Salt, why so dear, 39
Saratoga Springs, tour to, 338

Salt Water, account of apparatus for freshen-
ing, 392

Sabbatton's Ink Distributor, account of, 391
Scienco, pleasures and advantages of, 166
Printing, from cavities-from copper-plate-Screw Press, improved, 182
from steel plates-music from pewter-plates
Dunbar's, improved, 230
-calico from cylinders-from perforated Screw, new modification of the power of, 197
sheets of metal (stencilling), 368
Schools, statistics of, 228

AMERICAN RAILROAD JOURNAL,

AND ADVOCATE

OF INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

PUBLISHED WEEKLY, AT No. 35 WALL STREET, NEW-YORK, AT THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM, PAYABLE IN ADVANCE.

D. K. MINOR, EDITOR.]

SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 1833.

[VOLUME II.-No. 1.

CONTENTS:

To our Patrons and the Public,

On the effect of Grade and Curvature upon the motion of Railroad Cars,

Steam Vessels of War; Steam Car,

Russell's Hydraulic Press, (with engravings); Patent for detaching Horses from a carriage when running away, (with an engraving)

On Common Roads; Railroad Operations; Mr. Murray's invention for saving from Shipwreck, (with an engraving,)

Railroad Intelligence; Experimental Railroad, Railroads and Canals in Massachusetts; Ohio Canal, Southwark Iron Bridge, (with an engraving); History of Steamboats, Petersburg Railroad, Agriculture, &c.-Agricultural Essay, No. VII; On the Selection of Seeds; On the management of Pear and Apple Trees and on the Keeping of Fruit in Winter,

Editorial Notices; Meteorological Tables,

Summary,

Foreign Intelligence,

Home Affairs,

Postscript-latest Foreign News; Deaths,

ib

3

4

5

6

that we may soon be able to carry into effect ||provements of all sorts-whether by roads, capage 1 this part of our plan? We look to them with nals, or bridges, steam boats or steam cars; a 2 confidence, as they have already commenced careful and impartial synopsis of the politics operations, one subscriber alone having remit- and literature of the day. For a paper with ted, within a few days, $45 which he had collect-contents so varied, so copious, at so moderate a ed for the ensuing volume. A few such friends price, and in so convenient a form, and which would very soon secure the performance of our clashes with no prejudices or interests, is it last proposition. unreasonable to anticipate a large and general Having thus set forth some of the circum-circulation? Another year will enlighten us as stances which encourage us to persevere in the to the reply that must be given to this question. arduous and expensive publication of this Jour- The cut at the head of the Journal reprenal, and glanced at the subjects of several of the sents the American Locomotive Engine, PHILpapers which will we think be considered as ADELPHIA, built at the Westpoint Foundry rendering the present number particularly ac- Works in this city, for the Philadelphia, Nor10 ceptable, may we not in conclusion ask, that ristown and Germantown Railroad, with a those who take interest in all, or some one of the freight car, passenger coach, and private carvaried branches of knowledge which fall within riage attached, by way of showing the advanthe scope of our plan, should make some little tages and facilities which may be enjoyed by personal effort to add to our means of carrying the inhabitants living in the vicinity of Railroads. it into complete effect. The opinion of an in- The second and third cuts represent RusThis press is very

TO OUR PATRONS AND THE PUBLIC.

tofore been.

7--8

8--9

11

16

THE AMERICAN RAILROAD JOURNAL, AND ADVOCATE OF INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.-With this number commences the second volume of our telligent and disinterested man expressed to a sell's Hydraulic Press. Journal. Contrary to the expectations of neighbor as to the merits of a paper he is in the highly spoken of in England. If we are not many, it has completed a volume, and it affords habit of reading, goes farther and has more mistaken there is one very similar to it now us much pleasure to be able to say that it en-weight than the most zealous professions of in use in this city, for raising vessels out of ters upon the second with very fair prospects; the conductor of the paper, seeing that these the water for repairs. Those unacquainted fair, at least, when compared with its com- are always more or less biassed by personal in-with their operation and power, would be surmencement; so fair, indeed, are its prospects terest. It is such an expression of individual prised to see the ease with which two men, one of an extensive circulation that arrangements opinion, from those who really think it is de-at each pump, there being one pump at each have been completed for making it altogether served, and to those whom it may influence, side of the frame or dock, will raise a large ship more interesting and valuable than it has here- that we would venture now to solicit. In the from the water. Of this highly ingenious approgressive improvements of which the volume plication of the hydraulic pump, we may hereIt will hereafter contain, in addition to its already completed furnishes the evidence, will after take occasion to speak more definitely; usual variety of reading, both upon the subject we may hope, be found an abundant guarantee our present reference being merely to mention of internal improvements and in its selections that our efforts will in the future, as they did in one of the uses to which they are applicable. upon miscellaneous and literary topics, much the past, keep equal pace at least, with the en- The fourth is a representation of the invention valuable matter, with illustrations, from the couragement received. And what class in the of Mr. Murray, for preserving life when vesLondon Mechanics' Magazine. This depart-many differing walks of social life is there, sels are wrecked near shore. There have been ment alone would be worth far more to me- whom some one at least of the topics treated or several inventions for this purpose, but this we chanics and men of science, than the cost of the illustrated in this Journal does not interest? believe is considered the most useful, as it is Journal, and it will at the same time be more Take this number for example: for the farmer, interesting to those who read merely for amuse- there is agriculture and road making; for the The fifth cut represents the centre arch of ment. We have made great exertions during mechanic, there is useful knowledge in his the Southwark bridge, of wrought iron, over the past year to render the work worthy of a branch; for the engineer, there are seientific the river Thames, from London to Southwark. liberal patronage. Our arrangements are now formulaæ; for the humane and philanthropic, The engraving shows the manner in which the completed; our promises are before the pub- there is Murray's invention for saving from foundation of the stone piers was constructed. lic, and this number is offered as a specimen of shipwreck; for the observer of the "skyey in. A, represents the bed of the river; B, low, and the work as it is to be published when our fluences," an elaborate meteorological table; C, high water mark. The accompanying desubscription list amounts to fifteen hundred. and for the general reader, without ever losing scription, gives a list of important iron bridges, May we not look for the continued aid of those or sight of the main object of the Journal, the dif-and the dates of their construction. This subits friends, who have already done so much, fusion of accurate information as to internal im-ject will be continued.

the most easily managed.

LEXINGTON AND OHIO RAILROAD,
27th Nov. 1832.

It may, perhaps, be of some use to investi-||built are thirty feet wide, and a hundred and gate a formula for determining the greatest ve- sixty-five feet long; had they been twenty feet To the Editor of the Railroad Journal: locity which will comport with safety, upon have been efficient vessels. I beg it to be fully deep, and built in the above form, they would Sir-Should you consider the following for- curves of given radii, and with wheels of given understood, that I do not propose this as a vesmulas, relating to the effect of grade and curva- diameters. Let k denote the distance between | |sel offering the least resistance in the water, ture upon the motion of Railroad cars, to be of the axles, and put P = an arc to rad. 1, and but as one combining the requisites necessary any value to the readers of your Journal, they for a steam man-of-war; such a vessel, when are offered to you for insertion.

length

k

2R

The two following theorems will light, would draw little more than four feet

give the principles upon which the investigation the velocity is made.

In estimating the effect of curvature, it is necessary to have a general formula for the value of the centrifugal force. Take V of a car in miles per hour; R curvature of the track in feet; w

=

the radius of 1st. The force necessary to cause the flange the weight of a wheel to ascend upon the rail, is in a ratio of the car in lbs; and f = the centrifugal force compounded of the sub-duplicate ratio of the in lbs. From known principles, the following height of the flange, and the reciprocal sub-duexpression for the value of f, is obtained, plicate ratio of the radius of the wheel.

f = w x

V2

15 R

2d. When the force necessary to cause the flange to ascend upon the rail is to the friction of the flange upon the edge of the rail, as radius Now the effect of the force f is, to produce a to Cos. P: then is the car equally liable either continued pressure upon the bearing of the to run off the track, or to continue upon it. axles of the wheels, and also upon the flange The demonstration of these two theorems, and edge of the exterior rail. Take therefore which, for the sake of brevity, is omitted, may T to denote the friction caused by that pressure, be easily supplied from received principles of and which amounts to the increase of traction mechanics. arising from centrifugal force. Although the pressure may be nearly the same at both of the points just mentioned, yet it may perhaps be sufficient to take the amount of friction equal putting r= to of the whole centrifugal force,* in which height of the flange, the force necessary to raise case the following formula is at once derived from the preceding: the flange upon the rail, is as But it will, in most cases, be sufficient to take, radius to Cos. P. a radius of equality; in which case V2 h

T=wX

V 2 60R

Now, the friction of the flange is as

is as

R

the radius of the wheel, and h

h

; that is, V is as R ×

In making a selection, from different routes, for the location of a line of Railroad, it may R sometimes be necessary to compare grades with curvatures. Thus, the traction arising from or, V2A x R x grade alone is expressed by the quantity

the

water, without including the keel, whose depth should be according to circumstanees, and quite independent of her construction. Her engines and boilers would immerse her between six and seven feet, and with about eight hundred tons of coals she would draw about fourteen, having her gun deck six feet above water at her greatest loading. With a two hundred horse engine, she would consume twenty tons of coals a day, and if they were good, with great care, something less. The shaft should diameter of the wheels about twenty feet; be as close to the deck as possible, and the when loaded, to fourteen, the paddle boards should shift up, so as to reduce the diameter of the wheels about fifteen feet; as the coal was

expended, the boards should be shifted down should be fitted in compartments, to receive till they came to their full extent; the coal boxes water, in order that the wheels may remain sufficiently immersed as the coals were expended. The engine and boilers should be secured ; and against shot, which has not been thought of in any of our vessels; no man will be found to attend them in their present state; men have long made up their minds on going into action, to be killed or wounded, but I never heard of any who are ready to be boiled. It has been proved that a combination of oak timber, iron plates, bales of linen, leather, or reams of paper, five feet thick, would protect the boiler and engine against an eighteen pound shot, and without that protection a steamboat is entirely huseless in war. The wheels must of course be

; in which A is some

constant quantity, to be ascertained from expe-
rience. With wheels 5 feet in diameter, and
flanges 11 inches in height, and upon a track
of 1000 feet radius, the utmost safe velocity is,
perhaps, about 20 miles per hour. Substituting
these values in the above equation, the result
will give A = 2, very nearly. The general for
mula will, therefore, be the following:
h 14

exposed; but if the naves, which are at present of cast, were made of wrought iron, and the arms of the wheels connected with plates, it would require many shot to disable them. The main shaft would be the only vulnerable part, and if the guards which support it are considerably rounded, or, indeed, made like a cuirass, and covered with plate iron, they would glance would be less subject to accidents than either off any shot. With these precautions, wheels masts or yards. yond a doubt, that the fittest vessels for sea are Experience has proved bethose constructed with the wheels buried in the side, as the Irish steamers are. I believe the Salamander is built in this manner; the spencing of the Dee only covers one half the wheels -they are a great deal too wide. She will certainly go the faster in the river Thames (which is the only thing the engineers and builders think of); but in rough weather, such wheels will never be under command of the engines. I am not aware how it is intended to arm our steamboats; I should propose as many heavy guns on pivots as possible; on the upper deck and between decks, two bow-chasre-ers: no arrangement of that nature seems to tion and curvature, let w m be the traction quires a better combination of construction and be intended in those now building. They should upon a straight horizontal way. The expres-arming than our official people seem to be aware be rigged as three masted schooners, with the of. The Salamander at Sheerness, and the lower masts in two, having topsails, topgallant Dee, at Woolwich, will both be useless as men sails, and royals, and all the necessary sails for of war; the former has sufficient depth of hold, common purposes, which, with the exception but is built so sharp that she will not stow more of the lower part of the lower masts, could be than ten day's fuel when her stores and guns got down when it was necessary to steam are on board; the latter is sufficiently flat, but against the wind. I am, &c. so shallow that she also will stow little more than the former; and I understand those at Plymouth and Chatham are in the same pre

This formula will be of use in all cases where it may be desirable to compare the traction, under circumstances of various loads, grades, cur-dicament. A steam vessel of war ought nei-tect, of Philadelphia, proposes to construct a

vatures, and velocities.

ther to be so fine as a sailing vessel, nor, on the other hand, have the capacity of an India*It may perhaps seem at first view, that the man; in the first case, she would not stow a increase of traction is less than the friction here sufficient quantity of fuel, and would draw too given, in the ratio of the radius of the wheel to much water for most purposes-in the latter the height of the flange. That, however, would case she would not go with sufficient rapidity. be an error; but whether a different ratio than Her floor should not be quite flat, but nearly so; that of 1 to 4, as here adopted, will best com- its length should occupy half the vessel, the port with truth, can only be determined from form of the bow and run should occupy the experience. other half; the dimensions of the vessels

A GREAT ADMIRER OF STEAMBOATS. STEAM CAR.-Mr. Benjamin Phillips, ArchiSteam Car to travel on rivers at a speed of 20 to 25 miles per hour, to carry one hundred passengers, to draw 15 inches water, to be only one-third the weight of any other ordinary steamboat of the same dimensions now afloat; of far superior strength and safety, constructed on entirely new principles; the whole materials, except the engine and boiler, not to cost above $1,500, completely furnished and ready for operation by the first day of May next.

[From the London Mechanics' Magazine.]

the head of the press, enters the box, and is key from the eye of the rod, or bolt, let the RUSSELL'S HYDRAULIC PRESS.-We see no made to fit nearly. hinged clasp fall, and with it the jointed clasp reason to doubt that this press of Mr. Russell's Having made and erected many presses of attached to the swingletree, and will disengage is as applicable to the expression of the juice this description, for expressing the oil from va- the horse from the carriage. of apples and pears, as to any of the other pur-rious seeds, the molasses from sugar, &c. their The tugs are open in front, thus, (see fig. 3,) poses to which it has been so successfully ap- power varying from 500 to 1000 tons pressure, to allow the breeching to slip off freely. This plied. Neither can we refuse to acknowledge, I take leave to ask your opinion whether a press breeching is made from a single strap of leather, that it is, in point of simplicity and probable ef- so constructed and shown in the drawing ac-with rings sewed to the ends, to hook over the ficiency, superior to any thing of the kind companying this communication, is or is not tugs.

which has yet appeared in our pages. Our De-as applicable to pressing apples for cider, pears The shutter, or hinged clasp, may have its vonshire and Hertfordshire friends must feel for perry, or any other fruit, in a superior man-end turned up at right angles, and formed like a obliged to Mr. Russell for making this descrip-ner to the methods which have already appeared catch, or hook, and secured by a spring, fastention of it public. We have seen a sugar ap- in the Mechanics' Magazine? ed to the side of the cross bar, the cords being attached to the end of the spring. The shutter may, indeed, be held up in a great variety of modes, but the before described are sufficient to show the principles of my invention.

Yours, &c. W. RUSSELL.

paratus fixed on this plan, in which there are Should you be of opinion that it is superior,
two boxes running alternately on the railway, you will probably be inclined to give it a place
so that the sugar in one box is submitted to the in your truly useful work.
action of the press, while the contents of the
other are removed, and a fresh charge put in,
ready to wheel into the press as soon as it is
at liberty; by this means nearly double the
usual quantity of work is done in the same
time.-Editor Mechanic's Magazine.]

Sir,-Seeing in No. 438 of the Mechanics' Magazine, an engraving and description of an Hydraulic Cider Press, with what appears to me a complex apparatus to work it; and having had longer practical experience in the manufacture of hydraulic presses than I believe any individual in existence, I am induced to send you a drawing of an apparatus of this sort, which I have lately fixed at the Refuge for the Destitute, for the purpose of pressing the rinse water from the linen, woollen, and other articles, washed at that establishment, instead of wringing; and which is, of course, equally applicable in all cases where similar pressure is required.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the press, without its railways.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, with the addition

of the railway.

[From the Journal of the Franklin Institute.]

When it is desired to retain the swingletree, and let the horse go off with traces only, a Specification of a patent for a mode of detach-hinged clasp must be put on each end of the ing horses from a carriage, either when run-swingletree, with the jointed clasps secured to ning away, or whenever it may be desirable the end of the traces, and the cords attached to to effect that object rapidly. Granted to Ro- the spring keys run through pulleys and are BERT BEALE, City of Washington, District of joined to the cord which leads inside of the Columbia, May 12, 1832. carriage.

lows.

Be it known, that I, Robert Beale, of the City hinged clasps, are hung on the under side of the In the two-horse carriage, the shutters, on of Washington, in the District of Columbia, wheppletree, and the cords attached to the have made an improvement in carriages, by which the horses may be suddenly disengaged spring keys run along on the top of the whepwhen running away, or whenever required to leys, and are joined to the single cord which pletree in a straight line, then pass around pulthe safety carriage; which is described as folbe detached from the carriage quickly; called leads inside, or outside, of the carriage. The pulleys are to cause the cords to run freely, and to draw the spring keys, or pins, from the eyes The swingletree is of the rods, or bolts, in a straight line. attached to the cross An iron tube, with a flaunch on one end, is bar by an iron fixture fastened to the end of the pole. Over this is called a jointed clasp, put a thimble, having a ring on each side, to formed as in the an-which the breast straps are attached. This thimnexed figure, (see ble slips off the end of the pole, when the figure 1); the knee horses are disengaged.

3

مشاه

part, marked A, resting against the back of the The mode of detaching the horses from the The squeezing box A has a perforated lin- cross bar. This jointed clasp is held up against two-horse carriage is similar to that descriing and bottom, through which the water pass- the underside of the cross bar by an iron shut-bed for a single horse carriage. es, and runs off at a spout B at the back of the ter, or hinged clasp, formed thus, (see figure 2,) In a four-horse carriage the leaders are disbox. The diameter of the working piston of turning on a joint, or hinge, secured to the un-engaged from the pole in the same manner, by this press is four inches, that of the injecting derside of the cross bar. To the end of the a jointed clasp, hinged clasp, spring key, and pump C is one inch diameter, and the power hinged clasp is attached an iron rod, or bolt, B, cord, as described for a two-horse carriage. of this press on the article submitted is up- with an eye at its end. This rod, or bolt, passes The jointed clasp may be held up against the wards of 30 tons. If the piston of the inject- through an opening in the cross bar, and has an cross bar by a pin inserted through the jointed ing pump were one half an inch in diameter iron spring key inserted through the eye, rest-clasp into the hind part of the cross bar, to instead of one inch, the power would be in- ing on the upper side of the bar, which secures which pin the cord is attached. creased four-fold, that is, 120 tons pressure on the jointed clasp from dropping; or the rod may The jointed clasp may also be secured by a the articles submitted, with the same labour at be fixed permanently to the cross bar, project- spring fastened on the hind part of the cross bar, the pump. When the linen, &c. is sufficiently ing far enough below it to pass through a slot the cord being attached to the end of the spring. pressed, that is, almost dry, the pressing box is or mortice in the end of the hinged clasp, with Springs, or friction levers, are secured to the fowered down, by opening the discharging a spring key inserted through the end of the rod, carriage, brought in contact with the hub in orvalve D, on which the water returns back to or bolt, to prevent the hinged clasp falling. To der to decrease the motion of the carriage when the cistern E, on which the pump is fixed.-the end of the spring key is attached a cord the horses are liberated, or before they are liThe squeezing box is then drawn out on the which leads inside of the carriage, where it berated.

railways F, emptied, refilled, and wheeled back hangs loosely. Should the horses take fright, This invention may be applied to field artilfor a second charge, and so on. I should have and become unmanageable, the cord is then to lery, and it will enable the men to limber or unobserved, that the mallet G, which is fixed to be pulled suddenly, which will draw the spring limber the gun in less than half a minute. It

may also be applied to wagons of every de-management can retain, the damp or water ||a neighboring farmer, if he understood his own scription, to ploughs, and harrows, and all kinds which we are seeking to disperse. Where this interest, could manage several miles with ease of agricultural implements drawn by horses, method is already in existence, frequent ruts till it was consolidated, which would obviously when required to be taken in haste from the from the sides, at right angles with the roadway other. In the former case the carriages are occur much sooner by this method than by the carriage to feed, &e. A forked piece of iron is suspended over the to the ditches, will in some measure remove the directed into particular channels; in the preshound and front axletree to prevent its turning defect, and the attention of the surveyor will ent, they have no inducement to press either on the body bolt. side. S. D. be directed, in the after distribution of his ma

For a further illustration of my invention would refer to the models and drawings of the same deposited in the patent oflice. ROBERT BEALE.

Boston, Dec. 17, 1832.

terials to a gentle raising of the centre. Gen- RAILROAD OPERATIONS.-The new Locomo

and I anticipate being able to prove that the ex-
pense of the good road will ultimately be less
than that of the bad one. Much will depend
upon the qualities of the gravel (I am talking
of gravel roads at present) which may be used.
River gravel, generally speaking, ought to be

miles.

Yesterday afternoon about 65 barrels and ed here in time to be forwarded to New-York tierces came across from Saratoga, and reachthe same day.

What I claim as my invention, and which I wish to secure by letters patent, is the before described apparatus for suddenly disengaging erally the roadway at present is clothed with tive Engine belonging to the Hudson and Mohorses from carriages. massy stones, and sometimes, as the case may hawk Railroad Company, and mounted on six Ibe, pieces of natural rock. The former ought wheels, is now running to the entire satisfaction to be removed; the latter leveled, or the surface the half-way house to the top of the inclined of the company. It came a few days since from of the road raised as may be most convenient. plane in 13 minutes, a distance of nearly seven The holes from which these boulders have been For the American Railroad Journal and Advocate of In-taken will be filled with gravel, and a little attenternal Improvements. tion paid to smoothing it until it has become properly consolidated. All stones, large and COMMON ROADS.-The remarks regarding small, which do not come properly under the We also learn that some enterprising persons drainage in my last, (see No. 50, Railroad Jour-denomination of gravel, ought to be removed. in Saratoga are sending large quantities of hard nal,) apply more particularly to a flat country, This will cause some trouble in the first in- wood to the city at a good profit to themselves, though the same principle necessarily obtains stance, but a world of relief afterwards. Their Companies. Two thousand cords are now beas well as to the Saratoga and Mohawk Railroad every where. When the road winds along the very being at present creates ruts where other-ing delivered upon one contract, and a large side of a hill, and is formed by what is tech-wise none would have been found. The height quantity is expected during the winter.-[Alnically termed side-cutting, the water from to which they raise the passing wheels gives bany Daily Advertiser.] the upper side will obviously acquire a velocity them an impetus in descending, probably ten sufficient to carry it over any ordinary rut, to times greater than would be the ordinary effect [From the London Mechanics' Magazine.] MR. MURRAY'S INVENTION FOR SAVING FROM the centre and opposite side of the road. To of a carriage running on a smooth road. The SHIPWRECK.-Several ingenious methods have obviate this objection, the cross section of such materials are thus loosened and disturbed, the been proposed for effecting a safe communicaa road has sometimes inclined slightly towards body of the road penetrated, and an escape af- tion between stranded ships and the shore. Mr. the hill side, with the intention of at the same forded to the clay or earth which may be ly-kite, and Capt. Manby a shell, for the Trenghouse suggested a rocket, Capt. Dansey a purpose of time retarding and returning the water into the ing in reserve. I will endeavor, by'-and-bye, carrying out a line to the ship in distress. The drain always formed, of course, on that side of to form some estimate of such improvements, plan of Captain Manby was thought so well of the road next the hill. I have observed, howat first, that it was honored with a Parliamenever, that any inclination which can thus be been made to introduce it into general use. But tary reward, and very great exertions have given, consistent with the safety of carriages, it has been found attended with so much diffiis of little effect. The better way is either to culty, even under the most favorable circumcut small ruts on the face of the hill, and altostances, and has in not a few instances failed so gether beyond the slope of the road, or to raise decidedly, that it has been only very partially a small parapet of earth 8 or 12 inches in altogether discarded, and gravel from inland minution in the general loss of life by shipadopted, and has not effected any material diheight, on the proper side of the ditch; the beds to be completely sifted of the earth which wreck. From the weight of Captain Manby's first when applicable is the better and more accompanies it. It can never be cleared entirely apparatus, it is not quickly transportable from general method. Wherever the inclination of of earth, and when sifted to the greatest advan- the few stations which are provided with it, to the road or any other cause gives an undue vethe immediate scene of danger; and when the tage there will always remain sufficient to aslocity to surface water, care must be taken that sist in the proper and active binding of the road. A transport was wrecked only three miles from rope is projected it too frequently snaps in two. it find no vent to the body of the metal; it will The first species of gravel is too clean, the lat- Mundesley, where there was one of Captain otherwise, as I have several times observed, in ter too full of earth. The nature of gravel be- Manby's safety-mortars, but before it could be the course of a few hours soften the most per- ing water-worn and rounded of all asperities, conveyed to the spot the ship had gone to fect road, and besides the inconvenience it oc-renders a second substance indispensable to its pieces, and all on board perished. In another casions, will so effectually cleanse the gravel as acquiring compactness within a requisite time. within 60 yards of the shore, the shot, in the case, of a ship wrecked off Whitby in 1820, to retard very much the after consolidation of The first would consolidate, but not until, in first attempt, fell short; the rope in the second, that portion of the way. In flat countries there broke; and the ship and crew were buried in consequence of coarse weather or other means, must, of course, as much attention be paid to it had acquired from the bottom or sides of the there is not even this imperfect apparatus of the breakers. On many parts of the coast creating an inclination for the water, as in this road the necessary proportion of earthy par- Captain Manby. So late as December, 1830, case to retarding it, ticles, and having seen it used, I am aware that one of the most frequented, and, at the same I perceive that you have lately been embody-it may remain for months a very fatiguing and time, most dangerous parts of the British coast ing the substance of Mr. M'Adam's evidence heavy road. Mixing it with a slight quantity that between Plymouth and the Land's End into your Journal. I was not aware of this of earth might in some measure remedy the -was so entirely destitute of every sort of when I last wrote, otherwise I should not have defect, but I apprehend the two substances means for saving shipwrecked mariners, that would hardly assimilate so closely as when of the passengers and crews of 28 vessels troubled you on the subject. As Mr. M'Adam's found so disposed in their natural beds. In sift- which went on shore in the dreadful storm of remarks, however, are very different, and in ing gravel, different sized sieves, standing at an that month, only two men and a boy were saved! many cases not immediately applicable here, I inclination of 30 or 40 degrees before the work- Frequent reflection on these distressing facts do not regret having thus at the risk of some man, will be found convenient. One for sepa- has led Mr. John Murray (the popular lecturer repetition recalled it to your attention, Having by that rigorous system of drainage which I have endeavored to inculcate, paved the way for further improvements, the surveyor may direct his attention to the formation of the surface of the road. It will always be of great importance that the foundation upon which the material of the road rests, be not below the top or edge of the drains. I advert to the method * Invention of an Effective and Unfailing Method for sometimes pursued of cutting a trough for the and dangerous expedient when it can be avoid-forming an Instantaneous Communication with the Shore material, obviating in some measure the good ed. Raking up the wheel tracks daily would and Tempestuous Night. By John Murray, F. S. A. &c. in Shipwreck; and Illuminating the Scene in the Dark effects of drainage, and retaining as far as mis-be found much more efficient, and one man or 30 pp. 8vo. Whittaker & Co.

rating all stones, properly so called, from the on chemistry, and the author of many excellent
mass, and another for separating from the grav-scientific works,) to the invention of the appa-
el so procured, the loose earth: these two ob-ratus represented in the prefixed engravings,
jects ought to be strictly enforced. Any slo- and described in the pamphlet which we have
venness in this respect will be productive, as now before us.* Mr. Murray first tried to pro-
will be found, of four-fold trouble afterwards.ject from a common musket an arrow with a
The time spent in this portion of the work must line attached to the feather end, but the arrow
never be grudged, since it will certainly be pro- became reversed in its transit through the air,
ductive of much more than proportional benefi- and the following improved and very ingenious
cial effects. The placing of large stones or arrangement was therefore adopted :—
obstacles of any kind on the body of the road,
while the material remains soft, is a clumsy