The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-01 00:00:00

AUGUST 1, 1849.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
Lncrezia Borgia was repeated here last night, for
the last time this season. Parodi, ashen she first ap-
peared in the character of Lucrezia, produced an im-
pression, by her highly tragic conception and deve-
lopment of it, which subsequent representations con-
firmed. As in her other principal parts, her Lucre-
zia is improved, mellowed, rendered more perfect by
repetition, and last night's performance was through-
out triumphant. Together with Moriani, the Gen-
naro, she was called before the curtain and warmly
applauded. Alboni's brindisi was of course encored,
and the ensemble of the opera was excellent.

[PRICE SD.

POLY TECHIC INSTITUTION.

The present engrossing subjects are the lectures by
Professor I3achhoffner, and J. M. Ashley, Esq. Pro-
fessor Bactloffner has chosen the production of arti-
ficial cold as a theme for his discourse, which is il-
lustrated by the novel and beautiful contrivances of
Mr. Masters, of Regent-street, so well known
for inventive ingenuity. We can recommend
all to visit this lecturer, feeling assured the curious
results produced in his experiments will cause
astonishment and delight. The lectures on chemistry
still continue as interesting and attractive as usual.
Mr. J. M. Ashley has been delivering a course
of lectures for the prevention of epidemic dis-
eases, more especially cholera. The lecturer
called attention to the important character
of such a subject, and stated that although
he did not wish to raise the fears of his audience by
any undue alarms, yet he considered a few remarks
tending to the prevention of this mighty scourge,
" cholera," would be deemed interesting. The
lecturer pointed out the ill effects produced by
the respiration of various poisonous awl
noxious gases, the products of the de-
composition of animal and vegetable matter, and
which are continually found existing in numerous
localities ; he stated that although " miasmata," so
fertile in disease, had never yet been understood, so
as to give rise to a remedial agent, yet, with those
gases with which the chemist was acquainted he had
overcome their destructive qualities. To effect this
purpose a variety of metallic solutions had been em-
ployed,, known as Sedoyen's, Sir W. Bur-
nett s, Gardner's, Ellerman's, and the chlorides
of lime, magnesia, &c. ; these acting by their affinity
for elements contained in these gaseous compounds,
rendered them by such action inodorous and inert.
A powder, recently manufactured.by Air. Collins, was
recommended as a ready means for such purposes ; and
where the object was to deodorize offensive compounds
and destroy their poisonous effects, the lecturer
pointed out the "nitro•acetate of lead," invented by
Mr. Gardner, of the chemical department of this . in-
stitution, as very. economical and efficacious, being
also at the same time easily accessible to all parties.
la concluding, the lecturer pointed out the difference
between deodorizing and disinfecting, the latter pro-
cess being but imaginary, and likely to lead people
into error—that although we may remove by means
of various solutions those deleterious gases tending to
promote disease, yet the only sure " disinfectant" was
the removal of local causes, good ventilation and
cleanliness both in our houses and our persons.