The Sun.
London, England, 1842-07-25 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, JULY 25, 1842

ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTI-

TUTION.

Amongst the many inventions of modern genius, there
are few, perhaps, which claim more deservedly the atten-
tion of the public generally, from the extreme simplicity
of its manipulation and its general utility, than that
branch of the photographic art called " calotype." This
branch, which was discovered by Mr. Fox Talbot, in Eng-
land, synchronous with the daguerreotype process, in-
vented by
.the French chemists Messrs. Niepse and
Daguerre, in France, differs only from the latter in this,
that the ealotype delineates upon paper made sensitive,
whilst the daguerreotype delineates upon metal rendered
sensitive.

We attended a lecture upon this subject, delivered by
Dr. Ryan, at the Polytechnic Institution, a few days
ago, and, as the calotype process is at once simple and
interesting, we make no apology for presenting our
readers with a brief outline of the learned Doctor's
lecture.

The lecturer commenced by directing the attention
of his audience, first, to the chemical action of light
upon the colours of plants and animals, contrasting
especially the dingy whiteness of the animals and birds
of the polar regions, with the gay and luxuriant
plumage of the " minions of the south ;" and, secondly,
to the action of the sun's rays upon certain chemical
compounds. He then proceeded to trace the history of
the art of " pencilling by means of light," from its first
dawn among the alchymists, through its various grada-
tions—enumerating the experiments of Wedgewood and
of Davy, resulting in failure, from their inability to fix the
picture—the more successful attempts of M. Niepso and
M. Daguerre—and finally, the discoveries of our coun-
tryman Fox Talbot.

After contrasting the calotype with the other photo-
graphic processes, and especially pointing out its appli-
cation to the arts and sciences, and its use to the
botanist, the meteorologist, the traveller, and the anti-
quarian, Dr. Ryan proceeded to prepare the " sensitive
paper," which was done in the following manner. Having
chosen good post paper, of an even texture, he brushed
one side of it carefully over with a solution consisting of
100 grains of crystallized nitrate of silver in six ounces
of distilled water. The paper was then carefully dried
between blotting paper. It was next dipped into a solu-
tion of 500 grains of iodide of potassium in one pint of
distilled water. Upon taking it out it was washed well
in distilled water, and again dried. In this state it is
called " iodized paper," and may be kept any length of
time, as it is not yet very sensitive. To prepare it for the
reception of images, the " iodized paper" must be brushed
over in the dark, with a mixture of the following solu-
tions, A and B:—Solution A consists of 100 grains of
nitrate of silver, dissolved in two ounces of distilled
water, to which is added one sixth its volume of
pure acetic acid. Solution B is a saturated
solution of oxalic acid in distilled water. Equal
volumes of the two mixtures are put into a glass,
and applied by means of a brush to the paper, which is
afterwards washed with distilled water and dried. In
this state it is ready to receive impressions of objects,
and is so sensitive, that if held to the light it imme-
diately becomes black. After exposing it to the action
of light, with the image either reflected upon it, or placed
in contact with it, for a few seconds, it is removed, and
if examined will present no trace whatever. It is now
again brushed over in the dark with the mixed solutions
A and B, and then placed upon a tin vessel containing
hot water, when the picture begins to develope itself.
When it is sufficiently developed—as it will be in the
course of a few seconds—the further action of light is
arrested by brushing the paper with a solution of 100
grains of bromide of potassium in eight ounces of dis-
tilled water, and afterwards washing and drying.
In conclusion, Dr. Ryan pointed out the difference
between " negative" and "-positive" pictures, and stated,
that, although the first taken in a camera was negative,
having its lights and shadows reversed,yet by placing the
picture so taken in contact with sensitive paper pre-
pared by the old," photogeni-3" method, or, as recom-
mended in the calotype process, and exposing it to light,
a positive copy could readily be obtained from the nega-
tive original. _ _

We cannot conclude, without remarking on the very
able manner in which the Doctor made his lecture com-
prehensible to the meanest intellect. Avoiding all fami-
liarity, he was free with his audience ; his object ap-
peared to be to make himself understood by every one.
The process is a very beautiful one, and by it the most
delicate'tracery of artificial productions, and the most
exquisite shades, and lights, and tissues of natural ob-
jects can be copied with unrivalled accuracy.
The works of the calotype process may, in fact, be
termed natural copies, and they are so far superior to
those produced by the pencil and the brush that a mag-
nifying power applied to them, instead of exposing de-
fects and blemishes, serves only to heighten their beau-
ties, and to detect new and more charming resemblances
of the original.
THE QUEEN'S THEATRE.,

We are happy to say that this very agreeable little
theatre improves daily in the character of its representa-
tions, and after a long absence we must express our sur-
prise and gratification at the performances which we wit-
nessed there on Saturday. In addition to the usual com-
pany, with Mr. J. Parry at its head. Mrs. Honey, and
Mr. Collins, are engaged for a short time. - The lady is
too well known to need any comment from us, save that
she is dashing, gay, lively, and as handsome as ever. Mr.
Collins is an importation from thsa Emerald Isle, and is
• most admirable in Irish characters, in which poor Power
was vii inimitable. We were very much pleased with
his impersonation of the character of Sir Patrick
nipo, in " the Irish Ambassador. In addition to the
Irish Ambassador, the performances consisted of two
pieces, called Kate Careless and Juan in Love, in both of
which Mrs. Honey appeared. We cannot aftbrd time or
space to refer at length to the rest of the company ; we
wish, however, to offer our !need of praise to Mr. J. '
Parry, Mr. Moss, Mr. Manders, Mis Rogers, and Miss
Wrighten, who were all exceedingly good in their respec-
tive parts. The house is a comfortable one, and a great
deal of new and excellent scenery and decorations have
been added.

DR. REID ON THE ADAPTATION
OF BUILDINGS TO SOUND.

The intimate connexion between respiration in
the form of speech, ventilation, and the com-
munication of sound, as they relate to the archi-
tectural modifications of buildings, occupied Dr.
Reid's attention, on Wednesday evening, at Exeter
Hall. He proceeded to show that, owing to the con-
struction of some rooms in which an aggregate of
one thousand persons might be present, the speaker's
respiration, instead of being overcome, was aided,
while in others, of large dimensions, he was compelled
td draw in so copious a volume of air, that his breath
Wa3 often gone by the utterance of a few syllables.
This was entirely dependent upon architectural struc-
ture and organization, which was in some cases so de-
fective. and opposed to the laws of sound, that public
men were sometimes entirely exhausted by speaking
in some of these buildings, and were only recovered
by wine.- Nothing so reduced the strength of an in-
tellectual orator as the compulsory modulation of the
breath, from these circumstances. In a still atmos-
phere, remarked the lecturer, the voice could be heard
at a distance of two and three miles, sometimes even
ten. The latter fact had been proved in towns where
the watchmen have been hoard to call the hour. The
shrill call of the fisherman has travelled to the ear
over water a distance of five miles, namely at Edin-
burgh, from the neighbouring island of Inchkeith,
which is situated at that distance from the city, and
the roll-call from thence has been heard at a distance
of twenty miles. On the authority of Admiral Stod-
hart, cannon were stated by Dr. Reid to convey their
sound one, two, and three hundred miles.
" Music on the water," had long been remarked
upon by the poet and sentimentalist for the beautiful
sense with which it came upon the mind of the hearer,
but this pleasurable feeling arose, not from associa-
tion, but from a physical reason, which was this, that
the pure flow or vibration of sound was not broken
by any sinister expression or reverberation, as in the
case of an echo, which marl the sound. Purity and
beauty of sound was not to be found in the grand
crash of the orchestra, but in those specific kinds of
intonation, where the air was correct and the sound
precise. Purity of sound differed from mass of sound.
Dr. Reid next divided rooms, as the recipients of tone,
into the silent and sonorous. The former were those
which probably had trellis-work or other openings, by
which the sounds escaped or were diffused. In the
sonorous rooms, a sound developed very frequently
lasted for five seconds : this fiat sound would be
clearly defined, but the second would lack clearness,
being accompanied with the echo of the first, and the
third and succeeding, multiplying on themselves these
reverberative tones, finally caused the speaker's voice
to grow more and more unintelligible. These facts,
thus noticed, lead to the economy of constructing
rooms, as also the economy of ventilation. Various
diagrams of buildings, constructed on Dr. Reid's
principles, so as to allow of the amplest ventilation,
and at the same time to be preservative from their
configuration of the finest sounds, were finally exhi-
bited and satisfactorily dilated on by the skilful
lecturer.

POOR-LAWS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—Having seen an observation in your paper (at-
tributed to Mr. Ward, M.P.) to the following effect, that
the New Poor-law tended to raise wages, because " if the
farmer offered the labourer only 7s. a week, which was
insufficient to his maintenance, he, the labourer, could
get more by threatening to throw himself on the parish."
I beg leave to inform Mr. Ward that this is not prac-
tically- the case. In the first place, the labourer knows
that, if he does not accept of the low wages offered (in
the present superabundant supply of labour) there, are
others who will. But further, the farmer having offered
him work, though at the low price of 7s. a week, the Guar-
dians and Overseers will consider him as unwilling to
work, though able to obtain it, and will refuse him relief,
and if a farmer, or a host of farmers, a whole county of
them, offer 1,000 labourers 7s. a week (though not want-
ing more than 800) the labourers must accept it. It is
the interest of the farmer to give the 1,000 7s. a week,
rather than give the 800 he actually wants Bs. 6d., though
each labourer should do only three-quarters of a day's
work ; and the surplus 200 labourers have not the
option of going to the parish, that the 800 may obtain
the Bs. 6(1. wages. because the parish will not weive them :
so than the New Poor-law does not, in effec,., enable the
labourer to obtain a fair, or in any way a better rate of
wages, tha he otherwise could.—Your constant. reader,
Fulham, July 23, 1842.
A. A.

THE POLISH NATION.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

London, July 23, 1842.
SIR,—I take the liberty of sending, and beg your
acceptance of, a copy of the address of the General-
in-Chief of the Polish Army, expressive of the grati-
tude of the exiled and oppressed people of Poland, for
the generous sympathy of the British House of Com-
mons, on a recent occasion, in the manifold wrongs
inflicted upon Poland.—l have the honour to be, your
most obedient servant,
(Signed) GENERAL SOLTYK.

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT.
On a recent occasion Sir Robert Peel, the illustrious
head of your Administration, expressed himself in the
following terms :
" I am convinced that after all the blood and treasure
which must be expended in carrying out such pernicious
policy, it would be found that nationality, if it may. be
crushed, would never be extinguished ; that its spirit
survived amidst every oppression in lands however dis-
tant and obscure ; and that though the unfortunate na-
tives might be transported into strange climes, it would
be seen how strictly true it was in this and all other cases
Ccelum, non animum mutant.'"
It is this feeling which animates the whole Polish na-
tion, and it is in her name, as General in-Chief of her
army, invested provisionally with the power of President
of the National Government, that I address myself with
confidence to the British Parliament to express her gra-
titUde and her hopes. The forms of your Honourable
House prevent us from expressing in a manner more
congenial to our feelings, the deep sense we entertain of
your generous sympathies on behalf of the Polish nation.
The good wishes expressed for the nationality of Po-
land on this memorable occasion have touched the hearts
of her sons and console them in their misfortunes. They
know how good wishes may be changed into representa-
tions, and representations into solemn protestations, and
how the protestations of Great Britain are never made in
vain ; they will be heard from one end of the universe to
the other, and teach an important lesson.
What a great nation wishes for she knows how to ac-
complish ; may. England support us, and by her aid
render the holy cause of our country triumphant.
It were vain to speak of the means employed by the
Government of Russia to convert fifteen millions of Poles
into so many Russians. That end she shall never ac-
complish while there is a God above, and a free people
on earth.

The people of Poland have experienced terrible vicis-
situdes. They who from infancy have imbibed the love
of country, and who have often and but recently armed
in defence of her liberties and rights, are now constrained
to suffer in silence every hardship and outrage, and have
only the courage of resignation to appose to the power
of their oppressor.
One thought, however, at all times consoles and sus-
tains them. It is that these hardships and outrages may
yet be serviceable to their holy cau-•e, and give birth to
the conviction among the independent nations of the
earth, that the acknowledgment of the ancient rights of
Poland, and the restoration of a great and independent
nation, would for ever put an end to this deplorable con-
dition, guarantee the stability of the States of Europe,
and maintain a peace founded on justice and the rights
of nations.

Representatives of Great Britain ! It was worthy of
you, it was worthy of the great nation you represent, to
place yourselves at the head of this noble movement, and
to show by the accomplishment of a great act of justice,
that if you are jealous in maintaining your own liberties,
you can at the same time acknowledge the rights of
others and succour the oppressed.
(Signed) RYBINSKI,
General-in.Chicf of the Polish Army.
Paris, 14th July, 1842.
I, the undersigned, certify the foregoing to be a faith-
ful translation.

(Signed)

GENERAL SOLTYK.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
(From the Hampshire Telegraph.)
PORTSMOUTH, JULY 23.—The Sulphur, surveying-
ship, Captain Belcher, arrived on Tuesday, after a toil-
some expedition of seven years on the west coast of
North America, the South-sea Islands, the coast of
China, and other places. Her crew have been particu-
larly healthy, and she comes home loaded in an extra-
ordinary manner with vegetable, animal, geological, mi-
neral, and zoological specimens ; she has some plants
running up her hatchways, twenty feet in height, for
some of the public gardens. She sailed on Thursday for
WoolWich, to be paid off.
The Wellesley, 72, Captain Thomas Maitland, ar-
rived at Plymouth on Tuesday, from the East Indies.
Shc brought home Captain Butterfield (late of the Fam-
tome), and invalids, and part of the crew forMerly be-
longing to the Alligator—she left Chusan on the 3d of
February ; Singapore, the 7th March ; and the Cape of
Good Hope, the 19th June, all well. She will be paid
off at Plymouth.
The Albatross, 16, Commander Yorke, sailed on Tues-
day for the North American station ; she takes out several
officers and upwards of eighty supernumeraries for the 1
Sydenham steamer, and other ships ; she is to call at
Ply Mouth.
The Satellite, 18, Commander Gambier, sailed on
Monday for the South American station.
The Alban steamer arrived at Gibraltar from Ply-
mouth, on the 7th inst. The Formidable' 84, and Bel-
videra, 36, sailed from Gibraltar on the 4th ; the former
for Cadiz. The Lizard steamer sailed the some day for
Malaga.
The Resistance troop ship, arrived at Quebec, from
England, on Oe 25th June.
The Samarang, 26, and Orestes, 18, were undocked
this morning.
The Tortoise store ship, Captain Wood, left Hobart
ToWn, for New Zealand, on the 9th March, for masts
for the. Navy. The Beagle, surveying ship, Captain
Stokes, sailed at the same time, to survey Bank's Straits.
The Monkey steamer is ordered to the Downs, to
assist in towing Mr. Bush's Cassoon:
The Driver, steam frigate, Commander Harmer, ar-
rived at Simon's Bay, Cape of Good Hope, on the 13th
of May ; she would have to go to Table Bay for coal,
and would proceed to China, about the 24th.
The Nautilus, 10, Lieut. Commander C. J. Paulson,
arrived on. Friday, from off Brighton, where she has been
to protect the mackerel fishery, the season for which
being now over.
The Wolverine, 16, was at Simon's Bay on the 14th
May.
The Pique, 36, was taken out of dock into the basin on
Wednesday.
The ship, George the Fourth, is daily expected here
from the River to carry the St. Helena regiment to its
destination.
The Malabar, free trader, from Bombay, sailed on
Tuesday.
• The Childe Harold, Indiaman, for Bombay, arrived
yesterday, and sailed this evening.
In Harbour—St. Vincent, Victory, Excellent, Royal
George, Pique, Nautilus. Raven, Seaflower and Sylvia
(cutters,) Echo (steam tug), Diligence (naval transport).
At Spithead—Cleopatra.
PLYMOUTH, JULY 21. The Belgian transport, Ma-
cassar, sailed for Singapore on Thursday last. The
Philomel, 10, Commander R. J. Sulivan, sailed on Satur-
day for the Pacific, on a survey of the Falkland Islands.
Mr. Henderson, Second Master Attendant, with a party
of men, proceeded the same day, in the Hatnoaze lighter,
for Greenock, to bring the Spiteful steamer to this port.
The Wellesley, 72, Captain Maitland, arrived on Tues-
day from the East Indies.

In Harbour—Caledonia, San Josef, Actaeon, Wolf,
and Confiance steamer.

In the Sound—Wellesley.
PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS.

PnomoTioN.—Assistant Surgeon—Ebernezer Robert-
son, late of the Benbow, to the rank of Surgeon.
APPOINTNENTS,—Commander G. A. Frazer, to the
Comet.

Lieutenants—W. C. Alexander, to the Cleopatra, vice
Pyne ; Augustus Lavie, to the Isis • B. Young (addi-
tionll), to the St. Vincent ; Alfred kortrigh:, to com-
mand the Columbia ; G. Blane, to the Royal Naval Col-
lege, for study.
Master and Pilot—G. J. Hodges, to the Satellite.
Second Master—Mr. John Way, to Meteor ; Mr. E.
11, Rowe, to Comet.

Master's Assistant—Mr. 0. A. Winstanley, to the
Dee.

Assistant Surgeon—J. N. Derriman, to the Sea•
flower.

Mates—W. J. Lower, to the Thunderer ; E. Tumour,
:o the Seaflower.

Midshipman—G. J. Colville, to the Carysfort.
Volunteer Ist Class—G. J. Malcolm, to the In-
constant.

PRIMROSE-HILL.—On Saturday a meeting of the
rate-payers of Marylebone, appointed as a Committee
to assert . and maintain the public " right of way" over
Primrose-hill, in, the direction of Kilburn, and which
has recently been obstructed, assembled, accompanied by
the Members for the Borough. Sir B. Hall, and Commo-
dore Sir Charles Napier, at Primrose-hill, for the pur-
pose of viewing the spot and " right of way" in
dispute. After some discussion, Sir Benjamin Hall
observed that the course he would recommend the
rate-payers to adopt would be at once to call upon
the Vestry to direct their surveyor to make a survey
of the boundaries of the parish at Primrose-hill,
and define it and the ancient footpaths by laying down a
course of stones where they went. Having'done this, he
.would, with his Hon. Colleague, be most happy to ac-
company a deputation to the Commissioners of Woods
and Forests, and seek their aid, as they had now pur-
chased Primrose-hill for the use and recreation of the
r.ublic, in also preserving the right of the public to the
means of gaining free access to it. Sir C. Napier •coin-
cided in what had fallen from Sir B. Hall; but observed,
that if the rate-payers of Marylebone had a right to the
road in question, and which he felt convinced they had,
he thought they would be perfectly justified in at once
destroying the obstruction. It was ultimately agreed to
carry out the recommendation of the lion. Baronet, Sir
B. Hall forthwith, and the meeting separated.
GOSSIP OF THE OBSERVER. -A report is pre-
valent among the fashionable circles, and which we
notice only because we cannot deem it otherwise than a
most malignant calumny upon the distinguished Lady
who is the object of it. We notice it, in order that an
authorised contradiction may promptly follow our allu-
sion to it. The lie goes that Lady Augusta Gordon had
missed some jewellery, and that the possession of this
jewellery had been traced to the possession of a
Countess, the daughter of a personage now holding the
highest Cabinet appointment, and the grandniece of the
most illustrious man of this age. She is the wife of the
most honest and single-minded Member of the House of
Peers. We pray him to authorise us to contradict the
report, and aid him to trace out the calumniators.

THE. GOOD 4511ii;;;;.------1535.—Paid 14s. Bd.,
the expense of bringing a heretic from London, and for
one and a half load of wood to burn him, 2s. ; for gun.
powder, ld. ; a stake and staple Bd."—Records of the
Corporation of Canterbury.

DOVER CHURCH-RATE CASE.
(From the Dover Chronicle.)
Our readers will recollect that, in December 1840,
Mr. D. Palfrey of this town was cited to appear in
the Arches Court, Doctors' Commons, for refusing to
pay four Church-rates and two Cemetery-rates. The
admission of the libel, as far as the Church-rates were
concerned, was successfully opposed by Mr. Palfrey's
counsel ; but as far as related to the Cemetery-rates,
no opposition was offered. The payment of these
rates was recommended by counsel for Mr. Palfrey,
and they were paid accordingly.
On the 11th of January last the question of costs
was argued before Sir H. Jenner Fust, who con-
demned the churchwardens in the costs of the four
Church-rates, and Mr. Palfrey of the two Cemetery-
rates.

Mr. Palfrey's Proctor's charge was £76 1 10
Taken off in taxation '2B 13 4

47 8 6
Churchwarden's Proctor's bill
Taken off in taxation l2 7 2