to a fair test of experiment; it has been successively exhibited in thirteen of the best agricultural counties of Scotland; and we think ourselves justified in the opinion that, generally speaking, their soil may be gradually accommodated to the use of this instrument, by a preparation which will prove itself an improvement, that is, the cleaning away of the biggest stones, and the rolling in of the small ones. Its ultimate adoption will depend on the combined exertions, encouragement, and example of the several classes of proprietors and farmers, and especially of the farming clubs and agricultural societies, under the guidance of that noble specimen of the power of association, of that grand focus of public spirit, enlightened patriotism, and positive knowledge. ARTS AND MANUFACTURES. Suspension Railway.-A line of railway on the suspension principle, invented by Mr. H. R. Palmer, having been constructed for practical use, at Cheshunt, in Hertfordshire, by Mr. Gibbs, of that place, it was opened for public inspection on June last. The line of railway runs from the high road to the lower end of the village, through Mr. Gibbs's land to the river Lea, and is nearly a mile long. It consists of a single elevated line of surface, supported upon vertical posts of wood, fixed in the ground in a peculiar manner, to render their position secure. These posts are at the distance of about ten feet from each other, varying in height according to the undulation of the ground, so as to keep their upper extremities parallel with the necessary plane. In a cleft on these are laid reverse wedges, on which rest a line of bearers of wood, the upper surface of which, covered with a plate of iron, forms the road for the pas sage of the wheels. The average height of this road above the ground is from two to three feet. The carriage has two wheels, one placed before the other; and two receptacles for goods, which are suspended, one on each side, the centre of gravity being below the surface of the rail. A number of these carriages are linked together by chains, and a horse is connected with the whole by a towing rope attached to the foremost machine. The most striking peculiarity of this plan is its extreme simplicity, considering the many obvious advantages it presents beyond the ordinary double rail-road, particularly the great expense it avoids in embankments, culverts, and drains the trifling space of ground it occupies the increased effect which can be produced upon it, from its reduced force of resist ance-its comparatively small cost, its facilities of loading and unloading, &c. Zinc plates for Engraving-In Germany at present artists have begun to substitute zinc plates instead of copper plates, and also instead of stone for engravings. The artist draws on the zine as on stone, and the expense of engrav ings is thus saved. A large work, being a collection of monuments of architecture, from zinc plates, has already appeared at Darmstadt, and is highly spoken of: The process is said to unite the economy of lithography with the clearness of copper engraving. Tenacity of Iron, as applicable to Chain-bridges.-The following results have been deduced from experiments made in Russia, and detailed by M. Lamb, in a letter from Petersburgh, Ann. des Mines, x. 311. In the apparatus contrived for the purpose, the power was applied by a hydraulic press. The best iron tried, supported twenty-six tons per square inch, without being torn asunder. The bars began to lengthen sensibly when two thirds of this power had been applied, and the elongation appeared to increase in a geometrical ratio with arithmetical increments of power. The worst iron tried, gave way under a tension of fourteen tons to the square inch of section, and did not lengthen sensibly before rupture. By forging four bars of iron of medium quality together, an iron was obtained which did not begin to lengthen until sixteen tons had been applied, and supported a weight of twenty-four tons without breaking. Taking these results as sufficient data, it was decided by the committee appointed for the purpose, that the thickness of chains in a suspension-bridge should be calculated so that the maximum weight to be borne should not exceed eight tons per square inch of sectional surface, and that before being used they should be subjected to a tension of sixteen tons per square inch, and bear it without any sensible elongation. Suspension Bridge.-Change of the Shakespearian coir rope bridge of suspension at Allypore into one of Sylhet cane, or ground Rattans. It appears that canes from 100 to 225 feet in length, and from one to nearly two inches in diameter, are procurable on our northeastern frontier, merely for the cost of the labour in collecting them together. The governorgeneral's agent, Mr. Scott, when at Sylhet, sent down to Calcutta, at the request of Mr. Collin Shakespear, a supply of canes, coiled up like rope; and of which he has constructed the present small bridge of 130 feet span by 5 feet in width. Not only the road-way, but all the radiating guys, catenary curved swings, preventer braces, and vertical suspenders are of cane, none exceeding one and a quarter inch in diameter, and many not three quarters of an inch. The use of iron thimbles throughout the composition gives an air. of symmetry and neatness, while they greatly diminish friction, and add much to the strength of the bridge, which, like its rustic predecessor, has only one iron jointed arm in the centre. The appearance of the arch is singularly light, even more so than rope; and it is in reality lighter as a whole, because the bamboo cross slips, forming the road way, are lashed at once to the canes, and thus it becomes firmer than in the rope bridge, in which the treadway is distinct, and lies over the strands. Eighteen canes of 150 feet each form the bearings. These are lashed together at each end of the bridge, and then bound round four open hearts, in substitution of dead eyes. Thus the setting up power acts in the same way as with the rope bridge. There are no friction sheaves in the standards, with the exception of one for the lowest guy, the angle being acute. The strength and durability of the cane is by some considered equal to that of rope, and this is a question that time will solve. Meanwhile it is quite clear, that if the cane should only last a season or two of the rains, and it is strongest when kept moist, the advantages gained to a country abounding in that useful and cheap commodity, will be incalculable, no bridge whatever, we believe, having been attempted in that quarter up to the present time. And we may conclude, that the natives, from habit and method in working up cane, will improve both on the neatness and strength of cane bridges now to be introduced, especially as they well know from experience, how to choose the best kind of cane, and to cut it at the proper season for the purpose intended. PATENT S. J. DEYKIN and W. H. DEYKIN, of Birmingham; for an improvement in the manufacture of certain military, naval, and other uniform and livery buttons.-Dec. 23, 1824. D. Stafford, of Liverpool; for improvements on carriages.-Dec. 24. S. Denison, of Leeds, and J. Harris, of Leeds; for improvements in machinery for the purpose of making wove and laid paper.-Jan. 1, 1825. J. Heathcoat, of Tiverton; for improvements in machinery for making lace-net, commonly called bobbin-net. -Jan. 12: P. Erard, of Great Marlboroughstreet, for improvements on pianofortes. Communicated to him by a foreigner residing abroad.-Jan. 5. A. Tilloch, of Islington; for an improvement or improvements in the steam-engine, or in the apparatus connected therewith, and also applicable to other useful purposes.―Jan. 11. W. Henson and W. Jackson, both of Worcester, for improvements in machinery for making lace or net, commonly called bobbin-net.-Jan. 11. G. Gurney, of Argyle-street, surgeon, for an improved finger-keyed musical instrument; in the use of which a performer is enabled to hold or prolong the notes, and to increase or modify the tone, at pleasure.-Jan. 11. F. G. Spilsbury, of Leek; for improvements in weaving.-Jan. 11. W. Hirst, of Leeds; for improvements in spinning and shabbing machines.-Jan. 11. J. F. Smith, of Dunston Hall, Derbyshire; for improvements in the preparation or manufacture of sliver or slivers, or tops, from wool, or wool and cotton, or other suitable fibrous materials.-Jan. 11. J. F. Smith, of Dunston Hall, Derbyshire; for improvements in dressing and finishing woollen cloths. -Jan. 11. J. Lockett the elder, of Manchester; for improvements in producing or manufacturing a neb or slob in the roller, shell, or cylinder, made of copper, or other metal, used in the printing of calico, muslin, cotton, or linen cloths.-Jan. 14. J. F. Atlee, of Marchwood; for a process by which planks and other scantlings of wood of every description will be prevented from shrinking, and will be altered and materially improved in their durability, closeness of grain, and power of resisting moisture, so as to render the same better adapted for ship-building, and other building purposes; for the construction of furniture, and all other purposes where close or compact wood is desirable, in so much that the wood so prepared will become a new article of commerce and manufacture, which he intends calling Condensed wood.-Jan. 11. G. Sayner, of Hunslet, Leeds, and J. Greenwood, of Gomersall; for improvements in the mode or manner of sawing and cutting wood and timber by machinery.-Jan. 11. T. Magrath, of Dublin; for a composition to preserve animal and vegetable substances.-Jan. 11. T. Magrath, of Dublin; for an improved apparatus for conducting and containing water and other fluids, and preserving the same from the effects of frost.-Jan. 11. J. Phipps, of Upper Thames-street, London, and C. Phipps, of River, Kent; for an improvement or improvements in machinery for making paper.-Jan. 11. W. S. Burnett, of London-street; for a new method of lessening the drift of ships at sea, and better protecting them in gales of winds.-Jan. 11. J. Andrew, G. Tarlton, and J. Shepley, all of Crumpshall, near Manchester; for improvements in the construction of a machine used for throstle and water spinning of thread or yarn, whether the said thread or yarn be fabricated from cotton, flax, silk, wool, or any other fibrous substance, or mixture of substances, whatsoever; which said improved machine is so constructed as to perform the opera tions of sizing and twisting in, or other wise removing the superfluous fibres from the said thread or yarn, and is also applicable to the purpose of preparing a roving for the same.-Jan. 11. W. Booth, of Congleton, and M. Bailey; of Congleton, for improvements in spinning, doubling, throwsting and twisting, silk, wool, cotton, flax, hemp, and such like materials.Jan. 11. W. Rudder, of Egbaston; for improvements in cocks, for drawing off liquids.-Jan. 18. W. Church, of Birmingham; for improvements in casting cylinders, tubes, and other articles, of iron, copper, and other metals.-Jan. 18. F. Melville, of Glasgow; for a method of securing that description of small piano-fortes, commonly called square piano-fortes, from the injuries to which they are liable from the tension of the strings.--Jan. 18. E. Lees, of Little Thurrock, and George Harrison, of the same place; for a new method of making bricks, tiles, and other articles, manufactured with brick-earth.-Feb. 1, J. Thin, of Edinburgh; for a new method of constructing a roasting jack. -Feb. 1. S. Crosley, of City-road, Middlesex; for apparatus for measuring and registering the quantity of liquids passing from one place to another.Feb. 1. S. Crosley, of City-road, Middlesex; for an improvement in the construction of gas regulators or governors. Feb. 1. T. Burstall, of Bankside, Southwark, and J. Hill, of Greenwich; for a locomotive or steam carriage, for the conveyance of mails, passengers, and goods.-Feb. 3. G. A. Lamb, of Rye; for a new composition of malt and hops.-Feb. 10. for R. Badnall the younger, of Leek; improvements in winding, doubling, spinning, throwing, or twisting of silk, wool, cotton, or any other fibrous substances.-Feb. 10. J. Heathcoat, of Tiverton; for improvements on the method of manufacturing silk.-Feb. 11. E. Ifees, of Little Thurrock; for improvements in water-works, and in the mode of conveying water, for the purpose of flooding and draining lands; which improvements are also applicable to various other purposes. Feb. 19. T. Masterman, of Broad-street, Ratcliffe; for an apparatus for bottling wine, beer, and other liquids, with increased economy and despatch. Feb. 19. E. Lloyd, of North-end, Fulham; for a new apparatus from which to feed fires with coals and other fuel.Feb. 19. B. Farrow, of Great Tower-street; for an improvement in buildings, calculated to render them less likely to be destroyed or injured by fire than heretofore.-Feb. 19. J. Ross, of Leicester; for a new apparatus for combining and straightening wool, cotton, and otherlike fibrous substances.-Feb. 19. J. Mould, of Lincoln's-inn-fields; for improvements in fire-arms. Communicated to him by a certain foreigner residing abroad.-Feb. 19. H. Burnett, of Arundel; for improvements in machinery for a new rotatory or endless lever action. Communicated to him by persons residing abroad.-Feb. 19. J. Beacham, of Paradise street, Finsbury-square; for improvements in water-closets.-Feb. 19. J. Ayton, of Trowse Millgate Norfolk; for an improvement or spring to be applied to bolting-mills, for the purpose of facilitating and improving the dressing of flour and other substances.-Feb. 19, D. Edwards, of Bloomsbury; for an ink-stand, which is so constructed, that by means of pressure the ink is caused to flow to use.-Feb. 26. J. Manton, of St. George, Hano ver-square; for improvements in firearms.-Feb, 26. W. H. Hill, of Woolwich; for im provements in machinery for propelling vessels.-Feb. 26. G. A. Collman, of the Friary, St. James's palace; for improvements in the mechanism and general construction of piano fortes.-Feb. 26. J. Heathcoat, of Tiverton; for an improved method of producing figures or ornaments in a certain description of goods manufactured from silk, cotton, flax, or other thread or yarn.Feb. 26. J. Bateman, Islington; for a porta ble life-boat.-Feb. 26. C. Whitehouse, of Wednesbury; for improvements in manufacturing tubes for gas, and other purposes.— Feb. 26. T. Attwood, of Birmingham; for an improved method of making a nib or nibbs, slott or slotts, in copper cylinders, or cylinders of other metal, used for printing cottons, linen, silk, stuffs, and other articles,-Feb. 26. D. Gordon, of Basinghall-street, and W. Bowser, of Parson's-street, London; for improvements in uniting and plating, or coating iron with copper, or with any other composition whereof copper is the principal ingre dient.-Feb. 26. Chevalier J. de Mettemberg, of Foley-place, for a vegetable, mercurial, and spirituous preparation, which he denominates, Quintessence Antipsorique, or Mettemberg's water; and also a particular method of employing the same by cutaneous absorption, as a specific and medical cosmetic. -Feb. 26. J. Masterman, of 68, Old Broadstreet; for an improved method of corking bottles.-March 5. A. H. Chambers and E. Chambers, both of Stratford place, St. Mary-lebone, and C. Jearrard, of Adam-street, Manchester-square; for a new filtering apparatus, March 5. W. Halley, of Holland-street, Surrey; for improvements, in the construction of forges, and on bellows or apparatus to be used therewith or separate.-March 5. R. Winch, of Steward's-buildings, surveyor; for improvements in, or additions to, rotary pumps, for raising and forcing water or other liquids.March 5. W. H.James, of Cobourg-place, near Birmingham; for improvements on rail-ways, and in the construction of carriages to be employed thereon.March 5. W. Hirst and J. Wood, of Leeds; for improvements in cleaning, milling, or fulling cloth.-March 5. J. L. Bond, of Newman street, Marylebone, and J. Turner, of Wellsstreet, Marylebone; for improvements in the construction of windows, casements, folding sashes (usually called French sashes), and doors, by means of which the same are hung and hinged in a manner adapted more effectually to exclude rain and wind, and to afford a free circulation of air. March 9. T. Hancock of Goswell-mews, St. Luke; for a new or improved manufac ture, which may in many instances be used as a substitute for leather, and otherwise.-March 15. T. Hancock, of Goswell-mews, St. Luke; for an improvement in the making ship's bottoms, vessels, and utensils of different descriptions and various manufactures, and porous or fibrous substances, impervious to air and water, and for coating and protecting the surfaces of different metallic and other bodies.-March 15. T. Hancock, of Goswell-mews, St. Luke; for an improvement in the preparation or in the process of making or manufacturing of ropes or cordage and other articles from hemp, flax, and other fibrous substances.March 15. J. Collinge, of Lambeth; for an improvement on springs and other apparatus used for closing doors and gates.-March 15. R. B. Bate, of the Poultry, London; for an improvement on the frames of eye-glasses.-March 15. |