406 rroceedlnijii of the iSociett/ of Arts. 



An answer was read from Mr Emmerson Tennent, M.P. to 

 the Secretary's Letter sending him Mr White's outlines of a 

 plan for preventing piracy of design, with the Society's Report 

 thereon, acknowledging the communication as being one of 

 great importance, and that he would lay it before the Com- 

 mittee of the House of Commons for their consideration. 



29M April 1840. — Being the last Ordinary meeting for 

 the Session. Sir John Graham Dalyell, President, in the 

 chair. The following communications were made : — 



1. Model and description of improvements in connection with his 

 substitute for door-springs for doors opening either way ; particularly for 

 double doors. By Mr John Gilchrist, 14 Middle Arthur PlacCj Edin- 

 burgh. (713.) Referred to a committee. 



2. Model, drawings, and description of the best form of rails for rail- 

 waySj and of the best manner of laying them. By Mr Thomas Evans, 

 Dowlais iron-works, Merthyr Tydvil, Wales, — the patentee. (099.) — 

 Messrs Grainger, Sang, &c., requested to give their opinion of these rails 

 at next meeting. 



3. Description and drawings of a new turret clock, in which the smallest 

 watch, or chronometer, or a common clock, may be made to move the 

 largest dial hands and striking hammer with the utmost accuracy, even 

 in stormy weather ; with a new apparatus for lighting the hands and dial 

 at night, and a plan for having the clock wound up by the force of the 

 wind. Bj Mr James Gall, junior, printer, Edinburgh. (7l7.) Thanks 

 voted. 



4. The report of the committee on Mr Gavin Kay's boat and apparatus 

 for saving persons immersed in the water by the breaking of ice was read 

 and approved of. Mr Crawford, Convener. (693.) 



5. Donation. — The Polytechnic Journal, Vol. II. No. III. for March 

 1840, containing an account of the art of printing for the blind. Presented 

 b}^ John Alston, Esq. of Rosemount, Hon. M.S. A. (709.) Thanks voted. 



6. Donations. — Specimens of printing from types in the office of Neill 

 & Co. printers and typefounders, Old Fishmarket, Edinburgh, 1840. 

 Presented by Messrs Neill & Co. (710.) Thanks voted. 



1. The following Candidates were admitted as Ordinary 

 Members, viz. : — 



1. John Forrester, Esq. W. S., 8 Drummond Place ; 2. John Macandrew, 

 Esq. S.S.C, 28 Dublin Street. 



2. On the motion of Robert Stevenson, Esij., it was resolved, 

 almost unanimously^ "That from the commencement of next 



