The Express.
London, England, 1860-10-20 00:00:00

THS ICHYBYON.

The October stillness of the Serpentine has been
disturbed during the present week by the pump up sod
down of an extraordinary-looking little steamboat, the
invention of Captain Beadon, R.N. The novelty at this
little steamer is twofold, consisting;of the singular form of
the vessel and the peculiar mode of propulsion adopted.
Speaking teehoically, the lchthyon connate of two tubular
vessels, secured together in parallel lines, but leaving a
=Tfor the water in the middle. In each tube is a small
reasure engine, by means of which the screws are
worked, the latter being of conoidal shape, and placed in the
bows instead of in the stern, as in the ordinary
@crew-propellers. The inventor rather figuratively de-
scribes his vessel as a bird perched on the back
of two fishes, and compares the action of his screws
to boring the water with a gimlet—a description
which is very well calculated to give a just idea of the
invention to nou-scieatifio persona The idea of a twin
steamboat is out new, a vessel called the Gemini, the in-
vention of a Mr. Brisky, having been tried some years since
in the Thames. Bat the Gemini was • paddle steamer,
worked by one wheel in the mitre. and it was found that
after • little time the backwater " choked " the wheel.
This objection does not, however, apply to the Ichthyon,
which being worked by the two conoidal screws in the
bows makes little or no backwater, and creates none of that
1/14:11111 disturbance which has always formed the
obstacle to the employment of steamboat's on canals.
appeared to us to be both novelty and merit in this applics-
tion the screw, and that vessels such as the Ichthyon
would be admirably adapted for towing on canals. In the
course of a very prosperous voyage which we had yesterday
up and down the Serpentine, the boat went without
the slightest vibration, turned within her own length
with the greatest facility, and in every way most ree
obeyed the hand of the stesnwan. As far as being well
adapted for a tow boat on canals, we are of opinion that the
invention is • success, and well worthy the attention of all
persons engaged in inland navigation. Captain Beadon,
however, claims for his ship much moreimportant uses. Her
form admitting of her being beached with facility, be con-
tends that she might be made most useful in landing
stone, or artillery, and that if properly armed she
baying landed her height, become an irresistible cowrie/
battery, More sanguine still, he alleges that by • little ad-
dition to her very peculiar &crew, which be calls • hybrid
conoidal propeller, an auger would be obtained powerful
enough to drill • hole in the side of the Normandie or the
Moira He has repeatedly urged the naval and military
authorities to send • competent person to examine his In-
let of mune not the sl4htest notice has been
Lebastialbis lions. The model haa already been tested,
milted partied thirty persons at the rateof an hear,
with • twasamption of one-third of & hundredweight of coals
pet here at • cost of fourpence. In a vessel of sufficient
she mid power and furnished with screws of sufficient
Captain Bandon thinks his invention would ob.
traT= of 32 miles an hour. Making every allowance
for the sanguine calculations of inventors, we think the
lakthyon presents many improvements in screw steam Davi-
nthat she ia admirable adapted for canals, and neither
ine any reason why she might not be made of use in
naval sled military operations. As • further iocitaineut to
the inspeetkm of tiro curious we may mention that she was
bat by hind village mechanics entirely unacquainted
with ship week, wed it is by her rural engineer that she is
so dextrously nwarged on the Serpentine. Captain Beadon
inlaid& • long Vat of taelirawsisle to the value of his in-
vention.

Iketnewir ro ram CrrY Canarriars. —Sir Jarn-
met* Jesisebboy, who has been for some time on a visit to
this conntry, has, on the see of his returning to India, pro-
moted the ninem donation of 21tW. to the charities of
the city of Loudon, to be distributed at the discretion of
the Lord Mayer. This graceful act on the part of Ow mi-
asma Oriental visitor was accompanied by the following
eddremed to the olds( magistrate of the
Sdipaloraimare,, Oct. 15.—My dear Lori
Mayor— I have Ire sherd from Lesiva for ammo tin pm*
•• • tour Woe& the lirevleele. end sektrual (sly the
other day. Ws gaud be my mere for eiseitiAleg Ma
myself the beam of p_eTlog sty
ski
as
lordollp sad the lady Mayoreeo. I ski bits aa
epoorezaity al epee yea Woe erkersies Wit yy
bet, In the nowavhae. reetembodestltet wiy ktta
leader was a olden of landiej *mid sk beim
wtei
Ragland, toesoatribute la ease thostme Ate the eirrlilistall
the city, sad trust that yew is=urgerimme Wing
you to become my alas e by the teriseel wan 1
of I. among wash of the eihy Emelt. ea your for
may deem man worthy If inifipart.-1 have Do franwer to
be. my dew Lord Mayor, your very faithful ourraa4,
JAINISM JillartallOY. —The light Hon.tbs Lord Mayor."
OITORAL Pa.& -- Owe flamirect DAY.-
Irma; Omega 19.—Adeakee m yams* 1,476;
ohite by mean tick" 492; total slibous. 1.901.