The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-02 00:00:00

THE SHALSPERE ALMANACK.

A clever little conceit has been embodied in this
publication by the ingenuity of Mr. J. W. Lath.
bridge. We can best intimate the character of
the almanack by one or two almost haphazard
quotations :-
10th September.—Attempted assassination of General
Cavaignac, 1548.
" The time is out of joint;-0 cursed spite!
That ever I was born to set it right!"
Hamlet, a. i. s. 5.
19th September.—Lord Brougham born, 1779.
" I am sir Oracle,
And when I ope my lips let no dug bark !"
Merchant of Venice, a. i. s. 1.
ith August.—A sea serpent seen by Captain M'Quhse,
of H.M.S. Desdalus, 1841.
" Very like a whale."—Hamlet, a. iii. s. 2..

20th April.—Louis Napoleon Buonaparte born at Paris,
1808.

"What is this,
That rises like the issue of a king;
And wears upon his baby brow the round
And top of sovereignty?"—Macbeth, a. iv. s. 1.
7th February.—Charles Dickens born, 1812.
"This is a gift that I have, simple, simple; a foolish
extravagant spirit, full of forms. figures, shapes, objects,
ideas, apprehensions, motions, revolutions: these are
begot in the ventricle of memory, nourished in the
womb of pia mater, and delivered upon the mellowing
of occasion: But the gift is good in those in whom it is
acute, and I am thankful for it."
Love's Labour Lost, s. iv. s. 2.
♦nd so on throughout the 365 days, the scraps of
verse front the golden works of Shakspere being
sometimes delightfully appropriate.

1 d cord
THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.
(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
An experiment has been instituted for the purpose of
breaking up ice, which was attended with complete bao-
cess, aqd deserves notice on the eve of a new Arctic
expedition. A trial was made, and the device tested on
a large pond, covered over with frost several • inches
thick. A hole was bored in the centre, and aja fi
twhiethhganudnipeo,wwdiethr inatreoudeudceuele,tiesguspwe
inrdee di e
trhdroufrom
he
dthaemcpo.rkA, wuheixchpleasiaesn sweaasleedffweeittehd
by means was toyr a
e of excludeo a
voltaic
battery, and the result was agreeably surprising, the
whole body of ice being instantly shattered into frag-
ments from the force of the concussion, and the space
entirely cleared. A blast in the open air or under water
in the ordinary state exhibits, comparatively, but a taint
conception of the effect produced. Tire fact being estab-
lislied, the cause may, perhaps,„be thus satisfactorily
explained :—Water is known to be incompressable ; it
seems, therefore, probable that, when subjected to con-
fined end sudden action, it is calculated by nature
to burst through all obstructions, and to rival
the elastic power of steam. In case the plan
is adopted on an extensive scale the neces-
sary apparatus should be similar to that on-
ployed in the operations of blowing up the wreck of the
Royal George, and with which it is advisable thatesvery
vessel proceeding to the northern regions may bindersb
plied. The proper depth to which the power in
cy
ought to be sunk in the sea earl
be
easilre ascertained,
sexedit
order that there might not be anydnueeed
reline° of the
of strength arising from t! n.
cal er
nmpeen
cant. b
In like
fired under manner,
w aaisnoeardubein:
icean
n cannon.
innary i z attachedobnettarredirec-
tion,rescued
when that course is deemed more convenient. By
such modes a ship blocked up
from a perilous position,
and its safety secured. There
othera instances in which a scheme of the kind could
zreebeneficially
practised
at times: when the progress of
navigation is impeded in more southern latitudes by tine
intensity of the frost. This expedient possesses the,
merit of being free from j danger, can be executed with
facility, and combines the advantages of cheapness and
efficiency. Such an agency, when its value is generally
known, is sure to bo used as occasion requires, and will
not fail to accomplish the desired object whenever cir-
cumstances demand its application.--K.

[ADVERTISEMENT.]—WINDSOR CASTLE THEATIII-'
cm.s.— I he Era newspaper of to-morrow, Feb. 3, will contain
a full and accurate Account of the Performance of Julius
Cirsur, last Friday night, at Windsor Castle, before her Majesty
and the Court, with exclusive and interesting particulars con-
nected with the representation. Among the most important
articles in this week's Era will be found :—Comments on
the Queen's Speech ; The First Conservative Fire ; Debate
and Divisions in Parliament ; Captain Smith, the Tartar ;
Cobden's Model Farm Exposed; Shop Impositions; with all
Theatricals of the day. Acceptances for the Grcat Spring
Handicaps, and Remarks upon the same, by "Touchstoir."
The Era is published at five o'clock on Str.aday morning,
price sixpence. The sale of this rapidl risin Family,
Theatrical, and Sporting J ournal now steeds 10,0 gOO every
week.
LAUNCII OF A. STEAMER.—The Derwent, steam
ship; of 700 tons, built for the intercolonial service of the
Royal Mail Steam-packet Company by Mr. W ~.filcher. was
launched from his dockyard at Northileet, on 11 ursday, the
31st ult. She was placed immediately iu the dry
coppered, &c., preparatory to her being taken, .01.1) Id tO soath"
aniptoof WIICIO lies lllAcilillery i§ to lje atm. - - dock, to be

effec.

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tAL PARLIAMENT.

E OF -COMMONS, Ftb.l.
took th© Chair shortly before Four

NEW WRITS.
of Sir \V. MATTER, now writs for the
isor, in the room of Lord John Hay,
t the Chiltern Hundreds, and for the
ester. in the room of Mr. Smith, who
the Chiltern Hundreds, were ordered.
PETITIONS.
LIS presented a petition from Barba-
House to tike measures fur the sup-
Ive-trade.

presented a petition from Worthing
se to take steps t i put a stop to Post-
int. throughout the country.
1113 ER presented, a petition from the
praying for protection to agriculture.
)PHER, pursuant to notice, presented
.!ed to at a public meeting, held
yard of the city of Lincoln,
was computed that between
) persons were present. The pettion-
chey were materially concerned . ithe
of the land ; that the importation of
tural produce in a season of unusual
compelled them to be undersold
of the United Kingdom to. a very
and the consequence had been
d for and the w3ges of labour
ountry had undergone a very serious
3y stated, also, that in consequence of
reposed upon them they were prevented
.)bacco and otherwise cultivating the
-est profit for themselves, while, as the
:rapiers of land, they were unfairly
ie Legislature in consequence of the
isimposed on them by having to contri-
elusively to the local taxation of
they stated also that whilst they
to free trade in corn the
)f this country were protected to
Ixtent by Customs' duties, and they
the House to tike their cane into con-
relieve them from some of their
and also to impose such a just
duty on foreign agricultural pro-
enable them to compete with the
tish markets. The Honourable Gen-
elated two petitions from places in the
in, one praying for the suppression of
the Post-office, and the other praying
e measures to prevent the sale of spiri-
the Sabbath.

(NERS presented a petition from a place
praying for the suppression of Sunday
st-office.

1M presented a peCtion to the same
ce in the East Riding. _

presented a petition from the Fret
mtrie, and other places, praying for the
f Sunday labour in the Post-office.
HUMPHERY presented a petition
to the same effect.

F presented a petition from Pontefract to

3111 ER presented a petition from Bott3s-
effect.

\T presented a petition from Leicester-
effect.

LEY presented a petition signed at a
by 4,271 of the inhabitants of Cape
i Africa, setting forth that they telt
by certain Orders in Council, dated in
3, by which that colony was :made a
for convicts under sentence of trans-
this country; also petitions, very much
t, from the inhabitants of Port I.:!in,-
xn province of the Cape of Good Hope,
namissioners and ward masters of Cape
n. Member gave notice that on Monday
!love that those petitions be printed with