The Sun.
London, England, 1862-10-20 00:00:00

FROGS IN COALS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—Observing a correspondence in the Times
on the subject of the existence of frogs in rock or
coal strata, I wrete to that journal the enclosed
letter. As no notice of my communication has been
taken, I presume the facts are rather too startling
to be pleasant to those who dispute the possibility
of such facts.

As I think anything that can help to throw light
on such remarkable things may be of use, I send a
copy of what I wrote, and should you think it worth
while inserting it, you may give my name as sub-
joins.—Yours,

R. B. WARDLAW RAMSAY.
10th October, 1862.

TO THE EDITOR Olr THE TIMES.
Sir,—With reference to a correspondence which I ob-
served in the columns of the Tzmes on the above subject, I
may mention a circumstance which lately occurred, and to
which I can refer your correspondents.
A. few years ago, during the blasting of a rock of stone
underground in a coal mine at my property of Dundonald,
in the county of Fife, a frog was found imbedded in a hole
in the very heart of the solid rock. It was alive, but died
almost immediately on being brought into contact with the
atmosphere. I made inquiries into the subject, and having
ascertained the facts, wrote a detailed account of the occur-
rence, which was sent to the (teologist, with a section of
the position of the rock and all the other strata above it.
The editor of that periodical inserted my account at full
length, with the complimentary acknowledgment that the
case was an interesting one.
The frog being pronounced by an eminent professor as of
"existing species" (though certainy to a casual observer a
very remarkable specimen), a solution of the mystery by
natural causes was given. On receiving that, I wrote, pro-
pounding a series of queries, which it appeared to me natu-
rally arose from such a solution. To those I received no
answer, and on submitting them to a scientific gentleman
in Edinburgh, to whom I entrusted the frog for exhi-
bition for a short time, I was informed that, as my
queries could only be answered by an acknowledgement of
the possibility, if not the certainty, of what the sevens
make up their minds is quite impossible, the said queries
were unanswerable, and therefore, silence was the most
discreet thing.

Nothing more, therefore, passed on the subject.
I have at home copies of all the correspondence, with tha
notes of the "Geologist," with reports of the various seion-
tific gentlemen appealed to, and I have also the animal
whose appearance caused all this commotion in the scientific
world.

When it is evident that the explanation of an affair can
not be given or attempted without upsetting the correct-
ness, or probable correctness, of the said solution, as was
undoubtedly the case in this instance, it appears to me that
savans, who sneer at the possibility of frogs being coeval
with the strata in which they are found imbedded, afford
themselves the very best evidence of the truth or possibi-
lity of what they so uniformly deny.
Such an answer as, "The thing is impossible, and con-
trary to common sense, and therefore is inexplicable," ap-
pears to me a very absurd way of disposing of a question,
however convenient it may be for science and scientific
principles.—Your obedient servant,

R. B. WARDLAW RAMSAY.

Hunting has commenced with the late Prince
Consort's harriers. A large number of hares have been
netted in the Home Park, Windsor, and turned down as
usual on the farms in the neighbourhood. It is expected
that at the commencement of the next year the Prince of
Wales will frequently hunt with the Royal pack.—Court
Journal.

THE COURT OF SESSION.—THE YELVEItTON
CisE.--The extra sittings of the First Division of the
Court of Session commence on Monday, 3d November,
when the Yelverton case will be taken up, it being placed
first on the roll.

A serious military riot occurred at Edinburgh on
Friday night. The police were attacked by a considerable
body of the 25th, and a number of constables were very
severely injured.

PORTSMOUTH, Sunday Evening.—Wild and un•
settled weather, with heavy squalls of wind and rain, has
prevailed here since Wednesday, with the wind from
W.N.W. to S.S. W., at which latter point it is now (6 p.m.)
blowing a hard gale, accompanied with rain. One of Ne-
gretti and Zambra's sea coast barometers, kept on the Vic-
toria Pier, has showed the mercury during this time in a
very unsettled state. On Thursday it rose a tenth from 30,
but afterwards fell, and by 10 a.m., Friday, had reached
29.6. In the next 24 hours it merely rose and fell corres-
ponding tenths, but between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Satur-
day it fell three-tenths, reaching 2945. From this point it
made an upward movement, until this moming it had again
reached 29.75, when it resumed its downward course, and
uow marks again 29.45. There is every prospect of a dirty,
tempestuous night in the Channel. No accounts of any
serious casualties have yet been received.

PLYMOUTH, Saturday Evening.—The steamship
Minerva, Captain Telfer, which left London on Thursday
morning for Genoa, have experienced very heavy weather
from the southward and westward, put back to the Sound
this afternoon. No damage.

DISAPPEARANCE OF HUNGERFORD MARKET.—
This once noted place of business has now become a thing
of the past, the whole of the extensive range of buildings once
bearing that name having been completely levelled with the
ground. An ar( aof several acres (once covered with valu-
able houses and shops, the rental of which must have
amounted to a large sum of money) has been cleared of the
superincumbent buildings, while the demolition of property
necessary for the construction of the Charing. cross Railway
terminus is, perhaps, the largest that has ever occurred on
an) one spot in the metropolis. These demolitions, at pre-
sent, give a very remarkable appearance to the site, the view
from the river to the Strand being unimpeded. On the
site of the market the brick arches which are to support the
terminus are fast springing up, and the beams for the road-
way are being laid on the cross girders.

BRINGING COTTON TO MARKET.—The plan for
bringing forward to market the cotton of the South,alluded
to a few days ago, is still under consideration. It is under-
stood that it has met the entirs approbation of the Secretary
of the Treasury, and is regarded by all practical business
men and financiers to whom it has been confided as the
great desideratum of the country. If carried into effect it
will enable the Government to furnish an average supply of
cotton to foreign manufacturers, and to realise easily the
means of paying the interest upon the public debt in coin or
its equivalent. It will also enlist the interest of influential
parties in the South in the maintenance of the Federal
Union. It is the only measure that has yet been proposed
calculated to touch the pocket nerve of the South, and to
make Southern produce the means of sustaining public
credit,— Washington Journal.
A GENTLEMAN SWINDLER.—On Friday last a
gentleman in appearance took up his quarters in one of our
principal hotels, and made himself perfectly at home on
Saturday, going out and in quite at his ease. He break-
fasted heartily on Sunday morning, and before going out
ordered dinner against the hour of his returning, but that
hour never came round, as, to use a trade expression, he
had " sloped," nobody knew where, without paying his
bill, and leaving only a few well-worn articles of wearing-
apparel and a perfumery-case to remunerate mine host for
his accommodation and careful attentions. His sudden
departure would not have been of so great moment had he
not purloined the cash. box of a commercial gentleman stay-
ing at the same hotel. The box had been placed by its
owner on Saturday night, locked, in a leather hat-box in
his bed-room. It was only on going to remove the box on
Monday morning that the owner became aware of its re-
moval. It contained about £l4O in bills and money.—
.Duntfries Standard.

EXTRAORDINARY RISE OF THE TIDE AT LIVER-
POOL.--On Friday morning one of the most extraordinary
tidal phenomena occurred on the Mersey, the circum- tances
presenting most remarkable features, and well worthy the
attention of the scientific world. According to the tide
table, high water was at 25 minutes past 5 in the morning,
previous to which the vessels in the river: (of which there
was a considerable number) had their heads pointed down
the river, towards the Fort and Rock Lighthouse. When
the tide turned and was on the ebb, of course, their positions
were reversed, the vessels pointing with their heads up the
river, towards Garston and Runcorn. Half-an-hour after
the ebb of the tide had commenced it again began to rise,
and so continued until it had attained 18 inches above high
water, the vessels in the river again swinging round with
their bows to the entrance of the river, to the great astonish-
ment of all on beard the different ship% The phenomenon
was witnessed by all the pier-head masters and many per-
sons on the different pier-heads, as well as by the boatmen
on the river, and has since been the subject of much con-
versation among nautical men. This double rise of the tide
cannot be attributable to the strong N.N.W. wind blowing
at the time, and so forcing a large body of water into the
Mersey, as we have had frequent gales from the same
quarter, and such a singular circumstance was never
witnessed before.—Liverpool Mercury.

THE WEDDING AND THE WIDOW.—The mar-
riage of Lord Dufferin with Miss Hamilton is fixed to take
place on the 23d inst. It is said that his lordship's mother,
the widow of the late Lord Dufferin and Clandeboye, will
now assume her right designation as the wife of the Earl of
Gifford. We regret to hear that the noble earl still remains
in a precarious state of health at Dufferin Lodge, Highgate.
His sister, the Duchess of Wellington, and Lady Clifford
are unremitting in their attentions.
The Avvenire of Naples announces the discovery
of a splendid edifice at Pompeii. It has a fine mosaic
pavement and is remarkable for the richness of its
marbles of various colours. To protect the stucco of the
walls from dampness, it is separated from the latter by
sheets of lead, so that the beautiful frescoes with which
ii is
covered are in perfect preservation.
Importing Tea without colour on the leaf pre-
vents the Chinese Pa,sing off inferior leaves as in ihe
usual kinds. Horximan's Tea is uncoloured, therefore,
alwa f 404 aßot Sold in packets by 2,280 Agents.