THE

ENGLISH MECHANIC:ftecorii of iHed&antcal Snbottton, &cmxt\Ut antJ fottftuttjrial %vost&&-

Bufltrftifl, (ffnsuicenng, iHamifectujretf, ajrtsf, $*•

VOL. I .—NO. 1.] FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 1865. [PRICE ONE PENNY.

A

COIGNARD'S CENTRIFUGAL PUMP.Pumps are machines for raising water and other

liquids. When employed for raising water they areapplicable to draining, irrigation, and manufacturingand domestic purposes. The invention of these ma-chines is of the remotest antiquity, and is usuallyattributed to Ctesibius, of Alexandria, who lived 120years before the Christian era. Thelifting-pump appears to have beenthe first kind devised, and as it iabased upon the well-known princi-ple of atmospheric pressure it can-not be worked without being sub-j ected to certain con di tions, and can-not under any circumstance mak«water rise above a certain level.

To obviate this inconvenience theforce-pump was devised, by meansof which water can be raised to anyheight, provided sufficient force beapplied to the piston. By combiningthe two systems we create liftingand forcing^ pumps, and to removethe intermittent motion of waterin lifting and ascending pipes thedouble-action pump has been con-trived, in which the water is liftedand elevated at the same time,•whether the piston rises or falls.By this arrangement very powerfulraising apparatus are in operation,such as the celebrated pump atthe salt works of Basie're, which,forces a jet of water to a height of1050 feet.

As may be supposed, a wonderful amount of in-genuity has been bestowed upon machines of thisclass, and it would be difficult to enumerate all themodifications, more or less ingenious, which havebeen proposed and applied to pumps, or to theseveral parts of which they are composed. Never-theless, pumps are not so generally employedas might naturally be expected, especially inthe country, where their liability to get out oforder, together with the expense and difficultyof repair, seem to oppose their general use.

First among the defects of the common pumpis that its valves soon get out of order, theleather becomes dry and shrinks, so that no va-cuum is formed, and before water can be got outof the well water has to be poured into the pump;then, after the exercise of much patience andlabour, the " pump works " and water flows.

But other defects are not so easilyremedied. Avalve sometimes refuses to act, or it breaks; thenthe plumber has to be sent for, and, as he mayreside at a considerable distance, the pump re-mains dry and useless for a considerabla period.

The defects and inefficiency of piston pumpshave brought rotary or centrifugal pumps intofavour, and as they are simpler in constructionand more powerful in their effects, they haveenjoyed great favour of late years. They pos-sess the advantage of yielding a continuous flowof water, and not an intermittent one like theordinary piston pump. The rotary motion isobtained direct, without the intervention ofcranks and rods, which are frequently a sourceof much inconvenience. A rotary pump occupiesvery little space, and is easily established any-where, and adapts itself better to the variousrequirements of different localities. Unfortunately,however, these qualities are weakened by the diffi-culty of construction and accuracy of adjustment,and especially by the little useful effect rotarypumps yield. Consequently their application hashitherto been comparatively limited.

The best types of the rotary pump are those ofAppold and Dietz, but they by no means accom-plish all that this system is capabfe of. Thatproblem appears to be solved by M. Coignard, whohas invented a centrifugal pump which is bothlifting and forcing; that is to say, it will raise waterfrom any reasonable depth and force it to a con-siderable height.

FIG. 2.

±5

In the first place, water may be raised by it in acontinuous stream to any height, and in any quan-tity, with unlimited abundance and regularity, withan expenditure of rtower proportioastuly

* FIG. l.maJl.

Again, as a, force-pump it not only realizes what iaimpossible in other systems of rotary pumps, butwhat is of the greatest importance, it greatly sur-passes the results produced by the other systemswith cylinders and pistons. With this pump no de-rangement is to be feared, no repairs are required, for

there are no cranks nor valve?, no leather nor india*rubber stuffing—mefal, and metal only—iron,copper,bronze, &c. Solidity, simplicity, convenience, wi> h.certain and perfect operation, such are, at first sight,the most striking merits of this ingenious machine.We shall find others while analyzing its principal.parts. By reference to the engraving it will be seen,that this pump is composed of a spherical envelope,

around which, following the (5. .meter perpendicular to the axis, afound a cro wn in the form of a hollowtorus, which communicates direct' ywith the discharge pipe. Thus con -etituted, this spherical envelope rt -minds the astronomical eye of theplanet Saturn surrounded byitsring^

In the interior of the enveloping ,sphere is another spherical capacity,formed of two boxes wedged upenan axle, and concentric with the ex-ternal sphere. These two boxes areseparated, following the diametercorresponding to that of the hollowtorus, by an annular opening, thewidth of which is proportionate tothe discharge required from thepump at the two extremities, that iato say, atthe two poles of the spherethey form by their juxtaposition.These boxes are hollowed out to givepassage to the water brought by the ,suction-pipe. Itis scarcely necessaryto say that the spherical envelope it-self presents at each of its two polesa tube which receives the upper and ,lower branches of the suction-pipe, •

Fig. 1 represents the pump, with its axis placed jvertically. j

lj1ig. 2 shows a similar pump, with it3 axis in a .horizontal position, mounted on a carriage to renderit locomotive.

G is the suction-pipe, which divides into twobranches to conduct the water to the two poles ofthe sphere. The axis of rotation upoa which thetwo internal spherical boxes are wedged is put iamotion by a pulley A. It traverses the upperbranch of the pipe C by a closed tube, by meansof a metallic stuffing-box, and the lower branchyby a tube which receives the collar upon whicitthe pivot rests. The spherical boxes have cacktwo chambers which facilitate the drawing offthe water by the centrifugal eifects, while at thesame time they expel the water contained in thecapacity of the sphere, and force it to pass bythe annular aperture in the torus which sur-rounds the fixed portion of the concentric en-velope. This torus, serving thus as a dischargechannel, carries a tube to which the discharge-pipe D is adjusted.

The whole of these organs rest upon the twolateral supports E, consolidated by stays. Theline a b, Fig. 1, shows the base of one of thesesupports; the other, which should be in front, iasupposed to be removed to allow the sphericalenvelope to be completely seen. These supportsare fixed by screws upon a wooden frame, or inmasonry. In a locomotive pump the supportsare screwed to the two sides of the carriage.

This pump is easily charged by the tube B in-serted in the upper portion of the suction-pipe C.This tube, which is closed by means of a screw-valve, can also receive a pipe if necessary. Sup-

pose the pump to be charged, that is to say, filledwith water, the axis of rotation is put in motionby slipping a band over the pulley A; thenthe internal sphere, immediately acquiring itsnormal velocity, developes a centrifugal fora-which all the moleouifla of water gu<5oesR;vp .'

•J THE ENGLISH MECHANIC. [MARCH 31, 1865.

obey, and, pressing against the sides, seek a passage,which they find only at the annular section cor-responding to the opening of the torus, into whichthey penetrate directly, and from whence theyescape by the pipe D.

The motive force that must be expended is pro-portional to the volume of water it is desired toraise, and the height to which it is elevated. Thisforce may be obtained from any of the knownmotive powers—manual labour, horses, wind, a fallof water, steam, &e.

In manufacturing industry, the eloquence offigures is the most convincing and satisfactory; andit is by figures that the advantages of this pumpare best shown.

Under all circumstances, even the most difficult,this pump renders from 60 to 80 per 100 of usefuleffect. Now it is well known that in other systemsthis return seldom reaches beyond 35 to 50 per 100,and that it falls considerably below these figureswhen the pump is worn by use.

This pump raises sand and gravel as easily aspure water, without becoming choked, for none ofits parts are liable to be deranged; there are novalves, nor cranks, nor pistons, consequently neitherwear nor tear.

A pump of 20 inches diameter will discharge 13to 15 gallons of water per second, or consequently200 tons per hour, or 4400 tons in the 24 hours,allowing two hours for rest. The water is lifted toa height of 16 feet. The cost of such a pump isabout fifty pounds.

TO THE READER.TTTITH the appearance of this the first number

' ^ of THE ENGLISH MECHANIC vanishes tha

oft-repeated reproach that, though we live in an ageof cheap literature, when no man, who can spare apenny, need be without a weekly budget of socialMid political news, no journal, devoted to thenurture and advancement of science and art hasyet been published in a spirit and at a price suf-ficient to recommend it to the sympathy andsupport of the multitude—to the brain andpocket of the " bone and sinew " of the land, ourgreat " workers." No man who earns his breadas a mechanic or labourer in any department ofthe great field of "labour," need for the future bewithout his " record," ay, or a corner in the same,for the making known of his ideas or schemes;and happy are we to think that ours is theenviable position of first caterer for the millionswho lay claim to the title at the head of ourjournal.

True it is that there are extant various journalsdevoted to the arts and sciences, weekly andmonthly, but their price and the "politics" ofseveral debar them entrance to the working man'shome. We say " politics" advisedly, for we feelassured that the old party titles of Whig andTory can be as fairly claimed and have been asfairly earned by them as by any professedlypolitical paper. "Interested motives" too oftencrop out on the surface to make them eitherpalatable or profitable to the man who justly re-quires that every corner of the journal claiming tobe his shall be devoted to his immediate or pro-spective interests; not to the puffing of this, that,or the other thing which the intelligent theorist orschemer and practical man know to be at best but"colourable" affairs, and not worth intrinsically atithe of the space devoted to them in specialpleading. Clear of such dangerous shoals it isour firm purpose to steer—not because our Readerswould soon discover our being on the wrong tack,but simply because there is rank dishonesty inSidling under false colours, and therefore that to doso is un-English.

There is a class of Readers to whom ourjournal will be invaluable: we refer to the poorinventor, who, when his invention is of publicutility, and therefore of value, will ever find ourcolumns open to him. In several of the recentindustrial exhibitions we have observed, buddingup here and there, evidences manifold of geniusand talent which it should be a pleasure for any

honest journalist to foster and help forward; tosuch we will lend a willing and a hearty help.Again, there are thousands of working men whowould dearly like to have under their hand at thefireside an epitome of the progress in the Artsand Sciences from week to week; and such, inevery branch, however remote, will be found inthe pages of THE ENGLISH MECHANIC^. Thus,•many would like to learn the latest things inengines and railway gear in other lands besidesour own; of cylinders, heavy castings, and borings ;of new methods in manipulating steel, iron, wood,and humble bricks ; of improvements in loomsand machinery in general : they will find them inour columns. Or, some would prefer learning ofphotography, or the wonders of chemistry asapplied to the utilisation of "refuse," and theconsequent increase of wealth ; or of sculpture,painting, and improvements in their accessories :such will also find their corner. Nothing, in fact,•will be omitted for which room can be found thatis of any earthly value to man.

Our Prospectus—to be found in another column—will show something, but not all, of what wentend to do. Nor are we above taking advice

from practical men, when the same can possiblybe adopted. But—and this is an important itemin the contract—we also require support andencouragement in carrying our venture to a suc-cessful issue. The contract between us and thepublic is this: that we supply the brains and food,the public the pence! We are not unaccustomedto our labour, but, as is readily understood, theres something to be either learnt or unlearnt everyday. For our shortcomings at first, if any therebe, we ask the oversight of a lenient eye. Tosatisfy every one we feel certain is impossible;but that we can, and will, the majority, there isnot in our mind the remotest doubt. One partymay fancy they are being overlooked : let thembut communicate with us, and justice will be done.And what we say of one class we say to all. Morewe cannot.

In conclusion, our motto is, " T H E INTELLECTUALAND SOCIAL WELFARE OF ALL," and Success toTHE ENGLISH MECHANIC !

London, March, 1865.

A WORD ABOUT PATENTEES' EIGHTS.

A short time since it was decided, by just aturn of the scale—a feather did it—that, wherethe Crown is interested (whatever that may beconstrued to mean), the rights of the inventorgo to the wall. That is to say, the Crown, orany department of what we have been accustomedto term the Public Service, may take, use, andappropriate an invention—pick out and use aman's brains—without giving the inventor, or theman who had the brains, any recompense: pro-vided always, that said Department only swearsthat the invention is good for the public. Inother words, as we read the matter, one section ofthe public may, with impunity, filch from the other.This is an old rule—there are bushels of precedents—belonging to the good old times, when " they didprig who had the power," and did so, in the ma-jority of cases, sans scotching even. To put thematter plainly: A man may invent a method forrendering boilers explosion-proof (if he can), or aship's side impenetrable by shot or shell. TheAdmiralty, through its agent, may then go downto Southampton-buildings, and, rummaging Mr.Woodcroft's department, find the specificationsembodying these plans, build boilers and shipsaccording to them, and, when the credulous orpresumptive patentee sends in his little bill, saidSea Board may swing round and say, "This, yourinvention, is invaluable to the State, and, there-

lore, we, the servants of the public, cannot becalled on to pay in hard cash. Sufficient for you,you have done the State some service, and theyknow it. In proof of the tenableness of our posi-tion, we refer you to 0 Cro. Eliz. 0, 0 Cro. Car. 0,0 Cro. Jac. 0, &c.; and for proof of our rights inyour brains, see also 0 House of L., Cas. 0." Nowas the highest legal authority has decided, fromprecedents, that the public's servants are perfectlyjustified in filching from private individuals, it

follows that, either private individuals must leaveoff exercising their talents for their own and thegood of society, or, having invented warlike or otherengines, take and sell them abroad; or, what werecommend, get their representatives in Parliamentto force the servants of the public to draw up andsubmit to the Collective Wisdom a measure whichshall vest in the inventor an indefeasible title in hisown property; so that he maybe in a position tosell his ideas to Government, or to sue and recoverfrom its servants when they think proper to usehis brains without his licence. In other words,establish a fresh precedent, the difference of whichfrom the existing one will be that it is founded Q*Vjustice.

That's about the state of the case, and remedyfor the existing evil.

We have a few things more to put on paper anentpatents, but reserve them for another occasion.

INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITIONSAND

PROTECTION TO INVENTIONS & DESIGNS.

TNDUSTRIAL EXHIBITIONS are fast be-•*• coming an institution both of the metropolisand the provinces. It is impossible to overratetheir importance and value, and whatever tends toencourage and render them permanent ought to beeagerly adopted. Their success in the metropolishas been exceedingly great, for nearly 200,000persons visited the South London Exhibition. Werejoice to see that an exhibition is in progress forthe working classes of East London, and with everyappearance of success. It will be opened in Mayat the Beaumont Institution, Mile End-road.These exhibitions will apply a strong stimulus tothe inventive genius and artistic powers of theartisan and skilled mechanic, while the social andother influences which they will engender will beof a highly beneficial character. At this pointquestions arise with reference to the system of pro-tection of designs and inventions granted by thepatent laws. Whatever difference of opinion maybe entertained as to the propriety of those laws,yet it is quite clear that so long as they do existtheir benefits ought to be equally enjoyed by allclasses. Everybody feels that an exhibitor whosubmits to public inspection his designs or inven-tions, and so confers a great national benefit, oughtnot thereby to lose the advantage of whateverprotection the law may afford him. In acknow-ledgment of this plain principle of justice in thecase of the Great Exhibition and of the Interna-tional Exhibition, the Protection of InventionsAct, 1851, and the Protection of Inventions andDesigns Amendment Act, 1862, were passed,whereby exhibitors were prevented from sustainingprejudice on account of the fact of publication*The necessity for action in the interests of Indus-trial Exhibitions was equally manifest. The matterbecame the subject of public discussion, and adeputation waited upon the President of the Boardof Trade, who was induced to bring ia a measureintended to place the law upon a just footing. Thebill, which was but the other day read a third time,after stating that exhibitions of objects of art andindustry manufactured or contributed wholly or inpart by the members of the industrious classes,have been, and hereafter may be held in differentparts of the Kingdom, and that it is expedient to

MARCH 31, 1865/1 THE ENGLISH MECHANIC.

encourage such exhibitions by granting protection,provides that the Board of Trade may certifyexhibitions entitled to the benefit of the proposedact, and that the exhibition of any new inventionor new design at any industrial exhibition shallnot prejudice patent right or registration. Thewhole period to be covered by the certificate is notto exceed six months.

A similar measure applicable to the Dublin Ex-hibition is before Parliament. It is plain, how-ever, that the whole subject of the policy of thepatent laws will shortly be forced upon the atten-tion of the Legislature. The recommendations ofthe Patent Law Commissioners do not go to theroot of the matter, and it will be remembered thatthey close them by saying that, "while the changesuggested will in their judgment do something tomitigate the inconveniences now generally com-plained of by the public, as incident to the workingof the patent law, it is their opinion that theseinconveniences cannot be wholly removed. Theyare, in their belief, inherent in the nature of apatent law, and must be considered as the pricewhich the public consents to pay for the existenceof such a law." The long conflict between thefriends and opponents of these laws still continues.The latter condemn them as being opposed to theprinciples of economic science, as injurious to thecommunity, and as not beneficial to the inventor;the former on the contrary contend that theyconstitute a necessary incentive to invention, andurge that there is an essential difference between,on the one hand, establishing a system of meansadequate to call into existence a new form ofindustry to which the clog of protection attachesonly to the extent of fulfilling the conditionsnecessary to its creation, and, on the other, the caseof any ordinary monopoly or of any other violationof the principles of free trade.

Where interests of such moment to the nationalwelfare are involved in a right decision it isthought that no opportunity should be lost ofpressing them upon the public attention.

UTILIZATION OF WATER.WATER-POWER IN PARIS.

M. Leon Edoux, a young engineer, has recentlycontrived a very simple and effective means of raisingbuilding materials, &c, to considerable heights.The principle ho uses is the employment of wateras a counterpoise to the weight to be raised. Forthis purpose he erects a kind of double tower ofwood-work, formed of six uprights,somewhat higherthan the greatest height of the edifice to be erected—one being at each angle, and one in the middle ofeach of the two wider sides of the tower. Thefollowing shows their arrangement on the ground-plan :—

These uprights, which are tied externally at properdistances, serve as guides to two sheet-iron tanks ofequal size and weight, and connected by chainspassed over pulleys at the top of the tower. Theinteriors of the tanks are to receive the counterpoiseof water, and their upper surfaces, the loads to beraised—that tank which is to be elevated having aload, but no water; and the other tank water, butno load.

The water is conveyed to all heights in the towerby a pipe, the supply of that fluid in Paris beingimmense, and capable, by its own pressure, of risiDgabove the highest buildings. A valve, which opensof itself when the tank descends to a certain point,allows the water to escape, so as to prepare thetank containing it to ascend in its turn. When thematters to be raised are placed on the tank below,sufficient water to rather more than counterpoise itis then let into the tank above; the latter then de-seends and the materials ascend. No time is lost,since while the platform of one tank is being loaded,

, that of the other is being unloaded. A break forregulating the velocity of motion renders the appa-ratus thoroughly secure. Its effectiveness and eco-nomy, it is said, leave nothing to be desired. Thetotal cost is greatly less than that of any other equi-valent appliance. The principle, however, is notnew : Brunei, twenty years ago, used equilibrium bywater in raising ponderous materials. If the loadby any accident fell from the platform on which itwas placed, the tank was prevented from beingviolently precipitated by a very simple regulator,consisting of large discs, which were forced to movein water or sand.

ROTHFELDER'S IMPROVED CHRONOMETERESCAPEMENT.

The inventor of this moWEEat furnishes the fol-lowing description of its advantages and action :—

" For half a century the English and French havevainly endeavoured to improve and simplify thechronometer, but for all practical and scientific pur-poses their endeavours have not been crowned withany remarkable result. In this improvement, thechronometer, with all its former intricacies, is ren-dered at once simple, and enables the practicalwatchmaker to manufacture and repair chrono-meter escapements with comparative ease, whileheretofore it has required considerable skill.

" The cost of the article ia by this improvementmuch reduced, and will enable individuals to supplythemselves with one at a limited cost.

" The nature of this invention consists in the con-struction of the locking lever of chronometer escape-ments, the same being provided with a secondaryor assistant lever, upon the end of which the rubypin or lifting pallet of the balance operates to dis-engage the detention on the locking1 lever from thescape •wheel, whereby tbis escapemont operates withmore precision and less friction, is more durable,and can be manufactured with greater facility.

" The drawing represents a plain view of theworking parts of the escapement in action, whencommencing to disengage or unlock the scape wheel.

" In the engraving A represents the scape wheel;B the balance arbor; C the main pallet; Dthe lock-

A\• ' & ' : '<

ing lever; E ia the decent pin which locks the scapewheel ; F is the lifting pallet, or ruby pin on themain pallet, and G is a T-shaped lever, or assistantlever, pivoted to the end, H, of the locking lever, D.Its central arm extends tangentially towards andundernefrththe main pallet, terminating in a pointedend, I, which engages at proper intervals the liftingpallet, F. J is the "ordinary balance spring ; K isthe balance to the escapement; L is a spiral springwhich presses the locking lever against the stop pin,N, and also brings the detent pin, E, in action tolock the escape wheel. The assistant lever, G, isprovided with two arms, one of them, P, to attachthe spring, O, and the other arm, B, to serve as astop to retain the normal position of the lever G.The manner in which these parts act upon oneanother is as follows :—The escape wheel, A, is sup-posed to be at rest, its tooth, 4, resting upon thedetent pin, E, of the locking lever, D ; the balance,however, being1 in motion, and the lifting pallet, F,travelling in the direction of the arrow. 2, now com-ing in contact with the lever, G, it will move thelocking lever, and consequently the detent pin, E,thus liberating the tooth, 4, of the scape wheel;therefore the notch, X, in the main pallet, comes inposition, and the tooth, 1, falls ia to act upon theside of the notch, X, and giving an impulse to thebalance. Now. before the tooth, 1, has left the sideof the notch X, the end, I, of the lever, G, has"""»Ti«d the iiiiiigpin, I \ and the locking lever,

D, and detent pin, E, fall back and lock the scapewheel again, and on the l'etnrn of the balance, asshown by an arrow, 1, the lifting pin, F, forces theend of the lever, G, off, to pass by, whereafter thesame operation as before described takes place."

THE LORET LOOM.

M. Francis Loret, of Malines, an engineer who*has distinguished himself during the past twentyyears by the numerous inventions and improvementfrhe has introduced into manufacturing machinery,has recently invented a mechanical loom, which wobelieve will cause a revolution in one of the moatimportant branches of manufacturing industry.

It is a mechanical loom for weaving by hand orsteam-power all kinds of fabrics in wool, silk, cotton,linen, &c, such as cloth, linen, drills, ticking, sails*velvets, cotton and woollen counterpanes, flannel,mixed cotton and silk goods, cotton and woollen,ditto, &c._ The mechanism of this loom is so extremely

simple that it completely supersedes the art of theweaver. Anyone—not a man, for that would sup-pose a necessity for the expenditure of a certain,amount of strength, but a child of ten or twelveyears of age—can set this machine in motion, aadwithout an apprenticeship or training perform in.one day double the work of a skilful weaver at the \most perfect loom now in use. In saying double,. [we suppose him working upon a simple and easyfabric. When he works upon a complicated fabrics,in various colours, with change of shuttles, as forexample, in a mixed cloth, the new loom proceedsjust as before, with the same precision and the samefinish, while the ordinary loom requires from theweaver three or four times as much attention.,From this it results that the economy in manual >labour in complex fabrics is nearly quadrupled, |and the manufacturer has no longer anything to idread from strikes, for now anybody can become a 'weaver—the beggar in the street, the errand boy,or the apprentice.

The Loret loom possesses another property, whichis, to impart to the fabric a regularity, suppleness,and texture beyond all comparison, from which itresults that the goods woven in it are of muckgreater value, and must necessarily cause them to bepreferred to the goods produced in the looms HOW in ••use. It also admits of weaving with inferior warps,for the weft can be very tightly woven with a slackwarp. The application of this loom to a doubleweft frame, which instantly stops when a threadbreaks, possesses the immense advantage of avoid-in? all flaws in the fabric.

The Loret loom is now in operation in severalfactories in Belgium, France, and Holland, whereits merits have been fully tested, and its excel-lencies are duly appreciated.

B1TUMENISED PAPER PIPES

Although the great strength of paper has beenknown for a considerable time, said the lecturer,,yet its adaptation as a substitute for iron is com-paratively new.

It has recently been proposed to armour-platewar ships, to build ships, and even to make guns ofpaper. How far these expectations may be realisedI must leave to future experience to determine.Our present purpose is to bring under your noticean application of paper, though, not so wonderfulas the manufacture of ships and guns, yet of suffi-cient importance to command the attention of theengineer. What I wish to bring particularly underyour notice is the application of paper in the manu-facture of pipes suitable for conveying water, gas,and other purposes.

These pipes consist of a composition of bitumenand paper, and the process of manufacture is as fol-lows :—Paper is made of a breadth equal to the re-quired length of the pipe; a cylinder of the requiredlength and bore of the pipe is selected; upon thiscylinder the paper is rolled up, having previous". y>passed through a cistern of molten bitumen ; inconcert with the cylinder which forms the bore ofthe pipe, another heavily weighted cylinder revolvesoutside, by means of which the pipe in process ofmanufacture is subjected to great pressure, insuringan equal distribution of the bitumen, and compac. -ness throughout the structure of the pipa. By thismode of manufacture it is evident a pipe of any re-quired thickness can be made by merely continuingthe process for a sufficient length of time. After thapipe is takenout of the rolling machine, and thecylinder forming the bore withdrawn, the inside iacoated with an insoluble water-tight compo-ition,which protects the paper and forms a very hwjoih.

4 THE ENGLISH MECHANIC. [MARCH 31, 1865.

mcrfVie, and consequently diaunislies the resistanceof friction—a matter of much importance in waf"pipes. The outside of the pipe is coated with a OOIL-position of bitumen and sand, which, bes.des protect-iasr the material of the pipe from injury, renders it se-cure against th ose evils to which iron pipes are liable,either tinder ground or exposed to the atmosphere.

These pipes may be joined together in a variety of-ways. That which we recommea.: for pipes underpressure is the flanged iron couplii g. The end of thepipe is pressed against the inner projecting flange ofthe iron socket, and the wedge-shaped space, shownblack, is then filled in with a composition similar to•what is used for coating1 the inside ef the pipe. Bythis means a perfect and strong connection is made•between the iron socket and the pipes. The pipes arethen jointed together by screw bolts passing throughthe flanges of the iron sockets, the joint beiag made"water-tight by the introduction of an india-rubber•washer, as shown in section. When pipes have notto stand great pressure they are generally jointedtogether by means of a thimble or ferrule joint, theferrules being made of the same substance as thepipe, and the space between filled, in with moltenbitumen.

The well-known properties of paper and bitumenrender it unnecessary on the present occasion toadvance many proofs of their fitness for the purposeof pipe making. The great strength of paper haslong been known ; and it has been looked forward toby many as a substance that would one day be animportant material in various manufactures wheregreat tensile strength was required. All that ap-peared wanting was a suitable substance to compoundvith it, so as to form a composition sufficiently rigid,

and at the same time protect the paper from theinjurious action of water and other agencies. Theemployment of bituminous substances in variousbranches of manufacture, where those very qualities•were required wkich appeared necessary to renderpaper suitable for the manufacture of pipes, is knownto every one. We have street pavements, floors,and roofs of houses, laid with asphalte. Bituminoussubstance is employed in a variety of ways for theprotection of wood, iron, and other materials. It isused as a coating for iron and wood ships, andanchors, chains, and various other articles. Itis also used as a coating for iron pipes, both out andinside; and in this case its great value, not only inpreserving the iron by preventing rust, but also inreducing the amount of friction, is considerable.

For the bituminised paper pipes the followingqualities are claimed: Their resistance to internaland external pressure. Pipes of 3in., 4in., acd 5in.in diameter (thickness of paper, ^in.) have beentested both singly and jointed together, and havebeen found to withstand a pressure of 5001b. on thesquare inch without showing the least sigus of weak-ness, either in the pipe itself or at the joints.

The bursting pressure of these pipes has not as yetbeen ascertained, as on the occasion when they wereexperimented upon the machines used were not suffi-cient for the purpose. The durability of these pipesmust be almost unlimited. If a coating of a bitumi-nous composition is found to protect iron pipes so very•well, what may we expect from a pipe partially com-posed throughout its entire structure of bitumen ?

These pipes are also very bad conductors of heat,which has the advantage of protecting water or gasfrom those changes of temperature so injurious toeither. They are not affected by acids or alkalies asmetal pipes are, and are, therefore, suitable lor manypurposes where metal pipes cannot be used. Theyare also bad conductors of electricity, which propertyrenders them most suitable for protecting electrictelegraph cables laid under ground. They are muchmore elastic than iron, and therefore not so liable toburst from shocks or concussions ; their elasticity isalso sufficient to allow water to freeze inside withoutbursting the pipe. Their specific gravity, comparedwith iron pipes, is as 1 to 5—a property the advan-tage of which will be apparent to every one. Thecost of these pipep is about one-half that of iroapipes. .

These pipes can be manufactured of any dimen-sions with fa~',lity.*

(To be concluded in our next.)

FRENCH IRON MANUFACTURE. — In 1854the quantity of pig iron made in France was 750,000tons, of which 280,000 tons were charcoal-made. In1863 the rate had increased to 1,180,000 tons, butthe proportion of charcoal-made was smaller, beingonly 280,000 tons-

* Abstracted from a paper read at the Institute ofScottish KnsineCM, by .Mr. O'Maquet.

WORKING MEN'S CLUBS AND ,% INSTITUTES.

The sonditions required for a change in their cfe1-cumstEnces which would at once lift working menout of a mode of life as perilous to the rest of thecommunity as it is ruinous, morally, mentally, andsocially to themselves, are the formation of a numberof working men—say from oue hundred in a villageup to a thousand in large towns—into a society forpromoting social intercourse, recreation, mental, andmoral improvement, and mutual helpfulness of variouskinds (including under the last head the promotionof coal-clubs, provident, labour-loan, co-operative,and similar societies), without having the necessityor temptation of spending their money in a public-house. When the society is formed, somebody mustbe found to take a house or rooms for it, and beanswerable for the rent, as no landlord will take theguarantee even of a committee, much less of asociety. Then from £30 to £100 will be required forfurniture, fittings, games, books, and perhaps pre-liminary repairs. But working men, even the mostrespected of their class, have not hitherto had suffi-cient influence with their fellows, as an almostinvariable rule, to accomplish the first formation ofthe society. They canuot get. up the public meeting,which, however, is almost essential for attractingpublic attention and giving the men confidence in theenterprise. The amount of suspicion that greets anyattempt to benefit them is marvelous to those whodo not know how often they have been deceived, andhow frequently some ulterior object has been soughtfor under innumerable benevolent pretexts. Nothingbut a public meeting, with frank and full explana-tions, can remove these suspicions, anil prevent theidea of its being " a hole-and-corner " affair; "themaster's or the parson's last new dodge;" or "comingthe patron over them." Then, again, the men areoften not a little jealous of one another, so thatintelligence and worth do not get their legitimateinfluence. As to the requisite capital, they could nodoubt well afford to subscribe it. almost to anyneedful amount, -even for purchasing or buildingpremises (as, indeed, they have done already in aboutfour instances), if they had been saving half of whatmost of them have been spending in the public-house.But promoters must appeal to men who have scarcelya shilling laid by except in their sick club ; who areconstantly meeting weekly or monthly subscriptions,and perhaps levies for their friendly and tradesocieties; who, if they have been saving, are alreadyin all probability members of a co-operative, building,or similar society, which takes most of their sparecash ; and who, under any circumstances, often findit tight work to make both ends meet, particularlywhen work has been slack, or sickness rife in theirhome. If we consider, moreover, the vast capital atpresent required merely for the plant of public-houses and beer-shops, it must be evident that toestablish social clubs and institutes which it is to behoped may supersede these establishments (so far asthey are mere tippling-shops), a capital is requiredfar beyond the present means of the working man.But that help should be required by any class, or byany man, at one time or other of his or its existence—in some stage of growth and revolution—is surelynot an unpleasant anomaly, but a gratifying andtwice-blessed result of that divine law which gives tosome and to all in turn, the more abundant means, ofvarious kind, which enable them to benefit others.That working men should, however, need so muchhelp, mental, moral, and pecuniary, to start theseinstitutions, is a fact we must in another point ofview deplore, because it tells a melancholy tale oftheir past intemperance, improvidence, and ill-treat-ment—especially of their apathy to their ownimprovement. But all this only makes out thestronger case for the requisite help being given. Theworking classes in large towns, moreover, havespecial claims on. the friendly aid of persons of wealthin the district, because they have been broughttogether in great masses to make capital productiveand life agreeable for the upper class—one result ofwhich is that they are crowded, too often crushed,together in miserably inadequate domestic accommo-dation.

JAMES WATT.—It is intended to erect a statueof James Watt in some public place in Birmingham.The idea was originated at a recent meeting of theSociety of Mechanical Engineers, and a numerouslysigned requisition has since been presented to themayor, asking him to call a meeting to carry outthe suggestion. Several donations have been alreadynromised.

ENGINEERING.Amongst the numerous applied arts and jciences

which in eur time claim so much of the attention ofmankind, it would be difficult perhaps to discover onewhich has remained involved in such obscurity as that 'adopted by the practical engineer. In his calling, <science and art approach nearer to each other per- <haps than in any other, if they do not meet entirelyupon equal grounds; and yet, their innumerable >points of contact have seldom attracted any large1'share of observation. Engineering forms in itself an*art which has possessed, and no doubt will alwayscontinue to possess, features rendering it distinctfrom the other living arts by which it is surrounded;for whilst many of the more important appliances ofart and science have arisen from accident, hereeverything has to be accomplished by sheer strength,of mind, and skill and dexterity of hand. In sogreat a measure does engineering become the evi-dence of a more perfect harmony between thoughtand act than can be discovered in many other cases,that, viewed as a branch of trade alone it forms oneof the most admirable freemasonries in the world. Inno other class of trade, probably, could one meetwith that cordial unanimity of feeling and ideawhich here exists between the most eminent and themost humble of its disciples. Between the one whoestimates that a certain portion of the earth willsupport the weight of a pyramid, and he who ascendsto deposit the last stone upon its summit, a sort of'relationship exists which leaves no room for the un-.meaning platitudes of that artificial politeness which,enters so largely into transactions at law and ex-change. It would be no exaggeration for the engineerto say that the vast transformations he is continuallymaking with the. materials nature has placed at hishands can only be outlived by nature itself, whilehis works will survive the decay of all the institu-tions man has ever formed, and perhaps even maahimself. It remains, therefore, almost a matter ofsurprise that whilst many subordinate arts havebecome so much improved by intercommunication ofideas, engineering should so long have suffered from,this especial want. At the present time engineersseem to form two distinct bodies : visionaries, whoentertain ide,as which can never be practicallyrealised ; and others who from a thoroughly practical-knowledge could quickly convert ideas into usefalrealities : each capable of being of use to the other,yet standing widely apart: one hoping that thevery next turn of the kaleidoscope will present thepicture for which he has longed, the other ploddinglaboriously on, thinking that some day he may yetcall into symmetry and motion the scattered and in-harmonious works of his hand, these latter accom-plished in many cases with an astonishing persever-ance. We usually record with the most scrupulousfidelity the slightest advances made in any form of artbut engineering, and if its principles were capable ofany variation, and really entered upon some change, itwould be long before any such kuowleclge wouldreach the practical mechanic. The early student inchemistry can soon take familiar hold of the moreimportant elements of his science, but the apprenticeat the lathe may work for years before he knows howto modify or compound the simplest motions. It

"tloes, therefore, become really desirable that somemeans should be discovered of imparting information,of this kind, and to supply that essential part of theeducation of a mechanic which can never be acquiredin a workshop.

When we consider what a variety of usef-ai id%A3have sprung up and disappeared again at the bench,without ever having assumed a practical shape, weare almost inclined to think that it would be betterif master engineers were to let an arrangement,having special reference to this subject, form aseparate clause iu all indentures issued under theirhands, rather than leave it entirely at the discretionof a youthful apprentice as to whether he would belikely to turn out a good workman or not.

Although the systems of calculation adopted byNewton and Liebnltz, in their "Fluxions" and"Differential Calculus," were extremely complex,the results of their labours may now be clearly andsimply conveyed, and there is no reason why thisshould not hold good also in the mechanical art*.This is the class of instruction, at all events, which theEnglish mechanic stands in most need of, and until itis successfully carried out, he will be left hopelesslyinvolved in the technicalities of a beautiful sciencewhich he is really shaping with his own hands.

If any of the colossal works which are now iacourse of progress around us were being wrought byany other art than that of the engineer, they --vouldawaken the most unbounded admiration. Stupendous

1 enough many of them to make man entertain an

Z U M * L 3 1 ' 18(55.]

•exalted opinion of himself, and to summon all theabandoned orders of his race into societv. Every-where the boundaries of nature are yielding to thegenius of man. Abroad some are boring throughmountains, others seek to connect vast seas, whoseunion may even disturb the equilibrium of our globe.Some mount in air, others accelerate the intercourse Ibetween nations divided by measureless expanses of I•water. While, to come nearer home, we see ex-tending around and encircling us on all sides railways,viaducts, and magnificent structures at their pointsof termination. Bridges, whose numerous founda-tions hasten its course with a dangerous celerity,are being erected over our Metropolitan river; noris it altogether unimportant to notice the great varietyexhibited in the several methods of their construc-tion.

The age of stons is disappearing, but art, com-bining with a still 'tarder material, makes it assumethe most pleasing and graceful forms.

A strong and perhaps -well-grounded fear was sishort time since entertained concerning the effect ofthese numerous structures upon the river commerce,but now a style of bridges is introduced by which allthese dangers may be obviated, and which will admitof the piers or foundations of a railway bridge acrossthe widest part of the Thames being built, whennecessary, inland. A bridge on this principle,called the Albert Bridge, is in course of constructionand will shortly be erected at the extremity ofBattersea Park. Another on the same principle isbeing erected over the Moldau at Prague.

So magnificent have been the engineering works,dating from the commencement of this century, thatunless a new civilization dawns upon our immediateposterity, they will have little else to do but toadmire the state in which they will find the world.

Man has in some things now advanced so far thathe can no longer expect any explanations from nature,but having already taken a situation proudly abovematerial things, he awaits some more beautiful reve-lation. Looking back upon what the world has been,•we must bear the significant fact in mind that every-thing that has been accomplished from the earliestperiod of our recollection has been an improvementupon what has gone before. Let us then continueworking all together for the improvement and ad-Tancement of art, and in preparing the advent of ayet happier time let it form the consolation of thehumblest amongst us to reflect—and this comes homewith peculiar force to the artisan—that although"the philosopher may be delighted with the extentof his view, "without mechanical performances refined•peculation is an empty dream."

"E SOUTH T-OWDON INDUSTRIALEXHIBITION.

THE ENGLISH MECHANIC. $

•xte South London Industrial Exhibition hasproved a most decided success, and well have itspromott-rs deserved that their untiring and zealousefforts i*>. its behalf should be met by the generalsupport of London operatives.

It is not, however, to the working classes alonethat the South London Exhibition owes its entiresuccess. The Exhibitions of past years have provedto the nobly descended and moneyed classes of Eng-land, that however high they may have graduatedat Oxford or Cambridge, they have yet much tolearn from the thinking and inventive mechanic.Greek, Latin, and deep dippings into the classics andmodern polite literature, when backed by agreeablemanners and the science of a Bond-street tailor, mayenable the most soft-brained sprig of nobiJity to keepafloat in society so long as his tradesmen have faith.But the wonderful progress of science has evenawoke something like a feeling of interest among thevapid votaries of fashion, and it is now thought thething in the higher circles of society to patrouise themechanic by visiting industrial exhibitions, to stareat and admire the products of thoughtful brains andskilled hands, and to return home with a vaguenotion that an inventive brain cannot be purchasedlike the freehold of a ten-acre field.

So the South London Industrial Exhibition metwith a fair share of patronage from the nobility andgentry of the metropolis, and being exceedingly wellmanaged, all visitors departed highly pleased withthe arrangements of the building and the numerousobjects of art and science they had inspected. Thetotal of the -visitors approached closely to twohundred thousand.

Last week the prizes were awarded, and strangeto say they were so justly distributed that none weredissatisfied. This is perhaps owing to the adjudica-tors, who were well-known men of talent, beingelected by vote by the exhibitors.' Our limited spacewill not permit of our giving a complete list of the

pr.ze awards, but we select the following as mostapplicable to our pages :

CLASS I.—ARTISTIC.FIRST P R I Z E — J Long, hairdresser, 16, Stangate ;

plaster sculpture, &c. E. James, mason, 8, Pratt-street, Lambeth; inlaid alabaster chimney pieces.C. Meachen, carpenter, 10, Paris-street, Stangate;cabinet in walnut wood. J. Mitchell, sculptor, 42,Palace-road, Lambeth ; marble busts. R. W. Mar-tin, stone carver, 5, John's-terrace, Walworth; stonepanel medallions, &c.

SECOND PRIZE.—A Chopin, terra cotta manufac-turer; figures, busts, vases, &c. J. Mabey, jun.;plaster model. C. L. Green, wood carver; woodcarvings. G. H. Goodman, engineer; designsfor improvements in machinery. J. Wilkie, sculptor;figures in stone. J. Shelton, potter; figure in plas-ter, drawings, &c. W. Gaudy, joiner; nurserywashing convenience model, water-colour landscapes,and oil paintings. J. Hamilton, hide splitter; an Eng-lish bull's hide split in two, drawings, paintings, &c.

THIRD PRIZE.—A. Angel, srone sawyer; marbleobeliskandalabasterteacaddy. R.Morris, embosser;cut glass trinket box, specimen of writing ou glass,and painting on glass. A. Holmes, wood carver;carved altar chair. H. Terry, jun., 10 years old;models in clay. W. J. Taylor, plasterer; architec-tural ornament. W. Redfearn, carver; chimneyglass medallions, carvings, &c. C. Burgess, woodcarver; bracket, clock case, trinket box, &c. Caro-line Brown, aged eight years; sketches in ink,pencil, and chalk. W. P. Hollyer, writer on glass;oil painting on glass. T. V. Wran, sculptor ; stonecarviug.

CLASS II.—MECHANICAL.FIRST PRIZE.—J. Montenu, maible mason, 7

Page-street, Millbank ; marble table. R. Carpenterboat modeller, 235, Fore-street; models of boatsW. Mynott Crickeager, 13, Smith-street, Walworthinlaid tables. S. Kislingbury, 7, Seymour-placeWalworth-road; artificial limbs. A. Johnson, en-gine builder, 36, Corunua-road, Battersea; model oflocomotive engine. J. Rogers, barge builder, 6,Vauxhall-place; model of a deck barge. H. N. J.Smith, ship modeller, 218, Rotherhithe-street; modelof schooner.

SECOND PRIZE.—R. J. Latimer, picker; modelsuspension bridge. S. Powell, surgical glass maker;self-acting breast drawers. R. Spencer, porter,portable engine and boiler. W. Miller, truss maker;splints for the cure of contracted toe. J. Wild,pattern maker; model steam engine. T. Kerr,upholsterer; self-acting invalid chair. J. Guthrie,engineer; electro-magnetic engine. G. Edwards,brass turner; scroll pattern. W. Willis, wheel-wright; carriage wheels. W. Crawford, copperplate printer; model villa. J. Gilbert, engineer;beam engine. W. Good, brass finisher; model ofengine. J. Coombs, potter's foreman; inlaid scagliolatable.

THIRD PRIZE.—E. J. Myers, engineer; modelbeam engine. W. H. Printer, labourer; colouredmodel of lodge and chapel. C. Newnham, carpenter;tulip wood tea caddy. C. Fricker, assistant at sawmills; model of saw mills. G. H. Pobgee, packer ;powerful medical coil. M. Brasier, barge builder;two inlaid loo tables. W. D. Bunnett, aged 14;a turning lathe. H. Allnut, engineer; models ofcoal mines. E. Horner, boot closer; working modelof steam engine. J . Gray, gas meter maker ; stationgas meter. W. Bushnell, joiner; veneered roundtable. E. Harris, at school; model of force pump.G. V. List, gardener ; deal models. T. W. Burgess,shoemaker; shoemaker's upright bench. E. Buncelabourer; cutting machine. W. H. Steel, engineer,improved hand power colour mill. C. W. Kent,packer; chair cut from solid mahogany. W. Trot-man, stationer's assistant; stationer's cutting ma-chine. J. Longley, hop warehouseman ; a case ofturnery. J. W. Mitchell, carpenter ; two staircasemodels. H. Hayfield, engineer; horizontal steamengine. E.Harris, railway platelayer; inlaid scag-liola table.

CLASS Ilf.—GENERAL. • -FIRST PRIZE.—J. Hawkins, druggist's porter, 8,

Orange-street, Gravel-lane; stuffed birds. M.Morgan, teacher at blind school; pattern board foruse of blind. W. E. Dawes, jun., 8, Denmark-row,Coldharbour-lane, animal preserver; stuffed birds.J. A. Parkinson, wheelwright, 11, Little Keppel-street, Chelsea ; preserved moths, &c.

SECOND PRIZE.—E.J. Broughton,printer'sreader;model of The Observer composing roam. A.Berryman, tailor; chessboard. J. Matthews, boot-maker ; ladies' boots, and cork sole boots for same.G. Gray, engraver; pair of boots, trowsers, and vest,pencil drawings, and specimens of bookbinding. J.

; Batkin, letter carrier; a glass ease, -with l^Mhouse.

EAST LONDON WORKING CLASSES' EXHIBITIONOF ARTS AND INDUSTRY.

"We have before us the prospectus of the proposedEast London Industrial Exhibition, and are in-formed by its chairman that everything is progress-ing favourably towards a most successful openingin the early part of May next.

The Beaumont Institution in the Mile-end Road isa building well adapted for such an exhibition, andthe committee deserve much praise for havingsecured it for their purpose. The applications forspace are already numerous. The committee havewisely refrained from asking aid from any but theworking classes, but many gentlemen of high stand-ing, and well known in the circles of science andart, have interested themselves in the progress ofthe Exhibition, which, will be opened by the LordMayor.

The following are the rules for exhibitors; theyare few and simple :—

1. That the Exhibition will be open for a periodof not less than one month, and open every day,Sunday exceptsd, between the hours of 12 and 5 inthe afternoon, and 7 and 10 in the evening.

2. That no charge shall be made to exhibitors forspace.

3. All applications for space to exhibit must be *made on or before the last day of April, except inspecial cases.

4. Spaces to exhibit shall be allotted by a com-mittee of non-exhibitors.

5. All goods and articles exhibited must be ex-hibited and removed to and from the building1 at theexpense of the exhibitors.

6. All packages or articles arriving at the Exhibi-tion in the absence of the exhibitors or their ser-vants, will be opened by the committee's servants,with the greatest care,, but at the risk of the ex-hibitors.

7. The most effectual means will be taken by thecommittee to preserve all property exhibited; butall property exhibited will be at the exhibitor's ownrisk as to any casualty whatever.

8. Exhibitors must not remove or introduoe anyarticles exhibited during the Exhibition.

9. All property unclaimed, or not removed, withinseven days after the Exhibition closes, shall be dealtwith as the committee may direct.

10. Exhibitors may appoint persons, subjecttoth© •committee's approval, to take care of their property,or to explain it to visitors.

11. The committee will supply wall space andrough counters only; all other fittings must besupplied by exhibitors, and sanctioned by the com-mittee.

12. Every exhibitor will receive a memento. Theprizes to consist of one silver" and three bronzemedals to each class, amd also three honourablementions.

The committee also announce that an office forthe sale of articles exhibited will be opened in con-nection with the hall, during the Exhibition, for theaccommodation and convenience of exhibitors,where every article for sals in the building must beentered, stating the amount required for the saleof such article or articles ; when a deposit of 15 percent, will be demanded from the purchaser, off thasum total of such purchase, 5 per cent, of whichwill be deducted for offioe expenses, and the residue,10 per cent, will be handed to the exhibitor of sucharticle or articles.

Should the purchaser not pay the residue of thepurchase money into the office on or before the 2ndday after the close of the Exhibition, he will forfeitall right to such article or articles, and the fallamount of the deposit paid.

No sales will be allowed at the counters underany pretence whatever. No articles sold to be re-moved, or in any way disturbed, until after theclose of the Exhibition.

To find the solid contents of a cone, multiplyone-third of the area of the base by the height.

A tube twelve inches diamoior and twelve inchesliijrh holds 4875 Imperial gallons.

THIRD PRIZE.—J. Leech, labourer ; tea caddy,boxes, &c. G. Russell, cabinet maker; inlaid work-box. W. Barton, coachmaker; chest of drawersand two pairs of boots. It. Harry, joiner, inlaidworkbox. R. E. Barclay, black borderer; threecases. W. Banner, tin-plate worker; model, smallcase of snuff-boxes, &c. W. March, printer; time-piece. C. J. Hammond, storekeeper; mechanicalcontrivance. C. Ryan, jun., wire worker; gardenseat, &c. T. Lucoc-k, labourer; cheffoniere andmeat safe.

THE ENGLISH MECHANIC. [MAUCH 31, 1865.

SIR ISAAC NEWTON.

The childhood and education of that master-mind•which, by the establishment of the theory of gravita-tion, "immortalised his name, and perpetuated theintellectual glory of his country," are worthy of ourattention. Isaac Newton was born in 1642, in themanor-house of Woolsthorpe, close to the village ofColsterworth, about six miles south of Grantham, inLincolnshire. He was a posthumous child, and wasof such a diminutive size when born, that he mighthare been put into a quart mug. At the usual age

: he was sent to a small day-school at Skillingtonand Stoke, two hamlets near Woolsthorpe, and here

; he was taught reading, writing, and arithmetic. At; the age of twelve he waa seht to the grammar-

school at Grantham. According to his own con-fession, Newton was extremely inattentive to his

; studies, and stood very low in the school. When hewas last in the lowermost form but one, the boy

f above him as they were going to school kicked him• on the stomach; Newton subsequently challengedthe boy to fight; the combat took place in thechurchyard, and Newton was the viotor; his anta-gonist still stood above him in the form, until after

; many a severe struggle Newton not only gaiin d! the individual victory, but rose tothe highest place in the school.

Newton had not long been atschool before he exhibited a tastefor mechanical inventions. Withthe aid of little saws, hammers,

! hatchets, and other tools, duringhis play hours he constructedmodels of known machines andamusing contrivances, such as a•windmill, a water-clock, and acarriage to be moved by the per-son, who sat in it; and by watch-ing the workmen in erecting awindmill near Grantham, Newtonacquired such a knowledge of itsmechanism, that he completed alarge workng model of it, whichwas frequently placed upon thetop of the house in which Newtonlived at Grantham, and was putin motion by the action of thewind upon its sails. AlthoughNewton was at this time a "sober, silent, andthinking lad," who never took part in the gamesof his schoolfellows, but employed all his leisurehours in " knocking and hammering in his lodging-room," yet he occasionally taught the boys to " playphilosophically." He introduced the flying of paptrkites, and is said to have investigated their bestforms and proportions, as well as the number andposition of the points to which the string should beattached. He constructed also lanterns of" crimpledpaper," in which he placed a candle, to light him toschool in the dark winter mornings; and in darknights he tied them to the tails of his kites, whichthe terrified country people took for comets. Mean-while, in the yard of the house where he lived,Newton was frequently observed to watch the motionof the sun; he drove wooden pegs into the walls androofs of tbe buildings, as gnomons, to mark by theirshadows the hours and half-hours of the day. I tdoes not appear that he knew how to adjust theselines to the latitude of Grantham; but he is said tolave succeeded, after some years' observabion, inmaking them so exact, that anybody could tell whato'clock it was by Isaac's dial, as it was called; and,probably about this time, he carved two dials on thewalls of his own house at Woolsthorpe, one of whichis now in the museum of the Royal Society. Newtonalso became expert with his pencil: his room wasfurnished with pictures, drawn, some from printsand others from life, in frames made by himself—among the portraits were several of the Kings' heads;Dr. Donne; Mr. Stokes, his teacher at Grantham;and King Charles I . ; also drawings of " birds,beasts, men, ships, and mathematical diagrams,executed with charcoal on the wall, which remainedtill the house was pulled down in 1711." AlthoughNewton stated that he " excelled particularly inmaking verses," no authentic specimen of hia poetry,has been preserved; and, in later years, ho often. expressed a dislike for poetry. During the sevenyears which he spent at Grantham, to the society ofMs schoolfellows he preferred that of the youngladies who lived in the same house, and he often.made little tables, cupboards, &c.j for them to settheir dolls and their trinkets upon. One of theseladies, when she had reached, the age of 82, con-fassed that Newton had been in love with her, butfeat smallnfes of income prevented their marriage.

""When Newton had reached his fifteenth year, he

was recalled from the school at Grantham to takecharge of his mother's farm: he was thus frequentlysent to Grantham market, to dispose of grain andother agricultural produce, which, however, hegenerally left to an old farm-servant who accom-panied him, and Newton made his way to the garretof the house where he had lived to amuse himselfwith a parcel of old books left there; and after-wards he would entrench himself on the wayside

understand its trigonometry, purchased an EnglishEuclid, which he soon threw aside for Descartes'Geometry; his long-continued observations upon acomet in 1664; his first discovery of Fluxions in1665; his first study of gravity, suggested to himby the fall of an apple from a tree while sitting inhis garden at Woolsthorpe; his purchase of a glassprism at Stourbridge Fair; his first application tooptical discoveries ; his construction of telescopes,&c. But we cannot leave him without remarking thatlate in life, ascribing whatever he had accomplisheclto the effect of patient and continuous thought;rather than to any peculiar genius with wh'chnature had endowed him, he looked upon himselfand his labours in a very different light from that in'which both he and they were regarded by mankind." I know not," he remarked, a short time before hipdeath, "what I may appear to the world; but tomyself I seem to have been only like a boy playiagon the sea-shore, and diverting myself in now anathen finding a smoother pebble, or a prettier shellthan ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth layall undiscovered before me." How touching is thissense of humility, and contrast of the littleness ofhuman knowledge with the extent; of humanignorance!

#

^sbetween Woolathorpe and Grantham, devouringsome favourite author, till his companion's returnfrom market. And when his mother sant him intothe fields to watch the sheep and cattle, he wouldperch himself in a tree with a book in his hand, orshape models with his knife, or watch the move-ments of an undershot water-wheel. One of theearliest scientific experiments which Newton mn/ewaa in 1658, on the day of the great storrn, whenCromwell died, and when he himself had just en-tered his 16th year.

, - J l ^ G t g i ^ "!--^?J1Jra^'-3ig~yiTrSH:

BIRTHPLACE OF SIR ISAAC NEWTON.

Newton's mother was now convinced that her sonwas not destined to be a farmer; and this, with hisuncle finding him under a hedge, occupied in thesolution of a mathematical problem, led to his beingagain sent to Grantham School, and then to TrinityCollege, Cambridge, which thence became the italbirthplace of Newton's genius. We have not spjv.eto detail how he mastered Sanderson's Logic su:dKepler's Optics, before he attended his tutor'slectures upon those works ; how he bought a bookon Judicial Astrology at Stourbridge Fair, and to

A BORN MACHINIST.

Henry Maudsley, one of themost eminent of English me-chanics, had his mechanical in-stinct strikingly developed. Hisfather was a carpenter, but young ,Maudsley was much fonder ofworking in iron, and would often,excite the anger of the foreirenby stealing off to an adjoiningsmithy. He urged so hard for Cchange that when fifteen yearsold, he was transferred from thecarpenter's to the blacksmith'?; .shop. Here he became an expertworker in metal, and was soonquite noted for forging "trivers"with great speed and skill, thsold experienced hands gatherirground to admire him when atthis work.

When a boy has the innate love of his trade thatMaudsley had, he does not remain at the foot of theladder. Take a boy—there are plenty such—wholas no particular predilection for anything, and put'aim at a trade and he will always remain a mereworkman. But boys like Maudsley, almost without'mowing it, are urged on to something better. Att'tis time Brahmah, the lock maker, had great diffi-0 ilty to find mechanics skilful enough to make hialocks with the neat precision he wanted. YoungMaudsley was suggested to him, and, on being sentfor, the Woolwich blacksmith came to London.

He was but 18 years old, strong, muscular, talJ,and remarkably handsome. But both Brahmah aTidhis foreman thought he was too young to be put ;nthe shop with old workmen. A worn-out vice ben< hwas lying near by, and Maudsley, seeing that hischances were in danger, asked permission to goright to work and fix it up. He did so, and the jubwas so splendidly executed that he was atonce en-gaged, and he became as much a favourite in this asin his former shop. He rose in position and becameforeman. In 1797 he opened a shop of his own. heand his wife (for a pretty girl had a little time beforeaccepted the hand of the handsome blacksmith)clearing the hired shop of the dirt and rubbish leftin it by a former tenant. His first customer was anartist, who gave an order for the iron frame of alargo easel; and thenceforth Maudsley's shop had.plenty of work. His next success was the inventionof the slide-rest, with which his name is usuallyidentified, an invention, too, which all familiar withthe use of the turning lathe, now consider indis-pensable. Maudsley subsequently became a famous1 manufacturer of machinery; but even when he em-I ployed numbers of men, and found it necessary tolabour more with the head than the hands, he usedto go often to the forge and work enthusiasticallywith the sledge hammer, just from sheer love of hisart. In time his shop became as it were a collegeof mathematical art, from which the best mechanicswere proud to graduate.

The South Kensington Museum has become en-riched at the cost of 750L, by the possession of avery fine specimen of Henri Deux ware, in the shapeof a small earthenware candlestick. Ceramic wareis looking up.

MAECH 31, 1865.1 THE ENGLISH MECHANIC.

THE WORKSHOP.

TURNING TOOLS.PART FIRST.

There is no branch of the machinist's tradewhich is more interesting or important thanthat relating to the lathe and its manage-ment. Of two men working side by side, -withthe same lathes, and on the same kind ofwork, the same feed and speed, one will domuch more work than the other. We see thisexemplified on piece-work. Here the earningsof the workman are exactly in proportion tohis skill, and though his comrades may takeevery opporlunity to discover the secret ofhis success, he still outstrips competitors.

This is owing in most cases to the tools theskilful man works with. The unreflecting•workman cannot appreciate some small matterin the construction of a tool, and suffers ac-cordingly. He will most probably be con-tented to work with a clumsy tool, like theone shown in Fig. 1, instead of the more

FIG. 1

•fficient one illustrated in Fig. 2, and he iscontinually wondering how it is that he isalways behind-hand.

FIG- 2

There is no mystery about the matter. Aathe tool works on one principle, as do all

^cutting instruments, and this principle is:«imply that of the -wedge.

If a man has a heavy stone to raise, or atough block of wood to split, he does not takea wedge which is thick and blunt, and almost4is wide at the base as it is long. He usesinstead a long, thin, and easy one, which doesthe work with facility and celerity. The caseis exactly the same when we cut iron ormetals of any kind. To sever the fibres orcrystals, we must have sharp thin-edged tools,as thin as they can be made "with economy."With these, and proper feed and speed, thework will be well done, if intelligence super-intend the operations. It is most essentialthat the tools be made sharp and kept so. Ifthey are not, the work will be poorly exe-cuted. It is also of the first importance thatthe work be truly and properly centred.'The centre is the point on which the accuracyof the whole job depends, and it will beapparent to even ths unprofessional readerthat it should be perfect.

Very many workmen are content to take acentre punch and make some sort of a cavityin the end of the rod, and " let it go at that,"as the saying is. No good workman doesthis, but shiftless and indifferent ones do,and their work always shows badly comparedwith that done in a proper manner.

Every centre should be drilled. The drillneed not be larger than the tenth part of oneinch, in ordinary work, and the object ofdrilling is to keep the point of the centre inthe lathe from bottoming. The centres in thework should be enlarged with a countersinklike the one shown in Fig. 3. But when the

FIQ. 3

shaft is too heavy to be used in this way, asquare centre is put in the place of the deadcentre of the lathe, a dog put on the shaft,and the job set revolving. The back end ofa tool is then put in the tool-post and screwedup tight, and the tool brought in contact withthe- running shaft. If the work has beendrilled properly, the sharp square corners

make acounter-sink like thehead of a screw,so that when theworking centreof the lathe is

FIG, 4 put in the spin-dle it will have a fair, solid bearing in thejob, as shown, in Fig 4.

The way a centre, made with a centre-punch alone,acts, is shown inFig. 5. Even ifthe punch isground to anexact confor-mity with the FIG. 5lathe centre, which is by no means likely, thecentre will not be true, as a rule, when thework is run over many times. For as thework revolves, the orifice in the end of iheshaft wears where it bears on the lathe-centre. When the centre comes to the bottomof the cavity, as it soon will, it stops therebecause its point can go no farther ; whilethe larger or outer diameter of the centreswear away on the lathe-centre. This causesthe work to be untrue. When a rough cut istaken off from the shaft and a finishing cut isto follow, the work runs " out," and not onlyspoils the looks of the job by leaving roughmarks in one side, but ruins the work ; for itis not round, and can never be made to fit inits place. There are many ways of makingcountersinks for enlarging centres. One com-

monly used, quite as efficient, and muchcheaper than theformer one, isshown in Fig. 6.Having thus madea brief but ne-cessary digression

FIG. 6 from the subject of

turning tools, let us resume the considerationof them.

The tool shown in Fig. 2 is a good rough-ing tool; it is called a diamond point, butthere are very many turners who do not con-sider it the best for the purpose. It wonldbe hard to say why precisely, for there issometimes a great deal of whim exhibited in

r~r '^Mi

FIGS. 7 & 8 j

the matter of tools. Men will use, in spiteof argument or reason, the tools they havebeen in the habit of employing, and preferthem to all others, even when they knowthey are not so good.

The cutter shown in figures 7 and 8 is amost excellent one ; its virtues have beenwell tried and not found wanting. It is stout,cuts well, when properly made, holds a goodedge, and will carry a heavy or a light cutwith equal facility. These are the chief re-quisites of a good roughing tool. The manage-ment of it depends on the workman-

VALUABLE PRACTICAL RECIPW.BELL METAL.—Melt together, under powdered

charcoal, 100 parts of pure copper with 20 partsof tin, and unite the two metals by frequently stir-ring the mass. Product very fine. Another methodis to take of copper 3 parts, tin 1 part, as above.Some of the finest church bells in the world havethis composition.

TINNING.—Plates or vessels of brass or copper,boiled with a solution of stannate of potassa mixedwith turnings of tin, become, in the course of a fewminutes, covered •with a firmly-attached layer ofpure tin. A similar effect is produced by boilingthe articles with tin filings and caustic alkali, orcream of tartar. In the above way, chemical vesselsmade of copper or brass may be easily and perfectlytinned.

NEW TINNING PROCESS.—The articles to betinned are first covered with dilute sulphuric acid,and when quite cleaned in warm water, are dipped in,a solution of muriatic acid, copper, and zinc, andthen plunged into a tin bath, to which a smallquantity of zinc has been added. When the tinningis finished, the articles are taken out and plungedinto boiling water. The operation is completed bvplacing them in a very warm sand bath. This 1-s.r.process softens the iron.

THE ENGLISH MECHANIC. fMiQSB 31, \Mz.

BRONZING.

Bronzing1 ia of two kinds : tho aim of the one isto cover objects of all kinds with a coating whichshall give them the appearance of bronze; the otheris to modify the surface of certain metals so as toprotect them from the influence of atmospheric£ gents.

The operation of bronzing varies according tothe nature of the body to be bronzed, and accord-ing to the result we wish to obtain.

BRONZING- WOOD.—The wood is first coveredWith a uniform coating of glue, or of drying oil, andwhen nearly dry the bronze-powder, contained in aittle bag, is dusted over it. This bronze-powder ismade of various materials, such as brass, tin, gold.ormolu pulverized, or of metallic copper obtainedin apulverulent form by precipitation from its salinesolutions by means of iron. The surface of theobjects is afterwards rubbed with a piece of moistrag. Or the bronze-powder maybe previously mixedWith the drying oil and applied with a brush.

BRONZING PAPER.—Gum is substituted for dry-ing oil in bronzing paper. When dry, the paper isSubmitted to the action of the burnisher, whichimparts great brilliancy to it.

BRONZING PLASTER.—To cover plaster casts,statuettes, &c., with a very durable green coating,•which, will protect them against atmospheric agen-cies and give them a colour resembling antiquebronzes, we employ ferro-cupreous soap, which isprepared in the following manner.

.A soap is made with linseed-oil and caustic soda;a concentrated solution of sea-salt is added, and thewhole evaporated until the soap begins to float ingrains on the surface; it is then filtered through ametal strainer, and the grains of soap thus collectedare dissolved in boiling water, and the solution»jain filtered to remove impurities.

On the other hand, dissolve in hot water fourparts of sulphate of copper and one part of sulphateof iron, then pour the liquid into the solution of soapslowly, and continue to stir the mixture until nomore precipitate is formed. This precipitate is theferro-cupreous soap named above, that is to say, amixture of brownish-red ferruginous soap, and avery beautiful green cupreous soap. These twocolours when mixed yield a prowniskgreen tint,very similar to the verd antique.

To purify this soap, collect it upon a filter andboil it for a few minutes in the solution of iron andcopper, then wash it in pure boiling water, next inCold water, then drain and dry it as much as possible.

To bronze a plaster cast, mix in a bain.marie 30ounces of refined boiled linseed oil, 16 ounces offerro-cupreous soap, and 10 ounces of white wax;When the mixture is melted, apply it with a brushupon the plaster heated in an oven to a temperatureof 180 to 200 degrees. Repeat the application whereneeded, and leave the cast in the stove for a fewminutes. The mixture thoroughly penetrates theplaster, filling its pores, without in any respect in-juring the delicacy of detail.

When small pieces are to be prepared they may beimmersed in the melted mixture, drained and placedbefore the fire until the mixture has completely sunkinto the plaster. Finish by rubbing the surface witha tuft of cotton. Plaster figures may be silvered bydrubbing them with an amalgam formed of equalparts of mercury, bismuth, and tin, and afterwardsoovering them with a coat of pale varnish. A me-tallic lead-grey colour is imparted to the figures bybrushing them o v r with fine black-lead or graphite.

THE FRENCH AMMONIA ENGINE.

They are discussing just now in Paris a proposalforpropellingomnibuses and other vehicles by meansOf ammonia. The engine which it is proposed toapply to this purpose is the invention of M. Tellier,and is a very simple and ingenious contrivance. Abrief description of it will enable the reader to judgefor himself how far it is likely to prove of practicalvalue. Ammonia, under ordinary conditions, is agaseous body; bat there are various methods byWhich it can be readily condensed into a liquid, inwhich state, unless it be restrained by sufficientpressure, a temperature below that of the freezingpoint of water is sufficient to convert it into gasagain. M. Tellier takes advantage of this propertyof that body as follows:—He places liquefied am-monia in a suitable vessel, connected by a pipe andstop-cock with a cylinder, having a pisten fitted towork in it. When the stop-cock is openeda portionof theliquefied ammonia becomes convertedinto sras,which rushes into the cylinder and raises the piston.When the gas has thus forced the piston to the topof the cylinder a little water is admitted undei- the

piston. Water aadammoDiacal gas having a mosteager affinity for each other, this water instantlyabsorbs all the gas, thereby causing a vacuum onderthe piston, and so enabling the pressure of theatmosphere to force the piston back to its originalposition. When the piston is once more at thebottom of the cylinder the stop-cock in the pipe—communicating- between the cylinder and the vesselcontaining1 the liquefied ammonia—is again turned;more gas is thus admitted beneath the piston, andall proceeds again as before. For obvious reasonsthere should be at least two cylinders—M. Tellierprefers three—to each engine. The quantity ofliauefied ammonia required per horse-power perhour is stated not to exceed three gallons, weighingabout twenty-two'pounds. The water used to absorbthe ammonia, after it has reassumed the gaseousform, and in that state has done its work under thepiston, is not thrown away, but is saved for the re-covery of the ammonia from it, which may beeffected by simple evaporation, with certain pre-cautions, in order that the recovered ammonia maybe re-condensed and so used over and over again.

It need scarcely be pointed out that this ingeniouscontrivance does not afford us any new method ofobtaining mechanical power ; it is a means, not ofgenerating force, but simply of storing it up andapplying it conveniently. What it does is exactlyanalogous to what wouid be done if a steam enginewere employed to compress air into u suitable reser-voir, and the air thus compressed were afterwardsemployed to work machinery—say, by being madeto expand against a piston in a cylinder. In ex-panding to its original volume the compressed airwould give out just as much force as had been em-ployed to compress jt, except what small quantitywouldbelost by friction, leakage, and abstraction ofheat, so that by this expedient the force exerted bythe steam engine in compressing the air would bebottled up, so to speak, in the reservoir into whichthe air was compressed, to be given out again at anydesired time subsequently, and at any desired spotto which the reservoir might be capable of beingtransported. The force exerted by the compressedair, on being released from the pressure upon it andallowed t» regain its original bulk, would not, ofcourse, be generated within the reservoir, in escapingfrom which the air was made to do work; but theforce which did whatever work fclie compressed airmight be made the means of doing would really bethat of the steam engine which compressed the air.So with M. Tellier's ammonia engine. The forcewhich it exerts is not generated within the engineitself; the engine simply gives out the force whichhad been previously employed to change the form ofthe ammonia used to work the engine from that of agas to that of a liquid. For use in this way, how-ever, ammonia possesses great advantages over air.In the state of gas ammonia occupies more thantwelve hundred times the bulk which it occupies inthe liquid state, and yet liquefied ammonia, if thevessels containing it be surrounded by some frigorificmixture, which need neither be costly nor difficult toprepare, will not exert against them a pressure ofmore than a few pounds per square inch; whereas, ifit were practicable to compress air to the sameextent, the air so compressed would exert againstthe vessels containing it a pressure of more thanthree-quarters of a ton per square inch—a pressure,of course, which no vessel of any considerable sizecould possibly be made capable of bearing. Inpractice, however, it would not be possible to com-press air to anything like the same extent as am-monia. I t would probably be difficult, working onthe great scale, to condense air much beyond thepoint at which it would press with a force of ahundred pounds on every square inch of the interiorsurface of the vessels containing it, at which degreeof condensation it would be just two hundred timesmore bulky than the quantity of liquefied ammoniacapable of doing the same amount of work, while itwould be much more than two hundred times lessportable, since the vessels used to store it in, whilehaving two hundred times the aggregate capacity ofthose used for storing the liquefied ammonia, wouldhave to be capable of bearing on every inch of theirenormously greater surface a pressure twenty timesgreater than the vessels containing the ammonianeed be capable of bearing per inch. Moreover, aforce pump worked by a steam engine would be theonly practicable means of condensing air on the greatscale; but ammonia can be condensed by a muchmore simple method. A steam engine is simply amachine for converting into mechanical force theheat developed by the combustion of the coal usedunder its boiler. The force exerted by the steamengine all comes from the coal burnt; it is, in fact,the beat given cut bj the coal in burning in another

form, iii condensing air by means of a force pump,worked by a steam engine, we employ the heatobtained from coal to convert water into vapour, andemploy this vapour to drive machinery which shallwork the piston of the force-pump, and so compressthe air. Gaseous ammonia may be condensed in th*same way; but it may also be condensed withoutthe intervention either of a steam engine or of anypiston and cylinder apparatus whatever. A comrnoalaboratory and lecture room experiment consists inplacing at one end of a bent tube some compoundcapable of giving off ammonia under the influenceof heat, applying heat at that end of the tube, andkeeping the other end of it cool—both ends of t h rtubehavingbeen carefully sealed. Gaseous ammoniais given off at the heated end of the tube, and by itsown pressure becomes converted into a liquid at th#other end. Ammonia admits of being condensed oathe great scale on precisely the same principle as inthis experiment. Altogether, therefore, M. Telliermay be regarded as having fairly found in liquefiedammonia what inventors have sought so long, andso vainly, in compressed air—a cheap and convenientmethod of storing up mechanical power, so as toadmit of reservoirs of it being transported to a dis-tance from the spot at which it was generated, andof the stored-up power being there applied to douseful work by means of light, simple, cheap, andsafe machinery. We shall be surprised if it do notprove that the ammonia engine has mucli good workto do for the world in many ways besides that o£propelling carriages.—Mechanics' Magazine.

iHE EXPERIMENTAL SHIP PALLAS.

*h ;. Pallas is a wooden covered deck corvette of2,37kr tons burden, and 600-horse power. She mea-sures 225 feet between perpendiculars, her extremebreadth is 50, the ratio between the two being as 1to 4"5. In the Achilles this ratio is as 1 to 6'5; inthe Minotaur as 1 to 6S; in the Warrior as 1 to65 ; in the Royal Sovereign, converted liner, as 1 to4; in the Enterprise as 1 to 5. Her mean draught ofwater will be 21 feet—that is, 6 less than the War-rior, and about 7 more than the Enterprise. Theseare conditions which speak well for her stability,form, and speed. She will carry 6 guns, of whichfive will be protected—viz., four in the central bat-tery, nearly 8 feet above water-line, and one at thebow. She ia wholly plated with \\ inch armour,,weighing 600 tons, and ia provided with a centralbattery or square box, with bulkhead ports, toenable her broadside guns to be fired ahead andastern. When chasing she is thereby enabled to us©'three guns, bringing them tobearin rapid successionon the enemy by merely touching the helm alternateways. She may even elect to fight " end on " withher three guns rath er than present her broadside withone gun less, which novel system of attack Mr.Beedjtheconstructor, has combined with the " ram*principle, the bow of the ship being furnished with &metal prow weighing 7 tons. Of late the public hasheard a great deal of this plan of engaging an enemy" end on;" whether it will be successful is difficultto tell in the absence of a proper test, though weshouldnot be surprised if it did not repay thetroublelavished upon it. Still, whatever may be the realmerits of the system, it is only fair to mention thatit was suggested by Mr. Reed about two years ago,and embodied in the designs for this vessel. It ispurposed ultimately to arm the Pallas with the 10"5inch 12 ton guns, which intention would seem to in-dicate a desire on the part of the Admiralty to co-incide with public opinion in this respect, and give aheavier and more powerful class of guns to the newships of Her Majesty's navy. As to the utility of the" ram," that is a very questionable matter. Immo-bility on the part of the ship that is struck, and afavourable position for delivering a blow that willnot glance the prow off are needed for success.These are conditions of extremely rare occurrence.The Meirimac sank the Cumberland while riding atanchor in the Hampton Roads by knocking in herside; but she failed to injure the Monitor. Theattempt to run the Tennessee down likewise failed,though she was fairly struck. I t is, therefore, agreat pity that, for so remote a chance, the furthestextremity of a ship should be loaded with a mass ofmetal, the weight of which cannot fail to strain thebow most seriously, and diminish by its leveragethe useful reaction of the element, while it mustoppose a prompt action of the rudder. We believethat the many tons cf metal hung on to the beakcould be more advantageously employed in increa-sing the power of the chase gun carriage at the bow.

The main duty of the Pallas will be to cruise in theopen sea, and visit distant stations. To secure thismost important object, she will not onlybefnl!;/

JWAHCH Si, 1865. THE ENGTTSH MECHANIC.

rigged, and made as independent of the auxiliaryscrew as an ordinary wooden corvette, but she wiilbe furnished with engines capable of propelling herat the rate of 13̂ - knots an hour, with th<j leastpossible consumption of fuel. Thishisrh rate is notmuch less than that for which the Warrior is sodistinguished; hence, if in this respect, the expecta-tions of the Chief Constructor be fulfilled to theirwhole extent, he will indeed deserve great praisefor achieving a result that cannot fail to exert aconsiderable amount of influence upon the forms

! and dimensions of our future men-of-war—such in-: fluence being decidedly in favour of economy in the; cost of ships, no less than in docks. As tho infro-

dnction of these powerful engines*will put anunusually severe strain on the etern, a new systemof iron bulkhead bracing has been introduced atthe after part of the ship, to enable her to bearthe action of the screw without injury. This pre-cautionary measure is a proof that a gre it dealof vibration is expected throughout; the ship; andit consequently follows, firstly, that even in thisrespect the projecting beak introduced to open thewater at the bow should not have beau burdenedwith a heavy mass of metal; and, secondly, that anarmour system possessing a superior method of con-nection with the hull—superior, we mean, to thatof the frigates afloat—will inevitably have to beresorted to.

Thua, all things considered, the Pallas is doubt-less but one more experimental ship, many of itsdistinctive features being quite novel, and as yetuntried. Yet, on the other hand, we shali do well tocriticise its merits, remembering the slight resultsthat have been attained in classes when the vesselswere three times larger, and where the conditionsof the problem presented far less difficulty to theingenuity of the naval architect. "We must bear inmind that in this bold attempt the Chief Constructorhas aimed at securing a result intimately connectedwith cue of the many necessities of the service whichthe British navy has to perform. There is muchreason to hope this excellent result has now beenobtained, or, at least, shown to be within our reach;and should this hope prove as well founded as it waswith respect to the performances of the sloop class,there can be no doubt that the approval of thecountry will have been deservedly earned by Mr.Beed no le?s than by our present Board of Admiralty.

METALLIC CEILING.—While all other depart-ments in the internal decoration of houses havekept pace with improvements in other branches ofindustry, it is a somewhat remarkable fact, and onethat has long engaged the attention of architects,that the ceilings of our rooms, with their unseemlyblisters and network of cracks, are still, generally

• speaking, just what they were many years ago. Mr.Little has invented a system for the constructionof ceilings, which consists in the application to thejoisting of very thin stamped ductile metal, in orna-mental embossed panels of such sizes and shapesas may be required. These stamped panels arefitted for every kind of decoration in colour, and ifinserted as plain surfaces, may be used as the groundfor every description of cartoon painting, combiningwith lightness and durability artistic and ornamen-tal effect at a comparatively small cost. B3sidesitsapplicability to the ceilings of rooms, and all publicbuildings, churches, &c, the system may be madeuse of with the same effect in staircases, halls, andporticos, and even on the walls of rooms. It affordsthe means, when coupled with an iron framing, ofmaking theatres fireproof, thus avoiding those sadcontingencies to which these crowded buildings areBo exposed.

SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY IN GOVERNMENTOFFICES.—A deputation, consisting of Lord Elcho,M.P., Mr. M. O'Eeilly, M.P., Colonel M'Murdo,C.B., Dr. Parr, of the Registrar General's Office;Mr. Anthony Trollope, of the Post Office; Mr. T.Burt, Chairman of the Early Closing Association;Mr. W. Willis, and Mr. Henry Ancel, of theAdmiralty, had an interview by appointment onthe 21st inst., with Lord Palmerston, at CambridgeHouse. The deputation presented to the PrimeMinister a memorial signed by nearly 1,700 civilservants, praying that the Saturday half-holiday,which has for some years been enjoyed in the officesof several of tho Government departments in themetropolis, may be extended to all. His Lordshippaid great attention to the several speakers, and,after inquiring whether the principal departmentsnow in question were the War Office, Admiralty,Customs, and Inland Revenue, replied to the depu-tation that their request was not an unreasonableone, and that it should receive tha early considera-tion of. Her Majesty's Government,

FIRE-PROOFING OF HOUSES 4KDTEXTILE FABRICS.

Last week Messrs. Silvester and Wilson intro-duced at the Philharmonic Hall, Islington, throughtheir representative, Mr. Dawson, some very in-teresting experiments demonstrative of the effect ofa solution they have discovered, which possesses theproperr.y of making wood and textile fabrics unin-flammable. Mr. Da-wson, accompanied his illustra-tions with some appropriate remarks upon theimportance of baildings generally, and theatres inparticular, being made fire-proof by the process hewas propounding, which he said could be done at anexpense less than that of ordinary painting, whilea lady's dress could be made equally uninflammablefor something loss than a farthing cost. He first ofail produced two sticks of firewood, the one of whichwas covered with the paint or solution, and theother was as taken from the bundle. These he sus-pended in chains, and placing under each a spirit-lamp, he allowed the flames to play upon the centreof toe sticks till the unprepared stick became com-pletely burnt through, while the other was removeduninjured. A couple of larger stick3 were thenenveloped in hemp, saturated with spirits of wine,covered with the solution, and submitted to theinfluence of the flame, and. the result was equallysuccessful as with the prepared wood. The lecturerthen said that beams, walls, and rafters of buildingscould be made equally fire-proof as the sticks hehad submitted to the meeting, by precisely the sameprocess, and mentioned the fact to those present ofMessrs. Turnham and Adams, the proprietors of thePhilharmonic Hall, Islington, haying adopted thisall important precaution in their establishment.Several other experiments were tried upon textilefabrics. A coupie of drawing-room lace curtainswere produced. One had been dipped, the otherwas unprepared. Tha latter of these he threw overa line, and upon applying a light, it instantaneouslyignited and blazed, somewhat to the consternationof the audience, although, they were cautioned be-forehand not to be alarmed. Upon applying thetorch, however, to the second curtain, it was fullya couple of minutes b afore any effect was produced,and then only to create a smoulder in the fabric.Some very sensational experiments wera afterwardstried upon crinoline. A lady, wearing a crinolinewhich had been prepared, was introdueed to theaudience, and the lecturer, after first illustratingthe danger of crinolines coming in contact with thefire, applied a light to the dress of the fair ddbutante,bvx its effeot was aa powerless as it proved upon thecurtain. I t was further shown that hay, earn, and,in fact, every combustible was equally susceptibleof the same antagonism to fire, without being inthe least impaired.

Several questions were asked by the audience,each of which was satisfactorily answered by thelecturer; and at the conclusion of the experimentsMr. Silvester was enthusiastically called for, andreceived a warm greeting in acknowledgment ofhis really invaluable discovery.

The solution, and all further information, canbe obtained at the offices of Messrs. Wilson andSilvester, 7, St. John-street-road, Clerkenwell.

STEAM ENGINES AND MACHINERY.—The ex-ports of steam engines and machinery from theUnited Kingdom were on a larger scale than everlast year, although the foreign demand for thisbranch of our manufactures has been greatly in-creased during the last decade. Thus the total valueof the steam engines and machinery exported in 1864was .£4,854,190, as compared with.£4,368,012 inl863,.£4,092,673 in 1862, .£4,213,670 in 1861, .£3,837,821in 1860, .£3,731,301 in 1859, ,£3,599,352 in 1858,,£3,883,669 in 1857, .£2,716,453 in 1856, and.£2,243,166 in 1855. Comparing 1864 with 1855, wehave thus an increase of £2,611,024, or considerablymore than 100 per cent. The large advance in thevalue of tho machinery and steam engines exportedlast year as compared with 1864, may, however, beattributable to some extent to the increased cost ofthe iron and steel used in their construction. Thevalue of the steam engines exported in 1855 was.£833,370; in 1856, ,£819,067; in 1857, .£1,069,249;in 1858, ,£1,097.278; in 1859, .£973,340; in 1860,,£1,238 333; in 1861,.£1,258,164; in 1862,.£1,624,876;in 1863, .£1,595,036; in 1864, .£1,626,342. Thevalue of the other machinery exported in 1855 was.£1,359,796; in 1856, .£1,897,386; in 1557,^82,814,420;in 1858, .£2,502,074; in 1859, .£2,757,961; in 1860,.£2,599,488; in 1861, .£2,955,406; inl862, .£2.467,797;in 1863, .£2,772,976: aud in 1364, £3,227348,

EARTHENWARE BY MACHINERY.—When,duringthe last session, of Parliament, Her Majesty's-,;Government proposed to introduce the Factory Actinto the Staffordshire potteries, it was contended bythe manufacturers that the demand for boy labouralready exceeded the supply, and that the enforce-ment of the half-time system would be attended with,very great loss and inconvenience. The supportersof the measure replied that the hardships endured bychildren in the district loudly demanded legislativeinterference, and that before long the lost labourwould be compensated by the introduction of ma-chinery. Already an important step has been takea ;in that direction by the erection, at one of the prin-cipal manufactories, of "steam jiggers," the inventtion of Mr. D. S. Porteous, engines*, of Paisley.The hand jigger is a revolving plate used is thaproduction of cups, saucers, plates, and dishes, andis worked by a man and two boys—sometimes three,one of whom turns the jigger while the other carriesaway the " green " ware, as fast as it is made, to thadrying stove. The steam jigger obviates altogetheethe necessity of employing a turning boy, the platQbeing kept in motion by steam, and the workman,by means of a treadle, being able to regulate tb.9speed with the greatest nicety. At the worksalluded to—those of Messrs. Edwards and Son, ofBurslem—eleven steam jiggers have been set up ina spacious workshop, 92 it. long by 22 ft. broad; andalthough the workmen, with that unreasoning pre«judice against machinery which unfortunately is sooften met with, at first raised difficulties in thaway of their introduction, they have not only with-drawn their opposition, but declare that with themthey can earn more money, with greater comfortand less annoyance (being less at the mercy of care-less and unpunctual assistants), than under the oldsystem. In the same room have also been erectedthree steam "jollies," by means of which cups areproduced with extraordinary rapidity, without thoslightest skilled labour being required. But in thissame room is also to be seen a contrivance v|hich willdo far more than even the steam jiggers to alleviatethe miseries to which the boy workers have hithertobeen subjected. It was one of the crying evilspointed out by the Royal Commissioners on theemployment of children, that thousands of boys oftender years, technically called " mould runners,"spent their lives in running with the "green" warsbetween the workroom and the drying stoves—roomsheated to 130 deg.—and that the alternations fromextreme heat to cold, added to the fact that manyof them ran with heavy loads from ten to fourteenmiles a day, broke down their constitutions. Thalittle fellows employed at Messrs. Edwards' worksare no longer the victims of such a system, for downthe centre of the steam jigger room, and along- itswhole length, run two racks of shelves, affordingsufficient space for each man to place half a day'swork; an3, although the heat employed to hardenthe clay is less by from 40 deg to 50 deg. than thatof the old stoves, the dried ware may be collectedtwice a day. The mould runner has no occasion tsgo inside and between the racks, but, places the warefrom the outside, where are fixed sliding doors, whioh.may be opened or shut with the greatest ease.Although the ware ia thus dried ia the room inwhich it is made, and within four or five feet of thejiggers, the workmen do not feel the slightest incon-venience, the temperature of the room being only 70deg.; and the occupation of a mould-runner, insteadof being a wretched drudgery, fearfully destructiveof human life, has become one of the lightest andeasiest in the whole course of the manufacture.

DEPTHS OF THE SEA.—The soundings effectedwith reference to the new Transatlantic cable haveenabled comparisons to be made of the differentdepths of the sea. Generally speaking, they arenot of any great depth in the neighbourhood ofcontinents; thus the Baltic between Germany andSwedes is only 120 feet deep, and the Adriatiobetween Venice and Trieste 130. The greatestdepth of the Channel between France and Englanddoes not exceed 300 feet, whilst to the south-westof Ireland, where the sea is open, the depth is morethan 2,000 feet. The seas to the south of Europeare much deeper than those in the interior. In thenarrowest part of the Straits of Gibraltar the depth,only 1,000 feet, while a little more to the east it is3,000. On the coast of Spain, the depth is nearly6,000 feet. At 250 miles south of the Nantucket(south of Cape Cod), no bottom was found at 7,800feet. The greatest depths of all are to be met within the Southern Ocean. To the west of the Capeof Good Hope 16,000 feet have been measured, andto the west of St. Helena 27,000 feet. Dr. Youngestimates the average depth of the Atlantic at25,000 feet, and of the Pacific at 20,000.

10 THE ENGLISH MECHANIC. [MARCH 31, ltttio.

THE PUDDLERS' STRIKE., To the Editor of the ENGLISH MECHANIC.Sir,—As the battle now raging in the iron trade

between capital and labour is a subject of gravenational concern, it may be well to direct public at-tention to the following circumstances:—The term"puddling" is applied to the process of convertingpig-iron into malleable or wrought-iron in a furnacein which the metal operated upon is heated by flamealone, and is therefore not in contact with solid fuel.By this means comparatively impure fuel—such ascoal, which is always impregnated with a sensibleproportion of sulphur as it exists in iron pyrites—may be used without injuring the quality of thewrought iron produced. The charge of pig-ironUsually treated is between 4 cwts. and 5 cwts., andthe time required for its conversion into malleableiron is about one hour and a half. Two men, or aman and a boy, are employed, and the labour is verysevere. Pig-iron, it should be stated, is the metalwhich comes directly from the ore in the blast fur-naces. I t is easily fusible, but brittle, and neitherweldable nor forgeable. I t consists essentially ofiron and carbon, though it generally contains otherforeign matters. Wrought iron, on the contrary,needs an extremely high temperature for its fusion,and is, as every one knows, both weldable and forge-able. It is iron practically free from carbon. Hencethe object "of puddling is the removal of the carbonfrom pig-iron; and this is effected by oxidation, or,in plain language, by burning out the carbon byexposing the molten metal to the action of atmo-spheric air, and at the same time adding mattercapable of yielding oxygen. Steel may be made byvarying the process of puddling, so as to leave acertain proportion of carbon, steel being merely iron•which contains more carbon than wrought ironand less than pig-iron. There is no precise line ofdemarcation between wrought-iron, steel, and pig-iron ; for as the proportion of carbon increases,•wrought-iron passes insensibly into steel, and steelinto pig-iron.

Now, sir, for the application. Steel of one kindor other is assuredly destined largely to replacewrought-iron, to which it is greatly superior in severalrespects. Its tensile strength—that is, its power ofresisting rupture by a pulling force, is far greaterthan that of even the best wrought iron. I t maybe readily melted, and after fusion it has not thesame tendency to laminate which wrought-iron has,and which if manufactured by puddling it ever musthave. Hence the superiority of steel to wrought-iron for rails. I t has been proved by exact com-parative trials that steel rails have lasted 16 timesas long as wrought-iron rails. Steel, when not con-taining too much carbon, is easily weldable andforgeable; and what is very important, there is goodreason to believe that steel of excellent quality fornumerous purposes will one day be manufacturednot only as cheap, but cheaper than wrought-ironnow is by the operation of puddling. By the Bes-semer process, which is assuredly affecting a greatrevolution in the iron trade throughout the wholeworld, the pig-iron may be tapped directly from theblastfurnace into what are tcrmoA " converters,"or large elliptical vessels, and be changed into steelin about half an hour by the simple expedient ofblowing air through the molten metal. Vessels arebeing constructed to convert ten tons of pig-iron ata time into steel. Compare, sir, this enormous chargeof pig-iron with the 4 cwt. charge of the puddlingfurnace. In the Bessemer process only an insig-nificant amount of manual labour is required, as theair is injected by steam power, and in a few minutesas much may be done as would require the costlylabour of numerous puddlers during as many days.This remarkable process, perhaps the moat impor-tant as yet introduced into the manufacture of iron,is in vigorous operation in England, in Europe, andin America, and from day to day it is extending. Iam informed on good authority that Bessemer steelin ingot, with any) required percentage of carbon,may be imported from Sweden into England at acost of about .£12 or .£13 per ton. The effects ofsuch strikes and locks-out as now exist will certainlycause a still more rapid development of the Besse-mer process.

But, sir, there is another point which deservesnotice. Many and fruitless have been the attemptsto conduct the manipulation of puddling by machi-nery ; you will, however, be glad to learn that atlength the problem has been solved. On the Con-tinent it is stated on trustworthy authority thatmechanical puddling has been satisfactorily prac-

tised. Furthermore, instead of applying mechanismto imitate and supersede the manipulation of thehuman puddler, numerous experiments have beenundertaken with a view of making the furnace itselfperform this labour, by causing its bed to revolve.After many trials, difficulties, and failures, the secondsolution of the problem, has been achieved, and tothe able and energetic manager of the DowlaisIronworks, Mr. William Menelaus, is due the credit.

Strikesand lock-outs are generally to be regretted;but evils of this kind are rarely unmixed, and oftenhave been found productive of ultimate good. Inthe present instance the result will inevitably beto render the world far less dependent than hereto-fore for its iron upon the labour of the puddler,and the present generation of puddlers will suffer.Puddling is an expensive kind of skilled labour,and the sooner it is replaced by machinery thebetter. The world must have iron and steel, andthe less it is obliged to trust to skilled labour forthe supply of these metals the less will be the like-lihood of fluctuation in prices and such disastrousevents as those to which I have referred. The lossof capital consequent on such events is enormousand the misery inflicted upon thousands of familiesincalculable. A general suspension of puddlingthroughout the kingdom will necessarily entail thethrowing out of employment of a very large numberof millmen and colliers. This is a sad thing; but itis to be feared that no friendly interference wouldbe of any avail. As has been stated, combinationsamong menhaveled to combinations amongmasters.Capital and labour must be left to fight out thebattle! Both will lose, but I believe the world willeventually be the gainer.—I am, sir, your obedientservant, Y.

To the Editor of the ENGLISH MECHANIC.Bilston-street, Wolverhampton.

Sir,—It was with much pleasure that I read yourannouncement advertisement in my weekly paper.I enclose twelve postage stamps, and beg you willsend me the publication to their value, when I daresay I shall be able to get it from the man I buy mynewspaper of.

I have long wished that some enterprising personwould start such a publication, which has been longwanted by us mechanics, who cannot afford to pur-chase works that cost sixpence and a shilling, evenif we understood their contents when we had partedwith our money.

What we want is a paper that will tell us in asort of easy straightforward manner all that is goingon in the mechauical world, and if your paper is any-thing near the mark I know hundreds of fellow-workmen who will subscribe to it.

Wishing you success—I am, your humble servant,WALTER ELLIOT, Engine Turner's Foreman.

The limited space of a single number of the ENG-LISH MECHANIC does not admit of all the subjects wepropose to treat finding a place in it—it will takeseveral numbers to fully developethe plan and scopeof the work. Meanwhile we shall endeavour tomake each number interesting and practically use-ful to a large circle of readers, who are invited tosend us communications and suggestions calculatedto increase the usefulness of theENGLisHMECHANic.

MEDAL FOR THE SOUTH LONDON INDUSTRIALEXHIBITION.—In reply to the offer of <£5 for thebest design for a prize medal proposed to be awardedto meritorious productions at the close of theexhibition, twenty-one designs were sent in bytwenty-one competitors. The judges selected fourin the following order:—1. The design marked" Nisi Dominum frustra." 2. The design marked"Fleur-de-lys." 3. The design marked "TheTalent3." And 4, the design marked " Conatus."The committee then proceeded to break the seals ofthe envelopes containing the names of the artists,and it was found that the successful competitor wasMr. R. Wallace Martin, sculptor's carver, of No. 5,John's-terrace, Olney-street, Walworth. To him,therefore, the prize of ,£5 was awarded. The designfor which the prize has been given is modelled inbrown cement. On the reverse is a figure of Fameholding a laurel wreath in each hand; beneathwhich on either side are figures of men—on theright an architect seated upon a Corinthian capital,surrounded by architectural specimens, and engagedin preparing a design; on the left, the figure of amechanic leaning against a horizontal steam-engine,and intently studying an open book. On theobverse are inscribed the names of some fifteen ortwenty men who by labour have risen to eminence.

IMPROVED HAT AND CLOTHES BAR.

There seems to be a general demand for an articleof this kind. The illustrations published herewith,represent a new style, which can be folded up in asmall compass, or extended so as to be used for anumber of garments. I!t is light, convenient, andornamental, and but little more expensive thanordinary brackets and screws, while it has a goodfeature in being easily taken down when in the way,and of not marring the walla or doors. The bar ismade of the best seasoned black walnut; the hooksare finely finished and japanned or bronzed, and,when ordered, made of brass. Fig. 1 shows the bax

as hung on the wall. Fig. 2 shows the hooks as madeto slide over the bar; also the rack as it may beclosed up. Any number of hooks desired can beplaced on the bar by simply removing the end piece.

F I G . 3.Fig. 3 represents the folding rack. The hooks slideon the bar as in Fig. 1. They are also made toturn in a socket, and can be laid flat with the sur-face of the bar; and, when not in use, the rack canbe folded up in a small compass. For travellers,boarders, as well as for use in families, offices, andhotels generally, this will be found a useful article.

That workmen and their families appreciate art-exhibitions is evidenced by the fact that the RoyalScottish Academy at Edinburgh, which is nowthrown open to the public in the evening at areduced rate, has been lately crowded by the opera-tive classes. I t is said that the evening visitorgare extremely orderly, and pay far more attentionto the works of art than do the more faakkaiabl*audiences during the day.

The Mormons have commenced cutting a canalof a magnitude far exceeding anything of the kindever undertaken in the territory before, for the two-fold purpose of irrigation and navigation. Startingnear the boundaries of Utah and Salt-Lake counties,it will wind its way along the eastern side of thflivalley, watering the land on its course, iucluding a.very considerable tract yet unbroken, and reaching:a terminus in the city, a short distance south andwest of where the artesian well is being sunk itseatire length being over thirty-two miles.

MARCH 31, 1865.1 THE ENGLISH MECHANIC. U

CONTRACTS OPEN FOR BUILDING ANDENGINEERING WORK.

DARLINGTON.—Erection of office in Northgate,Darlingt-n. Specifications at the office of JohnRoss, Feetham, Darlington, till the 22nd of Ar>ril.

KING'S LYNN.—Construction of Estuary Bank,also Pile Jetties. Specification and particulars atthe Engineer's office, King-street, Lynn. Tendersopen till the 15th of April.

WANDSWORTH.—Construction of nine hundredfeet of three feet three inches by two feet, half-brickSewer, &c. Information at the office of Mr. Barber,3, Balham-place, Balham. Tenders open till the4th of April.

MAIDSTONE.—For alterations at the CountyPrison, Maidstone. Specifications to be viewed atthe office of the surveyor, Maid stone. Tenders tobe delivered on Tuesday, the 11th of April. _

DARTFORD.—Erection of a Police-station atDartford. Specifications at the office of the countysurveyor, Maidstone. Tenders to be sent in on the11th of April.

CHELTENHAM.—Restoration and enlargement ofSt. P«-ter's church Leekhampton. Specifications atMr. Peurman's. Pine-cottage, till the 22ud of April.

BOARD OP WORKS, LONDON.—S-il; on the 7th ofApril for tenders for various drainage works.Particulars to be had of the Engineer at the officeof the works.

YORK.—Restoration of the church of All Saints,Skip.*en. Application to James Fowler, architect.

EPPING.—Erection of Gas Works at Epping-,county of Essex. Particulars with Mr. JabezChurch, C E., Chelmsford. Tender open till the8th of Npril.

CAMBERWELL.—Alteration to Lunatic Asylum,Particulirs with Messrs. Tress and Chambers,architects, Qaeen-street, City. Tender open till the5th of April.

POPLAR.—Chapel and School-room for the UnitedMethodist Free Church at Poplar. Particularswith Mr. M. D. Rogers, 218, East India-road.

PONTYPOOL.—For the erection of a no w church atPontypool. Specifications at the Town-hall library.Pontypool. Tender open till the 5th of April.

TENDESS FOR PROPOSED WORKS.

FOR WAREHOUSE.—No. 106, Lower Thames-Btreet, City, for Messrs. Bower and Son. Messrs.John Young and Son, architects. Quantities fur-nished by Mr. Shoppee :—Myers and Son 3188L;Ashby and Sons, 2800J.; Ashby and Hinier, 95971.;Hart," 25701.; King and Sons, 2483 J.; Brass, 2460Z.;Jacobs and Son, 2384Z.; Henshaw, 23441.; Anley,2290Z,

CHURCH ST. MATTHEWS. — Addiscombe-road,Croydon. Mr. A. W. Blomfield, M.A., architect.Quantities supplied by J. A. Bunker:—Poster,55,901.; Browne and Robinson, 4,742J ; Simpson,5,133Z.; Mvera and Son, 4,543 J.; Caruthers, 4,375Z.;"Waller. 4,4,501.; Turner and Sona, 4,1231.; DoveBrothers. 4,025Z.; Anscombe, 4,8101.

HOUSE in Sidney-road, Erifield.—Mr. F. G. Wid-dows, architect:—Field and Sons, 692Z.; Barker,649Z.; Patman, 6491.; Fairhead, 630J.; Gushing,5991.

ALTERATIONS AND REPAIRS to premises, Baker-street, Enfield. Mr. F. G. Widdows, architect:—Mint, 3921.; Fairhead, 388Z.; Patman, 351I.

WAREHOUSE for Messrs. G. and W. T. Norman,at the back of Wilberforce House, High-street,Hull, Mr. William Botterill, architect. Quantitiesnot supplied :—(For the entire works.) Barritt,3.317L 15s.; Clarkson, 3,2771.; Mu«errave, 3,200Z.;W. and J. Hall (accepted), 31501. (For all exceptcast-iron columns.) Jackson, 2,820L ; Mnrrel, 2740L(For cast-iron columns only.) Gaskel, 565Z.; Kingand Pewb/520Z.; Oldham and Booth, 5151.; Boyd,495J.; Young and Pool, 453L; Close, Ayre, andNicholson. 427Z. 13s. 6d.

HTDE-PARK-GATE.—For painting and decoratinghouse, No. 9, Hyde-park-gate, for S. Laing, Esq.James Acomb, surveyor:—Payne, Kensington,270L; Simpson, Strand, 2501.; Ride-, 8231.; God-bolt, Chelsea, 2161.; Hnnters, Moorgate-street,212.J. 14s.; Scrivener and White (accepted), 205S.

SCHOOLS. ST. PETER'S, Maidstone.—Mr. JosephClarke, F.S.A. architect:—Thos. Lane, 1,4671.;Jas. Clements, 1,4331.; Wm. Holloway, l,400L ;J. G. Naylor and Son, 1,399J.; J. S. Anscombe,1,378?.; H. Bridge, 1,3241.; Sutton and Vaughan,1,3181.; G. Pell, 1,116L 10s.

ROADS AND SEWERS, Plaistow, Essex. Mr. JohnM.Dean, surveyor, the Grove, Stratford:—Cordery,1,2751.; Birt, 1,1031.; Kent, 8401.: Pizzey, 8201,;Harris (accepted), Idihj Horn, 722J.

ADDITIONS TO SOUTH HARTING VICARAGE,Sussex. Me. Joseph Clarke, F.S.A., architect :—Ii.V. Ellis, 750Z.; Dally and Watson, 750Z.; JohnMaxwell, 5301.; Aldridge and Aburrow, 5151.

WILLESBOROUGH CHURCH, Kent, Now Spire.Mr. Joseph Clarke, F.S.A.., architect:—Cox, 5661.;Tucker, 4951.

PATENT LIST.

(From Commissioners of Pate~,its Journal.)GRANTS OF PROVISIONAL PROTECTION.

Bed tables, portable, 525, C. J. Eowe.Bituminous substances, apparatus in distilling,

571, J. Young.Blast fnrnaces, preparation of iron ores for use in,

534, P. Claudet.Breach-loading guns, cartridges for, 518, C. W.

Lancaster.Bridges, &c, beams and supports applicable to the

building of, 578, W. E. Kochs.Counters, shop and others, 567, S. Whiting.Defence, key and weapon of, 552, R. A. Brooman.Electro magnets, 22, W. Clark.Engines, hydraulic pumps in connection with, 521,

W. Cram.Explosive compounds, 515, A. Meyer and M. Meyer.Fancy articles, means for holding, attaching, 505,

W. Westbury and T. Wathen.Fire arms, breech loading, 5C6, W. H. Aubin.Fire arms, cap carriers for, 519, H. E. Clifton, S.

Myers, and A. Hofftiung.Fluid valve, 547. C. Chin^.Furnaces, hot blast, 2.969, M. A. F. Mennons.Heat or cold, composition for preventing the radia-

tion of, 2,748, A.Estourheanx and L. Beaucbamp3.Heat, apparatus for generating, 516, J. Jacob and

R. Pilzinger.Horses, shoes for, 3 248, H. A. Bonneville.Hydraulic presses, 417, G. Whitton.Locks and bolts. 570. S. Whitfield.Machinery, reaping, 576, N. Henwood.Mirrors, manufacture of, 554, G. Haseltine.Musical instruments, 579, A. T. Godfrey.Organs and harmoniums, 541, R. Smith.Paper, apparatus for cutting, 557, M. Mason.Ploughing, steam engines applicable to, 522, J .

Howard.Pottery, earthenware, &c, manufacture of, 453,

W. E. Gedge,Railway train, signalling between passengers and

guard or driver, 504. G. Sinclair.Railway carriages, buffers for, 513, W. Rowe.Railway chairs, &c, 544, H. H. Henson.Railway wheels, presses for blocking tires of, 573,

W. Holiday.Railway spikes, 'machine for pointing, 575, M.

Bayliss.Railways, permanent way and rolling stock of,

520, J. K. Donald.Railways, signalling on, 539, W. Calvert.Safes, fire and thief proof, 543, W. H. Tucker.Safes, doors of, 559, J. M. Hart.Safes, fastenings for, 507, S. Whitfield.Safes, manufacture of, 508, W. S. Map pin.Safes, protection of property contained in, 514, H.

K. Taylor.Scissors, &c, manufacture of, 373, C. Lingard.Screws, dies for cutting, 565, G. Weighmann.Spinning mules and throstles, 323, E. Williams

and T. Williams.Spring knives, bolsters for, 560, A Davy.Stamping machine, 2.769, L. C. MeauHe.Steam generating, &c, 2,811, W. C. Thurgar and

R. A. Ward.Weaving, looms for, 503, A. Barker.Weights, apparatus for raising, 526, J. Hundy;Wood, machinery for sawing, 523, S. W. Worssam.

INVENTION WITH COMPLETE SPECIFICATIONFILED.

Marine steam engine, 643, J. Dean.

THE METAL MARKET.RAILS.—There is a larye inquiry, and the Market is well

supported. The lock-out in Staffordshire and the North ofEngland has stimulated the Welsh trade, and of coursehigher rates are demanded.

COPPER.—A fair business done.TIN.—Very dull. Banca s£Q, and Fine Straits aS"S7 per

ton.TIN PLATES.—More inquiry. Coke 21s. 6d., and charcoal

27s. per box.LEAD.—A good business doing. English £20 per ton;

and soft Spanish .£'10. per ton.SPELTEK.—Very dull, at £19 10s. per ton.

The Master of the Rolls refused, last Monday,to make a winding-up order in the case of theinsolvent Lancashire Brick and Tile Company.

THE DISPUTE IN THE IRON TRADE.

"Ryland's Circular" states that the dispute in theiron trade is " approximating towards settlementby mutual concession." We trust that this viewof the situation is correct, and that the proposal tosubmit the whole question to Lord Stanley and LordElcho will lead to a reconciliation between the work*men and their masters. But whatever may be theprospect of an adjustment of the dispute in Stafford*shire, there would seem to be some ground for look-in;; forward to the early termination of the lock-oirfcin the north. It appears that at the York meetingifcwas intimated by the delagatea that they wouldcease to have any connection with either the work-men of North Staffordshire or the union of BrierleyHill, if the northern ironmasters would en their partagree to separate from the masters of Staffordshire.This proposal meets with, the approval of Mr.Palmer, the chairman of the Northern Ironmasters'Committee, who expresses his belief that if it befairly and honourably brought before the com-mittee of masters by delegates representing1 theVinaniinous opinions of the men, a speedy settle-ment of the present difficulty may be arranged."

MACHINE MOULDING IN LEAD WORKS.—Messrs.Bead and Dent, of Newcastle-street, Strand, havelately introduced a very important improvementinto the plumbers' art. Hitherto syphon traps havebeen made by hand, as it was impossible to cast themon loam cores with profit, and apparently no meansexisted of extracting any other core because of thepeculiar form of the pipe. Accordingly, the traps ofthis kind were always made by beating up two halfpipes from sheet lead and soldering the edgestogether with soft solder; a very good workman andhis labourer could produce, on an average, four ofthese traps per day. The system is open to many ob-jections, of which we may name one; the galvanioaction between the lead and the solder leads to therapid destruction of the metal. Under the newsystem the cores are formed of gun metal or of castiron, according to an invention patented by Mr.Lowe, an American, some four years since. With-out drawings, it would be impossible to giveany ideaof the complete machine, for it is nothing else. Thetraps, whatever their shape, so long as the pipe iscircular or nearly so in cross section, are cast entireand of any thickness required, with the most perfectaccuracy. Four men can turn out eighteen 3-inchtraps per hour, so that the price of production is con-siderably redaced. The machine is capable of effect-ing a complete revolution in this branch of the trade,as the work produced is immeasurably superior toanything turned out by hand. The value of themachine is only equalled by its extreme beauty. Weknow of nothing in the iron or brass trades even dis-tantly approaching it in its simplicity and fitness totherequiredend,and some of thechairniouldingma-chines recently introduced are sufficiently elegant.

T H E WORKING MEN'S COLLEGE.—At this instilintion, in Great Ormond-street—principal, the Rev.F. D. Maurice, M.A.,—the spring term has com-menced. The mathematical classes are under thedirection of Mr. Litchfield, Mr. Vernon Lushington,Mr. Tansley, and Mr. Cohen ; language under Mr.F. J. Furnival, Mr. Godfrey Lushington, Mr.Oswald, Mr. E. S. Ford, Mr/Sonnenschein, Mr.Paterson, Mr. Mozley, and Mr. Albert Dicey;natural scionce under Mr. Grugen and Mr. Ralph,Tare; vocal music under Mr. Litchfield; and draw-ing voider Mr. W. Cave Thomas, Mr. Lowes Dickin-son, and Mr. Ruskin. During the terms lecturegwill be delivered by Mr. W. Travers, F.R.C.S.,Mr. N. S. Maskelyne, M.A., and the principal.

OEKMAN'S TRAIN".—LONDON",CHATHAM, and DOVER RAILWAY.—A TRAIN,

for the use of ARTISANS, Mechanics and Daily Labourers(both male and female), RUNS at advertised times, once aday in each direction, between Victoria and Ludgate-hill,calling at intermediate stations. Tickets for this train willbe obtainable upon payment of One Shilling each, at [hebooking-offices, at either Ludgate-hill, Blackfriars-bridge,or Victoria. They will he available for any six days, fromMonday to Saturday inclusive, and fcr one journey only ineach direction on each day while in force.

J. S. FORBES, General Manager.

A Good Family Medicine Chest, with a prudent use, hassaved many a life, and yet we think the idea might be im-proved upon, nnd reduced to a more simple form. Takesunn good compound, such as Cock'e's Amibilious Pills,and we find that the desired end may be obtained withoutscales and weights, or little mysterious compartments, andenchanted bottles with crystal stoppers. Others might beused, but Cockle's Pills, as tested by many thousands ofpersons, and found ft answer their purposes so well, noaybe set d.v.-r. :.z tlie best.—Observer,

iR THE ENG.LISH MECHANIC [MATICH 31, 18 to.

WEALE'S SERIES.

Catalogue on application*DICTIONARY OF TERMS used by Architects,

Builders, Engineers, Surveyors, &c. 4s. In clothboards, 5s. ; half morocco, 6a.

A HANDY BOOK ON THE LAW OFFRIENDLY, INDUSTRIAL AND PROVIDENTBUILDING AND LOAN SOCIETIES. By Na-thaniel White. Is.

PNEUMATICS, by Charles Tomlinson. Is.PERSPECTIVE, by George Pyne. 2s.PAINTING, by G. Field. 2s.ARCHITECTURE, Orders, by W. H. Leeds. Is.ARCHITECTURE, Styles, by T. Bury. Is. 6d.ARCHITECTURE, Principles of Design, by E.

L. Garbett. 2a.BUILDING, the Art of, by E. Dobson. Is.BRICKS AND TILES, by E. Dobson. 2s.MASONRY AND STONE-CUTTING, by E.

D R A I N I W A N D SEWAGE OF TOWNS ANDBUILDINGS, by G. D. Dempsey. Is. fid.

BLASTING AND QUARRYING OF STONE,AND BLOWING TIP OP BRIDGES, by Lt.-Gen.Sir J. Buvgoyne. Is. 6d.

COTTAGE BUILDING, by C. B. Allen. Is.FOUNDATIONS AND CONCRETE WORKS, by

E. Dvib«on. is.LIMES. CEMENTS, &c, by G. R. Burnell. Is.WARMING AND VENTILATION, by C. Torn-

CONSTRUCTION OF DOOR LOCKS, by C.Tornlioson. 1?. 6d.

ARCHES, PIERS, AND BUTTRESSES, by W.Bland. 1*. 6d.

ACOUSTICS OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS, by T.R. Smith, is. 6d.

CARPENTRY and JOINERY, founded on Robi-son and Trcdgoid. Is. 6d. Plates. 4tn. 4s. 6d.

ROOFS FOR PUBLIC AND P R I V A T E B U I L D -ING^, founded on Robison, Price, and Tredgold.la. Od. Plates. 4to. 4s. 6d.

ARCHITECTURAL MODELLING, by T. A.Richardson. Is.Cd.

GRECIAN ARCHITECTURE, by the Earl ofAberdeen. Is.

ERECTION OF DWELLING-HOUSES, &c, byS. H. Brocks. 27 Plates. 2s. 6d.

CRANES AND MACHINERY FOR RAISINGHEAVY BODIES, by J. Glynn. Is.

STEAM ENGINE, by Dr. Lardner. Is.TUBULAR AND IRON GIRDER BRIDGES, by

G. D. Deransey. Is. 6d..LIGHTHOUSES, by Allan Stevenson. 3s.RAILWAYS, by Sir M. Stephenson. Is. 6d.CLOCK AND WATCH MAKING, and Bells,

by E. B. Denison. 3s. 6d.STEAM AND LOCOMOTION,by J.Sewell. 2s.LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, by G. D. Dempsey.

Is. 6>i. Plates. 4to. 43. Cd.MECHANISM AND CONSTRUCTION OF

MACHINES, by T. Baker : and TOOLS AND MA-CHINES, by J. Nasmyth. 2s. 6d.

MACHINERY, by C. D. ABEL. Is. 6d.PLATES. 4to. 7s. 6d.

STEAM ENGINE, Theory of, by T. Baker, la.CIVIL ENGINEERING, by H. Law and G.

R. Burnell 4s. 6d.DRAINING DISTRICTS AND LANDS, by G.

D. Deropsey. Is.WELL-SINKING, BORING, AND PUMP

WORK, by J. G. Swindell and G. K. Burnell. Is.ROAD MAKING AND MAINTENANCE OF

MACADAMISED ROADS, by Gen. Sir J. Burgoyne.

LAND AND ENGINEERING SURVEYING,by T. Baker. 2s.

ECONOMY OF FUEL, by T. S. Prideaux. Is.EMBANKING LANDS FROM THE SEA, by

J. Wiggins. 2s.WATER POWER, by J. Glynn, 2s.SUBTERRANEOUS SURVEYING, AND

RANGING THE LINE without the Magnet. By T.Fen wick, with Additions bv T. Baker. 2s. 6d.

HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING, by G. R. Bur-nell. 3s.

MECHANICS, by Charles Tomlinson. Is.MATHEMATICAL INSTRUMENTS, by J. F.

GEOMETRY, DESCRIPTIVE, with a Theory ofShadows and Perspective, and a Descri ption of thePrinciples and Practice of Isometrical Projection, byJ. F. Heather. 2s.

MENSURATION, by T. Baker. Is.

MALLEABLE IRON CASTINGS.JOHN HARPER & Co., ALBION WORKS, WILLENHALL,

Are prepared to execute orders for Malleable Iron. Castings toPattern, at MODERATE PRICES <**

IR9NF0UNDERS AND MANUFACTURERS OF LOCKS, LATCHES, A WDOOR BOLTS.

"ORITISH AND FOREIGN PATENTS AND THE REGISTRATION OF DESIGNS.Mr. H. H. MURDOCH having succeeded to the business of his late Father, which has been established nearly

Thirty Years, offers his professional services to inventots. A circular, containing full information respecting thevarious modes of securne prote tion for inventions at home and abroad, may be had, Gratis, by applying (personallyor by letter), at his OFFICE FOR PATENTS, 7, STAPLE INN, LONDON.

Just Published, Price 3s. 6d., in Cloth Case,

A CHART OF 187 OUTLINE FIGURES OF MECHANICAL MOVEMENTS,With Descriptions of Each.

WILLIAM WFSLHY, Paternoster Row.

Just Published, Price One Shilling,TTfRITING WITHOUT A MASTER.—A practical Treatise on the Art of Writing,

V T by the aid of which persons may attain a Beautiful, Free, and Graceful style of Handwriting, Without th«aid of a Master, in an incredibly short space of time ; with Lithographic Plates. By a Teacher of the New Method*

WILLIAM WESLKY, Patarnos er Row.

Now ready, handsomely punted in two colours, mounted, varnished, and gilt mouldings, 4s. 6d.,orin cloth easels. 6d.

A MEMORY SHEET OF THE GREAT EVENTS OF BRITISH HISTORY, fromthe Roman Conquest to the Reign of Q iepn Victoria. Edited by EDWARD FARR. Size, 34 inches by 24.

WILLIAM WPRLKT. Paterno^ter-row.

Just Published, Elephant Folio, cloth, price £2 2s.

PRACTICAL ILLUSTRATIONS OF LAND AND MARINE ENGINES, shewingin detail the Modern Improvements in High and Low Pressure, Ordinary and Surface Condensation, together

•with Cornish, Land and Superheating Marine Boilers. By N. P. BURGH, Engineer.Also bv the same Author, Royal 32mo., Roan, price 4s. 6d.,

PRACTICAL RULES for DESIGNING, CONSTRUCTING, & ERECTING LAND AND MARINE ENGINESAND BOILERS.

LONDON : E. <SE F. N. SPON, 16, Bucklersbury.

Just Published, crown Svo, bds., Is, 6d.,

f HE GASWOEKS OF LONDON, by ZERAH COLBURN, C.E., M. Inet. C.E., &e. &c.I Contents : Sketch, of the Gasworks of London, Process of Manufacture, Quantity Produced, and Cost,

Profits, &c. &c.LONDON : E. and F. 5T. SPON. 16, Bneldersbury.

O EORGE CUTLER, Junr., MANUFACTURING ENGINEER, LONDON GA.S-V X HOLDER AND BOILER WORKS, 8, WHARF, WENLOCK ROAD, CITY ROAD, N., LONDON".

Contractor for Tanks, Gtsholders, Roofs, Purifiers, and all descriptions of Gas Apparatus executed ou the mostreasonable terms. Steam and Range Boilers of the best material ami workmanship on the shortest notice.

MAKER AND PATENTEE OF THE G4.S HBATED STEAM BOILER.Slide and Byepass Valves for Gas or AVater Works, Bolts, Rivets, Retort Screws and Doors kept in Stock. GaB

Works supplied and erected complete with main and service laying.

X>ATENTS.—Mr. VAUGHAN, Member of the Society of Arts, British, Foreign, and"pserintion of business connectedide to Inventors " free by post.

* TColonial Patent Agent, 54, Chancery-lane, W.C., transacts ev-ery description of business connected with LettersPatent for Inventions. Provisional protection, 6 to 8 guineas. A "GUM"

COPY YOUR LETTERS.—HENDRY'SGUINEA COPYING PRESS, With Screw, the

cheapest and best ever offered, to be had from W. T.HENDRY & CO., Engineers, 73, Queen Street, Cheapside.

London: VIRTUS BEOTIIKF-S & Co., l, Amen Corner.

OCIENCE and ART DEPARTMENT ofVJ thf> COMMITTEE of COUNCIL on EDUCATION.South Kensington.SCIENCE LOCAL EXAMINATIONS IN MAY, 1SC5.The Examination of Science Schools and Classes by the

Science and Art Department will take place on the follow-ing days, between the hours of 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. eachevening, except in Subjects I., II., and III., when theExaminations will be from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.SUBJECT 1.—Practical, Plane, and Dtsscrip-? 8'h May

tive Geometry J 9th ,,„ 2.—Mechanical <& Machine Drawing 10th „„ 3.—Building Construction and Naval

Architecture . . . . 11th ,,4.—Elementary Mathematics 12th j „5.—Higher Mathematics 13th „6.—Theoretical Mechanics 15th „7.—Applied Mechanics 16th ,,8.—Acoustics, Light, and Heat . . . . 5th ,,9.—Magnetism and Electricity . . . . 6th „

10.—Inorganic Cliemistry 1st „11.—Organic Chemistry 2nd „12.—Geology 17th „13.—Mineralogy 18th „14.—Animal Physiology 3rd ,,15.—Zoology 4th „16.—Vegetable Physiology and Econo-

mic Botany 19th „„ 17.—Systematic Botany 20th „„ 38.—Mining 22nd „„ 19.—Metallurgy 23rd „„ 20.—Navigation 24th „

21.—Nautical Astronomy 25th „„ 22.—Steam 26th „„ 23.—Physical Geography 27th „

Applications for the examination of a School or Class bythe Science and Art Department must be made nob laterthan the 10th of April. The form to be filled in (Science FormNo. 119) will be furnished on application to the Secretary,Science »nd Art Department, South Kensington, London, W.

Candidates in London or the neighbourhood, who maynot reside near any place where a Local Examination Com-mittee has been formed, may be examined at the SouthKensington Museum by sending in their names, and statingthe subjects in which they wish to be examined, before the15th o 1 April.

By Order of the Committee of Council on Education.

ROSCOE'S SELF-ACTING LUBRICA-1ORS POR STEAM ENGINES.

TESTIMONIALS AND PKIOES POST FBEE.A p p l y t o liiDWlJU H . W E W J S r ,

31. CHKAPSIDB, and LEICESTER.The ahove Lubricators grease every particle of steam

previous to its passing through tha valves into fchcylinders.

E BOUJSDON'S PATENT PRESSUREand VACUUM GAUGES.

Wholesale Depot for thePressure and Vacuum Ganges,invented and 'Manufactured hvE. BOURDON', Paris, W. T.HENDRY and Co., 73, Queen-street, Cheapside, E.C. PriceLists on application. The Trade supplied. All sizes mStock.

N.B.—No Gauges are genuine unless bearing the TradeMark.

it.BOURDON

INVENTIONS PROTECTED BYPATENT or REGISTRATION, at fixed and most

moderate charges. The Inventors' Manual free by post,.or gratis on application.—Apply to Mr. BREWER (lat©Barlow an<! Co ), 89, Chaneery-lano, London, W.C. Es-tablished 21 years.

t u S T LONDON WORKINGflJ, CLASSES EXHIBITION OF ARTS AND IN-

DUSTRY, 1865. Beaumont Institution, Mile End-road.The above EXHIBITION" will OPEN 29thMAY. Ap-

plications for Space to be made at the Office or at , ue-Iastitution. F. E. JONES, Ohairm. ..

Office, 83, Fleet-street, E.C.

OOANE MUSEUM.—By ORDER of t: eO TRUSTEPJS.—The Museum, 13, Linc-)ln's-iun-fie ,;,.,will be OPKN this Season on the WEDNESDAY only ineacb week, in the months of July and August ; and on the1

Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, in April, May, andJuue.—Cards of admissiou to be obtained of the Curator, atthe Museum, or from the Trustees.

LONDON : Printed by MADDICK and POTTAGE, 1, CraneCourt, Fleet-Btreet; and Published for the Proprietor atthe Office of the Newsagents' Publishing Company, 147,Fleet-street, where all communications are requested tobe pent.