water falling to the bottom passes through the tube of communication, and rises to the same level in the salinometer tube in which the hydrometer floats tranquilly, and may therefore be read speedily and accurately. By means of the waste pipe, a current may be kept passing through the instrument, which is thus always in action, and may be read by the engineer at a glance, as he passes it in the performance of his other duties. The pumps are also fitted with a deck plate, to | The committee believe the modification thus proposed to be a simple and effective mode of inducing a more general and punctual use of this The following are the results of some of the valuable gauge, which ought not to be neglected experiments made with the pumps, the pressure on any boilers using salt water; and they there-gauge being fitted in the top of the air chamber:fore commend it to the notice of all engaged in the Pressure Strokes Size of Mean Maximum manufacture and management of such boilers. veries. The chief object was to ascertain their relative capacities, the time it would take to get the valves out in case of choking, their powers as force pumps, and the facilities with which they could be used as a syphon. The last property was first tried, the water being let in by the Roberts' pump level with the top of the kelson, a depth of eighteen inches. The suction-plug was turned and the water stopped. It was then turned on again, and four and one-eighth inches more run in and again stopped, the time being six minutes 57 seconds, for running the water in; the time for shifting the suction-plug twice was under a minute, clearly proving that the pump could be instantaneously used as a syphon. The pump was then manned and the water pumped out with 549 revoltions, in 10 minutes and 10 seconds; but a question having arisen as to the exact number of revolutions, it was decided to try Downton's, and then try Roberts' again. The order was then The quantity of water delivered by the stroke given to run the water in by Downton's, but this was accurately measured into a gauge box, and could not be done. It therefore had to be run in the mean of several trials was found to be 102 by Roberts'. After waiting a short time to be gallons for three strokes, being very near the sure that it was properly shut off, Downton's theoretical quantity they should deliver. Some pump was manned by the same number of men, further trials took place in the West India Dock and the water was taken out with 569 revolutions in 10 minutes 30 seconds. The water was then Basin at Blackwall, to test the comparative power of the Dragon, fitted with a Downton pump, and run in again, and taken out by Roberts' with 549 which has been in use some time, and the follow-revolutions in 9 minutes 45 seconds, being the same revolutions as before but 25 seconds less time. 1st day 2nd day 1st day 2nd day of steam per minute jet 20 lb. 26 ... 27 ... 21 20, 20 22 pressure pressure 2A 55 lb. The salinometer is shown in sections in the accompanying engraving. The improvement consists in attaching the cylinder to the cylinder B, and having a communication C as a means of safety to the hydrometer, by which perfect accuracy in testing the density of water and insuring the engineer against danger from scalding is obtained. The cylinder or other shaped vessel 4 is connected with the boiler by the pipe and stopcock D, the pipe being closed at the top and having openings E on the side near the upper extremity. The water coming from the boiler and passing the stop-cock D rises in the pipe and flows through the openings E; at this point the steaming is the result:-The Lucy threw the water out is separated from the water and escapes through of a two-inch jet about 200 feet, as near as could the openings E. The water falls into the cylinder be, and the Dragon threw it 150 feet out of a A, passes through the opening C, and rises to the one and a-half inch jet. The boats were placed water-level G in both cylinders; I is an overflow side by side, and tried under similar conditions. pipe to carry off the surplus water, and to keep The result was nearly two to one in favour of the up a sufficient current to maintain the water to Lucy, the actual quantity delivered being 612 be tested at the required temperature. By turn- gallons by the Lucy against 308 by the Dragon. ing the stop-cock I both cylinders can be dis- The Dragon has engines by Boulton and Watt, charged. is a thermometer fitting in a slide, of 24-horse power collectively; and the Lucy had K is the hydrometer, L is the cover for closing engines by Stewart and Co., of Blackwall, of the case when not in use, I is a bracket for se- 25-horse power collectively. The following is curing the instrument to the boiler bulkhead or an extract from the report of Charles Martin, other suitable place. This instrument affords a Esq., Engineer to the East and West India Dock ready means of drawing water from a steam boiler Company: :-"At a subsequent and more detailed under any pressure and temperature without trial made in the Blackwall Basin, the company's ebullition in the cylinder B or oscillation to the steam-tug Dragon was fitted with her fire pumps, hydrometer. to compare their merits with those of the Lucy, when the latter proved their complete superiority in every respect, the Lucy's pumps throwing a jet of water from a two inch jet at least 50 feet higher than those of the Dragon, while fitted with a one and a-half inch outlet only. The fitting and workmanship of the pumps are executed in a very superior manner, and Mr. Roberts, the patentee, has exhibited the most praiseworthy anxiety to render every point of the machine effective." Messrs. M. A. Soul & Co., of Leadendall-street, represent the patentee on this side of the Atlantic. They have received permission from the Admiralty authorities to affix one of these instruments for trial upon the boilers of H. M. steamer Dee. In the United States this salinometer has already come into very extensive use. STEAM FIRE ENGINES AND SHIPS' PUMPS. MESSES. BROWN, LENOX, AND Co., of Millwall, Poplar, have lately fitted the steam-tug Lucy, belonging to the East and West India Dock Company, and used for towing the ships about the East India Dock, with two of Mr. W. Roberts' double-action twin pumps. These pumps have 114 inch cylinders; they are fitted upon deck above the fore part of the engine room, immediately over the side levers of the engines, to which they can be connected in a very few minutes by simply driving in a couple of keys. The water is taken through a hole in the bilge of the vessel, and delivered by four outlets of four inches each; into each of these outlets four-inch hose can be attached, to take the water on shore, and on to these hoses breeching pieces are screwed with two outlets, each screwed to take brigade hose, so that eight ordinary hose pipes can be used at the same time. The breeching pieces are fitted with valves, so that either can be stopped, either to shift the hose or shut off altogether, to give a greater pressure to the others without stopping the engines; or the breeching pieces can be attached to the pumps when the vessel can get near enough to dispense with the large hose, as when alongside of a ship on fire. In a case of this description, the paddles being kept connected, the vessel could both tow the ship away, and discharge the water into or upon her from eight jets. On the 21st November some further trials were made, the masting-house in the East India Dock, a high building (the exact height of which we do not know, but which, although standing on low ground, can be seen for miles), being the mark, and the first object being to ascertain how high the water could be thrown. On this day the wind was blowing very hard, accompanied by heavy rain. The four-inch hose being laid on shore, and a branch having a one and a-half jet piece being attached, the engine was started, and the water thrown clean over the building; a few strokes more, and when the water had reached nearly half-way up the flagstaff, the hose burst. Another piece was substituted, but this also burst when the water reached about the same height; both these hose had several times resisted a pressure of 128 lbs per inch. As the weather continued to get worse the experiments were then abandoned, to be resumed at some future day. Some very interesting experiments were lately tried on board H.M.'s ship Jason, at Keyham, in presence of Admiral Sir Thos. Pasley, James Peake, Esq., master shipwright, and several officers of the yard, steam reserve, &c. A nine-inch Downton pump was fixed on one side of the deck, and a six and a-half inches Roberts' double-action twin pump was fixed exactly opposite, both having the same lengths and size pipes and deli They were then tried as force pumps, the result being favourable to Roberts'. The next experiment was to take out the valves, supposing them to be choked. The air chamber was taken off Roberts' pumps, the valves out and replaced again, the air chamber on, and the water fetched and delivered this time the bolts were not slack ed back in the on the upper deck in 1 minute 15 seconds. By cap of Downton's. It was therefore decided it was useless to proceed with that any further. It was now suggested that as the valves of Downton's pump could not be got at without taking it all to pieces, Roberts' pump should also be taken all to pieces. This was instantly met by Mr. Roberts offering to take his pump entirely to pieces, separating every part that could be separated, if the same was done by Downton. This was, therefore, ordered to be done. pump was taken to pieces, examined by the officers, put together again, and the water fetched in 43 minutes, but the Downton was not in working order the next day. Roberts' The question of durability can only be settled by time; but it may not be out of place to mention that the pump tried on board the Fisgard at Woolwich, in September, 1857, and removed from there on board the Industry steam store-ship, was reported, after three years' constant service, in as good condition as the day it was put on board. One of these pumps, the same size as the one on board the Industry, viz., five and a-half inches, and two smaller ones, did good service in raising the Zebra hired transport lately sunk in the Thames. They were got to work within a halfhour of being on board, and got the water out of the after hold the same afternoon, so that a large quantity of shot and shells were got out the same night, the result being that the stern lifted the next tide, and the vessel was floated on the fourth day and laid on shore. We have within the last week had another instance of a ship's cargo being on fire for some days with no means of reaching it from the deck. The vessel, the Springbolt, it appears, arrived at Falmouth with her cargo on fire, and although 60 men and two fire-engines were sent to her assistance, and although every effort was made to get at the fire from Tuesday to Thursday, they were at last obliged to scuttle her. Had this occurred at sea it makes one tremble to think what might have been the fate of the crew, while it is quite certain, from the trials on board the Jason, Industry, and other ships, that pumps are made that not only pump out the water, but can be made instantaneously to act as a syphon and run any quantity of water iuto a ship similarly situate to the Springbolt in a very short time, without taking a man from his other duty. It would also have this advantage over trying to reach it from the top-that without opening a hatch the water would rise from the bottom and drown the fire, and could be instantly stopped. INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS. THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. ON Monday evening a special general meeting of the Institute of British Architects was held, at the instance of Mr. Tite, M.P., to discuss the various processes for the preservation of stone. There was a numerous attendance of both mem bers and visitors. Mr. Digby Wyatt, Vice-President of the Institute, occupied the chair. Mr. Tite opened the discussion. Nothing could be of more importance to them as a profession than to endeavour to discover the causes of the failure of the principal material employed in the construction of the Palace of Westminster, and to ascertain what steps ought to be taken to arrest the decay which, at so early a period, had manifested itself in a manner so marked as to render it an object of European notice and of national regret. The Palace of Westminster was a building of vast extent, newly finished, built without reference to cost, and intended to last for an indefinite period of time, and to defy the usual causes of accident in ordinary edifices. It was a building of which we were justly proud as a nation, from the combination which it presented of artistic learning and science with the greatest skill of the best of English artificers; and yet, when the sound of the finishing strokes of the axe and the hammer had hardly ceased, it was found externally in a state of lamentable decay-a decay so extensive that he thought the professional experience of any architect could not afford any parallel whatever. It was true they had seen, and were constantly seeing, in this and other countries, the necessity for restorations various in extent and character, and many of them due to statues. of Lords itself. for coating their vessels exposed to the action of Mr. William Cowper, M.P., Chief Commissioner which had taken place. The hon. gentleman next On the motion of Mr. G. Scott, seconded by Mr. Godwin, a vote of thanks was awarded to Mr. Tite for his interesting remarks, and the further discussion of the subject was adjourned until the next ordinary meeting of the Institute. THE LATE MR. HEATHCOAT. MR. HEATHCOAT, whose death has just been announced, was one of the very few members of the House of Commons who had held an uninter30 years. He was first returned for the borough rupted possession of a seat in that assembly for of Tiverton in 1831, and only retired from Parliament at the dissolution of 1859. For many years he was the colleague of Lord Palmerston. He was one of those men of remarkable constructive genius, who, towards the end of the last and in the early part of the present century, by their inventive powers, so improved our machinery and increased its productiveness as to lay the foundation, deep and strong, of our present manufactur the same causes as those they were now about to discussed the various remedies which had been ing greatness, with all its benefits to the labour consider. He might quote the cases of Notre Dame and St. Denis, of Chartres and Rouen, and, in our own country, the familiar instances of Henry VII's Chapel and Redcliffe Church, Bristol; but those cases of decay were found after the lapse of centuries and not of years, and were due to causes perfectly intelligible, such as the use of Caen stone and Reigate stone in Henry VII's Chapel, and of the worst kinds of oolite in the church at Bristol. Not so with the Houses of Parliament. There science and caution had been exhausted. At the outset no probable foundation for the result which had followed Was allowed to exist, and no expectation of failure could have been reasonably enter tained. Such were the circumstances under which he had asked for the present meeting. He had no personal object to serve, no theory to maintain, no likings or dislikings of individuals to gratify. His sole object was to promote the discussion of a much vexed question in a candid and friendly spirit, and he was not without hopes they might arrive at some satisfactory result, seeing they must have among the ranks of their profession all the experience which existed on the subject, as well as the technical skill best able to appreciate any proposition which might be made for the amelioration of the great evil. The hon. gentleman then proceeded, in pursuance of notice, to give a description of the various methods adopted in ancient and modern times for the preservation of stone. He said, with respect to the practice of the ancients, that all his experience of their buildings, and all his reading, would induce him to believe that they made no attempt to preserve the stone of which their edifices were composed, because no such attempt was necessary in their climate. It was true they decorated their buildings with colours, but that was for the sake of ornament. Their marbles required no protection, and none of the colours they used were in the slighest degree calculated to preserve their edifices from decay. Dioscorides mentioned, under the name of "zopissa," a pitch used by the Greeks silicious. suggested, and which he ranged under three Institute. There were some Mr. Burnell believed that all the mischief, as He ing and middle classes, and advantage to the nation at large. John Heathcoat was the son of where he was born in 1784. He was apprenticed a small farmer at Long Whatton, in Leicestershire, at an early age to a frame-smith, named Samuel Caldwell, at Hathern, a neighbouring village. During his apprenticeship he acquired a complete practical knowledge of the business, and of all the mechanism of the stocking frame and warp machines. Some parts of the latter he improved by his own invention, when yet a boy. And it was by the application of a clever apparatus to one of those machines, whereby "mitts" of a lacelike appearance were produced, that his attention was first turned to mechanical lace making. "Pointnet" lace had been extensively wrought by ma Mr. chinery. This was a looped mesh, and therefore slight and frail; but the attention of very ingenious mechanics had been turned for some years to the question of making a mesh or lace of threads twisted round each other in the formation of the endeavours, reducing all who made them to mesh. Hitherto the problem had baffled all their poverty, and driving some into insanity. Heathcoat, after having served his term of apprenticeship, settled in Nottingham, and commenced business on his own account, as a "setter up " of hosiery and warp frames, in the machine shop of Mr. Leonard Elliott, in Broadstreet. Elliott was a man of superior mind and skill, and through him young Heathcoat became acquainted with the sanguine ideas then afloat in the proverbially ingenious mind of Nottingham mechanics. Among these was how Buckingham or French lace could be mechanically produced; and to this he gave undivided attention. Elliott described him to have had a thorough practical knowledge of mechanical powers and contrivances; as inventive, persevering, undaunted by difficulty or mistakes, and consequent temporary want of success; patient, selfdenying, and very taciturn, but having surprising confidence that his application of mechanical principles would be crowned eventually with success, His great object was to construct a machine that should do the work of the pillow, the multitude of pins, the threads and bobbins, and the fingers, and to supersede them in the production of lace, as the stocking-loom had superseded the knitting needle. He first ascertained by observation what pillow lace was, and how it was made. Then, analysing the component threads, and how they were each used in forming the resulting tissue, he slowly arrived at classification into longitudinal and diagonal. The mass thus far disentangled, he placed those used lengthwise on a beam as warp. The remainder he reserved as weft, each thread to be working separately and to be caused to twist round a warp thread, and then to cross diagonally its appropriate neighbour thread, and thus close the upper and lower sides of the mesh. Then followed the mechanical arrangements to effect these operations with certainty and speed. The bobbins to distribute the thread, the carriages and grooves in which they must run, their mode of twisting round the warp and travelling from side to side of the machine, and a view of the whole machine as invented by Mr. Heathcoat, caused the late M. I. Brunel to declare that "it appears to me one of the most complete mechanical combinations, in which the author displays uncommon powers of invention. I cannot withhold the tribute due to him for originality and ingenuity through all the various combinations he has brought into action for the purpose of accomplishing a texture which had been attempted before, but, to my knowledge, with no success." A patent, taken out in 1808 by Mr. Heathcoat, for producing twist lace was on a horizontal plan, and was well described as a horizontal pillow;" but the experience gained in the construction led to the machine patented in 1809, to which the above remarks principally refer. That of 1808 was at once thrown aside; and, with his usual tact, he adhered only to the sound principle of the first patent, while he effectually rectified the modes of operation by his second. The principle of both remains embodied in the bobbin-net machines of the present day, though with vast improvements -some effected by himself, and more by others, to whom he was ever anxious to accord their due meed of praise for the employment of talents only second to those by which the original machine was designed and executed. This success was not without its cost. It was gained by the employment of self-directed talents, during hours of bodily and mental toil, added to the necessary labours of the day, without external aid or encouragement, and in the face of mechanical difficulties in the progress of the work so great that Mr. Heathcoat said, when describing in 1836 his whole procedure in the affair, "the single difficulty of getting the diagonal threads to twist in the allotted space was so great that if now to be done I should probably not attempt its accomplishment." Moreover, domestic straits and no ordinary personal and relative self-denial were cheerfully encountered during this long outlay of time and money. But at 24 years of age Mr. Heathcoat stood the conscious inventor of one of the most intricate pieces of machinery ever produced. And the solid reward of his work followed quickly on his success. The first square yard of plain net was cheaply sold from the machine at £5; for 25 years the average price has been 5d. During the like period the average annual returns of the trade have been at least £4,000,000 sterling, giving employment at fair wages to probably 150,000 workpeople. In 1816 the factory at Loughborough, in which Mr. Heathcoat's business was carried on, was attacked by the Luddites and the lace frames destroyed. This caused the removal of the manufacture to Tiverton, where it restored the prosperity that had been lost by the decay of the to the great advantage of profitable employment. Mr. Heathcoat has left no son. His only son died in youth. Miss Heathcoat and Mrs. Brewin have long employed their large property and influence in carrying out their father's benevolent views and wishes. Mr. Heathcoat's grandson, Mr. Heathcoat Amory, has had for some years the responsibility of managing the extensive business affairs of his late grandfather, of whom he is the sole male representative.-Times. Law Report. RUSSELL V. THE GREAT SHIP COMPANY. calling on the plaintiff, Mr. John Scott Russell, to IN this case Mr. Horace Lloyd moved for a rule show cause why three several actions brought by him against the Great Ship Company should not be consolidated. The first was brought upon an award made in August last; the second in respect of additional work done beyond his contract, and for damages for interruption by reason of exhibiting the great ship to visitors during the progress of the works; and the third for damages by reason of the defendants having the Great Ship Company belonging to the plaintiff, declined to register the transfer of certain shares in and which he had attempted to dispose of. There was no reason why the three actions should not be consolidated. The award gave £18,000 to Mr. Russell, and if the plaintiff succeeded in the action on that award he would substantially recover the damages he sought for in the other actions, as the award covered the demands set forth in those actions. arbitrators had gone beyond their authority, and had The defence to the action on the award was, that the awarded damages for matters not within their order of reference. Mr. Bovill, Q.C. (with whom was Mr. Watkyn Williams), said that Mr. Scott Russell had entered into a contract to do work on the Great Eastern amounting to £125,000, and, with extras, he had claimed payment for £129,000. He also claimed damages for the delay to which his work had been subjected by visitors going on board the ship. It was arranged that all differences should be left to two arbitrators, with power to call in a third. On the other side, the defendants made a claim against Mr. awarded that £18,000 was due to Mr. Russell. The Russell of £130,000. Finally the arbitrators had plaintiff had then applied to the Queen's Bench to enforce the award, and the defendants had applied to set it aside. That Court, after hearing both parties, discharged both rules, and left the plaintiff to his legal remedy. The plaintiff then brought his present action on the award, and the defendants said the arbitrators had no power to make any award in respect of extra work and damages arising from delay caused by visitors to the ship. If all the three actions were consolidated the second cause of action could not be tried and must be referred, and all the delay and expense which had been incurred would be thrown away. Then, as to the third action, there was no reason why the claim respecting damages for should be mixed up with the other causes of action. not registering the transfer of the plaintiff's shares Mr. Justice Keating.-If you succeeded in the first action it would not be necessary to go on with the others. Mr. Lloyd. We are about to commence several in our favour. actions against Mr. Scott Russell, for the balance is Mr. Bovill.-We offered to refer the whole matter to any gentleman of the bar, leaving his judgment perfectly unfettered, with power to refer to the arbitrators; but the defendants refused that. The Chief Justice suggested that the first action should be turned into a special case for the judgment of the Court, and that that should be decisive. Mr. Bovill said there was a prospect of "bills of exceptions," the Exchequer Chamber, and the House of Lords. The object of bringing the three actions at once was to save time. Money was now worth 7 and the property was in the ship. "State your case on Monday morning, and before Saturday night you shall have our opinion." After some further discussion, The Court ordered a stay of proceedings on the second and third actions until a further order thereon. MEETINGS FOR THE WEEK. United Service Inst., "The British Tides," by British Architects, "On Stamped Leather," by Medical, Clinical Discussion, at 8.30 p.m. TUES. Inst. Civil Engineers, Continued Discussion upon Mr. Braithwaite's Paper "On the Rise and Fall of the River Wandle," at 8 p.m. Royal Inst., "The Comparative Anatomy, Phy siology, and Fossil Remains of the Class of Fishes," by R. Owen, Esq., at 3 p.m. WED.-Society of Arts, "On the Condition of the Water Supply of London," by Mr. G. R. Burnell, C.E., at 8 p.m. Geological Soc., "On the Altered Rocks of the THURS.-Chemical, at 8 p.m. Royal Inst., "Electricity," by John Tyndall, Esq., at 3 pm. Antiquaries, at 8.30 p.m. Royal Soc., at 8:30 p.m. Royal Academy, Mr. Sydney Smirke, "On Architecture," at 8 p.m. FRI.-London Inst., "On the Principles and Applications of Vegetable and Animal Chemistry," by T. A. Malone, Esq., at 7 p.m. Royal Inst., "On Some Phenomena Attending Combustion in Rarefied Air," by Dr. E. Frankland, at 9 p.m. United Service Inst., Lieut.-Col. A. Cunningham Robertson, "On Military Training," at 3 p.m. SAT.-Royal Inst., "Inorganic Chemistry," by Dr. E. Frankland, at 3 p.m. KERSHAW'S APPARATUS FOR IMITATING FANCY WOODS, MARBLES, ETC. MR. THOMAS KERSHAW, of Baker-street, Portman-square, London, has patented a set of "improvements in apparatus for imitating various These improvements relate more particularly to the fancy woods, marbles, granites, and stencillings." cylinder for imitating the veining and natural ap pearance of the wood, as described in a specification of a patent granted to E. Barber, 11th April, 1846, of which patent Mr. Kershaw is assignee. For the better imitating of different woods and marbles by the cylinder, certain parts on the carved surface of the leather on the cylinder are ground down by any suitable means for the purpose of imitating the half lights, which, by this means, are done at the same time. For the imitation of stencillings the surface of the leather cylinder is cut or engraved to any desired pattern, the design being in relief, and the wall or part to be operated upon covered with colour, when on running it over with the engraved leather cylinder, the design or relief will take up the colour in the exact shape or form as engraved; or the colour may be put on by the cylinder. The roller is supported and held by a handle fastened to a frame which embraces the cylinder, and is attached thereto by a screw, pin, or other similar contrivance passing through the axis of the cylinder; more command is thus obtained over the cylinder than by the ordinary method of a single axis held by both hands. For the imitation of marble upon painted deal, stone, cement, slate, iron, zinc, paper, glass, or any other surface-the leather being cut to imitate the various veins natural to the marbles, in most cases the colour is laid on the painted or other surface, several tints for each marble, the cylinder is then passed over, the projecting surfaces of which take up the colour according to the design cut thereon. In some marbles the colour is put on the cylinder, which transfers it done the colour or colours are blended together The feather in the grain of mahogany is produced with a softener, as commonly used for that purpose. also by means of engraved leather, but in a some woollen trade. The establishment of Mr. Heath- per cent., and this was a company of limited liability. on to the surface to be marbled, and when this is coat and his partner, Mr. Boden, employs about 2,000 persons. For the benefit of this population schools have been established, a church built, and their welfare promoted in many ways, in addition should stay the two second actions till the opinion of The Chief Justice suggested that the plaintiff the Court on the action on the award was obtained. Fig. 1, front elevation of a cylinder for imitating satin wood; Fig. 2, a perspective of a cylinder for imitating oak vein; Fig. 3, front elevation of a cylinder for imitating marble; Fig. 4, elevation showing the roller for imitating a mahogany feather; Fig. 5, elevation of a cylinder for oak heart; Fig. 6, elevation of a cylinder for stencilling; Figs. 7 and 8, details of the handle for cylinders. The cylinders B B are made of leather of a good thickness, such as buffalo hide, the pattern of the wood, marble, or other material to be imitated being engraved thereon. Where half-lights are required in the grain, the surface on the cylinder instead of being cut may be ground slightly down, so that on passing it over the net colour, being only partially in contact, it does not take up so much as the parts immediately in contact. The leathers are cut and engraved before placing them on the cylinders, and when made to the proper lengths the ends are cemented, they are then put into the cylinders, which the inventor prefers to make of zinc, as being less liable to oxidation. One end C, see Fig. 2, of the cylinders is loose, and may be taken out, so that when it is necessary to carry several of different sizes they may be placed one within the other, and thus be very portable. The cross bar Fattached to the handle A embraces the cylinder lengthways, and a screwed pin G, see Figs. 7 and 8, is inserted through holes provided, and also passes through the axis of the HINTON'S IMPROVED CUPOLA MR. GEORGE HINTON, furnace manager, : FIG. 2. "My invention consists, firstly, in substituting in place of the ordinary tuyeres in cupola furnaces for foundry and other purposes, two rows of tuyeres, one row being situated immediately over the other, as hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying engravings. The said two rows of tuyeres are placed at or about the positions occupied by the tuyeres in the ordinary cupola furnace. Each of the said rows of tuyeres consists by preference of eight separate tuyeres, and the tuyeres of each row communicate with an annular belt channel or chamber surrounding the furnace. A blast pipe is connected with each of the said channels or chambers, and by means of valves in the said blast pipes either one or both rows of tuyeres can be worked at pleasure. Fig. 1 represents a vertical section of a cupola furnace, having a double-air belt or chamber or outer casing, and a double row of tuyeres; Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the same taken through the line x. In Fig. 1, a is a pipe to supply air from the fan or blast cylinder to the lower row of tuyeres d d, the said air or blast passing from the pipe a row of tuyers c c are slightly inclined upwards, into the hollow belt or annular channel h, and and the lower row of tuyeres d d are slightly infrom thence to the said tuyeres dd; b is another clined downwards, as represented; e is the upper air pipe from the fan or blast cylinder supplying chamber, into which the cokes and cast iron or air to the upper row of tuyeres e c, the said air metal are placed; f is the charging door, and g the or blast passing first into the annular chamber or outer case of the cupola furnace. Although I prebelt i, and from thence to the said tuyeres c c. fer the use of two rows of tuyeres, as illustrated in By means of the valves or dampers k 1, the quan- the engraving, yet I do not limit myself thereto, tity of air or blast from the fan or blast cylinder as one or more additional rows of tuyeres may be passing by the pipes a and b to the annular cham- employed where the cupola is large, or where a bers hi, may either be regulated or entirely cut very high temperature is required; neither do I off from one or both rows of tuyeres. The upper limit myself to the use of the belts or chambers 1 FIG. 1. B for supplying the blast to the tuyeres, as each of the said tuyeres may be supplied direct from the fan or blast cylinder. By the use of two or more rows of tuyeres arranged in the manner described and represented, I secure a uniform distribution of air to the various parts of a cupola furnace, thereby causing the cast iron or metal to be rapidly melted, and effecting a great saving in the cokes consumed. The quality of the cast iron or metal is also improved. "My invention consists, secondly, of the following method of constructing the bodies of cupola furnaces. I make the bosh or bush of the cupola furnace, that is, the part situated a short distance above the tuyeres, of nearly double the diameter of that part into which the tuyeres open. The enlarged part is nearly of a globular form, and above the enlarged part the furnace contracts to nearly one-half the diameter of the enlarged part, the said contracted part being cylindrical and ex. tending nearly to the charging door. At the summit of the cylindrical part is a second enlargement, somewhat greater in diameter than the lower one, the said second enlarged part being surmounted by a taper or conical chimney. By constructing the interior of cupola furnaces as described, a saving of fuel is effected." Cupola furnaces constructed according to this invention are supposed by Mr. Hinton to be more convenient and economical in use than cupola furnaces of the ordinary construction. WEBB'S IMPROVED BREAKWATERS AND PIERS. MR. E. B. WEBB, C.E., of Great George street, Westminster, has patented certain "improvements in breakwaters and piers" which he describes as follows: "My invention has for its object the more economical construction of fixed breakwaters and piers adapted to the formation or projection of harbours without the use of squared or coursed masonry, and in such a manner as to allow coast and river currents and portions of waves to pass through the breakwaters or piers into or out of the harbours which they form or protect. By this means the deposits which are generally formed in harbours where solid stone breakwaters are used, will be entirely or almost entirely prevented. And my invention with this object in view consists in the construction of breakwaters and piers composed of bars, rods, or pipes of wrought or cast iron, or of chains or links of wrought iron affixed to or between girders or frames of wrought or cast iron or wood, and supported on piles of wood or of wrought or cast iron, or in or on frames of wood or iron. The structure is intended to present to the action of the waves an inclined vertical or curved face formed by the bars, rods, pipes, or links, which are arranged in horizontal, inclined, or crossed, single, double, or multiplicate series. When required a certain number of the piles or portions of the frames are to be carried up from or through the structure so as to support a platform which may be used as a pier. The mode of fastening the bars, rods, pipes, or chains to the girders, frames, or piles may be varied. When the base is a deep stone embankment, and piles are unsuitable, main frames (supporting the girders or frames, which contain, or in which are fixed the bars, rods, pipes, chains or links) may |