tan

[MAY 15, 1891.

As a rule, with separate conductors the capacities of each with respect to the earth will be equal, in which case equation (5) is modified to the following:

6,767. "Improved means for the production of ozone electrically." W. LUCAS and T. A. GARRETT. Dated April 20th.

6,782. "Improvements in dynamo-electric machines and electric motors." H. L. CALLENDAR. Dated April 20th.

6,831. "Improvements in dynamo-electric machines." A. L PARCELLE. Dated April 21st. (Complete.)

6,847. Improvements in printing telegraphs." S. R. LINVILLE and L. F. HETTMANSPERGER. Dated April 21st. (Complete) 6,881. "An improved method of and apparatus for covering ele tric wires." J. E. WALCOTT. Dated April 21st. (Complete.) 6,890. Improvements in and connected with electric locks" F. B. ASPINALL. Dated April 21st.

6906. Improvements in arc electric lamps." G. WILKINSON Dated April 21st.

6,963. Improvements in means for staying telegraph, signal, and other posts, poles, or masts." C. E. SPAGNOLETTI. Dated April 22nd. (Complete.)

6,978. Improvements in or relating to the automatic regulation of dynamo-electric machines." A. J. BOULT. (Communicated ty W. Stone, Australia.) Dated April 22nd.

66

7,052. Improved methods of obtaining electricity." W. BOGGET! Dated April 23rd.

7,075. Improvements in incandescent electric lampholders ceiling roses, and other like fittings." F. H. ROYCE. Dated April 24th 7,080. Improvements in or connected with the manufacture of wall or other coverings, artificial leather, electrical insulators, boxes and other articles from vegetable parchment. A. WILBAUX. Dated April 24th.

7,095." Improvements in portable electric lamps." T. COAD Dated April 24th.

7,126. "Improvements in electric lamp_suspension fittings H. JENSEN, J. JENSEN and WOODHOUSE & RAWSON UNITED, LID Dated April 25th.

66

7,127. Improvements in apparatus for indicating the proper working of electrical bells, annunciators, and the like." H. JENSEN J. JENSEN and WOODHOUSE & RAWSON UNITED, LTD. Dated April 25th.

7,167.

Improvements in electric arc lamps." T. HARDEN and F. E. PEARL. Dated April 25th.

7,168.

Improvements in and relating to voltaic cells." G. WESTER. Dated April 25th. (Complete.)

7,174.

Improvements in electric arc lamps." G. S. GRIMSTOS and E. PERRETT. Dated April 25th.

42. "Improvements in the manufacture of cables suitable for the distribution of electric currents." W. S. SMITH. Dated January 1st 6d. Small strings of hemp, cotton, or other yarn are saturated by prolonged boiling with solutions of wax, resin, paraffin, ozokerite India-rubber or the like, or with an ammoniacal solution of copper t prevent moisture from creeping along by capillary attraction. Tas strings are then covered in an ordinary covering machine with gutte percha or balata, or a blending of both, with which has been worked or mixed vulcanising agents such as are well known in the ruler trade. 3 claims.

58. An improvement in or connected with incandescent electr lamps." H. GARDNER. (Communicated from abroad by W. Reid New York.) Dated January 2nd. 6d. Relates to the empir ment of a reflector fixed inside the bulb and between the filament an incandescent lamp to diffuse and improve the light and to sufici the glare. 2 claims.

615. "Improvements relating to electric switches, cut-outs, c roses, and similar devices." R. B. EVERED and T. RUDLE

MAY 15, 1891.]

Dated January 13th. 8d. The inventors construct the switches, wallplugs, ceiling-roses and cut-outs in such a manner that they are enabled to dispense entirely with the screws heretofore employed for securing the terminals to the base or holder on which they are mounted. For this purpose they make the terminals by stamping them from metal and provide them with spikes which can be passed through the base or holder, and bent over at the back thereof in a groove which we form for the purpose, and which is afterwards filled with any suitable non-conducting material. 5 claims.

761. "Process of generating electricity by gas batteries." O. DAHL. Dated 17th June, 1889. (Under international convention.) 8d. Claims: -1. The process of generating electricity consisting in, first, raising the temperature of a body of fuel to incandescence by the aid of atmospheric air, utilising the gases evolved in this operation for fuel and other purposes; second, shutting off the air and admitting steam to the incandescent fuel when it has reached such a temperature that the admitted steam will be decomposed and hydrogen and carbonic acid formed; third, separating the carbonic acid from the hydrogen by causing suitable chemicals to absorb the carbonic acid, and conducting the hydrogen to one electrode of a gas battery or gas batteries; and fourth, producing oxygen or equivalent gas or liquid, and conducting it to the other electrode of the gas battery or gas batteries. 2. The process of generating electricity, consisting in, first, raising the temperature of a body of fuel incandescence by the aid of atmospheric air, and utilising the gases evolved in this operation for fuel or other purposes; second, shutting off the air and admitting steam to the incandescent fuel when it has reached such a temperature that the admitted steam will be decomposed, and hydrogen and carbonic acid formed; third, passing the gases through condensers and purifiers to take up impurities and condense the steam that might have escaped undecomposed; fourth, separating the carbonic acid from the hydrogen by causing suitable chemicals to absorb the carbonic acid and conducting the hydrogen to one electrode of a gas battery or gas batteries; and, fifth, producing oxygen or equivalent gas, mixture of gases or liquid, and conducting it to the other electrode of the gas battery or gas batteries.

1,280. "Improvements in switches used for electrical purposes." C. L. BAKER. Dated January 24th. 8d. The object of this invention is to produce a switch specially applicable for attachment to gas barrel or the like, where such may be used to supplement electric lighting or other purposes, and easily fitted to wood casing or the like, when required. 3 claims.

1,629. "Improvements in or relating to electric accumulators.'' A. J. BOULT. (A communication from G. G. DI GIOVANNI, of Italy.) Dated January 30th. 8d. The object of these improvements is to obtain at comparatively little cost lead plates so prepared and combined, that they may readily and quickly be fitted in, and taken out of, the desired position; also that, notwithstanding their small thickness, they may display considerable rigidity and great adhesiveness to their fittings; and lastly that the required intimate connection between the plates and their fittings, or in other words, an electric accumulator in working order, may rapidly be obtained. 6 claims.

8,393. "Improvements in switches for electrical circuits." B. M. DRAKE, J. M. GORHAM, and P. J. PRINGLE. Dated May 30th. 8d. In this invention the thumb piece changes the shape and position of a spring which re-acts upon the switch bar drawing it instantly home into the contact pieces and allowing the thumb piece to follow it; in breaking the circuit the thumb piece acts upon the spring and the spring instantly "draws off" the contact bar in the same manner as when closing the circuit. 2 claims.

11,440. "Electric railways." F. MANSFIELD. Dated July 22nd. 18. 3d. Principally consists of a suitably insulated sub-surface main conductor having a series of movable connecting devices, or branch conductors, also suitably insulated, for establishing connection above the surface of the ground, the said connecting devices being automatically brought into operation as the car moves along its track, and arranged such a distance from one another that connection will always be established between the car and the main conductor. 44 claims. 15,456. Improvements in or appertaining to welding metals electrically." W. P. THOMPSON. (A communication from abroad by C. L. Coffin, of America.) Dated September 30th. 6d. Claims :1. The method described of welding metals electrically, which consists in bringing the parts to be welded in contact with an anvil and a conductor which is connected with one pole of a generator, connecting said articles with the other pole of said generator only, passing a heating current through the articles and conductor, and pressing the articles together and forming the weld while in contact with said conductor, substantially as set forth. 2. The apparatus for welding metals electrically, combined and arranged substantially as described. 16,522. "Improvements in the methods of and apparatus for working metals by clectricity." G. D. BURTON. Dated October 17th. 11d. Consists in the method of making a forging by forming a blank of a determinate size for the forging to be produced; then softening said blank by passing an electric current therethrough; then cutting off said current and feeding the softened blank to the working dies; and then subjecting the blank to a forging or shaping operation. Consists further in a bar feeder; a bar cutter for cutting off a blank from the bar being worked; a metal working mechanism; and an electric heater disposed between the cutter and the metal working mechanism for heating the blank after it is cut from the bar and before it is subjected to the forging or other metal working mechanism. Consists further in the combination of forging dies; a feeder for feeding the metal to be worked to said dies; electrodes for heating said metal while out of contact with the dies; an electric circuit connected with said electrodes, and a variable resistance in said circuit between the source of electricity and said electrodes for regulating the current passed through said metal while out of contact with the dies. 11 claims.

639

16,571. "Improvements in secondary batteries." C. W. KENNEDY and H. GROSWITH. Dated October 18th. 8d. Consists, first, in the construction of the elements or electrodes separately considered, and, secondly, in the construction and combination of parts of the complete battery, resulting in the production of a storage battery wherein the following three important conditions will be found combined in an imminent degree, viz.: 1st, great electrical storage capacity; 2nd, lightness of weight in proportion to the size and capacity of the battery; and, third, durability, simplicity, and cheapness of construction. 7 claims.

16,518. "Improvements in arc electric lamps." J. E. A. GWYNNĘ. Dated October 17th. 8d. Constitutes an improvement upon the lamps described in and by the specifications of letters patent granted to C. D. Abel, No. 1,397, of A.D. 1880, and to W. R. Lake, No. 2,712, of A.D. 1882. 4 claims.

18,292. Improvements in switches for electrical purposes." B. M. DRAKE and J. M. GORHAM. Dated November 13th. 6d. Relates to a new form of "spring" contact which enables any required amount of elasticity to be obtained. The spring contact is of U section, the ends being bent outwards to form the contact, and a screw is arranged between the two sides of the U to press them outwards for adjustment. 2 claims.

15,043. "Improvements in electric heating apparatus." W. R. LAKE. (Communicated from abroad by E. Abshagen, of America.) Dated September 23rd. 8d. Relates to improvements in electric heaters, in which one or a series of resistances are placed in the circuit of an electric current operated in conjunction with a surrounding non-conductive heat-containing material, and the object of the improvement is, first, to provide the resistance with a non-conductive material of a fluid and oily substance, such as sperm oil, cotton seed oil, lard oil, &c., or any other fatty oil of a non-volatile character, which fluid material, unlike others heretofore employed for this purpose, will always be in close contact with the resistance piece either when hot or cold, and not shrink away by expansion or contraction, as is the case in other apparatus for like purpose, where earthy or mineral non-conductors, like powdered clay, soapstone, plaster of Paris, &c., is employed. Second, to afford facilities for taking up and retaining the heat generated by the resistance piece in large quantities and at a high temperature. In order to remove the internal pressure to which the casing of the electrical heating apparatus is subjected by means of the expansion of the oil when heated, no precaution against internal pressure other than that caused by the expansion of the oil is needed to be guarded against. Third, to regulate the amount of heat required for each heater by shunting automatically the current which supplies the electric energy by means of an arrangement in the form of a governor set in operation by the heat developed in the oil and acting through the expansive force of this fluid against an expansion governor, which latter stands in connection with a shunt or rheostat of any approved form, whereby the amount of current supplied to the resistance piece will be automatically regulated, and the heat radiating from such electric heater will be maintained at an even temperature. 10 claims.

CORRESPONDENCE.

The Late Copper Syndicate.

I beg to be allowed to make some reply to your remarks in the REVIEW of the 1st instant under the heading, "The Late Copper Syndicate," from which I gather that you have not made yourself familiar with the facts and circumstances of the judicial proceedings in France, which have terminated in the Court of Cassation rejecting the appeal of M. Secrétan against the judgment of the Paris court condemning him to six months' imprisonment for the distribution of fictitious dividends, but that you are satisfied to take note of the result of the appeal, and to use it in your own way for disparaging everything and everyone connected with your bête noir-the Elmore process-with which you also appear to have only a superficial acquaintance.

As to the justice or injustice of M. Secrétan's condemnation I can confidently refer you to public opinion in France, which is tersely embodied in the letter of M. Léon Renault (one of the leading barristers in Paris, formerly prefet de police, and now senator, who has defended this lawsuit without pay, because he thought the prosecution to be thoroughly unjust), M. Secrétan's counsel, addressed to his client at the end of the case in the Paris Court last year, of which I enclose a copy. In regard to the recent decision of the Court of Cassation, this was purely on the question as to whether the proceedings of the lower court were legal, and was in no sense whatever a fresh hearing of the charge brought against M. Secrétan.

I ask what elements of justice can be found in proceedings which out of all the directors of the Société des Metaux are

640

levelled exclusively against M. Secrétan, for acts which must beyond all question have been the result of the resolution of the board of that Society, among whose members were to be found the following names: Edouard Hentsch, Albert Hentsch, André Girod, Puerari, Lecuyer, Emile Lavessiere, Josef Lavessiere, Labelonye, Champouillion, Joubert.

Nine persons out of ten in France would tell you that M. Secrétan alone of the members of the board was proceeded against for the distribution of so called "fictitious" dividends, as a scapegoat (as M. Renault calls him "victime expiatoire") for the rest, who have not been above allowing an innocent man to suffer vicariously.

I understand that M. Secrétan alone opposed the distribution of the said dividends, but was outvoted by his colleagues. M. Secrétan is also the only one of all the directors and of all the financiers who have been connected with the Copper Syndicate who has given away every centime of his fortune towards the liquidation of the Société des Metaux.

Referring to your quotation from the chairman's remarks at the general meeting of the French Elmore Company, held in January last, I have ascertained that the chairman and directors of that company emphatically confirm every word then said in appreciation of M. Secrétan's high integrity and ability.

You appear to fear that the sanguine anticipations of the chairman of the French company that M. Secrétan's energy would enable its works to be in operation in the month of July are doomed to be unrealised. You will therefore no doubt be pleased to learn that these anticipations are being fulfilled to the jot and tittle. M. Secrétan, some months ago, promised that the works at Dives would begin to turn out manufactured goods in July, and this will certainly be done.

At the present moment the works are three-fourths finished, as may be seen by anyone caring to visit Dives, and in their French laboratory, where their staff is being trained, the Company has already turned out absolutely perfect tubes of 4 and 5 metres in length, and of a diameter ranging from 30 mm. to 1.150 mm., and all difficulties connected with the working are to-day absolutely overcome.

The enforced absence of M. Secrétan is not likely to greatly inconvenience the Company, thanks to the energy with which he has pushed on the works and made his arrangements for the administration of the Company's affairs.

From a perusal of your many acrimonious references to the Elmore process, I and others are forced to conclude that you are not acting with the frank purpose of eliciting truth, but rather of harassing, to no purpose, an enterprise which fortunately, however, is of an intrinsic worth which places it above your power to prejudice it.

May 7th, 1891.

[COPY.]

Henry Guarracino.

Je

Paris, 7, Septembre, 1890. Mon cher Monsieur Secrétan, J'ai revu et je vous envoie la sténographie de ma plaidoirie et de ma réplique devant la Cour. voudrais que leur publication pût profiter à votre cause devant la Cour de cassation saisie de votre pourvoi et, aussi, devant ce grand tribunal de l'opinion publique que les calomnies peuvent bien égarer un instant, mais auprès duquel la vérité finit toujours par avoir le dernier mot. Je me suis tellement pénétré de vos souffrances imméritées pendant le cours des longs et cruels débats de votre procès, que je me suis senti blessé presque autant que vous par une condamnation contre laquelle ma conscience et ma raison protestent, malgré mon respect pour les decisions judiciaires..

Dans le monde de l'industrie, l'arrêt de la Cour de Paris a causé une surprise dont, hier encore, je rencontrais une preuve saisissante dans le langage qui m'était tenu par un grand fabricant de produits chimiques alsacien.

Il m'assurait que la conception qui a déterminé vos opérations sur le cuivre était juste, saine et eminemment française, et qu'elle indiquait, de votre part, une profondeur et une étendue de prévoyante clairvoyance exceptionnelle.

Dans un an me disait il les plus aveugles, les moins familiers avec les questions et les problèmes qui se lient à la production à la fabrication et au commerce du cuivre, seront obligés de reconnaitre que l'entreprise de Secrétan a été geniale et patriotique. Seulement, vous aviez suivant lui, commis une faute enorme en engageant avec la Compagnie du Rio Tinto des négociations pour la constitution de la "Metal Corporation et "une telle aberration" lui semblait inconciliable avec le sage programme dont les premiers articles avaient été la campagne, a Londres, contre la spéculation à la baisse sur le cuivre, et les traités directs avec les Compagnies minières.

J'ai du lui expliquer que vous aviez été absolument étranger a cette déviation de votre conception originaire.

Pourquoi n'avez-vous pas été jugé par un jury d'industriels français ? Ils vous aurait décerné une couronne; mais qui sait si demain

[MAY 15, 1891.

Messrs. Verity would do well to cultivate a little caution in their "Trade Letters." A few days ago they stated that their goods were not made in Birmingham, although a month previous they said several times in the same column that their goods were made in Birmingham! A local paper, in "Table Talk," devotes no little space to clearing up the problem, Aston being as much a part of "Brum." as Westminster is of London. I append the "cutting" for your edification. Elbow Grease.

Electrification of Effluvia from Chemical or Voltaic Reactions.

With reference to the article under the above heading in your last number, perhaps you will kindly allow me to say that I do not for a moment admit the influences therein set forth. No one appreciates Mr. Brown's work more than I do. True, we disagree on the theory, and my reply to his arguments will appear in a paper to be read at an early date before the Physical Society. A matter of greater importan than the theory, which, however, I am not at all disposed t underrate, is the verification by Mr. Brown of the facts d'sclosed by my enquiry.

May 12th, 1891.

J. Enright.

Specific Resistance. To use per to represent of a as well as divided by is certainly wrong. The term microhms per cubic centimetre my article should have been written resistance in microbuxat a cubic centimetre.

The use of per to represent of a is, however, habitual n England. Thus, we say, insulation resistance per mile when we should say, insulation resistance of a mile, or the miley insulation resistance.

We might, of course, also say the centimetre cubic reas ance in microhms. I think, however, that the terms micrur centimetre that has been introduced by recent French writers is quite as objectionable as microhms per cubic centimetre.

The term microhms centimetre does not on the face of a clearly define that the resistance in microhms of a cubic cutmetre is meant. In fact, this definition is on a par with the French definition of the unit of inductance.

The ELECTRICAL REVIEW has pointed out the absurdity of naming the unit of inductance after a length (a quadran: simply because in electro-magnetic units the ratio of twe units of inductance in two systems of units is equal to the ratio of the two fundamental units of length. The secohm on the other hand, clearly defines that the unit of inducta is equivalent to the introduction into a circuit of a force the produces an effect similar to an increase in the resistance the circuit of one ohm during one second.

W. Moon.

LECTROLYSIS: ITS APPLICATION TO QUALITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS.

PAPER on the above subject was read at Liverpool a short ae ago by Dr. Charles A. Kohn, B.Sc., Assistant Lecturer Chemistry at University College. This paper dealt with systematic examination into some electrolytic methods of emical analysis which has been recently carried out by Dr. hn, in conjunction with Mr. E. V. Ellis, B.Sc. The first application of electrolysis to chemical analysis 8 made in 1850 by Gaultier de Claubry, who employed an ctric current for the detection of metals when in solution. her investigators followed in the same line of research,. d in 1861 the late Prof. Bloxam published two papers on e application of electrolysis to the detection of poisonous tals in mixtures containing organic matters; such mixres, in fact, as might be taken from the stomach and intines, &c., of a deceased person who had died from metallic isoning. These papers were published in the Journal of › Chemical Society, vol. xiii., pp. 12 and 338. They contain description of means for detecting small quantities of senic and of antimony by subjecting their acidulated soluns to electrolytic decomposition. The arsenic was evolved the hydride, and then recognised by the usual chemical. actions, whilst the antimony was mainly deposited in the m of the metal upon the cathode.

The electrolytic method for the detection of arsenic, in which ere is now no fear of contamination from impure zinc (which quently contains traces of arsenic), has since been elaboted by Wolff, who has developed the process to such a gree of delicacy, that he has succeeded in detecting as little 0-00001 gramme of arsenious oxide by this means.

The voltaic current is made use of also in ordinary qualitive analysis for the detection of tin, antimony, silver, lead, senic, &c., by employing a more electro-positive metal to ecipitate a less electro-positive one from its solution.

In 1889, Dr. Kohn devised several quantitative electrolytic ethods of analysis which have also placed in the hands of emists means both elegant and accurate for determining

and separating metals qualitatively. These methods are especially useful in cases of medical and medico-legal enquiry. They are not supposed to supersede in any way the ordinary methods of qualitative analysis, but are intended to serve as final and crucial means of identification, and thus to render it possible to detect very small quantities of the substances in question with very great certainty. As such, they fulfil the required conditions admirably, being readily carried out, comparatively free from contamination with impure reagents, and capable of being rendered quantitative when desired.

It will scarcely be within our province to describe the details of these electrolytic methods in their application to the detection of mineral poisons like antimony, mercury, lead and copper, and to the detection of gold and silver. We will, however, quote the leading features of the process as applied to mercury.

The mercury must first be extracted with nitric acid. It is then separated from this solution on a small closely wound spiral of platinum wire, the latter being immersed in the liquid, and a current capable of yielding from four to five cubic centimetres of electrolytic gas per minute being employed. Half an hour is sufficient for the complete deposition of the mercury; the latter is removed from the spiral by heating in a test-tube, when the mercury forms in characteristic globules on the upper portion of the tube.

The spiral of platinum wire is an essential feature in the methods as applied to the detection of gold, silver, copper, lead and antimony.

In cases of poisoning, the organic matter with which these metals are associated must first be destroyed in the usual way by means of hydrochloric acid and potassium chlorate, and the precipitate obtained in the ordinary course of analysis then subjected at suitable stages to electrolysis. But urine can be tested directly for these poisons.

It will be noticed that a chemical process necessarily precedes the electrolysis. Dr. Kohn appears to be of opinion that it would be a very difficult matter to effect the separation of the mineral poisons from organic matter electrolytically without previous removal of the latter. The oxida

642

tion of the organic matter by the electric current is a slow process, and is not likely to be more complete or more effective than the means usually adopted.

In the discussion which followed the reading of the paper, however, Prof. Campbell Brown said he had no doubt that if the subject were pursued farther a method would be devised some day, by means of which arsenic and other mineral poisons could be detected directly by electrolysis without any previous separation of the metal from organic matter; it was a great desideratum to have a method for detecting arsenic and separating it from the contents of the stomach directly without previous destruction of organic matter.

In the course of some other remarks which were made upon the paper read by Dr. Kohn, it is interesting to observe that Dr. Huster said he was about to construct a new laboratory, and that one of its new arrangements would be the installation of electricity, by which researches similar to those described could be conveniently carried out.

THE FRENCH TRANSATLANTIC CABLE.

THE Council of State has recently given judgment in the suit between the Anglo-American Telegraph Company and the Compagnie Française du Télégraphe de Paris à New York, and has pronounced in favour of the first-mentioned company.

The different phases through which the dispute between these companies has passed may be summarised as follows: The Anglo-American Telegraph Company obtained, on July 6th, 1868, a concession from the French Government for a cable between Brest and Newfoundland. On the 7th January, 1879, a concession for a transatlantic cable was granted by the French Government to M. Pouyer-Quertier, who transferred it to the Compagnie Française du Télégraphe de Paris à New York.

From the commencement a war of rates was waged between the above-named companies, and it was terminated on the 24th September, 1880, by means of a friendly arrangement. By this agreement, entered into by the French company, owner of one cable, the English company, owner of four cables, and the Direct United States Company, owner of one cable, the several parties bound themselves to adopt a uniform tariff, to lend to one another their cables in case of an interruption, and to make a common purse of the receipts, the division being 16 per cent. for the French company, and 84 per cent. between the other two.

On the 31st December, 1886, the French company notified its English partners that their agreement must be cancelled, and that the community of interests must come to an end. On the protest of the English companies, the French company advanced the plea of force majeure, citing a letter from the Minister of Posts and Telegraphs, dated -30th December 1886, which pointed out that the fusion of its interests with those of the English companies was in contravention of the clauses of the contract of 7th January, 1879.

The English company then brought the matter before the Tribunal of Commerce of the Seine, which, by a decision of the 2nd January, 1888, ordered the French Company to resume its agreement with the English company, and con

[MAY 22, 1891.

demned it to pay to that company 2,000 francs per day for every day from the 31st December, 1886, up to the date of the resumption of the agreement.

The French company lodged an appeal before the Crl Court of Paris, which, before delivering judgment, it four necessary, by a decision of 24th April, 1888, to refer to the administrative authority for the interpretation of the clauses of the Ministerial letter of the 30th December, 18, which directly applied to the obligations imposed on th French company by its concession.

The administrative authority submitted the question t the Council of the Prefecture of the Seine which, by decr of the 19th March, 1889, decided that the Ministerial comm.c nication of the 30th December, 1886, correctly interpreted the concession as being infringed by any agreement such was entered into between the French and English companies and that further, the said letter compelled the French con pany to break its agreement with the other companies.

This decision was assailed by the Anglo-American Tegraph Company before the Council of State, which pa nounced in favour of the English company, annulling the judgment of the Council of the Prefecture, and pronounci that the Ministerial communication of the 30th December, 1886, did not in itself constitute an authority for the breaking of the agreement between the companies, nor had th French company been prevented from obtaining the conser of the Government to such agreement, in the method provide for by the conditions of the contract. In consequence this decision a heavy fall has occurred in the Pouy Quertier cable shares.

The Jablochkoff Elec

THE petitions of the Electrical Engine tric Lighting Patent. ing Corporation, Limited, for the confiruz tion and extension of Jablochkoff's pa (electric light), dated May 22nd, 1877, were last w dismissed, scarcely, we imagine, to anybody's surprise. It not necessary to indulge in any lengthy comments upon timatter for we entered fully into the subject and the prob issue in the REVIEW for January 16th, and the result cur pletely bears out the views we then expressed. Both petitio were quashed on purely technical grounds, and we cannot izl thinking, from a perusal of Lord Watson's judgment, that the case for the owners of the patent was bad throughout. and that they should have been so instructed by their h advisers. Moreover, it appears that the proceedings connected with the application for an extension were completely out order, that is, if we may accept the decision of Lord Wats for as regarded that application the petitioners were in th dilemma: If it be represented as a petition presented art the terms of the recent Act the answer was conclusive the statute had not been complied with, because it was 4 presented more than six months before the natural cum of the patent came to a close. The other alternative = that it was an application under the old law, and if it viewed in that aspect the provisions of section 25 of t Patent Act, 1852, were as fatal to the power of this bo to deal with the matter of extension as those provisions fatal in the other case of an application for confirmat Surely the technical and legal advisers of the Elect Engineering Corporation should have known the lin time for presenting their petition? However, "AR'S · that ends well," and probably but few will regret transformer per se is freed from monopoly.

tha: