258 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECTS JOURNAL. 



[AtreiM*, 



M6 = iWa, although true, leaves us in the very same ilidicultj- as 

 j/X\— ;0. Ab (> is variable, it would have been better to have said 

 My = iW«. Indeed, in taking moments about A ffig. 2, p. 205), it would 

 be as well to call the perpendicular let fall from A, on the direction of 

 -)-M, ^; and the perpendicular on the direction of — M, .r' ; then, 

 4- M X ^ added to — M x x' = M (x-x') = 5 Wu ; this supposes both 

 forces to be directed at the same side of A ; however, if one acts above 

 and the other below, then we have M (x + .r') = JWa, but in both cases, 

 the quantities between the brackets is the distance between the points of 

 application of the forces. At first sight, the equation M ij, or iM 6, or 

 M (x + x'), or M (a:— a;'), =: J Uu would appear to involve but one un- 

 known quantity ; but it involves two, for there is as little known about M 

 as there is about y. I cannot see for what purpose these equations were 

 introduced, except to show, if we were able to do it, how the principles of 

 statics might be applied to the problem under consideration ; however, I 

 can see no connection between them and what follows, but perhaps others 

 may. 



The next four paragraphs, beginning with "We have, therefore, 

 the upper and lower parU of CD in &c.,'" at the bottom of the first 

 column, page 205, contains very little more than diiferent methods of 

 stating the same thing, or some general expressions that would be true in 

 almost any inquiry, such as, " We arc, therefore, perfectly safe in suppos- 

 ing that there is some general law by which these variations of action may 

 be represented, that is, that the anouut of molecular force at any point of 

 «ither side of the beam is a continuous function of the distance from some 

 fixed point." You must not be oflended, for I am mow speaking plainly ; 

 to beat round the bush would take up too much space. Lower down, 

 ■where you come to the conclusion, " Consequeolly there is no longitudinal 

 action whatever at the neutral boundary." If you reflect for a moment, 

 you must admit that this boundary might be elongated, for it is only capa- 

 ble of being elongated and deflected, without altering the thrusts or ten- 

 sions, except with respect to their intensity, of which there is but little 

 known. 



For the present, I beg you will excuse these few remarks, hastily made, 

 tictil I b£.v3 dsTelopsd the vvisole of my Theory, then I will be glad to 

 cDter into any explanation that may be required. 



I am. Sir, yours obediently, 



Oliver Byrne. 



NOTES OF THE MONTH. 



Wellingtm Memorial. — The newspapers announce the gratifying intel- 

 ligence that, in consequence of a discussion in the House of Commons, 

 the preparations for raising the statue of the Duke of Wellington to the 

 lop of the triumphal arch in Piccadilly will be discontinued. 



JFitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. — We learn also with great pleasure 

 that Mr. Cockerell has obtained power to deviate from the original plan 

 for completing the Fitzwilliam INIuseum, by substituting real marble for 

 imitation marble in the internal decorations. 



Jesus College Chapel. — Among the contemplated alterations is the sub- 

 stitution of an arcade of five lancets (according to the original plan) for 

 the present Perpendicular window. A Norman triplet in the north tran- 

 sept will be displayed. The choir had formerly aisles extending as far as 

 the present lancet windows ; the northern aisles will be rebuilt. We are 

 not quite reconciled to the destruction of any of the genuine architecture, 

 but the restoration is superintended by Mr. Salvin, and is therefore in safe 

 bands. 



Ely Cathedral. — ^The restoration advances rapidly. All the plaster work 

 is bein^ ruthlessly destroyed. The great tower is opened to the second 

 story. Two painted wintlows by Mr. Wailes have been completed. A 

 painted window will be inserted in the lanthern at the expense of the 

 members of the University of Cambridge in statu puppillari. 



The French Minister of Public Instruction has informed the Ecclesiolo- 

 gical, late Cambridge Camden Society, that a complete set of the works of 

 the Comil<! Historique is placed at the disposal of the Society. 



Standon, Uerls. — A new Decorated church has been erected from the 

 designs of Mr. Salvin. 



St. Bartholomew's, Nettlebtd, is being rebuilt by Mr. Hakewill. 



Seamen's Church, St. Katherine's Dock. — This church, which will hold 

 800 persons, is in the Early English style. The design appears to be 

 exceedingly faulty. 



St. James's Church, Westminster. — A new east window has been 

 painted for this church by Mr. Wailes. The colours are very brilliant and 

 the jointing of the glass is managed so skilfully as to be scarcely seen 

 from the interior of the church ; but the designs have an appearance of 

 confusion and the drawing is not very correct. Of course we need not 

 state our opinion respecting the use of Corinthian columns as mullions, as 

 in the case of this window. Among the decorations or desecrations is the 

 painting of parts of the walls in imitation of marble. 



Architecture in Edinburgh. — The .Scotsman speaks highly of the archi- 

 tecture of the New Commercial Hank, from which the scalfolding is par- 

 tially removed. The design and also the sculpture is by Mr. James Wyatt. 

 There is a project under consideration for connecting all Natural History 

 Societies wiib the Llnnaiau. The latter will be the principal Society, and 

 )he others will be considered as sections. 



M. Hallette, whose inventions connected with atmospheric railway* 

 have been described in this Journal and are now being experimented upon 

 at Peckham, recently died at Arras. He was an eminent builder of loco- 

 motive engines. 



The third centenary of the birthday of the Danish astronomer, Tycho 

 Brah(!, was celebrated on the 21st of June by the erection of a monu- 

 mental bust under a triumphal arch on the little island of Hveeo, his 

 birthplace. 



The second centenary of the death of Leibnitz has been celebrated with 

 great pomp by his alma malcr, the University of Leipsig. 



At Paris, the Chamber of Deputies has voted £41,000 for purchasing 

 ground required for the purposes of the Museum of Natural History. 



The Dew papal government have withdrawn the old prohibition against 

 the construction of railways in the papal dominions. 



Painting on Lara — This new process seems to be one of considerable 

 importance as a substitute for enamel painting, on account of the large 

 size of which the pieces of lava can be obtained. A large historical pic- 

 ture, painted on four plates of lava, which together have a surface equiva- 

 lent to 10 feet square, has been completed for the church St. Vincent-de- 

 Paul, at Paris. The advantage of lava for this purpose is, that being 

 vitrious it receives vitriUable colours without changing its form in baking. 

 The restoration of Malvern Abbey is completed. 



The figures ou the great gate of the cathedral of Senlis have been re- 

 stored by >I. Rabinet, sculptor, under the direction of the architect, M. 

 Ram^e. ' 



The French Chamber of Deputies have voted a sum of money for the 

 publication of the work by MM. Cotta and Flandin on the ruins of Nin- 

 eveh. 



It has been suggested that the fields north of the Model Prison at Pen- 

 tonville should be converted into a park. This, if done at all, must be 

 quickly ; otherwise, there is every reason to suppose, from the rapid in- 

 crease of buildings in this neighbourhood, that the ground will be soon 

 built upon. A park in this locality, which is far removed from any of the 

 existing " lungs of the metropolis," would be an incalculable benefit to the 

 poor inhabitants. 



Electric Clucks. — By means of the electric telegraph on the Edinburgh 

 and Glasgow Railway, Mr. Bain has exhibited a clock of which the pen- 

 dulum at Glasgow regulated the movement of the dial-wheels and hands 

 at Edinburgh ! 



The Presbyterian Church, in Lower Gloucester-street, Dublin, has re- 

 cently been completed, from the designs of Mr. D. Ferguson, a young and 

 rising architect. This building is the first in the Grecian Doric order that 

 has been erected in Dublin, with fine Irish granite, and the execution -is 

 highly creditable for a first attempt of the workmen. The Acroteria are 

 perfectly new in this country, and have a very pleasing eflect upon pedi- 

 ments too small for the support of statues. The lighting of this church 

 is effected by a most economical plan, costing not more than half the ex- 

 pense of lighting in the usual manner with pillars and brackets. Mr. 

 Ferguson holds the Mastership of the Architectural School of the Royal 

 Dublin Society. 



An Institute going a begging. — Under this title theAthenceum alludes to 

 a circular issued by the Institute of British Architects, soliciting archi- 

 tectural essays from men of erudition and science. The paper in the 

 Athenteum contains some valuable suggestions, to which we must refer next 

 month. 



Comparison of the economic properties of coals. — A most important series 

 of experiments is about to be undertaken at the College for Civil En- 

 gineers. Putney, on the part of the Admiralty, in order to a comparison of 

 the relative evaporative powers and facility of combustion of different 

 kinds of coals. The examination will be conducted by Sir Henry de la 

 Beche and Dr. Lyon Playfair. A enormous mass of iofortnation on the 

 same subject is conlained in a report published by order of the American 

 Congress, which was noticed in our last volume, p. 242. 



The French Geological Society meet at Alais on the 14lh of September. 

 St, Mary's Church, Kidderminster, is to be restored, at a cost of £2,000. 

 The Isthmus of Panama Railway will be commenced, it is said, next 

 November. 



The Hungerfurd Bridge Terminus of the Southampton Railway. — Several 

 houses are being cleared away for the construction of the viaduct from the 

 Nine Elms station. 



Bridge over the Mersey at Runcorn. — The Admiralty requires that the 

 arches shall have a clear headway under their centres of 100 feet, and a 

 waterway between the piers of 280 feel. If flat girders be substituted for 

 arches, 250 feet between the piers will be sufficient. 



British .Museum. — Sir R. Inglis has stated in the House of Commons, 

 that the works will be completed in three years time. 



Geology. — A very curious theory has been propounded by Commander 

 Morton respecting the columns at Giant's Causeway and Staffa. He 

 asserts that molten lava in crystallising could never form blocks fitting 

 into each oeher with sockets or joints ; and that, consequently, the usual 

 opinion that the columns in question are formed from molten basalt is 

 untenable. He asserts that they are petrified forests of gigantic bamboos ; 

 and refers to the well-known fact that bamboos and canes, when growing, 

 secrete silex. The divisions in the basaltic columns resemble in form an(f 

 position the joints of growing bamboos. 



