The Sun.
London, England, 1841-02-27 00:00:00

TO 7'RE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—In a late number of your Journal there are some
remarks on the danger of besting buildings by hot water,
and an account of several- fires which bave:occurred in
consequence of adopting that plan.
The subject is a very important one, and the remarks
most just. There is, however, one error throughout the
article alluded to which it is desirable to correct. The ar-
ticle describes the accident to have arisen from apparatus
of the ordinary construction. This is a mistake. The
apparatus in question is one which was patented some
years since by Mr. Perkins, and consists of hermetically
sealed tubes, which can easily be heated so as to render
them red hot, and thus produce the effect you have de-
scribed. Not so, however, with the ordinary hot-water
apparatus, because, in this, pipes cf two-inch bore and
upwards are always used, together with a boiler and cis-
tern, which is invarisbly open to the external ar, thus
effectually preventing the temp rature of the water in any
part from rising above 212 degrees.
In such an apparatus as this there is no possibility of
accident, either from fire or from explosiln, and the hun-
dreds, nay, thousands, that have been erected on this plan,
with the most perfect success, have proved its safety and
efficiency in buildings of every description.
It is of the utmost importance that these two distinct
plans of heating buildings should not be confounded. In
the one where the small hermetically sealed pipes arc used,
the risk from fire and from explosion are imminently great,
in the other these accidents are absolutely impossible. It
therefore behoves the public, as well as the Insurance
Companies, to investigate this matter fully, as the ac-
knowledged safety of one description of hot-water appa-
ratus has led many persons to believe that the same pro-
perties belong to the other, and they have thus become in-
advertently possessed of an apparatus which a very slight
degree of inattention may convert into a most dangerous
and destructive engine.
I am, Sir, your most humble servant.
London, Feb. 20. PRO BONO PUBLICO.

COMMISSIONERS OF SEWERS.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE SUN.

- -
SIR,—In your report of the proceedings of the Commis-
sioners of Sewers on Tuesday last, my name appears as having
taken a part in the business of that day. I beg to state that
was not present during the sitting of the Court, and I shall
therefore feel obliged by your correcting the error.
Your's, very obediently
W. ViIWIN.

ST. MARY-LE-BONE BANK FOR SAVINGS.
—The Eleventh Annual General Meeting of this Institu-
tion, was held on Thursday, the 25th of this month, at the
Office, No. 76, Welbeck-street, Cavendish-square. The
Very Rev. the Dean of Chichester, in the Chair. It ap-
peared from the several Reports read to the meeting, that
the progress of this Bank continues to be of a very rapid
descripti )n. No less than 2,815 new deposits hating
been made in the last year. 12,680 deposit accounts re-
mained open on the 20th November last, of which no less
than 8,224 held balances averaging less than 51. each.
Upwards of 253,167/. vs as then invested with the Com-
missioners, for the reductr.n of the National Debt. This
amount has since risen to 256,5311., and is rapidly on the
advance. The continued evidence this affords of the
strong and growing disposition of the working classes to
provide against the casualties of life, will prove a source
of gratification to all reflecting minds.
ICE-CUTTING STEAM-BOATS.--Letters from
Copenhagen of the 18th ult. state, that M. C. M. Hjorth
has just resolved a problem which, for upwards of ten
3ears, has vainly exercised tl e sagacity of naval eng'-
neers—and whose solution has more than once bten pro-
posed for competition, as well by the General Administi a-
tration of Post , as by the corporation of merchants in th
capital. He has invented a steln-boat, cipab!e of cutting
its way through the thickest ice, with a speed nearly
equal to that of its unimpeded nay gatiun. The General
Administration of Posts have received a most favourable
report from a committee of ship-builders and. machine-
makers, to whom they bail submitted the model, and have
applied for authority to construct a vessel, for the trans-
port of the mail bags in winter.—Scotsman.
The Marquis of Northampton arrived in town,
on Thursday afternoon, from a visit to Mr. C. and Lady Eli-
zabeth Dickens, at Stoke Park, near Chichester.
The Earl of Charleville left Charleville Forest,
Tullamore, on Friday last, for Dublin, where the Noble
Earl intends to stay a few dap, and then come to town.