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APPLICATION OF WIRE-ROPE AS A LIGHTNING CONDUCTOR-MR. ROBERTS IN REPLY TO MR. HILL.

Sir,-In gentlemanly society it is not tolerated for one individual to say to another, "Sir, I charge you with stating a falsehood; I know there may be proofs you are correct in your statement, but it suits my purpose to maintain that what you assert is not true, and I will therefore not take the trouble to search for proofs of your correctness, and my misstatements." This, in effect, is Mr. Hill's letter of the 12th. What the practice

may be amongst his intimates I know not, and have no wish to know.

Your readers will find in the Report of the Committee on Lightning Conductors, which sat in 1839, sufficient proofs that I am known to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and that the plan now claimed by Mr. Hill, for Mr. Smith, is indisputably mine.

I am fortunately too much occupied with matters of importance to lose time in further discussion with Mr. Hill.

Yours, &c.,

MARTYN ROBERTS. [We have referred to the Parliamentary Report on Lightning Conductors, mentioned by Mr. Roberts, and see in it sufficient to induce us to regret extremely that our columns should have been made the medium of the depreciatory observations of which he very justly complains. It is established by the documentary evidence attached to that report, that Mr. Roberts proposed the application of wire rope as a lightning conductor, in a paper read before the Electrical Society, on the 24th of June, 1837-that he brought this plan most pointedly under the attention of the Admiralty in May, 1839-and that, when a royal commission was subsequently nominated to enquire into the subject, he was applied to by them for his advice upon it, and gave it frankly and unreservedly. Of Mr. Sinith, all this while, we see no trace. The truth is, that Mr. Smith's merit consists solely in latterly supplying, as a manufacturer, the wire rope which Mr. Roberts first suggested should be applied to the purposes of electrical conduction; and as there seems now every appearance that wire rope conductors will be those universally preferred, we trust Mr. Roberts will not go without his reward.-ED. M. M.]

THE "MAGICIAN" STEAMER. We have been favoured with the following details of the experiments made with

this vessel, alluded to in our brief notice of the 10th instant.

The experiments were made on the 16th, 17th, and 18th of November. The vessel left Woolwich about 10 o'clock A.M. on the 16th, and in about half an hour afterwards passed the Rhadamanthus, which had left Woolwich at 9 o'clock. At about half-past 11 o'clock she stopped for a few minutes at Gravesend, and then proceeded, with a strong breeze ahead and adverse tide, and at a quarter-past 1 o'clock passed the Nore-light vessel; arrived at Ramsgate 25 minutes past 4 o'clock, when the weather was so severe that none of the London steam-vessels arrived during the course of the day. The weather continued so boisterous on the 17th that the Widgeon steam-vessel was under the necessity of putting into Ramsgate harbour at an early hour for shelter. The Magician, however, left Ramsgate shortly after 11 o'clock A.M., the wind blowing at the time a strong breeze from the eastward, and at 53 minutes past 12 o'clock passed Dover Pier, with a very heavy sea running. At 24 minutes past 1 o'clock, when opposite Folkstone, she put back for Ramsgate, where she arrived at 44 minutes past 3 o'clock.

On the 18th the Magician left Ramsgate at 17 minutes past 10 o'clock A.M., with flood tide, and at 14 minutes past 3 o'clock P.M. arrived off Woolwich. The average speed of the engines from Ramsgate to Woolwich was 354 revolutions per minute, length of stroke 3 feet 6 inches, height of steam gauge 7 inches, height of barometer 284 inches. The boilers are constructed on the tubular principle, very small, and generate steam well. The consumption of coal was about 6 lbs. per horse power per hour, and the vessel was found to be extremely easy and dry in a heavy sea. The average speed of the vessel from Ramsgate to Woolwich, the distance being estimated at 85 miles, in five hours, was equal to 14 knots, or seventeen statute miles, per hour! ! !

We must not forget to add, that the Magician is fitted with a condensing apparatus on the plan of Mr. Howard.

ABSTRACTS OF SPECIFICATIONS OF ENGLISH PATENTS RECENTLY ENROLLED.

JOHN JAMES BAGGALY, OF SHEFFIELD, SEAL-ENGRAVER, for certain improvements in making metallic dies and plates for stamping, pressing, and embossing. Patent dated January 22, 1842.

A mould of the design to be embossed is first to be obtained in bas-relief, from which a sulphur cast in alto relievo is to be taken. A reverse mould, called a "hub, or sinker,"

is then taken from the sulphur cast, of about the thickness of an eighth of an inch, which forms the matrix of the die required. A steel plate is next made red-hot, on which the hub or sinker is placed, and, by repeated blows, the steel is pressed into all parts of the matrix; so that, on cooling, the steel plate exhibits a correct fac-simile, in relief, of the required design. The die thus produced requires to be cleaned off, technically called "got up," and is then soldered to a bed of cast-iron. Instead of a steel plate, annealed malleable iron may be used.

The claims are, 1. To the producing from flat plates of steel, or other metals, the subject of a required die by the means above described.

2. To casting the said subjects from a matrix, and afterwards treating such metals as above described.

3. To the attaching such stamped dies to cast-iron blocks by means of solder.

RICHARD BEARD, OF EARL-STREET, BLACKFRIARS, GENTLEMAN, for improvements in the means of obtaining likenesses and representations of nature, and of other objects. Patent dated March 10, 1842.

Mr. Beard's improvements consist in colouring the pictures obtained by the Daguerreotype process. After a picture has been obtained, a tracing of it is made upon glass, and from this copy on glass as many other copies are taken in tracing-paper as there are different colours intended to be used. From the tracing appropriated to each colour those parts are cut out which are to be represented of that colour, so that, when superposed on the face of the picture, it covers all but those places where the colour is to be applied, (exactly in the same way as in stencilling.) The colours are applied in the state of an impalpable powder, mixed with just as much gum arabic or isinglass as suffices, when the colours are breathed upon, or otherwise gently heated, to fix the colours.

ALFRED JEFFERY, OF LLOYD-street, PENTONVILLE, GENTLEMAN, for a new method of preparing masts, spars, and other wood, for ship-building and other purposes. Patent dated April 15, 1842.

This method consists in the application of a composition or glue for joining wood, which is stated to possess the advantages of being insoluble in water, and being more elastic than any glue heretofore in use. When a very elastic glue is desired, the patentee dissolves 1 lb. of caoutchouc in 4 gallons of crude naphtha, frequently stirring the solution, until the caoutchouc is well dissolved, which will be in about ten or twelve days; to this is added gum or shellac, in the proportion of two parts to one of the naphtha. The composition is then put

into an iron vessel, to which heat is applied, and well stirred until all the ingre dients have become thoroughly amalgamated; it is then drawn off, by means of a tap, on to slabs, and allowed to cool, after which it is cut into pieces, ready for use. When a less elastic glue is required, it is composed of 1 part of naphtha and 2 parts of gum or shellac. Previous to using, the glue must be heated in an iron pot to 250° Fahr., care being taken that the surfaces about to be joined are perfectly dry.

The claim is to the use or application, in preparing masts, spars, and other wood for ship-building and other purposes, of a glue insoluble in water, and more elastic than the glue in ordinary use.

MARC CARLOTti, of LITTLE ARGYLESTREET, REGENT-Street, GENTLEMAN, for certain improvements in the construction and manufacture of boots, half-boots, shoes, clogs, and goloshes. Patent dated April 8, 1842.

Wooden soles are introduced between the outer sole and lining of the boot, which are calculated to protect the feet from wet, and to effect a saving in the wear and tear.

The improvements in clogs and goloshes consist in substituting springs for the anclestraps now used.

GEORGE HOWE, OF MANCHESTER, GENTLEMAN, for certain improvements in machinery or apparatus for sweeping and cleaning chimneys and flues. Patent dated May 9, 1842.

Two methods of chimney-sweeping are described. The first consists in effecting the operation by means of a brush and chain; the chain passing over a pulley fixed at the top of the chimney, and being attached by its two ends to two small windlasses in the fire-place, upon and from which it is alternately wound and unwound. The second method consists in bringing down the soot in a chimney by means of a sudden concus sion of the air within it, which is to be effected by "hermetically sealing" the fireplace, inserting a cylinder and piston, &c.

JAMES ANTHONY EMSLIE, of Newcastleon-Tyne, C.E., for certain improvements in pumps. Patent dated June 9, 1842.

These improvements relate chiefly to the class of pumps employed for the raising of water from mines, through the agency of steam power. The patentee supposes the case of water being raised from a depth of seventy-five feet. He first takes a length of tubing, to the extent say of twenty-five feet. Upon the top of this tubing, he places a box, of dimensions suitable to the quantity of water to be delivered at each stroke, which box is fitted with three valves; one valve being at the head of

the tube, for preventing the water from returning, at the time the second or delivering valve is open; and the third valve being made of a floating substance, with a rod attached to it, so that, as the water rises in the water box, it may become elevated thereby, and prevent the water rising in the air tube.

From the water reservoir, another length of water tubing, similar to the first, ascends to a second box, which is fitted up in all respects similar to the former. The air tube passes through or round the reservoir, and round the water box, into a second air tube ascending from the second water box. A third length of water tubing ascends from the reservoir last mentioned, and has at its head a water box, fitted up in all respects similar to the boxes before described, with this exception-namely, that instead of having a reservoir, a spout is attached for carrying and delivering the water in the direction required. A small branch pipe, from the third water box, forms a junction with the air tube below the cylinder; so that, on the elevation of the piston in the cylinder, caused by the vacuum created under the piston in the steam cylinder, and also by the pressure of the atmosphere, in excess of the pressure required to support the column of water, in one lift, the air in all the boxes is thereby acted upon, and removed into the air tubes and cylinder; and water, or other liquid, takes the place of the air removed from the boxes. The theory of the action of this portion of the stroke of the engine, is stated to be founded upon the well known law of the pressure of fluids. Thus, assuming the pressure of the atmosphere to be 15 lbs. per square inch, and that this pressure will support in vacuo a column of water of nearly thirty-four feet in height, it follows that if the height of the column be fixed at twentyfive feet or thereabouts, there will be, on the head thereof, a surplus pressure of about 4 lbs. on the square inch, which is sufficient, taking all the lifts together, to overcome the friction of this portion of the stroke of the engine. The remaining portion of the stroke- that is, the downward stroke of the piston, or the stroke for delivering the water-is produced by admitting steam, at or about the atmospheric pressure, into the cylinder, under the piston, by the steam port, which, causing the piston to descend in the air cylinder, restores to the surface of the water, in each of the water boxes, a pressure equal to that of the atmosphere; the effect of which is, owing to the tendency of the water to gravitate, that the water is ejected at the delivery valve as before mentioned. A pipe is connected from the waste port of the steam

cylinder, to the top of the cylinder, through which pipe, on reversing the valves, the steam flows, and is acted upon, and ondensed by, a jet of water from a rose, and on the piston attaining the summit of its stroke, ejected at the port into the tube fitted with a water-tight valve. The cylinders are connected at their tops by a pipe, which keeps on the surface of each piston an equal amount of pressure, the cubical contents of each of the cylinders being, at least, equal to the cubical contents of the whole of the water boxes employed. The pistons are fitted with rods attached to a working beam, having parallel motions at either end from which beam the valves may be worked by means of tappits. The steam port is connected with a steam boiler, proposed to be worked at high pressure, so that the steam may be wire drawn, and enter the cylinder at a low degree of elasticity. In starting this apparatus, it is first necessary, by means of an air pump, which can be applied to each of the water boxes in succession, to exhaust the air from all the water boxes that the water may rise therein, the admission of the steam in the cylinder under the piston, causing the descent of the water in the boxes, and thereby obtaining the first portion of the stroke, when its condensation, producing a vacuum in the cylinder, the air returns from the boxes, in consequence of the surplus atmospheric pressure, and performs the remaining portion of the stroke. The engine might also be started by filling the reservoirs and valve boxes with water, and employing steam at a somewhat higher pressure, till the whole of the water tubing was filled with

water.

"Claim.-In the invention of this apparatus, I do not limit myself to any size or form of tube, either longitudinally or transversely, nor to any particular dimensions or forms of valves, boxes, cylinders, rods, or other parts; nor do I confine myself to the precise figures or shapes, as the same may be varied as found requisite; nor to the use of any particular metal, or other material, for the construction thereof respectively; nor to any certain number of lifts between the well and the cylinders, nor to the exclusive use of steam. I do not claim, as my invention, the raising of water without its entering the working barrels of pumps, neither do I claim the invention of raising water by means of a series of lifts, by means of air-tight tanks or cisterns. But I do claim the principle of the general arrangement and adaptation of the machinery described, and the peculiar application of the sources of its action, as set forth in the above statement thereof; and as the general arrangement, or some portion of it above

described, without the steam cylinder and its appurtenances, under some circumstances, may be worked with advantage by water, manual, or other power, I also claim for my invention, or any portion or portions thereof, the use or application of such power, or as many powers, as can be so applied."

HENRY BEWLEY, OF DUBLIN, LICENTIATE APOTHECARY AND CHEMIST, for an improved chalybeate water. Patent dated

June 23, 1842.

Iron, as is well known, is already extensively used for medicinal purposes, prepared either according to the directions contained in pharmaceutical works, or according to the extemporaneous prescriptions of medical practitioners, or as it exists in natural cha

lybeate waters. But of the artificial prepa

rations of iron in common use, some are liable to rapid decomposition, and are consequently of varying and uncertain strength, while others are insoluble till they meet with an acid in the stomach, and therefore act with more or less efficacy, according to the quantity of that acid. Some, again, are, from their irritant properties, liable to disorder the stomach, while most are nauseous to the taste. The natural waters especially characterized as chalybeates, are also very generally subject to speedy decomposition, so that, though drank with advantage by invalids at the sources, they can seldom be transmitted as an article of commerce to distant parts, without having their efficacy impaired by transport or keeping. A consideration of these circumstances has led to the composition of the improved chalybeate water, which is the subject of the present patent; and which, judging from numerous testimonials that we have seen from the highest medical and chemical authorities of London, as well as Dublin, is likely to prove very extensively useful. Mr. Bewley's chalybeate is particularly distinguished from all others in this, that it contains the iron in a state of complete solution, so that there is no obstacle whatever to its ready absorption. It exerts a tonic yet mild effect on the system, and is rendered, by combination with carbonic acid gas, as highly effervescent, as the best natural chalybeate waters, and more so than the great majority of them. The manner in which this improved chalybeate water is prepared, is described to be as follows. "I dissolve in a mixture of about 10 pints of water, and 34 oz. by weight of good commercial sulphuric acid of the spe cific gravity of 1840, or thereabouts, (the said mixture being contained in a stoneware or porcelain basin or capsule, or other convenient vessel, set in a sand bath), one pound of the crystalized sulphate of iron, such as is sold by manufacturing chemists

for medicinal purposes. I raise the heat of the solution to the boiling point, and then add at intervals nitric acid of ordinary commercial strength, of the specific gravity of about 1340, stirring frequently till the solution ceases to give off vapours of an orange colour, which is a well known indication of the iron having attained the state of peroxide. I then pour this peroxidized solution into about ten gallons of water, and add to this mixture (stirring it at the same time) water of caustic ammonia, (the liquor ammoniæ fort. Lond. Pharm.), to precipitate the peroxide of iron until the ammonia is in excess. I then collect the precipitate in a filter, and wash it well by repeated affusions of water. I next dissolve about eight ounces of crystallized citric acid (or more, as the case may be) in about four times its weight of water, in a stone-ware capsule, or other suitable vessel, set in a sand bath as before, and raised to a temperature of from 160° to 180 Fah., and add to the solution the per-oxide of iron, prepared in manner aforesaid; and in this moist state continue to add it with agitation until it ceases to be dissolved, that is, until the citric acid is as fully saturated with the per-oxide of iron as their affinities will readily admit of; and, after that, filter the solution. I then ascertain the exact strength of the solution of citrate of iron, by evaporating a certain quantity to dryness, and weighing the dry ferruginous salt. Having thus ascertained the strength of the solution of citrate of iron, I mix it, for the purpose of rendering my improved chalybeate water as palatable and grateful as possible, with a weak simple syrup of sugar, or with a syrup flavoured or aromatized according to the taste, and in proportions, the one to the other, corresponding with the degree of ferruginous strength desired to be given to the mixture. I generally add them in such proportions, that each fluid ounce of the mixture may contain 13 grains of citrate of iron. finally, I pour an ounce of this mixture (when of the above strength) into a seven ounce bottle, and fill up with about five ounces of water, charged with three or four times its volume of carbonic acid gas (by means of a soda water machine, such as in common use); and when the bottle has been so filled, it must be corked immediately very tightly, and the cork secured in any suitable manner.'

And,

The patentee states that he also prepares a modified triple combination of the citric acid with the oxide of iron, by adding to the citrate of iron above described, some alkali, as ammonia, potash, or soda. He mentions also, that, instead of the citrate of iron, other suitable organic salts of iron (as tar

trate or lactate), combined or not combined with alkali (as potash, soda, or ammonia), may be employed.

LIST OF ENGLISH PATENTS GRANTED BETWEEN THE 3RD AND THE 28TH OF DECEMBER, 1842.

Thomas Mansell, of Birmingham, agent, for certain improved machinery for cutting or shaping leather, paper, linen, lastings, silks, and other fabrics. December 3; six months to specify.

Ebenezer Timmis, of Birmingham, inanufacturer, for certain improvements in apparatus used for arresting the progress of, and extinguishing fire. December 3; six months.

Edward Cobbold, of Melford, clerk, for certain improvements in instruments for writing or marking, part or parts of which improvements are applicaule to brushes for water-colour drawing. December 3; six months.

John Stubbins, of Nottingham, hosier, for improved combinations of machinery to be employed for manufacturing certain parts of articles in stocking or lace fabrics. December 3; six months.

Don Pedro Pouchant, of Glasgow, civil engineer, for a certain improvement or improvements in the construction of machinery for manufacturing sugar. December 3; six months.

John Sealy, of Bridgwater, merchant, for an improved tile. December 3; two months.

Charles Heard Wild, of Birmingham, engineer, for an improved switch for railway purposes. December 3; six months.

Thomas Howard, of Hyde, Chester, manufacturer, for certain improvements in machinery for preparing and spinning cotton, wool, flax, silk, and similar fibrous materials. December 3; six months.

William Hancock, junior, of Amwell-street, gentleman, for certain improvements in bands, straps, and cords, for driving machinery and other mechanical purposes. December 3; six months.

Frederick William Etheredge, of Frindsbury, Kent, gentleman, for certain improvements in the manufacture of bricks, tiles, and other similar plastic substances. December 3; six months.

William Henry Stuckey, of Guildford-street, Middlesex, esquire, for certain improvements in filtering water and other fluids. December 3; six

months.

William Pope, of the Edgware-road, ironmonger, for an improved stove. December 6; six months.

William Oxley English, of Kingston-upon-Hull, distiller, for improvements in purifying spirits of turpentine, spirits of tar, and naphtha. (Being a communication from abroad.) December 8; six months.

William Coley Jones, of Vauxhall-terrace, practical chemist, and George Fergusson Wilson, of the same place, gentleman, for improvements in operating upon certain organic bodies or substances, in order to obtain products or materials therefrom for the manufacture of candles, and other purposes December 8; six months.

William Smith Harris and Septimus Hamel, of Leicester, cotton-winders and copartners, for improvements in the manufacture of reels for reeling cotton and linen thread. December 8; six months.

William Kempson, of Leicester, manufacturer, for improvements in the manufacture of muffs, cuffs, ruffs, tippets, mantillas, pelerines, dressinggowns, boots, shoes, slippers, coats, cloaks, shawls, stocks, cravats, capes, boas, caps, bonnets, and trimmings for parts of dress. December 8; six

months.

George Purt, of Saint Mary-at-Hill, soda-water manufacturer, and William Hall, of Woolwich, engineer, for improvents in producing aërated liquors. December 8; six months.

Richard Barber, of Leicester, reel-manufacturer, for improvements in the manufacture of boots, shoes, and clogs. December 8; six months.

John George Bodmer, of Manchester, engineer, for certain improvements in the manufacture of metallic hoops and tyres for wheels, and in the method of fixing the same for use, and also improvements in the machinery or apparatus to be employed therein. December 8; six months.

William Edward Newton, of Chancery-lane, civil engineer, for certain improvements in the construction and arrangement of axles, and axletrees for carriages, carts, and other vehicles used on rail, or other roads (Being a communication.) December 8; six months.

William Lomas, of Manchester, worsted spinner, and Isaac Shim well, of the same place, worsted spinner, for certain improvements in the manufacture of fringes, cords, and other similar small wares, and also in the machinery or apparatus for producing the same, December 8; six months.

John Grantham, of Liverpool, engineer, for certain improvements in the construction and arrangements of the engines, and their appendages for propelling vessels on water. December 8; six months.

James Brown, of the firm of Messrs. Boulton, Watt, and Company, of Soho, Birmingham, engineers, for certain improvements in steam engines, and steam propelling machinery. December 8; six months.

Benjamin Fothergill, of Manchester, machine maker, for certain improvements in machines called "mules," and other machines for spinning cotton, wool, and other fibrous substances. December 8; six months.

Charles Keene, of New Bond-street, hosier, for improvements in the manufacture of hose, socks, drawers, gloves, mitts, caps, comforters, and cuffs. December 15; six months.

William Palmer, of Sutton-street, Clerkenwell, manufacturer, for improvements in the manufacture of candles. December 15; six months.

Thomas Cardwell, of Bombay, in the East Indies, merchant, for improvements in the construction of presses for compressing cotton, and other articles. December 15; six months.

Moses Poole, of Lincoln's Inn, gentleman, for improvements in dressing mill-stones. (Being a communication.) December 15; six months.

Charles Maurice Elizee Sautter, of Austin-friars, London, gentleman, for improvements in the manufacture of sulphuric acid. (Being a communication.) December 15; six months.

Guillaume Simon Richault, of the Sabloniere Hotel, Leicester-square, editor of music, for improvements in apparatus for exercising the fingers of the human hand, in order to facilitate their use in the playing of the piano-forte and other instruments. (Being a cominunication.) December 15; six months.

James Winchester, of Noel-street, hatter, for certain improvements in steam boilers, and in the methods of applying steam or other power to locomotive purposes. December 15; six months.

Edward Robert Rigby, and Charles John Rigby, of Gracechurch-street, London, brush manufacturers, for an improvement or improvements in the manufacture of certain articles in which bristles have been, or are now used. December 20; six

months.

Gabriel Hippolyte Moreau, of Leicester Square, gentleman, for certain improvements in steam generators. December 21; six months.

Gabriel Hippolyte Moreau, of Leicester-square, gentleman, for certain improvements in propelling vessels. December 21; six months.

John Squire, of Ponghill, Cornwall, engineer, for certain improvements in steam boilers or generators. December 21; six monti.s.

Taverner John Miller, of Milbank-street, Westminster, oil merchant, for improvements in appa

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