The Sun.
London, England, 1868-11-28 00:00:00

PITY RAILROAJj

neiv—method of applying steam for ‘loBBlll6ilie rtir-
poses on street railways, so as to avoid the use of fire In
the engine while running on the streets, has been exhibited
an a temporary tr;,N.' In this engine lite necessity for a
firebox, smoke-stack, &c., is done away with by substitut-
ing a strong tank or reservoir for holding water previously
heater to a high temperature in a stationary boiler. The
water so heated is forced into the locomotive tank, and is
capable of giving off an amount of working steam for a
considerable length of time sufficient to drive the engine
and draw one or more cars. The new locomotive weighs
about five tons when fully supplied with the requisite storage
of heated water. At the trial it ran 45 minutes, making 125
stoppage; and reducing the steam pressure from 801 b.
at starting to 201 b. when the trial ceased. No noise
was made other than the rumble of the wheels over the
rails, and the machine seemed to be at all times under the
perfect control of the engineer, being stopped almost
instantly while running at the rate of six miles per hour.
The temperature of the water is kept up by a non-
conducting jacket, three inches thick, around the tank.
It is proposed, in adapting the invention to the street cars,
to place a stationary steam boiler at the end of the road
to charge the locomotive with a sufficient quantity of hot
water to perform the trip.—Philadelphia Ledger.

L'HE VISIT OF THE AMERICAN MINISTER

TO 818M1NG11.431.

The following is the address (agreed upon by the Town
Council of Birmingham) which is to be presented to Mr.
Reverdy Johnson on the occasion of his -visit to the Mid-
land metropolis :—" We, the mayor, aldermen, and bur-
gesses of the borough of Birmingham, desiring not to
be among the last of the great cities of this
kingdom in recognising the presence of your
Excellency among us, gladly avail ourselves of the
opportunity now afforded of congratulating your Excel-
lency and your fellow-citizens upon the successful issue
of a mission entrusted to your Excellency, by which, in the
agreement of two great nations for the peaceable adjust-
ment of international questions of remote dateand formid-
able dimensions, a material guarantee has been obtained for
the peace of the world. This transaction, concluded by the
instrumentality of your Excellency and Lord Stanley, we
regard as the victory of religion and morality enforced by
reason over the baser feelings of human nature, and as a
glorious proof of the continued advance of the great prin-
ciples of truth and justice side by side with civilisa-
tion in its progress through the nations of the earth.
'The Divine blessing was bestowed of old upon peace-
makers, and blessed indeed are the peacemakers who,
by preventing painful estrangements, bring together
the hands of hesitating kindred, and restore a good
understanding in lieu of the mistrust and suspicion which
before unhappily existed. It has been the privilege and
the happiness of your Excellency and Lord Stanley to
effect this most desirable consummation on behalf of the
people of the United States and Great Britain, and long
may your Excellency live to contemplate the fruit of your
labours, and to witness the increased and still increasing
happiness and prosperity of both nations."

rITE COURT OF EXCHEQUER.

~--~

The Law Journal, "with much regret," notices the
languishing condition of business in the Court of
Exchequer. The interest attaching to the Court of
Exchequer, from historical and other associations, is so
great, that every one would be sorry to hear of its ex-
tinction. But the expense of the establishment is con-
siderable, especially since a new judge has been added,
and there is something highly absurd in the spectacle
of a Chief Baron and three barons sitting in state
with nothing to occupy their time, and, as it were,
living their briefless days over again. The common-law
business of the Court of Exchequer increased very much
soon after the late Lord Wensleydale took his seat there,
though for some time it was said that counsel were almost
invited to exhaust their arguments, as there was plenty of
time for everybody. His lordship passed away, and a great
deal of the business with him. Upon the appointment of Sir
Fitzroy Kelly to the post of Chief Baron, it was expected
that matters would change. But the stream of business
continued sluggish. In one respect this was an advantage.
A rule for a new trial might be obained and cause shewn
against it in the ordinary course during the same term--a
result which is not likely ever to be achieved in the
Queen's Bench. But a court must decline in dignity if it
has no more to do than to ask counsel whether they move,
to nominate the sheriffs, or to hold converse with the
Lord Mayor on November 9. Perhaps the Judicature
Commission may find a method for utilising the energies
of the court.