The Sun.
London, England, 1839-10-15 00:00:00

THE ARCHIMEDES STEAMER.

On Monday morning the three-masted steam-schooner
the Archimedes, fitted up anew for the purpose of de-
monstrating the advantages of the Archimedes screw
as a propeller, proceeded down the river from London-
bridge, on an experimental trip. The weather was
most favourable, and a great number of amateurs,
scientific and practical, availed themselves of the liberal
invitation of the proprietors to witness the progress,nay,
we may now confidently say, the success of the invention.
The Archimedes has, since the accident to the boilers,
been refitted with every attention to safety as well as
efficiency by Miller and Ravenhill, of Blackwall, and
now presents an admirable specimen of a sea steamer,
being calculated both for steaming and sailing on prin-
ciples which afford all the practical desiderata of each
mode of progression. The vessel started at a quarter
Past eleven amidst the huzzas of the watermen, over-
joyed to witness the advent of a steamer that raised no
waves for their annoyance, and, indeed, scarcely left
more disturbance in her wake than a sailing vessel. A
lubberly lighterman, who came up the river with wind
and tide in his favour, contrived to bring his
emptythe
Archimedes, broadside foremost
somewhere
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was clean cut between the beams and above the
water-line, so the barge floated off without further con-
troversy.
At Purfiset the speed of the vessel was accu-
rately tried while passing the " measured mile" marked
out by order of the Admiralty on the southern coast.
Against wind and tide the Archimedes performed the
mile in nine minutes five seconds. Turned round
(which was done with the greatest facility and in a
very small circle), and steaming up the river with
wind and tide, the same mile was performed in
four minutes and a half. A third experiment down
the river again against wind and tide required nine
minutes and 52 seconds. The engine was during these
trials making between 22 and 23 strokes per minute,
each of which produced 53 revolutions of the propelling
screw working in the " dead wood" of the vessel, im-
mediately in front of the stern-post. The log
thrown at the turn of the tide indicated a rate of
nine knots. The most unqualified satisfaction was ex-
pressed by all on board at this performance, considering
that the Archimedes has been fitted up as a sea-going
vessel drawing 10.1 feet, and not intended to exhibit in
competition with sharp and shallow river craft. Even
on this experimental trip the rigging was decidedly an
obstacle when the wind was ahead, for no sails were set,
though the vessel is fully calculated to proceed with
them alone, if needful. The engines were much ad-
mired, and Massie's pumps which (strange yet true)
cannot be choked excited considerable attention both
by the quantity of water they could elevate, and the
ease with which they could be worked. Still further
improvements are in progress, by one of which (in the
shape of the stem itself) Mr. Smith, the inventor, ex-
pects to be able to realise two additional miles per hour.

SOMNAMBULISM.—The following most extra-
ordinary case of somnambulism has been communicated
to us by the patient himself, whose credibility we have
no reason to question, though it may tax pretty severely
the credulity of our readers. On the evening of Thurs-
day, a commercial traveller, having taken up his abode
for the night (as he supposed, though it turned out other-
wise), in Wallace's Inn, Let ham, about midnight, as he
imagines, in a fit of somnambulism, leaped over a second
floor window, and immediately took co his travels
through the fields, in no more ample garb than that in
which he had gone to sleep. He proceeded on and on,
as if impelled by some overruling power, conscious, in a
considerable measure, of what was passing around him,
but totally unable to resist his fate. The first conspi-
cous object he feels assured of having passed is the
Hopetoun monument, on the top of the Mounthiil,
about two miles from where he started. About two
miles farther he is conscious of having forded a consi-
derable stream, he thinks the Eden, near Russell-mill,
where he had been on business beforehand ; and his
active powers of action only returned to him as he found
himself near Melville gates, three miles farther on, just
about daybreak. He here found himself covered with
mud and mire, fatigued, and miserably cold ; and, with
all the haste in his power, now returned to his dormi-
tory, which he had involuntarily left on so untoward a
nocturnal ramble.—Fifesltire Herald.
A Fox HUNT IN OXFORD-STREET.---Mon-
clay afternoon, about three o'clock, a considerable deal
of amusement was created in Oxford-street by the fol-
lowing occurrence fine young fox, belonging to
Mr. Fendall, a butcher, in Woodstock-street, made its
escape from the back part of the premises, and, passing
through the shop, bent its progress t.wards Maryle-
bone-lane ; after many twistings and turnings Reynard,
who was followed by a number of persons with several
dogs in full cry, at length took refuge in the loft, of some
livery stables in time to, prevent any injury being in
flitted on him by his canine enemies, and was soon after-
wards restored to his owner.

A REAL REVIVAL.—The Synod of Aber-
deen, by a majority of nine, have resolved to overture
the General Assembly "to rescind the Veto Act, to
dismiss the Committee appointed to confer with Govern-
ment to get the Veto sanctioned by law, and to instruct
Presbyteries to proceed in filling up vacancies according
to the old regulation." This is a real Revival, it is a
clear indication of returning sense on the part of the
Synod. The wild party who have been carrying every
thing with a high hand for years back have met with a
check which, we trust, will teach them a little prudence
and moderation.—Aberdeen Herald.
FIRE DAMP.—IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.—
Professor Graham, at the meeting of the British Asso-
ciation made an important practical suggestion, which
may be the means of saving many lives. He observed
that the after damp, or carbonic acid, left in the atmos-
phere of a mine atter an explosion, is supposed to occa-
sion in many instances a greater loss of life than the
explosion ; at the same time it renders assistance im-
practicable ; in many cases, the oxygen of the air is not
exhausted by the explosion, although from the presence
of five or ten per cent of carbonic acid it is rendered
irrespirable. The atmosphere will be rendered respi-
rable by withdrawing carbonic acid, and he suggested a
method by which this might be effected. He found
that a mixture of slaked lime and pounded Glauber's
salts, in equal proportions, has a singular avidity for
carbonic acid, and that air might be completely purified
from that deleterious gas by inhaling it through a
cushion of not more than an inch in thickness, filled with
that mixture, which could be done without difficulty.
This lime filter would be an additional source of secu-
rity wherever the safety lamp is necessary, and it should
be invariably employed by persons who descend into a
mine to afford assistance to the sufferers.,
OFFENCE AGAINST THE FACTORY ACT.—
On Friday, a man named Richard Fairhurst, who had
been employed as schoolmaster for the children in the
mill of Messrs. Hugh Shaw and Co , in Butler-street,
Manchester, was charged. at the New Bailey, in that
town by Mr. Horner, inspector of the factories, for
giving a false certificate as to the length of time during
which the children attended school. An arrangement
had been made with Messrs. Shaw and Co., that for
their convenience the children under thirteen years -f
age should attend. the school two hours and a half five out of the six, and not attend on Saturday ; the
regulation, according to the Factory Act being that such
y
children should attend school every day for two' hours.
Fairhurst, the schoolmaster, had given
certificates that
the children in Messrs. Shaw and Co.'s factory had
attended school two hours and a half, when in fact they
bad attended only two hours. The defendant pleaded
guilty to the charge, and he was, in consequence of
the recommendation of Mr. Horner, sentenced to only
six days' imprisonmmt.