(J36 wonders of art. 
the boiler through a valve which opens whenever the flo^ 
W descends below Us proper place. The pipes O and P 
serve also to ascertain die quantity of water in the boiler. 
The piston rod is confined to a motion nearly rectuinear, by 
the frame Q. The fly-wheel R is turned by the sun and 
planet wheel S T, and the strap U turns the centrifugal 
regulator W, which governs the supply of steam by the valve 
or stop cock X. 
STEAM BOATS. 
The description of the Clyde steam boat, represented in the 
plate, is as follows. Its extreme length is feet, its breadth 
i4, and the height of the cabins 6* feet. She is built veiy 
flat, and draws from 2 feet 9 inches to 3 feet water. Ihe 
best, or after-cabin, is 20 feet long, and is entered from the 
stern • between the after-cabin and the engine a space ot 
15 feet is allotted for goods. The engine is a 12 horse 
power, and occupies 15 feet : the fore-cabin is 16 feet long, 
and is entered from the side. The paddles, l6 in number, 
form two wheels of 9 feet diameter, and 4 feet broad, made 
of hammered iron ; they dip into the water from 1 foot 3 to 
1 foot 6 inches. Along the outer edge of these wheels a 
platform and rail are formed quite round the vessel, pro- 
ieefme over the sides, and supported by timbers reaching 
down to the vessel’s side. This steam boat runs at the rate 
of 4 or 4i miles per hour in calm weather; but against a 
considerable breeze 3 miles only. It can awommodate 250 
passengers, and is wrought by five men. The engine con- 
sumes 12 cwt. of coals per day. The funnel of the boilei if 
25 feet hi^h ; and carries a square sail 22 feet in breadth. 
To convey a precise idea of the utility ot steam boats, and 
to quiet the apprehensions entertained relative to their safety , 
the following details, by Sir Richard Phillips, have appeared 
in tlie Monthly Magazine. . 
The groundless al.irms relative to a supposed increase ol 
danger from travelling by Steam-packets, led the umtor of 
the Monthly Magazine, within the current month (July, 
1817) to make a voyage in one of them frorn I^ndon 
to Margate. This vessel left her moorings, at the Tower 
of London, about half past eight in the morning, at the time 
the tide was running strong up the river, and when no othe 
vessel could make progress, except in tha direction of tW 
