Star.
London, England, 1829-06-09 00:00:00

ROYAL INS fITUTION•

ASCENT OF lIONT BLANC.
There was a most numerous meeting of the members
on Friday evening last, the attraction being a promised
narrative by Dr. Clarke of his ascent nt Mont Blanc in
182.5, since which no traveller has been able to reach
the summit of this the highest of the Alpine range of
mountains.

Dr. Clarke, in a simple and instructive (the lecture
was intended more as an instructory one to parties in-
tending to make the ascent than a scientific detail)
manner, led his audience from Geneva to the summit of
the Mont Blanc, detailing all the difficulties of the en-
terprise, which, however, with caution, he considers
not by any means so dangerous as has been represented.
At 9,000 feet above the level of the Mediterranean the
air becomes extremely rarified, and the sky exhibits a
blue-black appearance. He does not consider it at all
safe for persons to attempt the ascent having a tendency
to apoplexy, for at the height of 15,0)0 feet above the
level of the sea the extremely rarified state of the air, as
well as the almost unbearable oppression of the sun's
rays, though surrounded with snow. for that tendency
would be increased Loan alarming extent. So oppressive
is the sun. that on sitting down in the shade be was
asleep instantly.
The passage of chink (as the lecturer styled it), jut
above the Grande Ptateao (a surface of ice and snow
many acres in extent, 10 000 feet above the level of the
sea), is a point of great difficulty. This chink is about
seven feet wide and 4.1 immeasurable depth. To get
over it the-gutdes, at the utmost peril of their lives, first
proceed to render the passage more easy; and the lec-
turer desciibei the feelings of the traveller to be horri-
ble, when it is known that . the most minute accident
wield inevitably precipitate the guide to the dept.' be-
low. He cautions travellers to pay implicit attention
to guides, as the accident in 1822, when three pee,nba
sunk into the caverns of snow, was occasioned by thi.
want of caution. It is somewhat appalling, said Dr.
Clarke, to be carried over an abyss of unknown depth,
slung upon corns and drawn over. On arriving at tile
summit of Matt Blanc the toils are amply repaid.
Language, said the lecturer, cannot depict the acei e
before the travel). r. The eye wanders over immea-
surable space. The sky appears to recede farther, and
the vision appears to possesS double power. • The Al-
pine scenery here is awfully grand, and the alternate
thaw and freezing (tot when the sun is down it freezes
rapidly) produces the most grotesque figures. The
lecturer described his progress up the mountain by a
reference to the model of Mont Blanc, belonging to the
Zoological &cute, and thus rendered him perfectly
clear in his details. The only living creature found on
the summit of *lit Blanc is a small white butterfly
(the anoftia). which flits over the snow. The chamois
is found 10,000 feet above the level of the sea ; Mont
Blanc is 15,500 feet above the Mediterranean.—
Specimens were exhibited Of. the compositions of all
the mountains round Mout Blanc. Petiodically an im-
mense quantity of snow falls down from the suo.mit of
'he Blanc, enough, as the guide said, to crush all Eu•
rope like flies, were it within its vortex. On throwing
stones down the precipices, thousands of feet deep, the
traveller feels an almost irresistible desire to throw him-
self after them. The lecturer, on concluding, was most
loudly applauded, and the celebrated Jack Fuller was
quite in extacy.
. Mr. Farraday announced a lecture, by himself, on
glass for next meeting.

A letter from Profe,sor M Geneva. an.
aaanees the death of Sir lIUMPAINIT Myr. This event took place
on the 49111 ult. _ _
_ _

Ms. Prates recent explanation in the House of Com-
mons, with regard to the new settlement on the Swan
River, seems to, excite a great sensation. A great deal
has been written in the Magazines and Newspapers on
what is termed the .6 Swan River Job," and all sunder
the impression, real or affected, coat Mr. 'Dios§As Peat..'
who obtained a grant of land, was a brother of Mr.
Secretary NEL. It Mai out, however, that these Gen-
tlemen stand in consanguinity only as MOW cousins!
And, supposing that they were brothers, is that any rea
son why the one should not 'reit himself thus tar, or
further, in torwarding the views of the tithes ? We coo•
ceive it would be a peculiar hardship that the circum-
stance of being a Member of his Majesty's Goveinmeot
must for ever disqualify a man front being of the least
service to any of his friends or acquaintances, however
deserving these may be.
A tnelanclioly accident happened at Scremerstnn,
near Berwick, on the evening of Sunday se'nnight.—
Mr. William Carr, of Ford, his brother Mr. George
Carr, of
.Berwick, with Miss Eliss and Mary Carr,had
been on a visit to their brother in law, Major Johnson,
accompanied by Miss Jane Donkin.—The pirty em-
barked in a boat, accompanied ty two boatmen ; but
they had not proceeded ahoy, 200 yards from the shore
alien the boat was upset; Miss Eliza Carr and Miss
Dunkin sunk to rise nn more, but it rest of the party
got upon a rock ; a boat from Spital iescued them from
their perilous situation; Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were
spectators of the scene from the beach, withi.ut being
able to render the least assistsnee.

SINGULAR CGSTOM.—On Whit Sunday, at S;. Sri-
gal's, in Gloucester. several baskets full of bread and
cheZrse, cut into Small squares of .bout an inch, are
wrought iiitn the CharCh, and immediately after service
it ended, the Churchwardens, or some other official
personage., take ahem into the galleries, whence their
cc:orients are thrown among the congregatiOn, whohave
A grind scramble for it in the body of the Church. This
erectsions as great a tumult and uproar as the amuse.
Ment 'a village wake, the inhabitants being always
extremely ansipus to attend worship on this day. This
custom is holden fur the purpose of preserving to the
poor of Sr. Brival's the right of cutting and carrying
away, wood from 3iooo acres of coppice land in Hud-
knolls., and for which every housekeeper is assessed 2d.
to buy .the bread and cheese which is given away.
A serious affray took place on Wednesday afternoon
at ifilpurhey, near Manchester. An escort,'consirting
of a corporal And three men of the 24th Foot, were pro•
ceeding to Rochdale with two deserters, when the mob
endeavoured to effect a rescue. Several persons were
wounded in. the scuffle, and it wars with difficulty that
the assailants were put to flight. The majority of the
persons composing the mob are said 'to be well-known
thieves.
Sydney Papers to the 10th. January contain news of
the most calamitous description. The Bank of New
So.uth Wales had stopped payment, and
,the colonists
were in a state of the greatest terror as to the conse-
quences likely to follow the convulsion. The GolarGor
had ordered a file of soldiers to seize all the papers and
money of the Commissariat Department. Whether this
measure was in consequence of the stoppage of the
Rink, or for other matters, does- not appear.. A pro-
clamation fonx the Government House bad announced
a new rate of import and other duties ; the most promi-
nent alterations were a duty, on colonist (New South
Wales) spirits of .2s. 6d. per Igallono.aud a higher duty
of is. on tobacco imported. The duty on imported rum
was 6i. 6d.; Wier spirits, 6d.jser