The Sun. — 1861-12-31 (London, England)

AEROLITHS.  In a curious paper published by M. Haidinger, Director General of the Geological Survey of Austria, we find Le following curious calculations concerning meteorites, or stones falling from the casmical regions upon our globe. Admitting that the weight of these bodies; falling annually upon the earth is 450,0001b5., or 450 millions of lbs. in 1,000 years, Baron Reichenbach has started the question whether in the course of centuries our globe might not undergo such modifications in weight as materially to affect its connexion with the solar system Now, as our earth weighs about 131 quadrillions of pounds, the formation of a meteoric agglomeration equal to our planet would require about 3,000 trillions of years ; hence any change like that contemplated by Baron Reichenbach would occur within a space of time far beyond our imagination to conceive. But M. Haidinger turns his attention to another question, asking whether, if our globe in the course of one solar revolution receives an increase of matter equal to 450,0001b5., this increase might not have been kimilar in weight, in describing any orbit of equal length P Mr. Greg has proved that meteoric falls are less :regnant at the time of perihelion than at the time of aphelion ; but it must also be recollected that the sun itself moves with considerable velocity through the stellar space. Taking these data into account, M. Haidinger calculates that the weight of meteoric matter existing and moving about in every direction within the space limited by the earth's and sun's motions during one year is equal to 450,0001b5, multiplied by one billion 218,460 millions, or about half a trillion of pounds. The weight of the earth is to 450,0001b5. of meteorites as 24 millions are to unity ; but a far greater proportion of solid matter distributed into small bodies would be obtained, were the great number of shooting-stars and fire-balls taken into account, which appear in our atmosphere, and many of which do not apparently deposit solid matter. According to Professor T. H. Newton, of Yale College, U.S., not less than ten millions of meteors of this description enter our atmosphere every day. This would make 3,650 millions of shooting-stars and fire-balls per annum,— G  AN UNNiTURAL  An inquest was held on Friday last, at the Double Lock Inv, Exeter, before Mr. R. R. Crosse, county coroner, on the body of a young woman named Piper, about 19 years of age, who drowned herself in the Exeter canal on the 19th inst., through the brutal conduct of her father. The evidence showed that the father had always behaved with great cruelty, eild turned her out of doors for no reason, and had threatened her life. The deceased's mother corroborated this. My husband has always treated her very cruelly. When I told him what had happened to my daughter, and that I had seen her mantle and bonnet, he said, "I am d--d glad of it, and if it is she who is drowned I'd stay up all night to make her coffin. Now I shall be happy." It appeared that the deceased had subscribed to an insurance company, by which her representatives became entitled to receive a 1 ls. on her death. It was thought, however, that there was no evidence to show that the father had deliberately driven his daughter to commit suicide with the view of getting this money. A policeman said that when the body was found the father, Samuel E. Piper, was present, and he did not seem the least concerned. In witness's absence he tried to take the earrings out of his daughter's ears. A juryman said that he heard the father a second time propose to take the earrings out of his daughter's ears ; in fact, it was almost the first words he uttered when the body was discovered. He (the juror) replied that if he attempted to do so he would kick him into the canal, where his daughter had just come from. The coroner said he should not have wondered if he had done so, for he could easily imagine that the feelings of any Englishman would not have been kindly at such an exhibition of heartless conduct on the part of a parent. The coroner then summed up the evidence, and in the course of his remarks he said that of all the melancholycases which had come before him this was the most distressing. If it were true that the father had driven his daughter out of her mind he did not know how they should meet the case. He could only wish that their verdict would reach him, but he was afraid it could not. All they had to inquire into was how this girl came into the water. A jaror.---Although herfather did not actually thrown her into the water he was the means of it. The eoroner—There can be no doubt of that. Another juror asked whether they could not record such a verdict as would mark the feelings the jury entertained of the case, so that some further steps should be taken against the father. The coroner replied that as there was a reporter present he thought the best thing they could do was to leave it to that gentleman to report the case fully, so that the facts might come before the proper authorities, who would or ought to take the necessary steps to prevent this man from acting in a similar manner towards other persons. The jury returned a verdict of " Found drowned," which met with the approval of the coroner. The public officer then made an application for the policy of insurance, se that the parish, which had been put to the expense of providing the coffin, might be able to draw the money from the company. The coroner at present refused to sign any certificate. Several of the jurors expressed their opinion that the mother of the deceased had not stated all the truth, and they thought it looked very strange that she had been in the habit of paying the Id. per week into the company for her daughter. One juror said he believed something more would arise out of this inquest, and the coroner replied that he was therefore very glad they had returned the verdict recorded by them.