The Sun.
London, England, 1869-09-02 00:00:00

DOWN IN A DIVING- BELL

A correspondent of the Daily News gives an interesting
account of a descent in a diving bell. He describes the
progress and works of the Admiralty Pier at Dover, and
explains how the work ,is carried on under water.
Princes of the Blood have been denied the honour
of a descent, but this writer obtained the estimable privi-
lege. With regard to the dress be wore, the first impor-
tant matter he explains is that whether it is the coal
mines
.of England or Wales, the sewers of the City of
Landon, or the bottom of the English Channel which
you are about to explore, you must pull huge
woollen stockings over your trousers, add a pair of
thick overalls to these, divest yourself of upper garments
don something scrubby and ticklish, which is half jacket
and half shirt, and does duty for both ; put on massive
boots with soles and side and tops as of cast-iron, and
crown yourielf with a hat which looks like a dish cover in
oil-skin. Thus equipped you are ready to meet your fate.
Out in this dress, into the street, down through the works
then ready, It is impossible to say how the diving•bell
may affect you. Your friends have warned you pleasantly
that you will bleed at the . ears, nose, and mouth ; that
men have been known to become deaf for life after just
such a trip as you are about to take. You learn that the
regular divers are nearly all deaf, and that the shouting
you have noted between them is a necessity. You will,
under advice, " keep bawling" whenever the ear-
tingling begins. We approach and are brought
under the monster weight, the diving-bell. While under
the bell you seize first a central board and next an iron
handle, and are soon seated inside it. Glancing upwards
and around, you find yourself in a small apartment some
six feet across and five feet high, with iron sides and roof,
but without a floor, and which has hammers and other
implements hanging in it, and stowed away conveniently
in a sort of shelf. Above you are half-a-dozen bull's-eyes
of glass, through which the bright sun shines.
Your guide seats himself on one side of the bell,
and after you have followed his example on the other
he gives-the signal, and the flooring of green sea at your
feet comes up to meet you. Dropping very gently and
gradually down, the four sides of the bell meet the water
at exactly the same time. A gurgling sound
over bead, and the sea is rippling . over you.
and you are veritably under water. The sun
still shines through the frothy bubbles you can
discern through the thick rough glass; and you learn that
they are lenses of great power, and how a diver's garments
have been known to burst into a positive flame through
the tiny windows acting as burning glasses even while
under the water. The dreaded buzzing takes possession
of your ears. Shouting his questions out in obedience to
instructions, you are conscious of several small reports, as
if some children's balls had been secreted in your head and
had suddenly burst. Then there is more singing, accom
parried by hissing, as if an effervescing mixture were being
stirred up in each ear and was in frisky condition ; then
some sharp, darting pains, as if the corkscrews which
have by this time supplanted the bubbling liquid as
tenants-at-will had. developed the properties of lancets,
and were shooting out to meet each other, as if in a mimic
bayonet charge- through your head; then a plugging
feeling as if you were being tightly corked up ; then
some more reports, and you are better. Take it on
the whole, the trial has not beep so bad as you expectd.
Out of and through the bright but thick green
liquid a particularly smooth and well-laid pavement
comes up to meet you. On this the bell settles. The
water is speedily forced out by the air, and the pavement
is almost dry. We leave our seats and stand on it. We
are on a portion of the outer part of the pier. The atmo-
sphere is astonishingly bright and clear. The smallest
print could have been read at any time without difficulty.
This is due to the extreme smoothness of the sea. Let
it be ruffled ever so little on the surface, and the work-
below has to be performed by candle-light. More signals,
and we are conveyed along the entire length of the pier
below water—are conveyed, that is, by its outer wall, and
note its mingled strength and symmetry. We are now
five-and-twenty feet from the surface ; but the work is
smooth and even, and we see on each block of con-
crete its number and the date of its make. Many
of them weighing ten tons each, are moulded with
mathematical nicety and according to a fixed plan. Each
fits into the other like the bits in a Chinese puzzles. Each
monster piece is put gently into its place, and it there
remains. No cement is possible, but the foundations of
the mighty pier look as if they bad been turned out of a
mould, so regular are they and so strong. More signalling
and we move "to Dover " and " to France," as well as
over the centre of the pier where the shingle lies quiet
and still. Further on, and at a far greater depth, are
the excavations for the further continuance of tne pier,
where three.feet of mud and decomposed vegetable matter
are being removed before the chalk bottom is reached,
We have been down, three-quarters of an hour, and are
brought up gently, and alight into the boat as it
comes under, with ears which, though hissing
a little, have almost recovered themselves, and
so we are pulled round to some steps, which we
ascend. There -are no submarine works like those of
Dover, nothing of the same kind being carried on in the
same way at the same depth. When the sections of the
submarine wall or pier advance to the surface—that is,
after they have been built up forty feet from their founda-
tions—they are rarely three-quarters of an inch out ; and
this fact, taken in conjunction with their grand solidity
and smooth beauty, make them the symbols of scientific
might and skill, contending successfully with Nature in
her moat difficult aspects, and through her sternest
moods. •

VERY CHEAP POSTAGE.—A curious story of two
poor lovers, Whose system of correspondence was confined
to an ingenious cipher of ink-blots on the outside of the
letter, is told by the poet Coleridge. In one of his walks
in the Lake district, he saw the postman offer a letter to
the servant-girl at a village inn, who, after carefully'
looking at the address returned the document to
the postman, telling him that she could not
take it in, as she was too poor to pay the postage.
Thereupon, Coleridge stepped forward, and giving the
postman the shilling required for the letter, handed it to
the girl. To his surprise, she did not appear as pleased
as he had expected; and when the postman was out• of
hearing, she explained the matter by confessing to the
poet that the whole of the letter consisted in its address
and certain exterior blots and marks, and that it was the
method adopted by her lover and herself to keep up an
unpaid-for correspondence in the days of dear postage.
MR. FORSTER AND Mn. BRIGHT. —Mr. Forster
is, next to Mr. Bright, and before Mr. Milner Gibson
became lazy and ineffective, the most conspicuous member
of a school of politicians curiously identified with the
North of England. Like Mr. Bright, he is a Quaker ;
but while Mr. Bright's vehemence, bitterness, and unfair-
ness make hini contrast most strongly with the peaceable
principles of the Friends, Mr. Forster has an honest
intellect of his own. He is a true friend of the people,
and is object is not to flatter but to serve them. Mr.
Bright affects to love the people, and after a fashion he
does so; but in great measure he uses them as dummies to
effect his purposes, and sides against them to promote the
special interests of his ou n order, the large moneyed
employers of labour. Mr. Forster, in class one of the
capitalists, is in sympathy one of the operatives. It has
been truly said that while Mr. Bright's imagination is
full of the social aristocracy he hates, Mr. Forster's is
full of the working classes whom he loves. Ile has given
to the trades unions a support and appreciation very rare
indeed for ono of his class to give. Mr. Bright would,
trample down with the sheer brute•force of
:Multitudes a
minority:of rank, thought, culture, and refinement, with
the kind;of savage joy with which a conqueror would con.
template a sacked and burning city; but Mr. Forster frankly
`told the working men that he.thought the representation
of minoriticunifialltilkPriA9ll*.i:=47-Att

LAW AND POLICE,

Tnn FRAUDS AT WooLwicu.—The three prisoners wpo
were last week committed for trial on the charge
defrauding the Government, at Woolwich Arsenal, were
on Wednesday brought up for examination on other
charges. The charges referred to the stealing of other
stores from the Arsenal, and after some evidence had
been heard in support of them, the prisoners were again
remanded, the magistrato refusing bail.
FORGED NOTES.—At the Thames Police-court, on
Wednesday, an Italian, named Pignatelli was charged with
conspiracy in trying to obtain money by means of forged
advance-notes. An Italian sailor was charged with a
similar offence. Both prisoners were committed for trial
at the Central Criminal Court, and it was stated that
there were a large number of cases against Pignatelli.
The magistrate demanded substantial bail which he was
not able to provide.

THE CHARGE OF IMMORAL CONDUCT
TOWARDS YOUNG GIRLS.

The extraordinary letter of "IL II." to the daily
papers, detailing how he followed a man about and
around Leicester-square, said fellow annoying a
young girl, and endeavouring to force her into low houses,
has borne fruit. He said it was impossible to punish the
fellow. Nevertheless (as we have already stated) Richard
Risley, better known as Professor Risley, was charged at

the Marlborough-street Police-court, on Wednesday, with
assaulting Maria Mason, a girl about 11 years of age.
Mr, West, on behalf of the Society for Ow Protection of
Women and Children, appeared for the prosecution, and
Mr. Poncione for the defence. Mr. West was about to
open the case, when Mr. Poncione objected, on the
ground that the girl was not present. Mr. West said some
pressure had been put on the child, but he did not think
that was to be attributed to the defendant. It was com-
petent to go on with the charge of assault under the cir-
cumstances. Mr. Knox decided on hearing the case.
Mr. West then said the defendant was charged with
following about a little girl, with asking her to go with
him into various houses, and with otherwise frightening
her. He followed a little girl ;he tried on several occa-
sions to get her into different coffee-shops ; he asked her
to go with him to his rooms, promising to give her a pre-
sent : shewed her a ring, and attempted by all sorts of
inducements to get her to go into other places with him.
There would be plenty of evidence to charge the
prisoner with attempting to abduct the girl. If
a young girl was pertinaciously followed about
and inducements offered her to leave her parents,
then he apprehended that the charge of assault would
merge into a graver accusation. Mr. Knox did not think
that the evidence went as far as that. It only shewed that
the prisoner tried to get the child into coffee-shop; not to
leave her parents.

Mr. Hales, of Chaddle-terrace, said : I was in
Coventry-street about twelve o'clock on Tuesday, the
22nd-ult. I was near the London Pavilion, when I saw a
child, about 12 years old, whom I subsequently knew as
Maria Mason, followed by the prisoner. I noticed
that the child ran across the street rapidly. I saw the
prisoner follow quickly after her. The prisoner overtook
her in Leicester-square. The prisoner took hold of her
cape, and pulled her towards the window to shew her the
dresses. While pointing to the dresses in the shop the
prisoner still had hold of her cape. The child got away
and walked on, the prisoner following closely after her.
The girl went straight on ; the prisoner overtook her, and

turned round several times to see if anyone was looking at
him. The prisoner watched his opportunity, then walked
beside her and got her into conversation. In
passing three coffee-shops the prisoner would have
taken her in. She got away, and crossed

into Little Newport-street ; he took hold of her
again, and tried to get her to go the directly opposite way
she was going. She resisted, and went into Hayes-court,
where he laid hold of her cape. She got away, and
walked in the direction of Greek-street, the prisoner talk-
ing to her allthe way, exceptwhen he saw anyone coming.
The prisoner laid hold of her again in Frith-street ; the
child set off running, the prisoner followed her until she
got into a house, 27, Greek-street, a bootmaker's shop,
kept by George Turner. The prisoner stopped for
a moment, but, appearing as if he caught sight of
me, he walked hurriedly away. As soon as his back
was turned I went into the house, and saw the little
girl. She made a complaint to me about the prisoner. I
left the house, and followed the prisoner through several
streets. The prisoner worked his way back to Leicester
square. I saw him accost two young ladies—one about
15, the other about 12— one after the other. They looked
disdainfully-at him, and walked on. The prisoner then
went round' the 'slums about the back of the Alhambra,
went into an oyster shop and had some oysters. At a
photographer's there was a little girl, about 7 years of age,
looking in at the window. The prisoner spoke to her, but
she did not seem to understand. The child had her school.

bag with her. The prisoner looked round to see if any one
was watching. I got behind a group of men, and he did
not notice me. I kept My eye on the child, and saw him
lay hold of her ; but she left him and went into a house.
The prisoner, .as he passed the house, bad some water
thrown over him. The prisoner seemed very much an-
noyed, and said he would go and look for a policeman. I
went and looked for a policeman also, and, seeing one
turning into the street, I went forward and met
him, After I had complained to the constable, the
constable walked up the street, and the prisoner accosted
the constable, and said it was a great shame that a
respectable man could not walk along the street without
being insulted. The constable, pointing to me, said,
"This gentleman has some charge to make against you."
I immediately demanded the prisoner's name, and I told
him why I wanted his name. There were then a great
many people gathering round us. The prisoner said, " I
will tell you," and called me aside. I objected to hold
any conversation with hini except in the presence of the
constable. The prisoner at first would not mention his
name ; then he said his name was Ricardo ; that his address
was in the Strand ; that it was at No. 45, Surrey.
street. I asked him for his card. The prisoner offered to
write his name, and he did write something beginning
with " Ris" on a small piece of paper ; but I could not
make out the rest, it was so indistinct, as the prisoner's
hand trembled so much. I told the prisoner I could not
read his writing. The prisoner, speaking low, evidently
not wishing the crowd to hear, said, " I am Professor
Risley." I tole) him he should hear from me. The
prisoner wished to follow me. I told him not to do so,
and that be should hear from me.
Mr. Knox said, before the cross-examination began he
would mention that about two o'clock on the same day
the mother came to that court with her daughter and the
lady who kept the house in Greek-street where Maria
Mason took refuge ; that he sent them round to Messrs.
Shaen and Roscoe, who afterwards obtained a warrant.
Witness Hales, cross-examined : I am a reporter. I
watched the prisoner and the little girl about an hour, I
think. While I was watching the prisoner I did not see
any of the passers-by take notice of his conduct. Had I
not taken notice of the prisoner's conduct should have
thought myself unworthy of the name of ah Englishman.
I mentioned what I saw to more than one police-
man—to three, I think. I told them the prisoner
was following and dodging a little girl, and I did not
think it was all right, because I had seen her run away.
I did not see the girl Mason make any complaint to any
one. I did not consider the two young ladies were in any
danger from the prisoner, as they repulsed him. The
prisoner did not seem as if he had been drinking ; he
appeared to be sober.
George Clark, detective, Scotland-yard, said : I found

the defendant at the theatre, Nottingham, on Tuesday
norning. I called him aside and read the warrant, and

explained generally the charge. The prisoner said, "If
I did touch the girl, it w with no bad intention. lam
fond of children, and I m)ght have spoken to her in a
fatherly manner." _

Mr. Knox :.fshall remand the case, and refuse bail, as
of late there have been so many compromises of serious
cases at this court that I cannot but hesitate to grant
bail.

An English paper advertises for.
.sale a pew
which " commands a view of nearly the whole con-
gregation."
A correspondent informs the Church News that
lie was present at morning service last Sunday at the
City Church of St. °lave's, Jewry, of which the Rev. W.
Scott is rector, and of which the annual pecuniary value
is £l4O. The congregation, he states, was composed of
one man besides the officials.
PEWS .IN PARISH CinußcHts.—One of the last
Acts of Parliament of the late Session related to pews.
Pews and sittings may be surrendered to the Bishop
of the diocese of a church or to the Ecclesiastical
Commissioner's, whether the church be consecrated or
unconsecrated, and from the surrender all rights of owner-
ship are to cease, and the pews and fittings to become
subject to the same laws as to all rights and property
therein as the pews and fittings of ancient parish churches.
The words " church" and "chapel" in the Act are to
apply only to those of the Established Church of England

MEDICAL ANECDOTE.—The late Dr. Jenner,
having discontinued his professional visits to a patient on
account of her improved condition, sent a couple of ducks
to the mother of the convalescent lady, accompanying the
present With the following note :
" I've dispatched, m,y dear madam, this scrap of a letter,
Ter say that Miss Lucy is very much better ;
A regular doctor no longer she lacks,
And therefore I've sent her a couple of quacks."
The lady itddiessed returned thanks with this
" Yes, 'twat; polite, truly,_ my very good friend,
Thus a I couple of quacks' to your patient to send
Since there's nothing so likely a%' quacks' it is 01,16
lualarisakiglsav vsi,

MICELLANEO US NEWS.