1842.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



323 



the sheathing of ships. The solutions are three in number, viz., turpentine 

 caoutchouc solution, naptha caoutchouc solution, and coal-oil caoutchouc 

 solution. 



The turpentine caoutchouc solution is formed by dissolving one part, by 

 weight, of caoutchouc, in twelve parts, by weight, of spirits of turpentine. 



The naptha caoutchouc solution consists of one part of caoutchouc, dissolved 

 in twelve parts of rectified coal naptha. 



The coal-oil caoutchouc solution is produced by dissolving caoutchouc in 

 coal-oil, the proportions being the same as in the two former solutions. 



The mixtures are asphalte mi.xtures, Nos. 1 and 2, and lac mixtures, Nos. 

 1 and 2. 



The asphalte mixture. No. 1, consists of two parts, by weight, of powdered 

 asphalte, dissolved in one part of the naptha caoutchouc solution. 



The asphalte mixture, No. 2, is composed of two parts, by weight, of 

 asphalte, dissolved in one part of tlie coal-oil caoutchouc solution, and to 

 four parts of this mixture, one part of a solution of corrosive sublimate is 

 added. This solution is prepared l)y dissolving two parts of powdered cor- 

 rosive sublimate in three parts of white naptha, in a glazed earthenware 

 vessel, and then adding three parts of coal-oil to it. 



The lac mixtures, Nos. 1 and 2, are prepared in a similar manner to the 

 asphalte mixtures, with this exception, that lac is employed instead of 

 asplialte. 



Oakum is prepared for caulking by soaking it in either the turpentine or 

 naptha caoutchouc solutions ; the superfluous solution is tlien pressed out, 

 the tibres separated, and the oakum being dried, is ready for use. The 

 asphalte mixture. No. 1, or the lac mixture. No. 1, is used for paying the 

 seams. 



The sides and bottoms of ships are protected by a coating of the asphalte 

 or lac mixtures, one-eighth of an inch thick; either of the mixtures No. 1, 

 may be applied to the parts above water, or for the first coat of the parts 

 below water; but one of the mixtures No. 2, must be used for the remaining 

 coats, which the under parts of the vessels receive. The mixtures are 

 appUed, when hot, by means of a brush, each coat being allowed to dry 

 before the following one is laid on, and the surface of the last coat is 

 smoothed by the application of heat. 



The patentee claims, firstly, the method, by the means herein described, of 

 defending the sheathing of ships, and of protecting their sides and bottoms; 

 secondly, the appHcation of caoutchouc for the same purpose ; and thirdly, 

 the application of lac for effecting tlie same object. 



STEAM NAVIGATION. 



GOVERNMENT STEAMERS. 



We are glad to see that Government is beginning to form a fleet of 

 steamers, on an increased scale. We have the Pmelope, 42-gun frigate, now 

 having 60 ft. added to her length at Chatham ; she is to have a pair of the 

 Gorgon engines of 625 h.p., by Messrs. Seaward and Capel. The total cost 

 of the engines will be £28,000 : this vessel is in a forward state. .Vnother 

 vessel of 1650 tons burden is to be built under the superintendance and 

 from the lines of Mr. Oliver Lang, master shipwright of Woolwich dock 

 yard, and to have a pair of engines of 800 h.p. Another vessel of equal 

 magnitude is to be built at Chatham dock yard, which was intended to be 

 called the Dragnn, but we are happy to aimounce that she is to be named 

 the " James Watt." This is as it ought to be : we have here a name 

 revered by every engineer, and we may say by every Briton. She is, we un- 

 derstand, to have the double cylinder direct action engines of Messrs. Maud- 

 slays and Field. We hope that Government will not stop here ; we must 

 have at least a dozen of such vessels; we shall then only be just a-head of 

 the French Government, who, we know, are constructing steam vessels of a 

 larger magnitude than any of our present class. This must not be allowed ; 

 we must have the ascendancy of the ocean. We have both the metal and 

 the men to construct engines upon a large scale, at a short notice. They 

 only want the support of the Government; and with such aid, we shall be 

 able to keep Old England a-liead of all the world. 



Tlie Queen. — This steam boat, which v\'as engaged last month to convey 

 the Lords of the Admiralty from London to Woolwich, was l>uilt by .Messrs. 

 Rennie. Her performance is remarkably good; at her first trial, we are 

 informed that her speed at the measured mile was equal to nearly 16 statute 

 miles through the water per hour, with 32 strokes per minute. The vessel 

 is 160 ft. long, 10 ft. in. beam, and 8 ft. deep; burthen 219 tons: draught 

 of water 4 ft. ; midship section of immersion 44 f(. Slie has two engines 

 of 35 H.p. each, or as 1 h.p. to 3 tons. The weight of engines, including 

 water in boilers, wheels, &c., complete, 35 tons. Nothing can be more 

 beautiful than the motion of the vessel through the water, which it seeins 

 to divide without a ripple. Slie is perfectly stable and stilt'; in going down 

 the river from Long Reach Tavern to Gravesend Church, the distance of 9 

 miles, with tide, was done in 27 minutes. 



The Megm-a steam vessel lias been fitted with tubular boilers by Messrs. 

 Seaward and Co., being the first man-of-war steam vessel fitted with boilers 

 of that description. 



The Rocket, iron steam vessel, built by Messrs. Fairbairn and Company, at 

 their establishment in the Isle of Dogs, for the service of Government, has 

 been taken charge of by the officers of Woolwich Dockyard. 



The Meteor steam vessel, Lieutenant-Commander G. Butler, towed down 

 to Greenhithe at the beginning of last month, a chain lighter with some 

 buoys and mooring chains, to be laid down in that part of the river under 

 the direction of Mr. Tinmouth, master-attendant of Woolwich Dockyard, as 

 it is intended in future that the vessels built, refitted, or otherwise altered 

 here, be swung at Greenhithe, in order that the variation of their compasses 

 may be adjusted under the immediate superhitendence of Captain Johnson, 

 previous to their proceeding to sea. 



The Montezuma Steam Frigate. — At a trial voyage of the above-named 

 magnificent vessel took place from Blackwall to the Lower Hope and back. 

 It is stated that she steamed at the rate of lO.j miles an hour against tide 

 both ways, the engines making 21 strokes per minute. The Montezuma, 

 although of the burden of 1,100 tons, draws no more than nine feet water 

 when fully equipped, and is built to carry two swivel guns, 68-pounders, on 

 the upper deck, besides the usual number of small guns. She was constructed 

 at the yard of Messrs. Wigram and Green, at Blackwall, and her engines, 

 which are of 300-horse power, and constructed on almost a similar principle 

 to those on board Her Majesty's steam-frigates Driver, Gorgon, Styx, otc, 

 were supplied and fitted by the firm of Messrs. Seaward and Capel. These 

 engines can have the steam cut off at half stroke, so as to act on the expan- 

 sion principle. 



Canada. — An iron steamer, for the use of the royal navy on Lake Ontario, 

 has lately arrived out from home. It came, of course, in pieces, but the 

 (iovernment having sent out competent persons, it is to be put up forthwith. 

 In the same vessel which brought out the iron steamer arrived the magnifi- 

 cent engines by ilessrs. Boulton, Watt, and Co. of the steam frigate Cherokee, 

 now almost ready for launching. — Times. 



raiSCEIiIiANEA. 



AVooLwiCH Dock Yard. — One of the best pieces of granite masonry that 

 we have ever seen is now executing at this dockyard, in the construction of 

 the new dry dock, it is built with blocks of granite of large dimensions, laid 

 in radiating courses, and worked with gieat precision and hammer dressed. 

 Messrs. Grissell and Peto are the contractors to whom this work is intrusted 

 under the direction and superintendence of Messrs. Walker and Burgess. A 

 powerful steam-engine by Boulton, Watt, and Co. has been erected for the 

 purpose of withdrawing the water within a very limited time when vessels 

 are docked to be examined. Some idea may be formed of the magnitude 

 and complete arrangement of the new dock when it is stated that it is suffi- 

 ciently large to admit, for the purpose of being docked, ships of equal dimen- 

 sions to the Trafalgar, of 120 guns, and that the volume of water requisite to 

 float vessels of that size could by the power of the steam engine be com- 

 pletely withdrawn into the basin at high water or into the river at ebb tide 

 in about 20 minutes, and in the event of the vessel examined being found 

 sound and not in want of any repairs she might again enter the river ready 

 for service without losing a tide. These are improvements in celerity of 

 movement which cannot fail to prove of great importance to the country in 

 the event of war with any foreign Power at a future period. The engine 

 connected with the dry dock has been erected in a handsome and substan- 

 tially constructed building, and on the top an iron tank has been placed 

 capable of containing 190 tuns of water, and which will always be kept full 

 in case of accidents from fire at the end of the yard in which it is situate. 



Stucco Paint Cement. — We have examined some specimens of this cement 

 upon plaster, slate, and wood. It has all the appearance of stone, and forms 

 a complete impermeable coating, and answers the combined purpose of both 

 paint and cement ; it is manufactured and sold in a fluid state, like white 

 lead, and when used it is mixed with sand, in the proportion of 3 of the latter 

 to 1 of the former, and laid upon brickwork in the usual manner. If used 

 upon brick, it requires about 7 lb. of the fluid cement, and if upon plaster 

 about 4 lb. : it is sold at 12s. per cwt. For damp situations, and for walls 

 exposed to a south-western aspect in the country or on the sea side, it will 

 be invaluable. Specimens may be seen at the Bernasconi Gallery, Chenies- 

 street, Bedford-square. 



/lereford.— St. Nicholas' New Church was consecrated 11th August last. 

 This church is beautifully situated at the Friars, a very short distance from 

 the site on which the old'church stood, leading to the Barton, extending east 

 to west from Victoria-street to Fiiars-street. The style of architecture is 

 that of the early English ; the plan is a parallelogram, with a tower at west, 

 and chancel and vestry at east, projecting beyond each end. The walls are 

 built of neatly hammer-dressed wall stone, the buttresses and dressings being 

 tooled. The' sides are divided into compartments by buttresses in two 

 stages ; the upper part terminating with coping of parapet by weathered 

 canopies. In each coniiiartmcnt are placed lancet windows, with neat hood- 

 moulds, terminating on carved bosses. The chancel is flanked by plain 

 buttresses and octagonal pinnacles with carved finials ; in the gable is an . 

 open trefoil for ventilation, and below are three lancet windows, united by 



