160 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHrrECTS JOURNAL 



LMay> 



tions have, it is understood, been made chiL-fly through the exertions of 

 Mr. Nurse, the chairman of the Institution, who has evidently spared no 

 pains or expense, and has succeeded in giving to the metropolis an estab- 

 lishment of a very high class, equally useful and ornamental. The works 

 are sucli as to do great credit to the skill and taste of Mr. Thomson, Ihc 

 architect. 



NO'i'KS OK THE MONTH. 



The Art -Union, — The report shows that there has been a falling-off this 

 year of .-£5,000 in the income. This may be partly attributed to the bad- 

 ness and partly to the threatened government interference, but mainly to 

 the reaction consequent on misma:iagement and want of taste. The en- 

 gravings have caused disappointment to the subscribers, and brought shame 

 upon the committee. Their commercial value has long since been settled, 

 the print with frame and glass being sold at the picture-dealers for seven 

 shillings and sixpence. The engravings have not illustrated any subject of 

 legitimate interest, and have wanted the character of high works of art ; 

 their utmost merit being that of middling wall-hangings. Upon such taste, 

 thousands of pounds have l)een spent most wastefully, for any jobbing 

 engraver could have turned out the whole lot of engravings at a much less 

 price. In example and in practice, the administration of the Art-Union is 

 equally bad, and is very unfavourable to the true interests of art. The plan 

 of prize casts is most illiberal, for it is little better than desecration to break 

 up a mould for the purpose of preventing more impressions from being 

 taken. We must admit that there is no hope of the Society being more 

 useful, even if the control of the prize-money should be taken from the 

 prize-holders, and given to the council, — for the latter have shown their 

 incompetency in everything they have undertaken, like most self-elected 

 bodies. 



Paper-hangings prepared by means of Nitrate of Silver and other Salts. — 

 M. Larocque presented a paper to the Jcadomie des Sciences, Paris, explain- 

 ing a new process for colouring and designing paper-hangings. He observes, 

 that nearly all the salts are volatilised under the influence of vapour from 

 ■water or saline solutions, and that the nitrate of silver, among other salts, 

 on account of its easy reduction, would furnish a great variety of shades of 

 colour; and by means of reserves made in the paper, any designs in white 

 might be obtained. The following is the process employed: — " Take of 

 pure nitric acid, sp. gr. 1-50, two parts; and distilled water, one part. Place 

 the mixture in a porcelain capsule and heat it, throw in about two ounces of 

 silver, and continue to apply heat until the action of the acid on the metal 

 has ceased ; with this quantity of silver 700 or 800 sheets of paper may be 

 coloured. In this operation but a very small loss of silver will be found, for 

 the residue can be formed into nitrate of silver and sold ; or, if calcined at 

 a red heat in a crucible with carbonate of soda, the metallic silver may be 

 obtained and employed for a new operation. In order to obtain good 

 designs, it is necessary to operate in a place well lighted and out of currents 

 of air. 



Quarrying Machine. — "We took occasion (says the Neivcastle Chronicle)^ 

 a few weeks ago, to notice a new stone-drilling machine, and that it would shortly be 

 tested upon some of the quarries in the neighbourhood of Nnwcaslle. We can now 

 state the result of a trial made upon the quarry of Mr. K. Cail, near Gateshead. The 

 machine was jnit in motion by four men, and worked for an bour and a half, when they 

 attained a depth of S feet, of 4 inches gauge. The hole wns tlieii charged with 111 lb. of 

 powder, and the discharge produced the removal of .'),400 cubic feet of rock. We un- 

 derstand that it is likely to be very greatly patronised by quarry owners, from the ra- 

 pidity with whith it does its work." 



Chemistry of tht Sea. — A lecture was delivered on this subject at the 

 Royal Institution, by Dr. Thom;is Williams, ot Swansea. In commencinp, the lecturer 

 demonstrated, by means of an apparatus contrived tor the purpose, the effects of pres- 

 sure on ijshes at detinite depths beneath the surface of the sea. Having shown that a 

 gold tish, when the water in ft'hich it was placed was subjected to a pressure of four at- 

 mospheres, beciime paralyzed. Dr. Williams slated the f-jUowing conclusions as deduced 

 from his own experiments : — I. That round fishes, having an air bladder, cannot, without 

 injury, be exposed to a pressure of more ilian three atmospheres. — 'J. That the use of 

 the air bladder is not so much to regulate the specific gravity of the animals as to resist 

 the varying force of the fluid cohimn, and thus to protect the viscera and abdominal 

 blood-vessels agsinst excess of pressure.— ;i. (Though in this case the results are less 

 striking) flat lish exhibit a limited capacity only tor sustaining pressure. Fr(im these ob- 

 servations, l^r Williams inferred that the condition of pressure lepulated the distribution 

 of fishes in depth. Referring to the experimental researches of Prof. E. Furbes, he ex- 

 pressed his conviction that pressure would be found the most important element in tl-e 

 problem of submarine organic lite. He observed that the lower animals evinced a tolerance 

 of pressure peculiar to each species, and determining its zone of depth. The 1 iws of 

 oceanic tcinjierature wore next explained. It was experimentally demonstrated, that the 

 expansion of sea-water is considerably greater than that nf pure water, uruier equal incre- 

 ments of heat. It ivas, however, established by the aerometer, that density did not 

 diminish in exact proportion iviih the increase of volume. It was argued, tliat this ex- 

 periment went to account, for the expansion of crystals by heat, as noticed by Ulitscher- 

 lich ; and that it also proved that in the case of two strata of water of dissimilar tern, 

 perature overlying each other In the ocean, the tendency to intern.ixture by vertical 

 molecular attraction was greater than would be the case it the sea consisted of distilled 

 water. It was contended thpt it was in accordance with the principles developed in this 

 experiment, that the warm water occupying the greatest depths in the sea fas discovered 

 by Sir James Koss) rose to tlie surface and escaped under ihe form of vapour, which by 

 diffusing warmth through the atmosphere mitigated the rigour of polar cold. Referring 

 lo the stratum of water of unitorm warmth, observed by Sir J, Ross, the lecturer stated 

 that he had ascertained, by experiment, that water acquires a con3lderaI)le increase of 

 temperature under great pressure, and that he thought that the tenii)erature of the deep 

 sea could oidy be satisfactorily accounted lor by tlie condensation of bulk which the "air 

 of water" underwent. 'I'he increase of temperature measured downwards from the 

 stratum of uniform warmth to tlie sea bottom was noticed as proving that the letent 

 heat of tlie dissolved air was rendered sensible as the pressure— that is. as the depth in- 

 creased. Dr. Williams concluded by referring to the maximum density of water, the laws 

 governing the solution of air in water, and by explaining the influence of tiiose con- 

 ditions on the existence and distribution of plants and animals in the sea. 



The Timber Duties. — The following new and reduced prices on timber 



and wood goods come into operation on the jih of April :— Timberor wood, not being deals, 

 battens, boards, staves, handspikes, oars, lathwood, or other limber or wood, sawn, split, 

 or otherwise dressed, except hewn, and not being timber otheiwlse charged with duty, 

 the load, l.'is. ; <leals, battens, hoards, or other timber or wood, sawn or split, and not 

 otherwise charged with duty, the loud \t. Is.— or, in lieu of the duties imposed upon wood 

 by the load, according lo the cubic contents, the importer may have the option at the 

 time of passing the first entry of entering battens, battenends, deals, deal-ends, and 

 l)lanks, by tale, if of and from foreign countries, according to their difl'erent dimensions 

 and rates of duty, in which a considerable reduction is made, varying frum one-fourth to 

 a moiety of the rates of duty hitherto levied thereon ; staves, the load of .')(i cubic feet, 

 ISs. ; firewood, the fathom of UIC cubic feet, Cs. ; liandspikes, not exceeding 7 feet ia 

 length, the 120, l2s. ; exceeding 7 feet in length, the llii), II, 4s. ; knees, under T) inches 

 square, the 120, *is. ; inches and under H inches square, the 120, \l. 4s. ; lathwood, the 

 fathom of 21'> cubic feet, U. 43. ; oars, the 12I>, 4/. lOs. ; spars or poles, under 22 feet in 

 length, and under 4 inches in diameter, the l2t>, 12s. ; 22 feet in length and upwards, and 

 under 4 inches in diameter, the 120, 1/. 4s.; spars of all lengths, 4, and under (> inches 

 in diameter, the 120. 2/, Hs. ; spokes for wheels, not exceeding 2 feet in length, the 1,01)0, 

 U. 4s.; exceeding 2 feet in length, the 1,000, 2/. Hs. ; timber, planed, or otherwise 

 dressed or prepared for use, and not particularly enumerated nor otherwise charged with 

 duty, the cubic foot, 4d. ; and turther for every 100/. value, 10/. 



lilST OF NEV7 PATENTS. 



GRANTED IN ENGLAND FROM MaRCH 2", TO APRIL 20, 1848. 



Sia; Months alloived for Enrolment j unless otherwise expressed^ 



Benjamin Grey Babington, of George-street, Hanover-square, Middlesex, M.D., and 

 John Spurgin, of (iuHdford-street, Middlesex. M.D., (or " Improvements in the manu- 

 facture of metallic pens." — Sealed March 27. 



John Coates, of Seedley, Lancashire, calico printer, for "certain Improvements in 

 machinery or apparatus fitr printing calicoes and other surfaces.'* — April 3, 



Michael Joseidi John Donlan, of Abbot's Bromley House, Staffordshire, Esq., for 

 " Improved compounds or mixtures to be used for lubricating machinery." — April 4. 



James Pilbrow, of Tottenham, Middlesex, engineer, for "certain Improvements in 

 propelling upon railways and canals, and in the apparatus or machinery by which the 

 same is to be accomplished." — April 4. 



Thomas John Knowlys, of Hetham Tower, near Lancashire, and William FiUis, of 

 Shiiley, Hants, for " Improvements in generating, indicating, and applying heat."— 

 April h. 



Joseph Foot, of Spital-square, Middlesex, for "Improvements in the manufacture of 

 sieves." — April (1. 



Eugene Ablon, of Panton-street, Haymarket, for " Improvements in increasing the 

 draft in chimnies of locomotive and other engines." — April a. 



Thomas GUI and John Edgcumbe Gill, of Plymouth, manufacturers, for " Improve- 

 ments in the manufacture of manures."— April 8. 



Thomas Potts, of Birmingham, brass tube manufacturer, for "Improvements in the 

 manufacture of tubular flues of locomotive and other steam boilers." — April It). 



Thomas Spencer, of Prcscot, Lancashire, for *' certain Improvements in machinery or 

 apparatus for matnifacturing pipes and tubes from clay or other plastic materials, part or 

 jiarts of which imitrovements are applicable to the manufac'.ure of hollow earthenware." 

 —April 10. 



James Derham, of Bradford, Yorkshire, manager, for "certain Improvements in ma- 

 chinery for carding, combing, preparing, and spinning cotton, wool, alpaca, mohair, fiax, 

 silk, and other fibrous materials." — April 10. 



John Ecroyd, of UochdaJe, Lancashire, machine maker, and John Eccles, of the same 

 pliice, mechanic, for " certain Improvements in valves or plugs for the passage of water." 

 April 10. 



James Petrie, nf Rochdale, Lancashire, engineer, for " certain Improvements in steam 

 engines." — April in. 



Joltn Longworth, of Newton Heath, Lancashire, for " certain Improvements in pickers 

 for power looms." — April 10. 



James Meacock, of Liverpool, gentleman, for " Improvements in preventing and CK- 

 tinguishing fire in vessels, warehouses, and other buildings, parts of which improvements 

 are applicable to ventilation." — April 12. 



John Masters, of Leicester, gentleman, for " Improvements in dress fastenings, and in 

 attaching the same , and in articles made, wholly or in part, of certain flexible materials 

 or fabrics."— April 12. 



Henry Henson Henson.of Hampstead, Middlesex, gentleman, for "certain Improve- 

 ments in railway carriages and wagons, and in vessels of capacity, employed in the storing 

 and conveyance of ex|)losive substances." — April \b. 



Thomas Forsyth, of New North-road, Middlesex, engineer, for " Improvements in the 

 manufacture of railway wheels." — April 15. 



Charles Green and James NewmMU, manufacturers, of Birmingham, for " Improve- 

 ments in the manufacture of a part or parts of railway wheels."— April l.'>. 



Richard I\!adig»n, of Haverstock-hill, Hampstead-road. Middlesex, civil engineer, and 

 John Conpe Haddan, of 14, Lincoln's inn-fields, Middlesex, civil engineei, for "Im- 

 provements in the manufacture of wheels for railways."— April 15. 



Hel.ih Hiler, of New York, in the United Stales of America, for " Improvements in the 

 manufacture of stair rods."— Apiil l.'>. 



David Davies. ol Wigmore-street, Cnvendish-square. coachmaker, for "certain Im- 

 provements in the construction of the heads of open and close caniages."— April 15. 



Charles Attwood, of Wolsinpham, Durham, Esq., for a "certain Improvement or im- 

 provements in the manufacture of iron." — April 18. 



John Brittwn, of Birmingham, machinist, for " certain Imprnvements in heating, 

 lighting, ventilating, and closing and screwing the doors of apartments ; also in lighting 

 and venlilating cariiages, parts of which improvements are applicable to other like pur- 

 poses."— April 20. 



RlutthewCiJchran. of High-street, Paisley, Renfrewshire, for " certain Improvements 

 in the production of coloured patterns or designs on warps of carpets, velvets, or other 

 textile materials, parts of which improvements are also ;ipplicable to the production of 

 coloured patterns or designs on woven fabrics, or other planes." — April 20. 



Samuel Clegg, of Regent's-square, Middlesex, engineer, for "Improvements in gas 

 meters."— April 20. 



John Stranc Harradine, of Holywelbcum-Needingworth, Huiitingdonshire, farmer, for 

 " an Improved mode of fitting certain girths and straps." — April liO. 



Henry Gilbert, of Saint Leonard's-on-Sea, Sussex, fur " an Improved mode or improved 

 modes of operating in dental surgery, and improved apparatus or instruments to be used 

 therein."- April 2t>. 



