cipal feature of novelty, which constitutes the invention; nor does he limit himself to any precise mode of actuating the compressing lever, either by cam, tappet, or crank, nor to the precise mode of counter-balancing and regulating, by weights, the amount of pressure at which the relief shall come into operation; nor to the particular form of joint or hinge employed to raise the bed upon, provided the object of the invention be effected; but what he does claim, as the principle of his invention, is the means of adapting such machinery to sustain any required amount of pressure, (however great,) with perfect safety.-[Inrolled in the Petty Bag Office, May, 1841.]

Specification drawn by Messrs. Newton and Son.

To ISAAC DAVIS, late of New Bond-street, in the county of Middlesex, but now of the Poultry, in the city of London, optician, for his improvements in the manufacture of sealing-wax, which compounds are applicable to other useful purposes.-[Sealed 11th November, 1841.]

THESE improvements, in the manufacture of sealing-wax, consist in forming the wax into small sticks, each of which may contain a sufficient quantity for one seal; or the stick may be made long enough for two seals, and have a cut in the middle, to divide it. To the end of each single stick so formed, or to the outer ends of the double stick, a detonating, combustible, or highly inflammable substance, is to be attached, which may be ignited by friction, or by bringing it into contact with acid, or by any other known means, by which such highly inflammable compounds can be made to ignite, so as to set fire to the stick of wax to which it is attached.

In Plate VII., fig. 1, represents one of the small sticks of wax, for sealing notes, and the detonating or highly combustible composition at the end. Figs. 2, 3, and 4, shew convenient forms of holders, in the clips of which, one of

the small sticks of wax using them for sealing. having a piece of sealing-wax held in it. Fig. 3, represents a more ornamental holder, having a seal at one extremity. In this holder, the forceps or clips are slidden in and out, as in an ordinary pencil-case, and the jaws of the forceps are made to collapse, and hold the end of the stick of wax, as shewn, by sliding up a small ring a, connected to the forceps. Fig. 4, represents another construction of holder, the upper part of which constitutes spring-clips, for holding the stick of sealing-wax, by sliding up the ring a. When the stick of wax has been melted in these clips, and the letter sealed, it will be necessary to discharge the remaining small piece of wax from the clips, which may be done by pushing up the sliding shaft b.

may be held while igniting and Fig. 2, is a common clip-holder,

The apparatus, for making these small sticks of sealingwax, is shewn in figs. 5 and 6.-Fig. 5, is a transverse section of the apparatus, and fig. 6, a perspective view of the same. This apparatus consists of two metal plates A, and B, connected together by a hinge-joint, having a number of semi-circular or other shaped grooves, so formed in each, that they may be coincident when brought together, which is done by bringing down the handle c, the grooves in the two plates, when united, forming cylindrical or other shaped moulds or recesses.

The bottom plate A, is to be secured to a bench or table, by screws, bolts, or otherwise; and the upper plate B, turning on the hinge-joint a, a, is moved by the handle c.

The apparatus is used in the following manner:-The plates being in the open position shewn in fig. 5, a sufficient quantity of wax, melted or softened into a fluid or semifluid state, in any convenient manner, is placed on the lower plate A, A, when the upper plate в, B, is brought down with force on to the wax, by means of the handle c, as before said, into the closed position shewn in fig. 6. By these means, the wax becomes moulded into the proper forms, and when removed from the apparatus, the sticks, if adhering together, may be readily separated. After this, the detonating, combustible, or highly inflammable chemi

cal compound, is applied in a fluid state to the ends of the sticks, by dipping them into the fluid compound, or in any other convenient manner.

The upper or moveable plate B, is divided, longitudinally, into compartments, by the insertion of a thin plate of steel or other metal b, b, placed there for the purpose of cutting the lengths of wax in their middle, so as to produce sticks of the desired lengths. This thin plate b, b, forms a nick on each stick, as seen in fig. 8; and when the wax is removed from the apparatus, it is easily broken into the proper lengths.

For the convenience and economy of forming a very considerable number of these small sticks of sealing-wax, at one operation, a larger and more powerful apparatus is sometimes employed, as represented in the drawing, at fig. 7. This apparatus consists, as before, of two grooved plates A, and B, the moveable plate being raised and lowered by a long powerful lever c, In this instance, there may not only be a greater number of flutes in the plates, but the plates may be sufficiently broad to mould small sticks of wax of any required lengths, and may be divided, transversely, into compartments, by the insertion of cuttingslips or ribs b, b, as before described, so as to nick or separate the sticks of wax into the short lengths required.

Instead of using a detached holder, as shewn, the ends of two of the small pieces of sealing-wax may be inserted into a tube, made of reed or quill, or some other suitable material, as shewn at fig. 8. In this case, the small pieces of wax are cast into the tubes, and for that purpose, the apparatus, shewn at figs. 9 and 10, is employed.

Fig. 9, is an elevational section of the two fluted or grooved plates A, and B, with the block D, and pressing lever c.

Fig. 10, is a horizontal view of the grooved plate A, along the middle of which, in a row, the reeds or quills are placed, one in each groove. Upon these the fluted bar E, is laid, for the purpose of holding the reeds securely in their positions. The soft wax is then spread upon the plate, on each side, at the ends of the reeds; and the block D, with

the upper plates B, B, is brought down by the lever c, and pressed with great force, which causes some of the wax to enter the ends of the reeds and adhere thereto, as shewn at fig. 8.

The patentee claims, firstly, making sealing-wax in small sticks, each stick consisting of only a sufficient quantity of wax to form a single seal, or it may be a double stick, having a nick or cut in the middle, or nicks in several places, for separating them; and also applying an inflammable, detonating, or highly combustible compound or substance, to the ends of such sticks of sealing-wax, in order that they may be ignited by friction, or by any other suitable means, as above stated.

Secondly. The adaptation of small tubes of reed or quill, as holders for the said small sticks of sealing-wax, and the peculiar construction of holder, shewn at fig. 4, for the same purpose.

Thirdly. The pressing apparatus, herein shewn and described, for the making or manufacturing sticks of sealing-wax; but he does not confine himself to that particular construction of apparatus, in making such sticks of sealingwax, as they might be made by other forms of machines; but he claims the forming, by moulding, sticks of sealingwax under pressure, which produces a beautiful form and gloss or polish on its surface; and—

Lastly. The other purposes to which part of the said invention applies, is the adaptation of the said highly inflammable chemical compound to the ends of cigars, in order to enable them to be ignited by similar means to those above described.―[Inrolled in the Petty Bag Office, May, 1842.]

Specification drawn by Messrs. Newton and Son.

TO JAMES COLMAN, of Stoke Holy Cross, in the county of Norfolk, starch manufacturer, for improvements in the manufacture of starch.-[Sealed 9th December, 1841.] THE first part of these improvements consists in manufac

turing starch from maize or Indian corn. The Indian corn is first softened, by soaking in water for three or four days; it is then reduced to a pulp, by means of rollers, and allowed to remain in a vessel, until the fermentation has separated the starch from the other matters,-this will be in about twelve or fifteen days. The starch is then washed through sieves, and finished in the usual way of manufacturing wheat starch.

In place of simply fermenting the Indian corn, the process of separating the gluten and other matters may be performed by means of a dilute caustic alkali, in the following manner:-Fifty-six pounds of Indian corn, reduced to a pulp, as above, are mixed with fifty-six gallons of a solution of soda or potash, (containing two hundred grains of soda or potash to the gallon,) and allowed to remain for three days, being stirred every three hours. At the end of this time, the mixture is allowed to remain without stirring, for eighteen hours, and then the liquor is drawn off; after this, another solution, of only half the strength of the former, is added to the Indian corn, in the proportions abovementioned. This mixture is stirred every three hours, during the period of two days, and then, after settling for eighteen hours, the liquor is drawn off, and the starch finished in the ordinary manner.

Instead of the modes just described, for separating the gluten and other matters from the starch, a solution of an alkaline salt may be used, such as the carbonate of soda or potash; or acid may be employed, in the way hereinafter described, with respect to manufacturing starch from rice.

The second improvement consists in the manufacture of starch from barley. The barley, after being ground into flour, is caused to ferment, by the addition of water, and at the end of ten or twelve days, is washed through sieves, and subjected to the same process as that adopted for manufacturing starch from wheat.

Another mode of effecting this improvement, consists in soaking unground barley in water, for four or five days, and after reducing it to a pulp, allowing it to ferment for