have succeeded in the project of a new revolver, which we cannot believe to be otherwise than very far in advance of any and every other revolver ever made. Colt's revolver is always, and very properly, referred to as the standard by which to judge of improvements here; but we have no hesitation in pronouncing the new arm to be very far its superior. Its advantages are so obvious, that a mere glance at it convinces the examiner that it must supersede its predecessors, as they have superseded the ruder and less ingeniously adapted contrivances of earlier days.

To those who have forgotten the description of the new primer, it will be proper to state that it consists of a line of fulminating pills, placed equidistant upon a strip of water-proof paper. These pills, or deposits of fulminating powder, thus ranged upon a narrow strip of paper, can of course be coiled up in a receptacle within the lock, and by proper apparatus be pushed forward in succession to receive percussion upon the nipple of the chamber or barrel.

66

The first and prominent advantage which the new revolver has over that so widely known as Colt's, is in the employment of Maynard's primer, and the other apparent advantages are those which grow mainly out of the simplifications which the primer allows. It can be discharged much faster than Colt's. To prove this, it is only necessary to say that it is adapted to a supply of thirtysix primers at once. In Colt's pistol, in order to make thirty-six discharges, the fingers must fix, separately, thirty-six caps; a very slow business, particularly if one is in a hurry. Add to this that the flying of the copper, the "fouling" of the lock, the loosening and dropping off of caps, as well as their corrosion and the moistening of the powder, are all entirely obviated in the new arm, and, so far, its advantage is very apparent. It has other advantages, and among them it appears to us that the doing away of the nipples attached to each chamber of Colt's pistol is an important one. It uses but one nipple, and this is stationary. There is hardly a possibility that more than one chamber can be discharged at once, and its accidental discharge in the pocket would seem to be an absolute impossibility. The method of revolving the cylinder is novel, and has an advantage over those hitherto used.

The construction of the new revolver is the most compact and symmetrical of any we have ever seen, and we certainly do not perceive why it will not crowd all other revolvers out of market when it shall come to be introduced. We understand that the Company are preparing to enter largely into the manufacture of these revolvers, and that they have also engaged in the manufacture of locks for sporting and common guns, they having the exclusive right to Maynard's primer for this purpose. We are glad that improvements of so marked a character as these are in hands so efficient.

HOW THE TARIFF OF 1846 AFFECTS THE MERCHANTS.

ACCOUNTS from the South, East, North, and West, all concur in the fact that these seve ral sections are each suffering under a stringent money market, and interior jobbers are not fond of increasing liabilities, while doubts and uncertainty hang over the results of their collections for goods already trusted out.-New-York Dry Goods Reporter.

"

The tariff of 1846 was to increase trade, and thus benefit the merchants. That of 1842 was to diminish trade, and thus injure the merchants. So at least said the advocates of British freedom of trade-of that system which looks, and has always looked, to the maintenance of the British monopoly of the machinery for converting the food and the wool of the world into cloth, and the food and the ore of the world into iron. What, however, have been the

results of the two systems? Under the tariff of 1842, the consumption of iron and of coal trebled in quantity, and that of cotton and wool doubled; and there were then no "doubts or "uncertainty" hanging over "the results of collections," nor was there any necessity for diminishing trade, because men were every where growing rich, and improving their machinery of production, and becoming from year to year better able to pay for all they purchased; while States were not only paying the interest of their debts, but the necessity for creating foreign debt had ceased. Under the tariff of 1846, the consumption of iron, and of cotton and woolen cloth, rapidly diminishes; and with the diminution in the consumption of iron, the power of production diminishes, and “doubt and uncertainty " are every where, rendering it certain that, great as has already been the reduction of trade, it is destined to be still further diminished. Great trade and freedom of trade go together. Trade grew under the tariff of 1842, because under it the power of association grew, and every act of association is an act of trade. Trade diminishes under the tariff of 1846, because it tends to destroy the power of association, without which commerce cannot flourish. The chief trade of the present time is that of issuing bonds to be applied to the purchase of the cloth and the iron that, under the tariff of 1842, we made at home.

IMPROVEMENT OF OUR COMMON STOCK.

THERE is perhaps no one branch of agriculture which more needs improvement, or which would become productive of greater profit to the agriculturist, than that of neat cattle; and it is gratifying to observe some little interest awakening in the minds of farmers generally, to this important branch of their profession. Improvement has been confined too much to the more wealthy; and the man who has been the most liberal in his expenditures to benefit the country in this particular, has not unfrequently met with the ridicule of his neighbors. But happily for such-more particularly for the country-public opinion is undergoing a change, and those who once opposed improvement, are now in some degree availing themselves of its benefits.

That our improved breeds are greatly superior to the common stock of the country, I presume no one will deny. This being conceded, it becomes a matter of no little importance to ascertain in what manner we can the most speedily avail ourselves of the means within our possession for the improvement of our common stock. It is evident that we should seek a cross with some of the improved breeds, the relative merits of either of which I do not propose here to discuss. Every individual, before making choice of any particular breed, should carefully examine the subject, take into consideration his locality, and, more particularly, should consult his own taste; for unless fully convinced in his own mind that some particular breed is the best, he will probably make but slow advancement. Having made choice of the breed, it is evident that he should then seek to engraft its characteristics and good qualities upon his own stock. And here allow me to say that the farmer not unfrequently makes a great mistake. He procures perhaps a few half-bred heifers, and a male animal of the same grade, and commences breeding. Where is the chance for improvement in this selection? It is true that he may select from year to year his best animals, and thus advance slowly; yet the grade remains the same; or perhaps (which is more frequently the case) he procures nothing but a half-bred male animal, and with this intends to make great improvement. The first cross by this animal from our common

cows would be but one fourth; this produces again, in like manner, one eighth, and the next only one sixteenth of the blood of the pure-bred animal, and so on, deteriorating in the same proportion with each successive generation. It is perfectly plain that he has taken a wrong view of the subject, and that his improvement (?) will soon end where he commenced. The most speedy and successful improvement, therefore, can only be obtained by the selection and use of a thorough-bred or pure-blooded male animal.

For illustration of this, we will suppose the breed made choice of to be the short-horn or Durham. The produce from the first cross between a thoroughbred animal and our common cows, would be one half Durham; the next cross would give three fourths; the next would be seven eighths, and so on, increasing in the same ratio with each successive generation, until a herd would be reared, nearly equaling the pure-blooded Durhams in beauty, and practical utility. Why will not our farmers generally avail themselves of such accessi. ble means for speedy and certain improvement? It would add to their wealth individually, and benefit the country immensely. Instead of the poor, miserable, and almost worthless animals that are now too common in all parts of our country, we should have a breed that would justly become a source of pleasure and pride to their owners, and excite the admiration of all. Clockville, N. Y., February, 1852.

8. P. C.

EFFECT OF MAKING A MARKET ON THE LAND.

DURING the year 1850, the eight or ten departments of France devoted to the raising of silkworms and the manufacture of silk, produced a value of 160,000,000 of francs. This is an increase of sixty per cent. in fifteen years. The share of the breeder of the worm is by far the largest, as fully three quarters of the above sum, or 120,000,000, was paid in ready money for the cocoons. Besides this large consumption, France imported during the same year 60,000,000 francs worth of silk from various countries, but principally from Spain, Lombardy, Greece, Syria, Turkey, India, and China.

From 1842 to 1846, the average of the crop of cotton was larger than has been that of the years 1849-50 and 1850-51, and almost equal to the average of the crops of the three past years; and our planters have rejoiced in the fact, as tending to prove that the yield of the land could not be increased, and that, therefore, the price must continue high. France rejoices in a large crop of silk, and America rejoices in a small crop of cotton; and the reason of this difference is, that the former combines her food and her silk, and sends them abroad in the compact form of gros de Naples, gros de Soie, ribbons, &c., &c., and is therefore enabled to maintain a direct trade with all the world; while the people of the Southern States insist upon keeping their food at home and exporting their cotton in its roughest state, and thus depriving themselves of the power of maintaining any trade with the consumers of the world, except through the medium of the looms of Manchester and Lowell, and those of Lyons and St. Etienne. They destroy the home consumption, and then rejoice in short crops; whereas, if they would determine to make a market at home for food and cotton, they would do as they do in France-rejoice in large ones. They deprive themselves of the power to maintain direct trade with the consumers of cotton cloth, and are then forced to exert themselves to form combinations for the purpose of enabling them to obtain direct trade with even the consumers of raw cotton!

VOL. IV.-34.

COTTAGE DESIGNS-No. 3.

In the construction of a dwelling, one consideration should never be forgotten; and this is, it is to be a Family home, and consequently adapted, as far as possible, to the convenience and accommodation of a family. To secure this result, the proprietor should always adapt his plan, in regard to its site, healthiness of situation, pleasantness of location, surrounding scenery, &c., &c., to best promote this important end. He should also endeavor to combine the greatest aggregate of comfort, pleasure, and health, with a symmetrical and ornamental structure, pleasant surrounding scenery, &c.; and to do all this for a certain sum of money, and that, perhaps, more limited than he could desire, requires no small degree of practical skill and intelligence. The construction of a dwelling is an operation which thousands perform but once in a lifetime; hence, a mistake or error in the selection of a site, the formation of a plan, or in any other fundamental particular, is a permanent inconvenience upon the occupants. In fact, such an error has often rendered an expensive building comparatively valueless, to the unavailing regret of its owner during the remainder of his life.

Hoping to add to the already increasing interest in improvements in architecture, particularly in our villages and rural districts, we shall continue our series of designs and plans, which will be of a diversified character, and adapted to the various tastes and circumstances of our readers throughout the country.

The annexed engravings exhibit a perspective view and ground plan (the latter on an enlarged scale) of a half ornamented cottage in the English style, recently erected on Staten Island by W. H. Ranlett, Esq., author of "The Architect," (an excellent popular work relating to cottage and village architecture,)* in the composition of which the object has been to combine convenience, economy, and elegance, in such a manner that neither may predominate at the expense of the other. The exterior is sufficiently ornamental to be in keeping with the general harmony of the whole, the windows furnished with diagonal sashes, and the peaks of the roof, neatly ornamented, are prominent features of the design.

Figure 1 is a distant perspective view of the cottage and grounds, the front entrance being from the platform or balustrade on the right; the octagon containing the winding staircase, being on the opposite side, is not seen. One of the bay windows and the conservatory, are conspicuous and ornamental appendages to the main structure.

Figure 2 (on the next page) represents the plans and dimensions of the rooms, halls, closets, &c., of the ground floor, all in the clear, with the windows and door-openings all drawn to a scale of eight feet to an inch.

In the plan, A is the ante-room, entering from the rear of the cottage and opening into the dining-room B. The conservatory, C, is shown on the left, and the hall, D, with the stairs, on the right. E shows the entrance platform; F is the drawing-room; G and H, closets; I, the porch or ante-room to the drawing-room, entering from the front platform J. K and L are bay win

dows.

All the rooms are conveniently arranged, the dining-room, B, communicating with the hall, D, drawing-room, F, and greenhouse, C, while the drawing

* Published by Messrs. Dewitt & Davenport, Tribune Buildings, New-York.