THE NATIONAL GALLERY. How well acquainted the officers of Government are with the history of their own proceedings-how carefully the House of Commons consults the docu

ments which it orders to be printed, at the public expense, for its use and benefit may be estimated from the singular history of the erection of the National Gallery, which manifes's an inattention and ignorance on the part of all connected with it which really border on the incredible.

For some time Mr. Wilkins, the architect of the National Gallery, has been in the habit of claiming the merit of having originally suggested the idea of erecting it on its present site-the northern side of Trafalgar-square. He made a positive statement to that effect before the late Committee of the House of Commons respecting the Arts of Design. "Four plans," he said," were laid before a Committee appointed by the Lords of the Treasury-two by Mr. Nash, one by Mr. Cockerell, and my own." This led to an inquiry from Dr. Bowring (Question 1392). And the number of architects who were competitors were (sic) confined to those three?""Yes," is the reply; "they were hardly competitors, I do not know whether I ought to call them competitors; plans had been presented by Mr. Nash and Mr. Cockerell, but the fact is, that the suggestion of erecting a building for this purpose originated with whether that was a ground of preference or not, I do not know, but I wish to state that. The site was about to be converted into shops, and seeing a very magnificent site, I took the liberty of calling at Lord Dover's and Lord Aberdeen's, and suggesting there would be the site for a National Gallery if one was to be erected." "Did you make a written representation on the subject?" continues the questioner. "Yes," replies Mr. Wilkins, "and Lord Dover communicated with Lord Grey, in consequence of which I had to wait on Lord Grey." From this statement we observe, that the sug

me:

gestion was m made when Lord Grey was in power-therefore not before 1830and at a time when the site appeared magnificent-therefore after the clearance had been made for Trafalgar-square. As it happens, however, that clearance was made, and Trafalgar-square was formed,

for the express purpose of building the National Gallery where the National Gallery now stands, the originator of the plan was Mr. Nash-it met with the patronage of George IV.-it was proposed by the Commissioners of Woods and Forests it was sanctioned by the House of Commons-and (it might be added, were it not for the Cimmerian darkness in which parties subsequently appear to have become involved) it became matter of public notoriety in the year 1826, or four years at least before Mr. Wilkins started the bran-new idea, as he imagined, viduals, Lord Dover, Lord Aberdeen, and to that trio of very well-informed indiLord Grey. The reader, perhaps, may be disposed to be incredulous about this, if he do not happen to have paid attention to the subject himself, especially as when Mr. Wilkins made his statement there was no one found among the Committee to hint a suspicion of his perfect right to the honour he laid claim to. But by re

ferring to the 14th volume of the House of Commons' Reports for 1826, which contains the Fifth Triennial Report of the Commissioners of Woods, Forests, and Land Revenues, he will find in Appendix, No. 23, plate 3, a "Plan of the Proposed Improvements at Charing-cross, St. Martin's-lane, and Entrance to the Strand," in which an edifice standing on the north side of the then projected square, since made and named Trafalgar, is very legibly labelled, " NATIONAL GALLERY OF PAINTING AND SCULPTURE." In front of it facing towards Whitehall appears another building, intended to be an exact copy of the Parthenon at Athens, and appropriated to the Royal Academy, who have since, to the dissatisfaction of the Committee before which Mr. Wilkins gave evidence, been billeted in the National Gallery itself.

The claim of Mr. Wilkins is, therefore, "baseless as a dream," and his story only adds another to the numerous instances of the singular ignorance of our artists and amateurs, respecting what is going on around them in the very sphere with which they ought to be best acquainted. For instance, from the evidence of Sir Francis Chantrey, of Mr. Hawkins, and others, respecting the mode of engraving medals by machinery, this, at least, appears evident, that till a Frenchman. came from Paris to solicit support for the im

REMARKS ON MR. SIEVIER'S PATENTS FOR

INDIA-RUBBER MANUFACTURE.

Sir, Your readers and the public are greatly indebted to you, for laying before them the patented inventions which are to form the basis of the London Caoutchouc Company. On glancing over the objects to which Mr. Sievier has directed his attention, I observe, that, in the first of his patents, cordage is by far the most prominent, as an article of extensive consumption. It does not appear that the presumed improvement, arising from the introduction of caoutchouc, extends beyond the mere giving to cables, ropes, and lines, the property of extending and contracting; which property, it seems, would for some purposes be desirable. Is Mr. Sievier aware that a patent was long since taken out for introducing caoutchouc into these very articles, and that they were not brought into use, and, in fact, could not be used, on account of the rigidity contracted by caoutchouc when exposed to cold? Every body knows that the most flexible piece of caoutchouc that can be produced will become as hard, and as unpliant, as a piece of ash timber of the same dimensions, in one cold night. If Mr. Sievier has a remedy against this decisive objection, he has not stated it in his patent, which he should have done if he knew of any. It is easy to see that a cable, for instance, containing a sufficient quantity of caoutchouc to make it elastic at a me

dium temperature, would in a single night of frost become so inflexibly stiff, that the united efforts of a whole ship's crew would not be able to uncoil it. Let us hope that Mr. Sievier has some clear and explicit explanation to give the public on this point; doubtless your pages will be open to him. The other part of this patent relative to the making elastic, carpet bags or purses, at the mouth, by the introduction of caoutchouc, is an old patented invention, and of little value.

The second patent is for introducing caoutchouc as an elastic into stockings and other articles of dress. A similar contrivance was patented sixteen or seventeen years ago, but it was found that fres quent washing in warm water and soap, soon impaired the elasticity of the caoutchoue; and the application of it at that time went out of use except for gloves, in which it has been used ever since.

The next object of this patent, is the formation of an elastic cloth, with or without a nap, and elastic in both directions. Where can we purchase this cloth ? And to what uses has it been applied ?

"some

The last patent was taken out about a year ago for dissolving caoutchouc in li quor ammonia: of what value it may be, I cannot tell. I put some caoutchouc, cut very thin, into "liquor ammonia” “ months" ago, and the only observable effect is, that the surfaces of the thin slices are softened, and not at all disposed again to become hard, or dry; but beyond this no perceptible effect has been produced. Perhaps Mr. Sievier will inform us, where this solution of caoutchouc, as well as some of the "solid masses of any form" of which he speaks of, are to be purchased, or seen; as until I see these specimens, I for one shall continue to think, that there' is some mistake about this solution in "liquor ammonia," and the producing any degree of consistency by increasing or diminishing the quantity of water,"&c. › Many modes of dissolving caoutchouc have been announced, which, when tried, have proved useless; either on account of its never drying, or returning to its original state by evaporation; or, if it did, soon becoming soft again. What prospects the company may have in relation to their mercantile operations, I leave to the examination of others. I look to the patents which you say "it appears the company are to purchase at a considerable expense," which is, I think, in the first instance, the most important part of the I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, MAINPOINTS.

business.

VENTILATION OF ROOMS.

Sir, I resume my observations on the subject of ventilating rooms. It is a matter of so much interest to people in general, that I think it will induce you

tos afford me space for the insertion of these few suggestions. The question is, whether a stagnant body of unwholesome atmosphere, which we generally breathe in rooms, is not to be removed, and give place to a fresh supply of that which is not only more pure, but more healthy. I assert that it can be easily done, and I support that assertion by proposing the following remedies as means for accomplishing the same. If I speak of rooms about to be built, I shall say, introduce into the chimney the outlet which I alluded to in my last letter, and also let there be two or three openings of the same description in the ceiling, which shall communicate also with the chimney or the front of the house. I am aware that these openings in the ceiling have been introduced in some instances, but upon a scale so extremely small, that the idea of their being of the slightest use in causing a ventilation, is perfectly absurd. I have lately seen two instances in rooms where large numbers are in the habit of assembling; the principle is quite correct, but it is rendered necessary by the outlet being so absurdly small, as to afford very little passage for the imprisoned heat. These openings into the ceiling might be formed of such bold designs, and so arranged, that they would contribute as much to the beauty and style of the room, as the pattern upon the carpet, or any other part which is intended to be ornamental.

If I speak of rooms already built, I beg to propose another remedy which can be easily adopted, and that at little trouble and little cost. There is a species of manufacture, if I may so call it, in troduced within the last few years, for the use of man, which, I believe, is generally known by the name of wire-gauze; this: wire-gauze heretofore, I believe, has been applied to no other useful purpose than that of being affixed to the lower part of windows, for the purpose of excluding the view of the public from those rooms where parties wish to sit to see the "stir of the great Babel and not feel the crowd." In other words, they are very effective in ensuring protection from the public gaze, whilst they scarcely interfere at all with the view from the interior. So far the purpose is answered, but I want to extend its utility beyond this point. I want to use it as a medium by which fresh air may be admitted into a

room without inconvenience, and thus it. should be done.

Let the upper half of each of two windows in a room be lowered, and let a wire-gauze blind be made to fit in the open space, the consequence would be, that through these blinds the air would be admitted freely without the slightest. inconvenience to any one who might be in the room; in fact, so little could even the most delicate be affected by it, that the hand, if held at the distance of three or four inches from the blind, will not be sensible of the slightest current, so completely is it broken by passing through, what Dr. Johnson calls the interstices of the intersections. I propose to have the blinds inserted in the upper part of the window, because I am aware that many persons would imagine, that if they were in the lower half they would be objec-. tionable from their admitting too much. air; but the fact really is not so, for any one might sit for hours close by them without the least danger or possibility of catching cold. If, however, they are affixed in the upper half, any apprehension of this being the case is utterly groundless. When the wire-gauze is. applied to this purpose, it is not necessary to have it of that fine character I'observe it generally bears, the interstices might be farther apart, and the quantity of air admitted in consequence would, of course, be much greater. In the coldest weather the windows in any room might be kept open with these blinds fixed up; for if it be asserted that the cold would be felt too severely, my argument as to the act of ventilation is instantly supported, for it is thereby proved that a body of fresh air is introduced; and to prevent the same being at all inconve- · nient, you have only to close the windows. to such an extent as to reduce the supply, and bring it within a habitable temperature. Any room having these blinds, and the opening into the chimney, which I have before referred to, would be unable to contain even for half an hour the rising volumes of cloudy exhalations puffed forth with vigour from one dozen of Cabana's best Havannah bristling from, the mouths of confirmed smokers,

Now that I am on the subject of the wire-gauze, I may be allowed to express my surprise that it has not yet been used in gentlemen's carriages and stage coaches. Is not every one aware of the

老

A Good Site for a Hero.-The statue of the Duke. of Wellington, for which upwards of 70001. have been raised, chiefly among City magnates, it is decided shall be placed between the Bank and the Mansion-House, at the entrance of the street (KingWilliam-street) leading to the bridge, for his share in promoting the erection of which the statue is (ostensibly at least) to be raised to his Grace. It will stand, most probably, on the site of "the great Globe itself" (i. e. the Globe Insurance-office), which, now that Princes-street approaches towards completion, certainly stands sadly in the way, and calls loudly for removal as little better than a common nuisance!

An expected Arrival.-Orders have been received in Egypt from the Trustees of the British Museum for the immediate removal to London of the fine colossal statue of Sesostris, which, ages since, ornamented the centre of the city of Memphis.

Taylor's Scientific Memoirs.-We are sorry to find, from the Advertisement prefixed to the Third Part of this work, which has just appeared, that it has not attained to a sale sufficient to remunerate its spirited projector, and ensure its permanent existence. It will be a sad slur on the scientific world if a periodical so much called for, and even

To be continued monthly.

so essentially required, be suffered to fall to the ground for want of patronage, especially as Mr. Taylor looks for no pecuniary reward for his own valuable services, but expresses his determination to continue his labours, if only a sufficient number can be sold barely to defray the unavoidable expenses of publication. By the way, we may as well remark, that this Third Number forms a part of Vol. I., which will include four Numbers, instead of two, as stated in our 704th No.

"The Air hath Bubbles.". -Air-ballooning is likely to be turned to practical use at last. The Aeronautical Association, for applying Aerostation to the Purposes of Geographical Survey," is already in operation, and has progressed so far as to open an office, to receive applications for the "four thousand shares, of two pounds each," which are to compose the capital of the Company, 66 one half to be paid on applying for shares!" As soon as the subscription list is filled, the Association will commence its labours by taking a minute aerial survey of the interior of Africa, for which purpose aerostation presents such tempting facilities, especially with the assistance of the trade winds, blowing constantly in one direction, so as to render the steering of the balloon a matter of infinite ease,-or rather to do away with the necessity of steering at all! This is certainly one of the most promising speculations in the market, but we are not aware that the shares of the Association are yet at any very high premium.

Novelty at a Discount.-The New Smithfield at Islington has now given up all competition with its too firmly-established rival, and the "public-spirited projector," thoroughly disappointed in his hopes of realising a fortune out of the "tolls" so specially secured to him by the Act of Parliament, on whose omnipotence he relied, has offered the concern (at no very high price, it may be presumed, under existing circumstances,) to the Common Council of the City of London.

Mr. Colliers Boilers.-Sir, In reply to a note in your last Number, I beg to state, that not having the slightest wish to be considered as personally opposed to Mr. Collier, I withhold my name. The observation I made in your publication was on public grounds, I therefore expected Mr. Collier would as publicly answer it.-I am, &c. T H. Feb. 13, 1837.

A correspondent wishes to purchase a working model of a condensing steam-engine. Particulars to be left with our publisher.

Mr. Nolte's "Statement of Facts," in reply to Mr. Henning, shall appear in our next,