Hodgson' s Parabolic Propeller in Holland. 157

p~.oportionate number of other apartments; and in the basement story, tap- rooms and refreshment-rooms for servants and other persons.

The construction of this building entirely of stone, would, in any other locality, be attended with enormous expense; but the county of Northum- berland affords such an abundant supply of the finest freestone, that this material becomes there not only by far the most durable, but really the least expensive. Ibib. Dec. 184S.

Th.e Conway Tubular Bridge.

On Thursday week the second tube was floated on pontoons to the piers. Its entire length is 424 feet, the actual span over the Conway being 400 feet; its greatest inside width is 14 feet throughout; its height 22~ ibet at each end, but rising to 25 feet in the middle, the additional three feet being given to lessen the deflexion of the bases. The total weight of each tube is 1300 tons, so that the superimposed weight, now that the two tubes are at rest over the Conway, is 2600 tons burthen from bank to bank. The fabric may be said to tbrm a series of iron plates riveted together, like armor-work. It has taken twelve months to complete. Each tube has cost about ~60,000. Lond. Build., Oct. 1848.

Thames Tunnel.

The number of passengers who passed through the Tunnel in the week ending October 7, was 15,947; amount of money, .£66 8s. 1 ld. Ibid.

Hodgson's Parabolic Propeller in Holland,

It is now more than four years since this propeller was patented in Eng- land, and some very successful trials made with it on the Thames. How it has since fallen into neglect in this country, we know not; but certain it is, that it has, in the meanwhile, attained to high honor among a neig'a- boring peopl e and seems likely to supersede with them the use of the screw. We subjoin a translation of the official report made by a commis- sion of Dutch naval officers, appointed to superintend a series of experi- mental trials of this form of propeller; also a statement of its subsequent performances in his Netherland Majesty's steam-ship Samarang; and, lastly, an estimate of its capabilities as compared with other propellers, deduced from the data as obtained:

1. O~cial ReTort of Comraission of Dutch Naval Officers, on Hodgson's 8team Propeller.

In pursuance of the order of his Excellency, the Minister of the Navy, sundry, experimental trips were made with his Majesty's steam-ship Sama- rang, m presence of the undersigned parties, who were united in a com- mission for that object, in order to compare several different submerged propellers.

Of the said experimental trips, which were made in smooth water, and got.. XVII,--TaInD 8Es~zs.--No, 3.---Manes, 1849. 14