The Sun.
London, England, 1838-08-25 00:00:00

THE EMPEROR NICHOLAS

Mr. O'Connell boasts that he is the best abused man alive,
but if we tire to believe the German papers, he falls far short
in that respect of the Emperor of all the Russias. Such a
horror has Mr. T. Attwood of the great Autocrat, for his poli-
tical intrigues, his cruelty to the Poles, and his thirst for con
quest, that he has avowed his resolution, were he Prime Mi-
nister, to smash him at a blow. Now, not one of these 01-jects
seems to occupy the Royal mind. His great amusement for
some time has been in galloping through Germany, and
playing at hide-and-seek with Kings and Emperors. He has
surprised almost every sovereign east of the Rhine at some un-
seasonable hour. Last year he broke through all rules of
etiquette, observed no where so strictly as at the court of
Vienna, by driving at the speed of an express for a newspaper,
into the capital, and rushing to the presence of the Emperor
without formal notice or announcement. He served the King
of Prussia somewhat in the same way, and he actually
caught old Bernadotte in bed. The King of Bavaria, how
ever was too clever for this, and played the game as well as
himself, but Nicholas was determined to perform an achieve-
ment near the capital of the poet-king, so he started some day
last week from Tergerniee at the usual speed, arrived at Kreuth
at noon, and having silenced the sentinels, he surprised his
own wife in a neighbouring wood, by sonic bopecp cry, as we
infer from the papers, like that made by children when they
play at this exhilarating game. When Mr. Attwood hears of
this, we ure quite sure he will talk no more about smashing
Nicholas, but say with us, that notwithstanding his boundless
empire, his despotic power, his vast armits, and surrounded as
he is by his faithful nobility, the Emperor of all the Russias is
more to be pitied than blamed.

BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE

ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE.

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, Auo. 23.—Yesterday morning,
prior to the meeting of the sections, the Horticultural Society
of Northumberland, Newcastle, and Durham, gave an exhi-
bition of flowers and fruits, under the temporary marquee
forming the entrance to the dining-rooms at the circus. The
show was very superior, and particularly of fruit, which after-
wards were forwarded, as a dessert, to the ordinary; the
flowers also being sent as additional ornaments to the Green
Market for the evening promenade. Notwithstanding the ad-
vanced period of the week there were yesterday, as well as
Tuesday, a great addition of Members. The papers read at
the sections were of a more purely scientific character ; a
more popular abstract of which will be read at the meeting
this evening, when the Presidents of the different sections
will deliver in their reports. The Duke and Duchess of
Northumberland, with the other distinguished visiters, were
in attendance at the different sections in the course of the
day. The following is an abstract of the papers that were
read :

Section A. Mathematics and Physics.-l. A report by Pro-
fessor Whewell un the tides, resulting from observations at
Bristol, which were made by Mr. Bunt, under his directions.
2. A report from Mr. Russell on the form of waves. 3.
Sir David Brewster on a new polarity of light, and the disco-
veries of an American, relative to a new phenomenon of vision.
4. Sir James Hamilton on the dynamics of light. 5. Rev.
Professor Lloyd on new calculation of magnetical observa-
tions in Ireland. 6. Mr. Ball on the meaning of arithmetical
symbols for zero and unity, when used in general symbolic
algebra. 7. Rev. J. S. Greathead, on the existence of a
theorem, supplemental to that of Taylor. 8. Mr. Gregory,
a note on the independent use of the symbol t, and also on the
meaning of the algebraical symbol of the equivalence of 1-1.
Section B. Chemistry and Mineralogy.-1. Mr. Mallet,
report on the nature and present state of his experiments on
the action of a long-continued heat of 212 deg. on organic
and margarine bodies made at the request of the Association.
'3. Dr. Golding Bird, on the formation, by voltaic action, of
an insoluble chloride of copper representing the green sand of
Peru. 3. Mr. West, on the detection of opium in mixed
fluids. 4. Mr. R. Adams, on the construction of an apparatus
for solidifying carbonic acid gas, with experiments thereon.
5. Professor Johnstone, on the resin of gamboge and its salts.
6. Professor Graham, on the function of water in sugar.
7. Professor Andrews, on the influence of voltaic combina-
tions in chemical action. 8. Mr. Mallet's report of experi-
ments on the action of river and sea water on iron.
Section C. Geography and Zoology.--1. Mr. Leithart on
the stratification of rocks. 2. Mr. Trimmer ; a notice on the
discovery of diluvial, or northern drift, containing fragments
of marine shells, and covering the remains of terrestrial masn-
malia in Cele, Denbighshire. 3. Mr. Murchison exhibited
and explained his large new map and illustrative sections of
the Silurian region and adjoining parts of England and
Wales. 4. Mr. Griffiths on the geological structure of the
South of Ireland, illustrated by a map and'sections. 5. Dr.
Daubeny, a report on the geology and thermal springs of
North America. 6. A brief account of some recent expedi-
tions to the Antarctic regions. by Captain Washington,
R. N. 7. On the possibility of the River Thadda being the
outlet of the Lake Shad, in Africa, by Captain Allen, R. N.
8. On the height of the city of Maslion above the sea.
Section D. Zoology and Botany.-1. On geterniferous bo-
dies and vermiform filaments of actinum, by T. P. Teale, Esq.,
Leeds. 2. On an artificial hoculation of seeds, by Mr. J. R.
Wallace. 3. On a new species of intestinal worm, by Dr,
Bellingham, Dublin. 4. Remarks on the genus pinus and
abies, by Captain J. E. Cook, R. N. 5. Rev. W. Hope, on
a new classification of insects. 6. Remarks on the lycopodium
lepedOphyllum of Hooker, by J. B. Sowerby, Esq. 7. On a
ne.v British fish, by Mr. W. Strickland. 8. On arenoidal
fossils, by J. B. Sowerby, Esq. 9. On British Shrews, by
Rev. L. Jenins. 10. On the boring of the Pholades, by G,
E. Gray, Fl. 11. On Scottish salmonidve, by Sir William
Jardine. 12. On the claims of ardea alba to be considered
British, by Arthur Strickland, Esq.
Section E. Medical Science.-1. Dr. Granville on an im-
proved stethescope. 2. Mr. G. 0. Rees on the chemical na-
ture of the liquor aruru. 3 Dr. R. D. Thompson on the
modus operandi of nitrate of silver as a caustic and therapeutic
agent. 4. Mr. T. Greenhow on a sling fracture bed ; and 5.
Mr. Goodsir, some remarks an the teeth.
Section F. Statistics.-1. Account of the changes in the
population of New Zealand, by Saxe Bannister, Esq 2. On
the fires of London, by Rawson W. Rawson, Esq. 3. Statis-
tical notice of the asylum for the blind at Newcastle-upon-
Tyne, by the Rev. J. M'Alister.
Section G. Mechanical Science.-I. On the improved con-
struction of railways, by Mr. J. R. Peele. 2. The construction
of railway upper works, by Mr. Mosley. 3. A new mode
of pumping leaky vessels, by Dr. Dalzieli. 4. On a new dry
gas meter, by Mr. Saunders. 5. On a machine for raising
water, or an hydraulic bell, by Mr. Hall. 6. On a new steam
engine boiler, by Mr. Price. 7. On the construction of geo-
logical models; and, 8. On an improved levelling stave,by Mr.
Topwith.
In the evening a grand promenade took place in the Green
Market, which was fitted up with the utmost magnificence for
the occasion. The building was illuminated with brilliant de-
vices of gas, and festooned with flowers, a very rare collec-
tion of exotic and other plants decorating the lower parts.
The amusements, as well as refreshments were of the tnost
recherche description, and there could Lot have been less than.
four thousand persons present, including the Duke and
Duchess of Northumberland, and all the illustrious visiters at
present in the town. This day the General Committee will
be held at three o'clock, to consider and decide upon the next
place of meeting.
Amongst the novelties introduced must be noticed a
machine for solidifying carbonic acid gas, by Mr. Adams,
In the course of the evening several pounds of this sub-
stance were consolidated, which being banded about excited
much curiosity, from the temperatue being as low as 33 deg.
below zero.