Nautical" as an Ephemeris for the use of astronomers being admitted by the computers, and notorious to all men of science, it is unnecessary to dwell upon them ;-one example we may, however, give, for the information of the less learned reader :

"It will be scarcely credible, that for a period of thirty years after the discovery of four new planets in our system, not the least notice, whatever, was taken of any one of them, in a work pretending to show the motions of the celestial bodies: so that no astronomer could ever tell in what part of the heavens to look for them, or make any observations to perfect their theory! And as to any knowledge he could obtain of them (from the Nautical Almanac') they might as well have been blotted out of the creation!!"-Page 4.

Mr. B. says, that even some of the common Almanacs (will it be believed? ) are greatly superior to "the Nautical," We quote, with peculiar pleasure, the following eulogium on this class of publications; concurring, as it does, with our own expressed opinions, and proceeding from the pen of a gentleman far more competent to judge of their merits than the whole host of their traducers:

"It is, I fear, too generally supposed, that these popular works are composed by men who live in garrets, and who pander to the ridiculous follies and absurd prejudices of the vulgar. This, however, is not the fact. The superintendants of some of these Almanacs are men of high character and superior attainments; who are not only desirous of improving the works placed under their direction, by introducing therein a variety of new, and scientific, and astronomical subjects, but also of removing the rubbish which annually disfigures some of their volumes. But they have the (almost?) insuperable prejudices of the vulgar to encounter; and after an ineffectual attempt at such a reformation they have been obliged to abandon it for the present; or, at least, to satisfy themselves with a gradual improvement. Nevertheless, the competition

"About nine or ten years ago, the Editors of Moore's Almanac' began this attempt by discarding the monthly column containing the Moon's supposed influence on the several members of the human body; and, as an experiment, to ascertain the feelings of the public on the occasion, printed at first only 100,000 copies. But the omission was soon detected, and nearly the whole edition was

63

between these annual productions is so great, that each is striving for improvement; and, I believe, with as much effect as the disadvantages under which they labour will allow. Even in the present state, however, I consider some of these works (and particularly' White's Ephemeris') as superior, in many respects, to the Nautical Almanac,' since they contain much information which our boasted national work does not, and will not afford; and, in some of them, it is moreover proposed, to insert in the next and subsequent volumes, the places of the four new planets !!!"

Mr. B.'s plan for remedying the defects of "the Nautical" is very simple; it is such an one as laying all scientific considerations out of the question ought to be adopted for mere economy sake:—

"I think there is no doubt but that the Stationers' Company, or some other respectable body, would gladly undertake the computation and printing of the "Nautical Almanac' (provided the copy. right were secured to them) not only free of every expence to Government, but even subject to the stamp duty, from which it is at present exempt. Let it but fairly enter into equal competition with other productions of a similar na ture, and we should, in all probability, have a work of a much superior kind to the present one; the number of its copies would be increased, and, instead of being an unnecessary and useless expense, and a disgrace to the nation, it must thus become a source of annual income; and a means of improving the science of astronomy. If the 'Nautical Almanac' were made what it ought to be, and such as the situation of this country demands, there is no doubt but that its sale might be considerably increased. It is known, that the American booksellers (who reprint that work in the United States), correspond with the German astronomers for the supply of additional matter to be inserted in the annual volumes. And what is the consequence? One bookseller, alone, (and there are several who reprint the work) sells upwards of twelve thousand copies! I

returned on their hands; and they were obliged to reprint the favourite column. The total annual sale of this work by the Stationers' Company is nearly half a million copies; besides pirated editions of about one hundred thousand copies, and two reprints of it in France--one at Boulogne, and the other at Paris!!!"

* £300 a-year is still paid for its superintendence.-EDIT.

64

believe, the total sale of the Almanac in this country never amounted to seven thousand copies.”—Page 11.

There is one particular in which the preceding suggestion may admit of amendment. Instead of the words"I think there is no doubt, but that the Stationers' Company, or some other respectable body, would gladly undertake the computation and printing," we would substitute the following:-" I think there is no doubt, there are many eminent, and perfectly responsible individuals, who would gladly undertake," &c. We have had enough, surely, of " respectable" bodies: the Board of Longitude was a "6 respectable" body, and yet it brought all this disgrace upon us; the Board of Admiralty, too, is a most " respectable" body, and yet it forgets-wilfully forgets-how much it is in duty bound to redeem the nation from that disgrace. Mr. B. says, truly, that all that is necessary to produce an Ephemeris that would be an honour to the country, is to "let it fairly enter into equal competition with other productions of a similar nature." Need we add, that the most equal of all competitions is that where individuals are concerned, and with which neither Boards, Companies, Associations, nor any thing in the nature of a Body, has any thing to do?

The interesting account with which Mr. B. concludes, of the "New Astronomical Ephemeris," published at Berlin (by M. Encke), must be read with pleasure by every lover of improvement, but not by any one who loves, at the same time, his country, without a strong mixture of mortification. It is, indeed, as

Mr. B. says, a publication" which ought to put England to shame."

Prussia, one of the least maritime countries of Europe, has conferred a service on navigation, and on nautical astronomy, which has been in vain looked for from "the Mistress of the Seas ;" and British seamen are fated to be indebted, for their ablest guide through the bewildering paths of ocean, to a people whose flag has scarcely yet penetrated beyond their own obscure shores? Such, at least, must be the case, unless the British Government shall be at last induced to provide its subjects (or to leave them at liberty to provide themselves) with an adequate Ephemeris of their own. Of the improvements most conspicuous in M. Encke's Ephemeris, Mr. Bailly gives a very minute analysis; but we must content ourselves with quoting the following general summary:

"One principle of great improvement in this Ephemeris, is the introduction of

mean solar time into all the computa⚫ tions, instead of apparent time as hi therto adopted in every other Ephemeris, except Itbat of Coimbra. The articles in the Ephemeris are also much better arranged; and the computations are more extensive, and carried to a much greater degree of minuteness than has been hitherto done in any other similar work. Many new subjects are likewise introduced; such as the places of the four new planets, a list of occultations, a list of moon culminating stars, and a variety of other important and convenient Tables, which are of constant use to the practical astronomer."-Page 19.

are

Mr. B. is not without strong hopes that the scientific and nautical] credit of country will be yet redeemed; neither we; we agree with him that "there is a sound, though not loud, that will ultimately be heard-' the still small voice' of time and reason-which sooner or later must, and will, bring about the reformation so repeatedly insisted on, and so anxiously desired, by every friend of science.",

An Essay on the Lever. By G. G. WARD, Machine-maker (which obtained one of the prizes given by Dr. Fellowes to the London Mechanics' Institution). 31 pp. 8vo. Steill.

We can merely announce this publication at present. It has been described, by the President of the Mechanics' Institution, as standing "unrivalled" as "an historical, mathematical, and practical Dissertation on the Lever ;" and demands, therefore, a close and patient investigation. We shall probably pay our

respects to it next week.

INTERIM NOTICES.

We regret having overlooked that the Election of Committee men -to which the letters of « J. C. D." and "An Operative» have reference,was so close at hand. It was our intention to give them a place; but after the 3d of March, that would have been superfluous.

We have forwarded « Mentor's" request to Mr. F.

We hope next week to be able to give the Ca talogue Raisonée, with which we have been favoured, of the different Plaus of Fire-Escape submitted to the Society for Preventing Loss of Life by Fire, with an engraving of that which has been most approved.

Communications received from J. O. B.-J. W. B.-Inquisitor-An Occasional Reader-A Con stant Reader-Henry D-; Mr. Shires-A. C. -Mr. Barnard-Omicron.

Communications (post paid) to be addressed to JOHN KNIGHT, Publisher, 55, Paternoster. Row, for the Editor.

Printed by G. Duckworth, 76, Fleet-street.

LIST OF FIRE-ESCAPES Submitted to the Society for Preventing Loss of Life by Fire, and exhibited at a Public Meeting held on the 19th February, 1829.

1. A rope made from the best brown hemp, sallied with worsted, similar to a bell-rope; having on one end a swivel spring, by which means it can be attached to a bedpost, or chest of drawers, and on the other a brass thimble, for instantly forming a noose, which is to be put under the arms. A mortice is to be made in the sill of a window, and an iron plate fixed, for receiving a cramp iron; on the top of which is a fork to receive the rope, and prevent injury in descending. There is also a friction seat attached to the rope, which enables any one, in descending, to take another in his lap. Invented by Mr. B. Rider, No. 60, Redcross-street, Borough; who descended with his daughter from the upper part of the house where the Society holds its meetings,-as did several other persons.

2. A double rope escape, invented by Mr. David Davies, No. 15, Wigmore-street, Cavendish-square.

3 A ladder escape, invented by Mr. Gregory, Bagnigge Wells Road.

Of Nos. 2 and 3 we are promised full descriptions by our esteemed correspondent, Mr. Baddeley, who pronounces them to be "most excellent ;" and shall therefore pass over, at present, what is said of them in the Society's Catalogue.

4. A sack of strong canvas, five feet long; a rope of sufficient length and strength,-say about forty yards, -one end of which is to be sewed lengthways round the sack, and to form a loop at the top; and a cricket ball, which is to be fastened to the bottom of the sack with thin cord of sufficient length,-say about twenty. five yards. Directions for Use.Throw the cricket-ball to the person to be saved; desire him to pull up the sack, and after passing the rope round the bed-post, to get into the sack, and turn out of the window. Invented by Mr. Hesse, Churchstreet, Stoke Newington. Several

successful experiments were made with this apparatus.

5. A car or basket; which is to be suspended by two chains from the houses on each side the one on fire, and drawn up to the windows by which the persons in danger are seeking to escape. Invented by Mr. Barnard.

This is the apparatus, a model of which was sent to us by Mr. Barnard, and transmitted to Mr. Hudson, as stated in "Mech. Mag.," No. 278, to which we beg to refer for a more particular description.

6. An expeditious elevator, invented by Mr. Doyle.

None of the escapes which were shown at the public exhibition seemed to give more general satisfaction than this of Mr. Doyle's. "It is constructed (we quote Mr. Doyle's own description) on the principle of the lazy tongs, having a double set of bars or levers,

connected both at the ends and centres by horizontal bolts, of the length of the machine's breadth. The ends of these bolts, which act as bracelets, to steady and keep the machine together, may be secured by forelocks and washers, or by nuts and screws. On the top course of levers there is fitted a platform or stage, properly railed round, to prevent persons on it from falling off. From one side of this platform (which is to be presented to the house on fire), is projected a bridge, or gangway, which may be lodged on the sill of a window, and by which the persons making their escape may walk to the machine. This gangway is not intended to be fitted as represented in the engraving, but by a series of smaller levers (carrying their boarding with them), presenting their edges vertically, and projected in the same manner as the machine is elevated, by a man on the platform. And in order to prevent that heavy friction which must exist in consequence of the platform's running over the connecting horizontal bolts, it is intended to apply friction rollers on them, by which the motion will be smooth and easy. The machine is elevated by means of a toothed pinion working in the teeth

of two quadrantal segments of a circle attached to the lower half of the first course of levers; one of which quadrants works on the upper, and the other on the lower part of the pinion's circumference; communicating, by this means, contrary motions. An elevating apparatus of this description is adapted to each side of the machine, and is worked by two or more men on each side, by a common winch handle. The whole is intended to be placed on a truck or other carriage, and to be drawn by men or a horse; which truck will be fitted with levelling screws, similar to those on a theodolite, or spirit level, to compensate for the unevenness of the ground, and by means of a plumb line to set the base of the machine level, and thereby insure the perpen

dicular ascent of the whole. To the carriage or truck will be fitted four strong levers, to project, at plea sure, from the sides; at the outer extremities of which there will be proportionably strong screws, working downward, to meet the earth; which, when forcibly screwed up, will increase the base of the machine, and, consequently, its stability. This arrangement, it is presumed, will do away with the possibility of its upsetting, however great the weight it may have to support, as the base may be thus extended to any proposed dimensions."

Fig. 1, on our front page, is a side view of the apparatus when out of

use.

Fig. 2, another side view, with the levers extended. Fig. 3, a front view.

This apparatus is stated to have been invented by Mr. Doyle; and no notice is taken of any other person having a claim to share in that invention. But if our readers will look back to our 247th Number (for

10th May, 1828), they will see there a description by "A Member of the Richmond Mechanics' Institution," of an apparatus invented by him, not only on a similar principle, but bearing the same name. We admit that