The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-19 00:00:00

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cultivation of the understandinanC-so•
more fully to appreciate the .*
of God—whether manifested ty4g: e
ous development of life in the
cuke, visible only through the misc aore;43K-3..."
grandest and most magnificent worksiif CaatiS
—so that all alike may feel and acknowlediCel in
the words which our president selected for tbt in -
scription of the Royal Exchange, that—

" The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof.'"

(Applause.)
The CHAIRMAN said it now became his duty to'
distribute the Prince Consort's prize awarded at the
last examination, and the prizes awarded to the
artist workmen who were successful competitors at
•he wood-carving
h
firs-mentioned : bitiou held in June last.
The
prize, which was £25, was:
aw.PLied to.
Mr. Wm. Vaughan, aged 22, City of
Londcoo College; clerk, elerk, who had obtained the follow-
ing first-ebo. cer,,ihotes, rithmetic, geometry,
hook-keeping, rnenBurait:con,w.
.algebra,
trigoronactry,
and in conic sections.
The CHAIRMAN compli'inai;
his industry and ability in a. rdd
referee;
connexion with the above ;lib' 41r1g. this prize,
Mr. Vaugh,en on
n‘te to his stn dies
The following are the namesjco'f-'rl
competitors in the wood-carving
_ A_lrr
ji‘teiahiehr
exhibition,
successful'ißti.oint,u ißum-
ford, o.
MersGMeiklc-
whom prizes were awarded :---
john, William-street, Regent's Park;
ford, Eccleston-street, S.W. ; AT
111, Tachbrook-street, Pimlico ; Mr C. Hurnofge.rL-;,
Mr T. H. Kendall, Mr Green, and Mr W. Perry,
North Audley-street, Grosvenor square ; Mr 11_`),'
Baylis, Judd-street, Brunswick-square ;MrJ. ii
Kindall, of Warwick ; Mr R. Flipping, Mr J. M,.
Leach, of Loath, Lincolnshire ; and to Mr C. J.
Horly, of Camden-place, South•street, Taunton.
The names of the new candidates for admission as
members of the Society were then read over by the
secretary, and the meeting separated.

A Safety Locomotive for Sharp Curves.

Mr. Cross, the engineer of the St. Helen's Rail-
way, Lancashire, has been for some time occupied
with the construction at the company's works of a
new class of engine, the result of which in practice
so well corresponds to sound theory that it is likely
to exercise a material influence on the structure of

new railways, by the substitution of sharp curves
for tunnels in mountain regions, and also for facili-
tating junctions between lines and the entrance into

cities and towns.

It is a fact seldom adverted to that the governing
datum in railway construction is the capacity of
the engine for passing round curves and up grades
or inclines. Hitherto, the construction of • engines
has only adapted them for running with a free• roll-
ing movement on straight lines, even when accu-
rately made, and only capable of running on curve-st
by dint of grinding or sledging friction of the wheel:
tires. To diminish as much as possible the amount
of this friction the practice has been to keep the
engine as short as possible—i.e., the axles as close
together as possible. The result of this has been

an unsteady base and a topheavy superstructure,
liable to constant oscillation from two affecting
causes—the alternate motion of the pistons on the

crank and the irregularities of the rails. On curves

binding the rails closer to the wheel flanges the
oscillation would be less, but the grinding friction
would be more, and the greater the risk of the
wheels escaping from the rails in case of a sudden

impediment or a deflected rail. The enormous
weight of the engines has tended to counterbalance
this risk, but at the cost of greatly increased dc-

structive wear.

The St. Helen's line, running through a hilly
mineral district, is a remarkable sample of sharp
curves and gradients. In a length of about 30 miles
it has a constant succession of curves, varying from
500 feet radius down to 170, and it has gradients
from one in 85 to one in 35, and it has, moreover, a
large number of " points and crossings" opening
into the various mineral deposits. This line has
been usually worked by short engines on six wheels
with four coupled wheels as drivers, paid connected
to scparate tenders for the supply of fuel and water,
the length of the wheel base of the engines being
about I'2 feet. Even this comparatively short length
of engine was disadvantageous on curves, involving
much impedimental friction ; and a still greater

disadvantage was that tender engines are only
ady:ed to run safely with the tender behind, and
in the working and shunting the loss of time and
labour, and expense, was considorable. For this

reason Mr. Cross set about the construction of an
engine that should be capable of running freely and
without impedimental friction in a straight line,
and either end foremost, and also pass with free
rolling movement round curves of as sharp a curve
as a radius of 132 feet, or what engineers call two
chains. To say that it was pronounced impractica-
ble by men of routine is merely to say that it was
out of the category of most working improvements.
The engine is on eight wheels, covering a base of
22 feet in length, and the length of a solid framo
resting on it 32 feet. The four central wheels have
their axles passing through before, and behind the
engine fire-box as usual, the axles being about 8 feet
apart. It is obvious that so long an engine could
scarcely pass round curves at all, even at any cost
of friction, with the ordinary construction of wheels
and axles. The difficulty is obviated by a very
simple process.

The four central wheels have their axles rigidly
parallel to each other. Consequently, in the ordinary
mode of construction, they could not move in a curved
line without a good amount of impedimental fric-
tion. This friction is avoided by a very simple pro-
cess of construction. The wheel tires are applied on
hoop springs of elastic steel placed between the
wheel and tire. On these springs the tires can slip
or revolve without sliding on the rails, and thus the
revolutions of the tires are adjusted to the varying
length of the rails on curves by self-action. This
sliding of the wheels on the tires is not found in
any way to impede the tractive power of the en-
gine, but the contrary. The extreme wheels at
o
either end have their tires applied in the Sam
mode, but another movement is also supplied —the
axles have very long bearings, and the boxes 1
which they run, instead of being
struck from c e
axles, are formed in curved lines .
this cur-
parallel to thaff
.4al points, and are permitted to move in .
des be-
neath this is that the
vature through the hornplates anduaxle-gni
neath the spring shoes. The result of
the course of
wheels and flanges are free to follow
and on curves,
the rails both on the straight 1 ein point of
advantage
1 on curves always
with the very important
xt'
es
safety that the extremete
(1)1t the aurve,hanud
hcontshe-o
point truly to theecteon
ther rails, 0
Q reeva-nlirtingo theg axle
quently are square
of a " - 4There is, therea
curve may be in the form
opposite directions.
escape from the
to radiate in OPP°s•-: e wheels to
fore no tendency in the
radii, the great length of the
or straight lines, and though
rails either on curves or
such small the •
action of the pistons
adapted to su
revents both vertical and late-
frame governs andd controls
e wheels are deprived of
th
on the cranks, anhitpe
late-
ral oscillation,.
irregularity by the removal of the
dangerous friction, and the wear and.
their vicious
and
costly
and rails is reduced to the minimum.
process is simple for rendering heavy
tear of tires
powerfulThus,the
engines practicable by increasing
and t base, and distributing the load for the
their wheel
of heavy gradients. A mountain side may
ascent
traversed by a series of zigzags, like those
thus be travers
of the old horse paths, and narrow and tortuous
valleys may be threaded along the course of moun-
tain streams. The highlands of Scotland and of
Wales, of Derbyshire and the Lake districts, the
mountain regions of Italy, Switzerland, and Spain
are all within the reach of a cheap system of steam
tlocomotion, dispensing with costly tunnels and pro-
pderos of time ; and it becomes easy to deal
with the streets and roads of towns and cities, when
a powerful engine capable of lure loads and Ligh
speeds can move freely round a curve similar to that
of the Oxford-street circus.
If any of (nix readers doubt, let them visit the St
Helcn';; line and judge for tbetmelvcs, where they
will find an engine, not merely not costly, hut with
a principle eapub:e of adaptation to existing stock.
Millen°, engines for lines of sharp curves have not
been well adapted to high speed, but that
difficulty
la is
plains
has ceased. The same engine may traverseoti
and make its journey through—or ratherhthe exception
over—the
the
p
mountains with equal facility with
,
that it cannot carry so heavy a load
advantage that
uphill as on the
plain. And it has the additional
the blending a sharp curve with a steep ascent—the
most difficult of all railway
problems under present
in
y interfere with flee
power beyond that
due to gravitation and ax
rolling movement, er abs7rerl any
friction.— Times,

MESSRS. JAY and CO. have now on show
the most unique erfect assortment of
BONNETS,
Which their Manager has selected in Paris, and brought
back with her tot his Establishment.
47, 20, 251, Regent-street.

BONNET'S SILKS a LYON.—Every Article of
merce takes its title either from the inventor or
com
ihe. more perfect the
.production the
manufacturer. and
grater is the credit which attaches to the originator.
BONNET'S SILKS are said to be incapable of identifica-
in England; but the fallacy of such an assertion is ex-
Von
post. d by the very trade mark of the firm, as exhibited by
Messrs. JAY, of Regent-street.
The following- interwoven mark may be seen at the end
of eaeli piece :—" Manufacture de C. J. Bonnet et Cie., a. Lyon
et it Injurieux." Weir guaranteed.

IFEBOAT SERVICES.—Darinz the recent
J heavy gales some of the Coats of the Na ional T,ifeboat
Institution saved e 7 persons from different wrecks. The
Committee of the Institution earnest y APPEAL to the
public tor ASSIi,TANuIt; to enable 'hem to meet the con--
tinned Ilea, y demands on the Int titution' s ;2:11110) at estab—
lishments. contributions are receivtd by all the Lon,:?n,
and country bankers; and by the Secretary, Richard Lewis,
at the Institution, 11, ,),lin-street, Ade!phi,

ROYAL ENGLISH. OPERA,,
COVENT-GARDEN.
Under the Manai.,,ement of Miss Louisa Pyae and
Mr. NV. Harrison.
THIS EVENING, Wallace's Romantic Opera, TUJI
DESERT FLOWER : Miss Louisa Pyne, Miss Susan Pyne
News. W. 11. Weiss, H. Corri. A. Cook, and W. Harrison..
To conclude with THE MARRIAGE OF GEJRGETTEi.•
lass Thirlwall and M r• H. Cong.
Conductor, Mr. A. Mellon.
Doors open at half-past Six—..'ommencc at Seven.

fIE ATRE ROYAL DRU RY -LANE. - -
Managers, Messrs. E. Falconer and F• B• Chatterton.
THIS EVENING, her Majesty's Servants will perform :a
New and Original Farce, by Messrs. Wm Brough and /I .
Halliday, entitled MY HEART'S IN THE HIGHLANDti
characters by Mr. Neville, Mr. G. Weston, Mr. Wardc.,
Mr. J. Ma
; Mrs. C. 3lelville, and Miss Harfieur.
After which, Lord Byron's Choral 'Tragedy, MNFREE,.
Messrs. r hems,p Ryder, Rayner, Meagreson, Ward, Spence li
r ;
Miss Eburne,-3liss E. Atkinson, Miss Leclercq, and Mrs.
Falconer. Vocalists—Misa Poole, Miss "titter, Miss Cicely
Nott, Miss Heywood, and Mr. Swift.
To conclude with an Orig,,inal Farce, by J. Oxenfor),
Esq entitled TIEAUTY Ott Till; BEAST. Principal cht-
racters by Messrs. Addison, G. F. Neville, Barret, Spencer,
and G. Weston ; Mrs Edmund Falconer and Miss R. Leclern,

HEATRE ROYAL HAY MARKET.—
TSole Lessee and Manager, Mr, Buckstone.
THIS EVE.NING, SILKEN FETTEdS : Measrs. Chas
Mathews, Chippendale, W. Farren, Howe, ,Le. ; Mesdame's.
C. Mathews and M. Barris.
.MesdamesECE. ll r e z;.r
Mathews.s .
iv E Math
1=
e,
ac
bo
rnY prrt Elo
nE, IVa th GOLDENs 1)37 , F,
t 10
: E;
L Keeley. Gritfith, Szc.
Followed by COOL AS A CUCUMBER. Mr. C.
And MIC RUSBAND'S GdOST.
Commence at 7. Mathews, Charles

LYCEUM THEATRE..
0
ft, Under the Sole Management of Mr. Fechter.
BET, DE MONT° (a Triumphant Success) will be repeated
Every Evening until further notice.
THI-; EVENING, the Comedietta, by W. Gilbert, entitled
UNCLE BABY Mess-s. Widdicombe, J. G. Shore, Charles ;
Ns p. Leclercq, and Carlotta Leclercq.
Alter which, at Eight o'clock, BEL DE:VONTO, a Love
Story, in Twelve Tableaux, taken from Stendhal's " ftwian
Chronicle ," by Mr. John Brougham. Principal charac-
ter by Mr. Fechter, supported by Messrs. Jordan, Charles,
Brougham, Emery, Raymond, Moreland, Smith, Clifford,
Collett, Andrews, Sims ; Miss Kate Terry, E. Lavenue, M ra.
Lee, and Miss I:lsworthy.
Doors open at half-past 6—commence at 7.

LEAH.-EVERY NIGHT.

NE W THEATRE-R0 VAL, ADELPHL-
Sole Pronristor and Manager. Mr. R Wobster.
THIS EVENING, at 7, THE TRAGEDY QUEEN: Mrs.
tiding.
At 8, the New Drama of LEAH : 7th weeK of Miss Bate-
man, supported by Messrs. Arthur Stirling, R. Phillips, 811-
lington, Stuart, A Wood, Eburne, Miss H. Simms and Mrs.
To conclude will CATCHING AN HEIRESS : Miss
Woolgar and Mr. A. Wood.