duly attended to, or enforced by the bar. bour masters, from which mischief and inconvenience result. Your committee are therefore of opinion, that it is necessary the authorities in the city, who possess jurisdiction in these matters, should forthwith have their attention called to them, with a view to their applying such early remedies on these two points, as they may be found to require. Your Committee cannot refrain from drawing particular attention to the evidence of a gentleman, one of the survivors of the Rothsay Castle steam boat, whose collected state of mind throughout the melancholy catastrophe, has enabled him to give such testimony as abundantly to confirm the necessity of some of the above recommendations. Your committee, in conclusion, would direct the attention of the House to the practical information contained in the evidence which they present with it; and express their satisfaction at the great improvement a few years have made on this most valuable species of navigation, and at the strenuous efforts hourly making, in all parts of the kingdom, to advance it to a yet greater degree of perfection, enlarge its application, and render it of the utmost utility of which it is capable. 14th October, 1831. LIST OF NEW PATENTS GRANTED, FROM THE 20TH OF NOVEMBER TO THE 20TH OF DECEMBER, 1831. Robert William Sievier, of Southampton-row, Bloomsbury, for certain improvements in the manufacturing of cables, ropes, whale-fishing and other lines, lathe, and rigger-bands, bags, and purses, part of which said improvements are applicable to other useful purposes. Six months to specify, from 1st December. 1831. Cornelius March Payne, of Stratford, Essex, silkprinter, for certain improvements in printing silk, cotton, and other goods or fabrics. Six mouths, 3rd December. Claude Marie Savoye, of Oxford-street, Middlesex, merchant, for his having become possessed of the knowledge of a new invention of an improvement or improvements in mills or machines for grinding or reducing grain and other substances. Six months, 15th December. Abraham Adolph Moser, of Canterbury-row, Kennington-road, Surrey, engineer, for improvements in certain descriptions of fire-arms; communicated by a certain foreigner residing abroad. Six months, 15th December. ma Thomas Alcock, of Claines, Worcestershire, lacemanufacturer, for certain improvements in chinery already in use for the manufacture of bobbin net lace. Six months, 15th December. Isaac Stromboin, of Old Broad-street, London, merchant, for a medicinal composition, or embro. cation, for the cure, relief, or prevention of external and internal complaints; which composition or embrocation may alone, or with certain alteratious, be beneficially used as an internal medicine. months, 17th December. Six Daniel Ledsam, manufacturer, and William Jones, screw-manufacturer, both of Birmingham, for certain improvements in machinery for making pins, rivets, wood-screws, and nails. Six months. Henry Gore, of Manchester, machine-maker, for an improvement in the machines commonly called by spinners, "Throstle Frames and Spinning Franies;" which machines operate by spindles and flyers, and bobbins for spinning or twisting yarn, or threads. Six months; 22nd December, Pierrepont Greaves, of Chorley, county of Lancaster, gentleman, for a method or methods of making ornamental or fancy cotton yarns and threads, applicable to the making, sowing, or embroidering cotton, and other fabrics. Six months; 22nd December. John Chistopher Tobias Kreeft, of Old Bondstreet, London, merchaut, for an improved apparatus for shaping plates of metal, and for manufac turing various articles therefrom, communicated to him by Stephen Von Keesz and Moritz von Ischoffen, foreigners, residing abroad. Six months; 22nd December. Samuel Hall, of Basford, county of Nottingham, cotton manufacturer, for an improved piston and valve for steam, gas, and other engines; also, an improved method of lubricating the pistons, pistonrods, and valves, or cocks of such engines, and of condensing the steam, and supplying water to the boilers of such steam engines as are wrought by vacuum produced by condensation. Six months; 22nd December. Benedict Nott, Esq., of Liverpool, for certain improvements in the construction of a furnace or furnaces for generating heat, and in the apparatus for the application of heat to various useful purposes, being further improvements upon a patent obtained by the said Penedict Nott, dated the 4th day of November, 1830; communicated to him by a certain foreigner residing abroad. Six months: 22nd December. Malcolm Muir, of Hutchinson Town, Glasgow, engineer, for certaiu improvements in machinery or apparatus for preparing boards for flooring and other purposes. Six months; 22nd December. Robert Walter Wingfield, of Birmingham, brass founder, for certain improvements in construction of bedsteads, one or more of which said improvements is, or are, likewise applicable to other articles. Six months; 22nd December. INTERIM NOTICES. Alderman Wood having before the adjournment of Parliament for the Christmas holidays, received leave to bring in a bill "to regulate the speed of steam vessels," we have thought it well to lose no time in laying before our readers the remainder of the Minutes of Evidence on that subject; as also the Report of the Select Committee, to give effect to the recommendations of which is (we presume) the object of the forthcoming bill. We are thus under the necessity of putting our readers to the expense of another Supplement; but we dare say there are few who will not be glad to obtain, at so cheap a rate, so large a body of valuable information on a most important topic. at the time when it is most wantedinformation, too, which would not otherwise be accessible to the generality of readers at any price. "Anonymous" has omitted to send us the name of the inventor of the article he has described. Communications received from Mr. James Miller, Jun.-K. K. K. Extrabunctious - A Reader at Holbeach-Mr. Pratt Ellis-Mr. Davy-Marcus"In grief more than anger"-Mr. Westlin. LONDON: Published by M. SALMON, at the Mechanics' Magazine Office, Wine-Office-court, (between 145 and 146) Fleet Street, where Communicatious (post paid) are requested to be addressed. Sold by G. G. BENNIS, 55, Rue Neuve, St. Augustin, Paris. GRAY and BOWEN, Boston (U. S.) M. SALMON, Printer, Fleet Street. DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT OF THE PRIN- No. XXII. Southwark Iron Bridge. Architect, For several centuries, the only direct means of communication from the Borough of Southwark to the City of London, was by passing over London Bridge, the then only bridge across the river Thames. Since the time of Stowe, however, (who mentions that bridge with particular satisfaction), the rapid extension of the Borough had frequently suggested the necessity of some more direct means of communication to the heart of the City. But it was to our own times, that the ultimate execution of his design was reserved. The successful projector of the scheme was Mr. John Wyatt, proprietor of the Repertory of Arts. In 1807, that gentleman first turned his attention to the subject, and laboured incessantly, and in spite of every obstacle, till the year 1811, when an Act of Parliament was obtained, authorizing the necessary sums to be raised, amounting in the gross to 400,000l. in transferable shares of 1001. each; and containing permission to raise (by way of mortgage or annuities) the sum of 100,000l., should such further sum be required to complete the works with its necessary approaches, and for securing the subscribers against extra calls over and above the amount originally stipulated for. unable to determine, but the beforementioned names agree with those given in the "Repertory," as also in the copy of a Prospectus now before me. Mr. Wyatt, it appears, was at that time personally acquainted with the late John Rennie, Esq., who, at his (Mr. Wyatt's) recommendation, had professional conferences with the Committee of Management on the propriety of erecting the bridge, and the nature of its construction. Mr. Rennie was, of course, satisfied that a bridge was required, and the Committee being satisfied that the care of its execution could not well be placed in abler hands-gave the necessary directions for designs and drawings to be prepared for their inspection. Accordingly Mr. Rennie furnished two designs for the intended bridge; one of stone, to consist of five arches, and one of iron, to consist of three arches, with granite piers. The latter design was preferred and carried into execution. (see engraving of centre arch.) The works, however, were not commenced until the year 1814-operations being stayed by parliameut till such time as all the shares were disposed of. It must be admitted that this undertaking of Mr.Rennie's was bold and arduous in the extreme. Little is known at present as to the best mode of constructing bridges of iron. The great number of the parts, and the paucity of scantling compared with stone bridges, and the immense labour in fixing those parts, render it, in many respects, a distinct arrangement in bridge-building. Also, if we consider the enormous spans of the arches of Southwark Bridge, and the number of them (only three) we cannot withhold our commendation from the scientific individnal who conceived and carried into execution so bold a project. The Committee of the proposed New Bridge consisted of the following gentle en-Sir J. Jackson, Bart., chairmen; John Allnutt, Esq.; Charles Barclay, Esq., M.P.; Samuel Davis, Esq., East India Director; Robert Pott, Esq.; Henry Perkins, Esq.; Charles Price, Esq.; George Ranking, Esq.; John Ramsbottom, Esq., M. P.; William Salte, Esq.; Wiliam Slade, Esq.; John Taylor, Esq., M.P.; William Williams, Esq., Banker; and Sir Joseph Yorke, Bart, M.P. Whether any other committee was formed prior to this, I am The following are the most remarkable Bridges of Iron not of the Suspension kind. Southwark, London The invention of iron bridges is due to British mechanics. It is said that the first bridge of this description was invented by Mr. Thomas Paine, and intended for America as the subjoined list will show. The repeated failures of iron bridges show clearly that experience is still wanting to render them of suthcient permanency. SIR, It is with great pleasure I have always beheld the promptitude with which you convey to the public, through the medium of your excellent Magazine, every suggestion which may have a tendency to promote the advancement of science, or the public good; and in the hope that you will consider the following plan as of this description, I for ward it, for your consideration. It was suggested to me, by a perusal of the various articles which have appeared in your work, at different times, on the bursting of water-pipes during frost; in which, though there is a great deal about the causes of this phenomenon, no practical remedy for the evil is pointed ont. Yours, &c. JAMES MILNER, jun. La icaster, Dec. 2, 1831. Plan of a Frost-Proof Water-Cistern. A A. in the accompanying sketch,* represents a water-cistern ; B a small service box, in the cistern A, with a valve, c.; I a vertical brass rod, connected with the valve c, and protected by the tube J; Ha cross bar, to which the rod I is attached, and which being thrown up at one end by the spring G keeps the valve c under ordinary circumstances, shut; K the spring board; Da hand pull attached to the end of the crossbar H, and which may be of any length; E the service pipe. The mode of operation will be, at once, perceived. On pulling D, the valve c is opened and water admitted into the service box; on leaving it loose, the valve is closed and the service box, as well as pipe, soon left entirely empty. Of course, nothing but a frost which would solidify the whole body of water in the cistern AA, (a rare circumstance in this country) could prevent such an apparatus from furnishing a constant supply of water; while no bursting of the pipes could, in any event, possibly take place. THE STEAM NAVIGATION ENQUIRY. When we stated last week that the Report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons on this subject was one of the worst drawn up public documents we ever read-inaccurate, confused, contradictory, absurd-and, in point of style, absolutely barbarous," we ought to have added, that we had every reason to believe, that though, nominally the Report of a Select Committee, it was, as is usual in such cases, the composition of the Chairman alone. We owe this explanation in justice to the other Members of the Committee, among whom we recognise several gentlemen, whose well-tried talents and acquirements, quite forbid the supposition, that they could have had an See front page. T etermine. but the beforesree with those given 1 telecartons as in the copy pets tow lefire me. Jr. t. & amers, was at that ICE PLF acounted with the late - lean L. vin, at his (Mr. Tonmentacus, had profesཟྭ་།--གུརh220mimittee et in the propriety of Toering he rdge and the nature of its BOTTOM. Bennie was, of course, tal a rate was required, and Sekoittee being satished that the cre it is eterson cocid not well be ace a 10.er handsgave the necesar üretions for designs and drawings 3. red fr their inspection. Acsmar - Benaie furnished two desur me tended bridge; one of eurosist of five arches, and one 1. aasist of three arches, with grate lies. The latter design was Jemet and carried into execution. gang of centre arch.) The wirks, however, were not comnecem the year 1814-operations being stared by parliament till such at me as a the shares were disposed of. must be admitted that this undertaking of Mr.Beanie's was bold and arduous Su Turther sub require The Committee of the proposed New Join Allutt, Esq.; Charles Bar- dr bidsole de extreme. Little is known at preset as to the best mode of constructing bridges of iron. The great number of the parts, and the paucity of scantling compared with stone bridges, and the immense labour in fixing those parts, render it, in many respects, a distinct arrangement in bridge-building. Also, if we consider the enormous spans of the arches of Southwark Bridge, and the number of them (only three) we cannot withhold our commendation from the scientific individual who conceived and carried into execution so bold a project. The invention of iron bridges is due to British mechanics. It is said that the first bridge of this description was inand inhed list vented by Mr. The tended for Ame will show iron bri sof Glance |