into

for passing off the air at each stroke of the piston, these rods work through guide-brasses 1, 1, and they may be attached to the crosshead G, by K.-Receiver or regulator, which has-k. keys at l, l'. The holes at the ends of the cross Moveable top, made of wood, joined by leather heads for admitting these rods, are sufficiently to the upper part of the box; a thin sheet of lead large to allow a free movement whenever it to be attached thereto, for keeping up a certain desirable to work the blowing apparatus inde compression of air in the regulator.-k. Box or pendently of the engine. passage made of sheet iron, attached to the blowing apparatus, and having an open communication with the regulator at k"; to this passage is connected a conducting pipe, as marked by dotted lines in figure 1, for conveying the air from the receiver into the ash-pan under the furnace of the boiler, at k"; this conducting pipe passes along the inside of the carriage frame, on either side.

L, L.-Two parallel iron rods, to which the piston of the blowing apparatus is attached:

M.-Spindle of wrought iron, placed trans versely, and working in two bearings fixed under the carriage frame: to this spindle are fixedm, two crank-levers, which by means of-m',, two connecting rods, will give motion to the piston-rods L, L, by inserting the hooks m", ", into the eyes at the ends of the said piston-rods. N.-Crank-lever, fixed at the end of spindle M. which by means of

O-Crank-pin, fixed in the carriage-wheel, and

also

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E

P-Connecting rod, will communicate motion | means of a connecting pipe, with a screw joint, to the blowing apparatus, whenever the carriage keep up heat in the engine-boiler; the fire-grate is in motion, and the above parts duly connected. or flues of which should be kept very clean, with n.-Pin fixed in lever N, placed at such distance dry shavings, wood, and coke, carefully laid in the from the centre of spindle M, that it will fit the furnace, ready for ignition: a torch should hole n' of the lever shown in figure 5, while n" always be at hand to ignite with at a moment's receives the end of spindle M. Whenever the notice. The plan of keeping up a constant fire blowing apparatus is to be worked by the engine in the engine-boiler is bad in practice, as it preor by manual force, the connecting rod P should vents the keeping the flues clean, and causes for be detached by means of the lock at p. The mation of sediment in the boiler, to say nothing carriage frame should be made of oak, and plated of wear and tear; but which is still more imporwith iron all over the outside and top; the top tant, perhaps, at the very moment of the word of plate to have small recesses, to meet the brack-fire being given, the furnace is covered with ets of the cylinders, as shown in the drawing. clinkers, or the engineer is busy cleaning it. The lock of the carriage, axles, and springs, to be made as usual, only differing by having the large springs suspended below the axle. The carriage wheels to be constructed on the suspension principle; spokes and rim to be made of wrought iron, very light.

With regard to the power of the engine represented by the drawing, I estimate it equal to 108 men. The pressure in the boiler being kept at 65 pounds per square inch, and the steam-piston being 10 inches diameter, its effective force, considering the direct application, will be at least 4,000 lbs. which, multiplied by 135 feet (or 45 double 18-inch strokes), will be 540,000 lbs. raised one foot per minute; this, divided by 5,000 (the power of man), gives 108. The piston of the force pump being only 9 inches in diameter, while the steam-piston is 10 inches in diameter, and the pressure of the steam kept at 65 lbs. to the square inch, I can state from experience that in calm weather the water will be projected 110 feet perpendicularly.

per

The principal object of a steam fire-engine being that of not depending on the power or diligence of a large number of men, one or two horses should always be kept in an adjoining stable for its transportation. To this fire-engine establishment the word of fire should be given, without intermediate orders: the horses being put to, the rod attached connecting the carriagewheel to the bellows, and the fuel ignited, the engine may on all ordinary occasions be at its destination, and in full operation, within ten minutes.

NEW YORK, July 1, 1840.

REMINISCENCES.

J. ERICSSON.

A WORK of considerable interest has lately appeared entitled "Reminiscences of the last sixtyfive years" in which the writer, E. S. Thomas, Esq., The size of the jet will be determined by the fol- one of the oldest members of the editorial fralowing calculation: Effective pressure on steam-ternity in this country, records his personal recpiston 50 lbs. per square inch; proportion of ollections of the men and events to which he 50 x 100 =61 lbs. pistons as 81 to 100, hence alluded. From among a great many similar 81 notices of the distinguished men who occupy a square inch pressure in the air-vessel. The weight of one cubic foot of water being 62.5 lbs. conspicuous place in the history of our country it will be seen that 61 lbs. pressure is equal to 142 for the last half century, we copy the following 61x1728 concerning two of the earliest and most devoted feet column of water; for = 1713, 62.5 patriots of the Revolution:which divided by 12-142. Under ordinary circumstances this will produce a pressure at the exit of the jet equal to 130 feet column; hence, it will issue at the rate of 130x5.3=60 feet per second, or 3,600 feet per minute. Deducting the loss of water by the valves, &c., the effective area of the piston of the force-pump will be 50 independence were not a tythe of his, have square inches; this multiplied by 135 will be been eulogized to the skies, and live on canvass, 6,750; and thus the jet will be 13 square inch, and in marble, this great patriot's name but seldom or full 1 inch diameter, in order to throw the finds a place even when celebrating that freedom greatest quantity of water to the maximum he was among the very first, if not the first, to height. For less heights the jet will increase in risk his life in obtaining. I have for years no the inverse ratio of the square roots of the re-ticed this neglect, with feelings of unfeigned re spective elevations.

ese rods work through guide-brass ey may be attached to the crosshei s at, l. The holes at the ends ads for admitting these rods, are sa ge to allow a free movement w irable to work the blowing app dently of the engine. 1-Spindle of wrought iron, place sely, and working in two bearings t carriage frame: to this spindle a wo crank-levers, which by means connecting rods, will give me On-rods L, L, by inserting the bader the eyes at the ends of the said p -Crank-lever, fixed at the end h by means of Crank-pin, fixed in the carri

JOHN HANCOCK.

"The memory of this great patriot, statesman, and orator, has been most grossly neglected. While hundreds, whose services in the cause of

gret.

"Never was a man more beloved by any peoThe experience which I have had in the man- ple, than Hancock was by the people of Massaagement of steam fire engines induces me to sug-chusetts. With the exception of a single year, gest, before I conclude, that the best way of keep- Bowdoin was put in, he was for sixteen successive ing the engine always in readiness, is that of years, elected their governor, and closed his pahaving a small boiler or hot-water stove erected triotic and illustrious life in that high station. in the place where the engine is kept, and by Hundreds of times have I seen him, when so worn

out, and crippled by disease, that he could not | and expressive; his eye piercing; his voice flexstand, taken from his carriage into the arms of ible. He could raise his hearers to the highest two faithful servants (who regularly attended for pitch of phrensy, or sooth them into tears, at the purpose), and carried up to the council-cham-pleasure.

ered, it was the determination of thousands, that at the first opportunity afforded them they would burst the bands that bound them, and abide the consequences. Four years after, the opportunity was presented, at Lexington, and our nation's Independence was the result.

ber, a distance of nearly fifty yards from the "It was THIS ORATION which first prepared the street. The last time he addressed his fellow-minds of men to resist the oppression of the citizens was the most impressive scene I ever British government. From the day it was deliv witnessed. A town-meeting was called, upon a question of great excitement. Old Faneuil Hall could not contain the people, and an adjournment took place to the Old South meeting-house. Hancock was brought in, and carried up into the front gallery, where the Hon. Benjamin Austin supported him on the right, and the celebrated Dr. Charles Jarvis upon the left, while he addressed the multitude. The governor commenced by stating to his fellow-citizens, that he felt,' it was the last time he should ever address them-that the seeds of mortality were growing fast within him." The fall of a pin might have been heard, such a death-like silence pervaded the listening crowd, during the whole of his animated and soul-stirring speech, while tears ran down the cheeks of thousands.

"Hancock, before the Revolution, was a man of vast fortune; and although he permitted it to flow, in the cause of his country, like water, he had still enough left to support a splendid estab lishment, and to live and entertain like a prince. His generosity was unbounded. I will remem ber that one evening in each week, during summer, a full band of music, at his own expense, at tended in front of his venerable stone mansion, at the head of the Common, to entertain the cit izens who were promenading on the Mall. He "The meeting ended, he was conveyed to his seldom left Boston to visit at any distance; but carriage, and taken home, but never again ap- when he did, he was always escorted by a volunpeared in public-his death soon followed after. teer troop of cavalry, who held themselves in The corpse was embowelled, and kept for eight readiness for that purpose. He was very fond of days, to give an opportunity to the citizens, from joke and repartee, so much so, that a worthy cit the most distant parts of the state, to render the izen of Boston, Nathaniel Balch, Esq., a hatter, last tribute of respect to his memory. They came who never failed to appear among the invited by thousands and tens of thousands-the proces- guests at his hospitable board, obtained the unsion was an hour and a half in passing. The post envied appellation of the Governor's Jester.' The of honor, among the military was given to the celebrated Brissot, in his travels in the United Concord Light Infantry, under Captain Davis, the States, speaks of his meeting this gentleman at same who commanded them on the ever-memorable Hancock's table; and such was the mutual attachnineteenth of April, '75. It was the most solemn ment between the governor and Mr. Balch, that if and interesting, and incomparably the longest the former was called away, no matter what dis funeral procession I ever saw. Samuel Adams, tance, 'Squire Balch attended him, like his shadwho was lieutenant-governor, became governor, ow, which the following circumstance most hap ex-officio, by the death of Hancock, and followed the bier (there were no hearses, with nodding plumes, in those days), as chief-mourner, but the venerable patriot could not endure the fatigue, and was compelled to retire from the procession. "Hancock, as an orator, had no equal. He seized upon the passions of his hearers, and led them captive at his pleasure; none could resist. A gentleman who heard him deliver his great oration, commemorative of the massacre of the fifth of March seventeen hundred and seventy, told me that the multitude who listened to it were wrought up to such a pitch of phrensy, that a single sentence from the orator, calling upon them to take arms, and drive the murderers from their town, would have been at once carried into effect. Such was his control over them, many could not keep their seats, from indignation. I read this oration in my youth; it abounds

'In thoughts that breathe, and words that burn.'

It made my young blood run coursing through my veins, and the hair on my head to stand erect, as I read it. I said to myself, with the old Roman, 'If such is the effect from reading, what would it have been to have heard him deliver it?' His form was elegant; his face beautiful, manly,

pily illustrates. Governor Hancock was called
on to visit the then province of Maine, on which
occasion he travelled in state, and was attended by
the Hon. Col. Orne, one of the executive counc
and Nathaniel Balch, Esq. Their arrival at Ports
mouth, New Hampshire, was thus humorously!
announced: On Tuesday last, arrived in this
town, Nathaniel Balch, Esq., accompanied by his
Excellency, John Hancock, and the Hon. Azo
Orne, Esq.'

SAMUEL ADAMS.

"I have taken for my subject on this occasion, recollections of SAMUEL ADAMS, who, though not a hero without example,' was a patriot without reproach.' In speaking of circumstances so long passed, I shall speak only of what I know; nev er having read the Biography of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence,' I know not what account may there be given of any of them. I never saw Mr. Adams until the 1792; year was then far in the vale of years, with a consti tution which was, judging from his appearance, naturally strong, but then nearly worn out, not with toil, but care. He still continued to use all the exercise his strength would admit, by visiting, almost daily, a Mr. Hughes, a constable, a re

be

553

spectable calling in Boston in those days, what- the great work given them to do, have disappear. ever it may be now. They had been friends ed from the face of the earth, and there have from early life, and the same intimacy was arisen in their stead, a race of men so unlike common between their respective ladies. Mr. them, that it seems scarcely possible they can be Adams was then lieutenant-governor, a place descendants of such sires. The contrast is striof honor, with but little profit, and no duty at all king, and well calculated to make us tremble for except in case of the death of the governor, when the future." ex-officio, the duties of the executive devolved upon the lieutenant. Mr. Adams lived in a large old-fashioned frame-house, on Winter street, which had once been painted yellow, but like its venerable owner, was a good deal the worse for He entertained little or no company, having neither the means nor the inclination to do it. He was poor.

A SUMMER UPON THE PRAIRIE.

itary skill is displayed, both in the location and internal arrangement of this village, the credit of which belonged to the chief of the Ottoes, Jutan.

"ABOUT one o'clock on the evening of the eighth of June, the bright waters of the Platte river could be seen in the distance, rolling on in the direction of Their lodges are built in a conical form, both in the mighty Missouri. A march of ten miles brought and above the ground; the ground appears, in the us to its banks, near which the command halted for first instance, to have been excavated to the depth of the night. We had hardly pitched our tents when from two to three feet. The roof is supported by several Indians were discovered galloping towards several sticks of timber which are forked at the top; us. The arrival of several Ottoe chiefs announced these are from ten to fifteen feet long, and so ar our proximity to their village, from which we were ranged as to form a circle. Upon the forks of these distant about ten miles. They had previously been timbers other timbers are arranged along poles, one advised of our approach and had come out as a dele-end resting upon the ground and the others coming gation of their tribe to meet us and bid us welcome together at the top, forming a conical framework. to their village. Upon their signifying their inten- Upon this framework a netting of willows, bound tion to camp with us for the night, and accompany together by strips of bark, is placed. Over the the command on the morrow, they were invited to whole, dry grass is thrown, to prevent the dirt from seat themselves and partake of our fare. This invi- falling through. The roof is then covered with din tation was accepted with little unnecessary ceremouy, to the thickness of from two to three feet. These and indeed it might be, for it is doubtful whether lodges are from fifty to seventy-five feet in diameter, either of our guests had tasted fish, flesh, or fowl, The fire is built in the centre, the smoke escaping for a month previous. For some length of time, through the aperture left for the purpose at the top. beef, bread and coffee disappeared from before them Around the fire mattresses, manufactured from wil as if by magick. The repast having been finished lows or rushes, are placed upon the ground, which they now betook themselves to their pipes and canne serve as apologies for chairs. A camp-kettle or two co-nick and after exhausting all topicks of conversa- together with a few spoons made of wood or buffalo's sion, they quietly rolled themselves in their blankets horns, complete the furniture of the Ottoe mansion. to dream of the morrow.

At nine o'clock in the morning of the ninth, we took up our line of march for the Ottoe village. We had not proceeded more than five miles, before we were literally surrounded by Indians; some dressed from head to foot in all the gaudy colours of the rainbow; while others could boast of nothing but a small piece of cloth or strouding about the loins. The deficiency of clothing, however, was generally made up in red paint, with which they were completely covered, giving them much the appearance of men destitute of their skins. Many of their horses had evidently been decorated for the occasion, some with eagles' feathers tied to their tails, foretop and mane, with a scalp hanging from the bits of the bridle, and their bodies fantastically coloured with various kinds of paint.

As soon as the command came in sight of the village, the male Indians, old and young, were seen rushing out to meet us. Those who could raise a horse of any description were mounted; while those who could not, hastened toward us on foot. On passing their village the confusion became general: the tops of their dirt-houses were literally covered with women and children, while a thousand meager, half-starved dogs kept up an incessant yell below. Two miles west of the village we encamped.

The chief Jutan is at this time, probably, the most noted and popular Indian belonging to any tribe under the protection of our government. His stature is somewhat above the ordinary size, and well-proportioned. His countenance indicates much good humour, while a peculiar twinkling of the eyes stamps upon him at once his true character-that of the curning, artful, intriguing warriour. His successive warfares with the neighbouring tribes, in former days, bear ample evidence that he is not destitute, either of personal courage or a knowledge of Indian war fare and its tacticks.

In the fall of 1822, Jutan sustained a severe loss in the death of his favourite among six wives. She was young and beautiful, and accompanied him the year previous to Washington, where she of course attracted much attention, and received many pres ents, all of which Jutan attributed to her personal charms. At her death, he refused to be consoled; the whole nation was put in mourning by blacking the upper part of the face of every man, woman and child. After the usual time of howling and crying before interment, she was consigned to the earth. A deep grave was dug upon a prominent hill, a short distance from the village, in which she was deposited, together with every article belonging to her while living, including many articles of great The Ottoe village is situated about one mile from value, which had been presented to her at Wash the right bank of the Platte river, upon a beautiful ington city. The grave was then filled in the bluff, or second bank. It commands a full view of usual manner, after setting several strong posts in it, the surrounding country and the river, with its hun-around which the earth was thrown. This being dreds of islands covered with cotton wood and willow. completed, Jutan ordered three of his best horses to The Elk-horn, a large stream falling into the Platte be made fast to the posts, and choked to death near its junction with the Missouri, can also be which was accordingly done. One of the horses seen stretching off to the northwest, its banks stud- was intended to convey the deceased favourite 10 ded with timber, until the dark green line which the distant and happy land for which she had de marks its course is lost in the distance. Much mil-parted, while the other two were to convey goods and chattels."

*This is a substance used by all Indians in the place of tobacco for smoking. It is either the bark of a young willow, sumach leaves, after having been killed by the frost in the fall, or a kind of weed, found only in the vicinity of the Rocky mountains, called mountain-tea

Army and Navy Chronicle.

her

It is possible to have almost all the qualifications for happiness, yet to feel little less than misery.