The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-10-15 00:00:00

PATENT BRICKS FOR FLUES

The Secretary then introduced to the notice of the meet-
ing an invention of Mr. Welsh's, architect, Castle-street,
and. Birkenhead, of a peculiarly formed brick, for the con-
struction of circular flues in chimneys,—climbing boys being
no longer allowed by act of parliament. A patent had been
taken out for these bricks, representations of which, as well
as of common bricks, were produced, showing their applica-
bility ro the erection of chimneys of the usual exterior form
with flues. The patent brick is merely shaped on one side in
a concave form or segment, and outwardly rectangularly,
so that the common brick can be fitted to it outside. A
gentleman present remarked that a patent had been taken
out for precisely the same form of brick for the same purpose,
by a person in Manchester, fourteen years ago ; so that that
patent having, he supposed, died out, this was only a renewal
of it ! There were, he added, !tubes for the same purpose,
which could be builr round ; and which he considered prefer-
able, and less costly.

ELECTROTYPE CLOTH PRINTING

The SECRETARY then showed several specimens of cotton
cloth, the principal or flowered portion of the pattern of
which was effected by a new application of the electrotype pro-
cess, invented by our townsman, Mr. Spence. The ground-work
on the copper printing rollers was first engraved in the usual
way, and the flowers or other portion of the design afterwards
affixed to, it, slightly in relief. Mr. Spence stated that he
had frequently gone to Manchester at his own cost, and as-
sisted the house that printed the cloth to perfect the process ;
but though they had saved some thousands of pounds by it,
they had made him no recompense whatever. He could only
attribute this to the fact that he had only invented it, but had
not applied it practically.
The SECRETARY lamented that men of genius should thus
find their valuable achievements unrequited. The case of
Mr. Spence was analogous to that of 'Henry Bell, to whom
was due the first successful application of steam to naviga-
tion, but whose merits had been grievously overlooked while
others derived the advantage.
It was announced by the CHAIRMAN that Mr. Dirks was
under the necessity of resigning his office as Secretary, as he
was about to change his residence. He eulogized that gen-
tleman's exertions on behalf of the society, and stated that
Mr. Salt had been appointed in his place pro. tern. until the
next general meeting.
The thanks of the meeting were proposed and heartily given
to Mr. Williams for his communication, and to Mr. Dirks
for his services. The latter replied in a neat manner, stating
that he hoped to be serviceable to the society, though absent
from its meetings.

Several gentlemen were nominated and seconded as can-
didates for membership at the next meeting. The members
and their friends then partook of tea and coffee in a room ad-
joining the theatre, and afterwards departed, highly gratified
by the intellectual proceedings of the evening.

POPISH LOYALTY.—At an entertainment given on Mon-
day week, by the Roman Catholics of Staley Bridge, to com-
memorate the opening of their new church, the Rev. Mr.
Anderton proposed first " Pope Gregory XVI.," and then
" The Queen." Several priests and between 400 and 500
other persons were present.
HORRIBLE CRUELTY.—On Wednesday night week, some
ruffian entered a field belonging to Mr. W. Hunt, of Rush-
ton, near Tarporley, and so brutally cut and backed a fine
cart mare on her hinder parts, that before morning she bled
to death. A reward is offered for the detection of the brute,
which, as the police are actively inquiring into the matter,
it is hoped, will soon take place.
THE NEW AMBASSADORS.—The appointments of the re-
presentatives of her Majesty in foreign states, under the pre-
sent administration, are now,. we believe, finally arranged.
Lord Cowley will be the British ambassador at Paris ; Sir
Robert Gordon at Vienna; Lord Stuart de Rothesay at St.
Petersburg; and Sir Stratford Canning at Constantinople.
Mr. Fox will, it is believed, remain for the present her Ma-
jesty's Minister at Washington. No immediate change is
in contemplation in the British embassy at Madrid; nor is
it probable that any important change will take place in the
representation of Great Britain at any of the European
courts, with the exception of those already mentioned, and
the Court of Naples.