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:BETHESDA.

DENBIGH. I

I FESTINIOG.-I

MACHYNLLETH. I

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MACHYNLLETH. I THE PATENT LIFE PRESERVING APPARATUS Great disippointtneiif-was experienced1 by the inhabi- tants of Abcrdovey, the-other day. owing to the non- appearance at the enterpnsing navigator,, who purposed making an arpatic excursion of several1 miles in a newly- patented apparatus intended for saving-life during ship- wrecks and other casualities to whicfciso- large a number of our sea-giat islanders are exported. Our readers at Aberdovey, and other plices on the- intended route of the enterprising patentee will have tbotr disappointment m-xlified when they are informed thafeif the- experiment was not a perfect success it was by mo-means a perfect failure; and we hive reason to belitve- that the good folks who were disappointed, will shortly have another opportunity of' witnessing the compete success of the experiment, which all pbilanthropiste; informed of its object.s, will anticipate with interest, and accent to the ingeuious contriver their hearty sympathies and earnest wishes for success. THe mechanician,. who has essayed a task. so difficult, is Mr. John Rèes, watmmaker, Machynlleth; and he has like many other sanguine and spirited experimen- talist?,devoted1 atarge-proportion of his- leisone time in devising, improving, and endeavouring to perfect an ap- paratus, which-if successfully complied, moot. be con- sidered a desideratum of no ordinary diameter among the sloilful and multifarious: contrivances which moderrningeniiay has suggested,.in orcler to save life and mitigate physical sufferings.. The apparatus referred to, without attempting to-give a. full technical explanation of it, msy be described as-consisting of a, water proof covering forthe body, t!io elasticity of which is materially enhanced by air tubes,- which cap be in- inflated at the, weazefs pleasure. It is, light, 60 as to render it essy of transifc'j: and it can be compressed into a sniall compass so -as to facilitate that 'object. It caii,be rmdily a(ijiistecl;and is so buoyant that the wearer fibats in a semi-reenmbent position, par- tially on his back, at ease upon tha-watery pillow upon which he reclines his head, if wearied by aiJong voyage. Beneath the back, ia an inflated aimpsuch, which is, we presume the chief cause of the buoyancy- of the dress. It may be compared in appearance, to the illustration in Pilgrim's Progress, of Christian, with his iunrden on his shoulders: only-it is one lighter to be borne. It is provided with- propellors, to saeure rapid locomotion through the water, when the wc-arer is disposed to make progress his.speed being regelated by his own exer- tioils. Mr. Rees foJt so satisfied with, the- result of his la- hour, and that it was adapted ffir the purposes intended, that he determined boldly to exhibit its. merits and de- fects to the public, and that imbroad daylight, on their own favourite water. He publicly announced his no- vel experiment by means of placards throughout the district. The peculiarity and! importance of the experi- ment of our determined fellow-townsman, induced a number of spectators to post themsetres on various po. sitions aloflg the banks of the river from Machynlleth to Aberdovey. Lady Vane, Lady Edwards, and a number of the principal inhabitants of the district were present on the occasion, as they felt much,intorested in the result. Mr. RefS, having equipped himself in his ingenious ha- biliments, launched himself boldly on the clear waters of the Dovey, which ran, at that time pretty rapidly. He floated along in good style,, apparently with facility and comfort, and proceeded) for some short distance with ap- parent confidence in his handiwork, as well as in his safety. He was loudly cheered and applauded by the spectators; but unhappily he appeared to have lost his self-possession, which was probably caused by his anxiety, and his fimTuig hiinselt in an element to which he is by no means, accustomed, being an indifferent swimmer. He accordingly altered his plan to proceed' to Aberdovey, andi lbuded. for the purpose of transferring his apparatus to an adept, who. was more accustomed to. the treacherous element. An amphibious animal—a. fisherman in tha- neighbourhood, named David Ellis, next donned the magic garment, plunged in, and pro. ceeded along at a glorious rate, paddling away like some sea monster of uuknown genus, and no doubt strik- ing the fish with consternation at such a bold invasion of their element. The fisherman continued his eourse gaily for about a, mile, when, by some means, he turned on his faoo, instead of maiutaining the luxuriant semi- recumbent position, and at this juncture, some-defect was evidently apparent in the apparatus. He, however, regained the shore, without evincing much, incon- venienee so that our readers at Aberdovey and else- where, have now a full explanation, and we trust a satis- factory one, too, of the reasons why they were unable to satisfy their curiosity in viewing the advent of the bold navigator, who fully proposes to pay them an early vi- sit when be has modified his complicated contrivance. We understand that a portion of the waterproof fabric was manufactured at Manchester, from designs prepared by Mr. Reas, who has expended much time and money in ùringiug his patent to its present state of perfection. The price of the dress, when manufactured, will be about £10 or 9 15. Earl Vane and several gentleman in the neighbourhood, have consented to purchase a suit each, if it should prove the tiling it is intended to be, namely, an effective life preserver. Mr Rees informs us of an ingenious magistrate, in the county of Glamorgan, who was most passionately ad- dicted to the gentle piscatorial craft, and who found in his rambles that rivers barred his progress. To remedy this evil, he devoted his constructive faculties to supply a convenience when placed iu such predicaments. His persevering labours resulted in the production of an In- dia-rubber paletot or light cloak, which in rough weather protected him from wind and i-ain, and which oould be slmi" over his shoulder by a strap in fine weather. When inflated, this paletot was distended into a boat, which he used in crossing rivers, paddling himself with his hands. We oan hope with the author of John Gilpin, under other novel cirouwstance, that whoa Mr. Rees doaa next ride that way (Dovey) may wa be there to m.

I '-LLANFECHELL.

I _.PWLLHELI.-

I ST. ASAPH.__I

CAENARYON. I

I LLANRWST. I

PENtREYOELAS.

PORTMADOC.

I '. eitthin..

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I..,$Ililllliltij ntcTli!JCltct.I

t ami £,!\tt'$.

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