The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-01-12 00:00:00

SECOND SOIREE AT THE ROYAL INSTITUTION.

On Wednesday evening, the second soit ie of the season was
held at the Royal Institution, in Colquitt Street. Owing to
the disappointment experienced by parties at the last soiree,
in not being able to obtain tickets, and the brilliant success
which attended it, it.was deemed expedient to issue 100 more
tickets for the present meeting, than before. A very brilliant
company was assembled, though we thought not so numerous
as on the former occasion. The museum was encircled by
several new specimens of zoology and of art. The upper,
or geological gallery was also greatly ornamented by a number
of very beautiful water colour paintings, lent to the Institution
by Mr. Nicholson. At eight o'clock, the company proceeded
to the theatre of the institution, to hear the lecture of the even-
ing.
Mr. J. N. WALKER, the president, took the chair. Before
proceeding to the more important business of the evening, he
be-g,ged to express his obligation to the gentlemen of the coin-
mittee for appointing bins to that-honourable post. How-
ever much he might regret not having been present at
the last soiree, that regret was lessened from the cir-
cumstance of the President of the Literary and Philoso-
phical Society, Mr. Yates, having filled the chair, a gentle-
man much more competent to fulfil the duties of the stati3n
than himself. The 'paper which had been read at the last
soiree was most appropriate, Mr. Roscoe, its author, having
been amongst the first founders of the institution. He alluded
to the valuablie Elgin casts, and specinwns of Grecian architec-
tore and sculpture possessed by the institution. The museum
also was now creditable to the town of Liverpool. He trusted
that they should no.t be liable to the charge of being narrow
minded. The committee, during the tithe that he had been
president, had devoted all their attention to obtaining a good
museum. There had been souse doubt of the success of these
soirees that had been proved groundless. Some persons started
back with horror at the idea of science; he hoped those persons
were but few. Some thought that they who were a commercial
people were not called on to follow scientific pursuits. Although
he was not prepared to compare the Liverpool of the nineteenth
century with the Florence of former years, he thought the de-
sire of acquiring wealth might be consistent with the improve-
ment of their intellects. These soirees were valuable in drawing
together in friendly intercourse those who were not in the habit
of associating. After some farther remarks he sat down.
Dr. SUTHERLAND then rose to read the essay of the
evening, . being " Some remarks on the geological surface
of the country, and its effects upon its natural landscapes
and scenery." Where soft rocks existed, the mountains.
assumed a rounded appearance. The insinuation of water be-
tween masses of rock, and the effects of cold on it afterwards,
exercised so powerful a de,..,,,Tree of force as to dissever large
masses of rock, which caused their downfall and affected the
landscape. The first or primitive formation comprehended
granite or sand rock, and was the lowest in the series. By vol-
canic and other action this became broken up and raised verti-
cally towards the surface. Some of the highest mountains in
Europe belonged to the granulated formation. The form of the
mountains generally depended on the rock. If the rock were
rather soft, the mountains were rounded. If hard, the moun-
tains shot up in granulated angles and perpendicular precipices.
The Alps abounded with these appearances. The precipices
formed by granite had a marked smoothness, and many exam-
ples of this kind were to tie seen iu the Alps. The grandest
mountain scenery in the world, perhaps, was that of Mont
Blanc„ in Savoy. Of the scenery of Mont Blanc, the
lecturer gave a vivid and eloquent description. The break-
ing off of large portions of granite rock sometimes was fol-
lowed by dangerous results, in overturning into ruins, and
crushing all that opposed the falling avalanche. Where
the geological surface consisted of clay slate, the mountains
were not so lofty. The secondary formation presented a vast
variety of scenery. It presented what was called the landscape,
and the romantic; boundless plains, mountains, and lovely
friuitful valleys. Limestone surface presented a great variety
of scenery. , The colour of limestone was very different; it
was sometimes of a bluish cast. Limestone formations were
generally conical. The scenery of Berne afforded the finest
specimens of this 'kind of scenery. The mountains of Alpine
limestone were of the most stupendous character. The reason
of the barrenness of limestone rocks and hills, arose from the
quantity of magnesia contained in the limestone, which was
prejudicial to vegetation. The sandstone was of very extensive
formation in England. This generally
.was distinguished by
flowing hills, and fertile valleys, as the beautiful vale of Wharf-
dale, in Yorkshire. Alluviii "forinations ought to be Considered
rather as a covering to others, than a. 3 a distinct class. The
most remarkable specimen of this kind of surface was seen in
the plains of Lombardy. Their fertility was well known. He
now came to allude to the qualifications of scenery. He then .
noticed the basalt formations of the Giant's Causeway, and the
peculiar construction of the basalt rock pillars. The vol-
canic scenery next claimed attention. The whole of the
country about Rome, was of a volcanic formation. The whole
country for miles round was flat and barren, with occasional
hills, the result of volcanic action. In the neighbourhood of
Home there were two or three lakes occupying the bottoms
of crater. The seven hills on which Rome was Ruth were of
volcanic erection. The lecturer then gave a vivid description
of his descent into the crater of Vesuvius. The south coast of
Italy appeared as if it were shaken into fragments, and afforded
striking, evidence of subterranean action.
After the conclusion of the lecture, the President proposed a
vote of thanks to Dr. Sutherland, which was given by. acclama-
tion.
The company again proceeded to the rooms and promenaded
for an hour. On the whole the soiree struck us as being much
more flat than the last. The lecture, though one of great re-
search, and very interesting to a scientific audience, was of far
too dry a character for a mixed assemblage, comprised chiefly
of ladies, to keep their attention alive for an hour and a half.

Ducrow is drawing excellent houses in Glasgow. He will
visit Liverpool previous to re-opening his Theatre in London,

The congregation of Edge-hill Church have agreed to give
their pastor, the Rev. R. Barker, £lOO annually, iu addition to
his present salary.
The production of wool in our Australian colonies is now be-
tween two or three times the amount of that of Spain, whence
this country used to derive its principal supply.
STEEPLE Cli ACE AT NESTON.—This expected race did not
take place on Wednesday, in consequence of the hardness of
the ground. We believe the matter is "off" altogether.
Mit. PENIBEUTON'S CoNCERT.—We beg to call attention to
the programme of Mr. Pemberton's Concert, as announced to
take place on the 19th instant. The excellence of the selection
has, we feel assured, sufficient attraction to draw an excellent
attendance.

w.
MEDICATED BATHS.—We beg to refer the notice of our
readers to an advertisement in another column announcing the
opening of the medicated and vapour baths in Great George's.
street. These baths are beautifully. fitted up, and afford every
convenience to the public.
ScHoot.s OF THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.—The various
schools attached to the Mechanics' Institution were opened on
Mondaj? last :—the High School with 12J to 140 pupils; the
Lower School, with 150 to 160 pupils ; the Evening Scools,
with 360 pupils. Tile Philosophical Class of the Evening School
will meet each Tuesday evening; the Chemical Class each
Thursday evening; the French Class every Monday and Friday
'evening ; all the other classes every evening, except those de-
voted to the lectures, say, Wednesday and Saturday.

CONSERV ATIVL DINNER IN ST. PAUL'S WA it O.—The conser-
vatives of this ward dined together on Wednesday, the 3d inst.,
at the house of Mr. James Fieldhouse, Highfield-street. Mr.
John Barton, one of the councillors of the ward, was in the chair,
and the party consisted of about fifty gentlemen, being as many
as the house could conveniently accommodate. The usual
loyal and patriotic toasts were; drunk, with the " members for
the borough," &c. The evening was spent in the utmost har-
mony and good feeling ; and it is but justice to Mr. Fieldhouse
to state, that he catered, fur them in the• best style, the dinner
and wines being most excellent.
WHALE.—We understand, that the skeleton of the Whale
has, during the week, been visited by•a number of the most re-
spectable faMilies of the town and neighbourhood. Without
any exception, they have declared this to be the most interest-
ing exhibition they have ever witnessed. No idea of the im-
mensity of the skeleton can be formed, without actualinspection;
nor can the beautiful structure of the anatomy be at all
adequately imagined, except by a minute survey. The skeleton
is perfect in all its parts, and the exhibition is most admirably
arranged to show the imposing grandeur of this relic of the
monster of the deep.—See the advertisement. -
CHILD BURNT TO DEATH.—On Saturday last a child be-
longing to a person named Isaac, a wood-turner, in Great
Howard-street, was burnt to death under peculiarly painful
circumstances. The mother, it appears, had gone up stairs,
and left the child, which was only two years and a half old, in
the kitchen. In the meantime the child had coins in contact
with the fire, and its cries arrested the attention of the mother;
but the poor creature, before she, came to its assistance, was so
dreadfully burnt that it died almost immediately. It is strange
that parents will leave chiliren of so young au age alone where
a fire is kept. Accidents like the above are almost daily the
results of such negligence. A case nearly similar to the one we
have mentioned, happened only a day or two before to a child
belonging to Mr. Leather, the architect, in Rose-hill. The
servant was up stairs, and Mrs. Leather was in the front par-
lour, while the deceased, a fine little girl, of three years and
a half old, was left alone in the kitchen. Her clothes caught
ti-e, and although Mrs. Leather instantly flew to her assistance,
the injuries on her neck, back, and sums Were. 'So severe as to
cause her death on the succeeding Sunday. 'The distress of the
parents, as may be imagined, has been very. great.
FATAL ArcIDENT.—CAUTION To C Alt DIIIVERS.—On Tues-
day an inquest was held on the body of William Briscoe, whose
death occurred under the following circutnstances:—The de-
ceased wal ani old man in the seventy-sixth year of his ale, the
father of Thomas Briscoe, baker, Circus-street. On Friday
week, in the afternoon, he was passing across Lime-street, be-
tween the bottom of Gloucester. street and the top of Elliot,
street. A yellow painted coach, with two horses, was passing
at the time, and knocking the oltl man down, the wheelS passed
over his right .leg, which was severely bruised and fractured.
The fellow who drove the car or coach was requested to Stop,
and a woman who • witnessed the transaction, made an effiirt to
procure a sight of his number, but this only induced him to give
the whip to his horses, in order to escape detection and punisli.
meta. He succeeded in getting away; a uti has not been recog-
nised since. The old Man was taken td the Infirmary, where
he lingered until Friday, when he died of the initities he had
received. It is to he hoped that the unfeeling' wretch who drove
the ear may he ultimately discovered and InidUght to punishment.
The gre-at Ulster canal has been opened ,froth Charlet/tout
to 'Monaghan-, and lighters are plying on the'itation, •