somewhat resembling in outward form the common hand presses of that time, but the other very similar to the machines now in general use. In both these machines, which he describes as being applicable to printing books, paper-hangings, calico, linen, silk, &c., he proposes to make use of cylindrical instead of surface pressure, and to derive his motive power from wind, water, steam, or animal strength. Although Mr. Nicholson published the details of his process with drawings of the requisite machines, he was not successful in getting his inven tion generally adopted by the trade. His numerous pursuits, combined with the sudden death of his patron Lord Camelford, in all probability prevented his bestowing that constant application so necessary to establishing a new invention. Some years afterwards, one Herr König, a German, who had been unable to obtain any support on the Continent, came over to this country with the idea of applying steam, as the moving power, to common presses, which by his plan should acquire accelerated speed, and at the same time dispense with the employment of the man who inks the types. Three enter prising printers, Messrs. Bensley, sen., R. Taylor, and G. Woodfall, liberally supplied the necessary capital to the ingenious foreigner. After spending several years in fruitless experiments to reduce his ideas to practice, König abandoned this scheme and turned his attention to cylindrical machine printing, the practicability of which, as we have before stated, Mr. Nicholson had demonstrated in 1790. Two or three years of renewed exertion passed away, and finally a small machine was produced by König, capable of working 1,000 impressions per hour, and requiring only the superintendence of two boys. This machine was set to work in April, 1811, and 3,000 copies of part of the "New Annual Register" was printed by this means. This machine proving successful, it was considered practicable so to extend its principles and capabilities as to print a newspaper. As the accomplishment

of this object was highly desirable, the late Mr. Walters, proprietor of the "Times" newspaper, was shown the machine already erected, and also made acquainted with the contemplated improvements. The result was, that an agreement was entered into with that gentleman, for the erection of two larger machines, for printing his journal, which at once brought the merits of the invention into general notice. On the 28th of November, 1814, the readers of the "Times" newspaper were informed that they were, for the first time, perusing a paper printed by the application of steam power.

These machines were necessarily of a very complicated construction, and it may suffice to say that each consisted of a number of cylinders, which so revolved as to carry the sheets of paper, through the agency of a number of tapes and wheels, placed between them and the types on the surface of the table, which constantly moved backwards and forwards, receiving in turn the ink from the inking rollers, and impressing its form on the paper subjected to its influence. Each of these machines was only capable of printing one side of the newspaper, and the sheets thus half printed by the one were perfected, as it is technically termed, by the other. The performance of these machines was in every way satisfactory, so far as they went; but they were shortly afterwards greatly improved upon, at least in the simplicity of their construction, by Messrs. Applegarth and Cowper, who were, at the time of König's invention, at the head of one of the most considerable typographical establishments in the metropolis. Their principle was much the same as that of König's, but they did away with many of the intricate parts, removing at one stroke forty superfluous wheels, and making the machine altogether more simple, available, and permanent. These gentlemen, having patented their improvements, erected a new machine for the "Times," which cost the proprietor of that newspaper £3,000.

The next improvement was the construction of a perfecting machine by König, for Messrs. Bensley, which delivered the sheet of paper printed on both sides. This double, or perfecting machine, threw off from 800 to 900 sheets per hour, worked on both sides; while the single, or non-perfecting machine, delivered in the same space of time from 1,300 to 1,400 sheets printed only on one side.

Messrs. Donkin and Bacon in 1818 obtained a patent for a most ingenious but complex machine, which claims the merit. of being the first to print with the types arranged upon a horizontally revolving cylinder, instead of being placed on a fixed table as in other machines. Although the fundamental principle of this invention was found objectionable, one great point was gained, namely, the introduction of the composition inking rollers, which were first applied to this machine, and immediately superseded those covered with leather which were used by König.

After this came Mr. Napier, one of that distinguished family whose scientific abilities and attainments we have before had to notice, and which have secured to them a reputation wide as the extent of civilization. He still further simplified

the printing machine, and secured the more easy, certain, and excellent working of the formes.

Some years after the erection of Cowper and Applegarth's machine at the "Times" office, the increased circulation of the "leading journal" rendered more rapid means of printing its daily number highly necessary. This demand was satisfied by Mr. Augustus Applegarth, who skilfully and ingeniously combined in one leviathan machine four of the single or nonperfecting machines, all being simultaneously driven by steam. In this machine, which prints the "Times" at the present day (May, 1848), there are four places at which to feed it with paper, four printing cylinders, and four places at which the sheets are delivered when printed; the combined action of these four auxiliaries producing from 4,350 to 4,500 sheets per hour, printed on one side.

It may be observed as a somewhat remarkable fact that the periodical inefficiency of the "Times" printing machines, to supply its almost incredible circulation with sufficient promptitude, is the cause of every progressive step in the improvement of printing machinery. At the time we write the machine just described, which for years has been considered a typographical wonder, is found incompetent to supply the increased demand for the "Times" newspaper. We understand Mr. Applegarth is again engaged in constructing a new machine to print from 8,000 to 10,000 sheets per hour. The principle totally differs from all the machines we have been describing, inasmuch as the types are piled up one upon another, laterally, round a large cylinder which revolves in a perpendicular position instead of in an horizontal one, as was the case with Donkin and Bacon's machine. The sheets of paper are supplied edgeways in an upright position, something like what you would adopt to pass sideways through a tall narrow entrance; while in the ordinary machines, to carry out the common-place simile we have adopted, the sheets are supplied

horizontally, as you would pass on your stomach through an aperture which, from its diminutive height, is only capable of admitting you in a recumbent position.

It is however greatly doubted, by skilful engineers, whether the principle of Mr. Applegarth's new machine will be found. to work with sufficient perfection when thoroughly tested.

In concluding this article, we feel much pleasure in recording Mr. Little's invention of the Double Action Printing Machine, for working daily newspapers at a speed varying from 10,000 to 12,000 copies per hour, while the average rate of production of the Four Cylinder Fast Machines at present in use is not more than 4,500 per hour.

The principle of the Double Action Machine being the solution of a problem which the most scientific machinists had hitherto considered impossible, our young readers would only be puzzled were we to present them with too minute a description of its construction; we shall therefore confine ourselves to explaining its advantages, by comparing it with one of the present Fast Machines, working with four cylinders, two of which constantly revolve in one direction, while the remaining two move unceasingly in an opposite direction. With this machine only two sheets of paper can receive an impression from the forme of type with each passage of the table on which the type is placed. The reason of this is, the cylinders which cause the impression must always travel in the same direction as the table. Thus, while two of the cylinders are occupied in giving impressions, the other two are waiting the return of the table, so that the machine produces two printed sheets with every forward, and two with every backward motion of the type, making four in all. Now the Double Action Machine works with eight cylinders, six of which have a reversing motion, by which they print first forwards and then backwards. This machine produces seven printed sheets with every passage of the table on which the forme of type is placed, just the same as in the Four Cylinder