The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-22 00:00:00

CisT-IRON.--The French Academy of Science has
received an interesting paper from Dr. Phipson on
the existence of silicium (the metal of flint) in cast iron. It
has long been known that carbon exists in cast-iron under
two different states, that of black-lead, and another state
which we will represent by No. 1. Dr. Phipson has as-
certained that silicum also exists in cast iron under two
parallel states, which we may therefore also represent by
No. 1 and No. 2. Tho predominance of either of those two
forms of silicium in cast-iron exercises a great influence
over its quallty. In analysing various well-known kinds
of cast iron rich in carbon and silicium, such as are ob-
tained from ores containing little or no sulphur or phos-
phorus, our author has found that the total quality of
silicium is invariably divided, like carbon, into two por-
tions, as stated. According as either of those predominates
the cast iron will or will not admit of being converted
into steel by Bessemer's process. Provided the cast
iron employed contains little or no sulphur or phos-
phorus, it 'matters little how much carbon of sili-
(slum be contained in it, so that they be nearly in a free
state, that is, represented by No. 2, and that consequently
there be scarcely any No. 1. In all the kinds of cast-iron
which may be converted into steel by Bessemer's process,
carbon predominates under the form No. 2, or black lead,
and the same rule holds good with silicium ; none but the
kinds containing a large proportion of silicium, No. 2 or
rather a small one of No. 1, admit of being transformed into
good steel by the Bessemer process. If cast-iron be dis-
solved in an acid, carbon No. 2 is precipitated under the
form of brilliant scales of black lead. Something similar
takes place with silicium ; cast-iron dissolved in aqua regia
will deposit silicic acid from silicium No. 2, while the silicic
acid derived from No. 1 remains in the solution. Hence a
quantitative analysis of cast-iron which only shows the
total amount of carbon or silicium contained in it cells us
nothing as to its convertibility into steel ; and the opera-
tion must be conducted so as to separate carbon No. 1 and
carbon No. 2, as well as silicium No. 1 and silicium No. 2.
THE NORTH LONDON HOSPITAL.—Last evening
the anniversary of the North London or University
College Hospital, Upper Gower-street, was celebrated by a
public dinner in Willis's-rooms, King-street, St. James's ;
Lord Belper in the chair. The company numbered about
200, among whom were Sir E. Ryan, Hon. G. Denman,
Q.C., Sir Francis Goldsmid, Dr. Roget, Professor Sharpey,
Professor Ericheen, Professor Quain, Mr. J. Hey wood, Mr.
Booth, Rev. Dr. Stebbing, chaplain to the hospital, &c.
After the usual introductory toasts, the chairman proposed
the toast of the evening, " Prosperity to the Hospital," and
made an eloquent appeal in its behalf. He referred to the
great advantages which were brought by such institutions
within reach of the poorest and the most helpless, who
avail themselves of its benefits, were placed in many respects
in a better position than their richer brethren, having always
at hand the highest medical talent, the certainty of the best
advice, proper medicine, and the utmost care and attention
which the constant assiduity and kindness of trained nurses
could supply. In supporting that institution they not only
benefited the poor, but indirectly they conferred almost
equal benefit on society at large, by contributing to the
advancement of the art and science of medicine. Besides,
as the hospital was connected with University College,
where all the different branches of science and literature
were taught in unison with the arts of law and medicine,
it should be remembered that support given to any ono
of these departments was enjoyed by all the others. He
referred to the signal services rendered to the inmates of
the hospital by the Sisters of All Saints' Home, who,
after the manner of Miss Nightingale, a distant relative
of his own, devoted themselves to promote the comforts
of their suffering fellow-creatures. He stated that the
annual cost of maintaining the hospital was £6,500, the in-
come derived from annual subscriptions being only £l,lOO.
Another source of income consisted of the fees paid by
students for chemical instruction, which were relinquished
by the medical staff for the purposes, of the charity, and
averaged £l,OOO. The interest on investments amounted
to £640, making altogether £2 740 and leaving a yearly
deficit of nearly £4,000. Last 'year' there were 1,457 in-
patients admitted into the hospital ; 19,878 received medi-
cal and surgical treatment as out-patients ; nearly 12,000
were attended to as casualties ' • relief was administered to
upwards of 1,100 ophthalmic cases ; and 898 women in
tni t
uutrigo ennfto aper fupne adls to
to
the
eogietnferrooms i t y
debtof tahnedf leine
anbdlso oi
tf
childbirth were attended at their own habitations. He
tmhaediensa
to extend its accommodation. A subscription of about
£l,OOO was announced by Sir F. Goldsmid. The health of
the chairman was proposed by Mr. Denman, Q.C.
THE ACTOR'S am not going to argue
accounted for rationally
a n actor
i enough.sa n In
intellectual el
ec tu a that players are better than other people, but I
think their generally single-minded natures may be
will be readily admitted that only a trusting and
ambition
to
become the
thefirstill
unsophis-
ticated disposition could hope for a high degree of success
in the profession. Next comes 'in the exalting and refining
influence of Shakspere's poetry, which all actors, whether
they be destined to shine as the kings of tragedy or the valets
of farce, began by studying. Talk to a low comedian on the
subject, and 10 to 1 if ho will not confess to you that his first
aspirations were in the direction of the tragic. He knew
the lofty poetical speeches of Hamlet by heart—never to be
forgotten—long before he was driven to lower his attention
to the waistcoats of the First Gravedigger. A knowledge
of Shakspero redeems a vast amount of ignorance. An
actor's education may be very defective ; he may not be
able to spell ; ho may betray in his handwriting and com-
position a sad want of familiarity with the use of the pen
—but he knows Shakspere by heart. Ho has all the
philosophy of life at the tip of his tongue in Shakspere's
glowing words. We may be very clever and very accom-
plished; but when the actor loans upon the arms of Shaks-
pere he is fit company for the best of us. There is another
influence for good in the player's profession. It is a pre-
carious one. Nearly all actors begin by meeting difficulties
and knowing:poverty. It is rarely that any ono succeeds
without a long struggle. A fellow feeling makes them
wondrous kind. There is scarcely a successful actor living
who has not known what it is to bo penniless, hungry, and,
what is sometimes harder to bear, to be in debt for some
miserable trifle among strangers. Thus it is that the most
successful among them can always understand and feel for
the misfortunes and sorrows,of their struggling brethren.
If I bad not found by experience of them that players aro
are in a remarkable degree kind-hearted, well-disposed
people, these considerations alone might have guided me
to the conclusion.—Dickens's " All the lear Round."

TIIE DISGRACED PRINCE.—The Nerd says :
" Prince Napoleon paid a visit to the Tuileries yes-
terday (the Mb). The interview of the Emperor with his
cousin—the first, as is well known since the Ajaccio speech,
appears to have passed off in the most satisfactory manner;
nevertheless nothing is changed in the political position of
the prince, who is preparing to leave for his property on
the Lake of Geneva, and, it is asserted, to reduce his
household, a circumstance which indicates the probability
of a rather lengthened absence, or at all events of a some-
what prolonged withdrawal from the political Awne."