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Proceedings of Institutions.

BASINGSTOKE.-On Thursday and Friday evenings the members of the Mechanics' Institute were gratified by the delivery of two Lectures, at the Town Hall, by Mrs. Balfour. The subjects selected were "The Uses of Poetry, and the Mission of the Poet," and on "The Memorable Youthful Poets of the Present Century." The Honorary Secretary announced that he had received a donation of 51. to the funds of the Institution, from G. Sclater, Esq.

After

To Correspondents.

The third and concluding part of Mr. Loseby's Paper "On
Chronometers," will appear next week.

MON.

TUES.

CORFE CASTLE.-The Right Honourable George Bankes, M. P., President of the Mutual Improvement Society, recently delivered his long-promised Lecture to the members and friends of this Institution. The subject was "The Influence of Oratory on the minds and actions of men, as it appears in various periods of history." alluding to the most eloquent Grecian and Roman orators, the right hon. lecturer spoke of Wolsey, Bacon, Pope, WED. Camden, Bolingbroke, Walpole, Pitt, and Fox, concluding with Wilberforce, and illustrating his remarks by numerous quotations. At the conclusion of the Lecture, the Rev. George Hubbard proposed a vote of thanks to the lecturer, which was carried by acclamation.-A handsome present of books has been received from John Cooke, Esq., of Newport, Isle of Wight, who had previously delivered a Lecture to the members "On the progress of Literature from the earliest period up to the reign of Queen Elizabeth."

MEETINGS FOR THE ENSUING WEEK.

THURS.

FRI.

SAT.

Society of Arts, 7.-Renewed Discussion "On the Consumption of Smoke."

London Inst., 7.-Mr. J. Phillips, "On the Philosophy of Geology."

Chemical, 8.

Statistical, 8.-Dr. Guy, "On the Duration of
Life of the Members of the Medical Profession;"
and Dr. Thomson, "On the Stature, Weight, &c.
of New Zealanders."

Civil Engineers, 8.-Annual General Meeting.
Linnæan, 8.

Pathological, 8.

London Inst., 7.-Conversazione.

Society of Arts, 8.-Mr. Horace Green, "On Pettitt's
Fisheries Guano."

Microscopical, 8.

Numismatic, 7.

Antiquaries, 8.

Royal, 81.

Architectural Assoc., 8.-Class of Design.
London Inst., 2.-Mr. M. T. Masters,
tary Botany."

"On Elemen

PATENT LAW AMENDMENT ACT, 1852.

APPLICATIONS FOR PATENTS AND PROTECTION ALLOWED.

From Gazette, 9th December, 1853.

Dated 19th October, 1853.

-Composition inlieu of bone and horn. (A communication.)
Dated 24th October, 1853.
Diamond Coal Fuel.

MAIDENHEAD.-An agreeable reunion of the members and friends of the Literary and Scientific Institution, was held on Tuesday se'nnight; and advantage was taken of the occasion to present Mr. C. Brown, retiring honorary secretary, with a testimonial, consisting of a handsome silver tea service. Mr. Brown, in acknowledging the presen- 2407. P. A. le Compte de Fontainemoreau, 4 South street, Finsbury tation of the testimonial, congratulated the institution on its prosperity. It now numbered more members than it had ever done, and the greatest increase had been during the past year. This was a subject of much pleasure to him, for he felt that it could not be said that he was deserting a sinking cause. On Thursday evening, the eighth annual meeting was held in the Guildhall, the Rev. Charles Vansittart presiding. Eight new directors were appointed. Mr. Durant was elected to the vacant secretaryship, and Mr. J. Smith re-elected treasurer.

TIVERTON.—The re-opening of the Athenæum, which was partially destroyed by fire in February last, took place on the 18th November, and was celebrated by a literary and musical soirée, under the presidency of J. Heathcoat Amory, Esq. A large party attended, comprising most of the gentry of the town and neighbourhood. The premises have undergone considerable improvement. They contain a large and handsome lecture-room, reading-room, news-room, class-rooms, library, &c., and are in every respect adapted for the purposes of a literary institution. On Thursday, December 1st, the Rev. W. Beal, of Devonport, delivered the opening lecture of the session, on the "Development of the Religious Element in Man." The lecture embraced interesting and comprehensive sketches of sun, fire, element, and symbol worship, mythology, &c., and was well received by a numerous and respectable audience. It is gratifying to report the prosperity of this institution.

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F. Blunt, 19 Montague place, Russell square-Blunt's

Dated 23rd November, 1853.

2668. C. Burton, 487 New Oxford street-Improvements in carriages.
Dated 17th November, 1853.
2720. H. R. Abraham, 11 Howard street, Strand-Coffins and hearses.
2721. G. F. Stansbury, 17 Cornhill-Apparatus for drill sowing
guano, &c. (A communication.)

materials for dress.

2722. J. F. Empson-Manufacture of wire.
2723. J. Hill, senior, and J. Hill, junior-Winding, doubling, and
2724. J. Amos, Bristol-Wood for casks.
spinning machinery.
2725. J. Timewell, Duke street, St. James's-Cutting and shaping
2726. J. Dicks, Parliament street, Nottingham-Bands for binding
27271 E. Wilkins, 60 Queen's row, Walworth-Draining land.
2721. W. B. Johnson, Manchester-Steam-engines.
2729. J. D. Brady, Cambridge terrace-Straps for knapsacks.
2730. T. W. Kinder-Permanent way.

packets of lace, &c.

Dated 24th November, 1853.

2731. J. Lovell, Glasgow-Application of heat.
2734. D. Chalmers, Manchester -Railway breaks and signals.
2733. H. Mason, Ashton-under-Lyne, and J. Jones, Manchester-
2734. S. Holman, Colney Hatch-Double action pump.
Doubling, twisting, and spooling machinery.
2735. A. V. Newton, 66 Chancery lane-Chest expander, &c.-(A
2736. G. M. Richards, Swansea-Feed plates used for oxidising lead,
communication.)
2737. S. C. Lister Manningham, Bradford-Combing wool, &c.
2728. G. Townsend, Massachusetts-Sewing machinery (A com-
2739. W. Jones, Kilney cottage, Swansea-Bricks.

and refining silver and lead.

munication.)

2740. D. L. Banks, 42 St. James's place, Toxteth park, Liverpool,

Rotatory engines.

WREXHAM.-During the present quarter, a series of interesting lectures have been delivered at the Literary Institute, on the following subjects:-"On California and 2742. D. Nicholl, Edinburgh-Envelope manufacture. Dated 25th November, 1853. Australia," by Mr. W. Hughes, F.R.G.S.; "On the Me- 2743. J. Berry, Manchester-Machinery for wire fencing. mory," by Mr. H. Dicker (gratuitous); "On our Indian 2744. W. Calder, Glasgow-Treatment of thread and yarns. Empire," by Mr. R. C. Rawlins (gratuitous); and, lastly, 2745. W. L. and C. Brook, Meltham mills, near Hu dersfieldreadings of Hamlet" and the " Preparing, dressing, &c., cotton, &c., and machinery for same. Merchant of Venice," by 2746. A. Drew, Glasgow-Ornamenting woven fabrics, &c. Mr. H. Nichols. The engagement of paid professional 2747. J. H. Johnson, 47 Lincoln's inn fields-Carding engines, &c. lecturers is an experiment intended to be continued dur-2748. J. H. Johnson, 47 Lincoln's inn fields-Production of printing (A communication.) ing the ensuing quarter, for the carrying out of which the Committee are indebted to the generous aid afforded them by two gentlemen of the neighbourhood-Mr. R. Thompson, of Stansty Hall, and Mr. J. Lewes,

surfaces. (A communication.)

2750. A. E. L. Bellford, 16 Castle street, Holborn-Improvements
E. L. Bellford, 16 Castle street, Holborn-Rotary engines.
in pens and pencils. (A communication.)
(A communication.)

2751. A.

2752. C. C. S. Grenier, Paris, and 16, Castle street, Holborn-Paint 1167. Peter Armande le Comte de Fontaine Moreau, of South street, for buildings, &c.

2753. E. Wilkinson and W. Rye, Oldham-Power-looms 2755. E. Barthelemy and T. Petitgeau. Upper John street, Fitzroy square, and J. P. Bourquin, Newman street, Oxford street -Ornamenting glass.

Dated 16th November, 1853.

2756. W. C. Moat, Strand-Truss.

2758. G. E. Gazagnaire, Marseilles, and 16 Castle street, HolbornNets for fishing, &c.

2760. J. Roth and H. Danner, Mulhouse, France, and 16 Castle street, Helborn-Cards for carding.

1468.

1489.

1502.

2762. L.Cornides, 4 Trafalgar square-Gelatine with other substances. 1552. and colouring same, to resist atmospheric infiuences. 2764. J. S. Rousselot, Nimes, France-Magneto-electricity for machinery, &c. Dated 28th November, 1853.

2766. W. Pritchard, Clerkenwell-Buffers, and diminishing shock in

collisions.

2768. P. C. J. B. Sochet, Paris, and 4 South street, Finsbury-Motive power by heated gases.

2774. S. Hurrell, New North street, London-Machinery for measuring, winding, or rolling fabrics,

Dated 29th November, 1853.

Finsbury-Improved process for preserving milk, and its
application to several organic products and alimentary
substances. (A communication.)

Peter Armand le Comte de Fontaine Moreau, of South street,
Finsbury-Improvements in the preparation of certain vege-
table and alimentary substances. (A communication.)
James Heginbottom and Joseph Heginbottom, of Ovenden,
Yorkshire-Improvements in spinning.

Hiram Barker and Francis Holt, both of Manchester-Im-
provements in machinery and apparatus for grinding and
turning metals.

Robert Harlow, of Stockport-Improvements in constructing and working valves for baths, washstands, and other purposes.

1801. John Griffiths, of Stepaside Saunderfoot, near Tenby-Cortsin improvements la steam engines.

1836.

1851.

2778 A. E. L. Bellford, 16 Castle street, Holborn-Firearms. (A 1936. communication.)

2780. J. A. Manning, Inner Temple-Treatment of sewerage and
products thereof.

APPLICATIONS FOR PATENTS, WITH COMPLETE SPECIFICATIONS FILED.
2819. C. W. Hockaday, Post hall, Brighton-Chemical compound as
a remedy for scorbutic affections. Dec. 5, 1853.
2630. J. Mold, 6 Portland terrace-Improvements or additions to
augment convenience by transformation and facility the
different lines required in the erection or manufacturing
edifices or structures by apparatus, tools, or instruments suit-
able for the different capacities of operation and general
surveying. Dec. 6, 1853.

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1408. Antoine Ponçou, of Marseilles-Certain improvements in obtaining motive power. 1410. William Muir, of Manchester-Improvements in turninglathes; a part of which improvements is applicable to other useful purposes.

William Newton, of Chancery lane-Improvements in the process of coating cast-iron with other metals and the alleys of other metals. (A communication.)

Thomas Young Hall, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne-Improvements in safety-lamps; part or parts of such improvements being applicable to the consumption or prevention of smoke, and for the purposes of ventilation generally.

William Curtain, of Retreat place, Homerton-Improved machinery for printing textile fabrics, oil cloths, leather, paper hangings, and other similar fabrics or materials. 1975. Charles Collyford Banks, of Clapham-Improvements in lubricators. 1993. Samuel Taylor, of Manchester-Improvements in apparatus for generating and applying carbonic acid gas. 2234. Hiram Berdan, of New York-Machine for collecting, preserving, and thereby preventing the loss of mercury, in the process of amalgamating metals, and for the more perfect and economical washing, separating, and amalgamating of auriferous and other ores.

2254.

John Wincoll Baxter, of Mistley, Essex-Certain improvements in ship building.

2258. William Henry Wilding, of Chesterfield street-Improvements in propelling machinery.

2262. William Peace, of Haigh-Hewing and excavating coal, cannel, and other minerals, strata, and substances, by certain machinery and appliances thereto.

2322.

2341.

2348.

2362. 2393.

1414. William Brookes, of Chancery lane-Improvements in treating
fabrics suitable for floor-cloths, covers, and such like articles.
(A communication.)
1415. William Brookes, of Chancery lane-Improvements in the
manufacture of boxes and other hollow receptacles. (A 2426.
communication.)

1425. Christopher Binks, of Albert villa, North Woolwich-
Improvements in dryers, and in preparing drying oils for
oil paints, varnishes, and other uses.
1435. Richard Hopkins, of Manchester-Improvements in machinery
or apparatus for cutting and shaping cork wood and other

similar substances.
1501. Robert Midgley, of Northowram, Yorkshire-Improvements
in preparing and finishing certain worsted yarns, and in
apparatus employed therein.
1503. William Boggett, of St. Martin's lane, and George Brooks
Petit, of Lisle street-Improvements in dioptric reflectors.
1911. Richard Archibald Brooman, of Fleet street-Method of, and
machinery for, reducing wood and other vegetable fibres to
pulp, applicable to the manufacture of paper, pasteboard,
millboard, papier maché, mouldings, and other like purposes.
(A communication.)
1428. William Smith, of Sheffield-Improvements in the mode of
manufacturing metallic handles for knives and forks, backs
for razors, bows for scissors, and the relative parts of such
like instruments.

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James Knowles, of Eagley Bank, near Bolton le MoorsImprovements in machinery for regulating the velocity of Patrick Clark and Alexander Clark, both of Gate street, steam engines and other motive power engines.

Lincoln's inn fields-Improvements in revolving shutters and other closures for portable and other buildings. Charles Scott Jackson, of Cannon street, City-Improvements in preserving seeds, potatoes, and other roots.

Thomas Grahame, of Hatton Hall, Wellingborough-Improvements in building ships and other vessels.

Ellen Jones, of Palace street, Pimlico-Improvement in steam engine governors. (This is the same invention as that for which letters patent were granted to her late husband on the 14th day of April last.)

Julius Augustus Roth, of Philadelphia-Improvements in the bleaching and drying of fibres or fibrous materials; part of which improvements is applicable to the drying of woven and other textile manufactures.

John Henry Johnson, of Lincoln's inn fields-Improvements in mills for grinding. (A communication.) James Denoon Young, of Westminster-Improvements in casting.

Scaled December 14th, 1853. William G. Craig, of Newport, Monmouth-Improvements in axle boxes, guides, and bearings of locomotive engines and carriages; parts of which improvements are applicable to the bushes and bearings of machinery.

John Mackintosh, of Pall Mall East-Improvements in the
construction of portable boats, or vessels, or buoys.
William Francis Snowden, of Weymouth-Improved mangle.
Edward Patrick Gibbon, of Dublin-Improvements in window

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WEEKLY LIST OF DESIGNS FOR ARTICLES OF UTILITY REGISTERED.

Title.

A Solid Spring-Knife Handle...... Improved link motion for Steam Engines

Dec. 7

8

3538 3539

"

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Proprietors' Names.

John Lingard....
Edward Reynolds

Dent, Alcroft, and Co.
Edward Green.........

Address.

Pea Croft, Sheffield.

Butterley Iron Works, Alfreton, Der. byshire

Wood Street, Cheapside
Wakefield, Yorkshire

No. 57. Vol. II.] JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF ARTS.

[Dec. 23, 1853.

Journal of the Society of Arts. anthracite area of the Welsh coal-field extended

92.42; volatile matter, 5.97; ashes, 1.61. The

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1853.

EXTRAORDINARY MEETING.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1853. An Extraordinary Meeting was held on Monday, the 19th instant, William Bird, Esq., in the chair, for the purpose of resuming the

DISCUSSION

ON THE CONSUMPTION OF SMOKE.

from the Vale of Neath to Kidwelly, in Carmarthenshire, and, after crossing beneath Carmarthen Bay, again appeared in Pembrokeshire, and continued all across that country to St. Bride's Bay.

Mr. J. GLYNN, F.R.S., said that, in discussing the subject of the prevention of smoke, it was desirable to keep in view certain questions suggested by the necessities of the case, and by the requirements of the Society. He would allude, in the first place, to the two subjects, Nos. 46 and 47, in the premium list of the Society of Arts for the present session, as embodying roughly what he considered should be chiefly attended to in this discussion. These were :—

"46. For an account of recent improvements in, or applications to, the furnaces of steam engine boilers, for the consumption or prevention of smoke, without increasing the expense of working."

"47. For an account of improvements in the furnaces of manufactories, especially in glass works, iron foundries and the like, for the consumption or prevention of smoke."

The SECRETARY stated that he had received two communications on the subject of this meeting, one from Mr. Charley, of Belfast, who said that at the Mossvale Bleach Works near that place, owing to the use of Williams's smoke consuming apparatus, with the addition of a little more air at the bridge, there was almost complete immunity from dark smoke; indeed the smoke was scarcely ever perceptible except immediately after firing. At other times the ejection was of a white or pale ashy colour, somewhat resembling steam. The It should be remembered that, in 1843, now coal used was "Hard Ayr," from Scotland. Among ten years ago, a Select Committee was appointed the white linens it was most desirable to prevent by the House of Commons "to inquire into the dense smoke, and thus avoid stains from colly. means and the expediency of preventing the The other letter was from Mr. J. M. Dodd, nuisance of smoke arising from fires and furwho thought that the simplest and most natural naces." This committee defined smoke to method of obviating the evil, in regard to furnaces be:- First, black smoke, that nuisance to employed in various trades and manufactures, was which the attention of the Committee is dithe substitution in such furnaces, of anthracite rected, consists essentially of carbon separated coal for the other combustible minerals now in by heat from coal or other substances, and is use. The non-smoke producing properties of commonly mixed mechanically with carbonic this fuel were thus stated by Mr. R. C. Taylor, in acid gas, carbonic acid, and other matters." his "Statistics of Coal." "The value of the The Committee mentioned six other kinds of noxWelch steam or slightly bituminous coal is en-ious smokes and vapours, arising from copperhanced by this quality of burning almost wholly works, alkali-works, lead-works, &c.; but they without smoke. Steamers burning the fat directed their inquiry to smoke arising from the bituminous coal can be tracked at sea, at least imperfect combustion of coal in furnaces-that was seventy miles. . . It is a complete tell-tale of smoke in the common acceptation of the word. their whereabouts, which is not the case with It was expedient in conducting the present disthose burning authracite, as the latter kind cussion to follow a similar course, and to limit it, sends forth no perceptible smoke." A further in the first instance, to the furnaces of steam proof of the applicability of this fuel to the use boilers, brewers' coppers, tallow melters' pans, of large furnaces was to be found in the fact, that stills, and other furnaces of a similar kind, used in the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company had re- large towns, and comprehended under No. 46 in cently undertaken the working of a Colliery in the Premium List; then to go on to the questions Pembrokeshire for the supply of this fuel to arising under No. 47, affecting glass works, iron their vessels. Of the value of anthracite as fuel, foundries, smelting works, and the like. It apMr. Taylor gave the following particulars: "The peared also to be requisite to bear in mind that evaporative power of English coking coal is it had been already decided "that the object to 7.84lbs. of water to 1lb. of coal. The evapor- be attained is the production of a perfect combusating power of anthracite is 10.56lbs. of water tion to prevent smoke," as given in the evidence to 1lb. of coal. The number of lbs. of of Dr. Ure. (See Report, Answer 98.) The water to which 1lb. of fuel will impart 1 degree means of preventing smoke appeared to be five; of heat is: Walls End coal, 2,000lbs: semi-but the methods of applying them varied consibituminous South Wales, 9,000lbs.; charcoal derably. They had been applied not only in 10,000lbs; anthracite, 12,000lbs." The com- various ways separately, but in combination, for position of anthracite might be stated as: Carbon which many patents had been taken out; and

there still remained a wide field for the exercise water-wheels had been applied to Mr. Brunton's

revolving grates, when no other rotary motion
was at hand to work the furnace. It was evi-
dent that Stanley's contrivance was very effective,
and even elegant in its action, when the steam-
engine fed its own fire, and regulated the supply
of coal to the demand for steam; but the neces-
sity of care and attention to raise the fire from
time to time, and to remove the clinkers, induced
Mr. Brunton and other ingenious persons to
Before noticing this, however, it might be right
to mention that Mr. Godson invented a method
of supplying furnaces with coal from below, by
forcing up a column of fuel, which was lighted
at the top, and caked as it was delivered to the
furnace, the column of coals being pressed up-
wards in a box, as a candle was raised in the socket
of a candlestick, or like the wick of a lamp. Al-
though this plan was in many respects satisfactory,
it was evident that much inconvenience must
attend its application to large furnaces. The fifth
means, therefore, might be said to have suggested
itself from the imperfections of the fourth. It
consisted in giving a longitudinal motion to the
grate, by which it fed itself with coal at the
furnace mouth, and cast off the clinkers at the
tail-end of the fire-bars, the forward motion cor-
responding with the consumption of the fuel;
while, by other motions given to the fire-bars,
the mass of fire was broken, or stoked, so as to
admit a due supply of air, and the clinkers dis-
engaged from the bars, so as to be readily cast off
when they reached the end of the bars. Such
plans were Mr. Brunton's peristaltic grate, in
which the fuel was digested, so to speak, like
food in the stomach of an animal, giving heat and
supporting physical power; and Mr. Juckes' plan
of grate, composed of fire-bars like links of an
endless chain, upon which the fire travelled
through the furnace. These means, variously
modified or combined, had all been exercised,
and in some cases with considerable success, to
obviate and prevent the discharge of smoke from
chimneys into the atmosphere of towns and cities.

of inventive talent and skill in adapting them to the various forms of furnaces, and the uses to which they might be put. The most obvious means of preventing smoke was the substitution of coke for coal, as in locomotive engines, which, by Act of Parliament, "must burn their own smoke" but it was found more convenient to avoid inaking any. This might also be accomplished by the use of dry Welsh, Kilkenny, Kilmarnock, or other coal of similar character, or of anthracite it-devise what might be called the fourth means. self, abundantly found in South Wales, instead of the bituminous coal of Newcastle, Durham, and the Midland Counties. The next plan was to produce a complete combustion of these smoky coals by a due supply of air to the incandescent fuel. For this purpose various methods had been devised by Mr. Charles Wye Williams, Mr. Chanter, Mr. Samuel Hall, and many other persons, some of whom contrived to warm the air before it mixed with the heated vapours; whilst some divided the air as it entered into numerous streams or small jets. Others, again, admitted it through sliding doors and regulators; but the last of these means of supplying cold air, although it might prevent smoke, sometimes increased the consumption of fuel. The third means, which, in a great degree, included the second, was by constantly supplying fuel to the furnace in small quantities, much scattered and divided, so that the coal was not only ignited as it fell upon the fire, but the heated vapours at the same time had a supply of air sufficient to produce their complete combustion. To some extent this might be effected by the careful stoking of a skilful fireman in a well-constructed furnace; but as this constant attention to the supply and frequent stoking of the burning coals involved often repeated openings of the fire-doors, and the consequent admission of cold air in excess, mechanical contrivances had been introduced, which, without opening the fire doors, until it became necessary to raise the fire from the grate bars, and to clear them from the "clinkers" or earthy parts of the coal vitrified by the heat, scattered a constant and continuous supply of fuel upon the fire. In most of these devices there was a hopper filled with coal, and a pair of rollers through which it passed. It then either fell directly on the fire, as in the wellknown revolving grate of the late Mr. Brunton; or it was scattered over the fire by the centrifugal action of fans or wings fixed upon the surface of two very flat cones, upon which the coal dropped from the rollers, as in Mr. Stanley's plan, much used in Manchester, where the governor of the steam-engine regulated also the supply of fuel to the furnace, according to the engine's demand for steam. In all these cases, mechanical power was 2. What was the kind of fuel used before any required, and these machines could only be used experiments were tried? What kind of fuel has where a steam-engine was employed, although been used since? What is the difference in Mr. Glynn had known some instances where the quality and cost in either or both?

In discussing the subject, Mr. Glynn thought the different speakers could not do better than follow the subdivisions of the syllabus, under each of the two heads before-mentioned :

1. Have the improvements or the apparatus mentioned been in actual use? If so, to what furnaces were they applied, and for what time? Did they prevent the discharge of black or dark smoke from the chimney-tops? If the smoke was visible, to what extent; and if at intervals, when?

3. What kinds of furnaces or grates, or modes of setting, have been used or tried?

4. What kind of apparatus has been applied to prevent the production of smoke? If by the admission of air, state whether cold or heated, and in what manner it was brought into contact with the fuel?

5. What mode of supplying coal to the furnace, or of feeding the fire? What mode of stoking, whether by moving grates or otherwise, and of clearing the bars of clinkers?

6. State the cost of the apparatus, the time it has been in work, and the prospect of its durability from past experience, and the general results arising from its use.

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steam into the flue, and in some measure damping the fires. In answer to questions, Mr. Stevens said that his arrangements were being applied to bakers' ovens, and he hoped shortly not only to get rid of the smoke, but also of the smoky taste which the bread too often had. The cost of the apparatus must depend on a variety of circumstances, such as the form and size of the furnace. If it were a new furnace, the actual expenditure for manual labour would be from 31. to 107., whilst the cost of the new form of furnace would be no dearer than the old. If the furnace was for an engine of four or five horse power, he should say the cost would be about 37.; but if it were of fifty horse power, about 101. As regarded old furnaces, the lowest price at which he had been able yet to adapt his invention, was 5l., and the highest, an exceedingly expensive one, for an engine of fifty horse power, 251. With reference to his charges for royalty, he never asked to be paid until the parties were satisfied with the success of his invention. He should say that the saving of fuel with his furnace would be from twelve to eighteen, and thirty per cent., and on an average certainly not lower than twenty per cent. As an instance, he might mention, that when he first put up his furnace at Messrs. Miller, Ravenhill, and Salkeld's, Mr. Salkeld informed him that he was about to do so under an economised boiler, and that, therefore, he need not expect any great saving, the more specially as it was looked after by the best stoker in London, who had a regular supply of coals, namely, three and a half tons for seven days two hours. Mr. Salkeld had since informed him that he was now supplying the same quantity of coals for eight days five and a half hours. Messrs. Easton and Amos, engineers, were about ascertaining the quantity of coal they used in a fortnight, and also the quantity of water evaporated, which he should be happy to supply to the Society when he obtained it.

Mr. J. LEE STEVENS had the pleasure of attending the last meeting of the Society, when this subject was before them, and wished then to have an opportunity of explaining his patent for preventing smoke, but abstained from doing so, as not pertinent to the paper then before them. He would now, however, in some measure endeavour to do so, and show that it was in practical use, and, he believed, obviated many, if not all, the objections to the introduction of furnaces in large cities. His object had been not to introduce new machinery, but so to adapt old that a common stoker might be enabled to manage it without any great exertion. He in some measure altered the fire-bars, his object being, as far as possible, to prohibit the admission of air from beneath the furnace, trusting to get a suffient supply above the fire place. He therefore reduced the interstices between the bars from half-an-inch er an inch to a quarter-of-an-inch. The bridge receded from the bars so as to give room for his other arrange- Mr. J. GILBERTSON said he had a plan he invented ments. Beneath the fire bars he had described, he had several years ago, which came very near that patented another range of bars nearer the ashpit. Beyond the by Mr. Stevens, and which required little attenend of the upper range of bars he placed a caloric plate, tion in the stoking. It was applicable to breweries, mills, which was prevented coming into contact with the bridge and almost every description of manufactory, and he had by studs or flanges, and this plate was faced with Welsh had them constructed from six feet to half a foot lumps, there being 3 or 4 inches between it and the bars; square. With regard to tallow melters' pans, he had whilst the fire was being lighted, there would certainly be a invented, thirty-five years ago, a covering for them, which mall quantity of smoke. The fire heated the boiler, and destroyed the effluvia by passing it through the fire-bars, when the fire was stoked the cinders were forced over and and it was now very generally adopted. In his plan, a heated the current of air, which passed through a fire-box, model of which he held in his hands, the bars and cheeks and not over the bars, it being admitted into the furnace or sides were cast hollow, for the admission of pure air at just above the fire-box. In his opinion, notwithstanding the bridge or back of the furnace, before the smoke enthe dictum of Sir Humphry Davy, the most perfect heat tered into the flue, thus supplying the gaseous products was attainable when the oxygen had been previously of the fuel with fresh air at a very high temperature, heated; for he found that the higher the heat of the which was necessarily acquired in its passage through the oxygen, the more perfect was the combustion of the car-hollow bars and side plates. The effect of partly conbon. It was said that Sir Humphry Davy arrived at the conclusion that the oxygen should be cold because the fire burned brighter in cold weather; but did it never occur to him that the fire burned brighter in the winter because the smoke was lighter, the atmosphere being denser and assisting in the combustion. Mr. Stevens here read a long list of establishments he had supplied with the Patent Smokeless Furnaces, among whom were Keen and Welch, mustard manufacturers, of Garlic-hill; Welch and Margetson, silk dyers, London and Merton; Herring Brothers, manufacturing chemists, Aldersgatestreet, Miller, Ravenhill & Salkeld, engineers, Glass-housefields; Vallance & Catt, brewers, Brighton; Gresham-club; Easton and Amos, engineers, Southwark; Courage and Donaldson, brewers, Shad Thames; Bevington and Morris, leather merchants, Bermondsey; Betts and Co., distillers, Smithfield-bars; Earl Fitzwilliam; Billinsgate market, &c. He referred to Billinsgate-market, because it had given great satisfaction to the city authorities, who had favoured him with a further order, notwithstanding its not having proved as successful as it would have done, in consequence of a tube about four inches in diameter having been introduced into the flue from a steam-engine, causing a flow of

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suming the smoke commenced as soon as the fire was
lighted, and increased as the bars became heated. If or-
dinary attention was paid to the stoking, all the fuel
might be consumed under the boiler by slow combustion,
instead of being driven into the atmosphere. By these
means a considerable saving would be effected in the
quantity of fuel consumed, and there would be less de-
struction of the bars, as they were kept cool by the air
passing through them. He might mention, to show its
efficiency, however, that it had been adopted by a Mr.
Bridge's, a whalebone boiler, in Houndsditch, and he was
enabled to live in his house with perfect ease.
cessor, from carelessness or some other cause, discontinued
its use, and the result was that he had been indicted for
a nuisance and compelled to leave. His object was not
now to come into competition with any other parties, but
to let them know what simple means there were to abate
the nuisance. He might also mention that he had ap-
plied his principle of slow combustion with great advan-
tage, in warming buildings, by means of hot air stoves, so
that the air, to use an expression of Dr. Reid's, was made
to circulate freely through the heart of the house, the
whole area being kept at an equal temperature. The

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