The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-04 00:00:00

GUN COTTON.
BY MR. MONTAGITE L. PHILLIPS.
As gun-cotton is now soon likely to be offered for sale
as a substitute for powder, some remarks upon its pre-
paration, properties, and use may not be altogether un-
acceptable. Nobody need trouble themselves to make it,
as Schonbein's gun-cotton can be purchased shortly from
the makers ; but perhaps the following observations will
be interesting to those who m
Upon the first mention of thisay u
se
discovery,it I commenced
a variety of experiments, with the object of discovering
its mode of preparation, properties, use,andhat paper, theory.
if
It has been long known to. chemists t
steeped in strong nitric acid for a short time, becomes
converted into a tough parchment-like substance, which
is so inflammable that it may be used for tinder. This
seems to have suggested the idea of gun-cotton.
t is possible to prepare gun cotton by steeping the
cotton for a few minutes in very strong nitric acid ; but
so much of the cotton is converted into a tough felty
matter, like the paper spoken of, that very little explo-
sive cotton is obtained by the process.
I have tried nitric acid of all strengths without good
results. Suspecting that the partial success was owing
to the presence of sulphuric acid in the nitric acid
distilled, I made experiments by adding sulphuric acid
gradually. I found the cotton more and more explosive,
and at last came to the conclusion, which was afterwards
arrived at by others, that the best gun-cotton was obtained
by using a mixture of equal measures of strong sulphuric
acid and nitric acid of about 1500 specific gravity.
The cotton is immersed in the mixed acids fur half a
minute, and then immediately thrown into a large earthen
pan of clean water. Whenever the action has been right,
a large quantity of red fumes escape from the cotton.
To get rid of the acid which would prevent the cotton
from exploding, and would rust the gun, I wash it four
times in four fresh quantities of clean water. After this
I immerse it for about two or three minutes in water to
which ammonia has been added—about a table spoonful
to half a gallon of water. This neutralises any acid left
in the cotton, and then, after washing the cotton twice in
clean water and drying it, it is ready for use.
In this way we obtain a perfect gun-cotton. It does
not heat the barrel ; it does not rust it ; and has eight
times the force of powder. The cotton increases one-
fourth in weight by the process. It increases more if
not washed in ammonia, but then it is not goods and rusts
the gun ; for it always contains acid, from which water
alone cannot free it. My experiments have been made
with quantities of cotton weighing from one to three
ounces at a time.
Prepared with acid alone, the gun-cotton frequently
misses fire with the copper cap. Prepared as I described
it, it never misses fire with a copper cap—has more force
and suits the patent breach as well as powder. I can
state this from having fired it more than a hundred times
in charges varing from 2 to 100 grains.
To try the force and range of this gun-cotton, I have
tried a variety of experiments—using equal weights of
cotton and powder against each other—and find the
cotton eight times as strong as the powder. 20 grains
of cotton fired l oz. of shot, at 44 yards, and buried
them out of sight in a wooden target. The same weight
of fine powder only just stuck the shot in the surface. I
made a number of experiments with the assistance of the
chief boatman of the Hove Coast Guard Station. We
used one of their large heavy muskets, firing with
charges of 60 grains, the balls weighing between one
and two ounces. The range, as nearly as we could mea-
sure it, was one mile—how much farther the ball went
we could not tell. We fired over the sea, which was
smooth and calm along shore, and found the range by
knowing the distances of various objects along shore.
' To try the force of the cotton, we fired at targets of
various thickness, our distance being 44 yards, that
being as far as any accurate aim could be taken with
the musket, so as to ensure the target being hit. At
that distance the ball passed quite through a target
five inches in thickness, and then flew about a quarter
of a mile out to sea, when we lost sight of it. At 44
yards, the ball would have passed through two such tar-
gets. It will easily go through an oaken log six inches
thick. In these experiments, a great deal of force was
lost owing to the balls being rather loose, and the vent
of the musket large. The musket was a flint and steel
one. We primed with a grain or two of powder, as the
explosion was too rapid in the pan to fire that in the
barrel when cotton was used for priming. The musket
which had been first cleaned with warm water and
dried, was quite bright and clean inside at the end of a
week, and a gun which I have used now constantly for
a month with gun cotton is quite clean inside.
My next experiments were in its use for shooting ;
but having no license for game, I have only shot small
birds like starlings and fieldfares. I used charges va-
rying from 10 to 20 grains ; 15 grains make a good
charge for a range of from 70 to 100 yards, at which
distance it kills readily, using 11 oz. of shot.
Iri loading the gun, the cotton should be put in loosely,
a little at a time, and gently rammed down, not hard, or
else it does not go off well. Then a wad is to be rammed
down as usual, not too hard ; then shot ; then another
wad, which may be rammed down rather harder upon
the shot. Put on a cap as usual, and then it will ex-
plode just as certainly as powder in the patent breach,
without any trouble. When no ammonia has been used
in the preparation, the cotton frequently misses fire in
the patent breach.
The gun may be loaded with perfect safety directly
after firing, as I have proved this by firing a dozen tunes
rapidly, loading as fast as I had fired.
The cotton occupies about a finger's breadth in the
grin when there is the proper charge.
During my experiments, I found that grease, particu-
larly palm oil, entirely destroys the explosive property
of the cotton, so that it will not explode, or even fire, in
a greasy gun-barrel. This has led me to propose its
use for making snufliess candles ; and having made se-
veral candles with gun-cotton wicks, I find them answer
perfectly. Palm-oil makes the best.
The various explanations given of the explosive pro-
perty of gun-cotton are not at all satisfactory, owing to
the presence of nitric acid in all the specimens operated
up m.
My explanation of the explosive property is derived
from the results of my experiments. Cotton fibre, when
purr, is chemically nothing but lignine. Lignine con-
sists of equal weights of water and carbon combined.
The sulphuric acid has the property of removing water
from organic bodies. Its use, therefore, in the prepara-
tion is to remove water from the cotton. The loss of
water is immediately replaced by an equivalent quantity
of oxygen gas, derived from the nitric acid, which under-
goes decomposition. The gull cotton is thus only oxidized
carbon, or nearly so, or idized cotton from which the
greater part of the constituent water has been removed
by. the sulphuric acid. It undergoes a change in the I
shape of its fibre, which from vesicular becomes cylin-
ical and plump.
'I he lignine of the cotton, thus chemically and physi-
cally changed, is easily exploded, because it contains
nearly enough oxygen to convert all its carbon into car-
bonic acid gas in the open air, or into carbonic oxide gas
in the gun-barrel. As the result of its rapid combus-
tion is entirely gaseous, its explosion can be no mystery.
That this is the true explanation is proved by the deco-.n
position of the nitric acid during the preparation of the
gun cotton ; for no good cotton is obtained unless ortnage-
coloured fumes escape during the process. Indeed, the
euttun when taken out of the acid and opened under
water for the first time, saturated with nitrous gas.
Good gun cotton produces only carbonic acid and a very
little Yearn during its explosion. When the cotton is
loose]) rammed, as I have said, its fibres are mixed with
air, which improves the explosion.
Souse time ago I proposed it as a motive-power instead
of steam, for which I think in many cases it might be
substituted. I certainly was the first to try it and to pro-
pose it publicly for this purpose.
During the experiments with the muskets, the reports
was insignificant, and the recoil almost nothing. The
expense on the small scale, using the best sea-island
cotton, would be about 7s. 6d. to prepare a pound of
the cotton; but the prepared cotton would weigh 1-4-lbs.,
furnishing 1,000 charges. So that, in practice, it will be
nearly four times as cheap as the best' gunpowder, while
it is much cleaner, saner, and leaves the gun clean and
nice. Any vegetable fibre or matter containing lignine,
such as tow, flax, or paper, will do; but nothing excels
the best sea island cotton.
The gun-cotton made as I describe may be exploded on
the hand with a warm wire. It will explode on powder
without firing the powder; will not rust the gun; or pro-
duce steam. I consider it perfect, and adapted for every
purpose to which gunpowder may be applied. It leaves en
almost imperceptible stain upon white paper.—Brighton
Herald.

THE FOREIGN SORCERESS AND
THE BRITISH MINISTERS.
At Paris, daring the early part of the year 1827, and
the autumn of 1828 and 1829, resided a lady whose pre-
tensions and performances caused no slight sensation
among the novelty-seeking coteries of that gay capital.
Madame de Strzelecki was a woman advanced in years,
plain in appearance, and grave in address. She spoke in
the tone and dictation of one who had been accustomed
to more in the higher grades of society ; but of her
descent, connexions, plans, and resources, no one seemed
able to glean the slightest information. She professed to
unveil the future ; and though her fee was gold, and
though she saw those only who waited upon her with a
formal introduction, from a previous client, the equipages
that were found loitering near her spacious dwelling in
Rue de la Paix chez la Barriere du Roule contained
half the beauty and haut ton of Paris. And yet
the information she gave was partial. It related to
two epochs only in the life of those who consulted
her—death and marriage. She would place before you
the lively scene and gay appendages of the cne, and the
langour, gloom, and restlessness of the other. On
neither spectacle was it her custom to offer one single
syllable of remark. She left her visitant to draw his
own moral from the scene. Among the strangers in
Paris at that period were two Englishmen of great,
though opposite talent—both ambitious men—each ido-
lized by his respective party—each the sworn champion
of a certain set of opinions—both high in the favour of
the Sovereign whom they served, and aspiring to the
most enduring rewards wnich talent and energy could
win. They heard from fifty gay voices the fame of
Madame de Strzelecki; and as a mere whim of the
moment— an impromptu extravaganza—they resolved to
visit the mystic in disguise, and to test her pretensions.
They were described, in the note of introduction which
they presented, as " two American gentlemen, whose stay
in Paris must be, under any circumstances, short; whose
errand there was some commercial speculation, the issue
of which might recal them to Philadelphia at a few hours'
notice. They entreated, therefore, the favour of an im-
mediate audience." It was granted at once. She re-
ceived them, as was her wont, in silence. But upon the
first who entered her apaitment (the younger, and by
far the most intellectual-looking of the two) she gazed
long and earnestly. " You are married, and have two
sons and a daughter ;" was the off-hand declaration with
which she met his bow : " the scene of your nuptials,
therefore, you cannot well have forgotten ! That of
your demise is the spectacle which I presume you wish
to have brought before you ?" " You anticipate me,
madam," was the reply ; but such is, undoubtedly,
the object of my present visit."
" And you, Sir," said she, turning to his companion,
"are married, but childless. Do you wish to gaze
upon the closing scene of your busy life ?" " Per-
haps," added she, with more of interest and feeling
than she generally exhibited, " you will abandon your
intention ? Reconsider it." "By no means ; the ordeal
which is gaily courted by my companion I would also
brave."" Have you firmness and resolution ?" demanded
the lady ? " Have you nerve to gaze upon a very har-
rowing spectacle ?" " Without it, ought I to have come
hither?' "I am answered: follow me. She led the
way, as she spoke out of the apartment, and the English-
men followed her. They crossed a small, low passage;
passed through a narrow portal; a second, a third, and
then found themselves in a hall of very considerable ex-
tent. It was paved with black marble, and decorated at
each end with four slender pillars of the same material.
In the centre rose a very large jet-black basin, filled with
dark water to a considerable depth. A cupola, or lantern,
admitted a tempered light from above; and the deep
basin was so placed that whatever daylight the dome ad-
mitted fell upon it. But, despite of the noble propor-
tions of the hall, and the lightness of the pillars, and the
fairy tracery of the cupola, there was an air of gloom
over the whole apartment. It seemed a' fitting scene
to communicate tidings of approaching sorrow, sepa-
ration, sickness, silence, death. " Look on this dark
water," said their conductress; "it shall speak to you
of the future. If death be at a distance, it will sink-some
feet in every second that you gaze upon it. If your
parting hour approaches, it will rise rapidly ; and if the
very last sands in life's hour-glass be running ; will
mount till it be checked only by the margin. If it be
fated that death shall approach you in the guise of vio-
lence, the water shall instantly bubble up. If caused by
accident, it will change colour once, twice, fast as the
hues of the rainbow meet into each other and vanish,
even while you gaze on them. If death overtake you by
gradual decay, and in the common course of nature,
other than a gentle ripple over its surface, no change
will the still water know or tell. You understand me?"
" I do." " Fully ?" " I conceive so." " Approach,
then. Gaze steadfastly on that dark surface, and it
shall mirror to thee, fully and faithfully, the future."
The calmer, and graver, and sadder of the two ad-
vanced slowly to the margin with a look of mingled
curiosity and incredulity, which sat strangely on his
heavy, massive, and somewhat passionless features. In
an instant the water rose at least two feet—changed
colour rapidly, and evidently more than once—
and then became daik and motionless as before.
"Ah ! not far distant—and by accident!" The
mystic made no reply, but merely motioned him by
a gesture to gaze on. He did so, and ai he looked he
beheld a mimic representation of a scene of great con-
fusion. Countless multitudes were assembled—there
was running to and fro—horsemen were riding in all
directions—the spectators were conversing eagerly with
each other—and deep dismay sat on many a countenance.
This faded from the surface, and there was presented to
him a small room in what appeared to be a road-side
inn. Three or more individuals it contained, to whose
persons he was a perfect stranger. But there was one
present whose features he instantly recognised--one who
was ever dear to him—his wife. Her countenance was
calm, but there was stamped on it deep and indescribable
distress. Propped up with pillows in the foreground,
was a figure which he instantly admitted to be his own.
But how painfully was he pictured I The eye was wan-
dering and restless—every feature bore the impress of in-
tense agony—and the face was overspread with that cold
grey tint which so surely foretells impending dissolution.
He looked at it steadily for a few seconds. A sort
of mist seemed to come over his vision. He withdrew
his gaze for an instant from the fountain, and when he
again resumed his observation the painful scene had
wholly disappeared ! His inquiring look of astonish-
ment and emotion the mystic returned with apathy.
The agitation manifested in his countenance was
strangely contrasted by the fixed, rigid expression of
her's. His appeared a painful struggle with conflicting
feelings ; her countenance wore-its usual air of cold and
impassive indifference. " What ! it's past a joke ?" said
the younger of the two, advancing gaily towards the
fountain; "the answer of the oracle is not palateable, eb ?
Take your favourite poet's advice henceforth :-
--. Quid sit futurum, eras
Fuge quexrere!
But now of me and to me what says the future !" The
water rose a few inches and bnar On its surface next appeared athen smallecame chambestatior, limitedy. in its dimensions—humble in its accommodation, antique
and clumsy in its furniture, and altogether pretension-
less in its comforts and appointments. Gardens
seemed to stretch around it of considerable extent ;
and on the mantel-piece he remarked a small bror.z •
clock of singular shape and constructioldni.bnugt evidentlyCharles,fullyouth,vigourofwaslife,lineamentssickd
racked with bodily agony. "The other figure I con.
yes, that of Charles's
painful spectacle," added he
sieve to be that—that"—continued he, speaking slowly
and after a lengthened pause—"
dying father! 'Tis a
turning from the fountain, " and I know not what
benefit is to be derived from a lengthened contem-
plation of it. Come, the day wears, we will leave
this clever, disagreeable, and certainly most puzzling ex-
hibition." Ile took his friend's arm as he spoke, and
advanced to pay his parting devoirs to the mystic, and aith
them, her fee. The first she returned coldly : the latter
she peremptorily rejected. "I am already remunerated,
amply remunerated ;" was het' unexpected and startling
declaration.--" Sufficient honour for me if I have ad-
ministered to the amusement—the passing amusement ,•
the bitter emphasis placed on this last word conveyed
a meaning which those whom she addressed seemed to
feel and shrink from—" of two such distinguished State
servants of his Britannic Majesty as Mr. Huskisson and
Mr. Canning ! " Again, with exquisite mockery, she
curtsied deeper and more deferentially than before, and,
ere they could recover from their surprise, left them.-
Literary leaves from a Freemason's Note booh.

We have been favoured with a copy of the following
letter, dated her Majesty's steam-sloop Salamander,
Otaheite, June 1, 1846:
" The natives here and at lluahine have proved them-
selves better men than the French, having beaten the m
out of the field at that island, added to which they re-
pulsed La Uranie, a heavy frigate of 60 guns, and she
returned to Otaheite without having effected a single
advantage out of the many which they anticipated by the
attack and capture of the island. The natives here, no
doubt stimulated by the example of the lluahineans,
made a smart and very effective attack on the town; they
came in, burned the houses of the French officers who
had made themselves most obnoxious, killed and wounded
a great many soldiers, and retreated without losing a
single man. This put the French in a most awful flut-
ter; they stationed outposts on all the hills surrounding
the town, and these unfortunate wretches afforded prime
sport for the natives, who picked them off every day.
Upon the arrival of the French Admiral in a 60-gun
frigate, they marched out to attack Papeno with 1,400
men; hey were beaten, and returned :without having
done anything but burnt a church and stolen a few
horses. They returned after nine days' absence, and the
solders were allowed two days to recruit their exhausted
strength before marching upon Bonnalia, which they did
last Friday. They attacked the native fort at six o'clock
A.M. on Saturday, and were cut up dreadfully. The
steamer Phaeton came up on Saturday afternoon with
54 wounded, amongst whom were several officers, in-
cluding the commander-in-chief of the forces and the
governor's aide-de-camp: they are expected back to-day
(Monday). There is no other news of consequence, ex-
cept that her Majesty's brig Osprey has suffered total
shipwreck at New Zealand.
" P. S.—The Phaeton has just arrived with another
cargo of wounded and dying; they are taking them on
shore as fast as possible; there are, I believe, about 50.
There is not at present the least possible prospect of our
getting out of this, let alone coming home."

RYE, ITS CHEMICAL COMPOSI-
TION AND NUTRITIVE VALUE.
(From the Northern Whig.)
The recommendations which have lately been given, in
various public journals, with respect to the introduction
of rye, as a crop to succeed potatoes, render it important
that we should notice its value as a source of food. It
would be interesting to trace the change which has
taken place in the opinions that formerly prevailed
respecting this grain ; for at a very early period, we
find, by the testimony of ancient writers, that, either by
itself, or mixed with wheat, it formed the general food
of the people of England. As, however, the agriculture
of the country improved, the more nutritious wheat
gradually assumed its place t and it was only in times of
scarcity, that the English labourer would willingly
submit to change " the white loaf for the brown." But,
even in the latter part of the sixteenth century, the
use of wheat as a bread-stuff, had not by any means, be.
come general. An old writer, speaking of that period,
says,—" '1 he bread, throughout the land, is made of such
grain as the soil yieldeth ; nevertheless, the gentilitie
commonlie provide themseves sufficiently of wheato for
their own tables, whilst their household and poore niegh•
hours, in some shires, are inforced to content themselves
with rye or barlie." In 1689, the proportion of wheat
and rye cultivated for food, in England, will be seen by
the following statement, made by the celebrated statist,
Gregory King :
Wheat
Rye
Whilst, however, since that time, the cultivation of
wheat in England enormously increased, less attention was
every year directed to the growth of rye. But on the conti-
nent, as is well known, rye continues to form the staple
bread-stuffofthe people of Russia and Northern Germany,
and is extensively cultivated on the sandy plains of the
countries which border the South of the Black Sea. The
small quantity of rye, at present grown in Great Bri-
tain and Ireland, is chiefly consumed by the distiller. In
Holland, this grain is extensively employed, at Schie-
dam, and other places, to mix with barley, for the pre-
paration of " Hollands Gin." The straw of the ripe
grain is not, well adapted for fodder, and is chiefly used
for thatching and for the manufacture of hats ; but when
cut green, in May or June, it may advantageously be
employed for soiling cattle. In Germany, the schwarz
brod, or black bread,- so much relished by all classes of
the people, is prepared from rye. When fresh, this
bread has a peculiarly sweet and agreeable taste, which
is supposed to depend upon the presence of an aromatic
substance in the husk of the grain, as it has been found,
that bread made from very fine flour, from which the
husk bad been removed, did not possess it. But upon
this, and many other subjects connected with our culti-
vated grains, careful experiments are yet required.
Rye is supposed to be a native of Crete, but it has
been cultivated in these countries from the earliest times.
There are several species known to the botanist; but
that usually grown by the Irish farmer is secale cereale,
of which there are two varieties—Spring and Winter rye.
With regard to the amount of nutritive ingredients
contained in rye, the late investigations of Professor
Ilorsford, condu..ted in the laboratory of Liebig, show us
that soil and cultivation exercise a great influence upon
its composition;--thus, while one sample of meal, from
Vienna, contained only 104 per cent. of what we are ac-
customed to describe as muscle-forming materials,
another sample afforded nearly 16 per mit. A sample
of rye, of superior quality (secale cereale stauden roggen),
from the celebrated agricultural Institute of Hohen-
hein, in Wurtemberg, examined by Horaford and
Krocker, contains(', of nutritive materials and water. us
follows:

Nitrogenized matters (muscle-forming), 15 27 per cent.
Starch3B 72
Water
By comparing the above numbers with the analyses of
wheat, oats, and Indian corn, given in precedibg papers.
it will be seen, that though inferior to " the stout oat-
cake," the black bread, prepared from rye, must be well
adapted as a sustaining food.
Like the potato, the cultivation of rye requires but
little agricultural skill, and it will flourish in situations
where no other grain would be capable of affording food.
This circumstance, however, though it may prove of
importance to a slovenly and ignorant people, should
not be regarded as an inducement to substitute it for the
more nutritious oat. A dry sandy soil is best adapted
for its growth; though, as we have remarked, in
will flourish in almost any farm. Experienced
farmers advise, that if the land be damp, it should
be ploughed in ridges. It is sown either in autumn or
spring, and managed as the other grain crops—from two
to two and a half bushels of seed being usually required
to the statute acre. Formerly, an early kind of wheat
and rye were sown and reaped together ; and the bread
made from the mixed grain was termed meslin, a name
supposed to be derived from the Latin miscellanea. The
average produce of rye is about 25 bushels per acre ;
the quantity of straw obtained is usually from three to
four times the weight of grain. The following analyses
of the grain and straw of rye have lately been published
by Will and Freseneus, of Giessen, and will be interest-
ing to the farmer, as exhibiting the kind of ingredients
which this crop selects from the soil, and which, conse-
quently, a field must contain, to bring it to perfection :-
I,ooolbs. of the grain of rye, in its ordinary stale of
dryness, usually contains 101bs., and the straw 301b5., of
ash.

One hundred parts of the ash of the grain and straw
were found to contain, respectively, as follows :
Potash ...
Grain. Straw,
•.. ... 31.89 17.03
Soda ...
••• ... 433
Lime 2.84
Magnesia ... ••• ••• 9.86
Peroxide of iron ... ... 0.80
Phosphoric acid
... 46.03
Chloride of sodium ...
Chloride of potassium
Sulphuric acid
... ••• •••••• 1.42
Silica
Charcoal and sand • 2.66

8.98
2.39
1.35
3.80
0.56
0.25
081
63.89
0.94

JOHN F. OGES, A 1.1).
T.Alboratory of the Chemico-AgricuHlD tural Society.

FOREIGN GREEN PEAS.—A small importation, as
sample, has already been received in this country, by the
Royal Tar steamer, from Lisbon, consigned to Keeling
and Hunt, being the precursor to a periodical supply.
Those sent bear a fresh appearance, the pods being quite
green, and the peas are of good flavour, although inferior
to those that are usually "forced" in our country to
supply epicures at two or three guineas the quart, in the
early spring months. This is a commencement of an
importation which is to follow on an extended scale, t()
embrace early fruits, vegetables, and other luxuries which
from the cold character of our climate are not obtain-
able until an advanced period of the year, affording
another favourable evidence of the new scale of import
duties aided by steam conveyance, by which the people
of this country are enabled to partake of them at
moderate prices. The Royal Tar brings several cases of
" mandarin" or scented oranges, which are rare in this
country, and which on opening throw out an aromatic
flavour, and are sweet to the taste. The tree is supposed
to have been originally
e g
brou ht from China, and trans-
planted in Malta, thAzores, and Lisbon, from which
places small quantities are occasionally brought to this I
country.
DEATH IN Tile STREET ANDtwief:ARTLESt ROB-
TIERY.—On Friday, shortly after
a man
of very respectable appearance was obae%OeCellock,
and fall near the corner of Water-street andtoVragger
street, Whitefriars. A female who witnessed the Lilian'_
rence immediately ran for medical assistaneo, and fOcoeuir:
nately met Dr. Hutchinson, of Bridige-street, Blartckl
friars, who hastened to the spot, and had the
unfortu,
nate man removed into the shop of Mrs. Devonshire, r,
grocer, in Water-street, when it was ascertained the t
life was extinct. In the hurry of removal, some heart-
less ruffian decamped with a blue merino bag, which the
female before alluded to had observed in the deceased's
possession. As this was supposed to contain papers by
which the deceased could be identified, a pursuit was
instituted, but in vain—the miscreant got clear oIE
After Dr. Hutchinson had left, the deceased's pockets
were searched by the sergeant of police, End a large sum
of money in gold and silver found upon him, by which,
and the blue bag, it is supposed that he was a:town com-
mercial traveller. The body was soon after removed in
a shell to await a coroner's inquest.
It is understood that the Mutine brig has been de-
ta'ned at Spithead, to take out Mr. Mandeville, who is
to be charged by Government to proceed to the River
Rate to endeavour to settle affairs in that part of the
world.

TIIE GREATEST STAND EVER MADE I OR CIVILISA-
TION.—The ink stand.—The Man in the Moon.
We see by the Belgian papers that a magnificent
banquet was given on Tuesday, the 29th, by the English
resident at Brussels, to his Excellency Sir Hamilton
Seymour, G.C.11., who is upon the eve of quitting that
city for Lisbon. The chair was taken by the Marquis
of Westmeath, Sir E. Ilaggerston acting as Vice-Presi-
dent. A more well merited tribute of esteem and re-
spect was never offered to any British diplomatist than
ass thus proffered to the talented and amiable gentle-
man whose departure from Brussels will bo long and
deeply deplored.—Morning Paper,
FEARFUL DEATH OF A BRIDE.—OH Saturday, as
Mr. and Mrs. Jacques, of Jarrow, who had been married
only five days, were proceeding along a coal railway,
near to Newcastle, they came to an inclined plane, up
which Mr. Jacques proposed they should ride upon the
waggons. his wife assented, and on attempting to get
into the waggons, she fell, and seven of them passed
over her. She was immediately taken up and conveyed
to the Newcastle Infirmary, where she died shortly
after. Mr. Jacques had conducted a school in Jarrow,
and he and his wife were on the eve of going to a more
extensive field of labour when this fearful accident hap-
pened.—Sunderland Herald.

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE IN THE SERPENTINE. ---
About eight o'clock on Wednesday evening a young
woman named Elizibeth Eddy, of 43, Molyneux-street,
Edgeware-road, attempted to destroy herself by delibe-
rately jumping into the Serpentine, at the east end, near
the aqueduct. She was promptly extricated by police-
constable A 17:;, and conveyed to the receiving house,
was restored, after the usual remedies. On her recovery
she immediately exclaimed, " Why did you not let me
st•p and die!" She was conveyed home, and was found
to be a servant for some time out of place.
WOBURN CATTLE FAIR, BEDS.—Friday being
New Years' day, Woburn fair, according to ancient
custom, was held, but the late great supply of stock at
the country fairs made the cattle trade dull. Mich
cows for dairying sold well, but fat cattle and store
stock remained on. h:.nd, and the chief portion was
turned out unsold. A lively business was done among
straw plait. 'Dee best plaits were bought by London
dealers at an advanced price.
The Emperor and Empress of Austria have this
year, as they did . the last, made donations from their
pdirifrenievyPurses of 1( ),000 florins for the relief of the poor
of Vienna. Tho other members of the Imperial Family
have contributes' towards the same benevolent purpose
uPIP...-araounting to upwards of 14,000 florins,

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY MORNING, JANUARY 4, 1847

EXTENSIVE HORSE STEALING.
On Saturday an elderly man, named James Robinson,
described as I} horse dealer, but who was formerly a
grocer at Blackwater, Hants, was brought up before the
Rev. R. Wright and Mr. Theobeld, magistrates of
Hampshire, at the office of the magistrates' clerk, oppo-
site the gaol at Winchester, for further examination, on
al fewer than eight charges of horse stealing. The pr:-
loner was apprehended at Hammersmith, and after a
short examination before Mr. T. Paynter at the Ham-
mersmith police-court, was sent down to Winchester, it
being more convenient to the witnesses.
It appeared from the evidence gone into that the pri-
soner had, for the last three months. been in the hab.t of
going, backwards and forwards to the Raven p iblic-
house kept by Mr. William Beasley, in the New-road,
Hammersmith, generally staying two or three days in a
ne?k, and several times bringing horses with him.
On the 19th of November last he brought with him
a grey gelding, nearly thorough-bred, which he kept
there a week. During that time the prisoner offered
it for sale to several persons at sixty guineas, telling
them that he was a small farmer and had bred it. On
the 19th of December (Saturday) policeman Graves, T
195, while passing the Raven, saw the prisoner there
with three or four persons, and heard one ask him if he
had sold his grey horse. The prisoner said that he had,
but had only got 431. when it ought to have been 60L, as
it was nearly thorough-bred. The policeman, suspect.
ing something was wrong; spoke to the landlord on the
subject, who gave him a description of the horse. Graves
immediately communicated the circumstance to Sergeant
Mount, T 29, who went to the Raven on the following
morning, having in the meantime ascertained that a
horse answering the description had been stolen from a
stable on the premises of Mr. William Saunders, Cran-
bourne Farm, near the Andover station, Hants, and
questioned the prisoner if his name was Robinson ?—if
the grey horse was his property, and where he had
bought it ? The prisoner answered yes to the
first question, but made no reply to the other
questions. Mount then asked him if the bay
horse he was feeding belonged to him, and
whether a grey horse in the next stall was his also?
The prisoner said both were his, and that he had
bought them, and, after some hesitatian, added, " I sup-
pose you are going to take me." He was then secured,
and it was ascertained that the grey horse stolen from
Mr. Saunders, which the prisoner said had gone into
Yorkshire, was at the commission stables of Mr. Shackle
in Oxford-street, where it was found by Mount and
identified by Mr. Saunders.
Evidence was then gone into proving that the grey
horse, which Mr. Saunders valued at 801., was safe in the
stable on the evening of the 17th November last, and
was missing on the following morning, when the door
was found shut, but not pinned by a chain as it was on
the previous evening.
Mr. Charles Lee, of Coldrey, Hants, indentified the
bay cart gelding, valued at 251., found by Mount at the
Raven, as the property of his mother, Mrs. Harriet Lee,
of :Coldrey, which had been stolen from his stable on
the night of the 14th December last. There were two
other horses in the stable which was broken open, but
were not taken. A stable adjoining had also been
broken open, but the door having a chain like a street
door, the thief could not enter • in that stable were
four valuable hunters, the least of which was worth 100
guineas.
Mr. 'l'. Webb, of Dogsmerfield, near Odiham, Hants,
identified the grey mare also found at the Raven, and
%sew d at thirty guineas, as having been stolen from his
premises on the night of the 2d of December.
The BENCH said it would be unnecessary for them
to go into the other cases against the prisoner, as the
evidence in the three cases in which the depositions were
taken were so clear as to ensure a conviction.
The prisoner was nominally committed for trial at the
Spring Assizes. but will be again brought up on the
attendance of Mr. Shackle, for whose presence a sum
mons was issued, as also a summons for the attendance
of a person named Tinely, at Hanger Farm, Ealing, who
is said to have purchased Mr. Saunders's horse at Mr.
Shackle's for 43L
The BENCH complimented the officers of the T divi
sion for the ability they had displayed in the case.

THE BRITISH MUSEUM.—On Friday the institution
was closed for a week, in order that the periodical
cleansing might take place.
BRAZILIAN SUGAR.—A cargo of 300 tons, direct
from Rio, is daily expected to arrive at this port. This
will be the first cargo brought into Liverpool, and the
second into the United Kingdom, under the Bill of last
session, imposing a differential duty upon colonial and
foreign sugars. The duty at which this cargo will come
in will be 21s. per cwt. (reduced from 635.); colonial
sugar of corresponding quality pays 135.—Liverpoo,
Mercury.
Upon an extensive review of the last two months of
the year, it will be found that the value of money has not
much changed. Good bills at three months can be dis-
counted at 31. The prevailing opinion seems to be that
money will keep the same value for some time to come.
The dividends are on the eve of payment, and even if
anticipated to some extent, must still assist in making
money plentiful. The exportation of bullion is still
going on. The next American steamer will take out
400,000/. to buy bread stuffs, and the exchange being at
present in favour of the Americans, it is a question
whether the exportation of money may still go on. It
so, the Bnnk, to defend itself, may be forced to raise the
rate of interest on discounts. But all this for the time
being is problematical, and the best opinions lead to the
probability that no upward movement will take place for
the neat two months, and may not be necessary then.
The drain to Ireland is not to be left wholly out of con-
sideration. On the other hand, it must be taken into
account that a very large arrival of bullion from South
America—to the amount, it is said, of a million and a
half sterling—has taken place within the last day or
two, by the Daphne sloop. Opinions vary as to the in.
tentions of the " Old Lady," in Threadneedle-street ;
and matters there are, of course, sub rosa. Still the
b( st opinions are, that matters will be allowed to remain
as they are—for the present.—Observer.
LMEUTE AT THE FRENCH OPERA.—The long an-
nounced representation of Robert Bruce took place on
Wednesday at the Grand Opera. Of course the house
was crowded to repletion. Could it be otherwise, to
hear once again the new inspirations of Rossini, the mas-
ter of masters ! We leave to our ordinary critic the task
of rendering justice to the piece and to the execution.
We shall here merely say a few words on a very disagree-
able incident which disturbed and threatened to interrupt
the performance. A certain degree of opposition wa,
evinced in the second act with a view to cause the failure
of Mme. Stoltz, who appeared to be suffering and agitated;
but who, nevertheless, sang in such a manner as to merit
the applause which she received. The actress, yielding to a
movement of ill-humour, tore her handkerchief in
pieces, and her agitation was extreme; the minority be-
coming more turbulent, afterwards began to hiss, and
Madame Stolz, interrupted in her part, was about to
garreeautntmumanullyt, einnowughhichto,
accompanied these words with sig.
quit the stage, but was heldexbhacauksbteyd,Maanddelmcoaisnenlloet
cNoatul..
She exclaimed, loud enough to be perfectly heard,
applause
greatly predominated, which
iiinsultnfi ue
ea
tat woman.
hgues.sur
ess
ei In athme
"This is insupportable.
iml
however, the liTstheoyf
proved that the great majority of the audience did not
join in this ungenerous manifestation. Several, who bad
not before applauded, then began to do so, in order to
mark their disapprobation of what had been done.—
Galignani.
It is supposed that the expenses of the enlargement
of the Euston-square station of the London and North-
Western, now in progress, will not be short of 50,000/.
LABOUR TO MAKE A WATCH.—Mr. Dent, in a lec-
ture delivered before the London Royal Institute, stated
that a watch consists of 902 pieces, and that 40 trades,
and probably 215 persons are employed in making one of
these little machines. The iron of which the balance-
wheel is formed, is valued at something less than a
farthing ; this produces an ounce of steel, worth 41-2
pence, Which is drawn into 3.250 yards of steel wire, and
represents in the market 13/.3,=. ; but still another pro-
cess of hardening this originally a farthing's worth of
iron renders it workable into 7,650 balance springs,
which will realize at the common price, of 2s. 6d. each,
7461 51., the •effect of labour alone. Thus the mere
labour bestowed upon one farthing's worth of iron, gives
it the value of 9501 55., which is 75,680 times its original
value.

A RARE BIRD.--About a fortnight ago, a large and
uncommon bird made its appearance in the nursery
ground of Mr. Faulkner, near Kersal Moor, and was
seen afterwards almost every day ;
but though many
attempts were made to shoot it they all failed, owing to
its extreme Wariness, until Thursday last, when a person
named Smith contrived to get within shot of it, and
brought it down, when it proved to be a remarkably fine
male bittern (ardea stellaris), a bird now rarely seen in
England at all, and almost unknown in this neighbour-
hood. Indeed, we never heard of more than one other
having been seen near Manchester for some years past,
—Manche.stcv
and that was on Chatt Moss about twelve months ago.
Guardian.
AN ELECTRIFIED OWL.—The transmission of
messages by the New York and Philadelphia electric
telegraph was recently
the following curious incident. A large owl was found
suspended from the wires, with his talons entangled
suspended for several hours by
among them, the copper wire having been twisted round
the iron cords. The owl was dead when discovered,
and it is cods.
That he had lighted upon the iron
received a shock of the electric fluid,
wire, and whiledn that pokition the other was blown
against him, and a connexion being thus formed, he
him of life.
which deprived
EXPECTED ROYAL VISIT TO BADMINTON.—It
is stated that her Majesty Will, in
all probability, honour
his Grace the Luke of Beaufort with a visit at Ba'Jminton
House, at an early period
after Christmas. We have
heard that the " note of preparation" has been already
sounded amongst the Gloucestershire Yeomanry Cavalry,
of which his Grace is colonel, with a view to their being
ready mounted, mustached
and all, as a kind of royal
guard for the Queen.—Cheltenham Chronicle.
MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A LADY.—Dur-
ing the past week much conversation and excitement has
been occasioned throughout the
c neighbourhood of Twick-
nham
e,
ara cm Richmond
of a, &c., in consequegnce of the mysterious
sapp lady seventy years of age, named
diSmith, the wife of a gentleman residing at Twickenham.
It appeared that she went to bed with her husband in
her usual health and spirits on the night afterChristm2s-
day. On his awakening in the course of the night, he
saw what he supposed at the time to be his wife's head
his getting up the follow-
°tulle pillow had been dressed
alitt is supposed, by the lady herself to represent her
still ying there, and although every search was made
after her, both on and off the premises, she was nowhere
ionng the
m o ill
iaogw
hnae
found
ahaids but
tha that
to be found. Since that time a description of her per•
son has been forwarded tc all the divisions of the metro-
p ditan and City police, and the river, both above and
below Twickenham, has been dragged, without any trace
of her being dinovered.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MANSION HOUSE.
THE ROBBERY OF THE WARWICK AND LEAMING-
TON BANK.—It will be recollected that in July, 1845, a
clerk in the Warwick and Leamington Bank, named
William Hudson Blayney, was stated to have stolen a
parcel containing one hundred 10/. notes, with which he
had been intrusted by the firm to deposit in the post
office at Warwick ; and that Daniel .Forrester, act oat.
panied by Superintendent Roby, of the Leamington
police, apprehended the accused at Calais, but were pre.
vented from taking him away with them by the defec-
tive condition of the international law between the two
countries.—Blayney this day suddenly gave himself up
to John Forrester, stating that it was his determination
to meet the charge before the Lord Mayor, and, if ne
cessary, before the Central Criminal Court. He ap-
peared to be very much distressed, and was exceedingly
dejected. Immediately after Blayney had been taken
into custody. at Calais, application was made to the au-
thorities by Forrester to convey him to England, but re-
jected for the before-mentioned reasin. H.iwever, the
accused having travelled in the name of Brown, Has
locked up for two months in consequence of the misnomer,
and the authorities not being able to do anything more
in furtherance of the object of the officers, he
was discharged at the end of that period.. Exhausted
with fatigue at:d privations, he at length resolved to
come over to England and take his chance of a trial, to
which it was supposed the hankers would not think it
necessary to subject him, as he is not only without
money, but it is considered that he had received no share
of the booty. It is rather an extraordinary fact, that at
the time he was giving himself up to John Forrester,
that officer's brother was receiving directions from the
plundered parties to be on the look out, as it was sup-
posed that Blayney was in London. George Blayney,
the brother of the prisoner, was taken for the robbery
soon after the commission of it, he having, it was be-
lieved, received the parcel from his brother, and a man
named Jennings was apprehended on the charge of. hay-
ing been receiver, and both were at the ensuing assizes
convicted, and sentenced to a limited term of transporta-
tion, while the prisoner, who has thus given himself into
custody, escaped to France.
John Forrester having stated to the Lord Mayor the
fact that the prisoner had called upon him to give him.
self up for trial, the prisoner, in answer to the question
of the Lord Mayor, said he was ready to meet the charge.
The prisoner was remanded for a few days, and direc-
tions were immediately forwarded to the arwick and
Leamingtcn Bank to send witnesses to town.
EXTENSIVE EMBEZZLEMENT.—Edmund Webber, who
was some days ago charged with having embezzled
several sums of money, the property of his employers,
Messrs. Giles and Co., Fowkes's-buildings, Tower, was
brought up for final examination.
Mr. nobler appeared for the prosecution, and Mr.
Ballantine for the defendant.
The prisoner had been long employed as collecting-
clerk by Messrs. Giles and Co., and one of the sums of
money he was charged with having embezzled was
7181. 11s 6d., for which Mr. Aste, a customer of the
house, residing in Tottenham-court -road, paid him a
cheque for his employers. The prisoner was committed
fur trial upon three distinct charges. He had, unfor-
tunately, been tempted to deal in railway shares, and
having been successful in two or three experiments, he
fancied he should hare it all his own way, and made a
dash with his employer's money to make his fortune.

GUILDHALL.
The case of Keys,, the messenger to the Court of Bank,
ruptcy, came before the Court on Saturday morning.
Nothing material was added to the evidence already
given, although it was understood that other cases could
be established against the prisoner. The depositions
having been read over at great length, he was fully com-
mitted for trial.