60 YEAR-BOOK OF FACTS. 



construction of revolving or repeating Fire-arms, consisting in a con- 

 struction of parts whereby a repeating firearm maybe rendered a 

 more convenient and effective weapon than heretofore, without add- 

 ing to the weight or to the complication of the parts. The invention 

 relates to that description of repeating fire-arm in which a moveable 

 breech piece, pierced for several charges, is made to rotate on a 

 central spindle, in order to bring every charge in succession under 

 the hammer, and opposite to a common barrel, through which every 

 such charge is made to pass. The invention consists principally in 

 mounting such rotating breech on a hollow central spindle or barrel, 

 which will form an additional barrel for the arm, and which addi- 

 tional barrel the patentee prefers to charge with a cartridge contain- 

 ing a number of small bullets instead of a single bullet. This central 

 barrel or hollow spindle may be charged either at the muzzle or the 

 breech. — Ibid. 



TESTIMONIAL TO MR. ROBERT HUNT— MINERAL STATISTICS. 



A silver tea and coffee service, value 200 guineas, a silver salver 

 of 200 ounces, and a purse of 200 guineas, have been presented to 

 that very efficient public officer, Mr. Robert Hunt.Keeper of Mining 

 Records, by gentlemen interested in the mineral industries of the 

 kingdom. In acknowledging this handsome and well-merited 

 present, Mr. Hunt thus explained the difficulties with which he had 

 to contend in his office: — "When 1 commenced the work of collecting 

 the Mineral Statistics of the United Kingdom, in 1848, the whole 

 question %vas of so uncertain a nature, that I then had little hope of 

 advancing it to that condition which has elicited this substantial 

 approval of my labours. I commenced my work with some com- 

 pilations showing the state of tin and copper mining in Cornwall. 

 It was then extended to the lead mines of the kingdom, at the 

 suggestion, and by the aid of Mr. John Taylor, and eventually 

 enlarged by the recommendation of a Government commission, con- 

 sisting of Sir Stafford Northcote and Sir Charles Trevelyan, to em- 

 brace the coal mines and the iron manufacture of these important is- 

 lands. I am bound to acknowledge the great assistance which I have 

 received from all parties who are especially interested in our mineral 

 industries. But for this it would have been quite impossible for me 

 to have published annually, as I have now for Borne years been 

 enabled to do, a volume embracing returns of all the metalliferous 

 minerals and coal raised in Great Britain and Ireland. This inquiry 

 has extended itself to the earthy minerals ; and within a few wei Is 

 1 shall place in the hands of the public a volume of returns, obtained 

 by the Mining Record Office, of the production of clay, the manu- 

 facture of bricks, tiles, &c, and of our building and ornamental 

 stores. I have thus sought to render the Mining Kecud Office, 

 established upon the recommendation of the British Association, as 

 useful as possible to the publio. I can point with satisfaction to the 

 collection of records obtained and preserved, Bhowing the extent of 

 our subterranean explorations in many of our most important mining 

 districts." 



