PAPIEB.-MAGHE, is the French term for a preparation of inoistehed paper, of whiCh many *articles are maniffaclized in England, France, and Germany. 'The modes are adopted of Making articlof of this kind: 1, by glueing or pasting different. thicknesses of paper together"; 2, the substance of the paper into a pulp and pressing it into moulds. The first Mode is adopted principally for those articles, such as trays, &c., in Which is tolerably plain and flat surfaCe is to be Pro duced. Common millboard, such its forms the Covers of books, may convey scene idea of this sort of manufacture. Sheets of Strong paper are glued together, and then so Power fully pressed that the different strata of paper become as one. Slight curvatures May be given to such pasteboard when damp _by the use of and Moulds. Papier-Mache propei•ly.So Called, however' is that which is pressed into moulds in the state eta pulp. This pttlkis either Piipei-maker's pulp, or if more geneiii4 tMde of cuttings of Coarse paper boiled in wat:ei, utid liOtheis in a mortar till they assttine the consistence of a paSte, Which Is boiled in a solution of giin-Arabic or of size, to give it tenacity. The moulds are carved in the usual way and the pulp jaitired into them, a counter-mould being employed to Make the Cast nothing moie than is crust or shell, as in plaster casts.
Our recent i.hibitioni of manufactures have 'presented few articles more beautiful than those formed of Papier-mache. The firm of Messrs. Jennens and at 13irmingham, is pre-eminent for productions in this departinent of industry.
PAItACHUTE. Under EAthoos a brief Account is given Of aeronautic ascents; We will herb say a few words coliberiaing the attempts to descend froth a bonbon; A parachute is a machine attached to a balloon, and is intended to convey the aeronaut gently to the earth, in iiise of an accident happening to the balloon. It is in shape like an umbrella, with ropeS or stays fistened to the extremities of the whale bones, and brthight down to the handle, Where they must be fixed, so as to prevent the uinbrelln froth turning outwaidS.
Instead 'of the stick, suppose 'a Metal tube to be fixed in the centre, with a repo passing thiough it, Attached by its upper extremity to the balloon and by the loWei• end to a tub or ear. This machine if a parachute. While ascending it will be like a closed but it may at ariY Moment be detached from the balloon by Cutting the end of the robe WhIch ties it to the car; the resistance Of the air Will then cause it to tipahtl, and will at the same time retard the velocity of the desfient.
Machines like umbrellaS, to break the fall froth a high place, Were used in Siam biro een tuxies since : but the first experiment in EtirOPe with such is Machine was made at Paris in 1783 by M. le Normand, *lie leaped safely froth a window of a house with a stout iiiiibrella of thirty inches in diameter in his hand. M. Blanchard Several times caused dogs to desderid from great heights by means Of parachutes; 'and, in 1802, 11I. Garnerin, who five years before had made a like descent at Paris, repeated the experiment in London. The parachute of WS gentleman Was 23 feet in diameter ; and at the height of 8000 feet, he cut the rope which attached him to the balloon. The descent was at first very rapid ; but, the machine at length expanding, he came to the ground without Serious injury.
Garnerin, his daughter, descended twice in 1810, from great elefations, appa rently Without being in the least discomposed In 1837 Mr. Cocking descended net London, from a balloon, by a payachitte, FL) strutted in the form of an umbrella thine upside down. The parachute was 31 feet I diameter, and it was kept open by a woode hoop. As soon as it was cut away, it fell wit rapidity ; its vibrations were violent, the bpo broke, and the unfortunate aeronaut fet dreadfully mutilated, to the ground. Othe parachute descents have since been made.