The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-08 00:00:00

BOYAL INSTITUTION.

The interest taken in Professor Faraday's lec-
tures seems to increase as the course approaches its
termination. An hour and a half before the lecture
begins persons collect round the entrances to the
theatre to obtain good places, and on the opening
of des doors there is a crush and a scramble like
that at the pit doors of a theatre. Yesterday, when
the fifth lecture was delivered, an elderly gentle-
man and a lady fell to the floor in rushing inside,
but fortimately without sustaining any serious in-
jury, and every seat was filled some time before the
appointed time for th lecture. The Prince of
Wales occupied the seat i n front of the lecture table
as usual.
The effects (If the induction of electricity were
further exempt ified. and explained by Professor
Faraday, who commenced by giving illustrations
of the influence of aifferently shaped surfaces. A
cube of wood covered with tinfoil was used in the
first illustration.
'The cube was charged with elec-
tricity when placed nprea an insulating stand, and
a small square of insulated by a handle of
as applied tint to the centra of one of the
shellac, w
flat sides of the cube, and afterwards to its corners,
to show that a much larger .quantity of electricity is
concentrated at the latter points than on the flat
surface. When the metal ca.rrier, after touching
the flat surface, was applied tie the electrometer,
the leaves only slightly diverge d ; but when the
corners of the cube were touched tiee gold leaves ex-
panded widely. The influence of surfaces was
still further exemplified by points, from which
the electricity exerted by the large machine was
dissipated se rapidly as to prevent it from exhibit-
ing strong electrical effects. One experiment, which
illustrated the different effects of induction when
operating on metal points, and on pointed non-
conducting bodies, was very curious. A small rod
of metal was balanced so as to allow it to turn freely,
and at each end was fixed a piece of tinfoil rounded
at one part and pointed at the other. When this
apparatus was electrified, the balanced rod turned
rapidly round, as it would have done had a jet of
water issued from each point by the re-action of
the air. Similarly shaped pieces of thick paper were
then substituted for the tinfoil, and when the ap-
paratus was again electrified the rod turned round
in the opposite direction—the points moving so as
to meet the air instead of being repelled by it. The
apparatus called a condenser was then explained,
and also the action of the electrophoms—the phe-
nomena of both depending on induction—but it
must be admitted that the connection between those
phenomena and the property of induction was not
very clearly explained. Professor Faraday next
proceeded to notice the discovery of the Leyden
jar, and he exhibited the experiments which led
Muschenbrook to make the discovery of the electric
shock, which frightened that philosopher so much
that he would not take another for the whole king-
dom of France. A small phial was partly filled
with water, and a cork, with a nail pushed through
it, constituted the original Leyden jar. This
simple apparatus when held to the conductor of
the electrical machine collected a charge sufficient
to make Professor Faraday start. He then proceeded
to illustrate the successive improvements in the Ley-
den jar, and to prove that the charge is contained
in the glass, and not in the metallic castings on
each side, whichonly serve to conduct the electricity.
Thus, for inst ance, a conical tumbler with a movable
outside and inside cssing was charged, and the
metal carvings having been removed and applied
to the electrometer exhibited no trace of electricity,
but when restored to their places inside and out-
side the tumbler, a report was made when the dis-
charging rod was applied to the outside and to the
connecting rod. An illustration was also afforded
-of the fact that the electricity of a charged Leyden
jar becomes manifest only when connection is made
between the outside and the inside. The lid with

the wire and brass knob of an ordinary Ley3en jar
were removed, and on then dropping a suspended
ball inside no electricity was communicated to it,
nor was any given off by the outside of the charged
jar, but when connection was made between the
inside and outside coatings, after the lid was put
on, a smart explosion proved that the jar contained
a rong charge. To pursue the invention to its
more powerful effects, in the accumulation of elec-
tricity in quantities so great as to be dangerous,
the large electrical battery of the institution was
charged and exploded. Professor Farally, at the
conclusion of-his lecture, showed a simple arrange-
ment which had been made by one of the young
gentlemen attending his lectures, for accumulating
electricity, as in the Leyden jar. It consisted of a
finger glass partly filled with water, into which a
glass tumbler was introduced. When electricity
was communicated to the water in the tumbler it
became charged like a Leyden jar.

ICLOPEIIIENT EXTRAORDINARY 1N
IRELAND.

The people of the country disir'ct between Lurgan
and Portadown were startled on Wednesday last by
the announcement that the daughter of a wealthy
and respected farmer in their neighbourhood had
eloped with a labourer who has been in the employ-
ment of his married sister. The facts, as they have
come to our knowledge, are certainly astonishing,
and we see no reason why they should not be laid
before our readers. The father of the young lady
is Mr. M'Clelland, who resides at Ross Cottage,
between the two towns above mentioned, and he is
represented to be so comfortable in his circum-
stances, that be could give his daughter a marriage
portion of 1,0001. or 2,0001., should the man of her
choice secure his consent. In August last his eldest
daughter, who is, we believe, over 30 years of
age, and has, like most ladies of her years, refused
several eligible offers, went on a visit to a younger
sister, who was married, and resided not many
miles from her father's house. Here she made the
acquaintance of the partner of her flight, who
rejoices in the suggestive name of Wm. Cupples, and
has not seen more than 18 summers. Th:ir young
hearts would appear to have been suddenly smitten
with each other's attractions, and the intimacy be-
tween them became clover in the absence of the
master and mistress of the house, who were away
travelling for health during the autumn, and on
their return home the "gay Lothario" cculd not
bear to think of losing for ever the society of the
object of his tender affections. Her father would

never, it wag certain, consent to their union, but love
overleaped the social distinction between them, and
so they resolved on an elopement. Having come to
this determination, they seem to have made their
arrangements like people of the world—not like
people in love. The young lady returned to her
father's house, and having provided herself with
some additional clothing, proceeded on Wednesday
morning to Lisburn, whet() she was met by her
faithful swain, and both of them came into Belfast.
The elopement no sooner became known than the
most active measures were taken for discovering the
fugitives. But Belfast does not seem to have been
thought of till yesterday, when Miss M'Clellancrs
sister came into town and informed the police of
the occurrence. Now, police-officers are well known
to be the moat matter-of-fact men in the world. It
is questionable whether any of them were ever really
in love ; or, if they were, it could not have affected
them as it does ordinary mortals. At any rate, it
is proverbial that they have no sympathy with
lovers, however true ; awl, consequently, when
Inspector M'Kittrick, of the detective force, and
Constable Cardwell were entrusted with the duty
of discovering the parties, they set about the mat-
ter as if stolen pocket handkerchief', and not hearts,
were in question. It was soon discovered that
Cupples and Miss M'Clelland had taken up a tem-
porary residence with an acquaintance, one of the
men of the fire brigade, who, fortunately fur them,
rt esides near the police-office. The police-officer
knocked at the door, and after some delay it was
opened. Miss M'Clelland was there, but where
was Cupples ? He was found concealed in the pig-
sty ! The young lady resolutely refuses to return
borne, and avers that she would not take 6 000/. to
leave the man of her Iraq. It is not known' what
further steps her relatives may take iu the matter.
—Banner of Ulster.

TUE DUBLIN MILITIA.—The three divisions of this
regiment stationed at Bradford, Burnley, and Ashton.
under-L7te, have been removed, by orders from the
Horse Guards, to Aldershot. It will be remembered
that those men have created disturbance 3 in ail the three
towns where they have been quartered—at Bradford and
~
Eueoley using their bayonets freely. AAshtonthey
had only their belt). to tue in the attack upon the inha-
bitante and had the worst of the encounter, many of
them being severely handled of whom 12 were taken
before the magistrates and committed for trial. When
the news became public that orders had been received
from the Horse Guards to remove the regiment t ) Alder-
shot, it was understood that the three divisions of it
were to be first concentrated at Ashton, and the soldiers
stationed at the latter place expri- ssed their determination
(when joined by their comrades from Burnley and Brad-
ford), to take a fu'l revenge upon the inhabitants. In
consequenceof this deSign becoming known to the autho-
rities, the Mayor of Ashton took steps on Y
Wedneid• to
avert the possibility of such a collision, by commuelcat-
ing with the officers of the regiment, and with Lieut.-
General Sir H. Smith, commandant of tie district. The
recoil was that he took the precaution of sending a troop
of dragoons from Manchester to overawe any attempt of
the kind threatened, but the necessity of their presence
had been removed by the Ashton Militia being marched
from their barracks to the railway station at Stalybridge,
instead of that of Ashton, where a train was in waiting
far them. By this manoeuvre thl 'soldiers were kepta,
clear of the town (the barracks being situated on the
Stalybridge side of Ashton) and any attempt at dis-
turbance avoided. The portions of the regiments at
Bradford and Burnley were also sent forward without
stopping at Ashton.