/ 



Society for the Encouragement of Arts ^ &c, SOS 



Ten of the other members of the society, were chosen 

 of the new council, and they were severally declared tQ 

 be the council for the year ensuing ; and on a report made 

 of the officers of the society, it appeared that the most no- 

 ble George marquis of Townshend and earl of Leicester 

 was elected president, William Bray, esq., treasurer, Mat- 

 thew Raper, esq, director, rev. T. W. Wrighte, A. M. se- 

 cretary, and Nicholas Carlisle, esq. secretary for the year 

 ensuing. 



The society afterwards dined together at the Crown and 

 Anchor tavern in the Strand, according to annual custom, 



SOClEXy FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF ARTS, &C. 



At a late meeting of this society a premium of fifty gui- 

 neas was awarded to Mr. John Davis of John Street, Spital 

 Fields, for a most ingenious fire-escape, which promises to 

 be of singular use in lessening the number of personal ac- 

 cidents which occur so frequently in this great city in cases 

 of fire. This contrivance consists of a most curious yet sim- 

 ply constructed ladder, or rather three ladders so combined 

 as to admit of their being slid out, like the tubes of a pocket 

 telescope, to the height of from forty to fifty feet if re- 

 quired ; carrying up at the same time a box to receive 

 females, or children, or small valuables, (while the less 

 timid can descend by the ladder). This box, by means 

 of a chain and pulley worked by the people below, descends 

 to the ground ; where being instantly unhooked, another 

 box is sent up while the first is emptying. All this is per- 

 formed in about two minutes. This apparatus is erected 

 on a carriage with four wheels, g feet long and 5 feet wide, 

 furnished with the usual apparatus and harness for yoking 

 a horse to it, for the more speedy removal to the scene cj 

 danger. 



The fire offices, much to their credit, assisted the inven- 

 tor with money to construct a machine of this kind for real 

 use, after having inspected his model. We have examined 

 the machine, witnessed the facility with which it performs 

 the destined operation, and we have no hesitation in re- 

 connnending to every parish in London to provide one of 

 them to be kept with their fire ladders and engines. 



This new fire-escape may be seen at Mr. John Bevan's, , 

 carpenter. City Road, near Finsbury Square. 



WERNERIAN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



At the meeting of this society on the 10th March, the 



rev. Dr. Macknight read a paper on the mineralogy of 



Vol. 35. No. 144. Jpril 1810. U Sirontiaa 



