The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-02-17
LITERARY NOTICES.

gained let US be patent ana hopeful
LITERARY NOTICES.
! AMERICAN PoLYrEcHSio JOURNAL. BY Professor
Charles @. Page. J. J. Groenough, Mechanical En-
ginser, and Charles L. Freshman Civil Engineer
The foregoing is the title of q monthly peri
odical established in this city, devoted to Sci
ence, Mechanic Arts, and Agriculture.
The first number of this journal gives prom
ise of great usefulness. 1t is neither exclusive
ly scientific nor exclusively unitarian, but hap
PLY mngles the two characteristics main OBJ
ject being to render science in the highest pos
sible degree subservient to the comfort and
happiness of man.
The number before US contains several ex-
celent articles from the pen OF Professor Page /;
among which is one upon the subject of = Elec-
tro- Mechanics" in which he undertakes to
trace the progress of invention in producing
motions by electricity, from Professor Henry's
simple device, producing reciprocating mo-
ton, first published in 1894, down to the pres
ent time. The subject is but commenced in
this number; but enough is said to create an
appetite for more. Professor Page has deserved
ly the reputation of being one of the most ex-
perenced electricians, and the interest now ex-
cited by the application of electricity to tele-
graphing and other useful arts, will doubtless
create IL strong de1ire to peruse his Instructive
articles
Mr. Greenough gives us an instructive ar
ticle on The Progress Of Legislation upon Err
ciusiue Privileges" in which he shows how diff
fcult it was in ancient times to distinguish be-
tween mnnopolies granted for things well
known and already public property, and for
new discoveries and inventions which were in
truth the private property of tho dlscoverer or
inventor-a property which the public proposed
to purchase by granting q monopoly of their
use for limited time. Much light may yet
be thrown on this subject by additional articles,
enlarging the historical record commenced
with 30 much success
We have also in this number, interesting ar
tcles upon "The Patent Office "The Dignity
of Patents" "Patent Laws and Decisions"
and the English and American Patent Laws
and it is the design of the editors to give an
epitome of all new patents-thus making their
journal useful to all who have business with
the Patent Office, or are interested in new in
ventions and discoveries. And for chs they arc
particularly qualified having all been connect
cd with the Patent Office, in which Prof Page
was many years Chief Examiner.
-. T.. Al. -
teresting and instructive articles upon the
Arabian Horse" Vine Culture in this Coun-
try" and the aMerino Sheep" With the first
Of these articles he publishes curious letter
from the celebrated Abd-el-Kader, the modern
Jugurtha, in relation TO the Arabian horse, his
habits, and capacity for endurance
This number contains many other useful ar
ticles, among which is full description of i'm
proved machinery employed in the manufac-
ture of sugar, which We commend to the atten-
ton of all sugar planters and manufacturers.
Followed up with the industry and talent
which the first number of the Polytechnic
Journal exhibits az no doubt it will be, it will
be one of the most useful periodicals in Amer
lea, and we cannot but anticipate that it will
be one of the most successful
APrLEroN's MKcHANcs' MAoAziNS AND ENGi-
NEKRs' JOURNAL. February, 1889. No 2 Vol
ume III.
The present number is particularly interest
ing, from its containing q copper-plate engra-
wing Of Eriosson's Calorc Engine, with a de-
scription of the plate and explanation of the
working, furnished by the inventor himself
The drawing il taken from the stationary teri
engine, as better adapted to the purpose Of il
lustrstion than the engines of the ship. In this
engine, which is Of sixty horse power, the grea,
point of the invention is the Regeneration. II
measures twenty six inches in height and width
internally, and contains l3,520000 meshes Of
wire The air. on passing through this metal
lung is distributed in ~ 100000 minute cells,
taking up or giving out upwards of 400 deg.
Of heat when the machine is in operation.
There is also u drawing and description Of an
Elliptic Rotary Engine by Wright & Hyatt.
1t strikes us favorably although We have doubts
as to the practical working Of any engine OF
that character, however ingeniously contriyed.
Beyond mentioning the " Elevation and Plans
Of the New York Crystal Palace" We have no
room to-day for further notice.
TaE NEw YoRK MUSICAL woRLD AND TINES Edit
cd by Dyer Willis, 2S7 Broadway.
The journal, Of which We give above the ad-
dress, we beg TO commend 10 the notice Of our
readers, and all who arc interested in the pro-
grsss or state Of music in this country We
speak from . knowledge Of this paper since its
commencement and most emphatioally give
our testimony in favor Of its ability.
The agency Of this paper hss been given, on
most generous conditions to lady--a widow
Of estip,sble ahsracter--and is her sole sup
port Suca persons as may wisely wish TO give