The Sun.
London, England, 1871-01-23 00:00:00

LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND THE STAGE

PROFESSOR TYNDALL ON WATER
SUPPLY.

At the Royal Institution on Friday evening, Professor
-ndall delivered a lecture upon the " Scattering of
.ht," which was, in point of fact, a discourse upon

domestic water supply. Though the water of the metro-
polis only was considered, there was much in the lecture
of general interest. The learned Professor commenced by
exhibiting the impurities of London air, the motes of a
sunbeam, by the light of the electric lamp, and explained
to his audience that what they saw was not air, but sus-
pended particles, capable of being dissipated or
removed, and that, when so removed, the track of the
beam through the air itself would be invisible. He next
related that he had accompanied the eclipse expedition to
Oran, and that on his return, having been disappointed as
regards the special object of his journey, he had sought to
turn his opportunities to account by investigating the
causes of the varying tints presented by sea water. After
paying a warm tribute to the zeal and kindliness with
which his wishes had been furthered by the captain and
officers of her Majesty's ship Urgent, he described the
way in which a series of nineteen bottles had been filled
between Gibraltar and Spithead, and the results of an
examination of them by the electric light. The bottles
were themselves on the table, but were not placed in the
beam before the audience, since the original differences
among them had been diminished by subsidence. The
general tendency of the examination was to shew that the
yellowish water of coasts and harbours held in suspension a
large quantity of particles ; that the particles in the green
water were less abundant and in finer division ; and that
the blue water of the deep ocean was comparatively free.
Professor Tyndall explained the blue or even blue-
black of the depths, by displaying the prismatic
spectrum on the screen, and by quenching it, at first
partially and with regard to certain colours, and
afterwards absolutely, by a succession of cells of increasing
thickness, containing a solution of permanganate of potash
or of sulphate of copper. He said that when a beam of
light entered the sea, the heat rays were absorbed by
the surface, the red rays by a very superficial layer
of water, the green rays next, and ultimately the blue.
If, however, the light encountered particles, these would
reflect the green rays to an observer; while, in the ab-
sence of particles the green rays would continue their course
till they were wholly quenched. Water of great depth
and absolute purity would thus appear entirely black,
like a sea of ink, and would reflect no light beyond a
glimmer from it surfaca. The Professor exhibited a white
dinner plate, to which a rope was attached, and which
he was in the habit of having cast overboard and towed
from the Urgent, and which always appeared green, and
he also described the appearances seen on looking down
the screw-well of the ship, so that the water was seen by
turns green—with the screw blades as a background—and
then dark blue, with the ocean depths for a background.
The white plate, which appeared as a green object when
towed under water, would, he said, if ground to powder
and scattered cause the portion in which this powder
was suspended to return a general green reflection.
Having in this way established that the visibility of the
track of a beam through water depended upon particles by
which the light was reflected, Professor Tyndall next
placed before the electric lamp a succession of nine bottles,
containing samples of the water supplied to their
customers by the various London Water Companies. The
turbidity revealed was in every case sufficient to make the
audience regard water as a very undesirable beverage.
That of the Lambeth Company displayed pre-eminence of
a bad kind; that of the Kent Company was by far the
clearest; the West Middlesex Company stood second in
order of merit, and among the rest there was little to choose.
With a reticence more eloquent than words, the lecturer
avoided expressing opinions about the dirt that he exhi-
bited ; and he also expressly mentioned that pellucidity
was no proof of the absence of soluble impurities. He
also shewed that to cleanse water from suspended dirt
was a very difficult matter; and exhibited four specimens
of distilled water, a specimen once filtered by Mr. Lips-
combe, a specimen that had gone through a silicated
carbon filter, and a specimen four times filtered through
bibulous paper in the Royal Institution Laboratory.
These were clear when compared with the water of
the companies, but the track of the beam was plainly
visible in all. A specimen of water from the Lake of
Geneva was then exhibited in illustration of great natural
purity, and here a faint blue line only could be seen.
This brought Professor Tyndall to the practical conclu-
sion at which he had been aiming—namely, to an account
of the water supply yielded by the English chalk forma-
tions. He characterised this as being of the greatest
attainable purity, inexhaustible in quantity, and easily
accessible for the supply of the metropolis, He described
its natural hardness as being suoh as to render it
unfit for domestic use, but explained that by Clark's
process this hardness could be entirely removed
at the central works, and that the water might be
delivered in London at an uniform temperature, free
from organic impurity or suspended particles, and so soft
as to be perfectly adapted for all household purposes. He
described Clark's process, and illustrated it before the
audience, and finally shewed active results by producing
a bottle of water from Canterbury, derived from the
chalk, and softened in the manner described. By the side
of this was a similar bottle containing the water supplied
to the Institution, and the two were illuminated together
by way of contrast. The difference was like that
between peasoup and crystal. Professor Tyndall then
read a portion of the report made some years ago
by the late Professors Graham and Miller and by Profes-
sor Hoffman, upon the admirable qualities of this chalk
water, when artificially softened, upon its fitness for the
supply of the metropolis, and upon the impolicy of allow-
ing it to pass into private hands, and concluded by saying
that every word that he had read he desired fully and
cordially to endorse. Ac is usual when Professor Tyndall
lectures, the theatre and galleiry were densely crowded,
and many distingnished personages (among others the
Chancellor of the Exchequer) were to be seen among the
audience.

The John Bull understands that on the meeting of
Parliament the Scotch supporters of Mr. Gladstone, will
demand an explanation of his letter Aunt the Pope's
spiritual authority,
llerapath hears that the oldest railway in Eng-
land, the Stockton and Darlington, now part of the North
Eastern system, has never killed a passenger, except one,
and he had jumped while drunk from a train.

SCARCITY OF SHIPPING AT CALCUTTA.—It may
be worth directing the attention of shipowners—espe-
cially owners of steamers—to the fact that there was, at
last advices, an extraordinary scarcity of tonnage at Cal-
cutta—jute to Dundee commanding by steamer £4 10s.,
and by iron ship, £4 to £4 ss. In the port there were
only 4,000 tons disengaged, being not more than two days'
supply ; while of 62 vessels expected to arrive, 46 had been
chartered beforehand, and charterers were too anxious to
secure vessels to oare much about their class. All the
vessels chartered for Dundee during the week ending 21st
December, were still at sea. There are at present forty-
five large ships either on their passage or loading at
Calcutta for Dundee, and the number seems only
limited by the difficulty of procuring tonnage.—Dundee
Advertiser.

MUST A CORONER'S JURY. SEE THE BODY ?
Rather a nice question has arisen before Mr. Serjeant
Payne on the body of a hawker, named Hannah Wells,
who had frequented Farringdon Market, London, for
nearly thirty years. She was returning home on
Saturday night with her basket of wares, when she
slipped her footing and fell on her knees, and
was so much injured that she had to be assisted
home. She died in bed half au hour after
being taken home. The medical evidence proved
that death was caused by apoplexy. The foreman
of the jury, on behalf of his brethren, intimated that they
declined to go to Smith's-court, Barbican, and view the
body, as they believed that cases both of fever and small-
pox were in the court. The coroner said as there were
not to be any proceedings in smother• court, he did not
think it would be necessary for them to go and view the
body. If the case had been one of murder or manslaughter,
he would have compelled them to go, even at the risk of
smells, or infectious diseases. That case was purely
" Natural causes."

THE TOWER SUBWAY. —We learn from the
English Mechanic that this undertaking has not hitherto
proved a commercial success. As our readers will remem-
ber, this tunnel runs under the Thames from Tower-hill
to Tooley-street. When first opened passengers were
carried through in an omnibus running on rails and
drawn by a wire-rope, and were raised or lowered at
either end by means of steam lifts. However, as the
expenses of this method of working the concern consider-
ably exceeded the receipts, it was determined to allow the
public to walk through at the charge of a halfpenny. For
this purpose the square shafts at each end have been made
circular by a lining of matchboard, and spiral staircases
constructed—the one at Tower-hill containing 96 steps,
and that at Tooley-street 94. The tunnel is dry and
warm and lighted at intervals of 40 feet by gas jets. At
present the average traffic is 2,500 persons a day. On
Boxing-day the sum of £3 2s. 6d. was taken. No flooring
has yet been laid, and the engines used for working the
car are at present boxed up with brickwork, and will so
remain till the financial result of the present experiment_
is fully tested.,

The Atheneum says :—Mr. Swinburne's new poem is
ready for the press. It is said he has written a novel
also.—We understand that the article in the Westminster
RerieW on " The Social Condition of England under Henry
the Eighth," which differs so strikingly from Mr. Froude's
view, is by Mr. J. Meadows Cooper, of Faversham, the
editor of several of the rare tracts in the Early English
Text Society's series on the " Condition of Tudor Eng-
land."- The first part of Professor Seeley's edition of Livy
will appear shortly, with a preface and long dissertation.—
A third edition of Dr. Nicholas's " Pedigree of the
English People " is in preparation, containing consider-
able additions on the influence of the Norman Conquest,
and on the opinions of writers, continental and English,
as to the physical characteristics of races. We learn that
the portions of the work interdicted by Vice-Chancellor
James, whose judgment was reversed by the Lord Chan-
cellor and Chief Justice Giffard, are to remain intact.—
It is a curions but significant fact that Mr. Herbert
Spencers's writings can be bought at St. Petersburg in a
Russian version, although none of them have appeared in
a French or German translation. Mr. Mill's " Subjection
of Woman " has also found a translator in Russia, and
not, we believe, in France or Germany.—The first two
numbers have appeared of a new German novel, entitled
" Ham and Sedan "—an illustrated historical romance of
the past and the present, by Michael Burger. The novel,
which is: published by A. Wenedikt, in Vienna, will be
completed in about 18 numbers, at 20 kreutzers each.—
Mr. Marks will probably contribute to the Royal Aca-
demy Exhibition a picture styled " A Bookworm," and
representing one of the scientific variety of that genus
pursuing osteological studies with characteristic fervour.
This artist will probably send other pictures.—A work by
M. Gounod will be produced during the present season of
the Oratorio Concerts.

THE TEACHING OF MUSIC AND DRILL
IN RATE-AIDED SCHOOLS.
Two deputations from the Society of Arts have waited
upon the Right Hon. W. E. Forster to suggest considera-
tions for the adoption of a system of drill and musical in-
struction in Government schools. Sir James Lindsay
attended from the War Office, but took no part in the
proceedings. The subject of drill was first spoken of, the
Rev. Canon Cromwell urging the general advantages
resulting from a system of drill in training schools.
Sir John Pakington said he appeared to represent, in
accordance with a resolution passed by the Society of Arts,
the importance of having singing made compulsory on the
part of the teachers in all primary schools. He observed
that both the deputations contemplated the laudable
object of giving Mr. Forster some assistance in carry-
ing out the great national object of successfully
bringing into action that great national measure of
education which he was successful in passing last year ;
and he ventured to congratulate Mr. Forster very sin-
cerely upon the progress that great measure was malting.
Mr. Forster said he was very glad ;ndeed to have met
the deputation upon both the subjects which had been
the topic of conversation. Any subject npon which the
Society of Arts had waited upon Lord Grey or himself
with regard to education would receive, as it would
deserve, the greatest possible attention. He was very well
aware of the great help to the cause of education given by
their society in the public mind, and of its extent in the
national measure which had recently been passed. But
most of all he was conscious of the obligation due to gentle-
men who might be said to have had as much to do with
the measure almost as he himself, and to whom it would
be both foolish and ungrateful not to pay the greatest
possible deference to what they said. There was no doubt
whatever of the advantage of teaching both drill and
music in the schools. No .one would deny that, and the
advantages which would result therefrom, especially from
drill. There was one way in which drill was used which
had not been alluded to by any speaker, and that was the
drill of infants in infant schools. They must have all seen
that it would be impossible for the mistress to get on
at all, with instruction without drill ; and there was no
doubt that drill in schools where older scholars re-
ceived instruction was equally valuable. He attended
a Quaker school, where drill was taught, and the master
came in the wicked uniform, and gave the words of com-
mand in military form. Still it did not altogether do
away with all their boyish energies, and left plenty
of room for indulging in mischief. The ques-
tion was hardly whether the teaching of these things
was good, but what they should do in enforcing their
being learnt, for they must draw a line between
enforcing them and giving facilities for their being
taught. There was, to begin with, a great dif-
ference between the manner in which the questions would.
be received. Drill was scarcely a matter upon which
there would be a difference of opinion ; but it was not so*
with music, They were in a similar position to the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer when he had no surplus, and e
great many people wanted taxes taken off, In the
primary schools there was scarcely any surplus of time
after devoting a portion to reading, writing, and ciphering.
He did not mean to say these subjects were better learnt
if combined with others, but the giving of facility for
them was quite different. In those school% to
which Mr, Tufnel had referred, the full time
of the poor children was at the service of
the schoolmasters. That was some compensa-
tion for their being paupers. The suggestion
made by Canon Cromwell with regard to training
schools was most practical, and he should take care
that it was fully considered. He had no objection to
state that they ware considering how far it would be pos-
sible to give facilities, or to enable drill to be practised.
in the schools. He did not think that in this they
could run much in advance of public opinion, and he
did not think it would be very wise to rely much
on the purely military aspect, of the question.
The advantages which would accrue in other respects
ought not to be lost sight of or treated lightly. He had
never been taught music--and he much regretted it—or poste
sibly he would have had more harmony in his soul. There,
again, a serious difficulty arose. A very influential depu-
tation had waited upon them to urge the teaching of
science in schools, and possibly others would want draw-
ing taught, but then they had no surplus of time at
present with which to deal with these subjects. He
would be glad to have any practical suggestion on the
question of music ; there was no discussion upon the
mode of drill, but there was with regard to music, 00
that as soon as any programme was drawn up it would be
sure to meet with opposition from those who adopted some
other system. However, they would be glad to have
any practical suggestion made to them, and he thanked
the deputation for waiting upon him. The interview then
terminated.

It is stated that four of the notes stolen, front 011°
of Messrs. Barnetts' clerks, in February, last year, bay°
been received from the Continent. They represent a soul
of £2,400, two notes being for £l,OOO each, one for £3OO,
and one for £lOO. They had been sent to Liverpool as 9°
remittance in the usual way of business.

RAILWAYS OPENED IN 1870.—During the Past
year there were thirty-five new lines, junctions, and e'c;
tensions inspected by the officers of the Board of
Trade and opened for public traffic. The mileage
of the whole was VI miles.. Twenty-three of the
new works were in England, and embraced 14,..°
miles of the whole ; two were cDnnected with
Wales, the two embracing only three miles of ne°/,
line. The remaining ten new lines are in Scotland, all'
include 133 miles. The new Scottish lines of the longest
mileage were—the Dingwall and Skye, 53i miles long'
the Dundee and Forfar (Caledonian), 17i miles ; the Cal;
lender and Oban, first section, Callandar to Killin, 17*
miles ; the Duke of Sutherland's railway, extending
the northern route to Caithness, 16i miles ; the
Ayr and Mauchline (Glasgow and North Wes:
ern), 11 miles ; the Glasgow and Coatbridge (North
British), 8i miles ; and the Carmyllie branch of the Calel,
donian, 5i miles. ' The City of Glasgow Union line h 7.,
also been opened, and some others of lesser imP°l;
ante. Among the new English lines are the Vr-
and Askern (North Eastern), 26 miles ; the Chester
field to Sheffield (Midland), 13 miles ; the Silverdale:
Madeley, and Drayton line (North Staffordshir"
.1.2 miles ; last portion of the Solway Junction;
Bowness to Kixtlebridge, 11 miles ; Chedder to Well.
(Bristol and Exeter) ; Rotherham to Mexborough
chester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire), 6 /rake; Winefert,
branch (Cheshire Lines), 6 miles ; Garstang and 1;1:1° s.
end, 6i miles. The Midland Company had three othe
portions opened, including the Kentish-town joneti°l;
with the Tottenham and Hampstead Junction. The I'oBl
don and North Western completed the widened tuoe,
between Saddleworth and Marsden, att
and opened the new line from the North Delo.
Liverpool, to Eclgehill and Bootle, 5f lel,oo
The Great Eastern completed the Waltharno t,
branch, 24 miles ; the London and South-W/6,0,
,ern the Aldershott branch of seven and a half la:ot
and a Hammersmith and Chiswick Junction. The
London added a mile to its system st the southern °tile
and the London and Blackwell a mile of extension in the
Isle of Dogs. One of the most important openings ~°!sret'-
' year was that of the Metropolitan District from A's
minster to Blaekfriars, about eleven miles.—lferer"