The Express.
London, England, 1868-05-07 00:00:00

ABYSSINIAN DESPATCHES.

A despatch WAS received by the Secretary of
State for India, on the 4th inst., from Sir Robert Napier,
enclosing reports on the several departments working
under the Quartermaster• General's department of the
Abyssinian field force, together with a distribution map,
showing the disposition on April 1 of the several corps in
Abpsinia. These reports (which were issued from the
India-office this morning) are, of course, of but little in.
tenet now the result of the expedition is known.

A general meeting of the trade department of
the Social Science Association was held last evening at
the Association Rooms, Adam-street, Ailelphi, for the
purpose of hearing a paper read by Mr. A. Briggs, of the
Whitwood Collienes, akefield, on the advantages of the
system of industrial partnership, as practised in those
oollieries. Professor Fawcett, M.P., occupied the chair,
and amongst the numerous visitors present were Mr. Roe-
buck, M.P.; Mr. W. Morrison, M.P., Mr. F. Harrison,
Mr. G. Hastings, Messrs. Macdonald and Pickard, the
president and treasurer of the Miners' Union, Mr. Guilo,
secretary of the Ironfounders' Union, Mr. Newton, mana-
ger of the Gilder,' Co-operative Society, and a large num-
ber of gentlemen interested in the eapital and labour
question.

SOUTH LONDON WORKING MEN'S COLLIGE.-
-
On Monday Dr. Cobbold, F.R.S., F.L.S., he., gave a
lecture on the structure and development of ferns, for the
purpose of inaugurating a botany class at the college. The
class will meet for the first time on Wednesday next. On
Monday next, the 11th inn., Mr. Moamar. D. Conway will
deliver a lecture on "The coeducation of men and
women." On this occasion the Principal of the College,
Professor Huxley, F.R.S., do., will take the chair.
SOUTH KENAINGTON MORZUM.—ViIIitOII during
the week ending May 2 :—On Monday, Tuesday, and
Saturday, free, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., 9,215 ; on Wed-
needay Thursday, and Friday, admission 6d., from 10
a.m. till 6 p.m., 2,232 ; National Portrait Exhibition by
payment, 2,930 ; total, 14,397 ; average of corresponding
week in former years, 12,096 ; total from the opening of
the museum, 3.3:4,472.
A SINGULAR DiguOV CRY. —Sheep draw from the
land on which they graze a considerable quantity of
potash much of which is ultimately excreted from the
skin with the sweat. It was pointed out by Chevreul that
this peculiar potash compound ("saint") forma no less than
one-third of the weight of raw merino wool ; while, of
ordinary wools, it constitutes about 15 per cent, of the
weight of the fresh fleece. As the " suint" may be extracted
by mere immersion in cold water, it is easy for the wool
manufacturers to produce more or less concentrated solu-
tions from which the potash may be recovered by appro-
priate treatment. The development of the new industry is
principally due to MM. Maumene and B.ogelet, and their
process is probably in operation at most of the greet
seats of the wool manufacture in France. The plan adopted
by these gentlemen is a very simple one. They evapo-
rate the solutions which are sent to them until a
perfectly dry and somewhat charred residue has been
obtained. This is planed in retorts and distilled, very
much in the same manner that coal is distilled at
gas-works ; and the result is that, while much
gas is evolved, which can be used for illuminating the
factory, and much ammonia is expelled, which can be
collected and utilised in many ways, there remain; •
residue, which chiefly consists of carbonate, sulphate, and
chloride of potassium. These three salts are separated
by the usual method, and then pan into commerce.
Curiously enough, they are remarkably free from soda.
The wool manufacturers of Rheims, Elbmuf, and Four-
miss annually wash the fleeces of 6,750,000 sheep ; and the
amount of potash, reamed as carbonate, which these
fleeces would yield, if all subjected to the new pr,
represearepresentsa value of 80,000 f. But MM. lleamen6e=
Regent calculate that there are seven times as many
sheep in France as are included in the above eidanale ;
and this will enable us to judge of the enonnens leas in
constituents which the soil of en agricultural
has to Bator. The practical and very obvious
moral supplied by these facts dose not yet appear to have
penetrated the mind of the British fiouter.—Quaelertg
row, new number.

~A
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La dnata-bBL —f Advertisement.