The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-14 00:00:00

A SUBSTITUTE FOR SILKWORMS.

Happily, there would seem now to be little need of the
aria, or the Chinese silkworm, or of the cocoon of com-
merce, for the production of silk will are long in all proba-
bility be derived, not from the worm, but the leaf on which
it has hitherto existed. It is now not the breeding of the
insect, but of the mulberry tree—that species which was
its only food, and which from that circumstance gave the
savant the cue that led to his making the intimated disco-
very. His name bas not yet been announced, although
we should imagine it was none other than Signor Lotteri,
who in the course of last year fully ascertained that a silky
substance could be procured from the bark of the mulberry
tree, and that by maceration good silk, and paper also,
could be easily prepared therefrom. The savant in ques-
tion, ruminating, it is said, on the circumstance of the
silkworm living on one description of food, came to the
conclusion that "the silky substance must lie not in the
animal, but the vegetable matter" which supported it.
He therefore "analysed the composition of the mulberry-
leaf, and, by boiling it to a thick paste, produced every
description of silk in immense quantities." Such a sub-
stance being obtained from that species of leaf, it is not at
all unlikely that from the Chinese oak and the castoroil
plant a somewhat similar result might be obtained. Be
that as it may, and the truth of the other being shortly
corroborated, neither Moreton-bay need sigh for the intro-
duction of the cotton plant, nor the northern and southern
States of America shed their blood for the suppression or
in the defence of slavery, nrJr England much longer play
the hypocrite by condemning that accursed "institution"
with one breath and -with another admitting the expedi-
ency of, at all hazards, strenously upholding it. This is
tho land—every land within the temperale zone is, more or
less—favourable to the rearing of the vine, the mulberry,
and the olive. Every one, therefore, the possessor or oc-
cupier of a small spot of ground therein, may rear the
great substitute for cotters, and, in so doing, weaken more.
and more this lamentable and apparently indispensable
adhesion to slavery. He may " put money in his purse ;"
and, clothing his family and himself in " silk attire"—such
as Imperial Caesar had not dared to wear—drawn from the
branches that give him shade and refreshing sustenance
by day and by night afford him the sleep of contentment,
he may well thank Heaven that he is permitted to reap
t he fruits, though he have shared not the labours, of the
thoughtful and perhaps ill-recompensed analyser of the
enigmatical phases of nature. He may cheerfully and
confidingly believe thenceforth that in the varied produc-
tions that she surrounds him with lie hid the main causes
of the world's progress, and the renewing sources of peace
and goodwill to men.—Sydney Empire.

The Pays announces that the two first battalions of
the 7th regiment of Austrian infantry had arrived
on the 4th at Czernowitz, the capital of the Bukovine,
coming from Jassy, where they formed part of the gar-
rison. The evacuation of the Danubian Provinces was
proceeding without interruption, and it is expected by
the French Government that it will be complete in a
very few days.
MELA.NCITOLY FATALlTY.—Yesterday Mr. Wakley,
coroner for West Middlesex, held an inquest at the Mar-
quis of Hastings, Ossulton-street, Clarendon square, on
Mrs. Eliza Calkin, the wife of a dancing-master, aged
35, who died under the following distressing circem-
stances :—The deceived resided with her husband in Bar-
clay-street, and with the exception of occasional fits she
enjoyed very good health. On Monday morning, that be-
ing her birth-day, she awoke her husband, complaining
that her nose was bleeding. The bleeding left off in a
few minutes, when the husband remarked, " Ab, this
is your birthday, and many returns of the day." They
then kissed one another, but almost immediately the
hapless deceased complained of her head, and her hus-
band then got out of bed to procure some vinegar to
bathe it with, but on returning to the bedside he
found the deceased in an unconscious state, and she
never spoke afterwards. Mr. Mentmore, a medical
attendant of the family, was at once sent for and
quickly arrived, when the most prompt and active treat-
ment was at once resorted to, but unavailingly, as the
poor woman gradually sank and died the same afternoon.
Mr. Mentmore, who performed the post mortem exami-
nation, proved that death arose from an extensive extra-
vasation in and upon the brain ; and the Coroner, in
commenting upon the painful nature of the case, gave it
as his opinion that the fatal attack might have been
brought about by excessive emotion or joy. The jury
recorded a verdict in accordance with the medical testi-
mony, and the inquiry terminated.
STAR CLUB OF LONDON.—This club held their second
meeting for the present season at the Ciarendon Hotel,
Bond-street, on Wednesday laat, when the following
members and visitors wero present :—Mr. B. Oliveira,
M.P., Mr. J. Steel, M.P., Mr. Scott Russell, Mr. H.
G. Bobn, Mr. Rowland Hill, Mr. W. A. Matthews,
Mirza Ackbar Kban, Meer Ali Moorad, Khan Talpoor,
Meer Fyuz Mahomed Khan Talpoor, Mr. M. Gore,
Mr. Fortescue Harrison, Mr. Edward Burmester, Mr.
Harvey Lewis, Mr. John Field, Mr. Charles White, Mr.
H. B. Sheridan, Rev. George Jepson, and Mr. John M.
Deere.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.-It is more than probable
that the forthcoming season of the Royal Italian Opera
will, as wo have already stated, take place at the Lyceum
Theatre, instead of at Drury-lane. The change in Air.
Oyes arrangement has been brought about by the die-
covery of a clause in an act connected with the latter
establishment, which gives the renters the distinct right
of admission to the dress circle, and which prevents that
portion of the theatre being turned into more than four-
teen private boxes. The ronfers have asserted their pri-
vileges, and some stoutly insist on the fulfilment of their
claims to the very letter of the law. Mr. Gye has, there-
fore, taken the Lyceum Theatre, and should he not
be enabled to overcome the obstinacy of these cheap
patrons of the drama, the performances will &take place
in the same arena occupied by them duriug the last
imam