and thought it a duty to expunge the superfluous ones. It passed an act, giving a list of the colours in which only cloth should be dyed. There was, however, some latitude in the choice, as the colour of a lion was one which was permitted. Whether they meant the natural hue of the inhabitant of Libya, or any other in which heraldry had blazoned him, does not appear. Probably, however, fashion was as supreme over legislation in 1552, as it is in the present day, and if we had the January number of 'La Belle Assemblée' for that year, we might possibly find in the winter walking dress, the legislators doing homage to the very colours displayed around the form of beauty, which they had directed to be superseded by the sad new colour,' or the iron grey,' or the sheep's colour,' the favourites of their legislation. In the latter part of this act the legislature appears to have had some misgiving that they had made trade an uncomfortable employment, for they enacted, that if any cloth maker should, within a given period after it passed, leave off his trade without a license from three justices (one being sufficient to send to trial for murder), he should never after be allowed under an alteration of his circumstances to resume it." pp. 19, 20.

6

Laws to prevent the use of Hops in Beer.

"The brewing trade may here detain us for a moment. In the reign of Henry VIII., the city of London petitioned parliament against the use of hops, as a noxious weed, and against the introduction of Newcastle coals. In the reign of Henry VI. an act was passed to restrain the excessive making of malt. In the 2d year of William and Mary, it was enacted that no home-brewed beer should be made in a town where there was a public brewer; and we are told by Mr. Locke, in his work on toleration, that, under the test act, the publicans were required by law to partake of the most solemn ordinance of religion, as a qualification for entering on their calling. Thus the way in which the wisdom of our ancestors regulated brewing was, in attempting to prohibit the use of hops, to lessen that of malt, and to discountenance home-brewed beer. The spirit of these departed acts for restricting the use of malt and hops has been supposed in later times to have haunted the scenes of their former regulation, to have walked in the breweries, to have hovered over the coppers, and presided over the processes of more modern establishments."-p. 28.

Law forbidding Merchants to make Profit!

"In the 37th of Edward III., a law was passed, enacting that merchants should not engross goods to sell again at a greater price. One would like to ask the wisdom of our ancestors, for what other motive than the one

they repudiated, merchants would ever buy? It was also enacted, that no merchant should deal in more than one article, and that every one who had done so, should clear off all his stocks but one, before a day limited in the act."-p. 26.

Laws to punish Foreigners for enriching the Country.

"By a law passed in the 5th year of the reign of Henry IV., that foreign merchants who brought goods into England, should sell them in three months, without any regard to whether there was a demand for them or not. In the 6th of Henry IV. this law was repealed, but it was enacted that foreign merchants who brought goods into England, should not carry them away, but should leave them behind. Several other laws enacted, that when foreign merchants brought goods into England for sale, they should lay out all the money they obtained in buying English goods, and should carry no money out of the kingdom. Another law, in the 8th of Henry VI., declared that Englishmen should not trust foreign merchants, and should only sell to them for ready money. This was speedily found to be very inconvenient, and another law was passed in the 9th of Henry VI., allowing Englishmen to sell cloth to foreigners at six months' credit."-p. 22.

We subjoin one extract more, which relates to a subject concerning which, we regret to say, there is nearly as much absurd prejudice existing among our manufacturers as ever. We allude to the exportation of machinery-for enforcing the old laws against which, committees were formed but the other day at Nottingham and Leicester, to the serious injury of some of the best artisans of the country, and to the certain detriment of those very manufactures in which the anti-exportationists themselves are engaged :

"Another subject of legislation as to trade is the duty imposed on imported manufactures. In examining the principles of ancient legislation on this subject, we are told, that in the earliest periods a duty of five per cent. was imposed equally on goods exported and imported. In imposing this duty the object of the sovereign was, probably, merely to obtain revenue, and the interest of the people was neither known nor inquired into in the imposition. It might be considered that goods imported could not bear a higher duty than five per cent., and that by extending the same duty to exports, the revenue could be doubled. The system has however gradually changed, and important impositions upon exported goods have nearly ceased. The principles which tended to produce this change

were early introduced. In the 39th year of Elizabeth, 1593, an act was passed, declaring that the importing foreign wool-carding implements had destroyed the livelihood of many makers of them in England, and their importation was totally prohibited. The restrictions on the exportation of goods have been since principally applied to the raw materials of our manufactured articles, as raw hides and wool; and to articles not completely manufactured, as white cloth, for as this would require dyeing, the dyers caused its exportation to be prohibited.-Another class of prohibitions on the exportation of goods was still less defensible. It included goods perfectly manufactured, but which were wanted for other trades, as clock-cases, watchcases, and dial-plates. The legislature, by restraining their exportation, in attending to the interest of the general watch-makers, who wanted them to work up, forgot that of the case-makers. On the same principle the exportation of all metals was, by acts of Edward III., and several subsequent reigns, prohibited, except lead and tin, which formed at that time a large part of our export trade. The encouragement of mining produced the acts of 5th William and Mary, for the allow. ance of the exportation of iron and copper. Brass unmanufactured was not so fortunate, and its exportation continued to be prohibited."-pp. 17, 18.

RECENT AMERICAN PATENTS.

(Selected from the Reports in the Franklin Journal, by Dr. Jones, the Superintendent of the Patent Office at Washington.)

SPINNING MACHINES.-Joseph Riptra. -In the smooth cap used as a substitute for fliers, in what is called Danforth's filling frame, an attraction or adhesion of the thread to the surface of the cap takes place in certain states of the atmosphere, which occasions great difficulty in the spinning, and a frequent breaking of the thread. To obviate these evils the present patentee, instead of leaving the outside of the cap of a plain continuous surface, forms thereon three or four more beads, fillets, or rings, projecting about a sixteenth of an inch. Suppose, for example, there are three such ings, he forms one of them on the lower end of the conical cap, another on the upper end, just where it begins to curve in towards the spindle, and the third about two-fifths of the distance between the two former, measuring from the lower edge. The distance, how

ever, is stated to be a point of no importance.

MACHINE FOR DOUBLING, TWISTING, AND LAYING CORDAGE.-John Drummond.-A main shaft is to revolve horizontally, and this is to carry three other shafts parallel to itself, and sustained upon arms projecting from it. Upon these shafts are to be placed the bobbins containing the yarn. A gearing of wheel-work gives motion to the main shaft by which the laying is effected, and also to the secondary shaft by which the yarns are levelled and twisted. The cords are delivered by holes in the centre of the respective shafts, and the whole thus effected at one operation.

A specification for a similar machine, invented by a gentleman in Philadel phia, was sent over to England about seven years since, for the purpose of being patented here; but it was found that an apparatus, operating on the same principle, was in use in the ropery of the dock-yard at Woolwich, as well as in other places. The design of obtaining a patent was therefore abandoned.

PRESS FOR COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS ARTICLES.-Henry L. Conner.This press is intended to operate upon two bales at the same time. The pressure is produced by causing an endless screw to revolve vertically. This screw is of considerable length, and is fixed in the centre of the frame-work of the press, so that horses or other power may be applied to the lever by which it is turned. A stout nut is adapted to the screw, and rises or falls as it revolves, serving, by means of jointed levers, operating upon the principle of the toggle joint, to act upon a follower. The fol lower is a long beam, the ends of which work in grooves in the cheeks of the press, which are at a sufficient distance, on each side from the screw, to act upon a bale of cotton, placed between it and the bed. The levers which act upon the bed are on each side of the nut two in number, and they may be of equal length. They are connected with each other by a single joint; one of them also is united to the nut, and the other to the upper beam of the press in the same way. When the nut is down upon the follower, one of the levers lies upon it, and the other against the cheek of the

It is said, that with the power of the small horse thirty-four bales were pressed in a day, two at a time, so closely, that 530 lbs. were contained within two feet square. Twelve bales a day is considered to be fair work with the ordinary double-screw press.

We apprehend that a large portion of the advantage derived from this press results from the toggle-joint action. At first the cotton opposes scarcely any resistance, and the follower may then descend rapidly, which it will do by the action of the levers, whilst at the period when the greatest power is wanted their descent is proportionably slow.

HORSE-POWER FOR PROPELLING MACHINERY.- -Charles Keller.-A lever, to which the horse is to be attached, is fixed to the vertical shaft of a cog-wheel, and the teeth of this take into an endless-screw, formed upon a horizontal shaft, which carries a band-wheel, or whirl, a strap from which may be extended to drive machinery. The cogwheel, and the horizontal shaft which it drives, may be placed below the horsewalk, and the apparatus be thus confined to a small space, and rendered portable. The claim made is to "the application of the well-known principle of the endlessscrew and cog-wheel to a portable horsepower for driving machinery."

The advantage which may be expected to result from this contrivance, is the obtaining the required speed by no farther gearing than that described. The difficulty to be apprehended is the great friction to which the endless-screw must be subjected, which, if the materials are not extremely hard, and the rubbing parts are not constantly supplied with unguents, must soon wear it out.

The application of the endless-screw to a portable horse-power, is, we believe, new; it, however, has been used for driving boulters in flour-mills, and for other purposes. Mr. Nairne, the wellknown philosophical instrument-maker of London, manufactured, about sixty years ago, many globe electrifying-machines, which were turned by a toothedwheel, acting upon an endless-screw.

NOTES AND NOTICES.

An esteemed correspondent thinks "Mrs. Somerville has acted not very handsomely in describing Mr. Saxton's magneto-electric apparatus, inasmuch as she has omitted all mention of that gentleman's name, and has spoken of it as though it were merely an improvement on Mr. Faraday's methods, and put forward in detraction of his justly acquired fame."--" It was," he proceeds, "by its means that Mr. Saxton was the first person-in this country at least to elicit the first "spark from the magnet alone; while Mr. Faraday, however 'easy' it may appear to Mrs. Somerville, was unsuccesful in all his efforts to accomplish this point. The proof of the identity of the magnetic and electric fluids by producing the spark' was incomplete, till it was exhibited by means of this apparatus. Mr. Faraday expressed bimself highly pleased with it, when it was shown to him at Cambridge, and has never manifested aught that is contrary to the kind and generous feelings congenial to his character, and so becoming in the eminent man of science."

A Subscriber, who is obliged, from the nature of his occupation as a brewer, to get up at all hours of the night, complains that his alarum often fails to awaken him, and that he has applied in vain to several watchmakers for some simple and effectual mode of producing more noise than is made by a common alarum. He hopes that some of our readers will be able to suggest a sufficient remedy, and we trust he will not be disappointed. If he should, however, we can refer him to an eminent mechanic, who invented a contrivance by which, when his alarum failed in rousing him of a morning, the bed-clothes were first dragged from his shoulders, and in the event of this failing also to bring him on his feet, a bucket of cold water was emptied upon him.

The Blackfriars-bridge Repairs' Committee have, we understand, resolved to enlarge the roadway to nearly the width of the New London-bridge.

If a " Labouring Mechanic" will favour us with a call in Peterborough-court, we shall be glad to furnish him with the information he requires.

The Abstracts offered by our esteemed friend at Lewes will be very acceptable.

Communications received from Mr. D. R. Saunders-A-Mr. Routtem-J. P.-Mr. ChevertonMr. Busby-Mr. Mackinnon-P. H.-Mr. Bayley.

The Supplement to Vol. XX., with a Portrait, of William Symington, is now ready, price 6d.; also Vol. XX., complete, in boards, price Ss.

press, consequently they are then at right angles with each other. To cause the jointed part to slide readily over one follower friction-rollers are employed.

It is said, that with the power of the small horse thirty-four bales were pressed in a day, two at a time, so closely, that 530 lbs. were contained within two feet square. Twelve bales a day is considered to be fair work with the ordinary double-screw press.

We apprehend that a large portion of the advantage derived from this press results from the toggle-joint action. At first the cotton opposes scarcely any resistance, and the follower may then descend rapidly, which it will do by the action of the levers, whilst at the period when the greatest power is wanted their descent is proportionably slow.

HORSE-POWER FOR PROPELLING MACHINERY.-Charles Keller.-A lever, to which the horse is to be attached, is fixed to the vertical shaft of a cog-wheel, and the teeth of this take into an endless-screw, formed upon a horizontal shaft, which carries a band-wheel, or whirl, a strap from which may be extended to drive machinery. The cogwheel, and the horizontal shaft which it drives, may be placed below the horsewalk, and the apparatus be thus confined to a small space, and rendered portable. The claim made is to "the application of the well-known principle of the endlessscrew and cog-wheel to a portable horsepower for driving machinery."

The advantage which may be expected to result from this contrivance, is the obtaining the required speed by no farther gearing than that described. The difficulty to be apprehended is the great friction to which the endless-screw must be subjected, which, if the materials are not extremely hard, and the rubbing parts are not constantly supplied with unguents, must soon wear it out.

The application of the endless-screw to a portable horse-power, is, we believe, new; it, however, has been used for driving boulters in flour-mills, and for other purposes. Mr. Nairne, the wellknown philosophical instrument-maker of London, manufactured, about sixty years ago, many globe electrifying-machines, which were turned by a toothedwheel, acting upon an endless-screw.

4

NOTES AND NOTICES.

An esteemed correspondent thinks "Mrs. Somerville has acted not very handsomely in describing Mr. Saxton's magneto-electric apparatus, inasmuch as she has omitted all mention of that gentleman's name, and has spoken of it as though it were merely an improvement on Mr. Faraday's methods, and put forward in detraction of his justly acquired fame."--"It was," he proceeds, "by its means that Mr. Saxton was the first person-in this country at least-to elicit the first spark from the magnet alone; while Mr. Faraday, however 'easy' it may appear to Mrs. Somerville, was unsuccesful in all his efforts to accomplish this point. The proof of the identity of the magnetic and electric fluids by producing the spark' was incomplete, till it was exhibited by means of this apparatus. Mr. Faraday expressed bimself highly pleased with it, when it was shown to him at Cambridge, and has never manifested aught that is contrary to the kind and generous feelings congenial to his character, and so becoming in the eminent man of science."

A Subscriber, who is obliged, from the nature of his occupation as a brewer, to get up at all hour of the night, complains that his alarum often fail to awaken him, and that he has applied in vain t several watchmakers for some simple and effectu mode of producing more noise than is made by common alarum. He hopes that some of o readers will be able to suggest a sufficient remed and we trust he will not be disappointed. If should, however, we can refer him to an emine mechanic, who invented a contrivance by whic when his alarum failed in rousing him of a mo ing, the bed-clothes were first dragged from shoulders, and in the event of this failing also bring him on his feet, a bucket of cold water emptied upon him.

The Blackfriars-bridge Repairs' Committee h we understand, resolved to enlarge the road to nearly the width of the New London-bridge

If a "Labouring Mechanic" will favour us a call in Peterborough-court, we shall be gl furnish him with the information he requires.

The Abstracts offered by our esteemed f at Lewes will be very acceptable.

Communications received from Mr. D. R. ders-A-Mr. Routtem-J. P.-Mr. Chevel Mr. Busby-Mr. Mackinnon-P. H.-Mr. B

The Supplement to Vol. XX., with a Po of William Symington, is now ready, pri also Vol. XX., complete, in boards, price Ss