Maritime Engineering. IN removing soft mud and silt from sea and river bottoms, a notably interesting device has recently been exhibited. The plan is to use a steam-tug or barge of large size and fitted with powerful engines, both for its propulsion and the movement of its dredging machinery. Just abaft the center of the boat, four holes are made in the bottom, and to these are fitted iron pipes, having flexible joints, so as to hang freely below the keel. These are joined together by a frame-work, and, by means of a crane at the stern, they may be raised or lowered at will. Each pipe terminates in a bent shoe, having openings at the sides. When at work, they rest lightly in the mud at the bottom, and, being flexible, readily adjust themselves to the changing depth caused by the waves, the tide, or the shoaling of the water. Through these pipes is sucked up, by the natural pressure caused by the displacement of the boat, the loose mud and sand to be removed. It enters the hold of the boat under considerable pressure, and, by the aid of steam-pumps, is thrown up through pipes to the deck, and thence outboard into barges alongside. Fitted with such tubes, each 10 inches in diameter, such a boat, it is estimated, will lift and discharge 32,000 yards of silt in 10 hours. With clean sand, an increase of 20 per cent. over this is estimated. The plan also presents another interesting feature in a machine for tearing up and loosening hard packed silt, and preparing it for the suction tubes. This consists of an iron fork or harrow, revolving on its own axis, and supported on a framework, lowered by chains from the bow. By this means it is kept at any required angle, and, by means of a chain belt, it is caused to revolve, and thus tear and rip up the bottom just in advance of the pipes. When at work, the boat is designed to be advanced, by means of a line secured to moorings, and leaving a path on the bottom of varying depth, according to the character of the material. pipe sucks up a wide area about its mouth, and, in case of choking or stoppage, may be instantly cleared by raising the pipes from the bottom and allowing the clear water to sweep through. When not in use, the harrow and the pipes may be raised to the keel, and the boat then moved to another spot. This new dredging machine has been made the subject of exhaustive experiment, with satisfactory results. Inextinguishable Life Signals. Each THESE chemical lights are now made in a variety of forms, and serve a useful purpose in giving a bright light upon the water when thrown overboard. One of the best of these contains chemicals that will not burn at any application of heat, but touched by water will evolve a bright flame. A small cylindrical box, ending above in a soft copper nib, is weighted below to keep it upright in the water, and filled with phosphate of calcium. When thrown into the sea, after the copper nib has been cut off, the water penetrates into the box, and the phosphureted hydrogen evolved escapes through a perforated tube leading to the open nib in a brilliant jet of light. Rain and spray only increase its brilliancy. New Fuels. IN the manufacture of bricquetts, or brick of coaldust, for fuel, a slight modification of the usual Belgium process is announced. Instead of using water in making the coal-dust into a paste, a boiling mixture of tar and pitch is employed. To this is added sulphate of lime to remove the ammonia of the tar. The mixture is composed of 33%1⁄2 parts of pitch, 13.6 of tar, and 1.80 of sulphate of lime, to one ton of coal-dust. The experiments going on in this department of fuel economy in this country have reached a practical stage in Pennsylvania, and fuel manufactured from coal-slack is already being extensively employed. So far, the reports are favorable to the quality of these American bricquetts, and they are being freely introduced on locomotive engines. A French company is now extensively manufacturing kindling material for domestic fires by utilizing corn-cobs. Two processes are employed. By one, the corn-cobs are first steeped in hot water containing 2 per cent. of saltpeter, and then saturated with resinous matter. By the other process, the cobs are soaked in a hot mixture of 60 parts resin and 40 parts tar. They are then dried, and afterward baked on a plate heated to 212° Fahr. Assorted and secured in bundles, they sell at the rate of four for an English halfpenny, or, at wholesale, for $2 or $3 a thousand. A process for utilizing corn-cobs by saturating them with resin has been patented in this country, and their manufacture has been attempted. The inventor already reports an active demand for them as domestic fire-lighters. Ship and Canal Boat Propellers. FROM the official reports concerning the hood placed over and before the screw of the British war ship"Bruiser," and from recent experiments with a new propeller for canal boats, some interesting facts are added to the science of sea and inland navigation. The hood or casing of iron plates placed about the screw of the steamship "Bruiser" resulted in increased speed, and less jar or motion to the ship. It also prevented, in an appreciative degree, the racing of the engine when the screw ran out of water in a high sea, by holding a certain amount of water about the propeller. The hood also serves as an effectual guard in preventing floating débris from fouling the screw. The new canal boat propeller consists of a large sheet-iron screw or wheel, 7 feet in diameter, hung in the air at the stern, and just clear of the water. A canal boat 40 feet long and drawing 13 inches was driven at a speed of four miles an hour with this screw, making 400 revolutions a minute. The power employed was a common upright engine with an eight-inch cylinder. The practical results obtained with this air-wheel were sufficient to warrant the inventors in constructing another, which is soon to be tried on the Erie Canal. Wordsworth to the Queen. BRIC-A-BRAC. THE following poem of Wordsworth, addressed to Queen Victoria, has recently been printed for the first time in an edition of Wordsworth's prose: "The Prose Works of William Wordsworth, for the first time collected, with additions from republished manuscripts. Edited, with preface, notes, and illustrations, by the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart. three volumes." * Deign, Sovereign Mistress! to accept a lay, But salutation taking its glad way From deep recesses of a loyal heart. Queen, Wife, and Mother! may All-judging Heaven On earth to goodness blest by grace divine. Lady! devoutly honored and beloved Through every realm confided to thy sway; As Thou art wont, thy sovereignty adorn With woman's gentleness, yet firm and staid; And now, by duty urged, I lay this Book Nor wilt Thou blame an aged Poet's prayer, Or grief-the inheritance of human kind. For know we not that from celestial spheres, When Time was young, an inspiration came (Oh, were it mine!) to hallow saddest tears, And help life onward in its noblest aim? 9th January, 1846. W. W. In Who was "The Lost Leader?" IN the preface of the recent edition of Wordsworth's prose occurs this letter from Robert Browning, in reply to an inquiry by the Editor regarding the original of the "Lost Leader." It is certainly explicit enough to set forever at rest all discussion and speculation upon this much-mooted topic: DEAR MR. GRosart, "19, WARWICK-CRESCENT, W. Feb. 24, 75. I have been asked the question you now address me with, and as duly answered it, I can't remember how many times: there is no sort of objection to one more assurance, or rather confession, on my part, that I did in my hasty youth presume to use the great and venerated personality of WORDSWORTH as a sort of painter's model; one from which this or the other particular feature may be selected and turned to account: had I intended more, above all, such a boldness as portraying the entire man, I should not have talked about 'handfuls of silver and bits of ribbon.' These never influenced the change of politics in the great poet; whose defection, nevertheless, accompanied as it was by a regular face-about of his special party, was to my juvenile apprehension, and even mature consideration, an event to deplore. But just as in the tapestry on my wall can recognize figures which have struck out a fancy, on occasion, that though truly enough thus derived, yet would be preposterous as a copy, so, though I dare not deny the original of my little poem, I altogether refuse to have it considered as the 'very effigies' of such a moral and intellectual superiority. Faithfully yours, London: Edward Moxon, Son & Co. New York: Scribner, Welford & Armstrong. Thim Hooligan b'ys is all raders, but Teddy jist skins 'em alive: Wid their marbles, and paynuts and pennies, iv'ry wan iv his pockets he'll fill By the turn iv his wrist, ur such tactics as Teddy knows how til cont'hrive : They'd gladly t'hrade off their book-larnin' fur Teddy's suparior skill! Politeness comes aisy til Ted, fur he's had me to tache him the thrick Iv bowin' and scrapin' and spakin' to show paple proper respict. Spake up til the gintlemon, Teddy! Whist! Aft wid yer cap first, ye stick! He's shapish a t'hrifle, yer honor; he's allus been brought up that strict. Come! Spake up, and show yer foine bradin! Och! Hear that! "How are yez, Owld Moke?" Arrah, millia murther! Did iver yez hear jist the aqual iv that? "How are yez, Owld Moke?" says he! Ha! Ha! Sure, yer honor, he manes it in joke! He's the playfullest b'y! Faith, it's laughin' at Teddy that makes me so fat! Honest? Troth, he is that! He's that honest, he was niver tuk by the perlace, Barrin' want that Owld Hooligan swore that Teddy had stole his b'y's knife Wid divil a blade. And the jidge he remairked, wid contimpt, 'twas the t'hrifinest case To bod'her a dignified Coort wid, he iver had known in his life! Yez can t'hrust him wid onything. Honest! Does he luk like a b'y that 'ud stale? Jist luk in the swate, open face iv him, barrin' the eye wid the wink: Och! Teddy!! Phat ugly black st'hrame is it runnin' down there by yer hale! Murtheration! Yer honor, me Teddy has spilt yer fine bottle iv ink!! Phat? How kem the ink in his pocket? I'm thinkin' he borry'd it, sur: And yez saw him pick up yer pen-howlder and stick it inside iv his slaive! And yez think that Ted mint til purline 'em!! Ah, wirra! The likes iv that slur Will d'hrive me,-poor, tinder, lone widdy,-wid sorrow down intil me grave! Bad cess til yez, Teddy, ye spalpeen! c'u'dn't yez howld on, the day Why Ye thafe iv the world!-widout breakin' the heart iv me? No. Yez must stale! I'll tache yez a t'hrick, ye rid-headed, pilferin', gimlet-eyed flay! Ye freckle-faced, impident bla'guard!-Och! whin we git home yez 'll squale! FRANK M. THORN. A Piece of Red Calico. MR. EDITOR: If the following true experience shall prove of any advantage to any of your readers, I shall be glad. I was going into town the other morning, when my wife handed me a little piece of red calico, and asked me if I would have time, during the day, to buy her two yards and a half of calico like that. I assured her that it would be no trouble at all, and putting the piece of calico in my pocket, I took the train for the city. At lunch time I stopped in at a large dry-goods store to attend to my wife's commission. I saw a well-dressed man walking the floor between the counters, where long lines of girls were waiting on much longer lines of customers, and asked him where I could see some red calico. "Miss "This way, sir," and he led me up the store. Stone," said he to a young lady, "show this gentleman some red calico." "What shade do you want?" asked Miss Stone. I showed her the little piece of calico that my wife had given me. She looked at it and handed it back to me. Then she took down a great roll of red calico and spread it out on the counter. "Why, that isn't the shade!" said I. "No, not exactly," said she, "but it is prettier than your sample' "That may be," said I; "but, you see, I want to match this piece. There is something already made of this kind of calico, which needs to be made larger, or mended, or something. want some calico of the same shade." The girl made no answer, but took down another roll. "That's the shade," said she. "Yes," I replied, "but it's striped." "Stripes are more worn than anything else in calicoes," said she. "Yes: but this isn't to be worn. It's for furniture, I think. At any rate, I want perfectly plain stuff, to match something already in use." "Well, I don't think you can find it perfectly plain, unless you get Turkey red." "What is Turkey red?" I asked. "Turkey red is perfectly plain in calicoes," she answered "Well, let me see some.' "We haven't any Turkey red calico left," she said, "but we have some very nice plain calicoes in other colors." "I don't want any other color. I want stuff to match this." "It's hard to match cheap calico like that," she said, and so I left her. I next went into a store a few doors further up Broadway. When I entered I approached the "floor-walker," and handing him my sample, said: "Have you any calico like this?" "Yes, sir," said he. "Third counter to the right." I went to the third corner to the right, and showed my sample to the salesman in attendance there. He looked at it on both sides. Then he said: "We haven't any of this." "That gentleman said you had," said 1. "We had it, but we're out of it now. You'll get that goods at an upholsterer's." I went across the street to an upholsterer's. "Have you any stuff like this?" I asked. "No," said the salesman. "We haven't. Is it for furniture?" "Yes," I replied. "Then Turkey red is what you want?" "Is Turkey red just like this?" I asked. "No" said he; "but it's much better." "That makes no difference to me," I replied. "I want something just like this." "But they don't use that for furniture," he said. "I should think people could use anything they wanted for furniture?" I remarked, somewhat sharply. "They can, but they don't," he said, quite calmly. "They don't use red like that. They use Turkey red." I said no more, but left. The next place I visited was a very large dry-goods store. Of the first salesman I saw I inquired if they kept red calico like my sample. "You'll find that on the second story," said he. I went upstairs. There I asked a man: "Where will I find red calico?" "In the far room to the left. Right over there." And he pointed to a distant corner. I walked through the crowds of purchasers and salespeople, and around the counters and tables filled with goods, to the far room to the left. When I got there I asked for red calico. "The second counter down this side," said the man. stairs," said the man. I went there and produced my sample. "Calicoes down "They told me they were up here," I said. "Not these plain goods. You'll find 'em down-stairs at the back of the store, over on that side.' I went down-stairs to the back of the store. "Where will I find red calico like this?" I asked. "Next counter but one," said the man addressed, walking with me in the direction pointed out. "Dunn, show red calicoes." Mr. Dunn took my sample and looked at it. "We haven't this shade in that quality of goods," he said. "Well, have you it in any quality of goods?" I asked. "Yes; we've got it finer." And he took down a piece of calico, and unrolled a yard or two of it on the counter. "That's not this shade," I said "No," said he. "The goods is finer and the color's better," "I want it to match this," I said. "I thought you weren't particular about the match," said the salesman. "You said you didn't care for the quality of the goods, and you know you can't match goods without you take into consideration quality and color both. If you want that quality of goods in red you ought to get Turkey red." I did not think it necessary to answer this remark, but said: "Then you've got nothing to niatch this?" "No, sir. But perhaps they may have it in the upholstery department, in the sixth story." So I got in the elevator and went up to the top of the house. "Have you any red stuff like this?" I said to a young man. "Red stuff? Upholstery department,-other end of this floor." I went to the other end of the floor. "I want some red calico," I said to a man. "Furniture goods?" he asked. "Yes," said 1. "Fourth counter to the left" I went to the fourth counter to the left, and showed my sample to a salesman. He looked at it, and said: "You'l! get this down on the first floor-calico department." I turned on my heel, descended in the elevator, and went out on Broadway. I was thoroughly sick of red calico. But I determined to make one more trial. My wife had bought her red calico not long before, and there must be some to be had somewhere. I ought to have asked her where she bought it, but I thought a simple little thing like that could be bought anywhere. I went into another large dry-goods store. As I entered the door a sudden tremor seized me. I could not bear to take out that piece of red calico. If I had had any other kind of a rag about me-a pen-wiper or anything of the sort-I think I would have asked them if they could match that. But I stepped up to a young woman and presented my sample, with the usual question. "Back room, counter on the left," she said. I went there "No, sir," she said. "but we have it in Turkey red." Turkey red again! I surrendered. "All right" I said, "Give me Tu.key red." "How much, sir?" she asked "I don't know-say five yards." The lady looked at me rather strangely, but measured off five yards of Turkey red calico. Then she rapped on the counter and called out "cash!" A little girl, with yellow hair in two long plaits, came slowly up. The lady wrote the number of yards, the name of the goods, her own number, the price, the amount of the bank-note I handed her, and some other matters, probably the color of my eyes, and the direction and velocity of the wind, on a slip of paper, She then copied all this in a little book which she kept by her. Then she handed the slip of paper, the money, and the Turkey red to the yellow-haired girl. This young girl copied the slip in a little book she carried, and then she went away with the calico, the paper slip, and the money. After a very long time, during which the little girl probably took the goods, the money, and the slip to some central desk, where the note was received, its amount and number entered in a book, change given to the girl, a copy of the slip made and entered, girl's entry examined and approved, goods wrapped up, girl registered, plaits counted and entered on a slip of paper and copied by the girl in her book, girl taken to a hydrant and washed, number of towel entered on a paper slip and copied by the girl in her book, value of my note and amount of change branded somewhere on the child, and said process noted on a slip of paper and copied in her book,-the girl came to me, bringing my change and the package of Turkey red calico. I had time for but very little work at the office that afternoon, and when I reached home, I handed the package of calico to my wife. She unrolled it and exclaimed: "Why, this don't match the piece I gave you!" "Match it!" I cried. "Oh, no! it don't match it. You didn't want that matched You were mistaken. What you wanted was Turkey red-third counter to the left. I mean, Turkey red is what they use." My wife looked at me in amazement, and then I detailed to her my troubles. "Well," said she, "this Turkey red is a great deal prettier than what I had, and you've got so much of it that I needn't use the other at all. I wish I had thought of Turkey red before." Rev. Grant Powers, of Haverhill, N. H., rebuked an ignorant preacher for exercising the office of priest. He replied: "We are commanded to preach the gospel to every critter." "But," said Powers, "every critter is not commanded to preach the gospel." "Never mind, my dear," said a gentleman to his wife, complaining of the mud. "I have boots on." Another purchasing a cow was told that she kicked. "Oh, that's no matter, the women-folks do the milking." Another, "You need not boil the pot to-day. I shall not be at home to dinner." LIKE all similar educational institutions in the country, TRINITY COLLEGE owes its existence to a disposition on the part of a particular denomination to have a college under its immediate auspices. Recalling the early history of the Diocese of Connecticut, we learn that upon the consecration of Bishop Seabury, the first bishop of the State, the initial steps were taken toward the establishment of an institution of learning under control of the Episcopal Church; and as a result of the measures adopted at a convocation of the clergy held under him at East Haddam, in February, 1792, an academy incorporated with limited privileges was founded nine years later, at Cheshire, Connecticut, and known as "Seabury College." This academy was designed as a foundation for an institution of higher character, it being proposed to expand and enlarge it VOL. XI.-39. into a collegiate body so soon as the State should grant the required power. In 1810 the Convention, at its annual meeting, made an effort to obtain an enlargement of the charter, and for this purpose a petition was drawn up and presented to the General Assembly. At this time Congregationalism was in the ascendant, and was of itself a power, not only in religious, but in civil affairs, and there existed a strong feeling against Episcopacy; so that, when the bold effort to obtain a charter for the establishment of an Episcopal college was made by zealous members of the Church, a violent opposition was brought to bear against it; and although the petition was well received and passed by the Lower House, it was defeated in the Council (Senate). Five years afterward another effort was made to obtain a charter, and a committee was |