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MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



Art. I. Domestic Notices. 



ENGLAND. 



The Anthcum at Brighton. — We noticed the project of this building in 

 our last (p. 464-.), and expected to have the pleasure of seeing it advancing 

 towards completion, when visiting Brighton as a part of our tour. Before 

 our arrival there, however (which was on the 12th of September), it had 

 fallen down, from its defective construction ; and we only saw its remains 

 from the outside of the square enclosure which surrounds it. Mr. Busby, 

 architect and engineer (the inventor of the mode of heating by hot water, 

 described p. 38.), who resides near the spot, a most ingenious and intel- 

 ligent man, gave us the following account, which he first published, with 

 some slight variations, in the Brighton Herald : — 



" The antheum consisted of a dome, with twenty cast-iron ribs, forming 

 ten elliptical arches, nearly 170 ft. in span : the lower parts of these ribs, 

 for about 12 ft. high, were completely enclosed in substantial brick piers, 

 with a strong circular wall extending between all, except three spaces, 

 which were left to communicate with the principal entrance. The ribs 

 were placed edgewise, and were about 3 ft. wide at the bottom, and 2 ft. at 

 top, with an average thickness of about 2 in. ; being, in fact, thinner in the 

 centre, but considerably thicker at the edges, which were ornamented and 

 strengthened bj- rounded mouldings. Each rib was cast in six or seven 

 pieces, and the junctions were effected by strong flanches and screw-bolts ; 

 there were also smaller subsidiary ribs between the principals, but reaching 

 only about one third of their height. The ribs were connected with each 

 other by light cast-iron purlins, extending from one to another, so as to 

 form a series of concentric rings at various elevations. The centre of the 

 dome consisted of a strong circular casting, 7 ft. in diameter, against which 

 all the ribs abutted, and to which they were all firmly attached by screw- 

 bolts. The height of the dome, measured within from the base of the 

 ribs, was about 60 ft. ; and the internal diameter of the circular wall, 

 164 ft. : this constituted the whole of what is technically called the fram- 

 ing. There were also numerous wrought-iron ribs, about the ordinary size 

 of a green-house sash-bar, filling up the intervals between the main and 

 subsidiary ribs; but these were merely intended to receive the glazing, and 

 contributed little or nothing towards the support of the principals. 



" An iron erection of the colossal dimensions of the antheum was found 

 more difficult to fix than had been previously expected ; and it became 

 necessary to call in the aid of an immense scaffolding, or more properly, 

 building of solid timber, framed in the most substantial manner ; not 

 merely to sustain the weight of the ribs, but to preserve them unbent and 

 accurately in their places until the whole should be connected. This was 

 performed with great precision. The ribs were, in fact, as true as the brass 

 meridian of a globe; and, if they had kept so, notwithstanding the impru- 

 dent flatness in the centre, I have not the slightest doubt, would have stood 

 for an immense period : but, unfortunately, diagonal braces, which should 

 have been adopted throughout, were entirely omitted. This oversight 

 became manifest to the superintendent some time since, and he proposed 

 to remedy it ; but no provision having been made in the ribs to receive the 



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