TO CORRESPONDENTS. MR. SEVERN AT WORK.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1772, 7 September 1874, Page 3

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

MR. SEVERN AT WORK.

•'Bowew" Writes to say that Mr. _y^nthony did not pay £10 to. A Party j^Hytlieframe' of Johnson " to "write him tip," but to leave him alone. We give r the^ explanation, hut it appears that it is a distinction without a diffe ? rence. '. * . V Bill Sparkes " and "Nourmahal" are » #roTrded out.. They are too personal, . ' and could only be inserted under peculiar'circumstances. In fact we would rather they Were sent to the Coroman- - del News^or the. Thames Advertiser. . "Outcast oi Poker Mat." You are an impostor. If you were the real Simon Pure we would give you a fling just now. We know ". J.S." could do what you only attempt. "Manikin."—lou are a much better " judge of'horses than men. Buck-jump-ing—any kind of jumping is more in your line than politics. !' Puck.''—Bide a wee. Have a little mercy. You and the lawyer cove are too ready to enter the fray. We think , •■-'.••Puck" must have had something to do with the Hospital squabble; he seems to like setting people by the ears. ... - . •

' Mr. H» A. Severn, our local scientist is at presmt engaged in a very intcres-' ting work, namely, tho construction of a reflecting telescope, or rather it should be said the completion thereof; for Severn commenced the task, six years ago : which affords another instance of his,/indefa4igable zeal in the pursuit-of the different sciences which form his peculiar studies., Many of those .whose, thoughts on tho subject of optical instruments go no, further than, the connection of. their use when made, have no, conception' of of the' labour which is expended in their makinjvrad how necessary it is to posiess that characteristic Virtue peculiar jto Job. Mr.. Soyern is now grinding and polishing the'lenses, and has erected tho machine for the purpose—which is entirely of his own construction—in the Bright Smile battery, and is worked by the fly-whoel of the engine. It is simple and ingenious in construction, and fully answers tho design intended. The eccentric which regulates the process and gives to the speculum the true parobolic figuro is an admirable contrivance; and indeed, it would need to be very perfect in its action, as the slightest miscalculation would throw the glass out of focus; cle facto, < it would render the greater part of the student's labor useless;. and when further, it is understood that the least particle of sand on tho specula during the process is attended with serious results, there will be no difficulty in comprehending the delicate nature of the work, and the care which it is necessary to observe. > Mr. Severn anticipates, that'tUe telescope wili.be- completed in about a month ; and it is to be hoped that his expectations will be rea.Used, as he purposes using it—if completed—to observe the transit of Venus , and is fully confident that the telescope will be of sufficient power to render the observation satisfactory. To give an idea of' the power of the glass, which would appear from a cursory observation to be about a foot in diameter, Mr. Severn states that he can already read ordinary sized print through it at a distance of five miles. The transit of Venus occurs in the month of December, so that should Mr. Severn's calculation prove to be any way correct, he has plenty of time before him. I ■■'■'}<:• ■■'•'■■ •''<'■■■-'"?; ■')'■■ ■■ '• "'i