the water which is forced out in pressing. The proper quantity of the material being put into the mould, the ball will be readily formed.

18. For improvements in Corsets; Elizabeth Adams, Boston, Massachusetts, January 21.

We make the following extracts from the specification.

"I do not intend my invention to be worn for the purpose for which the common corsets or stays are generally used, as it is larger both before and behind, and could not be worn in ordinary circumstances, without great inconvenience. It is to be applied to pregnant females, to support the protruded abdomen, and at the same time to allow of its increase in size, without any injurious increase of pressure, from time to time during the period of pregnancy. For this purpose I insert, in a proper manner, in the centre of the front of the corset, a wide steel spring or busk extending to the bottom of the same. The lower end of the spring or busk is curved, so as to readily to adapt itself to the distended part, and extends downwards a much greater distance than the busk of the common corset, or down to and beneath the very lowest part of the abdomen.

"On each side of the central busk is another spring or busk of less size. These latter springs are also slightly curved, in order to adapt them to the sides of the projecting abdomen. It will readily be perceived, from the peculiar shape of the several springs, that those parts of the body which are dilated during pregnancy, rest on and are supported by the same, and that any strain or weight falling upon the springs is conveyed to, and supported by, the shoulder straps.

"Steel springs, or strips of whalebone, are inserted in the body of the corset, and so secured as to support the projecting parts of the breast, and sides of the abdomen.

"Long slits, or openings, are made in the front of the corset, between the springs or busks; and these openings are secured together by lacings of common caoutchouc, or other suitable elastic cord or tape.

"I claim the combination, in a corset, of the front slits or openings, with the steel busk or spring, curved and shaped as described and represented in the drawings, so that while the said busk, in conjunction with the curved form, which it imparts to the bottom of the corset, serves to support the distended parts, the several slits in front allow the parts, as they enlarge, to expand outwards or horizontally; and the looseness of the corset above the abdomen, permits them to rise upwards when sitting or stooping."

19. For a method of Forming Ice; Thomas B. Smith, St. Louis, Missouri, January 23.

The patentee says:-"My improved process for the rapid production of solid ice by the freezing of water, is dependent upon the well known fact, that a thin stratum of water when exposed to an atmosphere, the temperature of which is at, or below, thirty-two degrees of

Fahrenheit's scale, very rapidly becomes frozen. It is also a fact that after a thin sheet of ice has been formed upon the surface of water, the process of freezing proceeds but slowly, in consequence of the bad conducting property of ice for the matter of heat. Taking advantage of these laws, I proceed in the formation, or the making of ice, in the following way: I prepare a vat, or other suitable vessel, of wood, or other material, of any size that I may deem convenient, and this I place on a level, in such situation as shall best expose it to the freezing influence of the atmosphere. From any suitable reservoir I cause a portion of water to run into this vat, or other vessel, so as to cover the bottom thereof to the depth of an eighth, or fourth, of an inch, more or less, according to circumstances, and this water I allow to become completely frozen; when this has taken place, I in like manner supply another portion of water to be converted into ice. Proceeding in this way, I quickly obtain a thick stratum of ice, of perfect purity, if the water be pure, and of great solidity." The vat, or reservoir, is described as being made with movable partitions, to form blocks of any desired size.

Claim. "What I claim therein, and desire to secure by letters patent, is the manner herein described of rapidly forming thick sheets, or blocks, of ice, by the successive pouring of small portions of water into a vat, or other suitable vessel, allowing the same to freeze, and adding, in succession, fresh portions of water, as above set forth, until the process is completed."

20. For a method of Moving the Index on a Weighing Apparatus, or Scales; Martin Robbins, Hollidaysburg, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, January 23.

These scales are a modification of that kind which indicates the increase of weight by elevating a weighted lever from a vertical to a horizontal line, the scale dish being suspended by a cord passing around a wheel on the axis of the lever. The drawings represent the figure of a man standing on a pedestal, between two columns, and the scale, or index, of pounds, &c., is marked on an arch based upon the columns. The two arms of the figure are the weighted levers, their axes being the shoulders, and having a wheel on each, to which is suspended the cords or chains that pass through the body and legs, and hold the dish, which hangs in the pedestal. A cord or chain passes from a wheel, on the axis of one of the arms, or weighted levers, to a wheel on the axis of the index, which axis is situated in the breast of the figure, and is the centre of the arch on which the index figures are engraved.

The claim refers to the drawings, but it is confined to the arrangement of the wheel on the axis of the index hand, in combination with the chain leading from it to the wheel on one of the weighted levers, "for causing the index hand to perform a semi-circle on the graduated arch for indicating the weight of the article to be weighed." This arrangement will make a very ornamental balance, but we are unable to perceive any feature of novelty in the apparatus which could au

thorize the grant of a patent; the device may please the fancy, but in the general arrangement it does not differ from some other weighing machines, nor will it weigh accurately.

21. For an improvement in the Fire Escape; Samuel Welsh and Thomas Linacree, city of Albany, New York, January 23.

In describing this machine the patentees say, "the machine or apparatus, which we have improved, is of that kind in which there is a box for containing persons, and such implements as they may need; which box, by the turning of a winch, may, by the power of those within it, be made to ascend, or slide up on a vertical shaft, to the height of twenty, thirty, or more feet. Said vertical shaft is, at its lower end, attached and braced to a piece of timber, which constitutes one of the axles of a carriage, upon which the apparatus is to be conveyed to and from a fire; the shaft, which is to stand vertically when in use, being then placed in a horizontal position."

The axle tree, of what are the hind wheels, when the shaft lies hori. zontally, is braced to the shaft on two sides by permanent braces; and to the other sides of the shaft are jointed two other braces, the lower ends of which are shod with iron, and are connected with the ends of the axle tree by adjusting bars. A pair of wheels are adapted to the other end of the shaft when it is moved from place to place. This apparatus is provided with a short ladder, with which to form a connexion or bridge between the box and a window; it has hooks also at each end and side, for greater safety to the persons ascending or descending. When the shaft is elevated the wheels are chocked by means of blocks that fit their peripheries.

Claim. Having thus fully described the nature of the apparatus which we employ to preserve the lives of persons, and to aid in removing property and extinguishing fires in buildings, it is to be understood that we do not claim to have invented this apparatus, so far as its general construction is concerned; but we do claim to have made certain improvements therein, by which it is rendered more convenient and efficient than it has been as heretofore constructed. We confine our claim to invention, therefore, to the particular manner of combining those parts thereof, by which it is held steadily when the shaft is being raised, and whilst it is in a vertical position; said combination consisting of the adjustable leveling bars, the movable braces, and the chock blocks, co-operating with each other in the manner set forth. We also claim the combining with such apparatus, the trough and ladder with the additional pulley for elevating and managing the same."

22. For Draughting and Cutting Ladies' Dresses, &c.; Aaron A. Tentler, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 23.

We shall not attempt to give a description, or the claims, in this instance, as they refer throughout to the several diagrams which are to serve as guides in the operation.

23. For a process of Manufacturing Sulphate of Alumine; Rudolph and Gustava Boninger, Baltimore, Maryland, Assignees of Max Joseph Funcke, of Eickelskamp, Prussia, January 23; granted for fourteen years from the 16th of November, 1839, the date of the English Patent.

(See Specification.)

24. For an improvement in the Corn Sheller; John A. Whitford, Saratoga Springs, New York, January 23.

The kind of corn sheller to which the patentee refers, is that which shells the corn by means of a roller set with teeth, and working against a concave hung on springs, to yield to the different sized ears of corn. The improvement consists in the employment of a series of wheels, with teeth projecting from their peripheries, on a shaft which has its bearings in the concave. The teeth on these wheels work between the teeth of a comb attached to a plate projecting from the frame, the edge of which nearly touches the teeth of the main shelling roller. The shaft of the toothed wheels, or small sheller, has a pinion on its end, which mashes into a cog wheel, the shaft of which passes through the concave frame, and on which said concave frame vibrates, to enable the small sheller to vibrate with the concave whilst it receives its rotary motion from the cog wheel. The ears of corn are brought against the comb and plate, and there stripped of their grain, which passes out and descends an inclined board leading to a proper recepticle, whilst the cobs pass out at the side.

The claim is to the "arrangement of the lower or small sheller in the lower part of the concave, so that they shall yield together to different sized ears, as described, in combination with the upper or main sheller."

25. For an improvement in the Machine for making Bricks from tempered clay; Thomas Conklin, Woodville, Wilkinson county, Mississippi, January 23.

The clay is to be mixed in a tub of the usual construction, the bottom of which is pierced with a long aperture, through which the mixed clay is forced into the moulds, as they are presented thereto, by a series of inclined arms, which are attached to the shaft of the mixing knives, immediately above the bottom of the tub. Below this bottom, the shaft of the mixing knives has a circular platform attached to, and revolving with it to receive and carry round the moulds, which are hooked on to an endless chain that passes around a drum on the above mentioned shaft, and around another at the outer end of the way on which the moulds slide. After the moulds have passed under the aperture through which they are filled, they are conducted under two weighted pressers that press the clay into them, and then under a wire striker that cuts off the surplus material. The way or platform on which the moulds slide, is provided with an inclined plane at the outer end, which lifts the moulds, and thus unhooks them from the chain.

The circular revolving platform that carries the moulds round under the tub, is pierced with large holes to allow the clay which drops from the tub and from the moulds, to fall through out of the way of the machine.

Claim. "What I claim as my invention, and which I desire to secure by letters patent, is the before described arrangement of the endless chains to which the moulds are attached, and the way, guides, and inclined planes, in combination with the circular revolving platform; the mixing tub, inclined dischargers therein, pressers, striker and discharger for making bricks in the manner herein set forth-there being a continuous line of empty moulds made to pass under the discharging aperture in the bottom of the mixing tub, whilst at the same time a similar line of filled moulds are made to leave the aforesaid aperture, pressed, struck, scraped, and the moulds liberated from the chains by the inclined plane at the end of the way, and in combination therewith, the endless chain for supplying the clay as described."

26. For a machine for Heading Spikes; Robert S. Harris, Wilmington, Delaware, January 25.

The proposed improvement is on the common jaws, employed to hold the spikes in heading them with a hand hammer. The jointed jaw is opened and closed by a toggle, which is connected above by a link with a spring to open the jaws, and with a treadle below to close them. In the hole of the griping dies there is a pin on which the point of the spikes rest to prevent them from driving through; this slides in a hole made in a rest which prevents it from descending too low, but permits it to slide up. The lower end of this pin is connected by a lever with the treadle, so that as the jaw is opened by the action of the spring, the treadle is drawn up, which, by its connexion, forces up the pin, and thus liberates the spike from the dies.

Claim." What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by letters patent, is the combination of the jaw, toggle joint, and spring, for the purpose of throwing open the jaws as described, and these parts, thus combined, I claim also in combination with the treadle, rest or support, and the pin, with their connexions, for the purpose and in the manner specified.'

27. For an improvement in Dampers or Valves in Chimney flues; Normand Smith, Hartford, Connecticut, January 25.

We deem it sufficient in this instance to give the claim on which this patent rests, which is in the following words, viz :-"I am aware that chimneys have been supplied with valves or shutters in the throat or flue, for the purpose of regulating the opening in the throat, or entirely closing it, and therefore, I do not claim this as of my invention; but what I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by letters patent, is the peculiar manner in which I have applied the dampers or valves, so that they can be removed at pleasure without removing any of the fixtures, to which, or by which, they are attached, by having