The engine is available as a pump to wash the sheep previous to their being sheared, its suction pipe being connected to any convenient water supply, and its discharge pipe provided with a nozzle of ordinary construction through which the water is ejected upon the animal. After the sheep are thus washed the engine is connected with the cutting apparatus by means of a flexible or jointed tube or with a reservoir, and the sheep are then sheared or clipped.

machine, that is to say, there are two serrated up to £19,416, being an addition of £10,259. In between the landlord and the hypothetical tenant. plates placed one above the other, the one being one township the old assessment was £782, and According to the Board of Trade returns the gross stationary and the other movable, the latter operat- the rectified assessment was £2,262. The same receipts for the year 1867 were £6,752,567; the ing transversely across the other with a scissor-course was taken with coal mines and with colliery working expenses, including renewals, but exlike action. The stationary plate is provided with waggon-ways and manufactories. Of seven coal cluding rates and taxes, which will appear later a guard placed underneath it, which protects the mines the previous assessment had been £5,638; in the calculation, were £3,008,244; and deductanimal being sheared from injury from the points it was raised to £15,305. Of seven colliery ing one amount from the other we have £3,744,323 of the teeth. The movable plate derives its motion waggon-ways and manufactories the previous to be divided between the supposed landlord and from a small revolving or rotary engine affixed to assessment had been £1,940; it was raised to tenant. The tenant's portion is a fair remunerathe stationary plate. This small engine is worked £5,542. The aggregate result of the valuations tive profit upon the capital which he would reby means of air or other fluid obtained either was to put up the rateable value of the union from quire in order to take to the stock upon entry at a directly from a large engine, or from a reservoir £87,591 to £151,008. By Mr. Peel's return of valuation, every outgoing for management, and supplied by an engine, or where water is used August 10, 1869, we see that, for the parochial for all expenses, both actual and contingent, from a natural head the fluid is conducted to the year 1867-8, the rateable value of Chester-le- having been allowed for in the working expenses. small engine through a flexible or jointed tube. Street Union was £152,411, and that the poor-rates The tenant's capital is represented by the present The engine with a crank or eccentric upon its levied amounted to £11,231 9s., or to 1s. 53d. in value of the stock. The prime cost of the stock spindle or shaft actuates the movable serrated cut- the pound. At the former false valuation the is usually taken as equal to the gross annual reting plate. The exhaust pipe discharges its con- same levy would have come to 2s. 6d. in the ceipts, being, in this case, £6,752,567. Deducting tents toward or in the direction of the cutting pound. And this saving of 1s. Od. in the pound 25 per cent. for depreciation, or £1,688,142. we teeth of the apparatus so as to clear away from was effected without a shilling being spent in have £5,064,425 as the present value of the stock them the wool or hair which is being cut, or a appeals or litigation. We have heard of a case or amount of tenant's capital. A profit of 15 per separate fan may be used for this purpose. which did not terminate so favourably. The cent. upon this comes to £759,664; and this deassessment of a railway in an agricultural parish ducted from the £3,744,323, which we had to having been raised with something like a regard divide between landlord and tenant, leaves to equity, the company appealed against it, and £2,984,659 as the proprietor's share or net rental, the parish officers at once employed a London together with the rates which we have not yet surveyor to value the railway. That professional deducted. To ascertain what was the proper gentleman added one-half more to the assessment amount for rates that should have been paid by of the parish surveyors. The case was brought the London and North-Western Railway Company before the Assessment Committee; evidence was in 1867, we ought to reckon the rate in the pound heard on both sides, and when the committee came at the average rate of the poor law unions which to total up the various figures they had agreed are traversed by the main and branch lines of the upon, it was found that they made the rateable company; but it will be sufficiently near the truth value more than the surveyors of the parish had if we take the average rate of the several counties done; these officers having made a liberal deduc- through which these lines pass. This will certainly tion in order that they might be safe in the event be favourable to the company, for as the railway of litigation. Nevertheless, the true and fair cuts through the most populous districts the rates rateable value was not maintained; for the parish payable will in reality be more than the general officers, afraid of having to fight a powerful county averages. We have taken the trouble to railway company single-handed, thought it calculate from the items of total rateable value prudent to make matters pleasant by reduc- and rate in the pound, deducting such portions of ing the assessment below their original pro-rate as are not payable by railways (local board posal. We have shown that the railways, as a of health rates, for instance, which railways pay whole, escape the payment of about 3d. in the upon only one-fourth of the net annual value), pound upon the rateable property of Eng- as given in the Local Taxation Returns (497), land and Wales. Is it easy to bring home the the average rates in the pound payable by railcharge to particular companies? In the first place, ways in the counties of Middlesex, Herts, Bucks, it very evident, from the Board of Trade returns Northampton, Warwick, Leicester, Stafford, Salop, of 1867, that great inequality exists in respect of Cheshire, and Lancashire. The average rates for rates and taxes between the twelve companies these counties, through which the London and which have termini in the metropolis. Of the net North-Western Railway passes, range from receipts the percentage paid for rates and taxes is 1s. 11 d. up to 3s. 2d.; the general average (not by the London, Brighton, and South Coast 17.07 the mean) for the ten counties being 2s. 93d. in per cent.; by the London, Chatham, and Dover, the pound properly payable by railways. 12-21 per cent.; by the South Eastern, 9 per separate the proper amount of rates from the sum cent.; by the London, Tilbury, and South End, of £2,984,659, which was for the landlord and the 6.5 per cent.; by the London and South-Western, rates together, we must work the following simple 5.8 per cent.; by the North London, 5.18 per equation:-as 20s. + 2s. 94d : 2s. 94d. :: the ratepayers of England and Wales are Metropolitan, 4.71 per cent.; by the Great which is the amount of rates that the company paying one and a quarter million sterling per Northern, 4 per cent.; by the Great Western, ought to have paid in the year 1867, and deductannum, or threepence in the pound upon the 3.92 per cent.; by the Midland, 3.27 per cent. ; ing this from the £2,984,659, the landlord's net rateable value of their property, or, in other and by the London and North-Western, 2-85 per rental, or the true rateable value of the whole of words, they are voluntarily and without cause cent. The London, Brighton, and South Coast, the London and North-Western Railways and defraying on behalf of other people one half of the and the London, Chatham, and Dover Railways stations is seen to be £2,619,079. A rate of 2s. 94d. county rate, hundred rate, borough rate, and are paying considerably more than their fair upon this value comes to £365,580, but the police rate, simply because they do not insist upon share of local rates, which arises, we believe, amount actually paid in the year 1867, as stated an adequate valuation of the property in the hands from their occupying a large proportion of by the company itself in the Board of Trade Reof railway companies. Any of our readers turn- unprofitable line of railway; in fact, lines turns, was only £103,884, showing that the coming to the number of this journal ("Chamber through the working of which they are pany escaped the payment of no less than £261,696 of Agriculture Journal ") for April 25, will annually losing large sums of money. Their in the year 1867, in consequence of the property see how we demonstrated, from official returns Acts of Parliament, however, compel them to payeing assessed very far under its real value. Upon furnished to the Board of Trade by the rail- local rates, no matter whether the portion of line the net receipts, namely, £3,640,439, the amount way companies themselves, that the honest rate-assessed be profitable or unprofitable. If unprofit- of rates which ought to have been paid, namely, able value of railway property in England and able, the company has to pay simply upon the £365,580, are 10-04 per cent. The sum Wales for the year 1867 was at least £11,826,000, agricultural value of the land which it has ab- tually paid, namely, £103,884, was only 2.85 per and possibly as much as £12,915,000; that on this stracted from the parish; but parish officers being cent. value the companies actually paid rates amounting seldom satisfied with this, and insisting upon to only 1s. or 1s. 14d. in the pound, while the something more than mere agricultural value, the average rate in the pound paid by all the rateable company commonly gives way in order to avoid property of England and Wales was 3s. 3.9d. in litigation upon what be, in any one case, a

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the cutting apparatus; fig. 2 is a plan of the said apparatus showing a small engine in section; fig. 3 is a section of the engine or pump, which is connected to the small engine by a flexible tube; fig. 4 is an elevation of the apparatus adapted for washing the animals. The knives a of the cutting apparatus may have a reciprocating or a continuous rotary motion. In the first case the cutter is connected to a small crank or eccentric on the spindle of the engine b, whereas in the latter case the cutter would be fixed directly upon the spindle; c is the pipe which connects the engine with the revolving pump; d is the exhaust aperture through which the air is blown to clear the teeth of the cutter. In fig. 4 it will be seen that the cutting apparatus is removed from the end of the pipe c, and the nozzle e is fixed on the pipe. The suction pipe ƒ is then attached to the pump, its end being placed in any convenient stream, pool, or receptacle containing water. The pump being then set in motion the washing of the animal is accomplished.

ASSESSMENT OF RAILWAYS.

To

GRATUITOUSLY, and with their eyes open. cont.; by the Great Eastern, 5 per cent.; by the £2,984,659: 0. We find that equals £365,580,

PERPETUUM MOBILE.*

N ages of

a

ac

the pound; that the amount of rates properly due comparatively small amount.' The South-Eastern in the mina-kind there has been tendency

from railway property in that year was £1,774,000, Railway pays somewhat less than the sum which or possibly £1,937,000, yet that the total sum ought to be levied upon it for local rates; and all really paid did not exceed £650,000, and, conse- the other railways having termini in London pay quently, that the companies escaped the payment very much less than their fair share, averaging, of £1,124,000 up to £1,287,000, about equivalent indeed, less than half the sum due upon their to 3d. in the pound upon the rateable value of proper rateable value. Let us take the case of England and Wales. We are glad to find that, in the London and North-Western Railway. The some few localities of the kingdom, this wholesale rateable value is the estimated rental, free of all shirking of public burdens has been found out; tenants' rates and taxes, and tithe rent charge, and not only so, but a remedy has been practically which a supposed tenant might reasonably be exapplied. In this journal for June 20 we printed pected to give for the occupation of the property, a very interesting communication relating how from year to year, deducting from that rental the the good work of bringing the railways and other probable average annual cost of repairs, insurance, large works to book has been carried out in the and other expenses, if any, necessary to maintain union of Chester-le-Street in the county of Dur- the property in a state to command such rent. ham. The valuation ordered by the Assessment we subtract the total working expenses from the Committee increased the rateable value of the total receipts from all sources of traffic we shall public railways from £9,157, the former figure, have the net receipts which are to be divided

If

men to produce a machine or apparatus which shall by its own power keep itself moving for an indefinite period after it has been once started. Vast amounts of money have been spent upon the schemes by both rich and poor, for all classes have been led more or less into the belief that perpetual motion can be obtained in some way or other. In reading a work just published by Messrs. Spon, of Charing Cross, we are somewhat moved in wonder as to the large number of individuals who have tried the subject and who have not only had models made to test their ideas but have afterwards gone to the expense of patenting them to prevent other persons robbing them of the so

* "Perpetuum Mobile; or, the History of the Search for Self-motive Power from the Thirteenth to the

Nineteenth Century." By H. DIRCKS, C.E., LL.D., &c. E and F. N. SPON, Charing-cross.

called inventions. The work has been compiled from pamphlets, patent specifications, and other documents by Mr. H. Dircks, C.E. It is a complete repertory of what has been done on the subject, and should be read by all persons having a mechanical turn of mind, as it exposes the follies of quasi-mechanical men. We have selected the few concluding words of the author, the reading of which will prove the intrinsic value of the book to men of common sense and sound judgment:

records, curious in themselves as regards olden
times, but ridiculous in a modern garb; they are,
therefore, presented here as a warning to simple-
minded experimenters, and novices in mechanical
science, in the hope thereby effectually to break
the neck of this monster mechanical delu-
sion."

WEEKLY CHEMICAL, MINERAL, AND
METAL REPORT.

September 26.)

Correspondence.

OZOKERIT.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE "MECHANICS' MAGAZINE.' SIR,-I beg you to allow me a small space in your journal, for the rectification of a fault I put in my letter to you of September 18. It concerns Ozokerit-as it is also called in Turkey. When I wrote to you last I did it from memory. I, however, now find in a work of "Berzelius," that he calls Salink, in Moldavie. The rectification I, however, wish for is, that he (Berzelius) derives it from the Greek words, olev (to smell) and enpos (wax). If I made a mistake it was only to warn people as quick as possible against all kind of humbug articles which often are sent in the world under a scientific name, and which are always "au detriment" of the purchasers and to the benefit of the purses of the vendors. Being convinced that you are of my most valuable paper is always ready to receive comopinion concerning this question, and that your munications that may enlighten the non-initiated, I venture to write this second letter on Ozokerit. I am, Sir yours, &c.,

"A more self-willed, self-satisfied, or self-deluded (From J. Berger Spence & Co.'s Manchester Circular, Ozokerit "mountain grease," and that it is found at class of the community, making at the same time pretension to superior knowledge, it would be impossible to imagine. They hope against hope, scorning all opposition with ridiculous vehemence, although centuries have not advanced them one step in the way of progress; and while their assumed novelties only prove their discomfiture by a retrograde process.

"Among them is a colonial bishop, a professor of philosophy, and another of languages, two barons, a knight of the most noble and ancient order of the Temple, four military men, a doctor of medicine, a barrister, several gentlemen, two civil engineers, several mechanical engineers, a brass manufacturer, miller, millwright, smith, saddler, bobbin manufacturer, surveyor, and a geologist, besides others whose professions are not

named.

"Among these one might expect to find a sufficient amount of education to have saved them from such an exhibition of misapplied energy as we have here. We can make every allowance for errors arising from the limited means of information possessed by the general public, even until late in the eighteenth century; and can view with curious eye the models and drawings of early artisans. But no apology can be offered for the abortive, ridiculous projects which are a discredit to the present age, enlightened as it is in all mechanical constructions; and the time has arrived when the infancy of mechanical scheming in impossibilities should be laid aside, or left as amusements for youthful amateurs. There is something lamentable, degrading, and almost insane in pursuing the visionary schemes of past ages with dogged determination, in paths of learning which have been investigated by superior minds, and with which such adventurous persons are totally unacquainted. The history of perpetual motion is a history of the foolhardiness of either half-learned, or otherwise totally ignorant persons. In the infancy of sciences, whether medicine, chemistry, agriculture, mechanics, or others, there were, of course, some errors which received a certain amount of favour, and even encouragement; but the crudities of every science are fast disappearing; alchemy is no more countenanced than is the search for a perpetual motion; and whatever hitherto may have sufficed to give an impulse to the latter has long since subsided, and, therefore, the benighted mechanic must work in unenvied seclusion; for there is no longer any expectation of applying such mechanism to the determining of the longitude, or of obtaining for its discoverer any Government reward.

The Hague, September 26.

A. DE B.

ALTHOUGH there are few features of special interest to report in connection with the chemical trade of the past week, there is a greater degree of vigour and healthy activity connected with it than has been noticeable for some time. Of course there are many causes for this, the principal one being that Continental manufacturers having almost, if not to be supplied by English manufacturers, who can entirely, stopped their works, foreign markets have consequently command augmented prices for their products. The loss of French and German custom to the Lancashire district has so far been more than compensated by the American and Canadian demand since the outbreak of the war, shipments to both these countries having been remarkably heavy. HOWARD'S GALVANIC BATTERY. There is an unchecked home demand, with increasSIR,-The following is a ing prices for soda ash, caustic soda, and bleaching more simple and powder. For the latter, in some instances as high superior mode of carrying out the invention as £9 has been obtained. In minerals there has you kindly published in your issue of November again been a good general inquiry, and there is 13, 1868, entitled "Howard's Galvanic Battery." another contemplated advance in pyrites. There is It is far easier to construct, and consequently no improvement of the trade in metals, and the less expensive than the mode illustrated in fig. dulluess appears to have become chronic, with, at 4, page 389. Those of your readers who alpresent, no symptoms of amendment. The wages ready possess the copper cells of a Daniell's battery, question is again agitating the iron trade in South and who have had them in use a number of Staffordshire, but it is to be hoped that the demand years, are well aware of the fact that the copper has of the men for an advance will be withdrawn. In become considerably thicker through the electrocopper and the other metals there is little doing. deposition of copper in the interior of the copper at £12 10s. for 60; and white, at £13 5s. to £13 10s. utilised. They must be placed close together, that Soda: cream caustic in improved demand, and firm cells. By this mode of working such deposits are Soda crystals active, at £4 2s. 6d. to £4 5s. Soda their exteriors may be in close contact through the ash firm, at 1 11-16d. to 1d. per degree. Bi-car- rims C of each pair of copper cells. A is a piece of bonate dull, at £9 10s. and £9 15s. for refined. Saltcake, £3. Sulphate of soda, £3. Nitrate of soda: Slightly declined in value, and sales effected at £14 to £14 10s. Potash: muriates are now being offered at £9 to £9 10s. for 80 f.o.b., subject of course to blockade conditions. Prussiate, yellow, 11id.; red, 1s. 84d. to 18. 9d. Prussian blue, 1s. 6d. to 2s. Foreign, 298. to 32s.; refined, at 34s. Alum: active. Saltpetre: a little easier, but with few sales. Loose lump at £6 5s. and £7 in export barrels ; ground, at £7. Ammonia: brown sulphate in extensive demand at £13 5s. to £13 15s. White and grey rather better to sell, at £15 to £16. Copperas: dry, as usual, at 52s. Green and rusty unchanged, at 50s. to 54s. Arsenic at £6 15s. to £7 5s. for fine powdered. Acid: tartaric maintains its firmness of tone, and is in good demand, at 1s. 3 d. to 1s. 4d.: oxalic, at 73d. to 8d.; sulphuric, at £3 5s. £4 15s. for refined. Oils: olive quieter than usual, to £3 10s. Magnesia: Epsom salts at £4 10s. to at £48 to £50. Lubricating oils in fair request, at from 2s. to 5s. per gallon. Pure white Norwegian cod liver oil at £9 10s. per barrel. Pitch: no transactions scarcely, especially for abroad, which keeps down prices. Benzole: no change to note, 30 at flexible tubing similar to that attached to infants' 2s. to 2s. 4d. Disinfectants: patent, at £5 per ton teeding bottles; B, porous cells-instead of a porous for corporations. Carbolic, at £10. China clay: cell for containing P a glass bottle covered at one 22s. per ton. Pyrites: there are signs of increasing end with moist bladder might be substituted with a firmness, and another advance on last year's prices. view to economy; C, rims of copper cells, each pair powder, at £8 5s. to £8 10s. Super-phosphates a strip of copper in dilute sulphuric acid; Z, zinc Calcined, at 42s. to 43s. R.C. Lime: bleaching in close contact; P, platinised silver or graphite, or firm, at £4 58. to £4 10s. Mineral-phosphates, 56s. rod or cylinder. The elements might be connected to 60s. for 65. Manganese: dull, and prices vary in another way, for instance, Z and P, &c., but I from 70s. to 80s. for 80. Iron ore: in good inquiry. prefer this, as it will be seen the binding screws Hematite at 13s. Oolitic, at 6s. 9d. to 8s. 6d. in attached to the copper cells can be dispensed with. Staffordshire, and 2s. 9d. free on rails. When at work the inside of the copper cell containing the porous cell and zinc rod will receive a deposit, and the copper cell containing the other porous cell or bottle with platinised silver, &c., will be electrically dissolved, thus maintaining the strength of copper solution. Instead of two copper cells thus united, one copper cell of larger dimensions and either round or square (in the latter case using flat porous cells) with a copper diaphragm, in which was drilled a small hole, might be used. The small hole might be cemented or a piece of tubing inserted, so as to separate electrically the two interior surfaces, and to prevent the hole from being filled up with electro-deposit. When one cell has been electrically dissolved for a length of time it can be arranged to receive an electro-deposit, and so on ad infinitum. The zinc element might be worked as described in the MECHANICS' MAGAZINE for October 1, 1869.-I am, Sir, yours, &c., Salford, September 27. JAMES HOWARD.

"Were we to admit for argument's sake that some delicately arranged instrument might possibly be contrived to show a tremulous action, its accomplishment would not be of the least practical value, or reward the toil and anxiety of its inventor. But, although inventors have sought a power exceeding the steam engine in some cases, while others have satisfied themselves with more METALS.-Iron: Scotch pig closes firm, 52s. cash lowly designs based on capillary attraction, neither and 52s. 4d. one month. Cleveland makers are the one nor the other has attained the faintest hoping for an advance on present rates, which are shadow of success. From the infant machines nominally 47s. for forge 4, and 51s. 6d. for No. 1. Staffordshire bars, projected in the thirteenth century to the last Welsh bars, £6 15s. to £7. hydraulic, pneumatic, weighted, and lever-worked £7 10s. to £8. Hoop iron, £9. Gas tubes, 60 to 67 off list. Boiler tubes, 40 to 42. Copper is pretensions patented as motions, no motion what-slightly lower in value. English tough ingot, ever has resulted from the one or the other to the £69 10s. to £71. Chili slab, £63 10s. to £64 10s. present day. Not a solitary discovery is on Tin very little doing. English ingot, £124 to record, not one absolutely ingenious scheme pro- £125. Straits, £124 to £125. Lead: in quiet jected, or one simple self-motive model accom- demand. Best English soft pig, £19 10s. Spelter: plished. Under such circumstances what shall very dull. English, £18 10s. to £19. Silesian, spewe say of the modern mechanic who shall here- cial brands, £18 to £18 10s. after presume to add his dreary dreams to the lifeless lumber of the last seven centuries? No language can be too severe in denouncing the THE number of visitors to the South Kensington continuance of research in this insane under- Museum during the week ending September 24, 1870, taking; nor any criticism too sarcastic in exposing was-on Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday (free), the foolish results pompously published by a class from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., 19,687; Meyrick and of blind, deaf, and doggedly stupid projectors; Friday (admission 6d.), from 10 a.m. till 6 p.m., other galleries, 4,549; on Wednesday, Thursday, and who, bringing obloquy on themselves, are a dis- 2,068; Meyrick and other galleries, 292; total, credit both to their country and to the present 26,596. Average of corresponding week in 'former enlightened age. Nothing can excuse the foster-years, 13,295. Total from opening of Museum, ing of such crazed conceits as the present history 19,819,404.

B

N

A

-8

THE number of visitors to the Patent Office

Museum, South Kensington, for the week ending September 24, 1870, was 9,982. Total number since the opening of the Museum, free daily (May 12, 1858), 1,871,346.

TO CORRESPONDENTS THE MECHANICS MAGAZINE is sent post-free to subscribers of £1 18. 8d. yearly, or 108. 10d. half-yearly payable in advance.

All literary communications should be addressed to the

Editor of the MECHANICS' MAGAZINE. Letters relating to the advertising and publishing departments should be addressed to the publisher, Mr. R. Smiles, MECHANICS MAGA

ZINE Office, 166, Fleet-street, London.

Thursday evening.

ments should reach the office not later than 5 o'clock on To insure insertion in the following number, advertiseWe must absolutely decline attending to any communications unaccompanied by the name and address of the writer, not necessarily for insertion, but as a proof of good

faith.-ED. M. M.

Advertisements are inserted in the MECHANICS' MAGA

with regard to precision of fire, the broadside ship
had the advantage. The sea was as smooth as
possible at the time.

ZINE, at the rate of 6d. per line, or 5d. per line for 13 inser- you that, in obedience to orders from Sir A. Milne, lamps which were placed on the Embankment when

of about 10 words. Woodcuts are charged at the same rate as type. Special arrangements made for large advertise

ments.

RECEIVED.-J. W. L.-W. H. W.-B. J. W.-N. S.

P. M. D.-W. W. W.-H. H. J.-T. B. M.-T. W. P-
H. J. L.-T. W. W.-W. S. W.-F. W. H.-J. T. B.

W. T. W.

by lamps similar in design to those on the Albert Embankment, and placed at close intervals. The standard lamps erected about six months since near Waterloo Bridge still remain, none of the designs having, it is stated, yet been selected. Several additional improvements are in contemplation for the Embankment, and will shortly be carried out.

The ground has been laid out by experienced gardeners, as far as has been deemed practicable, and, instead of the heaps of rubbish with which it THE subscription list at the Royal Naval College to be seen covered with grass, and neat pathways, was covered a month since, sloping banks are now shows that the sum received or promised on behalf the borders of which are already planted with of the families of the men lost in the "Captain amounts to £8,000. The officers and crew of the and Charing-cross bridges is, in fact, so far comground ivy. The space lying between Waterloo United States frigate "Franklin" have subscribed evening by the Lords of the Admiralty:-Copy of a and no expense will be spared to render it worthy £133. The following was made public on Saturday pleted that it is stated it will soon be opened to the public. It will be planted with trees and shrubs, letter from the captain of H.M.S. "Monarch," dated of its position. The ground between Westminster September 23, 1870, to Vice-Admiral Sir Hastings and Charing-cross is not in so advanced a state, but Yelverton, K.C.B., commanding the Channel when finished it will harmonise with the other Squadron:-"Sir,-I have the honour to inform portion of the Embankment. All the temporary remained at the anchorage of Corcubion Bay for week, and during that time diligently searched by land and sea every practicable spot for over fifty miles where it was possible for any of the crew of the 'Captain' to have effected a landing or where their remains might have been washed on shore. The nature of the coast was such as to render it very difficult of search either by sea or land; high projecting cliffs extend almost from Muros to even in the finest weather, and as these cliffs are full of deep crevices it is almost impossible to search them properly without great danger to those employed. But little of the wreck has come on shore; a couple of studding-sail booms, two studding-sail yards, a flying boom, and a royal yard, all more or less injured by contact with the rocks; some of the spars were so damaged that I did not think it worth the expense to bring them by land, and the ensign staff was in such a place that it could not be brought away. A spare masthead pendant, a piece of the standard compass, a broken endboard, and a M. DURNOF, the aeronaut who left Paris on Sep-few pieces of plank complete the list. I have made tember 23, at 8 in the morning, with three mail bags every arrangement for the interment of any bodies with ventilating flue. The results had been most weighing 2501b., and is now in Tours, says that as that may be washed on shore, and intimation will be he passed westward he could distinctly see the at once given to the Vice-Consul. Every sort of Prussians below him with a telescope. He saw them point cannon at him; he saw the balls rising in the facility has been extended to me by the authorities, air, and, after exhausting their impetus, fall to the who have had the coast examined by their own ground. Some of the balls ascended high enough has been very kind and zealous.-I have, &c., J. E. people; the Vice-Consul at Corcubion, Mr. Del Rio, to make the balloon shake. Infantry fired at him with their rifles almost all the way from Paris to COMMERELL, Captain." Mantes, but he was entirely out of range.

Habal, Military, and Gunnery Items. Cape Torriano; the surf continually breaks there

MR. CARDWELL, Secretary for War, accompanied by a number of artillery and engineer officers, has visited Harwich and made an inspection of the Circular Redoubt and Landguard Fort. Important additions to the defences of the harbour are stated to be in contemplation. Among the officers who went down with Mr. Cardwell was Major-General Sir F. E. Chapman, Inspector-General of Fortifications and Directors of Works.

SOME short time since Lieutenant-Colonel Palmer, of Nazing, offered Her Majesty's Secretary of State for War to raise a body of Volunteers to work a battery, or a half battery, of mitrailleuses. This offer was respectfully declined; but it is understood that the right hon. gentleman contemplates following the example of His Majesty the Emperor of Russia, and to cause a lightly constructed mitrailleuse to be attached to every company of infantry in Her Majesty's service, and one to each of the gaols throughout the country for its defence in the time of need. PATRONS and managers of orphan schools throughout the country are earnestly requested to lend their aid in relieving the distress occasioned by the late appalling catastrophe. The admission of some of the orphans of the "Captain" to the benefits of such institutions, either at a reduced rate of payment, or on the usual terms, but without the expense and labour of canvassing for votes, would be a most valuable boon. Communications on the subject may be addressed to the "Secretary of the Portsmouth Ladies' Committee," to the care of Captain Peele, R.N., Royal Naval College, Portsmouth.

Miscellanea.

decided that the next visit of the Association should
THE Council of the Social Science Congress have
be to Leeds; and that Plymouth be recommended
as the place of meeting for the year 1872.

MR. BETTS, the contractor so well-known to the
English engineering world, having found it almost
impossible to recover the position here from which
Virginia, where he is now cultivating a farm of a
he fell in the great crash of 1866, has settled in
thousand acres.

THE following is a resume of the paper read by Mr. Alderman Rumney, at the Liverpool meeting of the Briitsh Association, "On the Ashpit System of Manchester." He argued that, with such a limited watershed, the water used for domestic use and manufactories could not be afforded to be wasted in water-closets. Adhering, therefore, to the dry in preference to the wet system, in 1868 the City Council appointed a health committee and officers of health, under whom the superintendence of privies and ashpits was placed. They required that ashes should be daily placed in the ashpits to neutralise the effluvia. The owners of every new house were compelled to provide a water-tight covered ashpit, satisfactory. Before these ashpits were adopted, the people said they never opened their back windows, la consequence of the bad smells from the privies The testimony of the officer of and ashpits below. been adopted, in old or new houses, there was not health was that where the new form of ashpit had last summer a single case of diarrhoea. It was the intention of the health committee to adopt ashpits of a size which would require emptying every three weeks. The aim of the committee was to provide every house with a water-tight covered ashpit, from which all refuse matter was excluded, except A drain and grid were required in the yard to carry off the water drainage the ashes from the fire. been erected, under the supervision of the committee, to the sewers. Of these ashpits 1,500 had already and he believed that they had reduced the deathrate and improved the health of the inhabitants.

A FEW weeks since a rather startling announcement was published concerning the discovery of a Potaro River, by a Mr. Brown, the dimensions of great cataract named the Kaieteur Fall, on the which dwarf Niagara. Some doubts appeared to be THE experiment of holding a Fungi Exhibition entertained as to the existence of such a fall, and proved so successful and interesting last year that many people seemed to treat the statement as a the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society have hoax. By the arrival in Liverpool, however, of Mr. resolved on repeating the same, and announce a Michalowski, from Demerara, the question has been show of edible and poisonous fungi, to take place on settled, as that gentleman brought with him a Wednesday, October 5, when the following prizes photograph of the fall itself, taken from a sketch will be offered, viz. :-Collection of Edible Fungi- made on the spot by Mr. Brown. The existence of open, £2, £1,; ditto Edible and Poisonous Fungi, the fall is also borne out by a letter from Sir George arranged separately (prize offered by Mr. W. Wil-Young to the editor of the Demerara "Colonist." son Saunders, F.R.S.), £5. Sir George says :-"The fall has a clear descent according to barometrical observations taken simultaneously by Mr. Brown at the bottom, and by my colleague, Mr. Mitchell, at the top, of 750ft. Above the Potoro glides smoothly in a slight depression appears over the edge in a body, and of depth off the table of conglomerate sandstone and disuncertain in the centre, but shallowing rapidly As I saw the fall, I cannot

towards either bank.

ADDITIONAL seamen having been obtained from London, the crew to navigate the "Cerberus," 4, THE winter term of the South London Working iron armour-plated turret-ship, to Australia, has at Men's College begins on Monday next, October 3. length been nearly completed, only two or three The Council has established a complete set of stokers being now required to make up the strength Science Classes for the students who intend to needed to take the ship to Melbourne, where she compete for the Whitworth scholarships in May will be employed to defend the harbour, the navigat- next. On Tuesday the drawing and mechanical ing crew being discharged a week after her arrival. construction class will re-open; on Thursday a new The work of taking in the stores for the ship is still class in geology will be commenced by a lecture going on, and when this is completed the Cerbe- from the teacher, Henry Turner, Esq. On Friday, "is expected to leave Chatham on her long Dr. E. Beverley Bogg, F.R.C.P., R.N., will commence voyage. The "Cerberus" is not heavily masted, a course of lectures on Human Physiology. To both has strong and high iron bulwarks, and a temporary these lectures strangers, including ladies, are in-part preserves its consistency, but from the top all upper deck, to enable her to make her voyage. All vited. A new French class will begin on Thursday this will be removed when she arrives out, and she next. Programmes of the classes can be had at the will be almost level with the water when moored in Melbourne harbour, presenting but little mark for an enemy. The Colonial Government pay all the cost and charge.

rus

college.

imagine anything more beautiful. The central portion, which is never dry, forms a small horseshoe, or re-entering angle, and the water in this blossoms into fine foam or spray, which descends in semblance of water disappears; it breaks up or the well-known rocket-like forms of the Staubback and similar waterfalls, but multiplied a thousand THE award of the ten Whitworth Scholarships of times. The fall itself is one vast descending column £100 each for the year 1870 has just been made to of a fine, dry-looking, snow-white substance, bearthe undermentioned candidates:-To those ex-ing a resemblance in colour and consistency to an NATURALLY at this moment there is much amined as students:-William Garnett, 19 years of avalanche, but surpassing all avalanches I have curiosity about the turret-ships consequent on the age, student., London; James Taylor, 21 years of seen in size, and in the beauty of the forms taken by loss of the " Captain." We, therefore, give an age, mechanic, Holdham; J. A. Griffiths, 22 years the material as it falls." interesting account of a trial which took place at of age, engineer student, Middleton ; H. W. M'Cann, Vigo the other day. The 17 years of age, student, Liverpool; J. Perry, 20 Captain," "Monarch,' and "Hercules " were ordered to fire at a rock, years of age, engineer, Belfast. To those examined 200 yards long, 60ft. high, at a distance of 1,000 as workmen :-Edward Tomkins, 24 years of age, yards, for the space of five minutes. The result engineer and draughtsman, Manchester; William was that the "Hercules" fired 17 shots and hit 10 Dodgson, 25 years of age, mechanic, Manchester; the "Monarch" fired 12 shots and hit 5 Frank Salter, 21 years of age, mechanical engineer, times; the "Captain " fired 11 shots and hit 4 times. Leamington; William S. Hall, 25 years of age, Weight of shot hitting rock :-" Hercules," 4,000lb.; engineering draughtsman, Nottingham; Henry "Monarch," 3,000lb.; "Captain," 2,4001b. The Dyer, 21 years of age, mechanical engineer, Glas

times;

"Hercules" fired from her four 18-ton guns, and the "Captain" and "Monarch" from their four 25-ton guns. The "Hercules," of course, could have been delivering the same quantity of shot from her opposite side. Thus it will be seen that, even

THE corner stone of the new buildings for Owen's College, Manchester, was laid on Friday last by the Duke of Devonshire, in presence of a large assemblage of ladies and gentlemen, including a number of the most distinguished members of the British Association. After the Masonic part of the ceremony had been performed, his Grace addressed those present. He said the progress which the College had made must be regarded with great satisfaction, and it reflected the highest credit upon those who had been entrusted with the manageTHE waste spaces on the Victoria Embankment ment; but, useful as the college had already proved have within the last few weeks been undergoing itself, Manchester and the great district of which it conversion into what promises to be a most was the centre might, he rejoiced to believe, conagreeable feature of this splendid thoroughfare.fidently look forward to a time, and no istant time,

gow.

cross heads or couplings are introduced, and which can either be made fixed or adjustable in length as desired. To raise the fore end of the main beam to admit of the ploughing tools being turned around it as already described, the leading wheels of the implement are depressed; this may be done by means of a bell crank lever mounted on the front of the beam in an upright position, and from it a cord passes to a drum. at the back of the implement, and the ploughman when he wishes to depress the leading wheels winds the cord upon the drum. The other end of the bell crank lever either acts directly on the lower part of the main wheel stem or upon the axle, in which case it is forked, and when the axle is horizontal, both sections of it bear on the axle; when the axle is inclined, only the higher end receives it; the pressure on the axle by means of the lever thus tends to bring it to a horizontal position,

whilst at the same time it lifts the main beam of the implement.-Not allowed.

663 F. T. FERGUSON, Boston, U.S.A. Letter clip. Dated March 5, 1870.

A circular lime or cement kiln is provided with a steam
boiler and furnace arranged as follows:-The masonry of
the kin is partly closed at the top by an arch or vault,
provided with a stack or chimney. In and across the
boiler, provided with an annular boiler tube, which ex-
arch and the lower part of the chimney is laid a steem
tends round part of the upper end of the kiln, and the
boiler and tube are situated in an oven or furnace, the
masonry of which forms part of the kiln, so as to cause
the boiler tube to be heated by part of the escaping heat
of the kiln.-Patent abandoned.

Dated March 7, 1870.
671 J. BROOKS, Gracechurch-street, E.C. Watch protector.

basket or sieve revolves, is affixed a bed, on which moves horizontally a sliding bracket (somewhat resembling the slider rest of a lathe), which bracket is traversed as required in the direction of a radius of the machine by means of a screw and winch, or other suitable mechanical arrangement. The inner end of this bracket projects over the basket or sieve and carries a slider, to which vertical motion in either direction can be imparted by means of a worm wheel mounted on a shaft or axle turning in bearings in the horizontal sliding bracket aforesaid, the thread of which worm wheel engages in a rack formed on the said vertical slide. The shaft upon which the said worm wheel is affixed carries a bevel toothed wheel, which is turned by means of another bevel toothed wheel mounted on a shaft furnished with a winch.Patent completed.

680 S. BROOKS, G. HARRISON, and J. WARDLE, Manchester. Spinning and doubling. Dated March 8, 1970.

The inventors make use of a dead spindle, the foot of which is secured in a rail, which is moved up and down by a heart motion or other equivalent. To the spindle is fixed a disc, on which the bobbin rests, a washer of flannel or other material being placed between the bobbin and the disc, if required, to give the drag. The spindle passes through a spindle flxed in the bolster rail, which is stationary, and upon this bush is a wharve, to which an inverted flyer is fixed.-Patent abandoned. 681 A. VILLEPIGUE, Peckham. Boring apparatus. Dated March 8, 1870. This consists in so fashioning a rod or tool that it shall such inner rod being capable of and having imparted to it a free fall or up and down action, by means of the hollow rod. Also the construction of machinery for giving mechanically the necessary rotary up and down, and compensating movement of the rod or rods as above, or of boring rods generally.-Patent abandoned.

The papers are held between two parallel flat pieces, one of which forms the base, and the other the adjustable or expanding portion of the device. These two parts are connected by two springs, which project up from the sides of the base, and are jointed to the said adjustable into which is screwed a ring which opens by means of a At each extremity of the protector there is a screw cap piece. The distinguishing peculiarity of the device or spring clip is the arrangement of these springs in combi-hinge made in the middle of the ring. In the screw of this ring there is a slit, into which the knife part of the nation with the parallel at pieces of the clip, by which ring enters; directly the ring is closed the two parts of the arrangement the clip when fully opened is self-retaining ring are made secure by a cap being screwed over it. in that position, so that the papers may be conveniently One ring is to be put round the stud of the watch, then inserted and removed, but when the clip is not fully closed and fastened by the aforesaid screw cap being be hollow, and contain and work an inner rod or plunger, opened it will always exert the required pressure upon screwed over it, as before stated. The corresponding ring the papers placed therein and will hold them securely, the pressure of the clip when there is only a single letter at the other extremity of the chain is then fastened in like or other document being nearly the same as when the clip manner to the ring of the swivel or other part of an ordi

is full.-Patent abandoned.

waggons, each provided with one or more driving wheels operated by independent machinery supplied with power from the locomotive. In this manner each of the trucks is caused to drive itself, and may also assist in drawing the remainder; the inventor is thus enabled to utilise the adhesion of almost the whole of the train of trucks for ascending the steepest inclines, which may therefore be effected with the heaviest loads, and under the most unfavourable circumstances.-Patent completed.

nary watch chain.-Patent abandoned.

673 A. S. DU FAY, Paris. Reducing liquids to spray. Dated March 7, 1870.

A tube or cylinder is employed, to which is supplied the liquid under pressure. At its lower end is secured a plate or bottom in any suitable or convenient manner to obtain a secure and tight joint. Thus, for example, a screw cap may be used to press and bind the plate against the tube, and thus form a tight joint by simple contact if care be taken to it the surfaces accurately. Patent completed.

1870.

674 F. WILKINS, Farnborough. Ships. Dated March 7, These vessels are to be constructed in two parts or divisions, one being placed several feet above the other. The hull or lower vessel, which is to be in the water, is to be built as ships usually are, of iron, wood, or other suit able material, and is to be immersed to the water's edge, 665 E. WOOD and H. COGHILL, Burslem. Potter's glazes. or nearly so, at or near which point the deck or back of Dated March 7, 1870. the hull is to commence. This is to be equally watertight The inventors take a combination of boracic acid and with the other parts of the hull, so that it may float at. Boda crystals, or the equivalents of borax, fincal, or borate under, or above the surface of the water with equal safety. of lime, but preferably boracic acid and soda, and mix Above the deck of hull (which may be slightly arched well together (say) 75lb. weight of boracic acid, 75lb. of upwards towards the central parts), the inventor erects crushed soda crystals, 75lb. of ground Cornwall stone, a stage, platform, deck, or vessel, which is to be supported 60lb. whiting or carbonate of lime, 30lb. ground flint, on a skeleton gridiron or open framework formed of and 25lb. of china clay. They fuse this combina-pillars or stanchions of iron, wood, or other suitable mation in a frett kiln or reverberatory furnace, and terial and of approved form and position; the open space to every 450lb. weight of this frett or glass the inventors between the upper vessel and the hull may be called the add 150lb. of ground Cornwall stone, 45lb. of china clay, waterway. It may be about 8ft. or 12ft. high at the 201b. of ground flint, 201b. of whiting or carbonate of lime, water's edge, the distance varying according to circumaud 201b. of pure oxide of zinc or carbonate of same, and stances. The effect of this intermediate space is to allow grind the same in water into an impalpable powder.- the waves to pass through it and glide over the deck of Patent completed. the hull instead of dashing against a flat side as it would do of an ordinary ship.-Patent completed. 675 W. LAW, Kilbagie, N.B. Pulp. Dated March 7,

1870.

This consists in an improved mode or method of reducing woody or other fibres to a pulp suitable for the manufacture of paper or papier mache. This is accomplished by reducing wood mechanically first into small pieces, shavings, or sawdust. The inventor then places a sufficient quantity of either of these into one or more strong boilers or digesters, in which is a solution of caustic soda. He boils or digests these for about four hours under a pressure of about 2001b. per square inch.-Patent completed.

682 R. A. WIFFEN, Romford. Tapping cock. Dated March 8, 1870. The main body of the cock, which is of tapered form, as usual, is divided into two parts. The back or inner portion has a rotary longitudinal movement upon a tube, which forms an inner back continuation of the front or outer portion. This tube is formed with slots or apertures for the passage of the liquid, and when the back portion is moved forward against the front portion these apertures are closed. The rear end of the front portion is undercut to receive the front end of the back portion, so that a hermetic joint is obtained. The longitudinal movement is imparted to the back portion as follows:Through the rear end thereof the inventor screws or lets in a longitudinal rod, which he fixes by a nut at the rear end, this nut being preferably pointed to facilitate the entrance of the tap into a cask or other vessel.-Patent completed.

683 J. POLSON, Paisley. Treating grain. Dated March 8, 1870.. This consists of a cylindrical or conical barrel or drum, placed either horizontally or inclined, which is revolved at the requisite velocity, and situated inside a cylindrical or conical casing, the barrel or drum and casing being of such dimensions that a space is left between them. The barrel or drum is wholly or partly covered with a sheet or sheets or strips of perforated iron or steel, whilst the cylindrical casing is also composed of similar perforated iron or steel. At one end of the casing a passage or duct is provided, through which the grain to be hulled or husked is admitted, and at the opposite end of the casing another duct is provided, through which the grain, after being hulled or husked, is discharged.-Patent completed.

684 C. H. WILLIAMS, Westbury-on-Severn. skin diseases. Dated March 8, 1870.

Curing

666 G. G. LOWE, Hackney. Tanks. Dated March 7, 1870. The tanks and cisterns may be made of any suitable materials and in almost any form airtight, if with movable or partly movable covers secured with sand joint, ground joints, water joints, luting, packing, or any efficient contrivance; the overflow and other pipes are This consists in the employment of the following comprovided with traps, and air is only admitted to the body position or fluid, which is called the Indian fluid for at an aperture conveniently placed, to which is attached a curing skin diseases in animals, especially in sheep and pipe, which may be carried or extended any distance into other woolly animals. It is composed of the following pure air; the length of this pipe will depend on the paringredients, and in or about the proportions hereinafter ticular conditions of each particular site. If fixed in a pure given: Petroleum (or other similar hydro-carbons), three atmosphere a short pipe is sufficient, but when circumquarts; oil of tar, one quart; bole, half a pound. The stances necessitate the fixing in a position where bad air parts must be well incorporated, and may be conveniently or noxious gases are prevalent this pipe is carried or extended any distance into pure air, and the body of the Dated March 7, 1870. 676 A. J. HAPGOOD, New York, U.S.A. Sweeping carpets. poured on and rubbed in with the hand.-Patent completed applied to the skin of the infected animals by being pipe being airtight the contents are protected from contamination and subjected to the action of pure air only.-enclosed a rotary fan mounted on a shaft, which is fitted Edinburgh. Dry gas meters. Dated March 8, 1870. The apparatus consists of a case or drum, wherein is 685 W. COWAN, A. DONALDSON, and J. SANDILANDS. Patent completed. to rotate freely in suitable bearings. A pulley is fixed at The inventors make the body or case of the meter, or near the end of a light hand frame, and is provided cylindrical, and so as to contain two diaphragms (the case with a handle, by which it may be conveniently turned by being divided by a central partition), each of which diaone hand while the frame is held in the other hand. Aphragms is provided with a separate slide valve and pascord or belt connects the pulley with a small pulley on sages of its own, both worked from one valve crank. The the end of the fan shaft. The air is admitted to the axis of main outlet passage from each diaphragm communicates the fan through one or more passages. The front aper- with a space which intervenes between the top of the and narrow, so that the air enters in a thin broad sheet surrounding or enclosing also the inlet passages into the ture where the air is admitted is preferably made long casing and the bottom of the valve chamber, such space or layer. The jointed portion is supported on small diaphragms after they leave the inlet valve ports. The wheels or rollers.-Patent completed. inlet valve ports are of course alternately inlet and outlet, according as one or the other is brought into communication with the main outlet port by the slide valve.-Patent abandoned.

667 G. HOLCROFT and R. M. ROBERTS, Manchester. Treating ores. Dated March 7, 1870. Having sorted the ores in their respective kinds the inventors calcine each sort separately according to the length of time required to extract the foreign matter it may contain, and whilst hot immerse the ore in a solution prepared for each kind. These solutions contain the ingredients hereinafter named, and are prepared in the following manner, namely:-First, for the ore containing talurian bismuth the inventors immerse the ore for about seven days in a solution of common salt and muriatic acid, or their equivalents. In preparing this solution of opiate upon a ton of ore they take four cubic feet of soft water, to which are added 2ib, of common salt and 1lb. of rectified muriatic acid of about 28deg, of Twaddle's hydrometer. Second, for the ore containing arsenic the inventors immerse for about 24 hours in a solution of saltpetro and sulphuric acid, or their equivalents. paring this solution for operating upon a ton of ore they take four cubic feet of soft water, to which are added 1lb. of saltpetre, and lb. of rectified sulphuric acid of about 28deg. Twaddle.-Patent completed.

Reaping and mowing. Dated March 8, 1870.
677 C. J. Fox and R. LARCHIN, King's Cross-road, N.

The inventors use an arrangement of steam or power acting directly or indirectly upon the knives or cutters. generator working cylinder and piston and piston rod motive power, and forms part of reaping or mowing which engine may be actuated by steam, air, or other In pre- machines. work is perforined by the machine much more quickly By the above described arrangements the and effectively than by any arrangement hitherto used, because the power for working the knives is not dependent upon the motion of the horse, which motion is actually 668 J. HARGREAVES and T. ROBINSON, Widnes. Manu- necessary so that the knives or cutters should move facture of chlorine. Dated March 7, 1870. with a greater speed.-Patent abandoned.

Dated March 8, 1870.
686 J. L. NORTON, Belle Sauvage-yard, E.C. Looms

it

is provided on the side of the flywheel, which as The crank shaft has the flywheel upon it, and a tappet ing shaft, thus causing the shaft suddenly to make a revolves comes in contact with a jointed arm on the pickpartial rotation, in doing which it actuates the picker. The tappet has a motion communicated to it towards and from the centre of the flywheel, so that it may only catch the arm at each alternate revolution.-Patent completed. 687 J. LANG, Cockspur-street, S. W. Breech-loaders. Dated March 8, 1870.

A recess is made in the middle of the lump, and is provided with two notches to receive the double locking

in a close vessel, so as to expel hydrochloric acid and of rolled steel, and forms the head of the rail. Thus rotating bolt. To the snapping bolt at the rear is adapted

The inventors mix chloride of iron and chloride of sodium in solution and concentrate to dryness, or they use chloride of iron in a dry state by itself; they then break the mass into pieces of suitable size and heat them water. They next force or draw through or amongst the said pieces a current of heated air, and thereby liberate chlorine, of course mixed with nitrogen. Instead of passing a current of heated air through the said pieces they may heat them and pass a current of air atmospheric temperature through or amongst them.-Patent completed.

669 W. A. FELL, Windermere. Reaping and mowing machines. Dated March 7, 1870.

This consists, first, in an improved arrangement of the main frame of the machine, which is of iron, and on

678 J. PIEGROME, Plaistow. Rails. Dated March 8. 1870. The inventor makes them of two parts, the lower part or base of rolled iron, and thus forms what may be termed a longitudinal chair, to receive the upper part, which is when both the parts above mentioned are combined together they form a rail having an iron base and a steel head, and not of necessity requiring chairs or fish-plates to secure the same in position. The base or lower part or chair plate should consist of a plate (say) about 6in, or more wide, having a web at right angles to it like the letter T reversed, with a shallow groove in the bottom plate close to the web.-Patent completed.

a pushing bar, the outer end of which bears against a notch at one side of the rotating double locking bolt for the breech. The rear locking bolt is pushed forward by a the purpose of pushing the rotating bolt round and locking lever on the lower end of the vertical spindle, on the upper end of which is keyed a boss or hub with a thumb lever, whereby the spindle and its levers are rotated when it is required to unlock the breech of the gun. A second rod or bar is actuated by another short lever on the lower end of the vertical spindle, and is, therefore, of course worked by the same thumb lever.-Patent comthepleted.

679 G. W. WIGNER, St. Swithin's-lane, E. C. Hydroextractors. Dated March 8, 1870.

To the edge of the cylindrical casing, within which