of such a system would be tedious and unnecessary in the columns of a newspaper. It may suffice to state, that the chief means of attaining the desired purpose would be the establishment of barometrical

TO THE EDITORS OF THE MECHANICS' MAGAZINE."
GENTLEMEN,-I made the following practical

nearly all physical and mental energy, and his decease has for some time been apprehended by his relatives. He leaves behind him a son to succeed him in his profession-Mr. John Fincham,

stations in salient or extreme positions on our coasts, demonstrations of my appliances for war and home first assistant master shipwright of Chatham

coterminous with the respective points of the compass, whence prevalent storm-winds blow, and thence telegraphing warning communications to distant shores or seaports. We possess the knowledge and instrumentality, and the practical adaptation of the latter would be both easy and inexpensive.

in

defence this day at Beaufort-house, Walham-
green, presence of Lord Ranelagh, his corps of
volunteer rifles, and a numerous party of ladies
and gentlemen amateurs.

No. 1 in the catalogue-A railway guard and
passenger explosive signal to slide down a tube in
a railway carriage on the iron rail, by which it
explodes by percussion with a report much louder
than a fog-signal such as is now in use.

This subject, with its associate themes, is fraught with numerous considerations of incalculable importance for all maritime States, more especially No. 2-A grenade fired by friction, at about for the British Islands, whose watery highways are quick with human life, and crowded with laden cord reaching to that height from an upper seven feet from the ground, by the check of a ships, ever intercrossing day and night, in light or window. This grenade was thrown out of an darkness, storm or fog. The perils of sea-transit upper window of Beaufort-house by a young far exceed those of land, and yet how much more gentleman of about the age of 15. It can be used carefully are the latter guarded against by pre-in perfect safety by ladies in defence of "home, ventive arrangements! Why should not all our sweet home," thus "placing the weak on a par frequented channel tracts, and even great ocean with the strong." routes to (say) forty miles distance from the principal ports, be indicated at certain intervals by conspicuous buoys, or even by anchored vessels, displaying characteristic symbols of position and contiguity to coast or haven. Apart from the inestimable value of human life, the cost would probably not amount to a moiety of the value of property destroyed by wreck within a period of five years; and as for the asserted impracticability of

No. 3-Rifle fire-shot or spinster. This missile is far more efficient than the rifle percussion-shell for blowing up ammunition waggons.

No. 4-A safe way of fixing percussion appliances in the mouth of elongated rifle-shells for rifled cannon. This is done by inserting the appliance about a quarter of an inch below the mouth of the shell.

The ramrod cannot then

Dockyard, who will without doubt attain ere long the post of master shipwright in the servicedue to the late Mr. Fincham to say that for many the highest to which his father rose. It is only

years he received successive proofs of the high esteem in which the Admiralty held him.

NOTICES.

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Special Arrangements for larger or Serial Advertisements To ensure insertion, Advertisements must reach the Office by 5 o'clock on Thursday evening each week. None can be received after that time for the ensuing number.

Our Weekly Gossip.

mooring ships securely in blue water, the genius of press on it, and if the shell should fall from the DURING the recent trials at Shoeburyness of the

hands on the ground or the deck of a man of war
percussion-end foremost, it is still safe; but by
striking an object with great force when discharged
from a rifled gun, it cuts out its own plug, which
explodes it. Lord Ranelagh fired two elongated
wooden shells from a large rifle into a heap of
loose sand, where they instantly exploded, proving

invention would soon overcome that difficulty. Once the benefit of an object confessed, and fitness of the means of attainment duly estimated, the true born son of science instantly sets to work to accomplish it, without even a doubt. Imagination conceives the project, science brings forth the completed labour, and THEN the halting advocate of that iron shells on a similar construction can be description may not readily take place, and thereby

mere practice and precedent wonders and admires; and it may be, in happy forgetfulness of his former incredulous prejudices, congratulates himself, as if he also were a co-worker in the progressive achievements of inventive science.

An extended publicity is respectfully solicited for these brief remarks, with the hope of attracting thoughtful and benevolent minds to a speedier solution of the important question submitted namely, the prevention of loss of life, time, and property by storms, especially in the channels, and on the shores of the British Islands.

TO THE EDITORS OF THE "MECHANICS' MAGAZINE."
GENTLEMEN,-I see that a paper is to be read
this week before the Society of Arts, on the sub-
ject of accidents in coal mines. Now, as one of
the greatest causes of accidents is the explosion of
fire-damp, in which, by the carelessness of one indi-
vidual, the lives of hundreds may be sacrificed, I
venture to suggest that for the purpose of illumi-
nation, the electric light should be employed.
Electric lamps might be hermetically sealed up in
glass globes, and stationed in the various branches
of the workings, and by means of suitable reflectors
the light might be carried into almost any direction.
If desirable the lamps might be made to some ex-
tent moveable, being fixed on a pedestal, and con-
nected with the battery by insulated conductors;
and if suspended aloft they might be made to illu
mine a large area at once. I know that economists
would object that the arrangement would involve
considerable expense, but the attainment of per-
fect safety would more than repay the extra ex-
pense (if it existed), while the miner who felt him-
self free from danger and under the influence of a
genial light, would both be happier in mind, more
comfortable in body, and would do double the
work which he did before, while groping under
the dim rays of his present safety lamp.

I have the honour to remain, Gentlemen,
Your most obedient servant,
F. MAXWELL-LYTE.
Bagueres de Bigorre, 28th Nov., 1859.

employed from rifled cannon to destroy clay
defences, on which mere shot have little effect.

No. 5-Gossamer cartridges. Lord Ranelagh
fired several of these from a dragoon's pistol of
the Enfield bore, and similarly rifled, showing how
rapidly and efficiently they can be used in loading.
They do not require to be broken or opened pre-
vious to insertion, as the military cap fires them
to a certainty, provided the upper part of the
nipple is countersunk so as to take in the whole
fire of the cap. The cartridges were charged
with Curtis and Harvey's improved coarse-grain
gunpowder, No. 3.

I am, Gentlemen, yours, &c.
Rosherville, Dec. 3.

J. NORTON.

DEATH OF MR. JOHN FINCHAM.

THE death of this gentleman took place at his
residence at Highland-lodge, Landport, near
Portsmouth, on Tuesday morning, in his 75th year.
The deceased will be best remembered by the
general public as for many years master shipwright
of Portsmouth Dockyard, and more especially as
the builder of the Arrogant, the first screw frigate
possessed by this country. Much of his time and
study was devoted to the introduction of the screw
propeller into the British navy. For a long period
he was shipbuilding superintendent of the School
of Naval Architecture at Portsmouth, and in later
years had nominal charge of the practical part of
the studies at the School of Mathematics and
Naval Construction. His Пistory of Naval Archi-
tecture, Outlines of Shipbuilding, a Treatise on Lay-
ing-off Ships, and on Masting Ships, are well known
among professional men. As an acknowledgment
of their merits the Emperor Nicholas, of Russia,
presented Mr. Fincham with a snuff-box set with
diamonds, and Mehemet Ali presented him with
the order of the "Bey." Mr. Fincham was greatly
indebted to others for assistance in the preparation
of these volumes, and in the construction of the
ships which were designed by him. His connec.
tion with the late School of Naval Construction
resulted unhappily-the members of it attributing
to him the chief cause of their undue depreciation.
Mr. Fincham long since, we regret to say, lost

12-pounder Armstrong guns intended for China,
another of the breech pieces was blown from the gun
and fell about two hundred yards in the rear of the
battery. This shows the extreme necessity for the
utmost cantion in the manufacture and use of guns
upon this principle; and it becomes a grave question
whether in the heat of action occurrences of a similar
sacrifice of many valuable lives.
render the gun horse de combat, with the probable

Inquests, Board of Trade inquiries, Committees of Investigation, and other like machinery, are of exceed ingly little use to us in this country. The explosion of the Great Eastern ended in a wrangle before a country jury, who read newspapers while directors and contractors lied (some of them) and quarelled. The loss of the Royal Charter has had a result less

nautical assessor,

disgraceful but equally useless. Mr. Mansfield, the magistrate at Liverpool, and Captain Harris, the have inquired into the latter melancholy event, and their report to the Board of Trade is before us. They tell us that a portion of the iron of which the Royal Charter was built, recovered with great difficulty and expense from the wreck, has been produced before, and tested by, the Liverpool corporation machine. "It is decidedly above the average strength of iron plating used for shipbuilding, and the average strength assigned by Mr. Fairbairn for good Staffordshire plate." Again we read, "from the evidence, I have arrived at the conclusion that the Royal Charter was, at the least, fully equal in strength to the average of ships of her class built at the same date (1855). Whether this be sufficient is a question which in reality does not arise in the present inquiry. Even if it did, I should hesitate to generalise from an isolated instance, on very imperfect evidence, and induction is necessarily applied to the subject by where so much is left to conjecture. A much wider underwriters in the ordinary course of their business; and to those of the public who may be ignorant of the fact it may be of interest to learn that, ceteris paribus, there is no difference in the premium paid for insuring wooden or iron vessels of the same class." Mr. Mansfield and Captain Harris also think that the ship was not properly prepared (by making her snug aloft) for encountering the rising gales-that (as we pointed out weeks ago) the Captain should have either run into Holyhead or kept the open Channel behind him-and that her masts were not cut away soon enough. They likewise point out the danger of steaming ahead while at anchor in a gale. A gale of wind is not uniform in strength, there are moments of comparative lull. During these the steam power not being readily controlled is apt to shoot the ship ahead. After this, when a violent gust occurs, the ship drops astern, bringing up with a sudden and a severe jerk on her cables a kind of strain most likely to make them part. The cables of the Royal Charter were full 2 ins, in diameter, and were tested by the maker, Mr. Woods, of Chester, to 72 tons. It is reasonable to suppose that the material and workmanship were

The action which Messrs. Mears commenced against Mr. Denison for his statements respecting the bell, Big Ben, cast by them, was entered for trial for the sittings after Michaelmas Term in London, and would have been tried by Lord Chief Justice Cockburn and a special jury. Mr. Denison pleaded a justification to the libel with which he was charged. The case was, however, withdrawn on Wednesday last, Mr. Denison having abandoned his defence. The plaintiff will therefore take a judgment by default. The only matter remaining to be determined is the amount of damages, which, in the usual course, will have to be assessed in the Sheriffs' Court.

Mr. Walesby sends the following practical sugges

tion:

will be admitted to the National Gallery, British
School, through the Museum only. 5. The National
Gallery, British School, will be opened on Monday,
5th December.

Will some of our readers respond, if possible, to
the following inquiry?
Abercarn, December 5th, 1859.
GENTLEMEN,-Can you kindly help me to obtain
any information on the following subjects:-I possess
the first three vols. of Holtzapffels Turning and Me-
chanical Manipulation, which of themselves, so far as
they go, form an admirable work; but unfortunately
there seems no prospect of the work being ever com-
pleted. Can any of your readers inform me of the
titles and price of any modern works which would
supply the deficiency, more particularly as to plain
turning with and without the slide rest, &c.? orna-
mental turning I do not so much care about. If you
obtain for me the required information you will much
oblige an old subscriber.

W. R.

Captain John Norton, of Rosherville, writes:-
GENTLEMEN,-Having good and sufficient reason
to believe that the authorities are now anxious to know

who was the first to suggest, and practically to de-
monstrate the superior advantages of an elongated
expanded shot, I beg to say it was devised imme
diately by myself from the expanding lotus pith base
of the Malay tube-dart, which I submitted and fully
explained to the select committee of artillery officers,
at Woolwich, as far back as the summer of 1823. The
officers now living that can bear testimony to the fact
are, General Sir Robert Gardiner, R.A.; General Sir
Richard Airey, now Quarter Master General,

Patents for Inventions.

ABRIDGED SPECIFICATIONS OF PATENTS
THE abridged Specifications of Patents given below are
classified, according to the subjects to which the respective
nventions refer, in the following table. By the system of
classification adopted, the numerical and chronological
order of the specifications is preserved, and combined with
all the advantages of a division into classes. It should be
understood that these abridgements are prepared exclu-
Government, and are therefore the property of the proprie-
sively for this Magazine from official copies supplied by the
tors of this Magazine. Other papers are hereby warned not
to produce them without acknowledgement:-
STEAM ENGINES, &c., 1065.

BOILERS AND THEIR FURNACES, &c., 1054.
ROADS AND VEHICLES, including railway plant and car-
riages, saddlery and harness, &c. None.
SHIPS AND BOATS, including their fittings, 1062.
CULTIVATION OF THE SOIL, including agricultural and hor-
ticultural implements and machines, 1072, 1075, 1081.
FOOD AND BEVERAGES, including apparatus for preparing
food for men and animals, 1085.

FIBROUS FABRICs, including machinery for treating fibres,
pulp, paper, &c., 1060, 1063, 1070, 1077, 1086, 1010.
BUILDINGS AND BUILDING MATERIALS, including sewers,
drain-pipes, brick and tile machines, &c. None.
LIGHTING, HEATING, AND VENTILATING, 1052, 1058, 1061,
1066.

FURNITURE AND APPAREL, including household utensils,
time-keepers, jewellery, musical instruments, &c., 1051,
1067, 1074.
METALS, including apparatus for their manufacture, 1076,
1054.

CHEMISTRY AND PHOTOGRAPHY, 1099.
ELECTRICAL APPARATUS, 1069.
WARFARE. None.

MISCELLANEOUs, 1053, 1055, 1056, 1057, 1059, 1069, 1071, 1073, 1078, 1080, 1082, 1083, 1087, 1088.

GENTLEMEN:-On Saturday last I heard Big Ben
perform for the first time since it had been reported that
he had been fatally wounded; and I have to state
that, cracked or not cracked, his voice is neither worse
nor better than it was in the very first instance when
the clock struck him to indicate the hour. In other
words, the bell merely emits the same imperfect sound
as before, being remarkable for metallic harshness and
doleful continuity of tone. Now, although I think
this bell, like its predecessor, was designed and cast
too thick at the sound bow ever to produce a rich and
mellow tone, even supposing no deep crack to exist, Colonel Barlow, Chairman of the Southampton Dock
yet as the bell is suspended in a manner so objection. company, Major Hector Straith, late Professor of LETTER PRESS PRINTING, &c, 1079.
able that it has not fair play, the authorities may be
Fortification at Addiscombe Military Seminary, Cap.
advised to try the following experiments :--Release tains Thomson and Hadison, the last five of whom
poor Ben from his present unhappy position, of which
were present with my late regiment, the 34th, at the
time. Colonel Beamish, in his memorable letter of
he has always bitterly complained; then fix him to a
block of" wood" of suitable form called a stock, which August, 1852, to the editor of the United Service
must be freely suspended from a beam so as to be
Journal, at page 3, gives a full and clear narration
able to swing in some degree. If the alleged fracture
of the facts. I have left a specimen of this shot at
be not dangerous, Big Ben the second will then give the United Service Institution, Whitehall.
out such a sound as may agreeably surprise his Wilford, in his recent lecture at the United Service
audience. Permit me to add that when a large bell Institution, has truly stated that the great improve
is cracked at the sound bow, it is idle to talk of apply-ment in rifle efficiency is to be traced to the elongated
ing the "drill-a-hole and whip-saw remedy." This form of the shot.
I am, yours, &c.,
has been tried over and over again in the case of
Church bells-though not at present in that of Big
Ben-and the result has uniformly been most un-
satisfactory to a musical ear. I am, &c.,
THOMAS WALESBY.

December 5, 1859. Mr E. Edwards, glass-manufacturer, of Birming ham, states that glass, when cooled too quickly, is rent into fragments which are invariably found to be wedgelike, or following the general shape of the arrow or spear heads recently found deep down in preAdainite geological beds. Hence he starts a theory:He supposes that in the early geologic periods masses of flint or large boulders may have become heated by

subterranean fires, and while in an incandescent state have been suddenly thrown by volcanic force to a cool place; the outside of the mass would soon begin to contract, while the inside would retain its heat and its expanded condition; the struggle between the two forces would go on until the mass was rent to frag: ments, and each of these fragments would be one of the works of art" of which we have lately heard so much.

The following regulations for the admission of the public have been arranged bythe Committee of Council on Education and the Trustees of the National Gallery. 1. The separate entrance to the National Gallery, British School, provided at the request of the trustees of the National Gallery, will be open for the public on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays, and for students on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, in the daytime only. 2. The public will be admitted to the National Gallery, British School, also through the Museum every day, and on those nights when the Museum is open, according to the regulations of the Museum. On those nights the National Gallery, British School, will be lighted by the department. 3. Wednesday being a public day at the National Gallers, and a students' day at the South Kensington Museum, will hereafter be a students' day at the National Gallery, British School, and the public admitted on payment of (6d.) to the South Kensington Museum will be admitted also to the National Gallery, British School, through the Museum only, the National Gallery students being admissible by the separate entrance. 4. On Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, when only Students are admitted to the National Gallery, British School, the public admitted by payment (ed.) to the South Kensington Museum

Rosherville, 5th December.

Colonel

J. NORTON.

A gentleman who has himself invented guns, and
taken them before select committee after select com.
mittee, sends the following:-

GENTLEMEN,It is a well known fact in every
official branch of the public surface, the Armstrong
gun is only Armstrong in name, and that it would not
have found its way in that name, had not the Duke of
Newcastle been appointed to the war department just
about to be better known.
at the moment the originality of the invention was

All men interested in inventions made for the

gentlemen, "That the war office has not the right to
public service quite agree with your remarks,
spend the money of the nation" to serve the special
purpose of any protegé of men in power; be it his
Grace the Duke of Newcastle or the Right Honour
able Member for Morpeth, Sir George Grey, who
Blakely's challenge of £500 will not be taken up by
who may become the patron of the inventor. Captain
the fortunate maker of the so-called Armstrong gun
or any of his champions," however important it
may be to all taxpayers, as you justly remark. They
can better afford to give Captain Blakely £500 to say
no more about the gun or its maker, lest it should
lead to an open investigation as to who really invented
the gun, and first brought it under the notice of the
select committee at Woolwich. For the sake of the

taxpayer and the efficiency of the service, Captain
Blakely will serve Her Majesty best by calling the
attention of the Executive through the Legislature,
not only to the Armstrong gun, but other guns and
mortars so strongly patronized by the Government
since 1854, when his Grace of Newcastle, in his zeal
for improvement, gave the start at Woolwich which
has been so economically carried out. Let him show
a disposition to do this, and no doubt the £500 will
increase; and with it, a far better chance of his money
being returned to him than by seeking justice from
the Secretary of State for War, or challenging com-
petition with the extraordinarily lucky maker of the
Arinstrong gun.

OBSERVER.

LIST OF NEW BOOKS.
Douglas on Modern Systems of Fortification, 12s.
Engineers', Architects', and Contractors' Pocket-book,
1860, 68.

Potter's Elementary Treatise on Mechanics, 4 edit., 8s. 6d.
Winter's Elementary Geometrical Drawing, Part I., 3s. 6d.

1051. J. H. JOHNSON.

Improvements in machinery or apparatus for grinding and polishing knives, and other articles of cutlery, and tools." (A communication.) Dated April 26, 1859.

This consists in the use, in combination with a

grinding-stone or polishing wheel, of a revolving drum for carrying the articles to be operated upon, each drum being fitted with suitable matrices in which such articles are placed, the said matrices being adapted to give the required shape to the articles to be ground, and enable such articles to be ground and polished in a uniform manner. Patent completed.

1052. J. M. CIROUX. Improvements in lampglasses and shades, applicable to gas-burners, lighthouses, and railway-signals." Dated April 27, 1859.

This consists in making glasses and shades of crystal rendered convex either externally or internally, or on both sides, for lamps and lanterns, and appli. cable to certain gas-burners, to lighthouses and railway signals, which convexity is obtained by known means, and by which a greater brightness is given to the light than by the ordinary glass. Patent abandoned.

1053. G. PEARSON. "Improvements in apparatus Dated April 27, for cutting and shaping trenails."

1859.

This apparatus consists of a cylinder, or box bored out to suit the shape and size of the trenails. One end made with an aperture in the side for admitting the of the box is enlarged, forming the conical head, and cutting blade, which is adjustable, and fixed with screws to the outside of the cylinder. This cutting blade is so shaped as to cut the cylindrical parts of the trenail as well as the conical head. A second cutting blade is fixed to the face of the tail end of the box for cutting the ends of the trenails. The head-end of the cylinder has a guide plate screwed to the cylinder flange, while at the tail-end a washer or plate with an enlarged bore, and open at one side to allow of the escape of the shavings, is attached to a similar flange with bolts, by which the cylinder is also firmly fixed to a small chuck, which has an external screw for screwing on to the end of a revolving spindle. The pieces of wood intended for trenails are first cut into lengths equal to the lengths of two trenails, and as they are of an irregular form, they are formed in cylinders slightly tapered at both ends. These cylin drical pieces of wood are introduced through the guide-plate, and pushed in till the end reaches to, and is shaped by, the end blade, the cylinder with its blades revolving rapidly, whilst the piece of wood is

feld fast. This double trenail, after both ends have been cut, is then cut in two by the circular saw, and the heads faced by a cutter similar to the one for facing the trenail ends. The blade which performs this last operation is fixed in a separate cylinder. Patent completed.

1054. J. HYDE. "Certain improvements in steam. boilers." Dated April 27, 1859.

This applies to those steam-boilers in which one or more internal flues are employed, and consists in suspending a water chamber within the flue or flues; these chambers are connected by tubes to the interior of the boiler to allow the water to circulate freely therein. The end of the water chamber near the bridge divides the products of combustion which, in passing along the flue, surround the water chamber,

and distribute the heat. Patent abandoned.

This consists in suspending and supporting a conical valve by a diaphragm of thin sheet caoutchouc or caoutchouc fabric in a tube or ring; in covering the top of the tube by a cover; in carrying a spindle from the upper part of the conical valve through a central aperture in the cover; in fitting a valve on the spindle having its seat on the top of the cover; and in forming a communication with the atmosphere from the chamber in which the upper valve rests, and through the aperture in the cover to the top of the diaphragm and valve. There are modifications included. Patent completed.

Be

1055. H. R. FANSHAWE. "Improved apparatus or mechanism for drawing-off, filtering, and gauging liquids in butts, barrels, casks, and such like vessels, preserving the contents from deterioration from con- 1062. Sir T. T. GRANT, K.C.B. "Improvements in tact with atmospheric air." Dated April 27, 1859. ships' cooking apparatus." Dated April 27, 1859. The patentee claims the use and adaptation of a The patentee employs an apparatus of the followbag with its adjuncts, which, by the introduction of ing construction:-It consists of a fireplace or fur. air pressure, will occupy the void formed as the liquid nace combined with a boiler; the fireplace is at the is drawn off, sufficient pressure being kept up by this front of the boiler, and the two edges or cheeks means to allow a free draught. Also the gauging and thereof are formed by water spaces in connection with filtering apparatus described. Patent completed. the boiler; the bottom of the ash-pit also is formed 1056. J. and W. STUART. "Improvements in in a similar manner. The top of the fireplace is machinery or apparatus for manufacturing nets for formed of metal slabs, which serve as a hot plate. The fishing, and for other purposes." Dated April 27, back or bridge of the fireplace is formed by a water 1859. space also in communication with the boiler. This invention is more or less based upon a net-hind the hollow bridge is a chamber from which a making machine for which a patent for Scotland was series of small tubular smoke flues pass to a chamber granted to James Paterson, July 27, 1835. The me- at the back of the boiler in which ovens are placed; chanical arrangement by which the twine or yarn is this chamber communicates directly with a chimney netted, consists of a combination of needles, hooks, placed at the back of the apparatus. Over the boiler and fullers, the joint operations of which form a series a steam chamber is formed which receives steam from of twisted loops extending across the machine. the boiler by a pipe ascending from the top of the Through this series of loops a length of twine or boiler, and terminating in a dome formed at the top yarn is carried by a shuttle, which consists of a long of the steam chamber; this arrangement is to prevent hooked wire or slender rod, which is caused to pass water being forced over with the steam into the steam through the loops, and in traversing back to its chamber. Within the steam chamber one or more normal position it draws with it the twine or yarn, cooking chambers are placed, and they are supported which is cut off by a self-acting cutter when the so that a space may be left for the steam around the traverse is completed. A corresponding arrangement said vessel or vessels. Cocks are provided at the is fitted on the other side of the machine, so that the exterior of the apparatus. On each side of the steam two shuttles work alternately to form the series of chamber brackets are fixed to support kettles or equidistant knots in the material of which the net is vessels which are supplied with steam by steam pipes manufactured. The object of the present invention connecting them with the steam chamber, and these is to modify the original machine before-referred to, vessels receive smaller vessels in which cooking may so as to render it capable of producing the higher be carried on. Patent completed. numbers of mesh or finer qualities of net, solely by mechanical means. There are various modifications included. Patent completed. 1057. J. R. SMITH. 66 Improvements in obtaining motive power." Dated April 27, 1859. Here a wheel with a tubular or hollow run, capable of revolving in a vertical plane upon a horizontal axis, has attached to its periphery at equal distances apart, and all round it, a series of open cages or chambers, each containing a flexible diaphragm of tubular or bag form. The tubular or chamber space in the main wheel is filled with water, mercury, oil, or other liquid, and by means of certain other arrangements (the details of which we cannot give space to) the wheel is made to revolve in either direction. Patent abandoned.

1058. R. J. LAING. "Improvements in wet gasmeters." Dated April 27, 1859.

Here the patentee employs a ball or other suitable valve suspended by an arm or other suitable means from above in either or both of the gas passages of the meter, so that when the meter is in a correct position such valves will hang free of the openings they are capable of closing, but so soon as any tilting takes place these openings will be closed, and the passage of the gas stopped. These valves may be arranged in pairs so as to close either way. Patent completed.

1059. C. HAMP. "Certain improvements in locks." Dated April 27, 1859.

This relates to lever locks, and consists in constructing them with two distinct sets of levers, each operated upon by the bit or bits of the key; also in forming the keys of lever locks with two bits, each bit being intended to operate each of the aforesaid sets of levers for locking and unlocking the same. It is also proposed in some cases to use a loose curtain attached to the case of the lock. Patent abandoned. 1060. J. HOLROYD. "Improvements in machinery used for finishing woollen and other cloths." Dated April 27, 1859.

This consists in so constructing the bed over which the cloth passes that when the machine is set in motion, the bed shall move up and down in a vertical direction by self-acting means. As the cloth passes over this bed, and between it and the cutters, it follows that when the bed is raised the nap of the cloth is cut shorter, and that when the bed is flowered the cloth is left longer in the nap. This variation in the length of nap produces lines or stripes running transverse across the piece from bit to bit. Patent completed.

1061. T. LACEY. "Improvements in gas regulators." Dated April 27, 1859,

1063. T. GAUNTLEY, sen. Improvements in the manufacture of fringes." Dated April 27, 1859. Here twist lace machines are used, so that the warp threads are employed for producing the fringe as well as the traverse threads of the woven parts or heads of the fringe, and the bottom or carriage threads are employed to produce the longitudinal threads of the woven parts or heads of the fringe. The warp threads are shogged or moved to and fro a distance equal to the desired width for the fringes. Patent abandoned. 1064. J. KIDD. Improvements in sewing machines." Dated April 28, 1859.

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The inventor claims the principle of working the needle and the shuttle by one crank pin by means of the slots described. The principle of a shuttle moving in grooves in a race, and supported by the keels described. The principle of a feeder hanging on centre and worked by the needle arm and needle slide, and the principle of the guide bar forming a guide and a regulator. Patent abandoned.

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1065. C. RANDOLPH and J. ELDER. "Improvements in steam-engines and boilers." Dated April 28, 1859.

The patentee claims, 1, communicating the power of the engines to screw or similar propellers by mechanism capable of giving, either a direct connection with equal speed, or an increased speed by means of an indirect connection as described. 2. Constructing surface condensers with spiral or helical coils of pipes. 3. Constructing marine steam-boilers with two or more separate uptakes to each separate vessel or boiler, and the surrounding of such uptakes with steam drying or superheating chambers. 4. Arrang. ing the tubes or corresponding passages of multitubular or similar steam-boilers with a downward inclination towards the smoke boxes. 5. Constructing combined heaters and steam generators as described with reference to the drawings. Patent completed.

1066. R. JONES. "An improved safety lamp." Dated April 28, 1859.

This consists in the lamps being provided with an extinguishing apparatus secured to the moveable head of the same through the medium of pendant framework, and so arranged as to admit of two metallic surfaces being brought immediately in contact with the wick on withdrawing the head, by which the light is extinguished, the draught holes being covered with gauze, and the lamp provided with the ordinary wire gauze, glass, lock-up head and handle, as also a flat wick, in place of the usual round one; a reservoir of oil is contained in the head, together with a pipe and thumb valve for supplying the burner, Patent abandoned,

1067. R. HARRINGTON. "Improvements in umbrellas and parasols." Dated April 28, 1859. This relates to the construction of the runners, the object being to enable a parasol or umbrella to be placed in an excentric position to the handle or stick. Patent completed.

1068. N. LIBOTTE. "A steam brake for mines, which may also be worked by hand." Dated April 28, 1859.

The patentee claims, 1, a method of arranging, combining, and constructing mine breaks, so that a wheel may be acted upon to operate as a break by the application of friction or pressure against or upon the sides thereof. 2. An arrangement and combination of break in which a wheel having projections and sunken parts is acted upon by the pressure exerted on its sides by bars having projections corresponding to the recesses in the wheel, and operating as de scribed. Patent completed.

1069. N. J. HOLMES. "Improvements in electric telegraphs, and apparatus connected therewith." Dated April 28, 1859.

The patentee claims, 1, the use of coils constructed so as to secure to any transmitted or received current an inductive influence always parallel to the axis of motion and polarity of any magnetized substance placed within the sphere of that influence, either externally or internally. 2. The use of such construction of coils whereby the polarity of the needle or indicators is always preserved at a uniform distance from the influence of the coil during the motion derived from any transmitted or received current. 3. The particular arrangements of conductors and parts necessary to secure these maximum effects of any cur. rent upon any magnetized or indicating apparatus, or apparatus used either for direct transmission of signals, or for local action, either as a visible, audible, or printing telegraph. 4. The use of two parallel or diverg. ing magnetized needles, or other indicators used in combination with the parallelism of axis of motion with the direction of inductive influence of electric currents, so that each needle is in opposition to the axis of such inductive influence during any motion derived from any current or currents. Patent completed.

1070. E. LARDENOIS. "Improvements in the manufacture of pulp for paper, pasteboard, and other like articles." (A communication.) Dated April 28, 1859.

This consists in manufacturing pulp from vegetable substances without rags, by subjecting them, 1st, to the action of steam; 2nd, to the blows of heavy hammers, and to pressure between rollers; 3rd, to solutions of protoxide of sodium under pressure; 4th. to universal acids and to washings in water; 5th, to chlorine or chlorides, to carbonic acid, to oxalic acid, to heat, to galvanic currents, and to pressure. Patent completed.

1071. T. CLARKE. "Improvements in sheaves or pulleys for paying out and hauling in ropes, chains, and cables, for communicating motion to machinery, and for other useful purposes.' Dated April 23, 1859.

This consists in constructing sheaves or pulleys in two parts, so that one or both of the flanges or slides of the groove in which the rope or cable travels shall be capable of being moved so that the two may be brought together or towards each other at one part of the circumference of the pulley, and nip or grip the rope at that part, while the ropes may travel freely over the other part of the pulley. The motion of the moveable part or parts, and therefore the gripping action, are produced by weighted lovers, springs, inclined axles or otherwise. The gripping faces of the flanges or sides of the groove may be furnished with roughed steel plates, or with vulcanized rubber. Patent completed.

1072. J. WHEAT.

"Certain improvements in drilling-machines employed for agricultural purposes." Dated April 28, 1859.

In carrying out this invention a wooden barrel is connected by a spindle to a suitable framing, and around this barrel a chain passes right and left, and is guided on to a half round wood gearing to which the ends of the chain are securely fixed; on the top of the spindle of the aforesaid barrel a handle is placed, by moving which handle from right to left, or ret versa, the course of the machine will be directed s required. Patent completed.

1073. W. A. TOMPSON and W. GREEN. "Improve ments in apparatus for applying liquids to the throat and air passages for medical purposes." Dated April 28, 1859.

The patentees employ a flexible or other gas-holder or vessel containing an under pressure, and they connect this gas-holder or vessel with a pipe, by means of which a jet of air can be directed on to the interior of the throat of the patient. Before the air passes to the throat they cause it to become saturated with a

or moveable part of a press will be acted on very powerfully by the lever or other means. used for causing the axis to rotate partly round, in consequence of the two plates being thereby brought more nearly into the same plane. When making a lithographic press the patentees employ a friction roller under each of the axes or necks of the cylinder or roller, over which the carriage of the press moves, and in order to ensure greater accuracy in the movement of the platten they prefer to apply apparatus as above described at both ends of the platten. They apply V or angular guides to the two ends of the platten. Patent completed. 1030. S. DE CAZENAVE. "An improved lubricating compound." Dated April 29, 1859.

The inventor mixes together oil ricini or castor oil, soft or potassa soap, palm oil, and virgin or American rosin, and melts them at as low a temperature as possible. He then adds, in a finely powdered state, bichlorate of mercury and pumice stone, and well mixes and incorporates the whole while warm. Patent

ments in boilers and other furnaces, smoke consuming PATENTS ON WHICH THE THIRD YEAR'S STAMP and steam generating.