Sessional papers online

world; but, before consulting his Majesty's wishes, it would
certainly not be quite proper to commence such a work,
and I therefore think the affair had better be deferred
till you come to town, when we may hold a little consul-
tation on it ; I confess I am very anxious to see it done.
We some time ago became acquainted with an Italian,
who, in consequence of some troubles, was obliged to
leave his country, and, though quite uneducated in the
arts^ has taken to modelling. His works are not copied
from, nor his style founded on the antique, but his repre-
sentations of common nature, particularly brigand scenes,
in small groups and single figures, are so wonderfully
finished, that they have surprised all who have seen them,
and exhibit a power of working small things with a nicety
that merits a better fate than he has at present — namely,
selling them wherever he can find a chance purchaser*
He was introduced to us by the Prince Cimetili, with a
request that we would do all we could for him, and which
we have endeavoured to do by reconunending his figures
to purchasers. Now he does not model in our way, nor
do we require such a person, but it has struck me that
he may answer your purpose, if you are in want of a
neat modeller. I have not seen him lately, as I have
been out of town, but I dare say I can easily find him if
you think you will like to try him. I am sorry to say
preparations are being made for the sale of Lord De Tab-
ley's (I. J. Leicester) collection of pictures. The season
is so far advanced, and so many people are already gone
away, that it is feared the sale will not be as productive as



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could be wished, either for the family or for the works 18ii7.
to be sold ; it will be hard to see some of the best works
of the English school knocked down for a mere nothing,
the consequence of choosing a bad and poor time of year
for disposing of them. May I beg yon to present my
best compliments to Mrs. Thomason, and accept my
thanks again for your attention to me during my short
stay in Birmingham.

" I am, dear Sir,

" Yours faithfully,

** My father begs his compliments.**

" Paris, English Embassy, 12th August, 182?.
^•Sir,

'^ Mons. Barruel, who was present at Krmingham
when Dr. Hamel from Petersburgh showed yon a speci-
men of a late French invention, called the Mairie
Metalltque, which has produced here rery great effect,
requests me to inform you that he has, after many
experiments, succeeded in discovering the process by
which those agreeable effects on metallic sur&ces are
produced, and has actually obtained better results. As
you expressed a wish to become acquainted with the
discovery to Mons. Barruel, for which you stated to him
a disposition of giving a certain sum of money, he has
directed me to say that specimens have been sent to my
ccHTcspondent, M'Garden, of Oxford Street, operative
chemist, late a partner with Accum, who wiU either
show them to any person you might commission to
examine them in London, or send you a couple of them.



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296

1697. which, in the event of not pleasing you, or your not
wishing to treat for the invention, I shall request you to
return by the coach to the same M'Garden.

^^ Mons. Barruel* considering the expenses he has
incurred in trying the various experiments for ascer-
taining the mode of producing and forming the moirSe,
and likewise the great advantage which is likely to derive
to the person who may purchase the right of patent or
the secret from him, proposes the sum of £600 for
the communication of the secret, and he will, in the
event of your agreeing to this, proceed to Dover as a
rendezvous, whither you, or any person commissioned by
you, might go; when Mons. Barruel will explain,
demonstrate, and perform the necessary operations
concerning the invention in question. M. Barruers
engagements preclude him from proposing a longer
voyage.

*^ If I am to speak from personal knowledge, I shall
say that, having assisted Mons. Barruel in all his experi-
ments on this subject, I found he has simplified the
process, and ameliorated the results greatly ; and also
that the application of this agreeable invention, par-
ticularly in a country where the assistance it would
derive frx>m good varnish would be so great, is likely to
become of the greatest profit in England, as it has
hitherto done in France, where a sheet of tin thus
prepared and worked, covered with varnish, is sold for
18 francs.

** I shall request you to send as early an answer to the
present as you can, there having been some proposals
made which Mons. Barruel did not think proper to
attend to until he should have heard from you, to
whom he considers to have fairly promised a preference,



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297

when at Birmingham last year, should he succeed, as he 1827.
has done, in finding out the process.

" You wiD send your answer directed to me, English
Embassy (Dr. Granville), Paris, put under cover to
Wm. Hamilton, Esq., Under Secretary of State for
Foreign Afiairs, who will forward it to me.
" I am. Sir,

" Your obedient servant,

** E. Thomason, Esq., Birmingham."

" London, Oct 1st, 1827.
" Dear Sir,

" May I beg the favour of you to give the
benefit of your notice to my eldest son, who, together
with his tutor, a Mr. Guthrie, is the bearer of this
letter, as to what is most worthy their attention during
some hours they propose spending at Birmingham.

<< I shall also be obliged to you to acquaint me if you
happen to have manufactured, or are likely soon to
manufacture, a piece of thin and embossed plate, of the
same character, and nearly the same size and value, as
one I purchased of you a few years ago. I should be
glad to meet with something of the same sort.
" I remain,

" Dear Sir,
** Your faithful and humble servant.




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I8S8. '' Wadham College, Jan. 7th, 1828.

"Sir,

" I cannot permit a poet to leave Oxford without
making it the hearer of my very hest thanks for your
splendid and instructive present The medals are
indeed well worthy of the place they have obtained
among the ornaments of Windsor Castle, and cannot but
raise still higher the character of your manufactory,
already celebrated as it is wherever the arts are valued
and understood.

" Since I experienced your courtesy at Birmingham,
I have often regretted, and almost complained, that
neither you nor any part of your family have afforded
me the opportunities I desired of becoming your host at
Wadham. Considering that Oxford is in your direct
road to London, I will not despair of being more fortu-
nate hereafter. I have the same fault to find with our
friend Mr. Richard Spooner, to whom, when you see
him, I beg you will offer my compliments.
" I have the honour to be,
"Sir,
" Your most obliged and obedient servant.



^^ ^/irz.c^^^^^p-9^^^



" Edw. Thomason, Esq/'

" Bushy, 10th Jan., 1828.
"Sir,

" 1 cannot allow a moment to pass without

returning to you my best thanks for your very handsome

present that reached me last night. The selection of the

great results of this enlightened period are well judged,

and, besides giving a succinct view of the development

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299

of natuiial philosophy and the progress of sciencei are an 1828.
elegant ornament for a drawing room.

" They are trehly yaluable from their series being the
first medaUic homage paid to the coUectiye knowledge
of the age. We are anxious to receive the drawing
(improved) of the proposed medal for the Oriental
Translation Committee, in order that a faC'Simile of it
should be engraved for our title page.
" I have the honour to be,
"Sir,
" Your obedient and obliged servant,




"Drayton Manor, May 5th, 1828.
"Dear Sir,

" I have this evening received the medal,
and think you may proceed with it immediately. I shall
be in London on Friday nexty and shall rely upon your
taking care that the parcel (containing the ten medals)
will be delivered on Saturday morning ; it must be
directed to me at Mr. Dawson's, 16, Upper Grosvenor
Street.




"E. Thomason, Esq., Birmingham."

In April, Sir Robert Peel called upon me, and in-
formed me that he was desirous of having a medal
engraved of himself. The artist made a wax model of
his bust, and my die engraver engraved the dies.

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300

1888. The Obverse— a bust of Sir Robert Legend—" Sir
Robert Peel, Bart"
The Reverse — within a laurel was engraved —
♦• On the tenth of May, 1828, Sir Robert Peel met at
the house of his son, the Right Honourable Robert Peel,
in London, 50 of his children and grand children."

" Britannia Nail Works, Sept 20th, 1828.

"Dear Sir,

" On mv return from London I learned
that Mr. Spooner had declined showing the works, in
consequence of my ahsence. The mistake was occa-
sioned by my finding it necessary to have the young man
who was left in charge of the manufactory sent on to
join me in town, and I am very sorry it should have
happened. Whether I chance to be in Birmingham or
not, I have given directions to show you the little we
have worth seeing at the Britannia whenever you will
take the trouble of calling.

" A bookseller has sent me from town six copies of
Mr. Buchanan's book on steam, which he has requested
me to send, and noted in the enclosed.

** I am, with great respect, truly yours.



^/ t/C^ t/^-vlJ"""'^'^



" Edward Thomason, Esq.**

" Lodge, Eton College, Oct. 10th, 1828.
"Sir,

" I had the honour to receive, in due course

from the date of your obliging letter, the very interesting

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301

medal of which you furnished me with so very curious 1828.
a history. Knowing that I should have the pleasure of
seeing Col. Fitzclarence soon, I deferred my acknowledg-
ment till we met. Yesterday he dined with me, when,
upon my saying that your letter was most satisfactory in
every particular, except that I did not learn from it the
amount of my deht, he gave me to understand that he
destined the medal as a present to my cahinet Denon
hinted at the prototype of this very curious instance of
ahortive yanity when I made his acquaintance at Paris,
hut from delicacy I did not pursue my inquiries. Your
kindness has amply repaid me for the suppression of my
curiosity.

** I shall hope in the spring to risit Birmingham,
when I will avail myself of your permission to pay my
respects to you.

** I have the honour to he. Sir,

'* Your ohliged and faithful servant.



<M^^



" Ravenhead, 28th Oct., 1828.

** My dear Sir,

" Many, many thanks for your very kind
assistance in the plan of a nice little laboratory furnace,
with your accurate explanation, which I find on my
return home, having been absent some time, which is
the cause of my silence.

"Your obliging friend's experiments have, I appre-
hend, from the construction of the furnace, been made
on jlint glasSf which, from its composition, you know
will flux in close pots — that is, without the metal coming
in contact with the fire, which no other glass will do ;



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1828. 80 that our plate glass would never flui without coining
in contact with the flame and fire ; but, I think by
having the muffle open at both ends, and the fire passing
through it, and coming in contact with the crucible, I
should get the materials to flux. Would it be too great
a Sftvour to beg of your scientific friend to* tell me what
he esteems the best proportions of Stourbridge clay and
potsherds (which you know is the burnt clay), for glass-
house pots, and through what sieve — that is, how many
meshes in the inch in the sieve he sifts it ? Our pro-
portions are three of clay to one of potsherds, to make
our open pots to contain 16 cwt of materials— the clay
sifted through a si^ve of twelve meshes in the inch, and
the potsherds through a sieve of fourteen meshes in the
inch. Perhaps your friend may improve our proportions.
1 hope you will excuse the liberty I have taken in thus
troubling you, but I wish for information. I will copy
the plan, and return you the original by the first oppor-
tunity.

^' Mrs. Sherboume unites with me in best compliments
to Mrs. Thomason and yourself, and hope you both
continue well* Believe me,
« Dear Sir,

" Yours very sincerely.




^t^^^ey^



«E. Thomason, Esq.''



After shewing Prince Napoleon my manufactory, he
wrote the following in the visitors' book :



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£n yoyant un aussi bel etablissment, on est d'autant 1828.
plus convainca que le merite est la vraie noblesse*



In December I finisbed a series of sixteen medals, of
tbree incbes in diameter, wbicb had taken me two years
to accomplisb, and tbe public knew notbing of them until
they were completed. I fibrst laid them before my es-
teemed friend, our excellent magistrate, and celebrated
antiquarian, Mr. Hamper. See his opinion in his letter.



<' Highgate, near Birmingham,
Dec. 17th, 1828.

" My dear Sir,

" I must beg you to receive my best
thanks for the favour which you conferred upon me this
morning, in allowing me to examine the splendid series
of medals intended as a present to his Majesty. They
contain not merely a grammar, but a dictionary of the
sciences ; and I cannot help surmising that you must
have applied to your mind (while condensing the valu-
able information on each subject into the narrowest pos-
sible compass) some operating power similar to that of
Bramah's hydraulic press.

" I am confident, if you permit them to be made public,
they will be deemed one of the most useful handmaids to
science that can be found in this or any other country.
Even the uninitiated may derive great entertainment and
advantage from them.



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1828. << The Iliad in a nutshell is no longer a problem !
*^ Repeating my thanks, I remain, my dear sir,
** Yours, very faithfully.




" Edward Thomason, Esq/'

I had already struck off and finished one series in
gold plate, and, for the conTenience of his Majesty to
examine the whole without the inconvenience of turning
them over, I had them struck on one side only, thereby
making the whole thirty-two medals in number instead
of sixteen ; they were covered with glasses, and placed
into a beautiful rich morocco case. The subjects of the
medals constituted the following : —

REVERSE.



OBVERSE.

No. 1. Mechanics

2. Optics

3. Electricity

4. Hydrostatics

5. Metallurgy

6. Chemistry

7. Astronomy

8. Mineralogy

9. Chrystallography

10. Geology

11. The Mountains

12. Phrenology

13. SteamEngines — Mar-

quis of Worcester &
Capt. Savory



Mechanics
Optics
Galvanism

Hydraulics & Pneumatics
Specific Gravities
Chemistry
Astronomy
Mineralogy
Crystallography
Geology

Classification of Minerals
Phrenology

Trevethic's High Pres-
sure



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305

14. Newoomen & Bough- Perking' on the Steam 1^28.

ton's Engine

15. Watt's single, for rais- Watf s single

ing water

16. Watt's double, for driv. Wattes double, with every

ing machinery improyement

I proceeded to Windsor, and I sent my servant with
a letter to the Marquis Conyngham, informing him of
the nature of my journey from Birmingham, when his
Lordship returned me the following note : —



^n%^^ ^07^A^t</^^t^^



requests that Mr. Thomason will call upon him here as
soon as he receives this.
Windsor Castle, 29th December, 1828.

I proceeded immediately to the Castle, when Lord
Conyngham infinrmed me that his Majesty had been con-
fined to his room for two days, I had a long conversa-
tion with him on the rise and progress of the series which
I had brought with me, to pray that his Majesty would
ccmdesc^id to accept them, and I mentioned to him the
opinion of Mr. Hamper, whom Lord Conyngham knew
as a very talented magistrate. Lord Conyngham was
struck with the novelty of them, and was pleased to
say, ^ That, as they are your production, I will venture
to carry the case into his Majesty's chamber." He



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306

1828. infbrmed me that his Majesty was much pleased with the
work and that I should have his Majesty's opinion of
them through his Minister.

Ahout this time I received a present from the Mar-
quis Ginori, of Florence, a great lover of the arts, so
much so, that the Marqms and the Grand Duke of
Tuscany united in trying to establish a manufactory to
perfect, in real biscuit burnt white porcelain, copies of
the antique statues in Italy. This mode could only be
effected by clever artists first modelling the figures in china
clay, and, whilst in a soft state, to sculpture them. So
far the thing was easily accomplished, but the last and
great difficulty was the burning them without their
warping. A variety of air furnaces and cones were
tried to arrive at the wished for certainty, but it was
one of those things which could not be made to answer,
as only one, perhaps, out of five was perfect The Mar-
quis was mentioning these points to me, when on a visit
to Birmingham ; and, on his return to Florence, was so
kind as to present me with seventeen pieces, or statues,
about seven to ten inches in height, consisting of two of
the Laocoon (lest one should break in transit), and one
of each of the Apollo Belvideres, Cupid and Psyche,
the Rape of the Sabines, &c.

On the day which these arrived at my house. Sir
Benjamin Bloomfield happened to honour me with his
company at dinner. He much admired them, and there
being a duplicate of the Laocoon, I begged permission to
present it to Lady Bloomfield.

I had also the honour to receive a present from Sir
Walter Scott, Bart., of eight volumes, constituting his
poetical works. On the inner cover of the first volume was



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written, ** Edward Thomason, Esquire, Birmingham, 1828.
with the grateful respects of the author of these volumes.



Abbotsford, 1828,'



^a4!^4#



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308



OBVERSE.



MECHANICS.



If a body at rest be submitted to the action of two forces,
one of two effects must ensue ; the body must continue in a state ^
' of rest^ or move .* if at rest, the forces which act upon it are so relat-
ed as to their intensities, that they neutralise each other.
^This Science is divided into two parts — the^ri^ called Staiicsy or bodies at '
rest, — second Dynamics^ or bodies in motion.
'^The velocities of bodies Calling freely by their own weight are as the times of^
their ftilling from rest, — ^viz.

OF WINDMILLS, DIVIDIlfO THE RADIUS INTO 6 PABTS. ^



Vdodlf SpMe Ml«n Uiroofli Smm UMm tiirontb
/Stooodf. requliW. inUuUttma. lo the Uft aaoood.



3

4
5
6



Anfltwlth
UmAxIs.

720
740

77^0

830



Angl* with the Plane
ofthemoUon.

\%^

18«
16**

70



Every Machine must consist of some of the following 6 Mechanical Powers, — ^vii.

^ \it ZseveTy \$t hindy crow-bar, scissars, pincers, snuffers — 2nd kindf a door, an car,

a rudder — 3rd kind, spring tongs, spring shears.

^2ndy Wheel Sf Axle. — ^The velocity of the power is to the velocity of the weight,

as the circumference of the wheel b to the circumference of the axle.

3rdf PuUey. — To raise a great weight with a small power, as much velocity

^ is Tost as the power gained.

4(A, Inclined Plan«.—U ita lencth exceed 8 timet its perpendicular hei^t, a
^ bod? is kept from rolling down upon it by | of its weight.

6thi TFiN^.— All cutting instmments m swords, hatchets, chisels,
pUmes.
em Screw,— Am much as the drcnmference of the drde de-
'scribed by the winch handle exceeds the distance be-
tween the spirals, so mndi is the force of
the screw.



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312



OBVERSE.



OPTICS.



A Science which treats on Vision, nature of Light, and

its general properties*

Light consists of separate parts, independent of each other.

Rays of light proceed in straight lines.

Light of the Planets travels at the rate of 195,000 miles in an hour.

Light travels from the Sun to the Earth in 7 minutes.

A Ray of Light in a slanting position is reflected in passing through Water,

Alcohol, Oil, or Glass.

A Ray of Light fdling perpendicularly undergoes no refraction.

The Angle which the Ray forms with the perpendicular is called the Angle of Inci

dence. \

The Angle which the refracted Ray forms with the perpendicular is the Angle of Re-
fraction.
In Water the line of the Angle of Incidence to the line of the Angle ofRefracium

is 1.836 to 1.



i Diamond 2.755

^ Chromate of Lead 2.500

^Phosphorus 2.224

, Sulphur 2.148

.Glass 2.028



REFRACTIVE POWERS.

Garnet 1.815

Sapphire .« 1.794

Feldspar 1.764

Calcareous Spar 1.654

Sulphate of Barytes 1.647



Quartz 1.558

Castor Oil 1.490

Nitric Add 1.410

Sulphuric Acid 1.434



Alcohol

Opal

Ether



Topaf 1.640 J

Mother-of-pearl 1.658 ,
Tortoiseshell 1.591

Amber 1.547

Plate Glass 1.514 .

1^72
1.440
1.358



Human Eye, Cryst Lens
Ice



1.384



1.308



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313



REVERSE.



OPTICS.



Lentes* — A PrisiDi a Plane Glass, a Spherical Lens, a

double Convexy a Plane Convexy a double Concave, a Plane ""

Concave, a Meniscus, a Concave Convex.



The following are the best proportions Jbr Astronomical Telescopes.



^Focosoftbe
OlieetGlaM.



0.545

0.76

0.94

1.08

1.21

1.71



FocntofUie
EyOUm,

IMOHBS.

0.605

0.84

1.04

1.18

1.33

1.88



MMDuyuig

rowm,

20.

27.6

33.5

39.5

44.

62.




FocaiofUie
OlieetOlaM.



30

40

50

100

120



FoeuaofUw



2.43
3.00
3.43
3.84
5.40
5.90



2.68
3.28
3.76
4.20
5.95
6.52



108
125
140
197
216



The Angle of Refraction is equal to the Angle of Incidence, The Magnifying Power

of Glass is 150, Sapphire 250, Diamond 400.
When the Rays qfa Lens of 400 square inches are collected into 1 square inch, the

burning power is 400.
The White Light from the Sun^ or from any luminaiy body, is composed of colors,
Violetf IndigOy Blue^ Green, Yellow, Orange, Bed*
Refraction cannot be produced without producing color.

^ In Red Light the limit of microscopic Vision is the 13th million part of an
English inch, and in the Violet the 8th million part
The Speculum, by Ramage, at the Royal Observatory, is 15 inches, and
focal distance 25 feet.
The Speculum, by Sir William Herschell, 48 inches ; focal dis-
tance, 40 feet
The Speculum, by Mr. J. Herschell, 18 inches, focal
distance, 20 feet



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316



OBVERSE.



ELECTRICITY.



1st, SxcttcUion — ^nd. Attraction — Srdy RepuUion—^th, Diitri-
button — 5thy Induction — 6thy Transference.

Non-conductors, or Electrics, are Amberi Glass, Wax, Silk, Gums,^

Gems.

Conductors, or Non-electrics, are Metals, Charcoal, Water.

The Metallic Conductor at the front of the Machine is the Positive, — the one)
which holds the rubber, Negative.

Positive Electricity is a redundance of the fluid, or plus. — Negative is a deficiency, ]

or minus.

Saturating any body with the electric fluid produces no sensible change so long as the !

body is quiescent. I

A hall which has received Vitreous Electricity from Glass, attracts that which has /
received Resinous Electricity from Sealing-wax.

Bodies charged with either species, repel bodies charged with the same species, but ;
attract bodies charged with the other.

A very small shock passed through a plant destroys it.

For Conductors of Lightning, Copper is preferable to Iron,

The surface of the rubber should be coated with an amalgam of Tin,
Zinc, and Mercury, applied by means of Hog's Lard.

Electrophus, are Sulphur, Gum Lac, Sealing-wax, Pitch,
and Resin.



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317



REVERSE.



GALVANISM.



Ant two Metals produce the movements.
^ The nervous and muscukr Organs, when Galvanized, are called the Animal ^

Arc.

And that formed by the Galvanic Instrument the Excitatory Arc.

^Galvanism is not attended with those appearances of attraction and repulsion which ^

are held to be the tests of the present Electricity.
/ The two perfect Conductors are Zinc, with Silver or Copper. — The imperfect Conduc-
tors, Water, Saline or Acid Solution.
I The Zinc is excited positively ; the Silver or Copper negatively. — The Copper side I
1 communicates always with the ground.