The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-23 00:00:00

CITRISTIAN MISSIONS TO .FOYPT.

THE LATE VOLUNTEER REVIEW AT
DOVER.

ib.

MUSCULAR POIVL•R AND INSTINCT OF

IA SECTS.

We have been informed that Professor Kitcliingman,
an entertaining entomologist resident near Brussels, who
has for some time been making a variety of curious experi-
ments on muscular power peculiar to several species of
insects, has lately contrived an ingenious instrument foe
nieasuring their force of traction, flight, and thrust. The
pulexorneter—so called from the family pulicidac, or
-)1(1c.r, being the base of the varied experiments—is
oi f simple construction, conpisting of a very finely manu-
factured hair-like spring, attached to a horizontal lever,
at the end of which the insect to be tested is placed.
This is connected wall a circular deal, about four-and-
a-half inches in diameter, numerically graduated with
the utmost nicety. Tha minute machine is so delicate
hat it revolves with the slightest impetus, an
ndicator pointing out the comparative strength of
the insect. A method of calculation, easily acquired,
necessary to ascertain the comparative force
between one insect and another. It has thus been
ascertained that the genus pulcx irritans (the common
flea) is possessed of more than ten-fold the average
strength of insects at all proportionate to its size. The
great muscular power of the flea has for ages past been
known, particularly to entomologists ; but no attempt
seems to have been made to accurately measure its force
contrasted with other insects. It is, however, now
stated that the greatest mean effort of the flea is equal
to as much as 80) times its own gravity, that of the.
small bodura to about 200 ; various other apterous
tribes are measured from eighty to ninety-five, while
the average force of the coleoptera, or beetle species,
is put down at about seventy-five times their own weigh t,-
the common cockchafer being sixteen only. It is also
shewn that the comparative strength of the weakestknown
aptera considerably. exceeds that of any known specimen
of the vertebrata. Professor ICitchingman has extended
his experiments by endeavouring to train several
species of insects, which has been accomplished to such
an extent that one has been induced to run back
downwards along a very fine silken cord, pulling be-
hind it a single-wheeled suspended car. Two others, placed
at each end of a small slip of wood, balanced upon
a pivot, leap up and down at command given by a peculiar
movement of the hand. A fourth, independent of com-
pulsion, pulls back its tiny leg to fire off a miniature
cannon. Among other surprising feats of the kind, we
are told that the Professor has. succeeded in training a
beetle to swing to and fro a is Leotard, and is now
endeavouring to teach an insect to propel a minute model
velocipede. We understand the pulexometer and insect
Curiosities have been shown to several entomologistS and
scientific gentlemen at Brussels, and have attracted much
attention.—star.

THE SUSPECTED MURDER IN A RAILWAY CAR-
RIAGE.—Tke body found on the Irish railway line, near
Mallow, has been identified as that of an Austrian sailor,
who was discharged from a vessel at. Passage last week to
go to North America. The police are still prosecuting
inquiries, and on Thursday blood stains were discovered
in one of the carriages of the train in which the deceased
is supposed to have travelled, and the circumstance of the
door of the compartment having been locked is taken as
confirming the belief that deceased was thrown out
through the window.

THE POPE AND THE MILORD-ANOLAIS.—The
correspondent of the Petit Mohiteur reports the following
extraordinary exchange between the Pope and an Eng.
lisp nobleman Pius IX. received with own
the offerings presented to him by the different dehands
put a-
tions. Amongst others, the Pope received, on the 10th,
a skull
an English nobleman, who presented his Holiness with
cap filled with sovereigns. At e end
of the tassel was a diamond of immense value. the
Having
presented his magnificent offering, the Englishman added,
with the usual phlegm of his nation, that he gave the
present on condition of getting the Pope's skull-cap in
return. Pius IX. smiled, and ringing the bell be ordered
the servant to bring him another Culotte. When brought
he took off the one he wore and gave it to the Englishman,
who put it into his pocket and retired, saying that he was
never so pleased in his life."
LOUIS XIV., MILTON, AND GALILEO. -An
interesting, letter, written by Louis XIV. to the poet
'Milton, was read at a meeting of the French Academy of
Science during the present month. It is as follows :-•
" Monsieur Milton,—Deign to believe that the letter
which you sent me, wherein were described your tour in
Italy, and especially your int,Tviews with the illustrious
Galileo, has given moe the greatest pleasure. Will you
accept my gratitude? for I assure you that the letter
is to me a most valuable possession. You tell me also
in the same letter that you kept up till the time of his
death a correspondence with the illustrious Florentine.
Should I be indiscreet if I asked, if not for the originals,
at least for true copies ? If you will allow it, one of my
faithful servants now in England will undertake the
management of this affair. Will you favour me with your
reply on this point? for, as I have already communicated
to you, I have so great an esteem and consideration for
Galileo, who was the beacon of the world, that I desire to
possess all that he has ever written. With this, Monsieur
Milton, may God keep you in Ills holy and worthy
custody.-f., Lovls.—Seutember

- -
The May meetings proceed apace. The Christian mis-
sions in Egypt were the object of the gathering in Exeter
Hall on Thursday. His Highness the Maharajah Duleep
Singh, X. 5.1., presided, and, in addressing the assembly,
said it was with the greatest diffidence that he had
accepted the honour of occupying the chair, and his only
excuse was that he was desirous of helping forward the
great cause for the promotion of which they had met
together. It was about nineteen years since he was
brought out of the darkness of heathenism into the light
of Christianity, and each year made him prize more
highly tha blessings he had received. This was an induce-
mcnt fur him to exert himself by prayer and earnest
advocacy, in order that the light of the Gospel might be
extended to his benighted brethren in the East.—The
Rev. Dr. Lansing, missionary of Cairo, in relating his
experience, said that the only hope of Turkey was in the
extension of Christianity, and the only pract:cal solution
of the Eastern question was in the success of a Protestant
mission. The mission with which he was connected had been
in existence fur fourteen years, and consisted of ten mis-
sionaries, and about forty natives, who were employed as
colporteurs and native pastors. They had eight sta-
tions. The number of communicants was 200, and they
had GOO children receiving a Christian education. There
was also a theological training-school, to which 22
students were attached. The press had been active in its
agency, not fewer than from 8,000 and 10,000 books and
useful orks having been distributed. The speaker then
went on to recount the success of the mission efforts
among the Coptic races, on whose behalf he made an ear-
nest appeal.--Lord Lawrence also addressed the meeting,
speaking very earnestly in favour of the mission.

Lieutenant-General Sir J. Hope Grant, Quartermaster-
General, has made his report on the review of regular
and volunteer forces, held at Dover on Easter Monday
last, the substance of which is as follows :—" On the
morning of the review day a very violent storm took place.
It blew a gale of wind accompanied by a very heavy
fall of rain and sleet, and after consulting with 11,1ajor-
General the Honourable James Lindsay, Inspector-
Jeneral of Reserve Forces, and the principal officers of
the force, the weather was pronounced to be so unpro-
pitious that I thought it necessary to put a stop to the
review. The volunteers were therefore dismissed, with
instructions to fall in at three o'clock p.m., and to
proceed to the train for conveyance to their homes. The
weather, however, partially cleared about eleven o'clock,
and Field-Marshal 11. R. H. the Duke of Cambridge, Corn-
manding•in-Chief, who had ridden to Dover from Palmer
Castle, determined that the review should take place,
and ordered the assembly to be sounded. In a short space
of time, and greatly to the credit of the volunteer force, the
brigades were formed upon the Esplanade, and proceeded to
the Castle-hill, where, after marching past his Royal High-
ness, they took up their positions. The general plan of
operations, which had been drawn up by Major-General,
Russell prior tam), taking over the command, was but little
deviated from except in some minor points; but inconse-
quence of the late hour at which the review commenced the
movements could not all be performed. The movements of
the two forces were very creditable to the volunteers, and, so
far as I was able to judge, they evinced great willingness
and promptitude in carrying out all the orders that I had
occasion to give. I must state, however, that, in my
opinion, this force cannot be really serviceable if it is not
placed, while under arms, under some more stringent
military control. Such a large body of armed men not
amenable to any military discipline might be the cause
of very serious embarrassment. I beg also to forward
the report which I c. ed for from Captain Stotherd,
Royal Engineers, in command of the Royal Engineer
Field Telegraph and Visual Signals Detachment.
.This force was of great service, and I am confident that
when it is brought into more general use it will prove a
very valuable adjunct-to an army in the field. The signals
with the fleet and the Castle were carried on with great
precision. They were executed under the superinten-
dence of Captain Stotherd, Lieutenant Anderson (Royal
Engineers), and Major Bolton (late 12th Foot), and
great credit is due to these officers for their able arrange.
mnents."