AYA' ll'JLUAM SIJ-:.]/K.\S, J-\K.S. 59 



to the windings of the narrow gorge ; it can only be worked by 

 light rolling stock of flexible construction, furnished with increased 

 power of adhesion and great brake-power. Nevertheless, by the 

 aid of the electric telegraph, in regulating the progress of each 

 train, the number of trains may be so increased as to produce a 

 large aggregate of traffic, and it is held by some that even our 

 trunk lines would be worked more advantageously by light rolling 

 stock. 



The brake-power on several of the French and Spanish railways 

 has been greatly increased by an ingenious arrangement conceived 

 by Monsieur Le Chatelier, of applying what has been termed 

 " Contre vapeur " to the engine, converting it for the time being 

 into a pump forcing steam and water into its own boiler. 



While the extension of communication occupies the attention of 

 perhaps the greater number of our engineers, others are engaged 

 upon weapons of offensive and defensive warfare. We have 

 scarcely recovered our wonder at the terrific destruction dealt by 

 the Armstrong gun, the Whitworth bolt or the steel barrel con- 

 solidated under Krupp's gigantic steam hammer, when we hear of 

 a shield of such solidity and toughness as to bid defiance to them 

 all. A larger gun or a harder bolt by Palliser or Griison is the 

 successful answer to this challenge, when again defensive plating, 

 or greater tenacity to absorb the power residing in the shot, or of 

 such imposing weight and hardness combined as to resist the 

 projectile absolutely (causing it to be broken up by the force 

 residing within itself) is brought forward. 



The ram of war with heavy iron sides, which a few years since 

 was thought the most formidable, as it certainly was the most 

 costly weapon ever devised, is already being superseded by vessels 

 of the " Captain type " as designed by Captain Coles, and ably 

 carried out by Messrs. Laird Brothers, with turrets (armed with 

 guns by Armstrong of gigantic power) that resist the heaviest 

 firing, both on account of their extraordinary thickness, and of the 

 angular direction in which the shot is likely to strike. 



By an ingenious device Captain Moncrieff lowers his gun upon 

 its rocking carriage after firing, and thereby does away with 

 embrasures (the weak places in protecting works) while at the 

 same time he gains the advantage of re-loading his gun in 

 comparative safety. 



