The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-28 00:00:00

With these facts the professor scrambled from the
.arboard paddle-box of the Hibernia. He had also
made some observations on the form of waves. When
the wind blows steadily from one point they are gene-
rally regular ; but when it is high and gusty, and
shifts from point to point, the sea is broken up, and
the waves take a more conical shape, and assume
fantastical crests. While the sea ran high, the pro-
fessor observed now and then a ridge of waves extend-
ing from about a quarter to a third of a mile in length,
forming, as it were, a rampart of water. This ridge
was sometimes straight, and sometimes bent as of a
crescent form, with the central mass of water higher
than the rest, and not unfrequently with two or three
semi-elliptical mounds in diminishing series on either
side of the highest peak.
When the wind had subsided a few of the bolder
passengers crawled upon deck in the oddest imagin-
able costumes. They had not much to encounter, for
about a third part of the greater undulations averaged
only twenty-four feet from crest to hollow, in height.
These higher waves could be seen and selected from
the pigmy waves about them, at the distance of a
quarter of a mile from the ship.
The professor had been very unpopular on board
while the stormy weather lasted, and the ladies had
vowed that he was a sarcastic creature, and would
have his little joke on the gravest calamities of life ;
but as the waves decreased in bulk, and the wind
lulled, and the sun shone, and the men took off their
oil-skin coats, and the cabin windows were opened,
the ffowns of the fair voyagers wore off. Perfect
goodwill was general before the ship sighted Liver-
pool ; and even the cook, as he prepared the last dinner
for the passengers, was heard to declare (in confidence
to one of the stokers) that, after all, there might be
something worth knowing in the professor's observa-

ons.

When the professor landed at Liverpool he would
on no account suffer the carpet-bag containing his
calculations to be taken out of his sight. Several in-
quisitive persons, however, made the best use of their
own eyes, to ascertain the name of the extraordinary
observer, and found it to be legibly inscribed with
the well-known name of Scoresby.
That his investigations may be the more readily
impressed on the reader's mind we conclude with a
summary of them. It would seem from Dr. Scoresby's
intrepid investigations that the highest waves of the
Atlantic average in
Altitude
Mean distance between each wave 559 feet
Width from crest to crest ... 600 feet

Interval of time between each wave 16 seconds
Velocity of each wave per hour ... 32 miles.
liousehold Words.

THE IRON TRADE.

BIRMINGHAM, FRIDAY.—Tbe usual meeting of the
iron trade preliminary to the general quarterly meet-
ings was held at Wolverhampton yesterday. There
was a large attendance of the ironmasters of the dis-
trict.

A discussion of some length took place with regard
to the present state and prospects of the trade. Busi-
ness was described as extremely flat, and Mr.
Thorneycroft introduced a communication from the
Welch masters, in which they suggested as a remedy
for, or an alleviation of, the general depression under
which they were all suffering, a reduction to the
extent of one-third of the make in Scotland, Wales,
Derbyshire, Shropshire, and Staffordshire. This
communication, as a novelty, being the first received
from the rival ironmasters of the principality, was
looked upon with considerable interest, and will no
doubt, from the favourable opinions expressed by the
principal ironmasters present, be acted upon to a great
extent. Over-production is considered one of the main
causes of the present ruinously low rates. At a period
when iron to an enormous amount was demanded for
railway purposes new works were created and fresh
furnaces put in blase, now no longer required for the
common and every-day supply of ti ade and commerce.
It is difficult to predict what immediate effect the pro-
posed reduction of make will have upon prices, but
its natural tendency will be towards an advance; and
this is avowedly the result hoped for and anticipated.
The condition of the workpeople must not, however,
be overlooked. At present, upon a close calculation,
it is stated that throughout the whole of this great
iron-producing district scarcely any of the forges are
working to more than half their capabilities, and by
far the greater portion of them not to that extent. A
further reduction of the manufacture of iron will of
necessity produce greater additional suffering among
the ironmen of South Staffordshire—a race of men
already ill-employed and impoverished. The masters,
however, appear to have no other course before them
than
,the one proposed. Were it not for the fact
already mentioned, over-building and over-making, it
would seem strange that with the apparent activity, if
not prosperity, of all other trades, that of iron should
be " utterly lifeless and unremunerative."
Under the circumstances described it was appre-
hended by some persons interested in the trade that
at the meeting yesterday a reduction of the price of
iron would be proposed. Such, however, was not the
case. The masters resolved to abide by the queta-
tations of last quarter, and upon the motion of Mr.
P. Williams, seconded by Mr. Routh, the meeting
adopted unanimously a resolution to that effect.
Prices at the works may therefore be stated at about
as follows;--Bars or merchant iron, from 51. 15s. to
61. per ton ; hoops, 61. lOs. to 71. ; sheets, 71. The
business done in pig iron is comparatively limited,
prices vary ing, as in other description., according to
maker and quality.

THE EXHIBITION OF 1861.
At length the actual work of erecting a building
wherein the products of the Industry of all Nations
are to be collected, has been commenced. Within
the vast hoarding which has been put up round the
site selected a busy scene presents itself. The levels
and measurements of the ground necessary before
commencing operations have all been completed, and
the iron pillars upon which the structure is to rest are
bring fixed in their places. A large portion of the
materials to be used are already within the inclosure,
and the working sheds and other preparations and
facilities for pushing on the great undertaking having
been finished, the inhabitants of the metropolis will
now from day to day be able to watch the progress
made. In three months from this time an edifice con-
structed entirely of iron and glass, covering more
than 18 acres of land, and capable of giving house
room to all that is rare and valuable in human in-
dustry, is to rise from its foundations. Within as
short a period it seems almost impossible to imagine
that a work of such magnitude can be completed ;
but those who have undertaken the contract and are
responsible for its performance speak confidently on
the subject. In the meantime there is nothing to be
seen within the enclosure but heaps of iron, a few
sheds, some cranes, two or three slender scaffoldings,
and about 250 or 300 workmen, all busily engaged
at their appointed tasks. At the main entrance crowds
of labourers are collected in the hope of employment,
and where, between the planks of the hoarding, a
glimpse of the interior can be obtained, the idle and
curious assemble to watch.

EXECUTION OF PIRATES AT BREST.—The three
negro sailors, Domingo da Salva, Jose da Costa, and Fallee
Foule, convicted of having assassinated the captain of the
brig Adele, during the shipwreck of that vessel on the
African coast, July 28, 1849, underwent their sentence on
Friday last. Two of them were executed, and the third
sent to the hulks. The Ocean, of Brest, gives the following
particulars of the execution : —" The condemned men were
led to the spot on which they were to expiate their crimes.
Both embraced their confessors, and pressed the crucifix to
their lips. At that terrible moment the courage of Da Costa
(Ailed. He asked for a glass of water, which was imme-
diately brought. The eyes of both were then bandaged, and
the two knelt on the ground. At the same moment the
detonation was heard, and the unhappy men fell each on his
side. Da Costa was killed at once. Domingo showed signs
of life. The surgeon, ascertaining that the pulse yet beat,
made a sign to the sergeant, who approached to terminate
the sufferings and the life of the unhappy man. His musket,
however, missed fire, and a second sergeant was called, who,
placing the mouth of his piece to the ear of the dying man,
blew off the top of his skull. After the execution the
troops present defiled before the bodies, which were removed
by convicts from the anirhithestre."

" Cherbourg, Septembre, 1850.
" Messieurs,—Je suis fort sensible s votre offra
gracieuie d'inscrire mon nom parmi ceux des person-
nages eminens qui figurent sur la liste de votre
honorable club. Je l'accepte avic plaisir, et en vous
rdmerciant de vos souhaites pour la prosperiti de la
France j'en forme de sinceres avec vous pour l'union
durable des deux nations.

"Agreez Messieurs I'expression de mes sentiments
:res distinguees.

" Louis NAPOLEON, Pr.
" Messieurs les Membres du Royal IV. Yacht
Club of!cgLand."

CHATHAM, SEPT. 27.—The Albatross, 12 guns,
Acting-Commander Elliot, arrived on the 23d inst.,
had her masts taken out yesterday, and she will be
paid off to-morrow at twelve o'clock.
The Bonetta, brigantine, of 3 guns, Lieutenant and
Commander Frederick E. Forbes, from the west coast
of Africa, came into the harbour on Wednesday
afternoon last to be paid off here; her crew, in-
cluding Marines, consists of 65 men. The prize-
money due to the officers and men is very consider-
able.

The Spy, brigantine, 3 guns, Lieutenant and Com-
mander G. Western, from the west coast of Africa, is
ordered to this port to be paid off, and the Water-
witch of 8 guns, Commander R. R. Quin, and crew
of 80 men, including Marines, from Benguela, west
coast of Africa, is also ordered for Chatham, to be
paid off.

The Poictiers, 72-guns, Captain Peter Richards,
C.B , will be paid off to-morrow. She is exeected to
be made a coal depot ship, for supplying the steam-
navy. _

The Goodwill naval lighter arrived yesterday from
Devonport with stores for this yard, and the Quail
naval lighter is loading alongside the dockyard-wharf
with stores for Pembroke.

The brig Addison, of Stockton, arrived on the 24th
from Petersburgh with a cargo of hemp for the dock-
yard, and the ship John and 'serails, of South
Shields, arrived yesterday from St. Petersburgh with
a cargo of hemp for this dockyard.
Detachments of regiments, consisting of the 25th
Foot, 51st and 84th, to the number of 114 men, under
command of Captain Woolley, 51st King's Own Light
Infantry, with Ensign Kennedy, 51st, Lieutenant
Kenny, 84th, and Ensign Chute, 84th, embarked at
Gravesend this day on board the Duke of Bedford, for
Madras. The troops came from Chatham by the
North Kent Railway. Colonel Kelly, commandant
of the provisional battalion, with Staff Captain Jack-
son, from Chatham, were present to witness the em-
barkation of the soldiers.

APPOINTMENT.

Woonwicn, &PT. 27.—Surgeon John Bower
(1841), to be Surgeon-Superintendent of the Emma
Eugenia convict-ship. The Emma Eugenia was the
vessel employed to carry stores to the edge of the ice,
where they were put on board the vessels of Captain
Austin's expedition.
The Firefly steam•vessel, Commander George A.
Seymour, on being again tried yesterday at the mea-
sured mile, made a speed of 7 knots per hour. Im-
mediately after the trial workmen from the Woolwich
dockyard commenced putting on single floats, which
were expected to give her a speed of 8 knots per hour
when she run the measured mile this morning, which
she was to do before going round this day to Ply-
mouth.
The Wasp steam-sloop returned to Woolwich yes-
terday evening, from her experimental trial. She ex-
ceeded the expectations of all on board, amongst
whom were Lieutenant Robertson and Master-Com-
mander Allen, of the Black Eagle, in charge of the
vessel, with all the officers studying steam, and Mr.
Humphreys, Chief Engineer at the Dockyard. The
speed attained was upwards of 6} knots per hour, the
revolutions of the screw propeller being from 70 to
79 in some instances per minute. The screw slipped
considerably, and when that is remedied it is expected
she will increase her speed, and prove a most service-
able vessel.

The Teazer steam-vessel, Lieutenant-Commander
Selwyn, was paid off to-day at this port, and the crew
will shortly have a considerable amount to receive as
prize money. In March, 1849, she captured the
Catarina de Born Pim, with 630 men, women, and
children on board, and sent her away from the Bights,
hoping to reach Sierra Leone in 1G or 20 days, which
unfortunately extended to 42 days—a period so long
beyond the time calculated that great distress occurred
on board from want of provisions. A
.circumstance
which would have done credit to the inhabitants of
the most civilized country occurred during the dis-
tress which existed on board, and when they were
nearly reduced to absolute want, as for the last three
days they had only the dried huske of capsicums and
salt to subsist upon. About three or four days be •
fore they were reduced to that extremity, a deputa-
tion of the men slaves came aft with an interpreter,
and begged that the rest of the proviedons then
remaining should be dealt out to the women and
children only, as they, the men, could last longer
without food. Fortunately, within six days after
that bright example, in a quarter where it could have
been least expected, the vessel arrived at Sierra
Leone, and the slaves were well provided for. The
basrasbseignugn bmr
made
dueg ht home
to
lo
ad by the
at
the
e Teazer,breach, and
was describedoaptu rcaptured
d
from a native chief in 1820, and bad lain amongst old
Government stores on the Gambia until it bad at-
tracted the attention of Lieutenant-Commander Sel-
wyn, who had it brought home, and it is now depo-
sited amongst the valuable collection of old arms in
the Royal Military Repository at Woolwich. The
Teazer had many difficulties to contend with while
serving on the coast of Africa. In November, 1849,
her rudder was completely eaten away by the corro-
sion of the metal in connexion with the keel, and an-
other was made of several pieces of thin iron fixed
together with slight bolts, and strengthened by pieces
of wood placed diagonally, and with that substitute
for a rudder she completed her period of service and
was brought borne, and it is yet in such good condi-
tion that if necessary it might still serve as a rudder
for a considerable period.

FOREIGN NUTS.—The steamer Antwerpen, from
Antwerp, has brought 3,230 packages of walnuts, besides
1,790 baskets and 42 cases of other kinds of fruits, the growth
of Belgium. This is the largest importation of walnuts that
has ever taken place on one occasion from abroad. The
steamer Columbine, from the same port, has brought 2,2r5
baskets of walnuts, and 500 packages of other fruits; the
Governeur Van-Eyck, also from Antwerp, 2,067 packages of
walnut!, besides 79S packages of other fruits, and also some
peaches, a rare importation from abroad ; and the steam• ship
Soho, from the same place, has brought 2,115 baskets of
these nuts, in addition to a large quantity of other fruits,
comprising pears, plums, and apples, and also peaches and
grapes, rare articles of supply from Belgium. These large
arrivals of walnuts from Belgium must be an important fea-
ture in the supplies to the metropolitan markets.