The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-03 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—One of the principal subjects of research in the bal-
loon experiments of last year was the determination of the
law of decrease of temperature wi'h increase of elevation.
It is a subject to which very great interest is attached, and
to the determination of which a great deal of labour and re-
search has been devoted, resulting in the adoption of the
theory of a uniform rate of decrease of 1 deg of Fahrenheit's
scale for every increase of 300 feet. The results from my
several ascents last season were that, when the sky was
clear, a decline of 1 deg took place within 100 feet of the
earth, while at the height of 30,000 feet a space of fully
1,000 feet had to be pas* ed for a change of 1 deg of tem-
perature; and that between these limits a gradually in-
creasing space was required for a change of temperature to
the same amount, plainly indicating that the theory of a
decline of 1 deg of temperature for every 300 feet of eleva-
tion must be abandoned.

The previous eight balloon ascents were made in the
months of July, August, and September. It became of
the highest importance to have similar experiments in
the other months of the year ; and the British Associa-
tion, at its meeting in Cambridge, voted £2OO for further
experiments to be begun in the spring, and some of these,
if possible, during the prevalence of the east wind.
The first of these ascents took place with Mr. Coxwell's
large balloon on Tuesday last, March 31, from the grounds
of the Crystal Palace, by the kind permission of the direc-
tors. The gas was prepared by Mr. Ohren, the engineer of
the Crystal Palace Gas Works, and the several instruments
were prepared by Mr. Negretti and Mr. Zambra, the former
gentleman being present to adjust them before starting.
The balloon left the earth at 4h 16m p.m., the tempera-
ture of the air being 50 deg. At 4h 25m we wore one mile
high, with a temperature of 334 deg ; the second mile was
reached at 4h 35m, with a temperature of 26 deg; the third
mile at 4h 44m, when the temperature was 14 deg; and at
31 miles high the temperature was 8 deg. A warm current
of air was met with, and the temperature rose to 12 deg at
4h 58m ; at 5h 2m we passed out of this current, and when 41
miles high the temperature was just zero of Fahrenheit's
scale. . _

In descending, the temperature increased to 11 deg, at
about three miles high, at 5h 38m ; then a cold current was
met with, and it decreased to 7 deg. We soon passed
through it, ar d the temperature increased to 18i deg at
two miles high, to 251 deg at one mile, and to 42 deg on
he ground, which was reached at 6h 30m.
The air was dry before leaving the earth ; it became very
dry at heights exceeding two miles, and at heights exceed-
ing four miles the temperature of the dew point was fully
minus 40 deg.
The course of the b noon on leaving the earth was from
the east, and continued so till about 4h 3m, when it changed,
and at about 4h 45m the Crystal Palace appeared under us ;
its course again changed, and we met with several different
currents of air.

When one mile high the deep roar of London was heard
distinctly, and its murmuring noise was heard at greater
elevations. At the heights of three and four miles the
view was indeed wonderful—the plan-like appearance of
London and suburbs, the map-like appearance of the coun-
try generally; then, running the eye down the winding
Thames, the white cliffs at Margate, and on to Dover.
Brighton was seen and the sea beyond, and all the coast line
wait clear pto Yarmouth—. The north was obscured by
clouds, Looking under us, and to the south, there were
many detached cumuli clouds resting apparently on the
earth, like patches of shining woo], and in some places a
solitary cloud, thus apparently resting on the earth, sur-
rounded by a clear space for many miles.
Looking towards NV indoor, the Thames was like bur
ni.hed gold, and the surrounding water ike bright silver.
Looking towards Putney, the rippling of the water along
the banks of the river was distinctly seen.
Railway trains were the only moving objects visible, and
they looked like some creeping thing, caterpillar-like, ants
the steam was like a narrow line of serpentine mist. Taking
a grand view over the whole visible plain beneath. I was
struck with its regularity. The view did not seem natural ;
it was too even, apparently artificial. The effect of Ole
river scenery was very remarkable in this respect; all the
ships looked very diminutive, but were visible beyond the
Medway. _ _ .

At 6h we could plainly distinguish Greenwich Park as a
small garden, and the Royal Observatory as a gray speck
The Green Man Hotel, Blackheath, was quite distinct ;
all
the docks were mapped out, and every object of moderate
size was seen clearly with the naked eye.
At the height of three miles and a-half Mr. Coxwell said
my face was a glowing purple, and afterwards both our
faces were very blue. At heights exceeding three miles the
feet and tips of the fingers were very cold. The sky was a
'Jeep prussian blue. When three miles high, on descend-
ing, Mr. Coxwell, forgetful of the fact of the grapnel having
been exposed to a temperature of zero, incautiously took
hold of it with his naked hands, and cried out, as in pain,
that he was scalded, and he called on me to assist him to
drop it. The sensation was exactly that of scalding water.
The blackness creeping over the land at sunset was very
remarkable, while the sun was still shining upon us. The
general results of this ascent confirm in a very remarkable
degree those obtained from the preceding experiments, and
indicate that very few more extreme high ascents will be
necessary for this purpose.
I cannot close this account without again expressing my
sense of the great skill and judgment of Mr. Caswell. The
circumstances of this ascent were peculiar. Leaving the
earth early in the season, with a cold east wind, to pass high
up into colder regions, he never for an instant, from leaving
the earth to returning to it, took his eye off the balloon, ex.
cept when otherwise engaged in its management ; indeed,
he was so completely occupied that he was unable to make
a single note. The balloon descended at Barking Side,
near Stratford, at half-past 6 o'clock.—l am, Sir, yours, &o
JAMES GLAISHE it.

THE COLOSSEUM AT ROME.— Within this magni-
ficent amphitheatre lies the Campagna of Rome,
and nothing can be mare rich and varied, with every kind Of
beauty, sometimes, as around Ostia, flat as an American
prairie, with miles of Caltlii and reeds rustling in the wind,
fields of exquisite feathery grasses waving to and fro, and
forests of tall golden trunked stone pines poising their spread-
ing umbrellas of rich green high in the air, and weaving a
murmurous roof against the sun ; sometimes drear, mys-
terious, and melancholy, as in the tit solate stretches be-
tween Civita Vecchia and Rome, with lonely hollows and
hills without a single habitation, where sheep and oxen
feed, and the wind roams over treeless and deserted slopes,
and silence makes its home; sometimes rolling like an
inland sea whose waves have been sucidenly checked and
stiffened, green with grass, gulden with grain, and gra-
cious with myriads of wild flowers, where scarlet poppies
blaze over acres and acres, and pink frilled daisies cover
the meadows, and pendant vines shroud the picturesque
ruins of antique villas, aqueducts, and tombs, or droop from
medisaval towers and fortresses. Such is the aspect of the
Agro Romano, or southern psrtion of the Campagna ex-
tending between Rome and Albano. It is a picture wherever
you go. The land, which is of a deep rich loam that repays
a hundred fold the least toil of the farmer, does not wait for
the help of man, but bursts into spontaneous vegetation,
and everywhere laughs into flowers. Here is pasturage for
millions of cattle, and grain-fields for a continent, that now
in wild untutored beauty bask in the Italian sun, crying
shame on their neglectful owners. Over these long un
fenced slopes one may gallop on horseback for miles, with-
out let or hindrance, through meadows of green smoothness
on fire with scarlet poppies—over hills crowned with ruins
that insist on being painted, so exquisite are they in form
and colour, with their grand background of purple moun •
tains— down valleys of pastoral quiet, where great tufa
caves open into subterranean galleries leading beyond
human ken; or one may linger in lovely secluded groves,
of ilexes and pines, or track the course of swift streams
overhung by dipping willows, and swerving here and there
through broken arches of antique bridges, smothered in
green ; or wander through hedges heaped and toppling over
with rich luxuriant foliage twined together by wild vetches,
honeysuckles, morning glories, and every species of flower-
ing vine ; or sit beneath the sun-looped shadows of ivy-
covered aqueducts, listening to the song of hundreds of larks
far up in the air, and gazing through the lofty arches into
wondrous deeps of violet-hued distances, or lazily watch-
ing flocks of white sheep its they crop the smooth slopes
guarded by the faithful watch-dog. Everywhere are
deep blown banks of pozzolano earth which make the
strong Roman cement, and quarries of tufa and travertine
with unexplored galleries and catacombs honeycombing for
miles the whole Campagna. Dead generations lie under
your feet wherever you tread. The place is haunted by
ghosts that outnumber by myriads the living, and the air is
filled with tender sentiments of sadness which makes the
beauty of the world about you more touching.—Roba di
Rome.

OLD LONDON BRIDGE.—The stone upon which
the Woolwich steamer Sibyl struck at London-bridge on the
7th ult., and sunk, and which, it was feared, would prove a
serious obstruction to the channel of the second arch, has
been got up. It is about three feet square, and on the upper
part a portion projects about a foot, it was no doubt one
of the eteacii of 914 Aontleu-bridge,

- -Cr
ads—k
Ortubt

HER MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, April 2.
The Queen, accompanied by her Royal Highness
the Princess Louis of Hesse, drove out yesterday
afternoon, attended by Lieut.• Gen. Hon. C. Grey,
Equerry in Waiting.
His Royal Highness Prince Arthur, attended by
Major Elphinstone, arrived at the Castle last evening
from the Ranger's Lodge, Green wick Park.
Their Royal Highnesses Prince Alfred and Prince
Louis of Hesse rode on horseback, attended by Capt.
Wester. weller.

Col. the Hon. A. Hardinge, C. 8., has succeeded
Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. D. de Ros as Equerry in
Waiting.

-.-

Earl Cowley, we understand, intends giving a
State dinner and evening party on Wednesday next to
celebrate the marriage of the Prince of Wales, his lordship's
absence in England when the ceremony took place having
prevented his doing so at the time.

His Excellency the Marquis d'Azeglio left the
Italian Legation yesterday fur the Easter recess,

The Duke of Wellington left town yesterday for
Strathfieldsaye. The Duche,s of Wellington will join his
grace on Saturday.

The Duchess (Emily) of Beaufort and Lady Edith
Somerset returned to town on Wednesday from visiting the
Duchess of Beaufort and family at Badminton.

The Marchioness (Maria) of Ailesbury hasjoined
the circle visiting the Duke and Duchess of Manchester at
Kimbelton Castle, near Huntingdon.

Earl Cathcart has left Maurigy's Hotel for Thorn-
ton-le-Street, Thirsk.

Viscount Palmerston and the Right Hon. William
F. Cowper, M.P., will leave Scotland to-morrow morning
for London.

Viscount and Viscountess Campden have left
Portman-square, for the Continent, and contemplate a pro •
tracted residence abroad.

The funeral of Viscount Templetown is to take
place to-morrow at Kensall. green Cemetery.

The Baron and Baroness Walden bourg and family
have arrived at the Brunswick, Jermyn-street, from Baden-
Baden.

The Hon. Blanche Thellusson has arrived at the
Queen's Hotel, Upper Norwood.
FUNERAL OF THE DUKE OF GRAFTON.—The
mortal remains of the late Duke of Grafton were in-
terred yesterday in the family vault at Euston Hall, Suf-
folk, the duke's body having been previously removed from
Wakefield Lodge, Northamptonshire, where he died, to the
family burial-place in Suffolk.

The white and gold basket containing flowers
which was presented to her Royal Highness the Princess
of Wales, and graciously accepted, on her arrival at Sand-
ringham, was made especially f'or the occasion and im-
ported by Mrs. Ottignon, of the Soho Bazaar.

THE INTENDED VOLUNTEER REVIEW AT Ox
FORD.—The Secretary of State for War has given his sanc•
tion to a review of volunteers taking place at Oxtord on
Wednesday, the 24th of June next.

MAUNDAY THURSDAY.—The ancient and Royal
charities associated with Mlunday Thursday were
distributed yesterday, to 44 aged men and 44 aged women,
in Whitehall Chapel, with the customary ceremonial. The
number of each sex corresponds with the age of her most
gracious Majesty the Qusea.
The Corriere dell' Emilia of Bologna announces
that the Emperor of the French has subscribed 2,000 f to
the fund for the relief of the sufferers from brigandage in
Italy.
METROPOLITAN RAILWAY.—The number of
houses to be taken uncle' the powers of this com-
pany's bill for the construction of works and acquisition of
additional lands in St. Giles's Without, Cripplegate, and
St. Sepulchers, is 45, situate in King's Arms-yard, Star-
court, Milton. court, Harp-alley, Philiip's-ccart, New-
court, Round-court, Sharp's-alley, and Greenhill-rents, the
number of persons that will bc thereby displaced being
420.
METROPOLITAN (TOTTENHAM AND HAMPSTEAD
EXTENSION) RAILWAY.---By this company's bill it
is proposed to take 145 houses, in Glocester-place, Islip-
t reet, P terrace,Georgiana -street, P ratt- street,King'i--
road, Ossulston-street, Charlton and Wilsted-streets, an
Southampton-mews, the total number of persons to be cis-
placed being 1,100; but most of the houses will be rebuilt
when the railway works are finished. Zheproposedcapital
of the company is £500,000. The line is to commence near
the Gower-street station of the Metropolitan Railway, tra
verse northwards, on the low level, without altering a single
thoroughfare, to a junction with the Tottenham and Hamp-
stead Junction Railway at the foot of Highg tte• hill. By
this means the Great Eastern Railway will be brought into
communication with the Metropolitan Railway and its in
tended station near Finsbury-circus.

NEW Yomi, March 21.—The Emily Fisher, of
Eastport, which was captured on the 19,h of Feb-
ruary, off Castle Island, Bahamas, by the Confederate
schooner Retribution, was run ashore on Acklyn Islands,
and 236 hhds, of sugar taken out of her and landed there ;
she was then released on bond and arrived here yesterday,
Greenock, April 2.—The Runnymede which arrived here
from Pernambuco, has on board the crews of the two Ame-
'jean vessels the Star of Peace and the Aldebaran, which
have been burnt at sea by the Confederate steamer Florida.
London, April 2.—The Hotspur, which arrived off Portland
from Calcutta, reports that on the 24th of March, in lat.
38 N., long, 34 W., she was chased for three hours by an
American steamer, which tacked and stood to the south-
ward when the British ensign was hoisted by the Hotspur.
A REMINDER.—The following is the concluding
paragraph of the address presented to Lord Pal-
merston at the Working Men's soiree at Glasgow, on Tues-
day evening :—" We devoutly pray that your lordship
may be blessed with uninterrupted health for years yet to
come, and that you may be spared to see our country still
progressing, the people becoming better educated, more
enlightened, and possessing that increased share in the
representation of the country which has been so repeatedly
promised from the Throne, and so confidently expected and
waited for."

ACCIDENT AT A STEEPLECHASE.—At the steeple-
chase of the Irish Brigade, of General Hooker's
army, a serious accident occurred. Dr. Faxon, surgeon of
the 9th Massachusetts, and the quartermaster of the same
regiment,while riding at the top of their speed towards each
other, in attempting to pass, turned in the same direction,
and a collision ensued, by which both horses were instan-
taneously killed, and both the officers were thrown 3011. in
the air, and seriously, and probably fatally injured.—L eio
York Times.

CUSTOM HOUSE CAPTURE.—PLYMOUTH, Thurs-
day.—Yesterday there was placed in the revenue
stcres at this port 12 bales of smuggled tcbacco stalks, each
weighing upwards of 100 lb. It appears that Mr. Rae, the
tide surveyor, having received some previous intimation,
procet ded with much skill and caution to Coffiett Mills, in
the parish of Brixton, about eight miles distant, and quietly
secured his prize, where it was concealed under a rick of
straw, near the premises of Mr. Kendal, the miller. It is
very unusual for smuggled tobacco to be packed in such
large and unhandy bales ; and, from circumstances which
transpired at the time, it is now thought that the venture
was landed beverai weeks since in Catwater, an important
creek in this port, the resort of merchant ships of all classes,
and that it came directly across the channel from the islands
of Jersey or Guernsey. No smuggled tobacco equal in quan-
tity has been taken in this port during the last 10 years,
CON-TEMPORARY OR CO TEMPORARY.--Bentley,
in his " Dissertation upon the Epistles of Phalaris,"
justly remarks that " cotemporary is a downright barba-
ri,m, for the Latins never use co for con, except before a
vowel—as "co-equal," " co-eternal," but before a conso-
nant they either retain the n—as •` contemporary," " COL •
stitution," or melt it into another letter—as " collection,"
" comprehension." So that the Exanzinei's COTEMPORARY
is a word of his own composition, for which the learned
world will cogratulate ," in Notes and
Queries.
A DRUNKEN OUTRAGE.—An extraordinary and
fatal outrage was perpetrated at Mount Sorrel
stone quarries, Leicestershire, on Wednesday afternoon, by
a man named Joseph Webster, manufacturer, and keeper
of the Royal Oak publichouse, Querdon. It appears that
on the afternoon of Wednesday Webster, who was is a
state of intoxication—and when so is a perfect maniac—
drove over to the top of the cliff of Mount Sorrel quarry,
which is worked by Mr. J. Martin, the high sheriff, and
after unharnessing his horse and turning it out upon the
hills, laid hild of the shafts of the spring cart and backed
it over'the precipice (90ft. high) upon the men below, when
a great many were at work. Some of the men underneath
appear to have observed the descent of the trip, for a cry
of warning was raised, and many were enabled to get out
of the way; but one poor man, named Henry Pidcock,
was not so fortunate, for the cart fell upon him. and he re
ceived such serious injuries to his spine that he died in the
course of the evening. The vehicle, it is hardly necessary
to say, was smashed to splinters. Considering the great
number of men (about 630) at work in the quarry, it is
quite surprising that more mischief was not done. Web-
ster, after backing the cart over the precipice, ran away,
but was apprehended the same evening by Police-sergeant
B sworth, of Mount Sorrel, and convoyed to Loughborough
police-station, An inquest on the body of the unfortunato
man who we-13 killed was formally opened at the Exhibition
public-house, Mount Sorrel, on Thursday afternoon,
before Mr, utregory, coroner, and adjourned until Tuesday
next,

THE ALABAMA,

Some further papers relating to the Alabama
have been laid on the table of the House of Com-
mons, in pursuance of the motion of Mr. White.
They show that, on July 22, the Commissioners of
Customs wrote from London to the Collector of Cus-
toms at Liverpool, stating that their solicitor, after
considering the evidence furnished by the United
States Consul, advised that it was not sufficient to
justify any steps ne.ng taken against the vessel, The
Commissioners added, " The solicitor has, however,
stated that if there should be sufficient evidence to
satisfy a court, of enlistment of individuals, they
would be liable to pecuniary penalties, for security
of which, if recovered, this Department might de-
tain
the ship until those penalties are satisfied, or
good bail given, hut there is not sefficient evidence
to require the Customs to prosecute ; it is, however,
competent for the United States Consul, or any
other person to do so at their own risk, if they see
fit." The United States Consul, however, does not
seem to have taken any such step, but continued to
urge the English authorities to " take such steps as
they might deem necessiry." It will be recollected
that, on Saturday, the 26th, there was received at
the Foreign-office from Mr. Adams further evidence,
and a copy of an opinion, given by Mr. Collier, that
the vessel ought to be detained; the papers thus
furnished were immediately laid, by the Govern-
ment, before the law officers of the Crown, who
gave their opinion in time to telegraph to stop the
vessel on Tuesday, the 29th, but she had left the '
Mersey that morning. The United Stateb Consul,
at Liverpool, wrote on the 30th to the Collector
of Customs, stating that her steam-tug, the
Hercules, had returned, and the master said that
the Alabama had six guns on board, concealed be-
low, and was taking powder from another vessel,
and that the Hercules, itself, was at that moment
taking on board 40 or 50 men, beams evidently for
gun carriages, and other things to convey to the
gunboat, which on the previous night was cruising
50 miles off, and, he added, that a quantity of cut-
lasses were taken on board on the 25th. The Sur-
veyor to the Customs went on board the Hercules,
and strictly examined her, and found no guns, no
ammunition, and nothing of a suspicious character;
and he says he has the fullest confidence that the
Alabama left Liverpool without any part of her ar-
mament, without even a single gun or musket on
board. The master of the Hercules deposes---" I
tett the river on the 30th, and took with me from
25 to 30 men, who, I believe, were to be employed
on board as part of the crew; they appeared to be
all sailors or firemen. I found the vessel about 3
o'clock that afternoon in Beaumaris Bay. I put
the men on board, and lay alongside till midnight.
We were from three to four miles from the shore.
Besides the men, I put on board an anchor-stock,
a piece of wood about 15ft long, and two pieces of
brass belonging to the machinery. I neither carried
guns, powder, or ammunition of any kind to her, nor_
did I see anything of this description on board.
There was no vessel of any description came near
the vessel while I was by her. I have never seen
the American Consul to my knowledge. I
never told him or any one else they were
taking powder on board the new vessel. I
never was told what she was for, or what was her
destination. The piece of wood which 1 have men•
ioned was not in any way fit fora gun-carriage. I
t tic ught it was intended to rest the ship's boat upon;
it was planed and cut out for some purpose, if not
to rest the boat upon. The papers show that the
Government telegraphed to Beaumaris, Holyhead,
and Cork, to seize the vessel, if she should enter
either of those ports, but her captain was much too
cautious to do so. He kept cruising about, meeting
the tugboat in the afternoon of Wednesday the 30th,
.and getting out to sea at 3 o'clock next morning.