deck or decks. A keel or keels may much less likely to be infested with be added to a Stanhope Weatherer, vermin, and more healthy for the though, generally speaking, Earl crew, neither would their timbers be Stanhope disapproves of any keels. so often unpercieved in a state of Sundry other alterations and varia- decay. The Stanhope Weatherers tions may also be made without de- are also admirably adapted for an imparting from the true principles of proved mode of coppering the vessels; bis invention. those vessels of the common form Ships of this construction may be with curved horizontal ship-lines built with pianks placed on the out- cannot have sheets of copper applied side as well as with planks on the in- to their bottoms in the intimate manside; in fact, the vessel may be built ner necessary for perfection. Above without the common inside planking, 16 years ago, Earl Stanhope having by proportionably increasing the obtained leave, while in a builder's thickness of those which are on the yard, caused his walking stick to enter outside of the ribs or timbers. The the thin copper sheet at the bottom latter method is the antient way, which of a vessel with as much apparent ease Earl Stanhope thinks ought to be re- as it would have entered a thick sheet vived; he thinks it is much preferable of brown paper; and he ripped the to the prejudicial modern mode of sheets of copper for several feet in ship-building by means of double length with great facility. planking, by which the ribs or timbers are excluded from the fresh air, and therefore become much more liable to decay.

A Stanhope Weatherer is capable of being coppered in a very superior stile, as hereafter mentioned. About 1777 Earl Stanhope invented an excellent composition which he has frequently applied to various useful purposes. It is composed of three measures of pounded chalk, very dry, or dry brick-dust, and of one measure of thick, (but not ropy) tar, first well mixed, and then boiled to the consistency of bees wax. In 1794 he caused a vessel to be covered with that composition which he recom mends for the use of the decks of the weatherers of his invention.

The following most important fact is reported by the Commissioners of the Land Revenue, viz. that the medium duration of the ships which compose the present navy, upon an average is only about eleven years and three quarters" a fact which clearly proves the absurdity of the present practice: Besides, a given quantity of plank in thick stuff, placed wholly on the outside of the ribs, will be considerably stronger than the same quantity of plank in two thinner Another great advantage attending planks, part placed on the outside of this new plan for a ship is, that it will the ribs, and the remaining part placed save almost all the moulds, as very on the inside of them; and by adopt- few will ever be required. In any ing the old method of single planking, case, when a Stanhope Weatherer much expense of sawing, of tree nail- shall be of considerable length, the ing, and other labour will be saved. strongest way to build her would be, Besides it is evident, that outside to place a stout tabled bulk-head, ten planks of thick stuff would not require or twelve inches thick in the centre that the ribs should be placed so near of the ship or vessel, right fore and to each other as where the outside aft. No kersey, or flannel, should be planks are but from three to four put into the scarfs; for that practice, inches in thickness: and exclusive of by retaining the moisture, tends to saving upwards of one third of the rot the beams, as the most experienced ribs of a ship, it would add considera ship-builders well know, To save bly to her strength. This antient me- oak, the bulk-bead may be made of thod has also much advantage with elm or other wood. It ought also to respect to accidents from fire; as the extend from the stern cabin to the outside planks when in contact with raking stem. Such a tabled bulkthe water cannot burn, which is by no head properly caulked, and strongly means the case with planks placed on connected to the two sides of the ship the inside of the ribs, and surrounded or vessel would produce uncommon by air. Single planked vessels are security and great additional strength,

This incomparable method in build- dler consists of a long thin horizontal ing would save thousands of lives, and board or edge, sunk to any required millions of property. The common depth below the surface of the water, mode of caulking ships is highly im- and kept in that position by means of proper. Oakum should never be metal ballast fastened to its lower inade of old cables, or junk, but of edge. The board so ballasted, is prenew hemp; neither should it be dri- vented from sinking by means of two ven only a little way into the joints large corks, which swim on the surbetween the planks or thick stuff, as face of the water. One cork is conthat mode of driving tends to deprive nected by a line to one end of the them of a great part of their mutual board or edge, and the other cork by support; upon which, the chief the same means to the end of the strength of a ship or vessel depends. other board. The board has head and

A Stanhope Weatherer is also par- stern rudders fixable at any proper ticularly well calculated to counteract angles, which experience may suggest and diminish the danger of sub-marine as the most convenient, by which explosions; from her form, her small means the board, when towed after a draught of water, her general and local ship, will straddle very wide sideways. strength; her various rooms, cabins, Two such may be used and distinor chambers. From long spars placed guished by the names of the starboard on the deck, her prow may also be and larboard straddler. They are out rigged, at several yards before the both towed from one and the same stem, by means of ropes, metal bars, iron bar, placed at the stern end of common chains, or chains with long the vessel. The tow-lines are duly links; for the placing of which direc- ballasted by small leads, and kept at tions are given. These contrivances even depths below water by means of are called protectors, the latter may thin lines; tied at one of their ends also be placed with buoys, on or near to the leads, and at the other to the the cable when a vessel rides at an- corks which float on the surface. chor, in order to protect the cable, as These two tow lines, leading from well as the vessel itself. that bar to those two opposite stradOther machines of Earl Stanhope's diers respectively would sweep the invention are also alluded to in this whole space between them, as the patent, by means of which a single ship proceeds on her voyage. Earl ship can sweep many square miles of Stanhope's patent concludes with rewater in a short time, in order to marking, that he claims no exclusive Counteract and explode the trigger right to the invention of straddlers or carcases. These may be termed strad- protectors: but that he wishes all diers; because constructed so as to captains to use them to secure their accompany a vessel on her voyage, vessels against that most mischievous following her, and yet sheering or invention called sub-marine bombs, straddling at the same time. A strad- carcases, &c.

TRANSACTIONS OF LEARNED & ECONOMICAL SOCIETIES. ROYAL SOCIETY. and their love of science. On the

A

T the late anniversary meeting of 17th of December, the Croonian Lecthis Society, the President de- ture was read by Mr. Carlisle, on the livered, with the Copleyan medal, as nature and chemical qualities of the usual, a very eloquent address. He muscles. He took a physiological took occasion to contrast the general view of the circulation of the blood, estimation of the Transactions of the and the influence of the nerves, so far Royal Society of London, which are as they operate upon the muscular produced and supported by the volun- fibra, and the healthful state of the tary contributions of its individuals, animal economy. The result of nuwith those of other natious, where they merous experiments made by him on are supported by considerable reve- vegetable and animal substances was, nues drawn from the state. The com- that he found in all of them an oxide Farison was not a little flattering to of iron, particularly in peas; yolks of the talents and spirit of Englishanien, eggs, bile, urine, &c.

an Aca

Mr. Smithson read a paper on qua- sembly was held, when Samuel Wooddruple and binary compounds, particu- forde, Esq. signed the obligation, and Jarly the sulphurets. He seemed to received his diploma, as doubt the propriety of the distinction, demician. or rather the existence of a quadruplé

COUNCIL.

compound; and to believe that only BENJAMIN WEST, Esq. was re-elected two substances could enter as elements

President.

in the composition of one body; and S. Woodforde, Esq.
he contended, that in cases of qua- W. Owen, Esq.
druple compounds, a new and very dif-
ferent substance was formed.

J. Northcote, Esq.

Sir Wm. Beechey.
H. Fuseli, Esq.
H. Tresham, Esq.
T. Daniell, Esq.

Paul Sandby, Esq.

VISITORS.

H. Thompson, Esq.
S. Woodforde, Esq.

AUDITORS.

J. Fannington, Esq.

Mr. Davy, in the last Bakerian Lecture, suggested the probability, that Edw. Bunce, Esq. other bodies not then enumerated, J. Northcote, Esq. might be decomposed, or exhibited in more simple forms by electricity; G. Dance, Esq. particularly that excited by the Gal- S. M. W. Turner, Esq. elected Provanic apparatus. Since then, by fessor in Perspective, and Henry Tremeans of several very powerful Gal- sham elected Professor in Painting; vanic troughs, consisting of 100 pairs and the following Premiums were of plates, six inches square; and 150 given; viz. a Gold Medal to Mr. Laspairs, four inches square, he has suc- celles Hoppper, for the best Historical ceeded in decomposing potash and so- Picture, the Judgment of Solomon; da. In fact the fixed alkalies have been a Gold Medal to C. A. Busby, for the decomposed by the Galvanic battery, best design for a Building to contain and are found to be metallic oxides. the Royal Society, the Antiquarian The metals have been actually pro- Society, and the Royal Academy; a duced. Their characteristics are: a Silver Medal to H. D. Thielke, S. most powerful attraction for oxygen, Linnell, and H. Corbould, for the and a specific gravity less than that of best Drawing of an Academy Figure; water. The specific gravity of the a Silver Medal to Mr. Buxton, for the metalline base of potash, is 7: that of best Model of an Academy Figure; a soda, 9. When plunged into water, Silver Medal to Mr. C. Malton; and a an explosion ensues, owing to the Silver Medal to Mr. George Phillips, seizure of oxygen, and the infiamma- for the best Drawing of the Thames tion of disengaged hydrogen, and of front of Somerset Place.

the metal. They are both fusible, JOHN RICHARDS, R. A. Secretary. under 100 of Fahrenheit; and they The President made a short but amalgamate, and form hard metals, very handsome address to the Genlike silver, with mercury. The only tlemen Students. means of preserving them, is by immersion in naptha.

BRITISH INSTITUTION.

T late meeting of the Com

Mr. Davy concluded his lecture by Aite of Directors, at the

remarking the impropriety of limiting

the term oxygen to a specific charac- Gallery in Pall Mall, for adjudging ter, as opposed to that of alkali, and the premiums offered for the three observed the necessity of improving best companions to pictures, selected the nomenclature, in consequence from the works of old Masters, their of the new facts discovered, and the decision was as follows. influence of the metallic base of alkali on other bodies; and he thought the new field opened by these facts to geology, highly important, as likely to lead to numerous discoveries relative to the formation of strata, stones, and mountains.

ROYAL ACADEMY.

HURSDAY, Dec. 10, being the

of the Royal Academy, a General As

To Mr. J. Pocock, jun. the premium of 100%. for his picture of Archbishop Becket's insolent visit to the Palace of Henry the Second, with the intention of excommunicating that Momarch; painted as a companion to Mr. Angerstein's Theodosius, by Vandyke.

To Mr. James Green, the premium of 60% for his picture of Gadshill and the first part of Shakspeare's Henry

the Fourth; painted as a companion reason to fear a comparison with the to Mr. Duncomb's Candle Light, by productions of the other sex. Among Rubens. these fair candidates are the two Miss

To Miss C. Reinagle, the premium Reinagles, Mrs. Green, Miss Jackson, of 40%. for her Landscape with Banditti; (an amateur artist), Miss Hay, and painted as a companion to Lord the Misses Smith. Grantham's Mercury and Admetus, by Salvator Rosa.

Seventeen pictures are sent in by the students of the former season, as It is truly gratifying to observe the claims for the premiums offered, attention the Govenors of this Institu- which are three in number, viz. 100%. tion bestow on the nurture of the na- 60%. and 40%. which will be awarded to tional talent, which has assembled at the three best performances, and distheir call, for the protection they hold tributed according to the several deforth. The stores of ancient art have grees of merit. been unlocked, and the most renowned of the works of the foreign schools

SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES.

have been placed before our younger MR.S. Lysons has produced some

Artists for their instruction.

curious records, written in the following is a list of the Noblemen reign of Edw. III. containing directions and Gentlemen, who liberally sent to to a bailiff for managing land, and rethe British Gallery (at the close of commending oxen for agricultural their Exhibition in June last) thirty purposes, in preference to horses. pictures of approved excellence, for Mr. R. Smirke, in a letter to Sir H. the study and example of the students: Englefield Bart. repeats his observaMarquis of Blandford; Earl of Dart- tions on the substances used as colourmouth; Earl of Carlisle; Earl Grosvenor; ing in the paintings found in St. Earl of Lonsdale; Earl Cowper; Lord Mel- Stephen's Chapel. Õil, it appears to bourne; Lord de Dunstanville; Lord Mr. Smirke, had it been used as a var Grantham; Sir Francis Baring, Bart.; Sir Aish; and these paintings, being exA. Hume, Bart.; Sir George Beaumont, ecuted prior to 1410, the period of Bart.; John J. Angerstein, Esq.; Samuel Whitbread, Esq. M. P.; Charles Dunthe discovery of oil-painting, it is incombe, Esq. M. P.; Philip Metcalfe, ferred, that this art may have been of Esq. M. P.; Henry Hope, Esq.; Thomas English origin; a supposition the Hope, Esq.; William Morland, Esq.; more probable, as several English Rev. William Long; and the Rev. W. H. words exist, even since the beginning of the 14th century, in which, among Upwards of an hundred Artists the articles of the materia pictoria, oil were admitted into the Gallery as for the painting of public buildings is students, seventy of whom have been enumerated. Hence it appears, that in a course of regular attendance oil, at least combined with some one during the last four months; near 150 colour, might have been used in this studies have been made out, most of country, nearly a century before the which display considerable taleut and reputed æra of the discovery of oilgenius, well deserving of the attention painting. and patronage of their countrymen, exclusive of those to which the premiums have been assigned.

Carr.

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

On the Culture of Carrots.
R. ARTHUR YOUNG, in his

This school opened on the 12th of Marmer's Calendar, has given a August last, and 106 members were admitted. Of these about 70 gave great deal of useful information conpersonal attendance: Among those cerning the mode of feeding cattle in are-Drummond, Garrard, the junior the yard with green fodder; but in Reinagle, Dawe, Milton, Green, treating of the carrot he has intirely Walker, Irvine, Sharp, Ager, Dewint, overlooked the great value of this Pugh, Arnald; with the Junior Class, most useful root. I hope you will not Consisting of Perrigal, Collins, Archer, think me intruding too much upon Mulready, and Linnell. Many of your time, if I point out to you and our fair country women have displayed the Board, its great good qualities for very great abilities; of whom 12 have feeding. My ideas are not theoretical, been admitted students, and have no as I have tried it for the last six years,

and though I was told by many people, than it has been: for I do not hesitate I was doing an injury to the carrot, I in stating, that a good crop of ten found perfectly the contrary, that I acres of carrots, by being mowed, will was doing it a great deal of good. In keep ten cows in good green fodder, the year 1800 at Bonvilstone in Gla- the months of June, July, August, morganshire, being in want of grass September, and October; then the for a little Welsh Cow, as my land root itself will be found very useful was all for hay, and having ten beds food during the winter months; so of carrots in a new garden, I had the that I really think the farmer, who tops of the carrots mowed off a little consulting bis own interest, will never, above the crown, so as not to injure after having once made a fair trial of by the scythe, the head or crown of this herb, be without it; for its richthe roots: this, I need not inform you ness causes a greater flow of milk, and was a very luxuriant food for the cow, also it creates a sweetness in the milk but I thought, and so did the servant which in general the grass, unmixed who milked the cow, that she gave with Dutch Clover, has not. The more when she had the carrot than farmer will also find that his horses she had done before. The carrot and his pigs will eat it with avidity, again yielded a fine luxuriant green and thrive well on it, as I can state head, which I treated in the same from experience. And for genmanner in October; I found, when tlemen, wishing to keep their game in the carrot was taken up, that it was nurseries; by sowing carrots round equally as large and heavy, as a bed the nursery, they will find that their which I had reserved from cutting, hares and rabbits will feed upon them was. The Gardener, who had been in preference to any other food they averse to cutting off the tops, was con- can procure them; by this means they vinced it had not injured the root, will always be at home, and not stray but thought it had benefitted it rather at a distance for their nightly prothan otherwise, as he had an oppor- vender. tunity of hoeing them and cleaning of

Yours, &c. T. ELDRIDGE.

P. B. A.

them from weeds, better than he could To Sir John Sinclair, Bart. M.P. when they had their tops on them. I am therefore convinced by experi- It may be properly added to this ence, that the agriculturist who grows communication that Mr. Lawrence, a quantity of carrots, loses a great in the Fourth Edition, p. 22, of his quantity of excellent green fodder for New Farmer's Calendar observes, "As his cattle, by not mowing the tops of a consolation to those who have land his carrots off, twice within the year. I state this to you that it may be made public, that the farmer may be benefitted by his labour to the utmost of the produce of his crop; and I trust you will, as the season for sowing is coming on, communicate it in such a manner, that this most valuable root may be better understood, and of course more cultivated by the farmer

proper for carrots, but are unable to spare quantities of dung, I must yet remark, that I have seen very good crops obtained without manure." But carrots he thinks, by themselves, ate entirely useless in fattening of pig stock, excepting perhaps in store fattening for market, which is also performed with clover; but for beef and mutton, he admits nothing is superior.

ADDITIONS TÓ, AND CORRECTIONS IN, FORMER

HE

OBITUARIES.

Mr. JOHN WALKER, whose death was a dissenting minister at Painswick in announced in Vol. viii. p. 255. Gloucestershire. Mrs. Walker not beE was born on the 18th of March, ing left in the best circumstances, 1732, at Colney Hatch, a hamlet could only bestow a common grammar in the parish of Friern Barnet. His school education upon her son. He father died while he was a child, and had made but a small progress in Laof course little is known of him. His tin, and had scarcely begun to learn mother came from Nottingham, and Greek, when it was found necessary was sister to the Rev. James Morley, that he should be put to some trade.