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less risk of losing boats from the davit-head suddenly altogether."

47,082 attended on what was called "students'" (not free) days; 237,272 attended in the day, and 219,016 in the evening. The public lectures It can hardly be necessary for us here to discuss appear to be useful and instructive. The results the relative merits of the two methods of releasing of the working of the Department of Science and-by the lowering fall, as in Mr. Clifford's plan, Art in all its divisions, for 1858, exhibit a great or by an independent apparatus as in Captain increase on the previous year in the attendance of Kynaston's, and the new plan now before us. the public at the museums, schools, and lectures. For some time to come, officers will doubtless be The visitors to the various museums, &c., in the found to prefer each of them. three capitals of the United Kingdom, under the superintendence of the Department, amounted to $75,898, equivalent to an increase of 117,923 on the previous year. The committee can state with confidence that at no period since the Department has been founded have its condition and working been so sound, or the public appreciation of the advantages which it offers in aid of private efforts to promote science and art among all classes so marked as in 1858.

WOOD AND ROGERS' BOAT-RELEASING APPARATUS.

THE accompanying engravings illustrate a new arrangement of apparatus for disconnecting both ends of a ship's boat simultaneously from the lowering tackle, invented by Mr. Wood, an officer of the Peninsular and Oriental Company's ship China, and Mr. Rogers, of Green's Dockyard, Blackwall. In the opinion of Mr. Wood, as he informs us by letter, the manoeuvre of disconnecting the boats when lowered by the tackles within a safe distance from the water should be left to the judgment of the boat's crew, according to the rolling of the ship and the prevailing state of the weather. 60 My method," he says, "does not embrace the lowering of the boat, presuming that to be under control of careful hands on the ship's deck. I will, if required by any patrons of this method, so arrange the boat-tackle falls inboard the ship, by connecting them on one roller or leading through a block, as to insure the falls easing off equally and together, thereby compelling the boat to lower on an even keel; and, by shortening the stern rods of the after end of the boat, cause the after slings to be thrown off slightly in advance of the bow slings, and allow the boat to enter the water a little by the stern." "I have brought this out," he adds, "as a practical nautical man, and from experience of other methods in use have adopted this for security and

The engravings show the new plan very completely.

A is the norman or lock bolt to be withdrawn whilst lowering from the davits. B is the lever handle for heaving round the barrel, by which action simultaneously four rods or bolts are withdrawn from either end, setting free the slings by which the boat is suspended. CC are the long rods or bolts that are worked by the barrel, secured to the sides by staples or cleets as required. DD are the slings; they can be made end to receive the bolts. of rope-wire, rope, or bar-iron, with eyes in each In lowering the boat, if the ship is under way, the after-tackle should be lowered slightly more than the bow-tackle, so that the rudder may have all power over the boat to sheer her off immediately from the ship's side, and clear her if the ship is propelled by a screw; if the screw enters the water on the side the boat is hung, it is more liable to suck the boat towards the propeller, and vice versa if the ship is going astern or reversing with the engines. The boat should be let free from the tackles when about one foot or nine inches clear of the water.

66

BOAT LOWERING APPARATUS.* TO THE EDITORS OF THE MECHANICS' MAGAZINE." GENTLEMEN,-Having candidly admitted the unfairness of continuing to publish correspondence attacking me when unauthenticated by the name of the writer, and having stated your intention to decline doing so again, I shall of course confine myself, as far as this subject is concerned, to answering once more, and for the last time, what "Nauticus" advanced in his last letter to you.

When he first alleged the loss of a boat's crew through the use of my lowering gear, I challenged him to name the instance to which he referred. He replied by stating that it occurred to Messrs.

Space could not be found for this letter in our last Number, or it would have appeared there.-EDs. M. M.

Green's ship, the Orwell, that "the fore pendant hung when the boat was at the water's edge, and the whole of the crew were drowned in consequence." On the authority of Messrs. Green (after they had themselves, instituted inquiry into the circumstances), and also on the captain's, I showed that this statement was not true, and that the accident to the boat's crew was "not in any way attributable to my lowering gear." Any further particulars would have been merely super. fluous, but it appears to have answered the purpose of "Nauticus" to relate the details of the catastrophe over again, and still to labour to attribute the cause to my lowering gear.

It certainly is a fact that ought not to be lost sight of, that the entire exculpation of my plan on the occasion in question proceeds from a firm that never used it through any feelings of friendship to me, or interest in the invention itself, but under the compulsion of Government. I may therefore justly claim the full value of all they state in my behalf. Evidence from such a source cannot be summarily set aside by mere assertions, even if advanced by "an original informant of rank and position" (but whose name, like that of "Nauticus," is withheld), and who, by the showing of the latter, stated one untruth at least when he declared "the whole of the crew were drowned." One of the two men who were not drowned, and who were in the boat at the time it was lowered, stated positively in evidence that "the patent did not foul." I may further add that the attention of Captain Lean. R.N., the chief emigration officer of the city of London, having been directed to this case (not by Messrs. Green, the parties interested), I have been given to understand the result of his inquiry was, that in this misfortune "no blame whatever was to be attributed to the apparatus."

My plan or any other can do no more than safely lower a boat on to the water, and this it did in the instance referred to, in a heavy snowstorm, with such a sea running that it was a source of wonder to those on board that the boat ever lived through it at all even when on the water, and when the officers of the ship generally admitted that any attempt to lower a boat ought not to have been made; and it is a sufficient testimony to the soundness of my system that after having been fitted in at least a thousand boats during the last four years, the only case of failure with a fatal result that can be set up against

it by opponents having other interests to serve is this miserable one of the Orwell.

That my plan stands alone in the proofs of practical utility it has shown by the number of lives saved I now repeat. Take, for instance, Her Majesty's Ships, Shaunon (on two occasions), Racoon, Chesapeake, and Perseverance; from steamers of the largest class, Australasian (on two occasions), Queen of the South, and Indiana; from sailing ships and other steamers, the Commodore Perry and Champion of the Seas (ships of nearly 2,000 tons cach); the Washington Irving, Blundell, Black Eagle, Ebba Brahe, Omega, Medway, Queen, Transatlantic, Admiral Boxer, Grand Trianon, Lady Mc Naghten, Rodney, Duke of Rothsay, and several others I cannot now call to mind. From all these ships have lives been saved, and nearly always under circumstances of considerable difficulty, often in the severest gales, and almost universally from vessels under steam or canvas. In two of these cases the entire crews of the ships have been preserved by its instrumentality, and on several occasions more than one human being at the time. All these cases are vouched for by the officers of the different ships. At the memorable preservation of the steam troop ship "Sarah Sands" (when half consumed by fire) Captain Castle has publicly recorded its "perfect efficiency" in lowering the life-boats filled with the women and children, when he says that by "the ordinary method he would not have attempted such a thing" and the captains of the Eastern City and Merchantman also bear their written testimony to a like result, when the former ship was entirely burnt. Only during the last few days two other cases have reached me, one from Her Majesty's ship "Archer," on the coast of Africa, about which an officer on board writes, a "few days since a man who fell overboard was saved from the sharks, thanks to Mr. Clifford's apparatus ;" and the other from a Scotch steamer, in which the same gear has been in use for two years. The carpenter fell overboard from the sponson in the night, vessel under full steam, but was instantly picked up. The last case proves that time, as "Nauticus" states, has not been such an enemy to my system. Captain Morris, of the late Eastern Monarch," only this week writes me also of a boat lowered for a like purpose under most trying circumstances with perfect success. It is not from arrogance I have mentioned these instances, but only in reply to one who uses that term for no other purpose than to injure me; and I have a right to ask if any equal list can be shown by any other inventor?

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The imaginary parallel that "Nauticus" fabricates about the patent safety lamp for the purpose of detracting from the value of positive evidence that he cannot disprove, needs no answer from me. It is not a fact, moreover, as he states, that "my desire for competitive trials was forestalled," for since I first turned my attention to this subject, eight years ago, I have urged upon the Government the public good that must result from such a course being taken by the proper authorities, and the right that every inventor had to a like opportunity of proving the efficiency of his system. I felt this the more strongly as for some time I was refused a trial by the Admiralty at my own expense; but which, like other inventors, I might have obtained if I had courted interest or patronage. But I have never sought advancement by such means, and I will not begin now. I have had no friend high in the service to open the door for me, or to sue in Parliament for a dignity or a recompense when the first life was saved by my gear. No one knows better than I do how seriously the want of professional standing adds to the uphill work of prosecuting such a cause as I have had in hand; and, however gratifying it may be to one of "Nauticus"" position to refer to "a person of an opposite calling," it is some testimony to the intrinsic value of my invention that, with this dead weight, it has reached its present position in the public estimation, and the different departments of the Government.

Boat-lowering safely in heavy weather is no theory; it is a hard matter of fact, and the difficulties to be surmounted purely mechanical, and he must evidently deserve the first place who can give the most practical proof of efficiency. While the fleet is in the Channel or off Spithead, let the Admiralty order a series of public trials to be instituted; not a casual lowering or two now and then under particular officers, who may happen to be relatives or personal friends of one of the competitors, but such a series as will afford a sure and certain proof of the relative qualities of any improved system, and let those be visible to the profession and the public.

In the heavy sea-way, and from the rolling or pitching ship, whether at anchor or under way, such things are most wanted, and it is under such positions they should be tried. If the Admiralty or "Nauticus" will endeavour to bring about this end, more national good will result than from columus on columns of argument; and when such an occasion is afforded, results will prove whose theories are mere theories, and whose deserve a higher appellation.

66

manufacture cables upon my plan without the slightest difficulty; and if Messrs. H. and W. should ever think of carrying out my process to the extent contemplated by me, adopting india. rubber as the medium of insulation, I shall be very happy, with a proper understanding, to put them in the way of doing so, as there is not the slightest difficulty in the matter. Messrs. H. and W. profess to be practical men; I will not dispute this; but I am afraid that they are not equally good electricians; hence perhaps their reason for the expression, we cannot follow Mr. Hearder through such a multiplicity of ideas as to the construction of a cable under his patent, as it would be simply a waste of time." I may inform Messrs. H. and W. that other manufacturers differ from them in opinion, and certain electricians and telegraph engineers whom I might mention, of the very highest authority, are unmeasured in their terms of approbation of the plan. Lastly, I may mention for Messrs. H. and W.'s information, that being myself a mechanical engineer as well as an electrician, I have appliances for constructing any description of machinery required for the purpose, or, if necessary, of constructing the cable itself, and I can show them machinery much on the same principle as that described in their specification, which I have had in operation for covering and counter-covering wire nearly 20 years.

I cannot imagine that Messrs. H. and W. can have read my specification attentively, or they certainly would not have ventured to dispute the novelly of every part of my process in its application to the intended purpose, viz., that of lessening the mischievous effects of induction.

The way in which your pages have always been open to discussion on this important subject merits the warmest thanks of the seaman, and I trust that in your desire to steer clear of purely personal controversy which can never benefit a public cause, you will not hesitate to find space for any who strive to fix public attention on the present neglected state of boat lowering, but will yourself urge as you have heretofore the imperative necessity of the Admiralty's taking the lead (as it should do,) in the movement now happily going on, for benefitting the hard fate of those "whose lot is cast upon the waters," by ensuring for them I hope that my remarks will not be received as the advantages of an efficient means of lowering uncourteous; I have not the slightest desire to the boats in every ship that puts to sea, and visit-take any hostile position with regard to Messrs. ing with deserved punishment all who, having such H. and W., because from the samples of their means on board, neglect to keep it in proper work- cable with which they have favoured me, I can ing order, and available at the required moment. see plainly that much greater advantages would Whilst their lordships give every encouragement accrue from our co-operation, as my process can to any new means for the destruction of human be carried out quite as efficiently with india-rubber life, surely they will make some effort to help its as an insulator as with gutta-percha. The object preservation, and let the seaman see that the better which I have had in view has been to apply well feelings of human nature find a place for him in recognised electrical principles to the improvethe breasts of his superiors and officers, and that ment of telegraph cables, principally with a view in the hour of need he will not now be left as of lessening the effects of inductive action, still heretofore to struggle and sink into eternity also keeping in sight the attainment of desiderata because official lethargy and indifference withheld which experience has shown to be necessary in the means that might have saved him. the construction of new cables. One of my Yours, &c., processes for accomplishing this object, is by embodying with the layers of insulating materials strands of suitable substances, twisted or braided, or laid on in any convenient and efficient way, and, if necessary, I braid or twist string over the whole cable, and render it waterproof.

August 2, 1859.

CHARLES CLIFFORD.

ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH CABLES. TO THE EDITORS OF THE

MECHANICS' MAGAZINE." GENTLEMEN,--May I beg the insertion of a few remarks on a letter which appeared in your journal of last week, from Messrs. Hall and Wells, on the subject of my telegraph cable.

It appears that my letters to them respecting their infringement of my patent, which were essentially of a private character, have induced them to adopt the strange course of attempting publicly to disparage my invention, and repudiate my claim. I hardly know whether Messrs. H. and W. are fishing for information upon the subject about which they confess they are "puzzled," or whether they have fallen into the error of imagi; ning that I am not myself a practical man, and that I had not fully provided for all the little difficulties which to them at present appear insurmountable. I admit the fact, in my specification, that wires have been sometimes covered with fibrous substances previously to coating with the insulating material, but I deny that this process has ever been employed for the object patented by me. As for the portion of my patent, viz., the employment of porous or fibrous substances in conjunction with the insulating material, for which Messrs. H. and W. gave me credit, but of the practicability of which they seem to express doubts, although they are themselves actually infringing my patent by adopting a modification of the process, I can only tell them that the Guttapercha Company will be ready when required to

sions suitable for affording the least resistance to My internal conductor, also, is made of dimenthe transmission of the current. I believe that no one acquainted with telegraph engineering will be prepared to deny that a cable carefully every quality that could be desired. It would be constructed upon this principle, would possess light, amazingly strong, as perfectly insulating as the best that have been made, and infinitely more free from the effects of induced residual discharges than any cable that has been, or can be made, upon any plan existing prior to my own. I am quite aware that the complete apprehension of the principles upon which my plan is founded, involves a rather more intimate acquaintance with electrical laws and phenomena than is possessed even by many "practical men;" but the careful consideration of them, however, by those competent to form an opinion, has resulted in the full recognition of the value and efficiency of my plan.

little greater than that of water, the simplest The specific gravity of this cable being very possible form of break would be sufficient to lay it, small weights being only necessary at intervals to facilitate its sinking when in deep water. I remain, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, J. N. HEARDER.

Plymouth, August 8, 1850.

THE COMMITTEE ON DOCKYARD ECONOMY | his, which did not form a part of the patent of

AND EFFICIENCY.

H.M. Dockyard, Portsmouth, 8th Aug., 1859. SIRS,-Courtesy always permits a reply to a personal attack. The undue prominence you have given to my name with reference to the Report of the Committee on Dockyard Economy and Efficiency, requires that I should address you to disclaim that prominence, and to say that you have formed a very false estimate of the part taken by the other members of the Committee.

The Report may with much more justice be said to be based on the experience of Admira! Smart as Superintendent of Pembroke Yard-on the great and varied knowledge possessed by Mr. Laws respecting all branches of the Dockyards, obtained while serving as clerk in the Master Shipwright's Office, as Superintendent's Secretary, Store Receiver and Storekeeper-and on Mr. Bowman's knowledge and experience of the mode of conducting work in private shipbuilding and other establishments, in addition to the information obtained while serving on the Committee.

Louis, filed the present bill to restrain the alleged
infringement of his patent. It appeared that the
plaintiff's invention had been extensively used at
Balaklava, and by Miss Nightingale during her
attendance on the sick.

Mr. Glasse and Mr. Bristowe appeared in sup-
port of the motion. Mr. Baily and Mr. Cadman
Jones, for the defendant, were not called upon,
The Vice-Chancellor observing that, as it
might turn out and must be assumed that the
plaintiff's patent might be invalid, unless there
was a user and enjoyment for a long time, he
ought not to grant an injunction. The motion
must stand over, with liberty to the plaintiff to
bring such action as he might be advised, an
account being meantime kept.

Our Weekly Gossip.

salutary effect, both in the industrial as well as in the political world. Personally, I will do everything in my power to promote so noble and excellent a cause."

A drinking fountain or two, for the splendid and extensive pleasure grounds for the people at Kew, is now, from the very great numbers flocking to them, very much required: till such a needful want is supplied, a delicious glass of pure spring water may be had (gratis), we are requested to state, by all visitors, of the official attendant in livery in charge of the lower room of the new museum, opposite the palm house in the botanic gardens.

It

If the

Mr. Hearder, the well-known electrician and engineer, favours us with the following:-" Gentlemen,In compliance with the wish of your correspondent, Mr. Chick, I have pleasure in explaining to him the cause of the result described by him in connection with his induction coil in your issue of July 29th, which to him appears so novel and curious. simply indicates that his battery had not surface or rather quantity enough to fill, if I may use the expression, his thick No. 10 primary coil. He will obtain still more exalted effects by making the The Atlantic Telegraph Company have issued the number of plates in his second series equal to those of following invitation:-"All persons having any specithe first, which is equivalent to doubling the surfaco mens or plans of submarine cables calculated for lay- of each plate. Your correspondent does not say To your insinuations against my own character, whether his graphite battery is a nitric acid one, or I could easily reply, but knowing that your Editoring across the Atlantic are hereby invited to send the same to the Secretary of this Company, together with whether it is simply excited by sulphuric acid without Mr. Reed, who writes the ship-building articles any description they may desire to append to them, a diaphgram, after the manner of Smee's. in connexion with your journal, was a dockyard as soon as possible, in order to their being immediately former, he will find that if he employs his series of 12 apprentice, and was educated within the last few submitted to the officers of the Company, and by them in a double set of six, or perhaps even better, in a years at the late Central Mathematical School under to the consulting committee, for the purpose of triple set of four, he will get still finer effects. Twelve in series give him more intensity than his coil wants. the system disapproved of in the Report, and his examination, testing, and experiment." schoolfellows being employed in the Surveyor's office Arrangements for the meeting of the British Asso-Hoping that this will meet the wishes of your corand in the Dockyards, I do not consider it necesciation for the Advancement of Science at Aberdeen respondent, I am, &c., J. N. HEARDER. Plymouth, Aug. 6, 1859." sary to do so, more especially as I feel that while are proceeding. The Prince Consort has fixed on Wednesday the 14th of September for the delivery of Some Sheffield correspondents send us the followyour attempt to filch from us such good names as his inaugural address. The following Vice-Presidentsing:-"It is a allowed by all parties that the defences we may have will do your journal no good, it is have been chosen :-The Duke of Richmond, the of this country against foreign aggression are in a not likely to do us or our Report much harm. Earl of Aberdeen, the Lord Provost of Aberdeen, Sir very unsatisfactory and undesirable state. But we I am, Sirs, yours obediently, John F. W. Herschel, Sir David Brewster, Sir R. I. think they may be put in a more safe one at a comMurchison, the Rev. W. V. Harcourt, the Rev. Dr. paratively small cost. We have to propose that a sufficient number of iron vessels made shot and fireRobinson, and A. Thomas Esq.; Major-Gen. Sabine will act as General Secretary, and Prof. Phillips as proof rams, built to strike the enemy's vessel under Assistant General Secretary; the General Treasurer the water line, and to be built as low as possible above will be John Taylor, Esq., and the Secretaries for the water line, so as to be lower than the enemy's fire, the meeting at Aberdeen, Profs. James Nicol and to be of the greatest speed. These vessels to be Frederick Fuller, and Mr. John F. White. Messrs. armed with powerful fire-engines to throw liquid John Argus and Newell Burnett will act as Local inflammables (such as coal, naptha, turpentine, mixed with coal, tar, and phosphorus, &c.) into and upon Treasurers. the enemy, which may be done in hundreds of jets through small port-holes. By this means, in less time than it takes to write this sentence, the enemy might be enveloped in one entire sheet of flame. These fire-ships to be stationed at the entrance of rivers and harbours. We think they would deter an enemy from attempting to enter, as we think they could not escape destruction either from the ram or the inflammables. If these fire-ships were generally made use of, it would be more than useless to build any more wooden ships of war; it would be a complete waste of money, time, labour, and materials."

ANDREW MURRAY.

To Messrs. Brooman & Reed, Joint Editors.

Law Case.

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(Before Vice-Chancellor Sir R. T. Kindersley.) THE DESICCATED MILK COMPANY (LIMITED) v.

FADEUILIE.

This was a motion for an injunction to restrain the infringement of a patent for solidifying and preserving milk, under these circumstances:-It appeared that the plaintiff, Thomas Shipp Grimwade, took out a patent in 1855 for preserving and solidifying milk, which was effected by the following process:-The milk, being mixed with certain proportions of alkali and sugar, was then evaporated by being placed in a square tin tank with a chamber beneath, containing hot water, and constantly agitated by means of a crank and quadrant beneath, until the mass became of the consistence of dough. This dough was then dried into hard cakes, which were again crushed between powerful granite rollers and bottled, the bottles being closely stopped. It was then fit for use. The defendant, Valentine Bernard Fadeuilhe, was the assignee of a patent taken out in 1848 by Felix Hiacynthe Folliett Louis, whose process was of this kind :-Sugar and alkali being mixed with milk or with curd turned in the ordinary mode by runnet, it was placed in circular pans with false bottoms, communicating with three upright hollow standards, and a reservoir at the bottom, into which, by means of a valve, steam was introduced, and the liquid in each pan while evaporating was kept in agitation by means of a spindle passing through the centre of each with fluid-tight collars, to which spindle in each pan a rake was attached, the spindle being turned by a handle acting laterally upon a toothed wheel at the top of the spindle. The milk thus evaporated was formed into cakes, and the defendant, after a time, grated these cakes into powder and bottled it. This was in 1853, but subsequently to the date of the plaintiff's patent he admitted that he had dried the mass, but in ignorance of the fact that this method formed a part of the plaintiff's invention. The plaintiff, having discovered that the defendant was manufacturing and selling the article in bottles, drying it by a process similar to

Sir William G. Armstrong has been good enough to confirm the doubt expressed in our last number respecting the canard, or as he calls it, the "wild goose story" of a contemporary. He says, "Who made the wonderful shot that brought down a wild goose at six miles and seven furlongs? This is a question that meets me everywhere, and, disagreeable though it be to spoil a marvellous story, I am obliged to answer -Nobody. A wild goose certainly was shot by a shell from one of my guns at a distance somewhat short of half a mile; and, although half a mile is not to be regarded as the limit of safe distance for a goose to stand at, yet I am bound to say that six miles and seven furlongs is a range which as yet has only been reached with the long-bow." Honours and emoluments have made Sir William jocular-on the principle, we presume, that he may laugh who wins.

In consequence of the continued favourable reports from the Captains and Commanders of ships whose boats are fitted with Captain Kynaston's life-hooks, the Admiralty have given directions to the several Dockyards, says the United Service Gazette, that they are, for the furture, to be supplied to any Captain making application for them, without reference to the Admiralty. Captain Hillyar, of the Cadmus, has reported that during the voyage to Malta the boats had been lowered under every variety of wind and weather with perfect success. There is one very important feature in connection with this invention, which is the facility for applying the hooks to boats fitted on the old plan, in the course of a few minutes. They require no cumbrous machinery or windlass, and can be transferred from one boat toanother without interfering with tackles or slings, while the cost of them is a mere

trifle.

Mons. Barbedienne, of Paris, so well known for his bronzes d'art, and who received the highest medals for his works, both in 1851 and 1855, says, in writing to his correspondent in London, under the date of July 31st:- Now that peace appears to become more firm every day, will it not be possible to return to your project for the exhibition of 1861? It appears to us that it is the duty of commerce and industry to rely with confidence on the interests of nations, and to discard all foolish and transient causes of antagonism and strife. In the actual state of things, a Great Exhibition in London would have a double

The most recent improvements in arms have been adopted, says the Times correspondent, by the Prussian Government. The needle gun with which the army is furnished is known in England as the rival of tho Enfield, and many consider that it is less liable to get out of order. The merits of the two systems have not yet had a sufficient trial to enable a final judgment to be formed. The artillery already possesses 72 rifled 12-pounders of remarkable lightness. They are of cast-steel, and breech-loaders. In the experiments which have been made the guns were found uninjured after firing 2,000 rounds. Their manufacture is being pushed on with vigour, and they are turned out at the rate of one gun in two days. It is intended that there shall be in each field battery a proportion of unrifled 12-pounders, as the new guns have not been found adapted for firing grape. They have no such destructive missile as the Armstrong shell is described to be. This is the practical way in which Prussia is imitating the example of disarmament.

NOTICES.

The MECHANICS' MAGAZINE will be sent free by post to all subscribers of £1 1s. 8d., annually, payable in advance. Post Office Orders to be made payable to R. A. Brooman, at the Post Office, Fleet Street, London, E.C.

TO ADVERTISERS.

All Advertisements occupying less than half-a-column are charged at the rate of 5d. per line for any number of insertions less than 13; for 13 insertions, 4d. per line; and or 52 insertions, 3d. per line.

Each line consists of 10 words, the first the counting as two. Wood-cuts are charged at the same rate as type for the space occupied.

Patents for Inventions.

and on which are mounted a number of gill teeth, the upper and lower teeth of which intersect each other. These endless chains are stretched between two pairs ABRIDGED SPECIFICATIONS OF PATENTS. of drawing rolls and work upon pullies at each end. The machine is so arranged that the gill teeth travel a little faster than the periphery of the first pair of drawing rolls, and the second pair of drawing rolls are driven a little faster than the gill teeth, so that there may always be a drawing action on the fibres during their passage through the machine. Patent completed.

THE abridged Specifications of Patents given below are classified, according to the subjects to which the respective inventions 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 exclusively for this Magazine from official copies supplied by the Government, and are therefore the property of the proprietors of this Magazine. Other papers are hereby warned not to produce them without acknowledgement:STEAM ENGINES, &c., 2952, 2962.

2970.

BOILERS AND THEIR FURNACES, 2922, 2955, 2962. ROADS AND VEHICLES, including railway plant and carriages, saddlery and harness, &c., 2919, 2918, 2950, 2963, SHIPS AND BOATS, including their fittings, 2908, 2914, 2928. CULTIVATION OF THE SOIL, including agricultural and horticultural implements and machines, 2925, 2964, 2977. FOOD AND BEVERAGES, including apparatus for preparing food for men and animals. None. FIBROUS FABRICS, including machinery for treating fibres, pulp, paper, &c., 2910, 2912, 2015, 2917, 2923, 2932, 2933, 2934, 2941, 2942, 2945, 2946, 2969, 2972, 2974, 2976. BUILDINGS AND BUILDING MATERIALS, including sewers, drain-pipes, brick and tile machines, &c., 2924. LIGHTING, HEATING, AND VENTILATING, 2911, 2949, 2955, 2960, 2975.

FURNITURE AND APPAREL, including household utensils, time-keepers, jewellery, musical instruments, &c., 2927, 2931, 2954, 2965, 2971.

METALS, including apparatus for their manufacture, 2921,

2935.

CHEMISTRY AND PHOTOGRAPHY, 2961.
ELECTRICAL APPARATUS, 2937.
WARFARE, 2938.

LETTER PRESS PRINTING &c. None.
MISCELLANEOUS, 2907, 2909, 2912, 2913, 2916, 2918, 2920,
2926, 2929, 2930, 2936, 2937, 2939, 2943, 2014, 2947, 2951,
2952, 2953, 2956, 2957, 2958, 2959, 2966, 2967, 2968, 2973.

2907. T. S. WOODCOCK. "An improved index or book and paper marker." (A communication.) Dated Dec. 20, 1858.

Here the clasp is of any convenient size, and made of one piece of metal with the angle between its points for receiving the leaf while the clasp is applied in a vertical position or nearly so, and opening to receive the leaf as it is pressed against its edge, and firmly grasping the leaf. Patent completed.

2908. S. HUNTER. "Improvements in the construction of anchors." Dated Dec. 20, 1858.

This relates to the arms and palms of anchors, and consists in enclosing the palm at the end of the arm, and making the arm open up to the point of junction with the shank, for which purpose the arm is divided into two parts, whereby the earth in front of the palm or fluke is not crushed or divided by the arm during the dragging of the anchor, but passes through the arm and over the upper edge of the palm in a comparatively compact and solid state, thereby greatly increasing the hold of the anchor by creating a more perfect downward pressure. Patent completed. 2909. R. MACLEHOUSE. "Improvements in stereoscopes." Dated Dec. 20, 1858.

This apparatus is in the form of a deep rectangular box fitted at one end near the top with the usual stereoscopic glasses. In the line of sight and between the glasses and the extreme back of the box or case, there is placed an open drum or roller having four or other convenient number of sides. This open drum is arranged to work upon a horizontal spindle to which is attached a projecting handle for turning it by. Behind this drum and in the end of the case there is a hinged door folding downwards, and fitted with a mirror for throwing light into the interior of the case. The pictures are disposed in the chain form over the drum, and so arranged that one end of the chain can fall down into the bottom of the case at the front, and the other at the back portion of the case. With this arrangement as the drum is turned, the pictures are successively drawn up from the back section of the bottom of the case, passed over the faces of the drum on the vertical side of which for the time being they are successively displaced, and then passed down in a zig-zag or regularly folded pile in the bottom of the front portion of the case. The open form of picture drums with the door behind admit of transparencies being viewed in this apparatus. Patent abandoned.

2910. J. RONALD. "An improved machine for the direct spinning of hemp, flax, and other like fibrous materials." Dated Dec. 20, 1858.

This machine is constructed of a horizontal endless band or chain, or by preference a pair of horizontal endless bands or chains placed one above another,

2911. A. V. NEWTON. "An improvement in lanterns." (A communication.) Dated Dec. 20, 1858. The object here is to obtain by simple means a combination of reflecting surfaces with or without a lens that will project the rays of light from a lamp into space in a concentrated form, and in parallel lines. The invention consists mainly in the employment of a peculiar arrangement of conical and convex reflector, which form a chamber for the reception of the lamp, and also effects the object above alluded to. Patent abandoned.

2912. F. WINTER. "Improvements in the preparation and application of varnishes for waterproofing paper, linen, and textile fabrics, and coating the same with metallic foils." Dated Dec. 21, 1858.

This varnish may be composed of shell-lac, benzoin, and Venice turpentine dissolved in spirits of wine and wood naphtha. Other combinations are included.

Patent abandoned.

2913. R. M. LIVINGSTON. "An improved selfdetaching safety hook or coupling." Dated Dec. 21,

1858.

Instantly on the suspended boat or other weight coming into contact with water or otherwise, and the small chain being disengaged from one of the lever ends, their weighted ends will cause the lower or hooked ends to open. Patent abandoned.

2914. W. E. DANDO. "Improvements in apparatus for lowering boats from ships or vessels, and also for raising the same as required." Dated Dec. 21, 1858.

This invention is not described apart from the drawings. Patent completed.

2915. J. H. BOLTON and C. GARFORTH. "Certain improvements in drying yarns or fabrics, and in the apparatus connected therewith." Dated Dec. 21,

1858.

The sizeing vat or vessel is furnished with a series of rollers, so arranged that the yarn or fabric may pass over a sufficient number of them, and remain in the size until saturated. It then passes out of the vat between a pair of squeezing or pressing rollers, and becomes partially dried; it is then again passed through the size, and finally between pressing and delivery rollers into a chamber containing near its base a number of vertical arched or bent plates arranged in pairs and forming chambers, and having a series of rollers, so arranged that the yarn or fabric may first pass under or between or in the interior of these arched plates or chambers to be partially dried, and thence along the outside of the plates and over rollers at the top of the outer vertical chamber or room in which all are enclosed where the drying is completed; the yarn passes out of this chamber in a dry and finished state, such chamber plates being heated by steam. Patent abandoned.

2916. A. S. BELIARD. "An improved machine for pumicing felts, tissues, and skins." Dated Dec. 21,

1858.

Here the felt is submitted to what may be called a grinding operation by a small mill or grindstone of pumice stone, which is caused to revolve by mechanical means, and is pressed by hand upon other felt. Patent completed.

2917. W. S. YATES. "Machinery or apparatus for dragging bristles and drawing hair and vegetable fibre." Dated Dec. 21, 1858.

The inventor employs gill combs and presses between which the bristles, hair, or fibre is placed and held to be operated on; and nippers or jaws capable of closing and opening by the action of tappets or cams, and also having a receding and advancing or reciprocating motion given thereto, so as to advance and take hold of the projecting ends of bristles, hair, or fibre and draw them out from the rest, and which by the opening of the said nippers when out, are deposited in a receptacle. Patent completed.

2918. N. DAWSON. "Improvements in order books." Dated Dec. 21, 1858.

This consists in binding up a number of leaves, every alternate one of which is perforated so that it may be readily torn out of the book while the others remain in the book. While taking orders on these perforated leaves a piece of carbonized paper is placed between it and the next leaf, so that an exact counterpart of the order will be obtained. Patent abandoned.

"Improvements in

2919. W. MAINWARING. brakes for common road vehicles." Dated Dec. 21, 1858.

This relates to brakes for two-wheeled vehicles to relieve the horses attached thereto when going down hill. On the axletree is attached a rigid pendant arm or arms the lower part of which supports the fulcrum of a long lever the fore-end of which carries a skid or brake surface which when lowered rubs against the ground; this end of the lever projects forward in front of the wheels while the back and free end by which the brake is actuated projects behind the cart, &c. so that the driver may readily apply it. This end of the lever is furnished with an arc and stop pin by which to fix the lever in the different positions desired. Patent abandoned.

2920. R. CLEGG, F. ANGERSTEIN, and G. FERRY. "Improved mechanism for imparting reciprocating motion to machinery, and more especially pumps." Dated Dec. 22, 1858.

The inventors propose to so construct a cam, as that about three-fourths of its entire revolution shall be effectively employed for lifting, and the other fourth for the descent of the bucket; or instead of lifting and descending only once during each revolution of the said cam, the same may be made to lift end descend twice in each entire revolution thereof, or more times if desired according to the size of the cams. Patent completed.

2921. R. MUSHET. "An improvement or improve. ments in the manufacture of cast steel." Dated Dec. 22, 1858.

This consists in manufacturing cast-steel by melting together, or combining when melted, the following materials, that is to say, broken or crusted or granu. lated cast-iron, whether cast-iron, whether pig-iron, or refined metal, deoxydized iron ore or oxide of iron, and a metallic compound consisting of or containing iron carbon and manganese. The said materials are melted in melting pots or crucibles heated in furnaces of the kind ordinarily employed for melting steel. Patont completed.

2922. G. SHARP and W. ELDER. "Improvements in furnaces and steam-boilers." Dated Dec. 22, 1858. The inventors supply fuel to the furnace at the speed and time required by a screw placed outside of a hollow barrel or cylinder through the interior of which the necessary air passes to the furnace. The air enters through a nozzle or other suitable arrangement, and the fuel through a hole or other contrivance. Upon the exterior of the barrel are placed feathers or arms for spreading the coal and forcing the air into the interior of the furnace. Patent abandoned.

2923. J. NICHOLSON and D. CROSSLEY. "Improvements in jacquard machinery or apparatus employed in weaving." Dated Dec. 22, 1858.

The object here is the weaving of all kinds of double, triple, and two-faced or reversible cloths plain or twilled, by hand or power without the use of heddles, gear, moveable harness boards, or having to stamp the ground on the pattern cards, by jacquard machinery or apparatus so constructed and arranged that it can be operated by a single treadle on the treading tappet of the loom. The inventors employ lifting bars which receive reciprocating motion from the treadle or treading tappet by a lever and counecting rod, also a series of grifes or lifting boards with knotted tabby bands for working both the figure and the ground, which are raised by hooked rods hinged so as to be capable of connecting the boards with the lifting bars at the proper time required, and which is indicated by cams suitably arranged on a shaft or shafts which receive intermittent motion from the motion of the lifting bars. The pattern cylinders receive intermittent motion from the lifting apparatus at the first, second, or third lift of the machine, according to the kind of cloths required to be made, and it is so arranged that it may be turned without moving the loom. Patent aban lonel 2924. M. RENNEY. Improvements in bridges." Dated Dec. 22, 1858.

66

This relates to bridges usually designated sliding or rolling bridges, which are substituted for swing or swivel bridges, and consists in so constructing a rolling bridge that it shall be perfectly balanced and require but little power to open and close it, and that whilst it is closed, and in use, it is perfectly secure, and the road and approaches are made as it were continuous and unbroken, and when opened or withdrawn the tail or balance end is drawn over the ground line or approach on the balance or withdrawing side, and without injury thereto. The travelling of the bridge in and out may be effected by a rack or racks or otherwise. Patent completed.

2925. W. SPENCE. "Improvements in granaries or apparatus for preserving grain." (A communica tion) Dated Dec. 22, 1858.

This consists of a strong chest composed of wood or other material adapted to give it strength supported on pillars or standards and strengthened by cross tie pieces bound together by clamps, being also kept from yielding to the pressure in an outward direction by longitudinal and lateral stretchers. The bottom of the said chest terminates in a funnel or hopper, and at its extremity is fitted a pipe or conduit, furnished with a valve or regulator, which is closed by a padlock when the apparatus is at rest. This pipe or conduit, which serves equally for putting grain into sacks, leads to a sieve of ordinary form and furnished with a handle or means of turning it on each side. To the sieve is connected an inclined board or

channel receiving a jerking kind of movement from the sieve, and which conducts the grain from the latter to a receptacle either under or above ground, which receptacle is closed by a door. Into this receptacle an endless bucket chain dips, being passed over a pulley at the lower part of the receptacle, and over another mounted at the upper part of the apparatus. On the axle of the former pulley is another of larger diameter, which by means of an endless strap or band communicates the motion of the chain to the sieve when the apparatus is driven by mechanical power, but when manual labour is employed motion is communicated from the sieve to the chain. The chain receives its motion from the prime mover through a driving pulley. At the upper part of the apparatus is a receptacle for the grain as it is carried up and deposited by the working of the chain, such receptacle communicating with the apparatus through a grating to prevent mice, &c., from passing into the BATLE, Access is afforded to the upper part of the apparatus by a staircase or otherwise, and there is a railing to prevent accidents. There is also an indicator consisting of a ball suspended by a cord or chain, to which is also connected a kind of parachute with moveable wings. As the grain has become ventilated or winnowed the ball descends to obstruct the passage of it to the sieve, and when the contents of the granary or apparatus have been operated upon, the outlet is closed, and the ball is drawn up again, the wings of the parachute collapsing as it passes through the mass of grain. There is also a graduated index intended to show the quantity of grain which the granary or apparatus contains. Patent completed.

2926. E. T. Dunn. "Improved fabrics suitable for the covering of floors, walls, and other like purposes."

Dated Dec. 22, 1858.

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This consists in forming tables with a central revolving disc, which is fixed within or placed upon the centre of a table. Or in constructing tables with two or more discs, each having a separate motion to enable them to move in the same or in a reverse direction. It also consists in fitting suitable gear to the tables, so that the discs on one or more of them may be rotated by turning a handle or treadle. Patent abandoned.

2928. M. SHULDITAM. "Improvements in ships and vessels, and in working parts of their gear and rigging." Dated Dec. 22, 1858.

This consists in methods of running in or hoisting up a ship's bowsprit, with its jib-boom and flying-jibboom, so as to enable a ship, constructed as a steam ram, to carry sufficient head-sails, and notwithstanding to be in a fit state to perform the duty of a steam

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Patent abandoned.

2929. F. RANSOME. "Improvements in the manufacture of grinding and rubbing surfaces." Dated Dec. 22, 1858.

This consists in combining ground glass or emery with soluble or easily fusible silicates with or without other matters. Patent completed..

20. A. PRINCE. "Improvements in ornamenting and illuminating surfaces of glass." Dated Dec. 22,

1858

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This consists of a number of revolving spindles or frames, each of which carries one or more bobbins on which the yarn is wound. The inventor gives an independent rotary motion to each of these spindles or frames by which any required amount of twist can be put into each yarn as it is drawn off the bobbin or bobbins, which is effected by a series of drawing rollers. The yarns required to form the twine or cord are conducted to sets of drawing rollers through drawplates or other guides, and after the yarns have passed through several sets of these drawing rollers the hard yarns are then carried vertically down to a flyer by which they are laid, and as the cord is formed it is taken up by the bobbins on the flyer spindles. To spin twine, &c., direct from fibres of hemp, flax, manilla, &c., the inventor gives a rotary motion to the cams containing the slivers by mounting them on or in suitably formed revolving frames fitted with drawing heads. The twist being put into the sliver, and the yarn formed by the revolving drawing head, carried forward by a series of the drawing rollers as before described, when the yarns are laid by flyers, and the strands as formed are taken up on bobbins on the flyer spindles. To form laid rope or cordage all that is required is to supply the bobbins with strands in place of yarn. Patent completed.

2934. S. BIRD. "Improvements in spinning, and in the manufacture of cop bottoms or cop tubes." Dated Dec. 23, 1858.

Here, to prevent waste after the cops are taken off the spindles the inventor applies gum, starch, paste, or varnish, or mixture of chalk, whiting, or flour, either to the spindles or to the threads by a brush or sponge so that when the spinning commences the threads shall be lapped to any desired thickness on to the sticking or thickening substance, which latter becomes hard before the cop is completed, so that the cop can be taken off without injuring the bottom, and which also prevents any unravelling or waste from picking. There are modifications included.

Patent abandoned.

2935. J. BROOM. "Improvements in the manufacture of steel." Dated Dec. 23, 1858.

Here pig iron is deposited in its raw unheated state in the furnace, and it is worked and puddled in the usual way except that the furnace is kept as full as possible of pure white flame, the atmospheric air being excluded from it as much as possible. The mass of iron is also kept surrounded with cinder as a protective covering to keep off the contact of air with the metal. Sal ammoniac or salt may be added to improve the protective covering of cinders. The iron so puddled when tilted, hammered, or rolled becomes good steel. Patent abandoned.

2936. J. WHITELAW. "Improvements in sewerage and drainage apparatus. Dated Dec. 23, 1858.

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from the earth in great quantity, and in distributing This consists in a means of obtaining electricity it and applying it either in quantity or intensity to receiving end of a conducting wire or series of wires practical use. According to one modification the is connected to a vertical or other line of parallel wires laid together, and which line forms the centre of a series of transverse or radial aries. These wires are so attached to the main central line that the arrangement resembles a "bottle brush," presenting a vast number of radial points for the collection and reception of electricity. This collector is sunk in the earth, so that each wire point takes up a portion electricity to the main central line of wire, and thence of electricity and the points as a whole convey the to the line-wire or conductor, which may be a telemachine. Or the apparatus may be immersed in a graph cable or a conductor to an electric power well containing a solution of sulphate of copper. Instead of radial wires metal discs may be used. In the case of a telegraph cable one of these arrangements is fitted up at each end, one being the collector and the other the distributer of the electricity. The invention also relates to an apparatus operating generally upon the galvanometrical principle, and capable of use for telegraphic purposes and for obtaining motive power. The details of this part of the invention are voluminous. Patent completed.

2938. J. MAUDSLAY. "Improvements in the construction of ordnance and projectiles to be used therewith." Dated Dec. 23, 1858.

This consists in the construction of ordnance and

projectiles in such manner as to combine means of load-
ing at the breech with a rifled bore and corresponding
projectile. The breech chamber which is to contain
the charge of powder is to be formed by preference of
wrought-iron or steel, while the remainder of the
gun is to be formed of cast metal. The shot, shell,
&c., is to have formed on it a key or keys, feather or
feathers for the greater part of its length, and the
gun has formed in it a corresponding groove into
which the key or feather on the projectile takes, and
The thickness of the gun is
along which it moves.
increased about the groove in order to provide for the
weakening effect which the formation of the groove
would otherwise produce. The shifting breech is to
have a lateral motion imparted to it bodily, and
sufficient in extent to permit of the projectile being
placed in its proper position in the gun. The breech
is then brought back to its place by any convenient
means, and there secured by a screw or otherwise.
Patent abandoned.

2939. J. T. P. NEWBON, T. SMITH, and J. BRowN.
"Improvements in machinery or apparatus for raising
Dated Dec. 21, 1858.
and lowering, or otherwise moving heavy weights."

This relates, 1, to the combination of grooved drums, pulleys, or barrels as described with worm and wheel gearing. 2. To a novel contrivance for compressing the links of chains after they have been hauled in. The invention is not described apart from the drawings. Patent completed.

2940. W. ELERS and L. FINK. "The filtration of dissolved sugar and other liquids." Dated Dec. 24, 1858.

In arranging receiving and descharging apparatus according to this invention the trap or sewer and This consists of a vessel with two bottoms, the drain chamber is so contrived that the fluid matters upper one perforated with holes to which is discharged from the road or street are caused to flow attached the bag or filter. The two bottoms are into the receiver through a hinged grating into the placed apart from each other, thereby forming a body of the trap-chamber. From this part the chamber into which the liquor is introduced by a pipe matters flow off beneath a hanging diaphragm, from a higher level, which liquor rises through the thence passing off at the other side over the top of a holes into the bag or filter, and when filtered escapes This consists in the application of lace or flower second diaphragm or division, and thence down to the by a pipe above the chamber between the two pattern glass having clear plain centres or spaces, main sewer or descharge duct. This diaphragm por-bottoms while the refuse remains in the chamber, or such centres or spaces being encircled or delineated tion of the chamber is covered by a perforated plate by ornamental plain or coloured bordering, so as to of metal on which is disposed a layer of charcoal, frm an interval frame pattern, and in and upon such lime, or gypsum, which layer is again covered in by colour centres or spaces chromolithograph or other an adjustable top plate level with the surface of the impressions prints or paintings are transferred, roal. The roof-water from the houses is conducted attached, or painted, and then coated and covered into the chamber at the part between the two diawith suitable crystal cements and varnishes as a pro-phragms so as to discharge the water in the same tection against damage from atmospheric influence or way as the street-surface water. Another branch moisture. Patent completed. also from the water pipe leads into the space containing the deodorizing matter. This branch serves to allow of the free escape of the gases from the chamber after passing through the deodorizing matter so as to pass right up the water-conducting

2931. J. J. WELCH. "Improvements in the manufacture of neckties, scarfs, or cravats." Dated Dec. 22,

1818.

This consists in letting in, inserting, or attaching

may fall into another chamber placed below it, from whence through an aperture the refuse can be removed and the chamber cleansed without disturbing the bag or filter. Patent abandoned.

2941. J. W. CHILD. "Improvements in the manufacture of fabrics adapted to be used for curtains, coverings of furniture, tables, covers, and such like uses.' Dated Dec. 21, 1858.

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The object here is to produce fabrics of a character now generally called "rep," or ribbed, and adapted to be used for curtains, coverings for furniture, &c., with pattern in various forms alike on each surface, combined with a ground work composed of ribs of

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