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Northern Star (1837-1852), 11th September 1852, Edition 1 of 2, Page 14, j&ktt info |ii

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      Untitled Article

      MEETING OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION AT BELFAST . The annual general assembly of the Members of tlie Association commenced at Belfast on the 1 st inst . Following the accustomed course , the first day was devoted mainly to arranging the order of proceedings for the remainder of the Meeting , and to the election of officers for the various Sections . Col . Sabine read the report of the Committee appointed last year to watch the interests of Science in Parliament . Letters were read between Lord Wrottesley ( the Chairman ) and the Earl of Derby on the subject of facilitating the transit by post at a cheaper rate in foreign countries of Transactions of Societies and printed papers .

      The President then proceeded to read his address ,, which was very lengthy . Our space will allow us to give only one or two extracts . This is on a subject of universal interest : — " The analogy of the configuration of the land and sea on the north of the continents of Asia and America has for some time past caused an opinion to be entertained that the sea ov . the north of the Parry Islands might be as open as it is known to be throughout the year in the Fame latitude on the north of the Siberian Islands . The expectation that Wellington Strait might as a continuation of Barrow ' s Strait , prove a channel of

      communication from the Atlantic into that part of the Polar Ocean , has been considerably strengthened in the last year by the discoveries which we owe to the hardihood and intrepidity of our merchant seamen . The access to the Polar Ocean , and the degree in which it may be navigable for purposes of discovery or of scientific research , are amongst the few geographical problems of high interest which remain to be solved ; and we may confidently look for a solution , in the direction at least that has been adverted to , by the Expedition which has been dispatched under Sir Edward Belcher to follow up the discovered traces of Sir John Franklin ' s vessels . "

      Relative to what may be called the politics of science , the address said , " Allusions have been made by influential men , and in influential places , to a direct representation of Science in Parliament ; and we frequently hear opinions expressed that Parliament might be improved by a gre iter admixture of men who might be chosen as the representatives of the intellectual cultivation of the nation amongst those who represent its material interests . The benefit which the Legislatuie might derive from a change of this description is a question rather for statesmen than for men of science , and would be quite unsuitable for discussion here : but in respect to the influence which

      such change would exercise on Science itself , and on its cultivators , it does belong to us to consider both its probable advantages and disadvantages . I have no hesitation in expressing , as an individual opinion , my belief that the possible g . dii would be incalculably outweighed by the too certain evils ; and that scientific men cannot too highly value and desire to retain the advantage they now possess in the undisturbed enjoyment of their own pursuits untroubled Ly the excitements and disfractions of political life . * * * * We cannot read over the names of the noblemen and gentlemen who form the Parliamentary Committee of the British Association without

      bcinesatisfied that science would not be likely to be more honourably represented by any system of direct representation . " Among the numerous papers read on the succeeding days , we may mention the following , by Lieutenant-Colonel Syk ' cs , on the census of the Island of Bombay . —Some very interestingmatter was contained in this paper , and some remarkable fea ° tares of the district given . It appears that the men are in great excess over the women—350 , 090 to 212 , 059—a difference due mainly to the crime of fem-ile infanticide . ' This crime is due to

      an extraordinary cause . It is considered a disgrace i £ females do not get married , and to save this disgrace in some cases and , in others to save the expenses , which are heavy in India , in their marriage customs , the female children are murdered to n horrible extent . The Government have checked this deplorable crime considerably by establishing a fund , out of which , under certain conditions , sums shall be allotted for marriage purposes . Gv E . Porter . —On the productive industry of Paris . * This paper , read by Mr . M'Adam , secretary , contained most valuable

      details of the productive industry of Paris , furnishing important data for comparison with our own . In it will be found matter for the serious consideration of our political economists , as in several of these branches of manufacture , which are supposed to press most weightily on our own trade , it appears that the wages paid for labour are higher than with us , while the raw material is about the same price . An interesting portion was that in reference to the education of the workmen . Of the entire number , 87 per cent , of the men and 79 per cent , of the women could read and write .

      Professor Hancock . —Are there any impediments to the fair competition of free labour with slave in the West Indies ? Professor Hancock ' s deduciions were all based upon the recognised principles of moral philosophy and political economy , and were supported by statistical evidence , and by quotations from Adam Smith , Bigelors , Candler , Alexander , and other high authorities .

      Mr . Griffiths . —On his new geological map of Ireland . —The most important of the economic featnrus had reference to the limestones , and to the recent discovery of a bed of salt in the neighbourhood of Belfast , He also stated his opinion that ccal is not to be found in any quantity in Ireland ; and , therefore , every attempt to induce paraes to embark in speculations which must prove fruitless ought to be discouraged . 1 /

      r . Boyle—On the species of thea which yield the black and green teas of commerce . —The author , after the general history and characters of the thea in its natural and in its manufactured State , showed clearly that both black and green teas were made irom the same plant , and that the difference in colour and ? ppearance ^ was due to the methods of manipulation , and not to tne addition oi any extraneous substance , such as Prussian blue turmeric , copper salts , indigo , &c , though these were often used by unprincipled manufacturers .

      . Mr- W- Ogilby . —On the geographical distribution of animus m connexion with the progress of human civilization . —The author , in a long and extremely interesting paper , entering largely into detail ? , showed that no nation located in a country destitute of domesticated animals has ever attained to a h \?\\ state of civilization , and that the condition of m » n in any geographical region isjreatly dependent upon the animals inhabiting that region . He tweed the connection of certain animals with ^ ' s civilization through a long range of history , and concluded by stating nn opinion that we were now , in regard to civilisation only in the same state various nations

      were in m the East 3 , 000 or 4 , 000 years ago . The Prince of Canino offered some remarks on the zoological portions , which were replied to bv the author . '

      Untitled Article

      Mr . W . Pairbairn . —Description of a new kind of tabular boiler . —The boiler , the particulars of arrangement of which were given verbally and diagrammatically , was stated by the author to contain all the advantages of the double flue boiler , combined with the tubular arrangements of the locomotive boiler . A mixing chamber is introduced behind the firebars , and between them and the tubes , and vertical tubular stays are inserted for ihe purpose of strengthening the chambers and of increasing the heating surface .

      Mr . James Thompson , C . E . —On vortex waterwheels . —The author exhibited plans of the principal parts of this _ waterwheel , which was brought into operation at the buildings of Messrs . Hunter , of Dunadiy . It differs considerably fiom the turbine-wheel , as the water is supplied to the circumference , and passes out at the centre . It wj . s stated that in a small model the effective power obtained was 68 per cent ., which was considerably increased in the large wheels .

      The President ' s Ddjneu . —On Saturday evening , at five o ' clock , the usual presidential dinner of the members of the British Association took place in the Music-hall . Upwards of 200 gentlemen sat down to dinner . Colonel Sabine , President of the British Association , occupied the chair .

      Untitled Article

      A Cnlork Ship . —^ aw Motive power . —The New York Tribune states that a ship is now being built to test Ericsson ' s wonderful Caloric Engine . In regard to this wonderful engine , we hardly know if we can convey to the vcadov any accurate idea , but . with the valuable aid of the editor of " Hunt ' s Merchants' Magazine , " we will make the attempt , Two Caloric engines arc at work in the foundry of Messrs . Hogg and Delameter , foot of Thirteenthstreet , one of live and the other sixty horse-power , the latter has four cylinders . Two , of seventy-two inches in diameter , stand , side by side . Over each of those is placed one much smaller . Within these , are pistons , exactly fitting their respective cylinders , and so connected that those within the lower and " upper cylinders * move together . Under the bottom of each of the lower cylinders a fire is applied . Ko other furnaces are employed . Neither boilers nor water arc used . The lower is called the working

      cylinder ; the upper the supply cylinder . As the piston in the supply cylinder moves down , valves placed in its top open , and it becomes iilled with cold air . As the piston rises within it , these valves close , and the air within , unable to escape as it came , passes through another set of valves , into a receiver , from whence it has to pass into the working cylinder , to force up the working piston within it . As it leaves the receiver to perform this duty , it passes through what is called the regenerator , which we shall soon explain , where it becomes heated to about four hundred and fifty degrees , and upon entering the working cylinder , it is further heated by the lire underneath . We have said the working cylinder is much larger in diameter than the supply cylinder . Let us , for the sake of illustration merely , suppose it to contain double the area . The cold air which entered the uppar cylinder will , therefore , but half fill the lower one . In the course of its passage to tho

      latter , however , we have said that it passes through a regenerator , anil let us suppose , that as it enters the working cylinder , it has become heated to about four hundred and eighty degrees . At ' this temperature , atmospheric air expands to double its volume . The same atmospheric air , therefore , which was contained within the supply cylinder , is now capable of tilling one of twice its size . With this enlarged capacity ! its enters the working cylinder . We will further suppose the area of the piston within this cylinder to contain a thousand square inches , and the area of , the piston in the supply cylinder above , to contain but live hundred . The air presses upon this with a mean force , we will suppose , of about eleven pounds to each square inch ; ov in other words , with a weight of 5 , 500 pounds . Upon the surface of the lower piston , the heated air is , " however , pressing upward with a like force upon cadi of its one thousand square inches ; or , in other words , with a force of

      11 , 000 pounds . Hero , then , is a force which , after overcoming ; tho weight allOVO , laavos n suvyilua of u , 500 pounds , ii ' ve make no allowance for friction . This surplus furnishes the working power of the engine , it will be readily , sey u that , after one stroke of its piston is made , it will continue to work with this force , ko long us sufficient heat is supplied to expand the air in the working cylinder to the extant stated , for , so long as the area of the lower piston is greater than that of the upper , and a like pressure is upon every square inch of each , so long will the greater piston push forward the smaller , as a two-pound weight upon one end of a balance will be quite sure to bear down one pound placed upon the other . We need hardly say , that after the air in the working cylinder has forced up the piston within it , a valve opens ,

      and as it passes out , the pistons , by force of gravity , descend , and cold air again rushes into , and fills the supply cylinder , as we have before described . In this manner the two cylinders are alternately supplied and discharged , causing the pistons in each to play up and down , substantially as they do in the steam-engine . We trust our readers will be able to understand at least the general principles upon which this machine operates . Its cylinders draw their supply from the atmosphere . The cylinders of the steam-engine are supplied by scalding vapor , drawn from hissing boilers . The caloric engine draws in its iron lungs the same element which expands those of the most delicate child , and derives its motion and its power from that sustaining source upon which depends the existence of all animate life .

      Irirtit Ipiscnmtfe

      Irirtit Ipiscnmtfe

      Untitled Article

      STRAND THEATRE . This neat little theatre was once more opened to the public on Monday week , under the management of Mr . Dumbolton . The title of the performance was "The . African Troupe "—six . serenades—Messrs . Pell , Pierce , Temploton , Williams , Hanis , and I-Iooley . We promised ourselves a treat on tho revival of this entertainment , and we have not been disappointed . We should be almost afraid to speak of the company under the influence of first impressions , less we should run into exaggeration ; but having seen them upon several occasions within these few days , we arc enabled to give a favourable notice . The most prominent amongst the " Troupe" is Mr . Pell . Our readers are doubtless acquainted with this name , and perhaps have

      often heard him . We can assure them that he has in no way retrograded from his former excellence ; but , like all other good things , improves upon repitition and morelntiinate acquaintance . The next is Mr . Pierce . He is in possession oi a line base voice , and good taste , and is a great acquisition to the company . Mr . Templeton is likewise very clever , but is out of place in some instances . His comicality has to > much solidity , and he occasionally changes the tone of his voice , forgetting that he is " African . " Mr . Ham ' s is also exceedingly clever on the violin , and is received with vociferous cheering . The remainder of the company are very good . Tho house has been well attended on each evening , and , on the whole , gave great satisfaction . We , have been informed , that the spirited manager intends introducing some operative farces .

      Untitled Article

      THEATRICALS IN NEW SOUTH WALES . { From the Sydney "People ' s Advocate" ) Few of the many wonderful novels of Sir Walter Scoti ever more thoroughly captivated our boyish admiration than that wild and singular tale in which the sorrowful destiny of Luqj Ashton and her noble lover , the Master of fiavcnsKOod , is so vividly pouvtrayed . Who , that has ever read the novel , can forget the gallant and adventurous raid of Caleb Balderstme , on the Cooper ' s kitchen , or ' his quick rooted appropriation of the thunder storm which " came to hand like the bowl of a pint stoup , " and furnished him with such an excellent apocryphal dinner . All honor then to the fertility of his invention ; however outrageous his lies may be , Caleb never falls in our good opinion from his first entrance upon the scene to tho last sad moment when he takes leave of his master for ever . Nor arc the other less prominen t

      personages uninteresting ; eacli has his own distinct individuality ; while the minor incidents introduced assist us in forming no faint or incorrect conception of the manners , habits , and prejudices of Scotch society at that distant day . With such notions in our editorial mind , we no sooner saw the announcement , on Monday last , of a drama entitled the " Bride of Lammermoor , than we resolved upon going to see it , and found no reason to repent of our determination . The dignified part of Edgar Bavensioood was , of course , sustained by Mr . Ncsbitt , who , notwithstanding his recent illness , exerted himself not unsuccessfully to do it justice . The gem of the whole thing was decidedly the hapless Miss Ashton of Mrs . Guerin , her second lover , Hayston of Buclclaw , being very fairly played by Mr . Howard . Griffiths , too , as dear eld Caleb made a decided h it ; continual merry shouts of laughter from all sides , testifying how keenly his manifold apologies and expedients were appreciated . This interesting drama ( repeated on Wednesday evening in the

      presence of a rather thin house ) , was followed at its first production by an extravaganza under the title of the " Queen of Beauty , " which passed off well , but of which , not being great admirers of dramatic amusements of the kind , we shall say no more than that it will be repeated this evening . On Tuesday the lovers of good mus c had another opportunity of gratifying their taste by listening to the deservedly popular opera of the " Mountain Sylph , " after which came the pleasant interlude of " Sent to the Tower , " with the racy and highly successful farce of " Naval Engagements" as a finale . " Norma" was again reproduced on Thursday , to a numerous and attentive audience , by whom a new after-piece , the " Loan of a Lover , " was well received , and appears likely to become a favourite . Besides the extravaganza of the " Queen of Beauty , " the performances of this evening vail include the musical interlude last mentioned , and the highly diverting farce of the "Teacher Taught . "

      Untitled Article

      Olympic CiRCus .-The performances at this place of aimwempnt , the week h ave been of a most , varied and delightful description n « lj » Hng attended by crowded and applauding houses . Master Granvnio ¦ e *« en pupils of Mr . Ashton , has distinguished himself , not only as in » of tlle but also as an acrobatic performer both on horseback and in « stria « . Master Griffiths and Miss Griffiths have gone through their e 1 < i n gformances with great eclat . In fact , both these young Austnliin i " SUal M " - peribrmers have during the past week won for themselves the mn ? t i Rtr »»» applause from crowded houses . Signor Cardoza ' s perform ™ ,. ! $ tight rope have ajpo elicited great applause . Our old friend AtMi ° ? tlle possible exceeded himself , —some of his witticisms andbon mots , i s ' * past week have been amongst the raciest things we have ever heard ' 1116 tlle

      Untitled Article

      YOUNG LOVE . All milliners who start from bed To gaze upon a coat of red , Or listen to a drum Know very well the Paphian Queen Was never yet at Paphos seen , That Cupid ' s all a hum , That minstrels forge confounded lies , About the Deities and skies , That torches all go out sometimes , That flowers all fade except in rhymes , That maids are seldom shot with arrows , And coaches never drawn by sparrows . And yet , fair cousin do not deem ,

      That all is false which poets tell Of Passion ' s first and dearest dream Of haunted spot , tvnd silent spell , Of long low musing , such as suits The terrace on your own dark hill , Of whispers which are as sweet as lutes , And silence which is sweeter still ; Believe , believe—for May shall pass , And summer sun and winter shower Shall dim the freshness of the grass , And mar the fragrance of the flower—Believe it all , whate ' er you hear Of plighted vow , and treasured token , And hues which only once appear ,

      And words which only once are spoken , And prayers whose natural voice is song , And schemes that die in wild endeavour And tears so pleasant , you will long To weep such pleasant tears for ever . Believe it all , believe it all ! Oh ! Virtue ' s frown is all divine ; And Folly hides his happy thrall In sneers as cold and false as mine : And Reason prates of wrong and right , And marvels hearts can break or bleed , And flings on all that ' s warm and bright The winter of his icy creed ;

      But when the soul has ceased to glow And years and cares are coming fast , There ' s nothing like young love ! no , no ! There ' s nothing like young love at last ! —Winthrop Praed . "Greenwood Leaves from ovek the Ska" is the title of a series of papers appearing in the Era from "Grace Greenwood . " They consist of descriptions of English lions , and deal mere freely with the homes mid circumstances of soma of our literary notables than quite accords with our sense of propriety . Here is one of tho sketches : — " On the day succeedV

      this visit , 1 first saw J oseph Mazzini—I had brought a letter from his friend , Kossuth—and he spent a gouerous part of the morning with us , Mazzini h not a large man , though tailor , I should say , than Kossuth ; lie is sii ^ hciu person , and extremely pale . His beard is ' one of the grandest I have eveseen , his eyes have the true southern depth of darkness and gleam of mssionato fire , yet are softened with poetic feeling , and are pathetic with all their power . They are darkly shadowed , as by great sorrows and wearv watchings . To give you an idea of the high generous thought , the noble aspirations , the enthusiasm and eloquence to which we were charmed listeners that morning , I have only to say that Mazzini talks as he write ' , "

      Uncle Tom ' o Cabin is about to be dramatised at one of the Boston theatres . Neio lkvkv ) . -- Mr . Russell Smith has announced a new quarterl y journal to be called " The Ketrospcctive Review . " One of Future ' s Xobles . —Owa fine morning last month the armorial shield of Baron Peter de Wallenerona was publicly broken in the Church of the Nobles' Palace in Stockholm , by one of the heralds of the Order of Seraphim Such is the custom in Sweden when the male line of a family becomes extinct , —and in the person of Baron Peter , a nobility conferred bv Charles the Twelfth , on the field of Pultowa had just expired . But the Baron had taken guarantees against the mortality of his name , and earned for himself a cognizance which is not broken over graves . The first noble of the race was a soldier—the last was a citizen . The title born of the sword died wearing the civic crown Baron Peter de WalleneronaKnight of the Order

      , of Charles the Twelfth , and of the Order of Gnstavus Vasa devoted a life protracted far beyond man ' s allotted span—for he died at the "reat a < n > of ninety-five--to the task of morally and mentally elevating his countrymen , and to the cure of their physical and social ills . At Carlstadt . where he passed the greater part of his days , he established , and edited for ' thirtv-hro years , a journal called the "Gazette of Rural and Domestic economy " ( llushdlstednmg ) , for the diffusion of sound and useful knowledge among the people . 11 e founded in- his country eleven savings' banks , throe schools " and two intant asylums , ~ and enlarged several of the hospitals of the kingdom . These are amongst the good deeds of Baron Peter ; and so , when the herald broke his escutcheon , and proclaimed the name extinct other proclamation was made over the Barons grave to contradict the herald . The name of the good knight and noble lives in the popular heart—and will be written by the true herald in the moral history of Sweden .

      An Intellectual Young Lady . — " Oh , mamma , I asked Miss Brown , what is dew i She says it is the moisture imbibed by plants during the summer months . Now , mamma , dear , dew is the condensation of aqueous vapour by a body which has radiated its atomic motion of caloric below the atmospheric temperature . The Bminkas .--A . ln& Y asked her physician whether snuff was injurious to the brain ? No , said he , « for nobody who has any brains ever takes snuff . " THE PRIDE OP LONDON . ( Being a slight liberty taken with " The Bride ofAbydos . " ) know ye the stream where the cesspool and sewer Are emptied of all their foul sl ushes and slimes , Where the feculent tide of rich liquid manure

      Now sickens the City , now maddens the Times ? ^ n ° -V e the filtl 1 of that Sroat open sink , Which no filter can sweeten , no " navey" can drink-Where in boats overcrowded the Cocknev is borne To the mud-bounded gardens of joyous Cremorne : Where the gas-works rain down the blackest of soot . And the oath of the coal-whipper never is mute : " A \ here the liquefied mud which as " water we buy , With the richest of pea-soup in colour may vie , And deodorisation completely defy Where the air ' s filled with smells that no nose can define , Ana the banks teem prolific with corpses canine ? 1 is the stream of the Thames ! 'tis the Pride of the Town ! Lan a nuisance so dear to us e ' er be put down ? On ! touler than words can in decency tell Are the sights we see there , and the scents which we smell \ -Purd

      Mssuig—The Cram of Hungary .-A handsome Reward will be given to whosoever shall restore it-say a million of florins—and all will be forg iven , and no questions asked . Gentleman of the Hebrew persuasion readily treated with . No Koasuraneea apply-address to Francis Joseph , Vienna who , when the Crown shall be restored , has the very head that will fitit-Ibid . J Epitaph for a Stockbroker . —Waiting for a rise . —ibid . prSv ^ K woul ( 1 kcep licr laUrolS > ShC mlUt TheSmohi-dne . d Geraans .-The author of a book just published , entitle * JS * S maoB i , ^ 8 th ° Bummer of 1851 , by a Member of the late lament , says that he was astonished to find how far the cfcarhas supersed the pipe in Germany . In some cases the dear is so placed in a meevscluu" 11 mouthpiece as to send forth its curling smoke into the nose of the opew ^ probably an additional recommendation . « We suv enoneh is as good as »

      east-that is not so with a German . I doubt whether any quantity of s «» J would be too much for him ; and a patented invention which would enjWJ the possessor to continue smoking while asleep through themglitw ° " ° 'J am convinced , make a man ' s fortune . My driver on this day , dur ing » 'J than eleven hours we were on the road , never discontinued tor a inomout . and lithe villanous weeds which he consumed had been all put doirn i » line , they must have reached fullyhalf the entire distance . "

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      Untitled Article

      78 THE STAR OF FREEDOM . September 11 , i $ 5 s ¦

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 11, 1852, page 14, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1695/page/14/