The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-27 00:00:00

ADELAIDE GALLERY.

DISSOLVING VIEWS.---Thursday night 11r. iil. Clarke
the optician, favoured a few scientific gentlemen and
others, connected with the press, with a private view of
his arrangements for entertaining the holiday visitors of
the Adelaide Gallery, with an exhibition of " Dissolv-
ing Views," in addition to the numerous objects of art
and science which already render this elegant and rich
museum so attractive.

The principal novelty in gr. Clarke's arrangement
is, that the views are exhibited on a transparent screen,
which causes them to have an uniform appearance. The
great depth of the room keeping the nearest spectators at
a cmsiderable distance from the screen, greatly heightens
and assists this peculiarity. The transitions are, in some
instances, contrived to produce a ludicrous, in others
a sentimental effect. Thus a beautifully-coloured
and life-like group of Cupid and Psyche gradually
darkens and melts into a pair of devils, cut
after Captain Barber, the Kaloramist's, most approved
fashion, and playing at shuttlecock with a fashioliable
young lady, who skips, ala Taglioni, high in air from
one battledore to the other. And, again, whilst the
spectator is lost in admiration of the grandeur and beauty
of the Lake of Como, a mist gradually obscures the
scene, and then, as slowly dissipating before the return-
ing light, reveals the sublime and lovely Glendalough,
as it is seen from the base of the romantic Teneriff4 of
Wicklow.

Somewhat more than twenty years ago, the writer of
this notice witnessed a very striking and interest-
ing application of the Camera Lucida by Mr.
Clarke's father, to illustrate Mr. Charles', the
ventriloquist's, lecture on " Ancient apparition of
ghosts." On those occasions, by the combined arts
of the ventriloquist and the optician, shades of armed
warriors, and shrouded kings, transparent as thin air,
were made to traverse the stage, discourse, command,
and prophecy, and even sing ! Although Mr. E. M. Clarke
has not the aid of the great Charles, his exhibition will
be highly entertaining ; and if it were accompanied
with a short popular explanation of the principles upon
which the optical efforts are produced it would be also
highly instructive to the young visitors of the Gallery in
the approaching holidays.

POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.
DISSOLVING VIEWS.—At the Polytechnic Institution,
on Thursday night, sixteen new views of this descrip-
tion were exhibited. They were representations of some
of the remarkable scenery and architecture of the Turkish.
empire. The exhibition commenced with a spirited de-
sign of the Bosphorus, with a bird's-eye view of Constan-
tinople, which was beautifully "dissolved" into the val-
ley of Sweet Waters—a scene in the environs of Con-
stantinople. This was succeeded by the Palace of
Beshic Tash, the Mosque of the Sulimanie, a view of
Constantinople from the entrance to the Golden Horn,
the Mosque of the Sultana Valide, the Mosque of St.
Sophia, Mount Olympus, the Shawl Bazaar, and other
views in Constantinople itself. One of the most remark-
able and attractive of these representations was the Hall
of Waters. This is a species of subterranean cloisters
in Constantinople, completely flooded. In the view an
Englishman is represented in a boat, attempting to ex-
plore these subterraneous regions. The story goes that
he was killed in his attempt by the mephitic vapours of
the place. The water in this view is admirably de-
lineated, and pleasingly deludes " the well-cozened sight."
The exhibition closed with a view of " the Street of the
Tombs," with the grand procession on the occasion of
the inauguration of the Sultan. The whole of these re-
presentations are executed with considerable skill ; the
colouring is brilliant and powerful, and the minutim of
the designs, as well as the general effect, have been
attended to with success. The mechanism of "dissolv-
ing," it is needless to say, was managed with all the pre- '
cision for which this establishment is noted.

LORD STOURTON'S LETTER.
The following appears in the Leeds Mercury :
" Gentlemen—Whatever controversy has arisen as
to the moral causes, or the precise extent of the present
distress, none can exist as to its prevalence at the pre-
sent period, in a most calamitous and alarming degree.
This distress pervades wide districts, and prevails in some
with an intensity I have never to my mind seen equalled
in this kingdom, covering our roads with artizans in search
of employment, and exhibiting itself in our towns under
appearances the most calamitous and frightful. Failing
harvests both at home and abroad have aggravated these
national calamities; and a murrain among our cattle, con-
sequent in all probability on rainy reasons, has placed
milk, one of the great resources, and with tea, almost
necessaries of our labouring people, nearly out of their
reach. Wars in the east of the globe and pecuniary em-
barrassments in the west, have combined to extend the
evil. Among so many concurrent sources of distress,
one ray of brightness has beamed upon us : and that
it should not only gild the palace, but shed its
lustre on the cottage, is the main object of
these observations. Not, Gentlemen, that I should
not have deemed the aspect of our wide-extended dis-
tress more than sufficient ground for extraordinary
exertions in behalf of so much suffering: for seasons of
great urgency in peace, as in war, demand and justify their
peculiar sacrifices. Yet it must strike every loyal and
thinking subject, that no offering to the Deity can more
propitiate his mercies, both in favour of the Sovereign
and her infant son, than an extensive—l would fain add,
universal contribution of the wealthier classes at this
doubly inclement season, towards alleviating the suffer-
ings of his creatures. That such an effort should be
both powerful and availing, I know no better' channel
for advice and co-operation than your valuable columns.
Without colour of party or of creed—without one word
of controversy or crimination, I am willing to believe
that all will equally concur in a wish to mitigate the lot
of suffering humanity, if not in the mode of compassing
so salutary an end.
Whether this object may be best accomplished by
s'irneu great county movement, carrying its influence
throgh the land, with a weight due to its own import-
ance, and still more due to the ends it would attain ; or
whether any other suggestion shall be adopted equally or
more efficient, I willingly abandon to superior,
ever, how-
am convinced, that in an empire, where, in
pog seu
er owneeldltaostismmtreoes:egtB:emixlerienced minds. Of this, how-
iltlhiaerdsieoefwsmoenf hasen
ebemenillehx)e-
at least might be attainable to add vigour to those best
and strongest sinews of our country in peace as in war,
viz. : the happiness and contentment of an industrious
and moral people. Exposed to great fluctuations from
our very artificial condition, we may be called upon by
p"rvan t,
pare
ny tlaeimlrudence t o meet
to extraobr
humble dinar d
y pressure by exeraor-
dat, is m
sey motto. —I remain,
i dat:
nGa;
r obedient

STOURTON.

con
WOOLWICH, DEC. 23.--Extensi
v
teed
with the
ments are at present in progress ne improve-
works at Gibraltar. General Sir John T.
Jones,c
was especially despatched some
monthsof the
Royal Engineers,to
to make an examination of the fortifications, an
cording to his opinion there appears to be a necessity
remodel the whole, with very little exception. A str
onir. -
gang of convicts is forthwith to be sent to that
_place, to
execute the heavier, portions of the work, and-a, large re_
inforcement of mechanics is to be sent there as soon as
possible, but whether they will be civil or military is at
present undecided. Lieutenant 11. C. Moody, of the
Royal Engineers, whose departure from Woolwich to as-
sume the Lieutenant-Governorship of 'the Falkland
Islands was noticed in October last, when off the Bill of
Portland addressed a letter to his sister, Miss Moody,
Guernsey, and having enclosed it in a bottle addressed in
a similar manner, he threw it overboard. The bottle
was picked up last week by one of the coast-guard, off
Blachinton, and forwarded to Miss Moody, and its safe
arrival was acknowledged by her father, Lieutenant-
Colonel Moody. From the date it appeared the bottle
had beeri thirty-four days at sea.
The Gosport branch of the South-Western Rail-
way has been re-opened for goods' traffic only. We fear
that it is not intended to re- commence running passenger
trains Al' some months,—Railway Times.

MONEY MARKET and CITY NEWS.

FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF SATURDAY.
TFAIES.—As every question ought to be im.
partially discussed, however strong the apparea
Justice of one side of it may be, the annexed let.
ter cannot be refused a place :

" EXCHEQUER BILL CASE.
" Sir,—With respect to the above unfortunate affair, I
would beg to submit a few observations, feeling assured
that whatever cause you espouse, your chief desire is to
be guided and borne out by facts and the true state of
the case, in order to do justice to all parties whether pub-
lic or private. In my daily intercourse with those in
the City most conversant with the larger money trans-
actions, I have scarcely met with a single individual,
when made thoroughly acquainted with all the circum-
stances of the case, but who considers the parties who
incautiously lent their money to the borrowers upon
those spurious bills have themselves entirely to
blame. First, on account of the credit and standing of
the borrowers themselves ; and next, the rate which was
offered for such loans : for had those parties reflected
for a moment what could be the possible inducement for
any banker or capitalist for the ordinary and legitimate
purpose of his business to raise money for months to-
gether at suck a rate even as five per cent., and far less at
six or seven, upon a security only yielding an interest of
31, they might have paused and concluded that the
capitalist, rather than submit to so positive a loss,
would sooner have disposed of the bills at once, or else
that there was something more than suspicious behind
the curtain. And as to the public in general having
suffered or been placed in an awkward position by these
fraudulent bills, that was quite impossible, since no one
having purchased bills in the market, or had them ex-
changed at the usual periods at the Treasury, could pos-
sibly have come possessed of these spurious bills, which
were carefully kept out of circulation for fear of im me-
diate detection, but were exclusively employed as deposits
for loans when so cunningly obtained, and as carefully
exchanged by bills of the like stamp when the periods
for renewal drew near.

"To confirm these remarks, I have only to refer you
to many, within whose range of information I have no
doubt you have equal means of access—parties who, I
have understood from themselves, declined entering into
the very same transactions from a conviction there must
be something wrong at bottom, and therefore would only
be wording facilities for some improper object.
" Government, I have reason to believe, is aware of
these facts, which, together with the fear of establish-
ing a dangerous precedent, will lead it, I doubt not, to
act a very independent part inothe matter.
" The tone of your arguments upon this subject ap-
pearing to be so much at variance to what has come
within my own knowledge and I have heard expressed
by leading men in the City, that my chief object is merely
to put you au fait of what is canvassed upon what may
be termed the opposite side of the question.
"I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
"AN OLD SUBSCRIBER.
"London, Dec. 23, 1i41."

The force of this argument appears to be more
specious than solid. Most of the parties who
hold the Exchequer bills declared to be spurious
had no knowledge of the source from which they
were obtained, but purchased or lent money on
them through those brokers whom they had
been previously in the habit of employing. As
the fact was notorious, too, that the Bank of
England was in the practice of lending money
upon Exchequer bills at the rate of per
cent., the holders considered only that they
followed that authority, and did not reflect
probably on the difference in the trans-
action arising out of the length of time. In-
deed it is well known that one of the greatest and
most respectable among the sufferers in this
unfortunate affair was induced to lend his money
in consequence of the example thus set by
the Bank. This leaves, however, the far more
important questions untouched, which are—
whether the bills are forgeries or not, and whe-
ther, even if that is the case, they were not issued
under circumstances which rendered all care and

foresight useless in discovering the defects in
them, the officers of the Exchequer being alike
imposed upon by them. If Ministers really in-
tend to back out of the affair, it must be done by
means very different from those described in the
above letter. No danger can arise from tke pre-
cedent; if proper care is taken at the Exchequer,
fraud will be impossible, and would have been
so in the present instance had its now " excel-
lent system" been adhered to. On the subject
of the right of the holders to compensa-
tion, another correspondent refers to the case of
Mr. Gilbert Ricketts, registrar of the Supreme
Court of Madras, a public officer of the East
India Company, who having died, and the state
of his affairs showing that he had made away
with monies intrusted to his care as such public
officer, an inquiry was instituted by Parliament,
and the result was an Act for the relief of the
sufferers, and giving authority to the East India
Company to apply a part of their territorial re-
venue to that purpose. The practice of the Bank
of England, however, as quoted yesterday, is
still more relevant. The paper, the type, and
the stamp are admitted, the signature believed
to be genuine on the rejected Exchequer bills.
and they were declared to be genuine by the
OfficerS'of the Exchequer. Such circumstances
cannot but implicate the Treasury and the Go-
vernment in the fraudulent issue.

The inconvenience occasioned to the public by
the circulation of light sovereigns, the difficulties
that have arisen from the Stamp-office and other
public departments refusing to take them, have
been more than once noticed in this Journal.
These evils are, comparatively speaking, of
minor importance, but there are other.:, which
show that the light sovereigns have a serious
effect on the currency of the country. The mer-
chants and bankers, it is well known, continually
look to the state of the bullion in the Bank of
England, as a guide to their operations, arid,
without entering into the question whether
they are right or not in taking the bullion as
their index, that they do so is an undoubted.
fact. Hence it is material that the bul-
lion should be kept in as natural a state as pos-
sible, neither unduly increased nor unduly di-
minished by any adventitious cause, or the index
will not represent the real state of things. Now,
the Bank of England being obliged to refuse
light sovereigns, it seems that a great number
of these are forced back into circulation, so that
the bullion in the vaults, far from representing
the real state of the currency, presents too low an
amount, and thus misleads those who refer to it as

their guide. The wear and tear of the coin, of
course, increases daily, and it is said the number
of light sovereigns is already so great, that some
of the Bank Directors conceive 33 per cent. re-
main unnaturally in circulaeon. It is generally
supposed, however, that this estimation is too
high, and that those who have made it have
omitted to take into account the slight counter-
action which would arise from the heavy sove-
reigns being forced into the Bank vaults. At all
events there is no doubt that the currency is ma-
terially affected, and the numerous evils show
that no time should be lost on the part of Go-
vernment to take some remedial measure. By
their own acts, at the public offices, they show
that they do not consider the light sovereigns as
a proper currency, and yet the country at large
is obliged to take them as a legal tender, so that
there is one currency between man and man,
and another between the public and the Govern-
ment.

REPORTED MURDER NEAR YORE. —On
Wednesday last some excitement was caused by a report
being circulated that a labouring man named Flint, re-
siding at Rufforth, about five miles from this city, had
brutally murdered his wife on the day preceding. On
the afternoon of the above day an inquest was held on the
body by Mr. John Wood, the Coroner. It appeared
from the evidence of several of the neighbours, that for
a length of time Flint had been constantly in the habit of
ill treating his wife, and allowing her scarcely anything
to eat. On Sunday they were heard to quarrel, and the
deceased afterwards stated that her husband had kicked
her on the body, but, she being of weak intellect, not
much notice was taken of it. She was seized with ill-
ness on Sunday, and on Tuesday morning became much
worse. Flint was out at work, and some of the neigh-
bours went to inform him of the necessity of a surgeon
being called to his wife, as they thought she was very ill,
and likely to die. This appeal, however, made no im-
pression upon him, and he went to his dinner as if no.
thing was the matter. Whilst he was thus engaged, and
sitting in the same room with his wife, she died, and the
stupidity and callosity of the fellow's disposition was
manifested to the last. Mr. Abbey, surgeon, Collier-
gate, York, made a post mortern examination Of the body.
lie found several bruises on the arms and legs, but none
on the body, and he was of opinion that the woman had
died of inflammation of the intestines, but he was unable
to state whether her death had been caused by the
blows, as there were no bruises to correspond with the
inflammation in the bowels. The evidence was not suffi-
cient to commit Flint. The Jury, therefore, returned--
" That the deceased died of inflammation of the bowels,
but there was not. 'sufficient evidence to show by what
means it Ivas:caused," thus leaving the case open for
future investigation, should any fresh evidence be ob-
tained.--York Herald of Friday.
TRAVELLING BY STEAM ROUND THE PLA-
NET URANUS.—The circumference of the orbit in which
Uranus revolves about the sun is 11,314,600,000 of
wiles, through which it moves in 30,686 mean solar days,
or about 84 years ; it is the slowest moving planet in
the system, and yet it pursues its course at the rate of
speed
mp of
th 15,000 miles an hour. Were a 'steam-carriage to move
round the immense orbit of this planet at the continued
eatbeodut 30 miles an hour, it would require no
less than 64,570 years before this ample circuit could
; and yet a globe eighty times larger than
the eat , finishes its vast tour in 84 years !—Dick's Ce-
lestiulScenery.
We understand that an address has been for-
warded to the .Archbishop of Canterbury from a consi-
derable number of the resident lay inhabitants of Chel-
tenham, members of the Church of England, praying
his Grace to take steps to procure from the Bishops a
united expression of their disapprobation of those doc-
trines set forth in the " Tracts for the Times," which
have already been condemned by many of the Bshons in
heir several Charges. i