already mentioned as is found sufficient to incorporate the centre mixture into a dry or powdery compost. This compound, when intended to be used for manure, I again mix intimately with an equal weight of powdered alabaster or sulphate of lime, whereby the acid fumes are more confined and held in, and the manuring properties are aided, when these various substances are well and thoroughly incorporated, by stirring and mixing them upon a suitable floor, or in proper vessels; the dry mixture so obtained is put into casks or earthen jars, from which the air is carefully excluded. This compound, which I call "acidulous nitric powder," is well adapted for producing carbonic acid and the useful class of nitrates within soils, when introduced together with alkaline or earthy carbonates, in the manner hereafter shown."

66

Thirdly, I mix or rake any suitable quantity of hydrochloric or muriatic acid with such a quantity of one or more of the already mentioned porous substances as is found sufficient for incorporating it into a dry or powdery compound. For agricultural purposes, I add to this an equal weight of powdered alabaster, and intimately mix the whole together: the resulting mixture is then put in casks or stone vessels, and secured from the air, and to this compound I have given the name of "acidulous muriatic powder."

"Fourthly, I mix any suitable quantity of sulphuric acid with such quantity of one or more of the most appropriate of the absorbent substances already mentioned as is sufficient to form a dry powdery compost, as before. To this, when intended for agricultural purposes, I add an equal weight of dry and powdered acidulous sulphate of soda, and the same weight of dry and pulverized acidulous sulphate of potass. These, when well mixed and incorporated together, form another compound, which is put into casks or vessels, and called by me "acidulous vitriolated powder."

Each of the acids above mentioned the patentee finds to require for mixture nearly half its weight of one or more of the light absorbent porous substances above mentioned; more, however, should be added when necessary to secure a perfectly dry and pulverizable combination. Any one or more of the acidulous powdery compounds may be used, either together or separate, in carrying out the principal object of the invention, as explained in the commencement. And in making the selection, regard must be had to the nature and quality of the lands to which the compost is to be applied, and the kind of crops proposed to be obtained. Thus, phosphates, nitrates, muriates, or sulphates,

all or any, as may be desired or found advantageous, may be generated within the soils by the chemical union of the several acid powdery compounds, respectively, with a sufficient quantity of alkaline matter, either already existing in the ground, or artificially introduced into it for the purpose. But, speaking generally, the patentee says that he finds it peculiarly advantageous to conjoin two or more of the before-mentioned acid compounds, or all of them together, taking equal quantities of each into one general mixture, which he calls his "consolidated acid compound," and which combination, whether of all or of any two or more, constitutes a fifth species of acid compound.

The patentee proceeds to specify the alkaline substances with which, for the purposes of manure, the acid compounds are to be mixed.

"The substances which may be beneficially employed for this purpose are supercarbonates, carbonates, and even subcarbonates of soda, potass and ammonia, and also earthy carbonates of lime, as limestone, marble, chalk, calcareous marl, coal, coraline or shells, or the carbonate of lime, remaining after the purification of coal gas, and also magnesian carbonate, such as the mineral called dolomite, or any of them. In order to secure abundance and variety of alkaline matter, (for as the saline constituents of plants are very numerous, a variety of alkalies as well as of acids is beneficial,) the method which I use is the following:-1 take 1 cwt. powdered sesqui-carbonate of ammonia, 1 cwt. sesqui-carbonate or bi-carbonate of soda, 1 cwt. powdered dolomite, 1 cwt. carbonate of lime or coral or coraline, and 1 cwt. bi-carbonate of potass. All these I mix well with 1 cwt. of silicate of potass or soda. The powder so obtained, I call my alkaline mixture, but I do not claim either the ingredients or the combination as any part of my invention. I only state and describe it as part of the process whereby the general result is effected. For obtaining the silicate, I mix 7 parts of powdered hornblende, trap, or felspar, with 3 parts of black soda ash obtained from salt, or with 20 parts of kelp, and fuse them together for four hours in a furnace or kiln. The alkaline mixture, so obtained, I mix in equal quantities with either or any of the four acidulous powders, or with the consolidated acid compounded severally above described. This resulting mixture I call my fertilizing compost or powder: and I claim it as another and distinct part of my invention. The fertilizing compost is to be put up in casks, and kept dry till used. It is to be ploughed, harrowed, or raked into mould or soils, and it may be introduced into

subsoils to improve their quality, or may be mingled with clay, earth, or other compost heaps, or pits for manure. Another highly beneficial mode of using it is the following. By being briskly agitated or rolled in strong casks, with twenty times its bulk of water or stable liquids, it will impregnate such fluids with fixed air, which may then be applied by irrigation, sprinkling, or arrosion, to the fertilizing of lands, pastures, meadows, or gardens, and the attracting or fixing of ammonia."

Claim.- -"I do not claim to have discovered any of the above-named mineral acids or alkaline ingredients. But I claim as one part of my invention the acid powdery compound (five several kinds of which I have above numerated and described) whereby the hitherto liquid acids are rendered solid and portable, and thereby capable of being brought advantageously and conveniently into combination with alkalies and alkaline earths. And I also claim as a further part of my invention the combination of the acid powdery compound with an alkaline mixture, and the compost or manure thence resulting. And as I am aware that other combinations of acids and alkalies may be used, differing in some degree both as to the ingredients and the proportions from those herein described, but capable of producing similar effects, I do not restrict my invention or any part of it to the particular mineral acids, or the particular alkaline substances before enumerated, or the exact number or proportion of the specified ingredients; but I claim as my invention, the compounds resulting from the mixture of a mineral acid with a porous powdery substance, so as to mechanically solidify the acid, or acids, or absorb it, or them into the powder, and also the combination of such compound with alkaline or earthy carbonates for the evolving carbonic acid within the soil, and about the roots of vegetables, and for generating salts upon and within the ground itself, instead of spreading such salts in crystals, or powder over the surfacee of land as heretofore."

WILLIAM NEWTON, OF CHANCERY LANE, IN THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, CIVIL ENGINEER, for an improved machine or apparatus for weighing various kinds of articles or goods; being a communication from a foreigner residing abroad. Rolls Chapel Office, August 22, 1842.

The present patent is for certain improvements upon a machine or apparatus for weighing, for which a former patent was granted on behalf of the same foreigner, and dated September 19, 1839.

The principal features of the former invention may be briefly described as follows: The scale or plate in or upon which the

goods or things to be weighed were placed, were suspended by a chain or cord, attached to and passed over or round a pulley. This pulley was mounted upon and firmly fixed to an axle, formed at its two extremities like wedges, or knife edges on which it rocked or oscillated. This pulley had also at its lower side a pendant arm, or lever, to the extremity of which an adjustible weight was attached, which, when raised, described the segment of a circle as the pulley was drawn round on its axis by the weight of the goods placed in the scale. To the same axle as the pulley just described was affixed the needle or index, which, as the axle turned, pointed out on a graduated quadrant, indicator, or face-plate, the weight of any body placed in the scale. The graduations or divisions on the indicator gradually increased from the point zero, and the method of correctly setting off these divisions or graduations was fully explained.

In the machine as now improved, instead of suspending the scale by means of a cord or chain passed over a pulley as in the former invention, the pulley is entirely suppressed and a curved lever substituted in its place, which curved lever is formed on or connected to a collar, through which the axle or shaft passes and is firmly fixed thereto by a tenon and screw nuts. The pendant or vibrating weight, which, in the former construction was connected to the pulley, is now entirely distinct from it, or rather from the curved lever used in place thereof, and is connected to a rod or lever, the upper end of which is terminated by a collar similar to the collar of the curved lever, and is fastened to the axle in like manner. The needle or index is also connected to the axle in a similar manner and vibrates on the centre thereof in front of the index plate, on which the needle points out the exact weight of any body that is placed in the scale. The graduations of the indicator in the old machine increased in size the farther they receded from the zero point, but in the present construction, the divisions are made to diminish the farther they recede from the zero point.

LIST OF ENGLISH PATENTS GRANTED BE

TWEEN THE 31ST OF AUGUST, 1842, AND THE 22ND OF SEPTEMBER, 1842. Charles Frederick Guitard, of Birchin-lane, notary public, for certain improvements in the construction of railways. August 31; six months.

Charles Thatcher, of Midsomer Norton, Somerset, brewer, and Thomas Thatcher, of Kilmersdon, in the said county, builder, for certain improvements in drags or breaks to be applied to the wheels of carriages generally. August 31; six months.

Robert Hazard, of Clifton, near Bristol, for improvements in ventilating carriages and cabins of steam-boats. September 3; six months.

William Roche, of Prince's-end, Staford, mechanic and engineer, for improvements in the manufacture of mineral colours. September 3; six months. William Warburton, of Öxford-street, gentleman, for improvements in the construction of carriages and apparatus for retarding the progress of the same. September 8; six months.

John Wordsworth Robson, of Jamaica-terrace, Commercial-road, engineer, for certain improvements in machinery and apparatus for raising, forcing, conveying, and drawing off liquids. September 8; six months.

James Insole, of Birmingham, saddlers' ironmonger, for improvements in the manufacture of brushes. September 8; six months.

Joseph Henry Tuck, of Francis-place, New Northroad, engineer, for certain improvements in machinery or apparatus for making or manufacturing candles. September 8; six months.

William Edward Newton, of Chancery-lane, civil engineer, for improvements in machinery or apparatus for making or manufacturing screws, screwblanks, and rivets. (Being a communication.) September 8; six months.

Herbert George James, of Great Tower-street, merchant, for certain improvements in machines or apparatus for weighing various kinds of articles or goods. (Being a communication from abroad.) September 8; six months.

William Fothergill Cooke, of Copthall-buildings, Esq., for improvements in apparatus for transmiting electricity between distant places, which improvements can be applied, amongst other purposes, to apparatus for giving signals and sounding alarums at distant places by means of electric currents. September 8; six months.

Thomas Thirlwall, of Low Felling, Durham, engine-builder,for certain improvements in lubricating the piston-rods of steam-engines, and of other machinery. September 8; six months.

William Crofts, of New Radford, Nottingham, lace machine maker, for improvements in the manufacture of figured or ornamental lace. September 8; six months.

Thomas Marsden, of Salford, Lancaster, machine maker, and Solomon Robinson of the same place, flax-dresser, for improvements in machinery for dressing or hackling flax and hemp. September 8; six months.

James Wake, jun., of Goole, York, coal-factor, for certain improvements in propelling vessels. September 9; six months.

John Rolt, of Great Cumberland-place, colonel in Her Majesty's army, for certain improvements in saddles. September 15; six months.

Frederick Bowles, of Moorgate-street, London, for a new method by machinery of preparing flour from all kinds of grain and potatoes, for making starch, bread, biscuits, and pastry. (Being a communication from abroad.) September 15; 6 months.

Christopher Nickels, of York-road, Lambeth, gentleman, and Caleb Bedells, of Leicester, manufacturer, for improvements in fabrics produced by lace machinery. September 15; 6 months.

William Henry James, of Martin's-lane, London, civil engineer, for certain improvements in railways and carriage-ways, railway and other carriages, and in the mode of propelling the said carriages, parts of which improvements are applicable to the reduction of friction in other machines. September 16; 6 months.

John Sanders, William Williams, Samuel Lawrence Taylor, and William Armstrong, all of Bedford, agricultural implement makers, and Evan William David, of Cardiff, for improvements in machinery for ploughing, harrowing, and raking land, and for cutting food for animals. September 22; 6 months.

Patrick Stead, of Halesworth, Suffolk, maltster, for improvements in the manufacture of malt. September 22; 6 months.

John Juckes, of Putney, gentleman, for improvements in furnaces. September 22; 6 months.

NOTES AND NOTICES.

Preservation of Life at Sea.-A letter has been addressed to Lloyd's, from Mr. Edward Jennings, Lieutenant R. N., suggesting the general adoption, in rough weather, of life lines being led fore and aft, both to windward and leeward, so that the men have something to lay hold of in passing from one end of the vessel to the other. In addition to this, he advises that each man be furnished with a belt made gasket fashion, about a fathom and a half long. The utility of this is shown by the wearer, when in an exposed situation, such as on the forecastle, conning, steering, &c., taking two half hitches with it, to either the life line or any of the standing rigging, &c. He observes that such a belt could not interfere with the wearer's duty aloft, as at such times the end might be wound round the body and tucked in. He concludes by impressing the necessity of each captain of merchant vessels being supplied with a good barometer, as a great deal of wear and tear of spars and canvass might be avoided, and the loss of shipping also prevented.

New Cheveaux-de frise.-M. de Grange, an engineer at Lyons, has invented a machine of this description, which is composed of a globe of brass of three or four inches in diameter, fixed to an iron handle the thickness of a finger, and about three and a half feet long, with a spike at the end. The globe or ball is perforated with twelve holes, so arranged as to admit of as many lances of the same length as the handle. These lances are fixed in the globe by means of iron pins, and when set up, form a defence of about seven feet in height and as many in length. A body of infantry arriving on a plain furnished with these cheveaux-de-frise, to the extent of double the line it is to form, that is to say, sufficient to cover its front and rear, in the proportion of one for every seven men, one of whom carries the bail and its handle, and each of the six others two lances, can, says the inventor, form itself in order of battle, and on the approach of an enemy's cavalry plant the cheveaux-de-frise in its front and rear to keep them off, and thus the first and third ranks will be enabled to fire in line without the loss of time and frontage occasioned by forming the troops into a hollow or a solid square.

The Clock at Strasburg.-After four years' labour the repairs of the astronomical clock at Strasburg are completed. In this curious piece of mechanism the revolutions of the sun, the moon, and the planets are marked down with scientific exactness. Seven figures represent the seven days of the week, each appearing in its turn on the day allotted to it. The four ages come forward to strike the quarters, and the skeleton Death strikes the hours. At noon the twelve Apostles advance in succession to bend down before the figure of our Saviour, who gives them the benediction. At the same moment a cock claps his wings and crows three times. It is said to be one of the most curious pieces of clock-work in Europe.

INTENDING PATENTEES may be supplied gratis with Instructions, by application (postpaid) to Messrs. J. C. Robertson and Co., 166, Fleet-street, by whom is kept the only COMPLETE REGISTRY OF PATENTS EXTANT form 1617 to the present time).

The improvements which we have now to bring under the notice of our readers form the subject of a patent granted the 8th of February last to Benjamin Biram, Esq., of Wentworth. In his specification the patentee first developes the principles on which his improvements are founded, and then exemplifies their practical application to windmills, paddlewheels, &c. The former can hardly be called new to mechanical science; but, if we may judge from the novelty of the conclusions which Mr. Biram deduces from them, and which we believe to be perfectly sound, they have never before been so thoroughly understood or well explained.

The vanes of windmills, and other similar machines propelled by currents of air, consist commonly of plain surfaces set obliquely to the planes of motion of the machines, but set at angles, as Mr. Biram truly observes, generally determined by guess, and often exceedingly inappropriate; while the floats of waterwheels, and other similar machines acted upon by water, consist also commonly of plain surfaces, but placed directly in the line of motion of the fluid. Now, the first position or principle which Mr. Biram undertakes to demonstrate is, that in both these cases there is a certain curved form which may be given to the vanes or floats, or other similar agents, of both those classes of machines, or, in other words, a certain gradual reduction in the angle of obliquity, in proportion to the distance from their axes, by which, in most cases, a greater amount of useful effect can be obtained from them, than by or from any other.

"For example, let A B C of fig. 4 of the accompanying engravings represent the sixth part of a circle described by the revolution of a windmill, in which case the chord CB of the arc A B will be equal to the radius A C, and let the lines A C and C B be divided into six equal parts, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, so that the chord of the arc at each of the divisions, 55, 44, 33, 22, and 11, shall be respectively equal to the distances C 5, C 4, C3, C 2, and C 1; then, to ascertain the angle which a vane or sail should make with the plane of motion, at any other distance from the axis C, (the angle at the extremity on any other point being given,) let the vertical section, fig. 5, be constructed,

in which the line A B is equal to the radius A C, or chord B of fig.4, and divide it also into six equal parts, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Then draw a perpendicular, C 6, of an indeterminate length, and set off the given angle CA B, if it be that of the extremity,

or C 3 B if of the middle of the sail, and continue the line until it intersects the perpendicular, C 6. The distance from this

point of intersection, C to 6, gives the depth of the cylinder, or space in which the sails may be said to revolve, that is to say, if viewed edgewise, and supposing the wheel to have six vanes, and to be so made as to intercept the whole cylinder of wind. If the depth of the cylinder be required of a different proportion, or if the size of each vane be other than the sixth part of a circle, a line drawn parallel to A B, through such proportionate length of C B, will give the depth of the cylinder required. Then draw the oblique straight lines, C 1, C 2, C 3, C 4, and C 5, from the point of intersection, C, found as above described, and the angles C1 B, C 2 B, C 3 B, C 4 B, and C 5 B, will be those which the sail should form with the plane of motion, at the distances 1 B, 2 B, 3 B, 4 B, 5 B, from the centre point, B, (fig. 5,) representing the axle or centre of the sails. For, supposing the angle C A B, fig. 2, to be equal to the angle of the sail with the plane of motion at the extremity, or A B, fig. 4, and the wind in the direction D 3, it will strike the sail at the extremity A B, fig. 4, at the angle A C B, fig. 5, which will recede, from the impulse of the wind, in the same time as the points 5 5, 44, 33, 22, and 11, at the corresponding angles, C1B, C2B, C3 B, C 4 B, and C5 B, which, (assuming the machine to be unloaded, and without friction,) will be in the same time that the wind passes through the distance CB, fig. 5; whereby it is evident each portion of the sail will present no more than its proportionate resistance to the wind, and recede from its action with that velocity, exactly, which offers the least interruption to the wind's onward progress."

The influence which the angle of inclination exercises on the velocity of the body moved is still more strikingly illustrated by supposing water, instead of air, to be the medium in which it revolves.

"Let A B C D, fig. 6, represent a parallelogram equal to the circumference of a cylinder or wheel, W, fig. 7, formed by the revolution of the sails, and the oblique straight lines C1, C2, C3, and C 4, different angles which the extremities of the sails