The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-03 00:00:00

POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.

The lecturer on natural philosophy of this establishment,
Dr. Bachhoffner, has been engaged in delivering lectures on
astronomy. This gentleman stated, on Monday last, that
the lecture which he was about to deliver was intended as an
outline of the various subjects that would be dwelt upon
more at large in the subsequent lectures. The lecturer en-
deavoured to impress upon his audience the importance and
pleasure derived even from a slight acquaintance with this
sublime science; and although at present a knowledge of the
subject was confined to the few, he could not but consider
that this arose in a great measure from overrating the neces-
sary amount of knowledge which an individual ought to
possess before he dare venture upon its study. At the same
time the Doctor felt bound to admit, that every individual
wishing to become a profound astronomer must, on the one
hand, be a mathematician of no mean acquirements, and, on
the other, be in possession, and likewise have a knowledge of,
the use of instruments of a costly character. But this was
altogether unnecessary for those who merely required an out-
line of the science, or that portion of the subject comprised
under the head of descriptive astronomy, which might be
easily done, with a little perseverance, by one of the
meanest capacity, and by the aid of a common day and
night telescope, a celestial atlas or globe, and an ephemeris,
such as that furnished by the publishers of the Illustrated
London News. The lecturer, atter describing the erroneous
views of Ptolemy and the dogmas of Aristotle, which had
enthralled the world for more than 1,400 years, as also the
abortive attempts of Tycho Brahe, then directed the
attention of his auditors to the only true system, origin
ally taught by Pythagoras, and revived by Copernicus, and
finally fixed on more solid foundation by the labours of
Galileo, Kepler, Newton, La Plase, arid others—that although
the destroying hand of time must and will level to the dust
the most gorgeous fabric of man's genius, yet this would un-
doubtedly flourish as the only true system until the end of
time. Not the least interesting part of this most pleasing
and instructive lecture was the introduction of some beauti-
ful illuminated diagrams of various nebula, as seen by the
aid of that gigantic telescope of Lord. Bosse, and contrasted
by the same nebulas as seen and figured by Sir William
Herschel, in the description of which ample justice was done
to this most astounding, yet sublime subject of the learned
lecturer. By way of conclusion, we cannot too strongly
recommend all our readers who are anxious to acquire an
idea of the wonders of the heavens, to visit the Polytechnic
Institution some Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, during the
continuance of the course.

THE POISONING AND SUICIDE

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AT WALTON.
PRIMO; MONDAY EVENING.—This evening, at seven
o'clock, the deputy coroner resumed the inquest on the body
of Fanny Leadbeater, aged 9 years, who died from the
effects of poison, supposed to have been administered by her
mother to the deceased and four other of the children, on
Friday evening last, the mother afterwards being found
drowned in the river. Particulars of the case have appeared
in a former publication.
Joseph Sherlock, a surgeon, of Walton-le-Dale, said that
he considered that laudanum was the cause of death.

By the CORONER—WouId it not have been advisable to
administer stronger remedies on your first visit? Witness—
Yes ; had! known there had been such a strong dose I would
have done so.

A juror—l think Mr. Sherlock was to blame for not giving
the children an emetic, or some other strong dose, when he
saw that they had taken laudanum and that the mother
was missing at the time.
Thomas Moore, a surgeon, of Preston, said he knew the
deceased Mrs. Leadbeater, mother to the child who had
been poisoned. He had known her ever since she was born.
She was confined in an asylum about six years ago. He had
seen her several times since, and considered her insane to a
degree—quite in a mad state. When in a convalescent
state, on one occasion, walking in the neighbourhood of the
asylum, in the charge of keepers, she jumped off one of the
bridges into the canal. When told she had drowned herself
he was not surprised, and would not have been had she done
it twelve months ago.
The CORONER briefly addressed the jury, and after con-
sulting fur a short time they returned the following verdict :
—" That the deceased Mrs. Leadbeater administered a cer-
tain deadly poison, called laudanum, to the deceased Fanny
Leadbeater, she, Mrs. Leadbeater, being at the time in a
state of insanity."

THE MAILS.--SOUTHAMPTON, MARCH 2.—The
Royal West India mail-packet Dee, Captain Allan, with the
Gulf and West India mails, left the River this day at three
P.M., with a good general cargo, about 32,000/. specie, 43
tons, value 24,300/, quicksilver, and above sixty passengers.
The Medway, Captain Andrews, will bring home the next
West India and Gulf mails, and may be expected on the
6th. The next outward West India mail-packet will be the
Trent, Captain Sturdie, which will leave this port on the 17th
inst. The Oriental Company's steam-ship Erin, Captain
Sturdie, will take out the East India mails to-morrow to
Malta, and thence proceed to Alexandria en route for Bom-
bay. The Erin will then proceed to Constantinople, Black
Sea, &c. She will take out a full cargo of Manchester goods,
and full complement of passengers. The Ripon, from Alex-
andria, with India mails, and Tiber from Gibraltar, are both
due, and hourly expected.
A letter from. Munich of the 22d says :—" The
exasperation of the populace of our city against Madlle.
Lola Mones has become so great that the authorities, in order
to prevent disturbances, have required the young lady to
quit the town. This she did last night, going to a village
situated at about five leagues from Munich. The carriage
was escorted by a strong detachment of dragoons from the
garrison."
DEATH OF LORD CLANMORRIS.—We have to an-
nounce the painful intelligence of the decease, after a short
illness, of Dennis Arthur Bingham, Baron Clanmorris, aged
39, at Rugby, Warwickshire.
DEATH or SIR GEORGE GIPPS, KNT.—This Gal-
lant Officer, who had returned only a few weeks back from
New South Wales, expired on Sunday last at Canterbury,
from disease of the heart, from which affection he bad been
suffering for some months past.
SHIPMENT OF MEAL STOPPED OFF FOWLIS.—We
understand that Mr. Colin Munro, Dingwall, intending to
ship about 200 bolls of meal for the West Coast, at Fowlis, dis-
patched some carts from Dingwall to-day( Friday), with about
50 bolls of oatmeal. The carts no sooner appeared, however,
than the people collected, the shipment was stopped, and the
carts sent back to Dingwall. There were about 1,000 bolls
on board of the vessel, which were purchased at Portsoy, and
the remainder of the cargo was to have been made up here.
The people have kindled a large bonfire on the beach, and are
to watch all night in case further shipment be attempted.--
Ross-shire Advertiser.

CULTIVATION OF COTTON IN INDIA.--At a meet-
ing of the manufacturers of Manchester, held last evening,
the Mayor in the chair, a petition was adopted to Parliament,
praying for a select committee to make a full and searching
inquiry into all the circumstances which affect the cultivation
of cotton in India.
Viscountess Villiers was safely delivered of a son
at an early hour on Monday morning, and we are happy to
hear her Ladyship and child are both progressing most
favourably.

THE SLAB` TRADE.
Toe following is a copy of the Commercial Convention
with the King and Chiefs of Cape Mount, west coast Pf
Africa :
"1. The slave trade is totally abolish cip and all traffic izt
slaves punishable.
" 2. English vessels shall enjoy free and duarestricted in..
tercourse with the native population.
" 3. All Englishmen landing are to be protected.
"4. A British factory may be established.
"5. In the event of any misunderstanding between the

natives and any person or persons under the protection n of
England, the offending parties shall be delivered over to the
country to which they may belong, to be punished accord ing
to law."

l3y an additional article it is further agreed ;
"That no slaves belonging to natives, not their subjects.
nor tributary to them, or to foreigners ( white men), shall be
permitted, on any account whatever, to enter and pass through
the territory of Cape Mount, &c.
" Tb is additional article to have the same force and effect
as if it had been inserted, word for word , in the conven-
tion."

The above treaty was signed on the 21st February, 1841.
Further engagements entered into in January, 1846 :
" At an adjourned meeting and solemn palaver, held on
the banks of the river at Cape Mount, on 2d January, 1846,
between the King and the Chiefs of that country and Wil-.
ham Douglas Brisbane, commanding her Majesty's sloop
the Larne, the following articles and conditions were agreed
upon :
" Art. 1. The conditions of the Convention of 1841 are
fully admitted to be binding on the King and Chiefs, &c."
of Cape Mount.
" All the provisions of that engagement for the suppres-
sion id the foreign. slave trade are tully confirmed; the ex-
port of slaves to foreign countries is for ever abolished ; and
all persons within the territory of Cape Mount, whether
subject to the Chiefs or being within their jurisdiction, guilty
of belling or assisting at the sale of any slave, shall be se-
verely punished.
" Art. 2. No European or other person shall be permitted to
reside within the territory of the Chiefs of Cape Mount for
the purpose of carrying on, in any way, the slave trade.
"Art. 3. If at any time it may be found that the slave
trade has been carried on through or from the territory of the
Chiefs of Cape Mount, Great Britain may interfere, in order
by force to suppress the same. British officers may seize
vessels and boats found engaged in carrying on the slave
trade; and the Chiefs of Cape Mount,will subject themselves
to a severe act of displeasure on the part of the Queen of
England.
" Art. 4. The subjects of the Queen of England may
always trade freely with the people of Cape Mount, in every
article they may wish to buy or sell, in all places, ports, and
rivers within the territories of the Chiefs of Cape ii.ount ;and
the latter pledge themselves not to show any favour, and not
to give any privilege to the ships and traders of other coun-
tries which they do not show to those of England.
," Signed at New Florence, on the river of Cape Mount, on
the 2d of January, 1846, and afterwards on the same day
approved of and confirmed on board her Majesty's ship
Penelope, in the name of her Britannic Majesty, by COLU•
sgaiinder W. Jones, the senior officer commanding theßrfulek
BCiisidriona •
:Ccimplaints now urged hy Chiel'isireape Mount,— . • .
"It appears that the Bing and Chiefs of Cape Mount n?v,
complain that although they are at present faithfully acting
up to the terms of the foregoing conditions with this coun-
try, and are, by so doing; forfeiting all the profits they for-
merly derived from the slave trade--
"No legitimate commerce has yet found its way to their
shores, to compensate them for the loss of that trade,
although, as they state, their country is rich in corn, wood,
timber, palm oil, ivory, and gold dust."
This important question will no doubt be taken into con-
sideration by the Foreign and Colonial-offices, and by the
Board of Trade, in order to concert measures for the opening
of a trade between Sierra Leone and Cape Mount.

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