14 ATMOSPHERIC RAILWAY SYSTEM. success. till washed with the gall, which makes it rough and spoils it. I have also tried the balsams and drying-oil, but without much I am aware of a recipe being in your Magazine of an old date, but since then I understand the process to be much improved. The French are said, I believe, to make the best tracing paper. This article is at present in great demand, and I would consider it very kind if you would favour me in your next with any information on the subject. Tons. 1849 Designer. 800 ::} 650 Double cylinder Double cylinder Engineers. Maudslay & Co. Maudslay & Co. Black Eagle. THE ATMOSPHERIC RAILWAY Sir, It is sufficiently well known to the scientific world that the inventor and patentee of the longitudinal valve, which rendered the principle of atmospheric traction on railroads practicable, was Mr. Samuel Clegg. But statements have appeared since the lamented death of Mr. Jacob Samuda, which might leave even the best informed in doubt. To you, therefore, Sir, as conductor of the chief publication relating to scientific matters, I address this, begging that you will rectify the error of those who have, of course, inadvertently stated the inventor and patentee to be Mr. Samuda. Much, very much is due to the memory of that talented gentleman in bringing this invention forward, but surely we must not neglect the living in doing honour to the dead. Allow me to remain, Sir, Your obedient servant, G. G. SYSTEM. [An impression that the late Mr. Jacob Samuda was conjoined with Mr. Clegg in the patent, does prevail to an extent sufficient to justify the anxiety of our correspondent to have it rectified. So much is this the case, that in the Appendix to Mr. Mallet's reports on Atmospheric Railways, (Weale's Quarterly Papers, 1845,) there is given what is professed to be a copy of the specification of this patent, which thus commences: To all whom it may concern, be it known that WE, Samuel Clegg, of Sid. mouth-street, Gray's Inn-lane, and Jacob Samuda, of Southwark, C.E., have invented and discovered," &c. Whoever supplied Mr. Mallet with the copy in these terms, must have known it to be false and spurious. No specification containing such words ever existed. The patent and specification were both in the name of Mr. Clegg alone. -ED. M. M.] 495 was her tonnage before she was lengthened, 1844. LIST OF NEW PATENTS. LIST OF ENGLISH PATENTS GRANTED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 27, AND DECEMBER 24, 1845. (CONCLUDED FROM VOL. XLII. P. 448.) Henry Pershouse, of Birmingham, manufacturer, for a certain improvement or certain improvements in apparatus used in connection with writing, and also in attaching postage stamps and labels. December 23; six months. John Penn, of Greenwich, engineer, William Hartree, the younger, of Greenwich, aforesaid, engineer, and John Matthew, the younger, of Greenwich, aforesaid, engineer, for certain improvements in steam engines and machinery for propelling vesse's, which improvements are also applicable for other purposes. December 23; six months. William Cole, of Coventry, warehouseman, for certain improvements in looms. December 23; six months. LIST OF PATENTS GRANTED FOR SCOTLAND, FROM THE 20TH OF NOVEMBER TO THE 18TH OF DECEMBER, 1845. Robert Hazard, of Clifton, near Bristol, Somerset, confectioner, for improvements in apparatus for heating public and private buildings. Nov. 26. Edward Augustin King, of Warwick-street, Middlesex, gent., for improvements in obtaining light by electricity. (Being a communication from abroad.) November 26. Richard Archibald Brooman, of the Patent Office, 166, Fleet-street, London, gent., for certain improvements in weaving machinery. (Being a communication from abroad.) November 26. Henry Clark, of Redcross-street, Cripplegate, London, oil-merchant, and George Roberts, of Wellsstreet, Cripplegate aforesaid, miner, for certain im provements in the construction of lamps, and in the preparation of materials to be employed for producing illumination. December 1. Richard Archibald Brooman, of the Patent Office, 166, Fleet-street, London, gent., for certain improvements in dyeing. (Being a communication from abroad.) December 1. Henry Buckworth Powell, of Pennington House, Southampton, lieutenant and captain in the Grenadier Guards, for certain improvements in carriages to be used on rail and other roads. December 1. William Corscaden Thompson, of Liverpool, Lancaster, master-mariner, for certain improvements in machinery or apparatus for propelling vessels on water. (Being a communication from abroad.) December 2. William Johnson, of Farnworth, near Bolton, Lancaster, agent, for certain improvements in machinery or apparatus for preparing cotton and other fibrous substances, for spinning. December 3. William Newton, 66, Chancery-lane, Middlesex, civil engineer, for improvements in manufacturing types, and other similar raised surface for printing. (Being a communication from abroad.) December 3. Earnest Edge, of Manchester, Lancaster, mechanic, for certain improvements applicable to the wheels and axles of engines, tenders, carriages, and wagons, to be used upon railways. December 4. Thomas Findler, of Glasgow, Scotland, flin'-miller, for a new invention or improvements in the construction and operation of certain parts of flintgrinding mills or machinery for grinding. Dec. 4. John Constable, London, merchant, for improvements in the manufacture of gas for lighting and heating. (Being a communication from abroad.) December 4. Peter Spence, of Burgh, Cumberland, chemist, for improvements in the manufacture of copperas and alum. December 4. Nathaniel Chappell, of Arcadian Villa, Cumber 15 land-road, Bristol, gent., for improvements in the manufacture of worts. December 4. William Henson, of Skinner-street, Saint Johnstreet-road, Middlesex, civil engineer, for improvements in machinery for weaving. December 6. John Blyth, of Limehouse, Middlesex, engineer, for certain improvements for diminishing the risk of accidental explosions of gunpowder. and other substances which are liable to explode or ignite by contact with fire. December 5. James Bounsall, of the Patent Office, 166. Fleetstreet, London, for certain improvements in the preparation of resin and resinous like substances, one or more, and certain new applications thereof to manufacturing purposes. (Being a communication from abroad.) December 6. Thomas Henry Russell, of Wednesbury, Stafford, tube manufacturer, for improvements in the manuture of welded-iron tubes. December 8. Moses Poole, of London, gentleman, for improve. ments in the construction of vessels to contain liquids and substances, and in the means of impregnating liquids with gases, and in drawing cft such liquids from such vessels, and enclosing st.ch vessels. (Being a communication from abroad.) De cember 8. Moses Poole, London, gent., for improvements in filling bottles and other vessels, and also in covering, stopping, or securing liquids and other matters in bottles and other vessels. (Being a communication from abroad.) December 8. William Mushet and Robert Mushet, iron-founders, both of Dalkeith, for improvements in moulding iron. December 9. John Dearman Dunnicliff, of Nottingham, lace manufacturer, and William Bull Dexter, of the same place, lace-maker, for improvements in the manufacture of warp fabrics. December 9. Samuel Childs, of Earl's court-road, Kensington, Middlesex, candie-manufacturer and wax-chandler, for improvements in the manufacture of candles. December 10. Wilton George Turner, of Gateshead, Durham, doctor in philosophy, for an improved mode of treating guano for the purpose of obtaining chemical compounds therefrom. December 10. William M'Naught, 26, Robertson-street, Glasgow, Scotland, engineer, for certain improvements in the steam-engine. December 11. Christopher Binks, of Friar's Goose House, Durham, chemist, for certain improvements in manufacturing, and in the application of certain compounds, of nitrogen, particularly evanogen, ammonia, and their compounds, and in the application in such manufactures of a substance or substances not hitherto so employed. December 12. Robert Kerr, of Thread-street, Paisley, and of Renfrew, Scotland, manufacturer, for improvements in haudloom weaving, and for producing a double fabric of raised figured work in the same loom, by one process of weaving. December 12. Samuel Cunliffe Lister, of Manningham, near Bradford, York, manufacturer, for improvements in preparing and combing wool. December 15. Henry Blumberg, of Camberwell-grove, Surrey, distiller, for improvements in the purification of spirits, for the use of brewing distillers and rectifiers. December 16. Thomas Clarke, of Hackney, Middlesex, engineer, and John Varley of Poplar, Middlesex, engineer, for improvements in railways and other carriage ways, in propelling, and in engines, carriages and other machinery employed in propelling. December 17. John Penn, of Greenwich, Kent, engineer and manufacturer of steam-engines; William Bartree the younger, of Greenwich, afores id, engineer, and John Matthew the younger, of Greenwich aforesaid, engineer, for certain improvements in steamengines and machinery for prop lling vessels, which improvements are also applicable for other purposes. December 18. 16 NOTES AND NOTICES. NOTES AND NOTICES. Discovery of a New Planet.-On the 13th of December, Mr. Hencke, of Driesen, gave notice that he had found a star of the ninth magnitude, near to the planet Vesta, in a place where before there was none. Professor Encke, of Berlin, has since verified this discovery, and considers the star to be a new planet near its opposition. Astronomers have agreed to call it Astræa. The Screw Steamer Massachusetts seems to have met with bad weather and some mishaps on her return voyage to America. This vessel, it will be remembered, sailed from Liverpool, on the 22nd of October. She was obliged to put into Holmes' Hole, the place to which the Great Britain ran. In passing over the shoals coming out from this place, the Massachusetts took the ground, but after throwing overboard about fifty bags of salt, she got off. She, however, according to the accounts, got ashore again two miles to the eastward of Holmes' Hole, or Squash Meadow Shoals, and after discharging into lighters, was got off without damage. She had 100 passengers, all of whom arrived safely at Boston on the 20th Nov. Her commander is reported as being ill, and that the vessel was in charge of Mr. Forbes, the owner, who happened to be a passenger on board. The "Satisfactory" Janus.-The Janus steamsloop, after having swarms of artizans belonging to the dockyard employed making new alterations on board her for the last three weeks, had her steam up on Saturday, (December 13,) in order to try her engines alongside the sheer hulk, when the wheels revolved at the rate of seven turns per minute. She was again tried on Monday with no better success; and, on Tuesday, the 16th inst., at half-past 1 p.m., she left her moorings for another experimental trip, having on board Captain W. H. Sheriff, R.N., Captain-Superintendent of the dockyard, accompanied by the Earl of Dundonald, the constructor of the engines, and manned by seamen from the Poicliers, ordinary guard ship, it is stated, for Portsmouth, the Janus being accompanied by the Comet steamvessel. The Janus had her jib-sail up and foresail, but notwithstanding she had a strong wind in her favour, her speed was no better than on her former trials.-Times. The Janus subsequently returned to Chatham, not having been able to accomplish the passage round to Portsmouth, and an order has been since finally issued, for the removal of the engines from the vessel. Fifteen steam-boats make a mile: this is a new rule of arithmetic, only found out in America, and I mention it because it is much more easy than to remember that the steamers on the north and east rivers are 350 feet long each. In these moving palaces, which go twice a-day to Albany, 150 miles, as far as Margate and back again, I paid two shillings, but I might have gone the same day for one shilling, by another boat not quite so new and splendid. Only think, to Margate and back for one shilling!-Rubio's Rambles in the United States and Canuda. Perpetual Motion.-We were invited a few days ago to examine Colonel Boone's attempt to solve this long-sought problem. Our examination was somewhat cursory, but sufficient to satisfy us that he has invented a machine which will move until some of its parts are worn out by friction and the chemical elements of the atmosphere. The source from which the motive power is derived, is found in the great expansiveness and of course contractibility of refined spermaceti-oil, which in these qualities is four and a half times greater than mercury. The oil is placed in a metallic globe, from which it rises or sinks in a steel tube; into this tube again is fitted a steel cylinder that ascends or falls with the liquid. With this cylinder are connected the weights and blocks that regulate the uniformity of the motion.-Maysville (America) Eagle. Trade Marks.-The American papers contain a legal decision, by Vice-Chancellor Sandford, on the subject of trade marks, that is of some importance to British manufacturers. Messrs. J. and P. Coates, of Paisley, in Scotland, had obtained an extensive market in America for a certain description of cotton thread. This thread had been imitated even to the labels by one M'Gregor, of New Jersey, and Messrs. Shepard and Co., commission merchant, had received the spurious thread in question. Against this firm Messrs. Coates filed a bill to restrain them from vending the thread. Messrs. Shepard and Co., at the time of the bill being filed, had nearly sold out the second invoice sent to them, and offered to stay proceedings by delivering up the thread left on hand and paying the costs at the date of their answer. This offer was refused, and the cause coming to a hearing, the plantiffs were allowed a perpetual injunction with costs of suit. The defendants denied all knowledge of the fraud; but the fact that the thread, although marked "Coates's best six-cord thread," was, in fact, only a threecord thread, together with other circumstances, had completely overset this line of defence. Freshening Salt Water.-Dr. Polli, of Milan, known to the medical world by his remarkable researches on the blood, has just communicated to the Scientific Congress at Naples, a proceeding to render salt water drinkable by means of electricity.-Medical Times. The Skew Arch an Old Invention.-Now visit the Alcazar (Cathedral at Seville;) but observe a singular Moorish skew arch, in a narrow street leading (from the Cathedral) to the Puerta Xerez. It proves that the Moors practised this now assumed modern invention at least eight centuries ago.--Ford's Spain. Purifying of Gas.-M. Peclet lately laid before the Society of Encouragement of Paris, a machine for the purifying of hydrogen gas, used for lighting. It is composed of a horizontal cylinder, partly filled with lime water, the axis or axle-tree of which is covered with diaphragmns of metallic canvass, turned slowly; the gas is introduced into this cylinder, and is stated to be much better purified than in the common apparatus in use. Manufacture of Iron.-Thirty-one pounds of Shropshire iron has been made into wire upwards of one hundred and eleven miles in length and so fine was the fabric, that a part of it was humorously converted, in lieu of the usual horsehair, into a barrister's wig! The process followed to effect this extraordinary tenuity, consists of heating the iron and passing it through rollers of 8 inches diameter going at the rate of four hundred revolutions per minute, down to No. 4 on the wire gauge. It is afterwards drawn cold, at Birmingham or elsewhere. down to the extent of 38 on the same gauge, and so completed to the surprising length of one hundred and eleven miles. The Rattler screw-propelled steam-sloop, Commander Smith, is having an altered screw fitted. The screw having proved a great drawback to her speed when under sail, a hatchway is being cut from the upper deck down into the dead-wood, by which means the screw may be lifted up so as not to impede her progress when under canvass, and may be altogether removed or replaced, if damaged, without going into dock. INTENDING PATENTEES may be supplied gratis with Instructions, by application (post-paid) to Messrs. Robertson and Co. 166, Fleet-street, by whom is kept the only COMPLETE REGISTRY OF PATENTS. LONDON: Printed and Published by James Bounsall, at the Mechanics' Magazine Office, HARVEY'S PATENT SAWING MACHINERY. SAWING by machinery is no novelty, but the sawing, whether effected by straight or by circular saws, has hitherto been chiefly in straight lines. To saw wood, as the machinery which forms the subject of the present patent does, into curvilineal forms of any longitudinal dimensions, from a chair back to a ship's mast, is a thing which we believe has never been accomplished by machinery before. The principal instrument of this important improvement is a cylindrical saw of a very ingenious construction, an end elevation of which is given in figure 1. It is there represented as being applied to the cutting of a square log of wood into curved pieces (1, 2, 3,) suitable for subsequent conversion into ship's masts or spars. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the general system of machinery of which this saw is a part. The saw, A, consists of a blade or ribbon of steel, set round the circumference of a chuck, C, which has twofifths, or thereabouts, of its periphery removed, in order that each portion of wood as it is cut off may pass through the space left between the cutting portion of the saw and the body of the chuck itself; B, the frame of the machine, is composed of two chucks, or end pieces, connected by a bed-plate, b, and an upper plate, c, and stiffened by wroughtiron stays and ties. The saw, A, is carried by arms, D D, which turn on a joint in the upper carriage, E, so that they may be set in any required position above, or below the axis of that joint, by means of the quadrant F, in which position they are retained by means of the keys, G, which raise the curved piece, H, into contact with the quadrants. An oscillating movement is given to the saw by the lever, I, which derives its motion through the medium of a connecting-rod from the crank on the end of the mainshaft, K. This shaft, K, is driven by the fast and loose pulleys thereon, being assisted in its motion by the fly-wheel, L. Upon the other end of the shaft, K, is keyed a mitre wheel, M, which takes into another upon the cross shaft, N, which has an eccentric, O, on the end thereof, next the work, for the purpose of moving the ratchet-wheel, P, by the pall, Q. The shaft carrying the ratchet-wheel, has also upon it a pinion, R, which takes into the rack, S, attached to the sliding carriage, T, and gives thereby the feed to the log. The carriage slides along the v guides, which are bolted to the timber frame. The log under the operation of the saw is supported at each end by chucks capable of revolving in adjusting centres, one of which, shown at U, is furnished with a worm-wheel and screw to admit of the log being turned on its axis, and set at any part of its revolution. A driving pulley, V, on the outer end of the shaft, N, gives motion to the circular saw, W, by a pair of fast and loose pulleys on its axis. The office of this saw, W, is to remove the edges, or angles of the log prior to its being cut by the cylindrical saw, A, and for this purpose, the log is fed forward by the gut pulleys, J J, and the rack and pinion, R, S, before mentioned. To accommodate the length of the connecting-rod to the different positions of the axis of the cylindrical saw A, the rod itself is varied correspondingly in length, by a screwed coupling thereon. Figure 3 represents the curved pieces, 1, 2, 3, after being detached from one corner of the log. Fig. 4, the centre piece, which remains after each of the other corners has been treated in the same way, and which centre piece is then cut into two as indicated by the dotted lines, m, n. Fig. 5 represents the whole of the pieces into which the log has been thus cut, combined into the form of a mast, or spar. The pieces, 1 1, are first brought all together; then the pieces, 2 2, outside of 1; and next the pieces, 3 3, outside of 2, so that the three sets form a series of concentric circles with but a small hollow space, o, left in the centre; every joint in each series being broken or crossed by a solid piece coming opposite to it. The two pieces, r, s, cut from the heart of the log, serve as fishes to the mast or spar, one on each side. The whole of the square log is thus converted without any waste of stuff into a circular mast, or spar, which will, it is stated, be found of greater strength than any circular mast or spar of one piece. 66 The patentee next describes a set of sawing machinery constructed on the same principle as the preceding, adapted to the cutting of chair backs, and other |