Sbalder**, 559 j
Franklin Instltnte, report of, on
the explosion of a stationary
steam engine. 470
Franklin's discoveries, 406
Frsser, W., Esq., M.R.C.S.E., :
electro-motive engine.construct-
ed on the supposed principles of
muscular action, 299, 871, 428,
459, 545
Fringes, Dalton's patent Improve-
ments in, 597
Fuel, on the application of water
to the different kinds of, 140
, peat, Roger's patent, 572
, Emmott's patent Improve-
ments in, 622
Fur fabrics, Westhead's patent, 598
Furnace bars. Fellow's improve-
ments in, 183
Furnaces; Blackwell's patent im-
provements in, 121 ; Chance's
patent improvements In, 184;
Mandslav's patent Archimedean
boiler, 241; remarkable acci-
dent at Merthyr Tydvil, 447,
466 ; Culver's hot air, 477 ; Ad-
cock's patent, 553; Hunt's pa-
tent, 599 ; Emmott's patent
improvements In, 622
Fuze, Bacon's safety, 31
Galvanic blasting, 415
Galvani's improvements in steam
engines, 142
Gardner's railway wheel, 476
Gas, Watson and Cart's patent
improvements in the manufac-
ture of, 179
, evolved from blast fUtnacet,
on the application of, to heating
purposes, 208
, Solomons and Azulay's pa-
tent Improvements in, 647
, Barnes' patent improvements
in, 573
Gates, sluice, long and short
hinges for, 178
(floating caissoon, of the
Great Basin, Portsmouth Dock-
yard, 441
Gauge, water, Howe's steam boiler,
75
pipe, water, Lapointe's, 330
Geometrical and algebraical stu-
dies, 626
— — proposition and de-
monstration. 137
Geometry of the line and plane.
82,291,440,495,539
Genmuij, recognition of intellec-
tual property in, 429
Giants of other days, 214
Gibson's spark extinguisher, 477
Gimps, Dalton's patent improve-
roents in, 597
Girders, Dreilge's improved mode
oftmsaing, 112
, wrought iron bowstring,
for bridges, 28S
Glass weights, Venetian, 42
, Chance's patent improve-
menu in the manufacture of, 184
, pipes, 450, 546
Glue, marine, 188
Wyn, Mr., on hjrdrauHc pressure
engines, 209
Gold, new method of extracting,
from ailoyt of ores, 489
Gordon's Mr.,' cata-dbptric system
for lighthouse lights, 262
1 (L. D. B.) patent under-
lap Jointed raU, and other im-
provements in railways, 420,
Gosaage's engine pump, 560
Governable balloon, 169, 257
Governor, ehronometric, 118
Grame's improvements in steam
valves, 142.
Gray, W. T., death of, and claims to
the title of " Railway Pioneer,"
404
Green and Newman's patent me-
thod of attaching tyres to rail-
way wheels, 391
Gregory, A., Esq. ; improved safety
valve, 513
Gresbam professorships, 38, 64,
89, 114, 123, 166,190,211
Groat's railway breaks, 476
Groves and Son's double file-
handle, 12
Goards, wind. Day's improved,
217
Gnn, safetv lock, 466
Gorney'a, Mr., plan for the venti-
lation of coal mines, 633
Gutta percha, 21; patents, No.
XXI., Messrs. Thomas Hancock
and Reuben Fhilips', SOth Dec,
1847,45; No. xiii., Mr. Charles
Hancock's. 1 1th May, 1848, 490 ;
manufactures, 209; works, 309;
application of, to the insulation
of electric wires, 272, 309, 3 10,
339, 380, 398, 406. 497
Gymnotua electricus, 178
risgue and Frlth's patent im-
provements in twisting and
doubling cotton yarns, &c., 549
Uaigb's patent improvements in
measuring floids, 475
Hammer, steam, Condic's patent,
330
Hammerton, J. H., Esq., improved
mode of electric insulation, 272,
380
, . J testing-
box, for electric telegraph under-
ground tubes, 464
Hancock and Phillips' patent im-
provements in the treating or
manufBcture of gutta percha, or
any of the varieties of caout-
chouc, 45
'a, Mr. Charlee, patent im-
proved preparations and com-
pounds of gutta percha, 490
Hand printing press, Harrild and
Bon's, 468
Haigh foundry, cylinder casting at,
539
INDEX.
Harbour df Refuge, Dover, and
Sir Samuel Bentham's mode of
constructing sea walls, 33
, Dover, plan
for the improvement of, 344
, for Ireland,
436
Harding's safety addition to rail-
way carriages, 534
Hat-bands, Walker's patent im-
provements in, 646
Harrild and Son's hand printing
press, 468
Harrison's railway chainpfn press-
ing machine, 32
Hartes' patent sowing and ma-
nuring mschlne, 452
Hart's, Sir H., patent apparatus
for preventing smoky chimoeys,
598
Harvey and West's hydraulic valve,
Heat, Boutigny's discoveries in,
411
Heating, application of gases
evolved flrom blast fbrnaces to,
208
Henson's patent railway carriages
and wagons, 385
Hinges, long and short for sluice-
gates, 178
Hodgson's parabolic propeller in
Holland, ISO
Hoe, Messrs. and Co.'s, fast print-
ing press, 193
Holdfast, spring, for window-
sashes, TibbitsS 80
Holmes', N. J., Esq. ; improve-
ments in the electric telegraph,
830, 342
Hookah system of ventilation, 307
Horse Algebraicse, by James
Cockle, Esq., M.A., 364, 517,
555
Houses, model lodging, for the
working-classes; letter to Lord
Ashley on, 54
Howe's steam-boiler water-guage,
75
Hulse and others r. Esdale and
others ; the wood-paving patents,
20
Humphry's patent improvements
in steam-engines, and in appar
ratus for raising, exhausting,
and forcing fluids, 36
Hunt, £., Enq.; aerial locomo-
tive or governable balloon, 169,
257
Hunt's patent improvements in
the manufacture of metals and
salts, 599
patent improvements in
obtaining metals, 646
Hussey's portable meat-screen, 222
Hutchinson, P., Esq. ; description
of a piston-valve by, 493
Hydraulic engine. Walker's patent,
53, 145, 231
valve, Harvey and
West's, 187
pressure engines, 209 ;
Armstrong's patent, 601
Incrustation in steam-boilers. 475;
Scaton's patent improvements
in preventing or removing, 549; ;
Beale's patent method of pre-
venting, 599
India, cheap railways for, 250
India rubber, vulcanized, socket
joints, 617 '
'* Inflnite," the term, 443
V
Insulation (electric), improved
mode of, by application of gutta
percha, 272, 309, SIO, 359, 363,
398, 406, 430, 497
Intellectual property, recognition
of In Germany, 429
Inventions, Letters Patent for—
Supplement to Webster's Law
and Practice of, (review), 333
Iodized papers, preparation of, by
one solution only, 1 34
Iron, steel, and sheet iron, method
of welding, 30
' tubes, welded lap, Cutler's
I patent, 54
, emplo}-ment of, in the con-
struction of ships, 350 "
I Ivory, softening of, 22, 81
James, W., and G. Stephenson,
rival claims of, 401.500
James, Mr. W. J.; practical sugges-
tions subsidiary to a general
survey of the kingdom, 448
Jenning's saccharometer, 258
Jobard, M. ; recognition of intel-
lectual property in Germany,
429
Johnson, Mr. W. B.,; roller
eccentric, 35; patent improve-
ments in locomotive engines,
625
Joint, expansion-valve, for steam-
engines, Dunham's, 142
-— , screw union, for water-pipes,
Rontree and Brown's, 465
Joints, socket, vulcanized India
rubber, 617
Jordan's preparation of iodized
papers by one solution, 134
King, Mr. ; challenge to the mathe-
maticians of the 19th century,
639
Kane's, improvement in railway
wheels, 142
Kelrick, Mr. J., on Mr. Hunt's
governable balloon, 257
Lady's and Gentleman's Diary,
547
Laming's patent improvements in
oxalic acid, 475
Lapointe's water gauge pipe, 320
Lardner, Dr.; Treatise on the
steam engine, (review,) 566
Lathrop's patent corrugated rail-
way wheels, 563, 573
Leather, Zollickofler's improve-
ments In, 454
Leeds's Treatise on Architecture,
(review,) 568
Leibnitz's theorem, 324
Le Verrier and the planet Nep-
tune, 381
Lewis's Improvement in pneuma-
tic springs for railway cars, 31
Light, the electric, 382, 522, 546 ;
diffUsibiUtyor,611
Lighthouse lights, 262
the Eddystonc, 342.
368
Lighting, application of vpirltuous
substances and oils to ; Mr. C.
P. Mansfield's patent improve-
ments, 43
Liquid measures, Bird's patent
improvements in, 159 ; Haigh's
patent, 475
Liquid manure cart, 249, 307
distribution, Coods's
I'Htent system of, 369
Yl
Lloyd's patent blowing mscbines,
265
Lock, safety gun, 466, 515
Locomotion, menattrite, Miller's
patent system of, 599
Locomotive, compressed air, Ba-
icn Von Rathen's, 61; first
trial of, on common roads, 165,
186
8teamengines,M'Co-
nochie and Claude's patent im-
provements, 289, 313; Reming-
ton's patent, 548, 612; W. B.
Johnson's patent improvements,
625
Lodging, (model) houses for the
working classes, letter to Lord
Ashley on, 64
Logic, fragment on, by James
Cockle, Esq., M.A., 79
, Boole's theory of the ma-
thematical basis of, 254
Logical falsehoods, mechanical
truths, 400, 422
London fires, Mr. Baddeley's re-
port on, for 1847, 101
London drainage plan, 639
Looped fabrics, Mowbray's patent
improvements in, 646
Longitude, Report of the Ameri-
can Superintendent of th? Coast
Survey, on the employment of
the electro-magnetic telegraph,
to determine the differences of,
274
Looms, Smith's patent improve-
ments in, 501
Lover, Professor; galvanic blast-
ing. 415
Lowe's patent improvements in the
manufacture of copper, S5
MacgrefTor, J. Esq. ; Captain
Spike's mode of raising sunken
vessels. 17 -, Mr. Bagg's lectures
on electricity, 84
Madigan and Haddan's patent
railway wheels, 391
Magneto plating, 21
Maltby and Webb's patent im-
provements in distiUaiion, 18
Mansell's patent improvements
in railway and common road
vehicles, 571
Mansfield's, Mr. C. P., patent im-
provements in the manufacture
and purification of spirituous
substances and oils, and in the
applicatiuu thereof to lighting,
4J
Manure, liquid cart, Crobkill's
improved, 249, 307
, distribution, Coode's
patent system of, 369
, Richardson's patent
improvements in the manufac-
ture of, 647; Rogers's ditto,
572
Manuring machine, Hartes' pa-
tent. 452
Marine glue, 188
Mathematical periodicals. Contri-
butions to the history of, 5, 203,
303, 367, 437, 523
, recreations simpli-
fied. 462, 495
Materials, on the strength of,
639
Mats, Barsham's patent improve-
ments in, .'i7o
Maudsiay'b patent sclf-aclingtteam
propeller, and Archiiiici'.c.iu fur-
nace boiler, 241
INDEX.
Mathematicians of the 19th cen-
tury, challenge to, 639
M'Conochie and Claude's patent
locomotive engine, 289, 313
M*Cormac. H., Esq., M.D. ; on the
effect of superincumbent pres-
sure, as regards the question
whether »ea walls should be
sloping or vertical, 9 ; fast print-
ing press, 271 ; improvements
in trenails and caulking, 306 ;
hookah system of ventilation,
307 ; harbour of refuge for Ire-
land, 436
Measures, decimal, Arthur's, 35
, liquid, Bird's patent,
159 ; Haigh's patent, 475
Meat screen, Hussey's portable,
222
Mechanical truths, logical false-
hoods, 400, 422
principles of building,
rigging, and equipping ships,
582
Mechanics, aid rendered by, to agri-
culture, 94
, Roberts's new element
in, 18(3, 255
Medals, how to obtain prints fiuro,
132
Menattrite locomotion, Miller's pa-
tent system of, 599
Merthyr T}dvil, remarkable acci-
dent to a blast furnace at, 447,
466
Metallic steam-tight packing, Da-
vies's patent, 433, 451, 457, 4m,
516
Metals, Th!>mas and Delisse's li-
quid for cleansing, 481 ; the spe-
cification, 533
, Capper's patent improve-
ment in the manufacture of,
597 ; Hunt's patent improve-
ments in manufacturing, 599;
Hunt's patent improvements in
obtaining, 646
Metal tubes, Taylor's patent im-
provements in, !i'25
plates, Turton's patent im-
provements in bending into car-
riage springs, 570
Mines, coal, Mr. Guiuey's plan for
the ventilation of, 633
Mill, roller, Stanley's, 601 ; farmers
and graziers' portable. Reming-
ton and Whitton's, 608
Miller's patent system of menat-
trite locomotion, .599
Milne, Mr. 8. B. ; Deane. Dray and
Deane's cesspool cleanser, 185,
307
Milk, Louis's patent method of
solidifying, 525
Minerals, Capper's patent method
of preparing and cleansing, 596
Mining, quicksilver superseded
in, 118
Minus and plus, on the signs of,
417,58% 611
McLardy and Lewis, patent im-
provements in spinning, 475
Model prison at rentouville, sys-
tem of warming and ventilating
adopted nt. 2^, 62
lodging houses for the
working; classes, letter to Lord
Ashley on, 54
Money, decimal, Arthut's, 35
Morse's, Professor, claims to the
electro magnetic telegraph, 340
Morewood, J. J., Esq. ; Great Lon-
don clrainnRe plan, 639
Mosely, Profesaor ; investigation of
the pressure of the earth against
revetement walls, 4G6, 52i
Motive power; employment of
electro-magnetism, 186; Price's
patent improvements in obtaiu-
mg and applying, 500 ; Darlu'a
patent improvements in obtain-
ing, 597
Mowbray's patent improvements
in looped fabiics, 646
Moy, Mr. T. ; mode of regulating
the supply of water to steam-
boilers, 397, 451, 465
M'Sweeny, Dr., on the ventilation
of ships, 606
Murdoch, James, Esq., C.E. ; Ro-
berts's new element in mecha-
nics, 255
Murphy, the mathematician, bio-
graphical notice of, 297, 354
Murray, Professor, on Staite's
electric light, 522
Muscular action; Mr. Eraser's elec-
tro motive engine, constructed
on the supposed principle* of,
299, 371
Naphthn, 406
Nasmyth, Mr. J., on the cutting
properties of coke, 268
National Assembly of France, how
the voting in it is proposed to be
effected, 165
Navigation, steam, on the Caspian,
118
Neptune, the planet, 329, 358,
381
Newark cottage-range, Nichol-
son's, 73
Newton's improvements in au-
gers, 142
Niagara, suspension-bridge, 332
Nicholson's Newark cottage range,
73
Non-recoil principle of mounting
ordnance, 634
Norniunville's patent improve-
ments in the axle boxes of rail-
way carriages, 463, 645
Numbers, the higher powers of,
on the idea of form attached to,
200. 244
Nuii.ber and form, relation be-
tween, 326, 337
Ocean, arctic, temperature of, 187
Qils, Mr. C. P. Mantfidd'b patent
improvements in the manufac-
ture and purification of, 43
Ordnance, on mounting on the
non-rt'coil principle, 634
Ores, alloys of, new method of ex-
tracting gold from, 489
copper. Penny's patent im-
provements in obtaining copper
from, 549
Organic matters in aqueous solu-
tions, test for, 498
Orsi's patent improvements in
artificial stone, cements, orna-
mental tiles, bricks and quarries,
.108
Qj-hurn's steam plough, 498
Oval of live centres, on the con-
struction of, 424
Oxalic acid, I>aming's patent im-
provements in, 475
Oxide of zinc, Rochaz's patent im-
provcmei)t8 in the manufacture
of, 286
P»ckiog, metallic iteani Ugia,
Baries's patent, 433, 451, 457,
481. 516
Painting, electro, Dr. Branson's
mode of, 41
Papier inacb6, Brindley's patent
improvementa, in 5/3
Paratmlic propeller, Hodg»on'«,
in Holland, 130
Parliament; the bouses of, 175
PaAseogers time signal for ^'ail-
way stations, 21
Patent law cases (English) : The
vood paving patents — Hulse
and others r. Esdale and others,
JO; sawing machinery, Crown v.
Smith, 590
Patent Laws — New act for reform
of Petty Bag and enrolment
offices, 260 Supplement to
Webster's Law and Practice of
Letters Patent for Inven-
tions (Review), 333: French,
454
Patents— New English, 22, 46, 70,
94. lis. 142, 166, 191, 215, 238,
263, 287. 311, 335, 359, 383, 407,
431, 455, 479, 503, 526, 550, 574,
6C0, 622, 647
recent American, 31, 142,
453,476
Paul's patent excavator, 823
Pa)'ne'spatent process of rendering
wood fireproof, 140
Peat fuel, Rogers's patent, 572
Penny's patent improvements in
obtaining cupper from copper
ores, 549
Pentonvllle Model Prison, system
of warming and ventilating
adopted at. 25, 62
Periodicals, Mathematical, contri-
butions to tbe history of, 5, 203,
303, 369, 437, 523
Petty Bag Office, new Act for the
reform of, 260
Philosophy, Natural, Tomlinson's
treatise on (review), 567
and poverty, 602
Photographic (coloured) image of
the solar spectrum, 213
Piers and breakwaters, Bruce*^
patent method of constructing,
97
Fipe, water gauge, Lapointe's,
320
Rontree and Brown's
union screw joint for, 465
glass, 450, 546
Piston %'alve, Hutchinson's, 493
Pitter, J. Esq.; mechanical truths,
logical falsehoods, 400
Planet Neptune. 329, 358, 381
Plates, metal, Turton's patent im-
provements in bending into car
riage springs, 570
Platform weighing machine, Al-
llott's patent, 409
Plough, steam, Osborne's, 408
Plus and minus, on the signs of,
417,589,611
Plymouth breakwater, 342
Pneumatic springs for railroad
cars, Levrb's improvement in,
31
Poncclet. Piobcrt, and Morin's re-
ptjft on Lapointe's \Yater gauge
pipe, 320
Poole's patent improvements in
propelling, 547
Population, problem respecting the
law of, 588
INDEX.
Portland cement, tbe new, S25
Portsmouth dockyard, floatlrig
caissoongale in, 441
Potato disease, 284
Power, motive; employment of
electro magnetism as, 186 ;
Price's patent improvements in
obtaining and applying, 500;
Darlu's patent improvements in
obtaining, 547
Preserving animal products,
Louis's patent, 525
Press, another step in the progress
of the, 190
, printing, fast American,
193
of English
origin, 237, 271
hand, Harrild and
Son's, 468
of the •• Times"
and " Dispatch," 644
Pressure of the earth against re-
vctement walls, Investigation of,
466. 524
Price's patent improvements in ob-
taining and applying motive
power, 500
Printing press, fast American, 193
, of English
origin, 237,271
• hand.
Son's, 468
Harrild and
■ of the •! Times"
and " Dispatch," 644
carpets. Wood's patent
improvements in, 550
Prints, how to obtain from seals,
coins, or medals, 132
Prison, model, at Pentonville, sys-
tem of warming and ventilating
adopted at, 25, 62
Prizes and medals awarded for
agricultural implements at the
Royal Agricultural Society's ex-
hibition at York, 69
Professorships, the Gresham, 38,
64, 89, 114, 122, 166, 190, 211
Propeller, Hodgson's, parabolic, in
Holland, 130
quarter. Captain Carpen-
ter's, 222
self-acting stern, Mauds-
lay's patent, 241
Bcale's patent " bird's
wing," 599
Propelling, Selligue's patent im-
provements in, 472
• , Poole's patent im-
provements in, 547
Protest, Sir Howard Douclaa's,
368,427,469,515
Pump, portable, Deane, Dray, and
Deane's,75, 118
, fountain, Shalder's, 559
, engine, Gossage's, 560
Quarries, ornamental, Orsi's patent
improvements in, 308
Quarter propellers, Captain Car-
penter's, 222
Quicksilver superseded in mining,
118
R&dley, Mr. W.. C.E. ( inquiries
m to the remarkable accident at
the blast furnace, Mertbyr Tyd-
vil, 466
Railroad cars, Lewis's improve-
ment in pneumatic springs tor,
31
Rail straightening machine,
Dodd's, 12
, under lap jointed, Gordon's
patent, 420
Railways : passenger time signal,
21 ; chair-pin pressing machine,
Harrison's, 32 ;Sparks'8 dispatch
and cash- box, 81 ; Kane's wheels,
141; Forsyth's patent, 390;
Green and Newman's patent
method of attaching tyres, 391;
Madigan and Haddan's patent,
391 ; Gardner's, 476 : Attwoods,
477; Whitney's, 478, Lathrop's
corrugated wheels, 663—573 ;
cheap, for India, 250 ; extinction
of flres in trains, 342 ; Cunning-
ham and Carter's patent signal
apparatus, 348; carriages and
wagons, Henson's patent, 385 ;
Normanville's patent,453 ; Hard-
ing's; safety additions, .'•34 ; Tur-
ton's patent improvements in
bending metal plates into
springs, 570; Mansell's patent,
5/1 ; rival claims of W. James
and G. Stephenson, 401—500;
" Pioneer," death, and claim#
of Thomas Gray to the title of,
404 ; Gordon's patent improve-
ments in, 420, 474; elements of
rating concisely stated, 438;
Grout's brakes, 476 ; application
of electric light, 523 ; for moun-
tainous districts, 612
Range, cottage, Nicholson's, New-
ark, 73
Rathen's, Baron von, com •
pressed air locomotive, 61; first
trial of on common roads, 165,
186
Rating, railway, elements of con-
cisely stated, 438
Razor blade, Thoinhill's, 180
Recreations, mathematical, sim-
plified, 462. 498
Reform, at Cambridge, 449, 485
nefuge Harbour, Dover, and Sir
Simuel Bentham's mode of con-
structing se.vwalls, 33
, plans for
the improvement of, 344
, for Ireland, 436
Registered designs for articles of
utility, 22, -16, 71, 94, 119, 143,
167, 191,215, 238, 263,287,311,
335, 359, 383, 407. 430, 455, 479,
603. 527, 551, 574, COO, 623,
647
Regulators, steam boiler, Alliott's
patent, 337 ; Baddeley's and
Moy '8,397,451,465
Reid's patent gutta percha electric
insulators, 339
Remmington's, Mr. J. R., patent
improvements in roasting coffee,
31
New bridge for Earl
Talbot, at Shirley wich, 133,
161
and Whitton's far-
mers and graziers' portable mill,
60S
^ Mr. George, patent
improvements in steam engines,
548.612
Revetement walls, pressure of the
earth against, investigation of,
466, 524
VIU
Riclianlson'i patent improTementa
in the manufacture of manurea,
547
Rigging shipi, mechanical prin-
ciples of, 582
Rishton's vinery flrame, 6
Roberta't new element in mecha-
nics, 186. 255
Robertson's patent improvements
in the manufacture of textile
fiibrics, 93
Rochaz's patent Improvements in
the manufacture of oxide of
zinc, 286
Rock, Mr. J.,Jun.; mechanical
truths, logical falsehooda, 422
Rogers'a patent peat lUel and ma-
nure, 572
Roller, eccentric, Mr. W. B. John-
son's, S5
, mm, Stanley's, 601
Rontree and Brown's screw union
Joint for water-pipes, 465
Roose and Haden^s patent im-
provementa in tubing, 622
Rope, wire, enormous, 190
Rowan's fluctuating steam-engine
slider, 373
Royal Society, the, 507; its de-
Iknlters, 602
Russell, Mr. J. Scott ; lecture on
the wave principle in ship-
building, 11 ; progress of '
ship building, 210
Saccharometer, Jennings's, 258
Sackholders, Cooch's patent im-
provements in, 524
Safety gun-lock, 466, 515
— , valve, improved, 513
— , Cole's patent, 529
Salt water and fresh, 215
Baiter's patent water-diatributiag
cart and self-acting drain-flusli- 1
ing apparatus, 505, 540 ,
Balls, Crane and Jullion'a patent
improvementa in the manufac- '
ture of, 42 \
— — , Hunt's patent improvementa
in manufacturing, 599
Sanitary reform v. the inaanity of
science, 160
, measurea, 413, 444,
609
Sankey, W. H. V., Esq., C. E. ;
railwaya for mountainous dia-
tricU, 617
Sargent'a improvementa iu wool-
combing, 142
Sawing, circular, experiment In,
18
— , wood, Barber'a patent im-
provements in, 571
, machinery, CroTrn
v. Smith (patent law case,)
590
, milla. Note on Sir S. Ben
tham'a introduction of into
England, 591
Screen, meat, Hufsey'a portable,
222
Screw, the, 190
, cutting machine, new, 21
, union Joint for water pipes,
Rontree and Brown's, 465
Screws, wood, Wipple's improve-
ments in cutting the threads on,
Sculpture, method of bringing out
in alabaster, SO
tJca, the, motion of, Hi
INDEX.
Sea walls, should they be sloping
or vertical? 76, 129, 136, 154,
181, 196, 201, 233, 254, 282, 286,
328, 342, 368, 399, 426. 445, 469,
515, 537. 559, 586 ; on the eflfecta
of superincumbent pressure, 9 ;
Sir S. Bentham's mode of con-
structing, 33; Mr. Robert Ste-
phenson^s opinion, 137; new
form of constructing, 253; at
Sheemess dockyard, 278 ; collar
tend uses to which they may be
applied, 461 ; Sir Howard Doug-
lasS protest, 368, 427, 469, 515,
537
Beaton's patent improvements in
closing tubes, and in preventing
and removing incrustations in
boUers, 549
Seliigue's patent improvements in
propelling, 472
Sewers, trapping and ventilating
of, 413
Shalder's fountain-pump, 559
Sharp, Mr. W. ; design for a ro-
tary steam-engine, 37; construc-
tion of sea-walls, 129
Shears, prodigious pair of, 190
Sheep-washing, Dr. Alban's new
mode of, 179
Sheemess dockyard, the sea-walls
at. 278
Shells, concussion, 190
, firing by electricity, 298
Ship-buliding, wave principle in,
II
, steam, progress of,
210
— , employment of iron
in, 359
Ships' bottoms, coating of, 214
, mechanical principle of build-
ing, rigging, and equipping, 582
ventilation of, 606
Shirley wich, new bridge at, for
Earl Talbot, by Mr. J. R. Rem-
ington, 133. 16 i
Show-carda, Stocker's patent, 474
Sbuldam's, (Commander. R.N.),
improved diving-bell, 219
Signal, time, public passenger, for
rniiway stations, 21
apparatus,^ railway, Cun-
ningham and Carter's patent,
348
Si.<;ns, plus and minus, 417
Silk, Foot's patent improvements
in making skeins of, 597
Slider, steam-engine, Rowau'a
fluctuating, 373
Sloggett, W. Esq., on deviation of
falling bodies from the perpen-
dicular, 13
Sluice-gates, long hinges for, 178
, self-acting, 86, 237
Smith, T. Esq. C.E. ; on self-acting
sluices, 86, 237 ; on sea-walls,
155, 181, 201, 282, 286. 399; on
th^ construction of the oval of
five ccntrea, 424
Smiths' portable forge. Brown and
Redpath's, 94
Mark, patent improve-
menta in looma, 501
Society, Royal, the, 607; its de-
faulters, 602
Socket-Joints, vulcanised India-
rubber, 612
Solar spectrum, the coloured pho-
tographic image of, 213
Solidifying milk, Louis'a patent
metliod of, 525
Solomons and Axulay's potent im-
provements in the mannfartnie
of gas, tar, charcoal, and aclda.
Solutions, aqueous, test for eiganic
matters in, 498
Sound, diffusion of, 218, 268, 447
Sowing-machines, Hartes* patent.
Spark-extinguisher, GIbion'a, 477
Sparke's railway despatch and
cash-box, 81
Speaking-trumpet, 210
Spectrum, aolar, the coloured pho-
tographic image on the, 213
Spike's, Captain, mode of raising
sunken vessels, 17
Spinning, M'Lardy and Lewfs'a
patent improvements In, 475
Spirituous substances, Mr. C. P.
Mansfleld's patent improve-
ments in the manufhcture and
purification of, 43
Spontaneoua combustion, 21
Spring holdfaat for window saahes,
Tibbet'a, 80
Springs, pneumatic, for railroad
cars, Lewis's improvement in, 31
, Turton's patent improve-
ments in the manu&cture of,570
Stack protector. White's, 272
Suite's electric light, 382, 522, 546,
611
SUnley's roller-mill, 001
Steam-boilers: Dr. Alban's im-
? roved, 49; Howe's water-gauge,
5; Earl of Dundonald^a pa-
tent improvement!!, 183; Al-
liott's patent apparatus for
regulating the working of, 337;
mode of regulating the supply of
water to, 397, 451 ; Valentine's
improvements in, 453; Badde-
ley and Moy's regulators, 465;
incrustations in, 475; Beaton's
patent improvements for pre-
venting and removing incrusta-
tions, 549; Beale's patent me-
thod of preventing incrustations,
599
Steam-engines, Humphry's patent
improvements, 36 ; Sharp's ro-
tary, 37; Bourne's strictures
on the Cornish engine, 135;
Dunham's expansion-Joint for,
142; Galvani's improvementa,
142; M'Conochie and Claude'a
patent locomotive, 289, 313;
Tredgold's Treatise, 333 ; Cole's
patent high-pressure and expan-
sion double cylinder twam, 361,
and patent safety-valve, 529 ;
Rowan fioctnating slider, 373;
Davles's patent rotary, 433, 451,
457, 481, 616; Baldwin's loco-
motive. 454 ; Report of the
Franklin Institute on the ex-
plosion of a stationary en-
gine, 470 ; Remington's patent
improvements, 548, 612; Dr.
Laidner's Treatise on (review),
566 ; Want and Vernum'a patent
oscillating, 577; Beale's patent
rotary, 599; Johnson's patent
locomotive, 625
-, eflfteta of, meteoro-
logically considered, 284
Steam hammer, Condie'a patent,
330
plough, Oaborn's, 498
ship building, progress of,
210
Stesm, tight packing, metallic,
DaTies's patent, 433, 451, 457,
4S1
— ' " Talvea, Grame'i Improve-
ment in, 142
, Stevena'<, 478
, fplston, Hutchin-
aon'a, 496
— , Gregory's, 518
Steam vetsels, speed of, with
- English made engines, 190
" , "Auckland," 451
1 " Scotia," 100
, " Vladimir," 357
Sreel, iron, and sheet Iron, method
of welding, SO
Stephenson, MifGcorge, death of,
190
■, and Mr. William
James, rival claims of, 401, 500
. Mr. Robert, on ver-
tical sra walls. 137
Sterenson's, Mr. T., experiments
on the lateral force of waves,
538
Stern propeller, self-acting, Maads-
lay's patent, 241
Stevens s steam-engine valves, 478
Stocker's patent time teachers,
boxes, and show cards, 474
Stoilhefg, cine works at, 559
Stooe bnlwarks, elasticity of, 612
Storing timber, by Sir S. Bentham,
531
Stiengtli of materials, 639
Studies, geometrical and algebrai-
cal, 628
Sunken vesse1s,Capt. Spike's mode
of raising, 17
Sold equations, congeneric. By
Professor Young, 462
Survey, general of the kingdom,
auggestions subsidiary to, 448
Suspension bridge, Niagara, 332
footbridge, Mr. Dredge's,
S50
Swansea, the British Association
at. 186
Syntbelic division, 111
Syphon, Doaglass', 476
Tar, Solomons and Azulay's patent
improvements in, 547
Taylor's patent improvements in
metal tubes, 525
Telegraph. (See Electro-Tele-
Telakouphanon, or speaking trum-
pet. 210
Telescopes, 621
Temperature of the Arctic ocean,
167
Teat for organic matters in aqueous
solutions, 49S
Textile fabrics, Robertson's patent
improvements in the manufac-
ture of, 93
Thomas and Dellisse's liquid for
cleansing metals, 454; the spe-
cification, 583
Tlunnson, J. J., Jun., Esq., on the
strength of materials, 639
Threads, Whipple's improvements
in cuttings on wood screws, 454
ThomhiU's rasor blade. 180
Ttbbit's spring holdfast for window
sashes, 80
Tiles, omamental,Orsi'8 patent im-
provements in, 308
Timber, Sir Samuel Bentbam, on
the storing of, 531
Time-signal, passengers, for rail-
wny stations, 21
INDEX.
I Time tearhsri, Stocker's patent,
I 474
"Times'" monster press, 644
Tomliuiton's treatise on natural
philosophy (review), 567
Tottie's patent improvements in
distillation, 182
Trap, self-acting effluvia, Bun-
uett's, 441
Trapping aud ventilating of sewers,
413
Travers's patent improvement in
cutting cork, 142
Tredgold. on the steam-engine
(review), 333
Trenails, improvements suggested
in, 306
Trumpet, speaking, 210
Trussing girders, Dredge's im-
proved mode of, 112
Tubes, welded lap iron, Cutler's
patent, 54
, metal, Taylor's patent, 525
■ , Seaton's patent im-
provements in closing, 549
Roose and Haden's
patent improvements in, 612
, glass, 546
Tubular bridges, the inventor of,
21
Turton's patent improvements in
bending metal plates into car-
riage springs, 570
Tyler's water closet, 609
Tyres, Green and Newman's pa-
tent method of attaching, to rail- 1
way wheels, 391
Union screw joint for water pipes, ;
Rontree and Brown's, 465 i
Ure, Dr.; maladministration of
the customs, and Jennings sac-
charometer, 258
Utility, articles of. registered de-
signs for, 22, 46, 71, 94, 119, 143, >
167, 191, 215. 238, 262, 287, 311, ;
335, 359, 3S3, 407, 430, 455, 479,
503,527,551,574,600,623,647 {
Valentine's improvements In steam
boilers, 453
Valves, steam, Grames', 142
, Stevens's, 478 |
•, piston, Hutchin-
son's, 493
-, Gregory's, 513
-, Coles's patent safety,
529
, hydraulic, Harvey and
West's, 187
of Walker's hydraulic en-
gine, 234
Vehicles, railway and common
road, Mansell's patent, 571
Venetian glass weights, 42
Vessels, sunken, CapUin Spike's
mode of raising, 17
, Sir Samuel Bentham
on the means of fastening the
component parts of, together,
150, 171
Ventilating and warming system
adopted at the model prison,
Pentotiville, 25, 62
-, the Hookah system of,
307
'^— , ships, 606
-— , coal mines, Mr. Gur-
ney's plan for, 633
Vinery frame, Rishton's, 8
*' Vladimir" Russian steam fMgate,
357
IX
Vou Rathen's compressed air loco-
motive, 61; fir«t trial of, on
common roads, IG5, 186
Votes, Chamberlain's patent appa-
ratus for recording, at elections,
598
Voting in the National Assembly
in France, how it is proposed to
be managed, 165
Vulcanized India rubber socket
Joints, 617
Wagons, railway, Henson's pa-
tent, 3S5
Walker's patent hydraulic engine,
54, 145, 2S3
patent improvements in
hat-bands, f 46
Wallace'*, Miss, patent improve-
ments in the decorative arts, 224
Wall revetement, pressure of the
earth against, investigation of,
466, 524
, sea, should they be sloping
or vertical? 76. 129, 188. 154,
181, 196, 201, 233, 254. 282, 286,
528, 342, 368, 399, 426. 445, 469,
515, 5.S7, 5i')9, 588 ; on the eliects
of superincumbent pressure, 9 ;
Sir S. Bentham's mode of
constructing, 8:? ; Mr. Robert
Stephenson's opinion, 137; new
form of constructing, 253; at
Shecrness dockyard, 278; Sir
Howard Douglas's Protest, 3uS,
427, 469, 515, 537; collateral
uses to wliich they may be ap-
plied, 461
Want and Vernum's patent oscil-
lating steam engine, 577
Warming and ventilating system
at the model prison, Pentonville,
25,62
Water gauge, steam-boiler, Howe'ij,
75
, on the application of, to dif-
ferent kinds of fuel, 140
, salt and fresh, 215
, gauge pipe, Lepointe's, 320
, mode of regulating the sup-
ply of, to steam boilers, 3U7, 4.') I
pipes, Rontree and Brown's
union screw joint for, 465
wheel. Boy den's, 476
pressure engine, Armstrong's
patent, 501
distributing cart, Salter's pa-
tent, 505
c'oset, Tyler's, 609
Watson and Cart's patent improve-
ments in the manufacture of gas,
179
Wave principle in ship building,
by Mr. Scott Russell, 11
Waves, Mr. Stevenson's experi-
ments on the lateral force of, by
Mr. Dredge, 538, 613
Weale's Rudimentary Treatises on
the arts and sciences ; Dr. Lard-
ner's steam -engine ; Tomlinsou's
Natural Philosophy ; Leeds's
Architecture, 566
Weaving carpets, Wood's patent
improvements in, 550
Webb and Maltby's patent im-
provements in distillation, 18
Webster's " Law and Practice of
Letters Patent for Inventions,"
Supplement to (review) 3'J3j
Weighing machine platform, Al-
liott's patent, 409
Weights, decimal, Arthur's, 35
Vcnct»an j;la»s, 42
Welding iron, steel, and iheet-
iron, SO
Westhead's patent fur fabrics, 598
Westou Supennare Pier Companx
and Mr. Dredge, 561
Wheels , railway ; Kane's im-
provement, 142; Forsyth's pa-
tent, S90 ; Green and Newman's
patentmethod of attaching tyres,
!i9l ; Madigan and Uaddan's pa-
tent, 391; Gardner's, 476; Att-
twood's, 477; Whitney's, 478;
Lathrop's patent corrugated, 563
673
-, water, Boyden's, 476
Whipple 's improvements in cut-
ting the threads on wood screws,
454
Whishaw, Francis, Esq..; manu-
factures of gutta percha, 209;
telakouphanon, or speaking-
tnunper, 210; application of
gutta percha to electric insula- 1
tlon, 309 '
White, J. Esq., C.E. ; experiments ,
in circular sawing, 18 '
, method of I
cutting drains for laying pipes ,
or tiles, 276
stack protector, 272 |
Whitney's railway wheels, 478
INDEX.
Wicksteed and Aitkin's report on
the vulcanized India-rubber
socket joints, 617
Wilkinson, Thomas, Esq. ; contri-
butions to the history of mathe-
matical periodicals. 5, 203, 303,
367,437, 523 : synthetic division,
111; geometrical proposition
and demonstration, 137; memoir
of John Butterworth, 377 ; on i
the signs plus and minus, 611 I
Wind-guaids, Day's improved, 217 ,
Window-sashes, Tibbet's spring
holdfasts for, 80
Wire rope, enormous, 190 !
, coating of with gutta percha, ,
272, 309, 310, 339, 380, 398, !
406
Witty, Mr. Richard, death of, '
190 i
Wood paving patents, Hulse and |
others v. Esdale and others, '
patent law case, 20
, Payne's process of rendering I
fire-proof, 140 I
, sawing, Barber's patent for,
571 ;
sawing machinery. Crown v.
Smith, patent law case, 590 ,
Wood's, Mr. Joseph, chronometrlc
governor, 118
Wood's, W., patent imnroTement«
in weaving and printing carpets,
550
Wool-combing, Sargent's improve-
ment in, 142
WooUgar, J. W., Esq., F.R.S.A.;
elements of railway rating con-
cisely stated, 438
Working classes, model lodging-
houses for, letter to Lord Ashley
on, 54
Wrighton's patent axle-box, 645
Yams, cotton, Hague and Frith's
patent improvements in twisting
and doubling, 649
Young, Professor, on some pro-
perties of binomial co-efficients,
270 ; theorem of Leibnitz, 324 ;
congeneric surd equations, 46S ;
problem respecting the law of
population, 588
Yule, Lieut.-Col; R. £., on break-
waters composed of vertical
floats, 1
Zinc, oxide of, Rochaz's patent
improvements in the manufac-
ture of, 286
, Works at Slollberg, 559
ZoUickoffer's improvements in
tauuing leatlicr, 454
ERRATA.
Page 819, col. 1, line 48, for ' is not free, read ' is yet free.'
337, col. 1, line 18, for ' exploded ' read ' explored.'
393, col. 2, line 9, for ' O ' read ' O .'
3
628, col. 2, line 17, for ' That a elear ' read ' That clear.
631, line 21, omit the minus sign before 80m.
631 line 29, in the bracket, for i'
-!»•
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF NEW PATENTS GRANTED FOR
ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, AND IRELAND.
Name.
Abbey j
Adams
Adami
Alliott
Allman
Anderson.. .. -<
Archer
Archer
Armstrong • . • •
Armstrong ....
Assert
Ashby {
Atken
Bacchoffher ....
B»Uey }
Baird
Baker & ano. . i
Bakewall
Balfour
Barber
Barber
Beardmore .. -j
Beattie
Beauregard ....
BeU
Bergne, De ....
Benemer
BetheU
Beniowski
Biddle
Bramwell & ano.
Bright
Brooman
Brown
Browne
Brown
Barleigh
Bam
Barrows & ano j
Subject.
Preser?ing liquids andl
matters in vessels .. . J
Mills
Carriages
Steam boilers
Electric light
Separating the different 1
qualities of yegetables. /
Production of light ....
Dividiog paper
Water dosets
Steam engines
Motive power
Cleaning grain & dress- 1
iog meal J
Steam engines
Communication
Preparing and combing 1
wool, &c J
Communication
Wheels, turn-tables, & 1
axles J
Electro telegraphy
Metal washers & buffers..
Sawing wood
Decorating. ...........
Wall, piers, and break- 1
waters J
Air spring
Generating steam
Aerial machines
Bridges, girders, & beams,
Glass
Preserving substances ...
Printing
Gas burners
Feeding furnaces
Lamps
Hinges
Elastic fabrics
Fire escapes
Manures
Light and heat
Roller-gin
Steam engines, boilers, 1
and flues j
England.
29 July
16 Nov.
28 Sep.
11 Nov.
24 June
2$ Nov.
2 Dec.
2 Dec.
19 Oct.
12 Oct.
4 Nov.
5 Oct.
21 Dec.
2 Dec.
16 Nov.
3 July
6 July
11 July
23 Nov.
12 Oct.
21 Aug.
2'Nov.
23>rov.
2 Nov.
2 Nov.
26 Oct.
11 Nov.
2'Deij.
26 Oct.
Scotland. Ireland
8 Aug.
11 Sept.
30 Oct.
8 May
31 May
16 May
24 May
26 May
29 June
31 July
6 Nov.
8 May
22 April
16 June
6 July
7 Aug.
Page.
142
503
335
503
22
527
574
674
407
383
478
359
622
574
503
46
46
70
426
383
215
455
527
454
454
431
503
574
431
Xll
ALPIIABlil'lCAL LIST OF NEW PATENTS.
Name.
Campbell..
Cartwright
Castelain . .
Chowne ..
Chrees ....
Churcb &ano.
Cluuseen
Clement
Clark
Clark
Clay
Clinton
Coad
Cole
Collins .
Cooch..
Cooper. .
CroU ..
Cuilen . .
Curtain
Dakin
Dalton
Ddvies & ano..
Daviei
Dawson . . . . .
Delarue . . . . <
Deeley
Dench ......
Dickins ....
Dickinson . .
Donisthorpe. .
Drayton ....
Duley
Dunn
Dunn
Dunt
Subject.
Mills
Brace
Soap
Ventilation
Sealiog wax
Card and paper making }
machinery 3
Weaving
Sugar
Gas burners and lamps . .
Boots, shoes, and clogs . .
Rolling metals
Flutes^
Furnaces
Steam engines . .
Compounds for pre
venting injury
health
Sack-holders .. .. ,
Dress fastenings .
Gas
Steering
Carpets
'rV.V
.'rl
Coffee
Fringes
Steam engines
Steam engines
Musical instruments ....
Ornamental surfaces ....
Ovens and furnaces ....
Roofing
Warping and beaming . .
Looms
Roving and spinning. . . .
Silvering glass
Stoves
Ascertaining & indica-l
ting the temperature >
and j.ressurc of fluids J
Wheels
Metals
England.
Eccles & ano.. . . Looms
Emmott Furnaces
Fairbairn .
•■•{
Fontainemoreau,
Fontainemoreau .
Fontainemoreau.
Forsyth Wheels
Ueckling,card{ng,draw- '
ing, roving, ami
spinning ^
Fatty bodies
Tubes and pipes
Hygienic apparatus . . .
Frearson Shaping metals
Galloway & ano.
Gardner
Gill
Gillott & ano...
Gordon
Steam engines
Girders
Manures
Ornamenting . .
Railways
16 Dec.
1 July
28 Dec.
29 Aug.
26 Oct.
2rNov.
26 June
26 Oct.
16 Dec.
16 Dec.
9 Nov.
2 Dec.
10 Aug.
4 Nov.
22 Aug.
18 Nov.
16 Dec.
3 July
2'Dec.
2Nov.
15 Aug.
16 Dec.
26 Aug.
21 Dec.
11 Sept.
2 Dec.
2 Dec.
12 Oct.
15 Dec.
26 oa.
25 Nov.
21 Dec.
21 Sept.
17 Aug.
9 Dec.
I 2S Sept.
Scotland.
8 Sept.
8 May
6 Oct.
25 Oct.
Ireland.
Page.
31 Aug. I
29 June I
.... I
31 Oct. I
10
Aug.
7 Sept.
5 Sept.
28 July
30 Oct.
26 June
l2Mav
15 Nov.
7 June
11 Nov.
622
70
6J7
238
431
526
22
431
622
622
478
574
167
478
215
526
622
46
574
454
191
622
238
622
287
574
574
383
622
431
550
622
311
191
600
335
ALrHABKTICAL LIST OF NRW I'ATIIKTS.
XIU
Name.
Goncher •• .. .
Green & New- 1
Greeostreet .
Grist
Hatley
HiUiday ....
Hancock, Chaa.
Hancock tTbos 1
& ano j
Haodoock ....
Hart i
Harris
Heath
Heaton
Henderson... i
Henley & ano. •<
Henson
Hewitt
Highton St ano.
Hills
Hjorth
Hohn
Hollands & ano.
Howe
Hunt
Snbjeot.
lies
Jscobs • .
Jobson. .
Johnson .
Jukes . . .
Kempton
Keiselmeyer&l
King & ano.
Kinsman . . .
Kirtlej
Knowlys . . .
Knowlys . . .
Lamb & ano.
Lane & ano,
Lathrop
Lee .. ..
Lees....
Lemanande .
LeMolt....
Lealie ,
Thrashing machines
Wheels
England. | Scotland. | Ireland.
. ' 25 Nov.
J ....
4
Hydraulic engines 2 Dec.
Furnaces ..| 29 July
Spinning
Fyroligneons acid
Shaping plastic substances
Gutta percha and caout- \
chonc j'
Propelling
Bricks and moulding 1
machinery J
Type founding
Friction brakes
Locomotive engines ....
Cleansing and polishing \
grain J
Telegraphic communi- 1 i
cations j
Railway carriages
Railways
Electro telegraphy
Salts, gases, or vapours. .
Electro-magnetism ....
Printing
Artificial fuel
Ship-building • • . . .
MetaU
Dress fastenings.
Stamping fabrics .
Stoves
Steam engines . . .
Furnaces
Reflectors and lighting . .
Velvets }
Gas meters
Rotary engines
Railway wheels
Application of atmo- 1
spheric air J
Generating and apply* \
ing heat j
Steam engines
£ngines,boiIers,pumps,
propelling boats, ex-
tinguishing fires, and
brewing ,
Railway wheels
Ornamental designs . . .
Malleable iron
Piling metal letters on
glass, &c •
Electric lighting
Purifying and cooling 1 I
liquids and gases . . . j
11 Dec.
28 Sept.
29 July
12 Oct.
2 Nov.
2 Nov.
14 Aug.
10 Aug.
11 Aig.
19* Oct.
26 Oct.
21 Dec.
4 Sept.
24 June
4 Not.
2 Nov.
28 Deo.
18 Nov.
7 Nov.
2 Nov.
26 July
28 Dec.
11 July
2 Nov.
14 Nov.
10 Oct.
2 May
18 July
12 May
21 Aug.
31 July
7 Sept.
12 May
9 Dec.
29 Nov.
llDec.
8 Aug.
18 July
20 July
21 Sopt.
15 Aug.
14 Nov.
6 Nov.
7 June
18 Aug.
7 Sept.
8 Nov.
6 July
Pagf*.
550
574
119
600
335
119
383
454
454
191
167
191
407
431
622
263
22
478
455
647
64
520
478
454
119
647
70
455
600
550
600
167
94
118
311
I
XIV
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF NEW PATENTS.
Name.
Lister
Llewellen & ano.
Lomax
Longmaid
Lorimier .... 4
LoBh
Low
Low.
MacDoQgall & 1
ano J
MacDongall ...
Mackenzie ....
Mackintosh ....
Madigan
Madigaii & ano.
Major
Marsden
Martin
Massey i
Masters <
Metcalf & ano. .
Metcalf.Thos...
Miller
Mitchelfie ano..
Morse
Mowbray
Napier & ano. -l
Napier
Napier
Nasmy th .....
Newall I
Newson
Newton i
Newton
Newton
Newton <
Newton
Newton
Newton
Nickels
Nicholson
Normanville ...
Palmer
Palmer
Parkes &ano...
Parkes
Pattinson
Pattison
Paul &ano
Subject.
England.
Seotland.
Ireland.
Page.
Wool combing
Cocks or Yalves
Chaff- cutting machines . .
Oxides of iron
Gutta percha and caout- 1
chouc J
Steam engines
Copper
Smelting
Adds
Glue
Jacquard machinery ....
Motive power
Turn-tables
Wheels
Looms
Flax
Flax, tow, &c
Logs and sounding ap- 1
paratuB j
Aerating fluids, filters, 1
bottles, &c J
Spinning
Chairs, sofas, &c
Menattrite locomotion . .
Smelting
Printing surfaces
Looped fabrics
Mariners' compasses & \
barometers j
Metals and alloys
Melting copper
Fireproof constructions. .
Locks, springs, and 1
ships' rigging J
Trusses
Stoves, grates, and fur- 1 {
naces J i
Letter-press printing. . . . {
Casting types i
Application of glass and *> '
glazed surfaces to ar- [ I
chitectural and other ( ,
similar purposes .. . J |
Dressing grain '
Steel
Steam engines I
Gloves I
Compressing machinery. . i
Carriages i
19 Oct.
23 Nov.
29 Nov.
26 Oct.
10 July
4 Sept.
28 Dec.
21 Nov.
5 Aug.
28 June
16 Dec.
6 July
6 Oct.
18 Nov.
8 Aug.
5 Oct.
28 Dec.
27 June
20 July
9 Nov.
4 Sept.
28 Sept.
23 Nov.
6 July
18 July
16 Dec.
7 Aug.
22 Aug.
2 Nov.
23 Dec.
9 Dec.
28 Sept.
Threshing 10 July
Candles .
Metals
Metils
Lead
Printing fabrics .
Drain. cutting. . .
9 Dec.
11 Nov.
22 Aug.
2 Not.
26 Sept.
29 June
18 May
4 May
5 Sept.
si July
14 July
14 Oct.
11 Oct.
27 July [ 28 Oct.
10 July I ....
29 June ' ....
26 July
20 Nov.
10 Oct.
3 May
21 June
26 Sept.
3 May
26 Oct.
407
627
550
431
70
263
647
526
166
22
622
46
359
526
167
359
647
22
118
784
263
335
526
46
94
622
166
215
454
647
600
335
70
600
503
215
454
ALLPHABE1ICAL LIST OF NEW PATENTS.
XV
Name.
I
Subject.
Peiiii
Perlbaeh ...
PMrie
Picdotto . . .
Poola
Poole
Poole
Porritt
Porter
Porter ....
Pratt
Pamell. ...
Remington ,
Ricardo .. ,
Richardson
Riddle....
Roberta ...
RobertaoB.
Robertson .
Robertson
Rock
Rogers....
Roof.
Roas
Rowley ....
Rojoe .. ..
Sager
ScMele
SchuBck
Schwartz ....
Scoffem ....
Shaw
Sievier
Siemans ....
Simpson & ano..
Skertchly.. ..
Smith
Smith
Smith
Sontham ....
Spencer ....
Spilsbury ....
Staite
Steel & ano...
Steinkamp . .
Stenson .....
Sterling ....
Swain
Swiuburn.. ..
England.
^
17 Aug.
8 Aug.
7 Nov.
28 Dec.
2 Dec.
Steam engines 21 Dec.
Uniting metals •
Steam engines
Purifying and decolo-
rizing gums
Casks
Nails
Heels and pipes
Carding
Application of
gated iron to floors
roofs, &c.
Girders ....
Printing ink
Preventing ships froml
being water-logged .. J
Steam engines
Electro telegraphy
Condensation and white l
lead /
Pencils, writing instru- 1
ments, and inkholders j
Time-keepers and tele-
graphic communica
tion
Gas
Casks
Consuming smoke
Iron
Peat
Respirators
Dibbling and propelling..
Buttons
Cleansing and grinding 1
grain J
Transit and generation )
of steam )
Cocks & reducing friction,
Maleable iron
Steam engines
Sugar
Iron
Warping and weaving ...
Steam engine
Steam engines
Bricks and tobacco pipes..
Railway wheels
Coal tar ......
Window blinds & springs,
Mills
Pipes and tubes. .
Paints
Galvanic batteries
Tobacco pipes . .
Sugar
Steam engines & boilers. . !
Iron and metallic com- '
compounds
Kilns .'
Gelatine
21 Sept.
11 July
28 Aug.
15 Sept.
23 Nov.
26 Nov.
21 Aug.
19 Oct.
li'Aug.
30 June
4 Sept.
19 Oct.
16 Dec.
2 Nov.
12 July
6 July
18 July
18 July
12 Oct
18 July
Scotland.
25 Oet.
26 Sept.
18 Aug.
29 July
3 May
30 Aug.
18 July
.. . ^
4Sept.
30 Nov.
....
21 Aug.
....
21 Dec.
....
11 July
....
6 July
29 July
2 Nov.
!!!!•
Ireland.
22 June
26 June
2 Oct.
3 Oct.
3 May
21 June
23 Aug.
si'iuiy
14 Aug.
26 Sept.
27 Sept.
2 Oct.
7 Sept.
16 June
12 June
28 Oct.
11 Oefc.
4 Oct.
Page.
622
191
167
478
647
574
142
94
263
215
623
70
46
142
454
311
70
238
311
526
550
215
407
191
22
263
407
622
455
70
46
94
94
383
94
5 June
XVI
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF NEW PATKNT3.
Name.
Trtit
Tariflf
Taylor
Taylor
Thomas ....
Thorn & ano. .
Thoraton . . . ..
Tibbits
Townsend ....
Travis & ano.
Tnieman . . . .
Turner
Tutton
Varley
Wariasley ... •<
Walker |
Walker ;..
Warren & ano. -j
WatneT & auo. . .
Waud'
W^cbster
Weild
Weldon
Wharton
WUd
Wildsmith ....
Wilkinson
Wilkinson ....
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson & ano..
Winfield & ano. .
Winfield
Wire
Woodcock ....
Wright
Wright I
Wrighton
Subject.
Producing outlines
Turntables
Engraving surfaces. .....
Propelling
Stays; 'boots, and shoes . .
Steam engines, breaks, 1
and signals J
Retarding carriages .....
Motive power
Looped or knitted fabrics,
Packing lard
Artificial teeth and gums.
Girders
Building
England.
Steam engines.
Young
Young Sc ano.
Young ......
Young
Zerman
Preventing explosion in \
steam boilers J
Bands of straps' for hats, 1
&c J
Needles
Bridges, aqueducts and 1
roofing J
Drilling
Spinning
Motive power
Spinning.. ••
Pumps
Vehicles
Rotary steam engines ..
Purification of naphtha
Coke ovens
Vices
Tin drums or rollers . . .
Chisels and gouges ....
Rotary engines
Light, lam^s'and oleic acid
Tubes
Metallic bedsteads, &c.. .
Light ,
Steam engines
Vice boxes
Generation of steam A \
evaporation of fluids. J
Carriages and engines . .
Closing cans or vessels . .
Lead ores
Winding thread, &o
Dying and printing
Ships and vessels
9 Dec.
21 Aug.
2 Dec.
26 July
7 Aug.
2NoV.
Ifioic.
15 Aug.
9 Dec.
14 Aug.
24 June
16 Dec.
15 Aug.
12 Oct.
2 Nov.
4. Sept.
15 Dec.
16 Dec.
21 Dec.
16 Nov.
21 Dec.
29 July
21 Sept.
28 Dec.
14 Sept.
2 Nov.
31 Aug.
12 Oct.
21 Aug.
23 Aug.
2 Dec.
9 Dec.
Scotland, i Ireland.
Page.
23 Aug.
28 Aug.
18 Aug.
29 June
iMay
5 May
2 Aug.
10 May
15 Aug.
22 June
13 Oct.
3 July
10 July
600
215
574
119
166
455
622
191
600
191
22
622
191
383
454
263
622
622
622
503
622
143
311
647
311
454
238
383
215
2.38
574
600
8 Aug. ! ....
MUSEUM, REGISTER, JOURNAL, ANDGAZETTE,
No. 1299.] SATURDAY JULY 1, 1848. [Prica 3rf., Stamped, Ad,
Kditcd by J. C. Robert«on« 166, Fleet-itrcct.
UEUTENANT-COLONBL YULE'S BREAKWATERS OF VERTICAL FLOATS.
FIG. I, .. F»fi.». p,Q^
"^fm* uni*
BBBAXWATKBt OW TB&T1CAL FLOATS.
In prosecution of the mode proposed
in vol. viii. of the " Professional Papers
of the Corps of Royal Engineers," of
resisting the force of waves by means of
vertical floats, each spar having its sepa-
rate anchor, I have taken an early oppor-
tunity, after returning from abroad, to
make some experiments with them.
In Number 1230 of the Mechanics*
Magazine there is a full aocounf of vari-
ous kinds of floating breakwater^ and of
the olgectioDB made to them ; before I
describe how these may be met by the
use of vertical floats, I proceed to give a
concise notice of the steps which led me
to adopt that form.
When in Canada, I had seen booms
made of squared logs, attached end to
end by chains, for the purpose of pre-
venting drifted timber from striking
against the embankments of the Rideau
Canal, and it occurred to me that if spars
were fixed to booms, so as to make a sort
of BotXiDgchevaux-defrisef the force of
waves would be lessened ; but this frame
being very iimited in depths was only
fitted for breaking the surf.
These booms occasionally broke loose,
and to guard against such an accident to
a breakwater of this kind, I thought of
reducing them to short frames ; follow-
ing up uiis idea, I arrived at ihe single
spar.
The next consideration was the me-
thod of anchoring which I intended to
effect by a chain (fig. 3) stretched be-
tween two anchors, and by attaching the
spars to it. The objection to this was
the same as to the above frame, — unwiel-
diness, liability to break loose, and the
■difficulty of repairing^
The obvious transition was then from
the single spar to the single anchor (figs.
1 and 2.)
Referring to former opinions* on
the subject of floating brei^waters gene-
rally, the objections to them are,
1. The expense and difficulties of
complicated frames, and the doubts
which prevail that any artificial floating
structures can produce still water ; the
impossibility of preventing them from
being carried from their moorings ; the
trouble of getting them out of water
when injured, or of replacing them after
being repaired.
* 8m No. 1280 abOTO nentioaed.
BT UlUTBNAXrr-OOLOKXL TULBi A.S.
2. Some are constructed so as to form
a flat raft ; these are of very limited use,
as they could only break the force of the
surf; vessels of considerable draught, or
exposed to the ground-swell, would be
little sheltered by them.
3. Light frames, *' in imiution of
reeds,*' nave been suggested, and in
respect to their lightness, they are a
great improvement, but they are liable
to be broken and to get entangled.
4. There are difficulties in adapting
the above methods to different deptns of
water; and, also
5. To the rise and fall of the tides.
I shall now enumerate the remedies
for these objections, premising that moat
of them were treatea theoretically in the
above-mentioned essay in the " Profes-
sional Papers,** and have recently been
confirmed by actual experiment.
1. The cost of the single spar, 22 feet
long, and 5 ins. diameter at the stem,
with stone anchor containing about two
cubical feet, about 6 lbs. weight of iron
fitments (fies. 5, 6*,) is here about four
shillings, the carriage and launching
about sixpence more ; but these details
of cost depend on local circumstances.
With an anchor of suitable weight,
the vertical float is immoveable in any
weather. The operation of launching is
simple, and there is none of the risk
which accompanies complicated struc«
tures, in effecting the complete renewal
or removal of a breakwater consisting of
them.
2. Spars 24 feet long are sufficient to
reach the whole depth of the largest
waves; they supersede, therefore, the
*' flat raft,** whicn only protects the sur-
face.
3. The vertical floats have all the ad-
vantages of the light frames in imitation
of reeds, without their liability to be
broken and entangled, as the short
chains of three or four links are just
enough to allow their free vibration;
they also give way to boats passing
amidst them.
4. In order to feach below tbe level
agitated by the waves, and to suit the
irregularity of soundings, an iron rod,
weighing about one pound to the foot in
length, is inserted into the spar (fig. 4,)
and the lower end of it is attached by a
short chain to the anchor.
5. With respect to the rise and &I1 of
BRBAKWATSES OV VBRTIOAL FLOATS*
ibe tidesy it is to he observed that on
shores where the depth of water is not
sufBcient to float the spars at ebb tide,
the J will lean over, and m rough weather
have a tendency to wear each other.
To guard against this, I ptopose to
have a series of the spars (fig. 6, a,) so
1>laced as to float nearly vertically in the
owest tides, leaving (say) 5 feet of their
tops above water.
r I c . 3 .
The next series (6) will be placed the
same heisht (5 feet) above a; in like
manner the series c above b, until the
upper series is on a level with high water,
or a little below it.
By this arrangement, each series in
succession will be protected during its
subsidence into the quiescent state, as
well as its rising from it.
The experiment alluded to above, is
now in the course of operation on the
shore of the Forth, at Portobello, about
feur miles to the eastward of Edinburgh.
Upwards of 600 spars have been an-
chored in a group of about 30 yards by
90, with anchor and chain ; their tope
are about 9 feet above ground; they
are from two to four, or nve feet aparL
These spars had been anchored nearly
a month before I had an opportunity of
witnessing their effect in a strong breeze
blowing direct on shore. There was a
considerable swell at the time, and the
tide nearly covered them, when, greatly
to my surprise, I perceived that the wave
seemed to increase in size as it passed
over them. I continued on the look out
to ascertain if it was really the case, and
after a few moments' reflection, I came
to the conclusion that it must be so on
the windward side.
The wave as it advances is suddenly
b2
4 ' BREAKWATERS OF VRRTfCAL FLOATS*
checked in its velocity, and being con- the Mechasiics^ Magazine, a new pro-
fined in space by the spare, it rises in position is introduced in it for obviating
height to obtain room for itself. the objections to framed works for break-
The next coming wave is checked in -' waters ; it is simple, light, and manage-
like manner, and as it overtakes the firet able ; not liable to injury, and it would
wave its velocity will receive an addi- be easily repaired. It is also suited to a
tional cheek, so as to be sooner overtaken variety of depths of water, and to the rise
by the third wave, and so on successively, and fall of the tides — a quality which does
while the whole in their progress will be not appear to have been attempted, or ao
more and more involved in the group of essential as to be considered requisite, in
spare, and finally reduced to quiescence, preceding modes of construction, though
I have uo data yet to enable me to without it all are nearly nugatory,
decide what breadth of the group of It remains to be decided by trial how
spars may be sufficient for the purpose, many lines will be required. From the
I am extending it to 60 rows or yards, nature of this construction, being con-
and double that number may be required ; nected above as well as below, it is pro-
but considering their moderate cost, bable that few lines may be necessarv, ao
there are many occasions, when the ad- that this mode will be efiectual wnere
vantage of still water would be cheaply othere could not be rendered so for want
obtained for the expenditure. of space.
In addition to the ordinary object of Before concluding this paper, it should
breakwatere, this system, on account of its be mentioned, that in addition to the
adaptation to nearly every kind of shore, short spars of 8 feet long above men-
will be available where relief, if not im- tioned, two have been floating for several
mediate, comes too late; for instance, in weeks of the following dimensions : one
the case of a stranded ship. a spar 22 feet long ; tne other a spar of
In the course of two or three days, the same length, but with 18 feet of iron
a ship in this situation might be sur- rod attached to it, as in fig. 4.
rounded by a number of spare, and saved The drag on the anehon of each is
from farther injury. For such an im- calculated thus :
portant object, it would be worth the i^f-
^Tfwniie tn hftve dAnfits of fin&ra nnd nn. '^^^ ■P*'' ^^'^^ ^" ^«" sewoned, weighed SO
expense 10 nave oepois 01 spars ana an- xhe Iroa fitments for the anchor .... 5
chore ready for use at several of the
principal harboure. They may be used ^^ ,.,...., - ^ ..a,^^ ^
S ^i.*^ ^ ^. m ^ tt^ !• I.* The cubical extent of the Spar it about 2 feel,
for the protection of sea-walls or light- the displacement of water by which la . . 124
houses during the time of their construe- — -—
tlon ; if the gwund is rocky, the spars ^/.'SL ?iS??S,.ii. i,.i .i„i. i.^- *'
may be attached at low- water to the cai feet, and weighs about 30o
rock itself. The same mass of water weighs 124
Small harbours for boats engaged in Making the weight of the anchor in water . 176
the herring fishery might be established, Deduct the buoyancy as above 99
and removed every season. In the High- 97
lands, where young fir-trees are plenti- The remainder is the power of resistance of
ful, they might be launched at little more '*'!,""?" '^ '^*i"* **" *' ^^ '*"* ^^'^^
.* ' .1^ » r ii. • a^ * • and vibration of the spar.
than the cost of the iron fitments, via , ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^.^^ ,, ,„ ,^ ^^^ ^^p^^ .^
at from I«. to 1*. 6a. each, according to water, consists or the spar, weighing as
the siae of the spar. t "^"J" ■ *, '?
The channels of rivere liable to be ob- ISTLuu^engfh^ .' ! ! ! ! ! ' il
structed bv sand or shingle, may be kept
open by this mole, which can be more water displaced nearly i«
easily applied than by driving piles or ,
constructing frames for that purpose. Leaving for buoyancy . . «J
The Shinile which is COnstintly shifted Weight of anchor m water as above . . .JITS^
to and fro on the southern coast of £ng- Deducting? the buoyancy, the remainder Is 107
land, might be confined to fixed poinu. t'}^',',;if<;}?,»Vp """''"'■' ""'•"«"^
It IS probably for the latter purpose that
the vertical floats may b^ found best Since the abovf was written, it has
adapted. been stated to me as an objection to the
Reverting to the paper in No. 1230 of vertical floats, that a strong running tide
MATHEMATICAL PERIODICALS.
will affect their efficiency, by causing
ifaenb to remain in an inclined position :
ihb I do not anticipate in a materiid
degree. The 8par, in the course of its
▼ibratioD, will be struck by the wave
at various angles of inclination, with a
constantly changing and inappreciable
effect.
Sdinbiugh, 10th June, 1848.
MATHXMATICAL PKBIOOICALS.
(Contioocd firom p. 583, vol. xlviii.)
VIII. The Enquirer.
Origm, — This periodical was com-
menced at Boston, in Lincolnshire, in
the beginning of the year 1811, and was
diaeoDtmued with the 11th number, in
Mar, 1613.
EdUoTi. — The first two volumes were
jointly edited by Mr. P. Thompson, of
Boston, and Mr. William Marrat, author
of a *' Treatise on Mechanics," << Mecha-
nical Philosophy," " History of Lincoln-
shire," &c.; the last three numbers
were edited by Mr. Marrat alone.
Con/ejB/tf.— Each number of the work
was divided into two portions. Under the
head of the ** Juvenile Department "
were given prise subjects in the Latin
and French Languages; English Com-
position, and Junior Mathematics;
Translations from the I^tin and French
Languages; English Themes; English
Verse, and Answers to the Junior Ma-
thematical Questions. The Department
for " General Correspondence* 'contained
Essays on English Grammar; Critical
and Grammatical Observations-; Essays
on Antiquities, Topography, Etymology,
Curioeities and Coins ; Account of, and
Extracts from, Bare and Curious Books;
Extracts and Essays on various subjects
in the Arts and Sciences ; Chemical and
Philosophical Essays and Queries ; Use-
ful Becipes in the Arts and Manufac-
tures; Miscellaneous Essays; Poetry,
original and selected; Mathematical
F^rs, original and translated ; Mathe-
matical Questions and Solutions, for
which various prizes were awarded, &c.
Amonff the many interesting and elegant
contributions to this well-sustained and
valuable periodical, may be mentioned a
series of racy articles entitled, '* My
Lumber Boom ;" '* Account of the Books
used in Churches and Monasteries before
the Beformation;" **0n the Art of
RiDging Bella ^" '< Pens^es Detach6ea ;"
" On the Dry Bot:'*— a series of valu-
able papers entitled " A Survey of
the Boman Antiquities in the County
of Lincoln," well worthy of attention,
which were contributed by Mr. P. Moore,
of Bourne, in Lincolnshire, who died
shortly after their publication : ** Imita-
tations of the Poetry of Henry Kirkc
White;'* <*0n the Dissolution of the
Worid ;" << Bibliographical Anecdotes ;"
" Specimens of the Similarity and Con-
nection of Languages ;" ** On the several
sorts of Vicious Argumenta called
Sophisms;" — a series of articles ar«
ranged under the heads of " Gleanings"
and the '* Collector," containing a num-
ber of very curious and interesting parti-
culars connected with old usages and cus-
toms, the origin of common proyerba,
&c. J «* On Gravitotion," by Mr. P.
Thompson; ** On Female Education,"
from the Edinburgh Review; '*0n
Vegetable Instinct and the Sleep and
Sensation of Plants," by Mr. Tapper;
'* Critical Essay on the Prophecies of
Daniel;" *• The Commodities of Arith-
metic," from the " Grounde of Artes,"
by Boberte Becorde ; *' On the Uneven-
ness of the Earth's Surface;" &c. The
poetic department was also well sustained,
and many of the queries are worthy of
attention from their curiositity, useful-
ness, and importance. In the mathema-
tical essays are articles on '* The
Composition of Forces," and ** The
Equations of Motion,'* translated from
Francoeur by Mr. Marrat; " The Pro-
perties of Infinites and Nothing;" ** Ob-
servations on a Curious Mechanical
Problem," by Mr. Marrat ; " Investiga-
tion of Formuls for the Values of ue
Tangent and Cotangent of an Arc,** by
Mr. G. Harvey, Plymouth ; " On the
Properties of the Lever/* by Mr. A.
Hirst, Marsden; '* Geometrical Prob-
lems by the Compasses alone,** from
Macheroni's G^omitrie du Compass
" Essay on Fluents,*' by Mr. G. Harvey,
&c.
Questions. — The total number of ma-
thematical questions proposed and an-
swered in the senior department is 165;
most of those left unanswered on the
discontinuance of the work were solved
in the first number of the Leeds Carre'
spondent. The editor appears to have
exercised good taste in the selection of
his questions and solutions, most of them
being of a very interesting and practical
MATHEMATICAL PERIODICALS.
6
ebanioter :^he application of Algebra,
Diophantine Analysis, Geometry, and
Mechanics, appear to predominate, and
would supply many a ** dainty morsel "
to the "getters up** of a series of exa-
mination papers. The work contains
more of the able and elegant investiga-
tions of Mr. John Ryley, of Leeds, who
wrote under the signature of ** Ry-
lando," than any other work with which
I am acquainted.
CentrUtularM. — The principal contri-
butors were Messrs. Allen, Baines, Brus-
ter, Butter worth. Cook, Dunn, Eyres,
Gawthorp, Harvey, Hine, Hirst, .Tones,
Jobnson, Kay, Maffett, Nesbit, Putsey,
Shaw, Tomlinson, Webster, Whitley,
Winward, &c.
Publication. — It was issued in quar-
terly numbers, whieh were printed for the
editors by Whittingham and Rowland,
Goswell-street, and sold by Scatcherd and
Letterman, Ave Maria Lane, London;
and Thompson and Barnett, Boston.
*•* I cannot dismiss this periodical
without expressing a regret that circum-
stances should have arisen which rendered
its continuance impossible. Mathemati-
cal periodicals at all times appear to have
been unproductive speculations. Fortune
seems to be adverse to their prosperity,
however auspiciously begun, and in this
ease the editors were destined to expe-
rience their full share of what is too often
the lot of those who are anxious to live
and labour for the good of mankind. The
DiarieSf no doubt, would long ago have
ceased to exist, if they had depended
solefy upon their own intrinsic merits
and usefulness for support ; it is perhaps
more than conjectural that the profits
derived from the more vendible Astrolo-
ffieal and Weather predictions of Old
Partridge and Francis Moore serve to
buoy up in some degree the otherwise
dead weight of Diarian speculations.
The Liverpool " Student,** that *• work
of rare merit,** as Professor Davies well
observes, divided a profit of Jive guineas
among its principal contributors, arising
fh>m the sale of the first three numbers ;
the fourth number was a ** dead failure,"
and the work vras discontinued. ''Com-
mercial distress** has often been urged by
the proprietors of such publications, when
every efibrt has failed to prolong their
existence; but, divested of its techni-
cality^ the expression has too frequently
•ignmed ruin to themselves and no sale
for the work. One after another of the
periodicals has passed out of exisfenee,
to be succeeded by others as ephemeral
as themselves. "Leybourn's Repository"
and the '' Gentleman's Mathematical
Companion," would seem to be excep-
tions, since they attained to a eompara^
lively ** patriarchal age,'* but probably
some under-current of self-sacrifice en-
abled these vessels of science to ride so
long in safety. Nor is the lack of sup-
port a thing unknown even in the present
dearth of such publications. Already the
'* Cambridge and Dublin Mathematical
Journal*' has hoisted its signal of dis-
tress, and if such is the condition of a
journal published at <* the first University
in the world,'* who can venture to pre-
dict the long continuance of its worthy
contemporary, the Mathematician, Mr.
Marrat informs me, in one of his ex-
cellent and interesting letters, that thev
printed 750 copies of the "Enquirer," all
of which were sold, except 20 complete
copies, that remained when the work
was ^iven up. ** The publishers and the
printers got all the money as the numbers
were sold, and at the close of the busi-
ness we got a bill for ^130 ! ! ! So we
did all the work, and lost that sum into
the bargain.** Some valuable remarks
on the efforts which have been made by
the " Non- Academics " of this country
for the furtherance of science,. are given
in a late volume of the PhiL Mag., by
"J. J." (your own "Exoniensis," I be-
lieve,) and with what success may be seen
in an excellent letter from Profnsor
Davies; inserted in pp. 428-31, vol.
xlvi. of this Magasine. It is therefore
unnecessary for me to dilate on this sub-
ject, but I must crave your indulgence
while I show, that to Mr. Marrat the
above was only " the beginning of sor-
rows.** In 1810 he published, by sub-
scription, ** An Introduction to the Theory
and Practice of Mechanics*,** — a work
which has been pronounced by one of
the best living authorities, as *< the first
book of its class at that time in England ;"
it was dedicated to Dr. Mutton, and
gained the author much repute. His con-
nexion with several other publications,
and the editorship of the " Enquirer,'*
served to increase his fame, and shortly
after its discontinuance, on the advice of
several influenrial friends, and under the
avowed patronage of Sir Joseph Banks,
he commenced the publication of " TfaQ
MATHSXATICAL PBRIOBICALS.
Hittonr of Llneolnsbire/' a work for
which 1118 pre?iou8 studies had eminently
qnalifled him. '< The patron and the
giol,*' says the authority aoove alluded to,
" have bleen linked together by one who
knew, because he had feli, the effect of
9uch patronctge as the aristocracy and
the squirearchy confer/' and Marrat was
soon to learn by bitter experience that
he formed no exception to the general
rale. He says, *' At the request of se yeral
gentlemen, I began lo publish a History
of Lincolnshire, and in the presence of
my worthy friend Mr. (afterwards Sir
Joiin) Rennie, the celebrated engineer.
Sir Joseph Banks promised me the use
of all his papers. The work was pub-
Bshed in numbers. I carried it on for
about four years before I applied to Sir
Joseph. It was pretty well known that
he had many valuable documents relating
to the history of the county, and I men-
tioned on the wrappers of the numbers
that Sir Joseph Banks had granted me
the nse of all his papers, on which ac-
ooant the work sold extremely well.
When I wrote to him I told him, that,
with bis permission, I would go to Reyes-
ley Abbey, where he resided when in
the country, and take copies of such
papers as would be useful to me, without
taking them from his possession, because
I thought that would prevent any suspi-
cion (for I knew that he sometimes had
strange freaks) that might arise about
my not returning his papers. He an-
swered my letter by saying that he knew
* noihing about me; that I had made an
umdue use of hie name on the wrappers
of the makbere I had published; that he
neuter promised me the use of his papers,
mar should I ever have any of them.
On reading the letter I thought the man
was mad, but what could I do ? In my
own justification, I had a letter from Mr.
Bennie, which stated, that ' Sir Joseph,
with his usual urbanity, had granted
me the use of all his papers,' which I
showed to liord Brownlow and some other
BoUemen and gentlemen who patronised
the work ; but when Sir Joseph had thus
acted, they were of opinion that the work
ooold not be carried on, because his
papers were thought to be extremely
valaable. I therefore gave up the work,
and was nearly ruined.** In a subsequent
letter Mr. Marrat says, '* The reason why
Sir Joseph Banks used me so shamefully,
I am fully persuaded, was, that he had
no pavers, and he was not honest enough
to acknowledge it, seeing it had gone
forth to the world that he had some vain-
able documents concerning the antiquities
of the county. Besides which, he did
not. know that I had friends who would
avenge me of such usage. He was not
aware that Dr. Hutton and Dr. Gregory
were friends of mine, and would take up
cudgels in my favour.'* Little need be
added by way of comment upon the pre-
ceding statement : suffice it to say, that
Mr. Marrat never recovered from the
effects of Sir Joseph Banks's patronage
and urbanity, ana that he still exists in
the most straitened circumstances, a
venerable monument of blighted pro-
spects, in consequence of relying too
much upon the readily promised but
rarely exercised patronage of the great.
Yours, &c.,
ThOS. WUiKINSOH.
Burnley, Lancashiret June 24, 1848.
[We have heard before of the affair
referred to at the close of our corres-
pondent's letter. Of course Mr. Marrat's
own version must be taken as the true
one, so far as he was himself concern-
ed: but we believe that Sir Joseph
Banks did possess some valuable papers
respecting the history of his county;
ana it may be as well to mention
that Sir Edward KnatchbuU, Bart., and
Mr. Dawson Turner, as his executors,
most probably possess them. This may
serve as a hint to any other inquirer into
the history of the county of Lincoln, as
to where materials of value may, in all
probability, be obtained.
As regards the actual reason of Shr
Joseph's conduct towards Mr. Marrat,
we have heard, upon what we deem very
good authority, that it was neither more
nor less than the dedication of his
work on "Mechanics" to Dr. Hutton.
Those of our readers who are familiar
with the history of the Royal Society,
and the ejection of Dr. Hutton from its
secretaryship, will be able to fill up the
picture.
The Royal Society, however, is not a
palatable subject with us ; althoxigh it is
Srobable that we may shortly be in-
uced to take some notice of the present
dissensions by which it is torn almost to
pieces.— £i>. M. M.]
ftlSHTON's IMPROVBD VIMCRY WMLkMt.
[RegUtered under the Act for the Protection of Articles of Utility. Henry Risbton, of Kendal^
plumber, Proprietor.]
Fie. I.
VIC. 3.
(. * 1
{
(
1
1
1
•
.
M
t
U
Urn
y . -. ,„ - ::.:-. .,. ,7-^ =1
f
V. -
1
y- —. 7\
\ < ^
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal^ section of
part of a frame, on this improved plan,
of the full size ; fig. 2 is a plan, or a
smaller scale of one-half of a complete
frame, and fig. 3 is a longitudinal sec-
tion of fig. 2. A A, are the styles and
astragals of the frame ; B B, cross-bars
of thin metal into which the upper ends
of the squares of glass (a) are inserted
and made fast by putty, as shown in fig.
1. Each square of glass is kept at the
bottom, a short distance clear of the bar,
B, which it overhangs, which prevents
the collection of water and discoloured
matter at the lap, and leaves also room
for the expansion of the glass, so as to
exclude all chance of breaking from
frost ; while at the same time ventila-
tion is facilitated, and any square of
elass may be removed without disturbing
tne others. C, is a strip of angle-shaped
metal which carries off the water outside
when it arrives at the bottom.
ON m BVFCCT OF SUPIRXNCUMBKyT PRUSURB AS REGARDS THB QUESTION, WltRTHBR
8RA-WAI.LS SHOULD BE SLOPING OR VERTICAL. BT HUGH M'CORlfAC, BSQ., M.D.
Sir,^Altbough one of the uninitiated,
pennit me to advert to a very important
point in the construction of sea-walls,
which marine engineers, so far as I know,
have hitherto overlooked — namely, su-
permatmbent pressure. This seems to
me one of the first elements to be taken
into account We all know that when
a stone is immersed in water, it loses of
its weight equal to the weight of the mass
of water which it displaces. It is this
circumstance which gives the moving
surge, itself almost of the specific gravity
of onic, the enormous power which it has
over the stone. This, however, may be
counteracted, under whatever exigency,
by adequate superincumbent weight. It
is owing to the latter, that the chalk -
etiffii of Britain have withstood, as they
have done, though of so soft a material,
the assaults of the ocean through so many
thousand Tears. It is owing to this that
we are still enabled to admire and vene-
rate the handiwork of Smeaton, in the
Eddystone, which the sea vainly lashes
with an almost undying surge. This
consideration of superincumbent pres-
sore, at once decides the preference in
favour of perpendicular sea-walls and
breakwaters. If superincumbent pres-
sore had been resorted to, the breakwater
at Plymouth, or that at Cherbourg, would
not have had its summit, though formed
of massive stones, torn away. And if the
harbour of refuge at Dover be formed
on any other principle, it will prove a
source of bitter regret to all concerned,
as well as of heavy expense to the nation,
from the unceasing dilapidations which
must necessarily ensue. Let the sea-
waJi of this and other refuge harbours
be formed of massive stones, properly
baaed and bonded, and built into an up-
right wall, wHk a sufficient amount of
nmerincumbent pressure, and it will last
all the ages of the island itself. But if
constructed otherwise, it will not last at
all; as yon and I shall doubtless live to
see, if they try it. And whv is superin-
cumbent' pressure, it may be asked, so
advantageous ? Why, simnly, because it
imparts that stability to the underlying
masses of stone, which they are liable to
lose; partly owing to their immersion,
and partly owing to the rush of the sea.
A stone often tons surmounts a sea-wall.
It nay be thought sufficient : but a gale
comes ; the stone is immersed, loses of
its weight and stability together; heels
over with the rush of the sea, and is dis-
placed. The one beneath shares the same
fate; and so the structure, albeit mas-
sive, is destroyed. But surmount the
whole with sufficient additional weight :
let the ten ton stone be loaded with a
hundred, or a thousand tons, if necessary,
above the point of immersion ; and all the
power of the elements, if the wall be
only properly bonded, will never affect it.
It is the flying buttress which enables
the cathedral wall to resist the side thrust
of the arch : we must, in the same man-
ner, resort to a flying buttress, but pro-
portionately massive, to resist the thrust
of the sea. I saw very well that this was
what was needed, when there was talk
some time ago about a harbour of refuge
on the Goodwin Sands. I saw that if
they built a proper sea-wall— that is to
say, an upright one — ^resting on Pott's or
Mitchell's piles, whichever was found
most eligible, and raised it high, above
the utmost wash of the sea, with an ade-
quate amount of superincumbent weight,
in the form of what I might call a marine
(flying) buttress, that the storm might
blow and the sea flow, without ever im-
pairing the stability of the structure. It
was clear that the toy which was put up,
or any similar toy, could not possibly
withstand the wear and tear of the sturdy
elements. Living or dead, I hope to have
the satisfaction of knowing that what I
here propose has been done ; and that a
** harbour for all nations*' shall one day
occupy a spot now devoted to desolation
and death.
A correspondent, W., in your able
Journal, May 13,'p. 463, adduces another
point in favour of vertical walls, of very
great, and, taken in connexion with the
consideration of adequate superincum-
bent pressure, of conclusive weight. He
quotes from Professor Airy— "The pecu-
liarity," observes Professor Airy, ** fn the
effects of an upright wall from the bottom
of the sea, is this, that the sea does not
break upon it." No, indeed, it docs not.
I have oDscrved this in the Gobbins, near
Belfast ; at Donaghadee harbour ; at the
Deserta Isles, near Madeira : and it may
be witnessed, I believe, at the cliffs of
Kilkee and of Lake Superior. The pro-
fessor adducer several other instances of
B 3
10
NOTES ON THE THEORY OF ALOBBEAIC EQUATIONS.
this oircamstance, which I do not recollect
faaTing been noticed by any one else. It
u howeyer most important ; and taken in
sonnexion with adequate superincumbent
vreasure, as I have just yentured to state,
oiffhly so.
It is hardly necessary to adduce further
arguments in favour of a position that
ought, when stated, to carry conviction
along with it; nevertheless, when one
Gonsiders the yearly losses which sea-
dykes and esplanades everywhere entail,
it should suggest a suspicion of some
fundamental error in the construction.
Instances of this will be present in the
mind of every one. Our good f ri ends and
neighbours the Dutch lay out vast sums
of money yearly in keeping up their
dykes and holders. Let us suppose they
had been of stone, vertical, and sur-
Biounted above the highest rise of the
water with a massive wall, the sea might
boom and roar for ever, or so long at
Init as the living rock endures, without
•mailing injury ; and consequently, with-
out entailing fresh expense. I am, &c.y
U. M*CoEMAc, M.D.
Beir»8t, June 5.
[We shall give a paper by Mr. Dredge on the
oppQsiU tide in otir next.— Ed. M. M.]
V
WOTKS ON THE THBORT OF ALGEBRAIC
BaUATIOMS. BY JAMES COCKLE, ESQ.,
M.A., BARaiSTBR.AT.LAW.
(Continued Arom rol. zWiii., p. 607.)
Second Series. Note £.
Let F-C^.y. *,.,.)
represent a general function of the n-th
degree and of the quantities between the
brackets which follow it, so that F diflPers
from^ inasmuch as the latter denotes a
homogeneous function. Then the equa-
tbns
P»(*, y, «)-0, and FJ(x, y, O-O,
are two simultaneous and general " ter-
tiary** quadratics which may, by ''sim-
ple " quadratics only, be solved in a
manner which difiPers from the solutions
previously given or alluded to,* is easy
of application, and ckpable of an interest-
ing comparison with Mr. Jerrard's
Method of treating similar questions.
Multiply the last of the given equa-
tions into an undetermined quantity \
and add the product to the first, then we
have
FJ(x, y, z) + XFJ(x, y. r)-0., (23.)
determine X so that 3^ may disappear
• Jf«c*.iC«y., VOL zlTiiL, pp. ed» ^UL) and 6(»,
from (23.), then this equation will take
the form
Bar + P(y,r)«0,..(24.)
where Betfy + dz + tf ;
let B"*0 and eliminate z from (24.), th«a
that equation will take the form
F»(y)=0
an ordinary quadratic from which y majr
be determmed. We may next obtain the
value of » from B"0, and finally that of
X from either of the given tertiary
quadratics or from (24.)
Again, the above tertiary quadratioa
may be solved by the following process,
which somewhat resembles the preceding,
but which entails upon us the solution of
a biquadraticytiji^ which is, consequently,
of interest only so far as it affords an ex-
ample of a general method of proceeding.
Put one of the given equations under
the form
*(ftj; + B)+FJ(y, z)«0,
assume that
J;r+B-0......(25.)
and by means of (25.) eliminate 9 from
each of the given quadratics, we shaU
then have two resulting equations of thft
form
FJ(y,z)-0aadFj(y,2;)-0
whence y and z may be determined, and
a? may be obtained from either of the
given quadratics, or from (25.)
Next let it be required to solve the
system
F«(jr,y,^,p,g)=0-1
FJ(*,y,jr,i»,g) = oi.
F;(*,y,^,F,0-oJ
Omitting for convenience the quantities
between the brackets, form the equations
F« + XF««0... (26.)
F«+X'F*-0...(27.)
and determine X and X' so that a^ may
vanish from (26.) and (27.), then those
equations will take the form
B,* + FJ(y,«,;>,^)-0..(28.)
Bfl* + F,(y,*,p,?)=0..(29.)
where B^ and B, are linear functions of
^, z, /?, and q. By means of the equa-
tions
Bj=0andBa=0..(30.)
let p and q be eliminated from ^28.) and
(29.), then those equations will oeeome
F»(y,z)-OandFJ(y,z)-0,
whence y, and s are known ; and ^ and
q are given by mesiu of the two eqwi«
THE WAVE P1ULNC1F]:.B IK »HIFBU1LDIII<J.
11
titfiia iMiked (3a> ; and finally, ot may
kt deienaiaed from way one of the giYen
^piadratiea.
In entering upon speoalations of this
hind we appear to have arrived at a rich
mhie of discoverj. But here, for the
Bt, I leave them, and hring the
ond Series of these Notes to a con-
eksion. Shonid it he permitted me to
resame the subject-^and I hope shortlv
to have an opportunity of doing so — ^1
shall give a discussion of the various
solutions of the question known as ''Co-
knel Tit OS's Problem/'* But I am
deatrotta of stating here that the solution
•f Fbbiib in its principle involves im-
psrtant ooDsequenees, and that the solu-
lisB of the equations (4.), (5.) and (6.)
<^ p. 512 of the last volume of this work is
a generalisation (or rather an extension
to the general case) of the method which
Fbekd employed in a particular instance.
But neither does Fbend appear to have
been aware of, nor subsequent writers to
have noticed, this generalization. Any
narrowness of view on the part of Fbbnd
will probably be attributed to a confined
sysUm of envisaging a subject rather
t^ to a defect of analytical power, and
pixhaps there are some who will agree
with me in thus thinking that nothing
but such a system, and an imperfect con-
eeption of the true nature of Algebra,
could have rendered (comparatively speak-
ing) nugatory the scientific enthusiasm,
the ardoup, and the disinterested zeal of
SQQh men as Masb&es and him to whom
I have just alluded.
I take this opportunity of mentioning
with respect the name of Mr.LocK.BAnT
in connection with the subject of equa-
tions. I hope on another occasion to call
iltention to some of his investigations.
2, ChuTch-yaid Court, Temple. Jane 24, 184S.
Errata.
Vol. xlviii., p. 606, col. 1, notef, lin« 5 ;
hrfore " form" add general.
■ , p. 606, col. 1, note t, line 6 ;
b^ore «* ="a<W +A.
, p. 606, col. 1, note f, be-
tween lines 6 and 7 insert,
where K^bx + cy + dr + ijp.
■ , p. 607, col. I, note t [Une 4]
eqjuation (/3), transpose x and y.
♦ 8i*e some remarks on this problem at p. 159
•C Prot J. R. Young's Mathematical Dinsertaticns,
OrfMMioa. 184U) *t VP- 272—274 of Prof. T. 8.
mvUtf's Srtlultona to HtiHon's Conrne, (London,
iMtf,) Be. The method of Messrs. Whitley, Settle,
ayi«j, ii Meatio^ in pdneipU with that of
IB4 ayi«:
nrntoh
TBR WAYB PmiNOIFLB IK %BSPBVl\TUXQ,
Mr. Sc(^t Russell gave a lectare at the
Royal Institution oa the 2nd instant, oo the
sew priaciple introduced by him into ship*
building, called the Wave Principle. We
extract the following abstract of it from the
Athenaum : Mr. RosseH's object was— /r«#»
to explain his theory of naval conatruction ;
secondly, to connect with that theory prae*
tical rules for the construction of ships ;
Bnd, JUutlfy, to state the resolU which hare
followed the adoption of the form resulting
from this principle,— by the general adop-^
tion of which the velocity of merchant
steam. thipi have, within twelve or fifteen
years, been raised from an aversge of nine
or ten miles to an already achieved speed of
seventeen or eighteen miles an hour. Tho
theory is derived from the observed proper-
ties of what Bir. Soott Russell has termed
the. solitary wane of translation (or tho
wave of the first order), and those of the gre-
gariovs wave of oscillation (the wave of the
second order). The fir«t-named wave moves
with a velocity which can neither be acce-
lerated nor retarded by the velocity of the
floating body which produces it ; while the
latter does depend on the sf ee<i of the boat
by which it is caused. The solitary wave ia
formed by the bow of a ship when in motion,
and its velocity depends on the curve of the
water-line of the vessel. Mr. Scott RusseU
proceeded to connect with these properties
of the waves he described the following prin-
ciplci of naval architecture : — 1. The prin-
ciple of removing the least quantity of watfr
to the least distance. Assuming that all
horizontal motion through a fluid impli^
the displacement of that fluid, it is obvioufi
that the amount of moving power required
to propel a vessel will vary with the bulk of
water disturbed and the range of lu dis-
turbance. In the ordinary construction, a
great mass of water is set in motion on either
side of the bows of the ship ; but, as Mr.
Scott Rnssfell had proved experimentally in
the wave boats, no more water was disturbed
by them than was occupied by the immerqed
portion of the vessel.— 2. The principle of
adapting the form of the body which is to dis-
turb the water to the natural form of the fluid
which is to be disturbed. Referring to the pro-
perties of the wave of translation, Mr. Scott
RusseU proved that it was impossible to
propel any vessel with a speed greater than
that of the wave of the first order which it
pruduced by its motion ; and that, therefore^
wherever speed was required, the shape of
the vessel mast be modified to accord with
laws of that wave. Thus, the length of fast
ships mast be great (200 feet of keel being
lequisite to insure with least power a spe^
of la miles an hour, 300 feel of keel to a(«
12
BDDDS'S RAir-STRAIOHTENIKO MACHINE.
tain 23 miles, &c.) On the same principle,
boats made on the wave principle^re broad-
est abaft the middle ; the lines of ran are
much finer in the bow than at the stern, the
bow portion of the water* line being con-
cave. — 3. The principle of allowing the re-
placement of water to take place with the
greatest possible velocity. The wave formed
by the after part of a ship is not the wave of
translation, bnt the oscillating wave of the
second order. It arises from a vertical mo-
tion of the water from, below to replace the
hollow left behind the ship as it passes on-
wards. This replacement is most rapid when
the stem portion of the water-line is full.
Mr. Scott Russell mentioned that vessels of
various kinds which had been built on the
principles he described (although the prin-
ciples themselves were not understood by
those who acted on them) had always been
remarkable for speed. The old Thames
wherry, the smugglers' boats, privateers, thel
caique of the Bosphorus, fishing-boats in
the North of Scotland, have been built more
or less on this principle ; and it was remark-
able that whenever the form of any of these
vessels was changed, with a view to improve-
ment, the speed was always diminished. But
'the most important test of the wave princi-
ple of construction is afiforded in the Holy-
head fast boats, — all of which had systema-
tically been constructed, with more or less
accuracy, in conformity with the wave prin-
ciple, and are propelled at the rate of from
17i to 18^ miles an hour; the rapidity
being the greatest in those boats in whose
construction this principle is most accurately
maintained. By the same principle, he felt
satisfied that 23 miles an hour could be pro-
duced ; and he was quite prepared to carry
that speed practically into effect.
OaOVBS AND sons' DOUBLE VILB-HANDLB.
[Regittered under the Act for the Protection of Articles of Utility. Richard Groves and Sons, of
Sheffield, Tool-makers, Proprietors.]
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of this very
useful instrument in its complete state,
and fig. 2 a plan of the same. A is the
file ; BB, the handles ; C, a flat bar or
plate, to which the handles are affixed ;
DD are two screws, which are passed
through holes in the plate, C, into the
file, which is tapped with a correspond-
ing screw during the process of manu-
facture. When the file bos been used
on one side, the screws, DD, may be
taken out, and the handle fixed on the
reverse side ; or the file may be used by
placing a handle on the tang, £, as files
are generally used.
D0DDS*8 RAIL-8TBAIGHTBNIN0 MACHINE.
[Registered under the Act for the Protection of Articles of Utility. Isaac Dodds, of Glasgow,
Civil Engineer, Proprietor.]
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of this ma-
chine, and fig. 2 is an end elevation of
the same. AA is the bed-plate of the
machine; BB are two pillows or sup*
ports, upon which the bar to be straight-
ened is laid. CC is the pillar of the
press, which is cast in one piece with
the bed-plate, A; D, the nut, formed
of the upper part of the pillar. £ is the
screw, and F a stud-piece, which forms
the opposing point of strain to the pil-
lows, BB.
' The bed and pillar of this machine
being of one piece, are consequentljr of
much greater strength than the machmes
of this kind hitherto constructed, which
BZYTATION OF FALUNS BODIES FROU THE PERFEKDTCULAK.
13
f I Off 1^
haye been always made in separate
pieces.
ON TRB DBVf ATION OF FALLING B0DIK8
FKOM THB PBRPKNOICULAR.
Sereral experiments have indicated, that
bodies falling through great heights, do not
drop into the position occupied by a plum-
met suspended at the point from which the
body falls, but somewhat to the south and
east of it The latter deviation is in ac«
eordance with what might be expected as a
result of the earth's rotation on its axis ;
but an explanation of the former did not
^pear so obTious. The inflaence of Dia-
magnetism was, we belieye suspected, and
with a Tiew to determine this, the experi-
ments detailed in a paper by the Secretary,
published in the last Report of the Royal
Cornwall Polytechnic Society, and which
appeared in a late number of this Magazine,
seams to have been instituted. These expe-
riments, on account of the great discre-
pancies among them, cannot be considered
satisfactory as respects the amount of south
deviation; but that such a deviation did
exist in those cases, seems clear. Mr. Rnn-
dell attributes it to the increased time oc-
cupied by a body in foUfaig, occasioned by
the resistance of the air, and in the exam-
ples given, supposes it proportional to the
square of this increase of time. Now this
explanation has ^reference only to the pecu-
liar mode of calculation which he has adopt-
ed, and the omission of an agency which,
though perhaps of little effect in those par-
ticular instances, inust greatly modify gene-
ral views of the subject. Oul* purpose is to
give the method of estimating more accu-
rately the deviation, ezclosive of the ait's
resistance, and afterwards endeavour to point
out the manner in which the air will effect it.
Let PAKD be a great dicle of the earth
(assumed to be a sphere) passing through
the pole P and the point A. ; AB, a perpen-
dicular to the surface at A, and B the point
from which the body falls. Also, let AFHK
be a great circle passing through A, whose
plane is perpendicular to the plane of the
former ; and ALD a parallel of latitude,
also passing through A. At the instant
of the bodies being dropped those circles
ere supposed to become stationary, while
the point A, and perpendicular AB move
with the earth on the parallel of latitude
ALD. If the body were not intercepted
by the earth it wonld describe an ellipse,
of which the centre of the earth would
be either a focus or centre, according as
the space through which it fell was without
or within the surface; its plane likewise
would be the plane of the circle AFHK.
Whence, if BF represent the path of the
body, it will be a portion of an ellipse, and
will meet the earth on the circle AFHK, so
that the point on which it drops must be in
a lower latitude than that from which it fell.
We need not here investigate the process of
finding this latitude, but will simply stats
the result.
Let / represent the latitude of the point
from which the body falls ; L, that of the
point on which it drops ; /, the ratio of the
14
DfiVIATXON OF FALLIMO BODISS FROM TUS FSRPBKDICUI,AR«
forc« of gravitj to the centrifugal force at
tbe eqoator ; «» the space throogh which
the body falU ; a, the ratio of the radius to
the distance from the earth's centre of the
point from which the body falls. Theo,
when 9 is without the surface of the earth,
putting the radiua » r
and when it is within the earth,
sin.
1_ (g'-l)co*»/
By means of these expressions we may
raadtly find the deviation from the true per-
pendlenlar of a body falling from any height
either within or without the surface; for
since sin L can be found, we have, sin
{/- L}-*8in / cos Ir— cos / sin L.
If the earth were at rest, a plumb line
would tend direct to its centre, and thus
indicate the true perpendicular; but the
ee»trifttgaL force arising from ita rotation
must evidently thow the plummet off, and
thus eause a deviation in this likewise. If 9
represent the length of the plumb line, and
D the deviation from the true perpendicular
of the plummet, then, when D is small
9Qmpand with the earth's radius
T\^* «n f .cos /
/-co»2/
To illustrate these formula by an example :
it will be found that in lat. 53'^ nearly
(i. e. the lat. whose sine is ,6) a body drop-
ped (in vacuo) without the earth's surface
through a height of 1254 feet faUs 2087716
foot from the perpendicular, while a plumb
line of the same length deviates 2087340
foet. Hence the body falls ,000376 feet
south of the plumb line. Within the sur-
fcce with a height of 1253 feet, the body
deviates 2087151 feet, while the deviation
of the plumb line is 2087089, which gives
the deflection in this case ,000062 feet, or
9nly ^th of the former. The reason of
this is, that within the earth, the oentririigal
force varies as the foroe of gravity ; whUe
wkheut the surface the former inereaseSf
while the latter rapidly diminishes.
If, instead of an ellipse, we suppose the
path desoribed by the faUing body to be a
portion of a parabola, to which it will in
vsality very nearly approximate, we eau
•asily show the near equality subsisting be-
tween the deflections of that falliag body
•od the plumb line. In this case the velocity
of the body in the direction of a tangent to
tiM oiroleoCUtitiMlt of the point from which
it drops will be uniformly the same as that
of the point ; but when thi deviation is small »
the deflection in the plane of the circle of
latitude varies as the square of the tangent
to it described by the body, <or as the square
of the time of its description, since it in
described uniformly ; and consequently, the
body is virtually under the action of the
centrifugal force uniformly and constantly
acting. Now, let 9 be the space through
which the body falls, and also the length of
the plumb line ; t, the time of falling through
that space ; y, the centrifugal force, and ^,
the space described by a falling body in one
second. Let also d represent the dieviatioii
of the body in the plane of the circle of
latitude, and D the like deflection of the
plummet. Then, by the theorem for nni-
formly-acting forces d^^/gfi; but since t is
the time of falling through 9, fi^ — ; and,
substituting this in the former, we get i^f9*
To find the deflection of the plumb-line,
since forces which are in equilibrium are
proportional to the sides of triangles drawa
in the directions in which they act, we have
1 : / : : * : D. or D=/f. Wherefore D» d,
or the deflection of the plumb-line is equal
to the deflection of the body. This is the
principle employed by Mr. Rundell, in the
paper before referred to, with slight variation,
and, of course, is not strictly accurate, but
suflSciently so for the purpose for which it
is required. WhUe on this part of the snjbfc
ject, we would remark on the formula given
by Professor Cowie, attached to Mr. Run-
dell's paper. From the context, it would
appear that it is intended as an expression
of the southern deflection from the plumb-
line, in terms of the eastern deviation ; buti
in reality, it is the exact symbolical state-
ment of Mr. Rundell 's process for finding
the south deviation from the true perpendi-
cular ; if e be supposed to represent the arc
described by the point from which the body
falls, instead of the eastern deviation. The
note seems to give it this meaning, unless
the terms " eastern deflection from the
plumb-line" and ''eastern deviation" sig-
nify diflerently ; and if this be the case, it
becomes unintelligible. However, that it is
an error so far as respects the original inten-
tion, is clear ; for Mr. Rundell's explanation
and calculation by means of the figures
given, imply the total independence of the
two deviations of each other ; or, in other
words, the eastern deviation is assumed to
be nothing. The result is not sensibly
affected by this ; but there is no advantage
attendant on it, as will be seen by comparing
the following expression, in which the eastern
deflection is involved, with Proiissior Cowis'i.
BBVIATIOK Q¥ VAU.I1M BOD1S3 V&OM THB PERFSNDICULAR.
15
P«tT— bidf tlM time of the earth'a rota-
«k», t the tuM of the body falling, ir»
3-14159, r the earth'e radius, and d the
denatioR (torn, the perpeDdicuIar, then
ii«r sin /coa /
C^^^-'-y)
To calffniate the eastern deflection with per-
faet aeeiuicy woold be Yery laborious i bat
Ibr aauU he^hts, it will be sufficiently near
tba truth to estimate it as equal to the pro- '
dM* of the time of falling by the difference
of the Telocities of the extreme points of the
space &Uea through.
In efamining the effect produced on these
leaolts by taking into account the action of
the air» although we have no data to pro-
eeed with, CTen if the complex nature of its
aetioa did not preclude a very correct va-
hMtion, yet we shall find that they must
beeome greatly changed by it, both in quan-
tiij and UndL The atmosphere reyol?ea
with the earth, and a foreign body, or a
hedy Bol partaking of its rotary motion,
if prcgected into it, must ultimately rotate
UkewiM. But, before acquiring this ulti-
mate reYoWiag motion, its primary motion
cf preieetion will, by friction and resistance,
he gradeally destroyed. It is etident that
the Telocity with which the body will rotate
eunol be the same as that of the air, unless
Ha specifie gravity be the same ; and it will
he leea as the specific gravity and size are
greater. For if a mass of fluid revolve, the
emtrtlegal foroe of any portion must be
equal to the resistance of the next exterior
portion ; and if, instead of this first portion,
1 body of greater weight be substituted while
the Tdedty remains the same, the resistance
ef the external part will be no longer equal
to the centrifugal force, and hence the body
camot revolve with it. But if the velocity
of the body be diminished so that its centri«
fcgal force may be equal to that of an equal
maae of fluid moving with the velocity of
the fluid, it will revolve with it ; and it is
plain that it cannot do so otherwise.
To apply this to our present case, we will
divide the examples into two classes, viz.,
the same body dropped through different
heights, and different bodies through the
M«e height.
Referring to the figure, it is clear, if the
pett ef the body be in vacuo, that if it be
wsiatcd in its tendency towards the earth's
•entre while the projectile force is the same,
it must describe a wider orbit ; and instead
ol taking a course BF, will describe a path
BH, still, however, in the same plane,
Ihas falling in a lower latitude. Now, the
levelvlng air affords such a resistance ; but
the fliat, it oanaea the
body to partake somewhat of its rotation.
Hence, in this case, it will move in a coarse
BM, and will, consequently, fall in a higher
latitude than if acted on by the central
resistance only. But when the original pro-
jectile velocity is diminished by the friction,
&e., to that velocity due to the body revolv-
ing with the air, it will revolve, and the
deviation from the perpendicular must then
have arrived at a maximum, and if measured
by the angle subtended at the earth's centre,
will remain the same through whatever space
it falls after. The eastern deviation will be
affected rather differently ; for as soon as
the projectile Telocity decreases so as to be
equal to that of the point A, it will have
attained its maximum, and then diminish
rapidly ; since, after this, both the central
resistance and the decreasing orbital velocity
tend to reduce it, so that the body, after
falling through a certain height, will not only
lose what it first gained, but also its proper
deviation, that is, the deviatiqn it would
have acquired in vacuo. Any distance
through which it falls after this, must give
a fast-increasing westerly deflection, if a
heavy body fall through but a small height,
it will not be subjected to the full effect of
the air's resistance, on account of an insuf-
ficiency of time ; but if a body of less weight
be used, so that the force of the air may be
more effectiTo, the same action wiU take
place aa Iwfore, though a sbnilarity will npt
be exhibited in the results. Suppose the
body under consideration to be not greatly
different in its specific grarity from air.
The projectile Telocity will eTidently be Tory
soon reduced to the velocity due to its rota-
tion in air; for the force of the air acta
more effectively on it, and the orbital velo-
city has to be diminished less than if it were
a heavy body. A small height will thus
give the maximum deviation from the per-
pendicular ; and hence at a height not greatly
different, this must be less than that of the
plumb-line ; for the deviation of the plomb-
lioe increases as the height, whUe that of the
body, aftbr attaining its msximum, is con-
stant, or at least sensibly so. It must,
consequently, be expected that, with a height
such as a quarter of a mile, or less, a very
light body would exhibit a deflection north
of the plumb-line ; while a consideration of
the eastern deflection will show that we might
not expect this to be Tery different from the
result which would be obtained in Tacuo.
At all events, it cannot diminish so rapidly
as in the case of a heavy body, after obtain-
ing its greatest amount. We are thus ena-
bled to indicate the kind of effects produced
in a series of experimenta with liodies ol
Tariotts weights, sixes, and other qualities
effeetiog Umit resytencea, when dropped
16
TUB COMING COMET. — HISTORICAL NOTICE,
through the same distance. If taken in the
order of their resistances, commencing with
the highest, it wonid probably be found that
several would have the same north deflection,
after which the succeeding ones should de-
crease until those having but small resistance
exhibited south deflection from the plumb-
line, the extreme limit of which must ap-
proximate to that given by Mr. Rundell in
his paper, under the circumstances there
mentioned. The effect on the eastern de-
viation cannot so readily be perceived with-
out a few preliminary experiments. The
variation in this, however, must be much
less than that of the other.
In recapitulating, then, we find that fall-
ing bodies may have either north, south,
east, or west deflection from the plumb-
line ; and that the first two deflections may
be combined with either of the latter two,
and that each may exist separately or not at
all, depending on the circumstances of height
fedlen through, and the weight, size, and
form of the bodies used.
W. Sloogbtt.
Devonport, June 24, 1848.
THB COMING COMET. — HISTORICAL
NOTICBt
g?rom a Lecture upon the Science of Attronomf,
vered by Mr. Henry AUhans, jun., before the
Hackney Literary and Scientific Institution.]
On the 5th day of March, 1556, this
eccentric wanderer was first perceptible in
the sign of Libra. Pursuing its celestial
course with great velocity, it touched the
left wing of the sign Virgo, passed below
the knee of the constellation Bootes, whence
it ascended to the north pole of the ecliptic
(its inclination being 32 degrees 6 minutes)
towards Andromeda, where it lingered, but
receding towards the Northern Fish, it was
there lost. Its perihelion (or nearest point
to the sun) was passed on the 21st day of
April, just two days previous to its final
disappearance. Whilst it remained within
the circle of those tropical stars which never
set, the comet was visible idl night long ;
and throughout its course, the apparent
magnitude of the head was uniformly as
large as Jupiter to the naked eye. Its mo-
tion ran contrariwise to the succession of
the Zodiacal signs, and within the space of
four days, it completed seventy degrees west-
ward, and thirty degrees northward, direct-
ing ito path towards Saturn (then in Aries)
but apparently slackening its speed as it
approached that planet. At first its helio-
centric motion was retrograde — at last
direct. In the intermediate course it was
most swift, despatching fifteen degrees daily.
The nucleus (or body) presented the aspect
of a bright globe of Q^e, equivalent to
a half-moon, but the rays and colours varied
and interchanged like the flickering of a
flame agitated by the wind. The tail was
moderately long and much attenuated ; at
first presenting a martial aspect, but subae-
quently dissolving into a pale and livid com-
plexion : the stream of rays was denser near
the head, and more rarified towards the ex-
tremity of the tul, which at first pointed
eastward, but as the comet mounted to the
north, the train took a southerly direction.
This eccentric member of the solar sys-
tem has been conjectured to be identical
with that mighty comet which startled
Europe in the year 1264, so particularly de-
scribed by Palseologus, Zuinger, Calvlsius,
Matthew Paris, and other chroniclers of the
period. That portentous visitant was first
discernible near the sign Taurus, behind the
planet Venus; and it raged during the
whole summer season, until the 7th day of
October. It was originally observed in the
twilight of the evening, but speedily passing
the sun on the 6th of July, at a rapid rate,
(the place of its perihelion being 21 degrees
of Capricorn,) it re-appeared shortly before
the morning twilight towards the 8th degree
of Cancer, whenee it retrograded very
quickly into Gemini, threading its way be-
tween Canis and Orion, but ultimately
retreating into the latter constellation. Its
movement from east to west was more than
equal to 50 degrees of latitude, and hardly
5 of longitude. The inclination of its para-
bolic orbit to the ecliptic was 36^ degrees ;
and the distance of its perihelion (that of
the earth being 1) was 0*4450. At first it
followed the morning star, but subsequently
preceded that brilliant orb. The train or
tail was very long and broad, resembling a
fan in shape, emerging from the eastern
horizon before the dimmer nucleus, and,
when folly ascended, stretched itself up-
wards, and shooting its rays to the meridian,
the comet occupied in length one-half of
the heavens, presenting a fearful apparition
to the eye of the superstitious spectator.
As it swept along through space, the tail
diminished daily in breadth, but proportion-
ately increased in length and brilliancy.
Contemporary historians relate many terri-
ble calamities as befalling the nations of
Europe during the year 1264 ; among other
strange coincidences, it is related in the
lAM Chronicorttm (printed at Nuremberg,
A.D. 1493,) and confirmed by other writers
in the middle age, that on the occasion of
the first appearance of this biasing star, the
sovereign pontiff, Urban IV., was seized
with an alarming distemper, which confined
his holiness to his apartment daring the
entire period that the comet prevailed ; and
on the very night that the comet disappeared
CAPTAIN spike's METHaD 07 HAlglNO SU19KEK V£6SrELS.
IT
the Pope expired. In 1556, itf appearance
wms accompanied by similar strange snb-
hinarf eTents. The Tictorions emperor,
Charles V., to the amazement of the world,
suddenly resigned the crowns of Germany
and Spain, and betook himself to a monas-
tery, where he shortly died.
It was in a paper read before the Royal
Sodety of London, abont the middle of the
last century (eufe Philoi. TVaiw., vol. xMi.),
that Mr. Dnnthome hasarded the supposi-
tion that these two celestial strangers were
identical — a eonjectnre also coantenanoed
by the eminent French astronomer, M. de
Lalande. This hypothesis has recently found
a sanguine advocate in Mr. J. R. Hind, the
discoTerer of the new aiitroid. Bat its return
during the current year (1 848), although en-
doraed by these high authorities, is yery
problematieal ; for tiie cautious Dr. Halley
has expressly indad^ the comet of 1556
along with fire others concerning whose
elements he was sceptical, as the observa-
tions handed down by Paulus Fabricius and
the older astronomers (which formed the
basis of his computation) were neither made
with good instruments nor mathematical
precision, so that great difficulty was ex-
perienced in harmonizing their conflicting
accounts. Adequate allowance should also
be made for the amount of the disturbing
forces whidi this eccentric traveller may en-
counter through its approximation to other
heavenly bodies in its lengthened journey
through the realms of space. Besides, we
possess exsct details of its path only during
one-fourth of the fifty days it waa last visi-
ble. As for the elements of 1264, founded
upon the Latin manuscript of a Dominican
fiiar preserved in Pembroke-hall, Cam-
bridge, they are open to grave exceptions,
and form but a sandy foundation for the cal-
culating astronomer of the nineteenth cen-
tury.- Is there not also a palpable difference
of several degrees between the elements of
the two ? Considering, therefore, that the
cometary revolutions are subject to extensive
fluctuations, since these frail bodies are so
susceptible of opposite attractions from
powerful ne%hbouring orbs — weighing the
difficulty of proving identity after a lapse
of 292 years— and the laxity of previous
observations ; — above all, reflecting that the
orbita of only three of these singular bodies
are satisfactorily settled, whereas probably
800 appearances are known, and the ele-
ments of neariy 100 recorded; — may we
not reasonably pause, and, with the saga-
cious Halley legitimately doubt, before
yielding assent to a prediction, not wholly
gratuitous, nor placed beyond the range of
possibility, but yet depending too closely on
ooDJectore, though seekiog to ally positive
calculation and observation in its support ?
But, in spite of mathematical discrepancies,
imperfect instruments, and conflicting data,
should the approach of this comet crown
the other wonderful occurrences of this
eventful year, it will afford another astrono-
mical triumph ; as the comet will then have
completed its twentieth revolution round the
sun since the creation of the world.
CAPTAIN spike's MBTBOO OF J&AI8INO
SUNKEN VS88EL8.
Sir,— -I am anxious to make some remarks
upon the subject treated of in your last
number, by your correspondent who signs
himself ''A Landsman." The mode of
raising the vessel by Captain Spike is per-
fectly possible, simply on the supposition
that she had no scupper-holes. In such a
ease, the water outside would not be in free
communication with that within her bul-
warks, and, consequently, the holes alleged
to have been bored would have had the effect
attributed to them. You wiU observe, then,
that I would qualify the statement in your
editorial note, in so far as respects the
assertion that the feat in question could
" never have been accomplished under any
possible state of circumstances."
The question between your correspondent
and his friend is one of fact — " Were there
scuppers or were there not ? " and in default
of positive evidence, I think we shall find
the general appearances to be against the
as8um,ption of " A Landsman."
1st. Very few decked vessels have no
scuppers.
2nd. Especially if deep in the waist.
3rd. The captain leada us to infer that
there were scuppers, else it would have been
unnecessary- to caulk the maln-hatch, or
even to close it. At the same time, it may
be urged that there is no mention of scuppers
at all, as remarked* by your correspondent ;
and that the combinga of the main hatch
were unusudly high for a vessel with great
sheer and scuppers.
And, lastly, had there been scuppers, the
fact of any water running from holes bored
as stated, must have been not real, bat
invented quite gratuitously.
I am, Sir, yours, &c., .
John Macokeoor.
2i, Linooln's-inD-flelds,
June 27, 1848.
[We insert this letter out of respect to
our esteemed correspondent, but eannot say,
that we are at all shaken by it, in our con-
viction of the soundness of the opinion we
have expressed. Scuppers or no scuppers,
there was, at all evenU, a free commu-
nication, thiongh the main-hatchway, be-
18 MA£TBT AND WBBb's PATBNT IMFBOVBMENT& IK DISTILLATXOK.
twem tht water ontiida and inside; and,
we repeat, that at long as that was the case,
there ooeld be but one water-level common
to both.— ETd. M. M.]
CIRCULAR SAWING.
An experiment was, by permission of
the Lords Commissioners of the Admi-
ralty, made at the Saw- mills, Woolwich
Dockyard, on Saturday last, by Mr.
James White, C.E., with the view of
tesdng the efficiency of circular saws in
cutting through the eentre of rough
timber of a diameter nearly equal to that
of the saw itself.
An elm tree — one end of which was of
the full diameter of the saw — was placed
upon one of the circular sawing machines,
having a saw 4 feet diameter, and a
self-feeding motion, in the usual way.
By this motion the tree was brought to-
wards the saw, and passed over it ; and
by a reverse motion, it was run back.
The cot made in the tree, passing
over the saw, was in dead wood all the
way, and fully 20 inches deep. After
^e tree was run back, it was turned
over, and adjusted for a second cut to
line with the firsts and in this position it
was brought forward, as before, and
completely divided in two. ^
The object of this experiment was to
ascertain whether rough timber of a
large size can be cut up in this way, and
the result was quite conclusive in that
respect.
Lord Willoughby de Eresby was pre-
sent, and took much interest in the
•xperiment It is now his lordship's
intention to adopt circular sawing for
cutting up the timber upon his estate,
either in the way described, or by placing
(as suggested by his lordship) one saw
above the other, and dividing the tree at
one cut, to avoid the trouble of turning
tbe tree over.
MALTBT AND WBBb's PATXNT IMPBOVB-
UBNTS IN DISTILLATION.
[Patent dated December 15, 1847. Patentee!,
'William Maltby, of Tredegar-square, and Thomas
Webb, of Mare- street Hackney. Specification en-
loUedJune 15, 1847.]
The improvements described in this spe-
cMoation relate,
Firstly. To the preparation of grain prior
to the employment of it for brewing or
distiUing.
Seeendly. To the additton of tartario or
citrio add to the wort, or other saoohariao
solatioDs.
Thirdly. To the retaining of the prodacts
or gases evolved during the process of fer-
mentation, and causiog them to return into
the solutions, in order to promote the said
process.
Fourthly. To the peculiar oonstmctioa
and arrangement of apparatus, whereby the
distillation is more rapidly and continuously
effected, and the temperature of the alcoho*
lie vapour so regulated, that spirit of almost
any desired strength may he obtained.
When the patentees operate upon bariey,
they submit it to heat until it is deprived of
about 12i per cent, of its weight, taking
cars not to bum the grain ; they then grind
it» add, when cold, 8 per eent. of its original
^weight* of malt, and continue the brewing
process after the usual manner. Next they
mash it in a mash tun for half-an-hour, and
. mix with it 4 lbs. of soda of eommerce die*
solved in water to every one quarter of barley
which has undergone the preceding proceaa,
(should it not have undergone that processt
3ilb8. of soda will be suflScient.) When
the temperature of the wash has sunk to 80**
Fah., yeast is added, to produce fermenta*
tioD, the fermenting back is closed, tho
refrigerator half filled with water, adding
soda thereto, and the fermenting liquor
stirred, by means of an agitator, every Aw9
or six hours, until its specific gravity ia
equal to or less than water. The patenteea
then mix with the wort or solution oateehUf
concentrated sulphuric add, or other add,
in Buffident quantity to neutralise the soda*
The wort, or wash, is now ready for use.
Instead of adding the soda as hticm
stated, a portion of the water in the rsfrigo-
rator may be used, provided that it containa
the requisite quantity of soda.
When sugar is employed for the purpose
of distilling spirit therefrom, a 100 lbs. of
sugar are mixed with 100 gallons of water,
adding 2 per oent. of yeast to cause fermeq«
tation, and then soda, or carbonate of lioso,
and aifterwards catechu, coneentimtcd anl*
phuric add, or acetate of lead, in sufficieak
quantity to neutralize the soda or oarboanto
of lime.
When molssses are employed, the smo
methods as in the preceding ease are adopted
When it is desired to obtain a very fine b«t
peculiar spirit, the patentees add fib. of
tartaric or dtric add (or the parts of thooe
fruits which contain them), to every 1 ewt. of
saccharine matter contained in the solutiottt
and omit the use of soda or carbonate of
lime.
Hie apparatns referred to under the tUrd
head consists of a fermenting back, throngfa
the centre of whidi passes a hoiiiOBtol
BUNH AND ELLIOTT 8 MA.CHINB FOR TISTINO CHAIR CABLES.
19
Mtt fumiflbed oa tlie outride 'with a handle
for communicating motion. On the ihafti
and inaide the fermenting back, are fai-
teoed two fans, so that the one shall be in
the same right line as, and a contiauation of
the other. These fans are divided into cells
by a number of ribs attached to those two
4tf their four surfaces which come in contact
with, and do not recede from, the liquor.
lo or near to the centres of every other one
of these cells, is a hole for the purpose of
aBowiog the pasaage of the carbonic acid
gaa. Commnnication is established between
those cells which have holes and those which
hiTB not by means of channels in the ribs.
Above, and on one side of the fermenting
back, is placed the refrigerator, in which is a
worm or a coil of pipes communicating with
the back. Communication is establifthed be-
tween the refrigerator and the mash tun,
and also between the latter and the ferment-
h^ back.^'
The apparatus for distilling by means of
afeeom or'hot water, consists of the body of
an ordinary still of either wood or metal,
in which are placed shelves one above, and
cquidiatant from each other. Upon the top
iurfsce of each shelf is formed a chan-
nel, open at top, of a convolute form, in
which is placed a worm. The channels and
worms on each shelf communicate one with
the other. The wash which enters the still
at top, ctrcnlatea through the ehannels on
eaeh shelf suecessiyely, and in so doing
comes in contact with the exterior surfaces
of the worm, in which circulates steam (ad-
■utted at the bottom of the still) whereby
It is heated, and the alcoholic vapour dis-
ongagod. In the head of the still is a
worm, through which flows a stream of cold
water, to be regulated at pleasure ; and be-
tween the body and head of the still is a
perforated plate for the purpose of spread-
ing the alcoholic vapour which, passing up-
wards and round about the worm, becomes
by its oontact therewith, cooled. The alco-
holic Taponr then passes into a receiver,
snd aubaequently through other refrigerators
to be pn^perly condensed. - The patentee^
itala, that by these means for regulating the
temperature of the alcoholic vapour, they
U% enabted to obtain spirits of almost any
itQ^red strengdi.
The patentees describe further, an ar-
for ^iplying the used steam and
i wash to the heating of the wash pre-
vious to its entry into the still, and also in
apparatus for straining it in its passaga
thereto.
• Altheiigb neither the object of this amtnge-
meot ef apparatut ner the mode of working It
la 4eterlbed ta the apeeification, it i« preaumed
flMi,t the cartKmie add gaa ia to be eauaed to eacape
(bmugfa the werm into the atmosphere, while any
akobolic vapour which might aocompany the gaa
would become condensed In the worm, and so
letttm Into the baeltin a fluid state.
DUNN ANO KLLIOTT'S MACHINE FOR
TESTING CHAIN CAnLES.
Messrs. Dunn and Elliott, of the Wind-
sor-bridge Iron- works, Manchester, have
lately invented a machine for testing chain
cables, whioh is distinguished by great rim-
plicity in its arrangement, and by whioh
some important objects are more completely
attained than by any previous invention.
The machine has been made tor Measrs.
Hingley and Sons, of the Cradley Chain*
works, Worcestershire, and of Salthonse
Dock, Liverpool. Hitherto those gentle-
men, and other chain-cable manufacturers,
have not possessed on the spot a sufficiently
powerful testing machine ; and if their
cables broke when tested at Liverpool, they
Buffered all the cost of the carriage of tb«
cables thither, and the expense of repair.
This disadvantage is now obviated, and a
perfect test of each chain will be made
where the article is manufactured. Messrs.
Dunn and Elliott's machine was tried at
their works (the Windsor-bridge Iron-works)
previously to its being sent to its destinatioa,
in the j^sence of Mr.. Fothergill, of the
firm or Roberts, Fothe|-gill, and Dobinson ;
Mr. W. Maybum,. of the Ardwick Iron-
works; Mr. Barlow, consulting engineer;
Mr. Booth, manager of Messrs. Whitworth
and Co.'s works ; and other engineers and
machine makers. The opinion of theee
gentlemen was highly favourable to its me-
rits. The machine in question eonsists of a
horizontal iron cylinder, 6 feet long, in which
works a piston. At the end of the cylinder,
and isontinuing in the same right line, is an
iron trough, or pipe, which may be length-
ened or contracted at pleasure. At the end
of this trough are a p^r of iron claws, to
which one end of the chain to be tested is
fhstened ; the other end of the ehain is flu-
tened to the end of the piston-rod, by simi-
lar claws. The chain being thus fixed, is
tested in the following manner :— Water is
forced by a double hydraulic pump into tke
eytinder, between the bottom of the piston
and the water-tight end of the cylinder nest
to the trough, which, of course, forces the
piston to descend the cylinder, stretching
and severely testing the chain, one end of
which is attached to the piston-rod. The
advantage of testing the chain by means of a
hydraulic pump, over any other means of
testing hitherto adopted, is, that a more
gradual and constant increase of pres-
sure is obtained ; and that, on acoeunt of
the slightoat etasticity of water, there fi
20
THE WOOD PAVING PATENTS,
not the severe rebound whicl), on dfcher
arrangements, takes place when a heavy chain
is broken at a very high preuure, and which
ia Bon^etimes attended with aerioua injnry to
the testing machinery, and with dangerous
accidents to the bystanders. The trough
by which the chain is being tested is shut in,
which is a further precaution against acci-
dent. The adaptation of the hydrauUc press
to the purpose in question was not, howoTer,
a novelty. The peculiar advantage of the
new machine is the combination of the
hydraulic press with a simple and effectual
contrivance for accurately registering the
pressure exerted upon the chain, which we
■hall now describe. At the end of the
cylinder, next the trough, and in its upper
surface, is fixed a brass ram, working in a
water-tight stuffing-box, and having its
upper end connected with a scalebeam. The
■calebeam, of course, rests on a support
fixed upon the machine. When, therefore,
the water is forced into the cylinder, the
ram, it is clear, must be driven upwards,
lifting the scalebeam with it ; and, by fixing
different weights upon this, or sliding the
same weight nearer or further from the ful-
crum of the beam, as on a steelyard, the
intensity of the pressure can be accurately
measured. The gradual increase of weight
arising from sliding the weight along the
beam, combined with the gradually increas-
ing pressure from the hydraulic press, gives,
it will be at once seen, a total freedom from
jerking, or from sudden straining in the
testing. In order to get rid of the necessity
of entering into minute calculations, as to
the effect of the weight of the scalebeam, or
the friction of the ram in the stuffing-box,
the scalebeam is lengthened beyond the
pivot, its two limbs beSig made to balance ;
and upon the limb on which the ram does
not act, and upon which the testing weight
or weights are not placed, a small weight
equal to this friction is placed. In the
cable-testing machines to which the hydrau-
Uc pressure has hitherto been applied, the
lever for measuring the pressure has been
annexed to the pnmp ; and consequently one
most important element in the calculation,
the frictbn of the water in the pipe from
the pump to the cylinder, and in the cylin-
der itself, has been totally omitted, or, at all
events, has not been measured with the
slightest approach to accuracy. The weight
of the whole machine, not including the
trough, is about 3 tons, its width about 5
feet; the length, of course, is variable, de-
pending upon the length of the chain which
is being tested. It is capable of testing
with any pressure, from ^ cwt. to 100 tons ;
its cost is only about 200/. The corporation
machine at Uverpool, whose testing power
does not exceed that of Messrs. Dunn and
Elliott's machine, cost 1000/., and is about
six times the weight and three times the
bulk of the machine we have been de-
scribing.
The above machine has been proved at
the Cradley Chain-works. A chain cable,
30 yards long, made from 1^ rounds of the
regular quality of cable fron, by S. Even
and Sons, bore the extraordinary weight of
78 tons, being 28 tons above the regular
proof reqmred at Lloyd's, and stretched
4 feet in length before it could be broken,
the power of the machine literally dragging
the iron asunder.^^trmtii^AMi /ommai.
THB WOOD PATINO FATSNTB.
Court of QueeH*9 BaicA.— June 26, 1848.
(Before Mr. Justice Wigtatman.)
Huhi and Others v. B$daU and 0<A«r«.— This was
an action brought for an inflringement of a patent
for wood pavement, and breach of covenant. It
appeared tbat several patents had been purchased
by the plaintlfis to secure to themselves the right
of using wooden blocks for the purpose of pave-
ment. It f^irther nppeared that in the specification
of one of these (Parkyn's) it was stated that the
fibres of the wood should lie at an angle of from
about 45 10 70 degrees. The defendants had
taken a license from the plaintifb to use Par-
kyn's inventi6n, but they had deviated from it ao
far as to lay the blocks (at Cornhllland Chalk Farm)
at 73 degrees of inclination. The plaintiffs now
claimed at the rate of Gd. per sqnare yard,— 50/. Is.
This demand was resisted, on the ground that
what they had done did not come within the deed
of license, which stated the limits to be between
45 and 70 degrees.
The learned judge said, that as the agreement
was that the wood pavement, for which the de-
fendants were to pay, distinctly stated that the io-
clination of the fibre should range between 45 and
70 degrees, boHi parties were bound by that agree-
ment.
The Jury, therefore, under the direction of
the learned Judge, returned a verdict for the
defendants.
The Jury stated, however, that they conaldered
the principle to be the a
Note,-~Tht patent of Mr. Parkyn formed the
subject of a former Judicial investigation, the
result of which was equally unfayourable for Ita
proprietors.— See report of Parkyn «. Harrison,
keck. Mag., vol. xxxii., p. S53. The Vlee-Chaaeel-
lor in that caae decided againat the patent, because
the words " l^om about 45 to 70 degrees " were not
sufflciedtly definite; while the patent on which the
then defendent relied (that of Count de Lisle) wbs
good, because he bound himself to the precise angle
of 630, 26', 5"'8. A coroespondent (same vol., p.
741.) observed on this that the pracUeal eflbet of
that decision would be to upset both patenta ;
for if the one was Ugallj/ bad for its indeflnlteoesa,
and the other only legally good because It is ao
wonderfully precise, then it must be open to all the
world to use other angles as near to the speeifled
angleiAs might be, as long as they were not identical
with it ; "for angles of fiye degrees on either sUe
of the patented one will make pavements Just aa
good as it will." The view taken by our correspon-
dent Is strikingly confirmed by the result of the
present trial.— £d. M. M.
NOTES AND NOTICES.
21
VOTES AHT) XOTICER.
Magneto-Plating. — In our last number \sc stated
tfaat magneto-plating wai the invention of the *' late
Ut. Woolrich," of Birmingham. We finA that we
were in error in thla respect, and that his son, Mr.
John Stephen Woolrich, was the real inventor and
patentee— 4he same gentleman of whom we spoke
as now carrying on the invention. The late Mr.
Woolrich was prohahly the first person who depo-
sited metals for any practical purpose by means of
the gBlvanic battery ; hut the magneto process was
entirely his son's own invention.
Spanimmeeut Combiution. — The American papers
mention the loss by fire, occasioned by spontaneous
combostion, of the brig Canningt at Port Famine.
She was laden with nitrate of soda. The layers of
bags which contained the soda, on being reached by
the fire, exploded in succession, with reports
Tesembling the discharge of artillery.
New Screw Cutting Machine.^ A plan of cutting
iron screws is stated to have been invented by P. Vf.
Gates, Esq., of Chicago, Illinois, by which the power
of one man will cut per day, 700 half-inch, 500 three-
Sarter inch« -lOO one inch, and 300 one and a half
:h bolts. The advantages claimed for this plan
over the common die, are its despatch in doing
work ; its durability, having cut over 4000 bolts
with one die, without any repairs ; instead of Jam-
miug or driving the thread into shape it cuts it out,
the same as in a lathe, leaving the thread of solid
iron, which cannot be stripped off* as is usual with
those eat by the common die, and it will do the
work by once passing along the bolt, making the
thread perfect. The die, it is said, can be made by
ordinary workmen, with far less expense than the
common die, and when made, is not at all liable
to get ont of repair.
The Inventor of the Tmbvlar Bridges.— A contro-
versy has sprang up as to the respective claims of
Mr. Fairbaim and Mr. Robert Stephenson to the
high bonoor of having first originated the idea of
the tabular bridges. Mr. Bateman has appeared as
the warm partisan of Mr. Fairbaim, and insists
that Mr. Robert Stephenson played only second
fiddle to him. Mr. Stephenson thus vindicates his
own claims in reply :— " My attention having been
drawn to a letter from Mr. Bateman on the subject
of the tabular bridges at Conway and the Menai
Straits, of which the merit is, without scruple, arro-
gated to Mr. Fairbaim, I beg to annex an extract
firom a letter to me from the latter gentleman,
dated the 27th of October, 1846:— 'I am much
obliged by voor letter of yesterday, and especially
that part of it which relates to the original idea of
the bridge. / am sure it was nours in every respect ;
but there is nothing new, or likely to turn out valu-
able, but there immediately start up a hundred
claimaats. We are all subject to this mental en-
croachment; but in your case everything is now
clear. At all events, you may rest assured of my
best eiforts in supporting the claim to which you
are so Justly entitled.' This extract shows suffl-
eiently Mr. Fairbaim's feeling at the time when his
letter was written, which was sabsequent to the
passing of the Act; and I will only add to it, that I
have never attempted in any way to detract from
the merits of anv party connected with the work,
but have always freely acknowledged the valuable
assistance which has been afforded to me during its
Srogress by Mr. Fairbaim, Mr. Hodgkinson, and
It. Clark ; but that Mr. Fairbaim devised, or had
charge of the entire construction, is simply a mis-
statement of lacts. He, in common with the other
two gentlemen namM, aided me by his advice, and
I acted upon it, or otherwise, as 1 thought proper.
The company looked to me as alone responsible ;
and in my discretion every other party who has
been concerned in the progress of these bridges was
ennged.— RoBT. Stephenson."
Pension to Mr. /. P. Adams.'^A pension of £200
per annum has been most deservedly conferred by
Goveraroent on Mr. Adami, the English difcoverer
of the planet Neptune,
GuUa PiTcAtf.— The trade in this article se»m9 to
be advancing in importance every day, and to be
engrossing the attention of the natives of the Indian
Archipelago, to the exclusion of other pursuits.
The quantity imported into Singapore in the first
four months of this year, accor<iing to the ofhclal
reports, was upwards of 700 piculs, equal to 82u
cwts., which is, however, short of the actual supply.
The price had risen from 12 dollars to 20 dollars.
It is said that the American I^ngat Tin Company
have secured the monopoly of the gutta of the
Salangore territory for two yearf>, for the sum of
30,000 dollars.
Public Pastenger Time-Slgnal for Railway Sta-
tions. — A great want has long been felt for some
certain and etfectlve means of informing or warning
the public of the approaching departure of passen-
ger trains. Bells rung within or near the station
cannot ensure this purpose, the sound being easily •
stifled, and apt to bo regarded, besides, as a
nuisance. Clocks are still more useless, as they
are visible only at short distances, even where they
can be placed in conspicuous positions. The re-
Suisite machine, we are happy to say, has now been
evised and brought into huccessful operation. It
consists simply of a lofty pillar, with a moveable
ball, which drops, within a limited space of time,
from the top to the bottom, and, as it descends,
indicates exactly the time which is to elapse before
the train sets on. Being a most conspicuous object,
it is distinguished at a considerable distance by
intending passengers, who are thereby saved all
unnecessary hurry and excitement in making their
way to the station. The North British Company
have erected one of these signals at the Portobello
Station ; and we understand that it has proved a
great comfort and relief to the inhabitants. Every
station of any importance ought to be provided with
a similar apparatus, the cost of which is inslgniti-
cant, considering its real and constant utility, ond
the prevention of annoyance, both to the company's
servants and the public, which it secures. We are
sure that the least of the inventor's objects is the
mere pecuniary profit which may accrue from this
ingenious instrument, and we have therefore the
less hesitation in calling the attention of railway
managers to its undoubted merit and usefulness.-^
Scottish Railway Gazette.
An Brpantible Currency. — One dollar bills of the
New Haven County Bank, U. S., are issued, com-
posed of paper made of India-rubber. This is the
most expansible kind of paper currency known,
and is admirably adapted to such banking institu-
tions as desire to "stretch their credit.**— ^«ericflf»
Paper.
The Carpet Mannfactute in America.— -Th^ most
extensive manufactories in the United States are at
Thompsonvillc; they use 10,000,000 lbs. of wool,
and 10,000 lbs. of flax yarn per annum. They
manufacture three-ply Brussels and, Axminster
carpeting of the richest patterns, the weaving being
mostly done at present on hand lounis, they are,
however, about mtroduciog pOwer looms into this
factory for weaving rugs and Axminster carpets.
The wool for Axminster carpetin;; is first woven in
a web, and afterwards cut in stiips forming what
is called chenniele card ; this is done upon a ma-
chine invented by Messrs. Davidson and Parks, of
Springfield, Vermont, which is the first and only
one of the kind in the United States, and has more
than paid for itself in six months. This machine
has over 200 cutters, or knives, \\hi?h are attached
to a cylincJcr, making some 300 revolutions, and
cutting full two yards of the veb per minute into
strips, which beinR parsed over a grooved cylinder
heated by having hot irons insertt d within it, it is
prepared for weaving. Besiucs the large carpet
establishment, there is in this village a factory 160
by 43 feet on the group, and five stories high, for
the manufacture of knit shirts, drawers, and fancy
ginghams, this establishment h.ns about 30 sets of
wool cards, and 25 or 30 gingham loomf, ^~ScientiJlG
American,
M
ADVSRTI8BMSKT8.
Softening Iwrg.^** Can jron inform me of any me
tnod or softening iyoryr There irai a persoo in
ShelBeld, about twenty years ago, who discoTered
a method of rendering ivory sutBciently soft to
take any impression; but whether be ever pa-
tented It or not, or whether it was ever published,
I eannot tell. He is now dead, and the process
anpears to have died with hhn. It has been
•Uted in the FamUp Herald, * that dilute nitric
aeid has the property of softening ivory;* but I
think this is a mistake. I have tried it in various
ways, but can make nothbg of it If you ootild
put me in the right way, 1 should feel extremely
obliged.— Y. X., Sheftield."— Ivoiy may be w-
tened by any caustic alkali, but not so as to be of
any use afterwards. To soften is. in Itet, to
decompose and destroy it. According to all past
Imowledge and experience, it does not admu of
being either moulded or embossed, like horn aad
tortoise-shell; and we very much doubt, thero-
fore, the correctness of our correspondent's story
about the man in Sheffield and his lost secret.
WSBKLT LIST OF NBW BNOLISH PATBNT8.
Deane Samuel Walker, of London-bridge, mer-
chant, for improvements in the manufacture of
band or straps for hats, caps, shoes, and stocks.
Jane 24 ; six months.
Henry Archer, of Shaftesbury-crescent, Plmllco,
Middlesex, gentleman, for improvements In matches
and in the production of ll^t, and in the apparatus
to be used therewith. June 24; six months.
William Hunt, of Dodderhill, Worcester, chemist,
for improvements in obtaining certain metals ftom
certain compounds containing these metals, and in
obtaining other products by the use of certain
compounds containing metals. June 24 ; six
months.
Richard Clark, of the Strand, Westminster, lamp
manufacturer, for certain improvmnents in gaa-
burners, and in candle-lamps and other lamps.
June 26; six months. «r^
Frederick William Mowbray, of Leicestar, papor
dealer, for improvements In the mannfafture of
looped fabrics. June 27; six months.
John Macintosh, of Glasgow, gentleman, for im-
provements in obtaining motive power. Jiuie 2i;
six months.
Joseph Skercthley, of Anstey, Leicestershire, gen-
tleman, for improvements in bricks and in the
manufacture of tobacco-pipes and other liJu MtlciM.
June SO; sixmoniha.
WBBKLY LIST OF DI8IOK8 FOE A&TIOLSS OF VTILITT RBOI8TBEBD.
Date of No. in
Reglstra- the Ra-
tion, gister.
June 22 1478
2S 1470
» 1480
its 1481
Proprietors' Names. Addresses. Subjects of DetlgDl.
Thomas Lopling Bishop Wearmoutb, Durham.... Mangle.
John Peterson, Cheapside Waist belt.
Woods and Thomas .... Cheapside «... Rotary postage stamp
gum ticket damper.
Frederick Harris Wood -street «...>•« Ticket pin.
aUberttsseuuntiESe
BIECHANZCS' MAGASONE.
On the 1st July, Vol. XLVIH., complete, price, cloth and lettered. 7#.
" The MECHANICS' MAGAZINE has conferred lasting advantages on the Manufactures of the i
ixy.**^R0pariof Select Committee of the House of Commons on the ArU of Design.
MECHANICS' MAGAZINE, PATENT AND DESIGNS REGISTRATION OFFICE, IM, Fleet-ttreet.
To Mathematical Inatmment Makers^ ClockmakerSf Are.
"POR SALE.— A very Superior CLOCK-CUTTING ENGINE. BuiUble for Cutting Turrett Clock- wheels,
•^ with Parallel Motion for Cutter Frame. The Plate is H inches diameter, with 16 numbers divided
on it. It is accurately cut on the outer edge to the number of 400; it is also corrected by a laborious
method, and has a most accurate Tangent-screw, with an apparatus that can be readily set to cut asf
number of teeth below 400. The number on the outer edge of the Plate and Tangent-screw are ssfl-
ciently accurate to diiide Circles, auadrauts, or such instruments.
The above Instrument, in consequence of the owner haviu}; no farther use for it, will be sold a Baiyaln,
and may be seen on application to Mr. James Wood, 101, Mitchell-street.
Glasgow, June 28, 1848.
To engineers and Boiler-Makers.
T\AP. WELDED IRON TUBES, FOR MARINE A?iD LOCOMOTIVE STEAM-BOILERS, Tubes
for Steam, Gp.9. and other purposes:— all sirts of Gas Fittings. The Birmingham Patent Iron
Tube Conopany, 42. (*a nbrid;^e-street, Birmini^dam, and Snitthwicn, Staffordshire, manotaeture Bollen
and Ga« Tubes, under an exclusive License from Mr. Riciiard Prosser, the Patentee.
These Tubes are extensively used In the Boilers of ^farinc and Locomotive Steam Engines in
England and on the Continent;— .ire Stronger, Lighter, Cheaper, and more Durable tban Brass or
Cepper Tubes, and are warranted not to open in the weld.
42, CAMOlllDGE-STRBET, CRESCENT, BIRMINGHAM.
Works— Smeth wick, BtafTordshire.
LONDON WAREHOUSE— Ne. 68, UPPER THAMES-STREET.
ABVSRTMSMSNTfl. 2S
CniTTA PBRCHA COMPAXnrS WORKS«
WHARF ROAD, CITY ROAD,
London, Ut Jpril, 1848.
PpHS OUTTA PERCH A COMPANY have freat pleasure !n stating that the steadOy increasing demand
* for tha Patsht Gvtta Pxbcha Dkitiko Bands justifies the utmost confidence that they are ftiUy
^Tliair doabOl^ and stTength— permanent contractility and uniformity of suhstance— their non-suseep-
tAIUty of Inimj from eontact with Oils, Grease, Acids, Alkalies, or Water— and the facility with which the
•tnfle joint required can be made in Bands of any length— render them supeiior for almost all working
ipm i u oos, and doeidedly economical.
GouiORa, TuBim of all sizes, Bouoxxs, Catbet£K8,Steths8copss, and other Surgical Instruments;
llo«u>nie« roK Picnnut FnAMBs and other decorative purposes; Whips, Thovos; Tsxwxs, Qohr, and
Cftxous Bai.!*, ftc.| in great Taritty.
Pfttent Gutta Percha Shoe Soles.
The applicability of Gntta Percha Soles for Boots and Shoes having been extensively and satisfutorily
tssced, we ean nnhesiutingly recommend the material prepared for this purpose, its meriU having been
aekaowledgod by all who have tried it. Indeed, experience has proved that Gutta Percha Soles wear twice
as long aa leather, with great additional personal comfort; and they remain perfectly impervious to wet
OBtfl quit* worn through.
Boot and Shoe Soles for Sununer "Wear*
TtM flwt of the total imperviousness of these Soles to water, enables the most delicate, by the use of
then, to osd^io the suffering which the proverbial uncertidnty of our climate, zvxw is Sdmhsr, so often
inileta upon the incautious, and this effect may be secxired by a Sole so thin and light, as to afford to the
wearer a degree of ease and comfort hitherto unattainable, in conjunction with security against damp.
Atiketawu Ifoitf, the remarkable non-conducting propertiee of Guita Percha afford a moet tfAtuable pr<y
teeUam fo f4«M who are eubjected to suffering or ineonveuience by walking upon heated pavemenie.
The qoestioD of the durability of Gutta Percha Soles, as compared with Leather, has long since been
deefded in fovour of the former; and no Instance of failure has yet cone to tne kno^r-
ledffe of tli« Compaaar which laaj not be aacrihed to a neslect of their printed
Testimonials relatinp; to Shoe Soles.
" or an the ditooTeries and inventions which have hitherto been brought Into notice for the purpose of
preaerring the feet from damp, nothing Is comparable, either in cheapness or efficiency, to Gutta PeKha.
Gaidenon eepeeially, whose daily occupations occasion them to be much in the open air, and working or
standing on wet ground, will find this pliable and simple substance of infinite value. The natural caution
which one usually feels with respect to new things, especially when they come very highly recommended,
prevented us from listening with much attention to what we regarded as pretended excellencies. We were,
ikowever. Induced to make the trial of a pair of ' Gutta Percha Soles,' and after the experiment of betwixt
two and tliree months of daily wear, we think it right, for the sake of others, to say the Gutta Percha Soles
•re, fbr dryncas and warmness to the feet, incomparable to anything we have ever tried. In point of dura-
bility, it is equal, and, we think, euperior to leather."— Gardenerf* and Farmers' Journal, February 12,
(Copy.) — — Lowndes-street, 12tb November, 1847.
Mt dsak Sra, — I have for some time worn the Gutta Percha Soles, and am very happy to bear testi-
mony to the admirable qualities of this substance for the purpose of Shoo-making, for it Is not only very
durable, but perfectly impervious to wet.
The Gutta Pereka, I find, possesses profvrties which render it invaluable for winter shoes. Jt is, cont-
pared mitk Leather, a slaw conductor of heat ; the effect of this is, that the warmth of the feet is retained,
however cold the surface may be on which the person stands, and that clammy dampness, so objectionable
In the wear of India Rubber shoes, is entirely prevented. On fir^t using Gutta Percha shoes, the wearer
ia forcibly struck with the superior warmth and comfort which is produced by this non-conduotiug property,
and I confidently predict that all those who try Gutta Percha will be steady rustomers.— I am, my dear
flir, very truly yours, JAMES C. CUMMING, M.D.
To C. Haneook, Bsq., the Gotta Peroha Company. •
GxxTX.XMSir, — I have given the Gutta Percha Boot Soles what may be considered a fair trial ; namely,
three months' constant wear on a rough gravelly road, and can bear testimony to its usefulness : vt/A proper
cmre inputting them on, and a little attention afterwards, I am persuaded it will last longer than leather,
and, being impervious to wet, will be found invaluable to persons subject to damp er cold feet. W. DIAR,
Korember 4th, 1847. Principal Officer U. M. Customs, Whitstabie.
{Copy.) Manchester, 1st Karch, 1844.
8ia,— In the month of August last I began to wear a pair of GutlaPercba Boles, put on by my father,
who is a ahoemaker. No. Id, Port-street, and have worn them every day since, being upwards of six
months, and 1 am certain that, if the upper leathers were not worn out, the soles would wear a month
longer. They have out* worn three pairs of heels, which had strong iron nails beat in.— Yours, &c.,
(Signed) ALFRED LAMB,
Porter at Findlater and Mackie's, Exchange Arcade, Manchester.
To Mr. Henry Statham, 11, Corporation- street.
(Copy.) Manchester, 8th March, 1848.
Sia,— It is with pleasure that I bear testimony to the good qualities of Guila Percha Soles. You are
aware that my occupation requires me to be on foot a great deal upon all kinds of roads and in all weathers
and ftinee I l>egan to iftcar Gutta Percha Soles, I have n'^t had to complain of wet oi cold feet : the pnir I
have on now have been in almost daily use for more than lour months, and try fear i& that the upper
leathers will be worn out first. 1 am quite sure that I save trom thirt> to fifty per cent, in the cost of
•hoet, in consequence of my family wearing Gutta Percha Soics, and, so long as 1 can get them, I intend to
woar them in prafereneo to anything ehe 1 have seen.— Yours respoetfuliy, THOMAS WHITEHEAD.
To Mi. Henry Statham, 11, CorporaUoa- street. Oaa Office, Town Hall, King-street.
24
JkOT^RTMBMBNITB.
To Iii^«tttor« Mid Patentees. ,
MESSRS. ROBERTSON & CO.,
PATENT SOLICITORS,
(Of Which am Mr. J.. C. ROBERTSON, the
EniTOR of the Mbchanics* Magazikb from Its
commencement in 1823, is principal parlner,)
utt 0''*^^ procuration of Patents
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CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER.
On Breakwaters Composed of VertlcarPloats.
By Llentenant-Colonel Yule, R.E.— (iwtt
engravittgM) ** 1
Mathematical Periodicals. By Thomas Wil-
kinson, Esq.- (conW»««d) 5
Mr. Marrat and Sir Joseph Banks ^ i»
Description of Rishton's Improved Vinery
'Bnme-^Vfiih engraving*) «...«.... 8
On the Effect of Superincumbent Pressure as
Regards the Question whether Sea Walls
should be Sloping or Vertical. By Hugh
M*Cormac, Esq., M.D 9
Notes on the Theory of Algebraic Equations.
By James Cockle, Esq., M.A., Barrlster-at-
law— (co»««««f) '
The Wave Principle in Shipbuilding.— Lecture
by Mr. Scott RusseU
Description of Messrs. Groves and Son's Double
File-handle— (icKA «»^ffp<n^*) 1*
Description of Dodds's RaU-straightenlng Ma-
chine— (iwM engravings) ..w
On the Deviation of Falling Bodies lh>m the
Perpendicular. By W. Sloggett, Esq
The Coming Comet.— Historical Notice. By
Mr. Henry Althans
Capttfn Spike's Method of Raising Sunken
Vessels. By John Macgregor, Esq....^......
Experiment in Circular Sawing.^ By Jamea
White, Esq., C.E
Maltby and Webb's Patent Improvements in
Distillation
Messrs. Dunn and Elliott's Machine for Test-
ing Chain Cables...
The Wood Paving Patents.— Hulse and Others
V. Esdale and Others 20
Magneto-Plating— Spontaneous Combustion-
New Screw Cutting Machine— The Inventor
of the Tubular Bridges— Pension to Mr. J.
P Adsms— Guttapercha— Public Passenger
Time-signal for Railway Stat Ions— An Exan-
slble Currency- The Carpet Manufacture in
America **
. Softening Ivory *2
Weekly List of New EnglUh Patents 22
Weekly List of New Articles of Utility Regis-
tered - '- **
Advertisements 622
10
11
12
IS
17
19
LONDON: Edited, Printed, and Published, by
Joseph Clintoj» Robertson, of No. 166, Fleet-
street, In the City of London.— Sold by A. and
Yf. Gallgnanl, Rue Vlvlenne, Paris; Machin and
Go. Dublin ; W. C. Campbell and Co., Hamburgh.
MUSEUM, REGISTER, JOURNAL, ANI>GAZETTE.
No. 1300.] SATURDAY JULY 8, 1848. [Price 3d,, Stamped, id.
SdUcd bf J. C. Robtrt<oB. 116, nect-ttr«et.
THE MODEL PRISON SYSTEM OF VENTILATION AND WARMING.
Pig. 5.
VOL. XLIX.
26
WISC&IPTIOK or THE 8T8TBM OF YBNTILATIOK AND WA&lf INO ADOPTBD AT TBS MOOBlf
PRI80K, PKNTONYILLB.
[From Repqrt nf LieutonAnt-Colonel Jebb, R. E., Sorvayor General of Prisoni.]
Ventilation,
'^ Thb TentilatioQ of a cell cannot fail to
have a direct inflaence on the health of a
prisoner, and it is therefore one of the most
important objects connected with the con-
straction of prisons.
The necessity of resorting to an artificial
system for a regalar supply of fresh air at
all times and seasons will be apparent when
it is considered that, in order to prevent
oommnnlcation between prisoners in adjoin-
ing cells, it is necessary that the windows
should be fixtures, and the doors generally
closed.
The main objects to be attained may be
thus stated :
1st. The withdrawal of a stated quantity
of foul air from each cell.
2nd. The supply of an equal quantity of
fresh air into each cell without subjecting
the occupier to the prejudicial effect of a
draught.
3rd. The means of warming the fresh air
when necessary, without injuring its quali-
ties or affecting its hygrometrical condition.
4th. That no additional facilities for the
transmission of sound should be afforded by
the air-channels or flues.
The general disposition of the flues and
apparatus for effecting the several objects
proposed will be best understood by referring
to the accompanying figures.
An appartttos for warming the air, when
required, is generally placed in the centre of
the basement story. This apparatus con-
sists of a case or boiler, to which a propor-
tion of pipes, adapted for the circulation of
hot water, are attached. In connection
with it there is a large flue open to the
external atmosphere.
The fresh air introduced through this
opening, after passing over the surface of
the boiler, turns right and left along a main
flue, CD, which runs horizontally under the
floor of the corridor, and from thence passes
upwards through small flues. A, B, C, pre-
serred in the corridor wall, which terminate
respectiTely in a grating placed close under
the arched ceiling of each cell on the three
stories (see figs. 2, 3, and 5.)
A current of air may thus be introduced
from the exterior into each cell ; and it is
obvious that it may be warmed or left at its
natural temperature, as circumstances re-
quire.
This channel for the introduction of fresh
air would, however, be of little avail in fur-
nishing the supply required, unless corre-
spondiag arrangements were made forextract*
ing the foul air from the cells, which, under
ordinary circumstances, is the first move-
ment that will take place. The disposition
of the flues and shaft for this purpose will
be noticed in the figures.
A grating is placed close to the floor of
each cell, on the side next the outer wall,
and diagonally opposite to the point where
the firesh air is introduced (see D, E, figs. 1*
and 4.) This grating covers a flue in the
outer wall, opening at its upper extremity
into a horizontal foul- air flue in the roof,
which communicates with a vertical shaft
raised 20 or 25 feet above the ridge.
It will thus be seen that a communicatioii
is established first from the outer air through
the warming apparatus to the top of each ^
cell, and thence from the floor of each cell
upwards through the extracting flues and
ventilating shaft into the outer air again.
By this arrangement the total lengths of
each pair of flues respectively made use of
for extracting foul air from the cells, and
introducing fresh air into them, are rendered
nearly equal on all the stories— thus pro-
moting uniformity of action.
Objections may be urged against the prin-
ciple of making the point of entry of the
fresh air at the top of the cells, and extract- >
ing the foul air from the lower level, and, as
an abstract matter of science, it msy possibly
be a question whether this order should not
have been reversed.
Dr. Reid's opinion on the subject is thus
stated in a letter to Viscount Dnncannon,
with reference to the arrangements for ven-
tilating the House of Commons.
" Tlie air may be made to descend from
the ceiling, and be removed by the floor. ^
I know no method that combines eo many
and 90 numeroui advantoffea as this. Ex-
perience has assured me that there is no
method at all comparable to the deeeending
atmoephere for the ^ouse of Commons.
Even the suspicion of dust would not then
annoy the members. The air can be ad-
mitted at any temperature, its first impulse
being eqftened by the air on which it/alU,"
When, however, it is considered that the
cells contain 800 cubic feet of space, and are
occupied by only one individual; that a
ventilation of from 30 to 40 cubic feet per
minute has been secured, at a cost daring
the winter months of less than a farthing .
per cell, and during the summer at half that ;
eipense ; and that a perfect diffusion of air
takes place within the cell ; it will be appm-
• Fig. I wUl be given with the continuatioQ in
our next.
THK MO]>BL PRT80K SYSTEM OF TlNTtLATlOK AND WARICIVO.
27
Tnt ^ait there ii no object in laerificing
other important and practical considerations
to aof refined reasoning on that point.
It will be seen, also, that the cucendinff
principle of yentilation of the entire sys-
tem is preserfed, and that the extraction of
fonl air from the cells is partly to be re-
ferred to the superior altitude of the eztracU
ing flues and shaft, which are in and above
the roof. If the foul air were required to
pass downwards, below the floor of the
cells, into flues situated in the basement, a
power must be maintained in constant opera-
tion to ofercome the tendency of air at a
higher temperature to remain at a higher
leyel. The ventilation in such a ease would
Fig. 2.
^ «atirelj/orce<f ; whereas, by the arrange-
ments which have been described, it only
requires to be ctagUted. From the diffusion
which takes place, the difference of tem-
perature at the oeiUng or floor of a cell can
icarcely be detected, and will seldom ex-
ceed one degree; and it may be mferred
that the difference of power required for
extracting the air at one or other of those
levels would be inappreciable. But even if
it led to an increased expense in the con-
sumption of fuel, it would be an object to
check the rising of dust, and to secure the
advantage of introducing the air at a point
o2
28
TUB M0D1EL PRISON SYSTEM OF VENTILATION AND WARMING
not etsily accessible to the prisoner, and
from which he would not be likely to ex-
perience any inconvenience. Fig* 4.
Among other reasons, it may be stated
that the effect of introducing the air at a
low level would be, that when tkt fires were
not lighted, the prisoner would be sensible
of the draught of cold air, and would de-
vise some means of stopping up the grating ;
and daring the cold weather when the air
would be warmed, he would probably sit or
lie down close to it, and be enervated by its
effecu.
Having thus given a brief and familiar
explanation of the principle applied, and the
disposition of the flues for ventilation, the
application of the motive power, by which
the regular abstraction of the foul air from
THE MODEL PRISON 6YSTKM OF VENTILATION AND WARMING.
29
the oeUf, and a snpply of fresh air in iU
place, ia insuredy will be easily understood.
Fig. 6\
Tbe main floea in the roof intended for
the eztnction of foni air from the cells, are
connected with the vertical shaft which ap-
pears in the section, fig. 1. During the
somnier aaonths a small fire is maintained
at the bottom of this shaft, which raises the
temperature of the colnmn of air within it
aboTe that of the external atmosphere, or
the general temperature of the cells, and
therd>j caoses it to be spedilcally lighter.
Kg. 7.
In this state it naftnraUy rises, and the
partial raennm tiins formed is filled firom
the a4Jofaiing fonl-air fines. These main
fioes deriTe their supply directly from the
eells» and the cells reoeiye through the
proper channels a corresponding supply of
fresli air to replace the foul air which has
boon abi^acted by the Terticai shaft
The quantity of foul air withdrawn from
the oeDs will mainly depend upon the pro- .
portionate temperature maintained in the
ventilating shaft. Under ordinary circum-
ttanees, if an average difference of from 5°
to KP above the external temperature be
maintained, it will be found suffioient to pro-
duce the desired effect. The consumption
of fori for this purpose at Pentonville pri-
lon has been about one hundred wdght per
diem for one wing, containing 130 cells, it
having been the practice to light the fire, of
which there is. one on each side of the cor-
ridor, on alternate days. The cost of effect-
ing the summer ventilation of one wing, at
the present price of fuel, has been about
fifteen pence per diem, or about one-eighth
of a penny for each cell.
During the winter months, when the fires
are lighted in the apparatus below, the
smoke and disposable heat being thrown
into the ventilating shaft above Uie upper
cells, will generally be found sufficient to
secure an effective ventilation, and no fur-
ther trouble or expense is necessary.
The principle on which the ventihition is
effected is similar to that in operation in
mines, the ventilating chimney being sub-
stituted for the upcast shaft. There are,
however, greater fseilities for maintaining a
current of air through any given channels
above ground, Ihan can possibly exist in the
extended and complicated galleries of a coal
field, situated many hundred feet below the
surface.
In the foregoing explanation it has been
assumed that the atmosphere, both within
and without the prison, is stagnant, and no
allowance has been made for the advantage
derived from the pressure of the air at &
point where it enten the ^uea, wliieh, even
in a moderate breeze, has a very favourable
influence in producing a more active ehren-
lation. These combing causes, though they
cannot, of course, always be depended on
for producing ventilation, will greatly assist
it, and the action of a very moderate fire
will, under any circumstances, ensure it.
DeMcripHcn of the Figures.
Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 show the sys-
tem of ventilating and warminff now
actually in operation at the Model Prison,
and which baa been sneoeasfallv adopted
in all the principal prisons lately erected
under the authority of the Secretary of
State.
Fig. 2 18 a plan of the basement; fig. 3,
a grand plan ; fig. 4, a plan of the roof;
and fig. 5, a longitudinal section of part
of the corridor.
P is the apparatus room.
A, fresher flues, open to the external
atmosphere.
G D, fresh-air flues.
A\ B, C, small fresh-air- flues.
C» C», cells.
F F, foul-air flues.
M F, main foul- air flues.
S S, smoke flues.
F S, foul-air shaft.
R, corridor.
LL, places for coal.
T (6g. 3) trap.
90
ON A CERTAIN ARABIC MANUSCRIPT.
Fig. 6 repreBCDts the details of a regu-
lator, as fixed at Pentonville, by which a
prisoner is enabled to admit warm air
from the main flues, or cool air from the
.5orridor. C* is the corridor; C, the
cell.
Fig. 6' is an elevation of the regula-
tor, as seen in the corridor.
Fig. 7 represents a contrivance for the
same purpose, which has been adopted
at Kirkdale ; I P is the indez*plate. Fig.
7* is an elevation of this regulator, as
seen in the corridor.
Fig. 8 shows the means by which cold
air may be admitted into a cell from the
exterior, and also a plan for increasing
the ventilation of a cell during summer.
F is the floor ; C, the corridor ; C L, cell ;
A, fresh or warm-air flue ; H, arch ; I,
foul- air flue ; B, external air-brick; G, air
grating, with wood slide for summer use :
&, a second grating for same purpose.
(7b ^ continued in our nwt.)
KBTHOD OF WILDIKO IRON, STKU., AND
BHnT laoN.
In an earthen vessel melt borax, and add
to it one-tenth of sal-ammoniac. When
thfese ingredients are properly fused and
mixed, pour them ont upon an iron plate,
and let them cool. There is thus obtained
a glassy matter, to which is to be added an
equal quantity of quick lime.
The iron and steel which are to be sol*
dered, are first heated to redness, then this
compound, first reduced to powder, is laid
upon them i the eomposition melts and runs
like sealing-wax; the pieces are then re-
placed in the fire, taking oire to heat them
at a temperature far below that usually em-
ployed in welding ; they are then withdrawn
and hammered, and the surfaces will be
found to be thus perfectly united. The
author asserts that this process, which may
be applied to welding sheet-iron tubes, never
fails.
METHOD or BRINOINO OUT BCULPTURK
UPON ALABASTER.
This process is founded upon the pro-
perty which alabaster or sulphate of Hme
has, of being slowly eaten out by cold water,
so that its polish is destroyed.
In the first place the sculptures in relief,
and all the parts intended to be preserved,
are covered with a varnish insoluble in water,
composed of wax dissolved in oil of turpen-
tine mixed with white lead, or rather with a
turpentine varnish, to which white lead and
a little animal oil has been added to prevent
the varnish from hardening and adhering
too strongly to the alabaster. This is ap-
plied with a soft paint brush moistened with
oil of turpentine, into which it must be
dipped every time that varnish is taken.
The reserved parts being thus covered, suffer
the vessel or ornament to dry for some
hours, and then place it In a vessel filled
with cold water, and leave it there for forty-
eight hours, or longer if it is thought neces-
sary. The varnish is then removed with a
fine sponge dipped in oil of turpentine, and
the vessel dried with a soft and very dry
rag. When the vessel is thus cleared of its
varnish and dried, pass over it a new soft
brush, first dipped in finely powdered plas-
ter. This powder fills the pores of the
plaster whidi has been attacked by ttm
water, and renders it mat ; which brings out
the transparent parts of the alabaster In
relief.
To clean ornaments and aeu^turei t»
alabaster. — Wash out any grease spoto with
oil of turpentine; then put the piece in
water, and suffer it to remain until it Is
freed from its impurities. When yon take
it out, rub it with a very dry paint brush ;
let it dry, and pass over it powdered plaster.
In this way the piece will be perfectly
washed, and will look as though it had just
come from the hand of the carver.
ON A CERTAIN ARABIC MANUSCRIPT. BT
JAMBS COCKLE, ESO., M.A., BARBISTRR-
AT-LAW.
. Sir, — In Hutton's Philosophical and
Mathematical Dictionary'* allusion is
made to " an Arabic manuscript, said to
be on cubic equations, deposited in the
library of the University of Leyden by
the celebrated Warner, bearing a thte
which in Latin signifies Omar Sin
Ibrahim aV Ghajamal Algebra cubicarum
aquationum, sive de prohiematumsolido^
rum resolutione.** The importance of
ascertaining the nature of the manu-
script alluded to is great and obviout.
It would probably clear up some doubt-
ful points in the history of algebra. I
address this note to you in the hope of
being the means of inducing some com-
petent Arabic scholar to examine the
supposed manuscript with the attention
which it appears to deserve.
I am, Sir, yours, &c. Jamb* Coorlb.
Northampton. June 90, I84S.
• See vol. 1., p. 74, kU •* Algebra.*
31
KBCBNT AMSRICAU PATENTS.
[Selected from the
Improtsmbnt in Clocks and Timb-
PISCB6. C^uneey Boardnum and Joseph
A. Well9.
The iiiTention consUtt in placing the
driTing spring upon the same shaft with the
fosee, eoanectmg the shaft of the combined
liuee sod spring to the frame of the dock
noTeaoents, and attaching one end of this
spring to the frame of the clock movements.
Impsovxubnt in Toasting Cofpbe,
CALLBB " SbLP - TOA8TINO AbOMA - CON-
9BXSINO Apparatus/' Jo/m R, Rem"
The patentee says, '' The nature of mj
invention consists of a metallic wheel of
backets, somewhat similar to an overshot
wBter-wbeel, bnt of small diameter, the
buckets of which receive the grains of coffee
that drop one by one from a hopper above,
and which by their weight, turn the wheel
that carries the grain slowly through a dr-
enlar trough bdow, that extends around
shont one-third of the circomference of the
wbed, and which u suffidently heated by a
saall furnace to toast the coffee daring the
tine that it is carried from one end to the
other, when it is discharged by means of an
inclined spout into a vessel below, where
the aroma is condensed by cold water in a
pan above; the buckets of the wheel ^eing
BO formed as to contain the requisite quan-
tity of coffee, to insure the turning of the
whed by the wdght thereof, and so curved
near the periphery as to drsg the grains
through the trough and up to the spout,
and the hopper being provided with a hinged
ahnte, the inclination of which can be in-
creased or decreased to regulate the delivery
of the grains of coffee into the wheel,
whereby the motion of the wheel is gauged
to the temperature of the furnace."
Fob an Impboybmbnt in thb Safbty
FusR Foa Blasting Rocks, &c. Richard
B§eem.
The patentee says, — " My improvement
consists in providing for communicating the
Are vrith more certainty to the charge, to
eliiBOt which I insert lengthwise through the
ftue, and as near the centre of the powder
or other combustible matter as msy be, a
thread saturated with a solution of nitre,
sulphur, or any other combustible material
or substance. To the shove is the cldm
Bmited."
Impbotbmbnt in Pnbumatic Springs
ya» Railroad Cars, &c« John Lewii.
We make the following extrsot from the
spaeifioation :
" The nature of my invention consists in
sq^plyiBg the dastidty of atmospheric dr,
Framklim Joumai.']
or any permanently elastic gas, by means of
an expanding and contracting chamber, or
chambers, made in one, two, or more parts,
and connected together by means of two or
more belts of India-rubber doth, or other
flexible or impermeable materid, with alco-
hol or other liquid interposed, the more
effectudly to prevent the escape of the air
or gas contained in the apparatus, and to dd
in rdieving the flexible connection, and
preventing its rupture by the action of the
weight or force on the spring. This mode
of connecting two vessels being applicable,
without the dr, to other purposes, such as
hydraulic presses, &c., by forcing water into
or between the two vessels. And my im-
provement also consists in providing this
apparatus with one or viore of what I de-
nominate a retpiraiory ehambert or cham-
bers, attached to one or both ends of the
apparatus, and separated from the main
chamber of the apparatus by a diaphragm,
or diaphragms, perforated with holes, which
will check the passsge of the air, and thus
relieve the apparatus from the injurious
effects of sudden shocks."
Claim.—" What I cldm as my invention
is, first, the method of connecting the two
vessels, composing the pneumatic spring,
bumper, rest, &c., by means of two or more
belts, with dcohol or other liquid interposed,
substantially as described, to be used for the
purposes sbove set forth.
" Second. I cldm so arranging the two
vessels, and the connecting belt or bdts,
substantially as described, that the bdt or
belu shdl, at dl times, be sustained by
either one or both of the vessels, to prevent
them from being ruptured by the pressure
of the contained fluid, as described.
'* Third. I claim dividing the spsce be-
tween two discs into one or more spaces by
means of a perforated diaphragm, or dia-
phragms, to form what I denominate a respi-
ratory chamber, or chambers, substantidly
as described, and for the purposes explamed
above.
" Fourth. I dso cldm making the inner
periphery of the outer vessel, or the outer
periphery of the inner vessd, or both, be-
veled or conicd, so that the space between
the two, in which the flexure of the connecting
belt or belts takes place, shdl be dimioished
as the pressure increases, as described, for
the purpose of ensbling the flexible connec-
tion the better to resist the increased pres-
sure, as described ; and this I cldm, wheth«
used with or without the other improve-
mento."
32
HAKRISOM'B railway CHAIE-PTN PRKS8INO MACHINB.
[lUgiitend nnder the Act for the Protection of Articles of Utility. John Harriion, of Lamb Mill,
Co»wling, Skipton, Proprietor.]
F I c. :ir
FIG. 2 .
^s^^^i^i.
"^
m
H
©
D
Figure 1 is a front elevation, and fig. 2
a aide elevation of this machine. A^ A'
are a pair of grooved rollers, which are
mounted in suitable bearings in the
frame, BB, with the surface of the one
rdUer in contact with the surface of the
other roller. The grooves, a a a, are
of a semicircular shape, so that they
form, by their junction, a series of cir-
cular openings, through which the pins,
after having been previously prepared, are
passed. In the partial preparation given
T^B bOTBR HAHBOUR OF RBVUOE.
33
to the pins before having being passed
tfaroQffh between the rollersi &ej are
left a little larger than the largest of the
openings, a a a, so that, after having been
sneeessiyelj passed through, from the
largest to the smallest, the^r are fit for
nse. The snrfaees of the three grooves,
aaa^ are plain, and produce plain pins,
while the surfaces of the fourth pair of
grooveiy h, are reeded, and produce a
leeded pin.
Motion is given to the rollers by a
Heam engine, or other power, through
the intervention of the driving pulley, C ;
tlie endless screw, D ; aud the wheel, E,
into which the endless screw gears.
F F are a pair of pinions upon the
ends of the roller spinales, to insure the
taming of both rollers together.
♦
niB DOTBB HARBOUR OF RBrVGV — SIR
8AXUBL BBKTHAH'S MODB OF CON*
STRVCTINO 8BA WALLS.
The Dover Harbour Commissioners,
though not giving an unqualified ap-
proval to any one of the plans submitted
to them, give the preference to that of
Mr. Rendel, who, as to materials and
mode of construction, recommends the
use of masses of hard brick laid in
eement.
It does not appear by what means
these masses are intended to be depo-
sited in their desired places, and to be
connected together so as to form the up-
Mht wall which Mr. Rendel proposes.
ne depth under water in which the wall
is proposed to be constructed being 42
feet, were Uie work to be executed under
cover of a dam of the ordinary kind the
expense would be enormous.
The least costly mode, it is believed,
that has hitherto been devised for con-
stmcting sea walls in deep water, was
that invented by Brigadier- General Sir
Samnel Bentham ; and in which manner
about 200 feet running of sea wall was
executed at Sheemess, some of it at the
depth of 27 feet below low-water spring
tides, whereby, compared with the ordi-
nary mode, a saving of from 50/. to 100/.
per foot running was made, as the depths
under low water varied from 12 to 27
feet. This mode was by means of hollow
buoyant masses, constructed on shore of
briclu set in Roman cement, to a height
of a few feet above water at low water ;
then floated to their places, sunk, pressed
into the ground, then filled in with con-
crete composed of the cheapest materials,
as chalk, shingle, &e., grouted together
with a calcareous cement. The face of
the wall to seaward was, above low water,
of granite.
This mode of structure might probably
be found applicable for the intended sea
wall at Dover. It would possess all the
advantages of the wooden caissons pro-
posed by Mr. Walker, saving the ex*
pense of this costly material, which, be-
sides first cost, from its perishable nature,
and the depredations of the sea-worm,
could not be considered as forming part
of the permanent wall.
As to materials. Sir Samuel's investi-
fitions had produced conviction that
entish ragstone was, when of a good
variety, particularly durable; and he
ascertained that it could be furnished of
the best quality at a much lower price
per foot cube delivered at Sheemess,
than an equal bulk of brick. Had the
works there been continued according to
his proposals, that stone would have been
generally employed instead of brick.
The additional cost of freight to Dover,
might render it there more costly than
brick.
The cement used for the masses at
Sheemess, proved, when set, harder than
die bricks themselves — the Utter always
giving wav on trial rather than the ce-
ment ; ana this whether the experiments
were made by pressure or by percussion.
The cement was burnt on the spot,
and used fresh ; but unusual precaution
was taken in the choice uf the cement
stone. There having been at that time
no chemist in the naval department. Sir
Samuel obtained for his assistant the
** Mechanist," a small chemical appara-
tus with the necessary tests, who on ex-
perimenting on diflerent cement stones,
ascertained that the difference in quality
of the cement produced from them de-
pended on the different chemicalproper-
ties of the stones themselves. This cir-
cumstance seems to merit more attention
than is usually given to it in the manu-
facture of Roman cement.
The mode which Sir Samuel devised for
ascertaining the nature of the soil and
substrata under water at Sheemess, is ap-
plicable to a great variety of works, and
perhaps might be employed with advan-
tage at Dover; for althongh by the
diving-bell, boring, &c., in the usual
way, much useful information may be
obtained, yet a more perfect knowledge
of the substrata, and of their power of
o3
34
SIR SAMUEL BSNTHAM's MODB OP CONtTRUCTIKO SEA WALLS.
hearingr gT«t weights, would be afforded
by examination of them in the dry, as if
under cover of a dam.
Ue devised an iron cylinder of suffi-
cient diameter to admit a man, and to
allow him to work within it ; this cylinder
entering the ground below water, and
extending upwards to above high water.
It had a valve inside* so that, when
closed, water might on occasion be let
into the upper part of the cylinder with-
out entering the lower part of it The
following letter from Mr. Kingston,
master millwright in Sir Samuel's manu-
facturing establishments in Portsmouth
Dockyard, will afford a description of
the use made of that cylinder :
"Portsmouth Yard,
"July 10, 1812.
"Honourable Sir,— I received a letter
from Mr. Goodrich this morning, in which
be informed me that you wished me to send
an account of the trial of the ground at
Sheerness by means of the iron cylinder ;
therefore, honourable Sir, I here give you
as correct an account as I possibly can, viz. :
-~Forty-two feet in length of iron cylinder,
weight about seven tons, was placed in a
line with the front of the present new wharf.
The ground (within the cylinder) for several
days after the cylinder was placed, was not
water-tight ; but as soon as the water was
admitted upon the valve which was in the
inside of the cylinder, — which valve was
placed at a distance of eighteen feet from
the bottom, for the purpose of pressing the
cylinder into the ground, by admitting a >
column of water upon the said valve equal to
three tons and a half,-— the ground then was
completely water-tight, and the distance the
eylinder w^s in the ground was about two
feet eight inches. The cylinder remained
in that state until such time as you came to
Sbeemess, when you ordered me to get some
assistance, and bore into the ground in the
inside of the cylinder ; and in boring about
eight feet down, the ground appeared to
consist of chalk, sand, and clay united toge-
ther, and in boring to this depth, no water
came into the cylinder ; but in boring a few
inches further, the auger went instantly
down about ten feet i the water then came
into the cylinder, and soon was at the same
height in the inside of the cylinder as it was
on the outside. The auger was left in the
ground that night, and in the morning the
ground had so completely filed the auger,
that I was obliged to take off twelve feet of
the cylinder, and get a launch and make fast
to the auger at low water, for the purpose
of drawing the auger.
" The height of the water on the outside
of the cylinder was foKy-two fast' at Ugh«
water.
" I remain, honourable Sir,
" Your most obedient humble servant,
"Wm. Kingston.
" Sh, Samuel Bentham,
" Navy Otiice, London."
The iron cylinder, although composed
of several separate rings capable of being
connected water-tight together, one
above the other, having of course beea
weighty and cumbersome to remove, led
Sir Samuel to the invention of a wooden
one, shod with iron, which he caused to
be employed in Portsmouth Harbour.
In a letter from Mr. Kingston^ dated
Portsmouth Dockyard, 2dth July, 1812,
he says, respecting the wooden one,
** The ground on which the cylinder was
first placed is water-tight, and I can
transport the cylinder with great ease to
any part of the harbour you may think
proper to point out, as the cylinder will,
without any assistance, float in 12 feet
water."
It was by making himself perfectly
acquainted with the nature of the ground
on which his great works at Portsmouth
were to be erected, that structures there,
according to his designs, were invariably
exempt from failure, though all of them
had been pronounced to be *' hazardous,
dangerous, and unsafe.'* 1 1 was the know-
ledge which he obtained by means of the
cylinders, of the water - tiffht crust at
Sheerness, and of the weights it would
bear at different parts without danger of
penetrating to the running sand and
water underneath it, that gave him confi-
dence in the mode of construction he
determined on ; and there exists un-
doubted evidence of the stability of his
masses, though they were no longer em-
ployed after the abolition of his office.
The success of the wooden cylinder
led Sir Samuel to the invention of mov-
able wooden dams, as described in his
patent of March 5, 1812, and which
should dams be found necessary at
Dover, might, if adopted, be a means of
saving much expense. He had intended
employing them in the construction of a
mastery at Portsmouth. After the abo-
lition of his office, he furnished the Navy
Board with short notes respecting various
matters that had been referred to him ; '
in relation to that mastery, after other
observations, he added the following ex-
tract of a minute to that Board :
** I have also to observe that the ezperi-
Arthur's decimal monbt, wsiaHTS, and iirasures.
35
tacnti mhdt with the cylinder, for the mak-
ing of which I obtained the Board's autho-
ri^ of 4th Feb., 1812, seems sofficient to
ihow that a new mode of excluding water
by moveable dams, inyented by me, particu-
laxly with a view to this and other works
for the port of Portsmouth, is well suited
for carrying on works under the circum*
itancet of the soil of this spot, so that the
nn<fer-?rater works proposed, might be eze-
cnted at a for less expense than nnder coyer
of an ordinary dam.
" Samubl Bbntbau."
"Peb.4, 1815."
mu w. B. Johnson's rollbb bccsntric
lUPROrBMSMT 81700B8TED.
Sir, — ^In yonr number for April 22, a
Mr. Johnson is stated to have taken out a
jMLtent for some improvements in the steam
engine, among which is an eccentric, to
work with rollers in the band. Some time
back, I altered a dressing machine, and nsed
an eccentric instead of the usual crank.
My improvements, I thought, were calcu-
lated to render it easier to work ; but I did
not find it so far answer my expectations.
A Mend suggested that this arose from there
being so madi more friction on an eccentric
than on a crank ; and so I set to work to
fedufse it. The result was, the placing of
three rollers in the centre^ instead of in the
band, which, I think, is preferable, as they
are more out of the way, and can be larger.
I made the models for casting, but cannot
atkf i£ the plan will answer, as I have not
tried it in work. Should it be of any use to
Mr. Johnson, or any other person , I shall
be happy to show it to them.
I am. Sir, yours, Sec,
W. J. JOTNBB.
Aveley, near Romford,
Jme 2», IS48. ^
low's PATBNT IMPROVBMBNTS 11^ THE
MANUFACTURE OF COPPBR.
{Patent dated November 4, 1847; Disclaimer (of
thewoTdt " ainc, tin, and other metals") enrolled
Maj 8, IMS. Specification enroUed May 4, 1848.]
Tako 42 parts of the black oxide of man-
ganese, 8 parts of plumbago, 2 parts of
Itttrate of potash (or nitrate of soda or lime,)
foad 14 parts of anthracite coal, or wood
thareoal; mix these together, and add to
the copper ore when melted 25 lbs. of the
mixture for erery ton of ore. Then with-
draw the slag resulting from this first ope-
ration, and introduce another 25Jbs. of the
mixture. Skim off the slag once more, and
throw in a further quantity of the mix-
ture ; in short, treat the melted ore in this
way until the metal appears to be " in a
Sufficiently forward state" to be run off.
t^aim. — ^To the combined use of manga-
nese, pinmbago, nitrate of potash, soda, or
lime, and oarboB in the manufacture of
copper.
Arthur's dbcimal monby, wbiohts,
and measurrs.
[From a small Pamphlet, entitled, " Proposed New
Patent Decimal Coins, Weights, and Measures,"
by " Arihai;" printed at Swansea.]
It would be a great advantage to all
kingdoms — it would be a great advantage to
travellers — it would greatly facilitate and in-
crease commerce, if there were the same
money-coins, weights, and measures, in all
the principal countries in Europe and Ame-
rica.
The English statute, 5 Geo. IV., re-
moved a great many of the imperfections
from the English weights and measures, but
as there are still latent imperfections in
them, it is neither advisable nor desirable
that they should be adopted by foreign
nations.
The following tables of money, weights,
and measures will be found, on rigid exami-
nation, more convenient and perfect than
any extant in any part of the world. The
names of them are also more simple and
easy to learn than any others.
MONEY.
100 Mites or Centimes make 1 Florin.
10 Florins 1 Pound sterling.
LONG MBA8URB.
10 Metres or Mites make I Link or Span.
10 Links 1 He. I
10 lies 1 Xile (pron. Zile,) X
10 Xlles 1 Centile. C
10 Centiles, or 1000 lies 1 Mile, (Railroad.) M
SQUARE MEASURB.
100 Square Metres make 1 Square Link
100 Square Links 1 Square He.
100 Square lies I Square Xlle.
10 Square Xiles 1 Acre.
1000 Square Acres 1 Square Mile.
CUBIC MEASURE.
1000 Cubic Metres make 1 Cubic Link.
1000 Cubic Links 1 Cubid He.
AVOIRDUPOIS WBIOHT.
1 Mites make 1 Dixwelght.
10 Dixweights 1 Tb., 1 lb., or Imperial Pound.
10 lbs ^.... I Xib.
10 Xibs 1 Centib.
10 Centibs 1 Mib or Milb.
LIQUID MBASURB.
10 Mites make 1 Verre or Glass.
10 Verres 1 Kan.
10 Kans 1 Ig or New Imperial Oallon.
10 Igs I Xig, (pronounced Zig.)
lOXigs ICentig.
These coins, weights, and measures, are
not only simple and convenient, but they
are based on such sound and scientific prin-
ciples, that I am confident they will deserve,
and I trust will obtain, the approbation of
all scientific persons and the Governments
of all countries.
36
M, HVMPRRT'b IMPR0VKMBNT8 IK STIAM SVOIKIfl, AND IN SNGINK8 OR
APPARATUS POR RAISING, EXHAUSTING, AND PORCINO PLUID8.
[Patent dated January 4, 1848. Specification enrolled July 4, 1848.]
The sort of steam engine to which Mr.
Humphry's improvements have more
particular relation, is that now usually
employed in screw propelling, which is
of the class called direct- acting, but
works, at the same time, through the
medium of multiplying wheels; and
though these improvements consist but
of matters of arrangement, they will be
found of very great value and importance.
By a better disposition of the ordinary
parts of the engine, he is enabled to dis-
pense entirely with one prominent mem-
ber (the crank,) and to bring the whole
within a much smaller compass than has
ever before been done. A pair of engines
on this plan have been already fitted to
the Government screw steamer Reynard,
with which some most successful trials
were made down the river last week;
and there seems little doubt of the same
plan being henceforth generally adopted.
The prefixed figure represents a top
plan of a pair of screw-propelling engines
on this plan. A is the screw- shaft ; B B,
pinions attached to the screw-shaft ; C C,
driving-wheels, which gear into the pi-
nions, B B ; D D, the cylinders, the pis-
tons of which are connected by rods,
E £, to pins, F F, on the ouUide of the
driving-wheels ; and GG, (he air-pumps,
which are worked by cranks or eccentrics
on the shaft, I. In this improved arrange-
ment, the driving-wheels occupy the
positions usually assigned to the engine-
cranks ; that is to say, each wheel revoWes
in a space between a straight line drawn
through the centre of the piston-rod of
the adjoining cylinder and a parallel line
drawn through the adjoining bearing of
the main shaft; and the so placing of
the driving-wheels enables the pistons to
be connected directly to them, instead of
through the intervention of cranks, as
usual.
Mr. Humphry's patent includes also
an improved description of valve for
engines and apparatus used in raising,
exhausting, and forcing fluids, such aa
steam engine air-pumps, atmospheric
railway pumps, &c. A metal plate (of a
square, or any other suitable form) har
DSBiaN FOR A ROTART STEAM SNOINE.
S7
apertures made in it for the inflow or
ontlet of the fluid. Each aperture is
covered by a piece of steel, or other like
flexible metal, of about a sixteenth of an
inch in thickness, which is made fast at
one end bj screws, while the other end
is left free, so that while it yields with
the preatest readiness to the pressure of
the flnid, it closes instantly again on the
cessation of the pressure, without noise
or any liability to derangement.
]»«SfQN FOR A ROTART BTKAM BNGTNIC.
Sir, — > If y€# consider the above
sketch of aroury steam engine, with ex-
flanation, worthy of the space occupied,
shall feel obliged by their insertion in
your Journal. I have endeavoured to
show that the engine there exhibited
will not oonsnme more steam than a
vibrating engine of the same propor«
if I am wrong in my calculations.
I shall be happy to be put right by any
of your readers who may be inclined to
take the trouble.
I calculate the consumption of steam
in comparison with a viorating engine
in the following manner: — Supposing
the diameter of the rotary engine to be
1 foot 6 inches, the circumference of the
outer circle described by the pistons 4
feet 6 inches, the area of the cylinder
being 4^ inches, the circumference of the
inner circle will be 2 feet 3. inches ; and,
consequently, the intermediate, or real
length of the cvlinder will be 3 feet
4i inches, from wdich deduct 6} inch, or
one*sixth the space occupied by the pis-
tons, it leaves 2 feet 9f inches, the ac-
tual length of the cylinder occupied by
steam. The arm being equal to 64 inches,
would require a cylinder in a vibrating
engine of 15i inches, independent of the
space occupied by the piston, which being
twice filled for one revolution would be
2 feet 7 inches of steam consumed ; the
area of the cylinder in each engine being
the same, consequently, in the rotary
engine 33f inches of steam is consumed
in one revolution, and in one revolution
of the vibrating engine 31 inches, being
a difierence of -^^th greater consumption
bv the rotary engine ; but as during i^th
of the revolution of Uie rotarj engine
two pistons are in full force, I imagine
the difierence would be small, and what
there was in favour of the rotary engine,
taking into account the increase of power
from the operation of two pistons during
iVth of the revolution, and the ad-
vantage to be obtained by a direct rotary
motion.
I am, Sir, yours, &c.
Stbpbrk Sharp.
8, Mount-row, I^ew Kent-road.
Description of the prefixed figure.
a, Of a, three pistons or arms revolving
in a circular box or cylinder, B^, B^,
B3, B4; c, c, c, c, two valves moving on
a centre with the action of the pistons
and the steam admitted at the back of
them by the feeding-pipes D D, the
exhaustion pipes being at £ £ ; the two
cells, Bi B9, are at present occupied by
steam, which exhaustion is effected in
ceils Ba, B4, F F are feeding pipes in
the reversed action.
M
THB ORESHAM PROFI880A8HIPS.
It is possible that a few of our readers
are aware that some **out-of-the- world"
place, bearing the name of Gresham
College, once existed ; and, from the
name of Sir Thomas Gresham being so
intimately connected with the history of
the Royal Exchange, they might be led
to suppose that the *' merchant prince'*
was somehow or other associated with
the history of that extinct and almost
forgotten college. They would conjec-
ture rightly ; but it is only in an ency-
clopedia, or a history of the Royal Ex-
change, or in the " Life of Gresham,"
that the great majority of our readers
will learn whether it exists in Oxford,
Cambridge, London, or Timbuctoo.
Sir Thomas Gresham did found a col-
lege in London ; endowed it with seven
professorships of the 'Miberal sciences '*
(as they were then called ;) and ^ave the
professors apartments for collegiate pur-
poses in the Royal Exchange, with fifty
Iiounds per annum for each of them^a
arge sum in the days of Elizabeth. It
was. Indeed, in this very college, that
the Royal Society had its London origin ;
and in this very college the builder of
St. Paul's was once the professor of geo-
metry P Where is it now ! Where has
it been since the time when the Royal
Society transferred itself as an inde-
pendent body to Crane-court? Who
are its professors ? Where do they lec-
ture f What public benefit results from
this endowment, to the •* liberal sciences **
of our own day ? We roust go further
than books will tell us to answer these
questions.
The fact is. that the college has ceased
to exist, in nfore than a city- name, for a
century and a half. For a considerable
time no lectures were given, and even
whilst they were given, it was **in a
room over the Royal Exchange," as the
traditionary stories of the encyclopcBdias
tell us, which was never intended to be
discovered, through the tortuous wind-
ings that led to it, by any mortal, either
eitisen or scholar. Professors, indeed,
were appointed, anH their salaries were
regularly paid ; but it yet is to be learnt
that one single professor of that college
has made the most trivial addition to the
science upon which he was paid for lec-
turing, either by his personal discoveries
or the diffusion of learning, for more
than a century. The college and its
funds have been, in plain truth, subjects
of as completely corrupt abuse as any
one amongst the whole range of city
trusts; and in sayin? so much, we do
not anticipate the slightest attempt at
the temerity of contradiction. Who, in-
deed, are the professors, and what is the
qualification for their appointments P We
may see, indeed, now and then an adver-
tisement in the Timen, giving their
names, the subjects on which they will
lecture, and the days on which the
successive acts of the dull farce *' will
come off.*' But what cultivator of the
** liberal sciences " knows any one of
them, even by name, as possessing a
common- place reputation for an ordinary
amount of information about his particu-
lar subject — to say nothing of zeal and
ability for its extension P To use the
language of the time (and of the Times^
too, when -it suits that remarkable
paper to speak out) these professorships
nave been, from the beginning of the
last century, a series of jobs, as
gross as any upon record. They are
given without the least reference to merit
or qualification, merely because some
influential member of the Gresham Trust
wishes to make a little addition to the
income of his physician, his parish curate,
of some family connection of his own, or
the proiegi of some personal friend. The
testator's inierUions are set aside to serve
class interests and selfish relationship.
The aristocratic jobbing with public ap-
pointments has at length received some
share of public attention and condemna-
tion: it is time that the city- jobber,
whether as an individual member of
society, or as the trustee of a public
benefaction, should be subject to the like
scrutiny and the like disgrace:
The Corporation and the Mercers'
Company have (since the exertions of a
worthy and independent citizen have
compelled them to do awnething) built a
new house in Gresham- street (vulgo^
Coleman -street,) and tftey have the lec-
tures delivered in duplicate, both as to
language and as to time. They have
compensated their lecturers for their
trouble by also doubling the nominal
salary devised by the founder. These
** wise men of Gotham" measure science
by quantity only : whether its quality be
good, or even genuine, concerns Msm
not. Ignorant of science as the poor
THB eHBIHAIC FR5FESS0RSHIP8.
avage is ol the precious stones, a co-
loaml bead of commoD glass pleases
them juet as well as the diamond of the
Avtocrat or the Great Mogul. It does
not even concern one in a hundred of
them ; for science is not their toy, nor
Greafaam science even the toy of their
wives and daughters. If their ladies
should, in the course of their fashionable
vagaries, think a taste for learning would
lo& gracefully upon their sweet faces,
tfaev will not go so near the vulgar shop
in the eity as to seek it at the Gresham,
but will *' patronise " the Royal Institu-
tion or the Polytechnic,' where science will,
at leaaty have the merit of being fashion-
able.
The Gresham professors are appointed
fir iifef whibt their emolument in no
degree depends upon the efficiency with
which they perform their duties. It is
always an appendage^ the duties of which
are to be shuffled over with the least
possible trouble; and is never looked
npon as an appointment calculated to do
hoooor to the man, or demanding even
the show of a reputable attempt to exe*
CQte its duties honourably or usefully.
As the Charterhouse was once used by
those who held the power of nomina-
tion lo its benefits, as a convenient mode
of pensioning off their butlers and foot-
men—so the Gresham professorships are
made available for answering the claims
which needy or greedy relatives may
otherwise make on the purse of the
wealthy citisen.
Ought these things to be ? Are the
intentions of Sir Thomas Gresham to
be set aside, and the funds which he de-
vised to be perverted from the spirit of
the donor; the trustees simply taking
care to keep to the windward side of the
mere letter of the founder's will — and
not always even that ? This must cease.
Ify indeed, the trustees be not absolutely
besotted with their hereditary indulgence
IB this kind of riot, they will themselves
adopt a different course as each pro-
fessorship becomes vacant. We have,
however, but little hope; for there is
no ayatem so pertinaciously adhered
fo by corporate bodies, as the char-
tered practice of corruptly exercising
their patronage. If, however, they will
not remove the <' unclean thing " from
amongst themselves, the sanatory com-
missioners under the bill for intellectual
health will do it for them-^nd that with
a romgh hand.
The geometry-professor's name ap«
peared in the newspaper obituaries a few
days ago. The Rev. Dr. Birch was of a
city and corporation family, as we under*
stand. He took his degree in 1802, at
Cambridge ; was of St. John's College,
and came out on the Tripos ordy tenth
eeniar-optime^ even at that dat; was
appointed Gresham professor in 1808,
and has therefore held that office for
forty years, besides considerable church
preferment, amongst which was a pre«
bendal stall in St. Paul's. For his so-
called lectures on geometry alone he re-
ceived no less a sum than^^r thoMand
pounds !
We have no inclination to detract from
the personal worth of the deceased pro-
fessor; for besides having no grounds
by which to judge of him under this
aspect, it would under any circumstanoes
be altogether irrelevant. He was, we
doubt not, as active a clergyman as many
of his brethren ; and quite as active, as a
soporific audience is calculated to render,
either a lecturer in the pulpit or a pro-
fessor in his '* chair." Under the latter
aspect we here alone view him, and
only seek to understand his character as
the illustradon of the system of ap-
pointing men to trusts, for which neither
their actual information nor their intel-
lectual constitution, adequately prepare
them. Dr. Birch, as it appears to us,
possessed no one qualification, beyond
that of interest to get the appointment,
for the office which he held so long, and
for *' performing the duties" of which
(as it is facetiously called,) he received
so large a sum of money. We will
willingly retract what we say, if any five
persons will come forward and pledge
their honour, that the ledlures of Dr.
Birch have either created in them a suffi-
cient love for geometry to induce their
own effective cultivation of it; or that
they have gained from those forty years'
lectures any single idea which was not
as common as flints in a chalk-bed!
Nay, we will reduce the five witnesses
to a single one — only subject to this con-
dition, that be has given public evidence
of his knowledge of the difference be-
tween Taylor's theorem and Christie'a
theorem.
But what are the published evidences
of the acquaintance of Dr. Birch, or any
one of his patronised colleagues, that
they even understand, to a moderately
fair degree, the several ** liberal sal-
4Q
THE GRESHA1I PSOflgSSOlt SHIPS.
ences" upon which, term after term,
they repeat their insignificant lectures ?
As to discoveries in those sciences — tell
us where to look for them. Echo an-
swers, " Where ?" but all the world is
dumb.
Who is the next to act this farce, and
receive the pay ? No doubt he is cut and
dried — ^ready to enter on his duties in such
fuhion as he may be able, and to draw
upon the Gresham exchequer his pay as
regularly as the << public creditor" his
diyidends at the Banlc. We do not read
the signs of the times aright, if he be not
the last of his race. This will not--can-
not — ^must not — ^go on. Public trusts
must revert to their intended uses.
Had the whole of the appointments,
referred to forty years back, and had
men, either qualified by their acquire-
ments, or honoured for their pro-
fessional energy and scientific disco-
yeries, been subsequently chosen, then,
indeed, our condemnation of the system
would haye been gladly exchanged for
the open-hearted approbation which such
a choice would deserve. Appointments,
however, have since been made — and
made on the old principle of ** providing
for friends and aependents,**— the exer-
cise of undisguised corporation influence.
Even were it otherwise, the opinion en-
tertained by scientific men as to the
mode of appointment is so generally in
accordance with what we have stated,
that no one who has attained to the
slightest station in his profession, would
think for a moment of ofi^ering him-
self. It is, indeed, just possible that
some chivalrous spirit, ardent to render
such a ^st a post of real usefulness,
might risk an application; but we all
know that where the form of an elec-
tion may be imposed upon the pub-
lic, it is nothing more than a blind to
persuade the lieges that all is conducted
fairly. No matter for the trouble and
anxiety created for the candidates who
are predestined to be set aside, in ac-
quinng testimonials, and producing
proofs of their competency ! This is
such an every-day aflTair even in the
management of *' getting up" a commer-
cial joint-stock company, that no one is
surprised at the result. See even,' too,
the conduct of the new Oxfbrd Board of
Trustees of the Taylor Institute, where
the same outrage has been perpetrated ;
where men eminently qualified for
the Philological chair have been set
aside, in favour of a man who has not
the most ordinary qualifications for its
duties — simply because that man is the
fallen minister of a fallen dynasty ! Such
trifling with the scientific public as that
of the Gresham Committee, and with
the literary, as that of the Taylor Board,
deserves, and will receive, the indignant
denunciation of every man of high and
honourable feeling.
If the present Trustees of the Gresham
do not wish to be held up to perpetual
disgrace for abuse of their trust, let them
at once change the old venal system of
appointment, into one which is both in
accordance with the spirit of the times —
with the ordinary principles of Christian
honesty — and with the unmistakable in-
tentions of the founder himself. Let
them consider themselves as trustees for
the public, not their office as a fief of
their own, to be exercised according to
their own interests, and the interests of
family and party. Let them rest assured,
at any rate, that if the purposes of Sir
Thomas Gresham be thus perverted,
they will pay the penalty of public
odium. Whatever of proved abuse shall
occur in these days, will go down to pos-
terity with its author's name attached ;
and we do not think the Trustees have
such an extraordinary fund of character,
as to be well able to afford the loss of so
much of that commodity as this vrill
entail.
We had intended to point out the
principles upon which such an election
should be conducted as well as the
changes which would secure the fulfil-
ment of the founder's intentions. We
can, however, only indicate them briefly
this week : but we shall probably return
to the subject in our next Number.*
1. Instead of a life appointment to
the professorship let it be limited to
three, or at most to five years : the same
person not occupying the chair during
two consecutive periods. This would
prevent the lecturers sinking down into
the contemptible routine of repetition to
which they have now sunk.
2. Let the appointment be considered
honorary rather than one of mere emolu-
ment. The stipend is too contemptible
to attract the attention of able men, on
the ground of pecuniary reward: but
were the appointment exercised as a
reward and recognition of eminent ser-
vices in the cause of sciences and lite-
rature, the leading intellect of the eoan-
ELECTRO PAINTING,
41
try would be ready to accept it, despite
Its limited reward in money. Whether
the Gresham Trustees understaDd it or
not, there are higher prizes in the esti-
mation of the intellectual classes than
Gresham gold. Developed intellect is
not a ''money-grub."
8. Let no man be chosen who has not
rendered valuable services to science or
to seientific education ; and who is not,
moreoTer, earnestly devoted to sucb
labours as will effectually carry out the
fundamental objects of Sir Thomas
Gresham. Hundreds such exist in this
eomtry, so that there is a wide range of
choioe. We make no objection to a
Cambridge man in reference to the Chair
now vacant : but, on the contrary, should
be glad to see anyone of many whom we
eotud name so appointed. Of non-
seademie men, too, we could specify se-
veral eminently fitted for the office : but
to eomply with the cenend predilection
in favour of Cambridge mathematicians,
we would at once concede the claims
of all others : only subject to this
proviM; that the Cambri<ige geometer
sbonld be eenerally admitted to stand at
the head of his class, whether as respects
acquirements, earnestness, capacity for
teachingy w successful labours in dif-
fmng knowledge and creating an interest
in it. To such men, for instance, as
Mr. Potts, we should cordially award
such an honour.** There can, at least,
be no questioning the powers of a man
whose name is before the world.
4. Let it be incumbent on each pro-
fessor to publish at the expiration of his
term of office, the lectures which he has
given— or at least such parts of them as
may be conducive to the extension of
education, to clearing up difficulties in
the science upon which he lectured, and
to the actual extension of the science it-
aelf. The value of this method is evinced
by the effect of publishing the Bampton
Lectures, the Harveian and Hunterian
OratioiiSy and some others that may be
qooted. We would gladly see the
Gresham Lectures in the same category.
* Mr. Potf s Endid haa been more than once
refeired to in oor Magazine, although we know
Mthfaif of him personally. We have mentioned
hhn now Incidentally aa the prindpal Cambridge
geometer (in strtetnets of meaning) that occars to
oor thoo^ta. Dor readers will see our own esti-
mate of bfo woiks at vol. zUt. p. 137, vol. xlvi.
p. 1«, aod vol. xlviL p. MS.
KLKCTBO PAIKTIMO.
(From the Athenamm.)
I beg to submit to year notice a new me-
thod of engraving, which I trust will prove
a desirable addition to the styles at present
in use. It is unnecessary to trouble you
with a detail of the steps which led me to
adopt this process, — the object of which is
to engrave in copper the very touches of an
artist's brush, so as to produce a fae'Hmile
of the drawing. The process is extramely
simple, the cost of the materials trifling, and
the only skill required is that necessary for
painting in oil or water colour. The artist
has the power of making alterations in his
design if necessary ; the finest touches may
be given, the finest lines can be executed,
and any depth of tint produced; and the
drawing has the great advantage of not being
reversed in the print.
The principle of this process consists in
the production of an electrotype copper cast
of the drawing itself. The drawing Is to be
made on a perfectly smooth, unhamished
metal plate, the size of the drawing :— Ger-
man silver is well adapted to the purpose.
This plate is not injured by the process, and
can be used repeatedly. The pigment em-
ployed Is thus formed. Two parts of tallow
and one of wax are to be well mixed toge-
ther in a melted state, and blackened with
the finest lamp-black: a small portion of
this mass must then be rubbed down with
turpentine, by the aid of a palette-knife, to
the consistency of oil-paint. With this
punt, a drawing is to be made with an ordi-
nary paint brush on the German silver plate.
The paint flows readily firom the brush, and
forms raised touches on the smooth plate ;
the touches intended to print the darkest
being raised the highest. Various methods
of working will suggest themselves to artists.
A leather pad is very useful for produdng
broad flat tints ; and good effects may also
be obtained by using a leather shimp. Even
the palette-knife may occasionally lend its
aid. The artist can judge of the effect of
the print from the colour of the drawing ;
the tints of the one corresponding very closdy
with the tints of the other. The highest
lights are obtained dther by leaving the
German diver plate bare, or by wiping out
portions of the paint. When the drawing is
finished, the finest French bronze powder
(the same as that used for printing gold
letters, must be freely dusted over its surface
with a large and soft camel's hair brush,
care being afterwards taken to brush away
all the bronze which docs not adhero to the
drawing. A drawing with a metallic surface
is thus obtained; on which an electrotype
copper plate, a perfect cast of the original
drawing, and of sufficient thickness to bear .
4S
THE VEKETIAK GLASS WEIGHTS.
the pressure of printing, may be readily de-
posited.
I propose the term "Electro Painting"
as appropriate to this style of engraving.
The electrotype plate when taken off the
drawing must be carefully washed with tur-
pentine, to remoTe any bronze or paint
which may adhere to it, the edges mast be
cut square, and the back of the plate filed
smooth ; and it is then ready for the printer.
The prints thns produced have all the rich-
ness and depth of etching, and at the same
time show distinctly the touch of the artist's
brash. The specimens I send for your in-
spection must be regarded as the work of a
mere amateur ; but I trast yon will iind in
them sufficient CTidence of a power which in
more skilful hands is capable of producing
Taluable results.
I am, Sir, yours, &c.,
Fkrouson Branson,
M.D., Cantab.
8b«ffle14.
THI VBNBTIAN GLASS WEIGHTS.
An exceedingly beautiful description
of weights for Horary tables, to which
the above name has been given, has
recently made its appearance in the fancy
stationary shops. The weight — which is
of various forms, circalar, oval, square,
&o.— consists of a mass of clear, white
crystal, inside of which, and embodied
in it, there are representations, in co-
loured glass, of coral, flowers, and other
objects, formed by laying together the
fibres of glass of various colour8,80 assorted
that a section across the fibres exhibits
the objects intended to be represented.
The thing, however, is not altogether
new, as will be seen from the following
description of two specimens, given
by Winkelmann, in his *' Annotations
on the History of the Arts among the
Ancients : '*
** Each of them is not quite one Inch
long and one third of an inch broad. One
plate eihibits, on a dark ground of varie-
gated eolours, a bird, representing a duck
of various very lively colours, more suitable
to the Chinese arbitrary taste^ than adapted
to show the trae tints of nature. The out-
lines are well decided and sharp: the colours
beautifal and pure, and have a very striking
and brillant effect, because the artist, ac-
cording to the nature of the parts, has in
some employed an opaque, and in others a
transparent gUss. The most delicate pencil
of the minature painter could not have
traced more accurately and distinctly either
the drde of the pnpil of the eye, or the
apparently scaly feathers on the breast an
wings, behind the beginning of which this
piece had been broken. But the admiration
of the beholder is at the highest pitch when,
by turning the glass, he sees the same bird on
the reverse, without perceiving any diffrrenott
in the smaller points ; whence we could not
but conclude that thia picture ia continued
throngh the whole thickness of the speci-
men, and that if the glass were cut trans-
versely, the same picture of the duck would
be found repeated in the several slabs ; a
conclusion which was still further confirmed
by the transparent places of some beautiful
colours upon the eye and breast that were
observed. The painting has on both sides
a granular appearance, and seems to have
been formed in the manner of mosaic works,
of single pieces, but so accurately united,
that a powerful magnifying glass was onabia
to discover any j unctures. This circnmstanoe
and the continuation of the picture through-
out the whole substance, renders it extremelj
difficult to form any direct notion of tha
process or manner of forming such a work ;
and the conception of it might have long
continued enigmatical, were it not that, ia
the section of the fracture mentioned, lines
are observable, of the same colours which
appear on the upper surface, that pervade
the whole mass from one side to the other ;
whence it became a rational conclusion, that
this kind of painting must have been ae-
cuted by joining variously coloured filaments
of glass, and subsequently fusing them into
one coherent body. The other specimen is
of almost the same sise, and made in the
same manner. It exhibits ornamental draw*
ing of white, green, and yellow colours^
which are traced on a blue ground, and re-
present volutes, beads, and flowers, retting
on pyramidally converging linea. All these
are are very distinct and separate, but so
extremely small, that even a keen eye finds
it difficult /o perceive the subtle endings ;
those, in particular, in which the volutes
terminate ; notwithstanding which, these
ornaments pass unintenruptedly throngh the
whole thickness of the piece."
CRANK AND JTULLIONS' PATKNT IMFROVB-
MKNTS IN THR If AN17FACTURR OF '* CRB-
TAIN ACinS AND SALTS."
[Patent dated January 18, 184S. Spedficadoa
enroUed May 18, 1848.]
The " certain acids " referred to ia the
title of the patent are the nitric and oxalie
adds, and the improvements in their manu-
facture may be described generally as con-
sisting in a mode of adding the matcriale
to be decomposed by degrees, as required,
to the mother liquor, which enables the
KAXSVIKIS't HSW BURXtlMI OIM, I.AHPS, BVKKBES, KTC.
49
<^ermtor to employ the fiqnon or materialff
tt a high temperature ; also in coBTerting
the oxides of nitrogen into nitric acid by the
deeompontion of water by meane of chlo-
rine.
The improTements in the manufacture of
ttlts eOBiists in oiidizing metallic snbttances
md mannfaftoring nitrates at the same time,
by bringing oxides of nitrogen and oxy-
gen gas, or atmospheric air, into contact
aith a metal or metallic oxide, or any alkidi
or alkaline earth; also in obtsiniog tar-
trates of the alkaline earths, by decompos-
ing the tartrates of potash by means of the
SD^^bsrets of the metallic base of those
earths ; and likewise in passing any of the
oxygen compounds of nitrogen, together
vfth any compound of hydrogen and carbon,
or any mixture of hydrogen with a com-
pound of carbon, or eren free hydrogen,
through a tube containing any catalytic or
eotttact anbstanee, such as platinum or
MJU C. r. If ANSrilLD'S PATENT IMPnOVB-
IfXJVTS IK TBB IfANUFACTURB AND
PUaiFl CATION OP SPIRITUOUS SUBSTAN-
CBS AND OILS APPLICABLB TO TBB PUR-
P08BS OF ARTIFICIAL LIGHT AND VA-
miOUS USBFUL ARTS, AND IN THB
APPLICATION THBRBOF TO SUCH PUR-
POSBS, AND IN THB CONSTRUCTION OF
. LAMPS AND BURNBRa APPLICABLB TO
TBB COMBUSTION OF SUCH SUBSTANCB8.
(Patent dated November U, 1847. Specification
oironed May 11, 1848.]
The specification of this patent is of ex-
traordinary length ; if given at length, it
would fill a couple of our numbers, at least.
For the following abstract of its multifarious
contents, we are indebted to the learned
patentee himself:
The iuTention is divided into fife parts,
wUch are, respectiTely —
1st. An improTement in the manufacture
of spirituous substances and oils.
2Bd. An improvement in the purification
of spirituous substances and oils.
3rd. An improvement in the application
of spirituous substances and oils to
the purposes of artificial light.
4th. An improvement in the construction
of lamps.
5th. An improvement in the construction
of burners.
TkM Fini Pari
1m a method of separating from tars, bitumi-
nous matters, and empyreomatie oils by dis-
tillation, hydrocarbona or spirituous sub-
staaees so volatile that they will yield suffid-
eot TBpovr to a current of noii-lwniiiiforoai
gas or common air passed through them, to
enable such gas or air to bum with a lumi-
noua flame ; and further, an applioatioii to
coal-tar, or to the substances distilled from
coal-tar, of a knowledge of the different vo-
latility of certain substances not hitherto
separated from each other, which exist in
the tar, so as to obtain certain distinct pro-
ducts ; and in the further manufacture from
certain of these products of a fragrant oil or
oils.
The products thus manufactured are sit ;
and for distinction are thus nsmed — allioli,
benzole, ioluole, eamphole^ mortuole, and
niirO'benzole.
AlHole is an extremely volatile fluid hy-
drocarbon, which is manufactured from cosl-
tar, or coal-naphtha, by rectifying them in
an apparatus similar to those used for the
rectification of alcoholic spirits. It is appli-
cable to all the purposes for which bensolo
may be used, but is more volatile.
Benzole is a hydrocarbon which boils at
176° Feb., being of the same volatility as
spirit of wine. It is manufactured in the
same manner as the alliole, by distilling a
little further. For many purposes it is use-
ful to receive these two fluids together. They
are both excellent solvents of gutta percha.
of India-rubber, of wax, of grease and oils of
all sorts, of mastic and many other resins, of
copal and Anim^, by exposing them to th^
vapour of the fluids, so that it shall condenser
upon the gums; of shell lac, by mixture
with alcoholic or pyroxyHc spirits ; of cam-
phor, sulphur, phosphorus, and many other
substances. Ihe solutions of gutta percha
or caoutchouc, or these mixed, when spread
on a smooth surface, leaves on drying, which
it does rapidly, a varnish, which may be
peeled off in the form of a thin membrane ;
or, spread on the skin, forms an excellent
plaster. They may be used as substitutes
for ether in various pharmaceutical pro-
cesses, and for many of the purposes to
which alcohol Is applied. Benzole, if in-
haled, acts in the same way as chloroform,
and either in procuring insensibility to pain.
It is applloable to the manufacture of per-
ftime, as described under " nitro-benxole.'^
Benzole and alliole form the part of coal-
tar, which ia separated troth It by treating
in the manner proposed for bituminous mat-
ters in general; and, equally with such
spirituous substances prepared from thestf
other tars is applicable to the production of
vapourized air, in the manner described in
the third part of the invention. It is also
particularly applicable to the manufacture of
fhel for vapour lamps, as described also in
the third part.
Thluole h less volatile than benzole, and
has nearly til the same properties as oosunon
44
Mansfield's new burmiho oil8» laupsi bu&hkrs, etc.
rectified coel-naphtba ; it consists ofeo much
of the light coal-naptha as remains after the
separation of the benzole by rectifioatioii»
and of the camphole, as described next. It
is less ToUtile than benzole, and more yoUl-
tile than oil of tarpentine ; and is applicable
to all the purposes of the best coal-naphtha,
when purified, as described in the second part
of the invention.
Camphole is obtained by distilling off the
toluole from the naphtha, and then rectify-
ing the residue. The time when the recdver
it to be changed is known by applying a
lighted match to the surface of samples taken
from the still- worm ; when such samples no
longer take fire on the surfisce, the camphole
is collected, till tiie temperature in the retort
has risen so high that solder melts on it, or
till oil heavier than water distils over. This,
when rectified, forms a substitute for cam-
phine, and is useful as a solvent, when a
very volatile fluid is not required. It is of
nearly the same qualities as oil of turpen-
tine.
MortwU is prepared by rectifying the
heavy or '< dead oil" of tar, reserving what
comes over between the temperatures about
330"" Fah. and 500'' Fah. When purified
according to the method of part second, it
forms a substitute for fixed oils in many
purposes to which they are applied ; and, by
mixture with spirit, as described in part
three, forms an exodlent lamp oiL It is alao
useful in makbg Tarnishes.
NitrO'bemxole is a fragrant heavy oil,
made by dinolving the light oils of ooal-tar,
for which rectified benzole is preferred, in
strong nitric add, and then diluting the add
with water, which separates the oil formed
by the process. This oil is useful as a sub-
stitute for oil of bitter almonds in perfuming
soap, or in flavouring confBctionary, and has
no poisonous properties.
7%i Second Part
Is a method of purifying and deodorizing
bituminous and empyreumatic oils, which is
partly applicable to sudi substances in gene-
ral, and psrtiy to some of the special sub-
stances manufactured according to the first
part of the invention.
The agents used In deodorizing the em-
pyreumatic oUs are nitric and nitro-hydro-
^oric adds, or their salts, mixed witii oU
of vitriol, and alkaline leys, the oils bdng
shaken with the adds and allowed to stand
in vessels containing them, and then dis-
tilled. The purification of the oils with
alkalies, which is particularly applicable to
the less volatile fluids in coal-tar, partiea-
larly to that which is called *' mortnole " in
the qMdfication, is conducted by digesting
the oUs with the alkaline solutions for a long
time at the bdling temperature of the eola-
tions, in an apparatua connstiog of a boiler
or digester, surmounted by a head or eon-
denser, in which all the vapours are Uqnifiad
again and retured into the digester.
The fluid called benzole is purified in
different methods according to the purpOM
for which it is required. If required for
the purpose of illumination, it is pniiiled
by nmply washing it with adds moeh di-
luted; if required for refined nses, it la
purified by treatment with ooneentratad
adds, as described for empyreasnatic oils in
general ; and is then further treated by re-
frigeration, by which it is solidified; it is
then, while solid, submitted to pressure at a
low temperature, by which means it is ob-
tained quite pure, and is now called " abao-
Inte benzole."
The T%ird Part
Conoemsthe application of volatile hydro-
earbons, and other spirituous subsCanoea
oontaining mudi carbon, to the purposea of
artificial ^ght, by mixing their vapour with
such gases or vapours as contain little car-
bon, so as to produoe a white light vritbout
smoke. This is accomplished in two me-
thods. The first is that of passbg a ear-
rent of atmospheric air, or of hydrogen,
carbonic oxide, or other non-luminiferoos
gases, through reservoirs to which hydro-
carbons or spirituous substances are siqp-
plied, whjdi contain so much carbon and
are so Tolatile as to give off to the camnt
of air so modi vapour that the air shall be
BoMed to bum with a white flame, at a
burner at a distance from the reeervoir. The
hydyro-carbonous fluid preferred for this
purpose is crude benzole, prepared froni
cod naphtha. The current of air, if atmo-
spheric dr be used, is obtained by any
known method of produdng a oontbiuona
flow of air through pipes, sudi as by bel-
lows or pumps, working mto ** gasonMters ;"
and the system ia applicable on a large scalOf
suited dther to the lighting of booses or
towns, or on a small scale, in whiofa the
whole appantus may be comprised in a table-
lamp. A table-lamp is also constructed, la
which the flame is made to supply itself, by
means of its own dnnght, with the vapor-
ized air wliich is burned.
The other method, in which the redoctloa
of carbon is effected, is by mixing the vola-
tile hydrocarbons with spirits containing leea
carbon, such aa alcohol, or pyroxylie apirit,
acetone, Aec. Of tliese spirits, pyrozyUc
spirit is preferred on aeoount of its eheiop-
nem ; and different hydroearbona are need
according to the sort of lamp-fad required.
For vapour lampe or portable gas lamps,
•ochas are already In am on the Ceotineot
OttTA PERCIIA PATBNTB.— NO. XII.
45
ht Miztsrat of dchol and of oil of tnrpen-
Unet bensole ii preferred on acoonnt of its
volatUHy. For eamphine lampi or commoa
Aigasd lamp* the ** camphole'' made from
eaal*tar la prefened. For ooarier lamps,
the •* ■Mrtaole"or rectified dead oil is used
k tkft Miztwe. All that is neoessary is to
obtain pyrozylic spirit soifideiitly fireo from
vaftsr to enable it to dissolve the oils, and
fbat to mix them in the required proper-*
tfona, and to keep the miztore so that the
sfkH shall not eraporate. The proportions
bsiB isr vspoor lamps are, two parts hj
BMSsme of pyrasylie spirit to one part of
ooal-naphliha or bensole.
2%e Fnurik Pari
Rsiitai to tfie mannhctnre of lamps for
the oonanutiott of the mixture of TolatUo
hydroearboos and spirits deseribed in the
niid Fstt. Tlio improTement consists of
Ibnning a bnmer whioh is either supplied
by a viek which fits it, or by a small quan-
ttty ef fluid kept at a eonstant levd in the
bvisr by pressure, so that the burner shall
piessnt a line stit-oriiloe or jet for the escape
of die YBponr or gas, at which jet the Ta-
ponr is to be ignited. These burners con-
att of two parts, a fixed wick-holder and a
BMneabla cap, by the adjustment of which
the sfam of the jet-slit is regulated. Hie'
bnraen are of various forms, and admit of
vaitooa me^fications ; the principle, which
la exhibited in the drawings attached to the
apec W ea t i o B, forming the subject of the
dafan. This part of the invention com.
prfaea alao the adaptation to the wick-holder
•f a eone within the reservoir, so as to
oowr chat part of the wick which is above
the fluid and below the wick-holder, and
thna to prevent evaporation from the surflice
•f tfaewidr.
Tk€ Fifth Pari
Gensiste of an improvement in the oonstruc-
tMtt of gas-burners, specially suited to the
esabosfion of gaa.or air charged with the
vsfKNir of volatUe hydrocarbons, according
totka mode described in the Third Part, and
alao to the combustion of ordinary illumina-
tingeoalgo. The burners are such that the
ssost perfect oombustion and whiteness of the
flanse may be insured by the adjustment of a
moveable part or parts of the burner. They
adasit of a variety of forms and construo-
tlons» and may be made as Argand burners
or aa single jets, drawings of several of which
are attadied to the specification. Tlie prin«
dple in all is the same. One or more parts
of the burner, which are caps made in the
form of cones and cylinders, are made to be
moveable by the hand on a fixed part, so as
to regulate with great nicety the sixe of the
orifice from which the gas eifiapes, by this
means altering the luminosity of the flame,
which is more or less luminous according
to the rapidity with which the vapourised
air or gas is brought into contact with the
snrroimding air.
OUTTA PBRCHA PATBNT8. — NO. XII.
[Patent dated December 30, 1847, for " Improve-
mentfl in the Treating or Manufkcture of Gutta
Pexcha, or anj of the varletiea of Caoutcbouc."* Pa-
tentees, Thomas Hancock, of Stoke Newington,
and Reuben Phillips, of Islington, Chemist. Spo-
eiflcation enrolled June SO, 1847.]
The patentees state that their improve-
ments consist in the dissolving of gutta per*
cfaa, or of any of the varieties of caoutchouc,
or of redndng any of them to a soft, pulpy,
and gelatinous state after they have under-
gone the process of " vulcanization or con-
version;" also in preparing or treating
unvulcanized or unconverted solutions of
any of these substances, so as to bring them
into a vulcanized or converted state ; and,
lastly, in the moulds employed in the mano-
focture of articles therefrom. The terms
''vulcanized," or ** converted," are used
to designate certain processes by which
these substances are rendered less liable
to be injuriously affected by exposure
to comparatively high temperatores, and
which were described, the first in the speci-
fication of a patent granted to Mr. Thomas
Hancoek,t Nov. 21, 1843, and the second
in that of a patent granted to Mr. Alex*
Parkes, August, 25, 18464
The patentees desire to be understood,
that when employing the term gutta perchs,
or any of the varieties of caoutchouc, as re-
ferring to all those substances known to the
Indians or natives of the country where they
are produced under the names of saikwah,
gutta tuban, gutta percha, jintawan, doUah,
&c., and in this country of bottle, root, sheet,
scrap, India* rubber, &c. In operating upon
any of these materials, which have previously
undergone the vulcanizing or converting
process, it is* preferred to use the cut-
tings or waste of them, as being an eco-
nomical application of what would otherwise
be uselesft. These cuttings, or waste, are
first submitted to the action of rollers or
other suitable machinery for reducing them
to shreds and then boiled in oil of turpen-
tine until reduced to the requisite consis-
tency. Other solvents may be employed,
* In a former patent of Mr. T. Hancock's (see
ante toI. xlviil., p. 452) the phraseology used was,
"gutta percha, and any of the oihsr varieties of
caoutchouc." We objected to this as conveying
something contrary to fact, and are now glad to see
that the mystiacation is not persisted in.— Ed.
M.M.
t See J/«cA. Mag., vol. xUi., pp. IIS and 150.
X See Mrck, Mog., vol. xlv.. p. 400.
46
WBVKLr LI0T8 OV NBW BNO^IflH PATBNT8 AND DBStONS.
•veh M cod naphtha, &o., but in that oaaa,
in order that the lolf enta may attain to a
degree of temperatnre tufficiently high to
diasoWe the material, cloae veaaela muat be
employed, for which reason oil of torpen-
tine is preferred.
No fixed mle, it is stated, can be given for
the gnidanoe of the workman to enable him
to determine the relative proportion of the
material to the solvent, the time for con-
ducting the operation, or the degree ot
temperatnre, on account of the varieties of
the material and the degree of vaicaniaatioa
or conversion to which it has been subjected ;
for these and other details he must rely upon
his own intelligence, and the result of actual
experience.
The rule which the patentees, however,
state that they have found to be the best,
nnder ordinary circumstances, is to just
eover the material, when prepared and placed
m the veasel, with the solvent, and then to
add about one-third more, and maintain the
mixture at the boiling point of oil of tur-
pentine for about from 15 to 30 minntea«
The consistency of the mixture may sub-
sequently be increased or ^miniabad bf
evaporating or by the addition of oil of
turpentine, coal-naphtha, or other solvent.
When the material haa been rendered hard
or homy by vulcanisation ,or oonversiota,
the time necessary to dissolve it orrednceit
to a soft pulpy state would be so long ••
to render the preoediog process worthleaa.
The mode of operating under the aeoond
head consists in mixing from eight to twelve
parts of sulphur with every 100 parte of
the solid material in aolution, and then anb-
jectiag the mixture to the neoessary d^p'ee
of heat to produce the vulcanised or ooa-
verted state.
The patentee mentiona numerooa appli-
oations of these solutions, among wUch
may be cited waterproofing, and the empiof •
ment of them as a mecUom for oolours Ia
painting and in printing calico, &c.
The improvement in moulds oonsista in
making them of a material eaaily aolnble at
low temperatures, such aa D'Aroet's mttal,
ace., so that they may be broken up and
easily removed from the moulded artioU
without injury to then^.
W»KLT LIST or NKW UTOUaH FATBHTf.
BUaabeth Daldn, of No. 1» 8L Paul's Chorch-
fMtd, LoDdou, widow, for improvemonU in
•leaning and roasting coffee, in the apparatus and
machinenr to be used ttierein, and also in the ap-
paratus for making Infusions and decoctions of
coffee. July 3 : six months.
Nathaniel Beardmore, of 13, Great College-
street, Westminster, for certain improvements in
founding and constructing walls, piers, and break-
waters, parts of which improvements are applicable
to other structures. July 8; six months.
John Martin, of Killylesgh Mills, Down, Ireland,
manufacturer, for improvements in preparing aud
dressing flax, tow, and other fibrous substances ;
•Ad doubling, drawing, twitting, flax, tow, and other
fibrous substanoes ; and In the maehinery to be
used for such purposes. Julytf; six months.
Joseph Clinton RoberUon, of 166, f leat-etieet,
London, civil engineer, for Improvements In the
manufacture of gas. (Being a communieatioa )
July 6; six months.
George Beattie, of £dinhuq(h, builder, for en
improved air -spring and atmospheric resisting
power. July ; six months.
William Edward Newton, of Chanoery-laoe,
Middlesex, for improvements In theconatnicdoB of
stoves, grates, furnaces, or flrcplsces, lor various
useful purposes. July 6; six months.
Knock Steel and WUllam Britten, of Jjunbetli,
Surrey, manufacturers, for improvements in 4ie
manufacture of tobacco-pipes. July 6 ; six months.
WnKLT LIST OV DB8IGN8 FOE AnnOLBS OV UTILITT RBOTSraRBD.
Date of No. In *
|Ugtstra-the Re-
tion. gister. Proprietors' Names. Addresses. Sul^ectsof DetiffBt.
Henry Donington Nottlnghaa ••#«...«•..*. Hat-baod.
Francis WlUetts Bas-
sano Birmingham Roof-lamp.
Robert and Francis
Grassby Marton, HuU .«....«... Thnshing-maeUae. ^
Davidson and Arm-
strong Manchester Spindle-valve for pumps.
Arthur Hill Holme Liverpool Improved snfety-valye box Ibr
steam boilers.
WUllam Hill Greenwich .^ Flue boUer.
Henry John Fry and
Wm. Downs Phlpps Sloane-street, Chelsea Klaatic spring boot.
Charles Marben ^ Warren-street, Fltzroy-square... Saddle.
Woods and Thomas Cheapslde .„„ ^ Secure hook and flexible ditii
fastener.
Charles Greenway Park-street, Qrosvenor-square... Stock.
June 29
SO
1482
1483
Julyl
1464
»»
1486
„
1486
4
1487
1488
•»
1489
1490
1491
At>VfiliT»BMBNT8. 47
GUTTA PBRCHA COMPANirB WORKS*
WHARF ROAD, CITY ROAD,
London, Ut April, 1848.
rpQE OUTTA PERCH A COMPANY have great pleasure in stating that the iteadilyinereaaing demaud
' tor the Patsmt Gvtxa PsacHA Dritiko Bauds Justifica the utmost confldenoe that they are Ailly
apOTOTed.
Their durabilitr and strength— permanent contractility and anifamity of evbstaoce^their oon-suscep-
tihility of injury horn contact with Oils, Grease, Acids. Alkalies, or Water— and the facility with which the
single joint required can he made in Bands uf any length— render them supeiior lor almost all working
parpoees, and decidedly economical.
Goxrfwaas, Tvaiwoofallsiaes, Bouoiss, Cathstxks,Ststhsscopxs, and other Surgical Instruments;
llouu>ivo8 fOA PicTUAS FaAXBS Slid Other decorative purposes; Wbips, Txokos; TaKMXS, Qohw, and
CucKKX Balls, &c, in great variety.
Patent Gutta Percha Shoe Soles.
The applicability of Gutta Percha Soles for Bo<3ls and Shoes having been extensively and satisfactorily
tested, we can unhesitatingly reeoromend the material prepared lor this parpose, Its merits having been
aekaowledged by all who have tried it. Indeed, experience has proved that Gutta Percha Soles wear twice
as long aa laathei't with great additional personal comfort; and they remain petfeotiy imptnrietw to wet
lotil Quite worn throu^.
Boot and Shoe Soles for Svininer Wear.
The ihet of the total imperviousness of these Soles to water, enables the most delicate, by the use of
them, to e»eape ihe suffering which the proverbial uncertainty of our climate, xvkv in SoMii xa, so often
inAicta upon the incautious, and thii etkct may be secured by a Sole so thin and light, aa to afford to the
wearer a degree of ease and comfort hitherto unattainable, in conjunction with security against damp.
Ai Ikd *amt itwte, ike remarkabU non-conducting propertiM of Gutl* Percka afford a tnosi taiuabte pro-
teeUom to fAsM wko are tubjeeted-io guffertng or ineonvenienee kg walking npon keated pavement*.
The question of the durability of Gutta Percha Soles, as compared with Leather, has long since been
decided In favour of the Former; and no instance of fsdlnre has yet come to Uie know-
ledge of tbe Company widch may not be aaeribed to a ne^l^ct of their printed
IMrections.
TestimoiiiaLi relating to Shoe Solea.
*' Of all the discoveries and inventions which have hitherto been brought into notice for (he purpose of
piesenring the feet from damp, nothing l» comparable, either in cheapness or effioieocy, to Gutta Percha.
Gaedenera especially, whMe daily occupations bccasion them to be much in the open air, and working or
standLoig on wet ground, will find this pliable and simple substance of infinite value. The natural caution
which one usually feels with respect to new things, especially when they come verg Mgkly recommended,
presented us from listening with much attention to what we regarded as pretended excellencies. llV'e w«re,
nowever, Induced to make the trial of a pair of ' Gutta Percha Soles,' and after the experiment of betwixt
two and three months of daily wear, we think it right, for the sake of others, to say the Gutta Percha Soles
are, for dryness and warmness to the feet, incomparable to anything we have ever tried. In point of dura-
bility, It is equal, and, we think, superior to leather."— 6arif«nef«' and Farmer^ Journal, February 12,
1MB.
{Copg.) Lowndes-street, I2th November, 1847.
Mt obae Sir, — I have for some time worn the Quita Pereha Solee, and am very happy to bear testi-
mony to the admirable qualities of this substance for the purpose of Shoe-making, for it is not only very
dufable, but perfectly impervious to wet.
The Gutta Percka, 1 find, poi>setscs properties which render it invaluable for winter shoes, li is, com-
martd wilk Leatker, a tlow conductor oj heat ; the efiiect of this is, that the warmth of the feet is retained,
nowever cold the surface may bo on which the person stands, and that clammy dampness, so objectionable
in the wear of India Rubber shoes, is entirely prevented. On flr»t using Gutta Percha shoes, the wearer
b forcibly struck with the superior warmth and comfort which is produced by this non-conducting property,
and I confidently predict that all those who try Gutta Percha will be steady customers.— 1 am, my dear
8tr, yttj truly yours, . JAMES C. GUMMING, M.D.
To C. Hancock, Esq., the Gutta Percha Company.
QxKTLXMxv,— I have given the GuUa Percha Boot Solee what may be considered a fair trial ; namely,
three months' constant wear on a rough gravelly road, and can bear testimony to Its usefulness : wiik proper
core in putting them on, and a little attention afterwards, I am persuaded it will last longer than leather,
and, being impervious to vet, will be found invaluable to persons subject to damp or cold feet. W. DIAR,
November 4th, 1847. Principal Officer U. M. Customs, WhitsUble.
(Copy.) Mancheater, 1st March, 1848.
Bib,— In the month of August last I began to wear a pair of Qntta Percha Soles, put on by my ikther,
who la a shoemaker, No. IS, Port-street, and have worn them every day since, being upwards of six
months, and 1 am certain that, if the upper leathers were not worn out, the soles would wear a month
longer. They have out-worn three pairs of heels, which had strong iron nails beat in.— Yours, &c.,
(Signed) ALFRJilD LAMB,
Porter at Findlater aud Mackie's, Exchange Arcade, Manchester.
To Mr. Henry Statham, 11, Corpotation- street.
{Copg.) Manchester, 8th March, 1848.
8ia,'It Is with pleasure that I bear testimony to the good qunlitles of Gutta Pf rcha Soles. You are
aware that my occupation requires me to be on foot a great deal upon all kinob of roads and In all weathers
and »ince I began to iKcar Gutta Percha Soles, I have nut had to complain of wet oi cold feet: the pair I
have on now have been in almost daily use for more than lour months, and ry fear is that the 'upper
leathers will be worn out first. 1 am quite sure that I save irom thirty to fifty per cent. In the cost of
shoes, in consequence of my family wearing Gutta Percha Soies, and, so long as I can get them, I intend to
wear them In preference to anything eUe 1 have seen.— Yours respectfully, THOMAS WHITEHEAD,
To Mr. Henry Statham, 11, Corporation- street. Gas Ofllce, Town Hall, King- street.
48
ADVERTISEMENTS.
To Inventors and Patentees.
MESSRS. ROBERTSON 8c CO.,
PATSHT SOLICITOKB,
(Of wUch firm Mr. J. C. ROBERTSON, the
EoxTOJt of the MscH AVICI' Maoaxxmx from Its
commencement In 1638» it principal partner,)
undertake
The procnratlon of Patents
For England, Scotland, Ireland, and all Foreign
Countrlef , and the transaction generally of all busi-
noM relating to Patzmts.
Speelfleatlons Drawn or Rerised.
DU0LATMBR8, AND MBMOaANDUMS OF
ALTBBATION PRBPAKBD AND BNEOLLBD.
Caveats Entered and Oppositions
Oondncted.
CONFIRMATIONS AND PROLONGATIONS
OF PATENTS SOLICITED.
Searehee made for Patenti, and Copies or
Abstracts Supplied.
Advice on Oases submitted^ dte. die.
MBBtas. ROBERTSON & CO.
POSSESS THE ONLY COMPLETE REGISTRY
OF PATENTS EXTANT,
Commencing a.d. 1617(15 James I.) and regularly
continued down to the present tinnr-
The Railway Record^
(EDITED BY JOHN ROBERTSON, M.A.,)
IS published early CTerr Saturday Morning, and
contains full and exclusive Reports of all Rail-
wnr Meetings, with the Official Documents in fUll ;
Rallwsy Law Cases, Railway Share Lists, and
Traffic Returns, and all matters affecting Railway
Proprietors. It is considerably larger than any
other Railway Paper, and is exclusively devoted to
this branch of enterprise.
The Bailwaif Record will be found a peculiarly
eligible medium for Advertisers of all articles con«
nected with Rallwav Companies, and all matters,
whether of use or luxury, which it is sought to
bring under the notice of Capitalists.
Price 6d.sUmped; Office, 15S, Fleet-street,
London.
TO ARCtflTECTsT BUILDERsT&cT
Coppei^wire Cord*
RS. NEWALL & Co.'s PATENT IMPROVED
• COPPER-WIRE CORD for WINDOW SASH
LINES, Hot-houses, Lightning Conductors, Hang-
ing pictures. Clock-cord, and various other purposes
for which hempen rope has hitherto been used. This
new and valuable Patent is ftst superseding the use
of the hempen cord, and is strongly recommended
to all Builders and other parties coonected with
the above. The Wire-cord may be had wholesale,
and specimens seen at the Office of the Patentees,
No. 16S, Fenchurch-street, W. T. ALLEN, Agent,
or retail of G. and J. DEANE. 46, King William-
street, and E. PARKS, 140, Fleet street; also of
all respectable Ironmongers.
Now ready, price 2s.,
A Glossary of Minlnc; adn
Smelting Terms,
Used in EnglUh and Foreign Mining Districts.
PUBLISHED at the Office of the Mining Jbut^
naif 26, Fleet-street, London ; and may be had
of John Weale, 59, High Holborn; and through aU
booksellers in town and country.
To Engineers and Boiler-
Makers*
LAP- WELDED IRON TUBES, FOR MARINK
AND LOCOMOTIVE STEAM-BOILERS,
Tubes for Steam, Gas, and other purposes;— all
sorts of Oas Fittings. The Birmingham Patent Iron
Tube Company, 42, Cambridge-street, BirminghanB,
and Smethwick, StaifordshiriB, mannlacture Boiler*
and Gas Tubes, under an ezdnsive License tnm
Mr. Richard Prosser, the Patentee.
These Tubes are extensively used in the Boilers
of Marine and Locomotive Steam Engines In
England and on the Continent;— «re Stronger,
Lighter, Cheaper, and more Durable than Bcaaa or
Copper Tubes, and are warranted not to open In
the weld.
42, CAMBRIDGE-STREET, CRESCENT,
BIRMINGHAM.
Works— Smethwick, Staffordshire.
LONDON WAREHOUSE— No. 68,' UPPBR
THAMES-STREET.
NOTICES TO CORBBSPONDEHTS.
A corretpondeni would be obliged to " Forreeter "
to favour kim {through our medium) with hie ad*
drete.
Mr. Dredg^e paper on the Sea Wall queetion U
witheld at hierequeet, for the purpose of making e ^
addUione to iL
CONTENTS OP THIS NUMBER.
Description of the System of Ventilating adopt-
ed at the Model Prison, Peotonville— <»«*
engrovingt) .•...•••••.•..•••••>«. .•m«.m...*......».m« 25
Method of Welding Iron, Steel, and Sheet Iron M
Method of bringing out Sculpture upon Ala-
baster 80
On a certain Arabic Manuscript. By James
Cockle. Esq., M.A SO
Recent Amencan Patents SI
Description of Harrison's Railway Cbidr-pln
Pressing Machiue--(tpi<A engravinqe) > 81
The Dover Harbour of ReAige.— Sir Samuel
Bentham's Mode of Constructing Sea Walls 88
Mr. W. B. Johnson's Roller Eccentric— Im-
provement Buggested ............^ 85
Low's Patent Improvements in the Manufac-
ture of Copper ...M Z$
Arthur's Decimal Money, Weights, and Mea-
sures 35
Description of Mr. E. Humphry's Patent Im*
provements in Steam Enfflnes, and in En-
gines or Apparatus for Raising, Exhausting,
and Forcing Fluids— (wiM engraioing) ^ 86
Design for a Roury Steam Engine. By Mr.
Stephen Sharp ^ 87
The Gresham I^ofessoTBhips «m. 88
Dr. Branson's Mode of Electro- Pain ting 41
The Venetian Glass Weights 48
Mr. C. P. Mansfield's Patent Improvements In
the Manufacture and Purification of Spiritu-
ous Subttances snd Oils, and in the Applica-
tion thereof to Lighting, &c.— Abstract Speci-
fleation 48
The GutU Percha Patents.— No. XII. 45
Weekly List of New English Patents 46
Weekly List of New Articles of Utility Regis-
tered ._.. 46
Advextisements ^ m. ...... 47
LONDON: Edited, Printed, and Published, by
Joseph Clinton Robertson, of No. 166, Fleet-
street, in the City o.f London.— Sold by A. and
W. Galignani, Rue Vivienne, Paris; Machin and
Co. Dublin ; W. C. Campbell and Co., Hamburgh.
MUSEUM, REGISTER, JOURNAL, AND GAZETTE.
No. 1301.]
SATURDAY JULY 15, 1848. [Price 3<f., Stamped, id.
Kdittd hj J. C. RobOTttoB, IM, Fleet-itrect.
DR. ALBAN'8 IMPROVED STEAM BOILER.
Kg. I.
TOL. XLIX.
50
DR. AtBAN'S lUPEOVBO 8TBAM B0ILBK>
Thb boiler is divided into three principal
parts, Tiz :
SA.) The generating or boiling tubes.
B.) The vessels which serve to lead the
steam away from the tabes, and to supply
them with water : these vessels I denomi-
nate heart 9 {Herzen),.
(c.) The separators and receivers.
In order to facilitate the explanation I
will first give a general description, and will
subsequently explain the oonatmotion of
the several parts in detail.
Ca.) The 'generating tubee are formed
of sheet copper, one line in thickness, and
joined with hard solder {Schlageloth). They
have 4 inches external diameter, and may
be from 4 feet 3 inches to 6 feet 3 inches in
length, as more or less heating surface is
required. They have at the back end an
opening for cleansing them, closed by a screw
cover. Their front ends are screwed upon
the back plate of the heart, in such a way
as to be easily removable in case of neces-
sity ; as I for example when a tube is worn
out and has to be replaced by a new one.
The interior space of the tube communi-
cates with that of the heart by two oval
openings bored through the back plate of the
latter, one above the other. The upper one
serves to carry away the steam from the
tube to the heart ; the lower one, to intro-
duce the feed water in a contrary direction.
In order to give the vapour a tendency to
stream towards its exit openings, the tubes
are laid a litde on the incline, the back end
being, in a length of 4 feet, about half or
three-quarters of an inch lower than the
front end.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a
boiler and furnace on this principle, the
dimensions being given for a boiler of 10
horse -power, a a, are the generating
tubes; aa, their back or lower ends, shut by
the screw covers ; at &d they are connected
to the back plate of the heart, b ; c and d
are the oval openings between the hearts
and the tubes. The inclined position of the
tubes is seen in this figure.
I lay the tubes in eight rows or tiers, one
over another, and in such wise that the tubes
of each row stand over the interstices be-
tween those of the row immediately below.
Four alternate rows consist of one tube
less than the other four, this inequality
• From Parts III. and VI. of Dr. Alban's work
on " The High Pressure Steam Engine," just pub-
lished by Mr. Weale. We reviewed Parts I. and
II. at the time of their appearance —see vol. xlvi.,
p. 569 — and shall tfike an early opportunity of be-
stowing our critical attention on these concluding
parts.
being a consequence of the position; I
arrange them in such a manner that the
lowest row has the greater number. The
space between the tubes I have made about
\\ inch (a). Between the outside tubes of
the widest rows, and the vertical walls of
the furnace, I allow three-quarters of an
inch space. The manner in which th^ fire
current plays among the tubes is easily seen
in the figure. «
The hmrtSy as I term them (6), aie flat
chambers, from 6 to 8 inches deep. Their
height in the clear should in all cases readi
40 or 42 inches ; their width depends on the
number of tubes in the several rows; the
rule obtains that they should be from 8 to
12 inches wider, in the dear, than the out-
side width of one of the widest rows. The
object of this will appear presently. Hie
hearts are constructed of iron ; their sides I
make usually of cast iron, of such strength
as to remove all danger; wrought iron, how-
ever, may be used. The front and back
plates are of very strong wrought iron plate*
the former \ inch, the latter | inch thick.
They are so tied together by several rows of
strong iron bolts, that no bending or bulging
out is possible (c.) They are also screwed
to the side plates with a proportionate num-
ber of bolts, equally strong. The joint ia
made for the back plate with the ordinary
iron cement, and for the front plate with
lead, as the latter has to be opened for
deaning.
The hearts have the form of a rectangular
parallelogram, with the angles of the interior
a little rounded. In most cases their height
is greater than their width, inasmuch as a
greater number than six tubes in one row is
not to be recommended.
The generating tubes fit into an annular
groove sunk in the back plate of the heart.
The oval openings which form the commu-
nication between the heart and the tubes,
must come as close as possible to the upper
and lower surfaces of the interior of the
(a) I have more lately found that this distance
may be Increased with advantage, to facilitate in
a greater measure the cleaning of the spaces be-
tween the tubes. I purpose to increase it to 2, or
even 2^ inches, and to provide openings in the side
wall of the furnace, through which proper instru-
ments may be introduced for the purpose of clean-
ing. They must, of course, be tightly closed when
the furnace is in action.
(6) This term appeared to me suitable, because
these parts are the means of producing a proper
circulation of the water through the tubes and other
parts of the boiler, in the same manner as the heart
Is of the blood in the human organism.
(e) I have never found the least bulging of these
plates, even with a pressure of 150 lbs. to the square
inch.
t>B. ALB AN S IMPROVED ITEAM BOILER.
51
tobe : this it particularly necessary with the
upper openings, in order that the steam may
pass Jreely away. The size of these open-
ings is H inch in the longer and 1 inch in
the shorter diameter. The manner in which
the tubes are secured to the heart is ex-
plained further on.
Fig.
The internal construction of the heart is
peculiar, and of much importance. It is
shown in fig. 2 in longitudinal section, look-
ing towards the back plate and the tubes^
the latter being represented by dotted lines t
a a and bb are the upper and lower oval
openings leading from the heart to the tiibai«
2. '
A ^j-iiii, yUtx\ui (Mi^/i, ■ ,^ruf "rfi <U<t<U*iiUi*«^M^ A \j \
r'-^o
\ Vj g / ^-^y '^-ft-'
Kcmo^'
o
O'.
K>'
vp^e^
—> — ^/ ''
The upper one, which may be called the
tteam opening, is to allow the steam to pass
from the tabes to the heart ; the lower one,
or feed opening, is to introduce the feed
water in the opposite direction, ccc are
cflfision plates, of strong wrought iron, fas-
tened steam-tight to the back plate by small
ears and screws, and projecting so as to
fom also a joint as nearly tight as possi-
ble with the front plate (d) when this is
screwed on : these plates are curved in the
form shown in the figure, dividing the heart
into several channels, e e. The use of these
divisions is to guide the steam issuing out
(d) If this Joint should not be perfectly tight, it
is of no serious consequence, as experience has
shown.
52
DR. ALBAN's improved STEAlf BOILBie.
I
i
of the steam openings, a a, into the vertical
channel, /, and to keep it out of the way of
the feed openings, b 6, that the proper
water supply may not be interfered with.
The width of this channel, /, depends npon
the number of tubes in the rows. I allow
for every tube in one of the wides( rows, one
inch width of channel. The steam passes,
carrying usually some water with it, from
the channel, /, up the pipe, df into the
separators.
It remains to show how the circulation is
completed: t is a pipe (which, when the
sides of the heart are of cast iron, may be
cast with them) passing vertically down the
side opposite the pipe, d, and opening about
3 inches from the bottom of the vessel;
through this a stream of water constantly
descends from the receivers above, turning
up the channel, h, and gradually supplying
the place of that carried away in mixture
with the steam, as well as introducing itself
through the feed openings, 66, ^inco the
tubes, to supply the evaporation. The
arrows in the figure will clearly explain how
the circulation proceeds, and it will easily
be understood how the steam, collecting
by its own levity in the upper part of the
chambers, e e, is guided away by the pecu-
liar form of the division plates, without
interfering with the water in the lower part
of the chambers, or impeding the flow of the
supply to the tubes. The steam, as may
easily be imagined, carries upwards water
mechanically mixed with it, and this is sup-
plied by a gradual reflux, partly from the
space, ff, and partly from the chambers, e e.
The depth of the heart from the front to
the back plate should be such that the steam
may not form too deep a sheet at the upper
part of the chambers, eeil allow for every
tube in one of the widest rows li inch
'U^jitU of the heart. Some space should be
Icit at the top and bottom of the vessel, the
iotniGT sfarring for steam and the latter for
water room. ^
e is i\ !)top-cock for emptying the boiler :
f h a smaller one, situated 1 inch above
thp level of the uppermost row of tubes ; it
serves as a gauge-cock in case of the usual
tf [Iter flange in the receiver standing very
Xo-Wf nnd when doubt is entertained (before
firi^ ii ]nit under the boiler) whether any of
tha tubes nre dry. If water flows from this
^ocb, Ihv vessel may be heated, especially
a« the lovtjl rises when the water begins to
boiJ.
i'lotn th!J upper part of the heart rise
twn ptfirsr of wluch incidental mention has
nlr«<ni1y be«a made. One of these serves to
r^nrrf Jtwuy the steam from the heart into the
it^itimli}Ti ; and its cross section, an oblong
j-ecUuglc, must have its dimensions propor*
tionate to the steam-generating snrfiscd Of
the tubes ; namely, for every 10 square feet
of surface, the pipe should have about I
square inch area in the clear. This pipe
has a curved flanoh by which it is fastened
with screw-bolts to the separator, and the
joint made tight with iron cement. If the
sides of the heart are of cast iron, this pipe,
as well as the following one may be cast
upon them.
The other pipe is of smaller area, viz. 1
square inch to every 25 square feet of heat-
ing surface. In every other respect it re-
sembles the former one. Its use has been
already explained, namely, to lead back the
water into the heart. When the sides are of
wrought iron, this tube must be a separate
wrought iron one inserted into the heart, and
reaching nearly to the bottom.(«)
The separators and receivere are always
of wrought iron, formed of plates one-fourth'
to three-eighths of an inch thick, well rivet-
ed together, and provided with strong cast
iron end covers, similar to those in my
first-described boiler. The diameter of these
vessels must never exceed 18 inches, thit
si^e being sufficient for the largest boiler.
If only one heart is used, one separator
and one receiver of small diameter are sof-
ficieot ; but when much power is wanted, it
is better to make use of more hearts than to
increase the number of tubes beyond six in
each row ; two of these with tubes 6 fbet 3
inches long, and six in number in the
lowest row, furnish steam enough for an
engine of GO-horse power.
The separators and receivers are both of
equal dimensions, and are placed horizon-
tally, as shown in the figures. The pipe
which conveys the steam from the heart
enters at the front end of the separator, c,
while the steam and the water are carried
from the back end into the receiver d ;— the
former by the pipe m connecting the upper
part, or steam space, of the two vessels
together ; the latter by the tube n, forming
a communication between their lower or
water spaces. Both those connecting tubes
are of equal area, namely, 1 square inch to
25 square feet of heating surface of the
tubes. The steam is carried to the engine
from the Aront end of the receiver, while
the water descends, also from that end, by
the pipe h into the heart, to supply the place
of that evaporated and carrieid up in me-
chanical mixture with the stream. The re-
ceiver is also provided with a safety-valve
or valves, and an index float, all similar to
those formerly described. These as well as
(e) These two pipes mifrht, to keep up the ana-
lo^y, be called an artery aiid a vein respectively. -
Tr.
WALKBfiS PATENT HYDRAULIC ENGIKE.
5a
tlie Bteam-pipe ihonld be as near the front
end as possible, where the water is most at
rasL
Tlie dimensions and proportions of the
separators and receivers depend on the cubic
content of the hearts. I have adopted very
simple mles on this point, and hare found
tbeni to answer all my expectations and re-
quirements, although this boiler is yet com-
pantiTely in its infancy. As far as my ex-
perience has at present gone, I recommend
that the cubic content of the separators and
reeehere combined, should be equal to the
sum of that of the hearts and generating
tubes. Hie length should exceed that of the
boikir-tiibea by one-half, and when much
room is required, the number should be in-
creased, rather than tliat they should ex-
ceed 18 inches in diameter.
A large boiler of this description,
whicii I have already constructed for an en-
gine of 30-horse power, has two hearts,
each with twenty-eight tubes, lying in eight
rows, one above another ; and I have used
two separators, with a single receiver be-
tween them, and connected with the hearts.
Hus boiler has not only fulfilled, but far
exceeded my eiqpectations ; the heat is so
perfectly ^plied, the steam production so
regular, the water level so quiet, and the
whole so safe, trustworthy, and convenient,
that its advantages in tiiese respects can
sddom be equalled in the most perfect
boflers of the ordinary construction.
Ihe action of this boiler has already in a
great measure been explained. The tubes
abstract tiie heat from the fire current passing
among them, and impart it to the water
within. The steam collects in the upper
party and passes through the upper oval
openings into the heart ; an operation facili-
tated by the inclined position of the tubes.
The steam having reached the interior of
the heart, follows the direction given it by
the division plates, flowing upwards and
sideways in the canal, /^ and thence by the
pipe, d, into the separator. When the dimen-
sions are suitably proportioned, this goes on
without much disturbing the water in the
lower part of the channels, e e, which con-
stantly covers the lower ovfd opening, allow-
ing the water at all times to flow into the
tabes to supply the evaporation. This
water, may, however, gently follow in some
measure the direction of the current of
the steam, being supplied constantly afresh
firom the canal, h, and pipe, t. The steam,
when it reaches the pipe,/, rises unhindered
throu|^ that and the pipe, dt into the sepa-
rator, and in so doing carries water along
with it, causing a strong ebullition in the
fore end of the separator. Since, however,
the water surface in this vessel is of con-
sldenble extent, the steam, passing towards
the hinder part of the vessel, finds room to
develope itself, separating continually more
and more from the water, and at the back
end this separation becomes complete. The
steam and water then pass quietly through
their respective pipes, m and n, into the
receiver, in which a perfectly quiet water
level is maintained, both fluids moving gra-
dually towards the fore end, where the
steam is carried off to the engine, and the
water is returned to the heart, to pursue its
labyrinth-like way as before. The water
thus follows a constant circulation, from the
h^art into the separator, from this into the
receiver, and back into the heart again.
I have found this arrangement perfectly
satisfactory, not only in preventing water
being carried with the' steam to the engine,
but also in retaining a perfectly quiet water
level in the receiver, even when the water
surface bore but a very small proportion to
the evaporation. How seldom oitlinary tu-
bular boilers fulfil these conditions is well
known.
walkbr's patent btDbaulic enginb.
We had the pleasure of inspecting this
week a hydraulic steam engine of a new con-
struction, lately patented by Mr. John
Walker, already so well and favourably
known to the public for his water elevator
and other clever hydraulic contrivances (see
vol. xli. 373—390, vol. xUii. 430.) With-
in one framework, covering a space of no
more than 4 feet square, there is included
not only the hydraulic engine itself, but a
steam engine for working it. There are two
steam-cylinders, each 11 inches in diameter,
and immediately beneath them are two water-
cylinders, each 24 inches hi diameter. From
the cross-heads above the steam-cylinders,
and attached to thb steam-pistons, connect-
ing-rods pass down, and are bolted to plat-
forms which carry the water-pistons. The
water-cylinders are open at the bottom, and
are immersed in a cast-iron well, fitted with
sluices, to admit water applicable for dram-
ing. The water-cylinders terminate at the
upper part in a capacious valve-box, com-
municating with the delivery-main, which ib
also furnished with sluice-doors for dis-
charging the water inland or outwards. The
valves in the water-cylinders and pistons are
of a novel and excellent construction ; con-
sisting of a large number of rolled iron
tubes, which lie in circular seatings across
the piston, rising and falling in guides which
limit their motion. By this arrangement a
very free passage is aflForded to the water,
and the valve acts without the slightest
shock, even when the engine is working at a
high velocity. The steam-cylinders are sin-
gle acting, steam being admitted alternately
54
THV MODEL I0D0IN6 HOUSES FOB THE WOEKINO CLASSES.
between them, by a sUde-Tahre worked by an
eccentric on tbe crank-shaft, which connects
the two steam-pistons, and carries a fiy*
wheel to regulate the action of the engine.
With the steam at a pressure of 35 lbs.
per inch, an engine of this sort is stated to
be capable of raising no less than 6,000
gallons of water 8 feet high per minute ;
and Mr. Walker is in the habit of contract-
ing with his customers that such shall be the
duty performed.
The great power of this engine, combined
with the; simplicity of its action and small
liability to derangement, recommend it as
peculiarly suitable for dndnage and irri^-
tion ; operations which are commonly most
required where expert hands are scarce. A
common farming labourer may be made a
perfect master of such an engine as this in a
week's time.
CVTLS&'S PATENT LAP WBLDED lEOIT
TUBES.
[Patentee, Job Cutler, of Birmingham, C. E.
Patent dated January 15, 1848, for certain Improve-
ments in Welded Iron Pipes or Tubes to be Used as
the Fines of Steam Boilers. Specification enrolled
July IS, 1848.]
The patentee states that the object of hia
iuTention Is to produce lap-welded iron
tnbet or pipes, so formed as to give increased
straigth to those parts which are exposed
to wear, without additional weight to the
entire length of the tube, and thereby to
obriate the evila to which boiler tubes are at
present exposed. He proposes to effect this
by making the internal diameter of the tube
greater at one end than at the other, instead
of its being the Same or uniform throughout,
as has hitherto been the case; the txtemal
diameter remaining, howcTer, the same, and
uniform throughout the entire length of the
tube. The tube will, of course, be cylindri*
cal upon the exterior, and conical upon the
interior surfMe. The increased thickness of
metal at the one end is to be drawn firomthe
remaining portion of the entire length of the
tnbe. And further, the operation is effected
at one heat, so that the ductility of the iron
of wliich the tubes are composed shall re-
main unimpaired.
The modm optrtmdi is as fbllows : — ^The
patentee employs a series of grooTcd rolls,
moved by suitable toothed wheels and a
mandril, with a conical bulb or head, the
stem of which is of increasing diameter to-
wards the opposite end. I^e skelp, after
being properly prepared , as is usual in the ma-
nufacture of lap-welded iron tubes, is heated
and passed between the first of the series of
rolls. It is then welded over the conical
bulb and forced, at the same time, over the
stem of the mandril. The mandril is held
by a grip, attached by a hinge thereto in a
stop, so as to allow of its being lowered and
passed, after the conical bulb has been re-
moYed, between the second series of rolls ;
the diameter of the groove of which is
smaller than that of the first series. The
tube, with the mandril still inside, is then
passed through the third series of rolls ; the
groove of which is smaller than that of the
second series. The object of these succes-
sive rollings, after the skelp has been welded
on the mandril, is to remove any irregu-
larities upon either of the surfaces, and to
make the edges of the tube perfectly smootk
and uniform. The tube is then taken to the
drawing bench, in front of which is .a stop»
and against which the pipe rests. Tlie stop
is furnished with a hole to allow of tlfe
passage of the grip of the mandril, which is
held tight by a pair of pliers, and, the bench ,
being made to move while the pipe remains
stationary, the mandril is withdrawn.
When it happens that the mandril adheres
too lightly to the tube, it is proposed to heat
it in a muffle or furnace, then to cool the end
which rests against the stop, and repeat the
above operation, or to roll it cold between
three rollers, as is usually done in straighten-
ing shafting.
— ♦ —
TBE MODEL LODGING HOUSES POK THB
WORKING CLASSES.
To the Lord AtMey.
My Lord,-*Report speaks of yon as a
'' proud, good, honourable man." Yott
have found fame throughout the land— fame
for benevolence ; but that is a very cheap
virtue — scarcely a rirtue at all* it is so mvdbi
of a pleaaure. He must be a horrible
tigrine beast who feels, pleasure in malevo-
lence, to say nothing of the trouble it most
give ; but benevolence is really so easy, so
pleasant an after-dmner, wine and walniita
accompaniment, Such an ornament of th^
tea-table, that I cannot conceive a geatle-
man willing to exist without it. T6 pat a
chubby ploughboy on the head, or rituperste
" Moses " in behalf of distressed semp-
stresses, is positively amiable, and at the
same time pleasant exercise. There can be
no doubt about the benevolence.
Beneficence^ my Lord, is a virtue of ui-
other character, of much sterner stnff— itis
the difference between willingi or rather
wishing and doing, and not merely doing,
but doing effectively. When the warmth of
your temperament prompted you to embark
in the needlework line for the purpbse of
shaming Moses by your higher wages, yon
gave much gladness to those you employed,
for the time you employed them, and to the
numerous class of benevolent people Hr
and near, who found in your deeds subject
for much pleasant conversation. But it did
not last, it could not last, for it was based
on a fallacy; your doing ynM not effiwtiTey
THE MODEL LODGING HOl^^ES FOR THE WORKIKG CLASSES.
55
your money was wasted, and your intended
beneficence proved to be only a beneYolence,
raising false hopes which were doomed to
nHimate disappointment. Beneficence is
not diUUanie work, whatever benevolence
may be, saying nothing of ostentation.
A gentleman named Brooke, under the
impulse of benevolence, embarked his pri-
vate fortune in a ship and crew, and, un-
aided and unsanctioned, save by his own
great heart, determined to rescue a race of
savages from the thraldom of ignorance and
vice, and found a new empire. With cou-
rse undaunted, intellect unclouded, skill
naing with the emergency, he was success-
fal in his enterprise, and became an eastern
ptinoe by the voluntary election of the
people. He was a truly beneficent man.
Btitain hath no worthier son than he —
though many bishops.
Creditable is it to you, my Lord, that
after your failure in the needle line, you did
not turn away in disgust from the work of
doing good. You had taken pains to ascer-
tain that the condition of the working
daaaes was not favourable to the develop-
ment of the domestic virtues, and you were
determined to do what in you lay to improve
tiieir condition. It is not expected Uiat a
nobleman should know much, about how the
constructors of his house and furniture
may live ; but you, my Lord, waived that
^ privilege of your rank, and not taking the
word of the physidan, examined for yourself.
Ton were convinced, and determined to join
others in an act of true beneficence — ^helping
the poor to help themselves, in order to cease
to be poor. You resolved to build a pattern
lodging house. The resolve has been carried
into execution, as I find by the papers, and
if in criticising it I happen to err, the fault
mnst rest wi£ the reporter, as I am not at
present enabled to examine Uie building.
Your site is chosen on unmitigated Lon-
don clay, about 300 feet above the water
%>rings. It is near old S^ Pancras burying
^ound, not a favourable locality for health,
if the funerals are continued now as for-
merly ; but the site is cheap, and perhaps
your influence will get the nuisance of the
burial ground abated. It is not a good
neighbourhood. True it is, that the poor
cannot expect to oe located in Hyde Park
Gardens, but there is land enough in the
vidiuty of London of a healthy character,
and far cheaper than that you have chosen,
were due advantage taken of modem ap-
pliances, in the shape of railways, to get
access to it.
Tour plan, my Lord, is by no means new.
Twenty years ago it was proposed in the
MeehamcM* Magazine^ on a larger and more
oomprehenaive scale, under the title of
" Better Housing the Working Classes."*
But it is not to be expected that your Lord-
l^p should have read the MechamcM* Maga-
zine in those days. The first person who
practically put such a plan in operation was,
I believe, Mr. MacGregor Laird, at Birken-
head. The houses there are not quite earthly
paradises more than those of your Lord-
ship, but, compared with the dwellings of
the working dasaes in Liverpool, samples of
the ** wisdom of our ancestors," they are
practical paradises. Times have not been
fa^urable since their 'erection, but they are
thoroughly appreciated. The present writer
remembers a case of a labouring man who
lived in a festering den called a cottage.
The agent came to demand rent : " Rent 1"
exclaimed the man, ** you ought to pay me
for trying to dry the place. Why I grow
mouldy as I lie in bed." The Birkei^ead
dwellings are thoroughly dry', but occasion-
ally the anti-rent principle of Ireland ob-
taina there. Irish lodgers get in possession,
are more comfortable than ever in their lives
before — pay no rent — take the full benefit
of the English law that '* every man's house
is his casUe" — ^and smile contemptuously at
any agent seeking to dislodge them. ** The
world is not their friend," and th^it is the
first " world's law" they ever found benefit
firom. I trust you will not be disheartened^
my Lord, should you occasionally meet with
lodgers of this description. As we sow so
must we reap, and the dog that has been
often beaten wUl occasionally snap at the hand
that merely seeks to caress him. You are
on the right track now, away from the fidse
lights of the* Needles, though still several
points out of your true course, which lee-
way you will have to fetch up.
The impetuosity of compassion has pre-
vented you from ascertaining the best mode
of accomplishing your object, as the cha-
ritable lady, when in a hurry, gave a
cheesecake to a starving chimney-sweep, in-
stead of its value in bread. Shall we begin
at the beginning, and endeavour to ascertain
what are the requisites for '* better housing
the working classes," or rather the bett
kind of dwellings for the working classes—
a piece of knowledge which, if it can be
attained, may be of very great service also
to the non- working classes who may wish to
attain the maximum of personal comfort,
with the minimum of labour to the working
portion of the community. Of course, we
do not include that portion of non- workers
who experience a morbid delight in catching
a white man, and coloring hb externals in
the worst possible taste, his lowest extremi-
ties black, an adjacent portion white, break-
* Mtck. Mag., vol. zvL,p. 165.
56
THE MODEL LODGING HOUSES FOR THE WORKING CLASSES.
ing away in the mid-districts into rermilion,
fading above into yellow, and the whole snr-
monnted with sky blue. It is certainly no^
good taste to conyert a man to a bad likV
ness of a parrot ; but as it must be evident
that such persons are desirous only to
attract attention by externals ; of coarse the
greater number of persons they can employ
uselessly, the better will their object be
attained. With them your Lordship can
have nothing in common. '* My gracious \"
said an urchin of New York on bdbolding an
English carriage with three footmen in livery,
"well if it doesn't take three Britishers
to make a nigger I"
A human dwelling requires the external
walls to be of considerable thickness in a
climate like that of England, to exclude
cold in winter and heat in summer ; and if
the walls can be made hollow, with air
enclosed in the spaces, this object wiU be
• best attained. Here, however, the wisdom
of our ancestors interferes — the venerable
brick duties prescribing, Mede and Per-
sian fashion, that the sites shall be no
other than 9 ins. x 4^ ins. x 2^ ins. No-
thing larger shall be made, say our brick
Solons ; and thus, as was the case with glass,
improvement is arrested on the threshold.
That legislator who shall abolish this mon-
strous folly, will be looked up to ever after,
and regarded by the productive classes as a
veritable « brick "—the brick of bricks—
the brick without end — as the vernacular
has it. The good that will result firom such
an achievement will entitle any legislator of
moderate capacity to repose on his laurels
for the remainder of his life, and have a
column of imperishable brick erected to him
after his death ; for such will bricks be, when
skill and industry are freed from their
shackles. Your endeavours are arrested in
limine^ my Lord, and you must lay dose
siege to this evil ere you can bring house-
building to perfection. About it, then ! —
gather all the brick-makers and brick-users
around you, and cram the *' House" with the
mass of complaints with which they will
furnish you to serve as a groundwork for a
sweeping brick act. Stick to the bricks,
and confine yourself to simple abolition of
all and everything relating to them. Resolve
them into the condition of brick-earth, to be
dealt with by brick -makers.
I did not reflect how far my path would
lead when I began to address you, but being
now too far advanced to retreat, I must go
on. The best and most durable bricks that
are made, are the '* Staffordshire blue
bricks." They are half metallic, half vi-
treous, and consequently they are non-
absorbimt. Tliey are as durable as glass ;
bat the mode of using them is not analogous
to their texture ; they are put together in
walls with common mortar, and there is no
bond, as when bricks and mortar are alike
porous. The mortar merely serves as a
kind of plaster cast to them : as a sound
material, nothing can be better.
There is a certain thickness of material be-
yond which fire cannot penetrate without great
cost. The ordinary brick in use has attained
this limit. But if the bricks were made in
the form of a box, with one aide open — ^say
two feet long, one foot wide, and one foot
deep, the thickness of the material being
two inches, these large bricks could be
fired as easily as the small ones. Bricks
thus made could be formed so as to groove
or tongue one into the other ; and with a
little arrangement of shapes for angles and
openings, hollow walls could be built of
greater strength than solid ones, perfectly
impervious to water, and requiring very little
cement to make them air-tight; and such
cement, besides being waterproof, should be
of a slightly elastic material, as asphalte, or
a similar substance, in order to prevent
cracking. The sides of these bricks should
be roughened for the plaster, and some
should be formed" with projecting string
courses whereon to lay the floors.
At present it is a practice to place a layer
of asphalte beneath the foundation of the
walls, to prevent moisture from rising.
This on account of the porous nature of the
bricks. But the bricks are equally exposed
above the foundation to the moisture of the
earth and to the rain above the earth.
Bricks made of non-porous materials are
free from this objection.
In order to have health in a house it is
necessary that it should be warm and dry.
These two conditions are precisely those
essential to combustion. It is well known
that of late years many public and other
buildings have been bumMl down more fre-
quently than formerly. The cause of ^lis
is, that houses and public buildings were
formerly constructed with little regard to
comfort, and, he]i% damp and cold, did not
readily catch fire. This is mostly the case
with the dwellings of the poor. Since then
they have been artificially warmed in various
modes— by stoves, hot air, steam, and water
pipes — and being warm and dry, are, like
tinder, ready to catch. The only remedy
for this is, to make them fire- proof, t. e., to
construct of metal, stone, brick, tile, or
slate those parts which are usually made of
wood. To build a new house of combustible
materials now, and afterwards to insure it,
is an absurdity that can only arise from the
circumstance, that houses are mostiy made to
sell by speculating builders, and not as
investments.
There are two kinds of fire-proof build-
THE MODEL LODGING HOUSfiS tOE ilHB WORKING CLASSES.
f>7
ingBy one kind in which there is no oombni-
tible material whatever, the other, in which
ererj apartment containing combustible ma«
teriab is separated from every other apart-
ment by non-combastible materials.
Beyond dryness and warmth there is an-
other essential consideration — Tentilation.
Moist exhalations are continually proceeding
from human bodies as well as breathed air,
and without perfect ventilation these cannot
be got rid of.
hk warming there are two considerations.
Hie air for tiie lungs requires to be warm
and pure ; but the air which is pleasant to
the lnngs» will not suffice to warm the exte-
rior of the body and keep up the circulation
hi sedentary people. For this purpose, the
ndiant beat of an open fire is essential.
The warm air should be a genial atmo-
sphere pervading the whole building — ^the
open fires confined to particular localities.
The next consideration is light. This
can only be well attained by making the
width of the street at least twice the height
of the buildings. The artificial light should
be gas.
nie next consideration is water, both hot
and cold. Tbis should be carried to the
leiy top of the building by machine force,
and allowed to descend by its own gravity,
distributing it as required.
VoT the purpose of moving foel, food, and
other wdghtSv there should be machine lifts
from the bottom to the top of the building,
and %ht iron rails inserted in the floors of
the pasnges to run the baskets or boxes on.
Easy stairs should be provided for ascent
to the upper stories ; but, inasmuch as the
higher stories are the most healthy, and the
more stories the less proportion of roof, it
is desirable to have many stories, as m Paris
or Edinburgh ; and to obviate the only ob-
jection to this, machine lifts should be pro-
vided, constantly ascending and descending
at a slow rate. Londoners will have an idea
of ttJs from the plan of the Colosseum.
To buUd on the small scale is hr less
eeonomie than on the large, as it would
limit the advantages. For example, a steam
engine is essential to the estabUshment for
many purposes of labour-saving. As you,
my £ordy and your coUeagues, are powerful
enough, of course you will be willing enough
to set the best example. I will proceed on
the lafiger scale with a builduig for the
worldng dssses in a manufacturing district,
whether of food, clothing, or other articles.
In the mean time, you will remember, not
the " first mover," but the first fixture—the
bricks ! I>o by them what Sir Robert Peel
has done by the glass. And will you excuse
my suggesting to yon that the best mode of
ascertaining what are tiie needs of those
who are their own servants and helpers, i«,
to make the trial in person ? Surrounded
by servants to forestell every wish, appli-
ances of every kind to administer to the most
refined luxury, it is not possible to carry in
the imagination all the innumerable details
which are essential to make up that luxury.
Were you to put yourself for a week into
the position of the Douglass moss troopers^
when
" He that had a Iwnny boy
Sent out hit hone to grass,
And he that had nae bonny boy
His ain servant he was ;"
»at the end of the time yon would doubtless
know the wants of a groom. Try the lodg-
ings for a week, my Lord. No help but
your own handis and head, upon your
honour.
I think you will agree with me that in cer-
tain things the handworkers of the community
are entitled to have an equal share with the
head-workers or leisure classes, precisely as
the officers of a ship are entitled to no bet-
ter rations in the common stock than the
crew of that ship. What the officers have
in addition is a question of luxury, but the
commoners ought to be provided with food
and warmth to enable them to maintain
good bodily health, a larger allowMice being
given when under hard work.
So hi our proposed building, which is for
numbers and not for ships' crews, the ar-
rangements must be fevourable to a good
development of health both in the adult and
those new-bom and growing up. The phy-
sieal acquirements are good air, dry air,warm
air; good water, hot and cold in abund-
ance ; spaoe for exerdie in bad weather ;
convenience for privacy or society at will ;
arrangements for stowage of provisions, and
also for cooking them with the minimum of
labour; artificial light.
The mental arrangements are, a library
and reading room, a school-room, an infant
school. A lecture room also.
Without these latter arrangements, peace
win not exist. " Idleness is the root of all
evil." Misdiief is a word used to signify
unoccupied energy ; and the active human
mind, when not occupied in acquiring or
prodndngt takes to thievhig or destroying.
Unoccupied village boys rob orchards and
hunt cats and other animals. Bespectable
ladies rob shops, being acquisitive like msg-
pies. Gentlemen hunt foxes, shoot par-
tridges, "punch heads," wrench off knock-
ers and bell-handles, and pull down direc-
tion-posts and sign-boards. They are all
badly educated and prefer doing mischief
to doing nothing. ** Idleness is the root of
all evil." But it is not sufficient to set this
for a schoolboy's copy, unless we provide
D 3
58
THE MODEL LODGING HOUSES FOR THE WORKING CLASSES.
alto for the ezerciso of pleasurable indni'-
try.
We will suppose a piece of land secured
on the borders of the South Western Rail-
way — gravel soil for the workers for onee,
my lord— till Edwin Chadwick, studies a
little better how to mansEe the clay— say
in the neighbourhood of &ttersea, Wands-
worth, or Wimbledon ; and that Mr. Cliap.
lin has bound down the Railway and its
heirs for ever, not to raise the fares on the
working man, who will be willing to pay a
fair price for the accommodation alTorded,
and trust that the Company will go as low
as they can in consideration of the numbers.
On this land we will lay out a building
in the form of a hollow square containing
a courtyard measuring 400 feet on each side
externally, and 300 feet on each side inter-
nally, the buildings being 50 feet in width
firom front to back. The buildings to be
eight stories in height, including the ground
floor— the average height of the floors eight
feet, some more, some less. Dry cellars to
be constructed beneath them for the deposit
of provisions, such as grain, potatoes, and
other Tegetables. In the centre a tall chim-
ney shaft to be erected, capable of carrying
off the smoke of all the boiler fires in the
establishment. Around this shaft to be
erected a building of ]25 feet square— a
ground floor only lighted by skylights — and
with cellars beneath for coals. This build-
ing to be divided into compartments, con-
taining a boiler-house with boilers of pro-
per capacity to furnish steam for an engine
of sufficient power to pump up water from
a well to supply the whole establishment at
the height of the upper story. The boilers
also to supply hot water, and steam pipes
OTor all the building in proper positions,
and also the wash-houses and baths, which
will be in the same building as the boilers.
The space around the courtyard between the
centre and external buildings will be about
85 feet wide, laid out with grass plots and
flowers. If the space in the central build-
ing be not sufficient for all the baths, a por-
tion of the cellars may be applied, properly
fitted up. If the water be hard, anrange-
nents can be made to preserve the roof
water in under-ground tanks.
The floors to be formed of wrought-iron
girders, with a broad lip below and aboYe.
The centres of the girders to be supported
on iron columns having a space of 10 feet
between them. The ceilings to be formed
of slabs of sawn slate in 6 feet lengths,
stretching from one girder to the other.
The floors to be of similar slabs of thicker
substance having a hollow space equal to
the depth of the girder between them. In
theae hollow spaces the stone pipes may be
placed, and the whole floors may be
voirs of warmth beneath the feet, and to
which the warmth may be admitted or
excluded at pleasure, beneath each apart-
ment. To these stone pipes steam ti^
should be attached in each apartment, aif-
fording the means of warming liquids at
pleasure, making tea or coffee, boiling milk,
stewing fish, fledi, fowl, or vegetable, pre-
paring a foot bath or living water at any
hour of the day or night. Each apartment
to be divided by slate partitions, but the
doors to be of wood, and to have a floor .
area about 16 feet x 20, subdivided into a
sitting room, 10 feet x 20 feet,— a bedroom
6 feet X 12 feet, — and a closet with sink, &c.,
and cold-water tap with a gas light. The
gas and water pipes to be laid in the hol-
low of the floor, the slating being csqpable
of removal at any time to get access to tb«
pipes. The windows hung upon a horizon-
tal swivel, the upper part towards the ceil-
ing running inwards, the lower part out-
wards. No opening to be provided in these
apartments, as the warmth and chimnej
ventilation will be sufficient for persona not
of sedentary habits, and the convenience of
the steam and gas vdll be sufficient.
It will be obvious, that a building so con-
structed cannot be burned down, and will
be thoroughly dry and warm ; so there will
be no insurance to pay. It will be obvioasy -
also, that no vermin can exist therein, and
that the greatest possible facility of cleans-
ing exists. The hot steam and water lor-
nishes instantaneous means of cleansing th«
floor or walls at any time, and at the same
time of drying them.
Six stories would be appropriated to those
apartments. The buildings being 50 feet
wide, there would be a central passage 10
feet wide between the rows of columna, and
the apartments would front each way. There
would be about 160 apartments on each
floor, making, with the six floors, accom-
modation for 960 ; or taking a portion of
the lower floors, say 1,000 families, averag-
ing four persons each, say 4,000 men,
women and children. That, my Lord, would
be a number well worth your attention. If
the purpose be good, the good would be in
large amount. The cellars below should be
fitted up for provisions* in the following
mode :— Cast-iron tanks, similar to gas
tanks, covered in at top, all but a man hole*
fitted with an air-tight cover, or air-tight
brick or stone tanks of a similar kind, being
provided of fitting size, green vegetables,
fish or flesh being put into them, and the
cover fitted and luted with gutta percha,
or similar material, an air-pump is to be
applied connected with the steam engine,
and the air exhausted. Neither decompo-
THE MODEL LODGING HOUftE$ FOE THE WORKING CLASSES.
59
litioii, nor rennin, nor thieves oan affect
proYisioiit thnt stored, and the only care
required would be to try. the air-pumps oe-
casioaall J to make sure against leakage.
A certain portion o£ the lover story on each
■de the main gates would be appropriated
to the officers of the establishment. Aiiother
portiaa would be a dining-room, a coffee-
room, a library, a lecture-room, and a read-
ia|-room — perhaps a music-room also ;
1,600 feet X 50 would afford ample space.
All these rooms would be furnished with
fire-places as well as warm air, and the flues
would be let into the main chimney shaft.
The kitchens would be on the upper
story. The whole north side 400 ft. x 30 ft
would be applied to this purpose, and small
steam-engines supplied by the pipes from
below would perform all the drudgery, and
deaasing of plates and utensils, chopping
wood, &c. Open fires, steam-boilers, gas-me-
ters, would do all that was requisite. Hoist-
ing and lowering tackle worked by the steam
ttgines, would supply the kitchen with un-
cooked articles, ami transport them cooked
to tiieir destination. Air-tight receptacles
worked by the same engines might also be
plaeed in the kitchen. In this mode the
building would be free from all unpleasant
•eents. A portion of the space next the
kitchen m%ht be used for an upstairs dining-
room for women and children.
The southern side of this upper story
would be a ichool-room. The western side
an in&Dt school-room, and a portion of it
might be a greenhouse with skylights. The
eastern side might be applied to bed-rooms
or other purposes. Of course all debris
and useless water would be carried down
proper shoots.
13ie staircases would be of slate, fire-
proof like the rest of the building, and easily
cleansed. There would also be four engine
Bfta, one at each angle constantly raising
sod lowering.
It would be desirable to furnish the
Mlding with every thing requisite in the
shape of bedsteads, tables, chairs, &c., so as
to pcerent all transport of lumber in and out.
Attached to the engine house there might
be some horizontal sluifts provided with cir-
cular brushes, to do aU the shoe-cleaning of
fbe establishment.
The gas woi|ld be manufactured on the
establishment, and the coke would serve to
fsed the engine and other fires. The time
will come when the nuisance of gas work
chimneys will be abolished in cities by the
gas being made in the coal pits beneath the
earth, and conveyed in pipes along the rail-
wm.
With regard to the smoke from coal, tiiat
viU contanoe tiU some shrewd manufiwtwer
gets the proper chemical analysis of cannel
or other coal that burns with perfect com-
bustion, and, mixing the varieties of other
coal artificially, produces the same result*
To use crude coal for our fires is as ignorant
as it would be to use crude potatoes for our
stomachs.
And. now, my Lord, with regard to figures
—to the question "Will it pay?" For
unless it will pay, it will be of no possible
use. It can prove nothing practical of a
new kind, because every single proposition
herein htm been in actual praotioe in other
forms, thdugh as yet uncombined to produce
this result. Will it pay, my Lord .>* I think
it will. Twenty horse engine power and all.
Take the apartments all round at 150/
each, say 1000 In number, that will be
150,000/.
Interest, at 7i per cent, per
annum 11,250/.
These apartments, with fur-
niture, fire, warm air,
gas, water, &c., would
be cheap at 7s. per
week, or 18/. per an-
num. Annual revenue 18,000/.
Expenses and profit 6,750/.
Nothing taken for use of baths.
If you work not for profit, but for invest-
ment, then the profit will pay Mr. Chaplfai's
constituents for the use of their railway.
Now, my Lord, will you go mto the cal-
culation in cross exambiation, or procure
Mr. Chadwick to do it, giving him as a
consideration a earU bhnekB as to the drains
of tiie establishment and the disposal of the
debris ?
That done, my Lord, will yon go into the
calculation of the physical and mental
results to the indwellers ? I must dwell a
short time longer on them. Meanwhile,
will yon hint to Lord John Russell to forego
the window-tax in sneh buildings as these ?
It is very important that this question should
be carefully examined ; for the working peo-
ple, thoroughly alive to the evils of tiieir
^yiaring reut-charges, are in complete igno-
nudce as how best to remedy, them. Tliere
never was any more mischievous ftdlscy for
their interest than the Building Societies, as
appUed to workmen indiscriminately. By
dint of weekly payments a man beeomes in
time the owner of a costly, badly constructed
house— costly as compared with its value ;
and he is compelled to reside in one spot,
whether his work may happen to be near or
distant, and he is altogether precluded frt>m
removing to any other locality, unlev he
can sell or kt his house» which would oom«*
60
YHE urOBKL LODOINO H0USS8 FOR THE WORKING CLASSES.
monly be at: a disatWanta^. There can be
no surer method of making working men
dependent than by making themselves the
owners of small fixed properties, whether in
a house or a patch of land. Thus they pre-
clude themselres from taking advantage of
favourable changes in new localities. Of
course, particular workmen, identified with
particular establithments, are less subject t3
these considerations. They can calculate
chances equally with their employers.
The advantages that would accrue to a
body of workpeople, Uviog in such a domi-
cile as I have described, can scarcely be over-
rated. Supposing them well-paid workmen
with abundant means for decent clothing
and healthy food, after paying their rent,
they would really be better off than many of
those that are called the middle classes.
It is difficult to define what is meant by
middle class, unless we include all those who
work with their heads and not with their
hands, and the upper class as those who do
no work at all. Many of these middle
classes live in miserable houses, badly
warmed, drained, lighted, and ventilated,
and work hard themselves at domestic econo-
mising, or keep a " Marchioness" as a kind
of white slave. But in our proposed dwell-
ing a nobleman might live on an emergency
without having his tastes offended, and cer-
tainly with more comfort than in many of
our officers' barracks. There would be
privacy or society at pleasure, as they might
be solitarily or gregariously disposed. There
would be warmth, and every means of ob-
taining well-cooked food. Baths at pleasure,
warm or cold. A coffee-room with news-
papers ; a library with books ; covered
galleries to walk in in bad weather, and
access at all hours by day or night There
would be absolutely no drudgery whatever
for the women, no wet clothes to be drying
at their husband's return, no water to carry
up stairs, and no quarrelling at a common
pump to obtain it, no descent with ashes or
slops, no anxiety about their children when
going out. If it be objected that quarrels
would ensue by means of the large number
of lodgers, the answer is simple. Consider
the galleries as streets. Let any one imagine
the ease of mind it must be to a father and
mother to have an infant-school and chil-
dren's school under the same roof, and at
an expense almost nominal, and a library of
books for their growing-up boys and girls,
together with the influence of general good
habits all around them.
Beyond this, so huge a body would have
it in their power to command the services of
the most efficient lecturers in every branch
of art or science they might choose. Teachers
for the schools, cooks for the kitchen, en-
gineers for the water, baths, gas, warming,
Sec, and gardeners for the greenhouse,
washerwomen, librarians, writers — ^and all
would probably be found amongst the in-
mates, each one finding out his or her
several aptitudes. Concerts would infal-
libly spring up, and dances follow. There
seems no reason why religious teachers also
should not attend.
There is another point of essential im-
portance also. The establishment could
maintain its own physician. The importance ^
of this can scarcely be overrated. The whole
time of a skilful man could be given to a
body of people whose constitutions he would
study as a gardener does his plants, and to
whom he conld continually suggest improve-
ments in habits and customs. A far better
salary could be paid to a man of high at-
tainments by a regular body than is paid by
those who get up lectures on speculation.
They would probably be best paid on the
sound principle developed by the Tartar
dynasty of China, payment lessening as dis-
ease increases. And such an arrangement
would in other ways be economic to the
public. Hospitals and asylums would be
less in demand in proportion as such estab-
lishments, increased. In case of illness in
individuals, abundant nursing help would be
found without expense, in distress.llt Is
the existing inefficiency of the present mode
of housing that imperatively demands hospi-
tals, and asylums, and lying-in establiBh-
ments.
If the economical advantages be such at
are pointed out, and it will be difficult to
show any fallacy, the probability is that such
buildings would increase. The middle classes
would certainly unitate them, and so would
many of the upper classes, who in their
clubs show rather what they desire than
what they attain. With such modes of
living, universal education would come
about almost naturally, and with little need
of government exertion.
To this mode of living the middle classes
will be forced by a change now gradually
taking place in the circumstances of society.
I allude to domestic service. Every one
exclaims " how bad the servants are becom-
ing I" This is not the fact. The servants,
as human b^gs, are really rising in the
scale of creation, and find drudgery irksome,
having an instinctive perception that drud-
gery is not really essential. Domestic ser-
vice is irksome even with kind employers.
Grown people do not like to have to ask
leave to go out, having hired out their
whole time, night and day. They also have
their desire for domestic and family conver-
sation, and by our present arrangements tbii
cannot be managed. A famUy does not
BARON VON RATHEn's COMPRESSED-AIR LOCOMOTIVE,
61
employ another ^hole family. But were
many familiea conjoined under one roof, they
might employ other families. Domestic
senrants will grow less and less disposed to
enter the house of the stranger, and abandon
brother and siaterhood, as time runs on, and
the abode of the workman becomes the home
of comfort ; and this will nniversally nrge on
medianical and chemical improvement in
every branch of domestie life, so that it will
only be eawntia] to have a servant for two
or three boors per day, instead of being
utterly dependent on you. Already they
begin to insist on ''sky-blue coats and
scarlet breeches being considered in their
wagea.'' The philosophy of the matter is,
that an human beings have their tendencies
and aptitudes to serve one another in difier-
eat modea, but the service can only be
eheerfnlly performed when it is not mixed
up with a quantity of distasteful drudgery.
Who aludl try first this great experiment,
my Lord ? Shall it be yourself, a heredi-
tavy ariatocrat, or an iron king of Wales,
where alate and iron exist together? or a
cotton lord of Manchester ? or some separate
cBgardiy of the Great Railway Confedera-
tioo ? or than it be some squatting Jonathan
fmnt the *' far west,'* taking note of the
" lahonr privileges ** of Ireland on his jour-
ney firam Galway to Dublin, now the new
*' highway to America," and thinking how
itwffl do to bring his own cotton to his own
mill on the sotxrces of the Shannon, and
there work it up by the '* Almighty splen-
did fingers of that crowdy raising of Celtic
girla?'' Rouse yourself, my Lord. Do
not rnflfer that ambitious *' model republic "
to «> ahead In everythhig. Keep your pride
of pkaoe. Lord Teignmouth teaches in the
Ragged Schools. Set yon up your school
amid the well*clad working classes— to be
better housed and taught by the result of
your skill and enezgy.
I am, my Lord,
With much inclination to respect you,
CodMOfl.
BARON VON RATHBN's C0MPBBS8BD-AUI
LOCOMOTIYB.
Sir, — ^Toa were, some time since, good
enough to admit some observations of
mine on compressed-air locomotion, and
in particular upon Baron von Rathen's
system, of which you made some further
mention in your Number for June 12,
1847. It may, therefore, interest your
readters to know that the experimental
eorapressed - air earriage for common
roads there referred to b now completed,
and iHtuit many of the points upon which
I ventured to form an opinion have been
determined by experiment. The reser-
voir of this, carriage has a capacity of
75 cubic feet, and I have seen it charged
with air of 50 and 60 atmospheric pres-
sures by a six- horse power engine with-
out any straining or manifestation of
heat, and it has remained charged up to
25 or 30 atmospheres for two or three
days without any perceptible leakage.
I have seen the air thus compressed to
30 and 40 atmospheres admitted by
means of the moderator at a constant
pressure into the cylinders, and there
worked expansively. When used at two
atmospheres, i. «., with an effeciive force
of 15lbs. on the square inch, it caused
the wheels (the carriage being propped
up) to make 60 revolutions in a minute ;
when used at three atmospheres the
wheels made 120 revolutions. The re-
frigeration of the air when expanding
from the reservoir into the moderator
was also materially lessened by the means
before mentioned, although the carriage
was stationary.
Indeed, these facts may now be con-
sidered as proved, viz. : That air may be
compressed to almost any extent, without
deleterious heating or straining of ma-
chinery. That it may be retained in such
a state of compression without danger
from rupture or leakage for a consider-
able time, and that it may then be used
at a consUnt pressure (which may be
varied at will) without,loss from refrige-
ration.
Other problems necessary to be re-
solved, and the details of experiments,
eannot, of course, be entered upon until
the carriage has made some successful
attempts at self-motion,, which it is ex-
pectea to do very shortly. I shall then,
perhaps, with your permission, trouble
you with some further remarks. The
§ resent carriage is not, I believe, consi-
ered by any means a specimen of a
common-road locomotive, but merely as
practically illustrative of the feasibility
of compressed-air locomotion. I am
told, indeed, that it is not the Baron von
Rathen*s intention ultimately to drive, by
reciprocating cylinder engines at aU, but
by a rotary engine of his own invention j
which I find is also, as well as the car-
riage at present being constructed at the
College for Civil Engineers, Putney.
I am, Sir, yours, &c.,
ar.
62
DESCRIPTION OF THE STSTBlf OF VENTILATION AND WARMING ADOPTED AT THE MODEL
PRISON, PENTONVILLE.
(Concladed ttom p. SO.)
WamUf^,
The system of warming adopted at Pen-
tonyille is that of the circulation of water
in iron pipes, with which the pnbUc are
already ftuniliar. In a former Report the
Sorveyor-General explained the details of a
Kg.
regalator so contriTed as to allow a prisoner
to admit warm air from the main, flue or
cold air from die corridor, and recommended
its general adoption in all new prisons.
" By maintaining a degree of heat in th«
main flues, calculated to produce the maxi«>-
8.
U-
tV{ i
CI
CI
i^
mum effect required, a prisoner would then
have the power of keeping his cell at any
temperature between that limit and the tem-
perature of the corridor, which can be so
regulated as to produce a minimum effect.
About 5^ or 6o will be found a sufficient
m
range to embrace all the special cases which
have been referred to ; and it is only in such
cases that any alteration in the original ad-
justment will be found necessary, during
the day." On this subject the present Report
contains the following additional remarks :
THE MODEL PRISON SYSTEM OF VENTILATION AND WARMING.
63
There appears reason to doubt whether an
eqnallj high temperature during the night
is either essential or advantageous. This,
howerer, is purely a medical question ; but
Fig.
there is no difficulty in providing the means
of lowering the temperature generally, and
in a Tery short space of time, should it be
considered conduciye to health.
S^..
One mode of effecting it would be by
freely introducing cold fresh air into the
corridors, and ** shutting off** the warm air
from thti mdn floes by the regulator, which
should be in such case fixed by the officers
at locking-up time, so as not to be at the
control of a prisoner.
The same object might be effected by
C4
THE GREfHAM PROFESSORSHIPS.
admitting cold fresh air in several places into
the main flues, at the same time drawing off
the hot water from the pipes, and filling
them with cold water.
The former plan would be the most eco-
nomical in fuel, as the heat would accumu-
kte during the night in the main flues, ready
to be applied in the morning. The only
inconrenienoe would be, that the officers on
duty might feel it cold.
If the temperature be lowered by the
second plan of admitting fresh air into the
main flues, any loss of heat during the night
would require to be made up by an increased
quantity of fuel in the mommg.
On these grounds, and also that the former
plan would act more immediately and more
certainly, I am disposed to recommend that
regulators be brought into general use.
Openings into the main flues will still,
however, be of advantage in lessening the
friction, and thus increasing the facility of
ventilating during the summer,
I explained in my former Report that, as a
means of admitting air into a cell directly
from the exterior, a square of the window
might be glazed, so as to leave an opening
without affording facilities for communication,
between adjoining cells. For prisons already
built this will be a convenient method ; but
in new prisons it would be preferable to
construct a small flue in the external wall,*
as shown in fig. 8. (see ante, p. 62.)
Additional means for ventilating a cell
during the summer months may be obtained
by fixing a second grating in the Ibnl-air
flue near to the ceilfaig. A wooden frame
and slide should be fix^ over this grating,
so that it may be used or not, according to
circumstances. (See fig. 8.)
Fig. 1 (omitted in our last) is a sectional
elevation of the building. A is the chamber
for the warming apparatus; A', cold-air
flue ; B, the corridor; CS the cells; F F,
foul-air flues ; M F, main foul-air flue ; S,
smoke flue ; F S, foul-air shaft ; T F, shows
where to the left hand is placed a fire-place
for summer ventilation.
TBB ORXSHAM PR0FI880R8HXP8.
Second Notice.
Amongst the endowments for the pur-
poses of education, how very few can
be quoted where the original intentions
of the founder have not been perverted!
It would, however, be difllcult to find a
parallel to Greabam College.
Sir Thomas Gresham had received a
Uberal education. Unlike the great
mass of our modem " merchants, be
had gone through the curriculum of the
University of Cambridge. This, too,
was in an age when young men repaired
to the University witii a desire to learn,
instead of (as is too often the case now)
to " while away" in frivolity and dissi-
pation, the years of life for which, ac-
cording to modern usage, no employment
can be found. He had acquired a real
knowledge of the learning of his time ;
and feeling the impNortance of that learn-
ing, he with princely magnificence
made provision for its coming within
the reach of the London dtiien. Men
highly distinguished in literature and
science were amongst its earlier profes-
sors ; and the college became, in fact, the
great focus of all metropolitan learning.
Subsequently, however, to the close
of the sixteenth century, it has for all
scientific and literarv purposes vanished
from the face of the earth I Were
another Ward to write a History of the
College and the Lives of its Professors,
how many pages could be added to that
which the first Ward wrote more than
a century ago? He may, indeed, by
consulting l£e dusty archives of the
Mercers' C!ompany he able possibly to fill
half a page or so with entries respecting
appointments to the several Professor-
ships-; and probably too, he might be
able to find some autograph signatures
of those fortunate personages, on the
receipt of their salaries. But how many,
on the other hand, could we find in that
list, whose names are inscribed on Eng-
land's roll of learned men? View^,
therefore^ even as a sinecure appendage
to the income of the laborious man of
intellect, this trust has been grossly
abused; but. how much more abused in
its havinfi" been left unproductive of the
exalting lieneflts which its founder in-
tended to confer on his fellow citizens 1
The attempt to complv lUerally with
the instructions contained m the founder's
will was probably one of the causes of
the decline of this College. Our Uni-
versities, though slow enough to be
moved by the influence of circumstances,
have been compeUed so fax to forego the
literal adherence to the mere terms of
their charters, as the increasing intelli-
gence and increasing requirements of the
country rendered necessary. The Gre-
sham alone has stood still— or rather, has
* Flaet of thit deeeripUon have been made in the
military prisons bnOt within the last Urw jwn.
THE aRBSHAM PR07ESS0B8HIPS.
65
retrograded : for whilst it has adopted
none of the improvements which have
lesnlted from subsequent experience in
tuition, it does not even fulfil to the let-
ter the prescribed rules laid down for
its government. If, therefore, its trus-
tees fidl back upon the literal construc-
tion of the will, let them be judged even
bj that, and they will be found wanting.
^eir authoritj, therefore, lapses to the
Crown which gave the charter; and it
letts with the Crown to modify it so as to
bee<mie consonant to the wants of the
times. They cannot escape from this
dilemma : but, except it were taken up
by the Government itself, it would in-
volve a chancery suit, which, might, end
m the absorption of the entire property
by the lawyers. This, however, would
be cutdng off Gresham's head to cure
Gresham's head-ache.
A parliamentary commission, or a
loyil commission, or any system of in-
J[uiry into the management of this Col-
ege is impossible, whilst the Premier
represents the Corporation of London
in the House of Commons. If even
the Sanatary Commission cannot pene-
trate within the city boundaries, when
the health of our Great Babylon is
at stake, it would be preposterous to
hope that so unimportant a thing as a
Knowledge Commission should dare to
invade that sacred territory. Were any
nnlocky Commissioners so rash, they
would (in a metaphorical sense at least,)
be captured by the Lord Mayor's officers,
put into the pillory and pelted by the
" London Prentices," ana finally depo-
sited in the strong-house in St. George's
l^lds, which stands as the modernised
representative of the antique Bedlam.
We speak of the present: but '*the
flood days are coming." Corporate in-
fluence will not prevail even to save the
dty of London from a searching inves-
tigation into the dispensation of iu trusts,
and a sweeping reform of its thousand
aboaes. Nor is the time so remote as
thecitv-conservatives may imagine, even
thdngh the meanest devices in which the
most doubtful traders are such adepts,
ahoald be (as we fear they will be) adopt-
ed for the defence of their time- dis-
honoured system. Whatever may be
the opinion of the citizen, it is the opi- '
nion of the honest EngHshman, that,
a irusi is not a mere perquisite. If,
however, the Gresham trustees are not
so intoxicated with their *' perquisites,''
as to fondly imagine them perpetual, we
trust they' will make some attempt to
ward off public denunciation by reforms
emanating from amongst themselves.
Where would our two ancient Univer-
sities have been now, had their "caputs"
indulged in the same fancied immunity
from public opinion ? We anticipate the
answer. " That the Universities and tlie
Gresham Trustees have alike consulted
their interests in the different steps they
have taken : it being the interest of the
Universities to get as many men as pos-
sible on the > boards,' since education
is the trade of those places; and it
being the interest of the Gresham Trus-
tees to keep possession of the funds of
the endowment in aid of that great prin-
ciple of London corporation, conviviality,
and influence.'*
Whatever truth there may be in the
former part of this opinion, the latter
part is certainly an error. It is an opinion
founded on very short-sighted policy,
even viewed as interested policy; but
merchants are more conversant with the
values of stocks and mercantile wares,
than they are with wtan as a social and
intellectual creature. Had anv one
of Gresham's trustees been gifted with
Gresham's prescience, he would have
foreseen the infinite advantage of keeping
up and extending the influence and use-
fulness of this College, even as regards
its pecuniary results. This College
might have been the focus, the great
leading exemplar of a London University
— far more efficient than the '< concern *
which now bears that name, can ever by
any possibility become.
But its chance is not even yet wholly
past. It may regain the position it has
well-nigh thrown away ; and may, with
prudence and foresight, still take the
metropolitan position that would have
delighted the merchant prince, and have
secured the approbation of even his jea-
lous queen. The Gresham College may
yet, if its trustees only exercise the nru-
dence in their official positions wnich
they do in their own counting houses,
become the powerful leader of metropo-
litan intellect and learning, and in an
eminent degree the representative of Eng-
land in all that relates to the development
of science and literature. It majr become
the real nucleus of English mind — the
kernel of English knowledge.
66
"But Aoirf " exclaims the corpora-
tionist, as he reads our pages over his
choice glass of wine after his six o'clock
dinner. Well, read on, and you shall
know, good conservative friend I
The recent efforts to establish colleges
in London have arisen from a strong
feeling of their necessity ; and they have
arisen amongst men, too, of your own
class, who happened to be a few degrees
farther on the road towards enlighten-
ment than yourselves. They knew thai
it was useless in the first place to seek
your CO' operation ; they knew also that
it was useless to plead with your and
their own class, if pecuniary advantages
were left out of the question ; and they
knew, slill further, that without the aid
of some talkative members of Parliament
who could be identified with their move-
ments, it would be impossible for th^ir
colleges to gain any standing in public
estimation. They took their measures
accordingly, like shrewd men of the
world — organized a body, put a heap of
hewn stone in Gower-street, and called
it the "London University." Still rou
nu)ved not, beyond putting together a
corresponding heap of stones m Cole-
man -street, after the destruction of
your Royal Exchange. The Clmrch, how-
ever, took the alarm ; and she built up
another heap (not of stones, but of bricks
with stone faces) as an eastern buttress
to Somerset House, and called the thing
" King's College, London."
This did not~--does not alarm you.
Nevertheless, you might even now reform
your abuses, and by a proper employ-
ment of your powers and your funds,
render Gresham College more dignified
and more useful, too, than either of these
new colleges, combined with all the joint-
stock schools which are connected with
them under the name of London Univer-
sity. You have antiquity, pristi^e^ and
ample funds in your favour ; all of which
are essential elements in an Englishman's
notions of social and corporate greatness.
If you could only bring yourselves to act
in a large and liberal spirit, all the others
would be glad to shelter themselves under
your wing, and Gresham College would
again become what Gresham College has
been — the centre of the intellect of the
metropolis. It will, soon, however, be
too late to regain your position; and
then, only think how the reforming
spirit of the age may deal with your
" precious perquisites ] "
THE GRBSHAM PBOFESSORSHIPS.
But science and literature you consider
to be "no business of yours ; " whilst we
consider that the custody of the College
renders it your business both in law and
in honour. If science be not your busi-
ness, why do you accept its trust and
appropriate its funds ? We admit that
you know little of its value, except in
connection with the money you divert,
from its cultivation and diflPusion ; but if
learning be really only useless trifling In
your honest belief, why do you not legal*
ize your system of spoliation by an act
of Parliament to protect you? Let the
Corporation of London (if it dares to
avow its principle of action) at onpe pro*
claim, by an application to Parliament
through its representative- premier, that
money left for tne cultivation of letters is
more patriotically expended when sp^nt
upon ripe venison and green turtle. The
affirmative of the question would, no
doubt, obtain a greater number .of suf-
frages in the House than Mr. Hume's
proposition for electoral reform was so
fortunate as to obtain ! Do not, at any
rate, hold up your toy-building in Gres-
ham-street, and its " wall-lectures," as a
fulfilment of your trust; for you only
add insult to insincerity, in pretending to
think the public can feel otnerwise than
disgusted with such an argument.
But we must proceed to consider tbe
particulars involved in a reform of the
management of Gresham College.
The manner of teaching by lecture
was the universal practice, as regarded
everything beyond mere rudimental
learning, during the middle ages, and
down to a much later period than that of
Sir Thomas Gresham. The professorial
system haa, however, been so greatly
modified in our own universities and
public institutions, that it can hardly be
said now to form any marked feature
in our educational system. In earlier
times none attended a imiversity who did
not go there to study — to learn — and to
learn in the best way they could. Books
were scarce and costly in Gresham's
time ; and few even of those were writ-
ten by men who were fully roasters of
their respective subjects. No means
then existed but oral preelections for the
• general communication of knowledge;
and to eflTect this was the business and
the duty of the professor. As good
books on the several sciences (esnecially
their elements) began to appear, tne pro-
fessional system began to decline : for
THE GRESHAH PROFESSORSHIPS.
young men found it was easier to gain
their knowledge from their books deli*
berately, than to trust to their aeizmg
the reasonings of the professor in all their
force. Hence the professor was obliged
to sink himself partly into the tutor.
In both our aniyersities, too, the main
business of the college tutor is to stand
M locv parentis to the under-graduate —
to expound in a general and sketchy way
the subjects which it is requisite for his
pupils to read—and to examine them at
staled times (onoe a term) as to the pro-
ficiency they naye made. He gives, how-
ever no explanation of the difficulties
which the student may encounter ; but
merely tells htm what books to read,
and leares him to comprehend them as
he can. Left thus to himself, the under-
graduate has been compelled to seek as-
sistance from others piore advanced than
himself in understanding his books ; and
this has given rise to a large and most
useful body of men resident in both uni-
versities, tmown by the name of private
tutors. , It is by txiem in reality that the
educational business of the universities
u carried on ; and without their aid, the
numbers on the boards would be annually
decimated, till at last the college halls
would form is desolate an exhibition as
the Gresbam lecture-room. The e»-
dotped professorships^ however, are still
kept UD in both universities, although
with wnat of public benefit no one has
ever been able to tell us. Attendance
oo them is not compulsory ; except, in^
deed, that the bishops have now adopted
as a <« compulsory '* rule the production
of a certincate nrom the Professors of
Divinity in both, that the candidate for
holy orders has attended his lectures
during one term "voluntarily." [Clothing
18 to be gained by attending them ; and
hence generally they are unattended.
Occasionally, indeed, when the chairs
are filled by able men (which is not
always the case, even )n the universities)
nep whose educational course is finished,
smd who have taken tdeir degrees, may
be found to attend the jprofessorial lec-
tures. This, we conceive, constitutes
ihelr great recommendation ; as it afibrds
to the professor a most important oppor-
tunity fbr generalising and systematising
the crude mass of knowledge which the
under-graduate had heaped together in
order to take his B.A. degree — for ** a
cmde mass '' must the knowledge of
erery maD, reading his subject for tho
67
first time, always be. The professor who
makes it his business to methodize these
masses into consistent forms — to point
out the relations and bearings of the
different parts of this mass — ^to dwell
upon the history of discoveries in the
science, especially pointing out what yet
remains to be done in it— to explain the
subtle philosophy which runs through and
cements together all its parts — to show
the applications that have been made of
science to the comfort and happiness of
civilised man, viewed both mentally and
materially: — such a professor would be
the benefactor of his age ; for this is the
class of instruction at once the most diffi-
cult and the most rare, though unhappily
it appears to be in our day the least
valued class of all.
It is upon this ground, tl^en, that we
would earnestly implore the Gresbam
College to take its stand. No other in-
stitution in London has the means to do
so, but the Gresbam ; and the trustees
consenting to make this cosmopolitan
use of their powers, they would perform
a part so graceful and so patriotic as to
earn for themselves the gratitude of the
literary and scientific world. How many
hundreds of young professional men
tl^ere are in the metropolis at the present
moment, who would hail with delight such
an appropriation of the Gresbam funds 1
Our view thep is, that the Gresbam
lectures should be professorial lectures
still — not tutorial lectures. So far, then,
we advocate nothing beyond a selection
of proper men, who would rather look to
the public benefits they could render and
to the reputation attached to their office,
than to the mere emoluments that might
accrue from their appointments.
The time, too, of delivering these
lectures is so absurdly chosen in relation
to our social habits, as to render them
utterly useless to almost every man who
is likely to be interested in them. On
the first institution of the college, the
Latid lectures were delivered at nine and
two, and the English at ten and three ;
but now the tnoming lectures are three
hours later, and the evening five: the
very hours whet), as regards the morn-
ing, in our days, the merchant roust be
upon 'change, and the professional man
in his duties, and the most advanced
student in. his sahool ; and just having
dinner in the evening. All society-
meetings are held in the evening in our
time ; as that is, generally speaking, the
68
THE 6RESHAM PB^FESSORSHTPS.
onlj time that an Englishman, and a
Londoner especially, can fairly have at
his disposal. Those society-meetings,
too, are well attended by those who take in-
terest in them, in all cases where the pro-
ceedings have not sunk (as in some of the
older routine-ones) into a mere formaliljr,
like the Gresbam lectures. Abolish,
then, the morning lecture, and give in-
creased encouragement to the evening one.
The custom of delivering the lecture
first in Latin, and immediately after in
English, will surely be admitted by the
trustees themselves to be a piece of gra-
tuitous absurdity, and calculated only to
throw an air of ridicule oyer the stately
process. If, in accordance with the
terms of the founder's bequest, the lec-
ture must be read in Latin, it must be
remembered that Latin was in his time
the universal language of the learned
world ; and this having almost as univer-
sally ceased to be the case, it would be
perfectly consonant with the intentions
of the founder, if the mere title of the
lecture were given in Latin.
It is the common understanding in all
the societies (the Royal, for instance,
which is so nearly akin to the Gresham
in its original, and in some important
parts of their subsequent histories) to call
a paper ** read'* when its title has been
read to the meeting. The public would
not complain of the change ; and were
some captious objections even made to it,
could not her Majesty in Council so far
modify the charier of the college as
to legalise the change ? Possibly,
however, some of the sapient trustees*
* In order that the qiembers of the Gresham
Committee might not plead ignorance of our atric-
turas, -we applied to the Mercera' Company for a
list, in order to send them copies, bui U was rtfuud.
We have, nevertheleas, procured one, which 'we
belieTe to be correct, and hare given their respective
trades, Ace, as they have chosen to designate them-
selves in the "Directory." A walk past their
reaidencei will show with what propriety (accord-
ing to its Engliih tettM, at least) the term '< mer-
chant" is in some cases applied:
Rt. Hon. the Lord Mayor (Alderman Hooper.)
Sir Peter Lanrie, Knt., Parlc-square, Regent's-
park.
Sir Qeoi:ge Carroll, Knt., 34, Cavendish-square.
COMHOKaRB.
Iff. J. T. Morris, 188, Aldersgate-stieet, Stationer
and Printer.
Mr. James Lake, S3, Aldgate, Woollen Draper.
Mr. William Lister, 78, Basinghall-street, Factor.
Mr. B. Bower, 106, Lower Thames-street, Orange
Merchant
Mr. W. A. Peacock, 161. BUhopsgate-street With-
out* Bakar.
Mr. W. Stephens, 78, Blahopsgate-stieet Within,
Brandy Merchant.
may have . heretofore imagined that
imperfect information delivered in bar-
bareus Latin, 'Ms more learned" than
sounder information delivered in our
own vernacular tongue. It would be bat
in keeping with what they think now,
when they wonder over a common-place
fragment of some Roman author, which
is now and then slipped into a leader in
the Times, to give a zest to the imagi-
nation of the un-latinized reader, or to
complete with the first words that present
theinselves to the writer's mind, a phrase
that he had not time " to round cm into
good English.*' Let, however, thb ab-
surdity hd eliminated from the Gresham
lectures.
We have already said that we would
have these lectures supplementary to
every university, hospital or college
course of academic and professional
studies. This would interfere with the
objects and interests of no other insti-
.tution: but it would be useful to the
members, the professors, lecturers, and
teachers in all of them. An improved
and consistent mode of general scientific
teaching might be educed from the pro-
fessors of the Gresham ; and we are
convinced, as we said last week, that this
College would " gain an English, and
ultimately a European, reputation,** if
only it were managed in conformity with
the '< living spirit" rather than the ''dead
letter'* of the Founder's bequest. Will no
motive other than gold, and what gold can
purchase, inspire the enthusiasm of the
masses of "London clay*' that regulate
the city destinies f We hope that they
are capable of a higher and purer ambi-
tion than the world gives them credit
for : and we would at least hope — we
would eladly say, could we do so, believe
— ^that having an opportunity so favour-
able for refuting popular opinion, they
will give an unquestionable proof that
they possess higher qualities than those
of the miser and the swine !
We shall continue to watch the pro-
gress of this '* election ;** and we beliere
that we possess the means of watching it
efiectually. We shall be most glad if we
Mr. T. Dakin, 78, King William-street, City, Che-
mist and Druggist.
Mr. James Hoppe, 5, Bennett's Hill (boainess not
given.)
Mr. R. L. Jones, 40, Little Moorflelds (boslneea
not giren.)
These are the men who are privileged to deeide -
upon the JUneu cf a Prof$$nr of Qeowtetrp in
Greiham College ! Is any comment neceiaaxy f
THE YORK EXHIBITION Ot AORtCOtTURAL 1MPLEMEMT8.
69
em report fitvonrably of the exercise of
the "elective franchise;*' and shall
gladly withdraw oar censures for the
pttt, if the trustees only show some sense
of deeeney in their choice of the new
professor. We care not who he is, so
that he be the best man that can be
jbund to come forward — a man in whom
the scientific world can place implicit
eoniideooe ; and, at the same time, a
maa who will pledge himself to carry
ont in their true spirit the noble designs
of the merchant prince of England.
Such m man may shame his colleagues
into a sense of their duties, or teach them
the grand virtue of resiqnatiok. Let
all the professors hb made to feel them-
lelTes as before Iks worlds and they will
either do tneir d^tir and sain honours
for themselves, or tney will give way to
others more ardent, more learned, and
more high-minded than themselves.
Above all things, let perpetuity, and
its consequent negligence of duty, be
stopped at onod and for ever in respect
of thne appointments. Let each Gresham
professorship be looked to as a golden
opportunity which occurs but once in a
life, for the most gifted of men to leave a
permanent mark of his existence and of
nis power of influencing for good, the
onward course of the intellecttud human
race 1 Let him be taught to concentrate
his whole force upon a high and ho-
nourable effi>rt for Immortal honour from
his species ; and that such an opportunity
if ooee thrown away, can never come tp
him again I Then, and only then, will
the Gresham become worthy of Gresham
and of London I
give him any information on the subject he
may require. Yours respectfully, J. B.
ManchMteTi July 5, 1848.
BLBOTEICAL irACHINBS.
Sir,— In answer to an iaqairy in jour
lisC M.g««iiii> of " M. G. W. Laarence,"
concer n ing the best method of making the
cushions for the new plate electrical ma-
chine of my invention, mentioned in yonr
last vol., p. 515 ; I beg to lay, the materials I
Qied were these : I procured some good horse
hair and had it well dried, I then enclosed it
n a easing of silk similar in shape to those
used in other plate machines. This I de-
ddedly prefer to dried flannel, as suggested
by Mr. ** L." Both methods I have tried,
and the former I must say is far superior to
the latter.
If it is the intention of Mr. '* L." to
construct an electrical machine on my prin-
ciple, I shall be very happy at any time to
AOniCULTU&AL IMPLBlfBNTS. — KOTAL
AG&ICULTT7RAL SOCIBTt's XXHIBITIOK
AT TOBK.
We extract from the T^met the following
account of the prises and medals awarded
for agrieultaral implements at this week's
York Meeting of the Royal Agricultural
Society. The great number of portable
steam-engines brought forward is remark-
able ; and is no doubt to be accounted for
by the near vicinage of the great manufac-
turing towns of I^ds, Sheffield, Birming-
ham, &c. At the Newcastle Exhibition
there were only three exhibited ; at the
Northampton but one. On the present oc-
casion the number exhibited was no less
than seventeen. The prize for the best, it
will be seen, was awarded to Mr. Homsby,
of Lincohi.
For tlie best plough for heavy land, 10^, the Ist
of 83— Mr. BuBby. \
For the be«t plough for light land, 10/., and 2d of
30 — Mesirs. Howard and Son.
For the beet drill for general purposet, 15/., the
1st of 17— Mr. Homsby.
For the best turnip-drill on the flat. 10/., the 6th
of 37— Mr. Garrett.
For the best turnip-drill on the ridge, 10/., the 4th
of 1 7 — Mr. HomsbT.
For the best scarifier or grubber, 10/., the 1st o(
18 — Messrs. Sharman and Co.
For the best machine for making draining tiles
or pipes, 20/., the 1st of 5— Mr. Whitehead.
For the best harrow, 5/., the 16th of 30->Messrs.
Howard and Son.
For the best steaming apparatus, 10/., the 1 6th
of 18— Messrs. Sharman and Co.
For the best sUm or paring plough, 5/., the 6th
of 6— Mr. Kilby.
For the best horse seed-dibbler, 10/., the Ist of 4
— Mr. Newberry.
For the best one-horse cart, 5/., the Ist of 4—
Mr. Eaton.
For the best waggon, 10/., the 35th of 71— Mr.
Stratton.
For the best thrashing machine, 20/.
For the best steam-engine, 50/., the 7th of 17 —
Mr. Homsby.
For the best com-dressing machine — 10/.
For the best gorsebruiscr, 5/., the 13tb of 38—
Messrs. Barrett, Exall, and Co.
For the best implement for difttributing pulverised
manure, 10/., the 6th of 17— Mr. Homsby.
For the best grate or »tove for cottages, 5/., the
2lBt of 32— Mr. W. N. Nicliolson.
MBDALS.
Norwegian harrow, the 82nd of 91— Mr. CroskilL
Hay-making machine, the 1st of 18— Mr. Smith,
of Stamford.
Horse-rakc, the Htli of 14— Mr. Ilensman.
Horse-hoe on the flat, thi) 11th of 37— Mr. Gar-
rett.
Horse-hoo on the ridje, the 7th of 33— Mr,
Busby.
Grass-land cultivator, the 21st of 33 — Mr. Busby.
Linseed and corn-crusher, the 15th of 18 — Messrs.
Sharman and Co.
Liquid manure drill, the 2nd of 2— Mr. T. Chand-
ler.
70
WXBKIT LIST OV KEW SK(}II8& PATBHTft.
Chaff-entter, the 5th of 10— Mr. Conies.
Cake-breaker, the 4th of 32—Mr. W. N. Nichol-
son.
Root-washer, the 61st of 01— Mr. CroskilL
Cesspool and tank-cleanser, the 4th of 12— Means.
Dean, Dray, and Co.
Cheese-press, the 8th of 11— Mr. Bnickshaw.
Shock remorer, the 2nd of 6— Mr. Summers.
Level— Mr. Blundell.
For improvements in the transparent water gauge,
as attached to the steam engine — Mr. Hope.
Steaming apparatus, 6th of 10— Mr. R. Robinson,
Belfast.
The 12 sheds of the implement yard are
diyided into 158 stands, each exhibitor
having one for himself, and having his
instmrnents numbered and ticketed therdn.
Some of the stands have only one article
exhibited in each, while others have as many
as from 30 to 90. There are 16 machinists
who have each contributed from 30 to 90
articles, but of that number only seven have
been successful enough to obtain prises, so
that from this fact the inferenee may be
fairly drawn that the judges have paid more
attention to the quality than to the quantity
of implements exhibited. Of the 21 prises
and 17 medals awarded, 4 have been given
to Mr. Homsby, 3 to *Mr. Busby, 2 to
Messrs. Howard and Son, 2 to Mr. Cross-
kell, 2 to Mr. Garrett, and 2 to Messrs.
Sharman and Co. Mr. Homsby, who ex-
hibited only 17 articles, must be considered
the most successful competitor of the show.
The prizes won by him are all large ones,
being awarded for important Implements.
The steam-engine to which a 50/. prize was
given is thus described in the catalogue :
" A six-horse power portable steam-engine ; in-
vented, improved, and manufactured by the exhi-
bitor. It 18 simple in its conBtruction, fitted with
governors, and easy to manage, with tubular boiler,
flre-box, and smoke-box complete."
Mr. Busby's plough for heavy land " is
capable of working 12 inches deep when re-
quired, and with a lighter mould-board will
not be found too heavy to be used as a two-
horse plough.'' Its price is 5/., and it has
now the recommendation of being a second
time successful, having won a similar prize
at Northampton. Messrs. Howard's plough
for light land is an improvement on their
patent iron plough with two wheels, which
has been successful at all the meetings of the
society. The alteration introduced is a new
method of fixing the wheels, by which the
width of furrow may be altered more readily
than upon the old plan ; it is also superior
for deep ploughing, and upon dirty land,
where the soil accumulates on the old slid-
ing axle.
Mr. Garrett's " furnip drill on the flat "
is also an established favourite with the
society, having won its prizes at Cambridge
and Northampton ; it is called
" A four-row lever drill, for the purpose of de-
positing turnips or mangel wurzel seeds with arti-
ficial or well-rotted fium-yaid manure, for eiihef
flat or ridge-ploQghed lands. It is made with im-
proved levers and coulters, whereby the manure
may be deeply buried in the land below the seed,
and any quantity of soil placed between them. The
seed coulters may be adjusted to drill the seeds
either deeper or fleeter, as circumstances may re-
quire. This drill is also adapted Ibr dxilltag beans,
peas, and carrots, with manure^ at any intervals
apart."
The steaming apparatus of Messrs. Shar-
man and Co., the catalogue says —
" Is adapted for quickly generating steam to be
applied to the purposes of cooking Hnseed, chaff,
potatoes, and otoer food for eattle. It is made of
copper and galvanized iron, and oaa be used with-
out the aid of brickwork. A Jet of steam is so in-
troduced into the compound tub as to keep the food
in agitation, and obviate the naceaeity of stininff it
up in the ordinary way."
The machine for making tUhng, draiaf,
and pipes to which the prize was awarded is
a new hivention of Mr. John Whitehead, of
Preston, Lancashire. It is very strong, and
the box will contain 8,744 cubic indues of
day. It is thus described : —
'* It may be easily turned the whole day by one
man, who also may fill the box, while a boy euta
the tiles off and carries them away. The firont of
the box Is large enough to receive a die-plate, with
seven U-inch or five 2-iDfih tiles in width, and If
? laced one upon anothei, twelve l^-inch or nine
•inch tiles. Any description of tiles may be made
by this machine. A vrrought iron screen plate may
be attached when tiles are not being made, for the
f uzpose of extraoting stones from the day.**
WKSKLT LIST OF NEW XNGLISH PATElfT«.
Walter Orsell Palmer, of Southacre, near Swaff-
ham, Norfolk, farmer, for improvements in machi-
nery for threshing and dressing eom. July 10; six
mouths.
Anthony Lorimler, of Beirs-buildlngs, Saliabury-
square, City, bookbinder, for improvements in com-
bining gutta percha and caoutchouc with other
materials. July 10; six months.
Richard Roberts, of the Globe Works, Manches-
ter, engineer, lor certain improvements in and
applicable to clocks and other tbne-keepers, in
machinery or apparatus for winding clocks and
hoisting weights, and for effecting telegraphic com-
munications between distant clocks and placea
otherwise than by electro-magnetism. July 11 *, six
months.
Leon Castelain, of Poulton-square, Middlesex,
chemist, for improvements in the manufacture of
soap. July 11; six months.
Felix Alexander Fessad de Beauregard, of Paris^
engineer, for improvements in generating steam,
and in the means of obtaining power from steam
engines. July 1 1 ; six months.
Matthew Kirtley, of Derby, engineer, for iok-
provements in the manufacture of railway wheels.
July 11 ; six months.
Jesse Ross, of Leicester, agent, for improvements
in apparatus for dibbling and other agrioultural
purposes ; part of which improvements are applica-
ble to propelling vessels. July II ; six months.
William Edwards Staite, of Lombard-stieei, City,
gentleman, for improvements in the construction
of galvanic batteries, in the formation of magnets,
and in the application of electricity and magnetism
for the purpose of lighting and signalizing, as also
a mode or modes of employing the said galvanic
batteries, or some of them, for the piupose of ob-
taining chemical producU; parts of which improve-
ments are a communication. July 12 ; six months.
n
trBBKI.T LIST OF DK8ION8 FOE ARTICLKS OF UTILITY EBOTSTBRBD.
0<t«of Ncln
telctn-theBe-
noB. gister. Proprietors* Namet. Addretges. Subjects of Designs.
July 5 1491 Charles Gneimay Park-street, Grosrenor-aqaare... Stock.
7 149S Biehard Restall Croydon Cylindrical brooch protector.
10 1493 George Frederick Mor-
rell Fleet-street Flower and plant label.
11 1494 John Sparks King-street, Tower Hill Railway dispatch and cash
box.
11 1495 William N. Nicholson ... Newark-on-Trent Newark cottage range.
,. 1496 Wniiam Bullock Tib-
bits M Branston Spring holdftit for window
sashes.
„ 1497 William Rawlings Sobey Exeter Spring lock for a brooch.
„ 1498 Oilbert Dickinson New Bond-street Artists' Tadc mecum.
GUTTA PERCHA COMPANY'S WORKS«
WHARF ROAD, CITY ROAD,
London, Ut April, 1848.
THB GUTTA PEBCHA COMPANY have great pleasnie in stating that the steadily increasing demand
ibr the Patbkt Gunx Fxhcha Drxviko Bansb justiflea the utmost confidence that they are ftiUy
arovoved.
Tbebr dnTabUity and strength— permanent contractility and uniformity of substance— their non-suioep-
tIMlity of injury from contact with Oils, Grease, Acids, Alkalies, or Water— and the facility with whlcU the
single joint required can be made in Bands of any length— render them superior for almost all working
purposes, and decidedly economical.
OoLosHJM, TvBiKO of all sizes, Bouoibs, Cathsteks, Stethkscopxs, and other Surgical Instruments;
Movu>i]rot#0K PicTunx Feakss and other decorative purposes; Whips, Thomos; Txmnis, Golf, and
Ckxckxt Balls, &g., in great variety.
Patent Ontta Perclia Shoe Soles.
The applicability of Qutta Percha Soles for Boots and Shoes having been extensively and satisikctorily
tested, we can unhesitatingly recommend the material prepared for this purpose, its merits having been
acknowledged by all who have tried it. Indeed, experience has proved that Gntta Perclia Soles wear twice
aa loog as leather, with great additional personal comfort; and they remain perfectly impervious to wet
ontit quite worn through.
Boot and Shoe Soles for Summer Wear.
The £sct of the total impervlousness of these Soles to water, enables the most delicate, by the use of
them, to escape the suffering which the prov^bial uncertainty of our climate, xven xk Summsb, so often
inilicts upon the incautious, and this efiect may be secured by a Sole so thin and light, as to afford to the
wearer a degree of ease and comfort hitherto unattainable, in conjunction with security against damp.
At lie mme iinu, iht rtmarkobU non-conducting propertiet of Crutta Percha afford a most vaiuablt pro-
Uetion to tko$e who are tubjected to tuffering or inconvenience by walking upon heated pavemenii.
The question of the durability of Gutta Percha Soles, aa compared with Leather, has long since been
decided in fhvour of the former; and no Instance of failure has yet come to tiie knonr-
ledse of tbe Company which may not be ascribed to a neglect of their printed
TO ARCHITECTS, BUILDERS, &c.
Copper-1/Vlre Cord.
p 8. NEW ALL & Co.'s PATENT IMPROVED COPPER-WIRE CORD for WINDOW SASH LINES,
Hot-houses, Lightning Conductors, Hanging Pictures, Clock Cord, and Tarious other purposes for
vhleh hempen rope has hitherto been used. This now and valuable Patent is fast superseding the use
•f the hempen cord, and is strongly recommended to all Builders and other parties connected with the
above. The Wire Cord may be had wholesale, and specimens seen at the Office of the Patentees, No. I6S,
ftachnxch-ttreet, W. T. ALLEN, Agent; or retail of G. and J. DEANE, 46, King William-street, and
C PARKS, 140, Fiaet-street ; also of all respectable Ironmongers.
The Meteorological Society of London.
/OBJECTS : to spread a hnowledge of Meteorology and to obtain information as to the Causes which
operate in producing Changes and Modifications in the condition of the Atmosphere. Persons wishing
to become Members of this Society, or to further its objects by Donations, may apply for copies of the
Enles, &c., to Mr. Louis Casella, Treasurer, pro. tem.t 23, Hatton Garden, London; or to Lieut. Morrison,
R.N., II, Acre-hine, Brixtoo; P. L. Simmonds, Esq., 6, Barge-yard, City; or W. H. White, Esq., 33,
Albany-road, CamberweU, Secretary, pro, tern.
72
ADYERTISEMBMTS.
The Railway Record,
(EDITED BY JOHN ROBERTSON, M.A.,)
IS published early every Saturday Morning, and
contains full and exclusive Reports of all Rail-
way Meetings, wltlx the Official Documents in full ;
Railway Law Cases, Railway Share Lista, and
Traffic Returns, and all matters affecting Railway
Proprietors. It is considerably larger than any
other Railway Paper, and is exclusively devoted to
this branch of enterprise.
Tk* Railwaf Record will be found a peculiarly
eligible medium for Advertisers of all articles con-
nected with Railwav Companies, and all matteis,
whether of use or luxury, which it is sought to
bring under the notice of Oapitaliats.
Price 6d.sumped; Office, 158, Fleet^street,
London.
To XSngiiieers and Bollei^
Makers.
LAP- WELDED IRON TUBES, FOR MARINE
AND LOCOMOXITB SJEAM - BOILERS,
Tubes for Steam, Gas, and other purposes ; — all
sorU of Gas Fittings. The Binningnam Patent Iron
Tube Company, 42) Oambrldgo-atreet, Birmingham,
and Smethvrick, Staffordshire, manoiacture Boile^a
and Gas Tubes, under an exclusive License f^om
Mr. Richard Prosser, the Patentee.
These Tubes are extensively used in the Boilers
of Marine and Locomotive Steam Engines in
England and on the Continent; — are Stronger,
Lighter, Cheaper, and more Durable than Brass or
Copper Tubes, and are warranted not to open in
the weld.
42, CAMBRIDOEpSTREET, CRESCENT,
BIRMINGHAM.
Works-r-Smethwick, Staffoiddilra.
LONDON WAREHOUSE^ No. 68, UPPER
THAMES-STREET.
Publiihed Every Saturday f price Sixpetue,
THE
MINING JOURNAIs,
RAILWAY AND COMMERCIAL GAZETTE;
A WBBKLY NBW8PAPBK ; VORMING A
Complete History of the Commercial and Scientific
Progress of
MINES AND RAILWAYS,
And a carefully- collated Synopsis, wfth numerous
Illustrations of all
NEW INVENTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS
XM
MECHANICS AND CIVIL ENGINEERING:
Prices of Stocks, Ores, Metals, and Materials;
ReporU of the Proceedings of Public Companies ;
the Transactions of Sdentillc Bodies ; Official and
Exclusive Information from Mining Districts,
abroad and at home, &c., &c. ■
Office : 2G, Fleet-street, London.
Now ready, price 2s.,
A Glossary- of MBnint; and
Smelting Terms,
Used in English and Foreign Mining Districts.
T>UBLISHED at the Office of the Mining Jonr-
•*■ nat, 26, Fleet-street, London ; and may be had
of John Wcale, 59, High Holborn; and through all
bookiellers in town and country.
The People's Journal and
Hqwitt's Journal Combined!
Now Publishing, in Weekly Numbers, Price Thiee>
halfpence, and Monthly Parts,
THE PEOPLFS JOURNAL, with which is In-
corporated HOWITT'S JOURNAL: an Illua-
trated Periodical for all classes.
The Proprietors of the PEOPLE'S JOURNAL
beg to inform the Subscribers to these popular
works, and the Public, that having purchased the
copyright of HOWITT'S JOURNAL, they have
determined upon uniting the two, in order thereby
more eflectually to carry out the views and princi-
ples of the former proprietors ; and while they con-
sistently inculcate truth, morality, and good taste.
exclude fhnn their columns all that may offisud
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periodicals to advance, and which must ultimately
tend to secure to every man a full and perfect en->
Joyment of bodily health, naental vigour, and that
better than all earthly gifts— a well*ordeied and
comfortable home.
With a desire to promote these ol^ects, they have,
with the commencement of the present volume,
permanently enlaced the Journal;' thus giving
Sixteen fUir pages of Literature, chiefly original,
with two pages of Advertisements and a Beautiftal
Illustration, the full size of the letter-preu. The
engraving is printed on superior paper, and so
arranged that it may be detached, and bound In ita
proper place at the completion of the volume.
London: Published by WILLOUG^BY and Co.,
at the
"PEOPLE'S JOURNAL" OFFICE,
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NOTICES TO COHRESPONDSNTS.
Our " Buddtrtjleld*' eorretpondent Aaa been iat-
ptmd upon ; the halfjfearly Supplement, with Table
Index, 4«., wu published grmlU,
Mr. Dredge* e paper on the Sea Wall QiMftfen it
unapoidably postponed till next Ufeek.
Mr. Halles' Orrery Globe.— il pair of gUbee am
this plan mag now be seen at the Polgteeknie IntU"
tution; theu are verg beauHfullg made, and explain
Mr. HaiM peculiar aetronomieal oiewe, better tkam
angthing which he hoe get printed on the eub^t.
CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER.
Description of Dr. Alban's Improved Steam
Boiler— (vi(A engravinge)^ 49
Walker's Patent Hydraulic Engine SS
Cutler's Patent Welded Lap Iron Tubes ...... ... 54
The Model Lodging Houses for the Working
Classes— Letter to Lord Ashley 54
Improvements In Construction, and
Auxiliary Legislative Measures Sug-
gested—Repeal of the Brick Duty and
Window Tax, &c.
. Baron von Rathen's Compressed-Air Loco-
motive „ tl
Description of the System of Ventilation and
Warming idopted at the Model Prison, Pen-
tonviile— <ma engravingey-iconeluded) 6S
The Gresham Professorships -Second Notice... C4
Electrical Machines ^ 69
Agricultural Implements— Prises and Med&Is
Awarded at the Royal Agricultural Society'a
Exhibition at York „ ..^ 69
Weekly List of New English Patents 70
Weekly List of New Articles of UtUity Rois-
tered ^..,«....... n
Advertisementi ......^ ,...;........ 71
iniecftanic0 iBafia^ttu,
MUSEUM, REGISTER, JOURNAL, ANJ> GAZETTE.
No. 1302.] SATURDAY JULY 22, 1848. [Price 3if., Stamped, 4 J.
Rdlted by J. C. Robertson. IM, Fleet-«trMt.
THE NEWARK COTTAGE RANGE.
Fig. 1.
TOL. XLIX.
M
THB NSWARK COTTAQB BAKOB.
ClUfiatewd under the Act for the ProtecUon of Arttctei of Utility. Mr. VT, Vf Klchotoon,
Newark-on-Trent, Agricultural Implement Maker, InTentorO
The «« Newark Cottege Range," repre-
sented in the accompanying engravinge.
obtained the prize at tne York Agricultural
Meeting last week, as the best of thirty-
two articles of this description then ex-
hibited, and will be found on examina-
tion fully to justify the preference given
to it.
Fig. 1 18 a front tIcw of it in perspec-
tive; and fig. 2 a croas-seotion of it
throujgh the centre of the fire place.
A is the fire range, which consists sim-
ply of a frontage of Yertical bars, con-
tained in a frame which slides up and
down in grooTes. The two sides of the
interior of the fire-place are composed
of cheeks of fire-clay, and the back, G,
of a slab of the same material, which is of
the peculiar angular form shown in fig.
2, and so inclined towards the bottom bar
of the range as to render any bottom
grate unnecessarT. B is a fall bar which
is swivelled so that it can either be let
down over the fire-place or over tiie
hearth, according to the degree of heat
desired to be imparted to the pot» kettle,
or other article placed upon it. A side-
view of this bar and the parts connected
with it is given in Fig. 3. C ia the
oven, the door of which forma a conve-
nient hot shelf when turned down ; D
is the boiler; and F the boiler Hd, which
fits into a sunk joint so as to come per-
fectly flush with the rest of the top of
the boiler.
The smaUness of the fire space in this
apparatus, and the narrowing of it in the
line of least utility, namely ^om back
to front, are circumstances highly favour^
able to economy of combustion ; while
the fire-cUy sidoi and bock most effectu-
ally protect the ac^acent oven and boiler
from the direct action of the fire, and
render them consequently much more
durable than usual.
To free the fire-place from ashes, all
that is necessary to be done, ia to raise
the front range a little, when the cinders
will fall out by their own weight from
ofi^ the inclined back, G i no raking what-
ever required. The flues also may be
cleared through the doors, EE, without
disturbing the fire.
The cost of this very simple and most
efficient apparatus, is not much greater
Fig. 3.
'o'
S
(£
A
If^
than that of the worst and commonest
article of the grate and stove class. One
with oven and boiler complete costs from
35s. to 408. ; with oven only and Bhxm
side, it may be had for 258.
iMAf. DlAKSy DEAT, AKB DSANB's PORTAJSLB FIRS-SNOIKK AKH WATIRINO PUMP.
[Regiitered under the Act for tlie Protection of Artidei of Utilily.]
We here present our readers with an-
odier of the articles which had the good
fortune to be honoured with a prize at
the late York Agricultural Meeting. It
was one of twelve machines exhibited,
hanag for their common object the com-
bination in one framework, and on one
set of wheels, of an irrigating engine
and a fire engine. The pump is of the
same class as that described in a former
number of this Magaaine (vol. xltiH. p.
150,) hayine an air-vessel surrounding
the barrel of the pump. By the exertion
of a little force, two men are able to
send a stream of water on to the top of
a building of considerable heiffht; and
for watering purposes a single hand can
command a circle of aboutSO ft. diameter.
8TKAjy[ BOILER WATER OAUGB.
C&egiftered under the Act for the Protection of Articles of UtQity. George H9re> ti 199^ Qxetk
GuUdford-street, Southwark, Engineer, Pn^iietor.]
This is another very useful
very usetul mven-
tion, which obtained an honorary me-
dal at the late York Agricultural Meet-
ing.* Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of
so much of this gauge as is necessary to
show the peculiarity in its construction.
A is one of the sockets into which one
end of the glass tube, B, is fixed. C is
tfaoe aperture of communication with the
* In our last week's list, the name of the inven-
tor wat erroneovaly gtren as HopCf Instead of
JETowf.
boiler, and D a nut for closing up the
opening through which the tube is slipped
into its place. E is a ring, of vulcanized
caoutchouc, which is first passed over the
end of the glass tube, after which the
glass tube, with the ring upon it, is put
through the socket, A, and drawn up
until the ring rests against the shoulder,
a a, of the socket. By this arrangement
any leakage is entbrelv prevented, while,
at the same time, it admits of Ae expan-
B 2
76
SEA WALLS SHOULD THEY BE SLOPING OR VERTICAL !
Fiff. I.
sion and contraction of the parts without
eidanfering the glass.
A pTan of the glass tube, B, and vul-
canised ring, £ (before being put into
the socket) is given in fig. 2.
SXA-WALLS — SHOULD THBT BB SLOPING
OR YBRTICAL?
Sir, — The form of sea walls is a sub-
iect of considerable importance, particu*
larlj at this moment, when a large
amount of public money is about to be ex-
pended in works of this description, in the
construction of harbours of refuge. Now
that the subject is broached in the pages
of the Meckanics* MagoMine, the anta-
gonistic opinions which exist are likely
to give rise to a great deal of discussion.
As I have only superficially glanced
through the Report of the Dover Har-
bour Commissioners, I cannot with confi-
dence refer to any of the evidence. My
remarks will therefore be applied only to
those papers that have lately appeared in
your Journal. ,
There are two poinU to which we must
particularly pay attention in considering
the construction of sea walls :
First, The nature and the direction of
the force of the waves acting against the
wall; and
Secondly, The most effective form of
the wall in resisting this force, which
depends in a measure upon the nature of
the material of which the wall is com-
posed.
First, then, the agiution of the sea is
caused by the horisontal force of the
wind. The tempest in passing over the
surface of the water at first produces a
ripple — ^which increases until the waves
rise to the height we daily witness.
The wind acting in a horizontal direc-
tion produces (so to speak) a mechanical
effect, which must be absorbed in urging
the water in the direction in whicn it
acts, and by the friction between the par-
ticles of water in the rise and depression
of the waves. That the waves of the
sea move in the direction of the wind is
evident from the effect produced by it on
the ebb and flow of the tide.
That the force of a wave arises from
something more than its mere altitude is
plain from the registrations of Mr. Ste-
phenson's Marine Dynamometer, (see
ante vol. xlviii., p. 436,) and from the fact
of the great height to which spray is occa-
sionally projected. I have seen the sprsiy
in the Bristol Channel thrown fifty feet
above high water level.
The object of a sea wall in the con-
struction of a harbour of refuge is to
break the force of the waves; on one
side of the wall the sea is raging with ail
the violence of a tempest, on the other
side it is comparatively tranquil; the
force of the waves is destroyed by the in-
terposition of the wall; which. must re-
ceive it. But is a vertical face best
adapted for this purpose ? Is it pro-
bable that this form has the power of
suddenly checking the force of the
waves and drawing a distinct line between
the raging sea and a complete calm,
without receiving any shock? And if
the wall does receive a shock, is not the
vertical form essentially weak to resist
it P Of course, the arguments in favour
of a vertical wall are founded upon the
supposition of the action of the waves
being only in a vertical direction; but
what grounds arc there for this opinion ?
All the arguments in support of it appear
8BA WALL8-raH0mi> THEY BE SLOPING OR VERTICAL ?
77
to me extremely weak and hypothetical.
Of what use would a floating breakwater
be if the action of the waves were only
▼erdcal?
In my judgment Professor Airey at-
taches too much importance, to the bare
fiust of his rising and falling on the sur-
face of the wayes, in an open boat within
a few yards of the Swansea-pier, without
striking against it. A wall built across a
river would effectually stop Uie running
of the stream ; so also a vertical wall in
the sea, as long as it stood, would check
any current at right angles to its faces ;
the boat containing Professor Airey stood
no chance of stming against. the pier
unless the water could flow freely through
it (which was impossible.) If there
were any current within a few yards of
the wall it must have been parallel to,
and not at right angles with its faces. A
similar efiect may be witnessed if the
pier of a bridge m a. running stream be
made flat to the stream, as represented in
the following diagram. A cork at a
would float in its position without being
in any danger of striking against the
masonry B, the water here being sta-
tionary. But who can say that the pres-
sure of the stream on the bridge is less
on that account P Indeed it appears to
me that there is a perfect analogy be-
tween the piers of a bridse and a sea
wall, and that if we admit the arguments
in fayour of a vertical wall we should be
justified in adopting the flat-sided pier,
instead of the pointed cutwater univer-
sally used.
Secondly, A vertical wall to resist an
impelling force is much weaker than one
with a sloping face, both because it
stands upon a kss base and depends upon
the bonding of the stones for its security,
whilst the wall having an exterior slope
presents a larger base to resist die force
of the waves, and the ^tones being in
the natural position, are not so liable to
be disturbed.
On the whole, the question appears
to come to this : Is it wiser to resist the
violence of the waves by breaking them
and receiving the force in detail up an
inclined plane — or to resist it unbroken
by a perpendicular face? The first
would undoubtedly be more liable to
injury in places, for single stones or even
yards may be shifted, but sudb damage
might be easily repaired; while a vertical
wall, if once penetrated WQuld be de-
stroyed inevitably.
I cannot think therefore that it is pru-
dent to abandon a principle, which ex-
perience has provea to be efficient in
practice, for one which, to say the most
of it, is altogether theoretical.
I remain, Sir, yours obediently,
M,
LondoDj Bfay 18» 1848. ,
SXA-WALLS — SHOULD THXY BE 8L0PIM0
OR VBRTICAI. ?
Sir, — Your review of "the Account
of the Pljrmouth Breakwater, by Sir
John Rennie," and the subsequent pub-
lication of an Abstract of the Report of
the Dover Harbour Commissioners, to-
gether with the Protest of Sir Howard
I)ouglas, seem to have attracted the
attention of many of your readers to this
most important subject.
Local circumstances always inflaenee
the design in every class of engineering
work; therefore, with regard to the
general plan proposed, I have nothing to
say, but shall confine Itny remarks en-
tirely to the consideration of the form of
wall proposed, and particularly at present
to the inclination proper to be given to
the sea face.
All the arguments that have been
urged in support of the theory of vertical
wdls, are founded on the supposition
that die motion of the sea during a tem-
pest is wholly vertical— that the waves
would oscillate without breaking upon
the perpendicular face of the wail, and
merely cause a varying pressure against
it. I have carefully perused the Report
of the Commissioners, and cannot see
sufficient to justify such a conclusion.
is
8XA WAttS — SBOVLD THBY BX StOPIKO OR VXRTICAL?
Initaneefl are addneedwbere the gradual
slope has Med ; but, generally speaking,
the injury was of a partial kind, and
either done during the progress of the
work or before the mass became suffi-
ciently consolidated; and in every in-
stance the iinury has demonstrated the
Value of the slope by decreasing its angle
of eleration. Many engineers of emi-
nence, and Bcientille men of high reputa-
tion, are in fiivonr of yertical walls. But,
on the other hand, there are also many
engineers who oppose the doctrine, whilst
the past experience qf Smeaton and
Rennie can well afford to be placed in
Jilxta-position with the theory of Profes-
sor Airy (I speak with eveiy respect
towards the Astronomer Royal;.
Daily experience shows us that the
wind, which is the cause of motion in
the sea, moves in a horisontal direction,
and urges paper, leaves, dust, and other*
light particles of matter in the direction
in which it blows. Does it not appear
reasonable, therefore, that the sea, upon
the waters of which the wind has iSuch
almost unlimited power, should be simi-
larly influenced ?
It Has been urged that a vertical wave
falling upon the sea slope of a break-
water, would break by the force aoou-
raulated in its descent, and that the
water thereof would be urged with f reat
violence up the Inolined plane. Now,
so f«r is this tnjm being the case, that it
is jQst the reverse of what actually oe-
edfs. Wot (he slope, instead of facili-
tathig the flow of water np it, tends to
throw it back asain towards the sea, fts
may be easily demonstrated by reference
to the tbUowing diagram, in whioh
a b repfeeents the sea-ilope, and e d the
vertical direetlon of a wave. Draw a
perpendienlar line, c d, from a b, at the
point d, at whieh the wave would strike.
It If a #tll*kiMMni j»ioperty in physics.
that the angle of percussion is ecjoal to
the angle of recoil: consequently, eJcr^
cdfy and df would be the direction hi
which a vertical wave would recoil from
the inclined plane, a 6, which, being
acted upon by gravity, is still farther
deflected to the line, dg. Thus, then,
if the water of the sea during a eale had
only a vertical motion, it should, when
breaking on the slope, be urged in the
direction d a towards the foot, instead of
in the direction de, towards the summit
of the slope. And the stones whieh,
during the gales which damaged the Ply-
mouth Bretucwater, were flung landwara,
would hare been found at the fbot of the
incline.
Mr. Thomas Stevenson's excellent ex-
periments show, beyond question, that
there is a very great horizontal pres-
sure in the motion of the sea. His ma-
rine dynanometer redstered nearly three
tons per square foot during a gale off the
Skerry vore Rock. This could not possibly
be the result of. vertical osoillation only;
for the statical pressure of the highest
wave would not amount to one half of it
Neither could it have been the result of
impact from the effect of a vertieal wave ;
for during the transmission of the force
of a wave from a vertical to a horisontal
line, a sufiicient interval of time would
elapse to prevent thb. Spray hi often
thrown 100 feet above the crest of the
highest wave. If the cause of this were
investigated, it would not be found to
proceed from the rising and falling of
the wave; for it is impossible that the
vertical oscillation of a wave 80 feet high
can dash spray to the height of 120 feet.
The stability of a wall, by which I
mean its resistance en moase to an over-
throwing force, is compounded of its
weight and breadth. It is evident that
a wall with a sea slope possessed these
qualities in the highest degree.
A wall with a vertical face mast be
composed of hswn stone, and dependiB
for its strength upon the bond : if, there-
fore, the stone eomposing - the wall be
once shaken in its bed, nothing can
restore the stability of the mass.
On the other hand, when the break-
water is composed of rough blooks whioh
are suffered to And their natural inolina*
tion, the damage arising from storms is
entirely superficial; for though a few
hundred tons of stone may be heaved
from theUr ph»e by the tioleode of the
I
A FRAOMBNT ON LOGIC.
79
gBl^ Uiisy 80 hr from producing my
leriouB injury, has quite a contrary effect,
by tending materially to consolidate the
I will take an early opportunity of re-
turning to this moat interesting subject.
I am, Sir, yours, &e.,
William Dkbdob.
10, Koriblk-street, Str&nd, Jane 18, 1846.
F&A6MKNT ON LOOIC. BT JAMB8 COOI^LB,
saa., M.A., BARRI8TB&.AT-LAW*
Fully sensible of the ralue of the re-
cently published researches of Mn Boole
on die Setence of Logic, I feel it right
to point out what I deem a misconcep-
tion on the part of that learned writer.
Mr. Boole has observed, that
** Those relations which lo|ieiatis daatg*
oats by the terms oonditioiuly di^junetiye,
Ice., are referred by Kant to distinct ceti-
ditkms of thought. But it is a very re-
SHurkable ftiet, that the expressions of such
relations can be dedaced the one from the
ether by mere analytical process."*
' It ia true that Kant has (Loaie;^ p.
151) stated that categorical, hypothetical,
ind disjunctive judgments "depend upon
MBeQtii41y distinct logical functions rf the
mnderstanding" .... But % think that
tiie following quotations and remarks
frill m^e it clear that the NftwroN of
IIetaphtsiob was quite awa^e of the
connection between diqunoti? e and other
judgments.
In the note at p. 113 of bi^ ProUgo-
AisB-fCll. .. (I.), and that— If A is B, A is note... (2.)
combining (1) and (2) we infbr that A is either B or C — a disjunctive judgment. And
this disjunctive ju(^^ment mAy also be arrived at by combining the tvoo categorioal
judgments
A Is B4>C • . < (1.) and, tiiat which is B is not C . . . (2.),
fod this last mode of derivation would be equally in conformity with KANt'e
view of the disjunctive judgment.f
t, dmiitli-iFard Court, Ttmple, Jana 7, 1M7.
menal Kant, speaking of the table of
the Categories, pays ** that the third** of
each class respectively, "arises from the
first and the second conjoined in one con-
ception...". Again, in his Critick of
Pure Reason,^ he observes " that the
third Categorv always arises from the
combination of the second with the first
of its class.'' And he illustrates this by
saying, that " fFholeneee (Totality) is
nothing else but plurality considered as
unity; Limitation^ nothing else but re-
alitj combined with negation ; Community
is cetuecdity of a substance in determina-
tion reciprocallv with others; lastly.
Necessity is nothing else but the exist-
ence which is given through possibility
itself ..." [He then goes on to state that
since this combination is effected by a
particular actus of the understanding,
the third Categories are primitive and
not merely deduced conceptions of the
pure understanding. This last state-
ment explains the extract, which I have
above given, from hik LogicJ] Now—
The Categories have each as a basis a
5 articular form of Judgment. Hiese
udgments correspond In their proper-
tied with the respective Categories wnich
are founded on th6m. Hence the diS"
junctive judgment Which corresponds to
the Category of OommuDity arises from
the combinaftn of It categorical and a
hypothetical judgment. Kant has not,
that I am aware of^ explicitly shown
this, though he has implicitly afiirmed it,
as I have just pointed ant. It may how-
ever be proved as follatrs : Suppose that
• OamMiM and Dubtin MaihemaUeal Journai,
ToL ill., p. 197.
t TranilAted by JoIid Rlchaidson. London, 1819.
i Same translator and date a« the Logic,
f P. 84 of the Translation, pabHshed by Pickering.
ndM, 18M. Eead the whole of the Stmmd Ob-
itrvaiion. pp. 84—85.
I By B-f C is meant the whole class formed by
the Junction of class B and class C, and conse-
VvntlyC^jaMena that A is contained somewhere
fttlw dSM fbzmed by the jonietioa of B and C, not
that A is 6oM B and C. The following inustratlon
will perhaps be considered as not improper. Let
B and C be conceived as equal semicircleB on op-
posite sides of the same diameter, th^n B+C de-
notes the whole circle. Let A represent another
space then by "A is B+C" U U Intended to be
Alleged that A is within the circle, but nothing is
Intended to be asserted respecting its position with
refisrence to the semicircles B and C.
% Critick of Pure Mtasgu, (Txmnslation) p. 75.
80
TIBBIT'S spring holdfast for window 8ASHK8.
[RegUterod under the Act for the Protection of Articles of UtiUty. William Bullock Tibbitf, of
Braunston, in the County of Northampton, Oentleman, Proprietor.]
Fig. 1. Fig. 2. Fig. 3.
Fig. 1 is an elevation, fig. 2 a section,
and fig. 3 a plan of this holdfast. To
every sash there may be two such hold-
fitf ts, one on each side ; or, in some cases,
one only may sufSce. Each hold&st
consists of the several parts marked A,
B, C, D, £, F, and G. A is a rack, which
is affixed to one side of the sash ; B, is
a plate of metal, which is let into the
grooved recess in which the sash runs,
on the side of that recess opposite to the
rack ; C, is a roller, which is mounted in
the plate, B, the ends of its axis resting
in slots cut in the cheeks, D D, which
are either either cast in one piece with,
or otherwise affixed to the plate, B. £
is a bow -spring, which is attached at the
middle to the back of the saddle-piece, F,
and has its two end bearings in the pro-
jecting pieces, G G. The sides of the
saddle-piece rest on the axle of the roller,
C, so that as the spring attached to this
saddle-piece has, in its normal^ state, a
constant pressure outwards, it keeps
while in that state the roller constantly
projected a little way beyond the face of
the plate, B, and interlocked between
two of the teeth of the rack, A, as shown
in fig. 1.
When the sash is raised or lowered
81
sparxb's railway dibpatch akd cash-box.
and returns as instantaneously to its ori-
ginal holdfast position oi '
that horisontal pressure.
the roller yields instanUneously to the
horisontal pressure resulting from the
Tcrdcal moTement of the sash, and con-
sequent action of the rack-teeth upon it,
SPABKs'a AAILWAT DISPATCH AND GASH-BOX.
[Registered under the Act for the Protection of Articles of Utility. John Sparks, of 12, King-«treet,
Tower-hill, Builder, Proprietor.]
Fig. 1 of the above engraving is a
ftoQt elevation of this box, and fig. 2 a
aeetional elevation on the line a 6 of fig. 1.
A A, is the external shell of the box
vrhieh is divided longitudinally into two
eompartments by the partition, BB ; the
lower compartment is for the reception
of the articles to be conveyed, which are
removed therefrom, at their destination,
through the locked door, C. The upper
eompwtment contains a cylinder, D,
which is open on one side from c to </,
and is suspended on* central pivots, c c,
which have their bearings in tne ends of
the box, so that the cyunder is free to
turn upon them. £ is one of a pair of
connecting bars (there being one to each
end of the cylinder) which at the upper
end 18 joined to the fly-lid, F, of the box,
and at the lower end to the cylinder, so
that when the fly-lid is lifted up, the open
side of the cylinder is uppermost, and
ready for the reception of the articles to
be transferred to the box. When the
lid is let down upon the box the cylinder
is turned round, and the goods fall into
the lower compartment, from which thev
can only be taken through the door, C.
G is one of a pair of sliding bolts which
admit of the cylinder turning round only
at such time as the box is standing in an
upright position, and by coming against
the projecting pins, //, render it imnos-
sible to take anything from the box
through the cylinder by taming it into
any other position.
ne think this apparatus meets more
completely all the desiderata of the case
than any other which has yet come under
our notice.
SOiriNIMG IVOKT.
Sir,— In your Number for July 1, yoa state
ha reply to " Y. X.'s" inquiry respecting the
treatment of ivory, that " to soften is, in
fast, to decompose and destroy it," and
*' according to all past knowled^ and ex-
perience, It does not admit of behig either
s3
82
OEOMETRT OF THE LINE A^TD PLANE.
moulded or emboB«ed»" &c. Permit me,
through the medium of your valuable Jour-
nal, to inform your correspoudent that about
two years ago, a person named Maison, re-
siding in Paris, invented a process of soft-
ening ivory so as to render it capable of
receiving any required impreuionr and of
beiDg manufactured into articles of utility
and ornament, such aa chairs, cablneta,
baskets, vases, &c. I must acknowledge
that objects manufactured by this process
do not present so elegit an appearance as
those made of carved ivory ( but M. Maison's
inventioii offers this advfiitage; that itm
cheapness would admit of the mora geaaral
employment of ivory, the use of wliich sab-
stance is now greatly restricted owing to the
trouble and expense of carving.
I believe that Maison was desirous of
introdaoiiig his inTsntion into England, but
that the price he asked for the secret was
much too high to tempt a purchaser.
I have the honour to be,
Sir, yours very respectfUly,
Ebub.
London, July 5, 1848. .
OBOMBTBT OF THB LINB AND PLAXB. — ^BT T. S. DAYIBSy F.B.8.y L. AND E., F.B.A.,
ROTAL ICZLITABT ACADBMT, WOOLWZOB.
(Continued from page 465. )
Prop. XLI.
If thm anff point Unet b0 drawm, one perpmidkmlar to a pUau^ and the other
perpendicular to a Une in thai plane: then the pime through the Unet §o drawn
will be perpendteular to the Une in the plane.
From the poiot A let a perpendicular
AB be drawn to the plane MN, and A£
perpendicuhir to a line CD in the plane
MN; then if the plane PQ be drawn
through AB, AE, it will be perpendicular
to the line CD.
For, in the plane PQ draw EF per-
pendicular to BQ. Then, since the
plane PQ is drawn through AB, and
AB is perpendioular to MN, the plane
PQ is perpendicular to MN. (f>ro«. 31.) :
and since EF is drawn in the plane PQ
nerpendicular to BQ, the intersectioo of
MN, PQ, and PQ is itself perpendicular
to MN, the line EP is perpendicular to
the plane MN. (prop. 32.) Whence
* afar to ED. (
EF is perpendiouli
(prop. 24.)
Also, AE IS perpendicular to £P by hypothesis ; »nd benee the lines A£, EF in
the plane PQ are both perpendicular to the line CD, and the plane PQ» thertfore,
itself perpendicular to CD. (jfnrop, 24.)
COBOLLARIBS.
This proposition admits of many modifications in the form of ha enaoeiation, soma
of which are better adapted to particular purposes than others. Two of these, ••
well as two simple deductions from the proposition, are annexed.
1. If AB be perpendicular to the plane MN, and CD be a line in the plane MN,
and if BE be drawn perpendicular to CD, then all linei drawn f^om £ to the per-
pendioular AB will be perpendicular to CD.
2. If AB, CD, MN, and BE be drawn as just described, and perpendiealaffs to
CD be drawn from points in AB, they will all meet CD in the same point S.
8. Under tl\f same hypothesis, any line EA' drawn to meet AB will be perpen-
dicular to CD.
4. Of the lines drawn from E to AB, the line EB In the plane MN is the least :
and that (KA'in the figure) drawn to the point of AB nearer to B is less than the
more remote.
GEOMETRY OF THE LINE AND PLANE.
Faop. XLII.
83
IftL Kne be mdmed to a plane, andUnei be drawn 4a Ike plane from ike point where
the ineHned line meete it, thi angUe formed by the inclined Hne with the Un$t
I will be eubfeei to the following relatione :
The aente profile angle ie the least qf till.
The obtuse profile angle is the greatest.
The angle formed with the Hne Uast inclined to the aeuie prqflH
trace is less than that farmed with the more remote one; and
(4.) On^ two ef these angles can be equal, one lying m me sUtB tf th*
profile plane, and the other on the other,
(ft.) One UnCf and only onCf can be drawn in the pkme perptniittikar
to the inclined Une,
(1, 2.) Let AB be a line inclined to
the plane MN, and let lines 'AC, AD,
AS, AP, AG, be drawn in the plane
BIN; aad let BAG be the acute profile
angle, and BAG tiiie obtnse one : then
BAG is the least, and BAG the greatest
of an the angles which can be so formed.
(1.) For let BAE be any other angle;
about A in the plane MN describe
die dide GGB; and from C in the
profile plane draw CB perpendicular to
Tb^^BC is perpendicular to the plane MN (prop, 32) ; and^heiioe Bfi is matsv
' '- ' ' to ttie two
than BC (prop, 28.) Consequently since the two sides AB, AC are equal
AB, A£/but the base BE greater than the base BG, the angle BAE ia greater thaa
BAG. The acute profile angle BAG> therefore tiie least angle.
(2.) Again, since GG is the diameter of the circle GEG, it Is greater diaa fSaUb
line £G ia the circle (Euc. tit. 15) : wherefore the line BQ is greater duui B9
(frap. 28.) Whence, BA, A£ are equal to B A, AG, but the faass BG greater thali
the base BE ; and the angle BAG is hence greater than BAE. The obuise profile
angle BAG is therefore the greatest angle.
(3.) Let AE be nearer than AP to the acute profile trace; then the ^ngle BAE
will be less than BAF.
For, Join BF. Then since the angle CAF ia greater than GAB, the subtending
ehord FG is greater than FE ; or F is more remote from the perpendicular tha»
E is. Whence BF is greater than BK Gonseqnently B A, A£ are equal to BA«
AF, but the base BE leas than the base BF ; and hence the angle BAB ia leaa
than BAF.
f 4.) There can be drawn one, and ofily one, line in the plane MN, which shall
BNkko an angle equal to BAE.
For, make the aogle CAD equal to CAE, and join BD.
Then, since the angle GAD is equal to CAE, tne chord CD is equal to 0£ ; aid
hen^e the line BD to BF (prop, 28.) WfaerefiDre (Ac. L 8) the angle BAD tf
equal to BAE. There can, hence, be one angle equal to any aeleeted a*gle BAE.
tliere can be only one: for all the others on the side GEG of the plane QG ana
either greater or less than BAB, as has been proved ; and it follows in the same waj^
that all those on the other side of QC are eidier greater or leas than BAD» and
hence than BAE.
(5.) Draw HAK perpendicular to GC in the pUme MN. Then, GG is the telw
secuon of two planes MN, PQ, and H£ is drawn in one of the planes MN perpen-*
dicular totjrG, it is perpendicular to the plane PQ; and hence to the Hne AB in
that pUne» Whence one line can be drawn in Ae pUne MN perpendicular to AB.
Thero can be but one: for then it would also be perpendicuhtf to PQ9 which ii
impOHible (j^. 26*)^ To ba ccniumad.)
84
MR. BAOOB'b LKCTUaXB ON KLBCTAICZTY.
Sir, — The tbundentorm which visited
HI last night afforded an excellent oppor-
tunity to those who delight in observing
natttnd phenomena, and in admiring the
miljestjr which pervades the works of the
Creator.
Since the Polytechnic Institation has
been re-opened, some interesting lectures
have been delivered there on the subject
of thunderstorms, and I have no doubt
that such of your electrical readers as
are resident in London have already be-
come acquainted with the novel effects
which Mr. Baggs presents to his audience.
But to your numerous country readers,
who are dependent on secondary evi-
dence, I think a short account of these
valuable additions to science will be ac-
ceptable, and it may excite a desire in all
to push onwards in that hitherto unex-
plored region which is now opened to
our researches.
The leading improvement which marks
Mr. Baggs's mode of discharging Leyden
phials when arranged in a battery, is one
which I beUeve has been suggested long
ago, but has certainly never l^en carried
out in practice on such a scale as we
may now witness in the lecture-room of
thePolvtechnic. Electrical batteries are
generally so constructed as to have all
Uie interior coatinn of the jars connected
to one end, and all the exterior coatings
to the other end of the circuit
Mr, Baffgs insulates each jar com-
pletely, anof at the instant of discharge
brings the interior of one jar to bear
upon the exterior of the next, and so on
in succession throughout the series.
By this modification, the new battery
is made analogous in its operation to the
galvanic battery ; and the difference be-
tween the ordinary Leyden batteries and
those of Mr. Baggs is exactly that which
would be observed between a galvanic
trough where all the positive and all the
negative plates are respectively united,
and another on the customary cellular or
repetition plan.
n e have thus a new feature introduced
into our manipulation of Franklin elec-
trieity^the simultaneous change in posi-
tion of each jar of the battery; and
whilstitB first resulu enable theelectrician
to exhibit a disruptive spark of great
power, we can set no limitations to the
exnectations we may indulge in from its
tan development.
The battery emploved by Mr. "^es^
consists of ten or twelve large jars, eacr.
of which is supported horizontally on an
insulating pedestal, which is capable of
rotary motion about its vertical axis.
These jars are arranged in a circle,
and are charged separately by the steam
electric-machine. The amount of elec-
tricity imparted to each jar is regulated
by an ingeniously contrived electrometer
which answers the purpose of a safety-
valve.
I subjoin a description of this self-
acting regulator, although I believe that
it is not altogether new either in prin-
ciple or construction.
Fig. 1 represents a ground plan of a
battery of this new form, the five jars of
which are supposed to be separately
charged.
By means of a simple motion given to
a system of rods connecting the pedestals
of all the jars, the battery is brought
into the position indicated in fig. 2 ; the
rotation of each having been m the di-
rection of the arrow. It will be observed
that the inner surface knob of each jar
is now within "striking'' distance of
the outer surface of the next succeeding,
and by this means the accumulated force
of the whole battery discharges all the
lars at once, and the spark restoring equi-
librium passes through the space A B,
which in Mr. Baggs's battery is extended
to about three feet ! •
Fig. 8 represents the electrodynamic
regulator referred to above.
A and B are two stationary metallic
balls, the former of which is connected
with the earth, the latter with the jar
about to be charged.
The ball C is borne at the end of a
metal balance-rod R, moving verticallT
about the fulcrum P, and is weighted at W
according to the intended maximum in-
tensity of the charge. The electricity
is transmitted from the machine by Uie
wu-e P, along the rod, and through the
bails C and B to the jar.
The balls C and B being affected with
electricity of the same sign, will repel
each other, and when the repulsive force
becomes strong enouffh to separate them,
the rod will assume the position indicated
by the dotted lines, uutil the ball C coming
within "striking" distance of A, the sur*
plus electricity will pass off to the earth.
MR. BAOOB^S LitCTURES ON ELECTRICITY.
85
At the risk of ilndnly protractiog this
eommiuiication I shall add a few of Mr.
BaggB*s observations on thunder and light-
Ding.
The prolonged roar of a thunder peal,
so unlike the snarp report of an ordinary
electric discharge, is generally attributed
to the reverberation of the first sound by
surrounding objects ; but thunder heard
at sea or on a level plain, cannot owe its
duration to such succession of echoes.
Mr. Bagffs explains this difficulty, as
vrell as the devious aigsag course of light-
ning, by the following Uieory :
The clouds consist of strata or aggre-
gations of vapour, and each mass includes
a number or small particles of vapour.
Let fig. 4 represent a number of these
masses and small particles. Then any
one particle, A for instance, will be simi-
larly charged throughout, but the ex-
teriors of all will by induction be charged
dissimilarly. The spark will pass be-
tween two bodies similarly charged by
the common tangent, and between two
dissimilarly charged along the common
nonnal.
Hence there will be a succession of
cumulative discharges, forming a flash,
whenever the masses of charged vapour
are brought into such a position as to
ooDsist of groups arranged as are the jars
in ^, 2.
Some of your readers mav have
noticed as I have done that the ngure of
a fiash of lightning does not always ap-
pear to be product on the retina of the
eye with all its parts apparent simulta-
neously. Often it seems to resemble a
swift meteor, and one extremity of the
light disappears whilst the other is pro-
jected farther. This is intelligible
enough if we consider each flash to con-
sist of innumerable small discharges
between contiguous masses. The direc-
tion of its course will then be influenced
by the relative positions and electrical
aflfections of the various masses of vapour,
and the duration will depend on the rapid
aeeumulationin each mass, of an amount
of electricity which finally (but often not
nntil after an appreciable time) exceeds
what can be sustained by the particle or
mass under the circumstances. This
distinction between one spark and a flash
of continttotts discharges is exceedingly
important. It was beautifully illustrated
by Faraday in one of his late lectures,
wliere the electric current was so retarded
Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
86
SBIV-ACTING SLUJCBSi
and wire-drawn by comoelUng it to tra-
verse an imperfect conaucting medium,
as to produce effects, such as firing gun-
powder, necessarily requiring an appre-
ciable duration of the heating power
generated by its passage.
In conclusion, I would beg leave to
propose flat cells as a convenient form for
the jars of the new battery. They should
be broad enough to admit the hand for
coating with tinfoil, and large enough to
render the separate charging of them not
too troublesome.
Yours, &c.,
John MAcGaiooR.
24, Idoooln'l-Illli Fielda, July 15, 1848.
SSLV-AOmfO SLUICES.
Sir, — On examining the embankments
which have been constructed throughout
the united kingdom for the reclamation
of slob lands from the tidal waters of
the sea, two descriptions of self-acting
sluices, at least, may be observed differ-
ing in no other particular but in the
length of the arms by whioh they hang
suspended from the axle.
Fig. 1.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying sketches
shows one of these sluices whose line of
suspension is immediately above the
top of the sluice ; and fig. 2, one which
hangs by long rigid arms from a line at
least 10 feet above the top of the sluice.
You are aware that the use of these
sluices is to exclude the sea water at
high tide ; and at a particular state of the
ebo, the pressure of the fresh waters
within the embankment opens the sluices,
and thus the fiood waters of the country
escape through the tunnels from the re-
claimed lands to the sea.
To ensure the most effective system of
drainage from more rich low lands, which
otherwise would become saturated and
materially damaged, the efficiency of dis-
^-m
Pig. 2.
:8^
charge through the sluices, which caa
act but a limited time during each tide,
is of the utmost importance ; and as
each of the sluice forms above referred
to has been adopted in important situa-
tions by engineers of unquestionable ex-
perience and ability, the following in-
vestigation of the mechanical laws whidi
govern their action, showing theefllciency
of discharge in each case, may not 1)0
altogether without interest to some of
your readers.
Let P C (fig. 3) be any position of the
lone armed sluice, making with the ver-
tical B C the angle B C P- 9. The
point P is held in equilibrium by three
lorces; viz., the force of the water acting
in the direction Q P, the weight of the
sluice and arms acting in Pfi, and the
tension of the rigid body reacted at the
point C.
Eesolving the forrce, PR, into the two
equivalents, QP, RQ, respectively per-
pendicular and parallel to PC, the latter
is destroyed by the re- action at C, ana
the remaining e(^uivalent, QR, being the
tangential force, is the only one opposed
to me direct action of the fluid.
Take F, the centre of pressure of the
fluid, and G the centre of gratity of th^
SILF^ACTIFO fLUICSB.
Kg. 3.
87
mass of the sluice and arms together ;
put PF-Z, PG-Z' and PC=a. Then
FC« (a - z) and GC =- (a - z) : also put
PR» W->the whole weight of the mass*
Now the angle PRQ is obvioushr equal
to PCB«e, and /. W. sin. e=PQ*-Un-
gential force ; and if P represent the
force of the water upon the sluiee, we
have
P.(a- 2) =W. 810.6(0-20
an expression for the conditions of eaui-
librium, supposing the system placea in
air.
Suppose the whole now immersed in
water, as the sluices must be ; the force
of buoyancy upon the material would at
once destroy the equilibrium exhibited
above, and therefore this force must
occupy a place in the equation. Putting
M <= the mass of the sluice immersed,
^«the distance of its centre of gravity
from the centre of motion C, and n—
the specific weight of water. Then}
P.(« -a)-ii». n. tf. sin. a=W. sin. B (fl-«9»
so t!hat the conditions pf e^uilibiium m
^" r- ^^^\4=^.i^Z^^^-^^^
water between the resultant of the
weight of the sluice and that of the
water, are generally,
W,(fl-20 +«.«.<'
Bv an exactly similar process we should
find for the sluice with the short arms
(6-^)
in which w\ b, «*, cf, and eT, represent in
this case quantities respectively similar
to those represented by w^ a, s^, d, and
e in the first case. Equating therefore
these two values of P, we bave
Bin. e' W. (o-g^)-fm.».d (b-z)
rinTe ■w.'(6-4r') + m.n.d'* («-2)'
which gives the ratio of the angular
openings of the sluices due to a given
pressure, P, and therefore a direct com-
parison of the efficiency of discharge in
each case.
From the last equation it is manifest
that as the total weight of the short
88 8BL7-ACTINO SLUICES.
anned sluice most \>e less than that widi reader and ordinary aritfamedoian. The
the long arms, the ratio of , application, therefore, of the results ahoye
sin. obtained to a pardcular case, in which I
j^ ' have accurately ascertained die nnmbera
must be always greater than the angular ^ ^' ,,»,,, ,w
opening of the long one, die pressure , In the case to which I allude W-506
being die same in each case. lbs-» C« --^ ) = ^^ inches, m. n. «266 Iba.,
The preceding investigation is abun- rf-120 inches, and (ft-^)-50 inches,
dantlysimple and easy of comprehension; Also, W'-393lb8. (i-«')-36 mches,
but algebraic formute, however simple ^''-^l inches, and (a-z)-128 inches,
in their nature, are too often viewed in Subsdtudng these values in the eqna-
an unfavourable light by the general don, we have
sin g^ _ 506x96x50«f(266xl20) _| 3^^^
sin 393 X 36 X 128-1- (266 x 41) * '
the rado of the angular openings in dus pardcular case.
Now, assuming certain angular openings for the short-armed sluice, let us see
what would be the openings due to the long sluice for the same pressure.
G'^5'' log. dn. »8.940296
1.3506 log.-0.130507
8.809789 0.3'' 42^
0'-15*»- 9.412996
1.3506 0.130507
9.282489 »ir 3'
«r=.30° 9.698970
1.3506 0.130507
9^568463=21° 44'
9^-45 9.849485
1.3506 0.130507
9.718978 -3r 35'
«'-60 9.937531
1.3506 0.130507
9.807024-39'' 63'
0^-90 (horizontal) 10.000000
1.3506 0.130507
9.869493-47'' 46'
Here, then, are the practical deductions from the preceding investigation. — ^The
force capable of opening the long-armed sluice,
3*" 42' - will open the ihort Bloioe 5<>.
11° 3' - 15°.
21° 14'— 30°.
31° 35' - 45°.
39° 53 - 60°.
47° 46 - 90° (horizontal.)
There are other disadvantages besides it apparent that such a construction
those above exhibited— the inevitable shoula never have been adopted,
resdt of the long arms; but what has T. Smith,
been shown is perhaps enough to make Bridf^town, Wexlbzd,/ttnt is.ms.
89
TBB G&MRAM PROnnOMBIPS.
Third Notio*.
We have been induced to look a little.
more closely Into the history of the
Gresham College (instead of trusting to
ovr] memory of former readings upon a
aubjeet which, at that time, only in-
terested us from its gross maWersation)
dnce the present yacancy in the geo-
meCry-professoFship has come to our
kntywledge. Of course, we first refer*
red to old Ward, who, in his *' Lives
of the Professors of Gresham College,*'
bas giyen the principal documents res-
pecting its early history. We haye,
therefore, selected all thos^ parts of Sir
Thomas Gresham's will which relate to
his college, and extracts from a descrip-
tion of the fundamental constitution of
it, as detailed in the tripartite deed be-
tween the Corporation, the Mercers'
Company, and the Gresham professors
In 1597. We haye not room this week
to discuss this singular document, or
compare it with the will : still less can
we recount the subsequent scandalous
peryersions of this trust, effected by the
act of Fisrltament in 1768 (8 Geo, iii. cap,
23,) by which the college has been vir-
tnally annihilated. It is to be lamented that
this college did not come under the scru-
tiny of £ord Brougham's Committee, in
1817-18. The glaring enormity of its
misappropriation would haye stood out
in bold relief even against the infamous
case of " Spittle and mere,^' — one of the
w<»st cases that has ever found its way into
the public records I We shall return to the
subject, and sift it to the yery bottom.
Sir Thomas Gresham, as we haye
said, was educated at Cambridge, under
Dr. Cains, himself the co-founder with
Dr. Gonyille, of the college which bears
their joint names. There was hence the
idea of a foundation presented to his
mind in early life ; and there was preva-
lent in Cambridge a belief that he in-
tended to add another college to that
nniyersity. Indeed, there was addressed
to him, by the public orator of that day,
a fulsome letter, by order of the caput,
to remind him of his " promise." What
answer was given is, however, not known ;
but it is clear that the merchant-Maece-
nas had long, ere that period, made up
his mind. He had built for himself a
" BfansloD House" between Bishopsgate-
street and his Royal Exchange, fvhich
was quite as remarkable for its extent as
for its magnificence ; the plan of which
was that of a collegiate building, adapted
to form "lodgings** for the professors,
lecture-rooms, laboratories, and a noble
gallery fitted for use on all public occa-
sions. This was begun about 1560
even during the life of his only son,
which shows how fully he had de-
termined upon the foundation of his>
college. In 1575 he made his will —
(written entirely with his own hand) —
in which he endowed this college with
ample funds, chargeable upon certain of
his estates, amongst them the Royal
Exchange ; and left the Corporation of
London and the Mercers' Company joint
trustees. There were first appointed in
one part of the will the four professor-
ships, viz., of "divinitye, astronomy,
musicke, and geometry," with "salla-
ries andstipendes" each "of fifty pound
of lawfull money of England yerely."
In a later part he adds the three profes-
sors of **lawe, phissicke, and rhetoricke,"
to each of whom he allots the same
•* stipende." Further on still, we find it
ordained that the said trustees "shall
permitte said seaven persons, by them
from tyme to tyme to be elected and
appointed in manner and forme aforesaid,
meete and sufficiently learned to reade
die said seaven lectures, to have the
occupation of all my said mansion house,
gardeins, and of all other the appurte-
naunces, for them and every of them
there to inhabite, study, and Aaylie to
read the said several lectures. And my
will is, that none shall be chossen to
retide any of the said lectures so long as
he shall be married, nor be sufiered to
reade any of the said lectures after he
shall be married, neither shall receive
any fee or stipend appointed for readinge
the said lectures.'^ This is all that
occurs in the will relating to the endow-
ment of, and conditions attached to, the
Gresham professorships.
The statute of mortmain rendered it
necessary that license should be obtained
for the appropriation of his estates to
this purpose within a certain period.
He therefore adds, " that I doe require
and charge the said corporations and
governors thereof, with circumspect dili-
gence and without longe delay, to procure
90
THE GRB8HA1C PROFESSORSHIPS.
and see to be done and obteyned, ss they
will answer for the same before AU
mighty e God. For if they, or any of
them, should neglecte the obteyning of
8uch lyssaunce or warrante, which I trust
cannot be difficult (nor so chargable,
but that the overplus of my rentes and
proffittes of the premisses herein before
to them disposed will soon recompence
the same,) because to so good purpose in
the common wealth no prince nor coun-
cil in any age will deny or defeate the
same (and if conveniently by my will or
other conveyance I mignt assure it, I
would not leave it to be done after my
death) ; then shall the same revert to my
right heires ; whereas I do mesne the
same for the common weale. And then
the defaulte thereof shall be to the re-
proach and condempnation of the said
corporation afore God.'*
The entire will In ^detail is given by
Ward in his **Livesof the Professors
of Gresham College," (fol. 1740), but
as the book is large and not very com-
mon, we have thought it advisable to ex-
tract all that relates in the most remote
degree to the college, in order that our
readers may see Sir Thomas Gresham 'a
earnestness in the cause of learning, and
the only restrictions which he made.
Some opposition to the will was made
by Lady Gresham, but the trustees ob-
tained an Act of Parliament which set
the matter at rest, and they came into
possession in 1596; and in 1614, a
patent from the Crown was obtained ** to
hold them for ever upon the terms ex-
presse<yn the will of the donor,". (Ward,
p. 32,) m conformity with the will of
the founder.
An agreement tripartite between the
Corporation, the Mercers' Company,
and the professors, bearing date January
16, 1597, prescribes the objects of the
college and the manner of lecturing.
This very curious document is printed
at length by Ward in his preface ; but
it would be too long for extract into
our pages. We can only give ^ few
passages which more immediately bear
upon our present object
The first paragraph recites the *' chief
care" of the trustees, " that the last will
and testament of the said Sir Thomas
Gresham touching his said mansion house,
and the lectures there to be read, should
be in aQ things truly performed accord-
ing to the intent thereof* ; and then
proceeds to put ''the seven persons
already elected and appointed, &c., being
meet and sufficiently learned to read the
seven lectures," into possession of "all
the said mansion house, gardens, and of
all the other appurtenances, for them,
and every of them, there to inhabit,
study , and daily read the said several
lectures mentioned in the said will and
testament of the said Sir Thos. Gressham,
according to the true intent thereof ^
The second paragraph prescribes that
[besides the ordinary daily lectures?
This is not very clear from the docu-
ment] there shall Be ** certain several
solemn lectures, with great care and dili-
gence to be performed, by every of the
said lecturers in their several arts aod
sciences, at the several set days and
times ;" and the periods are fixed in tbe
third and future paragraphs, 'the reasons
for this are recited to be, "the credit qf
the place, the more increase of learning^
and the greater honour of the founder **
The fourth paragraph fixes the college-
year at four terms, nearly corresponding
with the common law terms; and the
fifth we give entire :
" And forasmuch as the publick read-
ing of the said lectures Is to be per-
formed in that manner, as may most
tend to the glory of God, and tne com^
tnon benefit qf the people of this city,
WHICH WS DOUBT NOT TO BE THE PBIN-
CIPAL ENDS OF THB SAID FOUKDEB IN
ORDAINING THE SAID LECTDBES ; and
for that the greatest part of the inhabi-
tants within the city understand not the
Latin tongue, whereby the said lectures
may become solitary in a short time if they
be delivered in the Latin tongue only;
and yet withal it is very likely that divers
strangers of foreign countries, who re-
sort thither, and understand not the
English tongue, will ereatly desire to
hear the reading of the said lectures,
whereby the memory of the said founder
in the erecting of the said college for the
increase of learninff may be divulged,
to the good ensample of foreign nations,
and the honour and credit of this hon-
ourable city : it is thought meet, that the
said solemn lectures be applied to the best
benefit and contentation of the auditors
of both sorts."
It is little likely that " divers strangers
of foreign countries " would be resident
in London at that time, except for com-
mercial or semi-diplomatic purposes*
THfi fiKEMkH PtOlP«M6ft8filPB.
SI
The latter ekaa iben held a very amM-
gtioos poeition (see ** Dee, John," Peniiy
Cye.lopedta,) which it would not hate
been pditieal wisdom on the part of 'the
citiiens of London to harbour, succour,
or encourage ; " and the mere courtiers
did not form a class likely to be interested
hi any collegiate learning. The " divers
strangers" who came to England in
eonfonnity with ** the wont of the wan-
dering pilgrims of learning*' of preced-
ing times to travel everywhere^ would go
to Oxfbrd generally (as the then most
eelehrated English nnf versity,) and occa-
sionally to Cambridge, and not trouble
tbemaelTea with a new college without
European fkme, and only, indeed, Jost
eommeneing its existence. There are
hence only two ways left us of looking at
the ordination of this paragraph.
The first is, — that the trustees reallv
intended to make the college of sued
efSciency, learning, and reputation, that
it should attract learned foreigners to
its foeturea and exerotses— ;/&r ihe »ake
of $tH€fy, and the acquisition of know-
Udge wkidi eould be nowhere else oh-
tained. If, however, this had been the
ease, how are we to account for the spe-
cial character, and the attempt at render-
ing iSbit lectures adapted to the capacitv
of the London oitisens of that day, which
nms throagh the prescriptions for the
law, physic, and dignity lectures ? This
hypMDtheaii must, therefore, be abau-
doned.
The second is,— that the trustees con-
ildered the <* Latin tongue" to be the
vemacalar language of the merchants of
IBbaropel Beyond <*the service of the
maaa," it was as little known to the
merchants of Holland, and Germany,
and Italy, as it was to the English mer-
ehant and London dtiaen. The assump-
tion waa a dmple absurdity--as much so
tlien aa It is now.
We oan otily look tipon this euphuism
(to ttse a term of that neriod,) and, in-
deed, many o^ the regulations contained
te the entire document, as the result of
a total miaoonception of^ the magnificent
vlewt of Sir Thomas Gresham, and as
an attempt to give " a learned air" to
the vulgar and common -place system of
lecture which the trustees had, in their
" practical wisdom,'' been pleased to or-
dun Instead. Gao anything, for instance,
be aoQceived so absurd as the prescrip-
liona for the leeturea on astronomy and
^ometry, which are given a little fur-
ther on r Yet even these, paltry as they
are in reference to the science of this
day, and not very exalted even in 1597,
have not been adhered to either in their
letter or their spirit. Even on the very
foundation, the will and testament of the
founder were perverted from the " true
intent thereof.^* We cannot, then, much
wonder at subsequent perversions, when
we look at the status and wisdom of the
trustees who have represented the City
and the Mercers' Company through the
several ages that have intervened.
The remaining paragraphs prescribe
the davs and hours of each week of each
term tne lectures shall be read, and lay
down somewhat stringent regulations as
to the manner of treating some of them.
The general rule for time m the Latin lec-
ture was from eight to nine, and the Eng-
lish f^om two to three ; except the mus^,
which is to be wholly in English (a dis-
pensation to Dr. John Bull, who was
" recommended by the Queen's moat
Excellent Majesty, ne being not able to
speak Latin, ) between tne hours of
three and four on Thursdays and Satur-
days. We take them in the order of the
" agreement tripartite."
1. The Solemn Divinity Lectures
(Wednesday) were to be wholly contro-
versial, not '' mingled with exhortations,
being improper for a public lecture."
This rule was made by tne bishops ; and
It closes, ** provided always, that he [the
lecturer] shall not impugn any doctrine,
order, rite> or ceremonv, received and
allowed in the Church of England.^
2. The Solemn Law Lectures (Tues-
day) are a little varied from the general
scheme, inasmuch as they are to be
read "for three quarters of an hour
in the Latin tongue, and for the other
quarter in the English tongue, which
shall be a brief collection or recapitula-
tion of that which was read in the Latin
of the said lecture.*' This appears to be
designed as a series of popular lectures
for mercantile men ; and seventy -sia
different heads, upon which the lecturer
is expected to afibrd information, are
actually laid downl The "university
manner" of reading this lecture is for-
mally set aside : which (on the law-
principle that "the exception proves the
rules") seems to Imply that the other
lectures were designed to be read "after
the manner of the university."
92
THE ORB8HAV PB0FESSOBSHIP8.
3. The Solemn Physic Lectures (Mon-
day) are prescribed somewhat oddly :
" and forasmuch as the greatest part of
the auditory is like to be of such citf-
zens and others, as Iiave small knowledge
or none at all in the Latin iongue, and
for that every man for his wealth's sake
will desire to have some knowledge in
the art of physick ; it is thought good
that the first lecture be read in the Latin
and the second in the English tongue."
Most people would have thought the very
reason offered by the Trustees a valid
one for rendering the lecture entirely in
English ! The course briefly prescribed
was however a good and suitable one for
the times and the purpose. We give the
next entire.
4. ** The Solemn Lectures ofAsiro^
nomy and Geometry are to be made in
like manner, viz., either of the said lec«
tares twice every week, on Friday Astro-
nomy, on Thursday Geometry, between
the hours of eight and nine in the fore-
noon, and two and three in the afternoon ;
whereof the lectures in the forenoon to be
in Latin, and the lectures in the aflernoon
to be in English. Touching the matter
of the said solemn lectures, the Geome-
trician is to be read as folio weth, viz.,
every Trinity term arithmetique^ in
Michaelmas and Hilary terms theoretical
geometry, in Easter term practical geo-
metry. The Astronomy reader is to read
in his solemn lectures, first, the princi-
ples of the sphere^ and the theorigues
of the planets, and the use of the astro-
labe and stofy and other common instru-
ments for the capacity of mariners ;
which being read and opened, he shall
apply them to use, by reaoing geography
and the art of navigation, in some one
term of every year."
5. The Solemn Rhetoric Lecture
(Saturday) b merely prescribed as to
time and language.
6. The Solemn Musick Lecture is to
be delivered, " the theorique part for half
an hour or thereabout, and the practique
by concent [concert ? J of voice or of in-
struments for the rest of the hour;
whereof the first lecture to be in the
Latin tongue, and the second in the
English tongue." The dispensation be-
fore alluded to as granted to Dr. John
Bull, appears to have become perpetual ;
and, indeed, though a music lecture in
<' that soft bastard Latin,'* (as Byron calls
the Italian) might be very agreeable, it
certainly would sound somewhat odd in
the barbarous and bald old Latin of the
schools, and not less so in the still more
barbarous Latin of modem times. A
musician's Latin would be a curiosity in
its way.
The " Ordinances and afirreemeots
tripartite " close with the following bit
of antique dandyism :
** Further, for more order and com-
liness sake, it is thought meet, that the
said lecturers shall read their lectures IH
THEIR HoonSt according to their degrees
in the universities^ in such sort as they
should there read the same lectures.*'
None, therefore, by this decree, but
members of the universities are eligible
to these appointments. There were sa-
pient and prescient legislators in those
times ; though, in many respects, there
are traits of wisdom in this document
that transcend even the conception of
our modern city legislators. Still, it
never entered into the imaginations of
even the better race of city men,tbatany
science could be cultivated effectively
beyond the walls of a college and the
ma^ic circle of a university. Least of
all did they dream that, within two cen*
turies, the whole weight of the geome-
trical reputation of England should fall
upon the shoulders of men who had not
only never seen a university, but who
were almost unknown, and where known,
despised by the members of both univer-
sities. The last quarter of a century
(and especially the last few years) have
somewhat modified this relation ; but
yet, after mature deliberation (though
we hazarded the remark a fortnight ago
upon the impressions that had been made
upon us by the mere recollections that
occurred at the moment,) we are bold to
say, that to the present hour, Mr. Potts
is the only man %n either university who
is NOV/ fairly before the world with any
legitimate claims to be considered as the
JSnglish representative of the geometry
school of the universities. Let the
Gresham Committee (and especially the
great corrector of non-corporate abuses^
Sir Peter Laurie) look to it. He is am-
bitious of a name in civic and public
history : he has now a chance — ^whether
he promote the views of the only qna-
lifled university candidate that offers,
or seek still further than university
production, is a matter of small impor-
tance. Let him only do his duty, end
THt OR^SHAlf PROFBl^SOR^filiE»S«
93:
render these offices somediiiig different
from the eioeeures they have been, and
he will eara and obtain the gratitude of
poBterity. We will reckon on bim, and
may aucceaa attend his efforts to cleanse
his own eivic Augean stable !
What are the present and the late
LcNrd Mayors about P Are tbey, too,
who should ffuide the ''herd" whose
names we save last week, so little alive
to the social state of the human mind in
England, as to still take these abuses as
a matter of course ? Are they, too, so
Wxad as to not perceive that the days of
patronage and perversion are gone by ?
We pray them to defer this election,
rather than elect an unfit man to carry
oat the real designs of the founder.
Let them remember that, by " Geo-
metry," Sir Thomas ChesTuim meant
Geombtbt; and that neither acade-
mic naoBEES nor citt iNFLUENCRt^tM
the trustees imply what Sir Thomas
Gresham meant bv that word. Let
tiiem also look at his emphatic objur-
gation, and pause, ere they also commit
themselves to public obloquy. If they
be not satisfied with the best can-
didate that offers himself (though there
is no real reason why they should not
be) let them look still further. With
the general impression respecting city
and corporate influence (and especially
with the restrictions quoted which ex-
cludes non-academic men) the Gresham
Committee cannot command the highest
possible talent and fitness in any depart-
ment — except by mere accident. We only
intreat the Gresham Committee, if they
wUl not take the university candidate,
by far the most fitted for the office, to
panse ere they decide — to learn what
geometry reallv is — to ascertain, as well
as they can, who really are the eminent
geometers of England — to select the
highest — and offer him the appointment.
No one of the many whom we could
name, who are not of the university,
will, we have the fullest assurance, offer
themselves for that appointment. We
have, however, no wish to disturb the
regulation implied in the closing para-
graph quoted above of the '* tripartite *'
agreement. We suppose, however, that
whatever difficulties else may stand in
the way of non-academic men, the mat-
ter of the **hood" would form an insu-
perable barrier to their selection by the
aristocratic Gresham Trustees. How-
ever, only let justice be done to ability,
and justice to the public, and mos t
of all justice to the will and intentions of
Sir Thomas Gresham :— and then we
shall be satisfied.
KOBBaTSON's PATaNT IMPaOVaMBNTS IK
THB MAKT7FA0TURB OP TBXTILB FA-
BBics, STOrrs, and tissubs, and or
CBBTAIN NBW PB0DUCT9 OBTAIN BD BT
THB AID OF SUCH IMPBOVBMBNTS. COM-
MUNICATBD FaOM ABBOAD. «
[Patent dated January 19, 1848. SpeciflcatioD
enroUed July 19, 1848.]
Specifieatum,
Whereas brocaded stnffii, in which the
figures or desi^s are introduced in the
process of weaving, possess an acknowledged
aaperiority over scuface-printed goods, lopk
much better, and bring a higher price! but
they are open to this objection, that thcr
mode in which they are manufactured ad-
mits but of little variety in the figures, and
is a great obstacle to freedom of design r
besides being exceedingly complicated and
difficult. The Jacquard loom, in which
such stuffs are woven, requires as many dis-
tinct wefts as there are colours in the design ;
an immense number also of cards ; and most
elaborate ingenuity in the mounting. The
more complex the design, the more skilful
must be the workman ; and be the workman
ever so skilful, he can at best become the
master of but a small number of patterns.
Now, the nature or object of the said inven-
tion consists in giving to the patterns or
designs of surface- printed goods the same
clearness and distinctness, and the same
high finish which have been hitherto peculiar
to brocades ; and in combining at the same
time with this successful imitation of bro-
cade work, that economy of production, and
that power of varying the designs at pleasure
which belongs to surface-printing alone.
And the manner in which the said object is
effected is as follows :
Firsts The colours used in this improved
mode of surface-printuHg are prepared in a
different way from what is usual. In general,
they are not ground sufficiently fine, the con-
sequence of which is, that they neither flow
freely and equally, nor penetrate the fibres of
the goods thoroughly ; on some parts they
make but a faint impression, while on others
they rest in spotty superficial masses ; and
hence a prevailing want not only of clearness
and continuity in the lines of the figures, but
of fixity in large portions of the colours. To
remedy these evils, the author of the present
invention grinds the metallic oxides, the lacs,
and other materials from which the colours
are derived, to as impalpable a state as is
practicable by the grinding-mill in ordinary
use ; employing no new machinery for the
purpose, but applying the old more perse*
M
WBSK&T USX OV KBW 9K0USH MTBNT8.
▼eringly and more carefnlly Uian heretofore.
The colouring materielB are then mixed with
any of the thick fatty oils, in the proportion
of abont one-third part of the oil to two-
third parts of the colonring material ; and
great care also is taken to make tibis mixtare
as intimate and complete as may be. The
colours so prepared are applied to the en-
graTcd surfaces by rollers, in the nsual way.
Second. Tp obtain plates which will yield
impressions of the required Tivadty^ the
following method is adopted :-r-A Tei7 thin
plate of copper (de deux h troU millimetre*
d*epait$ew*) is well cleaned and polished, and
the designer draws his pattern upon it The
pattern is then re-drawn {dkuiquf) ; that is
to say, the plate is cut through and through
in those parts oovered by the lines oC the
designer. And this done, the plate is at-
tached, by soldering or riveting, to a foun-
dation-block, in order that it may be printed
from. In this way, an engrared or printing
surface (in intaglio) is obtained, in which
all the lines are not only much deeper than
usual, but all perfectly perpendicular and
square— that is to say, all at right angles
with the surface, and as deep as they are
broad ; and obtained, too, at an expense
much leas than such work would cost if per-
formed by any other known means.
Goods printed from such plates, and with
colours carefully prepared in the way before
described, are difficult to distinguish from
the best brocades. The colours penetrate
the fibres so completely, and the figures aro
so distinct and clear, that then is no neces-
sity, as usual, for subjecting them either to
steaming or to mordants, or to river washing,
in order to fix and bring out the colours.
iistaaa. bbown and &sdpath's poeta-
BLB smiths' rOROB.
Experiments were parried on in the black-
smiths* shop, at the Factory, Woolwich
Dockyard, on Saturday and Monday last,
before Mr. Lang, master shipwright, and
Mr. Atherton, chief* engineer, to test two
portable smiths' forges, or heating appara-
tus, submitted by Messrs. Brown and Red-
patit. They aro both on the same principle,
only one is worked by hand, and the other
by the foot, to allow the workman to use
both hands in turning the iron in the fire,
and are intended as substitutes for the cum-
brous and ineffieieDt forges at present used
by the engineers, smiths, and armourers in
the Royal Navy. The leather and wood of
the common bellows being so liable to injury
from insects and other causes in tropical
cliosatesj the forges made by Brown and
Redpath are wholly of iron, and so com-
pact that when folded vip for stowing away,
* From No. 14 to 20 Biimiogham Bhe«t metal
gaufo.
they do not ooeapj a sptoe of tlnwe isat rix
inches by two Ibet six inehesy and eiglit
inches thick. Hie blast is prodnoed by an
eccentric fan, thirteen inches hi diamefcert
with three blades, which revolves with great
rapidity by means of an endless gnt-baad
and crank-handle, making upwards of 2,000
revolutions per minute, and producing *>
more powerful blast than can be obtained by
the common forges. The experiments were
conducted by Mr. Chaplin, engineer to the
firm, under whose superintendence the ma«
chines were oonstructed. He faitroduoed
pieoes of iron li Inches in diaonler into tbe
fires produoed by the forges, and in torn
minutes the iron was brought to a good
welding heat in the small one, and in S^
minutes in one rather larger» set in motion
by the foot. A piece of iron joi the ssnaa
dimensions was put into one of the fires pro-
duced by the engine-blast in the blacksmitha'
shop, and it required 3i minutes to bring it
to a welding heat — exactly the same time
as that required by the portable forge, show-
ing a power of producing sufficient heat to
enable engineers in charge of engines at sea
to cast or repair many parts of the works
which, without such aid, would require the
return of the vessel to port to have them
effeeted.^JI/onitii^ Chronicle,
Tks did rtnder9d bg Meehania to AgHeMUmn,-^
At the first Exhibition of the Royal Asricultuxml
Society In 1839, which took place at Oxfbid, thei«
were but S3 implements exhlblt«d. The number
increased rapidly every year, till in 1644 it reached
948. During the two following years there was a
falling off in the number of exhibitors -, bat since
then there has been "feuch a rerival of the spirit oC
mechauical competition that the number of artidea
exhibited in 1847 at Northampton was 1,321, and
this year, at York, no less than 1.508. In thaM
numbers, however, there are inoluded maa7 old aa
well as new machines.
WKBKLT LIST OF NEW BNOLI8H PATENTS.
William Swain, of Pembridge, Hereford, Brick-
maker, for certain improvements in kflns for
burning bricks, tiles, and other eartham subataneea.
July 18; six months.
Jean Louis Lemanaude, of SO, Passage Jonffiroy,
Paris, Jeweller, for a new process of applying or
fixing letters of metal upon glaas, marble, wood,
and other substances. July 18; two months.
Charles Purnell, of Liverpool, clockmaker, for
certain improved apparatus to be applied to timber-
loaded and other vessels laden with materials, the
specific gravity of which la lighter than wat«r,
preventing the necessity of abandoning them at
sea, by ridding them of the superincumbent water,
and enabling them thereby to cariy saiL July IS;
six months.
William Edward Newton, of Chancery-Une, Mid-
dlesex, for certain improvements in machinery foe
letter-press printing. July 18; six months.
Joseph Stonson, of Northampton, engineer, for
improvements in steam engines and boilers; parta
of which improvements are also applicable to other
motive machinery. July 18; six months.
Joham Arnold Stefokamp, of Laieeater-atreet,
Leicester-square, Middlesex, gentiemas, for im-
provements in the manufkctoie of sugar ftom the
can*. July 18; slzmontba.
VBBXLT LIST Ot BMiaNS VOE' AKTICLS4 OV UTILITY RBOTSTBMP*
! IMmot No. in
I EefUtra-theRe-
I ttoQ. gUt«r. Proprietors' Names. Addreiaes. Subjects of Designs,
I Jal7 U 1409 John Edmond Smith ft
Co ^.^.^^.^,^^» LAwrAice-lane, London... ....^^ Shirt collar.
Charles Warren Birmingham...... Fastener for brooch.
Richard Clark andl West Strand, and YorMar-\ Press and onllondci for vege-
Thomas Restell .../ race, CambeiweU ....^....^/ tables.
Fountain John Hartley, Pump-row, Old-street-road ...... Fasteuer fox umbrellas and
parasols.
Footer, Porter, ft Co...... Wood-street, Cheapside Yictorine.
Thomas Homing w. ...... Maidstone ...., Shooting -coat and vaistcoat
combined.
Bamett Meyers Crutched Friars Mitred handle fbr walking-
stlclLs, umbrell«Sf eaoea, fto« -
George Josiah Mack-
dean .M «.•••..«.• M^Lechlade *..... Thrashing machine.
White and Wells „ Nottingham Undershirt.
Thomas Edwards Blrmiogham».»....».........«....... Solkl leather eigaz case.
George Unite. ,......• Birmingham... .« Slide bolt to secure the pins of
brooches.
1519 Wetss and Son ^ Strand Forceps and scissors' Jdnt.
14
1509
1501
r»
1508
tt
15
IMS
1594
„
1505
17
1506
19
]5or
1508
1509
GUTTA PERCHA COMPANY'S WORKS,
WHARF ROAD, CITY ROAD.
Limdon, Ui AfHi, 1848.
mHS OUTTA PERCHA COMPANY have great pleasure in stating th4t the steadily increasing demand
-■- foe tho PATBm GimA PancHA Dnivivo BAxns Justifies the utmost confidence that they are fiilly
apnroved.
Their durability and strength— permanent contractility and uniformity of substance — their non-suscep-
tibiUty of injxiry from contact with Oils, Grease, Acids, Alkalies, or Water— and the facility with which the
ftngle joint re^ulTod can be made in Bands of any length— render them supeiier for almost all working
pvposes, and decidedly economical.
GoLosHxs, TuBixo of all sizes, Dovoiss, CATHXTBnSySTXTHsscoFXS, and other Surgical Instruments}
Moulhiboc #ob PicrtTBB Fbames and other decorative purposes; Whips, Thobos; Tbbbis, Gohw, and
Caicju* Baxu» fto., in great Tariety.
Patent Ghitta Perdia Shoe Soles.
The sppHcabOity of Ontta Percha Soles for Boots and Shoes having been extensively and satis&ctorily
lestedt we can unhesitatingly recommend the material prepared for this purpose, its merits having been
acknowledged by idl who have tried it. Indeed, experience has proved that Gutta Percha Soles wear twice
as long as leather, with great additional personal comfort; and they renuun perfectly impervious to wet
until quite worn through.
Boot and Shoe Solea for Sumner Wear.
I The fact of the total iroperviousness of these Soles to water, enables the most delicate, by the us« of
them, to eacapo the suffering which the proverbial uncertainty of our climate, xvbb id Suumxr, so often
iniieta upon the incautious, and this eflbct may be secured by a Sole so thin and light, as to afford to the
I wearer a degree of ease and comfort hitherto unattainable, in conjunction with security against damp.
At the iome time, the remarktthle non-conducting propertiu of Ovtta Ptreha afford a mott valuable pro-
teetion to those who are subjected to suffering or ineonvenienee by walking upon heated pavements.
The question of the durability of Gutta Pereha Soles, as compared with Leather, has long since been
decided in fisvour of the former; mnd no Instance of failure baa yet come to the know-
lo««e of the Oompanj wbich may not be ascribed to a negrlect of tbelr printed
TO ARCHITECTS, BUILDERS, &c.
Copper^Wire Cord.
T> 8. NEWALL&Co.'s PATENT IMPROVED COPPER-WIRECORDfor WINDOW SASH LINES,
* Hot-houses, Lightning Conductors, Hanging Pictures, Clock Cord, and various other purposes for
which hempen rope has hitherto been used. This new and valuable Patent is f^st superceding the use
of the hempen cord, and is strongly recommended to all Builders and other parties connected with tho
above. The Wire Cord may be had wholesale, and specimens seen at the Office of the Patentees, No. 163,
FeBchmeh-stieet, W. T. ALLEN, Agent; or retaU of G. and J. DEANE, 46, King William-street, and
B. PARKS, 140, Fleet-Street ; also of all respectable Ironmongers.
96
ADYlBBTiSBMBNTS..
To Inventors and Patonteos.
MESSRS. ROBERTSON ft CO.,
FATKKZ lOLIGITOM,
(Of which firm Mr. J. C. ROBERTSON, the
Editok of the Mbchamxcb' Maoaxxks from iU
commencement In 1828, is princip&l partner,)
undertake
The proenratlon of Patents
For England, Scotland, Ireland, and all Foreign
Countries, and the transaction generally of all busi-
ness relating to Patxmts.
Speelflcatlona Drawn or Rerieed.
DISCLAIMBRb/aND MSMOaANDUMS OF
ALTSEATION PRBPARBD AND BNaOLLBD.
OaTO^ts Entered and Oppoaitlone
Conducted.
CONFIRMATIONS AND PROLONGATIONS
OF PATENTS SOLICITED.
Searches made for Patents, and Copies or
Abstracts Supplied.
Adviee on Cases snbmittedj Ste. 4kc.
MB88RS. ROBERTSON & CO.
POSSESS THE ONLY COMPLETE REGISTRY
OF PATENTS EXTANT,
Commencing a.d. 1617(15 James I.) and regularly
continued down to the present time.
INTENDING PATENTEES supplied gratis with
Printed Instructions, on Application, either per-
sonally or by letter.
The Railway Record,
(EDITED BY JOHN ROBERTSON, M.A.,)
IS published early every Saturday Morning, and
contains ftiU and exclusive Reports of all Rail-
way Meetings, with the Official Documents in full ;
Railway Law Cases, Railway Share Lists, and
Traffic Returns, and all matters afiecting Railway
Proprietors. It is condderably large^ than any
other Railway Paper, and is exclusively devoted to
this branch or' euterpiise.
The Railway Record will be found a peculiarly
eligible medium for Advertisers of all articles con-
nected with Railway Companies, aud all matters,
whether of use or luxury, which it is sought to
bring under the notice of Capitalists.
Price Gd. stamped ; Office, 15S, Fleet-street,
London.
To Bngineers and Boiler-
Makers.
LAP- WELDED IRON TUBES, FOR MARINE
AND LOCOMO'ilVE STEAM - BOILERS,
Tubes (or Steam, Gas, and other purposes ; — all
sorts of Gas Fittings. The Birmingham Patent Iron
Tube Company, 42, Cambridge-street, Birmingham,
and Smethwick. Slaifordshlre, manuiacture Bollurs
and Gas Tubes, under an exclusive License (tom
Mr. Richard Prosser, the Faieutee.
These Tubes are extensively used in the Boilers
of Marine and Locomotive Steam Engiues in
England and on the Continent;— are btronger,
Lighter, Cheaper, and more Durable than Brass or
Copper Tubes, and are warranted not to open in
the weld.
42, CAMBRIDGE-STREET, CRESCENT.
BIRMINGHAM.
Works— Smethwick, Staffordshire,
LONDON WAREHOUSE— No. 68, UPPER
THAMES-STBEET.
Automaton Calcvlatom.
MR. WERTHEIMBER'S Patented AUTOMA-
TON CALCULATING MACHINES, perform.
Ing both Addition and Subtraction, from onefiuthinff
up to a million of pounds, (price. 4/. 4«.), adopted .
by 4ier Majesty, by the Board of Trade, and sereral
other Government Offices; and the REGISTER-
ING MACHINES, whioh indicate the number of.
Strokes performed by a Steam engine (price S/. 5s.),
adopted by the Admiralty and the most celebrated
engineers of England, are now on sale at Mesan.
Watkins and Hill's, Mathematical Instrument
Makers to her Mftjesty, 5, Charing-cross.
Lately published. Third Edition, Price 7s. Gd.,
Microscopic Illiuitratioiiay
TTiriTH descriptions of the New Microscopes, and
TV ample Instructions for Use. By Akdkbw
Pritchabo, M.R.I.
Alao, by the same, Price 12s.,
A HISTORY OF INFUSORIA, Living and
Fossil, with Descriptions of all the known spedea
of Animalcules, and upwards of 500 Engraved
Figures.
NoTB.— Part I. of the above work, entitled ** A
GENERAL HISTORY OF ANIMALCULES,"
vrith the Engravings, may be had separately.
Price 5s.
London : Whittaker and Co., Ave Maria-laoc.
CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER.
Description of Nicholson's Newark Cottage
Range— (ipt<A engravings) 73
Description of Messrs. Deane, Dray, and
Deane's Portable Fire-engine and Watering
"Pianp—iwiik engraving) m... 75
Description of Hope's Steam Boiler Water
Gau^e— (wiM engravli^ft) „ 75
Sea Walls— Should they be Sloping or Vertical ?
By M...,. , 76
On the same. By William Dredge, Esq., C.E. 77
Fragment on Logic. By James Cockle, Esq.,
M.A., Barrl»ter-at-law ^ 79
Description of Tibbit's Spring Holdfast for
Window SAnhm— {with engravings) 80
Description of Spark's Railway Dispatch and
CAAh'box—iwith engravings) », 81
Softening Ivory 81
Geometry of the Line aud Plane. By T. S.
Davies. F.R.S., L. & E., Sic-^coniinued) ... 82
Mr. Baggs*s Lectures on Electricity. By John
MacGregor, Esq.— (wi/A engravings)..., „.^„, 84
On Self-acting Sluices. By T. Smith, Esq.,
C.'E.'-iwiih engravings) «...,„ 86
The Gresham Professorships— Third Notice ... 69
Brown and Redpaths' Portable Smiths' Forge.. 94
The Aid rendered by Mechanics to Agriculture 94
Weekly List of New English Patents .^ 94
Weekly List of New Articles of Utility Regis-
tered ^ 94
Advertisements ^, 95
LONDON: Edited, Printed, and Pablished, by
Joseph Clinton Robertson, of No. 166, Fleet-
street, in the City of London.— Sold by A. and
W. Galignani, Rue Vivienne, Paris; Machin and
Co. Dublin ; W. C. Campbell and Co., Hambaivti.
MUSEUM, REGISTER, JOURNAL, AND GAZETTE.
No. 1303.] SATURDAY JULY 29, 1848. [Price Zd., Stamped, Ad.
Kdhcd by '• C* Viohnuou, 196, ne«t-itre«C'
BRUCE'S PATENT METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING PIERS AND
BREAKWATERS.
Kg. 1.
TOL. YLIX.
98
BftUCC^S PATHNT IfBTHOD OP CONSTRUCTINO PIVRB AND BBSAKWATUlfl.
Ix Mafch, 1847, a patent was granted
to Wm. Brnce^ Esq., of the Temple,
Barrister-at-law, and of FliinstooeyPem-'
brokeshire, for "certain improvements ia
constructing piers, breakwaters, and other
submarine works of stone." As no ac-
count of these improvements has yet
been published, and the subject of sub-
marine architecture is now occupying a
good deal of attention, ii^ connection with
Vie construction of Harbours of Refuge,
perhaps the following outline of Mr.
Bruce's plans may not be unacceptable
to the nuinet'ouB engineering readers of
the Afeckames' Magaasint.
Mr. Bruce had two objects in view ;
first, building under water by means of
machinery ; and, second, the application
to such Btructures of the principle of
columnar Bubsidence, so as to snpersede
the necessity tor a solid foundation*
The first of the^te objects he proposes
to attain by a framework of guiding-rods,
forty (or more) in number, dropped
perpendicularly into the waHet, »nd de*
pendent from a framework or tia ? Lller
(somediing t^sembling the Jenny and
traveller in ordinary use^) which is to
travel on a timber framework or staging
on each side of the mole, of the same
description as that used in building the
palaces at Westminster, PimHco, and
other stone -built edifices. The mote,
consequently, is to be built endways by
lowering the blocks of «tone ; the struc-
ture commencing ftrom a given pier-head
of bell -work masonry, or woooen piles,
and being finished to the top before the
following series of Mocks are lowered
down. The stones, deeply grooved,
slide down petpendicularty between the
finished wail behind and the sort of
pendent pridiron m fVont. The weight
of the iron work keeps the peirpendteuiar
face of the wall in its place, while on
every two bars a screw-jack travels up
and down, turned by a rod, the head
of which is above water, and worked by
the workmen from above^ so that 20
men, working 20 screw-jacks, screw
into their proper places five blocks of
grooved stones, to stand in layers upon
one another, like the basaltic rocks of
the Giant's Causeway, at from 17 or
18 feet below low-water-mark up to
the surface, in rows of five stones,
but actually representing 14 hexagonal
columnar shafts, the axes whereof are
cut by the same plane, standing toge-
ther in four tnple hexagonal colum-
nar shafts and on^ double hexagonal
columnar shaft. The result is, that a
continuous dovetail, from front to rear,
of stones cut with mathematical nicety
in hexagonal figures, is produced ; and
when attained, the second object contem-
plated by the patentee, namely, the con-
structing of a mole, or submarine struc-
ture of stone, without having recourse
to a solid foundation, is also realized,
becanse, as the dovetail is complete from
front to rear, these triple columns cannot
fall cither backwards or forwards. And
as the wall must ultimately be ended bv
pier-heads right and left, and the wall
Itself is screwed sideways by powerful
machinery while building, and the stones
are cut of a geometrical figure, which
precludes the possibility of any vacancies
or particular interstices, these triple hex-
agonal columns can only be moved up-
wards to the zenith, or downwards into
the sand; and, however soft the sand
(imless an actual shaking bog, on which
not even a rock itself would find a bed,)
the columnar hexagonal shafts will find
a bottom to subside upon ; and any occa-
sional extra subsidence can be supplied
by an additional layer of stones placed on
the top, to the extent of the subsidence.
The accompanying sketehes will serve
to illustrate the mode of construction
which has been just described. Fi^. 1
and 2 are two dififerent perspective views
of a pier in the course of construction,
and of the machinery employed ; and fig.
S is a plan of a portion of the work,
showing its columnar and Giant-cauaeway
character.
The practical utility of such a patent
as we have been describing can hardly
be expected to be tested by a private in-
dividual, or even a company. It is for
the Government engineers or contrac-
tors to consider it in an economical point
of view, and for the scientific inquirer to
investigate its applicability. In the latter
point of view it solves the difficulty expe-
rienced by architects engaged upon struc-
tures under water, of building on sand
banks, and converting such roadsteads as
Yarmouth Roads, Bridlington Bay, Holli-
wellBay, &c., into smooth- water harbours
of refuge at the time of high water. With
respect to the expense, that must be alto-
gether dependent on local circumstances.
BBUCB's PAtENT M&THOD Of OOKfttRUCTINO PIB&8 AND BREA&WATBRS. 9>
Fig. 2.
100
THE *' SCOTIA*' STEAM-VESSEL.
and the supply of stone ; for instance,
where, as at Holyhead, the rocks can be
blasted and carried by trams at once to the
spot of deposition, there the pierre per^
due submarine embankment can be de-
posited at one penny and a decimal per
cubic foot, according to Mr. Bendel's esti-
mate. In that case, the expense of deeply
grooved or indented ashlar blocks would
exceed the expense, taking into calculation
the cubic contents and price of the mere
rough deposited embankment of pierre
Rg.3.
'^rdue blocks; but where the same
given quantity in cubic contents, would
require to be sea-borne, as in the con-
strucdon of the Dover harbour of refuge,
the freight, shipping, and pitchmg over-
board form the principal items in the
cost. If, therefore, Mr. Bruce can con-
struct a pier wall in eight &thoms of
water, the cubic contents whereof shall
be to the cubic contents of a sloping
&ced embankment, as 1 is to 7, and the
cost of his pier of grooved stone shall
be lid. to 12d. per cubic foot, while the
cost of the other b l^d. plus the freight
and shipping (8s. per ton) or 4d. per
cubic foot, the comparison will stand as
follows : —
a8lxl2d.»12d.Uto
7 X l|d. X 4d=35d., or a saving of 200
per cent.
The cubic contents of two piers con-
structed on these opposite principles
may be thus contrasted. One would
be represented bv a cross-section of a
tumulus 30 feet high, whereon stands a
wall 48 feet high, and 23 feet, 4 inches,
in thickness ; and the other bv the section
of a tumulus, which is the frustum of a
cone, the top whereof is 70 feet at the
least — the angles 40 degrees each at the
base — and the elevation 78 feet.
"We do not pretend, however, to strict
accuracy, as these calculations were
formed upon the irregular slope of the
sea- face of the eastern pier of Kings-
town Breakwater.
THB '* SCOTIA " STVAM-VKSSBL.
On Wednesday this splendid vessel made
an experimental trip from Blackwali round
the Mouse Light and back, prior to her leav-
ing the Thames for the Holyhead and Dablin
station. It is intended that she shall leave
Holyhead on the arrival of the day express
train from London, by which means passen-
gers may travel from one city to the other
in a day. The sea passage will then not
exceed four hours' duration.
On this occasion, a large party of persons
of distinction and scientific gentlemen were
on board, who were unanimous in the con-
clusion that Messrs. Wigram, the builders
of the vessel, and Messrs. Maudslay, Sons,
and Field, the engineers, had been com-
pletely successful in producing a steam-
vessel, combining at once extraordinary speed
with great beauty, steadiness, and conve-
nience.
101
IiONllOtl V1US8 IN 1847. — BT Mft. W. BADDELKT, CE., INTBNTOR OF THB FABMBR's
FIRB-BMOllTB, POBTABLB CANTAB CT9TBBNS, IMPBOVBD H08B-BBBL, BNQINE LAMP8|
•PmBABBBSy BTC., BTC*
" ilnother year, with mercies itrown,
With joyg and grieb, has swiftly flown,
And we are still in life's rude tide;
Father, be Thou our constant Guide !
'* The statistics of London fires are by no means devoid of interest, and the time may come when they
wQl form an index to the social adTancement of the people ; for in proportion as houses are buiit more and
more Hie-prooC and habits of carefulness become more and more diffosed, the number of destructive fires
trill assuredly lessen."— JTnt^i^j London,
The yev 1847 was marked by a dimi-
natioQ not only in the number, but also
in the extent of fires, in the Metropolis.
For although a few of these accidents
were of a most destructiye character, by
tar the greater number yielded to the
prompt application of remedial measures.
Two hundred and forty-nine were ex-
Anguished by the inmates : three hun-
dred and twenty- one by casual assatanta;
while the extinction of two hundred and
sixty-six deyoWed upon ihe firemen.
Subjoined is a tabular view of the
periods of their occurrence.
MOMTRS*
Number of
• Rrei.
Number of
Fatal Fires.
Number of
liTesLott
Alarms from
Chimneys
on Fire.
False
Alarms.
January
February
March
April
May
81
60
58
72
72
64
82
68
70
64
67
78
2
3
3
2
1
1
3
1
1
2
3
3
2
9
10
4
13
1
2
3
3
3
7
4
7
8
4
4
2
4
4
15
11
11
13
6
6
June .••••••■•
j«l»
August
September....
October
Nofember.....
December
Total
836
17
18
66
88
Of theacy there were consumed ^ 27
Seriously damaged • • 273
. Slightly damaged 536
836
Chimneys on fire «..••••.•.••..
Filsealarms ,
. Making the total number of cidls .
66
88
990
Hie number of instances in which insurances were known to have been
effected upon the building and contents, was 263
On the building only • 125
Ontheeontentsonly.... • ..•• 157
Uninjured ^91
836
From these returns, it will be seen
liow large a number of persons neglect
to avail themselves of the benefits of
insurance, and even of those who are
" • ICr. Badddey begs to apologize to the Editor and
to lai» readers for the late period of the year to vhich
hJs Jlre r§port has been delaTcd. Severe domestic
taNaTementot loUowtd by illness and groat mental
prostration, have piavented the completioD of the
jMoMsaiy analysis tlQ the pcasent ttane.
** Notwithstanding the diiBculties he has to con-
tend irith in procuring particulars, tbe writer
trusts that if spared tiU 1849, his Report will be
forthooming at the usual period.
*< 29, Alfred-street, Islington,
June, ao, IISS."
102 LONDON FIRK8 IN 1847.
insured, the greater majority are only aUe adminiitrator of the prop&tkf i
parHalUfW}. A reeent writer very justlj to his eara. Hm * imiiirafad i
obsenres on this bead-— credit and estimatian ; he ia naiwaawMy Aa-
tnuted, and deaerredl J to— for he is awilfol
"We had thought that, aa insaranoe provokerof misfortane; amanwfaoaemeuia
against fire was now ranked amongst the so- ©^ ^'inf • be they good or indifferent, depend
cial duties, that few would be found who hesU ^o"" continuance upon chance. To-day he
tated or neglected to avaU themselves of its »«y ^o' '^^ iwncie^ security, and before
advantages. But these returns undeceive tbe dawn of another day be a bf^gajr.
ua, and forcibly riiow how easy it ia to give Experience fnUy damon straiea tot nmk
the public undeserved credit for prudence ™«^ *»•» '^'^ *^ exoeplioiqa, aktiasa
and economy. If the retama be any ante- *o their own foUy ; for slthoach fcha 4aii-
rion l^ which to judge of the insurance stote «««r tbey court and tempt tp do fts wgift
oC property, there must be fully one-third «Pon them, may not be the actual cansf
of the dwellings of the metropolis and their o^ ^beir downfall, yet siich gross indfserv^
contents unprotected by the readiest, most **on engenders other pernicious habits, imd
secure, and most economical means that «ooner or later, the retribution comef , aaf
have yet, or ever will be, devised for obtain- generally with terrible force. Wie vulgtr
ing security from loss bv fire. Severs! ""^ *be stupid, oUsa saeli anA^rtoMtai
atatisticians have estimated the amount of among the • unhieky,' but we have yet to
uninsured property in the metropoHs at a learn that an improvident, reckless, and
higher rate than one-third ; but, taking that ^^^1 na*^ can jusUy lay all Ma distress at
as a correct proportion, what an astounding the door of fortune. The fickle dame, an.
risk is run by the owners of such dwellinga doubtedly, plays a great part in the drama
and chattds ; a risk, too. perfectly gratui- of Ufe. but there are occasions and opporta-
tous— for the expense of insuring is a mere »»ties when she may be disarmed of her
trifle, and, we feel convinced, is not the dreaded power, and be a thing of tha l|»agl-
dcterring cause. It is rather a culpable nation, before industry, economy, and saga-
carelessness, which shuts its eyes to the ^ty."
possiblUty of loss, and relies for security on The loss of life which, althougb gveatly
the chapter of accidents. And a pretty diminished, still appears to be large, ia
chapter it appears when attentively read. resolvable into the following cl|^fica«
The fire returns for London are a good tion:
commentary upon the text it furnishes ; for Personal accidents, fh»m falls* Ac •• ^. 4
those returns show that the majority of fires . f^^o, igintkm af ap-
in dwelling-houses are caused by the simplest ^nA on tha penon 4
of agencies. Every year we record a num^ , ^om iateaiealioB.. . 2
her of these casualties originated by a spark . «., from ignitloa of b^d-
firom a candle, a spark from the fire, an ^o* 2
escape of gas, fod flues, and sundry other ^ f^^ riding hi'bad 1
trivial, but everyday occurring and pro- ^ f ^ni ezidoeioB of
perty.jeopardizing accidents. We might flreworlu 3
adduce many appsrently slight causes of Prom inability to etcape from'bimmi
fire, but the wiser course would appear to buildings 7 2
be, for everybody to treat even the most '* .^
trivial agent in producing that calamity aa 19
^'^hyl^i'l^^T'J^ ^^^ A«» »t»tement it will be evidetat
and ^ergency of the kind. The u^<^ **' a wonderful apd gratifvin jf ilftproTC-
individual preeaution has been, over and F*"** has been effect mthe Metropohs,
over again, found to be utterly ioeffeetoal as ^7 the Royal Society for the iVoleetioa
apreventive of fire; and if we k>ok at the ^^ Life fromFire, both aa r^gafda the
number and variety of the causes, the oppo- number of lives saved solely hy their
site result would appear almost an impossi- servants, and also by the confidence thej
bllity. Therefore, it is a duty incumbent have established in Uie public mind lead-
on every possessor of property that he safely ing indireetly to the very beat reauUs.
aad regnlariy keep hiaiself insured from loss The following fires are deserving af
by fire. Self-respect and consideration for special notice *
others sssist in improving the obligation. wedoe-day. February 17. 10} ,.k. a t«h«^keout
every idea 01 moral and social duty adds to on th« prtmisc* of Mr. W. Grover, boot and shoe
its strength, and the man who fails in his maker, Hlgh-itreet, Brentford, which, but fi»r tlU
unnttea oy bis miprovidance to be an equit- a most lamentable loss of life, On^tist r
LONDON FIRES IK 1847.
109
Hfltti «bo resided next door, attempted to arouae
Che iamatea by Tioleally knocking at the street
door, but failing to do so, he returned to the back
of the buOdlng, and after climbing the wall, luc-
peeded* with the aid of a poleaxe in breaking open
the back door, when he ascended the staircace and
made for Mr. Grover's bedroom; the smoke and
^aiks were at the same time rushing upwards
wTOi the greatest velocity; after cunsiderable
trouble be entered the bedchamber, but the smoke
lad bbtafned such power over the Inmates that
they w«re perfsctly unconscious of what was going
ea. Bast having violently shaken Mr. Grover,
look two of hie children in his arms and brought
fbem down stairs, where he passed them througli
tbe ^Bdow to the police, who placed them in
cafety; ha again aaeeaded, and with Taylor's as-
■tetsMe, saved Mr. Orover and his wffe and a third
child in a similar manner. Not feeling then satls-
ied that an were saved, Best returned Into the
taraiBg premiseB a third time, aad inspected every
loom not on fire, and being convinced that all thfe
kiBataa were got out, he was about to run down
the stairs to escape kimself, when a large sheet of
flauM oiveTlook hsm on the stalroase and oompletety
knocked him down; but having recovered himself,
W opened ona of the back windows and leaped into
uieyard ; when picked up he was quite insensible,
and the Mood isaaing (h>m his nose and mouth, so
powerful and suffocating an eflfect had the smoke
upoa hkn, and it was some time before he could be
The ^ompt arrival of the neighbouring parish
•BgioMy aided by those of the Brigade, Coun^, and
Wait or Bogland firom town, prevented the fire
axMiding beyond Mr. Orovef** premises.
At the AmntH Meeting of the jBoy«/
jflbm^ />r tike Protection of lAfi from
fk% the Society's ailver medal and a so-
^ere%B were pmented to George Beat, and
t%e SodfBty^fl silver medal to Henry Taylor.
^ .. March 1, 8| p.m. A ilra broke oat
ti fhe nnlirthe Vever Hospital at Battle Bridge,
omtag to a dalwt la the flue. The police appn-
heasiva ef personal danger to the inmates, went to
the residence of Conduelor JfiU and requested hts
attendaaea with ^e Royal Society's Fire-escape.
HIU inuoedJately arose ftom hia bed and proceeded
with hia naehloe to the scene of danger. In de-
ecsoBdlng ftom the top of the building, Hill either
ffcasped the slack rope, or the rope was Jerked out
of tie lumda of some person below, aad Hill Ml
haavlly to the gtound, breaking his knee cap : he
WB8 removed to 8t. Bartholomew's Hospital, from
whence he waa ejected before cured, and as it af-
tsrvacda proved, while labouring under a rapture
ef tlte diaphiagm, of which he soon after died.
Tuasday, March 0, 6} ».]«. A fire broke out in
the hoaso of Mr. LaveU, No. S6, Brownlow> street,
Drory-lane. The progress of the flames was so
npidM ^oiQpletely to cut oiC th^ escape of a female
VMn. Warrea) lodging In the third floor, yrho, after
ea laei^tual attem^ to eecape by the stairs, re-
t«eat«d t9 the window to save heiaetf from suiiboi-
tioa; it was then only that her daogei was known,
fhr so sudden had been ibe fire as to take every
ona toy sorpiise, that had it not been for the fore-
sight and pceieQce of mind of Mr. Hemming, a
{dumber and glaaier, living opposite, no means
would hfve been at hand to rescue her. Mr. Hem-
ming, upon ihe first alarm of Are, obtained the
Mal^anca of one or two persons to get ftom his
nremisea a second-floor ladder, thinking it would
be useful, and by the time it was broagnt into ihe
street the poor woman was actually hanging by her
liaDda ftom tbe window-sill at a height of nearly
iO tpeti the la^er was then quickly raised, and
before it could 1)e fixed against the house, John
1>aly, a man in the service of liff essra. Combe and
Co., nished up} finding the ladder soou feet too
short, he stood on the highest rail he could, and
catching hold of the poor woman, slipped her down
his arm and brought her to the ground in safety,
amidst the cheers of the bystanders. Great strength
appears to have been used by Daly, and consider-
able risk Incurred ftom the ladder being too short
The Royal Society's silver medal was pre-
sented to Daly, and a testimonial on Tejlam
to Mr. Hemming.
Sunday, March 14, } a.m. A most terrific con-
flagration broke out in the extensive tar-works and
saw-miUa of Mr. fiethell, in Battersear fields. The
works occupied a large area of ground, covered
with plies of the most inflammable materials. The
awfal appearance of the fire soon drew a strong
attendance of firemen and engines to the spot; but
they were powerless for want of water. Mr. Haar
derson (the district foreman) had commenced form-
ing a chain of engines from the reservoirs of the
Soutbwark Water Company ; but met with a dttch
midway, ftom whence he commenced working. Ia
the meantime, a sufficient number of hands being
oollected, they began to clear away the piles of
timber on the adjoining premises, so as to make
a roadway to the waterside, under the active super-
intendence of Mr. Robins (formerly of the Norwich
Union.) This being done, an inclined plane was
formed (torn the top of the jetty on to the beach,
when the Brigade engine ftom Farringdon-streat,
the County, and the West of England were skilfully
lowered, and in full operation m a few minutes {
apd, by their united power, the progress which the
flames were rapidly making in an easterly direo-
tion, was iaappily arrested. But for this admirable
movement, the destruction of several barges and
steamboats lying aground was Inevitable, as waa
also the timber-yards, whiting manufactories, &c.,
in close proximity. The large quantity of unex-
tinguishable inflammable matter upon which the
flames were preying, caused the heavens to be illu-
mined tUl daylight, and the flre oontinued to buta
Ibi hours afterwards. Every possible exertion was
made by all present, and the conduct of the firemea
was beyond all praise.
A grQSfly-perrerted statement of facts
connected wiw this fire appeared in the
Time9f endently proceeding from some one
Imbued with hostile feelings towards the
firemei^f and entirely ignorant of the diffi-
calties thej had to contend with upon this
occasion.
Tbe property destroyed consisted of the
engine-nonse, reptifying-bouse, saw-mills,
and abont 14,000 railway sleepers. The
stiU.hoQsa was also seriously damaged; one
barge was entirely destroyed, and two wece
serioujBly damaged, as were also some of the
aiyoinkig properties.
Wednesday, March SI. 6| p.m. A fire broke OHt
at No. 2, Little Denmark-street, St. QUn's* origi-
nating in a feul flue. The Crown-street Brigade
engines were promptly on the spot, and Ben^amltn
Cummingy fireman No. SO, having ascended the
roof, the ladder on which he was standing gave
way, and he was precipitated into the street, feeeiv-
ing such severe injuries that he expired ahortly
after.
Monday, April 5, 8^ a.m. A policeman on Xion-
don Bridge perceived smokerising, which he traced
to come from the Kent and Essex Wharf, Montague
Close, Soulhwark. An alarm was immediately
given, and numerous engines from the Brigade,
HiTest of England, and County stations reached the
spot before the fire manifested itself, immense
volumes of smoke arose ftom the waiehouae, aad
at length the flames burst forfltfromeveiy opening.
l04
LONDON FiaVS IN 1847.
Th« nipply of water wai tcanty, that of hands itlll
more ao, and the fiie laged for some time with a
ftiiy that teemed to defy opposition. In a short
time, however, it began to yield to the powerfU
efforts that were making for its suppression, and
was ultimately extinguished without spreading be-
yond the building in which it commenced; this
building and its contents were, however, nearly
ond the building in which it commenced; this
luOding ai " ■
destroyed.
A ooQit of inquiry as to the origin of this
fire was held by Mr. W. Payne, the City
Conmer, when the following vesdict was
returned :—*' That there is not sufficient
evidence to enable the jury to decide how
the fire originated ; but, in their opinion,
there is erery probability that it arose firom
the spontaneous combustion of some bales
of waste or shoddy."
Thursday, April 29, 8^ p.x. A'flre broke out in
the shop of Mr. Raphael Merits, dealer in em-
broidery and Berlin wool, ISO, New Bond-street.
Mr. Staples (distrlet foreman) with the Brigade
•ngine, firom King-street, was on the spot in a few
minutes, broke open the door, and extinguished the
Are.
Mr. Moritz was insured in the Defender
office for 800/., and he claimed 680/. for the
property destroyed at the above fire, which
took place in a shop 15 feet long by 9 feet
wide, and did not burn a quarter of an hour.
Mr. Merits (who is a Prussian Jew) brought
an action against the office, which was tried
at Hertford, July 10, 1847. Before hearing
any evidence for the drfenee, the jury inter-
fered and said, " They were not satisfied
that the fire was not wuful} and with regard
to the amount of the claims, they did not
believe that any such amount of property
was in the shop at the time of the fire.'*
Evidence for the defendants (who pleaded
tiiat the fire had been wilfully occasioned,
and that the defendant's claim was fradu-
lent) was however gone into, when the case
became so bad that Serjeant Shee (for the
plaintiff) said, ** That, rather than a verdict
for the defendant should be returned, he
would withdraw from the case." The plain-
tiff' was accordingly nonetUtetL
Saturday, June 5, 1 a.m. A most alarming fire burst
forth tnm. one of the workshops of Messrs.Maudslay,
Sons, and Field, Westminster-road. The flames
need in anew building at the end of an ex-
tensive range of workshops, composed for the most
part of timber, and the names spread with such
rapidity, that In a few minutes several parts of the
premises were in flames. The West of England
engtaie being rvn into the premises, was set to work
from the mains belonging to the ftetory. The
Brigade and County engines arrived from the vari-
ous stations, and placed themselves in the best
positions from whence water could be obtained;
unfortunately, however, the supply of this element
was wholly inadequate to the emergency, and the
scanty supply that was obtained was at a consider-
able distance from the fire. For some time the
ellbrts of the firemen were of little avail ; and from
the caipenters' shops the fire extended to the boiler-
makers, and from thence to the pattern lofts and
spadons foondry. At two o^clock the metropo-
lis was teUUaatly illuminated by the flames for
cff»ts ^
Biilaa round. The most heroic
tj the flxemoD, under Mr. Bialdwood, bj those of
the West of England, under Mr. Connerton, and
the County, under Mr. Garwood, with the beat
results, and by six o'clock all danger of frirther eX'
tension was at an end. The pattern makers', boiler
mskers', carpenters' shops, about half the pattern
loft, and foundry were destroyed. One vice and
and finishing shop, the smiths' shop, and the new
buildings were severely damaged.
The origin of the fire remains unknown.
Wednesday, June 7, S a.m. During a vio-
lent thunder storm, the electric fluid struck the
house of Mr. Wiseman, Brewer's-laae, Greenwidi,
the roof of which was instantly in flames; the
neighbourhood was speedily roused, and a scene of
great conAision ensued as the flre flew from houae
to house with great rapidity. The buildings were
very old, and mostly eompoaed of timber. The
S^ea fimn Greenwich Blospital, one of the Brf-
le from town, as well as the County and West of
gland, were in attendance as promptly as possi-
ble. The floating engine, from Deptford dookyaxd,
was also brought to the spot, and every effort was
made to arrest the progress of the flames; bat
before this could be eflbcted, nine houses bad been
entirely destroyed, and several otheis more or leas
injured.
The electric fluid also at the same time flred the
house of Mr. Wlchelow, Paulin-street, Bermond-
sey, and the flames were not extinguished until
they had done considerable iujury.
Saturday, July 81 , 1 a.m. A fire broke out in the
shop of Mr. Wise, saddler and harneaa maker, Ko.
2, west Smithfield. at which time Mr. Wise and l&is
son were sleeping in a room behind the shop. In
the first-floor back room slept Mr. Mead, hia wift,
and two children, three older childrai sleeping in
the room over them. A German, named Myrck,
also slept on that fioor, while another German,
named Casler, slept in a middle room on the third
story, and he was the first discoverer of the fire ;
finding his room fall of smoke, he ran down stairs,
and alarmed Mr. Myrck, who descended to the first
floor, and roused Mr. Mead. The latter ran up
stairs to his children, but they had locked them-
selves in, and mislaid the key; eventually, how-
ever, they opened the door, and were taken by their
father into the flrst-floorfrontroomJQStas tiiellamso
ascended the staircase. Mr. Mead and the whole
of his family (seven persons) escaped safely from
the window, being received in a Jumping-sheet
from the police sUtion adjoining. Mr. Wise and
his son escaped at the back of the premises into au
adjoining house, while the two Germans got on to
the roof, where they preferred to remain until the
flre was extinguished. The iire commenced in a
comer on the left-hand side of the shop, flroiii
whence it extended through the partition to tiie
staircase, the draught of which caused it to bum
most fiercely. The prompt arrival of the engines
from the Farringdon-street and other stationa, with
a good supply of water most skilAiUy applied, hap-
pily soon arrested the progress of the flames.
Hie origin of this fire appearing^ to be
inexplicable, Mr. Payne, the City Conner*
held a eourt of inqui^into the cause on the
following Monday, when the preceding fiM!ts
were given in evidence, as also that Mr.
Wise reached home about 11 o'clock on the
Saturday night previous to the fire, and,
lighting a candle, passed tiirough the shop
to his sleeping apartment with Us son, when
all appeared safe. At the conclusion of the
evidence, Mr. Payne observed* " That there
was not the slightest reason to suppose that
the fire had been wiUhlly kindled— pladof,
as it did, the lives of all the inhabitants in
luch imminent peril— but, that than wis no
lONBOll Fnt«9 IN 1847.
105
potSAn eryeooe to ihow how the fire oti-
giaatfld;" and the jwj returned a Terdlct
to that effect. It waa generally Bnpposed,
however* that Mr. Wlae'a unextinguished
match had fallen upon some soft combustible,
which mouldered on till 1 o'clock, when it
burst into a flame, and the work of destruc*
tion commenced.
Batuidar. Aognst H, 11| f.v. A fire broke oat
•I Na S, Gzeat Badow-itreet, Maiylebone. When
flnt diaooTered, the fin wm nglng on the firsts
floor, ftom whence the flamea extended to the
stidxcMe, cutting off the communication. The
■cc ond floor was occupied byMn. Compton and
ftor daoKhten (one paralytic) who, on the alarm
being given, piesented themselTM at the window,
ImploTing help. No meant of rescue appearing to
be at hand, the crowd called to the mother to throw
bciaelf and children out of the window; happily,
bowsrer, she had too little nerve, or too much good
•cnae^ to embrace so hastily this rash expedient;
and. in a rexj few minutes. Conductor Sutckingt,
with the Boyal 8ociety'sflre-escape,from the King-
street station, arrived on the spot, and placing his
eacape against the burning building, brought the
wliole iaittily down in safety, amid the plaudits of
tbe gratlfled spectators. Ae fire was promptly
extingolshed by the parish and Brigade engmes,
the first and second floor being burned out, and the
ataizcase sedously damaged.
The Royal Sodety presented Hutchinga
witft their ailTer medal for his prompt at.
tandanoe and meritorious exertions: they
also gave tiie sum of IL, and a certificate on
Tellam, to Mary Cromer, a domestic ser-
vant, who rushed into the burning room at
the same fire, and rescued a little child at
the risk of her life, her 9wn night dress and
hair beii^ Raited in the set.
Tbnrsdnr, Anguit M, H a^k* A fire broke out
flt No. 36, Beech-street, Barbican, in the portion of
the ahop occupied by a Mr. Leopold Hail. The firo
spread rapidly into the part occupied by Mr. Jones,
an Mdng-hoose keeper, and also to Mr. Ingram's
timbef-jwd; and, notwithstanding the prompt
attendance of a strong body of firemen and engfaies,
waa extinguished with considerable difficulty.
In oonsequence of many suspicious cir-
eumstanoea attending the outbreak of this
fire, Mr. Payne held a court of inquiry, in
the course of whieh the wilftil orlgfai of the
fire was so apparent, and the claim made
npOQ the Sun Fire Office so manifestly frau-
ddent, that the jury returned a Terdlct —
^That the lioose was wilfully set on fire by
the tenant, Leopold Hail ;'' and the coroner
made out a warrant for his committal to
Newgate ; but he subsequently got liberated
on baQ, when, in addition, he gaye '*leg
hail,'' and so escaped the consequences of
his diabolical crime.
Sundi^, September 26, 2} a.x . A flie broke out
at No. 17, Lower Seymour-street, FortmanHMiuare,
in the sleeping room of Mrs. Anna Jane Pochin
(aged 63) who had long been in the constant habit
of reading in bed. Her maid being roused by the
zinging of her bell, hastened to answer it, when she
finrnd Mrs. Pochin's room on fire, but was unable
to enter, the door being bolted inside. An alarm of
flro waa giren, and Coudmetar Brown, with the
Royal fioosCy't flz^eacape, was in immediate at-
tendance. Having forced an entrance to the room,
he courageously dashed through the flames, and
brought out Mrs. Pochin, who was promply attended
by a nelffhbouring surgeon, but unfortunately she
had received such severe injuries, that she expired
in 32 hours after the accident. The fire was extin-
guished before it sproad beyond the room in which
it so unfortunately commenced.
At the inquest, Mr. Wakley, the coroner,
commented on the danger of reading in bed,
particularly on the part of aged and feeble
persons, and said, "the practice was in*
Ysriably attended, sooner or later, by fetal
consequences." The jury returned a Ter-
dlct of "accidental death," accompanied
by an encomium on the gillant conduct of
fire-escape conductor Brown, to whom the
Boyal Society presented their edlTer medal
for his praiseworthy exertions.
Mondav, Oct. 11, 7 p.m. A fire attended with
loss of liie occurred on the premises of Mr. Whita-
ker, ftirniture dealer, No. ,28, Water-lane, Black-
firiars. The fiames were first seen burning in Mr.
Whitaker's shop (which was closed) by a police-
constable, who immediately alarmed the occupants
of the upper part of the house, which consisted of
Mrs. Hamilton and family, and a maiden lady
named Purday, aged 60. On the alarm of firo
being given, Mrs. Hamilton escaped down stairs
with her ehildron; on the stairease she saw Miss
Purday, and told her " to go down, as the house was
on fire," and supposed she did so. Mrs. Hamilton
went up stairs again to rosoue some papers and
returned in safety. The flro raged foriously, until
the prompt attendance of the firemen with a plen-
tiful supply of water arrested its progress. After
the firo was extinguished, the firemen wero sur-
prised at finding the dead body of Miss Purday on
the third fioor, about four feet from the window.
As no person knew that any one remained in the
premises, no effort was made to rescue the de-
The police were in attendance with theur
jumping- sheet, but as that does not afford
the means of ascending, no search could be
made, and the fire happened an hour before
the Royal Society's escapes are on duty.
Tbeir conductors woariably ageend and
iearch the premiset to guard against such
calamities as the present. An inquest was
held before Mr. Payne, when the jury re-
turned a Terdict, *' that the deceased was
burned to death in a fire which occurred in
the premises of Mr. Whitaker ; but how
the fire took plaoe there was not sufficient
eridence to pro?e." The foreman tendered
the thanks of the jury "to the whole of the
firemen and police for their extraordinary
exertions on the night in question." It
subsequently appeared that Mr. Whitaker
quitted his shop a few minutes befi>re seven,
taming down tht gu-bumers very low ; it
would seem that ia shutting the door he blew
out the light in the shop, and the gas escaped
until a luge quantity became collected and
ignited at the other burner, when the work
of destruction went on.
Thursday, Oct. 28, 2| a.m. A fire was dlsooTered
in the house, No. 9, Drummond<street, Euston-
auaro, which proved fiital to one of the inmates,
le flro began in the shop of Mr. Lawson, stationer,
t3
106
LONDOK FtRfeB iK 1847.
and on being roused the Inmates ran down stairs
!Mto the street, with the excejitfrtn of a Mrs.
IfiRckie, who, apparently paralysed by fear, fell
down on the landing, and before her distressing
situation was known, was enveloped by the ascend-
ing flames and burned to death. The parish engine,
and one f^om the adjoining railway statinn, were
brought out, but for want of some ^rson skilled
in their use, were of little avail. The Bri-
gade engines and firemen soon reached the spoti
and by their exertions extinguished the fire. The
•hop, first and iecond floor, were burned out, and
the roof destroved, and two adjoining premises
slightly damaged.
Monday, November 29, 4} f. v. A most destmd-
ttve confla^atlon broke out in the worlcabopK*
of MeMra. Lawrence and Soni, carpenters and
builders, Pitfield-street, Hoxton. From the inflam-
mable contents of the premises, the flames spread
rapidly, and soon ignited several hoasea in Queen-
•treet, three of which were completely destroyed
and several others seriously damaged before nay
force of engines or water could be brought to bear
upon them. At the same time the iire spread frona
bne stack of timber to another, until the whole was
one burning mass, throwing out a glowing heat
which defied approach, and the light of which Dla-
mlnated the metropolis for hours, and caused the
greatest consternation to prevail in this densely
crowded nei{;hbourhood. By eleven o'Hock aU
danger of further extension was at an end, and
the firemen by great exertion preserved the dwell-
ing house unscathed.
Monday, December 6, 9f a. m. A fire took place
In the shop of Mr. Bowry, oil and colourman, 64,
Petter-lane, owing to a leak in the turpentine cis-
tern, the vapour of which ignited on the approach
of the shopman with a lighted candle. A cry of
••fire" was instantry raised, and Mr. Bowry, who
was in one of the upper rooms, finding the smoke
coming tjp stairs, opened his bed- room window and
jumjwd into the street, by which his thigh was
broken and he was otherwise so much injured that
he expired four days afterwards in St. Bartholo-
mew*8 Hospital. By the prompt attendance of the
firemen, the fire was speedily extinguished with
but slight damage to the ahop and its dangerous
oontoits.
The following list shows the occupancy
of the premises, with reference to that
portion of 'them in which the fire origi-
nated, thereby illustrating the compa-
rative liability to accident by fire of
various trades and manufactures, as com-
pared With private dwellings.
Anchor smith 1
Bakers 25
^rges 2
Basket maker » # ]
Beer shops 6
Bleacher, wiUow 1
Boat builders 2
Bonnet-shape makers 1
booksellers, binders and stationers . . 14
Boot and shoe makers 6
Box makers, fancy 1
Brewer 1
Brokers, furniture 6
Brush makers 2
* The fire commenced in a portion of the work-
shops which had only just been reinstated after
being destroyed by fire on the 18th of October
preceding.
Cabinet ttiakers and dphdlAerek . . . . ;
Carpenters and builders.. . •
Cart : wi...
Chair makers
Chapels and Churches ^ . . .
Cliarcoal tiaakers i
Cheesemongers :...'••••
Chemist ....•;.....
Chemical iaboratorite ;.;
Coach makers : . . . ;
poals, dealers in
Coffee shops and eating houses •
Confectioners .: . ;...;...: •: . .
Coopers
Cutlers '<.
College .;•.•;..£•
Distlflfers •
Dwellings, private
Dyers ^..% ..;.••
{Engineers ......;.
j^arming stock
Feather dressers and beddhig mttin-
facturers ; . • •
t'ellmongers
Fireworks, makers of
, dealers in
Flax dressers
Founders, iron
Fringe maker • • ••
Furriers
Gas works
General dealers ,
Glass works
cutters ..^
paper makers
Grocers ,.•...
Greengrocers ;
Haberdashers, miHfners & dressmakers
Hatters and hat manufiicturers
Harness makers
Hay salesmen ; .
Heel ball manufacturer
Hosiers
Hospital
Hotels, taverns and deb-houses
Ironmongers
Japanners.
Laundresses » »
Leather dressers
Lime shed •
barge ••..
Linendrapers •.,..•.« ; • • . «
Lucifer match makers .,
, dealers in
Lunatic asylum
Maltster
Marine stores, dealers in
Meat curer , • •
Musical instrument makers
Oil refiner
— and colourmen
Organ builder
Paper stainer •»•••
16
25
1
3
2
4
1
2
?
5
4
1
2
348
1
7
d
4
2
3
2
2
2
1
?
I
la
1
1
1
§
4
9
7
4
8
1
6
I
9
3
1
3
2
1
1
7
5
2
1
1
ft
1
4
1
14
1
1
LONDON FIRES IN 1847-
lOT
PietoTO frame and looking-glass makers 3
Pipe makers 2
Printers 6
■ steam.. 2
Public bnilding^ 2
Rag merchant 1
Railway stores 2
RefioBni •••••••••••. ^ •«. J •• J 1
RopeflMtken , t
Saali maker ..,..,.. I
Sale ahops and offices 37
SavmiOs 2
a^pw 3
^^^ — » steam • 2
» ttnilders 1
— ^, chandlers 1
Shnghter house 1
8o9t merchant 1
1
20
2
1
8
2
2
1
2
1
3
4
2
8
27
5
6
1
5
1
5
Wi te ei mlgh ts...;, 3
WilM iMttttanti ..*< 7
Splint cutter
Stablea
ita'a# boilnet mamir^tiirel-s
fligar refiner
tmM. .;
aaubW cUMalersi
Thettrvs ;.;....; ;.
Hftber metehariti ;
ftameiftt btMoHi and coppersmiths...
V»b«Bod And muff mtonfactnrers ....
l^fbteMllkM ....; «
TllMers and wdrkers in wood not car*
TMMflerv, ticenMd
^ntfnUhM bttildhigt, and under repair
vnooBspna ••.•..•••«.,.••••••...
WaMng aanQfteturer ...;
Wartbousea; ...*...*
—^f Maiiehester
Tdtal.
836
Drunkenness •••.. 5
Fire sparks 63
from locomotiTe engines.. 2
Fireworks, making 3
, selling 2
.letting off 1
Fires kindled on hearths and other im-
proper places 3
Finely oTerheated and defectiye 89
, foul and ignited 22
, blocked np 7
in adjoining house 10
Fumigation, incautious 4
Furnaces oyerheated, &c ■ • . 13
Gas, accidents in lighting .6
— , escape of, from defectiTC fittings 41
i^— — — — -^— street maina ... 3
left burning 9
—• — fittings, carelessness in repairing 3
— chimney, heat of 1
Gunpowder, explosion of ; • 2
Hearths, defsctiTe S
Kiln, overheated 1
Lamps, oil and naphtha, one each. . • • 8
Lightning 2
Lime, slaking of 5
Linen, drying before fires 34
Luoifer matches, making of 3
1 nsing 6
Naphtha, vapour of ignited 4
Ovens, defective and overheated .... 8
Pitch, tar, and tallow, boiling of 4
Reading in bed 1
Shavings, loose, ignited 37
Spontaneous ignition of charcoal .
- coals
• dung
• flax ..
• hay .
sun's heat.
fricdon in drawer
• lucifers, by
• lucifers by
The causes ot fire, do far as they could " —
te satififactorily ascertained, appear to ^^^^
mie been as rollows : — '
Acddenta of various kinds, for the most
part unavoidable ••.*«»« 14
Ajmrel ignited on the person •• 3
filoeliing huts, &c., with sulphur. • • • 3
Candles, various accidents with 1 15
^ ' ■, ignited bed curtains ^4
, window curtains ...••....•• 58
€tfrdesBdesSi, palpable inltances of . . . . 1 9
CfaaicMl tirM ••••.••..•..•• 5
Gbitdren playfaig with fire 8
(gamfles 2
t ^^' ■ ' ■* • " ■ laeifer matches.. 6
CStetaraptttainrf hot..., 9
O &f pan ii ^iM p ttl/ set 3
• lamp black .
■ rags, wet. . ,
• shoddy ....
1
1
3
1
15
Stoves, defective and overheated
, improperly set 7
, drying, overheated 4
.pipe ; 8
Steam boilers, heat of. 4
Smoking meat 1
Saspicious 17
Tobacco smoking 18
Wilful 17
Unknown.
Total.
764
72
836
108 LONDON TlitEB IN 1847-
The daily diitribution of these fires has beea as follows :
Monday.
Tuesday.
Wedneiday.
Thanday.
Friday,
Satorday.
Sunday.
127
101
133
119
129
Ill
116
Their distribation throughout the day and night has been in the following proportions ;
First
hour.
Second
hour.
Third
hour.
Fourth
hour.
Fifth
hour.
Sixth
hour.
Seventh
hour.
Eighth
hour.
Ninth
hour.
Tenth
hour.
Eleventh
hour.
Twelfth
hour.
A.M.
54
44
37
42
28
19
15
12
14
17
22
29
PM.
22
26
15
20
38
84
45
52
68
63
65
60
The causes of fires will be seen to be
of the usual varied character, and a con-
siderable number, notwithstanding the
best intentions of all parties to elucidate
tbem, remain envelopied in impenetrable
mystery. The following extract from a
communication to the Assurance Gazette
elucidates a piece of carelessness which
may in other cases have led to serious
mischief.
" Last eremngy Sunday, just as I and my
family were retiring to bed, we were alarmed
by the smell of something burning. For a
long time, although we instituted an active
search, we could not discover the cause of
the fire. Every nook and cranny was exa-
mined from the kitchen to the attics, but
although the smell increased we were puz-
zled and baffled, and began to entertain the
atrongest apprehensions of danger. At last,
upon opening a small closet in the kitchen,
we discovered some linen and pieces of old
cotton smouldering, and about a pound of
kitchen candles with the wicks burning,
although not in a flame. It appears that
the servant in getting a candle to go to bed
by, instead of cutting one, burnt it ojf the
siring that tied the whole together, and then
threw the bundle carelessly into the closet.
Had we gone to bed without discovering the
fire the consequences might have been
calamitous ; as it was, the accident created
a good deal of alarm amongst my family ;
and I mention the circumatanoe as an in-
stance of what dreadful consequences might
arise, and I am sure do arise, from trivial
causes."
Spontaneous combustion has in several
instances been traced to its source, and
this subject continues to excite much in-
terest among scientific men in all parts
of the world.
** A fire was nearly taking place in the
arsenal of Fort William, Bengal, a ahoit
time since, by a quantity of wax doth be*
coming impr^^atod wlUi Unseed oil; the
consequence was partial combustion. The
first idea of the officials was that the igni-
tion was the work of incendiaries, but the
officer in charge, entertainmg a auspicioii of
the true cause, tried the experiment of soak-
ing some of the identical wax-doth in the
identicd oil, apd pladng it afterwards in a
box, locked, and under guard. The next
morning it was found that the suspidon was
a correct one, for the doth was partially
charred, and at a high temperatare in Its
inner folds, the outer being comparativdy
untouehed. Spedmens were sent to the
Asiatic Sodety, and exhibited at its last
meeting; the secretary, Dr. O'Shaoghnessy,
in commenting upon the drcnmstances,
stated the singular fact thet if one per eeni.
of any animal oil, such as neafs'fooi oiif
were mixed with the linseed or drjfing oil,
it would efectuaUp deprive the latter of its
incendiary capabilities. Captain Biden, the
Master Attendant of Madrss, has published
a long list of vessels in wMch fires have
occurred in Indian ports, and in the cargo
of most, the presence of flax and linseed oil
is prominent."
During the year 1847, the number of
fires on ship-board, from the spontaneous
ignition of the cargo, and especially of
coals, has increased to a most alarming
extent, and calls loudly for a suitable
remedy. Several plans, have, indeed,
been suggested for this purpose, but
none of tnem of such a practical charac-
ter as to meet the neculiar difficulties of
the case. The following remarks upon
this subject, from iht^Assurance Gazette^
are deserving of an attentive perusal:—
LOKDOH FIBSa IN 184r7«
109
'* A difficult question connected with fires
Is, to ascertain their cause. The origin of
many, perhaps most, of the great conflagra-
tions which have occurred daring the last
few years, has nerer been satisfactorily ex-
plained. Hence there has frequently been
feaiB ezdted, and suspicions entertained,
where there existed no sufficient reason for
dther; whilst the very circumstance that
nothing really was known, has given occasion
to a feeling of habitual distrust and alarm.
" If it be difficult to understand the origin
of fires on land, it is still more so of those
iHiieh happen at sea. Numerous have been
the instances in which a ship and her cargo
hare been consumed, and it has been- im-
possible, on any ordinary principles, even
to guess at the cause.
" It cannot be doubted that one of the
eommonest, and consequently the most fre-
quent, canses of fire at sea, is the sponta-
neous combustion of the cargo. On board
steam-vessels, the ignition of the coal is also
a frequent occurrence. The wonder is, not
that such accidents occasionally happen, but
that tfaey are not more frequent So also
with lespeet to the cargoes of ships freighted
from ClAna, India, and America ; when we
tUnk of the quantities, the properties, and
tiie methods of stowing of the merchandise
broagfat from these countries respectively,
can U be matter of surprise that, by natural
processes, undor the partLoukur dreumstan-
ees in which the goods are pUcedt there
should be great risk of fire ? The loss by
lire of sl^fw freighted with cotton and other
]»rodnctB of In&i, has lately excited great
anxiety in that country, and has been the
subject of judidal investigation. The only
means of preventing such disasters is, to
adopt more eifident precautionary measures,
and which should have special reference to
the qualities and condition of the goods.
No one practically acquainted with agricul-
tore will doubt that if hay or com be stacked
in a damp or unripe condition, it wiU heat,
and if it do not take ^re (which is frequently
the case,) it will be entirely spoiled. This
is jnst as simple snd as natural a process as
tiiat by which heat is generated in manure,
and which is one means of hastening its de-
eompoaition. Exactly in Hm same way that
moisture and exdusion from air cause the
overheating of hay, and com, and manure,
other vcgetaUe substances are operated on
by oil, tallow, and similar materials; and
the more readily when subjected to compres-
sion snd exduded from fresh air.
" Minerals are acted upon by moisture
and exdusion from air in the same manner
as vegetables. In this case, however, we
arc aoBustomed to view the procem as being
more dsddedly chemical in its charaotsr.
But it is not so. Chendcal agendas are at
work in the vegetable as well as in the
mineral. In the latter, the properties are
easier understood, because more distinctly
devdoped, and the energies may be more
active, and brought more readily into ope-
ration, but the analogy stall holds good,
although the intermediate steps or the final
results may not be identical.
'* Hie cause of fijres on board steam-ves-
sds and other ships laden with coal, is
perfectly explicable; spontaneous combus-
tion being the ordinary effect of the chemical
decompodtion of pyrites, and which is pro-
moted by access of moisture. Whatever
may be the conditions imposed upon those
who supply coal for steam purposes, and
however great the caution that may be ex-
ercised in sdecting it, there always exists a
certdn quantity of pyrites mixed with the
cod, the dangerous properties of which are
increased if it be not shipped or stored per-
fectly dry.
** As philosophical facts, it has long been
known &at vegetable fibres in common use,
as cotton, flax, hemp, &c., are readily acted
upon, so as to produce heat, by oils, and
resins, and adds ; so also is it just as well
known that pyrites, which abound in some
kinds of cod, are decomposed by water,
with evolution of heat suffident to produce
ignition, even when exposed to the atmo-
sphere.
'''But notwithstanding our knowledge of
these things, what has been done to prevent
acddents?
** In factories, engine-rooms, painters'
shops, candle manufactories, and on board
ships laden with cotton, oil, turpentine, and
gimilar substances, is cleanliness enforced ?
Are oOed or greasy fragments of cotton, and
tow, and yam, carefully gathered up ? Are
there no dark comers in which the sweep-
ings of floors, or the deandngs of machi-
nery, are deposited ? If these, and many
similar questions, cannot be answered
promptly and satisfactorily, let it be remem-
bered that the elements of combustion are
as certainly at work, and the danger firom
them is just as imminent as firom the care-
lessness of servants, the over-heating of
flues, or the scattering of sparks from fires
or candles."
On Sunday, October 24, 8^ p.m., a
most brilliant appearance of the Aurora
Borealis caused for a short time s gene-
ral alarm of fire ; the appearance of a
part of the heavens as seen from a con-
fined situation presenting the. exact ap-
pearance of a terriflo conflagration. The
first symptoms of this periodical vintant
of this hemisphere were peroeiyed about
!lb
lOfiDo* ftfelsft IN 1847.
Hainpist six in the evfenWgf, ^fth gH-
dnally increased till 9'55"t».M., when
the appearance for nfearly an hour wis
truly magnificent. The rays which had
at first a silvery hue hov turned to deep
crimson^ and gradually disappeared. To-
wards midnight this appearance revived
with great splendour, and traces of the
Aurora, though faint« existed till after
two o'clock OD Monday naorning :
it was a bolv Sabbath nigbt,
Th« gale blew clear and high,
When, lo I a glory of Ood'i liglit
Shone up athwart the sky.
A fijilfft thin vapour— ^lIBty| dim,
First to the gaze was given»
That ro8« f^otn thp horizon's rini
To topdiast vault «f Heaven !
ITore and more glory, gtandly now
. Upon the vision came ;
The column wore a godlike brow,
And toot the hue of flame 1
White from the arch that curved in sight
Where round the masses grew,
There shot quiok streams of silver light
Par— far into the blue 1
I'hen where the flame with crimson hue
Had made tts glowing bed,
The stars in bnming groups shone through,
And gleamed behind the ted.
6tiU round and round, the streamerft biiglit,
. Would flit in many a form.
Till the flame-pniar lost its light
And took the dark of storm !
One moment more, and as a cloud
In smoke it fled away ;
Gone was the Meteor and the thread,
And night again was gay I
The London Fibs EflxABLtSHttBiiT,
titldet the superintendence of Mr. Braid-
^^ood, moftt ably supported by Messrs.
Foggo, Coif, Staples, and Henderson,
district foremen, continues to prove it-
afelf equal to every emergency. The
j^rompt attendance, meritorious exertions,
and general urbanity of this corps, fre-
(^uently elicit the warmest commenda-
tion, and I am sorry to observe that in
upwards of twenty cases during the past
year, their voluntary attendance, and
eett aerviees gratiutoUaly offered, have
Dot b«en met with a proper spirit — admis-
sion being refused and inforfiiatioti de-
uM them. DoUbtleBS^ this has ariseti
from the common error of supposing that
the attendance of the tremen has to be
Mtd ibr ; sueh is not the fact, as I have
oreqHently exphdned in preceding reports.
The services of the firemen are at ail
timei^ and under ail cireumstances,
wholly and entirely gratuitous.
The WtHtf JBnffimdFin Brigade,,
wraer Mri OoDnortDD, toatntaki the eod^
I timy hate M iBUg lieM,
atid kre wiffthy of th^ bffitfe to wtuch
they are attached. The general progress
of this spirited cotnpany is of a most
gratifying character ; at their 39th an-
nual meeting th6 secretary's repoK
showed that the premiums receivea dn
life assurances during the last year
amounted to 144,022/. ds.&d.,of wjiich
sum 7,77X1 is. Ud. was derived from
502 new life policies issued within the
year, averaging 458/. 48. 6d. ;— an amount
of business exceeded by few offices in
the kingdom. The fire department ex-
hibited a eomespohding increase^ the
amount insured being upwards of thitty-
Ibur millions, the premiums pnHiileing
87,267/. 9s. Od. The losses weffe pro-
portionally large, amounting to no less
than 7d,00b/. A strong argument this,
against the folly and imprudence Of per-
sons taking upon themselves this heavy
risk. It also shows the caution neces-
sary in the formation of new offices for
the transaction of sipiilar business, as
well as the necessity for insurers select-
ing offices, whose character for honour
and liberality has been firmly established.
The conduct of the West of Enghuid
office m reference to the fire on the pre-
mises of Messrs. Porteiis and Cd.^ at
Manchester, in Angudt last, has elicited
the warmest encomiums of the press
throughout the country ; the fbllowhig
is extracted from the Manchester Ad'
bertiser, Nov. 6, 1847 :
*<Tnit Wbst or Enolako Lirs and
JPiRB Insuravcs. — ^Thb late Firb nr
MAmKar-STKarr.— We are very gM to
have it in our power to give publicity to the
very honoursble Une of oonduet adc^ted by
the Directors of the West of England nte
Astnnuice Company, in referenee to the
policy of insuranee of Messn. Portevs,
Whose premises were destroyed on the lldi
of August last. In our report of the par-
ticalarB of the fire, and the various sofii^ers
thereby, as well as the amoimt of tlieir
several insarances, we stated that MeSsia.
Portens were insnred ibr 2,000i. in the West
of England ^re-efilce* It af^peaied, hew-
ever, on subsequent inquiry, that the pcdicy
was void, in eoDseqnence of ah errer in the
description of the property made by Messrs.
Perteus tliemselves« and of a smaller pre-
miam having been paid than by the rales of
the office would have been payable oH a cor-
rect description. On this discovery, the
Directors might have seocessfhily refused
any payment whatever 7 but having made
inqeuifls as to the eharadter and aandeet of
OK VRB PROCXSfll OV lYITTHETIO DIYISIOK.
11]
lifMrt. Pbrteus hkA Co. in the afAdr; and
hsrin; asctttuncd tfadt the error wac wsfn-
teojlional, they at once recogniBed theelaim,
and hare moat hononrably paid the fall
fmoaat. The facts baving come to our
knowledge, we feel bound, in justice to tbe
office, to give tfaem publicity, and feel sure
m ttiefchants and public or Manchester
win appreciate .luch liberal conduct as It
disenres. — Advertiier, Niffeember 6M,
1B<7."
ttie fbTeg<Nng forms A striking con-
trast to some recently litigated cases, in
«rch thfe "^r^.'^tfie ** ImpeHai;'*
the " Licensed Pletuallers\*' and tfie
** Sitni'* frnve sbdWn to little advantage.
The Vountg Fitte Brigade, iinder Mr.
Qtrwood, bare not ^ied to uke adran-
tige of the few opportanities the past
fAr has afforded them for snccessfnl
eivrtioti;
"Thb ftotxi fioctstir von th« Pbo-
tttonok OV Lira Faoii Fikb was first
sttaVnOMd ia 1836, b«t, fh>m Impetfection
ift Its buif oianAgiMaciiti iU objects #ere
art fkU^ devebpcdi nor its operations ear-
lied tm any eoctent, vntil the year 1843, when
the necessity of snoh ah institution became
99 siridQDt, that fit a public meetinf , cDn.
Tened for that purpose, the society was
re-orsaidxsd ; and from that time its course
luM Deeo progresBiTe and most successful,
siTing ooDitant evidence of its usefulness by
m decrease of fafal fires wherever in ope-
ntion.
** This prifiopil object endeavoured to be
attained by the sodety, is the establishment
of ftre-escspe stattons, half-a-mile distant
IhVni mkh other, throughout the metropolis,
and mainfsining a body of oondiietors» ilrdl
instructed in the use of tbe "'escapes," one
at each station throughout the night ; it also
aee ha to snssnnSs to intrepid eaertions in
the preservatioa of human Hfe at fires, by
presentation of silver medals and pecuniary
rewards.
" tliere are now 26 stations supported by
tlfi^ ftodety, at distances varying from half a
hiile to k mils horn each other, Arotn AMgate
to BAmipton east and west, and from High-
lit to Southwark north and south. At
«Mh Station there IS a fiire-eseape adapted to
tte kMsiffify, attended thraughottt the night
hy a oondftttof well diselpUiNd in its use ;
aadh b hii doty to attend every fire in hia
sbslnBt i^NMi the first ahum being com-
' ~ to him. Tbe eaily arrival of
tfa^ men at the fires with tiie respective
escapes, is li matter of general and continued
satisfaction to the committee, knowin|;» as
they do, that upon that early arrival depends
the important opportuaity of saving life :
and it is most gratifying to them to be able
to state that not one instance has occurred
throughout the year of loss of life by fire,
reflecting in the slightest degree upon either
the arrival or eiertionB of th& conductors.
** The number of fires attended in the year
has been 197, being all that have occurred
durihg the hours of duty, within that portion
of London covered by the stations t and the
nmnber of lives saved by means of the
escapes and oondnetots has been 1 7 — a larger
number than during any prerious year, but
only in proportion to the hMrease of sta-
tions.
** Subjoined is an abstract of the society's
operations in thus saving life since Septem-
ber 1843 — the time the present .Committee
have had its affurs under their manage-
ment.
*' In the 15 months ending March 31st,
1845, 116 fires were attended, and the lives
of 13 persons saved.
"In the 12 months endhig Marth 31 si,
1846, 96 fires were attended, and the UveS
•f 7 persons saved.
" In the 12 months ending Marcb 3lst»
1847, 139 fires were attended, and the lives
of 11 persons saved.
** And in the 12 months ending Msreh
31st, 1848, 197 fires welre attended^ and 17
persons saved.
<« Making a total of 548 fires attended,
and 48 lives saved in the 4 years.
"29, Alfred-street. Islington,
" June 30, 1848."
♦ The cIrcumBtancet of tbe case, " Geach v.
lugaS," are 6f 10 extrsotdinaty a ehameter, that
thqr form the sal^cct of a pamphlet entitled,
"BUUoifLiJc Atturanee." publshed by Effingham
thlSon (pp. 26,) two editiona of which have been
ON THB PROOaSS OV STKTBBTIC niTtSIOK.
Sir* — Various eausea, including an ab-
sence from faome» have prevented me
from acknowledging the obliging an-
swers of ProfessDrs Young and Davies
to my inquiries respecting " Synthetie
Division." It was evident from^e terms
in whieb tfaoee imiuiries were made that
information was my object, and not dis-
pute. I wished, if poesiblei to ttnee the
method from its first rude beginnings
up to its final devetopment in the hinds
of Horner ; and I think that those who
have had the pleasure of perusing the
instructive letter of Pit>fes8or Davies on
the subject will not eonsider it So have
been mooted in vain.
The fact of the existence of Mr.
Homer's Lalin MS. had not> I believe^
been previously made pubiiSf and as the
112
MR. DRBDOE*S DCPKOTED KOBE OF TRUSSING GIRDERS*
Other papers conneeted with the " Pro
oesses" luul appeared m the Phil, Tratu^
actiom, the Mailiemaiical Repository,
and the Mathematician^ perhaps it
would not he considered improper to
suggest that considerable service would
be rendered to the future historian of
Mr. Homer's researches, if the passage
from the MS. was printed in jour exten-
sively circulated joumaL
Though aware of the general principle
to which the name of " Synthetic Divi-
sion" hss been applied, my doubts were
nevertherless excited by resding in the
note on p. 94 of " Davies's Solutions''
that '*tnis method (synthetic division)
wss discovered between the composition
of the paper in the Phil, Trans, for
1819, and June, 1821 ; as there is no
trsce of it in the papers on equations,
and the method wss fully developed in a
paper sent to Professor Leybourn for
publication in the Math. Mepository
which wss transmitted on the last-named
day ;" '' moreover though so early
sent to the Repository^ the number
which contained it was not published
till 1827 ;" and afterwards stumbling upon
the passage in Francoeur as given in pp;
573, 574, of this Msgasine, in which
undoubtedly a trsce is to be found. I
was not then aware that Professor
Young had noticed the same extract, nor
am I *< at all offended," to use a diplo-
matic phrsse of some celebrity, by find-
ing mvself anticipated bv such high
authority, or that these " doubts" admit
of such easy removal.
From what has transpired it appears
that Wells and Gsrnier made an ap*
proach to the praxis of the method : —
that Homer essentially possessed the
method in 1815; that Francosur actu-
ally gave examples in the praxis of the
method so far as to divide by the bino-
mials «+a in 1819, but unconnected
with any general principle, though he
seems to have been aware of some of the
uses to which the ''process," as he terms
it, could be applied from the use he
made of it in the subsequent edition of
the "Cours;"— that Homer essentially
gave the method in art 14, in his paper
printed in the PhU, Transactions for
1819, and subsequently reprinted in the
Ladies' Diary for 1838 ; — ^that he fully
developed the method of *' Synthetie
Division*' in all its generality in a series
of pKptn written in 1820, which were
printed in vol. v., N.S., of the Math.
Repository, and slso in another paper
written about the same time, and since
published in vols. i. and ii. of the Ma-
themoHciaiu The only legitimate con-
clusion therefore appears to be, that
though isolated examples of the praxis
in certain simple cases nad been ffiven by
previous writers, to Mr. Homer uone, b^
longs the merit of havins discovered the
general principle and fully developed the
method.
Into the differences between Messrs.
Horner and Nicholson I have no wish to
enter, nor is it necessary, perhaps, to dis-
cuss the question as to how much one or
both were indebted to Francceur, since
much on this head must necessaril v be
conjectural; it may however be added
that Homer was certainly acquainted
with the writings of Francceur, for he
mentions diem in a note to his " Hors
Arithmetics,'' on p. 43, part 2, voL v.,
of the Math. Rspositary, and ss no date
is affixed to the note itself, it must conse*
qnently be considered ss part of the com-
munication dated June 11, 1821.
In conclusion, I would beg to acknow-
ledge my obligations to. the two gentle-
men who have so kindly responded to
my suggestions, but to Professor Davies
more especially ; and indulging the hope
that notning in the preceding remaru
has been expressed in an improper
manner,
I remain, Sir, yours, &c.,
Thomas Wilkinson.
Burnley, LaocMhiie, Jiily 15, 1848.
MR. DRBDGK'S IMPROVBD MODS OF
TRUSSINO OUDBBS.
Sir, — It may still be within the me-
mory of some of your readers, that a few
months sgo you published, in the Me*
chanics* Magazine, some papers of mine
upon the suQect of ** trassed girders."
I would particularly wish to re<»ll atten-
tion to one which appeared in No. 1273,
January 1st, 1848, entitled, ** Improved
Mode of Trussing Iron Gutters.*' I be-
lieve I was almost singular at that time
in maintsining that the tensile truss was
serviceable to the girder, if pn^ierljr
applied; for in consequence of some ex-
periments which had been made with
some girders trussed in the usual way,
the id^ was very prevslent that it was
altogether useless. The object of the
MB. DBSBOBS niPBOTBD MODB OV TBUSSIKG OIRBSBS.
113
|Mper alluded to was, to show that the
mutifitj of the tnua aroBe from its mis-
apptic^on, and to propoae a plan for
applying it, by whicn the defect would
be remedied. The plan I proposed was
deriTed from a mathematical mvestiga-
tbn of the action of the girder, and I
mtended to follow up that investigation
with a aeries of expenments ; but finding
itwoold interfere with professional en-
cagements, I did not do so. My plans,
howerer, were referred to the Girder
CoramiaBioners, and there the matter
has since rested. At the time this letter
was published, my views on this subject
were entirely new, and I was the first to
propooe, in eotgunction with odier im-
pcorements, the attacbinff of the upper
end of the inclined truas4>ar to the ejr-
iremiiy of th0 neutrai axit of the girder.
My reasoning upon this suljject gave
rise, in some respects, to objections ; but
some experiments lately made by Mr.
Ctabity at Thames Bank, now prove,
most clearly, the truth and value of my
suggestions ; /or, by mertly altering the
pomU of aitaehment of the endi of the
mclmed truu^ate^ am advantage of 50
per cent, wum obtained^ In the letter to
yoa above alluded to, which is dated
22nd Dee., 1847, after some description
of the diagrams which are given, ( ob-
** There are, therefore, two difficulties
to overoone, in order effectuaUy to apply
the truss to the cast sirder. First, to
prevent the prejudicial compression in
the line A B (the upper line of the
girder), which, I have shown above,
weakens the girder to the extent of such
compression ; and, second, to allow for
the diflerence in the elasticity between
cast and wrought iron. The first of
these difficulties I propose to overcome
hj attaching the upper end of the ten-
sion-bars to the girder, either at, or
rather below the neutral axis. In figs.
3 and 4 it is connected at the neutral
axis at the points a and h. The eflfect
of this is, to bring the compressive reac-
tion of the truss to the neutral part of
the beam, which is usdess as far as
transverse strain b concerned, but may
be advantageously employed in resisting
the pressure, which, if applied above the
line a 6, would prejudice the strength of
the girder. By connecting the tension-
bars at these points, therefore, instead of
at the points A and B (figs. 1 and 2,} the
girder is increased in strength by the
truss very nearly as much as is due to
the tension in the bar.''
In No. 284 of the Builder, published
the week before last, the particulars of Mr.
Cnbif s experiments are given, and from
that article I make the following quota-
tion : *' The girder was of cast iron, 28
feet long, 10 ins. in depth, parallel, and
of the same section throughout ; a strong
firame was cast upon the ends of it, in
order that the inclination of the tension-
rods might be varied, or rather that the
ends of them might be raised to different
heightsabovethe bottom flange. Theten-
«^
.»2£
aioB-rods were of ifrroughtiron, I inch in
diameter, one on each side of ihe girder,
attached at the point BB to iron pins 2
inches in diameter, which passed under
the bottom flange; at the points A A
they were connected by means of plates
clipping the ends of the girder, and
tightenuur up by nuts and screws. A
weight 0? 4 Urns was placed upon the
centre of the girder, and the deflection
(2 inches and 1*8 inch) carefully taikiBo,
The tension-rods were then put on, and
applied in various places, and the weight
required to produce the same deflection
is given in the following table. The
distance of bearing was in all cases 27
feet. After the above experiments had
been made, the tension-rods were re-
moved, and the deflection with four tons
was found to be the same as at the com-
menoement Oorreaderswillobservethaty
strange vas the fact may appear, when
114
THE 0RE8HAIC PROFESSORSHIPS.
TABLE.
No. of
Experi-
ment.
DuUncesofpointo
A A above the lx>ttum
of the girder.
Distances of the points
BB on centre orpins
b«lov the
bottom of girder.
Weight required to
produce the
inchet.
1
2
3
4
6
fi
7
Inohe*.
SO
24
18
10
24
10
5»
iMliei.
1
1
1
l
H
Ok
Tom. Cwt.
3 19
4 11
& 1^
one end of eacb tension-rod was 30 inches
above the bottom of the girder, and the
other end one inch below the bottom, the
same deflection was produced by4>ae cwt.
leis ^an when there were no noss.f
When the distance of the points A A
above the bottom of the girder was les-
sened to 10 inches, and the distance of
the points of suspension (fi B) below the
b ttom of the girder was increased to
6i inches, the fl^er was strengthened
^0 per cent."
I am just now preparing models on a
suffideatiy large scale to te^ hj experi-
ments the comparative value of the^
poposed in mjr letter of the lat ^
I«Bt{ and I thwk that» w^Ihw^ al
increasing the weighty and (^ ^^ef^..
altering the arrangements of iH tnis«^w
the way proposed, I shall obtaiiL an i%.
crease in the strength of 100 pep 099$.
At all eventii* as soon as I am in po%-
sessjion of th^ results, I shall b^lP
much picture in laying thefin klfm
your c^ers.
I am, Sir, y^nrSt fi^.,
Londw, 10, Kodolkr«ti^t, Sja^d, ioty 1% \||B.
T«E GRXSHAM PBOFfSS^I^aHIPS.
Fourth Notice.
The ^y is playe4 out! We faap-
fwned to '^ foreknow '' ita denouemaU : —
for we knew the means which had been
taken, and the influences which were
brought into play, to accomplish the
result ; and we knew, too, that '* elec-
tion " meant onlv a prescribed ceremony
to render formally valid a pre-ordained
fact. We venture, however, to predict,
as we have predicted before, that this is the
last instance of an appointment to the
geometry professorship that will be made
under similar circumstances. Guard-
ed (hou§^ diat hoary eorruplion, the
Ghresham trust, is by Oity innueaee and
Aou of Parliament, it is not altogether
invulnerable ; and it is more than possi-
* In experiment 7 the truss-rods were strained
more than in either of the other experiments ; for,
though In 6 It sustained 42 cwt.. and in 7 only S.i
cwt., yet, in consequence of the less inclination In
the bars in the latter, the str^n then was much
more severs.
iTUr euiM of this " tltr—g^ Sa^K* the reader
Qnd ftilly explained in my letter to you which
was pttbUshfld on the Ist fA. Janoary, 1648.
ble that a stih^nt iovealigitittu of ihe
entire system of Gty trusts BDJgkl hinge
upon an '< unconsidered trifle" like the
perversion of a scientific and literary
trust committed to the joint charge
of the Corporation and the Mercers'
Company. It is a curious circumstance —
and it is ominous, too — that the last pro-
fessor of geometry in Ward's list (1740)
was the father of the celebrated " Abra-
ham NewUnd,*' cashier of the Bank of
£ng]and, and who is described as **GeoTf^
Newland, LL.D., Member of Parlia-
ment far Oation, m Surrey I" What
an exquisite analogy between the two
parts of this pluralisi*s offices — the Ghee-
ham professorship of geometrv and the se-
presentation of Oatton in we House of
Commons I But the fate of Omtton wfll
be the fate of the Qrediam: the ftme-
tions of this body, Uke those of Oatton,
will be transferred to a body more com-
petent to exenise them mscreetly and
honestly.
THB OKBSHAlff PBOf SS^RSHIPfi.
115
We htd intended in «nr preieiit
•mKber to eompbte onr »keteK «f tiie
idtiory of Gye«hsm Cdlege, which
was be^n last week; and espedally
to dwell at sooie length upon what
a writer in the Athentstm (July 93,
page 727) ealb *' the nefarioos juggle
of 1768— which etampe with equal infa-
mjtho Garporation, the Gi^iam pro-
toors, andtbe Govenmentiji that day."*
We find diat, tmleBe we pass over the
' ! of ♦* oloetloo *' which has just been
nod, wo shall not have room to do
! to the ^* nelkrtous jaggle *' of other
ilaja. One soeh '*jQggfo'* at a time fur-
Irishes matter for as much indignation as
the faeoest human breast can contain at
There weee six candidates, and aH
wtre Camkridff0 men ;~eome of them
■wn ef high mark, as we shall presently
ace, bet still of Tery different pretensions
and elaitts, Ibr this particukr chair. Of
eonrso, our means of information respect-
fag them personally are hut scanty ; but
Ihtj are, we believe, sufleient to enable
va to lay down fair criteria of their
lelatiTe merHs. Amon^^st these criteria
we consider their places, as arranged after
tiie senate-honse ezaminatloiis, to be in -
^apntaUe hidieatkms of their powers in
n^)eDt to mathematicB generally ; and
the woiis which they have since pnb-
Kshed to he equally hidlspatable mdi-
eetioiis ef their preaeet powers. The
sature of their deties snbtequent to the
Bl a. d^vee, will somewhat aid oar
jadgaient; and the particnlar features oiT
their eity connections will explain the
remainder of thi^ j^gi^'
I. Mr, Mokert Fin Sdims (Trinity
College,) the newly appointed professor,
was dSth senior optime in 1 880 : — in which
year there were 40 wranglers, 36 senior
opthnes and iiO junior optimes. Of M
men who obtained hoaonrs in 1830, the
Gfcaham piofessor was the 05th ! Not a
very exalted poeitton,oertainly. Eighteen
yean have passed away, and during
4ut long ipfMi we bdieve Mr. Edkinft
has not either eked out one truth m
wathematied science, or published a sin-
gle line on any sut^ect. We shall b^
glad to be informed by Mr. £dkin8, or
pie friends, what the nature of his Mcienr
t^ ciaimM are, Aat justify his aspiratioa
to the post he now occupies. If he have
audi, we sbiU willmgly give them pub.
Ijoity ; but if hk IHoidaieeveiis hi the
igoanmce of them in which we now are,
ue ^uH is theirs, and not our own — ^for
we do presume that he has no seientlic
^Ims to that appointment, for one mo-
ment to be compared with the claims of
most of the other candidates.
Mr. Edkins, however, had other
claime— claims which weigh more than
those of science — ^the claims of city con-
nection and influence. He is the son of
Mr. Edkins, the eomnum emmcilman:
and therefore ^* entitled to the fraternal
support of the Gresham Committee.**
He is the SOB of a coal-merchant in
Whitefriars, and therefore was sure to be
preferred by such penons as ifaose whose
taames we gave in our second notice
{€mie p. 08,} on the ^'ftratemal princi-
ple.'* He is moreover the mathematiod
teacher in the City of London School,
tn which of "course the sons of these
OTutocratic electors are educated ; ^ by
Vfrhich means he would be brought into
an interesting (if not hiterested) relation
to these city-donnlkins. Of course it did
not surprise us to hear (and we heard It
befbre we had written a line on the sub-
ject) that within less than two days after
the death of Dr. Birch, Mr. Edkinc had
obtained the promises of eiffht votes out
of the twelve wiihout any testimemabi
How Mr. Edkins could look upon such
an appointment as other than a corrupt
one, whilst he was canvassing the tmstete
to elect him to en office which demanded
profound acquirements and no ordmary
Uients, (in the teeth of men infinitely bet-
ter fitted for the duties of the post who
might offer themselves for it,) can onhr
be eirolained by Mr. Edkins himself.
'Whether persons who could give thnr
promises, too, without previously know-
ing who and what the other candidates
might be, are iiiera% fitting depositaries
of such a trust as the Ore^am professor-
shlpt, our readers can Judge for them-
eelves ; and whether they can be, by any
posaiblU^, adequate intelleetuaUy hk
diat trufit, will be best answered by the
list of their n^raes already given.
That Mr. Edkins has been a pains-
taking schoolmaster we are reeoy to
admit — for we are told he is such. The
habits of the schoolmaster's mind are,
however, predsefy the reverse of those
required in a Gresii^m lecturer; and, in-
deed, it may be fairly doubted whether
the mental habits and personal demean-
Hur involyed hn the 4tttlai of schoolmaster
116
THE ORE8HAM P&OFE880R8HIP8.
and lecturer, be not too antagonistio to be
ever effectively and contemporaneoualj
devekmed in the same man« The Gres-
ham Committee think otherwiae— or at
least so affect tothink->«nd have elected
Mr. Edkins to a snug sineeure which has
fallen to their dispoul. This gentleman
will, however, read ** bare-waltlectures"
as well as his colleagues and predeces-
sors ; the citizens of course will be satis-
fled, whatever the public may be. We
shall, however, ity to form an audience
for him ; and we may, possibly, from time
to time report his '' saying and doings '*
in his new official capacity.
2. Mr. Robert Potts (Trinity Coll.)
was 26th wrangler in 1832:— when there
were 35 wranglers, 39 senior optimes and
24 junior optimes. He was thus SS5th in a
list of 96 men who obtained honours.
Mr. Potts's claim, however, to the Grre-
sham Professorship of Geometry, rests
upon still higher grounds than his place
on the tripos; for in this respect he
must be placed below two of the other
rcrjected and insulted candidates. His
claim rests upon the firm basis of what
he has aetualbf done in and for geo-
metry. It has never Men to our lot to
read so many high testimonials to the
scientific merit and personal worib of
any man who was a candidate for such
an appointment, as those which have been
given to Mr. Potts ; and it is to us a
matter of wonder that any set of men,
even of the class who compose the
Gresham Committee, could look on
these testimonials and then vote for Mr.
Edkins without compunction, or a blush.
It can surely result from no cause short
of their ignorance of the scientific and
social stations of the distinguished men
who gave those testimonials. Such ig-
norance is to be anticipated in such men ;
and were it not for the mischievous con-
sequence of their ignorance to society and
to science, it might pass among the com-
monplace phenomena of the aity-mind
as unworthy of especial notice : but in
such a case as this, it olaces conspi-
cuously the degradation of science in this
country, when we contemplate the class
of men into whose hands the endow-
ments for its cultivation have ultimately
fallen. It almost compels us to believe
that wherever money or influence is con-
cerned, all trusts must become corrupt—
the corruption of ignorance^ and often
more criminal corruption still-^aeemhig
to pervade them all! To show that we
do not speak heedlessly, we will quote
the testimonv of two gentlemen, who
have probably the higl^ claim to be
heard as authorities on this question that
could be named amongst Enghsh geo-
meters — Professors De Morgata and
Davies. The former says : " If Uie word
Geometry be used in this limited sense
[the antient geometry] then Mr. Potts
has very high daims indeed: for he is
one of the very few persons who haTe
paid attention to that now imther ne-
glected subject In fact, the word Geo-
metnr being thus used there are but two
or three persons on whom die choice
would properly fall, of whom Mr. Potts
is one." The latter says: ** Mr. Potta
is one of the ablest geometers of our
time" — he has "rendered greater ser-
vices to the cause of geometrical learning
than any living writer — ^he has in fact,
if I may so speak, re-created the spirit
of pare geometry in England — ^if your
choice shall fall upon him, yon will have
chosen the man best fitted of all who are
in a position to become candidates, for
carrying out in their true spirit the high
design of Sir Thomas Gresham." Yet
in spite of such testimonies as these, and
nearly fifty others to the same effect
from the Vice-chancellor of Cambridge
the masters of half the colleges in Cam-
bridge, more than half the professors in
the University, and from resident and
non*re8ident members who stand fore-
most in the literary and scientific world,
Mr. Potts was rudely set aside, in fkvour
of a man alike unknown to science and
to letters.
8. The Meverend Benfamin Morgan
Cowie (St. John's) was senior wrangler
in 1839 : — ^when there were 41 wranglers^
52 senior optimes, and 30 junior optimes ;
that is, he was first on the list of 128 mm
who obtained honours. This position, we
should have thought, would of itself,
apart from all testimonials, have indneed
the Committee to pause ere they com-
mitted themselves to public scrutiny
for an indefensible choice. He can be
no ordinary man who attains to such a
position as Mr. Cowie : nor is Mr. Cowie
an ordinary man in any sense cf the
word. As a mathematician his eariy
plsce is fixed by the tripos-list as supe-
rior to all his competitors ; and we know
moreover, that hu subsequent nursnits
have been of a kind to earn for nim the
THS ORB8HAM PROTESSOESHIPS.
mpeec md gradtude of dl who are in*
terested in the a]>plicatioii of mathe*
madea to practical science. Had Mr.
Gowie remained in the University we
ahooldy we are aore, have had printed
proofs of his great aMlitf as a teaoher of
foienee; bat having undertaken a post
of great reroonsibility and immense ex-
erdoOf as ranoipal of the College for
Civil Engineers, it has been impossible
that he shoold have contributed so mnch
to our soientifio literature as he would
have done in case he had remained a
Fellow and Tutor of St. John's.
We have spoken of Mr. Cowie as an.
anafyst, and as (for want of a suitable
English word we use the expressive
French one) a phyncien ; of his acquire-
ments and talents in pure geometry ^ we,
however, are less able to speak, from
oar having nothing before us from which
to jodge; though we are led to believe
that the power evinced by him on other
subjects would not be found at fault in
this special application of them. Mr.
Potts's daims, however, we consider to
be preferable to Mr. Cowie's, t» thia
coMCf under all aspects*
4. The Reverend Henry Moaeley
(St. John's College,) was 7th wrangler
in 1826 :— when there were 27 wranglers,
32 senior optimes, and 26 junior optimes :
thus givioff him the 7th place amongst
83 men who gained honours that year.
Mr. Moseley, like Mr. Cowie, has led
an active life out of the University, as
Mr. Potts has ledi an active life in it.
He has, too, the additional claim to at-
tention which arises from his having
evidenced by his writings that he has
continued the studies upon which his
aoademic days were spent, and still more
by his important researches connected
with the practical application of physical
sdenoe. His papers in the *' Philosophi-
cal" andinthe " Cambridge" " Transac-
tions" deal effectively with subjects of
confessedly great difficulty; whilst his
** Mechanics of Architecture and Engi-
neering," besides its usefulness, contains
a larger amount of originality than we
commonly meet with in any books of a
didactic class. His little work on ' ' Hydro-
statics " is possessed of great merit ; and
his popular volume ** Mechanics Applied
to the Arts," betokens a considerable
amount of that happy newer of illustra-
tion whioh is essential to a successful
117
leotujrer. We see in none of these, how-
ever, any traces of that intimate acquaint-
ance with pure geometry which is indis-
pensable in a Gresham Geometry Pro«
feasor, if the chau* is to be other than a
sinecure to the holder and a mockery of
the public. The cast of his mind, in-
deed, like that of Mr. Cowie, seems to be
in the opposite direction from geometry-
Bir. Moseley was for some years pro-
fessor of natural philosophv in King's
College, London; and his lectures and
writings raised that school much in pub-
lic estimation. He has subsequently
been, and still is, one of her Majesty's
Inspectors of Schools. We should think,
indeed, that the duties of this office would
have left him but little time to devote to
the Gresham lectures, even had he been
appointed. This, however, is no answer
to the conduct of the Gresham Com-
mittee; for it was not on this ground
that either he or Mr. Cowie, much less
Mr. Potts, was rejected.
5. The Reverend Thomas Pelham
Dale (Sidney Sussex College) was 25th
wrangler in 1845 : — when Ihere were 38
wranglers, 41 senior optimes, and 85
junior optimes: — thus making him the
25th out of 114 successful candidates for
honours.
This gentleman is the son of the Rev.
Thomas Dale, late vicar of St. Bride's,
and now rector of the large and populous
parish of St. Pancras, and likewise
canon of St. Paul's. For so young a
man, we should think that he is suffi-
ciently provided for by the rectory of St.
Vedast, Foster-iane (value, £800 a year,
and fees,) which is in the gift of the
Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's, and
therefore obtained through the paternal
influence of the canon himself: *'He
that provideth not for his own, and espe*
cially those of his own house, hath denied
the faith, and is worse than an infidel ; **
and as long as our clergy can quote such
an authority as this, we cannot wonder to
see all grades of the Protestant hierarchy
acting in '*a way so extremely natural."
We know however, and bear our testi-
mony to that knowledge, that Mr. Dale
is a man of real ability ; and his degree
bespeaks that he had acquired a fair
amount of that learning upon which the
University insists for conferring degrees
in honours. Our objection to his appoint-
ment rather consists in this :•— his inex«
118
NOTM AHto Kfmott*
pwrw b e c a n d the iibponiljfiity of iris
LaTing ad<M muck to the mslhematical
knowledge whiek he took into the senoie-
hoiMe, from the attention which wai im-*
peratively given to theobgy and hia
olerieal dntiea. We are, indeed^ aur^
prised that he ahonld offer himself for
such a post as the Gredbam profesaor-
ship ; and we can only aooount iw it on
tke hjrpothena that the idea of ** plnltti-
ties*' is indiaenoiis to the olerieal mind^
6. Mr^ Joseph 6i66« (Qneen'a Ctol-
lege) was 10th junkv optime in 1892 :— •
or 84th on a list of 98 in Mr. Potts'a year.
Of this gentleman we know little more
tkan the bare academic record tells us; and
that little is^ that he is a near connection
of the celebrated alderman who bears
the same patronjmtc. We have heard
that he is in holy orders ; but as we are
not sure, we have not so entered hia
name. He has, at all events, taken effec->
tttal care that the scientific public shall
know nothing of hts fc^ents or acquire'-
aents, if any such he have ; and we are
therefore only able to judge of him hy
his place on the mathematical tripos.
Here, in all conscience, he stands low
enough — and here, since he so wills it,
we shall leave him. He must have re-
lied on the alderman's influence ( and
perhaps had not that gentleman some-
what scandalised the city by his '* un-
accountable " eccentricities, Mr. Gibbs^
though lowest of all at the University,
would most likely have been appointed
to the Gresham chair. In default, how-
ever, of the alderman*s popularity, the
committee have chosen the next lowest
on the list ! Do men so perverse as the
oitisens of London exist elsewhere upon
the face of the earth ?
In reviewing the circumstances and
claims of the several candidates, we
should say that Messrs. £dkins and
Gibbs, not being first class men, should
have been set aside at once, as ineligible
candidates. Our views on the si^i-
icaacy of the several Cambridge degrees
have been more than once expressed
(but especially at vol. xlvi., pp. 356—392)
and need not be recapitulated here. Their
having lived so many years in perfect
scientific obscurity too, does not add to
their claims. The other four were first
class men, and therefore all entitled to
consideration, and to have their dahns
fairly balanced against each other. These
dflSma we hate aUenqMed to weigh wilii
perfect candour: wkI we feel few dif-
fidence in affirming that (whilst we
allow to Messrs. Gowie and Moseley very
high praise, and to Mr. Dale full repu-
tation for the power whidi he doee
possess,) of all the candidates, Mr.
rotts is the one who eaaM before the
GommitteC with the requmitk eredentietig
?f his entire fitness for the Gtetksm
rpfessorship of Gsoiubtbt.
NOTES AND NOTICU.
Sleam Navigation on tht C(upian.—Xt had long
been part and i^reel of the aoperetltiims prevaOent
among the Astrachao marinera, that, from Ure vio-
lent Htorms and billowy fUry of the Caspian, no
iteam veiisel would be able to navigate ft. Bat
raodetn gkill and inventloii have put the figmem to
flight. About three years ago, Captain NetschayelT
arrived at Abtrachan, took command of the Kaux
•teamer> embarked under the predietion thst be sml
his bold men were doomed to a watery grave, $hA
reached the Trachmenian shore in safety. The
success of the experhnent has given a lively apirft
to steam navigation in that qnaiter, and the credit
of the mercantile craft, which consume eight days
in reaching the Persian coast f^ora Astrachan, has
consequently sunk to xero. An earth, stturtted
with naphtha, affords the ateamersa^ood sutethule
for coal.
^Miektilwr SnpentdediniHninff.-^V^ftilhwitkg
Is an extract from a recent letter ftota Valpanito:
—Both here and in Peru, the miners are quite
mild about a new method of separttingth^ metala
from the ores by means of salt and woer, trlth-
out the use of quicksilver; but, as far as I un-
derstand, this system has only been found to answer
in a few individual cases, and can only be applied
to a peculiar sort of ore. The introduction of tte
plan has, however, undoubtedly rendered the miaen
•hy of purchasing any more quicksilver than they
Absolutely require to carry on their operatlom. It
remains, therefore, to be seen if it wtll answer their
expectations, and in a few months the Question will
be dewded."
AIea$rt. Deane^ Drop, and Deantft Portmhk Fift^
-8»ji»e.— We find that we were in error {ant* p. 75)
In our statement respeeting the registration and
exhibition of this engine. It was the night-ioil
cart of the same parties, described vol. xlviii., p. 145,
which was exhibited at York, and obtained a prize ^
vedal.
Mr. Jostph Wood§' Chronometric Gov&rnor —We
perceive from the po'ice reports in the newspajiers,
that an infamous attempt has been made to obtain
money (Vom Mr. Woods, by a person of the not in-
appro]iriate name of Robert Booty Cousens, for the
suppression of a pajwr oh •'Governors," And In
drprectation of tliat of Mr. Woods in parttealar.
Mr. Wuods has acted on the occssiuu as might have
bei-n expected from his hi^h character — set the
literary bravo at defiance, mul left ihenerfts of the
invention to speak for themselves.
WEEKLY LIST OJ- NEW SNOLiaH PATBffll^
Chevalier Alexandre Edward Le Molt, orCondoi^-
street, Middu.sfx, for certain improvements in
apparatOR for litrhring by elertricity. parts of which
nay be made us« of in other uppUcafious of elee-
tricity. July 20; six months.
David Napier and James Murdoch Napier, of
YoA Read, Lambeth, eogtoeers, for imprarcmemk
119
in mariners* eompanes, alio in baibmeteTs. and in neer to the said Messn. Shears and Sons, for im-
oertain other flWABUdngtetcumentt. J«]y M ; six provementi In gas meten. Jnly 36 : six months.
"*Sffl* i..*. ^ . » - Charles Hancock, of Brompton, Middlesex, gen-
. -???? xhmwis, of Cheapside, vnerehsoit, ror tieman, ftr Improvements in apparatus and ma-
ln|ni»«eHbents in the msnofacture of stays, boots, chinery for giving shape and conflgufation to plastic
ad ahoea, also in Astening and connecting Isbrics suttitaaces. July 20 ; «ix months.
aMcannetatt. Jnly 26 ; six months. John Grist, of the New North Road, HiddlMex,
Mn King, ferematt to Messrs. Shears and Sons, engineer, for improvements in Airnaces and llr*-
of StetaMe, and Heniy Medhur st, operative eligi- places. July 29 ; six months.
trilstxt liftT Oft BlnioTTft fok a&ticlbs or utility RKmSTSmBlK
l^teof Slo.jin
Reglstra- the Re-
Ue*. giswr. Ptdptietom' Hamei. Addvesses. Snblecta of Designs.
Jn^f M Wi i Pretyman and Hobeon, ComhiU ....^.^.•..«...^ Chfld's cot.
„ 1512 Samuel Alfired Carpen-
ter .M .......M Birmingham.^ Wedge appatatus (appHfed to
the fronts of a brace, and
applicable to other uses.)
23 J51S Samael Minshul ......... Birmingham Hearse to be drawn by hand.
« 15T4 James Rowland, Wil-
liaih Rich, and Robert
"Rarris 23, New Bond-street The aptandnm trousers.
25 1515 W. and P. Thorn... ..... John-street, Cavendish-square.. The equimotive spring.
„J 1516 R. W. MTinfield Birmingham — Gas burner.
„ 1517 Stoekand Sharp Birmingham Gas burner.
^^ JiBttt PnbHBhed, price 7«. ©d.,
t GrSHfeRAl. TABtE for Facilitating the Calculation of Earthworks for liailways, Canals, &c., with a
f* Trfble of ftroportlonafo Parts. By F. Bashforth, M.A., Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge.
Chain fl¥ 66 reet. '
*nie author of the above work having reason to suppose that most improper use has been made of his
ttibours, to reproduce the same system of Tables, has lately published a Cheap General Sheet Table for
Cteitltating the calcnlation of earthworks for railways, oanals, &c. Chain of 100 feet, price 2s. 6d.
*«* In both Works, the number of cubic yards uecessaiy to be added for the tenths and hundreds of a
ibot in heigJu are given by inipection, and without any preliminary calculations.
GEORGE BELL, 186, Fleet-street.
GUTTA PSRCHA COfXPANYS WORKS,
WHARF ROAD, CITY ROAD.
London, Ut April, 1848.
rpfiS OUTTA PBRCHA COMPANY have great pleasure in stating that the steadily increasing demand
^ isr the PaniiT Gvtta Psbcjba Driviko Bakus juatilies the utmoot confldenco that they are folly
'ovad.
r dusablHty and strength— permanent contractility and uniformity of substance — ^their non-sasoep-
tibSlity of Ikijwy ftora contaet with Oils, Grease, Acids, Alkalies, or Water—and the facility with which the
slagle>olnti«qniredcanbemadein Bands of any length— render them superior for almost all working
porpotes, and deeidadly economical.
Goirf»aatsa, Tubivo of all sizes, Bouoixs, Cathktbhs, Stxtrxscopcs, and other Surgical Instruments;
llovKJ>iSGS FOR PxcTORK Feaubs and other decorative purposes; Whips, Thongs; Txmnis, Gox.v, and
CnicKav Balls, te., in great variety.
Patent Gtitta Percha Shoe Soles.
Tte afiplieabnity of Gutta Percha Soles for Boots snd Shoes having been extensively and satisfactorily
laated, we can unheoltatingly recommend the material prepared lor this purpose, its merits having been
acknowledged 1^* all who have tried it. Indeed, experience has proved that tiutta Percha Soles wear twice
aa long as leather, with great additional personal comfort; and they remain perfectly impervious to wet
ontli quite worn throogh.
Boot And Shoe Soles for Stanmer Weal*.
The £set of the total iniperviousness of these Soles to water, enables the most delicate, by the use of
ftem, to e^cape the suffering which the proverbial uncertainty of (»ur climate. £Vem in Sukmisii, so often
inflicts upon the ineautious, and this efiect may be secured by a Sole so thin and light, as to a^ord to the
vearer a degree of ease and comfort hitherto unattainable, in conjunction with security against damp.
Ai ik» SOOTS time, the remurkabte non-eonducting properlirt of Gutta Percha afford a moat vaiuabtt prif
iecMou io tkoM who are su^eeted to auffenng or ineonvenienee bff waiking upon heated pavemente.
The question of the durability of Gutta Percha Soles, as compared with Leather, has long since been
flccided in fiivour of the former; and no Instance of failure haa y«t coaae to tbe know-
*'* — I o^ Hhit Company which aai^ not be ascribed to a nevie^ of tbetr pirinted
nssn
120
ADTB&TISBIfBMTS.
To InTentors and Patsntecs.
MESSRS. ROBERTSON ft C0.»
PATBVT SOLXCITOmi,
(Of which firm Mr. J. C. ROBERTSON, th«
Edxto* of the MxcHAVxcB* Magaxzvb ftom its
conmenoement In IB%9, !• principal paitner»)
adertakd
The proeuratlon of Patonts
lor England, Scotland, Ireland, and all Foreign
Countries, and the transaction generally of all busi-
ness relating to Fatxiits.
flpodfleattons Drawn or Rorised.
DliCLAIMSagy AMD M»f 0&ANDUM8 OF
ALTBBATIOK P&XFAaSD AND BNBOLI.BD.
CaToats Bntorod and Oppoattiona
Oondueted.
CONFIRMATIPNS AND PROLONGATIONS
OF PATENTS SOLICITED.
Searches made for Patents, and Copies or
AbstzacU Supplied.
AdTiee on Caaes anbrnittedj Ac. die
MX88R8. ROBERTSON & CO.
POSSESS THE ONLY COMPLETE REGISTRY
OP PATENTS EXTANT,
Commencing a.d. 1617(15 James I.) and regularly
continued down to the present time.
INTENDING PATENTEES supplied gratis with
Printed Instructions, on Application, either per-
sonally or by letter.
To Engineers and Boiler-
Makers.
LAP* WELDED IRON TUBES, FOR MARINE
AND LOCOMOTIVE STEAM - BOILERS,
Tubes for Steam, Oa«, and other purposes;— all
sorts of Gas Fittings. The Birmingham Patent Iron
Tube Company, 42, Cambridge-street, Birmingham,
and Smethwick, Staflbrdshira, manoiacture BoUera
aud Gas Tubes, under an exelusiye License ftom
Mr. Richard Prosser, the Patentee.
These Tubes are extensively used in the Boilers
of Marine and Locomotive Steam Engines In
England and on the Continent ; — are btronger.
Lighter, Cheaper, and more Durable than Brass or
Copper Tubes, and are warranted not to open in
the weld.
42, CAMBRIDGE^TREET, CRESCENT,
BIRMINGHAM.
Works— Smethwick, Stafibxdshlre.
LONDON WAREHOUSE— No. 68, UPPER
THAMES-STREET.
R
W
TO ARCHITECTS, BUILDERS, &c.
Copper-wire Cord.
S. NEWALL & Co.'s PATENT IMPROVED
COPPER- WIRE CORD for WINDOW SASH
LINES, Hot-houses, Lightning Conductors, Hang-
ing pictures, Clock-cord, and various other purposes
for which hempen rope has hitherto been used. This
new and valuable Patent is fast superseding the use
of the hempen cord, and is strongly recommended
to all Builders and other parties connected with
the above. The Wire-cord msy be had wholesale,
and specimens seen at the Ofllce of the Patentees,
No. 163, Fenchurch-street, W. T. ALLEN, Agent,
or retail of G. and J. DEANE, 46, King William-
street, and E. PARKS, 140, Fleet street; also of
all respectable Ironmongers.
Antomaton Oalenlators*
„. WERTHEIMBER'S Patented AUTOMA-
TON CALCULATING MACHINES, perform-
ing both Addition and Subtraction, from one farthiaff
up to a million of pounds, (price 4/. 4«.), adoptMl
by her Maleaty,-b7 the Board of Trade, and aevenl
other Government Offices; and the REGISTER^
ING MACHINES, which Indicate the number of
Strokes performed by a Steam engine (price SLU.'U
adopted by the Admiralty and the most cdebnted
engineers of England, are now on sale at Measn.
Watkina and Hill's, Mathematical Instroment
Makers to her M ajesty, 6, Charing-crosa.
Lately published. Third Edition, Price fs. 6d.»
BSicroscopic IlliistratioiiSy
rlTH descriptions of the New Mieto8copes,and
ample Instructions for Use. By AxDmxw
Paitcha&d, M.R.I.
Also, by the same. Price 12s.,
A HISTORY OF INFUSORIA, Living and
Fossil, with Descriptions of all the known species
of Animalcules, and upwards of fiOO Engraved
NoiK.— Part I. of the above work, entitled *' A
GENERAL HISTORY OP ANIMALCULE8,-
with the Engravings, may be had separately.
Price 5s. ^, . .
London: Whittaker and Co., Ave Maria-lane.
NOTICES TO COitHUSPONDEHTS.
D. H. and friends ate very uurea$on<Me. Before
acceding to the requeti of a numtroue eectUm of our
readera to bestow more of our space on matiemotieal
subjects-^tn inereau called for by the inereasin^
attention happily paid to them by engineers and
mechanics— toe made an addition of an entire hatf
to the number of our pages, toUhout makiuyan odM-
tional charge to our readers; so that those vho do
not like our mathewuttics have, over and above, more
for their money than ie given by any other sdeni^
Journal whatever.
Casuist.— rA« ease of Dr. Bameis " election ia
the Professorship of CasuUtry in the UniversUy of
Cambridge" it a cuHosity in the way of elecUons.
We shall notice it hereafter^ as welt as a few other
matters of the same kind. Dr. WheweU, however,
the successor of Dr. Barnes, makes no sinecure of
the appointment; and we only wish the Gresham
Prqffissors would follow so honourable an example.
CONTENTS OF IHJS NUMBER.
Description of Bruce's Patent Method of Con-
structing Piers and Breakwaters— (wt<A m-
gravings) 97 •
The "Scotia" Steam-vessel...... 100
London Fires in 1847— Annual Report. By Mr.
W. Baddeley, C.E., Inventor of the Farmer'a
Fire-encine, Portable Canvaaa Ostems, Im-
provedHose-Reel, ftc 101
On the Process of Synthetic Division, and Mr.
Homer's Claims. By Thomas Wilkinson,
Mr. Dredge's improv^^^^ Trussing Gir-
ders, and Mr. Thomas Cubit's Experiments
at Thames Bank.^.. 1 IS
The Gresham Professorships— The Denoue-
ment « 11*
Steam Navigation on the Caapian— Quicksilver
Superseded in Mining- Messrs. Deane, Dray,
and Deane's Portable Fire-Engine. — Mr.
Joseph Woods' Chionometric Governor... ... US
Weekly List of New English Patents 119
Weekly List of New Articles of UtiUty Regis-
tered -.— -....» »i
Advertisements - - .-..« 11»
LONDON: Edited, Printed, and Published, by
Joseph Clinton Robertson, of No. 166, Fleet-
street, in the City of London.— Sold by A. and
W. Galignani, Rue Vivienne, Paris; Machin and
Co. Dublin ; W. C. Campbell and Co., Hamhuigh.
MUSEUM, REGISTER, JOURNAL, ANDGAZETTE.
No. 1304.]
SATURDAY AUGUST 5, 1848. [Price 3<f., Stamped, 4d.
KiUted bf J. C. Robcrtwm, 116, Fleet-street.
BLACKWELL'S PATENT IMPROVEMENTS IN EVAPORATING FURNACES.
s
TOL« ZI,IX
122
BULCKWSLL'fl PATIMT nfPBOTUfBMTS IX SYAPOaATfNO rVKKAOBS*
[Patent dated Fabriuay 2, 1 848. Patentee, Jamee Blaekwell, of Wintford, Salt Proprietor.
Specifieatioii euoUed August 2, 1848.]
Specification,
Mr inrentioQ has relation gene-
rally to all furnaces employed for the
purpose of evaporating fluids, or bodies
in a fluid state, as water, brine, oils,
svrups, &e., and has for its nature or
object the producing and sustaining of an
intensity 6t heat in such furnaces greater
than usual, a saving in the consumption
of fuel, and the avoidance or diminution
of smoke. And the manner in which
the said invention is performed, is fully
set forth in the following description
thereof, reference beine had to the ac-
companying figures ; that is to say, the
said drawings exemplify my said inven-
tion as applied to a furnace suitable for
the evaporation of brine or manufacture
of salt. Fig. 1 is a front elevation df
this furnace, and fig. 2 a longitudinal
section of it. AAA are the external
walls of the furnace, which are formed
throughout of fire-brick ; B is the fire-
place, and aaa the grate-bars; B^ is
the bridffe, which is composed, like the
outer wall^ of fire-brick ; C is an ante-
chamber, through which the fireplace is
supplied with fuel in manner to be pre-
sently explained. DD D*D* are two
sets of air holes formed in the front
wall of the furnace, immediately over
and under the fuel supply chamber, C,
which holes lead into ^e fireplace, B,
and are left always open. Beneath D^D^
there is an open passage, £, leading to
the part of the fireplace immediately
above the grate bars, which serves also
as an inlet for air, and through which all
such solid residuid matters as are left on
the bars are raked out from time to
time. F is the ashpit; G, saltpan;
and H the passage to the chimney. The
THS OBKSltf AM
Fifth and
We are sure that every one of our read-
ers will consider it to be, to him, a mat-
ter of personal concernment that justice
should be done to every man ; and that
every trust which has been confided by
liberal and enlightened men in past ages
for the public benefit, should be so ad-
ministered as to conduce in the utmost
degree to the advantage to society. Heavy
indeed is the guilt of those trustees who,
to fiiyour their friends, or enrich them-
manner of operation is as follows : — A
fire is first made in the fireplace, B, With
wood and coal, as usual. The ante-cham-
ber, C, is then filled to the top, and
from end to end, with coal, or good coal-
slack. The fire, as it bums in B, grm-
dually cokes the green or crude fael in
the adjoining chatnber, C, and draws
from it various gaseoos Vapours, which
contribute more or less cdiilbustible mat-
ter to the.fire^ When the original sup-
ply of fuel to thfe^ fln^lace, B, l)egins to
be exhausted (which the person in charge
can readily ascertain by looking through
the open passage, £,) a further supply is
furnished by puBhil^' forward the con-
tents of the ante- chamber, C, and to the
extetit of the void therebv made in that
chamber, it is infilled witn fresh coal or
coal slack. When that second supply is
nearly consumed, a third is pushes for-
ward in like manner, and so on. For
the first time or two that the contents of
the ante-chamber, C, are ^ected upon the
fire, they are commonly in an impmectl j
eoked state, and there is, consequently, a
eohsiderable escape of smiriLC (or uncon-
feumed fuel) from the chimney (though
still much less than usual ;) but sifter the
fire has been well got up, and the walk
of the furnace have become thoroughly
heated, the coking keeps so ahead of Uie
consumption of fuel in the fireplace, that
there ceases to be any discharge of crnde
fiiel into the fire, and only a colourless
or imperceptible vapour is emitted from
the ehiknney. The whole, or nearly the
whole, of the combustible matters in the
fuel are thus turned to profitable account,
and a savinff of fuel is the result, much
exceeding, l believe, any which has been
hitherto effected.
paortssDSSHtPs.
Final t9otiee.
selves, divert the property sobeoueathed
from its legitimate purposes, let how
few trusts exist at the present day which
have not been disgracefully abused —
nay, how few that are not toCaUy
diverted from their intended usesr
Even Sir Thomas Gresham, far-seeing
as he was, could not anticipate the possi-
bility of the trustees of his gift ever
belonging to the relative class they now
do. He thought they wotdd bo ^'
THB QRSSBAM KOVBf BOBSHIP0«
ISS
^in the ttnM which tbetenn bore
in his own day — ^men of intelligence and
faigli principle. The reTolution of events,
however., bae led to such a state of
tbtngs, tnat the great merchants of the
tity and the proper representatiTes of
Grnhaniy have no more to do with the
dty-nile, city-trusts, or city-morality,
than if they were located in the Isle of
Skye. All is left to mere retail trades-
men -, and of course we cannot loolc (as
a nie, though there are many excep-
tJoBL) for cultivated Intellect, nor still
lea fbr a high code of business-ethics.
Diis will explain perhaps, in some de-
grae. the singular circumstances upon
whaen we have abeady commented ; and
wejprooeed to complete our sketch of the
«'jmsloryof Gresham College."
It has been customary to eulogise the
provisions made in the '^tripartite deed'*
for conducting the lectures, as the emana-
tioQ of perfect wisdom ; and one author,
even of the present day, and of consider-
able literary eminence, has offered a
defence of them.* We disame with
him— «l any rate, as respects the present
sliie of knowledge. It is hard to dis-
cover why the professors should be tied
do^mx to such an antiquated course of
leetnres ; bat the fact, perhaps, is, that a
aet of such lectures is more easily manu-
ihctored than a more modem one would
bes, and therefore mav suit the sinecurist
all the better. In the judgment, how-
ever, of all intelligent men, the condi-
tions of that deed require very impor-
tant revisions — in fact, to be thrown
adde, and an entirely new set drawn up,
80 tfs to be in accordance with the pre-
sent state of our knowledge on the
several subjects. There is nothing in the
Tfni itself to prevent this ; nay, the Deed
itself does not declare those regulations
to be perpetual. The same power which
made them, can either modify or revoke
them.
Neither is there any rule in the Will
or in the Deed that gives the professor a
life interest in the appointment. There
is nothing we believe, in any deed or
agreement that would prevent the stipu-
I^ed period of occupation of those
chairs oeiog for any given number of
years, as three or five. In fact, there
exists neither moral nor legal difficulty in
• Ui ton TtaBM of Sir Thoouw Gntham, by
Join WiUlam BoiBW, VOL fi. p. US.
the trustees rendering their college all
that we pictured in our second notice
(ante 64— 9,) except, indeed, their igno-
ranee, apathy, selfishness, or nepotism.
The early professors were, for the
most part, men of ability (though even
then there were exceptions) : as, for in-
stance, Briggs, Graves, Rooke, Barrow,
and Hooke, in Geometry; and Brere-
wood, Gunter, Gillebrand, Rooke and
Wren, in Astronomy. Yet even so early
as 1647 complaints were nuide (ana
even a tract published on the subieet) of
the unsatisfactory character of the lec-
tures then delivered. One complaint
was, that the lectures were only t^ in
term-time : and it proceeds to say that
the lecturers were " so superbiousty pet-
tish, that they will resolve no quere that
may advanta^ the dubitor: nay, diey
are come to mat strain that they will doe
as they list ; read whatt, when, how, and
where they list ; and not at all if they
list} and indeed they have dieir meanes
for a song,*' ('* Sir Thomas Gresham,
his Ghost," 1647). How fst there mar
be good grounds for these charges it k
impossible to discover ; but at any rate it
is a true picture of the subsequent state
of things in this Gollm. We think it
likely, however, that this was a contest
between the citizens and die lecturers,
as to whether the assigned duties were
Professorial or Tutorial,
Before the close of the century, how-
ever, there appears to have grown to
maturity a design to pervert the ofarjeeta
of the College, and even to parually
alienate it In 1701 this intendon was
publicly announced ; and for two years the
salaries of the professors bad been then
unpaid I The trustees alleged that they
were losing 2,000/. per annum hy the
trust : but that, as fkr as we have been
able to learn, rests on theur own unsup-
ported and unavouched statement At
any rate Gresham College and the eight
Alms-houses together did not draw upon
them for more than about 400/L ; and if
we put down 100/. per annum for repairs,
we still only arrive at one-fourth of die
sum which they sUted to be their loss
upon the trust, ss far as the Gresham
College and Almshouses were concerned*
Nevertheless, upon a sutement like this,
the College itself must be ssorifloedl
They then discovered that " good con-
veniences may be made for me seven
lecturers on part of the ground^'* and
a2
THB GRE8HA.H PROFESSOKSHIPS.
124;
that '* the remaining part, at a very
moderate valuation^ will let to build for
430/. \2s. per annum ground rent, upon
leasee offifty-vne years J' (The reader
18 desired to keep this statement in mind
for a few minutes.) A bill was brought
into Parliament at the instance of the City,
the Mercers, and the Lecturers, to empow-
er them '* to pull down the present build-
ing called Gresham Ckillege, and to make
such building for the said Lecturers as
was agreed upon, which would be con-
venient; and to empower the said city
and company to make the best improve-
ment of the remaining ground they
could, for the ben^t of the said eorpo^
rations and their successors.*' The
bill, however, was rejected by Parliament
from its manifest iniquity — as an attempt
on the part of the Trustees to transfer
the claims of the Professors upon the
rents of the Royal Exchange, (upon
which the salaries were charged by the
will) upon the propertv of the College
itself.* In short, to defraud the College
of that amount of money. To bring the
professors into the scheme, the trustees
had for two years previously refused to
pay them their salaries; and held out
to them that it was only by the means
then proposed, they could ever expect to
receive another shilling I
Sixteen years later (1617) they pre-
sented another petition to Parliament for
leave to bring in a bill ''to empower
them to pull down the said College and
Almshouses," and *' let the ground on
lease for building good houses upon it for
merchants and odiers." In this, how-
ever, they pledge themselves only '* to
erect or provide a proper or convenient
room for the public exhibition of the said
lecture^,**
This bill was rejected, like the former :
but, in nearly the same form, it was re-
vived in 1760; and was again negatived
in the House of Commons.
The year 1768, however, consummated
the desires of the Corporation ; those de-
sires which had been growing with more
and more intensity for nearly a century.
The Royal Exchange virtually was freed
from the maintenance of Gresham Col-
lege, and its revenues were converted to
* Dr. Hooke died early In 1702, and his place a«
Oepmetry-ProfietioT waa not filled up for more than
two yean. It would therefore appear that the
•alary for one lecture was left fire years in abeyance,
t then not paid at laat.
Corporation uses solely ; and this imrnu*^ ^
nity was purchased by a bribe to the min-
ister, such as few instances in the history
of political and Corporation jobbing can
parallel. The whole transaction can only
bear the name of a base fraud; for
which deeds not a hundredth part as cri-
minal have caused a hundred executiona
at the Old Bailey, both before and
since. The scheme now no longer
appears as a City job; and the Act
(8 Geo. III. cap. 32) merely enables the
Government to fulfil an agreement al-
ready entered into between the Corpora-
tion and the Secretary of the Excise. It
is, in the preamble of this Act, made to
appear that the entire scheme is one to
facilitate the transaction of public busi-
ness; and had we no other knowledge
of the case than this preamble affords, it
would rather appear to arise from the
necessities of the public service, than to
be the maturation of a scheme of the
Corporation itself, which had been
brought forward ostensibly but success -
lessly no less than three times before,
within the preceding seventy years.
The Act itself contains eleven clauses,
the preamble being the first. By this,
''from and after the 25th of March,
1768, the messuage called Gresham
College and the ground, &c., thereunto
belonging (which is specifically de-
scribed by means of the lengths and
bearings of its boundaries) with all
rights and privileges belonging to and
enjoyed therewith, are declared to be
vested in and annexed unalienably to
the Crown.'*
Ward, who wcote in 1740, thus de-
scribes this sacrificed College : — " The
situation of the place, spaciousness of
the fabric, extending westward from
Bishopsgate-strect into Broad-street,
with the eight almshouses situated at the
back part of the house ; the accommo-
dations for separate apartments of the
several professors, and other rooms for
common use ; the open courts and co-
vered walks ; with the several offices,
stables, and gardens ; seemed all so
well suited for such an intention, [to be
used as a college,] as if Sir Thomas had
it in view at the time he built his house.
The stipends of the professors were also
very handsome for the tinner* and a
* They were equivalent to about 475/. per annum,
estimated in terms of our present nione3r<— «iid the
poor Professors doomed to a celibacy I
THE 0RB8HAM FBOFESSORSHI^S.
proper encouragement for persons of the
oest abilities in the several professions.
Sufficient care was likewise taken that
the two Corporations, to whom this
afimir was entrusted, might receive no
damage by the execution of it. For, the
stated annual payments, directed by the
will, amounted to no more than 603/.
da. 8d. ; and the yearly rent of the £x-
ehange received by Sir Thomas Ores-
bam was 740iL, besides the additional
pTsflts that must arise from time to
time from fines, which were very cofi'^
*idgrMer
The second cknue enacts, that ** in
JkU Matitfaction for which there shall
be paid oot of the revenue of the Excise-
olBce to the City of London and the
Mercers' Company, an annuity of 500/.
per annum ; tne same to be paid quar-
terly, and the first payment to be made
on the 25th of Dec., 1768."
The dimensions given in the " pre-
amble" are insufficient for testing the
plotted plan of the ground; and the
eonstmction of it according to those di-
mensions does not seem to be altogether
eonststent with the view of the College by
Georffe Yertue, (one of the most accu-
rate draughtsmen and engravers of his
time) in Ward's Lives. From the
Tongb plot which we have made of it,
tlie area of tbe ground thus alienated is
considerably more than an acre ! This
ground is in the very best and most valuable
part of the City : — and it has been alie'
noted in perpetuity for an annuity of five
hundred pounds per annum. It is worth
at this moment full ten times that sum,
on leases of fifty- one years : which with
the fines, would have now produced pro-
bably six thousand per annum ! Be-
sides, the Corporation stated nearly
seventy years l^fore, that a part only
of this — the part then proposed to
he alienated on lease, would pro-
duee, ''at a very moderate valuation,
die sum of 480/. 12s. per annum;*'
whilst now the entire site (cleared of
buildings too, at the expense of the
Mercers* Company) is sold for only
500/. per annum ; and all fines foregone,
by vesting it in the Crown in perpetuitv I
It is impossible to ap^ly any of the
ordinary maxims of business to this
transaction ; for nothing like it has ever
appeared as the act of sane men, if the
whole consideration for the property be
^ic/^ set out in the Act itself. It is here
125
the '' nefarious juggle*' is made mani-
fest: for the Corporation has always
been most jealous of its privileges and
property; and it will only give die
quid pro quo, even to the Crown itself.
We must therefore either consider the
Corporation of that day to have been
absolutely demented, or ely that it
gained more by the bargain than has
een divulged. That in a future age some
curious antiquary, by a comparison of
City-records and cotemporary State cor-
respondence, will bring the secret of this
** nefarious juggle'* to light, we feel ab-
solutely certain.
The remarkable part of this business
has been, that the (Corporation And Mer-
cers* Company did not (as far as hitherto
published documents show) lighten the
burdens of which they had been for al-
most, or quite, a century complaining; so
that in fact they afiect to have done what
was equivalent to making a present of the
site and materials of the entire College to
the Government! in the first place, they
give 7 X 50 (or 350/.) a year to the Pro-
fessors, as a compensation for their
'* Lodgings"; then 1,800/. for ''pulling
down'* the College— equivalent to 90/. a
year ; and then the establishment of the
eight Almshouses, which would be worth
at least 60/. a year : — ^thus making a total
of precisely the 500/. a year for which
they alienated the entire building and
site of the College.! Those who can
believe that the Trustees were such sim-
pletons as this would imply, may do so :—
out we cannot As, moreover, the real
consideration that was actually given for
this alienation does not appear from the
Act itself, we feel ourselves ftilly justified
in describing it as one of the most scan-
dalous and mishonest proceedings that has
ever been laid before the public. The
mystery of the business is, — that the Cor-
porations were still liable for the original
salaries assigned to the professora by Sir
Thomas Gresharo, and which seventy
years before they had professed them-
selves unable to pay : so that in no respect
whatever did the trustees appear to have
accomplished the objects for which they
had so long struggled, — and which was
the ostensible purpose they had so long
aimed at. The least we can say is, that
'*they were/' in plain English, ''either
knaves or fools,** We have never seen
a, pecuniary foolhecome a City-man, and
if our readers' inference be different from
1>6
THS ORS8RAX rSOVISflOBSHIPS,
imr own* liui obserrationi most Ittve been
nuid9 upoD • fona 401^ whoie aoqoaint-
anoe we shoold like to make.
The third ckau§empoiwen the Corpo-
ntion to sae the Becemr-Oeneral of
the Sxeiie in the Court of Bzcheqner for
Mjments not duly nuidey and the yer-
diet to cany foil costSt
The fmrth douse recitea, that <'ihe
iiid sereo perMXM ao ehosen^ nominatedy
and appointed to read the said leoture%
and the said driit alms-folka, the better
lo enable the Major and Oommonalty
and Citinng of the City of London, and
the Wardens and Commonalty of the
myatery of Meroera of the City of Lon-
4ont to pertom dudr part of the agree-
ment entered into aa aforesaid, Ikave
r€9p0C$nfefy agrud and comenUd i4^
rM^quish cmia quit their apartments
and aiauhousee. It then enacts that
** &0L per annum, clear of all tazes^
shall be paid by the Cit^ to their several
lieetqrers, in consideration of the apart-
nienta relinquished by them in the said
CoU^ ; and 60L by the Mercers* Com-
pany, in lieu of their apartments ; the
first payment to be made 25th Decem-
ber, 1768/'
The four Lectureships, — ^Divinity, As-
tronomjr, Music, and Geometry, — appear
from this Act to have been placed, either
by direct arrangement or by custom,
under the Lord Mayor and Corporation ;
and the other three,— Lav, Physic, and
Rhetoric,--under the Mercers' Company ;
or at least, that the respective stipends
were so paid by them. The Will
itself (for a wonder !) is compatible with
this one arrangement. Whether the
''compensation'* was adequate or not,
need not be discussed here, as referring
to tAo^ period : but the gr^ increase in
Iba value of property certainly renders
i| inadequate now. The crying wrong
if, that the $0/. per annum, left aa sti-
pend to each proressor, <mghi to be now
about 475/., if the Corporation had car-
ried out the will of Sir Thomas Gresham,
'* aeeordhig te the true intent and meark-
iiHf thsre^" In fact, the merchant
Prince, had he endowed his College in
our day on the same scale, would have
endowed each of the professorships with
somewhere about six hmndred pounde
ner annum. These stipends would in-
deed, as Ward says of the original ones,*
• Mr. Wada in tpaakliif of ib» Cllj oompanlei,
■MfeM llMMtowlBCvwy pfftfamt otawiiSiiiii-^
have been ^' a proper eneonragoaflnt fq^
persms of the best abilittea hi the sevoal
profesttons.'* .
The ^fth elauee ordains, ** that, in
consideration of the great age and ia^-
llrmities of Henry Pemberton. Doctor of
Physickf the present reader in phyaiak
'< Theie an elghty-nloa Tndo Oaipaniaa, smA
their total amount of propar^y ia eatimatad «fc
S50,000i. per annum. SeToral cf the companlea*
aa the Drapera*, the Meroera', and the Ooldamitfai^,
are auppoied to be nearly aa rich aa Chriatff Bof-
pital. The greatw portion of the Amda of tb
companies, held as their priyata property, la dooM-
less the surploa prodnoe of trust oharitiaa acaraing
from a ttchniaal enor of the doaoia. If thf taa-
tator bequeath the vhoU produoe of a field, woith
in hia life-time aboat lOJ. per annum to a ehailtf-
■ohool. v^ that f tfd bornmo valual)la boildi^f
ground, let at 6001., the wh9U of that 500<. mo^
go to the sohooL Sueh is the decision of thn
eouta. But if the testator, not dreaming «f
this increase in the value of landed propert]r, aaid
in his will : ' I have a field worth lOi. per annum;
I bequeath M. to school A., and 51. to school B. e,
and after his death this field riaea in value to 5001.,
then the master and wardens, the trustees ef th«
testator, daim the right of keeping ftir their own
uses tbe difbcenoe between the lOl. and the 5101.;
the testator having neglected to provide that the
vhols produce of the field should be divided be-
tween the two schools.
** 8t. Paul's School, which waa laftin tnat to ^
Mercers' Company [the Utrcvr^ Company again Q
aiTords an illustrative example. In the year 19S^
the estatea left by Dean Colet prodaaadItt(.ftfBtt.
At the time of the inquiry by the Chancy Com-
nuasioners, the same eatates produced ff,USl. Not-
withstanding thia inerease of inoeme, tbe compaay
have not increased the number of scholars on tha
foundation. They still adhere to the old statutaUa
number of 153. That number is said to have been
adopted by Dean Colet, because it ansirered te tbie
number of fish taken by St. Peter (John ^. 11.)
But in other matters tbey arelax enough in obseiv-
ing the ordinances of the founder; yui sowumemu^
90 much of thm ar§ oUtrved, m suits the Uter^
and convenisnee of the managers. On this principla,
the high master's salaiy of aeior* a week [BM. llau
4d.1 baa been interpreted to mean upwards of 01^.
besides gratuities ; and the second master's aalaxy
of 68. 8d. {\7L 6s. 8d.] to mean 300/. Neither aiB
they more oonslstcnt in continuing to reatiict thn
inatruotion of the school to the acquisition of Greek
and Latm. Dean Colet contemplated no such limit-
ation when he said * dssiring nothing mare thmmma
xnircASioii, and kringing wans ehildrsn i» good
Without deviating finxn
^. and Uterature*'
the literal expression, education might be^intar-
preted to include other bcanchaa of laaiiiing beeiiaa
an acquaintance with the dead languagaa."— iB^H^
JBook cf England, p. 361.)
Had the earlier Qreaham Praltaaara oooaentaa to
convert the ooliege into % aehool, In whioh the aoaa
of the richer and more influential cltiaens couul
have obtained gratuitous eduoation Her their aona, aa
In St. Paul's, Merchant Tailors', and Chriat'e J4Jb9-
pital, the foundation might pofaibly have been pre-
served like those schools. To the poor man's son,
as a poor man, theae achools are not open ; anditia
only by bribe or interest that a boy can be placed on
any of these foundationa. The Corporation could
not discover the wes of such a foundation aa the
Qreabam, and hence have ejcartad thamaelvas to
nuUify, as far as they dare, the very express regu-
lations of the founder, and have auooeeded in nul-
lUyingaUlto benefits except the <* fait f^
to the ainaoure ahaiia»
'I
THX OUSHAX P110VB880R8HIP8.
is the «dd GoQfigey and his biw residenoe
therein," [he wis appointed May 2^
1728], the Mereerr Company shall
pay him " a farther additional sum of
50/. per annum for and durinff the term
of his natural life, free and clear of all
taxes and deductions whatever.*'
Dr. Pemberton died in 1771, aged 77,
The sixth clauiB enacts, that the Qty
and Mercers* Company *'do and shaU
from time to time, and at all times here-
slter, Jimi and provide sufficient ar^
fmper place or places for the seven pro-
teaian^ and all succeeding persons to be
ehosen, nominated, and appointed, for
the reading the Iicctures in PiTinity, As-
tranomj, Mustek, Geometry, Law, and
Bhetono, to read the same in accordingly ;
and also like sufficient and proper pUoe
and places for the habitation of the ei^ht
aliDflfolks now or hereafter for the time
being."
The '' sufi&nent and proper place"
provided in accordance with the provi-
rioDS of tills Act^ was — a spare loft over
ikeRo^alBMehange! "It is a fact,** says
Mr. Burgon, in his interesting and re-
enrchAil *' life of Sir Thomas Gre-
aham" " that at the destruction of the
Boyai Exchange in 1838, few persons
kmew where the lectures were delivered s
or to speak more trtUy^ whether thejf
were ever delivered at all,** (vol iL. p.
524.) JBad he said positively that they
were not delivered at aU, he would have
been literally aocurate as respects a great
Dumber of years.
To the spirited indignation expressed
by Mr. Burgon, and his ursent appeal
to the corporation, we are indebted m no
sivmII degree for the " heap of stones in
GiesbaMtreet*' which encase the ** Leo-
tore Theatre.** (as it is somewhat pomp-
eoaly styled, j which forms the present
sabatitote for Gresbam College. But of
what use is this theatre, whilst the pub-
lio eannot attend the lectures? and
wliibt lecturers are api>ointed in the
wsy we have described, is it likely that
the pnhlie will attend them, even though
the time* should be made more con-
venient P
• Sabteqnently to our lemonttranoe in our first
aitiele, the foUowliig report appeared In the Timet
of July 14, under the head of ** Common Council:'
" CXX PBAVBMOBtXZT Of •BOlOtTKT ZV TRB
cm.
'•Aitpoit of the Comiaittee OA Gfetham aiBirs
liioushC up. It etated that a vaeanQy had
' tha oflloa of Profeeaor of Geometiy,
1^7
The,seventh clause enacts, that the Git^
and Mercers' Company shall ''pay to
the Receiver -General of the Excise,
within one month, the sum of 1,800/., to-
wards the charae of pulUng down the
College and hidldingan Excise-office"
Upon this clause we have already
remarked, as being equivalent to giving
a perpetual annuity of 90/. to the Grovemr
menti
The eighth clause is a veir sweeping
one; it virtually compels the owners
ot any other property wnich the Excise-
office may require, to sell it for that
purpose. It contains, however, only the
usual provisions of such a case ; but ip
at the same time a fair specimen of
legislative and legal verbosity.
The ninth clause merely relates to the
Excise-(^ce ; and the tenth reserves all
rights anterior to those by which the
Corporation and the Mercers held their
title, in favour of the possessors of diose
rights.
The eleventh (and last) clause we give
entire. ''And whereas in and by the
last Will and Testament of the said Sir
Thomas Gresbam, the Mayor and Com-
monalty and Cidsens of the City of Lon-
don, and the Wardens and Commondty
of Uie Mystery of Mercers of the City
of London were directed to permit and
suffer the seven Persons elected and ap-
pointed to read the Seven Lectures in
the said Will mentioned, to have the
occupation of all the Mansion-house
Gardens and other appertenances (now
called Gresbam College) for them and
every of them there to inhabit, study,
and daily to read the several Lectures.
And whereas in and by the said Will,
it is directed, that no Person chosen to
read any of th.e said Lectures should he
suffered to read anv of the said Lecturee
after that he should be married, nor should
under the wffl of the late Sir Thomas Gxeeham, hy
the death of the Rev. Dr. Birch. It waa xeeoWed—
" 'That with the Ylew of making theee lectures
more popular, it would he desirable that they
should be delirered in the evening.'
" It was also resolfed, upon the motion of Mr.
Bowet^
" * That no candidate be elected to the yacaat
Oresham Iieotureship who wHl not pledge himself
to deUver the lectures in the evening, if required to
do so by the Oresham Committee."*
We could wish that Mr. Bower, or some of his
colleagues, had taken a little more of our advice :
and that in addition to fixing upon a more conve-
nient time for lecturing, they had sought out the
most sble man to deliver those lectures. The essen-
tial partt of the refonn are yet waBting i botttey
1^
THB GRZ8HAM PROFESSOltgHIPS.
receive any Fee or Stipend appointed for
the reading of the said Lectures : And
whereas in pursuance of this Act the
said College will be pulled down and
taken away, and the Collegiate Life of
the said Lecturers, intended by the said
Sir Thomas Gresham, put an end to ; be
it enacted by the authority aforesaid,
that from and after the passing of this
Act, it shall be lawful to and for the said
Seven Lecturers, or their Successors, or
any of them, to marry, notunthstanding
any restriction in the said Will ; and each
and eyery of the said Lecturers and their
Successors shall, notwithstanding their
being married, be suffered to read their
said several lectures after they shall be
married, and shall be entitled to receive
tfie Fee or Stipend appointed for the
reading of their said several Lectures ;
and the Mayor and Commonalty and
Citisens of London, and the Warden and
Commonalty of the Mystery of Mercers,
and their Successors, shall not be deemed
guilty of any misapplication of the Sum
or Sums of Money as they shall have
paid in Fees or Stipends to the said Lec-
turers, though married ; any Restriction
or Limitation in the said Will contained
notwithstanding."
It is a curious circumstance that of all
the endotoed professorships in this coun-
try, the Gresham is the only one in
wnich celibacy is a condition annexed to
the office. It might, possibly, have been
a compliment, or out of deference to
Queen Elizabeths known aversion to men
who had ''committed the unpardonable
sin of matrimony." It is, however, more
in keeping with the idea of the founder's
intending the endotpment in the light of
seven fellows and college-tutors, after the
manner of the college in which he himself
was educated. The term " professor"
is nowhere used* in the Will itself ; and
as the institution is so strictly collegiate
in its provisions, we cannot but look upon
the parties who framed the provisions of
the " tripartite deed" as having totally
misunderstood the founder's resii inten-
tions. Whether for better or worse can
only beiudged of by the results ; and these
are : — that in our Universities the endow-
ments are preserved and (if not uni-
formly so used) are at least available for
* Tilt tenn, indeed, had not then hcen " Angli-
cUed."
the *' increase of learning" — whilst the
Gresham endowment is all but annihi-
lated, and for a century and a half has
done next to nothing for that purpose,
and is now doing absolutely nothing. Had
Sir Thomas Gresham constituted the col-
lege itself a corporation independent of all
others, there is no doubt that its funds
would have enabled it to extend its use-
fulness further than he himself contem-
plated; and t>ther persons witnessing
this, would have founded other and
similar colleges, so that instead of Lon-
don being the only capital in Eurojie
that does not possess a University, it
might ere now have proudly pointed
to the most noble one in existence. We
grant that the English Universities, self-
governed as they are, are not models of
purity — very far from it : but still they
are perfection itself compared with the
Gresham. The fact is, that the benevo-
lent knight placed the trust in the hands
of a corporation whose interest it was to
crush, oppress, and annihilate it, for the
sake of appropriating its funds. The
citizen had no sympathy with literature
and science ; and hence it was a grmye
mistake to place its funds in the care of
persons who could scarcely fail to abase
them. With this act the eoUeffe was
formally dissolved ; and the " collegiate
life" of its professors « put an end to.'*
It seems, -however, that the citizens
had been in the habit of looking upon
matrimony only as an inconvenience
whilst the professors lived in college ; or
in other words, that though marriage did
not dement their professors, it would be
indiscreet to congregate seven ladies
within the walls of the College — ^lest
they should quarrel with one another,
like some seven married denizens in one
of the many equalid courts that then
abounded in the city ! However, fifty
pounds a year as compensation, with
leave for the professors to take wives
and live where they pleased — with a
prospect of at last being paid their
salaries regularly — formed a sufficient
temptation to those *' seven learned
persons" to surrender not only their
own personal rights, but the inchoate
rights of their successors, and the
cause of learning into the bargain.
This was yerj disgraceful on their
part, though the disgrace on the part of
the City and the Government might be
infinitely greater.
SEA WALLS — SHOULD THEY BE SLOPING OR VERTICAL
The spirit which led to the suhYersion
of this College still rales in the manage-
ment of the eontemptible system substi-
tuted by this Act. Instead of rendering
the paltry sum preserved for its mainte-
naiioe as effective as it might even yet be
for the ** increase of learning/' the trus-
tees, only a week ago, "elected!" the
man who, of all the eligible candidates,
129
had given the least proof of his fitness
for the duties of the office.
Here we leave this discreditable sub-
ject ; certain, however, that the history
we have given will astonish our readers,
and at the same time confident that our
indignation will be shared by every ho-
nest man amongst them. Reform must
come, and will come !
MS. BAGGS S DISCOVERIES IN XLKCTRICITT.
Sr, — In your last Namber was inserted a
riioft aeeoimt which I gave of the lectures
oo Electricity delivered by Mr. Bagg^s, at the
I\>lytechnio laititntion. The difficulty of
aeqiauing more than a general knowledge of
the departments of scitace included under
the name of Natural Philosophy, renders
eaatioa advisable in pronouncing upon the
origiiialitj of any apparent addition to their
details. This caused me to be guarded in
my remarks upon the mode of discharging.
Bad the electrometer used by Mr. Baggs,
which, although new to myself, might have
been already known to more experienced
electricians. I must presume that Mr.
Baggs is well acquainted with this branch
of the subject, and he has since informed
me that both the discoveries alluded to are
original. Those who can appreciate the
value of these discoveries, will be equally
anxious with me that the credit of them
should be given to whom it is justly due.
I am, Sir, yours, &c.,
John Macobboor.
Dublin, July 28, 1848.
SEA-WALLS — SHOULD THBT BB SLOPING OR VBBTICAL?
Jig. 5. Fig. 1.
rrTT
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3,
Fig. 4.
m^^^,
n
Sir, — A perusal of the various letters
on the construction of sea-walls from
your doubtless able and experienced cor-
respondents, has suggested to me the
foUowing ideas, which, if you think
worthy of being made public, I shall
feel honoured by their insertion in your
Journal. I possess no experience in the
matter ; but ideas from the inexperienced,
if suggested by reason, may sometimes
o3
180
HODOBON's parabolic FROPSCLBR in HOLLAND.
prove Mefal to those capable of taking
advantage of and improving upon them.
In the first place, I think it is pretty
clear that the force of the waves and the
weight of the water act in a horizontal
direction. Then who wonld oppose a
horizontal force, or place the opposing
power in the manner shown in the
sketch, fig. 1 ? Would it not rather
be more consistent with reason and all
the generally understood and accepted
principles of offering resietanee to an op-
posing power, to place the beams (sup-
posing for the sake of making myself
more clearly understood, the building to be
of timber) in the manner shown in fig. 2,
where the beam on the angle supports
the vertical beam ? Asain, in the build-
ing of buttresses to an edifice, do we build
the buttress on the side of the opposing-
weight or power, or on the opposite side ?
Do we not support the vertical wall by
an opposing angle, on the same principle
as exhibited in fig. 2 ? For these rea-
sons I consider a vertical wall supported
by an angle, or continuous buttress, to
be stronger than a sloping wall. But
why not combine the two, and form a
eurve as in fig. 3, to break the direct
force of the water ? Doubtless the recoil
of each wave would tend in a great mea-
sure to break the force of the follow-
ing wave. Carrying out this principle,
why not continue the curve in the man-
ner described by fig. 4 ? I imagine by
this means you would obtain an almost
continuous and opposing current to the
force of the waves, without the force of
the water being at any time opposed at
right angles to the wall. The water
being, as I imagine is always the case
where sea-walls are erected, agitated to
the bottom, the wave will first strike on
the curve, and the impetus and weight of
water behind will force it up, and again
return it, meeting the direct current in
the manner indicated by the arrows,
fig. 4, without nearly the same strain
upon the wall as if opposed at any place
at right angles; for if at any time a
wave strikes the wall built as I have de-
acribed, the force will not be directed at
right angles, except in a manner and at
parts which are most capable of resist-
ance, l^us all the force striking the
lower parts of the wall, will, if at right
angles, be in the manner shown in fig. 5,
downwards, and opposed by the founda-
tnii end the supporting buttress ; if in
the eentre the buttress ^n supports it,
and if on the upper part of die wail» the'
effect will be seen by reference to the
same figure to be, rather to raise the watt
than to force it inwards, and conseqfoeiitly
it will be unsupported by any weight of
backwater, but merely the force an4
weight of the wave itself.
I am, Sir, yours, &e.,
Stsphbn Sharp.
8, Hount-row, New Kent-zoad,
July 24, 1848.
Hodgson's parabouc pROPXLLitR nt
HOLLAND.
It is now more than four years sinoe
this propeller was patented in England,
and some very successful trials made
with it on the Thames {aeeMech. Mag.^
vol. xli., ppi 238, 266, 268— xlii., 234.)
How it has since fallen into neglect in
this country, we know not ; but certain
it is, that It has, in the mesnwhile, at-
tained to high honour among a neigh*
bouring people, and seems likely to
supersede with them the use of the
screw. We subjoin a translation of the
ofiUcial report made by a commission
of Dutch naval officers, appointed to
superintend a series of experimental
trials of this form 6f propeller; also
a stotement of ita subsequent perform-
ances in his Nethethukl Majfesty's steam-
ship Samarang; and, lastly, an estimate
of its capiMlities as compared with other
propellers^ deduced from the data as ob-
tained:
1. Official Report fifCommUiiMti^Dtiiek
Naval Qffieen on Hodg9on*9 Siodim
Propeller.
In pursiiance of the order of his Excd-
lency, the Minister of the Navy, sandry
experimental trips weife made with his Ma-
jesty's steam-ship Samarang, in presence of
the undersigned parties, who were united
in a commission for that object, in order to
compare several different submerged pro-
pellers.
Of the said experimental trips which were
made in smooth water, and at the same
draught, between Rotterdam and the Brill,
the Commission has drawn up the following
results, in which the statements express the
averages of the observations —
Bxperimental trip on the lUh JVovcm-
ber, with afour^lladed fcrew :
The distance was 7*43 German miles per
watch (or knots per hoar,) at 36f double pis-
ton strokes per minute, under a steam pres-
sare hi the boiler of 5] Eng* lbs. per square
BtoOVOir'B PAKABOLIC PBonLLBR IX MOLLAMD.
1«1
Tbe bimiMer gang* of the
coodenser indicated 26^ Bug. indies, while
tiM etmofpheric barometer itood at 29^.
A Hgbt top-gallant breeze from S. S. W.
Bxperiminiai trip, on the IStk Nomrn-
^er, with Of iWo^oMe Pr^pMUtr of Hr.
Ritte, 7'77 knots; 37^ piston strokes;
•team, about 6 lbs. Condenaer barometer^
26^ xaob. Atmospheric barometer, 29-^.
"Wind N. N. W., blowing a light top-gallant
breete lo a teeM topsail breese. Squally
MrpeHmmiitU trip on th§ 16M Novem^
Jur, tpi/A a two-bladed terew, the course
and centre line of tphich is the same as
ike four-bladed one :
Bate, 7-42 knots; 41^ double strokes;
alsam presave in the boiler, 6^^ lbs. Ba-
rooMtar of oondenser, 25} inches. The
atnospheric barometer, 29}. WindKN.W.
from a variable top-gallant breese to a cahn.
Rotterdam, the 29th November, 1847.
(Signed) The Naval lieutenants,
J. Wkltbrbach.
J. L. VAN Florbnbtetbr.
D. L. WOLFSOW. ^
Hm Engineer in the Steam-boat Service,
D. VAN DBK Bosch.
2. Statement of pefformatwes cm the Sa^
saaraag in Voyage to ihe Sast Indies.
In eonseqoeoce of the preceding Report,
fbe aoew was permanently superseded in the
^OTMnea^ by the parabola (Nov. 1847,) a^d
the vessel proceeded to sea to join the Dutch
squadron at Batavia. The following estraet
ftom the Report of the Commander will
BufSce to show how she behaved oa the
paMSga out:
'* C/fiJtfrtf/eamaibM.— With a light breese,
and going with the wind, her speed was
6f and 7 knots, with steam of not more than
3 lbs., the throttle-valve one-third open, and
31 double piston strokes."
3. Con^arative Bsfintate.
As the power exerted is in the ratio of the
cubes of &e velocities, and as 31 strokes of
the engine with 3 lbs. steam was exerted,
whilst at Rotterdam the power was 38 strokes
of the engine with 6 lbs. steam, it follows
thereforo, by calculation, that if, with th6
former power exerted, the mean speed was
6*875 knots. With the Utter it would have
been 9*27 knots: and this i^irsea nearly,
allowing for the state of the weather, with
the speed attained at Rotterdam, where the
maximum was 8*5 knots, blowing hard with
the wind a-beam. The effect of this may be
appreciated by the remark of the authorities
at Woolwich, on a trial with the screw on
the Rattler, via. — " A ftesh breese a-beam,
which must have retarded the vessel to some
extent."
In estimating the slip of the propeller by
comparison wiUi the result of the best effort
of the screw on her Mijetty's steam-ship
Dwarf, the following statement, in juxtapo«
sition, is very oonolufdve :
Parabola. Screw.
Diameter of propeller. • 5 ft. 11 ins 5 ft. Sins.
Pitchof ditto 7.6ft. 8 ft.
Revolutions of engine per minute • • • . 31 30.124
Ditto of propeller „ .... 114.452 155.441
Katio of revolutions of propeUer to the
engfaie 3.692:1 5.16:1
Speed of propeller per hour 8.578 12.264
Ditto of vessel , 6.875 8.939
Slip of propeller per cent 19.854 27.112, or 7.258
per cent, more sl^ of tiie serew, with very nearly 43 per cent, higher vdoeity tff
propeUer, and steam pressure 11.2 lb. to that of 3 lb. per square inch.
The following is a comparative statement of the experiments at Rotterdam :
^-btad. scnsw.
.• 6 ft.
8 8
36.833 41.25
135.987 152.295
2-bIaded parabola. 4-bUd6d icrew.
IXameter of propeller .•• 5 ft. 11 ins ••• 6 ft. ••.
Pitchof <Utto 7.6 ft
Revolutioni of eng^e per min. . 37.833
Ditto of propeller „ .. 139.679
Satio of revolutions of propel-
ler to the engine 3.692
Speed of propeller per hour ... 10.469 knots 16.728 12.015K
Mazlaram speed of vessel do.. 8.500 7.875 8.00#
'» of propeller poreent..... 18.82 26.60 33.42
noe of slip in favour of
the parabola, as compared
with tiie 4.Uiidad jorew •« 7.78
132
TO OBTAIN PRINTS FROM SEALS, COINS, OR MEDALS.
And with the 2.bltded screw, 14.60 per cent., under adTene circumBtances of wind» as
the following extracts from the official report show :
Parabola :— " Wind N. N. W., blowing a light top-gallant breeze to a single-reefed top-
sail breeze. Squall j weather.''
4-bl8ded screw :— << A light top-gallant breeze from S. S. W.''
2-bladed ditto :— " Wind N. N. W., from a yarUble top-gallant breeze to a cahn.*'
TO OBTAIN FRTNT8 FROM
Sir,-^The method of obtaining on pa-
per a kind of printed impression of plants,
particularlj of leaves, is pretty well
known, but I dare say is little used,
being rather more curious than useful.
It is a long time since I first employed
similar means for transferring to paper,
printed impressions of seals, coins, an4
medals, the particulars of which I now
transmit you for the general benefit of
your readers.
The above sketch will give a very
accurate representation of an impres-
sion, as obtained from a wax seal, by
my process, previous to being touched
up with a camel-hair pencil and Indian
ink, to do which requires a very mode-
rate share of artistical skill. The im-
pressions from coins, &c., are even more
curious and interesting, particularly
when new and sharp, as then every let-
ter comes out well defined. In the
above specimen, the seal having been
rather deep cut, the lines on the raised
surfaces are lost in the print, and there-
fore require more after finish ; however,
even then, it is very clear that a vast
deal of labour has been saved. I have
no doubt that seal engravers may profit
by this means of obtaining correct flat
outlines; and to collectors of coins,
seals, &c., it will be a source of interest
and amusement.
BBALS, COINS, OR MBDALS.
Prepare a sheet of strong wove letter-
paper, by oiling it with sweet oil, rub-
bing ofi^ any superfluous oil with soft
paper or cotton. Then take a small oil
lamp, adding to the oil in it, one or two
tea spoonfuls of spirits of turpentine;
light it, and it will give a very smoky
flame. Hold the oiled sheet of paper
with both hands, bring it close on to the
flame, nearly touching the wick, and by
keeping it in motion backwards and for-
wards, the whole surface may be black-
ened over, without risk of inflaming the
paper. When ihus prepared, proceed
to knead up a little new bread in the
palm of the hand, until it is like, and
about the consistence of, putty ; work it
to a pyramidical shape, with the base
the size of the coin, sea), &c., for which
it is intended, then by pressing it with
the thumb of each hand, a good impres-
sion will be obtained (commonly called
ti bread seal). Take this paste die in
one hand, and dab the face of it care-
fully on the blackened side of the pre-
pared paper, in several places, according
to the depth of shade wanted, which a
little experience will regulate, then press
it gently and evenly on a sheet of ctaw-
ing- paper, with the fingers of one or
both hands, until a complete transfer is
made. In some cases the bread-seal or
die is best made by pressing a wafer of
the paste equally over the surface of the
coin or medal, and taking it ofif with the
small pyramidical formed bread, as at
first directed.
I have only to observe in concluding,
that the oil of turpentine is an improve-
ment to the lamp, for giving intensity to
the black paper, and that the bread-seals
must always be used while new and
soft, and may be worked over and over
again the same day, but are of no use
the day following.
I am your obedient servant^
H.D.
London, July 22nd, 1848.
133
TALVOT's NrW BRIDGE AT SHIRLBTWIOH — SBBOTID ON THB PLAN OP
MR. REMINGTON.
(From the SU^fordshire Advariuer,)
We IwTB mncli satisfaction in bringing
vader the notice of our readers a work, in
our own immediate neighbourhood, which,
thoDghof small dimensions, is a great oari-
onty in its way, and a vast triumph of scien-
tifte ingenoity and engineering skill. We
refer to a wooden bridge which has just
been completed otct the river Trent, near
Ingestre, on an accommodation road of
"Bui Talbot's, leading from Ingestre to Shir-
leywidi. The architect is Mr. J. R. Rem-
ington, a gentleman from Alabama, in the
Umted States of America, of scTcnl of
whose inrentions we have before had occa-
sioa to speak.
lliit bridge is remarkable for the length
of its span, abont 150 feet, and for the di-
niiintive dimensions of the timber used in
Its cottstnietion. It will almost appear in-
credible to our readers when we state that
the nz stringers, or beams, which support
the plaoks forming the floor of the bridge
are bnt fire inches square at each end, and
gradually diminish in size until at the centre
they are only 2| inches, their length being,
as already intimated, 150 feet. iThe stringers
are formed of pieces of oak timber, each
about 20 or 25 feet long, attached together
by the method technically known as *' scarf-
ing." The abutments consist of oak posts,
6 inches square, and 15 feet long, sunk 5
feet in the ground, projecting outward at a
eonsiderable angle, and firmly clamped to-
gether with iron.
ICr. Remington's own language shall be
employed in describing the principle on
which the bridge is built : '* The great prin-
ciple sought to be proved in this bridge (says
Mr. R.) is that a beam of timber^— of what-
ever size, shape, or length— lying horizon-
taHy and resting at each extremity on abut-
ments, is as strong, and will require as much
weight on the top of it to break it as it
would take to break the same piece when
pulled longitudmally in the direction of the
fibre." We apprehend that Mr. Reming-
ton's meaning woold be better understood
if be fa«d 11^ that the principle conriftts in-
the longitudinal power of timber being ap-
plied in a curvilinear form, by which every
portion of the material is brought at once
into play, and supports an equal share of
the strain. Instead of springing from the
abutments as an arched, or resting upon
them as a horizontal bridge, the stringers
may be said to hang or be saspended from
the piers— thus bringing the principle of the
longitudinal bearing into action.
We understand that many practical men
to whom the principle was explained doubted
in the first instance its applicability to a
bridge of this size, but they are now willing
to admit its complete success. That suc-
cess, indeed, is demonstrated. The bridge
is now in use. We have seen several car-
riages pass over it, and have ourselves driven
across it. There is a vibratory motion when
anything passes along the bridge ; but there
is scarcely any perceptible deflection ; and
we cannot bnt express our own conviction of
the complete triumph of this novel and most
extraordinary system of bridge building.
The stringers curve gracefully upwards
from each abutment, and then gradually
bend in a curvilinear direction downwards
to the centre of the bridge ; the lowest point
being 24 inches below the level of the abut-
ments. The curves near to the abutments
are designed more for beauty than for
strength ; but we understand they are indis-
pensable in faulty foundations, which is the
case in the present instance. There is a
hand-rail on each side of the bridge, at*
tached to the floor by trellis-work, and as
the hand-rail is of considerable strength,
and is fixed to the abutments in the same
mode as the stringers, it adds materially to
the security and solidity of the bridge.
The main advantage of this description
of bridge is its cheapness. The cost of the
structare which we are describing is only
about 200/.; whereas a bridge to accom-
plish the same purpose, built on any other
plan, would have required an expenditure of
many thousand pounds. Another advan-
tage is that such a bridge can ba erected in
1S4
PRBPARATtOH OF IODIZED PA#BR Bt 0KB SOLUTION OMLt*
mtaatioiis where ai^ otlur wooden Mdgo
woald be impracticable. A third adFantage
b that the span may, at we are informed, be
extended ten times as far as anj wooden
bridge ever yet constructed ; and it may be
added that the inventor is of opinion that
snch bridges will be more durable than those
of any other make.
We have introduced at the head of this
article an engraring representing the bridge;
though it can scarcely be said to eontey tn
adequate idea of this extraordinary struc-
ture : the great length of the bridge and the
Tory small sise of the stringers precluding
the possibility of representing itt propor-
tioBs tn a limited spuoe on the proper scale.
▲hkough many foot bridges have been
eneted on this priociple in America, and
OM in the Snney Zoological Qardens, yet
this is the first instance, we are informed,
of a bridge of this construction being built
for carriages. Earl Talbot haring satisfied
himself of the feasibility of the plan, in*
ttructed Mr. Remington to build the bridge:
thus affording another proof of that enter-
prise and seal for improrement of which his
lordship's estates afford so many eonspieu-
ons and successful examples. His lordship
aad liMnily have firequently used the bridge,
and ate much gratified with the suceess
iriueh has ettendled tlie experiment.
We may state, in conclusion, that sueh
has been the expedition used in the erection
of the bridge that six weeks ago the timber
of wUoh it is oonstructed was growing.
PBSPA&ATION OF lODIEBO PAPXBS BT
OWB SOLUTION OMLT.
Sifi — For a considerable length of time
I have employed an expeditious method
of preparing iodised papers for the calo-
rajid ouier photojgenic processes, to
advantage of which I now take an
Ofmrtanity of directing attention.
HaviDg observed that the doable iodide
off silver and potasMom— one of a claaa
of salts very slightly notioed by chemioal
writers— is deeomposed by water, with
pffBoipitation of the iodide of silver, I
aBticiDated a sfanilar result with paper
oBused to imbibe its solution. To ascer-
tain this, a slip of paper, washed over
with a solution of the sidt (yclept the
argento-biniodide of potassium), was dried
and immersed in water. A beautiful
UBJ^orm surface of iodide of silver was
Immediately obtained, the iodide of pc^
tassinm being dissoLved oat bv the water*
We thw ppiiess m node at pioeiiriDg
iodised papers by a singfewaah, laadf to
be submitted to the intended operations.
In preparing the paper for use, after
having received the wash, it most be
gently, but perfectly, dried before im-
mersion in water, to enable it to retain
the deposited iodide, ss this wonld plainly
be washed off if its compound were pre-
sented in a fluid form. AgaiBy oomplete
removal of the liberated iodide of potei*
sium is necessary ; otherwise, on drying,
it might acquire sufficient strength to re-
combine with the precipitote. . it is eas^
to avoid this, by placing the pxper witn
the coated side downwardi on a snrtae
of water. A few mfarates suffloe for ka
abstraction by the water, from wfaieh it
may be recovered, if desired, bj filtmtioii
and evaporation.
The double iodide of silrer and potes-
sium is easily prepared. Nitrate of silver
is to be precioitated bt iodide of potas-
sium ; the ioaide of silver thus formed,
when washed and dissolved to saturation
in a strong solution of iodide of potas-
sium, gives the salt in question. A
shorter process is the following: pte->
cipitote the nitrate bv the iodide, oob-
tiauing ito sddition till the precipitate is
re^dissolved. The preoipiteni should be
added in small quantities at a time, aa-
conpsnied by starring. Thus prepared,
the salt is contaminated by nitrate of
potash, which, however, is no great de-
triment to its use. The solution of iodide
of potsssium which I have employed to
take up the silver, contsined about 50 grs.
to the OS. The solution of the double io-
dide cannot be diluted with water beyond
a certain extent If excess of water be
added to it, or used to dissolve iu crvs-
tols, decomposition ensues. When uus
occurs, evanoration will cause the pre^
c^>itate to DC re-dissolved, by eoneen-
trating the alkaline iodide.
I find that the most perfect distribntum
of this and other solattoas oter the paper
is efi'ected bv using a glsss stining-rod
or tube. The paper being placed at the
edge of a Uble, so that the rod may pro*
jeet beyond It for convenient faandnng,
a sufficient quantity of the solution, teken
up by a pipette, is made to trickle over
its surface, in a line towards the opera-
tor. The rod, which should be perlectly
straight, to touch the paper throughout
its length, is then applied in the same
direction, and the solution spread oTenly
bf ii|^ and left net eoMBte^ wilh aeaie
TffB eOHWtttf iYSAK BK61NS Alfd Mtt« BOtJftHS's WRieVUItSS.
1S5
d^giM of prtuwee. U a tube be eni-
pl^fedy of conne the pipette may be
dispenaed with, since on oipping it into
the fiqaid, and elosingf the upper end, it
maif be nide td withdraw the qnantity
TeqirfreAr Thig plan ii more eeonomical
tfaan the HBO of bntshes, whfeh, besides
requiring fireqnent cleaning, are soon
si«re «r leas damaged by the Tarious
aohufoM employed, and icatier thehr hdr
oter the paper. A smooth glaia rod will
not roughen the surface of the paper,
has tenda somewhat to an opposite effect
It penults, also, the application of a
d ate rmlmrt e quantity of the liquid, whieh
is a dHBouh matter with brushes, from
tfaeir|i*wer of retafaiing fluids. It should
be aa Mg SB one of the sides of the paper
over whioh it is to be passed.
I am. Sir, yours obediently,
C. J. JOBDAH.
Jaiy,iii8.
TBB OOfBNiait STBAK SKOIirS AMD MB.
BOVam'S 8TIU0T1JBBa«
Slr,-^Thefie are two works before the
pvbtie iotended as books of instruetion
to engineering students, viz., " A Trea<-
tlae tm the 8team Engine,** by Mr.
Beanue, and '*A Catechism,* by way
of anppleaeilf. I have been somewhat
anaaaM at ^e way in whieh the '* Cornish
Eagfaie" le treated in these works, and
I would beg a small spaee in your pages
to give the ingenious author a little m-
Tiee whkfa may be of service to him
in hia future publications : vis., before
he ttlempta to describe any machine, to
endeavour by all means to see it at work,
and itof trust to drawings and desorip-
tioiifl given by other people, for fpar of
being noaxed.
II is evident Mr. Bourne could never
have seen a Cornish engine, otherwise
be would not have made such mistakes,
—a writer whose talent and learning are
sd dbvioue throughout the rest of the
werft, where algeora fW>m aimple equa^
tidtts up to the calculus is scattered with
a mast prefase hand (1 confess I can't
always follow him in ^ese things ; yet
of a surety they give the book a very
lennked appearance.)
In page 166 of the *< Catechism," af-
tef tellhig as that tiie eentriftigal pump
threiiens to supersede pumps of every
o0Mf desdriptkm, Mr. Bourne say8»
''the singloHMftifig «iglne ia a ffem-
nant of engineering barbarism, whieh
must now be superseded by more eem'^
peodious contrivances." 1 must say I
feel great ouriosity to see the " compen^
diouB contrivance** Ibat is to supersede
the Cornish engine* Mr. Bonme iaya
he has a substitute Ibr the pump, and
when he has a substitute for the engfne
I hope he will lose no tktie ht giving it
to the pubhc.
I always had an idea that, oiler
thhigs being equal, the engine that did
the moat work with ihe least quantity of
coals was the best engine; but Mr.
Bourne thinks otherwise, for in page 48,
he shows that the Cornish enghie works
with less coals by 3 or 4 lbs. per horse
power, so that if the water were pump-
ed up by them merely to work one of
" Whitlaw and Sdrrafs water wheels,**
the power would be given out by then
more economically tfcnn by the ordinary
rotative engine. And I have no doubt,
Mr. Editor, before Mr. Bourne has com-
pleted his "compendious substitute'' they
will be applied ror that purpose in dties
where small power only is required for
domestic purposes, &c.
But after reperusing his description
of the Cornish engine, I fancy I can tell
what makes him call it " a remnant of
engineering barbarism." In page 169
of the '* Treatise," and pa^ 167 of the
<* Catechism,*' after describing the ca«
taract, he says *' and the plunger (iV e.
the cataract piunffer) in its oesoent opens
the injection vuve, which causes the
engine to make a stroke. If the cock of
the cataract be shut, it is clear the plunger
cannot descend, and as in that ease the
injection valve cannot open, the enfflne
must sund still; but if the cook be slightly
opened, the plunder will descend slowly,
and the engine will make a gradual strolse,
as it obtains water necessary for oonden-
sation.'' Now, if any engine upon earth
works like that, it is a remnant of bar-*
barism sure enoueh ! Somewhere also
the author says, that " a good Oomtsh
engine should be capable of gomg ten
strokes per minute or one stroke in 10
minutes." But the idea of regulating
the speed of an engine between those
extremes by the injection cock, is too
rich ! I am sure whoever furnished Mr.
Bourne with this description wss guilty
of a most barbarous experiment upon our
author's credulity. I need not tell yoor
readers that the speed of ihe eQgme ia
136
BRBAKWATBRS.»8H0ULD TilBY BE 8L0PIK0 OR VERTICAL J
regulated by the cataract opening the
steam exhaustion and equilibriam valves,
and not the injection yalve.
I am, Sir, yours respectfully,
A Cornish Minbr.
Hayto Foondry, Cornwall, Julj 17, 1848.
BRBAKWATBR8 — SHOULD THBY BB 8L0P-
INO OR YKBTICAL ?
Sir, — I have examined at full length
the Report of the Dover Harbour Com-
missioners, with the protest of Lieutenant
Greneral Sir Howard Douglas against
their decision, and also the several re-
marks which have appeared in the pages
of your Msf azine ; out I have still to be
convinced Uiat that great national un-
dertaking, the Plymouth Breakwater, or
in other words, tne sloping breakwater,
has proved a failure, and that the vertical
wall is best ealcuhited to resist the force
of the waves, or the mighty swell of the
ocean.
The main point at issue is, whether or
not the waves of the sea are impelled
horiaontally by the force of the wind?
It seems to me that, on the solution of
this question, the whole discussion de-
pends : if the waves of the sea are not
impelled horixontally by the force of the
wind, then there remains but the vertical-
or oscillating motion to contend with;
and if such be the case, no one will dis-
pute but that a vertical wall is sufficient ;
if, on the other hand, the waves of the
sea are impelled hofizoniaWy by the force
of the wind, then I think there ought to
remain but little doubt that a vertical
wall would be a dangerous and unwar-
ranted experiment.
Are the waves of the sea impelled
horizontally or not by the force of the
wind?
The best answer to this question is, by
referring your readers to the valuable
paper which appeared in your pages a
few weeks back — '* Experiments on the
Force of the Waves of the Atlantic and
German Oceans. By Thomas Steven-
son, Esq." During the 23 months these
experiments were carried on, the great-
est force of the waves registered by
the marine dynamometer was upwards of
S tons per square foot ; but was this by
a vertical or a horizontal propulsion?
The words of the Report snail answer
the question : — ** Now, when we consider
that the hydrostatic pressure due to a
wave of SO feet high, is no more than
about half a ton on a square foot, we tee
how much of their force the waves owe
to their velocity"
If the waves of the sea are not impelled
horizontally by the force of the wind,
how do you account for the onward
movement of pieces of wood or sealed
bottles thrown overboard ship, the latter
having been found often stranded, or
picked up at sea a considerable distance
from the spot where they were originally
dropped?
One of your correspondents says, very
truly, '* Of what use would a floating
breakwater be, if the action of the waves
were only vertical?" I C9nceive in
such a case that the sea would be at
rough on one side as the other ; yet such
things as floating breakwaters have been
proposed, and perhaps used.
I am not now taking the subject op
mathematically, that having been alreadv
done in a previous paper of a correspond-
ent, who combats Professor Airy*s opi-
nion, that the waves of the sea are
caused by vertical oscillation only : I am
merelv reviewing facts, as they have oc-
currea to me, which bear upon the dis-
cussion.
If the waves of the sea were caused by
vertical oscillation only, we should never
hear of damages occurring to piers with
vertical faces by the action of toe waves,
or the upheaving of large masses of rock
from their original position on the sea
coast, which, though once presenting
ouite a perpendicular front, have gra-
dually, through lapse of time, been
brought by the action of the sea to pre-
sent a sloping breakwater, which, re-
ceiving the full force of the waves, thus
protecte the face of the rock behind, laid
open by the recent rupture.
On referring to the Report of the
Dover Harbour Commissioners, I find
the following names appended of those
in favour of a vertical wall : — Professor
Airy, Professor Barlow, Major-Greneral
Sir J. Burgoyne, Sir Henry de la Beche,
Mr. Hartley, Migor - General Pasley,
GapUin Vetch, M. Reibell, Mr. Brunei,
and Mr. Bremner. Of these there are
three whose opinions are founded entirely
on theory, three the opinions of military
engineers, and there remain just four,
whose opinions are founded entirely on
practice; but Mr. Brunei was never
examined, and Mr. Hardev*s opmiona
are but vague and undeoideo.
OEOJIITUOAi; PBOPOSITIOV AND DEICONSTKATIOM.
18t
Of those whose opinions were eUci"
tUdfy in favonr of a sloping breakwater,
there were Sir John Rennie, Mr. George
Rennie, Mr. Cubitt, Mr. William Stuart,
and Mr. Alao Stevenson, all of whom
gave their most decided disapproval of
•any attempt to build an upright wall in
Dover Bay. Their opinions are Founded
upon a lengthened period of the roost
practical knowledge of works of this
kind. Their practical professional know-
ledge is discarded for the opinions of
those whose views are chiefly founded on
dieory and conjecture. They n6t merely
disapproved, but condemned any attempt
to erect an upright wall: The names of
LienL - General Sir Howard Douglas
and Sir William Symonds roust not
be forgotten ; they were both members
of the Commission, and the oldest, the
former of whom, after the unexpected
deciaion of the majority of the Commis-
sioners, drew up and presented a length-
ened protest against it, in which he most
sttoeessfnUy reviews the opinions of his
opponents, leaving no doubt in my own
mindy and I hope in the minds of many
others, of the utter fruitlessness of ever
attempting to build an upright wall in
soch an exposed a situation as that of
Dover Bay, in seven or eight fathoms
dqpth of water.
I remain. Sir, yours, &c.,
T. B.
Manchester, July 28, 1848. ,
▼bbtical ska- walls — mr. robskt
stkphbnson's opinion.
Sir, — In the discussion on sea walls in
yonr Magazine, whether they should be
sloping or vertical, great attention should
I think be paid to the note, p. 567, which
relates the opinion of Mr. Robert Ste-
phenson on this subject.
I remember being at the Institution
that particular night, and having seen
the sea wall near Penman Mawr,
when in the course of construction, I
took great interest in what that eminent
engineer said. After describing the
effect of the storm on the walls as erected'
hy him, he concluded with these words,
as near as I can recollect, '* And from
what I have seen, lam determined never
to construct a vertical sea wall again."
Such words, from soch an engineer, are
of the utmost importance.
I am. Sir, yours, &o.,
S. S. B.
OSOMBTRICAL PROPOJSITIOV AND DRMON-
STRATION. BY THOMAS WILKINSON, BSQ.
Sir, — Allow me to offer to yonr notice
the solution of a geometrical proposition
of some importance. If it should be so
fortunate as to approach to what you
consider a demonstration ought to be, I
shall feel much obliged by its insertion
in your valuable Journal.
Yours respectfully,
Thomas Wilkinson.
Burley, Lancashire, July 27, 1848.
Propoiiticn,
Let O be any point within, or withont,
the field of the triangle ABC ; OD, 0£,
OF lines drawn to any points D, £, F in
the sides, or the sides produced ; and
Aa, B6, Cc lines drawn from the angles
parallel to OD, OE, OF respectively;
meeting the sides, or the sides produced,
in the points a, 6, c ; — then if m, q^ and
t be the points where lines from O pa-
rallel to the sides cut, Aa, B6, and^Ce,
we shall have the following relations :
OD OE OF ,
Aa ■*■ B6 ■*■ Cc " •
Am B<7 C< „
Aa BA Cc
Required the demonstration.
Demonstration.
Case I. When the point is withiin
the triangle.
Fig. 1.
Let ABC be the triangle, and OD,
0£, &c., the lines as in the enunciation.
Through O draw mn parallel to BC;
Op parallel to AC ; ana ts parallel to
AB| cutting Cc in /.
186 4»01ttTMGAI. 9ROPORTIOH AITS' DSVbmVRATieir.
Then since ina^OD, we have 2—7^,
Also since bq^OE^ we have Vz« z£..
Bo AB
And bQcwse the triangle pOn is similar to ACB, and the li|i^ Oc find OF
make equal angles with BC and nO, we have -p^ J ^«
Cq AB
OD OE OF Bn + Ap-k-jm AB , r^x
• ]rs + B*/ ci - ""at^ — AB "* ^^^'
Again by similar triangles'^ »4b *
Atf AB
Alse. ?!«??-; and PJ _ rs^ ^ rO^Os _ Ap>^hn
Bb AB Cc AB AB AB
• ^ -1? ^ Am- By + Ay -f Bit 2AB _g
"A ■*'B6*Cc" AB "AB
AB " AB
Expressions (0) and (b) are the relations required.
Case 11. When the point O is 60/011; the base of the triangle.
Kg. 2.
Draw the lines as before to meet the sides produced where necessarj, aa is
fig. 2 ; then it is evident that OD ^ma, OE^bq^ and we have
OD OE OF Bn-i-Ap^jm (Bp+jm)4-(A|i-|m ) AB ^ j . ^
Aa ■*"B?'"Cc " AB "" AB " AB ^ '"
^^' AiTBACe AB AB "^Afl ^ '
Where (^ and {b') are the relations as before,
Q.S.ii^D.
C^ III. Wnm dm point O ia U^fmd the Yerl^ of the triuigle.
fig. 3.
\w
Draif the lines as before; then in I
. OD OB OP
" ka •"55"*' ci "
3 we have OD»f»a, OE»67, and OF^<o.
1 (O.
AB
AB
'ab
^^ Am Bjf C^ Ait+B;i + r# Ajt+Bp + O^-Or
' A« "*■ BJ "^ Cc " AB " " AB^*^ "
(Ajn-Bjt)»»(Bj>w4p)
AB
'When the point is nearest the side
BC, by reTersing the figure Ae investi-
gatkm IS nmilar to the above, and in tfaJe
OD OE OP , ,,
case - — - + ^+ ^ - 1 ; the second
Aa Be Co
expneaqon remeining n^arlv as before.
(iE.iir*D.
Gor. 1. If in the general proposition
OB, OB and OF be respectively per-
pendicokr to the sides; Ao, Bd, Qc,
will also be perpendicular to them, and
if we designate the former bj />», p^, />,,
ud Che latter bf Px, P., P% we shiali
have^ +§! + ^-1. In this form
P^ Pj P,
llie pffOMcition is foond at page 82 of
«< Geakin's Geometrioal Problems/' and
WW elto proposed by Mr. (now Dr.)
cn.
AB" ^
Rutherford, in No.'5, Vol. i, of the iVbr-
ihumhria$iMirror for January, 18d8,
Cor. 2. When the lines A0» OD ; B6,
0£; Qc^ OF coipcide, we shall have
OD OE OF , ,
^ + 52^.92.2. The first ef
55 * BE * CF
these expressions was given by Mr.
Higman in the Senate House Problemf
for 162«3, and also forms questions 1169
and 1644 in the York Caurani. Both
expressions are given as ao exereiee
on Transversals in vol. ii. of '* Davies's
HuttoB.*'
Gor. 8. If through O, the lines FG,
HI, D£ be drawn respectively parallel
to AJB, EC and CA, we shall have
P6 BD HI
AB ■*■ AC ■*■ BC
90
2^»2. Por^.,
PG
AB
Alw^r^-
BE BP+BP
AC ^ BC " BC
. PG Sp HI
" AB **" AC ■*■ BC "
HThisproperty was given by Bfr^ Raw-
son of Manchester m his solution to
queetioa 1644 b the JRwi ^)W«»^
CP CE-fEP
'Ic^^TcT '
. • HI CB-fPB
•^*^'BC BC"-
2(CE + BP+PB) ^
BC ^
Cer. 4. When the lines coincide as in
oor. 2, and i( ako, AD, BE, OF be re->
ap e et i rol y perpendieohur to the sides ef
140
FAYMB'd 1PROCS88 FOSr REMBERING WOOD FIRXPR007.
. a 2 ; where O, A, B,
the triangle, we shall evidently have
AO BO CO
AD "*" BE "^ CF '
C may be considered as the inscribed
and escribed centres of the circles touch*
ing the sides of the triangle £FD, and
in this form the proposition answers to
question 1 765 in the Lady*8 and Gen-
tUmarCs Diary for 1847, which was pro-
posed by Mr. J. W. Elliott, of Qreatham.
Various other properties suggest them-
selves, but the above must suffice.
Scholium. — The case of the general
proposition when the point O is within
the triangle, and the points D, £, F in
the sides, forms question 6, page 73, of
'' Gaskin*s Greometrical Problems," and
though the method of investifiration
adopted by Mr.Gaskin is totally different
from the preceding, it was by considering
this question that the discussion of the
more general proposition was suggested.
The figures necessarv to illustrate the
corollaries will be easily sketched by the
reader.
N0T> ON THK APPLICATION OP WATER TO
DIPPSftENT KINDS OP PUBL. PKOM THE
UNPUBLISHSD PAPERS OP THB LATS
BRIO. OBN. SIR SAMUEL BENTHAM.
The important experiments lately
made by Sir Henry de la Beche on eoid
have surperseded those which had been
devised by Sir Samuel Bentham, who had
eonsiderea it also desirable to ascertain
the amount of heat afforded by other
kinds of fuel, such as wood, peat, and
especially oil, either alone, or together
with wood or peat, as those articles are in
some places to be procured at a cheap
rate where coal is not to be obtained ;
«nd, as a sequel to his obaervations, the
following memorandum has been found
amongst his papers :
" In re^rd to all, or most of these
different kinds of fuel, there seems some
reason to believe that an addition of
water may be made to increase the quan-
tity of heat produced by their combus-
tion. Chemical analysis appears in some
respects to confirm the experience of
persons of various classes. The practice
of throwing water on coals is general
amongst blacksmiths; the wetting of
ashes on throwing them on to a coal lire
is the usual practice of housewives; mix*
ing green wood with dry, and wet clay
with small coal, has been found advao-
tageous in horticultural furnaces.* Ex-
perience has to my knowledge at Derby,
and I believe elsewhere, shown the ad-
vantage of letting water flow into the
ash-pit under the fire-place of a steam-
engine. Besides which, a very intelli-
gent agent of Mr. Stmtt*s in his gas
manufactory at Derby, has proved dj
continued experience, that in burning for
fuel the kind of oil obtained from oo«l
in the production of gas, more heat is
generated by the addition of water than
would be produced by the burning the
oil without the water."
It seems proper to add on this subject
that Mr. Strutt, of Derby, nearly twenty
vears ago, at Sir Samuel's request,
kindly caused a trial to be made in a
common steam-engine fire-place of the
effect of placing a trojagh of water in the
ash-pit, and that in this way no addition
of heat was perceptible, but a very de-
cided advantage in preserving the fire-
bars from rapid destruction.
In correspondence on the subject it
appears that Mr. Sylvester conceived
that as much heat would be lost in de-
composing water, as was likely to be
gained by burning the oxygen and hydro-
gen set at liberty ; but the subject ac
well worthy of accurate experiment.
patne's process poe renderino woon
PIREPROOP.
On Wednesday last a remarkable ezperi-
ment was exhibited at the Whitehall Wharf,
Westminster, for the purpose of testing the
value of Mr. Charles Payne's patent process
for rendering wood fireproof; or, to speak
more properly, perhaps, for the purpose of
showing that Mr. Payne's wood-preserriog
process, which is aheady weU known to the
public, and has been very extensively ap-
pUed,t is as effectual for the preservation of
wood from destmction by fire as firom the
* See Transactloni of the HortleDUazml SoeiaCj.
t Among the structures to which It hu bMa ap-
plied are the following:
House! of Parliament.
British Museum.
FitzwiUlam Museum (Cambridge.)
ConservatiTe Club House.
Hungerford Bridge.
High Level Bridge, Newcastle.
Southampton, East Anglian, Brighton, and
numerous other railways.
Payne's process for rhki^eriko wood fireproof.
141
rmges of insecti, dry-rot, &q. Two n^-
ntaliire hansM bad been constructed, one of
ordiniry deals well dried, and the other of
deala prepared by Mr. Payne's process, and
tiie ground floor of each filled with fire- wood
and siiaTkigs. Both bodies of fuel were kin.
died at the same time. The house composed
of tfie uproteoted wood caught firerery soon,
aid in about half an hour was completely
I; while the Pftyneized house re-
standing nearly as perfect as ever,
i fire in it having gone out of itself, and
left Qoily some slight marks of charring on
ths Inflide of the boards. The eiperiment
was altogether most successful, and we
tiifaik we may say, with confidence, did not
leave a^doobt on the minds of any one of a
great namber of spectators present (includ-
ing several of our most eminent engineers and
architects,} that it needs only the general
adoption of Mr. Payne's process to render
our dwellings and other structures henceforth
indestructible by fire.
Perhaps, however, a still more striking
evidence of the efficiency of Mr. Payne's
pvoeess in this respeet, than that which we
iritnessed on the present occasion, is the
fbUowing, which we extract from a pamphlet
of testimonials put into our hands :
*' Finch HUl, Shewington, near
*' Standish, Lancashire,
" 13th March, 1846.
"Gentlemeo,
'* X am directed by Mr. Scariabrick to inform
TOO that he had recently erected on his property
here a building for the purpose of drying and sea-
soning timber, the rafters and principal beams of
vhieh building bad been prepared under my super-
intendence here by your patent process, with a view
not only to their durability, but also for protection
againatfixe.
"A large quantity of highly resinous planks and
stavea had lately been placed in this biiildlng for
seasoning, and these by some accident ignited during
the night, oeeaaioning an extenslTC conflagration,
aad homing with terrific fury. The Payneised
ralten and beams, notwithstandiog the immense
heat to which they were exposed, did not commu-
nicate or extend the flame, which otherwise must
have destroyed the whole of this building, as well as
othMs connected with it, and likewise machinery of
great value. Indeed, I have no hesitation in saying
that I am quite satisfied from what has happened
under my own observation, ' that no house built
with wood thus prepared can be burnt down, though
it might be partially injured/
" I ^m. Gentlemen,
'* Your very obedient servant,
" JOHN EVERTH,
" Svptrinttndent of ike Proprietort^ Workr,
Mctsri. Patwb and Lonan,
"Whitehall Wharf, London."
One of the latest orders received by Mr.
Payne's Company, is to prepare the wood for
a new convict prison about to be erected at
Bermuda, and contracted for by Mr. Peter
Thompson, the well known moveable house
builder of the Commercial Road. The build-
ing is to be 146 feet long, 40 broad, and will
consume about 300 cubic feet of timber.
The liquid employed by Mr. Payne (by
preference) is sulphuret of barium or cal-
cium. We quote from his specification the
following account of his mode of applying
it:
" The wood, or other vegetable matter, is
put into an air- tight vessel, and the air is
exhausted therefrom, by filling the vessel
with steam, and then condensing it by in-
jecting some of the solution of the sulphuret,
and at the same time applying cold water to
the exterior of the vesiel. When a partial
vacuum has been obtained, the solution is
allowed to flow into the vessel from the
reservoir containing it, through a pipe fur-
nished with a stop'cock; the stop-cock is
then shut, and an air-pump, connected with
the vessel, is worked until as perfect a
vacuum as can possibly be obtained is pro-
duced in the vessel ; after which, the stop-
cock is opened, to allow the vessel to become
filled, or nearly filled, with the solution ; it
is then shut, and by means of a force-pump
a further quantity of solution is introduced,
until the pressure on the interior of the ves-
sel amounts to from 110 to 140 lbs. on the
square inch ; this pressure is maintained for
about an hour, and then the solution is drawn
off. The vegetable matter is now to be im-
pregnated, in a similar manner, with an
acid, or a solution of some substance or
substances, in water, which will decompose
the sulphuret. If sulphuret of barium or
of calcium has been employed, any solution
or substance may be used that will unite
with the barium or calcium, so that the sul-
phur may be set free ; but the patentee pre-
fers a solution of sulphate of iron ; and if
the solution of sulphuret of barium or cal-
cium has been prepared, of the strength
above mentioned, the solution of sulphate of
iron should contain one pound six ounces of
the sulphate in each gallon.
*' la some cases the vegetable matter is
dried after being impregnated with the first
solution, and before it is subjected to the
action of the second ; particularly when the
vegetable matter is required to be impreg-
nated with as large a quantity of solid mat-
ter as possible."
148
SBOXirr AMXBIOAM PAmm*
(Selected ftem the FrmMm /ounuil fbr Itute.)
IifrROYVMxKt IM Whbbls for Rail-
road Cars. Oodleve K. Kane.
CfatM.— ** What I elaim u my iiiTcatioiit
if makiiig tha ipokM which miita th« hnb
and rim of railroad W-wheds, each of a
plate, one poition of which ia parallel with
the axis of the hub, and extending from the
hub to tiie rim, and the other connected
with tlie rim, in a line diagonal with the
plane of the wheel, and extending from the
rim to the hub, the first gradually diminiih-
ing in width from the hub to the rim, and
the other gradually diminishing from the rim
to the hub, tRbetantially in the manner and
for the pupoee described."
Improtrmrmt in Cuttimo Corks. —
PAilip O, TVsMT.
The patentee says,—" Tbe nature of my
iBTSQtion consists in cutting corks in the
form of a ftustrum of a cone, or cylinder,
from a sheet of cork (fed by huid or machi-
nery) by means of a cutter fastened to the
periphery of a hollow mandrel hairing a com-
pound longitudinal and rotary motion around
a centre or axis of a cylindrical sliding holder,
inserted into a corresponding aperture in
the mandrel, and bearing iipon the sheet of
cork, in which hoUow mandrel is placed a
q»iral spring, bearing against the upper end
of the holder, the lower end of the holder
guiding the cutter at the required angle to
gife the required taper to the cork."
CVatm.-— ** What I claim as my iuTcntion,
and desire to secure by letters patent, is the
before-described mode of cutting corks, by
means of the aforesaid combination of the
hoUow mandrel, eliding holder, centerer,
and guide— with the cutter for cutting the
oork to the required shape — said cutter
having a simultaneous, longitudinal, and
rsTolving motion, produced by the means
described, or other more suitable means,
operating substantiaUy in the manner set
forth."
IlfPROTRmMT IK COKBIMa WoOL. —
C 0. StargmU.
We extract the following frt>m the sped-
fioationt — *'The nature of my inyention
consists in attaching the comb teeth to a
series of plates that are caused to slide
along in front of the cylinder of cards, and a
pair of rollers for the fibres to be acted
upon, and stripped from the teeth, and then
are shifted in a parallel position to slide
back to the end from whence they first
started, and there shifted back to pass along
as at first; a hollow box through which
steam or heated air circulates, being placed
between the comb teeth and the cylinder of
cards, and a littb beiow the pointa of the
comb teeth, for the purpose of keeping tlie
fibres at the required temperstnre whOs
under operation In th« SMChia*.'*
IlfPROTBinilfT IN tUAK TA&tAS.
Henry H, Orame,
The patentee says, <* The nature of my
iuTention consists in the introduction of la-
dependent tsItus in the ordinary ' stens
chest for sliding inlTcs,' with mssas ef
connecting or rfiM^wniuyriny them to As
slide yal?e, operating, when connected, in
such a way as to prevent any fbrther in^resi
of steam within liMcylindsraflsr the listen
has passed through a sartaiii part sf Ml
stroke, and when disconnected, allowios the
steam to work through the whole stroke of *
the piston."
iMPROTBifBKT m rmm ExpAirsioir
Jourr roR SrsAM-Rireiinis* Mmrp K
JXtnham.
C7alm.— '"What I daim as myinrention
is the application of a plate of fietible
metal bi a steam pipe between t#o fisnekei
of different diameters, the yMding ef wltok
plate shall give sufficient room for the ex-
pansion of the pipe, thereby aToiding the
necessity of using stuffing boxes, or the
ordinary copper hemlsphsflcai ring jAiit for
side pipes of steam-engines."
ImprOYBMENT IK AUGBRS. Aff^
Newton, L. B, Smithy and S. SarferL
Ctaim.-^** What we claim ss our improTft-
ment and Invention, is the making or odd*
structing double or single twist augcnrs, with
a gradually increasing length of twist, sod
consequent gradual enlargement of earity,
from the lower or cutting end to the other |
extremity of the twist."
ImPRDTBMBNT IK SrsAlt l&KalKBS.'—
Oharlee Gmhani,
The patentee says,—'* The ilSture of my
iuTention consists in combining s rotary
engine with an annular furnace, the rsfolT*
Ing rim of the engine being heated, se thrt
iriien water Is forced into It, it shall be
flashed into steam, which passes loanA
through the cylinder, and thence issoss
through an orifice on one side at a tuopaA
to the whed."
WBBKLT LIST OP KBW BK0LI8B PATBI"**
James Robertson, of Great Howard-Btreelt Utrer-
pool, cooper, for Improvementa in the manufac«"
ofcaika and other wooden veisels, and in n^f/"
nery for cutting wood for thoie pvar^otM. i»V
29; tizmonthi. ^ . ,
George Walter Pratt, ef the City of B«*«SSl
Bute of New York, in the United State» o' ^
rica, gentleman, for improvementa in the m*a«"^
tuie of printing ink. July S9: aix moatha.
Richard Abbey, of Blough, Buckingbsm, biewff*
149
wiiKLT uav €9 irtrw snou«b PAnmrSi
tnr linpiOTaueiiti in pntonrlng ftnnentcd and conatniction of tin drums or rollen used in the
other Uqnidi andnaMBn in Teaaeit. July 29; six machinery for drawing, ipinnlng, doubling, twlst-
""^"'" ing, and throwing cotton, wool, silk,- flax, and
other fibrous substances. "^ July 29; six montht.
Bdwait Grfbben Wilson, of Bury, Lancashire^
tin-plate worker, for certain improvements in the
WttXLT List Ot DltlONS FOA AKTICLBl OV VTILITT IkBOf STXklD.
B«t»of No. in
Bflgtstn-theRe-
tisB. glster. Proprietors' Names, Addresses. SuhJects of Designs.
Ju^ 26 1A18 James Hirst Whitehead Ilkley, near Leeds ^.......... Stove-back.
» 1519 John PhlUina ,.... Warwick-street, Belgrare-sq.... Syphon trap.
19 lS2d John JoMph Hussey ... Hertford-street, Fiuroy-squaie,
earpenter .........^ ...« BiHtablomcatscrsen.
M^ 1 1^21 Bitauel Waid Lowther Arcade, Strand ......... Spring eUp for eandlestioks.
l<iM /'•hn Rock Day .^ Birmingham \ n«u„^.«^,„.
- ^^ land Job Clark Willenfcll J ^^ •^ «»*Wn«-
„ 1523 George Harborow ....... Holbora-bars **........ »«.. A pair of bracea. "
2 1524 John Smith .m...«. ^ Bradford ^ Corn-mill cylinder brush.
s 1595 /William P. Stanley Peterborough \ »i«w«^» fc*..*.!™- .«*«.-#«o
' "^ WjohnMedwonh....Crown-streit, WalWorth-road) «nners' Steaming apparttis.
TO ARCHItbCTS, BUILDERS, &c.
Copper-'Wlre Cord.
P 8. NEWALL fr CO.'k PATENT IMPROVED COPPER-WIRE CORD ftnr WINDOW SASH LINES,
* Hot-houses, Lightning Conductors, Hanging Pictures, Clock Cord, and various other purposes for
wlileh l&empen rope has hitherto been used. This new and valuable Patent is fast superseding the use
ef the liempea eord, and Is strongly recommended to all Builders and other parties conheeted with the
abbve. The Wire Cord may be had wholesale, and specimens been at the Office of the Patentees, No. 1(^
EsQchlutb-stxeet, W. T. ALLEN, Agent; or reUti of G. and J. DEANE, 46, tUng William-street, and
iL PARKS, 140, Fleet-street ; also of all respectable Ironmongers.
- ' .^ --..-■ •
GUTTA tq&RCHA COMPANT'S WOKKS^
Wharf road, city road.
London, M April, 1848.
NlftB OUTTA PERCH A COMPANY have greatpleasnre In statlngthat the steadily increasing demand
-"> for the Patsii* GvnA PxmcBA Dniviiro Bahds Justifies the utmost confidence that they are fliUy
a^wroveo.
ThMr tfiltMiility and sttength-iiennanent contractility and uniformity of substance — their non-suscep-
tftUity «r Injury from eontaet with OUs, Grease, Acids, Alkalies, or Water— and the facility with whiioh the
single Joint required cin be made in Bands of any length—render them superior for almost all working
pofpoeea, and decidedly eeonomical.
GoLdaass, Ttritira ofallsiies, Bovons, Cathitxrs,Stxtbbbcofxs, and other Surgical Instruments i
lletrLDiiftfs von Picrvmx Fxamxb and other decorative purposes; Whips, Tboros; Tbhxis, Gout, and
Cmiczms Baku, fte., hi great variety.
Patent Outta Perclia Shoe Soles.
The appUcabllity of Gutta Percha Soles for Boots and Shoes having been extensively and satlslkctorily
tested, we can unhesitatingly recommend the material prepared for this purpose, its merits having been
fteknewledged by all who have tried it. Indeed, experience has proved that Gutta Percha Soles wear twice
aa long as leather, with great additional personal comfort; and they remain perfectly impervious to wet
■rtil quite worn through.
Boot and Shoe Solea for Summer Wear.
The Ihet of the total impervlousness of these Soles to water, enables the most delicate, by the use of
fhem, to escape the sufiering which theproverbial uncertainty of our climate, nvxv tir Summxa, so ofben
inflicts upon the Incautious, and this effect may be secured by a Sole so thin and light, as to afford to the
vcaier a degree of ease and eomfort hitherto unattainable, in conjunction with security against damp.
Ai the tame time, the remarkabU non-conducting propertiet of Outta Percha afford a 1ko»t valuable pro-
teeHon to Ihoee who are subjected to iUfering or inconvenience bjf walking upon heated pavemente.
The question of the durability of Gutta Percha Soles, aa compared with Leather, has long since been
decided tn iavotit of the former; and no tnatence of faUore lias yet come to the kttomr-
IMce of the Ootttpe&r wldA may not be aaeribed to a necleet of tbeSr printed
144
ADTBftTISBl^NTS.
To Inyentors an4 PatMiteoa.
MESSRS. ROBERTSON & CO.,
PATKHT •OLXCITOmi,
(Of which Arm Mr. J. C. ROBERTSON, tho
Editor of the MscHAWica' Maoaximx from its
CO nmencement in 1828, ii principal partiieri)
nndortake
The procuration of Patents .
For England, Scotland, Ireland, and all Foreign
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Specifications Drawn or RcTised.
DISCLAIMERS, AND MEMORANDUMS OV
ALTERATION PREPARED AND ENROLLED.
OaTOats Entered and Oppositions
Ckmdncted.
CONFIRMATIONS AND PROLONOATIONS
OF PATENTS SOLICITED.
Searches made for Patents, and Copies or
Abstracts Supplied.
Advice on Oases submitted^ ftc. Ace.
Messrs. ROBERTSON & CO.
POSSESS THE ONLY COMPLETE REGISTRY
OF PATENTS EXTANT,
Commencing a.d. 1617(15 James I.) and regularly
continued down to the present time.
INTENDING PATENTEES supplied gratis with
Printed Instructions, on Application, either per-
sonally or by letter.
Pmblitied Every Saturday p price 8ixpene€m
THE
MINZNG JOURNAL^
RAILWAY AND COMMERCIAL GAZETTE ;
A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ; FORMING A
Complete History of the Commercial and Scientific
Progress of
MINES AND RAILWAYS,
And a carefully- collated Synopsis, with nnmeroti*
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NEW INVENTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS
IN
MECHANICS AND CIVIL ENGINEERING :
Prices of Stocks, Ores, Metals, and Materials;
Reports of the Proceedings of Public CompaBles ;
the Transactions of Scientific Bodies ; Official and
Exclusive Information ftom Mining Districts,
abroad and at home, &c., 8ic.
Office : 26, Fleet-street, London.
Now ready, price 3s.,
A Glossary of Mining and
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Used in English and Foreign Mining Districts.
PUBLISHED at the Office of the Mining Jam-
•*■ naif 26, Fleet-street, London ; and may be bad
of John Weale, 59, High Holborn; and through all
booksellers in town and country.
Lately published. Third Edition, Price 78. 6d.,
Microscopic IllnstrationSy
'YXriTU descriptions of the New Microscopes, and
'* - ample Instructions for Use. By ANDBKir
PnXTCHAAD, M.R.I.
Also, by the same. Price 1 2s.,
A HISTORY OF INFUSORIA, Living and
Fossil, with Descriptions of all the known species
of Animalcules, and upwards of 500 Engraved
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X^OT£.— Part I. of the above work, entitled " A
GENLRAL HISTORY OF ANIMALCULES,"
with the Engravings, may be had separately,
Price 6s.
London: Whlttakerand Co., Ave Maria-lane.
To Bngineers and Boiler-
Makers.
LAP. WELDED IRON TUBES, FOR MARINE
AND LOCOMOTIVE STEAM - BOILERS,
Tubes for Steam, Gas, and other purposes ; — all
sorts of Gas Fittings. The Birmingham Patent Iron
Tube Company, 42, Cambridge-street, Birmingham,
and Smethwick, Staffordshire, manufacture Boilers
and Oa< Tubes, under an exclusive License trom
Mr. Richard Pressor, the Patentee.
These Tubes are extensively used in the Boilers
of Marine and Locomotlee Sieam Engines in
England and on the Continent; — are stronger,.
Lighter, Cheaper, and more Durable than Brass or
Copper Tubes, and are warranted not to open in
the weld.
42, CAMBRIDGE-STREET, CRESCENT,
BIRMINGHAM.
Works— Smethwick, Staffordshire.
LONDON WAREHOUSE— No. 68, UPPER
THAMBS^T&EET.
CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER.
Specification of Blackwell's Patent Improve-
ments in Evaporating Furnaces— (ie<(A en-
graving*) ... ... .^ 121
The Gresham Professorships— Fifth and Final
Notice «.. m
Mr. Baggs's Discoveries in Electricity 129
On the Coirstruction of Sea Walls. By Mr.
Stephen Sharp 129
Hodgson's Parabolic Propeller ti Holland 180
How to obtain Prints from Seals, Coins, or
Medals -{with enyraving) 182
Earl Talbot's New Bridce at Shirleywich—
Erected on the plan of Mr. J. R. Remington 188
Preparation of Iodized Papers by One Solution
only. By Mr. C. J. Jordan 184
The Cornish Steam Engine and Mr. Bourne's
Strictures 185
Breakwaters— Should they be Sloping or Ver-
tical! 186
Vertical Sea Walls— Mr. Robert Stephenson's
Opinion 137
Geometrical Proposition and I>emon&tration.
By Thomas Wilkinson, Esq 187
Note on the Application of Water to different
kinds of Fuel. From the Unpublished
Papers of the late Brig. Gen. Sir Samuel
Beniham 140
Payne's Process for Rendering Wood Fireproof
— Remarkable Experiment 140
Recent American Patents 141
Weekly List of New English Patents 148
Weekly List of New Articles of Utility Regis-
tered 148
Advertisements liS
LONDON: Edited, Printed, and Published, by
Joseph Clinton Robertson, of No. 166, Fleet-
street, in the City of London.— Sold by A. and
W. Gallgnani, Rue Vivienne, Paris; Machln and
Co. DubUn ; W. C. Campbell and Co., HambuifiL
MUSEUM, REGISTER, JOURNAL, ANDGAZETTE.
No. 1305.]
SATURDAY AUGUST 12, 1848. [Price Zd,, Sttnped, id.
Edited hj J. C. Rob«rtMn, Iff, Fleet>itrMt.
WALKER'S HYDRAULIC ENGINE.
Fig. 1.
▼OL. ZLIX.
146
Walker's patbnt
Wx recently liiade fayoarable mentioti
(No. 1301, p. 53) of a new hydraulic
CDgine of extraordinary jwwer wLich
we had seen at work on the pre-
mises of Mr. Walker, the inventor, a^d
which has been constructed by him for
the drainage of some marsh lands in
Norfolk. We now extract from Mr.
Walker's specification the following com-
plete description of the engine:
Fig. 1 IB a firont elevation of the enghie s
fig. 2 is a side elevation ; Fig. 3, a secSimal
side elevation on the line e, /, of fig. 1, A
A is a foundation of strong planks, sup-
porting a quadrangular cast-irou well, B B,
which is sunk into the ground to such a
depth as may be necessary- for the purpose
required. The well, B B, has three open-
ings, c e e, one in fh>Dt, and one on each
side, fitted with sluice doors hinged on their
upper edges at <^ <^, one or more of which
can be opened or closed at pleasure. On
the upper fiange of the well, B B, rests a
strong frame of timber, £ E, from which
stays, e' e', pais down to the foundation
timbers and give stability to the superstruc-
ture. Upon the frame, E £, are erected
cast-iron framed standards, F F, secured to
the well, B B, by nuts and bolts passing
through the frame, E E. The standards,
F F, are in two heights, and upon a fiooring
at ff g, there are two steam cylinders, H H,
with pistons, each of which is connected by
two piston-rods, A A, to its respective cross-
head I. From a bolt in the centre of the
cross-head, I, which works in guides in the
side framing of the standards (not shown
in the figures) a connecting-rod, J, passes
up to a crank on the outer end of the shaft,
K, which shaft carries a fiy-wfaeel, L. From
the outer ends of the cross-head I, two con-
necting-rods, M M, pass down to a large
cross-head, N N, beneath the steam cylin-
ders ; from this cross head two other rods,
ft n, pass down, and are bolted to a crudform
platform, o o. Upon the platfbrm, o o, are
bolted four upright iron rods, ppp Pt the
upper extremities of which support a valved
piston, P, hereinafter more fuUy explained.
Immediately beneath the steam cylinders,
and supported by their upper flanges, upon
the frame, E £, are two water cylinders,
Q Q, open at the bottom, /md having at top
a valve, opening upward. This valve is
similar in its construction to those in the
pistons afterwards described. Upon the
upper flanges of the water cylinders, Q,
is bolted a valve-box R, communicating by
an exit-main «, with what I term a dividing
box, S, furnished like the well B, before
described with doors on each side, and in
HTDBAULIO BNOnrfe.
front capable of being opened and efosed at
pleasure. On the top of the valve box are
ccrvering plates, r r, tiie removal of which
gives aCceSs to the cylinder valves. Steam
from a boiler is admitted through the in-
duction-pipe ^ to a slide-valve T, placed
beneath and between the steam cylinders, by
means of which the steam is admitted slter-
, nately to the bottom of each. The slide-
valve, T, is worked by an eccentric V, on
the crank-shaft K, through the mf^^nm of
the rod e. The steam cylinders, Q, are
fitted with cones through which the piston-
rods, A, work ; the hot air passing ftom the
upper part of one to the other throu^ tiw
air-tube, 10, as the pistons alternately rise
and fall. After leaving the cylinders tiie
waste steam passes from the slide-valve, T,
along the oiuction-pipe, ir, through the
water-box, Z, whence it passes into the
pipe, 2*, which may be led into a chimney
or other convenient outlet. The cold water
raised by the pump, M, fiows into the upper
part of the water-box, Z, and into the tubes
which descend nearly to the bottom thereof
where it becomes heated (by the spent steam
passing through the box,) nearly, or quite
to the boiling point, in which state it ia
forced into the boiler by the feed-pump, o^.
^ Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged representa-
tions of the piston and valves ; fig. 4 being
a plan, and fig. 5 a sectional elevation there-
of. This valve consists of a number of cast
iron bars forming a sort of grating strength-
ened on the underside with cross bars, and
having bosses to receive the screwed ends of
the supporting-rods, p p. The upper sur-
faces of the bars are ranged in pairs on two
alternate levels, the edges of the openings
bemg formed into circular seatings, in which
are laid lengths of iron tubing plugged with
wood, which dose the openings between the
bars and form a water-t^ht joint in a down-
ward direction, but open freely upward. To
keep the lengths of tubes in their placet
eadways, a deep wrought-iron band, or ring,
e* «*, is shrunk round the valve, while two
bridges,//, retain the tubes vertically, and
limit their range of action. The bars be-
tween the openings are wedge-shaped on
their under surfaces, so as to offier the
smallest possible resistance to the ascending
column of water. The wrought-iron band,
e*, of the piston valve is turned true on ita
external surface, so as to move freely up
and down on the cylinders, but does not re-
quire any packing.
I will now endeavour briefiy to describe
the mode of operation. The steam in a boiler
being at a pressure of twenty-five pounds, or
thereabouts upon the square inch, is ad-
mitted to the sUde-valve, T, through whiA
WAIltBR'S PATENT HYDRAULIC BKOIHB.
Fig.2,
147
148
WALKBR8 PATENT HYDRAULIC ENGINl.
it pastes into one of the steam cylinders
beneath the piston that happens to be in
the position for making the upward stroke.
The pressure of the steam raises the piston
which, by means of the piston-rods, h h,
cross heads, I and N, and connecting-rods,
M M and n n, already described, lifts the
yalved piston, P, and expels any air or
water that may be above it, through the
▼aive at the top of the cylinder, Q. The
opposite steam and water pistons at the
same time descend by yirtne of their con-
nection with ttie crank-shaft, k; the nr, or
steam, beneath the steam piston, escaping
through the eduction port to the waste-
steam pipe. On completing the stroke, the
moTcment of the slide yalve reyerses the
ports and admits the steam into the other
cylinder, the piston of which is in like
manner raised, and the water that is now
aboye the second piston, P, is thrown
forcibly upward through the yalye at the
top of the cylinder, and passes off by the
exit-main, «, to the dividing-box, S ; by this
movement an ascending current of water is
generated in the cylinder, and when the
motion of the piston P is reversed, and it
begins to descend, its valves open, and the
upper current of water, generated as before
described, passes through the valve until
the piston P has traversed^ a greater or
smaller portion of its downward stroke,
according to the momentum acquired by the
water which will be in proportion to tbe
velocity with which the piston travels.
When the engine is employed for draining
land, one or more of the sluice doors, e,
are opened, communicating with the drains
from which the water is to be taken. The
side doors of the dividing-box, S, are closed,
and the front are opened communicatiDg
with the channel by which the water is to
be got rid of. On the contrary, if water is
to be raised from a river or other external
source, and thrown into the ditches for irri-
gation or other purposes, the sluice -door, c,
of the well, B, communicating with the
river is opened, and those communicating
with the drains shut. The front sluice of the
dividing-box, S, is also shut, and the side
ones leading to the drains or ditches opened.
By thus regulating the sluices the engine
can be employed to lift water out from or
into the land at pleasure. In erecting this
machine, it is to be observed, that the lower
orifice of the water- cylinder, Q, should not
be higher than the lowest part of the drain
from which the water is to be taken, as tbe
machine ceases to raise the water when it
falls below the bottom of the cylinder.
Pneumatic machines for forcing air, for
blowing furnaces, or any other purpose where
a blait of air is required, may be constructed
in the same manner, as die hydraulic ma-
chine before described ; only that in pneu-
matic machines the cast-iron well, B, and
the dividing- box, S, are unnecessary; the
former being replaced by a suitable frame-
work of wood, masonry or metal, and the
exit main carried direct from the valve-box,
R, to the place where the blast is required.
For pneumatic machines, I also prefer to
construct the valves with tubes of gutts
percha, or other elastic material, enclosing
metal rods or tubes to give the necessary
weight and strength thereto, in lieu of the
plugged iron tabcB before dmcribed.
Fig. 3.
Pneumatic machines for exhausting aifi
may also be constructed oq the same prin-
ciple, in which case the cylinders, Q, and
valve-box, R, are inverted, the open end of
the cylinders being placed upwards. The
valve opening upward is placed at the bof-
waikbr's fatxmt htdeaulic engine.
149
Fig. 4.
torn of fhe eylinder, and that which wai the
exit Bain of the forcing machine, now be-
oomea the loetion or exhanit pipe. The
ooonecting-rods, n n, from the crois-head,
Ny pan down withinside the cylinders, Q,
and are attached directly to the upper part
of the piiton, P. In working hydraulic
macbinea for railing water, I haTe found
aerenty rerolutiona of the crank-shaft per
minute to be an advantageous speed, but in
pneumatic machines for forcing or exhaust-
ing air, I prefer a greater speed, say from
one hundred to one hundred and fifty revo-
lutions per minute. For working hydraulic
or pneumatic machines where a steam en-
gine 18 not employed, I use a winch for the
application of manual power, or a vertical
ahaft to be turned by cattle, connecting the
same by suitable geauing (as is well under-
stood by engineers,) with a crank from
which a oonnecting rod descends to the
eroaa-head, N, which works the piston in
the manner before described.
We intended to have added to this
description a statement of some of the ac-
tual performances of this engine, and to
have deduced therefrom an argument for
its peculiar applicability to purposes of
drainage and irrigation ; but we find
this part of our task so well done to our
hands, in the following able letter from a
correspondent, that we need but insert it
as it has reached us ; remarking only,
that while the letter itself sufficiently
attests the intelligence and experience
of the writer, we have every reason to
confide implicitly in his disinterestedness
and impartiality.
Sir, — As a person who has been for
many years engaged in the drainage and
irrigation of lands in both Indies, per-
haps you will allow me space in your
highly esteemed Magazine, in order that
I may exm^ my opinion as to the
merits of Walker^s Hydraulic Engine^
or Patent Elevator, to which I would
wish, very particularly, to draw attention.
I consider it very essential that the
present machine should not be con-
founded with that which Mr. Walker
brought before the public some few years
ago ;* as the man j modifications and im-
provements recently effected constitute
It an entirely different affair. As it now
stands, it is simply a lifiing-pump ex-
tremely similar in outline to tne ancient
lifting-pump used in France (during the
reign of Henry IV.,) by Lintlaer, at
Pont Neuf, to supply the Louvre with
water from the river Seine ; and subse-
quently by the Dutch engineer, Ranne-
quin, in 1682, in Uie celebrated water-
works at Marli, near Paris ; but its very
simplicity, combined with the sound
principles on which the valves are con-
structed, and the economical method of
applying the power of the steam-engine,
together, renaer it the most perfect hy-
draulic machine ever invented.
The steam-engine itself is exceedingly
simple, and judiciously planned ; work-
ing each time I have seen it at a pressure
of 18 lbs. to the square inch. The steam
boiler is about 12 feet long, with a tube
in the centre ; and with this small boiler
the engine now erected at Mr. Walker*s
factory (Oliver's- yard, City-road,) may
any day be seen delivering about 7000
gallons a minute 4\ feet high ; to which
height it is restrict^ by its local position.
This engine is intended for the drainage
of an estate of 500 acres in Norfolk ;
and, when it leaves the factory, will have
two steam boilers (of about 15 feet by S^
each), capable of working the engine,
(at a pressure of 35 lbs. to the inch), so
as to discharge 6000 gallons of water a
minute, or 4,320,000 gallons a day ten
feet high !
The cost of this hydraulic machine
* See Mich. Mag., vol. xxzvi., p. 209.
1«0
IIK nMMiOBt B9NW4V ON «HIV VACf IVIM€M».
cntbedy opmplete, }a onlj about 6001. or
^0/.; wbilst its working expenses mi^
be eetiouued at 12s. 6d. a day of twelve
boors, including ooal and attendance!
For tbis sum tbe agriculturist may
drain bis land of 4,320,000 gallons of
water, which is very nearly equivalent
to a fan of rain of oik inch to the square
foot over 200 acrfs of land; or he may
in dry seasons give to his land that'
amount of water as irrigation.
fhiw many times do we hear the
ftrmer^ of Enkl^pd aqd the sugar-
planters oF'tbe Indies' (especially the lat-
ter.) calling out anxiously and despond-
injg^y for a shower of rain to save their
crops from partial or entire destruction I
And bpw frequently do we hear them
exclaim on the occurrence of a season-
able shower,'^ Ah » this fine rain is worth
lOOOf to my prppertyT We have all
beard* (his exclaihation, and linow fdtl
well how strictly true it is. Must we
not rejoice then, when we know that
such a machine as Mr. Walker's will
afford our agriculturists of this country
and the colonies sufficient water fqr the
irrigation of 200 acres for 128. 6d., when
the' elevation is not above 10 feet, or a
trifle more when the height is greater 1
Those requiring a lift of SO'qr 40 feet
can be accommodated just as readily as
those who want only 10 feet ; the differ-
ence being not more than 100/. to 150/.
in the first cost of the engine, and a pro-
portionate quantity of fuel. In net,
these engines can be made to discharge
20,000, or even 50,000 gallons of water
a minute, merely by enlarging the cylin-
ders and increasing the extent of the
steani power. They afibrd the agricul-
turist the means of drainage and Irrin-
tion immeasurably beyond any other de-
scription pf hydraulic machine, whether
pump or otherwise ; whilst, at the same
time, the benefit derivable from their
use is not confined to agriculturists
alone, but extends to all cases wherein
pumps are now used. ■
'^n^ greatlv interested in these mat-
ters, partTcularfy {n relation to ajnicul-
tiire, I was invited by Mr. Walker to
insp^t his engine, and witness its per-
formance, whien I have done twice ; and
after the most careful investigation of its
principles, and ii strict observance of its
work, I feel so entirely convinced of its
great value, that I cannot but recom-
mend it most heartily to every one whose
bttsinesi Is in any >raj ooniiected with
hydraulics ; and I sf y to all radi, lose
no time in seeing for yourselves tliia
most valuable invention.
I remain, Sir, yours, &e.,
W.
July S5, 1848.
OK THS IIBANS OF FASTSNIKft T06KTHXB.
THB COMPONENT PAXTB OF YSSSBLS FOR
NAYIOATION. BY TBB LATB BBlO.-OBir.
SIR. 8AMUXL BBNTHAM, K. S. G.
[The last work on which the late Sir
Samuel Bentham was engaged, was his
second naval essay — ^its subject the ttruc"
tare of vessek for navigation ; that part
of it relatinff to fastenings, although far
from what ne would have considered
complete, has appeared to contain so
much useful matter as to have induced
thepresent publication.
To this paper is added an enumeratioa
of some new tools for shipifprk whieli
he had contrived, but had not brought
into actual use ; and of which, unfortu-
nately, no description has been found.
As Sir Samuel was the first to intro*
duce a consideration of the principles of
mechanics in the combination of the
parts of the vessel itself,* so he also was
tbe first to apply to shipwork some of
the best fiutenings long ago commonly
used by engineers, carpenters, and othc^
workers in wood or metal, and further
to in vent other fastenings more appropri-
ate than any already in use. His scfientifif^
acquirements, especially in mathematie^'
and the principles of mechanics, togetbpf
with his practical knowledge of ship-
building obtained in the Koyal Ppcx-
yards at home, on board sbipi a|)d p
action at sea, and by investigationa w
many foreign countries, rendered hiui
particularly competent on the subject >)i
naval architecture. His iroprovensent^
and suggestions in this branen of science
— ^like those of many a great man id
every branch of Science— have been
slow of being duly appreciated and
adopted ; they are now, hqwever, tnosf
of mem cominff into g(eneral use', wit3|
the exception Si several fastenings *ftr
shipwork. It is hoped that this paper
may lead to the speedy adoption of thtae
also ; and further, that by the exposition
it contains of the reasons on whibh pre-
ference for this or that fastening resUi;
it may excite in naval architects at^
tention to the principlea on which the
• See irM*.Jray.»voLx]iU.,^isr.
OfL 8AKI7KL BBKT^AM Olf PHIP 7A8TBNIK08*
1«
cOotoy of listeningB is grounded, md
thiu Ind to ^6 inYentioii of others etill
inore effident.]
The fitness of the mode of oonstrue-
tioQ of « vessel for navigation, in as far
as it depends on the mode of fasteninff
together the component parts of it, wiu
of eourse varyaooording to the materials
of which the fastening is composed, as
veil as of thq80 of the pieces to be com-
bined. The various modes of fastening
in we bj workers in wood and metaC
other than ahipbnildersa are nsuaUy well
ehosen eooording to the n^re of the
oaae; but this cannot be said in regard
to the means pf fiutening together the
eompoaent parts of a navigable vessel,
and the winenoe which Ute mode of
Histooiikg necessarily has on the strength
and eonseqnent durability of the vessel,
appears to be much greater than has
mnieirtD been conceived.
Throughout the whole structure of a
ship, the strains tending to di^oint the
parts are either make one part slide
over another or to force two parts
asunder ; as also sometimes to produce
both these effects simultaneously, and in
dilfere&t proportions one to the other.
▲itluNigh these effects may at any one
time be produced but in a small d4pree,
jet the frequent repetition of them is
mod gradually to destroy the structure
altogemer.
Toe modes in general use for fastening
parte together are by mesas of treenails,
Dolts, plates, or straps of metal, nails,
hoops, dovetailing, tabling, &c., and, of
late yentf by coques, to which m^y be
added as having Utely been partially
employed, screws and cement
TreenaiU and B0U9.
f*or parts, the close adhesion of whiph
is t)ie most essential to the strength of a
veeeet — such as the clanking to the ribs
and ibe heaqis to tne sides — the usual
Aistenipgs are wooden treenails and metal
bolts ; the treenails or the bolts being
4rive|i into holes previously made in the
|nci;es to be held in poptact, and gene-
rally at right angles to the surfaces of
them. T^e capability of these treenails
or bolts to resist the strains tending to
force purts asundpr, evidently depends
on th^ tenacity of the matierials of which
these fssteuingq are composed ; on their
\ma§ Ifjge f i^ough, ^^scording to that
tenacity, to resist the forces tending to
extend them lengthways, and thereby to
break them; and on their being pre-
vented from being drawn out of the
holes into which they are driven.
The strength of the dbres of wood
is so great in resisting tension, that while
they remain sound, treenails are seldom
seen to be broken by mere tension.
The strength of bolts of iron, if of good
quality, and of bolts of copper, is
always found sufScient to resist fracture
by tension ; but all of these futeninss
are Uable to fail in so far as regards the
holding the parts to be combined closer
together; this failure results from the
treenails or bolts being drawn more or
less out of the holes into which they
have been inserted.
The resistance to this source of
failure must depend partly on the tight-
ness of the parts which compress the
bolt or the treenail, but principally on the
extension of the surface at the ends of
them ; so that to be held fast, they must
be driven quite through the parts to be
connected, in order that the ends of these
fastenings may be extended. To effect
this purpose, the end of a bolt, after it is
driven up, is extended by being clenched
over a ring of metal put on to it ; and,
in the case of treenails, by their being
split a little at the end, then spread open
into an enlargement of the hole, so as to
fill it by the insertion of a little wedse
into the cleft, or by caulking it. Bolts
are less adapted than treenails to be held
tight in then: holes, as a bolt being of a
uniform sise throughout its length, and
the hole beiuff bored by a tool which
makes Uie hole of the same diameter
throughout, the end of the bolt which is
driven foremost extends the hole as it
passes, and thereby lessens the pressure
on the part near the head. These means
of extending the ends of treenails and
bolts, have frequently been found insuffi-
cient to prevent them from being drawn
out by a much less force than that re-
quired to break them.
Independently of good economy re-
quiring that bolts of so costly a metal as
copper should be no larger than neces-
sary for resisting the strain, it is of still
greater importance, that they should be
small in order to lessen that diminution
of the strength of the pieces to be fastened
together, which is occasioned by perfor-
152
SIR SAMUEL BENTHAM OK SHIP FA8TBNIK0B.
atioDB of them, increased u it must be
in proportion to the number and diame-
ter of the holes.
Treenails.
The ordinary treenail, formed as it
generally very properly is, by being
ipUt out of sound timber, and not grain
eat, is seldom if ever found to be in
itself deficient in strength, so as to be
broken across; but not being rounded
or smoothed by any suitable tool, there
can be no certainty of its filling up with
accuracy the round hole into which it is
driven ; and being, like the bolt, as large
at one end as at the other, the part of
die treenail which first enters the hole
enlaiges it on advancing, so that the
part near the head, when driven up, does
not fill so completely as it might the
outer *end of the hole. These treenails
are frequently found, even at the first
construction of a ship, to be incapable
of drawing the plank against the ribs
sufficiently close to prevent a small de-
gree of sliding motion ; nor do thev pre-
vent, on caulking between the planks,
the separation in a small degree of the
planking from the ribs ; although after-
wards the pressure of the water inwards,
when the vessel is immersed in it, being
great, and the plank not being exposed
to any pressure outwards other than that
of its elasticity, treenails are generally
found sufficient to prevent the planking
from separating far from the timbers,
excepting at the butt- ends, and these are
usually fastened by bolts.
Treenails are in general use for fasten-
ing the planks of the bottom and sides
c^ a vessel. Being of wood, and little
if anything heavier than the wood bored
out of the holes to receive them, they do
not add to ^e weight of a vessel, and they
are the cheapest nstening in use for con-
necting the planks to the ribs and beams.
On considering, in the year 1795, the
mischievous effects of large and numer-
ous perforations of the timbers of a ship,
the bad consequences arising from en-
largement of auger holes by the driving
of ordinary treenails, the weakness and
often premature decay of timbers,
planksy and treenails, consequent on a
slight separation in caulking of the
pluik from the ribs, I was led to the
contrivance and employment of treenails
of a new form, that is of different dia-
meters at different parts of their length ;
and of tools for boring the holes to re-
ceive them also of different diameters,
suitable for the reception of the new tree-
nail. In the wav of example, supposing
a plank of 4 inches thick were required
to be fastened to a rib or timber — ^the
holes were bored of 2 inches diameter
through the plank, and of the same
diameter, into the timber; firom thence
they were bored of 1\ inch diameter
for 6 inches farther into the timber,
but of only U Inch diameter the rest of
the way through it. The treenails them-
selves were, by means of appropriate
tools, made with great exactness of diflfer-
ent diameters at different parts of their
length, corresponding with those of the
holes into which they were to be inserted*
The treenails were made also with a
little spread at the head, the hole for
its reception being suitably made by the
auger. Such a treenail was easily put
into its hole by hand to the depth of a
foot, when being to be driven only the
remaining depth of 6 inches, much less
force was employed than in driving an
ordinary treenail the whole of its length,
so that the new step-shaped treenail be-
came much more firmly embraced than
is an ordinary treenail, by the wood it
passed through ; whilst the timbers were
much less weened than usual, in con-
sequence of the lesser diameter of the
holes. The diminution in sise of the
treenail as it advanced into the timber
was not injurious as to strength, since the
need of tenacity at the foot to resist the
strain tending to draw it out, diminishes
as the treenail advances, in consequence
of the resistance afforded by compression
on the part towards the head. The ham-
mer in driving these treenails was not
applied directly to the heads, but to a
punch held upon them, which by pro-
tecting the heads from injury, admitted of
the application of a greater force than usual.
Step-shaped treenails were contrived
for and used in the experimental vessels
of 1795, with a particular view not to
weaken the timbers; and so great was.
the efficiency of these treenails, that,
although they were fewer in number than
usual, and the timbers into which they
were driven less in thickness, it appeared
on a close examination of the Darlf
after a seven vears' service at sea, that
their hold of the posts together had been
SIR SAMUEL BENTHAM OK SHIP PA8TEHIN08*
153
nowise impaired: they had kept the
plinks in perfect contact with the tim-
oera, Dotwithstanding the most severe
caulking bad been employed.
These treenails, first partially so in-
troduced in 1795, were coming into
ffeneral use in 1805, but seem to have
been since lost sight of.*
CoqueB.
It was experience of the great advan-
tage of the enlarged sise of step-shaped
treenails at the parts where they entered
the pieces to be connected together, that
being the part where the strain tending
to give the sliding motion is most easily
resisted, that led me to the contrivance
of coques.
Coques are portions of cylinders of
dry wood, about two or three inches
long, and from three to six inches in
diameter; they are inserted one half
their length Into one, the other half into
the other of the parU to be connected,
the whole being tied together by a small
bolt or treenail passing through the parts
to be connected, taking the middle of the
coqoe in its way. The coque thus pro-
duces an enla^ement of the bolt or
treenail at the part where size is of the
greatest importance, and this without
weakening unnecessarily the parts to be
eonneeted together by large holes at any
other part of the length of the bolt than
that where the coque is inserted.
These coques, as well as the holes for
the reception of them, are formed by
engines which ensure their corresponding
aoenraey.
A fastening of the same kind might
be made of other forms, — sc^uare, for
example; but the workmanship of any
other form than circular, to ensure ac-
euraeyt on which its efficiency depends,
wonld be more difficult, and consequently
expensive. It is true, coques might be
ent to a square form with great facility
and perfect aoeuraoy, as by a circular
saw, but not so the holes into which they
are to be inserted ; whereas not only the
cylindrical coque may be cut by a tool
turned round it, or in a common turning
lathe ; but the hole also to receive it may
be made with perfect accuracy by a boring
tool.
The coques being made of dry wood,
• And itUl an 10 in her Hi^etty'a dookjuda, at
leaatialS48.
and kept perfectly dry till the time of
their insertion, any small degree of swell-
ing afterwards from moisture, tends to
hold them so much the more tightly in
their places.
These coques were first employed for
connecting together the component parts
of masts; whereby, besides saving the
considerable expense of an extra thick-
ness of the pieces, to admit of forming
the tabling according to the former mode
of connection, there was immediately a
saving of 25 per cent, on the workman-
ship ; and they are now in very exten-
sive use in shipwork.
The rapid introduction which took
place of this invention, affords an exam-
ple, that fortuitous circumstances have
often as much influence in the introduc-
tion of improvements as their intrinsie
merit. It happened soon after I had
contrived this new fastening, that a visi-
tation of the Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty to the dockyard took place;
at Portsmouth, coques, and the mode of
using them, were pointed out as novel-
ties, and attracted much attention from
their usefulness and economy, so that
their lordships' own conviction from in-
spection induced them, without any
reference to inferior boards, to give posi-
tive orders for a general introduction of
coques. On the contrary, others amongst
the fastenings I have contrived and en-
deavoured to introduce, not happening
to have been exhibited to, or to have other-
wise particularly excited the attention
of the superior authorities, have scarcely,
I believe, to this time, been employed,
although ensines have been furnished to
the dockyards for making those new fas-
tenings. I may instance, step-shaped tree-
nails, bolte with screw points to receive
nuts upon them, Isrge hollow screws—
all of them fastenings no less well suited
to their respective uses than the coque.
BolU.
As to bolts of metal, their use and
effect are the same as those of wooden
treenails ; but the superior strength of
metal over wood, enables a metal pin of
small diameter to afford the same degree
of strength as a wooden pin of large
diameter, so that vrith a view to dimi-
nishing the size of wounds in the parts
to be connected, metal bolts are in many
cases used in preference to treenails.
The accuracy of surface of a common
154
THK 8XA WAU attXSttOlT— kOTIOK 6W THB tftA.
bolt gives it an lulvantage in this respeet
over common treenails ; bat it has the
disadvantage, compared to a treenail, of
not extending in the least in diameter
after it is inserted, whereas a treenail is
inserted very dry, swells in some degree
with the moisture, to which it is after-
wards exposed^ even with that of the
atmosphere, and thus fits more tightly
into its hole.
There are the same reasons for making
bolts ttep-shaped as those that have
been given in regard to treenaib.
Bolts in common use after insertion
are riveted or clenched at die ends, on
the same view and with the same effect
that treenails are split at the ends, and
enlarged by wedges.
If the surfaces to be connected toge-
iber by bolts, be placed in perfectly close
contact, fastenings such as diese may in
the first instance prevent the separation
of those surfaces ; but such fiutenings of
themselves are ill suited by means or
riveting to draw the parts together with
sufficient force to press into each other
the little irregularities in the surface of
pieces to be connected, and which, if so
pressed, might prevent sliding motion :
therefore, should the substance of the
Sarts so combined contract ^terwards by
ryness or otherwise, though it were
onl^ the hundredth part of an inch, any
sliding motion, when eased of this fric-
tion, 18 no otherwise resisted than by
the stiffness of the bolt. Besides this,
the bolt, by the effect of reiterated strains
on the structure, although it may not
bend, is apt to gall into the wood, so as
to enlarge the holes, and thus admits of
that working which is so destructive of
the general structure of a vessel.
The efficiency of a given quantity of
metal in the form of bolts as now used,
might often be increased by forming it
into a double number of small bolts,
especially if step-shaped; and still more
80 if, instead of beinff driven in the middle
of the piece to be held, they were to be
arranged in two rows, each as far as pos-
sible from the middle of the piece.
The great expense of copper bolts is,
of itself, a sufficient reason for substitut-
ing, wherever practicable, the cheaper
material, wood ; but besides expense, it
would be advisable on another account,
namely, that the quantity of metal used
for fasteninffs may, in case of disasters at
flea, cause the vessel when taSl of water
to sink, whereas, had wood only hteA
used as fastenings, she miffht still have
buoyancy sufficient to keep her afloat*
{JYtbe eontinued t» our fiar/.)
♦ ■■ ■
THI SBA WALL aUBSTlON^MOTIOH OF
THB SKA.
Sir, — Now that vonr valnable Jodrnal
has fairly brought before the public the
subject of sea wafts, 1 will beg of you to
allow me to make some very brief fe-
mtaks on the subject.
Let us suppose we are some nHetf
from the land, in deep water, and (to
save time) let us also suppose ^re is a
strong wind blowioff m tbe direction of
the nearest land, and a high sea on.
Now, in this case, whatever may be
floatinff on the sorfsee will merely rise
and fali with the sea, and travel ovef it
only as the part above the line of floata-
tion is influenced bv the wind, Ibr tiie
sea in deep water does not travel,t but
the formation of the wave does, and ia
the direction of the vdnd. ^We are to
suppose it is not inflaenoed oy tide or
currents.) Let us, in imagination, fol-
low the wave. As we near the land, we
shall in all cases where a sea wall is re«
Suired, get into less water ; we shall now
nd that the sea will gradually assame m
different character, for in deep water
it but rose and fell, tbe agitation of the
snrface expending itself before i
to the bottom. But as we appr
land, the depth from the surfaoe to the
bottom is gradually becoming contracted^
not leaving sufficient space for the for«
mation of the wave to travel, wi^eiU
coming in contact with the ground. Aa
soon as this is the case, the upper portiona
of the wave will travel quicker than the
lower, in consequenoeof the friction pro-
duced in passing over the bottom. The
sea has now oomroenoed lo travel, and
from tbe same cause it increases in velo-
city as it nears the land. Tbe frietion of
the bottom also imparts a roUry asoiieA
• So little, genervUyipaaUAg, it the oott «f oef-
per fkstenings coniidered, that in a propoeal flrom a
■hlpbullder, referred to Sir Samuel, to tubititute
bolts for treenail! in fiutening the planks of ahlpi,
professedly ft>r the purpose of economy, by saving
thickness of the timbers, Sir Samuel fbund that,
Instead of the £960, or thereabouts, whioh tho
treenails for that purpose cost, the expense of the
copper bolts and rings proposed would amount to
about £15,0001
t The crest of a sea whan broken by the wind
will cause that and other particles it may oome in
oontnet wiUi to alter theb titiiirtionTBU «e# lo
SBA WAIL9-— SHOULD TH17 91 SLOVUta Oft VSKTZCAL
155
to eteh WBTe, and to each particle com-
poaing that waye; every yard of dis-
tanea, and every inch of decrease in
depth, ansmeDting this motion, which
inereasea Sie sneed with which the sea
travela over the bottom, until it attains to
that enormous Telocity we may so often
witoeaa on the bc»ch of an open sea. I
hate frequently seen, when the bottom
baa been peculiarly formed, the seas
actually jumping from the ground as
they approach tbe strand ; the friction
being so great that the high Telocity
oonld not be kept up by any other means.
We, therefore, know that die power of
the sea to OTerthrow a wall or any other
Blructure is greater the nearer we ap-
proaah the niUural boundary, and conse-
qoenUy leas and less, the farther we
recede from it and get into deep water.
Wc aaay alao see the reason why it does
not break upon a perpendicular wiJl
which is in deep water.
The objeetiona to perpendicular walls
9M mwkj ; but the most formidable is
the eDormona expense. In our adTanced
ante we may be said to have outstepped
progress, and our requirements in the
ahape of harbours of refuge and many
other national undertakings haTO become
wnmerons; therefore, it is absolutely
nece ss ar y that what is done should be
on the most economical scale, and pro-
doettve of the greatest effect* Perpen-
dicular walls have not, do not, nor wiU
they ever fulfil either of these condi-
tioiis. When the sea does break upon
the wall, which it will do if in shallow
water, the liability to get out of repair
is very great, and when damage is done
H la next to impossible to reinstate things
ae they were except by a new wall.
Space will not allow me to enumerate
an J other objections, which as I have above
nid are many. But if I may encroach
a tittle farther on your valuable pages
I will venture my opinion as to the form
which should he given to a sea wall or
Weak water.
TWke ehalfc or stone, (which is to be
|[0l at, or near, all localities) as it is
bn^n out of the cliffs or otherwise,
from the sise of a walnut to one, or,
one and a half foot cube, and shoot it
over the line of wall or breakwater,
leaving it to be formed by the sea, which
}km all the oapabiUties of effecting this
ia en inftniteli superior manner to any
wlvMhenr akiUcaa connaad. Whero
chalk ia used, the surf aee, whteh is not at
all times immersed, may be covered, in
like manner with stones, to protect it from
the action of the atmosphere. When
formed, the mass mav be consolidated
by a very simple and cneap process ; ana
wnen once prcqperly completed, genera-
tions and ages might pass away without
effeoting a change. Chalk, when im-
mersed, becomes very hard and durable.
In conclusion, I will most respectfully
remark, that Mr. William Dredge's ob-
servations respecting the angle of per-
cussion and recoil would not be applicable
in any other case than a ynH m deep
water. For, if in (we will say) 10 feet, a sea
were to strike an inclined pUne at the
point " d," it would not recoil to "/," but
rush up the plane towards *^ 6,*' m con?
sequence of the impetus the sea has ac-
quired in passing over the ground before
striUng. Hence we see the decided
advantage this form c^ face has over the
perpendicular, fbr the latter would have
to overcome the whole of the impetus at
one shock.
I remab, Sur, yours sespectfulW.
Wm.
BXLL
July as, 1MB.
8BA WALLS— SHOULD THST BK SLOPIMO
Oft VX&TICAI. ?
Sir,— The advocates of the kmg sea
slope universaUy lay it down as a oasis
for their reasonings, that the efficiency
of ihe upright face can be maintained
only upon Uie assumption, that the wavea
of the sea during storms have no pro-
gressive motion or percussive force, snd
uierefore do not break upon the upright
face. Whether this amounts to a true
enunciation of the belief of those who
advocate the upright profile, I cannot
say ; but true it is, beyond all doubt, that
any belief founded upon that assumption
would be erroneous. Tbe onward mo-
tion of tiie waves of the sea, and their
momentum, are demonstrated in many
ways, but in none more satisfisctoriljr
than by the valuable experiments of Mr.
Stevenson with his marine dynamome-
ter.
It is conceded, then, by the advocates
of the long slope (and who will deny it ?)
that the force developed by the blow of
the sea is exerted at the moment of im-
pact in a horisontal direction ; and thk
important point hiviqg been pievionsl j
156
8BA WALLS— SHOULD THEY BE SLOPING OR VERTICAL ?
settled, we shall proceed hereafter to
apply its consequences to the sloping sea
face. And now, in the first place, per-
mit me respectfully to ask your corre-
spondents who haye taken a part in
this discussion, why it has happened
throughout, that not one single at-
tempt has been made to apply the ordi-
nary principles of mechanical science to
guide us to a safe conclusion ? A sub-
ject purely mechanical has been discussed
at considerable length, the data being
forces applied in given directions upon
rigid substances : twenty conflicting opi-
nions have been formed and put forward ;
and it is gravely said that this is a case
in which mechanical science can lend no
aid, because, forsooth, it is the case of a
great breakwater. >
The ** strong opinions of eminent en-
gineers " have been referred to on both
sides; the "practical experience" of
others. I am iar from undervaluing
either the one or the other ; but I would
beg to impress upon the minds of all who
may not have attained such eminence,
that the unexplained opinions of men,
however exalted their position, should
never be adopted, as they too often are,
as substitutes to supply the place of their
own searching inquiries. As it is, the
"strong opinions" and "practical ex-
perience" of those eminent men have
left this important subject in such a state,
that unanimity of opinion respecting it
is now almost too much to be hoped for.
It would be an unwarrantable intrusion
upon your valuable space to repeat, in
any shape, the mere opinions which have
been put forward by your correspondents ;
and it is purely with the hope of being
able to turn the subject into the channel
of independent investigation, irrespective
of the opinions to which eminent men
are already committed, that I venture to
trouble you with this paper.
Let fig. 1 represent the section of a
portion of a sloped sea face standing at
any inclination, DER, to the horizon.
Now, by the common consent of all the
advocates of the slope, the blow of the
sea strikes it in the horizontal direction,
QP. The mechanical reaction of the
sloping plane itself, actually resolves the
force developed into the two equivalents,
BP and BA, respectively perpendicular
and parallel to the plane, the latter being
expended in urging the water up the
plane towardg R, while the former, oeing
Fig.l.
the direct shock, is entirely sustained
and destroyed by the plane. Now, it
may be easily shown that the portion
BA of the whole force which acts up the
surface of the plane increases as the sine
of the angle, DER, decreases, and that
the actual shock, PB, upon the plane de*
crease* in the same ratio. Hence, then,
is truly verified, the saying of Professor
Barlow (vol. xlviii., p. 574), that "much
of the direct violence of the water is
avoided by receiving that action upon an
inclined surface.'*
But it is necessary that we should
carefully trace the indirect action of the
component, BA, not only up the plane
towards R, but also in its descending
course down the plane towards £. And
here, let me observe, in my humble
judgment, lies the radical defect of any
rough sea surface — the root of that evil,
which has consumed unavailingly, enor-
mous amounts of labour and expense,
and which must ever remain the source
of destruction in any rough sea slope, so
long as the laws of nature remain immu-
table.
It has been shown that a component,
BA, of the whole force which strikes the
plane, acts along its surface in the direc-
tion ER ; and whatever the whole force
may be in any given case, in flat slopes
the component, BA, comprises by far the
greater part of it. This force, in passing
along £R, will strike the stone, B, near
the point, P, and the efibct will be that the
stone B will be turned upon its own axis,
and a moment of force be developed, hav-
ing PB for a lever, which, aetingnpon Uie
8«A WAttS— SHOULD TtfEY BE SLOPING OR VlftTTCAL ?
157
stone, C will kick it out of its bed as ef-
fectosll J as a man would with a crowbar.
Again, the body of water, in descending
from R to E, impinges upon the same
stone B, near the same point P ; and a
similar force is developed, which tends
to throw out the stone, A : and so this
operation is continued until the face of
the slope is breached, and then the work
of destruction proceeds rapidly, and is
easily consummated.
Tonr readers, no doubt, have observed
that, throughout the whole of the argu-
ments for the long slope, one prominent
idea prevails, namely, that some portion
of the violence of the waves is altogether
avoided through the intervention of the
slope. Indeed, in some parts of Sir
Howard Douglas's Protest, this idea as-
sumes such a definite shape, that it mififht
be fairly enunciated as follows :-»" Be-
cause tne whole direct force of a wave
upon a slope is less than upon an upright
surface in a given ratio ; it therefore fol-
lows, that so much of the action of the
water is entirefy avoided as corresponds
to that ratio.*' Now, it will require but
Utile thought to discover that this is a
serious mistake. It is true, that PB (fig.
I) is the only portion of the force directly
sustained by the slope, which is usually
muH as compared with that turned up
the plane ;. but it must be remembered
that the breakwater is not an abstract
plane, but a physical body composed of
an sggregste of particles, each of which
is liable to be acted upon, and even the
whole carried away in detail ; and it is,
consequently, not enough merely to say,
that the force of the waves is exhausted
in mnning up the rough incline, without
dnly appreciating their effects upon the
work in doing so, and the ruinous conse-
ouenees that must be the result, as before
ilfantrated.
Sir Howard Douglas in his Protest
enforces at great length, and with sin-
golar abilitv, the opinion that the lon^
dope should not be uniform, but that it
should be flatter and flatter as it ascends
towards high water, and generally,
where the force of the waves is strongest,
the slope there should have the least in-
clination to the horizon. Sir John Ren-
nie, too, (vol. xlviii. pp. 424, 425) labours
htt^ to establish the prescience of his
iilnstrioos parent in the case of the slope
of 5 to 1. The doctrine Isid down by
Sir J^bsa Bornie, and his mvestigation
of the effects upon a slope of 3 to 1, as
compared with that of 5 to 1, involves
in a great measure the whole controversy
as to whether sea faces should be sloping
or vertical. If it could be demonstrated
that it was possible by any natural means
for a slope of 3 to 1 built of certain
materials, and rising to a certain hori-
sontal level to be destroyed by the sea,
and in its stead established bv the same
agency, a slope of 5 to 1 or the same
class of materials and to the same hori-
zontal level ; then I should say the im-
portant problem was at length solved,
and any intelligent man would see at a
glance the disadvantages of every slope
between that limit of 5 to 1 and a verti-
cal face, which, in the event supposed,
would stand as the extreme limit of ill-
conditioned forms. Now, Sir John Rennie
lays down this doctrine for a particular
case, while Sir Howard Douglas asserts
the generalization of the proposition;
and I candidly confess, I feel it a hard
matter to question any assertion so posi-
tively made by such high authority. But
there appears to me beyond doubt some-
thing in this ^ doctrine which requires
explanation, and even suggests the pos-
sibility of its utter fallacy ; for it clearly
amounts to saying, That a given weight
(say a stone of three tons) having a
given force applied to it in a horizontal
direction, is more easily pushed up an
inclined plane o/ 18° than up one of 1 1%
the inclinations being taken with re-
ference to the horizon,
Referriog to the diaeram (fig. 2), AB
and CD are slopes inclined to the hori-
zon at W and 11'' respectively. By Sir
John Rennie*8 account of the Plymouth
Breakwater (vol. xlviii., p. 424) the
material included between those two
lines was carried over the top of the
Breakwater and deposited at the roar
slope, reducing the slope AB of 18^ to
CD of ll""; and hence it is laid down
as a fundamental truth, that the sea itself
had thus found out a lower plane CD,
up which it could not remove the stone
R^, notwithstanding that it had by an
equal force carried away similar mate-
rials from P^ up a higher plane AB, and
over the apex of the Breakwater. Sir
Howard Douglas's general assertion
amounts to this : that whereas a hori-
zontal force which is not enough to give
motion to the stone, R^, up the plane CD
of ir, will not only push it up AB of
158 SB A WALKS — SHOULD THVT BX 8L0PIKG Oft VBftTfCAIi ^
Kg. 2.
18^ but that it is in perfect accordance
with the deductions of science that it
should do so.
But as the waves of the sea increase
in height, the intensity of their force is
also increased. I admit this ; but the force
hi the horisontal line QR, whatever it
may be, is the same whether it strike an
obstacle at P or at R ; and the question
returns — Can the stone, P, be carried up
the plane P B, while the stone R, under
precisely the same circumstances, remains
quiescent upon the lower plane RD?
All the arguments which have been ad-
vanced in &vour of the long slope reply
to this question in the affirmative ; and
I therefore beg to submit that the authors
of those arguments are fairly called upon
to explain.
It appears from Sir John Rennie's
account of the Plymouth Breakwater,
that whenever the slope was reduced by
storms from 18° to 11'' that the top of
the work was also lowered in a corre-
sponding ratio. The sea therefore not
on/y reduced the slope to suit its own vio-
lence, but it aho lowered the top of the
work to allow a freer passage over It.
Had the work been carried up on the
slope, CD, the stone, R, would have
been still more easily carried away than
the stone, P, at the same level, and the
effect would have been to flatten the
hiffher part of the slone^ CD, and thus
bring it down to suit tne 'lesser force of
the water at that pardcular level, and i
still flatter slope would have been estab*
lished upon the higher parts of the 5 to
1 profile.
It appears impossible, therefore, to
draw a clear inference that any angle of
repose could possibly have been estab-
lished ; and considering the direction of
the forces applied, if an angle of repose
could not be found upon an inclined
plane of 18°, it is not easily conceived
now it could have been found upon the
lesser incline of 1 1 **. The fact per te of
the slope having been reduced fVom IS^
to 11°, with a corresponding depression
of the top of the work, does not estab-
bsh a relation between the force of the
sea and the slope ewdusivebf ; but sim-
ply shows that the whole mass was
reduced to that lower level where the
resistance of the materials became eqnal
to the abrading force. Had no depres-
sion of the work taken place on top, bat
the incline of 5 to 1 been carried out
the full heigh t| it would still have re-
mained to account for the phenomenon
upon philosophical principles ; but as it
is, I believe that all that has been stated
may have happened without establishing
any necessary relation between the force
of the sea and the inclination of the
slope.
Respectfully yours,
T. Shith.
Bridgetown, Wexford, July 31, 1848.
U9
[Patent dated February 8, 1848. 8pedflcatioa enroUed Aupiat 8, 1848.]
1. Ha ImprovenMots which form tha sixb>-
JMl 9i this pttent havs reUtioD, firftly, to
thm iBMsiirM B»4e of pewter, tin, and
othor mubUIb, ovdiBarily ued hy retail dealerf
ia selling spiriti» beer, oil, and other liquids,
and have for their object to facilitste the
tnasfier of the liquid from the messure to
the bottle or other receiving Tessel, and also
to prerent the waste attending the common
practice of taming the measure oyer for the
purpose of emptying it. Instead of making
tbe measure of a cylindrical or barrel form,
vith flat bottom, as usual, the patentee
makes it of a globular Cr eonoid^ form,
wHb an open orifice at bottom, to wlilch
^Meb ke attaches a tsp or cook, by which
k ssay be closed during the filUAg of the
■Mseiire, end opened when it is desired to
empty It. The tap is to be attached to the
■issiirci by soldering, or by any other suit-
shlo means. It is preferred to make it of
the sort of alloy of which liquor taps are
commonly made» called sometimes pot me-
tsl« and at others oock*metal; but the
pstentee does not confine himself to any
particular material for the purpose. On
the exterior of the tap, four Tcrtical fillets
are cast, in order that, when inserted in the
mootli of a bottle, it may not fill the same
eaactiy, bat leave air spaces between it and
flto giaas, for the escape of the internal air,
m t£o liquid is befaig poured fai.
S. A seoend branch of the patent relates
to tke sening by measure of milk, beer, and
other ttqidds out of portable pails, cans, and
olliar veeiels, snd has for its object to super-*
sede the necessity of carrying along with
such paHs, csoe, and other vessels, the va-
liona measures requisite for distributing the
contents of the same, according to the wants
of customers, as quarts, pints, gills, &c.
The pateutee constructs the pail, can, or
odker portable vessel, with such appendages
Aat it shall itself measure exactly whatever
fluaatlty of the contained liquid is drawn
from 11. The vessel is provided, as usual,
fr^ A lid or cover, which may, if desirabb,
be aaade fost with a padlock. A email or-
•■lar box, containing the principal portions
of tfaa aoe^uring apparatus, is mounted on
the top of the lid or cover. On the upper
and outside surfoce of this box there is a
eirde, graduated, after the manner of a
dock-dial, into gallons and the aliquot parts
of a gallon. At the bottom of the vessel
there is a tap (simOar to that before des-
eiibed} for drawing off tlie liquid. A bsJl-
eock floats on the surfkce of the Uquid, snd
k connected by a lever with the horizontal
iaSt of E bef d-wheel, whidh gears Into an*
other bovd-wheel which is fixed upon a ver«
tical spindle, which passes up through Ih^
top of the box, and exactly in the centre of
it. To the upper end of this spindle is
attsched an index-hand, which pdnts to the
words and figures on the gradaitod sairfseo
of the box. The mode of aetioti of thin
madilnery is aa follows t-^When the vessel
is filled with milk or other liquid, the ball
floats upon the surfoce, and ocenpies a hol-
low spaee made for it on tiie under side of
the lid or cover of the vessel. As the liquid
is drawn off, the ball, by its own gravity,
descends, and pulls round along with it the
first bevel*wheel, which causes the other
bevel-whed, into which it gears, and the
index-hand attached to the axis of that wheel,
to be turned round a proportionate distance,
so that by noting the space on the graduajted
surface traversed by the index-hand during
the first draught from the vessel, or between
any two draughts, the exact quantity deli-
vered each tiobe can be at once aecettained.
As, however, the ball-cock describes a por-
tion of a circle in its descent, it is obvious
that, for the same quantities of liquid taken
from the vessel, when full and when nearly
empty, it will not cause the index-hand to
travel over equal spaces, and therefore, in
order to correct sucSi inequalities the pateU'*
tee graduates the surface of the box accord-
ing to actual experiment and observation of
the spaces successively traversed by thif
index-hand, during one entire emptying of
the vessel.
Another arrangement of ^paratus suitable
for measuring the liquid contents of large
stationary vessels, such as brewers' and
distillers' vats, or, in other words, for ren-
dering the same self-registering, Is thus de-
scribed. The bsll-cock is attached by a
chain passing over a friction-pulley, placed
on the top of the vessel, to a set .of wheel-
work placed in a case affixed to the vat on
the outside. As the fltud is taken from
the vat, the ball-cock descends, and by
the action of the chain upon the wheel-
work, causes the index-hand to point out
upon a dial-plate in firont of the wheel-work
the exact quantity of fluid which has beea
taken from the vat. The rewinding of the
chain on the barrel of the wheel- work* upon
refilling the vat, is effected either by winding
up the wheel-work, or by the action of a
spring placed in connection with the barrel
upon wnich the chain is wound.
A third contrivance, for the same purpose,
consists of a glass tobe, which is aflixed to
a graduated scale placed on the firont of fht
Vat. The tidM is bent at its lower ottdy and
160
SAKITART REFORM V. THK INSAUITY OF SCIENCE.
the bent part is inserted into, and has free
oommnnication with the vat. The liquid,
consequently, will always stand at the same
lerel in the glass tube and the vat, and any
quantity which may be dravm off will be
indicated by the fall of the sorface of the
Uqnid in the tube, while, at the same time,
the quantity left in the vat will be indicated
on the scale. Instead of the tube being
made entirely of glass, it may be made of
metal, with a glass front inserted into it,
which would greatly diminish the risks of
fracture ; and the communication with the
▼at at bottom may be effected by means of a
metallic pipe and stop-cock.
aAMITART RBFORM 9. TH« INSANITY OF
8CIKN0B.
" If an apology be necetiaiy for th« following re-
marks, my excate will be found in the novelty of
•aniUrv legislation, the apprehension that errors
In details, or eomplication in the machinery, may
Impair the working of the measure, the literally
yital oonoem which the people have in its enact-
ment, and the unusual perils to which the public
health is exposed, from extraordinary states and
changes of the atmosphere, and the continued
menaces of renewed inrasion by the cholera."
PUBLICOLA.
Sir, — It has ever happened that, on
the introduction of any novel and exten-
sive measures, embodying important im-
provements in domestic science, a tole-
rable degree of practical efficiency has
onlr been attained through a long series
of blunderings ; and this, even in cases
involvinjp^ merely a common sense appli-
cation of well known and long established
scientific principles. The course taking
by the "almost all-absorbing topic of
the day" — sanitary reform, gives no in-
dication of becoming any exception to
the general rule. We of the nineteenth
century have iust stumbled over the fact
(donbtlesa well known even to the ante-
diluvian world), that a sufficient quantity
of "pure air" is, among other things,
essential not only to the happiness and
well-being, but to the very existence of
the human race. I say wb have just
come to the knowledge of this fact ; for,
although in individuu cases such matters
have long been well understood and in-
sisted upon ; yet, as a people^ we have
only just be^me conscious of " the
lamentably imperfect sanitary arrange-
ments existing in this country, and of
the better systems (in many respects, at
least) instituted in some parts of the
continent" The ordinary essentials of
health having been established — and the
lameatable disregard of them by the
community made apparent— by a ** Sa-
nitary Commission," remedial measures
have in consequence been propounded,
and the " Health of Towns" bes now be-
come the object of legislative care. What
incongruous subjects will — or, rather,
what will not— eventually be included in
" Health of Towns Bills ? " it were very
difficult to say. The condition of the
mind, bodv, and breeches-pocket — clean-
liness ana morality — pleasure and profit
— ^protection from fire and flood, as well
as most of the other ills that flesh w9M
heir to — will, doubtless, hereafter be
incorporated in the ramifieations of this
comprehensive measure.
While theorists are settling general
principles, however, practical men show
a disposition to grapple with details,
applying the results of " careful study"
to the public good. The cesspools, pre-
senting an extensive field for useful
employment, have been first attacked.
One party most judiciously proposes to
deodorise, before disturbing, the con-
tents of these soon-to-be-exploded re-
ceptacles, and afterwards to remove the
deodorized matter without producing soy
annoyance. Another party has been
operating pretty extensively upon the
cesspools in Clerkenwell, Sl Giles's, and
other low neighbourhoods, on a different
plan ; i^ia., by pumping the exuvis into
the sewers, diluting and agitating the
matter, so as to produce a copious e?oln-
tion of such " vile smells" as have only
been tolerated at Harrowgate, under the
presiding deities of Health— or Fashion I
The plan adopted has been, to run a
copious stream of water into the cenpool,
and then punip the night-soil, in its
diluted and difliised condition, into the
nearest drain ; thus causing a most in-
tolerable stench to rise, through every
untrapped opening, between the spot
operated upon and the outlet of the
sewer. Our unenlightened forefatherB had
the good sense to restrict the intermed-
dling with such deposits until after
''midnight*s witching hour;" our mo-
dem " nightmen," however, with a Uu-
dable disinclination to hide their candle
under a bushel, and with an utter con-
tempt for all such paltry and arbitrary
distinctions as day and night, invariably
take broad daylight for their perform-
ances. Although this mode of getting rid
of the contents of cesspools is effected
with little trouble or annoyance to the
RBIflNOTON's ST8TBM OF BRIDOB BDILDINO.
161
operatorBy it prodooes an abominable
Dnisance in the neighbourhood, and is,
altogether, a most wasteful mode of pro*
oeeding, both as regards the water that
ifl expended and the matter thrown away.
The latter objections might be obviated
by the employment of Messrs. Dean,
Dray, and Dean's cesspool cleanser (fully
described at page 151 of your 48th vol.) ;
but this is not perftetion I In the old-
&shioned way of emptying such places,
with the cart and pail, a certain quantity
of noisome odour escaped into and tainted
the atmosphere ; but every tyro in sci-
ence knows how greatly it would be
possible to increase the quantity of offen-
sive exhalations, by ngitation^ and dif-
jyawn of mrfaet in vacuo. Now, this
is exactly what Messrs. Dean, Dray, and
Dean's apparatus most effectually does ;
they provide an air-tight cart or waggon,
^^from which no effluvia can escape"
on the top of which is fixed an air-pump ;
from the body of the cart a feed-pipe
passes down into the cesapool to be emp-
tied. On working the air-pump a par-
tial vacuum is formed within the body of
the cart, when the pressure of the atmo-
sphere forces the semi-fluid night-soil
up the feed-pine into the waggon. Being
moat effectually disintegrated and agi-
tated in its passage, the matter freely
parts with its offensive vapours to the
exhausting influences of the air-pump,
the noxious effiuvia continuing to be
extracted, and pumped into the atmo«
sphere most energetically until the wag-
gon is " full." The night-soil thus acted
upon will be pretty considerably deodo-
risedf without the aid of Mr. fillerman.
If previously deodorised by that gentle-
man's process, the air- tight vehicle is
hardly necessary ; but, under any cir-
cumstances, the employment of an ait'
pump for such a purpose, either as
regards the cost and delicacy of such an
instmment, or its aetion upon the matters
to be removed, is about as oad an arrange-
ment as could possibly be resorted to.
It is just the reverse of what sane science
would suggest.
Unless it be that the /tfr^i/i^rw^ power
of night-soil is enhanced by this exhaust-
ing operation, I am at a loss to perceive
on what grounds the Royal Agricultural
Society, at their York meeting, awarded
a prise to Messrs. Dean, Dray, and
Dean's cesspool cleanser, ceruinly a noii-
agrieuUural implement] I can only
solve the difficulty by supposing it was
done for the sake of consistency, and to
maintain the perversity of their decisions,
agreeably to which, at the Northampton
meeting, they gave prizes to the steam-
engine that burnt the most coals, and the
fire-engine that took most men to do the
same quantity of work !
The introduction and perfecting of
sanitary reform is, after all, only a means
for the alleviation of miseries of our own
Creadon. Still, they were create un-
consciously ; in disregard, it may be, but
not in hostility, to numan health and
happiness ; and their removal or allevia-
tion is the work of science and legisla-
HoOf conscientiously, diligenUy, and phi-
lanthropically directed towards tneir
noblest ends. Quackery avannt I
I am, Sir, yours, &c.,
W. Baddblbt.
29, Alfred-street, Islington, Augiut 5, 1848.
[With all respect to our esteemed cor-
respondent, Mr. Baddeley, we most say that
we do not see wherein the force (if any) of
hia objection to Messrs. Dean, Dray, and
Dean's cesspool cleanser lies. Surely, it
must be allowed to be a great improvement,
in a mechanical point of view, to raise, by
the pressure of the atmosphere acting against
a vacuum, matters which would otherwise
have to be raised by scoop and backet.
What have deodorisation, or delicacy, or
anything of the sort, to do with this ? In
either case, there must be agitation of the
matters raised, and no more in the one case
than in the other.— En. M. M.]
■»
RMMINOTON's STSTKM OV BEIDOa
BUILDING.
Sir, — In the last Number of your Ma-
gazine, you published a description of a
bridge lately erected across the Trent,
near Ingestre, by Mr. Remington. A
model bridge, on the same principle, has
been standing for some months in the
Surrey Zoological Gardens ; and it was
also, at the time of its erection, briefly
described in your pages.
In the construction of these bridges, it
is evident that the object the architect has
in view, is to make tne longitudinal sup-
ports pr stringers (as he terms them)
sustain the bridge bv the direct cohesion
of the fibres ; and tnis he partiy effects,
but not to the extent his description
would lead lu to suppose.
169
OBSAf VIU AT HBW YO^M,.
If the stringen were at flexible aa n
rope or chain, aad firmly attached at
their eztremitiea to fixed abutments,
they would then, doubtieis, awume n
catenary curve; the strain would be
in the direction of the fibre, and the
statical conditions of the structure eluci-
dated by the formula applicable to the
catenary.
As there must, however, be always a
certoin amount of stifihessin the stringers,
this will tend to prevent them from being
adjusted to the action of the transit load
or any moving weight, and consequently
throw a cross strain in them. In conse-
quence of the stifiness, the stringers will
approximate in action to that pf the
girder, the equation of which is
2
Where W is the load which the sprder
wfU suppprt, s a constant quantity deter-
ipined oy experiment, and kd and / the
breadth, depth, and length, all in inches.
If the bridge is on the principle of the
catenary, then
y, 2Efl
ooiec Z of suspension,
w 3 Be sin / of suspension.
Where S is the cohesive strength per
square inch, and a the area of a trans-
▼qrse section pf the stringer at the abut-
ment
Reducing these equations to numeral
examples which will coincide with the
bridge at Ingestre, we have,
FirMi, /«150xi2-1800, A-5 and
<f-5 inches, and «»1600 lbs.
V-iii»4^li«!°-444-41b..
1800
for the absolute transverse strength of
each stringer, which, for the six, gives,
as the load which would break the midge
if it acted as a girder,
-444-4x6»2666'4lbs.
Secondly, on the principle of the cate-
Wy,
£»1]
J» 1)000, a»25, and sip of z of sur-
fto-sin 8" 40''--063952; whence
W»2 X 11-000 X 063952 x 26
«351701bs;
or, the si^ stringers wUl support
35170 x6»211,020 lbs.
It must not, however, be supposed that
the bridge is as stron? as this.
Mr. &emipgton*s bridge is, properly
speaking, neimer 4 girder Widge nof is
it endrelT sapported by the dh^ oobe-
sion of the stnngers, but approximatiii|[
to one equation or &e other, in propor-
tion to tne stiffness or flexibility of the
supporting timbers.
I cannot see much novelty in the do*
si^n, for bridges of this oeocription,
with iron chains instead of the timber
stringers, have been in frequent use 'for
military and opcupation bridges, apd
they are also to be inet with, supported
by ropes of grass, amongst the moun-
tain passes of the Himalaya, and in Ame-
rica amongst the An4es. ' The action of
the bars across the Avon, at Clifton^ fs
also upon the same principle.
The greatest pl^ections to bridges on
this plan, especially when built or tim*;
her, IS, that it is impossible to calculate
their strength, or to Know whether eacU
individual nridge approximates neareat
to the girder or ^he cateniurv construc-
tion, u it approximates the fornier|
the absolute strength is very small — ^if^
on the other hand, the flexibilitv of the
supports admits its approach to the cate-
nary, then the motion is exceedingly un-
pleasant and oljectionable.
If I am wrong in the above rather
hasty remarks, Mr. Remington will
have an opportunity, and I trust wil)
have the kinaness, to set m^ righf.
I am. Sir, yours, &c, M.
londOD, August 8, 1848.
OEBAT WJBM AT MIW TORK — flUPrpSl»
CAUSB, TUB aXPLOSION OP IMOAHOfM-
OBNT MITRl BT THE ACTION OP WATSI^
In July, 1846, a prodigious explosion, ef
nther series of explosions, took place ht
a store in Broad-strset, New York, by
which the contents of the building were
throfm in an intensely ignited stste over the
surrounding neighbourhood, and about 20Q
houses and two million dollars' worth of
property were destroyed. At a late Miietim
of tbe FhuikUn Institnte tbe piobeUe
causes of this disaster formed the suljecl
of a very interesting address by Dr. Hsre,
of which the Journal of the Institute gives
the following abstract :
As for as tiie oaths of highly oompetant
witnesses could avail, no gunpowder was
present; lo that the result could only be
attributed to the lesction between an enor-
mous qusntity of nitre and oombnstibls
m e r c h a ndi se with which t|ie stpf^ n^ pc^
OKXA* VIBl AT mw TOSX.
IfiS
In til tbara were
300,000 iSa. of nitre io pwoelf of 180 ibi.
(Mch Mcured by two Imgs, an additional
baf bjiving: bean put over tbat originally
employed.) About 180,000 Iba. waa lituatad
upon the aeeond iloor, 50,000 Iba. en the
fi{it floor, and 80,000 Iba. on the tUrd
floor.
Of the aBerdiandiae, the apfgregate waa
more than doable the weight of the nitre.
It waa, however, the general opinion of
thoao beet aequamted with the labject, that
whcB ignited with combnatiblea, nitre pro-
dnoea mily that apeeiea of eombution wluch
la oalled deflagration by chemiata, withont
being ei^Mble of the more violent and in-
stantaneona reaction dealgnated by the word
esploaknu TUa impreaaion waa atrengthened
by the ihilnre of erery effort (made by aeve-
rd eminont cheauata employed by the cor-*
poretion of New York) io explode nitre
by ignition with corabnatiblea.
' Nwertheieaa, agreeably to Haya, of Maa«
aadmaetta, an ezploaion waa efliected in hia
kbormtory, by bringing water into contact
with about 100 Iba. of incandeacent nitre |
alao the accidental fidling of a Jet of melted
nitre on aome water, in the laboratory of
tibe UniTeisity of Pennaylvania, had been
prodnctire of n aimilar rmlt.
The exploafam of a Tcaael laden with
nitre, wUdt, whfle lying in Boaton Har-
boor, wai bnmt to the water'a edge, and of
othen aimiUrly laden and bnmt, could only
be eoqpUfaied by anppoaing that nitre, when
anfficfently heated, will explode with water
in doe contact. Conaiatentiy, it might be
intered that thia aalt (well known to be a
oomponnd of nitric acid and oxide of potaa-
ainm or potash) woold explode with any
anbafeanee capable of yielding either or both
of the elementa of water or hydrogen. The
preaence of the latter would be equivalent
to water, ainoe it would, with the oxygen
ef the add, lam water.
In a letter, addreaaed to the diatinguiahed
chenoiat above mentioned in July, 1845,
Hr. Hare haa adverted to the exploaion
vriiieh aocoeeda the combuation of potaa-
rinaa upon water, aa ariaing from the com-
Htnafion of one portion of the water with
the reaoltmg incandeacent globule of oxide,
while the heat of thia globule uniting with
another portion of the liqui(|, converta it
into Idgh ateam. Moreover, it waf aug«
geated tiiat in thia instance, chemical affinity
betirecn the water and the oxidoi in cauaing
the pater and heated globule to coalesce, ia
equivalent in efilcacy to the momentum of
Uto hammer when a bar of iron, at a wdd-
Ing heat, ia forced into contact with aome
noiitnre aitnated upon an anvil.
Or* Han pranmea that no ^xfMtom can
tdce place nnleaa the reiigntfi far ^nAmwu
it are held or brought together, at the nio#
ment of reaction, by a cwtain foroe, either
chemical or mechanical.
Some chemical compounds, euch aa are
formed with fhlminic add, or with ammo-
nia, by metallic oxidea, alao the chloride of
nitrogen and perchloric ether, explode vio-*
lently without con^ement, ao as to fracture
a plate or saucer, upon which a small quan-
tity may be detonated; but pulverulent
mixtures, such aa gunpowder, however pow*
erfblly explosive when employed in gunnery
or rodc-blaating, in open veasels fladi with-
out firaeturing them, or producing any
report. In an exhausted receiver, gunpow-
der ia lar less explodve than when anbjected
to atmospheric pressure in an open veaaeL
Nevertheless, when gunpowder ia reatrained
until the temperature requidte for the ap-
propriate reaction of ita ingredienta ia
attained, it exerta a force far exceeding that
of the chamber confining it. In thia respect
it differe from steam, of which, when the
temperature of the fire applied ia anffidentty
high, the exploaive force ia directly aa the
pressure before bursting, and tins, of oouraey
ia commenaurate with the strength of tlit
confinhig boiler.
The ingredienta of gunpowder, aulphnr*
charcoal, and nitre, to produce the greateat
effect, require extreme comminution and
intimate intermixture by trituration, and to
be ao granulated, that the flame of tiie por«
tion firat ignited may convey inflammation
to the reat through the intentioea between
the grains. Ita auperiority over any other
mixture of nitre with combustible matter
deatitute of aulphur, b ooncdved to be due
not only to the pre-eminent anscepUbility of
thia aubstance, of vaporixation and inflam-
mation, but likewise to ita well-known
ability to decompose metallic oxidea by
attracthig both the metal and oxygen. Smee
an opinion waa expreaaed in 1845, in the
letter above mentioned to Haya, that the
formation of aulphide of potaadum ia the
firat atep in the proceaa of the explodve
reaction of gunpowder, Fanday haa alleged
the flame ol thia compound to be, in the
ouq in point, an important ioatnuneut in
the propagation of fire throughout t^
Theh^atie odour of the fomea eoQaeqvent
to the firing of cannon, and likewise of the
washings of a gun after the customary ser-
vice, demonstrate the production of a sul-
phide* It haa been found that a filtered
solution of tlie reddue displays, when tested
hyirop, the red hue which indicates the
presence of a eulpho<7anide.
Agreeably, hQir#T«r, tQ e qualitative exa-
mmation, the solid m^ifim^i PX^MiM 8«i*:
164
GREAT 9IRB AT NSW YORK.
powder oooBifts mainly of nearly equal parts
of carbonate and anlphate of potash, while
the gaseoQB residae is constitated nearly of
equal Toliiines of carbonic add and nitro-
gen. Of course the sulphate may arise
from the oxidation of sulpliide, formed at
the outset. Notwithstanding that the in-
gredients of gunpowder are prepared as
above stated, confinement is necessary to
prevent the grains from being thrown apart
and chilled, so as to prevent the propagation
of the ignition, through the congeries form-
ing a charge, by means of the flame of the
first portions fired. This was fully demon-
strated by the exposure of a pile of gun-
powder comprising enough for the charge of
a musket, within an exhausted receiver, to
a wire intensely ignited by a galvanic dis-
chaige. The grains did not take fire in-
stanUy, probably because the vapour evolved
prevented actual contact ; and when igni-
tioD did ensue it extended only to the pro-
duction of a feeble flash. On examination,
it was found that a portion of the powder
had escaped inflammation.
In the next place, a like weight of gun-
powder was consolidated into a cylinder by
intense pressure. Thus prepared and ignited,
by contact with an incandescent wire in the
exhausted receiver, more than half of the
cylinder remained unconsumed.
A much larger cylinder of the same mix-
ture, similarly consolidated, placed at the
bottom of an iron pot, 4 inches in diameter
and 12 inches in depth, on being touched
by the end of an iron rod reddened in the
fire, burnt at first like a squib, but towards
the last was dissipated with an activity in
some degree explosive, probably in conse-
quence of the pressure created by the reac-
tion of the gaseous current generated by its
own deflagration.
The want of confinement, which is thus
capable of lessening the explosiveness of
gunpowder, of which the constituents are
intimately intermingled, is still more en-
fisebUng, where analogous reagents are ig-
nited together without admixture or com-
minntion. Under these circumstances, the
reagents are made to recede from each other
by the generation of that vapor or gas, to
the evolution of which, under confinement,
the capability of exploding is due. Thus
sundered, they are chilled by radiation, so
that the temperature requisite to sustain
and communicate ignition is not supported.
Moreover, the rapidity of reaction being as
the multiplication of the points of contact,
and these being fewer as tiie substances are
less dirided and intermingled, the deflagra-
tion takes place in detail, instead of having
that simnltaneousness whidi is indispensa-
ble to render it expletive.
In addition to the ideas above mentioiied
as having been conveyed in Dr. Hare's let-
ter to Hays, it was urged, also, that his
inference as to the explosion of water
with incandeseent nitre bemg attribntable
to a reaction analogous to that repreeented
as taking place when potassium is burnt with
the oxide of potassium, was supported by
the fact, that a white heat, the base of nitro
spontaneonsly abandons its add, while fimna
water it cannot be separated by any tempe-
rature. Consequently, the presentation of
substances, consisting of carbon, bydrogeoy
and oxygen, by yidding water to the luise,
could not but be productive of a result ana-
logous to that whidi remits from the pre-
sentation of sulphur and carbon.
The only obstade is as follows :^3nb-
stances containing hydrogen and oxygen,
whether in the proportion for fonnhig watery
like sugar, starch, gum, and wood; or
having an excess of hydrogen, like oils and
resins; moreover, all the oonstitaenta of
nitre, even the base, are susceptible of the
aeriform state at the temperature prodndble
by the reaction of nitre with them. But
when kept together until that point is at-
tained, the explosive power must be fully
equivalent to that of gunpowder. The re-
agents are in a state analogous to that of
two gases extremely condensed.
The explosibility of incandescent nitre with
water was illustrated in the small way, by
heating a portion in a platina capsule by the
flame of a hydrogen-oxygen blowpipe, and
sudden immenion in the liquid. So aetive
was the explosion, that a portion of the re-
sulting hydrate flew ont upon the operator.
Yet, when thrown in the same state upon
molasses or sugar, no explosion ensuod :
nevertheless, when a capsule containing
nitre heated to the point of volatilization,
was struck with the face of a hammer,
coated with sugar melted upon it and made
to adhere by moisture, a detonation took
place ; a still more powerful detonation was
produced as follows :
Upon an anvil, a disk of paper of 3 inches
in diameter, was laid, covered with pulve-
rized sugar. Over the sugar was placed
another similar disk covered with pulverized
nitre. A bar of iron, rather wider than the
disks at a welding heat, was then hdd over
them, and subjected to a blow from a dedge.
An explosion, with a report like that of
a cannon, ensued.
Instructed by the ftusts and oondderations
above stated, it is inferred that the explo-
dons which contributed to extend the ooa-
flagration in New York, as above mentioned,
arose ftt>m the reaction of the nitre with
the combustible merdiandise with which it
was surrounded. It is presumed that as
BARON YOK RATBBN'a C0KPRS88E1>«AIR LOCOMOTIVE CARRUOB. 165
loott M the fire leeched eny of the ^nntiy
bege, it mwt hiTe nm rapidly throngh the
wlMile pile, by meant of the intersticea iie«
eataarily exiating between them, the nitre
fritii whieh they were embaed ceasing them
lo deflagiate. Mneh of the salt being thus
brought to the temperature of fdiaon, it
mnat ha^ ran abont the floor, reached the
eombeatiblea, and loon found its way to the
next atory throogh the seattlea, which were
opea* iJl the floors most haTo been rapidly
dsitrayed by the oonaeqoent deflagration»
hr ew^ceading in activity any ordinary oom-
bnatiaii. Meanwhile, the nitre being all
liqnifiad and collected in the cellar in a state
of faeandeseenee, and the merchandise oon«
glom erated by the fusion of sugar and shell
lac, aided by the molasses, the height, the
Uqoidity, and temperatnre moat haTc pro-
dnoed idl the eonditiona requisite to intense
delomationa. The floors having been con-
suned, the storsa must have been equiyalent
to an enormous cradble of twenty feet by
ninety, at the bottom of which were nearly
three hundred thousand pounda of nitre,
raperfioially heated lar aboTo the tempera-
ture producible by any furnace so as to
eonvert the reagenta into nascent aeriform
matter under a pressure of half a million of
poundf. The intense reaction, howerer,
would not permit of durable contact. At
each impaet, the wlmle maas must have been
thrown up explodfely, and hence the suc-
eeasive detonations. But the chemical re-
aetioa, the heat, and the height of the fall,
growing with their growth, and strengthen-
faig witii their strength, th^ last dcTation
waa succeeded by the thundoing report and
atnpendous explosion, of which it has been
an object to aJford a satisfactory explana-
tiOB.*
HOW TRB TOTING IK NATIONAL A8SKM-
BLUa IB (PBOPOaXD TO bb) MANAGBD
IM VEAMGB.
Each deputy is to have a ball of equal
Rxe and weight; at each seat are to be
placed two small tubes, and the occupant of
the seat drops his ball into one or other of
theae, according as he wishes to vote, aye
or nay. Under each of the corridors which
separate the ranges of seats are placed two
larger tubes, extending from the extremitiea
of the hall, into one of which open all the
tabes destined to carry the affirmative, and
into the other those destined to carry the
negative votes. These tubes are established
with properly calculated slopes, so as to
« In a short time a mora circumitantial account
of Dr. Hare's experimenU and inferences respect-
ing the Bubjecta of the shore conununicatlon will
hopobUshed.
bring the balla certainly and rapidly along
with them, and each terminates io a counter-
balanced reservoia; the adjustment of which
allows the appreciation of all weights from
that of a single ball up to that of 900 (the
number of votea in the assembly.) Each
reservoir acta upon a aeparate index-hand
(that for the affirmative Totes being white,
that for the negative black) which moves
over a semicircnhur dial sufficiently large to
be divided into the requisite numb^ of
parts, easily risible from sll parte of the
halL The position of the hand will then at
onoe indicate the number of votee, ^§ and
nay.
FIB8T TRIAL OJT BABOIT VON BATHBN'8
GOMPUMSBD AIR liOCOMOTIVR CARRIAGE
ON COMMON ROADS.
We have eeveral times taken notice of the
compressed air locomotive carriage, whieh
was in the course of construction in the
workshop of the College of Civil Engineers,
Putney, according to the plans, and under
the immediate direction of. Baron Yon Ra-
then (secYolxlvi., p. 576, vol. xlvii., p. 93,
vol. xlviiL, p. 61.) We have now the plea-
sure of announcing that it has been at
length completed, and an experiment made
with it on tiie common highway, which,
though not exempt from the mischancea so
common to first trials, is sufficiently en«
couraging.
This first trial was made on Wednes-
day last, on the road between the College
and Wandsworth. The carriage travelled
the distance (about one mile) from begin-
ning to end with an nniform and regular
speed of about eight miles per hour ; and an
attempt (as we understood) was then made
to increase the pressure, in order to attain a
speed of 10 or 12 miles, when, unfortu-
nately, some of the tobes of the air reservoir,
which had been worked in the course of last
week to a very high degree of pressure, and
thereby much injured, gave way, and ex-
ploded, (happily without injury to anyone).
Nevertheless, we may consider the prob-
lem of the practicability of obtaining an
uniform working power, from compressing
air in large quantities, and to a high degree,
to have been thus determined in the affir-
matiye. Though the degree of speed safely
attainable is a point yet to be ascertained,
it is a great deal to have established the
principle that compressed air eon be made
practically ayailable aa a motive power, and
is but dependent on mere soundness and
strength of matorials for a large meuure
ofi
106
wnittT mt ot nsw iiraustt PATtiits;
tfft*9HAtt >Bt>VSMOMttI» OV GSOKBTBT.
The Gresham Profestonhlp of Oeometry
was held for the last Arty yean by Dr.
Birch. Thii gentleman lately died, leaTing
Gresham Goflege pretty mnch where he
fonnd it as to literary celebrity, though
somewhat altered fai its locality. Hie dbe-
tors hsTc supplied the loss by the appoint-
ment of Mr. BdUnt^ the son of a oommon-
coondlman, who (the son we mean) distfai-
gnished himself at Cambridge as twenty-fifth
senior opthne and iixty-fifth man of his
year, eighteeo years ago^ His oompetitots
were ProAiiior Moeeley, Mr. Cowio, a senior
wrangler, Mr. Potts, the anthor of the best
Rngliah work on geometry of this oentory,
fuid some otheri. We augnr great things
ffom a gentleman who is preferred to others
ftppareirtly so mndi Ids superiors ; attd our
prognostications are yet more tcnguine when
we remember that he, at his secession, is as
well known to the sctentifio world as his
predecessor was after foity years' tenure of
the ehair of BriggSi Barrow, and Hooke.
Our contemporary, the Meekania* MO'
g^hut has fished out the preceding facts.
This joumsl, which has taken up the subjoet
with meritorious warmth—for really Gres-
ham College is a disgraoe to modem ciTili-
aation^-offers to retract its censures if one
tingle witness, who knows the difference
between Taylor's theorem end Christie'sy
will say that he has gained from the Gres-
ham lectures on geometry any single idea
which was not as common as flints in a
chalk-bed. We are afraid that our contem-
porary has here committed himself; and we
should Uke to play the part of the friend
Who used to institute a suit in Doctors'
Commons in certain cases of marriage within
the prohibited degrees, thereby to Under an
enemy from doing it. We really haTC some
idea of Taylor's theorem, and could get it
ftp in time for the hearing ; though^ what
Christie's theofcm is, we do notimow,— *we
suspect our contemporary has some joke on
his anvil. But, if we can qualify, we should
then proceed to say, that we once heard two
men talking about the Gresham lectures, —
and one of them told the other that happen-
ing to stray into a Gresham lecture-room
while the professor of geometry was waiting
Ksr an audience, it so fell out that his en-
trance made a quorum. The professor was,
dierefore, obliged to read, which he pro-
eeeded to do from a paper containg a lecture
on the properties of Jkane, with substantia-
tory citations from .Aristotle ! Now, surely
sndi ideas are not as common in geometry
as flints in a chalk-bed.
Our contemporary declares that he will
endeayour to form an audience for Mr. Ed-
kins, and report his lectures. This is the
right ways-
have set Gresham College on its legs again
long ago. A committee of publio*spiiited
individuals, who would subdivide into eeo-
tions, entitled '* Qnomms for the snpervi.
sion of the Gresham Breach of Trust,^' and
act up to their name, womld deserve thanks.
But our contemporary seems to hsEve some
notion that his plan is to act by shaming ttie
Corporation of the City of London, in whidL
idea he seems to «s to be ai sanguine as Mr.
Pickwick, when be thought he ooufalabaah
Dodson and Pogg. No, no 1— Mr. Bdkiitt
will be led to such research and reading ie
will fit him, St least, for his onUnsiy dntite
long before the speer of our eonlempoiaiy
wiU find a weak place in the sheU of the dtj
turtle. We reoommtod to th^ new profot-
sor to bestir himseif i and as he hss gained
his position to the exclusion of men of m
much higher caste, let him acquit himself of
being an aocomplioe before the foot b^ show-
ing that he does not mean to be one after it.
Let him make up hie mind to retire in fisvonr
of his future self ; and in the meantime, Ist
him. enjoy himself in training his suoceiaor.
Our contemporary seems to take for
granted, that by geometry ^ was meant geo*
metry as distinguished from otiier perti of
mathematios. We, on tiie cbntrary, are
persuaded that mathematics in general were
intended. It was our purpose to have
argued this point; but we desist, Irom a
eonviction that, until the arrival of better
days, it matters nothhig whether Sir Thossas
Giesham meant geometry or gymnastics. It
is useleis to settle the plaoes for meat and
bread in an empty pan^, particularly when
we know that neiUier butcher nor baker has
received an order.
The time must come when the funds given
to the advancement of mankind by the noble
citizen shall cease to be the private patron-
age of a few illiterate liverymetf. The Cor-
poration of London is ttrong'-^-bat there
Cometh a stronger. — The Aikmmwm*
WKSSXT LIST 0» KBW SltOUSH PATElfTt.
Dancan Maekenzle, of Ooodmsn's Pieldt, duuiii-
(beturer, for eertain impr^Tementa In Jaequaid
machinery for figuring fabrict and tisauei generally,
and apparatus for transmission of designs to said
Jaequard machinenr, parts bt which are apptlcaMe
to playing muiical Initrumenta, composing printing
types, and other like purpoaes. (BeiAg a commu-
nication.) August 5 ; six months.
David Newton, of Macclesfield, Chester, mer-
chant, for certain improvements in the appUcatlon
of glass and glazed surfaces to nautkal, architec-
tural, and other similar purposes. August 7 ; dz
months.
Samuel Thornton, of Birmingham, merehant, and
James Edward M'Conneli, of Wolverton, Buoklng-
hamahire, engineer, for improvementa in ataam
engines, and in the means of retarding enginaa and
carrlagee on railways, and in connectlog railway
carxlages or waggons together ; also improvements
krnrttfinttA^t^* 16*1
n fWWrtiBg ■ WWflltiB*^**t^1?** bMWMA Od6 ftet of ft for CSttAlli MjptoVSBHBts in flio imHIlfMtWTft of
Mhray tfiin aiia anofher, bf tlgiiBli or otherwite. malleablo Iron. Aurast 8 : six months.
Av^st 7; tljc months. Joshua Cooch, of Harleston. Korthatbptonshire,
John Meteilfe« of Little Bolton, Lancaster, ma- agricultural implement maker, for improvementa
tlMne maker, and Robert HalUwell, of the same in sackholdert. Auguiit 10; six months,
tlace, nechanle, for eertain machinery or apparatus William Thomas Henley, of Clerkenwell, philo-
Ibr ptepariog and ipinnlng cotton and other fibrous sophical instrument maker, and David Qeorge Fos-
•nbftaoeei. August S t tix months. ter, of Clerkenwell, aforesaid, metal merchant, for
Moee^ Pool6( cl London, gentleman, for improve- certain Improvements in telegraphic communica-
aiecrta Hi the siaBuAeture of casks and other siml- tlon, and in apparatus connected therewith, parts
Jar Yesaels of ^ood. (Being a communication.) of which improToments are also applicable to the
Jnsgnst 8 } six ttonthi. moving of other machines and machinery. Auguat
Samuel Lees, of the ixm of Hannah Lees and 10; six months.
Bona, of Park Bddge, Lancaster, iron manufacturer,
iHtmtsAf tni 61r i>Bti«As fok abticli^ dv Utility ftfiortfTSBCo:
tMleef Ho.in
Aaclatra-theRe-
tibn. glsier. proprietors' Names. Addreasei. Sutjeeta of Deaigaa.
Avg; t IIM ThdtDBiBunihamClark, Lawnnoe Poutney-lane, Lon-
doDM.....M..«M*......».. A direction label.
-^ t Conical spring M tillway
* liit JohriBrowd .-.^SheflhW J 'J^^^'tJ^^^^
V octagon steeL
7 1528 John Robert Ororer ^ Castle-street, Holbom Letter paper.
1829 Thomas Porter Strand .m... Shirts.
8 1880 Tboinaa Dbfihora Liverpool m...... « Tassel ihstener for brooches,
clasps, buttons, &c.
„ 1581 Charles Twigg ...^ Birmingham ^.^ A sewn-through shank papier
m8ch6 button.
„ 1532 RcblnMn and Fussell... Mill Wall Works, Poplar ......m. Wrought iron railway wheel.
TO ABCHITBCTS, BUILDERS, &c.
0(mp6r-Wire Oord*
T> B. JtiWALL 8r Cb.'» PATENT IMPROYBD COPPER-WIRE CORD for tfrlNDOW SAflft LINES,
-^^ H ot-hoQfea, Lightning Conduetors, Hanging Pictures, Clock Cord, and various other purposes for
whJcb hempen rope haa hitherto been used. This nevf and valuable Patent is fast superseding the use
of the hempen cord, and is strongly recommended to all Builders and other parties connected with the
^bove. Th£f Wfrtf Cord may be had wholesale, and specimens seen at the Office of the Patentees, No. 163,
Penchuieh-street, W. T. ALLEN, Agent; or retail of G. and J. DEANE, 46, King William-street, and
K. PARKS, HO, Fleet-street; also of all respectable Ironmongers.
GtTTTA P£RCHA COMPASnTsTwORKS,
WHARF ROAD, CITY ROAD.
London, !«/ JpfU, 1848.
VPHB OUTTA PERCHA COMPANY have great pleasure in stating that the steadily increasing demand
•^for the pAf ZMT Gutta PxncfiA DAxviko Bahdb justtfles the utmost eonfldenee that they are fUlly
approved.
Their AMblHty and aCrengtb—pennanent contractility and uniformity of substance— their son-tuseep-
tlhilfty of io^lry from contact with Oils, Grease, Acids, Alkalies, or Water—and the facility with whioh the
single Joint required can be made in Bands of any length— render thdffl superior fbr almost all working
purposes, and decidedly economical.
Oairoaasaf Tvaiiro of all aiaea, Bovoixa, CATHSTSKa, Stxthxscopxs, and other Surgical Instruments;
Movx^iyoa ron Pictvxx Pbamxs and other decorative purposes; Whips, Thovgs; Tbmnis, Golv, and
CxzcXJR Balls, ftc, in great variety.
_ Patent Ghitta Perdui Shoe Soles. ^ ^ . , , ^,
The applicability of Gutu Percha Soles for BooU and Shoes havmg been extensively and satlsfsctorily
ieiCed, we can unhesitatingly recommend the material prepared for this purpose, ita merlu having been
Acknowledged by ail who have tried it. indeed, experience has proved that Gutta Percha Boles wear twice
aa long as leather^ with great additional personal comfort; and they remain perfectly impervtous to wet
until quite worn through.
^ Boot and Shoe Soles for Stunmer Wear.
The fact of the total iniperviousness of these Soles to water, enables the most delicate, by the use of
them, to escape the suffering which the proverbial uncertainty of our climate, xvxs iv SUMMxa, so often
iaflicta upon the incautious, and this effect msy be secured by a Sole so thin and light, as to afford to the
wearer a degree of ease and comfort hitherto unattainable, in conjunction with security against damp.
Ji tk4 tOmtt Hau, th» rtmarlnbif non-conduetiug proper tiu of Gutta Percha afford a moMt vai%abl« pro-
jieeNeiB to tkM* mho are suditeteU to e^ffering or inconvettienee by walking «j»o» heated pavemeute.
The question of the dtirability o^ Gutta Percha Soles, aa compared with Leather, has lone since been
daeidcd in Avour.of the former; ami BO Imiteac* of failure has yet eome to nie knoir-
Of fbie Oottpany wlii«h nay not be iCaertbed to a nesiect ot tlieir Frinted
168
.AJDlTSftTISEMBllTS.
To InTMfttors And Patentees.
MESSRS. ROBERTSON ft CO.,
PATEHX SOX.||CZTO&l,
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Edzvor of the Mbchanics' Maoazivs from its
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BKicroftcopic DhuitrationSy
WITH descriptions of the New Microscopes, and
ample Instructions for Use. By Axdrsw
PmiTCHASD, M.R.I.
Also, by the same, Price 128.,
A HISTORY OF INFUSORIA, Living and
Fossil, with Descriptions of all the known species
of Animalcules, and upwards of 500 Engraved
Figures.
NoTs.— Part I. of the above work, entitled " A
GENERAL HISTORY OF ANIMALCULES,"
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London: Whittaker and Co., Ave Maria-lane.
To Engineers and Boiler-
Makers.
LAP- WELDED IRON TUBES, FOR MARINE
AND LOCOMOTIVE STEAM-BOILERS,
Tubes for Steam, Gas, and other purposes; — all
soru of Gas Fittings. The Birmingham Patent Iron
Tube Company, 42, Cambridge-street, Birmingham,
and Smethwick, StaflTordshlre, mannftcture Boilers
and Gas Tubes, under an exclusive License f^om
Mr. Richard Prosser, the .Patentee.
These Tubes are extensively used In the BoUera
of Marine and Looomotftre Steam Engines in
England and on the Continent ; — are Stronger,
Lighter, Cheaper, and more Durable than Brass or
Copper Tubes, and are warranted not to open in
the weld.
42, CAMBRIDGE-STREET, CRESCENT,
BIRMINGHAM.
Works— Smethwick, StaSbrdshlrf.
LONDON WAREHOUSE. No. 6<. UPPER
THAMES-STREET.
Automaton Calcnlatonk .
MR. WERTHEIMBER'S Patented AUTOMA-
TON CALCULATING MACHINES, perform-
ing both Addition and Subtraction, ftom one fartbiox
up to a million of pounds, (price 4/. 4«.), adopted
by her Mi^eaty, by the Board of Trade, and seven!
other Government Offices; and the REGISTER-
ING MACHINES, which Indicate the number of
Strokes performed by a Steam engine(prioe S/. 8«.),
adopted by the Admiralty and the most oelebrsted
engineers of England, are now on sale at Messn.
Watkins and Hill's, Mathematical Instrument
Makers to her Majesty, 5, Chaiing<cross.
I
Tiie Railway Record,
(EDITED BY JOHN ROBERTSON, M.A.,)
IS published early every Saturday Morning, sad
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The RaUwaji Record will be found a ^uliaiiy
eligible medium for Advertisers of all articles con-
nected with Railway Companies, and all matten,
whether of use or luxury, which it is sou^t to
bring under the notice of Capitalists.
Price 6d. stamped; Office, 153, Fleet-street,
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♦ —
CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER.
Description of Walker's Patent Hydraulic In-
gine—< vUik engravinge) m.....m....m 149
On the Means of Fastening together the Com-
ponent Parts of Vessels for Navigation-
Treenails, Bolts, Coques, &c. By the late
Brig. Gen. Sir Samnal Bentham «..•• IM
The Sea Wall Question— Motion of the Sea.
By Wm. BeU, Esq — - 154
Sea Walls-^Should they be Sloping or Verticslf
By T. Smith, Esq., C.E.— (wriM emgravingt) ISi
Specification of Bird's Patent Improvements in
Liquid Measures ^»..„.— IS'
Sanitary Reform v. the Insanity of Science.
By Mr. Baddcley ^.^m. 160
Remington's System of Bridge Building ....... 161
Great Fire at New York— Supposed Cause, the
Explosion of Incandescent Nitre by the
Action of Water ^ ..m.... 16S
How the Voting in National Assemblies is (pro-
posed to be) managed in France .m.m..< 1^
First trial of Baron Von Rathen's Compressed-
Air Locomotive Carriage on Common Roads. W
The Gresham Professorship of Geometry ..»•••• 1^
Weekly List of New English Patents ........... 1^
Weekly List of New ArUcles of UtiUty Regis-
tered .^ ^ l<y
Advertisements - ^—— ^^
LONDON: Edited, Printed, and Published, Hf
Joseph Clinton RoberUon, of No. 166, Fleet-
street, in the City of London.— Sold by A. ssa
W. GaUgnani, Rue Vivienne, Paris; Machin sad
Co. DubUn I W. C. CampbeU tad Co., Hamboif h.
MUSEUM, REGISTER, JOURNAL, aKD GAZETTE.
No. 1306.]
SATURDAY* AUGUST 19, f848. [Price 3J., Stomp«d» id.
Edited by J. C. llobcrUOB« li8, Fle«t-str«et.
A GOVERNABLE BALLOON.
Fig. 1.
fig. 3.
roL. ZLIIt.
110
PtAN or AK AtRIA:L tOCOMOTtTB OR OOTSRNABLV BALLOON.
A BALLOOK possesses a principle of
znetion indepenaenlly of anj mechanical
contrivance, or other means, than gas
and ballast; that is, a motion upwards
when it displaces a greater w$ighi of air
than itself, and downwards when it dis-
places a less weight. It possesses this
m common with other things^for in-
stance a bullet, but this motion is only
simply up or down. Put, however, a
bullet on the top of an inclined plane*
and its motion becomes diagonal. Now,
Jet us apply this to a balloon. To pro-
duce on the balloon a similar effect to
that of the inclined plane on a bullet, let
us add to a common balloon a kind ot
horizontal sail (of which an idea may be
formed from fig. 1) with some contriv-^
ance for inclining it as required (for the
contrivance see further on). Let it be
required to navigate the balloon from A
to 6, fig. 2 ; incline the sail up towards
B (the gss and ballast are in a proportion
productive of an upward tendency).
Arrived at B, or the equilibrium eleva-
tion of the balloon, let out some gas,
which will give it a tendency downwards,
and incline the horizontal sail down to-
wards C ; arrived at C, throw out some
ballast, and incline the sail up towards
D ; and so on till you reach 6.
If there is any wind, the balloon must
besteered as if going so much to wind-
ward of your destination as the wind
would carry you in the same time.
So far good ; we have got the means
of going from A to G : let us now turn
our attention to increasing the speed of
the balloon. Towards this end, let us
make the '* Ethereal Argo*' something
resembling the *• Oceanic Argo " in
form — in other words, make the balloon
approachiuff to ship shape; perhaps
something like fig. 3, with a << tail*' A,
to eive the inclination when required,
worked by ropes, CO, which pass through
blocks in the upright spar, thence to a
man in the car; and a rudder, B, to
point the machine to the quarter re-
quired, which may be worked in a man-
ner similar to the tail, by ropes pass-
ing through blocks fixed to DD, (not
shown in the figures to avoid confu-
sion ;) and as, in the arrangement I have
made, CE interferes with the rudder, B,
I have put two ropes, either to work the
tail with, as the other may require to be
slackened for the play of the rudder ;
also the rudder might be fixed at J to a
spar passing from H to 1 .
I cannot resist the temptation to go a
little further in this ramble of mine after
Daedalus.
To fig. 8 I think we may add a couple
of screw fans, perhaps in the places
dotted off, D6, DG, to be worked by a
connecting gear by a man in the car.
Experience must show if a machine
Bttfficientlv large to carry the gear and a
man could be made to ''go** to any pur-
pose or not| by the sole labour of that
man.
Having gone so far, why not go fur-
ther and make a monster machine at once
to be worked by *an engine ? Of course
ether would be better than steam. In
ihis last case the fuel will do admir-
ably as ballast (see commencement of
this) ; vou might steam up AB, let out
gas and run down BC, steaming up CD
and C. In steaming up, each ounce of
fuel oonsomed would help you up more
easily.
The machine in thi^ last form, I con->
sider as a combination of Henson*8 and
Fitter's plans.
Atmospheric air is made to raise a
balloon by heating it : could not some of
the gases used to raise balloons without
being heated, produce a much greater
effect by being heated ?
The spread of the horizontal sail
might be made reducible as the weight of
fuel diminishes, or they might be made
to coUapse.
After all, Mr. Editor, these are but
mere hints ; but I hope there may exist
some enterprising person to take them
and prove them hits.
It was seeing Mr. Fitter's ** Archime-
dean" in a number of your Magazine for
June, 1 847, (only just to hand from an
aceidental delay,) that has encouraged me
to send you the foregoing.
We have cot very tjear the maxtmnm
of speed on land and water, whereas in
the air it is yet searcely suspected that
we can "go" at all.
Mr. Fitter makes a slight mistake
when he says that increasing the size of
the balloon would render the machine
** ungovernable ;*' it would not alter the
power of governing the machine's mo-
tions, as regards their direction, in the
BIK SAUUn BBNTHAX ON 8HIP VASTBlQKaS.
171
ktti— it woQld merely diminiBh their
■peed. The balloon is not like a ship in
tois reepect; the latter is half in one ele-
ment and half in another, and can as it
were lay hold of the one to direct a mo-
tion caqsed by the other. A balloon
oannot ** beat," having nothing to "lay
hM of* foreign to the air, which carries
it along— 4ind it is only in beating, a ves-
ael can become ungovernable.
I am, Sir, yours, &e.,
Sdmund Hukt.
Baixte, Mijr, 184S.
cm turn UMA3H9 of vAavvNiira togbthbr
THl OOKPONBNT PABT8 OV YISBBU VOA
NAVIGATION. BT THB LATB BBIO.-OBN.
an 8A1II7BL BBNTHAM, K« 8. O.
(Conoladed ftompsge 154.)
Bolts.
The greatest improvement in re*
sard to lM>ltB is the forming them with
heads, to rest against metal plates when
driven home, and the cutting of screws on
their points, with nuts to screw upon them
against plates of metai. By screwing
t£e nut up tight, the bolt may be made
in the first instance to draw parts toge-
ther as elosely as required; and also
(which is of great unportance) to afford
at any ftitnre time means of drawing
together any parts that may have become
loosened, either by the decay, contrac-
tion, or wear of the substance of the
parts connected ; or by the elongation of
the bolt itself. Thh mode of boltmg
pttrts together in machinery, engineering
and house carpentry, has been long prac-
tised ; and it evidently would amMrd no
leas efficacy in eonnectiiig togethei* those
parts of a navigable vessel to which
bolts are applicable. I |)rop08ed this
Improvement to the Admiralty in the
year 1805, and at the same time caused
the tools requisite fot the perfect for-
mation of the screws and nuts to be ap-
j^ied to His Migesty's dock-yards with
dM sanction of the Lords Commission-
era. The bolts used for the Fame
were prepared by this apparatns, but I
believe the tools for this purpose, like
daoee for the stepshaped treenails, have
remained forgotten.*
It has already been proved that the
great quantity of copper at present em-
ployed for rastenings is unnecessary;
ttnce, in the instance of the seven vessels
built under my direction, no bolts were
used for fastening the plank ; excentinff
that short copper screws were employed
at some of tne butt ends of it, it waa
fastened by treenails alone. On the
olose examination of one of these vessels,
the Darif after seven years' servkse at
sea, during which she had been in seve«
ral ei^^ements, the plank of her bot-
tom was found, as above mentioned, to
have remained dose to the ribs notwith-
standing the most severe eauUung had
been employed— « circumstance very un-
usual, if not unprecedented in regard to
ships of the ordinary construction.
Scrttos,
General as is the use of the screw in all
works of wood in civil architecture, and
for the joinenr on board ship, this cheap
and efficient fastening has bc^n little used
ia naval architeoture.
As to the particulars on which the effl-
eaev of this fastening depends — the cy-
lindrical part of a screw gives it stifihess
near the head, and after it has passed
through one of the pieces to be con-
nected together, as also a little Into the
Other, the thread upon the tapering
part gives it there extension breadthwise;
and that in a manner of ^1 others wonnd-
ing the wood in the smallest degree, since
the thread l>eing held by the Hbres whilst
passing between them and the stem being
very small, the thread gives extension
breadthwise by the holk>w helix pressed
into the wood, of the size, and no more
than the size, which that thread will fill
up. Again, the interm ediate helical pro-
jection of the wood retains the thread of
the screw in its place against all forces
tending to draw It out.
The efficiency of screws for ship-work
has been manifested in the cases where
they have been emplc^ed for fastening
the butt ends of the plank, both of the
decks and the bottoms of the vessels
abovementioned.
Common screws of metal, when of
* From information recently afforded, it appears
tbat this improyement is not yet adopted in Her Ma-
jMty's dock-yards. In the year 1805, Sir Samuel's
MtMBcem in naval ardiitecture was perceived Inr the
Admiralty, and his improvements werebcginnuiff to
1M Introiluead gcneraUy, when h« was shortly after-
wards seleotad by the Goverament for m mission to
boild ships for our service in Prussia; on his re-
turn homo the abolition of the Office of Inspector
General of Naval Works derived him of the meani
of prosecudng ijnpiovements in naval arcbitecture*
June, 1848.
i2
172
sm SAMUBt, BRNVHAV 6K SHtP FAStSNTNdfi.
large diAmeter, haye the disadvantage of
great specific gravity, and of great ex-
pense if of copper or mixed metal. To
obviate these objections, I contrived
screws of an entirely new make. When
intended for screwing on the butt ends
of plank, they had stems iust so long as
to pass through the plank, and to enter
an inch at least into the timber; their
efficiency in this part depending on
their size, they were made large, but for
lightness and cheapness, hollow, whilst
the sharpness and depth of the thread of
the screw, formed on its diminished point,
enabled a small length to answer effec-
tually the purpose of a secure fastening.
The hollow of the stem received the
tool used for the insertion of the screw,
and was afterwards filled in with a plug of
wood. These screws, however, though
perfectly well suited for their intended
gurpose, have scarcely to this time, I
elieve, been employed, except in the
vessels of my construction.*
Screws would be well adapted to the
fastening many interior parts of a ship,
or ribs or beams of metal to the plank-
inff ; the more so, as by their means no
hme need be pierced through either the
bottom or the sides.
The particular forms of screws that
would be most advantageous for the
fastening different parts of a ship are not
yet ascertained, nor whether copper or a
composition of metals would be tne most
suitable material for them; and as the
tools for preparing holes for the recep-
tion of screws admit of great variety,
this subject is well worthy of the insti-
tution of a set of extensive experiments
upon it.
Screws of Wood.
Screws of large diameter made of
tough wood, would be found, no doubt,
in many cases an efficient fastening.
Plates and Straps.
Plates, or straps of metal applied on
the outside of pieces to fasten them to-
getlier, are occasionally used where the
fastening by bolts is objectionable, either
on account of the great length of those.
* Kor are they yet employed in the Royal dock-
yardi, 1848. In regard to theae hollo w>headed
metal acrewt. Sir Bamnel happened to inquire
about them of a Surreyor of the Navy, when he
learnt that those furnished as models had been put
Into a drawer at the Navy OAce and forgotten.
required, the impediments there may be
to the driving them in, or to the riveting
their points, or the screwing on nuts to
them. There are also some eases in
which a given quantity of metal in the
form of plates or straps would better
resist the strain than in the form of
bolts; as, for instance, in cases where
the strain would act not so much to draw
out, as to bend the bolt driven as usual
through the parts to be fastened. The
efficiency of straps to resist such a strain
would be the greater, the farther those on
opposite sides were from each other.
For fastening the knee of the head, as
also the dead-wood to the stem along
the rising line, where there is no piece
like the stem- post to serve to steady
it, straps on the outside appear, at
least in the first instance,' capable of
being made a more suitable fastening
than bolts. So also, to hold two parts
together where the plates or straps can
be applied at a certain distance from
each other, they would form an efficient
fastening ; for example, on each side of
a beam, the strap extending to a con-^
siderable distance from the point of junc-
tion of the parts to be connected, one
end of the strap to some feet along the
beam from the side, the other end of the
strap at the side some feet below the
beam : by such means the rocking motion
would be prevented, which tends to alter
the anffle which the deck makes with
the side. The form of such plates,
although broad and thin where they are
connected with the beam and with the
rib, should in the intermediate part be
of a form and thickness suited to give
stiffness, and to resist a thrust as well as
a pull.
The efficiency of plates, or straps, must
evidently depend both on the strength
of the plate itself to resist the thrust or
strain applied to it, and on the perfect
combination of the plate with the sur-
faces of the pieces to be joined. In this
view, plates, where used, are not only
extended far enough beyond the junc-
ture of the pieces they connect, to afford
room for the insertion of a sufficient
number of nails or screws, but the
plates themselves are often let their whole
thickness into those pieces ; and often,
instead of extending in a straight direc-
tion, are made to branch off in the form
of a T, or otherwise, in order to take
the better hold of the pieces to be com-
SIR SAMUEL BSNTHAM OK SHIP FASTXMIMQS.
US
bined: but the expense of this addi-
donal quantity of metal, and complication
of form, In addition to the increased
quantity and accuracy of workmanship
required, render this mode of combina-
tion in many cases objectionable, in com-
parison even with the simple boat ; and
a general inferiority of such plates or
straps to screw -pomted bolts, is that
neitner plates nor straps afford means
of tightening up when requisite, in con-
sequence of contraction of the wood, or
elongation of the metal.
WheneTer plates are required to^be
let into the wood — which in many cases
is very ad?anti^eous, in order that they
nay take the better hold of it, and to
preTent the level separation of the
pi e c es i t would be desirable that they
ahoold be let in by a tool insurinff ao-
curacy; therefore the plates should ter-
minate in a circular form, so that the
indentations to receive them may be cut
by a boring tool.
NaUa.
In regard to nails, it might be supposed
that experience in a fastening so univer-
sally in use, had long ago pointed out
the forms best suite! to the different
eases in which they are employed. The
ftct is, on the contrary, that the form of
nails in general use, from the smallest
tack to the largest spike nail, is very ob-
jectionable. Thev are made tapering
from the head to the point in both direc-
tions pyramidically. This form, although
easily driven into wood, is a form ill
fitted to hold firmly in it, besides being
▼ery liaUe to split it in driving ; whereas,
a form tapering only in thickness, and
left, chisei*shaped, as broad at the end
as at the head, is, of all simple forms,
that which affords the greatest resistance
to the strains tending to draw out a nail ;
and if, in driving, Uie point be phused
breadthways across the fibres of the wood,
•0 as to cut them, but not divide them
kogitudinaUy, such nails hold much
ftster than if inserted with the grain,
and do not split the wood. It is more
than fifty years ago that the advantages
of this cUsel-form for nails in general
oceurred to me ; and they appeared to
be so great, that I pointed them out on
many occasions to workmen of different
descriptions, in other countries as well
as in this : they were well convinced of
the truth of my observationsy yet nails
for general use have still oontfaiued to be
made of the ol^ectionable pyramidieal
form.*
It is true, however, that chisel- shaped
nails have been long in use for some rew
particular works, as for fastening the
strakes together in the construction of
boats by clinch- work. I caused the
sheathing nails to be so made for my
experimental vessels, t and of late years,
at my suggestion, cast mixed-metal bolt-
nails, thus formed, have been in g^eral
use in the Royal dock-yards ; but other-
wise, this superiority of form has been,
in the construction of vessels, disre-
garded.
There are, however, some few cases
where facility in drawing out the naU is
desirable, and there the pyramidieal form
is advantageous; as, n>r instance, for
tacks for nailing a carpet to a floor.
Besides nails of tb^ simple form, nails
jagged, barbed, or twisted, have been at
times proposed and tried, but are not
in general use, except that carpenters
sometimes jag the nails by hand for some
purposes where a particular degree of
tightness is required. A barbed nail has
the advantage of spreading the surface
with the smallest ouantity of material.
Twisted nails would be particularly ad-
vantageous in softwoods, into which they
might be forced by simple driving, the
naU, as it enters, turning in the wood, so
as to hold in the manner of .a screw.
* The above was written in the year 1830. Of
late, lome naiU for common me hare been found
to be ehiael-ihaped; and caatpiron nails have been
frequently so shaped of late in France ; but the
general form for nails In commerce is still pyra-
midieal.
t Nails like those employed for the experimental
vessels, were afterwards ordered for general use in
the dock-yards ; and, as they were subeequentljidis-
continued, it seems proper to give Sir Samuel's own
statement on the subject; it is as follows:— "In
respect to these nails, however, it must be observed
that they, having been ordered for general use,'* (in
180S and 1804,) " were found, whilst I was in Rus-
sia, to have dropped out of some ships cf the usual
construction, and the use of them was, therelbre,
discontinued ; but I have not, since mv return, been
able to ascertain distinctly whether this fisllure arose
wholly, as I suspect, flrom the employment of a
punch for perforating the holes which was much too
Uirge for the nails, and ttom the imperfect work-
manship of the naUs themselves ; or whether from
the working, throueh weakness, of the ship of the
usual construction in which they were used. Bat,
supposing the punch to have been salted to .these
nails, and the nafls themselves to have been well
made, there can hardly be afforded a more convin-
cing proof of the superior strength of the vessels of
my construction, since, in all of them, no other
sheathing nails were used : and they were found to
have answered their purpose most perfectly for
securing the copper on to planks of fir, elm, and
beech, as well as of oak.
174
SIR SAMUEL BBNTHAM ON SBtP VASTSNIKeS.
The heoAi of naik are TBriouriy fMrmed,
flome Yery small, as that of the brad,
80 as to be driven id even with the sur-
face qf the wood ; others with heads more
or less broad extending oyer its surface,
thereby preventing the nail from being
driven into it, as Slso for fiutening me-
tals to wood, in which holes are previously
made for that part of the nail which is to
go into the wood, but which can only
retain the metal in its place by the ex-
tension of the head of the nail beyond its
hole.
Where a metal surftce is required to
be smooth, a mode very generally in use
is countersinking the metol, that is (as iti
hinges) preparing in the surfkce of the
metal an indenture for the reception of
tiie head of the nail. Of late years a
similar expedient has been adopted ih
nailing ebpper sheathing on to vessels;
^at is, by forming, by means of the
putxoh, an indenture in the copper to
receive the head of the nail.
As to the material of which nuls are
fbrmed, the considerations requisite re-
gard chemical as well as mechanical pnn
perties. The mechanical properties re-
ouired are sufficient tenacity to prerent
tneir being broken, and sufficient flexi-
bility to admit of their beinep driven
without bending. The chemiciu proper-
ties requisite are variable, according
to the wood Into which the nail u
to be driven, and to the metallic sub-
stances with which it is liable to come
in contact, especially when wet The
acids in oak, particularly, frequently de-
oomposeiron inserted into it; ana the
oak 18, in its turn, destroyed by the iron.
Galvanic influence on different metals in
contact, when wet, has long been ob-
served, and has occasioned tiie practice of
using iron fastenings for iron, and of cop-
rr or linked metid for copper. There
a reason of economy whicn points out
that pure copper nails should be used for
fastening copper, particularly in shead-
ing; it is this, that when the old copper
comes to be remanntetured, the expense
is saved of picking out remaining portions
of naik, since, if of mixed metal, and re-
melted with the sheathing, they either
injure its quality, or occasion extra ex-
pense in renning the copper.
Hoop:
Hoops of metal, surrounding the exte-
rior of pieces to be held together, are
much used fbr combining the pieces to
form what is called a made mast This
kind of fastening is known to be very
efficient as applied to a cask, in resisting
the great force of the staves when they
swell bv the absorption of moisture ; but
when tne pieces of wood which a hoop
surrounds, shrink in becoming dry, it no
longer holds them tight The continued
efficacy of hoops in such a case must,
consequently, depend on the means pro-
Tided for tightening them, whenever thb
dimensions of the wood are eontiucted.
This tightening, in the instance of a cask*
is effis(^ by rotting the hoops tip or
down on to a larger part of the cisk ; ft
may also be effected by fbrcing some addi-
tional matter between the hoop and the
pieces it is required to combine. Whetts
these means are not suitable, instead of
an entire hoop, a curved metal ba^ fa
passed round tne piece to be secured, to
that the ends of the bar may remain at a
little distance from each other, and Sb
shaped as to admit of being drawn closer
together, so as to complete the hoop by
means of screw-bolts, or by wedges
driven into eyes or mortieea mrmed nt
the ends of me bar. In theae cases it is
evident that the pieces employed to hxdd
the ends of the nar together, require to
be as strong against tension as the bar
itself. Such hoops are applied to masts
in cases where entire hoops would not b^
suitable.
Tabling^ DovetaUinfff jfc.
Fastening— by shaping the contiguous
parts of pieces to ne joined tojrether
in such manner, as that portions of those
pieces shall enter partially one into
the other in the form of what is term*
ed dovetail, tenon, tabling, rabbeting^
tongueing, grooving, and morticing.
By cutting a prcgection on one piece
of wood, and by cutting a corresponding
indent in ^e piece to 1^ connected, it is
evident that an efficient mode of juncture
may be effected always against slictti^
sometimes also i^nst separation. By
making the form of the projeedon what
is called a dovetail, two edges mky be
thus connected togedier so as to act
against both sliding and pulling asunder.
By tabling, that is cutting quadranguhff
indents, and leaving sinwar pn^jeMions
on one surface, and by outtio^ oor-
responding projections axM indents on the
other piece to be ooDneoted, it is erldent
THE HOUSES OV PAELIAMENT*
tb«t an effldeiit mode of junoture niAjr
be effected ftgaiDst eliding, aomedmet
alaa against separation, by the insertion
of the projections into the indents in the
pieces reciprocally—so that one or both
of these purposes b answered by the va-
rious ways in which projections and cor-
responding indents are made.
Tabling has been much used in ship*
boilding in the connection of different
parts ef a ship, besides that of the made
oiast, as forputtinff together the scarphs
Of boam pieces, u»r fastening knees Co
beaiDfl, &e* There are, however, two
objections to this mode of fastening.
Ooe is the expenae incurred by the
waste of the substance of the wood,
often particularly costly when the pieces
Mfe largoi and by the quantity of
workmanship necessary in cutting the
pny'ectiona and indents; the other, and
more important objection is, that when
extreme accuracy of workmanship is not
attained, and which it is very difficult to
attain in the most important cases, the
eftsct of preventing sliding is not pro-
dneed; the fastening consequently fails
of its intended purpose, besides which
inoistiire often Insinuates itself into the
interatices and rots the wood.
These objections are all of them ob-
viated by the employment of the before-
mentioned coquu^ since, where they are
used there is no waste of timber, th^
workmanship is easy, expeditious, and
little costly, its accuracy being accom-
plished by means of tools, independently
of any particular skill or care in the
workman, and the tightnesa with which
the oo^oe fits into the holes prepared for
k, aeiMres ^e part against any intrusion
4X wato* or moisture.
Cements,
Cements are rarely, if ever, employed
in naval arehitectore. The interposition
of gine between parts to be joined is
effectwl where they are to be kept
always dry, the wood itself often tearing
asunder rather Chan the yielding of the
glne; yet the unfitness of it to resist
noiatnre,* and the unevenneas in many
eaaea of the surfaces of the component
parts of a akqi, render this cement in-
asplicabje aa a fastening in sbipwork.
Boc weve the timber for the constniction
of vessels to be seasoned by artificial
heat and ventilation, were it kept dry
ttt ianrtedin the vessel, wore tfie atrao-
175
ture carried on from its commencement
to completion in a building, so as to be
protected from moisture,* even common
glue might in some cases be used with
advantage for perfecting many more
junctures than those where it is actually
used.' Besides this, improvements might
be made in the composition of glue by
the use of caoutchouc, f or other sub-
stances resisting moisture. In many
cases other matters little subject to decay
might be advantageously employed, were
it only for the exclusion of air and mois-
ture, and for the filling up all vacancies
between the parts to be combined to-
gether.
Enumeration of varioui new tools for
shipwork, contrived by Sir Samuel^
but not brought into actual use :
1. Guides for boring holes from the
opposite sides of a piece of timber or
metal, so as to be sure of the holes
meeting.
2. Screw cramps for drawing pladks
close to Uie timbers, and holding it while
faatening.
3. Large borers for cutting out large
holes in topmast - caps, bowse • pieces,
fce.
4. Screws for drawing out bolts.
5. Screws for the temporary fastening
of the plank nntil the treenails are driven :
di^rent from the screw cramps, No. 8.
THX BOU8X8 09 PAllLIAlfairT.
Some time ago we ventured to step a
little out of our usual track for the pur-
pose of animadvertipg pretty freely upon
Mr. Blore*s doings at Bucklnghaim Pa-
lace ; for doing which we did not at all
incur the displeasure of our readers and
correspondents, or if we did they kept
their aispleasure to themselves ; where-
• As, for instnnce, the wood dried in »uch a «ea-
•oniog house, and the ship built in such a coFemd
dock, as Sir Samuel designed and proposed in the
year 1812.
t For varlons uses to whloh caontdhoucnHght %e
emplo}'cd in naval archttectuce, sae Sir SamiMl's
" Naval EMays," Essay the first, p. 1 34 ; published
by Longman, 1S2S. Such a cement as that indi-
cated seems now to be in considerable use, under
the name of marine glue.
On one occasion when Sir Samuel was at Port»'
mouth, a email French prize. La Sophie^ was in
the dockyard for repair; on taking off her sheath
ing, it was found that under it her bottom had been
coated with a calcareous cement, combined with
oil, and in some degree Mastic; it was atill wat«r-
tight, 80 much so, that on piercing it, bilge water
flowed from the inside through the fteaou between
.th«|" ■
176
THE HOUSES OP PARLIAMENT.
fore we are at libertv to suppose that
an occasional de?iation of tne kind
is not deemed by them an unpardonable
offence, if even one at all. Encou-
raged by this implied approbation, we
once more ** venture to intrude" with a
few remarks on a cognate subject, namely,
the architectural merits of Mr. Barry's
New Pakce at Westminster, which \a
now* occupying some considerable share
of public attention in consequence of
a very able criticism upon it which ap-
peared in the last Number of the fFes <-
mintter Review. A writer in a contem-
porary Journal (the Builder) who has
taken upon himself the defence of Mr.
Barry, calls the article in question an
*MlUnatured one." Most assuredly it
does not at all flatter Mr. Barry, yet it
hardly, therefore, follows that it is a
mere effusion of ill-nature. For our
own part, we do not hesitate to give it
as our opinion, that the reviewer has not
been, by many degrees, so severe upon
Mr. Barry as he might have been. What
he says goes only to accuse the architect
of want of discretion and judgment,
and good taste. He blames him, not
without reason, for overloading the ex-
terior of the building with such a pro-
fusion of minute and elaborate embel-
lishment that all repose is destroyed.
He has not, however, brought forward
against him, two circumstances which are
not at all calculated to reconcile us to
such excess of elaborate decoration, even
were it not otherwise objectionable, vis.,
that, first, owing to its unfortunate situa-
tion and aspect the details of the river
front (the principal one in the general
design) can scarcely be made out at all
—certainly not be seen at all as they are
intended to be, and perhaps really de-
serve ; secondly, that whether considered
in itself, it be perfectly in good taste or
not, this exuberance of decoration has
occasioned an unpardonable, because
altogether prodigal and useless expendi-
tore-na most wasteful outlay of public
money — ^wholly unproductive of aught
like corresponding degree of effect, or of
enjoyment to the public. If it be satis-
factorv merely to know that the work
is highly crediuble to all the respective
artificers, and highly deserving examina-
tion, that satisfiiction the public will cer-
tainlv have ; though whether it will be
satisfaetorv to have to pay for what, ex-
oellem as it may be in itself, can scarcely
be seen at all, may very well be doubled.
Hitherto, in public matters of the kind,
we have generally proceeded upon a
&lse system of economy ; and now, de-
termined for once to he liberal, we are
going upon an equally false svstem of
liberality in regard to the Houses of
Parliament, which the nation makes ita
'* miser's feast.'' After having starved
many of our most important poblie
builaings, we are now cramming that
edifice to excess. While the whole^
the west side of Somerset-place ia left
to present to the eye a mass of archi-
tectural beggary along that side of Wel-
lington-street, although any fafsde there
would display itself to the greatest ad-
vantage, on account both of favourable-
ness of aspect and very peculiar favour-
ableness of situation, the river front of
the *' Houses,*' which can never be other-
wise than very imperfectly seen, and
which labours under great disadvantage
with respect to aspect, is bedisened out
in the most extravagant manner.
Had it, indeed, been discovered that
the original estimate would amply cover
ultimate cost, superfluity of decoration
would have been excusable enough. Bat
to indulge in it, after the disagreeable
discoverv, that the works have already
exceeded that estimate by nearly as much
again, is somewhat preposterous. Un-
less retrenchment should now take place
with regard to all that remains to be
done, this single edifice will cost the
country at least three times as much as
was at first contemplated. Twelve years
ago, Mr. Hume told the House, ''he
firmly believed Mr. Barry's plan would
be double the estimate." Mr. Maokin-
non went even further, and said, "If
things are allowed to proceed at this rate,
two millions will not cover the expense."
Surely, when the architect found at what
prodigious rate he was going, he might
nave attempted to slacken it, which, so
far from diminishing speed as to time,
would have very greatly accelerated it,
since, but for the time occupied and
labour consumed in elaborating portions
of the exterior, where such elaboration
is thrown away, other parts, which are
not yet begun, might by this time have
been considerably advanced -7 perhaps
completed externally. The WeHmimier
Reviewer complains of slowness of pro-
gress with the works ; but the enormous
deal of work which has, very unneoeasa-
THB IIOUBEB OF PARLIAMENT.
177
rilj, been put into the buildinff, sufficiently
■eeoonu for its apparentlj slow advance.
l¥hat to ui is most strange is, that not-
withstanding his evident desire to find
fault with the design itself, the reviewer
is so far from affecting to be scandalized
at the prodigious excess of expenditure
beyond the estimate, that he says nothing
on that head.
If architects' estimates are merely
pro forma — a preliminary ceremony of
no more service than tliat other one of
laying what is called " the first stone*'—
they had better hr be omitted altogether.
Employers might still deceive themselves
as to ultimate cost, but they would not
have the mortification of being duped by
others— though, for *' mortification,*' we
ahonldy perhaps, say pleasure, because
*< The pleature ii at grwt
Of being encated at to cheat."
Andy surely, there must be something
partienlarly pleasing to employers — whe-
ther they be the public or individuals—
in the present system of estimates, or
else they would correct it, as might very
easily be done, if only by limiting the
architect's claim to a percentage upon
the sum named in his own estimate.
That would be no more than fair ; and,
in some cases, even that claim ought to
be considerably abated; — ^for instance,
where the estimate is greatly exceeded
— to the amount, perhaps, of half as
much again, or upwards. Why should
architects be allowed to profit by their
own miscalculations ? If they arise
merdy from error on their part, they
ought cheerfully to submit to some
diminution of emolument ; on the other
hand, if they are intentionally com-
Ented very far below what the architect
imaelf plainly perceives will be the ulti-
mate cost, they are no better than frau-
dulent deceptions, and ought to be visited
accordingly. It certainly does not say
much for the honour of the profession,
that grossly erroneous estimates — to give
them ik worse name — should be of such
frequent occurrence; and it is exceed-
ingly curious, moreover, that mistakes
of the kind are invariably on one and the
same side. Were the^ mere mistakes--
band fide^ Aansst mistakes — ^the error
would sometimes ehancs to be on the
other side, and would be attended by the
agreeable surprise of finding the work
executed for less, instead of slways more
than the estimate bargained for ; and if
it were also executed satisfaciorily, the
architect would be well entitled, if not to
the whole of the difference, to something
handsome beyond his per-centage. Un-
luckily for employers, blunders of that
kind are never committed by architects.
For the "Houses of Parliament,"
Mr. Barry's original estimate was not in
round numbers, with a liberal allowance
for unforeseen contingencies, but the spe-
cific sum of £724,986 — a degree of ex-
actness truly marvellous, considering the
magnitude and nature of the work. He
might just as well^have set down also
a few odd shillings, pence, and farthings.
The utter impossibility of attaining to any-
thing like exactness, ought to have caused
people to suspect a good deal of inaccu-
racy to be lurking under the preten-
sion to minute accuracy. No doubt
a very noble edifice— one that would
have been a credit to the nation— might
have been erected for £700,000, or even
less. But that Mr. Barry's designs could
not be realized for that, or anytnin^ like
that sum, might have been perceived;
and had careful consideration been aiven
to the matter, it could not have faited to
be foreseen also that a great deal which
showed so well in the drawings, would
not show at all in the buildinff, if onljr in
consequence of its unfavourable situaUon.
Nearly the whole of the minute and pro-
fuse enrichment bestowed, or, we might
say, squandered away on the river-front,
might have been omitted without the
slightest diminution of the general effect
from any accessible point of view. As
that has not been done, it now remains
to provide for, as a pou sio from which
we can contemplate at leisure, and in
an ecstasv of aamiration, all the highly
finished details and elaborate embellish-
ments of that most unhappily situated
fa9ade.
In excuse for the position of the Vic-
toria Tower, the Builder remarks, more
naively than acutely, that such position
for it was dicuted by the plan adopted
by Mr. Barry. This, as it appears to us,
is only shifting the objection — and not
very skilfully either — instead of removing
it. On the contrary, the defect com-
pluned of, is admitted to be one, but Is
discovered to be owing to the — ^plan of
the edifice I Wonderful discovery truly !
Most persons will then say that the plan
itself is so fiir defective, and that Mr.
Barry should have studied to arrange it
I 3
178
LONG AND SHORT HINGBS ^QB SliUXCE GATES.
better. At any rate, if he found it im-
possible to bring in the rojal entrance
anywhere else than at the Bouth-west
angle of his plan, there was no occasion
for marking out its situation by carrying
up over it, as he purposes doing, a lofty
and very massive tower, which, if ever
erected, will be a most conspicuous ob-
ject, from whatever point of view the
•* Houses*' are beheld ; nor can the
eccentriciii/y as it may justly be termed,
of its situation with regard to the rest of
the pile, fail to destroy the general
balance of parts, and be at variance with
the studied regularity of composition ob-
served for the principal or river-front.
By way of further warding off objec-
tion with regard to the Victoria Tower
being *' at what is, and always must con-
tinue to be, the most remote corner,"
Mr. Barry's champion says, there is no
**mu8t" in the case. Yet, surely, there
is not even the very remotest probability
of the buildinff being ever extended fur-
ther westward, it being now all but an
utter impossibility to do so, the south
front and the south and west sides of the
Royal Porch being already finished;
therefore, how anv additional range of
building can be joined on to what is
already built, we do not perceive. It
•ertainly could not be done without block-
ing up the arch on the south side of the
Eorch. Done it might have been at first,
y making the porch the centre feature
of a fa9ade carried on westward for the
same distance as the line of frontage
runs eastward, nearly up to the south
end of Westminster Hall, where there
will be a break in the plan. And had
thai been done, there would then have
been a regular fa9ade along that line,
very nearly 800 feet in extenj, with the
Victoria Tower and porch in the centre
of it. At least, that tower would have
been the focus of a regular and well
marked composition, distinct from the
other line of building on the same side
of the plan, intended to inclose West-
minster Hall and New Palace Yard.
As to the authorship of the article in
the Westminster^ it is now no secret
that it is from the pen of Earl Lovelace,
who shows himself to be a more than
usually able architectural critic.
THE GTBfNOTUS ELECTRICUS.
Sir,— I lately heard a lecture by Mr.
Faraday, in which he told us a little
about that wonderful IUh.eBlled,J think,
gyronotu9 electricus. He said that this
fish, after giving a shock to its prey,
turned round very gently , and drew i^
prey into its mouth without anv apparent
effort, and in quite a disdaipfal manner.
He said a good deal which made me
think (for I never saw it] that the ^h
does not exert any muscular strength ^.t
all when drawing its prey into its nHMith
(which, however, it must do, in order to
expand its inside so as to make the water
rush in). It occurred to me thskt this
wonderful creature may have another
power besides that of striking its pre/
dead by lightning, viz., that o? drawing
it to its mouth by electric attraction ;
and it appears to me not at all improbn-
ble that it should have this power, because
I believe we have only to suppose that it
should put itself in the opposite state of
electricity to that in which it has put its
prey, and then they will attract each
other. Or, without supposing its prey
to retain any of the electricity it has
received, we may suppose the gymnotus
to make itself again positive, and then its
prey will become negative by induction.
And we must remember that a very little
power will be suflBcient — a fish being
very light in water, and therefore as
easily moved as the light bodies which
are moved by electric attraction in air.
It seems to me that this would be ascer-
tained by touching the prey with one end
of a wire and the head of the gymnatus
with the other end, just when the latter
is approaching the former, such wire
(coming up out of the water) to have an
electroscope applied to it. This instru-
ment would snow whether the two are in
different states at that particular time,
and if they are, they must attract each
other. It would, I think, be exceedingly
interesting to find that this wonderful
creature makes a double use of its elec-
trical apparatus. Perhaps some of your
scientific correspondents have it in their
power to make the experiment. «
I am, Sir, yours. &c.,
Ignoramus Electricus.
LONG AND SHORT HIVOES FOR 8LUICK
GATES.
Sir, — Important as is the easy dis-
cbarge of water through sluice-gates, the
certainty and efficiency of their closing is
of greater importance. On diis point I
have always understood tb«t the long-
WATSON AND CART's IMPROVEMBKrS TN THE MANUFACTTJRX 0? 0A8. 179
hinged character of the opening is supe- noticed in the pages of this journal, is
rior to the short, and that difficulties stated in the Moniteur Industriel to
which have occurred to the latter have have invented a new fire-engine pump,
been overcome by a change to the former. which has been applied by a Mr.
Referring to the discharge of water on WQlknitz, of Hoppenrade, to the wash-
the commencement of the falling tide, as ing and cleansing of wool while yet upon
of the greater importance in comparl- the backs of sheep. This pump, which
SOD, and trusting to the *^ practical de^ ' may be worked by hand or norse-power,
duetiotufrom the mvestigations " of Mr. is of considerable force, and throws by
Smith, I afn of opinion, that the average means of four pipes, furnished with the
opening would prove a more correct same number of jets, four streams of
measure of the discharge of water than water upon the wool on the backs of as
the extent of opening at the lower edge, many sheep secured in open pens. The
Taking the radius of the short-hinged animals appear to experience pleasure
sluice-gate at its depth of about 5 feet, rather than inconvenience from the
the actual opening of the lower edge washing. This method of cleansing the
would be about 5 inches, diminishing to wool, which may be termed the true hy-
at the upper. But as the angle of dropathic system, is stated to produce a
3**'42 would produce a 10- inch opening degree of whiteness, suppleness, and
of the long-hinged sluice-gate of 10 feet fineness in the material, never before at-
arms, as shown, I conclude the 5 feet has tained by any other mode of treatment.
been referred to. Hence, 3*42 would It moreover gives increased energy to
diminish to two- thirds of that opening at the organic system of the animal, and
the upper edge. Consequently we should favours the fresh growth of the wool. As
have for the first two figures of the scale a further proof of the advantages of this
given, the following corrections of the system, it is mentioned that Mr. Walk-
proportionate area for the discharge of nits has obtained an increase of price for
water: his wool in every market since he has
Avenge Openiag. adopted it.
^ + ^ - 2-5
3'42-l- 3'42x J . 2*75 WATSON AND OABT's patent XMPftOVI-
■ * IffBNTS IK TH» MANUFACTURE OF GAS.
^ [Patent dated August 14, 1848. Patentees, John
15 -I* * . Watson, Merchant, and Edward Cart, Gent, of
— r — ' *5 Hull, Bpecillcatlon cnroUed August 14, 1848.]
The object of the present invention is
1 13-H13xf 9*42 to combine the ordmary hot-air stove
2 with a gas - producing apparatus, so
I should be obliged to Mr. Smith for «« .'^*» *«. «°PPIJ^ S^ material, from
a sutement of the t disadvantages of t'^u^" Jf JT^^
alluded to, or for any further remarks on 3^^^^^^ j;^^ j^ effected by placing
my deductions from his results. The gf^^^^^ %„ ^^ ^^ J^V thi
question involved « one of some import. j^« ^ ^ ^^^ if j^
T:s^'S:£T^^£r^X^' Trpo^onSrpi^f^^r^
4in hmges attached to their upper edge. ^^t^J^^fij^d wlih aVSdt. whichis oon-
I am. Sir, yours, &c., ^^^ ^^ ^^ ^.^j^ ^^ ^^ ^f ^^
▲ogiut 8, 1846 gasometer in such manner that it shall
dose gradually as the gasometer rises
♦ until it has reached its limit, when the
«W MOD. OF SHSEP WASHING. SUpply of liquid WiU ^ ««^f>/"J^f
Tk- Aii^ ^ TM • *i. T\ u ^rom the retort, and, on the other hand,
^^lii**u' "^ ^^T""'- "* ^^ ^''''l ^^ " the gasometer falls the cock shall
«f Ma^enbnrg Schwmn, whose work j^ ^^ |^ ^^ ^^^ suppUed.
on the High-Pressure S^eam-Enrine and *""«^ ^ ^*^
new Steam-boiler has recenUy been *
180
trornhill'b razor blade.
[Registered under the Act for the Protection of Articles of Utility. Walter ThornliiU, of 144,
New Bond-street, and 42, Comhill, London, Proprietor.]
Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
^3r
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 6.
E
I)
..
o
Fig. I is A Bide view of this razor, with
the bLaJe opened a little way from the
handle, yig. 2 a back view of fig. 1.
Fig. 3 a t^imilar view to fig. 1, with the
parte C^ D, E, afterwards referred, to
removed. Fig. 4 a side view of the
parts D£. Fig. 5 a side view of the
part C. Fig. 6 a transverse section of
ihp partB B, C, D, E.
A is the handle ; B and C portions of
the hlidc : and D a thin piece of steel or
otbtr kiuttablt' material inserted between
lh«Mn, tbe edge, d^ of which forms the
cutting edge of the blade. E is another
thin piece for filling out the space be-
tween the upper part of the pieces B
and C, when secured together by screws,
as shown with the piece D between
them. When necessary to sharpen the
razor, the piece D is to be removed, and
its edge, (/, *' set " upon a hone or other
stone.
The screws, and the shape of the
several other pieces of which the blade
is composed, are claimed as constituting
an entirely new design.
181
8SA WALLS — SHOULD THSY BB SLOPING OB VBBTICAL ?
Sir,---In mjr last eommunicatioD upon
the tobject of sloping breakwaters (ante
psge 15d} I endeavoured to explain my
▼iews upon some of the points put for-
wardin the Protest of Sir Howard jDouelas
(▼ol. xlviii., p. 564), Sir John Rennie*s
aoooont of the Plymouth Breakwater
(toI. xlviii., p. 422), and other valuable
papers upon this subject recently given
In your Journal, and which, in reading,
an engineer must feel, demand his most
carefiu consideration. There remain,
however, other opinions advanced in the
docnments referred to, which are in-
debted perhajM more to the exalted posi-
tions of the individuals who enunciated
them, than to any other circumstance ;
but as they have lieen used as arguments
in &vour of the long sea slope, they de-
serve to be noticed as part of that evi-
denee upon which the exclusive efficiencv
of that peculiar formation is maintained.
In article 5 of the Protest, Mr. Walker
is made to say, ''It is evident, that if
the materials are deposited at an incli-
nation, any portion being displaced ig
only carried down elsewhere. Now,
this is bv no means evident, and must
always depend upon the pitch of the
slope and other variable circumstances ;
it is besides directly the reverse of what
is stated by Sir John Rennie to have oc-
eurred at Plymouth Breakwater; for
there the materials were not " carried
daum elsewhere,'* but upwards quite over
the top of the work and deposited at the
rear dope. Mr. Walker continues, < ' Al-
though strictly speaking, it (the material)
matj not be wanted, it must nevertheless
assist in consolidating the mass, and the
vmcant spaces eon easily be fiUed up"
Now, it cannot be irrelevant to inquire
how looff this " filling up of the vacant
spaces'' u likelv to continue, or is it ever
to have an end P Is not this admitted
liability in a rough sea slope to be con-
tinnally breached and washed away in
detail, a strong corroboration of what I
endeavoured to show in a former paper,
that the long rough slope carries in itself
the seeds of its own destruction.
In die same article of the Protest, Mr.
Palmer is made to say, that " the idea
of an upright face was entirely of a spe-
enlative character, and was contrary to
the laws of nature, which should be the
esgineer's ohief guide." Now, even ad-
mitting the speculative character of the
thing, are not the junior members of the
profession entitled, under the circumstan-
ces of this statement, respectfully to call
upon Mr. Palmer to explain how and in
what particulars the idea of an upright
sea face is *^ contrary to the laws of
nature" They will, no doubt, listen
with respectful attention while Mr. Pal-
mer, or any competent individual upon
his part, expouodis to them the scientific
grounds for this violation of nature ; but
let us have no more appeals to the
" strong opinions*' and " practical ex-
Eerience*' of " eminent men," which,
owever valuable in their own way, can
never be taken to supply the place of
philosophical reasoning.
I come now to the opinion of Sir John
M'Neill, who, " in support of his views
adduced the long slopes of sand, at an
inclination of 10 to 1, thatched vdth
straw, which resist the waves of the
ocean on the coast of Holknd.'* The
fact that those long slopes of sand are
capable of receiving upon their surface
the most violent action of the waves of
the sea, and at the same time, preserving
undisturbed their uniformity of slope, is
unquestionable; although for my own
part I do not know why we should be
referred to Holland for an example,
while our own sea coasts abound with
innumerable instances precisely in point.
To my own knowledge, several satisfac-
tory examples of this efi^ect mav be wit-
nessed along the western coasts of Ireland,
in the counties of Kerry, Glare, and Gal-
way, where with a rise of 18 feet tide, the
wildest Atlantic waves may be seen to
expend their violence upon slopes vary-
ing from 1 in 6 to 1 in 20, composed
of the finest sand; and yet within the
memory of any living man, those slopes
have undergone no sensible change.
But the attentive observer will not
fail to notice close by, a rocky broken
beach, subject to the same violent action ;
and there he will witness rocks of con-
siderable weight the very sport of the ele-
ment — ^now upheaved to the surface of
the wave — then carried back by the re-
ceding water into the black deep — again
met bv the coming surge, and again
dashed to the surface ; evidentiv the play-
thing of that force which hard ove lashes
out its fury upon the flat sandy slope.
182
tottie's patent xmprqvementb in distillation.
and with the utmost impunity to the
latter.
And now, let rae ask, do these facU fur-
Biah an argument in favour of a long rough
sea slope ? Where are the data to guide
the mind through the process of reason-
ing from the one ^lope to the other ? I
confess I cannot find sufficient ; and with
the sreatest respect for the opinions
already expressed, I do believe the vali-
dity of jthe argument doubtful. If a
stone, three tons weight, be laid upon a
bard plane of the same inclination as the
sandy slope, and subjected to the same
action, it will inevitablvbe carried away.
What then preserves the slope of sand ?
In mjr opinion, the minuteness and rela-
tive weight of its own particles.
That the waves of the sea may deve-
lope their force, it is essential that they
strike an obstacle of sufficient magnitude
for that purpose ; and the particles of
sand presenting no such requisite dimen-
sions — ^possessing, besides, considerable
8|)ecific gravity, and canable by their
minuteness of lying closely together un-
der the high pressure of the water — these
particles completely elude the action of
the force, wlule the body of larger di-
poensions suffers its whole violence. It
is thus that rocks of enormous weight
may be shifted by the action of the sea,
while sandy slopes remain unchanged;
and it appears therefore too much to
assume, Uiat because slopes of sand re-
main permanent under the moat vio-
lent gales, slopes oomposed of large
blocks of atone roughly arranged at any
given inclination and subject to a totally
difierent action, should necessarily hie
the best possible form of construction
ibr the face of a breakwater.
And now, Sir, permit me to conclude
this papfcr by a word or two upon the
communication of your distinguished
correspondent, Mr. JDredge, given at p.
77 (ante). It is a mistijLe to suppose
that all the arguments in favour of an
upright face proceed upon the assump-
tion that the motion of the sea during a
tempest is whoUy vertical; and no practi-
cal man oughi to discuss ^e subject upon
such supposition. '* The stability of a
wall," says Mr. Dredge, *' by which I
mean its resistance en mtuse to an over-
throwing force, iu compounded of its
weight and breadth. It is evident, that
a wall with a sea slcpe possesses these
^iialitifis in the higheat d^ree. A waU
with a vertical face must be composed
of hewn stone, and depends for its
strength upon the bond: if therefore,
the stone composing the wall be once
shaken in its bed, nothing can restore
the stability of the mass.*' Now I beg to
object in the most decided terms to this
vague and pointless matter. Were Mr.
Dredge reasoning upon the stability of
the retaining wall of a rulway to resist the
application of an " over thrmoing force* "it
might be conceivable ; but I submit that
it IS incomprehensible with reference to
a work of tne magnitude of that under
consideration. Again : in the paragraph
I have quoted, weight and breadth are
fairly conceded to the sea slope ; but the
vertical wall must depend j^or its strength
upon the bond ! It will indeed be most
interesting to your readers to be made
aware of the process by which Mr. Dredge
abstracts from the upright wall, the com-
mon properties of weight and breadth,
\tTj tridy yours,
T. Smith.
Bridgetown, Wexford, August 7, 1848.
TOTTIS'S PATENT IMFROTKlfJIKTS XK
DISTILLATION.
[Patent dated February 14, 1848. Patentee, Wil-
liam Tottie, London, merchant. Inveutlon eom-
muntcated ftom abroad. Specifioatian eacolled
August 14, 1848.]
The invention which forms the sialijeet
of this patent, conaisto in caiisisg the
alcoholic vapour to pass through a aeries
of layers of vegetable or animM charooftl,
or other purifying substance, superposed
one above another, and kept oool, or
regulated to a certain temperatnre by
means of water, which is caused to eir«
4Hilate around each layen
The mode of carrying tibe invention
into effect consists in &e emplovmentof a
suitable vessel placed on the still-head, or
in any other convenient position. Inside
the vessel are arranged a series of perfo-
rated plates one above another, on vrhioh
are placed the layers of charcoal or other
purifying matters. Over each layer is
suspended a cover, but without touching
the charcoal, and made with holes to
allow of the passage of the alodiolie
vapour througn up to the next layer.
Around each layer is a channel, throQ|^
which water circulates, and which is
furnished with inflow and outflow pipes^
and means of regulating the supaly ; in
tbetopof the ve6sdisaHio«ge>4Jurwi^
LORD DUin>ONAX.]>'3 PAXENT UUfBjOVBUEHTB IIH STBAH BOILERS, li
.wlufih the alcoholic vapour finalljr
passes. The de^ee of temperature of
jthe layers of charcoal should ue so regu-
ilated ^ that the alcoholic vapour shall
Jkave the oil with which it is combined
.^iQong the charcoal, and yet not impede
the jtrogress of the operation.
black's. PATENT IHTROVJEMBNTS IN
BVAPORATION.
[Patent dated February 14, IBiS. Patentee,
Horatio Black, or Nottingham. Lacemaker. Spe-
aification enrolled August 14, IMS.]
^ The present improvements in evapora-
tion consist in causing the water to be
supplied to steam jut other boilers, to
0^0 previously through the bars of the
furnace which are connected together
and made hollow for that purpose, and
are composed of brass, copper, or other
aoitiAle metal. The water is made to
enter by means of a force pump the
centre of the set of fire bars, and after
£n^ng into two streams, which cireu-
late tbrough the series, it passes out at
eilber end into the boiler at a very high
temperature.
IlfPaOVSlfBNT IN FUaZVACB BARS.
AnuMif the latest patents taken out in
Ajnerica is one for sn improvement in fur-
nace bars by Mr. John H. Fellows, which
he thos ^escribes: — '< The nature of my
invention consists in an improTcd furnace
bar as follows, viz., first, the common bar is
generally made flat on the surface, but the
present invention has two longitudinal
grooves, and a raised centre ridge between
tlMn. ^e grooves flU witii ashes from the
fbre of «itberooals or wood, as the case may
be, which being a nonoondnetor of heat,
keeps the bar from melting, while 4he raised
aenfcre ridge most always keep the same
cool. Secondj the raised centjre ridge always
prevents the possibility of drawing the ashes
on^ from the grooves in the bar, when clear-
ing the fire with the poker, which is requi.
site to keep the space between the bars from
filling up with clinkers, and thereby stop-
ping the draught ; hence, the ashes always
remaining in tihe grooves, protected by the
centre ridge, keep the middle of the bar
00^. It eaoBOt therefore warp or get ont
of its place like the old bars. Third, in
putting out the fires of either steam-boat or
land fiimaoes, which is desirable when the
engine stops, to save fuel, and the time of
the haade— bars freqnently break down as
soon a^ cold water is thrown on the fire**
Bo^ so with the present indention; cold
water thrown on them makes the bed of
ashes firmer in the grooves, and the bars ace
not injured hy bdng suddenly cooled like the
common ones. Fourth, the bars now in
general use are made double, so that when
hot, should one side give way the other must
follow. This is avoided by the present in-
vention being a single bar, which also gives
a farther advantage, as tiiey can be placed at
any given distance from eaiA ather, so that
by widening the apaee, give an addMional
draught, which is desirable, and moM par-
ttonkrly with low fomaces.*'
TRB BARL OF DUNnONAI.n'8 FATBNT IM-
VBOVBMENT8 IN Jf ARINB 8TBAM BOTLBR8.
[Patent dated February 11, 184S. Patentee the
Right Honourable Thomas Earl of Duadonald,
Vice Admiral of the White Squadron of Her Mar
jeaty's Fleet. Knight, Grand Cross of the Most
Honourable Order of Che Bath. Speoification en-
rolled Auguat 11, 1848.;i
The present inventioii is stated to cob-
aiat chiefly of certain improveraeots im
a marine steam-boiler, which was the
subject of a previous patent panted ta
the £arl of Dundonald, on the " ■' ■'■'
." The date is left blank (apiece
of great carelessness), hut we believe the
patent alluded to is one of the ath Nov.
1835. Of the present improvemenis
hawever, which are five in number* there
are two which have no relation at all to
boilers of any sort.
Firstly, To obtain a more perfect iflai*
tlon of the gaseous products evolved
from the furnace^ Uie Earl eonstruots an
aperture in the back of each ash-pit,
whence a current of air is led up the
baclL of the furnace (and thereby heated)
into the upper part, where it mingles with
the said products and promotes their
combustion.
Secondly y To dispense with the steam
chest placed above the boiler, where it is
exposed to ii\jury from shot. Lord Dun-
donald proposes to substitute a steam
reservoir to be placed below the water-
line of the boiler. This reservoir is to
envelope the funnel, in order that the
heat of the latter may be imparted to the
ste^m contained in the former, which
will consequently be worked in a drier
state.
Thirdly, To prevent priming, he places
horizontally in the upper part or the
boiler a plate of iron or other metal,
one end of which is bent vertically, and
termmates in the water. The object of this
plate \& to prevent the too rapid ebulli-
tion of the water, and to intercept and
DlSAKE, DRAY, AND DEANe's CESSPOOL CLEANSER.
184
retain the spray carried upwards with the
steam and to condact it into the boiler
To effect this object completely, the steam
is caused to pass into what the paten-
tee terms, a ** Centrifugal Sepanitor,"
asainst the surfaces of which, the spray,
which may still be retained by the steam,
is caused to impinge by its rectilineal
motion, and is afterwards conducted by
channels or other suitable means back
into the boiler, while the steam nasses
into the reservoir in a comparatiTely dry
state.
Fourthly, To dispense with the main-
shaft or other inconvenient gear hitherto
employed to connect the eneine with any
submersed propeller, Lord Dundonald
would place m the stem of the vessel the
rotary engine enveloped in the steam
reservoir, and conduct the steam from
the boiler to the said reservoir through a
tubing composed of any substance which
is a bad conductor of heat. An air and
water-tight tank, filled with water, b
interposed between the reservoir and the
stem-post of the vessel, through which
the short main shaft passes, which is thus
kept cool, and leakage from stufiing-
boxes prevented.
Fifthly ^ To prevent accidents to sea-
men ana engineers employed in boats
fitted wiUi steam-engines, the Earl pro-
poses to place the rotarv engine inside
the steam reservoir, whicn is close to the
boiler and the centrifugal separator and
other apparatus, in enclosed and raised
portions, of the boiler around the funnel.
CHANCl's IMPBOVBMBirrS IX FUaNACSS
AND THB MANUPAOTURB OV GLASS.
[Patent dat«d Febniaiy H, 1844. Patentees,
James Tlmmons Chance and Edward Chance, Bir-
mingham. Specification enrolled August 14, 184S.]
In reverberatory fdmaces, as at pre-
sent buih, the flame and heat after being
reverberated by the arch above is allowed
to escape into the chimney. The Messrs.
Chance now propose to cause the heat after
it has being reverberated to pass over the
back of the reverberatory arch by build-
ing a second arch above it, after which
the heat, flame, and smoke are to be al-
lowed to pass into the chimnev. A
second branch of their specincation
has relation to a peculiar description
of tongs for drawing the plates of glass
into annealing furnaces, formerly pa-
tented bv them. Instead fi pushing them
in, as has hitherto been customary,
whereby a loss was sustained by turning
down a portion of the plate and allowing
it to cool, they now make the tongs of a
long rod wedge-shaped at one end, and
carrying two verUcat supports, between
which turns another rod parallel to the
first, and furnished at one end with a
handle, and at the other with a grip of
wood, so that when the workman has
introduced the wedge portion of the
lower rod underneath the plate of glass,
be turns the handle of the upper rod,
and brings the grip down on the top
surface of the p&te, which is thus held
fast.
DSANB, DRAY, AND DBANB*8 CBSSPOOL
CLBANSBR.
Sir,^From the editorial note appended
to my communication, at page 161 of
your last Number, it appears I have not
been sufficiently explicit in my remarks
upon the above machine, the arrange*
inent of which I described as being " as
bad as could possibly be** for the pur-
pose proposed.
My objections went, firstly, to the
employment of an air-pump, which, if
sufficiently well made, and of suitable
dimensions, would be very expensive
and difficult to keep in order. Secondly,
to its SITUATION on the top of the vehi-
cle, thereby adding from ten to fifteen
feet perpendicular, and from fifteen to
forty feet horisonUl to the atmospheric
lift— enough, in many cases, to prevent
its operation.
Thirdly, I objected to the exe^uive
agitation of the ofiVnsive matter, and to
the exposure of an extended surface to
the exhaustion of the air-pump.
'*The improvement of raising by the
pressure of the atmosphere acting against
a vacuum, matters which would other-
wise have to be raised by scoop and
bucket," did not originate with, nor is it
peculiar to Messrs. Deane, Dray, and
Denne. A common atmospheric /oreui^-
ptunp is employed for emptying oess-
poob into the sewers, and a similar
machine might be employed for filling
air-tight carte und$r pretture, ther^v
limiting the escape of effluvia to the smalf-
est possible quantity. The pump bdng
placed in close proximitv to the cesspool
to be emptied, would deliver iu oontente
into a cart, at almost any distance, with
certainty. The matter might also be
OBANXf BRAT, AND DXAMB^fl CEtlFOOL CLEAM81&.
185
I with a 8m«Uer quantity of dilutiDg
fluid than when it had to he forced hj
atmotDheric pressure alone, through a
great length of leed-pipe, and to a con-
siderahle elevation. Great lengths of
(necessarily distended) feed-pipe would
be exeeedingi J incouTenient for nandUog»
stowage, and carriage ; whereas, 'deli-
vering hose, in coils, is exceedingly handy
and portable.
Messrs. Besne and Co. have exten-
sively advertised and exhibited their
(niscslled **paiemi") tank-cleanser ; but
a practical application of it, in its pre-
sent form, would soon show the '* force
of the objections*' I have urged against
it.
It is pretty evident to me that, from
the extent to which it is necessary to
dilute the night-soil, in order to its being
raised (even under &e most favourable
arrangement) by atmospheric pressure,
eariagt is sltogether out of the question.
I am, Sir, yours, &c.,
W. Baddklbt.
Thrawlefsb, DeTon,
Avf. 15, 1848.
pWe are still oiisble to oononr in the jos-
tjoe of Mr. Baddeley's oenrares of this
apparatos ; snd beg to refer to the following
letter tnm soother oorrespondent for some
eoiiBterfailing observations on the labject.
Ed. M. M.]
DXAHB, naAT, AMD DBAMX'S CBSSPOOI.
CLBANSSa.
Sir,— In the hat Nomber of your Mags-
sine, there was what appears to me to be a
most UDJiistifiable attack upon the Royal
Agricoltoral Society in reference to Mesin.
I>esne, Dray, and Deaae's cesspool desnser ;
your editorial note apon that article was oer-
tdnly very just aad called for. Whether the
writer of that artide is sn sgricaltarist or
baa ever cultivated an acre of ground for the
paUic feeding, is a qfoestioD I do not ask,
for the answer on that point is pretty well
known to every flreman in London. Cer-
tainly those gentlemen of the Agricoltaral
Society who have been their whole lives en-
gaged on, and might also be laid to faafc
thdr whole capital embarlced in agricoltaral
occnpations, Moald know what best soited
their own purpose, and what they shonld
award prises for. The very fact of such gen-
tlesBCn, and practical agricaltorists, awarding
a prise to the cesspool deanser and manure
cart, Mys more fOfr it, at least as an agrioal-
toral implement, than all the carping and
croaking of the writer of the article above
alluded to can my against it. It wm not
Bseiely anrndd or a drawing whidi was shown
at the ohibition, bat the real thing itsdf, of
a working sise and in working condition, and
also being worked, so that the judges were
not hoodwinked hi the matter. Bat let as
come to the facts. The cmspool deanwr has
been employed in emptying thoasands of
cmspools and water-closets. And who shoold
know better than the contractors what has
bmt answered thtirpwrpon of all the things
they have to choose from for deaning ont
such rsceptadra of semifluid matters? If the
great proportion of London contracton
have not yet adopted it, it is no doubt be-
cause they have not been particularly soli-
dted \ from the great difliculty at first en-
coontered in getting the proper flexible hose
for this purpose, a difficulty which is now
surmounted by the adoption of gutta pereha
tubing. The air-pamp works with the
greatmt ease, and reqaires only a little water
thrown upon it at the commencement, by
which it is kept in excellent working condi-
tion, as there is no valve in the passage
through which the matters to be pamped up
pam. For farmers' liqoid manure carts it
answers admirably, straw and chaif forming
no obstmctbn, but pauing up along witii
the more fluid portions. For cempool and
water-doset cleaning, of coarse there are
sereral considerations reqairing to be at-
tended to, not so strietiy necessary in agri-
cultural purposes, namdy, the bringing up
the stuff into the cart with the least possi-
ble production of smdl and dirt. As to
bringing ap the stuiF, little needs to be sdd
on that subject, as the thing can be easily
seen in opention % but for the information
of those who csnnot spare time for that pur-
pom, it may be as well to state that wfaUe
the matters require to be in a mmifluid,
and not hi a thick state, yet at the same
time, where the great proportion of the
matter is in the proper condition, should a
dead cat or a half brick (things not nnfre-
quentiy found in such placm) come in the
way, up it goes Into the cart along with the
other sabstanCM, provided that the hose be
of a saflident sise for thdr going through
it. Memrs. Dmne, Dny, and Deane never
pnt forward thdr cart as an artide by which
cesspools could be deaned out without any
smell (with Ellerman's deodorizing fluid
certafaily it would); but now the matter has
been qumtioned, it may be stated that ex-
perience has proved that itprodnces far lem
than the scoop and shovel process. If they
had proposed to ezpd the semiflaid matters
by means of comprmsed air, then there
might have been some grounds for the fears
expressed by your oorrespondent, when he
mys, «* It is just the reverse of what sane
science would suggmt."
I am. Sir, yours, &c.,
S. B. MiLMB, Boginocr.
186
BAEOK TOK BATHBK'S C01IPRB88BD AIR-BBQIKB.
TBI BKITIftB ASlOCIATTOir AT BWANIBA.
The annual meeting of this Association
has been lield this year at Swansea.
From the notices of the proceedings
which have appeared in the newspapers,
we arc not lea to anticipate much gain
to mechanical science from the contribu-
tions of its members on the present oc*
casion. We noake the following extracts
from the Report of the Morning Chro-
nid€:
Ne^ Slement in Mechanict,
** Mr« Roberts eidiiMtad and explained the
ooBStmctiMi of a mechanioal contri?anoe,
by which in a very simple miBBer more-
meats may be effected^ for which more com-
plicated mecbanism is frequently employed.
The model ebnsiated of a steel shaft, on
wfaieh were looMly fitted two brass discs,
haviiif eaeb a boM to keep it steady. One
of the discs had eleren teeth (nmnded at top
and bottom) in its circumibrenoe, and wife
placed on tbe body of the shaft ; the other
dise (wfaieh was somewhat iaiBer), was on
the eoeentrio position of the shaft, with its
&ee to that of the toothed disc; theplain
disc had foar studs riTeted into it at equal
-distances fh)m each other, and at sueh die-
lanoe from its centre as to admit of their
being brought successiTely by the rerolution
of i£d eooentric to the bottom of the hollows
in the toothed dise. The following move-
ments may be effected by this modd,
Bumely : If the ahaft be held stationary and
the dise be made to revolve upon it, one ef
the dises will make twelve revolutiona whlbt
the other makes only eleven. Again ; If the
looliwd disc be held wUkt the shaft be
made to revolve twelve tiooes, the plain disc
will revolve in the same directioa one revo-
ItttioB only, and if the plam diso be held,
the toothed disc will perfoim one iwvohstieQ
in the contrary direction for deven nvoln-
tlons of the shaft It will be evident that
almost any other nnmber of revolutiona asay
be produced by employing a smaller number
of studs, not fewer than three, whidi will
not divide tlie number of teeth in the disc.
The idea of this novel element of mechsnism
was, it is stated, suggested to Mr. Roberts
by a dial movensent in an Amerlean oloek«
** The disousrion of this new element of
meohanism excited very great interest, and
it was stated in the room that it was likely
to lead to very important results."
Employment qf Electro -MagnetUm aa a
Motive Power.
Au interesting exeiirsion was made to
Penllergare, the mansion of J. D. liewelyn,
Esq., ^ont five milea from Swansea. The
imwable wwther made the drive to and
fro, and the promenade in the grounds and
on the ahoree of the lake truly deltghtfril.
The boat, which was impelled by the elee*
trical current, was the principal objeet of
attraction. It was not constructed for the
purpose, but was the boat ordinarily used on
the lake for pleasure, capable of conveying
about six persons. In the bow of the boat
a galvanic battery was placed, which, having
connecting wires, with a small retort filled
with meroury at. the stem, enabled the phl-
fessor, who steered the boat, to connect or
disconnect the circuit of the fluid as he
pleased. Near the centre was a aolid eyfiB-
der, construeted of wood, but bound iriA
copper, which revolved on its axis, and tronen
which eleetrie sparks were freely einlttedl*
This cylinder was in a state of continuoBn
revolution, and with the eylittder a rod waa
conneeted, which oaused the fisna plaoed aft
the stern of the boat to revolve. Hie appli.-
cation of electric locomotive power is doubt-
less a question of great interest, and it ia
chiefly a question of expense and speed
combined. The boat is ordinarily paddled
from the stem, with one oar ; its progress ia
slow, as compared with that of the Thamee
wherries : the battery required to work it ia
a powerful one, and yet the progress which
it made in ite excursion round the lake wan
not swifter than that which it would make
with ordinary paddling. At present it is a
scientific toy { but it clearly establishes the
principle that electricity can be converted
into a motive power for the propulsion of
vessels, thereby saving the space at present
occupied by the engines and fiiel ; and, aa
the power can be indefinitely increased, (?)
so as to meet the required speedy the sole
question is one of expense.
BA&ON VON BATBBN's COMPBiaSKD AtB»
EM GINK.
Sir,— It is the first time that I avail n^-
self to address you in rsferenee to mjester-
prise, ef introducing a new ayatom of loeo-
motioB on rallroada, by the uae of oompreased
air carried along upon the oarriaga; Ibr
which, on a large scale, an experimental
carriage has been constructed in the work-
• shops of the College for GivU Sngiaeera, af
which you have been kind enaugh to inasrt
a great number of notieas« and aaten s l t e
oaloulations on the merito of my eyiteas, in
your most valuable Journal.
The object of thus addressing you myself,
is principally to correct an error of your
reporter, which might be vary preiadioiiil to
my system. Ia the naiioe ia year iaat
Number it is sUtad, that in our first trial
(on the 9th August) on the Wwadswoith
Boad» we had tnveliad at the rate af
abttttiSmliBt; aad^tiuBtbyanatlnD^ to in-
TEMPERATUKE OV THE ARCTIC OCEAN.
CTJMe vat 0pMd to 10 or 12 miles, we had
broken or oxplodod some tubes of oar mt^
raurvoir on the road.
I am ofraid that aach an ineorreet rcpoit
would faijore my iBTention. The impossi-
bility- of an explosion or bursting of the air-
leseif oir by the inclosed eompressed wk
dmrmg ajewmey, is one of the qualities of
safety on which I hsnre, and do still prin
my system as superior to the steam boiler.
And ae we made a second trial last
IViday^ in presence of some hundreds of
spectators) on the same road» from Putney
to Wandswofih, starting up hill> with abotft
tweoCy persons upon the carriage, (by itself
ab«at three tons weight,) with a very greet
speed, prolMbly on an avemge of about 12
or 13 miles, without haring, either on the
first or on the second trial, had the least
possible aoeident or injury . to the air-
iBservoir or mschinery, I must beg you
to correct this dangerous error. The fact
is, that about fourteen days ago, on
tlie 28th Joly, during my absence, the
compressing apparatus was set to work for
some trials, and continued to charge the
reaerroir to an undue extent of pressure, by
the probable overlooking of the superin-
tan^eM. Tlds orereharging continued tUi
about two-thirds of the tubes forming the
airwreiervoir exploded^-were destroyed, or
at least made useless for the present. This
happened in the workshop of the College,
where the compressive pressures were still
kept in work during the explosion, and only
flopped after the mischief was done.
Cooaidenng, then, that the remaining
third part of the reservoir had been only
drntml by way of a late caution, to a very
low degree — in such manner, that hardly
oBOi^nBrtBr part of the power was contained
tiierem as was first intended--4t follows,
that with the whole reservoir, and the fhU
•Ktsnk of the regular pressure, we could have
gone twelve times as fsr.
But distsnce being of no great conse-
quenoo, it appears to me that the object for
which this earperimental carriage has been
constmeted has been fhlly attained, viz.,
1. To show the pracUcabili^ of compress-
ing lBi>ge quantities of air to a very high ex-
tent (say of 700 lbs. to 800 lbs. per square
indb), sod to retain it in air-tight vessds or
tutervoiVB of an adequate strength for any
usefiol lime, by the application of my system,
williout any considerable loss of power or
stnining of machinery."
2. To Mhow that air at any extent of pres-
sure (say 50 atmo^eres) may, by mesns of
Biy eKpandikig apparatus and moderator, be
brought down to an uniform working power
of four or five atmospheres, without grest
httn of-po^nc by luirigeratioB*
1S7
Safety uid convenieDce are visible to
evuty one. But the great economy to be
gained over steam locomotion (which I esti-
mate at about 75 per cent, when all my
inventions in generating steam and working
compressed air are applied) can only be
proved when fairly brought out in traffic—-
like the atmoepheric system on the Croy-
don line.
I am willing to prove, by calculation and
argument, this immense saving in expense,
when my system is fairly brought out on a
large scale (like the power-looms, it pays
not, in detsiil, tot one carrisge or so). And
whatever I may have stIU farther to suffer,
and obstacles to overcome, 1 shall fight a
struggle so long ss I have breath, to bring
this great boon fairly for the public use ; and
hope you will, from public views, continue
to lend me your valuable assistance therein.
i am, Sir, yours, &e.,
Bahoh Von Ratruk.
Patosy, August 16, 1S48.
MESSAS. WAmVET AMD WSST'b BTDEAVLIC
▼ALVB«
Sir,— We observe in your publieation of
June 3 last, a description of an hydraulic
valve by Mr. John Pool, Jan., of Hayle;
we beg leave to refer him to the valve now
in very general use, and known as " Har-
vey and West's Patent," as every advantage
mentioned by him is there embraced, and
has been acted on In almost the whole of
the waterwork establishments in London, as
well as a variety of other places. Should
Mr. P. be stW relectant to recognise the
virtues of our patent, we would refer him to
his neighbours, Messrs. Harvey and Co.,
who have generally some in make.
We are, Sir, yours, &c.,
Habvkt and Wist.
Hsyle Foundry, Cornwall,
Angot; 3, IMS.
tbmpk&aturs of the auctic ocean.
The proceedings of the Academy of
Sciences of Paris, for March 13, 1848, con-
tain the following account of a memoir, by
M. Ch. Martins, on tiie temperstnree of the
Arotie Ocean, at tiie suHhce, at great depths^
and hi the vicinity of the CHadelu of Spits-
bergen. The extract is by the author t'^
TbiB memoir rests upon 305 observa-
tions of temperature, nude by MM. Bra*'
vais, Pettier, and myself, in the lour voyage!
of Lm Seekercke^ between Hammerfcstv in
Lapland, (latitude 7^ 40' Netth,) and
Spitsbergen as ihr as 70" 34' N., as well as
in the neighbourboed of the gtsders of thst
island, during Ae fsaumttu of iS98 end
188
THE MARINE GLUE.
1839. The priocipal results which follow
from these olMenrations, are the following :
I.- Temperature qfihe Surface qfihe Sea,
1. In the middle of eammer, the tempe-
rature of the Artie Sea, is sensibly equal to
that of the air.
2. Nevertheless, as a mean, that of the
sea is a little higher, owing to the influenoe
of the Gulf stream, whose extremities are
lost upon the western shores of Spitsbergen.
3. The immense glaciers of Spitacbeigen,
which plunge and crumble into the sea, ex-
ercise a Tery sensible cooling influence upon
its surface. The ooasta of Norway, where
glaciers do not desoend to the IcTel of the
sea, tend rather to raise its temperature.
II* — Thermometrie Soundings at Great
Depths.
These temperatures are always the mean
of the Tory concordant indications of several
Walferdin thermometers, sentsimultaneously
to the bottom of the sea, and preserved from
prttsure by a sealed glass tube. The scales
which wereengraved upon the stems were
arbitrary, and nine diidsions correspond to
one degrti centigrade. The following are
the most important conclusions from these
experiments :
1. Between 70* 40' and 79^ 33' North U-
Utude, and from 7"" to 2V 15' longitude,
east of Paris, the- temperatures of the
Arctic ocean decrease with the depths,
during the months of July aod August.
2. These temperatures are always above
0\ (32'' Fah., at least to a depth of 870
metres, 953 yards,} the greatest depth at-
tained in these experiments.
3. Comparing the temperature at the
surfiuMwith that at the bottom and those
Intermediate, it appears that the decrease is
uniform, at the mean rate of 0*625" per 100
metres, (0*343° Fah. per 100 feet nearfy.)
4. The temperature of a liquid layer is
more constant in proportion as its depth is
greater.
III. —Ten^erature of the Sea in the
Neighbourhood qf the Qlaeiers o/Spitz^
bergtn,
1. In the months of July and August,
the temperature of the surface, although
very near the froesing point, is always above
0». (32 Fah.)
2. From the sur&oe to the dqpth of 70
metres, (230 feet,) the temperature some-
times inc r eases, sometimes decreases.
3. From the depth of 70 metres, the
temperature always decreases with the depth.
4. The deoraase of temperature from the
snrlMse to the bottom Is not uniform ; but
■ooelerRtM with the depth.
5. Between the suHiioe and a depth of 70
metres* it is never below 0% (32"^ FtJi.)
6. Below the depth of 70 metres, the
temperature of the water is below 0.
7. As a mean, the temperature of this
water is, 1*75°, (28*85° Fah.,) and oonse-
quently, above that of the maximum den-
sity and freesing point of sea water, as de-
termined by M. Despretz.
8. These facts are easily explamed. If we
remember that the point of maximum den-
sity and that of freesing, of salt water, are
several degrees below 0, and if we take
into consideration the complex Inflnenoee,
intermitting, and of variable intenaifty, ex-
ercised by the freezing of the sur&oes dur-
ing winter, the gladera, the floating ioe, the
tides and currents.
THB MAUNB OLVB.
We extract the following interesting dls-
oussion on the merits of this invention firom
the House of Commons Debates on the N«vj
Estimates for the year :
August 11.
Captain Pschsli; complied of inattention on
the part of the Board of Admiralty to the advaataffes
of employing the marine glne* and the inJustSoe
with which the ezperimenU had been made, which
did not give the article a fair trial, or affbrd a sure
test of its qualities. It had been applied to the deek
of the Th€H», by caulkers, where the eeama had
been filled up with dirt. Wherever the article had
been fairly and properly used, it had been tueceit-
ful ; but to allow it to be applied where the aeains
were filled with rabbUh and dirt, was not only not
giving it a fair trial, but was calculated to ii^ure
and deteriorate its character. He wiahed to hare
a return of the comparative expenee of eommoa
caulking and the application of marine gioe.
Lord Joaa Hat could assure the committee that
the Board of Admiralty had shown every ditpoittioD
to do the utmost Justice to Mr. Jeflerv. Who ooold
benefit more than the Board of Admtnatyltom tte
application of an economical material to the caalk>
ing of ships ? But, before the honourable and
gallant member pronounced a condemnation of the
Board of Admiralty, he should have inquired what
steps they had taken to test the real merita of Che
article. In the first place, before they gave encou-
ragement to an invention to be employed as a auh*
stitute for another in use, It was wise for a pablle
board to asceruin the cost of production. As the
marine glue was to be substituted for pitch, the
question of the difference of price was aa important
question. The late Board of Admiralty had ordered
a certain quantity of this glue to be manolhctared
at Chatham, and the offioer at Chatham Dockyard
had reported, the 18th of August, IMS, the coat of
the materials and the expense of making ; and the
result, as suted in his report, was, that the coat of
manufacturing 12 tons of marine glue was, upon aa
average, £96 6s. 4d. per ton. TUa (lue waa to be
substituted for pitch, andthe valneof a ton of piteh
was £5 17s. 6d., or little more than one-savcnth.
ExperimenU had been made of the glue on board
the Penelope, on the coast of Africa, and he flmdy
admitted they had succeeded (" hear," from Captain
Pechell); but there was a decided oldcetian to the
use of the glue below the upper deck, on account of
the smdl. What had the Board of Admiralty done
la consequence of the tucoeatftil experiment on
board the Penelope t It was ordered by the lata
THE HAEIHE GLUE.
1S9
r
boiid, on the 6th of June, 1846, that the marine
ghie ahould be eilplied to the weather decka of all
new ehipe-^the ghie could not he applied in con-
jnnctloD with pitch, as they would not act together,
and io 60 or 70 shipe the upper decks had been
payed with marine glue. With respect to applying
the glue to the sides and bottoms of ships, that was
firand not to snoeeed, as the glue cooled so soon.
With regard to Its applicatlott to the manufketure
of natfa, It was well known that a mast was com-
pesad off perhaps, IS difibrent pieces of wood, and
u became necessary to exercise great vigQanoe to
see that all the parts were in good order ; for if one
qpar waa damaged, so much of the strength of the
meat waa loet. One of the BagUg masts had been
raported to be rotten, and she came to be repaired;
the BoBid of Admiralty ordered it to be taken to
nleees, and what was the consequence? The fol-
lowing report was made in respect to that matter,
dated the 25th of July hut :
** With reference to your minute of the 1st inst.,
and their lordships' order of the SOth ult., signifying
their intention of testing the merits of Jeffery's glue
Jbr maatmalring, and directing us to cause the
Mm^t asaat, which was put together with this
description of glue about four years ago, to be taken
to pieeea, and for Mr. Jeflbiy to be present, we beg
to state tlut the mainmast Is the one so put toge-
ther, and that it has been separated under the
superintendenoe of Mr. Jeffery, who has fully satis-
lied hhnaelf, and acknowledged that it cannot be
disunited by the force of the wedge without destroy-
ing the material for Airther use in mastmaklng, the
adheelve qualitioi^f the glue tssring and injuring
the timber on both surlhces. It was then suggested
hy Mr. Jcflhry that the parta might be sawed asun-
der, wUeh has been done; but this operation will
not insure the safety of the material for ftirther use
(if found sound), because, with all the care, the saw
cannot be kept straight through the depth of the
swlhees, and it was found in Tsrious places to have
ran hollow, and therefore to repay these parts would
reduce the mast below its proper dimensions. The
separating has been tedious and expensive; it has
eoet in labour £4 14s. 3d., and taking a mast apart
fpat together with paint) can be done for £1 7s. 8d.
we bM to refer to our letter of the 8rd of May last,
reporting on this mast, wherein we stated that not
men tiian about one-half of the glue on the surfeces
had united the psrto together: but we do not allude
to th!s as the cause of the defect, but that by being
paid with f^ue has not prevented decay, as the
cheeks, side, trees, and one half spindle are defeo-
tire; tl&e other parts are sound, but not fit to be
replaeed in a mast We also beg to state that the
aearph of the main yard was put together with ma-
rine glue : the yard being defective on the outside,
we have sepsrated the scarph by the force of wedges ;
thoe surfeces, aa with the mast, have been de-
stnqred. In this case, sawing could not be resorted
to, because the scarph at the ends partakes of the
rounding of the yard; we are theroore of opinion,
aa the marine glue does not appear to us to prevent
deeaj, that it is not preferable to white paint for
pottiisg masts together, and particularly so as a
meat cannot be taken uart for examination without
destroying the materials for further use In mast-
This report was rigned by the three surveying
officers and the Admiral Superintendent of the dock-
yard at Devonport. Now, he would ask the hon.
and gallant gentleman whether he was aware of the
coet oC a mast in a line-of-battle ship, because, if
aaats were to be thrown away in this manner, the
hon. and gallant gentleman must be prepared to
give the Government a la^e supply of money for
ramiahing ships. No officer, he believed, would
lilLe to take the command of a ship unless his masts
le examined once in four years. The first appll-
fon of Mr. Jeflbry was for £30.000 as a reward,
I he afterwards reduced it to £15,000.*
* Xlthier aum leeBif enonnoiu foft w inventioQ
Captain Pechvll begged to dbtenre that he had
not addressed the committee on this subject with
the view of making any application for money.
Lord J. Hay then proceeded to say that there
existed no indis|Asition on the part of the Admi-
rslty to do Mr. Jeflisry every possible justice ; and
when the material had been sufficiently tested, it
would, no doubt, if useful, be brought into exten-
sive consumption ; and then he supposed that Mr.
Jeflfery would be in a poeltion to expect a reward
for his invention. He should have no difficulty In
producing the return asked for.
Mr. Hume thought it fair that a reasonable time
should be taken for testing the invention, but con-
ceived that, limiting its application to the upper
decks, it was a valuable discovery. By inoreasiag
the durability of the articles composing a ship, they
would economise much money.
Aufftut 15.
Omtain Pechbll said, he was sorry to trouble
the House, but a statement had been promulgated
as coming from a noble lord, (Lord John Hav),
which was calculated to do a great, though he
hoped only a temporary, injury to Mr. Jetfery, the
inventor of the marine glue for caulking ships, and
he was anxious, in justice to that gentleman, to
put the matter right. He (Captain Pechell) had,
upon that occasion, endeavoured to show that In
eveiT instance in which that article had been ap-
plied to the weather decks of vessels it had been
completely successftU, and, in consequence, Mr,
Jeffery had applied it to masts. He had a report
flrom Sheemess, which showed that, when properly
applied, the glue rendered unnecessary the present
practice, in the dock-vards, of pulling the masts to
pieces. The noble lord had spoken of the unpleasant
smell from the use of the glue between decks.
That referred to the old afiair of the Victoria and
Albert steamer, where bilge-water got a peculiar
smell ftom running through the tarred felt used in
her, and not ftom the marine glue, there being
none of Mr. Jeffery's glue in her at the time, the
glue used being composed at the dock-yard. In
vessels chartered for csriying troops no Inconve-
nience had been felt Arom the use of the glue be-
tween decks ; there was no disagreeable scent ; and
it was found much cleaner than pitch. He had a^
letter from Messrs. Smith, of Comhill, to Mr. Jeffery*
stating '* there is no offensive smell Arom the ma-
rine glue in our passenger-ships;" that "it waa
applied to the Sllenborovph five years ago, and to
the Tudor two years ago, and the Marlborough and
Blenheim this year, and no offensive smell what-
ever has been found." They added: "It had been
applied to the three decks of the Marlborough^ now
in the East India Dock, which any nartles are at
liberty to examine." He (Captain rechell) could
not undersUnd on what principle it was that an
endeavour was made to depreciate so valuable an
Invention. If the application of the glue cost more
money in the first instance, there would be found
a vast reduction of expense eventually by using it„
if it had a fair trial. A case occurred in 1840, In
which a steam-tug, called the Trinitji, caught firo
in the Thames, and the whole of the interior waa
consumed, but the planks which were payed with
the marine glue were not in the least touched br
the fire ; the glue held the planks together, though
the boiler-deck had been forced up by the fire. He
trusted the noble lord would do justice to the merlta
of Mr. Jeffery's invention.
Lord J. Hat said, the Board of Admiralty were
anxious to do justice to Mr. Jeffery; but, at the
same time, it was wise to test the merits of the
article before incurring expense. He repeated that
which consists merely in the mixture of caoutchouo
with shell lao ; considering especially that Mr. Jef-
fery has but followed out a suggestion of the lato
eminent surveyor of naval works, General Bentham«
See aMi, p. 175.— En. M. M.
100
ovdflrt ted been clreii that the teaaif of new ships
should be payeai'with the marine glue, with the
exception of the lower decks. So late as the 23rd
of May last, orders had been issued to the officers
of the dockyard to pay the sesn4f of the Fairp't
deeks with marine glue, and they had objected, in
a letter to the Board of Admiralty, on scoount of
the result of the experiment in the Victoria and
4i^9rt, He could only repeat, that the Board ^of
Admiralty had every disposition to do Justice to BCr.
Jcffery.
Mr. Wakd said, this gentleman had invented a
gliie, which might become beneficial to the public
as well as to himself, and these statements were
intended to bolster up his pecuniary claims i^ion
the Government. Since the last discussion on this
suUect, he (Mr. Ward) had reeelTod from Mr.
Jeflreiy a letter reiterating a olaim he originally
made to the Board of Admiralty for jesu,000. A
claim for pecuniary reward to so large an amount
could be Justified bv the well-attested merits of the
inrention only. Notwithstanding, then, all that
had been said, he feared that the Admiralty must
give up the use of this glue until Mr. Jeffery mode-
rated his expectations. They would give him all
fklr and reasonable facilities, but would not go to
the length of admitting a claim so untenable as his.
MOTXS AVD VOTICSS.
Speed of Ocean Steam-boat* with English-made
Engines. — Baron Seguier stated, at a late meeting
of the French Society for the Encouragement <»
National Industry (from one of the buUetins of
which we take this notice,) that he saw, when off
Havre, two Enslish steam-packets, the Sueceu and
the Bxpren, which make the trip from Havre to
Boulogne, a distance of 149 statute miles, in five
hours, which is close on SO miles an hour—a rate
of speed never before attained in steam navigation,
either on sea, lake, or river. Baron Seguier de-
scribed these boats as being very long, sliaped like
pirogues, and carryiog their sails arranged in anew
way, so that they can take advantage of the slightest
wind without losing the necessary stability of the
vessel. Their engines are of 350 horses power, and
built by Messrs. Maudslay, Sons, and Field, on the
annular principle.
Another Step in the Progreu of the Pr*«.— The
American papers make mention of a machine which
has been recently invented at Springfield, Mass.,
for folding newspapers and other printed matter.
It is to be connected with a cylinder press, so that
the sheets come forth from the press folded in the
required form. The inventors warrant It to fold
3,600 sheets per hour, of any size, with the greatest
accuracy.
Enormous Wire Rope.— A wire rope Is now in
course of construction at the Works of Messnt.
Newell and Co., Gateshead, which will, when com-
pleted, be of the extraordinary length of 0720 yards,
and will weigh 27 tons.
Concussion Shells.— Woolwich, Aug. 5.— Lleut.-
Colonel Crittenden, Lieut. -Colonel R. Hardinge,
Director of the Laboratory Department, and Lieut.-
Colonel J. A. Chalmer, Assist.-Director General,
attended at the Practice-range, in the Plumstead-
marshes, to witness experiments with a new con-
cussion shell, the invention of a Mr. D. A. Tucker,
and which, in military circles, has caused almost as
much curiosity as the long range of Captain Warner,
partly from the difiiculty of procuring an efTeciive
concussion shell, and partly from the very high
merits which the inventor laid claim to for his
shells. He says it can be manufactured " to any
eslibre," can be fired from " cannon on the old
principle," explodes by simple contact with a body,
bard or soft, insures a longer range, greater cer-
tainty of range, safety in handling and transporting,
so that it can be stowed on a vessel's deck during
engagements; explodes ei^ually well under water,
not being dependent upon ignition, and is fearfully
destructive. He also guarantees to alter all the
N0TB8 AND K0TICB8.
existing shells in the terrioe to hffe own pcladple.
Six rounds only were fired from S2-pounder gons
at a range of 460 yards. The four first shells bunt
on striking the target, the fifth a few seconds after
striking the target, and the sixth appeared to be a
fhilure. The experiments were eonstantly inter-
rupted by the movements of various vessels whieh
passed up the riTer within the line of fire.
A Prodigious Pair of 5Asar».— The mastmakcn
of Sheemess Dockyard have Just completed a power-
ful shears formed of pieces of timber Joined toge-
ther in a similar manner as the made masts of first-
rate ships of war in the Royal Navy. Some idea
may be formed of the maanltude of the main sa^
port of the shears, when its dimensions are given,
being 127 feet long, and S feet 1 inch In diameter on
the average throughont Its entire length. It eo«-
tains 1,300 feet of solid timber, weighing S7 tmn,
and required SST pieces, each cut ont of large-
sized trees, and Joined together with Jefferys ma-
rine glue, of which it required 6 ewt to eost the
Joinings, and it has been so nniformly applied hgr
the workmen that the superfinous quantUy ooxiDg
from the Joinings on the pieces of wood being preased
together with iron hoops, is calculated not to exceed
ten pounds weight. The two side-shear masts are
each formed of two very large trees. Joined together
with the same substance, and when they are put up
will be of a most efficient description, and eapabto
of shipping and unshipping the largest masts used
in the Royal Navy, and moving other great
weights.
Death of Mr. Richard VK/y.—The Hull papen
announce the death, on the 3rd l«at., at the age of
7«, of Mr. Witty, the acknowledged Inventor of
the oscillating steam-engine. He died after a pro-
ti acted illness, and in circumstances, we lisar, ef
considerable distress. A subscription was set on
foot for him two or three years ago, but it noTer
reached an amount at all commensurate with the
services he had rendered to the country, or with
the general estimation in which he had always been
held, as a man equally distinguished for mechanieal
genius and moral worth.
The Screw. — The Hants Telegraph mentions that
thirteen different forms of screw-propelling hare
been tested by the Minsi steamer; the result ot
which was that Woodcroff s screw propelled the
MinM at nine knots an hour, and that when at Its
greatest velocity the engines performed about tiuee
revolutions per minute more than with any of the
other screws. The peculiarity of the Weodcreft
screw is that it is made with an increasing piteh.
Now, injustice to the other twelve screws, it shonM
have been added that any diminution of pitch
which can take place in one turn or half turn of a
screw (none of the screws being of greater laigth)
is so small as to not only be imperceptible to the
eye, by practically of no effect whatever. The gate
of " three revolutions " must have been owing to
some other csuse which does not appear.
** JU OM0.*'~The Morning Chronicle heads Ifs
notice of the election of " W. Edkins, Esq. M.A.,"
to the Geowutrjf chair in Gresham C<^ege thus:
" The Gresham Professonhip of DivinUy." A aly
way this of rebuking a gross breach of trust. Tie
as much as to say, that whether it be geometry or
divinity, or anything else, which the fortunate gen-
tleman has been elected to give lectures upon, is of
no manner of consequence. The salary 's tne thing.
Death of Mr. George Stephenson.—li is with mueh
concern that we annonnce the decease of Mr. George
Stephenson, the celebrated engineer. He died at
his establishment in Derbyshire, on Saturday last,
aged 67. Few men have obtained, or deserved, a
higher reputation. He rose from the humblest life
from the elasticity of his native talent overcoming
the obstacles of narrow circumstances and even
confined education. In his profession he was na
happy and ingenious in his discoveries as generona
in imparting the benefits of them to the world. la
the history of railroad enterprise and movement the
name of George Stephenson will live.— Itees.
191
WsntLT ttST OF K«W SlTOLTtlt VATEVtn*
Samuel Geor^ Hewitt, of Buehanan-Btreet, gums, and of supplying deficiencies in the mouth.
GUMgow, engineer, for improvemenU in the con- August 15; six monUis.
ttruetion of certain parts of railways. August 1 1 ; Thomas Warren, of Montague-terrace, Mil^
•ix moDtha. end-road, Middlesex, gentleman, and Willoughby
John Vartoy» of Bury, Lancashire, engineer, for Theobald Munsani, of James-terrace, Blue Anchor-
cerUtn improvemeuts in steam-engines. August road, fiermondsey, Surrey, gentleman, for im-
14 ; six months. provements In the construction of bridges, aque-
James Henderson, of the Surrey Canal Dock, ducts, and roofing. August 13; six months.
ftillwTight. for improTements in machinery for Thomas de la Rue, of Bunhillrow, Middlesex,
■ K UKlpoHshiog rice, pearl iMrley, and other nianufacturer, for ImprovemeuU in producing or-
dain and seed. August H; six months. namental surfaces to paper and otber substances.
fiilvta Thonas Truman, of No. 40, Haymarket, Moses Haym Picciotto, of Finsbury-square, Lon-
London, dentist, for an Improved .method or me- don, for a method or methods of purifying and dls-
thods of eonstmctlng and fixing artificial teeth and colourlzing certain gums. August 17; six months.
WISKLY LIST OF DBSIONS FOR ARTIOLBS OF UTILITY RBOISTBRBD.
Date of Ko.ln'
Reglstra- the Ra-
tion. £tster. Proprietors' I^amos. Addresses. Subjects of Designs.
Aug. 9 1 53 Cornelia Smith Crew, Chester Female elastic topporting
band.
11 1585 James Lattb Hancock, Coed-y-Cade, Hontgomeryihire, Frame lor a carpet or other
bfig.
14 15M Welch, Margctson, and
Co ."t... Cheaptlde ^ Back of a pair of braces.
„ I5S^ John Whitehead Preston ......m. Tile machine.
15 1558 John West .....Lambeth m. "^ », iw #
h„j1 «...*« uc ^ 1 ^jj^n^ or globe, for gas or
John Henry Weston ... Southwark ....: j ®^^** *'«'**■•
16 1599 John Warner and Sont, Cripplegate Beer engine.
SR)i)ertis(emeiits(.
GVTTA PZ»CHA COMPAinrS WORKS,
WHARF ROAD, CITY ROAD.
Lomdon, Ut Afiril, 1848.
THE OUTTA PBRCHA COMPANY have great pleasure in stating that the steadily increasing demand
tar tte Pavbwv Gutta Psbcha DnnriNo Bakdb justifies the utmost confidence that they are ftiUy
apnroffvd.
Their durability and strength— permanent contractility and uniformity of substance — ^their non-suscep-
tibility af Injury firom contact with Oils, Grease. Acids, Alkalies, or Water— and the facility with which the
alttgle Joint required can be made in Bands of any length— render them euperior for almost all working
purpoaes, and decidedly economical.
gox.oa » »a, TuBivo of all stzea, Boueisa, CATBXTKiia, Ststuescopss, and other Surgical Instruments;
M«vu>ixaa won. Prcnnts Fbamjcs and other decoratire purposes; Wbifs, Thobos; Tbxxis, Golf, and
CnicKXT BALLa, &o., in great Tariety.
Patent Chitta Percha Shoe Soles.
The ippHeabllfty of Uutta Percha Soles for Boots and Shoes having been extensively and satisfactorily
tested, we can unhesitatingly iveommcnd the material prepared for this purpose, its merits having been
acknowledged by all who have tried it. Indeed, experience has proved that Gutta Pecoha 8alei wear twice
aa longasTeather, with great additional peraonal comfort; and they remain perfectly impervious to wet
until quite worn through.
Boot and Shoe Soles for Stunmer "Wear.
The ftet of the total hnperrionsneas of these Soles to water, enables the most delicate, by the use of
them, to escape the suffering which the proverbial uncertainty of our climate, etxn iv Summer, so often
Inflieta upon tlw iuoaniious, and this effect may be secured by a Sole so thin and light, as to afford to the
wearer a degree of ease and comfort hitherto unattainable, in conjunction with security against damp.
At the samu timf, the remarkable non-conducting properties of Gutla Percha afford a most vatuabte pro-
i^Uam lo ttese ti^ are $uijeete4 to $%ffering or ineonveniettce by walking upon fuated pavementi.
The qaestion of the durability of Gutia l*crchii Soles, as compared with Leather, has long since been
•decided iji &vour of the tormerf and no Instance of Adlnre lias yet con&e to tbe know-
Itfd^s of tkm Company whloh nyay not be ascribed to a neclect of ^elr printed
192
ADTSftTIStlfBNTS.
PubHihed Bnry Saturday , prict Sixpence.
THE
MINING JOURNAL,
RAILWAY AND COMMERCIAL GAZETTE;
A WBBKLY KBWSPAPB& ; 70BMIN6 A
Complete History of the Commercial and Scientific
Progrettof
MINES AND RAILWAYS,
And a carefully- collated Synopali, ^rlth nameroni
Illustrationa of all
NEW INVENTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS
iw
MECHANICS AND CIVIL ENGINEERING;
Prices of Stocks, Ores, MeUls, and Materials;
Reports of the ProceediDgs of Public Companies ;
the Transactions of Scientific Bodies ; Oflldal and
Exclusive Information from Mining Districts,
abroad and at home, frc, ftc.
Oflice : 26, Fleet-street, London.
Now ready, price 2s.,
A GlOMary of Mining and
Smelting TermSy
Used in English and Foreign Mining Districts.
PUBLISHED at the Office of the Mining Jour-
nai, 26, Fleet-street, London ; and may be bad
of John Weale, 59, High Holbom; and through all
booksellers in town and country.
To Sngineem and Boiler-
BCakera.
LAP- WELDED IRON TUBES, FOR MARINE
AND LOCOMOTIVE STEAM-BOILERS,
Tubes for Steam, Gas, and other purposes ; — all
Borts of Gas Fittings. The Birmingham Patent Iron
Tube ComiMUiy, 42, Cambridge-street, Birmingham,
and Smethwiok, Staffordshire, manoiacture Boilers
and Gas Tubes, under an exolaslTO License fton
Mr. Richard Pressor, the Patentee.
These Tubes are extensively used in the Boilers
of Marine' and Looomotive Steam Engines in
England and on the Continent ■, ^ are Stronger,
Lifter, Cheaper, and more Durable than Brass or
Copper Tubes, and are warranted not to open in
the weld.
42, CAMBRIDGE^TREET, CRESCENT,
BIRMINGHAM.
Works— Smethwiek, Staffordshire.
LONDON WAREHOUSE— No. 68, UPPER
THAMES-STREET.
Lately published. Third Edition, Price 7s. 6d.,
Microscopic niostrationay
WITH descriptions of the New Microscopes, and
ample Instructions for Use. By Amdmkw
Pbitchakd, M.R.I.
Also, by the same, Price 12s.,
A HISTORY OF INFUSORIA, Living and
Fossil, with Descriptions of all the known species
of Animalcules, and upwards of 500 Engrared
Figures.
NoTB.— Part I. of the above work, enUtled " A
GENERAL HISTORY OF ANIMALCULES,"
with the EngraTings, may be had separately,
Price 5s.
London: Whittaker tad Co., Are Maria-lane.
TO ARCHITECTS. BUILDERS, &c.
Copper^^wire Cord.
P S. NEWALL ft Co.'s PATENT IMPROVED
^^' COPPER-WIRE CORD for WINDOW SA8H
LINES, Hot-houses, Lightning Conductors, Hang-
ing pictures. Clock-cord, and various other parpoies
for which hempen rope has hitherto been used. This
new and raluable Patent is fast superseding the aie
of the hempen cord, and is strongly reoommcnded
to all Builders and other parties connected with
the aboTe. The Wire-cord may be had wholesale,
and specimens seen at the Offlct of the Patenteea,
No. 165, Fenchureh-street, W. T. ALLEN, Agent,
or retaU of G. and J. DEANE, 46, King WHliam-
itreet, and E. PARKS, 140, Fleet-street; also of
all respectable Ironmongers.
CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER.
Plan of an A&rial Loeomotive or Governable
Balloon. By Edmund Hunt, Esq.— (vttA
tnffrwingt) ^ ...m.... t€Q
On the Means of Fastening together the Com-
ponent Parts of Vessels for NavlEation. By
the Late Brig. Gen. Sir Samuel Bentham,
K. S. G.— (oMMlififtfd)................................. in
The Houses of Parliament ....m...«m*mm....m.... ITS
The Oymnotus Electrleos ... ... ^.m. ... ....«...«• 1 7t
Long and Short Hinges for Slulee Gates ......... 178
Dr. Alban's New Mode of Sheep Washhig ...... 179
Watson and Cart's Patent Improvements in
the Manuflu^tura of Gas ............M....M....M. 179
Thomhill^s Registered Raaor Blade .............. 180
Sea Walls— Should they be Slopbig or Vertical r
By T. Smith, Esq., C. E 181
Tottle's Patent Improvements in Distillation... 188
Black's Patent Improvements in Evaporation... 188
Fellow's Improvements in Pumaoe Bars......M. 183
The Earl of Dundonald's Patent Improvements
in Marine Steam Boilers ...^....m...... 188
Chance's Improvements in Furnaces and the
Manufocture of Glass ..^..^ 18i
Deane, Dray, and Deane's Cesspool Cleanser.
By Mr. Baddeley 184
On tbe Same. By Mr. S. B. Milne, Engineer.. 185
The British Association at Swansea—
Roberu' New Element in Mechanics ... 188
Employment of Electro-Magnetism as a
Motive Power ..»...•.....« 188
Note Explanatory of tbe Accident to Baion
Von Rathen's Compressed Air Engine. By
Baron Von Rathen..... 186
Messrs. Harvey and Wesf s Hydraulic Valve... 187
Temperature of the Arotie Ocean m..^... 187
The Marine Glue — House of Commons
Debate ...•.m.........*...»m«*«m..«..m....mm. 188
Speed of Ocean Steam-boaU with English made
En^es— Another Step in the Progress of
tke Press—Enormous wire Ropo— iSicker's
Conouss:on Shells — A Prodigious Pair of
Shears— Death of Mr. Richard Witty— The
Screw— The late Gresham College Election
Death of Mr. George Stephenson 198
Weekly List of New English Patenu ............ 191
Weekly Lbt of New Articles of Utility Regis-
tered ....m*>*.».*m**.*«......m«......m.<«.*m.m..«.m 191
Advertisements m.........m.....m......m....... 191
LONDON: Edited, Printed, and Pabliahed, bj
Joseph Clinton Robertson, of No. 166, Fleet-
street, in the City of London.— Sold by A. and
W. Oalignani, Rue Vlvienne, Paris; Mnehin and
Co. DabUa ; W. C. Campbell and Co., Haabuifli.
MUSEUM, REGISTER, JOURNAL, AND GAZETTE.
No. 1307.]
SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 1848. [Price id.. Stamped, id.
BiUted hyJ.C. RoberUon, lid, Fleet*«trcc( .
AMERICAN FAST PRINTING PRESS.
rv
TOL« XLne.
192
ADTlftTIStllBNTS*
Publiihed Bwry Saturday ^ pria Sixpenct.
THE
MINING JOURNAL^
RAILWAY AND COMMERCIAL GAZETTE;
A WBBKLT NBWaPAPBR ; FOBMINO A
Complete HUtory of the Commeteial and Scientific
Progress of
MINES AND RAILWAYS,
And a carefully- collated Synoptb, -with nameroas
Illaatrations of all
NEW INVENTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS
ZK
MECHANICS AND CIVIL ENOINEBRINO;
Prices of Stocks, Ores, Metals, and Materials;
Reports of the Proceedings of Public Companies ;
the Traniaotions of Sclentillo Bodies ; OiBdal and
Exclusive Information from Mining Districts,
abroad and at home, ftc, &c.
Office : M, Fleet-street, London.
Now ready, price 2s.,
A GlOMary of MOnini; and .
Smelting Termft,
Used in English and Foreign Mining Districts.
PUBLISHED at the Office of the MMng Jour-
nal, 26, Fleet-street, London; and maybe bad
of John Weak, 59, High Holbom; and through all
booksellers in town and country.
To Engiiieoni and Boiler-
Makers.
LAP. WELDED IRON TUBES, FOR MARINE
AND LOCOMOTIVE STEAM-BOILERS.
Tubes for Steam, Oas, and oUier purposes ; — all
sons of Gas Fittings. The Birmlngniun Patent Iron
Tube Company, 42, Cambridge-street, Birmingham,
and Smethwlck, Staffimlshire, manmacture Boilers
and Gas Tubes, under an ezcluslTe License fton
Mr. Richard Pressor, the Patentee.
These Tubes are extenslTely used in the Boilers
of Marine' and Looomotlve Steam Engines In
England and on the Continent; — are Stronger,
Lighter, Che^er, andmoro Durable than Brass or
Copper Tubes, and an warranted not to open in
the weld.
42, CAMBRIDOE^TREET, CRESCENT,
BIRMINGHAM.
Works— Smethwlck, Staffordshira.
LONDON WAREHOUSE— No. 68, UPPER
THAMES-STREET.
Lately published. Third Editbn, Price 7s. 6d.,
Microscopic niustratiomiy
WITH descriptions of the New Microscopes, and
ample Instructions for Use. By AMnmsw
PniTCHAKD, M.R.I.
Alio, by the same, Price 12s.,
A HISTORY OF INFUSORIA, Living and
Fossil, with Descriptions of all the known species
of Animalcules, and upwards of 600 Engrayed
Figures.
Non.— Part I. of the abore work, entitled " A
GENERAL HISTORY OF ANIMALCULES,"
with the EngraTings, may be had separately,
Price 5b.
London : Whittaker and Co., ATt Maria-buM«
TO ARCHITECTS. BUILDERS, &e.
Coppei^^wlre Cord.
-p S. NEWALL tc Co.'s PATENT IMPROVED
•"" COPPER-WIRE CORD for WINDOW SASH
LINES, Hot-houses, Lightning Conductors, Hang-
ing pictures, Clock-cord, and various otherpurpoaea
for which hempen rope has hitherto been Qsed. Thin
new and Taluable Patent is fisst superseding the on*
of the hempen cord, and is strongly recommended
to all Builders and other parties connected wltb
the aboTe. The Wire-cord may be had wholesale,
and specimens seen at the Office of the Patenteea,
No. 163, Fenchurch-street, W. T. ALLEN, Agent,
or rotail of G. and J. DEANE, 46, King WiUinm-
street, and E. PARKS, 140, Fleet-street; also of
all respectable Ironmongers.
CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER.
Plan of an Aerial LocomotiTc or GoTemable
Balloon. By Edmund Hunt, Esq.— («M
tngravingt) ^ m. ^.^ «.... 1S9
On the Means of Fastening together the Com-
ponent Parts of Vessels for NavigaUoa. By
the Late Brig. Gen. Sir Samuel Bentham,
K. S. Q.-^emuhtdtd)^^^.,, .... ..... 171
The Houses of Parliament ....m..«.m.mm.....m... 175
The Gymnotus Electrieus ...,...mm.......m....«. I7S
Long and Short Hiages for Sluice Gates .^ ...... 178
Dr. Alban's New Mode of Sheep Washing .^... 179
Watson and Cart's Patent Improyements In
the Manufbetunof Gas 179
Thomhni's Registered Raaor Blade m. ...... ...... 180
Sea Walls^Should they be Sloping or Vertical t
By T. Smith, Esq., C. E 181
Tottie's Patent ImproTcments in Distillation... I8t
Black's Patent ImproYcments In Evaporation... 188
Fellow's Improvements in Fumaoe Bars.M...M. 183
The Earl ofDundonald's Patent Improvements
in Marine Steam Boilers ......mm.^. 188
Chance's Improvements in Furnaces and the
Manulbcturo of Glass ......^ mm. 184
Deane, Dray, and Deane's Cesspool Cleanser.
By Mr.Baddeley 184
On the Same. By Mr. 8. B. Milne, Engineer.. 189
The British Association at Swansea—
RoberU' New Element in Mechanics ... 188
Employment of Electro-Magnetism as a
Motive Power 186
Note Explanatorr of the Accident to Bwron
Von R«then's Comprossed Air Engine. By
Baron Von Rathen.. » 189
Messrs. Harvey and West's Hydraulic Valve. 187
Tempentureof the Arotic Ocean 187
The Marine Glue — House of Commons
Debate ..•m>.......m.....*..»..»>m**«.m....m....m... 188
Speed of Ooean Steam-boats with English made
Engines— Another Step In the Fropress of
the Press — Enormous wlro Rope— Tucker's
Concussion Shells — A Prodigious Pair of
Shears— Death of Mr. Richard Witty— The
Scrow— The late Gresham College Election
Death of Mr. George Stephenson .............. 190
Weekly List of New English Patents ... .. 191
WeeUv Ust of New Articles of Utility Regis-
Advertisements' 'ZLJ7,, ... ....!1Vm7.*. ...'.mr.,1 191
LONDON: Edited, Printed, and PnbUahod, by
Joseph Clinton Robertson, of No. 106, Fleot-
street, in the City of London.— Sold by A. aad
W. Oallgnani, Rue Vivienne, Paris; Machin att4
Co. DubUn i W. C. Campbell and Co., Hoabiii|lu
MUJSEUM, REGISTER, JOURNAL, ANI> GAZETTE.
No. 1S07.]
SilTURDAY, AUGUST 26, 1848. [Price 3d., Stamped, id.
Edited byJ.C. Robertson, lid, Flect-atreet .
AMERICAN FAST PRINTING PRESS.
rr
TOL« XLIX.
194
AUBEICAN VAST PftlKTIMO PESflS.
Invented by Meurs. R, Hoe and Co.^ q^ ^ew Tori.
(From the Bmnka,)
EvBRTTHiNO Connected with improving
the *< Art of Arts," is as much an act of
general good to the whole human family as
it if magnanimous in its achierement — ^par-
ticularly in this age, which seems to have
been especially favoured in almost every
conceivable way, relattng to improvemeots
in printing ; that is, in that branch which is
to cause a multiplication of the number of
copies within a given time. We give an
engraving of the latest and greatest of these
many improvements ; and also a description
of its general features, copied, it is true, but
iu faithfulness is endorsed by the iuTentor
and ourselves. We will add, however, that
since that article was penned, sereral of
these presses have gone into successful ope-
ration ; they are now used in the oiBoes of
the 8tm and Hermid, of New York ; Ledger f
Philadelphia; and Tfmee, Boston. Col.
Hoe has also just returned from Europe,
where he has secured patents generally, and
some orders for the presses themselves;
these are to be built in this city, and shipped
to their destination abroad.
The following detailed description is from
the Philadelphia Ledger:
Hoe' 9 la$t Feat Preee^^We have now got
fairly at work, mning off the immenso
nightly edition of the Ledger upon the.
newly-invented Cylindrical Rotary Printing
Machine, which a few days sinoB we an-
nounced to ow readers as having baeii
manufactured for the Ledger by the Messrs.
R. Hoe and Co., patentees snd printing
press maanlaetnrers, of New York. We
doubt not that snbseribers to the paper will
be interested widi a brief description of the
machine, and of its inventloB, particularly
as the principle of its operation is so tttirely
different from that of any printing press
ever before put into snccessfni vse in this
country, or in the worid ; that it has been
with printers a disputed point, not only
whether any maehine could be i nvented by
the most ingenious mechanic, cqwble of
applying this principle to printing; but,
even if there could be, whether the principle
itself could be adapted to letter-press print-
ing. We think this last great invention, of
which the first and only machine illustrating
it yet manufactured, is that upon which the
Ledger is now printed, proves the truth of
the hypothesis, that the principle is suscep-
tible of being applied, and with success.
^ There are, of course, and by those eipe-
rienced in mechanics always to be expected,
more or kis difficulties, delays, and vexa-
tions, necessarily incident to introducing
and putting into operation any new improve-
ment We have found this to be the case,
as many of our readers will recollect, with
each of the improvements for greater speed
in printing, wiiieh have been successfully
introduced into use upon the Ledger, from
tune to time, in the course of its progress to
its present extensive drculation.
It is probable that no art has made more
impid advances during the last liftecn or
twenty years than that of printing ; and to
the invention and introduction of rapid
machine presses, may be attributed the
main reason of its great progress; for in
proportion as any of the necessaries, conve-
niences, comforts, or luxuries of life may be
cheapened in cost, so as to be brought more
immediately within the reach of increased
numbers, so does the public demand for
an increased production of such comforts
multiply ; and thif arises from the feet, that
just in swdi proportion are the millions
benefited.
The facilities sfforded by the rapid press,
without which, such newspapers as were
demanded by the public were limited in
their Bdeans of supply, has greatly aided, by
a reduction of eoat and the increased means
of supply, to secure to many establishments
VBpreoedented numbers of subscribers.
Previous to 1826, although there had
been no rapid presses for newspaper work
Introdoeed in this country, yet the minds of
many ingenious persons had been turned to
the erident need of inereased expedition for
the use of the daily press.
IVeadwell, of Boston, had invented an
improved book press, many of which were
made by Robert Hoe and Co., with which
printing could be executed twice as fast as
with the ordinary hand press. Still this did
not answer in all respects for newspaper
About this tfane, Messrs. Dwight, Towns-
Md, and Walker, proprietors and publishers
of the Dttilg Adoeriieer, procured from
England a double-cylindsr press, of Napier's
invention, and Major M. M. Noah, also,
shortly afterwards, one of the same patentee's
singie-cylindcr presses. These were then
considered of most extraordinsry power and
capacity ; indeed, the former, from its great
speed, of about 1,800 impressions per hour,
and requiring four boys to supply and receive
the sheets, was looked upon as not only
extremely expensive to use, but unnecessa-
rily fast.
AMSRICAVr FAST-PRIKTINO FRXSS.
195
Mmsti. R* Hot ind Co. immediately
commenced building lingle-cylinder praises,
■ad thsy at once simplified and improved
them.
The first machine of the kind was made
Ibr the Commereial Adveriiser, of New
Yoi^, after which they wera called npon to
hoiid others for most of the daily papers of
that eity; bnt so closely did the demand
toUow the increased means of lupply, that
it WIS soon fonnd that still further expedi-
tion was necessary to supply the pspers
in season. Acoordinglyy in 1830, Messrs.
Hoe and Co. turned their attention to sim-
nlifying, improving, and manufacturing the
donble-cylindet presses, which had but so
short a time previously been considered
nnneoessarily fast. These, with the more
popular daiUes, took the place of the single-
cytinder press, and answered very well up
to 1838, about which time Col. R. M. Hoe,
one of the firm of the Messrs. Hoe, visited
EnropO) and on his return turned his atten«
tioa to further improvements upon the
double-cylinder, with a view to still greater
speed, such as vras required not only by the
grcady increased number of copies issued,
bat by the sharp competition which had
mung up between the various papers of
that city, in holding back to the latest hour
rar news.
Col. Webb, of the New York Courier and
Inquirer, to distance all competition, in
1838, imported, at great expense, a four-
cylinder Napier printing machine from Eng-
land ; and, although a machinist from the
manafacturer csme out with the press to
pat it in operation, it was found not only too
complicated, but that it would not answer
for Uie thin paper used by American news-
papers, and it was abandoned.
The success of the cheap oath papers
about this time, which had been introduced,
rendered faster printing still more necessary
with them.
In 1834 or 1835, Mr. Benjamin H. Day,
of New York, planned and commenced the
publication of a small one cent paper, called
the Sum. It was a novelty for a newspaper,
containing a digest of the news of the day,
bat priactpally devoted to local affairs, and,
being well conducted, was calculated for
genml circulation among the people, be-
eanae the ether daily papers were not only
too expensive for the million, bnt had be*
come, most of them, too entirely restricted
to commereial matters and partisan politics.
Mr. Day's paper soon acquired a large cir-
ealation, and others were soon started,
among which were the Trafueript, l^iarf
New Bra, Herald, &o., &c., some of which
obtained numerous subscribers and an ez-
teaaivo advertising business. Others were
also started in other commercial dtiesi
among which were the Public Ledger, of
Philadelphia, at the present time, we would
remark, numbering its thirty thoueemd sub-
scribers and purchasers daily.
In the year 1839 or 1840, Col. Hoe had
so far improved upon the double-cylinder
Napier press, with one of his own invention,
a two-cylinder press also, as to be able to
print with it the smaUer-sized papers at a
spM of from five to six thousand per hoar,
whilst, with the greatest speed of the Nspieri
with all its improvements, but about three
thousand per hour could be given.
This would add another grand desidera-
tum attained. The pair of fast presses upon
which the Ledger has been worked for the
last five or six years, sre of this constrao-
tion, and well have they done service, and
proved the value of the invention. At the
time these presses were pat into use, the
impression generally entertained was, that
no greater rate of speed than the§e afforded,
would ever be required. They were equally
as rapid as the foar-cylinder English presii
and required bat about half the cost ia
attendance.
But how little is even the most oompra-
hensive mind capable of grasping tiie future*
The only limit to the circulation of the
Ledger, as of two or three other newspapers
in other cities, has been, for many monthsi
the impossibility of accomplishing the work
requind of them in season for delivery in
the morning, even with the presses last
referred to ; and for two or three years pasti
the attention of some of the most ingeaioaa
mechanics of the country has been bent upon
producing a machine that would print with
still greater rapidity. Mr. Beach, the pre-
sent proprietor of the New York Sun, to
perfect an invention that, in his estimation,
promised this result, spent a large sum, bnt
it did not succeed.
It has remained for Colonel R. M. Hoe,
the senior partner of the house of R. Hoe
and Co., of New York, to produce for the
Ledger an invention of the most successful
and complete character, throughout entirely
new in principle, and capable of printing
twelve thousand in^reeeione per hour. This
machine, constituting as it does, an era in
the history of printing, we have enjoyed the
honour of naming '* Hoe's Last Fast Press."
The one we have has been in course of con-
struction for us some months past, and is
the first and only one yet built, commenced,
or ordered, except by ourselves. The manu-
facturers already have our order for a second
one of the same kind.
The essential principle of difference be-
tween this last invention and all other kinds
of presses or machines hitherto used, con-
k2
196
8EA WALLS— SHOULD THBT BE BLpPlMO OR VERTICAL?
iisti in the fact that while npon those the
types are locked up with '* quoins " and a
" mallet and shooting-stick,'* in a " chase/'
and laid npon a *' bed" of iron, the surface
of which is flat ; with this one the types are
screwed up with a wrendi, in what our com-
positors are pleased to denominate a " tur-
tle," constituting both bed and chase, and
placed upon a laiqge cylinder, four and a half
feet in diameter, more or less, which revoWes
upon its own axle within four other smaJler
cylinders, the fourth part the size of the
larger one, these rerolTing also upon their
own axles in an opposite Erection.
Each one of these smaller cylinders re-
ceiTes from its supplying attendant the sheet
of paper with which, at every fourth revolu-
tion, it meets the form or *' turtle" of t3rpe
as it comes round, and in passing, gives the
impression, and instantly throws it out into
the receiver's hands, above or below, accord-
ing to the relative position of the cylinder.
Surrounding the large inner cylinder, to
which the form of type is attached, and be-
tween those giving the impression, are placed
the inking rollers, which spread the ink
upon the face of the type as it revolves
under them. There are two of these to each
cylinder. The inking fountain is placed en-
tirely underneath the machine, from which the
ink is constantly drawn by means of a continu-
ally revolving small iron cylinder, forming
itself a part of the fountain. From this theink
is taken up by means of small rollers, with
a small vibrating distributor working in con-
nection with them, and is conveyed to the
surface of the large cylinder, the entire cir-
cumference of which, except that section of
it occupied by the form of type, performs in
its revolution the office of both distributor
and feeder to the eight inking rollers, from
which latter the t]rpes receive their supply
direct.
With two of the cylinders the white paper
is fed in above, and the printed sheets are
thrown out below, and with the other two it
is fed in below and thrown out above. The
room taken up by the machine, paper-boards
and all included, is about 16 feet in
length, and 9 feet high by about 5 feet in
breadth. The types used upon it are the or-
dinary types hitherto used upon the Ledger ^
which are made to assume a circular form
in the " make up " by the use of beveled
column rules.
For the attendance of this press ten per-
sons are required, viz., a superintendent and
f n assistant, and four to feed sheeU in, and
four to receive them as they come out.
This is the same number only that have
been required to attend the two presses
heretofore used in printing the Ledger.
We have now given, in brief, a description
of the most important invention, by which
we doubt not that printers, at least, if not
mechanics generally, can derive a correct
idea of its plan without the aid of a dia-
gram.
All mechanics know that strictly rotary
motion is the motion capable of the Idghest
rate of speed in machinery. Hoe's Last
Fast Press is constructed throughout entirely
upon the rotary principle of motion. So
still, indeed, does the machine move that it
can hardly be heard in an adjoining room.
One of its greatest beauties as well as
advantages in the estimation of all true
mechanics is its great simplicity, being fkr
. less complicated than any previously used
machine press.
The extensive manufacturing house of
the Messrs. Hoe, to whom the printers of
the United States are indebted for most of
the printing presses and machinery in use
in this country, and particularly for the
rapid machine presses, was commenced by
Robert Hoe in 1808, who died in 1832, and
left his sons and Mathew Smith, who had
been bred practically to the business, as his
successors. Messrs. R. How and Co. hare
now in New York two very extensive esta-
blishments, one in Qold-street, and the other
in Broome-street, in the upper part of the
city, taking in the whole block bounded by
Sheriff, Broome, and Columbia - streeta.
They have attached to their works an iron
and brass foundry, forge shop and trip ham-
mers. The whole machinery, foundry, &c.«
are driven by a single steam-engine, of a
capacity to extend its power and work the
entire length of the block, in which are em-
ployed between two and three hundred
hands.
SBA WALLS — BROULO THBY BB SLOPING
OR VBRTICAL ?
Sir, — Of all the physical sciences,
none is less aided by mathematics than
the science of hydrodynamics. I do not
know any authority on which to depend
for formula adapted to the wants of the
practical man : Eytelwcin, Bossut, Yen-
turi, and others of similar note, have
paid attention to this subject, but their
writings have but little if any practical
application. Their data are for the most
p«rt derived from experiments made
either with models or with canals of a
regular geometrical figure, and under
conditions easily defined. The resulting
forinulfle are therefore Inapplicable to all
natural and less regular currents ; and
the practical man must depend upon his
own judgment and experience, and not
SEA WALLS — SHOULD THEY BE 8LOFINO OB VERTICAL ?
197
on scientific guidance, for all matters
connected witn the motion of fluids.
If the motion of a fluid in an open
channel is so difficult of investigation,
its motion in open space is placed quite
beyond our researcnes. IIow much,
then, should we be misled were we to
endeATour to analyse a question, respect-
ing which we have not even the advan-
tage of comparative experiment, or were
we to attempt to apply a mathematical
inyestigation to a subject of which we
onl^ know the general principles. I have
no idea of the liberty of Uie sea being
restrained by the narrow bounds of ana-
lysis, or of the motion of the waves
paying greater respect to a formidable
array of symbols than it did to the com-
mands of Canute.
" The wind bloweth where it listeth,
and thou hearest the sound thereof, but
knowest not whence it cometh nor
whither it p;oeth." And these words of
Scripture, hterally true as regard wind,
are equally applicable to the motion of
the sea.
But though the exact science of ma-
thematics cannot, in its strictness, be
applied to this question, arguments
fouiMied upon general principles may
lead us to results, and be as serviceable
in directing the judgment and assisting
practice, as the more exact conclusions
of investigation.
It is with these ideas I sit down to pen
this paper, intending to abstain altogetner
from mathematical investigation ; for
though now and then an equation may
occur, it will be for the purpose merely
of illustrating the general bearings of the
question.
I will therefore now proceed to con-
sider,
Ist. The motion of the sea during a
storm, and its mechanical action upon the
face of a breakwater; and,
2nd. The action of the wall in resist-
ing this force.
1st The motion of the sea is a me-
chanical effect produced by the action of
the wind sweeping horizontally over it ;
and as the direction of the recipient is
always the same as that of the impelling
force, the wind urges the water of the
surface in the direction in which it blows.
This may be seen by observing how
the wind as it passes over a pond, urges
the surface water to leeward: or it
may be demonstrated from the osciUa-
tion of the waves of the sea during a
storm. For what is a wave ? How is
it formed ? A wave is an undulation of
the sea, the crest of which is as much
above as the trough is below the ordinary
level. And it is caused by the heaping
together of the water, (at first in a small
degree) and thus disturbing the equili-
brium of the surrounding parts. But
how is it possible water should be thus
heaped up without horizontal motion?
What is it that urges the particles on the
surface one over the other? How is a
wave at b (fie. 1) to be formed, unless the
particle at a be heaped on it ; and if it is so,
Fig. 1.
must not a move from a to bf If, then,
this motion be necessary for the forma'
Hon of a wave, how much must its sub-
sequent intrease be influenced by the
same cause ?
As it is impossible to produce a wave
unless by raising the particles of water
above the ordinary level, so it is equally
impossible for this to be efiected by the
wind unless by giving those particles a
horizontal motion. And under these cir-
cumstances, it appears to me certain that
the surface water of the sea in its normal
state, hundreds of miles away from any
shore, and uninfluenced from any foreign
cause, must have a motion in the direction
of the wind.
It appears also extremely reasonable
to suppose, thst since the wind is the
cause of motion in the horisontal direc-
tion, it should decrease gradually but
rapidly from the surface towards the
bottom of the sea ; and this supposition
is corroborated by the fact that the sea
acts with the greatest violence a few feet
below the suiface level, from which tho
force gradually decreases to the bottom.
Besides the onward motion of the
water, there is the oscillation of the
waves, which is subjected to the same
law which governs falling bodies. The
resultant of these motions traces a curve,
and the particles of water move in the
curvilineal direction thus traced.
As the oscillations of the wave are the
result of a superincumbent pressure, its
effects extend to a greater depth than
that of the horizontal motion.
I have no intention here of attempting
to trace the curve described by the mo-
tion of the vrater — ^it is sufficient for our
present purpose to establish that there is
198
SEA WAILS — SHOUtB THBT BE SLOPING OR VERTICAL t
ft horizontal force in the sea, gnd that it
impinges upon a wall with a vertical pro-
file (a few feet below the surface) at
right angles or nearly at right angles, to
its line of motion. In consequence of
this, the wall must either stop the vio-
lence of the wave, or be swept away by
it. And if it stop the wave, it must
resist the whole of the fbrce in it. Now,
is it prudent to do this P If t^Bthe
w^i^tof a wave, c»its velocity, 2^-the
?Sg<
effect of gravity, then the violence of the
blow, and the mischievous work done by
it,
And this the wall must receive.
When the horizontal blow strikes upon
the surface of a slope, it immediately
becomes resolved into two other foroe&
one perpendicular and t^e other parallel
to the inotine. Thus, if cd,. fig. 2, be
the direction of the impinging force, it
would, upon striking upon the incline,
bo resolved into two other forces, one, efi
proportionate to the sine of the angle and
perpendicular to the incline ; the other,
c/t proportionate to the oosine, and par
ndlel with the incline.
One half the m> viva of the wave
and if, during impact, it be resolved into
the directions ef and fc respectively, it
follows that the amount of work and in-
jury done by the wave upon the wall is
Js» sln5#e/-gv» (l-.cos««sO.
and the work remaining
-^»eosV«^,
sweena up the inoUne, and expends its
fury oamuessly in theair. It is a great
mistake to imagine, because the sea
is not so rough after it breaks upon a
Tortical fiuM as it is when breaking upon
a long done, that the latter is therefore
iBoio liable to i^jnry. The mischief done
ia ]>roportioBal to the vis v»m absorbed
during inpiet, and inversely as ^that
remaining m the wave after impact; it
therefore followa, that the greater the
violenoe of the sea, parallel to the face
of the wall, the less is the mischief likely
lo aeeme from it.
a, I have now shown, or at least en-
deavoured to show, that the sea strikes
in a horizontal direction, and that a wail
with a vertical profile reeeives a raueh
heavier blow than one having a long sea
slope. Let us now consider the action
of the wall in resisting the effect of the
wave. The material of whioh a wall is
built, is always comparatively elaatie,
and this is shown bv the recoil of a child's
marble, after it is thrown against a hard
surface— the recoil proving the eUstieity
of the stone*
This fact being admitted, let ab, fig. 3/
Fig. 3.
be the vertical profile of a sea wall, ed
the horizontal force of the wave striking
against it ; the effect of the blow is to
indent or compress the masonry, as shown
by the ourve 9/g: but as soon as the
pressure, cd^ is removed by the reflux of
* The conro «/«, U of oooiya giwtlf o^tssirstjrt
foz the convenience of Ulnitntion.
SSil WALLS — SHOULD THET BE SLOPING OR VERTICAL ?
199
the water, the teudeney of the stonei A,
is to resume its original figure.
That part of the wall tfg is, during
the instant of impact, in equilibrium ; for
the force cd (the work done by which
is exactly balanced by the force exerted
by the wall, by reason of its elasticity,
to recover its original figure; so that,
directly cd is removed, and the wave
recedes, the force with which the stone
recoils is
and, as tliere is nothing to support the
face, 06, the stone is pushed from its
bed, and the wall exhibits the appearance
ab^ fig. 4. Fig. 4. ^
This if the way all vertical walb in a
sea-way fall. And, if you inquire of
men living upon the coast, they will
say something to the following effect :—
"It is not the blow of the wave that
destroys the wall ; but when the wave •
goes back, it sucks it down." The
wall must, therefore, depend for success
upon its bond, for a much less force
than is sufficient to destroy its equili-
brium when impinging, will, by reason
of the elasticity of the material, drag the
wall after it.
The action of a wave upon the inclined
surface is the same, though in a less de-
gree, as I have shown above — the force
acting perpendicularly to the plane
^^^ ihi Hi^\
which if, of course, less aa the angle of
the slope decreases. But, besides the
less force which the wall has to resist,
there is the weight of the material acting
to prevent recoil ; for if the recoil take
place, say, at the stone Bi it would evi-
dently have to lift it through the space
mn^ instead of, as in the vertical wall,
merely pushing it along in a horiiontal
direction.
This explains the paradox Mr. Smith
alludes to, where a slope of 6 to 1 is said
to stand, whilst the stones in one of 8
to 1 were swept landward.
For, take the slope, fig. 5, to be 1 80,
and the slope, fig. 2, to be » 1 T, the force
of the wave and of Ihe elastic recoil of the
Fig. 5.
atone in the wall would be, in the former,
in the latter
-2lr«8iaM8^
^^ rin« 11°.
The stone, if removed from its bed, has
t» be lifted along mii, and the recoil has
to acC agaioit the gravity of the stone,
which, in the one case, is B cos I80, In
the other B cos 1 1**. The tendency, there-
fore, of a wave to loosen the stone is, in
an incline of 3 to 1 (fig. 5,)
^i^«3 »in« 18«— B COB 18°,
^9
and in a slope of 5 to 1 (fig. 2,)
=^«»8inMl^-Bcosir.
^9
200 IDEA OF 70BM TO BE ATTACHED TO THE HIGHER POWE]iM OF NUMBERS.
others do, resolve itself into the misuse of
tertM.
It may appear a little like cutting the
Gordian knot in ree^ard to minus quan-
tities, as they are called, if I assert that,
in reality, there is no such thiog ; yet it
is certain, I think, that mintM, and espe-
cially negative quantities, are mere fic-
tions.
Is a, which is to be mbtracted^ a less
positive number than o, which is to be
added f
It is true, that a which is to be added,
is always written simply o, and that a
which is to be subtracted, is always writ-
ten — a ; but is not this a mere conven-
tionalism; and ought they not to be
written +a and -( + «) respectively?
If we wish to subtract a second quantity,
as well as the first, we actually write the
sign + ; thus — a-^ w, in reality, and
is usually written^ — (a + b).
So that there is, in point of fact, no
minus or negative quantity; the quantity
so designated is a plus quantity, which is
to be subtracted ; and numbers, instead
of being designated plus and minna,
positive and negative, should be regarded
as all plus and positive, and as addenda
or Bubtrahenda.
And thus,^in an equation, we may
transpose the terms from one side to the
other, by considering them as equally
positive, and to be marked, as addenda
or subtrahenda, as the case may be.
So in addition and subtraction, and so
in multiplication: thus »a^&xa-6 is
displayed in this manner :
a-b
a-h
€?-~ab
The stone B, therefore, in fig. 2, has the
least chance of being thrown landwards.
This, at least, is my view of the subject,
, though certainly it is by no means -free
from doubt.
I do not exactly understand Mr. Bell's
remark. If he means that the recoil at
the point d (ante page 78) would not
take place because the toater is shallow^
he is wrong ; for, it appears to me, this
difference would not at all alter the con-
ditions. But if he means to say, that it
does not take place because of the onward
motion of the water ^ I perfectly agree with
him : his argument coincides with mine.
I had written so far before your last
Number reached me which contains an-
other communication from your able cor-
respondent, Mr. Smith, on which I have
several observations to make ; but these
I must reserve for a future paper.
Yours respectfully,
William Dkbdgb.
10, Norfolk-street, Strand, August 10, 1848.
ON TBI IDBA OF FORM TO BB ATTACHBb
TO THB BIGHBR POWBRS OF NUMBBR8,
AND ON THB 8IONS USED IN ALOBBRA.
Sir, — I think it not usual amongst
mathematicians, to attach any idea of
form to the higher powers of numbers.
The following brief observations may,
therefore, be not undeserving a place in
your useful Magazine.
The first power of a number may be
represented by arranging the objects in
question in a linear manner ; the second
assumes the form of a square ; the third,
the form of a cube.
With this all are familiar ; but it may
not have occurred to all, that the fourth
power of a number is represented by as
many such primary cubes as is expressed
in the original number, again arranged
in linear order ; that the fifth power is
the square of this line oi cubes: and
that the siaUh is its cube.
In like manner, the seventh power is
the original number of this last or secon-
dary cube, affain arranged in linear order ;
the eighth, the souare, and the ninth the
cube of this last line, &c.
The young student in the mathematics
is much puzzled about the signs + and
- ; and I believe that older mathemati-
cians are not always without feeling simi-
hur difficulty.
I think this puule will, as so many
a X a is obviously d^ ;
a X -6 is as obviously —aft, beeaoae b
is to be subtracted; and, therefore, b
times a, or a times b are to be sub-
tracted.
In like manner - ft x a is —oft, and to
be subtracted for the same reason.
But - ft X - ft are ft', and + ft*, because
the subtrahend ft is to be subtracted ft
times; that is, it is to be added ft times;
just as - ft subtracted from a makes a + ft,
and as ft times - ft subtracted from a?-^
2ajb makes c? - 2flft + ft*.
To subtract a subtrahend, is the
same thing as to add an addend. It may
require, however, a slight mental efibrt
THE SEA WALL QUESTION.
201
00 the part of the pupil to realise this
double idea. I am, Sir, yours, &c.,
Tatbomathemat ic us.
, August 20, 1848.
P.S. The sign - appears always to
have a special reference to an antecedent
Dumber.
8BA WAU. aVBSTION — DESIGN FOR TBB
COMBIKATION OF A LONG SLOPS WITH
VPBIOHT ASHLAB FACB.
Sir,— In the papers which I have re-
cently troubled you with upon the sub-
ject of sloping sea faces, it may be ob-
served that I entirely confine myself to
investigating and pomting out what ap-
rred to me, after close consideration, to
the leading defects of the long sea
slope, and the insufBlciency of many
eoncluaions hastily drawn respecting it.
In the most ordinary affairs of life, no
plan or system should be condemned, or
even depreciated, without due delibera-
tion as to its merits or demerits ; but in
the instance of the discussion upon the
relatlTe efficiency of sloping and vertical
sea faces, that attention was rendered
still more necessary on account of the
oonflieting opinions enunciated by men,
whose eminence and professional fame
must always impart a factitious character
to any proposition they may be pleased
to espouse.
Having, therefore, given in a previous
commanication what appears to me suffi-
cient grounds for dissenting from the
principle of the long sea slope — ^having,
SB I believe, shown that the long slope
carries within itself the seeds of its own
destruction — ^permit me to submit, for
the consideration of those interested in
such matters, the annexed cross-section
of the form of construction, which ap-
pears to me, under all circumstances, the
most suitable for the face of a break- water
in an exposed position and deep water.
In submitting this compound form, it
is not to be supposed that I compromise
in the least the convictions I have ar-
rived at, that the upright facing of heavy
ashlar work is, of all forms, the best
adapted to resist the shocks of the most
violent seas. Difficulty in execution does
not affect the principle of construction ;
and were it possible to carry up the ver-
tical face from the bottom ot the sea with
the requisite degree of care, and also to
secure the stability of the foundations
beyond all doubt, I should at once pro-
pose to do away with the front slope,
and build upright from the bottom level.
I therefore adopt the front slope, not on
principle, or as the best mode of con-
struction, but merely as an expedient to
avoid important practical difficulties, and
as the readiest means of securing the
following advantages :
First, It removes all doubt which can
possibly be suggested as to the stability
of the foundations.
Secondly, It obviates the trouble and
expense which would be attendant upon
setting the unright work with the requi-
site degree of care in deep water.
Thirdly, Because all experience shows
that front slopes descending from low
water are not subject to injurious effects
even in violent gales; and therefore in
that position, this inferior mode of con-
struction is sufficient.
In adverting to the combinations of
forms for the sections of breakwaters, it
may not be irrelevant to point attention
to the circumstance, that in many parts
of the Protest of Sir Howard Douglas
(vol. xlviii., p. 564), the author would
appear to draw an argument in fiivour of
his peculiar views of the long sea slope
from the combination of forms recom-
mended for the adoption of the Dover
Habour Commissioners. Now the &ct
is, that those formtf and that submitted
in this paper are in reality more at vari-
ance with the combinations advocated by
Sir Howard DougUs, than is the upright
face itself from the bottom of the sea. It
is no business of mine to show that the
argument of Sir Howard fails in the case
to which it is applied ; but I feel desurous
to put it beyond all doubt, that the com-
^o:feet\
902
SEA WALLS — SUOUID tBUt Bft SLOTIKO OR VERTICAL ?
poeite form gifen in the acoompanying
seotionk no compromise of the principle
of the upright face ; and can never be
taken to furnish an argument in favour
of a long iea slope.
Referring to the section, the upright
work there shown is oontemptated to he
fiiuaded at the level of a few feet under
low water spring tides, to be composed
of heavy ashkr masonry of sound natu-
ral stone ; the blocks to vary from three
to five tons in weight; the beds and
joints roughlf punched fair out of wind-
ing, dowelied, and set flush in best ce«
ment The whole of the lower portion,
and part of the backing of the upright
work, to be formed by dropping out of
▼osselo in the ordinary way, natural rub-
ble stones as they come from the quarry^
in blocks of from two to four tons weight ;
the basement to be allowed sufficient
time to consolidate before the upright
work is commenced.
I shall now endeavour to give some de*
fined notion of the stability of the struc-
tnre I have above described, and its
resistance in opposition to the shocks it
would be subjected to ; taking care, how-
ever, to maintain an ample excess of
security.
As we know the momentum of the
waves increases towards high water, let
us suppose it ffreatest at the point where
tiie line H. W. S. T» {high water Spring
tides) enters the front of the wall, which
point we shall suppose also 10 fieet below
ihe base of the parapet or surface of the
wharf ; and let us also suppose this ash-
lar facing to be 20 feet thick from the
front to the back of the wall. Now, if
vre take an area of one square foot upon
the fboe of the wall, and suppose it ex-
tended to the back, it will generate a
horizontal column of 20 cubic feet of
•tone t but each foot of this column
suffers a superincumbent pressure of 10
oubic feet ; therefore the pressure upon
the under surface of the entire hcri<ontal
Ooluan is the weight of
20 X 10^200 cubic feet.
I might with safety take the friction
upon a unit of surface of this material
at one- third of the superincumbent
weight, exclusive of the advanti^e to be
derived from the cement ; but I shall cal-
culate only upon one-third, including
friction and eoheiion. Therefore, ea£
st^uare foot of area upon the upright face
wil give a resistance ^roughout the
breadth of the wall equal to the wesght
of 226 cubic feet ; and taking 16 feet of
this material equal to a ton, we find that
each square foot upon the feee of the
wall, at the peiM ef let^t reeietai^ce^
presents an opposing force to any hoit*
zontal shock equal to 20i tons, exehialve
of the additional restBtance afforded by
the backing.
It appears finrtn thtft experhnents of
Mr. Thomas Stevenson (vol. xlvtti., p.
436,) that the maximum result regislmd
by the marine dynamometer in a heavy
gale at the Skerry vore Rocks, was about
three tons upon the square foot Thnt
gentleman has, however, sikggesled fti
his valuable paper many reasons VfMs
eient to incline one to tne opinion that a
heavy sea iibpingingupon the bn>ad fhce
of an upright obstacle may develope r
much greater force per unit of area thtal
that exhibited by the more oonfined dian
of his instrument. It may be also said,
that as the resistan<^ of the wall is of the
nature of pressure, it is an established
principle that a pressure, however grent,
must yield to a rorce of impact, however
small. Be it so ; but it will be for othen
to expand these speculations into sneh
intelligible terms as to show thkt the ex-
cess of resistance above exhibited is in-
sufficient for seeuHtv, even were the
dimensions of the ashlar facing eonsider*
ably reduced.
I shall now. Sir, take leave Of tiiii
subject. I respectfully invite the alien-
Hon of your readers to the consideratSon
of the upright ashlar fiice, and request
them to show where any force cvet
known to have been exerted by the
waves of the sea, can possibly break it
Little more than one-fourth the quantity
of material required for the long sen
slopes will suffice for this form of break*
water ; and whereas those sloping ni&nes,
as shown before, are liable to be oarried
away in detail, the upright ashkr foee
presents a form enduring As the mmte*
rials of which it is composed. In the
graphic language of your esteemed eof-
respondent. Dr. M'Cormac, '* The sea
may boom and roar for ever, or so long
88 the living rock endures, without en-
tailing injury (upon the upright ashlar
face), and consequently without entailing
fresh expense."
Bespeetfully yours,
T. Smith.
Bridgetovn, Wfzfted, Angttit 10, 1848.
203
IX. Ths Leedt Correspondent
Or^'h.— This excellent periodical was
Commenced at Leeds, in January, 1814,
and was concluded with No. 3, vol. v.,
So Juljr, 1823. It professed to be *'si-
inikr m iu gvDsral plan, and in tb« sub-
jects whick it embraMd/' to tbe Quttr-
ieri0 FiiUor and the JEnquirer, but
affsrcot from thein « in what ils con-
dlidnri considered to be a more commo-
dkws disposal of some parta of the mate-
rials.'*
Editors.^l. Mr. James Nichols; the
literary department was under his care,
UJd he Was also the proprietor of the .
work.
2. Mr. John Rylev, teacher of the
mathematics, Leeds; ne edited the ma-
thematical department in Nos. 1 to 4,
TOl. i.
3. Mr» John Gawthorp, of Leeds;
editor of the same department in Nos. 1
to 3» ToL ii.
4. BIr. John Whitley* editor of the
nne department from No. 4, vol. ii., to
the eoncinsion of the work.
Owrten/*.— Each number of the first
thtee volumes of the Work contained two
ifivisionvit^apectively adapted to junior
and senior correspondents. The former
^Qsisted of English Uiemes, Latin and
French extracts, transladoni^i &o.; the
latter contained poetry, bodi origuul and
selected ; miscellaneous essays; interest*
iqg and instructive extracts from various
authors ; philosophiod and grammatieal
aneries: reviews; biographies, &c., Ac.
The formal proposal of queries was dis-
•oatinQed with vol. ii., and In the last
two volumes the juvenile literary depart-
ment was omitted, and its place supplied
by reviews of various publications. A
icries of extracts, undei' the head of
••Genefal Scientific Information/* was
also added, which contained a large
amount of valuable mformatioa. The
mathematical department contained a few
essays, a series of " QuesdonB for Youth,*'
and ** Mathematical Questions" for the
exercise of ceniorfttudentsw Much good
tacte wac exhibited by the editors, who
were eminently suocessful in producing
one of the meet useftd and valuable of
tbe SagMi periodicals.
Among the many interestittg contri-
bttttointnaybeenumeittted, ''AnJSssay
kATBEHATICAI. PfiEIODICALS.
(OoBtlaued from p. 7, voL xlix.)
on Music ; " *<Oo Attempts at Universal
Empire;'' a series of amusing papers
relative to mishaps of an absent maihe-
matieian^ by Mr. Timothy Triangle;"
** The Historv of ftmr I\«atoes," by the
mmei *<0n tne Coofooniessof the Eag-
ysh Language ; " *^ Heights of tile most
remarkable Hills in Great Britain and
Ireland," by Mr. John Baines; <<0n
the Migration of Swtdl^ws ;" " On (Geo-
metry and Mechanism in Nature;''
'* Characters of George III. and his
Queen j " " Difference of Style between
Addison and Johnson ;*' "A Dissertation
on Forks," from Beckman's Inventions;
"Female Mathematicians;" **0n Wit
and Humour," &c., &c. Many of the
themes and translations are also well
worthy of notice did space petmit. Amon^
the biographical notices are, Memoirs or
l^. John Byley, Mr. Henry Andrews^
John Sennie, ]^.| F.E.S.{ and in the
reviews are some exoellenti and oooa-
cionally severe, remarks on Byron's
** Sardanapalus," " The Two Foscari,"
and *<Cain;" Dr. Pearson's '' Lilb of
Wm. Hey, Esq., F.R.S. ?" Irving's
*« Bracebridge Hall;" Cunningham'^
" Traditionary Tales ; " Deacon's^' Inn-
keeper's Album ; '* Scoresby^s *• Journal
of a Voyage to the Whale Fishery ;••
Dr. Johnson's ^Life and Writings of
William Hayley, Esq.," &c. The ma-
thematical papers consist of, "A Mew
Method of Bxtractinff the Cube Root,"
by Mr. John Blaynurec> of BodeshiU |
the investigation of a fluxional cxprca-
sion given in question 15, vol. i. itfirtA.
Mepos.y N. S., by Mr. Jonathan Mab-
bott, of Manchester t a Reply to come
Remarks at page 86 of the Xtttft>#' Di'af^
fbr 1817, by Mr. John Gawthorp, of
Leeds ; *' A new and ExpeditioOb Me«
thod of Proving the Square and Cube
Roots," by Mr. Samuel Taylor, of Woo-
ley, &c. In N6. 8, vol. lii., a Mathe-
matical '' Prize Quesdon^' was proposed,
the true answers of which stood a cnance
by lot to win six numbers of the Gor^
retpondeni: the practice was contiaued
in all the following numbers, the suc-
cessful candidates l^ing, in the order of
date:
Mr. Samuel Johnson, of Apfieflay
Bridge.
Mr. William WHght, of Hull
204
THE KEW FRENCH BAROMETER.
"Amicus" (Mr. Whitley,) without a
competitor.
Mr. J. H. Swale, of Liverpool.
"Amicus," no competitor.
Rev. Price Bronwin.
" Amicus," no competitor.
Rev. Brice Brouwin, no competitor.
" N. Y." (Mr. Whitley,) no eompe-
iitor. Iliis question was a geometrical
one, proposed by Mr. Swale, and is
referred to by Mr. Whitley in his solu-
tion to the prize question in the Ladies*
and Gentleman's Diary for 1841.
T.W.
Burnley, Lancashire,
' g. 17, 18«.
Aug.
(To be continued,)
THK KSW F&SMCH BAROMSTBE.
At one of the recent meetings of the
BritiBh Association at Swansea, Professor
Lloyd having been requested by several
members to describe a barometer on a
new principle which he had lately seen,
said that it was a French invention. " A cy-
linder of copper, with a very thin and corru-
gated end, was partially exhausted and her-
metically sealed ; and the effect of the varying
pressure of the atmosphere on the thin end
was magnified by a system of levers, so as
to affect the index of a dial very little larger
than a watch-dial. A friend of his had
tested the indications of the instrument by
placing it under the receiver of an air-pump,
and observing its march in comparison with
the indications of the long gauge, and found
them to agree to less than the 1* 100th of an
inch.'»
The barometer referred to was patented
in this country, April 27, 1844, by Mr.
Fontainmoreau, on behalf of the inventor,
from whose specification we extract the fol-
lowing complete description.
This new mode of constructing barometers
and other pneumatic instruments, consists
more especially in the application of thin
sheets or diaphragms of metal, glass. India-
rubber, or other flexible air-tight substances,
to certain apparatus employed for measur-
ing the pressure and elasticity of the air and
other fluids, in such manner as to form a
kind of elastic cushion, or buffer, suscepti-
ble of the slightest variation of the pressure
of the atmosphere or fluid with widch it is
in contact, and consequentiy indicating the
amount of the same by the greater or less
depression of the said yielding substances.
And the invention consists generally in the
application of the above principle to all
those pneumatic instruments, in which any
reoiprooating motion and osdllstion takes
place upon a variation in the pressure or
vreight of the superincumbent column of the
atmosphere, or in the pressure of the liquid
in which it is immersed, or in the elasticity
of a gaseous body, and which instruments
are commonly oiled barometers, mano-
meters, &c.
I will proceed to describe the engravings
appended hereto, explaining in the course
of the desoiption the working action of
the apparatus which is therein fuUy deli-
neated. Fig. 1, is a diametrical section of
the barometer; fig. 2 being a horizontal
riew of the same, with the dial plate, M,
taken off, in order to show the arrangement
of the sheet B and the cup 6.
The instrument is constructed of brass or
any other suitable material impervious to
air. The lower part, AA, is a hollow box
stoutiy made, and strengthened by radial
brackets, HH, soldered internally to insure
rigidity in AA. This box is covered in an
air-tight manner by a sheet or diaphragm,
BB, of metal, glass, ficc., very thin that it
may be the more flexible, and also corru-
gated circularly, so u to enable it to be
depressed or elevated to the greatest extent
. requisite without rupture. Underneath this
diaphragm, BB, are flat annular discs,
E, E, E, made up of segments or in entire
plates, which serve as caps to a number of
spiral springs for the purpose of supporting
it against the atmospheric pressure. The
lower ends of these springs, six of which,
C, C, C, C, C, C, may be seen in the engrav-
ing, are inserted in the cavities cut for them
in the false bottom, D, D, D, D, D. They
communicate their pressure to the discs,
E, E, E, which diffuse it equally to all parta
of the delicate diaphragm.
And I would here remark that I do not
confine myself to the spiral form, since I
can use steel plates, folded in a xigzag man-
ner, in lieu thereof^
In the centre of the thin diaphragm, BB,
a round hole is cut, audits edges soldered to
the lips of a small capsule or cylindrical cap,
6, which projects into the interior of the
hollow box, AA, sufficient space being
allowed between 6 and D to permit it to be
depressed to its greatest required deflexion.
In the bottom of the box, AA, and imme-
diately under the cup, 6, there is a small
aperture, Z, fi>r the purpose of exhausting
the air from the box, A A.
This is accomplished in the following
manner:-— A littie solder is spread round
the hole, and a flat-headed peg inserted there-
in, suffidentiy open to per^t the passage
of the air. The diaphrsgm, BB, with the
springs, C, C, C, C, C, C, is compressed to
its proper position by means of a board, and
is then soldered or cemented to the boX|
THE NEW FRENCH BAROMETER.
205
AA, b«iiig retained in its place by clamps ing-boz, through which passes a smooth rod,
embracing the board and bottom of the ip- capable of moTing freely within it. The
stroment, whidi, in this state, is to be inner extremity of this rod bears a soldering-
placed under an air-pump receiyer to which iron, which must be treated before com-
has been preriously fitted an air-tight stuff- mencing to exhaust. This done, all is ready
Fig. 1.
^^
Kg. 2.
for the operation of the air-pump ; and when communication by the hole, Z, the hot iron
the Tacuum is obtained, both in the instru- must be pressed down upon the peg at Z,
ment and in the receiTer, since they are in and its heat will cause the solder to melt
S06
THV XKW FEBNCfi BAEOMSTBK.
iroottd tiM pegt tiieroby nakiog « complete
•nd p«rmaii«nt jomt The peouliar edi^ta-
tion of Chii buometer to ifei intended object,
before I proceed Anther, will be eleeriy aeen.
The pretfure of the atmotphere being re-
moyed from the under anrface of the thin
diaphragm ; bnt this weight being yariable|
according to the state of the weather, conse-
quently, the amount of depression will be
greater or less in proportion to its Tariation.
Therefore, all that is required to complete
the instrument, is simply to provide mechan-
ism for accurately measuring this depression
and exhibiting its amount on a dial or other
ordinary scale. The eontrivanee which I
baye adopted for this purpose is very simple.
In the before-mentioned cup, 6, is placed a
small nut, U, with an internal screw-thread.
This nut is suspended upon a kind of uni-
versal joint, which will be better understood
by a reference to fig. 2. The nut, H, as
there seen, is not directly attached to the
cnj), G, but is balanced and plays freely on
two pivots projecting from a ring, which,
again, is balanced on two other pivots at
right angles to the former ones, and con-
necting the whole with the cup, G. This
arrangement allows for any accidental devia-
tion from precision which may occur in
fitting together the several parts. A verti-
cal screw, K, works in the nut, H, or rather
is worked by it ; for when the cup, G, is
depressed, tiie nut, H, catches the thread of
the spindle, K, and causes it to turn round ;
when the cup, G, is elevated, the spindle
naturally turns in the reverse direction.
The upper end of the spindle, K, passes
through the dial-plate, M, and carries the
index, L, which exhibits its variations upon
a scale graduated in inches, or any other
convenient standard.
And here I would again observe, that I
do not limit myself to the above arrange-
ments, since I can employ for the same pur-
pose a rack and pinion, or a chain and
pulley, with two bevel wheels, or a simple
lever ; the dial-plate being placed at right
angles to the diaphragm (see fig. 6,) in which
the rack and pinion may be replaced by a
chain and pulley. The influence of heat
and cold in expanding and contractiDg me-
tals would, however, disturb the regularity
of its action and the faithfuhiess of its indi-
cations, if not corrected by some means.
When the increase of temperature of the
diaphragm causes it to rise, it indicates,
erroneously, a light stete of the atmosphere.
This error is counteracted by a regulating
plate, O, made of two strips of difieront
netab, brass and steel for example; the
opptr «Be, estpiBdiikg lees than the other, is
iMd ftt OfOiO, a MMU ^aee bdag left
between it and the dial, M. One end of
this plate projeote ae for as the oeetie of the
diaphragm, when a small hole is bored for
the spindle, K, to pass through.
Upon this spindle a ooUar is foatened,
immediately under and abutting against the
plate, O, which collar, in addition, is provi-
ded with a coil-spring, N, in order to keep
it gently in contact with the said plate, and
therefore steady in the nut, H. When,
from expansion by heat, the cup, G, is ele-
vated, the temperature also acts upon the
plate, O, which, on account of the unequal
expansion of the two metels of which it
is composed, curves upwarda to a degree
proportional to the heat, and equal to the
height which the cup, G, has risen at the
same moment.
This permite the spindle to rise higher,
instead of being turned, as would be the
case if it were held down while the cap
rose.
When the apparatus is under the effecte
of cold, the mechanism will naturally act
in the reverse manner, thus compensating
for all foreign influences. The proportion
of this compensation may be lessened or
Increased by slipping the wedge, P, nearer
to or further from the spindle, K ; the screw,
CI, Q, Q, being placed so as to hold it firmly
in the required position. This approachmg
or receding of the piece, P, shortens or
lengthens the play of the regulating plate,
O, and thus raises the amount of Ite de*
flexions ; and when the proper position is
once obtained, it must be permanently fixed
there.
To graduate the instrument, I place it*ia
& bell-plunged mouth downwards in a liquid,
in the same manner as a gasometer. This
vessel is provided with a manometer ; and I
vary the pressure by raising and lowering it,
noting at the same time the arcs which the
index, L, describes upon the dial, M, in
consequence of the said variations. It vriU
be seen that in the application of my prin-
eiple to various useful purposes, any elaatic,
and, at the same time, air-tight diaphragm,
may be used, and also that it does not
require any variable form of apparatus for
the flucoessfol operation of the said principle.
In exemplification of this, I subjoin some
modifications of the above arrangement.
These are shown in figs. 3, 4, S, and 6.
In fig. 3, in lieu of the corrugated dia-
phragm, BB, I substitute one of copper,
a Of in shape like an annular trough,
pierced with radial slota, as will be observed
in the enlarged segment exhibited at fig. 4.
This annular trough is coated with lamina of
cAotttohouc, and the outer edge is cemented
to the box, AA, the inner edg0 being at<«
r
tHS MSW VHSitCR ^AltOtfEtSA.
flf. 6.
507
208
THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION — SWANSEA MEETING.
taebed to the cup, 6, which, with the rest
of the mechanism, is similar to that of fig. 1»
and for the same purpose.
Fig. 5 represents two plates, connected,
and entirely enveloped by a coating of caout-
cbonc, or other supple material. The cylin-
drical tube of caoutchouc, aa, is kept dis-
tended by an internal spiral coil of wire, 66.
The lower plate is fixed to the bottom of
the box, AA, and the upper one carries the
cup, G, in which is seen a nut* C, with a
slightly conical screw-thread, for the pur-
pose of reoeiying a tightening-screw,. /,
which last supports the uni? ersal joint of the
nut, H, as above described. The air Is
exhausted through the India-rubber pipe,
C, which is streoigthened by an internal lead
tube, coated with wax. When the vacuum
is complete, the pipe, C, must be pinched,
and the projecting portion cut off, and the
place finally sealed with caoutchouc.
Fig. 6 represents two plates, aa, similar
to the above, connected by a deeply corru-
gated tube of metal, glass, or other suitable
material. The cup, G, carries a rack, to work
into a pinion above it, which last communi-
cates its motion b jr means of two bevel wheels
fixed to the dials, to the index, L, or, if the
axis of the tube, mm, be placed (u shown
^ ^S* 7) parallel to the dial, the pinion may
be fixed upon the axis of the index, L, and
the bevel wheels dispensed with. This roe-
chaniam may also be applied to the other
modifications of my apparatus. If the fist
projections of the tube, mm, be thin and
large, I give strength by stamping each of
them with radial corrugations.
In all these forms, if the diaphragm be not
alone sufficiently strong, springs must be
employed, either internally or externally, be-
tween the projecting portions of the upper and
lower plates (as at aa, fig. 6 ;) or, instead of
springs, the air may be left in the box, AA ;
but, in this case, greater play must be given
to the bimetallic regulator, in order to com-
pensate for the expansion of atmospheric
air.
The principle, as above exemplified, can
also be applied to the construction of mano-
meters for measuring the pressure or elastic
force of gas or steam. An arrangement for
this purpose is seen in fig. 8. A is a hoUow
column, communicating by its base with the
boiler or reservoir of the fluid to be mea-
sured. Hie top of this column is covered in
steam-tight by the cover, 66, in the centre of
which is attached the corrugated tube, ec.
The bottom, H, of this tube, according as it
ifl more or less compressed by the steam,
raises the standard, a, which abuts against
the spring, ee. This standard is forked, as
shown in the side view, fig. 9 ; and between
the two branches is suspended, on an uni-
T ersal joint, a nnt, H, which, in risbg or
falling, turns the spindle of the screw, K.
This spindle carries, at its upper extremity,
a pair of bevel wheels, m, which, by commu-
nicating with four other bevel wheels, trans-
mit the indications through their axes, fin,
and indices, LL, upon the four faces of the
box, 6. I can also employ as a manometer
the arrangement represented for the baro-
meter, with this difference, that the springs
must be placed between the flexible dia-
phragm, BB, and the dial, M, the steam or
gas being introduced into the interior of the
box, AA. It is farther obvious that the
arrangement before described may be ap-
plied to measuring the pressure of liquids
at different depths.
THB BRITISH ASSOCIATIOK— BWAKSKA
IflBTING.
We extract the foUowing additional
Notices from the Aihenaum.
ApplieatUm of the Oaua evolved from
Blaet Fumacee to Heating Purpoeee,
By Mr. J. P. Bndd.^It appears that the
gases which are evolved from these fnmaees
escape at a temperature which is about the
melting point of brass. In the iron works
at Ystalyfera, where the iron is smelted by
the use of anthracite coal, advantage has
been taken of this in a most ingenious man-
ner. By an arrangement, which is in its
character exceeding simple, but somewhat
difficult to describe without a model, (Mr.
Budd's description was illustrated by a very
nicely constructed one,} the hot gas is led
off into another channel by means of a strong
current generated through a chamber and
air-way from a point just below the top of
the iron furnace. It is conducted, very lit*
tie heat being lost in the passage, under the
boiler of a steam-engine ; and it is found to
be at a sufficiently Idgh temperature to heat
the boiler without the consumption of any
fuel whatever. Hence an immense saving
Is effected. Although only one furnace and
one boiler has hitherto been adapted to this
purpose, it is foudd to effect a saving of
350/. a year. We may consequently expect
that whttL the experiment is fbrther extended
and more of the furnaces so arranged that
this heat may be economist and employed
for the numerous useful purposes to wlueh
it is applicable in a large establishment, the
saving will amount to many thousands an-
nually.
The Cutting Property of. Coke,
By Mr. J. Nasmyth.^The following In-
teresting fket was discovered some years
ago, and it appears to furnish addiUonal
evidence as to the identity of the diamond
with carbon, luunely, that coke Is possessed
THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION — SWANSEA MEETING.
209
of one of the most remarkable propertiei of
tiie diamond, and in to far aa it has the
property of cutting glau, I oae the term
«• catting" with all due eonsideration—- in
contradistinction to the property of scratch-
ing, which ia poflseased by all bodiea that
are harder than glass. The cnt produced
by coke is a perfect clear diamond-like out,
io dean and perfect aa to exhibit the most
beantilnl prismatic coloun , owing to the
perfection of the incision. Ck>ke hitherto
has been considered aa a soft substance,
doubtless from the ease with which a mass
of it can be crushed and pul? erized ; but it
will be found that the minute plate-formed <
crystals, of which a mass of coke is com-
posed, are kUenstlg hard, and as before said
are possessed of the remarkable property of
euiiimg glass. This discovery of the ex-
treme ^* diamond-like" hardness of the par-
ticles of ooke will, no doubt, proye of yalue
in many processes in the arts, as well as
interesting in a purely scientific sense.
In a conyersation which ensued, it was
stated by Mr. Chance, of Birmingham, that
in all probability the knowledge of this fact
woold lead to a saying of nearly 400/. a
year in their sstablishment alone.
Hydraulic Prenure Bnginet,
By Mr. J. Glyn. The following mode of
employing the power of waterfalls in a most
naciul and important manner, has been too
loiig n^lected in this country, considering
the kdfantages it affords in hilly districts for
the drainage of mines ; namely, the applica-
tion of high falls of water to produce a reci-
procating motion, by means of a *' pressure
engine." The pressure engine acted by the
power of a descending column of water upon
the piston of a cylinder to give motion to
pomps for raising water to a different level, or
to produce a reciprocating motion for other
purposes. The pressure engine was calculated
to giye great mechanical effect in cases where
wUerfaUs may be found of much too great a
height and too small a quantity to be prac-
tically brought to bear in a sufficient degree
on waterwheels within the ordinary limits of
diameter. The author produced instances
of the desired pressure engine, one of which
was constructed, about forty years ago, in
Derbyshire— end which he belleyed was still
at work in the Alport Mines, to which it was
remoyed from its original situation. The
cylinder was, he belieyed, 30 inches in dia-
meter. In 1841, Mr. John Taylor adyised
the application of another and more power-
ful engine at the Alport Mines, which was
made under his (Mr. Glyn's) direction, at
the Batterly Ironworks, in Derbyshire. This
was the most powerful engine that had been
made. The cylinder was 50 inches in dia-
meter, and the stroke 10 feet. It was worked
by a column of water of 132 feet in height,
so that the proportion of power to act on it
was as the area of a piston to that of the
plunger-— namely, 1,963 to 1,385, or fully 70
per cent. The superintendent of the ma-
chinery assured him that the engine had
neyer cost them j^l2 a year since it was
erected. Its usual speed was about 5 strokes
per minute ; but it was capable of working
at 7 strokes per minute, without any con-
cussion in the descending column, the duty
actually done being equal to 163 horse-
power : — ^Area of plunge, 9*621 feet x 10
feet X 7 strokes =673-41. 67341 x 62-5 x
132««Ug^««163 horse-power. The
author concluded by remarking that, in this
case, as in all others when water acta by its
grayity or pressure, those machines do the
best work when the water enters the machine
without shock or impulse, and quits it with-
out yelocity. They thereby obtain all the
ayailable power that the water will yield with
the least loss of effect ; and this result is
best accomplished by making the pipes and
passages of sufficient and ample size to pre-
Tent acceleration of the hydrostatic column.
Gutta Percha Manujfactures.
By Mr. Whishaw. Contrary to the general
opinion that gutta percha is a simple sub-
stance, Mr. Crane has found it in its ordinary
state to consist of at least two distinct mate-
rials, besides a notable proportion of sulphur,
yiz., 1. A white matter, gutta percha in its
pure state ; 2. A substance of a dark brown
colour. Various experiments were made to
ascertain its strength when mixed with other
matters, and also as to what pigments would
mix with it without rendering it brittle or
deteriorating its qualities. From these it
appeared that the only(?)pigments that could
altogether be relied on to be used with gutta
percha were orange lead, rose pink, red lead,
▼ermilion, Dutch pink, yellow ochre, and
orange chrome. Under the influence of heat
and pressure, gutta percha would spread to
a certain extent, and more so it mixed with
foreign matters. All the mixtures composed
of gutta percha and other substances which
had been subjected to experiment, except
that containing plumbago, were found to in-
crease its power of conducting heat ; but in
its pure state gutta percha was an excellent
non-conductor of electricity. The best
composition for increasing the pliability of
gutta percha was that formed in conjunction
with caoutchouc tar, (caoutchidne,) and next
in order that of its own tar ; (gutta perchine ?)
and the best material at present known for
moulding and embodying was obtained by
mixing gutta percha with its own tar and
lamp-black.
2}0
THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION — SWANSEA MEETING.
Whiihaw's Tslakotg^hanon or Speaking
Tnmptt*
Mr, WhUhaw ezbiblted the Telakou-
phaaon, or speaking trampet ; and in
doing so, said that speaking tubes of gutta
percha were quite new, as was also the means
of oaUing the attention by them of the person
at a distance, which was accomplished bj
tho insertion of a wbiBtle, which, being
blown, sounded at the other end quite
shrilly. Attention having been thus ob-
tained, you remoye the whistle, and by simply
whispering, the Toice would be conveyed
gttite audibly fat a distance of at least three-
?uarter« of a mile, and a conversation kept,
t must be obvious how useful these tde-
gru>hs must become in large maptifactories ;
and, indeeed, in private houses they might
quite supersede the use of bells, as they are
80 very cheap, and by branch pipes could be
conveyed to Cerent rooms : — and* indeed,
if there were no electric telegraphs, they
might, by a person being stationed at the
end of each tube of three* quarters of a mile
or. a mile, be made most speedily to convey
intelligence for any distance. In private
houses the whistle need not be used, but a
more musical sound could be produced. He
then amused the anditon by causing the end
of the tube, which was of Uie length of 100
feet, to be inserted into the mouth- piece of
a flute held in a person's hand, regulated the
notes, and placing his own mouth to the
other end of the tube, "God save the
Queen" was played at a distance of 100 feet
from the person giving the flute breath.
Turning to the Bishop of St. David's, he said
that in the event of a clergyman having three
livings, he might, by the aid of three of these
tubes, preach the same sermon in three differ-
ent churches at the same time. — [See Mtch*
Mag,^ Tol. zlvi., p. 205, and vol. xlvii., p.
545, for the grounawork of this anggestion.]
ProgrMmqfBttm Skip BftiUtmg.
By Mr. J. Scott Ruaadl. A few yean
ago steam-vessels which would go ten or
twelve miles an hour were deemed fkst
ships; now, however, we had attained
a much higher rate of speed. Vessels were
then built on the old-fcshioned principle
that the water-line should be nearly straight,
and that the run of the vessel should be a
flne line, and that there should never be a
hollow line, eioept a Uttle in the run of the
ship, but that tiiere most certainly should
not be any hollow line in the bow, for there
the waler-linea ahould be straight, or a little
convex. Researches and inquiries were,
however, made by a Committee of the
British AMoeiation as to the form which
would enable the vessel to go fastest
throu|^ the water. These inquiries lasted
for years, and established, by a
of experiments, a set of very enriona Austi.
Formerly, every builder of afaips had his
notion of proportion ; some liiat the leogtl^
should be four times die breadth— others
that it should be 4i or 5 — and some went
as far as to say that the length should be
six times the breadth, but these were deemed
innovations ; so that although the propor-
tions of width as compared with breadtli
were said to be fixed ones, yet strangdy
enough every one di£fered as to those pro-
portions. Another question waf what part
of the vessel should nave the greatest width,
and it was generally thought that the greateat
widtli should be nearest the bow. Some
daring persons had, however, put it back as
fkr as the centre of the ship. This was,
however, the exception, and not the rule.
Then there was another mat principle,
which waa that the bow and the stem should
exactly balance each other — that is, that the
vessel should be equally balanced ; but the
new rules which the British Association bad
established were u follows :— They began by
upsetting the old rule with respect to the
proportions fdiich the length should bear to
the breadth, finding that the greater the
speed required the greater should be tiie
length, and that the vessel should be built
merely of the breadth necessary to enable
the engines to be put in, and to atow the
requisite cargo. Then the second great im-
provement made bj them was that tlie
greatest width of water line, inatead of being
before the middle, should be abaft the mid-
dle of the vessel, and in fust two-fifths from
the stem, and three-fifths from the bow.
The next great improvement was that, hutead
of having the bow broad and bluff, or a ood's
head bow, for the purpose of riahig over
the wave, you micht nave hollow water Unes,
or what are called wave lines f^m their par-
ticular form, and witii that form the veisael
would be propelled with less power end
greater vetoelty—- and also that instead of
keeping to the old fine mn abaft, and enttlBg
it away, you might with great advantage
have a friller line abaft, provided it waa fine
under the water. Thus, by theae improve-
menta, the form of the old vessel was pretty
nearlv reversed, to the great annoyance of
the Old school, and the steamers were given
large and commodious cabins and after
holds, instead of having eabins so pinched
in that you can hardly stand in them.
Another heresy, introduced by the British
Association, was that of the principle aa to
the balance of the stem and the bow upon
which they now rested ; but which was
founded in a most sinrular error, fbr they left
out something which waa very m a teri al,
lltey concluded that the wave aolsd e^niDj
THS BftlTXSS AS80CUTX0N — SWANSEA MSETIVO.
ail
•n both ends of the Tesael in striking it ; b^t
they did not take into consideration tbe
imposfibilitj of this when a vessel was movv
ing, not having taken into calculation the
velocity of the wave or of the vessel, and
that from this circomstanoe the concauion
from a wave striking the bow would be a most
powerfol one, while it could not be so with
ng9xd to the stern, because if the velocity
of tho wave meeting it was fifteen milesi the
shock would be as of thirty miles; and,
therefore, it became most plain that the
boir woidd give the greatest resistance to
the wave. Be had examined all the fastest
steamers, which bad accomplished fifteen to
lerenteen miles an hour— and in smooth
water dghteen miles an hour ; and he would
reotnre to state that there was not one of
them which accomplished from fifteen to
seventeen miles an hour, which had not all
these alterations in every particular, and
that the wave form and wave principle were
now adopted by all the great steam- ship
builders, and that all the fast steam-boats
had what was called the wave bow. Now,
of the eight boats on the Holyhead and Dob-
En stations, if examined, it would be found
that all of them were built on these princi.
pies, although in some of them there was
still left a little of the old principle, some of
the boats being made a little fuller and more
straight ; and if any one would look at oqe
of these boats, it would be perceived that
the moment they moved, the very wave itself
rebelled against them and broke against their
bows, — and that, consequently, these were
slower than any of the others. All of them,
however» were vessels of the first class ; and
he gave the details of their construction, —
for whidi we have not space. All of them
were examples of the value of the form and
the principles whieh the British Association
had advocated and introduced at a very early
period of its history,'*'
Mr. J. Xsylor stated, that as Treasurer
of the Association, he oould bear witness to
the value of the efforts of the Association in
this direction ; and he felt bound in justice
to state, that the credit Mr. Russell had
given to the Association was chiefly due to
himself, as the indiridual who, with the late
[* The tone of self^uid-iociety approprtatlon and
^oiMeakioii, predomiiuait throagbout this Article,
IS exfrsmtly repi«h«naibls. More than the bettex
half of it hai DO foundation in tnith. We need but
give one strwng Instance :— -Mr. Russell claims the
vimdng ef the '* greatest width of water line ((be
beaoB) two-<ifths &om tba stern and three-fifths from
the bow," as an improvement made by the British
AasociAtion, under the inspection and direction of
Mr. John Scott Russell. Now, this improvement
ia as oU, at least, as the ezpcnments of Col. Beau-
fqy 1 n the Greenland poek (of which, no4 strange
to say, Hr. Russell never once makes mention).
BtmMmk, M%g., vol. zxiv., p. 880.— £x>. H. If.]
Sir J. Robinson, had oondncted the inresti*
gations on this subject,
Mr. J. Price rose to say that he agreed
with Mr. Russell in all that he had adduced.
There was, however, one mode of steam
navigation — one mode of propulsion to which
he had not alluded ; he meant the mode of
propulsion by the screw propeller. He
would, therefore, mention that they had
built a little vessel called the Neaih Abbey ^
which plied from Neath to Bristol, a distance
of upwards of sixty miles, and which had
only two 12-inch cylinders — in fact, a mere
toy — of course, using high steam. Now,
she could walk round the Bererford, which
had two 40 horse-power engines : — the work-
ing her upon the high-pressure steam prin-
ciple necessarilr increased the speed of the
piston. With these engines they nad stepped
out of the old track. They had not adopted
the American plan of a high*pressure engine
and puffing off the steam, but of a high-
pressure engine without puffing off the steam
and without using a jet of cold water. He
confessed that when this plan was proposed
by his younger coadjutors, he, as one of tht
old-fashioned, hesitated — but at length he
consented. The Neath Abbey had a screw
propeller with three blades, which^were im-
mersed under the water — ^her propeller being
about 3^ feet in diameter. The vessel is
built in the best form, allowing sufficient
breadth for her engines. The two 12-inch
cylinders are placed diagonally, and slung
up by wrought iron beams ; and they lay
hold of one crank pin like the hands of two
men working at a grindstone j and thus they
conducted their engines almost in a snuff-
box, llien they emnloyed their boiler in
the manner described by Mr. Russell. Then
they came to the condensation of the steam,
which they did not allow to go puffing off,
but let it pass back into the boiler condenseda
and in a distilled state, which accounted for
their never having any mud or dirt in theur
boilers.
tbi orxsuav frofbs8om0if of
okomstht.
Tht article in the Athmmum which we
transferred to our oolnmns the week before
last, and which wu founded on the aeries of
papers whieh had prerionily appeared in
this Journal on the aubjeot of the Gresham
College, hu called forth the following do*
fence of the Gresham Trustees.
The tone of the article on this subject In
the Atherumm is unjust towards the present
Trustees as to the motives that appear Iq
have fulded them hi their cfaoioe of Mr.
212
THE GRBtHAM PE0FESS0R8HIP OF OEOHBTRY.
iSdkiiu :— nor are the facto relating to it
correctly or fairly stated.
The Trutteei hare not, as ii alleged, oon-
ftidered the appointment as " the private
patronage of a few illiterate liverymen;"
neither is it tme that Mr. Edkins Is the son
of a common-coondlman. A relative of
his has, indeed, been chosen a member of
that body — subsequently, however, to Mr.
Edkins having been selected, by the joint
act of the professors of University and
King*s Colleges, from a number of highly
recommended candidates, as the Second
Master of the City of London School. At
that time no member of his family had any
connection with the Corporation. His zeal,
assiduity, and success at the head of the
mathematical department in this large and
important Institution have guided the trus-
tees, most of whom have taken a part in the
management of the school, in the choice
they have made — and not, it is presumed,
unfairly or unreasonably, although in so
doing they have preferred a resident layman,
whoUy devoted to scientific pursuits, to his
distuiguished clerical competitors, and a
most successful teacher to the son of an
alderman. So much for this invidious im-
putation on the motives of the Gresham
Committee. The members of the Committee
may surely be justified in accepting as a
satisfactory guarantee for the propriety of
conferring upon Mr. Edkins the office of
teaching geometry in Gresham College the
remarkable success in mathematical studies
of every one of his pupils who have pro-
ceeded to the univerdties, and the opinions
repeatedly expressed by the examiners of
the school, men of high reputation as ma«
thematiciaDS. What he may do in his pro-
fessorship remains to be seen ; the Trustees,
from past experience have good reason to
expect that he will be anxious to make it
conducive to the advancement of the science
to which he has been devoted.
The article concludes with a denunciation
against the Corporation : " The Corpora-
tion of London is strong — ^but there cometh
a stronger!'* Is there, then, to be more
spoliation ? — Is it not enough that the cor-
rupt ministers and Parliament of the Third
George plundered Gresham College of ito
revenues, so that only 500/. a year are paid
by Government for Gresham Estates which
would now let for 5,000/., leaving what
more is requisite to be defrayed by the Cor-
poration and the Mercers' Company ? If,
therefore, "there cometh a stronger" to
seize on the trust, the greater part of the
funds which should have supported the Col-
lege will be found to have been applied by
Government to the Excise-office ; and the
new College hai been built and is inpported.
not with the funds of the trust, but with
those of the two corporate bodies to whom
Gresham confided it. -
Candibus.
August 10, 1848.
The defence of " Candidus " is thus ably
and satisfactorily disposed of by our con-
temporary :
*4i* The Gresham case has so very bad a
look that many persons might suspect our
account to have been distorted or coloured.
We are, therefore, well pleased to see the
other side : and we can assure our readen
that the name of our correspondent, if we
were at liberty to give it, would be a guaran-
tee for the above answer being the best that
could have been given.
We will consider, then, the various points
of our correspondent's letter. First, we are
stated to have alleged that the Trustees
"considered" the appointment as private
patronage. We merely said that they had
made it so: we never doubted that th^
would have good words in their mouths
about the duties of thdr trust. Next it
appears that Mr. Edkins is not the son of a
common-councilman— but some other rela-
tive. Our correspondent further states that
this gentleman has been preferred to the son
of an alderman :•— we were aware that he
was preferred to the son of Alderman Gibbs.
Throwing such matters as these aside, the
long and short of our correspondent's argu-
ment is, that Mr. Edkins hu made a good
teacher of such elements of mathematies as
are learnt in a boys' school. This is the
last kick at poor Gresham College ! That
the chair founded for the advanoement of
learning among educated men, and filled in
their time by firiggs and Wren, should be
considered as worthily occupied by a person
who has given no proof, either in his col-
lege degree or in his subsequent career, of
having ever attended to the higher brandies
of his subject, because he has been a good
teacher in a boys' school — ^is the finish ! It
is true that there are, and have i>een,
teachers in schools who have made them-
sehes known by the fruits of their leisure ;
but we have yet to learn that Mr. Edkins
is one of those.
In his grasp at every twig, ouroorrespon-
dttit has laid some stress upon the fact of a
layman being preferred to derioal opponenta.
Now, first, Mr. Potts, the most geomeiriea!
of the rejected candidates for this ohair, is
a layman ; and Mr. Mosdey and Mr. CowiSy
though clergymen, have not cure of soniSt
but are connected with education, as Mr.
Edkins is — Mr. Moseley being an inspector
of BchooLi, and Mr. Cowie the head of tiM
Collie of Engineers. Our correspondent
has Tolnnteer^ the information that Mr.
QUESTION IN DTNAKICS.
213
EAiiiB is " wboHy devoted to fcientificpar-
foito."— What has he done ?
As to the question ahont spoliation, onr
correspondent is altogether wrong. When
we hint at a power which shall prevent the
Greebam iqppointmentfl from being private
patronage, he asks if there shall be more
spoliation ? We answer, yes, if by spolia-
tion be meant restoring the College to its
pristine state and intended use, in to far as
its. remaining funds will serve that purpose.
We disapprove of the " plunder;" — but we
are quite sure that neither ministers nor Par-
liament would have dared to touch the
Gresham Aind if the Corporstion had kept
the College in activity. A highwayman who
stops a runaway clerk, and makes him give
up the assets with which he is taking himself
off to America, is a robber : — but we do not
feel so much concerned at the clerk's loss as
we do at that of his master.
We have taken the liberty of striking out
a parenthesis in our correspondent's letter,
wherein he alludes, by name, to a gentle-
man whom he alleges to have recommended
Mr. Edkios to his post in the City of Lon-
don School. We do not desire to give
occasion to further correspondence. Possi-
bly the gentleman so alluded to might write
to inform us that he considered the second
mastership of a school and the Gresham
professorship two very distinct things.
ON THB COLOURED PHOTOGRAPHIC Itf AGS
OP TRR SOLAR 8PS0TRUM. BY MR. BD-
liOMD BRCaUERBL.
The author, in the course of bis researches
upon the chemical action of light, was led
to this remarkable fact, that the solar spec-
tram could form its image with colours
corresponding to its own, upon a plate of
silver properly prepared. For this purpose
the plate may be attacked by free chlorine,
with the precautions indicated in the note
presented to the Academy : the sensitive
eoating which is formed upon the surface of
the plate, is red in the prismatic red, yellow
in the yellow, green in the green, blue in
the blue, and violet in the violet. The
reddish tint turns to purple in the extreme
red, and extends even beyond Fraiinhofer's
Hne A; as to the violet, it continues far
beyond A, gradually becoming more feeble.
When the action of the spectrum is per-
mitted to last a long time, the tints become
dark, and the image finally takes the metal-
lie lustre; the colours have then disap-
peared.
According to the preparation of the plate
and the thickness of the sensitive coating,
any of the tints of the spectrum may be
made to predominate ; thus, a surface well
prepared, and previously in diffused light
coloured purple under a deep red glus,
gives a beautiful coloured photographic
image of the spectrum, in which the orange,
yellow, the green, and the blue, are marked
with the greatest clearness. The substance
formed upon the surface of the silver is not
the white chloride, but probably a sub-
chloride, since it is not strongly coloured
beyond the visible violet, as the chemically
precipitated chloride is, and the maximum
of action is found in the yellow, where the
maximum of luminous intensity is, or moves
towards the red, according to the prepara-
tion to the plate. To get a tolerably rapid
action, it is necessary to use a strongly con-
centrated spectrum. These effects explain
the red colour of the chloride of silver, and
of the sensitive paper formed with that
compound, in the red rays, which has been
already observed by MM. Seebeck and
Herscbel.
The author has succeeded in preparing,
by means of free chlorine, and also by using
bichloride of copper, a sensitive coating of
the chloride of silver, so impressed that now
only certain parts of the spectrum are repre-
sented with their colours, but besides, white
light makes a white impression.
The compound formed upon the surface
of the silver, by the action of chlorine, is
the only one hitherto- found which shows
the properties here mentioned. Up to the
present time, it appears necessary to keep
the coloured prismatic images in the dark,
and the author has not found the means of
fixing it under the influence of light. If
the fixation conld be accomplished, and if
the sensitiveness of the material was greater,
we could not only draw, bnt also paint by
light ; nevertheless, the results mentioned,
show that the solution of the problem is
possible.
QUaSTfOX IN DYNAMICS.
Sir, — Some of your distinguished mathe-
matical contributors will perhaps be good
enough to answer the following :
Can there be any motion in the universe
which imparts motion without losing the
motion it imparted ?
If a jet of water impinge into the cav!«
ties of a wheel receding from the jet at half
its velocity, the water will have lost all its
motion, and will fall with no other motion
than that due to its gravity.
What motion will the water have left
when the jet moves a wheel by reaction, or
more properly unbalanced pressure, at half
the vdodty of the issue ?
If a jet of unbalanced pressure issuing at
32 feet per second into the atmosphere pro*
214
THS GtAlTTB 0^ OTHER BATB.
pel a TMsel in the opposite direction at 16
feet per lecond, (assmnlng it can do so,) at
what distance from the orDlee must a trough
he placed to catch the water toiihout <m-
inpffement f At what distance also most the
end of the trough be to prerent the water
impinging whtn itfallt, if it then haTc any
motion in it ? The projection of the jet is
twice the square root of the altitude due
to the velocity of the issue multiplied by the
height of the orifice above the horixontal
plane. Will it, then, be according to the
altitude due to the whole, or differential
Telocity ?
If a stone be thrown from a railway train
at 32 feet per second, the train going at 16
feet per second, how long must the train be
for the thrower to catch the stone ?
A. B.
August 22, 1848.
[We insert these questions out of regard
to an old and (by another signature) uni-
tersally esteemed correspondent, and be-
cause we know that interests of considerable
maguitude are dependent on the practical
solution; we hope also that some of our
mathematical friends will not disdain to be-
stow a little of their atteation upon them j
but, at the same time, we must beg that it
may not be inferred from our insertion of
them, that we are either blind to their para-
doxical character, or at all inclined to the
conclusions apparently aimed at by their
proposer.— £o. M. M.]
THE GIANTS OW OTHKIt DATS.
In a recent lecture, Professor Silliman,
the younger, alluded to the discovery of the
skeleton of an enormous lizard, measuring
upwards of 80 feet. As no lining specimen
of such gigantic magnitude has been found,
the professor argued that the bpecies of
which it is the representative must have
greatly degenerated ; and the truth of this
position he endeaToured to enforce by an al-
lusion to the well-known existence of human
giants in the olden times. The professor
eited the following instances: — **A giant
was exhibited at Rouen, in 1336, which,"
the professor says, ''measured over 18 feet.
Gorapius saw a girl who was 10 feet high.
The body of Grostes was Hi feet high.
The giant Galbara, brought from Arabia to
Rome, under Claudius Caesar, was near 10
feet high. Fonnman, who lived in the time
of Eugene II., measured 11^ feet. Scrog,
in his voyage to the Peak of Teneritfe, found
in one of tbe caverns of that mountain, the
head of Gnnucfa, which had 80 teeth, and
it is supposed that his body was not less
than 15 feet long. The giant Ferragus»
glain by Orlando, nephew to Charlemagne,
was 18 feet high, tn 1814, near St. Ger-
main, was found the tomb of the giant Iso-
rent, who was no less than 20 feet high. In
1590, near Rouen, was found a skeleton
whose skull held a bushel of com, and whooe
body must have been 18 feet long. Plato-
rious saw, at Lucerne, the human bones of
a sulject 19 feet long. The giant Baeart
was 22i feet high; his thigh bones were
found in 1703, near the banks of the river
Moderi. In 1613, near a castle in Dan-
phigny, a tomb was found 30 feet long, 20
wide, and 8 feet high, on which was cut on
a gray stone, the words '* Kentolochus Rez.'
The skeleton was found entire, 25 1 feet
long, 10 feet across the shoulders, and 5
feet deep from Uie breast bone to the back.
Near Mazarino, in Sicily, in 1516, was
found the skeleton of a giant 30 feet high.
His head was the size of a hogshead, and
each of his teeth weighed 5 ounces. Near
Palermo, in Sicily, in 1548, was found the
skeleton of a giant 30 feet long, and in 1550,
another 33 feet high" I ! I
[We are rather surprised that the learned
SUH-mMf the younger, did not go on to
mention the case of the giant of oiants,
recorded in the Chronicles of the Lost Ata-
lantis, who could stand with one foot on
Europe and the other on America ; between
whose legs it took people many long months
to travel ; and who was wont to wreath his
prodigious temples with strings of rea/Warr,'
plucked by his giant arms from their native
spheres. The" Chronicles '* we allude to is
rather a scarce book ; but if Professor Silli-
man will give us a sight of a good authority
for any one of his wonders, we will show
him our copy, and make him a free gift of
it into the bargain. — Ed. M. M.]
KOTES AKD NOTICES.
Coating of Ships' Bottomt.—Vorismciuth, 15th
inst. The Rocket steam vessel, of Iron construction,
was docked this morning, to have her bottom ex-
amined. She was coated 12 months since, on on«
side of the bottom with the then newly-invented
anti-corrosive composition of uaphthalfed pitch,
and on the other with that preparation and red ted,
. In alternate streaks, zebra fashion, In order to de-
velop more perceptibly the advantages of those
alleged preventives of the growth and adhesion of
rubbish, animalcules, ftc, to the bottoms of Iron-
vessels. Admiral Prescott, Mr. Murray, Mr. Fln-
cham, and numerous other ofOcen of eminence in
this establishment, made a survey of the results this
afternoon, which was pronounced most satisfactory
as regards the efficacy of Mr. Hay's valuable anti-
dote. The iron, coated with that officer's prepara-
tion, was free ft'om all the adhesive substances that
usually cling to iron subject to tlie action of salt
water, except in here and there a spot which had
been imperfectly paid; whereas, the red-led streaks
were covered with weeds and grass »ome feet long,
muscles, shrimps, barnacles, and every kind of im-
pediment to sailing, independent of the great oxi-
dation which had taken place. [Mr. Hay is the
chemical assistant to the master shipwright and
lecturer upon scieotlflc salijoftt (• tho Jloyai Karal
College.]
ADTSRTI8E1ISNT8. 215
ScU ifaier ani Pruh^^Vfe hare Just had the then treated by the tSm^ galnnie pnceta, at
ptoMQie of drlokfOf a goUei of water taken from patented by Mr. Crosse. The invention, for emi-
the sea at Margate, as sparkling and aqueable as if grant ships and other long yoyages, will be invaln-
drawB from tha beat pomp inXondon: inde^, it able. — The BmigraiU, What patent? We nerer
was impoasibte to toll the difference. The water heard of it before,
had iMon prertoatly diitflled in the usual way, and
WSBKLT liUT OV MIW SROLI8H PATRim.
Thomaa Aiehardson, of Breweaftlenpon«7^e, and vegetable substances, and also stone, ehaik, and
rtWMlst, Jbr im ptovc m eta in the eondenaation of plaster ftom decay. August 21 ; six months.
OMtalUc ftunes, and in the maoufaeturo of white Alexander Angus Crou, of the gas work, Tottm-
lead. August 21 ; six months. ham, for improvements in the manufacture of gas
WflHam Toung, of Queeii-ttreet, Cbespaide, and in apparatus to be used in transmitting gas.
IiM naaufsetomr, ftvr tmp ro vo m cnta la ciostaig August 22 ,* six months.
■pirit and othai eanf or veasela. Auguat 21 ; six ^^ ^^^ Pattison, of Waahlnfton-housa, Gates-
monflia. head, Durham, ehemieal manufiKnurer, for Improve-
Isaae Taylor, of Stanford Rfvert, Essex, gentle- mento in manufikcturing a certain eompound or
1Mb, fior imp ror e— nts in piepariiig and engraving certain compounds of lead, and the application of
surfaces; also in the construction of cylinders this, and certain other compounds of lead to various
adapted for engraving, and also in machinery for useful purposes. August 22 ; six months,
printing and ornamenting surfaces. August 21 ; Alonzo Buonaparte Woodooek, of Manchester,
alx moDths for improvements in steam engines, and in appa-
Rlchard Shaw, of Oold'i-green, West Bromwich, ratus for raising, forcing and conveying water and
Stafford, railway-bar finisher, for improvements in other fluids. August 22; six months.
tke manufacture of iron Into tyre bars, round bars, Alfred Vincent Newton, of Chancery4ane, Mld-
squave bars, and flat bars. Tee iron, angle iron, and dlesex, mechanical draughtsman, for certain hn •
troo^ iron* August 21 ; six months. provements in dressing or cleaning grain, and in
John Bethell, of Parliament-street, Westminster, separating extraneous matters therefrom. (Being
ggnthiiiiBii, Jbr impravomanta in preacrving animal a communication.) August 22; six months.
WI8KLT LIST 09 DBSIGNS FOR ARTI0LB8 OV UTILtTlT mBGTSTBRRD.
Date of No. In
Reglstra- the Ro-
tloo. gister. Proprietors* Names. Addresses. Subjects of Designs.
Auff. 17 IMO Abraham Bettridge k
Co M Birmingham Penholder.
„ 1541 Richard Burrows ^.... Ruddington, Notts Regulating apparatus, or stop-
gauge, for farming imple-
ments.
„ IMS Lynch and Inglis -. Manchester m......... Pressure gauge.
18 IMS William Day King William-street Beer tap.
81 1M4 Robert Weare Birkenhead Oalvanio dlffnser.
88 IMtf Shaw Thewlis U Peter
Orlffith .................. Warrington Cheese press.
„ 1546 Jamas Campbell Beak street, Regent-street ...... Champagneand aerated water-
fountain tap.
„ 1547 Thomas Spicer DIsmora
and George Dismore, Clerkenwell-green « Waistband centre.
28 1548 WllHam Armitage ...... Louth ^ Safety signal light.
84 1549 Samuel Messenger Birmingham....... RaUway signal lamp.
GUTTA PERCHA COBIPANVS WORKS,
WHARF ROAD, CITY ROAD.
Xofufofi, \9i Apriit 1848.
ffHB OUTTA PERCHA COMPANY have great pleasure in stating that the ateadUy Increasing demand
-*> for tht PATxa* Gwra PancMA Dniviiio Bands Justifies the utmost confidence that they are Ailly
Their dunblllty and strength— permanent contractility and uniformity of substance— their non-suscep-
tlbDity of lujury ftrora contact with Oils, Grease, Acids, Alkalies, or Waler— and the facility with which the
singl e joint required can be made in Bands of any length— render them superior for almost all working
pnrpoaes, and decidedly economical.
6o&osHxa, Tusmo of all sixes, Bovexss, CATflXTxns, Stbthescofxs, and other Surgical Instrumentaj
MotriDivoa fox Pxcruax Fxames and other decorative purposes; Whips, Tbobos; Taiiiixs, Goi.», and
CaxcKST BAI.U, &c.y in great variety.
Patent Gkitta Percha Shoe Soles.
Tho applicability of Gutta Percha Soles for Boots snd Shoes having been extensirely and satltfttf torfiy
tasted, we ean unhesitatingly recommend the material prepared for this purpose, its merits having been
aeknowledged by all who have tried it. Indeed, experience has proved that Gutta Percha Soles wear twice
aa k>ng aa leather, with great additional personal comfort; and they remain perftetly impert/oǤ to wet
until quite worn through.
216
ADYERTISBUEKTS.
To InTentora and Patentees.
1IE8SR8. ROBERTSON ft CO.,
PATSST S0LXCIT0K8,
(Of Which. firm Mr. J. C. ROBERTSON. th«
Edito* of the Mbchakio' Maoaziiib from lU
coTunencement in 1823, if principal partner,)
The procnratlon of Patents
Por England, Scotland, Ireland, and aU Foreign
Countriei, and the transaction generally of all bu«i-
ness relating to Patb mtb.
flpeelfteatlone Drawn or ReTised.
DIBCLATMiaS, AND MKMOaAKDUMS OF
ALTBRATION PREPARED AND RNROLLBD.
Oaveats Entered and Oppoeltlona
Conducted.
CONFIRMATIONS AND PROLONGATIONS
OF PATENTS SOLICITED.
Searches made for Patents, and Copies or
Abstracts Supplied.
AdTice on Cases snbmittedj Ac. *e.
Messrs. ROBERTSON & CO.
POSSESS THE ONLY COMPLETE REGISTRY
OP PATENTS EXTANT,
Commencing a.d. 1617(15 James I.) and regularly
continued down to the present time.
INTENDING PATENTEES supplied gratis with
Printed Instructions, on Application, either per-
sonally or by letter.
TO ARCHITECTS, BUILDERS, &c.
Copper-wire Cord*
■D 8. NEWALL & Co.»s PATENT IMPROVED
•"" COPPER-WIRE CORD for WINDOW SASH
LINES, Hot-houses, Lightning Conductors, Hang-
ing pictures, Clock-cord, and various other puipoMS
for which hempen rope has hitherto been naed. Thia
new and valuable Patent Ss fast superseding the xue
of the hempen cord, and is strongly recommended
to aU iBuilders and other parties eonnected with
the above. The Wire-cord may be bad wholeaale,
and specimens seen at the Offlco of the Patentees,
No. 163, Penchurch-street, W. T. ALLEN, Agent,
or retail of G. and J. DEANE, 46, King William-
street, and E. PARKS, 140, Fleet-street; also of
all respectable Ironmongers.
To Engineers and Boiler-
Makers.
LAP- WELDED IRON TUBES, FOR MARINE
AND LOCOMOTIVE STEAM - BOILERS.
Tubes for Steam, Gas, and other purposes; — all
sorts of Gas Fittings. The Birmingham Patent Iron
Tube Company, 42, Cambridge-street, Birmingham,
and Smethwiclt, Staffordshire, manoftctnre BoUers
and Gas Tubes, under an exclusive License from
Mr. Richard Prosser, the Patentee.
These Tubes are extensively used in the Boil ers
of Marine and Locomotive Steam Engines in
England and on the Continent; — are Stronger,
Liffhter, Cheaper, and more Durable than Brass or
Copper Tubes, and are warranted not to open m
the weld.
42, CAMBRIDGE-STREET, CRESCENT,
BIRMINGHAM.
Works— Smethwick, Staffordshire.
LONDON WAREHOUSE— No. 08, UPPER
THAMES-STREET.
Lately published, Third Edition, Price 78. 6d.,
Blicroscopic IlltuitrationSy
"UtriTH descriptions of the New Microscopes, and
▼▼ ample Instructions for Use. By Ah drew
Pritchard, M.R.I.
Also, by the same, Price 128.,
A HISTORY OF INFUSORIA, Living and
Fossil, with Descriptions of all the known species
of Animalcules, and upwards of 600 Engraved
'Sote!— Part I. of the above work, entitled "A
GENERAL HISTORY OF ANIMALCULES,"
with the Engravings, may be had separately.
Price 5s. „ , .
London: Whittaker and Co., Ave Mana-lane.
CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER.
Description of the Fas{ American Printing
Press Invented by Messrs. R. Hoe and Co.,
of New York— («'«'*«»^««'*"^)- *'^
Sea Walls— Should they be Sloping or Vertical f
By William Dredge, Esq., C.E.— <«ritt «•-
ifravingt) •" ^^
On the Idea of Form to be Attached to the
Higher Powers of Numbers and on the Signs
used in Algebra — »®
The Sea Wall Question— Design for the Com-
bination of a Long Slope with Upright Ash-
lar Face. By T. Smith, Esq., C.B.-{»fa
engravingt) - - *"*
Mathematical Periodicals. By Thomas Wilkin-
son, E6(i.— {continued) «•— 805
Description of the New French Barometer—
{with engravings) «. — •• **>*
The British Association— Swansea Meeting :
Mr. J. P. Budd on the Application of the
Gases evolved from Blast Purnaees to
Heating Purposes —......... t08
Mr. J-lNaamyth on the Cutting Property
of Coke - «<W
Mr. Glyn on Hydraulic Pressure Eoglnca 209
Mr. Whishaw on the Manufactures of
Gutta Percha --- ^^
Mr.Whlshaw's Telekouphanon, or Speak-
ing Trumpet ~ -^ *»•
Mr. J. Scott RusseU on the Progress of
Steamship Building .....— HO
TheGresham Professorship of Geometry......... 211
On the Coloured Photomraphlo Image of tiie
Solar Spectrum. By Mr. Edmund Becquerel 21S
Questions in Dynamics 21S
The Giants of other Days«,.» «... *l*
Coating of Ships' Bottoms— Salt Water and
Fresh -•• *»* **^
Weekly List of New English Patents ........... 215
Weekly List of New Articles of Utility Regie-
tered - ,*....-...-. 11*
Advertisements
........^ S15
LONDON: Edited, Printed, and Published, by
Joseph Clinton Robertton, of No. 166, Fleet-
street, in the City of London.— Sold by A. and
W. GaUgnani, Rue Vivienne, Paris; Machin and
Co. DubUn ; W. C. Campbell and Co.| Hambuiih.
MUSEUM, REGISTER, JOURNAL, ANI> GAZETTE.
No. 1308.]
Vig.9.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1848. [Price 3d., Stamped, id.
Edited by J. C. RobcrtMo, 1«6, Flcet'ttrect.
DAY'S IMPROVED WIND GUARDS.
Fig. 1. Kg..8.
^^ Wig. Ih
f
VOL. XUX.
318
D4T'8 imfvotkd vivd ouarob*
[Registered nnder the Act fbr the Protection of Articlei of Utility. W. Jeakes, Great ttnsMll-ttl«et,
Bloomabuor, Proprietor.]
Figs, d and 6 ire side eleTstionSy and
S. 7 is a plan in section on the line ab
a third design for a guard. Two of
the sides, AA, are oppMite each other
and their combined area is more than
double that of the chimnej shaft B,
b the flat top.
Figs. 8 and 9 are front and side eleva-
tions. Fig. 10 a secUon on the line ch^
and flg. 1 1 a pUin of the top. A is the
body ; B B B B, the sides : the ends,
h h h b^ are bent inwards at right
angles to assist in forming the top. The
sides, 00, are shaped as shown in ilgs.
9 and 10, and form the openings for Um
wind-guard. The area of each opening
is equal to that of the chimney-shaf^
The ends of the sides, O C, are bent
over bhbh^ to which the j are fastened,
and so complete the coyer.
Fio. 1 is a representation of one of
these improved guards. A is the stem
or base ; B, the body which is formed of
pla^, COO, worked into a spheroidal
form, having spiral openings or slots,
D uXk P, between them. These open-
in|i ara more than double the area of that
of Ao otlimnev^shaft. The plates, 0.
are suhmuenilv united by the tie pi^oas,
c c, im4 ihe solid arown, F.
Fig. 9 is a (Vont elevation, fig. 3 a tido
elevatioiii and (g. 4 a plan on th^ line
a6 of flf . 3 of iMother form of guard. A
is the atem 2 P, 0, D, £, F, G, Ihe
side plates ; iL and I, openings, the com-
bined urea of whi^h is more than double
that of th^ chimney-shaft. H and L sre
plates fibced at an angle, to give an up-
ward direction to the wind, and prevent its
blowing down the chimney; m is a solid top.
ON Tm DIFPUSIOM OP SOUND— If BANS OV INCaBASINO THE SOUND OV INSTBVVBNTB.
Sir, — I have taken the liberty of ad-
dressing to you the following remsrks,
in the hope that they may draw the atten-
tion of some of your readers who have
the leisure, which I have not, to do jus-
tice to the subject, though it may be that
the Questions I raise may have been
already decided.
On reading the report of Professor
Faraday's fifth lecture " On Chemical
and Electrical Forces," at the Royal In-
stitution, I was put in mind of some in-
quiries which I bad formerly directed to
tne phenomena of acoustic telegraphing.
The report recites two experiments, illus-
trating facts as to the transmission of
sound, which are familiar to most of your
readers, but to which I must refer as the
groundwork of my remarks. In one ex-
periment, a thin strip of deal was sus-
pended from one end of the lecture-room
to the other, and at the further end it
bore against a box. A tuning-fork, when
struck and applied to one end of the
strip of wood, caused the box at the
other extremity to emit a loud musical
sound, thouffh the tuning-fork itself
could scarcely be heard. In the other
experiment, a rod of metal passed
through the floor of the lecture- room,
and was placed in connection with a
pianoforte in a room beneath. When
the instrument was played, scarcely any
sound was heard, until a guitar-oase WM
placed on the rod, and then the notes
were distinct and loud, as if proceeding
from the guitar-case.
Your readers will notice that the sound
heard, does not depend on the power of
the instrument, or on the sise of the con-
ducting-rod ; for until the latter is brought
in contact with some vibratory body the
sound is scarcely audible. This is fami-
liar enoueh ; but looking at practical re-
sults, it does not seem to me thai suffi-
cient attention is paid to the means for
diffusing sound, the whole power of
musical mechanics being directed to the
generation rather than the diffusion of
sound, and very little distinction beiqg
made between the generation, condne-
tion, and diffusion of sound. It is al
once taken for granted, and is true within
eertain limits, that the effect must de-
pend upon the power originally deve*
loped i but this Is the same, as if in «
steam-engine it were taken for granted that
the steam generated is wholly represented
in the working power, and as if the one
answered to the other, and it was neoea*
sary, in order to get a greater workinig
effect, to generate more steam, l>efore
full work had been got out of the weaker
engine. Musical instrument-makers have,
however, applied themselves to make in*
struments w hich are more powerful gene-
mjfwyi^ pjvpfQ B^ifi*
m
^q^tfin of «ouii4 xaJli£f th^ to ge^ the
greapwt noBsibfe diffi^ico iof itfuiod fitow
xecitd^ it jfficfiagmilf m^esi^ Uaelf that
the 9tmi hmrd i» proportioi^sl to /be
anrA^ .of tjbie box £xpo»e49 which X call
tfie gpne^iio^ B«4 ^jtfU^^dexMt ^ it9 re*
Mtfjr^ id))Batixw jgtivallties. VheAer anf
CMcrimppta l#ve b^n^ mfde b/ Mz.
'VWHooe «Dd^%p fo 4eternij»e jue
]^w» yJUdb r^^gwte ihe «gif«Brficjl ^
t^0i^£;eQ(BriitQi9 J aw Q^QAvane,
^zg^imenjbi Ivure bees made as to .
weaadjvateri^Jaj^M'Aoiiduetocsu tlither-
jtp tfa^ JuKTestigstioygis of xo^H^fim^timm
tu^ve Iween dJAeded Mther lo the lams
vhicJi re^jgdate the jjprff^of^s pf tbe air,
than the f^oint vji^icb I iu>w «»i^st, ^
the la^a ^c^gvlatiipg $h» Mimf>n pf
■ovnd aa likUsxcX from ^^gi^eratioja.
F/^tlc9)]y, 80 I bay.e aau), Ut;^e or no
4rtteQjU«9 ia pai4 the /iisjaact laws
myfimog jSmmm jof aound^ Jo a m-
m, (of \na$wce, ^e a^ ea Qf diffuaioo^ or
Ihe box of Ihe vistnimeja^, i» limited In
me, jhoqdi In j]»e larger bi^s the grefAer
fjiea jOif aiffusioDf and not the U^^er
strln^^ give focth a lewder sound. The
motive^ of conyemence suggest the re^-
aon iu this case. Ip » tr«xDpet» or bom,
^ dSffiisive area is ouly on the mouth
pf the instrument, and the other parts
are devoted to generation and transmis-
fdon. In 9 piano, although the toatnf-
inent may seem )oud^ and the poweir is
supposed to be ip the strings, the diffi^-
aion depends mainlj on the sounding-
board, of which the area exposed is
small, the form not even being so well
adapted as that of the violin to give the
^[reatest area of diffusion. With all Ae
mechanical appliances of the organ^ the
effect producecTis relatival v smaB. The
^arp IB an instrument much restricted in
its effective sonorous productions.
The necessity of uniting the genep-
fhB and diifusive properties in one in-
strument, under ihe present system,
«ovems tiie forms and powers of the
-instrument, and, consequently, the ex-
^^ent of sound effectiveiy heard. The
▼io4in must be of the sixc not to produce
the loudest sounds, but to be conveniently
handled ; other instruments subserve the
same law of convenience. If we sepa-
rate the processes of generation and
dfflTusion, experiment, it seetns to me,
holds out to us the means of getting a
^greater dFeetiTe sound. I say effective
sound, to express not tl^e quantity oi
soond geperated^ bul that which is ma^e
aeosible to the ear. This separation,
carried out under /lertajn conditions,
holds out tiie means of increasing or-
chestral and other effects sq^ to produce
results, whicb Eo^y be r^arded «^ truly
wonderfi^.
Xj9 eonsideripg fhe questjos of sound,
U has been mope u^uu .tp IooIl ^ the
par4gl effect, repultSng fron? the $recit
emanation of sound from the instrument
or speaker, whereas if we have a diffuser
of suitable form, we may diffuse sound
in every diicction. Adoptixi^ Professor
Faraday's aeoopd experiment, the guitar-
box, if placed in the middle lof the room,
would diffuse sound in every direction,
while a mnsical instrumei^ acts only
partially. Professor Farada|r alludes to
some points which illustrate the identity of
the laws gof enisg electrief^ and sound,
and others have shown the identity of
other laws governing liglit and sound ;
but sound Mkfswise seems $p have the
property of duids, of ac^jjoig equally in
every direetiop, and by propier attention
to this pnaperty, we mav produce as
great an aeoipstio effect with musical in-
struments, as we do mecl^ically with
Bramah*s prefs.
One result, which is the ^consequence
of separating the prqcesffis 0i the gene-
ration and division of sound, is a greater
economy eg the generative JM>wer. Thus
we may neadily assume fpat a smiJl
organ plac^ In a separate cl^unber, and
connected bf a conductor, «#h a diffuses
placed in a ahurch, shall give forth a
louder sound than even # larger organ
in which the means of diffpgion are neff-
lected. To do this, is to plane within the
resources off a greater Asmber, effects
which can noar be commanded only by
the wealth of a few.
If these jre^aariu meet ynd^* approval,
I proooee to communicate some further
considerations in reference lo other prac-
tical branches of the subject.
I am, Sir, yews, 4e.,
Htdb Ci^ammu
^ BatinghAll-ttreet, August 24, 1848.
IBCPSOYBD DITTNO BBLL.
Sir, — As the bold experiment of buJUd-
^g nearly perpendicular sea walls is in
actual progress of execution, and aa
every lover of his country must be ansqi-
ous for its successful accomplishment,
.— even those whose opinions are adveise
220
IMPROVED DITING BBLL.
to it,— it behoves persons who have (to
the best of their knowledge) original
notions of schemes or inventions, which
ma^ possibly facilitate the great under-
taking, to lay them before &e public.
As the diving-bell will be in great
requisition during the work in question,
I conceive that any important improve-
ment in that necessary machine would
greatly facUiUte it. I therefore here
submit my notion of an improved diving-
bell.
Perfect as the present one may appear
to be, it seems to me that much loss of
time and inconvenience are occasioned,
by the machine having to be hoisted out
of the water and lowered everv time the
man has to be relieved. To obviate that
necessity is the basis of my improvement,
which I effect by fixing an iron tube to
the upper part of the bell, of sufficient
internal diameter to allow of a man
getting up or down in it, and of the
required length for whatever denth of
water it may be intended to be worked in.
In this tube are two air-tight valves or
trap-doors, the openings of which are
large enough to admit of a man passing
through them. Thus, in the annexed en-
graving, B is the bell ; T, the exit tube ;
y 1, the first valve or trap- door, opening
downwards; YS, the second or upper
valve, also opening downwards; LL,
the ladder or steps for climbing up or
down the tube. Now, supposing the
bell to be at work, with the upper valve
closed and the lower one open, and that
a man at work in it, wants to make his
exit to be relieved, he climbs up the
tube, and having passed through the first
opening, he carefully closes the valve,
using any convenient purchase to make
it perfectly air-tight. That done, he
again ascends the tube until he reaches
the upper valve; but this he cannot
open until he turns the cock, C, to let
out the condensed air, whose density will
be in proportion to the denth of the bell's
immersion. Any personal inconvenience
from the sudden changing of the air's
density, is prevented by his having the
power of liberating the condensed air as
gradually as he chooses ; the valve would
hW by iu own weight a little before the
internal air was in equilibrium with the
external. Through the opening b v which
he would make his exit (if to be relieved),
the other man would enter, and, after
first closing carefully air-tight the upper
valve, he would turn a small cock, C 2,
contrived to admit the condensed air by
a pipe leading into the bell, as gradually
as he chose. Before the air in the tube
was in equilibrium with that in die bell,
he would, by unfastening the lower valve,
which would fall by its own weight when
relieved from the air's pressure, be ena-
bled to enter the bell. And so, in tJ^s
manner, the workmen might be relieved
as often as could be desired.
Although not a diver myself, I can
well fancy the confidence one would feel.
flCPROTBB DIYIKO BBLL.
221
to know tfiat he had the means of exit
oat of his eonfinement at pleasure ; and
those who superintend diving-bells can
best appreciate the labour and time
which would be saved b^ doinff away
with the necessity of hoisting &e\ beu
oat of the water (especially in a heavy
sea) every time the men have to be
xeHeved*
The increased weight caused by the
length of the tube when required to be
woned in deep water, say 42 feet, may
be nrged as an objection ; but this may
be remedied by making a great part of
the tube of wrought or sheet iron, se-
eorely riveted to the cast iron tube.
The tube might be made (if desirable) to
weigh, with the bell, not heavier in water
than the present one, and the upper part,
being the most buovant, would have a
tendency to make it keep in a perpendi-
euhur direction. Should the stroke of a
sea or wave, acting upon the tube, incon-
veniently shake me machine, nothing
would he easier, with such a length of
tube, and part of it above water, than to
■ecure the machine steadily in a perpen-
dicolar direction.
It appears to my mind, that a diving-
bell of this description might be made on
a mneh Isrger scale than the present one,
and the work greatly fkcilitated by the
emplovmont of more divers. I think,
also, that gas might be led down by a
pipe from the upper part of the tube
into the bell, so as to illuminate it suffi-
ciently for the men to work by night as
well as by day.
The sun will be, ere long, to the sonth
of the line, and much calm and beautiful
weaUier will happen during darkness be-
fore the sun recrosses it, for carrying on
without loss of time the important work.
Supposing the bell to be in use for lay-
ing the foundation, it may not be required
to be moved at all for some time, and
therefore would need much less night
attendance than the other, whilst the
sabmarine work would be in continual
progress. The air might be pumped into
ttie openinff of the tube at a, and let down
into the b^ by the pipe, P, and the long
flexible air^tube discontinued.
I have not made an external drawing
of the machine, because I do not attempt
to describe how it is to be manufactured,
and merely send a section to show the
prweipie of it, knowing well that should
It be deemed worthy of adoption, first*
rate engineering capacity will not be
wanting, to carry out the idea in the most
masterly style $ so on this head I should
have no misgivings.
There would be no fear of the valves
not being air-tight, when one atmosphere
would produce a pressure on either, of
8,640 lbs,, supposing the openings to be
two feet square in diameter. These
valves must, of course, be made suffi-
ciently strong for whatever pressure they
miffht be exposed to.
I may observe that the lower valve
might be placed at any convenient situa-
tion ; if low down, two men might make
their exit, by shutting and opening the
valves only once insteiui of twice ; but the
more the valves were placed asunder,
the more condensed air would be wasted
every time the valves were opened and
shut; however, that would bie of litde
consequence, considering the ampb sup-
ply of air.
For convenience, there might be two
or three sets made, to suit different depths
of water. The one intended for seven
fathoms would require a tube about fifty
feet long, as eight feet of it should he
above water, so as not to allow any water
to enter the upper opening. With such
a length of tube there would be ample
room for seven men to stand, one above
the other, between the two trap-doors,
so as to admit tiiat number to be re-
lieved, if required, in only one operation
of opening and shutting the valves;
although, as I before observed, shoold
any inconvenience be felt from the loss
of so much condensed air as would be
contamed in the tube between the two
valves, it is quite optional the placing
them at any distance from each other —
not being less always than the height of
one man. The sectional drawing is on a
quarter-of-an-ineh scale, which shows
tne internal dimensions of the bell to be
eight feet at bottom ; that seems an
enormous siae for what is now called a
diving-bell ; but I really see no occasion
whatever for its bemg made of cast iron,
as it requires no strength as regards
internal and external pressure, which are
equalised. In fact, the only use of its
r&t weight IB to sink it, which might
more convenientiy managed by con-
trivances to load it securely with lead-
pig-ballast properly fixed. Thus we
should have a spacious diving machine —
for I would no longer call it a bell — ca-
CAPTAIN CA*PlfWTfi«'g QVAKftn l^OPELLEES.
2f22
pacious endtigh to emtiUff 0eYenl work-
Baen, with plenty of €tbow-to<Stn, i^hich
should tiot be, wKen unloaded and hoisted
out of the water, inconveniently heavy
for transportation.
I can conceive such a suhmitfine cham-
ber, with plenty of thfek rias* io give h
atnple light hf day and Mltiant aa to
light it bt nr^ht, one in which divers
wotild delight to w6Tt hi, ttid one which
Wflfnld greatly facilitate (he cttrtJ>ferfot»
€^ that great nsttottat unctertakivg— the
Dover Refnge Harbottr. 1 shall eotf-
cinde, with the hope that U will befoontf
worthy of caosideration by the eminent
men who are carrying it oxit,
I am. Sir, yours, &c.,
M. 9. SfltTLD^AM,
Ck)mmander K. tL
[Registered nndei the Act for the Protection of Aitiolet of Utility. John Joeeph Huwey, ef Hertferdr
straet, Fitaioy-squaie, Carpenter and Wholetale Kltehen Screen Konufactoret, Pnq^iietoc]
Fig. 1 it » frottt elevadcm of tbfa
sereeti ; ftg. 2 is a crom teettoo dn the
line 06 af fig. 1 1 and ftg. 3, a perspeotivo
view. A hi tlie baek^ to which Uie two
flat aftdo pieoea, BB, and a flat top pieee^
C, are attached. The other portions D D
of the ndes^and £of the top, are hmged
to t)ie fixed pfteeea^ BB and C. FP^ are
ahdvea* whieb are hinged to the baek^
A. When the attiele ia not in use, the
ahdvca^ FF', tei be folded op toto the
poaitioD repreeeoted by the dottad Ubsb hi
fig. 2. The ttdea, liD, together witk
the feet, OG, whtek are sttK^ed io
theoi, any then be folded m over the
ahelvea, when the top, fi, will faU dowa
over theee other parts. In fkh Aided
state the apparatot oeeepico vefy lit^
space. And in this consists the greek $A*
vaatage which it po eeca ar s over ordioili^ y
meat strcetM* H ia the door, and 1 1 tii#
haadke.
oAfTAfW CAa ^wwae' a avAvm vsopiLLma.
The seHea of pa«t experihients, and
those which are in dtify progress, in the
application of screw steam machinery
to vesseli df war, haVc fblly evolved the
merits of this novel power of propaMon,
avd established ita Miperiority over pad-
dle wheehr. ^hat haa thus been at-
teiitpeed step by atep, haa eflcHed hifor-
matioti fornlifi^ data fbr Working <m
an6ther ftineiple of moffon, whieh,when
perfected in Ita application on a large
scale will, We believe, lead to reanlta of
a yet tttore sittofhctory and important
chatMier.
The BtartHnf H^nM \m mn^ the
fbllowing annonneement, lat Jtily, Id48 :
— *' The Amfhion ia the ship thitt has fatid
the fbmidathm fbr that ttighty soccean
which ia shadowed fbrth In the Working
at the Encounter sloop, the aecdnd htrgt?
ship which haa been tried with advanta^
and cfedit.
" In our formed ncrticea of the Bk*
counter we have atated, that she Wae
designed by Mr. FiDcham, of Ports-
mcHfth dockyard. She is 8^95 tons, Mnd
has engitlea (n 800 horae power, by
Messrs. Pienri and Co., and yeaterday #<»
spoke of the compactness of the itMK
cfahiery ttkd the rate <if her apaed (to Ike
ckfrt eAtti'Eiftftk'i QtrAftTBii fUdrEttttn.
»S
pMgi 16 Porttniolitb fmn Wodwieb.
TUte T^flsel iiltid^ed a wonderful instance
of what haa been aceompliflhed, in tbi^
improtenent of botb yettel and engines.
Bhe was tried several timea on the riter,
with the most gratifying results. Ofl
tbe last trial in the Hter, immersed with
Weights equal to her stores and arma«
mem, she attained atl aterage speed of
11 kndtSi (he engines baying etlindeM
60 inehes diameter, with a stroke of d
fern 9 inchMi making 78 retoldtiotts,
With a 8cre# 12 feet 6 toebes diameter,
add 16 fbet pitch t and this speed with
another and better adapted screw, she
1ms inaintaltted Within half a knot on a
■ea paasage; tbe ship too, having eom-
pttratltely for a steamer a blnff bow, as
k neaessarjr for men-of-war to possess.
" A third large ship is now about to
come into the field of experiment, and
titis Teisel Is the frigate Dauntless. She
iraa built by tbe same naval arehiteet
(Pi]lcham)| but that extreme portion
of bet stem in whieb the propeller is
plaaed. Instead t^ being flnelv shaped
away as that of the Bncomtter, to square,
and thus in her ease it is proted beyond
miestion that with a square truck, al-
tnough with lines generally good and
well adapted for a serew- steamer, she
cannot attain that spaed which the JBn^
ooim/0f with a inerrun has acquired;
fbr although tbe Dauntless has engines
of a&O borsa power to 1,496 tons, or
1 to 2-68, the mghest mean rate of speed
on trial was not beyond 7| knots.'*
Hera then we have an example on a
large aeale**showing that the propeller,
when it k working hi the broken water,
aa it always must no in the dead-wood
poaltion, will net produce so satisfactory
a nsttlt I bttt immediately it is removed
into the more solid stream tbe speed of
the ship Inereaaes, which applies partl-
ealarly to tbe model about to be de«
aetibed^ with the " quarter propellers.**
Tbe fdUowinff letter appmu^d in the
M^fmUng HsrM, 1st July, 1848 :
**Sk, — An allusion having been made
itt yosr eolonuia yesterday, under tbe
bead of ' War Steamers/ to my expe-
riittema on the lake in tbe Regent's Park
with a tariety of ptiipellers on the screw
prhidple, I beg to observe that they
mtt corteatly sttt o d n amely * Speed of
aaodel^ with a propeller placed in the
dead wood, aa it is applied to her Ma*
jeaty's steam-yacht Fawy— 40 feet in 21
seconds { speed With tWo propellers, one
under each quarter, With a single vane on
each propeller instead of two— 40 feet in
13 seconds.'
'* Tbe plan has since been submitted
to the Admiralty, and at present I am
corresponding adtb their lordships re-
specting it; afterwards it is nay Intention
to place the model in the Polytechnie
Instltutiott, that anv person who takes atl
interest in subb things may bare ah
opportunity of aeelng the experimenti
tried.
" The liovelty of the plan consists in
ilsing two profilers, one under each
quarter. With a junction to the shall
outside, where the universal Joint was
applied to the pinnace of the Geyser,
'* The propellers can be detached at*
together, and carried on tbe quarters^
leaving Uie vessel with very little impe«
diment to her sailing, and without cutting
away the dead-wood.
'* From the shafts passing outside the
Atime of the vessel there is more rootfl
left for the stowage of the after hold
than with the dead-wood propeller.
*' From the power befttg transmitted
equally en botb sides of the vessel there
is less vibration.
«* From there being two propellers,
one can be used if the other gets damaged.
" From the propellers being nearer
tewards the centre of the vessel they trt
more effective in a heavy sea when she
is pitching.
" From the simple afraagement of
detatching and rtistng the propellers out
of the water they are very bandy for
sailing ships as an auxiliary to the sails.
" Yf\x\k these observations I must leave
the subject till tbe model is placed in the
Polytechnic Institution.
" I am, Sir, your obedient Servant,
" S. J. CAnt»aNTfiit| Captain, R. N;
- "LMunlngton, 80UiJ«M,"
The position selected for the propelletn
as they appear in this model, is taken
from toac type offered by the unerring
hand of Nature, since we see the powef
ef propulsion, thei« appHed, In the
aquatic tribe of birds of the auk speeiea*
Their boat*like Ibrm of body, mere rtt«
dimenul wings, short and remote legsi
scale-like plumage, all alike concurring
to fit them for dwelling only on tbe ooean.
Tbeir velocity of movement on the sur-
fiu;e of the Waten is well known,^ and
hitherto notfahig has mrpa a ie d it.
224 MI89 Wallace's patent improtsmemts in the dbcohatiyb aeti.
Length of model, from figure-head
to tamul, 4 feet 8^ inches; draught
of water aft 3^ inches ; ditto forward
3 inches. Weight, with machinery on
board, 23 lbs.
Diameter of propeller 2 inches.
Scale S-8 inch to a foot.
Three shafts are placed, horizontal
and parallel with each other, and con-
nected with the machinery leading to
the motiye power, so that a single pro-
peller in the dead-wood, or the '' quar^
let propellent* may be worked either
separately or together. A novel plan of
raising tne propellers out of the water,
and a new adjustment of the stem bear-
ing, are practically shown.
T.S.— The Times, of the Ist and 3rd
September, 1838, contained a description
of the propeller with two vanes, as it was
originally exhibited by Mr. Taylor, one
in me stem position as in the JEncouaUr,
the others in the quarters as in the
pinnaces of the Geyser, before they
nad received motion from steam power.
The Mechanics' Magazine contains also
their faithful history long before steam
gave them motion.
[The model referred to is exhibited by
Mr. J. J. O. Taylor, at the Polytechnic
Institution, with other models, on Mon-
days and Fridays, and is well deserving
of the attention of all interested in the
advancement of steam navigation. — £d.
M.M.]
iiiss wallacb'b patent imfkoyxhskts
IK THB DBCOBATXVB AKT8.
[Patent dated Feb. 28th, I84S. Spedflcatlon en-
roUed Aug. 28th, 1848.]
We question much, whether the Chan-
cery Rolls ever before presented so grace-
ful a combination of the useful and orna-
mental, or were ever before made the
medium of so great a movement in the
constructive and decorative arts, as on the
present occasion. How to enable our ar-
chitects and artists to straggle successfully,
against the tarnishing and corroding in-
fluences of a humid and smoke-corrapted
atmosphere — how to furnish them with
materials to work with, as enduring in
texture as any, and more enduring in
colour than all — ^how to give them an
equivalent, and more than an equivalent,
for Italian skies and Italian quarries-
how to keep the purest white for ever
pure, to preserve unsullied (if not "to
gild") "refined gold", to shield with
an invisible shield (if not '< to ndnt")
"the lily"— how to banish brick (red
svmbol of democratic vulgarity I) from
tne face of our architecture — ^how to
make our palaces and houses (withoat
costing more than they do at present)
rival in external beauty of materials the
finest marble stractures of Athens and
Borne— such are a few, of the many diffi-
cult problems in art, which Miss Wallace
has undertaken to solve, and which she
has solved, by means at once so simple
and efficient^ as quite to preclude any
doubt of their rapid and nmversal adop-
tion.
The chief instruments which Mist
Wallace employs in her improvements,
are glass and piaster of Paris; her sub-
ordinate agents, painting, enamelling,
engraving, sculpture — every art, in short,
that can contribute in any way to visible
beauty. Our fair patentee proceeds on
this general utilitarian principle, that if
vou can, by any arrangement or com*
oination of materials, produce on the eye
aU the effect of any natural substance, as
marble, alabaster, porphyry, &c., it is a
matter of perfect indifferenoe to the ob-
server that the means employed are arti-
ficial. You see in this laay's studio tab-
lets and slabs which you cannot, by
looking at, distinguish from the ikirest
specimen of Carnura marble, and feel
only much inclined to think superior to
any pu ever saw before. You learn, on
inquiry, that the^ consist but of glass
and plaster of Pans higenionsly put toge-
ther ; but why should that dreumstanoe
lessen your pleasure and satisfiiedQii ?
You would not object to a gUded pillar,
that it is only gilt and not solid «>ld :
why, then, should you olject to 4 facia,
white as the driven snow, that it is only
glazed plaster of Paris, and not real
Carrara ? You may urge that one does
not expect to meet with pillars of solid
gold. True ; but to make matters equal
in this respect, the public mind has Dut
to be accustomed to expect, in future,
never to meet with a piece of real
Carrara (newly imported) on this side Uie
Channel. The transition to such a state
of feeling ought to be all the easier, that
the imitation Carrara ofi^ers advantages
which the real does not; the one will
preserve all its original purity and fresh-
ness of colour, long after the other has
sunk irredeemably into the
yellow.**
MIS8 Wallace's patent improyements in the decorative arts. 225
In the case of gold, Miss Wallace does
sot so mach imitate, as protect the actual
thing itself. The use of gilding, both
for internal and external decoration, has
long been uniyersal; but if gilding is
left exposed to the atmosphere (especially
such an atmosphere as prevails m most
of our coal and gas-buminf cities and
towns) it soon becomes tarnished and ob«
seared; and hence the necessity for
lenewlnff out-of-doors gilding once a
year at teast, and the muffling practice
within doors, so destructive of all har-
mony and b«uitv. Now, what Miss Wal-
lace does is to mclose the gilding from
the atmosphere — to give it a transparent
coveiing — ^by which its lustre may not
only be preserved for (almost) any
length of time undimmed, but rendered
more effulgent than ever. The dull pro-
jecting letter of wood or brass, gilt on
the ontsidci she would supp]^nt by a
erystaUne letter i^ith the gilaing inside ;
the'wooden-gilt mirror and picture frame,
with its sepulchral-like shroud, by a
frune of glass, underlaid with irradiated
sold. Assuredly, this is a very happy
Sioaght— arealandmost useful invention.
However^it would be hardly correct
to say that Miss Wallace protects gold
only, and does not imitate it ; for, as we
proceed in the {perusal of her soecifica-
tioD, we are reminded, that she nas also
invented a mode of giving to glass all the
appearance of gold, without a particle of
gold or any yeUow metal being employed
for the purpose; another singular and
most valuable discovery. Some specimens
of diis golden glass which we have seen
were quite bewildering for their likeness
to the actual metal ; one especially, which
exhibited (the semblance of) a ground of
burnished gold, veiled by a network of
matted or frosted gold.
Other novelties, not a few, there are in
Miss Wallace's specification, which offer
tempting subjects for remark; but for
the present we must content ourselves
with referring to the speciflcatibn itself,
which we have now the pleasure of lay-
ing at length before our readers.
SpeeificaiUm.
My invention has, fintly, for its object
the fcdng of the walls, porches, pillars,
pilasters, and other external parts of houses
and other bnildlags with a combination of
materials which is less liable to be affected
by wet, damp, and atmospheric imparities
than any matnialy or combination of mate-
rials, hitherto in use for the purpose, is of a
beautifal lustre and great durability, and
may be made to exhibit, externally, any
colour, or mixture of colours, or disposition
of colours, arbitrary or natural ; and also to
resemble closely any natural building mate-
rial; as, for example, pure wMte marble,
veined marble, shell marble, porphyry,
malachite, granite, &c. I make this new
facing in tablets or pieces, of any required
form, as round or square, flat or curved,
and of any sizes convenient for use. The
materials of which it is composed are ; first,
an outer sheet of glass, the under side of
which is either left blank or planted and
figured in manner hereinafter mentioned;
and, second, a backing of plaster of Paris of
from half an inch to an inch in thi 
