different parts, but we fear that its complication and consequent expense will prove a bar to its general introduction.

SPRING LATCH.-To John Arnold, of Sheffield, Yorkshire, powder-flask maker, a patent for "an improved spring latch or fastening for doors," was granted on the 26th of January, and the specification was lodged in the Enrolment Office on the 26th of March, 1830.

A very few words will be sufficient to describe this invention, which is represented by fig. 6, Plate XX., and which consists of a hollow cylindrical bolt a, with a solid projecting part at e, beveled off at the ends in the usual way for the facility of shutting the door to which it may be applied. This fits into, and moves in a case bb, let into the style of the door. The bolt is projected forward by the helical spring d, and it is drawn back by the handle nobs c c, or these nobs may be placed a little above or below the bolt, and act upon by a small projecting lever firmly fixed into their axis at one end, and at the other acting upon a pin in the bolt. In this case the bolt is withdrawn by turning the handle, while in the first it is withdrawn by pulling the handle back in a slit provided for that purpose. e is a groove through which a pin passes to prevent the bolt from being turned round, or being projected too far out by the action of the spring.

CAT-HEAD STOPPERS.-To William Rodger, of Norfolk Street, Strand, London, lieutenant in the Royal Navy, a patent for "certain improvements in the construction of cat-head stoppers," was granted on the 30th of September, 1829, and the specification was deposited in the Enrolment Office on the 30th of March, 1830.

The usual process of catting the anchors, which consists in hooking tackle suspended from two beams, called cat-heads, projecting from the stern of the vessel, to the rings of the anchors. After it has been brought close up under the stern, that it may be brought out and elevated so as to be taken on board the vessel, or suspended from the cat-heads, ready to be let go when required. Now, this process occupies considerable time, and is attended with much inconvenience and some danger to the men engaged in it.

To remedy these inconveniences, Lieut. Rodger has invented an apparatus denominated by him cat-head stoppers, which may be considered almost as self-acting as far as regards the liberation

of the anchors from the cat-heads, which is a far more dangerous operation than that of hooking them to the cat-heads.

The apparatus, which is represented by fig. 9, Plate XIX., consists in a double hook a a, forming a kind of forceps turning on a joint d, and suspended from the cat-head by the double chain b b b, when the anchor is attached to it as shown by the figure. The tendency which the lower branches of the chain b b have to collapse by the suspension of a weight to them prevents the forceps from opening to let go their hold of the anchor ring e, and produces an increased security with an increase of weight; but when it is intended to let the anchor go, the chain b b b is let out till the chain cc, which has one end attached to the projecting beam, and the other to the joint of the forceps, by the bridle or shackle shown at lower c, when the forceps are no longer kept together by the double chain acting upon the upper arms they open, and the anchor is liberated without loss of time, inconvenience to the seamen, or risk of life.

COPPER SHEATHING.-To John Gray, of Beaumorris, Anglesea, Gentleman, a patent for " an improved method of preparing and putting on copper sheathing for shipping," was granted on the 4th of February, and the specification was deposited in the Enrolment Office on the 3d of April, 1830.

The sheets of copper are fastened to the bottoms and sides of ships by a row of nails along the centre of the sheet, and another along each side. Now, to contrive apparatus, by which the nailholes can be readily pierced of uniform dimensions and at equal distances, has been the object of Mr. Gray.

This apparatus is shown at figs. 11 and 12, Plate XIX. a a, fig. 11, is a strong iron frame firmly bolted to the bench b; c is a steel plate screwed to the bench, and having a conical hole to correspond with the conical end of the punch e, and the heads of the nails by which the sheathing is to be fastened to the vessel. f is the punch and lever handle by which it is to be turned or screwed down upon the sheet of copper which is passed along over the steel plate. To regulate the distances between the holes, the steel plate has a row of holes extending across it at the required distance from each other: now, into these holes the conical projections produced on the under side of the copper by punching exactly fit, as they are made precisely similar to the hole under the end of the punch, and thus the distance between the holes is regulated to the greatest nicety. The other form of

the apparatus represented at fig. 12, is intended to punch holes. along the edges of the copper after the sheet has been attached by a few nails along the middle. As the edges of two sheets are fastened by the same nails, it is of the utmost importance that the distances between the holes should be equal; and as it is equally important that the exterior of the sheathing should be smooth, and consequently that the form of the holes should be uniform, and in accordance with the form of the heads of the nails. To effect these two desirable purposes, Mr. Gray proposes to use this instrument, which he carries in the left hand by the handle a along the edge of the copper to be pierced, and works it with the right hand by the lever acting upon the screwed stem ƒ of the punch e, which forces it into the steel plate c, precisely as in the last instrument.

The lever g has at one extremity a small rod at the same distance from the punch that the holes are apart, and that determines the distances by being pressed through the medium of a spring acting on the other end of the lever into the last hole pierced, while the punch is brought down to pierce another, and so on in

succession.

This instrument we consider to be a very ingenious portable punching machine, and we have no doubt it will be found very serviceable for many purposes not at first contemplated by the patentee.

"

GLOBES.-To George Pocock, of Bristol, Gentleman, a patent for improvements in making or constructing globes for astronomical, geographical, and other purposes," was granted on the 4th of February, and the specification was lodged in the Enrolment Office on the 3d of April, 1830.

The principal intention of this patentee seems to be the construction of globes of a more portable kind, and therefore better adapted for many purposes than those of the usual construction. He makes them of thin tough paper manufactured from new linen rags, or of silk or other fibrous substances, which can be made air-tight, or nearly so. These are printed in gores in the usual way of printing the covers of globes, and then pasted or cemented together in the same manner that the gores of a balloon are connected together. A circular opening of about seven inches is left at the south pole through which it is to be inflated, which is effected in a very simple manner by lifting it about fifteen or twenty inches from the ground, and then letting it drop with the

opening downwards, by which a portion of the air between the globe and the ground is received within it, and this operation is repeated till the inflation is completed, when the globe is ready for use; and by resting the opening on a table, or on the carpet, the globe will remain distended for a considerable time. Another mode of filling it is represented by fig. 5, Plate XX., where a represents a portion of the globe; b a pedestal on which it rests; cc openings for the admission of air into the pedestal; d d is a kind of piston fitting loosely into the pedestal, moveable on the guide rod in the centre, and furnished with two valves opening upwards. This piston is raised by the cord represented proceeding from the centre of the pedestal, and over the pulley at f, and forces air through the valves at g into the globe.

To adapt the globe for the solution of problems, Mr. Pocock employs an hour circle of cloth or paper, which he attaches to the North Pole, and a flexible divided scale, which serves for a meridian as well as a quadrant of altitude. On this scale the numbers are so arranged as to shew at once the number of miles between any two places to which the scale may be applied. The apparatus is also furnished with the days of the month and the corresponding degrees which the sun occupies in the zoic in a tabular form.

A very ingenious method of rendering this globe transparent, and at the same time making it rotate on its axis, is described in the specification. It consists in the introduction of a series of ribs, of wire, or some light flexible material, each forming a perfect semicircle to keep the globe distended without forcing air into it for that purpose. The globe is made to rest upon an axis attached to the pedestal, which axis is bent from the straight line at one part, that a lamp may be suspended from it near the centre of the globe.

會

At the north pole an opening is made for the escape of hot air and smoke from the lamp, and into this opening is fitted a set of oblique vanes, which the current of air, produced by the heat of the lamp, acts upon, and thus produces rotation in the globe, which is of course kept up as long as the lamp continues to burn within it. This effect is extremely beautiful, and obtained, as will be perceived, by very simple means. Gloves of this description can of course be folded up, when not in use, and one of four feet diameter may be packed so close as to admit of its being carried in the crown of an ordinary hat. This is really a novel and highly interesting invention, though much accuracy must not

be expected in the solution of problems by the apparatus; but, for geographical reference and illustration, it is well adapted. Several of these globes, on a large scale, in lithographic printing, are exhibited at the National Repository, Charing Cross.

NATIONAL REPOSITORY,

FOR THE EXHIBITION OF IMPROVED Works of art, CHARING CROSS, LONDON.

In conformity with the announcement contained in our last number, we proceed to give a general account of the subjects which form the present exhibition.

Although it is our more immediate business, and generally our pleasure as well, first to notice the apparatus and machinery, we must be excused, in the present instance, for directing the reader's attention to that which is uppermost in our mind, and which does not fail to excite in every beholder of feeling or taste the deepest admiration, we allude to a most splendid composition in bas-relief for a frieze, which represents

The Triumph of Alexander.

The original of this frieze was composed by the Chevalier Thorwaldson for the Quirinal Palace at Rome, in the expectation of Napoleon's visit to that city; it was in plaster of a size double that of the prize here exhibited. By it the young sculptor's reputation was at once established. Count Sommariva many years afterwards requested the Chevalier Thorwaldson to execute it in marble for the Count's well-known villa on the Lake of Como. Lately, the artist, desirous of reviving the old Roman art of multiplying sculptured compositions in burnt clay (fragments of which are every day found in Rome where he resides), reduced the original to half the size, and superintended its formation in the present material by his eminent pupil Signor Bienaimé. The story is told by the figures themselves. The scene is without the city. First, we see a camel unladen by a river side a fisherman-ferrymen carrying over the merchant with his goods, and the god Euphrates himself resting on his urn; then below the walls of Babylon a flock of sheep led forth for sacrifice ; Magi with a celestial globe; then the presents, a lion, a horse, and a leopard, in one group, and further several horses; next, the musicians; then the priest and his attendants setting up a portable metallic altar. We now find dancing women, warriors, and, lastly, the family of Darius paying homage to the conqueror, whom the Goddess of Peace welcomes as he approaches in his chariot. Alexander is followed by his victorious soldiers, foremost among whom is his famous horse Bucephalus; while the train is mournfully closed by the dethroned Persian monarch, his hands bound behind him,