flattened, there being a standard, or gauge, against which the wire is forced by the operator, to regulate the length of the rivet. The second is in the combination of the moving cutter, which separates the blank from the rod, with a spring arm for "pinching, or nipping, the piece of wire separated by the cutters, and conveying it downwards to the aperture" of the leading apparatus; and also in the arrangement of parts which withdraw the arm above mentioned from the blank after it has been carried to the heading apparatus. The third is in the combination of levers, &c., for forcing, or pushing, out the rivet from the aperture, after the heading machinery has performed its office.

MOVEABLE LOADING MUZZLE FOR RIFLES; Alvan Clark. The object of this improvement is, to facilitate the loading of the rifle, and to preserve the calibre of precisely the same diameter to the very point of delivery of the ball, and this is to be effected by means of what the inventor calls a "moveable loading muzzle," which is put on to the end of the barrel for loading, and removed when the rifle is to be fired. The bore of this loading muzzle, where it meets the barrel, is of the same diameter with it, and is enlarged towards the mouth, so as to receive the ball with ease, and gradually prepare it to be received by the barrel. The rifling of the barrel and muzzle should correspond. The muzzle may be fitted on by means of pins projecting from it, and fitting into holes made for that purpose in the end of the barrel. The claim is confined to this device.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM BOILERS ; John Penniman. We will merely quote the claim appended to the specification, as it gives a sufficiently clear idea of the improvement to bring it within the comprehension of any one, viz. :-"Having thus fully described the nature of my improvement, and the manner in which I carry the same into operation, what I claim therein as my invention, and desire to secure by letters patent, is, the placing a series of circulating tubes on the front plate of the boiler, in such a manner as that they shall, at their lower ends, communicate with the water in the lower part of the boiler, and at their upper ends with the water in said boiler a little below the water line, whilst they are, along their whole length, exposed to the direct action of the heat in the fire-box, in the manner, and for the purpose, above set forth."

In pointing out the effect produced by thus placing the tubes, the patentee says, "as these tubes open below into the lower part of the boiler, and at their upper ends into the upper part of it, below the waterline, the water, which will become highly heated in the lower parts of the tubes, will

naturally ascend, and that with considerable rapidity, towards the upper part, where they will give out their steam, and, by the action of the water circulating through them, they will necessarily draw the water in the lower part of the boiler towards them, and effect the required circulation,"

IMPROVED POWER LOOM; Erastus B. Bigelow. The patentee describes his improvement as follows:

"My improvements consist principally in the manner in which the shuttles are thrown; the manner of raising and depressing the shuttle boxes, and the manner in which the picker is relieved from the shuttle.

"In throwing the shuttles I cause the two picker staves to operate simultaneously, so that the shuttle may be thrown from whichever of the boxes is presented to their action. This is effected by the use of one picker treadle only, which is acted upon by a cam ball, in the usual way of working such treadles. From this treadle two bands are extended, and pass around the two picker pulleys, in such a manner that when the treadle is depressed, both the picker staves will be set in action at the same moment. By this arrangement two or more shuttles may be successively thrown from the same end of the loom by the action of one treddle.

"The shuttle boxes are raised and lowered in the following manner. A shaft extends along under the race beam, from one shuttle box to the other, and carries pinions which take into racks attached to the shuttle boxes; it will be manifest, therefore, that by causing this shaft to revolve, the shuttle boxes may be raised. The revolving of this shaft is effected by the action of a spiral or other spring, one end of which is attached to the frame of the loom at its back, and said spring extends forwards towards the lathe; from this forward end a band, attached to it, passes around guide pulleys, and also around a pulley upon the above named shaft, to which latter the said band is attached. The action of the spring, by its drawing upon the band, will cause the pinion shaft to revolve, and will consequently raise the shuttle boxes. Should this spring be thrown out of action, and the band by which the shuttle boxes are raised be relaxed, they will then descend by their own gravity. To take off the tension of the spring there is a cam upon the main shaft of the loom, which cam, as the shaft revolves, depresses a treadle, to the end of which a band is attached which operates in such a way as to relieve the shuttle boxes from the action of the spring, and they then descend.

• Abstract of English Patent, given at page 29 of our 35th volume.

"In relieving the picker from the point of the shuttle, I make use of the protection rod constituting a part of the apparatus employed in the ordinary power loom for stopping the loom when the shuttle does not arrive home in the shuttle box. From the protection rod, which extends along below the shuttle boxes, I allow a small arm, or finger, to descend, which finger, as the lathe comes up towards the breast beam, strikes against a stop, or pin, attached for that purpose to the frame of the loom, causing the protection rod to rock or revolve to a short distance. This gives motion to two arms, which extend out from the extreme ends of the protection rod, opposite to the outer ends of each of the shuttle boxes; from these arins motion is communicated to a lever, which works on a fulcrum over the outer ends of each of the shuttle-boxes, said arms being connected to the levers by rods, or wires. By depressing the outer ends of these levers, their inner ends are raised, and to these ends are appended rods which carry pieces of wood or metal, which when down rest on and embrace the picker rod, and in that position they serve to hold the picker at a short distance from the end of the shuttlebox, and to stop the shuttle; the picker is then removed from the point of the shuttle by the raising of the lever, the picker being made to pass home to the end of the box, thus leaving the shuttle and shuttle-box free to be raised or lowered without obstruction, the picker being also ready again to act on a shuttle. The picker is removed from the point of the shuttle, after the block has been raised by a rod, actuated by a spring, which rod is connected with the picker stave by a cord, in order that the stave may, by its motion, move the rod, also that it may not impede the motion of the picker.

STOP-COCK FOR WATER AND GAS PIPES; James Robertson. This stop-cock has a sliding valve, resembling others which have been used, and it is so constructed as to admit of the easy sliding of the valve, and, at the same time, of its being pressed against its seat after it is in its place; and also to admit of the cleansing of the chamber from any dirt that may accumulate within it.

The box is constructed as usual, with two side pieces, which fit into the pipe, and a top piece in which works the screw, which moves the valve up and down. The valve has three projections, one at top, with a vertical slot, in which plays a projection from the nut that fits on the screw, and one ear at each side. The valve is pressed to its seat by what the patentee calls a "wedge," which is attached at top to the nut, and works up and down with it-it branches off, and each branch acts upon two projections on the back of the valve, one towards each edge.

79

Each branch, at the edge, is provided with a projection, which slides against the side of the box opposite to the valve seat. When the screw is turned with the view of shutting the valve, the two branches of the wedge are resting on the top of the projections on the back of the valve plate, and thus as the wedge descends it carries the valve with it, without pressing it against its seat; but when the valve has reached the bottom, the two projections on the back of the branches of the wedge have reached two notches in the side plate of the box, which permit the branches of the wedge to slide over the projections on the back of the valve, and thus wedge it to its seat-the slot in the piece which projects from the upper part of the valve allowing the wedge to descend after the valve has reached the bottom. The bottom of the chamber is provided with a seat for a conical valve, which works up and down by means of a lever passing through the casing for that purpose--when the valve is lifted up, the dirt passes out.

NOTES AND NOTICES.

Ornamental Engraving.-The new Austrian bank notes, which made their appearance with the new year, are exceedingly beautiful, indeed far too beautiful for bills of credit. They resemble the steelplate engravings in the English Annuals. They increase in beauty and elegance in proportion to the magnitude of the sums they represent. These new notes have created quite a sensation in our capital; and for several days after they were issued, the national bank was besieged by persons anxious to obtain them. They are for 5 florins, 10 florins, 20 florins, 50 florins, 100 florins, and 1,000 florins. The principal artists in Vienna have been employed in preparing the designs and executing the engravings. The paper employed for these bank notes is of a most superior kind, and manufactured for the purpose. Of its strength an idea may be formed from the fact that a strip of it half a yard long will bear the suspension at its extremity of 35 pounds weightVienna Paper.

Effects of Frost on Railways.—Such was the slippery state of the rails upon the Eastern Counties line on Thursday last, that the evening train was with difficulty conveyed from Romford to the Brentwood terminus at a very reduced rate of travelling, with the aid of three engines. The same difficulty has presented itself, more or less, upon all the lines, the engines being at times only made to progress at starting by the application of manual labour.

Government Fire Engines.-The defective state of the fire-extinguishing materiel in the Tower, at the late conflagration, has at last attracted the notice of the government authorities. The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have issued instructions that all the fire-engines in the Woolwich Dockyard should be worked with water by the police force every ten days, to ascertain that all the apparatus continues in proper order, and to ensure their efficiency in case of their services being required. One of the inspectors of police is to be present at such trial, and to be responsible for the engines being in good working order. An examination of the fire-engines, &c., in all the dockyards is being made, with a view to their being put into an efficient state.

Clay Buttons.-At the Annual Meeting of the Liverpool Polytechnic Society, held last week, it was stated that 5,000 gross of buttons are now made weekly at Messrs. Minston and Boyle's, Stoke-uponTrent, according to Mr. Prosser's dry powder process, described in our 23rd Vol. p. 592. The demand for them becomes greater than can be supplied by the present number of presses.

Supposed Spontaneous Combustion on board Her Majesty's Steamer Avon.-The Avon had been to Cork and Liverpool to embark volunteers for the navy, and had left the latter port for Plymouth. While in the St. George's Channel, about 20 miles off the Bishop's Light, and 30 from land, about half-past 4 in the morning, the stokers at the furnaces complained of an unusual quantity of smoke, when it was observed that it came from the door of the larboard coal-bunker. The scuttle over this bunker was opened, and some water poured down on the coals, but the water not reaching the flames, it aided rather than retarded their progress. The scuttle over the after coal-box, five feet from the end of the boiler, was then opened, and the flames bursting forth, displayed the head quarters of the enemy. The scuttle was immediately replaced to prevent a current of air from assisting the flames, and the deck opened further forward, where the coals were moved and lifted, that the water might penetrate to the centre. This had the desired effect, for after throwing down a large quantity of water, the fire was got under. By the most ardous and incessant exertions for six hours and a half, the ship was saved, and got into Milford, where she had pieces of elm plank fastened to her outside, and a portion of her deck renewed, before she ventured again to sea. On an official investigation of the Avon, it is found that on her larboard side the ends of four beams are so burnt as to require new; the shelve-piece and water-way are partly destroyed; the internal plank is entirely consumed, and the outer burnt nearly through. Nothing could have saved the vessel had she burnt through at this place, it being 18 inches below the water line. The deck is burnt fore and aft, from 12 to 14 feet, and in a transverse direction from the side nearly 6 feet. It is supposed the fire commenced about 6 or 7 feet below the deck, on the upper part of the coal boxes, and must have done serious damage before it was discovered, exposing the persons on board to the most imminent danger.Newspaper. [We see no evidence in all this of the alleged spontaneous combustion. ED. M. M.]

Coal in Borneo.-A recent expedition to Borneo has ascertained that this island is likely to prove of vast importance to the commerce of the Indian seas, large beds of coal having been discovered in it. Many of the specimens prove to be of superior quality. The coal mines of Borneo are stated to be easy of access, and they extend along the coast of Pulo Cheremin, an island at the mouth of the Borneo river running out towards the sea, and also extending inland, but how far, or to what depth, has not yet been discovered, though both are evidently considerable. In Pulo Kain Arrang, another island about half a mile distant, coal had been found on the surface, the quality of which, however, was not equal to that of the former, although there was every reason to believe that veins of a superior description existed there. The main land of Borneo itself afforded excellent samples, which the natives described as existing in large quantities and some of them, whose intelligence and veracity could be relied on, stated that there were "mountains of coal, and that hundreds of ships might be laden with it."

Proposed Junction of the Pacific and Atlantie Oceans. In Mr. Stephens's "Travels in Central America," he advocates the bold design of joining the Atlantic with the Pacific Ocean by means of a canal between the Gulf Nicoya and the harbour of San Juan, a distance of only about sixteen miles. From the lake of Nicaragua to the harbour of San Juan on the Pacific, the distance is less than sixteen miles; and this slender line of earth is the only important obstacle which impedes what would, undoubtedly, be the greatest, the most important alteration, ever effected by man in the physical arrangement of the globe. The proud mountains of Central America here bend themselves down-as if to permit and sanction the enterprise-to the trivial elevation of 600 feet; and through this hill it is contemplated to cut a tunnel of one mile in length, at the height of almost 72 feet above the water of the lake, and 200 feet above the low-water level of the Pacific; the distance from the lake to the tunnel being about 10 miles, and from the tunnel to the Pacific about 4 miles; whilst the difference of level could easily be overcome by lockage. The only engineering difficulty in the execution of the work would be the tunnel; and we must confess that the idea of an excavation, lofty enough to permit ships of 600 tons to pass through, with their lower masts standing, is, to us, even in these days, when engineers take all manner of liberties with mountains and valleys, somewhat startling; but Mr. Stephens speaks of it with perfect coolness. — Quarterly Review.

Rules for Walking in Frosty Weather.-1. Take short, quick steps at all times, and in all situations. 2. If descending any inclined road, take care to put down the toe first. 3. If ascending, plant the heel firmly. 4. In all cases, keep the body in rather a stooping position, with the knee joints playing loosely. If you attempt the stately, ten to one but you measure your length upon the ground. Better to toddle awkwardly home, than be carried on a shutter, with a leg or arm broken.-R. A. B.

New Locomotive.-A mechanician named Macdinger, residing at Newbourg, on the Danube, bas constructed a carriage on three wheels, which, by the effect of some internal mechanism, was impelled at the rate of four leagues an hour. A child may set the machine in motion, and the inventor is at present constructing a machine on a larger scale, which he expects will render the construction of railroads no longer necessary.-Augsburgh Gazelle.

Postage Envelopes.-A correspondent requests us to call the attention of persons who, in writing letters of business, use envelopes, to the importance of their writing the address upon the sheet enclosed. The address being written upon the envelope only, the document cannot be made available in matters of legal proof, which is frequently the object of both the sender and the receiver.-Times.

Intending Patentees may be supplied gratis with Instructions, containing every particular necessary for their safe guidance, by application (post-paid) 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 business transacted.

Newcastle-on-Tyne, January 12, 1842. Sir,-Parliament having enacted that the use of children in the cleansing of chimneys shall terminate in June next, I beg therefore to submit you, for the perusal and consideration of your numerous readers, some plans and suggestions which have occurred to me recently, for effecting by machinery that necessary object-a clean chimney.

In many places in Scotland, and probably in England likewise, it has been usual to cleanse chimneys from the suminits of the flues, by working up and down therein, by means of a rope, a whalebone or cane brush, weighted sufficiently to carry it over any impediments it may meet with in its descent. That this mode is effectual is well known; but as it is attended with very great danger to the persons employed, and as considerable damage to the roofs, chimney-pots, &c., frequently results therefrom, it has not been of such general adoption as I feel assured it would have been, had these objections to its use been removed. It has been said, that the insides of the flues receive considerable damage from the action of the weights attached to the brush; I allow this-but at the same time think that the difference between this mode and others in use for the same purpose is but trifling. Glass's machine, and that most inhuman of appliances, a human being, are continually bringing down with them pieces of the pargetting, in too great quantities, often, to escape our most casual observation. As the rope and weight-brush mode is capable of cleansing any flue, however intricate may be its construction, if it has descent sufficient in its angles, (that is, if the angles of the flues be any thing more than right angles,) and if the first-named difficulties to its use can be overcome, I think it will be judged one of the most useful of means embracing efficacy, simplicity, and economy, in a very great degree. The impediments to its use I hope to set aside in the following manner :

At the highest accessible part of the chimney breasts, (which, in most cases, will be just under the roof of the building, or outside the roof, if it be flat and easily got at,) let tin frames with doors, one door for each flue, be constructed, so

as to shut perfectly tight, and to open outwards, to be fixed solidly into the brick or stone work of the chimney, as the case may be; and on the bottom part of the frames, inside of the doors, have pulleys, sufficiently long to project over into the centre of the flue, and to shut up, when not in use, in a line with the doors when they are closed. After hav

ing swept that part of the flue between the iron doors and the top of the chimney with a long flexible handled brush made on purpose, place the weight and brush through the door-way down into the flue, and the rope over the pulley, and work it up and down in short lengths, till the flue is judged to be sufficiently cleansed. All the soot will, of course, fall down into the fire-place, as usual, from whence it can be removed. In the accompanying sectional view of a flue, fig. 4, fd represents the flue-door; a the damper, and p the pulley. A more simple, safe, and efficacious plan for effecting the object in view, I think, it will be difficult to find.

As in all the plans for sweeping I shall here lay before you, I purpose using the same kind of doors and pulleys, the previous description of my plans in respect thereto will suffice. I beg to add here, however, that in connection with the iron door-frames I propose placing dampers, so that on any flue taking fire, it may be extinguished by the mere closing of the same, and before any danger to the building, or to the surrounding buildings, could accrue.

If the small emission of smoke which would generally take place from the edges of the dampers were obnoxiousas it would be if placed in a sleeping apartment, such as the garret frequently is-this might be avoided by making the damper to work in close cases, with airtight glands.

The offensive smell of soot, and other discomforting circumstances peculiar to "chimney-sweeping days," induce, no doubt, frequent delays in cleansing, which are the cause of many destructive conflagrations. I therefore suggest the following remedy.

As before stated, let the flue-sweeping doors and pulleys be fixed; then have a machine constructed on the plans re