DINGTON HOUSE OXON.--Morris &
Stallwood--Architects.]

The works were executed by Messrs. Holly & Butler, of Nettlebed. The brick
carving was beautifully done by the late Mr. Finlay; and the architects
were Messrs. Morris & Stallwood, of Reading.--_The Architect._

* * * * *

NEW ARRANGEMENT OF THE BICHROMATE OF POTASH PILE.

Since Poggendorff in 1842 thought of substituting in the Bunsen battery a
solution of bichromate of potash and sulphuric acid for nitric acid, and
of thus making a single liquid pile of it, in suppressing the porous
vessel, his idea has been taken up a considerable number of times. Some
rediscovered it simply, while others, who were better posted in regard to
the work of their predecessors, took Poggendorff's pile as he conceived
it, and, considering the future that was in store for it, thought only of
modifying it in order to render it better. Among these, Mr. Grenet was one
of the first to present the bichromate of potash pile under a truly
practical form. As long ago as 1856, in fact, he gave it the form that is
still in use, and that is known as the bottle pile. Thus constructed, this
pile, as is well known, presents a feeble internal resistance, and a
greater electro-motive power than the Bunsen element. Unfortunately, its
energy rapidly decreases, and the alteration of the liquid, as well as the
large deposit of oxide of chromium that occurs on the positive electrode,
prevents its being employed in experiments of quite long duration. Mr.
Grenet, it is true, obviated these two defects by first renewing the
liquid slowly and continuously, and causing a current of air to bubble up
in the pile so as to detach the oxide of chromium in measure as the
deposit formed. Thus improved, the bichromate pile was employed on a large
scale in the lighting of the Comptoir d'Escompte. In an extensive
application like this latter, the use of compressed air for renewing the
liquid can be easily adapted to the bichromate pile, as the number of
elements is great enough to allow of the putting in of all the piping
necessary; but when it is only desired to use this pile for laboratory
purposes, and when there is need of but a small number of elements, it is
impossible to adopt Mr. Grenet's elements in the form required by an
electric lighting installation. It becomes absolutely necessary, then, to
come back to a simpler form, and attempt at the same time to obviate the
defec