The Sun.
London, England, 1852-10-06 00:00:00

A NEW STEAM CONDENSER

A correspondent of the New York Courier and
Inquirer writes to that journal—" As this is empha-
tically the age of steam power, and of progress in its
use, whatever relates to this subject must possess es-
pecial interest. The object of this communication is,
to state through the columns of your valuable paper,
that there is now in full and successful operation, at
the North Point Foundry and Machine shop in Jer-
sey City, a
condenser,'invented by Mr. J. Miller,
lately of New Orleans, which is calculated to exercise
a most powerful influence on the employment of steam
power. This condenser is so constructed as to convert
the steam into water, return it to boilers undiminished,
and thus, when they are once filled with pure
water, they will continue to operate for a week or
more without adding one additional drop of water to
that already in the boiler. A steamer could readily
carry, in a few hogsheads, an ample supply of fresh
water to last across the Atlantic Ocean, or, if salt
water were used, it would be immediately converted
into fresh by the condensation of the steam, and very
trifling precipitation of salt or other impurity would
take place, while under the existing system the
boilers are speedily choked up or burnt out, and all
the pipes are in danger of filling and becoming foul,
and, to this cause alone, nine-tenths of the steam-
boat explosions, mid other accidents are attributable.
It has been ascertained, from actual experiment, that
a steam-engine, with this condenser attached,
will produce equal power, at a saving of
more than one-third of the fuel. By this attachment
it turns the high-pressure engine into a low pressure,
and reduces the great unwieldy air-pump now
in use to one-tenth its size. This is a great security
against danger or derangement of the machinery.
Any sort of engine can be used for the attachment
of this condenser. Another essential advantage is,
that the engine and machinery are reduced in bulk at
the top, and the main weight can be placed nearer the
bottom of the ship, thus increasing the steadiness of
its motion, and its safety in rough weather. I un-
derstand that one of these condensers is also in com-
plete operation at Pittsburg, and has attracted the
favourable notice of many of the most experienced
steam-boat builders and engineers. Proposals have
been made to put it on several of the best boats
running on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and
will, no doubt, be soon carried into effect. Arrange-
ments are also in progress to put it on several of the
ocean steamers in this city. It is regarded by
the best judges as one of the most valuable improve-
ments of the day, and as certain to save the lives of
thousands who travel on steam-boats and steam-
vessels. I visited this engine and condenser at Jersey
city, yesterday, in company with several intelligent
and experienced gentlemen, and witnessed its opera-
tion. Nothing could be more simple and beautiful.
I was assured by the tenders and workmen that it had
been in constant use for nearly nine months, and that
it had never failed to perform satisfactorily, and gave
evidence that it was a thorough and triumphant at-
tainment of the great desideratum, of clearing the
water of all impurities, and thus protecting the boilers
and engines from the imminent peril of explosions,
collapses, and accidents, such as have so often filled our
land with mourning."

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
OCT. 4.—J. O. Westwood, Esq., president, in the
chair. Since the last meeting the society has re-
moved to more commodious premises, at No. 12, Bed-
ford-row; but the meeting-room not being in readi-
ness, this meeting, by permission of the Zoological
Society, was held at theirhouse in Hanover-square.
Among the visitors was Mr. Wallace, who has been
collecting objects of natural history in South
America for several years, and who narrowly escaped
death in returning to this country, the vessel in which
he was having taken fire in the midst of the Atlantic
Ocean, and he and others on board having been picked
up from an open boat by a homeward-bound ship.
All bis collections were totally lost. C. G. Pickers-
gill, Esq., was elected a member, and W. Quin,
Esq., and R. Shield, Esq., were elected subscribers
to the society. Mr. Bond exhibited larvcee of the
rare anticlea herberata, feeding on leaves of car-
berry, from Cambridgeshire. Mr. Weir exhibited
coleophora deauratella, from clover fields near Tun-
bridge Wells. Mr. Edwin Shepherd exhibited many
fine lepidoptera from near Dover, including the rare
vanessa antiopa. Mr. Stevens also exhibited a speci-
men of this butterfly taken near Hampstead ; and
mention was made of other specimens having been
seen in various parts of the country. Mr. Hunter
brought for distribution many specimens of monony-
chus pseudacori, found on the seeds of iris feetidis-
sima in the Isle of Wight. Mr. Douglas exhibited
bred specimens of elachista testaceella and rosier-
sammia pygmceina, both rare moths. Mr. Hunter
mentioned that he had found it a convenient plan to
dip small pieces of cloth in the solution of sugar used
as a bait to attract nocturnal moths in places where
there were no trees on the trunks of which it might
be put, and a piece so steeped would serve for a week.
The secretary read a paper on the identification of the
lepidoptera whose larva: mine in leaves, described in
the " Memoires" of Reaumur, illustrated by living
examples. He also read a notice of the habits and
manner of capture of the Groo-groo worm of the
West Indies, the larva of a beetle, esteemed a delicate
article of food.

GLASGOW, OCT. 2.—COTTON.—For the past week
there has been a very animated demand from the trade, and
large sales have been made. Speculators have also been in
the market buying freely. Prices have advanced about %d.
per lb. on most qualities of American, and in some instances
an advance of 1/4d. may be quoted. In goods and yarns e
fair business has been done, and spinners are less disposed to
meet the views of purchasers than they were a week ag;
fame.—The excitement in our pig-iron market has beeneen very
great during the week, and heavy contracts have
b
nd
wereency
ewlausderdatbhoetrhefhore.eckaesha atnhdisopmeomndeinligv,erayn.
dThae upward
few
'
forced by timid holders, but as buyers came forward the
2'
price stiffened, the market closing
—o open
good
have advanced
ats4s.6d. t
3/o . p 55s.er
cash, and 555. 6d, to 565. three months, for warrants,
free on board. Bars are brisk, and h
ton since July.
•
STABBING AT THE CAVALItY DEPOT, MAIDBTONR.
On Monday, some soldiers of the 12th Lancers Were engaged
in their room in the barracks in various employments, when
some words arose between two ofthem, one of whom, Rich-
mond,rbieict wruit;the other, Cooper, an
had undergone the
punishment awarded old soldier
had
whorecentbli:dj
dto his offence. In the course of the
e deserted,in e d
a s
a
dispute
Richmond taunted Cooper with having been a
de-
serter,e to which the latter
retorted by giving him a box on
the ears. Richmond, who was at the time cleaning and
polishing his sword and accoutrements, immediately made a
stab at Cooper; the sword, fortunately, merely inflicted a
slight flesh wound, having glanced from one of the ribs just
below the region of the heart. Cooper again struck Rich-
mond, when the latter snatched up a pair of scissors (which
were lying on an adjacent table) and stabbed Cooper in the
back, following up the blow by another stab in the arm. lie
was immediately put under arrest, Cooper in the meanwhile
having been taken to the hospital. On a first examination it
was feared that the vertebra) had been severed, and that the
point of the scissors (which were found to have been broken)
had remained in the wound. On further examination, how-
ever, it was ascertained that the injuries inflicted were not
likely to lead to a fatal result, and we are glad to say he is
fast approaching to convalescence.—South-Eastern Gazette.
We are happy to be able to state that the health of
Mr. G. F. Young has been greatly benefited by his sojourn
on the Continent, and it is expected that he will shortly re-
turn to England.