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To Mr. E. J. Reed, for his paper read before the Society-"On the Modification which the Ships of the Royal Navy have undergone during the Present Century, in respect of Dimensions, Forms, Means of Propulsion, and Powers of Attack and Defence." The Society's Silver

Medal.

read before the Society-"Les Arts, les Artistes, To Monsieur Theophile Silvestre, for his paper et L'Industrie en Angleterre, depuis la Dernière Moitié du Dix Huitième Siècle Jusqu'à ce Jour." The Society's Silver Medal.

To Dr. J. Forbes Watson, F.R.S.. for his paper read before the Society:-"On the Growth of Cotton in India, its Present State and Future Prospects, with Special Reference to Supplies to Britain." The Society's Silver Medal.

To Mr. Leonard Wray, for his paper read before the Society: :-"The Culture and Preparation of Cotton in the United States of America, &c." The Society's Silver Medal.

hibit greater faculties of consumption and ex- "think that, whether we regard the governchange, would draw annually sixty millions' "ment of the country, or the forces spontaworth of goods from Great Britain- an amount "neously operating in the ancient and complex equal to more than one half of the produce of "frame of our society, there are many causes the United Kingdom exported abroad. If Bra- "uniting to afford an intellectual and artistic zil be selected as the standard of comparison, a "education to the working orders commensurate far higher result would be obtained. Add, then," to the task which lies before them." First, to those portions of Asia but half appreciated with respect to the action of government and and explored the nations of India, Africa, and parliament there is now, perhaps, in principle, the Pacific Archipelagos-all of which are, by as much direct intervention as is consistent conquest, commerce, or conversion, being sub- with the spirit of our free institutions. In the jugated to European ideas and manners-and British Museum, at Hampton Court, in the the boundaries of our uncivilised market appear National Gallery, at the Kensington Museum, to recede into an impenetrable distance. and in other repositories of national possessions, the historical examples of arts and manufactures are rapidly accumulating, which we hope to see placed in magnificent and instructive combination, and which will then only obtain their full value for imitative and suggestive purposes. In 78 schools of design, cheap instruction is afforded to 79,000 pupils, whereby the poorer classes have the opportunity of discovering and improving gifts of native genius, and although our public edifices and monuments recently constructed cannot be regarded with unqualified approval, we may at least hope that the Government has a poignant sense of past errors; and it has certainly shown a desire This year brought with it the third quinquennial by pecuniary rewards and competitive exhibi-anniversary of the death of Dr. Swiney, and the tions to draw the highest talent to the service them by the will of that gentleman, have preSociety, in accordance with the trust imposed on of the state. Allied with the Government of sented the Silver Goblet, of the value of £100, England, or sanctioned by our laws, we find with the gold coin in it to the same amount, to many institutions of a corporate character, Dr. Alfred Swayne Taylor, F.R.S., as the author which though not designed for the encourage of a treatise on Medical Jurisprudence. ment of arts, must yet, in an intelligent and goblet is in silver, from a design by Mr. Maclise, critical age, by their opulence and associations, and was awarded at a joint meeting of the Membecome powerful vehicles in fostering the prin- bers of the Society of Arts and the College of ciple of good taste. Physicians, held in accordance with the terms of Dr. Swiney's will, on the 20th of January last.

The aspirations of the British people are not limited, however, as the eloquent speaker reminds us, by the grosser conceptions of cheapness and quantity. It must not be alleged that the gracious genius of English industry merely drudges in the service of a barbarous demand. It is our aim to invest the most familiar and useful objects of manufacture with some appropriate charm, and to rival the accredited seats of cultivated labour in the production of articles of a purely decorative and aesthetic character. If the markets of continental Europe be partly closed against us by the existence of older establishments, or by the force of conventional fashion, or by the obstinate impediments of illiberal legislation, we may still find in the new markets of rising states, in those which have been planted by the adventure of our own race on the plains of America and Australia, a fair field and ample scope for the higher departments of invention and design. The discovery of gold has been the chief instrument in the formation of the markets here alluded to, and it will long continue to be the basis of their prosperity. The importance of that discovery is not to be sought so much in the amount added to the circulating medium, or in a general rise of prices, which is precarious, and in part delusive: it is to be found in the sudden dispersion over vacant countries of men furnished with all the faculties, and feeling all the necessities of civilization, engaged in a description of labour requiring neither capital nor combination, nor considerable consumption of time, but resulting in the delivery of a commodity which, if it does not directly add to the mass of productive capital, is at least always in the highest demand, and subject to the smallest fluctuations of value. In no other inconceivable form could twenty millions' worth of exchangeable produce have been annually raised with such celerity, and no motive save the intoxicating cupidity belonging to the pursuit of the precious metals could have impelled mankind to such immense migrations.

Nor is the consequence of this great movement of the English race-(we still follow the thought and repeat the language of Lord Napier)--to be measured by the mere value of the precious metals now or hereafter collected, for while one portion of the population set on foot by that primary incentive sift the auriferous soil with increased assiduity, or apply more scientific processes to the reduction of the rock, or carry their insatiable inquisition and predestined power over those desolate empires, escaping from the paralysed grasp of the Spanish colonists, another portion are ever betaking themselves to various kinds of accessory labour, and to the creation of other articles of traffic which, though not in such instant demand, will, in the long run, become a profitable addition to general commerce.

It would not be difficult to show that the wants of other nations and the dissemination of our own are sufficient, if wisely used, to provide abundant employment hereafter for the industrial energies of England. "I also humbly |

66

the Society-"Some remarks on the application of Definite Proportions and the Conic Sections to Architecture, illustrated chiefly by the Obelisk,

To Mr. John Bell, for his paper read before

with some History of that feature of Art."

Society's Silver Medal.

SWINEY PRIZE.

WRITING CASE.

The

The

But it is certain that neither governments, nor corporations, nor societies, can be profitable agents without a generous, responsive, and cri- It will be remembered that in the society's tical public. History shows how academies report of last year it was stated that the sum may go on teaching and prating amidst general of £20, placed in the hands of the council by sterility. There will not be intelligent pro- the Rev. F. Trench and J. MacGregor, Esq., to ducers without intelligent purchasers. But the which the Council added the Society's Medal, industry of England is nourished from a as a Prize for a Writing Case suited for the thousand silent and spontaneous sources. "Our use of soldiers, sailors, emigrants, &c., had not treasures are not only laid up in museums, been awarded, none of the articles forwarded hav"like grain in warehouses; they are also scat-ing been considered to possess sufficient merit "tered in our homes, like good seed in pleasant to justify a decision in their favour. The Council "and fruitful places. Many do not worship in then announced their intention to invite further "the public temple who have built domestic competition. In reply to this announcement "altars to the arts. Consult those quiet habi- twenty-eight cases were sent in, and after a care"tations of the beautiful and good, how many in favour of a case manufactured by Messrs. Parful examination by the committee they reported "modest deeds and gentle voices attest the kins and Gotto, and the Council have thereupon "prevalence of a beneficent culture." awarded the prize of £20 and the Society's silver. medal to that firm. The retail price of the case is 1s. 6d., including an indelible pencil, but without other contents, which must depend on the selection of the buyer.

We offer no apology for re-echoing the noble language of this noble lord. We have our own strong persuasions respecting the swiftness and certainty of our national progress; but although we need no assurances like the above for our comfort, we observe with pleasure that so just an appreciation of the present, and so enlightened an expectation of the future, has already reached the minds of those who have heretofore been slow to learn like lessons.

SOCIETY OF ARTS.

AWARD OF MEDALS AND PRIZES.

THE Council of the Society of Arts, on the re-
commendation of their Committees, have awarded
the following Medals:-

To Messrs. Hamilton and Nash, for an "Im-
proved Lock." The Society's Silver Medal.
To Messrs. Peter and Charles Garnett, for their
"Toothed-Roller Cotton Gin." The Society's
Silver Medal.

Method of rendering Engraved Copper Plates
To Mr. F. Jaubert for his invention of "A
capable of producing a greatly increased Number
of Impressions," and for his paper explanatory of
it, read before the Society. The Society's Silver
Medal.

FINANCIAL ESSAY.

At the date of the Council's last report, the essay sent in competition for the prize of two hundred guineas, placed in the hands of the Council by Mr. Henry Johnson, to be awarded as a prize for "The best essay on the present financial position of the country as affected by recent events, in which the principle of a sinking fund should be discussed, and also an investigation made as to the best mode of gradually liquidating the National Debt," were under consideration, twenty-two essays having been received. prize has since been adjudged to Mr. Edward Capps, and the essay has been published. adjudicators appointed by the Society to report on the merits of these essays were Professor Charles Neate, of Oxford, Professor Waley, of University College, London, and Mr. J. T. Danson, Fellow of the Statistical Society, and their decision in favour of Mr. Capps was unanimous.

MARINE ALGE.

The

The

The Council in their last report informed the members that no essays had been sent in to com

pete for the two prizes of £50 and £20, placed in solidity, and there is ample reason that this should
their hands by Sir W. C. Trevelyan, Bart. That be so. The beds of the presses, it is obvious, have
gentleman has now increased the amount to £100, much to withstand. Millions and millions of
and that sum is now at the disposal of the Council heavy blows are continually being struck upon
as a single prize for "The best Essay on the these coiners' anvils, and it is certain that they
Applications of the Marine Alga and their pro- would yield if not of immense strength in them-
ducts, as food or medicine for man and domestic selves, and well-sustained on their stony seats.
animals, or for dyeing and other manufacturing At a height of about 2 feet from the floor, which
purposes. Competitors must give the results of is of thick, narrow, oaken planking, so closely
their original investigations on sea-weeds; and jointed and tongued as that the smallest coin
they must prepare a series of specimens illustra-shall find no crevice through which to disappear
tive of the best modes of collecting, preserving,
and preparing the several species. Mere compila-
tions will not be admitted to competition."

The essays, with accompanying specimens, must be delivered at the Society of Arts by the 31st day of December, 1860. Each essay to be marked Essay on Marine Algæ," and to have a motto or distinctive mark attached, which must also be written on a sealed letter containing the name

and address of the author.

MONEY-MAKING AT THE ROYAL MINT.
No. V.

To visitors to the Royal Mint, perhaps the last
process of the art of coining-the crowning blow
to all previous manipulations of the precious
metals there, is the most interesting. The weigh
ing machines, with their delicate little forceps,
wheels, levers, slides, glass counterpoise weights,
and distributing tubes, are unquestionably beauti-
inl. as their action is next to infallible; but they
Field the palm, in one respect at least, to the
Dining-presses. The weighing machines, like
Civil Service Commissioners, are capable of report-
ing upon the merits of candidates for public
office, but they do not, like the coining-presses,
qualify those candidates for passing current in the
st as well as the worst society. Vain would be
all past operations indeed without the impressed
stamp of the coining-room. The rapid transfor-
mation of blanks into finished coins-the covering
of their entire surfaces and edges with beautifully
engraved devices in the twinkling of an eye, as it
were, this it is which astonishes and pleases all
who see it.

To describe as accurately as letter-press will allow the manner in which this important change in the complexion, and value, of the assized discs of goal is effected. is now our task, and we return for a moment to the four journey-weights of dried-out pieces. These are advanced to the coining-pressroom, and whilst the officer is once more weighing, and the workmen are adjusting the presses for tamping them, we may endeavour to explain the general features of this department, and the mechanical appliances it contains.

The coining-press-room, then, is about 70 feet in length from 30 to 40 feet in breadth, and, it may be, 15 in height. It contains eight presses, ranged in a straight line, on the vertical screw principle, as constructed in 1810 by Messrs. Boulton and Watt, and these may be said to be at work almost every working day throughout the year. There is in addition a small hand-press, which does only two days' work in the year. The large power presses coin all the current monies for England and the Colonies-except Sydney, which has a small mint of its own-from the florin down through all denominations of silver to the three

ment by which continuous, rapid, and powerful motion will presently be given to this screw and its appurtenances. The golden blanks are distributed among boys who tenant square holes, fitted with seats, in the platform, and have wire meshed trays beside them for the reception of metal. These boys, however, must await our leisure before putting the blanks through the sovereign ordeal, and the rapid movements of the presses will no doubt atone for our delay.

The screw of which we have spoken, and which at the height named, a platform covered with is the everything in the Mint coining press-exdiamond-patterned iron plate, and with ample cept the life-giving dies-projects above the body space on all sides of it for truck traffic, surrounds of the press, and has fitted and keyed upon its the eight presses. From this platform, at con- conically-turned end, a pair of fly-arms. These are venient distances for enclosing the presses, spring of about three feet radius, and have on their exeighteen oaken columns of a foot square, reaching tremities hollow boxes of iron, which may be to the iron girders of an upper floor; and bound weighted according to the nature of the work extogether laterally by hollow cross bars of cast-pected of the press for the time being. These iron, with tension rods passing through them. boxes are flat-ended, and fall upon the aforenamed The cross-bars perform a double office, they unite buffers when the press is in action. From the the columns in pairs, and support regulating centre of the fly rises a gracefully-formed trumbuffers which limit the travel of the fly-arms of pet-shaped hollow shaft, through the medium of the presses. Taking now one of the tier of presses which motion is transmitted to the press. The as illustrative of the whole, it may be stated that mouth of this trumpet is on the first floor, and we a coarsely pitched, say 5-inch, treble-threaded will therefore adjourn to that place. So! here are screw, of about 6 inches diameter, passes vertically levers, rods, counterpoise weights, pumps, &c., and through a gun-metal bush or nut in its centre, we are evidently behind the scenes. But let us and leaves a space of say a foot between the lower look first to the mouth of the trumpet. This is end of the screw and the planed bed of the press. about three inches above the floor, through which In this space the die-holders have to be arranged, the trumpet shaft has passed, and between the and in this space all the money is struck. iron girders of which brass bearingsguide and steady To the lower part of the screw-and so adjusted it. A rod suspended to a vibrating beam overhead, as that its flattened end of hardened steel may work runs down through the trumpet shaft, and is confreely in a cup or dish, also of hardened steel, be- nected with the screw of the press. The other longing to the upper die-holder-this latter is end of the vibrating beam has a rod depending attached. The upper die-holder is supported by from it, and which at its lower end on the same rods running quite through the body of the press floor is attached to the piston of a vacuum-pump. vertically, and fastened to a collar working on the The cylinder of this pump is in communication upper end of the screw. It is guided, too, by with a great vacuum-chamber-of which we must steel V pieces sliding over angles of the press, and presently speak again-by means of a small pipe, it is clear, therefore, must rise and fall with any and when exhausted the atmosphere presses on its upward and downward movement of the screw. piston with just sufficient force to make it balance Firmly screwed down to the planed and perfectly through the beam the weight of the screw-pin level surface of the bed of the press, is the lower of the press, its fly-arms, and upper die holder. die-holder. This is recessed for the admission So perfect is this state of equilibrium maintained, of the die, and is fitted with three "set screws that if we take up the trap in the floor, and ask for fixing it accurately. The upper die-holder is the even youngest boy to move by its fly-arms the similarly recessed in an inverted form, but the die press he is attending, we shall find that he can do once fixed in it is not adjustable. As the press-it with the most perfect ease. The fly-arms are screw fits its "bush" or nut, and is made to move made to stand still indeed by these means at any perpendicularly by adjusting brasses, above and point of the stroke of the press desired. This is below that bush, so must the upper die-holder a great convenience in setting the dies. The press and its die move perpendicularly also with it. It may be moved up or down with the completest is only necessary, therefore, in die setting that the readiness, and thus hand-tests may be made of the lower die be placed fairly below the upper one, work, and impressions of the dies taken before the which cannot fail to be rightly placed itself. power is applied.

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To the left side of the press is attached the A notched rectangular lever of wrought iron, feeding apparatus, a clever contrivance-now out- of considerable strength, and say twenty inches in shone, however, we believe, by a newly arranged length, is keyed upon the projecting upper end of "Layer-on," invented for the Calcutta Mint by the trumpet shaft, and lies close to the surface of Mr. Harvey, of that establishment to which the floor. The lever has a sliding steel box fitted motion is given by means of a flattened vertical upon it, and this is furnished with a key by which rod about three feet in length, working on a to fix it at any distance from the centre of the fulcrum pin passing through its centre, and the press as less or more power is required to be transupper end of which slides in the slot of an eccen-mitted, or as, in fact, small or large monies are in tric quadrant clasping the circumference of the the process of manufacture. Through this box, press screw. This feeding apparatus is furnished too, a shifting steel pin passes, and this allows a with a set of brass tubes of the various sizes of connection to be made with a horizontal rod of the money coined at the British Mint. wrought-iron working over a guide immediately above the floor, and attached to a "horse-head" crank with a rod and vacuum-pump and great vacuum-chamber beneath it. Here, then, it will be seen that the communication is made perfect with the reservoir of power -as the vacuumchamber is, although, as the "used-up" traveller said of the dome of St. Peter's, "there is literally nothing in it." We will now descend therefore once more, and after examining the arrangements of the vacuum department, will induce the boy so patiently awaiting in his hole our coming, to put a press in motion.

Well, then, if an engraved die be placed in the halfpenny piece circulating in the West Indies; upper die-holder with its face downwards, another and from the penny to the quarter-farthing of die in the lower with its face upwards, with a Ceylon in copper. At the power presses, too, the space say of an inch between the two, and a at majority of the fine silver medals distributed piece of gold be placed upon the surface of the among our noble-hearted and brave sailors and lower one, it becomes plain that a forcible turn sadiers are struck, though in a different way to the of the screw downwards will inevitably transfer rinary coinage, as will be hereafter shown. The impressions from both dies to the softened metal Freach toy-press produces only the silver Maunday between them, and, in fact, make it a coin. And penes given by Her Majesty or her agents to this, indeed-of a much ruder character, of course, or pensioners on Maunday Thursday, according than any machinery is now made-was the printo ancient custom. As may be supposed, the ciple of Blondeau's screw-press, of that early period ning presses are very heavy castings-weigh-in Mint history when the hammer was superseded, very nearly two tons each. By far the greater and of which we have before spoken. ption of this metal, however, is thrown into the se of them. They are firmly bolted to foundaits of granite of great depth and of immense

A

Imagining that the explanation so far is manifestly plain, let us take a stand upon the iron platform, and examine a little further into the arrange.

The vacuum-chamber is a cylinder of cast-iron about sixty feet long and two feet in diameter, and is placed horizontally parallel to the tier of coining presses, from which a wall separates it. From this reservoir-if we may so name it arise

at intervals corresponding with the distances of the presses from each other and with their number -that is, eight-a series of three-inch pipes, fitted with indexed stop-cocks intermediately to the vertical vacuum-pumps to which their upper flanched ends are bolted. The press-pumps are fitted with one disc valve opening into the vacuumchamber and another to the great atmospheric ocean itself. There are communicating lines passing through tubes-and which lines hungry Mint-mice have been known to gnaw through during the night-to the press-holes, and these lines give the attendant sprites who convert buttons into sovereigns control over the inner and the outer valves. We now see that all is ready and we will return to the coining press-room. The patient and industrious boy we see has amused himself whilst waiting for us by repolishing all the brightwork about the machine until it shines like the bars of a palace grate-good boy!

useful sovereigns are thrown off with marvellous
speed. The levers, springs, weights, counter-
poises, valves, and other portions of the vacuum
arrangements go on with their task so long as
the press attendant keeps the line on the stud
beside him; but, wishing to stop all, he has
nothing to do but release it, and his money-
making forthwith ceases.

When an accumulation of coins of some magni-
tude occurs in the tray, and this is soon, they
are taken up by workers in attendance, and
carefully examined to see that they are free from
spot or blemish, and fit to pass forth into the
"wide wide world" on their mingled missions of
good and evil.

THE SEWING MACHINE:

A SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF ITS USE.
No. II.

It is not

ployées in manufacturing concerns.
extravagant to say that three-fourths of all the
sewing done in the city of New York is executed on
machines-so profitable and so popular has this
work become.

As a consequence of this rapid introduction and extensive use of sewing machines, a great improvement has taken place in the quality of machine needles, sewing silk, twist, thread, &c. The Americans now boast that they can produce thread far superior to any of foreign manufacture in strength and evenness of texture.

Since 1850 the sewing machine trade in Great Britain has merely followed, though at a great distance behind, the course of trade in America. Probably one fifth of all the sewing machines used in this country have been imported from the United States. Almost all the machines in use are owned by manufacturers of shirts, boots, THE sewing machine is used either to ornament stays, caps, saddlery, and ready-made clothing. Its use is confined to places of large trade, such as London, Manchester, Nottingham, Glasgow, During the first half of the present century the north of Ireland, Dublin, and Limerick. The several machines, designed chiefly for ornament-prices of machines have been so very high that ing fabrics, were invented in England and France; few, or almost none, are owned by the working and a considerable number must have been intro- classes; and probably this is the principal reason duced among the embroiderers, lace-makers, glove- why the workmen resist their employment. A makers, and stay-makers of both countries. Be-family sewing machine" is almost unknown in tween the years 1844 and 1850 a few machines for uniting fabrics by means of a running or basting stitch were used by bleachers, dyers, umbrella-makers, and others, for the purpose of tacking materials together. The number of machines of all kinds, however, at work in Europe in 1850 must have been so few that the name of a sewing machine could scarcely have been known even in manufacturing towns like Nottingham in England, or Lyons in France.

He has also charged the tube of his feeding ap-fabrics or to unite them. paratus with some of our old friends, the blank pieces of gold. The tube has two grooves down its sides, and these enable him to drop rouleaus of blanks flatly into it with ease. Now observe, the dies are in their places, one above and one below, and like two seals-not those of the Arctic Seas, but letter seals-are ready to impress on both 'sides any softer, material that may be made to interpose between them at the moment that power is applied to bring them together. The attendant now stands for a moment on the platform and puts the press up, where perforce of upstairs pump it remains; he next causes the feeder to clasp one piece from the bottom of the tube-and more than one at a time cannot find room to pass out-and to carry it forward to the lower die. It is placed so exactly as to cover the Queen's In the United States, sewing machines were "image and superscription" completely. The first introduced into public notice and general vertical rod, worked by quadrant aforementioned, use. The Americans needed machinery for uniting is now attached to the feeder in so simple a fabrics rather than for ornamenting them. So manner as to disengage itself readily if by any great was the need of machines for plain sewing chance a distorted blank objects to leave its tube that improvements were made at different places or be stamped upon, and one of the starting lines almost simultaneously; and even now, after years is pulled by some little force-the resistance of a of litigation, it is impossible to decide with cersmall spring having to be overcome-and fas- tainty who was the first inventor in America of tened to a stud beside the boy in the press-hole. any considerable improvement in the sewing Nothing moves as yet, and the fastening of the machines. During the years 1850, 1851, and line has merely allowed a tappet to close the outer 1852, the three largest manufacturing establishvalve of the press-pump. Now behold! the Genii ments in the United States commenced business, of the press-room touches another cord-not chord and for several years they almost monopolized -and the effect is miraculous; he has opened the the trade. The high price of hand-sewing had inner valve, and hey, presto! the air below the prepared the people to welcome their machines; piston has vanished and the atmospheric column while their competition and extensive advertising has carried it instanter to the bottom of the cyl- soon overcame the hostility of the working classes. inder. The press-screw has followed by dint of Sewing by machinery became, in a short time, a rods and levers; and as an interiorly milled steel more important branch of national industry than collar which nicely fitted over the neck of the either spinning or weaving by machinery. Manulower die and rested on a tripod spring arose by facturers of boots, saddlery, and clothing of every force of that spring and encircled the piece of description were the first to patronise the new gold at the moment that the upper or reverse die invention. At present there are many large struck it, it is clear that both the head and the establishments in which between 100 and 200 tail, and also the serrated edge or milling were machines are used in shirt-making, quilting, given to the blank at that one blow. The milled dress-making, &c. In the Southern States macollar acted a double part indeed, it prevented the chines are used extensively to make negroundue and irregular expansion of the gold as oc- clothing. Within the past two or three years curred in the old sledge hammer coinage, and it families have commenced to purchase them for formed a mould from which the edge of the so- domestic use, and already the sewing machine has vereign became by sheer pressure within it become almost a necessary article of household serrated. Whilst the first of our batch of furniture. Steps have been taken in many places sovereigns was getting its impressions, the toward their introduction into the female departfeeder slide came back self-actingly and singled ments of the public schools, as a part of the reguout another piece; this it now carries rapidly lar course of study, and it is considered far more forward to the die, and as the milled steel desirable that young ladies should understand the collar has been made also self-actingly-to sink proper manipulation of a sewing machine than again below the surface of the die, the coined that they should become good pianists or indifpiece resting on it is unceremoniously pushed ferent artists. In some neighbourhoods one away by the new comer and thrown down an family will purchase a machine and hire out the inclined copper slide in a finished state, to a tray use of it to persons not rich enough to own one, placed to catch it and its lovely companions. The or several families will unite in the purchase of a feeder now makes its deposits of piece after machine, and pass it around as needed. Many piece with wondrous precision, the collar alter-seamstresses who, at first, borrowed money to buy nately rising and falling, the boy keeping up the supply of food to the hungry "critter" who disposes of his golden rations at the rate of from sixty to seventy pieces per minute, and bright, beautiful, glistening, tempting, mischief-making,

one, now own two or three, having other seam-
stresses to work those for which their own hands
do not suffice. Full one-half of the machines now
made are sold to the laborious class of persons
known as needlewomen, sewing girls, and em-

Great Britain.

that one of the first patentees of the sewing maSince our last issue, we have been informed chine in Great Britain has withdrawn the suit turers of ready-made clothing who were using the which he had commenced against some manufacto find he has pursued, in this case, the wiser machines of another patentee. We are pleased policy of paying the expenses already incurred in attempting to control the sewing machine trade in his prosecution, rather than meet a final defeat of England. We may now hope that the people of England will be permitted, without molestabrought into the market. Patentees should ention, to select from the best machines that can be deavour to settle their disputes among themselves without quarrelling with their customers.

Literature.

High Speed Steam Navigation and Steam-ship Perfection. Can perfection be defined in the form of a Steam-ship, a Propeller, or any other mechanical appliance? A proposition for the solution of the Scientific World, and for the consideration of th British Admiralty. By ROBERT ARMSTRONG London: E. F. Spon, 19 Bucklersbury, E.C. 1859 THIS production, with its very attractive and particularly mysterious title, reminds us forcibly of a narrative which must be familiar to the most incipient entomologist, beginning"Will you walk into my parlour, said the spider to the fly? 'tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy: the way into my parlour is up a winding stair, and I have many curious things to show when you are there;"-for we know of old that Mr. Armstrong is very liberal in his invitations to the "scientific world," the "British Admiralty," and other acquaintances of his to walk into his parlour ("parley"); that the way into it is an extremely round-about one; that the things he has in it are exceedingly curious; and finally, that when he once gets you into his mazes and meshes it is a most difficult thing to extricate yourself from him. Indeed, the faculty which Mr. Armstrong has for spreading words and figures in complicated forms is so wonderful that, were his knowledge of geometry and his love of symmetry equal to the spider's, he would almost stand upon a level with that clever creature in the art of spinning webs. We must do him the justice, however, to say that he is void of that cruel and selfish disposition which his little rival so wantonly manifests.

There is, to speak more gravely, a very true sense in which the man who writes and publishes a book invites the reader into his parlour-his "parlour" being that mental region or apartment in which he dwells. The knowledge which

a man possesses constitutes the furniture and decorations of that apartment, and it is by means of it that he proposes to entertain the reader. If, therefore, on entering the apartment we see at a glance that the whole aspect of the place is uninviting or repugnant to us, it is only wise of us to retreat forthwith. And this, we must say, is the purpose we have formed in reference to Mr. Armstrong. We do not like his "parlour" at all; his furniture is all rickety and unsound, and his decorations coarse and extravagant. We do not find in his writings any clear understanding of existing science; any sufficient appreciation of the present condition of our knowledge; any orderly statement of what he presumes to be erroneous; or any systematic endeavour to explain his own theories. Nor, indeed, do we even find any indication of the mental power and culture which are indispensable in a man who presumes to handle such a subject as that on which Mr. Armstrong here addresses us.

We write this without a shadow of ill-will to

Mr. Armstrong, and with the hope that he will not persist in estranging all sound scientific men from him. That he is now running the risk of this is most evident. Months ago Mr. G. P. Bidder openly repelled him at the Institution of Civil Engineers, saying that he (Mr. Armstrong) was either so insensible or so indifferent to the arguments of the cultivated members of that Institution, that further argument with him "would be as useless as to attempt to hold a conversation with him in a language he did not understand;” and Mr. Armstrong himself innocently tells us that "an eminent engineer has used precisely the same words." We not only adopt them, bat go further, and say that scientific men who converse with Mr. Armstrong do actually employ a language which he does not understand. And the reverse is equally true-scientific men do not understand his language. He makes a very free use-too free a use-of certain great names, but we believe he fails altogether to comprehend what the persons whom he quotes mean in much that they say. Our opinion is, that he is wholly mistaken in supposing that he is in any way competent to deal with the subjects on which his mind appears to have fastened. We do not for a moment doubt the excellence of his intentions, be it observed; it is of his inability to give effect to them that we speak, and of that alone.

1859.

showing its total force in each reign, and the
numbers of ships in the several rates since the
system of classification was adopted by Charles I.
The relative strength of the navy at the principal
periods of our history may, therefore, be readily
compared by means of it. The sheet has been very
carefully printed by Messrs. Eyre and Spottis-
woode, and is issued either unmounted, or mounted
and bound strongly in cloth. We cannot vouch
for the accuracy of the compiler, as he has not
thought fit to verify his figures by distinct refer-
ences to the sources from which he has drawn
them, and we know how easily mistakes may be
made in such matters. We see no reason, however,
to question Mr. Perigal's care in this respect, and
we know that he has for some years made the
navy a subject of study. For general purposes
such a compilation as the present will be very
useful.

at its natural temperature. The register, when partly opened, may even permit a mixture of the two at different degrees of temperature, and moderate the warmth of a ward for the moment become overheated. The air conduit (or pipe) enters the ground-floor ward in its centre at the floor level, through the middle of a cast-iron drum of four vertical sides, furnished with perforated doors for admitting the air into the ward. The tambour or drum incloses some wire shelves, on which linen may be placed, and drinks for the patients to be warmed. The air-pipe debouches on the floor-level through an opening of 75 centimètres (2 feet 5 in.) diameter, in which is inserted a vertical tube of 60 centimètres (1 ft. 114 in.) diameter, rising to the first floor; between these two tubes there exists an annular space, permitting a portion of the air to be arrested on the ground-floor. Thus the air introduced is divided into two portions; one admitted to the ground-floor, the others continuing upwards for the use of the upper floors. A register, regulated by a quadrant, permits the reduction of the section of the tube, and of varying the volume of air for each of the floors. If the register is entirely closed, the whole of the air would be arrested on the ground-floor: by opening it, more or less, the air for the two upper floors is increased at pleasure. On the first floor there is an arrangement like that on the ground-floor, a register for stopping a certain volume of air, and for allowing the rest to rise to the second floor, where the second column terminates, and a tamthose of the lower floors. Thus fresh air, serving bour only exists, in every respect resembling both for warming and ventilating, is admitted into the centre of the wards, entering through wide openings, so as not to acquire a great velocity, and produce disagreeable currents. The air which has been harboured (séjourne) in the wards escapes from them through four evacuating channels in their corners or angles-a number too limited, in my opinion; but the pavilion being already built where the system of ventilation was adapted to it, a greater number would have occasioned a considerable outlay for cutting chaces in the walls, or for placing the channels on the wall Dr. Grassi, in the outset of his dissertation, surfaces with a very disagreeable appearance. The after some allusion to the modes of ventilation three channels at each angle, and which correand warming loug in use at the Hospitals Neckar spond with the three wards, rise side by side vertiand Beaujon, and to the commission appointed to cally to reach the loft, where they are received examine the new system of Dr. Van Hecke which into a horizontal zinc pipe, one at each of the has been tried in the Pavilion No. 4 of the Hos-four corners, which unite in the centre of the loft pital Beaujon, thus proceeds to describe that system: :

our readers.
number of

VAN HECKE'S SYSTEM OF VENTILATION.
MUCH attention having lately been drawn to the
system of ventilation lately introduced by Van
Hecke in many continental hospitals-apparently
with great advantage-we have been anxious to
lay some correct description of the system before
This, an article in last week's
our excellent contemporary, the
Builder, opportunely enables us to do.
"Of the application of Van Hecke's plan to
one of the pavilions of the Hospital Beaujon, and
a highly favourable report by a Government com-
heard, and were favoured," says our contempo-
mission on the subject, we had some time since
rary," by Mr. J. Bonomi, with a special transla-
tion of an elaborate paper by the reporter on that
commission, Dr. Grassi, who had instituted an ex-
perimental investigation of the system for his own
satisfaction, after the commission of which he was
the reporter had favourably reported on it to the
French Government. Of this translation we pro-
pose now making some use; the more especially
as we find that Van Hecke's mode of ventilation
continues to be preferred to all others in new
French hospitals, to which it has since been
applied."*

The Polymeter, or Quintant. The Practice of a
New Sector, as used in Trigonometry, Surveying,
Fortification, Gunnery, Engineering, and Astro-
nomical Observations. By FREDERICK R. A.
The warming of the Pavilion No. 4 of the
GLOVER, M.A., Chaplain to Her Britannic Ma- Hospital Beaujon is performed by means of a
jesty's Consulate at Cologne. Cambridge: Deigh-calorifère-stove situated in the cellar-floor. Air is
ton, Bell, and Co. London: Bell and Daldy.
Tag author of this little work is the inventor of
an instrument called the Polymeter, which is re-
presented as answering all the purposes of-1, a
sextant; 2, a double sextant; 3, a surveying
magnetic compass; 4, a level; 5, an artificial
horizon; 6, a dial; 7, a set of scales; 8, a pro-
tracter; 9, a thermometer; 10, a gunner's quad-
rant; and 11, a pair of callipers-the whole being
brought into the size and shape of a thin memo-
candum book, which its cover forms. In addition
to all this, it likewise is a "trigonometer"-a
new instrument for measuring heights and dis-
tanres, doing trigonometry without logarithms,
&r. The pamphlet before us is a handbook for
the use of those who are fortunate enough to pos-
se this invaluable instrument, and must, of
course, be purchased by all such persons. To those
who do not know the instrument the pamphlet

will make its nature and value known.

Chart of the Royal Navy of Great Britain from the Earliest Period of History, Compiled from His torical Publications, Old Records, Parliamentary Returns, and other Authorities. London: J. D. Potter, 31 Poultry, and 11 King-street, Towerhül. 1859.

Tas chart, which has been compiled, we beLove, by Mr. Frederick Perigal, exhibits at a giance the rise and progress of the Royal Navy,

in a tambour, capped with an evacuating cylinder of zinc, 75 centimètres (2 ft. 54 in.) in diameter. At the intersections of the air-escape channels loft, registers are fixed, by which the openings from the wards with the receiving channels of the conveyed to this stove by a cylindrical channel of may be regulated, and, consequently, the draft or zinc, 75 centimètres (2 ft. 5 in.) in diameter, extraction from each of the wards. The air from which, after running horizontally through the the wards has, besides the evacuating channels vault, is received into a vertical shaft of masonry above-named, an exit for escape through the opening out in the garden at about 2 mètres water-closets by an opening in the ceiling, which (about 6 ft. 7 in.) above its surface; from this also communicates with the channel in the loft. through the tubes of the calorifere and become closets through an opening in the lower part of source the air is derived. After the air has passed The air from the ward, entering into the waterwarmed, it enters a large pipe, to be distributed the door, rises towards the evacuating opening in by it in the three wards (one above another): the water-closet ceiling, sweeping through and before, however, reaching them, it passes over a carrying away in its course all smell. The ventipan of water to supply it with a suitable quantity lation is not effected through the water-closet of moisture. By this arrangement the air trans-basins, as at La Ribosière, the seats being closed, mitted to the wards is derived exclusively from the and the ventilation acting exclusively upon the garden, and not allowed to mix with the air of the atmosphere within the water-closet; it is quite in the calorifère, it may be sent to the wards in a vault. Instead of permitting the air to circulate sufficient, and in no hospital have I found the direct course, which bears the same relation to the Hospital Beaujon. water-closets so completely rid of smell as in the channel of the calorifère that the chord does to its arc. At the commencement of the calorifère tube there is a moveable register for the purpose of giving such a direction to the air as may be required, either for warming it, or allowing its use

• A pamphlet entitled "Remarks on Ventilation, with Extracts from Official Reports, on the Combination of Ventilation and Warming;-System Van Hecke. By Wilson Weatherby Phipson, C.E." (Printed by H. M. Pollett, 35 Aldermanbury), has recently been forwarded to us, which contains many allusions to the favourable results obtained by means of Dr. Van Hecke's system, but no particular description of the plan itself.

troduction and exit of air, I must mention a "By way of concluding what refers to the insource of pure air considered as accessory, which, however, is not unimportant:-On the groundfloor at the entrance to the cellaring is placed a small steam-engine, of which I shall presently speak. The smoke-flue from its furnace, united to that from the calorifère-stove, is surrounded by a concentric enclosure, the lower end of which is

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open to the outer pure air, and draws it in through its orifice in the garden. This air circulates in the annular space round the smoke-pipe, in contact with which it becomes warm as it rises to the top of the building. This air-flue is situated in the thickness of the wall separating the staircase from the wards; at the level of each story it presents three openings, one into the ward, one towards the stairs, and the third into the two-bedded room. These, openings afford a passage for the warm air during winter: in the summer season it is allowed to rise to the upper part of the building, where it disperses itself; but Mr. Van Hecke was desirous to turn this warm air to account, by causing it to enter the loft used as a dryingchamber. When the upper orifice of this airfunnel is closed, as is the case in winter, the warm air diffuses itself in the wards, and in the staircase, of which it keeps up the warmth. In summer, when the upper orifice is entirely open, the smokeflue draws upon the air within the wards, and thus produces an increase of ventilation.

"Such is the channel-system for the passage of the air derived from the garden, and finally escaping through the common flue. Now let us consider the moving power. I have before mentioned the small steam-engine at the entrance to the cellaring; it is intended to keep in motion a ventilator, which, in the first instance, Mr. Van Hecke had placed in the upper part of the tubing within the flue or chimney of the loft. A band or strap transmits the movement from the groundfloor to the loft; the ventilator then produces a suction-draft from the air of the wards. The apparatus of Mr. Van Hecke produced ventilation by (appel) suction by mechanical agency. Since it was fixed an important addition has been made to it. Mr. Van Hecke has placed a second ventilator, identical with the first, in the lower indraught channel, where the column of air takes its rise within the vault. On connecting this ventilator with the machine, it drives into the wards the air which it inspires from without, and thus produces a ventilation by injection analogous to that produced by the apparatus of Messrs. Thomas and Laurens, at the Hospital La Riboisière. In this manner the apparatus is arranged to allow of ventilation by suction, on putting the upper ventilator in motion, or by injection when the engine is in connection with the ventilator situated in the lower part of the building; the change being effected simply by the band which transmits the motion, an operation requiring but a few minutes. The ventilator of Mr. Van Hecke is composed of two (palettes) fans or blades, fixed to two stems, which are inserted perpendicularly on the axis of rotation, and inclined from fifty to sixty degrees. A peculiarity distinguishing this ventilator is, that the inclination of the fans is not constant, but varying with the speed of the rotary movement. The boiler of the engine warms the office on the ground-floor, in which are arranged pans for poultices, and a warm-linen closet. A portion of the steam, after giving motion to the engine, is sent to the upper floors, where it heats the water required by the patients; but the greater portion, which might be usefully employed, is for the present wasted."

Dr. Grassi then proceeds to show how the effects of the system are indicated by anemometer, connected with a contrivance of M. Van Hecke's. He then adds:

[merged small][graphic][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small]

Endless bands pass from one to the other of these cylinders, which revolve simultaneously. The air circulating in the channel is forced to pass over these constantly moist bands, and thus acquires a much lower temperature."

Builder), is only requisite to Van Hecke's system The use of steam-power, we may add (says the manual labour can be easily or economically apon a large scale. In ships and elsewhere, where plied, or is sufficient for the purpose in view, no steam-power is necessary to ventilation on this plan; and in dwelling-houses the ventilator has even been put in action by clockwork and weights. A French admiralty report speaks favourably of the system as applied on shipboard, where one man works it at a time. French Government reports speak strongly in its favour, as adopted at the Hospital Necker, for ventilation, heating, and cooling. The Hospital L'Asile Imperiale de Vesinet, near Paris, has had Van Hecke's apparatus applied to it, and it has been brought into use in other hospitals and public buildings in France and elsewhere, and is ordered for hospitals now in course of erection at Chartres, Lyons, &c.

GIBSON'S PATENT STEERING

APPARATUS.

MR. W. GIBSON, of St. Leonard's-road, Middlesex, has just obtained patents in England, France, &c., for a steering apparatus of novel and promising construction. His invention consists in working the rudders of ships and other vessels by means of an endless screw shaft, which gives motion to a nut connected to a lever centred on a fixed standend at one end, and connected at the other end to an arm projecting from the rudder head, through a conecting rod. The steering wheel is keyed on or otherwise fixed to the endless screw shaft, and on turning the wheel in one direction or the other the required motion is communicated through the nut, lever, connecting rod, and arm to the rudder. The lever is slotted to allow of the connections and the nut and the rudder arm moving therein.

of this apparatus taken from the side of a ship or Fig. 1 of the accompanying engravings is a view vessel; Fig. 2 is a front view of the same. A is "In order to complete the description of this the deck upon which are firmly fixed by bolts or system of warming and ventilating, I have to otherwise two standards B B, carrying bearings, notice an apparatus not yet fixed, but which is supporting a screw C; D is the rudder-head or now being constructed by M. Van Hecke, and to post, and E an arm or lever projecting from side be placed within the stone-built channel, which thereof; Fis a vertical rod carried up from the from the cellar leads into the garden for air. This arm E; on the upper end of this rod a small apparatus is intended to cool the air in summer, on roller is placed, which rides in a slot in one end of its way to the wards. It consists of two cylinders the lever or bar G. The opposite end of this bar placed horizontally one above the other, at 1 m. or lever is centred in a pin or stud supported on a 50 s. (4 ft. 11 in.) apart. On the axis of the standard I. The lever G is also slotted, and in upper cylinder is a pulley to receive the movement the slot a pin rising from and connected to a nut of the axletree. The under cylinder is plunged H works; a friction roller is placed on the pin, into a trough of water, which may be obtained of where it moves within this slot. The screw C the temperature of well-water, or be cooled arti-passes through the nut. On the tiller-wheel K, ficially by pieces of ice, should it be requisite. which is keyed on one end of the screw C, being

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SHAND AND MASON'S NEW STEAM FIRE-
ENGINE.

SOME interesting experiments were made on Friof testing the efficiency of a new steam fire-enday last at the Waterloo-bridge-wharf, with a view gine which has just been completed by Messrs. Shand and Mason. This engine is the second of the kind that has been made, but in the construction of the present such a considerable reduction of weight has been effected as to materially extend that others of still lighter proportions may be its sphere of usefulness, while it is anticipated built. The whole machine is mounted on high wheels, with a fore-locking carriage, and is, ot horses. The box contains the hose and implements, course, intended for rapid transit by means of with a driving seat and space for firemen. Its extreme dimensions are 12 feet long by 6 feet 5 inches wide, and 8 feet high without chimney. The total weight, including firemen and all implements, is nearly three tons, or almost double the weight of the ordinary Brigade engine. This increase of weight is apparently the only disadvantage which it possesses when compared with the common Brigade engine; in all the other and steam fire-engine is so great as to leave no room more important qualities the superiority of the for comparison with any other. Like the common fire-engine, this one by steam can be worked either with a suction pipe, or water may be drawn from the cistern, which forms part of the engine itself.

made entirely of gun-metal; the valves of The steam cylinder and pumps are india-rubber, as in the floating steam fireengine; and the whole machinery is of the simplest and strongest construction, and not liable to be damaged by any amount of jolting over rough roads. The boiler is of the upright tubular construction, affording ample means for superheating the steam; there are 199 brass tubes, 1 fire-box is of copper, 3 feet 4 inches diameter; inch outside diameter, and 15 inches long. The the cylinder is 8 inches diameter, with 6-inch stroke; one water cylinder is 6 inches diameter with 6 inches stroke, the other 7 inches diameter with a 4-inch stroke, the two being equal in cubic contents. In designing this engine other important circumstances besides obtaining the best theoretical steam pump have had to be taken into consideration, such as weight, bulk, means of transit, and accommodation for hose, implements, &c. have pumps consisting of two single-acting cylinThe London Brigade engines ders, 7 inches diameter and 8-inch stroke. The average rate of working at fires is not more than 40 strokes per minute, and, as the cylinders contain 616 cubic inches, it follows that a London brigade engine delivers, at its average rate

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