PREFACE. ESTABLISHED custom seems to require, that the completion of a first volume, although it be merely of a new series, in continuation of a former work, shall not be unattended with a few prefatory remarks; in this, however, we shall be very brief, as our views and intentions have been often announced before; and the inspection of our labours through the four preceding volumes, will afford sufficient proof of the sincerity of our professions, and of our ability to perform what we have undertaken. Upon a slight examination of the present volume, it will be readily perceived that it contains within its limits, a much greater number of new inventions, and discoveries in science, than any other periodical work extant; which circumstance is accounted for by the simple fact, of the editor being professionally a Mechanical Draftsman and Patent Agent; which leads him to become theoretically and practically acquainted with, and enables him to describe, nearly all that is passing of importance in the mechanical world; consequently the major part of the matter introduced, consists of original descriptions by the editor; the remainder are the contributions of intelligent correspondents, together with selections from contemporary journals, the most prominent of which is the Franklin Journal, of Philadelphia, a work of singular excellence, and unrivalled in utility. To the learned editor of that work, (Dr. Jones), and to our correspondents generally, we therefore gratefully make our acknowledgments for their valuable assistance. In the future progress of our work, we see no reason to make any material alteration in the plan; our object will be to perfect it in all its details, and to perform every promise; the materials for which, by the kindness of friends, and our individual exertions, accumulate faster than we have hitherto been able to render available. Upon casting our eyes upon the collection of papers in various stages of preparation for the ensuing volume, we cannot but feel a confidence that the work will continue. progressively to improve in interest, variety, and originality; and that it will eventually prove one of the most valuable in a library for future reference, in the science and practice of mechanics. "The London Mechanics' Register," having ceased to give reports of the valuable lectures delivered at The London Mechanics' Institution, it is our intention to introduce a more particular notice of these discourses than we have hitherto done, under the head of "Proceedings of Literary and Scientific Institutions," for the accommodation of the members who form no inconsiderable portion of the readers of this work. 1st March, 1828. |