The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-24 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 24, 1863

bring it on again before the House early in the ensu-
ing session. The bill proposed the immediate
reduction of the dutron insurances to two shillings
in the hundred pounds in lieu of three shillings
and upwards, as at present, and a further reduction
in a few years to one shilling. The objection to
this, that such a course would greatly reduce the
Government revenue from this source, is answered
by the almost conclusive argument that it is only
the heavy duty upon insurances that deters so many
householders from availing themselves of its advan-
tages, and consequently that on the modification of
that duty the increase of policies would eventually
more than indemnify the Exchequer for its first loss,
just as the reduction of high rates of postage to the
penny ;system changed the revenues of the Post.
office from a deficit to a surplus. Another advantage
would also be gained; the increase of business thrown
in the way of the insurance offices would enab e them
yet further to reduce their charges. We trust that
early in the ensuing session grave attention will be
paid to this all-important question. If, as we hope,
Mr. SHERIDAN'S motion be carried, we cannot see
that the parish authorities can throw any reason-
able obstruction in the way of the proposition for
placing the maintenance and control of the fire
brigade under the Metropolitan Board of Works,
yet it must be clearly understood that on their
undertaking that responsibility shall the Fire In-
surance Offices bear a proportion of the expense.
They claim a right of placing their officers in
charge of property injured by fires in which their
offices are interested, and we cannot foresee any-
thing but difficulty in this proceeding unless to a
certain degree they are connected with the Fire
Brigade, Likewise it must be imperative upon all
companies to remit to the holders of their policies
any reduction of the duty, and, furthermore, that if
the Board of Works undertake the responsibility
they shall have full and undivided authority
over all the districts of the Metropolis ; that their
officers shall have full access to the fire plugs and not
be obliged to hunt up the parish beadle, and other
holders of the keys. Also that the parish engines
be improved and rendered more efficient than
at present ; and if it be considered necessary
still to leave them under the jurisdiction of
the local authorities, that the officers of the Board
be at liberty to inspect them when deemed requi-
site. The electric telegraph has practically trebled
the number of our engines, by enabling every esta-
blishment in London to learn instantaneously the
exact seat of any conflagration. Steam fire-engines
have, again, greatly advanced the efficiency of our
fire brigade ; and although nothing can surpass the
activity and the daring of our firemen, there may
yet be room for improvement in other branches of
this important service. We have little doubt that
the insurance companies and the parish authorities,
jealous as both are of their supposed rights, would
glad 'y agree to such an arrangement. With regard
to the former, it needs only to empower the Board
of Works to form a National or even a Metropolitan

Insurance Company on an extended scale; in fact,
a practically National insurance, the profits of which
would more than defray any expenses of engines
and of firemen, no matter how extensive, and enable
proprietors to insure for a far less cost than at pre-
sent.

The protracted trial in the Court of Queen's
Beach, Which so much affected the interests of our
merchants and shipowners, has at length been
brought to a close. The verdict of the jury is, all
things considered, highly satisfactory, inasmuch
that, although ostensibly for the defendants, they
have yet so qualified it thlt no official slur rests
either upon the plaintiff or his agents. It would
be much to be regretted if a long and honourable
career should not stand a man in good stead when
he enters upon a doubtful contest, in which, to say
the least of it, he has not a good case. So far as
private interests are concerned, the matter might
rest here ; but there are circumstances connected
with the loss of the Harbinger, and the subsequent
trials, which must result, sooner or later, to the ad-
vantage of our mercantile marine and the nation at
large. The case in question is simply this :—The
Harbinger, an iron steamer of some 600 or 700 tons,
originally built for her MAJESTY'S service, vas sold
out of the navy, and eventually came into the pos-
session of Mr. LINDSAY'S firm, and was despatched
to trade between Calcutta and China, on which ser-
vice she was engaged for upwards of two years. In
February, 1859, she sailed from Calcutta for Eng-
land, and at this epoch her misfortunes began.
Encountering bad weather on approaching the
Cape, she put into Algoa Bay for shelter. On the
weather moderating she again put to sea, only to be
driven back—this time with a leak in ono of her
bottom plates, which, on examination, proved to
have been caused by one of the rivets having given.
This defect being temporarily repaired, she once
more started upon her voyage, but with no better
success than before, for having again to return to
Algoa Bay she was considered to be strained, and
several boltheads were reported to have given way.
Upon this the captain decided upon the extraor-
dinary course of proceeding personally to England
to consult the owners as to how he was to act. He
reached London in safety, obtained some £4,000
from the underwriters, and returned to Algoa Bay,
where he found the ill-fated Harbinger still afloat,
notwithstanding that several heavy gales had been
experienced in that roadstead. It was discovered
upon the arrival of the captain that the ship had
somehow or other sprung a considerable leak in her
bottom plates under the pumps, and, to make a
long story short, although there was a chance of
saving the vessel, either by heaving her down in
Algoa Bay (the cargo having been previously tran-
shipped), or else of running for Simon's Bay, a dis-
tance of about 500 miles, where she could have been
properly overhauled. The captain, acting on his
own judgment, sold the ship and engines for an old
song in the interest of the underwriters, and his
owners forthwith claim from them the full insurance,
as though the vessel had foundered at sea, or been
dashed to pieces on au iron-bound coast. This is
but a short summary of the events, but upon these
and the verdict of the jury we wish to make a few
observations. We ought not to be surprised, when
medical men of the highest standing have the
assurance to assert that a man is insane
because he commits a murder, that gentleman of
nautical experience should gravely maintain that a
captain is justified in abandoning his ship because
she has sprung a trifling leak. The usages of the
service require that the captain, as the responsible
agent fur the owners and most experienced man on
board, ought to stand by his ship when she is in
difficulty. If it were necessary to refer to the
uwuers for ulterior instructions, he could surely
have sent a substitute. Had the state of the Har-
binger been as critical as the witnesses for the plain-
tiff would have us believe, it is not probable that
she could have weathered a succession of gales in
tae roadstead of Algoa Bay during the period which
mast necessarily have elapsed when the captain was
absent. It is absurd to suppose that during that
rejoined Bay. Again,
interval there were
not abundant opportunities of
fear that she
running to SimonsAshgiapi,nh,eehvaedn
nwoheenxcuthsee
captain at list
isf,urthe first of the light draught
East India service, made
might be lost.
forvv helenest
h•oyez.Nnyemh
ee
sr
her voyage round the Cape, she encountered heavy

) weather, which strained her light framework ter-
ribly, and extensive rents became visible in her
plates from the deck downwards on either side,
which ominously increased. Iron ships were
novelties in those days, and were not braced together
as at present, but her officers and crew did not des-
pair. They did the best they could to secure the
ship for the time, and on the first opportunity
beached her in a sandy bay on an unfriendly coast,
and repaired damages as far as possible. The ser-
vices of the Nemesis were invaluable during the
China war of that period. Where would she have
been if the commander had acted on the principle of
the master of the Harbinger. No charge of wilful
neglect is brought by the underwriters, and we are
glad for the character or Mr. LINDSAY and his cap-
tain that the jury have done them justice in this
respect, and we may pass over this unfortunate
occurrence, feeling confident that the high standing
so deservedly held by the officers in our merchant
navy cannot be effected by the want of energy and
discretion evinced in the case of the Harbinger.
The very fact that the underwriters of Lloyds' have
felt it incumbent on them to dispute the claim of
one of the largest and most respected firms in the
kingdom, shows us that they are at length awaking
to a sense of the responsibility which their position
entails upon them. Let them persevere in this
course honestly and without favour as in the present
case. Let them refuse all insurances without a
certificate of seaworthiness, and a guarantee that
the ship is properly found from an authorised agent,
and the loss of life and property wilt diminish in
proportion to the rigour with which such regula-
tions are enforced.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

THE POLISH INSURRECTION.

BRESLAU, DEC. 23.

Advices received here from Warsaw state that
Gen. Berg has ordered twenty-five Prussian sub-
jects imprisoned at Kalisch to be transported:to
Siberia.

The insurgent chief Chemski, also a Prussian
subject, has been shot.
Two new convoys of political prisoners have been
sent away to Siberia.
__

MEETING OF POPULAR DELEGATES.
FRANKFORT, DEC, 21.

For the first time since the German Parliament
of 1848, deputies from the different legislative
assemblies of Germany met in this city to-day to
discuss the question preoccupying the popular
mind.

The provisional committee sat yesterday from 4
in the afternoon until past midnight. The
resolutions lately taken at Nuremberg were
unanimously adopted, the deputies engaging to
support every Ministry whose acts accorded with
their tenor ; but, at the same time, to oppose, by
every legal means, such Governments as should
adopt a different course.

The sitting commenced at half-past 10 this
morning, Herr Muller, a Frankfort lawyer, having
been chosen President. The first resolution brought
forward by the committee was to the following
effect :

"This meeting declares that the rights of Ger-
many in Schleswig-Holstein can only be effec-
tively preserved by the separation of the Duchies
from Denmark. The death of Frederick VII,
has dissolved their union with Danmark. The
Treaty of London of May 8, 1852, concluded with•
out the assent of the Representative Assemblies,
and of the Agnates, whose consent was legally re-
quisite, and which has also not been recognised by
the Germanic Diet, constitutes no title to Christian
IX. to succeed to the throne in Schleswig-Holstein,
In virtue of certain rights, Frederick of Schleswig-
Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg is called to
assume the succession in these Duchies. By ren-
dering valid the succession to the Throne in the
person of Duke Frederick, the rights of Germany
in Schleswig-Holstein will at the same time be
established. The obligation is, therefore, incum-
bent upon the German people to make every
necessary sacrifice for its offended honour, for its
endangered rights, for its brethren of kindred
race, and for their legitimate princes.
"Unanimous in this view, the Members of Ger-
man representative bodies here assembled bind
themselvts to bring about the following objects by
every legal means within their power and sphere :
—l. To cause the reorganisation of Duke Frede-
rick's rights wherever it has not yet taken place, as
well as to obtain its acknowledgment by the Fede-
ral Diet; 2. To render these rights valid without
regard to foreign protests, to effect the separation
of the Denmark, and to re-establish immediately
their independence and indissoluble union.

"They further bind themselves to support those
German Governments who loyally and actively take
in hand the rights of the Duchies, and to oppose, by
every constitutional means, those Governments
which abandon the rights and honour of Germany
in this question."
The resolution was supported by Herr Edel, a
professor at Wurzburg, who endeavoured, in a fer-
vent speech, to demonstrate the illegality of the
London treaty, and reviewed the cases in which
it had been violated by Denmark. The speaker,
who was frequently interrupted by the applause of
the meeting, foretold that the signature of the
London treaty might become the epitaph of the
Federal Diet, and stated that the German nation
must maintain its right, even at the risk of an
European war.
After communicating several telegraphic mes-
sages to the meeting, the President read a letter
from a number of members of the Austrian Reichs-
rath, who were prevented from attending, but
expressed their entire sympathy with Schleswig-
Holstein.

The first resolution being unanimously adopted
without alteration, the second, brought forward by
a minority of the committee, was next put to the
meeting. It was the following ;—" This meeting
appoints a committee of 36 members, as the centre
of the legal activity of the German nation in pur-
suing the rights of the Schleswig-Holstein Duchies
and of their legitimate Duke, Frederick VIII. This
committee shall be authorised to appoint a sub-
committee consisting of a few of their number, to
transact current business. The committee can,
should circumstances require, convoke another
general meeting of the members of the German Re-
presentative Assemblies."
The resolution was supported by Dr. Loewe, of
Berlin, and was adopted by a large majority after
speeches from Herren Moritz and Mohl of Scutt-
gard ; Herr Schulzadelisch, of Berlin ; Herr Prinz,
of Prague, a member of the Austrian Reichsrath ;
Herr Haberkorn, of Saxony ; and Herr Wiggers,
of Rendsburg.
The members of the committee were then chosen.
Among them were Herren Muller and Varrenhappe,
Frankfort ; Herr Lang of Wiesbaden ; Herr Metz
of Darmstadt; Herren Benningsen and Mignet of
Hanover ; Herr Godefray, of Hamburg ; Herr Wig-
gers, of Rendsburg; Herren Rulsbower and Gross,
of Vienna; Herren Unruh, Loewe, Schulze-Delitz,,ch,
Franz Duncker, Von Hornbeck, Twesten, and Von
Sybel, of Prussia.
The third resolution—perhaps the most important
of the three—was carried amidst loud acclamations.
It ran thus :

" This meeting considers it a solemn duty to avow
itself in favour of the right of the German nation to
obtain at the earliest possible period the re-esta,
blishment of a common representative assembly
(Parliament), which present circumstances render
above all necessary."
A cheer for Germany, proposed by the President,
was heartily given by the 500 members who hod
come to the meeting from all parts of Germany, and
vociferously repeated by the great numbers of spec
tators crowding the galleries of the Saalb an.

THE EXECUTION IN HOLSTEIN.
HAMBUKG, DEC. 23, Evening.
The military dispositions are being continually
changed.
At five this morning the Austrians assembled to
march to Altona, where contrary orders were re-
ceived, and they are now to remain here for the

present.
Up to 9 p.m. the chief military post of Altona
was still occupied by the Danish troops.

THE SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN QUESTION.
FRANKFORT, DEc. 23 (Evening).

An extraordinary sitting of the Federal Diet has
resolved, upon the urgent demand of Bavaria, to
request the committees upon Schleswig-Holstein to
come to a resolution on 'the succession question as
early as possible.

FRANCB.
BOURSE, Dec. 23.—The market oontinues in the
same state of inaction, but prices are well main-

And, as compared with the month ending the 15th Nov.,
1862, the above returns show an increase of £859,201
in the circulation of notes in England, and an increase of
£1,068,372 in the circulation of the United Kingdom.

On comparing the above with the fixed issues of the seve-
ral banks the following is the state of the circulation :
The English private banks aro below their fixed

issue -
The English joint-stock banks are below their
fixed issue £275,514

Total below fixed issue in England.... £1,169,110
The Scotch banks are above their fixed issue .. £1,777,431
The Irish banks are below their fixed issue £338,793

The average stock of bullion held by the Bank of Eng-
land in both departments during the month ending the 11th
Nov, was £14,085,759, being a decrease of £948,585 as
compared with the previous month, and a decrease of
£1,475,463 when compared with the same period last year.
The following are the amounts of specie held by the Scotch
and Irish banks during the month ending the 14th Nov.:—
Gold and silver held by the Scotch banks £2,490,742
Gold and silver held by the Irish banks 2,070,535

X 1,561,277
Being an increase of £303,309 as compared with the
previous return, and a decrease of £88,855 when compared
with the corresponding period of last year.

PLYMOUTH, Dec. 22.—The Saxon, taken off Pen.
guin Island by the Vanderbilt, was supposed to have
on board the cargo of the Conrad, captured by the Alabama,
and renamed Tuscaloosa, or of the Sea Bride. The vessel
with her crew had not reached Table Bay ; her mate was re-
ported to have met with his death, but it was not known by
what means. The Vanderbilt. appropriated 250 tons of coal
on Penguin Island belonging to a firm at Cape Town. She
was refused coal by the authorities at Table Bay, consequent
on her having coaled within three months at St. Helena,
Simon's Bay, and Mauritius. She boarded a coasting ves-
sel on the 4th Nov., examined her papers and cargo, and
then steered for Angra Pequena. Her Majesty's ship 'Valo-
rous was then sent to protect any British property, and re-
turned with the news of the capture of the Saxon. Cape
Town, Nov. 23.—The captain of the Alabama sold the Sea
Bride and the cargo of the Conrad. The former, it appears,
was delivered at Saldanha Bay, and a rendezvous made at
Angra Pequina; and it is understood that some part of the
cargoes must have been landed at that place, or at Penguin
Island, close by. It is said that a vessel had loaded and
sailed from Penguin Island with part of the Conrad's cargo
before the capture of the Saxon. Tee Isabella, the vessel
that has on board the crew of the latter, has passed Ichaboe
to go to Hottentot's Bay to fill up with cargo for that place.
The `axon was sent away for New York in charge of the
prize crew on the 2d November.
TOWNLEY IN THE CONDEMNED CELL.—The Rev.
C. R. Gordon, who had been sent for specially to
visit this unfortunate culprit, thus writes of his state of
mind :—" The conclusion to which I have come con-
cerning him, and that, too, after lengthened interviews, is,
that the criminal is not a responsible agent. Again and
again he has expressed delight that his life is to be
taken. His manner at times is decidedly maniacal ; he
rolls his eyes, his countenance flushes unusually,
and he talks incoherently. At other periods he is as gentle
as a child, and appreciates kindness. When sitting in his
cell with him last Monday, his manner quite alarmed me,
and but for the presence of another I should imme-
diately have called in the two warders who are constantly
with him. He justifies murder without giving a reason.
He contradicts himself repeatedly, acknowledges at
one time what he denies another. It is a useless effort to
endeavour to instruct him in religion, for he has no mental
capacity to receive it. His conduct from the time of his
committing; the awful crime for which he is now doomed
is in keeping with this. When asked in his calm moments
how he could ever have brought himself to commit it, he
answers, All was dark before my eyes ; I don't know
anything about it.' Much as the death of the victim
is to be deplored, I say it would be more horrid still if an
irresponsible agent now were to be taken to the gallows.
According to Blackstone's Commentaries,' this is a suffi-
cient cause to arrest the capital sentence. It is alike con-
sistent with humanity as with justice, that a further medi
cal examination should be made before the law
is allowed to take its coarse. It would suggest, also,
that the prison officers be examined. These are other rea-
sons which it appears to me might be urged in his behalf,
but on this it is now unnecessary to enter. I have given a
stern, impartial, and conscientious consideration of his con-
dition, and I can come to no other conclusion than that
which I have now expressed."
PERMEABILITY OF IRON.—Our readers may re-
collect our having, some months ago, mentioned
certain experiments made by MM. H. Sainte-Claire De-
ville and Troost, from which it appeared that, by a kind of
endosmosis scarcely to be suspected in the case of a metal,
hydrogen would pass through the pores of a platinum tube,
Last week, the Academy of Sciences received from them a
new paper, in which they announce a similar property in
iron. The great difficulty was, to find a tube answering to
the various conditions required for the experiment.
The best iron to be found in the market
might still be open to some objection, since in point
of fact it is a mere sponge flattened by a hammer,
like common platinum. They succeeded at length, through
the kindness of a friend, in obtaining a tube of cast steel
containing so little carbon that it did not admit of being
tempered. It was in reality rather iron than steel, and so
soft that it was drawn into a tube without heating or sol-
dering, though its sides were of a thickness of from three to
four millimetres. To the ends of thi4 tube two other tubes
of a much smaller diameter, and of copper, were soldered with
silver; the whole was then introduced into an open porcelain
tube, which was put into a furnace ; a glass tube luted to one
end, established a communication with an apparatus gene-
rating hydrogen completely deprived of atmospheric air;
while at the other end, another glass tube, bent at
right angles, dipped into a mercury bath, its vertical
branch being 80 centimetres long. For the space of eight
or ten hours a current of hydrogen was driven through the
apparatus, which was maintained at a high temperature,
so as to exhaust the action of the hydrogen on the sides of
the iron tube, and to diive away all the atmospheric air, as
the moisture contained in the tube, or likely to be pro-
duced there. This dune, the communication between
the iron tube and the hydrogen apparatus was cut off
by melting down the glass tube by the aid of
tho blow-pipe. No sooner was this effected, than
the mercury, no longer kept down by the stream
of hydrogen, yielded to the pressure of the air, and rose in
the vertical glass tube to the height of 740 millimetres, or
very nearly the usual barometrical height. This would not
have happened had there not been a nearly
va-
cuum in the tube the instant the supply of hydrogen was
cut off. But what had become of the hydsrseiricel:
before ? There is but one explanation °
_Pc)theb
atmosphere,
that notwithstending the pressure of t
flu, pores of the
compl,outeu3
the hydrogen has passed through
a most powerful inetru-
steel tube, Hence an iron tube
where there are reducing- gases, 16
introduced into a furnace
the hydrogen.
PRIVATE •
lh nmnber tar exceeded the
meat for carrying off all s
_yesterday
was
DEroarr oF
. pes
all
the last day for the deposit printed " private
deposits at the B9e.r Trade,
to be lodged.
bills for the next seassoiefuL where
plane
Were
rovited
THE NEw SOUTH WALES BUSIIRANGELS.—The
Sydney Mornzny Herald gives an account of the
five notorious, bushrangers, Gilbert, Ben Hall, Burke,
Vane, and o,Meally, entering Mr. Rothery's house, at
Limestone Creek, just as that gentleman was sitting down
to dinner. They handcuffed him and ate his dinner, call-
ing for champagne. After dinner they played the piano •
forte,
and, before leaving, tried two or three horses, so
as to select, the beet. Mr. Itothery is a magistrate of the
colony, and an extensive squatter in the neighbourhood of
Carew. •

.
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HER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, Dec. 23.
Their Royal llighnesses the Prince and Princess
of Wales arrived at Osborne yesterday, on a visit
to the Queen.
His Royal Highness Prince Alfred returned
with the Prince of Wales.
The Judge Advocate-General had an audience of
the Queen yesterday afternoon.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Ailesbury are
entertaining a small party of friends at Tottenham Park,
Wilts.
The Earl and Countess of Yarborough are enter-
taining a family party at Brocklesby, the seat of the family
in Lincolnshire.
The Earl Cowper, accompanied by the Counteo
and the Ladies Cowper, has arrived at Rome from Florence
for the winter.
The Earl and Countess of Morley, after a tour
in the South of France, have arrived at Rome.
The Earl and Countess de Grey have made
arrangements to pass the Christmas in London. ilia lord-
ship is the only Secretary of State resident in town.
The Countess of Chesterfield has left Grosvenor':
street to visit the Earl and Countess of Carnarvor, a;
Highclere Castle, near Newbury. The noble earl remains
in town.
The Earl Beauchamp, who has recently retired
t
from the Life Guards, has gone to Gibraltar for the bonefi
of his health.
The Earl of Powis is entertaining a large
at Welshpool, the family seat in Wales.
The Countess Dowager of Mount-Edgcumbe end
Lady Ernestine Edgcumbe have arrived at Curzon-stret/
Mayfair.
The marriage of the Hon. Leonora C. nigibl:
second daughter of Lord and Lady Digby, with gr. A'e"'.
ander Baring, M.P., is fixed for the sth of next month'
The Right Hon. T. Milner Gibson, left town Ye".
terday for his seat, Theberton House, Saxmundhara-
The Right Hon. B. Disraeli and Mrs. Disrae:
have left Grosvenor-gate for Hatfield House, on a visit
-
the Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury.
HEALTH OE THE P OPE. —A letter from PI
says the Pope is in excellent health, and his usual lai°
spirits. His happy temperament knows no depression. a
CARDINAL WISEMAN.—A paragraph has aPPeare
in some of the papers stating that Cardinal Wisemal/:.14
health is so bad that he is likely to be removed from t"
position ho holds, and to be succeeded by Dr.
The best commentary on the report is that the Cardinel''-
undertaken to preach at St. Mary's, Moorfields, to-rner°
(Christmas) morning.—Times.

WINDSOR CASTLE.—Oh Tuesday morning the
Royal baron of beef was sent up to the Castl° bsf
Messrs. Bedbrough and Son. It was cut from a choice el
fed in the -Windsor Great Park, under the direction of
Major-General Seymour, deputy-ranger, and
charge °
Mr. G. Gravatt. This noble joint was placed before tbe
fire to roast at nine o'clock in the morning and taken uper
at four o'clock in the afternoon, the process of reestino
occupying seven hours. It was sent from the Castle
Osborne yesterday (Wednesday), and will form the Vit.-
pal Christmas joint on the side table in the dininger°°7;
where it will remain, together with the boar's head °a;
woodcock pie, until New Year's-day. Her Majesty 1/11,1
given directions to the above Royal butchers to send' 11--i
New Year's-day, the customary Royal annual present of
beef to the ex-Royal Family of France, at Claremont, con-
sisting of two handsome sirloins.
EXETER HALL.—The " Creation" will be Per-
formed with a band and chorus of 700 performers, by
National Choral Society, on Wednesday next. Frince,iPa,.
soloists Madame Parepa, Mr. Sims Reeves, and ~`"."
Santley. Organist, Mr. John G. Boardman, The wh°lo
under the direction of Mr. G. 'W. Martin.
THE LEGAL VACATION.—To-day (Thursday) 01°
legal vacation for Christmas commences- In the cernejea
law offices business will be resumed on Wednesday, and °II
the 7th January in the Chancery offices.
cnt
GOVERNMENT EMIGRATION.—The Governtn--
emigrant ship Peerless, 1,005 tons, Captain Thee'
Flavin, belonging to Messrs. Dixon and Wynne, Live"
pool, and which sailed from the Mersey on the 23d of Jen°
last, arrived at Sydney, New South Wales, on the 23d of
September, having on board 29 married couples, 131 single
men, 131 single women, 21 boys, and 23 girls, between the
ages of one and twelve, and 14 infant's, numbering in all
378 souls, equal to 342 statute adults, under the care a
Mr. Charles H. Graham, M D., surgeon-superintendent,
assisted by Mr. Thomas Hickey, schoolmaster, and MisS
Dickson, matron. Six births and four deaths took place on
the voyage.
SUBUREAN PARIS.—This poor artificial Paris,
which hardly knows what the country really is, i 9
clearly athirst for the country. I was amazed at the
amount of traffic to the intermediate stations on one of the
Versai;les lines, and at the omnibus traffic again from seve-
ral of these. Yet the railway company actually gives 11°
encouragement to return tickets (the price being simPlY
double that of a single ticket), and to season-tickets se
little that it is said not to be worth while taking them, Lin-
less one has to go to Paris every day, including Sundays'
Still, dapper-looking brick houses are springing up on all
sides. ;Brick ; seldom steno. Whole fortunes are ile°
being made out of the clay bottoms of old exhausted stone-
Os, worth nothing before. A regular ring of brick is thill
rapidly forming round the stone nucleus of old Paris, 0"
even in Paris streets brick houses are beginning to be far
from rare,
SALE OF JEWELS.—Yesterday Messrs. D ebe.;
ham, Storr, and Sons dispersed by auction, at these
Mart in Covent-garden, a remarkably choice and exten'ia
collection of bijouterie, the chief portion belongitig tto.
lady of fashion. Among the more important lots ~,„a
rahe,
following :—Lot 673, a diamond collet necklace, a 6Z lgt
and lustrous stones, was knocked down for L 425 s's' Lot
683, a magnificent brilliant tiara, brought £234 19sici and
684, a necklace, of 130 oriental pearls, with ernera— d
diamond locket, £36 15s. Lot 687, a coloured gold bxali3s
armlet, set with fine emeralds and brilliants, in ea2,,,e1 lig.
14s. Lot 694, a pair of brilliant star ear-rings, „fid
Lot 695, a cluster brilliant pendant, with ruby centre
pear-shaped pearl drop, £72 9s, Lot 696, a brilliant tickle
or brooch, of nine splendid stones, the centre stone very a
large—this choice ornament was knocked down, afteiresg
spirited competition, at £367 10s. Lot 697, a inatelle-xa
brilliant full dress brooch, of beautiful design and we.. e
and lustort'
manship, the centre stone of remarkable size
surrounded by scrolls of brilliants, with ribbon tie pendao:o
£630. Lot 698, a superb brilliant, weighing 6 carats', ei
finest water, set as an ear-ring, £lBO 12s. Lot 703, 3 13:3:0,
nificent brilliant and pearl ring, £5B 16s. Lot 71-.ri is
acorn pin, formed by a remarkably fine oriental pear 4
cup of gold and diamonds, £2l. Lot 648, a brilliant ril)
£47 15s 6d. Lot 650, a pair of oriental pearl ear-rillgess,
guineas. Lot 665, a brilliant heart necklette, 52 ggi'le3to
PHOTOGRAPHY.—It is well known that
exercise of this art there is a certain waste of S,"'o
owing I o the nitrate of that metal, used for sensitisin
-e'Lt ote
plates. Various methods have been proposed for reloa ;
ing the precious metal from the residues of the operetlota,
and when it is considered that in some of the grea° 0,0
graphic establishments of Paris the waste amow Its,
couple of hundred francs per month, it will be elL` too.
derstood that the question is one of some irnPor 6 0..
The method now employed is to add an excess of treat it
nia to the solution of the nitrate, and then to 'ThO
with a solution of ammoniacal chloride of copPerdo and
latter is prepared by dissolving five parts of black el.' ate^
four parts of copper filings in hydrochloric acid. ekftnciej,
frotriltalihselittle ammonia, aja°l
solution, an excess of concentrated ammonia
bWeehnenlointgisinreuqsueir,eidt tiso
oenxltyranctecseilsysaerryfrtoom
arum a
wiogrri-cb-unhtaaii
acdodpper solution untie
the oxide of silver is re dissolved ;
sedoifshwyapteuell:
then
na
dardideeddainadexkceepstsiotrheupseu.re 8117
phite, they are treated by copper solution is added'
oaAtid2tinagddthteoroaebdabmutahutcchh
then much water; after which
for two or threw hours, the°
The mixture is then left to elan
deposited Is washed and dried.
filtered, and the silver
this case care must bo take
lastly''
to dilute the mixture with a great deal of water, and
0,
to let it stand sufficiently. Mr. Blair has lately publish e;
first
copper
od'
.fieations introduced by him into the process c"•
certain m
Photographs on paper with charcoal. process
getting
lays a sheet of paper on the surface of a War
°
and weak solution of gelatine with a little contr3=°,°'
salt in it. When dry, the wrong side of the sheet 16
laid on water for a few seconds. theta on damp blotting' Pap o t
and lastly on a pane of glass, where the gelanti sed :Atria
•" it
receives a c • oatuag of albumen prepared as follows.
certain quantity\ flour
of albumen (the white of an cgi;)
little water and syrup, then add some colour, such: eie,n-ro
or lake, or indian ink reduced to powder, which is Lc'
the general tint. Beat up the albumen into froth,
d';`,,
apply it with a brush. When the second coating 1e,_14,
put the sheet egain upon water, then upon
blotting-paper, and equalise the moisture •by pre.
try
with a sheet of dry paper. Now pin a little charcoal, $t
powdered, powdered, ever the albunrinieed ourface ; distribuinsiort
equally with a soft brush, and then sensitise with a solutions
of two pirts of water, one of acetic acid, and one of
0191,lect,
mate of potash. On this lay the wrong side of the she
leave it there for half an hour ; then expose it in the
irorn`...e,
for the space of from 5 to 20 minutes. To develop the imager
dip the sheet into cold wafer, then pass a soft brush:dip
the surface : and if the charcoal sticks to the lights
the sheet into warm water strengthened with acetic

ammonia.
The Academy oft is last sitting elected dt'
VT. Laurence, of London Sciences a,
as its-tforeign correspondent ll3t
the section of Medicine and Surgery, in Vie room of
tli°
31.
late Sir Benjamin Brodie. The other candidates 'col
Rokitansity, of Vienna, and M. Simpson, of E.:lin/Argil'