The Sun.
London, England, 1830-01-19 00:00:00

NEW FERRY BOAT.

A boat has been put upon a ferry across the
Tummel, upon a principle suggested by Mr.
James Brown, ship builder in Perth, no less re-
markable for its simplicity than for its complete
adaptation to the purpose required. A chain is
fixed to an anchor or rock in the centre of the
river, a short distance above the ferry. The
lower end of the chain is secured to the boat by
what is technically called a Traveller, which tra-
verses an iron rod fixed across the prow. The
boat is regulated in the passage across merely by
the rudder, which can be managed by a child.
When unmoored, the rudder is turned to one side,
and the boat glides, by the force of the current
acting upon the rudder, swiftly and steadily to the
opposite bank of the river ; and in order to return,
the position of the rudder has only to be re-
versed. This exceedingly simple plan has been
adopted with complete success by Mr. Macgre-
gor, of Fonab, at the suggestion and under the
inspection of Mr. Brown. From its simplicity it
is liable to few or no accidents ; it works equally
well in every state of the river, and by always pre-
senting the prow of the boat to the current, re-
lieves it from the pressure of the water, which in
rapid streams is found so great an obstruction to
the working of ferry boats by chain and wind-
lass.—Perth Miscellany ofLiterature, Ste.

•
COWES.—This harbour presents an unusually
gay and bustling scene, in consequence of the number of
ships assembled owing to the frost, and the early eh s'ng
up of the northern ports. So great a number of ships
have not been here together for many years, a circumstance
which will prove beneficial to the town and neighbourhood.
—Hants Advertiser.
The inhabitants of Arundel were thrown into
some little alarm, last week, by the escape of a large ser-
pent, in the night, from the custody of its keeper, who
exhibited this and other similar animals at that place. It is
supposed that the creature took its course towards the river,
as no tidings have been hitherto heard of its peregrinations
SPLENDID PROJECT.—A'project, we are in-
formed, is talked of by men of influence and intelligence,
for forming a railway from Aberdeen to Bur glread, and to
commence running- steam carriages betwixt these places.
It is then proposed to establish a communication by means
of a steam vessel between the latter place and floss-shire.
Should such a project be carried into effect, there will be
one continuous communication by steam from London to
Ross-shire, through the counties of Aberdeen, Banff, and
Elgin. The steam vessels which already ply betwixt Lon-
don and Aberdeen make the voyage in two days ; and
were a railway constructed between the latter place and
llurghead, that additional space would be travelled by
steam carriages in a few hours. Then again a steam
passage from Burghead to Dunrobin, Ross-shire, would
only require two or three hours more; and from thence
to John O'Groat's house, the most northern point in Scot-
land, could be travelled, by the usual means of convey-
ance, in ten or twelve hours, so that the entire distance
from London to John O'Groat's house could be travelled
in less than three days ! Let our more northern merchants
only imagine to themselves that instead of two or three
weeks, as at present, their goods would reach them from
London in three days, in the event of the establishment of
the different communications iH question ; and then think
of the wonders of steam. The above project may appear
ridiculous to some of our readers ; but after the wonders
we have already witnessed we should not be surprised to
live see it carried into effect.--Elgin Courier.