manufacture of thread, or yarn, and paper, by the application of certain fibrous materials not hitherto so employed. Jan. 21.

John Thomas Betts, of Smithfield Bars, London, rectifier, in consequence of a communication from a certain foreigner residing abroad, for improvements in the process of preparing spirituous liquors in the making of brandy. Jan. 21.

Benjamin Ledger Shaw, of Honley, near Huddersfield, York, clothier, for improvements in preparing wool for and in the manufacture of woollen cloth, parts of which improvements are applicable to the weaving of other fabrics. Jan. 21.

John Chanter, of Earl-street, Blackfriars, Middlesex, Esq., and Peter Borrie, of Dundee, engineer, Jafor improvements applicable to steam boilers. nuary 21.

NOTES AND NOTICES.

Sir James Anderson's Steam Carriage.-We understand from a letter which appeared in the Morning Herald last week, from Mr. Shaw, the Secretary, in answer to the complaint of a disappointed Shareholder, in the "Steam Carriage and Waggon Company," that Sir James intends to be in London with his Steam Carriage, at the time of the meeting of Parliament this month.

Joyce's and Arnott's Stoves.-On Sunday last at the parish church of Downham, Norfolk, about the middle of the service, a child fell down, (as it was supposed) in a fit, and was carried out; soon after, several children who were sitting at the chancel felt themselves compelled to leave the church; and toward the latter part of the service a lady fainted, and was immediately followed by several others, who were compelled to be carried home. In all about twenty persons felt the serious effects of some unwholeseme gas, generated by the stoves placed in the church for the purpose of warming it. There are two of Harper and Joyce's stoves, and one of Dr. Arnott's, employed.-Patriot.

New Method of Cleaning Glass.-Reduce to very fine powder a piece of indigo, moisten a rag, apply it to the powder, and smear the glass with it. Wipe it well with a dry cloth. Very fine sifted ashes applied in the same manner, by a rag dipped in brandy or spirits of wine, will answer well; but spanish white ought to be rejected, as it is apt to take the polish off the glass.-Journal de bon. Uc. et Prat.

Improved Crayons for Drawing on Glass.-Take equal quantities of asphaltum and yellow wax, and melt them together. Add lampblack, sufficient to give the mixture the requisite colour, aud stir it well, and pour it in moulds for Crayons. The glass should be well wiped with leather, and in drawing, care must be taken not to soil the glass with the fingers. It is sometimes difficult to trim the Crayons with a common knife, for if too sharp, it cuts in too much, and if too dull, it cannot make a fine point; but if the edge be bevelled, like scissors, and very sharp, the point may easily be rendered very fine. Rec. de la Soc. Poly.

Wivell's Fire Escape.-On Wednesday, the 23rd ult., at one o'clock, Mr. Wivell explained the application of his machine at the Guildhall, Bath, (the use of which was granted by the Mayor,) to a considerable number of individuals who were present. The various operations were highly ap

plauded, and so much pleased was Lord James O'Brien, that not content with bestowing barren praise upon the inventor, he generously ordered one of the largest sort, with all its apparatus, complete, at the cost of Fifty Pounds, for the use of his fellow-citizens in the event of a fire-an act, for which, his Lordship is entitled to the public thanks.

Kollman's Patent Railway.-A model of this invention has for some time been exhibited at No. 6, Carlisle-street, Soho. The objects proposed to be effected, are safety, facility in ascending inclines, and turning curves. Mr. Kollman attends in Carlisle-street, three days a-week, for the purpose of exhibiting his models and engine, the latter of which has been beautifully manufactured at an expense of € 300, and is on the scale of one and a half inch to a foot. It is worked by steam, and performs various and speedy evolutions upon a modelrailway, formed in the shape of the figure 8, "which demonstrates practically, (says the Mining Journal, sed quere,) its capability of moving round a circle of fourteen feet radius, besides its wonderful power of ascending a hill of one mile in 14 acclivity. This revolution is effected by an additional fore-wheel on either side, of smaller diameter, and concentric with the large driving-wheel, the tire of which is roughened to give it the necessary hold on the surface of the rail, which is elevated at the commencement of the acclivity, so as for the smaller wheel to act upon it; being also just sufficiently elevated to raise the larger wheel from the line of rail on which it previously acted. To prevent the possibility of the engine being diverted from its course, there is a centre-rail with two horizontal wheels in front of the engine, which acts as a pole to a carriage, and makes its direction completely subservient to the middle or centre rail, the outward wheels running upon a plain and unconfined surface of iron.

Wind and Steam-Navigation.—The French government steamer, Veloce, according to the French papers, has been fitted out on a new principle for working the vessel, with either sails or steam, and is now on her voyage from Rochefort to Mexico, for the pupose of testing this important invention. When fallen in with, of late, by a Spanish ship, north lat. 40., long. W. of Paris, 14., the captain reported that her rate of sailing under top sails, studding-sails and royals, had been for two days and a half upwards of eleven knots an hour. The papers do not give any particulars of the Plan adopted.

Steam Carriage Tram-Roads.-It is said to be in agitation to revive the plan for establishing tram-roads by the side of of turnpike-roads to compete with railroads.

Steam-boat night steering signals.-At the Society of Arts last week a silver medal was awarded to Mr. Jennings, for his invention of night signals for steamers, to intimate to the steersman in what direction to vary the helm. The plan consisted of three differently coloured lamps, fixed on a horizontal rod attached to a swivel which the man on the paddle-box varies in position relative to the steersman's eye, and thus conveying to him the requisite orders.

French Waterworks.-The Municipal Council of Versailles has voted a sum of 400,000 francs (16,0007.), and applied to government for a grant of 1,500,000 francs (60,0007.), for the purpose of enabling the town to be snpplied with an additional quantity of water, by taking advantage of the works recently finished at Bezons, a little above Marly.Galignani's Messenger.

Sir, The year revolves, and again brings round the period at which I have undertaken to record one class of the calamities of which London's fair city, and its environs, have been the site. The inauspicious opening of the year eighteen hundred and thirty-eight will long be remembered for the appalling number, and the serious extent of its conflagrations, both at home and abroad. The year had scarcely set in, which it did with a severe frost, than fires began to blaze around us in every direction, with a frequency that has never been surpassed within the memory of man. Among the other casualties of this period, the Royal Exchange, one of the greatest glories and ornaments of London," fell a victim to the flames; at the same time, information reached us of the misfortunes of our continental neighbours. "Three notable fires" says Mr. Leigh Hunt, "have lately taken place in

66

Dryden's Ovid.

different parts of Europe, as if on purpose to contradict the freezingness of the weather, and scorch old Winter's beard, -one at the Imperial Palace in St. Peterburgh, another at the Italian Opera House in Paris, and the third at the Royal Exchange in London. It has been well observed by a French paper, that the buildings were characteristic of the different nations,-the Palace of Russia, despotism; the Theatre, of French love of the fine arts; the Exchange, of English commerce."*

The result of this year's record is to show, that the metropolitan alarms of fire have amounted to the astounding number of seven hundred and fifty-five, as set forth in the following table: to which I have added the average of the five years' experience of the London Fire Establishment, so that the difference may be at once perceived :

33

Very seriously damaged...

Slightly damaged

152

383

568

and contents, was

161

59

128

220

568

The foregoing list is exclusive of a very large number of fires in chimnies -many of them exceedingly troublesome, and some highly dangerouswhich have been attended by the men and engines of the London Fire Establishment. Those mentioned in the table (107) were supposed to be serious fires, and caused a general turn-out of the force. The number of false alarms last year, was somewhat below the usual average; they were of the usual varied character-the greater number originating in error, and some few in design. The kindling of bonfires, and burning of refuse matters in the open air, the escape of large quantities of smoke or steam, unusual appearances of light from gasworks, kilns, &c., are continually giving rise to groundless alarms of fire.

At a quarter after eleven o'clock at night on the 13th of September, a brilliant appearance of the Aurora Borealis caused a turn-out of the firemen.

The annual return of this singular phenomenon on the 13th of November, produced similar results. Upon this occasion, one of the most splendid specimens of the "Falling Stars," and other meteoric phenomena, that have ever been witnessed by the inhabitants of London, was observed at an early hour, and attracted considerable curiosity. For some time the appearance resembled that of an alarming conflagration: several FireBrigade engines were turned out, and for upwards of two hours were traversing the metropolis in quest of the supposed fire. The engine from the Kingstreet station proceeded as far as Hampstead, before the error was detected; while others from the stations in Bakerstreet, Wells-street, Crown-street, Holborn, Jeffery-square and Wellclosesquare, went to Kilburn, Ealing, Staint John's-wood, Holloway, and other places.

The men belonging to the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire, with their cumbersome " fire-escapes," were running in various directions, as were also parties of the Metropolitan Police.— During the progress of this meteoric phenomenon the atmosphere was remarkably clear, and the stars shone with unusual brightness; the air was rather frosty, with a sharp breeze from the east. It began a quarter before two, and the first object that attracted the attention of observers was, several stars of an ordinary size, shooting from their original spots, and falling apparently to the earth, when it seemed as if they exploded, for immediately afterwards the horizon was brilliantly illuminated by a vivid light; this, within ten minutes, disappeared, but another light of a most splendid description rose from the same quarter, and gradually expanded over the whole hemisphere. At intervals immense mases of crimson vapour appeared, intermingled with branches of silvery corruscations, which at times formed a rich and variegated canopy, covering the entire expanse from the east to the western hemisphere, presenting a most gorgeous spectacle. I was called up on this occasion soon after four o'clock, at which time the appearance, as seen from a narrow street, looking northward, so closely resembled a tremendous conflagration, that any one might well have been mistaken. On reaching an open spot, however, from whence a distinct view of the horizon could be obtained, the character of the phenomenon was at once apparent. It then consisted of two distinct rays of brilliant crimson light, rising divergently from the north. Soon after four, the phenomenon became more faint, but the bright columns of light radiating from it, retained their splendour till hlf-past four, when it entirely disap

peared, vanishing at last with considerable rapidity.*

The time when this phenomenon has been observed during the last six or seven years, has been in the interval extending from the 12th to the 16th of November. The same phenomena has been observed, at precisely the same time, in Germany, Russia, Australia, and America, and has created similar consternation and alarm, notwithstanding the periodical return of these singular appearances are now so well understood.

It happens on this, as on most former occasions, that the instances in which the premises have been completely burned down, are by no means the most serious fires. With some few exceptions, which will be noticed in detail, the “total losses" have consisted principally of buildings of a very unimportant character; in many cases small old buildings, and for the most part composed of timber. Upon twenty-one occasions the buildings were very small, and so completely on fire before it was discovered, that they were wholly enveloped in flames before any assistance could possibly reach the spot. In the three following cases, the buildings were filled with such highly inflammable materials, as to defy all attempts to extinguish the fire. The first of these broke out about halfpast three o'clock on Friday morning, February the 9th, in an extensive range of timber buildings belonging to Mr. Edgington, in the Old Kent-road, occupied as a tarpauling manufactory. There being at the time a very high wind blowing from the south west, the flames speedily communicated to several adjoining buildings, one of which was the Coach-manufactory of Mr. Ward; another a house in which Mr. Lyon carried on the business of paper-staining; these together with the house of Mr. Richardson, and the stabling of Mr. Wellan, were, with nearly the whole of their con tents, totally consumed in less than an hour. It was altogether impossible to control the raging of the flames, in consequence of the immense quantity of pitch, tar, and rosin, deposited in the premises, and which on becoming ignited, gave to the conflagration a fearful

*For a highly interesting description of these appearances, as seen at Richmond, vide page 152 of the present volume.

ascendancy. These buildings were all in immediate connexion, and entirely composed of timber; upwards of an hour and a-quarter elapsed, before a drop of water could be obtained to supply any one of the numerous engines that were waiting the arrival of this necessary element. This conflagration was visible at a great distance in every direction, and presented one of the most appalling sights that has occurred for a great length of time: far exceeding even those of the Royal Exchange and Fenning's Wharf.

The next fire was that of Sir Charles Price's Turpentine Distillery, Mill Wall, Poplar, which was burned down on Monday afternoon, May 14th, from the boiling over of a copper of the inflammable material there manufactured. This was the most extensive establishment of the kind in the metropolis, and occupied seven or eight acres of ground. On the arrival of the firemen and engines, they found the Distillery (a building upwards of seventy feet long by fifty wide) enveloped in one vivid sheet of flame. It contained six boilers, all of which were full; also four large stills, which were filled with liquor ready to be worked off; on the stage of the Distillery were two hundred and fifty barrels of turpentine, ready to be removed to the storehouses. Notwithstanding the presence of ten engines, besides the two powerful floating engines of the London Fire Establishment, and a plentiful supply of water being afforded by the proximity of the City Canal, all efforts to preserve any portion of this building was unavailing. With the stock in the yard, however, the firemen were more successful.

At a quarter before nine o'clock in the evening of Wednesday October 10, a fire broke out in the wadding manufactory of Mr. Yorke, situated in Norfolk-place, Shoreditch; from the nature of its contents, it instantly ignited from top to bottom, and the whole was rapidly destroyed. This building was in the midst of surrounding premises, which at first appeared doomed to a similar fate, but the prompt arrival and energetic efforts of the firemen, effected their preservation. Seven of the total losses were at such remote distances from the metropolis, as to preclude the possibility of the London firemen reaching the scene of destruction time enough to render much useful aid towards pre

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