USEFUL PROJECTS, &c. 
not only been nearly superseded, 
but the communication very great- 
ly increased, owing to the cheap- 
ness and facility of the convey- 
ance. Many days, in fine weather, 
from 500 to 600 have gone from 
Glasgow to Port-Glasgow and 
Greenock, and returned in the 
same day. One of the boats alone 
has been known to carry 247 at 
one time. The increase of tra- 
velling, in consequence of naviga- 
tion by steam, may be estimated 
by the number that went in the ' 
common passage-boats before the 
introduction of this agent: at that 
time, the highest estimate, even 
for summer, did not much exceed 
50 up and 50 down, and those 
generally of the lower class of the 
people. The number that then 
went by coaches may be thus esti- 
mated : four coaches up and four 
down, which might average six 
passengers each. 
In the summer, the pleasure of 
the voyage and the beauty of the 
scenery attracts multitudes; and 
thebathing-places belowGreenock 
have, in consequence of the easy 
passage, been crowded beyond 
former example. 
The scenery near Glasgow is 
sylvan and beautiful, but becomes 
bolder and more picturesque as 
the river descends, until it ter- 
minates in the rugged mountains 
of the west Highlands. 
CHINESE PASTE. 
(From Dr. Thomson's Annals of 
Philosophy.) 
The method of making paste in 
China is much more economical 
than the mode followed in this 
country. Were it universally 
5035 
adopted by trunk-makers, book- 
binders, and others, who use great 
quantities of paste, it would pro- 
duce a very material saving of 
flour, which in years of scarcity 
might be of the greatest conse- 
quence. The following formula 
used in China was lately commu- 
nicated to the Right Hon. Sir 
Joseph Banks, Bart. by a gentle- 
man at present in Canton.—M x 
together bullock’sblood and quick 
lime, in the proportion of one 
pound of the latter to 10}bs. of the 
former. It becomesa stiff jelly, in 
which state it is sold to the con- 
sumers, who beat it down with an 
addition of water into a state suf- 
ficiently fluid for use. At Canton 
it will keep five or six days in the 
hot weather and ten or twenty 
days in the cold. In Britain it 
would probably keep longer. 
NEW MODE OF MANUFACTURING 
HEMP AND FLAX. 
(From the Same.) 
About two years ago Mr. Lee 
took out a patent for obtaining 
hemp and flax directly from the 
plants by a newmethod. Hehas 
established a manufactory for the 
purpose at Old Bow, on the river 
Lea, near London, where his me- 
thod, and the result of it may be 
seen. I consider Mr. Lee’s in- 
vention as the greatest improve- 
ment ever introduced into the 
linen business, and as likely to 
occasion a total change in the 
whole of ourbleach-fields. Hither- 
to the only way of obtaining hemp 
and flax has been to steep the 
plants in water till they begin to 
rot. They are then exposed for 
some days to the sun spread out 
