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Engraving, cameo, 210; on glass, 128

Exhibition, Dublin, the, of 1865, 143; machinery of the
Paris, 65; Paris, the, 141, 158, 194, 205, 237, 269, 285,
350, 365, 382, 397; present aspect of the Paris, 110;
ventilation of the Paris, 3; visit of artisans to the Paris,
273; visit of teachers to the Paris, 277
Evaporating lees, 276

Experiment, a curious, 144

Experiments in gunnery, 21

Explosions, household boiler, 285

Explosive agent, a new, 48; compound, new, 112, 240
Explosions, boiler, 34

Explosions in lamps, 6
Explosives, projectiles and, 2

Exposure on coal, effect of, by Professor Rockwell, 179

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Institution, Civil Engineers, of, 33, 114, 161, 209, 333, 351;
Mechanical Engineers, of, 81, 339; Naval Architects, of,
226, 253, 269; Polytechnic, 387; Royal, 275; telegraphy
Instrument, new telegraph, 161
at the Hartley, 227

Mechanics, hints to, 326
Mercury, electro-negativity of, 238
Metal, a new, 48

Metals, absorption of gases by, 20; forging and shaping,
180; red hot, 337; rolling, 389

Insurance Company, the Midland Boiler, 163; the National Meteoric showers, 2
Boiler, 131, 151
Interstellar iron, 368

Inventions, recent American, 166
Iridium in Canada, 275

Iron, coating, with copper, 109; crystallisation of, 381;
enamelling, 214; hydrogen gas and meteoric, 403; inter-
stellar, 368; ore, black band, 216; ores,
way, 399; ships, frequent loss of, 54; ships, safety of,
; permanent
289; steel and, casting, 323; testing, Government and,
5; trade, competition in the, 325; transparency of red-
hot, 272; treating, 405

Irons, cobalt and n ekel in, 4

Isthmus of Panama, piercing the, 157

J.

JAPAN, the silver mint of, 389

Metropolitan Railway, the, 209
"Miantonomoh," the, 5
Mica, new use for, 272
Middle level siphon, 65

Midland Boiler Insurance Company, the, 163; Counties
fire engines in the, 387

Mill, crushing, 19
Military cartridges, 277; questions of the day, 192
Mills, grinding, 36

Mine, death in the, 258; land, waste, 286
Mineral wealth, Colorado and its, 366

Mines, air in, 131; ascent and descent of coal, 174; fire-
damp in coal, 197; preventing loss of life in, 48; safety
apparatus for, 319

Mining in Australia, 182; in Victoria, gold, 375

Mint of Japan, the silver, 389

Mont Cenis Tunnel, the, 215; ventilation of the, 78
Moon, tidal wave and the, 198

Joints, deck, 71; welded boiler, 70; for wrought-iron Mould for casting blocks, 256
tubes, 117

Motive power, the tuning fork as a regulator of, 95

Flames, sensitive, by W. F. Barrett, 338, 354; sounding KING, the late Mr. A., 278

and sensitive, by Professor, Tyndall, 50

Floors, water glass as a coating for, 128

Flax and hemp, treatment of, 311

Force, influence of projectile, 61

Foreign manures, 94

Forging and shaping metals, 180

Forgings, wrought and scrap iron for, 118

Fossiliferous limestone, by J. W. Young, 374
Fouling and corrosion problem, 221

France, aeronautics in, 404; agricultural condition of, 35
Freezing water, by A. H. Curtis, 34

Fuel, liquid, 326; injector for liquid, 78; petroleum as a,
374; petroleum as a steam, 381; pulverisation of liquid,

167

Furnace dust, by J. B. Dancer, 259; a new gas, 336;
Jukes, 197; Silesian gas, the, 82

Furnaces, blast, 211, 230; hoists for iron, 342; steam
boiler, 383; treating slags from, 38

G.

GALVANOMETER, the tangent, by J. P. Joule and W.
Jack, 307

Gas battery, on Grove's, by J. M. Gaugain, 387; and
meteoric iron, hydrogen, by T. Graham, 403

Gas, carbolate of soda for, 288; copper, absorption of, by,
65; furnace, a new, 336; the Silesian, 82; generating
steam by, 127; Singapore, in, 271; steam generator, 175
Gases by metals, absorption of, 20

Geographical Society, Royal, 353

German locomotives, 349

Gilding by amalgamation, 272; Swiss watchwork, of, 112

Girders, strain on, by W. J. Millar, 47

Glacial period of North America, the, 70

Glass, cleaning, 325; engraving on, 128; and enamel,

punching, 3; fastening brasswork on, 272; manufacture

of, 96; plate, 304

Glaze, a new porcelain, 240

Glazing for pottery, new, 32

Glue, bleaching, 272

Glycerine, 208

Gold mining in Victoria, 375

Graphite, purification of, 32

Government and iron testing, 5

Grain sorting, 405

"Great Eastern," the, 145; beaching the, 54

Gradients and sharp curves, steep, 339

Greek fire, a new, 288

Greenwich, Observatory of, 401

Grilling apparatus, ornamental, by Jeakes and Co., 36

Grinding, drill-rest for, 244

Grinding mills, 36

Gum, bleaching, 208

Gun, another monster, 134, 310; carriage, Eade's steam,

371; cotton, 224, 230; French naval, 335; Swedish
rifled, 245; Woolwich, the, 125

Gunnery, 1; experiments, 21

Gunpowder, Neumeyer's, 30

Guns and projectiles, 255; working, 291

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K.

Knobs to spindles, attaching, 149
"Kronprinz," the, 342

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Edmunds . W. Brougham, 247, 203, 294
Farina v. Cathery and another, 294

Gales gunpowder company, 134; v. Latimer, 119
Gardner. Wright, 39

"Great Eastern," the, 391; seizure of the, 311
Greenwood v. Tongue, 263, 295, 327

Gravely v. Winchester, 183

Herbert's prolongation, 87

Hope in re, D. Graham, 199

Hood v. Great Western Railway Compary, 103

London Engineering Company, 263

Morgan v. Fuller, 119

Parrott gun case, 11

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Mountain railway, another, 231
Mud of London, 387

N.

NAPHTHA, on, by B. Silliman, 274

Naphthaline, pure, 208

National defences, our, 93, 99

Natural fats, test for, 32

Naval engineers, a plea for the royal, 110; gun, French, 335

Navy, American, the, 257; notes on our, 112, 242; our, 1;

Prussian, the, 274

New South Wales, telegraphy in, 93

Nitric acid, manufacture of, 96

North America, the glacial period of, 70

Norton, the late Captain, 215

Notes on photography, 213

0.

OBITUARY, 55, 142, 215, 263, 278, 343, 375
Observations, aneroid, 273

Observatory of Greenwich, the Royal, 401

Ocean currents, 10; steam navigation in France, 273
Oil, heavy petroleum, 18

Oiler, machinery, 197

Oils, paraffin, lubricating, 32

Omnium fastening, the, 247

Optical saccharometer, 181

Ordnance v. armour, 157; by N. Wiard, 177

Ore, blackband iron, 246

Ores, treating iron, 405

Organ for Penzance, new, 386

Overwinding in collieries, 350, 332
Oscillating steam engine, 340

Oxidation by charcoal, 224; of pewter, 96

Oxygen, preparation of, 48, 128, 176

Ozone, atmospheric, 48 density of, the, 336

P.

PALACE fire, the Crystal, 2, 98

Panama, piercing the Isthmus of, 157

Paper, new material for, 224; test for wood in, 97
Paraffin lubricating oils, 32

Paris Exnibition, the, 141, 158, 194, 205, 237, 269, 285, 350,
365, 382, 397; fire engines at the, 259, 278, 326; machi-
nery at the, 65; present aspect of the, 110; ventilation
o the, 3; visit of artisans to the, 273; visit of teachers
to the, 277

Parliamentary notes, 115, 129, 144, 160, 177, 193, 208, 224,

321, 353

Patent Office library, the, 237

Peace, armed, 193

Pelouze, the late M., 375

Permanent way, iron, 309; on German railways, 66

Petroleum, bitumen and, the origin of, 81; fuel, as, 374;

Pewter, oxidation of, 96

oil, heavy, 18; as a steam fuel, 381

Phosphorus, lucifer matches without, 113
Photographic printing trame, 102

Photographs, permanent, 145

Photography in 1787, 293; action of light in, by J. Side-

botham, 166; notes on, 213

Photography, improvements in, 405

Piercing the Isthmus of Panama, 157

Pigs again, Mr. Seeley's, 247, 353; anchors and 65
Plate glass manufacture, 304

Locomotive boiler tubes, by G. A. Everitt, 81; coupling Pneumatic railways, 164

hook, 191; traction engine, 132

Locomotives, German, 349

London, the mud of, by Dr. Letheby, 387

Poisoning, lead, 112

Polytechnic Institute, American, 370
Polytechnic Institution, 387

Longitude, latitude and, 293; of Rio Janeiro, by M. Mou- Porcelain, Berlin, 64; glaze, a new, 240

chez, 7

Loss of "La Seine," 51

Lucerne root, 240

Luminosity in matters, 319

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Institute, American Polytechnic, 370; British Horological, Mechanical appliances, names of, 182; discovery of springs,
the, 175

the, 111; Engineers, Institution of, 81, 389

Potash, manufacture of nitrate of, 4; soda and, from
felspars, 144

Potatoes, new use for, 144

Pottery, new glazing for, 32

Preserving beer, 310

Printing fabrics in relief, 375; frame, photographic, 102
Problem of the torpedo, 189

Projectile force, influence of, 61

Projectiles and cartridges, 245; chilled iron, 109; and

explosives, 2; guns aud, 255; from rifled cannon, by

M de Brettles, 6

Prussian navy, the, 274

Psychrometer, a new, 113

Puddling apparatus, 388; machine, 116

Pulverisation of liquid fuel, 167

Pumps, hydraulic, 100

Purification of air, 95

Pyrites, treating residue of, 83
Pyrogenic oil gas lamp, 35

Q.

QUESTIONS of the day, military, 192

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Reaping machine, 258

Refrigerator, 244

Repeating rifle, the Spencer, 270

Reports, weather, 77

Reservoir, a large, 406

Reservoirs, appendages of, by Mr. Jacob, 178
Retrospective, 1

Rifle, the Spencer rifle, 390; Chassepot breechlording, the,

148; Hammond, 308; new breechloading, 130; Snider,
the, 130; Whitworth, the, 339

Rifles, breechloading, 17, 237, 286, 402

Rifled cannon, projectiles from, 6

Rio Janeiro, longitude of, 7

River Tyne, a memoir, by W. A. Brooks, 200

Rock Island arsenal, 163

Rolling metals, 389

Rotary and reciprocating engine, 133

Roughing horses, 373

Royal Institution, 275

Ruby silver, 371

Rudders and lifting screws, balancing, 32

Ruelle, cannon foundry at, 158, 173, 191, 205, 287, 334

S.

SACCHAROMETER, optical, 181

Safety apparatus for mines, 319

Safety lamp, self extinguishing, 34
Sand, screening, 222

Scarifying land, 85

Science in Dublin, College of, 275

Science, chignons, and, 163; continental, 102; new appli-
cations of, 4, 20, 32, 48, 64, 81, 96, 112, 128, 144, 176, 208,
224, 241, 272, 288, 304, 336, 351, 384

Sciences, hall of arts and, 320; Belgian academy of, 390
Scott, the late Mr. Gideon, 263

Screen, serpentine coal, 66

Screening sand, 222

Screw piles to bridge-building, applying, 150

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Singapore, gas in, 271

Siphon, the middle level, 65
Silica, solubility of, 4

Slags from blast furnaces, treating, 38
Slipping of belts, 242

Smoke, utilisation of copper, 38

Soap, adulteration of soft, 288
Snider breechloader, the, 160, 176; rifle, the, 130

Soaps, detection of alkali in, 272

Society, Aeronautical, the, 262, 277, 293, 346; engineers,
of, 49, 96, 150, 162, 195, 210, 225, 290, 306, 321, 368, 386;
visit to Woolwich arsenal, 399; literary and philosophical,
23, 166; royal geographical, 353

Soda from felspars, potash and, 144; for the production of
gas, employment of carbolate of, 288
Sodium amalgam, 349

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50

Sonorous vibrations, 383

Spectra, wave lengths of, 257

Spencer repeating rifle, the, 269, 390
Spikes, heading bolts and, 229
Spindles, attaching knobs to, 149
Spiegeleisen, manufacture of, 390
Springs, the mechanical discovery of, 111

Steam boiler, by J. W. Reid, 134; boilers, improperly con-
structed, 37; overheated, 317; canoe, 353; coals, Mon-
mouthshire, 275; engine, by J. Field, 372; engine, an
improved, 336; inventor of the, 245; gas, generating,
by, 127, generator, gas, 175; engines, 84; oscillating,
340; fire engines, 310; hammer, 165; navigation in
France, ocean, 273; shipbuilding on the Clyde, 337;
superseded, coal and, 102; velocity, the, 271
Steel, annealing of, 85; Bessemer process, Tungsten, by,
224; bridges and ships for, 35; casting iron and, 323;
cooking utensils for, Bessemer, 288; headed rails, 134,
246; masts, 45; rails, the tenacity of, 274; tempering,
119; wire, 209

Steep gradients on railways, 161

Stone, artificial, 335; in India, concrete, 310; works,
concrete, 398

Storm warnings, 198, 263, 397; signal, suspension of, 10,

371

Strains in girders, by W. J. Millar, 47

Sub-Atlantic cable, a new, 199

Submarine telegraph, a new, 356; telegraphy, i
Substance, a new, 21

Suez canal, the, 241
Sugar, beetroot, 199
Sulphurous acid, 176

Swedish gun, 245

Switzerland, telegraphy in, 274
Symington, the late W., 343

I.

TANNING materials, valuation of, 4
Target, the Chalmers, 182, 323, 337
Targets and shot, 403

Telegraph cable, picking up the Atlantić, 81; cables, by C.
Varley, 118; instrument, new, 161; new submarine, a, 356
Telegraphic progress in 1866, 29

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UTENSILS, Bessemer steel for cooking, 288

V.

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Warnings, storm, 198, 263
Washers, bolts and, 325
Watchwork, gilding of Swiss, 112

Water glass as a coating for floors, 128; at low tempera-
tures, freezing of, by A. H. Curtis, 34; softening, 174;
and steam boilers, 195; supply for towns, by H. Davey,
225; temperature of, 351; tube boilers, 290, 306, 321
Wave lengths of spectra, 257; and the moon, the tidal, by
J. Croll, 198

Wax, adulteration of bees, 351
Weapons in war, 310
Weather reports, 77

Wells in Algeria, artesian, 363
What is it? 288

Whitelead, manufacture

Whitewash, a new, 208

Whitworth rifle, the, 339

of, 183

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Telegraphy, earth current in, 159; at the Hartley Institu-Yorkshire engine company, 43
tion, 227; in New South Wales, 93; submarine, 1; in
Switzerland, 274

Telescope, a large, 102

Terrestrial disturbances, singular, 134

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ZINC, the reducing action of, 4

ILLUSTRATIONS TO

VOL.

XVII.

Aeronautical Society, the, 262

Air, purification of, by M. Cabanes, 95
Axle-box, by J. S. Cooke, 325

Belts, slipping of, 242

Boiler association, Manchester, 53; explosions, 69; household, 286;"Field" safety, the, 370; Howard, the, 306 Boilers, action of safety valves for steam, by T. Baldwin, 96 Bolts and spikes, heading, by M. Bayliss, 229; and washers, by J. Chalmers, 325

Boring rocks, by 8. Richards, 9

Bottles and stoppers, by A. S. Stocker, 354
Brakes, railway, by M. Goethals, 128

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Furnace, Cornish boiler and, by T. Dixon, 196; silesian Pneumatic, railways, by T. W. Rammell, 164

gas, the, 82

Girders, strains in, by W. J. Millar, 47
Glass and enamel punching, 3

Grain sorting, by J. Lhuellier, 405
Gun, French naval, 335

Buoys, electric light for, by M. A. Miroude, 117; life, by Guns, working, by Captain Scott, 292
M. H. Smart, 167

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Hammer, steam, by M. Rivollier, 165

Hot air apparatus, by MM. Geneste and Hercher, 367
Knobs to spindles, attaching, by Captain G. Beadon, 149
Lamp, self-extinguishing safety, by Hall and Cooke, 34
Lamps, electric, by M. de B., 231

Coal cutting, by J. G. Jones, 8; screen, serpentine, by W. Lathe, Kennans, 117
Poupard, 66

Collieries, overwinding in, by Mr. Bryham, 382

Crane, steam, by M. J. Chretien, 79

Crucibles, manufacture of, by T. V. Morgan and E. Hyles,

404

Cylinders, casting, by M. J. G. Lauriac, 341; hammering sheet metal, by J. Harrison, 101

Darning machine, by E. A. Cowper, 228

Deck joints, by W. Gerard, 71

Diapason, application of the, by N. Breguet, 342
Drawer knob, by Dr. L. B. Myers, 23

Drawing instruments, mathematical, by W. F. Stanley, 146

Electric lamps, 207

Enamels, punching glass and, 3

Fibres, dressing, by Chadwick and Bremme, 22

Lathes, box for turning, by J. W. Wolfenden, 9

Latitude and longitude, obtaining, by C. F. Varley, 293
Lees, evaporating, by A. Swan, 277

Puddling machine, by J. Griffiths, 116
Pumps, hydraulic, by Bellhouse and Dorning, 100

Railways, permanent way on, by T. A. Rochussen, 68
Reaping machine, by J. Baker, 258

Rifle, Chassepot breechloading, the, 148; Hammond
breechloading, the, 308; a new breechloading, by E

Russ and E. and H. Hammond, 130

Rolling machine, by Petin and Gaudet, 389

Rotary and reciprocating engine, by T. Blatch, 133

Roughing horses, by F. Dominick, 373

Rudder, lifting screws and balancing, 32

Sand, screening, 222

Scarifying land, by G. W. Horner, 85

Screw piles to bridge buildings, applying, by J. J. Horner, 150, 162

Screw, wood, by H. Titus, 23

Screws, balancing rudders and lifting, by Captain Key, 39
Scutching machine, by F. W. Kaselowsky, 356
Sheep shears, by W. Hopkinson, 373

Liquids, measuring, by R. A. Hardcastle, 309
Locomotive coupling-hook, by Butler and Dalgety, 191; Ships of war, by Captain de Rohan, 261
traction engine, by D. K. Clark, 132

Metals, forging and shaping, by R. Mitchell, 180
Mill, crushing, by M. Ad. Dejardin, 19

Mills, grinding, by Thompson and Stather, 36

Mines, ascent and descent of coal, 175; safety apparatus
for, by M. Micha, 319

Navy, notes on our, 242

Oiler, machinery, by C. E. Brooman, 197

Optical saccharometer, by Rev. J. H. Jellett, 181

Signal gear, switch and, by Kennard Brothers, 373
Silk, dressing, by J. Greenwood, 52

Steam engine, by J. Field, 372; by J. Youle, 84; Oscilla ·
ing, by S. Deacon, 340

Steel, casting iron and, by J. Whitworth, 324

Tapping apparatus, by T. Marsh, 354

Tool, combination, by J. C. Longshore, 69; holder, by
Chapman, 327

Tubes, cleansing boiler, by E. Green, 212
Turrets, by R. Napier, 357

Water machinery, by 8. W. Worssam, 55
Wool combing, by C. E. Brooman, 276

THE

MECHANICS' MAGAZINE.

LONDON: FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 1867.

THE PAST YEAR.

RETROSPECTIVE.

ON entering upon the New Year we pro

MARINE ENGINEERING.

The

cellent mechanical means, recovered the lost unquestionable proof of the correctness of cable, and, uniting it with the portion from reducing the length of our ship of war. which a year before it had parted, completed results of the full draught trial of the "Bellethe electrical union of England and America by rophon," with a mean draught of 24ft. and a a double bond. And there are those two displacement of 7,230 tons, was a speed of thread-like lines reposing upon the bottom of 14.2 knots per hour by 6,400 indicated horsethe deep Atlantic, flashing messages from shore power. The turret system appears to be to shore, noble examples of the triumph of gaining ground, and at last Captain Cowper mind over matter, so strong that twelve miles P. Coles may hope to have his perseverance of their own weight will not break them in rewarded by seeing a vessel constructed water-so sensitive that signals can be sent entirely upon his own principle, and not throughout their whole length, some 7,000 merely a conversion which by no means N entering upon the New Year we pro- of water and an atom of zinc in a percussion himself with regard to the merits of his system. miles, with a battery formed of a single drop affords him an opportunity of vindicating custom, to bring in review before our readers cap!. The commercial success of the enter- During the past year Captain Coles has worked the chief scientific facts and events of the past fact that it has led to the revival of several the construction of revolving turrets, which prise is unparalled, as may be judged from the out several very important improvements in year, by which we may trace the progress schemes for establishing telegraphic communi- greatly enhance the value of the system, and that has been made in the various depart-cation by other routes. Inents of science. Viewed from a commercial Arrangements, we enable it to be adapted to all circumstances. point of view the year which has just closed hear, are nearly completed for commencing at One improvement consists in fitting a circular upon us is one which has few, if any, pleasant cable intended to be laid for the North Atlantic and turning apparatus of a revolving turret once the manufacture, at Liverpool, of the bulkhead or fixed turret round the lower part reminiscences. It has been a chequered one; route by way of Iceland and Greenland. The or gun platform, for the purpose of protecting nay, worse, it may be called a black-letter general progress of submarine telegraphy may it. This circular bulkhead in the case of ships year for trade and commerce. Misfortune and be judged from the fact that, apart from the is supported upon the main deck, to which loss have appeared in every conceivable shape two Atlantic cables, 54 submarine cables 6,811 angle-irons are secured, and the outside of the and form; shipwrecks, railway accidents and miles long in all, with 11,020 miles of insu- lower part of the bulkhead rests against these defections, monetary panics, banking and lated wire, have been laid in various parts of angle-irons. The bulkhead reaches up to commercial failures, colliery explosions, and numerous other evils have done their work in the world. It is stated that the total earnings about the level of the upper deck, and be rendering the year 1866 memorable in the of the two Atlantic cables since their opening, tween the bulkhead and the ring which conannals of misfortune and misery. These cir- including Sundays, have averaged £813 a day, nects the upper deck beams, Captain Coles cumstances have influenced trade to a con- when the charge was reduced one-half, has which wedges or filling pieces are forced. The and the average, since the 1st of Nov mber, leaves an annular space about 2in. wide, into siderable extent, and, although no one cansay been £874 per day. May they go on prosper-angle-irons and these wedges dispense with that they have absolutely checked scientific progress, yet it may be fairly argued that, as deserve a rich reward. ing! They who risked so much in the matter the necessity of employing bolts or other faspractical engineering has felt a shock-and a Not less do those to tenings for the circular bulkhead plating. severe one too-of the commercial convulsions, whose skill, talent, andt energy tha success is Radial bars or arms are fixed between the cirscience has lost opportunities of practical dedue, deserve that recognition which the cular bulkhead and the socket of the central velopment which otherwise it might have enable services. May they long live to enjoy support the socket. Captain Coles also now country has accorded to them for their invalu- pivot of the revolving turret, which hold and joyed. And this will be the more apparent their honours, and to add fresh triumphs to dispenses with the necessity of having a large when we consider how very close and real is the connection between every branch of science those they have already achieved! hole in the upper deck of a vessel, or in the surface of a fort, to receive the base or lower and the profession of engineering, and how very much each depends upon the other for part of the revolving turret or platform. This aid and development. As, therefore, comThe chief feature in marine engineering, and is effected by fitting the rollers upon which the merce and commercial transactions are, to all one which has attracted much attention of late, turret revolves below the upper deck, so that intents and purposes, the bases upon which is Mr. Ruthven's system of hydraulic propul- a sufficient portion of each roller projects science rears her splendid monuments, so we sion. This method of propelling ships by the through an aperture in the upper deck for the may conclude that a disorganisation of the sub-reaction of water issuing from turbine water turret to revolve upon; the rollers are supstrata must to some extent influence the super-wheels has been adopted in the "Waterwitch," ported by carlines or small beams below the The apertures structure. Or, in other and plainer words, a vessel of the Royal Navy. The system has upper deck, or in frames. commerce having been checked and retarded several advantages which are peculiarly its for the rollers and the central aperture for the the progress and development of practical own. Amongst others it gives a ship the socket are all the openings that require to be science have to some extent been delayed and power of discharging a great quantity of formed in the upper deck for the turret. obstructed. There would, however, be but water, and of thus keeping afloat after she has Another important point is that Captain Coles little wisdom in endeavouring to conjecture sprung a leak or has been penetrated by shot. has succeeded in adapting the turret system to what might have been the case had circum- Facility of manoeuvring is another advantage, forts as well as to ships. For forts and such stances been different; no one can say there whilst the propelling power is far less liable to like defences the fixed turret or circular bulkhas been a loss when there has been no pos- injury in action than either the screw or the head is supported upon the foundations of the session. We will, therefore, turn to the more paddle. The "Waterwitch" has had one fort, and has a glacis of masonry formed around cheerful side of the picture and see what has trial on the Thames with remarkably good reit. In turret ships, we may observe, Captain been the gain; what new victories science sults; and she is now out on another and more Coles introduces a hurricano deck, which is no has inscribed on her banner, and, of what new extended trial, which it is hoped will afford new idea, but it affords great protection to the triumphs the skill, pluck, and perseverance of the means of drawing correct conclusions re- top of the turret, as well as to the head of the the age has to boast. specting the result obtained. Opinions vary gunner taking aim, which might be a tempting with regard to the practical value of this target for riflemen. The strength and posystem, so that we shall look with interest for sition of the Royal Navy at the present First and foremost, then, at the head and the further trials to determine the true cha- moment is best expressed by briefly summaThe in- rising an official return, which was issued on forefront of the peaceful victories of science racter of this method of propulsion. must be placed the successful laying of the defatigable exertions of Mr. Richardson to in- Wednesday last, under the authority of the Atlantic Telegraph Cable. The importance of troduce petroleum furnaces into the vessels Lords of the Admirality. This return gives the results to the whole world cannot be overof the Royal Navy as well as other ships have the number, name, tonnage, armament, and estimated, and the accomplishment of the not led to a practical issue at present. The horse-power of each vessel comprising the great work signally illustrates the progress of results of a long series of experiments carried British navy. From it, we find there are 579 scientific engineering. Whether we regard on by Mr. Richardson in the Woolwich Dock-vessels of all descriptions, which may be classithe construction or the laying of the cable, we yard with one of his petroleum furnaces were fied as follows:-312 ships, corvettes, and inevitably come to the conclusion that each in-lar better than those hitherto obtained from frigates, 72 sailing ships, 100 gun-boats, 113 volved a greater amount of scientific engi- coal, but the great commercial question of cost vessels employed in harbour service, 41 coastneering than any other enterprise. To design appears at present to be a bar to practical ap-guard cruisers, and 38 coast-guard watch the cable required an extensive acquaintance plication. Mr. Richardson, however, is about with the principles of electricity, whilst to construct it demanded the experience of many years' practical study and research. In laying it, all the resources of mechanical science and steam engineering were brought to aid in effecting the grand result, whilst, but for that masterpiece of naval architecture, the "Great Eastern," the cable might never have been laid at all. But more than this, the successful navigator so guided the hip that the engineer, by dint of perseverance and aided by ex

SUBMARINE TELEGRAPHY.

to institute another series of experiments with
the same boiler, in order to demonstrate the
economy of his system as against coal under

all ordinary circumstances of ocean traffic,

OUR NAVY.

In naval architecture, the efficiency of the principle of cellular construction, first introduced by Mr. Reed into the "Bellerophon," has been thoroughly proved, whilst the speed and handiness of the vessel just named gives

vessels. Of the foregoing no less than 262 are in commission and doing duty in various parts of the globe. In addition to the above, there are also 24 vessels under construction at the various Government and private yards, many of which are in a very forward state for launching.

GUNNERY.

Turning from ships to guns, we find the year to have been marked by the successful introduction of the Fraser gun, which promises to effect an enormous saving in the

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METEORIC SHOWER.

annual expenditure for artillery-the saving in similar to the safety fuse which is in common respectively made separately into yarns and manufacture is said to be about £150,000 per use on the continent. The depth of hole are woven or interlaced into fabrics, and when annum, as against the Armstrong system of for a mine may be the same as for ordinary the interspersion of the converted and unconguns. The Fraser guns have been put to some blasting powder, and the igniting string must verted fibres are still more intimate-as is the very severe tests, and have stood fire uncom- be sunk about three-fourths of the depth, the case in pulping the fibres and making paper monly well; one has fired a thousand rounds powder requiring an intense flame for explo- of mixtures thereof. For sporting purposes, with full service charges and still remains sion. The temperature required for the ignition about 15 per cent. of the unconverted with serviceable, whilst others have endured four of this gunpowder for blasting purposes is 85 per cent. of the converted fibre makes hundred rounds with much higher charges about 400 deg. Centigrade, equal to 752 Fah. excellent paper, and about thirty grains by than are used in ordinary practice. So satis- The chief points upon which this powder recom- weight of this paper rolled into a cylinder factory has the system proved on careful trial mends itself to the public appear to be that makes a proper charge when used with about that the construction of several 600-pounder its safety from explosion as long as it is in con-1 oz. of shot. guns on Mr. Fraser's principle has been de-tact with the atmosphere renders it fit for fabricided on, and we believe commenced. With cation, storage, and conveyance; it gives regard to small arms, the past year has seen a very little smoke, very little residuum, and The past year has been distinguished by the revolution in the method of arming the sol- very little recoil, and its strength will not be recurrence of one of those periodical displays diers of every nation. The Prussian needle diminished by wet or a damp atmosphere; of celestial pyrotechny which, while they gun has led to every State adopting some being redried it contains the same destructive baffle man's understanding when he attempts modified form of breech-loader; either a new power as it possessed before damp had reached to determine their precise physical nature, at rifle has been introduced, or the old ones have it; and its commercial value is said to be any rate verify in a marked manner the prebeen converted from muzzle to breech-loaders. much less than that of any other powder. So dictions of astronomical science. The meteoric Conversion has been the order of the day far the results are satisfactory, but as further shower of November, 1866, will be long with us in England, and the Snider-Enfield is trials are to be made, there will be another remembered by those who witnessed it, as now being introduced into our army. This is, opportunity of testing the merits of the inven- well for its grandeur as for the vague and however, but a temporary measure, a sort of tion, and of ascertaining whether any difficul- indefinite sensations to which it gave rise. stop-gap, but the stepping stone, we hope, to ties lie in the way of its general adoption. Fire balls and vivid flashes everywhere, a far better and more perfect arm. A light The practical adaptation of gun cotton for use apparently violent explosions and fragments arm of small calibre, capable of rapid firing in fire-arms has made considerable progress of ponderable bodies, but no whiz, no whirr, and of containing a reserve of shots for an during the past year. Mr. W. A. Dixon has no crack, no crash-in effect, no sound whatemergency, is the weapon we want. Such in utilised this powerful explosive by modifying ever from the rushing streaming multitude. effect is the Spencer rifle, which made some the form in which it is used. He retards the The heavens scarified with streaks which faded stir at the last Wimbledon meeting, doing ex- explosion to some extent by manufacturing the ere they came, but nothing that any sense cellent shooting both for rapidity and accuracy. cotton into cloth, and further by incorporating save that of sight could recognise. Strange Since then, however, this rifle has been greatly it with a non-explosive material. It is coiled and mysterious all this, and not less so than the improved, and we hope in a short time to with a spiral piece of paper, the centre of the perfect accuracy with which the prediction of place the points of improvement before our charge alone being pure gun cotton. The re- their coming was fulfilled to the hour. They readers. It may be remembered that some sult of this arrangement is that the first portion came and they went, and, but for the sight of time since we announced that the National burns freely so as to overcome the vis inertia them, none are wiser with respect to them than Rifle Association had appointed a breech- of the shot or bullet, whilst the remainder of before they came. Then prophecy steps loading military rifle trial; it now appears the charge is so adapted that it shall all have forward and announces to the world that thirtythat this competition has been abandoned in spent its whole force just as the empty case three years hence the mysterious strangers consequence of the more full and satisfactory leaves the muzzle of the gun. Thus the sudden shall once more revisit our atmosphere. Shall Government trial of similar rifles, which has ignition of the whole charge and the danger we then be wiser with regard to them? Shall been announced, and by which the object attending it is wholly obviated. Subsequently our scientific Babel then have touched the of the Council-viz., the production of a to this Messrs. Prentice, of Stowmarket, the skies? Shall we then be able to set traps to perfect military arm-is more likely to be well-known manufacturers of gun cotton, in-catch them; or, simpler still, shall we have obtained. troduced some improvements having the same devised butterfly nets to imprison them? Let object. As we have not before noticed them the coming generation answer for itself when we will now give the leading particulars of it discusses the question. But a doubt has reFrom guns to projectiles and gunpowder is this important invention. It consists in inter-cently been expressed that the meteoric display, an easy and a natural transition, and here we weaving other cotton or suitable fibrous ma- so anxiously awaited, was not the grand one first congratulate Major Palliser upon the ex- terial in an inert state with gun-cotton, to re- after all; that, in fact, it was but a rehearsal of traordinary success of his chilled shot. After tard and modify the rapidity of its explosion to what we shall see in fuller grandeur next year. much toil, trouble, and anxiety, which is such an extent as may be desired for the Hear what Dr. Phipson, F.C.S., says: easily expressed, but not easily realised by special purposes to which the explosive com- "Though many thousand persons have been those who have not trodden similar paths, pounds are to be applied. Mr. E. C. Prentice fortunate enough to witness the magnificent Major Palliser has once more turned the tide has ascertained in practice that it is desirable display, a still greater number were fast asleep of the great battle of guns versus plates in to employ as little inert cotton or other fibrous in their beds, and, believing that such a sight favour of the former. Our 7-inch and 9-inch material as may be in order to obtain the de- can only be seen every thirty-three years, guns with pointed chilled shot have penetrated sired degree of retardation in the burning of regret what they have lost. The latter will every plate at which they have been dis- the pyroxylin, more particularly when the be glad to learn that from the observations charged, and it is probable that more can be compounds are to be used in fire-arms, as the already collected respecting the late star done than even has been. This success of shot use of comparatively large proportions of the shower, it appears more and more probable against plate has doubtless set our iron manu- inert or unconverted cotton or other fibre that, although so fine, it was not the great facturers to work to devise some means where- tends to foul the barrels, and he has further as-display so anxiously awaited, and that we may by they may once more be in the ascendant, certained that the points of contact and interbut we think they will have tough work to section of the converted fibre with the unconstop one of Major Palliser's projectiles. With verted fibre should be as numerous as possible, regard to gunpowder, the most recent novelty, and that the more minutely the fibres are and one which appears to embody practical divided, and the more intimately they are invalue, is the gun and blasting powder invented terspersed amongst each other, the less proby M. Neumeyer, of Saxony. Some interest-portion orquantity of the inert or unconverted ing trials recently took place in the Crystal cotton or other fibre is required to produce a Palace grounds, and which showed that the given retardation in the burning of the material, which is composed of the same con- pyroxylin; consequently there should be no stituents as ordinary gunpowder-viz., salt-massing or accumulating of the converted fibre petre, carbon, and sulphur-would, when in (pyroxylin), or of the unconverted cotton or The close of the past year was unfortucontact with the air, burn but not explode, but fibre, but, on the contrary, as intimate a mix-nately marked by a sad misfortune for science, when hermetically confined in a cannon or a ture of the two classes of fibres as possible. a misfortune, too, which was and is deplored mine would explode with the same effect as Mr. Prentice employs yarn, the cotton or fibre by thousands in our own land and in foreign the powder now in general use. It is as a of which has been converted by acid into countries. The Crystal Palace has become a blasting powder, however, that the patentee pyroxylin, before and after being formed into synonym for the science of the world, for there is endeavouring to promote its adoption. yarn. The proportion in which inert or un-are gathered practical illustrations of science in Several experiments have already been made converted cotton may be combined with gun innumerable forms from all parts of the with it at the Bardon-hill and Markfield quar- cotton or pyroxylin may be greatly varied, de- world. Amongst these, one of the most strikries, with results which went to show that it was pending on the extent to which the quick-ing and interesting was the magnificent colmuch less dangerous than the ordinary blast-burning properties of the pyroxylin are desired lection of tropical vegetation, which was suring powder, and that the quantity used in the to be retarded; but he has found it desirable, trials was less than would be required if the latter material had been employed. In blasting in a mine, the mine must be well closed, and the powder exploded with an igniting string,

PROJECTILES AND EXPLOSIVES.

more particularly when the manufacture is
for large or small arms, not to employ more
than 30 per cent. of the inert cotton with 70
per cent. of pyroxylin, when such fibres are

confidently expect another, perhaps more magnificent still, from the 11th to the 14th of November, 1867." Well, it may be so; those who live the longest see the most, and those who see November 11 to 14, 1867, may possibly regret having watched and waited for the display of November 13, 1866, as we did-not that we shall ever regret having watched and waited, the result was far too glorious.

THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

rounded by reproductions of antiquities and scientific records, which were a source of perpetual pleasure to the contemplative mind. These, alas! are all gone, food for the flames which claimed the tropical department for their

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