The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-06 00:00:00

A NEW BAROMETER.

A new barometer, with a scale of long range, was
exhibited at the Society of Arts, on Wednesday
evening last, by Mr. Hicks, of Hatton-garden. The
barometer consists of a tube hermetically sealed at
the upper end, but open at the lower end, the upper
half of the tube being of smaller sectional area than
the lower one. A sufficient quantity of mercury
being poured in, and the tube reversed, the column
of mercury distributes itself in the two portions of
the tube, so as to assume a length corresponding to
the weight of the atmosphere at the time. It is
obvious that, if the tube was of one diameter from
the top to the bottom, the column of mercury which
would be supported at a given time would no
longer be supported when the pressure of the
air decreased, and the column could only be
shortened by a certain portion running out
of the bottom ; but the difference of diameter
in the upper and lower portions of the tube
(in the new barometer) enables the excess in
length, instead of running out, to spread laterally.
If, for instance, the pressure of the air diminishes
so that it is capable of supporting only a column
shorter by one inch than before, in the ordinary
barometer the mercury sinks one inch only, but in
Mr. Hick's barometer the fall, according to the re-
lative area of the two tubes, may be increased to
almost any extent. Thus, supposing the sectional
areas of the upper and lower portions of the tube
to be such that one inch of mercury in the upper
fills only nine-tenths of an inch in the lower, it is
clear that, if ten inches be withdrawn from the
upper tube, they will only fill nine inches of the
lower portion of the tube, and thus, while the whole
column is shortened one inch, the surface of the
mercury in the upper tube will be lowered ten
inches; or, in other words, for every change of one
inch in the length of the barometric column a range
of ten inches is obtained. The smaller the diffe-
rence between the diameter of the tubes, the greater
will be the range obtained. The method by which
co is
connection
then
Mr. Hicks practically obtains the scale for each of
placingwith the e receiver c andei ve rof an a
a
standardir.
pump, and, observing the fall in each
bhaisromet er barometers
in
nn
ease, he gra-
duates accordingly. Mr. Hicks also d a opts an
ingenuous method of measuring the length of the
barometric column itself, and thus gets readily a
standard barometer which is well adapted for
moun-
tain measurement, inasmuch as the difficulties of the
cistern and its necessary corrections is got rid of.
This he effects by graduating from the centre both
ways. By means of two verniers reading to
1-1000th of an inch, he takes the two readings of
the distance from the central point, adds them
together, and the total is the correct length of the
barometric column at the time. Mr. Hicks also
exhibited a mercurial maximum thermometer of
novel and simple construction.

- -
THE PRINCE IMPERTAL.B BANQUET tO the en-
fans de troupe, his companions in arms, took place on Pa-
day, in the Galerie de la Paiz, at the Tuileries. His Im-
perial Highness presided, wearing for the first time his
stripe as a sergeant. The Emperor and the Empress, who
have hitherto Presided on such occasions, were present as
spectators, The fete passed off to the perfect satisfaction
of all who took part in it.
THE WAY THE MONEY GOES.—A Parliamentary
return of the gold and silver imported into and exported
from each Presidency of India states that, in the year
1863, the gold and silver imported exceeded the export by
no less than L 19,367,764. In the last eight years this excess
of import over export in India has reached the enormous
value of £109,652,917. Bullion has been coined in India
in the present century to an amount considerably ezceedin3
£200,000,000.

was already densely crowded. One railway had already

destroyed 100 houses, and 300 fareilfee had been displaced,

and what was worse there was no accommodation for them

in the neighbourhood. His noble friend the Earl of
Shaftesbury, some time ago, wished that clauses
should be introduced into all metropolitan railways
compelling them either to find accommodation for
those rendered houseless by their works, or that they
should give compensation. That had been found impossible,
and he (Earl Derby) was afraid that the resolutions already
passed by their lordships would also become no protection
at all. The prayer of the petitioners was that their lordships
should compel all railways at present before Parliament
which required to come into a metropolitan terminus to run
two trains in the morning and another in the evening,
to enable the working class to arrive in London
early in the morning, and leave it at the close of the
day's work, at the rate of ld for the entire distance. He be-
lieved one railway, the London, Chatham, and Dover, in-
tended to adopt an arrangement which, by the payment of is
per week, they would convey the working classes by an early
train in the morning, and a late one in the evening, to a
distance not exceeding ten miles. He thought it would be
advisable for their lordships to consider whether clauses
could not be introduced into all the metropolitan railways
before Parliament, compelling them to run certain trains
at fares considerably less than the ordinary ones, for the
accommodation of these who had been compelled to leave
the metropolis in consequence of the construction of those
works.

The Earl of MALMESBURY said such a system as
that referred to by his noble friend had been in force in
Paris, and had been found to be of the greatest service to
the working classes.

Earl GRANVILLE said the idea was a good one, and
)io doubt her Majesty's Government would consider it.
Earl RUSSELL said one of the great difficulties that
stood in the way was, who was to purchase the land upon
which houses were to be built for the accommodation of
the working classes, as the railway companies were pre-
vented by Parliament from doing so.
The Earl of DERBY said he had said nothing about
buildingitouses. He had confined himself solely to the
question for granting facilities to the working classes who
were compelled to live a short distance from the metropolis.
The subject then dropped.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bills were read a third time and passed :
Bedford Gas--Clayton, Allerton, and Thornton Gas—and
Wellington (Salop) Markets, with amendments.
FEDERAL ENLISTING IN IRELAND.

In reply to the Earl of DONOUGHMORE,
Earl RUSSELL again explained the course pursued
by the Government in reference to the case of the
liearsage.
The Earl of DERBY enquired how it was that the
United States Government could be ignorant of the illegal
enlisting that was going on when the men enlisted were
seen by the surgeon, paid by the United States, and
clothed is the uniform of the United States Navy.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE said he had seen no
statement to the effect that the Kearsage was now refitting
in one of the English ports.
MALT FOR ANIMALS BILL.

The report of amendments on this bill were brought up
and agreed to.
THE COURT OF CHANCERY (DESPATCH OF
BUSINESS) BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
CONVEYANCES, &c. (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
BILLS OF EXCHANGE AND PROMISSORY
NOTES (IRELAND) BILL,
This bill was read a third time and passed.
REMOVAL OF CONSULS BY THE CONFEDE-
RATE GOVERNMENT.

The Marquis of CLANRICARDE moved for copies of
any correspondence that had taken place in reference to the
removal of British Consuls from ports in the Confederate
States of North America, or in reference to their ceasing
to act. The Consuls were accredited to the Federal Go-
vernment, and the charge against them, in one case, was
forwarding, under an official certificate, letters to the
Northern States containing bills of exchange for the pay-
ment of debts due in England; in another, that the Consul
had been instrumeetal in shipping specie on board an
English vessel of war, for transmission to England, to pay
the dividends on a public.debt. He contended that these
acts were not illegal, as the state of war did not cancel
private or public obligations.
Lord RUSSELL admitted that in the case of Mr, Bunch
his exequatur had been unjustly taken from him by the
Federal Government; but in the case of Mr. Magee it was
considered, as English ships of war had been permitted to
enter the blockaded ports, it was an abuse of that permission
to employ these vessels for the transmission of specie that
might be used to obtain be means of carrying on hostilities.
In a third case the Consul had advised men who had been
compelled to serve in the Southern army to desert on the
field of battle. Had any complaint of such language been
made by the Confederate Government he should certainly
have reprimanded, and probably dismissed, the Consul who
had used it. But, without making any such complaint, the
President of the Confederacy informed these officers that
they could no longer be allowed to exercise their functions.
As the interests of British subjects could not be adequately
protected when they had no authority to apply to, he should
not think it wrong to establish a means of communication
with the Government of the Southern States, as that might
be done without acknowledging their independence. He
had no objection to the motion if the words were so altered
as to prevent any misunderstanding on this point.
The motion was then agreed to, and their lordships ad-
journed at a quarter to seven.

HOUSE OF COMMONS--Last Evening.
The SrEA.Knit took the chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following bills were read a third time and passed
_ . •

Dublin and Meath Railway, Lancaster Local Bard ol
Health, and Market Harborough and East Norton Railway.

THE MALT TAX.

A very large number of petitions were presented from
different parts of the country praying fur the repeal of the
malt tax.

THE CASE OF CAPTAIN MELVILLE WHITE
In reply to Colonel FRENCH,

Mr. LAYARD said that he had received a communica-
tion promising satisfactory information relative to the claims
of Captain Melville White.

SURPLUS EXPENDITURE.

Mr. A. SMITH gave notice that on Tuesday, the 19th
inst., he would mova for a select committee to inquire into
the surplus public expenditure, is order to see whether a
reduction is that branch of the public disbursements might
not be effected.
THE PENAL SERVITUDE BILL.

Sir G. GREY gave notice of the further postponement
of this bill from the 11th until the 18th inst.
THE LISBURN ELECTION COMMITTEE.

The CHAIRMAN brought up the report of the com-
mittee, to the effect that they had adjourned until to-mor-
rya, in consequence of the house last evening not having
consonted to the motion for the exemption of Mr. Stirling
from further attendance.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said there was no &lib t
the question raised by his hon. friend the member for
Northamptonshire (Mr. Hunt) last evening was very im-
portant. Having stated the position in which tine question
stood, he suggested that the proper course would be to
accept the excuse of the hon. member for Perthshire (Mr.
Stirling) for non-attendance, and to allow the committee to
meet. A suggestion might then be made to them to the
effect that a question had been raised as to their competency
to sit, and then the matter could be referred to the house
again, on the report which the committee would present,
Sir H. CAIRNS said that this was a subject which re-
quired great deliberation, in order to avoid a collision with
the other House of Parliament, and with courts of law.
After some observations from Mr. HENLEY.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL denied that there was
any legal question involved in this question.
Some further discussion ensued in which Mr. Hardy,
Mr. Lygon, Mr. Forster, Mr. Tonough, Sir G. Grey.
Mr. Paull, Mr. Ayrton, Mr. M. Smith, and Mr. Clarke,
took part.
Lord STANLEY said that the house was evidently in a
difficulty from the novelty of the circumstances which had
occurred, and he suggested as an amendment that the dis-
cussion should be adjourned until that day six months,
which would of necessity suspend the functions of the com-
mittee and enable the house to come to a proper decision on
the subject.
Mr. WALPOLE objected to the proposition of his noble
friend (Lord Stanley), which, he contended, would have the
eff,:et of increasing instead of diminishing the difficulty,
and suggested that the committee should be allowed to
come to a decision, which could. then be discussed, and so
the whole question of the functions of the house in respect
to committees be determined.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL also objected to the
course proposed by the noble lord, as superseding the act of
Parliament, and contended that the method he (the Attor-
ney-General) proposed was the proper means of meeting the
case.

After a few words from Mr. ADAIR,
L9rd STANLEY withdrew his amendment.
The original motion out of which the discussion arose--
namely, that Mr. Stirling's excuse for non•: ttendanee on
the committee on the 22d ult. should ire received—was