BOAT FOa ASCENDING llAPIDS IN RIVERS 
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piilir, not thicker til an a qnill, and under the larger of which a bell 
is tixed at a considerable distance from the clock, with which it seems 
not to have any connexion, but from which a communication is 
secretly conveyed ll?t) a hammer, that regularly strikes the hour, and 
repeats the same at pleasure by touching a diamond button fixed to 
the clock below. At the feet of the lady is a golden dog ; before 
which, from the point of the chariot, arc two birds fixed on sjjira! 
springs, the wings and feathers of which are set with stones of varioui4 
colours, and they appear as if flying avray with the chariot, which, 
from another secret motion, is contrived to run in any direction, either 
straight or circular, tfec. whilst a boy, that lays hob! of the c’hariot 
behind, seems also to push it forwards. Above the iinsbrella are 
flowers and ornaments of precious stones ; and it Icrmi! ales with a 
flying dragon, set in the same manner. Tlie whole is of go’d, most 
curiously executed, and embellished with rubies and pearls. 
Boat for Ascending Rapids in Rivers. 
The American papers contain some remark alile accounts of a 
curiously constructed boat, which has been brought into operation on 
the rapids of the Delaw'are. It ascends against the stream, and tows 
up boats heavily laden with it. The plan seems to be this : An anchor 
is dropped at the head of the rapid to be passed, to which is made 
fast a rope extending to the opposite extremity of the rapid. Here 
a boat is provided, crossed by a shaft, to which are attached wl eels 
with floats or paddles like those of a steam-boat, but of a wi<Uh pro- 
portioned to the power required. On this shaft is a windlass or drum, 
around which the rope is passed, and thence over the stern of the 
boat into the water. These preparations being made, the boat is 
pushed into the current, wliich, acting with ail its force upon the floats, 
and they presenting to the stream a much greater surface or resistafu e 
to the water than the prow of the boat, the wheels are' tinned by the 
current, which, windingup the rope, draws the boat irresistibly to tlse 
