next exhibition should be held in the year 1830. This measure was adopted after mature deliberation; and it is believed that exhibitions held every two years, will excite more interest, and will be productive of more advantage to the arts and manufactures than annual ones. The committee on premiums and exhibitions are actively engaged in making arrangements for an exhibition at that time, which it is expected will not be inferior to any of those heretofore held, and which will exhibit the I state and progress of the mechanic arts in our country. HENRY HORN, Chairman. Journ. Frank.Inst.

William Hamilton, Actuary.

PATENTS

Obtained by Pennsylvanians, in June, 1829.
For a Washing Machine; Fredus Reed, Piketown,
Bradford county, Pa. June 11.

THE SCHUYLKILL.

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If any person continue to doubt the great advantages resulting from the internal improvement of the state by means of canals and rail roads, a visit to the Schuylkill would go far to remove them. Wharves are to be seen lining the margin of that stream from Fair Mount Dam down the whole front of the city, and a portion of the county of Philadelphia. A few days ago, we saw, 14 vessels there, waiting to take our coal, immense quantities of which are brought down the canal. We should be much pleased to have the number and description of vessels that have passed up the Schuylkill within the last year. It would be quite interesting, and would af ford a pleasing contrast with the trifling navigation of that stream, prior to our canal system having come into operation. What must be the result when the great Pennsylvania Canal shall have been completed, and its

article of coal has already done so much. Our coal beds are so extensive, and the quality of our coal so fine, that the stream of wealth that must flow down to Philadel phia from that source alone, must ever make us a prosperous people.

For an improvement in the Rail-road, by which a rail-immense commerce be sent down to us, when the single way carriage may be made to turn out and in, at the places intended for that purpose, on a single rail-way; or to pass from one track to another, where the road is double; which mode obviates the difficulties heretofore experienced in effecting this object; James Wright, Columbia, Lancaster county, Pa. June 11.

For a new and useful mode of Propelling Boats, or Wagons; Josiah White, civil engineer, Mauch Chunk,

Pa. June 11.

A rail road of sixty miles has been constructed in England, merely for the transportation of coal alone. The coal vessels there furnish a large share of the seamen for the navy when there is a demand for the naval service of the country. England derives immense wealth from this mineral production. Philadelphia is destined to share largely in the advantages of the coal commerce, and all this results from our internal improvement.

Am. Sent.

The propellers are long pieces of timber, placed beWe agree with the Editors of the American Sentinel, tween the ways of a rail-road, They are to be three in that the visible effects of the internal improvement of the number, lying side by side, and may be on the same State are great on the Schuylkill, at Philadelphia; but plane with the rails; they are proposed to be made of we would invite them to extend their visit this far, and timber, about 6 by 8 inches, and may be so joined end they would find materials to render the theme ten-fold to end as to extend to any convenient distance; they are more fruitful. We feel confident they would gaze with to be supported on rollers, upon which they are re-admiration at the wonderful enterprize of man-to betained by flanches. A shaft crosses the rail-road, behold our large store-houses-our numerous wharveslow the rails and the propellers; upon this shaft there are three cranks, from each of which a pitman passes to one of the propellers, and when this shaft is turned by the application of any sufficient power, one of the propellers will always be advancing. The upper edges of these propellers are notched, so as to form ratchets; and three palls descend from the bottom of the wagon, and fall into these rachets, which will, of course, cause it to ascend by a regular, continuous motion.

For a Rotary Steam Engine; David B. Lee, and Stephen Stewart, Philadelphia, June 11.

the boat-yards and boats-the rail-roads our coal, the boundless wealth of this region-the industry of our citizens-and above all, a town destined to be told of in after ages, springing up, as if by magic, on a spot, which, but a few years ago was a perfect wilderness, inhabited only by the beasts of the forest, who roamed about in the majesty of uncontrouled restraint. These are objects they would delight to dwell upon. But vast as these improvements are and so immense the trade that already pours down the Schuylkill canal, it is but a part of the trade which Nature (assisted by the artificial The principle upon which this engine is to act, is the means of man,) destined to take this channel to market. same which bas been tried in a great variety of forms, We allude to the construction of a rail road between this and always with the same result, namely, that it would place and Sunbury and Danville, to intercept the trade go, if well made, but was inferior in operation to the cy-of the two branches of the Susquehanna. No idea can finder engine. We cannot give the particular arrange- be formed of the advantages which would result to Phiment proposed, without drawings, and deem it sufficient ladelphia from this improvement. True they have the to observe, that a wheel is to revolve, upon the periph-Union Canal, the Pennsylvania Canal, and constructing ery of which there are valves, which shut flush into it, and are to open and be acted upon as they pass through steam boxes, of which there are two, one standing opposite to the other, and each furnished with a steam and escape pipe.

For an improvement in the Plough, by which the sides of hills can be ploughed backwards and forwards, throwing the ground always on the same side of the fur row; Philip Altenderfer and Benjamin Altenderfer, Richmond, Berks county, Pa. June 11.

the Columbia and Phildelphia rail road, yet the trade of the Susquehanna which they will receive by those routes, we are afraid will be comparatively small.When the trade arrives at Sunbury, the junction of the two branches by the Union Canal route it is 202 miles from Philadelphia; by the Pottsville route, only 152; distance in favour of the latter route 50 miles. From Sunbury via the Columbia and Philadelphia rail road, it is 168 miles; by the Pottsville route only 150; in favour of the latter 16 miles. The distance from Sunbury to Philadelpia is 152 miles, and from Sunbury to Baltimore it recedes from Philadelphia,& approaches nearer to the 155;but when the trade leaves Sunbury for Middletown, Baltimore market, being only 88 miles therefrom, and 146 miles from Philadelphia, leaving in favour of the former 58 miles. These are important facts which cannot be too deeply impressed upon the citizens of PhilaFor an improvement in manufacturing and Ornament-delphia-facts which greatly involve the prosperity of ing of Combs; Ebenezer Mustin, Philadelphia, June 27. the state, and the large and fertile district through which

For an improvement in Bellows Tubs, or Cylinders, for Furnaces, or Forges; Andrew A. M'Pharrin, Hunting

don, Pa. June 11.

For a mode of Cutting out Boots and Shoes, by means of a scale, or graduated pattern; Samuel Marshall, Philadelphia, June 23.

Rights of Landlord under an execution against his Ten-hibiting such negligence on the part of the plaintiff, as

August 8.-These Indians were told on their depar ture, if they met the other deputies, to inform them what they had done, and persuade them to return.They did meet them, but the others continued their journey and were daily expected.

sider this subject in a point of view, which I believe, will be found as interesting as it is new; the facts that I shall state, although they may strike every body's eye have not only not yet been noticed, but appear to me to have been most unaccountably overlooked by those who have professed to treat of the culture of silk in this country.

which Dandolo limits them in their early age, he says: "Dandolo writes after years of practice upon a very large scale, and recommends the degrees of heat which al ways insured bim success. Other practical writers agree with Dandolo. No one it is presumed, will be at a loss to decide which of those authorities is most worthy of being followed."

In China, the native country of the silk worm, that It appears to me that the author of the Manual relied useful insect is born, grows and thrives in the open air. here too much on foreign authorities, and too little on Like the common caterpillar, it nestles upon trees, and his own judgment, which it is most probable would have there winds its beautiful cocoons.-In Europe, on the led him to different conclusions. When he ventured to contrary, in Italy and the south of France, not withstand-assert that in the State of Connecticut, because Daning the boasted mildness of those climates, the egg is hatched and the worm is raised in hot houses, with infinite trouble and care. In the works of Dandolo and Bonafous, the most approved European writers on this subject, the one an Italian, the other a Frenchman, we find the most minute directions for regulating from day to day the heat of the stoves, and the farmer who raises silk worms, must have the thermometer constantly in his hand, the degrees of heat being fixed for every day of the growth of the animal and almost for every hour. The numerous works on the art of raising silk worms are in a great measure filled with these details.

In the first number of these essays, I gave an account of some experiments which I made on cocoons raised on the farm of Messrs. Ter Hoeven, near this city. I described the silk extracted from these cocoons as the most beautiful I had ever seen, and as superior in quantity as well as quality to that of Europe. These cocoons were produced without the aid of the thermometer, and even without any artificial heat.

dolo's directions, as he believes, are not followed, "millions of silk worms must die, or become debilitated, and that their race will degenerate." I cannot help wishing that he had ascertained the fact which might have been, I should think, easily done, as Connecticut is not at so great a distance from the capital, nor, indeed, from any part of the United States, that information from thence could not have been obtained on which reliance might have been placed. Conjectures can but illy supply the place of positive facts.

Sensible of the respect that I owe to opinions of A. merican writers, and particularly to that of the author to whom I allude, it will be easily perceived that I found myself greatly embarrased. I saw silk worms raised and fine silk produced every where in this country, without the use of stoves or thermometers, yet I was aware of the strength of objection drawn from the vicissitudes of the American atmosphere, and indeed I have, in the second number, expressed my astonishment at the success of the culture of the silk worm, notwithstanding this great and serious obstacle. Disappointed in the means that I had recurred to in order to fix my opinion upon the subject, and to find a rational cause for the wonders that every day struck my eyes, I determined, at last to study as well as I could the climate and temperature of this country, persuaded that I should find there the solution of this great problem. I knew from experience, and from the uniform assertions of European writers, that a temperature not below the 14th deg. of Reaumur, or the 62d Fahrenheit's thermometer, could not be hurtful to the silk worms, and on this basis I proceeded in my researches.

I have said (in my ninth number) that I have seen cocoons spun by worms raised by a lady near Baltimore, without any care, and the silk of those cocoons was equally beautiful. I said, indeed, that the worms appeared to have suffered; but that might have been from causes unconnected with the degree of heat that they experienced. I am informed that in Connecticut, where sewing silk is made in great quantity, the directions of the European writers with respect to heat are not attended to; and, in short, although I have seen cocoons produced in various parts of this country, I have never heard that those directions were any where followed. These facts made me reflect a great deal, in order to I in the first place examined the meteorological obdiscover by what cause they might be produced; never-servations which are daily inserted in the Democratic theless, my mind was not satisfied. I turned to the Press, published in this city, and there I found to my American writers, and particularly to the Manual pub-great satisfaction, that from the 22d of May to the 224 lished under the authority of Congress, to which I have before several times referred. There I expected to have my doubts completely removed; but I was surprised to find that the learned writer recommended the whole method of the foreign writers; not on the ground of observation and experience, but on mere general reasoning, and on the authority of those writers themselves. Let us hear him speak for himself.

After several arguments, principally derived from the vicissitudes of the American atmosphere, he thus continues: [p. 49.] "Thus, whether amusement or profit be the object, a thermometer is essential (to the raising of silk worms.) It will be asked, do the people of Connecticut use thermometers? if not do they not succeed without them? It is believed that they are not employed; and the consequences are, that millions of worms must die from the causes mentioned; that the profit is thus greatly diminished; and that many worms, which do service, become debilitated, spin small cocoons, and produce diminutive moths, and bad eggs. Hence the race is liable to degenerate." Elsewhere, (p. 69,) the writer resumes the same argument, without, however, referring to any facts but the vicissitudes of the American climate, and confirms his reasoning by saying "all the practical writers, expressly consulted on this subject, are agreed." Then alluding to an assertion of Sauvages, a French writer who said, and, I think with reason, as he speaks from experiments, that the silk worm will bear a greater degree of heat than that to

June of the present year, (the usual season for raising the silk worm,) the thermometer had not fallen below 694° of Fahrenheit in the open air, although during that period the weather was sometimes unusually cool. In addition to this, I was shown by Mr. Elias Durand, of this city, a gentleman who is very fond of philosophical studies, a view which he took within the last ten years -but in what year he could not recollect, having mislaid the original of his drawing-in which he exhibited, by lines of different colours, the relative temperatures of Paris and Baltimore for every day during one twelvemonth.

The rise and fall of the thermometer in those two, cities, from one day to another, was, as he assured me, accurately marked from meteorological observations taken in each place, during the same period. The American temperature appeared much colder in winterand much warmer in summer; but what I remarked with the greatest pleasure, was, that from the last week in May inclusively, to the end of June, the thermometer did not fall below 68 degrees of Fahrenheit, which was rather extraordinary, as I have been informed that in these middle states it seldom falls lower in that period than 68 degrees.-This, however is a fact on which there must be many in this country better informed than myself; but if we take it for granted, it is evident that during the proper time for raising silk worms, the temperature is hardly ever such as to endanger their health; and unless it be so, I can perceive no way to account

for the success of American farmers in raising their silk worms, and producing such beautiful silk as that of America must be acknowledged to be, without any of those precautions respecting the degrees of heat which are taken by the silk culturists of Europe, and recom mended by the writers of Italy and France. I am almost tempted to believe that the silk worm would succeed here in the open air, even on the leaves of trees, as it does in China. It appears to me to be well worth making the experiment, particularly in the southern states of this Union.

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gress of the silk worms, to entitle me to act the part o a teacher in this branch of national agriculture. My wish to be useful to this country made me presumptuous, the same sentiment makes me acknowledge my error.

When I intimated that this essay should be the last, I had not in contemplation the communications that I have just made. I did not expect to come so near a solution of the problem that occupied my mind. It is possible, therefore, that I may trespass again on the indulgence of the public.. J. D'HOMERGUE.

17th. September, 1829.

I cannot now speak of the variations of the thermometer in any particular season in the south of France where West-Chester, Pa. Sept. 16. I resided, but this I can say, that when I arrived here We have seen a parcel of silk made this season by about the end of May, I found the weather excessively Mrs. Baker, of West Bradford, remarkable for its purity hot, and more so than that to which I had been accus- and whiteness. This specimen is an evidence of what tomed in the same season in my own country. I am may be done in the cultivation of Silk, and should stimtold that the hot weather in America sets in about theulate to new efforts in that valuable, but too much ne20th of May with particular violence; but of this I can- glected, branch of industry. not judge by one year's experience. It undoubtedly began in this manner in the present year.

I am inclined therefore to believe, that at the particular period to which I have referred, the temperature of this country is different from that of the south of Europe, and more favourable to the raising of the silk worm. A fact which cannot be controverted comes in aid of this opinion.

In Europe, the raising of the silk worm, from the hatching of the egg to the completion of the cocoon, occupies 45 and sometimes 47 days. (See Dandolo,* Bonafous, and the writers generally, passim.) In this country on the contrary, 31 days are sufficient. I am ascertained of this fact. 1. By Messrs. Ter Hoeven, who raised, as they told me, in that space of time, the worms that spun the cocoons from which I extracted the

beautiful silk mentioned in the first number of these es

says; 2dly. by Nicholas Norris, Esq. of Baltimore, who assured me that in the same number of days he had raised a great quantity of silk worms to the completion of their cocoons; 3d. and lastly, by Dr. Pascalis, who wrote to me, on the 3d of last month, that a quantity of worms which he does not specify had "mounted and spun their cocoon" in 31 days, and that not a single one had died, though they had suffered from cold, hunger and dampness, during the most terrible month of June that he had ever known. These are his expressions. It is true that he adds that his worms had been submitted to the process of electricity; but I do not think that made any difference, and their success must, in my opinion, be attributed to the favourable temperature of the

climate.

In one of my former numbers I mentioned that, at the request of my Baltimore friends, I had promised to publish an almanac containing the most essential directions for silk culturists; but the more experience I acquire respecting the climate of this country, the more I find that it requires more knowledge of it than I am possessed of, to venture upon prescribing rules to the American farmer. I should have visited nurseries, observed the growth of the mulberry trees, and watched the pro

TYPES & TYPE FOUNDRIES.

As the introduction of types and foundries has lately created some inquiry, we give the following extract from Thomas' 'Art of Printing," vol. II. p. 83. The author took great pains to obtain correct information-in which therefore we presume he succeeded, and will probably satisfactorily settle the question. It appears that Pennsylvania was the first of the U. S. to introduce the regular business of manufacturing types.

"A Foundry, principally for Gothic, or German types, was established at Germantown, Pennsylvania, several

years before the revolution; but that foundry was chiefly employed for its owner, Christopher Sower, who printed the Bible, and several other valuable works, in the German language.

Some attempts were made about 1768, to establish foundries for types-one at Boston by Mr. Mitchelson, from Scotland; another in Connecticut by a Mr. Buel; but they were unsuccessful. In 1775, Dr. Franklin brought from Europe to Philadelphia, the materials for

a foundry; but little or no use was made of them.

Baine came

Soon after the close of the revolutionary war, John Baine, type founder, of Edinburgh, sent the materials for a foundry to this country, by a kinsman, I believe his over himself, soon after; and they were the first who grandson, who settled at Philadelphia. regularly carried on the business of type founders in the United States. They were good workmen, and had full employment. The types for the Encyclopedia, twenty one volumes quarto, printed some years since by Dobdied in August, 1790, aged 77. He must have been 70 son, at Philadelphia, were cast at their foundry. Baine years of age when he arrived at Philadelphia. His kins

man returned to Scotland.

At the commencement of the late commotions in Hol

land, an ingenious type founder, from that conntry,came and settled at New-York. His foundry was calculated, principally, for Dutch and German types, the casts of which were handsome. The faces of his English letter *Dandolo wrote his book principally for the north of were very ordinary. He was a Dutch patriot, who had Italy. After giving his directions respecting the tem- lost most of his property, and was obliged to fly from his perature to be preserved and other things to be attend-country. His want of funds disabled him from carrying ed to in the raising of silk worms, he says: "In countries where by the effects of the climate the temperature is al- on the business here with success.

*Sower died in 1760. See vol. 2, p. 83.

At this time (1810) we have three or more type foundways hotter than that which I have mentioned as theries in the U.S. The types from which this work is printproper one for the period of mounting, (16 degrees ed, were manufactured by Binney and Ronaldson, at Reaumur or 66 degrees Fahrenheit,) the air is dry, withPhiladelphia." out being agitated, as is almost always the case in the vicinity of mountains. In those countries it is sufficient to leave a free current to the air where it is the coolest. Although it is useless, for hot countries, to enter into the details mentioned in this book, yet I have thought that in an elementary work, it was proper to fix the rules of the art for every country and every climate," &c. Dandolo, p. 205.

PENNSYLVANIA CANAL.

We understand, that the Governor, who left this city on Saturday, was not able to accomplish the object of his visit, and that he intends to convene the legislature soon after the election in October. The failure to pro