The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-21 00:00:00

POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.

The ghosts of the Polytechnic, which manifest
themselves as a startling appendix to Mr. Pepper's
" Strange Lecture" on optical illusion, have proved
singularly attractive, and when the hour wives for
their appearance the lecture-room becomes as
crowded as the pit of a theatre on the night of
Boxing•day. Mr. Pepper certainly hints in the
course of his lecture that a concave mirror lies at
the foundation of the spectral phenomena, but half
knowledge of the cause by no means diminishes the
wonder produced by the effect, so skilful is the use
made of a well known expedient. There, in his cell,
at the back of the room, sits the solitary student, till
his lucubrations are disturbed, first, by a skeleton,
then by a bust of Apollo, accompanied by a young
man. Enraged at the interruption, the student en-
deavours to demolish the intruders, but they offer
no resistance to his touch, and he finds that he is
fighting with empty air. And, what is most curious
to the eyes of the spectator, the ghosts are fully as
substantial as the persecuted student—nay, on one
occasion, he becomes even more shadowy than his
visitors. The lecture and its awful supplement over,
an illusion of another kind, addressed, not to the
eye, bat to the ear, is effected by Mr. Devon, a most
accomplished ventriloquist, who holds converse with
three imaginary persons, respectively situated in the
garret, the cellar, and a box immediately before him,
and receives answers in which the modifying power
of distance and obstruction is imitated with singu-
lar accuracy. The pantomime of " Harlequin and
Cinderella," represented partly by dissolving views
painted by Mr. Hine, partly by the shadows of liv-
ing actors, is a happy combination of Christmas
drollery with the phenomena that more particularly
belong to a scientific establishment. The manner
in which mechanical effects are produced by means
of magic-lantern slides is most remarkable. The
curtain, though nothing but a spectrum, rolls up
with every appearance of solidity. Smoke issues
from the pipe of Cinderella's father, the torrent
which she crosses in her flight from the ball looks
like a volume of real splashing water, the wheels of
her carriage actually revolve when she revisits the
Prince's castle. The drollery of the pantomime is
materially assisted by Mr. George Bsckland, who
reads a humorous description of the passing scenes,
and proves himself an excellent singer of comic
songs.

Notices of Motions in the House of Commons.

Mr. SOMES—(lntoxicating Liquors)—To call the atten-
tiun of the house to the sale of intoxicating drinks on the
Sabbath, with a view to the introduction of a measure for
its abolition.

Mr. TORRENS—To move for returns relating to the
woods, forests, and land revenues.

Mr. WRIOHTSON—(Vacating Seats)--Bill to amend the
Act of Queen Anne with regard to the vacating of seats in
this house on acceptance of office.

Mr. WYLD—(Tickets of Leave)—Address for papers and
return relating to the present system of granting tickets of
leave, and for an extension of the system► of transportation
beyond the seas.
Mr. WYLD—To call the attention of the house to the
present defective management of the barrack canteens
throughout the United Kingdom.

COTTON FROM TIIRKEY..—The Smyrna Mail o
the 31st ult., after alluding to the interest attach•

ing to the opening of the Smyrna and Adin Railway Com•
pany, by means of which Ephesus is brought within ten
days' journey of England, says :—" But this is not the
only advantage which has accrued from the opening of this
railway so far; it has laid open a fertile tract of land cap-
able of every cultivation, and adaptable more especially to
that of cotton. Our columns have daily been nearly
filled with the reports of the cotton commission which has
been established here, and the exertions which have been
made, not only by the imperial Government, but by pri-
vate individuals, to increase the growth of this important
staple of English requirement. Continually have we urged
upon our friends of England the great efforts we are making
to alleviate their wants, and how desirous we are of showing
that Turkey, under the good administration it is now, is
capable of becoming a country from which the introduc-
tion of exporting large quantities of cotton may even help
to rival America. The 12,000 bales of last year have aug-
mented to above 60,000 this season, and will next season
increase to above 100,000 bales, which show not a small
item for the capabilities of Asia Minor to supply cotton,
considering the rude mode of cultivation hitherto adopted.
Facts will, however, speak for themselves, and the public
throughout the world will know in time the value which
our journal has hitherto been in promoting the publicity of
cotton cultivation here."

FRANCE AND MEXICO.—La Patrie publishes the
following in prominent type :—" Adviees received
via San Antonio informs us of the defeat of General Ortega
by 5,000 men of our "avant-garde" against 25,000 Mexican
troops. General Forey, at Puebla, was waiting for rein-
forcements. 6,000 French have landed at Tampico."

A MEDICAL OFFICER OF THE MANCHESTER
WORKHOUSE CHARGED WITH PERJURY.—At the
City Police-court, yesterday, Mr. Evan Thomas, one
of the medical officers of the New Bridge-street Work-
house, and also one of the district medical officers under
the Manchester Board of Guardians, was brought up
under a warrant charging him with having, on the 6th of
January, before Mr. E. Herford, the city coroner, been
guilty of wilful and corrupt perjury, in the evidence given
by him touching the oeath of Mary Ann Bell, late of Bas-
senthwaite, Keswick, Cumberland.—Mr. Maybury, the
superintendent of the Detective Department, said that
ho apprehended the prisoner about half an hour previ-
ously, under a warrant charging him with perjury.
Witness read the warrant to Mr. Thomas, who made no
reply.—Mr. Ellison—Are you prepared to go into the
case ?—Mr. Maybury—l believe not to-day.—Mr. Robin-
son—l may state in this case I believe that I shall have
the misfortune—for I feel it to be a misfortune—to ap-
pear to prosecute Mr. Thomas for the offence brought
before you to-day. We are not at present prepared to go
on with the case. The gentleman who instructs me has
come from a long distance, and we are not prepared with
our witnesses now. But, inasmuch as Mr. Thomas would
be entitled to bail, and I shall not make the slightest ob-
jection to any bail which your Worships may think proper
to require, probably a short remand, to the day after to-
morrow, will be most convenient. We shall then come
fully prepared to go into the case. Probably Mr. Thomas
will succeed in getting bail, and he need not then be sub-
ject to the inconvenience of being detained here.—Mr.
Thomas said that he had sent for his solicitor.—Mr.
Ellison : It is not proposed to carry the case to a conclu-
sion, or, in fact, one step further to-day. The only
question is with regard to bail. We shall admit you t o bail
on producing two sureties of £lOO each, and yourself being
bound in the sum of £2oo.—The case was adjourned to
Thursday.
DUNDEE.—MAN DROWNED IN THE HARBOUR.—
Early yesterday morning the body of a man named
Peter Taylor, a joiner, residing in Mid-wynd, was found
by the men employed on the dredger, lying on a bank at
the south side of the tidal harbour. We understand that
he left his home on Saturday night, and it is supposed that
he had wandered down to the harbour and stumbled in. He
was about 40 years of age, and leaves a wife and family.—
Scotsman.
IN POSITION.—In the battle of Fredericksburg
General Sykes,second brigade (regulars),tben under
command of Major Andrews, was ordered to take a parti-
cular position at midnight preceding the terrible engage-
ment, and to hold it at all hazards. It crossed the river,
arrived at the point, and the whole command were ordered
to lie upon the ground. At daybreak the cause of this last
order became apparent. The brigade was within 80 yards
of a stone wall, behind which were stationed the rebel sharp-
shooters, and not far behind them E 6 rebel cannon, entirely
commanding the position thus occupied by our troops if
they stood up. They were protected (lying down) by a
ridge immediately in their front, hardly higher than that
thrown up by a deep waggon rut. As long as they lay
perfectly still it was, however, a sufficient cover for them,
Thus the brigade held the position for 24 hours, not firing a
1
gun, but suffering to the extent of one-tenth the whole
number killed and wounded by the rebel sharpshooters,
who picked off every man of them raising his person high
enough to permit him even to light a pipe,—Wathillig°n
Star,