Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 71 



MR. BENNET'S NEW ALLOY FOR THE PIVOT HOLES OF 

 WATCHES. 



The injurious effects of jewelled holes in watches and chrono- 

 meters have been long observed. (See Nicholson's Journal, vol. vii. 

 p. 208.) It seems that, however perfect the polishing may be, 

 sooner or later the hard substance of the jewel grinds and cuts the 

 steel pivot; and the metallic particles, by mixing with the oil, ren- 

 der it unfavourable for action; and this effect is the more likely to 

 take place the nearer the pivots are to the maintaining power. Holes 

 made of brass are objectionable, on account of the liability of this 

 metal to oxidation. Gold is too soft for the purpose. What seems 

 to be required is, a metal, that shall preserve the oil in a pure fluid 

 state, have little friction with the steel pivot, and be in a small de- 

 gree softer than the pivot, for it is of less consequence that the 

 hole be worn than the pivot. Mr. Bennet, watch-maker, Red Lion- 

 street, Holborn. in a pamphlet on this subject, states that he has 

 discovered an alloy possessing the above-mentioned requisites. It 

 is composed of 3 dwt. of pure gold, 1 dwt. 20 gr. of silver, 3 dwt. 

 20 gr. of copper, and 1 dwt. of palladium. " The palladium," 

 he says, " readily united with the other metals, and the alloy fused 

 at a temperature rather below that required for melting gold in 

 the separate state. It is very nearly as hard as wrought-iron, and 

 rather brittle, but not so brittle but that it can be drawn into 

 wire. Its colour is a reddish brown ; the grain, on breaking, as fine 

 as that of steel ; it takes a very beautiful polish ; and the friction 

 with steel was much less than that of brass and steel. It is better 

 worked than any metal with which I am acquainted, except brass. 

 Nitric acid had no sensible effect upon it." Mr. B. has constructed 

 a watch with holes made of this alloy, and pronounces the experi- 

 ment to be successful. If longer trial should confirm this opinion, 

 the small expense of the metal, as compared to that of jewels, will 

 will not be its least recommendation. 



Nov. 15, 1830. J. C. 



EARTHQUAKES AT THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE IN 1809. 



An Account of the Earthquakes which occurred at the Cape of 



Good Hope during the month of December 1809. By W. L. 



von Buchenroder, Esq. Member of the South African Institution. 



Abridged by the Author from the more detailed Statements read 



at one of the Meetings of the South Institution. 



The occurrence of earthquakes at the Cape of Good Hope on the 



4th of December 1809, as well as during several successive days, 



is yet remembered by numerous residents of the colony; but as far 



as I know, few if any of the various facts connected therewith, or 



of the different phenomena which took place, have been collected 



and recorded. It may therefore not be uninteresting to preserve 



a faithful account of what was observed, particularly as from the 



propensity of man to exaggerate any uncommon occurrence, (which 



was fully exemplified at that period,) as well as from the lapse of 



time, 



