THE SPY & COLUMBIA SATURDAY IVIORNING, AUGUST 7, 1941 AGENCIES. V. B. PALMER, North %Vest corner of Third and Chestnut streets, Philadelphia, Tribune Buildings, (opposite City Hallo N. York. South East corner of Baltimore and Calvert streets, Baltimore, and No. 12 State street, Boston, dscon M. WEgT/lAE:FFER, Lancaster city. Wn.t.tszs A. PIERCE, TraVellipg Agent, Fmx.—About one o'clock on Wednesday morn ing, a fire broke out on the premises of James Crow, at the head of the canal basin. It originated is a tenant house ou the back end of the lot, and in an incredibly short space of time, tho tavern, sta bles and outhoases were enveloped in one sheet of flame. The buildings were of wood, and so rapid was the combustion, that before the engines could "reach the spot, all hopes of saving any of Mr. Crow's property were given up. Through the ex ertions of the firemen the warehouses on the basin opposite ' were prevented from taking fire. For tunately, but little nir was stiring to direct the flames, and there were no other buildings in im mediate contact with those of Mr. Crow's. Mr. C.'s loss is about $3,000. Insurance, $1,200. I= NOT INTryrioNsr...—The Lancaster Union and Tribune is assured that the omission on our part to reciprocate an exchange, was entirely accidental. We shall bo happy to exchange. All right—eh? ,00.40,, 1D Thomas 13. Florence, Esq., proprietor of the Philadelphia. Timcs and Keystone, proposes pub lishing a weekly paper during coming political campaign, and promises to unmask and expose the crafty designs of Federal Whiggery," and also to "denounce, in the strongest terms, every attempt to barter away the precious rights and privileges 'purchased with our father's blood." "Monstrous Monopolies" will be "handled without gloves," a la Dretsbach, Van Amburg and Carter, and their lions. "Partial Schemes," "Frightful Inequali ties," and all those species of animals, will be dis armed of their native ferocity, and led about the ring with perfect impunity. The whole to con clude with a " Grand Federal Whiggery Waterloo Overthrow." Single tickets, 25 cents, or 50 for ton dollars. Box book now open. RUMORCD Erreass ro G ex. Scorr.—The Nation al—Washington—Whig of Wednesday evening has the following: Important Rumor.—it is rumored that the Exec utive received a despatch from Lchmond this morning, giving intelligence of a severe reverse which Gen. Scott's valumn met with on his march to the City of Mexico, and stating further that Gem Scutt had been wounded. No CHANCE AT ALL—The whigs of Georgia offer a reward of $5,000 to any one who will prove that James K. Polk or Jamcs Buchanan, have either sons or sons-in•law in our army in Mexico. They may as well go the whole pile, for they have a sure thing of it, as it is well known that James K. Polk never had any children, and James Buchanan is the very nrince of bachelnre =I FALL OF TOE LF.AN , G TOWER. or PlSA.—This ancient superstructure, which has stood the siege of time since 1174, has, it is said, fallen to the ground, and become almost a total ruin. The account states that it fell during the earthquake of the 18th of June. Probably a hoax. 1=!=1 "LIGHT" wesrr•:n.=The Columbia Spy contains a police report for the week, in which the names of 18 offenders appear, charged with various misde meanors. This is a terrible array of crime for the borough of Columbia. Friend Spy, you must apply to the American Press for more light.—Lan. caster Intelligencer. Taking all things into consideration, we can see nothing very „ terrible" for Coumbia, in this array. Five hundred such ofrences wouldn't equal one Haggerty case. And, moreover, some of the "cases" referred to were residents of Lancaster, and nearly all were strangers and transient visitors. We have rather too much "light" here for the dark designs of itinerant depredators, and if the " Amer. ican Press" or the "Intelligencer" either, has any of that commodity to spare, (light, we mean, not depredators,) we would advise them to disseminate it as unsparingly as a judicious regard for economy will allow, and then perhaps the "array of crime in Columbia" will be sensibly diminished. WILAT SAY TIM SensrTotEs.—"And when ye hear of wars and rumors of wars, be ye not troubled, fur such things must needs Ire. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom." So spake the Prince of Peace more than 1800 years ago, and so shall it be until that time shall arrive when "swords shall be turned into plough shires and spears into priming -honks." This com mon destiny has been ours—and is now ours!— Lancaster le ielligenter. Nothing touching our case, as we can see, in this very short patent sermon. Every body knows that the Mexicans are not a nation, for it has been rung in our cars by the advocates of the war, from the first. Of course, unless we style Mr. Polk, link Ist, and Santa Anna, Lopez ditto, there are no "Kingdoms" involved in :he war. Could not the reverend gentleman give us a lecture on Pha raoh's lean and fat kine—or the rod of Moses— which were both striking antetypes of annesationg LITROVEMENT IN TUE STEAM ENGINE. -A new steam boiler has been invented and patented by James Montgomery, of Memphis Tennessee. The advantages derived from this invention are—a re duction of the quantity of water used in the boiler— prevention of explosion—saving at of at least one. third in fuel, and a saving of ono half the apace usually occupied by boilers. Prof. Renwick says:—" I have seen one In action, and found it fulfilling completely the views of the inventor; it must completely counteract the danger with which the use of steam is now liable, and promises to render the duration of iron boilers al. most indefinite." Experiments have shown that per petual nintion of the water prevents the incrustation of the boiler. that the sparks and smoke are mi n:wed, and that, instead of two and a half tons of coal used and thirty pounds pressure obtained from the tubular form of boiler, this has given seventy pounds pressure from the use of only one half the fuel during the same time. Any one of these advantages would seem to warrant its immediate and universal adoption. POLICE .AFFAIRS. Before Justice Spear The Turnpike again.—On complaint of Abra ham Schock and others, John Orndorff, keeper of gate No. 2, on the Marietta, Bainbridge, Falmouth and Portsmouth Turnpike road, was arrested for receiving tolls in violation of the act incorporation, the same road, having been legally declared to be out of repair. Defendant contended that the road had been put in repair since the date of its con demnation. The proceedings were stayed by con sent of complainant ; and on application of Henry Haldeman and Andrew Leader, Esqrs..; the Justice appointed a jury to review said road and report its condition. Proceedings as above were instituted against Matthias Smith, keeper of toll gate No. 1, on said road. Allen Denesey, charged with the laarceny of a coat, the property of Wm. Johnson—gave bail to appear at court to answer. Eliza Winebrenner, threatening to take the life of Elizabeth Davis. Defence made, and proteed. ings stayed for the present. Thomas Keating.—Complaint made of Lewis Bailey (Constable) that defendant threatened to take his life. Gave bail for his appearance at court to MB= David Woods, assault and battery on the body of Abel Clinton. Committed in default of bail. James Moore, charged with the larceny of a gun, the property of James Smith. Gave bail for his appearance at cowl to answer. John Andrews, charged with obtaining goods from Michael Strohm, under false pretences, with a fraudulent intent. Defendant payed amount and proceedings were stayed. Darid Rau, charged with obtaining goods under false pretences, from John H. Gunter, with a fraud- ulent intent. After a full hearing, the complaint was dismissed and judgment entered for the sum due. Joshua Waters, noisy in the street and disturb. ing the peace. Refusing to give any account of his residence or occupation, he was committed as a vagrant for 20 days. DISCO ,, ER Y OF A New CAVE.—A few weelm since, while some laborers were working in the lime quarry of Mr. Samuel Anna, of Fishkill, Dutchcs county, they discovered a crevice which was soon widened and an entrance effected ; whereupon quite a large cave (about 50 feet in length,) exhibiting marks of former occupancy, was disclosed to their astonished eyes. Boards lying upon the bottom of the cave, and supporters to the roof, were found in a somewhat decayed state, showing evidently that they, as well as the cave, are of considerable anti quity. Pieces of rock also are said to have been taken out of the cave, exhibiting a strong resem blance to silver or lead ; and its appeanancc war. rants the belief that it was at one time, long since, occupied by human beings in some pursuit un known. There is a spring of water in it five or six feet deep, which is evidence that the cave is natural; and it is a singular fact, that just at the mouth of this cave is a stately elm tree, the only one in the neighborhood, suggesting the idea that it was planted there by the former discoverers, as a land mark to guide them to their treasure. I= A writer in the Boston Chronotype, describing a visit to the "Tombs," in the city of New York, says:— .Sc called in at the "Tombs" this forenoon, where our old friend, and the friend of the drunk ard, Colonel Larkin Snow, figures as Clerk of the Police Court. We were kindly conducted by hint through the various departments of the prison. Col. Snow pointed me to a pitiful looking man scat ' ed at a little distance from the rest, and asked me if I did not recognize the countenance. I told him I thought I did, and asked him who lie was. Whereupon Col. S. (slated the following incident:— Last Sunday, said lie, I was passing Tammany Hall, and saw, sitting upon the stoop, a man with his head buried in his hands, and covered all over with flies.—The poor fellow was almoit naked, said the Col.; I shook him and asked him who he was. He looked up and called me by name, saying, at the same time, that lie only wished for a place to die! I gazed upon his disfigured fi•atures, added the Colonel, and was horror struck at the mighty change ! I recognized in him a man who was, a few years ago, editor and proprietor of one of the most respectable daily journals of the City of Cos- ton! The man who was a partner with him then is now conducting the same paper under a new head. He was correspondent of the National Whig Organ for some time—was at the Inauguration of Harrison, at Washington, and introduced two gen tlemen to Webster and Clay who have since seen him in his present low situation in the Tombs. I He looks bad, but the Colonel says he means to I snake a man of him yet.—llc had a letter in his pocket that he received from his wife, who lives in lloston—" and," stammered out the sorrow stricken man," she begins as she always did!" and burst into a flood of tears. Curiosity called the Colonel's attention to the letter, and it began thus :—"My ever dear Husband !" What a sad picture! Last Sunday a meeting was held in the Tombs, during which time two men were dying with the delirium tremens. Twenty-six took warning and signed the pledge. Friend Snow tells me a man was kicked nut of a rum shop, night before last, and brought to the Tombs, and died in a few min utes afterwards. =622! THE DISEASE: AAIONG CATTLE in Salem county, N. J, noticed several weeks since, appears to be mostly confined to the neighborhoods in which it originated. Its ravages havc somewhat decreased, although the loss thus far bas been severe. Cattle on farms contignous to the river, or accustomed to drinking river Water, appear to have suffered the most. NEw AITICATTOIS OP VAPOUR OF ETIIEE.—Dr. Cazenuba, bead Surgeon of tho lunatic asylum at Pau, has tried the use of vapour of ether on a mad girl. The poor creature had been unable to obtain sleep for five months. She was made to inhale ether and her agitation soon ceased. After five inhila. Lions, she fell into a complete state of insensibility, which lasted twenty-five minutes. At the end of that time, it is said, the torpor ceased, and no symptoms of disorder remained. A WONDERFUL BOOK. "THE PILISCIPLES <a' NATURE, HER Divxxx, Rev. raArlows, AND ADVICE TO MANXIND !"-•••This 121 the extraordinary title of a large volume 0f.782 pages just published in New York, and purporting to be a full and distinct revelation of The-great secrets-of nature, as made by one Andrew Jackson Davis, while in a state of Mesmeric Clairvoyance, in 1644 and 5. Mr. Davis was a shoemaker very illiterate, but a man of good character. This work com prises the substances of 157 clairvoyant lectures, delivei•ed by him on Natural Science and Inlelleet nal 'Philosophy, all couchcd in language that display a great intimacy with scientific technicalities, a very great amount oflearned research, a familiarity with most of the psycological theories of the day, and an ingenious faculty of reasoning plausibly upon "abstruse subjects. A great part of these "revelations" wonderfully resemble those of Swed enborg, and seem, to us, singular coincidences, if not plagiarisms. in relation to the mesmeric con dition, Mr. Davis reveals as follows: "Ire distinguishes four general degrees of the magnetic state. Each of these degrees has its own peculiar manifestations, which are clearly de scribed. In the first no particular phenomena are displayed, and the subject has possession of his mental and pl•ysical powers, though disinclined to muscular action. In the second the body loses its sensibility and the mind is affected. The third is analogous to somnambulism. The fourth is the state of clairvoyance. There is also a fifth state, which be calls independent clairvoyance, not result ing from the will either of the operator or the sub ject into which the latter passes, spontaneously as it were, from the fourth state. In this he is not controlled by the manipulator, but still requires the support afforded by the relation with him. By the magnetic medium which that relation keeps u p, while his soul is elevated into a higher sphere of existence, it is still able to return to this one. This is the state of the author during the delivery of these lectures." The reader can believe as much of this state ment, as well as the rest of Mr. Davis' dcvelope mcnts as lie pleases, but they arc curicus, to say the least. We give copious extracts, therefore, using a long review in the Tribune, for our text. " The Second Part, which treats of ' Nature's Divine Revelations,' we are told in the preliminary Address to the Word, is the soul or basis of the whole structure. It commences with the affirma tion, that in the beginning the Univeremlum, (Universal Heaven, Universe,) existed as a bound less, indefinable and unimaginable ocean of liquid fire,' in which was resident the creative power whereby it was subsequently organized into systems and worlds. Of this and of the process of creation in its most general aspects, the Clairvoyant speaks at some length, and in a manner which, to most persons, will need an interpreter. The three great eternal elements evolved in creation arc, according to the author, heal, light and electricity. Heat is the first in order, next light, and finally electricity-, the subtlest and most refined of all. Finally, hay. ing occupied about forty pages in speaking of the great Universe, the Clairvoyant comes to the hives. ligation of the Solar System with which our Earth is connected. ‘. He first asserts that our sun is merely a planet of another large system, with our planets for its satellites and asteroids. This assertion, as it is said in a foot not; was delivered months before the dis covery of 3ladler, with reference to this very point, and while the Clairvoyant in his normal state, and his associates, had no knowledge on the subject.— Ile also speaks of the demonstrated existence of eight planets in a lecture delivered in March, 1846, several months before Levcrrier's calculations were announced in this country, and six months before the actual discovery took place. Ile says that there is also a ninth planet, and that its orbit is the extreme circumference of the atmospheric emana tion of the Sun, from which the planets were pro duced. The essential elements of the Sun arc fire, heat, light and electricity ; electricity was the spe cial agent in the creation of the planets. Of these the outermost was the first formed. Their succes sive organization and alleged actual character arc described with some minuteness. In speaking of the different orders of creation on the planet Saturn, the Clairvoyant gives an account of the Saturnian ourang.outrang. • • The men of this planet arc also de scribed as much superior to those existing on the Earth. So arc those of Jupiter, to which planet several pages arc devoted. The men of this planet are described much in accordance with the account of thent given by Swedenborg in his little work on the 'Earths in the Universe,' but as we have not the account at hand we cannot say that there is a complete agreement. Comets, their nature and origin, arc next spoken of; the planet. Mars, its creations and inhabitants succeed, then the Earth is touched upon and its general consideration post. poncd, and the author passes to VCIJUS and Mercury, which arc the subjects of similar descriptions. The planets beyond Saturn he does not spen k of as inhabi ted ; beginning with that planet the animal and veg etable kingdoms and human races are in each less and less perfect as it is nearer to the Sun, and is thus of more recent formation. Venus is inhabited by two classes of human beings, both inferior in men. tal endowments to those of this Earth ; those on the farther side are mild, gentle and affectionate; those on this side aro savage and brutal. Mercury has a comparatively imperfect constitution. This planet, says the author, has been inhabited but about eight thousand years, while the others have been peopled for innumerable ages. The Sun is next considered and briefly described. * r • • • " In the whole of the part relating to the forma. tion of the Earth, and familiar with the scientific writings of Swedenborg cannot but be impressed with the agreement between his cosmogony and that here set forth. It is not an agreemeot in words, as if one were taken from the other, but an agreement in ideas of the most profound and abstruse character. We can scarcely undertake to condense this theory as it is stated in this volume, and must refer our readers to the book itself. Its general purport is, that the Earth was formed at a period too remote rot computation, from condensed particles that had previosuly belonged to the atmes. phere of the Sun. The whole was in a state of igneous fluidity, agitated from centre to stirfice, like a mass of molten lava, and put into a rotatory motion by the forma of attraction and repulsion.— 'The gradual formation of the different straticof the Earth is then described, and the agents that acted land yet act Aspen it arc spoken of, such as water, gasses, electricity, &c. The chemical combina- ; i titans of matter in minerals is dwelt upon, the author seeming, through the whole, to be guided Iby the law of progressive - developement, and of forms ascending in a regular series, before de ' scribed. The originOf life is represented as a ' higher. developement. of the principle of motion.— The doctrine of the mutation of species and ascen sion of higher creatures out of lower, is next spoken of, not in the way of argument. The author does I not argue upon theories ; but professes to explain the simple truths of Nature. He then proceeds to speak of the different stages of mineral, vegetable, any: the lowest animal formation, varying somewhat front the order laid down by geologists. Speaking of the Tides he denies that the Moon has any share in their production, which is caused, be says by the rotation of the Earth. The creation of mountains, and the great convulsions of the periods preceding the formation of the water into distinct seas, lakes and rivers, arc graphically described, as if by an eye-witness. This brings us to the period called by geologists the "Carboniferous Formation," which is described by the Clairvoyant as the period when motion transcends life and becomes sensation, and when forms transcend plants and become sub stantial species of animals. * * - * "He then goes through sixty pages to speak of the progress of the Earth up to the time when it was nearly prepared for the appearance of Man upon its surface, dwelling minutely on all that different phenomena, using the scientific thechnology of ' writers on the subject, differing from them in many particulars, and enunciating views which have not before come under our notice. He. insists that the narative of the 'primitive history,' by which he refers to the Book of Genesis, is essentially correct, the different days of creation representing the dif ferent great geological periods, 41. x * * Certain distinct types of Mankind appeared, all of which subsequently dis appeared. As the process went on, higher and higher fortes were successively produced until at ' last beings like the lower orders of Jalofs and Man dingoes (tribes of African Negroes) appeared.— These were on the globe without essential modifi cation for eight hundred years. They were suc ceeded by three distant successive orders, the highest of which approached the more perfect human organization. The most perfect of these inhabited Asia, and came near the possession of human intellectual endowments. With them, the Sixth Day of Creation was, as he says, brought to a point, which was 3,800 years before the commence ment of the race mewed to in the primitive record. As the condition of the Earth was improved, and 'Nature became more refined and perfect, she pro ' duced higher and higher creatures till at last raised, in Asia and Africa, to a state of fertility and beauty, appropriately described as the Garden of Eden, under the influence of the great First Cause, she I brought forth Man complete. "The most perfect species of the human race dwelt in Asia; the peculiarities of their formation arc de scribed at length. They were, it is said, social rather than intellectual. For many ages, they communicated their ideas by the expressions of the countenance and by signs only; they did not pos. secs perfect vocal powers, and it was long before they learned to use words. The process of the 1 formation of language is next deseibed ; by this, it is said, they became disunited in affection, and learned to conceal their thoughts from each other as by aprons. Their eyes were opened, and they learned to see their omit imperfections and cleccp. lions. Thus they became dejected and depressed, not, as the author says, because they had violated any natural law, but because their faculties were imperfectly developed. By continued misdirection of these faculties, vice and misery increased, and society became more end more disorganized. The story of Cain and Abel is explained at length, as the history of two nations, the whole correspond ing to the spiritual or internal history of the race, "Many pages are now imployed in continuing the narrative of the earth nod human inhabitants. The flood is spoken of: America is said to have been peopled at that time, not only by its aboriginal inhabitants but by a nation from Asia, which lived in Yucatan, and was advanced in the arts and sciences beyond all other, existing men. Hiero glyphics are now invented, and the history of lan guage, as it can be traced at the the present time, commences. The author goes to speak of races es. tinguished by by various means, of various move ments, and changes of tribes, of the nrgin cif archi tecture, of vegetable productions then existing,, of remarkable buildings erected in Spain, Yucatan and Brazil, of the settlement of Egypt and Greece, and the. foundation of Jerusalem and Jericho, of the Western Hemisphere, &c. The C!airvoyant then takes up the subject of Language as introductory to what he has to say eon cerning Hagiogra phy,Theology , A rehccol gy and other similar subjects. In this connection he speaks of the science of Correspondence. As to theology, he says that many men have written upon the subject, but in vain, Sze. &c. INTERESTING DISCOVEFiI ES IN THE EAST.—The French Government has had, for several years, a scientific corps engaged in researches in ancient Assyria and Persia, including the explorations at Nineveh and Babylon, and several distinguished scholars from England and Germany are on the same ground, though not under the orders of their Governments, occupied upon the inscriptions and sculptures, of which great numbers have been brought to view. The resu:ts of these explorations are of importance, as they throw much light on the ancient history of countries hitherto involved in darkness. At Behistun, midway between Babylon and Ecbatana, is an inscription cm in several large tablets on a rock at the base of a mountain extend. ing to four hundred lines, in the arrow-beaded char acter. This great work has been fully deciphered by Major Rawlinson, of the British Army, who has employed mach of his time during the last ten years in effecting it. Professors Grotefend, Lassen and Westergatird, have also been diligently employed on the same inscription, and have contributed much to its complete decipherment and grammatical translation. It is a memorial of the time of Darius Ilystaspis, who lived in the sixth century B. C. the purport of which, to the historian, most be of equal interest with the peculiarity of the language to the philologist. SCIENTIFIC. ELECTRIC INCANDESCENCE OF CFIARCOAL POINTS.* The most splendid phenomenon of this kind is the; combustion of eharco4l points.—Pointed pieces from gas retorts answer:hest:. If two such points are put in immediate contact with the wires of a galvanic battery and brought together, they will begin to burn with a dazzling white light. Profes sor Bunsen obtained a similar flame from a battery of four pairs of plates, its carbon surface contain ing:29 feet. The heat of this flame is so intense, that stout platinum wire, sapphire, quartz and lime are reduced to a liquid Coin,. No combustion, sin gular as it may appear, takes place in the charcoal Itself, which sustains only an exceedingly minute loss in weight, and becomes rather denser at the points. The phenomenon is attended with a still more vivid brightness if the charcoal points are placed in a vacuum, or in any gas which is not a supporter of combustion. Instead of two charcoal points only one need be used if the folloWing ar rangement is adopted: lay the piece of charcoal ott some quicksilver that is connected with one pole of the battery and complete the circuit from the other pole by a strip of platinum. Professor Peschell says that when he has used a piece of well burned coke in the manner described, he has obtained a light intolerable to the eyes. Micitoscoric WoamEns.—Upon examining the edge of a very sharp lancet wall a microscope, it will appear as broad as the back of a knife; rough, uneven, full ofnotches and furrows. An exceeding. 1:y small needle resembles a rough iron bar. But the sting of a bcc, seen through the same instru. mcnt, exhibits every where a. most beautiful polish, without the least flaw, blemish or inequality, and it ends in a point too fine to be discerned. The threads of a fine lawn seem coarser than the yarn with which ropes are made for anchors. But a silk worm's web appears perfectly smooth and shining, and every where equal. The smallest dot that can be made with a pen, appears irregular and uneven. But the little specks on the wings or bodies of in. sects aro found to be most accurately circular. The finest miniature paintings appear before the microscope rugged and uneven entirely void of beauty, either in the drawing or coloring. The most even and beautiful varnishes will be found to be mere roughness. But the 'nearer we examine the works of God, even in the least of his produc tions, the more sensible shall we be of his wisdom and power. In the numberless species of insects, what proportion, exactness, uniformity, and sym. metry do we perceive in all organs! what profusion of coloring! azure, green and vermillion, gold, sil ver, pears, rubies and diamonds; fringe and em broidery on their bodies, wings, head and every part! how high the finishing, how inimitable the polish we every where behold. THE SUN.—The centre of our system, that glori ous orb " kindled by God on the morn of creation to cheer the d.irk abyss and to pour his rundiance on surrounding worlds," is`BB6,ooo miles in diameter, and five hundred times larger than the aggregate of all other parts of the system, and moves in space with a velocity of 28,000 miles an hour. Mercury, the nearest planet, is distant from the sun, 37,000, 000 of miles ; its diameter is 3000 miles ; its hour ly motion in its orbit 95,000. Venus is 60,000,000 miles distant,aearly 8000 in diameter, and moves 75,000 per hour. The Earth is 95,000,000 miles distant, 8000 diameter, and moves 68,000 per hour. Mars is 145,000,000 miles distant, upwards of 4000 diameter, and moves 55,000 per hour. Jupiter is 492,000,000 miles distant, 90,000 diameter, and moves 30,000 per hour. Saturn is 900,000,000 distant, 80,000 diameter, and moves 22,000 per hour. Herschel or Uranus is 1,800,000,000 miles distant, 35,000 diameter, and moves 15,000 per hour. These distances being graduated by inutile nautical law, the new planet Neptune or Le Verrier is found to be 1,800,000,000 miles distant from Uranus, thus by its addition doubling the radius end consequently the diameter of the Solar system, and mahing them respectively 3,600,000,000 end 7,- 200,000,000 of miles. Now if we look at that sublime law, by which the two forces that appertain to these worlds arc exactly balanced, and find them all moving on in harmony in their orbits and still sustained, togeth. er with their sustaining center, as the whole solar systems moves on in its vast orbit around some far distant central sun, yet as a pars may of myriad system forming one great whole, to us inconceiva bly vast; it we find all controlled by immutable law, and still more, if we cannot believe these worlds to be barren wastes, but inhabited by 'mortal be ings, and that. this grand whole is prevailed by moral affinity, this subject. has sublimity which no seraph can measure. WONDERS OF NATURE.—Sir John Herschel, in an " Essay on the Puwer of the Telescope to penetrate into space," a quality distinct from the magnifying power, informs us that there arc stars so infinitely remote as to be situated at the distance of twelve millions of millions of millions of miles from our earth; so that light, which travels with a velocity of twelve millions of miles in a minute, would re quire two millions of years for its transit from those distant orbs to our own ; while the astronomer who should record the aspect or mutations of such a star, would be relating, not its history at the present day, hut that which took place two millions of years gone toy. And when we reflect that if it were possible to attain to those distant spheres, we should look, not on the limits, the blank wall of creation, but only into fresh fields of Creation, Power and Wisdom, we feel that our earth and all that it inherits is a mere speck in space, an atom amid the vast Uni- NCTSO. CARBONIC GAS.—The volume or bulk of carbonic acid gas expired by a healthy adult in twenty-four Lours, it Is said to amount to 1.5,000 cubic inches, containing about six ounces of solid carbon. This is at the rate of 137 pounds avoirdupois per annum; and taking the total population of the globe at seven hundred and sixty million, the amount of solid carbon or charcoal every year produced by the human race, exceeds 96,483,143 tuns I Adding to this all the carbon produced by the combustion of fires and gas•lights, by the decay of animal and vegetable matter, the exhaltations from springs, etc., there need be no marvel as to the source whence plants derive their solid or woody material,—which is principally , carbon,—seeing that their leaves arc especially fitted for the absorption of carbonic and acid gas from the surrounding almoisphers. THE' UTOPAS, A MALOGUE. Translated from the "Democratic Pacif gat" by the Editor crf the Cranotype. Hiero.—You have come in good time, dreamer. I was beginning to get tired of myself; you come along with your Utopias and that will restore my gaiety. Archimedes.—l have no Utopias, Sire, I predict the future, not after the manner of divines, by inspi_ ration which often deceives, but by calculation which never lies. 11.--1. do not deny your science to things present, my Prometheus, and I know how to appreciate your wool' ; but your scientific dreams and dis tractions are very amusing nevertheless. A.—When you were inquiring the quantity of gold which a jeweller had abstracted from your crown, you hardly suspected that the solution of . the problem was in a bath. H.—(laughing)—By Apollo and Mercury ? you call to my mind one of your mostumusing absendes- I seem to sec you still running stark naked through the palace crying Eureka Eureka It was so droll, a nude philosopher, that I had not strength to forbid the merriment of my, slaves, though they arc the worst race that lives beneath the sun. A.—They are bad because they icre slaves.— They arc lazy because they have no motive labor. This, tuo, is one of the things which will &lap- ME H..—Not so fast. Society without slaves is just as impossible as orators without voice, carts with out horses, vessels without air or sails, and lamps without oil or grease. Refore we cao get along without slaves, man will come to fly in the air. without getting drowned, as Icarus did. A.—You are quite right, sire, that all those im possibilities are of the same order. If twenty cen turies hence, your conversation could be recalled, one would laugh at your having set down as im possihiiities things so elementary. You speak of orators without voice. I am sure the day will come when the simple language of the fingers and gestures of a deal mute will cache as much enthusiasm as Demosthenes did among the Athe- MEM H.—Thal deaf mutes mny come to understand ono another, I admit ; butt° believe that they will ever arrive at eloquence is a foolish Utopia. You might as well say that cloth will some day be woven out of stones, or that a limb avid be awn- tatcd without giving iis owner any pain. A.—You may laugh, but the day will coma when, thanks to fire, paving stones will be trans formed into silken fabrics; when, thanks to soma unknown fluid, .surgical operations will be pcform ed, to the laughter of the subjects. H.—(Laughing.l-11a! ha! you abuse the per mission of serving me with stories. You soon will be telling me that from my palace in Syracuse 1 can hear all that is said in that of the tyrant of Agri gcntum, and converse with A.—l should only speak the truth if I did. Not only will people be able to converse from Syracuse to Agrigentum, but to Rome, Athens, to Babylon, to the ends of the world. It will take less time to converse at such distances than to write the same words upon our tables. H.—By rollnx !—(louzhing immoderately)—do you reckon then upon the lightning for your mes senger? A.—Precisely so. The lightning will one day become the carrier of letters. You have heard of Sulmoncous, who once imitated the thunder, in con. tempt of Jupiter? Well, men will do more; they will disarm Jupiter simply by bristling their houses with points. They will confine thunder in a tube and launch it at pleat-sure; the length of this tube will not exceed half that of your sword. To pro. ducc this thunder, which will bellow with the voice of .3iitnb, it will only be necessary for the firements of a plant or an old linen rag to imbibe a certain liquid, or it may be done by combining charcoal, sulphut: and saltpetre. IL—] ou are crazy, my poor philosopher, and I am sorry for it, for you have more science in your simple head than all the sages who speak our Greek language. A.—The day will come, your Majesty, when these copyists, who take several days to copy sixty four pages of writing, will give place to a machine that will do it in less than one second; the day when one will only have to sit down before one of our metallic mirrors to leave his portrait impressed Upon it ; what do I soy, a portrait 7 nay, the whole panorama which the eye can embrace at once will remain impressed uponthe mirrors. Carriages will pass through space without horses, with the speed of the north wind; vessels, of iron or wood, at pleasure will brave the most tempestuous waves without either sails or rowers; and people will pass through the air with Inoreease than they now cross the Straits of Sicily. A.—l.must stop you, my dear Archimedes, for fear some indiscreet person should overbear you and write down your conversation for the great amusement and of the rabble. All these Utopias will be realized when neighbor shall not be jealous ofneighbor, nor potter of potter, as Heisod says. A.—And that day, I beg your pardon, will come. A philosopher will be born in Gaul, in the district of Sequania, who will teach men the laws of so cial harmony. He also, will be treated as a Uto piust; but,like me, the future will avenge him. RELIGIOUS FESTIVITIES ON BOARD TUE Jtauc.— This being one of the Chinese festival days—an oc. casion of great importance to them—a curious and interesting ceremony took place this morning on board the Junk. That mate states that he was awoke this morning about half.past three, by an infernal (celestial ?) clangor of gongs, and wonder ful jabbering of Chinese lingo. On rising to inves tigate the disturbance, a curious spectacle was pre.' sented. On the open space befbre the god "Josh," seated high up in the stern of the vessel, mats were spread, entirely covering the floor. The Tikong, or boatswain, was standing on the right, at a re. spectral distance, vigorously beating an immense gong, which was responded to by the natives with smaller gongs on the left. Between these gong beaters, and in front of the "Josh," the devout natives were kneeling on the mats, each bearing in his hand a piece of Josh paper gilt in the centre, and containing a list of their sins and peccadilloes, which was afterwards consumed. Meantime their prayers to "Josh" were loud and
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