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THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECTS JOURNAL. 



[January, 



The cylinders are 421 inches diameter and 4 ft. 7 in. stroke ; at 26 strokes 

 or 23S feet the power is equal to 71 i horses each, or 143 horses collectively. 

 This is nominal power as calculated by the rules of the late Mr. Watt, appli- 

 cable to steam of 21 or 3 lb. per inch, but in this case we have a pressure on 

 the safety valve of 10 lb. per square inch, so that the actual power will pro- 

 bably be 150 per cent, above this, depending entirely upon the expansion 

 used', and we may further observe, that with a suitable arrangement, circular 

 valves may be made to produce any degree of expansion, at pleasure. The 

 air pump is 22 inches diameter, and about 2 ft. 6 in. stroke, = a content of 

 6-6 cubic feet. Cylinder 42A in. x 4 ft. 7 in. long = 49-46 feet content, 

 which divided by 66, makes the cylinder 7-5 times larger than the pump, 

 just the usual proportions of English engines. The condenser is 2 ft. 5 in. 

 fore and aft, 3 ft. 5 in. in width, and 4 ft. high, with proper deductions is 

 equal to a content of 24 cubic feet, and 71"5 -7- 24 = nearly 3 cubic feet 

 per h.p. The circular steam valves are 11J in. diameter = 103-86 area, 

 the eduction valves are 10 in. diameter = 78-54 area, or rather more than 

 a square inch per horse, a very ample allowance, and much exceeding Mr. 

 ■Watt's rules, as will be seen by reference to Farey and other works, but 

 taking into consideration the increased density of the steam employed, is 

 judicious, and about on a par with modern slide valve practice. Our corres- 

 pondent is wrong in supposing that English engineers have adhered to the 

 slide valve " from strict fidelity to the opinions of Watt." It is otherwise ; 

 they have departed therefrom and followed Murdock, his disciple, who 

 patented the D, triangular, or other shaped sliding valve, in his specification 

 of 1700. (See Farev, p. 677.) We are at a loss, also, to find any novelty in 

 the construction of the circular valves ; they appear to us precisely similar to 

 those used by Mr. Watt 1 in his engines of 1808. He used circular pipes, 

 and here we have rectangular passages. (See Farey, plate 20.) We are 

 equally obtuse respecting the air pump, of which we have an isometrical 

 drawing, and can find nothing new therein ; if our correspondent alludes to 

 the packing ring similar to that of the piston, we may say that system has 

 been followed in this country since the year 1S26, perhaps earlier. The 

 bilge injection is in the same category. 



There is merit in the adaptation of a double beat expansion valve, though 

 it is by no means new, and we think we can suggest an improvement, as the 

 lower face can never be tight (see the annexed engraving). The other parts 

 of these engines are so much like the best English practice, that it is need- 

 less to pursue the inquiry farther. The space occupied in the vessel for each 

 engine is 16 ft. fore and aft, and about 5 ft. 9 in. over the main beams. 



On the whole, we think the engines of the Regent and Congress to be 

 highly creditable to Messrs. Ward, Stillman & Co., of New York, by whom 

 they were manufactured, not only as evincing considerable judgment in de- 

 tail, but more so, in their selection of the common beam engine, which, after 

 all, appears to be the best kind yet produced. 



THE NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. 



The fifth contract for erecting this national and truly magnificent work 

 nas just been entered into, and Messrs. Grissell and Peto are again the suc- 

 cessful competitors. This contract or portion of the work is by far the most 

 important that lias yet taken place, embracing as it does the Victoria Tower, 

 the Roval Gallery, the Houses of Lords and Commons, with other important 

 and necessary adjuncts thereto. The following particulars have been ob- 

 tained : — 



The Victoria Tower, or Royal entrance, necessarily occupies the first posi- 

 tion in the arrangement, whether as regards the order of description or the 

 magnitude of its structure, which perhaps will be one of the richest and 

 most gigantic specimens of Gothic architecture that this or any other coun- 

 try can boast. Beneath this tower the Royal entrance will be formed, pre- 

 senting an area of 60 feet square, into which the Royal and other state car- 

 riages will be enabled to drive with the most perfect ease, turn round at the 

 foot of the Royal staircase, and depart at the entrance on the south side. 

 The upper stories of the tower will be used as secure depositories for public 

 records and state documents. The external square of the tower will be 78 

 feet at the principal floor level, from which point it will be ornamented with 

 the richest specimens of Gothic sculpture to the height of 240 feet, reaching 

 to the base of the four crowned turrets by which it will be surmounted. 

 The entire height, from the bottom of the "tower to the top of the turrets, 

 will be 300 feet. 



The Royal entrance-hall or vestibule is the next object of interest in- 

 cluded in the present contract, and will be approached from the right-hand 

 side of the tower, leading from the principal staircase to the Royal Gallery. 



1 Or rather his successors, Boulton and Watt. Mr. Watt retired from 

 business in 1800. 



For the Royal Gallery, the next in order, no pains have been spared on 

 the design to render this portion of the edifice of surpassing richness and 

 magnitude. The upper part of the walls will be of the most elaborately- 

 sculptured designs of Gothic ornaments, while the lower portion of the 

 walls is divided into compartments intended for the reception of the most 

 exquisite subjects in fresco painting. 



The Royal Robing-room will be next approached from the Royal Gallery, 

 and will strictly harmonize with the fittings and ornaments of the latter. 

 It will he a most splendid apartment, 40 feet in length and 30 feet in width, 

 immediately adjoining the house of Lords, with entrances for the Sovereign 

 on each side of the throne. 



The Bishops' Robing-room, a large apartment on the right-hand side of 

 the Robing-room of Her Majesty, will be appropriated to the use of the 

 spiritual peers. 



Tne House of Lords comes next in the order of arrangement, and will be 

 situate on the principal story, preserving a level throughout with the old 

 floor of St. Stephen's Chapel, so that the entrance for the peers may either 

 be obtained along the corridors from the river front, or by that leading from 

 Old Palace-yard. The size of the House of Lords, as well as that of the 

 House of Commons, will he reduced to the smallest possible limits compa- 

 tible with the required accommodation, and to give them that form and ar- 

 rangement which will afford the greatest number of sittings in the smallest 

 space, bring the members nearest to each other and to the speaker, and be 

 the most convenient for carrying on the ordinary routine of business. 



The two houses will be placed as nearly as possible in the centre of the 

 whole mass of buildings, this being considered the position best adapted for 

 communication with each other, and with their respective offices and ac- 

 commodations ; for easy access from the various entrances and approaches, 

 public and private ; for security from noise and disturbance ; for allowing 

 their form and size to he exactly fitted to the wants of each house; for the 

 purposes of lighting, warming, and ventilating in the most convenient 

 manner ; and for making any modifications or alterations in them which 

 may be thought desirable without deranging the general plan and elevations. 



It has been thought proper to avoid placing any members' seats under the 

 galleries, as well as any seats whatever behind the woolsack or the Speakers 

 chair. 



From the House of Lords a spacious lobby and corridor will lead directly 

 to the great centre hall, immediately under the centre tower. This hall will 

 he a large apartment, of a circular form, and 60 feet in diameter, and the 

 principal public approach to the committee-rooms from it will be by a broad 

 flight of steps to a large waiting-room on the first floor, from which there will 

 be a direct and immediate access to the committee-rooms of each house, and 

 to the offices connected with them. When the Houses commence their sit- 

 tings, and the daily business is at an end, the public may retire either by the 

 principal staircase, or by that which leads to Westminster Hall. The cen- 

 tral tower will rise in an octangular form, and will be 270 feet in height. 



From the central hall, proceeding northward, will be the Commons' cor- 

 ridor and lobby, leading to tho House of Commons, with the residence of 

 officers in that division on the east side of New Palace-yard. 



Attached to each House of Parliament will be refreshment-rooms and 

 offices, and the approaches of the Sovereign, the members of both houses, 

 and the public ; the clerks' and other offices are so arranged as to be wholly 

 independent of each other, with the means of making them entirely or par- 

 tially in communication. 



The members and oflicers attending committees, it is arranged, may go or 

 return by private staircases communicating with their respective houses and 

 offices. 



The whole of the official residences will have separate external entrances 

 and staircases ; the principal floor of that for the Speaker will be expressly 

 devoted for state levees or Parliamentary dinners, and will be fitted up on a 

 scale of great splendour. 



The libraries and committee-rooms of each house are placed towards the 

 river, for the convenience of light, and freedom from noise and disturbance, 

 and the former are so arranged on the principal floor as to be en suite, with 

 the power of extending them at pleasure, by including the adjoining com- 

 mittee-rooms. 



The ancient chapel of St. Stephen, the crypt, and cloisters are preserved ; 

 over the crvpt the spacious apartment will form the inner vestibule to the 

 houses of Parliament, to be called St. Stephen's Hall. This hall will be fitted 

 up in the same style of ornament as the Royal Gallery and the corridors, 

 with the introduction of choice subjects in fresco painting. 



Another important feature will also be found in the construction of the 

 two houses for the purpose of a complete and thorough ventillation. This 

 department has been placed under the superintendence of Dr. Reid, who, 

 after a variety of trials of different plans and experiments, has adopted a 

 mode of ventilation by which not only the houses of Perliament but every 

 apartment and office connected therewith may, it is said, be regulated at 

 pleasure. It is proposed that the three great towers shall be made available 

 for this purpose, and from a certain height that the masonry of them shall 

 be hollow, and pierced in several places for the reception and egress of air. 

 According to the state of the wind, air might be received from the Victoria 

 or clock towers, which will occupy the northern aud southern extremeties. 

 The form of the Victoria Tower has been already described ; the clock tower 

 will also be of the square form, finishing spirally, and of the height of 270 

 feet. The air thus obtained will be forced by machinery through the vaults 

 under the body of the whole edifice, thence it will be discharged by means 



