IN an article in this Number of our Journal, on Life-boat Carriages, we have explained the importance of providing as far as possible for the speedy transport of a life-boat along the shore; so that she might, on the occur- rence of a wreck, be launched from that part of the beach which might be nearest to it, or which might be most advantageous for effecting a communication with it.

As, however, at the majority of places where life-boats are stationed the beach is formed of sand more or less soft, or of loose shingle, and as the boats themselves are necessarily of a heavy description, their speedy transit is often a matter of great difficulty, and not unfrequently an impossi- bility, requiring, in some instances, eight or ten horses to proceed at a walking pace.

[An invention has£ however recently been brought to perfection, and patented£which has in a great measure overcome this diffi- culty, and) which we think we may fairly characterize as one of the most ingenious of modern times. This invention, which is the production of Mr. J. BOYDELL, an engineer of experience and great practical ingenuity, is no less than an endless railway, which, attached to the wheels' of any vehicle, enables it to travel on its iron way over the softest sand or shingle; over rough, uneven, or stony ground, or mud; up hill and down dale, and even over considerable obstacles, such as a large stone or the trunk of a moderately-sized tree, lying in its way.

We feel no doubt that this extraordinary invention will be most extensively and pro- fitably employed for agricultural purposes, such as to carts for drawing heavy loads over soft or wet ground, or for carrying off timber when cut down; since it both effects an immense saving of labour, and also pre- vents the ground travelled over from being cut up by ruts, as is the case with ordinary wheels.

It has already been successfully used, attached to a locomotive steam-engine, for ploughing, drawing several ploughs after it at one and the same time. The point of view, however, under which it comes before us, is its applicability to the conveyance of life-boats; and we do conceive, from the trials we have already witnessed of it, that it will prove an incalculable advantage in that respect, and will be thus indirectly the means of saving many human lives.

The apparatus of the railway may be thus briefly described. A series of flat wards, six in number, plated with iron on both sides, and each equal in length to the radius of the wheel, and from 10 to 16 inches wide, are loosely attached round the felloe of the wheel, in such a manner that ;hey are earned round with it as it revolves, and each in succession is laid flatly on the ground in front of it, and lifted again in its rear, as soon as passed over. On the inner surface of these boards, or on that next the circumference of the wheel, an iron rail or tramway is fixed, upon which the tyre of the wheel runs; the boards thus correspond- ing to the sleepers of an ordinary railway, so that the wheels fitted with this apparatus carry their own rails and sleepers with them, laying down a literally endless railway whenever they are set in motion.") With the help of diagrams, with the plates of which we have been kindly furnished by Messrs. BOYDELL and GLASIER, we.will endeavour to explain more in detail the character of this very clever invention, which we recommend to the notice of all proprie- tors of life-boats, and to any of our agri- cultural friends who may honour these pages with their perusal.

Figure 1, shows a wheel fitted with the endless railway.

Figure 2, elevation of one of the shoes, being sleeper and rail combined.

Figure 3, ground-plan of the same.

a, figs. 1, 2, and 3, the rail on which the periphery of the wheel works.

6, figs. 1, 2, and 3, the sleeper, or float, on which the rail is affixed.

c, figs. 1, 2, and 3, the front projection of the sleeper beyond the rail, which acts on going up hill as the toe of the foot.

d, figs. 1, 2, and 3, the back projection, which acts like the heel.

e, in fig. 2, guide-bars affixed to sleeper by a side joint, which represent the ankle; the outside of these bars being shaped to the spring of the cycloidal line which the wheel describes.

f, fig. 1, the stops which regulate the descent of the heel of the sleeper, and compensate for the difference between the diameter and circumference of the circle (being as 7 to 22); each rail in length being equal to the radius of the wheel.

g, fig. 2, cycloidal bars or guides, with a pin at the apex by which the shoe is picked up and put dow.n in the course of working.

h, fig. 1, female guides made for the cylindrical bars to work in, which keep the shoes in position, and support them when carried round by the wheel: they consist of front and back; the latter being circled, so as to prevent the pins of the cycloidal bars from getting on the wrong side the guides in their working, and forming a hanging point for the shoes when- lifted up. These guide-plates are se- cured to the felloes of the wheel, and the shoes can be taken off and put on at pleasure.

The shoes act entirely independently of each other, and change their position at the top and bottom of the wheel, as will be seen by reference to fig. 1, the heel falling over soon after passing the top by the gravity of the shoe; thus, as each shoe comes to the bottom of the wheel, the heel is ready to receive it just as it has passed over the preceding shoe; the shoe being quite stationary whilst the wheel passes over it, and forming a complete continuous railway. The friction, depending only upon the weight of the machinery, is not increased by the load, and consequently a heavy load .is carried at a greater proportionate advan- tage than a light one; the draught of loaded carriages upon common wheels over soft ground increases in a compound ratio in proportion to the weight of the load, but it is not so with the endless railway.

It is necessary to observe, that the speed at which wheels fitted with the endless rail- way will travel, and preserve the regularity of their action, depends on the size of the wheels, and is about one mile an hour to each foot diameter of the wheel.* We are given to understand that a Company is about to be formed to carry out the manufacture of this useful invention, on which, it is said, the in- ventor has already expended 10,000/. to bring it to its present state of perfection.