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JONES'S ROTARY MERCURIAL STEAM-WHEEL.

into an agreement with Mr. Murray

to print and publish the same at his own risk.

3. To prepare a classed catalogue of all the collections of manuscripts,

and to print and publish it in the

same way.

And your petitioner will ever pray, &c. JOHN MILLARD.

July 28, 1836.

[merged small][graphic][subsumed][subsumed]

This wheel consists of four cylindri cal iron vessels, marked A, with a suitable opening at one end for the rectifying of the valves, &c., and capable of holding between one and two hundred weight of mercury. Four tabular spokes communicate from the axle to the cylinders. The axle is hollow and fixed, and the wheel revolves around it. The axle has also a circular opening in it of the same diameter as the spokes. It has also four other tubes, marked B, with a valve at the extremity of each, furnished with a spring of just sufficient elasticity to keep the valve closed. The three groves marked in the axle communicate with the centre of the wheel and the atmosphere, and are so

contrived that no compressed steam can exist in the three upper spokes and cylinders. I have also a plan for condensing the remainder, and producing a

vacuum.

Mode of Action.-In the prefixed figure, one of the spokes is now open to the hollow axle, and opposite the hole in the axle, which can only be the case when one of the spokes reaches the true perpendicular. The steam then rushes into the lower cylindrical vessel, and drives the mercury 112 lbs. up the pipe, C, into the next cylinder, A; that cylin der then descends, and when it has reached the perpendicular, the steam descends, and the mercury is driven into the next tube, and so forth. The waste

MACKINTOSH'S ELECTRICAL THEORY OF THE UNIVERSE.

steam escapes by the plan before laid down.

The Power of the Wheel -The diameter of the wheel is four feet, and the diameter of the axle three inches. Semi-diameter of the wheel 24 inches, of the axle 1 inch 241 × 112 the weight of mercury in the ball, e, = 1792 lbs. minus 12 lbs. for friction, leaving a working power of 1780 lbs.

Quantity of Steam used.-As one foot will fill each ball, 4 feet will make one revolution, and nine revolutions will wind up seven feet of rope on the axle (3 × 1·1416 × 9÷12=7). The number of revolutions made and the quantity of steam used to draw up 1780 feet 112 fathoms, or 672 feet, 112 × 6 × 7-9 = 864 revolutions; 864 x 4 = 3456 cubic feet of steam used, or 445 lbs. for every foot of steam.

Advantages. In the present engine, on Watt's principle, the steam has an absolutely dead weight to lift from a dead point, accompanied with all its massive machinery, and there is accu rately speaking no power gained; for if we wish to raise five tons at one end of the beam, a corresponding pressure must be made on the other end or piston; but in the present wheel we have only to raise 112 lbs. to increase its power nearly sixteen times.

The only mercurial steam-wheel I can get any account of was one erected by Messrs. Bolton and Watt, on Cardrew Downs, to drive a turning lathe; but the motion was not circular, but alternating, and was rendered circular by means of a crank and fly wheel.

I wish for some one who has got a spirit of mechanical inquiry and speculation to give the wheel a fair trial, and shall be happy to give him all the information that lies in my power. The wheel is pro bono publico.

The insertion of this in your valuable publication will oblige a subscriber and zealous promoter of your Magazine. WILLIAM JONES.

Chacewater, near Tiuro.

MACKINTOSH'S ELECTRICAL THEORY OF THE UNIVERSE.

Sir,-Your correspondent Kinclaven has undertaken "to correct a mistake which," he says, "Ursa Major has fallen into." Kinclaven is very kind to Ursa

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Major in thus tendering his services voluntarily and gratuitously to "pull the mote out of his brother's eye," &c. He tells us, that" Laplace has demonstrated (in the 1st and 4th books of the Mechanique Celeste), that when the sun and moon cause the ocean to swell to places under them, there is also a high tide at the same time in that part of the ocean that is diametrically opposite; and all this he has done in strict accordance with the principles of universal gravitation." That Euler, Maclaurin, Daniel Bernoulli, and " every writer of eminence in physical astronomy, has demonstrated the same thing; and all their demonstrations are founded upon the unerring principles of universal gravitation."

Ursa Major begs to assure Kinclaven that he is no stranger to the aforesaid demonstrations, and is of opinion that if he, Kinclaven, can any how manage to translate them into the language of common sense, he will do more for the doctrine of universal gravitation than has been done by the whole phalanx of demonstrations put together.

It may be unnecessary for me to remark, that I am far from giving an entire and full acquiescence to the electrical theory of the universe, at least in the form in which it presents itself to my mind at present. I am, however, still of opinion, notwithstanding what has been advanced by Zeta and Kinclaven, that some parts of this theory carry with them a very strong air of probability. In fact, the objections of these gentlemen amount to nothing. They have given authority for their opinions, it is true, but no argument; this will not do at the present day; one solid argument will go farther with the present thinking, searching ge neration of men than a thousand autho rities.

It appears, Mr. Editor, that this new philosophy is making its way somewhat rapidly. In passing a public lectureroom in the neighbourhood of the Cityroad, a few days ago, I observed an announcement that a lecture would be delivered on the Electrical Theory of the Universe, which I had the curiosity to attend. The lecturer, a Mr. Thorne, I believe, a young gentleman who appears to possess talent and attainments of an eminent order, treated the subject in a manner which at once reflected great great credit on his own capacity and the

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CASTING AND GRINDING SPECULA.

theory he had undertaken to illustrate; and his expositions were received with evident marks of approbation, by what appeared to me a highly intelligent audience.

I remain, Sir, yours, &c.,
URSA MAJOR.

CASTING AND GRINDING SPECULA.

Sir,-In February, 1830, being wishful to obtain information in the art of casting and grinding specula for reflecting telescopes, I took the liberty of addressing you, in the expectation of receiving information on this subject from some of the practical correspondents to your excellent Magazine. However, in this I was disappointed, but in a subsequent volume it was promised, in answer to another correspondent (vide vol. xv. p. 271), to republish a curtailment of Edwards's treatise on that subject, as containing the best directions up to that time published, and which was generally followed by persons undertaking the construction of these instruments. I take for granted this intention was laid aside in consequence of Mr. W. Ettrick (vol. xv. p. 335,) promising to describe (by what method, is left in doubt,) a new discovered process of his own, completely superseding the old methods, and by which success was sure, and the whole processes of casting, &c. was completely freed from the uncertainty hitherto connected with them.*

Now, sir, as five years have since elapsed, and no tidings of Mr. Ettrick's discovery yet announced in your pages, I trust the want of patience will not be laid to my charge by thus calling upon him to fulfil his promise, if his subsequent trials and experiments have verified his theory.

It is scarcely necessary to state, that I have spent the whole of my leisure time, during a period of ten years, in prosecuting a series of experiments, and must confess, have theorised and practised in vain, finding that I am not much nearer perfection than at the commencement; in finding a certain method of casting free from surface defects and porosity of

Our correspondent conjectures rightly. If we do not ere long receive Mr. Ettrick's long-promised communication, we shall still publish an abridgment of Edwards's treatise.-ED. M.M.

metal, my experience teaches me to think little or nothing of the difficulties in figuring and polishing in comparison with those of the casting free from defects, before enumerated.

By drawing the attention of Mr. Ettrick and your numerous readers to this subject, I shall feel particularly obliged. I am, Sir,

Your obedient servant,
C. G.

Gateshead, July 14, 1836.

P.S.-Perhaps Mr. Ettrick would favour your readers with a drawing and description of his instrument mounted for use, as there is a scarcity of such in mathematical works.

THE CHAFFINCH.

Sir,-To such of your numerous intellectual readers who take pleasure in the study of nature in the fields and woods, the following fact may prove interesting.

This day week, I think it was, it blew almost " a gale of wind." A chaffinch's nest, placed near the top of a high horsechestnut tree in the front of the house, was damaged, and one of the young nearly able to fly, came to the ground, and I caught it. It was old enough to eat of its own accord; and, until this morning, I kept it perched on a hencoop at the back of the house. This morning it had, somehow or other, contrived to get into the roof of a barn, and while I was attempting, by means of a clothes' pole, to get it down, and being surrounded at the time by four or five other persons (children) who were, of course, making a great outcry, for fear of the little orphan inmate being lost-the mother flew down straight from the other side of the house, and, without the least hesitation, seized her little one by the leg, and carried it off, over the house, to the top of the high tree from which it had fallen a week before! I look upon this as rather a curious circumstance of the kind; the power of wing in the old bird is not the least remarkable of its interesting features. I have the honour to be, Sir, yours, &c.

June 16, 1836.

F. MACERONI.

RISE OF A CITY IN THE WILDS-AN AMERICAN PICTURE.

RISE OF A CITY IN THE WILDS-AN AMERICAN PICTURE.

(From the New York Journal.)

A recent visit to Lowell, Mass., has affected me with much surprise, and afforded a high gratification. Extraordinary it may well be called, for here is a city at its maturity at the age of twelve years; here is a spot which seemed almost doomed to perpetual sterility, teeming with wealth; and in that short space the residence of a few straggling farmers, gathering, by severe toil, a scanty sub istence for ther selves and their cattle, from an uncongenial and pernicious soil, is transformed into a busy and buzzing hive, with a population approximating twenty thousand, active with impetuous spirit of industry, stimulated by rapid returns of profit, taxing to its utmost speed all the powers of mechanical genius, and labour-saving art; and with a thirst for knowledge and improvement, which seems to gather quickness from sympathy with the movements of the machinery around them, erecting halls, laboratories, libraries, and cabi nets, for the cultivation of science; and thus laying a broad foundation for intellectual improvement.

The moral spectacle here presented is in itself beautiful and sublime. The machinery of one of these great mills is not an unapt picture of society. Here are wheels within wheels; bands circling within bands; threads crossing threads; numerous and almost infinitely varied operations going on at the same time; much that is seen, and much that is unseen; mighty and concealed powers working in their subterraneous abodes with a tremendous agency, and sending out their influences to places far remote from their presence; human ingenuity strained to its utmost power, and human care equally concerned in the constant superintendence of this complicated apparatus; the powers of the physical world called into efficient action, moulded, guided, and brightened under the sharpened activity of intellect; the moral every where intermingling in order to preserve harmony and secure the fidelity of the intellectual and physical powers; and all, in all its parts and operations, all resting upon an unseen agency, whose activity is every where detected, but whose power is utterly unmeasured, and

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the mode of whose operations the brightest philosophy has not even conceived; all resolvable into one simple and great law, the law which pervades the whole material creation; hold fast the dust of the balance, the atom floating in the sunbeam, and the mightiest orb which brightens in the firmament; all, where each part retains its place, performs its duty and supplies its contribution, moving on in a beautiful harmony; producing results largely subservient to human comfort, improvement, and pleasure. On the other hand, all these results are defeated, when even the most minute and the humblest part of the machinery fail to perform their proper office; determine to go wrong, or refuse to go at all; when the wheels cease to revolve, or the filaments become broken; or the combination of physical, intellectual and moral energy, felt in a thousand hands, beaming from a thousand eyes, and operating in a thousand hearts, is broken up, withdrawn, relaxed or perverted. Now, this is a striking analogy of human society; this is a world in miniature. Laws bearing a strong resemblance to each other prevail in both. They are universal laws; they are uncontrollable and unalterable to human power or pleasure; they are ceaseless in their operation; and, like the great Being who established them, they are "without variableness or even the shadow of change."

Lowell is principally devoted to the manufacture of cotton; but it embraces several other important factories; very extensive woollen factories, for flannel, broadcloth, kerseymere, worsted, and carpeting; extensive machine shops for the construction of various kinds of machinery, from that necessary to the furnishing of a cotton mill to railroad cars and steam-engines; together with a card and whip factory, planing machine, reed machine, grist and saw mills, glass works, iron furnace and powder mills, and extensive bleacheries and print works; in all, employing a popu lation of nearly eight thousand operatives, to say nothing of the persons subsidiary to their support and accommodation, and a capital of nearly nine millions of dollars.

The mills in general are of a large size; generally of brick, and seven or eight stories in height, well lighted, ven

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RISE OF A CITY IN THE WILDE-AN AMERICAN PICTURE.

tilated, and warmed. The machinery seemed of the most improved and perfect kind; and in general, and as far as the nature of the occupation admitted, the neatness and order of the mills which I visited, most exemplary. The hours of work, exclusive of meals, average about twelve; and, as far as I could learn, it was the determination of the overseers never to employ children under twelve or thirteen years of age; and none such were employed, except where parents, as in the block printing, where they work by the piece, chose to avail themselves of their children's aid in some of the subordinate operations. The e cases were almost universally those of foreigners. They were discountenanced by the superintendents; and in my opinion, where there are schools to which such children might be sent, it ought to be made a penal offence by the statute; or in any event never more than three hours' labour in the twenty-four should be exacted from them.

The cotton fabrics made here are of various qualities; the finest averaging about 42 or 45 hanks to the pound. The printing establishments, by means of engraved copper cylinders, where sometimes four impressions are given by a single revolution of the machine, are well worth visiting; and the machinery for engrav. ing these cylinders by the sinking of steel dies is very curious, and capable of being graduated to the thirty-six thousandth part of an inch. This is almost litterally splitting a hair. The invention and delineation of the figures displayed great ingenuity and skill. The shearing of the woollen fabrics is a delicate and beautiful operation; but the singeing of the fine furze or nap of the cotton cloth, by dragging the piece of cloth directly over, and in contact with, a red hot iron cylinder without burning the cloth itself, strikes an unaccustomed eye with extreme astonishment. The card and whip factories are exceedingly curious, and as automatic machines approach nearer to the actual operations of intellect and intelligence than any one who had never seen them could imagine to be possible. Both these machines, we understand, were of domestic invention. The rapidity of the operations in almost every department of manufacture which I visited was a remarkable circumstance. A large whip was completely braided with cord in about five minutes; and the

superintendent of one of the establishments informed me that he turned out one piece of cotton cloth of thirty yards in about every minute and a half, while his works were in full operation.

The standard of health among the operatives in the factories, as I learnt from the best medical sources, was considered as good. Many persons on going into a new place, and into new and different employment from that to which they have been accustomed, generally suffer at first, and pass through a kind of acclimation; but afterwards they enjoy as good health, and in some cases the health has been improved, as before entering the mills. It is obvious, however, that some of the processes must be less favourable to health than others; as there are, doubtless, predisposing causes to disease in some, which do not exist in other temperaments or constitutions.

Of the moral character of the present manufacturing population of Lowell, I feel authorised to speak in high terms. I was permitted to look in some cases at the books, in which the names of the individuals employed are recorded; and if they are discharged, the causes of that discharge are mentioned. The instances of discharge for improprieties of conduct were comparatively very few. The regulations for enforcing decorum and order are strict; and the character of the present superintendents of these establishments, such as to afford an ample guarantee that all which can be done shall be done to secure the good conduct and virtue, and to promote the comfort of the young persons under their employ. These gentlemen acting with such a powerful influence as they necessarily exert, it is obvious, hold a highly responsible situation. The virtue and welfare of many thousands of very susceptible beings rest upon what they do or what they fail to do: and as long as they rate the value of moral character so highly, and insist upon moral correctness, as indispensable to their patronage, and encourage sentiments of high self-respect among the operatives themselves, they certainly will do much towards securing the moral purity and advancing the moral improvement of these interesting communities. It was delightful on Sunday morning, at the first sound of the bell, to see the multitudes of well-dressed young people crowding into the Sunday school, and into the

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