4.70 Palcufs. 



Dr. Forbes by Mr- John Rule, jun., one of the supcrintendants. " I have 

 made sonic experiments to ascertain the direction oCthe currents of air in 

 this mine, and find that in i?') of our principal shafts, 13 have a strong cur- 

 rent downwards, and 12 about the same degree of current upwards; they 

 differ, however, with respect to the strength of the currents, some being very 

 strong, others less so." " I am enabled to state that the currents vary as the 

 wind does, so that those shafts which sometimes have a current downwards, 

 on a change of the wind have an upward current, and rncc versa. The same 

 thing takes place with regard to the levels under ground — changes of wind 

 making the current of air run in opposite directions at different times, and 

 altering its force, so that when it blows hard the current is strong under- 

 groimd, and vice versa." 



These observations agree with our own experience, and that of most prac- 

 tical men : it is not to be wondered at, therefore, that such an acciileiit should 

 liappen as that detailed above: it is rather, indeed, extraordinary, as fire 

 is often used for ventilating mines, when explosive gases arc present, that 

 some accidents have not occurred of a more serious nature. The only effec- 

 tual remedy for foul air in mines is drawing it off' b)' nierhaiiietil mcdiis, a 

 process which has been tried in some cases with success, has been much 

 praised and talked of, but wo believe very little practised.— J. T. 



LIST OF PATENTS FOR NEW INVENTIONS. 



To Joseph Egg, of Piccadilly, in the parish of St. James, 

 Westminster, gun-maker, for certain improvements in the con- 

 struction of guns and fire-arms upon the self-priming and de- 

 tonating principle. — Dated 26th November 1822. — 2 months 

 allowed to enrol specification. 



To Thomas Ibbotson, of Sheffield, Yorkshire, fender ma- 

 nufacturer, for his improved fender, capable of being extended 

 or contracted in length so as to fit fire-places of different di- 

 mensions. — 28th November. — 2 months. 



To John Dixon, of Wolverhampton, Staffiirdshire, brass- 

 founder, for certain improvements on cocks such as are used 

 for drawing off liquids. — 28th November. — 2 months. 



To Joseph Woollams, of the city of Wells, Somersetshii-e, 

 land-agent, for certain improvements in wheeled carriages of 

 various descriptions, to counteract the falling and facilitate the 

 labour of animals attached to them, and to render persons and 

 property in and near them more secure from injury. — 5th 

 December. — 6 months. 



To William Robson, of St. Dunstan's Hill, Tower-street, 

 London, printer and stationer, for his method to prevent or 

 protect against fraadulent jiractices, upon bankers' checks, 

 bills of exchange, and various species of mercantile, commer- 

 cial, and other correspondence. — 10th December. — 6 months. 



To Jacob Perkins, late of Philadelphia, in the United States 

 of America, but now of Fleet-street, London, engineer, who, 

 in conse(iuence of communications made to him by a cer- 

 tain foreigner residing abroad, and discoveries by himself, is in 

 possession of certain improvements in steam-engines. — 10th 

 December, — 6 months. To 



