1842.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



237 



parts, so that the plates are in fact working drawings, from which the 

 things represented might be made. This is precisely wiiat engineers 

 want, and have always wanted ; and we are very confident that this 

 work will be most acceptable to the profession, as well as to the public 

 generally. 



But we have higher cause of satisfaction than the excellence of the 

 work. The drawings from which ihe engravings were made were 

 supplied with the sanction of Messrs. Seaward, the constructors of the 

 engines, who, with a liberality, and we may add a discernment, which 

 do them infinite credit, have allowed the whole details of their engines 

 to be published to the world. We hail this departure from the narrow 

 and futile policy it has been too much the endeavour of engineers to 

 pursue, in making secrets of the dimensions of their machinery, as 

 the harbinger of a better day. The age of secrets is gone; true 

 science and true art recognise nothing cabalistic ; and merit should 

 repudiate an auxiliary which empiricism alone does not disdain. But 

 concealment is not only illiberal : it would be inexpedient if it were 

 possible, and impossible if it were expedient. There is no size, pro- 

 portion, or particular of any engine of any maker which may not be 

 obtained, and which is not obtained by those sufficiently interested in 

 the matter to take the necessary trouble. All therefore that engineers 

 can do is to throw impediments in the way — to render the attainment 

 of the desired information not impracticable, but only more difficult; 

 and this difficulty will in no wise prevent those who are professionally 

 interested in the matter from obtaining that information, however 

 effectually it may discourage and deter those from whom no rivalry is 

 to be apprehended, who have no prominent interest to promote, and 

 whom it is most the interest of every engineer to illuminate. To 

 engineesthe publication of the details of the Gorgon engines will 

 carry little information that they did not possess before, and probably 

 among them all there will not be one who will adopt anything more of 

 the (jorgon principle in consequence ; for every engineer — even the 

 most unskilful — is apt to consider Iiis own modes of construction 

 superior to all others. But with the public generally, and with steam 

 packet companies in particular, the case is very different. They are 

 in the dark respecting many things; they may have heard disparaging 

 reports in reference to the Gorgon engines, which these drawings may 

 neutralize ; they may see evidences of excellence therein of which 

 they had no previous conception; and the existence of these evidences, 

 unbalanced by evidences of the excellencies of other engines, and 

 which other engineers conceal, will greatly contribute to the favour- 

 able consideration of Messrs. Seawards' arrangements. The directors 

 of steam packet companies, and indeed all unprofessional persons 

 interested in the operations of steam power, are necessarily very 

 impressible ; that is apt to be reckoned the best thing which is the 

 most prominently before them, and to monopolize their attention is 

 almost to secure their preference. It is, therefore, of the utmost 

 moment to every engineer to bring the merits of his work forward as 

 prominently as he can ; and there is no more effectual method of doing 

 this than by publishing the whole details of his machinery, without 

 further note or comment than is necessary for making the drawings 

 intelligible. One publication of this kind is better than a thousand 

 pu6Bng pamphlets, for such aids to notoriety are always received with 

 aversion and distrust, and give an unfavourable complexion to the 

 claims of those who resort to them. But an unreserved delineation 

 of the actual parts of machinery, accompanied by an open, unbiassed, 

 and manly statement of the reasons good or bad for the modes of con- 

 struction adopted, and so explained as to be easily intelligible, can 

 have nothing about it to repel, and it will first secure attention, next 

 reconciliation, and finally probably adoption. 



The Architectural, Engineering, and Mechanical Drawing Bock, with 

 descriptive Letter-press. London: Weale, 1842. 



This work contains many plates of interesting public works, and is 

 well adapted for the use of the younger members of the constructive 

 professions. It consists of three divisions, viz., architecture, engi- 

 neering, and mechanical drawing, giving numerous illustrations of 

 each on a large scale. The architectural series is of (J plates, the 

 engineering of 14, and the mechanical drawing of 8, besides two 

 plates of alphabets, &c. The mechanical drawings are particularly 

 useful. 



Examples of Encaustic Tiles, Pari II. J. B. Nichols and Son. 



The author observes that the publication of the first part of his 

 work has elicited so many communications from parties interested in 

 the subject, as to enable him to form the present part principally from 



such communications. Instead, therefore, of being confined to speci- 

 mens from Hampshire, the work now takes in other places, including 

 at present Malvern, and the Chapter-House, Westminster ; and the 

 ;'.uthor states his intention of continuing the series from Malvern and 

 Gloucester cathedral. The series from the Chapter-House, West- 

 minster, communicated by Mr. Cottingham, is highly intt'.resting: 

 some of tliese tiles are of very complicated design. 



Practical Essai/ on the Slrtiigth of Cast Iron and other Jilttah. By 

 Thomas Tredgold. Fourth Edition, with Notes by Eaton Hodg- 

 kinson, F.R.S. London: John Weale, 1842. 



Tkedgold's work on Cast Iron has long been admitted to be the 

 best work upon the subject, and most deservedly has it maintained its 

 rank for the accuracy of the tables. It is, therefore, quite unnecessary 

 for as now to enter into the merits of the work before us. In 

 bringing forward a new edition, Mr. Weale has done well in selecting 

 an individual so eminent as Mr. Hodgkinson, for the purpose of editing 

 it. He is well known for tiie many important experiments which he 

 has made on iron, nnd which are published in the Transactions of the 

 Royal Society, British Association, &c., all of which we hope to see ia 

 the second volume of this work. When this second volume appears, 

 we shall not fail to notice both volumes very fully. 



KIDDERMINSTER NEW CHURCH. 



Sir — My attention has just been called to a letter in your journal of 

 this month, by Mr. Wardell, strongly animadverting upon the proceed- 

 ings of the Building Committee, in reference to the new church at 

 Kidderminster, charging them with disgraceful chicanery in their 

 mode of discharging their duties, and intimating that they never 

 intended to act impartially between the competing architects. 



Now, Sir, my plan being that originally and unanimously chosen as 

 the best among all the other competitors, and as its eventual rejectioD 

 by the Committee on the ground of its excess over the stipulated 

 estimate in a great measure caused the unusual delay Mr. W. com- 

 plains of, perhaps you will allow me very briefly to state the facts as 

 they occurred, which, when fairly considered, place the impartiality 

 of the Committee's intentions beyond all doubt. I may add that the 

 fact cf my plan having been originally chosen, and subsequently to my 

 deep regret relinquished, renders me at all events an unexceptionable 

 witness to the honour and the integrity of the Committee. 



The designs were sent in on the 21st of December last: ten days 

 afterwards mv plan was pronounced the best, and I was empowered 

 to make out working drawings, with the understanding that the final 

 adoption of the design was to depend upon the estimate not exceeding 

 the advertised sura. I can truly testify, that in this stage of the 

 business, in the interviews I had with the Committee, nothing ap- 

 peared more constantly before their minds than the desire to act fairly 

 and impartiallvto all; and when it is remembered that their respected 

 chairman was the Rev, T. L. Claughten, the vicar, quite a sufficient 

 guarantee is afforded that nothing unfair would be either attempted or 

 practised. 



I was allowed a month to prepare working drawings. They were 

 sent in Feb. 4th, and tenders from builders were advertised for in the 

 Worcestershire papers, to be forwarded by the 1st of March. The 

 opening of these tenders showed a considerable excess in the estimate, 

 and the Committee, in consequence, very reluctantly felt themselves 

 under the necessity of relinquishing my design — a proceeding of 

 which I could not reasonably complain, however much I might regret 

 it, since it was only in pursuance of an arrangement to which I had 

 been a party. Three other designs having been chosen with mine, 

 and Mr. Alexander's standing second, that gentleman was next elected; 

 and as, upon the receipt of the tenders on the 18th of April last, the 

 estimate came within the £3000, Mr. Alexander was appointed as 

 the architect to the church. 



These, Sir, are the simple facts of the case, and your readers will, 

 I think, see that there is nij foundation whatever for the insinuations 

 of Mr. Wardell. I do not undertake to say that the Committee were 

 altogether justified in keeping the drawings of the whole body of the 

 competitors 15 weeks without any explanation till they made their 

 final decision, but I only desire to assert, which I do from actual know- 

 ledge, that the strictest imijartiality governed their proceedings, and 

 that their uniform aim was to do justice to all, and give undue 

 preference to none. 



I am afraid this letter will hardly reach you in time for your July 



2 L 



