The Sun.
London, England, 1842-03-21 00:00:00

ATMOSPHERIC RAILWAY.

Extract from the Report of Sir Frederick Smith
and Professor Barlow, to the Earl of Ripon, on the
application of the atmospheric principle in producing
locomotion on railways :
" The experiments which have been tried at Worm-
wood Scrubs have proved the practicability of giving
motion to considerable loads at a maximum velocity
of 40 miles per hour.
" On the Bth August, 1840, we were present at
experiments, when a load of 13 tons was thus pro-
pelled, and a mean velocity obtained in the first expe-
riment of 20 miles per hour, and in the second expe-
riment of between 19 and 20 miles per hour.
"On the 12th and 14th of January, 1842, in ac-
cordance with your Lordship's instructions, we insti-
tuted certain other experiments, when the maximum
velocity obtained with a load of five tons was, in one
set of experiments, 26, and in the other set, 40 miles
per hour. _

" It is, therefore, as above observed, no longer a
question whether trains of carriages may be worked
by means of atmospheric pressure ; the points now
to be decided are—

" Ist. Whether this principle admits of its being
advantageously applied to greater distances than half
a mile, which is the length of the present experi-
mental line.

" 2ndly. The probable expense of constructing a
railway on this principle, and of supplying the loco-
motive power. •
" 3rdly. The relative economy in working such a
line, as compared with a railway worked by locomo-
tive engines.

" 4thly. The degree of safety which the atmosphe-
ric system affords, as compared with other locomotive
means."

After stating their views on the subject, and de-
scribing the mode of inquiry, they came to the fol-
lowing resolutions :

" Firstly, That we consider the principle of atmos-
pheric propulsion to be established, and that the eco-
nomy of working increases with the length and dia-
meter of the tube.

" Secondly, That the expense of the formation of
the line in cuttings, embankments, bridges, tunnels,
and rails, will be very little less than for equal lengths
of a railway to be worked by locomotive engines, but
that the total cost of the works will be much greater,
owing to the expense of providing and laying the at-
mospheric tube, and erecting the stationary engines-
" Thirdly, That the expense of working a line on
this principle, on which trains are frequently passing,
will be less than working by locomotive engines, and
that the saving thus effected will in some cases more
than compensate for the additional outlay ; but it will
be the reverse on lines of unfrequent trains. How-
ever, there are many items of expense of which we
have no knowledge and can form no opinion, such as
the wear and tear of pistons, valves, &c. ; on these
further experience is needed.
" Fourthly, That with proper means of disengaging
the train from the piston, in cases of emergency, we
consider this principle as regards safety equal to that
appertaining to rope machinery. There appear, how-
ever, some practical difficulties in regard to junctions,
crossings, sidings, and stoppages at road stations,
which may make this system of less general application.
" We may add that the atmospheric principle seems
to us well suited for such a line as the projected ex-
tension from Kingstown to Dalkey is represented to
be, but we should have been glad if this line had been
three miles, instead of only one mile and three-quar-
ters in length, as it would have then brought this
principle to a more complete and decided test.'

Two days ago, as a farmer of the environs of Paris
was passing through the Rue des Stints-Peres, a chiffonier
who had been walking behind him accosted him, and in-
quired if he had lost anything. The farmer having answered
in the negative, the chiffonier presented a piece of paper in
the form of a bill of exchange, which he said he thought the
farmer had dropped, and observing that he could not read,
requested the farmer to read it. He did so, and found it to
be a promissory note for 750 francs, payable to bearer, and
signed Bruat freres, bankers, Rue Rauteville. The farmer
immediately declared that it was his, and thanking the chif-
fonier offered him five francs as a reward for his honesty. The
chiffonier, however, claimed 180 francs, and seizing the farmer
by the collar, said that if he did not give it he would take him
before the Commissary of Police, who would compel him to
pay that sum. The farmer, thinking he would be a gainer of
650 francs by the transaction, and dreading, of course, a
hearing before the Commissary, paid the 100 francs, and
ran off to the Rue Hauteville to get the bill cashed On his
arrival be found, to his great mortification, that he had been
duped by the chiffonier, for there was no such banking-house as
Bruat freres in th , Rue Hauteville.

SOUTHAMPTON, MARCH 18.—The West Indian
Company's steamer Isis will convey the Mexican and West
Indian Mails from England on the first of next month. She
is expected at this port in a few days. The Dee is not
yet arrived, al.holigh she has been expected for the last
three days. The Great Liverpool will be relieved from
quarantine, which she is performing at the Afotherbank,
on the 20th inst. She has brought an unusually large number
of passengers this voyage. One of the passengers is Captain
Gifford, R.N. a gallant and fortunate young officer, who has
been repeatedly praised for his skill and bravery in the Chinese
war, in the despatches of the General and Admiral command-
ing in China Captain Gifford is the son of Admiral Gifford,
an old an estimable inhabitant of Southampton.
BRISTOL SUGAR-MARKET, MARCH 18.—The stock
of raw sugars in first hands is nearly exhausted, and, with the
exception of a probable cargo from the Mauritius, we have
nothing to look forward to until the next general impart.
Sugars, both raw and refired, have advanced 3s. sir:cos our last,
but if the official estimate of the present years' import be at all
correct, this can only continue till we obtain new arrivals.
Bristol Mercurg.

On the morning of the 6th inst., writes a corres-
pondent at Berlin, 18 men b women, and several children, of
from 10 to 14 years old,' underwent the ceremony of bap-
tism by immersion in the Lake of Rummelsburg, about a league
from Berlin, although the water was covered with a thin coat
of ice, and the wind blew very strong from the nort-east.
The ceremony was presided over by M. Lhemann, one of the
most celebrated engravers of the Prussian capital, who, during
a late visit to London, had been ordained a minister of the
Anabaptists. He commenced by
.delivering a long discourse
on a text taken from the Apocnrypha. The catechumens
then retired into two tents, one for the males, the other for
the females. There they stripped themselves of all their gar-
ments, and put on a long, white linen bathing-gown, in which
they re-acpeared on the border of the lake, and having bowed
to their pastor, plunged into the water. The minister himself,
who had alo undressed himself, and put on a black linen
gown, followed them into the lake, and submerged each seve-
ral times. The whole then returned again to the tents, and
dressed themselves in their ordinary clothes. The spectators
were very numerous.

- There is no political news of the slightest interest
in the Madrid Journals of the 9th inst. The Castellano gives
a proclamation published by General Rail at Victoria on the
sth, in which he announces his determination of punishing
with great severity all persons attempting to seduce the troops
from their fidelity, or otherwise plotting against the Goirern-
ment. The proclamation offers pecuniary rewards fir the
denunciation of such offenders, or the arrest of Spanish re.
fugees returning to Spain without permission from the autho-
rities. A Madrid letter states that a modification of the Spanish
Cabinet is generally expected t., take place speedily.
A frightful accident occurred in Wombwell's show
of wild beasts at Stamford on Friday night last, owing to the
indiscretion of a person in a state o(intoxication. About nine
o'clock, Mr. Francis Martin, farmer, of Ufford, after being
repeatedly cautioned that his teasing a very fine tiger in one
of the cages was foolish and dangerous, wa seized by the ani-
mal, which fixed its terrific teeth in the muscles and bones of
the right fore-arm of Mr. Martin. Every effort to compel
the tiger to loose its jaws was ineffectual, until a hot iron was
applied to it. nostrils, and then Mr. Martin was able to drag
himself away, having his arm lacerated and injured so dread-
t'ully that danger of fatal consequences still exists.--Stamfot,
11:fercury.
A. Bayonne Paper of the 15th says :—" A band,
composed of about a hundred men, and commanded by a man
named Felip, now infests the Lampourdan, capturing land-
ownet s. for the purpose of obtaining ransoms, demanding col?"
tributiooke from the villagers, and seizing arms. Felip lately
appeare din the neighbourhoed of Banols, and carried off two
" !'endow Tn., He made one pay 30,060 f„ and the other
10,000 f. ; he also forced a village to pay him a' large contri-
bution, and took away twenty-five muskets belonging to the
National Guard."