The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-03-13 00:00:00

PORTRAIT OF MOLESWORTH.

The current number of Fraser's Magazine contains a
portrait of Sir W. Molesworth, Stretched et hill length
upon a sofa. The likeness is tolerably good. except that.
the features are too massive, and the peculiar expression
of the Baronet's eyes is not conveyed. The following
estimate of his surpassing merits in all possible things is
appended:—
Those multitudes whO know and admire the hon. baronet as a
public charicter may here behold this most eminent Cornish-
mad is he appears m private.
By aii.ingenious stratagem, our artist penetrated into the
baronet's sanctuary, in Belgrave-square, attired like a ticket.
porter. He produced a note, as from an Irish member, request-
ing a loan of three-and-sixpence, to pay a score at the Reform
Club. While Sir W. Molesworth was meditating whether he
should produce the money,—while he wrote a line signifying that
the request was granted, and kindly enclosed the mopuses in an
envelope, young Croquis watched, marked, surveyed him,—and
made the admirable portrait opposite, unobserved, on his thumb-
nail.
Sir William lies on a luxurious sofa; his limbsare enveloped
in a damask robe; a Grecian cap, . marvellously embroideied,
ornaments his sconce: his legs are crossed in an attitude of pro-
found meditation. It is thus our great statesman appears in his
closet, and meditates upon cosmogony, or the state of human
affairs. Not politics alone engage his mind; he is a profound
metaphysician; as a linguist stupendous; as a mathematician;
he has attained a depth which is more easily imagined than de-
scribed. Sir Isaac Newton once said, in our hearing, when Sir
William, as a lad, came up to Trinity, " Dash my wig, Mr.
Yorke! the. young man beats me all to shivers." We speak
within compass when wesay, that Sir 'William Molesworth reads
you off a page of Chinese with great ease, in the true Pekin
accent ; that Professor Whewell is a ninny compared to hint in
mathematics; and we have even heard that not only he admires,
but understands, Jeremy Bentham. Our artist remarked no-
thing further in the chamber, except that, on his entrance, Sir
William was occupied reading an enormous folio of French
mathematics, and that by the hon. baronet's side lay the ashes
of four-and•twenty cigars. Trifling particulars; but interesting
to those who love to penetrate into human character, and are
eager to know the smallest circumstances relating to good or
great men.
He lives in a fine house in Belgrave-square, which is remark-
able as being also the residence of the hon. member for West-
minster. These two great statesmen, (to use a polite phrase,)
pig together, and have their mansion in cornoion. We do not
mean to say that Orestes wears the pantaloons of Pylades, or
rice versa; but that convinced that their party will dissolve, un-
less rallied round one particular standard, they have set up this
liberty-flag in Belgrave-square. They keep a French cook, and
feed their less fortunate political brethren—a generosity noble
on their part, but, indeed, necessary; for the wholesome quality
of the victuals serves to keep these radicals from starving, and
likewise greatly elevates the morale of the men. With a few
mote such dinners at Pimlico, we expect to hear Mr. Wak-
ley talking English, and Mr. Harvey looking like a gentle-
man.
But to return to the hOn. baronet. He is of ancient family,
of Cornwall breed, and possesses many.fat acres in that and the
neighbouring county. As to his politics, we are not here to
squabble with him regarding them ; for this delightful page of
Regina is neutral ground, where vs e look to he merry and liieudly
with our opponents, even t bough we were to be throat-cutting
in the very next leaf. It would be cowardly to attack yonder
peaceful and studious philosopher in the midst °this mild medi-
tations; let us praise him rather, as well we may, for the great
and serious benefit which, every day, the kingdom is receiving
from him. He, his friend Mr. Leader, and the ex-member for
Bath, Mr. Roebuck, have done as much for conservatism as any
subjects of her Majesty. They make .inore converts than Sir
Robert Peel himself. For as young gentlemen in Sparta were
taught to abhor drunkenness -by beholding the consequences
thereof in tipsy Helots. even so the British public learneth
political soli!lety by witnessing the mad antics of the above
Perhaps Sir William may grow sober when he grows old, a+
other hon. baronets have doue ; in the meanwhile, be can barns
nobody but himself, in his present state of radical intoxication.
Let him continue his orations at the Crown and Anchor, and
sbew-how rebellion is one of the rights of man, and order only
oppression. People are beginning to understand him; ask Mr.
Leader if they don't—at the next election.

LIVER POOL MECHANICS' INSTITUTION

LECTURES ON PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.

OR Saturday evening, Mr. John Smith terminated his course,
which has been attended throughout by 'nuttielous and respect-
able audiences. At the conclusion the applause was universal.
The views certainly were beautiful sin-crowns of art, and will
-be a valuable present of the institution. The following were
exhibited durit, this lecture :—water-spout at sea;- triple wa-
ter-spout;—sand-storm in the desert;—the Soufileur ;—the
--great Geyser;—sulphur mountains ; —air and mud volcanoes;
Volcano de liorullo;—Chintboraz,;—the Condor ;—Crater of
Mount Etna ;—Bay of Naples ;—Vesuvius in eruption ;—earth-
quake at Messina;—restored city of Pompeii ;—Couvent of An-
tonio;—Mount Lebanon;—cedars of Lebanon;--the ancient
cedars; the Dead Sea;—Mount Ararat, and rainbow.
•

It is a singular and interesting fact that man is the only or-
ganized being whose constitution is adapted to the various cli-
tnates of the earth. His habitations reach almost to the Poles,
the ocean supplying him with food when the snow-clad or ice-
bound land will no longer yield it to him. And vet, man is pos-
sessed of a more delicate organization than other animals, and
is liable to,a greater variety of diseases. How beneficent then
must those provisions be by which be is enabled to accotteino-
date himself to every climate and to adapt his eecessitie's and
hie means mutually to each other. Yet doutit:ess, with all his
capabilities, he suffers some disadvantages from residing-, gene-
ration after generation, in extreme climates, as it is in the
temperate zone alone, that he is to be found in the highest
state of perfection both of body and mind.
The relative positiou of the sun with regard to the earth's
surface is not the sole cause of difference of climate, otherwise
upon ascending a mountain we should feel much warmer in
proportion as we approached to the sun. We find, however,
that the higher we ascend these inequalities of the earth's surface,
the more attenuated is the atmosphere and the more remote we
become from the reflected heat of the plains. Nay we find that
eternal snows clothe the summits of our loftiest mountains, and
are thus instructed that even in hot tropical climates, a residence
placed a few hundred feet up the side of a hill will be encircled
by an atmosphere similar in temperature to that of our own
country. The inhabitants of the torrid plain are frequently re-
lieved from oppressive heats by breezes from suuw-capped
mountains. There are various soils which retain or reflect very
differently the solar heat. An island is more equal in its tem-
perature than a continent, and those parts of a continent which
are exposed to sea breezes are cooler in summer and warmer in
winter than the interior portions of the same land, This occurs
because the sea being a better recipient of the solar heat than
the land, is affected to a greater depth by it, and by this means
is enabled to give out its store of warmth long after the earth
has parted with the slight quantity which it has absorbed. To
this cause is to be ascribed the land and sea breezes so common
in tropical regions, During the day the air over the land being
'strongly heated is raritied and ascends, a cool breeze therefore
sets in from the sea to supply its place. In the night, how-
ever, the matters are reversed; the air over the land becomes
cooled, whilst that over the sea retains nearly an average tem
perature, and the consequence is 'that the land breeze being
now the heavier, blows over the sea The sea breeze generally
commences at ten in the morning, and lasts till six in the even-
ing. At seven the land breeze begins, and continues till eight
in the morning, when it dies away. Besides tnodifying the
temperature, winds purify the air by dispersing noxious
exhalations. They also convey the vapours and clouds
of one district to another. They refresh and dry sur-
face of the ground,—they prevent decomposition of water
which would otherwise be stagnant, and supply a powerful
agency to man in his mechanical arts. Hurricanes, the most
violent of, atmospherical agitations, are of electric origin. A
large bd(113111 is suddenly created, into which the surroundieg
air rushes with immense rapidity, sometimes from opposite
points of the compass, spreading the most frightful devastation
along its track. They rage with the greatest fury near the tropics,
in the vicinity of land or islands, while far ont at seathev rarely
occur- Whirlwinds sometimes arise from winds slowing
among lofty and precipitous mountains, the form of which influ-
ences their direction and occasions gusts to descend with a spiral
or whirling motion. They are frequently, however, occasioned
by two winds eteeting each other at an angle, and then turning
upon a centre. When two winds thus encounter each other,
any cloud which happens to behetween them is, of course, con-
densed and rapidly turned round; and all substances sufficient-
ly light are carried up intothe air by the whirling motion which
ensues. The action of a whirlwind at sea occasions the
curious phenomenon called a water-spout. This generally
consists of large drops, like dense rain, much agitated, and de-
scending or ascending with a spiral motion. At the same time
that the spout is forming the whole of it is carried along by the
prevailing breeze, accompanied in general- by a sound like that
of the dashing of waves. The spouts are:: commonly largest
above, being very similar to a speaking-trunipet with the broad
end uppermost. They are, however, met witheof various forms.
The best way to dispe-se them is by firing cannon in their di-
rection. Whirlwinds also produce very powerful effects on
land. In the sandy deserts of Arabia and Libya, they are of
frequent occurrence, and carry up the sand in clouds, which,
rising over the surface of the country, bury every thing beneath
them. Thus often whole caravans, and even armies, have been
overwhelmed and destroyed. The famous souffleur on the coast
of the Mauritius presents several curious phenomena, ilium-ea--
the of the power of air and water.. The sea rushes into hollow
caverns with two upward apertures or chimneys lt the extre-
mity, and, owing to its extreme violence, is thrown upwa'rds
thiough these chimneys to the height of sixty feet. The MO-
inenethe wave recedes, the air enters the aperture with a loud
humming noise, which is heard at a considerable distance.
It has judiciously 1h en observed that the highest mountain'
upon uurglobe would be represented on a model of the earth of
sixteen inches in diameter by a grain of sand, and that the deep-
est mine would present so slight an indentation as not to be visi-
ble without the aid of a strong magnifier. Mr. Babbage, in his
Bridgewater treatise, in alluding to penetrations into the earth's
interior. says, " An increase of one degree (Fahrenheit) fur
every fifty of sixty feet we descend below the earth's surface
seems nearly the average result of observations. If the rate
continue, it is obvious that, at a comparatively small depth, we
shall arrive at a heat which will keep all substances with which
we are acquainted in a state of fusion." The experiment now
in progress in France, with respect to Artesian wells, excites
great inlet est as to the interiorof the globe. It is not considered
unlikely that in this manner hot springs or gases may be reach-
ed by boring sufficiently deep, and made available fur manufac-
lag purposes. The boiling springs of Iceland, which are
sailing the most sublime as well as beautiful objects of nature,
are supposed to arise from natural bores penetrating the earth
to the depth sufficient to impart this degree of heat. They
mostly rise in a plain near the base of hills; but many of them
break ,tut from the sides of hills, and some very near their sum-
mits. Above a hundred of thorn are contained within a circle
of two miles. 'Three or four art, ditiitiguished by the twine
of G-yser, which is said to be the ole Scandinavian natne
fora fountain. The eruptions are not continuous, lint are an-
nounced at intervals by a sound like that of subterraneous
thunder, itninediately lifter which a column of water, accoin-
pauied with prodigious volumes ntsteatn, bursts forth and rushes
from the top to the height of from fifty to sixty feet. Mr. Lyell
supposes that a hollow cave exists at a great depth beneath the
surface of the earth, where water and steam collect, and where
the free escape of the steam is prevented until it acquires suffi-
cient force to expel the water.
Although volcanoes occupy but a small portion of the earth's
surface, and their eruptions are fat from frequent, they have, in
consequence of their terrillic grandeur, most forcibly arrested
the atteution of mankind in all ages. Their number is estimat
ed sit about two hundred, of which the continent :cod islands of
America contain 116, Asia and its isles 66, and Europe and its
isles 13. No volcanoes have as yet been found ou the African
continent, and those of its island.; are few. The. boiling springs
of Iceland throw considerable light upon the subject of volcanoes.
Indeed water appears to be a necessary agent in the production
el volcanic fire, for it is found that columns of aqueous vapour
ascend and tot rents of salt water flow from those reservoirs of
elemental strife; various minerals and metals also,
with sulphur
and other combustibles, contribute to the production of setter-
ranching fire. These substances, lying together, or eanbedded
in separate strata, are supposed to remain geiescent until
water flows in upon them, when a chemical action takes place.
as when water is thrown upon pine, &c. By the decomposition.
and consequent ignition which then take place, each substance
is resolved into its primary element, and occupies a greater
bulk than it did previously. Thus the interior of the earth is
disturbed and the surface shaken, producing the phenomenon
known by the name of earthquake, whilst tile decomposed com-
bustible matter, becoreing every moment more and more bulky
and incapable of continuing longer within its confines, obtains
vent by heaving up the superincumbent earth and rocks into
the shape of a cone or inverted funnel, and discharges itself
from the crater or aperture which it retakes at the top iiito the
surrounding atmosphere and over the adjacent country. 'fhe
most formidable of all the volcanoes are those of the Andes.
The volcano of Jorullo, in Mexico, was the scene of an am Cul
eruption in. 1759. The celebrated mountain of Chimborazo, if
not the whole of the Andes. is considered to be the result of vol-
canic action. Among the European volcanoes, Mount Etna
claims pre-eminence, not only on account of its size but for the
classical recollections which it must awaken. The next great
volcano, Vesuvius, is likewise celebrated in ancient history.
It is situate four miles from Naples, the largest. city of Italy,
and one of the most beautiful of European capitals. The vil-
lages of Purtici and Itesinia, which stand upon the ancient city
of Herculaneum, repose at the feet of Mount Vesuvius. One
of the most striking _features of Naples is the predominance
every where of volcanic matter. Water, impregnated with
sulphur, gushes out in the town; every street is paved all over
With broad flags of dark lava, cut and brought from Mount Ve-
suvius, as indeed are all the roads near the capital. Blocks of
lava meet you every where. They ate thrown into the sea to
form piers and jetties, and the finer sorts furnish materials to
carvers and other emu's*, who cut them into snuff-boxes, Pa-
per pressers, chess-men, and chimney-piece ornaments. By
far the most tremendous recent eruption of Vesuvius occurred
in 1832. The earliest recorded eruption of this mountain oc-
curred in 79, when the cities of Stable, Pompeii, and Hercu-
laneum were buried beneath its ashes. It was at this eruption
that the elder Pliny lost his life, in his aaxiety to obtain a
nearer view of the phenomenon. Although this is the earliest
recorded eruption, it is evident from the appearance of Pompeii,
the houses of which are built of lava, that it could not have been
the first. The Lipari Islands are entirely volcanic, and one of
them, Stromboli, is now the seat of a volcano. remarkable for
being in perpetual activity. At night it serves as a beacon to
manners. The activity of sub-marine fires has been manifested
on another side of Sicily, by the recent rise and depression of
Graham's Island.
Earthquakes are much more tremendous in their action than
volcanoes. They are frequently accompanied by loud suliter-
raucous noises, and are sometimes so violent that the earth
heaves up and undulates hate an agitated sea. They are felt al-
most at the same instant over a most astonishing extent, though
happily their destructive ravages are confined within a small
range. No doubt can exist of their connection with volcanic
eruptions; their frequency in countries where the latter take
place, and the fact of the one occurring at the, same period as
the other, sometimes at great distances apart, tend to establish
such a connection. It is worthy of notice, that though earth-
quakes are sometimes felt towards the interior of continents,
their terrible effects occur chiefly along the coasts, as exempli-
fied in the earthquakes of Lima. Lisbon, Cararcas, and many
others. in a multitude of cases earthquakes have caused a great
number of rents and chasms in the earth, which have frequently
engulphed houses, trees, cattle, and men.
Mt. Smith then terminated his lecture by describing and il-

lustrating a namber of highly interesting SCCOPS iu the lioly
Land and its neighbourhood, after which he thanked the au-
dience for the attention which they had paid him, and compli-
mented the institution upon the orderly demeanour of the boys
t,f the lower school durinu the course, a circumstance which
was highly creditahle not only to the boys themselves but to
their teachers, and tvas a good omen of future success.
The annual meeting of the menil.ers of this institution will be
he'd to-morrow evening, W. W. Currie, in the chair, at
which a report still be read of the state of it, institution, and if
number of drawings, the stork of the pupils, exhibited. We
expect notch gratification. On Soturday John Sciinler,
M.D., of Duoiin, commences a course 'pot geology.

INCORrORITION OP Bot,Tos.—The deputation for aty
against the pt tilion for at+ incorpor3tion of tit, buroogh h til
audience of the privy counell on Monday last, then i; %las ilf•
ranged that commissioners should he sent down to take evi.:rhve.
and clavicle the borough into wards, as in the ease of Binning.
ham.

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD