The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-29 00:00:00

NEW FUEL.

Among the list of patents in the journal of las
week is one granted to Mr. Alexander Speid Living
stone, engineer, for improvements in the manufacture
of fuel. This invention, we understand, is of a very
important character, both as regards the manipula-
tion and the machinery used in its manufacture—
the former being performed in a simple and
economical manner, while the latter, from its
cheapness and unerring accuracy, must render Mr.
Livingstone's system eminently successful. The chief
obstacle to the success of patent fuel works has been
in the large outlay of capital for the expensive and
delicate machinery, requiring constant attention and
repair, besides the absence of all proper economy in
labour employed, together with the uncertainty
of producing the same quality of fuel, which has
thrown it hitherto into disrepute, as no dependence
could be placed upon one cargo being equal to an•
other in quality, and this is well known to those who,
from experience, approve of fuel in blocks, from its
great facilities in stowage, and absence of decrepita-
tion in hot and frigid climates and of spontaneous com-
bustion (to say nothing of economy in evaporating
power, when properly manufactured). There are thou-
sands of tons of small coal lying useless at the coaling
stations abroad, the accumulation of years, arising
from the breakage of the large coal, which great loss,
both in the material and freight, would be saved by
fuel in blocks. We are happy to have it in our
power to state, that not only will one cargo be equal
to another in quality by Livingstone's process, but
every block, because the process through which
each is submitted ensures this object, while
the evaporating power of the fuel is increased
over and above that of the coal from which
it is made in the proportion of 15 to 25 per
cent.; and this concentration of evaporating force can
be fully appreciated in sea-going vessels when we es-
timate the saving of space required for stowage of
coal, by the use of fuel in regular shaped blocks,
while to the many companies and contractors for
carrying the foreign mails, block fuel holds out, when
properly made, these advantages in no ordinary de-
.e.—Mining Journal.

ROYAL FREE LIOSPITAL.—The twenty-third an
nual general court of the governors of this institution was
held last evening at the Board-room, Gray's .Inn road ; Mr.
W. Pritchard in the chair. The secretary read the report
for the past year, which stated that the receipts for that
period amounted to 5,0181. 14s. ; the expenditure, includ-
ing about 1,1001. paid for old dbts, to 4,874/. 13s. lid.,
being a decrease of about 550/. (occasioned mainly by
a diminution in the amount of legacies) as compared with
the receipts of the previous year. The number of pa-
tients who have been relieved is 28,135, being a decrease
of about 50 upon the number relieved in 1849. Thus, while
the total number relieved is nearly equal to that of 1819,
the receipts have been less by between 500/. and 600/. The
number of beds ready for occupation is 134; but one
ward, containing 48 beds, is unfortunately closed from want
of funds. The total number of sufferers relieved by the
_
charity since its commencement is upwards of 310,000._ '.12!!
motion for the adoption and circulation of the repor,._c7;
then carried unanimously, after which the governeoriairs zu`
t mated
g year were balloted for, and the meeting and ,nd the
within a vote of thanks to the committee and 10
chairman. ~.0 FROM
DRUNX.
EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF DEten
INNESS.—A man, named Millard, haddrin
ng
ki all day and
to a christening
on Sunday last, at Wells, and,rlsbe get to Slab-house, on
night ; in the afternoon of hi u.Y.
ling bad some drink there, he
hasaAleepPerson coming in considered
his head dropping down
to the fire the man would be
the road to Bath, and afteeteiri
esalotscelotosethtoetehnedfireargrfe
ciao
attemptedsinosutloteeipnw,ashokimes him up ; andthe
Gownsstance, when they raised the that in leaning
unfor-
landlord catnee
and in doing so discovered that whilst his
tunate man
some
egcrkactleost h
for h had
ebee
spitn
hurt, and :e
ehhne
or
p,et., fie,
dhrhteriihoce
aohtp ihdnerga,,w:d h
.een hung ! He made but a
p!bayflevir being raiseda up, and life could not be re-
singlehtc :eua
rgd el ish
ttgabdt°Y:ba'
stored.—Bristol Mirror.
MONEY MARKET—The quotation of gold at Paris is
about 2 per mille discount, which, at the English Mint
price of 31. 17s. 10d. per ounce for standard gold, gives
an exchange of 25.12; and the exchange at Paris on Lon-
don at short being 24.97 i, it follows that gold is 0.58 per
cent. dearer in Paris than in London. By advice& from
Hamburgh the price of gold is 422 per mark, which,
at the English Mint price of 3/. 17e. lOid. per ounce for
standard gold, gives an exchange of 13.38; and the ex-
change at Hamburgh on London at short being 13.4,
it follows that gold is 0.65 per cent. dearer in Lon-
don than in Hamburgh. The course of exchange
at New York on London for bills at 60 days' sight
is 1101 per cent., and the par of exchange between
England and America being 109 23-40 per cent., it f 1
.1n
lows that the exchange is nominally 0.92 per cent. for
favour of England, and, after making allowance _
difference of interest and charges of transport, the
I present rate leaves a profit on the importation of gold
front the United States.