perpendicular. If the pieces S be not put on, it will be found that the stroke of the levers has a tendency to drive the sides of the cistern inwards. The hose is attached at T, where a universal joint may be placed, if thought necessary. U in fig. 2 is a box for carrying the director, &c. of the engine, the coils of hose being strapped on, before and behind. The coupling-screws being alike, the hose apply equally to the large or to smaller engines.

The axle of the carriage is made with a crank, as shown in figs. 3 and 4, plate 5, and, instead of the carriage being made fast on the axle in the usual way, it has two wooden bushes placed underneath the cheeks, which play on journals turned on the crank of the axle. This mode of attaching the carriage to the axle in some measure serves the purpose of springs, as when the wheels encounter any obstacle on the road, the carriage swings forward, and thus saves the engine from the sudden jar which it would otherwise receive. At the points V there is a forelock, for the purpose of keeping the engine on the carriage when in motion. When the engine is to be used, the forelock at V is opened, the pole X is raised until the back end of the carriage touches the ground. The two handles next the pole are then taken hold of by two men, who thus raise up the end of the engine from the carriage, which is then withdrawn, and the engine set on the ground, the shafts being put into the eyes at the extremity of The engine is mounted on the carriage by reversing this movement.

the lever.

The weight of one of these engines without its carriage is 4 cwt. The jet thrown by them attains very nearly the same height as that thrown by the larger engines; but the quantity of water at the same rate of working, is 32 gallons per minute, instead of 41. This size of engine requires 8 men to work the pumps.

The whole of the brass work of an engine should be of the best gun-metal, composed of copper and tin only. Yellow brass should never be used; even at first it is far inferior to gun-metal, and after being used for some time it gets brittle. The whole of the iron work should be of the best foreign iron. Having thus shortly described the construction of a fire-engine, the next point is as to the manner of keeping such engines in good order.

When it is considered that their being in an unserviceable state when called out, arises more frequently from the want of care in this particular than from any damage they may have received in actual service, or by the wearing out of the materials, it is quite plain that this important part of the duty, has not generally had that degree of attention paid to it which it deserves.

Although an engine were to be absolutely perfect in its construction, if carelessly thrown aside after being brought home from a fire, and allowed to remain in that state till the next occasion, it would be in vain (especially in small towns, where alarms are rare) to expect to find it in a serviceable condition; some of the parts must have grown stiff, and, if

brought into action in this state, something is likely to give way.

When an engine is brought back from a fire it ought to be immediately washed, the cistern cleaned out, the barrels and journals cleaned, and fresh oil put on them, the wheels greased, and every part of the engine carefully cleaned and examined, and, if any repairs are needed, they should be executed immediately. When all this has been attended to, clean hose should be put in, and the engine is again fit for immediate service. Besides this cleaning and examination after use, the engine ought to be examined and the brass parts cleaned once a-week, and worked with water once a month, whether it has been used or not.

In addition to the keeping of the engine always in an effective state, this attention has the advantage of reminding the men of their duty, and making them familiar with every part of the mechanism of the engine; thus teaching them effectually how the engines ought to be protected when at work, by enabling them to discover those parts most liable to be damaged, and to which part damage is the most dangerous. It is more troublesome generally to get the engines well kept when there are no fires, than when there are many. But the only effectual method of inducing the men to keep them in good order, in addition to the moral stimulants of censure and applause, is to fine roundly those who have the charge of them, for the slightest neglect.

In working the engines the utmost care should be taken to use them gently, as they are more frequently damaged by the furious and reckless manner in which they are worked, than by accidents, or the failure of any part of the machinery. When the engine has been properly placed; before beginning to work, the fore-carriage should be locked. This is done by putting an iron pin through a piece of wood attached to the cistern, into the forecarriage. This prevents the wheels from turning round, and coming under the shafts, by which the latter might be damaged, and the hands of the men at work injured.

Small stones, gravel, and other obstructions, sometimes find their way into the nozle of the director or branch-pipe, from having dropped into the hose before being attached, or having been drawn through the suction-pipe, or from the cistern. Whenever the engine is found to work stiffly, it should be stopped and examined, otherwise the pressure may burst the hose, or damage some part of the engine. If any thing impedes the action of the valves, the pistons must be drawn, and if a person's hand be then introduced, they may easily be cleared,-constant care and attention to all the minutiae of the engine and apparatus being absolutely indispensable, if effective service be expected from them.

Considerable attention ought to be paid to the selecting a proper situation for an engine-house. Generally speaking, it ought to be central, and on the highest ground of the district it is meant to pro

tect, and care should be taken to observe when any of the streets leading from it are impassable.

If, in addition to these advantages, the enginehouse can be had adjoining to a police watch-house, it may be considered nearly perfect, in so far as regards situation. These advantages being all attained, the engine can be conveyed to any particular spot by a comparatively small number of men, while the vicinity of a police watch-house affords a facility of communicating the alarm of fire to the firemen, not to be obtained otherwise. When the enginehouse is placed in a low situation, the men who first arrive, must wait till the others come forward to assist them to drag the engine up the ascent, and many minutes must thus be lost, at a time when moments are important.

After choosing a proper situation for the enginehouse, the next care should be directed towards having it properly ventilated, as nothing contributes more to the proper keeping of the engines and hose than fresh and dry air. For this purpose, a stove should be fitted up, by which the temperature

may be kept equal. When engines are exposed to violent alternations of heat and cold, they will be found to operate very considerably on the account for repairs, besides occasioning the danger of the engine being frozen and unserviceable when wanted.

There ought to be at least half a dozen keys for each engine-house, which should be kept by the firemen, watchmen, and those connected with the