verted, by the addition of water, into thin mortar, to which a quantity of common kitchen salt is then added. The proportions recommended by the patentee, when the ore contains from five to twelve per cent. of copper, are, two parts and a half of lime, and one part of salt, to five parts of the ore.

The mixture is now calcined in the common calciner, or in the improved calciner, which constitutes the second part of this invention; and is afterwards smelted in the ordinary manner.

The improved calcining furnace is intended, firstly, to create a more perfect and rapid contact of the air with the ore spread over the hearth of the calciner; and secondly, to prevent any sulphurous or arsenious fumes from escaping into the atmosphere; and, if desired, to convert such fumes into sulphuric acid.

In Plate XIV., fig. 1, is a longitudinal section of the improved calciner; and fig. 2, is a transverse vertical section of the same, in the line A, B. a, is the fire-grate, which is shut off from immediate communication with the air, by means of the valve b, and the doors c, which are made so close as to be air-tight, and are covered with wet clay, in the ordinary manner; the other end of the calciner being, in like manner, closed air-tight by the doors d. The closed fire-place communicates with a central air-chamber e, and by way of the channel g, with the hearth f, on which the mixture of ore and lime, before mentioned, is placed for calcining; it being supplied through the funnel h. The hearth f, is open to the access of air on the side f*, only; in consequence of which, the air that feeds the fire, (all other communication being cut off,) enters here, and rushes in one continued stream over the ore on the hearth ƒ, oxidizing the sulphur and arsenic, and carrying with it all the sulphurous and arsenious fumes, through the channel g, into the air chamber e. From this chamber it passes along with the steam that arises from the water i, (which runs slowly along the bottom of the ash-pit and air-chamber,) through the ignited fuel in the fire-place, and the fumes are thereby converted into sulphuric acid, and stream backwards with

the flames through the passages or flues j,j, j, into the flame-chambers, (not shewn in the drawings,) which are situated at each side of the channel g; from thence it proceeds through the passages k, over the vaulted calcining chamber, into the chimney 7, where it may be easily condensed, by means of steam. The course of the air and fumes from the calcining chamber to the chimney I, is shewn by the arrows in fig. 1.

When the mixture has been sufficiently calcined, it is raked slowly through the channels n, n, into the water i, within the air-chamber e, and the calcining chamber is again charged with a fresh portion of the mixture; then, as soon as this last charge is calcined, it is raked through the channels n, n, into the water, and the calcining chamber is again charged; the charge which was first raked into the water, having been previously removed through the doors d, into the space m, where it is thoroughly washed, and is then ready for smelting.-[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, September, 1839.]

TO LAWRENCE Rowe, of Brentford, in the county of Middlesex, soap-maker, for improvements in the manufacture of sulphate of soda.-[Sealed 16th April, 1839.]

THIS invention consists in a mode of condensing the muriatic and other deleterious gases, produced in the manufacture of sulphate of soda, by causing water to act upon them in their passage from the decomposing furnace to the chimney.

pose.

In Plate XIV., fig. 1, is a longitudinal, and fig. 2, a transverse section, of the apparatus employed for this pura, is a flue, leading from the furnace to the chimney b, having the chamber c, formed upon it. This chamber is divided by the partitions d, and e, into eight compartments, which communicate with each other, in the manner shewn, and form a winding continuation of the flue a. On the top of the chamber c, is a tank f, having pipes g, de

scending from it, and entering the bottoms of the different compartments; the water rushes from these pipes in the form of a jet or fountain, as shewn in fig. 2, and, falling to the bottom of the chamber c, flows away through the arches h, in the divisions e.

The muriatic and other gases proceed from the furnace or furnaces, through the flue a, to the chamber c, and passing through it, in the direction shewn by the arrows, are condensed by the jets in each compartment; or, instead of these jets, the water may be admitted at the top of the chamber c, and allowed to fall upon boards, (placed in a slanting position in the upper part of each compartment,) from which it descends in the form of drops.

As a guide, by which to construct the chamber c, with its divisions, the patentee states, that each compartment should be sixteen feet high, and two feet wide, for the purification of the products of six furnaces, which decompose thirteen tons of salt per week.-[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, October, 1839.]

To JOSEPH NEEDHAM TAYLER, of Plymouth, in the county of Devon, a Post Captain in the Royal Navy, for improvements in steam boats and vessels, making applicable the power of the steam-engine to new and useful purposes of navigation.—[Sealed 8th February, 1840.]

The first part of these improvements consists in the application of a shield, to protect the paddle-wheels of steam vessels from the action of the waves, when riding at anchor, or scudding under canvass; and likewise in enabling such vessels to tack with facility.

Upon the outer end of the paddle-shaft two naves or bosses are placed, which are made to work loosely thereon; from these bosses several arms radiate, and support a semicircular shield, outside the paddle-wheel; this shield is lowered before the paddle-wheel, when the vessel rides at anchor, and behind it when the vessel is scudding before

the wind, to protect the paddle-wheel from the action of the waves. When tacking, one of the shields only are lowered, so as to render one of the wheels inoperative, whilst the other is working.

The second improvement consists in working the windlass by power derived from the steam-engine that propels the vessel.

In Plate XIV., fig. 1, is a front view of the windlass. The barrel is formed in two halves a, a, which are capable of sliding along the axis b, in order that either of them may be used independently of the other; so that one half may be heaving in the anchor, whilst the other is veering out a cable for the purpose of mooring.

In the ends of the halves a, nearest the pawl-bitt c, mortices d, are made, to receive the ends of the clutches e, which project from the outer sides of the toothed wheels ff, keyed on the axis b, at each side of the pawl-ring g; thus, by giving motion to the wheels f,f, the halves a, a, are caused to revolve, being kept in gear with the clutches by semi-circular breaks. h, h, are two bitts, fitted between decks, with oblong slots in them, for the reception of the spindles of the wheels i, i, and j, j, which wheels are caused to gear into each other, and into the wheels f, f, by raising their spindles with a lever; and are kept in gear by inserting wedges or chocks in the oblong mortices.

Motion is communicated to the wheels f, f, by an endless chain, from the main shaft of the engine, passing round the pulley k, or 7, on the spindle of the wheels j, j. m, are holes for the reception of capstan-bars, in case it should be, at any time, necessary to work the windlass by hand.

As it may be desirable to throw the paddle-wheels out of action, whilst the engine is working the windlass, they are each mounted upon a cylinder n, (see fig. 2,) which projects inside the vessel, and terminates in a clutch o; the ends of the main shaft p, enter these cylinders, and are thrown into and out of gear with the same, by a clutch-box q, worked by a lever r.-[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, August, 1840.]

TO WILLIAM PEIRCE, late of George-street, Adelphi, but now residing in Asley's-row, Islington, in the county of Middlesex, Gent., for his invention of improvements in the preparation of wool, both in the raw and manufactured state, by means of which, the quality will be considerably improved.-[Sealed 9th December, 1840.]

THE object of this invention is to loosen, detach, and remove the resinous, glutinous, gummy, and other matters, which adhere tenaciously to the natural fibres of wool, and render them harsh or rigid, while they block up the pores, and thereby prevent them from being properly impregnated with coloring matter in the dyeing process.

These improvements are effected by submitting the wool to the action of acids, either vegetable, animal, or mineral, as any acid will produce the desired effect.

The following is a description of the process; pyroligneous acid being employed :-In a suitable vessel pour about eight gallons of water, and mix with it one gallon of the strongest pyroligneous acid of commerce ;-then place in this diluted acid, as much wool as the liquor will cover, and allow it to remain, so immersed, about one, two, or three days, according to circumstances; taking care to stir the whole occasionally, in order that every part of the mass of fibre may be thoroughly saturated. After the wool has remained. immersed in the solution, the above mentioned time, it must be taken out and well washed, first with soft water, and then in the usual manner, with soap and water, or other alkaline solutions; after which, it must be strongly pressed and dried, and may then be manufactured in the ordinary

way.

Cloth made of wool, prepared in the ordinary way, may be steeped in the acid solution, previously to being dyed; but, when operated upon in this state, it may require a few hours longer.

The object of the invention, however, being more beneficially effected by operating upon the raw material, the first described process is preferred.