two of the course and might fall off at the on train engineers and turn them out fit for similar nature. NOTICES OF BOOKS. NEX THE TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN. EXT Thursday there will be a total eclipse of the sun, visible in Spain and Southern Europe. In England the eclipse will not be total, nevertheless about eight-tenths of the disc of the sun will be hidden by the moon. As regards the central line of the eclipse, it will first touch the shores of Europe in Portugal, near Odemira, and cross a large tract of Portuguese territory. The objection astronomers have to go to this district to observe the eclipse arises from the fact that little is known about the country, it contains few towns of any note, and there is no regular steam packet service to its shores; the duration of the total phase at this portion of the path of the shadow will be two minutes and eight or nine seconds. The shadow will quit Portugal at Tavira, and at this place the duration of the total phase will be about two minutes eight seconds. might be practically worth little or nothing. refer our readers to the annual* of Messrs. In our opinion it is not often that a pater- Wyman and Sons. The combination of subfamilias gets so good a chance of investing jects which this book has something to say his money. Another important consideration upon is most astonishing. Take any theme, that cannot fail to arise in the minds of all whether it be cookery, poetry, history, botany, those who are anxious for the future welfare or anything else, there you will find sufficient Omitting all cases where from various of the profession in general is the effect the information to satisfy the most hopeful. causes the pupil may not complete the pre-new college and proposed method of educa- The title is "Everybody's Year Book," and scribed course, we shall consider the matter tion will have upon its members and its well the contents substantiate it, for it conin its entirety. It may at the same time be status. It is only lately that the profession tains something useful for everybody. mentioned that during whatever period the has risen to the condition of an educated one, student may be at the college, he is certain and there is not the slightest doubt but that of receiving an education that he would not it will benefit very materially by the estaIt cannot receive anywhere else. The manner in which blishment of the Indian College. instruction in the field work alone will be fail to induce a better class of men to enter conducted will throw completely into the the ranks, and may possibly debar some who shade the methods and practice adopted in could not confer either honour or advantage private establishments. No expense will be upon it. Although at present the scope of spared to procure the best field instruments, the Indian College does not extend beyond and the whole of the surveying operations its own immediate sphere, that is, the prowill be carried out a scale that viding of engineers for the Public Works the resources of any but a Government in- Department, yet it is to be hoped that it stitution could not possibly admit of. It will not long remain so limited. If it can must be borne in mind that there is a very great difference between ordinary surveying operations, even although scientifically laid out and executed, and those gigantic triangulations which form the basis of an extensive trigonometrical and cadastral undertaking. Again, with respect to works of an engineering character, the Government will possess The shadow will next cross a large bay, which facilities for affording the pupils practical indents the shores of Portugal and Spain, after information which would decidedly not be at which it will reach Cadiz, which is the first conANY treatises on the subject of specifi- venient point of observation, although the centre the disposal of private parties. This, it is MANY treats patents for inventions have of the point will be about twenty miles to the admitted by all who are conversant with the been published from time to time, both by north of the town. The total phase will begin subject, is one of the most difficult desiderata persons who profess to know a great deal here at ten minutes to eleven o'clock, Greenwich to ensure, and has never yet been success- what a specification should be, and how it time. Several observers will be stationed at fully attained. The union of the practical should best be drawn up to protect the Cadiz to make polariscopic observations, and Lord with the theoretical in the education of an patentee's interest, but which really, when engineer is just one of those obstacles which carefully studied by others than the author it remains for the Indian Civil Engineering himself, is found to be such an imperfect and quantity of apparatus intended to be used in phoCollege to overcome. No one would for a questionable guide that no one would be safe sists of a 124-inch silvered-mirror reflecting teletographing the total phase. His apparatus conmoment underrate the value of theory, but to follow the practice it sets forth. The other theory without practice is of little use. It is scope, with what may be described as a breechis just the reverse of this; every sentence, loading apparatus at the side of the tube. The simply a foundation without any superstruc- aye, every word, contains some sound and dark slides carrying the photographic plates are ture, and notwithstanding however perfect authoritative meaning, thereby indicating made to run along a grooved receptacle attached and secure the former may be, the edifice that the author possessed no crotchets of his to the side of the tube, and they are pulled out at still remains incomplete. This is the reason own which he was anxious to bring before the other end after each plate has been exposed. why young men who have been educated for the inventive world, and this is the character As the motions of the slides are all in the same the engineering professions at the various of the pamphlet "Specifications as Bases of direction as the axis of the tube of the telescope, schools and colleges where classes exist for the Patents," by Mr. W. Spence, just published, there is less tendency to set up vibrations in the purpose are unable to earn a sixpence when price 6d. The author has long been associated apparatus than is the case when the said motions their education is, as it is supposed to be, with the science of patents, and has had a deal are at right angles to the axis of the tube. Mr. W. J. completed. We know of instances in which of practice with specifications both provi-observers at Cadiz, and he is going to try to ascerLewis, of Oriel College, Oxford, will be among the grievous disappointment has ensued when it sional and final, and can, therefore, be tain whether the corona is polarised all round the has been found that a young engineer after going through a three years' course of engineer-in view is to inform an inventor of the risk accepted as an authority. The object he has sun. Mr. C. G. Talmage, F.R.A.S., assistant at ing was unable to obtain any employment. his invention or patent would run of being to observe the planet Saturn, which will be very Mr. Barclay's Observatory, Leyton, Essex, is going It is needless to say that this idea has been upset through the imperfect wording or de- close to the sun during the eclipse, and he is dissipated, this delusion destroyed, fortunately scription of the specification, this being the going to try to ascertain by measurement whether never to recur. The cause of the incom- document which forms the consideration or the light from Saturn is refracted by its passage petency was not the fault of the student, as bargain between the inventor and the public. through the coronal envelope of the sun, if an he may have distinguished himself very highly He shows in a very sensible manner the im-envelope of the sun it be. Mr. R. Abbay, fellow during his college course in the theoretical portance of an inventor employing an agent and scientific branches, but was due to the of long experience and undoubted practice to fact that there was no opportunity afforded obtain his patent, and not to treat the matter him of acquiring the practical knowledge as one would a purchase over a counter. while pursuing his studies. This opportunity is provided in the Indian College, and, moreover, due care will be taken that it is availed of. Lindsay left the Thames in the steamship “ Lon don more than a fortnight ago, with a very large F.R.A.S., of the Meteorological Department of the of Wadham College, Oxford, and Captain Toynbee, Board of Trade, will be among the ten English observers stationed at Cadiz. Professors Pickering and Young, of one of the American expeditions, will also be at Cadiz, the former to do polariscopic work, and the other to observe with the spectroscope. The next convenient place of observation is Gibraltar, which, however, is thirty miles south of the centre of the dark part of the shadow The Telegraph Handbook† is extremely handy, containing, as it does, a large amount of information relating to telegraphy. Its chief purpose appears to be to instruct perThere is one more point of view in which sons in the official routine of the office. to regard this new enterprise, and that is the Copies of the usual forms for sending commercial one. Will it prove in that sense, messages are given, and the arrangements thrown by the moon; the duration of the total as well as in others, a success? We venture and operations of the signalling apparatus At Gibraltar, Mr. James Buckingham, F.R.A.S., phase at Gibraltar will be two minutes ten seconds. to predict it will. In plain language it offers are described with clearness, as well as the assisted by Mr. F. Beasley, will photograph the for an outlay of £600, spread over a paying construction and mode of repairing wires and total phase with a great refracting telescope, havterm of three years, a return per annum other delicate parts of the instruments. ing an acting aperture of 9in. He has also taken commencing with an income of £420. It will Telegraphy is becoming a trade or profession out with him a portable wooden house to be used of course be urged that students and pupils in the hands of the Post Office authorities, as a dark room in which to perform the photowill enter the college who may never gain and the staff of female clerks they employ, graphic operations; the lower end of the telethis return. The answer to this is, that if and those under probation, will find this book scope will pass through a large light-tight they are not possessed of sufficient ability to of great value towards educating them for win the prizes at their disposal, they do not deserve to gain them. One thing is certain that any boy who has an average share of intelligence and application can make his own way in the profession, and all his guardian will have to pay for him will be much less than what he would have to disburse for a university education, which in the end their duties. For general information of a domestic, official, and non-official character, we must **Specifications as Bases of Patents." By Mr. W. tioners' Hull Court. Price, 1s. 6d. (Weales' Rudimentary dark room. "sleeve in the side of the wooden house, so that all the photographic operations, including the exposure of the plates, will be carried on inside the A very long camera, with a lens of long focus, will be fixed to the outside of the tube of the telescope, so as to be moved by the same clockwork as that which drives the telescope; "Everybody's Year Book." WYMAN and SONS, Great Queen-street. Price, Gd. light, so that he will thus stand a good chance of In April, the mean pressure was in excess at all the stations except Aberdeen. It was greater in the south than in the north, in the east than in the west; indicating a mean direction of the wind from about W.S.W. The range of pressure was 977deg. at Valencia, and at 1.703deg. at Aberdeen, at which latter place both the maximum and minimum readings were registered. The mean temperature varied from 51·9deg. at Valencia to 46·1deg. at Aberdeen, and was above the average. The greatest range of temperature was 45deg. at Kew; the least, 25-8deg., at Falmouth. The freezing point was reached at Armagh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Kew. with this lens and camera, an attempt will be made to photograph the corona for a very great distance round the sun. The sappers or other assistants outside the photographic house will have to expose the plates in the camera during the total phase. In the middle of the totality, Mr. Buckingham will expose one of his plates at the chemical focus of the object-glass of the telescope for a long time, in order, if possible, to secure a picture of the corona, the light from which is much feebler than the light from the solar prominences. Mr. Ladd, the philosophical instrument maker, will be at Gibraltar making polariscopic observations. Professor Thorpe, of Anderson's University, Glasgow, will be at Gibral- The polariscopic observations are intended to In May, there was a deficiency of pressure. The tar making experiments to determine the amount determine whether the corona shines by reflected mean amount was greater in the north than in the of actinism during all parts of the eclipse. Cap-light or whether it is self-luminous. Suppose the south; in the east than in the west; from which tain J. P. Maclear, R.N., of the Royal Naval Col- light direct from the sun be polariscopically ex- we infer that the mean direction of the winds was lege, Portsmouth, will be stationed at Gibraltar amined, and then the light of the sun reflected from E.S.E. The highest pressure was registered to measure the apparent distance of Saturn from from a sheet of white paper, the polariscope will at Aberdeen, the lowest at Valencia, while the the sun during the total phase, in the endeavour show the difference between the two. Very pos- greatest range occurred at Stonyhurst, 1.359deg., to ascertain whether the solar atmosphere refracts sibly one part of the corona may shine by reflected the lowest at Aberdeen, 1·199deg. The minimum the rays of light reflected by Saturn. light and another part be self-luminous; to deter-readings were all registered on the 7th between mine this point the attention of different observers 3 and 4 a.m. The weather was colder than usual will be given to different parts of the corona. The in May, especially at the northern stations. Howchief object of the whole of the coronal observations ever, the mercury did not sink below the freezing is to determine whether the corona itself belongs point except at Aberdeen and Glasgow. The mean to the sun or is an optical effect produced by the temperature varied from 51.5deg. at Valencia, atmosphere of the earth. There is at present Falmouth, and Kew, to 44-3deg. at Aberdeen. The much division of opinion on these points, and greatest range, 33'4deg., was at Kew, the least, even after the observations are made there will 20-7deg., at Falmouth. probably be room for plenty of further arguments. Following the shadow thrown by the moon, the next eligible place of observation is Oran, in Africa; this town is nearly under the central line of the eclipse, and is also favourably situated in the very important particular of presenting a very good chance of having fine weather during the total phase. The duration of the total phase at Oran will be two minutes ten seconds. Among the observers who are on their way to Oran are Mr. William Huggins, F.R.S., Mr. William Crookes, F.R.S., Professor Tyndall, and Mr. CarAfter leaving Sicily the central line of the moon's penter. The work to be done at Oran is chiefly shadow will cross another stretch of ocean and polariscopic and spectroscopic in its nature. The enter Turkey in Europe as well as northern observers will leave H.M.S."Urgent" at Gibral- Greece. On the sea coast of Turkey the duration tar, and go on to Oran by the ordinary steam- of the total phase will be 1min. 42sec., and it will boat; at Oran they will have little time to fix begin at 11 43 o'clock, Greenwich time. Turkey their instruments, do their work, and come back is not only too far off to be a convenient place of again, in order to catch the "Urgent " before she observation but there are no large towns in it starts from Gibraltar on the return journey. scattered along the path of the eclipse, and but Oran is a town which was long in the possession of little is known of the country traversed by the the Spaniards, who built several churches therein, shadow. The path of the moon's shadow comes and added to its fortifications. It is pleasantly to an end in the neighbourhood of Russia and the situated at the foot of a mountain, and the sur-Black Sea. rounding scenery abounds in rocky precipices, Such are all the particulars we have at present orange plantations, and small streams. The in- to give about the eclipse of next Thursday, and habitants of the place are Turks, Moors, Christians, our readers, by taking a map and tracing the path of the eclipse through the towns mentioned in The path of the eclipse afterwards passes to this article, will be able, by the aid of the telethe south of Algeria, then bends northwards grams printed in the daily papers next Friday recrosses the Mediterranean and morning, to post themselves well up in all the passes through Sicily. A large party of observers particulars relating to the eclipse, as well as the have left London by the overland route to observe work done. The coronal spectroscope and much the eclipse in Sicily, and among the astronomers of the apparatus described in this article, was now on their way there are Mr. J. Norman Lock- made by Mr. John Browning, F.R.A.S., optician, yer, F.R.S.; Mr. C. E. Bowen, M.A., of Harrow of the Minories, and he has very generously lent School; Mr. J. Brett, 6, Pump-court, Temple, a great deal of valuable spectroscopic apparatus E.C.; Mr. A. Brothers, F.R.A.S., 14, St. Ann's- to different observers for the purpose of examining square, Manchester; Mr. W. K. Clifford, Fellow of the solar phenomena presented by the eclipse. Trinity College, Cambridge; Mr. G. H. Darwin, 14, Arlington-street, Piccadilly: Mr. George Griffiths, M.A., secretary to the British Association; Mr. W. A. Harris, B.A., New University Club, St. James-street; Mr. A. C. Ranyard, M.A., New Uni and Jews. once more, BRITISH METEOROLOGY. versity Club, St. James-street; Professor H. E. T May, and June Wosther Report" for April, In June, the pressure was above the average. The mean amount was greater in the south than in the north, in the west than in the east, and we infer the mean direction of the winds to have been north-westerly. The maximum pressure was registered at Valencia, the minimum at Glasgow. The greatest range was at Armagh, 1.027deg., the least at Valencia, 887deg. The temperature was slightly lower than the average. The mean varied from 56-8deg. at Valencia to 52deg. at Aberdeen. The greatest range, 41-4deg., was at Kew; the least, 23deg., at Falmouth. The lowest temperature recorded was 36-5deg. at Armagh. It will be noticed that the warm period of April was coincident with the westerly winds, the cold of May with easterly winds, and the slight deficiency of heat in June with the north-westerly winds. Deficient as this summary is in all that relates to wind, rain, cloud, and sunshine, such accurate particulars regarding the weather of the British Isles could not have been obtained elsewhere than in this weather report. There seems an anomaly to be accounted for in the greatest range of temperature being always at Kew, and the least always at Falmouth. We doubt the veracity of the thermograph at the latter place. Is its exposure bad, and if so, why continue it? No monthly returns are furnished relating to rain, or the duration of frost, which we have on a former occasion regretted. The duration of cold and warm periods, considered with reference to the average seasonal weather, might, we think, be pointed out more definitely with advantage. The state and progress dependent and their consideration migt on these conditions, Roscoe, F.R.S., Owen's College, Manchester; Mr. by the Meteorological Committee. Its prede- in connection with prevalent diseases, and the for the future. Then, again, they are interesting G. M. Seabroke, 24, New Ormond-street, Queen's-cessor was noticed in the MECHANICS' MAGAZINE square, W.C.; Mr. C. Vignoles, F.R.S., President for July 29th. We regret that the recommenda- rate of mortality. It would, indeed, confer addiof the Institution of Civil Engineers; and Mr. tions we then made have not been carried out in tional importance to the quarterly weather report Vignoles, C.E., 21, Duke-street, Westminster. In were the returns of mortality for England, Scotany particular. As regards the summary of the all, ten observers are on their way to Cadiz; twelve weather, or rather the notices of storms, with land, and Ireland given regularly and methodito Gibraltar, ten to Oran, and seventeen to Sicily. which it is almost exclusively occupied, there cally. There would be ample time for the reThe Sicilian party will do their work near Syra- seems to us to be large scope for improvement. gistrars to furnish them for each day or for five cuse, a town a few miles to the south of the The continual use of the term gradient, applied to day periods, or for each week as may be desirable. central line of the dark shadow; at Syracuse the the distribution of atmospheric pressure, is, to say attention to these statistics without difficulty, and Medical men and sanitarians could then turn their total phase will begin at twenty-seven minutes to the least, perplexing, as every time it occurs a twelve Greenwich time, and the duration will be mental calculation has to be made before an exact probably not without useful results. Desirous of one minute fifty-two seconds. idea can be formed of what is meant. It is defined placing before our readers the results of these to be:-"The amount of difference in barometri-weather statistics, now that the nation is so usecal readings over a given distance, calculated in fully maintaining these self-recording observations, we find our efforts impeded by the incompleteness hundredths of an inch per fifty geographical miles." We would prefer, for simplicity, the state- of this otherwise admirable weather report, and it ment of the actual difference between the readings Committee the consideration of the desiderata. They is only our duty to urge upon the Meteorological of barometers at different places without being called upon to associate it with the special fifty tion and force of wind; second, mean monthly temare, categorically, first, monthly resultant of direcmiles. We are at a loss to know what purpose it answers. Reference is occasionally made to ships' perature of evaporation; third, mean monthly reports without giving positions, which is very similar to the tabulations given for pressure and amount of rain-with their maxima and minima, objectionable. For instance, what is the use of stating, regarding the aurora of April 15th, temperature--at each of the observatories. "Captain Watson of the 'Palmyra' also recorded it," without giving latitude and longitude, or even particulars of what he saw. Of all the work to be done during next Thursday's eclipse perhaps the most important is that which will be performed by Mr. Norman Lockyer, who takes out some new apparatus specially constructed to examine the light from the corona with a spectroscope. This "coronal spectroscope has a single prism of great size, furnished with a slit the whole length of the prism-about 1in. Then there is an eyepiece with a very large field, which takes in the whole of the light passing through the slit and the prism. This "Kellner eyepiece gives a very wide field of view, so that with this apparatus Mr. Lockyer will be able to collect much light from the corona, and to see at a glance whatever may be taking place at any part of the spectrum. Attached to the slit he has a special contrivance for bringing into the field of view the spectrum of hydrogen and two or three metals at the same time as the spectrum of the coronal We have still to remonstrate that the mean direction and force of wind have not been calculated, so that they may be used correlatively with the mean pressure and mean temperature. THE number of visitors to the Patent Office Museum, South Kensington, for the week ending December 10, 1870, was 4,465. Total number since the opening of the Museum, free daily (May 12, 1858), 1,939,347. FEEDER FOR THRASHING MACHINES. APPARATUS FOR FEEDING THRASHING MACHINES. TEAM driven thrashing machines have for years past been looked upon by farm servants with dread and fear, on account of the large number of accidents that have occurred in different parts of the country by their use. Nearly every village and homestead has records of legs or arms being crushed or mangled by becoming entangled in the drum, through the proper measures being neglected to prevent the feeders getting too close to the revolving drum. During the months of August, September, and October, this year, no less than four fatal accidents have happened; and besides those, a woman had her leg torn off at Hedon, in Yorkshire, before assistance could be rendered, she having slipped in while feeding the machine. Legislative enactments have been provided with regard to factories, where all revolving or moving parts of machinery have to be guarded by rails or screens, but in the case of agricultural machinery little or no positive restrictions are in force. With a view to lessen the number of accidents, or to obviate them entirely, manufacturers are beginning to rail off or protect the moving parts by openworked screens, or to provide some other means of feeding and removing the substances under operation. Among the most recent inventions of this kind is the feeding apparatus applied to the thrashing machines of Messrs. Robey and Co., of Lincoln-one of which was exhibited at the Smithfield Club cattle show last week. It will be seen by the above engraving how it is fitted to the mouth of an ordinary thrashing machine, so that the attendance of any person near the drum is entirely dispensed with, the feeding taking place from the feeder itself after the straw has been placed upon the travelling belt. The outer end of the feeder is supported by a davit or crane arm arranged in suitable eyes or sockets on the top of the frame, and a rope tackle so that it can be raised to suit the height of the stack and lowered as the stack is reduced. The motion of the belt, which is fitted with spikes or pins to keep the straw upon it, is derived from a strap working over a pulley and driven from one of the ordinary shafts, or by a separate one. The bundle or sheaf of straw, after being carried into the machine and over the drum within a box or hood, is received by claws which lead it down the hopper until it is caught by the drum and operated upon in the usual manner. The action of the claws divides and opens out the bundle, so that clogging is avoided. The introduction of this feeding mechanism to thrashing machines is of great importance, as will be gathered from the foregoing remarks; and we hope to see it universally adopted not only on those machines, but on others where such could be arranged. The feeder has been patented by Messrs. Bell and Roper, from whom Messrs. Robey and Co. have taken a sole licence. We have not referred to the advantages to be derived from its use, as any practical farmer will see those at a glance. One of the men at least would not be required, a large amount of corn would be saved, which is now wasted, besides the great regularity of the feed; these all pointing to its value, should be considered accordingly. NOTES BY QUIDNUNC. Civil Service in England." The lecture embraced, in addition to the topics indicated by the title, notices of the early state of education in England, the Reform bills of 1832 and 1867, the education question, ignorance an incentive to crime, England and America-a contrast, changes in the Civil Service, and capital and labour, with their relations. Mr. Mundella was received with great applause, and his oration was listened to with the deepest interest. His eloquent peroration is worth quotation:-"And now my task is ended. No words of mine can express--I wish my tongue could utter-the thoughts that arise within me. No words of mine can express the kindness I have received from all classes since I have been among yon. I return to my English home delighted with the American people. But if there is a fault in the republican government of your country it is magnified THE latest news from the seat of war induces when it gets to Europe, and we, liberals, hear doubts whether any kind or quantity of mu- them. May Heaven guard the altar in which nitions of war can now save France. Whether the fires of liberty flame in this country. (Great or not the Americans are driving a brisk trade cheering) And while I thank you and thank with the French in war stores. The "Lafayette" the many friends I see around me for the more is either on the seas or has arrived at a French than kindness I have received at their hands, for port with the third cargo of arms from New York the affectionate welcome I have always had from to France. This cargo is valued at nearly a million them, I pray most sincerely that God will bless dollars, and consists of 1,900 cases of Springfield this country and this people, and when you hear muskets, 9,220 cases of cartridges, 22 cases of or speak of me you may say of me as was said of carbines, 5 pieces of artillery, 36 cases of revolvers, the Roman of old-'He never despaired for the 633 cases of guns, and one case of ammunition. republic.'" (Great cheering.) Among the guns are seven of the Gothic pattern, and the rifles and muskets are the Remington and Springfield arm. This is the tenth cargo of arms that has left New York since the war commenced. The Springfield muskets sent by the "Lafayette" were packed 20 in each case, making 38,000, and the cases of Remingtons contained the same number, or 12,660, or 50,660 rifles and muskets alone in one consignment, exclusive of the other stores. The "Ville de Paris" was to follow with a similar cargo for Havre of all places! What power will hold Havre when the vessel arrives? According to present appearances the French are really purchasing these stores to stock Prussian arsenals. The public utterances of ministers and members of Parliament at home during the recess attract a considerable degree of attention. Few of these are more worthy of note and comment than the admirable addresses that Mr. Mundella, member for Sheffield, has been delivering recently in the United States. One of his last public appearances in New York was to deliver a lecture at the Cooper Union on "Strikes, Arbitration, and the America is a great country, doubtless. It has the longest railways, the largest lakes, the tallest trees, the biggest waterfall, and-the most audacious robberies in the world. In a recent New York paper accounts were given of the robbery of the Treasury, robbery of a bank porter in the street, and of a gang of desperadoes actually stopping a train on the Pacific railway, putting it back a few miles, and rifling it of the treasure it conveyed. Some of the robbers have since been captured by the Mormons, and hopes are entertained that the greater part of the money will be recovered. There have been bullion robberies and thefts of treasure in the old country, but they have, for the greater part, been conducted with greater skill than this, more scientifically so to speak, with a greater expenditure of brain power than of muscular energy. The result of the late census in the States has been unsatisfactory, the figures do not come out "tall" enough, and in many places it is being taken over again. Ohio shows a population of 2,652,302, a gain of only 312,791 in the last ten years. The six states of New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rho de Island, and Connecticut) show a total population of 3,482,001, against 3,125,283 in 1860. New Hampshire shows a slight falling off, attributable to the war and to emigration. exact time being kept that they laid down a rule o'clock. As regards these stipulations the last is certainly observed, simply because work throughout the Arhours on other days are very irregular, the clock is not exact, and until recently no notice was put up, so it appears clearly that although private individuals are hunted down and prosecuted for such offences, the authorities, who should be particular to set a good example, set the law at defiance and lead the public to suppose they consider all such establishments above supervision, and in no way affected by the salutary Act a paternal Government evidently framed to be enforced everywhere. Now, this is very serious, and we can well imagine what they will say who have been prosecuted, for unless justice be even-handed there can be no justice at all. elastic fluid may vary, so long as there is sufficient pressure for the load on the engine, and thus not only securing the safety of the engine in cases of accident to the machinery which the engine may be driving, but also great economy in the materials operated upon when applied to manufacturing purposes, as steady and uniform motion is of great importance in almost every branch thereof. Fig. 1 is an elevation of a horizontal high pressure and condensing steam engine; fig. 2 is a plan in section of part of the same; figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are detached views of parts of the improve ments. In figs. 1 and 2, a is the steam cylinder, which is surrounded by a steam jacket al to prevent condensation; b is the piston; c, the piston rod; vided with a shut off valve el; f is the exhaust pipe leading to the condenser, and g is the governor; the parts above enumerated are made in any approved manner. The supply valves h h, and the exhaust valves i i, are made with back plates h1 and il to remove the pressure and to balance the valves. The supply valves are acted upon by the plungers h2, which pass through stuffing boxes in the casing of the valve boxes, or by springs, or by plungers and springs combined, or other equivalents. Upon the crank shaft d is fixed the eccentric dl for working the slide valves h by means of the eccentric rod h3 shown by dotted lines in fig. 1, the lever h4, and rod h5, which is jointed to the lever kl fixed to the axle k, which will be described hereafter, and to the crank motion shaft d is also fixed the eccentric d2, which gives to the exhaust valves by the rod 13, lever i4, and rod i5, which is jointed to the lever i6 fixed to the shaft 27, to which is also fixed the lever i8, connected by links to the spindles of the exhaust valvos i, or the supply and exhaust valves may be worked in any other convenient manner to suit the particular class of engine. It would be disingenuous and discreditable to deny to the Americans the credit due to them for their noble institutions. The stupendous magnitude of the railway system of the United States is partly indicated by a remarkable "international convention" of railway conductors that has just been held in Philadelphia in connection with the business of "The Railroad Conductors' Life Insurance Company of the United States and the Canadas." The delegates, about 200 passengers and freight conductors, or, as we should say, passenger and goods guards, were warmly wel-senal ceases at two o'clock every Saturday, but thed, the crank shaft; e, the steam supply pipe procomed to Philadelphia by the Governor, J. W. Geary, and by his honour Mayor Fox. Special trains were placed at the disposal of the delegates and their wives by the directors of all the companies with lines radiating from Philadelphia; the use of the Pacific and Atlantic telegraph wires was offered free; the opera house and other places of amusement gave special complimentary entertainments to the delegates; proprietors of the great industrial establishments invited the delegates to inspect them; ministers of religion of various denominations attended and opened the meetings of the convention by prayer, and the whole proceedings reflected the greatest credit upon all concerned. An eloquent annual address was delivered by Conductor Seymour, and the business was got through with great success by the help of the various committees on credentials, finance, grievances, bye-laws, complimentary invitations, &c. The motto of the conductors seemed to be business first and pleasure afterwards, and many of the invitations had to be declined with thanks. There are about 3,400 members in this admirable provident association, which provides a sum at the death of its members and relief in cases of disability for ordinary duty. An amusing illustration of the Barnum element in connection with the convention is given by the editor of a New York paper, which gives a report of the proceedings. He writes leading article which begins and ends, "How is this for high?" The gist of the article is that the annual subscription for the paper is three dollars, and that the retail price of a "beautiful book, recently written and published by the editor, is also three dollars. The editor engages to hand over one dollar to the society for every annual subscriber the members get to his paper, and one dollar for every copy of his book that they buy or induce others to purchase. He finishes by asking, "How is this for high? Our ideas of the dignity of the press lead us to think that the question should have been, "How is this for low?" THE GOVERNMENT AND THE FACTORY WHEN the Factory Act was passed into law, we W congratulated ourselves that the Legislature had done a good and humane work that would at once, and for ever, put an end to the grinding-down At first, when the "Standard" raised a manly protest against this infraction of the law, we were disposed to think that the Government were not directly responsible, and that it would transpire that lessly offended; but such an idea can no longer be some of their subordinates had wantonly or careheld, as the Home Secretary himself has been personally communicated with, at least two weeks ago, and no reply has been given, while the children are worked over hours, and kept away from school as before. Altogether it is very strange, and especially that a Government which takes up the question of education so strongly should allow its The machinery for giving motion to the supply schools in its own establishments to be closed while the pupils are worked night and day in spite of valves so as to work the steam expansively by little fellow, who had worked from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and to regulate the cut off by the governor, is as their own legislation. Some few weeks ago a poor cutting it off at the required portion of the stroke, feeling ill asked to be allowed to go home and was follows:-The spindle of each valve h is connected main, and directly he arrived home he was put to an enlarged scale in fig. 3, and in section in refused till it was seen he really was too ill to re- by a link to one of the discs j1, shown on bed; but still, no medical man from the establish- fig. 4; these discs are loose on the axle k, which ment went to attend upon him, simply because is supported in journals in the plate a2 and there is no certifying surgeon to that immense establishment, and the little fellow had some medicine bridle a3 fixed to the cylinder casing. from a local practitioner, who sent his stuff without disc j1 is a notch or recess j2 into which the seeing the lad, and the consequence of such dread-points of the catches enter; these catches are seems anything but a supported by the double lever m keyed on the ful blundering-which Christian way of doing things was that the little shaft k, and shown in figs. 4 and 5, but they are fellow died at 8 o'clock, truly a victim to a very bad free to move up and down in the said lever, the system. At an inquest subsequently held the jury pin m passing through a slot in each catch to precauses," and the jurors oue and all expressed their catches 7 are lifted out of the notches j2 by the vent them rising or falling too much. The disgust at what had transpired in evidence-and inclines on the levers n loose on the shaft k, or well they might; but what can be said to the fact that the system remains just as it was then, notwith-on bosses of j1, and shown in figs. 4, 6, and 7; standing ? one of these levers, shown in fig. 6, is provided with a pointer and a graduated segment is fixed to the plate a2 to indicate the amount of cut the said notches the discs j1 being released allow off. As soon as the catches are lifted out of the valves h to be instantly closed by the pressure of the steam upon the plungers h2, or by returned a verdict that deceased died from "natural We know it will be said there is a pressure for war materials, and that cartridges, &c., must be had, hands taken on? There are plenty of girls and but surely that is no excuse; and why are not more boys of a proper age for such work to be had if sought for. In each systems hitherto too frequently carried out in large facts, and hope the publicity given to them will in- springs or plungers and springs combined as manufacturing and other establishments, where children of tender years had been compelled to wear out their young lives in incessant toil, week in and week out, without regard to their healths, their morals, and their education; and the prosecutions that followed the passing of the Act gave us some hope that its provisions would be firmly enforced wherever any infringements could be detected and proved, without favour or exception. It seems, however, that we have been too sanguine and too confident, and we are sorry to confess that, although we have inspectors and sub-inspectors, with decently-paid salaries, backed up with all the power the law gives, there still exists, under the very nose of the Home Secretary, and in one of our largest Government establishments, the same improper employment of children during prohibited hours, in open defiance of the law; and, although protests have been made by those who are in possession of the facts, no notice is taken, and no stop put to such an iniquitous, detestable practice. It will doubtless seem strange, after all that has been said and done, to know that such is the case; but it is a lamentable, incomprehensible fact that, in the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, large numbers of young persons are employed in the laboratory department from six o'clock in the morning to as late as seven, eight, and nine o'clock in the evening, and that most of these are mere children under thirteen years of age. Now, the Act says that any children under thirteen years shall not be so employed, and so particular were the framers of the Act as to the We write these remarks in full knowledge of the duce the authorities to do themselves justice by doing justice to their little workpeople, who have right to expect paternal treatment at their hands.From the Ironmonger and Metal Trades' Adver tiser." a above referred to, but this action, although nearly instantaneous, does not produce any injurious shock, owing to the toggle joint formed by the link and disc coming into a straight line, as shown to the right of fig. 1. The time for releasing or liberating the valves must be varied according to the load on the engine or to the IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES. pressure of the steam, and this is effected by the CCORDING to a patent recently obtained by governor in the following manner. The governor Mr. R. Wilson, of Messrs. Nasmyth and Co., is driven by the shaft o, to which motion is comPatricroft, Manchester, it is proposed to cut off municated by the crank shaft as usual; at the the supply of steam or other elastic fluid at any end of the shaft is fixed the bevel wheel ol. The portion of the stroke of the engine within certain wheel ol gears into the wheel g1 fixed to the limits so as to work the steam or other elastic shaft of the governor g, the wheel g1 gears into fluid expansively, and which will in due propor- the wheel p2, the boss of which revolves in a tion give out the power required; secondly, in fixed bearing. The shaft p passes through the making the supply and exhaust valves perfectly boss of the wheel p2; this shaft revolves in a fixed balanced, or free from acting pressure, which not bearing p4 and in a hole in the end of the shaft only economises fuel but adds to the safety in o. To the shaft p is fixed the clutch box pl, working as well as reducing to the minimum the which takes alternately into clutches on the wear and tear of the valves and valve gear, and in wheels ol and p2. Upon the shaft p is also fixed order to obtain a more perfect command over the the worm p3 gearing into the tooth segment q, supply and exhaust valves they may be worked forming part of or fixed to the lever ql; this independently of each other; thirdly, in attaching lever by means of the link q2, elbow lever r, and the cut off apparatus direct to the governor or to rod r1, is connected to the two elbow levers r2, either a screw or hydraulic differential regulator and the horizontal arms of these elbow levers are by which the motion of the engine is so regulated connected by the links r3 to the levers n. that the same number of strokes in a given time can be obtained, whatever the load may be or however much the pressure of steam or other The mode of varying the cut off by the governor is as follows:-The sliding bush g2 forming part of the governor acts on the lever g3, from which depends the weighted rod g4, the lower end of of the shaft p; this motion of the clutch box pl driver and turns the shaft p round in the con- In the engine above described, the supply valves are worked independently of the exhaust valves, but sometimes they may be worked together |