MECHANICS AND USEFUL AKTS. 93 



contained is about four ounces, and the fuse is set on fire by the explosion of 

 the powder in the gun. Brande's patent borne-lance is the one under notice, 

 and consists of a thin cylindrical shell of iron, armed with a sharp and heavy 

 point of a triangular section. The iron shell is originally open at its rear end, 

 but after receiving the powder and inserting a suitable piece of fuze, the whole 

 is stopped water-tight by a layer of melted lead. The main difficulty appears 

 to be to find a place for a sufficient length of fuse. If allowed to project 

 loosely outside, the water or animal fluids in the wound would be likely to 

 extinguish it, and it is a singular fact that all that portion tightly inclosed 

 within the lead burns instantly, and is therefore of no service in postponing 

 the period of explosion. The method adopted is to insert two of these leaden 

 partitions, between which, a considerable length of fuse may be stored. Thus 

 arranged, and provided with wadding which expands into wings to steady 

 and direct the missile while flying through either air, water, or fish, the light- 

 ness is sufficient to allow its discharge from a piece which may be handled 

 by any strong man. Aimed at a vital point, a little beneath the surface of 

 the water, the fuse is ignited and burns at the rate of about seven inches per 

 second, while the boat retreats. The manufacture of these bombs and of the 

 instruments for their discharge, has been for some time carried on at Norwich, 

 Conn. N. T. Tribune. 



THE INFEKNAL MACHINES AT SEBASTOPOL AND IN THE BALTIC. 



The London Times' correspondent gives the following account of the small 

 mines which the Russians have strewed the ground with about their outworks : 



I was shown here (at the Mammelon) one of these extraordinary fougasses, or 

 small mines, which are exploded on the touch of the foot, and which the Rus- 

 sians planted thickly about their advanced works. A strong case containing 

 powder is sunk in the ground, and to it is attached a thin tube of tin or lead, 

 several feet in length : in the upper end of the tube there is inclosed a thin 

 glass tube containing sulphuric or nitric acid. This portion of the tube is just 

 laid above the earth, where it can be readily hid by a few blades of grass or a 

 stone. If a person steps on it he bends the tin tube, and breaks the glass tube 

 inside. The acid immediately escapes and runs down the tin tube till it arrives 

 close to its insertion into the case, and there meets a few grains of chlorate of 

 potass. Combustion instantly takes place, the mine explodes, and not only 

 destroys every thing near it, but throws out a quantity of bitumen, with which 

 it is coated, in a state of ignition, so as to burn whatever it rests upon. 



The folio whig is a description of one of the machines which are sunk in the 

 Baltic, which have caused so much apprehension among the allied fleets : 



Each machine consists of a cone of galvanized iron, 16 inches in diameter at 

 the base and 20 from base to apex; it is divided into three chambers, the one 

 near the base being largest, and containing air causes it to float with the base 

 uppermost. In the centre of this chamber is another, which holds a tube with 

 a fuse in it, and an apparatus for firing it. This consists of two little iron rods, 

 which move hi guides, and are kept projected over the side of the base by 

 springs which press them outward. When any thing pushes either of these 



