The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-15 00:00:00

THE WEATHER.

ROYAL GALLERY OF SCIENCE, ADELAIDE.
STREET.

NOON APRIL 15,
Barometer 29 87 In.
Thermometer
Highest ..... . 49'5
Lowest
Wald N. W.—Freezing Point 32 Deg.

DIORAMIC APPLICATION OF
THE OXY-HYDROGEN LIGHT.

A remarkably pleasing and altogether new applica-
tion of the powers of hydro-oxyge❑ light is at pre-
sent absorbing the attention of the visitors at the
Royal Polytechnic institution, where it was first exhi.
kited on Easter Monday. The exhibition consists
in displaying on the large disc in the theatre of the es-
tablishment a series of magnified pictures, properly
called" dissolving views," the effects of which are abso-
lutely surprising to the last degree. What we ourselves
saw we will endeavour to convey to the imagination of
the reader by description. The first picture represented
three line-of-battle ships, one English and two foreign,
preparing for engagement. On a sudden, and by imper-
ceptible means, the commencement of the action was in-
dicated by the appearance of large volumes of smoke.
These, in turn, were succeeded by a representation of the
conquered foreign ships in a crippled state; their yards
shot away, their rigging floating about, and the standard
of England flying from the remaining stumps of masts.
This accomplished, the vessels faded from the vision,
their receding shadows giving place to a view of Green-
wich Hospital from the river, with yachts and steam-
boats at anchor. These chances are so nicely gra-
duatel that the eye scarcely recognises the illusory
transformation. One of the most pleasing series of
views was that in which were represented the old Royal
Exchange, with its subsequent destruction by fire, the
appearance of the ruins, and the (to be) new build-
ing. These changes were brought about as if by
magic, the second taking the place of the first as
if it actually grew out of the canvas, for the purpose of ;
displacing its successor. Altogether we saw 18 of
these metamorphoses, and, judging from the enthu.
siastic and even boisterous appl arse be ;towed upon each
picture, we should infer that nothing has been produced
for a long titne,:even at the novelty exciting Polytechnic
Institution, so well calculated both to please and
astonish. The effects we have alluded to are produced,
not by mountebankism, but by science. Messrs. Cary,
the celebrated opticians, are the inventors of this new
and very charming application of the powers of a wel-
known chemical light ; and their modus operandi is the
result of philosophical principles. Some appropriate and
very well-executed airs were played by a petite band
behind the disc during the progress of these dissolving
views. We foresee that this invention will become the
stepping-stone to an altogether new style of dioramic
representation to an unlimited extent. Sbakspeare's
" Seven Ages," Thomson's " Seasons," the achievements
of a navy, the battles of armies ; in short, every class of
event by " flood and field," may succinctly be given by
this all-attractive method of pictorial story-telling.

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CHINA.--Extract from a letter dated Macao,
Jan. 22: --" Regarding the terms of Captain Elliot's
treaty with the Chinese, I have not temper to speak.
He had the (Neese at his feet, and might have had what
he wished; and what has be got? A few paltry• dollars
and a barren island, where to be sure there is a fine har-
bour, but it is 100 miles from Canton, the seat of business,
which will always have the preference. If all foreigners
were excluded from Canton, it would do very well, but
while Americans and others go there we must do so like.
wise. There is no doubt that had Elliot taken the Bogue
forts, which would not have cost a single life, and puab.•d
up to Canton, the people would have forced the Commis-
sioner to make peace o❑ any terms. The Chinese cannot
fight, and the panic occasioned among them by the she'll
and Congreve rockets is beyond description ; they are
greater cowards thin ever I thought them. Their numbets
are of no avail, indeed a disadvantage. You will see we
have not gained even liberty of trade to the northern
ports, on which our hopes of increasilg the sale of Bait!sh
manufactures were founded. I cannot believe that Par-
liament will approve Captain Elliot's conduct. The Chi-
nese are already chuckling, and say they have got the
best of it. It makes me quite sick to think of it, and there
are not half a dczen people, either on shore or afloat who
are not quite furious."
At the late assizes at Kingston a black man,
named John Giddy, from the river Gambia, was indicted
for feloniously assaulting Zoula Lander, with intent to do
him some grievous bodily harm. The prosecutor and th
other witnesses, in support of the prosecution, were all
Africans and had a very imperfect knowledge of English,
and Mr. Baron Parke had considerable difficulty in ascer-
taMing from them what form of oath they considered would
be binding upon their conscience; and all that could he
elicited from them was that they believed thet if the\ told
a lie they should go "down, down, down." Tice Learned
Judge, after some further inquiries, said be thought the
prosecutor might be sworn, and he then, par!ly by very
intehigera signs and by words, explained that he sod the
prig carer formed part of the crew of a vessel called the
William de la Noix, and that they came front Gambia in
her, and during the voyage the prisoner was continually
abusing him, and upon one occasion he attempted to
"gouge" one of his eyes, and he showed the Court the in-
jury the prisoner had inflicted at that time. On the day of
the transaction referred to in the indictment he and
the prisoner were both drunk on board the vessel
and they began to quarrel, and as the prisoner was in the
act of getting up the rigging-, the prosecutor laid hold if
his heel, and be immediately got down in a great rage, and
seized an iron bolt, a most formidable instrument upwards
of two feet long and three inches thick, and with both
bands struck the prosecutor a tremendous blow on the head,
and he continued beating him with the iron bolt for several
seconds after he was upon the ground. Ile then ran
away and hid the boP, and told the ship's cook not to let
the " white man" know that he had taken it. The pri-
soner in his defence said that the old man (the prosecutor)
had hseen "on to him " all the voy: go, and :hat he aggra-
vated him to do what be did. The. Jury found the pri-
soner Guilty, and Mr. Baron Parke, after obseniog that
an offence committed by such a poor being as the prisoner,
who was quite ignorant of the laws and customs of the

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cluntry, ought not to be visited will. the same socrity,
as it would under ordinary circumstances, sentenced the
prisoner to be kept to hard labour fur four months.

ELOPEMENT.—BRIGHTON, APRIL 14.—An
Evening Conteniforary stated on Monday that a lady in
one of our fashionable squares bad eloped with an officer
of the 11th Hussars. This is not true, but we are smy
to say the peace of a highly respectable family in one of
the squares has been broken by a projected elopement,
which was detected in time to prevent the flight of the
lady. The frail fair one has a family of three or four chil-
dren, and her beauty is questionable. Her manner?, how-
ever, are lively and engaging. We beliete that the
children have since been removed from the care of the
raoth,sr. The plot was discovered by the husband, who
intercepted a 12it?r which the maid was about to convey
from her mistress to her guilty paramour.