The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-26 00:00:00

ITALY. 011.
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ThegirCguifiegtit Church of the Tiluify, in Mantuil;'4':
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STET ii.-.qiiIIIZIA.G.ES ON COMMON -
. ROADS.
• (From the Bath Chronicle.)
Oa Fr:day evening a public meeting took place at the
G uildhall, in this city, for the purpose of receiving from
Messrs. Motley and Clarke an explanation of the details,
improvements, and advantages, of their patent steam-car-
riages for travelling, on common roads. Mr. E. Saunders
was called to the chair, and the audience, which was exceed-
ingly numerous, manifested considerable interest in the
proceedings. Mr. Motley having wade a short preliminary
statement, Mr. Clarke proceeded to describe their steam-
carriage by the aid of several models. We may pre-
mise that experience has demonstrated the practica-
bility of running steam-carriages on common roads,
though it is a question whether it can be done profit-
ably. Hitherto, the general opinion amongst engineers
has been, that wherever sufficient traffic exists to render
the use of steam-power profitably, a railway must al-
ways supersede a common road ; and that even on the
limited branches, or on roads feeding trunk railways,
horse-power would be cheaper than steam-power on
common roads. But steam-carriages on common
roads would be a far more preferable mode of con-
veyance than horses, because it is under the most
perfect control, and a carriage thus propelled is
capable of being guided with the most admirable
precision. It may also be stopped slanost suddenly,
whatever be its speed, and it may le turned in less
space than a four-house coach, while in turning sharp
corners there is no danger, if the conductor exercises
common care. On the other hand, horse-power is under
very imperfect control. It is very difficult to control
four such horses as can draw a heavy stage-coach ten
miles an hour, in case they aro frightened, or choose
to run away; and for such quick travelling they
must be kept in that state cf courage that they are
always inclined to run away, particularly down bill, and
at sharp turns in the road. The only danger peculiar to a •
steam-carriage is that of explosion, but owing to the man-
ner in which the boilers of steam-carriages are con-
structed, this is imaginary rather than real. The pipes or
flues used in the boiler being weaker than its sides, must
invariably burst first, and the result is that the fire is put
out, and all danger prevented. For instance, Mr. Hancock
..-
states that whilst travelling with his steam-carriage on
a comm_o:n244o,.%ad,itthe a rziine came to a dead .4-

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the water had flowed on the fieeTtirriMeeileesisurnee7 ,
explosion, nor any dangerous consequences ensued.
es on common roads prior
others., it will be re-
membered,but they were defective
Mr. Hancock, Mr. Gurney, and
tothe
form uastei
odns t coaf mr -aci al
wr raiya
in several points. The great resistance of turnpike
roads required a great power to overcome it; whilst
the weight of the machinery rendered it essential that
the carriage should be very strong to resist the
shocks of the rough surface of the road. The jolt-
ing motion of the axles was liable to break the bar of
the steering apparatus which was fixed to it, thereby ren-
dering the carriage unmanagable; and the use of springs
rendered the motion of that part of the carriage which
rested upon them, different from that of the part of the
carriage which supported them, whilst the moving
power was so connected with the wheels that the
machinery had one motion, and the wheels driven
by it had another motion. The result was that the
steam-carriages formerly worked were very prone to
break down. Messrs. Motley and Clarke assert, how-
ever, that they have conquered all the defects which mar-
red the success of their predecessors. In the first place,
they have, invented a new mode of steering, whereby
the steering-wheel is connected with the wheels, and
move them quite independently of the axle on which
they turn. The breaking of (ho steering apparatus,
which was a very common eceurrence in the carriages
where it was connected with the axle, is, therefore, ob-
viated. Next, the power is applied to the drieicg
wheels in such a manner that the springs on which the
Machinery is supported, act efficieetly in preventing the
injurious effects both of vertical and horizontal coneus-
sione, whilst the driving wheels can be made to move at
different veloeities to facilitate the turning of curves.
Next, great power is obtained by an ingenious mode of
separating the spray from the steam, w hilst lightness
is secured by keeping the steam Lot and working
it exeansivelv. Messrs. Motley and Clarke propose
to piece th© machinery in one cerriege, and convey
the passengers in another attached to it. 'no boiler,
which is the mo,t essential part, is cheap in first cost,
light in weil4ht (nt:4, weighing more than one hundred
7Feilit per horse-power, when using the steam without
expansion), it is easily repaired Oren deranged, and
will heir a pressure of 3001bs. on the inch with perfect
safety. A boiler of fifteen-horse power will only oc-
cupy a space of two-and•a•half feet wide, four feet
long, and six feet high. A steam dray, as they style
it, of ten-horse power, the cost of constructing which
would be 4001., would convey forty passengers at au
average speed of ten miles an hour. The maximum
speed would be fifteen miles an hour, and it would as-
cend an incline of one in ten at the rate of four miles an
hour. The expense of working a steam-dray, in wages,
coal, toll:, and repairing fund, the projectors estimate
at one farthing a mile, so that the passengers might be
conveyed from Bath to Bristol for 6d., at a profit of
50 per cent. Much interesting information was
elicited on the subject of steam travelling from
Messrs. Motley and Clarke by questions put to them
by William lel'Adam, Esq., Mr. Mitchell, the City
Engineer, and other gentlemen. The Chairman after-
wars lucidly recapitulated the points touched upon in the
explanations of Mr. Clarke, and expressed his readiness
to aid in furnishing Messrs. Motley and Clarke with the
means of giving their carriage a fair trial. A vote of
thanks having been given to the projectors, on the mo-
tion of Mr. G. Hunt, seconded by Mr. C. Cox, Mr.
Motley returned thanks in an interesting speech. He
remembered, he said, at the last interview which he had
with the ingenious Lord Stanhope, in 1815, his Lord-
ship, who was then endeavouring, at great expense, to
propel ships by steam, made this observation to him
Mr. Motley, I am told that I am a madman to attempt
to apply wheels to unequal surfaces, but though I
have spent much time and much money in the attempt,
lam not discouraged, for lam confident of success.'
His Lordship was no more, but the whole ocean was
traversed by steam-ships.
,He (Mr. Motley) had erected
a bridge near this city which General Pasley, the Go-
vernment Inspector, had pronounced to be of a supe-
rior kind; and having done ono good thing, he asked
the meeting to give him credit for doing another. For
ho was satisfied that steam-carriages running on
coramon roads, in those directions winch were not tra-
versed by railroads, would bo a great advantage to the
community. Mr. T. Harvey moved a vote of thanks to
the Chairman, which was seconded by Mr. M'Adam, and
carried unanimously. The Chairman acknowledged the
compliment is a very happy manner. A vote of thanks
to the Mayor for his courtesy in granting the use of the
hall followed, and the meeting then separated.

I

1

Extract from a letter addressed to Mr. Motley by
James Sims, Esq., the eminent Cornish engineer, read at
the above meeting :

" Redruth, July 12, 1851.
" You have got with you a partner in the patent who
is endowed with a highly inventive mind, and having
myself noticed the various plans hitherto brought before
the public, I have no hesitation in saying that the plans
suggested to me by Mr. Clarke are very far superior to
any other that has come under my notice.
" I have no doubt whatever that the steam-carriage
for common roads will soon get extensively into use, and
will bo the next magnificent improvement with which
the inventive genius of this great scientific country will
astonish the world."

We understand it is proposed to raise the sum of
5001. in sums of 5/., and to give the advantage of success
to the first subscribers in due proportions to the amount
subscribed. The project is warmly advocated by the
Chairman, E. Sanders, Esq., and other members of the
Town Council and the public, and that the Chairman and
other influential gentlemen will form a committee of
inanag,ernent for effecting the important objet in view.

el. te
Two PRETTY PILGRIMS.—The Milan .... azej ,
1 tu
relates the following curious stay : —" On or about the
inst., at two o'clock at night, two young girls,
They were
of whom could not be more than eighteen, tP
themselves at one of the gates of Florence.
d-brimmed
both dressed in white and barefooted, worevbrea
ed. Their age
straw-hats, and had their heads closely
'llion of the gen-
eresyeeelndtesedt
and appearance naturally called the attoewing dialogue en.
darmes who Were at the gate, and the folid
the two lair pil-
sued between the officer in command
sanervice?'want
grims :—' Ladies, what is there at
to leave this town ; pray open the at.Y°.!r And where are you
what intention?' 'We
going to ?' 'To Jerusalem' Withh., . But havt you money
want to visit the Holy SelDn_lc,.arv; 25 pals (16s. 4d.), but
cer, although he had nothing
for so long a journey?' :,il,l_:!L'a„ you considered the dan-
gers shall beg our way.' ;JD' we have a protector on whom
Otector, nevertheless refused to open
mg,eerscaynouremlya;yiteniscoGuondt!r?T‘hei9,l:l,6
to say against their prny
-, entreaties he consented to accom-
the gate, but after many
of the nearest priest in the neigh-
, pang them
wthootiCuerned out to be a friend of their families, and
a a little astonished to learn from him, that I
pretty pilgrims belonged to one of the most
tobtc'euer°ohftclede; was not
nfFlorence. We need not add they were both
ducted to
recoil famines their homes."
HOSPITAL.--The annual distribu-
tion
f prizes to the pupils of the medical school, took place
h hospital on Thursday. The Right Hon. the Lord
noble faxin
at ito nt 00 HOMAS'S HO
Jayor presided. The successful pupils were introduced to his
and the following prizes were presented : —Classical
and mathematical examination—S. Jones, Cricklewood,
Middlesex, scholarship. Medical scholarships for the first
year students—E. Clapton, Stamford, Lincoln, first prize;
J.,Blake, Holts, Wilts, and N. Jones, mq., seond prize. Phy-
siology—C. W. Caldecott, T. B. Crosby, H. Lankester.
Matetia naedica—H. Lankester. Comparative anatomy—J.
W. Leyworth. Descriptive anatomy—T. B. Crosby and J.
Clapton. Clinical medicine—J. W. Keyworth and T. J.
Complin. Surgical reports—J. W. Keyworth. Midwifery—
Messrs. Carpenter, Wills, Timothy, Teanby, Gurney, Key-
worth, and Money. A variety of minor prizes and certifi-
cates of merit were also awarded.

A FRENCH WAITER .—A coffee-house keeper of
the Rue de la Harpe having perceived that his more expen-
sive sorts of liquors disappeared every day, suspected the
waiter specially charged with the care of them. Having
seen that a bottle of vermuth was half emptied, he got.*
druggist, his neighbour, to put a strong purgative into it.
A little later, the suspected waiter was discovered to be suf-
fering from violent colics. "Good heavens !" said the coffee-
house keeper, with affected sympathy, " you have not surely
been drinking vermuth in the cellar; if so, you are most as-
suredly poisoned, for the druggist next door asked me to
take care of a bottle into which he bad put poison I" The
waiter no sooner heard this dreadful statement, than be
rushed from the house, but the idea that he had been poi-
soned had such an effect on him that he fell in the street,
and was seized with an attack precisely resembling the
svmptuns of poisoning. The
.druggist gave him a remedy,
and he recovered, when the police, who had been attracted
to the spot by the crowd. which had assembled, and had
learned the truth of the affair from the keeper of the coffee-
house, took him into custody.... Galignani's Messenger.