The Sun.
London, England, 1826-03-07 00:00:00

SWIFT COMMUNICATION.

In the last Number of the Revue Enc,yclopedique,
there is an account of a proposal, to communicate
verbal intelligence, in a few moments, to vast
distances, and this not by symbols as in the tele-
graph, but in distinct articulate sounds, uttered
by the human voice. This plan originated with
an Englishman, Mr. Dick, according to whose
experiments the human voice may be made in-
telligible at the distance of twenty-five or thirty
miles.

The experiments of Mr. Biot, the distinguished
French mathematician and philosopher, have as-
certained that sound travels ten times quicker
when• transmitted by solid bodies, or through
tobes,than when it passes through the open air; at
the distance of 476 toises, or more than half-a-
mile, the low voice of a man was distinctly heard.
At the latter end of the last century, the Abbe
Gautier, conceived a plan of transmitting articu-
late sounds to immense distances ; he proposed
the construction of horizontal tunnels that should
widen at the extremities, by means of which, the
ticking of a watch might be heard more distinctly
at the distance of twenty-six hundred feet, than
when placed close to thy ear. Ile calculated that
a succession of such tunnels would transmit a ver-
bal message nine hundred miles in an hour.

By this mode of communication messages
might be conveyed by niglit or day► or in ally
state of the weather. The transmission of sound

by tubes, has long been practised on a small scale
in warehouses and workshops to communicate
orders to distant parts of the building. The plan
mentioned in the Revue Encyclopedique, may
be regarded as an extension of the same princi-
ple to a kingdom.

DEATH OF 111 it. PIKE THE BANKER.---This
gentleman, who by himself or in conjuction
with some member of his family, had carried on
the banking business in this city for n great
number of years,. with unblemished integrity
and unquestionable security died suddenly this
morning of un apoplectic fit ; a termination to
his life which had been often predicted. He had
been in the bank a few minutes before the calamity
occurred. The event was generally known through
the city in a short time ; but the public confidence
in the house was so marked and unequivocal, that

it created no other sensation than what may be ex-
pected to arise from the decease of a well-known
and esteemed individual.. The continuation of
the business without any interruption, we un-
derstand,- had been provided for by Mr. Pike,
some time since, and we believe the cala-
mity that has occurred will not arrest it for a
moment. The preceding paragraph had gone
through a portion of our early impression when
we learned, that in consequence of the ab-
sence in Dublin of the executors to Mr.
Pike'i will, an'd it being necessary to consult
them,- end to take out probat, there will be a
strspenßion of business for a few days. A mes-
senger proceed to Dublin this afternoon.—(Cork
Southern Reporter, Feb. itB.)

TUE DISSECTrON 01' THE ELEPU4NT.--40 the
dissection of this animal, we noticed that great
care was taken in the removal of all the viscera,
more especially the heart, its immense vessels with
the receplactdara chyti thoracic duct, together
forming an apparatus of vital importance. From
the skill displayed by Mr. Morgan during the
removal of the viscera, there eau be no doubt that
he will render the preparation of the above
highly interesting to the phisiologtst. We he
that the result of the dissection will be the means
of discovering the functions attributed to the
spleen, &c., of which, from their very mi-
nute scale in other animals, have not been
sufficiently developed. Mr. Spurzheim was
,disappointed in his dissection of the bruin,
as ntr. Cross did not wish the bones of
the head to be injured, and the brain could not
possibly he removed without the crown of the
head being sawed off. The skeleton has been
purchased for the College at Turin, for one
hundred guineas. The skin is sold to a tanner,
for 501., who intends to stuff it and exhibit it.
—On the night that ehe elephant was destroy.
ed, 351. was taken at the door for permission
to view the body, and the receipts on the three
subsequent days were about 2501. a day. The
beast had been exhibited by Mr. Cross, about
fifteen years, during which time, he was intro-
duced at Covent Garden Theatre, and the Olym-
pic Theatre. From the proprietors of the former
place, Mr. Cross received 100 guineas, and sol.
from the latter.

Ktrio's Coca.CßOWEß.—Among the ancient
customs of England, which have long since sunk
ioto,disuse, was a very absurd one, and which,
however rIiPSIIIOIIB, was continued so late as the
reign of George I. During the season of Lent,
an officer, 'denominated the " King's Cock-
crower," crowed the hour every night within
the precincts of the palace, instead of proclaim-
ing it in the ordinary manner. On the first Ash
Wednesday uftt'r the accession of the House of
Hanover, as the Prince of Wales, afterwards
George IL was sitting down to supper, this offi-
cer suddenly entered the apartment, and pro.
claimed in a sound resembling " the cock's shrill
clarioni" that it was past ten o'clock. Taken
thus by surprise, and very imperfectly acquainted
with the English language, the Prince mistook
the tremulation of the assumed crow as some
mockery intended to insult him,„and instantly
rose to resent the affront, nor was it without the
utmost difficulty that his interpreter could make
him understand the nature of the custom, and
assnre him that a compliment was iutenaed, ac-
cording to the Cotert etiquette of the times.—
From that period, however, the custom has teen
discontinned of warningthe Court by the symbol
which called back St. Peter to repentance ; and
Princes anti Courtiers have been left to the
voice of reason and conscience alone.

The raditor of the Journal du commerce,
French Paper, has been sentenced to one months'
imptisooment, and 3 fine of lOU francs, for a libel
on the Chamber of Deputies.