out of the churn, to prevent any inconvenience in taking off the butter.

When I state that the model was made by myself, without the assistance of tools necessary for the purpose, I trust it will be a sufficient excuse for the rough and clumsy manner in which it is finished. I remain respectfully, Sir, your most obedient servant, GEORGE FIRTH.

Dimensions of the churn which I first made, and

EDINBURGH, January 8. 1822.

THE Stove, of which Lord Elgin presented a model to-day to the Highland Society, as being a most economical and advantageous application of fuel, is in general use in the Netherlands. Any person visiting the field of battle of Waterloo will find one in the house of the Belle Alliance.

It consists of a small fire-place in the shape of a basket A, fig. 9. Plate VII., with open ribs all around, of about eight inches in diameter and depth, supported by three legs, and standing at some distance from the chimney. From the top of this fire-place, an horizontal flue a a, of about twelve inches wide,

and two inches depth within, extends to the chimney, to which the smoke passes through this horizontal flue.

The benefits of this application of fuel appear to be:

1st, That the fire-place by standing clear, and having ribs all around, will burn the smallest coal; or indeed whatever is combustible. Lord Elgin has seen it used at an Inn at Louvain with nothing in it but the ashes from another fire.

2d, The horizontal flue, which in general is about four feet in length, gives out a great proportion of the heat, which in ordinary fire-places escapes up the chimney.

In this flue immediately above the fire, there is an opening, which may either be kept shut by a lid b, or receive a boiler; and the flue in all its length, serves as à Carron plate, not only to the extent of its own width, but by means of side-bars c c, dishes, &c. may be kept in a more moderate heat, than directly upon the flue itself; while by other bars or shelves below it d, ovens or other dishes placed beneath it, receive more or less heat, in proportion as they are brought near to the fire-place.

In some cases the whole space beneath the fire is enclosed with bricks, forming a very convenient hot closet.

Where peat is used, it may be proper to substitute an ordinary grate with only one open front, instead of the basket fire-place, thereby mode

rating the combustion to suit the nature of that fuel.

This stove really seems to answer all the purposes of an ordinary stove, in respect to the economy of heat, while it has the great advantage and comfort of an ordinary open fire.

N. B.-In the model presented, the fire-place is out of proportion.

DESCRIPTION

OF A

MACHINE FOR SWEEPING CHIMNEYS.

By Mr JAMES WHITE, Engineer.

(Plate VII., Fig. 10, 11.)

SIR,

PERMIT

Edinburgh, 138. George Street, 23d February 1822.

ERMIT me the liberty of troubling you with a short history of my machine for sweeping chimneys, which I lately presented a model of, directed to you, for the Highland Society of Scotland.

In 1817, the London practice of sweeping chimneys by boys was expected to be abolished by a bill then about to be brought into the Commons House of Parliament. It was at that time my machine was invented, with a view to supersede the necessity of their employment.

The principles of my invention are simple. The mode of ascending of the machine is very similar to that of a boy, having levers for arms, as seen at a a fig. 11. Plate VII., and the friction of a brush for legs, b b. Two lines belong to the machine c c. By an action in the first, the levers a a open, and

VOL. VI.

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