ment vessels would not work safely over such a projection. In the first place, I question the truth of this argument altogether: as I believe the foremost stern-post may be carried up and made a more powerful pivot for the great gun than any support it has at present; but supposing the objection valid, my reply would be, I have certainly made a projection astern; but then I have removed two huge projections from the ship's sides, which obstructed the whole battery; so, though I deprive you of one gun aft, I give you the means of using a whole broadside; and instead of the misnomer of calling vessels like the Cyclops and Gorgon, steam-frigates—call them what they are, mere gun-boats; but in future apply a screw to steam ships of this description-arm them with forty, sixty, or one hundred guns if you will, and then call them steam-frigates, or line-of-battle ships, as the case may be."" But The Admiralty, as usual, had been applied to on the subject, and their reply was-"When you have fully proved your invention in a competent vessel, then only can the Government attend to your representations." After a considerable lapse of time, however, and not till France had cast a sheep's-eye upon the invention, the Rattler, a steamer of 888 tons, was fitted at Sheerness with Mr. Smith's screw, adapted and improved by Mr. Lloyd, the active engineer of the dockyard. In this vessel it has fully realized all that could reasonably have been anticipated of its power. She was, it is true, tried against the royal yacht and the Black Eagle, both of which vessels are fitted with paddleboxes, and appeared to have no chance with them in a heavy sea, although she held way with them pretty well in smooth water. when it is considered that the Rattler has only a 200 horse-power, and is nearly 900 tons burthen, while the yacht has 800 horses to about 1300 tons, and the Black Eagle 280 to about 700 tons, it is not very surprising that she should have lagged astern: and it admits of argument whether, under equivalent power, she would not have outstripped both those fine vessels. But she has since beaten the paddle-wheel Alecto, a steamer of her own horse-power and rather less tonnage; part of the trial was in a head sea, when the Rattler had none of the rolling motion at first complained of in her, and which the cavillers of the screw-principle contended that every vessel so propelled must invariably have. She has recently accompanied the Arctic Expedition, under Sir John Franklin, to the Orkney Islands, with Mr. Smith on board, when, on several occasions, she took the Erebus and Terror both in tow at one time, leading them along in calm weather at a speed of 61 knots, as shown by Massey's log on board of each ship. Matters of this importance are seldom allowed a quiet walk over the course; and scarcely had the power of the screw been proven, when imitators and pirates started up in numbers, each with some novelty to propose in the form-big and little-endians, polythread screws, fans, blades, and segments. This induced disputes and suits, and it followed as a matter of course that the two-tongued lawyers cut in for a large share of the money: how much more satisfactory and cheap would it be to refer matters so completely beyond the law-ken, to an arbitration of men of experience and knowledge! In the case of Lowe v. Penn, 16th December, 1844, a verdict was found for one whose only discoverable claim consisted in his having made a model, and that upon principles already well known. The verdict was obtained upon one of those quibbles on which the glorious uncertainty of the law is based in the objections made, several inventors were named, to whom the two words "and others" were added; but these words being struck out by order, no evidence was permitted to be given at the trial by Smith, Erickson, Rosen, or any of the known advancers of the invention. The verdict was received in triumph by the plaintiff and his solicitor, who, it appears, is also a partner; and they have published a manifesto that there is nothing like leather. This, however, is not all the mischief which that decision has occasioned: there are now upwards of a score of contrivers encouraged to make slight alterations under the term of inventions, and though many of these interlopers are only fit candidates for the roll which Menkenius drew up, de Charlataneria, yet are they capable of inflicting much injury on the public. It certainly becomes a serious question among ship-owners, to know who is to be paid as having the proper patent; and we think the reapers of the patent fees ought to be overhauled, for so recklessly admitting every Simon Pure. Among other attempts, a patent was taken out by Edward Shorter, in 1802, for a perpetual sculling-machine, which is said to be of similar action with the screw; and in 1816, Mr. Millington proposed to work a like machine by steam; and he also suggested the fixing of one or two or more vanes at an angle of 45° to the plane of their motion, with spaces between them like the sails of a wind-mill. These were followed by slight variations of the same principle by James, Brown, Trevethick, Perkins, Cummerow, Woodcroft, and others; but the first who brought the primordial position to an unequivocal proof was Mr. Smith, whose spirit and continued perseverance were successful in placing the merits of the case before the public. Nearly cotemporaneously with him Capt. Erickson and Count Rosen, of the royal Swedish navy, zealously pursued their investigations, and, in July, 1836, obtained a patent for the same purpose: their invention consists of two wheels, each formed by a series of eight radiating heliacal plates, set at an angle of 45°, and rivetted to thin broad cylinders, which are connected by arms to the centre, the blades being surrounded by a narrow cylinder. These wheels are attached to shafts, the one to which the inner wheel is fixed being hollow, passing through the stern of the vessel, and revolving, by means of cogged wheels, at different speeds and in opposite directions, each series of plates being so rivetted on the cylinders. This differs from Smith's screw, which is complete, and the blades being in portions or sections, seems to be very generally approved of. Still opinions are not at all unanimous, since, though a whole screw may prove a waterdragger, there are advantages in it: and that excellent seaman, Capt. Chappell, after superintending steam squadrons for seventeen years, thus expresses himself: "The great experience I had of the screw, as used in the Archimedes, and as subsequently tried in the Great Northern, induces me to give a decided preference to the screw over blades, &c. When at Bristol, the Archimedes came, with the screw in action, across a mooring chain, and ground over it in such a manner as led me to think it must greatly have damaged the propeller; but such is its amazing strength of construction, that even this violence did no damage. Going along shore, near Plymouth, in spite of all our care, we passed over a strong fishing-net, and I found afterwards that the screw had completely minced it, though the head-rope was at least 2-inch rope. Again, running full speed off Beachy Head, when I was not on board, and in the River Tyne, when I was on board,-the Archimedes struck the ground with the utmost violence, but the screw sustained no injury. Either of these occurrences would have utterly destroyed any blades or segments. The screw, being a smooth compact instrument, has a tendency to reject any rope or other entanglement, but the arms or blades catch everything, and are snapped in an instant. I believe many of the heavy seas we encountered off the west coast of Scotland would have destroyed any kind of blades, or fragmental portions of screw, though insufficient to injure it in its entire form. For these reasons alone I would prefer the Archimedean screw to any of its modificationsand still more to any kind of blade or projection." Now we consider Smith's Archimedean screw and Erickson's propeller to constitute, in principle, the only two kinds of stern-wheels, helices, or whatever other designations may be given them, although numberless variations are now started*. Had the proprietors of those two united, instead of working on opposite tacks, and trying to run each other down, there can be no doubt that ere this they would have carried all before them; but the effect of their rivalry has been a disadvantage, both in a public and private view. The discontinuance of the unsightly and inconvenient paddle-wheels, however, is not far off. We think their days are numbered. Feeling, as we do, that steam navigation is actually under reform, we are happy to find that the intelligent Count Rosen, who unites both the officer and engineer-and who has served in our Navy-has laid before the Admiralty a plan whereby our present men-of-war may be fitted with auxiliary steam propulsion,-a locomotion termed Vapeur de Combat by the writer in La Presse. To carry out this desirable principle, the Count proposed to fix, in already built ships, steam-engines of his own construction, provided with Capt. Erickson's propeller; the latter of which can easily be shipped and unshipped at pleasure, and while it is out of gear, of course the fuel will be saved. These engines are extremely light and compact, and from working direct on the motiveshaft, without any intermediate cog-wheels or straps, they occupy so little room that they can be conveniently placed below the water-line, where they will act as ballast, and be protected against the enemy's shot. By this most convenient adaptation the gun-decks are unimpeded and complete, and the vessel is left in every respect as efficient for sailing and fighting as before. Struck with the great advantage of thus rendering all the existing line-of-battle ships and frigates bona fide war steamers, and the consequent vast saving to the public purse, "My Lords" wisely approved of the plan. Accordingly, they forthwith ordered that the Amphion, a frigate of 36 guns and 1284 tons, now at Woolwich, should be fitted with auxiliary engines of 300 horse-power. The Count has also determined to introduce a new galley, or cooking apparatus, by which, whilst the ship's company's food is prepared, a sufficient quantity of water is distilled for the use of the crew, without the expenditure of any additional fuel; so that he will gain the weight. of water and tanks for his engines. This apparatus, however, is not wholly the Count's invention, as a similar scheme was brought forward a few years ago by some of our own friends; but although every public * Mr. Steinman Steinman loudly boasts of his locomotive propeller; but, apparently, his only novelty consists in a band wherewith to work the screw,-and that is no longer needed. U. S. MAG., No. 201, AUG, 1845. 2 K trial of their machine was most successful, they did not obtain sufficient encouragement to justify their persevering in the undertaking. There is great reason to presume that the Amphion will be ready for sea by next September; and her being commissioned will be an advent of great maritime moment. In the meantime, Count Rosen has submitted another plan, which is highly approved of, for building a 50-gun frigate of iron; she is to be 220 feet long, 40 broad, and of 1800 tons burthen, with a condensing engine of 800 horse-power, which will be flattened down into the hold, so as to be six feet below the level of the water outside. By this eligible arrangement, the whole of the gundecks will be flush, and perfectly clear for their proper object and uses. The hull and engine-room will be supplied with a ventilating apparatus, and there will be five iron bulk-heads, of form and capacity to give room for fifteen days' coal, which will be poured in from above; and they will line the sides where they are stowed to the thickness of some feet. We have seen and studied this plan with gratification, since we hold that steamers of the largest size may be constructed entirely of iron, and propelled by the screw, with every advantage to the public service, and at a less expense than in the present method. But though our Gallic confrères boast that they can destroy the greatest ships that ever floated, since they have improved their ordnance with a success which they designate "almost infernal," we are too proud of our firstclass two-deckers, and powerful three-deckers, to care a straw for Paixhans and Co. These noble floating batteries will probably ever prove to be our Wooden Walls. Still we cannot but see how rapid a progress the innovation is making, as well ashore as at sea. Steam and iron are carrying the day over the face of the whole country, and useful communication is extending from each part of the empire to the other. Yet the land projects are more beset by pestilent pretenders than are even our screw-propellers; a net of designed railroads is now feasting whole brigades of lawyers, schemers, and gambling speculators. Even in London an underground steam-communication is thought of, to facilitate intercourse between the distant points of so monstrous a city. When Horace had to toil in the heat from one end of Rome to the other, he growled "Cubat hic in colle Quirini, Hic extremo in Aventino; visendus uterque ; but what was old Rome to our modern Babylon? It is true that no begrimed sows obstruct us in climbing Ludgate or Holborn Hills, but it would be no small object to get faster over the ground on a sunny day, although now aided by cabs, coaches, or busses. Gambling and bubble out of the question, we therefore have no objection to the metropolitan steam-conveyancers; and, indeed, are not greatly averse to many of the propositions afloat. We are only desirous of seeing British energy, British intelligence, British industry, and British capital applied to our own purposes; and we acknowledge the aversion with which we see some of our capitalists, whose only love is that of gain, sinking their accumulated millions in France, Spain, and all the Continental States. Perhaps Rhadamanthus has a rod in pickle for them. SUMMER AND WINTER DEER SHOOTING IN CANADA WEST. BY SIR J. E. Alexander, K. L. S., 14TH REGT. "When morning beams on the mountain streams, To follow the stag to the slippery crag, I. XENOPHON, the celebrated warrior and historian, and likewise a keen sportsman, thus gave his opinion of hunting,-that it tended to make men hardy, both in body and mind, and thence to form the very best soldiers, the chase bearing a closer resemblance to war than any other amusement; that it habituated men to bear fatigue, and the inclemencies of the weather, kindled their loftier feelings, awoke their courage, and nerved their limbs, which also from exercise became more pliant, agile, and muscular; that it increased the powers of all the senses, kept away careful or melancholy thoughts, and thus by promoting both mental and physical health, produced longevity, and retarded the subduing effects of old age. "Vive la chasse!" then, as a fitting recreation for soldiers, and if pursued in moderation, and without unnecessary cruelty to, or indiscriminate slaughter of the game animals, it is undoubtedly deserving of all the commendations accorded to it. The true hunter is generally known by his bronzed complexion, his hands innocent of the tender kid skin, his keen eye, his firm mouth, his independent air and elastic step. Most military men are sportsmen, more or less, and it is quite fitting that released, for a short season, from the duties of their profession, they should be either pursuing their game on leathern or on horse's shoes, or by the banks "of the dark and silent streams." We have now to treat of the slaying of deer in Western Canada, the land by adoption of thousands of Britain's hardy sons,-a land favoured by nature in productiveness of soil, and in "water privileges' of the first order. Long may revolutionary principles be repudiated here, and the enterprising farmer and merchant, with public burdens of the lightest description, duly appreciate and value the form of government and the establishments under which they thrive! The brown deer of North America, the Cervus Virginianus of natu ralists, is, like others of its tribe, most graceful in its motions, proceeding usually through the forests of its native haunts in light bounds; it is found from the shores of the great lakes to those of the Gulf of Mexico. Its weight is a hundred pounds and upwards, and the prongs of the horns of the male point forwards, in such a way that it is difficult to conceive how it could make its way easily through woods that are at all entangled. But the haunts of this deer are unlike the interlaced vege tation between the tropics; and this beautiful denizen of the wilds is free to roam among the straight and light-seeking stems of the pine, the beech, and the maple. The long and handsome ears of the deer are for ever in motion, and alert to catch the smallest sound; its eyes full, black, and swimming, |