the rice which is admited into the aperture or space between the two cylinders, against the interior wire surface of the outer cylinder, for which purpose the distance of the two cylinders from each other must be adjusted, so as to produce the rubbing effect. This gives the rice a polish, and drives any dust or flour which may still adhere to it through the interstices of the wire-cloth. In the construction of this machine hogs bristles, or any other material which would occasion a like or sufficient friction, may be substituted for the sheep's skin, and two concentrical cones may be substituted for the two cylinders; on leaving this polishing machine the rice again passes a wind-fan, which completes the process by driving off any light chaff which may have come away with it. It is then ready to be bagged or barrelled for sale or use. In the above account I have purposely avoided all minute or particular descriptions of the modes of constructing or giving motion to the machinery, because the same will be obvious to any mechanic. The use of stones for shelling, and of many parts of the above machinery, is not new, nor claimed by me as having introduced any new description either as regards size or form. But I claim as new in this realm the introduction of stones, or any substitute for them, whether of cast-iron or other material, in their combined application with pestles and mortars, for the purpose of shelling, removing, or separating, the outer and inner husks or skins of paddy or rough rice from the grain they encircle. I further claim as new in this realm, the application of the polishing or brightening machine for the purposes above described. In witness whereof, &c.

Specification

Specification of the Patent granted to JOSEPH HILL, of the Parish of Paulton, in the County of Somerset, Gentleman; for an improved Machine or Top for the Cure of Smouky Chimnies. Dated January 23, 1819.

With a Plate.

To all to whom these presents shall come, &c. NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I the said Joseph Hill do hereby declare that the nature of my said invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described and ascertained in the following description and annexed drawing thereof; that is to say: My machine for the cure of smoking chimneys consists of, first, a self-acting valve, represented at Fig. 1, (Plate VI.) in this figure the valve is shewn suspended by two chains (and balanced) in a frame, which may be placed within the chimney some way down from the top, and when a sudden gust of wind attempts to pass down the chimney this valve will close, and again immediately rise when the pressure of the wind is gone; but if it should be considered that some aperture is necessary to carry off the smoke, in the event of the valve being kept down by the pressure of the wind, I have provided for this by Fig. 2, which shews a chimney top having the above self-acting valve, and four other valves below, at the sides, to suffer the smoke to escape, when the top valve might be pressed down by the wind.

Fig. 3 represents a section and internal view of Fig. 2, shewing its construction, but I do not mean to confine. myself to a square top, but apply the same contrivance to round or any other convenient shaped tops, and of any length which may be found under circumstances de

sirable.

sirable. Another contrivance represented by Fig. 4, is a box with the top closed, having sundry openings for the escape of smoke on the sides, and valves to shut off the wind, in each of these valves is a small hole (say about an inch diameter).

Fig. 5, shews the internal construction of Fig. 4, in which are cross-pipes opposite to the holes of the valves, and when the wind strikes upon one side of the said box the valves on that side are closed, but the wind passing through the hole and along the pipes to the opposite side, will, by the flanched form of the ends, spread itself, and force open the opposite valves, and suffer the smoke to escape. In this contrivance I do not confine myself to any particular diameter, or to the square form of box as represented, neither to any particular number of pipes or valves, and if it should under circumstances be found that these apertures are not perfectly sufficient to carry off all the smoke, I should place a pipe or tube on the top of the box, with a self-acting valve as described, Fig. 1.

Experience has proved that, notwithstanding every guard to stop the wind, it will sometimes force its way down the sides of chimneys, and drive the smoke at the lower part into the room; to prevent this inconvenience I have contrived a hood, covering the throat of the chimney shewn at Fig. 6, with a small pipe or tube on its top; this pipe is attached to the hood by two twin buckles or otherwise, and fitted at the bottom to an aperture in the hood for the purpose of admitting a chimney-sweeper; the pipe is provided with valves as seen, and the hood is fixed into the chimney so as to prevent any air from passing down, except through the small pipe against which the valve will act, and the vacant space is intended as a depot for the soot which may fall. It has been found that chimneys sometimes smoke

from

from want of a sufficient draft of air to create a current; in order to provide for this, I propose an air-pipe to be laid from any convenient part, with a valve if necessary, to prevent the wind from rushing in, and conducted into a box behind the stove or fire-place, seen in Fig. 7, and thence over the opening of the fire-place, and immediately under the hood; this pipe is to be perforated with holes, and a guard partly to cover it, in order to direct the current of air, as seen in Fig. 7, and section Fig. 8.

In witness whereof, &c.

Specification of the Patent granted to CHARLES TANNER, of Plymouth, in the County of Devon, Tanner; for an Improvement in preserving or curing of Raw Hides and Skins, by the Application of certain Materials hitherto unused for that Purpose. Dated January 4, 1819.

To all to whom these presents shall come, &c. Now KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I the said Charles Tanner do hereby declare that my said improvements in preserving or curing of raw hides and skins, by the application of certain materials hitherto unused for that purpose, are herein truly described, and are effected in the following manner.

The materials of which I make use being well known, and already applied in various manufacturing processes, it is only the application of them to the purposes above recited, that I claim under these letters patent. The materials are the following. First, soap-makers spent or salt lees, or the same more or less concentrated by boil ing down, or otherwise; or the above-mentioned spent or salt lees, reduced by evaporation to a solid substance'; or the above-mentioned spent or salt lees, reduced by

evaporation