The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-18 00:00:00

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, •. _
o continue the optration of the engine is vastly. infbrioi
that of the steamships. But a few pounds of coal—
anthracite only being used in the caloric ship, both on
account of itsf greater cleanliness and portability—are
needed to commence the operations of the machinery.
There are no laciilO•ii or largo furnaces, and the danger
from fire can never be so great as to create apprehension,
while, as an additional means of security against accident,
the entire floor of the engine room is paved with a corru-
gated cast iron pavement, the plates of which are so care-
fully joined together that the chance coals can neither pene-
rate to the wood work nor the water enter.through the in-
terstices left in the bed-plates, as is frequently the casein
steam ships. A number of advantages are thus com-
bined, not only in the engine preper, but in connection
with its various appurtenances.
The construction of the furnaces, and the small
amount of fuel required to feed them, cause a great
saving in the stowage room of the vessel, by which it
gains largely in accommodation for merchandise freight.
The freightage of the ship will be about 1,400 tons.
The freight deck, strongly secured from accidents, is
roomy and cleanly. It is perfectly clear from stem to
stern, in consequence mainly of the small space occupiel
by the machinery of the ship, and affords, beside the
freighting space proper, a considerable supply of store-
rooms and recesses, always useful for the sbownge of
precious articles. The coal bold is below the freight-
deck, and is abundantly spacious to contain the en-
tire mass of fuel required for the outward and re-
turn voyage of the ship. It is, in fact, contemplated
that the vessel will be able to carry her coals far
the longest trips out and back, even should the
voyage be extended beyond the customary route of our
packet steamers. The coal can not only be procured here
with greater readiness, but the stow: age of the amount'
required may be accomplished at one time, and a curtain
contract may be entered into, by which the owners of
the vessel may realise a profitable sort of economy. The
advantages are secured, beside, of a saving of room, se-
curity from spontaneous combustion, and a greater de-
gree of cleanliness from the use of the anthracite than
by the employment of the British bituminous coals. It
is not to be lost sight of, in case the success of the
caloric principle shall' bo definitively established, that
the monopoly of the coal trade, for steamer supply, will
eventually remain with the American dealers. The
steam-ships can now carry a supply sufficient only for a
single trip. To return to port they are compelled to lay•
in supplies abroad, and hence one of the ostensible rea-
sons of the expedition to Japan—the necessity of free
coaling stations being felt by the steamers navigating
the waters of the China Seas. The suggestion is inci-
dental, but may possibly prove true in theory, in the
event of the final success Of the new principle which is
now about to be inaugurated.
The experiments already made with the engines of
the new ship promise a very auspicious commencement
of her career. The operations of the machinery, so far
as the different portions have been tried, are perfect'y
smooth and accurate, and the revolutions of the wheels
of the vessel have taken place with all the regularity and
order which was to be expected of them. The prognos-
tics of success are very promising. The public will
await the result with eager interest.. But one opinion
can be expressed in regard to the probabilities of the
plan. The necessity of a new motive power is every day
more pressing. Advantages must be gained by the •
application of the leading principles of nature to
new uses, and the inventor who shall momplish
this feat will entitle himself to the lasting grati-
tude of the commercial and travelling world. It is
to be hoped, in view of the labour and ingenious re-
sources which have been expended upon a project that ~
seems so feasible as this, that the honour of the new
motor may be finally awarded to the studies of Captain
Ericsson.

SINGULAR ACCIDENT.--As M. Cartier, managing di-
rector of the coal-pits of Chalonnes-eur-Loire, was step:

ping over a rope lying on the ground at the bottom of
the well, by which the men ascended to the surface, the
basket was suddenly let down, and the rope which was
attached to it of course rose, and catching M. Cartier
before he had time to withdraw, drew him up in the air
at least 40 feet. He was so much injured by the fall
that he died the next day.
THE CONVICT KIRWAN.—The Cork Reporter, of Sa-
turday, has the following strange statement from Spike
Island, where Kirwan is now confined, awaiting the
order for his transmission to a penal colony :—" We have
heard that indulgences and privileges of a very extensive
nature are extended to this unfortunate man in the con-

vict depot at Spike. If report speaks correctly, the con-
vict's cell is truly a comfortable apartment, notwith-
standing its being a place of condign punishment. It has
been stated to us Kirwan is allowed to enjoy all the com-
forts and luxuries he can procure with money, and that
he passes the greater portion of the day in making
sketches of the beautiful scenery by which his prison is
surrounded, and is permitted thus to turn his profe-
sional abilities to account. The same journal states
that two convicts, named Leary and King, effected their
escape from Camden-fort on Saturday morning.
PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS AT ASHFORD, KENT.—
At Ashford Junction, as many of our readers know, the
South-Eastern Railway Company have their locomotive
workshops and depot, and here, as at other locomotive

.
stations, the town will necessarily extend. There are
already many evidences of movement ; houses are in

demand, and are being built in several directions. In
connection with this movement, we would direct atten-
tion to the Henwood estate, a compact tract of land
about 46 acres in extent, belonging .to Sir E. Chol-
mondely Dering, Bart., one -of the members for the
county, which commands singularly fine prospects, and
has been laid out for building by Mr. Godwin, architect.
The houses are all to be detached or semi-detached, with
the exception of two blocks on the high road, with an
opening between them to the church. Each hou3e will
have about a quarter of an acre of ground, and is so
placed as to command a prospect ; and there is provi-
sion made for a collegiate school, and for some smaller
houses in a convenient position. The market at Ashfoi'd
is the best in the county ; capital brick earth and a goouv
stone for walls are to be found on the estate. It is pro-
posed, in the first instance, to take very small ground-
rents, and it seems to offer a singularly good opening for
energy and enterprise.—The Buildep.
AN INTERESTING CHARACTER.—A man of the name
of James Farrell, alias William Johnson, alias Curley
Jim, with sundry other aliases, useful to him at differ-
ent times, has managed to make himself exceedingly no-
torious in the north ; indeed, so attractive has he be-
come of late months, that several public servants were
anxious to cultivate a closer acquaintance with him, and
would gladly have offered him board and lodging at the
public expense. A full-length portrait of the man has
been given also in one of the popular prints of the day,
viz., in the Police Gazette- The fellow was concerned in
no less than from six to ten burglaries in the neighbour-
hood of Kendal, and the gang he was connected with
have most, if not all of them, already crossed the seas.
This fellow, however, overcome by the attentions he was
receiving, modestly retired from the scenes of his ex-
ploits, and took up his abode in this town about five
months ago. Here he has been engaged in very sus-
picious transactions, and this week notice reached the
police station that such a man was " wanted" at Ken-
dal. In two hours he was lodged in gaol, and shortly
after was on his way to the north.—Leeds Mercury.
A POLITICAL VETERAN. A letter from Rennes affr
nounces that Count Corbiere, former 'Minister of their'
Majesties Louis XVIII. and Charles X., and an ancient
deputy and Poer of France, died in that city on Tuesday
last, in the 86th year of his age. He died in the full
seancjraoymmeenntst ooffaltlhheischfuacruchltiwthesi,after
sentiments
edifying Christian piety. Count Corbiere retired from
public life in the year 1830, and terminated his long and
received
the
mostthe
nthina-iveinntgs
honourable career, faithful to the last to his political
opinions, respected by all parties.
LORD PANMURE.—It would appear from the following
statement made by Lord Panmure, in his speech at the
he contemplates retiring, for some time at least, from
meeting of the Edinburgh Bible Society last week, that
public life :—" I will not further detain you," said his
Lordship, "on the present occasion. A change has
come over me, and I shall not for the rest of ray life,
probably, be so much in the habit of meeting in public
with my fellow countrymen as I have been ; but I can
say this, that, whenever my voice is required to main-
tain the iberties of my countrymen—either their secular
liberties, when threatened by those who would invade
them, or their Protestant liberties, when threatened by
it shall be raisedg glorious
inu
s i defenceo neto
those who would touch one inch or one iota of our Pro-
testant bulwarks--my voice shall be at the command of
those
thosoewerh, thowiis at leasthearshto
of Protestantism and the Protestant Bible • and f
I add
n
willit
be the most i
which I can address myself."
DEATH OF SIR WALTER SCOTT'S GRANDSON.—Mr.
Walter Scott Lockhart Scott, of Abbotsford, the only
son of Mr. Lockhart, and grandson of -S. Waiter Scott,
died, unmarried, on the 10th instant,-Sir
of
27. When Sir Walter died he left
twoastotnse early y agen.
grand-
son to perpetuate the lines e of his housean aand it is
difficult to conceive g
that even a chance thought could
have crossed his mind that all three should die childless
and abroad in the short space of twenty years. The
only grandchild of the great novelist now alive is Mr.
Lockhart's only surviving child, Mrs. Hope. It was
but a month ago that we were called on to chronicle the
death, at 37, of the closest link in blood to Scott's great
contemporary—Byron : and here are we now recording
the death, at 27, of the closest link in blood to Byssro
great contemporary—Sir Walter Scott. It seems
-shall be
it were ordained that the children: of the braucin
the sole creations of great authors destined to a
Athenceum.
; Montrose 18 111
n
A CLEVER DOG.—An individual in
possession which is ar
possession of a member of the canineEetiful. oawbnnecri,
parently far more sagacious than
ting a friend,
by
habit of visi frequently
it seems, has been in the
t prettyso
16 miles distant in the coun
isits have not been
However, the 3,
0- evidently a
railway recently.
desired.
Beiupon others
frequent as his dogship
scorning to depend
the
railway animal, andle. went off the other day to the
for his own pleasure,
the
took his accustomed. seat
station, deliberately
till the train arrived at
railway
ag waited patiently
in a carri his master's friend's house, and then
the station nearer
de for his country residence, where he
leaped off
and
toin. the astonishment of his host ; but if
got safe, muchd e from the pendulosity of his tail, greatly'
one might ju North B _Daily Mail.
satisfaction.—
to his own
Efomor AND MISTLETOE.—Tho Belly and mistletoe, it
is well known are used to decdrate houses at Christmas,
but very few people are aware of the origin of the cus-
tom. The holly was dedicated to Saturn ; and, as the
fetes of that deity were celebrated in December, and the
Romans were accustomed to decorate their houses with
holly, the early Christians decorated their houses in the
same manner, while they were celebrating their festival at
Christmas, in order that they might escape observation.
the
Scandinavians, mistletoe was dedicated to Friga, the Venus of
Scandinavians, and, as she was the goddess of love,
was formerly a custom to kiss under the mistletoe.