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and cheers). Now I think that the proi spect that I am holding out is a very fair one to save gentlemen's heels from being trod on- (Much laughter);-for, be it observed that they have infinite advan tages over us. You are obliged to steal an hour from your mechanical labours, I from my professional only, perhaps as laborious as yours, to come here and listen to the instructions of our tutors. We make a pleasure of business, while they make a business of pleasure, and what follows from the contrast? The labour in which we find ourselves en-. gaged, is of that refined and exquisite pleasure, which they little know who yield themselves to mere brutal and sensual enjoyments, while they hold moral and intellectual ones as nothing-(Immense cheers).-The other argument has been well touched on by our learned President, when he alluded to the exaggerated and unfounded statements of Mr. Colquhoun, who ventured to assert, in the work that has been quoted, "that if science were taught to the lower orders, there would be an end to the govern ment of the country. To this assertion my answer is very simple; if, indeed, such a monster of a government does exist in the world as he would make out, the sooner it should cease the better for mankind. I hope it will not be thought that I am speaking seditiously of our own Government (Applause).-I can assure you that I have no such intention, for it is my firm belief that, so far from science being inimical, the more knowing, the more learned, and the more moral, that the people become, the safer and more sure will the Government be." -(Loud cheers.)

The Duke of SUSSEX then rose, and was greeted with the most cordial marks of approbation. He said he could not retire from that most interesting exhibition, without expressing himself in the most grateful manner to Dr. Birkbeck, and without looking most sanguinely forward to the good effect that must be produced by the lecture which had that night been delivered; and in taking leave of the company, he begged them to accept his hearty good wishes for the pros perity of the Institution, and to assure them that he should be happy in affording his aid towards its success at all times -(Continued applause).

As our readers must doubtless bear in mind the opinions we at one time expressed of the proceedings of this Institution, it may be well, to guard against misconception, to state whether, and in how far, these are

now altered. That it is working to some good, it would be uncandid to deny; the elementary schools, the formation of which was so long unave at last accountably delayed, have" been established, and are numerously attended; the courses of lectures, though not regulated according to any systematic plan of instruction, nor paid for as they ought to be, have been, individually, of great merit; a considerable library of books has been formed, and we are told the members have now the free use of them; an excellent collection of philosophical instruments and apparatus has also been got together and to all these benefits there is just added a most commodious Theatre or Lecture Room. It is still, however, as true, and as much to be regretted as ever, that the Mechanics have, through deception and manouvre, been deprived of that share in the inanagement, which it was stipulated in the laws of the Institution they should always possess; and the evil which we so much deprecated has been realized, namely, the Inthe Institution is deep in debt, cessarily more dependent on its creditor than it is fitting such a public establishment' should be.

We have no wish to depreciate the merit of Dr. Birkbeck: we were the first to make generally known, and have always earnestly asserted, his claims on the gratitude of his counScience to the artisan; but we must, try, for opening the Temple of at the same time, humbly contend, that the measures he has taken, or concurred in, to forward the pros perity of this particular Institution, have been more to the honour of his liberality and good nature than of his judgment and resolution.)

When Dr. Birkbeck offered to join us in our efforts to establish this Institution, these were his words "Of that part of your proposal which relates to the contributions of the mechanics, I do entirely approve. Whilst science was to them of doubt ful value, it might be offered, as was formerly the case, gratuitously. But its worth, in the most mercantile ac

ceptation of the word, is now indis putably established; and it is right, in order that it may be fully estimated, and, in its possession, be unaccompanied by any feelings of dependence, that it should become their own by purchase." Now, have the proceedings of this Institution, since it was established and placed under the direction of Dr. Birkbeck, corresponded with the opinions he thus previously avowed? Instead of the men being encouraged to depend en tirely on their own contributions, they have been taught to place their chief hope on the benevolent assistance of the great and wealthy, and to applaud, to the very echo, every announcement of a new subscription from Lord this and Sir that. In stead of all the lectures being paid for, they have all (Dr. B.'s included) been delivered gratuitously (if there are any exceptions, they have not come to our knowledge); and instead of the men building a Hall with their own money, they are now invited to avail themselves of a Hall built for them with money advanced by Dr. Birkbeck. Can we be wrong in saying, that there is, at least, a vast deal of inconsistency in all this? Our friend Mr. Brougham says (by way of apology, we presume), that Dr. B., not finding the Institution succeed with those honours that it deserved, became impatient of the slow and tedious progress of general subscriptions, and himself laid down the necessary funds, out of which this Theatre has been raised." But it was not, as we have just shown, to ** general subscriptions" that Dr. B., and those with whom he co-operated, in founding the London Mechanics' Institution, looked forward for the means of its success. Neither can it be correctly said, that it was because of " the slow and tedious progress" of such subscriptions that the Institution did not ceed with those honours that it deserved." Had Dr. B. been as "impatient" of other things as of that begging system, on which he seems to have placed so much dependence -of the slow progress, for example,

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of the Committee of Management, in providing the mechanics with the elementary schools, the lectures, the laboratory and workshops, the libraries of circulation and of reference, which were promised to be provided, he would never, we will venture to affirm, have had occasion to pine at either want of success or want of honours. When the Institution was founded, there was such a strong and general feeling excited in its behalf among the mechanics of the metropolis, that we feel fectly convinced, had not that feeling been damped, and at one time nearly extinguished, by disappoint+ ments and discouragements, the mechanics themselves might and would have furnished all the means requisite for ensuring it the most splendid success, on the most independent principles. We do not make this assertion on vague conjecture merely; for, in our intercourse with the numerous artisans who interested themselves in the establishment of the Institution, we remember well, that it was one of their most favourite anticipations, that they would, ere long, with their own savings, and with their own hands, erect such a Temple of Science for the mechanies of the metropolis, as would rival, in size and commodiousness at least, the proudest structures which patrician affluence ever reared. We have at this very time, too, a proof before us of what mechanics can do, when united and zealous, in the fact of their having subscribed, at once, a thousand pounds to establish a newspaper of their own; and in their declared determination to double and quadruple that sum, if necessary, to ensure its complete success. What reason is there to suppose that they would have done less to erect a Scientific Institution of their own, had they seen cause to be equally united and zealous for that purpose?

With all the objections, however, which still exist to the course of management of the London Mechanics' Institution, and however detrimental that management may be to

its permanent prosperity, there can be no question that it is, at present, such a school of science as persons desirous of scientific information, at a cheap rate, and not caring how or upon what principles it is furnished to them,will find it highly advantageous to belong to. We are sorry that it is not what we had fondly pictured to ourselves it would be; but, even as it is, we heartily wish it all success.

THE TWO ELECTRICITIES.

The two Electricities may be distinguished from each other by turning the electric current, as it issues from a point, upon the tongue. The taste of the positive current is acid, and that of the negative current is more caustic and alkaline.

DUCTILITY OF GLASS.

Mr. Deuchar, in a paper read before the Wernerian Natural History Society, gives an account of several curious circumstances connected with the ductility of Glass, showing that the most attenuated threads retain the character and shape, twisted angular or tubular, of the mass from which they are spun, illustrating his remarks by an experiment, proving the passage of quicksilver through the most minute threads.

BELL'S MARINE CRAVATSCHEF

FER'S LIFE-PRESERVER.

SIR,-Without knowing either Mr. T. H. Bell, who has recommended the Marine Cravat, in No. 95, for June 18,

or Mr. Teasdale Bell, who, in your 97th Number, intimates that the cravat is nothing else than "Mr. Scheffer's Life-preserver," "I beg to differ in opinion with the latter. Scheffer's preservers are intended to be applied to the body, and not to the neck; and, as Mr. T. Bell says, they are to be in

fated by a cock, consequently they have not any compartments, as Mr. Bell's cravat has. My intention, however, is not to discuss the merits of either of these gentlemen, but to beg Mr. Bell, or some one of your ingenious Correspondents, to acquaint me where the elastic gum varnish is to be bought, which he recommends? or, what would be more acceptable, to give me directions how to manufacture it? being purposed to make an experiment directly afterwards.

I am, Sir,

Your respectful servant, MECHANICUS. Williams' New Post Office Coffee-room, July 4th, 1825.

CORRESPONDENCE.

The Reply of the "Shipowner," in its present form, is inadmissible. If he will divest it of the gross personalities by which it is at present disfigured, or give us permission to do so, it will be inserted, but not otherwise.

Other notices in our next.

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SILK MACHINERY

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PATENT.

BADNALL'S

SIR,-In your very useful Magazine of the 2nd of July, I was somewhat surprised at reading a letter signed "A Weaver," from the commencement of which I was led to expect the present method of throwing silk was about to be exploded, and a more expeditious plan introduced, exemplified either by statement or drawing-for what else could be expected, after "the best and most approved machines now in use" are stated to be " clumsy and inferior?"

Instead of the expectation being realized, I found, on farther perusal of the letter, it contained little else than a disapproval of a Mr. Badnall's patent machine, evinced in such language as to give an appearance of a private pique towards that gentleman; and as the author of the same letter seems quite uninformed as to the principal of throwing, I have taken the liberty to answer his questions at the close of the letter.

The first motion of a throwingmill is given by a drum 36 inches in diameter, from the circumference of which a strap passes round all the spindles, which, at the place of contact, are half an inch in circumference, so that the motion of the spindles entirely depends upon the velocity of the drum. The drum of a mill I have now at work revolves 90 times per minute, which you can easily perceive gives 6480 times to the spindle in that time.

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Your Correspondent appears to have made his inquiries amongst those who are little acquainted with the practical part of the operation, when he states the speed of the best spindles not to exceed 500 times minute. Neither can I supper pose him to be much of a weaver, or he certainly would have observed that the spindles of his own soft silk winding-machine, when turned with moderate speed, do more than exIceed double that number of revolutions in a minute. And every one in the least acquainted with the construction of a throwing-mill, must be fully aware that the speed of the

latter far exceeds that of the former. With regard to cotton or worsted, I do not profess to be at all acquainted; but as silk is certainly the finest and strongest texture, and also the longest staple, I should suppose it able to bear quite as much or more strain or jar than either of the other substances.

As respects the wheels on Mr. Badnall's plan, I do so far agree with your Correspondent, that the velocity with which they are said to work must very soon destroy them; yet, if they perform what the patentee asserts, the renewal of the wheel will not be a thing of very great moment, for the spindles, if of hardened steel, will outlast many sets of wheels.

I see no difficulty resulting from each spindle having to carry round a bobbin of three or four ounces; for,

if that bobbin is placed on the spindle, with a hole through the centre, as all bobbins are, it must act as a fly or balance, and therefore cannot (after the first start) in any way impede the motion of the spindle.

I have never seen Mr. Badnall's machine, and therefore cannot give any opinion as to its real worth, only from hearsay, which is generally incorrect in its statements, and that certainly does not speak very favourably of it.

I would beg to observe, that the mill I speak of does not always turn with the velocity above-named, nor will all silk bear such speed (some not more than half), but it is always attainable when required. I remain, Sir, Your obedient servant,

A. B. S.

IMPORTANT INVENTION IN GUNNERY.

SIR,-I have to inform you of a newly-invented gun, for which a patent is now being taken out, and which has been so approved by every individual who has had an opportunity of seeing it, and especially by high authority (even the Duke of Wellington himself), that, if it