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

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sut,—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 accents 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 pasfel 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, pLinly 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 he 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 were 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 2rn 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, atel the temperature increased to 184 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 lloon 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 appeare t 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
was 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 wool, and in some places a
solitary cloud, thus apparently resting on the earth, sur-
rounded by a clear space for many miles..
Looking towards W indsor, 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, and
the steam was like a narrow line of serpentine mist. Taking
a grand view over the whole visible plain beneath, I wai
struck with its regularity. the view did not seem natural ;
it was too even, apparently artificial. The effect of the
river scenery was very remarkable in this respect; all the
ships looked very diminutive, but were visible beyond the
Medway.
At 5h 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
deep 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 vary 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
ense of the great skill and judgment of Mr. Coxwell. 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.--I am, Sir, yours, eee 5
JAMES GLAISHE R

THE COLOSSEUM AT ROME.—Within this magni-
ficent amphitheatre lies the Campagna of Rome,
and nothing can be more rich and varied, with every kind of
beauty, sometimes, as around Ostia, flat as an American
prairie, with miles of canni and reeds rustling in the wind,
fields of ( xquisite feathery grasses waving to and fro, and
forestsof tall gob:en 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 desolate 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
it land sea whose waves have been suddenly checked and
stiffened, green with grass, golden with grain, and gra-
cious with myriads of wild flowers, wh- re scarlet poppies
bleze 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
mediaeval towers and fortresses. Such is the aspect of the
Agro Romano, or southern portion 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 wbito sheep as they crop the smooth slopes
gull:tied by the faithful watch-dog. Everywhere are
deep 13; own 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 ie
filled with tender sentiments of sadness which makes the
beauty of the world about you more touchinge—Rok di
Rorna.

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 prcjects about a foot, It waa no doubt one
of the otohee of old London-bridge,

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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 E iphinstone, arrived at the Castle last evening
from the Ranger's Lodge, Greenwick 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 for the Easter recess.

The Duke of Wellington left town yesterday for
Strathfieldsaye. The Ducheks 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 Marebione§s (Maria) of Ailesbury has joined
the circle visiting the Duke and Duchess of Manchester at
Kimbelton Castle, near Huntingdon.

Earl Cathcart has left Manrigy'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.

Ttie Baron and Baroness Waldenbou. rg 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 flower:,
which was presented to her Royal Highness the Princess
of Wale., and graciously accepted, on her arrival at Sand-
ringham, was made especially for 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 sans•
tion to a review of vo:unteers taking place at Oxtord on
Wednesday, the 24th of June next,

MAUNDAY TIIURSDAY.—The ancient and Royal
charities associated with M,unday Thursday wort
disfributed yesterday, to 44 aged men and 44 aged women,
in Whitehall Chapel, with the customary ceremonial. Thp
number of each sex corresponds with the age of her most
gracious Majesty the Queen.

The Corriere deli' 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 under 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, Phillip's-court, New-
court, Round-court, Sharp's-alley, and Greenhill-rents, the
number of persons that will ba thereby displaced beirg
420.

METROPOLITAN (TOTTENHAM AND HAMPSTEAD
EXTENSION) RAILWAY.--By this company's bill
is proposed to take 145 houses, in Glocester-place, Islip-
street, terrace, Georgiana -street, Pratt- street,King's-
road, Oesulston-street, Charlton and Wasted-streets, and
Southampton-mews, the total number of persons to be dis-
placed being 1,100; but most of the houses will be rebuilt
when the railway works are finished. The proposed capital
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 Hawp-
stead Junction Railway at the foot of Highgite. hill. By
this means the Great Eastern Railway will be brought into
comrounicat;on with the Metropolitan Railway and its in-
tended station near Finsbury-circus.

NEW YORK, March 21.—The Emily Fisher, of
Eis'p )rt, which was captured on the 19th 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-
rican 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 hay, 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. Paxon, 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 30ft. in
the air, and seriously, and probably fatally injured,—/Veut
York Times.

CUSTOM HOUSE CAPTURE.—PLYMOUTH, Thurs-
day.—Yesterday there was placed in the revenue
stores at this port 12 bales of smuggled tobacco stalks, each
weighing upwards of 100 lb. It appears that Mr. Rae, the
tide surveyor, having received some previous intimation,
proceeded with much skill and caution to Coffiett Mills, in
the parish of Brixton, about eight miles distant, and quieby
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 several 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-
rism, 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 Examiner's COTEMPORARY
is a word of his own composition, for which the learned
world will cogratulate him.—" ," in Notes and
Quer tes.
A DRUNKEN OUTRAGE.—An extraordinary and
fatal outrage was perpetrated at Mount Sorrel
stone quarries, Leicestershire, on Wednesday afternoon, by
a man named Josaph Webster, manufacturer, and keeper
of the Royal Oak publiehouse, Quordon, It appears that
on the afternoon of Wednesday Webster, who was in a
drove
h over
ot
roktehde
bt oyp
Morf. t,Th.e cliff
rot
ifn
state of intoxication—and when so is a perfect maniac--
,Mt ohne nht
igh Sorrelsh e r
ffu, a rarnyd,
after unharnessing his horse and turning it out upon the
hills, laid held of the Fhafts 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 o 1: served the descent of the tr ip, 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 conveyed to Loughborough
police-station, An inquest on the body of the unfortunate
man who Wi s killed was formally opened at the Exhibition
public-house, Mount Sorrel, on Thursday afternoon,
before Mr, tiregory, coroner, and adjourned until Tuesday
next,