The Sun.
London, England, 1845-02-03 00:00:00

STEAM POWER SUPERSEDED.
For centuries upon centuries, till within our own
days, water, as the origin of motive power, has had the
supremacy over steam. For the last 40 or 50 years
steam has been making rapid strides towards the
complete subjugation of water; but, like all unnatu-
ral or forced operations, its victory appears near its
end, and the power of water once more assumes its
wonted superiority, and eclipses once more and for
ever the power of steam.
No one can be surprised at this who reflects that,
while the power or laws of matter are innate or inhe-
rent, the power of steam is only acquired, and may
be said to be artificial or unnatural, being forced by
the ingenuity of man into that state upon which its
power entirely depends.
We have been led into these remarks by the cir-
cumstance of having been favoured with the inspec-
tion of an invention for which a patent has lately been
taken out; and if we may be permitted to judge of it
from the opinions of some of our leading scientific
men, who have investigated it, and who declare that
" they cannot (however astounding its effects) see any
error or fallacy in it, or any reason why it should not
answer," we must look upon its success as certain.
But what inspires us with even more confidence is,
that while the structure of the new invention is so ex-
tremely simple that a child may comprehend it, it does
not violate any one law in natural philosophy. More-
over, the inventor (a professional gentleman) is a man
of scientific acquirements, well acquainted with
nature's laws, and perfectly aware of the various in-
ventions and the causes of their failure, which have of
late years been devised for the purpose of superseding
steam, whether by condensed air, water power, me-
chanical contrivances, electricity:Sic. He does not,
he says, pretend to have created power; this, he
properly observes, is impossible, but has merely
availed himself of those laws or properties with which
the Creator has endowed matter, and by a combination
of the same to make them (as the inventors of steam-
engines, water-mills, &c., have) subservient to the
use of man.

The fundamental principle on which the new en.
gine is founded is precisely similar to that of the hy-
draulic press, the power of which, every one knows,
can only be limited by the strength of the materials
of which it is made. But what has hitherto rendered
the power of the hydraulic press inapplicable to th
production of motive power is, that, just in proportion
as the power is gained speed is lost, and vice versa.
In the present invention, however, unlimited power is
gained without the loss of speed, the piston of the
large cylinder travelling, at each stroke, with the
power gained, just the same distance as the piston of
the lesser cylinder. This power and this speed,
which are in inverse ratio of each other, appear by
this most important invention (however paradoxical)
actually combined.
We are not at liberty to give the public a more
particular account of the nature of this invention
than the words of the title ot the patent—viz., " The
Hydro-Mechanic Apparatus, which, by a combination
of hydraulic and mechanical properties, on well-known
scientific principles, is intended to supersede the use
of fire and steam in working and propelling all kinds
of machinery and engines"--thus effecting an enor-
mous saving, and avoiding the imminent danger arising
from the explosive nature of steam.
It may well be asked, where will human ingenuity
end ?—From a Scientific Correvontlent of a Morning
Paper.

STATE OF TRADE.
FOREIGN WOOL TRADE, JAN. 31.—We have no
change to notice in this branch of trade since our last
report. Only a moderate amount of business has been
done, but prices are very firm.
WAKEFIELD WOOL MARKET, JAN. 31.—We do not
vary from last week's report, transactions being about
the same extent, and prices unaltered.
ENGLISH WOOL MARKET, LEEDS, JAN. 31.—There
continues to be a steady demand for all kinds of combing
and clothing Wools. Prices are very firm.
LEEDS. —There has been more business doing at our
Cloth Halls this week than in any week since the begin-
ning of October ; the demand is principally for Tweeds
and cloths of low qualities, but fine and middle qualities
continue dull of sale ; there has also been considerable
deliveries of goods of light make for shipping during the
week. On the whole there is a full average business
doing in balk goods for the season. Many of the larger
buy ers have been in the market, and there has been more
finished goods sold than for some time past; the shipping
houses are also a little more on the move than has been
the case for some time.
lIECKMoNDwIKE BLANKET MARKET, THURSDAY,
TAN. 30.—There is no alteration to report since our last.
BRADFORD MARKET, TMIIRSDAY.—WOOI : There is
no change worthy of note since our last. Yarns : The
business doing is tolerably fair, but the prices very un-
satisfactory, as they bear no proportion to the cost of
wool. Piece : The merchants are rather active to-day,
and a fair business has been done. In prices there is no
alteration.

MANCHESTER, THURSDAY EVENING.—We have had
upon the whole a good business doing in cloth, and manu-
facturers, if they ha►e not generally obtained an advance,
have in a few cases obtained rather more money. The
market is scarce of stock, and the feeling is of a decidedly
upward tendency. The yarn market is very brisk
indeed for the season, and the appearances are most flat-
tering for the spinner, owing to the almost certainty
that the staple will continue at a low igure for some
time to come.—Leeds Mercury.

FRIDAY NIGHT'S GAZET'
PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED.

A. Clayton and A:
J. Phillips, P. Facet', and 131.irBerougchtoLn,islteaere maanedhin
je
makers, Chard! S m
Liverpool—M.Nottingham—R. and T. L. Banks,
tallow chandlers, Limehouse—W. Wiley, jun., IN%
Beckett, and J. Wiley, japanners, Wolverham_pton-4.
Clough, milliners,
ielhlienmenis,s, °e
maltsters, Ashfield, Nottingham-
Bell and J. Eagle, linen factors, Bow-lane—D. Fryer
and J. Prince, colliers, Bailden, Yorkshire—F. Shack-
lock and J. I. Evans,
shire—W. Watson, J. Brook J. Murgatroyd, and C.
Bedford-square—A. Stead, stonemasons, Huddersfield (so far as regards W.
j.mraanrarf,acsthurerimrsr:
PWearct7-nstYeet, - sNq ue vi:r. bee—r fringeYA. a and J. dealers, Blackpool, Lancashire—S. Rolf and J. Neale,
wine merchants, Reigate—W. Sykes and R. Crosland,
woollen spinners, Alniondhury, Yorkshire—G. Muir and
T. Marshall, drapers, Newcastle-upon-Tyne—T. Mar-
shall and A. Purvis, grocers, Newcastle upon-Tyne--
IL Waterhouse, W. Boulton, and W. Morris, cotton
spinners, Manchester (ko far as regards W. Boulton)
J. Pearson and S. Price, chartermasters, Kingswinford,
Staffordshire—lL and T. P. Hull, hosiers, Leicester-- -
T. Foster, sen., and W. Foster, jun., joiners, Nottingham
—.T. Finch, sen., J. Finch, jun., and W. Dickinson,
iron founder, Blackburn—C. Candy and W. Dean, Wat-
ling-street, City.

EFFECTS OF TIGLIT-LACING.—Atthe fancy dress
ball, on Monday evening, a gentleman bearing her Ma-
jesty's commission was suddenly seized with faintness, •
and was borne from the field in the arms of his brother
officers. On examining into the cause of the attack, it
was found to originate in the over-pressure of the gallant ,
soldiers's uniform, which, -it seems, in these "piping
times of peace," he had net worn for some little time.
The narrow escape of the valiant son of Afars from so
tier'singlorlioeunisiact fate
"Diedas wfreoumld
tight
-lacing,"
aincogroto-
his brethren how they sacrifice too much to the Graces,
or to the pleasures of the table!—Brioht,om Hera g

s

FASHIONS FOR FEBRUARY.
(From the World (f Fashion.)
CARRIAGE HATS AND BONNETS .tre more remark-
able for their elegance than for their novelty, as they
vary but very little in their form from th se that
have already been adopted—retaining all their favour,
the colours alai e constituting their novelty. Mcst of
them are composed of velvet.
BALL HEAD-DRESSES are principally comp( sed of
hair, and we observe that ringlets, or as they are
termed Anglaises, are, if possible, more numerous
than the bandeaux.
THE TRIMMINGS OF FULL-DRESS ROBES most in
vogue are called Lea Montants, that is to say trim-
mings placed on each side of the skirt. For velvet
or satin dresses, rich broad lace is the most favourite
trimming, put on in the form of volants, those robes
of a light hue being decorated with white point lace,
whilst those of darker shades are ornamented with
black.

DRESS HATS FOR THE THEATRE are principally
composed of white or black lace, and lined with a
light-coloured gauze, such as pink or blue, decorated
with marabout feathers, either white or black, tipped
with the same colours as the linings.
PELISSES.—Velvet ones are much in favour for the
public promenades, and as the weather is at present
very cold, several are trimmed with fur, dark furs
being most in estimation. Among those
that are not
trimmed with fur, we have noticed several of satin,
the corsage turning back, and fastened with beautiful
buttons. Spencers A basque are also much worn,
made of velvet, and sometimes trimmed with rich
black lace. They look very rich when worn with
jupes of satin or watered silk.
BALL DRESSES—ROBES A RUBAN.—.The colours
of the ribbons are so pretty, and the fringes so fresh
and light in their appearance, that they are generally
put on in eight or ten rows, particularly when in-
tended for trimming of those becoming and youthful
style of crepe and tulle dresses. We must also men-
tion those very elegant dresses composed of velours-
satin, of a rich pink colour, the front part of the jupe
(that is to say, the front breadth) entirely covered
with a rich lace, upon each side of which is posee two
wreaths of small flowers, having a very large rose at
the end of each wreath, also encircled with very
small flowers. Plain corsage, very low and pointed,
and decorated with a berthe composed of two rows of
lace, open in the front, and only reaching on each
side as far as the side seams of the corsage, where it
is attached with small wreaths of flowers, descending
on each side as far as the point of the waist. Plain
short sleeves, with manchettes of rich lace, headed
with a petite wreath of flowers.
FASHIONABLE COLOURS.—Dark hues are in favour
for out-door costume, such as purple, different shades
of green, dark ruby, and, above all, black. For
evening dress, light colours prevail, such as mauve,
pink, blue, pale lilac, and white.