The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-25 00:00:00

POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.

Schonbein's powder cotton and other explosives have
formed the subject of Dr. Ryan's lecture this week. The
Doctor, first of all, explained that all explosives might
be classed under four heads. First, those whose power
depended merely on sudden expansion, as steam of high
pressure—liquid carbonic acid and compressed air.
Secondly, those whose power depends upon the sudden
separation of elements which had been held together by a
very feeble affinity, such as iodide of nitrogen and chloride
of nitrogen. The latter compound, the Doctor explained,
was composed of two elements, which in their separate
condition were gaseous, but under the influence of che-
mical attraction became liquid. The moment, however,
that the affinity is overcome an explosion occurs, owing
to the return of the chlorine and nitrogen to their
original condition. Thirdly, those whose explosive
action depends upon the sudden chemical union of
certain elements which previously had only been in a
state of mere mechanical mixture, such as the explosion
of the two gases oxygen and hydrogen by the electric
spark. Fourthly, such as on ignition suffered
decomposition, and formed consequently new and
distinct compounds. To this class belongs gunpowder,
the fulminates, the carbazotes, and the powder cotton.
In speaking of the latter substance, Dr. Ryan lamented
that he was so placed as to be unable, without a breach
of confidence, to communicate the precise secret of
Schonbein's mode of preparation. However, he entered
into a clear statement of the peculiar action of nitric acid
upon vegetable fibre, giving numerous instances of the
observance of facts, apparently not important in them
selves, which had evidently led to Schonbein's disco-
very. Among the most pleasing of the Doctor's experi-
ments were those in which he produced explosive pre-
cipitates, by pouring into water the solution in nitric
acid of starch, cotton, linen, sawdust, &c. The pre-
cipitate from the first he showed to be xilordine
of Bracconnot and of Pelouze, and the nitramidine of
Dumas. He also showed most clearly that, although
the precipitates thrown down from cotton and linen re-
semble in its general character that produced from
starch, yet there existed some slight molecular differ-
ence, such as may exist between starch and sugar; for
the cotton precipitate was not soluble in acetic acid
while the starch precipitate was. The Doctor proposed
that, as Dumas had called the one nitramidine, the other
should be called nitrolignine. The Doctor principally
confined his experiments on the cotton to such as showed
its easy inflammability, its explosion without smoke, and
its consequent value in mining operations. On the
table we noticed the gun which had been burst in Mr.
Lancaster's hands, while firing a charge of 83 grains.
The effect on the metal was, certainly, most curious.

A FEASIBLE

PLAN TO FLOAT

THE GREAT BRITAIN.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—By the following plan I would engage to float
the Great Britain, with the aid of a spring-tide and a
moderate sea, at a comparatively small expense.
I would give orders for about 3,000 square yards of
air-proof or India rudder sail-cloth, made into forty-
eight bags, each measuring about twenty feet by twelve,
divided into compartments in order to increase their
strength. To each of these bags I would fasten (in the
process of manufacture) cords, twelve inches apart all
round the edge, with loose ends about eighteen inches
long, about
-the size of a man's thumb.
Having prepared these forty-eight air-tight bags, each
with a flexible tube at the upper end, to reach the deck,
and communicate with the interior of the bags. I would
transport them from the manufactory to the ship. The
whole bulk, I calculate would be equal to about one of
the vats referred to by your correspondent, yesterday.
Being so far ready, my attention would be next directed
to secure tuem to the sides of the ship, keeping them
as low down as possible ; to accomplish which, I would
excavate the sand as near her stern-post as possible, and
pass a rod or bodkin to the other side, drawing through
first a cord, and afterwards a cable long enough to pass
under the ship, and reach the deck on both sides, and
be secured there. This done, I would, if possible, con-
tinue this process every twelve feet (the width of each
bag), until I had prepared a space between each cable
for my twenty-lour brgs, on each side. To steady
which, and to afford the means of securing my
bags to her sides, I would securely fasten spars hori
zontally, twelve or twenty-four feet long, as low down as
possible to the before• mentioned cables. Thus far pre-
pared, having all the bags in readiness, and machinery
on board to inflate them with atmospheric air (gas
would do better, and it might be niadeon board if all the
coal is not removed), I commence at the proper time the
fastening the bags to the ship's sides, by means of the
upright cables, horizontal spars, and the short ropes,
wove into the bags, in the way before mentioned, leaving
sufficient slack for expansion, and no more. The weather
being favourable, I consider my bags safe, but in any
event, such as the bursting of ono or more compart-
ments in the bags, the difference would be perfectly
immaterial, each being independent of the other. I esti-
mate the cost of the bags at 7501. (mind, I am not in the
India rubber trade), and when they have performed their
work, and the iron monster is safe in harbour, they
would realise nearly the cost price, for by reducieg them
to the proper sizes, they would
.make excellent mat-
tresses for either sea or land, and in any great emer-
gency, would be available as life preservers. I have full
confidence in the success of the plan, and should be happy
to undertake the superintendence of it for the pro-
prietors. C. R. C.
Greenwich, Nov. 20, 1846.

NEW ZEALAND.—In our last we gave some rather
important extracts from the Auckland papers to the
11th ult., which came to hand by the Terror on Mon-
day. We received, on Tuesday, by the overland mail
from Port Philip (we suppose) Nelson papers to the
14th of March, conveyed there by the Augustus, which
arrived at Melbourne on the 27th ult., having sailed
from Nelson on the 19th of March. The news from the
Hutt, received at Nelson, looks ominous, more espe-
cially when we consider the rumour which had reached
as far north as Auckland prior to the Terror's depar-
ture. Without farther comment, we lay the following
extract before our readers. It is taken from the IVeLon
Examiner of the 14th of March:—" A whale-boat from
Cloudy Bay, arrived here on Tuesday, bringing a ru-
mour of the commencement of Hostilities in the Hutt.
The story is, that a newspaper, brought across the
Straits from Porirua to Toms' station, at Teawaiti,
stated that the natives on the llutt had refused to leave,
and had burnt down 14 houses belonging to the settlers.
The Governor, who had arrived with the Driver, Cal-
liope, the Castor, the Slains Castle transports, and 500
troops, had gone to the Hutt with a large force, and it
was believed that fighting had commenced, though the
results were not known in Wellington when th, paper
went to press. All communication with the Wairarapa
had been cut off by the natives. The Governor had
proclaimed the country between Pakakariki, near Wai-
kanai, and Cape Palliser, under martial law. The same
newspaper is reported to state that the Gevernor will
leave 200 troops in Nelson, and the same number at
New Plymouth. We cannot vouch for the truth of
these statements, but as the story is perfectly consistent,
we see no reason to doubt it."—Cerneen, July 22.
The Right Hon. Sir Brook Taylor, G.C.H., P.C.,
her Majesty's late Minister at Munich, formerly of Glou-
cester Lodge, Regent's Park, executed his will in
February last, which has been proved in London by his
nephews, William Deedes and William Brook Nothey,
Esqrs. The personality in this country was valued at
16,000/ He has left pecuniary legacies to his nephews,
nieces, and other of his relations, to the amount of nearly
10,0001., as well as specific bequests to most of them, and
to others of his friends and acquaintances, among whom
is his brother-in-law, Lord Skelmersdale, and Sir Henry
Watkins William Wynn, to whom he has left one of his
portfolios. To Sir George Hamilton Seymour his star
and collarof the Hanoverian Guelphic Order—the riband
and badge to be returned to the King of Hanover,
through the hands of his Minister in London. To his
nephew, Herbert Taylor, all his family portraits, and
Henry VIII. chair. To the poor of the parishes of
Patrixbourne and Bridge, Kent, 100/. Liberal legacies
to his servants and to some old servants annuities. His
books, pictures, plate, furniture, and other property, ex-
cept his collection of drawings and engravings, are to be
sold, and the proceeds equally to be divided amongst his
nephews, Herbert, Brook, Bridges, and W ilbraham Tay-
lor, beyond the other legacies they may have given to
them in the will. Directs that all his papers, official and
private, shall be destroyed.
PRESENTATION OF A PURSE TO THE PRINCE OF
WALES.—Mrs. Fead, the lady of Colonel Fead, C. 8.,
late of the Grenadier Guards, who resides near Black-
heath, presented his Royal Highness the Prince of
Wales, on his birthday, with a most magnificent and
unique purse, worked with her own hands. Her Majesty
has most graciously acknowledged the present, and con-
descended, in the name of the Prince, to accept the same.
THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. Yesterday work-
men were engaged laying down the electric telegraph
from the Nine Elms along the footway on the west side
of Lambeth-place, Kennington. About fire o'clock,
p.M., its efficier.cy was tried, nearly opposite Vernon
Chapel, when it was found in good workieg order to
that point. The wires are placed in hollow hempen
ropes, well tarred, which are again secared in strong
metal tubes, which are sunk about two feet from the
stirface.

HON
-Lir,.
TO THE RIGHT HON. LORD JOKE
RUSSELL, M.P.
DIY LORD,—The sensible and well-timed rero s
aripe 'es
which the Editor of The Sun has made upon Mr. S cro
letters to your Lordship render it unnecessary to rePli
to them, but I wish to advert to another topic,
clearly.
proving that Mr. Scrope does not understand the real
evil wliich presses upon the population of the
sister
kingdom: it is this, that Gentleman last session
intro-
ducedin a Bill proposing to reclaim the %caste lands Ire-
land, by dividing the.in io farms of not more than 100,
or less than 10 acres. Why the great evil which afflicts
Ireland is the smallness of the fartns—out of about
750,000 more than half are under 10 acres in extent,
and above than 300,000 are under 5 acres! Novi, 111_
every countty, and in every district, where small faro)!
are the rule and not the exception, periodical distre.s3
does and must occur. The experiments in Hoilhlands,
and, !El
Belgium, the situation of the crofters in the
Hg
plea.'
and of the peasantry ears
in Ireland, prove that the same our
always produces similar results. In yof
produce is so cheap that rents are with difficulty pat
and are often in arrear ; in years of scarcity the wh?'!,
crop is barely sufficient to provide the tenant and D 4
family with the means of existence. Can it be a OU!,
of surprise that such a population is at continual 'OP
with the landlord and his agents?
The inevitable consequence of such a number of sail
possessions is, that there is no such class as the agic6.o
tural labourer, and the reason is obvious, there I. 'l.l
regular demand for his services. A glance at the act;
position of one of these five-acre farmers is quite 5°4
cient to account for the Agrarian crimes which obetird.
in Ireland—tske the case of a man with a factilY 11°.ho
ing five acres, and surrounded by a populati himselfil.oa
circumstances—his crop is sown, and both 7/0
family desire employment, who is to furnish it? P,,
neighbours are also looking for work—none coll.:,
found, and then may be seen lounging by the ditch eIT.,
doing nothing, because there is nothing to do, the leA
man who, if he were removed to Londen or toLlYerPri
or to any English or Scotch agricultural district, wu;o
make a most industrious labourer, and one a ePeako of
considerable personal experience) far more desiro se,
task work than either Englishman or Scotchnlea so
maining at home, the man becomes an idler, and
prom'
furnishes! another example of the truth of the 0
:• That the idle man tempts the Devil." idis rent
assassin‘i escapes by
•nto arrear—a process is served—he is about t? bid
levicted, certain ruin stares him in the face, ll: the
landlord or the agent is murdered in nadat 11,_019,
• o know not bow soon their arrears may.l3l dePlallot t°
. Assuredly this is not the time to recrunmate,e
_4,
inquire how it has happened that landlords havi;er,
the connivance of his netgheuded.
taro
utedh such a state of things to exist ? - The fact rid
of t at they are now sincerely desirous of gettioblgber
theo evil of small farms. If actuated by 0° rentals
mtive, Ir'sh landlords now perceive that their _
tbio
meatuhrearns.d
Dysart—Arcades
although nominally larger, is in reality naueh less .oble
ittenwould be if their property was held by a resdPee
nstrioge
labourers. 3', whose farms were cultivated by ill,. wow
In siatnret_ss
Atrhceadlaesmae:itbaot_ionsoroiefs MI::
s, ru bp
ee yr .
.•
T • b°tb'
forsooth, require the Government to remove t. 7). well!
abundant
fromotherr words, they, or their forefathers, haillitcooo
from tahse population, and then they say all will ""eiler
bineeevnitasile,
ethoehysenqouwencdeesrauaf
caupo itical or pecuniary motives, induced the,ich the
lalud
hexcessive population, by the manner in ei;erepted
nsclucth°ebeenclurectiartel
proposeena that all the evil shall be borne by their r..red 14
all Wry' This is impossible! Evil must be ellaruticleneet
but liharties who have been guilty a such iluerdjot
e greatest share must be borno by the lau „ ht the
he wassalutar the most imprudent, and he roust be ta'l,oo
rule, that " property has its duties.ees od the
its righytsr• and that the first of these dull 100 who
first burthen f ho
upon land, is the subsistence 0 I'm
have been bred upon the soil. !to ar,
Let I •
will Irish landlords act upon this prinelP„',,itblo,-
yet be well, for the Government then will, 'osist w
approbationet. of the entire community, cheer he 014,,,,1'
getting
gof into a better state. The best, li not tale P,hl
effecting this desirable end, is to make test ofwje
atione of the agricultural labourer better than ork
occu •
time,
of one of these small possessions 600tiljia
tmlay
bebut
ai most assuredly not of diflicultf• f • ow-
ccomplished shall be the subjee"
letter. the f°trt
Bearing my humble tribute of admiration to , inoo
nor your Lordship's

trying emergency,
I have the honour to remain, an Vi.
Your Lordship's most obedient server $'
si3toeFaumlao:s
nN:liChpltsialionetd.oatnhal Lord J.
1.4--..20dm. Ifeekgs
eetbiel
\I
esVri
havecniti
gah
cattle, generally comprising rl
and two and three head of horned cattle, bar t ~,bia,'
cfoarusseudchgarneaitnfisuurxprfriso
has taken place in them this week to an es°oo pre ote.;
emtothatht those
etawrthero ;v7113:5-terael‘erf*Pia;
rald having brought, in addition to B°l33,,:tbatilitabis
lirfeirOtbmwhr:PtuaPegnnsh;tttorfulfle,lectibe
i.;lollficiebaser°ll
live plants and vegetables„ and a rs,un-ntherreelfe.'
large cargo of French silks, wines, anu,„-„ihs, id 0-
merchandise, 20 heifers, 51 sheep, 22 ''''-it Watlialoir
and 17 cows, the production of France. day to anti
pear from this, that France is destined aPe,e.,"isortsl4er.
in the wake of Denmark, the Hanses`l) so 8-soa
Rolland, already, the latter more particular
.4„g0n51,0
sively concerned in the supply of such Pri:i 0016 10*
coofrrwechtato
pminaiyonbeapseerxtooecr:hteadl
if this unexpected increase in the suPP'Y "be takellfrola
ticularly of the larger description,_ i 5 t°ok Pifleel ID
other of the continental statpes, it W 001,„" --y hare et°oo;
nwtooetirTearb_eefed:iffituileeroo,_lo.o,
cord at no very distant i
sents itself in this particular arrival, fis" °lt: stegit'Sleitir
distinct branch of business is opened for which tool
trading between London and Boulogne,-I'ol'-
so . pre
some measure compensate them for oft be ofthe„ of
their passenger traffic, owing to many of the Pjuti'
ferring to avail themselves, by means of the ' feOr
the more direct route to the continent.
lot ilefliCj4
FOSSIL REMAINS.—On Saturday - 50,v 1
Owen (the British Cuvier) and Professor,,,, F51,,i.
Woodwardian. Professor of Geology, ceatbriptt7r;
visit to the Dean of Ely, with whom having 01 .-AA
0 ' fp- f
they proceeded to the residence of Mesaf_s*, sit re .0
and Squib, to inspect their collections or If soriaareesb
which have been greatly added to since tll% an° tjao
chraiztaerrdio:
the railway commenced in this neighbourhuiVtioos,bisb
was the immense variety in the different CO after °se.
four hours were occupied in the inspecti° ;.,of 08 I, 01
they proceeded to Haddenham, the residene.o etialeafr
Mr. Banks, to inspect the vertebrae, nioB,,tY:uP L.i 00
a plesiosaurus, which has recently been It, por•,-4)ijefs
worth, and with it were found considerfw oto "-erlier
ribs and phalanges, and there is everYl,etls:f artgesevedj
that, had it been known to Mr. Bas'hee aPrei. it O;
period, the entire skeleton might have h—nit 1.0,," bong,
but sufficient has been discovered to sieal• ,---9, pubs:
have belonged to an enormous-sised„slion //`",,,, 28 ',.;
the remarkable specimens in the co„"o-inches"„de'lleajui
bone of a plesiosaurus, measuring "..,-ne 22 ,'",b" 0 5a,11.2
paddle bone, not quite perfect, meass',--eles of ~--11brfar
9; as well as several bones of a small sl3-:-,b•--•11".
rian tribe, the teleosaurus, rarely met
W'" 018
Chronicle. AiA t,f prr,
We read in a letter from Riga of ` lire 0 bl'ig tfw
corn harvest in Courland, where vvhcat_ap,_*- e. Ips.;"re
duce, has been this year under the Os' "to t''' fiar
Ao the ~
be s •
uffietent for the home consumptl°-'l, Rigtl/4,.,rche7,f
vinees which have communications w",'„,,t. -r""
vest has been good, particularly in w, '7 20f. prig
of wheat have been made in Courland s". it thflOe'
hectolitre, but the merchants of Rig's th1,130,_ is 4 . tote
too high, and expect a fall. The export.a tisoreigowhio
per last, or 33 hectolitres : the freight,..ll/00 fs per
toms is 2f. 50c. per hectolitre, for the uceo.c. sa alooo
must be added 21f. per last for loadinp;re'm rt;,o!.
cent. for commission, brokerage, eze.' aual erf W.
the 2d, we have the following ;_.-., The a.rii that o to
wheat in Sicily is 5,600,000 hectolitres, 1113,...pfid ill of
ley 2,750,000. The price of wheat for '''',7f.2e.s
de 15 '
~g 1 A
parts from which exports can be 01
hectolitre, and that of barley 12f. 64c. s •Av. •cr
oil. e Die ,
ROYAL ARTILLERY, WOOLWIGIII .sting 01 OP
few weeks since a Court of Inquiry, elliiisrosolljo die
tenant Colonels Wells, Rowland, and into ter oeo
Major Cator, was appointed to inquire
__boal 11,0
crepancies in the charges made for regur ose i-tbe
saries with various battalions, amounting '1,,e0 tbtigta.
to as much as 33 per cent. The result has 1,, toe at'
s to at r ~0.
Court has declared the present charge .. nose 00
and has recommended that the system 1,,,.".,., to „el
sued, of allowing non-commissioned ole_ut`o"ie oollTaes
contracts, be discontinued, and that in rseeeral Apo
shall be thrown open to the public in ghat for tewbioll
serves to be mentioned, that a sYstein re ti, bi of re
time prevailed, highly injurious CO the habit 0 far
some of the subordinates have been in wtractestnr.ltioaitl
ceiving a heavy per tentage from the te ,Idl_,_A 01
goods supplied to the corps, which has ir;eo sifer,rea at
impositions, so that knapsacks have e 1"
now
suPP .
10s. 3d., equal in every respect to thos n from
5 15s. 6d. . , f pOtAt°B 0011/
FOREIGN POTATOES.----The arrivals 0 bore ~ ba
week, • b win ba
the continent of Europe, during the e wale _„t s-
prised the following, the enumeration °f the ete;:„...
interesting and of importance, as sholle 'resent tibil loaf
which their importation is carried at t Po brag 000,
The Magnet steam ship, from HarlingLla gotte,.l3oo,
packages, and the Ocean steam ship, IP, . the 7,000
Holism& . 36 ' •
eight packages, the produce of
o___rigag Jess
Josephine, from Boulogne, a cargo c I,u K 0 sac I
bde off
weight, the growth of France ; theomJ"
prising t f Pr
foom Dunkirk, an entire cargo,
, caw prodUCC i°o peeL.
large quantity of 120 tons' wvigur,ietterdaui, '
of
mandy ; the Sir Robert Peel, from It
from Doologrloti,
ages of Dutch produce ; the Aid,
tje prodtleireogea
large quantity of 60 tons' weight'ciam foal' 1;001
France • the Rainbow, from Rotter . , I nor „ aloe
' Or ' 0
of Dutch' produce ; and the steam "I
: FProce• s bar
ai .
Boulogne, 36 sacks, the produce 01
and Norrnannt eh°
arritals, the supplies from France sand iroporrsotiveli
been of an increasingly extensive , A coIIVI/Ate fir
o' artiel'
racter ; those from Holland being __ p
trilling description, and calling for no
, ailt r.,,„—ri''
boo isi•r "
mark. h inst., a W. • -
LEITH.—On Friday, the 20t E. E, to _ oen
the wind sudc:enly veered round frosminrict ,
sloop %Of
eoos
and blew a storm. At midnight a,,e 'bia be
et:B 0 ye $
sinking almost instantaneously. 0"
laden 01. sight five 11
from 25 to 35 tons, but whether
mast is four or.er is oft,
unknown. At low water, her 9r, .t high rya boo
above the surface of the water ;vri ,700,resotta,n ill
boot
be invisible, and consequently ery,,. zyrceit
eat a
and ships, especially the fornie_r:e,
o•lo°;'goattna3
our 00110j1;
eastern part of Leith Road, IN Is
the westvit,rd lalsil.laur
half a cable's length open to . L. Croulo.-s
,det w;001..
Leith Ste( ple, and the south end 0'
Nothing ha but vie,ivz
a line with Dahneny House.
of of the ere%) her th°
pined regarding the reservationp
letters C.
ft.
prised of _
the worst. The vessel had the instantly 0p_0,0,4
The authorities at Leith were
tror of To, too.
tide surve., .
_....
calamity by Mr. Vedder,
laced over the To
order that a buoy might be p - &remit/.
• COlokniam '4
safety of shipping.

The lii;

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