AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 527 



THE GREAT EASTERN. 



It has been supposed that Brunei originated that ship. That is a mis- 

 take, for he neither created nor originated her. She was designed and 

 built by Scott Russel, yet neither has he the credit of having originated her, 



Mr. Fisher stated that an American engineer, who had recently returned 

 from Europe, had secured an interest in " Clark's Coal-burning Locomo- 

 tive," and that one was now being built at the Roger's Locomotive Works, 

 Paterson, New Jersey. He further stated that this locomotive was thor- 

 oughly successful, and, from its great economy, was likely to be brought 

 into general use. 



Messrs. Broughton & Lindsey, of Pennsylvania, being requested to exhi- 

 bit their invention, came forward and described, by the aid of a beautiful 

 brass working model, their device for converting a continuous rotary into an 

 alternating rectilineal motion. The use of this apparatus is to carry the 

 bed-plate of a planing, stone-grinding, or stone-polishing machine, or that 

 of a printing press, backward and forward, with a uniform, regular motion, 

 in either direction; and, if desired, with a slow motion in one direction, 

 and a quick motion in the other, or with the same rate of speed in both 

 directions. 



There was also exhibited a machine for quarrying slate, marble and other 

 stones. It is intended to plane grooves around the block, and so cut it out. 



Mr. Butler remarked, that if it would work efhciently it would be very 

 valuable ; that a friend had told him of blocks of copper being found so 

 large that they could not be got rid of; cutting with chisels being in such 

 cases impracticable. 



A gentleman from Minnesota exhibited a model and drawings of a patent 

 process for saving all the latent heat of steam, which it has to part with in 

 condensing. This did not seem to the members to be a very important 

 invention. 



Mr. Churchill exhibited a small apparatus, designed to show the effect 

 of "percussive ebullition." The exact theory of the operation and the 

 application of the apparatus were not stated. 



Mr. Samuel Broad exhibited a model of a life-raft, designed for easy 

 stowage. The platform was of canvass, strengthened by strong twine net- 

 work ; this was distended by means of slight poles, and the whole was 

 buoyed by means of India-rubber air tubes under the platform. This 

 was highly commended by several members as a light, portable and easily- 

 stowed raft. 



In continuation of the subject of last evening, the following paper was 

 read by S. D. Tillman, Esq. 



The works of artisans separated from us by long intervals of time are in- 

 vested with a peculiar charm. Seen through the hazy light of antiquity, 

 not only are defects unobserved, but new beauties and uses arc discovered. 

 Thus we ascribe to others in the dim distance, the creations of our own 

 fancy, as we sometimes do in dreams. But closer inspection and more 

 careful investigation will bring to view the real proportions and practical 



