hot uptakes pass up through the steam, the economy of expansion has never been questioned, but can be substantiated to a considerable extent at any time. It is likely, however, that were the temperature of the steam from such boilers ascer tained, it would be found considerably superheated. And the use of the various modes of superheating has been rendered much more necessary than it otherwise would have been, by engineers gene From the foregoing it is also conclusive that with the ordinary construction of steam-engines afloat, that small engines going fast would consume less coal per indicated horse-power than large engines going slow; but with engines such as those of the Callao, Bogota, and Lima the converse will be the case, carried, of course, to within moderate limits. carriages resembling that invented by Mr. Mar- the cylinder capacity is so great as to admit of the shall in 1827, but modified to suit the purpose steam being expanded to within two pounds of more effectually. We have no account of the the pressure in the condenser at the end of the manner in which this modification of the carriage stroke, while the engines are working full power; is to be effected, and have consequently had en- and as the nominal power of these engines is congraved within the shield a gun and carriage tracted to be 320, the cylinders are 90 in. diameter, taken from Commander Marshall's original de- and 5 feet stroke; and, in order to reduce the scription of 1827. The following account of this violent shock of high-pressure steam on such a part of the engraving is derived from the same large piston, and also to increase the jacket sursource. "A is the breech carriage, which differs faces, a cylinder of one-third the size, or 25in. dia-rally following that type of tubular boiler used by only from the ordinary carriage in its shape before, meter, and 5 feet stroke, is placed close to it. This the Admiralty where there are low steam chests, which will be understood sufficiently by the draw- small cylinder receives the steam direct from the and short uptakes, said to be rendered necessary ing; B is the coin; C is the trunnion, and D boiler during one-third of its stroke; this steam in the case of the Admiralty on account of expothe asp over the trunnion; E, is the muzzle car- is consequently reduced to one-third of its original sure to shot. riage, having its wheel or wheels F, in this posi-pressure at the end of its stroke, and then enters tion at right angles with the wheels of the breech the second cylinder, where it is expanded three carriage; E is a mere solid block of wood; G, Htimes more, making a total of nine volumes. Thus are two plates bolted to it with eyes at one end r 42 lbs. steam is expanded nine times, or to 43 lbs., and t, to receive the hinged bolt J; this bolt namely, from 42 lbs. to 14 lbs. in the small passes through another eye s, which is bolted to cylinder; it then enters the large cylinder at the ship's sides and steps into a socket made for it 14 lbs., and is expanded to 43 lbs., but as the in the water ways; K represents the ship's side, second piston is three times the size of the first, and L the water ways, and n the socket; N is a the gross load will be the same on both pistons, and strong iron crutch, with a piece of hard wood i, i, the piston rods, crossheads, and connecting rods fitted in the middle of it for the muzzle of the gun may be duplicates of each other. to traverse upon; this crutch turns on the central bolt or pivot P, which is set into a socket made for it in the block or bed of the muzzle carriage E; the gun is here supposed to be run out in a straight direction for firing, and if it were fired the recoil would cause the gun to run in the muzzle, and traversing on the wood i, i, till the crutch came to the muzzle rim, or beyond it if required according to the lengths of the ropes or breechings. By this arrangement a hand spike or tackle applied to the muzzle carriage at X, on either side, will point the gun with the greatest nicety and facility, the wheel or wheels F being, as will be observed, in the proper position for that movement." It should be observed that the characteristic feature of Commander Marshall's carriage consisted in mounting the breech and muzzle of a gun on two separate carriages, one supporting the breech and the other the muzzle, and the wheels of one being at an angle with those of the other. DOUBLE CYLINDER EXPANSION MARINE ENGINES. Ar last year's meeting of the British Association, Mr. John Elder, Engineer, of Glasgow, gave a description, with plans, of the various double cylinder expansion marine engines for ocean steamships that had been constructed by his firm during the last six years. At the late Aberdeen meeting he added those of the Callao, Lima, and Bogota, together with those of some others now in progress. Before entering on this subject he reminded the Association that these engines are constructed with the view of getting the greatest amount of power from a given quantity of steam, at a given pressure, with less total weight of engine-boilers and water, and occupying less total space than that occupied by the ordinary class of steam-engines on board of steam-ships. At the former meeting he had mentioned that the above steam-ships, with the ordinary first class system of machinery, were coming from Valparaiso to this country to have their engines replaced by these double-cylinder engines, entirely for the purpose of saving of fuel-the Lima and Bogota. They are of the following dimensions:-Length, 245 feet; breadth, 36 feet; depth, 23 feet; breadth between paddle-boxes, 86 feet; tonnage, 1,650 tons. These ships had formerly a full poop and forecastle, which were altered this year into a spar deck, and the hulls of the ship increased in weight about 120 tons; the cabin and hold accommodation was lengthened 30 feet by the space saved by the smaller quantity of coal and boiler space required for the new machinery; and the registered tonnage of the ship was increased by upwards of 400 tons. The following statements are in the language of Mr. Elder. In the engines of the Lima, Callao, and Bogota, We here preserve Mr. Marshall's language, but without reproducing the letters of reference in the engraving. Again, to return to the case of the Callac, Lima, and Bogota, the general construction of the engines and boilers are as follows:-The cylinders are four in number, namely, two of 52 inches diameter, and two of 90 inches diameter and 5 feet stroke. The cylinders lie diagonally to each other. The steam and eduction valves are wrought with eccentrics, the steam valve is a gridiron valve with a large lap; one eduction valve serves as eduction for the high and its corresponding lowspressed cylinder; it has no lap, and the educ tion port remains open during the entire stroke of the piston, thereby giving a free egress for the steam, and ample escape for water should it form. From the above pressures of steam at the entering of the cylinder, it is evident, that unless the inside surface of the large cylinder is retained about 210 degrees, condensation of the steam on entering is certain, and such condensation will chiefly evaporate into the condenser while the eduction port is open, and the latent heat necessary to evaporate such condensation will be much greater than what would have radiated from the hot cylinder to the condenser, had no condensation taken place; and such heat would be entirely lost. In the same manner it might be mentioned, In reversing the engines the eccentrics are that the inside surface of the small cylinder made to overrun the engines by a donkey-engine should be retained as high in temperature as the till they arrive at the backing position-a plan steam that enters it; and in order to attain this which is less likely to cause accident than the object every effort should be made in the construc-ordinary methods. This donkey-engine has been tion of steam machinery. It is evident that, for found to be most satisfactory in its application. the small cylinder, superheated steam is absolutely necessary for this purpose, either in the jacket or cisterns of the cylinder; and in the large cylinder the temperature of steam direct from the boiler to the cylinder may be sufficient, if communicated through a large enough pipe or aperture. In the engines under description the pipe supplying steam to the jackets was 24 in. diameter, and the steam was superheated to upwards of 400 degrees that entered the jacket. It was found that a large supply to the jacket saved a vast quantity of heat, which can only be explained by the principles above mentioned, namely, that any quantity of heat supplied to the jackets assisted in proportion to the quantity of latent heat it saved being evaporated to the condenser during the eduction of the steam, and if the pipes to the jackets were large enough, or sufficient to prevent the condensation referred to, the economy of the machinery was realized to the greatest extent. Mr. Elder called the attention of all parties concerned to the performance of Cornish pumping engines, and more particularly to the similarity of action of the steam jacket in these engines to the principle of that of the double cylinder engine with steam jackets. In the Cornish engine the piston it is single acting, and the jacket has twice the time to do its work, or rather the steam in the cylinder is twice the time in contact with the jackets that it is generally with Watt's engine, also that the Cornish engines have very large jacket surfaces in proportion to the power developed. With these features in view, the engineers constructed the engines now under discussion, and to this cause may be attributed a considerable portion of their success, and to the non-observance of these features the almost total failure of economy in the expansive working of most steam engines on board of steamships, namely, by constructing large engines, going slow, without steam jackets, or superheating of steam; such engines would, of course, present a most favourable opportunity for improvement by adding any mode of superheating apparatus. In the Cunard line, and many of our ocean steamers where very high steam chests and large The boilers are tubular, two in number, with iron tubes. Each boiler has three furnaces, 3 feet 4 inches wide, and 6 feet long, or making an aggregate of 130 square feet of fire-grate. The tubes are of iron, 288 in number, 4 inches inside diameter, and 6 feet long. Each vessel has an oval steam chest, 12 feet high, and 8 feet long, and 5 feet broad, with three uptakes through this steam chest each 2 feet diameter and 15 feet long.. This makes a strong form of take-up where it joins the tube plate, especially in boilers firing across the ship; the feed-pipe of the boilers enters into a long flat tauk or shield in front of the furnaces in which the furnace doors are formed. This shield forms a protection to the firemen from heat, and makes the heat, otherwise lost, avail able for the feed-water. In the Callao there is a third coil of feed-pipe in the funnel, t heat the feed water. Such, then, are the leading features of this machinery, and the results are as follows: This plan of the boilers gave steam to the egines superheated to about 400 degrees by the uptakes, showing that the various systems of superheating are unnecessarily complicated; 10deed, in the Lima, the steam got so far above 1) degrees, that in the Bogota the steam chests were made two feet lower, and two small feed-pipes were made to feed the boiler when too much superheated by the tap of the steam chest. The super heated steam, though upwards of 400 degrees of heat, was found quite inadequate to prevent con densation in the cylinder, without the steam-jacket cock being full open. Mr. Elder pressed this fact on notice, as in the case of double-cylinder engines it is so prominently observed, by comparing the respective diagra: 18 of the low and high-pressed cylinders, especial; as those engines, where the cylinders are so close that the diagram of one is an exact counterpart of the other, when there is no condensation: and it is somewhat curious to observe, while taking diagrams of the low pressure cylinder, the gradual development of the diagram, with the jacket-cock full open, compared with that when it is shut. will be found on reference to the Report of the | The recorded performances of the Lima was not SILAS'S MARINE LIGHTS. in the MECHANICS' MAGAZINE that portion of my I am, Gentlemen, yours very obediently, Woolwich Dockyard, 14th November, 1859. SHIPS' CHAIN CABLES. When the steam was at a pressure of 21 pounds above the atmosphere the temperature at the surface of the water was 264 degs., and at the top of the steam chest 400 degs. Faht., showing that the steam was surcharged to the extent of 136 degs., notwithstanding that the steam was in direct and unimpeded contact with the surface of the water. The engines made during the trial trips, which were generally half-a-day in length, from about 23 to 26 revolutions, and indicated from 1,000 to 1,300 horse-power during that time, and consumed from 20 to 25 cwts. per hour, with the surface blow-off cocks open. The Callao, Lima, and Bogota have all shown a consumption of from 2 to 2 pounds per indicated horse-power per hour best Welsh coals, and the speed of the ships from 12 to 13 knots per hour. The steam-ship Callao has now been plying between Valparaiso and Panama with Her Majesty's mails for upwards of nine months, and has performed her work in a most satisfactory manner. The distance between these is upwards of 3,200 miles, and this she performs regularly on about 300 tons of coals. The Callao made the run from Liverpool to Valparaiso in, I think, about 36 days steaming time, which averages about 240 miles per day during a run of 9,000 miles on a consumption of about 20 cwts. per hour. The Lima has cessful run; she performed the distance of 1,500 miles, from Valparaiso to Callao, in 141 hours, consuming 150 tons of coals, logging at an average of 260 miles per day during that distance, considerably faster than she had ever done with her original engines, and on less than half the coals consumed. The Bogota was completed and denly burst into a blaze of light, and was only passed under the sharp bows of the vessel, was also arrived at her destination after a most suc tested on the first of September last, and found fully equal to the others. She made the run from the Cloch Light in the Clyde to the Hell Buoy at Liverpool in 15 hours, against a strong head wind, and consumed during that distance 15 tons of Scotch coals. At the Admiralty trial, which took place im. mediately on her arrival at Liverpool, she averaged upwards of 13 knots, the engine made 254 revolu. MR. FERDINAND SILAS, inventor of the indestruc- of Commodore the Hon. Sir James Drummond, extinguished by being dragged under the water: M-T, Nov. 10, 1859. TO THE EDITORS OF THE MECHANICS' MAGAZINE." GENTLEMEN,-Your correspondent "Amicus," in connection with the destruction of the Royal Charter, has done much good, by enlightening the public upon the character of the iron plates used in the construction of iron vessels. There is one point, however, upon which his exposition is imperfect. I refer to the quality of the iron used in the chain cables, and I pray a short space for a few lines on that subject. lation of the destruction of the Royal Charter is that The first misfortune that we read of in this sad reafter the anchors were cast the two cables snapped. The readers of the graphic article in the Times, to have their memories refreshed how the cables did "The Great Eastern in the gale," will not require some of the links of the chain cable were actually duty in her case. We read-"In this last struggle dragged out one-third longer, and one, which bent nearly double." It is the writer's opinion had the Royal Charter cables been of the same quality as those of the Great Eastern that vessel and her cargo of precious metal and more precious lives would not have been lost. I have heard it stated and repeated that the proprietors of large vessels care not anything further about the quality of their cables, than that they stand the test required by the insurance offices. A very common or inferior iron cable will stand that test, when new. Yet such a strain may be received then, although the cable may not have snapped, that it would have been far safer to have used the cable without testing it. But with a tions; she indicated 1080 horse-power, and consumed about 21 cwts. per hour of Scotch coals; the steam was superheated to 340 degrees on entering the cylinder, and the thermometer at the water level of the boiler showed 264; the pressure in the boilers was 27 lbs., and the vacuum in the exploring ship Fox. It was then pronounced that superior quality of tenacious fibrous iron, no injury She left Liverpool for the invention was extremely suitable for all the whatever is done to the cable by the test employed, condensers 26 inches. Valparaiso on the 11th of the present month, with sufficient coals to carry her 5,000 miles at 240 miles per day, and a full complement of stores for the passengers on board; her draught of water on leaving Liverpool at the load line was, aft, 14 ft. 6 in.; forward, 13 ft. 9 in.; and displacement, 1,700 tons. She steamed to the Holyhead Light, where the pilot left her, at the rate of 11 nautical miles per hour against a strong head wind; the engines were making 20 revolutions; the steam pressure was 26 lbs. ; the vacuum 26 inches; and the consumption of coals 22 cwts, best Welsh coals per hour. The engineers are now constructing the machinery for three other steam-ships on this principle, with boilers on the cellular cylindrical spiral principle. In conclusion, the form of engines now described gives regularity of motion, while working expansively to the fullest extent, the expansion principle is fully realised, and the engines are of a strong architectural figure, with the various parts easily got at, and reduced to simple forms, and present every facility for reversing freely by the engine-driver. The performance of the Lima on a trial trip of considerable distance, namely, between Liverpool and Dublin, was made several months ago, under the observation of a member of the Steamship Performance Committee, appointed by the British Association at its last meeting at Leeds. The member watched the performance of the ship and her machinery with the utmost minuteness, in conjunction with the Admiralty engineer; and an accurate return has been made to the committee, in accordance with the form prescribed and recommended for general adoption; and it purposes above named, but they could not recom- STEAM SHIP ECONOMY. TO THE EDITORS OF THE MECHANICS' MAGAZINE." Is and it would not be torn asunder without almost The cables of the Great Eastern, as has been stated, were made by Messrs. Brown, Lenox, and Co., Cardiff, and of iron prepard for them at the works of Mr. Anthony Hill (Hill P F Co.); and the late Mr. Brunel had most emphatically requested Mr. Hill, that the best possible iron only should be provided,—and probably better iron was never seen than that used in the cables of the Great Eastern, and it was not a bit too good, as the proof as shown. Allow me to close this subject in your own words. "This state of things should be remedied. In the name of Christian charity, let us not expose our fellow creatures to violent deaths, 500 at a time, for the mere difference in the price per ton between good and bad iron.” "VERITAS." TO THE EDITORS OF THE "MECHANICS' MAGAZINE." GENTLEMEN,-I feel assured you will pardon me for bringing the attention of the public through your columns to the apparent ultimate cause of the loss of the noble steamer the Royal Charter with 400 lives, viz., the breaking of the chain cables. Why did not the Great Eastern go ashore from the same cause? a ship for which there was no parallel to decide upon an adequate size of cable in comparison with any other ship afloat. Surely shipowners should not be allowed to fix the size of cables and anchors for their ships-out by the expedition. All the men have been sup-subject of the required material therein referred to; a subject which nine out of ten know nothing whatever about-grinding the captain down to a th inch in size, and urging the saving of a £5 note in the equipment of a noble ship. They should be compelled to take the best, and nothing but the very best, cables and anchors that can be made, and then the manufacturer would live by his own merit, and not by grinding down the wages of his unfortunate men. The very price they are now sold at is a sufficient guarantee that the articles must be rubbish. Where is England's maritime superiority? or where the feeling of a nation proud of its honourable dealings, while such wholesale slaughter is allowed for the saving of a few pounds in the outfit of her finest passenger ships? Owners assert that steamers do not require such good cables and anchors as sailing ships; surely this sad affair will open the eyes of the public. How is it that both screw and paddle, as exemplified in the Times account of the Great Eastern, are rendered useless by debris? mostly occasioned by the very means adopted to save the ship and lives, viz., the cutting away the masts, when nothing is left in the very jaws of death but the quality of the ship's cables and anchors. A CONSTANT READER. NOTICES. The MECHANICS' MAGAZINE will be sent free by post to all subscribers of £1 1s. 8d., annually, payable in advance. Post Office Orders to be made payable to R. A. Brooman, at the Post Office, Fleet Street, London, E.C. TO ADVERTISERS. All Advertisements occupying less than half-a-column are charged at the rate of 5d. per line for any number of insertions less than 13; for 13 insertions, 4d. per line; and Special Arrangements for larger or Serial Advertisements for 52 insertions, 3d. per line. To ensure insertion, Advertisements must reach the Office by 5 o'clock on Thursday evening each week. None can be received after that time for the ensuing number Our Weekly Gossip. A REMARKABLE circumstance occurred on Wednes who day in Portsmouth harbour-It was H.M. ship Vulcan exercising, reefing and unreefing her topsails on the Cunningham system. It would have made the old tars of Benbow's time, or of a more recent age, stare to see the canvas disappearing as if by magic, and the area of the topsails, as it were, melting away without the appearance of any effecting cause; as at a distance the rotation of the yards could not be discovered. The Vulcan's exercise caused considerable interest in the harbour, and may be looked upon as an event in the Royal Navy. It was remarked by those were on board that the senior-lieutenant, Lieutenant P. W. Stephens, had quite fallen into the new system as if he had known no other; and that although he had, as it were, to invent the routine of orders to be given as he entered into the exercise, there was no hesitation, but each order came out decidedly and distinctly. It is pleasant to see young officers of the service thus grappling so zealously and ardently with the improvements of the age, and it shows that although there may be some rust to rub off, we have some good solid material underneath to work upon. It has been before noticed that Commander Strach applied for the Cunningham system, and is entering into the change most earnestly and zealously. It will be by enterprising officers of this description that progressive improvement in the Navy will be effected. The British Government (says the New York Courier and Enquirer), is drawing largely on the white oak forests of Virginia. Over three hundred men are now employed in getting timber in the mountains near Rowlesburg, on the Cheat River, which is to be used for gun carriages. The contractor has orders which it will take two years to fill. The Cheat River oak is said to be the best yet imported into England, and far surpassing the Canada oak, which it is fast superseding. The Royal Engineers who are about to proceed to China will take out with them a large supply of all kinds of engineering stores and implements to be used in sapping and mining and siege operations. The have, on many occasions, been responded to whenever detachment is also accompanied by a party of photo-through the action of that Society, the public mind graphers, provided with the best instruments used in has been directed to any public requirement. For photography, for taking views of the defences, earth- example: within a week of the publication in the works, &c. Several of the Royal Engineers have also Society of Arts' Journal of the 28th ult. of my sugges been instructed in laying down and working the tion on "Unsinkable ships," I received communica electric telegraph, several miles of wire being taken tions from parties already prepared to take up the plied with clothing suitable to the climate of China at the expense of the Government. and it was a singular coincidence that in the very same journal an article appeared describing (with re ference to a totally di erent subject) a new process for converting a certain s id substance into a cellular mass; and in the MECHAN CS' MAGAZINE of the present week, we have the su ect of rendering even textile materials uninflammable practically treated Both these points are analogous to what is reof. quired in the present case. I cannot doubt that if the Council of the Society of Arts should take up this subject, and be liberally supplied with the means of offering the premiums referred to, namely, first: For the material best adap ted for the construction of unsinkable ships or rendering ships unsinkable; and, second, plans for the most effective application of such material for all cases of naval construction, I have no doubt that such action of the Society of Arts would call forth a display of chemical, mercantile, and constructive knowledge of no ordinary character, and, may be, of the greatest public utility. I am, Gentlemen, your very obedient servant, CHARLES ATHELTON. A practical movement for the protection of all animals of draught from the inclemencies of the weather is on foot amongst a few wealthy and influ ential persons, who have already subscribed somewhat largely to this end. The movement more particularly applies to the cab-horses of the principal cities of Great Britain, which may be seen standing by night and day, mayhap for hours, with their loins-the most susceptible portion of the animal-exposed. The consequences are, that when the poor beasts have to be thawed into movement, the gutta-percha thong is applied with undue severity, the horses suffer frightfully, and "Cabby" gets fined for cruelty. The simple method by which it is intended to obviate this state of things is either to dispense gratuitously, or to sell at a nominal price, a proper covering for this portion of the animal's body, and arrangements have been entered into for this purpose with some well-known Government contractors, to provide a waterproof covering made of a cheap and recently patented material with this view. We cannot, however, refrain from expressing our fear that although the motives of the benevolent persons referred to are highly commendable, the scheme is liable, if indeed practicable, to great abuse, inasmuch as those for whom its benefits were never intended may find means of profiting by the dispersion of a useful article to be had for little or nothing. And that the Legislature will interfere to make it a compulsory act upon the part of the cab-masters, and others, to provide their horses with such a protection is almost too much to expect. There is certainly a good deal that is suggestive in the scheme, and it appears to us that "The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals" would do well were it to endeavour to An inquirer sends the following:-" Mr. St. Croix, merge these actively benevolent persons, and what-in page 298, first column, of your last number, speaks ever portion of their plan may be found feasible, into of the screw fans being at an angle of 45° with the their already valuable sphere of usefulness. The shaft. At the bottom of page 299, first column, he costermonger's donkey, the laundress's pony, &c., are speaks of the fans being 45 degrees with each other. to be admitted to the full benefits of this seasonable Is there not some mistake? If the fans are at 45' thoughtfulness. with the shaft (or axis) they must be at 90° with each other." Messrs. Versmann and Oppenheim desire us to put the following note on record: Chemical Laboratory, 7 Bury-court, St. Mary Axe, London, Nov. 12, 1859. GENTLEMEN,—Will you allow us to add a remark to a notice on our researches on the salts best adapted for rendering fabrics non-inflammable contained in to-day's number of your valuable paper. The phosmuslin-manufacturers, on account of its high price, phate of ammonia is not to be recommended to whereas the sulphate of ammonia has the advantage of being infinitely cheaper, while it is equally harmless and required in a smaller proportion. We therefore advocated the application of the latter only in manufactories, and of tungstate of soda in laundries, in a communication read before the British Association for the Advancement of Science, which has just now been published separately by Messrs. Trübner and Co., and which gives a detailed account of our investigation. We beg to send you a copy of this pamphlet, and we are, Gentlemen, Your obedient servants, F. VERSMANN, F.C.S. A. OPPENHEIM, A.C.S. The following communication will find its fittest place here.Woolwich Dockyard, 14th Nov., 1859. GENTLEMEN,-The adverse tone of the commencement of your editorial critique in the MECHANICS' MAGAZINE of the 4th inst. on my suggestion of "Unsinkable ships," enhances the importance of the conclusion at which you have arrived in your editorial on this subject of the 11th instant, namely: "Mr. Atherton's fundamental idea may be a good one; indeed, we have ourselves a presentiment that unsinkable war ships, at least for purposes of home defence, will one day be devised. Good may arise from the introduction of the subject to public attention. If the Council of the Society of Arts can adopt any means of hastening the realisation of Mr. Atherton's ideas, they too will earn the approbation of the public." The subject being thus recommended for the consideration of the Society of Arts, it may be premature to anticipate their decision. I would merely observe how effectively the invitations of the Society of Arts A reliable gentleman favours us with the following statement of a very curious incident:-"The follow. ing extraordinary occurrence took place during the late severe gale at Ystrad Mynach, the seat of a friend of mine in Glamorganshire: an oak tree computed to be about 3 tons weight, was blown fairly up by the roots and prostrated in the direction of the wind; the wind changed directly round and blew with increased violence, when the oak tree was lifted perpendicularly, and turned over in exactly the opposite direction to that in which it first fell. This fact was witnessed by one of the men, who was so alarmed that he ran from it as fast as he could." Patents for Inventions. ABRIDGED SPECIFICATIONS OF PATENTS THE abridged Specifications of Patents given below are classified, according to the subjects to which the respective classification adopted, the numerical and chronological nventions refer, in the following table. By the system of all the advantages of a division into classes. It should be order of the specifications is preserved, and combined with understood that these abridgements are prepared exclusively for this Magazine from official copies supplied by the Government, and are therefore the property of the proprie tors of this Magazine. Other papers are hereby warned not to produce them without acknowledgement:STEAM ENGINES, &c., 885, 888, 895, 937. BOILERS AND THEIR FURNACES, &c., 895, 932. ROADS AND VEHICLES, including railway plant and carriages, saddlery and harness, &c., 890, 923, 931, 938, 939, 940. SHIPS AND BOATS, including their fittings, 904, 907, 910. CULTIVATION OF THE SOIL, including agricultural and horticultural implements and machines, 913, 926. FOOD AND BEVERAGES, including apparatus for preparing food for men and animals, 892, 900, 917, 934, 935. FIBROUS FABRICS, including machinery for treating fibres, pulp, paper, &c., 880, 887. 899, 905, 909, 916, 922, 936. BUILDINGS AND BUILDING MATERIALS, including sewers, drain-pipes, brick and tile machines, &c., 908, 918. LIGHTING, HEATING, AND VENTILATING, 897, 906, 911, 914, 925. 879. M. A. F. MENNONS. "Improvements in the treatment of mineral phosphates of lime." (A communication.) Dated April 8, 1859. The patentee claims the treatment of natural or fossil phosphates of lime by ammoniacal precipitation from their solution in hydrochloric acid for the production of a chemically pure and thoroughly soluble and assimilable phosphate of lime for agricultural purposes. Patent completed. 880. N. A. GRUMEL. 64 Improvements in dyeing cotton, wool, silk, flax, and other fibrous materials or fabrics." Dated April 8, 1859. This relates to means of obtaining a fast black dye, and the shades thereof, without the use of indigo. Patent completed. 881. W. Hooper. "Improvements in insulating and protecting telegraphic conductors." Dated April 8, 1859. The patentee first coats the conductors with indiarubber, and afterwards applies over the first coat another coat consisting of india-rubber combined with sulphur. These two coats are separated the one from the other by a layer of a material which will prevent the action of the sulphur of the outer coating on the inner coating when the heat necessary to change the outer is applied. In order thus to separate the two coats the patentee employs a layer of thin metal. The second part of the invention consists in the production of a Fulcanized or converted india rubber coating on wire or other metal conductors which are coated with guttapercha whether applied directly to the metal conductors or on to conductors which have previously been coated with tin or other protecting metal. Patent completed. 882. W. HOOPER. "Improvements in re-working or re-manufacturing compounds of india-rubber and sulphur." Dated April 8, 1859. This consists in combining raw india-rubber and sulphur with the ground product of waste or old converted sulphur compounds of india-rubber, and subjecting the same to high degrees of heat to convert or change the same into elastic and hard compounds. Patent completed. 883. W. HENDERSON, "Improvements in treating certain ores and in obtaining products therefrom." Dated April 8, 1859. This relates, 1, to the treatment of zinc ores, or other ores containing zinc. 2. To the treatment of ores of antimony that contain lead and other metals. 3. To the treatment of copper ores. 4. To the treatment of ores or products containing cobalt. 5. To the treatment of gold and silver ores and auriferous quarts. We cannot possibly give space to the voluminous details of this invention. Patent com. pleted. 884. W. E. NEWTON. "Improvements in telegraphing and in telegraphic apparatus." (A communication.) Dated April 8, 1859. This consists in an arrangement of telegraphic apparatus that shall not be susceptible to the changes of the weather, and that shall generate an amount of inductive electricity that shall answer all demands. The invention is not described apart from the drawings. Patent completed. 555. E. R. HANDCOCK. "Improvements in steam and other motive power engines." Dated April 8, 1859. This consists in the use of an additional crank loose on the axle, and placed at such an angle as will give salicient leverage to put the shaft in motion at the first starting of the engine, and to force or aid the crank over the dead points. In some cases the pateufee uses a single bolt inserted into a piece of metal which is firmly fixed to the shaft, so that the bolt may acted on by means of a cradle or other convenient arrangement; when reverse action is required two belts suitably fixed are used. Patent completed. 66 SPENCER. Improvements economical treatment of refuse or wash matter containing sulphur." Dated April 9, 1859. 8. T. in the The patentee claims the use of the oxides, ores, and other compounds of iron and the oxides of manganese for the obtainment of sulphur from the hitherto refuse or waste matters. Patent completed. 887. E. J. HUGHES. Improvements in the manufacture of woven fabrics." (A communication.) Dated April 9, 1859. Here the warp and welt threads are arranged so as to obtain an improved mode of threading or tramping. The improved method of making the fabric dispenses with the use of temples, and weaves with much less strain upon the cloth, thus requiring less weight on the yarn beam, and allowing the loom to be worked at a greater speed. Patent abandoned. 8. T. BARNETT, H. T. SOURBUTS, and W. LOYND. Improvements in steam-engines." Dated April 9, 859. This consists in a method of supplying the feed water to steam boilers at a higher temperture than has hitherto been obtained. Patent completed. 889. J. H. YOUNG. Improvements in setting-up (composing) and distributing types." Dated April 9, 1859. Under that part of the composing machine at which the types issue to be collected into a line the patentee places a propeller to propel the types as they stand in the receiver, and over this propeller he causes the types to tilt so that the head of the type issuing from the composing machine, and about to fall into the receiver, shall be raised so as to prevent the tail of the type immediately following from passing over it. With reference to distributing types, when a reservoir is used to hold types of uniform thickness, the aperture which regulates their exit may be of a determinate size, but when the reservoir is intended for all the sizes of a fount the patentee has found the following arrangement useful:-In front of the exit aperture he places three or four thin blades of metal each provided with a spring and connected by a catch bar, with the pusher that sends the types out of the reservoir. The pusher is made as thin as the thinnest type used, and so are the blades in front of the exit aperture. The patentee next describes the mode of operation, which we cannot quote here. Patent completed. 890. J. HAWKINS. "Certain improvements in the manufacture of stirrups, bits, spurs, buckles, and other such like articles connected with harness and saddlery." Dated April 9, 1859. This invention is not described apart from the drawings. Patent completed. 891. J. H. JOHNSON. "Improvements in the manufacture or production of the ferrocyanide and cyanide of potassium." (A communication.) Dated April 9, 1859. For the manufacture of prussiate of potash it is proposed to melt the carbonate of potash in a cast iron vessel with water, and then to add thereto a sufficient quantity of wood, charcoal, or coke, to completely imbibe the solution of carbonate of potash. The whole is now heated until the charcoal or coke becomes thoroughly dry. The carbonate of potash will then be found distributed in the porous and spongy mass. This mass, with the addition of five parts by weight of iron filings, is introduced into two retorts communicating with each other by a pipe which connects the upper part of one retort with the lower part of the other. The retorts are now heated to reduce the carbonate of potash to the state of peroxide of potassium, whereupon by the introduction into the retorts of a current of ammonaical gas whilst the retorts are at a white heat, the yellow prussiate of potash will be obtained. The gas enters the bottom of the first retort containing the charcoal, and acting on the potash cements it into prussiate of potash. On leaving the first retort the gas enters the bottom of the second retort, and finally escapes by a pipe or chimney. The manufacture of the cyanide of potassium is accomplished in a precisely similar manner, with the exception that the iron fittings are dispensed with. Patent completed. 892. R. J. DERHAM. vats." Improvements in cheese Dated April 9, 1859. This consists in forming a vat of staves with galvanized or not galvanized spring hoops, so that the hoops may open the staves, and thereby easily disengage the cheese from the vat. Patent abandoned. 893. J. MARTIN. "Improvements in the materials used in the manufacture of bonnet-fronts and ruches." Dated April 9, 1859. This consists in the application of a band of cotton or linen tape to the back part or folded edge of bonnet fronts and ruches. It also consists in introducing a strip of pasteboard, &c., instead of wire within the band. Patent completed. 894. C. F. VASSEROT. "A new motive power ap plicable to tanneries." (A communication.) Dated April 9, 1859. This consists in a horse mill the power of which is employed to put in motion by means of bands and pulleys a certain number of cylinders mounted upon shafts and turning upon pivots. Patent abandoned. 895. W. E. NEWTON. Improvements in steamengines and boilers." (A communication.) Dated April 9, 1859. This relates, 1, to a novel mode of communicating the motion of the piston or pistons of the engine to the crank shaft. 2. To the condensation of the steam after it has acted on the piston or pistons. 3. To the mode of supplying or distributing it to or in the cylinders, and of conducting it therefrom to the condenser. 4. To the production or generation of steam in boilers with a moveable furnace or fire-place of an annular form. The invention is not described apart from the drawings. Patent completed. 896. H. F. GARDNER. "Improvements in ma chinery for blocking or crimping the uppers of boot 8 and shoes, and in treeing boots." (Partly a com munication.) Dated April 9, 1859. This includes a variety of detail in connection with blocking, crimping, and treeing to which we cannot devote space. Patent completed. 897. R. BROwn. "Improvements in stoves and apparatus for warming and ventilating apartments and buildings." Dated April 9, 1859. This stove is made of metal or earthenware, or both combined, and burns either gas or ordinary fuel. It is constructed so as to admit into an apartment fresh air from the external atmosphere, and to warm it by contact with certain heating surfaces (which we cannot more particularly allude to) and to pass it warmed into the apartment or building to be warmed or ventilated. Patent abandoned, 898. B. BAUGH. "Certain improved arrangements for working fly presses by steam, water, or other power." Dated April 11, 1859. This consists in producing a continuous elevating and descending action of the press by means of certain combined arrangements which we cannot here allude to in detail. Patent abandoned. 899. R. WAPPENSTEIN. Improvements in cop tubes, and in machinery or apparatus for placing the same on the spindles used for spinning and doubling fibrous materials." Dated April 11, 1859. The patentee makes the tubes of white metal, and casts them in moulds having grooves or other patterns so that the tubes shall be grooved, screwed, or indented on their exteriors to prevent their slipping in or out of the cop after it is built. He places any convenient number of the tubes on the spindles at one and the same operation by placing them in a clipper formed of two pieces of wood, metal, or other material so as to hold all the tubes or a division of them until they are required to be lowered on the spindles. Patent completed. "An improved effervescing lemonade." Dated April 11, 1859. 900. W. SCHOFIELD. This lemonade is composed by mixing together the following ingredients:-Rich Malaga wine pint, essence of lemon, 30 drachms, sugar, 8 lbs., acid of lemon, 3 oz., water, 3 quarts and pint to a gallon of liquor, to which is added the aerated water. Patent abandoned. 901. J. ANDERSON. "Improvements in the construction of the furnaces of bakers' ovens for the purpose of consuming smoke, which improvements are also applicable to the consumption of smoke in other furnaces." Dated April 11, 1859. In the is carried into the main flue in the oven. Here the inventor provides an additional flue which additional flue he inserts a damper for regulating the supply of air to the main flue. The air flue thus terminating in the chimney, the boiler or oven re ceives the full benefit of the flames without the tem perature by the direct introduction of cold air. Dampers are provided in the furnace to regulate the strength of the draught. Patent abandoned. 902. W. BOALER. "Certain improvements in the manufacture of soap." (Partly a communication.) Dated April 11, 1859. This consists, 1, in mixing steatite with silicate of soda and introducing it into any and every description of soap. 2. In mixing steatite with the ordinary soda of commerce, and employing them during the process of the manufacture of soap. 3. In the use of either of these two articles in combination with steatite in the manufacture of soap. Patent abandoned. 903. L. WIMMER. "An improved preparation for killing beetles." Dated April 11, 1859. This consists of a mixture of alumina containing various dissolved or oxidised metals and earth, farina of peas, borax and sugar in suitable proportions. Patent abandoned. 904. A. BoWERS. " Improvements in or applicable to keels of navigable vessels." Dated April 11, 1859. Here moveable pieces are attached to the bottom of the ordinary keel by a hinged joint, so that it may be set at any angle required by mechanical means which can be acted upon from the interior or deck of the vessel. Patent abandoned. 905. W. ROWAN, "Improvements in spinning flax, hemp, and otherfibrous materials." Dated April 11, 1859. This relates to machinery to be used in preparing flax, hemp, China grass, and other similar fibres in order to fit them for being spun into yarn. In lieu of the screws now used in screw gills the patentee uses screws the pitch of which is variable, so as to produce a corresponding variable motion in the gills instead of a uniform motion, whereby the drawing action on the fibres is more effectually performed than in the machines now in use. Patent completed. 906. R. A. BROOMAN. "Improvements in candle. This consists in fitting to moveable nozzles used in candle-moulds a spring or springs, whereby the nozzle may be pressed down to drive the finished candle from the mould, after which the nozzle will return to its original position by the pressure of the spring or by the wick needle, in which position it will be retained by the spring or springs. Patent completed. 907. W. S. CLARK. Improved means of loading ships or vessels with coal, and of separating or removing small coal therefrom." Dated April 11, 1859. The patentee claims loading ships with coal by means of boxes or tubs into which the coal is delivered from the shute, and by which it is lowered through the hatchways into the hold. He also claims forming the shute with screens through which the small coal will pass, and falling into lower shutes will be conducted back to the quay or discharged into any suitable receptacle instead of being allowed to pass into the ship. Patent completed. 908. W. H. BARLOW. "Improvements in beams and girders." Dated April 11, 1859. This relates to beams and girders which have one or more intermediate supports, in addition to the two terminal bearings, and the invention consists in constructing beams or girders with an increased depth of beam or girder over or near the piers or intermediate points of support, by which the patentee not only obtains greater strength over the piers or intermediate points of support with the same quantity of material in the flanges, but the radius of curvature of the upward flexure is rendered greater, that is to say, the curve is flatter and the points of contrary flexure are thereby moved nearer to the centre of the span, so that the sectional area of metal in the flanges, throughout the centre portion of the beam between the points of contrary flexure, may be considerably reduced, without diminishing the strength of the beam when compared with a beam of equal section. Patent completed. 909. J. MARLAND. "An improvement in the manufacture of cop tubes." Dated April 11, 1859. This consists in applying gutta-percha, glue, or other cement over the whole surface of the paper or material, into the desired angular forms for making cop tubes; and after the paper or material has been cut into proper forms, and allowing it to set or dry before cutting the paper or material, in applying a fluid solvent, or heat, or both to render the cement adhesive as the material is wound round a suitable spindle or mandril. Patent completed. 910. W. CLARK. "An improved safety block to be used for lowering ships' boats, the same being applicable to other like analogous purposes." Dated April 12, 1859. The block with its sheave or sheaves is constructed in the ordinary manner, but has attached and secured to the bottom or lower part thereof a hook, which the patentee calls a tumbling hook. Patent completed. 911. D. DOIG. "Improvements in the construction of gas lamps." (A communication.) Dated April 12, 1859. This consists, 1, in the use or application of glass prisms or triangular or nearly triangular pieces of glass placed horizontally or nearly so in or on to the upper part of steel or other glass lamps. 2. In the substitution of glass that is combined with metal for, and instead of, the ordinary tin or other opaque framing steel gas lamps. Patent completed. 912. P. AITCHISON. 66 Improvements in taps." Dated April 12, 1859. Here the patentee forms the valve of leather encased in brass, and constructs the valve seat with a projecting rein concentric with the circumference of the orifice therein. The valve is attached to the key, spindle, or plug, which works in a screw collar and closes the valve upon the projecting seat, or removes it therefrom, according to the motion imparted to it. The pressure of the water (which ordinarily causes vibration of the valve when open, and intermittent action) is regulated where the supply pipe is attached by the diameter of the inlet orifice of the tap. Patent completed. 913. G. J. JOHNSTON. "Improvements in drills, for drilling of corn, seeds, and manure." Dated April 12, 1859. Here the drill coulter has a rotary motion working on its own axis; it is self-acting, and self-cleansing for cutting of the earth, and for depositing corn seeds and manure, and can be so fixed as to penetrate the ground to any depth that may be required, and can be applied to any drill now extant. Patent abandoned. 914. E. T. NOUALHIER. "An improved ventilator." Dated April 12, 1859, This consists of a cylinder to the upper part of which a tube for the entrance of air is soldered so as to communicate with the interior. To one end of the cylinder a pipe is adjusted which passes through, and extends a short distance beyond, its opposite end, to which opposite end of the cylinder is soldered another tube of larger diameter than the first (with which it forms one whole), so as to leave a small space between it and the first tube for the egress of air from the cylinder. Thus the air entering the top pipe passes into the cylinder, and afterwards into the large and smaller tubes, forming thereby a double current of air. Patent abandoned. 915. W. E. NEWTON. "Improvements in the manufacture of iron." (A communication.) Dated April 12, 1859. This chiefly consists in the combination of the blast chamber and pipe with what is called the dust plate, and also in delivering a blast of air into the liquid iron in the hearth of the blast furnace by a trigger or blow pipe introduced into the front part of the hearth between the dam and the tymp, the said trigger or blow pipe being pushed down at an angle of about 90 degrees into the blast chamber through the dust plate, clay, crust, and the fluid cinder down to near the bottom of the liquid iron in the hearth. Patent abandoned. 916. P. HILL and J. MOORE. Improvements in weaving double pile fabrics." Dated April 12, 1859. Here six warp beams or rollers are employed, and eight beams of heddles. Two of the six rollers or beams have the ground warps wound thereon, and the pile warps are wound on to the other four beams or rollers. The ground warps are passed through and actuated by four leaves of heddles, and the pile warps are passed through and actuated by four leaves of heddles. The batten or slay is caused to beat up twice for each weft, and the shed in the warps is changed between the two beats. An extra leaf of heddles is used to divide the warps to keep the warps clean. This extra leaf of heddles remains stationary during the process of weaving, no eyes being used therein, but only single head threads, between which the warp threads move up and down thus clearing themselves. The cleared leaf of heddles is set at the back of the other leaves of heddles. Patent completed. 917. C. BURRELL. "Improvements in apparatus for screening corn and seeds." Dated April 12, 1859. Here a screen is suspended on four rods which at their lower ends are pin-jointed to the screen, and at their upper ends are pin-jointed to the ceiling, so as to admit of the screen swinging to and fro when actuated by a crank and connecting rod, or by other means. Two of the suspending rods are longer than the other two in order that the screen may assume an inclined position. Below the screen a series of rods are fixed, which are arranged in pairs, and each pair has a series of scrapers or blades strung on it, there being as many scrapers or blades on each pair of rods as there are spaces between the longitudinal wires of the screen, and there are as many pairs of rods as there are divisions formed by the transverse wires in the length of the screen. The scrapers or blades are kept separate by washers placed between them, which are also strung on the lower of each pair of the fixed rods. Patent abandoned. 918. M. CASTAY. "Improvements in metallic bridges." Dated April 12, 1859. This relates to a new system of cast and wrought iron bridges formed of parts jointed together. The invention is not described apart from the drawings. Patent completed. 919. J. CROSSDALE. "Certain improvements in boots and shoes. Dated April 12, 1859. This consists mainly in enterposing perforated tubes of elastic material between the insole and outer sole of boots and shoes, the said tubes being connected with the external atmosphere by openings formed in the upper, sufficiently above the sole of the boot and shoe to prevent the entrance of wet and dirt. It is proposed to insert eyelets into the several perforations in the aforesaid tubes, and to connect such perforations to or with other perforations made through the insole of the boot or shoe. Patent completed. 920. J. WARD. "An improvement or improvements in working fly presses used for raising metals, coining, and other like purposes." Dated April 12, 1859. The inventor applies a steam cylinder to the top of the screw of the press, the piston of the steam cylinder passing through both the bottom and top of the cylinder. The lower end of the piston rod is coupled to the top of the screw by a coupling which permits the screw to rotate without the rotation of the piston rod. The upper end of the piston rod acts upon the slide valve of the cylinder so as to admit steam under the piston when the screw is rising, and to admit steam above the piston when the screw is descending. Patent abandoned. 921. R. A. BROOMAN. "Improvements in the preparation of red dyes." (A communication.) Dated April 12, 1859. These new dyes, called by the inventor "Fuschiacine," are prepared by heating together to the point of ebulition a mixture of aniline and of anhydrous bi-chloride of tin. Patent completed. 922. S. TATTON. "Improvements in preparing and treating silk, and improvements in dyeing silk." Dated April 12, 1859. This consists, 1, in preparing raw silk, silk thread, sewing silk and silk twist, (commonly called barber's sewings or boot twist) before or after being dyed any colour except black, and whether manufactured into thread or twist or not, by submitting the silk to a bath of sugar, or of sugar and gum, or to a bath of any other suitable glutinous substance. 2. In dyeing raw silk, silk thread, sewing silk, and silk twist yellow and gold colours, and all shades thereof, by submitting the silk first to a bath containing anatto and soap; second, to a bath containing muriate of tin, or other solutions of tin or salts of tin; third, to a bath contain ing Persian or Turkey berries. Patent completed. 923. R. EMERY. "Certain improvements in carriages for common roads." Dated April 13, 1859. . This invention is not described apart from the drawing. Patent completed. 924. W. A. MARTIN and J. PURDIE. "Improvements in fire-bars." Dated April 13, 1859. The sealing of this patent is opposed, and the papers relating thereto cannot be seen. 925. H. ECKHORN. Improving and regulating the production of light in lamps, to which he gives the name of "Universal Lamp Regulator." Dated April 13, 1859. This lamp regulator is formed by a moveable cylinder which is introduced into the lower part of another moveable concentric cylinder, which latter is closed at the top. This regulator may be contracted or enlarged, raised or lowered, so that the admission of air to the lamp is under perfect control. Patent aban doned. 926. R. COLEMAN. "Improvements in agricul tural implements." Dated April 13, 1859 This relates to two previous patents of the patentee, which embody various improvements in implements known as cultivators, and consisting of a number of tines, hoes, ploughs, &c., mounted on fulcra, and all having communication with a barrel spindle, by motion from which they are inserted or removed from the soil, and the depth of the insertion regulated. According to the present invention, the patentee furnishes implements of this class with a double set of tines, scarifiers, hoes, &c., to act in opposite direc tions to each other, so that there is no necessity to turn round at the headlands. To move machines of this class a sufficient breadth sideways, he mounts all the carrying wheels on swivel supports, and so arranges and connects them that they may be all moved on their axes simultaneously by hand gear in connection therewith. Another part of the invention relates to such agricultural implements as are mounted on wheels, and turn round at the headlands, or otherwise to act and traverse in the opposite direction. To facilitate the turning, he mounts a cross rod between the hind wheels, and connects with it a hand lever, by which the attendant moves the cross rod so as to lock either one of those wheels according to the direction in which it is desired to turn. Patent completed. 927. J. APPERLY and W. CLISSOLD. "An im proved construction of fulling machine." Dated April 13, 1859. This relates to the rollers of fulling mills, the ob ject being to perform the fulling with little friction. The inventors use but one pair of fulling rollers, mounted horizontally in the fulling mill, and drive them in the usual way. The endless band of cloth to be milled is passed over guide rollers, and between a pair of driven nipping rollers, which are situate im mediately above the fulling rollers. These rollers draw the cloth forward, and allow it to drop into the bite of the fulling rollers, by which it is fulled or milled while in a slack state. To facilitate the traverse of the cloth over the bottom of the mill. case, they employ a reciprocating pusher, which being placed below the fulling rollers, will drive against the cloth as it falls from the fulling rollers, and push it forward in folds to the other end of the mill-case, whence it is drawn up over the guiderollers, as above explained. Patent abandoned. 928. W. CRAFT and T. WILSON. “ Improvements in the manufacture of pinafores and bibs for children." | Dated April 13, 1859. |