The Sun. — 1850-01-12 (London, England)

POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION. We have previously noticed the very excellent lecture delivered by Dr. Bachhoffner at this establishment, indeed so interesting and so entertaining is this subject of " Philosophy of Recreation" that a few remarks will be, we doubt not, acceptable to our readers. The learned Doctor treats the subject in quite a new mode, first of all introducing his experiments under mystic guise to the astonishment of all beholders, afterwards, however, explaining their mAnner of execution, and the laws by which such remarkable changes are governed. The bottle trick was introduced under two distinct forms—first of all, sherry, port, milk, water, champagne, were produced from a common bottle, filled is the first place with plain water. The change produced in pouring out the fluid was truly astonishing, and seemed certainly to partake of necromancy as much as anything we had ever witnessed. The Doctor, however, explained the cause of such by charging similar glasses with certain compounds in quantities so small as to escape detection even when closely observed ; and these compounds produced, when brought in contact with the fluid in the bottle, the various appearances of wine, milk, &c. Not only this, wherein appearance only was produced, another magic bottle of the Doctor's poured out eau de vie, sherry, port, and many other compounds, all drinkable, and of first-rate quality, thus increasing the wonder and surprise he had previously created. The admirable experiment of freezing metallic vessels to the table called forth repeated plaudits from the audience, which, at first sight, appeared as wonderful as the former experiment, but, like it, purely a chemical delusion. The modus operandi to effect this object was the late invention of Mr. Masters, and by this apparatus several metallic vessels were froeen to the table in the astonishing space of two or three minutes. By a variety of conclusive experiments the Doctor pointed out the laws governing these apparent anomalies, the former experiment being dependent upon pneumatical laws for its production, while the other formed an important fact in chemical science, a knowledge of which, and similar changes, enabled the practical chemist to perform his apparent difficult task of analysis. In conclusion the Professor begged to be understood, that although he might apparently have been conjuring, yet he hoped they would not, for so doing, consider him? conjuror.  CHELIISFOUD, Tu URSDA .—Yeeterday a coroner's inquiry was instituted at the lt,cl Cow Inn, respecting the death of Susan Smith Page, aged five weeks, who was murdered by lize. mother, Millicent Page, under the following circumstances. With her husband, William Page, three sons, and the deceased child, she occupied a cottage near the Rose and Crown in this town. On the birth of the child, being a girl, she evinced much anxiety lest it should ever come to want, and on more than one occasion she expressed such belief to her husband, and her fear that she would have to kill it. On Saturday, the husband left his employment in consequence of a reduction of his wages, from 9s. to Bs. This being communicated to the poor creature, it seemed to consiclefaily affect her mind as to the fate of her daughter. On Monday morning the husband left home for the purpose of procuring employment in the neighbourhood of Billericay. He had not been gone long when the unhappy woman destroyed the child by cutting its throat with a razor. In her frenzy, she ran to neighbour, and announced that she had murdered her child, and on the cottage being entered, such was found to be the fact. Measures were immediately taken to secure the unhappy parent; but before that could be accomplished, she nearly succeeded in destroying herself with the same instrument with which she had dispatched her off,pring. She inflicted a wound in her throat, hut it is of a trifling character. The jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against the mother, and the coroner issued his warrant for her committal for trial at the next assizes. There is not the slightest doubt but that the poor creature is insane.