The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-07 00:00:00

A NEW COMPOUND OF CARBON

AND SILICA.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sir—As the possibility of converting Carbon into
Silicon is now engaging the attention of chemists, I beg
to state that when one part, by huh, of finely powdered
carbon or ,lumbago is intimately mixed with five or six
of silica powder, these substances unite by fusion at a
heat below whiteness. But carbon by itself is infusible;
and silica does not fuse when alone at a heat below that
produced by the ox-hydrogen blow-pipe. As this com-
pound is not mentioned in Berzelius's Traiti, nor other
chemical works last published, it may beconsidered new.
—Yours obediently, H. PRATER.

LOSS OF FOUR PILOTS.
H UNA, PENTLAND PRIII-1, Nov. 27.—1 t is my
painful duty to inform you of the loss of three of the
Stroma pacts, and one of their sons, in the Pentland
Frith, on the morning of Friday, the 19th inst. They
were cited, upon a Sheriff's warrant, to appear at Bus-
wiel, South Ronaldshay, to give evidence in an investi-
gation at present going on before the Sheriff of Orkney.
They left Stroma early in the morning, the weather
at the time favourable, but a good deal of sea run-
ning in the Frith, although it could not be perceived
from the island. When near South Ronaldshay,
between the Barth Head and the Lowther Rock,
about a male from the shore, a sea filled the boat, which
immediately swamped, and the four unfortunate men
met with a watery grave. The heartrending circum-
stance was witnessed by persons on the ebore ; but it
was impossible to reader any assistance, as no boat
could leave upon the day in question, the wind being
dead on shore, although the Caithness mail-boat made
Buswick in comparative safety in about an hour and a
half afterwards ; but-by that time the swell had set far
west. The names of the individuals who have thus
perished are :—A. Sinclair, Peter Green, W. Sinclair,
and his son John.—Shipping Gazette.

DARING OUTRAGE.—Yesterday forenoon In-
speetorsMiller and several other officers of the N Divi-
sion,:were proceeding to Hatton-garden Police Court with
their prisoners for examination, when, on their arrival
near the Islington turnpike-gate, they were surrounded
by nearly 200 low ruffians, who attacked them, and en-
deavoured to rescue the prisoners, named Sarah May,
alias King, James May, and Henry Wybrew, notorious
characters, who were in custody for stealing a leg of
pork. The officers were knocked down and severely
maltreated. Police constable Ching, who took the
above-named prisoners into custody, was beaten and
kicked until he lay apparently lifeless, and he was car-
ried from the spot for medical ' assistance, and
now remains in a dangerous state. A desperate
conflict took place between the police and the
parties who attempted the rescue, but eventually the
constables succeeded in apprehending four desperate
fellows, well-known thieves, the ringleaders, and lodging
them in the station-house. In the course of the day
they were placed at the bar, before Mr. Combe, when
they gave their names Lorton, Lee, Sergeant, and May.
The officers and several respectable witnesses, identfied
them, and a surgeon's certificate being produced pro-
nouncing Ching to be in danger, the prisoners were re-
manded for a week. The prisoners charged with the fe-
lony were subsequently placed at the bar, and they were
remanded until Wednesday next, it being suggested by
Mr. Combo that in so desperate a case th Commission-
ers of Police should prosecute, and that a solicitor should
attend to watch the proceedings. Inspector Miller
said he would communicate with the Commissioners on
the subject.
THE MURDER OF MR. WESTWOOD.—.Within
the last few days some kind of clue has, it is said, been
gained with regard to the murder of Mr. Westwood, the
watchmaker. The particulars gleaned by the police were
at once made known to the Police Commissioners, but
from the great secrecy observed we are unable to give
any further information which
may be at all relied on
relative to the subject in question.