I always took for leaden figures; but, one day, the base of one of them having a bit broken off, and it leaving a white mark behind, on inquiry, I found they were plaster figures painted, and once a week thoroughly cleaned with a black lead brush, which gave them this leaden appearance. To prevent their breaking, I would advise Aurum, as soon as he buys a figure, to get some chalk or plaster, and make a thick mess of it; then place the figure on its head, fill it with the mess, and let it stand so till it dries up in the figure.

I am, Sir, with due respect,
CLIO.

SIR, I am happy to have it in my power to supply the "further explanation desired," on the Varnish for Plaster of Paris Figures. The proportions are as follow:Of white soap and white wax each half an ounce, of water two pints; boil them together for a short time in a clear vessel. The varnish is to be applied, when cold, by means of a soft brush-an old shavingbrush will answer the purpose very well. I have not tried the processes recommended in your last by W. Tatner, but I am inclined to think that, besides the additional trouble and expense, neither of them is as likely to answer as that which I have supplied.

I cannot withhold from expressing the great satisfaction which I have experienced in witnessing the success which attends your work; and I am particularly gratified with the increasing and combined efforts of all classes to promote the improvement of the labouring population.

I am, Sir,

Your faithful coadjutor,
WM. JOHNS, M.D. F.L.S.

CORRESPONDENCE.

In the 4th Number of the Mechanics' Magazine, there is a description of a Double Door Spring, invented by "Mr.

James White, of Laystall-street." A Correspondent says, that, up to this time, he has not been able to find ont where the article is to be met with. About last September, a friend, whom he requested to procure one, traversed Laystall-street from end to end, without being able to find such a person as Mr. White, or any place where such an article was to be sold. He farther inquired of a carpenter, who was at work in the street, and who said it was not the first time he had been asked the same question, which he could not satisfactorily answer. He therefore requests to know where Mr. White's -door-springs are to be procured?

P. M. O. would feel obliged to G. Brown, if he will say where the BugDestroying Machine (described in Number 92, p. 123) is to be purchased, or who made his for him? He has shown the drawing to a tinman in his neighbourhood, but he will not make it for twice the sum G. B. says he paid for his.

We shall endeavour shortly to gratify Mr. K. and friends, by a description of the Machine alluded to. An account of Mr. K.'s new Picking Machine will be acceptable.

J. N. says, he "cannot resist an inclination to trouble our readers with some ideas on the neglect of Cosmogony." We are sorry we cannot give him leave so to trespass on their attention.

Sir Sydney Smith's Six-wheeled Carriage in our next.

Communications received from-An Old Sailor R. S. S.-H. M.-D. W.G. M. E.-Amicus-A Learner-TyroJ. G. C.-William Grant-An Original Subscriber-Thomas Martin--M. M. (Wilts)-M. M. (Edinburgh)—" A Few Inquirers at Leeds"-U. T.-L. S.

T. M. B. will find a letter for him at our publishers on Monday.

* Advertisements for the Covers of the Monthly Parts must be sent to the Publishers before the 20th of each Month.

be addressed to the Editor, at the Publishers', KNIGHT and LACEY, 55, Paternoster-row, London. Printed by Mills, Jowett, and Mills (late Bensley), Bolt-court, Fleet-street.

Communications (past paid

354

SIR SYDNEY SMITH'S

SIX-WHEELED

CARRIAGE.

SIR, I now send you, as promised, the accompanying drawing of SIR SYDNEY SMITH'S newly-invented Six-wheeled Carriage, for the favour of a place in your useful Magazine.

As I stated in my former communication (No. 87, page 37), its great advantage over the ordinary four-wheel carriage consists in the ease and facility with which it travels on any rough or uneven surface; and as it acts upon a principle of leverage, from its counterpoise motion on the centre wheels, it thereby preserves the body part from that uneasiness which any violent action of the extremities or end wheels, in their continued ascent or descent, on uneven pavements or bad roads, must otherwise occasion. It is, therefore, particularly adapted for the service of invalids and individuals requiring the greatest possible ease in their conveyance from one place to another. It is likewise of important utility as a military carriage, for conveying the sick or wounded, as it would give great relief to the sufferers, and tend materially to the preservation of life on long journeys and fatiguing marches, where the ground to traverse over is bad and unlevelled.

As a sporting carriage, in crossing open countries, it possesses many advantages, for the body can be formed with seats to carry several persons, with every necessary convenience for containing dogs and game.

The six-wheeled carriage can be constructed as a low phaeton, to be drawn by poneys, for the sick and invalid, the body part to swing on leather braces, and to contain a cot or couch to lie or recline upon, for the convenience of ease and support, as might be found necessary.

As both pair of end wheels revolve laterally, the horses may be attached to either part of the carriage.

Should any person he desirous of having a carriage on the six-wheel principle, every particular respecting it may be had by sending an address to No. 25, Bow-street, Long Acre. I remain, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

GM.

DIRECTIONS FOR TANNING.

The following is copied from the manuscripts of the late Colonel Benjamin Hawkins :

Green Hides.

Take them immediately from the carcase to the pond, and let them remain twelve hours: then put them in lime. One peck of black-jack ashes to a hide, if large, or half a bushel to three hides.

If the season is warm, in three or four days the hair will come; as soon as it will come, take it off. The first, second, and third day, work them well in the lime; do this by taking them quite out, and replace them; if necessary, add ashes, and always water enough to cover them. After they are haired, take them to the pond; the second and third day work each side well till the water or lime appears to ooze out of the hide of a dryish cast. The fourth day put them in beaten bark, so that no part of a hide lies on another bare. Here they are to lie nine days, and then be replaced in a second bark. Six weeks after, replace them in fresh bark, and let them remain in the

many others, affords a demonstrative evidence, that no such principle exists as attraction; nor can all the mathematicians in the world elucidate the phenomenon, by the hypothesis that weight is the consequence of attraction. When the steel-yard is in equilibrio, with twenty pounds on one arm, and one pound on the other or longer arm, then, and in opposition to the theory of attraction, one pound is attracted to the earth as forcibly as twenty pounds; or, the weight of twenty pounds is not attracted more strongly than the weight of one pound. On the contrary, did the earth attract either, and according to their quantities of matter, both would be pulled by the earth towards the surface, and each with a force proportional to its quantity of matter, which would make the greater preponderate. Hence it is manifest that weight is not the consequence of attraction, as the equilibrium, under these circumstances, would be an impossibility.

It is well known that one pound will balance twenty in an opposite scale, both scales being suspended from a beam of equal arms, provided it be let fall into its own scale from a sufficient height; in which case, as soon as the one pound strikes the scale, the scale with the twenty is lifted up, and the beam is brought to a horizontal position; and as long as that position is maintained, the one is as heavy as twenty. Hence it may be reasonably inferred, that as motion creates weight, and "more causes than what are rational, and sufficient to account for phenomena, should not be resorted to," weight is the effect of motion universally. Again, as attraction of the earth for a certain quantity of matter must be considered a fixed quantity, acting on it inversely as the square of the distance, it should be the fact, that the momentum of a falling body is always the same at the end of the fall, no matter the length of descent. For it is highly irrational to imagine, that the motion of a falling body is

the cause of the increase of that motion; and the body could be attracted at all heights, only as its distance from the earth. The customary

phrase," the effects of motion reinaining in the body, and thereby accumulating, and hence the motion is accelerated," is neither rational nor intelligible.. It follows, that as attraction is incapable of accounting for either the weight or fall of bodies, and would be a hindrance to all projectile motion, while weight is evidently caused by motion of a body, and motion is evidently the effect of the motion of some other body, there must necessarily be a medium, which is in motion, which is the cause of both weight and the fall of bodies; and hence it is, from the momenta of the unequal weight on the steelyard being equal, that the equilibrium is formed.

I remain, Sir,
Your obliged servant,
H-

SHAWL MANUFACTURE.

Accidental circumstances lately called our attention to some facts connected with the history of the shawl manufacture, a short statement of which our readers may perhaps consider not without interest. We need scarcely state, that this species of manufacture has risen almost from nothing within the last thirty years, and that little more than twenty years have passed since it was established in this city, which may now be considered as the chief seat of the finest, though not the most extensive, branch of the manufacture. Shawls were originally made in the East Indies, and they exhibit a curious example of the high perfection to which some single species of manufacture may be car ried in a country where the arts in general are in a rude state. So highly are these India shawls prized in this country, that they fetch a price of 100l., 2004, or even 500., while the best of those of domestic manufacture can be had for 204. or 30%. But what makes the preference shown to the foreign article the more sur prising is, that no small proportion of the India shawls brought to Britain have been worn by the natives as turbans, girdles, &c. before they were imported. This is no secret