where the lead is to be pressed out must be as long as the sheet is to be wide, and as wide as the sheet is to be thick; the plate that forms one side of the aperture must be made to move by screws, nearer or further off the opposite side, when a thinner or thicker sheet is required, and no core or rod is wanted.

To MR. RICHARD FRANCIS HAWKINS, of Plumstead, Kent, for an Invention of certain Improvements in the Con struction of Anchors.-March 1822. THESE improvements consist, first, in the construction of anchors differing in form from those in general use; and, secondly, in certain adaptations to anchors of the old construction. The shank is formed so as to consist of two parts towards the crown, with apertures or eyes in each, through which the arms or flukes may pass, and work freely, the crown-piece turning with the arms. "The interior of the crown-piece, or that part which is turned to the square of the shank, must be so adjusted that the crown-piece may freely revolve and pass through the throat when the toggle is not in it." The crown-piece has an aperture perforated through it, into which the long thick piece of iron called the toggle is inserted. This toggle is fastened in its place, so as to project equally on both sides, and, by stopping against or meeting the throat of the shank, prevents the crown-piece and the arms from passing round, by which they are held at an angle of about fifty degrees from the shank.

When this anchor is let go, one of the ends of the toggle must come in contact with the ground, which puts the

LIST OF PATENTS FOR NEW INVENTIONS.

H. Septimus, Clapton, Middlesex, merchant; for a bolt or fastening, particularly applicable as a night-bolt.-June 4. W. Huxham, Exeter, iron-founder; for improvements in the construction of roofs. June 4.

H. Colebank, Broughton, in Furness Kirkley Ireleth, Lancashire, tallow-chandler; for an engine for cutting, twisting, and spreading, of wicks.-June 4.

J. Barton, deputy-comptroller of our Mint; for a certain process for the application of prismatic colours to the surface of steel and other metals, and using the same in the manufacture of various ornaments.-June 4.

J. Frost, Finchley, Middlesex, builder; for a new cement or artificial stone.June 11,

W. Feetham, Ludgate-hill, stove-maker; for a certain improvement on showerbaths,—June 11.

ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC.

TH THE object of this institution is to promote the cultivation of the science of music, and afford facilities for attaining perfection in it, by assisting with general instruction the natives of this country, and thus enabling those who pursue this delightful branch of the fine arts, to enter into competition with, and rival the natives of other countries, and to provide for them

selves the means of an honourable and comfortable livelihood. It is to be called the "Royal Academy of Music," for the maintenance and general in

struction in music of a certain number of pupils, not exceeding at present forty males and forty females.

1st. The institution is to be founded and maintained by contributions and annual subscriptions, divided into four classes.

1st class-Contributors of one hundred guineas or upwards in one payment, or fifty, guineas and upwards, and under one hundred guineas, and an annual subscription of five guineas.

2nd class-Contributors of fifty-five guineas or upwards in one payment, or ten guineas and an annual subscription of five guineas.

Srd

in 1635. The Royal Academy of Sciences, in 1666. Fontenelle was secretary to this academy forty-two years. The Institute of France was established in 1795.

After noticing the Royal Spanish Academy, instituted in 1713, and the Athenaeum, in 1820, a brief view of the chief literary institutions of this country was given. The universities obtained only a passing notice; the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Painting, and the Society of Arts, were also briefly mentioned; but our Institutions, emphatically so called, demanded and obtained more minute detail.

Circulating libraries and book-societies were of English invention; of the former, the first was opened by one Batho, in the Strand, in 1740; and, of the latter, the first was instituted at Leicester in 1743, and existed, till lately, under the name of the Blue Bell Society.

The literary institutions of Liverpool required particular notice, not only as there the first improvement in our literary societics was made, but as that town itself contains, at the present moment, societies, and chiefly the Royal Liverpool Institution, which are deserving our peculiar regard. The Athenæum was established in the year 1798. It unites a good library with a coffec-room, and affords admission to five hundred young men to read the books. The Lyceum was established in 1802. The books of this institution circulate among the members, which is not the case with the books of the Athenæum. The Royal Liverpool Institution, established in 1817, has more the character of a university than a literary academy. It has professors in the different sciences, and schools for the classics and the mathematics, with masters to each.

Of the four institutions of the metropolis, the Royal Institution, the London Institution, and the Russel Institution, were concisely, but correctly noticed; but on the Surrey Institution, as it is about to close, Mr. Jennings expatiated more at large, naming its peculiar advantages, and the scientific and literary lectures which have, from time to time, been given here by some of the first men of the age.

The Royal Society of Literature, and the Schools of Arts, at Glasgow, and Edinburgh, were then briefly men

tioned; and also, in a compendious way, the institutions of America.

The following is the peroration:-"On a review of what has been said, and of the extraordinary progress of literature, and the march of events during the last fifty years in the civilized world, it is obvious that a power is in operation in society, of which, although known to our forefathers, the extent and force could neither be calculated nor foreseen. That power is Knowledge; to attempt to impede the progress of which is not only useless, but erroneously mischievous. I can have no doubt that many of the evils which society has endured for some years past, and is still enduring, arise from the attempts, unwise as futile, to prevent the rushing of these mighty waters. Men should remember that we are progressive beings; that what suits one period of society is often totally unfit for another, and a new one; that at certain periods manis more rapidly progressive than at others; that the period of the last fifty years has been one of rapid progression, which has led to a new and extraordinary era; and that truc wisdom, instead of attempting to retain, or to restore the old order of things, will be employed in arranging the new, so as to make it most beneficial for the general good. That, instead of opposing the rolling torrent, we must go along with it; and, though we may, indeed, regulate its impetuosity, we cannot, nor ought we, to attempt to stop its course.'

"

EXTRACT of the REPORT on ROADS, BRIDGES, and CANALS, read in the AMERICAN SENATE, MARCH 23, 1822. FROM a view of the documents, it will be perceived, (say the committee,) that the number of miles of turnpikeroads contemplated by the various charters of the companies which have received letters patent, is 2521; of which there have been completed 1807; of these roads, about 1250 miles are of solid stone, having on their sur face no angle greater than 4 or 5 degrees, even in crossing the highest mountains,

The amount of capital subscribed

Dollars.

towards these improvements by individuals (including the subscriptions of a few banks,) and which has been paid, or is expected to be paid, is ........ 4,158,547

The

cost of the works at the two Conawago canals, estimated 220,000 The probable amount expended on the Lehigh, cannot fall short of... And leaving out of view the expenditures made by the Schuylkill and Susquehanna, and Delaware and Schuylkill, navigation companies, the result will show an appropriation to this branch of internal improvement of ..... If all these subscriptions, appropriations, and individual expenditures, be added together, the amount will be little short

150,000- 370,000

of

....

1,916,510

10,369,779 Two complete stone roads, running from Philadelphia to Pittsburg, 300 miles each in length, one of which is already finished.

One continued road from Philadelphia to the town of Erie, on the lake of that name, passing through Sunbury, Bellefonte, Phillipsburg, Franklin, and Meadville.

Two roads, having but a few miles of turnpike deficient, from Philadelphia; one to the New-York-state line, in Bradford county, passing through Berwick, and one to the northern part of the state, in Susquehanna county, passing through Bethlehem. And one continued road from Pittsburg

to

Erie, passing through Butler, Mercer, Meadville, and Waterford.

The northern, north-western, and western, sections of the state, will then be connected with the metropolis, and afford facilities for travelling and transportation, unequalled as to extent in the United States.

Skill, and a judicious economy in the construction of turnpike-roads, is of vital importance. The art of making artificial roads is in its infancy in our country; and it behoves us, as we value our prosperity, to use every means within our reach to profit by the lights and experience of those who understand the subject better than ourselves.

The construction of stone and other artificial roads, is a science which few men understand, and yet which few doubt from a want of ordinary skill in men hesitate to undertake; and it is no preparing and applying the materials of which our roads are composed, and in shaping their surface, and of ordimary judgment in the application of labour, that most of our roads have been constructed so expensively, and some of them so badly.

The attention of your committee has been drawn to a small English publication, re-printed in Baltimore during the last year, and which is to be procured in that city or in Philadelphia, entitled, "M'Adam on Roads." It comprises, besides, an essay upon road-making, by J. Loudon M’Adam, esq. the author; the minutes of an examination of witnesses before a committee of the House of Commons, appointed to enquire into the state of the roads, and particularly into a new system of turnpike-road-making introduced by Mr. M'Adam. As this work is well worth the perusal of all who have any desire to understand the principles upon which the British turnpike-roads are constructed and repaired, so that not a rut is ever to be seen on their surface, your committee have deemed it worth their while to bring it thus into the notice of the legislature. From this book it appears that, according to the most approved system at present in use in England, the stones are broken so fine, as that none of them exceeds six

ounces in weight, in order that a more speedy consolidation may be produced.

The depth of the materials is about ten inches, which is probably one fourth less than the average depth of our stone-roads. The surface of the