steadiness while being worked. 5. Their weight, from which to draw conclusions as to their transportability. As regards the getting up of steam for working, the engine of Messrs. Merryweather and Sons, of London, effected this in 7 min. 28 sec.; that of Messrs. Shand, Mason, and Co., of London, in 11 min. 28 sec.; and that of Messrs. Wirth and Co., of Frankfort-on-the-Maine, in 16 min. At a distance of 40 ft. the largest quantity of water was thrown by the engine of Messrs. Shand, Mason, and Co.; the second in this respect was that of Messrs. Wirth and Co., whilst as regards the compactness of the stream the latter decidedly took the first place, and Messrs. Shand, Mason and Co. were second in this respect. At a distance of 60 ft. Messrs. Wirth and Co. took the first place, and Messrs. Merry weather and Sons, the second place. As, however, the dimensions and working power of the engines are taken into consideration, then Messrs. Merryweather and Sons are fairly entitled to the first place. It shonld also be mentioned that the engine of Messrs. Wirth and Co. was worked during a wind more favourable than that under which the other two had to stand the trial. CHARGES FOR SCIENTIFIC WITNESSES. ON Monday last a trial of some importance to engineers and architects took place in the Court of Queen's Bench. It related to the charges to which a professional man was entitled when called on to give evidence in a court of law. Some time since a trial on a patent case took place, in which the late Mr. Richard Roberts was consulted as a scientific witness. Though he was not actually examined in court, he was present five days waiting to be called on if necessary. The suit, which was decided on Monday last, was instituted for the recovery of costs, and resisted on the part of the defendants because it was excessive. The amount claimed was £121. The sum paid into court was £50. The jury gave a verdict for £63 6s. The original demand was there fore excessive, and, knowing what we do of the late Mr. Roberts' character, we believe that had he been alive he would not have been a party to the unjust demand which was made in his name. Take, for instance, the first item in the bill of charges, "To receiving instructions in the case, and reading of specifications and other documents relating thereto, £15 15s." Concerning the heights of the streams, the Take another item, "To letter from Mr. Wickens engine of Messrs. Wirth and Co. was first, even enclosing copy of the Lord Chancellor's opinion if full consideration is given to the unfavourable in the above case, and reading same, £10 10s." wind which the other two engines had to work Every honest man must say that such charges against. All practical questions with respect to were not only excessive but absurd, and we the construction of steam fire-engines have not think that a slight has been cast on the bright yet been decided; all three engines are of solid reputation of Mr. Roberts by such demands workmanship, and during the time of working, as being made in his name by his "surviving regards steadiness and safety fully guaranteed partner." The jury easily cut away £60 from that they possessed every advantage that the unreasonable demand. We were glad to could be wished for. The weights of the engines see the seasonable rebuke which the judge are as follows, viz. :-Messrs. Merryweather and administered to engineers and scientific men Sons, 3,813 lbs.; Shand, Mason, and Co., who are ever ready to be "employed as pro6,128 lbs.; Wirth and Co., 5,833 lbs. Consider-fessional witnesses." Well might the judge say ing the short space of time in which Messrs. Merryweather and Sons' engines commenced working after the time of lighting the fire, and considering the proportionately equal results in other respects, and further in consideration of the remarkably light weight of this engine, the undersigned declare that they award to the steam fire-engine of Messrs. Merryweather and Sons, of London (I stand, 247) a set-out (Ausgesetzte) money prize of 500 thalers; and a gold medal to the steam fire engine of Messrs. Shand, Mason, and Co., of London (I stand, 248) and a silver medal granted by the Ministry to the steam fire engine of Messrs. Wirth and Co., of Frankfort-on-the Maine (I stand, 156). Cologne, June 20, 1865. (Signed) M. GOLDSTEIN, T. WOTTITZ, RUHLMANN. Messrs. Merryweathers' engine was one of their ordinary make, part of an order being executed by them for the Spanish Government; it had a single steam cylinder and single horizontal double-acting pump, direct-acting and with a stroke of 18 in. The engine of Messrs. Shaud, Mason, and Co., had a vertical steam cylinder and pump. That exhibited by Messrs. Wirth and Co. was the "Victoria," manufactured by the Amoskeag Company, in the United States, the same engine which competed in the large class at the Crystal Palace, in 1863. A German steam fire engine also competed, made by Messrs. Moltrecht and Co., of Hamburg: it weighed 3,487 lbs., its boiler and steam valve arrangements were almost an exact but an imperfect copy of the same in Merryweathers' steam fire engine "Torrent," and the suction and delivery air vessels are laid horizontally, so as to form a bed for the engine and pumps, as used in the "old style" of Amoskeag engines. The performance of this engine was weak; its jet did not reach the water target, so that it is omitted in the official report of the Jury. "It would be well if there were a distinction between advising and assisting in a case, and giving evidence in it. Perhaps it was the mixing up of the two characters-of advocate or adviser and of witness-which tends to make what is called 'scientific evidence' so much open to animadversion. The gentleman who is consulted is intended to be, and after wards becomes, a witness in the case, and all his professional interest and personal bias are enlisted on the side of the party by whom he is called or employed."" THE ELECTRICAL TORPEDO. WE have recently had occasion to refer to the experiments which have been carried out at Toulon with this subtle agent; others have since been instituted on a much larger scale, and with extraordinary results. Hitherto the torpedo has not been properly appreciated as a defence in war; but it is now an established fact that it is as available for defence as ironclads and rifled guns are for attack. Mr. Nathaniel J. Holmes, however, and the scientific gentlemen associated with him, have recently made such progress in this new department of military engineering, that hereafter, in all plans for coast, harbour, and river defences, and in all works for the protection of cities, whether against attack by armies on land or by ships afloat, the electrical torpedo will probably play a most important part. The latest experiment made by the French Government at Toulon, affords some idea of the amount of destructive power which lies stored up within the electrical torpedo. With a charge of little more than 100 lbs. of gunpowder, a vessel 150 ft. long, and upwards of 40 ft. broad was instantaneously destroyed whilst floating in deep water in apparent security. At the word of command, given by Admiral Chabannes, a dull crashing sound filled the air, and the The maximum steam pressure used in each of devoted craft was effaced from the surface of the the engine was 120 lbs. to the square inch. water. The portions of the vessel examined Messrs. Merryweather started with 100 lbs., afterwards all bore testimony to the tremendous Messrs. Shand and Mason with 60 lbs., and effects of the concussion, even with a water Messrs. Wirth and Co. with 60 lbs. steam pressure. depth of 16 ft. clear between the ship's bottom In the first trial the water target was at a and the top of the sunken torpedo, and with a distance of 50 ft. vertical and 40 ft. horizontal charge of only 100 lbs. of powder. Striking as from the mouth of the jet pipe, and in the second was the result of the experiment performed by trial at a distance of 50 ft. vertical and 60 ft. Admiral Chabannes, it is said to have been but horizontal; a large conducting pipe reached a rough indication of the power embodied in the from the water target into a tank beneath, which new engine of defence. The French Governcontained 2,470 gallons. The jurors were Herr ment have signified their intention to repeat the Wottitz, engineer, of Vienna, Dr. Rühlmann experiment, and to add to it another in which Professor, of Hanover, Dr. Goldstein, General, a ship will be annihilated under full sail. MeanDirector, from Beyenthal, Dr. Hartsteinn, while Mr. N. J. Holmes affirms that he has not Government Counsellor, and Director of the revealed the secrets discovered by him with Agricultural Exhibition at Popplesdorf, and Herr | respect to the practical employment of the torPerrels, engineer, of Berlin. pedo fin warfare. The result of this experiment plainly indicates what may be expected to accrue to even an ironclad, if sailing within range of one of these formidable engines of multiplied power. IMPROVED LOOMS FOR WEAVING. LETTERS PATENT have been granted to Messrs. David Speirs. Alexander Boyd, Johu Aitken, and Matthew Gilmour, of Paisley, for an invention which comprises improvements in looms for weaving, the improvements being designed more particularly to promote the weaving by power of figured fabrics of and similar to the "Paisley shawl" class, and being in connection with some of the arrangements described in the specification of letters patent, dated 22nd February, 1862 (No. 472), and granted to James Kirkwood, and in the specification of letters patent, dated 29th August, 1863 (No. 2,138), and granted to David Speirs, Alexander Boyd, and James Kirkwood. By the present invention the heddle leaves 1, for producing the twill or twilled texture, are actuated by means of the main cylinder 2 and liftboard 3 of the jacquard apparatus 4 4, which acts on the figuring harness. The cylinder 2 has as many sides as there are cards in a "pridle," and the number may be varied, but is commonly seven, as shown in fig. 1 of the accompanying engraving. The part of the cylinder 2 acting on what may be termed the heddle needles 5 has the proper holes for the purpose formed in its surface, thus dispensing with separate cards or plates f, whilst, as in "twice drawing," a different action on the heddles is required when going over the bridle of cards the second time; the front ends of the needles 5 are passed through a sliding plate 6, which is best seen in the detached face view, ig. 3, and by which the needles are shifted a little up or down, to make them face a higher or a lower part of the cylinder sides, which last are of course holed to suit the different actions required. The sliding plate 6 is drawn down by a spring 7, and is raised by a cord 8, lever 9, and cord 10; which last passes downwards to a lever actuated by or in connec tion with one of the heddle leaves. For depressing each of the heddle leaves 1 in succession, according to one modification, shown separately in fig. 4, there is a shaft 11, with a wiper or cam 12 on it for each heddle lever 13, and at the end of each run of shots this shaft is turned a part round by means of a lever and paul 14, acting on a ratchet wheel on it, and acted upon by the jacquard apparatus through a cord and lever 15, in connection with which lever there is a catch lever 16, to prevent the shaft from being turned too far round, and engaging with ratchets disposed reversely to those by means of which the shaft is turned. With these arrangements the proper heddle leaf is held down during the run of seven shots, whilst it is released by the turning of the cam shaft 11, to put down the next leaf, being then drawn up to the mid position by a spring 17, fig. 1. Figs. 5 and 6 are views, at right angles to each other, showing an arrangement for effecting the same actions as that last hereinbefore described and somewhat varied therefrom, although em. bodying the same mechanical principles. In place of the cam shaft 11, there is a barrel 11', with pins 121 upon it, corresponding to the cams 12; but in place of the heddle levers 13 being depressed directly by the barrel 111, this shifts them, as required, into the position to be depressed by a lever 17, acted on by a cam 18 on the low shaft 19, fig. 2. It will be seen that with the pinned barrel arrangement a greater number of actions can be conveniently effected in one turn, whilst the force for actually depressing the heddle levers is derived directly from the low shaft 19, and is not transmitted through the jacquard apparatus and barrel. The heddle levers 13 are formed with elongated holes for the pin or spindle to pass through, on which they turn, and springs 20 are arranged to draw them towards the barrel 11', which is moved towards them by a spring being moved away from them by a bell-crank lever connected to the lever 17, and being turned a part round at the proper periods by means of ratchet wheel details acted on by the jacquard apparatus, and similar to those for turning the cam shaft 11, fig. 4. When a pin 121 on the barrel is opposite any lever 13, that lever is by it pushed over, so that its other end projects through the guide frame 21, and is caught and depressed by the lever 17, whilst the other levers 13 are kept back by their springs 20 and are not depressed. A third modification of these parts is shown in figs. 1 and 2, but this differs from that shown in figs. 5 and 6 merely in there being substituted for the pinned barrel 111, a series of heavy camshaped pieces 22, which slide vertically in a casing 23, and are drawn up by cords 24 from the jacquard apparatus, whilst they descend by their own weight. When any one cam piece 22 is drawn up, it acts cam-wise or wedge-wise on the end of the corresponding heddle lever 13 and pushes it over so as to be caught and depressed by the lever 17. The heddle levers 13 are employed for raising as well as for depressing the heddles 1, those for depressing being connected directly to the bottoms of the heddles, whilst cords 25 from the others pass up to overhead reversing levers 26, the opposite ends of which are connected by cords 27 to the tops of the heddles, an arrangement which is well understood. The arrangement for holding down the depress. ing levers 13, figs. 2 and 5, is similar to that described in the specification, No. 2,138, 1863, before referred to. When the arrangement shown in fig. 4 is employed, the depressing of a heddle leaf causes the button or knot on its wire or tail to be drawn down below the lift board 3 of the jacquard apparatus, but on the release of the leaf a spring applied to the upper end of the tail or wire draws the button or knot up again to the level to be caught by the lift board for being raised thereby at the proper time, so that on the lift board rising it can act on the button or knot through its entire stroke, which permits of the connecting of the tail or wire to the heddle leaf or lever with a more favourable leverage, and of the parts being better balanced and more easily worked than in the older arrangement, in which the heddles were depressed directly by the jacquard apparatus, and in which the lift board had to move through a large portion of its stroke before beginning to act on the heddle levers. Rotating shuttle boxes 28 are employed, these shuttle boxes being both connected by pitch straps 29 to pulleys on a shaft 30, extending across the loom and mounted on the lower parts of the lathe swords 31. The details for working the shuttle boxes are by preference applied to the shaft 30 below, and consist in the example represented of a ratchet wheel 32, acted on by a catch or paul 33, jointed to a lever 34, which last is actuated by a rod 35 from an eccentric 36 on the low shaft 19. A foot lever 37 is provided whereby the attendant, when requiring to adjust the boxes by hand, can relieve the hammer 38, which is pressed upwards by a spring against a concave-faced wheel 39, to keep the shaft 30 steady between the shifts. The turning catch 33 can be relieved by a cord and button 40; or it might be connected to the foot lever 37, to be relieved by it. The shuttle boxes 28 may be arranged for picking either from the front side or from the top; when arranged for picking from the top, as shown in figs. 1 and 2, each shuttle cell is provided with a protector or swell lever 41, which is set in a cavity cut obliquely between the two cells, and so that its outside projects beyond the outer surface of the shuttle box in order to act on the protector lever 42, which last is curved round into a suitable position. The pressure of the protector lever 42 is taken off at the time of throwing the shuttle by the riding of the dog or catch 43 over a projection 44, whereby it is lifted up. There is a weft fork at each side of the loom, and each fork 45, as shown on an enlarged scale in fig. 7, has attached to it a cord 46 in connection with the heddles, whereby it is turned completely down out of the way, as indicated by the dotted lines, when the shuttles are passing from its side and its action is not needed. To keep out of the way of the acting weft fork all the weft threads but the last one thrown, a jointed finger 47, shown in the enlarged section, fig. 8, is made to rise up through a hole in the race piece 48, in front of the line of the shuttle's motion, and at the beat up of the lathe this finger tumbles forward and presses the previously thrown wefts down clear of the fork. În connection with the forks 45, arranged as herein before described, and with the tumbling finger 47, or in connection with the improved fork 45 only, a lifting finger 49, fig. 8, may be arranged to lift the last weft thrown, to be more certainly in the way of the fork, such finger 49, when not lifting, being in a groove cut across the race piece 48. When picking from the top of the shuttle box 28, as shown in figs. 1 and 2, the "top cone picking motion" may be used, but it is arranged so that the vertical shafts 50 are actuated on both sides at every stroke, the low shaft 19 having both picking wipers 51 on the same side, and being driven at the same speed as the crank shaft. The upper part 52 of each shaft 50, carrying the picking stick or lever 53, is connected to the lower part by a clutch 54, having a hole into which there enters a short strong pin, projecting up from the top of the shaft 50, which last is made tubular to receive the spindle of the upper part. When either picking stick is not to pick it is lifted out of gear by a clutch lever 55, actuated from the jacquard apparatus or from the heddle movements as may be convenient. BRIDGE OVER THE SCHELDT AT THE application of the "bowstring" principle of bridge construction has been attempted in a somewhat peculiar manner by the Belgian engineers in the above bridge, of which we give a sheet of illustrations. It was erected on the railway called the Hainaut and Flanders line, and it crossed the Scheldt at Andenarde, at an angle with the axis of the river of 59 deg.41 min. 25 sec.; the width required to give a free passage to the waters was about 63 ft. 6 in., and the extra width of the towing path was about 10 ft., measured normally to the opening, so that the clear span of the arch was made 91 ft. 2 in. on the skew. The designer of this work was M. Auguste Dallot, Ingénieur ordinaire, acting under the orders of. M. Léon Marsillon, Ingénieur en chef of the line. The peculiarity of this bridge lies in the appli cation of the arcs, which are made in two pieces, and butt together freely, being maintained in their position by keys and wedges; and in the roadway, which is made of brickwork, carrying the ballast, which serves to diminish the noise made by the passing train. Necessarily, the weight of iron thus employed is very great, but we cannot conceive that this fact should alone account for the great excess of weight of this bridge over the ordinary form of girder gene. rally employed. Thus, the weight that would be ordinarily given to the ironwork of a straight girder bridge would be about 12 cwt. per foot forward; in this case, however, the weight was at least 18 cwt. per foot, and the results of the trials showed that there was not too much strength in the arch. There are three girders of the form represented in the engraving given, which are main tained in their position by the roadway at the bottom, and by a cross piece of + iron measuring 6 in. in the side at the top. The height of the assemblage is 19 ft. 8 in., composed of the bottom girder of about 3 ft. high; the arc, which is of 14 in. thickness or depth at the junction, and the rise of the arc, which is about 15 ft. 6 in. The pieces that thus form the bridge are spaced at the distance of 14 ft. 6 in. apart from centre to centre, and the distance between their inner borders is 13 ft. 2 in.; comprehending 5 ft. for the roadway, and two side spaces of 4 ft. 1 in. each. :1 reaping machine as is tion wheel H, opposite to but out of contact with FIC.I MANCHESTER BOILER ASSOCIATION. THE last ordinary monthly meeting of the Executive Committee of this Association was held at the offices, 41, Corporation-street, Manchester, on Tuesday, July 4th, 1865, when Mr. L. E. Fletcher, chief engineer, presented his report, of which the following is an abstract :During the last month 136 engines have been examined, and 273 boilers. Of the boiler examinations 160 have been external, 15 internal, the corresponding fricand 98 thorough or entire. The following tion wheel C. Whenever defects and omissions have been found in the the attendant presses boilers examined:-Furnaces out of shape, 4; down the treadle G with fractures, 3; blistered plates, 8; internal corro- his foot the other end of sion, 5; external corrosion, 19; internal groov- the lever and the shaft d ing, 5; external grooving, 2; feed apparatus is raised, and the friction out of order, 7; water gauges ditto, 19; blow-wheel H is brought into out apparatus ditto, 6; fusible plugs ditto, 5; contact with the wheel safety valves ditto, 15; pressure gauges ditto 11; C, and the roller D is boilers without glass water gauges, 3; without made to revolve. When blow-out apparatus, 7; without feed back-pressure a sufficient quantity of valves, 4. corn or grass has been cut to form a sheaf or cock, the attendant presses down the treadle, which causes the roller to revolve and deliver the cut corn from the machine. The roller D may be cylindrical or polygonal on its surface, which may be either plain or furnished with hooks or pegs. And in order to deliver the sheaf of cut corn at the side in preference to the end of the machine, a delivery board I and roller K are applied to the end of the machine by means of hooks or hinges. Motion is given to the roller K by a cord or belt from the friction wheel C, which passes round guides j' to the pulley L on the shaft of the roller K. M is a trailing wheel or castor to support the hinder part of the delivery board I. During the past Whit-week, when many of the works have been stopped, every endeavour has been made to examine internally and in the flues all the boilers of those members who made application. This has been done in every case with but two exceptions, and these have subsequently been arranged for. There are still, however, many of our members who might, with a little foresight, have their boilers "entirely" examined when at rest at these public holidays, such as Whitsuntide, Christmas, Easter, &c.,-and the Association will gladly make arrangements to meet the extra demand for inspections at these times. It is imperatively necessary, however, that due notice should be given, so that arrangements may be made for meeting the demand. M K B mium, in books, to Godfrey Oates Mann, M. Inst. C.E., for his paper "On the Decay of Materials in Tropical Climates, and the methods employed for arresting and preventing it." 10. A Telford premium in books, to William Jerry Walker Heath, Assoc. Inst. C.E., for his paper "On the Decay of Materials in Tropical Climates, and the methods employed for arresting and preventing it." 11. A Telford premium, in books, to Joseph Taylor, Assoc. Inst. C.E., for his paper on "The River Tees, and the Works upon it connected with the Navigation." 12. The Manby premium, in books, to Henry Burdett Hederstedt, Assoc. Inst. C.E., for his "Account of the Drainage of Paris." Three explosions have occurred during the past month, from which two lives have been lost and sixteen persons injured. The following is a statement of explosions from May 27th, 1865, to June 23rd, 1865, inclusive:-No. 26 (May 30), particulars not yet fully ascertained, 5 persons injured; No. 27 (June 1), ordinary single-flue, or Cornish, internally fired, 2 persons killed, 7 persons injured; No. 28 (June 6), locomotive, 4 per- THE Council of the Institution of Civil Engi. sons injured. No. 27 explosion, which was of a very disastrous character, two persons being the past session:-1. A Telford medal, and a neers have awarded the following Premiums for killed, and seven others injured, occurred at a Telford premium, in books, to Joseph William brewery, on June 1st, to a boiler not under the Bazalgette, M. Inst. C.E., for his paper, "On COMPOSITION FOR PRESERVING SHIPS' inspection of this Association. I made a personal investigation a day or two after the ex plosion had occurred, and found that it arose simply from collapse of the furnace flue, a subject to which this Association has called such constant attention in its reports. REAPING MACHINES. AN invention has been patented by Mr. W. Bren. ton, of Polbathick, Cornwall, which consists of an apparatus for delivering the corn cut from reaping machines. For this purpose a roller is mounted upon a shaft behind the finger bar and cutters; one end of this roller shaft revolves in a fixed bearing, the other end is carried by a lever which vibrates upon a fulcrum. Upon the outer end of this roller shaft there is a friction wheel, immediately opposite to but out of contact with a corresponding friction wheel on the large driving wheel of the machine. When a sufficient quantity of corn has been cut to form a sheaf, the attendant presses down the treadle of the vibrating lever with his foot, which brings the two friction wheels into contact, when the roller revolves and the sheaf is delivered from the machine. In the engraving fig. 1 is a side ele. vation, and fig. 2 a plan view of so much of a INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS. the Metropolitan System of Drainage, and the 66 BOTTOMS. DR. HENRY DE BRIOU, of 35, Welbeck-street, Cavendish-square, has recently patented an invention which consists in coating the metals, iron, copper, zinc, the ships' sides and bottoms, and all surfaces or objects to be protected, with an improved composition formed of vulcanised indiarubber 750 parts, and mineral pitch 250 parts. The india-rubber cut into small pieces is thrown into a copper cauldron, placed upon a slow fire and heated until it is melted; all the time it must be stirred up, then the mineral pitch is added and melted; the mixture must be stirred up for some time until the two substances are thoroughly mixed together, and left boiling for two or three hours; then the fire is put out. Before it cools down, the composition is poured into barrels, copper, iron, or other vessels, and kept ready for use. To apply it, the requisite quantity, put into a copper vessel, is placed upon a slow fire, melted again, and spread over the surfaces to be protected by means of a vegetable brush; and then to spread it smoothly and uniformly upon the surfaces, a lighted torch of reeds, such as used in melting tar, is held close to it, which makes it run and gives it a smooth surface. |