"Since the founders have employed, in the manufacture of ornamental bronzes, one-third of zinc, the cost of which is less than that of copper, the price of the material, and consequently of the article manufactured from it, has been reduced, and the demand has increased in proportion."

All this proves, at any rate, that the Frenchmen of the present day are not likely to be found wanting in brass; a commodity in which few would expect them to be deficient. Other nations may possess quantum suff. of the raw material, but it requires "the good taste of the French artists" to set it off to the best advantage! Joking apart, the details of their progress in bronzing are not uninteresting, and the whole statement well deserves the consideration of our own manufacturers. If the men of Birmingham were once fairly put on their metal," by being made fully aware of the advantages of the trade, we doubt not that they would soon try on a little "competition in foreign markets" with their Parisian brethren.

Under the head " Chemistry," there are a variety of curious particulars on the subject of the quality of gas supplied to the metropolis, from a Lecture by Professor Brande. It will be seen that the quantities stated, from the partly conjectural manner in which the data have been obtained, can only be approximative to the truth.

"Mr. Brande estimated the number of retorts worked by the above-mentioned company (the Chartered) at 750; and, assuming them to be about one-fourth of the number employed in London, the whole amount will be 3,000 retorts, of about 15 cwt. each; so that the cast iron thus employed, to say nothing of the enormous amount in pipes and other apparatus, amounts to 2,240 tons. The total stowage for gas, in the gasometers of the chartered company, Mr. Brande estimated at 820,000 cubic feet; or, for London, 3,280 000 cubic feet. He said that the number of burners supplied by this company amounted to about 42,000; or, for the whole of London, to 168,000; and, estimating the consumption of each burner at five cubic feet per hour, the average hourly consump

*

*

tion of gas would amount to 840,000 cubio feet; and taking five hours per day as the average time of burning, we have 4,200,000 cubic feet of gas as the daily average consumption. ** For the total annual supply of gas to the metropolis, there are required 200,000 chaldrons of coal, yielding 2,400,000,000 cubic feet of gas; the gas weighing 75,000,000 lbs. The light thus produced is equal to 160,000,000 lbs. of mould candles, of six to the pound; the bulk of the coal is equal to 10,800,000 cubic feet, or 400,000 cubic yards; or to a cube of 222 feet in the side, or of 74 yards."

The remaining portions of the volume are occupied by inatter of the usual calibre, and the Scientific Obituary is as brief as ever. The illustrations for the first time, we believe, are all wood-cuts, and all taken from "The Mirror," except one or two (including the frontispiece, "Buckingham Palace Gates") which have, since the appearance of the Arcana, been transferred to the Mirror.

BOOKBINDERS' IMPROVED LETTERINGTOOL.

Sir,-Just two years since I suggested an improvement in bookbinders' lettering apparatus, which I described in No. 511 of your Magazine (vide vol. xix. p. 120). Since that time my suggestion has been successfully acted upon, and the apparatus has been brought into very general

use.

The accompanying sketch, fig. 1, represents the improved lettering-tool, as it is manufactured by Messrs. Seare and Co. (late Paas), High Holborn. Fig. 2, is a face view of the apparatus, with the lettering for a justly celebrated work set up; spaces are introduced at either end to bring the words into the middle of the chase, perpendicular to the handle, which is essential to good working. The hand-chase is of brass, and for the purpose of accommodating letters of different sizes, a moveable partition a moves backward and forward by means of the front screw b; so that the same chase serves for several sizes of letters, and either single or double line letterings (if small) can be set up. When the letters are placed, they are screwed by tightening the end screw c. The letters are cut on the top of brass blocks, similar to type; a set of letters consists of about ninety pieces, and costs two guineas; the hand chase costs 10s. 6d.

By the use of this convenient and economical apparatus, a more even and

A BILL, INTITULED AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW TOUCHING LETTERS PATENT FOR INVENTIONS.

(Presented by the Lord Brougham and Vaux.)

I. Whereas it is expedient to make certain additions to and alterations in the present law, touching letters patent granted to authors of inventions, as well for the better protecting of them in the rights intended to be secured by such letters patent, as for the more ample benefit of the public from the same : be it enacted by the King's most excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords, spiritual and temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, that any person who hath obtained or who shall hereafter obtain letters patent, for the sole vending or using of any invention, may, if be think fit, within two years from and after the enrolment of his specification, enter with the secretary of patents, having first obtained the leave of his Majesty's Attorney General, or Solicitor General in case there be no Attorney General, certified by his fiat and signature, a disclaimer of any part of his said specification, stating the reason of such disclaimer; and such disclaimer shall be filed by the said secretary of patents, and by him notified three times in the London Gazette, in three successive weeks next after receiving the same, and also in two morning and two evening newspapers published in London, once in each such successive weeks; and such London Gazettes shall be received in evidence of the disclaimer, and of the Attorney General's or Solicitor General's assent thereto, in all courts whatever, and shall be conclusive evidence thereof; and no part of the residue of such specification, or of the letters patent in respect of the right to the sole using and vending the invention set forth in such residue, shall be deemed or held to be void by reason of the error, or want of originality, or other matter touching or connected with the parts so disclaimed as aforesaid provided always, that the secretary of patents shall be, and he is hereby required to make such publication as aforesaid; and if he neglect to advertise in the London Gazette as aforesaid, he shall be liable to forfeit and pay the sum of 500. for each such neglect, to be recovered by action of debt, bill, plaint, or information in any of his Majesty's Courts of Record at Westminster, one half to his Majesty, his heirs, and successors, and the other half to any person suing for the same; and for any neglect in advertising in the other London newspapers, he shall pay and forfeit 501., to be sued for and recovered, and applied in the like manner.

:

II. And be it enacted, that any person having obtained heretofore, or who shall hereafter obtain, such letters patent as aforesaid, may, within six calendar months after enrolling his specification, cause to be inserted three times in each of three morning and three evening papers published in London, and three times in each of two newspapers published in the town in which, or nearest to which, he carries on the manufacture of his invention mentioned in such letters patent, or if no newspaper shall be published in such town, then in two newspapers published in the county wherein he so manufactures, or the next adjoining county, and if he carries on no manufacture then in the town in which, or nearest to which, or the county in which, or near to which, he resides; a particular statement of the nature of his invention, with reference to some place in London, and also to some place in the said town, to be specified in the advertisements aforesaid, where the drawings illustrative of the same may be seen, and where also a working model of the invention may be seen, which drawings and models shall remain at such place from the date of the first advertisement till one calendar month after the last advertisement aforsaid; and upon proof of such advertisements, and of such drawing and model being so as aforesaid, deposited for the time aforesaid, if any action or suit shall be commenced, more than 18 calendar months after the enrolment of the specification, to set aside such letters patent, or if any action or suit shall be brought against any person for infringement of such letters patent, or for an account in respect thereof, in respect of any thing done after 18 months from the enrolment of the specification, no evidence shall be received that any other person than such patentee, had, made or used his invention or any part thereof, at or before the date of the patent, but a verdict shall pass at law, or decree or order shall be made in equity, as if no other person than the patentee had ever used or sold the same at such date as aforesaid.

III. And be it enacted, that if any action at law or any suit in equity shall be brought for an account in respect of any alleged infringement of such letters patent, heretofore or hereafter granted, or any scire facias to repeal such letters patent, and if a verdict shall pass for the patentee, or if a final decree or decretal order shall be made for him, upon the merits of the suit, it shall be lawful for the judge, before whom such action shall be tried, to certify on the back of the record, or the judge who shall make such decree or order, to give a certificate under his hand, that the validity of the patent came in question before him, which record or certificate

being given in evidence in any other suit or action whatever touching such patent, if a verdict shall pass, or decree or decretal order be made, in favour of such patentee, he shall receive treble costs in such suit or action, to be taxed at three times the taxed costs, unless the judge making such second or other decree or order, or trving such second or other action, shall certify that he ought not to have such treble costs.

IV. And be it further enacted, that if any person who now hath or shall hereafter obtain any letters patent as aforesaid, shall advertise in the London Gazette three times, and in three London papers and three country papers as aforesaid, that he intends to apply to his Majesty in Council for a prolongation of his term of sole using and vending his invention, and shall petition his Majesty in Council to that effect, it shall be lawful for any person to enter a caveat at the council-office; and if his Majesty shall refer the consideration of such petition to the judicial committee of the Privy Council, and notice being given to any person or persons who shall have entered such caveats, the petitioner shall be heard by his counsel and witnesses to prove his case, and the persons entering caveats shall likewise be heard by their counsel and witnesses, such counsel not exceeding three, if there be more parties than one, and two if there be but one party entering a caveat: whereupon, and upon hearing and inquiring of the whole matter according to law, the judicial committee may report to his Majesty that a further extension of the term in the said letters patent should be granted, not exceeding seven years. And his Majesty is hereby authorised and empowered, if he shall think fit, to grant new letters patent for the said invention, for a term not exceeding seven years after the expiration of the first term, any law, custom, or usage to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding.

V. And be it further enacted, that any person purchasing from another the property of and in any invention by him made, may afterwards obtain in his own name letters patent in like manner as he might have done in case he had been himself the inventor, and shall have and enjoy all privileges and rights, in courts of law, and equity, and elsewhere, which the inventor himself might have had in case he had obtained such letters patent, Provided always, that such purchase shall be stated in the specification to be enrolled, and also that such purchaser shall produce before the Attorney General or Solicitor General, before obtaining such letters patent, the deed or agreement of purchase. Provided further, that, in any suit or action touching such letters patent brought

by or against such purchaser, all evidence which would bave been admissible against such inventor if he had obtained such letters patent, and been a party to such suit or action, shall be admissible against such purchaser, and that the inventor shall not himself be an admissible witness in behalf of such purchaser in any such action or suit. And provided further, that, whatever matter or thing would have made such letters patent void or voidable in case such inventor had obtained such letters patent, shall, if proved in any suit or action by or against such purchaser, also make his letters patent void or voidable.

VI. And be it further enacted, that in all suits and actions, and for all purposes whatever, the day of presenting a petition for such letters patent shall be deemed and taken to be the date of the granting such letters patent, and the grant shall have effect from the date of such petition, from and after the enrolment of the specification, or the performance of any other condition in such letters patent contained.

VII. And be it further enacted, that his Majesty's Attorney General, or Solicitor General in case there be no Attorney General, shall and may require the person applying for any such letters patent to alter the title thereof, and the statement of the invention in such title, so as to make it describe more particularly and more correctly his invention according to the true nature thereof.

VIII. And be it further enacted, that it shall be lawful for any person obtaining such letters patent to sell or transfer to any num ber of persons the right solely to use and vend his invention, or may grant licence to use and vend the same to any number of persons in the same or in several instruments of licence, any law, custom, or usage to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding.

IX. And be it enacted, that, in any action brought against any person for infringing any letters patent, the defendant, on pleading the general issue, shall give to the plaintiff, and in any scire facias to repeal such letters patent, the plaintiff shall file with his declaration a notice of any objections on which he means to rely at the trial of such action, and no objection shall be allowed to be made in behalf of such defendant or plaintiff respectively at such trial, unless he prove ser vice of such notice of objection upon plaintiff or defendant respectively twenty-one days at least before such trial: provided always that it shall and may be lawful for any, Judge at Chambers, on summons served by such defen ant or plaintiff on such plaintiff or defendant respectively, to show cause why he should not be allowed to offer other objec

tions whereof notice hath not been given as aforesaid to give leave to offer such objection, on such terms as to such Judge shall seem fit.

X. And be it enacted, that, if any person shall write, paint, or print, or carve, or engrave, upon any thing made or sold by him, the name of any other person who hath or shall have obtained letters patent, for the sole making and vending of such thing, without leave in writing of such patentee; or, if any person shall upon such thing, not having been purchased from the patentee or some person who purchased it from such patentee, or by leave in writing of such patentee, write, paint, print, carve, or engrave the word "Patent," the words "Letters Patent," or the words "By the King's Patent," or any words of the like kind, meaning, or import, he shall, for every such of fence, be liable to a penalty of 50l., to be recovered by action of debt, bill, plaint, or information in any of his Majesty's Courts of Record at Westminster, one-half to his Majesty, his heirs and successors, and the other to any person who shall sue for the

same.

[We shall reserve the statement of our objections to this Bill till next week. No harm can result from this delay, as from the late period of the year at which the Bill has been brought forward, it is not possible that it can be carried through this session, even were it unopposed, and perfectly unexceptionable.-ED. M. M.]

AMERICAN MANUFACTURE OF AXES. [Extract of a Letter from the New England Farmer.]

"Being lately at Douglas, Mass., I was invited by my friend, Griffin Clark, Esq., of that place, to visit the manufactory of axes, belonging to Messrs. Hunt and Co. At this establishment, about 500 axes and hatchets are manufactured in a day, of all descriptions, and of the most beautiful and perfect workmanship, and chiefly by a new mode. Besides adzes, and a variety of other species of edge tools, I noticed the Pittsburg broadaxe; it is not deep, but the broadest of all I have ever seen; the edge straight, and about sixteen inches in its width; its form resembles the ship-carpenter's axe. Kentucky axes differ from our chopping axes, only in being heavier, and having a very long bit. The chopping axes, and all of a larger size, are formed in the usual way, by doubling the iron; but all of the smaller description are formed by a new and more expeditious mode. Bars of cold iron, about an inch thick and four inches wide, more or less, according to the size of the intended axe, or hatchet, are cut into suitable lengths with ponderous shears.

The

These pieces being cast into the forge

and brought to the required heat, are cleft at one end, and into this cleft a tongue of cast steel is inserted; then being again heated, the complete union of the iron and steel is effected with the hammer. These being subjected anew to the fire, are laid on edge in a mould, and a single and powerful. blow, or pressure of an engine, completes the profile of the small broad axe or hatchet, and this blow being repeated a second time, renders the outline still more perfect. They are next transferred to another engine, fur. nished with a die: in this the axe is laid, and a heavy weight of iron, similar to those. used in driving piles, being drawn up suddenly by water power, completes the form of the axe by its fall.

"Another engine is about going into use, which will give to the rough and oblong section of a bar of iron the form of a perfect and beautiful axe or hatchet at a single and instantaneous operation. Thus are these instruments formed; but the eye for the insertion of the handle is made by boring through the cold and solid iron. The axe being fixed in a firm position above, a vertical drill of species of auger perforates them from below. This auger has a threefold motion. First, a revolving motion on its own centre. Second, it moves in an orbit, which is that of a very eccentric ellipsis, corresponding with the form of the eye. Third, a vertical or upward motion at intervals; and at each time it has completed a revolution in its orbit.

"An axe is bored in about twenty minutes; and one man will attend to twenty-five augers or axes; and another man is sufficient to sharpen the drills or instruments for the

Balloon Excursion Extraordinary. The New York Journal of Commerce, of the 27th, states, that, "on the afternoon of Wednesday, the 8th inst., Mr. Clayton, a volunteer aeronaut in the West, made an ascent from Cincinnati, and was observed to pass off in a south-easterly direction. Nothing more was seen or heard of him for a number of days, and great anxiety was felt for his safety. At length, on the 17th (nine days after his departure), he returned to Cincinnati, having made the most extraordinary aeronautic excursion on record. He did not, indeed, ascend so high as a number have done before him, but the distance he sailed is beyond all precedent, being not less than 350 miles. All this was accomplished in 91⁄2 hours, which is at the rate of nearly 37 miles an hour. The greatest height to which he ascended was about 2 miles." The longest aerial voyage previously on record was, we believe, that of M. Gar nerin in 1807, who travelled 300 miles in 72 hours, which is a rate of speed a little greater than that realised by Mr. Clayton.

A Bull-fight with Steam.-A few days since, as a locomotive-engine was passing along the Colum