never put pen to paper, for the purpose of benefiting science by their observations, till they were stimulated to do so by our invitations, and found in our pages a ready repository for their contributions. It has been a source of much additional gratification, to observe how cordially the co-operation of these new labourers in the field of philosophical inquiry has been greeted by those who had previously all that field to themselves. Happily the day is gone by, when the absurd notion prevailed, that knowledge was good only for the governing few, and when every offering at its shrine was disdained, which happened not to be presented by some one clothed in academic robes. The higher orders of this country generally-the high in talent, as well as in station-the learned as well as the rich, are friendly to the extension of knowledge of every description, to every rank of people; and to not a few among them we owe our thanks for much active assistance in the course of our Work, to promote its peculiar object-the improvement of the mechanic classes. In the list of our contributors will be found the names of individuals, whose scientific eminence would do honour to any work; and greatly might that list be extended, were it allowable to violate the incognito which, for various reasons, others have thought proper to observe. Conceived in the spirit of the age, the " Mechanics' Magazine" has partaken of its triumphs. Open to all, and either directly or indirectly for the benefit of all; so cheap as to be within every one's reach, and so useful as to carry every where the seeds of improvement; it has experienced only good wishes and favouring gales. Nor can we greatly err in concluding, that in proportion as it has served to quicken the inventive powers of the people, and to give an intellectual direction to their tastes and pursuits, it must have contributed equally to individual happiness, and to the national welfare. PLAN OF PUBLICATION. I. IN NUMBERS, every Saturday morning, Price Threepence, each containing Thirty-two Columns of Letter-press, and several Engravings of new Instruments and Machines. II. IN PARTS, Price 1s. each, containing Four Numbers, every first day of the Month, for the convenience of circulation with the Monthly Magazines. III. IN VOLUMES, half-yearly, of Twenty-eight Numbers each, Price 8s. in extra boards. A Supplementary Number is published every Six Months, to complete each Volume; containing Titles, Preface, and Index, together with a Portrait of some distinguished individual. In Vol. I. is given a Portrait of the late JAMES WATT, Esq. Vol. II. A Portrait of Sir HUMPHREY DAVY, Bart. President of the Vol. III. A Portrait of HENRY BROUGHAM, Esq. M.P. F.R.$. &c. &c. Vol. V. A Portrait of Mr. WILLIAM EMERSON, the celebrated Author of "The Principles of Mechanics," &c. &c. Vol. VI. A Portrait of the RIGHT HON. GEORGE CANNING, M.P. &c. For the convenience of persons who may have omitted to Subscribe for this Work from its commencement, it may still be had in Numbers, Parts, or Volumes. Volumes I. to V. Price Ss. cach, in extra boards. Volume VI. Price 108. 6d. 3 VOLUME VII. Commencing with No. 176, Saturday, January 6, 1827, is in For this Volume, course of Publication, and will be completed on July 1. A SPLENDID PORTRAIT OF HIS MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY, GEORGE THE FOURTH, is preparing, beautifully Engraved on Steel, from an original Drawing never before published.. It will be given either in the Supplement, or with a Weekly Number before the completion of the Volume. With Volume VIII. will be given, a fine Portrait of GEORGE BIRKBECK, M.D., F.G.S., M.A.S. LONDON MECHANICS' INSTITUTION, OF THE METEOROLOGICAL AND COUNTRY Subscribers, within 120 miles of London, are respectfully informed, that the Weekly Numbers may be obtained of their respective Booksellers on the Saturday morning, by being previously ordered, as they are published in time for dispatch by the Friday Evening Coaches. Communications from Intelligent Mechanics, and from all others who may take an interest in the diffusion of Useful Information on any of the Subjects em braced by this Work (addressed to the Editor, at Messrs. Knight and Lacey's, London, post paid) will have every attention paid to them.-Original Drawings will be carefully returned, if required. It was well remarked by the great Philosopher, Boyle, that if every Artist would but communicate what new observations occurred to him in the exercise of his trade, the advantages gained to Philosophy WOULD BE INCALCULABLE. TESTIMONIES IN FAVOUR OF THE MECHANICS' MAGAZINE. "The Mechanic's Magazine (most ably edited by Mr. Robertson) has from its establishment bad an extensive circulation; and it communicates, for Threepence a week, far more valuable information, both scientific and practical, than was ever before placed within the reach of those who could afford to pay six times as much for it." Mr. Brougham's Practical Remarks on the Education of the People. "At no former time was there such a body of useful and valuable information disseminated amongst the people at so cheap a rate, or received by them with so much avidity."—Mr. Canning-House of Commons, 31st May, 1827. "The most valuable gift which the hand of Science has ever yet offered to the Artisan."-Dr. Birkbeck, President of the London Mechanics' Institution. "The Mechanics' Magazine is calculated to diffuse a mass of information amongst working artisans, and furnish the basis of a series of improvements and discoveries, of the amount of which, in the present state of things, we can form no estimation whatever."- Monthly Critical Gazette. "There is a larger portion of new matter from new thinkers in the volumes of the Mechanics' Magazine, than is to be found in any other publication of the present times."-Leeds Mercury. 66 Respected Friend;-I have been much gratified by the perusal of your useful publication, but have received greater pleasure from no circumstance connected with it, than from that noble disinterestedness with which men of the same profession communicate their knowledge to each other. No sooner does a mechanic make known his ignorance of any particular subject, and express his desire to be informed, than generally there are several of his brother mechanics willing, and often eager, to give him the information which he requests. I should question if another instance could be found of men so ready to possess their goods in common, losing sight of all emolument and fame, and influenced by the pure motive of benefiting those who are but too often considered and treated as rivals in trade."— Extract from the Letter of a Correspondent, p. 396, Vol. IV. "No garden library ought to be without this Periodical, which contains a body of useful practical information on almost every subject. There is no doubt much in it respecting Steam Engines, and other machines, of little interest to the gardener, but there are also Treatises on Grammar, Arithmetic, Geometry, Perspective, and innumerable Articles on Domestic and General Economy, applicable to every-day life."-Loudon's Remarks on the Benefits of Garden Libraries. LIST OF ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTORS TO THE MECHANICS' MAGAZINE, (Exclusive of many hundreds who have Contributed to the Work under initial or feigned Signatures.) PETER H. ABBOT, Esq. Solicitor, Walbrook Mr. William Armstrong, Nothumberland House Mr. J. Austin, Painter, Hackney Road Richard Badnall, jun. Esq. of Leek Mr. E. Bacon, Engraver, Chancery Lane Mr. J. Ball, Birmingham George Bayley, Esq. Ship builder, Ipswich Messrs. Thomas Baily and Co. Ironmongers, Cornhill Mr. John Barnard, Colchester Colonel Beaufoy, F.R.S. Mr. T. H. Bell, Founder of the Alnwick Mechanics' Mr. Teasdale Bell, Merchant, Whitechapel Mr. J. Bennet, Plumber, Lincoln B. Bevan, Esq, Civil Engineer, Leighton Buzzard Mr. R. W. Bloxam, Isle of Wight Mr. J. Bowker, Cotton-spinner, Manchester Mr. Robert Bowell, Secretary to the Rule manu- Mr. Joseph Brown, Cannon Street, London Dr. Burney, Gosport Observatory Mr. James Burns, M.A. Gloucester Place, Hackney Mr. James Mortimer Gall, Upper Dorset Street, Mr. William Galward, Painter, Reading Mr. W. Gilkes, Wheeler Street, Spitalñelds 'Mr. Silas Glay sher, Ironfounder, Strand on-the-Green B. I. Gregory, M.D. Mill-bill Mr. George Gregory, Kingsland Road Mr. William Gutteridge, Calculator of Weights Mr. J. Gunn, Coachmaker, Hart Street, Grosvenor Captain Basil Hall, R.N. F.R.S. Mr. John Hammersley, Silk-throwster, Ilminster Mr. Charles Hayter, Author of a Treatise on Mr. Benjamin Hicks, Steam Engine manufactory, Bolton Lieutenant Higginson, R.N. Mr. J. G. Horsfall, Gortstock, near Bingley Mr. H. Hubert, jun. Rock Life Assurance Office J. H. Ibbotson, Esq. Chelsea Rev. Charles Isherwood, Brotherton Vicarage Mr. W. H. James, Civil Engineer, Winson Green, Mr. William James, Optician, Bloomsbury Mr. J. Jibb, Watchmaker, Sleaford Mr. John Johnson, Secretary to the Benevolent Institution of Smiths, London Wm. Johns, M.D. F.L.S. Manchester Joseph Jopling, Esq. Architect Mr. Frederick Joyce, Chemist, Lendon Mr. T. Jordan, Ironmonger, Hammersmith Mr. James Jordan, Inventor of the Paninetron, Downpatrick. 5 Mr. Jabez Pelham, Hon. Secretary, to the Rother; hithe Mechanics' Institution Mr. T. H. Pasley, Chatham Dock Yard Mr. George P. Payne, Great Nelson St. Liverpool Mr. John Peck, Parson Drove, near Wisbeach Mr. William Pickett, Ratcliffe Mr. Richard Price, Silversmith, Wiveliscombe Mr. J. Read, Newington Causeway Mr. J. Ridley, Cresswell, near Morpeth Archibald Hamilton Rowan, Esq. Dublin Mr. William Saunders, Shellingford, Oxon Messrs. Schooling and Co. Machine-makers, Whitechapel Mr. G. Scott, Manager, Silk Manufactory, Leek Sir Joseph Senhouse, Hensingham House, Whitehaven Mr. A. Shannon, Smith, Drury Lane Mr. W. K. Shenton, Silk Mills, Winchester Mr. William Shires, Mathematical Teacher, London Lieut. Molyneaux, Shuldham, R. N. Mr. M. H. Shuttleworth, Tottenham Mr. T. T. Simpson, Cabinet-maker, Moorfields Mr. G. A. Smeaton, Eugineer, London Mr. M. Smith, Commercial Road Mr. Samuel Smith, Smedley Mr. William Smith, Castle House Academy, Guilford Mr. William Smithers, Birmingham Mr. J. E. Sparrow, Ironmonger, Street Bishopsgate Mr. Dixon Vallance, Mechanic, Libberton, Lanarkshire H. M. Vavasour, Esq. Melbourne Hall Mr. Samuel Walker, Builder, Nottinghain Mr. William Walker, Secretary to the Crayford Mr. T. W. Wausbrough, Watchmaker, Fulham Mr. W. Webb, St. John's Lane, Clerkenwell Mr. John Webb, White Cottage, City Road Mr. Charles Williamson, Turuer, Lambeth Mr. William Wynn, Clockmaker, London Mr. James Yule, Millwright, Clerkenwell LIST OF WRITERS, Papers by whom have been Extracted into the Mechanics' Magazine, from other Publications. Applegath LIST OF AUTHORS OF INVENTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS, Arrowsmith Babbage Badnall Barlow Beckwith Bell Bennet Blakey Boswell Boulton Broadmeadow Brown Jibb Cayley Johns Chambers Jones Shires Shuttleworth Smith, (Egerton) Speer Taylor Vallance Warren Watt, (James) Wightmen Williamson Woollaston Woolgar Palmer Parker Wynn Parkes and Sons Parkin Yelts |