truction) for any subsequently liberated type to reach the goal before it.

So much being premised as to the general construction of the machine, let us now suppose that it is to be set to work. The first thing to be attended to is to see that the channels are all duly and proportionally filled. This is done by boys, who set a quantity of each letter up in wooden sticks, (a process exactly similar to that followed in type-foundries) and transfer them from the sticks to the channels-the former part of which operation they do with astonishing rapidity. A machine in constant work will require the services of two boys for this purpose. The channels being filled, and the compositor seated at the instrument, she (for in the case of the machine exhibited it is a young lady who officiates,) begins with repeating on the keys the letters of the manuscript before her; and, as she depresses the keys one after another, she sends corresponding letters down to the receiving-spoutthe action of the levers on the columns of type being so adjusted that only one type can be detached at a time. The spout is curved downwards towards its termination for about 10 or 12 inches, and when the machine commences work, is filled with quadrats the whole length of such curve, which serve as a support for the letters to fall on, till a sufficient number of letters have accumulated to furnish an abutment for those which follow. Each type as it reaches the termination of the straight part of the spout is pressed forward by a small vibrating beater acted upon by an eccentric, which is put in motion by a small train of wheels driven by a boy. From the spout the types are passed forward along a horizontal brass rail, to the justifying box, where they are placed in lines, and spaced out, or, as it is technically called, justified, by an assistant composer. This justifying box answers in every respect to the ordinary composing-stick, and is used with equal, if not greater facility. When the proper number of lines have been justified, they are taken out and placed in a galley, in the same way exactly as a composing-stick is usually emptied. With the subsequent process of imposing,

or arranging the set-up matter in chases for printing from, the present invention does not interfere.

After types have been printed from, the present practice is for the compositor to distribute them, that is, return them to their original repositories in the case at which he stands; but with the machine the task of distribution is performed by two boys, while two others, as before stated, are occupied in setting the types in lines with which they fill the different channels.

The number of persons required to work a machine is seven altogether; namely, one to play the keys, another to justify, a third to work the eccentric movement, two to supply the channels, and two to distribute; and it is herein at first sight that the machine suffers most in comparison with the ordinary mode of composition by a single hand. Of these seven persons, however, two are females, and five very young boys; and they can set up, after three months' practice only, 6000 types an hour, while a good compositor cannot in the ordinary way, set up on an average more than 1700. The seven female and infant hands, therefore, do the work of at least three able-bodied men, and in consequence of requiring less wages, the average cost per thousand (brevier) is only twopence, which is at least one-half less than the most ordinary book-work can now be done for with the help of apprentices.

But when the young women employed in playing the keys and justifying, have acquired the greater dexterity which length of practice alone can give, we make no doubt that they will be able to set a great many more than 6000 types an hour, The labour, too, of the boy employed in working the eccentric may be wholly saved; for he does nothing which might not be equally well performed by a pedal movement, acted on by the person who plays the keys, (after the manner of the old spinning-wheel,) or by connecting the eccentric movement by means of a band, to the steam engine (where one is employed to work the press, as is now so usually the case.) The maker of the machine now exhibiting in Chancery-lane, is Mr. J. G. Wilson, of Clerkenwell, and to the assistance

VOL. III.

36

which the patentees have derived from his skill and ingenuity, much of the perfection at which they have recently arrived is, we understand, owing. The cost of a machine is about 100/., in addition to which the patentee propose to charge a small sum annually for licence to use it.

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(MECHANICS' MAGAZINE.)

NEW METHOD OF HATCHING GAME, AND WHICH MAY BE APPLIED TO THE HATCHING CHICKENS, &C., AT ANY SEASON.

It is a trite proverb that there is nothing new under the sun, but we think that the sporting world will acknowledge that there is some novelty in an apparatus intended to Hatch and Rear Game by means of hot water; and is so very simple in its construction and mode of operation that a person of the most ordinary capacity may attend to it with perfect safety, and it occasions but very little trouble.

It is small, circular in form, will occupy a very small space, and may be moved about at pleasure. Its size is about thirty inches in diameter and twenty-four inches in height, but it can be made much smaller, and will hatch from about eighty to one hundred and twenty pheasants' eggs at one time.

It is composed of an outer case, and cover of iron japanned and zinc and copper, and is therefore very durable. The interior arrangement consists of a zinc boiler, containing the hot water, upon which is placed an iron tray, lined with wool, to contain the eggs, and a small zinc saucer to hold water, for the purpose of conveying the necessary moisture to the eggs. Beneath the boiler is a compartment lined with cloth, in which the young birds are placed, with doors to admit of their running out and in.

The water in the boiler is kept hot by means of small copper furnace, containing a lamp which will burn for about eight hours at a time, and in which the common solar oil may be used. As far as I have been able to judge, the consumption of oil in an apparatus of one of the smaller sizes is about one gallon in three weeks; in those of the largest size consumption will of course be something more.

regulated by a very simple contrivance. The hot water in the boiler is conveyed by a short pipe into a tube, fixed to the outer case, containing a float, and this float is connected by a short wire, with a valve in the chimney of the furnace containing the lamp. When the water in the boiler gets too hot it swells in the boiling and raises the float this in its turn raises the valve in the chimney, which closes and stops the draught of the furnace, and the result is that the lamp burns less strongly until the water in the boiler getting a little cooler, recedes, the float and valve drop again into their places, the draught in the furnace is restored, and the lamp burns again as strongly as before, and this action continues whenever necessary, and I have found it to be a most complete self-regulator. I have, however, to make the regulation of the heat more accurate if possible, for this is a most important feature in the apparatus, fixed in the iron cover, a small syphon containing mercury upon Dr. Arnott's excellent principle, which, whenever the thermometer (also fixed in the cover) rises above the proper heat, immediately rises also, opens a small valve, and allows the heat to escape. As soon as this is done sufficiently the mercury falls, and with it the valve, and this I have also found to answer its purpose exceedingly well. The whole trouble of managing the apparatus consists in turning the eggs once every day, and at the same time putting fresh water into the saucer for moistening them, trimming and feeding the lamp when necessary, and adding a little fresh water to the boiler once in three or four days to replace that which may have evaporated in the boiling. When the young birds are hatched they require attention for the first twenty-four hours, until they have gained a little strength, and are then placed in the compartment beneath the boiler, which is quite warm enough for them, and allowed to run out and in; they will not eat for the first day or so after that they will feed themselves; the best food for them is split groats soaked in warm water. There are now in the garden of the Zoological Society in the Regent's Park, two ducks which were hatched in the apparatus, and The heat of the apparatus, 100 degrees of Fahrenheit, is

kept in the compartment beneath the boiler for eight days, and then sent to the Zoological Gardens and brought up by hand. I was compelled to send them away because they did not agree very well with some red-legged partridges which were hatched about the same time.

This apparatus is the invention of Monsieur Lemare of Paris, and has been introduced to this country by Mr. Appleyard, of No 9, Montague-Street, Russel Square, where it may be seen by any of our readers who take an interest in the subject..

(NEW SPORTING MAGAZINE.)

When Blanchard the actor was in America, he relates the following, amongst other amusing incidents, to a friend. «Then, again, my dear boy, they would be boring me with the wonders of their awful fine city of New York,-(I must say it is fine, as far as it goes,) and be everlastingly asking if I did not think it magnificently grand.-(I was born, my boy, in York-Old York, as I call it,) which I allow it is to a certain extent, and considering the comparative short time of its existence. But to dare to compare it with London, our blessed old London,-is about as reasonable as to compare Billy Shakspeare with that Mr. Somebody, who wrote that precious bad farce in which I had a miserable part (it was damned the first night.)"

You must bear me in mind, my boy, that they are most active enterprising people! Go a-head' is the cry; and they do go a-head. It has ever been a wonder to me how they have done so much in so short a time, in every way too. (I thought it wonderful the rebuilding Covent-Garden in a few months, after it was burnt in 1808; but they would have done it, I really believe, pretty considerably quicker.)

--

"

I was lounging one day on the front of the theatre, looking attentively, and I must say admiringly, at some of the fine buildings, (very fine many of them are, my boy,) when a young fellow came up to me, (somebody, I suppose, I had been introduced to by somebody, my friend the Colonel, perhaps.)