Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-11-15

I.
and many Of those that arc of an irregular shape,
found adherng to the inner part Of the she'll; be-
ing fiat on that side which is attached to 1t. One
can Judge with some probability from the form Ut
the she'll, whether it contains any pearl, though
the largest she'll does not contain the greatest
number, or the largest pearls; sometimes between
one and two hundred have been found in shell;
and it frequently happens that three or tour nun
dred shells will be opened without single pearl
being obtained. After being extracted and per.
fectly cleaned, they are rounded and polished
with powder made Of the pearls themselves
They are next sorted into classes, according to
their size, by being passed through brass sIeves,
full of holes, and then drilled and strung. The
different classes of them sent to various mar
kets, according to the demand Tor them, and the
several existing fashions then prevalent; the lars
est meet with ready sale in many parts oi In
dia; those of smaller size. are best adapted Tor
the European market. Their color Is usually
beautiful silvcry white; but they are found with
variety of hues. transparent, seml-transpareht,
opaque, brown, aud even black.
The principal situations in America where
pearls arc found are the arm OF the sea between
the islands of Cubagna, and Coche, and the Coasf
of Cumana; the mouth Of the Rio de la Hacha;
the Gulph of Panama. and the eastern coast OF
lea, pearls were highly valued by the natives; and
the Spaniards on their conquest Of the country,
found large quantities of them in different quar-
ters. Atan early period the fisheries we're very
productive; in 1857, COZ lbs. Of pearls were
imported into Seville, among which there were
some of great beauty for Philip the end. The
same monarch had one from the fishing OF Mar
eueaiti which weighed $50 carats, and was vaiu-
ed at s. $4,000. The only places IN South Anne
RIGA wnere there are fishing establishments, are,
we apprehend, the Guiphs of Panama and Cali
fornia: and the number of pearls which they pro-
duced has very materially decreased.
Pearls are of calcareous nature, and consist
of number of coats or layers, regularly spread
over one another, like the coats Of an onion
They seem to be the effect Of disease, like bezoars
and other stones found in different animals. and
are formed by an extravasation of glut!nous
iuce, either within the body, or on the surface
of the animal. 1t is probable that such extravasa-
tons may be caused by the admission ct sand. aud
other heterogeneous bodies along with the food.
which the animal lin order to prevent the dISa-
greeabe effects of friction( with Its gutln-
ou- matter: which. as II is successfully secret
ed, forms MANY regular lGmeltr. Accordingly.
IN the centre of the pearl, there is often found
small particle of sand. other extraneous matter.
which it may not be improper to consider as the
nucleus or primary cause of its formation. Ii Ire
ouenty happens that when the first coat of pearl
is separated. worthless impure pearl is frequent
ly found below; and sometimes the lamellSe are
clear and impure by turns. This view OF the for
nation Of the pearl is rendered still more probable
from the manner in which the Chinese are said TO
force the oysters to produce pearls. In the begin.
ming of summer, when the oysters rise to the sur
face of the water and open their shells five six
beads made of mother-of-pearl are strung on a
thread and thrown INTO each of them; and at the
end of the year. when the oysters are drawn up
and opened, the beads are found, covered with a
peary crust, so as to have perfect resemblance
TO real pearls Vide Percival's .Hccouaf Of Cey-
lon; .4siatic Researches vol. 5, and Humbnldt's
Political Essay on Nev Span, vols. and 8.
United States Baak.-A late decision in the
West. that drafts from the Cashier OF Branch
of the United States Bank on the motherbank or
another. branch, we're illegal, attracted consIde-
rabe attention, and caused some uneasiness, we
believe, in the commercial community. But at
recent session of the United States Circuit Court
at Philadel phia Judges Baldwin and Hopkinson
presiding, where the point was made IN favor OF
a man named Shelmire, indicted for passing a
forged draft, purportng to be drawn by the Cash
States Bank, Judge Baldwin delivered an able
and conclusive opinion. establishing the legality
of such drafts. and the liability of persons to be
punished for forging them.-Bah Chron.
General Santander. formerly Vice President,
and for several years acting President of the Re-
public of Colombia, has arrived at this port from
IIavre. Gen. S. is returning to his own country.
from whence he was banished by the iutrisues of
Bolivar. While Ssntander was at the head of
affairs, Colombia was tranquil and prosperous.
He was a sincere patriot-an able and honest
maa-and Of course his presence was not agree
able to Bolivar. We rejoice that he has taken
the United States in his route homeward.
heW York Com
Narshalrs Lifeof Washington is, we be-
lieve, nearly two years since an intimation was
given out that new edition of Marshall's Life of
the Father of his Country, was in preparation,
by the venerable author himself. 1t is now stat
ed that the work, much of which has been re-
,criuen, and the inaccuracies of the whole care
fully corrected, is about being put to press by
Carey g. Lea. The first volume Of the original
,la aorlx toto ~ tbor nl,