The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-07 00:00:00

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.

CAMBRIDGE, Sept. 4.
There will be congregations on the following days of the
ensuing Michaelmas Term :—Thursday, Oct. 1, at ten ;
Thursday, Oct. 15 and 29, Nov. 12 and 26, and Dec. 10, all
at twelve.

DEATH OF MR. JAMES MANSON, OF THE " GLAS-
GOW HERALD."—We learn with regret that Mr.
James Manson, late of the Glasgow Herald, died at an early
hour on Friday morning. For some years past Mr. Manson
had been labouring under a complication of diseases,
attended with a total loss of sight; and his demise will
hardly surprise those who knew the melancholy state in
which he was dragging cut existence. In the days of his
health and strength he was a man of great bodily as well
as mental vigour, As a pedestrian he had few superiors,
and the amount of mental work he went through, evinced a
naturally powerful physique. Mr. Manson began life as a
clothier—his father's business ; but his active mind was not
long in developing itself in a passion for music and literature.
To a thorough knowledge of the science of music he united
considerable proficiency as a performer on the violoncello,
His reading was very extensive, and some of the fruits of
it were produced a number of years ago in these columns
in the shape of brief extracts culled by his own hand from a
wide range of authors, under the heading " Facts, Conceits,
Definitions, and Counsels." To the early volumes of the
Citizen he was likewise an occasional contributor of original
articles both in prose and verse. The admirable volume of
original lyrics published by our late townsman, Mr. David
Robertson, under the title of " Whistle Binkie," was
adorned by many pleasing contributions from his pen ; and
and to several biographical dictionaries he furnished most of
the mus7cal memoirs. It was his good fortune at length to
obtain permanent literary employment on the staff of the
Herald, and in that situation he continued until stricken
with decay and blindness. One of his last mental efforts
was to assist in putting a collection of his poems through
the press ; and like poor David Gray, he had the gratifica-
tion of knowing that his volume was actually to appear.
Nay, he lived to feel it with his hands, and to be assured
that it looked well. As a prose writer he always showed
information and vigour. His views were decided, and he
expressed himself with readiness and force, But he lacked
training and polish for a thorough mastery of prose; and
it was chiefly in his poetical effusions that the graces and
tenderness of his nature were manifested. Altogether,
James Mansion was a remarkable man. Much of what he
did best was for temporary and ephemeral uses, doing ex-
cellent service at the time, though leaving the nobler
dreams of ambition unsatisfied. Nevertheless, he is not
unworthy of being ranked among the minor bards of Scot•
land, in virtue of some few things which many who are to
come after him will read with satisfaction.—Glasgow
Citizen.

POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.—That the prestige
which this institution has attained is owing to the
well-selected and popular character of the entertainments
provided for the amusement of a large portion of the sight-
seeing public, is a matter beyond dispute, and we are happy
to find that for some time past the number of visitors has
been unparalleled in the history of the Polytechnic. For
many Saturday and Monday evenings especially the
audiences have numbered upwards of 800, and on some
occasion from 150 to 200 of the public have been turned
away because there was no room to be had. To dilate
upon the many varied objects of interest which delight
the habitues of the institution would be needless, because
they are generally known and appreciated, but we ven-
ture to commend the new lecture, by J. L. King, Esq.,
entitled " Pneumatic Wonders," illustrated with new
experiments, models, &c., and the new " pneumatic
parcels despatch apparatus." This is followed by a num-
ber of laughable conjuring tricks which betray many of
the mysteries of the necromantic art. The new musical,
\racist, organophonic, and ventriloquial entertainment by
Mdlle. Cavalho is very comic in its character and surpris-
iog. But the great event of the day is " Professor Pep •
per's adaptation of Mr. Dircks's original and most startling
ghost illusion," in three scenes, First scene, read-
ing from Dickens's" Haunted Man," and appearance of the
ghost and spectre of the sister. Second scene, the artist's
studio, the ghostly visitor in the form of a rival artist, the
ghost drinking a glass of waterl (the programme very fairly
states, " This illusion must be seen to be believed, the living
being enveloped by the spectre. Third scene, the reading of
the love letter, and mysterious arrival of the little postman
Cupid. We feel we should spoil the effect by entering into
details after the manner of over zealous novel readers,
who are not happy till they have communicated to their
friends by anticipation the denouement of the work they
have been reading with intense interest. Suffice it to say
that these ghost scenes are of the most ingenious and mar-
vellous description. The spectre drinking a glass of water
--the envelopment of the real living worthy. Genius (Mr.
Cusscns), by the spectre, and the handing of the letter by
Cupid to the love-sick damsel at her spinning-wheel, are
wonderfully pourtrayed. These scenes at once put' to
shame the many surreptitious and worthless efforts made
in some quarters to imitate or follow out this very clever
discovery. Herr Susman's remarkable imitations of
birds and beasts are, as deservedly popular as ever. We
regretted to hear on Saturday evening that Mr. Lionel
Brough was suffering from illness, which prevented his
appearing as the chorus in the burletque of " Der Freis-
cautz. ' In his absence, however, Mr. King, who is
.always ready to render service, read the descriptions attach.
mg to the beautiful dissolving views of Ancient and
Modern London. Those charming works were hailed wish
as much enthusiasm as when they first appeared some time
ago. But we have now run the length of our tether, and
can only advise our readers, young and old, above all other
places of amusement, first to visit the Polytechnic.
CURIOUS MIRAGE SEEN IN THE WEST INDIES,
witnessed by Dr. Thomson, of British Guiana, on
the 28th July, 1863, in British Guiana, on the Essequibo.—
We were then in the closing part of the long wet season,
with great sun heat and heavy showers alternatirg, and
much rein, following thunder, had fallen in the early part
of the day. Towards 2 p.m. the rain clouds took up, and a
brilliant sky opened, such as is often witnessed in South
America in the rainy months. Having occasion to ride to
a plantation on Wakenaam Island, some miles off, to take
boat for one of the islands higher up, I came to a spot which
commands no view beyond a narrow circle of luxuriant
trees and pasture. I beheld tho whole scene changed. Be-
fore me the land dwarfed. and Hog Island, from its north-
western line, onwards to its north-eastern, was seen, with
the channel between. Though a little hazy, I satisfied my-
self that the outline was correct, with the tall courada and
mangrove trees which gird the beach. It was a marvellous
deception, produced probably by strata of air, of unequal
density and temperature, not far from the earth. On get-
ting out upon the river, which was very calm, and looking
to the north, in the direction opposite to that of the mirage
described, I beheld a small island at the mouth of the Es-
sequibo floating, so to speak, in air. This phenomenon I
have often seen. At night the moon was surrounded by a
white halo, about 20 deg. in radius, not unlike the one men•
tioned by Humboldt as seen at Cumana. During the night
a cold land breeze blew, and the following morning opened
with threatenings of heavy rain ; the river was calm, and
the foliage of the neighbouring island obscured, the aspect
of nature being gloomy and intensely tropical. But the rain
did not fall, and a strong sea breeze followed.
TOURISTS,—There is little doubt that the reason
why Royalty pitched its tent on Deeside was that,
upon trial, it had been found about the least offensive dis-
trict in the United Kingdom in the matter of intrusiveness.
The Aberdeenshire folks are a dry, shy, undemonstrative
race; and, though they aro by no means
profusely polite,
they have a deal of self-respect, which would prevent any
amount of loyalty or curiosity from tempting them to c ,m-
-mit an act of vulgar rudeness, But it was impossible to
prevent the mob of tourists from pouring in.—and they have
done it with a witness, as the saying is. Days are changed
on Deeside since you got a good breakfast at Inv
ermay for
Pd.—oat cakes, butter, honey, and tea—or took it in more
aristocratic style from Mrs. Clarke, at Castleton of Braemar,
who spread before you for 15d,, salmon, grouse, and venison
in their seasons. Then, the lone pedestrian, or the small
family party who had wandered so far off the beaten track
in a pony vehicle, were objects of great attention and solici-
tude—now, they aro lest in the brilliant mob at the table
d'ltote.—,Scotsman.
The great line•engraving, after Sebastiano del
Piombo's " Raising of Lazarus," in the National Gallery,
upon which Mr. Doo, R.A., has now been engaged several
years, approaches completion.
The Sie,ele, says that the necessary authority has
been sought to establish liberal journals at Tours, Angers,
and several other cities in France, and has been in every
ease refused.