The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-12 00:00:00

SECTION A.-MATHEMATICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE.

Professor Phillips read the report of the committee
appointed at Belfast in 1852, to inquire into the physical
character of the moon's surface as compared with that of
the earth ; he also made some observations on photo-
graphs of the moon. Dr. Buist read an exceedingly in-
teresting paper on the currents of the Indian seas. Pro-
fes-or Stokes read communications from Sir David
Brewster on the optical phenomena and crystalisation of
tourmaline, titanium, and quartz within mica, amethyst,
and topaz ; also on the production of crystalline struc-
ture in crystallised powders by compression and traction.
W. J. M. Rankin, Esq., read a paper on a proposed
barometer pendulum for the registration of the mean at-
mospheric pressure during long periods of time ; also, on
a general one of an oscillatory theory of light.

SECTION G. -MECHANICAL SCIENCE.
The Rev. Dr. Scoresby delivered an address on
"Railway accidents and their prevention."

A vote of thanks was accorded to the lecturer.

The Rev. Francis Statham read a paper on the same
subject, and also received the thanks of the section.
The President's dinner was held in the spacious hall
of the Railway Hotel on Saturday evening.

THE BARNSTAPLE BRIBERY COMMISSION.—The corn
mission which was appointed to inquire into the cor

rapt practices at the-last election for this borough have
been sitting nearly a fortnight, having commenced on
Tuesday week last. Lord Ebrington, the late candi-
date, Sir William rFraser, who was unseated by the

Parliamentary committee, . Sir 8. Wray, and a large

number of other witnesses, have been examined. From
the admissions which have been made there is now no
doubt as to the bribery practised by the Tory party.
Several voters deposed to having found the sum of 6/.

in their houses, blit in most instances it was left in care

of their wives. Lord Ebrington, it would seem, was
himself determined to spend nothing, but some of his
party were anxious to have another candidate who
would bring 2,0001., without which it was thought use-
less to attempt to contest the seats with the Tories.
The inquiry is still progressing, and is likely to last
many days longer, as Mr. Bremridge, the late member,
Earl Fortescue, and a host of others have to be ex-
amined.

THE METROPOLITAN POLICE.—The constables belong-
ing to the metropolitan police intend again to agitate
the question for an increase of pay. They are stimulated
in their purpose in consequence of the police in the rural
districts, as well as those in provincial towns, having
obtained an advance commensurate with the increased
price of provisions, particularly in Sunderland, the town
council of which borough have raised the pay of sergeants
from 21s. to 245., and of constables from 18s. to 20s. a
week. Newly raised men are to have 18s. a week for
the first six months, and at the end of twelve months,
should they be found efficient, they will be placed in the
first class with the full pay of 20s. a week. In the me-
tropolitan police, in which the duties are much more
onerous, a young man on entering has only 16s. Bd. a
week, out of which sum, if unmarried, he pays 2s. for
lodging at a station or section-house, where, by the rules
of the service he is compelled to reside. The contem-
plated movement is intended to be of a more combined
character than that on which they were recently de-
feated, inasmuch as the seventeen divisions will act col-

lectively, by appointing delegates. Their proceedings
will necessarily be private, in consequence of the rather
arbitrary order of the authorities of Scotland-yard, in-
terdicting police meetings.
MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF A MAN BY BURNING AT
OLDHAM—A man named Thomas Wolstencroft, alias
Marsh, aged 35 years, died on Tuesday, under circum-
stances most mysterious. He was the brewer at the
Pack Horse Inn, Royton-street, and was at his regular
work on Tuesday. Shortly after two o'clock that after-
noon he was seen passing through the kitchen by an-
other servant, quite sober; but at half-past two a man,
who accidentally went into the brewhouse, found him
under the fire of the boiler, burnt to a cinder ; the body
to the ankles was completely scorched. How he could
have got into such a situation seems inexplicable, for if
he had fallen in a fit he could not by any chance have
sunk into the place he was found in. He was com-
pletely wedged in, in the ash-hole and no conclusion
can be come to but that he crept in voluntarily, and
and committed self-destruction. Had he been forced in
by some other person, it is natural to suppose that his
cries for help would have been heard. His head when
found was jammed against the brickwork at the end of
the hole. It was at first surmised that the deceased
had been roasting potatoes or onions in the ashes, and
in attempting to get them out had got fast, but the
police examined the ashes, and found nothing but a
knife and three half-pence in copper which had been
burnt out of his waistcoat pocket. An inquest was
held at the house on Wednesday, when one witness
stated that the deceased, who was a very intemperate
man, had said to him and others that before next Sun-

day he should be buried. The coroner expressed his
conviction that it could not have been the result of acci-
dent, and the jury, therefore, returned an open ver-
dict of Found Burned. The chief constable, who is
by no means satisfied with the evidence now obtained,
has instituted further vigorous and searching inquiries,
as it seems beyond the range of probability that a man
would choose such a frightful mode of committing
suicide, the torture of which must have been beyond
what even insanity would shrink from.
INCENDIARY FIRES IN BIRMINGHAM AND NEIGH-
BOURHOOD.—During the past week two more of these
alarming occurrences, of a most destructive character,
have taken place, and both, it is to be feared, are the
work of incendiaries. The first took place in a meadow
at Greet, about three miles on the road to Solihull, on
Monday evening last. The fire commenced in a rick of
hay, the property of Mr. Poole, living in Bradford-
street, and it was entirely consumed, and other damage
done. The value of the hay was about 601., and but
little doubt exists that it was wilfully ignited. The
second fire occurred on Thursday, on the premises of
Mr. Mayou, farmer, Tile Cross, a short distance beyond
Sheldon. About half-past eleven on Wednesday night
it was discovered that a stack in the rick-yard was on
fire. The flames speedily extended to other ricks, and
notwithstanding the most strenuous exertions on the
part of the Birmingham firemen, the flames were not en-
tirely extinguished until an advanced hour on Thursday
afternoon. Only two stacks were saved ; three stacks
of wheat, three of barley, and two of straw
destroyed
being en-
tirely consumed. The value of the property
cannot fall far short of I,ootob/e. ;B ibutrm iintgwbaasms thatd
and uni
ty
Mr. Mayou was insured in
Fire Offices.
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buildingwA Y . Th h
ate
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oi
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theTdHiEreGctßoErAs rofNthOißs
terminus, is being proceeded with in the most rapid
manner, and
ga nndo w willre
reached i neaeds htobret time
roofing-in be ready
stagfeo.lt is ar opening,
it
fir
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cor snterru cot uf r
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most mags:nt
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tower,
abutting on the old St. Pancras-road and
passenger entrance to the station. Some idea may be
orme of what this building will be when completely
finished, when it is stated that it is five stories high, 190
feet long, and 54 feet wide, exclusive of vaults and all
other necessary out-buildings. Mr. L. Cubitt is the
architect.
HENLEY.—The shooting on several of the manors in
this neighbourhood ha, `ce sipi.ned until this
day, in consequence of the backward state of the har-
vest.