1918.] 



THE CIVIL EXOINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



61 



Mr. I'anson, in correction of a statement at a former meeting, said the 

 new sewprs at Hamburgh were not oval, hut egg-shaped. 



Mr. I'oTNTER read n paper on " Leather Hangings," illustrated by a num- 

 ber of specimens sent hy Mr. Pratt. — The author nientioiieil examples of 

 leather emhossing among the Egyptians, and in the middle ages, and also of 

 its extensive use in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, after ils revival. 

 The leather used was fine, and was either embossed or simply painted. It 

 was chiefly brought into this country from Flanders and France, and theie 

 did not seem to have been any manufactory of it here. Some thought that 

 the process had been fiist revived either at Venice or in Spain, I'lit this is 

 still matter of doubt, though at Venice embossed leather hangings were in 

 general use in the seventeenth century. The first stage in the process was 

 to join the skins, and then to silver the whole surface. Paris to have the 

 appearance of gold were varnished with coloured varnish. After silvering, 

 the leather was stamped with cut blocks under a press. The l)orders and 

 more delicate work were executed with metal tools, like those of honk- 

 binders. ^A'hat is called the Titian Gallery, at Blenheim, has paintings on 

 leather, but they are not by Titian. Mr. Poynter exhiliited some line exam- 

 ples, one he'wi Antony and Cleopatra, from a series formerly helmiaing to 

 the great Lord Clarendon. He recommended such specimens as suitable for 

 museums of niedia;val antiquities. 



Mr. Grace stated that p'aster moulds are used at Paris to emboss the 

 leather, ami that much flock is workeil up to ornament the face. 



The Cliaiiinan brought to the notice of the meet'ng the loss they had 

 sustained in the death of two members of the profession. Mr, Kay, a mem- 

 ber of the Institute was the first whom he should name, one whom they all 

 kiifw and respected, and who had taken an active part in the establishment 

 of the Institute.— Mr. Lonsdale Elmes was not a mcniher ol the Insiitute, 

 but a most promising architect, whose works at Livei pool reflected the great- 

 est credit upon him. A slight fall in getting out of a carriage was the more 

 immediate cause of death, hnt he was sufl'ering from disease which would 

 otlierwise have cairied him olf. 



INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS. 



Jan, 11. — Sir J. Rennie, President, in the Chair. 



The first meeting of the session was held this evening, when the following 

 papers were read : — 



Mr. Frederick R.\nsome*s ^* process for maUing Artificial Stone." 



The modus operandi appeared to be very simple. Broken pieces of silica 

 (comnion tlint) being subjected for a time to the action of caustic alkali, 

 boiling, under pressure, in a close vessel, formed a transparent silieated solu- 

 tion, which was evaporated to a specific gravity of 1*600 (distilled water 

 being l-OOO), and was then intimately mixed with given proportions of well- 

 washed sand, broken granite, or other mateiials, of different degrees ftf hard- 

 ness. Tlie paste thus constituted, after being pressed into moulds, from 

 which the most delicate impressions were readily received, were subjected to 

 a red heat, in a stove or kiln, by which operation the free or uncombined 

 silica of the raw materials united with the excess of alkali existing in the 

 solution, thus forming a semi-vitreous compound, and rendering the artificial 

 stone perfectly insoluble. This production most evidently be adaptable to 

 a comprehensive range of objects for decorative art, and for arcliitectnral 

 purposes ; busts, vases, flooring tiles, steps, balustrades, moiddinps, capitals, 

 shafts, and bases of columns, &c., even grinding stones ami whetstones for 

 scythes, have been made ; and, in fact, from the beauty and variety of the 

 specimens exhibited, there would appear to be a vast field opening for such 

 a production. It was stated to be already extensively manufactured at Ips- 

 wich, and it was allowed to admit of extensive application where elaborately 

 carved stone would be too expensive. 



Mr. Richmond, of Bow, exhibited and explained " anEngine Counter" ma- 

 nufactured by him on an improved principle. The counters in ordinary use 

 were described as either somewhat inefiicient machines, liable to error, or of 

 too expensive construction to be generally employed. This counter differed 

 from others chiefly in its simplicity and its accuracy, whilst, at the same 

 time, its low price of 11. brought it within the reach of every one. With 

 this machine the number of strokes made by the engine or other machine 

 could be read off at one view without calculation. The leading or unit band 

 traversed the entire circumference of the large dial, and those of the three 

 small dials revolved in the same direction. The first motion was described 

 as being given by a sliding bar and fixed spring, instead of by a double pallet, 

 so that the first wheel could not be thrown more than one tooth by one 

 stroke of the engine. The hands were all moved by a train of wheels and 

 pinions, without skip-wheels, so that the motion was regular and progres- 

 sive. These were admitted to be advantages, and in the discussion upon the 

 machine its merits appeared to be shown very decidedly. 



Jan. 18. — Sir J. Kennie, President, in the Chair. 



The annual general meeting of the Institution was held this evening, when 

 the following gentlemen were elected to form the council for the ensuing 

 year ; — 



President — Joshua Field. 



Vice Presidents — W. Cubitt, J. M. Rendel, 1. Simpson, and R. Stepheii- 

 Bon, M.P. 



Members—}. F. Bateman, G. P. Bidder. I. K. Brunei, J. Cuhitt, J. Locke, 

 M.P., J. Miller, \V. C. Mylne, T. Sopwith, J. R. M'Clean, and C. May. 



Associa'es of Council — J. Clntton, and T. H. Wyatt. 



The report of the council continues to be very encouraging, and shows 

 that the progress of the society is steadily good. 



Telford meilals were presented to Messrs. Jackson, Richardson, Murray, 

 Glynn, and Frodsbam, and to the two former gentlemen council premiums 

 of hooks wire added. Telford premiums of books were also awarded to 

 Me-srs. EUioit, Heppel, Shears, and Maaters, for the communications made 

 during the past session. 



.Memoirs were given of the deceased members and associates, Messrs, 

 Thnm, Giles, Lipkins, Mushet, Reynolds, Holtzapffel, Evans, Watkins, and 

 Ball. The career of several of these gentlemen had been so varied, and pos- 

 sessed such points of interest, that the memoirs were necessarily extended 

 beyond their usual length. The report noticed the increased attendance of 

 members and visitors as evidence of its advancing career, and of the interest 

 felt for the science of civil engineering. A pressing appeal was made to mem- 

 bers of all classes to contribute papers, to induce animated discussions, which 

 are the distinctive feature of the meetings of the society. The principal events 

 of the past session were touched upon, and several private matters relative 

 to the internal management of the Institution were fully discussed. The 

 council then explained the changed form of the balloting papers, necessitated 

 by the new bye-laws, and the retirement of Sir Jtihn Itennie from the post 

 of president, which he had filled with such credit to himself and benefit to 

 the society for the last three years. In conclusion, the repitrt said, "Let 

 the civil engineers remember that ' union is strength ;' and that, if they are 

 true to each other, and use the Institution as the common centre and bond 

 of unity, they may set at nought all efforts to dislodge the civil engineers of 

 England from the proud eminence where their talents, their practical skill, 

 and their probity have placed Ibein." 



Before leaving the chair. Sir J. Kennie, president, addressed the meeting 

 on the selection of the president, and impressed upon them the claims of 

 Mr. Field; not only as one of the founders of the Institution, and who had 

 filled for many years all positions in the society, nor because be was univer- 

 sally respected and esteemed as an upright, honourable, kind-hearted man, 

 but chiefly on account of bis acknowledged celebrity as a mechanical engi- 

 neer, particularly in that most imi>ortant department — steam navigation ; 

 and, because his election would unite more firmly the two branches of the 

 profession, wiiich, to ensure general prosperity, must ever go band in hand, 

 as they bad hitherto done in the Institution, in spite of all attempts to make 

 it appear otherwise, lie then reviewed the position of the Institution during 

 his presidentship, offering bis best thanks to the vice-presidents and the 

 members of council, and to the secretary, for the support and assistance 

 afforded him ; and then examined, with much candour, the relative positions 

 of the civil engineers, and of the government boards and commissions, which 

 had appeared to clash more than was desirable. This he showed not to rise 

 from any of the acts of the civil engineers, who had ever been ready to affoid 

 their best assistance to the government in any capacity ; and further, that it 

 would be the interest of the government to take advantage of the talent, 

 energy, and practical skill of the civil engineers, by whom they had ever been 

 well served, rather than incur the hazard and the expense of forming a corps 

 that would require more time for educating than could be afforded in these 

 active limes, when even hesitation was perdition. 



This address w as responded to very warmly by the meeting ; and a vote of 

 thanks to Sir John Kennie was received with cheers. Thanks were also 

 voted to the council and the secretary of the Institution for their services. 



SOCIETY OF ARTS, LONDON. 

 Dec. 15. — P. Le Neve Foster, Esq., in the Chair. 



The Secretary read a paper, by Mr. A. G. Findlay, M.R.G.S., " On the 

 various descriptions of Lighttiouses, Beacons, and Light-vessels, tfieir Con- 

 struction, and the metfiods of Jltumination employed tlierein." 



Mr. Findlay commenced his paper by alluding to the vast importance to 

 a maritime nation like England of having a durable and efficient mode of 

 constructing and illuminating lighthouses, light-vessels, &c., and proceeded 

 to point out the general uses of lighthouses. The oldest structure upon 

 record is the celebrated Pharos of Alexandria, which served as a guide to 

 ancient mariners during a period of nearly 1,600 years. Pliny says, " It 

 was square, of white stone, and consisting of many stories, and diminished 

 upwards till it attained the height of 547 feet." The most ancient structure 

 known to exist in this country is the Roman pharos at Dover castle, and 

 this would still answer its intended purpose, after a lapse of 18 centuries. 

 The celebrated Cordouan Tower, in the Bay of Biscay, is another instance 

 of stability, having been built in 1611. The Eddystone lighthouse has 

 attracted more of the attention of the public than perhaps any other. The 

 first of these edifices was of wood, and built by Mr. Winstanley in the year« 

 1696-8 ; but, owing to the sea washing over the lantern, it was subsequently 

 raised to a height of 120 feet. In November, 1703, the entire structure 

 was washed away, and in 1706 sanction was obtained for its being rebuilt, 

 which Was accordingly done by Rudyerd, but which was destroyed by fire 

 in 1755. The present tower, one of the artificial wonders of England, and 

 built by Smeaton, is 100 feet high, and has given good proof of its capa- 

 bility of resisting the force of the waves. The Bell Rock lighthouse i» a 



