The Baltimore Sun says—'A communication was made fromBuffalo to Baltimorelast week, and an answer was received at the telegraph office in the former city in abouttwo hours!'
By an act of the Oregon Legislature, wheat is made a lawful tender, in payment of debts or taxes, at the market prices, when delivered at such places as it is customary for the merchants to receive it.
It is reported that a gentleman congratulated Mr. Polk on having carried all his measures through Congress. Mr. Polk replied, 'Yes, I have carried all of them through, and am the weaker for the passage of each one of them.'
The Detroit Advertiser, in an article upon the nature of the ores in the Lake Superior region, remarks that Messrs. Robbins and Hubbard, of that city, have recently assayed a specimen of native copper from Lake Superior, and found in 12 ounces of copper, not only 1¾ ounces of pure silver, but several grains of gold!
The gross receipts of a late musical festival at Birmingham, amounted to $56,000. The excitement was caused by performing Mendleson's Messiah, which we learn is to be brought out in this city.
The steamboat Highland having got aground near Turkey Island, on the Mississippi, a large tree, three feet in diameter, fell directly across the boat, smashing the cabin, breaking the connecting pipe, and seriously injuring the pilot.
Mr. S. Lover, who recently arrived in this city, is said to be a good poet, a good painter, a good musician, full of wit, anecdotes and pleasantry—it is impossible to pass a dull evening in his company.
This celebrated composer was married at Bologna, on the 16th of August, after a courtship of 16 years, to Mademoiselle Olympe Bearrien of Paris. It may change the turn of his muse.
A poor Englishman, with a wife and family living in St. Louis, has had a fortune of $265,000 in money, and a family estate worth $115,000, recently left him by a deceased relative.
There are several mines of zinc in New Jersey, one of which is said to consist of a deposit 600 feet in length, and is thought to contain ore worth $2,000,000.
The Ohio State Journal says that there is a woman in Pickaway county, in that State, who weighs 46 pounds!
A southern paper advertises a runaway boy,thirty-six years of age!
By a recent telegraphic arrangement, the papers in Albany, Troy, Utica, Syracuse, Auburn, Rochester and Buffalo, are furnished with reports from New York twice a day,—at 2 and 8 P. M.
The Connecticut river is reported to be lower than it has been known within the remembrance of the oldest inhabitants. It is reduced to a mere brook.
A company formed in Boston has commenced operation on a copper mine in Cumberland, R. I. About 4000 lbs. of ore were taken out a few days since, and yields about 20 per cent.
The Hon. Louis McLane gets a salary of $5000 a year—nearly $100 per week—for holding the office of President of the Baltimore and Ohio Railway Company.
An imperialquarterof Indian corn, in 480 pounds, which is equal to eight bushels of sixty pounds each. We suppose some of our readers would like to know about that.
A solution of copper is an excellent wash for purifying sinks, and removing all unpleasant effluvia. Two or three applications will be effectual.
We are informed that the steamer Buffalo is making arrangements for the adoption of Barnum's Safety Apparatus.
Two iron steamboats, of 70 tons each, are to run between Philadelphia and Reading, Pa., carrying freight and passengers.
The editor of the Cincinnati Commercial says that he has a project for connecting the old and new worlds by telegraph.
Twelve hundred and thirty-four miles of magnetic telegraph are reported to be in actual operation in the United States.
An association of capitalists at Worcester county, Mass., are exploring a vein of copper in Greenfield.
'The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit.'
I ask not for the glittering wreath,Of India's sparkling diamonds rare,To deck my brow, while oft beneath,There throbs a heart with heaviest care.I ask not for the gilded chain,Of perishing and worthless gold,To clasp my neck, while oft in vainThe heart's best sympathies unfold.Oh! give me not the worthless dust,For which vain, anxious mortals toil,To treasure up where moth and rust,Doth soon corrupt the hoarded pile.I covet not the gay attire,In which vain beauty oft appears,Oft that which wondering crowds admire,Needeth far more their heartfelt tears.But there's an ornament I crave;—To grant, vain world, it is not thine,It floateth not o'er yon proud wave,Nor yields it me earth's richest mine.Oh, may it be a guileless heart!In heaven's own sight of priceless worth!Where nought corrupting e'er hath part,Pure, as the source which gave it birth.A spirit meek and pure within;May this, alone, my life adorn,Unsullied by the touch of sin,Though subject to the proud world's scorn.This ornament, O God of Love!'Tis Thine, and Thine alone, to give;Oh, may I its rich beauties prove,And in its full possession,live!Bethel, Conn., 1846.
I ask not for the glittering wreath,Of India's sparkling diamonds rare,To deck my brow, while oft beneath,There throbs a heart with heaviest care.
I ask not for the gilded chain,Of perishing and worthless gold,To clasp my neck, while oft in vainThe heart's best sympathies unfold.
Oh! give me not the worthless dust,For which vain, anxious mortals toil,To treasure up where moth and rust,Doth soon corrupt the hoarded pile.
I covet not the gay attire,In which vain beauty oft appears,Oft that which wondering crowds admire,Needeth far more their heartfelt tears.
But there's an ornament I crave;—To grant, vain world, it is not thine,It floateth not o'er yon proud wave,Nor yields it me earth's richest mine.
Oh, may it be a guileless heart!In heaven's own sight of priceless worth!Where nought corrupting e'er hath part,Pure, as the source which gave it birth.
A spirit meek and pure within;May this, alone, my life adorn,Unsullied by the touch of sin,Though subject to the proud world's scorn.
This ornament, O God of Love!'Tis Thine, and Thine alone, to give;Oh, may I its rich beauties prove,And in its full possession,live!
Bethel, Conn., 1846.
The gem of all others which enriches the coronet of woman's character, is unaffected piety. Nature may lavish much on her person; the enchantment of her countenance, the grace of her mind, the strength of her intellect; yet her loveliness is uncrowned till piety throws around the whole the sweetness and power of its charms. She then becomes unearthly in her desires and associations. The spell which bound her affections to the things below is broken, and she mounts on the silent wings of her fancy and hope to the habitation of God, where it is her delight to hold communion with the spirits that have been ransomed from the thraldom of Earth and wreathed with a garland of glory. Her beauty may throw a magical charm over many; princes and conquerors may bow with admiration at the shrine of her beauty and love; the sons of science may embalm her memory in the page of history; yet her piety must be her ornament, her pearl. Her name must be written in 'The Book of Life,' that when the mountains fade away, and every memento of earthly greatness is lost in the general wreck of nature, it may remain and swell the list of that mighty throng who have been clothed in the mantle of righteousness, and their voices attuned to the melody of Heaven. With such a treasure, every lofty gratification on earth may be purchased; friendship will be doubly sweet; and sorrow will lose their sting; and the character will possess a price far above rubies: life will be but a pleasant visit to earth, and entrance upon a joyful and perpetual home. And when the notes of the last trump shall be heard, and sleeping millions awake to judgment, its possessor shall be presented faultless before the throne of God with exceeding joy, and a crown of glory that shall never wear away. Such is piety. Like a tender flower, planted in the fertile soil of woman's heart, it grows, expanding in its foliage, and imparting its fragrance to all around, till transplanted, and set to bloom in perpetual vigor and unfading beauty, in the Paradise of God.
One of the most valuable beds of iron ore ever discovered has been found in the northeast corner of Dodge county, Wisconsin, and is said to yield ninety per cent. The deposit is 30 feet thick.
'Pursue your calling with diligence, and your creditor shall not interrupt you.'
Highly favorable as our opinion may be of the several excellent filters which have been introduced, we cannot avoid giving a preference to the one recently invented by Mr. S. H. Lewis. It consists of a very neat faucet, calculated to be attached to a common Croton or other hydrant, and in connection with the faucet key, is a circular chamber, three inches in diameter, within which is a circular filter consisting of a quantity of cotton cloth, flannel sponge or porous porcelain (which is preferred) compressed between two perforated metallic disks: and the faucet key is so constructed that by turning it to the right, the water is permitted to flow through the filter in one direction; but its course is reversed and it is made to flow in the opposite direction through the filter by turning the key to the left. The filter is thus cleansed at pleasure without any trouble, on examination of the filter or chamber. They may be seen at 28 1-2 Broadway.
For the thousands of families in this city whose houses are not furnished with the Croton water-pipes, a neat portable filter, recently invented by Mr. N. West, of this city, is as near perfection, in convenience and utility, as could be furnished for the low price ofone dollar, and should find a place in every house or shop where the Croton water is used. It consists of two conical pails, one within the other; the first is furnished with an efficient filter at the bottom thereof; and the other has a faucet, by which the water is drawn off as occasion requires. They may be found at 156 Delancy street.
This yoke is constructed with sliding blocks attached to the under side of the beam of the yoke, near each end, and each sliding block is attached to the beam by bolts which pass through mortises so that the blocks may be made to slide occasionally to the right or left. To these blocks are attached the bows, the position of which are adjusted by gauge screws; and by the sliding of the blocks, the distance of the oxen from each other may be regulated. The middle of the yoke is furnished with a draught staple or eye-bolt which is moveable and regulated by a hand screw at the top, whereby thepitchof the draught it regulated. Invented by David Chappel, and entered at the Patent Office, Sept. 3d.
Messrs. Hartshorn, Payson & Ring entered at the Patent Office, September 3d, an improved stove, in which they claim the combination of the common wood stove and cylinder coal stove, so that the coal may be burned alone, and the draught so arranged as at the same time to heat the wood stove with the same heat, and if wood alone should be burned, then the draught should be so managed and arranged as at the same time to heat the side radiators and coal cylinders. A minute description of this improvement, is not, in this place, essential.
We have never been able to understand the reason why iron has so long been neglected as a covering for roofs, but are gratified to learn that Mr. Wm. Beach, of Troy, N. Y., has invented and patented a mode of using cast iron plates for covering roofs. They are about one foot square, and are made to fit one into another, so as to render the roof water tight, by applying white lead to the joints. It can be afforded at 16 cents the square foot, and probably may be so far improved as to cost no more than slate, and will be much more permanent and safe. We see no difficulty in dispensing with white lead, however, and making the seams tight without it.
This improvement was entered Sept. 5th, by John F. Rogers. What he claims is the combination of the balance beam with the centre beam, by means of the recesses in the centre beam, spring plates, having tubes thereon on which the springs rest, and attached to the beam by bolts, by which a compact and secure connection is formed, while all the necessary flexibility is preserved.
The American Institute appears emblematical of the genius of our countrymen—unsubdued even by conflagration, and looking upon obstacles as incentives to redoubled effort. Contrast the smoking ruins of Niblo's with Castle Garden, having its whole amphitheatre enriched with a tastefully arranged collection of the most varied products of American arts and manufactures, and behold an evidence that we even inherit perseverance, enterprize and skill. We here see the embodiment of the excellence of greatness of our country—an unerring index of our future advance—if it be not that the signs of the times indicate that madness in our rulers which precedes and forebodes heaven's wrath. But it cannot, it must not be, that the blood oflaborshall cry from the ground of America. It must be sheathed, it must be protected. Protection is nature's first law. Expose the bleating flocks to the hungry beasts of the forest; cut the wings and pluck the feathers of her whom nature teaches to protect her brood from cold and rain; say to the mother to leave her babe unprotected and in free competition with all the elements of destruction, sooner than refuse the protection of our Government to the hitherto flourishing American manufactures.
Castle Garden, or more correctly Castle Clinton, is at the southern extremity of our city. It was built for a fort—is of a circular form, of solid mason work, surrounded by the waters of the bay—connected to that ornament of the city, the Battery, by a long bridge. This bridge the managers have covered with a roof, and thus secured a very eligible and spacious apartment for the exhibition of carriages, sleighs, carts, farming implements and machinery in great variety. Thence the ingress suddenly opens into view the whole interior, creating the most lively and pleasing emotions.
In the columns of the Scientific American we shall endeavor to give those details that will, we trust, interest our readers and promote the cause of American improvements.
After leaving the bridge, the passage way to the interior of the Castle is ornamented on both sides with a pleasing display of Baths—the immersion bath made of tin and of iron, and these combined with the showering apparatus. The shower baths are variously constructed, and some of them are of finished workmanship and costly material. Stebbin's Patent Furniture shower Bath presents itself first in the form of a very convenient washstand, with all its out fit; it is next easily converted into a work stand; with equal dispatch it assumes the form of a shower bath, furnished with every requisite. We regard this as an ingenious piece of furniture, that will greatly increase the use of the shower-bath, and thus add to the health of the community.
Much ingenuity has been expended in combining the Sofa and Bedstead. The first that attracted our attention was that manufactured by Mr. John A. Robson, 30th st. and 8th Avenue. It is on the double cone spring, so constructed that using it as a bed does not affect the cushion, and vice versa. The matrass or bed is 4 by 6 feet, without an intervening bar. It is exceedingly simple, of admirable contrivance, and of moderate price.
The display of American Cutlery is rich, affording a most gratifying evidence of the progress of the useful arts among us. Our neighbors, J. C. Nixon & Sons, in the Sun Buildings, feel quite confident that they will, as usual, carry off the premiums, particularly for their much celebrated tailor's shears. In the manufacture of engravers' tools; they challenge not only all America, but the world itself.—They manufacture for customers, from whom their articles have derived their just and solid reputation.
(To be Continued.)
We have recently seen a model of a new Steam Printing Press, the invention of Mr. Wm. W. Marston, a young and ingenious mechanic of this city. A mass of other matters prevents our giving a description at present; we shall probably procure an engraving, however, and publish a full description in a few days.
(Continued from No. 2.)
Sec.26. The law requires that the inventor shall deliver a model of his invention or improvement when the same admits of a model. The model should he neatly made, and as small as a distinct representation of the machine or improvement, and its characteristic properties, will admit; the name of the inventor should be printed or engraved upon, or fixed to it, in a durable manner. Models forwarded without a name, cannot be entered on record, and therefore liable to be lost or mislaid.
Sec.27. When the invention is of 'a composition of matter,' the law requires that the application be accompanied with specimens of ingredients, and of the composition of matter, sufficient in quantity for the purpose of experiment.
Sec.28. The third sec. of the act of March 3, 1837, provides:
'Sec.3. And be it further enacted, That whenever it shall appear to the Commissioner that any patent was destroyed by the burning of the Patent Office building on the aforesaid fifteenth day of December, or was otherwise lost prior thereto, it shall be his duty, on application therefor by the patentee, or other persons interested therein, to issue a new patent for the same invention or discovery, bearing the date of the original patent, with his certificate thereon, that it was made and issued pursuant to the provisions of the third section of this act; and shall enter the same of record; Provided, however, That before such patent shall be issued, the applicant therefor shall deposit in the Patent Office a duplicate, as near as may be, of the original model, drawings, and description, with specification of the invention or discovery, verified by oath, as it shall be required by the Commissioner; and such patent and copies of such drawings and descriptions, duly certified, shall be admissible as evidence in any judicial court of the United States, and shall protect the rights of the patentee, his administrators, heirs, and assigns, to the extent only in which they would have been protected by the original patent and specification.'
(Act of 1836, Section, 7.)
Sec.29. 'That on the filing of any such application (consisting of petition, specification, model, and drawings, or specimens,) and the payment of the duty hereinafter provided, the Commissioner shall make, or cause to be made, an examination, of the alleged new invention or discovery; and if, on any such examination, it shall not appear to the Commissioner that the same had been invented or discovered by any other person in this country prior to the alleged invention or discovery thereof by the applicant, or that it had been patented or described in any printed publication in this or any foreign country, or had been in public use or on sale, with the applicant's consent or allowance, prior to the application, if the Commissioner shall deem it to be sufficiently useful and important, it shall be his duty to issue a patent therefor. But whenever on such examination it shall appear to the Commissioner that the applicant was not the original and first inventor or discoverer thereof, or that any part of that which is claimed as new had before been invented or discovered or patented, or described in any printed publication in this or any foreign country as aforesaid, or that the description is defective and insufficient, he shall notify the applicant thereof, giving him briefly such information and references as may be useful in judging of the propriety of renewing his application, or of altering his specification to embrace only that part of the invention or discovery which is new. In every such case, if the applicant shall elect to withdraw his application, relinquishing his claim to the model, he shall be entitled to receive back twenty dollars, part of the duty required by this act, on filing a notice in writing of such election in the Patent Office; a copy of which, certified by the Commissioner, shall be a sufficient warrant to the Treasurer for paying back to the said applicant the said sum of twenty dollars. But if the applicant, in such case, shall persist in his claim for a patent, with or without any alteration his specification, he shall be required to make oath or affirmation anew, in manner as aforesaid; and if specification and claim shall not have been so modified as, in the opinion of the Commissioner, shall entitle the applicant to a patent, he may appeal to the Chief Justice of the United States Court for the District of Columbia, who may affirm or reverse the decision of the Commissioner of Patents, in whole or in part, and may order a patent to issue; or he may have remedy against the decision of the Commissioner of Patents, or the decision of the Chief Justice of the United States Court for the District of Columbia, by filing a bill in equity in any of the United States Courts having jurisdiction, as hereinafter explained.
(To be continued.)
'Eye hath not seen; nor ear heard; neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for those that love Him.'—1 Cor. ii: 9. But it is said in the words following, that God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit. In this, we are not to understand, that the excellent things spoken of, arecommunicatedto men; but that by the aid of the divine Spirit they are enabled to receive such sublime and brilliant ideas of the glorious things which are prepared for them, that they are filled with sublime and unspeakable joy, though they find it utterly impracticable to describe these things to another, so as to be understood. It is like the new name which no man can know, but him to whom it is given: and although, in the solicitude of those who have been favored with a view of these things, to represent them to others, the most full and expressive forms of language have been put in requisition, it has in every instance failed to convey the least correct idea on the subject: because no man can see, or in anywise appreciate the excellence of these things, without the aid of the Spirit of Truth. But to those who obtain such enlightened views—and every man may, or might, obtain them,—the glorious things prepared are as the 'pearl of great price,' which, when a man hath found, he is ready to sacrifice all things else,—riches, honors, friends, pleasures, reputation in the world, or even life itself,—to obtain it. Neither Adam nor Eve, in their sinless, paradisaical state, could have had any correct idea of such delectable and glorious excellence of blessings as are prepared for these who become 'joint heirs of the Son of God,' through the blood of a crucified Saviour: for, had they been capable of seeing or imagining such things, they would never have fallen. There can be no question but that the glorious consolation of the faithful and obedient believers, will incomparably, not to say infinitely, excel that of the primitive state of man, or anything which could have been by man attained, if the blessedSonhad not suffered. Let the most brilliant and soaring imagination exert its most strenuous and happy efforts in conceiving, arranging and representing to itself the highest possible state of bliss and glory, and it will fall as far short of the reality of the immortal state of the glorified saints,—the salvation purchased by the suffering of Christ,—as a mere shadow of the most beautiful picture comes short of the rich coloring of the original. And this fact is well known to those who have had the beauties of the 'world to come' revealed to them by the divine Spirit. These statements may appear strange to those who are accustomed to look upon the popularreverend clergy, fashionable church members and wealthy deacons, as choice specimens of the saints of the Lord. The true, and most favored saints, are generally found among those who are subject to poverty and tribulation, in this world. But these blessings of the gospel are free for all who will conform to the requisitions plainly expressed by our Savior, and recorded by the evangelist, and practicable by all who are willing to forsake all things else, for the sake of this great and everlasting salvation.
A cotton manufacturer in New-Haven lost his operatives, last week, by attempting to reduce their wages.
Color Printing Machine
Introduction.—There have appeared, in modern times, but few machines, to which more importance apparently attaches, than to the one here presented. It is well known that the best paper hangings, or room-papers command from $1 to $1,50 per piece, of eight yards, while most of those of American manufacture are sold for 25 to 50 cents per piece; and this difference is occasioned by the difficulty and extra labor of applying a great variety of different colors. But by means of this machine, seven, twelve, or even twenty different colors, may be accurately applied by one operation, and with less labor than is required to print with a single color, by the ordinary method; and thus the manufacturer will be enabled to sell, for 50 cents, such patterns as ordinarily cost a dollar or more, to either import or manufacture them.
Explanation.—The first row of gear wheels, A B, are attached to the ends of a row of cylinders, each cylinder being 30 inches long, and 3 inches in diameter. These cylinders support a broad, endless apron or belt, which passes over the whole series, and supports the strip of paper as it passes through the machine to receive the colors. The second series of wheels, C D, are attached to cylinders of the same dimensions of those in the first row, and are connected to each other by intervening pinions, whereby a uniform velocity is maintained through the whole series. The peripheries of this row of cylinders are cut in figures, according to the design of the pattern to be worked. The figures are left prominent, so as to come in contact with the paper upon the apron, as the cylinder revolves; the surface between the figures, being cut away to the depth of one eighth of an inch. Each of these printing cylinders contains sections of the figures to be printed, and is calculated to work a different color from the others; and the sections of figures on each cylinder are calculated to match those of the others, so as to complete the entire figure in all its colors on the paper. The entire machine is put in operation by a band, passing over the band-wheel, H. The third row of cylinders, E F, are distributing cylinders, which are put in motion by mere contact with the series below, and receives the several colors from the small cylinders in the upper rows, and distributes the same upon the prominent figures of the printing cylinders. The fourth series, I J, are called the receiving cylinders, because they receive the colors from the hoppers or reservoirs, M N, and impart them to the series below. The cylinders of the third and fourth rows, are covered with cloth, and the bottom of each hopper is so nicely fitted to its respective cylinder, that but a small quantity of each color (which passes through an aperture at the bottom of the hopper) adheres to the cloth periphery of the cylinder. The colors ordinarily used consist of various pigments, ground and mixed in water, with a solution of glue. The principles of this mode of color printing have been satisfactorily tested, though the entire machine has not yet been constructed: and any person who may be disposed to construct and enjoy the exclusive use of this invention, may have the most favorable terms.
Messrs. Culbertson, McMillen & Co. of Cincinnati, have recently put in successful operation, a new machine, a description of which is given in a Cincinnati paper, as follows:
'A frame of fourteen moulds, one brick to each is drawn by the power of steam between two press rollers, the lower one of which enables the frame to support the pressure of the upper roller, and being run through backwards and forwards equalizes the pressure over the entire face of the brick. These, after undergoing in this mode a pressure of nearly one hundred tons to each brick, a pressure which covers clay, apparently perfectly dry, with a coat of glossy moisture, are raised above the surface of the mould by parallel levers, and are then delivered over to a bench or table by self-acting machinery, whence they are taken in barrows to the stacker at the kiln.
'The dry clay is shoveled into a hopper, and if more of the material is pressed into a mould than serves to make a brick, a knife which ranges with the surface of the mould, shaves off the surplus.
'Two hands shoveling, two more taking off, and one at the barrow, constitute a gang of five persons who turn out from 30,000 to 35,000 per day of ten hours. As brick makers' days are from sun to sun, say twelve working hours per day, during the season, from 46 to 50,000 bricks, per day, may be made by a single machine. This is, however, by no means the most important feature in the invention.
'In the ordinary mode of making bricks, the manufacturer cannot begin operations for the season, until the spring has so far advanced that working in wet clay will no longer chill his moulders' hands. On the same account, he loses also morning hours, until the advance of summer enables his hands to put in the whole period of daylight. He loses, also, sometimes days together—from the entire stoppage of his operations in the rainy weather, which forbids the bricks being put out to dry. In making press brick, all these difficulties are obviated. As a theory, operations in this mode can go on throughout the entire winter, frost never extending into solid clay; but as a practical business, it can be conveniently carried on two months earlier and one month later than in the ordinary mode. Pressed brick, made by these machines, are also stronger than their competitive article, the last of equal hardness in burning, always giving way when struck by the pressed bricks, as I have witnessed. Indeed, it cannot be otherwise, the one being porous and the other as compact as the enormous pressure employed can make it.
'The machine, it must be apparent, offers peculiar advantages in turning out brick without occupying the ordinary brick yard space necessary for spreading wet brick out to dry. It affords great economy in time, owing to its operations being independent of frost or rains. To every new and thriving place commencing the making of bricks, it dispenses with the necessity of bringing skilful workmen from other places—in short, it enables every man to be his own brick-maker. Under these considerations, I anticipate an extensive sale of these machines, especially for places at a distance.'
We are informed that a large mill for sawing marble is in course of erection at Brandon, Vt. The marble in that vicinity is principally of a beautiful white, and of a fine texture, though not very hard.
It is reported that locks for elevating railroad trains, from one level to another, are coming into successful use in France. It appears to us to be much behind the age, since, by certain American inventions, an ordinary train may be elevated 100 feet in five minutes, by the engine alone.
The Vertical Propeller
We have alluded to this subject in a former number, and now present one of the several plans which have been introduced within the present year, although we are not fully authorised to give the name of the inventor of this particular plan. We have preferred to represent the paddles and crank unconnected with an apparent vessel or section thereof, but must require the reader to suppose that the line A B is the level of the railing of the boat, and that the crank-shaft E projects from the side, while the crank-pivot governs the motion of the walking bar D E, and with it the paddles, which are supposed to be just now dipping in the surface of the water. It will be understood that the motion of the walking bar being circular, and that of the heads of the paddles being vertical and nearly rectilinear, the motion of the blades of the paddles must be elliptical, inclining to the horizontal; and that the position of the paddles is kept so nearly vertical that they will meet with less resistance in entering or leaving the water than those of a common paddle wheel, while the atmospheric resistance to be encountered thereby is much less. There appears no reasonable doubt that this plan might be made to succeed well on a larger scale, though it is very doubtful whether any of the steamboat proprietors can be persuaded to adopt it until it has been more thoroughly tested by experiment.
A late number of an astronomical journal published at Altona, near Hamburg, contains a long article by Dr. Maedler, director of the Dorpat Observatory, Russia, well known to the astronomical world, in which he announces the extraordinary discovery of thegrand central star or sun, about which the universe of stars is revolving, our own sun and system among the rest.
This discovery, the result of many years of incessant toil and research, has been deduced by a train of reasoning and an examination of facts scarcely to be surpassed in the annals of science.
He announces his discovery in the following language: 'I therefore pronounce the Pleiades to be the central group of that mass of fixed stars limited by the stratum composing the Milky Way and Alcyene as the individual star of this group, which, among all others, combines the greatest probability of being the true Central Sun.'
By a train of reasoning, which I shall not attempt to explain, he finds the probable parallax of this great central star to be six thousandths of one second of arc, and its distance to be 34 millions of times the distance of the sun, or so remote that light, with a velocity of 12 millions of miles per minute, requires a period of 537 years to pass fromthe great centreto our sun.
As a first rough approximation, he deduces the period of the revolution of our sun, with all its train of planets, satellites and comets, about the grand centre, to beeighteen millions two hundred thousand years.
The 'Ocean Steam Company,' which has the patronage of the United States Government to the amount of $400,000 per annum, are getting on rapidly with the first steamship of their line. She is to be completed and commence running on the first of March next.
Scientific American
It is dangerous for a man of superior ability to find himself thrown upon the world without some regular employment. The restlessness inherent in genius, being thus undirected by any permanent influence, frames for itself occupations out of accidents. Moral integrity sometimes falls a prey to the want of a fixed pursuit, and the man who receives his direction in active life from the fortuitous impulse of circumstances, will be very apt to receive his principles likewise from chance. Genius, under such guidance, attains no noble ends, but resembles rather a copious spring conveyed in a falling aqueduct, where the waters continually escape through the frequent crevices, and waste themselves ineffectually on their passage. The law of nature is here, as elsewhere, binding, and no powerful results ever ensue from the trivial exercise of high endowments. The finest mind, when thus destitute of a fixed purpose, passes away without leaving permanent traces of its existence; losing its energy by turning aside from its course, it becomes as harmless and inefficient as the lightning, which, of itself irresistible, may yet be rendered powerless by a slight conductor.