The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-08-08

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lowed by sundry wise jes,s and ssgacious
witticisms irom our southern brethren. We are
sralIfed TO find, by Professor Sillmsn's
Journal, that Sir Joseph Banks, whose opinion
would outweigh that OF a host Of sneerers, has
expressed, by letter, his entire confidence IN
the statements which have been made.
X. /. american.
Diving Bell. The first use OF The diving Bell
in Europe, was at Toledo, in Spain. IN the
year 1888, before the Emperor Charles v. aud
ten thousand spectators. The experiment was
made by two Greeks, who, taking very large
kettle suspended by ropes with the mouth
downwards, fixed planks in the middle Of its
concavity upon which they placed themselves,
and with lighted candle gradually descended
TO considerable depth. In 1888, William
Phipps, the son Of blacksmith ia America,
formed probe, for searching and unloading a
rich Spanish ship sunk on The coast Of Hispan-
lola. He represented his plan in such piau.
sioe manner, that Charles II. gave hun ash,p,
and furnished him with every thing necessity
for his undertaking; but being unsuccessful,
he returned in great poverty. He then en-
deavored to procure another vessel from James
IL. but failing in this, he got subscription
for the purpose, To which the Duke Of Aibe-
marie largely contributed. 10 1887, Phipps
set sail in ship Of two hundred tons burden
10 try his fortune once more, having previ
ously engaged TO divide the profits according
to the twenty shares OF which the subscription
consisted. A. first, all his labors proved fruit
less but at last, when he seemed almost 10
despair of success, he was fortunate enough to
bring up SO much treasure, that he returned 10
England with The value of two hundred thou.
sand pounds sterling. OF this sum be got
about twenty thousand, and the Duke ninety
thousand pounds. Phipps was kn,ghled by
the King, aud laid the foundation OF the for
tunes OF the present noble house Of Mugraye.
Louvel (,he assassin of the Duke DC Der.
ri) was shaving under proper precautions. A
gen d'arme who was in the room, said, " that
he knew very good razor, which took The
beard off with one stroke" "You are right"
replied Louvel, g and the best OF il is, the
beard will not grow again."
A farmer in Roxbury has raised, cut, and
cured on one acre and a quarter, this season,
SIC tons Of herds grass hay.
duck, while swimming in pond, occa.
sionalIy ovehowed by the sea, was caught by
one foot by an eel, three feet in length A
violent struggle snsued.-By great excrtions
the duck brought the eel to shore. The eel
was killed while holding on, by two boys,
who we're brought to the spot by the ducks
noise.
The Seventy -Four building at the Philadel-
pb'a Navy Yard, is now coppering. She will
be ready to launch The latter end Of this month.
Her name is not yet ascertained.
The store Of Mr.. Luther Ealon, of Edding-
ton, (Maine) was destroyed by fire on the
night OF the 20Ih ul,. together with the prin.
cipal par, OF the goods, papers, &c. contained
The editor of the Providence journal, in
speaking Of the improved state OF our manu.
factories, by the introduction of machinery,
says, " in The article OF nails, one man will
now turn out as much work in day, as tyo
hundred could fifty years ago."