channel-a fact which no theoretical reasoning as the rods of two out of the three buckets or pistons being out of the centre, the use of cams and cross heads, or frames, in the manner shown in the engraving, &c.; but then, if these arrange. ments are not found, in practice, to be great evils, it would be fallacious to pronounce them such. And, again, there are features in the latter (i. e. the Roberts pump) which also appear objectionable-such as the tortuous nature of the fluid passages pointed out by "J. S. H;" but if these again are not found, by experiment, to be evils, it would be equally fallacious to insist upon them. PARIS NOTES. (FROM OUR PARIS CORRESPONDENT). MEASURE OF SPECIFIC GRAVITIES.-A new GAS-LIGHT IN RAILWAY TRAINS.-Portable gas has been introduced, experimentally, on the Paris to Strasbourg railway. A first-class carriage was lighted with it on the 10th instant. It was used with the ordinary lamps, and burnt for thirteen hours without interruption, giving a steady white light. sion; each end of the tube being provided with a cistern of water, covered with very thin sheet copper or India-rubber. Of course a blow struck on the covering of one of these cisterns is very vities has been laid before the Academy of Sciences apparatus, established between Calais and Dover, method of ascertaining and verifying specific gra- rapidly communicated to the other. Such an of Paris, by M. A. Meyer, who says:-"The present would, it was said, transmit its vibrations in methods employed for ascertaining specific gra- eighteen seconds, and between Ireland and Amevities are very exact, but complicated. In fact, rica in half-an-hour. M. De Lucy proposes to the whole consists in facilitating the means of record the vibrations by means of a lever moving measuring exactly the volume of water displaced a tracing-point against a paper band, moved by by any given body of which the specific gravity is clockwork as in Morse's system. Professor Faure to be ascertained. The problem," he says, "may being present at the meeting, drew the attention be solved in the following manner:-After having of the inventor to the fact that General Morin the face of them, appear very objectionable; such leg of a syphon. When the water is quite at rest, Mechanique Pratique, and had there recorded the filled a vessel with water, place therein the long had touched upon the subject in his Leçons de plunge the body of which the specific gravity is fact that a tube of water more than 5,000 yards to be measured into the vessel. The water dis-long had been used for signals on the London and placed will escape by the syphon, and being Blackwall Railway, but that it had been supercaught in a receiver, will represent exactly the seded by the electric telegraph. volume of the body immersed." The arrangement is spoken of as peculiarly applicable to the measuring of minerals and other substances which cannot be got into the hydrostatic balance. SENSATION OF HEAT CAUSED BY CARBONIC ACID.-A communication has just been made to the Academy of Sciences of Paris on this subject. One of the most singular properties of this gas, says the report, is its decided effect upon the skin. All parts of the body that come in contact with it feel immediately an extraordinary increase of heat, which is not exhibited by the A person placed in a room heated to 200 centrigade, and plunging his naked arm into a receiver full of carbonic acid gas, feels as though he had put his arm into something 15 or 20 degrees hotter than the air of the chamber. This property has been turned to account medically in thermal establishments where baths and douches of the gas, sometimes pure and sometimes mixed, have been administered to invalids, but we are not told with what effect. M. Boussingault says that in a trench of an old sulphur-mine in New Grenada, he was almost suffocated and thrown into a violent perspiration by this gas, the heat of which he believed, at the time, to be equal to 40°, but his thermometers, after being left an hour in the trench, only marked 19, three degrees, in fact, less than the temperature of the surface in the shade. The Professor also felt a pricking sensation in the eyes from the effect of the gas, and he was assured by the miners that they almost all suffered from weakness, and that blind ness was a common result of constant exposure to this gas. To conclude:-It is satisfactory to know that the practical use of the new pump in the Royal service, to a sufficient extent to test its merits under all circumstances, is either decided upon, or likely to be decided upon speedily. This is a perfectly legitimate, and indeed a necessary result of the reports made by the officers at Woolwich Dockyard, and ought, we think, to give offence Every good ship's pump is a valuable thing, and if both of those under consideration are good, there will doubtless be found uses for to none. both. INDIAN ITEMS. THE Indian Fieid directs attention to the resources of India as an iron-producing country. The Field hears, on good authority, that the best Indian iron can be manufactured into rails and sold at Calcutta at £4 per ton; while English rails cannot be sold at the same market for less than £8 per ton.- -A "spark bafiler," designed to prevent the escape of sparks from the funnel of a locomotive, has been tried on one of the Indian railways, by Captain Sim, deputy-consulting engineer to Government in the railway department, and some other gentlemen. The locomotive to which the baffler was applied drew a train comprising twelve open trucks laden with jute, wood-shavings, and a trifle of gunpowder, and in a twenty-four miles run not a spark escaped from the funnel of sufficient magnitude to ignite these highly inflammable materials. The invention emanates, we believe, from Mr. Gower. Sir William O'Shaughnessy, chief superintendent of electric telegraphs in India, reports that the Ceylon line has been much injured by violent gales; and writing on the 21st of November stated that it could not be brought into good working order for a month or six weeks. The English cable for the submarine telegraph between Kotree and Hyderabad has arrived, and Mr Smith, superintendent of electric telegraphs in Scinde and the Punjaub, has proceeded to Roree to lay it down. The communication between Roree and Sukkur is to be carried on by means of posts from Roree to Bukkur and from Bukkur to Sukkur. Active exertions are being made to complete the line between Hyderabad and Mooltan. The greater portion of the wire has been laid down at different places, and eight inspectors with their staff of workmen are engaged in carrying out the undertaking.The extension of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway to Decksal, 65 miles from Poonah on the Bheema river, is almost ready for traffic. Tenders are invited for the performance of the mail service between Bombay and Keamaree Bunder, Kurrachee, by eficient steamers, for five years, from Jan. 1, 1860, thermometer. PEDO-MOTIVE CARRIAGE.-One more attempt has been made to enable people to drive their carriages without horses. The inventor, in this case, is a M. Salicès, a lieutenant in the navy, and the carriage is called Barotrope-voiture. The motive machinery consists of hand levers and treadles. An experiment was made the other day in presence of a number of scientific men, and the report is highly laudatory. It is said that the carriage ran well on stones, macadam, and up hill; that it performed at the rate of 14.530 metres (rather more than 15.700 yards) per hour, and that the exertions of the travellers were extremely light. It remains to be seen whether this new mechanical carriage will succeed where so many similar promising inventions have failed. GILDING TEXTILE FABRICS.-Gold stuffs are generally manufactured by weaving gold thread, which renders the tissue stiff and heavy. M. Burot has just discovered a method of gilding stuffs by means of electrical agency. The piece to be gilt, whether made of silk or any other material, is dipped into a solution of nitrate of silver and ammonia; after remaining in this solution a couple of hours, the stuff is taken out, and, when dry, exposed to a current of pure hydrogen gas, which reduces the salt, and leaves the silver in a metallic state on the stuff. A silvered surface is thus obtained, which is easily gilt over by the usual galvanoplastic methods. Beautiful specimens of gilt and silvered lace were exhibited in London some five years since. They were of French origin, but the process was not made known. PRODUCTION OF ALUMINIUM.-M. Corbelli, a French chemist, has discovered a more simple and economical mode than that heretofore practised, for the extraction of aluminium from clay. By his mode the metal is obtained directly from clay or argillaceous earth. The material is first washed free of all impurities and foreign matters, such as WATERPROOF STUFFS.-The following process stones, leaves, morsels of wood, &c. Two or three has just been published, for rendering clothes and ounces of it are then dried, and submitted to the all kinds of stuff's waterproof:-Take of gelatine action of acid, to get rid of the iron contained in and soap 1 lb. each, dissolve them together in 30 it. For this purpose, M. Corbelli uses highly-quarts of boiling water, and add by degrees 14 lbs. concentrated sulphuric acid; but nitric, hydro- of alum; then continue the ebullition for another chloric, and other acids have the same effect. The quarter of an hour. When the milky liquid thus earth is dissolved in six times its weight of acid, obtained has cooled to the temperature of 122 the earthy matters are allowed to subside, and the degrees Fahrenheit, the stuff is dipped in and clear liquid is then poured off. The residue is allowed to soak well. It is then taken out and dried, heated to 450° to 500° centigrade, and left to dry, after which it is carefully washed and afterwards mixed with 200 grammes (between six mangled. The process is explained as follows:and seven ounces English) of yellow prussiate of When the gelatine and soap are brought into conpotass, well-dried and pulverized-the quantity of tact with alum, the sulphuric acid contained in the latter being increased or diminished in pro- the latter converts the soda contained in the soap portion to the amount of silex contained in the into sulphate of soda; the animal acids of the clay. To this mixture are added about five ounces soap are thus set at liberty, and form with the of sea-salt, and the whole is placed in a crucible gelatine a kind of jelly which is insoluble in cold and heated until a white colour is produced after water, and therefore renders the stuffs waterproof. cooling. The aluminium is found at the bottom This, however, is only the case with soap made of the crucible. WATER TELEGRAPH.-At a meeting of the Club of the Scientific Press the other day, a young engineer, named De Lucy, explained a plan which he had conceived of substituting tubes of water for electricity in submarine telegraphs. He proposes to produce his signals by means of percus with tallow. LIST OF NEW BOOKS. NOTICES. Numbers 1845 and 1846 of the MECHANICS' MAGAZINE original series), containing the paper read at the Society f Arts, Dember 15, 1858, "ON THE MODIFICATIONS WHICH HE SHIPS OF THE ROYAL NAVY HAVE UNDERGONE DURING HE PRESENT CENTURY IN RESPECT OF DIMENSIONS, FORM, EANS OF PROPULSION, AND POWERS OF ATTACK AND EFENCE,' by one of the EDITORS of this Magazine, gether with the discussion upon the same, are still on de. The MECHANICS' MAGAZINE will be sent free by post to al subscribers of £1 1s. 8d., annually, payable in advance. 1st Office Orders to be made payable to R. A. Brooman, at te Post Office, Fleet Street, London, E.C. TO ADVERTISERS. All Advertisements occupying less than half-a-column a charged at the rate of 6d. per line for any number of in ertions less than 13; for 13 insertions, 5d. per line; and fo 52 insertions, 4d. per line. Each line consists of 10 words, the first line counting as tvo. Wood-cuts are charged at the same rate as type for th: space occupied. Special Arrangements for larger or Serial Advertisements. T ensure insertion, Advertisements must reach the Office b 6 o'clock on Thursday evening each week. None can e suing number. TO CORRESPONDENTS. deep-draught ships of the line cannot approach, and would be sunk if they could. I may observe that this idea was first broached by me two years since, as being applicable to the construction of vessels for carrying treasure and valuables, as diamonds and gold dust. They might be wrecked ashore, but the treasure would be recoverable. LENOX'S IRON FLOATING DOCK. MR. G. W. LENOX, of the Chain Cable and Anchor Works, Millwall, Poplar, under date Jan. 10th, 1859, writes: Thanking you for the prominent position you have given my "Floating Dock" in No. 2 of your New Series, I observe I have omitted, in my fear of occupying too much of your valuable space, to describe the essential, yet most simple point in its construction for management. As it is now before the public, for the benefit of any person or company willing to take it up, and after your remark that "The publication of Mr. Lenox's letter and illustration may tend to promote the b received after 9 o'clock on Friday morning for the adoption of the dock in many parts where it is much needed," I may be justified in the hope that, to make it better understood, you will again bear with me while I repair the omission in my first letter. The portion of the dock sunk is, as I stated, "double-sided." The bottom is also double. The space between the cases is divided into six air-tight compartments, each having a valve to admit and discharge water, and each a communication with the air or water-pump (as may be applied) which pump is worked by a steamengine. I may name these compartments as two bow, two midship, and two stern-water chambers. Thus, when a vessel is to be docked, all six valves are opened, and, when the air-taps are turned on, the air escapes and the water enters, sinking the dock to the exact depth required to dock the ship; The practice of publishing a vast quantity of fictits Notices to Correspondents has become so general in reap jornals, that the public, who are not in the secret, Ive come to consider it the duty of Editors to answer any ad every question that may be put to them by readers. is cannot, however, be done in a journal like our own thout entailing an immense amount of labour (often of a ry unnecessary character) upon us. We, therefore, beg Dst respectfully to decline the task. But in order that ir correspondents may not be deprived of all advantage in is respect, we shall, as a rule, publish such queries as By be sent in good faith to us, though not such as appear be sent merely for the sake of giving trouble. To the ablished queries other correspondents will, we hope, nly, and their replies shall likewise be published. By tis arrangement we shall save ourselves much inconvelence, and at the same time secure, we trust, to our readers il the information they may desire. All questions must e stated simply, clearly, and without circumlocution of the air-taps are then turned off, the dock remains ny kind; and we shall feel grateful to those corresponants who kindly take the trouble to send such information y way of reply as they may possess. Mere questions of asiness we shall of course answer ourselves; but when sary, we shall dispose of the questions sent as stated abore. at that depth until the ship is floated in and secured. The air-pumps are then applied, when the Her calculation, reference to published works, &c., are all; the air-taps are again turned off, and the dock water is forced out, and the dock rises, ship and remains upon the water as long as required. The stern-gates are divided half-way horizontally, so that the upper half may be opened to admit light. By dividing the water-spaces into six or more parts, it will be seen that the trim of the dock can be regulated to a nicety by admitting more or less water on the starboard or larboard side, or into the head or stern-chambers. I trust you CORRESPONDENT'S QUERY. GENTLEMEN,-Will any of your readers be so kind as to inform a constant reader, in your next number, where a new metal can be had, which has been introduced to this country from France! It is a white metal, not so hard as repper, nor so soft as Brittannia metal, and is a nearer approach to silver in appearance than German silver. Also, if there has not been a patent lately taken out for cementing all kinds of metals. I should feel obliged by seeing the sumber and date of the patent in your journal. RAFT SHIPPING. will think the whole affair simple and deserving this explanation. - Apologising for T. S. troubling you again, I am, &c., MR. CHARLES ATHERTON, of Woolwich Dockyard, an officer of great experience, under date 10th January, 1859, addresses us as follows: Many suggestions have of late been brought before the public on the construction of gun-boats, mortar-boats, and floating-batteries, with a view to making them invulnerable; and I now beg to add my views on that subject. Why not make the floating body for such especial services up to the line of its load displacement a solid mass of material of such specific gravity lighter than water, that it shall not sink, however much it may be perforated by shot? It appears to me that a solid combination might be made of corkshavings, light wood, saw-dust, rush stems, cotton waste, flocks, hemp, and other light material, which, by the aid of a solution of gutta-percha, or other chemical process, would form a solidifying mass so tough that it could not be knocked to picces by shot, and so light that it would be only one half the specific gravity of water, and therefore unsinkable, however perforated by shot, and capable of carrying armament and naval equipment to the extent of nearly one-half the weight of its own displacement in tons. Such vessels of Eght dranght accompanying fleets of war as tenders to line-of-battle ships, whence they might be manned and stored as occasion may require, would, I submit, form a useful auxiliary available for shore service, of attacking land batteries which 80 soon GEO. W. LENOX. MACHINERY FOR THE LADIES.---An ingeniously constructed arrangement of machinery has been invented by Mr. Tombs, of Islington, for manufacturing ruche and other trimmings for ladies' apparel, cap fronts, &c. The inventor employs a table on one end of which are two rollers. In a part of the table, in a framework, four fluted rollers are placed; at the other end is a drum working on an axis, and in a slot. The two pieces of ribbon to be made into a trimming, are taken up under guide rollers on the table between two other rollers which are affixed to the standards or framework of the four larger rollers, where jets of steam impinge on them for damping them. The top or narrow length of ribbon, and the lower or wider, are kept separate, and passed under upper and lower rollers. Having been damped, the ribbons are conducted through rollers placed in a framework or standard, and corrugated or fluted like goffering rollers, but in addition thereto, the under rollers are recessed or grooved in the middle, and the upper rollers are made in the corresponding part convex, or rounded, so as to take into the grooves or recesses, to press the ribbon into them, thus causing indentations for the reception of the gummed string. The ribbons then pass out and are conducted under guide rollers to a point where they meet with lengths of gummed two rollers from a pot containing gum. As the ribbon passes string, which are brought up by any mechanical action under from the creasing rollers to the drum, the string is carried forward simultaneously, and attaches itself to the ribbon on coming into contact. The two ribbons, having gummed strings. aftached, pass on to a drum on the periphery of which the smaller or upper ribbon is made to press on the lower ribbon and so to adhere. The drum is heated by gas for drying the material. The drum is worked by an endless band, which passes round it and takes on to a roller, which derives motion from the central goffering or creasing roller, and thus uniformity of motion is attained. It has also a reciprocating or excentric action given to it to prevent the overlapping of the ruche as it comes on. When taken off the drum the trimming is ready for use. MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. IRON SHIPS.-Mr. J. Westwood, of the shipbuilding firm of Westwood and Baillie, Isle of Dogs, recently obtained provisional protection for several improvements in constructing iron ships. To ensure great stiffness with a comparative lightness, he proposed to use hollow beams, which be forms of vertical plates of metal, having solid liners between them, and angle iron bolted to their outside faces at their upper and lower edges. The lower angle irons continue beyond the ends of the beam proper, and are bent round and bolted to the opposite sides of the stiff angle iron constituting the ship's frames. In like manner the ends of the vertical plates are bolted to the ship's frames. For the purpose of ensuring a good firm joint in the plating of iron ships, he proposes when using a double thickness of plates, to arrange them so that they shall present three thicknesses at the point. Thus he takes two plates, and places them so that their edges will form a butt joint. Over this joint he laps a plate which will form with the under plate a double thickness of plating in one direction; and under this butt joint he lays another plate, which will form with the plate which it overlies a double thickness of plating in the opposite direction. Thus for each butt joint he has two overlapping plates (one at each side of the abutting plates,) and by passing bolts through the whole on either side of the butt joint he secures a firm fastening. In order to secure the exposed parts of the hull of ships of war against shot, he proposes to plate the upper part with thick plates their edges,, into which the adjacent plates will (by preference of steel), formed with a rebate at fit and produce a flush joint. This joint he covers with a strip of metal, and then by three lines of rivets fastens the whole firmly together. Westwood did not complete his patent. Mr. IMPROVED GASELIERS.-Mr. J. Allardice, brass of constructing pendant gaseliers (either fixed, founder, of Glasgow, and Mr. W. Miller, Manufacturer, Blantyre, have brought forward a method like crystal, or sliding, like bronze gaseliers) with a sliding tube bearing additional burners, and so that the latter may be brought considerably below the level of the main burners, when desired-for of use. reading, say. This sliding tube is never detached, but is pushed up inside the central tube when out In crystal gaseliers the burners of the sliding tube may be concealed in the crystal ornament when out of use, the burner branches folding up. These branches may be so contrived as to turn the gas on and off as they are unfolded or folded, thus dispensing with stop-cocks. THE PRODUCTION OF SILK. - Dr. Tarlirana of Milan, who has just set out on his journey to Central Asia-undertaken partly for scientific, and partly for industrial purposes-is at this moment at Berlin, in order to solicit the advic and recommendations of Baron Humboldt, Karl Ritter, and Prof. Dove. The expedition is to extend as far as the Chinese frontier, with the object of there investigating the production of silk. PATRIDGE'S APPARATUS FOR SUPERHEATING STEAM.-The following letter has been received at the Dockyard, Woolwich, from the chief engineer of the steamship Prince Alfred, relative to the working of the Admiralty apparatus fitted on board that vessel for superheating the whole of the steam required for working the machinery: Cape of Good Hope, Nov. 9. "Dear Sir, I am glad to inform you that your patent apparatus has given me great satisfaction, and I have had no trouble in the tropics with the temperature of the steam. There have not been more than 10 degrees difference since we left Milford, which happened when the tubes were nearly full of soot. We had them swept, and the steam came to the old mark on the gauge-namely, 330 degrees, which is about the mean temperature. The highest temperature we have ever had is 350 degrees, which occurred on the 2nd of November, the thermometer at 70 degrees. We have had the thermometer up to 120 degrees in the tropics, on which occasion the steam was at 325 degrees, the tubes being clean at the time. We have been 700 hours under steam and have had no trouble with the cylinders, trunks, stuffing boxes, &c. The same stuffing that we left London with is in now, and is in good condition. We save from 25 to 30 per cent. in fuel, and as coals are very expensive in the colonies the economy is important, and I am of opinion the apparatus will take well. "Jos. LowES. "To D. Patridge, Esq. PUMPING SOVEREIGNS. The 20-horse power engine at the Mint has a double duty to perform; it pumps at once water and sovereigns! This engine is on the high and low pressure principle, and was invented some ten years since by the Messrs. Rennie. As regards the water-pumping arrangements, it may be said that a spur pinion on the fly wheel shaft gives motion to a wheel attached to a three-throw crank shaft, which again works the pumps beneath. The well is 420 feet in depth, and the pumps, of 9 inches diameter, throw water into a large cistern fifty feet from the ground; thence the water flows to every part of the establishment. Pumping sovereigns, however, is a different thing. In order to accomplish this, a very large double acting air pump-designed a few years since by a suborbinate officer of the Mint, who was not rewarded for his pains-is placed below the beam, and worked by a rod dependent thereon. This pump exhausts (in both the up and down strokes) a tube 220 feet in length, connected with a vacuum chamber near the coining press room. Necessarily the vacuum chamber-fifty feet in length, and three feet six in diameter-is exhausted, too, and on the upper part of this stands eight pneumatic pumps ingeniously fitted with valves, levers, springs, and other fitments, and attached by means of rods to the hollow upright shafts of the presses themselves, The pumps of the presses are forced down by the intermittent action of the atmosphere upon the pistons, packed with leather, with which they are supplied, and carry with them the screws of the presses themselves. Boys feed the presses with gold or silver blanks, and have complete command over them and the pumps. Motion is given to both at the rate of from 60 to 70 per minute, and the dies deliver into trays provided for the purpose streams of gold coins at the same speed, and which have a most tempting appearance. Thus are sovereigns pumped into existence. Some day we may explain this operation more fully. -- HARRISON'S ELECTRIC LIGHT APPARATUS. Mr. C. Weightman Harrison, of Woolwich, who has had much experience in the production of the electric light, has patented the following improvements. They relate to the use of mercury or other fluid or semi-fluid as an electrode in obtaining light by electricity, and consists, 1, in the employment within the lamp of a burner fed with a supply of the electrode, so that it shall remain full or nearly so during waste or consumption by the light. 2, In controlling the supply of fluid electrodes by a tap, &c., worked by electric action. 3, In forming a fluid positive compound electrode by dividing the stream so that a number of separate lights may be produced from it. 4, in maintaining by self-acting means a constant degree of separation between the point where the stream of one electrode breaks, and the reservoir of a second electrode into which the stream falls or forms contact. The patentee accomplishes this by connecting the reservoir of the second electrode to a float which is placed on the first electrode contained in another reservoir, from whence the stream issues, whereby as the float descends, the second reservoir is advanced in exact proportion to the length which the stream is diminished by reduced pressure. He also effects the same object by causing the waste or condensed fluid forming a descending stream electrode, to elevate the lower clectrode or reservoir; this may be done by placing it on a float under which such waste fluid is allowed to collect. 5, In forming the reservoirs for holding fluid electrodes of a combination of lamp black or other form of carbon and silica, or of lamp black and china clay, rotten stone, &c. 6, In preventing the condensation of vapours upon the glass or case of electric lamps by a stream of liquid or air being made to flow over or upon the interior surface of the glass or case. Also by partly or wholly filling the glass or case with water, alcohol, bisulphuret of carbon, &c., and in causing it to circulate around the light, or to pass away through apparatus by which it may be filtered, and then returned to the lamp again by a pump, &c., worked by electric action. 7, in preventing the rise of vapours from the waste fluid of electrodes by the introduction of a stratum of water or other liquid into the waste pipe or Feservoir. CURRENT EVENTS IN THE CENTRES OF THE IRON, COAL, MACHINE, AND SHIPPING TRADES. (COMPILED BY OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) In re Wm. Riley and Son, ironmasters, Wolverhampton A Trade Civil War between masters and men amongst the Coventry weavers, the flint-glass makers, the brick-and Bedford. The parliamentary committee recommended, makers, and the shoemakers of Stafford-Introduction of machinery to that town-Remarks on Trades' StrugglesThe proposed great bridge over the Trent at BurtonHollow Hurdles Shocking death of an engine boy. Mr. W. Riley, who failed for so large a sum during the late crisis, and whose affairs have been in the Birmingham Bankruptcy Court as "W. Riley & Son, Millfields, Wolverhampton," has at length] succeeded in passing his last examination. A trade civil war appears to be threatened between the masters and their men in two or three prominent branches of the manufactures of the West Midlands. The conflict between the silk weavers and their employers at Coventry terminated a short time ago in success to the former.-- War to the knife is now waging between the glass-makers and their men, the former determining by a mutual combination to rid themselves of the dictation of the workmen's trades union, and the latter determining not to yield. As a consequence there is now a lock-out.-The Operative Brickmakers' Union has been felt by the masters to be obnoxious for some time past. They have just taken steps with the view of stopping its further encroachments. ---Generally in the North the colliers have come off tolerably well in the struggle with their employers. It was not so, however, in South Staffordshire. Feeling this, their fuglemen are again summoning them to a renewal of the strife. At Wigan the colliers are meeting a thousand strong, demanding a rise of wages of 2d. in the shilling.--The notable shoemakers of Stafford are raising their backs, and assuming amazing contortions upon the faintest whisper of the introduction of machinery into their quiet little assize town. The employers have been intimidated by these tricks for some time past, but a familiarity with the "danger" has bred contempt for it. Accordingly they have smuggled some machinery into the town, and it will shortly be at work. With the exception of the lastfrom a sense of rights and privileges entertained by the mentioned case, we regard these contests as proceeding men as attaching to their grade, and are not disposed to look upon them with hopeless regret. To us they indicate a kind of self-respect which the progress of temperance and education will make really valuable to themselves and the community. For the present, all know that the working masses are not able to profitably discuss the important relative proportions of the rights of labour and the rights of capital. And we are by no means prepared to say that capitalists are on their side much more distinguished. But the schoolmaster is abroad. Over the Trent at Burton there is a bridge built originally for pack-horses, and which is now in a very dangerous state. Its owner, the Marquis of Anglesea, who possesses the greater part of Burton, and whose property there is rapidly increasing in value, proposes to apply to Parliament for powers to erect a new bridge, and to borrow for the work £30,000 on mortgage, the original expense to be borne jointly by himself and the counties respectively of Stafford and Derby in which the bridge is situated, the counties to keep the bridge in repair. The magistrates of Derby have instructed their clerks of the peace to oppose the bill in Parliament, as have also the magistrates of Staffordshire, by one of whom it was stated in Quarter Sessions that the proposed bridge would cost £62,400. The Blyth and Tyne Railway is soon to be extended to Warkmouth-on-the-Cocquet; and in connection with it, it is proposed to construct a branch to Tynemouth. As large a quantity of coal as 4,000 tons a day being carried over this line. Coals have begun to be shipped from Jarrow Docks. The opening of that port for such a purpose is regarded as likely to tend to a considerable increase in the coal trade of NOTES FROM THE EASTERN DISTRICTS. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Flar Works at Gainsborough-Norfolk County Surveyorship: Estimates and Expenditure-Gas at Boston and Louth Bedford and Cambridge Railway-Wisbeach and the River Nene-Water supply of Chelmsford-Steam Engine for the Norfolk Lunatic Asylum. FLAX works are in progress at Gainsborough.- -On Friday the Norfolk magistrates continued some time in high debate the principal subject of their deliberations being an excess on the estimates delivered by Mr. John Brown, county surveyor, with regard to extensive works which have been for a long time in course of execution at the county lunatic asylum. There were complaints expressed on the matter at a previous session, and Mr. Brown was directed to deliver in a statement on the subject. The "visiting justices" of the asylum do not consider that Mr. Brown has altogether explained to their complete satisfaction the excess which has occurred on the estimates; but it appears to be granted on all sides that the works have been well executed, and that Mr. Brown has paid close attention to them. The magistrates on Friday appointed a committee to consider the duties and emoluments of their surveyor, and resolved that Mr. Brown should be re-appointed at Easter for six months only, and that at the expiration of that period the office should be considered open. The appointment will probably be placed in a better position for the future. Mr. Brown's remuneration has been considered inadequate from the first.-At Boston the Gas Company propose to add to their works a large gas-holder, exhauster, &c. Plans and estimates are to be delivered by Mr. R. P. Spice. At Louth the Gas Company have made an additional charge of 5s. per annum for each public lamp.-The Cambridge town council have been discussing a project for a new railway between that town and the council endorsed the opinion, that a new passenger station would be necessary at Cambridge, the present station of the Eastern Counties Company being inconvenient, and far too distant from the town. The committee generally approved of the undertaking, which the council resolved to support.-The Wisbeach town council-after all said against country "corporations," it cannot be denied that their proceedings frequently afford the most reliable insight into what is passing in their respective. neighbourhoods have been further considering the state of the river Nene, and the works of the Nene Valley Drainage and Improvement Commissioners; and, after a protracted discussion, have resolved to invite Mr. T. Page, engineer, of Middle Scotland-yard, to confer with them The council have also upon the state of the river. resolved to take proceedings against the commissioners with a view to secure the removal of the dams placed in the river, which the Wisbeach public consider detrimental to their trade and port-if they are not taken away at the expiration of a certain period specified in a notice recently served. The commissioners, if we may judge from their recent proceedings, are not likely to concede the claims of the council very readily.Chelmsford, the town surveyor, Mr. F. Chancellor, has been reporting to the Local Board of Health upon the water supply of the place After mature consideration, he recommends as a source of supply, an artificial lake formed at the time the railway (Eastern Counties) was constructed. It is described as abounding in springs, while the water is of tolerable quality. Mr. Chancellor suggests that the water should be conducted in iron conconduit pipes to a filtering tank, to be constructed in the board of health yard. He suggests Ransome's filtering slabs as the filtering medium, remarking that, although more expensive at first, they are easily cleansed, a circumstance which leads to a large annual saving. Mr. Chancellor enters into minute details, and states that he proposes the erection of a water tower eighty feet in height. The Local Board of Health have complimented Mr. Chancellor on the ability of his report, which is to be further considered after the levels of the lake and of the river (Chelmer) have been taken, when the water in the river has been tested, and when other inquiries have been made. -The improvements and alterations at the Norfolk Lunatic Asylum, to which reference has just been made, include a six-horse power steam-engine, supplied by a ten-horse power boiler, which is also to furnish steam for washing, drying, cooking, heating apartments, &c.; Mr. W. Naylor, C.E., has been concerned in the superinten dence. NOTES FROM THE SOUTH WEST. -At [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Exeter and Yeovil Railway-Baths and Wash-houses at Bristol A Beacon for Dartmouth-Progress of the Public Drinking Fountain Movement-Bills in Parliament-Bristol Shipping The Price of Gas-Improvement of the Port of Bristol-Smoke Consumption at Southampton-Steam Engine for the Hampshire Lunatic Asylum-Larking on a Railway. THE works on the Exeter and Yeovil Railway are progressing rapidly, and the line is expected to be opened for traffic in July or August. A large tunnel at Honiton, to which reference is made as the "governing work of the This line," was cut through about three weeks since. tunnel is about a mile in length. Another short tunnel at Lion's Holt will also be soon cut through.It is stated that the town council of Bristol loses £150 per annum by its baths and wash-houses; and it has been suggested that they should be "farmed out." Mr. Herapath expressed an opinion, on this suggestion being made, that the baths were a great boon to the public, there having been as many as 26,000 bathers in a year. The town clerk stated that there had been a decrease. Engineers were great bathers, and the decrease arose in consequence of a large factory in the neighbourhood of the baths not having been in full operation during the year. The council has not resolved to make any change on the subject.- -An influential meeting has been held at Dartmouth with the view of memorializing the Admiralty, or Board of Trade, to erect a beacon at the eastern entrance of the harbour. A unanimous feeling was manifested on the subject. Captain Sheringham, R.N., Admiralty Surveyor, was present, and is reported to have observed that Dartmouth would be the best harbour on the coast both for vessels of the Royal Navy and the mercantile marine, if the proposed beacon were erected. Mr. R. Lane, a member of the Bristol town council, has offered to give £100 towards the erection of a drinking fountain opposite the Fine Arts Academy, near the Victoria Rooms, Queen's-road, in that town. At Plymouth the local press is also directing attention to the subject.At Glasgow the Water Commissioners are engaged in erecting two public fountains in each of the sixteen wards of that city. Among the private bills to be promoted] in the forthcoming session, are the following:Dartmouth and Torbay Railway, Somerset Central Railway, Falmouth Docks and Harbour, Bridport Railway, Tavistock Markets and Improvement, Kingsbridge and South Devon Railway.- -The number of vessels entering Bristol from foreign ports in 1858 was 846. Of these 452 were British, and 394 foreign vessels of an aggregate tonnage of 199,119 tons. The Somerset county magistrates are dissatisfied with the price paid for gas at the county gaol at Taunton, viz., 5s. 6d. per 1000 cubic feet. The gas company offer to make a reduction of 9d. per 1000; this doca not satisfy the justices, and the company declining to make any further abatement, they threaten to take the matter into their own hands. At the county sessions a lengthened discussion has taken place on the matter. At the previous sessions, the visiting justices were requested to ascertain whether it would be advisable to have gas works erected on the gaol premises, and whether it would be beneficial to the county. It appeared that the probable cost of the works would be about £600, the whole of which, it is estimated, would be saved in the course of four years. The justices, therefore, reported that they considered that the county money might be properly applied to the purpose, while the supply of gas would be superior. A question was asked whether the erection of a gasometer would not be prejudicial to the health of the governor and the inmates of the gaol; and it was replied that at Pentonville this was not found to be the case. Reports presented to the visiting Justices by Mr. Williams (of Bath), Messrs. Barrett, Exall, and Andrews, and Mr. Cockey (of Frome), exhibited a considerable agreement. The effect of them was that gas could be supplied for about 3s. per 1000. It was proposed and seconded that £500 should be granted to the justices, and that they should be authorised to enter into a contract for the necessary works; and it was stated that the surgeon at the gaol had expressed no objection to the erection of a gasometer on the premises. One justice even observed that the medical man had stated that it would be an advantage rather than otherwise-a remark which excited some laughter. The proposition thus far proceeded swimmingly, but here it encountered opposition from Mr. W. Moody, who expressed his objection to such a "fearful experiment" as the erection of a gasometer within the immediate precincts of the gaol. Mr. Moody stated that to the erection of a gasometer between Blackfriars Bridge and the Temple, the residents of the district had objected; and in the case of a gasometer close to a farm of his at Glastonbury, the neighbours stated that once a week there was such a stench as they could scarcely endure. He considered that experiments to conduct gas-works without smell had failed. Another magistrate expressed his doubts on the economical aspect of the question, which was postponed for further consideration to the next sessions.-The Bristol town council has been discussing the accommodation afforded at that port. The docks' committee reported that they had received great complaints of the want of shed accommodation on the public quays and wharves, and that they felt that the provision hitherto made in this respect was altogether inadequate to the requirements of the port. A great difficulty in the way of supplying the defect arises from the fact of the wharves being held by the Society of Merchant Venturers under a lease which will not expire until December, 1863. The result of this is, that the society cannot be expected to make a large outlay on property held on so short a tenure, while the town council would not be justified in spending the public money on property not in their possession. The docks' committee recently appointed a deputation to wait on the standing committee of the Society of Merchant Venturers, but that worshipful body required a resolution of the council before they would treat for the surrender of the lease. The requisite resolution has been passed by the council, which was informed by one of its members, Mr. R. P. King, that an important document had been received by the docks' committee with reference to dock and river improvements. The cost of carrying out the necessary improvements somewhat exceeded the anticipated estimates; but vessels of much Larger size would be enabled to enter the port if the improvements were carried out.-At Southampton a smoke prevention apparatus (Mr. O'Regan's) has been applied to the furnaces in connection with the steam dyeing works of Messrs. Carter and Son, East Street, it is said, with considerable success. A steam engine of six-horse power has been erected in the Hampshire county lunatic asylum by Messrs. Easton and Amos, for the purpose of pumping the water-supply into tanks.A sad result of "larking" on a railway occurred on Friday on the Bristol and Exeter line. Five lads who were about to join one of Her Majesty's ships at Plymouth, left Bristol by the down express. One of them persisted in sitting on the edge of one of the windows, with his head and body outside. Near Taunton his head struck one of the bridges, and he was killed instantly. METAL AND COAL TRADES, &c. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Quarterly Meeting of the Iron Trade, Cheering Prospects--The Coal Trade of South Staffordshire---Colliers' Morement The Iron Trade of South Durham and North Yorkshire---Stockton and Darlington Railway---New Furnaces---Staple Trade of South Wales---The Iron of Ebbw Vale---The Report of the Government Inspectors ---Birmingham Business---Railway Carriage and Building Trade---The Metal Market---Tin and Copper--Advance in Prices---Iron Exports from Liverpool, and Average Prices for the last Two Years. The usual Quarterly Meetings of the Iron Trade were held in Wolverhampton on Wednesday, in Birmingham on Thursday, and will be continued to-day in Birmingham, and to-morrow (Saturday) in Dudley. The reports of the various members of the Association showed that the prospects of the Trade are of a cheering character. Prices are looking up. Pig iron has an upward tendency, and some members of the Trade consider that no difficulty will be found in obtaining 10s. per ton extra for merchant iron of first-rate quality; in proof of this we may mention that Mr. Smith, Lord Ward's principal agent, has issued circulara declaring an advance of 10s. per ton upon finished iron. It should be borne in mind that this notice of an advance only raises the prices of iron to their recent standard. The market price of bars originally stood at £8, but 10s. per ton was taken off some time ago upon export orders, and no doubt many parties effected sales at 27 10s. for home diveries; but now, as symptoms of prosperity have bcome so manifest, and pig iron firmer, Cs for bars of good quality is alleged to be a fair and legitimate price, One large house in South Staffordshire has received a foreign order for the supply of £800,000 worth of large pipes or tubes. The trade as a whole did not resolve to follow the course which Lord Ward's agent has taken, but prudently resolved to adopt the recommendation of the preliminary meeting, and keep prices at last quarter's level. The coal trade of South Staffordshire is reported as tolerably brisk. The colliers there have began a movement by which they contemplate an appeal to their employers for an advance of 6d. a-day upon their present wages. If their demand should not be conceded, they have announced that they will strike for a return to the is. a-day that was taken from them at one sweep before the late strike. The iron trade in South Durham and North Yorkshire shows, it is stated, indications of improvement. Of €5 furnaces 58 are in blast, and only seven out. The receipts of the Stockton and Darlington Railway are getting back to their former high level. Several new furnaces are also in course of construction. Considerable satisfaction is felt by persons interested in the staple trades of South Wales, from the reflection that so few houses, comparatively, have been severely affected by the commercial disasters of the past year. The reports from that part of the kingdom speak of an improvement in the trade having been commenced which will become more decided as Spring advances. The large iron works at Ebbw Vale, Blaina, Blaenavon and Nant-y-Glo, are working full time. The Welshmen trust that to them will be awarded the laurels in the competition with the men of the North, on the comparative merits of the coal of those two districts for the evaporating of steam. They therefore wait confidently for the appearance of the report of Mr. Taplin, of Woolwich, and Mr. Lynn, of Portsmouth, the Government Inspectors who conducted the investigation. In Birmingham, business generally is improving. The workshops are moderately well employed. In the railway carriage and waggon building trade, which now employs a large number of hands in the town and district, business during the past year was good, and present prospects are very satisfactory. No material change has occurred in the general aspect of trade in Wolverhampton during the past week. A few orders have been received from the travellers who have just commenced their journeys, but not in such numbers as to afford any index to the position which trade is likely to assume during the current quarter. The metal market is very unsettled. Tin, which has for the few past weeks shown symptoms of an upward tendency, was on Saturday last advanced 3s. per cwt., making common blocks 123s. 6d. per cwt.; refined ditto, 133s. 6d. per cwt. An advance of a halfpenny per pound took place in the price of this metal on Tuesday, making tough cake and tile £112 10s., and best selected £115 10s. per ton. By the last annual trade circular of Mr. F. Robinson, of Liverpool, we find that there was exported from Liverpool, in the year 1857, 287,408 tons of iron, which was distributed as follows:---Bars, 132,563; rods, 13,904; hoops, 22,095; sheets, 29,335; plates, 11,738; pigs, 16,267; rails, 61,506. In the year 1858 :---Bars, 130,030; rods, 15,974; hoops, 23,398; sheets, 24,592; plates, 8,807; pigs, 28,872; rails, 33,945. Total, 265,618. In 1857 the average price of merchant bars was £7 15s. 9d.; in 1858, £6 12s. 5d. The average price of Staffordshire rails was in the former year £8 4s. 9d.; last year, £7 7s. 9d. Respecting the Scotch iron trade in the past two years, we gather from the circular of Mr. F. Robinson, of Liverpool, referred to clsewhere, that in the year 1857. the stocks in Scotland amounted to 190,000; in 1858, 340,000 tons; that the furnaces in blast in the former year was 123; those in 1858, 131; that the make of malleable iron in Scotland was 100,000 tons in 1857, and 90,000 last year; also that the average price of bars in Glasgow for the year 1857 was £8 10s.; in 1858, £7 10s. Mr. Robinson also gives the following as the average price of Scotch pigs, No. 1, G. M. B., in 1857, as £4; in 1858, £3 1s. 4d. PROVISIONAL PROTECTIONS. Dated September 25, 1858. 2154. M. A. F. Mennons, of Paris. The separation of iron and steel from their combination with certain foreign bodies.-A communication. Dated November 9, 1858. 2506. M. Henry, of Fleet-st. Improvements in, and in the manufacture of locks and fastenings, and keys for the same.-A communication. Dated December 7, 1858. 2804. J. V. Scarborough, of Belfast, Boot Maker. Improvements in apparatus for the manufacture of boots and shoes. Dated December 9, 1858. 2930. E. L. Pensuete, of Dunkirk. Improvements in apparatus for driving or for drawing up piles by steam. Dated December 21, 1858. 2913. R. M. Livingston, of Manchester. An improved self-detaching safety hook or coupling. 2915. J. H. Bolton, of Dukinfield, Chester, Warp Dresser, and C. Garforth, of the same place, Engineer. Certain improvements in drying yarns or fabrics, and in the apparatus connected therewith. 2917. W. S. Yates, of Leeds, Brush Maker. Machinery or apparatus for dragging bristles and drawing hair and vegetable fibre. 2919. W. Mainwaring, of Brimfield, Hereford, Surveyor. Improvements in brakes for common road vehicles. Dated December 22, 1858. 2921. R. Mushet, of Coleford, Metallurgist. An improvement or improvements in the manufacture of cast steel. 2923. J. Nicholson, of Halifax, Jacquard Machine Maker, and D. Crossley, of Brighouse, Joiner. Improvements in Jacquard machinery or apparatus employed in weaving. 2925. W. Spence, of Chancery-lane. Improvements in granaries or apparatus for preserving grain.-A comumunication from C. J. E. Pavey. 2927. E. Green, of Wakefield, Engineer. Improvements in tables. 2923. F. Ransome, of Ipswich. Improvements in the manufacture of grinding and rubbing surfaces. 2931. J. J. Welch, of Cheapside. Improvements in the manufacture of neckties, scarfs, or cravats. Dated December 23, 1858. 2933. J. Ronald, of Liverpool, Merchant. Improvements in, and machinery for, the manufacture of hard-topped and soft laid twine, mill banding strands, for ropes and other purposes, and cordage generally from hemp, flax, cotton, and other like fibrous material. 2935. J. Broom, of Glasgow, Iron Manufacturer. Improvements in the manufacture of steel. 2937. A. Barclay, of Kilmarnock, Engineer. Improvements in obtaining and distributing or applying electricity and magnetism, and in obtaining motive power therefrom. Dated December 24, 1858. 2939. J. T. P. Newbon and T. Smith, of Fenchurch-st., Naval Architects, and J. Brown, of Follit-st., Engineer. lowering, or otherwise moving heavy weights. Improvements in machinery or apparatus for raising and 2911. J. W. Child, of Halifax, Engineer. Improvements in the manufacture of fabrics adapted to be used for curtains, coverings of furniture, table covers, and such like NOTICES OF INTENTION TO PROCEED WITH PATENTS. 1955. G.Weedon and D.W. Rice. Knife cleaning machine. 1963. J. Oxley. Baths. 1975. J. Stoneman. Fibrous materials. 1994. J. Bleakley. Railway signals. 1999. W. Harkes. Plough and pulverizer. 2010. H. Hyde. Carriage springs. A communication. 2016. R. A. Brooman. Printing, &e. 2020. J. Fyfe. Stop cocks or valves. 2024. F. W. Brind. Sewing machines. A communication. 2026. L. Pellissier and J. Puytorac. Railway breaks. 2027. B. Hockin. Dock gates. 2031. A. Lamb and J. White. Life boats. 2035. J. U. Faessler-Petzi. Silks. 2052. J. Knowles. Preparing fibrous materials. 2064. J. M. Courtauld. Silk crapes, aerophanes, &c. 2089. W. E. Cochrane. Fastenings of railways. 2109. A. Turner. 2222. J. Ridsdale. 2256. J. Holroyd. 2312. J. P. Gillard. Looms. Fountain pen. Generating hydrogen. 2362. A. Shaw. Raising nap on sheep skins. 2381. G. Kent. Churn. A communication. 2589. E. Mellor. Spinning. 2612. W. S. Hayward. Dextrine. 2791. G. Snell. Cutting fabries. 2815. A. Lamb and W. A. Summers. Superheating steam. 28 18. W. E. Wiley. Everpointed pencils. 2862. J. Wade. Weaving. 2883. H. Mushet. Cast steel. 2897. J. Clegg. Lubricating steam engines, 2941. J. W. Child. Fabrics adapted for curtains, &c. Sealed January 7, 1859. 1519. W. A. Smith. 1531. J. Marland and J. Widdall. 1532. H. Gidlow. 1534. P. F. Demoulin and J. Cotelle. 1535. T. T. Chellingworth. 1537. R. Smith. 1541. R. G. C. Fane. 1543. G. Collier. 1546. G. Parsons. 1548. F. Sang and T. W. Rammell. 1549. C. N. Kottula. 1551. J. M. Rowan. 1554. G. H. Wain. 1588. T. Wheeler. 1608. A. P. Price. 1622. H. Smith. 1635. J. C. Hill. 1674. D. Adamson. 1690. J. Scott. 1756. T. Greenhalgh. 1782. J. Henderson. 1809. T. Ingram. 1825. S. F. Cottam. 2000. E. Cocker. 2050. J. L. Chester. 2080. W. Riley. ready to dye or print with. Or the jelly may be treated with dilute sulphuric acid, or any vegetable substance cantaining an acid, or even with common salt. Afterwards it must be thoroughly washed so as to remove all trace of the acid, then strained and pressed so as to get rid of the water. Upon being reduced to the proper consistency, as before, it is ready to dye or print with. Or the water may be all evaporated and a dry powder formed. He takes the refuse madder left from the last operation and treats it in a similar manner,- that is, obtaining a jelly extract. Finally, he mixes the refuse madder remaining after the the two operations with warm water, allows it to stand, then boils it; a precipitate is thus formed, which, after running off the clear supernatent water, he treats with caustic potash, then washes well and strains. He precipitates the colouring matter from the mass of water by sulphuric acid, after boiling. The residuum or precipitate thus obtained may be added to the products of colouring matter obtained as above described. The invention in2581. M. A. Muir and J. cludes other details. Patent completed. 2350. C. W. Williams and G. Eyton. 2430. C. Vero and J. Everitt. 2449. N. S. Dodge. 2549. D. Auld. 2579. F. A. Gatty. McIlwham. THE abridged Specifications of Patents given below are classified, according to the subjects to which the respective inventions refer, in the following table. By the system of classification adopted, the numerical and chronological order of the specifications is preserved, and combined with all the advantages of a division into classes. It should be understood that these abridgements are prepared exclusively for this magazine from offi'cial copies supplied by the Government, and are therefore the property of the proprietors of the Magazine. Other papers are hereby warned not to produce them without acknowledgment." STEAM ENGINES, &c., 1017, 1018, 1963. BOILERS AND THEIR FURNACES, 1026, 1033. ROADS AND VEHICLES, including railway plant and carriages, saddlery and harness, &c., 1014, 1020, 1030, 1036, 1072. SHIPS AND BOATS, including their fittings, 1031, 1036, 1044, 1066, 1077. CULTIVATION OF THE SOIL, including agricultural and horticultural implements and machines, 1040. FOOD AND BEVERAGES, including apparatus for preparing food for men and animals, 1048, 1064, 1673. FIBROUS FABRICS, including machinery for treating fibres, pulp, paper, &c., 1015, 1016, 1021, 1034, 1045, 1046, 1047, 1051, 1052, 1058, 1059, 1060, 1070, 1075. BUILDINGS AND BUILDING MATERIALS, including sewers, drain-pipes, brick and tile machines, &c., 1024, 1067. LIGHTING, HEATING, AND VENTILATING, 1026, 1028, 1029. FURNITURE AND APPAREL, including household utensils, time-keepers, jewellery, musical instruments, &c., 1023, 1025, 1036, 1039, 1053, 1054, 1065, 1074. METALS, including apparatus for their manufacture, 1019. 1043, 1049, 1661. CHEMISTRY AND PHOTOGRAPHY, 1015, 1051. LETTER PRESS PRINTING &c., 1050, 1056, 1060. MISCELLANEOUS, 1015, 1017, 1019, 1022, 1024, 1027, 1028, 1032, 1035, 1036, 1037, 1038, 1041, 1044, 1055, 1057, 1062, 1068, 1069, 1070, 1071, 1073, 1076. 1014. W. CLARK. Improvements in bits for horses bridles. (A communication.) Dated May 6, 1858. The arrangement consists of an ordinary bit, to which' the patentee adds a nose band carrying two small steel pallets which press on the nostrils of the horse to close or stop them. The nose band is furnished throughout the inner surface with small knives or teeth, which aid in making the horse obey. The movement of this nose band is produced by a supplementary rein. Patent completed. 1015. J. WRIGHT. Improvements in treating madder for printing and dyeing, and also in the substances and processes used in printing and dyeing with the same. (A communication.) Dated May 6, 1858. The patentee mixes madder in the raw state with water, or bran water,-1 by weight of madder to 5 of water. After a little time he puts the mass into a coarse calico bag and presses it in an ordinary press, receiving the expressed liquor into a vessel, which, after standing, forms a jelly, and afterwards separates into a solid and liquid. He then washes thoroughly the resulting colouring with clear water, and strains it off. This, upon being reduced to a proper consistensy with Bunt or mucilage, as usual, is 1016. H. JACKSOx. Improvements in machinery for dressing and cleaning flar, hemp, and other fibrous substances requiring like treatment. Dated May 6, 1858. flere a cylindrical drum is used, having elastic projecting blades or beaters on its circumference, parallel with its axis. This drum revolves within a fixed case closed at the ends and back. In front of the case is an opening, through which the fibrous material (which is held by a holder) is introduced, and as the blades rotate they strike the fibres; the air also brought round by the blades has a tendency to drive the fibre away. Below the opening there is another some distance down, having at the lower part an adjustable guard, to deflect off the air. In front of it is a grid or frame of bars through which the air can get away, but which prevents the fibrous substances escaping. Patent completed. 1017. W. WALLIS, W. LANGFORD, and J. SLACK. Improvements in pressure guages. Dated May 6, 1858. In connexion with a boiler or other vessel (sustaining pressure) is a metal cup with a flange at its upper edge. On this flange is a disc of thin sheet brass, or vulcanised India-rubber, &c., and over this is a second disc of tempered steel, in which a number of straight slits are made proceeding radially from the centre, and each equal in length to half the internal diameter of the cup on which the discs are laid. The discs are kept in their places on the flange of the cup by a metal ring, which rests on their edges, and is fastened by screw bolts. As the pressure in the cup increases so will the sections of the slit steel plate be deflected more and more from their natural position. To complete the instrument it is necessary to connect with one of the sections of the steel plate apparatus for indicating the amount of its motion,-say a rod giving motion to a toothed quadrant, which drives a pinion, on the axis of which a pointer moving over a dial. Patent completed. 1018. J. and J. G. BUNNETT. Improvements in steamengines. Dated May 7, 1858. This relates to a former patent, dated June 14, 1838, and consists in the employment of a solid annular piston rod working round a circular guide, instead of on a circular axis, as heretofore; also in placing the steam ways in the centre part of the engine, and working them by a single slide,.which readers the two slide valves with their connecting gear, formerly employed, unnecessary, and enables the whole of the internal working parts to be got at by taking off one side covering plate, without disturbing any other parts of the engine. Patent completed. 1019. C. J. CARN. Improrements in forge and other hammers. Dated May 7, 1858. This invention is not described apart from the inventor's drawings. Patent completed. 1020. J. CASTLE. Certain improvements in breaks used for retarding the motion of carriages on ordinary roads. Dated May 7, 1858. This consists, 1, Of a rod jointed so as to permit it to revolve in its whole length when turned at one end, notwithstanding that certain parts be curved longitudinally when applied to the working of a brake for retarding the motion of wheels of carriages on ordinary roads. 2, Of a traversing nut, jointed to the lever of a brake, and arranged to work the same by the revolving of a screw on which it is placed. 3, Of two screws or threads and traversing nuts on the same rod, arranged to work the levers of a brake in opposite directions at the same time. 4, Of an arrangement for working a brake by handles from one or both sides of a vehicle. Patent completed. 1021. R. OPENSHAW. Improvements in machinery for plating down or folding and measuring fabrics. Dated May 7, 1858. This invention is not described apart from the inventor's drawings. Patent completed. 1022. W. DUFF and J. GILCHRIST. Improrements in apparatus for measuring water and other fluids, also capable of being used as a motive power. Dated May 7, 1858. The inventors use an ordinary direct acting engine so far as the framing, cranks, crank shaft, and excentrics are concerned, for working two slide valves in the ordinary way; but instead of the cylinder and piston they place a square chamber with inlet and outlet passages securely fastened midway in this chamber; they fix a sheet of elastic substance (say india rubber), to which they connect a rod through a stuffing box to the cranks above mentioned. The valves being adjusted, and the water turned on from the supply, it will flow into one of the chambers connected with the open valve; its pressure will then expand the elastic substance until it fills the chamber, the contents of which being known, each stroke of the piston acting upon the cranks will give motion to the shaft to which a worm and wheel are connected that acts on a common index or indicator. This index will show the quantity of fluid which has passed through the apparatus. Patent abandoned. 1023. J. M. DUVARD. An improved bed-room vase. Dated May 7, 1858. The patentee describes a vase or utensil having an upper and lower chamber fitting closely into each other. The upper chamber is funnel-shaped, and pierced with a hole leading to the lower chamber, so as to convey to it the liquids or contents deposited in the upper chamber. He places in the upper chamber a ball having a cord passing through a hole to the exterior, to prevent any effluvia escaping through the said hole. He puts knots on the cord, which effectually stops the orifice. The ball acts as a valve, falling by gravity into the hole of the upper chamber, and preventing any effluvia arising. Patent completed. 1024. J. J. FIELD. Improvements in coaporating or in extracting moisture from liquids, and from substances in a liquid state, and in apparatus to be employed therein. Dated May 7, 1858. This invention consists in the employment, for the evaporation, of dry gases or vapours of such nature as to prevent the oxidation of the matters acted upon (where it is desirable to prevent oxidation therein). The patentee drives or forces such dried vapours or gases through the liquids or substances, divided in numerous small streams, sheets, or jets; or he passes them over the liquid or substance to be acted upon. He then causes the moist vapours or gases to pass through or over chloride of calcium or other agent having a great affinity for water, whereby they are deprived of their moisture, and rendered fit to be used as before; or they may be passed into a mechanical drying chamber. This invention also consists in sub-dividing the liquids to be deprived of moisture into numerous small streams, sheets, or jets, so as to expose a larger surface to the action of the agent employed to deprive them of their moisture. The apparatus consists of a pipe leading from the drying chamber into a reservoir having one of its sides perforated with small holes or slits, through which the dried gases or vapours pass into a chamber wherein the liquid to be operated upon is presented to their action. The gases or vapours then pass through another series of perforations into the chemical or mechanical drying chamber, whence they are conducted to be used over again. After the fluids fall in the liquidchamber, he raises them by pump or otherwise, to be again divided into streams, and so continues. The process is particularly applicable to the obtaining of pharmaceutical extracts, and to the evaporation of sugar, gelatine. &c. Patent completed. 1025. A. NEILSON. Improvements in the manufacture of boots, shoes, and other coverings for the fect. Dated May 7, 1858. This invention is described at p. 31 of last Number. Patent abandoned. 1026. W. E. NEWTON. Improvements in the construction of fire-grates for furnaces, stores, aud other fire-places. (A communication.) Dated May 7, 1858. This invention consists in the employment, as a fire-grate for furnaces, stoves, &c., of a series of flexible bars, composed of chains, metal rope, or linked rods, arranged side by side, and attached by their ends at the back and front or side of the fire-box or furnace, with sufficient slackness to permit them to swing or be shaken. Patent completed. 1027. G. B. COGGAN. A new portable apparatus to be called a "Stereoscopia," for exhibiting stereoscopic pictures. Dated May 7, 1858. This invention consists of a square platform, mounted on wheels, having fixed to it a box about 24ft. square and 7ft. high, with a glass top. At the front and back of the box the inventor inserts sets of lenses, and in the interior places a cylinder of wood from side to side, having an axis at each end, upon one of which he places a winch handle for changing the subjects. In the lower portion of this apparatus he conveys photographic apparatus. Patent aban doned. 1028. C. BOTHEN, jun. and N. F. TAYLOR. Improvements in means and apparatus employed in measuring and in regulating the flow of gas and other fluids. Dated May 7, 1858. This invention consists in causing the gas to be measured by dry meters having sliding valves to pass first into the valve chamber, so as to press on the outer surface thereof, to keep the valves to their seats. The outer rubbing surfaces of the valves, or those parts in contact with the outer edges of the seat, are made wide that at each extreme motion one of the rubbing surfaces of the valve may be overhanging its seat; the valve seats are thus kept clear. The improvements relating to the moveable partitions or diaphragms consist, when forming them of several plates of metal united by leather or other flexible material, in employing a large central plate and narrow plates round the edge, the centre plate being united to those around the edge of it, as also these edge plates to the case by prepared leather; and to ensure the correct relation to or operation of these plates, they are connected at suitable places by connecting links. Patent abandoned. 1029. R. BEST. An improvement, or improvements in illumination. Dated May 7, 1858. projecting flat or sheet-like flames in a nearly horizontal plane in the interior of a shade or dome, the burners being situated excentrically to the axis of the shade or dome, and being so situated with respect to the shade or dome that the flames converge towards its middle or axis. Patent completed. This invention consists in combining two or more burners 1030. T. and D. BROWN. New or improved machinery for filing or smoothing the ends of fish-plates, rails, wrought-iron railway chairs, and other articles made by sawing bars transversely. Dated May 7, 1858. This invention relates to machinery consisting essentially of a rotating roll or cutter, or rotating rolls or cutters, having grooves of a form suitable to act upon the bar or plate to be filed or smoothed, the grooves being cut similar to the way in which files are cut, provided with cutters inserted therein. Patent completed. 1031. D. STOTHARD, J. JONES, D. JONAS, and B. W. JONAS. An improved ship's block. Dated May 7, 1858. This invention consists of an outer sheave or block furnished with a channel, in which pulleys are so arranged as to admit of the rope impinging upon the peripheries so as to increase or diminish the space between the same, through the medium of a concentrle slot bearing in which |