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cattle and implements. The corporation of the City of London would doubtless like the shows to be held in Smithfield itself; others, again, would locate them at Islington; some at the Crystal Palace, and some at Kensington. The general impression seems to be in favour of a movement westward, but we fear many objections will be made to the desecration of Kensington. How far ample space, good air and light, and, moreover, aristocratic "surroundings" might tend to improve the cattle show, we do not know, but unless about nine-tenths of the dirt and confusion at present experienced could be prevented, Kensington will be up in arms at the thought of bringing the Christmas shows there. There can

be little doubt, however, that room exists for a suitable building which might answer for all sorts of flower, fruit, and poultry shows, as well as for a winter garden and the cattle shows, and no place seems better than Kensington for most, if not for all, of these purposes. With care and good management we think a cattle show would be endurable at Kensington, but care and good management would be absolutely necessary in order to make it so, and it will be well worth the committee's while, should they think of this site, to lay down their plans somewhat in detail in order to avoid needless opposition. The same building might also serve the purpose of the proposed exhibition of 1862, and any that may succeed it. It might also form an admirable place for rifle practice, and the annual gatherings contemplated by the Association for Promoting Rifle Corps, at which the promoters appear to hope as much as £10,000 a-year will be distributed in prizes.

ON THE WEIGHT AND STRENGTH OF
AMERICAN SHIP-TIMBER.

By DONALD MCKAY, Ship-builder, of Boston, U.S.

WEIGHT OF A CUBIC FOOT OF

Round. Square.

lbs.

lbs.

lbs.

After felling...

64.74

67.20

47-81

1 Year after...

53.60

53.51

39.83

49.89

lbs. 39-21 34.16 33.49

4 Years after 45.97

34.28

Each of the above numbers are the mean of experiments on twelve different pieces of timber cut from different trees, and the experiments were made by Mr. Farris, Timber Inspector of Gosport Navy-yard."

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AFTER the meeting of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Nov., 22, Mr. John Poole exhibited and explained a "Parallel-Motion Safety Valve."

CAPTAIN SMALLMAN TOOVEY, of the mercantile | the compass in the binnacle differs from the read. marine-a gentleman who has had considerable experience in charge of iron ships, and well understands the necessity of testing the compasses of such vessels with all possible frequency and carehas introduced a valuable instrument for facilitating this operation. The accompanying engraving represents the improved instrument, which has already been employed on several voyages with the greatest satisfaction, and is now supplied to Virginia White Oak. Virginia Yell. Pine. the navy by Messrs. Imray, Son, & Co. of the Minories. It is manufactured in cheap as well as Round. Square. high-priced forms, in order that no captain may have difficulty in obtaining it. The origin and nature of the instrument are as follows:-It occurred to Captain Toovey that it would be more convenient, when determining the error of the compass by the use of the dumb card, if both the amount of error and its direction, i. e. the course by ship's head and the true course, were shown on the same card: he was thus led to adopt a modification of the dumb-card, which he calls the Azimuth Dial. The instrument consists of a double disc of metal (sometimes silvered), swinging freely on a tripod, and is of sufficient weight of the ship. The outer rim of the disc is graduated to be always horizontal, whatever may be the list to the points (or degrees) of the compass, and turning on the same centre is a second disc similarly graduated. There is a small pointer for indicating the direction of the ship's head: and it is also fitted with a style for obtaining the sun's shadow, but this can be removed, and the ordinary telescope and sight-vane applied in the usual mode of taking an azimuth of an object. The instrument is used thus:-By the use of Godfray's time azimuth chart, the true bearing of a celestial object can be determined at any moment, when its meridian distance is more than two hours and less than six hours. Thus, within those intervals, the points of the true horizon are known for any given instant. Having placed the azimuth dial in a

WEIGHT OF A CUBIC FOOT OF LIVE OAK, ACCORDING
TO GRIFFITH.
Green............ 78-69 lbs. | Seasoned......... 66-75 lbs.

This timber is exclusively used for the frames of the
United States' men-of-war ships, and is considered by
all naval men to be almost imperishable.
TENSILE STRENGTH OF AMERICAN WHITE OAK AND

ENGLISH OAK PER ONE SQUARE INCH.
(From "Appleton's Dictionary of Mechanics.")
lbs. lbs.
English Oak
8820 to 10,224
11,501

American White Oak SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND TRANSVERSE STRENGTH (PER ONE SQUARE INCH) OF ENGLISH OAK AND

AMERICAN WHITE AND LIVE OAK.

(According to Various Observers.)

Extracted from a Table published in Vol. V. of the
Professional Papers of the Royal Engineers.

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vation, fix the instrument so that the pointer may
be on the line of the keel and towards the ship's
head; set the inner and outer graduated disc so
that their difference may show the amount of
variation as known at the place, such that the
the true and the
inner disc may indicate
outer disc the magnetic horizon, then turn
the dial on its axis until the shadow from
the style on the inner disc coincides with the
sun's true bearing at the time as given by God-
fray's chart; the pointer will then also show the
magnetic position of the ship's head on the outer
graduated disc and the true on the inner disc. If

It was pointed out that the ordinary valve simply rested on its face or seat; its vertical or upward motion being guided by a spindle on the lower side passing through a box or feathers in the steam pipe. The area of the discharge pipe was thus reduced one-third, and in some cases as much as one-half. This valve was pressed upon by a weighted lever, moving on a hinge or centre on one side. When in a state of rest, the lever and the centre of the spindle were at right rose the angle became more acute. This brought angles to each other; but as soon as the valve an unequal load upon the valve, and caused friction, inducing a tendency in the spindle to twist and on the valve to jam or stick. The guide spindle, being below the valve face, was also liable to be corroded by foul or dirty water, and It was to unequal contraction and expansion. likewise found that these valves, when out of order, invariably leaked on the side nearest the hinge of the lever.

In the "Parallel-Motion Safety Valve" the spindle was on the upper side, the seat or face was flat, and the discharge pipe was free of interior incumbrances, so that less leverage and weight were necessary. The spindle passed through a guide above, and to the centre of the spindle, on which the valve was hinged, the parallel motion was attached. It was shown, by a sec tional model, that the radial action of the lever did not control the vertical action of the valve, which therefore could not stick or jam in its seat.

LIST OF NEW BOOKS.
Bohn's Scientific Library, Morphy's Games of Chess, 58.
Comstock's Manual of Natural Philosophy, edited by Hob-
Dougall's The Rifle Simplified, ls.
lyn, new edit., 58.
Hunt's Yachting Magazine, Vol. 8, 14s.
Lund's Geometrical Exercises, with Solutions, 3s. 6d.
Lunn's, Of Motion: an Elementary Treatise, 7s. 6d.
Potter's Physical Optics, Part 2, 7s. 6d.
Progressive Drawing Book, 2 Parts, Is.

Proceedings of Societies.

SOCIETY OF ARTS.

December 7th, 1859.-The fourth ordinary meeting of this session was held, J. Bennet Lawes, Esq, F.R S., in the chair. Several candidates were balloted for and duly elected members. The paper read was "On the Forces used in Agriculture," by J. C. Morton, a lengthy notice of which appears on another page.

ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.

A numerously attended meeting of this society was held on Monday evening, at Burlington-house, Sir Roderick I. Murchison, Vice-President, in the Chair. Captain H. Godfrey-Austen, the Hon. and Rev. F. S. Grimston, F. W. Davis, M.D., R.N., H. Harwood Harwood, W. H. Purdon, and Francis Tagart, Esq., were presented upon their election. Captain G. Augustus Bedford. R:N., Rear Admiral Sir H. Byam Martin, K.C.B., Henry Ancell Edward Butler, Edmund Calvert, William C. Hood, M.D., Henry Raikes, M.A., Edward Smith, W. Castle Smith, Richard Todd, and James Watson, Esquires, were elected Fellows. Sir Andrew Agnew, Bart., M.P., Captain Claude Clerk, the Hon. W. H. Forester Denison, Captain J. Hamilton Ward, R.N., Edward Enfield, H. Hamilton Lindsay, Charles Otter, and J. Petherick, ViceConsul at Khartum, Esquires, were proposed as candidates for election. The MS. trigonometrical survey of Kashmir, by Captain T. G. Montgomerie, FR.G.S., under the direction of LieutenantColonel A. Scott Waugh, FRG.S., Surveyor General of India; sketches illustrative of Himalayan scenery, by Captain Austen and Mr. Purdon; Numerous sketches of scenery in British Columbia, including San Juan Island, &c., by Mr. Bedwell, R.N.; a map of the Fraser River, by Captain G. H. Richard, R.N., F.R.G.S., Her Majesty's Ship Plumper; a plan of the Tien-tsin-lo, showing the Chinese defences, by Major Fisher, R.E.; and a model of the largest gold nugget hitherto found, from Ballarat, by Professor Tennant, F.R.G.S., were exhibited to the meeting.

The papers read were:

1. On the trigonometrical survey and physical configuration of the valley of Kashmir, by Mr. William Purdon, F.R.G.S., executive engineer, Punjab; communicated by Sir Charles Wood, F.R.G.S., India Office.

Prior to commencing the above paper, the Chairman read a letter from Lord Canning, e pressing his approbation of the map of Kashmir, and alluding to the peculiar difficulties against which the officers of the survey had to contend, not only from the nature of the country itself but from the disposition of the inhabitants who were at that time strongly opposed to the British rule, and the men employed under the engineer officers were sepoys belonging to one of the regiments that had been first to revolt. Owing, however, to the skilful management and courageous conduct of Captain Montgomerie, the men had been retained in obedience and confirmed in their loyalty. The map which was the result of the survey was exhibited, and appeared to illustrate the description of the valley of Kashmir given Mr. Purdon's paper. The paper gave rise to a discussion, in which Colonel Everest, the former SurveyorGeneral of India, Captain Austen, of the Staff of the Great Trigonometrical Survey, and others, took part.

On

could navigate all the rivers, thus affording access to the auriferous regions. He was glad to see young officers of the Navy employed in examining those distant regions of the British Empire.

MEETINGS FOR THE ENSUING WEEK. MON.-London Inst., "On the Radiation and Absorption of Heat," by Prof. John Tyndall, F.R.S., at 7 p.m. WED.-Society of Arts, "On Starches; the Purposes for which they are Employed, and the Improvements in their Manufacture," by Mr. F. Crace Calvert, F.R.S., at 8 p.m.

London Inst., Soiree.
THU.-Royal Society, at 8 p.m.
FRI.-London Inst., "On Certain Principles of Vegetable
and Animal Chemistry," by F. A. Malone, Esq.,
F.C.S., at 7 p.m.

GRAVELEY'S PATENT IMPROVED DISTILLING AND COOKING APPARATUSES. DISTILLING and cooking apparatuses for use on board ship are now so universally in request that their manufacture has become a matter of much importance to shipowners. We are anxious, therefore, to place before our readers a set of apparatuses recently devised by Mr. Graveley, of the well known firm of Winchester and Co., Upper East Smithfield, manufacturers of ship fire-hearths, &c., for the marine of this and other countries. Mr. Graveley and the firm mentioned have had the advantage of very great experience in connection with this subject, and have introduced apparatuses for distilling and cooking which certainly are not surpassed, to say the least, by any others. Those supplied by them for the Great Eastern, the General Admiral (Russian frigate), and other important vessels, many of them men-of war, are among the best examples of this class of articles to be found on shipboard.

mous price of provisions, there would be abundant
work for those who were quitting the country.
Dry diggings have yet to be found, which would
be done when men possessed energy enough to
prospect the country. But while provisions held
such an enormous price, there could be no hope
that any active exertions could be made. The
Chief Justice Begbie, in his communication, ob-
serves that two chiefs, said to be of extensive
authority, paid him a visit while at Cayoosh, and
complained of the conduct of the citizens of the
United States in preventing them from mining, in
destroying and carrying away their root crops
without compensation, and in laying wholly upon
the Indians many depredations on cattle and
horses, which, these Indians informed him were,
in part at least, committed by Boston men.
the other hand, there were many cases of cattle
stealing alleged by the whites of all nations
against the Indians, and stealing of anything that
could by possibility be eaten. The cattle which
the Indians stole they did not attempt to sell or
make use of otherwise than as food; and it was
admitted on all hands that many hundreds of
Indians had died of absolute starvation during
the winter. The Indians said that the salmon had
failed them now for three years together. The
whites alleged what was obvious to everybody-
that the Indians were extremely averse to work,
except under the pressure of immediate hunger,
and that they were so improvident as rarely to
look beyond the wants of the day, or to provide
for the winter. The Chief Justice expresses an
opinion that this was more true of the savages
who had never been brought into contact with
civilisation than of those who had had even such
a little acquaintance with the whites. He found
almost everywhere Indians willing to labour hard
for hire, and bargaining acutely for wages, and
perfectly acquainted with gold dust and the
Their latest improvements, which we now pro-
minute weights for measuring one and two dollars pose to illustrate and describe, have done a very
with. These circumstances were inconsistent great deal towards perfecting apparatuses for
with an utter heedlessness for next day's provi- distilling and cooking on board ship, leaving little
sions; for in all cases it was necessary to find to be desired in respect of either efficiency,
these Indians in provisions as well as wages. The economy, or compactness.
The first apparatus
amount of wages for carrying burdens was 8s. per which we shall describe consists of a furnace with
day, and provisions everywhere showed a high the ordinary appliances for cooking, roasting, and
rate of profit as the wages of labour in British baking, and of one or two steam boilers arranged
Columbia. If this was the average remuneration and acting as hereafter described. The same fuel
of the most unskilled labour, what would not and furnace perform all the operations. One boiler
skilled labour supported by capital earn? It was is similar to an ordinary tubular boiler; the paten-
the uniform practice of those keepers to entrust tee divides the steam chest or dome into two com-
these Indians with their goods, generally 100 lbs.partments by a partially perforated plate to pre-
of flour, beans, or pork, and provisions for their vent any undue pressure of steam coming too sud-
own subsistence. Thefts were said to be unknown, denly in contact with the steam-pipe leading from
and great care taken of their burdens. The in- the dome. Inside the lower compartment he
dividuals who worked were found extremely places a small dome perforated to a given height
fleshy and healthy. His impression of the Indian up the sides. Inside this small dome is a globular
population was, that they had far more natural valve provided with a proper seating, into which
intelligence, honesty, and good manners than the seating a pipe opens. This pipe is intended to
lowest classes, such as the agricultural and min- carry off any salt water that may arise with the
ing population, of any European country he had steam; the globular valve is enclosed to ensure its
ever visited, England included. At Cayoosh he not being held down on its seat by the pressure of
tried to cause a grand jury to be summoned to the steam in the chest.
present all these matters formally to him. But
there were not twelve British subjects there. The
Chief Justice says the chief points which struck
him were, first, the ready submission of a foreign
population to the declaration of the will of the
executive, when expressed clearly and discreetly,
however contrary to their wishes; secondly, the
great preponderance of the California, or Califor-
nicised element of the population, and the paucity
of British subjects; thirdly, the great riches, both
auriferous and agricultural, of the country;
fourthly, the great want of some fixity of tenure
for agricultural purposes; and, fifthly, the absence
of all means of communication, except by foaming
torrents in canoes, or over goat tracks on foot,
which rendered all the productions of the country,
except such as, like gold, could be carried with
great care in small weight and compass, practically
valueless.

2. British Columbia. Journeys in the Districts
bordering on the Fraser, Thompson, and Harrison
Rivers. By Lieutenants Mayne, R.N., and Palmer,
R.E., and Chief Justice M. Begbie. Communi-
cated by the Duke of Newcastle, Colonial Office.
-Lieutenant Mayne's report contains much in-
teresting topographical information. It describes
the character of the soil, the vegetation, and
productions of the districts traversed, and points
out the courses of the rivers and the general geo- The Chairman, in proposing the thanks of the
graphical features of the country. Lieutenant Society to His Grace the Duke of Newcastle for
Palmer, in his paper, remarks that every miner sending the papers, and also to those gentlemen
admitted the existence of gold in the Upper who had prepared them, said that he was much
Fraser River; and but for the scarcity and enor-struck with the fact that vessels of large tonnage

He encases the above-named steam-boiler in an air tube to prevent loss of heat by radiation. and outside of the air tube is fixed another boiler containing a quantity of tubes in connection with steam-pipes from the chest of the internal boiler for the purpose of boiling sea water. Atmospheric air is admitted to aërate and mix with the steam from the first steam-chest after the same has entered the tubes in the second boiler, and force or drive in the air by a jet of steam. On the second boiler is another steam chest or dome divided into two compartments and fitted with a globular valve as in the dome first mentioned. A steam-pipe leads from the top of this dome, and an orifice is made in the side of the dome for the admission of atmospheric air, and introduces a jet of steam from the first-named steam-chest to draw the air in. The steam-pipe from the last named dome leads to a small cistern or box containing fresh water, in which the steam from both the boilers is first received and becomes condensed. The water from this box then passes through a condenser and filter in connection with it, and is discharged from the filter in the state of pure

THE MECHANICS' MAGAZINE.

GRAVELEY'S PATENT

[DECEMBER 16, 1859. IMPROVED DISTILLING AND COOKING APPARATUSES.

FIG. 1.

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aërated fresh water. On the outer case a pumping engine is fixed for the purpose of keeping a constant supply of cold sea water to the condenser, and for feeding warm salt water from the condenser to the boilers. The pumping engine is worked by steam from the steam-chest first described. A pipe is connected to the outer boiler, rising to the water line to allow of a constant discharge of brine to prevent incrustation. leaving the boiler tubes pass round or against The flues after an oven, in order to utilise the heat which would otherwise be lost.

tubular boiler, which is surrounded by an air tube in communication with a refrigerator g, which is another boiler which surrounds or encases the felt circulates through the pipes of the refrigerator or by a thick packing or felt H as shown; K' is surrounded by cold water. and tubular boiler K. M is a dome or steam-chest, and finally enters a filter, from which it is drawn The condensed steam which is fitted to the boiler K and receives the off pure water by a pipe furnished with a tap. steam generated therein through a pipe L. Iis Atmospheric air is drawn into the dome M for the dome; Jis a steam-pipe for the passage of pipe, but which enters the side of the said dome. a perforated plate placed near the upper part of the purpose of aërating the water through another upper part of the whole apparatus and is intended downward direction through a pipe leading from steam to drive the engine N, which is fixed on the A jet of steam is admitted into this pipe in a to keep up a constant supply of sea water to the the dome M, for the purpose of creating a draught Fig. 1 of the accompanying engravings is an boilers K and K and to the condenser. isometrical perspective view, partly in section, of and at the lower part of the larger one. It is per- pass off to the chimney; i is a brine cock for another and smaller dome placed in the interior passing through the flues of the tubular boiler M' is of the air. The products of combustion after an apparatus for cooking, roasting, and baking, forated at its lower part at a a, through which discharging water from the boiler. and for purifying and aerating sea water, con- perforations steam and any salt water that may structed according to this invention. This appa- rise with it enter the small dome M; b is a gloratus is a very convenient one for transport to bular valve, into the seating of which a pipe c foreign parts as a land apparatus, occasioning no trouble when at its destination, because it is tioned to the boiler K. M" is another dome or enters which curries off the salt water just menpacked for transport without being taken to steam chest similar to that just described, it also pieces or interfered with in any way. even be mounted on wheels and drawn, if which is perforated as before, and globular valve It may contains a perforated plate I', an internal dome P required, from place to place. place, E are the furnace bars, F is the fur- dome M, through which steam passes to be conE is the fire-b; e is a pipe fitted to the upper part of the nace door, G is the ashpit. K is an ordinary densed. This pipe e leads into a water cistern f

is illustrated in the isometrical perspective engraving Fig. 2, in which a single boiler only is A modification of the apparatus last described the method of action, however, in order to obtain used, and the arrangement of the parts is altered; pure aërated fresh water from sea water, is in both of the same, and Fig. 4 is an end view; E is the cases the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section door; G is a hot-plate for stewing; H H are fireplace; E' E' are the furnaces; Fis the furnace guard-rails fitted round the hot plate. Bars or

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the mainland are stated by the Launceston papers
to be now represented by a sum amounting to
more than £1,000,000 sterling, and, as the mar
those of the others, it cannot be otherwise than a
matter of deep importance that a close intercom-
munication should exist between them. One
chief source of risk and expense said to be con-
nected with this line is, that it has been laid in
four separate sections-first from the north side
of the King's Island to Cape Otway on the Aus-
tralian coast, then in the opposite direction from
King's Island to Hummock's Island, thence to
Circular Head on the north coast of Tasmania, and
from that point along the coast to the entrance
of the Tamar, where it joins the land line to
Launceston and Hobart Town. From this arrange-
ment the shore-ends of the cable are numerous,
and all of them are said to be considerably exposed
to injury from the nature of the places at which the
landings have been made. Under those circum-
stances it is being urged upon the Governments of
Victoria and Tasmania that they should at once
incur the additional expense of procuring from
England sufficient surplus cable to make good
any injury which either of the four sections may
sustain; and this, we think, is a very reasonable
suggestion, seeing how many chances of accident
the line is exposed to.-Australian Mail.

kets of the one colony are entirely regulated by

rails are fitted to the guard which are intended to | annual trade transactions between that island and
support saucepans or other cooking utensils,
and to prevent them from rolling off or
shifting. JJ are steamers of the ordinary
construction fitted or placed at the top of the
apparatus; K is a boiler the water in which is
heated by the products of combustion passing
through flues LL. M is a dome at the upper part
of which a safety valve is fitted, and which has a
tube placed inside the dome and extending to nearly
the top thereof. The steam which is generated in
the boiler passes up this tube and decends between
the tube and the dome M, surrounding the cooking
boilers OO (as indicated by the arrows). The
flues L L are in communication with a smoke box
P, through which the products of combustion pass
to the vertical tubes QQ which surround the
baking ovens shown in Fig. 4. C is a division
plate and damper, and T is a chimney. V is a
hot closet heated by the products of combustion as
they pass from the flues L to the tubes Q Q. is
a gauge to indicate the height of the water in the
boiler. W is a hand pump shown in Fig. 2 by
which salt water is forced into the boiler; or instead
of a hand pump a donkey engine may be employed.
Steam is led through a pipe from the boiler K to
a refrigerator or condenser placed at or near the
lower part of the apparatus. A cock is fitted to the
upper part of the steam pipe, which regulates the
pressure or quantity of steam allowed to circulate
round the cooking boilers. The condensed steam
after entering the refrigerator traverses the pipes
YY, enters a compartment F, and passes from
thence to other pipes Y" Y", after traversing
which it enters a filter 2 which is provided with
partitions ZZ, so arranged that the water may
pass through an extended surface of the filtering
medium. A pipe is provided by which pure fresh
water is drawn off. The space round the refrigerat-
ing tubes is filled with cold salt water, and the
partition that divides the water in the boiler from
that round the refrigerator is composed of felt
encased in iron, which prevents any heat passing
from one compartment to the other. A pipe is
provided for the admission of atmospheric air to
the condenser. A small pipe leading from the
boiler K enters the air pipe, down which it extends
a short distance in order to create a draught for
the air down the pipe W. a is a feed cock to the
boiler and a waste water cock from the condenser,
is a discharge air pipe, c is a tap by which hot
distilled water is drawn off, d d are mud holes, f is
a brine cock by which the brine can be constantly
withdrawn, and incrustation of the boiler thereby
to a great extent prevented.

HADLOW'S LINEN MARKER.

THE marking of linen is an operation which is
often performed badly, and often neglected alto.
gether for want of a convenient mode of executing
it neatly and easily. Observing this, Mr. F. V.
Hadlow, of Prince Albert-street, Brighton, has
contrived and obtained a patent for a simple
little arrangement of apparatus by aid of which
we may henceforth get rid of all difficulty in the

matter.

It is a next combination of a relief engraved box-wood stamp, bearing the name, &c., to be placed upon the linen with a supply of Bond's marking ink, the whole being contained in a small

case.

This case (of birch-wood) is turned in three pieces, screwing together for opening and closing. The central portion contains a very small bottle of fluid marking ink and the engraved marker, just large enough tohold firmly between the thumb and fingers. The top division, in the form of a deep down upon this, whilst the base screws on to the hollow cap, with an ornamental moulding, screws bottom of the central piece, and serves as the reWe have taken pains to inquire into the work- ceptacle for an india-rubber disc, with a black ing of these apparatuses as designed by Mr. cloth disc over it. On the base or lower face of Graveley and manufactured by Messrs. Winchester the central piece there is attached a code of direcand Co., and we find they have given great satis- tions for use, so as to be ever at hand, and most conve faction to owners. They are cheaply made, easy niently accessible. All that is necessary is to spread to work, and will run for several voyages without a drop of ink upon the cloth disc resting upon its requiring any repairs worth mentioning. While, india-rubber base, press the face of the marker therefore, costly and uncertain apparatuses are upon it, and then apply it to the linen to be constantly being forced upon the notice of ship-marked. When warmed subsequently by an iron owners, we cannot fail to bring the merits of these more economical and efficient ones to their

attention.

THE TASMANIAN SUBMARINE CABLE. THE first submarine electric cable of any considerable length in this part of the world has now been successfully laid and opened for public use. The 120 miles of Bass's Straits is thus annihilated, so far as the communication of intelligence is concerned, and the island of Tasmania is for many important purposes as closely united to the mainland of Australia as though no sea rolled between them. This, it will be admitted, is a work of some magnitude for these colonies, and is creditable to the enterprise of Victoria and Tasmania, who have themselves found the whole of the funds) for the undertaking. In this case the object to be gained is worth even some annual expenditure in excess of returns, if the line cannot be maintained without it; for their can be no question that to Tasmania the advantage of instant communication with these colonies must be very great. The

the impression comes out clear, black, and inde-
lible. The same apparatus answers for paper and
other surfaces. If little ink is used, the markings
are very sharp-quite different to the blurred
hieroglyphics usually met with. The arrange-
ment is so convenient and effective, that all who
have frequent necessity for marking names, num-
bers, or addresses, must find it extremely useful.

The Duncan, 101 guns, has been launched at Ports-
mouth. A 51-gun frigate, to be named the Dryad, is
to be immediately laid down under the shed vacated
by the Duncan.

has ordered the systematic gathering of seaweed from
Paris papers state that the French Government
the rocks of Normandy and Brittany, to serve as
wadding for artillery, for which purpose it serves admi-
rably.

Among new inventions attracting notice is one
called the Patent Adamas, a silicious composition,
alleged to be free from liability to corrosion or oxyda-
tion or destruction from heat or acids, and which is
said to be in a course of trial by some of the gas com-
panies as a material for burners, which will save them
the expense of constant renewals.

THE CORT TESTIMONIAL FUND.

TO THE EDITORS OF THE "MECHANICS' MAGAZINE."
Manchester, 14th December, 1859.
article in your Magazine complaining in titter
GENTLEMEN,-I have read with surprise an

terms of the conduct of the Cort Testimonial
Fund Committee. The aspect of the case as pre-
sented by you is calculated seriously to prejudice
the interests of the Cort family, inasmuch as it re-
flects discredit upon a number of gentlemen who
met only five weeks since, and, actuated by the
utmost sympathy for the family, resolved upon a
course which, to the best of their judgment and
knowledge of the case, was most likely to secure
the end they wished to attain. They proved their
liberality by subscribing £260, of which £30 was
given to Mr. Cort; and to a inan in needy circum-
stances this could not be, nor ought to have been,
a sum received with ingratitude. The committee
passed the resolution quoted by you, which it is
my duty to see carried out, and beyond that reso
lution it is impossible to go without another mest
ing being held to rescind it. So far, about £530
have been subscribed, and it was hoped that £2000
vested in annuities, (after placing the family in
would soon have been obtained; which sum in-
circumstances free from debt,) would have been a
comfortable yearly income to the recipients. No
public movement, as you are aware, can be carried
through without affording reasonable time for
working it, and that is all the committee require
in this case. A few weeks more, and the commit-
tee hope to conclude their honorary labours, if
their appeal be but promptly responded to. Allow
me to beg you will not again by injudicious state-
ments damp the generous ardour of those who
have taken up this case, much less attempt to
question the justice or benevolence of such men as
those who at once and so nobly responded to the
claims of genius, or age and infirmity. I am, &c.

DAVID MORRIS.

[We must take the liberty of telling Mr. Morris that we esteem the above both a very foolish and a very impertinent letter-expe cially the last part of it. What have we said to" damp the generous ardour of those who have taken up this case," or to " question the justice or benevolence of such men," &c.? Did we not expressly say, that the whole thing to which we objected was "doubtless an oversight," and that we gave Mr. Fairbairn "ample credit for mean ag Morris-who is but a novice in reference to the and purposing well?" We would inform Mr. Cort case that by several years of well-considered advocacy of this case we have earned the right to offer a suggestion, and even to administer a rebuke, when other friends of the cause are conmitting great and palpable errors. We wcall further tell him, and our readers also (althongà the latter will have foreseen it) that some of the old and tried friends of the Cort family, and some members of the committee even, are as much astonished as ourselves at the strange resolutions passed at the late Manchester meeting of the committee, and are wondering why the family are not instantly relieved from their liabilities. We have nothing to add to, and nothing to take from, our last week's remarks on the management of the committee. We will only, therefore, add that the past history of the Cort case has demonstrated the strong necessity there is for looking after the money contributed for the benefit of the family; and no anger of Mr. Morris's will prevent us from seeing either that the present fund is properly administered, or that those (if any) who may attempt to misapply it shall have their proceedings brought to light. If Mr. Morris writes to us again on this question, he must amend bis tone, or we shall feel bound to enter with greater minuteness than before into the proceedings that have taken and are taking place in connection with the Manchester Fund. All we ask is, that

the money subscribed shall be applied to its legitimate object without delay, and we do to believe the committee desire to keep it locked up from the poor and extremely aged people.EDS. M.M.].

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