so, we will tell you, kind reader, all we are permitted to. The thunder and storms, and even the roar of the batteries before Sevastopol, belong to a humbler department of art, and are properly introduced into such representations rather to relieve the observer, and prevent weariness from a constant tax of eye-sight, than for their literal resemblance to the tempests of the outer world. Of the reliabilility of these representations we have evidence in the fact that the views were taken on the spot, and have been successfully exhibited in several European cities. The views of Sevastopol are taken from the drawings of the French engineers.

The style of painting in a panorama is peculiar. A mere portrait-painter could not succeed in it. An artist quite skilled in common landscapes would need some experience in this particular branch of the art. The scene-painter, who so much increases, the interest of dramatic representations, boasts an art peculiarly his own. It is unlike all other styles of representing nature, and most emphatically so when most true to nature. The artist who produces a good panorama, possesses an art scarcely less distinct from all others than does the dramatic painter.

FOR THE PLOUGH, THE LOOM, AND THE ANVIL

COMPANY OF INVENTORS.

SIRS-I gladly avail myself of the opportunity you offer, in your July number, to propose myself as a candidate for membership of a Company of Inventors, on the plan you propose, should the plan meet with such general favor as to bring together a number sufficient to be effective.

Several attempts have been made to form associations of Inventors; but none that I know of that proposed to make inventions help each other in the way you suggest. They were rather designed to obtain amendments of the patent laws; and examine and certify as to the merits of inventions, so that capitalists might rest assured of the safety of investing money in them, and the inventions, thus endorsed and aided, might speedily become profitable to all concerned.

I have little hope from attempts of this kind to amend the patent laws; still less hope have I that examinations and reports will influence capitalists. Inventors themselves, generally, have been obliged to demonstrate the utility of their own inventions, before capitalists would engage in them; and such will continue to be the only course until science is more generally taught than it is at present.

But a combination, by which the force of a number could be applied to one invention at a time, would excite hope, and induce inventors to make the advances needed, for the sake of having the like aid, sooner or later, and the profit they might reasonably expect from their own judicious choice of the inventions to which they could appropriate their funds.

I would gladly avail myself not only of the capital which such a company might appropriate, but also of the talent that would probably be offered, on the conditions proposed, namely, that the profits resulting from such joint labor and hazard should be divided, by disinterested judges, among those who had contributed to the result. My improvement in the steam carriage, if it

have the aid, instead of the rivalry of the inventive talent of the country, will, I am confident, produce money enough to enrich hundreds; yet if left to the judgment of capitalists, it may be a long time before it is brought into use. I have always hoped to concentrate in one powerful company all the improvements that may be made in this invention, and to make it for the interest of every inventor to work with me, and not against me; and I cordially invite such cooperation as you have proposed.

The approaching fair of the American Institute at the Crystal Palace, will afford an opportunity to organize such a company. Meantime, I hope you will receive the names of many inventors, and many enterprising capitalists, as members of this proposed company. Yours respectfully, J. K. FISHER.

PRESERVATION OF MILK.

THE following method of preserving milk for any length of time is found in the London New Monthly Magazine. It looks to us rather a dubious process, but we should like very much to have it tried, and the results reported to us. If successful, this is of very great value for ships at sea, and for all in warm climates.

"Provide pint or quart bottles, which must be perfectly clean, sweet, and dry; draw the milk from the cow into the bottles, and as they are filled, immediately cork them well up, and fasten the corks with pack-thread or wire; then spread a little straw on the bottom of a boiler, on which place the bottles with straw between them, until the bottles contain a sufficient quantity. Fill it up with cold water; heat the water, and, as soon as it begins to boil, draw the fire, and let the whole cool gradually. When quiet cold, take out the bottles and pack them in a cool place.

"Some years since, there was a Swedish or Danish vessel at Liverpool, having milk on board, preserved in this manner. It had been carried twice to the West Indies, and back to Denmark, and been above eighteen months in the bottles; nevertheless, it was as sweet as when taken from the cow." On this subject the editor of the Chemist, in the May number, remarks: "We lately tasted, at the Royal Institution, milk preserved by Mr. Mabbrun's proeess, and which had been presented by the Abbe Moigne to Mr. Barlow, who alluded to it in his lecture on preserved meats and vegetables. This milk was one year old, and was as sweet as when first drawn; a considerable quantity of cream had collected in the necks of the bottles."

FALL RIVER ROUTE TO BOSTON.-We have again had occasion to send two ladies of our family, unattended, over this route. We never feel regret on account of such necessity, for we know they will be well cared for. A letter received from them, after stating sundry particulars, says: "You must puff this line handsomely, for they richly deserve it." Especial reference is made in it to the clerk, and we have ever found him prompt in business, careful in his especial trusts, particularly attentive to those who make known their wants, gentlemanly and kind to all. Capt. Brayton is a model commander. The whole arrangement on board is judicious; the tea-table superior to that of any other line, and the servants are attentive and courteous.

THE annexed figures are views of an an improved implement for blasting rocks, for which a patent was granted to Capt. C. F. Brown, of Warren, R. I., on the 11th of July last.

Figure 1 is an external view of the implement, and figure 2 is a vertical section of the tube which contains the charge. Similar letters refer to like parts.

This invention relates to a new and useful implemement for blasting rocks, and consists in placing. the powder or charge within a tube or case, between two heads provided with suitable packing, and attached to a rod, by which arrangement the charge is prevented from "blowing out," or obtaining vent in the direction of the line of the hole in which the tube and charge are placed, and the whole effect of the charge is exerted against the sides of the tube or case.

A represents a tube or case constructed of sheet metal, paper, or other material; B, figure 2, represents a metal rod having a conical metal head, C, permanently attached to its lower end. The diameter of the base of the head B, corresponds to the diameter of the bore of the tube or case; D is also a conical metal head, placed loosely upon the rod, B, in in an inverted position, the rod passing through a circular hole, a, which is made longitudinally through the center of said head, represented by dotted lines, figure 2. On the upper part of the rod, B, a screw thread, b, is cut, and a nut, E, works thereon. F F are metalic rings which encompass the heads near their bases, and serve as packing; G is a piece of fuse, the lower end of which is attached to the small end of the head, D, and the upper end is passed through an ap

erture, c, in said head, and projects a suitable distance above the tube, A. The implement is used in the following manner: The rod, B, is inserted within the tube, A, the head resting upon the bottom of the tube. The necessary amount of powder is then poured within the tube; the head, D, is placed down upon it, and secured at this point by the nut, E, which is screwed down against D. The space within the tube between the two heads, CD, is therefore filled with powder, and the tube is inserted within the hole which is drilled in the rock in the usual manner, the diameter of the hole corresponding to the diameter of the tube, A; the fuse, G, is to be sufficiently long to reach the top of the hole. The powder being ignited by means of the fuse, the rings, FF, are forced tightly between the heads and the tube, and effectually close the top and bottom of the tube, and as the powder, when ignited, will act with equal force against each of the heads, CD, it is evident that no vent can be obtained in a direction in line with the hole in the rock in which the tube or case is placed, or as commonly expressed, the charge cannot "blow out," and the whole effective force of the powder will be exerted against the sides of the tube, and the splitting of the rock rendered certain. The heads are made of conical form in order to deflect, and thereby diminish the force of the power exerted against them. The packing, F F, may be formed of rings similar to metallic packing of a piston for steam engines. The rod, B, should be sufficiently thick to prevent breaking, and to resist the force of the power exert, ed against them. The above implement is effective, and rocks may be blasted with much greater facility than by the ordinary mode, no tampering or packing of clay being necessary to confine the powder within the hole. The implement may be used repeatedly, as it cannot be projected to any great distance from the spot where used.

The packing-rings, F F, may be entirely dispensed with by using a small quantity of sand, say sufficient to come near the top of the conical head, then pour in the powder on top of the sand, then insert the fuse, and pour a small amount of sand upon the powder as directed above, taking care that the fuse has entered the powder. The head, D, is placed down and secured by the nut as described above.

Sand is better than the rings, and the implement should be washed after using. The readers of this journal may be assured of the excellence of the apparatus, as tested by repeated experiments, witnessed by many competent judges. Any further information may be obtained by addressing the inventor as above.

PEAT COAL AS A SMELTING FUEL.

THE intrinsic excellence of the fuel producible from our waste peat bogs, induced us to write, so far back as 1846, that "we should one day be able to manufacture, if not coal, as at present dug from the bowels of the earth, at least a fuel equally useful for all the purposes to which the former is at present applied." Since this early date, it is true that nothing has been done on the large scale to render waste bog an industrially valuable fuel; but abundant proof has been given of the truth of our original observation. The nine years' interval has witnessed the manufacture of a fine, hard, and rich fuel, far superior in many points to the best pit coal, both as a smelting material, and as a fuel for numberless industrial pursuits.

PEAT COAL AS A SMELTING FUEL.

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To accomplish this, the work of many minds has been required, and many varieties of rich carbonaceous material have been developed during the prosecution of the search. But amongst the most persevering and successful promoters of the pursuit, we have to rank the Messrs. Gwynne, of Essex Wharf, London, who have originated and apparently perfected a system of making a solid carbonaceous fuel, and have, besides, satisfactorily applied it in the manufacture of iron.

Dr. Letheby, of the London Hospital, has examined this fuel, and he reports most favorably upon it. The specific gravity of the block on which he operated, was 1.14, its structure being very hard and dense. The actual stowage weight of a cubic foot was 71.24 pounds, whilst Newcastle coal is about 49.69 pounds only. One hundred parts of the fuel contain nine of hygroscopic moisture; and they yield 55 of volatile matter, much of which is condensible, and thirty-six parts of charcoal. The charcoal contains 3.8 of ash.

In submitting one pound, or 7000 grains, of the fuel to distillation in an an iron retort, the resultant volatile products were conducted through a redhot iron tube, in the hope that the paraffine of the tar would be decomposed and converted into a gaseous hydro-carbon of high illuminating power. The results of this treatment were 2520 grains of charcoal, 1320 of ammoniacal liquor, 360 of thick tar, and 2800 of combustible gas. This gas amounted to 6.25 cubic feet, and when burnt at the rate of five cubic feet per hour, from an argand burner with fifteen holes, and a 7 inch chimney, it gave a light equal to that of seven sperm candles, each burning at the rate of 120 grains per hour. One hundred parts of the prepared peat therefore furnish:-Of porous charcoal 36, ammoniacal liquor 18.86, thick tar containing paraffine 5.14, and gas of an illuminating power of seven candles 40 parts.

Dr. Letheby sums up his report in these terms:-"The amount of gas is very considerable, (a ton of the material furnishing as much as 14,000 cubic feet of gas,) and although the illuminating power is not very high, yet from the fact that much of the tar and paraffine had actually been rendered gaseous by their passage through a red-hot tube, there is every prospect that they might be still further decomposed, and converted into gases of high illuminating power. The gas, when purified by passing through an alkaline mixture, was found to be entirely free from sulphur; and in this respect it has great advantages over coal gas, for the products of its combustion are wholly harmless in respect of their action on inorganic matter, such as books, drapery, and other perishable fabrics; in its use as fuel, there is no opaque smoke evolved, no sulphurous acid is set free, the heat is quickly raised and quickly diffused, the ashes never clinker so as to choke the bars of the furnace, and that the peat does not contain any metallic sulphuret or other substance that is likely to produce spontaneous combustion. In short, it fulfils most of the conditions which are mentioned by Dr. Lyon Playfair and Sir H. De La Beche in their report as to the requisites for a good fuel."

The Sheffield steel-makers cannot now get a proper supply of Swedish iron even at £38 a ton. We have no substitute for this costly material in our pit coal iron; but we have a remedy in the employment of charred peat. Good British ore, smelted with peat fuel, would most undoubtedly rival the best productions of Sweden, and at a cost which puts comparison out of the question. Mr. Gwynne, indeed, boldly asserts that, with his process of smelting, he can supply iron for the steel-makers at one-half of the price now paid to Swedish houses.

The uniformity in the character of the iron produced by the peat smelting