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THE BRITISH MUSEUM.

present, those who inspect them can handle them, and, of course, some caution is necessary as to the persons who are allowed to inspect them under such circumstances. But might not a way be easily devised of exposing them entirely to public view, without putting them in any danger whatever? Suppose a board a foot square, perforated at each inch with a hole large enough to admit a coin, hung up or otherwise fixed within it ;this, placed perpendicularly and enclosed in a glass-case, would offer to inspection both sides of a hundred and forty-four coins in this manner a good sized room might be made to contain a hundred thousand pieces, and would offer as handsome an appearance as a mineralogical gallery. Only the more rare and curious parts of the collection might be thus exhibited, or a change in the pieces might be made at stated intervals, if it were not thought worth while to go to this expense for the whole.

I could offer some other suggestions which have occurred to me (and, I believe, some occur to every body), for the improvement of the Museum; but, interesting as the subject always is, or as I at least have always found it, I am afraid, Mr. Editor, of exhausting your room and patience. I cannot lay down the pen, however, without adverting to the singular notice of "the British Museum" which appeared in the last part of the Penny Cyclopædia. You will, perhaps, be surprised to hear that this article only appeared in the last part of that work, after the declaration of the editors, that 66 no opinion was to be formed of the extent of the work in general from the space occupied by the letter A, because that letter always required more room than any other in the alphabet,”—but so it is that they have now expended about thirty double-columned pages more on the letter B than they did on A, and yet have not "progressed" three columns beyond this article in Bri. Singular I have called this article, and singular indeed it is not from the extent of its information, though there is a reasonable quantity of that, and the notice bears internal evidence of being from the pen of Sir Henry Ellis, the Chief Librarian, who has used it before in the service of the Diffusion Society,-but from the gigantic enormity of its omissions. We are informed at some length of the his

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tory not only of the present Montague House, but of the one before it, which was burnt to the ground precisely sixtyseven years before the Museum was" born or thought of." We are informed with much minuteness of a whole bead-roll of "Donation MSS.," including "Duca

rel's Abstracts of the Archiepiscopal Registers at Lambeth," and "a long series of calendars of the Originalia. Rolls;" we are informed of the "two hundred and ninety-six stycas of Ethelred, Eänred, and Redulf, kings of Northumberland, and of Vigmund and Eanbald, archbishops of York, found at Hexham in 1832." We are informed of all this and much more of a similar character; but we are not favoured with any account of the number of officers of the Museum-we are not told what are the names and salaries of the principal of these,—we are not apprised of the number of visitors to the different departments (an interesting piece of information to be found in the Parliamentary Returns), we are not fur nished with an account of the general annual expenses of the whole establishment as annually laid before Parliament, -we are not presented with the enumeration of the number of books in the library; in lieu of which we may content ourselves with a vague assurance that the collection is " on a range with the greatest libraries of continental Europe." This list of omissions is already so long, that our readers must have been tempted to exclaim with Lord Byron's mob-orator, that the article must 66 contain no nothing." What will they think when we add, that with the exception of one vague reference to the "new buildings," this account of the British Museum contains no notice of the gigantic erections now, and for some time past, in progress there; one single wing of which cost 120,000l., and dwarfs the whole old establishment for extent and magnificence? To crown the whole, from beginning to end of the twelve columns, there is no mention whatever of the Parliamentary Committee which has been sitting on the affairs of the Museum, has elicited so much information, and excited so much interest respecting it, and is probably destined to effect so complete a revolution in the entire system of its affairs! Compared to this, the acting of Hamlet, with the part of the prince omitted by particular desire, comes badly off indeed." We

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DR. FOX'S TURN-CAP FOR VENTILATION.

know not, but it may be the fashion of the officers of the Museum to join in chorus to the song of

"Oh no we never mention it, its name is never beard

Our lips are all forbid to breathe that else familiar word."

But although this part of the Cyclopædia did happen to be published on the 1st of April, we think the editors might, for the credit of their publication, have avoided such a piece of Tomfoolery as this. In the other articles so solicitous are they to bring the information up to the very latest period that we find mention made of a storm at Bridlington, which took place no longer ago than the 17th of last February, so that it cannot be merely the recency of the inquiry which has prevented their taking notice of it. Perhaps they deem the storm at the Museum too unimportant to be put on record. We shall see. In the mean time, while the writer in the Cyclopædia will hardly allow his readers to believe that the Museum is not a "faultless monster," a writer in the Athenæum is labouring hard to convince the public, by an alternate use of the magnifying and diminishing glass-the former applied to all foreign institutions, and the latter to our own-that we and our Museum are the laughing-stock of surrounding nations. The truth lies somewhere, without much doubt, between these two extremes, but there is no need of ascertaining it to a nicety. The duty of Parliament will be discharged if it comes to a vote that the Museum "has increased, is increasing, and shall be increased tenfold."-Yours, &c.

P. P. C. R.

DR. FOX'S TURN-CAP FOR VENTILATION.

Dr. Fox planned this turn-cap in consequence of his having frequent opportu nities of observing the very inefficient action of those in ordinary use, arising in a great degree from the weight of the parts which the wind has to move.

It will be found that where the principle of it is adopted, the part to be moved by the wind will not be more than fifty pounds weight, whilst on the old plan the weight of the moving parts would be two or three hundred pounds. Dr. Fox's turn-cap is not liable to be injured by very strong winds, although the moving part is so extremely light, and this lightness causes it to be influenced by a

very gentle breeze, and hence it secures the most perfect ventilation.

Specimens of this improvement, on a pretty large scale, may be seen on the County Courts at Nottingham; and one, in a very conspicuous situation, in Sheffield: there are also many on a smaller scale in the neighbourhood of Derby.

A model of this machine was sent to the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, &c., some years ago, by the inventor, but the Committee declared themselves unable to discover the improvement. The same model which was presented to the above Committee was lentto Mr. Harrison, of Derby, from which the turn-caps now recommended to the notice of the public have been constructed; and Mr. Harrison is so thoroughly satisfied of their great superiority, that he has discarded the old principle altogether.

It is hoped this notice will turn the attention of engineers to the subject, so that the construction and principles of the machine may be thoroughly investigated.*

THE

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RAILWAY PHENOMENON." Sir, I think it rather strange that the article headed "Railway Phenomenon," copied from the Bolton Chronicle, p. 224, vol. xxiv., should so long have passed without a comment from some one of your numerous correspondents: to me it appears highly improbable such a thing could occur; the sensation of the person at the moment of taking hold of the stone is correctly enough described; neither does the saying the stone had then attained its maximum velocity imply its want of truth, that being merely an error in judgment, as it is well known to all your readers that its maximum velocity must have been at the very instant it left the hand that impelled it; but the veracity of the writer appears, at least, questionable, on asking, very naturally, how could any one get into the situation from which the stone must have been thrown? Circumstances, i. e. the ve locity of the train, and the absence of any sudden curve in the road, deny the possibility of such an occurrence having taken place. Yours, &c.

TREBOR VALENTINE.

• In order that this may be done, it is necessary that the apparatus should be first described. Perhaps our correspondent will oblige us with a drawing and description.- ED. M. M.

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MERCURIAL SAFETY-PIPE, SELF-ACTING damper, AND PRESSURE-GAUGE FOR HIGH PRESSURE BOILERS.

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IMPROVED WINDOW-SASH.

value will be proportionably increased, Many months ago I described my apparatus to several engineers, but all doubted its efficiency. Having had a small engine (3-horse power) erected on my premises to which the safety-apparatus is attached, it affords me great satisfaction to state that it is completely effective, and may be made to suit any highpressure boiler.

Fig. 1 is a side view, and fig. 2 a front view of the apparatus.

A is a wrought-iron tube, one inch diameter, attached to the boiler, and connected with the cast-iron ball B, contain

ing 28lbs. of mercury. When the pres

sure of the steam begins to act on the surface of the mercury, the level of which is at L in the ball and L in the tube of the front view, it is forced up into the glass tube in front of the scale, also into the wrought-iron tube at the back of the scale, shown at D in the side view. When it arrives a little above D, the wrought-iron tube is increased to 14th inch diameter inside, and admits of a cylindrical iron bar about ths of an inch diameter and 14 inches long, weighing 3lbs., which, with the balance-weight F hung above the tube, are 1lb. heavier than the damper G. The mercury.continuing to rise, floats the cylindrical bar, and gives 1lb. preponderance to the damper G, which, of course, descends and moderates the draught; and as the pressure of the steam abates, the bar E falls with the mercury, and the damper rising, admits a more copious supply of air to the fire. The top of the tube D is made up solid at M, except a small aperture sufficient for the catgut cord, to which the cylindrical bar is attached at one end and the damper at the other. The pulley is 10 inches in diameter. Should any over-firing occur so as to raise the mercury above 18lbs., marked on the scale, which is the height the gauge is set in the annexed figure, the mercury will follow the tube H and fall into the wider tube I, where falling to the bottom, will be retained, and the steam will rush out at the top of the tube I, which may be continued through the roof of the boiler-house. When the steam has escaped, it is only necessary to open the cock N, and the mercury will run into the castiron ball B; and by shutting the cock after the mercury has run in, the apparatus will be again in the same state as be

fore, and will prove at all times an efficient safety-valve. The apparatus may be used for any pressure. The thumbscrew at K is for the purpose of drawing off the mercury to clean it when necessary. The glass tube C is open to the wrought-iron tube D, top and bottom, so that the height of the mercury is visible from top to bottom of the scale. The figures on the scale indicate pounds' pressure on the square inch.

My apparatus is open to the inspection of any gentleman or workman who may favour me with a call.

If the above is deemed worthy of insertion in your Magazine, your compliance will much oblige,

Yours, obediently,

EDWARD BUNTING.

Mansfield, March 19, 1836.

IMPROVED WINDOW-SASH.

Sir, The public attention having been recently much attracted to the dangerous practice of employing servants, particularly females, to clean the outsides of windows, often at a great elevation from the ground, an idea has suggested itself to my mind, by the adoption of which it seems to me that the difficulty now found in reaching the upper part of the outsides of windows might be easily avoided, and at little expense. The accidents which now so frequently take place, owing to the cause alluded to, certainly render it highly desirable that some means should be taken to prevent their recurrence. send you herewith a slight sketch of my plan, with an explanation, and should be

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Your obedient, humble servant, D. H. (No Mechanic.) Pentonville, Jan. 30, 1836.

Explanation of the Engraving.

1. Hinges for the upper sash to turn upon.

2. Bolts to fasten or unfasten the sash. 3. Holes to receive the bolts.

4. Moveable partition to be fixed to the lower part of the frame by iron pegs. 5. Coping-stone.

A window-sash made upon the above plan may be cleaned inside and outside with perfect ease and safety. Let the lower part of the frame of the under sash, which now consists of one piece of wood, be made of two; and let these two pieces be fixed together by iron pegs, but so as to admit of their being separated as occasion may require. When the panes of the upper sash want cleaning on the outside, detach the moveable or under piece of wood of the lower sash, marked No. 4. The lower sash will then fall so as to allow the top sash to be opened without hindrance from the middle part of the frame. This is done by unbolting the upper sash, which will then open inside, the panes of which may be thus cleaned as often as necessary, without danger or difficulty.

RAILWAY HINTS.

Sir,-Some weeks ago you favoured your readers with an account of Professor Barlow's experiments to ascertain the advantages or disadvantages of the chairs for rails being at three and six feet distance from each other. I wish Mr. Barlow's attention had been directed to solid platforms, so as to give the rails a steady bed throughout their length, as I suggested for slate platforms. I have re. cently heard that a railway from Bolton, or near Bolton-le-Moors, is now being made with a solid stone platform; perhaps some of your correspondents could procure you the particulars.

Before I saw your notice of the proposition for stopping the wheels on the Greenwich Railway, in order to produce friction on the rails to retard or stop the locomotives, I had been thinking on the same subject. I do not propose using the

ordinary wheels of the carriages for this purpose, but to have drags, or drag. wheels, which can be let down in an instant on to the rails. I think it probable that the ordinary wheels would soon be spoiled if used in that way. I also propose friction-wheels to let down on the rails to enable a train to ascend an inclined plane. I propose to raise and force down these drag and friction wheels by means of screws. I would also suggest elastic fenders to precede the wheels of a train, or carriage with an engine, to turn off any obstacle from the railway, or any person who may happen to be in the way, to prevent, or at least to diminish, the violence of accidents.

I would further suggest, that for railways the motion of the engine should be given to a horizontal fly-wheel, which may be placed under the carriage, and the motion communicated to the wheels by hands and pulleys. The object of this is to prevent the jar now experienced. The bands may be inade tight or slack by means of a screw. If the latter, the action of the engine will be instantaneously taken off the wheels.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
JOSEPH JOPLING.

31, Somerset-street, April 14, 1836.

CIRCULATING DECIMALS.

Sir, I think that your correspondent, Mr. Peacock, pp. 12 and 13, has taken a very partial view of the question to which he alludes, having only given a particular rule, and which fails when applied generally. For instance:-Given 3823529 to find the whole of the series. By the first part of this rule we certainly obtain the

whole of the series, 38235294117647058, but the second part fails completely. In this series 058 is of the least decimal value; divide unity by this, and we obtain. 17 for the denominator; or take the next in value, 1176, and we have 85, neither of which are correct, the equivalent vulgar fraction being.

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