The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-26 00:00:00

.TYNEMOUTH.

A meeting of the promoters of a volunteer rifle
and artillery corps was held in the Town-hall,
Tynemouth, on Tuesday night—Mr. Hugh Taylor,
M.P., in the chair. In addition to the handsome
subscriptions that had already been made, Mr. J.
Straker increased his to 40 guineas, Mr. Alderman
Poppelwell his to 15 guineas ; Mr. Peter Dale sub-
scribed £25, and other gentlemen liberal sums. It
was resolved that Mr. Taylor be requested to write
to the Lord-Lieutenant, Earl Grey, requesting his
lordship to sanction the enrolment of the corps;
Lord Lovaine to be colonel, Mr. Hugh Taylor lieu-
tenant-colonel, and the officers to be ballotted from
the ranks. Considerably above 100 young men
have joined, and the first drill would take place
last night.

AN ATMOSPHERIC PRINTING

TELEGRA PH.

The above, with various modifications for general
use, has been invented and patented by a Mr.
James Macnab, and evidently seems destined to be
of great public utility. We saw a simple modifi-
cation of this telegraph, for steam or other ships
working a few days ago in Messrs. W. and J. H.
Johnson's patent office in this city ; and we now
beg to direct the serious attention of shipowners,
shipbuilders, and others to the merits and applica-
tions of this most useful and unusually simple in-
vention. Simplicity is not only a recommendation,
but the working expense is literally nothing ; and
we understand'it can be depended upon in all sorts
-of weather. When we mention that the agent
employed is simply atmospheric air, our remarks
will be obvious. Other fluids or liquids can also
be adopted, we believe. In this instance atmo-
spheric air is preferred, and two most simple in-
struments, which can scarecely get out of order, for
conveyinc, instantaneous signals for the sale navi-
gation of steamships or other vessels, are intended
to ho 'placed, one instrument by the side of the
helmsman, and the other on the hurricane deck, by
the side of the captain or pilot. The two instru-
ments are connected below the deck, out of the way,
by a very small bore atmospheric tube. A bell of
small size is attached to the helmsman's instrument,
and on certain given signals from the captain or
pilot, or officer, the helmsman is enabled to
navigate the ship in safety. In large steam-
ships an instrument is intended to be placed
also at the prow, or bow, for the lookout offi•
cer ; and in the largest steamers not more
than two officers are necessary to give instan-
taneous signals of danger -or a " ship-a-head,"
thus reducing the liability to collision and danger
from icebergs, shoals, mists, &c., and navigating the
steamships or sailing vessels in perfect safety. For
conveying instantaneous signals from captain or
pilot to the engine-room or captain's cabin it is
obviously of importance, from its principles being
never failing in the hour of danger, and may
entirely supersede the present crude system for
such purposes. In fact, it answers the purposes of
the wonderful electric telegraph, and has decided
advantages over that system—viz., the working
expense is next to nothing ; it can be depended
upon in •all variations of weather, and for years
without going out of order. The instruments
and fitting.up are almost of nominal expense in
comparison to the electric system. For message
purposes calculations have been made that the
tubing and laying, which is very expeditious,
won't cost much above £lO per mile—certainly
a low figure ; and as it is laid a few inches under
the surface of the earth, it is free from all danger,
and not exposed to such contingencies as the
electric wires. It can be applied, we believe,
cheaply, for the ringing of bells in houses and'
hotels, and warehouses ; and for railway trains it
is admirably adapted, and al so for relaying pur-
poses, saving the expense of a locomotive pilot ;
also for communicating signals to fire-engine
stations and mines, and various other uses. As it
requires no attention to generate signal-agents,
like the electric system,
beingthe atmospheric vessel
always self-charging instantaneously, it can
therefore obviously at all times• bedepended upon,
which is a desideratum. We beg, therefore, to
draw the attention of the scientific public and
interested parties to its merits, as we have no
hesitation in saying, from what we have seen, that
it is likely to confer advantages wherever adopted.
--Glasgow Mercantile Advertiser.