The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-31 00:00:00

SOCIETY OF ARTS.

The sixteenth and last ordinary meeting of the Society
of Arts for illustration, in the present or ninety-fifth
session, was held yesterday evening at the Society's
house, and was attended by an unusually large number
of members and visitors.

The minutes of the preceding meeting having been
read and confirmed, and the usual routine business of
balloting for members commenced,
Mr. E. W. SIEMENS, of Berlin, explained the con-
struction and operation of an electric telegraph, pro-
ceeding upon an entirely new arrangement, the working
of which, as evidenced by a very beautiful instrument,
was satisfactory in the extreme. The galvanic current
is made to traverse a coil of wire surrounding a horse-
slice magnet in the usual way, between the poles of
which is placed a steel bar, revolving upon a fixed pivot.
The oscillations of the bar, when actuated by the moving
force of magnetism generated by the circulation around
the magnet of the galvanic current, are made to act
upon a cogged wheel, which is liberated tooth by tooth.
The resulting movement is adapted to the peculiar com-
bination of the instrument by means generally similar
to those employed in other systems. There are, how-
ever, a' me new arrangements introduced in this,
which impart a property to the instrument pecu-
liar to itself, or at any rate distinguishing it
from many. It is now clearly understood that in
the vibrating needle of Wheatstone, the current does
not cease to act with sufficient abruptness, and the result
is that the needle continues to vibrate for a longer in-
terim than it ought, thereby vitiating the certainty of
the indications. In Brett and Little's telegraph this
source of error has been cut off, and the one yesterday
brought before the society also claims to be free from
it. The mode in which this end has been attained is by
causing the current to be wholly broken off by destroy-
ing the circuit, before the stroke of the bar is completed,
which is performed by the action of the apparatus. The
letters of the alphabet are arranged on keys round a
circular dial-plate, and upon pressing any of them down
the needle stops at the adjoining point on both instru-
ments. A telegraph on this principle has been in full
work for the last two years and a half between Frankfort
and Berlin, and between Cologne and Berlin, during
which time the debates at Frankfort have constantly
been published at Berlin by its instrumentality
Mr. A. DurfN read a paper, and accompanied it by
experiments, on the application of electricity to prevent
the explosion of steam-engine boilers. The object of the
paper was to show that temperature was a better indi-
cation than pressure, exhibited in pounds per square inch
on a scale, of the elasticity of steam in the boiler; and
that for that purpose it might be substituted with
advantage, the temperature for each boiler to be deter-
mined by experiments.
The thanks of the society were voted to the authors
of both papers, and the session closed.

THE SOUTH JUNCTION AND ALTRINCIIAM
RAIL-
wAr.—Mr. Brogden, the contractor for the permanent
way of the Altrincham section of this line, having just
completed his contract, there was an experimental trip
over the line on Monday last. The train, which con-
sisted of three carriages—one occupied by the Stretford
band of music, and the others by Mr. Kirkman, the
secretary of the company, Mr. Hembero, the resident
engineer, and Mr. Lycett, the solicitor, with several
railway engineers and contracting friends of Mr. Brog-
den—left Castlefield at twelve o'clock, and arrived at
Altrincham in half an hour. The party walked from
the station there, preceded by the band of music, to the
Unicorn Inn, Altrincham, where they partook of lunch.
After visiting Rosthern, they returned to the inn to dine
at four o'clock, and came back to Manchester by train
about ten o'clock. The line appeared to be in good
order—the train running smoothly, and without exces-
sive oscillation. The parts of the works on the line not
yet completed are in a state of forwardness, and the
whole is expected to be ready for opening on the 2d of
July.—Manchester Guardian.
SST. PAUL'S.—(From a Correspondent.)—The an-
nivereary meeting of the charity schools is to be held
en Thursday next, in St. Paul's Cathedral, under the
sut that management of the Society of Patrons. The treasurers
and committtee of that Society have determined that
there shall not be any rehearsal on the previous Tues-
day, as heretofore. The reason assigned for this de-
termination is, the additional expense that a rehearsal
titiss not
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generally a
known
o t h e the
d et society;
horast
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wholehf
eo for
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believechon expense
that
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of
de-
frayed out of the Society's funds., while all the moneys
into the pockets of the vergers.
CUSTOMS DUTIES.—RETENITE PAYMENTS
INLIGHT
GOLD.—The Commissioners have received a communi-
cation from Sir Charles Trevelyan, one of the Secre-
taries to the Treasury, stating that in the case of the
Post-office and the Department of Stamps and Taxes,
the practice has been followed of allowing parties to pay
light gold at the rate of nineteen shillings and ninepence
for sovereigns, and nine shillings and tenpence for half
sovereigns, the same being received by the Bank of Eng-
land after they are defaced, at the rate of 31. 17s. 6d.
per ounce in London, and 31. 17s. 51 per ounce at their
branches; and that, in order to relieve the public from
the inconvenience of having the defaced coin returned
to them, the Lords of the Treasury are willing to au•
thorise the extension of the same arrangements to the
Customs department. Sir Charles Trevelyanit
is was
further directed by their Lordships. to add, thate
.tnmes-
sential that the light coins so received should
diately defaced, in order to prevent their return into
general circulation. The half-
lIUNGERFORD MARKET COAIPANr.
yearly general meeting of the proprietor
in the chair. was held yes-
terday, Martin Stutely, E:A., --
of the directors stated, among other matters, that th
new Fish Market was completed and occupied, presenting
a most attractive appearanee and by the accommodation
afforded to the public calculated to improve the trade of
the market. The report was received and adopted.
The retiring directors were reelected; and after pass-
ing a vote of thenks to the chairman and directors,
the meeting separated with evident feelings of satisfac-
tion at the manner in which the affairs of the company
were conducted.
The Spanish expedition, destined for intervention
ja Italy, erak/Ailied A% DUceloa 011 the 23d.