]841.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECTS JOURNAL. 



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it; for instance ■ 



-, and ■ 



-, and ■ 



I leave it to the reader's penetration to till up the blanks, — all choice 

 and fertile subjects as well as new, and only waiting for some one to 

 pick them up; though I fancy that were they to stumble against 

 them, most people would only stumble over them. It is imdoubtedly 

 very fine to be eternally talking about "Pericles," and such very 

 sublime matters ; yet that is not the way to discover any tiling par- 

 ticularly novel. Those who walk abroad star-gazing, do not notice 

 a. purse of gold under their feet, or should they chance to tread upon 

 it, only kick it away from them as a mer" stone in their path. 



V. The author of the " Palace of Architecture " has, I see, thought 

 it necessary to assure the readers of Eraser's Magazine, that the 

 article entitled "Wightwickism," in that periodical, was not a slash- 

 ing cut-up of his book, as some of his own friends had conceived it to 

 be, and were accordingly very indignant that such a violent attack 

 upon it— nothing less than a downright demolisher — should liave pro- 

 ceeded from that quarter ; nor are they the only persons who have 

 taken up that singular idea, for some sapient newspaper critic has 

 described the paper alluded to as a complete settler for Wightwick! 

 It is charitable, therefore, to suppose that both the reviewer alluded 

 to, and those who have fallen into the same error, read no more than 

 the first page or two of the article, otherwise tiiey m\ist be obtuse and 

 obfuscated indeed, not to perceive its real drift. But there are people 

 in the world so dully matter-of-fact, as to have no notion whatever of 

 either irony or humour — people who take such a pleasantry as " A 

 Lesson in Reviewing" for a serious attack upon Mr. William Cowper, 

 the poet, fancying the writer to be in earnest when he gravely cen- 

 sures the bard's indeUcaey, or rather offensive grossness, in venturing 

 to use the term breeches, instead of employing the long-winded cir- 

 cumlocution resorted to by his biographer. Dr. Southey, in order to 

 express, or rather insinuate the idea of, that vulgar article of male 

 attire. And there are folks, it now appears, who either are, or affect 

 to be, so perversely thick-headed as altogether to misconceive the 

 writer's object in " Wightwickism." Nevertheless, with such exqui- 

 site stupidity stiring us in the face, the present age is styled that of 

 the March of Intellect — which "March," is, perhajis, the gravest and 

 most notable mystification of all. 



ON LIMES. 



Researches cn the several properties whicu ma7 be communi- 

 cated TO CEMENT STONES AND HYDRAULIC I IMEF, BY IMPERFECT 

 BURNING. By M. N. VlCAT. 



( Translated for the C. E. and A. Journal.) 



The principal object of this treatise is to illustrate several singular 

 properties of imperfectly burned argilo-calcareous subetances, and also 

 some anomalous cases with regard to hydraulic limes. It is well 

 known that hydraulic limes are converted into cements, when the pro- 

 portion of clay is increased beyond a certain limit, in which transition 

 may be recognised the nature of those compounds which participating 

 in the properties, both of limes and cements, belong to neither class. 

 Those compounds, which the author denominates cluiax limites, or in- 

 termediate limes, on being completely burned, (that is, entirely de- 

 prived of carbonic acid), and treated like cements, become absolute 

 cements, but if the cohesion be instantaneously acquired, it is lost in a 

 few hours by a gradual extinction of the cementing properties, which 

 instead of producing hydraulic lime, leave nothing but a kind of caput 

 mortuura. Common hydraulic Umestones have also peculiarities, be- 

 coming good cements, or giving products almost without value, accord- 

 ing as they are burned to a greater or less degree. 



The confusion resulting from such apparent inconsistencies, and the 

 serious difficulties which had occurred in carrying on several important 

 works, induced M. Vicat to investigate the subject, and to present the 

 following observations as the result of his inquiries. 



1st. All limestones containing 53 per cent, of clay should be rejected 

 as extremely dangerous, and never allowed to be used in any opera- 

 tion, being incapable of forming any useful cement. 



2nd. Perfect imitation of hydraulic limes by the mixture of slack 

 lime and cement is impossible ; as these mixtures are but slightly 

 hydraulic, therefore to imitate natural hydraulic limes, the regular 

 process must be followed. 



3rd. Every argilo-calcareous substance, capable of producing a ce- 

 ment after being thoroughly burned, also gives a cement on being im- 

 perfectly burned, provided that the proportion of clay to free lime in 

 the rough stone, does not exceed 273 per cent., or in other words, pro- 

 vided that there are less than 273 parts of clay for every hundred of 



lime. In acting upon this rule, super calcination is the only thing to 

 be guarded against. 



4th. Every argilo-calcareous substance, capable of producing an in- 

 tinnediate or hydraulic lime by being thoroughly burned, can on being 

 imperfectly burned, produce a cement, or at least a product having all 

 the properties of one, provided that the proportion of clay to free lime 

 in the rough stone is not below G2 per cent., not only the imperfectly 

 burned stones are no longer cements, but they may even fall into the 

 class of weak hydraulic limes with a gradual extinction of power. As 

 therefore no practical means exists of distinguishing at first sight im- 

 perfectly burned cements from those which are burned, and still less 

 of regulating the degree of heat, so as to expel uniformly the required 

 proportion of carbonic acid, it follows that by pulverising imperfectly 

 burned cements, and mixing them indiscriminately with mortar as has 

 been done on several works, the mortar instead of being improved, has 

 had introduced into it an element of destruction. 



Lastly. The manufacture of cement from intermediate limes is at- 

 tended with serious difficulties, as it is impossible to find out which 

 are perfectly burned. Every assay for the purpose of testing the 

 quality of hydraulic lime, should be preceded by experiments on the 

 quantity of carbonic acid contained in the lime, for if this acid is pre- 

 sent in such a proportion as to show imperfectly burned non- cement, 

 the assay will point out as bad an hydraulic lime, which thorouglily 

 burned, would have the required qualities. 



To the presence of imperfectly burned cements, M. Vicat attributes 

 most of the injuries, splitting of joints, &c., visible in buildings, and 

 which never occur when the lime is good. As the quickest and surest 

 test M. Vicat recommends chemical analysis, but disapproves of the 

 ordinary mode, for if the clay be separated from the carbonate by an 

 acid and then treated with potass, a gelatinous silex is produced from 

 those quartrose particles which do not enter into combination. He 

 therefore recommends the immediate reduction of a few finely pow- 

 dered grains into lime or cement ; to make sure that no carbonic acid 

 remains, and to dissolve the whole in an excess of hydrochlaric acid. 

 The residue, not reduced, will give the quantity of uncombined clay 

 which imbibes the hydraulicity of the lime. The rest of the assay- 

 may proceed in the usual way. 



OPENING OF T'riE PORT OF FLEETWOOD-ON-\VYRE TO NIGHT 

 NAVIGATION. 



This interesting and impurtant event took place on the evening of the 1st 

 of December. It must ever be interesting to behold the efforts of art founded 

 on pure science, when supported by spirited funds, eminently successlul. It 

 must ever be appreciated ns a vital achievement when a region, hitherto un- 

 approachable by night and seldom by day in stormy weather or slantin;^ 

 winds, shall be pronounced and proved, not only accessible, but within the 

 instant comprehension of the weatlier-driven mariner, even though he never 

 sa»- the coast before. Such have resulted at Fleetwood-on-\Vyre, under the 

 plans and personal su; erint.ndence of C'apt. Henry Mangles Denham, R.N., 

 FR.S.. consulting marine surveyor, supported by the encouraging confidence 

 of the board of directors, and unflinching appropriation of means. It is our 

 pleasing task to record tacts so honourable and gratulatory to all parties en- 

 £?aged." Here is a Company realising all that is due to energetic espousal of 

 capabilities whicli might as heretofore, have^laid useless to a nation, anti un- 

 profitable to enterprise, but for the exercise of perception and that moral 

 courage which boldly traces in perspective reasonable results. An estuary 

 hitherto (indeed 16 months ago) overlapped by spits in its sea'.vard reach, 

 precluding intercourse with its natural tijal basin and anchorage, now pre- 

 sents a sirsight course, of but 15 minutes run, between 20 fathoms Irish Sea 

 water an'! the railway terminus, which is connected by 11 hour, journey wi:h 

 London. The full particulars of which are set forth and illustrated in Capt. 

 Denham's work on the Mersey, Dee, and M'yre navigation. A'e, therefore, 

 need only revert to it, and glance at the simple, but eti'eclive ceremony which 

 locally marked the occasion of formally opening the Port. At sunset on the 

 evening of the 1st December, the Chairman. .>ir Hesketh FleetwooJ, Bart., 

 M.P.. a party of 80 gentlemen, their Secretary, John Power, Esq., and las!, 

 but not least, some fair ladies, accompanied Captain Denham in a sieamer to 

 the offing. Passing the several buoys which mark the New Cut channel, for 

 daylight and hazy weather guidance — at a proper jperiod of darkness, when 

 no vestige or clue to land, or haven entrance, could be traced, and no access 

 to be hoped for until the ne.xt morning, a rocket was thrown by Capt. Den- 

 ham, and instantly the lantern chambers of the new light-houses were un- 

 masked. Three hearty cheers welcomed the lights on board, and three more 

 « ith every hand open, greeted Captain Denham ; w hilst peals of cannon on 

 shore called attention to the fact. The lights were then bro;ight in line, the 

 course shaped, and at a nine knot rate the party were, in fifteen minutes 

 alongside the Railway wharf. The instant of clearing the New Cut was sig- 

 nalled by a shower oi rockets from on board. Cheer after cheer was responded 

 to on shore by guns, rockets, and cheers ; whilst the bands sent forth our 

 glorious national anthem and Rule Britannia. Titith and candour avowed 

 itself where 'lis ever nurtured. One of the ladies eiclaimed, to the delight 

 of ihe gallant Captain, — '■ Why the process of coming into this port is so 

 Simple, /could bring a vessel in." — Railway Magazi:ic. 



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