124 



equal intervals, resting' on a hollow iron railway; and from 

 these points of the chains a number of suspending rods pro- 

 ceed to the platform ; at each side below the latter, are an 

 equal number of jointed struts or suj^ports ; and the nature 

 of the motion is such, that, when the platform is at the 

 bottom, these struts are nearly horizontal, and the suspend- 

 ing rods vertical, and vice versa when the platform is at its 

 greatest elevation ; hence, the latter is at all times fully and 

 firmly supported. 



The combination is such, that power is to the utmost 

 economized, the ratio of the power to the weight increasing 

 as the hull of the vessel leaves the water, and advantage 

 being taken of her own floatage power as long as possible. 



The inventor stated, that a fifty gun frigate, with her 

 standing rigging up, could be taken out of water, and laid 

 dry and ready for workmen, ins ixteen minutes from the 

 time she came over the platform, by his arrangement, which 

 is equally applicable where there is no tide, (as at Malta, 

 &c.,) as where the rise and fall are considerable. The objects 

 also held in view, and he conceives attained, by his method, 

 are equal strain, and wear and tear (by principle) on all the 

 parts — and hence freedom from risk of accident — durability 

 and facility of repair in the machine itself. 



A paper by the Rev. Dr. Hincks, " On the Egyptian 

 iStele, or Tablet," was read. 



Among the Egyptian monuments in museums, there is 

 none more likely to afford information than the steles, or fu- 

 neral tablets, which resemble in form the head-stones in our 

 grave-yards, and which appear to have been set up in similar 

 positions. The object of this paper is to describe the parts 

 of which the insci'iptions that these tablets contain usually 

 consist, with such observations as may enable a person, who 

 should meet with one of them, to form a judgment as to its 

 age, and as to the importance of its contents. 



It commences with some details respecting two tablets 



