another, and a new one; that, at certain periods, man is more rapidly progressive than at others; that the period of the last fifty years has been one of rapid progression, which has led to a new and extraordinary era; and that true wisdom, instead of attempting to retain, or to restore, the old order of things, will be employed in arranging the new, so as to make it most beneficial for the general good. That, instead of opposing the rolling torrent, we must go along with it; and, though we may, indeed, regulate its impetuosity, we cannot, nor ought we, to attempt to stop its course. And, as a hearty well-wisher to the diffusion of knowledge, I rejoice that it is thus triumphant; because I am persuaded that nothing but Knowledge can improve our moral and social well-being. In this good work, our Literary Institutions stand pre-eminently forward; and I trust that they will continue to assist, to impel, and to direct, the mighty operation."

"The lecture," (we copy from the public journals,) "exhibited very considerable research, as well as much taste and judgment. It was delivered in an eloquent manner, and has left an impression on the minds of the auditors, which will not, easily, be obliterated. Although it continued for more than two hours, not the least symptom of impatience was manifested; but, on the contrary, the lecturer was frequently cheered during the evening; and, at the close of the discourse, was received with reiterated bursts of applause. We trust that the lecture will be immediately printed, as it deserves an attentive perusal by every friend to literature, the arts, and the dissemination of useful knowledge.

With this desire, we are informed by Mr. Jennings, he is about to comply. The lecture is to be printed forthwith.

Society of Arts.

THIS Society commenced their sittings, for the present season, on Wednesday, the 6th of November; but no rewards for new inventions have yet been determined.

The COMMITTEE of MECHANICS has been occupied in considering the merits of various inventions. Among these, however, are the following: A double door hinge. This appearing to be the same contrivance as one for which a member of the society, last year, received the silver vulcan medal, and that he had then imposed on the Society, by pirating another person's invention, it was determined to recall the medal, and expel the individual as an unworthy member.-A machine for cleaning windows, to be secured by a screw and winch, instead of iron pins; also, a step-ladder, connected to the machine, and a screen to prevent persons from falling.—A method of preventing the mischief occasioned by the overturning of stage-coaches; the body is proposed to be suspended on pivots, which rest upon the back and front of the carriage; and, in the event of the vehicle going over, the swinging body, by its gravity, preserves its erect position in the descent.-A method of preventing children from being lost, when strayed, by a small painted medal, suspended round the neck, describing the place of the child's residence: it may be desirable to know that, in London, a description of lost and found children is often to be seen posted at the south gate of the Royal Exchange.-A mode of extinguishing fires, by closing the doors and windows with wet blanket or carpets, so as to exclude air.-An iron for smoothing linen; a box-iron, heated by being filled with boiling water.-A mangle; the alternating motion produced

1

by a crank connected to a quadrant.-A thermometrical compensation for time-pieces; formed by arches of circles composed of two dissimilar metals united and attached, at one end, to the arms of the balance; so that, by the expansion of the metal, which would cause its speed to slacken, the circles become contracted, and, hence, the velocity is increased to a compensation. A flush bolt and catch; the bolt is withdrawn by raising a small lever, instead of sliding it back.-A method of propelling vessels; by a horizontal windmill:-another, by the power of the capstan :-another, by a towing rope attached to an anchor or mooring block a-head of the vessel, the rope being coiled in by the power of a steam engine.—A windmill for grinding corn; to be driven by horizontal

vanes

While it is to be regretted that many trifling subjects are constantly brought under the consideration of this society, it must be satisfactory to know that their merits obtain a thorough investigation; and that, therefore, the efforts of inventive genius in the arts are here sure of reward.

Barry's Patent Carriage.

AN experiment has, we understand, been made with the patent carriage, invented by Mr. Barry, and described in our third vol. page 281, in order to ascertain its advantages, compared with a carriage upon the old construction. On the 25th of November, a cart, built upon this improved plan, and loaded with brick, was drawn by one horse, accompanied by an ordinary cart,

Barry's Patent Carriage.

329

equally loaded with bricks, and drawn by two horses. They proceeded from

Good Road.

New Gravel, (about half) deep ruts·

Cannon-street Road, to the Commercial Road,

{and through the turnpike, to Turner Street.

Through Turner Street, into the Whitechapel

Road.

Down Whitehapel Road, through the Turnpike, to the weigh-bridge.

S

Good road. New gravel occasion-ally.

Deep mud and ruts.

Soft meadow land.

....

2

10

2

8

Patent cart, drawn by one horse
Common cart, drawn by two horses

Proceeded from the weigh-bridge, down the
Whitechapel Road, to the first lane on the left
hand.

Down the lane, to a meadow, belonging to Mr.

{D Ismay.

Turned into the meadow, and went round it.

Returned by the same route home.

The experiment was made to ascertain the advantages of draft obtained by the improved carriage; and the result was that a load of two tons ten hundred-weight, was easily drawn, by one horse, in the patent carriage, without any extraordinary labour, even on soft, muddy, and gravelly roads; while the two horses, with two hundred-weight less, laboured considerably, and with difficulty kept up to the first. The horses were frequently exchanged, in order to ascertain whether any superior animal strength produced the difference; but that was not the cause: the advantages of the patent carriage were evident to all who witnessed the experiment, which was exhibited publicly, in the middle of the day, before many hundred people.

330

To John Collier, of Compton-street, Brunswicksquare, Middlesex, engineer, for certain improvements upon Machines for shearing cloth.-Sealed September 27th.-2 months for inrolment.

To John Whitcher, of Helmet-row, St. Luke's, Middlesex, mechanic; Matthew Pickford, of Wood-street, London, common carrier; and James Whitbourn, of Goswell-street, Middlesex, coach-smith, for certain improvements in the construction of the wheels of all wheeled carriages, and of all other vertical wheels of a certain size. Sealed September 27th.-2 months for inrolment.

To James Frost, of Finchley, Middlesex, for a new method of casting or constructing foundations, piers, walls, ceilings, arches, columns, pilasters, mouldings, and other enrichments to buildings.-Sealed September 27th.-2 months for inrolment.

To Joseph Brindley, of Frinsbury, near Rochester, Kent, ship-builder, for certain improvements in the construction and building of ships, boats, barges, and other vessels for navigation.-Sealed October 18th-6 months for inrolment.

To John Jekyll, of Roundhill-house, in the parish of Wincanton, in the county of Somerset, captain in the royal navy, for certain improvements in steam or vapour baths, to render the same more portable and convenient than those in present use.-Sealed November 9th.-2 months for inrolment.

To Francis Deakin, of Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, sword manufacturer and wire drawer, for an improvement in the manufacture of holster cases, cartouch boxes, and certain other description of cases.Sealed November 9th.-2 months for inrolment.

To Henry Ibbotson, of Sheffield, in the county of York, fender manufacturer, for a fender capable of being extended or contracted in length, so as to fit fireplaces of different dimensions.-Sealed November 28th. -2 months for inrolment.

To John Dixon, of Wolverhampton, in the county of Stafford, brass-founder, for certain improvements on cocks, such as are used for drawing off liquids.-Sealed November 28th.-2 months for inrolment.