Quarterly Meeting.

The thirty-fifth quarterly meeting of the Institute was held at their Hall, October 18, 1832.

ALEXANDER FERGUSON was appointed Chairman, and

FREDERICK FRALEY, Recording Secretary, P. T.

The minutes of the thirty-third quarterly meeting were read and approved.

The thirty-fifth quarterly report of the Board of Managers was read and accepted, when, on motion, it was referred to the committee on Publications, with instruction to publish it in the Journal of the Institute.

The quarterly report of the Treasurer was read and accepted.

On motion, the reading of the thirty-fourth quarterly report of the Board of Managers was called for, as a quorum sufficient to transact business did not attend on the evening appointed for that meeting, and the report was not read; after reading the report it was accepted and referred to the committee on publications for insertion in the Journal of the Institute.

Professor A. D. Bache made some remarks on the art of medal ruling, in which he claimed the credit of the present useful application of it for America: he submitted specimens of the work executed by Asa Spencer, of Philadelphia, to the meeting, and the first published specimen of the execution of Mr. Bate, of London, contained in Prof. Babbage's work on the economy of manufactures and machinery. He drew a comparison between the works, favourable to that of Mr. Spencer, remarking that the distortion produced by the method used by this artist, although it would become perceptible in works of very high relief, was scarcely so in medal ruling, and did not turn the balance in favour of the work of Mr. Bate of which the specimen was exhibited.

A copy of the diploma of membership of the Institute, just finished, was laid on the table for the inspection of the members.

Extract from the minutes.

ALEXR. FERGUSON, Chairman.

FREDERICK FRALEY, Rec. Sec. P. T.

Thirty-fourth Quarterly Report of the Board of Managers of the Franklin Institute.

Hall of the Franklin Institute, July 12, 1832. The Board of Managers respectfully present to the Institute their report for the second quarter of the present year.

Preparations are making for the exhibition of American manufactures to be held in October next, and for the reopening of the schools and commencement of the lectures.

It is hoped that in addition to the usual courses, an efficient series of lectures on machines may be introduced. The difficulty in the

way of this important course lies in the models and machinery necessary for illustration. The Institute have not the funds to supply these. It is hoped that the zeal of the individual members may be relied upon to promote by the gift or deposit of suitable models and machinery, this useful and interesting object.

The Board of Managers have given the fullest consideration to the subject referred to them at the last Quarterly meeting, viz. the better accommodation of the lecturers of the Institute.

They find that an extension of the present accommodation could be obtained only in one of two ways; either by depriving the members of the privilege which they now enjoy in the reading room and library, or by taking from the institution revenues which are necessary to the payment of the interest on, and the gradual extinction of, the debt for which it stands pledged.

While, therefore, the Board consider that the better accommodation of the lecturers, by appropriating separate rooms to the lecturer on chemistry, and to the lecturers on Natural Philosophy and Mechanics, is very desirable, they cannot see in the present state of the institution circumstances which would warrant the undertaking.

Having twice in the course of this report referred to the limited nature of the funds of the Institute, the Board of Managers would take this occasion to submit a few remarks, in relation to the funds by which inquiries, connected with the objects of the Institute, have been carried on.

The expenses of the important experiments on water power were defrayed by individual contributions, and not by the Institute.

The later researches under the direction of the committee on explosions, were commenced at the request of the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, and are making at the expense of the Department.

The sum appropriated to the committee on statistics has not been considerable in amount, and this amount was granted under the impression that a measure originating with the members of the Institute, at one of their quarterly meetings, must fail, unless the funds asked by the committee were provided.

The Journal of the Institute is now able to support itself, and will, probably, before a great while, redeem the loan made on its assumption by the Institute.

Thus it appears that important objects have been accomplished, and are accomplishing, without drawing from the treasury of the Institute the sums required to extinguish the debt for which it is pledged, and which, remaining unpaid, must always trammel the operations of the institution.

The Board announce with regret the resignation of Franklin Bache, M. D. Professor of Chemistry in the Institute. The efficient services of this gentleman have secured to him the respect and esteem of those with whom he has now for six years been connected.

ISAAC B. GARRIGUES, Chairman.

WILLIAM HAMILTON, Actuary.

Thirty-fifth Quarterly Report of the Board of Managers of the Franklin Institute.

Hall of the Franklin Institute, October 11, 1832.

The Board of Managers submit to the Institute their report for the third quarter of the present year.

Since the last report several changes have taken place in the affairs of the institution, which are of interest.

The committee on Premiums and Exhibitions, by the advice of the committee of arrangement, determined to postpone the usual exhibition of domestic manufactures, in relation to the time of holding which they had received authority from the managers to decide. The gloomy state of a sister city, the apprehension which our own community, in conjunction with all others, felt in anticipation of the extensive prevalence of a wide spreading epidemic, rendered prudent the course adopted by the committee.

The resignation of our Professor of Chemistry, which the Board of Managers had the regret to announce in their last report, was followed by the appointment of John K. Mitchell, M. D. as his successor. The talents and attainments of this gentleman are well known to the members of the institute. The zeal with which he has entered upon the preparations for the ensuing course, give an earnest of his exertions to carry it to a successful completion.

On the last day of August, the rooms on the third floor of the hall were given up by Professor Johnson. The schools having at that time made their arrangements for the year, the rooms could not at once be rented. The Institute, on this account, though temporary sufferers, will ultimately be benefitted, since the delay has given time for a division of the third floor into six rooms. By this division the Drawing school and the English school will have suitable accommodations, a room for Models and Machinery be provided, and a rent be obtained.

The lectures for the ensuing season will commence on the last Monday in October, (October 25th,) the introductory lectures will be given on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, of the first week, after which the regular lectures of the course will commence. The chemical lectures will be given every Monday evening, those on natural philosophy every Wednesday, and those on machines every alternate Saturday evening. It is expected that volunteer lectures will occupy the alternate Saturday evenings.

The Board would again call the attention of the members to the promotion, by the gift or deposit of suitable models and machinery, or by donations in money, of the course on machines. Such a course as cannot fail to be useful as well as interesting has been sketched out by the lecturer on that branch, Franklin Peale, Esq. the completion of which must, in a great degree, depend upon the liberality of the members of the Institute. To those who have already come forward with subscriptions the Board return their acknowledgments. The better accommodation of the Drawing school, to which the

Board has already alluded, is calculated to increase the popularity of that important school. The English evening school of the Institute, will be opened on Monday evening, October 15th, in the eastern room on the third floor of the hall. This school will be, as last year, under the charge of Seth Smith, Esq. It is hoped that the patronage of the members of the Institute, will be freely extended to this school; the qualifications of the teacher, and the highly creditable manner in which the system of his school was carried forward during the last year entitle him to their entire support.

The inquiries in practical science undertaken by the Institute are continued. The report of the committee on water wheels has, as far as the experimental part is concerned, been nearly completed, and that of the committee on the explosions of steam boilers is in progress. The branch of the investigations of the latter committee connected with the strength of materials, is steadily progressing. Many of the members have been present at a portion of the experiments, and have perceived the extent of labour which has been undertaken: time and great perseverance on the part of the committee are required to accomplish all the objects within the scope of the inquiries.

The diploma of membership has been prepared, and the insertion of the names of members is all that is wanting to make it ready for delivery.

Respectfully submitted.

WILLIAM HAMILTON, Actuary.

ISAAC B. GARRIGUES, Chairman.

ANALYSIS OF THE REPORT, &c. ON STEAM CARRIAGES.

Report on Steam Carriages by a Committee of the House of Commons

of Great Britain. With the minutes of Evidence, and Appendix. Reprinted by order of the House of Representatives of the United States. (1832.)

The next witness examined was Richard Trevithick, the individual who, with Evans, first brought the high pressure engine into use; the first to attempt locomotion on rail-roads by the mere adhesion of the wheels to the rails. Trevithick informs us that he has for many years resided out of England, and indeed his testimony fully shows this, his ideas in relation to the high pressure engine being those of twenty years since: he gravely contends that every time the elasticity of steam is doubled a saving of seventy-five per cent. in fuel is made! he is full of a new project of a safe and most economical boiler, which he describes, and which he supposes will replace every other, whether used by water or by land, in ships or in fishing boats, in stationary or locomotive engines, on rail-roads or on turnpikes, for manufactures or for agriculture.

There are some interesting points in Mr. Trevithick's testimony, which, together with the description of his boiler, we give below.