The Sun.
London, England, 1852-05-27 00:00:00

27, 1852.

INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.
•Fho session of the Institution of Civil Engineers was
appropriately ter mieneed_ on Tuesday evening by a con-
versszione, which was attended by the members, and a
numerous and brilliant assemblage of distinguiehed
visitors, who were received by Mr. J. M. Rendel (the
President), attended by Mr. Charles Manby (the secre-
tary), upon whom devolved the duty of collecting and
arranging the works of art, models of machinery, and
specimens of manufacture with which the rooms were
profusely and elegantly decorated.
It would exceed our limits to notice more than a few
of the principal points of attraction.
In the reception saloons, which were hung with Au-
busson tapestry, by Jackson and Graham, and decorated
with a profusion of flowers, were Sir Edwin Landseer's
" Random Shot," and Ward's picture of "James 11.
reading the Despatch," both from the collection of Mr.
Jacob Bell; Turner'e " Blue Lights," with an extraordi-
nary facsimile in coloured lithography.
Around these were placed pictures by Stanfield,
Haghe, Egg, Herring, Ansdell, Phillip, Welanert, Lance,
Wood, Crowley, Rothwell, Niemann, Kennedy, Winter-
halter, Wilson, and Carmichael.
Sir Emerson Tennent had contributed some beautiful
specimens of Ceylonese and Chinese carvings; Mr.
Montague a remarkable silver plateau of Maltese filagree
work; Mr. Hancock a rich silver vase, made for Lord
Ward; Messrs. Eikington a large assortment of beauti-
ful vases, &e.; Messrs.
Alcock, fine collections of P •
pieces of gold and silver plate,
Copeland and Messrs._ arum
figuers and groups, chins, Sec., several of them designed
for the
M.P., by Alfred Crowquill, who exhibited a new statuette of
" The Iron Duke" from life.
Mr. Bailey sentp u
andrem remarkable
mableoldeifelileiakedeg o bustsi of Robert
Stephenson, • a
and specimens of
statue of the late George Stephenson
were also grouped
sculpture by Lough, Thomas, Loft,; and others, with
bronze by Collus and F. Bramab,
around.
Mr. Apsley Pellatt sent a large collection
of flowers
and and amidst it was placed a beautiful basket
and insects electrotyped in gold and silver, by Captain
Ibbetsoa.
Mr. Gould contributed some brilliant specimens of
his beautiful Humming Birds, which contrasted well
with three scenes of "Falconry" by Mr. Hancock (of
Newcastle).
The principal room contained a numerous collection
of models, many of which were shown at work. Amopg
these may be particularly noticed the anastatic process
of printing, exhibited by Messrs. Glynn and Appel, who
had recently introduced a method of preparing paper by
the addition to it, while still in a state of pulp, of tin in-
soluble salt of copper, and a peculiar preparation of palm
oil, so that when an attempt was made to reproduce any
document, it became fixed to the plate, and no transfer
could be made. Messrs. Napierand Son exhibited an Auto-
maton Sovereign Weighing Machine, which differed
from those now in use at the Bank, by its separating the
coin into three classes, the too light—those between cer-
tain, which might be variable—and the too heavy,
instead of simply into the light and the full. They also
exhibited a captain's registering compass, which showed
at a glance the exact course the ship had taken, and the
moment when any deviation from the true course had
been made. •
Mr. W. S. Lacon also explained a very beautiful
model illustrative of his ideas as to the management of
ship's boats, how they should be steered, and suspended,
and lowered in case of emergency, an important desi-
deratum.
Mr. S. Highley'i Achromatic Gas Microscope Lamp,
a contrivance for combining, or rather modifying the
glaring light common to ordinary gas microscopic burners
when making researches, seemed to be an object of great
interest.
There were also many models in various branches of
engineering; Messrs. Maudalay and Messrs. Penn con-
tributing models of almost every kind of marine engine,
and to Captain Henderson was due the collection of a
vast number of different kinds of vessels, for the pur-
pose of showing the great discrepancy that existed in
different countries in the lines of ships.
In railways, permanent way seemed to be the point to
which inventors chiefly devoted their thoughts, and the
various modifications of Mr. W. H. Barlow for a road
entirely of wrought iron, of Mr. Henson for a similar
rail supported by longitudinal timbers, and of ?Aessrs.
P. W. Barlow, Greaves, Doall, and Reed, for chairs and
supports of cast iron, so as to make the road partly of
cast, and partly of wrought, but still entirely of iron,
were shown. Mr. Henson also contributed a beautiful
model of his covered railway goods waggon, by which it
was said a saving of at least fifty per cent. in repairs
alone over the old waggons with sheets would be
effected.
The centre table was devoted to an assortment of
every description of fire-arms, from the old Indian and
Chinese matchlocks, some of which even were revolvers,
down to the Minniii rifle, the Colt revolver, and the Lan-
caster smooth-bored rifle. There were also numerous
applications of Mr. Hodges' cumulators, a new mecha-
nical power obtained by the accumulation of ela•tic
force; as well as Mr. Appold's arrangement for showing
water below twenty degrees without freezing.
In the ante-room, Mr. Goddard (of Ipswich) explained
a gas cooking-stove, and an asbestos fire, in lieu of that
formerly produced by platinum, and there was also a
combined gas stove, by Mr. N. Defries. On the mantel-
piece was one of Mr. Bain's electricclocks, with the most
recent modifications, all the power being contained in
vases.
An elegant mantel-piece of Llangollen slate stone,
showed the capability of that material for receiving the
highest polish, and by the new process of imitating mar-
ble, the very beautiful workmanship, which might be
had for a small cost.
The guests remained until a late hour, engaged in the
examination of the works of art, listening to the expla-
nation given of the different models, and In enjoying the
hospitality of the President in the refreshment-room.
On Wednesday the rooms were again thrown open in
the middle of the day, for the purpose of enabling the
ladies to examine the cell, ctioa at their leisure, and
many noble and distinguished persons including the
blleuncanghKesiso! Sutherland, Ladies Raise, Douglas, Ara-
&e• &c., availed themselves of the opportu-
nity. They were attended by Mr. C. Manley (secretary),
and by Mr. James Forrest, who explained to them the
peculiarities of the various models.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
The Duko of Northumberland held a levee on Tues-
day at Whitehall, which was attended by the following
officers:—
Captains C. Talbot, F. Scott, W. B. Dobson, C. M
Hawkey, J. B. Maxwell, S. Robb, G. Wooic)mbe, A. C.
Key, and T. T. Stopford. Commanders T.' Wilson, H.
U. Twysden, G. C. Mends, C. Festing, C. P. Coppin, P.
B. Stewart, R. Phillips, and W. Robson. Lieutenants
T. Poad, A. Darby, IT. B. Everest, H. Floyd, W. P.
Chapman, F. W. Ellis, W. E. Fisher, C. G. Crawley,
and J. G. Robins. Master S. S. Flinn. Inspector of
Hospitals Sir Benjamin Outram, M.D.
Vice-Admiral Sir Francis Mason, 1i.C.8., and Rear-
Admiral Hyde Parker, C. 8., held a levee at the Admi-
ralty on Tuesday, which was attended by the following
officers:—

Captains W. B. Dobson, P. Juitice, J. Robb, F. Scott,
J. B. Maxwell, L. A. Robinson, and W. J. Cole. Com-
manders J. Richardson, R. A. Oliver, E. F. Roberts,
and E. W. Vansittart. Lieutenants F. W. Ellis, H.
Floyd, W. P. Chapman, A. Bathurst, C. M. Lucralt, and
J. P. Luce.

Rear-Admiral Sir Phipps liornby, K.C.8., has dis-
continued holding levees for the present.
'APPOINTMENTS.
Lieutenant Lienry'Lloyd (1841), senior Lieutenant,
servidg in the London, 90, at Sheerness, to command
the Triton, 3, ken paddle-wheel Steam-vessel, of 260-
horse power, commissioned at. Woolwich for service as
mail packet on the Mediterranean station.
Clerk in Charge—Theodore W. S. Neame (1845), to
the Triton..

Captain Rundle B. Watson, C.B , and Lieut. Hugh
M. Elliot (1847), having both completed a course of
study of steam at the factory at Woolwich Dockyard,
were examined by Mr. Charles Atherton, chief engineer
there, and received certificates.
Lieut. Henry Ilannant (1842) has been appointed first
to the Encounter, vice Curtis, promoted.
Commander Henry Harvey (1841) has been appointed
to the Penelope, steam-frigate, coast of Africa, bearing
the broad pendant of CoiLanodore Bruce, on the coast of
Africa, vice Hillyer, protnoted.
. Commander Thomas Miller has been appointed to
study steam at Woolwich.
The Superb, 80, Captain Purcell, is ordered round to
Sheerness, to be inspected, prior to the ship being put
out of commission. We, in common with many others
connected with the service, regretreti thentionasene so fine a ship's
paerresiend
faatvanntrim whene7 fpeealwinegrisnioffntrheee
presume the deftcts of the ship are so
cawaohmeoapl
tea:nhyant
but
do
we
ni s
great as to compel the Admiralty to pay her off. The
Superb was built from the lines of the ex-Surveyor of
the Navy.
understood)o-morrow remove from Onksbro.
PuRTEIMOUTH, WEDNEs
lace t, cooling up, Osborne to
Court Will (it is
Buckingham Pa-
yard in the Fairy.
The Edinburgh, as usual, to the Clarence-
harbour yesterday ,tosBt,ryschreerwenbgloincek;:hatiep.,:
wthe
worked most sati7factorily, and her speed was entenogutineoef
su-
perior to all the other ships of her class ; she made,
with the wind and tide in her favour, between 11
and 12 knots, and against wind and tide, she made be-
tween 8 and 9 knots. She was light; when her stores
and guns are in she will come down in the water about
two or three feet; but she is fully rigged, and bad cop.:
gallantmasts up. She has come into harbour, and
alongside the jetty to have her temporary ballast re-
moved.
Fairy royal yacht, Captain Crispin, conveyed his Royal
Highness the Duke of Cambridge from Osborne to
Southampton yesterday.
Queen, 116, Captain Wise, took in her lower deck
guns yesterday at Spithead, and this morning she took
on board her powder. She will probably sail to-morrow,
weather permitting, for Plymouth.. _ .
Captain Matson, 14 along-
side the jetty, under the sheers, awaiting her new bow-
sprit.
Commander Egerton has arrived at Portsmouth, at d
will commission the Basilisk to-morrow morning.
Wind easterly, with rain.
PLYMOUTH, WxDNESDAT. ""-- The Cowes pilot-bent
No. 6 reports that between three and four o'clock this
morning she saw a large frigate, under
double-reefed
topsails and topgallant sails over all,
pissing up Channel
outside the Eddystone; 'sled , N.N.E
Her Majesty's ship Rodney, 90,
blowing strong.
having completed her ey, 90, Captain Graham,
hands were paid on it„._on
Complement,.. her newly ritis-d ,
it chi by Commodore 'a y b. sour, s
and she sailed the sattle day for Queenstown. The ste,es-a ,
essel Bri k
made a trial tripcharge round .
the Monda
y.
steam on
The screw steam block-ship Sans Pareil WAS towed to
the jetty on Mon to to take in her stores.