instances, to a number of individuals at once-messages, which were of the utmost importance to the individuals addressed, and even to mankind at large. To give credit, therefore, to the popular stories respecting ghosts and apparitions, embodies in it a reflection on the character of the All-wise Ruler of the world, and a libel on the administrations of his moral go

vernment.

No. VIII.-Explosions of Steam-engines. Pp. 69, 204.

As steam-engines are now applied to the purpose of impel. ling vessels along seas and rivers, as well as to many important manufacturing processes, and are capable of still more extensive applications, and of higher improvements than they have yet attained-it is of the utmost importance that every circumstance should be carefully guarded against, which has the remotest tendency to endanger the bursting of the boiler, -and that no person be intrusted with the direction of such engines who is not distinguished for prudence and caution, or who is unacquainted with their construction and the principle of their operation. For, to ignorance and imprudence are to be ascribed many of those accidents which have happened from the bursting of the boilers of these engines. This remark is strikingly illustrated by the following and many other tragical occurrences :

In the month of August 1815, the following melancholy accident happened at Messrs. Nesham and Co's colliery at Newbottle. The proprietors had formed a powerful locomotive steam-engine for the purpose of drawing ten or twelve coal waggons to the staith at one time; and on the day it was to be put in motion, a great number of persons belonging to the colliery collected to see it; but, unfortunately, just as it was going off, the boiler of the machine burst. The engine-man was dashed to pieces, and his mangled remains blown 114 yards. The top of the boiler, nine feet square, weighing nineteen hundredweight, was blown 100 yards, and the two cylinders 90 yards. A little boy was also thrown to a great distance. By this accident fiftyseven persons were killed and wounded, of whom eleven died on Sunday night; several remaining dangerously_ill. The cause of the accident is accounted for as follows:-The engine-man said, "As there are several owners and viewers here, I will make her (the engine) go in grand style;" and he had scarcely got upon the boiler to loose the screw of the safety valve, but, being overheated, it exploded.—Monthly Magazine, vol. 40, p. 181.

From what is here stated, it appears, that this tragical accident was occasioned by a combination of vanity, ignorance, and imprudence in the person to whom the direction of the

engine was committed.-The following accident which happened to the Washington steam-boat, belonging to Wheeling, N. America, is attributed to a somewhat similar cause.

"This boat started from Wheeling on Monday, June 10th, 1816, and arrived at Maretta on Tuesday evening at 7 o'clock, and came safely to anchor, where she remained till Wednesday morning. The fires had been kindled and the boilers sufficiently hot, preparatory to her departure, when the anchor was weighed and the helm put to larboard, in order to wear her in a position to start her machinery; but only having one of her rudders shipped at the time, its influence was not sufficient to have the desired effect, and she immediately shot over under the Virginia shore, where it was found expedient to throw over the kedge at the stern to effect it. This being accomplished, the crew were then required to haul it on board, and were nearly all collected in the quarter for that purpose. At this unhappy fatal moment, the end of the cylinder towards the stern exploded, and threw the whole contents of hot water among them, and spread death and torture in every direction. The captain, mate, and several seamen were knocked overboard, but were saved, with the exception of one man, by boats from the town, and by swimming to the shore. The whole town was alarmed by the explosion, and all the physicians, with a number of citizens, went immediately to their relief. On going on board, a melancholy and truly horrible scene was presented to view. Six or eight persons were nearly skinned from head to foot, and others scalded, making in the whole, seventeen. In stripping off their clothes the skin peeled off with them to a considerable depth. Added to this melancholy sight, the ears of the pitying spectators were pierced by the screams and groans of the agonizing sufferers, rendering the scene horrible beyond description.

"The cause of this melancholy catastrophe may be accounted for by the cylinder not having vent through the safety valve, which was firmly stopped by the weight which hung on the lever, having been unfortunately slipped to its extreme, without its being noticed, and the length of time occupied in wearing before her machinery could be set in motion, whereby the force of the steam would have been expended; these two causes united, confined the steam till the strength of the cylinders could no longer contain it, and gave way with great violence. Six of the unfortunate sufferers died on Wednesday night, and one or two others are not expected to survive."Louisiana Gazette and New Orleans Mercantile Advertiser, July 8th, 1816.

Since the above accidents happened, many others of a similar nature have occurred, which have ultimately been ascertained to have been owing either to ignorance, or to carelessness and inattention, which are the natural results of ignorance. As

steam-boats are now navigating all our Friths and rivers, and even ploughing the ocean itself; and as steam-carriages are likely soon to come into general use for the conveyance of passengers and goods, it is of the utmost importance to their success, and to the safety of the public, that every precaution be adopted to prevent those explosions, and disarrangements of the machinery, which might be attended with fatal effects. But, although science and art may accomplish all that seems requisite for the prevention of danger, unless persons of prudence and intelligence be obtained for the superintendence and direction of such machines, the efforts of their projectors to prevent accidents may prove abortive. And until the tone of intellect, among the middling and lower orders, be somewhat more elevated than it is at present, it may be difficult to obtain persons for this purpose of the requisite qualifications.

The following recent accidents from steam-boat explosions, in all probability originated from causes similar to those to which I have now alluded.

The boiler of the steam-boat Caledonia, plying on the Mississippi, exploded off the 11th April 1830, killing and wounding about fifteen of the passengers and seven of the crew,seven or eight of whom were blown overboard and lost. It was expected that some of the wounded would recover, although badly scalded. The boiler burst in the side while the boat was under weigh, and about two hours after being wooded. There were on board about 400 deck, and sixty cabin passengers, besides the crew, being altogether about 500 souls. The hull of the boat was uninjured. It is said that the accident arose from the passengers crowding to one side of the boat, by which one side of the boiler was exposed to the direct action of the fire, and when the boat righted, a quantity of steam was suddenly generated greater than the safety valve could carry off-The number of persons who have lost their lives by explosions in America, since the commencement of the season (1830,) is not much short of one hundred,-sixty in the Helen Macgregor, four in the Huntress, nine in the Justice Marshall, and fourteen in the Caledonia, besides those of the latter, who, it was feared, would not recover from the injuries they had sustained.

In these and other instances, it is more than probable, that a want of attention to the natural laws of the universe, and to the obvious effects which an enlightened mind should foresee they would produce, was the chief cause of the destruction of so many human beings, and of the sufferings of those whose lives were preserved. The same remark may be applied to the circumstances connected with a late fatal accident which happened on the Liverpool and Manchester rail-road.

On Friday afternoon, February 1, 1833, as the second-class train, which leaves Liverpool at three o'clock, was proceeding

over Parr Moss, a little on the other side of Newton, one of the tubes which passes longitudinally through the boiler, burst. The consequence was, that a quantity of water fell into the fire, steam was generated in abundance, and the engine stopped. Several of the passengers alighted to see what was the matter, and they incautiously got upon the line of rail-way taken by the trains in going to Liverpool,-the contrary to that on which the disabled engine stood. While they were in this situation, a train of waggons from Bolton, proceeding to Liverpool, came up. The persons who had alighted did not see the advancing train, being enveloped in a dense cloud of vapour; and, from the same cause, they were by the conductor also unseen. They accordingly came upon them with fearful violence; several were knocked down, and the wheels of the train passed over four of them. Three of the unfortunate party were killed upon the spot; their bodies being dreadfully crushed; the fourth survived, and was taken forward to the infirmary, but his recovery was considered hopeless. Two of the three killed were elderly persons, whose names were unknown; the third, an interesting young man, who had formerly been in the employ of the Company as a fireman, and who was married only three weeks before. The survivor was a boy about sixteen years of age, who was proceeding from Belfast to Halifax, where his parents reside.The causualty, which was the occasion of this serious result, was itself but trifling, as the train went forward to Manchester after a short delay.

This shocking catastrophe was evidently caused by rashness and imprudence-by not foreseeing what might probably arise from a certain combination of circumstances or, in other words, by inattention to certain natural laws, both on the part of those who were connected with the Liverpool train of waggons, and of those who conducted the Bolton train. In regard to the passengers in the Liverpool train, it was highly improper that they should have left their seats on the carriage. The accident which befel the unfortunate Mr. Huskisson, at the opening of the rail-way, should have operated as an impressive warning against such a practice. In the next place, it was most imprudent to venture upon the other line of rail-way, more especially when a cloud of steam prevented them from seeing what was passing around them. In regard to the person who had the command of the Bolton train, it was incautious and imprudent in the highest degree, to urge his machinery forward, when he beheld a volume of smoke immediately before him; the least consideration must have convinced him, that some accident must have happened, and that the cloud of steam would prevent those enveloped in it from perceiving the approach of his vehicle; and, therefore, he ought immediately to have abated his speed, so as to have acquired a com

plete command of the engine by the time it arrived at the spot where the steam was floating. Hence the importance-in conducting steam-engines and other departments of machinery

of having, as superintendents, men of prudence and of enlightened minds, capable of foreseeing the probable effects of every combination of circumstances that may happen to occur. For Ignorance is generally proud, obstinate, incautious, precipitate in its movements, and regardless of consequences; so that, through its heedlessness and folly, the most splendid inventions are often impeded in their progress, and their value and utility called in question.

The Liverpool and Manchester Rail-way, and the locomotive powers of the machinery and engines which move along it, constitute one of the most splendid and useful improvements of modern times. From the last half-yearly Report of the Directors, from June 30 to December 31, 1832, it it satisfactorily proved, that this rail-way is completely efficient and applicable to all the great objects for which it was designed. During the period now specified, there were carried along the rail-way 86,842 tons goods, 39,940 tons coals, and 182,823 passengers, which is 73,498 fewer than in the corresponding six months of 1831, owing to the prevalence of cholera in Dublin, and in the towns of Manchester and Liverpool. Were this rail-way continued to London, it is calculated, that the journey from Liverpool to the Metropolis, a distance of more than 200 miles, might be performed in eight or ten hours.

No. IX. Circumstances which led to the invention of the Safety Lamp. Pp. 51, 218.

This lamp, by means of which hundreds of lives have been preserved, was invented in the autumn of 1815. Sir Humphry Davy, the inventor, was led to the consideration of this subject, by an application from Dr. Gray, now Bishop of Bristol, the chairman of a society established in 1813, at Bishop-Wearmouth, to consider and promote the means of preventing accidents by fire in coal-pits. Being then in Scotland, he visited the mines on his return southward, and was supplied with specimens of fire-damp, which, on reaching London, he proceeded to examine and analyze. He soon discovered that the carburetted hydrogen gas, called fire-damp by the miners, would not explode when mixed with less than six, or more than fourteen times its volume of air; and, further, that the explosive mixture could not be fired in tubes of small diameters and proportionate lengths. Gradually diminishing these, he arrived at the conclusion, that a tissue of wire in which the meshes do not exceed a certain small diameter, which may be considered as the ultimate limit of a series of such tubes, is impervious to the inflamed air; and that a lamp covered with