236 IfE. MwIm kin., on ffc Mode of Preparing Manila Heui]>. 



inches diameter and 3 J inches broad. The break wheel is fixed upon the 

 axle, between the carriage wheels. From axle to axle of each carriage 

 there is a frame or shears, on which all the break apparatus is fixed, this 

 being quite detached from the body of the carriage. The break is self- 

 acting, being governed primarily by the drag-bar of the carriage, on the for- 

 ward end of which is a strong spiral spring, which gives ease to the carriages 

 at the starting of the train, and allows the break to act the moment that 

 any stoppage takes place, from whatever cause produced. Mr. Montgo- 

 mery, by means of a train of four model carriages, with breaks to each, 

 illustrated the value of his invention in a series of interesting and satis- 

 factory experiments. These model carriages, of about half a hundred- 

 weight each, were mounted on a model railway of about twenty -feet long, 

 at one end of which was an upright rod, with a pulley at its upper extre- 

 mity, over which passed a cord, bearing a ball of metal, which supplied 

 the motive power. The carriages were drawn to the extreme end of the 

 railway, and allowed to approach the opposite terminus, with the full 

 amount of momentum which the descending ball gave, and showed what 

 might be supposed to take place upon a railway when the breaks were 

 not applied. The breaks were next applied to two carriages when at the 

 highest rate of speed, and when about three-fourths of the road was 

 passed ; the effect was an immediate slowing, until the train stood still at 

 about ten inches from the end of the railway. The railway, which, in 

 the above experiment, was level, was now altered to an inclination of one 

 foot in fourteen ; and here the power of the breaks, when applied to all 

 of the carriages, was so great, that they stood firm upon the rails ; and 

 with breaks on two carriages, came down at a slow, easy, and perfectly 

 safe rate of progression. The break only acts upon the forward motion of 

 the carriages. This was shown by the carriages being easily drawn back- 

 ward up the incline by a cord attached to the hindermost one, and all the 

 breaks applied ; and when the cord was suddenly cut through, the car- 

 riages did not run down the line, but stood still instantaneously, and one 

 or more breaks had to be put out of action before the train again 

 acquired any motion. 



February 16, 1848. — The President in tlie Chair. 



Messrs. John Macadam, John Barclay, and William Watt, were ad- 

 mitted members. 



A vote of £24, for book-cases, was finally passed. 

 The following paper was read : — 



XXXVI.— On the Mode of Preparing Manila Hemp. By Thomas 

 M'Mickjng, E 



During a two years' residence as a merchant at the town of Manila, 

 I availed myself of every opportunity to visit the interior of the Island 



