The Sun.
London, England, 1841-02-02 00:00:00

ROPOSAL FOR ESTABLISHING
A BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE AD.
VANCEMENT OF THE FINE ARTS.

A knowledge and consequent due appreciation of
the fine arts,—the arts which purify and ennoble,
—are now observable amongst much larger masses of
persons in the metropolitan cities of the United King-
dom, than was the ease '2O years ago ; and most ine-
vitably go on to augment in a greatly multiplied ratio
as every step gained becomes the means of further ad-
vances. In the provinces, too, where there are fewer
appFances and means to boot," the attention of the
people to the importance of the fine arts as civilizing
swats, and as tending to promote the general good,
and therefore the general happiness, has visibly in-
creased, and has manifested itself in more than one
good result. Still there is a wide field here open for
exertion ; and so undeniably important is the object to be
attained, so vast is the good that would result from
spreading a taste for the fine arts throughout the coun-
try, And inculcating a love of the beautiful, that no ef-
forts could be too great, no scheme of operations could
be too extensive, which should propose to effect it.
Experience shows the advantages which hare re•
suited from the establishment of the " British Associa-
tion for the Promotion of Science," not chiefly to science
per se, although these have been great and manifold,
but to the people generally : attention has been
aavakened in the minds of thousands to subjects be-
fore unthought cf : a spirit of inquiry has been induced ;
aol whole towns inoculated with an admiration
of knowledge, and a determination to pursue it, to
the exclusion of demoralizing sources of excitemeet,
utitil then indulged in. Why, then, might there not
he farmed an association for the encouragement of art,
which, like this, should meet annually at a different
town in England, Ireland, or Scotland, and at which
meeting painting, poetry, sculpture, architecture, Ste.,
&c., in all their sarieties, and with all their ramifica-
tions, should form the subjects for the consideration of
the different sections ? A large and import:lnt exhibition
of works of art might be collected, and an Art-Union ar-
ranged so as to secure the sale of a certain number of
them, and thus to ensure the assistance of the most
eminent artists, by rendering the society directly, as
well as indirectly, advantageous to them. A small
subscription (say one pound) would constitute a mem.
bier of the Association for the year, the aggregate of
which, after deducting tfp.: expenses ne C2SS Icily incurred,
would prob ibly enable the Committee (which should be
partly local, partly general) to offer priz s for compe-
tition in the higher branches of the various arts, and
vote
in sums for the encouragement of any desirable ob-
jectconnexion therewith ; such, for example, as for
the prosecuton of experiments in the preparation
colours, the manufacture of stained glass, or for the
purchase of particular pictures, worthy of national re-
gard.

During the meeting the various hoed collections
would be thrown open to inspection ; conver-
fazioni would be held ; and other means adopted
to lning men into contact with each other, on one
common ground. One of the first points to be
achieved by the united sections would be, to
obtain an able and correct report of the pro-
gress of Art in England, Ireland, and Scotland,
for the last fifty years—a task to be fu:filled satis-
factorily only by the joint co-operation of men
in ail parts of the country. This report would
afterwards be continued from year to year, under
its various heads, and could not fail to prove
a 7:ork of tie highest interest and value. It is not here
attempted, however, to point out what coull be done by
Soei.Lty organized on the footing suggested : its power
of effecting much good must be apparent to all, and
needs hardly to be insisted on. The writer is contented
siii:2ly, but with great earnestness and but one object—
namely, strong desire to serve the cause of art (the
cause of morality and public good), to state the proposi-
tion, in the hope that others of more ability, influence,
and leisure, may view it as it has appeared to him ; and
be induced to carry it into execution, efficiently, and
forthwith.

GEORGE GODWIN, Jun.
Pelham Crescent, Bronipton, Jan. 1841.

THE ELECTRO-TYPE.

Little is known by the public generally of the newly_
diseoveved and highly useful art of electro-metallurgy
to which the present and future generations will doubt-
less owe some of the greatest improvements in arts and
manufactures which hare rendered any age remarkable
in the annals of civilization. The process by which the
electro-type or volta-type is formed is extremely easy,
and does not require any complicated machinery. A
sitrple voltaic battery is set in motion, and the copper-
plate or other subject of which it is required to take a
copy is made the negative pole of the battery, the conse-
quence of which is, that the sulphate of copper in solu-
tion is precipitated upon it. This goes on in a very gra-
dual manner, and the plate is left suspended in the
trough until tle copper deposited is of a sufficient
thickness to allow of its removal from the original plate.
The crust thus formed will, however, of course, present
the subject in relief, and reversed ; and in order to
form a fac-simile of the plate, this copy is again placed
in the trough, when the same process is repeated upon
this first ccpy or " matrix," and a perfect plate is the
production ready from which to throw off copies.
At first it was supposed that the process could not
be attended with successful results in the case of non-
metallic b)dics ; but the knowledge of the chemist
soon suggested means of applying the clectro-type to
rou-metallic as well as metallic substances. The most
simple as well as efficient of these weans is found to be
the :i.nple operation of rubbing a common domestic
black-lead brush over the face of the seal, cast, wood-
cut, or other material of which it is by this process de-
sired to take a fac-sirnile. The black-lead forms a
very fine metallic surface upon the non-metallic sub-
stance, and the process goes on as well as if it were
sold metal.

The accuracy of the copies of engravings taken from
electro-type plates is such that artists have found it
in many cases impossible to say which was taken from
the original plate and which from the fac-simile ; and
in other cases, where a distinction has been discover-
ablo, it bas been in favour of the electro-type, the lines
of which were softer than those of the graver. The
process in ail its varieties was exhibited by Mr. Brande
on Friday evening, in illustration of his lecture o❑ the
subj..;et, at the Royal Institution. Another important
disc-)very in connexion with this art has been made,
which is of importance to the engraver—namely, that
by the means already described, plates of copper, of a
purity which can be ensured in no other way, are to be
obtained. Two such plates, one of very large dimen-
sions, were exhibited by Mr. Brande.

It will be seen, that from the ease with which dupli-
cate plates can be produced, there will be, in the case
of coetly engravings, no necessity of using the original
plate at all, and thus the necessity of " retouching,"
which in many instances amounts to half the original
cost of engraving, may be entirely superseded by mul-
tipl3ing, through the all-powerful agency of the elee-
tro-typa, the number of the copies. Copies of fruit,
leaves, and a variety of other substances, are taken with
a perfection, beauty, and (necessary) truth to the ori-
ginal, which belongs to no other art. The discovery
is likely to work a great reform in the patterns and
devices of pottery, which, instead of rudely designed
and ill-executed ornaments, may, in a short time, be
expected to present the most beautifully engraved sub-
jects which the art of the engraver can furnish.—
Evening Paper.

SALTING AND CURING ANIMAL
SUBSTANCES.

Our attention has been invited to a new process,
protected by letters patent, for the above purpose.
The; advantages enumerated in the circular are
1. The whole process of curing effectually the
animal substance does not occupy more than one quar-
ter of an hour, economising thereby labour and time to
a very great extent.
" 2. At any season of the year, and in any tem-
perature, even under the influence of a tropical sun,
the process is effective, and may be used with perfect
safety ,
"3. The materials employed are the same as
hitherto used, but less than one-third of the usual quan-
tity is consumed.
" 4. Any desired flavour, and any degree of saltness,
may be communicated, the process being thus equally
applicable to hams, tongues, and other preparations as
to plain salting. Fish, poultry, &e., may be treated
with equal advantage.
" 5. By this process the nutritious elements of the
animal substance are all preserved in it, which, by the
old mode of curing, are necessarily much deteriorated.
" 6. By this process hides can be prepared for pack-
-1 ing with great advantage, occupying much less space,
thoroughly preserved, and rendered fitter for the tan-
-4( nine process."
The meat to be cured is placed in an iron vessel of
considerable strength, connected by a pipe and stop-cock
with the brine tube, also with an exhausting pump.
Tee cover having been screwed down on the vessel, the
air is extracted and a vacuum established, whereupon,
the stop-cock being properly turned, the brine rushes ir.
and takes the plaeo of the air, rani the pores of the
meat, and penetrating thoroughly the animal substance.
Lest, however, some ports of the meat might not have
been impregnated v. ith the pickle by this reaction and
the common atmospheric pressure, more of the liquid
from the tub, prepared to taste with salt alone, or with
sal•petre, or sugar, or sp:ee, or a!trm r: the cese of ei le s,
is pumped in by a small condensing engine (connected,
of course, also with the iron vessel) until a pressure of
from 1501bs. to 2001bs. on the square inch be attained.
Now, the animal substance is allowed to remain under
pressure for about ten minutes, and the process is com-
plete. The meat when taken out is thorougly saturated
with the brine, the fuel flevour of which is iteparted to
it, and well cured.

Lore? John Russ, has accepted ;In invitation to
with the New Zealand Cumpnue. Tie
take place in the City on Satutdq, lata of
on the occasion of a Royal
.charter being granted to the
CAspany.

EXTRAORDINARY FEAT OF

SWINDLING IN PARIS.

(From the Gazette des Tribunaux.)
A rich merchant of Martinique, named G--,
recently arrived at Havre, and having divers im-
portant business to transact in Paris, as well as
being desirous of seeing all the lions of the day,
hastened off to the capital without delay, taking
with him a considerable quantity of valuable lug-
gage. M. G- had always been rather a gay
man, and notwithstanding the fact of forty-five
winters having passed over his head, leaving a
little of their snows behind, he was not entirely in-
different to the pleasures of the world. He arrived
in Paris on Sunday morning. He took his walk,
he caned upon his friends and corrdspondents,
and was kept to dinner by one of them. In
returning in the evening to his hotel he passed
the Salle Ventadour. The dance was proceed•

ing with all the gaiety of a Parisian ball, and
the merchant was invited to take a billet
dentree. He at first refused, but on being further
pressed, he thought he might as well have a peep at
one of these balls, of which he had so often heard
and read. He accordingly entered, danced a qua-
drille or two, and was much pleased with the daz-
zling appearance of the place. But he was soon
overcome with ennui, and was preparing to take
his Lparture, when he was accosted by a pretty
little domino of blue satin, who took him familiarly
by the arm, called him by his name, and asked
him what news from Havre. M. G--- was agreea-
bly surprised, and at once entered into a very ani-
mated conversation with the fair u;:knov:n. Who
could she be who appeared to know him so well ?
In vain he attempted to discover; she would not
gratify his curiosity, although she made herself the
most fascinating creature in the world. At length
he proposed that she should sup with him, for,
let her be who she might, there could be no great
impropriety in this, thought the honest merchant.
The lady would consent on one condition only,
and that was, that they should both go to sup at
her house. Monsieur would call a coach. She

had her own there already. How extraord:nary !
thought the merchant. She must be a person of
some consequence. He ventured to ask her once
more, but he was told that " that he could never

know !" Off they drove, and on their arrival
at her residence she, for the first time, removed the
mask, and discovered the prettiest pair of eyes in
the world, but her name she still persisted in not
disclosing. It is unnecessary to go into the details
of the supper. Suffice it to say, that it went off
with much eclat, and Monsieur was too much
fatigued with his journey and all the pleasures of
the day not to sleep soundly on retiring to bed. To
say the truth, he did not wake until twelve o'clock
next day, when finding himself alone, he rang the
hell for the servant. The domestic appeared.
" Have the goodness to tell me," said M. G--,
" where lam !" " Where you are, Monsieur ?"
re-echoed the attendant, " the house has not changed
its name since yesterday—you are still in the
Hotel de France."—" Oh, I am at an hotel am I ?
and who is the lady who occupies this apartment ?"
" The lady ? why, your wife, Monsieur, I suppose ;
she rose early to take the bath." " You suppose
wrong," said the merchant in an angry tone, '' I
have no wife. lam a bachelor. However, give
me my clothes, and let me have my bill."—" Here
are your clothes, Sir, but the bill was paid last night
by the lady, when she ordered the supper. Mys-
tery on mystery. However, he would go to his
own hotel. On arriving there he found that the
same mysterious agency which had paid the bill at
the Hotel de France, had paid it at his own hotel.
lie was told that he had paid it himself, and that
he had taken all his things away ; that he had put
the bill in his pocket-book, with two letters which
had arrived for him in the course of the previous
evening. Was he asleep or awake ? Was he in
his right mind, or was he no longer master of his
reason ? He looked at his pocket book, and then,
as if to confirm the astounding intelligence which he
heard, there he beheld the,paid hotel bill, and the
two letters referred to. (here was no longer a
doubt. He had been the dupe of a swindler. His
luggage had been carried off ; his pockets had been
ransacked ; his letters of credit had been received,
and not a trace was left of property to the amount
of nearly 10,000 francs. The manner in which
the merchant's identity was so successfully counter-
feited is not the least extraordinary, for even when
the hotel-keeper saw the real " Simon Pure," he
persisted in declaring that it was he who had
taken away the things ; in short, that everything
had been done by his orders.

BEER-DRINKING IN GERMANY

The particular habits connected with beer-drinking
in Germany, as it is carried on, will strike a stranger
at first sight as being characteristic how far habit goes
in giving us prejudices and predilections. In England
we drink our malt liquor out of pote, glasses, tumblers,
&c. ; but in this portion of the world such is not the
case. A German is never seen to drink white beer out
of a glass similar to that from which he drinks Bava-
rian ; nor Bavarian out of that from which ho drinks
common ; and moreover, he will not drink one, two,
or three out of glasses or pots having a similar shape or
configuration. Thus every kind of beer is served in its
particular glass ; in such a manner that it is easy to be
informed, from one end of the coffee-house to the other,
even by a glance of the eye, with what sort of liquor
the various guests are regaling themselves. The white
beer is decanted, the whole bottle at a time, into a
drinking-glass about eighteen inches high, of small dia-
meter, and that the same throughout, with a bore of
similar dimensions as the mouth. When full it contains
about two English pints ; and moreover, when placed
on the table, is provided with a moveable cover, I pre-
sume, intended to prevent as much of the carbonic acid
gas from making its escape as possible. One may cer-
tainly drink out of any sort of vessel—that a vessel
of any shape—when thirsty ; but on raising such a one
as this to our lips for the first time, it seemed very like
as if we were drinking malt liquor from the barrel of a
blunderbuss. It requires much steadiness of hand, and
the practice of a few weeks, in order to quench thirst
from such a bicker, without, on getting towards the bot-
tom, pouring some part of the contents down the breast.
The Bavarian beer, as we have said, has got also its
own pot, and in configuration it is the very reverse of
the former. It is formed of flint glass, and is some five
or six inches high, containing a pint, and becoming gra-
dually narrower from the bore to the top, the latter of
which is covered with a metallic lid, in a manner re.
sembling a gill-stoup ; the lid, moving by a pivot on
the handle, of course is raised every time the pot is
raised to the mouth ; and, owing to the small dimen-
sions of the upper part of the pot, whilst the lip of the
same is in our mouths, the lid sticks, with little con-
venience, into our right eye. So much for articles
which seem so very inapplicable to the purposes to
which they are applied, yet no German would ever
think of pouring his beer into a glass, and drinking it in
that more convenient way. The common beer is drunk
out of a glass differing from either of these, it being
neither so long as the one, nor so short as the other,
but somewhere half and half between the two. So
much for the manner of beer•drinking in Germany ;
and we shall also add, that the Germans are ford of
their beer, and drink it in large quantities—they like it
because it is their ma—Correspondent of the Morning
Advertiser.

---
Bells Life in London of Sunday Next, Feb.
7, will, as usual, give the best account of the Pugilistic
Contests between Caunt and Ward, Lane and Sullivan.
The price of Bill's Life is Five-pence, regularly pub-
lished in time to send by the Saturday afternoon Railways.
Bel 's Life of January 31 contained, in addition to its
usual weekly miscellany, iacluding the Queen's Speech,
the Sawbridgeworth First and Second Steeple
Chases, the Leamington, Aberystwith, Audoversferd, and
Chignal ; the Fleetwood's. Hampton, and Spelthorue
Coursing Meetings ; several original runs with stag and
fox-hounds ; Chess ; Tournament at Leeds; ninety Hunt-
ing Appointments; three folio columns of the Great Fight
between Broome and Hannan at Bicester ; the Tables of
Matches to come, viz., Coursing, Races, Steeple Chases,
the Ring, and Pedestrianism ; Betting at Tattersall's,
Manchester, and Newmarket; with a variety of other
sporting matters.
'TIRE HUNDRED WEIGHT.—It is not long ago
eitghhetmfroinmthleli2r
stoinclOOthpeouAnmd es
.r i c aTn
er eoddudc etdwtehl
ee hundred
r ev
calculations, and was observed not to be of the smallest
use in any respect ; so having resolved to cut down the
hundred weight to what it ought to be, namely one
hur.drrd pounds, they immediately, and without any
fuss, executed their resolution. Tats is a small matter,
but it is characteristic of the country in which it took
place. We question if the 13, itish could manage to
take the odd twelve pounds from the hundred weight
with(lit a twenty years' talk. It does not signify, that
nobody e,in explain how or when the odd twelve origi-
nated ; There it is—that is sufficient—it must not be
meddled with—would you ruin the country with your pre-
tended improvements? Let the hundred weight alone;
we have become a great people with it as it is, and with
that let us be content. " Chambers.
SINGULAR CAPRlCE.—AlthrlYlall Copeland,
M. P., during a visit to Stoke-upon-Trent, a few days ago,
placed the. sum of 701. at the disposal of the various mini-
sters end churchwarAens,for the nourishment of the dis-
tressed poor of that horougli ; whilst at a visit to St.
but a le.- rnontbi: e.go, he voted
1115511 y nut:, ed times that sum at the dlsp,,,sal of the
taxing landlords from the nourishment of the distressed
poor of that borough...&atordshire Examiner.