The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-28 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 28, 1858.

GEORGE HOBSON begs to call the attention
of Gentlemen to his New Autumnal Trousers, 21s. to
258. Also his New Partridge Mixture Shooting Coats.
Excellence with Economy.
GEORGE ROBSON, 57, Lombard-street.
Established 1796.

ANK OF DEPOSIT,
1.3 Established A.D. 1814.
3, PALL MALL EAST, LONDON.
Parties desirous of Investing Money are requested.to exa-
mine the Plan of The Bank of Deposit, by which a high rate
of interest may be obtained with ample security.
The Interest is payable in January and July.
PETER MORRISON, Managing Director.
Forms for Opening Accounts sent free on application.

ROME AND FRASCATI RAILWAY
COMPANY.
The Half-year's Interest on the Bonds of this Company,
Nos. 1 to 120, due on the 22d of September and Ist of October,
1838, will be paid at the Agency of the Banque Generale
Suisse, 2, Royal Exchange Buildings ; or at the Suocursale of
the same Bank, 30, Rue Louis le Grand, Paris.'
By Order, F. FRIELIGRATH,
Manager of the London Agency of
the Banque Generale Suisse.

LONDON & NORTH-.
CHEAP EXCURSION f
FIELD, MANCHESTER, an(
October 2, returning on Wedn(

•WESTERN RAILWAY.
from LONDON to RUDDERS-
d LIVERPOOL, on Saturday,
esday, October 6.

DIOWN TRAIN-, OCT. 2. RETURN TRAIN, OCT. 6.
. ' a.m. a.m.
London (Euston Stat.) dep. 9.20 Batley dep. 9.30
p.m. Dewsbury o 9.35
Warrington
Liverpool
Stockport
Manchester
Staley Bridge „ 3.45 Manchester
Greenfield
Marsden
Huddersfield ...... .. „ 4.30 Warrington „ 11.15
Dewsbury
Batley
FARES FOR THE DOUBLE JOURNEY
Covered Carriages. Ist Class.

To Liverpo lls. —ol
To Manchester and other Stations los. 20s.
The tickets are not transferable, and are only available by
the above Trains. .

Particulars may be had at any of the Company's ,offices, or
tickets and bills at the office of Mr. • Marcus, Crosby-hall-
chambers, Bishops ate-street, City. .By order.
Euston Station, Sept. 22, 1858.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

OTTOMAN (SMYRNA TO AIDIN).

The annual meeting of this company was hel(1
yesterday at the London Tavern ; Sir Macdonald
Stephenson, the chairman, presided.
Mr. J. L. ELKIN, the secretary, read the report.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the
report, congratulated the proprietors on the favour-
able position of the company and on the progress
that had been made in carrying out the undertak-
ing. Scarcely 12 months had elapsed since the
commercial depression commenced which had the
effect of discouraging the public from all under-
takings of the kind, and he thought, under the cir-
cumstances, they had attained a success which
was not anticipated. The directors felt the utmost
confidence in the success of the undertaking
and made the necessary arrangements for
constructing the works. They had deter-
mined on making the first 40 miles of line
from Smyrna to Ephesus as soon as possible. The
concession was a liberal one, and resembled, in
some respects, that of the East Indian Railway.
The Turkish Government had guaranteed 6 per
cent. on the capital, and should the railway pro-
duce a dividend of more than 7 per cent. per an-
num the company would divide the surplus profits
with the Government. The just mode adopted by
the Turkish Government towards the companyhad
given great satisfaction. There was no doubt what-
ever as to the soundness of the guarantee, for the
net commercial returns of the line would in all pro-
bability amount to a much larger sum than the
guarantee, which, so far as the Government was
concerned, would be merely nominal. The impor-
tance of the undertaking could scarcely be over-
rated. Smyrna was a place of historical and poli-
tical interest, it was the ancient capital of Asia
Minor, having t large export and import trade.
The district to the south-east was very productive,
and there was no reason why all the great modern
improvements should not be introduced, which
would have the effect of greatly facilitating trade,
adding to the comfort of the people, and decreasing
mortality. They had received a report from Mr.
Meredith. It stated that the line was 70 miles in
length, and for convenience of execution, and to
make a portion of it available for traffic as soon as
possible, it was divided into three sections, and de-
termined to complete the first section, 40 miles in
length, from Smyrna to Ephesus. The second
section, commenced at Ephesus, was eight miles
in length, and the third section, about 22 mike in
length, to the city of Aidin. The completion of
the first section would enable them to open it

for a lucrative traffic. The heaviest works On the
first section were in an advanced state, and
a large quantity of rails and sleepers had
been delivered on the line. It was fully ex-
pected that the first section would be completed for
traffic by the autumn of next year. There was a
tunnel on the second section, which might be com-
pleted in two or three years. The works on the
third section were light, and might, if desirable, be
completed in 12 months. He said that Mr. Edwin
Clarke had made his report, that part of the first
section had beim ballasted and the permanent rails
had been laid for a distance of upwards of two miles.
The works on the remaining 32 miles on the first
section were generally light, and might be com-
pleted by the autumn of next year. A temporary
wharf had been constructed at Smyrna for landing
materials. Two locomotives had been landed, and
were now working on the line. A large proportion
of the permanent way was on the ground, and the
stores for the construction of the electric telegraph
throughout the line were delivered, and a tele-
graphic communication with the station at Ephesus
would be at once established. The next most im-
portant thing was the traffic. The law of increasing
existing traffic by the construction of railways in
Europe would scarcely apply in this case, because
the circumstances were different. The facilities of
railway communication were so much greater in
proportion than the existing modes of conveying
traffic, which were the slowest and most inconve-
nient that could be devised. The concessionnaires
of the line had obtained data in respect of the traffic,
which had been afterwards tested and confirmed by
Mr. Wakefield. That gentleman had stated that
the'price of the carriage of merchandise from the
bazaar at Aidin to Smyrna, a distance of 72 miles,
was £3 10s. per ton, or about ls. per ton per mile.
He further stated that the means of transport was

the sole limit to production, the district being very
productive. The imports of Smyrna for one year,
1857, amounted to £2,535,000, and the exports to
X 2,487,000. The number of vessels that visited
the port in that year was 1,750, and the tonnage
437,000 tons. The population of Smyrna was
160,000, and of the city of Aidin 30,000. The
population of the intermediate places was in
proportion to their size and extent. The
cost of the line would be about one-fourth
or one-fifth of the cost of railways in England.
They intended to introduce the principle of carry-
ing the largest number of passengers they could at
the lowest rate. He could not help thinking there
was a great analogy between their railway and
railways in India. The mode of conveyance was
the most costly, tedious, slow, uncertain, and un-
safe that could be imagined, while railways afforded
the most perfect and the most rapid mode of con-
veyance. It was difficult to say what effect such a
change in the mode of transit would have in deve-
loping the traffic and resources of the district. He
had no doubt the traffic would increase with the
increased facilities afforded. When the East Indian
line was projected it was thought the trade would
be principally in goods and minerals, and that the
passengers would be inconsiderable ; but after the
line was opened for traffic it was found that one
million of passengers availed themselves of the
facilities of the railway in the course of the year,
and the goods and mineral traffic had vastly in-
creased. No one could say what their line from
Smyrna to Aidin would coo, but he knew of no
country in which the introduction of English capi-
tol would produce better results. He concluded by
moving that the report be received and adopted.
Captain WARREN seconded the motion, which
was put and carried unanimously.
On the motion of a proprietor, Mr. G.W. Browne

was elected auditor, the remuneration being fixed
at £5O per annum.
The CHAIRALIN announced that Mr. G. F. Hol-
royd and Mr. A. Wilkin, who had given notice of
their intention to become candidates for seats at
the board, had withdrawn their opposition as can-
didates. _ _

The meeting was then made special, for the pur-
pose of electing six directors, who would continue
m office till March, 1862, the present directors
being eligible for re-election.
Captain WARREN said he had much pleasure in
proposing the election of Sir M. Stephenson as a
director of the company, and in doing so he con-
sidered he was promoting the best interests of the
company. (Hear.)
Mr. G. THOMSON seconded the motion, and it was
carried unanimously.

The CHAIRMAN then proposed that Captain D
Warren, Mr. P. P. Blyth, Mr. E. C. Smith, Mr,

W. G. Thomson, and. Major-General Tremenheere
be elected, directors of the company.
The motion was seconded and carried unani-
mously.. • _ _ _ _ _

On the motion of Mr. A. Beattie, seconded 137 Mr.
Toulon, a vote of thanks was passed to the chairman
and directors, and the meeting separated.

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION.

• LEEDS, MONDAY AFTERNOON.
The eight sectional meetings of the British Asso-
ciation, which are going on contemporaneously in
different apartments of the Town-hall, are well
attended, the interest in the proceedings, which
rather flagged on Saturday, being as great as on
either of the preceding days. Several additional
names have been added to the list of arrivals, in-
cluding the following. :—The Earl of Carlisle, Col.
Rawlinson, K.C.B. the Rev. A. Hume, D.C.L.,
Mr. T. Avismi, F.S :A.; and Mr. Josh. Mayer (who
attended as delegates from the Historic Society of
Lancashire and Cheshire) ; Dr. Achille Foville,
jun., Paris ; M. T. J. Silbermann, College of France,
Paris ; Dr. Havenclever, Aix-la-Chapelle ; Mr. J.
Wether al, United States; Mr. W. Collett, Rio de
Janeiro ; Dr. Bitigley, Sheffield ; Rev. Professor
Clark, Cambridge University ; Mr. Robert P. Greg,
F.G.S., Manchester; Dr. J. P. Joule, F.R.S., Man-
chester ; Dr. A. Matthieson, London ; Ven. Arch-
bacon Musgrave, &c.
In Section A, which is for the consideration of
mathematical and physical science, the following
papers were read on Saturday :—By the Rev. Dr.
Booth, " On the Mutual Relations of Inverse Curves
and Inverse Curve Surfaces ; " by Colonel Sykes,
" On the Desirableness of Renewing Balloon
Ascents in England.,,kr, Meteorological Objects ;"
IT the Rev.- J. mini e, ';On the Configuration
of the Surface of the Earth ;" and Colonel Sykes
called attention to Astronomer Broun's having
successfully established a meteorological and mug-
netical observatory in Travancore, at 6,200 feet
above the level of the sea, and to the result of
magnetical observations at. Trevandrum, as com-
municated in a letter from Mr. Broun to General
Sir Thomas M. Brisbane.

Among the papers read in the same section to-day
have been the following:--By the Rev. Dr. Booth,
" On a general method of deriving the Properties
of Umbilical Surfaces of the second order, having
three unequal axes, from the Properties of the
Sphere ;" by Sir David Brewster, " On the use of
Amythyst Plates in experiments on the Polariza-
tion of Light ;" by Professor Hennessy, " On the
Heating of the lower strata of the Atmosphere by
contact with the Earth's surface ;" and " On the
Decrease of Temperature over elevated land ;" by
Dr. Gladstone, " On the Fixed Lines of the Solar
Spectrum."
Professor STEVELEY read a paper by Mr. A. J.
Cooper, M.P., "On the Parhelia and ascending
nodes of the Planets."

In Section C (Geology) to-day the first paper
was by Professor Phillips. It was an interesting
notice on some phenomena at the junction of the
granitic and schistose rocks in West Cumberland,
and remarks on the slaty cleavage in the Lake dis-
trict. This was followed by a paper by Mr. H.
Sarby, " On some Peculiarities m the Arrange-
ment of the Minerals in igneous Rocks, and on a
new Method of determining the Temperature and
Pressure at which various Minerals and Rocks
were formed." The following were also appointed
to be read in this section to-day :—By Professor
Harkness, " On the Distortion of Fossils ;" by Pro-
fessor King, " On the jointed Structure of Rocks,
particularly as displayed in some Localities in
Ireland ;" by Mr. David Page, "Further Contribu-
tions to the Palaeontology of the Tile-stones, or
Siluro-Devonian Strata of Scotland ;" by Pro-
fessor Huxley, " Observations on the genus
Pteraspis ; " by Mr. Charles Moor, "On the
Conglomerates near Frome and their Organic
Remains ;" by Mr. W. H. Daily, "On two
New Species of Crustacea from the Coal
Measures in Queen's County, Ireland, and
some Remarks on Forms allied to them ;" and

" On the Fructification of Alethopteris (Cyclop-
teris) Hybernica, from the Upper Devonian or
Lower Carboniferous Strata in Kiltorkan-hill,
county Kilkenny ;" by Mr. Lucas Barrett, " On the
Atlas and Axis of the Plesiosaurus ;" by Mr.
Edward Charlesworth, "On some remarkable
Yorkshire Fossils, including the unique Plesiosauri
in the Museum at York, with pictorial Restorations
by Mr. Waterhouse Hawkins, of the Crystal
Palace ;" by Mr. S. Baines, ." 0 Yorkshire Flag
with Fossils ;" and by the Rev. W. Thorp, ,6 On
the Permian System in Yorkshire."
In Section D (Zoology and Botany) on Saturday
the following papers were read :—By Mr. R. H.
Meade, "On some Points in the Anatomy of the
Arancidoe, or true Spiders, and especially on the
Internal Structure of their Spinning Organs ;" by
Mr. H. T. Stainton, "On the Formation of the
Cells of Bees ;" by the Rev. Dr. Whewell, " On the
Cells of Bees," by Mr. R.L. Ellis; by the Rev. T.
Hincks, "On the Reproductive Organs of Sertu•
laria Tamarisea ;" by to Rev. F. F. Statham, " On
the Occurrence of Bombyx Mori in this Country;"
by Mr. Samuel Smith, "On the Formation of Or-
ganic Balls found on the Shores of the Mediter-
ranean ;" and Mr. Henry Peckitt read some notes
on Earth Worms and Larvae.

In the same section to-day the following papers
were to be read :—By Dr. Lankcster, "On the
Epidermal Cells of the Petals of Plants, by Tuffen
West:" by Mr. R. Wariington, "On some Addi-
tions to his Portable Microscope ;" by Mr. C.
Brooke, " On some Improvements in the Stage of
the Microscope ;" by Mr. W. Ladd, " On a Mag-
netic Stage for the Microscope ;" by Mr. R. War-
rington, "On the Multiplication of Aetinia in
Aquaria ;" and by Mr. G. llyndman, " Report of
the Belfast Dredging Committee."
Professor OWEN nest read an elaborate paper,
by Mr. G. A. Lewes, " On the Spinal Chord as a
Scnsatorial and Volition Centre." The writer
maintained, from practical experiments and obser-
vations, that the spinal chord was a centre of sen-
sative volition both in man and animals. Some
discussion followed, in which Mr. T. P. Teale, of
Leeds, surgeon (who was in the chair), and Mr. T.
Nunneley, also of Leeds, surgeon, controverted the
conclusions at which Mr. Lewes had arrived.
In section E (Geography- and Ethnology) en
Saturday Sir Roderick Murchison, the President,
gave some particulars from a letter dated " Simla,
21th of July," which he had received from Dr.
William Russell, the well-known correspondent of

the Times, confirming the rumours of the death of
M. Adolphe Schlagentweit, at Yarkand. He (the
President) regretted to say that there was no longer
any doubt of the death of this adventurous traveller.
After penetrating as far as Yarkand, where no
European had ever been before, he was living in the
suburbs of the city at a period when a war broke
out between the Yarkandese and the Chinese, and
he was slain by a number of the former, who sur-
rounded his house in the night-time. Fortunately,
the chief portion of his papers would be saved, M.
Schlagentweit having left them, before proceeding
to Yarkand, at a place within British influence.
His travels were connected with a geographical
discovery of much importance, as no region so far
to the North-West of India as Yarkaud had been
previously approached by a Eurepean. M. Schla-
entweit and his two brothers had travelled by:the
authority and at the expense of the East India
Company. The brothers did not penetrate as far as
Yarkand, and they had since returned to Europe.
Mr. 'IEATES read a translation which he had
made of a paper written by Dr. S. Muller, and oi-
-1 titled" A Geognostic Sketch, of the Western Portion
of Timor." •
A brief discussion afterwards arose relative to
the island, which is situate in the Indian Archi-
pelago, between India. and Australia, and about
200 miles distant from the latter country. Mr.
Crawfurd spoke of Timor as a poor and wretched
place ; but Mr. Marsh, M.P., who had visited it,
thought that this was a more unfavourable view
than the island justified. He mentioned that the
natives were very similar to the aborigines of
Northern Australia, and also stated that the Timor
pony, though rather diminutive, was a beautiful
specimen of the horse tribe, being. in fact, a minia-
ture Arab.

Mr. H. CONYBEARE read a paper "On the Phy-
sical Geography of the Neighbourhood of Bombay,
as affecting the design of the Works recently
erected for the Water Supply of that City." The
most interesting portion of the paper was that in
which the author described the formation of the
works for supplying Bombay with water, of which
works he was the successful engineer, The water
is collected in an immense reservoir, the largest in
the world, abOut 14 miles from Bombay. This
reservoir is made by damming up a portion of the
valley of Ghierka, and the full extent of it is
1,294 acres. As the rains fall, as it were, only once
in a year, it is necessary to have a store of water
for a twelverhontli's supply, and this is now
supplied.
Mr. GALTON read a paper by Mr. J. Spotswood
Wilson, " On the General and Gradual Dessication
of the Earth and Atmosphere." The writer drew
attention to the fact that those who had traTelled

in continental lands, especially in or near the
tropics, had been forced to reflect on the changes of
climate that appear to have occurred. There were
parched and barren lands, dry river channels, and
waterless lakes, and not unfrequently traces of
ancient human habitations, where large populations
had been supported, but where all was now deso-
late, dry, and barren. He had been first led to a
consideration of the subject by phenomena of this
nature that hh.d come under his own observation,
particularly in Australia, and he soon discovered
that dessication, so very observable there, was too
extensive and permanent to be explained by occur-
rences of an irregular nature. Remembering also
that similar appearances had been observed in other
parts of the world, for which no satisfactory cause
was assigned, he had collected the observations of
travellers in r9gard_ to various countries, and en-

deavoured, by the evidence they afforded in the fail-
ing of the water systems, to establish the theory of
a general and continuous decline of the humidity
supported by the atmosphere, and then to discover
in the operation of some law of our terrestrial sys-
tem the cause of dessication in both land and
atmosphere. After quoting largely from the works
of various travellers and writers (among he latest of
whom was Dr. Livingstone), and giving interesting
descriptions of dried-up rivers and desolated tracts of
country in Australia, Africa, Mexico, and Peru ;which
had formerly been inhabited by man, Mr. Wilson
proceeded to give his own theory as to the cause of
this desiccation, contending that the upheaval of
the land, the waste by irrigation, and the destruc-
tion of forests, all of which had been put forward
as the cause, were insufficient to account for what
had been described. He remarked that the amount
of aqueous vapours that can be borne by the atmo-
sphere at any time must be in proportion to the
mass of the atmosphere itself, from which it fol-
lowed that-a realm-tit:ol4pr the mass of the atmo-
sphere would produce a corresponding decline in the
amount of hydrous vapours absorbed and supported.
If, therefore, a physical operation involving a waste
of the atmosphere could be discovered, it might be
concluded that at least one cause had been found
for its declining humidity, and a decline of tem-
perature was another cause. Agreeably with
these conditions it was learnt that a vast amount of
the atmosphere, and of the ocean likewise, had be-
come solidified. The rocks, in the history of their
own formation, bore witness to the tendency to this
transmutation in the character of both.. The de-
ments of water were hydrogen and_oxygen, and
the atmosphere was composed of oxygen, 'nitro-
gen, and carbonic acid, in which hydrous vapours
mingled in varying quantities, all of which had
entered largely into the formation of rocks and
minerals. The coal plants had absorbed largely all
the elements of air and water, but particularly of
carbon, of which coal contains on an average from
80 to 90 per, cent. Carbon united with oxygen
formed carbonic acid, which, combined with lime
and solidified, formed more than two-fifths of all

limestone rocks. Oxygen was said to form half of
what is known of the material of the globe. • Be-
sides existing in air and water, it formed a part of
most earthy substances, and of nearly all the pro-
ductions of the animal and vegetable kingdom.
The solvent power of water was very great, and
acted particularly on the calcareous and alkaline
elements of stone, especially when it held carbonic
acid in solution, which was abundantly supplied to
almost every large river by springs, and was col-
lected by rain from the atmosphere. The oxygen
of the atmosphere was also gradually absorbed by
all animal and vegetable productions and by almost
all mineral masses exposed to the open air.
Hence the equilibrium of the elements of rocks
was destroyed and finally reduced into powder gind
rendered fit for soils. From such facts as he had
adduced, and others, Mr. Wilson concluded that
there was a gradual solidifying of the aqueous
vapours, and consequently of water, on the face of
this terrestrial world, which he inferred was ap-
proaching a state in which it will be impossible for
man to continue-an inhabitant. Yet, he added, we
should feel satisfied with the, prospect that the
term of our occupation is not yet half expired.
Races preceded us in the chain of existence, and
there was no reason-to suppose that others would
not follow. Indeed, some of those that are destined
to succeed seem to be already in existence, and
have their home in the icy sea, where they enjoy a
climate which exceeds man's endurance. Various
considerations lead to the conclusion that the fit-
ness of the earth for man may extend to a perio 1
much longer than that in which it has been occu-
pied by him, nor will that term end till after the
Polar bear, the walrus, and the narwal have be-
come inhabitants of the-tropics.
Sir R. MuncinsoN said that whatever was

thought of Mr. Wilson's theory his facts were very
good. (Hear.) It was certainly not a very plea-
sant idea to think that our race was to go out of
existence—that it was to die through thirst. (Hear,
hear, and laughter.) Geologists would be disposed
not at all to agree with Mr. Wilson in disavowing
the influence of the elevation of land in causing
some of the effects alluded to ; but they certainly
believed that the quantity of water now existing
was very much what it was when the world began.
(Applause.)
This morning the proceedings in section E (Geo-
graphy and Ethnology), were commenced by Lieut.-
Colonel James, R.E. the superintendent of the
Ordnance Survey, delivering a brief address " On
his Geometrical Projection of Two-thirds of the
Surface of the Earth."
Dr. NORTON SHAW next read a communication
which had been received by Sir R. Murchison from
Mr. Asa IVhitney, of New York, " On the Forma-
tion of a Railway from the Atlantic to the Pacific
Ocean, through the British Possessions of North
America." The writer stated that he had for a
number of years exerted himself to induce the
Government of the United States to construct a
railway to the Pacific through their own posses.
sions, but, as there was now no probability of their
doing so, he desired to urge the English Govern-
ment to avail themselves of the territory which
they possess in North America to undertake the
work, being convinced that it would be attended
with very great advantages, and would give Eng-
land a control over the commerce with all Asia.
The PRESIDENT said, he should be much de-
lighted to see such a project carried into execution,
but he thought it very probable that public men
might entertain serious objections to it at the pre-
sent time. There might be considerable inter-
national difficulties in the way ; for instance, it
might be found impossible to construct the line with-
out deviating a little into the territory of the United
States, and it was very desirable that any mixed
interest should be avoided. (Hear.) llc c 1.11-(1 say
nothing further upon the subject than this, that it
would be his duty to communicate the paper to
Lord Derby, and he hoped it would receive his
lordship's earnest consideration. (Hear, hear.) If it
should be possible that the colonial Government of
Canada, aided by the Home Government, could en-
tertain the project, the object of Mr. Asa Whitney
would be fully answered. He (the chairman)
feared—and he believed this was the opinion of
most English people—that the Government could
not do anything in the matter, and the scheme
*seemed too gigantic for any joint-stock company to
undertake. He certainly hoped, for the interest of
Europe and the nations of the world generally, that
something, somehow or other, should be done sooner
or later to realise the project. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. R. MONCKTON MILNES, M.P., said, the de-
velopment of British Cohunbia and the adjoining
island (Vancouver's Island) would certainly give to
such a project as had been described a prospect of
reality which otherwise would have been very
visionary. He thought it most probable, if such a
scheme was to be realised in British teiritory, it
should begin _at that point at which one would
naturally suppose it should have ended, namely, on
the Vancouver's Island side, and not on the Halifax
side.
General CHESNEY then read a paper " On the
Extension of our Communication by means of Elec-
tric Wires," and a discussion afterwards arose, in
the course of which Sir Henry Rawlinson expressed
his belief that within the next 12 months there
would be perfect telegraphic communication be-
tween England and India.
It being now three o'clock the discussion on these
ethnological subjects was, after a few observations
from Admiral Fitzroy and Sir H. Rawlinson, post-
poned till this day.
The sittings of the sections will conclude this
day (Tuesday), and the closing meeting of the Asso-
ciation will be held to-morrow (Wednesday). This
evening Professor Owen will give a discourse in
the Town-hall " On the Fossil Quadrupeds of Aus-
tralia."

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THE ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH.

VALENTIA, SEP T.

Since my last communication no improvemen
has taken place in the electrical condition of the
Atlantic cable, nor indeed until within the last few
days have any operations or experiments (beyond
those the results of which have already been com-
municated) been undertaken to ascertain the nature
of the leakage in the cable, or the possibility of
working through it in its present condition. Up to
yesterday everything remained in static quo. During
each alternate hour the regular succession of signals
previously alluded to are despatched, and during
the intervals the galvanometers of Professor Thom-
son are watched for some indications of currents
from the other side; but these, unfortunately, are
seldom seen at all, and still more rarely can these
slight deflections be depended on as currents from
Newfoundland. However, there is still this much
cause for satisfaction that the fault does not get
worse at any time, while it occasionally for a time
improves, considerable and distinct " reversals"
from Newfoundland being discernible. The opinion
prevalent among many here that the principal fault
in the cable is comparatively near shore daily gains
ground, and, though Professor Thomson's opinion is
directly opposed to such a supposition, I cannot
help thinking that there really is more in it than
was at first supposed. For the reasons given in my
last letter there is, no doubt, a fault existing in the
cable upon the bank which divides the shore water
from the depths of the Atlantic, about 220 miles
from the...lrish coast ; but this fault, without the
,existence of several minor faults nearer shore would
not account for the total interruption of the currents
sent from either termini. All that Professor
Thomson, Mr. Henley, or Mr. Varley can say re-
specting the fault is that it gives a resistance to
the electric current equal to 300 miles of the
cable. But it does not therefore follow that
the interruption is 300 miles away ; for,
by passing the current through a few
yards of fine wire, or a basin of salt water, the very
same amount of resistance can be produced. Though
the distant fault may tend to interrupt the small
portion of the electric current which passes the
nearer faults, yet, if these more accessible ones were
repaired, it is the opinion of many here competent
to judge of the matter that the supposed loss of in- :
sulation out at seawould not materially affect the,'
working of the line. The more recent advises from
Newfoundland decidedly tend to strengthen the
opinion that the main interruption is close to.. this
place. Mr. Cyrus Field, in writing from Araerica,
says that "no messages have been received from
Ireland since the Ist inst., though the insulation of
the cable remains perfect." Now, according to the
experiments of Prof. Thomson and others, it has
been ascertained that a loss of insulation 300 miles
from either shore would affect the currents sent
from both ends equally, whereas if the defect were
close to either shore the loss of insulation would
only be apparent at the terminus nearest to it. A
very similar defect to the present occurred a short
time ago in one of the North Sea cables. Mr. Varley
and other scientific gentlemen tested the cable, and
pronounced the defect to be 170 miles off. The
cable was accordingly underrun and cut at a dis-
tance of 30 miles from the shore, when it was found ,
that the defect was much nearer, and after a variety
of other experiments had been tried the faulty
place in the cable was discovered, not out at sea at
all, but actually in the portion of the cable buried
in the beach. The above incident, which I believe
to be substantially correct, should teach the autho-
rities of the Atlantic Telegraph Company not to
pronounce their scheme a failure until the theoreti-
cal experiments (which are but uncertain guides,
no matter how ably conducted) are verified in some
measure by practical tests. The practical tests can-
not be obtained-without underrunning and cutting
the cable for some distance from the coast. This
operation will undoubtedly require fine weather to
rondo 4 -certainly uttorregfill_ Thc iumnl season
of fine weather, of which there has been very
little this year upon the coast, is now almost over,
and people down here already begin to look out
for the commencement of those violent storms
which render these parts of the Irish coast exciting,
if not amusing places of residence during the win-
ter time. During October, which here as well as
in other parts of the United Kingdom is usually a
a fine month, much might be done towards under-
running and repairing at least some of the damaged
portion of the cable. There is certainly no time to
be lost, for every week that the cable remains at
the bottom diminishes the chances of its being raised
from the more considerable depths should it be ne-
cessary to do so. The Cork steamer, which arrived
here on Monday last, brought Mr. Henley's gigantic
magneto-electric machines, which as soon as they
were landed were put together and got into opera-
tion on the following day. The machines are a
slight modification of the magneto-electric machines
which in place of batteries are used for working
over all the telegraph lines in Ireland, though of
course on a gigantic scale, being the largest and
most powerful instruments of the kind yet con-
structed. The two permanent magnets, from which
the electric induction is obtained, are each com-
posed of 30 horse-shoe steel magnets two feet and
a half long and from four to five inches broad. The
induction coils attached to these each contain about
six miles of wire. Some idea of the power of this
instrument may be gathered from the fact that one
shock from it, if passed through the human body,
would be sufficient to destroy life. With the aid of
this instrument Mr. Henley hopes to be able to
work through the cable during some part of each
day, even if the fault should prove irreparable. The
smaller in4rnmentc of tlif.,‘ same kind, which are
used by the Magnetic Telegraph Company, have
been found to work better over badly insulated
lines than any other description of instrument.
What is undoubtedly true of faulty overground
lines may prove so also of the Atlantic cable ; and
certainly, as far as the experiments have already
gone, Mr. Henley's instrument seems likely to
work through the line in its present condition if
anything will do it. A variety of experiments
have been tried lately, both by Professor Thomson
and Mr. Henley, to discover the relative tower of
different electrical currents to pass a fault. For
this purpose the wire connected with the cable was
stripped of its gutta percha covering in one place
and the fault immersed in water. The relative
amount of electricity which passed by the fault
into the cable was accurately measuredby a delicate
galvanometer. It was found that a current of elec-
tricity direct from the battery cells was hardly per-
ceptibly reduced in quantity after passing by a
break in the insulation an eighth of an inch long ;
the induced current from Mr. Henley's magneto-
electric machine was slightly interrupted in passing
the same fault, but the high tension induced coil
currents, which have been used from the first in
sending messages from both sides of the ocean, were
found to be almost entirely stopped by it. These
experiments, besides showing the kind of electricity
best adapted for working through the cable in its
present defective state, also show most conclusively
that one defect in the insulation, however great,
would not be sufficient to interrupt the communica-
tion ; so that there must be several faulty places in
the line. That some if not the majority, of these
places are close to the land there can be very little
doubt. The soundings from Valentia for about 60
miles to sea show a rocky and irregular bottom,
which, indeed, the precipitous cliffs which line the
coast, and the numerous lofty islands which sur-
round it in all directions, would show without the
use of the sea lead. Over these submarine hills and
valleys a very strong current sweeps, to resist which
it would require a cable at least three times as thick
as the one now in use. The small piece of the At-
lantic cable which connects Valentia Islandwith the
mainland, a distance of about an English mile, is
repeatedly being cut and injured by the tide drift-
ing it across the rocky bottom, and it is quite pos-

,sip... e
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r,rAcjoria,,
tzt
s'ble to suppose that the rapid eurrent-6
from the broad estuary of Dingle Bay ma)\ll;*---ettier
.!•atne edict upon the thin Atlantic cable which gis
across its mouth. It is the unanimous opinion of
nearly all here that the laying of 10 or 12 miles of
fie thick shore-end of the cable would tend perma-
nently to obviate a great many of the difficulties
with which the electrical department of this under-
taking has been hitherto interrupted.
There arc few parts of the United Kingdom that
are so thorov"l7 'oaknown and ont-of-the-way as
- Kerry ; indeed, until Valentin.
was fixed upon as the European terminus of the

Atlantic Telegraph, this part of the world was as

little known and as little- visited by people from
England as the wilds of Siberia. Yet, on the
western coast of Kerry there is much to interest the
lover of the picturesque, and. a variety and pecu-
liarity about the scenery which cannot fail to in-
terest the most used-up of tourists. The thousands
who annually do the hackneyed lions of Kilarney
little think that, beautiful as they are, they see but
one of the picturesque places of Kerry and meet
with the very worst specimens of Kerry people.
For Killarney is a place that lives entirely by the
" tourist trade," and, like most parts of the world
where this is the case, the peasants are usually
qualified professors of the lucrative arts of lying
and cheating. To see the beauties of Kerry to-per-
fection the tourist should penetrate into the so-
called wilds beyond the lofty ra-age of 21laegilli-
cuddy's Reeks, but among these " wilds" he will
be surprised to find thickly scattered through the
mountains and bogs a peaceful, industrious, and
thriving agricultural popuktion, and the district
traversed by roads which, though engineered among
difficulties of no common kind, for stability and
regularity 'night put to shame the roads of the
most civilised and p apulous counties in Eniland ;
the towns, of which. Cahireiveen and Knight's-town
are fair specimens, are small, being more places of
trade than of residence ; but small as they arc they
contain- the elements of progress and improvement.
instead of those of deesy, as is too often the case
With towns_ A few years have made a sur-
prising aange for the better in this district, which'
in the latter days of O'Connell obtained an unen-
viable :notoriety for wretchedness and want of
cleanli cress, and a few years more will see both
Cahir, .th-een and Valentia large and populous towns.
The l aaul in the barony of Iveragh, in which Va-
lenti a. is.situated, though not rich, is improvable,
and even in its present condition is eminently
ada pied for grazing and rearing live stock, which,
with butter, front the staple articles of trade
h( ;re. Of Valentia harbour, the most westerly
]'.arbour in Europe, and , probably one of
the most sheltered in the United Kingdom, most
people have heard, though for some unexplained
cause it is seldom visited by ships, and is altogether
neglected by the Government and the Harbour
Commissioners. Providence helps those who help
themselves. The people of Galway, though far
from the most westerly port, and even without a'
harbour in which a ship can safely anchor, come
forward and assert their town to be the natural
highway between the United Kingdom and Ame-
rica, and they are so far believed that a line of
Transatlantic steamers is placed upon the station.
Then we hear, for the first time, that the steamers
cannot run during the winter if the Government
do not turn the exposed roadstead of Galway into
a harbour by building an expensive breakwater.
With less money than'this work will cost a railway
could- be built to Valentia, and the harbour made
one of the finest in Europe. A scheme for con-
structing a railway between Killarney and this
place has lately been set on foot, and, as it is warmly
supported by all the landed proprietors of the West
of Kerry, it will, in all probability, be soon carried
out. There are certainly no engineering difficulties
against it, for the whole length of forty miles can
be constructed without making a single tunnel, and
but one cutting of any consequence. Regarding
the scheme as the first step towards establishing a
western harbour and packet station at Valentia, it
is likely to prove a beneficial one, both to those
engaged in forwarding it and to the district, which,

like a great many others in this island, is rich in
minerals, and but requires facilities of communica-
tion to develope them to advantage. Slate of a
superior quality abounds throughout the whole
barony, and, indeed, is worked to a considerable
extent on the island of Valentia. -while traces of
copper and iron are abundantly to be met with
among the mountains. The county of Kerry, in
common with several of the adjoining counties, was
visited last Friday by an extraordinary flood of
rain, which has for a time completely devastated
the country. The rain commenced about four
o'clock on Friday morning last, the 17th,
and continued to fall literally, not figura-
tively, in torrents for twelve hours without
intermission. Never before in the memory
of the present generation was such a copious and
sudden fall of rain witnessed. Not only was every
little watercourse turned into an irresistible torrent,
but the sides of the mountains presented the appear
ance of gigantic cataracts. The thousands of tons of
water which momentarily fell upon them, unable to
find channels through the ordinary ravines and
watercourses, rushed down the mountains in vast
sheets of muddy foam, sweeping away everything
before it. The mischief done was almost incalcul-
able. Farm houses, farm produce, and cattle were
carried away, not as much as a stone remaining to
show where they had stood ; and I regret to add
that in many parts of the country a great many
lives were lost. The courses of some of the larger
rivers about here were entirely and permanently
changed by the tremendous body of water flowing
into them. For a day or two after the flood sub-
sided no mails were received, and, though the mail-
bags arc now got across the rivers where the bridges
have been destroyed, the roads, some how or other,
arc still impassable to anything on wheels. The
positive loss of property throughout the country has
been very considerable, but the sums which will
be required for the repair of the bridges and roads
injured and destroyed will be greater still. It ap-
pears it is the intention of the Government to fortify
Valentia harbour. Several of the Royal Engineers
have been down here surveying the surrounding
heights for the purpose of choosing the most eligible
positions for Oic forts. One battery is, I believe, to
be placed on Doulas Head mountain, at the right
hand entrance of the harbour; a second on the

Island of Begennis, which divides the entrance, and
a third on the Island of Valentia, to command the
left hand, or lighthouse side. Other redoubts and
batteries will no doubt be distributed among the
hills which command the interior of the harbour.
The Port Mageo, or third entrance at the back of
the island, will also doubtless be properly protected.
While the engineers arc down here executing these
works, it would be as well for the Govern-
ment to turn their attention to the improve-
ment of the harbour. But a very little
labour and outlay would remove the few obstruc-
tions that now exist in it, and enable ships of the
largest tonnage to sail in and out with the greatest
ease in any wind or in any state of the tide.
Beyond the continuance of the few experiments
which I have alluded to at the beginning of this
letter nothing will be done with the cable until the
preconcerted experiments at both termini of the
line have been made. They have been fixed to take

place early in the ensuing month. The result of
these experiments will no doubt show with greater
certainty the nature and position of the faults than
could be shown by experiments at one end only.
These researches will also demonstrate the possi-
bility or impossibility of making the line work in
its present defective condition.

THE REVOLVER.--A fact highly flattering to the .
inventive genius of the British Isles is dwelt upon with un-
wonted frankness by the American press. The American
Government having entered into large contracts for its
navy with " Adams' Revolving Arm Company," was so -
satisfied with the efficiency and superiority of the revolvers •
supplied, that an official statement to that effect was issued; -
and, induced thereby, some American capitalists have'made-
arrangements with the patentee for the right to manufacture
in that country. It is said that the value of the Adams' •
revolver has been considerably increased by three new pa-
tents—one affecting the lever rod, another a double ache!'
cocking and the third a simple check, Which .provides
againsethe possibility of an accidental discharge. Tfie
patent hammer is a beautiful piece of finished mechanism,
by which a direct pressure upon the charge is obtained, and
it fits so close to the barrel that it is scarcely observable I
These patents are taken out in Mr. Adams' name, that
gentleman having recently entered business entirely on his
own behalf.