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and potash;" the former alone, says Mr. Murphy, will be found quite effectual in all ordinary cases." Combined with this supposed discovery, were several crude plans for carrying it into effect, remarkable only for the complete ignorance which Mr. Murphy displays of every branch of the subject on which he has undertaken to enlighten "My Lords."

Among other things, Mr. Murphy recommends, for the protection of the dock yards, elevated tanks of impregnated water, "the weight and force of the body of which is to raise it to a higher elevation!"

The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having taken into consideration Mr. Murphy's plan, and his request for an experiment, sent him an answer, stating that, "as it is well known that water mixed with salt, potash, alum, and various other substances, will extinguish fire, their lordships did not think it necessary to make any experiment, nor to give Mr. Murphy any further trouble on the subject." As this reply gave a knockdown blow to the discovery which Mr. Murphy fancied he had made, he thereupon waxed exceedingly wroth, and threatened to " publish the whole plan in a pamphlet." Mr. Murphy has kept his word, and his pamphlet is now before me, in which he appeals from the decision of the Lords of the Admiralty "to the British public."*

As one of those appealed to, therefore, I beg to answer a question of Mr. Murphy's, to which he could hardly expect the Lords of the Admiralty to condescend: viz., "whether it was well known before that water impregnated with salt, potash, &c., was capable of extinguishing fires?" For, this fact, says Mr. Murphy, "I, in emphatic, but respectful language, beg leave to question; and I doubt if my Lords can produce any authority in books, or other evidence, either documentary or oral, stating, or even remotely hinting, at such a discovery."

If "My Lords" do not produce the challenged authority, it certainly cannot be from its not being forthcoming.

Without troubling myself to present a great number of authorities, I shall just refer to a few which happen to be at

"A Plan for the More Speedy and Effectual Extinction of Sudden and Destructive Fires," &c. By D. J. Murphy. pp. 16. George Mann, Cornhil

hand, and which are abundantly sufficient to dispose of Mr. Murphy's claim to be considered an original discoverer in this

matter.

I would first refer to the experiments of M. Van Aken, in 1794, which were celebrated throughout Europe, and were noticed in your Magazine, vol. 3, p (84, and also in the Artisan, page 383.

In 1816, the humane and ingenious Captain Manby made several experiments with his "Antiphlogistic Fluid," a saturated solution of pearlash: a most conclusive experiment being made before the government authorities, at Woolwich, in 1817. Captain Manby made no claim to the discovery of thus increasing the extinguishing properties of water; on the contrary, he quoted several authorities, to show that the subject was long known and well understood;-merely claiming for himself the merit of the very novel and ingenious mode which he had devised for its projection. Captain Manby's experiments and apparatus were described in the Gentleman's Magazine, in 1822; this paper was reprinted in the 3rd volume of the Mechanic's Magazine; and in 1838 Captain Manby published a collection of this, and all his other humane contrivances, in a small volume dedicated to her Majesty.

More recently, one of your correspondents suggested that a cart laden with salt should be kept at each station. to accompany the engine when called out; the salt to be mixed with the water supplied to the fire-engines, just in the same way as is now re-suggested by Mr. Murphy. (See Vol. x. p. 330 and 363.)

The following pertinent extract is from The Engineer's and Mechanic's Cyclopædia, published by Kelly in 1838:

"The most suitable and convenient material for extinguishing fire is water; but when that cannot be speedily obtained in sufficient abundance, it has been proposed to increase its extinguishing properties, by the addition of various substances. M. Van Aken, a Swede, employed an antiphlogistic composition of water, holding in solution sulphate of iron, sulphate of alumine, red oxide of iron, and clay, with which he performed several successful experiments. Some persons have recommended the employment of simple solutions of either of the following substances,-alum, common salt, pearl-ash, and several other salts and alkalies."

Now it must be conceded that Mr. Murphy's discovery is more than remotely hinted at in these books; and he must really be content to forego his claim to a niche in the temple of fame, between Columbus and Watt.

Upon a careful consideration of the foregoing evidence, I feel myself bound to confirm the decision of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty-with

costs.

I am, Sir,

Yours respectfully,

WM. BADDELEY.

29, Alfred-street, Islington, December 15, 1842.

SMOKE BURNING.

At a meeting of the Liverpool Polytechnic Society, held on Tuesday last, Mr. J. Smith read a paper on "Smoke Burning," in which he gave a general review of the different inventions for attaining this desirable object. He classified them under three heads:-1. Those requiring water or steam, as introduced in the patents of Chappe and of Ivison. 2. Those requiring a red-hot surface of fuel over which to pass the smoke, as in the plans patented by Thomas Hall, Chanter, Drew, and others, which he considered most unscientific arrangements of the furnace. 3. The employing hot or cold air, as in the furnaces of Samuel Hall, C. W. Williams, and Joseph Williams. Mr. S. Hall's plan he considered complicated and liable to affect the draught. He then entered at considerable length into a review of the treatise On the Combustion of Coal, by Mr. C. W. Williams, and the merits of his patent argand furnace, and concluded by noticing the plan of Mr. Joseph Williams, commonly called Kurt'z patent, in which the air passes through a pipe near the firebars, and by which it became heated on its way to a box, where it is enclosed and allowed to escape through long narrow apertures, regulated by a valve. Mr. Smith stated that this plan had been successfully used in the steam packet Urgent, and in other steamers on the river.

The President having invited observations on this interesting subject, an animated discussion followed. Mr. C. Williams commented on the alleged patent of Mr. Joseph Williams, and, referring to the diagram as exhibited, pointed out its direct reference to his own, the air being admitted to the gases through thin longitudinal apertures, the effect of which was the same as if it passed through a series of smaller ones, as shown in

some of the gas-burners in ordinary use. Mr. Williams observed, as to any effect being produced from the air being heated, that was an error, for if the pipe through which it passed was placed in any other direction the effect would be the same. As to this plan of Mr. Joseph Williams being, as Mr. Smith observed, commonly called Kurtz's patent, he had the authority of the latter gentleman for denying it; and that, in fact, he had indignantly stated that such plan was not conformable to his patent, and, further, that Mr. Joseph Williams had no patent.

Mr. Williams concluded by stating that the plan adopted by Mr. Joseph Williams was, in fact, the same as that introduced by him in several steam-vessels and land engines, and was a direct infringement of his patent.

Mr. Dircks made a few remarks on the necessary distinction between smoke and gas, in a popular point of view, and as exhibited in the flame of a common candle, where the gas is observed in the interior of the flame, and the smoke arising from the summit.

A gentleman asked if Mr. Williams meant to say that, by placing the pipe which conveyed the air to the bridge, in Mr. Joseph Williams's plan, in a vertical or other direction, the effect would be the same? To this Mr. Williams assented, adding, that it was a matter of indifference where or how the air was introduced, provided it was admitted by thin or small apertures, so as to produce immediate diffusion with the gases; and, in fact, corresponding with the well-known principle of allowing the gas, in the argand or other burners, to pass through small or narrow apertures to the atmosphere.

EXTRAORDINARY

EXTENSION OF PATENT RIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES.

An Act of Congress has just been promulgated, which has obviously been suggested by the system of registration of designs lately introduced into England, but takes a flight beyond it, which to our minds is extremely startling. Here, the periods of protection sought for by the authors of designs varied from one to three years; nobody thought less than one sufficient, (except the opponents of all protection) and a triennial monopoly was by all regarded as the utmost that could in any case be reasonably desired. Again, though there was a common agreement among the petitioners for protection,

that every new and original design was a fit subject of copyright, no one with us ever broached the notion that all were deserving an equal length of copyright; as, for example, that a person should have as long a monopoly of a muslin sprig, as of an elaborate design in gold, silver, or brass. With our transatlantic friends, matters are far otherwise. On no other principle, apparently, than that favourite one with them, of going ahead of all the world beside, they have resolved that the authors of new designs, of all sorts and sizes, shall enjoy a monopoly of them for a period of seven years! Designs of the least possible merit, and designs of the greatest-designs which are but for the day and the hour, and designs calculated to last through all time-designs produced by the mere turn of a kaleidoscope, and designs the fruit of great ingenuity and much labourare all treated with the like uniformity of regard. The American sculptor (hitherto, we believe, without any protection whatever) is to have no more favour shown to him than is accorded to the meanest of

American pattern-prickers. Is it a frieze for the Capitol, or a border for a lady's apron, that asks the protection of the state? 'Tis all one with our enlightened republican brother he extends the state's protection to both alike, for the same length of time, and for the same price! So that each pays the same number of dollars into the public treasury, he sees no reason why they should not, in all other respects, be on the same footing.

The principal clause of the act of which we speak is in these terms:

"And be it enacted, That any citizen or citizens, or alien or aliens, having resided one year in the United States, and taken the oath of his or their intention to become a citizen or citizens, who by his, her, or their own industry, genius, efforts, and expense, may have invented and produced any new and original design for a manufacture, whether of metal or any other material or materials, or any new and original design for the printing of woollen, silk, cotton, or other fabrics, or any new and original design for a bust, statue, or bas-relief, or composition in alto or basso relievo, or

any new and original impression or ornament, or to be placed on any article of manufacture, the same being formed in marble or other material, or any new and useful pattern, or print, or picture, to be either worked into or worked on, or printed, or painted, or cast, or otherwise fixed on any article of manufacture, or any new and original shape or configuration of any article of manufacture not known or used by others before his, her, or their invention or production thereof, and prior to the time of his, her, or their application for a patent therefor, and who shall desire to obtain an exclusive property or right therein to make, use, and sell and vend the same, or copies of the same, to others, by them to be made, used, and sold, may make application in writing to the Commissioner of Patents, expressing such desire, and the Commissioner, on due proceedings had, may grant a patent therefor, as in the case now of application for a patent: Provided, That the fee in such cases, which by the now existing laws would be required of the particular applicant, shall be one-half the sum; and that the duration of said patent shall be seven years, and that all the regulations and provisions which now apply to the obtaining or protection of patents, not inconsistent with the provisions of this act, shall apply to applications under this section."

The protection, it will be observed, is not to be obtained (as with us) by registration simply. A patent is to be granted, in every case, the same as for an invention of the highest order, and the same formalities are to be gone through in obtaining it; the only difference is, that the patent is to be for onehalf the usual period, and granted for onehalf the usual fees.

We have no doubt that this new state of the law will produce a vast increase in the number of American patents, and a proportional increase in the public revenue derived from this source; but we cannot imagine that it can ever work to good in any other way. Either we are all wrong in this part of the world, as to the danger to trade and commerce of a multiplicity of monopolies, especially in small matters, and in the course of legislation which we have pursued for the proper protection of inventive genius; or this last Act of Jonathan's is the greatest act of folly he ever committed.

We anticipate that the American manu

facturers will themselves be the first to feel, and to cry out against the infallibly injurious operation of the new law. The real hardship which it must inflict on a multitude of persons must alone go far to bring about its repeal. A calico-printer of Manchester can secure the copyright of a pattern for twelve months-which, in most cases, is as long as he wants to secure it for the small sum of one shilling. The Solons of Washington, with the view of encouraging the native genius of their country (!!!), say that every American printer must either take out a protection for seven times twelve months, and pay from sixty to a hundred times more than the English printer, or go without any protection at all. How long is it expected that such a state of things can endure?

FLYING ACCOMPLISHED.

Sir, The possibility of flying by means of machinery has been long regarded by many as very problematical, and not unfrequently the subject has been treated with ridicule as a mere chimera of a fertile imagination. It would seem, however, from a paragraph which has recently appeared in some of the leading journals of the day, that, since the discoveries of the Daguerreotype and other astonishing processes, the subject of flying has begun to receive a different treatment ;-that the practicability of constructing machines for the safe and speedy transport of persons and parcels through the air, is admitted, and about to be acted upon by a number of individuals, forming themselves into a company to bring out and perfect a mechanical apparatus for the purpose. It is asserted that a plan of such machinery has been matured, and approved for its simplicity and apparent efficiency. This, therefore, seems an opportune occasion to submit to the notice of your many readers the following facts and facts are better than theories, plausible hypotheses, and bold assertions. Several years ago, Mr. T. Quilliams, of this town (Ulverstone, Lancashire), constructed a model of a flying machine, which automa. tically performed all the necessary evolutions of a vehicle for expeditious conveyance. Its performance was witnessed, and the ingenuity of it admired at the time, by several of his intimate friends, who can attest its satisfactory realization of the inventor's plan. More than a general description of it I am not able to furnish. It was put in motion, I understood, by springs, supporting itself

without the aid of gas to raise or sustain it, and progressed with considerable speed, across currents of air, in any direction, deviating little, if any, from its intended path. The practicability and completeness of the scheme were fully proved. By proportionally enlarging the dimensions, a machine might be made of sufficient capacity for conveying persons, &c., in any direction, at the will of the aëronauts.

Mr. Quilliams, I have no doubt, would communicate the particulars of his invention, upon a moderate remuneration of his ingenuity, to proper applicants or capitalists, to whom he would, in confidence, prove the adequacy and efficiency of his machine. But with this, the writer of this communication has nothing to do; his object being merely to state the fact of Mr. Q. having, by successful experiment, proved the practicability of flying by machinery, and of his having invented a machine for that purpose.

I am, Sir, yours truly, Ulverstone, December, 1842.

PATENTS

P. J.

GRANTED, IN IRELAND, FROM OCTOBER 14, TO OCTOBER 19, 1842. Eugene de Varroc, of Bryanstone-street, Portman-square, in the county of Middlesex, gentleman, for apparatus to be applied to chimneys, to prevent them taking fire, and for rendering sweeping of chimneys unnecessary. October 14.

William Revell Vigers, of Russell-square, in the county of Middlesex, Esq., for a mode of keeping the air, in confined places, in a pure or respirable state, to enable persons to remain or work under water, and in other places, without a constant supply of fresh atmospheric air. October 14.

Thomas Marsden, of Salford, in the county of Lancaster, machine-maker, and Solomon Robinson, of the same place, flax-dresser, for improvements in machinery for dressing or hackling flax and hemp. October 15.

Thomas Bell, of St. Austell, in the county of Cornwall, mine agent, for improvements in the manufacture of copper. October 15.

Julius Seybel, of 11, Golden-square, Westminster, in the county of Middlesex, manufacturing chemist, for certain improvements in the manufacture of sulphate of soda and chlorine. October 15.

Isham Baggs, of Wharton-street, in the county of Middlesex, chemist, for improvements in obtaining motive power by means of carbonic acid. October 15.

James Whitelaw, of Glasgow, in the county of Lanark, engineer, and James Stirratt, of Paisley, in the county of Renfrew, manufacturer, for improvements in rotary machines to be worked by water. October 19.

NOTES AND NOTICES. Automaton.-A mechanician of a little town in Bohemia, says the Constitutionnel, has constructed an automaton which imitates perfectly the human voice, particularly the soprano notes. It sings several difficult airs with the greatest accuracy. Shakes, runs, and chromatic scales, are all executed with surprising precision. This automaton, in singing, even pronounces certain words, so as to be easily understood.

The Artesian Well at Grenelle.-The water from this well now continues to run perfectly pure, and of the same temperature as at first, (from 80° to 90° Fahr.) M. Mulot has taken great pains to ascertain the exact quantity which flows from the aperture, which is now stated to be 475 gallons in twenty-eight seconds.

Submarine Telescope.-A lady of Brooklyn has invented a method of illuminating objects under water, so that an observer at the surface, by means of a water-tight cylinder, having a glass inserted in its lower orifice, can make examination under water, to any accessible depth. By means of a reflector, the hull of a ship can also be examined from its deck. The fair inventor believes that the telescope will be found highly useful for this purpose, and that it may also be economically applied in the exploration of sunken wrecks, and in the pearl and sponge fisheries. It is now exhibiting, every evening, at Barnum's American Museum.-New York Paper. [Is this any thing more than the plan of our ingenious friend, Mr. Thomas Steele, revived?Ed. M. M.]

Prices of Gas.-It appears by a recent report from the Manchester board of gas directors-"That in all large gas establishments-except those in Liverpool, where the price to all is 7s. per 1,000 feet-the charge varies according to the quantity used by different classes of consumers. With reference to their present report, the directors have applied for and obtained returns from 17 of the principal gas-works of the kingdom, and the average highest price charged by these 17 works is 88 04d. per 1,000 feet; the average lowest price 5s. 10 d., making an average difference between the charge to the smallest and largest consumers of 2s. 1d. This is about the difference which existed in the Manchester scale till the year 1836, when a reduction of price was made of 1s. per 1,000 feet to the class of consumers paying the highest price, and none to the class paying the lowest price; leaving the difference here, as it at present stands, at 1s. per 1,000 feet." The new rate for supplying gas in Manchester commences at Christmas, when the present prices of 6s. to large consumers, and 7s. to small consumers, will be reduced to 5s. and 6s. per 1,000 cubic feet, according to the quantity consumed.

Sinking an Artesian Well in the Sea.-A curious experiment is now going on at the head of the chain pier, Brighton, that of raising fresh water from below the ocean by means of an Artesian well. It is intended to bore to the extent of 70 feet, at which depth the chalk formation will, it is expected, be penetrated, and fresh water obtained, which will be applied to the formation of a jet d'eau. The attempt, if successful, will be a most interesting work of art and science, as well as a great acquisition to the pier.-Sun.

Merchant Farmers.-Adam Smith said, seventy years ago, that merchants, from their habitual and enterprising handling of large concerns, were the most spirited of all agricultural improvers, and conformably with this opinion, the most original and most successful of all living improvers is not a landlord, or a farmer, but a meichant and manufacturer. Mr. Smith, of Deanston, has invented and largely practised a combined system of thorough

draining and deep ploughing, by which wet land, producing nothing but docks, sedges, and carices, on which a hungry ass would disdain to dine, is made to yield at once-three, four, or five quarters of wholesome corn, or to produce good grass to feed a dozen sheep, where weeds grew before that would rot a hundred. Mr. Smith, if not the man that deserves well of his country for having made two blades of grass grow where only one grew before, he is something better, for he has made many blades of good grass to take the place of many noisome . weeds. His system carried out (for much of England is undrained, and nearly all imperfectly drained) would be to the United Kingdom what the Nile and the Ganges are to Egypt and Bengal. It would not, indeed, add to the extent of the land, but it would do far better; it would add to the amount of fertile and productive land, and thus yield us more food, which is exactly what we most want. As matters now are, the very land we stand upon is, agriculturally speaking, a reproach to us.— Examiner.

Ancient English Divers.-(From the St. James' Evening Post, 25th Sept. 1729.) "Some days ago, Captain Hannibal, in the sloop Cornelius, brought over as passengers from Rotterdam, the two famous English divers living at Wey mouth, having been three years in the Dutch East India Company's service, and had been sent to fish upon the wrecks of some ships of theirs in India. They gave a specimen of their skill before the Governors and Directors at Middleburgh, in Zealand, by diving in six fathom water, and staying at the bottom three quarters of an hour, bringing up some gravel in their hands. The Directors entered into a contract with them, agreeing to give six pounds per cent. for the treasure they should recover, and so for ohter goods in proportion to their value. The first trial they made was upon the wreck of a Dutch East India ship, that had been lost off Cape Coast in six fathom sea, in which they succeeded so well that they brought up at several times 3,6001, in silver. They dived also upon another wreck in eight fathoms, and brought up some bars of silver and gold, and several brass great guns: when one went to the bottom his companion stayed on board to pull him up as occasion offered, for they would trust to no foreigner. Their diving-engine they contrived in England, which was of wood, six hundred weight of lead being affixed to the bottom to sink it, and less would not do; the glasses before their eyes were three inches thick, and their hands were at liberty, to grope and fasten hooks to chests, and such other things as they had a mind to get up."

Hotel Telegraph.-Among the interesting im provements exhibited at the Fair of the American Institute in New York, is a telegraph for conveying information from the chambers of hotels to the office or bar. Its construction and operation are extremely simple. Its action is always certain and accurate. By means of this invention, the occupant of any room in a hotel in which this system is used, can convey information of his wants to the person in the office, in as short a time as he could ring a common bell, and can keep the bar-keeper constantly informed whether he is in or out. The inventor is Samuel Frew, Esq., of Alleghany county, Pa.-American Paper.

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 from 1617 to the present time).