224 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



[Jr,.v, 



structed under the Hirection of Mr. Rawlinson, and described by him at a 

 late meeting, — Mr. Uarrett's description of Messrs. Fox and Barrett's patent 

 mode of coiislriicting fire-proof floors and ceilings, and likewise Mr. IJeard- 

 more's method of constructing malleable iron fire-prcof flooring, given at 

 preceding meetings, may be enumerated; — the subject however seems to be 

 in its infancy, and it is to be hoped that some combination may be suggested, 

 which may unite economy with complete protection from fire in public and 

 private buildings. 



The report tlien refers to the attempt of establishing a benevolent fund ; 

 and next refers to the difficulty of obtaining suitable apartments to hold the 

 meetings of the Institute, library, &c. 



The report laments the loss by death of Mr. Miles and of Mr. Eginton of 

 AVorcester, both of whom have for many years been associates; and further 

 of Mr. Paxon, a few weeks after his election as an associate, and before 

 he had actually l)een admitted. We have likewise to regret the decease 

 of our honorary fellow, the Rev. Robert Norgrave Pemberton, of Church 

 Stretton. 



The report then refers to the annual prizes, which have been already 

 reported. 



The competition for the medals of the year has unfortunately been far 

 from satisfactory; for although the silver medal of the Institute has been 

 deservedly awarded to Mr. Wyatt Papworth for his essay " On the Peculiari- 

 ties of the Palladian School of Architecture, and a comparison and contrast 

 of its elementary principles and details with those of Roman Art," yet the 

 Institute have been compelled to withold the med;il offered for " an Essay on 

 Uoofs, and forming the Flats and Gutters of Buildings, &c." as likewise the 

 Soane medallion offered for the best design for " a Building to serve as a 

 National Repository and Museum for the illustration and exhibition of the 

 productions of the Industrial Arts," neither the essays nor the designs sub- 

 mitted having been deemed worthy of regard. 



The designs for the Soane medallion, apparently the productions of very 

 young men, exhibited generally a remarkable absence of the recognised 

 elementary prmciples of architectural composition, together with a lamentable 

 want of knowledge of construction; and in some cases, such glaring discre- 

 pancies between the plans, sections, and elevations were apparent, that the 

 etuncil felt necessitated to withhold the reward offered, lest it might be 

 inferred that the Institute recognised as a standard of merit, productiotis of 

 the class submitted this year: — in the hope of eliciting for the future more 

 matured talent, the council have extended the limit as to the age of com- 

 petitors for the Soane medallion to thirty instead of twenty-five years as 

 heretofore. 



The council have observed with deep concern the absence of tliat spirit of 

 noble emulation which should stimulate the junior member of the profession 

 to strive for distinction, in the acquisition of those prizes offered to his 

 anibilion by the Institute: he should reflect that tlie se.il of approbation, 

 stamped by the rewards of this body, is an honour that must accompany him 

 tlirough life. A medal from this Institute is a title to the respect of the 

 public and of his professional brethren : the very energies he exerts to 

 he worthy of that distinction, are invigorated by the praiseworthy effort to 

 merit the approval of his seniors. The wide range of thought to be taken, 

 the studies to be pursued, the monuments to be investigated, the elevation of 

 ideas and of imagination, required to qualify himself for the important 

 Struggle, must have influence upon his future standing in the profession, 

 even if not immediately successful. He should never be satisfied until he is 

 crowned by success and has grasped- those honours which the generous 

 encouragement of his seniors holds out to his enthusiasm and perseverance. 

 Is'othing less than the utmost concentration of purpose and unwearying 

 application can qualify a man to be an architect, and enable the laborious 

 student to acquire the mass of learning, the perfect mastery of the pencil, 

 that acquaintance with construction, that familiarity with the mineral and 

 vegetable worlds and with the laws of mechanics, which are requisite to 

 ensure future reputation and success. He should avail himself of the many 

 motives to exertion, and the numerous sources of instruction now open to 

 him, but which were not accessible to the less-favoured studies of his 

 seniors, who had to struggle under every disadvantage to acquire even the 

 rudiments of the art which they profess. 



Th"! recent political convulsions which have already been alluded to, have 

 had their influence upon the progress of the art on the Continent. But it is 

 satisfactory to observe that the governments of France and Prussia, amidst 

 their violent civil contests, have recognised the moral and political import- 

 ance of continuing their public monuments already in course of erection, as 

 a means of employing the well-disposed artizans. Vast sutns have been allo- 

 cated by those countries to the completion of important edifices, nor has a 

 miserable economy deprived those buildings of the embellishments to be 

 derived from the chisel of the sculptor, or the pencil of the painter. It is 

 however to be deplored that the horrors of war have visited several beautiful 

 cities of Europe, and occasioned serious injury to numerous precious works of 

 art, which it will require many years of prosperity and peace to restore to 

 their pristine splendour. 



The council refer with satisfaction to the numerous and valuable additions 

 that have been made to the library aud collection, by donations and by 

 purchase. 



The Builders* Benevolent Instilution. — We wish to direct the attention 



of otir professional readers to this excellent institution for giving relief and granting per- 

 manent pesioiia to decayC'l miistera, who have been practically engaged in ihe trades con- 

 nected with building, and their widows, — pensions nfit to exceed 24/. per aiunim to ttie 

 UiJtles.apd *2(J/. per annum to the females, payable monthly; and forgiving temporary relief 

 to deserving workmen of masters being members of the institution. By reference to our 

 advertising columns, it will be seen that the Second Anniversary Dinner is to be held on 

 the l8<h inst., to be supported by the Earl of Carlidle, aud numerous members of the 

 proiession. 



Boat for His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. — By command of His 



Royal Highness Prince Albert, Mr. H G. Hoblnson, Captain Light, Captain Smith, R.N., 

 anti fllr. C. .Manby, Secretary of the Institution of Civil Engineers, attended at Bucking- 

 ham Palace, on the 22iid. ult., to present a beautiful life-boat, constructed on a peculiar 

 principle, for His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. The foUowiut; are the dimen- 

 sions of the boat: — 



Length over all 20 ft. in. 



Ditto on the keel , 17 4 



Breadth at the main thwart 3 23 



Ditto at the back-board thwart 2 llj 



Ditto at the rowlojk 3 7^ 



Depth lU 



She was built by Messrs. George Searle and Sons, of Lambeth, boat-builders to Her Ma- 

 jesty, and is constructed of bird's-eye maple, the linings, saxboards, and thwarts bein^ of 

 Spanish mahogany; her keel-b;ind, stem-bend, and rudder-hangings are of bronze, the 

 rniider of maple, with a carved yoke, gilt, and silk lines au 1 tassels of crimson and gold 

 colour. She is also fitted with an elegantly-ca-'ved chair, the seat of which is covered 

 with crimson satin damask, with an elaborate [jattcrn in raised velvet of the same colour, 

 the back being supported by the Prince of Wales* feathers, carved in maple and height- 

 ened with gold. The rowing mat is of the same material as the cushion of the chair, 

 and there is a small foot.ottomjtii of Utrecht velvet. The sculls are of mahogany, and 

 very light. The boat, which is a '* single scuUiog skiff," is lined throu/huut between the 

 timbers with Captain Light's patent material, which gives to her all the buoyancy and 

 other propei ties of a life-boat. 



liXST OF NE^V PATENTS. 



GRANTED IN ENGLAND FROM MaY 24, TO JUNE 7, 1849. 



Six Months allowed for Enrolment^ unless othe^toiss expressed, 



David Smith, of New York, lead manufacturer, for certain new and useful improve- 

 ments in the means of manufacturing certain articles in lead — Sealed May 21). 



Richard Edward Hodges, of Bycroft, Hereford, gentleman, for improvements Jn me- 

 chanical purchases, which are also applicable in whole or in part to pn^jectiles. — May 29. 



Edmund Grundy, of Bury, Lancaster, woollen manufacturer, and Jaci)b Farrow, of the 

 same place, manager, fur certain imiirovements in machinery or apparatus for preparing 

 wool for spinning, and also improvements in machinery or apparatus for spinning wool 

 and other fibrtus substances. — May 21*. 



John Diiigdale, and Edward Birch, both of Manchester, tool and machine makers, for 

 certain improvements in cou'structiog and propelling ships, or other vessels. — May 31. 



William Goose, of Birmingham, manufacturer, for certain improved machinery for ma- 

 nufrtL'turing nails. (.A communication.) — June 5. 



William Henry Smith, of Fiizr ly-squire, civil engineer, for certain improvements in 

 breakwaters, beacons and moorings, parts of which are applicable to otber purposes.— 

 June 5. 



George Simpson, of Buchanan-street, Glasgow, civil and mining engineer, for a certain 

 improvement or improvements in the machinery, apparatus or means of raising, lowering, 

 supporting, moving, or transporting heavy bodies. — June 5. 



Samuel Dunn, of Doncaster, gentleman, for improvements in constructing tunnels, and 

 in apparatus to be used for such or similar purposes.— June 5. 



Thomas Lawes, of the City-road, gentleman, for improvements in generating steam, 

 and in the means of obtaining and applying motive power. — June 5. 



William Edward Newton, of Chancery lane, civil engineer, for improvements in stoves, 

 grates, or fire-places, and in warmi jg or heating buildings. (A communication.) — June 5. 



Thomas Jowett, of Burrage House, in Bindley, York, stuff manufacturer, for certain 

 improvements in the method of stopping power looms, aud preventing injury to the cloth, 

 or i.ibric, in the cours:- of being woven. — June 5 



George Hinton Bovill, of Abchurch-lane, London, engineer, for improvemects in ma- 

 nufacturing wheat and other grain into meal and fiour. — June o. 



Jacques Hulot. of Rue St. Joseph, Paris, manufactuier of fabrics, for improvements in 

 the manufacture of the fronts of shirts. — June 5. 



Daniel Miller, civil engineer, of Glasgow, for certain improvements in the mode of 

 drawing shi])3 up an inclined olane out of water. — June ft. 



Victor Hippolyte Laurent, of France, engineer, for Improvements In looms for weaving. 

 — June 5. 



Osgood Field, of London, merchant, for improvements in anchors. (A communication.) 

 June 5. 



A grant of an extension of her Majesty's letters patent for the term of five years from 

 the 27th of May, 1849, to Thomas Hornby Birley, assignee of George Bodmer, the original 

 inventor of an invention for certain improvements in machinery for preparing, roving, and 

 spinning cotton and wool. — June .*). 



Thomas Masters, of Regent-street, gentleman, for certain Improvements in the con- 

 struction and arrangement of apparatus for cooking, heating, and evaporating fluids, and 

 obtaining decoctions and infusions from certain vegetable and animal matters, parts of 

 which improvements aie applicable to certain chemical processes. — June 7. 



Edward John Payne, of Chancery-lane, London, for improvements in marine vessels, in 

 apparatus for the preservation of human life, and in moulding, joining, and finishing hol- 

 low and solid figures, composed wholly or In part of a certain gum, or combinations of 

 certain giuns; also for improvements in dissolving the aforesaid gums, and in apparatus 

 or machinery to be used (or (he purposes above mentioned. — June 7. 



Robert Wilson, of Low Moor Ironworks, Bradford, York, engineer, for certain improv- 

 menta In steam-engines and boilers, aud methods of preventing accidents in working the 

 same. — June 7. 



Bennett Alfred Burton, of John's-place, Southwark, engineer, for certain improve- 

 ments in the manufacture of pipes, tiles, bricks, stairs, copings, and otber like or similar 

 articles from plastic materials j also improvements in machinery to be employed therein. 

 — June 7. 



John Edward Hawkins Payne, of Great Queen- street, Middlesex, coach lace maourac* 

 turer, and Henry William Currie, engineer, for improvements in the manufacture of coaoh 

 lace and other similar looped or cut pile fabrics. — June 7. 



Charles Jumes Anthony, of Pittsburgh, America, machinist, for certain new and useful 

 improvements in the means of treating unctuous animal matter. — June 7. 



William Henry Ritchie, of Brixton, gt;ntlemnn, for improvements in fire-arms.— June 7. 



John Houston, of Nelson square, surgeon, for improvements in obtaining motive power 

 when steam and air are used. — June 7. 



[We are compelled, from want of space, to defer the remainder of the present month's 

 list till our next Number.] 



