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PREVENTION OF SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION ON BOARD OF VESSELS MR. WILLIAMS'S EXPERIMENTS.

Sir, I was very much pleased with the suggestion (p. 154) of placing pipes with small holes in them to admit air through the bulk of coals in steam-vessels; but I think, if the upright pipes were carried lower, and joined to other tubes running horizontally, it would be still better. About eight years ago, I made a very complete model upon the same principle; but my idea was, to prevent the heating of corn and potatoes in vessels, as it is a most remarkable fact, that a large quantity of both articles is completely wasted, if the voyage happens to be a long one. I took some trouble to show it to a few individuals whom I thought it would benefit; but no-it was all very well in its way, but the damaged food was no loss to them, and therefore they did not care about it. In carrying out my plan, I made a large box, something like the hull of a ship, with a double bottom pierced with small holes, with tubes going through the corn to the space between, and by forcing air with a piston down the tubes, it rose upwards again through the grain; and it was astonish.. ing to see how soon wheat, well damped before putting into the box, was dried. I proposed that granary floors should also be done in this way, as it would save a good deal of turning; but the expense seemed to be a complete obstacle to any improvement in that quarter.

While writing, I cannot help congratulating Mr. Williams on the able manner in which he has detailed his several experiments, proving to a certainty the old saying, that the three-legged pot boils a great deal sooner than one that has no legs at all. Indeed, I have often observed, when a boy, the steam rising up with great fury in three places perpendicular to the legs. But it is not the man who sees such things and thinks no more about them that benefits mankind; it is he who turns them to real practical use, and thereby adds new stores of knowledge to the book of science.

I remain, Sir, your most obedient,
J. W.

THE HADDINGTON MARINE STEAM-ENGINE.

Sir, I observe, in No. 968 of your useful and interesting Magazine, a description of an engine, (called the "Haddington Marine Steam-engine,) by Mr. James White, and

beg to inform you that, in the year 1827, I saw a pair of marine engines, constructed in London by Mr. John Hague, on the same principle: they were of 40-horses power, and were erected on board a vessel called the Thames, which traded between London and Yarmouth for a considerable period. The engines to which I refer were put into the vessel in the place of, and same space previously occupied by, a pair of rotary engines, (which were made by some other party, and tisfactorily, until the vessel, getting old, was were inefficient,) and they worked quite sabroken up. The only difference between the engines made by Mr. Hague and the socalled Haddington engines was, that they had an intermediate shaft, and that the airpumps were worked differently, taking up less space. I have documents and sketches in my possession, made in 1827, showing exactly the same arrangement of a drag-link to supersede the necessity of an intermediate shaft, and also sketches of a plan for working the air-pumps, as described in the drawing of the Haddington engine; but these plans were abandoned in order to bring in the old air-pumps and working gear, (which had belonged to the rotary engines,) without any alterations.

With respect to the stuffing-boxes, I can speak from experience of their working, that there was no more difficulty in keeping them tight, than in engines of the ordinary construction; and the piston-rods, although working downwards, were lubricated easily by a very simple contrivance. I am, Sir,

March 4, 1842.

Your obedient servant,

ENGINEER.

FIRE-PREVENTIVE PLASTER-COL. MACE

RONE IN REPLY TO MR. BADDELEY.

Sir,-In No. 967, our worthy friend and your most valuable correspondent, Mr. Baddeley, has poured out the phials of his wrath upon my poor bald head. Mr. Baddeley is very much mistaken in his phrase "the determined hostility with which Colonel Macerone has all at once attacked the fire preventive plaster." I, sir, have no cause or feeling of "hostility" towards it; I have never seen their prospectus, and know none of the parties concerned in it; and if I did, had I been injured or offended by any of them, I should deem myself a false knave" to squeak my penny trumpet in depreciation of any useful invention. What I predicated was, that our most flimsy trembling floors could not sustain any kind of plaster without its being cracked and destroyed by the said elasticity. I have seen plenty of floors covered with stucco as hard and polished as

FIRE-PREVENTIVE PLASTER.

Some

the finest marble, and walls of rooms also. At Venice the floors are of beautiful scagliola, often washed and rubbed with oil; but then, the construction is so stiff and solid, that a troop of horse would not cause a shake. The mansion of my uncle, Alexander Falconieri, at Tusculum, above Frascati, near Rome, had the walls of many rooms covered with a cement which has the whiteness and polish of the finest marble. are painted in fresco. Indeed, uncalcined marble powder is one of its chief ingredients. The floors were the same, and the only inconvenience is of disposing an unwary walker to fall incontinently on his or her back. So far from "determined hostility," I am glad to hear from so very competent a gentleman as Mr. Baddeley, that this cement is an accession to our means of security from fire. But I must remark, as a practical man, that the under surface of deal stairs is far more liable to be caught by the fire, than the upper; but I suppose the former will be plastered as well as the latter. The like may be said of the floor of a room upon which I have overturned a large grate-full of brilliant fire, which, without a drop of water, has burnt itself dead, only leaving a charred concavity in the boards. But all

these things will no doubt be duly borne in mind by the "Fire-preventive Company," to which I desire all possible success and prosperity.

I have no shadow of a cause for depre ciating the merits of the patent cement, although Mr. Baddeley hints that he could explain the "wherefore."

In Italy, the rooms are all stuccoed from top to bottom, and the floors are either of large tiles painted, or of scagliola. The window curtains are generally of silk-the beds have none; the staircases are all of stone; so I can vouch that from 1806 to 1815, there was not a single house burnt in a city of 500,000 inhabitants. The same in Rome; the only "fire" during seventeen years, was that of a chimney in the house of my cousin, the Marquis Lepri, brother-inlaw to Torlonia, in whose mansion, next door, a beam caught fire, or rather was charred by its stupid propinquity to the said chimney. I shudder when I think of the risk I ran on that occasion. I happened to be in the room at the time. I instantly nailed a wet blanket before the fire-place; then got on to the roof, and poured down several buckets of water. It was in February 1812, a hard frost. Part of the water spilt, covered the sloping roof without parapets, and formed a coat of ice. The least slip would have let me down into the street. The firemen urged me to come away, saying, that the soot would burn itself out, (and so

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it ought to do in a well-constructed chimney). I called out for a wet blanket; they, with the fear of the icy roof before them, would not bring it; so as of old, as the mountain would not come to Mahomet, Mahomet went to the mountain; I crawled to them for the wet blanket, stuffed it into the chimney, and the fire was extinguished. It shows how very little used to fires the Romans were, when this little incident of a chimney on fire was the topic of general talk for months after, and I was decreed to be worthy of nothing less than an ovation for stuffing a wet blanket into a chimney! The only damage I received was the breaking of almost every nail off my fingers in holding on to the ice-covered tiles.

But I must not forget to say a word on Mr. Baddeley's sneer at my chemical analyzing knowledge. I do not pretend to an operative dexterity in chemical analyzing operations. It is many years since I possessed a competent laboratory or apparatus. The instrument I used upon the little bit of the patent cement, was my tongue. I may have been mistaken as to that which I took to be "Roman cement;" but, as to the barrel of size, I not only saw it open, but amply smelt it. I attach no blame or deceit to this. As Mr. Baddeley most justly says, "neither can the materials of which the firepreventive cement is composed, be of any great consequence, so long as it retains the fire-resisting properties." To this paragraph I agree "totiis viribus." It appears from Mr. Baddeley's letter, that pounded slate is the basis of this cement. Now, we all know that the base of slate is the earth called alumina. My grandfather, the Marquis Macerone, possessed the alum works of La Tolfa, near Civita Vecchia, six miles from Rome, where slate is superposed on a volcanic crust of our earth. The rising sulphuric acid penetrating the slate, produces sulphate of alumina; or, what in commerce is called alum. The alum is extracted from the slate by exposure to the air and aspersions with water, which water is then boiled till crystallization of the alum ensues. 15,000Z. worth of alum were thus produced from my grandfather's slate mines of La Tolfa every But it would take too much of your year. valuable space to talk of alum, slate, &c. So I will conclude, by assuring Mr. Baddeley, that he is mistaken in his view of the sentiments of

F. MACERONE.

P. S.-A friend has just told me, that a gentleman to whom I am under many obligations, and whom, rather than injure or offend I would cut off my hand, has an interest in this patent "Fire-preventive Company." This intimation has just come in time to prevent

me from sending you a long comprehensive article, long since written on the subject. By the bye, Mr. Baddeley will not, I hope, deny that the day before the experiment in South Lambeth, I saw "with my own eyes," an open barrel of size. I attach no importance to the fact, but merely speak in defence of my veracity. Why should I have said so, if not true? I have no rival patent or interest. It would be desirable if you, sir, or Mr. Baddeley, would invent or compound some English word to signify the burning of a house. "Fire applies to a pistol; to the fire in the grate, or in a lady's or gentleman's eyes. But the French have incendie, which applies alone to tenements burnt. By the bye, I once heard an English lady in Paris, scold, the servant, and tell him, "Le feu est allé dehors!" The man stared, and was glad to see that the grate and chimneypiece had not gone out for a walk along with the fire.

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February 20, 1842.

XOTES AND NOTICES.

The Smoke Nuisance.-We are glad to find that this important subject is at length beginning to be seriously entertained by the authorities of the different manufacturing districts, and the practicability of its prevention as generally admitted; the Lighting and Watching Commissioners of Bradford, a short time since, appointed a committee, consisting of Messrs. Broadbent, Smith, and Walker, to examine the various patent rights, &c., and to report the result of their labours. These gentlemen appear to have been most assiduous in their inquiries, and their report must be highly satisfactory to Mr. C. W. Williams, in particular, to whose invention they pay this tribute-"By this apparatus the consumption or prevention of smoke is complete, and a saving of 25 per cent. in coal effected." The apparatus of Mr. Hall is also well spoken of, as well as those of Mr. David Cheetham and Mr. Billingsley; and the committee, in concluding their report, state their unanimous opinion to be, that the nuisance of smoke can be entirely prevented, and that attended by a considerable saving of fuel.-Mining Journal.

Safety Beacon erected in the Goodwin Sands.The following interesting account of this structure is contained in a letter from Captain Bullock to Captain Beaufort, hydrographer to the Admiralty, published in the Athenæum: "In carrying on the survey of the Thames, it was found expedient as the work proceeded seawards, and the receding landmarks grew indistinct, to erect fixed marks on the different sands. The first of them was nothing more than an iron bar diven into the sand, with a flag-staff affixed to it. This stood but a tide or two, and was succeeded by various modifications of the same simple plan, stays being added to support the shaft: but in vain; the marks erected in this manner all yielded to the first gale of wind. It then appeared that some foundation was wanted to enable them to resist the force of the waves. Το remedy this defect, the bar was fixed in a broad cross of wood, from the extremities of which chains were attached to the staff, and after many trials success was attained by this means. The results of the experiments above related, joined to the knowledge of the lamentable loss of life annually taking place on the Goodwin Sands, induced the persuasion, that since it was found practicable to fix a Beacon on them, it was an imperative duty to erect one calculated for the preservation of life. The

Safety Beacon now standing upon the Goodwin Sands, may be thus described:- The Shaft, or Mast, 40 feet in height and 12 inches in diameter, is sunk into the sand, through a strong frame of oak, in the form of a cross, firmly secured by four long bars of iron, and laden with several tons of ballast, chalk, &c. The mast is also sustained by eight chain shrouds, in pairs, and attached to iron piles, 17 feet long, which are driven close down into the sand, and are backed by mushroom anchors, to prevent their coming home, or towards the Mast. On the Shaft is fitted an Octagon Gallery, capable of holding thirty or forty people, and never less than 16 feet above high-water mark; beneath the gallery there is temporary safety for twenty persons more. The Mast is also fitted with a light topmast, on which a blue flag (always at hand) can be hoisted, when aid is required from the shore, but which is kept struck, or down, to give the whole an appearance of a wreck, thus answering the double purpose of a Beacon of Warning and a Place of Refuge. Directions are given in eight languages, and bread and water with a small supply of spirits, are left upon the Beacon, properly protected from the weather. To the Beacon is also appended a chain ladder of easy ascent, as well as cleats to the Mast, and a large basket chair is kept in readiness, with ropes and blocks to succour the exhausted."

Cooking Carnelians.-The carnelian is a beautiful illustration of change. This beautiful gem embraces every colour, from the pale fine yellow of sulphur to the deepest crimson; its opacity varies from the dull and coarse texture common to other stones, to the exquisite fineness of garnet. But what is it in its state of nature, before it is dragged to the light of day? A dull, worthless, flinty substance, similar to the agate, varying in its colour, and, sometimes in its material. The ignorant native of India, who is no geologist-who knows not what philosophy means-but, simply excited by his cupidity alone, abstracts the worthless stone from the earth, and, placing it on some elevated spot, suffers it to remain on the surface of the earth for three years, at the expiration of which period, he boils the stone for several hours, in order to expedite the result, and to check its further changes. In the cutting we acknowledge Carnelian, one of the most becoming and beautiful ornaments of the female sex, although, from its abundance, but held in light esteem. Again, to anticipate the slow operation of natural causes, these uncultivated people inclose the unripe stones in a vessel of earth, and, in this state, expose it to artificial heat; thus, in a few days, the like result is obtained.-Correspondent of the Mining Journal.

Adams's Bow Springs and Spring Buffers are stated in a Hamburgh paper to have been adopted in the Hamburgh and Bergsdorf railway, and with great advantage as regards both "ease of motion and absence of noise."

City Fire Escapes.-At a Court of Common Council held on Monday, February 28, Mr. Lott wished to know whether any opportunity had occurred, for putting the Fire-escapes ordered by the Corporation, to the test? He wished to hear something upon the subject, which, although of such immense importance, seemed to have dropped into oblivion. Mr. Hicks, said that three escapes had been made, and the police commissioner and Mr. Braidwood of the Fire-brigade had been made acquainted with that fact. So much for Corporation progress!

Intending Patentees may be supplied gratis with Instructions, by application (postpaid) to Messrs. J. C. Robertson and Co., 166, Fleet-street, by whom is kept the only COMPLETE REGISTRY OF PATENTS EXTANT (from 1617 to the present time). Patents, both British and Foreign, solicited. Specifications prepared or revised, and all other Patent bu siness transacted.

LONDON: Edited, Printed, and Published by J. C. Robertson, at the Mechanics' Magazine Office,
No. 166, Fleet-street.-Sold by W. and A. Galignani, Rue Vivienne, Paris;
Machin and Co., Dublin; and W. C. Campbell and Co., Hamburgh.

Mechanics' Magazine,

MUSEUM, REGISTER, JOURNAL, AND GAZETTE.

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WALKER'S HYDRAULIC ENGINE.

Sir,-There is, perhaps, scarcely any matter in engineering science that has engaged so large a share of attention as the art of raising water. The diversified expedients resorted to for this purpose, prior to the invention of the pump by Ctesebes, and the attempts that have been subsequently made to improve upon this important instrument, would fill a goodly volume, replete with interest and instruction.

Without entering into any examination of the comparative merits of the present most popular contrivances for this purpose, I propose in this paper simply to complete what I began in your 34th volume, (page 377,) viz., a description of the novel and ingenious "Water Elevator," patented by Mr. Walker. In that communication I briefly described Mr. Walker's apparatus in its simplest form, and noticed its extraordinary capabilities-extraordinary, because, if that description had appeared anonymously, the whole matter would have been put down as a hoax! My plain unvarnished tale, however, having a name appended to it that was at least a guarantee for its authenticity, was received with some degree of attention.

So apparently mysterious, however, was the action of this novel apparatus, that curiosity was strongly excited respecting it. In illustration of this, I may just mention a circumstance that came to my knowledge. A party of gentlemen, in Suffolk, entered into a subscription to enable one of their number to come to town to examine and report upon this phenomenon. Accordingly, he waited upon Mr. Walker, who, in his usual candid and unpretending manner, exhibited the machine in operation, and explained the nature of its action: furnishing satisfactory proofs of all that he advanced. The gentleman saw, and wondered; he was of necessity convinced: but, said he to Mr. Walker, please to let me have one of these machines to take back with me; my report alone will be unavailing-seeing is believing-but nothing short of seeing will carry conviction in this business."

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you must

So paradoxical is the performance of Walker's hydraulic apparatus, that skilful and intelligent engineers have been completely astounded by it, and have

been wholly unable to comprehend its modus operandi. Some have even disbelieved their own eye-sight, and denied the possibility of raising water by the mere use of a pump-barrel with a valve at its lower extremity. So strong has been the belief that there is some sort of legerdemain at the bottom of the affair, that Mr. Walker has been compelled to prepare a machine composed entirely of glass, to demonstrate that no deception is practised or intended.

Mr. Walker's apparatus steps in as if to settle the question which some years since was so rife between friction and frictionless pumps-to show the perfect inutility of both "scrape and go" and "rolling pistons ;" to put them both out of court, by demonstrating that, in reality, no piston at all is required! If the substitution of the rolling for the sliding piston effected, as has been stated, a saving of 73 per cent., dispensing with pistons of any kind may, of course, claim the saving of the remaining 27 per

cent.

In my former communication I explained that Mr. Walker's apparatus depends for its action upon the momentum acquired by fluids when in motion, and that the patentee was about to construct some machines upon a large scale, to be worked by suitable mechanism; several of these have been completed to be worked by manual power, or by wind, and forwarded to climates where machinery for this purpose, constructed of less durable materials, has been found a subject of continual annoyance and expense.

The accompanying engraving (see front page) represents one of Mr. Walker's Elevators in its complete form. A is a winch-handle on a shaft, which carries a toothed driving-wheel B, working into a pinion C; upon the pinion-shaft there is an eccentric, from which a connecting-rod d, passes up to the overhead beam E. From each extremity of the beam E, two pump-rods ff, pass down to the two elevators, or water cylin ders, gg, which may be of any convenient length, say from 30 to 40 feet, and from 1 to 3 inches in diameter; these

By the bye, the expiration of Shalders's Patent, three years since, does not seem to have tempted any other manufacturer to adopt his wonder-working contrivance.

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