The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-28 00:00:00

INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGI-

NEERS.—MAY 20.
Sir JOHN RENNIE, President, in the Chair.
Mr. P. Barlow, presented, as an appendix to his paper
on the atmosph ric system, the results of a series of
experiments upon the force employed in drawing car-
riages up an inclined plane of I in 43 by a stationary
engine and rope traction upon the Canterbury and Whit-
stable Railway. From these experiments, it appeared
that the stationary engine of 25-horse power with a
rope would produce an useful mechanical effect equal to
the engine of 100-horsc power on the Dalkey Atmo-
spheric Railway, thus proving by direct facts, the deduc-
tion of Mr. Stephenson, as to the amount of lost power
by the latter system. These statements were ordered to
be printed with Mr. Barlow's paper.
CE . , bgr
iadvgee
an
at
aYarmouth. After giving the dimensions of the structure,
lateAlr.
failureT horoloe
t,.
ccAounptapoefr thebytMhe. I suspensionnst.;
which appear to have been altered from the owithout the consent or superintendence of the architect,
rit final design,
a
the immediate cause of the failure of the bridge AA as attri-
buted to the fracture of one of the main links near the
point
of attachment to the pyramid. On examination it
appeared that the iron was originally of indifferent
quality, and that the weld had been made so imper-
fectly that only one-twentieth part of the sectional area
of the bar had been welded ; it was, therefore, evident
that these links could never have been properly tested.
An interesting discussion ensued, in which the prin-
ciples of the construction of suspension bridges were
clearly laid down ; and it was insisted upon, from the
experience of the Menai and Montrose, and other large
bridges, that the platforms of such bridges should be
rendered perfectly rigid, so as to prevent any undula-
tion, and that the chains should be merely used to sup-
port the actual weight of the platform and the road.
The novel but ingenious plan for the bridge over the
Menai Straits, proposed by Mr. Stephenson, to be con-
structed of a large wrought iron tube, supported by
chains, was also mentioned, and the principle appeared
to be considered sound.
The next paper was by Mr. Grantham. It gave an
interesting account of the wreck of the Vanguard iroa
steam-vessel, which went on shore a ledge of rocks
at the entrance of the Cove of Cork, and after remain-
ing there until the rocks were cut away at low water, so
that a high water tide carried her off, was found to be
so little injured that a few days sufficed to repair da-
mages. The engines were scarcely strained, and nothing
was broken. This led to the mention of some very re-
markable instances of the power of resistance of iron
vessels, and to the experiments now in progress of trial
at Woolwich on the power of iron vessels to resist shot.
It appeared that, with a large charge of powder, a hole
gwrietaht
vaelho
ce
iatvyy r
ecuhdaerrgeed,
itthber
ttlel l,
andstrikingbang
fragmenttplatehe s
was merely punched through the plate by the ball ; but
wthiatth,
flew about in an extraordinary manner.
Sir John Rennie, President, invited the members to
his approaching conversazione ; and it was announced
that the paper to be read at the next meeting, of Tues-
day, the 27th inst., would be " On the Ancient Port of
Ostia," by the President

SIR HENRY POTTING ER.—This gallant officer has
just received a mark of the esteem in which his services are held by
the Chinese authorities in regard to the treaty lately concluded by
him between this country and the Celestial Empire, in the shape of
a portrait of the Imperial Commissioner, Keying, which has just
arrived by a vessel from China, as a present to Sir Henry from
that exalted personage. Several packages of Chinese curiosities,
&c., have also arrived for the gallant gentleman, which the Lords
of the Treasury have permitted to be delivered to him, duly free,
in consideration of the important services rendered by him in his
official capacity.
ROBBERY IN THE STRAND.—Yesterday forenoon a
lad, about ten years of age, was robbed under the following cireum.
stances :—The lad was standing at the top of a court adjoining
him better
Hungerford-street, when a woman, about twenty-twoayueoaras odtecaegen;
gmade known
persuaded him to take off his boots (quite new),
The boy war
beaver hat fr.toedm
Chadwick, a police-constable, but of course the
his situation to withhis h e
anxiety und
for
rpsroeniteencteimoef
when
naasnhine
thief had decamped•