The Sun.
London, England, 1839-08-31 00:00:00

The Hon. Captain Hay, brother to Lord Errol,
has been appointed sub-inspector-of police in the county
Kilkenny, in the room of Captain Ashlors, transferred to
another county.
STEAM v. WzND....--The Orpheus, Capt. Bailey,
one of the fastest sailing packets between Liverpool and
New York, arrived on Tuesday last, having left the United
States on the Ist August with the Great Western and
British Queen steamers. The Independence, Capt. Nye,
sailed on the 7th and reached Liverpool yesterday, the
28th. The steamers have therefore, had considerably
the advantage of the sailing packets on the last trip home-
ward. The Great Western effected the passage in twelve
days and a half ; the British Queen in fourteen days ; the
Orpheus in twenty-six days ; and the independence in
twenty-one days—the balance in favour of the Great
Western over the Orpheus being thirteen days and a half
—and over the Independence eight days and a half ; and
in favour of the British Queen over the Orpheus twelve
days, and over the Independence seven days. It should,
however, be remembered that Liverpool is one day's sailing
or half a day's steaming further from New York than
Bristol.—Liverpool Mail.

Too HOT TO LAST !—lt may be necessary to
tell our English friends, that although the thermometer
stands this day at ninety-six in the shade, it is too hot to
last. In four more weeks the weather will be delightful.
We met a gentleman yesterday who came out passenger
in the British Queen, when the following conversation
ensued :—" You have not left the city?"—" No; but I'd'
like to have melted out of my skin yesterday." " When
do you leave?"—" To-morrow." " For Canada?"—
" No." " For the far springs ?"—" No." " For the
far West ?"—" No." " For the South ?"—" My God
no." " Where then?"—" Back to England." "So
soon ?"—" Soon I Good Heavens I what would you have?
I've been here but three days, and I've lost fifteen pounds
by perspiration. If I stay much longer I'll fall through
the left leg of my breeches." The present weather is too
hot to last.—Americanpaper.

One day last week a soldier of the garrison at
Grenoble, having more cartridges given out to him than
his cartouche-box would contain, put some of them into
his shako. By some accident not satisfactorily accounted
for, the temporary magazine at the top of his head caught
fire, exploded, carried the shako at least 30 feet into the
air, and deprived the man of his hair and whiskers, but
fortunately did him no other injury (!)

The Government emigrant ship Florist, which
sailed from Gravesend for Sydney on the 18th of June
last, with emigrants from Kent and Sussex, has been heard
of in lat 11.55 north, long. 24,30, date 22d of July. She
had made a prosperous passage, and the emigrants were
all in excellent health and spirits. This is the first of the
Government vessels of which there has been an opportunity
to have any accounts since various extensive alterations
in 1839 into the nature of the arrangements on board of
them.

rn
FALLING STARS knltESLAW.)—Statement of
the great fall of stars in the night of the 10th of August,
1839:—" Thu sky has been again particularly propitious
for observing another fall of stars. On many days and
nights preceding the 10th the heavens had been so covered
that we could not observe when the uncommonly fre-
quent fall of stars commenced. On the 10th of August,
however, our hopes of seeing the phenomena increased 4
owing to the clearness of the weather, and we were
perfectly satisfied towards night time. Already as
early as dusk, an extraordinary fall of stars began.
It was not, however, sufficient to count the numbers
that fell ; it was desirable also to measure the time of their
appearance and of the continuance of their fall, according
to Franzmann's instrument, which beats thirds of seconds,
and, moreover, to ascertain their relative light and apparent
course in the heavens, and all these observations could
commence only at twenty-six minutes past nine, when all
the observers, fifteen in number, were assembled,
occupying six windows of the observatory. Four
gentlemen took care to observe and register the time
of each appearance, according to two clocks.
Till fourteen minutes past three, when dawn put
a stop to the observations, they noticed 1,008 falling
stars, not including numbers which must have been over-
Joked, because the number of observers was insufficient.
Sometimes the stars succeeded so rapidly, that nothing
out the time could be noted down. The courses of only
977 have therefore been marked upon the star maps,
with all the circumstances relative to them. The fol-
lowing result is as near the exact truth as possible :
Five stars appeared as bright as Venus, fourteen as
Jupiter, 238 as stars of the first magnitude, 354 were
noted of the second, and 257 of the third magnitude ;
101 were reckoned smaller still, and the size of eight
was omitted in the hurry ; 273 exhibited themselves with
tails. It is useless to mention the apparent path of the
stars, inasmuch as they varied according to the places of
observation ; but we may just infer from that circumstance
the possibility of measuring their distance and height from
the earth. We therefore should wish fur corresponding
observations in foreign countries. Three of our zealous
observers devoted the following night also to science, and
saw 323 falling stars, whilst the sky was partly
covered. In the alight of August 12 an observer
counted 103 more, from ten o'clock to 45 minutes
past one. Therefore the annual periodical return of an
uncommon fall of stars towards the 10th of August is once
more confirmed, as well as that the passage of this host of.
meteors near the earth lasts several days. If it were pos-
sible, with the aid *f corresponding. observations, to calcu-:
late the direction of their passage with reference to the
movement of the earth and their rapidity, we should then
be able to form a notion of the extent which these multi_
tudes of stars occupy in space. (Signed) VON BOGUS':
Lows Kr. Breslow, August 14, 1839. "—Prussian State
Gazette.

(From Lag,- Night's Gazette.)
INDIA BOARD, Are. 29.—A despatch has been received
at the East India House, from the Governor in. Council of
Bombay, of which the following is an extract:—
We avail ourselves of the departure of the East India
Company's steamer Berenice, for the Persian Gulf, to
transmit to the Honoutable the Secret Committee our
latest intelligence up to this date.
Private letters have been received from Candahar up to
the 20th of May, and the intelligence they communicate
is satisfactory.
His Majesty Shah Sltooja-001-Moolk was crowned on
the Bth of May, and we have the honour to. inclose in this
despatch copies of the three General Ord4s issued on the
occasion by his Excellency Lieutenant- Gen:al Sir John
Keane.- We have not obtained these oiEcially, but we
have no doubt of tytir authenticity.
A force under conttriand of Brigadier Sale having been
detached against Gerishk, that place was occupied, with-
out opposition, err the 15th of May, the Sirdars of Can-
dahar having ticcampeil before the Brigadier's arrival.
The troops were generally healthy, and provisions,
though still scarce, were becoming more plentiful. It
was ianticipated that the army would be able to commence
its_ march on Cabool. about the 10th of June, its movement
before the above date being delayed on account of a large
convoy of treasure and supplies expected from Shikarpore.
It was generally believed, in camp, that the na-
tive portion of the Bombay division of the Army of
the Indus would remain at Candahar ; and that the
European portion would proceed to Ghiznee; and that,
after reaching this place, the whole of the Bengal divi-
sion would march on Cabool. No authentic intelligence
had been obtained of the intention of Dost Mahomed ;
but there is good reason to believe that he has already been
deserted bymany okhis chiefs and followers. . .
The intelligence of the state of affairs at Herat continues
satisfactory. A mission, under the guidance of Major
Todd, was about to be deputed to that place, with presents
from the Right Honourable the Governor-General of
India to Shah Kamran; several officers of the En-
gineers and Artillery are to accompany the mission, for the
purpose of improving the fortifications of Herat; but we
do not understand that it is considered necessary to send
any portion of our army, now in Affghanistan, to that place.

e ad
forces-Q uar
ot ef r Camp,nal
and e
Bombay
ORDERS.
H
The combined
assembled at Candahar, the Commander-in-Chief congra-
tulates all ranks on the triumphant, though arduous march
aothbaary,
beingl‘layw
4.n now
which they have accomplished, from distant and distinct
parts of India, with a regularty and discipline which is much
appreciated by him, and reflects upon themselves the highest
credit. The difficulties which have been surmounted have
been of no ordinary nature, and the recollection of what
has been overcome must hereafter be a pleasing reflection
to those concerned, who have so zealously, and, in so soldier-
like a manner, contributed to effect them, so as to arrive
at the desired end. The engineers had to make roads,
and occasionally in some extraordinary steep mountain
passes, over which no wheeled carriage had ever passed.
This was a work requiring science and much severe labour ;
but so well has it been done that the progress of the army
was in no way impeded. The heavy and light ordnance
were alike taken over in safety, by the exertions and good
spirit of the artillery, in which they were most cheerfully
and ably assisted by the troops both European and
Native, and in a manner which gave the whole proceed-
ing the appearance that each man was working for a
favourite object of his own.
2. His Excellency shares in the satisfaction which the

troops must feel (after the difficult task they have accom-
plished, and the trying circumstances under which they
have been placed, the nature of which is well known to
themselves, and therefore unnecessary for him to detail)
at knowing the enthusiasm with which the population of
Candahar have received and welcomed the return of their

lawful Sovereign, Shah Shooja-001-Moolk, to the throne
of his ancestors in Affghanistan. Sir John Keane will
not fail to report to the Right Hon. Lord Auckland,
Governor-General of India, his admiration of the conduct
and discipline of the troops, by which means it has been
easy to effect and to fulfil the plans of his Lordship in the
operations of the campaign hitherto.
3. The Commander-in-Chief has already, in a general
order, dated the ith ultimo, expressed his acknow-
ledgments to Major-General Sir Willoughby Cotton,
for the creditable and judicious manner in which he con-
ducted the Bengal column to the valley of Sbawl. His
Excellency has now a pleasing;duty to perform, in request-
ing Major. General Wilshire, commanding the Bombay
column, to accept his best thanks for his successful exer-
tiens in bringing the troops of that Presidency to this ground
in the most efficient and soldier-like state.
4. The Commander-in-Chief entertains a confident ex-
pectation that the same orderly conduct which has gained
for the troops the goodwill of the inhabitants of
the states and countries through which they have
passed, will continue to be observed by them
during their, advance upon Cabool, when the
proper time for the adoption of that step shall have been
decided upon by his Excellency, iu concert with his Ma-
jesty Shah Shooja-001-Moolk, and the Envoy and Minister
W. H. Macnaghten, Esq., representing British interests
at the Court of the King of Affghanistan.
MAT s.—On the occasion of bis Majesty Shah Shooja-
ool-Moolk taking possession of his Throne, and receiving
the homage of his people at Candahar, the following cere-
monial will be observed :

The whole of the troops now at head•gaarters
will be formed in review order at daylight in the
morning of the Bth instant, on ground which will be
pointed out to Assistant Adjutants-General of Divisions to_
morrow afternoon, at five o'clock, by the Deputy Adjutant-
General of the Bengal army.
The troops will take up their ground in the following
order from the right
Bengal—Horse artillery, cavalry brigade, camel bat-
tery, Ist brigade of infantry, 4th brigade of infantry.
Bombay.—Horse artillery, cavalry brigade, infantry
brigade. _ _ _

The 4th local horse will take up a position in front of the
right flank, and the Poonah auxiliary horse in front of the
left flank, for the purpose of keeping the space in advance
of the troops clear of the populace.
A platform will be erected for his Majesty Shah Shooja-
ool- Moolk in front of the centre of the line, on either flank
of which detachments of his Majesty's cavalry will take
post to prevent the intrusion of the populace.
Captain Lloyd's battery of Bombay artillery will be sta-
tioned at the Edgah gate of the town, and will fire a royal
salute as his Majesty passes.
The troops of his Majesty, Shah Shooja will be drawn
up in the street in the most convenient situation, between
the gate and the British army, and will salute his Majesty
as he passes. The King's artillery will be formed near
the Palace, and will fire a royal salute on the departure
and return of his Majesty.
On his Majesty approaching the platform, a royal salute
is to be fired from one of the batteries in the line ; and, on
his appearing in front of the troops, he will be received
with a general salute from the whole line, the colours
being lowered in the manner that is usual to crowned heads,
and, as soon as the infantry have shouldered arms, one hun-
dred and one guns are to be fired from the batteries in line,
under directions of Brigadier Stevenson.
The Envoy, and Ministers and officers attached to the
mission, the Commander-in-Chief and his personal staff,
and the officers at the heads of departments, and Affghan
Sirdars, arc to be stationed on tke right of the throne,
syeds and moollahs on the left, the populace on both sides
and rear of the Shah, restrained by his Majesty's cavalry,
4th local horse, and. Poonah auxiliary horse.
The Envoy and Commander-in- Chief will present nuz-
zurs, as representatives of Government.
The officers of the Shah's force will also present nuz-
zurs, leaving their troops for that purpose after the Shah
has passed, and returning to receive his Majesty.
The Shah's subjects will then present nuzzurs. At the
close of the ceremony the troops will march past, the ca.
valry in columns of squadrons, the infantry in columns of
companies, in slow time ; the columns will move up to
the wheeling point in quick time : the columns having
passed will continue their route towards the encampment,
the 4th brigade of Bengal infantry moving on to the Ca-
hoot gateway, at which his Majesty will enter the city,
where it will form a street, and salute his Majesty as he
passes.

The troops are to appear in white trousers ; the dicers
of the general staff in blue trousers and gold lace.
Corps will parade on the occasion as strong as possible,
and the encampments will be protected by the convales-
cents, and by quarter and rear guards, such extra guards
as may be considered essentially necessary to be placed
over treasure, at the discretion of brigadiers commanding
brigades.

Officers commanding divisions are to be supplied with
field states, showing the actual number of troops there are
under arms in their respective commands, to be delivered
when called for.

His Majesty having expressed a wish that his Excel-
lency the Commander-in- Chief should be near his person
during the ceremony, Major-General Sir Willoughby Cot-
ton will command the troops in line.
MAY 7.—Owing to the indisposition of Major- General Sir
Willoughby Cotton, and his inability consequently to attend
to-morrow at the ceremonial on the occasion of his Majesty
Shah Shooja-001-Moolk taking possession of his throne,
the post assigned to the Major-General by the General
Order of the sth instant, of commanding the line, will de-
volve on Major-General Wilshire as the next senior officer,
and he is requested to meet the Deputy Adjutant and
Deputy Quartermaster-General of the Bengal and Bombay
troops on the ground, this afternoon at the time he may
fix, to make the necessary arrangements.
MAY B.—Lieut.-General Sir John Keane has received
the gracious commands of his Majesty, Shah Shooja-00l
Moolk, to convey to Major-General Wilshire, commanding
in the field, to the General and other officers and the non-
commissioned officers and soldiers, who were parensdentatojeatsnhtdye
assisted at the splendid spectacle of the King takin
session of his Throne, this day, the deep sense his . ilf P°-
entertains of the obligation he owes to them,
thd
ehr
jos Ma-
jesty'su e
Rights t
B\vr.it H. ireotn,na.tgob
convey
nhn,ev
eEyKs
hu,eg s
Envoy
an
his
dos
ye
sdea,nnttdhi
naNltei
inhnteiss
tv,te'oor ualt
Hon. Lord Auckland, Governor-General of India.
By order of Lieutenant- General Sir John Keane, Com-
mander-in .Chief of the Armyi of the Indus,
R.SMecAreCtay Droad
NnA LDDe
' Lieutenant-Colonel, Adjutant-General of her
ebuatye.nant- Colonel, Military
Majesty's Forces, Bombay.

Private accounts from Vienna
,of the 20th inst.,
I assure us that PrinCe Metternich vVa3 in full convalescence.

BIRMINGHAM, THURSDAY EvEmmi.---Notwithstand•
ing the advanced state of the week there was, both yes.;
terday and to-day, a considerable accession of MM.
hers, and the sectional rooms have been well filled,
some of the most popular ones inconveniently so. Yel:
terday afternoon there was a grand horticultural show in
the well-regulated botanic gardens at Edgbaston, in the
neighbourhood of the town, which contained the most
interesting floral beauties of the season. In the even-
ing all the places of intellectual gratification in the town
were lighted and thrown open, including the model-
room with its extensive collection , the Geological Mu-
seum of the Philosophical Society, the' Natural His-
tory Museum of the Royal School of Medicine, and the
collection of paintings of the Royal Society of Arts,
which was only opened for exhibition yesterday. These
various places were well attended, and afforded an ex-
lent opportunity for the cultivation of congenial tastes.
This arrangenient, indeed, proved much more satisfac-
tory than the crowded and inconvenient assemblages at
other places, and will, no doabt, form a model for future
proceedings. This evening, at six o'clock, the only or-
dinary will take place at the Town Hall, which is likely
to go off with good effect. Amongst other incidental
meetings held to-day was one of the delegates of the
various philosophical and mechanic institutions in the
country, emanating from a suggestion lately thrown
out by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Know.
ledge.
SECTION A.—MATHEMATICS AND PHY3ICS.—On
Wednesday the first paper read was by Mr. Follett
Osier, containing the result of a series of investigations
on his ancuometer. This led to an interesting discus-
sion relative to the singular phenomena attending thun-
der storms. The most interesting phenomenon was the
expansion of clouds before n storm, and the rush of air,
with a large proportion of water into their opening ; the
extreme coldness occasioned by the evaporation in the
descent of the water produced hailstones. 2. Mr.
Hopkins read a paper on the least thickness of the coat
of the earth, consistent with the phenomena of preces-
sion and nutation, and entered into an inquiry respecting
its solidity or humidity throughout. 3. Mr. Nasmyth
explained a plate-glass pneumatic speculum, exhibiting
a specimen of an extraordinary size, constructed upon a
principle applicable to telescopes. 4. The Rev. Pro-
fessor Whewell read a paper on refractive indices. 5.
' Dr. 'Lire made some remarks on photometry, and the
fluidity and viscidity of certain fluids. 6. Mr. Frodsham
exhibited and described a new compensating pendulum.
7. Professor Powell gave a report of a new case of inter-
ference of light.
The papers read yesterday were-1. A report of Sir
John Herschel!, of the Committee appointed to repre-
sent to Government the recommendation of the British
Association, relative to the extension of magnetic ob-
servations. 2. Professor Powell, on certain points in
the wave theory. 3. Mr. Blackborn on certain analytic
theorems. 4. Mr. Hodgkins on the temperature of the
earth in the deep mines of Lancashire and Cheshire.
5. Professor Forbes, the result of two years' observations
of thermometers sunk to various depths near Edin-
burgh. 6. Some reports from Mr. Snow Harris on me-
teorological observations kept at Plymouth. 7. A de-
scription by Professor Stevelley of a mode of filling a
barometer without the aid of the air-pump, and of ob-
taining an invariable surface on the cistern. 8. Mr.
Burke on the binonical theorem. 9. Lieutenant Mor-
rison, on the relation of certain gases to the spectrum.
SECTION C.—GEOLOGY AND GEOGRAPHY.—The
papers read were :-1. Mr. R. I. Murchison, on tha
carboniferous and Devonian systems in Westphalia and
Nassau. 2. Mr. J. E. Bowman, on a nondescript ve-
getable skeleton found in Kamsckatka. 3. G. Loyd-
ling, Esq., on Saurian remains of the new red sandstone.
4. J. 0. Ward, Esq., M.D., on impressions of footsteps
in New Brunswick. 5. Mr. J. A. Knipe, on a trap
dyke in Cumberland. 6. A. Nasmyth, Esq., F.G.S.,
on the structure of fossil teeth. 7. Dr. Adams, on
peat moss. 8. Mr. Yates, on the estuary of the
Mersey ; and Mr. Elias Hall, next exhibited a map of
the central coal district.

This section proceeds to-morrow on the geological
excursion to Dudley.
Mr.
od
hi,vn
e
vessels. These were all purely technical, with the ex-
ception SECTION E.—MEDICAL SCIENCE.—The papers read
were :-1. Dr. Thompson on alkaline dyspepsia. 2. Mr.
Nasmyth on the teeth and the epithetium of the mouth.
tsoos
3. Mr. Jeffreys on respiration. 4. Dr. Costello on
soasetsyoinfg erstoorntetireec oteadd oobylirtthaointrit. 5.
appearances
of that of Dr. Thompson, not popularly inter-
esting. The latter, however, successfully established
indigestion as arising from acid alkaline and neutral
causes, and that by injudicious treatment one form as-
sumed that of the other.

SECTION D.—ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY.—On Tues-
day, Mr. Goodsir read a paper on dentition in the ru-
minants, with remarks on that process in the other
orders of ruminants. 2. Dr. Wilde described a new
mode for the preparation of fishes, differing in some re-
spects from that of Mr. Lankester. He first made an
incisure into the skin by the head, and continued it pa-
rallel with the dorsal outline to the centre of th• tail.
An incision was then made in the wider side, and the
fish dissected from the skin, just preserving the
thin membrame to which the scales adhered. This
portion was then filled with cotton 'and mounted on
paper, and the eyes being carefully removed, a little bit
of tinsel was put at the back, according to its colour.
3. Mr. Patterson read a description of a new species
of Berve, which in the dark presented a luminous ap-
pearance. 4. Dr. Bellingham read a paper on some
raw entozoa found in Ireland ; and 5. Messrs. Forbes
and Goodsir read a report on British Ciliograda.
On Wednesday the communications read were-1.
Mr. Felkins on the acclimation of the silkworm in Eng-
land, giving some interesting particulars of experimen-
tal trials, but without any satisfactory or practical re-
sult. 2. Mr. Fox on the discovery of the bones of a
whale in the Isle of Wight. 3. Mr. Dawson an the
manufacture of Alpaca wool ; and, 4. Mr. Brand on
botanical characteristics.

SECTION G.—MECHANICS.---The first paper read to-
day was by Mr. Jeffreys, on warming and ventilation ;
but the only material part of the principle laid down
was in the introduction of the fire-place more into
the room. 2. Mr. Gossage gave a description of a new
rotary steam-engine, which worked more successfully
than those previously constructed upon that principle.
3. Dr. Larduer gave the concluding portion of his re-
port upon the resistance to trains on railways.
I iNe Er Roan
ao cnle'
w. —Mr.
acid,
LySoElcir)L7fali
3;17--eaCdHaEnmiinstTeßreYstAinNgD l‘pap
called lodo-sulphuric Acid, which he obtained by dis-
tilling sulphate of lead with iodine. The iodine sup-
plies the place of a third atom of oxygen in sul-
phuric acid, and on account of the discovery of
this acid there is opened to chemists an entire new
class of acids. Professor Shepherd, of the United
States, read a paper on meteoric stones, the only
novelty in which consisted in the discovery of sill-
cure, the presence of which had never been ob-
served before. 3. Professor Schonbein, of Basle,
read a paper on the theory of electrical chemistry and
the galvanization of metals. He proved that metals
put in the electro-negative state had no affinity for
oxygen, and showed that when two pieces of iron were
connected with each pole of a galvanic battery, each
being placed in separate vessels of water, an action took
place, but on connecting these -vessels with a platinum
wire, the action ceased. The change in certain bodies
exposed to electricity is owing to some solid compound
being formed, and which, he was of opinion, was the
peroxide of hydrogen. He
also
stated that when the
two wires of a battery were connected with a
platinum and iron wire, and introduced into dilute
sulphuric acid, no oxidation took place, but oxygen
and hydrogen were liberated. 4. Dr. Ure made some
observations on fermentation, and read a paper on the
application of the microscope to chemical analysis.
5. Mr. Richardson read a paper on the composition of
the silicates containing the record of some very com-
plete analysis.
The adjourned general meeting of the Committee
was held this afternoon, when invitations were read from
Glasgow, Devonport, York, and Manchester, for the
next place of meeting. After some discussion it was de-
cided for the former place, and the Marquis of Breadal-
bane was appointed President.

CAMBRIDGE ELECTION.—Sir John Miley
Doyle 1 hey
Doyle has, we understand, retired from the contest, acting
ne of the most
non°. of human life and
iumn
pdLee
rri t
Ga thenut
T advicest
NG
inventions ofe 11 .of loNrr.
1 theDui
cl
pl oTr
enos
CONDUCTORS.—One
tr
srvo; wt i
property is the new application at the lightning conductors
which
war and
conducting this formidable fluidfrorn
merchant
still vessels.t
the
e Themast-head old m mode of
the
ued in many ships, is by copper
sanocif
chains made fast aloft and
wtoatsehri
,p
descending to the water's edge;
these are kept in boxes amongst the stores, until the ap-
pearance of the weather indicates lightning that may be
soon expected ; the men are
then
sent up to place these if
chains, there -
be time for it, but often, before
they can be got ready, the danger has arrived,
or is past. The conductor we now describe is
of a superficial kind—it consists of two lamina of sheet
copper, laid one on the other, in lengths of about four
feet ; they are placed so that the closed joints of one fall
on the continuous portions of the other, their width is from
an inch and a half to six inches, according to the size of the
mast to be furnished with them, and are together 3-16ths
of an inch in thickness; they are rivetted together at the
points of junction, to fern, an elastic and continued line ;
this is then inlaid at the afterpart of the mast, and secured
by copper nails. The conducting line of metal in ti e halt
is made perfect and secured upon the keelson. The con-
ductor, thus constructed, will pass from the vane spindle
to the keel in one unbroken line, and no damage can take
place, as there is no interruption to the passage of this
tremendous power along the metallic line. These proper-
ties of Mr. Snow Harris's conductor were fully tested at
the Polytechnic Institution, by Mr. Backoffer, the
lecturer on experimental philosophy. A square-rigged
vessel, afloat in the canal, was fitted with this apparatus,
and the powerful electric discharge was communicated to
the extreme point of the maio-top.gallant-mast. It passed
along the conductor and out of the vessel without injuring
anything, but continuing its course several yards, it ex-
ploded some gunpowder in a boat 1 d p ace on purpose to
prove the actual presence and power of the electric fluid. -