The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-06-20 00:00:00

MECHANICS' INSTITUTION

The annual public examination of the pupils in the various
day schools of this institution took place on Thursday and
Faiday last, and was attended by a number of the parents
of the pupils, professional gentlemen, and others interested
in education.

On Friday afternoon a number of pieces, in prose and
poetry, were recited by the pupils of the lower school, in the
lecture-room ; and, in the evening, a public meeting was
held in the same place, Thomas Blackburn, Esq., in the
chair. Many influential friends of education were present.
The pupils of the vocal music classes sang several compo-
sitions. Pieces in English were recited by pupils of the
lower and high school, and pieces in Latin and Greek by
pupils of the high school.
The prize certificates having been distributed,
The Rev. W. BEVAN, who had assisted at the examina-
tion, bore testimony to the proficiency of the boys. Through-
out all the classes he had been well pleased with the follow-
ing particulars. First, accuracy of information. Second,
promptness of thought. Third, clearness of discrimination.
Dr. Crichton was called uoon, and expressed himself highly
satisfied with the progress and attainments of the pupils.
He had that day examined a boy named Robert 'Williams in
the Greek New Testament, and found him to be quite at
home in the translating of it. He had also examined him as
to his knowledge of the language, and here also he found him
perfectly at home, just as much so as if he was going to pass
for his degree of Almter of Arts, and had only been studying
Greek for six months.

The National Anthem was sung, and, after three cheers
had been given for the chairman, the meeting dispersed.

CORRESPONDENCE,

" THE SCREW PROPELLER."

TO THE EDITOR OP THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Stß,—Now that the screw propeller question occupies so
much of the public attention. I may perhaps be excused fur
giving (with your permission) the following account of one
which 1 have frequently amused myself with i❑ the Bruns-
wick Half-tide Basin, (now Union Dock,) in this town, so
far back as the year 1821.
" The idea of using the Screw" no doubt is (as your cor-
respondent " Nauticus" states) " of great antiquity," and
perhaps took its rise from the " sculling" of a boat ; but
" Nauticus" can only trace its original application as a pro-
peller for steamers to " Brown in 1827"—while the drawing
of the " Caledonian" which I have sent to the Collegiate
Institution was made by the late Mr. Spooner, Engineer-in-
Chief to the City of Dublin Steam-packet Company, and the
model was actually worked in 1824. It is for this reason,
and in justice to the memory of departed worth—the name
of Spooner being identified with the rise and progress of lug-
gage steamers irom this port—that I call the attention of
those most concerned in the propulsion of vessels by Screw
to this fact, and for no other, as I am in no wise interested
in the matter.

The model steamer there was four feet in length, and the
motion was given by a spring, which, being wound up,
would of course drive the machinery until the chain was
" run out," exactly as a watch movement. The paddles or
fans were placed, one on the starboard bow, and the other
on the larboard quarter, both worked athwart-ships and con-
traryw•ise. The paddle shafts ran fore and aft, and each shaft
had within hoard a bevel pinion, both of which were driven
by a bevel wheel, thus each paddle or fan would enter the
water angularly and in opposite directions, and so propel the
vessel, establishing the practicability of the screw. This
alone was what the little craft was built for, and being
proved the inventor was satisfied.
As the plan of machinery required for a large steamer, with
full sections, are proportionally given in the drawing alluded
to, any of your readers may see it by calling at the insti-
tution.—l am, sir, yours respectfully,

Cable street Chambers, June 19/h, 1843,

CHARADES

My first is a venomous reptile ; my second, a secondary
sort of hotel ; my third, a shoemaker's instrument; and my
whole is the name of a Liverpool councillor.
My first is a Scottish plant; my second, an article of
dress ; and my whole the name of a Liverpool hydropathist.
My first is an ancient Scottish coin ; my second is a female
graminiverous quadruped ; my third, a species of grain ; and
my whole is a Liverpool newspaper.