1811.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



67 



ducing the element thne, a simplification which has since been wrought out 

 and patented by Professor \Vlicatstone. 



Mr. James Roliertson, late in the service of the Shah of Persia, read a 

 paper on the method of m/iinifae/urin;/ Bricis hi Persia ; in wliich a lucid 

 and very interesting description was given of those jiccnliarities in the con- 

 struction of the In'ick-kilns whieli are consequent on the scarcity of fuel, and 

 the peciUiarity of what fuel can lie obtained. Mr. Robertson was requested 

 to allow his paper to appear in the transactions. 



Jan. 11, 1841. — The President in the Chair. 



Mr. Garin Kay exhibited a model of a boat on skates, which he proposed 

 as an apparatus for saving the lives of persons who have fallen through the 

 ice. The exhiliition of this model led to an animated conversation concern- 

 ing the general subject, in the course of wliich Dr. Ilimtcr, Jlr. Sang, and 

 Jlr. Glover, expressed opinions decidedly hostile to any cumbrous apparatus ; 

 Mr. Sang aud Mr. Glover particularly insisteil on the propriety of having a 

 few men drilled to manceuvring on the frequented lochs ; and the society, 

 after thanking Mr. Kay for his communication, requested Mr. Glover to draw- 

 up a paper embodying the opinions which seemed to have prevailed, and jiar- 

 ticularly the lucid views which he himself had given. 



Mr. Rose read a description of an instrument for indicating the amount of 

 iticlined disturbances ditrinij the shocks of an Earthi/uake. In introducing 

 the subject, Mr. Rose stated that since this communication had heen billeted, 

 the vcrj- same instrument had been exhibited to the Royal Society (Edin- 

 burgh), and that, in consequence, he had tliought of withdrawing the notice. 

 Having been dissuaded from this intention, be felt it necessary to otter some 

 explanation. Tlie explanation was to the effect that Mr. Mylne, having been 

 requested, along with a committee of the British Association, to devise instru- 

 ments for registering the disturbances caused by earthquakes, had consulted 

 him, and having received a description and sketch, had employed Mr. Jamie- 

 son, assistant to Mr. Lees, to construct one. This instrument Mr. Mylne had 

 exhibited along with others to the Royal Society, without taking any notice 

 of Mr. Rose. The instrument contained a pendulum suspended by a hall- 

 and-socket joint, the lower extremity of the penduhnn carrying a piece of 

 chalk, which might trace, upon a l>lackened spherical surface, a line to indi- 

 cate the amount and direction of tlie inclination. Mr. Rose explained that 

 some sliglit friction is needed, in order to prevent the free swinging of the 

 pendulum, and he added that very little information could be exjiected from 

 iustrumeuts of this class, since, in localities where the shocks are slight, the 

 indicators may be deficient in deUcacy, while, on the occasion of severe 

 shocks, the instrument and observers may be involved in the common ruin. 

 Sir John Robison pointed out a difficulty whicli miglit occur in interpreting 

 the readings of the instrument, and suggested a hollow but very flat cup 

 containing mercury ; in the sides of the cup were to be drUled a multitude 

 of small holes, which, in the event of any disturbance, might receive and 

 retain part of tlie mercury. After some conversation among the members, 

 thanks were voted to Mr. Rose. 



Mr. Thomas Da\'idsoD exhil)ited a simple but important improvement in 

 the camera for taking portraits. This improvement consisted in placing a 

 stop between the lens and the image, so as to cut ofl' the worst portions of the 

 refracted light. He also descrilied a method proposed for the purpose of 

 taking views by reflection. His method was to employ a perfectly spherical 

 reflector, having a stop placed around the centre of curvature ; by this means 

 all parts of the image are olitained of eqnal distinctness. Sir Joliu Robison, 

 Dr. Hunter, and Mr. Bryson made some remarks, and Mr. Sang pointed out 

 that the curvature of the image in this arrangement would be a source of 

 great inconvenience. These communications were remitted to a committee. 



MEETINGS or SOCIETIES IN' FEBRU.4.RY, 

 At Eight o'clock in the Evening. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, Tuesday 2 9 



Royal Institute of British .\rcbitects, Monday .... 8 22 

 Architectural Societv, Tuesdav 9 23 



16 23 



STEAIV: NAVIGATIOBT. 



THE VOY.\GE OF THE NEMESIS. 



(From the Colombo Observer, Oct. 12.J 



In this splendid vessel, commanded by Captain W. H. Hall, we have the 

 pleasing task of welcoiuing to our shores the first iron steamer that ever 

 rounded the Cape of Good Hope. She is the largest of her class built, lieing 

 168 feet long, 29 feet beam, and 650 tons burden. The engines are 120 

 horse power, by Messrs. Foster and Co., of Liverpool, and, of course, upou 

 the best construction. Twenty days' coal can, on any emergency, be stowed 

 in her. She carries two medium 32 pound ])ivot guns, one after the other 

 forward, and 10 swivels, and is manned by 50 seamen. When launched she 

 drew only 2\ feet water, and may stUl be lightened, if necessary, to 41 feet. 

 Being nearly flat-bottomed, and fitted with iron hawse holes for cables in the 

 tei-n, she can be run on shore and easdy got oft" again by anchors, which 

 contrivances will enalde^ber, in many'cases, to land troops without the assist- 

 ance of boats. Though thus round-bottomed, two wooden false keels, of six 

 feet in depth, can be let^down through her bottom, one after another, for- 



ward. These, together witli a Iee-l)oard invented by Captain Hall on the 

 voyage, [irevent ber, in a considerable degree, from going to leeward. The 

 nidder has a corresponding construction, the true rudder going to the depth 

 of the sternpost, and a I'alse rudder licing attaclied by a pivot to the fomier, 

 so tliat it can be triced uji or let down to the same depth as the false keels. 

 The floats are easily unsluppcd, aud under canvass, with the wind free, she 

 can go 9 or 10 knots an hour. The vessel is divided by water-tight divisions 

 into five compartments, so that though even both stem and stern were stove 

 in, she would still float. Her accommodations and arrangements of small 

 arms are splendid, aud large coal-holes being placed, both between the offi- 

 cers' quarters and the sailors' berths and the engine-room, the heat of the 

 fires is not at all felt. The Nemesis left Portsmouth with secret orders on 

 the 28lh of March, and reached Madeira iu seven days, where she took in 

 coals, then jiroceeded down the coast of Africa, steaming or sailing according 

 to circumstanees, but she experienced principally adverse winds and currents, 

 jit Prince's Island, a Portuguese settlement, she took in 70 tons of wood, 

 which, with the remaining coals, lasted till she came into the latitude of St. 

 Holena, when she proceeded under canvass, in order to make the best of her 

 way to Table Bay thus facing the Southern Ocean at the veiy worst season 

 of the year. 



She arrived at Table Bay on the 1st of July. The Governor aud suite 

 having gone on board, she slipped from her anchorage and steamed romid 

 the b.vy, trying the difterent range of bcr guns. Having taken in about 200 

 tons of coals and water, she left Table Bay on the lltli of July, and whilst 

 rounding the Cape, as was to be expected at that most unfavouralde season, 

 experienced several gales of wind. One of these, in particular, was most 

 tremendous, but, to the agreeable surprise of those on board, the steamer 

 proved to be an admirable sea-boat, rising over the immense waves with the 

 greatest buoyancy, and shijiping little or no watei'. She, however, received 

 so much damage in these gales, that Captain Hall put into English river, 

 Delagoa Bay, to repair and refit. This occupied three weeks, but was done 

 most effectually by those on board, as she carries first-rate artificers and 

 mplc means at their disposal. 



From Delagoa Bay the Nemesis proceeded to Mozambique, thence she con- 

 tinued her voyage towards India, calling at Johanna. She then went direct 

 through the Maldive islands to Ceylon, sighted Colombo on Monday morning, 

 the 7th, and reached Point de Galle the same afternoon. 



Tlie Nemesis will have to wait a few days at Point de Galle until the ar- 

 rival of commissariat and other stores from Colombo, when it is supposed 

 the will proceed to Singapore, and idtimately to China. 



LIST OF KE'W PATENTS. 



GRANTED IN EXGL.VN'D FROM 2HtH DECEMBER, TO 28tH J.^NUARY, 1841. 



Si.v Months allowed for Enrolment. 



John- Buchan'n.4N, of Glasgow, Coach Builder, for "improvements in 

 wheel carriages for common roads or railways." — Sealed December 28. 



William Bridges Adams, of Porchester Terrace, Gent., for "improve- 

 ments in the construction of wheel carriages, and of appendages thereto." — 

 December 28. 



John Wells, of Vale Place, Hammersmith, Gent., for " certain improve- 

 ments in tlie manufacture of coke." — December 30. 



William Henry Kempton, of the City Road, Gent., for " improvements 

 ill cylinders to be used for printing calicoes and other fabrics:"- — -Dec. 30. 



Henry .\dcock, of Winstanley, Civil Engineer, for "improvements in the 

 means or apparatus for condensing, concentrating, and evavorating aeriform 

 and other fluids." — December 30. 



William Heusman, of Woburn, Machinist, for " improvemetits in 

 //loughs." — December 31. 



Joseph Parkes, of Birmingham, Button Manufacturer, for " improve- 

 metits in the manufacture of covered buttons." — December 31. 



William Newton, of Chancery Lane, Civil Engineer, for " improvements 

 in the rigging of ships, and other navigable vessels." Communicated by a 

 foreigner.''- -December 31. 



Francis Burdett Whitaker, of Royton, Lancaster, Cotton Spinner, 

 for " improvements in the machinery or apparatus for drawing cotton and 

 other fibrous substances, which improvements are also applicable to warping 

 and dressing yams of the same." — December 31. 



Joseph Stubs, of Wanington, File Manufacturer, for "improvemetits in 

 the constniclion of screw wrenches and spanners, for screwing and unscrewitig 

 nuts and bolts." Commumcated by a foreigner.— December 31. 



Thomas Robert Sewell, of Carrington, Nottingham, Lace Manufacturer , 

 for " improvements in obtaining carbonic acid from certain mineral sub- 

 stances."— December 31. 



William'Henrt Kempton, of Pentonville, Gent., for " improvements in 

 lamps." — December 31. 



John Grylls, of Portsea, for " improvements in machinery used for 

 raising and lowering weights." — December 31. 



Joseph Haley, of Manchester, Engineer, for " an improved lifting jack, 

 for raising or removing heavy bodies, which is also applicable to the packing 

 or compressing of woods or other substances." — December 31. 



Louis HoLBECK, of Hammersmith, Gent., for " improvements in obtaining 

 or producing oil." Communicated by a foreigner. — December 31. 



Henry Scott, of Biownlow Street, Bedford Row, Surgeon, for "improve- 

 ments in the manufacture of ink or writing fluids ." — December 31. 



