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.
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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
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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
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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.
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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