"

How large a stone was it? »

"Why, I should call it a largish stone. »

་་ But say how big it was. »

It appeared to me to be a stone of some bigness. »

"But describe the bigness of it."

"As near as I can recollect, it was considerable of a stone. » «But can't you compare it; and say it was as big as this thing or that thing.

Why, if I should say now, I should say it was as bigas big-as a piece of chalk. »

(YANKEE NOTIONS.)

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ARCHIMEDES THE INVENTOR OF THE STEAM-GUN. M. Delecluze has lately made a discovery among the MSS. of Leonardo da Vinci, carrying a knowledge of the Steam-Engine at least as far back as the 15th century. He has published in the Artiste a notice of the life of Leonardo da Vinci, to which he adds a fac-simile of a page in one of his manuscripts, and on which are five sketches with a pen, exhibiting the details of the apparatus of a Steam-Gun; `with an explanatory note upon the nature of what he designates by the name of the Architonnerre; and of which note the following is a translation : « Invention of Archimedes. The Architonnerre is a machine of fine copper, used in the following manner-One third of this instrument contains a large quantity of charcoal fire. When the water is well heated, screw at the top of the vessel which contains the water must be made tight. On closing the screw above, all the water will escape below, will descend into the heated portion of the instrument, and be immediately converted into a vapour so abundant and powerful, that it is wonderful to see its fury, and to hear the noise it produces. This machine will carry a ball of a talent in weight. It is worthy of remark, that Leonardo da Vinci, far from claiming the merit of this invention for himself, or the men of his time, attributes it to Archimedes. (FRENCH PAPER.)

»

ARTS AND SCIENCES.

LIST OF NEW PATENTS.

William Golden, of Huddersfield, gun-maker, and John Hanson, of the same place, lead-pipe manufacturer, for certain improvements in fire-arms, and in the bullets or other projectiles to be used therewith. Nov. 2; six months.

Thomas Macauley, of Curtain-road, upholsterer, for certain improvements in bedsteads, which are convertible into other useful forms or articles of furniture. Nov. 2; six months.

Robert Logan, of Blackheath, Esquire, for improvements in obtaining and preparing the fibres and other products of the cocoa-nut and its husk. Nov. 2; six months.

Robert Holt, of Manchester, cotton spinner, and Robinson Jackson, of Manchester, aforesaid, engineer, for certain improvements in machinery, or apparatus for the production of rotary motion, for obtaining mechanical power, which said improvements are also applicable for raising and impelling fluids. Nov, 2; six months.

Moses Poole, of Lincoln's-inn, gentleman, for imrovements in machinery, used in the manufacture of bobbin-net or twist lace. Nov. 2; six months.

Henry Kirk, of Tavistock-square, gentleman, for a substitute for ice for skating and sliding purposes. Nov. 2; six months.

William Brunton, of Neath, Glamorganshire, engineer, for an improved method or means of dressing ores and separating metals or minerals from other substances. Nov. 2; six months.

Jeremiah Bynner, of Birmingham, lamp-maker, for improvements in gas-burners. Nov. 2; six months.

Edward Robert Simmons, of Croydon, Esquire, for improvements in apparatus for preventing splashing in walking. Nov. 2; six months. Henry King, of Webber-row, Westminster-road, engineer, for certain improvements in steam-engines and boilers. Nov. 4; six months. Jules Lejeune, of North-place, Cumberland market, manufacturing chemist, for a means of condensing and collecting the sulphurous and metallic vapours which are evolved in the treatment by heat of all kinds of ores. Nov. 4; six months

Job Cutler, of Ladypool-lane, Birmingham, gentleman, for improvements in the construction of the tubular flues of steam-boilers. Nov. 6, six months.

John Carr, of North Shields, earthen-ware manufacturer, and Aaron Ryles, of the same place, agent, for an improved mode of operating in certain processes for ornamenting glass. Nov. 9; six mouths.

Jesse Ross, of Leicester, manufacturer, for a new wool-combing apparatus. Nov. 9; six months.

Henry Davies, of Birmingham, engineer, for certain improved machinery suitable for applying power to communicate locomotion to bodies requiring to be moved on land or water. Nov. 9; six months.

Jesse Smith, of Wolverhampton, lock-maker, for improvements in the construction of locks and latches, applicable for doors and other purposes. Nov. 9; six months.

William Edward Newton, of Chancery-lane, civil-engineer, for certain improvements in the production of ammonia. (Being a communication. Nov. 9; six months.)

William Palmer, of Sutton-street, Clerkenwell, manufacturer, for improvements in the manufacture of candles. Nov. 9; six months.

John Garnett, of Liverpool, merchant, and Joseph Williams, of Liverpool, aforesaid, manufacturing chemist, for an improved method of manufacturing salt from brine. Nov. 9; six months.

John Burnell, (the younger) of White-chapel, manufacturer, for improvements in the manufacture of leaves, and in the construction of horn lanterns. Nov. 9; six months.

John Edwards, of Cow-Cross-street, gentleman, for an improved strap or band, for driving machinery, and for other purposes. Nov. six months.

9;

James Stewart, of Osnaburgh-street, St. Pancras, pianoforte maker, for certain improvements in the action of horizontal pianofortes. Nov. 11; six months.

George Allarton, of West-Bromwich, Stafford, surgeon, for certain improvements in the method of balling and blooming iron. Nov. 11; six months.

John Péter Booth, of Hatton-garden, feather-merchant, for certain improvements in the manufacture of a substance, or compound fabric, which will be applicable to the making of quilts, coverlets, and wadding, for purposes of clothing or furniture. Nov. 11; six months.

Isaac Davis, of New Bond-street, optician, for improvements in the manufacture of sealing-wax, which compounds are applicable to other useful purposes. Nov. 11; six months.

Edward Joseph François Duclos de Boussons, of Clyne Wood Metallurgical-works, Swansea, for improvements in the manufacture of copper. Nov. 11: six months.

John Onions, of Field-lane, Barlaston, Stafford, engineer, for improvements in the manufacture of certain descriptions of nails, screws, and chains. Nov. 11; six months.

James Young, of Newton-le-Willows, chemist, for certain improvements in the manufacture of ammonia, and the salts of ammonia, aud in apparatus for combining ammonia, carbonic acid, and other gases, with liquids. Nov, 11, six months.

Isaac Doods, of Sheffield, engineer, for certain improvements in

the modes or methods of supplying gas for the purposes of illuminating towns and other places. Nov. 13; six months.

Henry Mortimer, of Frith-street, Soho, gentleman, for improvements in covering ways and surfaces, and in constructing arches. Nov. 16; six months.

John Squire, of Albany-place, Regent's-park, engineer, for certain improvements in the construction of steam-boilers or generators. Nov. 16; six months.

Robert Sterling Newall, of Gateshead, Durham, wire-rope manufacturer, for improvements in the manufacture of flat bands. Nov. 16; six months.

John Venables, of Burslem, in the county of Stafford, earthenware manufacturer, and John Tunnicliff, of the same place, bricklayer, for a new and improved method of building and constructing ovens used by potters and china-manufacturers in the firing of their wares. Nov. 20; two months.

William Manwaring, of York-street, Lambeth, engineer, for ccrtain improvements in the manufacture of sugar. Nov. 23; six months. Richard Gurney, of Trewinnion-house, Cornwall, for a method of cutting wood and incrusting the same in order to present a sure footing for horses, and other purposes. Nov. 25; six months.

ABSTRACTS OF SPECIFICATIONS OF ENGLISH PATENTS RECENTLY

ENROLLED.

James Gregory, Coal Master, and William Green, Tinner, both of West Bromwich, for certain improvements in the manufacture of iron and steel-Enrollment Office, November 14, 1841.

The crude iron, either in form of pigs, or in broken pieces, is immersed in water till no further action takes place, which time will vary from two to three weeks, the completion of the operation being indicated by an oily-looking scum forming on the surface of the water. The effect of this operation on the iron is to make it softer and tougher.

If it is desired to give the iron a closer and more brittle texture, after having undergone the preceding, it is submitted to the following operation. The iron being heated to redness in any suitable furnace, it is submitted, in its hot state, to the action of cold water, either by sprinkling, by pouring water over it, or by immersion therein. If an impure iron has been operated upon, it is, after the two foregoing operations, melted in an air-cupola, or finery, in the usual manner.

Another operation for refining, which may be employed alone, or in conjunction with the former, consists in melting the iron in a reverberatory furnace, and pouring it, in a fluid state, through a vessel formed like a founder's ladle, or other convenient form, the

bottom of which is perforated with holes, inch in diameter, and lined with clay; the fluid metal is received in a vessel of cold water, a deep one being preferred in order that the iron may be cooled before reaching the bottom. This process gives a close texture, and white colour to the iron, which is said to be much better adapted for making either cast or malleable iron than that which has been only prepared in the ordinary way.

The improvement in the manufacture of steel consists in making it from iron which has been subjected to the foregoing operations. The claim is, 1. To improving the quality of cast or pig iron, by subjecting it to the action of water, whether such water is hot or cold, or the iron at the time of the application of such water is hot or cold.

2. To improving the quality of iron by pouring it into water while in a melted state. in the manner described.

William Gall, of Beresford-terrace, Surrey, for certain improvements in the construction of inkstands. Enrollment Office, November 22, 1841. The object of these improvements is to present the ink for use uniformly at the same height, and in a conveniently-formed dipping place; to present but a small surface of ink to evaporation; and to use the upper stratum of ink clear from all sediment and precipitated matter.

For this purpose, the inkstand or holder is composed of glass, having a small funnel-shaped dipping-place at top, and closed at bottom by an India-rubber or other elastic diaphragm. The glass part of the inkstand is supported and turns freely within a hollow case of metal. To the India-rubber a metal plate or table is cemented, to the under side of which is affixed a vertical screw; this screw turns in a corresponding female screw, carried by a bar, which crosses from side to side of the metal casing. On turning the glass part of the inksand in one direction, therefore, the screw descends through this bar, and drawing down the flexible diaphragm, increases the capacity of the ink-holder; on turning it in the opposite direction, the screw rises, and, thrusting the diaphragm inwards, diminishes the capacity of the ink-holder, and the ink is consequently forced up into the dipping-place, from which it can at any time be withdrawn by a few turns of the ink-glass.

PERMITTED TO BE PRINTED,

St. Petersburg, February 1st, 1842..

P. KORSAKOFF, CENSOR.

Printed at the Office of the «Journal de St.-Petersbourg. »