The Sun.
London, England, 1827-08-07 00:00:00

CRICKET:

A Match between Eton and Harrow was played on
Thursday and Friday, and decided in favour of Eton, as
follows:

HARROW.

ETON.

ARNOTT'S ELEMENTS OF PHYSICS.

GRADUAL CHANGE OF THE EARTH'S SURFACE

PRODUCED BY RUNNING WATER.

If a small lake or extensive mill-pond, with
very uneven bottom, were suddenly emptied by
a sluice or opening in its lowest part, a vast
number of pits or pools of various size and shape
would be left among the inequalities of the bot-
tom. But supposing rain to continue falling, or
frequently to recur, a remarkable change would
sooithe effected : each pool by running over at
its lowest part, and sending out a streamlet either
into another lower pool, or into a channel leading
directly to the sluice or opening, would be wear-
ing away the part or side over which the water
were running, so that the breach or channel
would become gradually deeper,- and the water
in the pool would consequently become shal-
lower; while at the same time, the bottom would
be filling up with the sand or inud-washed down
by the rain from the elevations around ; and these
two operations being continued, the pool would
at last disappear altogether. This operation
going on in every pool through the whole of the
einpted mill-pond; the bottom would at last ex-
hibit only a varied and undulated surface of dry
land, with a beautiful arrangement of ramifyin,g,
channels, all sloping with a precision unattaina-
ble by art, to the general mouth or estuary. The •
reason that in. the supposed case, and in every
other, a water course soon becomes so singu-
larly uniform as to dimension and descent, is,
that any pits or hollows in it are soon fitted up
by the sand and mud carried along in the stream,
and deposited where the current is slack ; while
any elevations are worn away •by the action of
the more rapid current which accompanies
shal-
lowness, until throughout the whole line only a
uniform and-gradual slope remains
The present kingdom of Bohemia, for in-
stance, is the bottom of one of the great lakes
which once covered Europe.' It is a basin -or
amphitheatre, formed by circular ridges of moun-
tains, and the only gate or opening to it, is that
remarkable one by which the water escapes from
it, and which has evidently been gradually cut
or formed by the - action of a running stream.
As the bottom became uncovered by the sinking
of the water, and by the formation of a regular
sloping channel from every part, the former lake
was converted into a fine and fertile country, a
fit habitation for man ; and the continued drain
from it is the beautiful river which we now call.
the Elbe.

In Switzerland, even now many of the valleys
which were formerly lakes, have the opening for
the exit of water so narrow, that, as happened in
one of them a few years ago, a mass of snow or
ice falling into it, converts the valley once more
into a lake. On the occasion alluded to, the ac-
cumulation of water within was very rapid ; and
although, from the danger foreseen to the coun-
try below if the impediment should suddenly
give way, every means was tried to remove it
gradually, the attempt had not succeeded when
the frightful burst took place, and involved be-
low in common ruin.

The magnificent Danube is the drjri of a
chain of basins or lakes, which must at one time
have discharged or ruii over one into another,
but the continued stream cutting a passage at
last low enough to empty them all, they are now
regions of fertility, occupied by civilized man,
instead of the fishes which held • them formerly.
This operation is still going on in all the lakes
of the earth. The lake of Geneva, for instance;
although confined by granite rock, is cutting and..
lowering its outlet, and the. 'surface has fallen
considerably within the period of accurate obser-
vation and records; and the wearing of the
neighbouring mountains, brought down by the
winter torrents, are filling up its bed. If the
town of Geneva last long enough, its inhabitants
will have to speak of the river in the neighbour-
ing valley, instead of. the picturesque lake which
now fills it. Already several other towns and vil-
lages, which were close upon the lake a century.
ago, have fields and gardens appearing between
them and the shore.

The immense continent of Australasia, or
New, Holland (larger than Europe), is supposed
by some to have been formed at a different time
from what is called the old world
.; so different
and peculiar are many of its animal and vege-
table productions; and the idea of a later forma-
tion receives some countenance from the im-
mense tracts of marshy or imperfectly drained
land which have been discovered in the interior,
into which rivers flow, but which seem not yet to
have worn down or formed a sufficient outlet or
discharging channel towards the ocean.

The Duke of Buckingham left Aviugton
Park on Thursday, and proceeded to Southampton, where
his Grace embarked on boa►d his new and elegant yacht,
preparatory to his intended voyage to the Mediterranean.
The Noble Duke will proceed in the first instance to Havre.
The Duchess still remains at Avington.—Hanta Courier.
The Duchess of St. ALBAN'S arrived at the
Star Hotel on Wednesday, and during her stay visited
Netley Abbey. Her Grace expected the Duke, who we
understand was at Portsmouth, would meet her here, but
as he did not arrive, her Grace left for town about 12
o'clock on Thursday night, and arrived there within half
an hour of the Duke.—Southampton Herald.

Miss. Paton has been confined by an attack in
the leg, which at one time was very serious, but it did not
wise from the overturning 1/f her carriage. We are happy
to state that the skill of her medical attendants, A. White,
Esq. and Dr. J: Jonson, soon removed all the dangerous
symptoms.

The following is from the Gazette of Berlin
of the 2lst of July :—" Mademoiselle Sontag, after having
quitted the theatre of Kcenigstadt, will appear 12 nights
at the theatre Royal-, Berlin, and will afterwards make a
tour to Dresden, Leipsic, and Frankfort." It is to he
hoped that this charming singer will-continue her route to
Paris, and that in some months we may enjoy that talent
which has attracted so many admirers amongst us.—Paris
Paper.

Some time ago we noticed that a fellow, re-
presenting himself to be a Mr. Silkstone, of re-
spectable connexions, and' So on, . took lodgings
at a Mr. Hamley's, 24, Red Lion-streets Rol-.
born, where, by a variety of manoeuvres, and
with the aid of his gang, he contrived to olitain
foods on false. pretences from several of the
tradespeople in the neighbourhood,
and after
wards to decamp, leaving behind him no traces
whatever of discovery, although a most diligent
search was made after him. On Sunday, how-
ever, he was accidentally , met by a Mr. Crowe,
of Bedford-court, Covent-garden, tailor, whom
-
he had duped of a variety oiclothes. Mr. Crowe,
recognizing this soi-disant " young gentleman,"
who had been figuring away at the public ex-
en
detained
ed conveyedhim
until
nht
ii
ima
itioa.osaffibper
tuorbulgei cloi-house,
pro-
curedatihidepense for so many months together, was deter-
mined to give him into the hands of justice, and
Itiaottmerask,
public office, Bow-street, and underwent an- exa-
mination, but he was remanded until Saturday ,
tahcerdd:
and yesterday he w
and all
next, when' it is expected that the office will be
make their akels,
several
oainst him, so extensive; it would appear, hire
;wen the frauds committed by this artful and au-
dacious windier.