The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-19 00:00:00

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At a meeting of the members o OhreY
vice Institution on Monday evens - - e es'eAii
Mr. Findlay, was read, °On LightlebuseiA: ins
which he explained and commented on the diffe-
rent methods that have been contrived for concen-
trating the light, and noticed particularly the ap-
plication of the electric light to lighthouse pur-
poses. The paper, which was read by Admiral
Collinson, was very elaborate, and considered sepa-
rately the construction of lighthouses, the ap-
pliances for concentrating and directing the light,
and the character of the light employed. With
respect to the construction, it was stated, and
illustrated by drawings and by a model, thet
the recently adopted method of dovetailing the blocks
of stone perpendicularly as well as horizontally ren-
ders them when cemented as substantial as if the
structure were one eolid mass of granite. Sums idea
may be formed of the fur cc to which these st ructurc
are exposed, when it is stated that during some re-
cent experiments at the Sherries lighthouse the
waves struck the bui:ding wiTh a force of upwaruet
of 2,0e01b. on the squalc ;out. The chief portion ut
the paper was occupied with explanations and exa-
tninatior,s of the comparative merits of the plans
contrived for concentrating the rays of light, so as
to prevent them from being uselessly dissipated,
and to throw them in a horizontal direction alone.
A great variety of lenses and of reflectors were ex-
hibited, which brilliantly illuminated the lecture-
room, and threw a dszzling light on all the objects
to which they were successively directed. The ca-
toptrical method of concentrating the light, by the
adaptation of lenses, has been usually considered
superior to the reflection of the light from paraboli-
cal reflectors, but in Mr. Findlay's opinion reflectors
answer the purpose better, as they do not obstruct
the ray s. The combination of the two principles of
reflection and refraction, seems, however, to have
produced effects superior to either when used singly.
In considering the kind of light that can be seen at
the greatest distance, and which possesses the most
penetrating power, Mr. Findlay noticed particularly
the electric light, which has been applied at Dun-
geness lighthouse for two years with great success;
and to show the superiority of its illuminating
power it was exhibited behind a lighthouse lens
1 which had been previously used for concentrating
the rays of a large argand lamp with concentric
wicks. The splendour of the lamp, which was
beautifully iridescent, was quite overpowering, and
it could only be looked at when reflected from a
screen. This practical application of the electric
light was contrived by Professor Holmes, who
showed the arrangement for maintaining and
preserving it steadiy at the recent Exhibition,
when the electrical power was excited by a mag-
neto-electrical machine of great size. Professor
Holmes, who was present on this occasion, was
called on to explain the principle of his invention.
With the electric lamp before him, he pointed out
the mechanical contrivances he had applied for the
purpose of keeping the carbon points at the requi-
site distance apart, and he showed how readily the
light could be regulated and be maintained in con-
stant action. The cylinders of carbon employed last
about three hours, and there is an arrangement at
Dungeness for renewing them without any discon-
tinuance of the light by bringing another lamp in-
stantly into action. He mentioned many instances
of the penetrating power of the light during fogs,
when no other lights could be seen, to show the
great value of the electric light when applied to
give signals at sea during foggy weather. The
coloured rays seen in the lecture-room are not, he
said, perceptible at sea, when mingled with the
other rays of light, excepting when observed
through a telescope, and then the cause of them is
beautifully apparent, and they cannot be mistaken
for a coloured light. As an instance of the pene-
trating power of the electric rays, it was stated
that on the night of the illumination, at a time wnen
the fog was so dense that to a spectator on Primrose
Hill there was complete darkness over London, the
glimmer of the electric light on the Monument could
be distinguished.
tsoTheProesnkrs Holmes,ha
having been voted to Mr. Findlay and to
the meeting adjourned.

STATE OP TRADE.

' MANCHESTER, March 17.-:-There has been a consider-
' able amount of business transacte d to-day in yarns. There
have been buyers for India, China, the Mediterranean,
Germany, the home trade—in fact, for every market with-
, out any exception, and the prices given have varied from
id. to le'. per lb. higher than could be obtained last week
for the classes most in request tor manufacturers and for
export. For the Bolton class of yarns there has also
been a go d demand at Id. per lb. advance, and some spin-
ners have asked 2d to 3d per lb. more than they could
have obtained last week. The market has been exceed-
ingly strong, and a very excited feeling has prevailed. The
great advance in sellers' quotations has no doubt prevented
business to some extent, but for India mule buyers have
given the terms of spinners more freely than might have
been expected. In the cloth market there has also been a
good deal of excitement yesterday and to-day, owing partly
to the advanced prices of cotton at Liverpool and partly to
the encouraging tenour of advices from India. A telegram
from Bombay of the 27th of February states thac cloths had
advanced 9d to 15d per piece. There was also a telegram to
hand from Calcutta to the 27th of February yesterday stating
that the demand for goods was active, with 811 b. shirtings at
Sr 6a; 71b., at 7r 6a; Glb., at 6r 12a; white jaconets,
3r sa; gray jaconets, 4r 8a; 61b T-cloths, 5r 4a; figured
shirtings, 7r 13a; and gray madapollams, 3r 14a. Yarns:
Banner mill, at Ila 3 pice. Owing to these advices, shirt-
ing cloths and most descriptions of prints have advanced
6d per piece in the Manchester market, but it has been
difficult to get orders to make for future delivery, and
this has limited business a good deal. There has been
very little doing in longcloths and T-cloths, but of long-
cloths the production was previously engaged to some ex-
tent for the Levant. There has been some inquiry for
jaconets, and a good deal of business has bean doing since
Thursday last in mulls, both to order and out of stock.
The advances asked by manufacturers have tended a good
deal to check business. The business in cloths generally
indeed, has not been so large as was expected, the excessive
prices demanded for yarns having put it out of the power
of manufacturers to take orders for cloth at the rates which
could have been obtained. By the quotations given above
from Calcutta it will bo seen that the selling prices there and
the buying prices here are more nearly approximating than
they have been for a long time past. The prices there of 71b
shirtings, for instance, after allowing 35. 9d. per piece for
freights and other charges, come within Is. 6d. to 2s. per
piece of the rate at which they might have been purchased
here to-day. A fair amount of business is reported in tho
aggregate, but not so much as was expected from the nature
of advices to hand, and consequently the market closes with
a feeling, to some extent, of disappointment.

SHOCKING DEATH FROM STARVATION.--YeSter
day morning Mr. Humphreys held an in.piest at the
Britannia Tavern, Paul- street, Finsbury, respecting the
death of Sarah Jarvis, aged 67, who died on Sunday last.
Anne Jarvis, James-street, Curtain-road, an elderly and
poverty-stricken-looking woman, said that the deceased was
her mother. They supported themselves by needlework.
Deceased worked last Friday in bed, while she was speech-
less. She used to earn about Gd. per week. Witness only
got lid. each for the shirts she made,and her earnings were
2s. Gd. per week. They paid Is. 9d. a week rent. They
were allowed ls. Gd. and two loaves of bread every week by
the pari,h. Deceased got animal food very rarely, and When
witness could get half a pound of meat for 2d she gave it to
her. She used to have just enough food to keep body and
soul together. Witness had brothers, but they were too
poor to contribute to deceased's support. A married daugh-
ter used to give her 9d. per week. The witness also stated
that they were unwilling to go to the workhouse, under the
impression that they would be worse off there. Dr. Collier,
medical officer to the parish of St. Leonard's, Shorediteh,
said that he gave the family an order to go into house.
They refused to go. Deceased died from effusionthe of serum
on the brain, arising from disease and want of sufficient
food. Alter some remarks among the jurors on the singula
rity th-t the poor should entertain the idea so generally
that the food g; von hi the workhouse was insufficient, they
returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence
and requested the coroner to write to the board of guae-
diens to call their attention to the fact that the allowance
to the unfortunate deceased and her (laughter was altogether
inadequate to their wants,
TURK EY.—The population of Turkey in Europe
according to Übicini's statistical t tbles, is thus composed--
Ottomans, 2,100,000; Albanians, 1,50 ),000 ; Tartars and
other Mahomedans, 950,000 ; total Mahomedans, 4,b50,000
Greeks, 1,000,000, and not 4,000,000, as reported in Mr
Layard's speech ; Catholics, 640,000 ; Slaves, 6,200,000;
Armenians and others, about 500,000.
RANGE OF TEMPERATURE.—At 7 a.m. or, the
14th ult, the thermometer at Montreal was 10 deg below
zero; at 11 a.m. of the next day it was at 42 deg, a rise of
62 deg in about half that number of hours.
AGRICULTURAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.—The
Earl of Dartmouth has consented to take the chair at the
third anniversary festival of this charity, on Wednesday
the 27th May.