160 Messrs J. and C. Carmichael on a New Method of 
The object of the contrivance we are about to describe, is. to 
regulate the motions of the steam-vessel in a more easy manner 
than heretofore. By the simple motion of a small handle, or in- 
dex, placed on a table, upon deck, in view and in hearing of the 
man at the helm, and of the master of the vessel, every move- 
ment which the engine is capable of giving to the paddle-wheel 
may be at once commanded. The vessel may be moved for- 
wards or backwards, — or may be retarded, or entirely stopped, 
at any given moment, by merely turning the handle to the pla- 
ces denoted by the graduations of a dial-plate. No skill is re- 
quired for this purpose, so that the master himself, or a sailor 
under his directions, can perform the office as well as the ablest 
engineer. Thus, the confusion which frequently arises at night 
in calling out to the engineer below, is avoided, and any ambi- 
guity arising from the word of command being transmitted 
through several persons entirely prevented. In point of fact, it 
places the engine as much under command as the rudder is,— 
an undoubted improvement upon the clumsy method of bawling 
out to the engineer below, who either may not hear, or may 
chance to be out of the way, — circumstances which may lead to 
the most serious accidents. 
The different parts of the machinery are not exactly arranged 
in the sketch as they are executed in said boat, but we hope 
that the principle will be better understood from having arran- 
ged them so as they can be better seen in the sketch, Plate V. 
The cylinder and jacket are cast in one piece, connected at 
the bottom, but altogether disconnected at the top when cast, — 
the vacancy between the two is closed at the top by an iron-ring, 
and hemp or rust packing in the joints. The steam from the 
boiler enters between the cylinder and jacket, by the branch A, 
passes round the cylinder, and communicates with the side-pipe 
C of the valve-chests by the branch B, but cannot enter the 
cylinder when the steam-valves DD are shut. The eduction- 
valves EE are situate below the steam-valves. 
The steam-valve rods work through a flax packing at FE, 
and are made hollow, to allow the eduction valve-rods to pass 
up the centre of them, — they are also made air-tight by a flax 
packing at GGr. 
The valve-lifters HHHH, are fast upon the lifter-rods IJ, 
