The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-14 00:00:00

SECTION G.—AlEcirANics.

Robinson, Dr. T. R.—Account of a modification in
1)r. Whewell's anemometer.

Russell, Mr. Scott—Accounts of some recent experi-
ments OH railway trains for the determination of the re-
sistance at high velocities.
Ricardo, Mr. M.—A description and models of self-
registering mechanism for recording the velocity and
resistance of railway trains.
Phipps, Dr.—An account of the construction and
performance of two sailing vessels built on the wave
system.
Bodmer, Mr. J. G.—Description of an apparatus
for storing and preserving corn in large national gra-
naries.

The paper " On a new method of boring for artesian
wells," communicated to the association by M. Arago,
was read by Mr. C. Vignoles. It was accompanied by a
diagram. It appears that an intelligent artisan at Perpig-
nan, in France, named Fauvel, was led to the
discovery by noticing that in several cases of success in
boring for water with solid iron rods, so soon as the
spring was tapped all the triturated particles were
brought up without the use of the auger. He inferred,
therefore, that if the boring could be effected by a hol-
low tube about two inches less in diameter than the
width of the auger, communicating with any injecting
force pump by a flexible tube from the surface, the same
result would follow to this mechanical application of
power as resulted from the natural power of the rising
column of water. Being a poor man, it was a long
time before he could get any interest taken for his in-
vention. At last, the fellow-workmen clubbed together
for the materials, and assisted him with their labour
Success attended the first experiment. He competed
with the old system in one or two places, and produced
the most successful results in half the time ever accom-
plished before. The principle became so established
that Fauvel has now orders for, and in hand two hun •
dred artesian wells. Mr. Vignoles had not himself seen
these, but he was assured that one of 24 inches in
diameter had been completed, and one of six inches
diameter had been carried a depth of 540 feet. This
paper was listened to with great attention, the subject
being so important to the town of Southampton.

FOREIGN ONIONS.—A vessel, arrived from Bor-
deaux, has brought 1,800 strings of onions, the produc-
ion of France.
,!-:" A WITTY PRISONER.—Not long since, the chaplain
of one of our state prisons being engaged in preparing
o f
a
s tablener.
Chaplain crime,
sr eil following
what
broughtdia log
cze
you
a ouith
heprerti
Prisoner : The sheriffs, Sir. Chaplain : But I want
to know if liquor had anything to do with it ? Prisoner
Oh yes, sir, they were both drunk I—American Paper.
A correspondent informs us that there is a labourer
now employed upon the railway works at Ely, who was
once tried and convicted of highway robbery, and was
sentenced to be hanged. The morning arrived for
his execution ; he was placed under the fatal beam, and
as the clergyman commenced his melancholy office, the
poor fellow protested his innocence. Just as the exe-
cutioner was about to " launch him into eternity," a man
was perceived at the distance, galloping furiously, ;hold-
ing up a piece of paper—it was a reprieve I In ten
minutes the horse died from exhaustion. The sentence
was commuted to transportation for life. At the expira-
tion of ten years and nine months, the prosecutor in the
case, being upon his death bed, sent for the mayor of the
town, and told the dreadful tale that at the time when
he swore he had been robbed of a large sum by the man
in question, he had the money in his own pocket, having
been led to this atrocious crime by feelings of revenge
Shortly after this acknowledgment he died. The ac-
cused was sent for, a free pardon granted him, and 15L
given him by Government on his arrival at home. A
person, the other day, asked him how he felt when he
was under the gallows ? He replied, " I didn't care so
very much about it because I knew I was innocent."—
Bury and Norwich Post.
FRAUD OF THE MILLERS AND BAKERS.—Great dis-
satisfaction has of late been expressed by the inhabitants
of Bowden and its neighbourhood, at the high prices at
which bread and flour have been kept up by the millers
and bakers. A short time ago, wheat having been re-
duced about 14s. per quarter, bread and flour were
lowered in price two pence per stone ; but wheat having
risen a few shillings per quarter, about a fortnight ago,
the old prices were again adopted ; and now that wheat
is again considerably lowered in price, there is no
prospect of any abatement in the prices of bread and
flour. To the labouring classes this is of no small con-
sequence, and should not be permitted ; some enact-
ment ought at once to be adopted by the Legislature,
regulating the flour according to the price per quarter
of wheat. We hear that several families have procured,
and, except fair and reasonable prices be charged,
tend to procure, their flour from Hull and other places.
A company, with a capital of 200,0001. is being esta-
blished in the metropolis, to supply bread at 4d. the 41b.
loaf, which will include a profit of five per cent.—Don-
caster Chronicle.
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE BY A CHILD.— On Wednes-
day a girl not more than eleven years old, was taken out
of the Serpentine, below the iron railing, near 'Knights-
bridge barracks. She was in a very exhausted, and for
some time helpless state, but the proper remedies having
been applied at the Royal Humane Society's receiving
house, she ultimately recovered. A gentleman whowit-
nessed the transaction said that she dejiberaeely crossed
the iron railings, and flung hers& into the water.