The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-23 00:00:00

have already shown, that her leading forms should be
modelled. We have now arrived at a recognition of
the four principal elements which invariably concur
in producing those emotions of delight, which may
be regarded as infallible tests of our contact with real
beauty in the productions of nature—variety—fitness,
simplicity, and contrast.
The rest of the lecture, which occupied altogether
about two hours in the delivery, consisted for the
most part of an application of these principles to the
works of art that adorned the Great Exhibition, and
were illustrated by various beautiful specimens in
wcrks of metal, glass, and textile fabrics, which had
been lent for the purpose.
At the close of the lecture a vote of thanks, moved
by Mr. Redgrave, and seconded by Mr. T. H. Hope,
M.P., was unanimously accorded to Mr. Wyatt, for
his lecture ; and thanks were also voted to the manu-
facturers who had sent their manufactures to the
society.

STEAM NAVIGATION-SAFETY

VALVES.

The following instructions have been issued by the
Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade, for
the guidance of engineer surveyors, under the Steam
Navigation Act, 1852, with respect to the safety valves
required by the 21st section of the Act:—
The 21st section of the Act requires that after the
31st day of March, 1852, each bolter of every steam-
vessel shall have a saf ty valve "free from the care of
the engineer, and out of his control and interference."
Some doubts having been expressed as to the meaning
of the above section, and some practical difficulty having
been experienced in bringing it into operation, the atten-
tion of the engineer surveyors is directed to the follow-
ing instructions, which have been adopted:by my Lords
after mature deliberation, and are now issued for the
future guidance of these officers.
Each boiler must be fitted with a safety valve con-
structed so that it shall be entirely out of the control of
the engineer when the steam is up, and so that be may
not have the power of increasing the pressure upon it in
any manner whilst the vessel is under stpati.
My Lords consider that the responsibili y of seeing to
the efficiency of the mode i❑ which this is done rests
with the surveyors; but the following are modes which
appear to them to be satisfactory.
The valve may either be contained wholly within the
boiler and accessible through the man-hole only, or on
the outside of the boiler, enclosed in a box sufficiently
large only for the weights and the necessary motion for
them, and secured by a lock, of which the key is not to
be kept by the engineer, and is, if kept on board, to be
in charge of the master of the vessel, who will, of course,
in such C3S3 be responsible, should any additional weight
or pressure ba placed on the valve.
These safety valves are in all ewes to be of the same
areas as the ordinary safety valves upon the same boiler,
and to bear an equal or less pressure, but not in any case
more.

In cases where two or more boilers of a steamer have
a common steam chest, and there is no means of shutting
off the steam from, or disconnecting either of them, they
may, so far as the safety valve in question is concerned,
be considered a; one boiler.
My Lords think it extremely desirable that the safety
valve required by the Act should be in addition to the or-
dinary valve, and the surveyors should point this out to
the owners of vessels; but as it is not expressly enjoined
by the Act, they are not to reuse a declaration on ac-
count of the recommendation not being complied with.
Toe engineer surveyors are, so far as in their power,
to mak:. my Lords' opinion on these points generally
known to the proprietors of steam-vessels carrying
pas;tingcrs.
In order to give time for preparation, the 30th day of
June next has been fixed as the time at which the above
instructions are to come into full operation; and the sur-
veyors are, therefore, not to give any declaration for a
steam vessel after that date, unless they are satisfied
that the requisite safety valve is fitted accordingly.
F. 117. BEECHEY.
W. LI. WALKER.
T. IL FARREL Secretary, Naval Department,
Board of Trade, April 19, 1852.