252 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



[Junk, 



Launch of the Gipsy Queen.— The launch of this elegant iron steam-vessel 

 took place on Monday, June 17, from the yard of Messrs. Samuda, at Orchard -pi ace, 

 Blackwall. The vessel was announced to be launched at a o'clock, but the tide rose so 

 fast that it became necessary to let her go at a quarter before 3. by which means a vast 

 number of persons were disappointed in not being in time to see her enter the water. She 

 went off in very trallant style, amidst the usual demonstrations of satisfaction. This 

 vessel 13, we believe, the largest iron steamer ever built on the river Thames. Her length 

 from the figure-head to the taffrail is 197 feet (! inches, and between perpendiculars, 175 

 feet; her breadth between the paddle-boxes is 24 feet. Her burden is 49G tons. Pre- 

 viously to the launch wtf had an opportunity of examining the engines with which the 

 Gipsy Queen is to be fitted. They were constructed at Messrs. Samuda's works at South- 

 work, and are made in conformity vWth the patent obtained by those gentlemen ; they are 

 of 240 h. p. These engines will be placed fore and aft, and not, as the engines of most 

 steam-vessels are, on each side of the keel ; the cylinders will be directly over the keel, 

 and being in one frame-work, all strain will be avoided on any part of the vessel ; their 

 total weight, including boilers, &c., which are tubular, water and paddle-wheels, is only 

 87 tons, being little more than half the weight of the engines, Sic, in common use. This 

 saving of weight is n great advantage, and is greatly to the credit of the patentee. The 

 form of the steamer is calculated for great speed. She has a considerable rise of floor, 

 and for a sea-going vessel (she is built for the Waterford Steam-packet Company, and 

 will travel between London and Waterford) her lines are remarkably tine. She was much 

 admired by several scientliic and practical men, who were present, and who examiued her 

 very carefully. 



New Mode of Tracking on Canals.— It will be interesting to our scientific 

 readers to learn that steam-tugs, with screw propellers, have now been successfully in- 

 troduced on tlie Union Canal. An experiment with one of these steamers took place a 

 few days ago, under the superintendance of the Company's able manager R. Ellis. Esq., 

 in the presence of their chairman. Col. M'Donald, Messrs. Maxwell, M'Lagan, Burns, 

 L'Aray, and Tennant, directors; BIr. Shaw, manager fur the Duke of Hamilton; Mr. 

 Crichton, manager of the Forth and Clyde Canal; Mr. Glennie, manager of Moukland 

 Canal ; Capt. Yuill, H.N. ; together with a number of other gentlemen interested in the 

 result. The boats ave the first of the kind introduced into Scotland. They are built of 

 iron by Messrs. John Reid and Co., Port-Glasgow; and the engines, screw-propellors, 

 &c., are fitted up by Mr. William Napier, sen., engineer, Glasgow, The engines which 

 were much admired, are on the upright principle. They communicate their power to the 

 screws placed on each side of the bow ; and by a very nice arrangement of wheels with 

 wooden and iron teeth (in order to prevent noise and vibration), they are driven at a great 

 speed without creating any of that surge or wash on the banks which has hitherto formed 

 the chief objection to the use of steamers on canals. The result of the experiment gave 

 great satisfaction to all present ; and, independently of the gain in point of speed, it is 

 calculated that there will be a considerable saving in expense, compared with the ordi- 

 nary mode ot tracking by liorses. The steam-boat had attached to her six very large 

 scows deeply laden, but it is capable of towing double the number without any material 

 diminution of speed. The scows to be tracked are connected together by rods having a 

 parallel movement, and all under the control of the steersman on board the steamer, so 

 that the necessity of a separate rudder and steersman for each scow is avoided— the whole 

 train moving along with a steady and uniform motion. After the company had been 

 thoroughly satisfied as to the practicability and success o(* the scheme, which there is 

 every prospect of being very generally adopted, they adjourned to the Star and Garter Inn 

 at Linlithgow, where the Directors handsomely entertained them at dinner. The even- 

 ing was spent in a rational and agreeable manner, the various scientific gentlemen present 

 expressing themselves highly delighted with the experiment they had witnessed.— Glas- 

 gow Citizen. m_' i 



Safefy Beacon for the Goodwin Sands —Dover, June 111. This clay the 

 Trinity Buoy steam yacht towed off to its station on the Goodwin sands a stupendous 

 safety beacon, designed and executed, we believe, by Mr. James Walker, C.E., under the 

 auspices of the Trinity Board. The beacon is intended not only to be a guide to mariners 

 but also a place of refuge for the crews of vessels cast away on the fatal Goodwin. It will 

 be recollected that a safety beacon, the invention of Captain Bullock, R.N., was placed on 

 the Goodwin Sands some years since, and still l>raves the storm. The one that has been 

 towed out to-day is of larger dimensions, and will be placed on a different part of the 

 sands. This beacon is an experiment, and we understand, should it succeed, it is the in- 

 tention of the Trinity Board that similar fixed erections shall supersede floatings buoys. 

 Mr. Walker's beacon consists of a strong iron column, about 40 feet high, based on a cir- 

 cular platform of solid masonry, the latter being upwards of 20 feet in diameter. The 

 foot of the pillar is bell-shaped, and tapers upwards to the extent of some six or eight 

 feet. About the middle of the column there is a convenience, resembling a vessel's top, 

 surrounded with an iron railing, capable of receiving, we should say, half a-dozen men, 

 and on the summit is placed an iron basket, shaped like a balloon, which is also con- 

 structed to contain about a like number of persons, should they be enabled to reach it, in 

 the case of shipwrtfck. The column is tied down to the the stone-work by ironstays.and 

 on it are fixed steps by which it may be ascended. The whole of the unwieldy machine is 

 incased in a huge timber vessel, resembling a brewer's vat, in which it was built, for the 

 purpose of floating it to its station on the sands. The sides of this wooden building are 

 constructed in snch a way as to admit of their being removed on the beacon settling down 

 in the sand. The bottom, on which the masonry rests, will, however, remain under the 

 beacon. 



Daguerreotype Improvement. — At the Acadeinie ties Sciences a commu- 

 nication was made by M. Daguerre, relative to some improvements in the Daguerrt^otype 

 process, chiefly for the purpose of taking iturtraits, the ordinary mode of preparing the 

 plates not being found sufficient to enable the operator to obtain good impressions. The 

 improvement made by M. Uaguerrc requires a rather complicated process, but it is a very 

 regular one, and has one decided advantage, for the artist is now trnabled to have a good 

 stock of plates on hand, as the new preparation will remain for a very long time in a per. 

 fectly fit state for use. The new substances of which M. Daguerre makes use are an 

 aqueous solution of bi-cbolrure of mtrcury, an aqueous solution of cyanure of mercury, 

 Oil of white jjetrolenm, acidulated Avith nitric acid, and a solution of platina aird chiorure 

 of gold. The process is as follows ;— the plate is polished with sublimate and tripoli, and 

 then red oxide of iron, until a fine black be obtained ; it is now placed in the horizontal 

 plane, and the solution of cyanure previously made hot by the lamp is poured over it. 

 The mercury deposits itself, and forms a white coating. The plate is allowed to cool a 

 little, and after having poured off the liquid, it is dried by the usual process of cotton and 

 rouge. The white coating deposited by the mercury is now to be polished. With a ball 

 (tampon) of cotton saturated with oil and rouge, this coating is rubbed just sufficiently for 

 the plate to be of a fine black. This being done, the plate is again placed upon the hori- 

 zontal plane, and the solution of gold and platina is poured over it. The plate is to be 

 heated, and then left to cool, and the liquid having been poured off, the plate is dried by 

 means of cotton and rouge. In doing this, care must he bad that the plate be merely 

 dried, not polished. On this metallic varnish, M. Daguerre has succeeded in taking some 

 very fine impressions of the human figure, which were exhibited. 



The Centurion, 80, was launched at Pi.'mhruke on the 2n(I of May, and was 

 docked on the following morning, and will be ready for sea within the pressnt month. 

 She is a noble ship. The following are her dimensions : — 



Feet, Inches. 

 Length between perpendiculars .... 190 



Length of keel for tonnage ..... 155 'i 



Extreme breadth ...... 56 9 



Breadth for tonnage ..... 66 



Depth in hold ,.,... 23 4 



Burden in tons, 2,589 ..... — — 



Light water draught forwarti .... 15 3 



Light water draught aft , . , , . 10 9 



LIST OP NB\V PATENTS. 



(From Messrs, RohertsorCs List J 



GRANTED IN ENGLAND FROM MAY 25, TO JUNE 26,'1844. 



Six Months allowed/or Enrolment, unless otherwise expressed. 



William Augustus Guy, of Bloomsbury-aquare, bachelor of madicine, for " certain Im* 

 provements in ventilation."— Sealed May 25. 



Charles Low, of Robinson's Row, Kingsland, for " certain Improvements in the makiug 

 or manufacturing of iron and steel.*'— May 25. 



Charles Anthony Deane, of Poplar, for " Improvements in the constructing, propelling 

 and steering vessels.— May 30. 



Robert Hazard, of Clifton, near Bristol, confectioner, for " Improvements in baths."— 

 May 30. 



John Lee, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Esq., for "Improvements in obtaining products 

 from sulphurets and other compounds containing sulphur." — May 30. 



James Fenton, of Manchester, engineer, for "an Improved combination or alloy, or 

 improved combinations or alloys of metals applicable to various purposes, for which brass 

 aud copper are usually employed in the construction of machinery." — May 30. 



Walter Noak, of West Bromwich, Stafford, colliery agent, and John Noak, of the same 

 place, engineer, for " Improvements in the manufacture of salt, and in the apparatus to be 

 used therein." — June 1. 



Edward Massey, of King Street, Clerkenwell, watchmaker, for " Improvements in ap- 

 paratus for ascertaining the rate at which vessels are passing through the water, also 

 applicable in ascertaining the rate at which streams or currents are running." — June 1. 



James Murdoch, of Staple Inn, Middlesex, mechanical draftsman, for "certain Improve* 

 ments in the manufacture of gas, and in the apparatus employed therein." (Being a 

 communication.) — June 4, 



William Henry Phillips, of Bloomsbury Square, Middlesex, engineer, for *' certain Im- 

 provements in the means and apparatus for subduing and extinguishing fire and saving 

 life and property, and in obtaining and applying motive power, and improvements in pro- 

 pelling," — June 4. 



George Chapman, of Claremont Terrace, Strangeways, Manchester, engineer, for "cer- 

 tain Improvements in steam engines." — June 4. 



Henry Boden, of Derby, lace manufacturer, for "an Improvement in the manufacture 

 of bobbin net, or twist lace."— June 4. 



Joseph Cowen, of Blaydon Burn, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, merchant, " for certain 

 Improvements in making retorts for generating gas for illumination." — June 4. 



William Ward, of Leicester, hosier, and David Winfield Grocock, of the same place, 

 framesmith, for " Improvements in machinery for manufacturing framework, knitted or 

 netted work." — June 4. 



William ElHott, of Birmingham, button manufacturer, for " Improvements in the ma* 

 nufacture of covered buttons." — June 4. 



Paul Griffiths, of Holywell, in the county of Flint, millwright, for " Improvements in 

 washing the products evolved from furnaces," — June 4. 



Joseph Woods, of Bucklersbury, London, civil engineer, for '* Improvements in pro- 

 dacing designs and copies, and in multiplying impressions, either of printed or written 

 surfaces." (Being a communication.)— June 6. 



DaWd Cheetham, of Rochdale, Lancaster, cotton spinner, and Edward Briggs of the 

 same place, hat manufacturer, for "certain Improvements in the manufacture of hats, 

 and in macliinery or apparatus connected with such or similar manufacture." — June 6. 



William Higham, of Nottyash, near Liverpool, and David Bellhouse, of Liverpool, afore- 

 said, merchant, for " Improved constructions of boilers for evaporating saline and other 

 solutions, for the purposes of crystallization." — June 5. 



Edmund Morewood, of Thornbridge, Derby, merchant, aud George Rogers, of Stearn- 

 dale, same county, gent., for *' Improvements in coating iron with other metals." — June 8. 



Elijah Galloway, of Nelson Square, Blackfriars' Road, Surrey, for "Machinery, for 

 connecting axles or shafts, whereby when in motion they revolve at different relative velo- 

 cities." — June 12. 



Thomas Farmer, of Birmingham, manufacturer, for "certain Improvements in the or- 

 namenting of papier milche, and in manufacturing and ornamenting japanned goods 

 generally." — June 12. 



George Kent, of Constitution Row, Gray's Inn Road, blind-maker, for " Improvements 

 in machinery for cleaning, polishing, and sharpening knives, forks and other articles." — 

 June 12. 



lHoses Poole, of Serle Street, Middlesex, gent , for " Improvements in wheels and 

 axles." (Being a communication.)— June 12. 



John Swindells, of Manchester, manufacturing chemist, for " several Improvements in 

 the preparation of various substances for the purpose of dyeing and producing colour, 

 also improvements in the application and use of several chemical compounds for the pur- 

 pose of dyeing and producing colour not hitherto made use of." — June 12. 



Alexander Simon Wilcott, of Manchester, machinist, for " Improvements in roving and 

 spinning cotton, wool, and other fibrous substances." — June 18. 



Charles William Graham, of Kings Arms Yard, London, merchant, for " Improvements 

 in manufacturing pathological, anatomical, zoological, geological, botanical and mineralo- 

 gical representations in relief, and in arranging them for use." — June 18. 



George Wilson, of Saint Martin's Court, Saint Martin's Lane, stationer, for " Im- 

 provements in the cutting of paper for the manufacture of envelopes, and for other pur- 

 poses."— June 18. 



William Sutcliffe, of Bradford, York, manufacturer, for " Improvements In preparing, 

 dyeing, sizing or dressing, drying and winding yarns and manufactured fabrics of wool, 

 flax, cotton, silk and other fibrous materials." — June 19. 



Pierre Armand Lecomte de Fontainemoreau, of Skinner's Place, Size Lane, London, for 

 " A new mode uf Locomotion applicable to railroad and other ways." (Being a comniuui- 

 cation.) — June 21 . 



Thomas Lever Rushton, of Bolton Le Moors, Lancaster, iron manufacturer, for "cer- 

 tain Improvements in the manufacture of iron." — June 21. 



Christopher Phipps, of River, near Dover, paper manufacturer, for "An Improvement 

 or improvements in the manufacturing of paper, and in marking, writing, and other pa- 

 pers, or in the machinery employed for those purposes." (Being partly a communica- 

 tion.) — June 21. 



James Sharn, of Sheffield, manufacturer of Britannia metal articles, for " Improve- 

 ments in the manufacture of metal dish covers and metal dishes." — June 24. 



Rees Davis, of Yetradgunials, Brecon, gent., for " Improvements in the manufacture 

 of iron." — June 24. 



William Worby, of Ips\vich, for " Improvements in the manufacture of bricks, tiles and 

 other articles from plastic materials."- June 24. 



Charles Maurice Elizee Sautter, of Austin Friars, gent., for " Improvements in piano- 

 fortes,"— June 26. 



