1840.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECTS JOURNAL. 



201 



none have appeared so important as the simple macliiiie now before us, 

 indeed, it bids fair to supersede every other metliod now in use. The great 

 advantage of tliis machine is, that so far from requiring tlie usual number of 

 weights, one only is wanted ; and this weight, from its never requiring re- 

 moval, or the slightest alteration, ensures accuracy for an almost intermina- 

 ble period. In appearance, it is much like the " Spring Dial," and possesses 

 all the portability and readiness of action with that machine, at the same 

 time being entirely free from those well-grounded olijections, which have 

 kept that instrument from being generally adopted. The inafhematical prin- 

 ci])le on which Mr. Danipier's balance is founded, renders it equally applica- 

 ble for light or heavv- weights, and one purpose for which it is admirably 

 adapted, is that of a letter balance, in which form, its elegant appearance 

 and beautiful design, render it a necessary appendage for the hbrary. 



Blowing up nf CimTion-niills Bridge.^On Friday, June 26. a vast m\iltitnde 

 of persons assembled to witness the blowing up of these mills. About six 

 o'clock, the trains communicating with 12 charges of gunpowder of 4 lbs. 

 each, inserted at e.ich base of the arch, to the depth of about four feet, were 

 set fire to ; hardly had the men time to make good their escape, before seven 

 tremendous explosions took place, cnrrying away the chief of the fronts of 

 the base of each arch. Much incidental damage was done, but still the bridge 

 remained standing. After clearing away the foundation, however, of the 

 bridge, at 11 o'clock it fell with a terrific crush, but with no damage to any 

 person. — Caledonian Mercury. 



Painting on Lime. Sfc. — M. Heidclofl'. a professor at Nnreniburah. has Suc- 

 ceeded, after many investigations and numerous experiments, in fixing paint- 

 ings \malterably.'and at little cost, upon hme. gypsum, .and stone. Tlie ap- 

 plication of this process has been successfuHy tried in the cathedral at Bom- 

 lierg. The process is extremely sim,ple. The size, for binding the lime, is 

 formed only of milk, and the preservetion of the painting from heat. cold, 

 and damp." is solely attributable to the method of preparing this mixture. 

 This invention has also the ,additional advantage that the paintings done in 

 this manner may be washed with water without losing any of the freshness 

 of their colours. It may be added also, that lime receives the colours better 

 Ihnn fresco. — Inrentor's Advocate. [Is there anything new in this ? — Editok 

 C. K. & A. JoiE.] 



Knhomine, a tiew paint. — A new and inodorous sort of paint, the invention 

 of Miss Fanny C'orbeaux. has been lately introduced to inddic notice. The 

 materials of which it is composed, are at first soluble in water; and while in 

 this state admit of the design being efiaced, or a portion of the culonring of 

 a wall or ceilirg being removed, if necessary : a subsequent operation renders 

 the paint insoluble, by a chemical change of the properties of the material, 

 which fixes the colour durably. It is free from any otiensive smell, dries tn a 

 few hours, is not acted upon injuriously by atmospheric infiuences, and is 

 said to be more durable than oil paint, ts well as more agreeable to the eye. 

 and not at all predudicial to the health ; indeed, a room painted with it one 

 day. maybe inhabited the next. It may also be made applicable to easel 

 painting also. M'e have .-Jeen a little landscape painted with this material, 

 which combined something of the depth and solidity of oil with the trans- 

 parenc'y of water-colour ; and a specimen of broad flower painting, for a room, 

 was shewn us, which had resisted the rude action of the scrubbing-brush. 

 The efl'ect of the white as a ground for gilding, is extremely clear without 

 being dazzling : and we can well anders'and that it possesses the property 

 ascribed to it of ■' softening and difi'using light." — Athenceum. 



Novel Wind Engine. — We have been inuch gratified this week, in examining 

 a wind engine for fen drainage, upon a very improved construction. The 

 object of the inventor (Thomas Brighly. Esq . of Kamsey). seems to have 

 been to proJuce a machine that shall not be alfected by the head thrown 

 against it, to render the least motion of the air available to raise a corres- 

 ponding weight of water, which may be increased exactly in proportion to 

 the strength of the wind, and («hat is intirely a new feature in ihe above 

 machine) it may safely be left " to take care of itself," rei|niring only occa- 

 sional attendance ; it clothes itself when the water is high, ami when low. 

 unclothes and stops ; and let the wind be never so strong, it cannot stir until 

 the water has again risen to a certain pitch; then, if the wind is sufliciently 

 strong, it clothes and sets itself in motion, and continues going until the 

 water is reduced to a certain level, when it at once unclothes and stops. The 

 machinery is extremely simple, and not subject soon to get out of repair. — 

 Cambridge Indcpendait. 



Soundings at Sea. — At a meeting of the Royal Geographical Society, a letter 

 was read from Captain .lames Ross, of her Majesty's ship ffidipus, giving an 

 account of some extraorJinarv deep soundings t.aken by him at sea. One of 

 these. 900 miles west ot the Islan,] of St. Helena, extended to the depth of 

 5,000 fathoms, the weight eoiployed amounting to 450 lb. Another made in 

 the latitude of 33 deg. S.. and longitude 9 deg. W.. about .300 miles from the 

 Cape of GoofI Hope, occupied 49| minutes, in which time 2,266 fathoms were 

 sounded. These facts were thought clearly to disjirove the common opinions, 

 that soundings could not be obtained at ve'ry great depths. 



Inland Navigation. — A project is on foot for improving the navigation of 

 the river Nen, from the sea to Peterborough, so as to render that place an 

 inland seaport, connecting itself with the towns of Northampton, Leicester, 

 Market Harborough, Stamford. &c. ; and, at the same time, to drain 50,000 

 acres of lens, to lay dry Vhittlesea Mere, and to carry lines of road through 

 the drained country, so as to diminish the distance between London antl Hull, 

 ten miles and upwards. — Gloucestershire Chronicle. 



A new mamifarture of Tissue . — We have had an opportunity of inspecting 

 the process for manufacturing an entirely new species of tissue and tapestry, 

 which was originally invented or discovered by M. E. Parry, and which, we 

 understand, has been secured by patent, and which, as the material is pro- 

 duced in our own colonies, promises to become an article of great commercial 

 ■value. In particular, vve would refer to some coverings of chairs and tapes- 

 try, which have been especially ordered by her Majesty for the palace. It 



bears so strong a resemblance to silk of the best kind, that it is diSieult, 

 without a minute examiration. to discover the difference. The material of 

 which it is composed, is the fibre of the banana, .alee, and other trees and 

 plants w Inch are plentifully foiind in our Yi'est India islands, and by very 

 accurate expcrimcnls. made by or.ler of the French Government, thev have 

 been found on an average to exceed the strength of hemp by one-fourth. The 

 experiments were made at Toulon, upon cor.lage which had been six ninnth.s 

 exposed to the air. and an eqn.al time immersed in the sea. AVe understand 

 that the French Minister of .Marine has introduced r. pes and cables made of 

 this inaterial, into the Royal Navy, and as it is so much superior to hemp, 

 we see no reason why it might not bo advantageously employed in the cordage 

 of the military and commercial navy of this country. — Post. 



New Planing Machine. — We lately had the pleasure of seeing "n operation 

 a new and verv curious, as well as elVective maidune for planing iron, invented 

 and constructed by >Ir. Rennoldson. of South Shie'ds. The advantage ob- 

 tained in this machine over others winch we ha-,e seen, is that it cuts over 

 the whole of the surface of the metal at once, whether it be one inch or 12 

 inches in breadth, with great ease; by which process, a very great saving 

 in ime is, beyond doubt, efiec'ed. It is extremely ditfitult to convey a cor- 

 rect idea of the manner in which this is etiected without the assistance of 

 diagi-ams. We can state thus far. however : the principal feature in which 

 it is superior to otliers. is in the chisels or cutters, which are firmly imbedded 

 in an iron roller about fourteen inches in length, and about three and a half 

 inches in diameter. There are eight chisels in the circumference of this roller 

 which extends rather more than half the length. The other end is furnished 

 with an equal number, which likewise extend over a little more than half the 

 length of the roller, and also intersect the position of the cutters in the oppo- 

 site end. diV'ding the pow^r which would be required to work it, it the cutters 

 were as long as the roller itself. It is decidedly superior to the point for 

 which a patent has been obtained, as it is calculated to do thre.' times as 

 much \\\ rk, in a better style, in the same time. — Tyne Mercury. 



Improved Sash and Table Fastening, tyc— By Thomas Hardeman Clark:. Bir- 

 mingham, cabinet-maker, June 24. — In place of the ordinary spring bolt, the in- 

 ventor adopts the use of a w edge formed bolt, which is jrged backwards in 

 the frame or s >cket attached to one window-sash, while the hasp or catch 

 reiching from the other sash is held bv this wedge-formed bolt. The same 

 improvement may be applied to tables, but the position of the bulls must be 

 varied, as crcumstances may recjuirc. — Inventor's Advocate. 



An improved apparatus for regulating the supphj of water to stemn-hoilers^ 

 patented by James Knowles. Little Bolton, Lancaster. — Claims the use of a 

 sell-acting appr.ralus, the working parts of which are within the boiler, and 

 communicate to the supply valve from wuhout. A lever or rod is placed 

 longituihnally on a fulcrum within the boiler, the longer end of which is an 

 upright r.jd, with a float attached thereon, p.assing to the outside of the 

 boiler , at the shorter end of the lever is tmother upright rod connected with 

 the supply valve, working in a tube. As long as there is plenty of water in 

 the boiler, the float will continue to press up the long end of tlie lever, and. 

 consequently, cause the valve on the upright rod of the short end of the iever 

 to press down on its bearing, and prevent the admission of water from the 

 tank. But when the height of the water in the boiler diminishes, the float 

 lowers with it. and thereby forces op the rod with the valve: thus admitting 

 a further supply of water until the float ag.ain rises to close dov.n the valve. 

 —Ibid. 



Improvements in reducing friction in wheels of carriages, which in:proj'e7nents 

 are also applicable to bearings ni.-d journals of machinery, patented by Cliarles 

 Greenway, of Douglas, in the Isle of Man. July 3- — Tlie first cl.aim consists in 

 the method of forming a "cradle'' for the reception of spheres or rollers, 

 near to which, the arm of the axle is made to rotate, whereby a considerable 

 friction is overcome, as the sp'neres or rollers do not retmire an axis, and the 

 cradle is so formed as to keep them close to the axle.— In the description of 

 the second improvement, the inventor states that to the carriage, on which 

 the tninn'ons of a c.ironnade are usually fixed, w heels are not used, in order 

 to prevent recoiling. But in his improvement, w heels are put to the carriage, 

 so as to facilitate tlie mc>vement of the caroniiade towards the port-hole or 

 embrasure : and before Ihe act of firing, the caronnade with its trunnion is 

 moved by the action of a lever from the carriage tm to the deck of a vessel 

 to prevent recoiling, and is again restored to the carriage by the same lever, 

 when preparing to reload. — Ibid. 



Improved mode of applying ivater-power, patented by Capt. George Davey. — 

 The inventor c'aims the application of air jackets or chambers to a column of 

 water, and the methi d of applying the pow er obtained by the pressure of Ihe 

 said column of water, through the medium of the compressed air contained in 

 the said air jacket, whcieljy so great a quantity of air is driven into the 

 working cylinder as toefloct a great saving of water, which, incases requiring 

 a reservoir at a high level, is very important. An upright tube leads from 

 the reservoir to the iull extent of the fall of water ; at each thirty feet this 

 tube is surrounded by an air jacket, and three or four fine holes tire m.ide at 

 the bottom of the tube, within the space covered by it. The lower part ot 

 the tube has a lateral connection with a small cylinder, with a double piston 

 or dead bo.xes working therein. At the opposite side of this cylinder, there 

 is a lateral connection with the working cylinder, that moves, by its piston 

 and rod, the pump or engine. The w atcr, passing from the reservoir, down 

 the tube, forces a quantity of air from the air jackets, with the water, through 

 the small cylinder (that has its double piston open) into the large working 

 cylinder, by which means the piston of this cylinder is forced up ; and the 

 tappets on the rod of this piston are so arranged as to strike a lever connectet! 

 with the rod of the double piston, which admits and shuts off the supiily of 

 water Irom the tube to the working cylinder. The piston of this cylinder 

 being now forced up. the tappet on the rod causes the lever to put the double 

 piston in such a posilion as to cut off the supply of water, until the water 

 that is below the large working cylinder fluws out into the waste, or dis- 

 charging level. The piston with the rod, in descending, by its gravity, causes 

 another tappet to strike the lever, and put the double piston or dead boxes, 



