k, to the index point 7, being the radius,) consequently shewing at all times the degrees of inclination (if any) which the vessel has acquired from the perpendicular, or previously best determined sailing position.

Figs. 4 and 5, represent another form of instrument, likewise for this purpose, which is more conveniently used upon deck than the before-mentioned, as it may be placed upon the taffrail, or even in the binnacle, by passing a bell-wire under the deck to the stern, and attaching to this wire, at the stern, the same tow-line and plummets, or the egg-shaped ivory balls, (which are preferred,) about 12 in number, placed three feet apart upon the end of the tow-line;-these balls have a hole through them, longitudinally, which allows of their being strung upon the line, and a knot being tied in the line, behind each of them, secures them all in their proper places; the smaller or pointed end being forward upon the line, prevents any accumulation of sea weed, or obstruction of any kind, attaching itself.

Figs. 4 and 5, shew the instrument, with the cover removed. Fig. 4, is a side view, and fig. 5, a front view ;in both figures the same letters refer to similar parts. A, is the frame or bed of the instrument; B, is a barrel or arbor, with its pivots supported in the raised parts of the frame 1, and 2; upon this barrel, the inner end of the towline 3, is wound a turn or two, and secured to it; 4, and 5, are weights, fastened to the barrel B, which occasion the necessary resistance, as they are more or less lifted by the partial revolution of the barrel B, when the tow-line 3, is pulled, by being dragged through the water; 6, and 7, are other smaller weights, with the arms 8, and 9, for carrying the scale or card D, upon which are marked the miles per hour, or knots. It must be observed, that these arms and weights are suspended upon the same axle as the barrel B,

although loose and independent of it; the pivots of which pass through them within the raised parts of the frame 1, and 2.

The index wire or point o, is firmly fixed in the barrel B, and passes over and across the card or scale D. It will now be seen, that when the instrument is placed horizontally, or nearly so, in the stern of a vessel, whether in motion or not, that the card or scale will always find its true position by gravity, as steadily as the compass card by polarity; and that, as the barrel B, with the weights attached to its under side, is more or less acted upon by the resistance of the water, and the tow-line s, so will the index o, point out upon the scale (when properly adjusted) the number of knots, or rate, at which the vessel is sailing.

The patentee states, I claim, in the first-described apparatus, the general arrangement, and especially the reversed open-mouthed tube, as well as the double water cistern; and in the second and last, the general arrangement of the instruments, together with the tow plummet, conical or otherwise; or a number of towing plummets; a flexible rope, saturated with India-rubber or other adhesive material; a close flexible chain; or, in fact, the towing of any body after, or from, a vessel for obtaining a resistance (not rotary) for operating upon the hereindescribed instruments, or any other weighing instrument which might be used herewith, on board of vessels, for ascertaining their velocities; or, by the same means, in fixed positions, for ascertaining the velocities of currents, whether they be in water or other fluids.-[Inrolled in the Rolls Chapel Office, 1841.]

TO RICHARD HORNSBY, of Spittlegate, in the county of Lincoln, agricultural machine-maker, for an improved machine for drilling land, and sowing grain and seeds of different descriptions, either with or without bone, or other manure.-[Sealed 25th November, 1839.]

THIS invention consists in the adaptation, to a drilling machine, of what the patentee terms "a seed and manure depositing wheel," placed in the drill, as shewn in the drawing, Plate XVI.,-which represents a section of a drill, containing the seed and manure depositing wheel.

The wheel or drum a, a, a, has its interior equally divided by six angular projecting pieces b, b, b, b, b, b; and in its periphery there are six doors c, c, c, which are capable of opening outwards on hinges, but are kept closed, until they arrive at a particular part of the drill, by the springs e, e, e, which press against the semi-circular shield f. The seed and manure are supplied by the funnels g, g, which discharge into the drum at the opening h, just below its axis, as shewn by the dotted lines.

When the machine is drawn forward, the drum is caused to revolve in the direction of the arrow; and each of the springs e, on passing the end of the semi-circular shield ƒ, allows its door c, to open, (as shewn by dots,) and deposit the seed and manure contained in that division of the drum. Each of the divisions of the wheel receive their proper quantity of seed and manure, as they pass under the opening h, through which the materials enter from the hopper, and deposit the seed and manure, which they contain, in regular succession.

The patentee claims the seed and manure depositing wheel, with its appendages, whether the said wheel and its appendages are constructed of the form represented in the

drawing, or of any other variety of form, not essentially different from the same, and producing substantially the same results. He also claims a right to use the improved machine, either for depositing the seed and manure conjointly by one and the same operation; or for depositing the seed only, or manure only.-[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, May, 1839.]

TO WILLIAM ARMSTRONG, of Hawnes, near Ampthill, in the county of Bedford, farmer, for his improvements in harrows. [Sealed 30th May, 1839.]

THE first part of these improvements consists in constructing harrows with bars of a zig-zag form, as shewn in the drawing, (see Plate XV.,) in place of the straight bars, in which the teeth or tines are usually fixed, by which means the teeth or tines are more advantageously applied, than when they are affixed to a straight bar, one behind the other.

The second part of these improvements relates to a mode of connecting the harrow to the draught-beam a, in order to keep it more steady to its work, and consists in attaching an additional hook b, in each side of the centre one c; where more play is required, the additional hooks can be disengaged.

The third part relates to the application of braces d, d, for connecting the draught-beam with the horses or other animals; or, in place of the braces, the guide e, e, (shewn by dotted lines,) may be used.-[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, November, 1839.]

TO JAMES WILMOT NEWBERRY, of Hook-Norton, in the county of Oxford, farmer, and GEORGE SAUNDERS, of the same place, clerk, for their improvements in machinery for dibbling or setting wheat and other grain or seed.-[Sealed 2nd December, 1839.]

THIS invention consists, first, in an improvement in dibbles, which are arranged around the circumference of a revolving wheel. The dibbles are hollow, as shewn in fig. 1, Plate XVI., which represents a front view of the wheel, partly in section. These dibbles are adapted to receive wheat, or other grain or seed, within their hollows, the seed being introduced (by the means commonly used in drilling machinery) through a central hollow in the nave or centre chamber a, of the dibbling wheel; from which central hollow all the several dibbles b, radiate, and are supplied with seed.

The outermost ends of the dibbles, which project beyond the circumference of the wheel, are blunt-pointed, and qualified to penetrate into the ground, without exposing any opening at which the seed, contained within them, could drop out, until after the penetration has been effected; and then, whilst the hollow dibble is in the act of withdrawing from the hole which it has made in the ground, it opens a suitable passage for the wheat to pass out at for the purpose of its being left behind in the ground.

The opening of the end of the dibble may be effected by making each dibble in two halves, as shewn in fig. 2, one half being fixed to the dibbling wheel, and the other half moveable, or adapted to slide off from the centre of the wheel, so as to open the end, in order to let out the seed. The moveable half d, has a small stud or roller c, attached to it, which travels in a groove, on a circular plate attached