variety in Bray Head, and when other quarries nearer Dublin shall societies, on favourable terms, all publications connected with Educa
be wrought deeper, more cleavable varieties may be obtained. tion, Science, Literature, and the Arts, also Parliamentary Papers; Upwards of £8,000 worth of Welsh stones were brought into to encourage such societies to establish classes for instruction in Dublin in 1857 and 1858, at 14s. 6d. per ton, on the Quays, adding elementary education, and prepare students as candidates for certi carriage, 8d. per ton, makes 15s. 2d. per ton on the streets; these ficates of the R. D. Society.” stones are a soft, cleavable species of green whinstone, which will “From the bodies in union the R. D. Society requires copies of wear smooth and become dangerous after a few years. all reports and proceedings and lists of members, committee, &c. to In Dublin, if the best pavement be required, nothing can be be furnished to it; a yearly payment of £2 2s. as long as the union better than close-grained granite from the interior rock, cut into continues; and the president or one other council member to be a sets, five inches broad, half an inch asunder, and any length from member of R. D. Society, &c., &c.” 9 inches to 16 inches.
But considering that the streets are constantly opened in Dublin for gas and water purposes, Miltown limestone is good enough, quite as good as the Welsh sets which cost double the price-let the streets be brought into section, and paved with small boulder
or pebble pavement, well rammed, then lay on an inch or two of concrete, upon which place your limestone sets, half an inch or
inch apart, each set being an oblong block, 6 inches deep, 3 inches broad, and 8 to 12 inches long, with the interstices grouted with ground lime and sharp sand; and this pavement will be found as
INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS OF IRELAND.
A MEETING of this body was held on 14th ult.; Mr. B. Mullin, presi dent, in the chair. Mr. Anderson read a paper on “beam and girder bridges,” being in continuation of papers read at previous sessions. The author exhibited several colored diagrams, and a beauti ful model lattice beam, lent by Professor Downing, of Trinity College, for the occasion. Mr. Anderson paid a tribute to the abilities dis played by Professor Blood, Mr. Bower, Mr. J. Barton, and Mr. Stoney, who assisted him in his investigations. An interesting discussion followed, in which the president, Messrs. Mallet, Stoney, and Bower
durable as the Welsh pavement—better because rougher—at half the cost; and all the money spent in Dublin or its immediate vicinity, giving employment at home, where labour is plentiful and work scarce, keeping our labourers out of the workhouse, and so lessen joined. ing the rates, instead of giving employment in Wales, and lessen ing the rates there. We shall revert to this subject more in extenso hereafter.
ARCHITECTURAL PROGRESS IN BELFAST.
WE were much struck, on the occasion of a late visit, with the aumerous additions to the architectural features of this town; the
The Dublin Corporation Paving Committee has advertised for commercial establishments especially being noteworthy for taste, originality, and excellence of design—amongst which we may par 18,000 tons of broken whinstone, ticularize Hawkins', Lindsay's, Arnott's, and Mackenzie's ware 15,000 tons of broken limestone, houses, without disparagement to many others also. Unlike Dublin 12,000 tons of round shingle and footway pebble. street architecture, there is a uniformity in the ranges, a boldness in the treatment, a lesser display of hackneyed features in the lower portions, and a more careful preservation of harmony in style
AFFILIATION OF SOCIETIES WITH THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY.
WITH few exceptions, the attempts hitherto made to establish in
Ireland—on anything like a permanent basis, capable of reflecting both credit on the promoters, and of extending benefits to the commu nity at large—associations of a scientific or artistic character, have proved comparative failures; and even at the present time there are some which, despite the energy and enthusiasm of some of their members in endeavouring to fulfil the objects of their mission, ex
perience a difficulty in drawing on bare existence. Why it is so? is a subject in itself, embracing too many important causes, to pass over cursorily, so we deferentering on it at present. For such, how ever, and for others of kindred character, but greater independence and more permanent establishment, a golden opportunity now presents itself—both of adding to their stability, enlarging their educational resources, and contributing to the mental improvement of their fellows, in the invitation of the Royal Dublin Society— that bountiful dispenser of gifts in all that relates to science and art—to come and participate with it share aud share alike the innumerable advantages to be derivable from its unremitting labours, during a period extending over a century and a-half. It is no small favour for a parent Institution like this, compre hending such a galaxy of talent amongst its professors and members —such a magnificent collection of instruction and entertaining materiel in its library, museums, galleries, and gardens, thus volun tarily and disinterestedly to open them all freely to others not of its own constitution, rejoicing, as it always has done, to lend a helping hand to those earnestly pursuing their way in the path of progress. Tardy as kindred societies may have been up to the present of avail ing themselves of the proffered advantages, we doubt not but they will speedily awake to the desirability of doing so; and for general information we append particulars of the chief heads of the arrange ment whereby it is intended to carry out this excellent scheme, and
we shall feel much pleasure in chronicling the names of each society applying to participate. As yet we can but mention the Dublin Statistical Society and the Dublin Photographic Society. “The theatre or other apartment to be at the service of associated societies on the same evening as the Royal Dublin Society shall hold its meetings; and the members of both bodies to be permitted to attend.” “Members of either societies attending evening meetings are to contribute sessionally 5s. towards a common refreshment fund; and members so paying, to be entitled to purchase for friends an un limited number of tickets at 6d. each.”
“Members of associated so
between upper and lower storeys.
The materials of the neighbour
hood, doubtless, contribute to the effect of the toute ensemble; red brick walling and Scrabo stone or Portland cement dressings, cor nices, &c., being predominant, producing a warmth of colour and a contrast very pleasing and artistic. Plate glass, of large dimensions, is coming into general use, and an example worthy of being fol lowed is set in the extreme cleanliness and tasteful dressing of the shop windows. Many public buildings are in progress, but as their importance demands special notice, we defer entering into particulars until a future opportunity.
TURKISH BATHS IN IRELAND.
THE introduction of the “Oriental Hot-air Bath” into Ireland, and more especially the recent project of new buildings to be specially constructed for the purpose at Lincoln-place, Dublin, and subse quently at Bray—as designed by Sir John Benson for Mr. Dargan having caused a considerable amount of interest and curious inquiry respecting their principle, we subjoin the following extracts from a valuable paper read by Dr. Haughton at the Royal Dublin Society:— “Two objections are made to the use of the oriental baths; the first, that they are unsuitable to this climate, and the second, that
they consumed a great deal of time in taking them, and, therefore, could not be generally resorted to in a mercantile community. In order to show how groundless are these suppositions, I shall lay before you some facts which establish the adaptability of the “Hammam’ to all temperate climates; also the characteristics of the bath. That part of the bath more peculiarly eastern is the hot air chamber, discoverable amongst some of the oldest ruins, whereas the warm-water bath (such as we use) is quite a modern invention, having been never used by the Greeks at a time when they were considerably proficient in the art of bathing, and were in the habit of making it a daily practice. “Great truths, although often neglected and even sunk in oblivion, are never suffered by the Creator to be forgotten, but some one always remains to bear witness to them, and in many cases the ruins of
their ancient glory remain to declare their excellence, and reproach us with our degeneracy. The importance of physical culture, and its profound appreciation by the ancients, is one instance of this;
cieties to have free admission to the library, museum, and botanic nor does the additional cultivation now bestowed upon the faculties gardens; without permission to borrow books, introduce visitors, or of the mind, at all exempt us from the evil consequences resulting make use of conversation room.” “One member (at least) of council from neglect of the grosser part of our nature. I may mention a of associated societies to be a member of Royal Dublin Society.” “To few out of many countries where an inquiring mind may find afford mutual assistance to each other in extending the usefulness sermons in stone and mortar on this subject, and convince itself and improve the position of the entire body; to obtain for affiliated that the salutary practice of bathing always has been, and still is,
