Glass sensitive to poisons made by Gray & Hemingray

For the Herald

Sensitive Glass.

The article on "Sensitive Glass," in your paper of Tuesday, reminds me of a passage in one of the poems in Rogers' Italy, which, as the subject seems to claim attention at present, permit me to transcribe. It may interest some of your numerous readers as it did the writer of this: --

"Misnamed to lull alarm,

in every palace was the Laboratory,

Where he within brewed poisons swift and slow.

That scattered terror 'till all things seemed poisonous,

And brave men trembled if a hand held out

A nosegay or a letter; while the Great

Drank only from the Venice-glass that broke.

That shivered, scattering round it as in scorn,

If aught malignant, aught of thine was there,

Cruel *Tephana; and pawred provinces

Fo; that miraculous gem, the gem that gave

A sign infallible of coming ill,

That clouded tho' the vehicle of death

Were an invisible perfume."

Ainsworth, in one of his popular novels has described a convivial entertainment given by Henri III of France. A guest who had displeased the Queen mother, Catherine de Medici, and the unprincipled Marguerite, is to be disposed of by poison; but, unknown to them both, he had been previously warned of his danger. In his turn he sings three orgies, each one detailing an account of a feast at which death was the consequence; the latter the Borgia papel fete, and its tragical termination. The King, who appears to be ignorant of the intention of his relatives, insists upon his drinking, and exclaims much in this way, "we have no dread of such consummation at our orgies. A traveller might well stand in awe of the bowl, if after his nocturnal banquet he should awaken in Elysium." The guest accepts the goblet, raises it as if to his lips, and sets it down untasted, exclaiming, "how is this? Poison! Do Borgia's drugs find entrance here?" "Poison?" they all exclaimed rising in astonishment, "ay, poison! See the ruddy bezaar in this ring has become pale as opal. — This wine is poisoned." Henri surprised at the incident, ordered Venice glass. A glass was brought, bell-shaped, light, clear as crystal. The guest poured within it the contents of his own goblet. For a second no change was observed. The wine then suddenly hissed and foamed. The glass shivered into a thousand pieces.

This therefore is the "sign infallible of coming ill" mentioned by Rogers. The Cardinal Ferdinand de Medici, is said to have been preserved in this manner by a ring which he wore on his finger; as also Andrea, the husband of Giovanna, Queen of Naples.

* A Sicilian, the inventress of many poisons.

Our fair correspondent has been looking into the books on a brittle subject, and has our thanks for her curious researches. By the way, the editor of the Cincinnati Commercial re-affirms that his Sensitive Glass paragraph was no humbug. He states that Herr Norman, the Druidish Horn Player, brought to the office of the Commercial a specimen of glassware looking like a common tumbler, and in the presence of four persons performed the experiment, thus described:

"He poured in some water and let it stand a short time, to show that it did not break the glass; he then added some poison, and in about four seconds the glass fractured into a great number of pieces and all the liquid was spilled upon a newspaper placed upon the table. We carefully took the paper and put it away just as the glass fell to pieces, and it can be seen in our office at any time. The gentleman went from our office to Mr. E. B. Taylor's Fourth-st, where his wigs, & c. are being made, and having one of these glasses in his hand, he repeated the experiment. It was not done with any thought of notoreity at the time, but as an experiment to show his process in the accomplishment of his exhibition to his confidential friends. The glass was made at Messr. Gray & Hemingray's, on Hammond-st., and the experiment was made there, to who we refer."