1824. ] Plan for supplying London with Salt Water Baths. 233 
denied.” It is quite impossible either ate us 
that the parties (J. and G. Hanson) For the Monthly Mogaiene, 
who take upon themselves to describe ROSPECTUS have been issued 
this engine in The Chemist, or the writer 
they quote in the newspaper called 
The Scotsman, could have seen the en- 
gine of Mr. Brown at work; for their 
description begins with the following 
words :——“ The space under the piston 
being filled with common air”—whilst 
there is no such thing as a piston in the 
engine! Again: “ The piston, of 
course, descends by the pressure of the 
atmosphere on its upper surface, till the 
density of the ‘air below equals that of 
the air above; that is, it will descend, 
not to the bottom of the cylinder, but 
through one-third of the space !”’ After 
various other assumptions with regard 
to the construction and operation of 
the new engine which are unsupported 
by the facts, the writer says, “ We 
have no hesitation in avowing our be- 
lief} that Mr. Brown’s invention, so far 
as we can comprehend it, is entirely a 
deception, and one, we think, which 
could not impose ona single individual 
who has the most moderate knowledge 
of chemistry and mechanics !” 
If the writer, who makes sucha flippant 
remark, had only possessed the “ mode- 
rate knowledge of chemistry” he alludes 
to in others, and either had seen the 
engine at work, or an accurate ac- 
count of it, he would have discovered 
that it is the flame of the gas, mixed with 
the atmospheric air which fills the entire 
cavity of the cylinder, that produces the 
vacuum—at the same instant, the cap of 
the cylinder closes its top air-tight. 
The degree of rarefaction or vacuum 
produced in the cylinder, I presume, is 
satisfactorily shewn, by the rise of the 
mercurial gauge attached to the engine. 
' The chemical principles on which the 
investigation rests, “so far as I can com- 
prebend it,’ may, therefore, be de- 
scribed to be—the combustion of the 
oxygen of the air contained in the cy- 
linder ; whilst the azote is nearly all ex- 
pelled at the mouth of the cylinder by 
the flame. 
With regard to the greater economy, 
or superior advantage, in other respects, 
of this new engine over the ordinary 
steam-engine, I do not feel myself com- 
petent to offer any opinion—being, not 
an engineer, but A Cuemist.* 
* We have admitted this letter on the 
principle that our magazine should be open 
to all parties and opinions: at the same. 
time, we think our correspondent a. little 
too sanguine. —Zd. 
Montuty Mae. No, 401. 
for'the establishment of two Bath 
Companies in the metropolis. The first 
under the name of the National Bath 
Company, proposes to build baths of 
every description, for health, as well 
as pleasure, hot and cold, vapour and 
medicated; and the cold baths are to be 
on so extensive a scale as:to supersede 
all excuse for river bathing, a custom 
repugnant to the better feelings of so- 
ciety. Two situations have been sug- 
gested for this establishment, and either 
sufficiently eligible: the one in’ the 
centre of Leicester-Fields, the other in 
the Regent’s Park, opposite to Port- 
land Place, to which it would make a 
terminating object. The capital re- 
quired, by estimate, is two hundred and 
fifty thousand pounds, and many names 
have been subscribed, as is the case at 
the beginning of most adventures. 
The second of these projects, the 
Metropolitan Marine Bath Company, 
proceeds on a still more extended 
seale; and though by no means im- 
possible, has somewhat of the impro- 
bable in it; even in this age of immense 
capital and daring speculation. By this 
scheme it is intended to furnish the me- 
tropolis with salt-water baths, large 
enough for the purposes of recreation 
as well as health, and the water is to 
be raised by a steam-engine from the 
sea at Brighton, and conducted to Lon- 
don through the medium of iron pipes, 
two feet in diameter. The estimated 
expense, per mile, for the conveyance 
of the water is about £700, or about 
£250,000 for the whole distance. The 
other half of the capital will be re- 
quired for putchasing ground, and the 
erection of the necessary _ buildings 
for forming five different establish- 
ments in different quarters of the town. 
The schedule goes into a very minute 
statement of the calculated expenditure 
and receipts of one of these five divi- 
sions or stations, With regard to the 
current expenses for superintendance, 
it is only a matter for the consideration 
of the subscribers; but I extract the 
following statement of estimated re- 
ceipts per annum, for the purpose of 
shewing the advantages the public are to 
derive from the plan. Hach of the five 
stations will be calculated ‘to afford ac- 
commodation for 
100 warm baths, per diem, for 300 
days, at 3s. each person ...... £4,500 
¥? vapour baths, at 3s. 6d, each. . 506 
4 H 10 medicated 
