ss 



New Patents and Mechanical Inventions. 



to the conjoined actions of tlie water 

 and the atmosphere, and fall info the 

 river in large cubical fragments, which 

 soon separate in tlie direction of 

 the strata, into layeis. The prevailing 

 colour of file stoue is cream-yellow ; 

 and it apj^ears to contain a consideraJ>le 

 portion of clay, as it adheres to the 

 tongue when broken. It burns into a 

 very white lime, but it requires to 

 "he a long time exposed to the action of 

 the fire. We could not find any other 

 rock associated with this limestone, 

 nor could we discover any organic re- 

 mains in the rocks in their native 

 situation ; but some small fragments 

 lying loose amongst the soil, contained 

 shells. The banks of the Saskatche- 

 wan, for the distance above mentioned, 

 lire low and swanipj', but in many 

 places the limestone shews itself iibove 

 the surface. It exhibits a surprising 

 uniformity of appearance. 



During the winter, an excursion was 

 made to Beaver Lake, about 40 miles 

 to the northward, and the rocks were 

 still found to be calcareous, but of a 

 more ciystalliue texture, and varjing 

 in the colour, and in the direction of 

 tlie strata. On the borders of the lake, 

 there are small hills and mural pre- 

 cipices of both red and yellow lime- 

 stone. There are many deep rents in 

 the rocks here, and the lake in some 

 places is 15 fathoms deep. 



To the southward of Cumberland 

 House, there is a round-backed hill, 

 about 40 miles long, whicli the expe- 

 dition had not an opportunity of visit- 

 ing. It is visible about 30 miles oflF, 

 and exhibits an even outline ; but we 

 were told, that a near approach shews 

 it to be rugged. There are several 

 springs at its base, which afford a con- 

 siderable quantity of salt. 



The river was trace«l about 240 miles 

 above Cumberland House to Carlton 

 House. There the countiy is entirely 



[Feb. I, 



alluvial, consisting of extensive sandy 

 plains, and nearly destitute of wood. 

 These plains, about 200 feet above the 

 present bed of the river, appear to have 

 been covered at no "very distant date. 

 From the summit of the plain to the 

 river, a regular gradation of three or 

 more banks may be traced, shewing 

 the height at which the river has flow ed 

 at dilTerent periods. Amongst these 

 banks, the river siiifts its bed conti- 

 nually, encroaching, on the one side, 

 on the deep bank of the plain, and 

 forming low level points on the oppo- 

 site shore. The other plains are diy 

 and sandy, and produce a short grass, 

 which supports numerous herds of 

 buffaloes. IJiit ilie newer deposits be- 

 neath the high bank, contain much 

 more A'egetable matter, and are in 

 general overgrown by willows and 

 poplars. 



The plains do not extend far to the 

 northward of the Saskatchewan, but 

 they reach tlie base of the rocky moun- 

 tains on the westward ; and ou the 

 southward, their extent is very great. 

 About ten years ago, there were nu- 

 merous small lakes in the neighbour- 

 hood of Carlton; but since that time, 

 many of them have dried up. The 

 older people, too, reiK-at that the waters 

 of the Saskatchewan have been gradu- 

 ally diminishing. Ou the face of some 

 of the banks, there are many loose 

 stones, precisely similar to the calca- 

 reous rocks at the mouth of the river. 



Near Edmonston House, about 30O 

 miles above Carlton House, several beds 

 of coal are exposed, one of which was 

 accidentally set ou fire some years ago, 

 and still continues burning. 



The commander of the expedition 

 was on the 1st June still occupied in 

 preparing for the journey to the north- 

 ward, the journey to Carlton having 

 absorbed much time. 



NEW PATENTS AND MECHANICAL INVENTIONS. 



Reported by Charles Blunt, Draughtsman of Machinery, and London Agenlto Patentees 

 and the Authors of Inventions leho desire to secure them by Patent. 



To Mr. John Malam, Engineer of the 

 Gas Light JForlcs, iFestminster, for 

 an invention of certain Improvements 

 in Steam Engines. 



THE important improvements pro- 

 posed by Mr. Malam in the con- 

 struction of a Rotatory Steam Engine 

 consist of two kinds. 



The first is a hollow cylinder or 

 drum, in which the pressure of steam 



is contrived to drive a leaden piston 

 round the cylinder ; but which piston 

 always remaining, by its gravity, near 

 the lowest part, the steam is impelled 

 upwards against the partition of the 

 cylinder, and consequently revolves it 

 upon its axis. Two standards support 

 the arms or axles of the revolving cy- 

 linder or drum, one of which arm is 

 hollow, having two passages, the one 

 communicating 



