1S15.] New Patents. 471 



water closed up the lower mouth of the shaft : nnd tijat niglit it 

 rose to tlie height of 24 fatiioms. Some faint hopes being enter- 

 tained that the men below would retire to the higher parts of the 

 workings, which were said to be above the level of the water in tiie 

 shaft, every exertion was used to open a communication with them 

 by the old workings. Considerable diiiiculties, however, presented 

 themselves. The rubbish which covered and choaked uj) the 

 mouths of two old shafts, when deprived of the support of the 

 water, fell in, drugging along with it some trees which had been 

 planted round the spot. An old shaft, in front of Heaton Kail, 

 has not, however, presented a like impediment, and consequently 

 every exertion is using to open a communication by that way. 

 They had uncovered the pit, and reached the scaffolding on Saturday 

 the 6th, which was five fathoms from the surface; and we under- 

 stand their eflbrts are likely to be successful, if not prevented by an 

 accumulation of inflammable air, with which the old workings 

 appear to be filled. Ever since the accident, three large engines 

 (one of l;50 horse power) have been constantly employed in draw- 

 ing the water from the pit, at the rate of about 1200 gallons per 

 minute, yet on Friday morning it was found to have attained the 

 height of 31 fathoms up the shaft. In the evening, however, the 

 water had decreased about three feet, and we understand has con- 

 tinued to decrease since that time; so that no doubt is now enter- 

 tained of the colliery being at some future period again set to work. 

 VVe now come to slate the extent of the calamity. Mr. Miller 

 (the underviewcr, who has left a wife and eij^ht children), 32 work- 

 men, 4J boys, and 3/ horses, have perished; and 25 widows, 

 with about 80 children, are left to bemoan the sudden death of their 

 Jiusbands and fathers. 



Article XIII. 



New Patents. 



John Carpenter, Truro; for a knapsack, which prevents the 

 wet coming between it and the back ; and a pouch in front sus- 

 pended from the shoulder straps of said knapsack, so as to coun- 

 teract its weight. Jan. '20, IS 15. 



Jkan Rai'Dont, Oxford-street; for certain improvements in 

 the construction of dioptric telescopes. Jan. 20, 181.5. 



Jamks Miller, Liverpool ; for certain improvements in the 

 construction of stills, furnaces, chimneys, and other apparatus 

 connected with the art of distillation. Jan. 28, 1815. 



John Woon, Manchester, clock-maker ; for certain itnprove- 

 mcnts in machinery, used for preparing and spinning cotton-wool 

 and various other Mrticles. Fob. -1, IHiS. 



JosjiiMi Taylor and PjiXiiR Taylor, Manchester, niochine- 



