The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-11 00:00:00

POLY TECHNIC INSTITUTION.

A few days since a party of foreign scientific gentle-
men met at this establishment for the purpose of expe-
rimenting by the aid of the gigantic hydro-electric
machine. _ _

W In order
to give our readers some idea of the powers
of the hydro-electric, we must remind them of the di-
mensions of the colossal plate machine of the Polytechnic.
That apparatus, unrivalled as a plate, is seven feet in
diameter, producing sparks of great size, and of danger-
ous power, capable of charging a surface of 90 square
feet in one minute. The hydro-electric, however,
charges the same extent of surface twelve times per
minute, and produces continuous sparks eighteen inches
in length. When in full action, in fact, it gives no
inapt representation of a violent thunder storm.
The rush of the steam through so many metallic tubes,
the noise of the discharges, and the rapid flashes of light,
might well alarm the spectator, did not the easy and self-
possessed manner of the director and his assistants prove
how completely the monster is under the command of
human skill. It is, however, a spectacle of much
grandeur, and calculated to elevate our views of human
intelligence and power, for here a man without rashness
of empiricism, or the wild-daring of ignorance, has, by
the aid of philosophy, been 'able toi create a thunder-
storm. Nor in using these expressions would we for a
moment be supposed to intimate that the spectacle is all
that the directors of the Polytechnic wish to accomplish.
They have higher and nobler views—their object is to
point out the available resources of science in preventing
the dangerous consequences of electric atmospheric dis-
charges, and thus to disabuse the mind of its blind and
slavish fear. Among the eminent and scientific gentle-
men, we observed the veteran electrician Professor
Zrsted, of Copenhagen, Professor Matteucci, of Pisa,
and Professor Schonburgh, of Upsal.

LORD BROUGHAM AT A PIC-MC PARTY.- On
Friday last, near Day son Scar, on a romantic yet sylvan
scene, on the estate of Sir George Musgrove, by the
margin of the Eamont, a party of about fifty young
ladies and gentlemen held a grand pic-nicgathering. They
were accompanied by a harmonic band of musicians.
The party assembled between three and four in the after-
noon, and having recreated themselves by wandering
along the picturesque spot, lighted up a fire, gipsy like,
beneath the shadow of an old oak tree. Each " bonny
lass" had furnished suitable crockery, and other essen-
tials, which were spread out on the grassy carpet, and
soon afterwards the whole party partook of tea. It was
an interesting scene to behold the various groups in their
gipsying positions; and most agreeably were they sur-
prised, while they were enjoying themselves without the
least restraint, by Lord Brougham and party dropping
down beside them on the other side of the stream. After

tea the company commenced dancing, ceasing only at
nightfall.— Cal lisle Journal.
DEATH BY ACCIDENTS.—On the 26th ultimo, the
Act (9 and 10 Victoria, c. 93) for compensating the fa-
milies of persons killed by accidents, came into opera-
tion. An action can now be maintained against any
person or company causing death through neglect or de-
fault. It must be commenced within twelve months of
the death of the party, and be brought in the name of
the executor or administrator of the deceased for the
benefit of the wife, husband, parent, and child of the
person killed. The Act does not apply to Scotland.
[ ADVERTISEMENT ]. —SIGHT AND HEARING.
Sent into the country free, by post. No. 39, Albemarle-
street, Piccadilly, Newly-Invented Spectacles, Powerful Teles-
copes, Opera Glasses, Microscopes, &c.—Patronized by his Ma-
jesty the King of Hanover, her Grace the Dowager Duchess of Bed-
ford, their Graces the Archbishops of Canterbury, York, and Dublin,
the Dukes of Devonshire, Norfolk, Argyle, Marlborough, and Man-
chester, Bishops of Exeter, Lincoln, Cork, E!phiu, Kilmore, and Kil-
dare. Messrs. S. and B. Solomon:, oculists and opticians, have
invented Spectacle Lenses upon a new construction. Immediately
they are placed before imperfect vision, either by day or candlelight,
that mist and dullness which appears before the eyes is at once re-
moved, every object becomes clear and distinct, so that the most aged
defective sight becomes bright and brilliant. and is brought to its
youthful natural and original state. Also the most powerful Achro-
matic Telescopes, Opera Glasses, Microscopes, Invisible and all kinds
of Acoustic Instruments for relief of extreme deafness. Caution—
essrs. S. and B. Solernons, opticians, are not in any way connected
with a person of the same name in theirjmmediate neighbourhood.
To prevent mistakes, be cautious, and observe— Only to be had at 9,
Albeniarie-street, Piccadilly, opposite the York Hotel.
[ADVERTISEMENT.] —THE RAJAH OF TRAVANCORE
AND HOLLOWAY'S OINTMENT.—OD the iith Of July, 1846, Trofessor
Holloway was honoured with an order for six of the largest pots ei
Holloway's Ointment, from no less a person than his Royal Higimers
the Rajah, or reigning soveretzn of Travancore, through the eminent
firm of Messrs. J. Cockburn and Co. East India merchants, No. 11,
New Broad-street, London. The ointment, it appears, is for the
personal use of the Rajah, and will be employed under the super-
intendence of his private physician. Holloway's ointment is sold all
over India, being a certain cure for ulcers, wounds, si res, and abscesses,
even if of twenty years' standing, and may be obtained of the ro-
prieter, 244, Strand, London, and Of every medicine Yowler,