Haworth, B., Esq. M.A.: A Dissertation on the English Poor, stating the Advantages of Education, with a Plan for the gradual Abolition of the Poor Laws. 38. 6d.

"No scheme for the amendment of the poor laws merits the least attention, which has not their abolition for its ultimate object.” — Ricardo. Wetten, Robert, Architect: A Series of Designs for Villas, in the Italian Style of Architecture. To be published in six Parts, each containing one Design, illustrated by Plans, Elevations, and Scenic Views. London. Part I. 4to. Two Ground Plans, an Elevation, and a Perspective View. 6s. "The author has been induced to arrange these compositions in the Italian style of architecture at the suggestion of several amateurs, partial to its beauties, who, from the few specimens hitherto published, have regretted that it has not been more frequently adopted. He has been further recommended to submit them to public notice, under the impression that this style of architecture is entirely deserving of the high encomiums that were formerly passed upon it, although of late years it has been partially superseded by the Gothic; and that without destroying the harmony of its proportions, or the beauties of its appearance, it may be accommodated to the means of those who, however they may have felt disposed to patronise the professors of this style, have, hitherto, in some measure been deterred by the apprehensions of expense.

Design No. I. A Villa prepared for a lady near Bristol (figs. 108, 109.) is exceedingly handsome in the elevation, and not badly arranged on the ground plan. The principal floor is entered by a loggia (fig. 108. a), which communicates with a vestibule (6), staircase (c), drawing-room (d), breakfastroom (e), dining-room (ƒ), library (g), bath (h), water-closet (i), servants' entrance (k), larder (4), man's room (m), scullery (n), kitchen (o), house-keeper's room (p), and store room (q). The chief objections which we have to this arrangement are, the situation of the water-closet in the interior of the house

without exterior ventilation or light. Such conveniences should, as much as possible, be placed in a sort of loggia, so as that not only their windows but doors might open to the free air. The loggia, which of course should only be entered from some passage or lobby, might be contrived to shut in with glass or Venetian blinds in severe weather; or it might have the appearance exteriorly of a large window. The second objection is the projection made for the chimneys in the rooms (de), which, being common in brick cottages, always conveys something of vulgarity and weakness or meanness to buildings of a higher character. We imagine, for example, on looking at the elevation (fig. 109.), that, if the walls had been sufficiently thick, the chimney

flues would have been carried up in them, instead of in a stack or portion of wall of an extra-thickness, built on purpose to contain them. With this exception we consider the elevation as truly beautiful. The three central windows over the three windows of the same kind placed farther apart attract the eye to the centre, and retain it there in admiration, while the two smaller windows over the verandas in the wings have a similar effect in their way. The building is thus a well-defined whole, composed of three parts, separately wholes also and well defined. The colonnade and balustrade of the loggia harmonise with the centre pediment, as the verandas do with the pavilion roofs. Had the chimneys been in the walls instead of outside of them, it would have been perfect in its kind.

Castle, T., F.L.S.: An Introduction to Botany, including the History, Elements, and Language of Botany, the Linnean Artificial System, the Natural Systems of Linnæus and Jussieu, the Anatomy and Physiology of Plants, and the Harmonies of Vegetation. London. 1 vol. plates. 10s. plain, and 12s. 6d. coloured.

Jones, the Rev. J. P., and J. F. Kingston: Flora Devoniensis; or a Descriptive Catalogue of Plants growing wild in the County of Devon, arranged both according to the Linnean and Natural Systems, with an Account of their Geographical Distribution, &c. London. 8vo. 16s. Phillips H., Esq. F.H.S., Author of Pomàrium Britannicum, and other Works: Flora Histórica. 2d ed. 2 vols. 8vo. 21s. bds.

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PART III.

MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE.

ART. I. General Notices.

APPLICATION of the term Involucrum. - Sir, Sweet, in his description of Davállia gibberòsa, Nat. Ord. Filices, Fl. Austral. t. 31., has adopted the term Involucrum for the membranous covering of the sori, or tufts of flowers, in preference to the superfluous Indusium of modern authors. The decided superiority of such an adoption, I think, does him the highest honour, and deserves to be imitated by all systematists!! April 16.

Botanicus.

Principle of Human Developement. -Taking the mind and the body together, their united functions may be reduced to three: 1. the constructive, or those which relate to growth; 2. the intellectual, or those which relate to mind and morals; and 3. the reproductive, or those which have reference to the continuation of the species. Now it appears to be a universal principle in nature, that any intension [design] of one of these three functions is attended by a corresponding remission of one or both of the other two; in other words, if any one of the functions is employed in excess, a corresponding deficiency will be found in the usual exercise of the others. "In all cases there is evidently in utero a very great activity of the constructive functions. This activity generally diminishes after birth in a degree, which, setting disease aside, bears an evident ratio to the increasing exercise of the intellectual functions. The remission, or temporary suspension, of the intellectual functions, which occurs during sleep, is attended with an evident intension of the constructive functions, by which, in the time of healthy repose, the wearied or impaired organs are put into a state fit for renewed action. Great precocity of intellect I have certainly seen attended with a marked decrease of the constructive functions. It is common for young persons of either sex to acquire, about the time of puberty, a sudden and extraordinary activity of the constructive functions; and I have long observed that the intellect then, except in matters that regard the final cause of that activity, becomes uncommonly sluggish and inactive. The reproductive functions succeed to the completion of the constructive, and it is well known that too great exercise of them is incompatible with an intense application of the mind to study. On the other hand, excessive intellectual exercise is sometimes destructive of health (which depends upon a due performance of the constructive functions), and also of the reproductive powers or inclinations. Sir Isaac Newton, whose intellectual powers were never perhaps exceeded, is said to have exhibited this inactivity or deficiency of the reproductive." (T. Smith, Esq., Surgeon, Kingussie, Inverness-shire, in Brewster's Journal of Science for July, 1829, p. 33.)

The Conservative Tendency of Prosperity. In Hawkins's Elements of Medical Statistics, a most original and interesting book, are collected together a great number of facts, which prove, beyond a doubt, that health and the duration of life are promoted by occupation and prosperity, and

retarded by their opposites. The mean duration of life has gradually increased in England, and even more strikingly in cities than in rural districts, since statistical tables were kept. In the middle of the last century, the annual mortality of London was about one in twenty; by the census of 1821 it is as one in forty. On the continent of Europe similar changes have been taking place, but in a very inferior degree. A great portion of the deaths in cities is assigned to the constant importation from the country of individuals who have attained to maturity, but who having been previously habituated to frequent exercise in a pure atmosphere, and to simple regular diet, are gradually sacrificed to confined air, sedentary habits, or a capricious and over-stimulating food. A large portion of the disease of the country population arises from the excessive use of spirituous liquors, or of low sour wines or ciders. Masons are most subject to consumptions, and tanners least so: soldiers are more healthy than sailors; there is more disease in an army during an unsuccessful than during a successful campaign: gardeners and agriculturists, who have families, produce somewhat more male than female children, and the contrary as to those who are engaged in the pursuits of commerce and manufactures. Improvements in the public health are uniformly attended by a diminution of marriages and births, because there being only a certain quantity of subsistence, if men live longer, there must be a smaller number of them produced. Thus, with an equal mass of living beings, there is a smaller drawback by deaths and the pains and dangers of child-birth. — Cond.

Heating by hot Water.-Mr. Weekes, manufacturer of horticultural buildings in the King's Road, has made one of the greatest improvements which have been accomplished in this mode of heating since its application to gardening purposes. One of the few objections to the system has hitherto been, that, in a cold morning, the temperature of a forcing-house cannot be so suddenly raised, and in foggy weather the damp in a green-house cannot be so suddenly dried up, as by fire flues. Mr. Weekes has completely removed this difficulty, by circulating the water along a box or tube, 12 or 18 in. broad, and only gin. deep, inside measure. The boiler being small, and exposing a long surface to the fire, on Mr. Cottam and Mr. Fowler's principle, the water is soon heated, and passes rapidly along the broad tube (fig. 110. a a), which, exposing

so large a surface, quickly d gives out its

heat. At the further end of the house this broad plate is connected with

a

b

110

a

two returning pipes; one of a very small diameter, barely sufficient to carry back the water sent forward in the broad tube (b), and the other of 6 in. or a foot in diameter (c), to serve as a reservoir of heat in the night-time, or to be employed instead of the small returning pipe, when the house is once heated to the proper degree. The returning pipes open into a small cistern (d), formed in the end of the broad tube, and the opening to each pipe is stopped by a plug; the one or the other of which is taken out, according to the tube the water is meant to return by. Nothing can be more beautiful, simple, and effectual, of which any one may be convinced, by inspecting the apparatus, placed in a house 60 ft. long, on Mr. Weekes's premises. Of course, the direction of the pipes may be varied at pleasure, to suit every form of house; and instead of a returning pipe of large dimensions, a second one, of small diameter, might pass through a series of cisterns, of such dimensions as would retain the heat for any term considered necessary. To retain a layer of water on the upper surface of the broad tubes, for the

purposes of evaporation, it is only necessary to raise two ledges on their outer edges. Mr. Weekes has taken out a patent for his improvement, but we hope he will soon make some arrangement by which his broad tube, whether set on edge or kept flat, will be generally adopted as the going pipe by the numerous persons throughout the country now heating hothouses by hot water.

Mr. Weekes is a simple harmless man, not very likely, we fear, to make the most of his invention. We trust, however, that the numerous tradesmen to whom he shows and explains it, will act as honourably to him as they would wish to be done by, if in his circumstances. It is not uncommon with rich manufacturers in Birmingham and Sheffield, when they find a patent taken out by a poor one, for what they consider a good thing, to infringe it under various pretences, and risk the consequences, well knowing the expenses of the law, even when the law-suit is gained; but when a man like Mr. Weekes has hit upon a thing that is really entitled to a patent, that patent, however much it might be liable to be technically infringed, ought to be held sacred. This should be a point of honour among commercial men, and we know it is, in corresponding cases, among the respectable part of the London booksellers and other tradesmen. On the other hand, patentees ought to be liberal, and this we have counselled Mr. Weekes to be. Cond.

111

Siebe's Rotatory Garden Engine and Pump.―This machinist has made a very great improvement on garden engines, and has also produced a description of forcing pump, and a lifting or common pump, which offer very considerable advantages. The garden engine will be found a great deal more easily worked than the most improved modification of those in common use. The motion is rotatory, by a handle, as in turning a coffee-mill. The machine being entirely made of metal, without leather or other fibrous material, no changes of temperature, or of moisture in the air, will put it out of order when not in use. The stream of water thrown out being continuous, a greater quantity is delivered in a shorter time. On the whole, we think it an excellent improvement. Our attention was first directed to it by Mr. Nash, head flower-gardener to Lord Farnborough at Bromley Hill; and we soon after went to see the machine operate at the manufactory, 145. High Holborn, and were amply gratified. A pump, also, on a rotatory principle, was invented some years ago by Mr. Joseph Eve; but this engine (fig. 111.) had two cylinders, whereas Mr. Siebe's has only one, composed of four wings. In Eve's engine two cylin ders (a b), working into each other, raised the water from the well or other supply by a tube (c), and delivered it by another tube (d). It was stated in the Quarterly Journal of Science for January, 1827, to have great advantages; but we believe it has never come much into use. Siebe's engine we consider to be a great improvement on it, and we shall prove this to be the case, in next Number, by engravings. In the mean time, we counsel every

reader not to purchase a hydraulic engine, or a pump of any kind whatever, before calling, or sending some competent person, to see Mr. Siebe's invention. Mr. Siebe being a foreigner, not knowing a great deal of the ways of the English world, has neglected to do himself that justice by publicity which we hope in some measure to do. Cond.

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Downe's Self-acting Water-Closet. This machine is to be seen in the same shop with Siebe's garden engine, and we can pronounce it with conVOL. V. No. 22.

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