INDIAN SWORD-BLADES. bles, it contains a greater number of joints there than is found at a greater distance from those places. Hoping that I have described with accuracy, if not in geological terms, the several appearances to which I have alluded in these quarries, and that your readers, generally, will be able to understand what I have written, I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, JOSEPH JOPLING. THE NEW SAFETY-CAB. Public attention has been a good deal attracted by a carriage, built by the Safety Cabriolet Company, after Mr. Han-. som's patent, as a specimen of those intended to be introduced into the streets of the metropolis. We are gratified to hear that the plan has been found to fulfil, if not exceed, the expectations of the inventor, and of the Company. For ease and safety to the passenger, it is unequalled; and for lightness of draught to the horse, far superior to any other vehicle yet invented. The position of the driver (on the top of the carriage) has been objected to as unsafe; but the men who have been engaged in this capacity are of quite a contrary opinion, in which we certainly agree: for facility of steering, it cannot be compared with the awkward one-sided position of the driver of the common cab; being elevated, the guide has a clear view of all around him, and can observe the signs of the drivers in the van without obstruction, a point of great importance in such crowded thoroughfares as Gracechurch-street, Cheapside, Fleet-street, and the Strand-the principal courses of cab-traffic. The safety and utility of the invention having been fully proved on the experimental carriages, by severer trials than it is ever likely a cab in ordinary use would be subjected to, the company are now building a number, to supersede the present danger. us and lumbering things-which will be in full operation about the latter end of May. It is almost needless to wish the undertaking success, we are confident the invention will mutually benefit the public, the shareholders, and the talented inventor. 59 PROVINCIAL INSTITUTIONS, LIBRARIES, Sir, I now proceed to fulfil my promise as to the "public and permanent" provincial Institutions, most of which I find, upon further inquiry, have already been "recognised by the Government." In 1822, the Record Commission determined to transmit to each of the following Institutions (except those marked with an asterisk, which I have added to the list) a copy of every work published by them, on condition that they should be accessible to any person without difficulty; and the value of such books, including others given to other public libraries and to individuals, was stated in 1833 to exceed the sum of 35,0007.! Man of the libraries in the subsequent enumeration are public endowed-Institutions; while others are "permanent," from the circumstance of their possessing vested funds sufficient to protect them from any chance of dissolution : Aberbrothock Subscription Library. Museum. · Devon and Exeter Institution. Dundee Public Library. Eron College Public Library. Goucester Permanent Library. Halifax Literary and Philosophical 60 PROVINCIAL INSTITUTIONS, LIBRARIES, AND MUSEUMS. Hull Subscription Library. Ipswich Corporation Library, for the use of the county of Suffolk. Leeds Subscription Library. *Leicester Public Library. Liverpool Lyceum Library. Royal Institution. Museum. The Record Commission having set so good an example, why should the Trustees of the British Museum refuse to follow it? What objection can be raised to such an appropriation of a part of the 3,570 volumes of their own publications now remaining in store; to say nothing of the continual accumulation of other printed books, prints, coins, and objects of natural history? If it were not considered advisable to admit the whole of the Institutions I have enumerated to partake of this valuable privilege, a selection might be made of the endowed and public and permanent ones. The different Provincial "MUSEUMS" would be greatly benefited by a share of the duplicate objects of natural history, coins, and prints. Although I may differ with your correspondent, P. P. C. R., on the expediency of an "Evening Reading-Room," I consider his suggestion as to the exhibition of the coins (at least, of a part of them) as extremely valuable, and worthy of immediate adoption. There are duplicates enough, I understand, to allow of this plan, without disturbing the continuity of the general collection. Some of the 20,000 MSS. might be exhibited under glass-cases; and a complete series of autographs of the kings of England, as well as MSS., with illuminations, from the earliest to the latest period, might be shown in this way. Something of this kind is done in the Royal Library at Paris; why not in the British Museum? I am, Sir, yours, &c. S. S. P.S-Any further hints or suggestions from your valuable correspondent, P. P. C. R., would, I think, be particularly acceptable at the present moment, as the Committee of Inquiry are still pursuing their labours; and you, Sir, will confer a lasting benefit upon the public by devoting occasionally some pages of your widely-circulating Journal to subjects so intimately connected with its best interests the promotion of the cause of science and knowledge. I cordially agree with P. P. C. R. in his excellent observations on the very imperfect and unsatisfactory article in the Penny Cyclopædia. Perhaps he does not know that Sir HENRY ELLIS is one of the COMMITTEE of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge; but can the information in this article be entitled to such an epithet? To P. P. C. R. I would say, as it respects the present inquiry, unita vis fortior, and in future, if on some subjects we agree to differ," may we "differ to agree" on the principal one, "the necessity for an entire reform in every thing connected with the British Museum!"-S. S. 66 ANALYTICAL NOTICES OF RECENT SPECIFICATIONS.. to Candles, and in the Application of such Extinguishers to Candles and Candlesticks.-Patent sealed July 3, specification inrolled Sept. 1835. After this rigmarole title, it may be necessary to explain, that this patent is for a self-acting extinguisher. There is' no improvement in the extinguisher itself as the title states; there is the self-same cone as has been used from time immemorial by every member of the save-all club; the improvement consists merely in an apparatus connected with the extinguisher and candlestick, which puts out the light after a given length of time has passed, or rather a given length of candle is consumed. The candlestick consists of a tube, covering the whole candle, which is inclosed therein with a cap, having a hole for the wick. A spiral spring in the tube under the candle continually presses it upwards against the cap, the same as in the carriagelantern. The patented improvement in the apparatus consists in attaching to the top of the candlestick an extinguisher, turning on a pivot and arm, to which is given a tendency always to close on the candle by a spring coiled on the pivot. The extinguisher is held back by a catch, which communicates with a lever, having a chain and pin attached to it. There is a slit in the upper portion of the tube which is graduated with a scale of the hours and minutes the candle will burn. The pin is thrust through the candle at the required time it is wanted to burn indicated by the scale; and as the candle consumes, the pin rises till it comes in contact with the lever, releases the catch, and lets the extinguisher down upon the light. The accuracy of the action of this ma chine, it will be seen, depends entirely upon equal portions of the candle being consumed in equal periods of time. All that can be effected is, an approximation to the desired measure of duration, which will be more or less near, as the candle is of equal quality throughout, and burnt in a situation free from draft or change of temperature. With respect to neatness this patent extinguisher is superior, but in utility only equal, to the simple selfacting one which has been in use for years, which acts by its own gravity, be.. ing released by the candle having burnt down to a pin which supports it. 61 JAMES KEAN, of Johnston, Renfrew, Machine-maker and Engineer; Improved Throstle-Flyer, or a Substitute for an ordinary Flyer, employed in Spinning Cotton, Flax, Hemp, Wool, Silk, and other Fibrous Substances.-Patent sealed July 3, 1835, inrolled Jan. 3, 1836. The patentee substitutes for the common forked-flyer a cylinder of thin sheet brass, copper, or tin, open at one end, and covering the bobbin. By this arrangement he says, that a swifter revolution will be made by the bobbin with the same power, or an equal swiftness with a smaller power; because at present the atmosphere greatly retards the speed of the bobbin, and the cylindrical flyer excluding the atmosphere, will allow the bobbin an unimpeded course. The exclusion of the air would certainly facilitate the speed of the bobbin; but the disadvantage is, that it will be difficult to get at the bobbin when the thread breaks to find the end and join it. The utmost facility should be given for this operation in spinning, which is of momentary occurrence, and the provision made by the patentee we do not think sufficient to obviate the objection. The cylindrical must, we should think, be heavier than the forked-flyer, and this will consume a portion of the power saved; and a greater speed than is at present attainable is unnecessary, as it would cause an even more frequent recurrence of the before-mentioned disadvantage, that is, mending a broken thread. WILLIAM BUSK, of Bankside, Surrey, Engineer; Improvements in Propelling Boats, Ships, or other Floating Bodies.Patent sealed July 10, 1835; specification inrolled, Jan. 10, 1836. This invention consists in the application of the principle of Barker's mill to the propulsion of vessels. Water is pumped by a steam-engine into a tank, which is connected with trunks projecting over each side of the vessel. Each side of these trunks at right angles with the side of the vessel is provided with a sluice-gate; and the water being kept by the steam-engine always at the same level in the tank, has an equal pressure on every side of the trunk except where it is allowed to escape by the sluice; consequently, if the hind sluices be opened, the egress of the water that way will have a retroactive force on the trunks, and 62 ANALYTICAL NOTICES OF RECENT SPECIFICATIONS. A retro propel the vessel forward. grade movement may be effected by shutting the hind sluices, and opening those forward: the vessel may also be made to turn by opening and shutting the sluices on either side: this, the patentee states will be of great advantage, when the ship may by accident lose its rudder. The power is proposed to be regulated by the height of the head of water, and the opening of the sluice gates more or less. Mr. Busk goes into details as to regulating the head of the water in the tank, and enters into a number of calculations as to the power and capabilities of his invention, through which we will not follow him. The principle of Barker's mill is a very valuable one, where it can be applied with an already existing head of water; but when that head has to be pumped up by a steam engine, there is anything rather than a saving of power. A steam engine on board a vessel would be more economically employed turning paddle-wheels, than pumping water into a tank to obtain a retroactive force from its flowing out again. The constant suction, too, of the powerful pumps which would be necessary, at the bottom of the vessel, would be a great impediment to its progress. JOHN ROGERS, of Princes Street, Westminster, Gent.; Improvements in Paddle Wheels.-Sealed July 10, 1835, specification inrolled January 9, 1836. We have seldom seen a more absurd and cumbrous piece of mechanism than Mr. Rogers has thought proper to obtain a legal monopoly for; a virtual monopoly he might have kept undisturbed possession of, without being at the expense and trouble of a patent. Rogers' paddle consists of three rings or rims, the two outer of equal diameter, the middle one somewhat larger. To the outer rims are bolted the sides of one series of float boards, which very much resemble a rather broad coal scuttle with the bottom out; under these, and attached to the large middle rim, are another series of flat boards in shape like a coal-heaver's shovel with a hole near the broadest end for the water to run out of, after passing the point of deepest immersion. The object of this se cond series of float boards, saysthepatentee, is to catch the water, after it has been acted upon, and passes from the coal Scuttle shaped paddle. There is also a third series of paddles, which are denominated "hat-wing paddles," being of that shape, which are placed at an angle between the inside of the large rim, and the outsides of the two outward smaller rims. The object of this combination of float boards or paddles, is stated to be to ob tain a large resisting surface to the water, but so diffused and so arranged, that it shall enter and emerge from the water in the most beneficial manner for the propulsion of the vessel. After this des cription, we think we need hardly take up the time of our readers with any remarks upon this valuable patent. We shall just mention that the patentee claims as his invention, besides the peculiar arrangement of resisting surface, the placing a larger, or middle rim to a wheel, with separate paddles which shall have deeper immersion than the others. a bridge; new method of Propelling Vessels. REV. F. H. MABERLY, of Bourn, Cam-Sealed July 13, 1835, specification inrolled January 13, 1836. Our readers will hardly believe that the learned clerical patentee now under our notice, has been at the expense of patenting a Windmill ship!—not of any peculiar construction-not with any con trivance to do away with the objections over and over again advanced-but a mere transposition of a common windmill from land to ship-board, and the substitution of paddle-wheels for millstones! This is not the first by some score, of such plans-not a few of them have been noticed too in our own pages-and there was one described in vol. xvi. p. 35, far more worthy of a patent than the reverend gentleman's. We now turn to the paddles which are to be set in motion by the windmill. The float boards are affixed to an endless chain which works round two wheels placed a little distance apart from each other, along the side of the vessel. We hardly recollect, amidst the confusion of words in the specifica. tion, whether both the upper and under parts of the chain are to be continually under water, but we imagine it must be so, because after the paddles opposing their surface to the water, in passing with the chain under the two wheels, they are "struck," (as the patentee terms it) by entering a groove, which carries them LIST OF ENGLISH AND SCOTCH PATENTS FOR APRIL. along the upper side in a horizontal direction. We beg again to refer our reverend friend to our 5th volume, page 137, where he will find this part of his invention described. We fear our patentee has been seized with a species of monomania, as we observe that he has since taken out another patent, for a Street-sweeping machine! That he is under a delusion, and believes himself that the inventions are really worth something, we can easily imagine; the very fact of his throwing away a few "cool hundreds" on patents is a proof of this. The inventor, as well as the poet, should know what ideas have been made public before his time, so that he may avoid republishing antiquities. Mr. M's. windmill has brought "grist to the mills" of the different offices through which a patent has to pass; but will bring none to his own. After what we have said, it would be absurd to criticise the drawing of the specification; we will just observe that the word "new" in the title, should be altered to " old and useless." Both the description and the drawings are evidently the productions of the reverend gentleman himself, with a bad pen, and without rule or compass. If he cannot preach a sermon better than he can draw a specification, we pity the unfortunate congregation of Bourn. LIST OF SCOTCH PATENTS GRANTED BE*TWEEN THE 21ST OF MARCH, AND 21ST OF APRIL, 1836, INCLUSIVE. Luke Hebert, of Paternoster-row, civil-engineer, for certain improvements in mills or machines for grinding and sifting farinaceous and other substances. Sealed March 23. John Brunton, of West Bromwich, Stafford, engineer, for certain improvements in the construction of retorts for generating gas for the purpose of illumination. March 25. Miles Berry, of Chancery-lane, in consequence of a communication made to him by a certain foreigner residing abroad, for a certain improvement orcertain improvements in the system or mode, or method of working engines for exerting mechanical power. April 6. Joseph Chesseborough Dyer, of Manchester, machine-maker, and James Smith, of Deanstone, Perth, cotton-spinner, for certain improvements in machinery used for winding upon spools, bobbins, or barrels, slivers or rovings of cotton, wool, and other fibrous substances of the like nature. April 7. William Hale, of Greenwich, Kent, late of Colchester, Essex, civil-engineer, for certain improve ments in machinery applicable to vessels propelled by steam or other power; which improvements or 63 parts thereof are applicable to other useful purposes. April 11. John Birkby, late of High Town, but now of Upper Rawfolds, both of Liversedge, near Leeds, card-maker, for improvements in mnchinery for making needles. April 11. Frederick Chaplin, of Bishop Storford, Herts, tanner, for an improvement in tanning hides and skins of certain descriptions. April 11. Charles de Bergue, of Clapham Rise, Surrey, engineer, for certain improvements in machinery used for spinning and doubling yarn or thread ma nufactured from cotton or other fibrous material.. April 11. Frederick Edward Harvey, of the Horseley Ironworks, Tipton, Stafford, mechanical draftsman, and Jeremiah Brown, of Tipton, roll-turner, for certain improvements in the process and machinery for manufacturing metallic tubes, and also in the process or machinery for forging and rolling metal for other purposes. April 22. LIST OF ENGLISH PATENTS, GRANTED BE- William Gossage, of Stoke Prior, Worcester, chemist, and Edward White Benson, of Wichbold in the same county, chemist, for an improvement or, improvements in the process of making or manufacturing ceruse or white lead. March 29; six months to specify. James Noble, the elder, of Mill-place, Commer cial-road, woolcomber, for certain improvements in the combing of wool and other fibrous substances. March 29; six months. Charles de Bergue, of Clapham Rise, Surrey, engineer, for certain improvements in machinery used for spinning and doubling yarn or thread manufactured from cotton or other fibrous material. March 29; six months. William Brindley, of Caroline-street, Birmingham, paper-maker, for improvements in the manufacture of tea-trays and other japanued ware, and in the board or material used therein, and for other purposes. March 29; six months. Thomas Cockerell Hogan, of Castle-street, Holborn, hat-manufacturer, for certain improvements in hats, caps, and bonnets. March 29; six months. Andrew Parkinson, of Low Moor, Lancaster, overlooker of power-looms, for an improved stretcher, to be used in, or with, hand or power-looms; being a communication from a foreigner residing abroad. March 29; six months. Samuel Parlour, of Addiscombe-road, Croydon, Surrey, gentleman, for certain improvements appli cable to sketching, drawing, or delineating. March 31; six months. John Jeremiah Rubery, of Birmingham, umbrella and parasol furniture manufacturer, for certain improvements in the making or manufacturing umbrella and parasol stretches. April 7; six months. John Spurgin, of Guildford-street, Russel-square, Doctor of Medicine, for a new or improved ladder or machinery applicable to the working of mines and other useful purposes. April 7; six months. John Holmes, of Birmingham, Warwick, engineer, for certain improvements in the construction of boilers for steam engines. April 7; six months. Thomas Ridgway Bridson, of Great Bolton, Lancaster, bleacher, for a certain improvement or im |