oil; and the improvements consist in first obtaining the acids of that oil by saponification, and then decomposing the soap so obtained; also in distilling and separating the acids of cocoa-nut oil. To obtain the acids of cocoa-nut oil by saponification, &c., the patentee proceeds as follows:-One ton of cocoanut oil is placed in a vessel, which is provided, at its lower part, with a wrought-iron worm, or other suitable arrangement of pipes, perforated with numerous holes, for the purpose of admitting steam into the matter under operation; the vessels and steam-pipes, used in this process, being similar to those employed in the manufacture of the stearic acid of tallow. Steam is admitted into the vessel, until it begins to pass off through the melted matter, and then a quantity of cream of lime (quick lime, slacked until it becomes of the consistence of cream) is introduced, and the boiling is continued, by means of the steam-pipes, until the substance is converted into a hard solid soap, which will be in about six, or from that to eight hours. Alkalis may be used for saponifying the cocoa-nut oil; but the patentee prefers to employ lime, in the proportion of from sixteen to twenty pounds of quick lime, to one-hundredweight of oil. The soap, thus formed, is dug out of the vessel above mentioned, and thrown into another vessel, furnished with steam-pipes, in which it is decomposed by a suitable acid, in a similar manner to that practised in the manufacture of the stearic acid of tallow. The acid, employed in the present instance, is sulphuric, of about 1.8 specific gravity, which is diluted with twenty times its weight of water; it is used in the proportion of two pounds of the concentrated acid (1.8) to each pound of the quick lime, before mentioned. The diluted acid is run into the vessel containing the soap, and the contents of the vessel are boiled, by the admission of steam through the perforated pipes, until the sulphuric acid combines with the lime; which will be in about four hours. When the decomposition of the soap has been properly effected, the steam is shut off; the sulphuric acid and lime will then gradually settle to the bottom of the vessel, in a combined form, and the cocoa-nut oil will have been con verted into an acid state, which is termed the acid mixture. This mixture is drawn off or pumped into another vessel, provided with steam pipes, and is boiled with one hundred gallons of water, for about an hour, by the admission of steam; after which, the steam is shut off, and the mixture allowed to settle; the water is then drawn off from the lower part of the vessel, and the acid mixture is again boiled for about an hour, with one hundred gallons of fresh water, by means of steam, as before. The acid mixture of cocoa-nut oil, obtained by the abovementioned or other suitable processes, is formed into a soap, by being well stirred up with a suitable oxide, till a perfect mixture is effected; in order that, by the subsequent distillation of the soap, a material for the manufacture of candles may be obtained, of a higher melting point than any that has as yet been extracted from cocoa-nut oil. A thick cream of lime is preferred to be used for this purpose, in the proportion of twenty pounds of quick-lime to one hundred pounds of acid mixture. The soap is distilled in a retort, (similar to those employed in the manufacture of coal gas,) and the fatty product, distilled over, is condensed; it is then boiled for six or eight hours by means of steam, with water slightly acidulated by oxalic or sulphuric acid, and is then allowed to cool very gradually, in a suitable vessel, into which it is run off, in order that it may become crystallized. The fatty product is now divided into portions of about fourteen pounds each, and these portions are each enclosed between two pieces of any suitable woven fabric (the material termed "coir matting" being preferred); they are then piled in heaps, and left to harden in a temperature of 50° Fahr. for a period varying from six to twelve hours; after which, the portions of fatty matter, still enclosed in the pieces of woven fabric, are placed in a powerful hydraulic press, of ten-inch ram, and are separated from each other by wrought-iron plates, twenty-six inches square, and one-fourth of an inch thick, being placed between them. Pressure is then applied slowly, for about twenty four hours, at a temperature of 58° Fahr., and the fatty matters are, after that, transferred to another press, and pressed still more slowly, for forty-eight hours, at a temperature gradually rising to 110° Fahr. The fluid, expressed by this operation, is subjected to a second purification in water, acidulated with oxalic or sulphuric acid, and may then be used for burning, or for mixing with other oils; the concrete product, after a similar purification, may be employed for making candles. Another mode of performing this part of the invention is to distil the cocoa-nut oil in a retort, after the first saponification, and without the intermediate process of decomposing the soap, and combining the acid mixture with lime : the soap is cut into small pieces, and washed in water, in a vessel furnished with steam-pipes, previous to being introduced into the retort. The acid mixture of cocoa-nut oil, obtained by the above or any other suitable processes, may also be distilled without the addition of lime. The last part of the invention relates to the distillation of cocoa-nut oil, for the purpose of obtaining it in the form of acids. During the process, a jet of steam is admitted into the still, and the product of the distillation is treated in a manner similar to that hereinbefore described. The patentee claims, Firstly, the mode of obtaining products of cocoa-nut oil, by submitting the acids thereof, or their products, to pressure, between surfaces of woven fabrics. Secondly, the combining of lime with cocoa-nut oil, when such combination is subsequently either decomposed by acid, or distilled; also the using of diluted sulphuric acid to decompose saponified cocoa-nut oil, as a means of obtaining acids of cocoa-nut oil; and likewise the distilling of saponified cocoa-nut oil. Thirdly, the mode of treating acids of cocoa-nut oil, by combining lime therewith. Fourthly,-the distilling of acids of cocoa-nut oil, and their products, without first submitting them to be dissolved in alcohol; also the application of metal retorts, stills, or vessels, for the distillation of acids of cocoa-nut oil, and their products. Fifthly,-the pressing of acids of co - coa-nut oil, and their products, in separate layers, when subjected to artificial heat, in order, more readily and completely, to separate the same. Sixthly, the combining of steam with cocoa-nut oil, when saponifying the same, or when decomposing the soap. Seventhly,-the distilling of cocoa-nut oil, in order to obtain the same in the form of acids. [Inrolled in the Rolls Chapel Office, May, 1843.] TO HENRY BEWLEY, of the city of Dublin, licentiate, apothecary and chemist, for an improved chalybeate water.— [Sealed 23rd June, 1842.] THIS invention consists in the preparation of a chalybeate water, or organic saline solution of iron, which will not be readily impaired by carriage, or keeping, and is rendered very agreeable to the palate by being combined with carbonic acid gas. The chalybeate water is made in the following manner:One pound of crystallized sulphate of iron is dissolved in a mixture of ten pints of water, and three ounces and a half of sulphuric acid, of specific gravity 1.840, contained in a stone-ware or other suitable vessel, set in a sand-bath; the heat of the solution is then raised to the boiling point, and nitric acid, of specific gravity 1.340, is added thereto, at intervals, (the solution being stirred at the same time,) until it ceases to give off vapours of an orange color, which is an indication that the iron has attained the state of peroxide. The solution is then mixed with ten gallons of water, and the peroxide of iron is precipitated, by the addition of water of caustic ammonia, while the liquor is being agitated; the precipitate is collected on a filter, and afterwards washed in water. Eight ounces of crystallized citric acid are now dissolved in about four times their weight of water, in a stone-ware or other suitable vessel, placed in a sand-bath, the temperature of which is raised to 160° or 180° Fahr., and the peroxide of iron, in a moist state, is gradually added to the solution, (which is at the same time stirred,) until it ceases to be dissolved. The strength of the solution of citrate of iron is ascertained by evaporating a certain quantity to dryness, and weighing the dry ferruginous salt; a weak syrup of sugar (flavored according to the taste, if required) is then added to the solution, in such proportions that each fluid ounce of the mixture shall contain about thirteen grains of citrate of iron. One ounce of the mixture, and five ounces of water, are introduced into a seven-ounce bottle, and this solution being charged with four or five times its volume of carbonic acid gas, by means of a soda-water machine, the bottle is then corked, and the cork secured in the ordinary manner. The improved chalybeate water is also prepared with a modified triple combination of the citric acid with the oxide of iron, by adding to the above described citrate of iron, some alkali, as ammonia, potash, or soda. Instead of the citrate of iron, other suitable organic salts of iron, (such as the tartrate or lactate,) combined or not combined with an alkali, may be employed. The patentee claims the manufacture of an improved chalybeate water, of the nature aforesaid; whether such chalybeate water be prepared by the particular method or process herein before described, or by any other analagous method or process.-[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, December, 1842.] ON THE LAWS RELATING TO LETTERS No. V. ON THE PATENT LAWS OF HOLLAND AND BELGIUM. Although these two countries now form separate and distinct nations, yet many of the laws in force at the present time, in both states, are of the same origin; no alteration having been made in them since Holland and Belgium were divided into two kingdoms. This observation applies more particularly to the laws and re |