The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-10-28 00:00:00

NOVEL ARITHMETICAL CALCULATION

The RUSSIAN method of proving multiplication, obtained
by an English gentleman, during his stay at Cronstadt, last
summer : EXAMPLE.
56743852 k 53623042 60 53 4424.

Take the-sumOFthe digits in the multiplicand, and divide
by 9, setting down the remainder. Procure, in the same
manner with the multiplier, setting down the remainder.
Then multiply these two remainders together, and add the
digits of the product togethe-, and divide the sum by 9,
setting down the remainder. Divide the sum of the digits in
the product by 9, and the remainder should agree with
remainder stated above, which proves the calculation:

EXEMPLIFICATION.
The sum of the digits in the Multiplicand is4o 4. by 9=4 remainder
The sum of the digits In the Multiplier is 16 4. by 9=4 remainder

Then 4kt 7=29, then 2k s=lo S- 9 ........... ...... —1 remainder,
The surn of the digits in the product is 37 remainder
(proof).

PRIZE ESSAY ON THE NATIONAL DEBT

The council of the Society of Arts have received the
following letter :
"To the Chairaaan of the Council of the Society of
Arts.

" Sir,—The financial position of this country, and the
enormous national debt, must always be subjects of great
commercial importance, and of grave interest to English-
men, even during the times of peace and prosperity.
Recent events of great importance, such as the influx of
gold from Australia and California, the drain of silver to
the East Indies and to China, the establishment of free

trade, and the vast extension of our commerce, have
materially altered the financial position, and will cause
a revision of the subject to be very useful and interest-,
ing. The important results that might be obtained by
the renewed application to the reducti )n of the debt of
the principle of compound accumulation, the essential
principle of the sinking fund, which has unfortunately
been abandoned, appear also to merit a further examina-
tion, and I am convinced that the interests of arts,
manufactures, and commerce would be promoted if the
society would encourage the investigation of these
subjects, and elicit the mature opinions of those who
have studied financial science. As, however, the funds
of the society are devoted to objects of great national
interest and importance, I shall have pleasure in offering
a prize for the discussion, should the council approve of
the proposal. That is to say—a prize of 200 guineas for
the best essay on the present financial position of the
,pountry, as affected by recent events, in which the
igiiteiple of a sinking fund should he discussed, and
also an investigation made as to the best mode of
gradually liquidating the national debt.—l am, sir, your
very humble servant, " HENRY JOHNSON.
" London, 39, Crotched-friars, Oct. 14, 1856."
The council have resolved that the best thanks of the
society be conveyed to Mr. Johnson for his very liberal
offer of a prize of 200 guineas, and that the same be
accepted on the conditions stated in Mr. Johnson's
letter.

THE G,,LD DISCOVERY IN TASMANIA,—The reports
fir,:m the gold fields are still encouraging. Mr. Clarke,
who, at the request of the authorities, inspected them,
was surprised at the promising indication of gold which
his short visit to Fingal showed him. Unfortunately
he stop at each field but one dav, and had, there-
fore, time but to make the most superficial observations.
Those observations will shortly be published ; and as Mr.
Clarke has expressed a wish to be allowed to present them
to the gold committee himself, I will not as yet detail the
various remarks which the reverend gentleman has made
from time to time during his visit. Gold has lately been
found in the neighbourhood of Deloraine, and twenty miles
from Launceston. The northern papers speak highly of the
prospect of a paying gold field being found in the locality
specified.---Australian and New Zealand Gazette,