The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-05 00:00:00

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POLY7ECHNIG MIST

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In an age of revolutions it is not sappai;fop*„...,,,:A;..74q
the Polytechnic following the examplia_Tabivi:tx--'="-.
tended realms, and introducing an entirAtanki of S
lectures and entertainments for the long winter
evenings. Happily, however, Mr. Pepper, who
presides ()Tar the Polytechnic domain with so much
judgment and ability, has effected his revolution not
only without the least disturbance, but his subjects
—the numerous visitors of the institution—will hail
with satisfaction the new order of things. In the
first place, with a view of responding to the erong
current in favour of musical entertainments, an en-
gagement has been made with the London Vocal
Quintett Union, which was established last June,
for the performances of operatic selections, claz,sical
and modern concerted music, part songs, &d. Dur-
ing their engagement at the Polytechnic the Claintett Union will especially devote themselves to the
performance of new part music. Miss Rose Ifer-
see, Miss LaThr, Mr. Carter9 Mr. Osborne Wil
lianas, and Mr. De Font-artier are the artists enaged
to carry out this portion of the new programme;
which, judging from the manner of its reception
on the l
rsi is likely to be very popu-
lar. In ion of the evening's enter-
tainment,t
the visitors are invited to view the
" Seven Ages of a Great City," illustrated by
dissolving views and dioramic effects. Mr. G. A.
Cooper presides over this department of the insti-
tution, and is quite successful in entertaining his
audience. Herr Winkler, as an exhibitor of power
in mental calculation, and Master Hamilton, as ark
exponent of Scottish song, afford very
acceptable
additions of Surprise.and pleasure; and after some
interesting experiments by Mr. J. L. King, illus-
trating " submarine warfare" on the large tank of
the institution, Mr. Pepper himself delivers one of
those lectures so familiar to Polytechnic visitors, of
which it is difficult to say whether the instruction
or the. entertainment is the predominant feature.
The subject of the present lecture is at this moment
the all-absorbing one of Cotton, and much as has
been recently 'sritten and spoken on this matter,
no one can listen to Mr. Pepper's comparatively
short lecture without feeling that he (the hearer)
has a firmer and a clearer grasp of it than before.
The qualities of zostera marina, flax, jute, and other
proposed fibrous substitutes for the cotton plant, are
discussed the difference between Sea Island, Indian,
and other cotton explained; the statistics of the
cotton trade condensed, and the modes of transit to
England illustrated. The comprehension of the
lecture is much facilitated by the aid of the oxyhy-
drogen microscope and a series of new dissolving
views designed and painted by Mr. Benwell, who
resided in India for some time. Mr. Pepper was
much applauded at the close of his valuable lecture,
and still more so when he announced that the pro-
fits of one night's entertainment (on which the
charge would be half-a-crown) would be devoted to
the relief of the distressed workmen in Lancashire.
Mr. Pepper has unquestionably produced an ex-
tremely interesting evening's entertainment, and we
congratulate him on the success of his revolution.