The Sun.
London, England, 1849-10-22 00:00:00

7 OCTOBER 22, 1849.
No. 17,808.] LONDON, MONDAY e -Y.

ELIZA NOWO PUBLISHOK'SING,
C JOURNAL,
A WEEKLY PERIODICAL,
PRICE THREE-HALFPENCE,

CONTAINING
LITERARY MATTER of INFORMATION and AMUSEMENT.
The First Volume of ELIZA COOK'S JOURNAL is now com-
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sense of the honourable and coveted position which a generous Public
has placed her in.

Many difficulties beset the path of a young Journalist which a
little experience removes, and most earnest thanks are proffered for
the kind indulgence bestowed on the errors which have occasionally
marked the Editorial and Practical Departments. The best proof of
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Journal far more worthy of the flattering patronage it receives,
and without any fallacious beast, she can promise her Readers a
future supply of sound and valuable matter.
The most gratifying circumstance attending the extensive circula-
tion and cordial reception of the Journal has been in proving that a
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of the chief essentials, not only of periodical literature, but of our
whole lives, it should ever be blended with a principle and purpose
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From the cheering encouragement already received, the Editor
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whose generous perceptions stamped her first attempt as a Poet.
ELIZA
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TO MR. PROUT, 229, STRAND.
"No. 208, Piccadilly, London, October 19, 1847.
Sir,—lt is now three and a half years since I was sorely afflicted
with Rheumatic Gout, the suffering from which induced tee to try
all the proposed remedies that extensive medical experience could
devise, without obtaining any satisfactory relief from pain. During
one of the paroxysms a friend advised me to try BLAIR'S GOUT
and RHEUMATIC PILLS, observing that he had in some severe
cases taken them himself, and they proved very successful. I in-
stantly adopted his advice, and to my joy the excruciating torment
soon began to abate, and a few boxes restored me to health, since
which I have bad no return of the complaint.
" I trust you wiligive publicity to my case, that suffering humanity
may know how to obtain a remedy for this distressing disease.
" I am, Sir, your obedient humble servant,
" MICEL NASMYTIL"
The above testimonial is a further proof of HA
the efficacy of Blair's
Gout and Rheumatic Pills, which afford speedy relief to those afflicted
with gout, rheumatism, lumbago, sciatica, tic doloreux, pains in the
head and face, and all analogous complaints.
The never-failing effects of BLAIR'S GOUT and RHEUMATIC
PILLS in curing every description of Gout and Rheumatism, have
secured to them a celebrity unequalled by any medicine of past
er present times. They not only give relief in a few hours. but re-
store to perfect health in an inconceivably short space of time. They
are equally speedy and certain in lumbago, sciatica, pains in the head
or face, and indeed in every rheumatic or gouty affection : in fact,
such has been the rapidity, perfect ease, and complete safety of this
medicine, that it has astonished all who have taken it ; and there is
scarcely a city, town, or village in the kingdom but contains many
grateful evidences of its benign influence.
Sold by Thomas Prout, 229, Strand, London, and, by his appoint-
ment, by all respectable Medicine Vendors throughout the United
Kingdom. Price 2s. 9d. per box.
Ask for BLAIR'S GOUT and RHEUMATIC PILLS, and observe
the name and address of " Thomas Prout, 229, strand, London," im-
pressed upon the Government Stamp affixed to each box o:fthe
genuine Medicine.
L S. D.

No alphabetic characters we see,
More requisite in trade than L. S. D. ;
Which letters of the alphabet, I deem,
Will furnish Moses with a tidy theme.
Pounds, Shillings, Pence, in all their worth we see
Embodied in the cyphers, L. S. D.
In all transactions, all affairs of trade,
These characters are legibly displayed ;
And well 'twould be if no one would abuse
The arithmetic signs which thus they use.
The ancient adage daily goes its rounds,
That p nee amount to shillings—shillings, pounds.
How necessary, then, that all should see
The importance of improving L. S. D.
These characters may be improved by all
Who favour Moses' warehouse with a call.
By here obtaining Moses' famous dresses,
You'll very shortly change your D.'s to S.'s.
Nay, more than that : experience daily tells
That S 's here are changed to golden L.'s.
I here allude to moderate prices paid
For all the articles in Moses' trade.
The reader can't do better than to try
Meses and Son's superior supply.
Sound quality and elegance appear
In all the various clothing purchased here;
And as to pece, you cannot fail to see
What honest use is made of L. S. D.
LIST OF PRICES.

READY MADE.
Autumn and Winter Over coat., in every
The Bulwer, handsomely and warmly trimmed 0 18 0
The Paletot, ditto .. •.. • . 0 18 0
Chesterfield, ditto •• • • 1 0 0
The Albert Wrapper, a very handsome style
of CoTt r Coat .. •• • • ••• • • • • • 1 5 0
Shooting Coats
Lounging or Morning Coats •• .. 0 4 6
Autumn and Winter Trousers, in Tweed •••• 0 4 6
Ditto ditto Doeskin .. 0 7 6
Ditto Vests ••..• • • • 0 2 6
Black Silk Telvet Vests.— ..... • ..... 0 13 6
Dress Coats .•
Frock Ditto .• ..... ....... •• .• 019 0
Youths and Boys' Over Coats, in every style,
from ..
Hussar and Tonle Suits ............. ..... 0 14 6
Boys' Autumn and Winter Vests • • ........ 0 0 3
MADE TO MEASURE.
Men's Autumn and Winter Over Coats.. from 1 1
The Chesterneld Wrapper, In a warm. ma-
• terial, lined
The Paletot, handsomely and warmly trimmed 1 16 0
The Eglinton Wrapper, a very elzgant style of
Over Coat •2 0 0
The Strathmore Witney Over Coat, newest
style, lined throughout
Autumn and Winter Trowsers, in Tweed and
Doeskin.... • ... 0 10 6
Bestßest
Autumnßß
llaa
ecalkn
dce
lalvstvihinmtdeei
Winter
oevdel.st.tt:.•
0051
118836
6660
Black Silk Velvet ditto .
„ Dress Coats..
„ Frock ...... .• • • from 355. to 33 0
Hussar and Tunic •• •••• • .. from I f> 0
Superfine ••• • • • •••••••••••• • • • • •• • • • • • 115 0
Men's Shooting Coat •• • • ••••• • •• .. 0 lb 0
Elegant Dressing Robes, in great variety,
from ••• • • •
A Large Sleek of Fur Coats, in every shape, from 60s, to 201.
Naval and Military uniforms, Liveries, &e.
Mourning to any extent at Five Minutes' notice.
A Suit of Mourning complete for 11. 10s.
oMillion," thr
Hill
dirThecteionnsewforh°Soetli-meneastitluredem"
eTnhte, Minion
be hoafdthene
for-
warded, post free, to any part of the kingdom.
Notice—The Fur Department is now replete with every novelty
the season.

Observe—Any article purchased, either ready made, or ntade to
measure, if not approved of will be exchanged, or the money returned.
E. MOANS and SSN, Tailors, Woollendrepers, Clothiers, Hatters,
Hosiers, Furriers, Boot and Shoemakers, and General Outfitters, 154,
155, 156, and 157 Minories, and 83, 14, 85, and 86 Aldgate, City,
London ; all communicating with each other, and forming one vast
Establishment.

Caption.—E. Moses and Son regret haying to guard the pablic
against imposition ; but having heard that the imtradesmanlike
falsehood of being connected with them, or " It is the same concern,"
has been resorted to in many instances, and for obvious reasons,
hey beg to state that they have ao connexion with any other home
in er out of London, except their Branch Establishments, 36, Far-
fate, Sheffield ; and 19, Thornton's-buildings, Bradford, Yorkshire ;
tni those who require cheap and genuine clothing, should call
at or send to the hfizories and Aldgate, City, London ; or either of
the Branch Establishments, as above.
Tate Notice.-- This Establishment is closed !rem sunset Friday,
to mallet 81t0 7, whin busima Is reamed till twelve o'slook.

THE ROYAL POLYTECHNIC
INSTITUTION, REGENT-STREET.
Dissolving Views, of Rome.—Lecture and Experiments, with the
hydro-Electric Machine.—Lectures au Chemistry--Exhibition of the
Oxy-hydrogen Microscope.—Diver and Diving-bell.—The Chroma-
trope.—Explanations of Models and Machinery.
Open daily from Eleven to Five ; and in the Evenings (except
,Aturday) from Seven till Half-past Ten.
Admission. Is.---Schools, Half-price.—The New Catalogue, Is.

APPETITE AND DIGESTION IMPROVED.
EA and PERRINS' WORCESTERSHIRE
SAUCE imparts the most exquisite relish to Steaks, Chops,
and all Roast Meat Gravies, Fish, Game, Soup, Curries, and Salad,
and by its tonic and invigorating properties enables the stomach to
perfectly digest the food.

The daily use of this aromatic and delicious Sauce is the best safe•
guard to health.

Sold by the proprietors, Lea and Perrins, 6, Vera-street, Oxford-
4treet, London, and 68, Broad-street, Worcester; also by Messrs.
Barclay and Sons, Messrs. Crosse and Blackwell, and other Oilmen
and Merchants, London ; and generally by the principal dealers in
sauce.

N.B. To guard against imitations, see that the names of " LEA
and PERRINS" are upon the label and patent cap of the bottle.

A tx E.
.1/1 One half the world are desolately single, and the ether
•upposing them married, questionably contented. Diffidence, or a
;enso of right determine the former, and miscalculated hopes em-
..tter the latter. The solitary one may shield himself under the plea
Sf caution and worldly prudence, and the indizsoluble, regret un-
tomprosing harry; but the truth lies deeper. Physical incapacity,
md broken health, are the great hindrances to domestic happiness
Ind social content. The dowry should not be the only marriage set-
ae/sent. Honour and justice demand that health should form an item
TI the compact; it alone dignifies the alliance. Blighted hopes or
neglect weand more sorely than poverty or misfortune. Reader, if
these surmises concern you, procure Dr. CIILVERWELL'S little
'IEMOIRS "On Single and Married Life, " pub. in 2 vole., ls.
!Itch (by post, in stamps, ls. 6d. each). Let no imaginatively
mflned, or prudish feeling deter you, by their titles, nor be hindered
)3,- misinterpretation of their supposed contents, from obtaining
:hen. They are not intended certainly for mere idle cariosity, but
fir the closet perusal of those mere deeply interested, to whom
they are offered as antagonistic to the empyrical trash put forth on
the above subjects, by unqualified authors, whieh alone or
•)gether, are a disgrace to the age. Furthermore, two other
ale publications claim your attention (same price ls. each,
by r oat Is. 6d.) called " What to Eat, Drink, and
/veld," and " How to be Happy." They are not merely
pamplletx, but equal in quantity a library volume, nor are they the
mere Ephemeral scribblings of the hour, but the study of the author's
life who owes his present existence, health, and position to this ob-
*francs of the maxims he would inculcate—to do unto others as he
worth; he done unto—to live after nature's laws—and to keep always
on the "sunny side of the way." The above works may be had of
Sherwood, 23, Paternoster-row ; Carvalho, 14Y, Fleet-street • Mann,
39, Cornhill ; Spikes, 5, Holborn-hill ;or direct (by post or other-
wise) tons the author (who may be conferred with personally,
mornings end aveninvi), 10, Argyll-rdses Regent-street; and all
Booksellers.

THE BRITANNIA AND CONWAY
TUBULAR BRIDGES.
We make the following extracts from an extremely
interesting article on the construction of that gigan-
tic work of science and art—the Britannia Bridge—
in the last number of the Quarterly. The first
extract refers to the tests which it was found neces-
sary to apply to ascertain the mode by which the
greatest strength in the hollow iron bridge could be
obtained :
" One of the most interesting and important re-
sults of the preliminary investigations so ably con-
ducted by Mr. Fairbairn and his friend and associate
Mr. Hodgkinson, was the astonishing difference found
to exist between the power of cast and that of wrought
iron to resist compression and extension. From the
experience which engineers and builders had obtained
in imposing weights upon cast-iron girders of all
shapes and sizes, it had long been considered almost
a mechanical axiom that iron possessed greater power
to resist compression than extension ; whereas Mr.
Fairbairn's experiments, to his surprise, as well as
to that of all who witnessed them, most clearly de-
monstrated that, after bearing a certain amount of
weight, the resisting properties of cast and of wrought
iron are diametrically opposite; in short, the results
in figures proved to be nearly as follows:
" Cast iron can resist per square inch—
" Compression of from 35 to 49 tons.
ironrseisos ni
oc ona
nfo
rfefsismt ple2r stqoula3retoinnesh.
" Wrought
LcEoxiCompression
en
-p
Extension of „ 16 ,18 „
" The unexpected results thus obtained were of in-
calculable practical value ; for, if the preliminary ex-
periments proposed by Mr. Stephenson had not been
made, he, Mr. Fairbairn, Mr. Hodgkinson, Mr.
Clark, and indeed, all the eminent engineers and
mathematicians of the present day, would, on the
correct principle of everywhere adjusting the thick-
ness of iron to the force it has to resist, have erro-
neously concurred in recommending that the proposed
wrought-iron tubes for crossing the Conway and
Menai Straits should be constructed stronger at
bottom than at top, instead of, as it appears they
ought to be, stronger at top than at bottom; in conse-
quence of which error the aerial gallery would have
been improperly weakened in one part by an amount
of iron which would have unscientifically overloaded
it at another, and thus, like Falstaff's increasing
belly and decreasing legs,' the huge mass, with dimi-
nished strength, would have laboured under unnecessary
weight.
" By continuing with great patience and ability the
experiments above referred to, it was finally ascer-
tained that the relative strength of wrought iron in
the top and bottom of the tubes should he in the pro-
portion of about 5 to 4; and whereas, had they been
constructed of cast iron, these proportions would have
been reversed in the higher proportion of nearly 5 to
1, it may reasonably be asked why, if the latter ma-
terial bears compression so much better than the
former, it was not selected for the top of the tube ?
In theory this adjustment of the two metals to the
force which each was peculiarly competent to resist,
would have been perfectly correct. It, however, could
not practically be effected, from the difficulty of cast-
ing as well as of connecting together plates 10 and 12
feet in length of the very slight thicknesses required.
Mr. Stephenson, therefore, adhered to his determina-
tion to make the whole of his aerial galleries of
wrought iron ; and we may here observe that, to
ensure the public from accident, he further resolved
that the amount of the force of extension upon them
should be limited to only one-third of their power of
resistance, that of compression to one-half—the reason
of the difference being that, inasmuch as any little
flaw in the iron would infinitely more impair its
power to resist extension than compression, it was
evidently safer to approximate the limits of the latter
than of the former.
" As the exact strength of a hollow wrought iron
tube, such as was proposed, was unknown to engi-
neers, it was deemed necessary by Mr. Stephenson
that its form, as well as the disposition of its materials,
should be correctly ascertained. This portion of the
investigation Mr. Fairbairn and his colleagues, with
great care and ability, conducted by subjecting tubes
of different shapes to a series of experiments, the re-
sults of which were briefly as follows :
"1. Cylindrical tubes, on being subjected to nine
very severe trials, failed successively by collapsing at
the top—or, in other words, by evincing inability to
resist compression :-=-the tube, losing its shape, gra-
dually became elongated or lantern-jawed, while the
two extremities wereipbserved to flatten or bulge out
sideways—beside which the ends, which for precau-
tion sake rested on concentric wooden beds, invariably
bent inwards.
" 2. Elliptical tubes, with thick plates riveted to
the top and bottom had been particularly recom-
mended for experiment by Mr. Stephenson. These
tubes under heavy pressure displayed greater stiffness
and strength than round or cylindrical ones ; but,
after being subjected to a variety of torturing expe-
riments of a most ingenious description, they all
evinced comparative weakness in the top to resist
compression. They likewise exhibited considerable
distortions of form.
"3. A family weakness in the head having been
thus detected in all models circular at bottom and
top, rectangular tubes were in their turn next sub-
jected to trial. As they at once appeared to indicate
greater strength than either of the other two forms
had done, a very elaborate and interesting investiga-
tion was pursued by Mr. Fairbairn, who, by the light
of his experiments, soon satisfied himself of the
superiority of this form over the other two ; and as
every successive test confirmed the fact, he continued
his search with an energy that has only since been
equalled by the American judge, who, it is said, on
arriving at California deserted the bench for 'the
diggings.'
" The following is an abstract of the important
result of about forty experiments made by Messrs.
Fairbairn, Hodgkinson, and Clark, on the compara-
tive strength of circular, elliptical, and rectangular
tubes :—Circular, 33 ; Elliptical, 15 ; Rectangular, 21.
" As soon as the rectangular was, by the investiga-
tion recommenced by Mr. Stephenson, clearly ascer-
tained to be the best form of hollow tube that could
be selected, the next important problemn to be deter-
mined by experiment was what amount of strength
should be given to it, or, in other words, what should
be the thickness of its top and bottom, in which, as
we have shown, consisted its main power.
" The investigation on this subject soon demon-
strated that if, instead of obtaining this thickness by
riveting together two or three layers of plates, they
were, en the principle of the beam itself, placed in
horizontal strata a foot or two asunder—the included
hollow space being subdivided by small vertical plates
into rectangular passages or fines extending along the
whole top as well as bottom of the tube—an immense
addition of strength, with very nearly the same weight
of material, would be obtained.
" This adaptation proving highly advantageous, it
was deemed advisable by Mr. Stephenson that fur-
thei experiments should be made by Mr. Fairbairn
and his colleagues to determine finally the precise
form and proportions of the great tubes. For this
object an entirely new model tube, one-sixth of the

dimensions of the intended Britannia-bridge was very
carefully constructed ; and the cellular tops and bot-
toms thereof, as well as the sides, were subjected to a
series of experiments until the exact equilibrium of
resistance to compression and extension, as also the
variations in the thicknesses of the plates in the
several parts of the tube as they approached or receded
from different points of support, were most accurately
ascertained.
"In these as well as in all the previous experiments
the trial tubes were loaded till they gave v►ay—the
results being accurately recorded and transmitted by
Mr. Clark to Mr. Stephenson, who in return confi-
dentially assisted Mr. C. with his opinion and advice.
From the fibrous nature of wrought iron, as compared
with the crystalline composition of the cast metal, the
tendency to rupture in most of these experiments was
slow and progressive. Destruction was never instan-
taneous, as in cast iron, but it advanced gradually;
the material, for some time before absolute rupture
took place emitting an unmistakeable warning noise;
just as a camel, while kneeling on the burning sandy
desert, and while writhing his head from one side to
the other, snarls, grunts, grumbles, and groans louder
and louder, as his swarthy turban-headed owners keep
relentlessly adding package after package to his load.
" Although it can he mathematically shown that
the two sides of a thin hollow tube are of but little
use except to keep the tops and bottoms at their duty
—the power of resistance of the latter being, how-
ever, enormously increased by the distance that sepa-
rates them—it was nevertheless necessary to ascertain
the precise amount of lateral strength necessary to
prevent the aerial gallery .writhing from storms of
wind. The riveting process was likewise subjected
to severe trial, as also the best form and application
of the slender ribs termed ' angle irons,' by which not
only the plates were to be firmly connected, but the
tube itself materially strengthened—in fact, the angle
irons were to be its bones, the thin plate iron covering
being merely its skin.
" Mr. Stephenson had two main objects in inst.'

Luting the investigations we have detailed. First, to
determine by actual experiment what amount of
strength could be given to his proposed galleries ; and
secondly, of that maximum how much it would be
proper for him to exert. And as his decisions on these
subjects will probably be interesting to our readers,
most especially to that portion of them whose for-
tunes or fate may doom them occasionally to fly
through his baseless fabric, we will endeavour very,
briefly to explain the calculations on which they ap-
pear to have been based.
" As a common railway train weighs upon an
average less than a ton per foot, as the greatest dis-
tances between towers of the Britannia-bridge amount
each-to 460 feet, and as it is a well-known mathema-
tical axiom among builders arid engineers that any
description of weight spread equally along a beam
produces the same strain upon it as would be caused
by half the said weight imposed on the centre, it
follows that the maximum weight which a monster
train of 460 feet (an ordinary train averages about
half that length) could at one time inflict on any
portion of the unsupported tube, would amount to
460 tons over the whole surface, or to 230 tons at
the centre.
"Now, to ensure security to the public, Mr. Ste-
phenson, after much deliberation, determined that the
size and adjustment of the iron to be used should,
according to the experiments made and recorded, be
such as to enable the aforesaid unsupported portions
of the tube (each 460 feet in length) to bear no less
than 4,000 tons over its whole surface, or 2,000 tons
in the centre, being nine times greater than the
amount of strength necessarily required ; and as the
results—unexpected as well as expected—of the
searching investigation which had been instituted,
incontestably proved, that this Herculean strength
could be imparted to the galleries without the aid of
the chains, which, even as an auxiliary, had been de-
clared lunnecessary—and as Mr. E. Clark had very
cleverly ascertained that it would be cheaper to con-
struct the tubes on the ground than on the aerial
platform as first proposed—Mr. Stephenson deter-
mined, on mature reflection, to take upon himself
the responsibility of reporting to the directors of the
Chester and Holyhead Railway that this extra ca-
tenary support, which would have cost the company
150,0001., was wholly unnecessary. Indeed, such
was the suprabundance of power at his command,
that, without adding to the weight of the rectan-
gular galleries, he could materially have strengthened
them by using at their top and bottom circular flues
instead-of square ones, which, merely for the sake of
cleaning, &c , were adopted, although the former were
found on experiment to bear about 18 tons to the
square inch betbre they became crushed, whereas the
latter could only support from 12 to 14 tons.
" But the security which Mr. Stephenson deemed
it necessary to insure for the public may further be
illustrated by the following very extraordinary fact :
It has been mathematically demonstrated by Messrs.
Hodgkinson and Clark, as well as practically proved
by Mr. Fairbairn—indeed it will be evident to any
one who will go through the necessary calculations
on the subject—that the strain which would be
inflicted on the ironwork of the longest of Mr. Ste-
phenson's aerial galleries by a monster train sufficient
to cover it from end to end, would amount to six tons
Ps
squaretearnt
stress
thwhich e
e h isn
sexactly equalTelford's to the c o n
magnificent-
suspension Menai bridge, when, basking in sunshine
or veiled in utter darkness, it has nothing to support
but its own apparently slender weight I"
The next extract we shall give furnishes some
curious details as to the exertions which were neces-
sary in putting the tube together :
" PLATES.—The wrought-iron plates which form
the top, bottom, and sides of the Britannia ' land
tubes,' 230 feet in length, are, of course, slighter
than those required for the four, each 460 feet, which
overhang the stream.
" For these long tubes—which are of the same
height and breadth as the shorter ones—the dimensions
of the plates are as follows :
" For the bottom-12 feet in length, 2 feet 4
inches to 2 feet 8 inches in breadth, 7-16 to inch in
thickness.
" For the top-6 feet in length, 1 foot 9 inches to 2
feet 1-1,, inch in breadth, to inch in thickness.
" For the sides-6 feet to 6 feet 6 inches in length,
2 feet in breadth, to inch in thickness.
" Although these plates have been severally forged
with every possible attention, yet, to render them
perfect in thickness,-they are not allowed by Mr.
Stephenson to be used for the tubes until each has
been passed by the company's superintendent between
two uncompromising massive iron rollers worked by
steam, which, by revolving, quietly remove or rather
squeeze down that variety of pimples, boils, lumps,
bumps, and humps which, from unequal contraetion
in the process of cooling, occasionally disfigure the
surface of plate iron, and which in the workman's
dictionary bear the generic name of ' buckles.' When
the plates, the largest of which weigh about seven
hundred weight, have been thus accurately flattened,
they are, one after another, according to their dimen-
sions, carried by two or more men towards one of
several immense east-iron levers, which,- under the
influence of steam--but --apparently of their own ac-
cord, are to be seen from morning till night, whether
surrounded by workmen or not, very slowly and very
indolently ascending and descending once in every
three seconds.

" Beneath the short end of this powerful lever there
is affixed to the bottom of a huge mass of solid iron
a steel bolt—about the length, thickness, and latent
power of Lord John Russell's thumb—which, en-
dowed with the enormous pressure of from 60 to 80
tons, sinks, at every pulsation of the engine, into a
hole rather larger than itself, perforated in a small
anvil beneath.
"As soon as the labourers of the department bear-
ing each plate arrive at this powerful machine, the
engineer in charge of it, assisted by the carrying
men, dexterously places the edge of the iron upon the
anvil in such a position that the little punch in its
descent shall consecutively impinge upon one of a
series of chalk dots, which at four inches from each
other and 1 f inch from the edge, have been previously
marked around the four sides of the plate; and thus
four rows of rivet-holes, averaging an inch in diameter,
are, by the irresistible power we have described,
pierced through plate iron from one- half to three-
fourths of an inch in thickness, quite as easily as a
young cook playfully pokes her finger through the
dough she is kneading.
" Some of the steam-arms or levers just described
are gifted with what may be, termed double thumbs,'
and accordingly these perforate two holes at a time,
or forty per minute—the round pieces of iron cut
out falling, at each pulsation of the engine, upon
the ground, through the matrix or perforation in the
anvil.
" When the plates, averaging from six to twelve
feet in length, by above two feet in breadth, have been
thus punched all round, and before they are brought
to the tube, they are framed together on the ground,
in compartments of about twenty plates each (five in
length and four in breadth), in order to be connected to
each other by what are termed covering-plate and
angle irons.

11 In order to prepare the former (which are half
an inch in thickness, one foot in breadth, and about
two feet long), they are heated in a small furnace,
when, instead of passing between rollers, they are
put under a stamping, or, as it is technically termed,
a joggling block, which, by repeated blows, renders
their ourface perfectly flat; after Which 14 series of

holes, corresponding in size as well as in distance
from each other with those in the plates,' are
punched all along the outer edge of each
of their four sides. When thus prepared,
two of these small covering plates, one on each
side, are made to cover and overlap the horizontal line
of windage existing between the edges of the plates,
which, as we have stated, have been previously
arranged so as to touch each other; and bolts being
driven through the corresponding holes of the three
plates (the large plates lying between the two cover-
ing ones), they are firmly riveted together by the
process we shall now describe.
" RIVETS.—In the construction of the Britannia
tubes there have been required no less than two mil-
lions of bolts, averaging iths of an inch in diameter
and 4 inches in length. The quantity of rod-iron
consumed for this purpose has, therefore, amounted in
length to 126 miles, and in weight to about 900 tons !
" The mode in which these legions of trivets have
been constructed is briefly as follo*s :
"At the western end of the company's principal
forging establishment there stands a furnace or trough,
full of pieces of rod-iron from 31 to 41 inches in
length, packed together as closely as soldiers in a solid
square ofinfantry. As soon as, by the fiery breath of bel-
lows worked by steam, they have been made uniformly
red-hot, a little boy, whom they are all obliged to
obey, rapidly, and without partiality, favour, or affec-
tion, picks them out one after another through the
furnace door with a pair of pincers, from which he
quietly drops them perpendicularly into eight moulds,
each of which being about three-quarters of an inch
shallower than the length of the piece of iron it re-
spectively receives, they, of course, all equally pro-
trude about that distance above the surface.
"In this position they are handed over to a pale,
sturdy engineman or executioner, who, with about as
much mercy as Procrustes used to evince towards
those who slept on his bed, immediately places them
upon an anvil, towards which there every slowly de-
scends a huge superincumbent mass of iron-pressed
downwards by an immense long cast-iron lever
worked by steam.
"By this despotic power the red protruding portion
of each little rod is by a single crunch inexorably
flattened, or fraternised,' and thus suddenly con-
verted nolens volens into a bolt; it is no sooner
thrown upon the ground than the mould from which
it was ejected is again, by the child in waiting, filled
with another raw red-hot recruit, who, by a process
exactly the reverse of decapitation, is shortened, not
by the loss, but by the acquisition of a head.
"As soon as each set of the half-inch iron plates
which form the sides, top, and bottom of the Bri-
tannia tubes, have by a travelling crane been lifted—
technically termed picked up '—into their places, and
have been made to touch each other as closely as pos-
sible a moveable stage on wheels is drawn close to the
outside of the tube, for the purpose of firmly connect-
ing every set of plates to that which on each side
adjoins it. This work is performed by what is termed
a set of riveters,' composed of two 'riveters,' one
holder up,' and two rivet-boys.
"As soon as the two first have ascended the
scaffolding on the outside of the tube, and when the
holder-up sitting on a board suspended by ropes from
the roof, has exactly opposite to them taken up his
position on the inside, one of the boys quickly ab-
stracts from a travelling furnace, conveniently placed
for the purpose, a red-hot bolt, which 'by a circular
swing of his pincers he buries inside the tube towards
the other boy, his comrade or playfellow, who, as
actively as possible, with a similar instrument snap-
ping it up, not only runs with it towards the holder-
up, but as long as he can reach the rivet-holes inserts
it for him therein. As soon as this is effected the
holder-up presses against it an enormous iron hammer,
which forces it outwards until it is stopped by its
own head. The red protruding bolt is now mercilessly
assailed by the two riveters, whose sledge-hammers
meeting with a sturdy reaction from that of the
holder-up, which by a vast leverage oy length of
handle elastically returns blow for blow,' the bolt, in
about thirty seconds, becomes double-headed, when
one of the riveters, dropping his hammer, snatches up
a steel mould about nine inches long, called a swage,
which he continues to hold upon the newly-formed
head, until his comrade, by repeated blows of the
hammer, has swaged it into a workmanlike form.
" The bolt is thus finnlly converted into a rivet,
which, by contracting as it cools, binds together the
plates even more firmly than they had already been
almost cemented by the irresistible coercion of three
sledge-hammers; indeed, they are so powerfully
drawn together, that it has been estimated it would
require a force of from four to six tons to each rivet
to cause the plates to slide over each other.
" The bolts for the upper holes of the interior,
which, being about thirty feet high, are of course
completely out of the rivet-boy's reach, are dropped
by him into a concentric iron ring, which, by a wire
and cord passing over a pulley attached to one of the
uppermost plates, is rapidly raised, until the holder-up
is enabled by pincers to grasp the fiery iron, which,
on being inserted into its hole, he then instantly, as
before, presses with his hammer.
"By the operations above described, a set ' of
riveters usually drive per day about 230 rivets, of
which in each plate there are about 18 per yard in
two rows, averaging only 2i inches of clear space
between each bolt-head. On the large tubes alone
there have been employed at once as many as 40 sets
of riveters, besides 26 platers,' or men to adjust the
plates, each having from three to four men to assist
him ; and when this well-regulated system is in full
operation, it forms altogether not only an extraordi-
nary, but an astounding scene.
"Along the outside of the tube, suspended at dif-
ferent heights, are to be seen in various attitudes 80
riveters, some evidently watching for the protruding
red bolt, others either horizontally swinging their
sledge-hammers, or holding the rivet-swage.
"In the inside of this iron gallery, which is in
comparative darkness, the round rivet-holes in the
sides as well as in the roofs, not only appear like
innumerable stars shining in the firmament of heaven,
but the light beaming through each forms another as
bright a spot either on the ground or on the internal
surface of the tube. Amidst these constellations are
to be faintly traced, like the figures on a celestial
globe, the outlines of the holders-up, sitting at dif-
ferent altitudes on their respective stages. Beneath
them 40 or 50 rivet-boys are dimly seen, some hori-
zontally hurling red-hot bolts, others with extended
pincers running forwards with them, while fiery
bolts, apparently of their own accord, are to be ob-
served vertically ascending to their doom. This
cyclopean dance, which is of course most appropriately
set to music by the deafening reverberations of 70 or 80
sledge-hammers, is not altogether without danger,
for not only does a holder-up' from a wrong move•
ment occasionally—like a political Phaeton—all of a
sudden tumble down, but the rivet-boys, generally
unintentionally, but occasionally, it is said, from pure
mischief, burn each other more or less severely, in
which cases a couple of these little sucking Vulcans,
utterly unable, from incessant noise, to quarrel by
words, fall to blows, and have even been observed to
fight a sort of infernal duel with pincers, each trying
to burn his opponent anywhere and everywhere with 1
his red-hot bolt.

"But by far the most curious part of the riveting
process is to be seen on the flat roof or top of the
tube. This immense deck, which we have already
stated to be 472 feet in length, is composed of a
pavement of plates to be connected together by
eighteen longitudinal rows of rivets, the heads of
which are to be only 2} inches apart. Beneath this
surface, at a depth of only 1 foot 9 inches, there is, to
give additional strength, a similar stratum of plates,
the space included between both being divided into
eight compartments called flues, 21 inches deep by 20
inches broad, exactly resembling those of a common
stove. After the horizontal bottoms and upright
sides of these eight flues have been firmly connected
together' by the battering process we have just de-
scribed, the upper stratum of plates are loosely laid
down, and, being thus by the superincumbent weight
of the iron covering securely adjusted, their final con-
nexion is effected as follows :

" A tiny rivet-boy—we observed one little mite
only ten years of age in clothes professionally
worn into holes at the knees and elbows—crawling
heels foremost for a considerable distance into
one of these flues as easily as a yellow
ferret trots into a rabbit-hole, is slowly followed
by his huge lord and master the holder up, who
exactly fits the flue, for the plain and excellent
reason, that by Mr. Stephenson the flue was pur-
posely predestined to be exactly big enough to fit
him; and as, buried alive in this receptacle, he can
move but very slowly, he requires some time, ad-
vancing head foremost, to reach the point at which he
is to commence his work. On arriving there, his
first process, lying on his left side, is with his right
hand to pass through one of the rivet holes in the
plate above him a little strong hook, to which is
attached a short hempen loop, or noose, which,
supporting the heavy end of his huge hammer, forms
a fulcrum upon which he can easily raise it against
the roof, simply by throwing his right thigh and leg
over the extremity of the long lever or handle of the
instrument.

" When similar preparations, by the injection of
other little rivet boys and other stout holders-up into
several of the other flues, have been made, the signal
for commencing operations is given by several red-hot
bolts falling, apparently from the clouds, among the
riroters, who, leaning on tboir ;lodge hgninlors, haro

been indolently awaiting their arrival. These bolts
have been heated on the outside of the tube on the
ground immediately beneath, in a portable furnace,
from which a gang of lithesome rivet-boys in attendance
extract them as fast as they are required, and then
walking away with them, without looking upwards, or
apparently caring the hundred-thousandth part of the
shaving of a farthing where they may fall, or whom
they may burn, they very dexterously, by a sudden
swing of their pincers, throw them almost perpendi-
cularly about 45 feet, or about 10 feet higher than
the top of the tube, upon which, as we have stated,
they fall among the7assernbled riveters as if they had
been dropped from the moon.
" As soon as these red hot meteors descend upon
the flat roof, another set of rivet boys eagerly snap
them up, and each running with his bolt, not to the
spot where it is required, but to one of certain holes
in the plate made on purpose for its insertion, he deli-
vers it into the pincers of the little sweep, rivet-boy,
or Ascanius, within the flue, who, having been
patiently waiting there to receive it, crawls along
with it towards his Pius Eons, the stout recumbent
holder-up. As soon as he reaches him he inserts for
him the small end of the bolt into the hole for which
it has been prepared, and through which, obedient to
its fate, it is no sooner seen to protrude than the
sledge-hammers of the expectant riveters, severely
jerking at every blow the heavy leg of the poor holder-
up, belabour it and swage' it into a rivet.
" The red-hot iron—unlike the riveters—cool
during the operation we have just described ; and
even if a by-stander, from being 'stone-blind, could
not see the change in its temperature, it could easily
be recognised by the difference in the sound of the
hammers between striking the bolt while it is hot and
soft, and when it has gradually become cool and
hard. But whatever may be the variety of colours or
of noises which accompany the formation of every
one of these roof-rivets, it is impossible to witness the
operation we have just described without acknow-
ledging, with a deep sigh, how true is the proverb
that one half of the world,' especially the rich half,
' does not know how the other half lives;' indeed,
unless we had witnessed the operation, We, could
scarcely have believed that any set of human beings,
or .rather fellow-creatures, could professionally work
from morning till night, stuffed horizontally. into a flue
of small dimensions—that they could endure the con-
finement which only allows them, by changing from
one side to another, to throw sometimes the right leg
and sometimes the left over the elastic handle of a
hammer—and above all, that they could bear the
deafening noises created close to and immediately
thundering into their very ears!
"In attentively watching the operations just de-
scribed we observed that at the sides of the tube it
required generally eighteen blows of the hammer to
flatten the end of the bolt, and then twelve blows on
the swage' to finish the head of the rivet; whereas,
on the roof, the former operation was usually effected
by only twelve blows, and the latter by eight or
nine. At first we conceived that this difference might
be caused by a reduction in the sizes of the plates and
bolts; but those in the roof proving to be the thickest
and longest, we, on a few moments' reflection, ascer-
tained that the reduction of labour in riveting the
roof is caused by the sledge hammers descending
upon it by gravity as well as by the main strength
of the riveters; whereas, at the sides, they are worked
by the latter power only."

COURT CIRCULAR.
WINDSOR, SATURDAY.
His Excellency Abbot Lawrence had his first audi•
ence of the Queen this day, at the Castle, and had
the honour of presenting his credentials to her Ma-
jesty, as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipo-
tentiary of the United State*. His Excellency will§
introduced by Viscount Palmerston,4lp.Q.B., her
Majesty's Principal SecTetary of State for Foreign
Affairs.

1 . The Right Hoh. Sir Henry Lytton Bulwer, K.C,8.,
was presented to her Majesty, at an audience, by
Viscount Palmerston, and took leave on proceeding
to America as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary to the United States.
The Queen and Prince Albert walked at an early
hour this morning.
The Prince of Wales and the other members of the
Royal Family took their usual airings.
Her Majesty, attended by the Viseountess Canning,
Lady in Waiting, and General Wemyss, Equerry in
Waiting, drove out in Windsor Park.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert went out shoot-
ing this morning, attended by Lord Waterpark,
.Major-General Bowles,' Lieut.-Colonel A. N. Hood,
and Lieut.-Colonel F. H. Seymour.
The Earl of Carlisle left the Castle this morning.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent dined
with the Queen and Prince Albert this evening.
Lord Waterpark has relieved Lord Canioys in his
duties as Lord in Waiting to her Majesty.

SUNDAY.
Her Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert
took their usual early walk this morning.
The Royal Family took walking exercise.
The Queen and Prince Albert, the ladies and
gentlemen of the Court, and the domestic household,
attended Divine service in the private chapel. The
Hon. and Rev. G. Wellesley officiated. Her Royal
Highness the Duchess of Kent also attended the
service.

His Royal Highness Prince George left town on
Saturday night.

HEALTH of the QUEEN DOWAGER.
(From the Court Circular.)
Her Majesty the Queen Dowager passed rather an
indifferent night on Friday, but appeared more
composed on Saturday morning, and slightly rallied
in the afternoon.
Their Serene Highnesses Prince Edward and
Prince Hermann of Saxe Weimar arrived at the
Priory, Stanmore, on Saturday, the former from
Windsor, and the latter from the Continent. Prince
Edward of Saxe Weimar left the Priory in the even-
ing, on his return to Windsor. Prince Hermann
remained on a visit to her Majesty.
The Queen Dowager passed a tolerable night on
Saturday night. Sir David Davies is in constant
attendance on her Majesty, and Dr. Bright returned
to the Priory yesterday afternoon, to attend her
Majesty. There has been no improvement in the
state of her Majesty.

lIER MAJESTY THE QUEEN DOWAGER.—The state
of the Queen Dowager causes the greatest anxiety.
Throughout the week her Majesty has been suffering
from severe illness, relieved occasionally by a temporary
rally of a few hours' duration, giving partial and tran-
sitory relief. Her Majesty is in a very weak and ex-
hausted condition. Dropsy, the incipient symptoms of
which first manifested themselves while the Queen
Dowager was at her own residence in Bushy Park, has
become developed and decided. The greatest care and
attention is bestowed by all in attendance, but in spite of
all the skill and experience of her medical advisers, her
Majesty has been at intervals affected by distressing
symptoms, so trying to one of her enfeebled powers. Her
Majesty, having entire confidence in Sir David Davies,
who for so many years has been her constant medical
attendant, had not desired the assistance of any
other physician of eminence, but during the past week
the attendance of Dr. Bright has been commanded at
Bentley Priory, Stanmore, and that gentleman has at-
tended in consultation with Sir David Davies' and has
sat up with her Majesty. The members of the Royal
Family send frequently to learn the bulletins of her
Majesty's health. The Foreign Ministers, and the
select circle of private friends honoured with the ac-
quaintance of her Majesty, have called and sent daily to
inquire after the state of this estimable lady. The
Bishop of London arrived at the Priory in the middle of
the week, and administered the holy sacrament to the
royal invalid. On Saturday afternoon the Queen Dow-
ager's nephew, Prince Hermann of Saxe Weimer, arrived
at the Priory from the continent. Prince Hermann's
brother (Prince Edward) also arrived from Windsor,
where he is at present stationed with the Grenadier
Guards, in which regiment he holds a commission. Their
Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Kent, the Duchess of
Gloucester, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge,
made affectionate inquiries after their august relative.—
Sundly Paper.
THE CLIMATE OF INVERNESS.—From its happy
situation, sheltered from all strong or keen winds from
whatever quarter they may blow, Inverness has o re-
markably mild and pleasant climate.
years ago Shakspere praised thegentle Two hundred
and delicate air
that breathed over the green banks of the Crown, and
his whether the remark was made from own observation
or derived from the experience of some of his intimates,
it aas no doubt true. Many changes have come over
Inverness in that long space of two centuries; but the
Crown seems to have retained all its former amenity, a
very good proof of which we bad before us last week, in
the shape of a cluster of rich black grapes from the
garden of Alpine Cottage! The tree is still very young,
having been only two years in the ground. It is of the
small black cluster kind, a hardy description of vine, and
was planted in the open air, against the gable-wall of
the house, by Mr. Maclennan. Last season, its first, it
bore no fruit; but this season it produced three bunches,
over which, to protect them from the boys, a small
glass ease was fixed, leaving every part of the tree but
the fruit exposed. the three bunches having grown close
to each other. The first cluster came to perfection three
or four weeks ago, the second was cut on Thursday last,
and the third is now ripe. It must be very satisfactory
to Mr. Maclennan, whose garden is a source of great
pleasure to him, that his interesting experiment has been
crowned with success.—lnverness Courier.