The proportions recommended for various other articles of manufacture are detailed, but no particular proportions claimed; but Mr. C. claims the mixture of the three metals in whatever proportions.

The processes recommended for melting and mixing the metals are also described at considerable length, but no particular process is claimed.

The second part of the invention is an apparatus for bevelling off the edges of a strip of this new compound metal, or any other metal, for the purpose of these edges being turned upon each other, and soldered or otherwise joined to form a pipe. This is effected by passing the edges between rollers adjusted and moved by suitable apparatus described by the patentee.

MACEWAN'S PATENT MODE OF
PREPARING TEAS.

[Patent dated Aug. 5; Specif. inrolled Feb. 1839.]

A stove or close room must be provided nearly air tight, in which the temperature can be raised and nearly equally maintained to the degree hereinafter mentioned. A convenient stove for this purpose may be made of brick or stone, capable of containing from 20 to 40 chests of tea, or larger if necessary. The door should be so made, that when it is closed, the room should be nearly air tight. The heat may be conveniently communicated by steam pipes laid in various directions in the stove, so as to equally heat the whole. The particular form of stove or room, or the manner of heating, however, is not material. Such stoves or rooms will be sufficient as are now in common use as drying stoves for loaf sugar in the process of manufacture, and for various other purposes. The size of the stove or room is not essential. It should be adapted to the quantity of tea on which the process is required to be performed, and the heat may be applied in any of the ordinary methods for that purpose, such as by hot water or a cockle, as well as by steam. The tea intended to be submitted to the process should then be placed in the

gree.

stove or room in the packages, and in the quantities and in the state in which they are ordinarily imported, and the stove or room closed. The temperature of the stove or room should then be raised to about 140° to 150° of Fahrenheit, and continued at that temperature to a period of from four to six days, by which means a moisture or sweating will be produced in the teas. It is not, however, necessary that the temperature sheuld be exactly maintained to that deShould it be somewhat less, the effect would be produced in a longer time, but if considerably less the effect is not so satisfactory, and as low as 95° of Fahrenheit, the improvement is very little if any. On the other hand the temperature may be somewhat higher, but care must be taken that the heat should not be too great, for if the temperature for any material time should be too great, say as high as 200°, the tea will probably be injured, and become what may be called burnt. The temperature before mentioned, of from 140° to 150° Fahrenheit, has been found to answer the best. If the tea has been imported in the usual manner and been warehoused for some months, four days will be found sufficient time for temperature to be continued, though a little longer will not be injurious. If the tea has been in any damp situation or has been very shortly landed from the vessel, a longer time will be required, according to the state. Six days has been found in all cases to be sufficient at the temperature of 140° to 150°. The package in which the tea is imported has been mentioned, and is well adapted for the process. The nature of the package is not essential, nor the particular quantity. The package, however, should be closed, as the moisture which arises in the tea during the process should not be allowed perceptibly to evaporate, or the flavour of the tea will be thereby lessened; and if the quantity is too small, say a few pounds, there is a danger of the tea becoming what is called burnt. When a sufficient time, as herein before mentioned, has expired, the tea should be removed from the stove or heated room, and it may be placed in the ordinary stove-room and allowed to cool, and in one or two days, according to the temperature of the room, the tea will be fit for use.

PATENT LAW ADJUDICATIONS.

Court of Common Pleas, Friday, Dec. 13. (London Sittings, before Mr. Justice Coltman and Special Juries.) Gillet and Chapman v. Gilby.This was an action for the infringement of a patent of Messrs. Gillet and Chapman for "certain improvements in vehicles called cabs," granted 21st Dec., 1836, which patent was for improvements on the invention of Mr. Joseph Hansom, who previously obtained a patent in 1835. The cabs, therefore, which form the subject of this action are known in the streets of London under the name of "Hansoms," and are without question the safest and easiest upon the road; hence arose numerous infringements of the patent, which it was the object of the present action to suppress.

Mr. Hill and Mr. Shee were counsel for the plaintiffs, and Mr. Ball for the defend

ant.

It appeared that the improvement consisted in having a seat behind for the driver, the frame of the carriage hanging on springs, the seat for the passengers being lower than the springs, German windows in front, and an odometer attached to the carriage for measuring the distance performed by it, whereby both the owner and the passenger would be protected against the driver. The defendant, who is a cab proprietor, had used cabs constructed on a similar principle to some, but not to the entire extent.

The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiffs, with nominal damages.

The learned Judge, upon the application of the plaintiffs' counsel, certified, under the new act, that the question of the validity of the patent had been tried, so as to give the plaintiffs treble costs against any future

*The "British Queen," we are happy to inform our correspondent, has arrived safely in port, after having weathered a series of more severe gales than any yet experienced by her competitors. A most flattering testimonial to her commander, Lieutenant Roberts, appeared in the Times of December 30,Ed. M. M.

defendants against whom a verdict shall pass for an infringement of the same patent.

The Same v. Chapman.-This was an action by the same plaintiffs against the defendant as the builder of the cab used by the defendant in the last action.

The same counsel appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr. Wheatley for the defendant.

The jury returned a similar verdict to that in the preceding case.

NOTES AND NOTICES.

Improved Marine Engines.-A fine new iron steam boat, the property of Lord F. Egerton, or in other words of the Bridgewater Trust, was recently launched from the yard of Messrs. Page and Grantham. She was named the Alice, after Lord Francis Egerton's eldest daughter, is about 170 tons burden, old measurement, is neatly fitted up, and is a handsome lively looking boat on the water. With the whole of her machinery, fuel, &c. on board, her draft of water is only four feet six inches. She has two engines of thirty horse power each, made by Messrs. Devonport and Grinrod, of the Caledonian Foundry in this town, upon a novel and improved construction, their peculiarity consists in the fixing of the cylinders on an angle of 45 degrees, in the form of a rectangle, with the hypothenuze at the base, so that they act as a stay and support to each other. No side levers are required or counter balances; and the working parts being fewer than in ordinary engines, they are less liable to derangement, and not so much exposed to wear and tear. These engines, are exceedingly compact and have realized all that was contemplated by the ingenious makersample power-ease in working, and great strength, combined with unusual lightness. At twelve on Saturday night several gentlemen proceeded in the vessel from the Clarence Dock on a short experimental trip on the river. New engines are neces sarily stiff, and it requires some time to ascertain their proper adjustment. With all disadvantages, however, the Al c performed their work admirably, from the moment she left the dock. A very short trip only was intended on the first occasion; but the speed of the vessel was so satisfactory, and the gratification of all on board consequently so great, that she proceeded up the river a distance of 12 or 14 miles and back -accomplishing the trip "out and home" in about two hours. On her way up she beat several very powerful steamers, and on coming down successively headed two of the Runnora packets in gallant style. The strokes of the engine averaged thirty-two per minute, but when at her full power they will make thirty-five.-Liverpool Standard, Dec. 21.

The Thames Tunnel.-This work is now, it is said, carried on at the rate of eight feet per week. It is now advanced to within about 120 feet of the wharf wall on the Wapping side of the river.

Construction of Davy Lamps.-The communication from our intelligent correspondent," Black Diamond," has excited the attention of mining engineers. Mr. Lionel Brough, of Neath, has addressed the following letter to the Mining Journal in reference thereto :-"I have had frequent occasion to point out to colliers the imperfection mentioned in the letter above alluded to, and only a few

days since it became my duty to inspect a work-a portion of which was full of fire,' and not having any of my own lamps with me, I was induced to examine the one placed in my hands, and on unscrewing the gauze cylinder, and looking end-ways at its immediate connexion with the brass ring attaching it to the lamp, I there detected openings sufficiently large to allow of small shot being dropped through. This was a new lamp-and many others then examined were equally unsafe; I, therefore, as a temporary precaution, stopped up such orifices with clay, so as to enable me to perform the requisite services, and I have no hesitation in stating my firm conviction, that had I not done so, this lamp would have fired-that portion of the mine then under investigation being filled with an explosive atmosphere. Would it not be, Mr. Editor, most desirable that all lamps should be submitted to a strict examination by competent judges before they leave the workshop of the manufacturer? This is a subject where legislative enactment would, beyond all doubt, produce beneficial results; and it becomes the duty of all who are connected with mining pursuits to bring their knowledge and experience before the public, as I am quite convinced that the real safety' lamp of the great and talented inventor is positively what its name infers-that is, the means of safety when well and honestly manufactured, and placed in the hands of steady men accustomed to its use-in fact, nearly all investigations, both legal and otherwise, have proved that the innumerable frightful accidents that have occurred within the last twenty years have arisen from imperfection in the fabrication of the lamp, or from shameless carelessness in its use."

Edinburgh Exhibition of Arts, &c.-The exhibition in the Assembly Rooms, which was opened on Tuesday, attracts great attention, and is crowded by all ranks of society; among whom we have noticed the Duke and Duchess of Argyll, the Marquis of Lorn, Lord Altremont, Sir Thomas Dick Lauder, Colonel Douglas and the officers of the 78th Highlanders, the Rev. Mr. Bennie, President of the School of Arts. The practical illustrations are in full operation, and include a magnificent display of the application of science to art on a scale such as has never been previously witnessed in this country. The light-house reflectors and lenses, including the lime ball reflector, the reflector with coloured light, and the revolving lenses, occupy the east end of the large room, and shed a flood of the most brilliant light upon the spectator. The printing, copperplate, and lithographic presses are continually in action; and the jacquard loom, the weaving of stockings, turning of wood, modelling in clay, basket-making, paper-making, &c., present a series of processes of extreme interest to all; while the magnificent illustrations of the Polariscope, on which alone the committee have expended upwards of 50l., present to the man of science a treat which has not hitherto been accessible to him in this part of the island. The experimental ar. rangements of the Polariscope are under the superintendence of Mr. E. M. Clarke, who has arrived from London at the invitation of the committee, for this purpose. It will give some idea of the magnitude of the arrangements made for this exhibition, when we state that the value of the insurance of the various models and specimens is between forty and fifty thousand pounds. We have much pleasure in adding, that the pupils of numerous schools and academies have already visited the exhibition, and on Saturday morning (this day), we understand that upwards of 800 boys, from different charity schools, are to be admitted gratuitously.-Edinburgh Chronicle, Dec. 28.

DESCRIPTION OF A PLAN FOR

DESCENDING AND ASCENDING MINES. -BY E. O. TREGELLES, C.E. [From the Sixth Report of the Cornwall Polytechnic Society.]

Figs. 1, 2, and 3, (pp. 243, 4) are a longitudinal section, a cross section, and plan of the machinery for facilitating the descent and ascent of miners, being a modification of the plan adopted in some deep mines of the Harz, in Germany.* The machinery about to be described, is adapted for a mine 200 fathoms deep.

a a are two rods of fir, which are proposed to be made each of two pieces of Norway timber, nine inches square, scarfed together, so as to form a piece 16 inches by 9 inches. Brackets or footboards, bb, &c., are fixed to each rod, at every 10 feet, and a rod c, 2 inches square, is fixed at the outer angle of the footboard, being continuous with the rods for the whole proposed depth.

d is a ladder of ordinary kind, fixed so as to be nearly flush with the front of the footboards.

ee are staples of wrought iron, fixed to the rods a a, as hold-fasts for the men's hands, and being long, they are adapted for tall men or for boys.

fff are rollers with flanches as guides to the rods; of these a set should be fixed at every 30 feet.

g is a landing place, of which there should be one at every 10 fathoms.

hh, rods to connect the rods aa with the beams ii.

j, a strap to connect the beams together.

k, sweep rod, connecting the beams ii, with the crank. This crank is 5 feet between centres, giving to the beams a 10 feet stroke, and is worked by the engine m, shown only in the plan.

It will be obvious that if the crank d, makes 5 revolutions per minute, it will raise and lower each of the rods a 5 times per minute, so that at each change of stroke a short interval of time will occur,

*The machinery of the Harz mines to which we had reference, is constructed on the reciprocating principle; their rods are much slighter than the size we suggest, and the stroke is only 4 feet 8 inches, requiring the men to change more frequent. ly than in the arrangement proposed for the Cornish mines; as we apprehend that the risk will be diminished by reducing the number of times that the men are required to change from one rod to another; the guide rollers on the German plan, are placed at the back and front of the rods alternately; we propose having them at the sides, but this is an arrangement that may be varied at discretion.

during which the brackets b are nearly level with each other. This interval will afford sufficient time for a man to step on to the bracket that was descending, during the time when the bracket from which he steps was ascending, then at the change of stroke, he will be raised 10 feet; and stepping to each alternate rod as they stop, he will be raised a height of 200 fathoms in 12 minutes, without fatigue.

The rod c is for the person to rest against, to increase the sense of security.

At every landing place the brackets b, and staples e, would be fixed on the opposite side of the rods a a, so that if by any accident the men fall away, they would have no further to fall, than if the accident occurred whilst mounting by a ladder in the ordinary manner.

It might be desirable to introduce the shieve and band, described in page 44 of the Society's "Second Annual Report," as a security in case the rods should break: besides this, strong catches should be firmly attached by bolts to the rods a, at every ten fathoms.

The weight of each rod is about 30 tons, independent of moisture, the one balancing the other; if 40 men be ascending at the same time, the load on the alternate rods will be 3 tons, moving 100 feet per minute, 672,000 lbs. raised 1 foot high per minute, the power of 20 horses; but the friction of the rods, and machinery must be added, so that the power required is a 30-inch engine, working at 8 pounds per square inch, a 6 feet stroke, and 16 strokes per minute. A smaller engine would be sufficient if fewer men were raised at one time.

The cost of executing the whole of the work, including the rods, the machinery for working them, and the engine, may be estimated at 2,3651.

A less costly modification of machinery for the same purpose is shown by fig. 4, (front page.)

a a, are the rods as before described; bb, the brackets; c c, the rods for the men to lean against; d, the ladder; e e, the staples; ff, the rollers; g, the landing place; hh, the links to allow of the vibration of the rods ii; jj, levers to reduce the oblique strain, on the tops of the rods a a; k, is a T beam; l, is a sweep rod, connecting it with the crank m; nn, are two elliptic wheels connected with the fly wheel of the engine; p, is the masonry,to hold down thewood framing,g.