The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-11 00:00:00

INSTITUTION • OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.
On Tuesday, January 8 .(Williim! Cubitt, R;q.,
President, in the enaic), the proceedings of the
evening were commenced by an address from the
Ptesidetit, on taking the chair for the first time after
his election.

After thanking the members for the honour con-
ferred en him, and modestly attributing his election
to the fortuitous circumstance of his being "the se-
nior Vice-President in duration of oftee," rather than
to any peculiar fitness on his part, he proceeded to
direct attention to some matters relating to the in-
ternal policy of the institution, and proposed that the
evening meetings should terminate at half-past
nine o'clock, in order to afford an opportunity for
the members and visitors to assemble in the library,
and to obtain these personal introductions to each
other, which constitute one of the great advantages
of all societies.

He then announced that the Council had, with
great pleasure, acceded to the recommendation of the
last annual general meeting, and had invited Mr.
Walker, Sir John Rennie, and Mr. Field, the past
presidents, to take their seats'at the council-table, in
the council-room, and in the theatre, as "Honorary
COuncillors," and that, in future, all those mem-
bers who should fill the posts of vice-president and
president consecutively, holding the latter position for
two years, should be considered "Honorary Council-
lors ;" expressing a hope, that the past presidents
might long be spared, to continue that assistance from
which the institution had already reaped so much
advantage.
He then announced that, as the representative of

the Institution, he had been nominated a member of
the Royal Commission fur the Promotion of the
Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations,
under the auspices of his Royal Highness the Prince
Albert, and requested the aid and cordial concurrence
of all the members in that "real Peace Congress."
He then noticed some of the principal enerineering
works which had been terminated, or had made great
progress, during the past year ; commencing with
the tubular bridges across the River Conway and the
Menai Straits, which he designated as " pre-eminent
for the boldness of the conception, the scientific sim-
plicity of the design, and the difficulty of the execution."
He then proceeded thus :—" In tracing the
original idea of the most advantageous disposition of
a certain amount of material, in a tubular form ; the
more definite conception of a hollow beam, to permit
the passage and support the weight of an engine and
train ; the experiments for determining the proper
distribution of the material, •to prevent compres-
sion or disruption ; the arrangements for the cor -
struction and building up these gigantic manses of
material ; the means of floating them to their situa-
tions, and of raising them o their ultimate destina-
tion, at an elevation of one hundred and two feet
above the sea (at high water of spring tides) ; we
must feel justly proud of possessing among us the
man whose comprehensive mind could originate
this magnificent design, and so successfully perform a
portion of the work, as to leave no doubt of its
ultimate accomplishment. The world already
duly appreciates this great undertaking, and we
should not be behind hand in testifying our estimate
of the bold conception of Mr. R. Stephenson in the
original idea, his professional skill in the design and
execution, his care and caution in availing himself of
the talents and experience of Mr. W. Fairbairn and
Mr. Eaton Hodgkinson, whose scientific investiga-
tions respecting the strength of cast-iron are so well
known to the world and so highly appreciated by our
profession, and his entrusting the general construc-
tion and elevation to Mr. Frank Forster and Mr. I
Edwin Clarke. Upon the merits of all these gentle-
men
we may look with pardonable pride and par-
tiality—their labours speak fOr themselves."
The advantages which must result from the more
general use of wrought-iron were then alluded to,
and it was announced that the Commission appointed
in 1847, for the purposes of examining into the forms
and strengths of iron beams in railway structures,
had enunciated the opinion " that any legislative
enactments, with respect to the forms and proportions
of the iron structures employed therein, would be
highly inexpedient."
The harbours of refuge now constructing at Dover,
and in the Channel Islands, by Mr. Walker, at Port-
land and Holyhead, by Air. Ronde!, the docks at
Leith and Grimsby, also by the latter gentleman ; the
lighthouses at the Bishop's Rock, by 11.1 r. Walker,
and at the Skerryvore, by Mr. Alan Stevenson, were
noticed with great commendation, as most important
works, admirably designed and executed.
Details were then given of the steam-vessels con-
structed for the Holyhead, the Folkstone, and several
other stations, in which the engines of Messrs Mends-
lay and Field, Miller, Penn, Seaward,' Rennie, For-
rester, and others, had been well allied to the vessels
built by Messrs. Scott, Russell, Miller, Mare, Wigram,
Laird, Vernon, Thompson, &c., and had enabled a
speed of from sixteen to eighteen miles per hour to be
attained, and, in conjunction with the railways, the
journey between London and Dublin to be performed
in eleven hours—and that between London and Paris
to be accomplished in eight hours and a half, giving
a death-blow to the onerous system of passport'.
The large iron pontoon built by Messrs. E. B.
Wilson and Co. (of Leeds), with a deck-area of
twenty thousand square feet, to serve as a floating
landing-stage at New Holland, rendering the trains
of the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Rail-
way independent of the tides and of the muddy shores
of the Humber, was described, and the floating
landing-stage previously constructed at Liverpool by
the President, with a deck area of upwards of forty
thousand square feet, was cursorily noticed, and an
account of it was promised to the institution.
The railway system of the country was next com-
mented on ; and it was stated, that there were now
nearly five thousand fire hundred miles of railway
completed in Great Britain, at a cost of two hundred
and twenty millions sterling, derived from private
sources, and expended within the realm, encouraging
in a remarkable degree productive industry of all
kinds, and inducing a revolution in all mercantile
transactions and social relations.

The example of England was noticed, in boldly
abandoning the finest roads, and adopting throughout
the length and breadth of the land a network of iron
ways, over which, by the aid of steam, passengers and
merchandise could be conveyed with a velocity which,
at its original proposition, was deemed worse than
visionary; which, first filling the Continent with
amazement, eventually compelled imitation, and thus
would ultimately introduce wants, and consequently
civilization, to the most remote corners of the world.
"If (continued the President) this be true, we are
naturally led to inquire who were the authors of this
great revolution ? what minds conceived, and what
energies executed these vast projects? The reply,
gentlemen, must spring spontaneously from you all
—the Civil and Mechanical Engineers have been the
great actors in this most interesting chapter of the
social history of our country."
The junior members ( f the profession were then
addressed as to the opening now offered for the ex-
hibition. of their talents in the various subjects con-
nected with the sanitary question ; and apropos of
the establishment of abattoirs, it was suggested, that
the railways afforded greet facilities for bringing up
large quantities of animal food ready for sale, instead
of transporting living animals to be killed in a crowded
city, and introducing noxious and unhealthy trades.
If this system wire adopted, the general prices would
be equalised, and all parties must be great gainers by
the plan.
The address then concluded, by directing the at-
tention of railway companies to the necessity of
securing the highest engineering talent for the im-
provement of the mechanical and commercial working
of the lines, and the necessity of setting at rest the
question of " depreciation"—a desideratum which was
telt to be of almost vital importance to railways, as
an investment.

The address was received with great applause, and
was unanimously ordered to be printed and circulated.
The discussion on Colonel Loyd's Paper, on the
proposed Ship Canal across the Isthmus of Panama,
was renewed and carried on with much spirit.
The Papers to be read at the meeting of January

16th were announced to be "A Description of the
Blackfriars Landing Pier," by P. Lawrence, and
"Description of a Timber Bridge on the Line of the
Lynn and Ely Railway," by J. S. Valentine, M.
hat C. E.

SABBATH OBSERVANCE AND THE POST-OITICE.--
The following notice has been issued:—" On and after
Sunday, the 13th instant, all post-offices in England and
\Vales will be closed to the public on Sunday, from 10
A.M., for the remainder of the day; except in those cases
where the -delivery commences between 9 and 10 A.M.,
when the office must continue open for one hour after the
letter-carriers are dispatched ; and except also in those
cases where the delivery commences latter than 10 A.M.,
when the office, having been closed at 10 A.m., must be
re opened for one hour after the dispatch of the letter
;
carriers. On and after the same date no inland letters
will be received on the Sunday, except such as ar
•
paid by stamps or unpaid, for thedeposit the day.
letter-box will be open as usual throughout
A3tor
during the
Until the closing of the office atrhlo
of the. letter-carriers,
of whicehPthe
subsequent hour after the dispatch
fort ign letters may atpostego stamps may be
obtained, and letters may pbaniiiregistered on payment of
the usual registration fee;.
" pre
s-trangers, renters of private
.I.isowhile
aclimits ofoffinethei
letter-carriers' , • •••
es,onbitladinti: who resnl-1 beyond the
tine
tatters nt :he office window. Except
ats
the times above mentioned, no letters or new.Ttipera
can be delivered from the office on the Sunday."
RA ILW AT CATTLE MARKETS.—It is proposed,
should an Order in Council he passed for the abolition
of Smithfield, to establish railway markets and abattoirs
at or near the termilli of the Loudon and North-Western,
Greet 'Western, Eastern Counties, and South Eastern
Railways, each In%irkut to be connected with the other
and the centre of the metropolis by el,etric telegraph (8s
in the Octroi system of to communicate the price
of meat aed qualities of stuck every hour, or as cccasion
may require.

LIQUID MANURE.
TO THE _EDITOR OF THE SUM

SIR,-1 trust you will pardon me for addressing toyou
the following observations, a liberty I venture to take
from a conviction that every new discovery in agri-
cultural pursuits will tend to advance the benefits to
be derived from a free trade in corn, a measure you
so long and ably advocated. Having been induced
to institute some experiments in farming concerns, in
conjunction with a professional person of great Intel-
' ligence and practical information, the issue may not
be unworthy of notice. The first wets the substi-
tution of pointed lightning conductors for training
vines, instead of the ordinary mode, by which instru-
mentality the electric fluid is drawn' down from all
transient thunder clouds, that known and powerful
agent in promoting vegetation. This plan was tried
nwidotsht i)
sanguinee
antic
r fec success
pa
iatniodnst,he result exceeded the
the vine encircling a
conductor, in luxuriance of growth
al
oa'sh'g
neighbours, bearing a profusion
iiit s adjacent fa r
lof grapes superior both in quality and flavour.
Hence I was led to examine the qualities of the
different descriptions of manure, and found that the
animal kind, when completely decomposed, is totally
devoid of electricity, and is best adapted for agricul-
tural purposes. The case is similarwwhiictlhr rie,,g,agrldlantyo
s e be
al ec
ioorucs o. w -Ahno uisneferliquidence mmsayn ure
fairly,
be deduced that
the pointed and tiny blades of corn, es well probably
as all plants, serve like small conductors to establish
the equilibrium between positive and negative
electricity, stimulating capillary attraction, and aiding
theprogressiofgermination until they arrive at maturity.
' Should this conjecture prove correct, some important
changes in husbandry may be introduced, by which
much of an invaluable article might be saved that is
now improvidently wasted or lost, and cultivation
extended at a diminished expense.
The preservation of liquid manure is an object
that deserves the utmost attention and care. The re-
quisite drains and tanks, or cesspools, can be cheaply
constructed in convenient spots, according to ap-
proved designs, either on a moderate or a large scale.
At the same time, nothing -contributes more to the
cleanliness of the cattle, or the improvement of their
condition. It will be no longer necessary to dispatch
ships to remote parts of the globe in seareh of guano,
when a preferable substance lies abundantly within
reach, and is easily procured. There is, then, little.
reason to fear foreign competition, or to dread the
depreciation of the landed interests.
By the proper use of such means, and by active
industry, no limit can be assigned to the produc-
tion of green fodder, to stall-feeding, and, conse-
quently, to the raising of rotation crops. A new era
will dawn upon our country, unexampled in the
history of nations, by the general diffusion of wealth,
prosperity, and comfort.
To begin with a single instance. All seed, before
sowing, should be steeped, until saturated, in liquid
manure, of sufficient consistency to form an adequate
coating that will adhere to each grain, too much
being over-exciting, to the delicate sprouts, and no
more applied than is actually required, in proportion
to the particular species. The process is peculiarly
beneficial with respect to spring wheat, peas, beans,
carrots, beet, and early potatoes. In garden business
it is strongly recommended to dip previously in the
same material the roots of all vegetables that need
transplanting. By operations of this nature, and with
prudent management, double advantages will be gained
in economy of outlay in manure and in the cost of
labour.

These brief suggestions are submitted for conside-
ration with an anxious hope that they may engage
the attention of individueN occupied in such affairs,
feeling persuaded from the test of experience that
their adoption will not fail to realise the expectations
entertained, by insuring increased returns and yield-
ing ample fruits at the period of harvest.
I am, Sir, &c.,

M. T. K.

ON THE LAW OF MARRIAGE
Wlrll A DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER.
2'O THE EDITOR OF THE

SlT,—fhave read with considerable pleasure the
remarks which have lately appeared in your increas-
ing and influential jourivil on the above important
subject; and seeing that the " Report of the Com-
missioners has entirely cleared away the moral rub-
bish of the question, why should not Parliament at
once legislate and follow up the labours of their own
Commissioners, by the immediate repeal of Lord
Lyndhurst's Act ? Is it because the country is not
fairly aroused on the question ? Or is it because the
Puseyite persons prove harder to deal with than the
Roman Catholic priesthood ? At any rate, Str, the
sufferers naturally call in the aid of the press, and let
me hope that you will assist with your own pen, and
help us at the destruction of this last refuge of cant
and hypocrisy, so far as the law of marriage is con-
cerned.

The real origin of all this turmoil is easily traced
back to the reign of King Henry VIII., of pious and
blessed memory, as all kings are, or at least are said
to be. Now this man, or rather this monster; who
is said " never to have spared woman in his lust, or
man in his rage," had fallen in love with the widow
of his elder brother Arthur, to whom he was married
in the year 1509, the year that he ascended the
throne. But I cannot do better than quote from
an admirable little book by Mr. Campbell Foster on this
subject. It therein appears that " some objections were
urged against this marriage on the ground of the
Princess Catharine being Henry's deceased brother's
widow. After the question, however, had been fully
discussed with the unanimous consent of the Council,
Henry was publicly married to the Princess by the
Archbishop of Canterbury, amidst great rejoicings."
This seemed for the long period of seventeen years
to bare been a very happy marriage, but a fresh beauty
having appeared at Court as Maid of Honour to the
Queen, in the person of Anne Boleyn—and she
having been taught wisdom from experience, by the
knowledge of the fate of her sister Mary, who had
been seduced by the King,
_and after being his mis-
tress for a short period, was des.ertediby him—
she indignantly repelled the King's advances, saying
that, " though she would be happy to be
his wife, she would never condescend to he
his mistress." Now a repulse like this naturally
increased 'Henry's passion, and though seventeen-years
had passed without a suspicion of the lawfulness of
his marriage, yet, in the company of his confidants,
he affected to fear that he was living in a state of
incest with the relict of his brother.

Now then came " the tug of war," and
applied to Pope Clement for a divorce. The Pope,
who up to that pericd was the universal head of the
Church, refused it ; and, therefore, the pious King
llenr3 , by the aid of his courtiers and evil council-
lore, determined to set himself up as " Thad of the
Church" and " Defender of the Faith," and that has
since been the title of successive monarchs of England,
and remains so up to this day.
At this period the law of 28th Henry VIII. and
the other Acts of the reign of King Henry on
the subject of marriage were passed ; and it is well
expressed in the " little book" before alluded 0,
" that to this vile and vicious source do we trace the
first appearance of the prohibition of marriage be-
tween persons related by affinity in our statutes,
opposition to which heaped disgrace on Cardinal
Wolsey, and eventually brought one of the brightest
ornamenta that England has ever had cause to be
proud of—the great and the good Sir Thomas More
—to the block."
It appears that the great and influential body of the
Dissenters are beginning to move on this question,
and there has been a meeting at Southampton to peti-
tion on the subject. The leaders of the Dissenters
are almost all of them in favour of the repeal of Lord
Lyndhurst's Act, as being pregnant with immo-
rality and crime. Among the Baptists the
evidence of the Reverend Mr. Binney is very
important, and the most numerous body of
Dissenters in the kingdom, the Wesleyan Methodists,
will be glad to peruse an extract from a letter to the
Commissioners from the Rev. Jabez Bunting :—" I
have a strong opinion, as far as my present acquaint-
ance with the argument on both sides authorises me
to express an opinion, that the law of God, as exhi-
bited in the Holy Scriptures, does not clearly prohibit
the marriage of a bereaved husband with the sister of
his deceased wife ; and that it had been better if,
where the law of God is not, at all events, decided
and explicit, the prohibition of human law had never
been introduced.
This is the language of truth, of soberness, and of
common sense, and must eventually prevail. Why
't is for a moment delayed is a puzzle to everybody.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
ALEBED.

Regent's Park, Jan. 10, 1850.
* Lingard's " History of England," vol. vi., p. 3.

ACCIDENT ON THE BANKS OF THE THAMES.-011
Tuesday, the Bth inst., a young gentleman was walking
by the side of the Thames, near Chelsea Waterworks,
when his hat was blown off, in attempting to recover
which he stepped on the mud, it being low tide. He
sank in, and his face being covered with the mud, and
unable to see, he made for the Thames instead of the
bank. A steam-boat had just passed, and one of the
back waves carried the lad into the water, and he
speedily sank. A brave fellow, a workman, of the name
of Rogers, living at 28, St. George's-row, seeing the
accident, jumped from the high wall of the waterworks,
and struggled through the mud until ho arrived at tho
Tofhhaims life,
Thames,
when, already nearly exhausted, and at the peril
he plunged into the watts, and sueeeed,ed in
finding the boy, whom he conveyed into the works in
an inanimate state, where they stripped him, wrapped
him up
in the workmen's coats, and placed him upon the
top of the boiler. Dr. W. Pettigrew was speedily in
attendance, and, after about threo hours' exerti, r,, aided
by the workmen, smccectled in restoring tho boy to life
and speech; but he could recolket nr.,thing of the acci-
dent, except that he had been seeping his hat.
Mr. Y. WodehGuse had an interview with Earl Grey
,yesterday at the Colonial-office.