blown a regular gale, and shipped less water than I surely should in any seagoing boat of equal size.

It is of equal efficacy against resistance to the water, whether the opposing surface be presented in an incline that approaches the perpendicular or horizontal

-I mean, whether the head of a boat presents a very acute angle sinking into the water, or the head be broader, and the acuteness of the presented angle be horizontal to the water, like the bottom of a spoon. Such is the principle of the caique's construction. Their substance

is as thin as that of the London wherries, but their sides are three times as high, tapering gradually from stern to stem, so that when they are without a load, the latter sticks up in a very unsightly manner. But when the passengers are on board, the boat assumes its proper trim, presenting a line, rising a little to the head.

I herewith send you a rough sketch of something like a Turkish caique, which I have made rather too short for its bulk. A is the water-line when loaded; B when empty. I should be glad

to give directions to any boat-builder who may have sense enough to attend to this communication.

I think that as in the affair of the Montgolfier balloon, my suggestion may be followed, while the experimenter will disdain to seek the aid I offer, to save him from disappointment. Let your readers refer to Nos. 684, 685, and 686, of your valuable Magazine, and then look to the miserable doings of last week at the Surrey Zoological Gardens, with the grand Montgolfier balloon, the miserable failure

of which would have been prevented, had the projector consulted me, as was proposed by your correspondent in No. 685. Again I repeat, that although ballooning is a foolish thing, the Montgolfier principle is immeasurably preferable to the gas, as well in safety as in the chance of finding various currents of air, by rising and descending ad libitum, so as to be enabled to take, at one altitude or another, the direction desired.

I have the honour, &c.
F. MACERONI.

The oil test is an instrument for ascertaining the quality of oil, as applied to machinery, or used for burning; it shows exactly the different degrees of tenacity, and in what degree different oils lessen friction, or what the lubricating qualities of the oils submitted to trial are, and enables any person, in a few minutes, to ascertain with certainty the relative values of that he means to purchase, and to compare the stock with the sample he has made trial of.

Description of the Engraving.-A is a cramp, with its screw for fixing the in

strument by. P is a pulley for driving the arbor by; d is a piece of brass screwed upon the top of the arbor, and into which is fitted a piece of agate, or pebble; e is a moveable plate of brass, faced with hard steel; the top of the arbor goes through a hole in the upper plate, to keep it steady.

The agate and plate are perfectly flat, and truly ground, to fit each other, and between them the oil is put for trial; f is a pin, fastened into the top plate, which, when turned round against the sun, will come in contact with the pin

V is a pulley, with six or eight grooves, varying about one-eighth of an inch each, for the convenience of finding the desired speed, and for immediate application, is supposed to be fixed upon the point of a turning lathe spindle, the cramp being fixed to the lathe rest.

For permanent use, the instrument should be fixed in some convenient place by itself, where a steady uniform motion can be obtained; and the whole should be enclosed in a box, to keep it clean, and prevent its being hurt.

For a temporary trial, a common turning lathe will answer the purpose; let the instrument be fixed by its cramp to a T rest, or a piece of wood fixed into the socket of the rest; then fix a pulley of about 1 or 2 inches on the point of the lathe spindle, turning it conically, with six or eight grooves, varying about 1-8th of an inch; there will be no difficulty of finding the proper speed, by means of the different speeds of the lathe spindle, and the grooves of the small conical pulley. The rest will slide out or in, so as to make the driving band fit any of the grooves; by this means, it is easily

brought to the required speed. It is preferable to give proper length of time to each trial, than to turn at a quick speed, as there can be but little chance of increase of temperature by a speed of 360 per minute, which is nearly the speed required.

To use the test, take off the top plate, wipe both plates clean, and apply about four drops of oil, or as much as will cover the piece of agate as high as the brass brim that surrounds it; more than this is needless, and less will not moisten the plates; the superfluous oil will fly off. A little experience will be the best guide in this matter. The top plate is now to be put on; set the spindle in motion, and let it run ten minutes for each trial; the motion will carry the pin in the upper plate round so as to act upon the pin in the lower part of the bent lever, and have a tendency to push it away, and lift the weight; it must therefore be shifted upon the lever, till the tenacity of the oil and the weight balance each other; or if done at the expiry of the time, it will answer the same purpose; the lower end of the lever to

play freely between the stops without touching either; when it has run its time, observe the division the mark on the weight points out; inark it down; repeat the same for every trial, giving the same time. Take care to wipe the plates very clean at every trial, as the least particle of dirt, or fibre of cotton, will keep the plates off one another, and give a false result, or rather indicate nothing. The under plate will be best cleaned while running; the upper one must be done by hand. A soft rag must be used; not cotton waste. In a trial of a superior, after an inferior sort of oil, some remains of the former is apt still to adhere to the plates; it will be best, therefore, to apply a little of the oil to be tried upon the plates, wiping them well. This will take off any remains of the former; and will equally apply when inferior oil is tried after good.

To make sure, the trials may be repeated, and the average taken; but if the speed is the same, and the experiment properly made, the same result will be produced.

To ascertain what oils will last longest, the test may be charged with oil, and set on at the same time the spindles of a throstle or mule are oiled, then let it run the same as the former trial, viz. ten minutes; observe what division it points to; and afterwards, at the end of six or eight hours, it will be seen what difference in tenacity, and consequently, how much the friction of such machi

nery has increased by this particular oil. It is very doubtful if any vegetable oil will stand so severe a trial; but with sperm oil, it has been done, and found to alter about two divisions of the scale.

To judge of the correctness of the instrument, let a trial be made of equal parts of different oils. Suppose one of them to stand at 30, the other at 60, then the medium is 45. This will be the case if the mixtures have been equal; however, it will be sufficiently near to show that bad oil cannot be mixed with good, without being detected.

As oils sold under the same name differ so much in quality, it is impossible to state precisely the speed that will make any given oil point to a given number; but as comparative trial is all that is wanted, every person will be able to do this for themselves; but in order to make that as easy as possible, and that they

may in some degree compare with one another, a small box of hog's lard accompanies each instrument sold by the inventor, as it is more uniform than oil, and easier carried. Let it be brought to such a speed as with the lard the weight will stand at 70, then good sperm oil will be 20, olive oil about 60, Neat's foot 60 to 70.

The remaining part of the scale will do for mixtures of oil and tallow, used for wheels and great geering. If any of the mixtures should be without the range of the scale, a slower motion may be given, which will have the same effect as lengthening the scale.

This description is adapted to the lever kind of tests, but will apply equally to the circular kind, with the spring: the mode of driving and application being the same in both.

From what has been explained and described, the principle upon which the instrument is constructed will be easily comprehended: thus, if with one kind of oil the tenacity will only lift the weight at 20, and another will lift it at 40, it is evident that the tenacity of the former is but one half of the latter, and will lessen friction in the same proportion, as far as oil is concerned: thereby leaving it in the option of a proprietor of machinery, whether he will save his money in oil, and waste it in the purchase of coals, or the waste of power otherwise, besides the injury of machinery.

THE "LYCEUM SYSTEM" IN AMERICA. -CONDITION OF THE WORKING CLASSES.

The second volume of the labours of the central Society of Education, just published,* includes, among its contents, —which consist of a variety of papers of very varying excellence, each the production of an individual, and edited only by the society in its aggregate character,

an essay on a subject which entitles it to some notice in our pages. It is from the pen of Thomas Wyse, Esq., the liberal member for Waterford, who has rendered himself rather conspicuous

*Central Society of Education, Second Publication, Papers by George Long, Esq., . F. Duppa, Esq., Mons. de Fellenberg, G. R. Porter. Esq., F.R,S., etc.; also, the results of the Statistical Inquiries of the Society. London, 1838: Taylor and Walton: 8vo. p.p. 428.

of late by the zeal with which, at divers public meetings, he has advocated the question of National Education, and refers, as its title imports, to the " Lyceum System" in America, and its applicability to mechanics' institutions in England. He enters at considerable length into the history of the origin and progress of the associations known by the name of "Lyceums" in the United States, of which, in all their bearings, he is an enthusiastic admirer and an uncompromising champion,-while he is most strenuous in recommending the immediate adoption of some similar system in our own country, in order that we may not ere long find ourselves, to our own surprise and discomfiture, lagging far behind in the "march of intellect," and Jonathan " going a-head" at a railroad pace. This is a consummation, indeed, by no means devoutly to be wished, nor is it, we think, likely to be brought about in a very great hurry, in spite of the portentous warnings of the " Lyceum System." Mr. Wyse, in fact, in introducing the system to the acquaintance of the British public, displays infinitely more of the headlong impetuosity of the partizan, than the settled calmness of the philosopher. He can least of all be charged with understating the advantages of the system he wishes us to adopt; on the contrary, his zeal has so far outrun discretion in this respect, he has indulged in such highflown hyperbolical flourishes as to the wonders it has effected, as to cast an air of doubt even over the more sober details of its history. Of this hyperbole we shall by-and-bye give a small specimen, extracting in the mean while a passage from Mr. W.'s sketch of the origin of" the system!”

"Like almost every thing in that country, the Lyceum system, as it is called, sprang from very humble beginnings. The first proposal made to the public, was in the 10th number of the American Journal of Education, in the year 1826. At this time, not even a designation by which it should be known had been adopted. A few weeks afterwards, the system was more formally proposed to the citizens of Milbury (Massachusetts); and a society organized by thirty or forty farmers and mechanics, under the name of The Milbury Branch of the American Lyceum,' was established. Twelve or fifteen towns in the same vicinity promptly followed their example, and united by delegates in forming

6

"There are three classes of Lyceums, one subordinate to the other: 1st, Town Lyceums;' 2nd, 'County Lyceums;' 3rd, 'State Lyceums;' finally, The National Lyceum;' to which, as to a great national board for the management of subsidiary education, is entrusted the direction and controul of the entire system. The 'Town Lyceums,' which also assume the designation of Branches of the American Lyceum,' are usually composed of the principal inhabitants of the town; the life subscription is twenty, the annual, two dollars; threefourths of which are applied to the purchase of apparatus, books, tools, &c., for the use of the Town Lyceum, and the remaining onefourth is forwarded to the County Lyceum, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of county libraries, apparatus, and collections too heavy for the Town Lyceums-of maps and agents for town and county surveys, statistical inquiries, &c. &c. They hold meetings for lectures and essay discussions, in literature and science, at stated periods; and establish classes in various courses, under the superintendence of their lecturers, for the education of their junior members, and the greater improvement of the instruction pursued in schools.

"The County Lyceums' propose the same objects (though on a larger scale) as the Town Lyceums, promote the interests of the Lyceums generally throughout the country, and co-operate with the State and National Lyceums in the same manner as the Town Lyceums do with them, in all measures recommended for the advancement of national education and the general diffusion of knowledge. The members consist of delegates from the several Town Lyceums in the county, each Lyceum having the right of sending three. The County Lyceum holds semi-annual meetings, for the purpose of hearing reports or statements from the Town Lyceums, supporting discussions and pronouncing addresses, or reading papers upon any subject relative to

the theory or practice of education. They procure, moreover, in proportion to the amount of their funds, a county library, apparatus, collection in natural history, mineralogy, models, &c.; appoint a supervisor, or civil engineer, to aid in surveys for town or county maps, &c.; agents for statistical inquiries, &c. ; and, finally, carry into execution any other arrangements for the general or special objects of the Lyceum System throughout their jurisdiction."

It must be confessed that all this looks very well on paper,-above all, it must be admitted that if there be any magic in the word " Lyceum," it is put to the proof often enough. Puzzled as the originators of the plan were to find a title at first, it is evident that they had no sooner hit upon one than it "took" amazingly; to such an extent, indeed, that it would sometimes seem to be considered that the efficacy of the scheme lay in its name alone, so pertinaciously is" the Lyceum System" dragged in at every opportunity. Except in its title, a "Town Lyceum" apparently differs but little from Literary Institutions of older date; and as to the Lyceums" of a higher grade,-the County, State, and National Lyceums,-why, sooth to say, the higher they get, the less is their utility perceptible. If the Town Lyceums were gone, there would be an end of the whole system;-the loss of the County Lyceums would derange it in some degree:-but the disappearance of the "State" and "National" institutions would have but little effect, further than in abridging the importance of the ' delegates" who attend them, chiefly for no other purpose than to hear lengthy orations on new systems of education, or joining in wordy discussions of unprofitable questions. Such, at least, is the impression left on our minds by the little Mr. Wyse has to say on the subject, setting aside mere panegyric, of which he is never tired. The State Lyceums are so completely purposeless, that they have evidently been established for the sake of "symmetry" alone; while the most we are told of the grand National Lyceum itself, is contained in the paragraph which records the titles of three prize essays, produced under its auspices, on different abstruse points of pedagogical science!

Whatever have been the effects produced by the system, therefore, we are inclined to attribute a very minute por

tion to the vast organization which Mr. Wyse holds to be the all in all, and is so earnest in recommending for immediate adoption in Great Britain, taking the already-existing mechanics' institutions as a nucleus. Why mechanics' institutions should be selected it would be difficult to guess, since in America the Town Lyceums evidently most resemble the far more numerous body of our general literary and scientific institutions, to which, indeed, the mechanics' institutions are daily more and more assimilating in every thing but name. Add a museum to be collected by the members, and an additional class or two to these already existing, and

you have a "Town Lyceum" complete

and perfect at once, without any further trouble. We are not sanguine enough to anticipate that the consequences of such an improvement would be so miraculous as Mr. Wyse gravely assures us those of the " Lyceum System” have been on the other side of the Atlantic. These are indeed almost quite incredible; ex. gr.

"Thousands of children, of not more than eight or ten years old, know now more of geology, mineralogy, botany, statistical facts, &c., &c.,-in fine, of what immediately concerns their daily interests and occupations, -than was probably known thirty years ago by any five individuals in the United States."-p. 216.

If this soberly-stated fact be not conclusive as to the merits of the Lyceum System, what will be? Of its perfect accuracy there need, of course, be no more doubt than that the knowledge of geology, botany, statistical facts, &c., is "what immediately concerns the daily interests and occupations" of the children in the States!-As, however, we could not expect such prodigious results in the old country, even were the Lyceum System adopted as fully as Mr. Wyse could wish, it may happen

that the Americans will be left to the exclusive enjoyment of its exquisite organization for some time longer, maugre the efforts of the Central Society of Education. We must jog on as we best may, without the "immense advantages of Union," and even perhaps without the "Minister of Public Instruction," recommended by Mr. Wyse and his liberal compeers as the best succedaneum.

The former volume published by the Society included an interesting paper