The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-11-08 00:00:00

LECTURE ON OI'TICS.-MECHANICS' INSTITUTE

Ort Saturday etonlog Mr. Addisais terminated his course of
lectures upon thi ,,nlject. •
11 we_ 1111 this p•lres of any substance With a fluid which will
bear a different iatio, posses of transmitting tight compared
with the atmosphere, we shall confer piton that substance more
transparency. ['bus if we take a piece of tissue paper and till
its pores up with oil its transp.irency is increased, although the
oil is denser than air, The sun giv <s 111 light which is in some
places darkened, for if we receive a body of solar light upon a
prism properly circumstanced, and we have the prismatic
image, we shall see there are black lines crossing the spectrum
at right angles. There are. therefore, certain portions of the
solar spectrum where there is no light, and this is considered to
arise from the absorption of the light by the solar atmosphere.
If the light of the sun or a lantp he passed through nitrous acid
gaS, and received by a prism, we shall find its spectrum to be
Crossed with black fines, showing an absorption of light. It is
difficult to account for the reason of this absorption. Some
imagine that gaseous bodies, like the crystalline, are differently
constituted, the particles in each undergoing a different ar-
rangenient, and that portions of iigat are thus intercepted and
destroyed in passing through. Others hate imagined that the in-
terference of the waves of light in passing through the different
media of the gas, at different rates;destreys the light. The colour
ofa body is caused by the absorption of particular rays. Thus we
see that light passing thrmigh a red glass assumes a ruddy colour.
Now a white ltgirtt, sncit as that of a candle, is composed of :two
primary colours, or the seven dolours of the solar spectrittn, but,
in passing through a red glass, it loses six out of seven of these
colours, and allows the other one to go through. In this in-
stance the absorption is partial. But it is possible to effect a
total absorption of light by passing it through two transpareut
bodies. Thus if light be passed through red and green glasses,
the light will be totally destroyed. The thickuess of the glass
matters nothing, fot if the intensities of the colours be properly
regulated, the phenomena will occur though tho glass should be
as thin as goldbeaters' skin. Otherwise the glasses may be
many inches thick without preducing the same effect. Most
beautiful effects may be produced by reducing the thickness of
bodies; if we have bodies very thin indeed, we find that they
exhibit colour, but if they be thick they will not, or, if they do,
it will be that negative colour which we call white. Mica is
ordinarily white, but a film of it, 1.178,000 th part of an inch in
thickness, will appear of a beautiful bluish green colour. When
water is reduced to a film, as in a soap bubble, it exhibits a
number of beautiful coloured rings. When -the bubble is about
to burst these rings assume a black appearance. Films of
oxide produced from metal will do the same. The most fami-
liar example consists in taking polished steel and exposing it
to a certain temperature, when it Will become yellow, orange,
and blue, and at certain degrees of heat these will again disap-
pear one after the other. The blueness of watch springs, &c. is
caused by a very fine film of oxide not exceeding the 20-1000th
of an inch in thickness. his produced by heating it, when the
oxygen in the air attacks the metal and gives* colour to it.
At the temperature of 5000 a piece of steel will assume a yellow
colour • if we heat it more it will pass into shades, until at
(1.50° the yellow colour will be destroyed again. If a piece of
steel be heated in mercury no change will be produced- hi its
colour, the action of the oxygen in the atmosphere being re-
quisite for the transformation ; the same will happen if oil be

placed upon it.
Colour may be said to be independent of what we call co-
louring matter. It is true we talk of colour being in the body;
thus in dying we speak of conveying colour into the body.
What would be thought of a person who should say. there was
no colour in a scarlet coat; and yet we should be quite correct
in saying so. Agin, there is no reason why we sheen,' always see
a body coloured in the same manner; that is, one body, with-
out being altered in its nature, will exhibit two different kinds
of colour. What is the colour of gold, we might ask. It ap-
pears to eis to have a yellowish colour at one time; hat. if we
look through a leaf of it, we perceive it to possess a blueish
green. There is no such thing as colour in gold, or, if there
were, it would be uniform. We might then a,k how dying is
carried on if we do nut convey colour into the cloth ? In the
operation of dying we introduce into the pores of the articles to
be dyed certain particles of matter, which will have such an ef-
fect upon the ether contained in these articles as to cause it to
yield the colours we wish. A very curious crystal was disco
vered a few years ago, (a pie" e of cracked quartz,) which exhi-
bited a blackness in the crack. This crystal was examined by
Sir D. Brewster, and he found the blackness arose from a 'mot-
her of crystals of quartz lodging in the crack, which were so
exceedingly minute as not to be thicker than the film of a soap
bubble. 'I he crystals, being so exceedingly small, did not act
upon ether as to produce colour, If two pieces of glass, tho one
perfectly flat, and the other slightly convex, be pressed together,
a number of coloured rings will be seen on looking through
them, called Newtonian rings, The cause of these Mr. Addams
explained by numerous diagrams.
Colour is produced by certain waves actirg upon the eye in
certain differences of time. We may by means of heat alter
the position of the atoms of bodies, or perhaps by increasing
their magnitude cause them to give very different colours than
naturally belong to them. Deu oxcide of lead, or hydriodate of
mercury, when hewed in a small phial, change their natural
colours, but immediately assume them when they become cold.
Chloride of cobalt will produce a beautiful blue when the water
with which it is combined is driven off by heat; thus, if a fire-
screen be painted with it. the colour becomes a dullish brown
owing to the absorption of water from the atmospere, but when
placed near the the, it becomes blue. This blue again gives
place to the brown when the select' is removed from the fire,
and it acquires fresh water from the atmosphere. The colours
which we see in mother-of-pearl shell are caused by a number of
fine lines which traverse the shell in various directions; these
lines form the division between the successive Jaye; a a hich the
fish is continually adding to its shell as it enlarges in size. The
sante appearance is presented by ladies' dresses, in which the
colours are said to be shot, from the same cause. Steel buttons
used formerly to be made on the same principle. A most superb
set of this description of buttons were presented to George 111.,
which emitted most beautiful colours owing to a number of fine
lines being drawn upon them with a diamond revolved by ma-
chinery, which crossed each other at different angles. Mr.
Addams exhibited a beautiful brass button of this description,
on which there were two hundred lines to the inch.
It is not necessary to have seven colours to produce a white
colour, two colours will do it if they are of sufficient intensity,
these colours are red and bluish-green, hence they are called
complimentary colours, By mixing different colours together
we can get a third; thus, red and blue will give a violet ; blue
and yellow a green. *Bodies appear brightest in the light whiqh
they exhibit naturally. If we exhibit scarlet cloth it will ap-
pear more scarlet if red light only falls upon it, but if we take
red, yellow, and other bodies, and throw upon them other light,
they will frequently appear totally black. !'here is no red with-
out a mixture of yellow, but if we could get pure red it would
appear black when yellow light is forced upon it. This, Mr.
Addams illustrated by dipping a sponge previously saturated
with common salt in alcohol, when, upon igniting it, the red
colours in the room itnmediotely became black. If the sun be
setting with a ruddy-red colour, the shadows of trees and build-
ings will not appear black, but of a beautiful bluish-green, or if
we sit before a fire, and the fire be burning with a yellowish
light, and we have a black seal upon a letter it will not appear
black but blue. The eye may be said to see two colours at the
same time—a colour and its compliment, so that in looking at
scarlet we should see a greenish blue, by looking at orange a
darkish blue; yellow, a different blue; blue, orange; green,
yellow; white, black; and black white, because these opposites
are the complimentary tints of each other. '!'his, Mr, Addams
illustrated by placing red, green, blue, &c. chimneys on a gas-
lamp, and throwing shadows on a screen, when the various
complimentary tints were immediately produced.
Mr. Addams, in conclusion, thanked the audience for their
attention, and regretted that the subjeCt on which he lectured
was not one which was capable of much popular illustration,
but hoped at a future poled to have the pleasure of deliveriug
a course of lectures with glowing and tangible illustrations.
Imperfectly reported as these lectures have necessarily been,
from the impassibility of embodying the ideas of the lecturer
without the aid of diagrams, they will at least serve to prove
wa things, viz., that Mr. Addams understands his subject, and
hat the members of the Mechanics' Institution have been highly
'avoured by the opportunity of hearing them.

The Journal du Havre announces, that on Saturday snow fel
in that town us in the depth of winter.

The Honourable Mrs. Norton, who was repotted to have ta•
ken up her residence at Rome, arrived last week on a visit to
her brother, H. B. Sheridan, Esq., Frampton-house, Dorset.
Mrs. Norton has, we hear, taken a house for her own town re-
sidence in Green-street, Grosvenor-square.
SUBSCRIPTIONS IN INDIA FOR THE IRISH CLERGY.—A gen-
tleman in town has received a letter from his brother at Ma-
dras, which mentions that, ou the 7th of June last, a meeting
was held at that place for the purpose of raising a subscription
for the relief of the Irish Ciergy, whose sufferings and priva-
tions had roused much keen sympath r on their behalf, as well
as warm indignation against their oppressors. The writer of
the letter expresses his confidence that the subscription will
amount to a vet.) considerable sum.—Cork Standard.
ANOTHER INSTALMENT FOR STROUD.—II would be difficult
to ascertain how inu,•ti was covenanted to be the e.ompensatio
to Colonel Fox for giving up his seat to Lord John Russell;n
but it is clear that another instalment has been paid last week.
Colonel Fox, very soon after he resigned his seat, obtaintedthe
not unprofitable berth in the ordnance-=that was instalmetoi_oe
first ; last week he has been appointed to the receivership f the
Duchy of Lancaster, which, doubtless,
able—this is instalment'the second. What will be the next?
Wits t,Ly AN NI ET nootsm.—'rhe number 'of individua,l)sciaecttiteis-
will he equally unprofit-
able—this .
ally members of the different Wesleyan IN1011”:`
throughout the world now exceeds one million, "h iestxasct num-
there is in addition a body of 4,273 regular Preachers, besides
the death of the
ber being according to the most recent return 5,1,049,99, and
ho are termed local
as host of labourers in the same field
reachers. It is not more than 45 years since
d the number of members
founder of Methodism, and at that perig!.,,--,,, ~,
wai vine iiie total n
in every part of the world was tiny -,
regret
ber of regular preachers did not
doubled in
members in all the societies had actually mole
exi(eed 511. ;111171 n. inh h et: nol i
afternoon of the detNn‘litshe of this
the last 15 years.—Weichnuot. , .
N% e announce
thapticaAcTcomuOnFtsNis
lady, whose character amongst those acquainted with her qeati-
tie; was that of great excellence and amiability. 'this en,.nt
reachedo ;Coworirorthsitst;
will, of course, prevent the appearance of Mr. O'Connell at his
Association, where he was , expected to have presented himself
~ is said that Mr. Maurice O'Connell, the ruem-
to-morrow. It
Tralee, and the eldest son of Mr.
ber for O'Connell, is in so
state of health that his
precarious a recovery is scarcely to be
severeare
expected. 'Pleae , , and se ' Innis afflictions ,• they come
home to the heart of every man, and speak to the domestic al-
fectio„ in a tone of sad humanity, which pleads resistlessly for
pity and condolence.
is Whatever we may think of Mr. O'Con-
nell as a politician, he still a Irian ; and his sorrows demand
the respect which every generous mind yields as a tribute to
affliction. 'to us they are sacred. Would to Heaven that with
this chastening dispensation wi • h
g t end all cause of quarrel and
rebuke.—Morning Post.
SALE OF LANDED PROPERTY IN DEVON,—The Coomb-
satchtield Estate, a snug little propertyB miles from Exeter,
was announced for sale at the New London Inn last Saturday,
by Mr. Geo. Robins. The anxiety o
s. to hear, of see, (or both
for aught we know), congregated one of the largest audiences
that had
ever assembled in the large room. He made a long
exordium, in which he successfully demonstrated the decided
re-action that has taken place in land, and urged as a positive
proof the result of his sale only a month since 01 litbston
hall, in Yorkshire, fur which he obtained £180.000; he
stated it was 33 years' purchase at a rack rental. This, with
very many other observations to illustrate his argument, had
the desired effect, for the property lie had to sell is let on lease
for £560 a year, and he obtained for it (after a most spirited
competition) 19,500 guineas, which is more than 36 yeara:cl;
chase on a rack rent. This gentleman's renown lii,,isaiinn d hulljibe had
very popular in our county; and after the sale we
. the spring.
more than ones pecial retainer to visit us again iniscv
ntiguous
Colonel Wyndham is the purchaser;the properly
Eepartee was not
to Lord Egremont's.—The following
hsweart;orula enumerate of
amongst the least happy efforts whie w..
f nsiderable wealth
Mr. Geo. Robins at the sale: a gentleman o co
was most anxious Mr.
in our county', and one of the bidders,
ur • as a
Robins should include the timber in the purchase, urging ,
friend
plea that it was usual at sales in Devon; upon which our .
(the Knieht of the Hammer) jocosely remarked, that if it did
prevail, it was a custom more honoured in the breach than the
obserrance.

S-I.4_ICON 1) Ep!-rii-irON

Standard Dire, Three o'Clock

LIVERPOOL MARKETS.

CORN EXCHANGE,MONDAY, Nov. 7, 1836.

The supplies contintie small for every article—nr.t
equal to the demand. Millers have purchased Wheats
freely at an advance of 6(1 to 8d per 701bs , and a good
deal has been taken by speculators. Old Irish Wheats
8s 9(1 to 9s 6(1, and new of prime quality Fis Cci to 9s per
7thbs.—Although Oats have not been mtith inqUired for;
an advante of 31 per 451hs. has been obtained;---And
Oatmeal has been sold at 34s per 2401b5. for old, arid 385
to 40s for new.—Carley has also improved in value #
grinding 4s Ild to 5s 3d per 61)lbs;

The scarcity of Flour has eaUstd, an advance in this
article of 8s to IDs per 2891b5,

TUESDAY, Two O'dtock.

At this days market there was a fair hnciness done id
Wheat to the eonsurnerß, at an advance of is. per 701bs.
on Irish acid 9d. oh tnglish, since this day week.

Oats were a dull sale, but Oatmeal was in good deman
at 40s. per 2401h5. for pew.

Flour is fully 6s. to Bs. per 2161b5. since last
Tuesday, but the sale was riot extensive; best seconds
toßs. to cos. ; firsts 645. to 655.

Grinding Barley 4d per 601hs. higher wilt a gnmi

The imnottg of Iluttor time 14,017 firkins. Notwith
standing the large arrival, the market is firm at 34. to ,ts
per cwt. advance.

AVERAC;

PRICES.

WITRAT, dr 70 MI. (1 a c!
Irish tl,ied red 9 1 e 9 f
no. dried white, 9 6 .. 10 0
Dn.nndried new 8 9 .. 9
Enalish
Canna. ...... 0 0 0 0
OATH. 4r 45 Ms
Irish
n A R TYY, 60 Ma.
Irish 4rinding... 5 0.. 5

IP INR, Imp. men. s d i
Irish ....... 55 00 5G
PT.oun, iH 2SO 90.
Eng.& Irish su p.
Do. fines
Do. seconds
Do. thirds ..
ME ‘1,2 'nibs. new
Do. old
BRAN. ,tr 24 tbs

R' 0 .. 66 0
57 0 60 it
42 0 .. 45 0
0 0.. 0 0
30 0 10 0
36 0 .. 34 0
2 0.. 0 0

4 L. 4 7

AVERAGE PRIC

gn g n
8anbrid20......4 102 0 6101 0
Waterford, new 106 0 ..110 0
Colerain.
Carlow
L9neriek —lo2 0..104 0
Belfast 105 0..110 0
Derry ,.107 0..105 0
cork, 2ds, • 0 .-. 0
Newry
Dundalk
Sligo — 0 .. 0