need not tell you that I should be glad to see every tall boy and chimney-pot levelled with the dust. This is a fine field for our Architectural Society and Associations, for no city or building can be made truly ornamental if they are to be surmounted or surrounded by such ridiculous contrivances. How any person, calling himself an architect, can honourably encourage the erection of such things, I am at a loss to conceive. Will any one be admitted as a member of either of the Associations for the improvement of architecture who directs the erection of cowls and tall-boys? I am, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

JOSEPH JOPLING.

31, Somerset-street, 11th July, 1834.

SELF-ACTING MACHINERY.

Sir,-You very kindly inserted in your useful magazine my letter on this subject about eighteen months agc-will you allow me to trespass a little further on your kindness, by requesting an early place for the following?

The possibility of making a perpetual motion, or machinery to generate the power it works with, is affected to be treated as an "idle chimera" equally vain and opposed to the well-established laws of nature and mechanics; but in spite of this, perpetual-motion-seekers are more numerous than any superficial observer may imagine. Having already made an avowal of my confidence of the practicability of making self-acting machinery, have had occasion to hear much said on the subject:-many, with whom I have conversed, after quoting what this or that learned gentleman has said on the impossibility of the thing, have taken "heart of grace" from hearing me still profess my confidence in my plans, and at length acknowledged, that they (themselves) turned their attention to it at one time, and believed they could lay down plans by which self-acting machinery could be made to do such and such particular work! One person, after beating about the bush as above, alledged that he could "make a wheel which would be able to turn a grunstane!" Thus you see, sir, perpetual-motionseekers abound; and though they pretend to laugh at the idea, yet are they secretly

66

I believe most of the engineers of the present day have been perpetual-motionseekers; but disappointed by repeated failures, have given up the thing as a false deluding chimera unworthy of their study-though I have heard it said (whether true or false I know not--neither is there any offence meant) that Mr. Hancock, of steam-carriage celebrity, remarked once, that "if he had an hundred sons, he would like them all to study perpetual motion; for if it had no other beneficial effect, it would make them familiar with the various modes of connecting the working parts of machinery."

But I am so engrossed with the spirit of comment, that I had almost forgot to say a few words for myself, and to explain my reasons for sending this paper. Since writing my last notice on this subject, I have become more and more convinced of the correctness of my views, and have so far improved on them, that I am enabled to aver that I can give sufficient directions for making self-acting machinery, to work either by condensa tion or rarefaction of air-by the gravi.. vating force of water-by mercury-by the self-adjusting gravity of dead weights -and by the pressure of inanimate matter on a solid. Avaunt, apophasis! Here is the syllabus-the scantling, as the Marquis of Worcester calls it but look not so grave, gentle reader, there is not a "Century" of them.

First. To make a water-wheel (either overshot, breast, or undershot, it is alike immaterial) which, when once put in proper trim, and fixed in a sufficient pool or reservoir of water, shall work itself, together with any kind of machinery attached to it, within the limits of its power! The accidental waste of genera tive power (if I may so term the water), by the atmospheric evaporation, &c., may be sufficiently supplied once a week by a hand-pump or a water-cart. For your information, reader, I beg to state, that it is not the gimcrank concern which occupies the front seat" of one of the early volumes of this work, nor is it any thing akin to him.

Secondly. Four different effective ways of placing the self-adjusting weights, No. 56 of the Marquis's scantling, suf

ficiently powerful to drive clocks, coffeemills, &c.!

Thirdly. A self-acting wheel, the weights of which are continually on the descending side, and never on the ascending: however incredible it may appear, though the wheel constantly goes round, yet no sooner do the weights reach the point of gravity at the bottom, then you see them coming down the same side again!

Fourthly. A carriage, which being placed on common or rail-roads-prepared no otherwise than such roads are for other carriages-(though I should prefer a railway)-yet its own weight on this firm way, shall be the primum mobile of continued motion, liable to be varied in point of speed, turned or stopped at the pleasure of the guidesman-not like Mynheer Von Wodenblock's perpetuum bobile-uncontrollable! Shall 1 say further? The powers of locomotion are increased by the weight of the carriage.

Fifthly. A fixed engine on nearly the same principle: for any purpose to which steam is applied as a first mover,―as powerful, more economic, and void of danger!

And lastly. The reader must understand that I have not made any of the above machines; not that I suppose there would be any great difficulties in the way, further than such as are incidental to first model-making, as is cleverly explained in Babbage's "Economy of Arts and Manufactures;" but simply because I have not the means.

Speaking of Mr. Babbage, reminds me of his Calculating Machine, which, I believe, government is now, and has been for the last fifteen years, endeavouring to bring to perfection. Can any of your intelligent readers inform me, whether it would be possible to bring my machine under the notice of government ?-always bearing in mind, that if I have not the pecuniary means of trying the engines myself, I cannot, of course, have it to fee counsellors, lawyers, and the numerous et ceteras connected directly and indirectly with the national govern

ment.

To be sure there is a wide difference between a scientific person like Mr. Bab. bage and an obscure individual such as I am; but Sir Isaac Newton, it is said, hinted something about a fool when he failed of discovering the perpetual mo

tion. How far I may tally with the learned astronomer's ideas of one I know not, but certainly I have no ambition to contend for the title. Though the veteran mathematician did not express himself in the self-sufficient style of some of our ci-devant perpetual-motion-seekers after they had failed, Phoo! it's all fudge; there is no such thing. Hav'n't I tried it all ways?' yet I must say, it was rather ungenerous of him to place a disgraceful bar in the way of the successful student. I am not unaware, however, that many people consider me a downright ninny, for coming forward as I have done in a plain, open, decisive manner; but how far I may really merit the epithet, remains eventually to be proved. after setting up my name as a target for the arrows of criticism to be pointed at, it is clearly demonstrated that I am in error-then, indeed, I cannot but acknowledge the term will be very justly applied; however, it may suffice at present when I say, "I do not fear the result!"

If,

If there is no probability of government appointing a committee, or an engineer, to investigate the merits of the thing, is there not a chance of procuring some assistance from the Lords of the Admiralty, to whom (if my schemes succeed) they will be of great importance ? Or would it not merit the attention of any railway company, especially that of the London and Birmingham, where there are so many tunnels?

As I am a young man, and ignorant of the proper method in which I ought to proceed, as regards the furthering my views in this way, I should feel obliged to any of your well-informed correspondents who will favour me with their advice on the subject.

I remain, Sir,
Yours very respectfully,

W. PEARSON.

AIRY ON GRAVITATION.

This respectable seven-shilling volume* is an offset from the Penny Cyclopedia. Professor Airy, it appears, had written it as an article for that very extensive work,

* Gravitation; an Elementary Explanation of the Principal Perturbations of the Solar System. By G. B. Airy, A. M., late Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, and Plumian Professor of Astronomy in the University of Cambridge. London: C. Knight. 1834. 8vo. pp. 234.

A

at a time, probably, when there was still some intention of keeping it within the limits originally assigned.* Seeing, however, that, at its present rate of progression, the letter G would not be arrived at for these ten years, at least, the learned Professor has sent forth the paper prepared for a penny pamphlet, in the shape of a goodly cloth-bound octavo! strange metamorphosis, but not so unaccountable as may at first sight appear. It would have been too trying to the patience to have kept the treatise in petto for the benefit of the next generation (as it must have been according to the author's first intention): and, if the quantity and quality of its matter fitted it to make its appearance in a handsome separate tome, why not send it forth in that shape at once, and let the reading world of the present day reap the benefit of the Professor's labours? Besides this, our author has another, and a very excellent reason, for the mode of procedure he has adopted, which he could not have foreseen when he commenced his task.

His

explanation of this reason is well deserving of attention, as coming from a distinguished Professor of our great mathematical University :

"The treatise was originally designed for a class of readers who might be supposed to possess a moderate acquaintance with the phenomena and the terms of astronomy; geometrical notions sufficient to enable them to understand simple inferences from diagrams; two or three terms of algebra as applied to numbers; but none of that elevated science which has always been used in the investigation of these subjects, and without which scarcely an attempt has been made to explain them. I proposed to myself, therefore, this general design-to explain the perturbations of the solar system, as far as I was able, without introducing an algebraic symbol.

"It will readily be believed that, after thus denying myself the use of the most powerful engine of mathematics, I did not expect to proceed very far. In my progress, however, I was surprised to find, that a general explanation, perfectly satisfactory, might be offered for almost every inequality recognised as sensible, in works on physical astronomy. I now began to conceive it pos sible that the work, without in the smallest degree departing from the original plan, or giving up the original object, might also be

Eight volumes. The fourth is now publishing, and not one-fourth of the letter B has been got through!

found useful to a body of students, furnished with considerable mathematical powers, and in the habit of applying them to the explanation of difficult physical problems. With this idea, the treatise is now printed in a separate form."-P. vi.

It may well be suspected that the same discovery of the power of simplicity might be made in some other sciences besides astronomy-and the sooner it is made the better. Complexity is a thing to be avoided in education as well as in machinery-the fewer the wheels, the more perfect the machine; and the same. with science, or with elementary science. at least. Sir Thomas Lombe's silk-mill, with its 17,000 wheels, might excite more admiration in a gaping clown than a power-loom of the present day: but it could not stand the comparison a single moment in the eyes of any one qualified' to pronounce a judgment.

How far the Professor has succeeded in his laudable object we can hardly take upon ourselves to determine; and we are sorry that our limits forbid us to give a specimen of his labours sufficiently extensive to enable our readers to draw their own conclusions on the matter. It would be useless to quote from that part relating to the very first lines of the science, by way of affording a notion of our author's mode of simplifying its abstruser portions; and one of the more advanced chapters (it would be unfair to give less) would occupy more space than could well be spared for its admission to our pages. We must rest content, therefore, with copying from the Preface a few excellent remarks on the great value of a recurrence to the elements of a science, even on the part of those who have made the highest advances in its highest branches. Professor Airy is (with perhaps a single exception) the most eminent English astronomer of his day; yet what is his experience on this subject?

"The exercise of the mind in understanding a series of propositions, where the best conclusion is geometrically in close connexion with the first cause, is very different from that which it receives from putting in play the long train of machinery in a profound analytical process. The degrees of conviction in the two cases are very different. It is known to every one who has been engaged in the instruction of students in the Universities, that the results of the differential calculus are received by many rather with the doubts of imperfect faith than with the

confidence of rational conviction. Nor is this to be wondered at; a clear understanding of many difficult steps, a distinct perception that every connexion of these steps is correct, and a general comprehension of the relations of the whole series of steps, are necessary for a complete confidence. An unusual combination of talents, attainments, and labour, must be required, to appreciate clearly the evidence for a result of deep analysis. I am not unwilling to avow, that the simple considerations which have been forced upon me in the composition of this treatise, have, in several instances, contributed much to clear up my view of points which before were obscure, and almost doubtful. To the greater number of students, therefore, I conceive a popular geometrical explanation is more useful than an algebraic investigation.

There is much in this that well deserves the attentive consideration of many, if not all, of our Mechanics' Institutions. It is to be feared that far too little regard is paid in that quarter to the great importance of cultivating the root of the tree of knowledge. In other words, too much indifference is displayed in wellgrounding the members in the rudiments of the various sciences; and too great an inclination to soar to the skies" at once. The candid confession of Professor Airy may have some effect in correcting this unfortunate tendency; for, if a return to the elements of his own peculiar science has contributed so much to "clear up his view of points which were before obscure," how beneficial must a similar process be to the rather less profound philosophers of a Mechanics' Institute!

Whether the communication has been accelerated by the publication of this treatise, we know not, but it seems the Professor has at length received the appointment of Astronomer Royal (at 8007. a year) vacant by the resignation (?) of Mr. Pond.

THE GURNEY JOB.

We have heard with inexpressible astonishment that the Select Committee of the House of Commons, to which Mr. Goldsworthy Gurney's claim to a national

reward for his abortive steam-carriage speculations was referred, have recom. mended that a grant should be made to him of 16,000l.!!! The Committee must either have not investigated the case as they should have done, or they have been more mindful of the interests of the pe titioner than of those of the public. Never was there a person who had less claim on the national purse. He has had already from private individuals for the promotion of his steam-carriage projects, more thousands than he can show to have been legitimately expended upon them; and, after all, he has left the matter of steam-travelling on common roads nearly where he found it. None of all the steam-carriage-adventurers of the day has been half so liberally supported with money,-none of them all has expended so much money to so little purpose. We hope the Chancellor of the Exchequer will pause before he gives the assent of the Crown to so unmerited a largess; if he will but look well into the case and judge for himself, the House of Commons may yet be spared the disgrace, of throwing more of the public means away upon one shallow schemer, than would suffice to bring a hundred really useful and meritorious inventions to maturity.

THE THAMES TUNNEL JOB.

House of Commons, 10th July, 1835. The order of the day for the House going into a Committee of Supply having been read,

Mr. Walter said, that he had to call the attention of the House to a matter which involved one of the most essential of its privileges. It might perhaps be recollected that he mentioned, some time ago, the rumour of an advance of money to a certain Company called the Thames Tunnel Company. The suspicions which he (Mr. W.) originally entertained had been fully verified; the money had been obtained under the authority of the House, but absolutely without its knowledge. The first application made to the Treasury was in 1828. The Directors stated that they had then completed nearly one-half of the work under the bed of the river, but that the work was stopped for want of funds. (Hear.) The Treasury replied, that their Lordships did not feel that they would be justified in proposing to Parliament to afford assistance to enable the Directors to complete the work. (Hear.) The. Company again applied to the Treasury for aid in March, 1831, and were again refused. In October, 1831, the Directors once more memorialized the Treasury they again said that nearly half the work was completed; that only 255,0007. was wanted to finish it; that they were authorized by the Proprietors to apply to the Commissioners for is uing Exchequer Bills in aid of public works for that sum, and to give such securities as might be required on the property, estate, effects, tolls, and revenue of the Company; on condition, however, that the Proprietors should not be made personally liable to any further advance for completing the undertaking, in case the expense of the same should

exceed the aforesaid estimate for such completion. The Lords of the Treasury directed that the parties should be informed that it would be premature on the part of the Lords to express an opinion till the object came recommended by the Commissioners for the loan of Exchequer Bills. In November, 1832, the Directors transmitted a new memorial to the Treasury, inclosing a bill, prepared by their Solicitor, to be presented on the ensuing Session, to extend the period of their powers, and introducing a clause giving sufficient authority to the Exchequer Bill Commissioners to make such ad. vances as the nature of the undertaking might require. This memorial was indorsed "Thames Tunnel Company, for the sanction of the Crown to a elause in the Bill authorising the loan of Exchequer Bills without requiring personal security for the same." The answer to this last memorial was, that the Company were at liberty to introduce the clause, but that it must be so framed as not to commit the Exchequer Loan Commissioners, or the Treasury, in their final determination. The Bill introduced into Parliament, to which he referred at the outset, passed the House in August, 1833, but nothing was done upon it till July, 1834, when a new memorial was sent in, praying the Treasury to send a warrant to the Exchequer Bill Commissioners. authorising them to issue Exchequer Bills, or advance money to the memorialists, to the extent of 246,0001. upon the security mentioned in the said Act, to be repaid with interest, out of the profits. The Lords of the Treasury hereupon requested the opinion of the Commissioners for the loan of Exchequer Bills, as to the arrangements which should be thought necessary, in case their Lordships should be disposed to exercise the discretion vested in theni. The Commissioners, in reply, advised that the advance should be first applied in completing the most hazardous part of the undertaking; they recommended that the money should be given by instalments, and the progress of the works watched as they consumed the instalments; but the Commissioners were wholly silent as to any investigation into the nature of the securities offered, feeling themselves, no doubt, precluded, by the wording of the Act, from instituting such an inquiry. The final minute of the Treasury is dated October the 10th, 1834, wherein the Lords at last authorised an issue of 30,000l. Such were the proceedings of the Treasury. He now would show the manner in which the positive refusals and protracted reluctance of the Tieasury and the Exchequer Bill Commissioners to part with any money upon such a scheme had been baffled and overcome by the unfortunate, and what he might call the unconscious intervention of Parliament. A very few days after the meeting of the first reformed Parliament-viz., on the 19th of February, 1833, the first step was taken; and he (Mr. Walter) should read the history from the journals, for he had no information except from that source:

1833, February 19, Petition of the Thames Tunnel Company, praying leave to bring in a bill to amend, extend and enlarge the powers and pro. visions of the former Act, and to enable the company to raise a further sum of money. To be referred to a Committee, Mr. Gillon, &c., and to have power to send for persous, papers, and records."

March 22. Mr. Hawes presented a Bill to amend the Acts relating to the Thames Tunnel Company, and to extend the powers thereby given for raising money for the completion of the said tunnel. And the same was read the first time." April 1. A Bill to amend the Acts relating to the Thames Tunnel Company, and to extend the powers thereby given for the completion of the said tunnel, was read a second time and committed to Mr. Hawes, &c." "May 17. The Bill, with several amendments, is reported, and the report ordered to lie on the table." After this the Bill appeared to have been hung up" till August, with what view he (Mr. Walter) would leave the House to judge. In August, however, and amidst the hurry and con

fusion of a closing session, the Bill was got through. The money which had been advanced, and which he had no doubt was lost, was not of so much consequence as the deviation from the established law of Parliament. He believed it to be the rule of the House that money should not be granted without the leave of the House; and this Bill, authorising the payment of 270,000l., had been got through totally without the knowledge of the House, under the disguise of a private Bill. To talk about security was ridiculous. The parties are screened from liability themselves, and the country was told it might have the works, which would be totally unproductive. A tunnel might be made, no doubt, in various ways, but at what expense? Nearly 200,0007. had been already wasted; 270,000%, more was asked for by the Act complained of; and when that was spent, he would venture to say that another 270.0001. would then be found necessary for its completion. He stated this on no light authority. The money already given was totally thrown away, unless the House were content to vote at least half a million more for this project, which was carrying on, in more senses than one, in the dark, respecting which the Government had no information whatever, except such as it derived from the parties receiving the money, and who had been misleading the public from the very commencement of the undertaking. He could not conceive that the House would knowingly make such an improvident grant of the public money. Before he sat down he would read a communication which he had received from a gentleman who took a great interest in the building London-bridge, and who firmly believed the proposed tunnel would never be completed. "They had not yet got," he said, " to the worst part of the river. Experience obtained in building the new London and Southwark-bridges had proved that the soil on the northern side of the river is springy, liable to quicksand, and in every respect more dangerous and difficult to work than the southern or Surrey side, on which the work has been commenced. To insure a reasonable prospect of suc cess, the tunnel ought to have been made several feet deeper. The work never could be accomplished without coffer-dams, and there is no timber long enough to make the piles in that part of the river. Timber from 55 to 60 feet long might be obtained fit for that purpose, but not longer, and it was with the greatest difficulty that timber of a sufficient length was obtained for the coffer-dams at New London-bridge. A Committee to examine practical engineers would be very desirable. The coffer. dams would cost all the money at present advanced, and would interrupt the passage of the river, if not wholly stop it." Another individual had informed him that when the water broke in, there were only about seven feet of soil between the tunnel and the wash of the river. The most difficult part remains to be done. The channel of the river is on the Middlesex side. The tunnel is, therefore, about to approach a part of the river deeper than that under which it is at present, and therefore with less soil to cover the tunnel. The Hon. Member concluded by moving For a copy of any document under the authority of which the advance of the sum of 30,0001. had been made to the Thames Tunnel Company; and for copies of the reports, if any, of professional persons made before the money was advanced, respecting the existing state of the Tunnel, the estimated cost of completing the same, and the probability of future repayment."

Mr. Hawes (one of the Directors of the Thames Tunnel Company) said, that the Hon. Member was altogether wrong in supposing that the sums referred to had been advanced on the authority of any Bill framed for that particular purpose. The facts were these: a sum of 1,000,000l. had been placed at the disposal of the Commissioners to be applied to the carrying on or in aid of public works. Of that 1,000,000 30,000l. had been advanced on the usual terms, and under the sanction of the Treasury; he was therefore warranted in saying