The Sun.
London, England, 1845-06-24 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S VISIT TO THE
EXPERIMENTAL SQUADRON.

PORTSMOUTM, SATURDAY.-The day was favourable for her Ma-
jesty. A light and refreshing breeze from the southwest, suffi.
cient to render the atmosphere cool and invigorating. enabled the
various yachts and sailing vessels to perform their graceful evolu.
tions In tacking and wearing round the large ships of the squadron.
Numberless vessels, from the large gracefully-rigged schooner to
the small-sized wherry, with a variety of steam-vessels, freighted
with elegantly-dressed persons, were cruising about Spithead to
witness the very imposing spectacle of her Majesty's visit to the
squadron.

At halfpast eleven the royal yacht Victoria and Albert was seen
with the royal standard flying at her mast-head coming from
Cowes—the Platform Battery saluted the flag with 21 guns; she
soon joined the Blaek Eagle, when both vessels stopped. The
Admiralty barge was manned, and the Earl of Haddlngton, Sir W.
H. Gage, and the Admiralty Secretary, had the honour of waiting
on her Majesty on board the Victoria and Albert; both steamers
theta proceeded towards the squadron.

When the royal yacht was about one cable's length from the
St. Vincent, 120, the flag-ship of the Commander-in-Chief of the
squadron, that ship fired the first gun of the grand general salute
—simultaneously with its discharge every ship of the squadron was
immediately covered with a profusion of flags, surmounted by a red
ensign at the main, a white ensign at the fore, and a blue ensign at
the mizentopgallant mastheads, at the same instant the flags so sud-
denly unfurled, on every yard appeared a line of seamen, all
dressed alike in their neat blue jackets and white trousers. When
the breeze had dispersed the cloud of smoke occasioned by the dis-
charge of nearly 200 32-pounder guns, the royal yacht was seen
lying stationary near the flag-ship. The yacht's barge was imme.
diately manned, and her Majesty, accompanied by Prince Albert,
and attended by Lord Haddington, steered by Captain Lord Fitz-
clarence, proceeded to the St. Vincent, and were received at the
entering-port by Rear-Admiral Parker, C. 8., the Commander in.
Chief of the squadron. Capt. Rowley and the officers of the ship,
and the Royal Marines under Capt. Collis, formed a guard of honour.
oAft ,
wereboe After Arodnddm.icrtale
upwards Parker
byohfi had
n alrfoaunndh presentedou thisr her
rere officers,
id
Majesty,
ship.
p itnhce After
ArroyalAlbert,
ratpi:aiari :g.l
Lord Haddington proceeded along the line of ships in the yacht's
barge, attended by the Rear-Admiral the Commander-in .Chief, in
his barge, to the Trafalgar, 120. Captain F. Martin had the
honour of receiving her Majesty and Prince Albert, and of con-
ducting them round this beautiful specimen of naval architecture.
The royal party again proceeded in the barge along the line of
ships, and passing the Queen, 110, Captain Sir B. W. Walker, as
her Majesty had before seen this ship, the royal barge passed on to
the Albion, 90, where the royal party were received by Captain
N. Lockyer, C. 8., who had the honour of conducting her Majesty
round the ship; and we understand that her Majesty and Prince
Albert were pleased to express their high admiration at the very
complete state and splendid organisation of all her appointments.
This ship is certainly the " crack ship" of the squadron ; she is
3,100 tons burden, is the handsomest two.decker afloat, and having
been in commission some time longer than the other ships of the
squadron, and better manned, is now, we should say, the " pat-
tern ship."
At half.past one her Majesty and Prince Albert returned on
board the royal yacht, now lying nearly in the centre of the ships.
The different captains commanding ships here waited on her Ma-
jerty, and had the honour of being presented. Lord Haddington,
Sir W. Fr. Gage, the Right Hon. T. L. Corry, and Captain Dundas
now took leave of her Majesty, and returned to the Black Eagle.
The royal yacht then proceeded to the eastward, and in passing
the Ellenborough, a large outward-bound Indiaman with a number
of troops on board, she received from the crew and troops three
most vociferous cheers, which was duly acknowledged by the royal
yacht, the royal party bowing in return, The royal yacht also
passed the large outward.bound American packet-ship the St.
James. The royal yacht having proceeded to the eastward, as
far as the Vernon, now turned round and passed back between the
line of ships. When opposite the St. Vincent, all the squadron
again blazed forth another royal salute, after which the royal
yacht put on full speed, and returned to Cowes.

BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE

ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE.

CAMBRIDGE, JUNE 21.—The first sitting of the Magnetic Con.
gress took place at the early hour of eight o'clock in the morning,
and the result of their deliberations will be made known to the
general meeting of the Committee, which will be held on Monday.
With the exception of the mathematical and geological lectures
yesterday, the attendance at most of the meeting-rooms was but
small. On account of the dearth of papers, the first meetings of
the mechanical and medical lectures will take place only to-day.
The following were the communications at the different sections :

MATHEMATICS AND PHYSICS.—The papers were chiefly of a
technical character, and all unsusceptible of a popular abstract.
CHEMICAL SCIENCE.—I. Dr. Daubeny read au interesting report
on the chemical principles involved in the rotation of the crops,
being the results of numerous experiments made at the Botanic
Gardens during the last ten years. Comparative experiments had
been made on land subjected to a succession of crops of the same
nature, and the other to a succession of crops of different natures,
both without manure. 2. Dr. W. Sharp read a paper on the ashes
of wheat. The result of upwards of one hundred experiments
showed that the weight of the ash proceeded in an inverse ratio to
the weight of the wheat per bushel.
SECTION C.—GEOLOGY AND PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.—I. Dr.
W. Carpenter read the continuation of a very lengthened report on
the microscopic structure of shells. 2. Dr. Buckland described
the agency of land snails in forming holes and trackways in com-
pact limestone. His attention had first been called to the subject
by a discussion on the perforations, sixty feet high, at Tenby
Castle, which were by some taken to be evidence of a r aised beach,
but which he considered as the workmanship of land snails. He
considered that by means of the acid with which they were pro.
vided snails could make perforations into the most solid forms of
limestone, but the perforations were unlike those made by any
other animals, or those made by the salt of the sea, and the car.
bonic acid of the atmosphere. These perforations were never
found where the rain and frosts could operate, and always had the
aperture downwards. From observations made at Richhorough
last year, he had concluded that these perforations were not made
to a greater depth than an inch in 1,000 years.

STATISTICS. —Mr. O. R. Porter read a paper on the progress and
present state of savings' banks in the United Kingdom. The first
savings' bank regularly organised was at Ruthwell, and before the
Legislature interfered on the subject there were seventy saving's
banks in England, four in Wales, and four in Ireland. The
deposits last year were :—England, 832,290 depositors, and the
amount 25,112,8631.; Wales, 18,690 depositors, and the amount
559,7961.; Ireland, 91,243 depositors, and amount 2,749,0171.;
and Scotland. 69,824 depositors, and amount 10,431,183/. 3.
A paper was read) from Mr. R. Valpy, on the trade and navi-
gation of Norway.

In the evening the Astronomer Royal delivered a discourse on
terrestrial magnetism in the Senate House, which was very well
filled. It consisted chiefly of an elementary notice of the facts of
the science, and a popular description of the effbrts now making to
obtain more information upon this obscure science.

In the afternoon there was a grand horticultural show, held in
the gardens of Downing College, which was very well attended, the
prizes distributed being numerous.
In the course of yesterd q 120 fresh members enrolled their
names, being a total of 776 attending the present meeting.

Mr. Mountain, formerly leader of the band at
Covent-garden Theatre for many years, died on the 14th inst., aged
seventy-eight. He survived Mrs. Mountain, once a very popular
singer, four years, and belonged to the Philharmonic band until a
few seasons back.

DEATH FROM THE USE OF LEADEN PIPES —MAL-
VERN WELLS, JUNE I3.—An inquest was holden this after-
noon (Friday) on the body of an agricultural la-
bourer, named Richard Wilkins, lately in the employment
of a highly respectable farmer, residing at the Woo d,
from
having Wells, who came by his death, it appears, roic7f
having drunk a quantity of cider (the common drink
agricultural
eadlaeboo upreiprsesinfrothmis
tdhiestriecitd)e,r-whholocshe hatod btheeen
peloance-
vewhere it was drawn for use.hoets,
had, afterdeceased,w partaking
hsteakveiroagl
others of Mr. Benbow, s farm .Tsetva
of this cider, been seized with illness resembling the painters'
colic, which it is well known arises from the constant use
.of lead in their business. Mr. West, surgeon, of Malvern,
at first attended him, but Mr. Hamilton, of Malvern Wells,
attended the deceased at the time of his death, which hap-
pened on Saturday last. He was buried on Wednesday,
but the public not being satisfied that an official inquiry into
the immediate cause of death had taken place, the body was
disinterred to-day, and examined by Mr. West, in the pre-
sence of Mr. Hamilton. Mr. West explained on the inquest
the nature of this examination and its result. There was
congestion of the vessels of the head and stomach, and
the deceased died of apoplexy, brought on, he believed, by
the act of deceased drinking the impregnated cider. Mr.
Benbow, the deceased's employer, explained to the Coroner
the circumstances under which the pipes had been laid
down. He had employed Mr. Cecil M'Cann to lay down
pipes of the proper white metal—tin, or composition—but he (Mr. APCann) had substituted lead, saying it was supe-
rior for the purpose. On the discovery of the mischievous
effects produced, the use of the pipes had been discon-
tinued. The jury acquitted all parties of blame except
Mr. M'Cann, and returned a verdict that the deceased died of
apoplexy, induced by congestion of the brain. The coroner
intimated that after an investigation like this every person
using such pipes would be subjeCt to a verdict of manslaughter
or murder, in the event of a similar catastrophe. He also ex-
pressed his surprise at Mr. Hamilton giving a certificate for
W* iiisuch a case, without previous official inquiry.