540 TKANSACnONS OF THE 



in three; our common stairs are but one in two. It advances, or 

 stops instantaneously, or backs. It will act in thresliing, milling^ 

 &c. It weighs nine tons. It made less impression on tilled land 

 than horses do. The wide, endless railway belonging to it enables 

 it to do this, and without clogging. This machine walked from 

 Camdentown to Acton, having in tow its four wheel wagon, with 

 coals, four heavy iron plows, and water enough for four hours' work. 

 When on the soft turnip field, (after a night's rain,) it drew after 

 it plows, scarifiers, &c., with perfect ease, and then walked home 

 again to Camden town. It can move anywhere, draw corn to 

 market, bring home manure, and do the cultivation work of the 

 farm. Mr. Boydell has expended nearly .£10,000, ($50,000,) in 

 accomplishing his object. 



P. S. In walking home it was met hy a wagon loaded with 

 grain, drawn by six horses. The horses swerved at sight of ity 

 and drew the wagon into a soft place, from which seven horses 

 could not haul it out. The traction engineer hooked on to it and 

 drew it out with ease. 



[Journal of the Society of Arts. London, April 11. 1856.3 



Seventeenth ordinary meeting. 



James Wilson spoke at length of the manufacture of articles 

 from steel, particularly cutlery. 



The angle of the cutting edge of a razor oi pen-knife is from 

 fifteen to twenty- five degrees j of scissors about eighty. Blades of 

 steel are welded to iron, called bolsters. You see the mark of the 

 union in table knives, &c., kc Cutlery of cast iron abounds. 

 Scissors are used by the vine keepers to cut off bunches of grapes^ 

 &c. Good steel ones soon fail from the rust causetl by the acid ! 

 So that scissors cast from the poorest pig iron are made and sold 

 at wholesale for seventy-jive cents a gj-oss. 



An attempt to make razors on the same plan rather failed ^ for 

 the Razor Grinders' Union passed a noble resolution, " that they 

 would not grind such rubbish." 



New materials for handles are in demand. The better ivories 

 and stag-horns are very dear, and scarce too. Various woods — 



