The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-27 00:00:00

CHANICS' INSTITUTION.

Dr. Hunter (of the Westminster Hospital School of Medi-
cine) gave last night a most lucid and interesting discourse on
the structure and functions of the human body. The con-
spicuous feature of the lecture was its illustration by means of
an anatomical model of the entire human subject. This
enabled the Lecturer, as he referred to the several organs of
digestion, respiration, circulation, and absorption, to demon-
strate their precise situation, form, and relation to other parts.
The description of the apparatus by which these processes are
carried on, was thus rendered peculiarly impressive. As in
architecture and engineering, a substantial type of the original,
such as a model presents, surpasses all other expedients by,
which an idea of complicated details can he imparted—so in
the animal mechanism, what wouldbaft3e the pencil of the most
faithful limner to represent in diagram, is made as distinct
(perhaps to the general observer more so) as the nice original,
in this beautiful " counterfeit presentment" of the "human
form divine." Nothing could surpass the breathless eagerness
of the audience to mark the removal of the successive layers
of muscle, disclosing the contents of the chest ; and as the
Doctor brought these severally into view he gave a descrip-
tion (divested of all technicality) of the masticatory organs, the
gullet, stomach, liver, heart, and lungs; thus tracing the food,
from its pleasant stimulation of the nerves of taste, through all
its transformations in the animal laboratory, till it becomes part
of the textures of those vessels themselves, and of every sub.
stance, of which, that " breathing world," a man, is complicated.
To show the beautiful mechanism of the gullet (or oesophagus)
and that even fluids do not pass through it by mere weight or
gravitat'pn, he instanced the mountebank's feat of " pouring
water t a hill" by drinking it while standing on his head,
and therefore pouring up instead of down. The lecturer ex-
plained the difference between the voluntary and involuntary
or unconscious functions, and exemplified it by showing that in
the nutritive system the voluntary action ends with the swal-
lowing of the food, beautifully observing that here nature asserts
her power, and takes the completion of the process into her
men hands—for all beyond is automatic, and proceeds alike,
without man's thought or volition. Dr. Hunter treated his
subject in the reverential tone of a true teacher, and in uttering
his own deep admiration of the infinite wisdom displayed in the
human structure, he evidently rendered every one present a
lively participator in this ennobling emotion.

GENERAL POST-OFFICE ORDER.—MAILS FOR BYD-
NET, Naw SOUTH WALES.—The Postmaster-General has
issued the following new regulations with respect to the
transmission of the mail to New South Wales in future :
" A contract having been entered into by her Majesty's
Government, for the conveyance of mails, monthly, from
the United Kingdom to Sydney, a mail will, in future, be
made up at this office on the evening of the last day of each
month, and all letters and newspapers addressed to the colony
in New South Wales, will be included in such mail, unless
specially marked 'by private ship.' The rate of postage to be
charged en all letters for New South Wales not marked by
private ship,' will be one shilling for a letter not exceeding half
an ounce; two shillings for a letter not exceeding an ounce,
and so on—which must be paid in advance. British news.
papers, duly stamped and posted in conformity with the regu-
lations required by this department, may be forwarded to New
South Wales by these packets free of postage. Such news-
papers as are forwarded by private ship will be liable to a
postage of one penny as at present.
WINDSOR AND ETON CHURCH UNION.—WINDSOR,
THUZSDAY.—At the quarterly meeting of the members of
this union, which took place yesterday at the Town-ball, the
following were amongst these who were present and took part
in the proeeedings:—The Rev. the Provost and Vice-Provost
of Eton, the Rev. Dr. Hawtrey and the Rev. R. Okes (the
bead and lower masters), the Rev. Messrs. Gossett, Canning,
Bow er, Piio, Levett, Butterfield, T. Abrahams,
Good, Dulnuisham Career,
Bent, &c. The chair' Tans'
&c.
; Sir John Chapman, Major
taken by the Rev. Mr. Canning,
Canon of Windsor. Fromwas
highly
of the Treasurer, the
funds appeared to be in a hie prosperous state. It was,
therefore, resolved that the fellaing grants should be recom-
mended to be made at the ensuing i-200/. to
the parent Societies (viz., 501. each atonnthleal meeting
ygfor the Pro-
pagation of the Gospel and the Additional Se
Curates' Society, and
t 5/. each to the other four), and 2001. tobeanapropriated to
bieatso the
local purposes, in conformity with the designs
union. Thanks having been voted to the Rev. Chairman,°
meeting broke up.
MARRIAGR IN HIGH LIFE.—On the 23d instant,
at Allerton Park, Yorkshire, Carrington Smythe, Esq , of the
Bth Royal Hussars, eldest son of Sir Edward Smythe, Bart.,
of Acton Burnell', to Louisa Mary, daughter of Lord Stoll:ton.
The lovely bride is the youngest of his Lordship's numerous
family. After an elegant &feline, which was attended by
many members of his Lordship's distinguished family, the
hay pair left Allerton Park for Derbyshire.INCENDIARY FIRES.—The Hereford Journal of
yesterday gives the particulars of three incendiary fires in the
vicinity of that town ; the first case occurred on the farm of
Mr. Lewis, of Brinsopp ; the second at Lye Court, Brilley, in
the occupation of Mr. Thomas Cave; and the third occurred
in the stable belonging to Mr. John Davies, upholsterer, of
St. Martin's•street, in the city of Hereford itself.
VALUABLE Coms.—We are informed that the col-
lection of coins, £cc., made by the late Mr. Thomas, a London
grocer, and about to be sold by Messrs. Christie and Manson, is
estimated to be of the value of from 16,0001. to 18,0001.
Literary Gazette.