MR. [R. GOLDSWORTHY GURNEY, after a variety of experiments, during the last two years, has completed a STEAM CARRIAGE on a new principle. We have, accordingly, procured a drawing of this extraordinary invention, which we shall proceed to describe generally, since the letters, introduced in the annexed Engraving, with the accompanying references, will enable our readers to enter into the details of the machinery :-First, as to its safety, upon which point the public are most sceptical. In the present invention, it is stated, that, even from the bursting of the boiler, there is not the most distant chance of mischief to the passengers. This boiler is tubular, constructed upon philosophical principles, and upon a plan totally distinct from any thing previously in use. Instead of being, as in ordinary cases, a large vessel closed on all sides, with the exception of the valves and steam conductors, which a high pressure or accidental defect may burst, it is composed of a succession of welded iron pipes, perhaps forty in number, screwed together in the manner of the common gas-pipes, at given distances, extending in a direct line, and in a row, at equal distances from a small reservoir of water, to the distance of about a yard and a half, and then curving over in a semi-circle of about half a yard in diameter, returning in parallel lines to the pipes beneath, to a reservoir above, thus forming a sort of inverted horseshoe. This horse-shoe of pipes, in fact, forms the boiler, and the space between is the furnace; the whole being enclosed with sheet iron. The advantage of this arrangement is obvious; for, while more than a sufficient quantity of steam is generated for the purposes required, the only possible accident that could happen 22. The Safety Valve, which regulates the proper pressure of the steam in the pipe. 23. The Orifice for filling the tank. This is done by means of a flexible hose and a funnel, and occupies but a few seconds. would be, the bursting of one of these barrels, and a temporary dimi nution of the steam power of onefortieth part. The effects of the accident could, of course, only be felt within its own enclosure; and the engineer could, in ten minutes, repair the injury, by extracting the wounded barrel, and plugging up the holes at each end; but the fact is, that such are the proofs to which these barrels are subjected, before they are used, by the application of a steam-pressure five hundred times more than can ever be required, that the accident, trifling as it is, is scarcely possible. A contemporary journal illustrates Mr. Gurney's invention by the fol lowing analogy" It will appear not a little singular that Mr. Gurney, who was educated a medical man, has actually made the construction of the human body, and of animals in general, the model of his invention. His reservoirs of steam and water, or rather separators,' as they are called, and which are seen at the end of our plate, are, as it were, the heart of his steam apparatus; the lower pipes of the boiler are the arteries, and the upper pipes the veins. The water, which is the substitute for blood, is first sent from the reservoirs into the pipes-the operation of fire soon produces steam, which ascends through the pipes to the upper part of the reservoir, carrying with it a portion of water into the separators, which of course descends to the lower part, and returns to fill the pipes which have been exhausted by the evaporation of the steam-the steam above pressing it down with an elastic force, so as to keep the arteries or pipes constantly full, and preserve a regular circulation. In the centre of the separators are perforated steam pipes, which ascend nearly to the tops, these tops being of course closed, so as to prevent the escape of the steam. Through these pipes the steam descends with its customary force, and is conducted by one main pipe all along under the carriage to the end of the platform, which is, in point of fact, the water tank, where it turns under till it reaches two large branch pipes which communicate with the cylinders, from which the pistons move and give motion to the machinery. The cranks of the axle are thus set in action, and the rotatory movement is given to the wheels. By the power thus engendered also a pump is worked, and which, by means of a flexible hose, pumps the water into the boiler, keeping the supply complete. The tank and furnace, it is calculated, will hold sufficient water and fuel for one hour's consumption, the former being sixty gallons." The vehicle resembles the ordinary stage-coaches, but is rather larger and higher. Coke or charcoal are to form the fuel, by which means smoke will be avoided; the flues will be above the level of the seated passengers, and it is calculated that the motion of the carriage will always disperse the heated rarefied air from the flues. The present carriage would carry six inside and fifteen outside passengers, independent of the guide, who is also the engineer. In front of the coach is a very capacious boot; while behind, that which assumes the appearance of a boot, is the case for the boiler and the furnace. The length of the vehicle, from end to end, is fifteen feet, and, with the pole and pilot-wheels, twenty feet. The diameter of the hind wheels is five feet; of the front wheels three feet nine inches; and of the pilot-wheels three feet. There is a treble perch, by which the machinery is supported, and beneath which two propellers, in going up a hill, may be set in motion, somewhat similar to the action of a horse's legs under similar circumstances. In descending a hill, there is a break fixed on the hind wheel to increase the friction; but independent of this, the guide has the power of lessening the force of the steam to any extent, by means of the lever to his right hand, which operates upon what is called the throttle valve, and by which he may stop the action of the steam altogether, and effect a counter vacuum in the cylinders. By this means also he regulates the rate of progress on the road, going at a pace of two miles or ten miles per hour, or even quicker if necessary. There is another le ver also by which he can stop the vehicle instanter, and, in fact, in a moment reverse the motion of the wheels, so as to prevent accident, as is the practice with the paddles of steam-vessels. The guide, who sits in front, keeps the vehicle in its proper course, by means of the pilotwheels acting upon the pole, like the handle of a garden-chair. The weight of the carriage and its apparatus is estimated at 11⁄2 tons, and its wear and tear of the road, as compared with a carriage drawn by four horses, is as one to six. When the carriage is in progress the machinery is not heard, nor is there so much vibration as in an ordinary vehicle, from the superior solidity of the structure. The engine has a twelve-horse power, but may be increased to sixteen; while the actual power in use, except in ascending a hill, is but eight-horse. The success of the present improved invention is stated to be decided; but the public will shortly have an opportunity of judging for themselves, as several experimental journeys are projected. If it should attain its anticipated perfection, the contrivance will indeed be a proud triumph of human ingenuity, which, aided by its economy, will doubtless recommend it to universal patronage. Mr. Gurney has already secured a patent for his invention; and he has our best wishes for his permanent success. A PILGRIMAGE. [It is said that the mother of Thomas-a-Becket was a Saracen woman, who "fell in love," as the phrase goes, with one of the noblest of the English chivalry, at least one of the earliest of the crusaders, and who, after his deparure to his native country, followed him thither-alone -on foot,-though not only unacquainted with all the English, except the knight alluded to, but without knowledge of the language spoken in the country, saving only the Christian name of the warrior, and "London," the place of his residence. She was baptized, and the rest may be guessed easily.] HER feet have been upon those sands, where "prickles, thorn, and briar," No cloud upon that scorching sky-no parched herb to tell Of gushing founts, that hope foretold—no welcome camel's well. She shrunk not then, she trembled not, though" stifling, hot Simoom," She bore the cruel mockery which shameless ones have thrown And sometimes, when those snowy feet were torn and bleeding fast, Then, from those cold and quivering lips, such honey accents broke, may be; She passed o'er the "ocean stream"-over the deep blue sea, But onward by a smoother path-a sweeter-still she goes, She stands within the laughing town, mid thousand joyous throngs, Oh say! when shall she meet that one whom she has bled to see? Wild is the wonder of the throng,-how ardently they gaze And there came riding by in pomp, old England's chivalry, He might have mingled with the throngs all Europe could have shown, Her tale was not long time untold, the millions' thunder cry, "Oh! woman's love, and woman's faith, when were they known to fail?" I THE FEVER SHIP. FROM THE JOURNAL OF CAPTAIN ANDREW SMITH. SAILED from Liverpool for Jamaica, and after a pleasant voyage arrived at my destination, and discharged my cargo. My vessel was called the Lively Charlotte, a tight brig, well found for trading, and navigated by thirteen hands. I reloaded with sugar and rum for Halifax, intending to freight from that place for England before the setting in of winter. This object I could only achieve by using double diligence, allowing a reasonable time for accidental obstacles. My brig was built sharp for sailing fast, and I did not trouble myself about convoy, (it was during war,) as I could run a fair race with a common privateer, and we trusted to manoeuvring four heavy carronades, and a formidable show of painted ports and quakers,* for escaping capture by any enemy not possessing such an overwhelming superiority of force as would give him confidence to run boldly close alongside, and find out what were really our means of defence. I speedily shipped what provisions and necessaries I wanted, and set sail. A breeze scarcely sufficient to fill the canvass carried us out of Port Royal harbour. The weather was insufferably hot; the air seemed full of fire, and the redness of the hemisphere, not long before sunset, glared as intensely as the flame of a burning city. Jamaica was very sickly; the yellow fever had destroyed numbers of the inhabitants, and three-fourths of all new comers speedily became its victims. I had been fortunate enough to lose only two men during my stay of three or four weeks, (Jack Wilson and Tom Waring,) but they were the two most sturdy and healthy seamen in the brig: the first died in thirty-nine hours after he was attacked, and the second on the fourth day. Two hands besides were ill Still when we left, which reduced to nine We We had seen and lost sight of Crooked Island three days, when it became all at once a dead calm; even the undulation of the sea, commonly called the ground swell, subsided; the sails hung slackened from the yards; the vessel slept like a turtle on the ocean, which became as smooth as a summer mill-pond. The atmosphere could not have sustained a feather; cloudless and clear, the blue serene above and the water below were alike spotless, shadowless, and stagnant. Disappointment and impatience were exhibited by us all, while the sun flaring from the burning sky, melted the pitch in the rigging till it ran down on the decks, and a beefsteak might have been broiled on the anchor-fluke. could not pace the planks without blistering our feet, until I ordered an awning over the deck for our protection: but still the languor we experienced was overpowering. * Wooden guns: so called by seamen because they will not fight. We A dead calm is always viewed with an uneasy sensation by seamen, but in the present case it was more than usually unwelcome; to the sick it denied the freshness of the breeze that would have mitigated in some degree their agonies; and it gave a predisposition to the healthy to imbibe the contagion, lassitude and despondency being its powerful auxiliaries. Assisted by the great heat, the fever appeared to decompose the very substance of the blood; and its progress was so rapid, that no medicine could operate before death closed the scene of suffering. I had no surgeon on board, but from a medicine-chest I in vain administered the common remedies: but what remedies could be expected to act with efficacy, where the disease destroyed life almost as quickly as the current of life circulated! I had now but five men able to do duty, and never can I forget my feelings when three of these were taken ill on the fourth day of our unhappy inactivity. One of the sick expired, as I stood by his cot, in horrible convulsions. His skin was of a deep saffron hue; watery blood oozed from every pore, and from the corners of his eyeshe seemed dissolving into blood, liquefying into death. Another man rushed upon deck in a fit of delirium, and sprang over the ship's side into the very jaws of the numerous sharks that hovered ravenous around us, and seemed to be aware of the havoc death was making. I had now the dreadful prospect of seeing all that remained perish, and prayed to God I might not be last; for I should then become an ocean solitary, dragging on a life of hours in every secoud. A day's space must then be an age of misery. There was still no appearance of a breeze springing up; the horrible calm appeared as if it would endure forever. A storm would have been welcome. The irritating indolence, the frightful loneliness and tranquillity that reigned around, united with the frequent presence of human dissolution, thinning our scanty number, was more than the firmest nerves could sustain without yielding to despair. Sleep fled far from me; I paced the deck at night, gazing upon the remnant of my crew in silence, and they upon me, hopeless and speechless. I looked at the brilliant stars that shone in tropical glory, with feverish and impatient feelings, wishing I were among them, or bereft of consciousness, or were anything but a man. A heavy presentiment of increasing evil bore down my spirits. I regarded the unruffled sea, dark and glassy, and the reflection of the heavens in it, as a sinner would have contemplated the mouth of hell. The scene, so beautiful at any other time, was terrible under my circumstances. I was overwhelmed with present and anticipated misery. Thirty years I had been accustomed to a sea-life, but I had never contemplated that so horrible a situation as mine was possible; I had never imagined any state half so frightful could exist, though storms had often placed my life in jeopardy, and I had been twice shipwrecked. the last misfortune mind and body were actively employed, and I had no leisure to brood over the future. To be passive, as I now was, with destruction creeping towards me inch by inch, to perceive the most horrible fate advancing slowly upon me, and be obliged to await its approach, pinioned, fixed to the spot, powerless, unable to keep the hope of deliverance alive by exertion-such a situation was the extreme of mortal suffering, a pain of mind language is inadequate to describe, and I endured in silence the full weight of its infiction. In My mate and cabin-boy were now taken with the disease; and on the evening of the fifth day Will Stokes, the oldest seaman on board, breathed his last, just at the going down of the sun. At midnight another died. By the light of the stars we commited them to the ocean, though while wrapping the hammock round the body of the last, the effluvia from the rapid putrefaction was so overpow |