64 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



[Fbb. 



the aid of a practical engineer in this department. Mr. Lloyd, chief engi- 

 neer at Woolwich Dockyard, is named for the appointra»nt of the steam ma- 

 chinery hranch, with offices at the Admiralty. Mr. Rigby is appointed second 

 assistant to the chief engineer at Woolwich Dockyard, the increase of the 

 works requiring the addition of a second assistant to the department. 



The Tubular Brii/A'fs.— The platfojms and workshops required for the 

 construction of the Menai and Conway bridges are in progress. The 

 piatform at the Menai .Straits will be 1000 feet Ion-. The works will be 

 superintended by Mr. Edwin Clark, the resident engineer, whose assiduity 

 and earnestness in the experiments and other labours connected with this 

 undertaking have proved very valuable. 



The A>«' Planet. — Mr. Adams's raathemalical investigations are now 

 published as an apcndix to the Nautical Almanack. A very clear paper on 

 the subject of the controversy has recently appeared in the Mechanics 

 Magazine, under the title ".\xoniensis," bii tthougb the ability of the 

 writer and his zeal in defence of our countryman's claims are deserving of 

 great praise, we think that he has entertained the question somewhat too 

 warralv. The priority of Mr. Adams's discovery is now established be- 

 yond dispute, and all further discussion should be maintained without even 

 the appearance of personal recrimination. .V«k tali auxilio tempus eget. 



Dr. Hlorse's Si/stem of Ccrographi/.— 'By this invention a map may be 

 drawn as quickly and as well with a" pen and ink on paper, in a grouud as 

 thin and perfect as a common copper plate etching ground, and in a few 

 hours, perhaps in a few minutes, obtain from it a type-metal plate, which 

 shall print every point, line, and letter of the drawing under the coramoa 

 printing press as rapidly as newspapers or wood-cuts are printed. Several 

 maps executed by Ur. Morse were upon the table, and for clearness and 

 beauty far exceeded any wood engraving. In particular, the writing on 

 the lines representing water, and which can hardly be done at all in wood, 

 is effected in a manner little inferior to copper-plate. Already, in America, 

 the discovery has been most extensively applied, putting tlie means of in- 

 struction into the hands of the many at the cheapest possible r&le.— Geogra- 

 phical Society, Jan. 1 1. 



An analysis uf Bohemian frlass, by Dr. Roicney.— This is the glass so 

 valuable for its infusibility in the construction of the combustion tubes used 

 in organic analysis. Although .soda was found present to the extent of J 

 of the potash, the glass appears to be essentially a silicate of lime and 

 potash, in which the oxvgen in the silicic acid is to that in the bases as & 

 to 1. It gave 73 per cent, silicic acid, llj potash, 3 soda, lOi lime, with 

 small quantities of alumina, peroxide of iron, magnesia, and oxide of maa- 

 ganese, to make up the 100 parts.— C/ieraJcoJ Society, Dec. 1. 



COVENT GARDEN THEATRE. 



We have had an opportunity of watching the progress of the alterations 

 of this house, from the commencement of the works on the 3rd of Decem- 

 ber last to the present time, and have been surprised to see such a gigantic 

 concern proceed with so much rapidity. During the two months the 

 works have been in hand the whole of the interior of the theatre, from the 

 ceiling to the foundation, has been taken down ; two walls, varying from 

 3 to 4 bricks thick, and 22 feet high, have been carried up in cement from 

 the foundation to support the front and back of the boxes, and on these 

 ■walls are erected cast iron columns, 10 ft. 4 in. apart in front, and II ft. 6 in. 

 apart at the back of the boxes, and in. to 8 in. in diameter, from 

 the level of the pit tier of boxes up to the ceiling, which support five tiers of 

 boxes. Two new stone staircases, surrounded with brick walls, carried 

 up from the level of the ground to the upper tier of boxes and gallery, have 

 been built, and all the stone steps prepared, and the saloons, grand stair- 

 cas;e, and the entrance halls and lobbies have been completely changed and 

 re-constructed. U'hen we tell our professional readers that these works 

 have been executed within the short period of two months, out of which 

 three weeks were occupied in pulling down the old interior, we think they 

 will be surprised ; and, we must observe, that all the works have been car- 

 ried up in tlie strongest manner. M'e state this because a malicious report 

 has been spread that part of the works had failed during the progress. 

 This, we can positively state, is not the case. If there be a fault, it is that 

 too much materials have been used ; but when it is recollected the necessity 

 of having a theatre constructed without vibration, this additional strength 

 will not "appear superfluous. The decorations will be superbly grand, and 

 are commenced. 



From our last view of the premises on the 2Stli ult., we have no doubt of 

 tlic works being completed, with all the decorations, by the middle of 

 March. Too much praise cannot be awarded to Mr. Albano for his perse- 

 vering labours in directing the works and labours of from 600 to 700 men, 

 constantly at work night and day. 



During the progress of taking down the interior fittings, it was discovered 

 that the plates, 9 inches by C Inches, in the main wall of the building 4 

 feet thick, were entirely perished, although they appear to have been of 

 sound Memi-1 timber when put into the building. These timbers, to the 

 extent of from 800 feet to 900 feet run, have been removed, and replaced 

 with brickwork pinned in with cement. Me firmly trust this will be a 

 warning to architects against using large timber plates and bond timber in 

 brickwork. 



When the whole of the works are complete we will give our readers 

 some detailed account of the extent of the works, to show what may be 

 done by perseverance in a short period 



LIST OF NTi-W PATENTS- 

 GRANTED I.S- ENGL.\ND FROM DECEMBER 31, 1846, TO JANUARY 21, 1847. 

 Six Months allowed Jor Enrolment, unless otherwise expressed. 



Tliomas Edge, of Great Peter-street, Westminster, gas-meter manufacturer, for " Im- 

 provements in tlie manufacture of gas-meters." — Sealed Dec. ,31. 



George David Myers, of Bridge-row, London, engraver and printer, Wiliiam Cooper, of 

 Saint Paul's Ctlurchyard, bonnet manufacturer, and Ttiomas Wansbrougll, of Southivark 

 Square, SuRiey, hatter, for " Improvements in ttie manufacture of caps, bonnets, twolc- 

 covers, curt.lins. and hangings, show cards or boards, labels, theatrical decorations, and 

 coffins." — Dec. '.i\. 



William Knowleden, of Great Guildford-street, Soutbwark, engineer, for " Improve- 

 ments in steam engines.'* — Dec. 31. 



Stephen R. Parkhurst, of Leeds. York, manufacturer, for " Improvements in carding 

 wool, cotton, and other librous substances."— Dec. 31. 



Clemence Augustus Kurtz, of Salford, Lancaster, manufacturing chemist, for *' certain 

 Improvements in the mode of preparing and using indigo in the dyeing and printing of 

 woollen, cotton, ana other fabrics." — Dec. 31. 



Adrien Chenot, of Clichy la Garenne, near Paris, for " certain Improvements in the 

 treatment of metallic oxides and other compounds, and in apparatus for the same." — 

 Dec. 31. 



Charles Dow.se, of Camden Town, Middlesex, gentleman, for " Improvements in ap- 

 plying springs to braces, .0 'portfolios, to hats and caps, and memorandum and other 

 books."— Dec. 31, 



John Clegg, of Oldham, Lancaster, machinist, for "Improvements iu looms for weav- 

 ing." — January 7. 



I\Iosi.-s Poole, of London, gentleman, for " Improvements in fish-hooks." (A communi- 

 cation.) — January 7. 



Samuel Burrows, of Sheffield, York, manufacturer, for " certain Improvements in the 

 manufacture of knives."— January 7. 



Pierre Louis Thimote Thiers, of No 40, Passage Choiseul, Paris, for " an Improved 

 instrument for drawing off the milk from the breasts of women, and for raising atid pro- 

 tecting the nipple both before and after childbirth." — January 7. 



Charles Uiinhoid Lothman, of Craven-street, Strand, chemist, for *' Improvements in 

 the manutacture of wtiite lead." — January 7. 



Joseph Benoit Pierret, of Old Compton-street, Middlesex, engineer, for ** Improve- 

 ments in steam-engines." — January 11. 



John Chtibb, of St. Paul's Churchyard, London, and Ebenezer Hunter, the elder, of 

 Wolverhampton, Statforilshire, lock-makers, for " Improvements in latches, latch-locks, 

 and other locks for fastening."- January 11. 



Douglas Pitt Gamble, of Crouch End, Middlesex, gentleman, for " Improvements in elec- 

 tric telegraphs.''— January U. 



John Piatt, of Oldham, Lancaster, machine maker, for " certain Improvements in the 

 method of consuming smoke and economizing fuel." — January 11. 



John Britten, of Liverpool, Lancaster, chemist, for "certein Improvements in ma- 

 chinery or apparatus for printing, ruling, and damping paper for various purposes." — 

 January 12. 



Lionel Campbell Goldsmid, of Rue Mogador, Paris, Esq., for " Improvements in ap. 

 plying rudders to ships and other vessels." (A communication.)— January 14. 



John Fray Poole, of Jiolton-le-Iiloors, Lancaster, book-keeper, for *' certain Improve- 

 ments in machinery or apparatus for spinning cotton and other Hbrous substances." (A 

 communication.)— January 14. 



Joseph Seraphin Faucon, of Rouen, France, banker, for "Improvements in the manu- 

 facture of soap." — January 14. 



Alexander M'Dotigall, of Longsight, Lancaster, gentleman, for " Improvements in the 

 manufacture of glue, and iu treating products obtained in the manufacture of glue," — 

 January 14. 



Stephen R. Parkhurst, of Leeds, manufacturer, for "Improvements in rotary engines." 

 January 14. 



Henry Grafton, of Holhorn-hill, London, engineer, for " Improvements in railways 

 wheels and apparatus connected with railway carriages." — Jan. 16. 



Frederick Lesnard, of Chester-street, Kennington-lane, Surrey, engineer, for " Im- 

 provements in obtaining motive power." — Jan. 16. 



John M'Intosh of Loudon, gentleman, for "Improvements in rotary engines, and in 

 moving carriages up inclines, and in propelling vessels." — Jan. 19. 



John Read, of Regent Circus, Middlesex, mechanist, for " Improvements in certain 

 implements in the cultivation of land,"— Jan. 19. 



Edward Vickers, of Sheffield. York, meckanist, for " Improvements in machinery for 

 cutting files." (A communication.) — Jan. lil. 



Towers Shears, of Bankside, Soutllwark, for " Improvements in treating zinc ores for 

 the purpose of producing zinc ingots, which improvements are applicable to the produc- 

 tion of other ores and matuls." — Jan. 19. 



Thomas Deakin, of Kings Norton. Worcester, engineer, for " Improvements in the 

 construction and arrangement of machinery to he used in cutting, stamping, and press- 

 ing." — Jan. 21. 



Tliomas Onions, of Calais, France, engineer, for " Improvements in rotatory steam- 

 engines." — Jan. 21. 



Georce Beadon, of Taunton, Somerset, commander in the navy, and Andrew Smith, of 

 Princes^street, Leiccster-square, Middlesex, engineer, for "Improvements in warping 

 or hauling vessels, which improvements are also applicable to moving other bodies." — 

 Jan, "Jl. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



Sir Howard Douglas has sent a valuable paper on the Strength and Sta- 

 bility of Hungerfurd Bridge, which we regret being compelled to postpone^ 

 till next month. 



In reply to the inquiry respecting the dimensions of the model experi- 

 mented upon at Millwall last month, we refer to the number for October 

 184G. The dimensions there stated were the same as in the recent experi- 

 ments, exci-pt that the thickness of the bottom-plate which has no cellular 

 compartments, was doubled for twenty feet on either side of the centre. 



