The Sun.
London, England, 1842-09-28 00:00:00

COAL GAS.

The Drummond. Light, the Gurney or Bude
Light, and the Boccius Light, exclusive of the
" Light of All,Nations," are the Great Lights of the
Age. The first is the oxygen and..hydrogen gas on
!lin?, and at a very high temperature. 'The second
is the oxy-oil, a jet of oxygen being introduced by
means of a very peculiarly shaped conical jet into the
centre of an ordinary oil-wick flame: this was per-
fected, we believe, anieer the auspices . of the Trinity
Board, having been intended to be used in lighthouses ;
andWe have heard it designated •to that view by a
high authority, as an arrangement affording the
greatest possible amount of light in the smallest pos-
sible space. The third is a coal-gas light; and of
this we make the chief mention. This light, of
course, is no recent discovery—it was known so long
ago as 1688; but, since then, what an increase of
knowledge of the property of coal gas has
been gained, and what great mechanical im-
provements have been arranged for its com-
bustion ! Of the latter character is the Boc-
cius light, or, perhaps more correctly speaking,
the Boccius gas-lamp. The one set up opposite Nor-
thumberland House, crowned with ugliness, consists
of three ring burners, large, lesser, and less, perfo-
rated so thickly with holes, that the flames form, as it
were, three leaves of light ; these are protected from the
lateral currents of air by a glass screen, and are
thrown down and around by a metallic reflector. 'The
illuminating power is very considerable. Contem-
plating the vast establishments in the present day for
the manufacture of coal gas, the numerous improve..
ments for its thorough combustion, mechanical and
chemical, of the latter especially—Lowe's naptha-
lised gas, the perfection of artificial; light—we cannot
help reverting to the extent of the know-
ledge of gas and its properties, as mentioned in a
letter addressed to the Royal Society, May 12,
1688,- by Mr. John Clayton, Rector of Crofton,
at Wakefield, in Yorkshire, and contrasting the blad-
ders of 1688 with the gasometers of 1842. Speaking
of the thunder in Virginia, and its dreadful effects,
the writer says : " I have been told by very serious
planters that thirty or forty years ago, when the
country was not so open as now, the- thunder was
more fierce; and that sometimes, after violent thun-
der and rains, the roads would seem to have perfect
casts of brimstone ; and it is frequent, after much
thunder and lightning, for the air to have a perfect
sulphureous smell. Durst I offer my weak rea-
sons when I write to so great masters thereof
(meaning the council of the Society), I should
here consider the nature of thunder, and con-
pare it with some sulphureous • spirits which I
have drawn from coals that I could no way con-
dense, yet were inflammable; nay, would burn after
they passed through water, and that seemingly
fiercer, if they were not overpowered therewith. I
have kept of this spirit a considerable time in blad-
ders; and though it appeared as if it were only blown
with air, yet if I let it forth, and fired it with a match
or candle, it would continue burning until all were
"—De'
ers .11m.finsdeee /
fCginals'omizn, 11-1, on 10.
hi iei. p. 290.
Mention is rtpoaper
about the year 1691, sent by the same writer the
any
eßoynaarlk Sa
bolcei eftaye
t;
sa
mentionedid %'
remembervi-riter 50711 tnhge thesuebs
ject.—L iterary Gazette.
do
nboyt

Al-- - Curtis, in his work on " The
EXERCISE.--itir. d
Simplicity of Living," stroni gtl.):treicsomnmoteonnlsyexerci
states
sof health, but is,
impaired b in
many
in the openm anosir:
means of benefiting those
cases, the
lie strongly urges the necessity of
whose health has become y neglect of the
condu-
cive to the preservation
supported in London and
hours of in-door employment • ''d
lessening the _ . an ob-
serves, that the proposal for shortening the hours of
natural laws. aelftißicastaCions. .
business,
other towns, is one, the adoption of which would
prove very beneficial to the health of a very large
now so generally
class of the community, and would not, he thinks, be
any detriment to trade ; and further recommends, that
the banking-houses be closed at four o'clock instead of
five, adding, as a precedent, that all the banks in
Dublin are closed at three.
EXTRAORDINARY SUPPLY OF POULTRY. The
poultry markets of Saturday presented the unusual but
very gratifying appearance of enormous quantities of
every description of poultry being offered f r sale, all
the produce of the Engllsh feeder, who is enabled, from
the great difference of the price ofcorn between the pre-
sent and last Michaelmas, to send his stock to market
.at a cost of 15 per cent. less to himse:f. The supply of
geese was particularly large, the demand was also great,
at prices varying from 4s. to ss. 6d. ; at the former quo-
tation many were purchased by those classes who had
long learned to look upon such food as luxuries far be-
yond their reach. The accounts from Norfolk and other
eastern counties are most favourable, and a continuance
of a plentiful supply may be readily looked to through-
, out the season from our own countrymen', without having
to call in foreign aid. Ducks are fetching from Is. 6d,
to 2s. 3d., and fowls 2s. to 2s. 6d. Since attention has
been called to the condition in which grouse in cases
came into the market, a great improvement has taken
place in its appearance, and also in the price, which may
be now given at 2s. to ss. the brace.
Tun litnvEsr.—Throughout the whole of the
southern part of this county and the fertile vale of Cleve-
land, with a very few exceptions, the harvest is now
completely over ; the crops in excellent condition, and
most abundant, frcnn the staff of life through every inter-
mediate grade down to bramble-berries and mushrooms,
the latter article being so very plentiful that they are
now sold in Stockton at threepence per peck ! The liar -
vest may now be said to be concluded in the whole of
this district, and the crops secured in excellent condition.
We had a fine rain on Thursday, which continued dur-
ing the whole of the night, and this (Friday) morning
there are occasional light showers. This has greatly
benefited the green crops, and will enable the farmer to
get his wheat sown at an unprecedentedly early period--
thus holding out a prospect of another favourable harvest,
—Durban: Advertiser.

THE NEW HISTORICAL ROMANCE.

Now ready at all.the Libraries, in 3 vols. post Bvo.,
H E C Z A R IN A;
I. an HISTORICAL ROMANCE of the COURT OF

RUSSIA.
By MRS. HOFLAND.
Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street.

MRS. TROLLOPE'S NEW WORK.
Just ready, in 2 vols. dewy Bvo.,
I VISIT TO ITALY IN 1841.
By Mr, TROLLOPE,
iuthor of " Paris and the Parisians," " Vienna and the
Austrian-4," "Domestic Manners of the Americans," &e.
Richard Bentley, New Burlington-street,
Publisher in Ordinary to her Majesty.

HAMBURCIII, 12TH Aucusr, 1842.
II IS MAJESTY the EMPEROR. of
AUSTRIA,

HIS MAJESTY the EMPEROR of RUSSIA,
AND HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF PRUSSIA,
Rtring AUTHORISED and GUARANTEED several DIS-
T qtRUTIONS of MONEY, DIVIDENDS, by which,
tb-righ they are NO LOTTERIES, LARGE FORTUNES
nay be obtained, HEINE BROTHERS, at HAMBURGH,
%:e Selling
t;ENUINE and WARRANTED SELECTED BONDS

for the said DISTAIBU f lONS.
Person: desirous to purchase may releive, PREVIOUS
to living any order, the PROSPECTUS with full PARTI-
C't-LA RS, upon addressinr, WITHOUT DELAY, a fine to
HEINE BROTHERS, at HAMBURGH.

THEATRE ROYAL, COVENT-GARDEN.
THIS EVENING, SEPTEMBER 28,
will be repeated the New Play, in Five Act s, by the Author of
the Provost of Bruges," called LOVE'S SACRIFICE; or, the
RIVAL MERCHANTS.—Matthew Aylmer, Mr. Vandenhoff; Paul
J.;:nit, Mr. Cooper; Eugene de Lornte, Mr C.
Aylmer; St Lo, Mr.
W. Lacy; Jean Fuse, Mr. Meadows ; Margaret
Miss Van-
tientioff; Henninie de Vermont, Mrs. W. Lacy; JeAny,Mrs. Hum-
by ; Manou, Mrs. Urger.
.tttcr which, /Weer's celebrated Opera of FRA DI AVOLO.—
?: ra tiiavolo; gr. W. Harrison ; Lord Allcash, Mr. G. Horncastle
r.n,zo, Mr. Travers; Beppo, Mr. J. Eland; Giacomo, Mr. Glu-
t ; Zerlina, Miss Rainforth ; Lady Allcash, Miss Poole.
1./ocrs open at halt:.past Six, and the Performances begs' at Seven.
lircss Boxes is.. Second Price 3s. (id , First and SecomiCircles 55.,
Second Price 2s. fid.; Pit 3s.' Second Price es. ; Gallery Is. Tickets
and Places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr. Whitlow, at the Box-
tsce, from Ten till Four, where Season Tickets may be had
Private iSlxes to be had at the Box-Otti e ; of bee
Andrews,
!tr. New Bond-street ; Mr. Mitchell, Old Bond street ; and of Mr.
bums Pali Mall.

DAVIDGE'S ROYAL SURREY THEATRE.
Czmbination of talent, Mi. T. P. Cooke, and the finest Company in
London.
THIS EVENING, SEPTEMBER 28,
Will be produced a New Drama entitled BLANCHE HERIOT ;
ON, THE CHERTSEY CURFEW.
Atter which, with New Scenery. Haines's Nautical Drama, MY
l'OI•L AND MY PARTNER JOE—Harry Flaulyard, Mr. T. P.
cowe ; Joe 'Filler, Mr. It. Honnir ; Waxend, Mr. W. Smith ;
.try Maybud, Mrs. R. Honner ; Abigail, Miss E. 'l'errey.
1„ conclude with, THE PLEDGE OF LOVE • OR, A SIS.
.i.F.It'SISACRIFICE. Characters by Messrs. H.cks, 'Neville, Smith,
Z.:a,. Vining, &c.
l', ices and l'rivate 3oxes may be had of Mr. J. Kerschner, at the
cx °dice, from Eleven till Four daily.

ROYAL SURREY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.
THE LAST WEEK OF THE SEASON.
t :RAND EVENING FETES, on MONDAY, TUESDAY, and
Ti I U RSD AY, with the following matchless combination of uniq e
a:tractions :
he celebrate.' MENAGERIE, reeenLly enriched by several Zoo-
Al.: cal rarities.
e stupendous TYPO R AM IC MODEL AL-FRESCO of ROME
twin the left bank of the Tiber.
'the PROMENADES MUSICALES by the unrivalled Band of
ind Instruments, conducted by Mr. Godfrey.
After the Concert the Illumination of St. Peter's, and the Giran-
d of Saint Angelo, with Southby's magnificent Pyrotechnic Spec-
Extr 'ordinary Aquatic Fireworks on the Lake, and Superb
of Fire.
Admission to the whole of the Entertainments, One Shilling.
t )pen at Ten in the Morning.—Feeding at Half. past Four „—Con-
c:it At Five., Fireworks at Eight,