a native to articulate. We should conceive this scheme would present almost as many impediments to being brought into use, as the often attempted but never accomplished articulating machine.-[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, October, 1832]

SCIENTIFIC NOTICES.

A Treatise on the Teeth of Wheels, demonstrating the best forms which can be given to them for the purposes of machinery, such as Mill-work and Clock-work, and the art of finding their numbers. Translated from the French of M. Camus, by JOHN ISAAC HAWKINS, Civil Engineer. Second edition, illustrated with 18 plates. J. Weale, London.

THIS is an exceedingly clever and useful work, both to practical and theoretical mechanics: the former it incites to study the best form for the teeth of his gear work, and shows him how to calculate them mathematically, without depending entirely upon his practical knowledge; and the latter it warns that "theory without practice, and practice without theory, are equally apt to produce monsters; while theory and practice legitimately united, will bring forth the most beautiful and useful results."

We quote the words of the Editor, pointing out the importance to engineers of a perfect acquaintance with this subject, he says:

"The perfection of the most simple, as well as the most complicated, engines, depends greatly upon the due action of the teeth of the wheels with each other, or, in other words, on the best form for ensuring their proper action with the least friction,

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and, of course, with the least wear and loss of power. It is needless here to state of what vast consequence the numerous and immense machines are to the manufactures of this country, or what prodigious sums of money are involved therein. It is, therefore, of great importance, that the best form for the teeth of wheels should be ascertained on true mathematical principles, and that they should not be left, as is too much the case, to the random guesses of the workmen. If the teeth of wheels be properly constructed, the work is more equably performed, and of course is better done, less force or moving power is requisite, or more work may be done with a given power; and to crown all, the whole machinery has greater durability, consequently costs less for repairs, and occasions less loss of valuable time, by not being so frequently obliged to stand still. Now the saving of power, of expense, and of time in repairs, are objects by no means to be lightly thought of."

Under the impression of the urgent necessity there is for a work which would make the practical mechanic intimately acquainted with this so long neglected branch of mechanics, the publisher was induced to procure a translation of that part of M. Camus's "Cours de Mathematique," which treats of the form of the teeth of wheels. Mr. Hawkins possesses an extensive knowledge of practical science: he has undertaken the task, and has given us, in conjunction with his own views, the mathematical principles as set out by M. Camus, on which mill-gearing should be constructed. The work is illustrated by eighteen plates, showing the best forms of teeth, and the method of calculating them for all the possible variations of position in which they may be required to act. We recommend the work to the attentive perusal of practical mechanics, as containing a fund of useful information, highly interesting, if not indispensably necessary, in the various applications of the mechanical arts.

An Analysis of the British Ferns and their Allies, with Copper-plate Engravings of every Species and Variety. GEORGE W. FRANCIS. London: Simpkin and Marshall, Svo. 68pp.

A knowledge of botany is of much greater importance to operatives engaged in the arts and manufactures, than may be generally supposed. The exercise of the arts of design extend through a very wide field of our manufactures, calling into action not only the inventive genius, but also the taste of the various artisans employed; and how can that genius be directed and applied, or that taste be judiciously displayed, without a competent knowledge of the elements of the science or art from which such designs are to be derived?

Botany, of all other natural resources, provides the most extensive range of subjects suited to elegant design; and no class of that science has been more happily applied to the decorative arts, than the class Cryptogamia (Ferns). With this view of the subject, we feel it rather a duty incumbent upon us, to lead our readers (particularly that portion of them connected with the arts of design) to the consideration of the small, but by no means trifling work, which is announced at the head of this article.

Of the merits of this work, we need only say that it ap pears to be an original production, the result of indefatigable labour, directed by an extensive knowledge of the subject, and given with clearness and perspicuity; and that the modest form in which the author has communicated his acquired information, and the very small price of his little volume, recomineud it forcibly in our estimation to that class of our readers, particularly to whom we have above alluded.

OBSERVATIONS UPON MR. MACKINNON'S BILL, "TO AMEND THE PRACTICE RELATING TO LETTERS PATENT FOR INVENTIONS," &c.

Respectfully addressed to the Consideration of Members of the Legislature.

Ir from amongst the various subjects which at this moment press on the attention of Parliament, one should be selected for its important bearings upon the great commercial interests of this country, for its nationality, for its prospective beneficial results, and for its claims to be calmly considered without any excitement of that excusable* party-feeling which attaches to most matters of public discussion-that subject would be the relief of the genius and inventive talent of this manufacturing nation, from the oppression and difficulties under which it has hitherto laboured, for want of a systematic Code of Patent Law, combining simplicity of forms, efficient protection, and reasonable price.

The attention of our statesmen and legislators appears never to have been sufficiently directed to the necessity of treating the subject of Patent Law and practice as an affair of national policy, both as it regards our internal prosperity, and our external commercial relations over the whole globe; it has never been considered by those who direct the concerns of this country, that the combined rivalry of foreign nations, jealous of our manufacturing superiority, and present commercial pre-eminence, can alone be effectually met by giving vitality and energy to the immense mass of dormant inventive talent throughout this country, which can ever be rendered available to its possessors, and to the public, but by a complete re-modelling of our antiquated and expensive system of Patent Law and practice.

The amendment of this system is, I will acknowledge, surrounded with difficulties and perplexities of a peculiar character; but they are not insurmountable, and the attention of Parliament being

* Query, inexcusable.-ED.

once fixed upon the importance of the subject, the wisdom of Parliament can certainly apply the proper remedies.

To appreciate the value that should be attached to the wellintentioned endeavours of any member who will undertake the almost forlorn hope of Patent practice amendment, we need only cursorily advert to the attempts which have preceded the present Bill of Mr. Mackinnon, upon this difficult point of legislation. In the Session of 1829, the Honourable House of Commous appointed a Committee of Inquiry into "the Law and Practice of Patents for Inventions," with directions " to report the evidence, and their observations thereon, to the House." The Committee was composed of able men from both sides of the House; they examined witnesses at great length-reported their evidence, but found the subject" so intricate and difficult," that notwithstanding "their carnest recommendation to be re-appointed early in the next Session," they relinquished the "intricate and difficult" business, and were never re-constituted for the purpose of making that report, which could alone have given an operative result to their previous labours.

The Reform Bill engrossed the attention of Parliament for the two succeeding Sessions; but in that of 1833, Mr. Godson introduced his Patent Law Amendment Bill; it was divided into two, for the purpose of separating the more questionable amendments; the first Bill passed the Commons, the second Bill went through Committee;-they together embraced many important ameliorations; but were defective in detail as a system, or code of Patent Law and practice. These two Bills were superseded by Lord Brougham's Act, which contains some material improvements, not worded in the best manner (so far as words are intended to convey precise meaning)-but Lord Brougham's Act has left all the principal grievances of which men of inventive talent complain, perfectly unremedied. Lord Brougham's acknowledged great talents were not applied to the "intricate and difficult" portions of the subject, the real protection of invention as a matter of personal property, and of personal right, the abrogation of the useless antiquated forms of passing Patents,