The Sun.
London, England, 1852-09-17 00:00:00

THE COMPASSES OF IRON SHIPS.

The following letter (says the Liverpool Courier)
will be read with much interest by all persons con-
nected with iron ships. It is satisfactory to know
that the compasses of iron vessels can be accurately
adjusted, and this letter will be a welcome piece of
information to all who have an interest in iron ships
and steamers, a perusal of which Mr. Gray states,
will be sufficient to show the importance of this
letter:—

Sir,—The magnetic phenomena incidental to iron
craft being a matter deeply:interesting to the scientific
world, any peculiarity that may have a tendency to
render them navigable in all parallels of latitude,
without deviation, is a desideratum "most devoutly
to be wished."

It was a source of particular gratification to me,
and must be to all deeply interested in the success of
iron ships, to be enabled to state that the compasses of
the iron screw-steamer Sarah Sands were examined
by me, on Saturday morning last, in order to ascer-
tain whether any change had taken place since I last
adjusted her; and, after swinging the ship, not the
slightest alteration was discoverable in one compass
situated almost over the screw, and in the standard
compass, about 15 feet further forward, the error was
so small that alteration of the magnets was scarcely
necessary, and this after a period of nearly six years.
It was likewise satisfactory, to observe that, in lieu
of any increase in the original amount of error in the
standard, there was a diminution, which peculiarly
characterises the majority.
The extreme accuracy of this vessel is well worthy
the attention of iron ship-buildrs and machinists
generally, in showing the imperative necessity, not
only for making them strong, but also that their
motive power shall work so smoothly as to enable
them to "glide through the waters," in lieu of creating
that vibrators, not;.— to Lac
cation of a compass and the permanent magnetic
character of the hull itself.

This steam-ship has been a most valuable agent for
the determination of a moot point now being inves-
tigated—thct is, whether iron ships undergo a very
important change after crossing the Equator or not.
For years I have entertained the opinion that, for all
practical purposes, the adjustment on Professor Airy's
principle will answer equally well in both north and
south latitudes, and which this vessel has demon-
strated beyond all doubt.
Simultaneous bearings were taken by Captain
Thompson and his chief officer in various parts of the
Straits of Magellan, and the result clearly showed that
no deviation whatever took place.
By this time the Great Britain will also have ascer-
tained this point, and the report from Captain
Matthews is most anxiously expected.—l am, Sir,
yours most obediently,
JOHN GRAY (late Gray and Reece),
Strand-street, Liverpool, Sept. 14.

---,-
ACCELERATION of the LONDON MAIL
A paragraph has appeared in some of our contempo-
raries regarding an acceleration of the London mail,
which was stated was to take effLct from the Ist of Oc-
tober. That such an acceleration is in contemplation is
perfectly correct, but we are auohorised to state that the
arrangements are not in such a state as to allow it to
take effect from the Ist of October, and that no intima-
tion has yet been received as to when the change will
take place. From the great amount of labour which
will be necessary in arranging the branch posts
throughout Scotland to suit the time of the now arrivals
from, and departures for, the south, some time
must yet elapse ere the proposed arrangement can come
into operation. We may state, however, in order to
show the nature of the proposed alteration, that the let-
ters leaving London at eight in the evening will be in the
courso of delivery at eleven A st. next day, instead of,
as formerly, at two P.st , and that the letters for Lon-
don, which now leave Edinburgh at twelve at noon, will
not be dispatched until 3,15 P. N. by the night mail for
London. A similar acceleration will also take place as
regards Glasgow and the north, and the branch posts
throughout Scotland will be re-arranged to suit the alte-
rations in the London mail, and will also receive the
benefit of the intended acceleration. It is also ihnotreunrnsieeidn.
that the acceleration shall take effect on the Berwickline. It will thus be seen that when the abovacenasar arrange-
meat
tog a
dis-
patched
ment takes effect there will be a gain of th
the delivery of the London mail, which wPI b.
derable benefit to the community, as - "nsi-
letter posted in London the night before,
n w
Edinburgh at
by the London mail leaving
3.15 r,M.—Caledonian Mercury.

ELECTRICITY : ITS INFLUENCE IN
VITAL PROCESSES.
A correspondent, "W, G.:, sends us (Builder) an
essay on this subject, which, however,
neither so new nor so conclusive as he a ears to regard
it. Between some of thephenomena PP •f and '°n"
of li e
beautiful analogies,
of those of electricity, there and
is, in the main,
are certainly strong
amongst the phenomena of electricity, heat, andtlegven
and yet it cannot be decisively ascertained°
that
ever-
but there are the like analioghiets.
these are identical, far less electricity and
f fight
—are
theless, that all three—electricity,
intimately associated with vital action, that®
remarks, we give,
a doubt. With these few introductory
regard as the
without farther comment,
What
il u dwe
de to ;
and
r a cannot be
" May not
strongest points in the essay
whose intensity
that great binding the
of the
power—that wonder-working principle,cessible distances from the
continues the same at all ace auniverse —that universal
i u bo also the origin and
earth's surface—'6lectri - and life, both animal and
universal e _ which
the instantaneous action of
cause of vitality
vegetable, and by
ling is telegraphed throughout the
feeling
us inquire; and, by way of illus-
tration,animal frame? acorn and an egg. Now, it is
thought and e_
that neither an acorn nor any other seed
well known -- kept dry, nor will an egg produce a
germinate if
we will take an
will geraii
chicken at the common temperature of the atmosphere
(at least in
this country), but both will inevitably perish
. be not changed lf the
it ion
if theirornd B grain of wheat or of any other plant, bo
acorn, co
buriedin moist earth, all the requisite conditions neces-
saryits growth are fulfilled, because we surround
to
seed with the means from whence the nutriment for
tiou and construction of the plant is derived;
the
eeorganizi
and the electric circuit being also completed by that
simple act, such nottri.hment is distributed by the cir-
culating current generated as hr's been just pointed out;
and this elcctro-chemical process constitutes in fact the
only vitality of plants. Tue suspended vitality of seeds
mr,y be regarded as analogous to the broken galvanic or
electre-telegraphic circuit in which the electrical action
's suspended."

The dividend due the 30:h inst. on the Danish
Three per Cent. Loan of 1525 has been advertised by Messrs.
Rothschild. A notice has been issued from the office of the
Spanish Financial Commission, stating that the tenth auction
of the foreign redeemable debt will take place at Madrid on
the 30th inst., for which purpose 781,599 reals have been as-
signed by the Government.
The Earl and Countess of Tenkerville have left
Hertford-street, May-fair, for the Earl of Malmesburv's seat,
Heron-court, near Christchurch, where the Noble Foreign
Secretary it ehortly exPectea to arrive from Scotland.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
DONCASTER RACES.
WEDNESDAY'S RACES CONCLUDED.
Tho Sweepstakes of 10 sow. each, h ft, with 50 added,
were won by Lambnin by two lengths, Audubon and
Auchinleek close together, being four or fire lengths
from Venison filly, the second; Peggy fifth, the others
beaten off:

Match, 200, h ft, Red-house in.
Lord Derby's Longbow, 3 yrs, Bst 111 b (received).
Lord Glasgow's Incognita,
2 yrs, 6st 81b (paid).
In conclusion of our notice of the " St. Leger Day,"
we have only to add to the few lines sent from the course
that the rain continued to fall steadily for some time
after the conclusion of the races, adding in no small de-
gree to the discomfort of the iousands who had come
from distant localities, and from the simultaneous rush
to the railway station, regardless of the " order of run-
ning" advertised by the authorities, and of the separate
provision made for tho Sheffield traffic, producing en
extraordinary scene of confusion for several hours; for-
tunately no accident of any consequence occurred, and
of the prodigious crowds who estered the town iu the
morning, only four persons were found to have been left
behind—and the,:, only from their own carelessness--
on tho departure of the last train. The arrangoments
at the station wore persousLy directed by Mr. Seymour
gclierd mansper, and Mr. Dt.nniaton, the
superintendent Clarke,
"Ie
of the Great Northern line.
THURSDAY'S RACES.
Handicop Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. esch, h ft, with 50
added, for two) rs old, the second to savo his s '•ake.
Red-house in.
Mr. Morris's Charity, Est (Wells) 1
Mr. Shepherd na Ace of Trumps, 121 b (Osborne) 3
Mr. Worthington's JaequeceMs, 6A Mb ... (Carroll) 13
Mr. J. Scott's Eaton, 7st 10Ib (Flatresn) 0
Mr. Wilkins's Polly, 7st 21b _ (T. Lye) 0

Mr. G. Barker's fby Venison, Est 111 b ...(Cherlton) 0
Mr. Merry's V-lour, Est 91b (car. 6st 111b)...(Knott)
Mr. Meiklam's Ada, by roynton, Est tub (Aldcroft) 0
Mr. H. Lister's Luxury c, 6st 51b ...,........(Kendall) 0
Betting-6 to 4 against Charity, 4to 1 agst Eaton, 4
to 1 agst Luxury colt, and sto 1 agst Willson filly. 2
to 1 was taken about Valour at the commencement of
the betting, and 100 to 1 offered egainat her at the close.
The Venison filly j
made play to the bend, where Charity went ahead,
Charity, Valour, Luxury c.,
jumped off with the lead, SL'd with
and Jacquenetta wlitingt
taking the lead near the distance post, won easily Or
two lengths. Run in 1 min. 14 sec.
The Scarborough Stakes of 20 sous. each, 10 ft. One
mile
_ _

Captain Scott's Allegro, Bst 21b ......... (J. Osborne) 1
Mr. A. Nichol's Phantom, Bst 21b ...... (Templeman) 2
Betting-2 to lon Allegro, who won, hard held, by
half a length. Run in 1 min. 47 sec.
The Eglinton Stakes of 10 sous. each, 5 ft, with 100
added; for two yrs old, Est 101 b; three, Bst 12Ib;
fillies and geldings allowed 31b; penalties and allow-
ances; the second to receive 20 SOU. out of the stakes,
and the winner to pay 15 sovs. to the fund. T.Y.C.
Lord yrs, Est 101 b (Charlton) 1
Lord
Derby'sPelion,Longbo 2
Longbow,
3
yra, Bst 121 b (F. Butler) 2
Lord Caledon's Verbena colt, 2 yrs, 6st 10lb (Wells) 0
Mr. J. Dawson's Anteverta, 2 yrs, Est 71b(Aldcroft) 0
Mr. S. Hawkes's Paddy Bird's dam filly, Est 71b (Hiett) 0
Mr. Meiklam's Stilton, 3 yrs, Est 121 b (Templeman) 0
Sir C. Monk's Vindex, 2 yrs (Flatman) 0
Mr. J. Osborne's Exact, 2 yrs, 6st 121 b (J Osborne) 0
Mr. J. M. Stanley's Corybantea, Est 101b-.(Toovey) 0
Betting-2 to 1 agst Exact (t), 9to 4 agst Pelion, 5
to 2 agat Vindex, 6 to 1 agst Stilton, and 10 to 1 agst
Longbow.
In going to the post to start Vindex broke away and
ran upwards of three parts of a mile before Flatman
could pull him up. It was with great difficulty that he
was, after a long delay, got to the post. Pelion jumped
off with the lead, and with Anteverta, Vindex, and the
Verbena colt laid up, made running to the distance,
where Longbow took the second place; at the half dis-
tance he joined Pelion, and they raced home, the young
one winning by a head. Exact, who got badly off a
bad third, Anteverta fourth. Stilton and Corybantes,
who also lost start, were the last two. Run in 1 min.
43 sec.

The Cleveland Handicap of 20 soya. each, h ft, and five
only if declared, with 60 added; second to save hie
stake. One mile. (22 Subs., 12 of whom declared.)
Mr. Meiklam's Evadne, 3 yrs, 7st lib (Aldcroft) 1
Mr. G. Noble ne Brawn, 3 yrs, sst 81b (Kendall) 2
Mr. Flintoff's The Reaper, 4 yrs, 7st llb (Wells) .3
Mr.:J. Osborne's Lady Agnes, fist 121 b (Osborne, jun) 4
Won by a neck.
Sweepstakes of 10 sm. each, and 50 added for two yrs
old; colts, Bst 71b; fillies, Bst 41b; winners extra;
second to receive 20 sous. out of the stakes. T. Y. C.
(25 Subs.) _

_ Mr. J. Osborne na Lambton (Osborne, jun.) 1
Mr. S. Hawke's Towton (Bumby) 2
Mr. Woffenden's The Queen (Templeman) 3
Lord Chesterfield's Begum colt (Nat) 4
Mr. Meiklam's Hatchett (Cartwright) 0
Mr. Morris's Charity (Marson) 0
Mr. J. M. Stanley's Belgravia (A. Day) 0
Won by two lengths.
The Foal Stakes of 100 sous. each, h ft. One mile and
a half. (6 Subs.)

Lord Exeter's Stockwell - walked over.
LATEST BETTING.
THE CUP.
7 to 4 agst Teddington (t) 1 7 to 4 agst Kingston (t)

THE CESAREWITCH.
9to 1 agst Lady Evtlyn 125 to 1 agst Vernattla
l 2 to 1 ag6t L© Jaif ov t 1 .6.0 Alt`• II ~11.

CAMBRIDGESHIRE.

1,000 to 60 agst K 2,000 to 60 agst King Pe-
noor (t) I pin (0.
Paying and receiving on the St. Leger commenced this
morning, and, as far as it went, passed off quietly; many
heavy accounts, however, remain for the town settling
on Monday, so that no opinion of its issue can be given;

it promises to be tolerably harmless. The weather to-
day has been remarkably fine, and the attendance good.

DONCASTER, FRIDAY MORNING.
LATEST BETTING.
(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
THE CCP.

1 to 8 asst Kingston I 12 to 1 pers,st Camara
7to 4 ugst Teddiugton 112 to 1 agst Harbinger.
0 to 1 shat Truth (t)
Little Harry and S
DE

tilton are scratched.
1B Y.
120 to 1 sgst Umbriel.

13 to 1 agst Orestes (t)
20 to 1 cost Cheddar (t)

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUE.

SIR,—Having read an article published in your
excellent paper of Saturday, the 11 th inst., upon a
subject of the utmost consequence, as it respects our
Navy, relating to the recommendation by Sir John
Ross of the adoption of a Drunkards' Mess, I feel
happy in corroborating and bearing testimony to that
most effectual means of suppressing drunkenness,
having practised the plan on board the ship I cow-
manded, Hazard sloop of war, where we most
effectually established sobriety and good order, with-
out ever having recourse to flagellation. Attached
to our plan was a Drunkards' Tub, a very ugly tub
it was, painted dirty yellow,
in capital letters, marked thereon. The sight of tthl:,
tub was most hideous to drunkards ; their five-water
eit
and " Drunkards Tub,
grog was mixed up in it, and the members drank
t Arms
out of an
on the quarter-deck. What they
ugly mug under the Master: officers
upon the gangway, close under the eyes thelfd not gulf)
down was thrown overboard, overboard
respect-
able men allowed the entire to be
drinking
out of the
rather than be disgraced by
hers of the Tub
"Drunkards' Tub." Those
Drunkards'llem Mess. The
were not all members of thethrown overboard
Drunkards' M
drunkards, and their
punishmenth the Tub. Allow me to add a
duration than those of
et d of checking the progress of
considered incorrigible
pdgetnheecroawmully of longer
our second great
plan which we practised
e when the East India outw.ard-
sertion. At a tilne
laying off the Mother Bank, their
bound fleet ractviislweieteaservice—l mean da-
Nveir3eo
with our men-of-war's-me v,
crimps
an order to .
issued
the India fleet were at the Mother Bank.
sailors while
Sir R. Bickerton, very Commander-in- mfl
eaentdne
nr-ti n
to- Cghrinenfta at
enve Portsmouth,tn nu
I had Bickerton
and on meeting R.
reached our ship,
my men leave before. Sirthe order had
his order,
standing
on shore he was very angry, observing that, notwith-
standing on their hats. I assured him the ordkar
he noticed my men with
d given .
bad not reached us in time. "But how can you
trust your men, many of them strangers, drafted into
your ship but the other day 2'. I told him my plan.
The applicant for leave was to find two bondsmen,
the nature of their bond being that if the applicant
did not return the bondsmen should ri:Ner have leave
from the ship so long as I commanded her. Sir R.
B. liked the plan, and desired me to report to
him, which I had the pleasure of doing, that every
man returned according to his leave. I rc_marked to
Sir R. B. that sailors, though they may P_,lll
tricks with their officers sometimes, were gener'Y
true to each other. I must beg further to remeskt in
respect to the Drunkards' Mess,
that the members,
after having served their time, were restored to L"
b;
former mess,the application of their former
upon
messmates to the commanding officer, and a promise
of sobriety on their part.
Your obedient servant,
Rackley House, Portshead, Bristol,
sto- I
September 15, 1852. °ePßEeSarrj-Adnu' *ral.
jN°gt°ir

CONSECRATION OF A NEW ROMAN CATHOLIC
CH eRCII AT GREENWICH.. —Yesterday the Roman Catholic
new church of " Our Lady of the Sea," at Croom's-hill
Greenwich, was solemnly consecrated according to the rites of
that Church. Dr. Grant, the" Bishop" of Southwark, officiated
assisted by a numerous body. of the clergy. The services
commenced at seven o'clock in the
,morning, and continued
i
till near one. The church sin the Gothic style, and one of
the finest specimens of church architecture eJf modern date,
iand is situate in a comm!incing position On the brow of
Croom's-hill. The church is free of debt with the exception
of about 2001. The congregation is a large one, includiog
about 600 pensioners. Schools in connexion with the churc,`t
have been established. The, choir is entirely self-supporting,
r
including the organist. Ihe ceremony excited much in-
terest in the town and neighbourhood ofGreenwich.
THE LATE MANSLAUGHTER IN WESTMINSTER."'"
Yesterday afternoon Mr. 'Anglian), deputy coroner, held f
adjourned inquest at Westminster Hospital, on the body (Nf
Ann Gibbons, aged seventy-three years, lately residing at 36,.
Vine-street, Westminster, who died from injuries inflicted on
her by a man on the evening of Sunday week, the particu-
lars of which have already appeared. The jury, having de-
liberated for some time, returned a verdict of " Manslaughter
--
against some person unknown."