worked by a winch, &c., actuated by the guard, who, when 2638. W. LEA. A method of lubricating cocks and taps. plate, through which and the whole breech of the gun This consists in constructing an apparatus so that the current of gas before issuing from the burner may have its velocity retarded by passing through a tortuous passage. It consists also in the use for retarding the velocity of the gas, of a button or mushroom-shaped stud or deflector, supported only by its stalk or central stem, and not touching the internal surface of the pipe or cavity which contains it. It also consists in the use of the said button or mushroom-shaped deflector as a substitute for a small disc or plate of metal placed transversely across, and dividing an Expansion chamber used for rarefying and expanding the gas, and for raising the temperature thereof. Patent completed. 233. C. F. VASSEROT. Improvements in fire-arms and erdnance, and in the projectiles to be used therewith. (A communication.) Dated November 20, 1858. This method of constructing cannon consists in, 1, a base of cast iron, steel, or wrought iron. 2. A case of metal composition composed of 90 parts copper, 9 parts tin, and I part lead, cast round the base. 3. Two or more layers of bands or hoops of wrought iron enclosing the above united metals. The hoops are formed with a male and female screw, and screw one into the other so as to form a perfect cylinder; they are put on to the gun when expanded by heat. Patent completed. 2634. D. ROWAN and S. ROBERTSON. Improvements in steam engines. Dated November 20, 1858. An engine, or a set of engines, constructed according to a portion of this invention comprises one or more duplex eylinders. Each duplex cylinder consists of an outer nalar cylinder combined with a central cylinder or evtindrical space. Pistons working in the central and annular cylinders are connected by their piston rods to a Cross head, or to the crank shaft, in such way as to work together. According to one modification the supply of steam to the cylinders is governed by a valve or valves so that the steam from the boiler first enters the central cylinder, next passes thence to the opposite end of the anular cylinder, and finally passes from the annular cylinder into the condenser. Another portion of the invention relates to an arrangement of valvular mechanism specially designed for application to the duplex cylinders, but also applicable to other double-cylinder expansive engines. There are several modifications included. Patent abandoned. 2535. H. ELLIS. Improvements in machinery or apparatus for cultivating, cleaning, and pulverizing land. Dated November 20, 1558. This consists of a wood or iron frame mounted upon a pair of large wheels the tyres of which are provided with movable teeth or spikes, which are to be taken out when the apparatus is travelling along roads, and inserted when nase on the land for increasing the bite of the wheels. A pair of ordinary draught shafts are fitted to the frame, and the whole drawn by horses; or it may be adapted for traction by steam power. The actual cultivator consists of mae or more cylinders fitted with curved spikes and carned in a vibrating frame centred so as to work freely on th: main axle as a fulcrum. Suspending chains are conDected to the after end of the vibrating frame, and are ased over an overhead roller fitted with a ratchet wheel and detent apparatus and cross arms for elevating the erlinders. A rotary motion is imparted to the cylinders from the running wheels by toothed gearing. Patent compicted. 3. C. TOMLINSON. Improvements in stop taps or DE.CA. Dated November 20, 1858. This relates to valves or taps which close by the motion of a raive or plug which is bedded in or removed from its iting, and which is arranged so that the valve or plug opens against the pressure of the fluid the supply of which to be regulated. That this valve or plug may be removed when required without opening the passage for the fud the patentee fits another similar valve in combina with the first mentioned, so that it stops the passage when the primary valve is closed, as also when it is removed from its seating. Patent completed. 337. C. CUIT. Improvements in railway brakes. Dated November 20, 1858. This brake is formed of two lever or hollow beams bete which the wheels of the vehicle rotate. These beams are united by transverse pieces, forming together with the ben a frame of four sides suspended by rods or chains cated to the framework of the carriage. This frame is This consists in lubricating the plugs both above and below, or either above and below the liquid way through one or more apertures made in the barrel above and below the liquid way, or either above or below it, which apertures open into a reservoir formed on the outside of the barrel, which reservoir is to be kept supplied with oil, or other lubricating material, and is closed at top by a screw, or other stopper. Patent completed. 2639. R. A. BROOMAN. Improvements in the manufac ture of dolls, statuettes, figures of animals, and others, and toys. (A communication.) Dated November 20, 1858. This consists in formning dolls and other figures in vulcan- closed ball of caoutchouc is placed in the mould, and the Im 1385. C. Pooley, of Manchester, Cotton Spinner. provements in machinery for preparing to spin, and for spinning cotton and other fibrous materials. 1387. P. Salmon, of Glasgow, Merchant. Improvements in valves for pumps and other uses. 1389. W. H. Dorman, of Old Broad-st., and C. Cowper, 1391. J. Greenfield, of Oxford. Improvements in fas- Dated June 8, 1859. 1397. J. N. Royer, Tailor, of Paris. Improvements in 1399. C. W. Eddy, of Kegworth, Leicester, Master of Arts. An improvement in reaping machines. 1401. J. E. Ashby, of Enfield, Bachelor of Arts. Improvements in sights for fire-arms. Dated June 9, 1859. 1403. G. Bartholomew, of Linlithgow, Edge Tool Maker. tures. 1405. E. Welsford, of Bona, Algeria, Proprietor. Improvements in tanning. Dated June 10, 1859. 1406. T. Greenshields, of Little Titchfield-st. Improvements in purifying gas and obtaining ammoniacal and other salts. 1407. M. J. Haines, of Dursley, Strap Maker. Improvements in the manufacture of driving straps or bands." 1408. G. J. Farmer, of Birmingham, Machinist, and G. 1409. A. F. Haas, of Camomile-st., Merchant. 1414. W. Donbavand, of Manchester, Scale-beam Maker, and D. Crichton, of the same place, Machinist. Improvements in looms for weaving. 1415. J. James, of Lambeth, Engineer. Improvements in obtaining and applying motive power. 1416. F. Palling, of Lambeth, Clerk. Improvements in the construction of lamps for the purpose of burning tallow, grease, or oils, either singly or in combination. 1417. T. F. Henley, of Pimlico. Improvements in obtaining alcohol or spirit from rice and other grain, and in apparatus for that purpose. 1418. H. J. Nicoll, Merchant Tailor, of Regent-st. Improvements in trowsers. 1419. A. V. Newton, of Chancery-lane. An improvement in fire-arms. A communication from C. T. Pierson. 1420. F. A. R de Beauregard, of Paris, Civil Engineer. Certain improvements in generating steam, and in apparatus for obtaining power and in generating steam for other purposes. 1421. G. C. Ash, of Hampstead. Improvements in the manufacture of artificial teeth. Dated June 13, 1859. 1422. B. Baugh, of Birmingham, manager. Certain improvements in apparatus or machinery for raising metals. 1423. H. L. Corlett, of Inchicore, Dublin, Engineer. Improvements in rails, and the permanent way of railways, parts of such improvements being applicable to common roads. 1424. O. Maggs, of Bourton, Dorset. Improvements in washing machines. 1425. A. Smith, of Brixton. Improvements in bleaching and purifying bees' wax. 1426. C. N. Kottula, of Liverpool, Soap Manufacturer. A means of cleansing or purifying the "Thames." 1427. J. T. Smets, of Plaçamen, France, Distiller. Improvements in the manufacture of vinegar from grain and other vegetable products containing saccharine matter, and from a refuse product obtained in the manufacture of starch; also in apparatuses employed therein. 1428. A. V. Newton, of Chancery-lane. Improvements in the fitting of life and other boats. A communication from M. Ludlum. 1429. W. E. Newton, of Chancery-lane. Improvements in the manufacture of piled fabrics, and in the machinery employed in such manufacture. A communication from C. Miller. Dated June 14, 1859. 1430. G. Smith, of Newington. Improvements in hatbands. 1431. W. Brown, jun., of Selkirk, Manufacturer, and S. Bathgate, of the same place, Engineer. Improvements in machinery or apparatus for carding and treating or preparing fibrous materials. 1432. J. Dixon, of Bishopwearmouth, Durham, Engineer. Improvements in puddling steel. 1433. J. Cowan, of Barnes, Soap Manufacturer. An improved soap. 1434. J. Wansbrough, of Bridge-st., Southwark, Manufacturer, and A. Bain, of Clerkenwell-green, Telegraph Engineer. Improvements in effecting communications between parts of railway trains. 1435. A. MacDonald, of Manchester, Engineer. Certain improvements in machinery or apparatus for punching patterns or devices upon metallic printing rollers or cylinders. Dated June 15, 1859. 1436. E. J. Maumené, Professor of Chemistry, and V. Rogelet, Merchant, of Reims, France. Using the "suint," or the portion soluble in water of the greasy substance found on the skin and hair of sheep for the purpose of manufacturing potash and other products. 1437. A. V. Newton, of Chancery-lane. Improvements in the manufacture of polishing wheels, sticks, and tools. A communication from T. J. Mayall. Dated June 16, 1859. 1439. J. Taylor, of Aberdeen, Joiner. Improvements in planes or cutting tools for working in wood." 1440. S. Levy, of Manchester, Cap Manufacturer. Improvements in hats, caps, or coverings for the head. 1441. E. T. Hughes, of Chancery-lane. An improved night-lamp clock. A communication from L. Montanari. 1442. J. Luis, of Welbeck-st. A new syphon meter for liquids. A communication from A. Grenet." 1443. J. Luis, of Welbeck-street. An apparatus for regulating individually the pressure, expenditure, and light in gas burners. A communication from E. Ferguson. 1445. W. Birkmyre, of Port Glasgow, Manufacturer. Improvements in drying, treating, and preparing yarns or thread. 1447. C. H. Waring, of Neath Abbey, Glamorgan, Mining Engineer. Improvements in safety lamps. 1448. C. Wilkinson, of Slaithwaite, York, Merchant. Improvements in doubling or twisting silk, cotton, worsted, linen, or woollen yarns, or yarns from any other fibrous substance. 1449. T. E. Tallent, of Southwark-bridge-road, Engineer. Improvements in the manufacture of leather, and in machinery for that purpose. 1452. H. F. Smith, of Manchester, Agent. Improvements in the manufacture of driving straps or bands. 1454. A. V. Newton, of Chancery-lane. Improvements Improve-in casting cylinders and tubes. A communication from F. Improve- 1412. W. Sellers, of Philadelphia, Engineer. Improve ments in ovens for baking bread or other substances, which improvements are also applicable for drying, annealing, and other analogous purposes. Adams. 1455. J. Harmer, of Brighton, Gentleman, and W. Parsons, of the same place. Improvements in fire-arms. 1456. T. Cattell, of Euston-sq., Doctor of Medicine. Improvements in the manufacture of varnish and lacker. Dated June 17, 1859. 1457. T. Orrell, jun., of Bolton-le-Moors, Cotton Spinner. Certain improvements in mules for spinning. 1458. H. Evette, of Lisieux, France, Manufacturer. A new system of bedding. 1459. E. T. Hughes, of Chancery-lane. Improvements in treating and decomposing fatty substances. A communication from C. Leroy and J. J. M. Durand. 1460. W. H. Hammersley, of Leek, Silk Dyer. Improvements in stringeing, glossing, or finishing silk, and apparatus employed therein. A communication from J. Leigh. 1461. D. Deas, of Carncil, Fife, Farmer. Improvements in reaping machines. 1462. R. A. Brooman, of 166 Fleet-st., London, Patent Agent. Improvements in generating anhydrous steam, and in apparatuses employed therein and connected therewith. A communication from C. M. C. Duplay. 1463. C. F. Vasserot, of Essex-st., Strand. Improvements in the construction of stereoscopes. A communication from H. A. Corbin. 1464. J. J. L. Guiblet, of Wilmington-sq. in watches. Improvements 1465. A. V. Newton, of Chancery-lane. Improved means for assorting substances of different specific gravities. A communication from D. Marchal. 1466. J. Combe, of Leeds, Engineer, and R. Smalpage, of the same place, Woollen Draper. Improvements in winding and spinning machinery, and in arranging and securing a uniform delivery from cops, to be used as weft or warp or for other purposes. PATENTS APPLIED FOR WITH COMPLETE 1444. L. Barroux, of Paris. A new system of rail-road, supported on iron soles, with or without wood being used. Dated June 16, 1859. 1451. M. A. F. Mennons, of Paris. An improved kiln for brick and plaster burning. A communication from A. Mombrun. Dated June 16, 1859. 1453. E. A. Cutler, of Connecticut. A new and useful machine for making horse-shoes. A communication from C. H. Perkins. Dated June 16, 1859. NOTICES OF INTENTION TO PROCEED WITH PATENTS. (From the London Gazette, June 28, 1859.) 154. J. Fawcett. Food for cattle. 420. W. Raymond. Life-raft. 421. J. Paterson. Brace buckles, loops, and braces. 447. F. W. Emerson. Treating ores of lead. 465. C. F. Vasserot. Carding machines. A communica tion. No. Pr. No. Pr. 467. F. P. J. Van den Ouwelant. Fire-places. 471. T. Wilson. Ordnance. 474. P. Spence. Alum. 475. R. Jobson. Lubricating bearings. 484. J. Hinc. Book-slide. 486. R. A. Brooman. Fixing tannin; dyeing. A communication. 490. S. Ridge. Joints of pipes. 500. R. Mushet. Metallic compound. 501. R. Mushet. Cast steel. 504. A. Lançon, jnn. Watches. 512. C. W. Siemens, Telegraphs. Partly a communication. 513. W. McNaught. Steam-engines. 520. J. Lee. Ploughs. 523. E. Gatwood. Springs. 525. A. Martin. Weaving. 1413. M. H. Picciotto. Motive power. 1415. J. James. Motive power. 1431. W. Brown, jun. Carding fibrous materials. 1451. M. A. F. Mennons. Kiln. A communication. 1453. E. A. Cutler. Horse shoes. A communication. The full titles of the patents in the above list can be ascertained by referring back to their numbers in the list of provisional protections previously published. Opposition can be entered to the granting of a patent to any of the parties in the above list who have given notice of their intention to proceed, within twenty-one days from the date of the Gazette in which the notice appears, by leaving at the Commissioners' office particulars in writing of the objection to the application. 6 26570 3 2601 0 6 26130 8 26240 3 26580 3 26020 3 26140 3 26260 5 2637 0 10 2648 1 0 2659 0 3 2603 0 9 26150 3 2627 0 3 26380 5 2649 0 4 26600 10 2604 0 426160 3 26280 726390 3 26500 627730 7 26051 6 261608 NOTE. Specifications will be forwarded by post from the Great Seal Patent Office (publishing department) on receipt of the amount of price and postage. Sums exceeding 5s. must be remitted by Post Office Order, made payable at the Post Office, High Holborn, to Mr. Bennet Woodcroft, Great Seal Patent Office, LIST OF MISCELLANEOUS TENDERS INVITED, AND ENGAGEMENTS OPEN. The tenders and vacancies which appear in this weekly list are not repeated in succeeling numbers. BRITISH IRON, East India Company.-Particulars at the Secretariat office, where the proposals are to be left before 11 forenoon, July 5. GAS PIPES, Bilston Gas Company.-Cast iron, spigott, and socket pipes, as follows:-2,250 yards 8-in. pipes, weight per yard, 126 lbs., 750 pipes.; 780 yards 5-in. pipes, weight per yard, 70 lbs., 260 pipes. Of an equal thickness throughout and sound, under 250 lbs. to the inch. Further information Mr. John Mudie, Resident Engineer, the Works, Moxley, Wednesbury. Tenders stating price per ton, July 14. CAISSON, Leith-For the entrance to the graving dock. Drawings, &c., Mr. Robertson, Resident Engineer, Dock Works, Leith. Tenders to John Phin, Clerk to the Commission, 13 Herod's Row, Edinburgh, July 16. SEWERS, Mile End Old Town.-For the construction of sewers in certain streets in the east ward of the hamlet. Drawings with the Surveyor at the Town House. Tenders, with names of two sureties of £300, before 3 o'clock July 6, to Thos. Price, Clerk to the Vestry. SEWERAGE WORKS, Warrington, Contracts, 8 and 9. Drawings, &c., Mr. B. P. Coxon, borough engineer. Separate tenders, July 13, to chairman of Paving and Sewerage Committee. BARRACK WORKS, Chatham.-1. Stripping, repairing, and slating 5 roofs at the carriage store, Gun-wharf, Chatham. 2. Erecting tower and water tank at Brompton Barracks, Chatham. Information, Royal Engineers' office, Chatham Lines, Kent. Tenders, July 9. WORKHOUSE, Machynlleth.-Whole or portion of new workhouse. Drawings, &c., board-room. Bills, Mr. J. E. Oates, architect, York. Tenders, July 6. CITADEL, Dover.-Extensive excavations in and raising the parapets of the citadel. Information Royal Eng neer's Office, Dover, July 5. No date given. GASHOLDER, Gateshead.-100 ft. diameter, 20 ft. deep. Specifications Mr. J. Bourne, engineer, of North Eastern Railway, Central Station, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. July 6. ROADS, Norwood.-For the excavations, earthwork, drains, and culvert required in the formation and metalling of roads to be formed on the White Horse estate, Norwood. Drawings, &c., Messrs. Burrell, Surveyors, 14 Lincoln's Inn Fields. July 5. CEMETERY, Walcot, Salop.-For chapels, lodge, entrance gates and boundary walls. Drawings, &c., Messrs. Dickes and Isaacs, 13 Northgate-street, Bath. Tenders July 11. WORKHOUSE, East Grinstead, Sussex.-Drawings, &c., Mr. S. F. Cox, 22 Henrietta-street, Covent Garden; of whom and of Mr. W. Lass, further particulars. Tenders 1 o'clock July 7. PARSONAGE HOUSE, Nantygw, Newport, Mcnmouthshire.— Plans, &c., Rev. J. Morgan, Nantygw. Estimates to Mr. Norton, 24 Old Bond-street, London, July 9. FARM HOUSE, &c., Horsham-park Estate, Sussex.-Plans, &c., Kingshead, Horsham. Tenders, July 5. HOUSES, Bishop Canning's Estate, Wiltshire.-Erection of cottages, farm premises, and alterations and repairs at farms. Plans, Crown Inn, Bishop's Canning's. July 4. FARM HOUSE, &c., Earnshill Estate, Somerset.-Plans, &c., Mr. Hilliers, Donyatt, near Ilmington. July 9. STONE, Leamington.-1,000 tons of the best hand-picked Hartshill, and 15 tons of Hartshill rough grouse for macadamizing, at the Tachbrook-road wharf, Leamington, in quantities, during the next three months. Tenders, the Surveyor, Town Hall, July 4. DESIGNS FOR CEMETERY, Great Malvern.-Lithographed plan of the ground, and rules, of the Churchwardens. No date given. FLINTS AND BROKEN GRANITE, Bethnal Green.-2,000 yards of picked Kent flints, broken to a two-inch guage, at the vestry's wharf, Old Ford-road, pursuant to specifications of the surveyor, Town Hall. Tenders with a £10 note at the office of the vestry clerk, Town Hall, Bethnal Green, July 6. Also 2,000 yards of broken granite. Conditions and time for tenders same as for flints. COAL, Pancras Workhouse.-500 tons of Lambton or Stewart's Wallsend, and 300 tons of good strong furnace. Tenders, 2 o'clock, July 12. COAL, Tunbridge Wells Gas Company.-2,000 tons of Harvey Main gas, at per ton, in periodical deliveries. Tenders, 6 p.m., July 13. COKE, London, Brighton, and South Coast.-For the supply of 3,000 tons of the best locomotive, to be delivered at their option alongside Deptford, Newhaven, or Kingston wharfs, near Shorcham. Delivery to commence at once, in portions of not less than 300 nor more than 500 tons per month. A separate price to be quoted at each place. Quantities approved one month to be paid for in the next. Further particulars, Mr. J. C. Craven, Brighton terminus. Tenders by 10 A.M., July 7. WORKING OF COKE OVENS, London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway.-The contractor to supply the coal and to keep the ovens in repair. The produce to be 212 tons per week. Ovens, New Cross. Term, 12 months, commencing August 1. At per ton, delivered into the waggons at the siding adjoining the ovens: to which siding the coal will be conveyed, free of charge to the contractor, from the Company's wharf at Deptford. Particulars, Mr. J. C. Craven, Brighton Terminus. Tenders, by 10 A.M., July 7. SURVEYOR, &c., Aldershott. To act as inspector of nuisances, and collector of rates also, for the parish of Aldershott. Salary, £50 per annum. Candidates to attend at the meeting of the Board of Health, Aldershott, at eleven, July 5. THE MECHANICS' MAGAZINE. LONDON, FRIDAY, JULY 8, 1859. THE IRON STEAM FRIGATES OR Nor can we leave this point without mentioning that the writer under notice has unwittingly dealt a heavy blow to the scheme of Admiral Sartorious. The question which the former has sarcastically put to the Admiralty really addresses itself to that gallant officer. How does he propose to clear his "ram" of her own wreck of masts and spars? This is for him to answer, because the running down of ships is the primary object of his vessel. There are many minor inaccuracies in the article under notice, some of which it may be worth while to mention. The writer says: THE DECIMAL SYSTEM. "ber her with the masts and rigging of a line"of-battle ship." We entirely dissent from him. Were she not so rigged it would be im-THE question of a Decimal Scale, as regards weights and measures, is not by any means a possible to send her with safety in the presence novelty. In the year 1816 a Royal Commission of an enemy. Lighter masts and rigging would never afford her the necessary means of sailing was appointed "to consider how far it might be and manoeuvring in the event of her screw, her uniform system of weights and measures." The practicable or advisable to establish a more engines, or her fuel failing, and we know too Commissioners were Sir Joseph Banks, Sir The writer of an article which appeared in the little of the effects of a naval battle with steam-George Clerk, Mr. Davies Gilbert, Dr. WollasTimes of Thursday, the 30th ult., and was ships to leave such a ship dependent upon her ton, Dr. Thomas Young, and Captain Kater. No action between steam-ships Three years subsequently, these gentlemen made quoted in our last number, criticised the Ad- steam alone. miralty with some severity, and not without has yet been fought, and it is very doubtful if their unanimous report, and it was adverse to such an action would not reveal the impotence sarcasm. The grounds of his complaints were, alteration. In 1824 Sir John Wrottesley first, that a foolish attempt to conceal the cha-of either the screw or the engines in close conan enemy was contemplated; and, secondly, guns, and other weapons of precision, are find-mal scale to coins. He referred to the example racter of the new iron ship in the presence of flict. Especially is this true now that rifled brought before the House of Commons a motion for inquiring into the applicability of the decithat while the great purpose with which the ing their way into ships of war. of France, of America, and China, and urged ship has been designed is that of "ramming" the simplicity of their system of accounts as comdown an enemy, no provision has been made pared with the complex arrangements in use at for clearing her of her masts and rigginghome. Sir John's scheme was to employ which must, the writer assumes, come down pounds, double shillings, and farthings, the last by the run," when the ship is driven against having four per cent deducted from their prethe enemy. sent value, and thus making 100 farthings: Now, offensive as it may be to show that the double shilling, 1,000 farthings = 10 double premises from which such weighty conclusions shillings 1 pound. At that time of day it are drawn are false, we have to state that the was customary for Masters of the Mint to have writer in question is wrong in both his assumpseats in the House of Commons, and Mr. Waltions. No absurd attempt to conceal the lace, who then filled the office, opposed Sir character of the new ship from the enemy is John Wrottesley's plan, whilst admitting its contemplated. The only fact brought by the advantages. The motion was unfortunately writer in support of his view-or rather, the "Neither the bows nor stern have any of the large therefore withdrawn-the only good which came only fact upon which his conclusion in this armour plates, but are coated with wrought iron plates of it being that the Government agreed to assimatter is based-is that the new ship, like of nearly one inch and a half thick over two feet of milate the currencies of Great Britain and every other large English ship of war, is to be teak, which will offer sufficient resistance to prevent Ireland; a promise faithfully kept shortly furnished with a knee of the head. It may be most shots from going through. But to compensate after. Matters rested thus till 1834, when the for this apparent deficiency both bows and stern are true that this feature of the vessel will in her so crossed and recrossed in every direction with Houses of Parliament were burnt, and the case be of less service than it ordinarily water-tight compartments that it is a matter of standards of weights and measures were destroyed is, since the bowsprit and bowsprit rig-perfect indifference whether they get riddled or not, in the fire. Much discussion followed this catasging may possibly be fitted independently and each of these ends are shut off from the engine-trophe-the destruction of the standards, we of it. But without such a feature the room and fighting portion of the ship by continuous vessel would be needlessly ugly; and it is massive wrought iron transverse bulkheads. So that, mean and the question of their restoration was referred to a Commission in 1838. In 1841 supposing it possible that both stem and stern could doubtless for this reason, if not for any other, be shot away, the centre of the vessel would remain that the knee is to be fitted. We do not complete and impenetrable as ever, still offering in for a single moment believe all 24 inches of teak coated with 5 inches of wrought that the Admiralty authorities have conneciron to every shot. But both stem and stern are ted any fatuous expectations of concealment built inside of such immense strength that coating with armour plates would be almost superfluous. The from the enemy with their arrangements bows, as the spot where the whole shock must be rein this respect. It is evident that if the ceived in running down ships, are inside a perfect knee of the head were omitted from this web of ironwork, strengthened back to the armour particular ship that feature would be so "con-plates with no less than eight wrought iron decks an spicuous by its absence" that her character would be declared at a glance to the dullest enemy, if he had but eyes in his head. This All the passages marked in italics are entirely the Admiralty know, of course, perfectly well, wrong. Neither the bow nor the stern is either and are too prudent to give so conspicuous a sign coated with 1 inch iron or lined with teak. They to the foe. As they intend to build her, she are, so far as the plans at present adopted promay be so fortunate as to escape the observa-vide, formed of iron similar to that used in ortion of some careless observer at the right time, and this chance is accordingly given her. To say that the Admiralty anticipate more than this is to libel their intelligence. we cannot In his second position the writer is equally at fault. The ship in question has been designed, not as a ram primarily, but as a shell-proof frigate. Her arinament, and not her bow, is to be her means of offence. The Admiralty have very judiciously decided on so forming and strengthening her bow that if, upon an emerhey, the resort to such a clumsy and questionzole expedient as that of attacking a ship by running full butt against her should be deemed advisable, the operation may be effected with as little damage as possible to the new iron ship. And as Admiral Sartorious and Mr. Nasmyth have taken so much trouble to recommend this expedient to ourselves, the French, and others, Do one can blame the Admiralty for the step they have taken in this respect. But it is altogether a mistake to suppose that the ram-how any more than a subordinate feature of the «Lip. The Times' writer deems it "unwise to cum inch thick, and crossed and recrossed in all ways and three years appear to be the usual period for hatching a report in 1841 this Commission, which included three astronomers, made their report; and it contained among other matters the following statement: "The first point which has called for our special notice is the general question of the decimal scale. In introducing this subject we invite the attention of Government to the advantage and the facility of establishing in this country a decimal system of coinage. In our opinion no single change which it is in the power of a Government to effect in our monetary system would be felt by all classes as equally beneficial with this." The worthy Commissioners then proceed to recommend substantially the plan of Sir John Wrottesley previously mentioned. The consequence of this recommendation was, that in 1843 another Commission was appointed with a view to a further consideration of the matter. The report of this Commission, which included Lord Wrottesley-formerly Sir John-proposed to carry out the suggestion of the standard Commission of 1841. dinary stout iron ships. Nor are the bows and It is much to be regretted that the false impressions which such an article as that referred to must necessarily produce should have gone forth to the ends of the world with the sanction and authority of the Times. While so much room is afforded by the Admiralty for just and useful criticisin, it is sad to see the power and influence of such a journal frittered away in such a manner. that a decimal system of coinage would be of look for enlightenment upon this subject to these It did so happen that these illustrious per- mended the pound sterling as the unit of the new system of coinage. a recommendation which, at this hour, we think to have been based on a truthful foundation. This unmistakeable opinion, backed by a quarter of a hundred of scientific witnesses, when it came to be promulgated raised much discussion in pamphlets, newspapers, and magazines, and zealous advocates of the old and new schemes did battle on the occasion. The year 1853 may be considered an era in the decimal coinage agitation, and early in 1854 a Decimal Association owing its rise principally to that agitation sprang into existence. A deputation from this active and persevering body soon waited upon Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer Gladstone, and urged the immediate introduction of the Pound and Mil scheme. Mr. Gladstone met the proposition with some remarks which showed his knowledge of the subject, and leads us now to hope that, restored to the same onerous post he then occupied, there is still a chance, despite Lord Overstone, of a decimal coinage. Mr. Gladstone said he could not doubt 66 The Government objected during the debate Five and twenty years ago a Master of the seems. THE EDUCATION OF MECHANICAL Mr. Russell's lecture was undertaken in con sequence of a conversation which took place not long ago between Mr. Henry Cole and himself on the subject of the education of the class of workmen to whom he (Mr. Russell), as he said, belonged. Mr. Cole had shown him some papers which he had prepared for the purpose of examining workmen as to the progress which they had made in the kind of education generally provided for them; and remarked that the education provided in this country for workmen was not very directly calculated to render them good workmen. With this Mr. Russell agreed, and as a large employer of skilled labour, he now (in his lecture) asked whether there was any description of education which would tend greatly to the increase of the skill, dexterity, ability, and success of the prac tical working mechanic. He maintained that there was, but that the mechanic did not get it. He himself was obliged to get his very best draughtsmen and mechanics from foreign countries. He had men in his employment from Prussia, Germany, and Holland; and he was bound to say that, as far as preliminary education was concerned, although the workmen of foreign countries had not the skill obtained by the British workmen from practical experience, their scientific knowledge was greater, and that knowledge was telling so rapidly on the present generation of workmen, that we were now equalled (he would not say excelled) by the workmen of many countries upon whom we were inclined to look down a few years ago. This is strong and most serious testimony Mr. Russell did not say anything, of course, against the education now given. "On the 'contrary, he would say, continue to teach "drawing, reading, writing, and accounting in "the best manner you can; but if you have a class of young workmen coming forward to learn, think how you can turn the little time they can afford to give to the best advantage so that you may raise them higher in the WHO is to determine what mechanical workmen "social scale and make them better workmen." shall be taught? Not the untaught workmen In order to do this, it would be necessary to themselves, for the value of knowledge is known give them a higher class of education than they only to those who possess it. Not mere school- were ever taught before. We did not go far men or professors, for none but he who under- enough; but the pupil teachers whom he adstands a craft can judge what is fittest for the dressed were not to blame. The persons to craftsman. Who, then, shall tell us what that blame were their teachers. knowledge is by which, and by which alone, perhaps all the time that could be devoted to the appetite of the intelligent and aspiring me- education, and six months were often devoted chanic may wisely and healthily be satiated? to as may books of Euclid, which were wasted for The question is of immense importance in this all practical purposes, unless, indeed, the student land and this age; for our present energies intended to become a professor. He would adseem directed almost exclusively to the develop-vise them to skip over the beginning, and dement of mechanical agencies, and the extension vote the least possible time to Euclid-in fact, of mechanical arts. he would advise them do a very heterodox thing To us it appears plain enough that we must Two years was to cut off all the propositions but the useful ones. They might naturally exclaim, "Then how little will be left." Very little, he admitted, but plane trigonometry would be left. Suppose, for instance, a man had but six months in which to learn. Six weeks might in that case be given to Euclid, and then trigonometry might be commenced, solid geometry might next follow, and that constituted the whole education of the workman. But that was precisely what he did not get in the present day. He would also teach within the six months conic sections, and afterwards the nature of curves, within the first, second, third, and fourth degrees. He was aware he might be met by the exclamation, “Oh ! but we shall be teaching them more than we ourselves understand :" bat to this he would answer, "That is the fault of your education." Sir Isaac Newton discovered no less than 130 curves, and ninetenths of them would be of great use to the mechanic, if he had them in two places-in his head and at his fingers'-ends. A LORD ON LABOUR. was very true; for what workmen wanted to Having now got to teaching something which they did not know, and had not learned, the next thing they wanted was, said Mr. Russell, the assistance of the Government. Decent elementary text-books were wanted for the higher departments in mechanics, but there were many able men versed in the sciences; and what he wanted the Department of science and Art and the Government to do was, to ask the four cleverest men in England to write, in the fewest possible English words, all that they knew (not all that they had read), or, in fact, so much of their brains as they carried about with them. If Government would but pay handsomely for these books, a set of treatises might be collected such as the world never saw before, and such as would be sufficient to teach any mechanic his business. They might, it was true, say, "But we do not know where to get these clever men." But he knew where they were to be got. There were three of the tour present at that moment; and if the Go-rate, and which could be taught in our elementary vernment would but give them a thousand pounds a-piece for writing the books, he was sure they would write them. What he had said about geometry was true as to mathematics. of great importance to the working man was the comprehension of the laws and relations of numbers, so as to enable the working man to think in figures about the immediate business before him. Having explained the manner in which mechanics might make reduced or enlarged models, and the relations and practical properties of numbers, the lecturer illustrated the value of a knowledge on these points by an anecdote. "He remembered an instance in "which a respectable working man sent in a "tender for £12,500 for a very large piece of "work. The tender appeared to be low, and he " obtained the order, and got on some way with "his work when he found he had made a trifling "omission-he had forgot to multiply by two. "His figures were all right, but in one place he "forgot his multiplication, and his whole cal"culations were wrong." He was of opinion that geometry ought to be taught by a large and comprehensive system. Mr. Russell continued to say that, with respect to solid geometry, the two great duties in a workman's life were conversion of materials and adaptation to strength. A mason who used apa wrong stone, or a carpenter who selected a wrong plank or piece of timber, showed that he Fas ignorant of one of the most useful portions of his art or calling. Now, nothing would teach conversion of materials like solid geometry; it was in fact the daily business of the workman. It had been said that every block of marble cut from the quarry contained a beautiful statue, but the art was how to get it out of it. This countries, often guarded by protective tariffs, lated by commercial rivalry and administrative or with the productions of other states stimuencouragement. Nor are the resources of the home market to be enjoyed in security or negligence; for though we possess in the unrivalled mineral structure of our soil a broad basis of natural advantages, and though we derive from the thrift and contrivance of our ancestors a noble heritage of accumulated capital and knowledge, yet we can only maintain our superiority by ceaseless vigilance and exertion, and we may not expect any artificial defence by a recurrence to the prohibitive system. He" The remarks which we have above briefly sketched,* need no comment. It only remains Starting with these considerations, he reminds for us to add the finishing words of the lec- us that the industrial movement of England at turer. The subject of the education of the home and abroad is therefore one of anxiety workman was one which he had, he said, and strife, and it is our bounden duty to levy very much at heart. He did not know from every department of intellectual inquiry how it was to be given, but as the pupil auxiliaries in maintaining and enlarging our teachers were present as an institution which present ascendancy. "If we be true to the took charge of the mechanic, and a Government 'examples of the past and watchful of the prewhich was anxious for the spread of education, "sent emergencies I would not speak with aphe would urgently beg of them to take counsel 66 prehension of our commercial future. Far with half-a-dozen of the best mathematicians of "from thinking that the universal demand has the day, and arrange with them to write short "attained its full proportions, or that British treatises, which could be circulated at a cheap" industry has necessarily reached its culminating "point, I conceive that the powers of consumpschools. He also thought that there ought to "tion in the world never appeared so capable of be a large quantity of apparatus-a sort of in- "indefinite expansion, and that the incalculable ventory of education-of every conceivable activity of another age may, revert with shape and object. In addition to these models," curiosity, and perhaps with indulgence, to the he would have the schoolroom hung round, not respectable efforts of the nineteenth century. with pictures of animals, but with solid bodies," Passing over the home demand, which is suswhich could be explained and drawn. ceptible of a steady development proportioned would, in fact, impart any kind of practical" to the increasing numbers and wealth of the rather that book knowledge. If drawings "nation, there is much of an encouraging namerely were used instead of models, he did not ture in the prospects of the foreign market, think the student could imbibe so correct a "whether we regard those half-civilised nations notion of the object to be produced or deli- "which take off the commodities of common neated. There was a mode of studying forms" utility, or those communities at a higher called la théorie de développement, but the plain stage of culture which afford a market for arEnglish meant nothing more than making flat "ticles of luxury and beauty." surfaces into round and angular forms (as models now made from sheets of paper, which was a most valuable mode of studying forms). If this description of education could be given, he would take the pupils educated in that department and give them three guineas a week. He might afterwards raise them to foremen with salaries of £500 a year, and that would be far better than remaining all their lives at the bench, earning 30s. a week. Machinery could now be obtained to do all the unintellectual drudgery of mechanism. He was not opposed to machinery, and had no apprehension that it would supersede skilled intellectual handicraft. He would employ machinery to do all the drudgery that degraded the workman into a beast of burden. He would give him higher views of mathematics; he would show him that he was an intellectual, thinking being, with a soul for high and immortal things. and which appeared first in the Builder, we believe. The ancient and stagnant empires of the East, recently disturbed by our diplomacy and arms, swarm, he tells us, with a population equal to the united numbers of Europe and America. Surely we are justified in expecting that the vehicles of our exchanges with those regions will not long continue to be silver and opium, the former of which owes no portion of its value to the manipulation of the British artizan, while the latter is the creature of monopoly and the cause of demoralisation. It is not extravagant to anticipate that when the barriers of traditional prejudice and fiscal exaction are dissolved, the multitudes of China and Japan will gradually unfold an immense market for the ordinary fabrics of Europe. Turkey, Persia, and Central Asia, without any important staple of exportation, and inhabited by a sparse, indigent, and in part vagrant population, approximately estimated at forty millions, annually absorb more than seven millions worth of British manufactures. At the same rate the inhabitants of the remoter East, who must eventually ex |