steam is suffered to escape, when the pressure exceeds 200lbs. The length of the tubes of the boiler is, altogether, 430 feet 5 inches.

The working cylinders are four in number, which act together, or separately, upon cranks, at right angles, and therefore may justly be regarded as four complete steam-engines, occupying, a space between the hind-wheels of only one foot in breadth, by two feet in height. The compactness and simplicity to which the steam-engine has been reduced in this carriage is truly extraordinary.

The

Although each of these engines may be considered as of twohorses power, we would undertake to put one in each of our coat pockets. The speed of the engines varies from 200 to 400 strokes per minute, and the steam is worked expansively. The power is applied independently to both of the hind-wheels, whereby the friction is rendered constant upon the road, whether the carriage be running along straight lines, or making every variety of curve-an arrangement which is also of the utmost utility in ascending hills. steering apparatus is one of great power and effect, and gives the driver infinitely more control over the movements of the vehicle than can possibly be obtained by the most skilful jehu with horses. We have seen the carriage repeatedly make turns of less than ten feet radius; and as the driver can at pleasure take off the power instantaneously, and apply a drag without any exertion, the superior safety of a carriage propelled by steam must be evident, especially when it is considered that the bursting of the boiler is rendered absolutely IMPOSSIBLE in this carriage, there being no steam chambers of more than one inch in diameter, which, were it possible to burst, would not effect the slightest injury.

On account of the great length to which some articles have been extended in this Number, we are precluded from entering further at present into this interesting subject.

LEATHER CLOTH.

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR,-In your last journal, you give a description of Mr. Hall's Pannus-Corium, or Leather-Cloth, an invention worthy a place in your pages. But it is with regret that I notice your giving credence to an assertion of your "friend," the cobler, viz. " that when the shoes begin to wear out, they cannot be repaired." Now, I take upon myself to say, they can be mended better and even neater than leather; for, in the first place, they can be repaired by putting a piece on the fracture, as is usually the case with leather; and in the next place, the surface of the material being a soft composition, it can be spread by means of any thing hard, so as completely to hide the sewing.

I have worn them myself, and given them a fair trial; the ease

* The principle of these arrangements were patented by Mr. James in March, 1824, and will be found fully described iu the "Register of Arts,” 4th volume.

and comfort I have experienced in the use of them is beyond description, and feel fully assured, they have, as Mr. Hall says, no drawing influence whatever on the feet.

My reason for contradicting the assertion of the cobler, arises from a desire to give a plain and correct statement of the fact, that the pannus-corium boots and skoës can be as easily and neatly repaired as leather.

Oct. 20th, 1829.

Your obedient servant,

H. S. J..

IMPROVED SHIP'S RUDDER.

We understand that Captain Hendry, R. N., has invented an ingenious piece of iron-work, which he terms a heel-brace, and which is applicable to the lower part of ships' rudders, in case the lower pintles are broken by the ship's grounding, or from any other casualty. This instrument is previously fitted to the lower part of the ship, that, when required, it may be better suspended by two guys from the after-part, and kept in its place by two guys leading forward. It has a hinge in it, in lieu of the pintles, and is secured to the rudder by two or three bolts, with fore-locks. To provide for the whole of the pintles going, he proposes that ships should also be furnished with a hoop or cap, to embrace the head of the rudder, into which the tiller is to be shipped, which will render the rudder as effectually serviceable as ever. Captain Hendry also suggests a new mode of making a temporary rudder, to which the above heel-brace and clasp-hoop are to be attached, the whole of which can be put together in a short time, and without the use of a forge.

LIST OF NEW PATENTS SEALED.

PROPELLING MACHINERY.-To J. Moore, of Broad Wier, Bristol, for certain new or improved machinery for propelling carriages, ships, or other floating bodies, &c.-Dated 30th Sept. 1829. Specification to be enrolled in Six months.

CAT-HEAD STOPPERS.-To W. Rodger, of Norfolk Street, Strand, for certain improvements in the construction of cat-head stoppers.-30th Sept. 1829. Six months.

STEAM ENGINES.-T. Banks, of Patricroft, within Barton-uponIrwell, Lancaster, for improvements in steam engines.-30th September, 1829. Six months.

COTTON.-To P. Descroizilles, of Fenchurch Street, for certain improvements in apparatus for removing the down from cotton and certain other fabrics, by singeing.-7th October, 1829. Six months.

PROPELLING MACHINERY.-To W. Church, of Heywood House, Birmingham, Esq. for certain improvements in machines for propelling vessels, &c.-15th October, 1829. Six months.

KNIVES TO W. Church, Esq. Heywood House, Birmingham, for improvements in sharpening knives and other edge tools.-15th October, 1829. Six months.

DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT OF ALL THE

PATENTS ENROLLED BETWEEN 20TH OCTOBER
AND 20TH NOVEMBER, 1829.

Particularizing the Offices in which the Specifications may be inspected, with the Dates of Enrolment.

MAST FIDS.-To William Prior, of Albany Road, Camberwell, a patent for " certain improvements in the construction and combination of fids for securing, supporting, and striking topmasts and top-gallant-masts of ships and other vessels," was granted on the 11th of April, and the specification was enrolled in the Rolls Chapel Office on the 10th of October, 1829. *

This is patent for a nautical invention, of considerable merit, and well deserving the attention of ship-builders. The usual method of securing the top and top-gallant-masts of ships, is, to introduce, through a mortice in the mast to be supported, a pin, denominated a fid, which rests upon the tressel-trees or crossbeams, which are attached to the principal or lower-mast, and thus supports the upper-mast. The chief objection to this fid, is, the difficulty of removing it without loss of time, when a sudden squall or storm renders it necessary to strike or take down the topmast, while it is subjected to great strain from the force of the wind. To remedy this inconvenience, Sir Robert Seppings, of the Navy Board, took out a patent, in 1826, for improvements in the construction of fids, which consist in the introduction of screws, to secure the top or top-gallant-mast in its place when raised to the proper elevation. This plan may be ingenious, but it has a degree of complexity about it which renders very questionable the propriety of introducing it amongst a class of men so little accustomed to refinement in mechanism as the generality of our British tars are. In the early part of 1827, Benjamin Rotch, Esq., a barrister, equally eminent for his scientific knowledge, and his acquaintance with the laws and practice of Courts respecting patent rights, took out a patent for a new fid, or diagonal prop, for transferring perpendicular to lateral pressure. A description of this invention, which possesses very considerable merit, will be found in the New Series of the Register of Arts, vol. 1. page 280. This fid, however, like the others, if made secure, cannot be easily disengaged when the weight of the top and top-gallant-masts, with their accompanying rigging, is resting

* Want of sufficient space prevented this from being included in our last number. 1ST DECEMBER, 1829.

VOL. IV.-NO. 77.

upon it, while their pressure is increased by the force of a heavy gale, which is frequently the case when the masts have to be struck.

To obviate these objections, Mr. Prior proposes, in his specification, two plans, which are represented by figures 1 and 2, Plate VII, in our last number. The same letters refer to similar parts in both plans.

a, represents the lower, or supporting mast, to which trusseltrees are to be secured in the usual way.

bb, the top, or mast to be supported, which is represented with one half removed to show the mortice e, into which the wedge-shaped piece, dd, fig. 1, and cam d, fig. 2, the one resting upon, and the other attached to the trussel-trees, cc cc, are to be projected to support the mast. ƒ is a cam in figure 1, which, when turned round by raising the lever g g, into the position represented by fig. 1, prevents the piece from slipping back, by the circular portion of the one fitting into the circular portion of the piece d, and prevent the descent of the mast: but when it is necessary to lower, or strike the top-mast, the lever g is to be depressed, as represented at fig. 2, which can be done in a moment with the greatest facility, notwithstanding any weight or pressure which it may at the time be sustaining. The piece, d, being thus liberated, is pressed out by the top-mast in its descent. Though this method may be considered good, and superior to its predecessors, yet it is far inferior to the second, in which the cam f is arranged to act upon the cam d, and project it into the mortice e, when the lever is elevated as represented by the dotted lines, which are also made to show the position of both cams when the mast is supported.

It will be perceived that, by this arrangement, a very considerable power is obtained for bringing the top, or top-gallant-mast up to its final altitude, or, as it is technically termed, bousing it home, as well as for supporting it when in that position, while the support can be instantly removed by the application of a very little force.

CONDENSATION OF GASES.-To James Wright, of Newcastleupon-Tyne, soap-maker, a patent for "improvements in condensing the gas or gases produced by the decomposition of the muriate of soda, and certain other substances, which improvements may be applied to other purposes," was granted on the 28th of April, and the specification was deposited in the Enrolment Office on the 26th of October, 1829.