Chain, a series of rings, or round pieces of metal linked one into another: it is of various forms and sizes, and applied to different purposes.

Notwithstanding the general utility of this article, for almost every branch of extensive manu-factures, we have but lately been furnished with a chain, so con-structed as to become an effectual substitute for ropes, and in every respect as pliable, while it is far more durable. The metal rope, or chain, we allude to, is that in-vented by the ingenious William Hancock, of Birmingham; for which the Society for the Encou-ragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, in 1796, liberally granted him a premium of fifty guineas.

This chain is particularly useful in the working of coal, and other mines, wells, etc. The common chains, it is well known, cannot be depended upon, and break in the welded parts, when overstrain-ed. Such dangerous accidents can-not easily happen in the metal ropes, being woven together while cold, out of the strongest iron drawn into wire, about 3-eights of an inch in diameter; and so tempered, that it is almost impos-sible to find in them a link of infe-rior quality. Hancock's chains will run as flexibly on the pulley as an hempen rope of two inches in diameter, manufactured of the best materials ; they have been employed in several large iron works, and with the greatest suc-cess. Indeed, they deserve to be generally adopted ; as thus a con-siderable saving would arise in the consumption of that valuable ar-ticle, hemp; and an important new manufacture might be estab-lished, from one of our staple com-modities. Viewed in a national light, we cannot but regret that the inventor's situation in life does not en-able him to make this article for ready sale : we therefore pre-sume to appeal to the statesman, and the patriot.