Rev. J. Blackburn on a Parabolic Sounding Board. 2 1 



I may also just remark, tliat the rotation of the earth on its 

 axis from W. to E. appears somewhat analogous to certain 

 phjEnomena in electro-magnetism. 



Geology has perhaps hitherto been considered too much as 

 an insulated science ; whereas, I believe that the phaenomena 

 it embraces are only additional links in the chain of creation, 

 so intimately connected in all its parts. Otherwise it must be 

 admitted to present an anomaly when compared with the other 

 works of the Deity, in the minutest portions of which, order, 

 wisdom, and reciprocal dependence become more and more 

 evident in proportion as they are investigated. 



Robert W. Fox. 



IV. Description of a Parabolic Sotmding Board, erected in 

 Attercliffc Church. By the Rev. John Blackburn, M.A., 

 late of St. John's College, Cambridge; and Mi?iistcr of At- 

 tercliffe-cum-Darnall *. 



[With a Plate.] 



IN the year 1826 a new church was consecrated at Atter- 

 cliffe, near Sheffield; being built according to a design by 

 the late T. Taylor, Esq., by means of a grant from His Ma- 

 jesty's Commissioners appointed under the Act for the building 

 and promoting the building of additional Churches. 



The area of the interior is in the form of a rectangular paral- 

 lelogram, 95 feet by 72. At the east end is an elliptical recess 

 32 feet wide and 10 leet deep, making the extreme length ot 

 the centre line from east to west 105 feet. The roof is vaulted 

 and crroined ; the highest point in the ceiling of the nave about 

 56 feet from the plane of the floor : there are galleries at the 

 sides and at the west end. 



In this church the resonance was powerful, but the sound 

 indistinct and confused, whatever was the character of the 

 voice from which it proceeded : no exertions, no pains on the 

 part of the sjicaker could render him audible. To remedy 

 this most serious inconvenience, various unsuccessiul expen- 

 ments were made. The pulpit was removed to di fterent 

 points; and although its present situation proved the bcstf, 

 thf eviUomplained of still remained : the common horizontal 

 sounding board was tried, which conferred indeed a beneht 

 on u few seats about the })ulpil, (seats which least ot all re- 



• C'oinitiuiiicatcd bv the aiitlior. r ■ i, 



+ The r>i>l|/'t stands in the middle aisle, 1.5 hct it. advance of tlie altar 



rails; its f..nn is octaj;onal; its fl.n.r 9 feet above the floor of the chmTh ; 



the ascent is by a winding staircase, with the door on one bide ; ni Iront are 



the reading desk and clerk's desk. . , 



