the alumina, and only a very small portion, if any, of the iron; then draw off the clear liquor, taking care not to disturb the bottoms or sediment, and to this liquor add sulphuric acid, or acetic, or pyroligneous, or some other acid, to neutralize the alkali, which holds the alumina in solution, when the alumina precipitates, and may be sold either in that state, or converted into sulphate of alumina for sale, or otherwise, or into acetate of alumina, or into the alum of commerce, by the addition of sulphuric acid and potash, or ammonia.

Having now described the particulars of these improvements, and the method of carrying the same into practical effect, the patentee says, I desire it to be particularly understood, that I claim, as my invention, the method I have described, for preparing and purifying alum, alumina, and other aluminous solutions, and combinations, and also for manufacturing aluminous mordants, from sulphate of alumina, and alumina, instead of from the alum of commerce, in the manner and for the purposes herein set forth.[Inrolled in the Rolls Chapel Office, June, 1840.]

To GEORGE EUGENE MAGNUS, of Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, merchant, for his invention of certain improvements in manufacturing, polishing, and finishing slate, and in the application of the same to domestic and other useful purposes.-[Sealed 8th February, 1840.]

THESE improvements in manufacturing, polishing, and finishing slate, and in the application of the same to domestic and other useful purposes, consist, firstly,—in manufacturing, shaping, or forming certain articles of slate,

instead of employing metals, marbles, wood, and other substances, of which such well-known articles are commonly made, and have for their principal object durability, economy, and beauty of appearance, when compared with similar articles of the ordinary manufacture at present in use.

The articles which I have manufactured of slate, instead of other materials, as generally employed, and which I claim as new, and never before made, used, or known, and to the sole manufacture of which I consider myself entitled, under the above, in part recited letters patent, are baths composed solely of slate, and shaped, formed, or adapted to the reception of the human figure, by being carved out, or otherwise formed to the shape,―billiard tables composed solely of slate, that is, the frames and legs, as well as the bed or table, although I am aware the bed or table has been heretofore made of slate, which I do not claim, excepting when combined with the framing and legs-mangles, the bed and chest of which are to be composed of slate, and also weighted with slate; as before, I am aware that mangles have been made with the beds only of slate, but I claim the combination of the bed and chest when composed of slate-corn chests, made entirely from slate, and fitted with covers, sliding upon small rollerstaps, for liquids, composed of slate, by being carved out and fitted with metallic plugs, covered with slate, and which are thus entirely protected from filth or frost.

Secondly, my improvements consist in polishing and finishing such manufactured articles of slate, as are required to be used for ornamental purposes, by the following process, which will be found to render slate surfaces as beautiful as the highest polished marbles :-take seven pounds of linseed oil, one pound of umber, ground, three pounds of spirits of tar, and one pound of asphaltum, well mixed together. This mixture is then to be placed upon the

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slate surface with a brush, and submitted to a heat of two hundred degrees, or rather more; and, after being allowed to cool, it is to be polished with pumice and rotten-stone, by hand, and then painted or ornamented with any suitable device or pattern, in any variety the taste of the operator may suggest, after the manner of the papier machée manufacture.

Having thus described my improvements in manufacturng, polishing, and finishing slate, and the particular application of the same, I desire it to be understood, that I claim particularly, the manufacture of the above-mentioned several articles, when composed of slate, being, to the best of my knowledge, of my invention, and not heretofore known.—[Inrolled in the Rolls Chapel Office, August, 1840.]

TO JOHN LOUIS BACHELARD, of Saint Martin's-lane, in the county of Middlesex, gentleman, for improvements in the manufacture of beds, mattrasses, chairs, sofas, cushions, pads, and other articles of a similar nature, being a communication from a foreigner residing abroad.―[Sealed July 30th, 1840.]

THIS invention consists in stuffing mattrasses, seats, couches, beds, &c., with cork, reduced to small pieces, which may be done by sawing or breaking it into either fine or coarse dust, or else cutting into long narrow slips.

The patentee prefers using the refuse pieces, made by cork cutters, not only for economy, but because he considers it desirable to have the fibres cut from curved pieces, such as the parings of bungs, &c., as they contain more elasticity.

Horse-hair may also be used, in combination with the cork, with very good effect.

The patentee claims the use of cork, when cut into fine fibres, or reduced to dust, for stuffing mattrasses, couches, chairs, &c., but not for "fenders " used to protect the sides of ships, as it has been before applied for that purpose.— [Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, January, 1841.]

TO JAMES WALTON, of Sowerby-bridge, Halifax, in the county of York, cloth dresser and frizer, for improvements in the manufacture of beds, mattrasses, pillows, cushions, pads, and other articles of a similar nature, and in materials for packing.-[Sealed May 12th, 1840.]

THIS invention is described under three heads: the firstis the combination of elastic globular air vessels; secondthe packing articles of a fragile nature with such elastic air vessels, and third-stuffing beds, pillows, &c., with the

same.

The machinery used by the patentee for manufacturing these air vessels, which are balls or globes made of Indian rubber, is shewn in the specification; but, as it greatly resembles the apparatus now used for making children's footballs, it may here be dispensed with. These balls are lined with cotton to prevent them from collapsing, if burst; and several of the balls are connected together, as the patentee describes it, in sheets, which constitutes the combination, or the balls may be used separately for elastic resistance.

The patentee states, these elastic balls may be employed with advantage, in packing fragile articles, such as plateglass, vases, china, or other articles, which are now usually

packed in shavings or straw. Single balls should be used for these purposes, but if an article liable to injury from damp is to be packed, the sheet balls are preferred, as the ends of the sheet may be cemented together, with dissolved Indian rubber, and thus the packing becomes impervious to

water.

When used for stuffing beds, the sheets of Indian rubber balls or globes are placed in layers, one upon another, until they make the thickness required; they are then sewn in a covering, and form a soft and elastic mattrass or cushion.-[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, November,

1840.]

Scientific Notices.

ON THE NATURE AND PROPERTIES OF
SULPHUR.

We extract the following highly interesting article on the nature and properties of sulphur, from the Mining Journal, an able and well-conducted weekly newspaper, forming a complete register of mining and railway intelligence, and frequently containing articles of considerable interest to the general reader.

Owing to the recent dispute between the British and Neapolitan Governments, respecting the sulphur monopoly, the attention of many of our chemists and mining engineers has been directed to the subject, with the view of ascertaining the best method of extracting sulphur from ore, found within the United Kingdom. Any information, therefore, connected with the nature of the mineral, and the most advantageous manner of employing it in the arts, cannot fail of being a subject of interest to all those who can appreciate the national value of mineral wealth, as well as a great source of riches to those who successfully employ such information.