The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-02 00:00:00

NEW MODE OF PROPULSION.

BOULOGNE, OCT. 27.—A considerable degree of inte-
rest has been excited within the last two days here by
certain experiments made upon an entirely new system
of propelling vessels, which, if capable of being carried
out npon a largo principle, must not only supersede
paddle-wheels, but also the Archimedean screw. It has
long been considered a matter of impossibility that the
principle of the paddle-wheel could be rendered of any
useful effect when totally submerged. The present in-
vention has demonstrated to a certainty that such a dis-
advantage san be overcome. The experiments yesterday
and to-day were effected by hand labour, the motive
force being fitted into the stern of a pilot boat, and the
authorities of this town having, with great liberality,
permitted the machinery to be used for the experiments
in the harbour, bond being given that it would, after a
certain number of days, be exported. Upon the first
trial the captain of the port, M. Pollet, steered the
boat, and to-day also, when there were present the de-
puty mayor of the city, M. Martinet, as well as the
following official parties connected with the city :—M.
Demarle, president of the chamber of commerce ' • M.
Birle, M. Pellet, captain of the port ; M. Coquet, bro-
ker ; Captain de Lattre, and other members of the
chamber of commerce. Captain Tune, of the Emerald
steamer, was, with others, active in testing the merits
of the invention. The parties named entered the boat
in the presence of a great number of individals, who
showed much interest as to the result, French as well
as English. To the French authorities on board the
trial trips were made most satisfactory ; and also to the
patentee, Mr. Hodgson, and the authorities, civil and
military, who witnessed the trials.
As this may lead to a new era in the system of pro-
pelling vessels, the following outline of the modus ope-
randi may be esteemed of interest :
The principle is based on the well-known properties
of the parabola, as respects light, and the same proper-
ties are proved to be true as respects hydrostatics. The
blades are sections of a paraboloid, and are so con-
structed as to impinge on the concave surface, whereby
the water is grasped and compressed to the centre of the
axis, and thrown off in a direct line with the plane of
the vessel's course, thereby rendering the propulsion
superior in efficiency to the common paddle-wheel, being
uniform and continuous, without drawback in respect of
back-water.

Another advantage exists in the area of surface as
, as less than one-half of pa-
ra
k more efficiently with the same
compared
power.
bol
ic
rwithearea
will th e scr screw,

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, October 3

THE THING, READING, AND I3ASINGSTOKE RAILWAY

COMPANY.

The Court was much crowded during the investiga-
tion of this case by shareholders and creditors of the
company. . .

Air, Lawrence appeared as the solicitor to the fiat of
bankruptcy, ➢Tr. James as counsel for the directors, to
dispute various claims ; and Mr. Sergeant Alkr' for the
shareholders, who contended that the directors had ex-
ceeded their authority, and varied from the terms of
the subscription contract deed, and that they only were
liable to the debts incurred.

Mr. Blunt, their engineer, claimed a balance of 4501.;
his examination was not finished when the Court rose.
In one item he charged five guineas for attending the
committee to receive 1001. on account.

The case was adjourned to Friday next.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE
GUILDHALL.

Mr. 'Ward, of the firm of Ward and Co., letter-press
printers, Bear-alley, Farringdon-street, appeared to
answer a complaint made by Edward Billing, a journey-
man in the press department, for refusing to pay him
two weeks' wages, due under a hiring for eleven months
certain, and not yet completed.
Mr. Alderman Wood joined Mr. Alderman Hooper in
the further hearing of the complaint.
Mr. Wolfe supported the complaint, which was made
by the order of the Trade's Union; and Mr. Wilkins, a
solicitor, attended on behalf of Messrs. Ward, or rather
a body of master printers. Several masters and jour

aeymen were present.
Billing deposed that he entered the service of the de-
fendants nine months ago, and was employed on press-
work. In April an apprentice was taken, and a man
named Plummer was appointed to instruct him. Plum-
mer absented himself after a month, and complainant
was appointed to work with and instruct the boy. After
working two or three weeks, he heard that his employers
intended to place the boy under the tuition of an elder
apprentice, named Cooke, and, as ho would not be made
a convenience of in this way, he immediately
sought as explanation from his employer in the
counting-house. He asked how he was to consider him-
self to be engaged, for he had heard he was to be dis-
charged when the work was short, and Cooke was to be
put over the boy. Mr. Ward said he ad no idea of
making such an alteration. Complainint understood
stereotype work, and working wood engravings, and
jobbing generally, and,so long as he attended to his time,
and attended to the boy, he should continue for the rest
of the twelve months. Witness immediately said, " And
have the two guineas ? " Mr. Ward replied, " Yes, ex-
actly the same as Plummer." This satisfied him com-
pletely, and he went to work. He entered on this con-
tract on the 13th of May, and worked till the lath of
October. He had a fortnight's warning at the end of
September. He remonstrated on being so discharged,
as contrary to the custom of the trade, which was, that
a man who instructed a boy should be engaged for a
whole year, at fixed weekly wages, and have two guineas
at the end of the term. Mr. Ward said he intended to
employ him again as soon as the work came in. He
now claimed to be paid wages as being hired for a year.
His wages were 11. 12s. a week.
Benjamin Price, the apprentice, proved that he was
bound on the 7th of April; the complainant instructed
him; and that he was now working with an elder appren-
tice, who received 245. a week. No journeyman had
been taken in complainant's stead. There was only
work for the one press which he worked.
John Killingback, a master printer, the secretary to
the Pressman's Union, deposed to the custom of the
trade, which was, that when a boy was placed for instruc-
tion under a journeyman, it amounted to a tacit hiring
for a year, at fixed weekly wages. It was forced by
masters against the men to their annoyance. For in-
stance, all the men at Norman's printing-office, in
Maiden-lane, struck for some cause, but he forced one
man to return back and do his work, because he had
contracted to bring up an apprentice for one year, and
to receive 21. 2s. at the end of that time. Again, a clever
hand desired to leave Mr. Whiting's, in Beaufort-build-
ings, in consequence of a dispute, but Mr. Whiting en-
forced his return on the ground of having undertaken
to teach an apprentice, and that being a hiring for the
year by the universal consent of the trae.
The fact appeared to make a great impression on the
mind of Mr. Alderman Hooper, who thought there
should be a reciprocity of advantages as between masters
and men.

The foreman was called by the defendant to show that
the complainant had spoiled some work, and from this
the solicitor inferred Mr. Ward was at liberty to termi-
nate the hiring for incompetence. The solicitor for the
defendant further denied that there was any such custom ;
that if his client had assented to the contract the com-
plainant proposed to him, or, that if there were such a
contract, that it could not be enforced except by actioh
He proposed to call a number of masters to deny the
custom.

Mr. Wolfe proposed to call further evidence to prove
the competence of his client to teach ; but Mr. Ward had
employed Billing three months before he put him over
the apprentice, and therefore knew beforehand that he
was qualified.
Mr. Alderman WOOD said he was not satisfied with
the proof of the contract. It should have been reduced
to writing, as it was of some importance, and then it
could not have been alleged on one side and denied on
the other. He thought he ought not to extend the Act
to implied contracts and customs, especially where the
custom was disputable. He regretted that the workmen
continued to form unions, which harassed the masters,
and in the end produced no pecuniary advantage to the
men, the expenses of maintaining the union counter-
vailing all the benefits. Free competition was the proper
law to obtain the best recompense for labour.
Mr. Alderman HooPsa concurred in holding the proof
of a contract to be insufficient, and the case was dis-
missed.