PREFACE. 



posps may now be considered as finally recognized. The French government have this year shown a better spirit as to the railways, but 

 tlu'y make but small way, the Paris and Rouen projectors have however raised large sums in this country. The Russian government have 

 sent an engineer to this country to prejiare for the formation of raihvaya in Russia on a large scale, and it may be observed that generally 

 the European nations are making progress as to the introduction of the system. 



The use of wood pavement for the streets has greatly extended both in London and the provinces, and the use of asphalte also seems 

 to be established. Measures are in progress for running locomotives on common roads. 



The appointment of commissioners for inquiring into the state of our coasts, has been a measure long called for by the mercantile 

 interests of this country ; but whether the recent labours of the harbour commissioners will either prove satisfactory or useful, yet remains 

 to be seen. During the year improvements have been made at Leith, Fleetwood-on-Wyre, the Bute Docks at Cardiff, Ramsgate, Rye, 

 and Woolwich. In this latter establishment we may also call attention to the introduction of the steam machine fur making shot. At 

 Granton a pier has been erected ; in the Downs a safety beacon on a new principle ; and this year we have seen the first application of 

 the screw pile system to the erection of a lighthouse at Fleetwood-on-Wyre. Considerable attention has been devoted to the embank- 

 ment of the Thames, into which subject Parliament has inquired ; the river works of the new Houses of Parliament have been completed, 

 and hopes are entertained that either by the city or goverment, works will be carried on so as to improve the whole north bank of the 

 river; an extensive embankment on the shores of the Thames and Medway has been made by Lord de Vesci. The propositions for 

 draining the Lake of Haarlem, and for recovering land in Morecambe Bay and the Wash, have caused mauy engineers to direct their 

 inquiry to improvements in draining, as far as regards the application of mechanical power to such purposes. The Chard and the Ulster 

 Canals have both been opened, and some extensive works completed on the Hereford and Gloucester. The repairs of Blackfriars Bridge 

 have been satisfactorily ended, while great progress has been made with those carried on at Westminster Bridge ; some majestic viaducts 

 have been constructed on the railways. The application of Rendel's system of floating bridges has been extended to Portsmouth and 

 Calcutta. 



The interests of steam navigation having been seriously threatened by the proposed application of stringent government measures, 

 we considered it our duty to awaken the attention of the marine engineers to the subject, and we congratulate our readers on the success 

 which attended our eflTorts, such a union of the profession having been organized, and such effective measures taken, as to compel the 

 authorities to postpone the intended bill. The importance of steam ships as a part of our marine, has been shown by recent hostile 

 events, when the agency of this arm, both in Syria and China, has been so exerted. The government have shown their sense of it 

 by giving higher rank and privileges to the enginemen in the naval service, by directing schools for their instruction to be formed in the 

 dockyards, and by making an acquaintance with the marine engine a part of the studies of the superior officers. The French government 

 have greatly enlarged their engine factory. The investigation of the properties of the Archimedean screw has been continued, and its 

 utility recognized, at the same time that the question of modes of propulsion has been the subject of extensive experiment. The appli- 

 cation of propellers to sailing vessels, as in the Earl Hardwicke and the Vernon, has been successful. The introduction of steam navi- 

 gation on canals, has also tended to direct attention towards propellers, and to the use of iron as a material for steam canal boats and for 

 passage boats, of which the Lee, the Nonsuch, and the Alice are examples. Iron has been so extensively used as a material of construction 

 for steam boats, as already to have given a great deal of employment to marine engineers. Abroad, iron steam boats have been introduced 

 on the Danube and the Elbe. Iron has been applied considerably for constructing sailing vessels; it has also been used for a floating 

 fire engine. The experiments continue on the application of electro-magnetic power to navigation, but with no tangible result. Steam 

 navigation has, this year, been greatly extended; Fleetwood-on-Wyre has been added to the steam ports; the Mediterranean service has been 

 more efficiently organized ; in the Atlantic the number of steamers to the United States has been increased, and a line to Boston established, 

 communication with Madeira has been opened ; in the Pacific, steamers are now running along the western coasts ; in India, increased 

 means of communication with England still occupy the public mind ; attention has also been directed to the capabilities of the Indus 

 and its tributary streams. 



Mining is greatly advancing as one of the branches of the profession, or a branch likely to be promoted by the measures taken for 

 giving instruction in it. The munificence of Sir Charles Lemon has established in Cornwall a special school for mining, and professorships 

 also exist in King's College, London, and at Durham. Instruction in mineral chemistry, so much required, has been promoted by the 

 establishment of the government school attached to the museum of economic geology, and by the courses delivered in several public 

 institutions. The powers of Cornish engines have been the subject of serious discussion among our engineers, and the attention of the 

 Dutch government has been directed to them to ascertain their applicability for economical draining. 



Among the engineers who have been this year lost, we have to mention with regret, Sir Robert Seppings, Lieut. Thomas Drummond, 

 and Mr. Hazckline, an engineer employed on the Menai and Conway bridges. 



Having thus disposed of the interests of our readers, it remains that we should ask their indulgence while we recall to them the 

 exertions we have ourselves made in fulfilling our duties towards them. For this we appeal with confidence to the volume just con- 

 cluded, where they will find that our correspondence has increased in value and interest, and that no exertion or expense has been spared 

 to render the work worthy of the increased patronage it receives. Our readers will find in it 432 pages, 21 plates and 214 engravings, 

 forming a mass of informal ion which, for value and for cheapness, is not surpassed by the periodical works of any profession. Such have 

 been our endeavours in our communication with the professions through the medium of these pages, but we have not hesitated, neither 

 shall we, to exert ourselves for them, when and where we may have it in our power, by acting in a public capacity. Such we considered 

 to be our duty on the steam navigation question, as we shall on every occasion where the interests of the professions require it, and our 

 humble effoits can in any capacity be exerted in their defence. 



