The Sun.
London, England, 1839-09-13 00:00:00

THE DAGUERREOTYPE.

(EXHIBITION THIS DAY.)
We were admitted this forenoon to the first exhibition,
in London, of this machine, or rather apparatus, for
taking, in same fifteen minutes, an exact likeness of any
external object. M. Do St. Croix, a French gentleman,
performed the operation with great dexterity and com-
plete success. Tile house in which he exhibited the
performance is situate close to the Regent Circus, Pic-
cadilly, and having a view of part of Regent-street and
the Circus. This view he proposed to represent to the
spectators. He first took a sheet of copper, plated
with silver, which he washed carefully in a solution of
nitric acid, which removes from it all the extraneous
matters on its surface. A slight degree of friction is
requisite in this prceesi,but it must not be applied al-
ways in the same direction. When the sheet is thu s
prepared, it is placed in a closed box, and exposed to the
vapour of iodine, for fully ten minutes, the room being
kept quite dark. A thin coating, of a yellow colour, is
thus formed on the surface of the sheet. The sheet,
when covered with this substance, is of the most excessive
sensibility to light, and is thus ready for the camera ob-
scura. M. De St. Croix ascertained the exact point at
which the sheet should be placed, and having done that by
means of a mirror from which the objects were re-
flected, he placed the sheet (in the camera obscura,
where it remained for fifteen minutes. When taken
out it was quite dark—not indeed a vestige of the
street or houses could be distinguished till it
was exposed to the vapour of mercury heated to
about 180 or 200 degrees of Fahrenheit. He then
washed it with a solution of the hyposulphate of soda
the solution attacking the parts upon which the light
could not act, and respecting the light parts, being the
inverse of the action of the mercury. He next washed
the sheet with distilled water, and the image, though
the day was rather cloudy, exhibited the most perfect
likeness of the houses, the street, and the blue sky. The
operation altogether occupied nearly an hour, but it
can be performed in much less time.

NATIONAL CONVENTION.
(THIS DAY.)

The Chair was taken by JOHN FROST, Esq., at a quarter-
past eleven o'clock.

The SECRETARY read a long letter from Dr. Fletcher,
relative to the conduct of the Council, and complaining of
the manner in which his conduct had been animadverted
upoh by certain members of the Convention. We have
room only for the following extracts:—" The whole case
as regards the salaries of the Council rests en the resolu-
tion which was passed either on the Wednesday or Thurs-
day before the Convention adjourned, on the motion of
Mr. O'Connor, and ellich, strange to say, has not been
once alluded to in the reports of your proceedings. The
characteristic trick which Mr. O'Connor played off in
dictating the irregular minute on the 6th of August, which
he says is intended to be a minute of what passed on
the 27th of July, has enabled him, as I am now convinced
it was intended, to mystify the affair to his heart's
content by keeping his own resolution out of sight, and
making it appear that the only authority for the payment
of our salaries was the decision of the small meeting on the
day of the adjournment—a Daniel come to judgment, a
second Daniell The resolution to which I have referred
states that 'the wages' of the Council shall be paid out
of the rent. This resolution was never rescinded, or in
any way interfered with by the Convention. The terms
of the resolution of Mr. Duncan's Committee on Friday,
that 2/. a-week should be peel to the Delegates going
down to their constituences,' could not refer to the
council The plotters had better h've done
what they had to do at last, have given Mr. O'Brien (who
had no claim under the original vote, having no salary ),
two pounds a-week, without all the miserable trickery
which has been thrown away on this business, unless it was
their intention from the first to make it the means of slan_
dering those who refuse to wear the O'Connor livery.
And Mr. O'Connor has the face to talk of what Pitkeith_
ley endured in resisting our demand, and this in the pre-
sence of those who know that scarcely a word was ad-
dressed directly to Mr. Pitkeithley on the subject. What
right had Pitheithley there ? It cannot be forgotten how
strongly Mr. O'Connor urged on the Convention the ap-
pointment of this gentleman as Secretary to the Council,
and that it was almost unanimously negatived. Yet, there
he was objccling, demurring, and shufaing.! Mr. O'Connor
had occasion to employ him ou private business, but this
was not intrigue—this was not dictation. Oh no; it was only
centralising opinion. After all, this martyr to the cause of
economy, who rarely paid a shilling without a minute inves-
tigation, paid it appears, 9/. to Mr. M'Crae, without any au-
thority whatever. I do not believe that Mr. M'Crae applied
for the money without an understanding with some of the
Council. If he did, it was a positive fraud, and the affair
demands public explanation. As to the Dublin affair, I
take shame to myself for not at once perceiviag that Mr.
O'Connor's swan would, as usual, prove to be a goose."
Mr. PITKEITHLEY said he was not before aware that it
had been in contemplation to make him Secretary. With
regard to the other charges contained in the letter of Dr.
Fletcher, he would not notice them further than to state
that he felt he had discharged his duty, and had merely
acted in accordance with the wishes of the majority of the
Convention.—( Hear, hear.) Mr, Pakeithley then read
a letter which he had received from Mr. M'Crae, stating
that he conceived he had a right to the same pay as other
Members, lout that if Lowrey and the rest had returned
back their salaries, he bad no doubt the county of Ayr would
restore his 91., as he had left as much in the hands of the
Convention as would refund it. " But I can tell you,"
(proceeded the writer), " that you are, by your mode of
action, doing the best you can to destroy those defence and
victim funds that I have been endeavouring to collect in
Ayrshire. Now it seems that I have been a great rogue,
and brought away n.oney that I had no right to ; but if
this sum is taken back from the couety, and others allowed
to pocket the sums they have claimed, I iesist on a fair
reckoning, and that the men of Ayrshire should know how
some of the money has been expended that they have saved
from their hard won earnings." He had also received a
letter from the Secretary of the Ayrshire Association,
stating that if the other meiebers returned their salaries
Ayrshire would pay back Mr. al'Crae's.

ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE,
Mr. BUSSES' then brought up an address which the Corn.
mittee appo:nted last night nad concocted, and which having
been ordered to be laid on the table, the Convention resolved
itself into a Committee to take it into consideration.
Mr. SKEVINGTON approved of the address, and moved
that it be that of the Convention.
Mr. NEESoM seconded the motion.
Alter some discussion the address was Rent h.t'k to tho
Committee for re v . .

....
Dr. TAYLOR moved that 250 copies of the Chanzpion
newspaper be purchased by the Convention, as it contained
the declaration of rights in acorrected form. It was most,
important, and he thought it ought to lie reprinted by all
the constituencies.

Mr. PITKEITHLEY Obj;ClC'd to the number proposed to
be purchased--one hundred copies was quite enough. He
moved accoidingly.
Mr. O'BRIEN moved as an amendment that the pro-
prietor of the Northern Star be requested to insert
the
amended copy. That would give a circulation to the
declaration without any expense to the Convention.
The original motion was carried.
On the motion of Mr. O'Batzu, Dr. Taylor, Mr.
Pitkeithley, and Mr. Rogers were appointed as a Com-
mittee to superintend the printing of the balance sheet.
Adjourned.

- - ----
MURDEROUS OUTRAGE AND
ROBBERY AT THE SENIOR UNITED SER-
VICE CLUB HOUSE, PALL-MALL.

(FURTHER PARTICULARS.)
Towards the middle of yesterday Mr. Fenn, the stew-
ard, on whom surgeons were in constant attendance,
revived considerably, and at intervals was enabled to
enter into conversation, in the midst of which, how-
ever, he relapsed into his previous state of insensibility.
We understand, however, that the following explana-
tion of the mysterious affair has been in detached sentences
given by him :—After be had been, as he supposed,
about an hour in bed and asleep, he was suddenly awoke by
receiving a severe blow on the side of the head with, as
he believes, a stick. He instantly jumped out of bed, when
he was seized by two men, with whom be entered into a
fierce struggle, which was ended by his receiving the
blows on the bead and arm, which knocked him to the
floor, and deprived him of his senses, in which state
he must have Lin until discovered by the domestics.
He is unable to give any description of the ruffians
by whom lie was attached. From the examination of
the premises it had been ascertained that none pf the locks
of the doors had been forced, and it is therefore supposed
that the thieves must either have been well acquainted
with the mode of ingress and egress, or have, by some
means at present undiscovered* secreted themselves in the
offices unseen by any of the domestics. Last evening a
meeting of the members of the Club was held, to consider
what steps should he adopted under the circumstances.
The result has, however, not h,!en suffered to transpire.
Mr. Fenn, who is about as. or 40 years of age, we under-
stand still remains in .7, most precarious state. He has been
for some time. connected ;with the Club, and is much re-
spected. It appears that the cash box has not been taken
away, as was at first stated, but has been broken open and
rifled of its contents,

We observe it has been atmeanced that Mr.
Rowland Hill has within this day or two had an in-
terview with the Qhaueellor of the Exchequer. We
hope that may be considered as a sign that the
Cioveenment has engaged, or means to engage, the ser-
vices of that able gentleman, in order to carry into effect
his plan of the uniform Pe
SIWS&ELS, SEPT. l Penny
Postage..
l i average price of
wheat last week was 23f. 74c., and that of Rye, 12f. 90c.
The duties on importation. .14d_ exportation remain as before.
NEW STAAND
IHEATRE.--A laughable but
someu hat extravagant
piece was produced at this theatre
last night, under the name of Behind the Scenes, or Actors
by Lo mid ght. This trifle appears to be partly founded on
the Frenuh piece of Les CoAtisses and the late tournament
at Eglinton Castle. The first part, which embodies the
behind-seetW representation of a most exaggerated melo-
drama, in which one Jeremiah Hopkins ( Attwood),
stage-struck hero, personates a suicidal son, and Mr.
Spooney Negus (Oxberry), the devil, was full of fun, and
was received with ince,sant shouts of laup,hter. The
second part, t.fre In t,
.ui.esque of the tournament, was rather a
sorry affair. The pii cc owes its success entir. ly to the
excellent acting of Attwood, Oxberrv, and %Irs.
.Selby.
1,40 rd Adolphus .Fitzelarenc e is expected to return
to the Ambassador's Court, St. James's, the middle of the
ensuing week, from a visit to the Duke and Duchess of
Richmond, at Gordon Castle, N.B.
The Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch and
family will teturn to Italy next month, and winter in Rome.
His Grace has been enjoying the ofgrouse ti g
sport
at his shooting lodge, in Dumfriesshire.

EVENING EDITION.