The Express.
London, England, 1857-05-28 00:00:00

CONVERSION OP STEEL.

Last evening, at the meeting of the Society of
Arts, Mr. W. FAIIITAInN, F.R.S., i 0 the chair, Mr. Chris-
topher Rinks reed a paper " On anew Combinations and Phe-
nomena that oreur among the Elements enraged in the Ma-
nufacture of Iron, end in the Converaioa of Iron into
Steel."

The authorbegan lir remarking that the generally received
theory of the fummtion and composition of steel was not per-
kctly satisLictory. Carbon bad been generally considered
the only element essential to the conversion of iron Into
steal, and other matters that analyses might have detected
Is it, in minute quantities, bad been looked upon as foreign
end accidental only. In this light the small portions of
nitrogen end manganese sometimes detected Lad not been
med. In attempting to throw any now light upon this
eet some suggestive facts might be discovered among the
cedimiry processes employed by the keel macro. The very
old peng.tice dining ferroseyamde of potassium as an agent of
eonveresin was worth consideration. This compound con-

Wed ahem rpolnininnt as well ae carbon. ler. Bees
thee reaskitegeothodstaitsofa Nereid experinentenedo
by exposing oxemoseitimmliselle iron to deaden of various
sodeenees et a Writ Inuipseure, and, as far as these trials
abed, thinking senor boa am-operation of both carbon
end nito whenever del has bee produced, though it
sfN remafaa be deembel whether els is absolutely ne-
emery tore formation. It was also to table that various
nitrogenous matters, see as hoe and leather shavings,
mesa stormed and ether substaare, were commonly used
dtber in the et is the toersing of steel. Mr.
Maks tempo, ma aimak al one sealres redo by him-
self, whist reed Met dr lionl keels of steel contain about
WWII& if Weat at sires., re serial rt sults of his en-
pullmat Itallaa to lbw r—Tht ths substance whose
up-
plheerusttp ironesusstr into steal all contain nitrogen
ma :V., that Whom hen memo to the iron during
Si* • that UMW swim nor nitrogen, nerd
mimes hen hie cited, but that it Is
seed iii boil niftegm end carbon stead be
pm*. ! shrogeoz, es well us carbon, sYe tab-
aril* la seed after its envession, sad let this
far soll arm of the distinellet physical popeics of
duel me tem, in which lade Matt *meats is set exist.
Iheast=ti vely, but net ftlimennletimb, Ile dorm of
not that of mown Pm* that impound
Vlmportant a part in cencradol is het tagarently
el ea a
triple alloy of iroe, With
lemma le improvement. in the 06111:11714IIMIUtke-
IMP, MT. Kinks was of opin t M ow extensive
ties et "poor& compounds was highly Important, and he
bow_ posticular dilation to the feet dot phase compounds
*Of beweenonsiegialieformid in the ociinery operations of
the Mot heasta, at the woe time, might mabierve the
putent meg alai converting ft into steel.
A tiesweii Ilisma D. Moab* F. A. Abel. T.
Y. Gledime F. Braithwaite, C. D. Archibald, it. Fletcher,
the cluiroms, and others took part.

EXHIBITION OF DESIGNS FOR THE NEW PUELIC
Orricze.—Nokia has been sifted to the entrance of West-
minster Hell, that the a:lll6l6in will bo closed on &Undo,
Jane S. The models for the monument proposed to be erected
to the memory of the late Duke of Wellington in St. Paul's,
will be received os or before Mcaday next, the let of June,
from artists residing within the United Kingdom ; and on or
before the 25th of June, from other artiste. Westminster
Hall will be opened to the public for the exhibition of these
modals early in July, end those designs for public offices
• which shall have been selected by the jn4ee to receive the
premiums, will be exhibited at thesm., time.
THE EXHIBITION OF ART TREASURES.—The ad-
mimics* cm Turley were 8,675 against 4,918 on Monday.
Of those 4,803 pad! the shilling for admimion, the remain-
ing 3,772 being holders of semen tickets. There wee
enother exhibition of plants aid Sowers at the Botanical
Genies' yesterday, which drew together a large company,
mussy of whom availed themselves of the opportunity to visit
the Art Treasure The second editioa of the provlaemel oats- •
hum hem been Lined, having undargeas considerekle revi-
sion in conewiasmee of new peturea having been hung and
se allendien of the number' stlacied to others. The Ni-
=hon been struck out. sad will form a separate ca-
a sixpence. A complete sod pemueat catalogue
is meek seeded, end will be hailed with greet satiefactkm
by Ashore.
CAMEL PaLace. ONH SHILLING DAT. •••
WEDBREBAT, Kay 27. Admissions ma payment, 3,471;
date by season tickets, 492; total vksler 3,963.
LONDON GENERAL Ox/rlsuf Coritmr2.—TrafEe
rreelpts far th• work ending May 28,12,4224