The Sun.
London, England, 1850-11-20 00:00:00

6 13 4
20

f..:,..'ititri) -30ttiort.
•• ,

WARWICK RACES.

(THIS DAY.)

:BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
THE STEEPLECHASES.
Free Handicap Steeplechase.

Frank ••• •••
Gulnare ... ••• ••• •••
Young Lottery ... ••• ••• •••
Grand Open Chase.

... 1
... 2

... 1

Lucy Neale
Victim ...
British Yeoman

... 2

... 3

THE LAUNCH OF A SPANISH
WAR-FRIGATE.
Yesterday was launched, from the extensive ship-
building premises of Mare and Co., of Blackwell, the
Spanish steam-frigate Isabella Secunda, built for the
royal navy of Spain. The vessel, which is constructed
of wood, and is to be propelled with engines of 500-horse
power, by Messrs. Mandalay and Field, is of 230 feet in
length, breadth 23 feet, depth 25 feet, and of 1,565 tons
builders' measurement, is one of the finest ships turned out
of the Thames building establishments, and as a war vessel
attracted the attention and criticism of a vast multitude
who thronged the premises of Mare and Co.
The Isabella Secunda is one of a squadron ordered
by the Spanish Government to be built in this country
(Messrs. Wigram launched another at the same time),
and will bo fitted up immediately and sent over to
Spain. probably to reinforce the division at Cuba. The
launch, from a slip from which few Royal dockyard
people would ever conceive a ship to be floated, was a
most successful one, for the vessel glided out of her
earthly tenement with a facility truly wonderful, after
she bad been named by the pretty daughter of M. Zu-
lueta, and amidst the clashing of appropriate strains of
the efficient bard of the Royal Horse Guards, and the
cheers of thousands, floated in Bow Creek—a handsome
specimen of naval architecture, fully capabio, without
doubt, from her seemly draft of water, of carrying the
armament designed for her, namely, 14 65-cwt. 68-poun-
ders, and two 95-cwt. pivot guns, to be mounted on gun
carriages of a new construction, which diminishes to a
considerable extent the number of men required to work
the guns.
After the launch a distinguished and brilliant company
adjourned to the mould loft of the establishment, when
to the surprise of every one the rude apartment was con-
verted into a splendid banquetting-hull, fitted up with
various flags, and otherwise most tastefully embellished.
Here then assembled, as the guests of Mr. Mare, the
Spanish Ambassador, M. Isteriti and suite; the Spanish
Cousul-General, the Austrian Ambassador and suite,
of the
ep
suite of the Ottoman Embassy, Commodore Llanes, of
aontistohmnaanvyn,avy, M. Zulueta, Mr. Rolt, Mr. R. N.
Anderson, M P., Captain Ford,
R.N., Captain
Pinlan,
s Mr. Laming, Mr. Brocklebank,
Rowland,or Mr.mr. Npeewpb) o , Mr. Macdonald,
and about two hundred ladies and gentlemen, who par-
took of a most recherche entertainment, in the course of
which the healths of the Qui ens of England and Spain
were drunk with deserved enthusiasm, and other com-
plimentary toasts were given and received with due
regard and respect for the subj. cta of them, and the fes-
tivities of the occasion were prolonged to the evening.
It is worthy of notice that the Spaniards, who have
supplied this country with the best models for the Royal
navy of England, are now the most liberal customers of
the English ship-building firms of this country for the
reinforcement of their fleet of steam-vessels; and what
England won by the hardihood and enduring bravery of
her seamen over a gallant enemy—the finest ships of the
world, Spain is now acquiring from this country by her
cold; for it is universally admitted that the best steamers
'winched from the establishments of our most eminent
naval architects have been those war steamers constructed
fur the Spanish navy,

WHITTINGTON CLUE.—The members of this club
held an assembly last night, in their spacious rooms, Arundel-
street, strand, to celebrate the reopening of the great room,
which bad been for some time past undergoing extensive
alterations. It is now certainly a noble apartment, fitted
out with great artistic taste, and calculated, in an eminent
degree, to answer the purposes for which it was intended. It
was appropriated on this occasion as a ball-room, where the
young and beautiful of the other sex enjoyed, with their
gallant partners. the amusement of the merry dance, with
joyous hearts and pleasant thoughts, little regarding what
events, whether for good or evil, the future may bring
f.,rth. In addition to the charms thus afforded to a large
and brilliant assembly, music and singing were introduced
at intervals; and in this manner did a delightful night slip,
almost unperceived, over those who thus itua9cently and
k gaily enjoyed themselves.

THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Stn,—AA you, in common with other journalists,
have recently fallen into error respecting the real
authorship of the electric light now exhibiting, I de-
pend upon your justice and liberality for the insertion
of the followiug explanatory latter, which appeart,cl in
last Saturday's edition of the Mining Journal. lam
not in any way connected with the invention itself,
either directly or indirectly, and am merely induced
to act in the matter as a general and determined
FOE TO PIRACY.
Monday, Nov. 18, 1850.

Sir.—Depending upon the good faith of a corres-
pondent, in whose truthfulness of report said care in the
colleciion of accurate information you were, doubtless,
induced to place the fullest confidence, you have per-
mitted your columns. for the last fortnight, to be made
the vehicle for a series of remarks, and rather laudatory
criticisms, upon the so.called invention of Mr. Fennell
Allman—the electric or vohaic light. Since the pub-
lication of the articles to which I refer, a considerable
degree of doubt his been thrown upon the genuineness
and authenticity of Mr. Fennell Ahman's invention, and
the circumstance has induced me to revert to the sub-
ject, and investigate the real facts of the case, more
closely than in all proLability I should otherwise have
done. The result is—and I feel bound, in common jus-
tice, to lay it before your readers—that the invention of

the voltaic lig,ht is neither more nor less than the pa-
tented invention of Mr. W. E. Staite, with whom Mr.
Petrie co operated—ge:ntleme❑ whose original thoughts
and unswerving perseverance, so lung and so arduously
directed to this difficult branch of practical science, are
so well known, that I feel convinced their ingenious and
successful contrivances fur the development of electrical
illumination are not only familiar to your readers gene-
rally, but are by this time patent to the whole world.
The first patent, embodying the principle of self-regula-
tion, as applied to the preservation of a uniform distance
between the electrodes, was granted to Mr. Staite in
1847—the specification appearingsin the beginning of
1848. The object of this patent was to render that
continuous which had previously been fluctuating and
inconstant; and this important end was obtained by the
employment of the dynamic power of the electric cur-
rent. This power had never before been employed in any
form for the regulation of the electric arc. The idea was
entirely due to the ingenuity of Messrs. Smite and
Petrie; and yet in the face of this fact—in the face of
the patent granted to Mr. W. E. Staite in 1847—Mr.
Fennell Allman takes out a patent for employing this
very power, for this very purpose, in 1849, and is now
publicly exhibiting it as his own invention at the Poly-
technic Institution. Mr. Allman must be perfectly
aware of these facts, and so also must the party who
made your columns the medium for the publication of
his so-called invention. . _ _

But, perhaps, _Mr. Allman will say, in defence, that
the details of his system of automatic regulation are
different from those employed by Mr. Staite. In what
respect? Do they, or do they not, operate by the dy-
namic power of the elect ric current? If they do not,
your informant has furnished you with incorrect infor-
mation; and if they do, then you are bound to cha•
racterise the affair as a deliberate imposition upon your-
self as a journalist, and as a palpable and unblushing
piracy upon the original invention set forth in Mr.
Staite's patent. Yours is not the only journal which has
been made the vehicle for disseminating these circum-
stantial misstatements and evasive sophistications. Most
of the daily press, not excepting even the Times, have
fallen into the same error. Perhaps it may be said by
superficial thinkers that a philosophical principle can-
not be made the groundwork of a patent. True; but
the application of this principlo to a useful purpose is
not only patentable, independently of any modification
of detail, but is the true and legitimate basis of almost
all the patents which pass the Great Seal.
It is certainly the basis of Mr. Staite's patented inven-
tion for the regulation of the electric light—an invention
which has been as clearly pirated, as marifestly invaded
and appropriated by Mr. Allman, as any invention could
possibly be. As you have been made the unconscious
instrument for the circulation of a gross error, so will
you now, I am sure, be the willing medium through
which its refutation may be established and made known;
and in further justification of my present remarks, I pro-
pose next week to return to the subject, and give your
readers a few important details which have come to my
knowledge in the progress of this investigation.
London, Nov. 14. BETA.

ACCIDENT AT THE WORKS IN HYDE PARK.—
About four o'clock yesterday afternoon a melancholy acci-
dent occurred at the works in Hyde-park, which has, we re-
gret to state, been attended with fatal consequences. From
inquiries mad' on the spot it appears that at the time stated
a painter, while engaged in painting one of the iron girders
at the top of the building, at the eastern end, bad the girder
break under him, and fall with him on to the scaffold under-
neath, on which several carpenters and labourers were at
work, which was broken through, and one of the carpenters
and a labourer fell with the girder and painter to the ground.
The unfortunate men were immediately picked up and placed
on stretchers and conveyed to St. George's Hospital, where
on examination it was found that the painter was dead, but
that the carpenter and labourer were still alive, although
most extensively injured.

A petition is in course of signature at Plymouth,
humbly praying " That her Majesty will be pleased to sus-
pend the Bishops of London, Exeter, any Oxford, believing
that the Protestant religion will ever be in danger so long as
those high dignitaries preside over the Established Church
in this kingdom." It is intended as a national petition. All
those who are favourable to the petition are requested to get
as many signatures as possible, and forward the same to Mr.
Latimer, George-street, Plymouth.

SEA AND FIRE LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY.—Yes-
terday his Honour Master Tinney was attended by Mr.
Ernest, the official manager, and by Messrs. Galsworthy,
solicitors to the estate, on the subject of the claims of credi-
tors, which amount altogether to about 12,0001. A large
number of persons connected with ship insurances and at
Lloyd's are concerned in the settlement of the sffais, and au
important question arises between the Port of London As-
surance-office and this company as regards an alleged amal-
gamation of the two undertakings. The petitioner for ,
winding-up, Mr. J. Richardson, states on affidavit that its'
promoter absconded and left England in April, and that the
business, which commenced in 1849, after incurring various
liabilities, was discontinued in May, 1850. A call of 20s. per
share was made by the directors on the proposed capital of
100,0001., but a large portion of the shareholders refused to
pay it. Negotiations are going on with the late solicitors of
the company for the delivery up of the books and papers, on
which they allege they have a lien of 5,('001.
GREAT EXHIBITION AND THE RAlLWAYS.—Ac-
cording to the Railway Commissioners returns published in
in July last, it appears that nearly 29 millions of journeys
of 15 miles each were made during the half year ending
the 30th June, 1849. It is calculated, therefore, that if the
Exhibition gives rise during the first half-year of 1851 to
only 10 millions additional journeys of 15 miles, it will in-
crease the net income of the railways 73 per cent. This
cannot be considered an immoderate estimate, when it is
thought how numerous our foreign visitors will be, and that
many of them on their visit to the Exhibition will avail
themselves of this opportunity to see the other portions of
the United Kingdom. It is to be hoped, therefore, what with
this probable accession of traffic and the buoyant state of
railway proprietors may consider that the crisis is
with confidence look forward to better divi-
dtpreaanscitd7;aannd mdaamyore healthy state of things in 1851.
NOVEL ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.—M. Dumont, an
engineer, who has, with the permission of the authorities,
fixed wires for an electric telegraph from the passage Jouf-
froy along the tops of the houses in various parts of Paris,
has published a long statement with an account of telegra-
phic communications from variou • quarters, with a view to
show the advantage of th,s mode of communication for the
capital. He proposes, if his plan be approved of, and the
necessary capital be raised, to establish stations, so as to
enable the inhabitants of the capital to communicate with
each other, for business or otherwise, with instantaneous
promptitude.—Paris Paper.

BOMBAY RAILWAY.—This railway, According to
the accounts just received from India, has now commenced.
The first portion consists of the embankments across the
Sion Marsh, which separates the islands of Bombay and
Salsette.

EAST ANGLICAN RAILWAY.. It IS again stated
with some confidence, that an arrangement is about to be
made between the Great Northern and the East Anglican,
which will be greatly for the benefit of the latter company.
WESTERN VALLEYS RAILWAY.--The Government
Inspector passed over the line on Tuesday and Wednesday,
and will pay another visit of inspection in eight or ten days.
It is said that he has consented to the line being opened in a
fortnight.— Monmouthshire Merlin.
LINCOLN'S INN.—The following members of this
Society have been called to the bar, and were sworn yester-
day evening in the hall :—Horace M. Wright, Esq. ; James
B. Davidson, M.A.; Edward A. Carlyon, M.A.; and William
U. Heygate, M.A.
PERILOUS SITUATION.—The vessel Lancefield of
London, which arrived in the Clyde on Saturday from St.
Übe's, brings the following romantic story :—While in lat.
40, lon. 13 30, west, on the 3d instant, she spoke the barque
Emerald, bound for London from Cadiz. The latter ship
had en board the master of a Portuguese vessel, who had
been picked up when floating on a bundle of corkwood, about
twenty miles from land. He had been on this precarious
raft for three days and nights, and during the whole of that
period was destitute of food or fresh water. When got on
board he was quite exhausted and insensible, but through the
kindness and attention with which be was treated by Capt.
Hall and the crew of the Emerald, he rapidly recovered.—
Glasgow Daily Mail.
GLASS SHADES.—The largest ever produced was
lately blown at Birmingham by an English workman. It is
62 inches by 26% inches in diameter, and contains nearly
401bs. of metal. Until lately, a Frenchman was considered
the most skilful workman in ,the employment of Messrs.
Chance, in whose manufactory the shade alluded to has been
blown. This man earns no less than 9/. a week, according
to a correspondent of the Dail.'/News, who gives the dimen-
sions of this monster "shade." A secret in blowing great
glass bubbles we lately described. It consists simply in
moisteningi,hewater
is
theco nniovuerttheda: in the interior of the drop, into
a little water before blowing.
,
which was was burned
steam, which vastly aids the breath in extending
Ir. i
e di,migeontt-,
sions of the " bell."—Builder.
COMMITTAL OF AN INCENDIARY.—After a pro-
longed and careful inquiry before P. Dauncey, Esq., and the
Rev. Mark Kerr, at Winslow, John Collins, late occupier of
tEhsegf,aArns-I,iasttaDnot rptdoe,r)rs.hiaaly.l,.
Cthoemprnroispseiortnae-
rof ,
on the 30th of October, charged with having wilfully and
maliciously set fire toe barn on the said premises, and thereby
caused the destruction of buildings, ricks, and corn, was fully
committed to Aylesbury poi lot trial. A dozen witnesses
were examined; their evaicace was circumstantial. 'I he
agent of the Royal Exchange As mance Company proved
that the accused had made a fraudulent demand on him.
Bail was refused. The ,prisoner will be tried at the assizes.
; —Oa ford Journal.
NIII.ImNSS OF THE SEASON.—As a further proof of
the continued mildness of the season to that which was last
week adduced, we may mention that on Sunday last John
Howell, Esq., corn-merchant, Priorv-street, had a dish of
fine peas served at his table, which had been grown in the
open air in a garden adjoining that in which D. Pra there:),
Esq., fathered those alluded to in our last.— Welshman.
The Right Hon. Lord Wodehou.e has accepted
the office of President of the Norfolk and Norwich -
Literary
,I Institution.