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cording to Mr. Smith's improvements in their complete state. A is the cistern; B the basin; C a trap connected with the bottom of the basin; D a principal service pipe which conveys the water from the cistern to the basin; E, a secondary service pipe which proceeds from the large service pipe D (at the point where it turns off towards the basin,) to the back of the trap C; F, a spring valve, by the raising or lowering of which, by means of the wire, or cord G, the supply of water from the cistern is let on or shut off; H, the box of the service pipe D, and I the discharge pipe. When the valve F is raised, the water rushes at (nearly) one and the same time through the principal and secondary service pipes D and E into the basin and trap, so that the contents of the basin are no sooner carried down into the trap by the main stream of water, than they are driven forward by the secondary stream from the back of the trap into the discharge pipe I, and any detention or deposit is thus effectually prevented. The adoption of the secondary service pipe rendering any considerable length of fall unnecessary, enables the inventor to give to the trap the short curved form represented in the drawing, which is attended with this further advantage, that the basin and trap may be placed on the floor of the closet, or other apartment, where they are fixed (the distance from the top of the basin to the bottom of the trap being only about 18 inches,) instead of its being requisite to cut away the floor, as is frequently the case with water-closets on the common construction. Should the trap at any time become accidentally stopped up, there is a small door K, at the top, through which access may be obtained to clear away the obstruction. The principal service pipe the inventor makes of an inch and a half strong lead pipe, and the secondary pipe of the same material, but only half the size. The service box should be made of lead of 9 or 10lbs. to the foot, and not larger than to afford just sufficient room for the valve to work in. In most cases the service box need have no bottom, but may be simply placed on the mouth of the service pipe, the latter being soldered into the bottom of the cistern. But where want of room makes it desirable to have a small cistern, it will be proper to make the service box with a bottom, as usual, and that very strong. When the basin and trap are fixed, they should be well packed all round with saw-dust, or some other nonconducting material, to exclude the effects of frost, though, unless when accidentally obstructed, there can seldom be any lodgment of water in either.

Water closets on this plan have been introduced into a number of public and private establishments in the town and

county of Northampton, and appear from certificates which are before us, to have given every where the greatest satisfaction. One of these certificates we shall be excused for quoting at length, when we mention, that it bears at foot the name of so deservedly high an authority in all matters of practical improvement, as Earl Spencer.

"Northampton General Lunatic Asylum, "June 2, 1842.

"The House-Visitors and Medical Superintendent having made repeated and just complaints of the Water Closets of this Institution, and of their inefficiency to meet the various causes of obstruction peculiar to Establishments of this character; the Committee having also further incurred considerable expense in alterations and repairs, without deriving any permanent benefit, they were at length induced to give the Closet, for which Mr. Smith has taken out a patent, a trial in the Refractory-Ward of the female division of this Asylum; the closets of that part of the building being most frequently out of order. The result of this experiment has been perfectly satisfactory to the Committee and all the Officers, and an immediate order was made for their general introduction.

It is with great pleasure that the Committee, after nearly twelve months' experience, bear full testimony to the great value of Mr. Smith's Patent Closet; and in justice to him they would further state, that they believe these Closets, from their construction, to be peculiarly adapted for use in Lunatic Asylums.

"SPENCER, Chairman."

Dr. Prichard, the Physician-Superintendant of the Northampton General Hospital for the Insane, expresses a strong conviction that the introduction of Mr. Smith's Patent Closets into similar Institutions will remove a pregnant source of anxiety and disquiet to them, and also add materially to the comforts, convenience, and health of the patients."

The Governor of the County Gaol and House of Correction, Northampton, considers them "superior to all others which have been fixed upon different principles in the Prison."

There are other certificates, equally favourable, from Mr. Miln, the County Surveyor; and Messrs. Hull, Law, and Elliott, Architects.

The best of all certificates, however, is the manifest utility of the invention itself; it is one of those things which needs only to be seen, to be approved of and adopted.

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difficulty at first in making out for what object it could be intended. On enquiry and investigation, I discovered it to be the hull of a Chinese vessel, which my informant stated had been recently brought to this country by the George IV. transport. I transmit herewith a pen and ink sketch of it, for insertion in your Magazine, should you deem it worthy of a place there. I am the more desirous of drawing your attention to it, as I perceive that a Mr. Dempster lays claim to the invention of a "new system of building vessels," which is in every respect similar to that represented in the accompanying sketch. (See No. 985.) I must say that our ancient friends (though now bitter enemies,) and near relatives of the sun, moon, and stars, have a just right to complain of our conduct to them of late. Not content with forcing opium upon them, whether they will have it or no, and battering their towns and forts about their ears, because they won't pay for it, at our own valuation, we pirate their ancient inventions, which are probably as old as their own country, and without one word of acknowledgment, give them out to the world as our own! Assuredly they are a most ill-used people, and I trust that you will take up the cudgels in their behalf, and in common justice to them, give them their due share of whatever credit appertains to the invention.

The form of vessel shown in the sketch has probably been in use in China for centuries; no doubt, if they were questioned on the subject, they would tell you it had been in use some 5, or 6,000 years at least. The vessel, as you will perceive by the plan of the hull, is a three masted one, and my informant (a lad who came home in the George IV,) stated that the masts raked fore and aft, somewhat in the manner I have shown; but as the masts have been taken out, I cannot vouch for the perfect accuracy of the sketch in this respect. The sails also I have supplied from a form of sail, which is, I believe, in common use in China, and is what we call a "shoulder of mutton sail." The prevailing idea in the construction of this vessel, seems to be the form of the triangle, which I have carried out, by making the rudder (which is wanting in the original,) also of that shape. The idea is one which, I think, is by no means to be despised, for it is obvious, that with such a formed vessel

and such sails it would be next to an impossibility to capsize her, from the centre of gravity being placed so low down; to use a common mode of expression, one might carry on in such a vessel until "all was blue," without much danger of foundering, if all was tight and well battened down on deck. It is true, you might tear the masts out of her if they were unyielding, but as these, and the sails also, are, I believe, made of bamboo in China, the former would "bend before the breeze" until they almost touched the deck, before they would give way.

We may remark how perfectly such a description of vessel is adapted for encountering the violent and sudden typhoons that are so prevalent in the Chinese seas: a square-rigged vessel, caught in one of these, seldom dares to show a stitch of canvass to it, and her only chance is to scud before it under bare poles; whereas, John Chinaman, in his floating tea-chest, makes all tight on deck, and smokes his pipe with the utmost nonchalance, whilst his bark scuds along at double railroad pace.

With respect to the plan of the hull, the form is one which, I believe, is now generally admitted to be that of a solid of least resistance, viz., the double cone: I am not, however, prepared to say that this form of vessel, viz., tapering to a point at the apex, and that apex the bottom of the vessel, would be the best, practically speaking, although it might theoretically. The great objection to it would be the depth of water such a formed vessel would require, and which would quite unsuit it to certain navigations: but I have no doubt that this form, slightly modified, would be found both practically and theoretically the very best that could be adopted for speed and safety.

I am not sufficiently versed in mathematics to investigate the subject further, and I therefore leave the mathematical investigation to some one of your readers who may be better qualified for the task than myself, contenting myself merely with drawing attention to the subject, and to the scientific claims of our Chinese friends.

I beg to subscribe myself, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
ARCHITECTUS.

Stangate, September 2, 1842.

STEAM PRESSURE OF THE RIVER THAMES

STEAMERS.

Sir, Much has been said upon the danger involved in the use of high-pressure boilers, and various opinions have been expressed concerning the new steamboat Locomotive, propelled avowedly on that principle. While others are giving expression to their apprehensions upon the subject, (to not one word of which have I any objection to offer,) I may perhaps be permitted to enlarge the field of their inquiry, and (if I am correctly informed) of censure at the same time, by putting a question or two.

I would ask, then, at what pressure of steam in the boiler are the Railway, Blackwall, and Brunswick worked? The Satellite? the Waterman's Company's boats? the Isle of Thanet? and last, though not least, the far-famed Ruby?

Is this last vessel fitted with "Locomotive" boilers, and worked at a pressure corresponding to their construction and ordinary use?

Your Journal has, (to my own knowledge,) too much real interest in the welfare of the engineering profession to admit of the motives which influence these inquiries being misunderstood. With great confidence in the skill of London engineers, I may, nevertheless, be excused for calling attention to the subject of pressure, that we may not relax in care and attention, and so rival our transatlantic friends in the only point of steam navigation in which they are superior to us, namely, the number of lamentable accidents with which, (in their hands,) it is attended.

London, September 8, 1842.

VALVE.

IMPURE WATER-FILTRATION.

Sir,-You have recently devoted a considerable portion of your very valuable Periodical to the water qustion. For this, not only men of science, but all to whom health is a consideration, will thank you. The importance of the subject cannot be over-estimated. The supply of London alone has occupied the attention of the ablest and the noblest in the land. The present Premier many years ago expressed most strongly his conviction of the necessity of a great reform in the Water Companies; and princes and peers, orators and statesmen, the élite of the legislature, have devoted days and months to enquiries how, and

and at what cost, the people of this vast metropolis could be supplied with pure, clear, and wholesome water.

Upon one point all are agreed, viz., that the water at present supplied in London, and many large towns, is at once nauseous and noxious-that it is destructive to

health, and often to life—and that, in fact, to use the allegations made to Parliament, it is "charged with the contents of the great common sewers, the drainings from dung-hills and lay-stalls, the refuse from hospitals, slaughter-houses, colour, lead, and soap works, drug mills and manufactories, and with all sorts of decomposed animal and vegetable sub

stances."

Taking these premises to be proved, many of your correspondents suggest remedies; the last of whom, Mr. Baddeley, gravely recommends the more frequent cleansing of cisterns by consumers themselves; and treats with some levity a notice in the Order-book of the House of Commons, that, at the earliest period of next session, an enquiry shall be instituted by a Select Committee, whether the Water Companies are not bound, and ought not to be compelled, to deliver their water in a much purer and healthier state.

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Now, with regard to Mr. Baddeley's remedy," no doubt it is good as far as it goes, abstractedly; but bad and mischievous if allowed to divert public attention from getting rid of the evil at its source. The more frequent cleansing of cisterns would tend to lessen, periodically, the amount of dirt that gets there; innocent people, however, like me, might be apt to think that it would be somewhat wiser, and not quite so troublesome, if such dirt were not permitted to get there at all. But tastes will differ.

A venerable lady, of the name of Partington, betook herself, at the time of a flood, to sweep back the waters of the Atlantic with her besom. Good old soul! she has many followers in these days, and some of them have learned her lessons-not badly.

But, badinage apart, does Mr. Baddeley seriously think that the people of large towns will quietly take to cleaning their cisterns every week, or oftener, to get rid of the dirt that is depositedthey cannot get rid of that which is floating-when they know that there is an ascertained and proved remedy, which would prevent any dirt from entering

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