The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-01 00:00:00

FRENCH ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.

The piercing of glass by electrical sparks is no novelty,
and is frequently had recourse to in laboratories, when a
hole through a receiver or other glass utensil is required ;
but there has been hitherto no instance of such an opera-
tion being performed on a plate of glass two inches thick
and upwards. The Academy was therefore somewhat sur-
prised the other day when M. Faye produced two plates, or
rather lumps of glass; one of the thickness of 4f centimetres,
the other of 6, pierced through and through by the induc-
tion spark of Ruhmkorff's large machine. M.:Faye observed
that the trace left by the spark consisted of an opaque white
thread, along which cracks, two or three millimetres in
length, were perceived spirally situated under different azi-
muths. There was no trace of fusion. A bifurcation is per-
ceived in the thread at the depth of about one-third of the
thickness of the large plate, and as it approaches the oppo-
site side it is subdivided into several thinner threads.
During the experiment M. Ruhmkorff had remarked
llaidinger's coloured tassels, showing that a powerful
pressure was being exercised by the spark on the sur-
face of the glass. M. Faye concluded by expressing a
belief that artificial fulgarites, such as natural lightning
leaves in sand, might be produced by that powerful
machine. At the sitting a communication was read from
M. Valz, in reply to M. Faye's contradiction of the for-
mer's supposition that the earth had passed through the
last comet's tail. M. Valz admits that there exists very
little reliable information regarding the position of comets'
tails, but contends that for that very reason it cannot be
asserted that they always lie entirely in the plane of the
orbit. One of his remarks is curious. It has been believed
that comets' tails were flat, and extended in the plane of
the orbit; but this, M. Valz contends, could not be the
case with the last could, because, since it so happened that
the earth was for a short time in the same plane with it,
we should have seen the tail edgewise, and therefore very
thin, which did not prove to be the case. M. Serret read a
long report on a dispute which has been for some time
going on between the eminent geometrician M. Chasles
and M. Breton, of Champ, regarding the right of priority
claimed by the latter touching the discovery of Euclid's
Porisms, obscurely hinted at by Pappus, and partially re-
stored by Simson. The report decides the question by
declaring that what is not Simson's belongs to M. Chasles,
who had announced the basis of his work several years
Ware 14, Dretou's sblicatiensi

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

NEWMARKET HOUGHTON MEETING
THURSDAY.

The attention of the betting world having been called to
the Nurseries for Friday, and two or three animals backed
during the mornihg, a movement was made to the heath at
half-past 11, where the attendance showed a diminution,
since the great event and its subsequent settling had been
disposed of. The weather was fine, and the card, with 11
items and large entries upon its face, promised great sport
for the day. The racing, which was chiefly composed of
handicaps, and not particularly interesting, was very good
throughout the afternoon. Several events were decided by
a head only, nearly all being closely contested; but the
wonder of the day was the performance of Nutbush, who
carried the crushing weight of lOst 41b, and won easily,
giving 361 b to the second, and 3st to the favourite, Ant-
werp. Towards 3 o'clock the weather became very cold,
and at half•past 4 the business of the day came to an end.

At exercise on the Limekilns in the morning Mr. Nay-
lor's mare Calpe broke her leg in turning, and was imme-
diately destroyed.
Subscription Handicap Plate of 50 sovs ; for three-yr-olds
and upwards. D.I.

Mr. Saxon's Roesia, 4 yrs, 7st (Midgley) 1
Mr. G. Bryan's Stanton, 3 yrs, 6st 121 b (J. Daley) 2
Mr. Hawkesley's Zodiac, 3 yrs, 7st 131 b.. (G Fordham) 3

The following also ran :—Bevis, Lucknow, Finlande,
Moorhen, The Prophet, Pardalote, Mutineer, and Irene.:
Betting-5 to 1 each agst Roesia and Zodiac, and 6to 1
each agst Moorhen, Stanton, and Mutineer.

Immediately the flag fell Pardalote jumped off, but was
directly got round, and after running a few strides she ran
through her horses, and came on with a commanding lead,
followed by Bevis, Roesia, and Mutineer, the others, headed
by Moorhen, Zodiac, Stanton, and The Prophet, lying se-
veral lengths away. In this order they crossed the flat to
the turn of the lands, where Pardalote began to come back
to her horses, the rearmost horses at the same time draw-
ing
forward. Halfway between the Duke's :Stand and the
cords J. Osborne's filly was disposed of, and Roesia on the
lower side came on with a slight lead, closely followed by
the Moorhen, Zodiac, and Stanton in the centre, and The
Prophet on the upper ground. A fine race home ensued
between the lot, which ran in aline to within a few strides
of the chair, where Midgley brought out Roesia, who won
cleverly by a length and a half, Stanton beating Zodiac by
half a length for second ; Moorhen was a good fourth, The
Prophet fifth, and Bevis next.

Free Handicap Sweepstakes of 100 soya each, h ft, for three.
yr-olds ; winners extra. A.F. 9 subs.
_ _ _

Lord Zetland's Carbineer, 7st 81b (Challoner) 1
Duke of Beaufort's The Roe, 7st 41b (J. Adams) 2
Betting 11 to 8 on The Roo.

The pair jumped away together, the favourite, if any-
thing, having the lead, which she held into the Abingdon-
mile-bottom, where Carbineer headed her and won, after a
fine race home, by a neck.

Free Handicap Sweepstakes of 30 soya each, 20 ft. A win-
ner of a handicap after the weights were published (Oct.
24. at 10 a.m.) to carry 71b extra. T.Y.C. 11 subs.
Lord Stamford's Lava, 3 yrs, 7st (Roper) 1
Mr. Elton's Gauntlet, 3 yrs, Est 111 b (Wheatley) 2
Sir J. Hawley's Cowley, 3 yrs, 7st 41b (A. Edwards) 3
Captain Coates's Libellous, 4 yrs, 7st 101 b (J. Snowden) 4
Mr. Ten Broeck's Maggiore, 4 yrs, 7st 121 b (Fordham) 6
Mr. Williamson's Limeflower, 3 yrs, Est 81b..(Midgley) 6
Lord Srrathmore's Sporting Life, 3 yrs, Est 131 b (Covey) 7
Lord Derby's Star of India, 3 yrs, 7st 71b (Chaloner) 8
Betting-3 to 1 agst Maggiore, sto 1 agst Lava, 6to 1
agst Gauntlet, and 8 to 1 agst any other.

Gauntlet cut out the work with a clear lead, waited upon
by Libellous, Lava, Cowley, and Maggiore, with the others
lying up nearly in line, in which order they ran half way to
the cords, where Lava obtained a slight lead, and won by a
neck, a head only separating the second and third, and a
similar distance the third and fourth. A length from
Libellous came Maggiore, Limeflower being sixth.
Sweepstakes of 10 sovs each; for 2-yr-olds, 7st ; 3-yr-olds,
Bst 121 b ; fillies allowed 21b. The winner to be sold for
80 sovs if demanded, &c. T.Y.C. 5 subs.
Mr. E. Thomas's Dux, 2 yrs, 6st 121 b (Midgley) 1
Count F. de Lagrange's Absinthe, 2 yrs, Est 121 b

Grimshaw) 2
Mr. Bowles's Blacklock, 2 yrs, 7st. ... J.
Adams) 3
Lord Canterbury's Golden Fleece, 2 yrs, 6st 121 b

_ .
(J. Daley) 4
Mr. C. Rayner's Sacerdos, 3 yrs, Bst 121 b .... (Aldcroft) 5
Betting-2 to 1 agst Absinthe, 3to 1 agst Dux, and 4to
1 agst Golden Fleece.

Blacklock jumped away with a slight lead, waited upon
by Golden Fleece,, the favourite, and Dux, Sacerdos lying
off. On entering the cords Dux went up, and in a few
strides after came on with a slight lead, Absinthe and
Blacklock lying at her quarters; the three finishing a fine
race home, Dux winning in the last stride by a head; Ab-
sinthe beating Blacklock by a head for second ; Golden
Fleece was fourth, close up ; Sacerdos last. The winner
was claimed by Count Lagrange.

Handicap Sweepstakes of 15 sous each, 10 ft, for 3-yr-olds
and upwards. First half of Ab M. 14 subs.
Mr. Hawksley's Nutbush, 3 yrs, lOst 41b (G. Fordham) 1
Lord Stamford's Lava, 3 yrs, 7st 121 b (A. Edwards) 2
Mr. Jackson's Longshot, 3 yrs, 7st 101 b
The following also ran :—Confectioner, Penalty, Woman
in Red, Restes, Maid of the Mist, and Antwerp.
Betting-2 to 1 agst Antwerp, 9to 2 agst Nutbush, 6to
1 agst Lava, and 10 to 1 each agst Penalty, Woman in Red,
Restes, Longshot, and Maid of the Mist.

Nutbush, notwithstanding her crushing weight, came
away with the running, followed by Antwerp and Longshot
side by side; Lava, who got badly off, lying third, some
lengths in the rear ; the others, headed by Penalty, Restes,
and Woman in Red, following at wide intervals. On en-
tering the cords Lava improved her position, and ran past
Antwerp and Longshot, but failed to reach Nutbush, who
won in most gallant style, amid the shouts of the spectators,
by a length, a head separating the second and third. Restes
finished a good fourth, Antwerp fifth, and Maid of the
Mist sixth ; the others beaten off.

Handicap Sweepstakes of 15 sous each, 10 ft, for 2-yr-olds,
D.M. 20 subs.

Mr. Hughes's Real Jam, Est 91b (Midgley) 1
Mr. W. Day's Plunkett colt, Est 91b (Mullins) 2
Sir J. Hawley's Black Pearl, 7st 41b (Edwards) 3
Mr. Thomas's Brightonia colt, 7st 31b (Reeves) 4
The following also ran : Queen of Spain, Tolurno,
Watchman, Old Towler, Mahala, Aga& Peahen, Sagitta-
rius, Warrener, Colares, Charlton, Underhand's dam colt,
Cutler, and Harlequin.

Betting-5 to 2 apt the Plunkett colt, 6to 1 agst
litrightonia, 8 to leach agst Tolurno and Real Jam, and 10
to 1 agst Harlequin.

After a good start, in which Tolurno jumped off, with
Mahala, Old Towler, Black Pearl, and Real Jam next, the
lot quickly began to spread, the three which eventually
finished in front gradually coming away from the ruck. In
doing this something trod on the heels of Black Pearl, and
threw her out of her stride, when Mr. Day's eolt and Red
Jam went on with a clear lead, which they maintained to
the end. Real Jam headed the Plunkett colt when half-
way up the cords, and won cleverly by half a length; Black
Pearl was a bad third ; the Brightonia colt fourth, and
Mahala fifth, the rest pulling up as they passed the post.
Handicap Sweepstakes of 15 sous each, 10 ft, for 3-yr-olds
and upwards. T.Y.C. 19 subs.
Lord Stamford's Walloon, 3 yrs, 7st 71b (A. Edwards) 1
Baron Rothschild's Queen of the Vale, 3 yrs, 7st 121 b
((1. Fordham) 2
Mr. W. Owen's Brilliant, 3 yrs, sst 131 b (car Est)
(H. Taylor) 3
The following also ran—Gallus, Curlew, Rocket, Tight-
fit, East Sheen, Lopcatcher, Spencer, Lady Clare, Ducat,
David Ann, Ellen, and The Rock.

Batting-5 to 2 agst Brilliant, 4to 1 agst Walloon, and
10 to 1 bar two.

With little or no loss of time the flag was lowered to an
equitable start. Walloon, being first on his legs, jumped
away with a clear lead, having for his immediate followers
Queen of the Vale, Tight-fit, Gallus, Brilliant, and Ellen,
the rear division being headed by East Sheen, Ducat, and
Lopcatcher, who were widely spread across the course. De-
scending the hill, Walloon, in company with Queen of the
Vale, drew away from their horses, Brilliant going on third)
and East Sheen fourth, in which order they finished, Wal-
loon winning with hands down by a length and a half,
Queen of the Vale obtaining second place by a length. East
Sheen was fourth, close up, Lopcatcher fifth, Tight-fit sixth;
the others, widely spread across the course, beaten off.
Sweepstakes of 50 sovs each, h ft, for two-yr-olds; colts,
Bst 71b ; fillies, Bst 41b. Ab. M. 9 subs.
Mr. T. Valentine's Hurricane, by Wild Dayrell, Bst 71b
(G. Fordham) 1
Captain Lane's br f Emily de Lona (late Altisidora),
Bst 41b (Custance) • 2
Betting-7 to 2on Hurricane.

Hurricane made play, followed by Emily de Lona, who
ran exceedingly raw and green, and the former, in conse-
quence, won by a length.
Selling Handicap Sweepstakes of 10 sous each, for two-yr
olds and upwards. he winner to be sold for 100 sous, if
demanded, &c. Last half of Ab.M. 9 subs,
101 b
Mr. Mundy's Grey Milton, by Rifleman, tJY.red sst
zimshw) 1
Mr. Barber's Foxhead, 3 yrs, 7st (J. Adams) 2
(H. Taylor) 3
The following also ran :—Donner und Blitz, Newburgh,
Mr. Lincoln's Memo, 3 yrs, Bst
Rhoebus, Annette, and Baylock.
Betting-4
to 1 agst Newburgh, 5 to 1 each agst An.
nette, Memo, and Rhoebus, and 10 to 1 agst Grey Milton.
Foxhead, in company with Grey Milton, Memo, and
Newburgh, made the running at a good pace to within a
short distance of the chair, where Grey Milton headed him,
and won cleverly by a head, half a length separating the
second and third. Newburgh was fourth, Rhcebus fifth,
Baylock sixth, Annette next, and Donner und Blitz last.
Sweepstakes of 10 soya each, for two-yr-old colts, Bst 71b,
and fillies, Bst 41b. The winner to be sold for 40 soya, if
demanded, &c. Last half of Al). M. 8 subs.
Mr Greville's Tarragona, Sst 41b ........ (L. Snowden) 1 Mr. C. Reynard's Crisis, Bst 41b
Mr. Ogilvie's Montebello, Bst 7J13 ............ (Parsons) 3
Mr. Kennard's Bravo, Bst 71b . (Bullock) 4
Mr. A. Brown's Liberality, Bst 71b......... (J. Goater) 5
Mr. C. Rayner's Lass o'Gowrie, Bst 41b. • (Cress 11) 6
Mr. J. Scott's Trust, Bst 41b. • ........ Boyce)we 7
Mr. Melion's Seahorse, Bst 71b ............ (E. Sharpe) 8
Betting-6 to 4 agst Tarragona, sto 1 each agst Trust
and Montebello, 6 to 1 agst Lasso' Gowrie, 100 to 15 agst
Seahorse, and 10 to 1 agst Bravo.
Several false starts took place, in which Montebello,
Bravo, and Trust distinguished themselves by breaking
away. When the flag fell, Crisis, with Lass o' Gowrie on
thQ whip baud aiati Bravo on the lower ground, made plan

iiw ~a

followed by the favourite and Liberality to the brow of the
hill, where Tarragana caught Crisis, and in a few strides
further headed her, and won in a canter by two lengths ; a
bad third ; the others beaten off.
Mr. Reynard claimed the winner.
Optional Selling Plate of 50 soya; for 2-yr-olds, Est 51b ;
3-yr-olds, Bst 51b ; 4.yr-olds, 9st 31b ; 5-yr-olds and up-
wards, Oat 71b. The winner to be sold for 100 soya ; if
entered to be sold for 80 soya, allowed 51b ; if for 50 soya
121 b. R.M.
Mr. Merry's Lady Peel, 5 yrs, Bst 91b (£50).. (Custance) 1
Mr. Hodgman's Mabel filly, 2 yrs, sst 71b (£5O) (Morris) 2
Mr. Hudson's Miss Emma, 3 yrs, 7st 71b (£5O) A. Edwards) 3
The following also ran :—Night Revel, Neric, Mermaid,
Clematis, Sneer filly, Venerator, Duplicity, Captain Crow,
and Guilder.

Betting-5 to 2 agst Miss Emma, 6to 1 each agst Lady
Peel and Captain Crow, 100 to 12 agst Guilder, 10 to 1 each
agst Venerator and Clematis, and 100 b 8 agst Night Revel.
Duplicity, in company with the Mabel filly, Mies Emma,
Lady Peel, the Sneer filly, and Guilder, were the first off,
and came on in a cluster to the brow of the hill, where Miss
Emma took a clear lead, the Mabel filly going on second,
Guilder third, and Lady Peel next, the others,
headed by the Sneer filly, lying close up. Tlalf-pay in the
distance Miss Emma gave way to Lady Peel, who, with the
Mabel filly, finished the race together, Lady Peel winning
very cleverly by two lengths; Miss Emma finished a bad
third ; the last two were Venerator and Night Revel.,
Mr. Hodgman claimed the winner, Mr. G. Brown Miss
Emma, and Mr. W. Day Venerator.

LATEST BETTING,
DERBY.
40 to 1 agst Typee colt
50 to 1 agst Nottingham
60 to 1 agst Tolurno
50 to 1 agst Lady Evelyn
100 to 90 agst Hubert

CALPE.—This mare met with an accident whilst at exer-
cise on the Limekilns, at Newmarket, on Thursday, and
was destroyed.

THE NEWS FROM NEW OIaRANS.

The intelligence from New Orleans is really
" wonderful if true." We are, however, inclined to
adopt the theory advanced by the New York Times,
and think that if Hollins engaged our ships he was
induced to withdraw his " little mosquito fleet of 16
guns and 300 men" as rapidly as possible. Also,
that, finding that the batteries on the Sand Spit
commanding the five passes were really as effective
as the despatch of the 4th inst. predicted they would
be, Hollins determined to risk an engagement, and
attacked the vessels protecting the batteries. The
40 guns which the Federal fleet are represented to
have had Were probably those of the Vincennes,
Preble, and Water Witch. The blockade fleet off
New Orleans at the last accounts consisted of the
above named vessels, with the Niagara, Savannah,
and Richmond. It is by no means improbable that
the sensation despatches from the South with which
we have recently been favoured are intended to
have a depressing effect upon the North, and to pro-
duce a hope of ultimate triumph at the South. The
rebels have now to resort to every stratagem in
order to keep up the courage of their troops. The
" gentlemen" of the Southern States are beginning
to learn that the blow so long impending must
speedily fall, and they already fear its crushing
effect. Whenever, therefore, they meet with a re-
verse it is their policy to paint the story in its
brightest colours, in order that the people may
believe in the utter demolition of a Federal
fleet of 40 guns and 1,000 men by a
" little Confederate mosquito fleet of 16 guns and
300 men." The little steamer which is re-
ported as having sunk the Preble was formerly
known as the Enoch Train, was built in Boston, and
employed in the harbour of New Orleans as a tug-
boat. A large reward being offered to any one who
should succeed in destroying the Federal fleet, a
party of ingenious mechanics determined to prepare
the Train for that purpose. Accordingly, she was
thoroughly protected with bomb and shot-proof iron
casing, a roof of iron covering the boat, and the
bow strengthened to resist any collision. Powerful
machinery was then placed on board, and the in-
genuity of the mechanics was put to the test in
order to complete this formidable engine of destruc-
tion. As it was intended to be driven at its fullest
speed against the side of a ship, an iron ram pro-
jected from the bow, and directly beneath this was
an admirably constructed weapon having three
claws, encircling a large augur. The claws
were intended. to fasten into the side of the
vessel attacked at the momenb of collision, while
the augur, driven by an engine, was intended
to bore a hole in the side. The operation, if
successful, could be renewed by means of a jointed
shaft, so that a large number of holes could be bored
within a small circumference. If the Preble has
been sunk by this ram, as reported, she was pro-
bably in a position from which she could not defend
herself, or in which she could not avoid this artifi-
cial mosquito.—New York Commercial Advertiser.