The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-12-29 00:00:00

MR. PERKINS'S PRINCIPLE OF GENE-
RATING HIGH PRESSURE STEAM.

[So much has been slid and written of late respecting
the wonderful power of Mr. Perkins's high pressure steam,
that we readily insert the following detailed description of
his principle of generating it, and of his ingenious methods
of rendering it practically useful, as furnished us by a
scientific correspondent, personally acquainted with Mr,
Perkins, and who has anxiously watched, since 'their com-
mencement, his improvements in the productidn of steam.
Should the results prove in any degree commensurate with
present appearances, we may exclaim, that a new era opens
upon us in steam-engines, and it. steam navigation, as in-
deed is also likely to be the case in warfare, from his in-
vention of the steam-gun.
It is not exceeding the bounds of probability, to sup-
pose that we shall, ere long, as commonly see vessels pro-
pelled by Perkins's steam-engines undertaking the most
distant voyages, as we now see them employed on our
coasts. In this case, calms, contrary winds, and tidts,
will be comparatively of little consequence, since a steam-
vessel, und:r such unfavourable circumstances, can always
either make some way on her voyage, or retreat into har-
bour.

The advices recently received from the Commander of
the Enterprize steam-vessel, dated Cape of Good Hope,
are most important and satisfactory, since, by this experi-
ment, it is shown that even the bi;isterous seas off the Cape
did not impede her course, or cause the least damage to
her machinery. It appears that the cause of her long
passage originated in her not being able to carry sufficient
fuel to work the engines for little more than one-half the
voyage. This objection will be obviated by Mr. Perkins's
engines, which, requiring so much less fuel and water than
the low pressure engines, it is expected will enable a vessel
going to India nut only to carry her supply of those esses-
tsbl but also to take, in addition, a light cargo of
goods as freight.j
Water cannot be heated beyond the boiling point, or
212 degrees, in an open vessel, however intense may be the
heat to which it is exposed. IVater, however, enclosed in
tubes, or a very strong vessel, may be heated considerably
above 212 degrees. Mr. Perkins, by means of pressure, is
enabled constantly to keep his water in contact with the
surface of the apparatus, exposed to the action of fire,
through which the water is made to circulate. For ex-
ample—a series of pipes, or tubes of extraordinary strength,
is exposed to the most intense heat, while water is injected
through them by means of a forcing pump of great power,
which water, by a pressure valve placed at the opposite
extremity of the tubes, is kept in contact with their sides.
To effict this, is by no means an easy task, since the repel-
lant power of heat is so great, that no force which can be
exerted omthe forcing pump, can bring the water into con-
tact with tha tubes nearest the fire when red hot It is
therefore believed, that water wlin heated in an open
vessel does not remain in contact with the bottom of the
boiler, but is lifted from it, and a stratum of steam (known
to be a very bad conductor of heat,) is interposed, causing
an obstacle to the free absorption of caloric by the water.
Hence the advantage of forcing water, in contact with the
heated sides of iron tubes, and thus compelling it to im-
bibe the highest degrees of temperature, whereby high
pressure steam of the most intense power is produced. It
is not yet accurately ascertained what is the relative force
of steam to be obtained from water at given temperatures ;
but Mr. Perkins has heated his water beyond 600 degrees,
and the strength of steam thus generated may be guessed
at, even had it not beets so recently put to the proof, as
compared with gunpowder. In short, this principle of
beating water under pressure, is believed to be that which
causes earthquakes and volcanos. Steam when carried to
its maximum strength, is supposed capable of producing a
pressure of 56,0001h5. upon the square inch, but if this
swam be much further heated, it becomes decomposed, and
hydrogen gas is evolved. Hence the phenomena observable in
volcanos, sometimes the ejections, consisting of soft mud or
moistened ashes—sometimes tremendous explosions of gas,
projecting masses of rocks even to the clouds, while at other
times the heat has been sufficiently intense to fuse the
minerals contained in the earth in which these subterra-
neous firea criist. In elucidation of the theory of water
heated under pressure, and generating high pressure steam
of the greatest strength, or hydrogen gas, being the cause
of volcanos, we may cite the fact of a constant issue of
immense volumes of steam from a cavern, situated at the
ToOtoT e Mountain In 'the 'vicinity of the CoWlilleras in
Mexico, in which earthquakes are very frequent, and there
' are several volcanic mountains is J. far distant. This exit
of steam acts as a safety valve placed in a steam engine
boiler, preventing the steam from being heated up to high
pressure steam, or being decomposed and converted into
hydrogen gas; consequently the mountain in question has
not been lifted into the air, or a volcano formed in its sum-
mit, which, but for this escape of the steam, must have
inevitably resulted. It can be readily conceived how a
part of a mountain may be blown up by steam of fifty-six
thousand pounds to the inch, or by hydrogen gas, when it
is recollected what dreadful explosions so frequently occur
from the bursting of boilers of steam engines, in which
the very weakest steam is generated, say 20 or 3011)3. to the
square inch. Now when we bear in mind the immense
, number of' square inches contained even in the measure of
' a few yards, and the consequent pressure opposed to this
surface by the high steam thus generated, or by the igni-
tion of hydrogen gas, no one can he surprised at the phe-
nomena of earthquakes or volcanos.
In future communications we shall explain the manlier
in which Mr. Perkins has succeeded in restraining the ex-
plosive powers of his high pressure steam and deprived it
of all danger, as well as its effects when applied to the
steam gun or steam engine.

On Tuesday the first appearance of winter was experi-
enced in the metropolis. About eleven o'clock at night a
smart f.lll of snow descended, and the greatest incon-
venience was experienced by the hackney coachmen on
their return from the theatres, by the falling of their
horses. No fewer than five horses were down at the same
time in Tottenham-court-road, between eleven and twelve
o'clock.

WAGE! or Mut oas.—The following decision was lately
made by the Supreme Court ,gin Worcester, ]Massachusetts.
A principle of some importance was settled in relation to
parents and minor children ; and as to the right of the for-
mer to wages earned by the lattet ; and we understand the
Court to have decided, that wherever a parent permits his
children to contract for wages, without interfering to claim
them, he thereby loses his right, not only to recover such
part of his wages as may have &en actually paid to the
child, but also to any part which may temain unpaid; so
that be cannot maintain an action fur the subsequent earn-
ings of the child; and the child only is entitled to receive
them to his own use, free from the parent's control.
In our palice report of Monday there was a pretty broad
chz:npreferred against the Common Councilmen of Far-
ri Without, via.: that some of them protect the dis-
orderly public-houses (which form the receptacles for
thieves in their precincts) for their electioneering purposes.
‘Ve have seen no answer Firm to this charge. If there be
any truth in it, the inhabitants of the ward at large should
surely resent any attempt of this kind on the part of their
representatives to protect men who disgrace the character
and endanger the property of the ward. At any rate, the
Common Councilmen arc called upon to put forth tome
answer.

THE LASS or RICHMOND-HILL.—Tbe following nar-
rative of the Lass of Richmond-hill is founded on facts
well-known in the neighbourhood of Richmond :—The
story is simply as follows—A young lady, equally accom-
plished in mind and body, the daughter of a merchant of
immense wealth, resident on Richmond-hill, had consented
to receive the addresses of a young officer, of exemplary
character, and respectable parents, but poor. He belonged
to a regiment of cavalry then quartered at Richmond ; but
his offers were rejected by her father on account of that
poverty. Apprehensions of a clandestine marriage being
entertained, the officer was forbidden the house, and the
young lady was strictly confined within its walls. Con-
tinued grief and irritation of spirits led her, in a fit of
despair, bordering on insanity, to precipitate herself from
an upper window of her father's house, and she was dashed
to pieces on the stone steps that formed the ascent from the
garden into the house. The unfortunate young man
afterwards served in America, and was shot at the head
of his company. This is the outline; thereat is embellish-
ment.