The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-26 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—As the subject of the screl propeller is now
exciting great interest, and is really of great public im-
portance, I beg to trouble you with the following re-
marks on this interesting question.
It appears to me that your correspondents, whose
letters were published in the Times of the 15th and 20th
inst., on the subject of feathering the screw when not at
work, are not aware that there is now a screw propeller
in operation whose peculiar construction obviates the
necessity of feathering when the vessel is under canvass
only, and yet gives a greater speed with less vibration
and consumption of fuel than has been obtained from
any other screw.
The two blades of this propeller are not more than
one-third the width of those in ordinary use, and when
placed in a vertical position, in a line with the stern post
offer little (if any) resistance to the water as it flows past
the vessel. In a screw on this principle of 12 feet
diameter, the points of the blades do not exceed 2 feet 6
inches wide.
Its efficiency in propelling has been severely tested,
and I need only refer to the results that have been
obtained from it when applied to the Lariston and Fore-
runner. The former, a vessel of 600 tons, with a pro-
peller of 8 feet 10 inches diameter, made her passage from
Plymouth to Tencriffe in December last in six days, the
two first of these against a strong head wind and sea, the
engines making 34 revolutions per minute. When tried
a few weeks before, with an ordinary propeller of 9 feet
diameter, and three times the width of blades, the
engines made 42 revolutions, with a corresponding
increase in the consumption of fuel and wear and tear of

machinery.
The Forerunner, of 400 tons burden and 50-horse
power, fitted with one of these screws of 8 feet 6 inches
diameter, which left Falmouth on the 31st of December
last, made the passage to Madeira in seven days—the
four first against a violent headwind and sea, the engines
making 70 to 75 revolutions per minute ; while, with an
ordinary screw of 9 feet diameter and the same pitch,
with blades above three times the width at the point, the
engines made 99 revolutions per minute, with a less
speed of vessel. It may be added, that the General
Screw Company's ship Propontis, having an ordinary
screw, left Plymouth a short time before the Fore-
runner, and was ten days six hours performing the same
_
voyage.

I am, Sir, &c.
AN ENGINEER.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

BETTING AT MANCHESTER—YESTERDAY.
NEWTON STEEPLECHASE.
7 to 2 agst Shinrone (taken).
4 to 1 agst Heroine (taken).
4 to 1 agst Quickstep taken).
NEWMARKET HANDICAP.
12 to 1 agst Contentment (taken).
Nothing else backed.
METROPOLITAN HANDICAP.
14 to 1 agst Contentment (taken freely).
22 to 1 agst Redmond O'Hanlon (taken).
25 t.l agst Pug Orrock (taken).
80 to 1 agst Galvanism (taken).
30 to 1 agst Grapeshot (taken).
30 to 1 agst Snowdon Dunhill (taken).
CHESTER CUP.
22 to 1 agst Lady Evelyn (taken).
25 to 1 agst Scarecrow (taken).
40 to 1 agst Contentment (taken).
40 to 1 agst Trifle (taken).
40 to 1 agst Indian Warrior (taken).
DERBY
11 to 1 agst West Australian (taken).
1000 to 10 agst Contentment (taken).

VISIT OF M. KOSSUTH TO THE MORNING ADVERTISER
OFFlCE.—Yesterday M. Kossuth, accompanied by seve-
ral of his friends, visited the establishment of the
Morning Advertiser, and went over and minutely ex-
amined the whole of the premises. He appeared to be
much struck with the magnitude and arrangement of
the place, and to take a particular interest in the printing
machine, which, when going at full speed, throws off
nearly 6,000 impressions in an hour. The illustrious
Hungarian, whom we were gratified to find in greatly
improved health and in excellent spirits, remained about
an hour on the establishment of this journal.—Morning
Advertiser.

REFORM MEETING AT MANCHESTER. —A social soiree
or reunion of the free trade representatives and leading
Reformers of Lancashire is to be held at the Manchester
Town-hall on the 3d proximo, at which several hundred
gentlemen are expected to be present. The representa-
tives who have accepted invitations are —Messrs. James
Heywood, W. Brown, and John Cheetham, members
for the county ; Mr. Gibson and Mr. Bright, members
for Manchester ; Mr. Brotherton, member for Salford ;
Mr. Kershaw and Mr. Smith, members for Stockport;
Mr. Hindley, member for Ashton ; Mr. Pilkington and
Mr. Eccles, members for Blackburn ; Mr. W. J. Fox,
member for Oldham ; and Mr. Crook, member for
Bolton. Mr. George Hadfield, M.P., of Manchester,
will also be present.

Snow has fallen during the last few days tin the
north of Hampshire and on the coast of Dorset.