invention is now being tried experimentally in the eastern section of the Westminster Aquarium, where we recently examined it, and found it to afford a marked improvement upon the ordinary system of gas illumination, although a smaller number of burners is being used. Tried alternately with ordinary coal gas, the higher illuminating power of the albo-carbon light was very remarkable. It appears that there are 200 burners fitted at the Aquarium with the new light, and these successfully take the place of 500 ordinary gas burners previously in use. The illuminating effect is stated to be doubled, with an additional advantage as regards economy. The reduction of cost arises from the smaller quantity of gas consumed with the albo-carbon process than without it, and the very small cost of the enriching material. According to our information, 1,000 cubic feet of ordinary gas as generally used will, by the albo-carbon appliance, give as much illumination as 3,000 cubic feet without it, and the cost of the material to produce this result is only 1s. 6d. Experiments have been made with this light by Mr. T. W. Keates, the consulting chemist to the Metropolitan Board of Works, who reports very favorably upon it, as does also Dr. Wallace, of Glasgow, who has obtained some very satisfactory results with it. It is claimed for the albo-carbon material that it is perfectly inexplosive, safe and portable, that it causes no obstruction and leaves no residuum, and that the receivers can be replenished almost indefinitely without any accumulation taking place, so perfect is the evaporation of the albo-carbon. On the whole the display at the Aquarium speaks greatly in favor of the new process of gas enrichment, which, other things being equal, bids fair to find its way into practice.--_Engineering._ * * * * * ENGLISH AND AMERICAN HARDWARE. Mr. Frederick Smith, Manager of the Union Land and Building Company (limited), recently read a paper on the above subject before the Manchester Scientific and Mechanical Society. Mr. H. Whiley, Superintendent of the Manchester Health Department, presided. The following is the text of the paper, as given in the London _Ironmonger_. The lecturer said: