IN obedience to the suggestions of a number of readers, we hav FAIR PLAY.-We would gladly accommodate you, but to give APPLICATIONS FOR G. GROVER.-A short description of the " Macclesfield" veloci- CHANIC. HARRY BROTHERS.-We occasionally, to oblige a correspondent, insert a query which savours of an advertisement: that is no reason we should do it in all instances. The less it is done, we admit, the better. THANKS. David Harcourt and Co. thank W. R. Rose, of Haddingham, Suffolk, for his unsolicited recommendation of their brake chain. Messrs. Harcourt's letter will be found on page 47. VIBRATOR.-The roll came by book post, but not the letter with the stamps. E. A. WITTY. A recipe for welding cast steel was given by JAMES REEVE.-Consult the back vols. of the ENGLISH ME- IGNORAMUS.- Cannot say. Write the editor of the journal in W. H. P.-Instructions for re-gilding picture frames were ERRATUM.-In No. 260, Query No. 2116, in second line, for SPOILED BEAUTY.-From your handwriting we think you F. J. T.-Nothing new. Z.-See advertisement pages. are POOR BILLY.-Numerous "Selections from the Poets E. H. AVIS. Give the information through our columns. E. LETHBRIDGE.-The fault is in your indistinct writing. J. W. KASEL-First question recently; the second we cannot insert. G. W. PALMER.-Forwarded. CASUAL OBSERVER.-Box Tunnel, we think. A. B. C.-Ask any eagraver. J. CROMPTON.-Send it to the watch doctor. A YOUNG ENGINEER.-Inquire of a friend. SHOREDITCH.-The challenge made by Mr. John Hampden, of Swindon, was accepted by Mr. Alfred Wallace, F.R.G.S.; but when it will be decided we cannot tell. LEES.-No charge for inserting "Queries." A WELL-WISHER.-We are somewhat surprised that you W. RICE. You enclosed no stamps. AN OLD SUBSCRIBER.-You cannot be, or you would have know, that the wheel question was discussed ad nauseum, a few months since. THE 749. W. Husband, Hayle, atmospheric stamps and hammers. 751. R. Winstanley and Barker. Manchester, excavating coal. 754. G. Brown, Glasgow, velocipedes, 755. W. H. Samuel, Liverpool, friction lights. 756. R S. Prowse, Liverpool, hand trucks. 757. F. Pattison, blackening (for foundry purposes). 759. J. C. Atkin, Deeley, and Newbery, of Sheffield, furnaces. 761. J.C. Ramsden, Bradford, looms. 762. J H. Johnson. 47, Lincoln's-Inn fields, apparatus for go- 767. P. W. Spencer. Raygill, York, gentleman, limekilns. 770. W. D. Newton, 66, Chancery-lane, improvements in gun 772. R. Tonge, Minchester, improvements in looms: 775. G. Holdsworth, Halifax, producing drawings or designs upon 779. J. C. Mewburn, 172. Fleet-street, apparatus for raising and 780. J. T. Walker, Albany, U.S., making horseshoes, 781. W. R. Lake, Southampton Buildings, London, forming waggons. 784. J. H. Johnson, 47, Lincoln's Inn-fields, construction of 785. F. Virtue, Liverpool Oil Mills, Liverpool, hydraulic presses. 789. T. Williams, 1, Brunswick-street, Hackney-road, sewing machines. 790. J. Pinchbeck, 27, Leadenhall-street, London, water tube boilers. 791. G. De Lavigne, Paris, applying cork for protection from caloric. 792. W. E. Jedge, 11, Wellington-street, Strand, damping woven 793. F. A. Barrow, Glasgow, recovering reagents from oil. 795, E. R. Southby, Shotts, Lanark, distilling crude mineral oils. 798. J. Davis and W. N. Davis, Hemel Hempstead, two furrow 799. C. H. Rost, Dresden, washable papers. 800, T. J. Smith, Robertson, Brooman, and Company, 166, Fleetstreet, apparatus for holding stamps for office and general uses.A communication. 801. S. Perkins, Gorton, improvements in steam boilers, 80%. C. Janicot, Paris, producing photographic pictures on fabrics. 804. W. West, Leeds, boilers and apparatus for generating steam 807. . White, 68. Queen-street, Cheapside, an improved propeller. for an invention of limekilna.-A communication. 809 J. M. Napier, York-road, Lambeth, apparatus for running 810. Sir W. Fairbairn, Manchester, steam boilers. 814. W. Guest, Great Saffron-hill, Farringdon-road, ropes, co rds 815. A M Strathern, Coatbridge, apparatus for getting minerals, and for compressing air. 816. T. Keely. Nottingham, looped fabrics. 817. S. Norris, Paris, wood paving. 818. J. Hockey, 187, Carlton-road, Kilburn, ventilating lights. 819. G. W. Fox, Manchester, medicinal oils. 820. W. A. Lyttle, Hammersmith, wheels, 821. W. R. Lake, Southampton Buildings, London, machinery for 822. B. Wade, Copley, signals and brakes for railways. 824. G. Weedon, Gracechurch-street, knife-cleaning machines. pener. VERBUM EST VERBUM, takes us to task for alluding to E. G. says, "I am heartily glad to welcome beck the 'Har- W. WEBBER says, "What an exquisitely happy illustration, that about the beautiful little girl selling bricks and the Temple of Knowledge! I will endeavour to send you a brick now and then." Thanks. EARLY RISER-Had you consulted the last index, you might have saved yourself the labour of writing. THE ENGLISH MECHANIC LIFE-BOAT Amount previously acknowledged Marine Brightonian... W. H. W. H. E., Bath G. Read Caution 826. C. J. H. Warden, Aldridge-road-villas, Bayswater, securing 827. R. F. Fairlie, Victoria Chambers, Westminster, wheels for rail or tramway engines. 828. J. Stirling, Kilmarnock, railway brakes. 829. J. Ferris. Leyton, improved lubricating apparatus. 832. J. Millar, Dalry, motors for obtaining and transmitting motive power. 833. S. Brooke, Brighouse, carding engines, 834. A. V. Newton, 66, Chancery-lane, manufacturing barrels.A communication. 835. J. Ascough, Handsworth, candles. 836. G. Skey, Tamworth, gas purifiers and scrubbers. 837. W. R. Lake, Southampton buildings, London, wheels for 838. A. Barlow, Strand, jacquard mechanism for weaving. PATENTS BEING PROCEEDED WITH 3216. P. and A. Walker, an improved gas meter. 3231. A. Bohlken, terriers or ground augers. 3232. E. Thomas, safety lamps. 3. W. Donbavand, balances, 3251. G. Simpson, withdrawing beverages from casks, 3274. W. E. Gedge, a new composition for preserving metal.-A communication. £161 18 7 3261. B. Shaw, cutting soap. 1 6 1 0 2 6 3271. H. Minns, letter pillar posts. 3263. A. C. Brakell, obtaining and applying motive power. 1 0 828. W. Richardson, valves. 164 6 1 3275, W. E. Gedge, machino for cutting wood and metala. 3283. H. H. Grierson, cutting or dressing stone. 3292, C. D. Abel, refining and desilvering lead.-A communication. 3317. E. Bazin, spinning looms. 3321. G. Baron d'Adelsward, blast furnaces. 3344. C. D. Abel, utilising streams, springs, lakes, ponds, surface waters as motive power. 3399. M. Henry, moving railway carriages and other heavy bodie from place to place. 3411. T. Brown, boring rocks.-A communication. 3127, J. Brunton, railway signals. 3491. J. H. Johnson, spring mattresses.-A communication. 3518, W. R. Lake, harness for draught animals. 3521. J. L. Booth, rails for railroads, 3552. A. M. Clark, ornamenting figured muslin and gauze fabrics A communication. 3556. H. Byk, refining and bloaching paraffine. 3582, W. E. Newton, folding printed sheets. 3697. W. R. Lake, manufacture of steel bars.-A communies tion. 3718. C. H. Roeckner, disintegrating wood. 3725. A, M. Clark, curtains and blinds. 58. R. Morris treating shoddy to obtain ammonia. 116. T. Restell, breech-loading arms and cartridges. 229. G. A. Buchholz, manufacturing semolina and flour." 281. C. Mahler, improved windmill." 371. A. B. Childs, cleaning scouring, and decorticating wheat. 492. E. Hill. engine turning or engraving. 521. G. H. Ellis, washing, wringing, and mangling. $56. W. B. Leachman, hydraulic apparatus for raising water. 576. R. J. Westley, billiard and other tables. 592. A. V. Newton, sewing machines. 600. B. G. George, ornamental and other designs and devices 623. R. B. Boyman, propelling vessels. 665. E. Wood, and H. Boghill, potters' glazes. 683. J. Polson, treating grain. 690. C. Wyndham, bicycles. 744. W. R. Lake, apparatus for indicating a deficiency of water in steam boilers. All persns having an interest in opposing any one of such appli cation e at liberty to leave particulars in writing of their objec tion such application at the office of the Commissioners before the 1th of April, 1870. PATENTS SEALED. 2738 C. E. Schoeller, copying presses 2744 J. Jacobi, removing phosphates from ores 2752 R. R. Gibbs, improvements in pumps 2755 C. L. Light, construction of tram-rails 2757 W. R. Lake, sewing machine and other needles 2761 W. J. Turner, manufacturer of bisulphites 2780 G. A. C. Bremme, untwisting and unlaying shreads, yarns, strands, ropes 2779 R. Collis, velocipedes 2788 J. T. Gaze and J. Hymas, fire bars 2790 J. P. Turner, in buckles or fastenings 2301 F. W. Fox and E. Walker, engines and their boilers. 2818 C. D. Abel, a new green colouring matter for dyeing and printing 2824 A. V. Newton, horse-shoe nails 2860 W. Edmonson, machinery for etching 2874 G. Rose, construction of annealing pots 2916 W. E Newton, wheel for propelling ships 3242 J. Logan and W. Gardner, ornamenting textile fabrics 3538 C, Vavin, separating metals and magnetic substances from 72 C. D. Abel, treatment of cast-iron for production of castings 2'1 J. H. Johnson, applying anti-friction rollers to wheels 261 W, R. Lake, mechanism for spinning wool 279 W. R. Lake, apparatus for producing rotary motion 282 F. Claudet, treatment of cupreous ores containing silver 2773 J. Mackenzie, weighing machines 2776 J. E. Hewett, designs on metal surfaces 2778 W. Strang, preparing warps for the loom 2795 J. Stuart, treatment of ores 2942 A. H. Brandon, improved means of locomotion 3394 J. Dunkerley, machinery for planking" bodies of hats, 3476 A. R. Henderson, apparatus for shearing or clipping animals 3754 W. R. Lake, improvements in sectional steamboats 123 A. Courvoisier, improvements in double-faced watches 141 T. Peard, for adjusting and securing knobs of locks 256 A. W. G. Weeks, G. Deal, G. Lilly white, and A. O. Launders, 259 E. S. Cathels, apparatus for manufacture of gas, part also ap plicable for ventilating mines, promoting combustion, and pumping, measuring, and forcing fluids 321 W. R. Lake, improvements in machines for mowing graSS PATENT ON WHICH THE STAMP DUTY OF £50 HAS 755 W. R. Lake, improvements in rotary engines and pumps 883 E. B. Bigelow, looms for weaving 768 T. Shedden, fire-arms 776 F. H. Wenham, heated air engines 789 C. Allhusen, obtaining sulphur from pyrites 797 W. McAdam and S. Schuman, protecting bottles 818 H. Clifton, improvements in refrigerators 822 J. A. Limbert, lowering, and moving heavy bodies 837 J. Lawson, spinning flax, tow, hemp, and other fibres 755 W. R. Lake, improvements in rotary engines and pumps 1049 W. T. Henley, machinery for the manufact ire and treat- 1128 W. Weild, machine for winding yarn or thread PATENTS ON WHICH THE STAMP DUTY OF £300 HAS 719 W. Symington, apparatus for roasting and treating coffee and 717 G. De Laire, improvements in the manufacture of brows colouring matters 739 A. Morel, apparatus for generating carbonic acid S * The English Mechanic AND MIRROR OF SCIENCE AND ART. ON CHEMICAL SYMBOLS. CHAPTER I. ON looking back to the days of the alchemists, when the great search for the philosopher's stone was being made, among a confused heap of retorts, alembics, crucibles, and other pieces of laboratory apparatus used in early scientific research, may often be seen figured a chart, covered with mystic signs. These signs, which are seldom alluded to in modern chemistry, are, in fact, the forefathers of our present symbolic notation. Our predecessors, with a view no doubt to keep their science to themselves, invented these mystic formula, although we must allow them one point-viz., that it might have been for the purpose of abbreviation. The time for these mystic symbols has for ever gone, and the f ct of their existence seems nearly to have gone too, no one expressing a wish that they should ever return. Some of the forms are very peculiar, and are characteristic of the age from which they sprung; others are extremely simple, consisting only of straight line or circles, though members of this latter class are but very few. Each compound had its respective symbol, as well as each metal, for in those days the metals were supposed to be composed of a calx with a subtle body which was termed phlogiston. It is curious and exceedingly interesting to read of the experiments made by the alchemists Fe; 11 was that used for lead; 12, salammoniac, Before the time of Bergman, Kirwan, and Wenzel, the symbols used had no quantitative signification, and in fact, during their time the theory was not developed. About the year 1804, Dalton, of Manchester, gave forth to the world his celebrated atomic theory. Dalton's theory is too well known to require explanation, but it may be necessary to state that he proposed a series of table of atomic weights, 100 parts of silver would unite with 7 of oxygen; therefore 100 would be the atomic weight of silver. These numbers, it will be seen, are inexact, but the study was then only in its infancy; 1 part of hydrogen unites with 8 of oxygen; and the quantity of silver required for those 8 parts of oxygen should be 108. Berzelius greatly improved the formulæ of Dalton; he introduced the system of using the initial letter of the element, giving up entirely the use of the circle; Dalton's formule for carbonic acid, sulphuric acid, and water, would then become CO,,SO,, and #HO. The system was accepted as an improvement, but Berzelius considered that hydrogen, nitrogen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, phosphorus, arsenic, and certain of the metals could not exist as a single atom, but existed in the form of double atoms, the symbols for which he wrote with a bar, being equivalent to two single atoms of hydrogen; but he also made use of a farther abbreviation; instead of writing O to signify oxygen, he added a dot to the symbol of the element which was united with it; therefore represented water, 8`was sulphuric acid, and C signified carbonic acid. The quantitative signification of the symbols of Berzelius, with one or two exceptions, are the same as those now in use, but his formula did not exist for long; the double atoms were insurmountable obstacles, and to the chemists of the time, the simple atomic formula of Dalton was much preferable to the more complicated notions of Berzelius. Had he rejected the idea of double atoms, the system which was so much in accordance with the experiments of Gay Lussac, and the law of Ampère, might have been more generally adopted. After being in use for a period of about twenty years, it fell into disuse, atoms and double atoms being entirely superseded by equivalents. Water was written HO because was the smallest proportion of oxygen that would enter into the composition of water by combining with 1 of hydrogen. The reader will say, perhaps, when he knows in former days, to prove theories, incorrect, and formula which differed greatly from that already that most of the atomic weights were fixed by was in use. He proposed to use circles to represent The following are some specimens of Dalton's Ө 4 Berzelius, How was it that the weights found by him, the products of a long life of study, were perverted, and the fruit of his labours used to perfect the views of others? This arose from the adoption of the double atoms, and caused other chemists to divide them or rather their numbers, and of course the numbers of the other atoms which entered into combination with them. the existence of substances which indeed had 2 3 о These are only a few from a large number of The atomic weights, as we have seen before are, with one or two exceptions, identical with those of Berzelius, and the reader will no doubt ask why we have gone back to the views of that great chemist. Gerhardt in studying organic structure noticed that organie compounds when oxidised and entirely split up into carbon dioxide and water, yielded always two equivalents, the fact of one equivalent proceeding from an equivalent proceeding from an equivalent of an organic compound being positively unknown; his opinion was that as one equivalent of the organic body, gave, always, two equivalents of carbonic acid, it were better to regard the 12 parts of carbon which existed in the 44 parts of carbonic acid as 1 atom and not 2 equivalents, the atomic weights of carbon and oxygen would then become 12 and 16 respectively. These were the weights originally assigned to the above elements by Berzelius, but the Ampère's law states that in equal volumes of gases under the same temperature and pressure exist an equal number of atoms, and likewise in equal volumes of the compound gases under similar circumstances exist an equal number of molecules; therefore, if 2 volumes of hydrogen unite with 1 volume of oxygen, it must be in proportion of 2 atoms to 1. terror for him. All imaginary terrors have been formula of this latter chemist was in many cases Dulong and Petit found that by multiplying the specific heat of an element by its atomic weight, that a nearly constant number was obtained-namely, 65, and the atomic weights of the new system are in accordance with their experiments; thus the specific heat of mercury is 003247, and this multiplied by 200 (the atomic weight) gives 6:494, a number which nearly proaches the average 65. The specific heat of Bver is 005701, and this multiplied by the atomic weight gives a result which is rather lower than the last, 0.05701 x 1086-157. All the solid elements conform to this law, with the exception of several of the metalloids, carbon, silicium, &c. The graphite form of carbon, to conform to the law, ought to possess an atomic weight of over 30. The following table will show at a glance the atomic weights corresponding to the different systems. The compounds introduced by Dalton are intentionally omitted, as the reader well knows that in Dalton's time, the alkalies and the alkaline earths were supposed to be elements, but Lavoisier's theory of salts was that they were composed of an acid and a metallic oxide, therefore potash and soda were long suspected, and after the isolation of potassium by Davy, the metals of the alkaline earths were soon obtained. Only a few instances are given, the whole number of the elements occupying too much space, and those elements which are marked with an asterisk indicate Berzelius's double atoms: 32 Oxygen Nitrogen 175-16* 14 14 Carbon 75.12 12 12 Sulphur Silver.. Ag 100 108 65.2 207 In our next chapter we will consider the application of formule to molecular grouping. (To be continued.) HALLEY'S COMET. BY "OMICRON." will return again in the year 1758." Continued researches and calculations confirmed Halley in his supposition, and his tone grew proportionately more decided. No means then existed for computing the effect of the planetary perturbations, but he sagaciously concluded from an examination of the general derangement from planetary perturbation, that the comet would be retarded in its next approach to perihelion, and that in consequence it would not be visible till the end of 1758 or the beginning of 1759. "Wherefore," says this illustrious astronomer, "if it should return agreeably to our prediction, impartial posterity will not refuse to acknowledge that this was first discovered by an Englishman." Nor has any ever ventured to attack the merit of the discovery, or attempt to detract from the glory that is due to Dr. Halley for the perseverance displayed in grasping a subject which involved such an immense amount of calculation. He assures us that his labours were "prodigiously " long and troublesome, but they have shed immortal honour on the enterprising calculator, and his discovery forms an epoch, and not an unimportant one, in the history of astronomy. As the time, when the next return of the comet was expected, approached, intense interest was awakened in the minds of astronomers, although the task of computing the exact date of return does not seem to have been willingly assumed by anyone, owing to the immense amount of labour it must necessarily entail. We have seen, that at the time of Halley's prediction, mathematical analysis was not sufficiently far advanced to enable anyone to compute the effect of planetary perturbation upon the comet, and in the middle of the eighteenth century imperfect methods rendered this a task of great difficulty. The attempt, however, was made by Clairant, and it has fully deserved the applause it has received. To anyone not versed in calculations, there may not appear any difference in computing the perturbations of a planet and those of a comet, since both derive their derangement from the true ellipse described round the sun, from the same cause, and that the solution of the problem can be effected by expressing the effect of the disturbing forces, by the variation of the arbitrary constants that enter into the formula of elliptic motion. The differential variations of each of the elements of the orbit can be determined by this means, but in order to obtain the elements of the motion of the comet in its disturbed orbit, the integration of these formulæ is necessary, and this integration involves an immense amount of difficulty and labour, of which we will say more bereafter. Euler, had not yet published his 0-583 general theory of the variation of elements, although it was written, and Lagrange's memoir on the same subject was not produced till some years afterwards, so that Clairaut was in pohis lunar theory. For the calculation theresession only of the methods he had employed in fore of the comet's perturbation, Clairaut sets out with the same differential equation for the reciprocal of the radius vector, which till within a short time has been universally adopted in lunar theories. Taking the solution (which can be expressed by elliptic terms, and terms dependunder one ing upon the disturbing force 62 Ret. The general elements are pretty closely analogous, orbit extending through 1809 of eccentric anomaly, Clairaut was obliged to employ the method of quadratures. We do not propose to follow Clairaut throughout his elaborate investigation; the subject of cometary perturbation is fertile one, and at no very distant epoch, with the permission of the Editor, may be treated separately. The interval between the two first is therefore 76 years 53 days, and between the second pair only 74 years 283 days, leaving a difference of fifteen months between the two consecutive times of revolution. But Halley was sufficiently acquainted with the general theory of perturbation, to know, or at least to surmise, that the influence sign of integration), he rejects everything of the planets might be such as to cause such a depending on the square of the disturbing difference. He shrewdly remarked that the in- force, and transforms the expressions into others fluence of Jupiter on Saturn was capable of in terms of the eccentric anomaly. He also varying its period 13 days, and that under certain employs, for a time, the same expression as that circumstances this variation might amount to a in his lunar theory, transformed in a similar month. Halley's memorable prediction is con- manner. Notwithstanding, for a part of the tained in the following words: "Nothing seems to contradict this my opinion, except the inequality of the periodic revolutions, which inequality is not so great neither, as that it may not be owing to physical causes; for the motion of Saturn is so disturbed by the rest of the planets, especially Jupiter, that the periodic time of that planet is uncertain for some whole days together. How much more, therefore, will a comet be subject to such like errors, which rises almost four times higher than Saturn, and whose velocity, though increased but a very little, would be sufficient to change its orbit from an elliptical to a parabolical one? This, moreover, confirms my opinion of its being the same comet that ir the year 1456, in the summer time, was seen passing retrograde, between the earth and the awaken a feeling of terror and a sense of coming sun, much after the same manner; which, though which was that I contracted an ill ess, which evil, but to the astronomer of the present day, its nobody made observations upon it, yet, from its appearance excites a sensation of triumph and of period and the manner of its transit, I cannot pride. However terrific their appearance, how- think different from those I have just now menever startling their brilliancy, they possess notioned. Hence I dare venture to foretell that it IN N every age of the world, and in every region of it, there has been noticed among the fixed and regular constellations, a class of phenomena that has arrested the wandering attention of the uninterested spectator, as much by the brilliancy as by the irregularity of its appearance. To this phenomenon has been applied the term "comet from the Greek KoμETES, as the ancients imagined a resemblance between the train of light that occasionally accompanies this phenomenon and dishevelled hair. In days of superstition and astrology, the sight of a comet was sufficient to The whole labour of this important investigation was borne by Clairant, Lalande, and a lady by the name of Madame Lepaute, who appears to have rendered very material assistance. Lalonde in his "Theorie du Mouvement des Comètes," has given us a graphic account of the labour involved. "During six months," he remarks, "we calculated from morning till night, sometimes even at meals, the consequence of changed my constitution for the remainder of my life. The assistance rendered by Madi me Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society," vol. 4. Lepante was such, that without it we never of time in the perihelion passage would not have THE EAR-ITS USES AND ABUSES. WE On the 14th of November, 1758, Clairaut announced to the French Academy of Sciences, the memorable conclusion that was the result of. such enormous labour. E are all familiar with the fact that sound He declared that the effect of Jupiter, would be to delay the perihelion comes better through water; a musical passage by the enormous amount of 518 days, box placed on a tumber of water sounds far louder and that Saturn would further cause it to be re-than on a table. We doctors use the stethoscope, tarded by 100 days, the whole effect would be or chest tube, with our patients because it contherefore about 20 months, and Clairaut fixed ducts to the ear sounds that we would otherwise the perihelion passage to take place on the 13th of April, 1759. Great curiosity prevailed as the be in ignorance of. The smitten tuning fork time approached, and intense interest was excited gives a feeble sound until it is placed on a solid in the hope of the verification of the prediction. body; what, then, more probable that these mysAll doubt as to the identity of the comet with terious parts of the ear, of which we know but previous apparitions was removed, so far as the little, aid in multiplying sounds, and may, by disscientific world was concerned, but some appre-eased conditions of body, be altered, giving us the hension was felt lest circumstances should be unfavourable to a perception of the phenomenon. well-known deafness of the typhus fever, or the "We cannot doubt," observed Lalande, in 1757, exalted hearing of cerebral conditions? "that it will return: and even if astronomers should In molluscs, or the the mussel tribe, in annelids not see it, they will not be the less persuaded of (leech tribe), and also in cephalopods (or the cuttle its return. They know that the faintness of its fish tribe) the granular vibratory bodies above light, and its great distance, perhaps even bad weather, may keep it from our view, but the public spoken of are found. Insects, moreover, says will find it difficult to believe us; they will put Carpenter, are capable of attracting each other by this discovery which has done so much honour the noises they make, although the organs of to modern philosophy, among the number of pre-hearing cannot be discovered, and the strong tions spring up again in the colleges, contempt among the ignorant, terror among the people, and seventy-six years will elapse, before there will be another opportunity of removing all dictions made at hazard. We shall see disserta doubt." Lalande's fears were not realised. Om Christ mas Day in the year 1758, a farmer and amateur astronomer, named Palitzch, living near Dresden, first perceived the comet in a telescope of eight feet focal length, aided by his powerful sight. It has been said that: Palitzch perceived the comet with his naked eye,, at a time when it was invisible to every European astronomer, assisted by their telescopes, but the Baron de Zach has corrected this error, and appears to have been personally acquainted with this diligent observer of the heavens. Palitzch saw the comet again on the 26th of December; and on the 28th of December it was detected by Dr. Hoffmann, Messier, "the comet ferret" as he has been styled, had been looking out for the comet for two and a half years previously, instigated by Delisle, who was then the director of the Paris Observatory, but notwithstanding his long and diligent search he was one of the last to detect it, owing to the weather being unfavourable for observation. Messier detected the comet on the 21st of January in the following year, and observed it regular y for the next three weeks ensuing. Delisle would not allow Messier to give notice to the astronomers of that city, that the long expected body was in sight, and he remained the only observer before the comet was lost in the sun's rays. Such a discreditable and selfish con cealment of an interesting discovery, is not likely to sully again the annals of astronomy. Some members of the French Academy looked upon Messier's observations, when published as forgeries but his name stood too high for such imputations to last long, and the positions were soon received as authentic, and have been of great service in correcting the orbit of the comet at the last return. A discussion of these observations would show that the perihelion passage took place on the 12th of March, just one mouth previous to the date fixed by Clairaut, but we should have said that at the time Clairaut made his prediction to the French Academy, he pointed out, that, having been pressed for time he had neglected various small quantities, depending upon the perturbations of the Earth, Mars, &c., which might exercise an influence one way or the other, to the amount of a month, so that his prediction really was within the limit of time he had allowed him self, and if we consider that the received values of Jupiter and Saturn were very much in error, and that the existence of Uranus and Neptune was not even su pected, we must allow very grea: praise to the accuracy to which Clairaut was able to bring his investigation. Laplace has shown that if the mass of Saturn had been as well known to Clairaut, as it was in his time, the error "Hind on Comets." assiduous, at length entered the University, obtained his degree, and became no longer the "idler about town," but one of God's ministers, and the deepest pang that good man ever felt was a retrospect of the misspent past. The pernicious example of such an idler is baneful to hundreds, his influence, like that of the good, is far and wide. Can you or I tell the good that a single number of the ENGLISH MECHANIC can accomplish -No! but I tell you what we can do our best to help. A kind word or look may keep some one within the path of duty, and men will be is not of earth, and there is a prospect at the forced to say, "Here is an influence at work that end of the path giving us such light and comfort that our hearts are warmed, and open to the wayworn and toil crossed at our side." We think only of the help from hand to hand, and if the recipent is surprised that good comes without either motive or reward, he believes, that the way of the world is not so, and the gift is God-sent. of the ear. Truly it has been a long-suffering Now let us have a word or two about the abuses organ. The armamentarium medicum that old ladies had in reserve was fearful! Each possessed her peculiar "leperons distilment," which, prothat she carried her medications in a girdle near ducible at a moment's notice, led to the supposition of access. First in the armoury came a pewter syringe, large enough to shoot a fly, and which boys used to look upon as a special perquisite, a weapon of surprise for their sisters in every nook good nor harm, unless you pricked the unlucky and corner. These spray producers did neither analogy of the case leads almost to certainty, wight in his ear-passage with the point of the although demonstration may be impossible. A pewter and startled him into an attitude of comspecial organ in spiders has not been discovered, bativeness. Worse, far worse, was in store for you but the story of the imprisoned if your ear ached. Laudanum, one of the least cer quoted offensive of the compounds, hot oil and laudanum, gives no doubt on that score. In man the organ oil of cloves, vinegar and cayenne pepper, cloves of hearing is amplified into a perfect ear, and as of garlic, and roasted onion, may be taken as we go down the scale of creation all manner of samples; in fact, anything the druggist recommenmodifications are found; each and all apportioned ded was safe to have a trial. Leeches, tartar emetic by a beneficent Creator to the diverse existence of then runnings from the ear were common enough, ointment, savin ointment, were mild agents, and the being. The nervous supply of the ear is one traceable, as a surety, to these female meof the mighty problems that baffle the perse- diciners and their male coadjutors, whose verance of anatomists, nor can the microscope only authority was the recipe book (that valuinvade the subtile mystery. The auditory nerve able relic),, or the equally incontrovertible is connected and interlaced with so many others, authority comprehended in the ipse dixit of that compound or complex actions arise which we have been rank heresy to reject. More fashionable your grandmother, or her dame, which it would recognise only in their results, but cannot unravel. days arrived, and people, ashamed of folly, coated Man has wearied himself over the problem, and it with mystery. Black wool was inserted, prois apparently as far as ever from the solution; the cured possibly for gold, and cut by a cuaning day may arrive when the Creator will permit moon, from the head of a two-year-old ram, woman "in the mysterious light of the young light to penetrate the mystery of brain action, midway "between the horn and the leg." Fairies and the convolutions of grey and white may un- were perhaps invoked for its safe keeping, the fold their meaning, but the territory of mind and fortunate possessor withdrew it with an air of matter as it exists in our brain-case, seems to be solemnity, which seemed to say: You do not beyond: man's reach; the one may be shattered, know its virtues" leastways they were 'id,” the other spoiled, and we become mere examples like the money of Tenneyson's Northern Farmer, of animal life, wrecked and helpless, on the whose scion committed the awful wrong of being shores of Time. A slight blow, a terrible shock, "sweet upo' parson's lass." If you had the temerity may send the throne of man, his ever-busy brain, to ask the sheepish owner what the product was, reeling in the dust, and small may be the interval there was such a hemming and hawing, preceeding between the kingly state of a Nebuchadnezzar the "Don't know" (which in plain unvarnished and the grovellings of lowest life. Such is often, English was a lie) that the fool blushed to the aye, I might say an everyday result, of grasping eyes, and anywhere that blushes could go. On and unsated ambition, or the reckless victim of another occasion you found some of your gaiety, or the worse slave of lust, whether of the respected relations with their heads encased in a world, the eye, the flesh, or the pride of life; pillow-shaped concern, looking uncommonly wet powers sacrificed, alienation of useful faculties, and uncomfortable, not taking their ease for talents thrown away, souls perilled, if not lost. certain in this pillow of home-grown camomiles These are the means and ways by which our luna- and bruised poppy head, heightened into activity tic asylums are filled-vessels, I might compare by a little medication poured near the seat of them to, freighted for the green hills far away, pain, "but it didn't do no good," and the light of unsatisfied with the daily manna of a blessed con- our grandmother (God bless her!) died out in a tentment, fretting their lives against a cage of proper way, and we are forced by way of epitaph, to their own making, dying of unrest, deprived even say, "They did their best, angels could do no more.', of the stimulus of a purpose, they have their use, Now people are wiser, they respect the argumentum but it is as beacons to warn the thoughtful among ad hominem, but they keep it at a respectful the crowd not to speed, for the very life of them, distance. Hardly anyone in those days had seen after illusions and shadows that may be touched the drum of the ear in the living, although some but never grasped. Why is it that so many fail must have been ac uated by curiosity. The silver in life? Because they are not in earnest. You speculum was not divined, or the lamp of Avery, rarely see a man with any measure of success who or the contrivance of Brunton, means for casting has not made it for himself. I remember once the glowing beam into the dark recess. Illuminameeting with a very excellent man, who, in early tion then was contined to the monks, but in these life, up to two or five-and-twenty, had been days of endoscopes, laryngoscopes, and ophthal living a useless existence, "lying on his oars." moscopes, we can see in the living what our He had the ability, as the result proved, but pre- fathers little dreamt of, and in a generation ferred to bury his talent in the earth. A true or so to come the readers of the existing friend one day accosted him and said, "How long serials will think us as great fools as we are you going to continue this kind of existence, sometimes consider Our respected ancestors: do you ever intend to be in carnest?" The-who, however, manag d to live longer, and kept young man felt the rebuke just; and went home. better order, when life was less sacred than now, He that day to k to his Latin grammar, became and crime had a show of modesty. A MOST EFFICIENT LATHE. it may justly be considered the most complete] fortunate very few who can afford such costly amateur lathe in existence. It is capable, we apparatus, or as illustrating the perfection to believe, of efficiently performing all, or very which the lathe can be advanced, but also as WE illustring to fitus Salt, Esq., of Saltaire, nearly all the operations that can be accomplished guides in constructing any apparatus for execu- near Bradford, who kindly furnished us with |