Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-11-13

| We understand, from scientific friend. that two
spots arc visible the disc OF the sun, ono of
which is so large that il can be by the naked
oyc The state of phere IL particularly ia
vorablc for their observation AFTER the rising,
lust before tho setting of the These spots
supposed to 10 openings through the luminous mat.
ter that surrounds the body Of the sun, which
dcrs its dark surface visible in the place that us
| uncovered: and the present phenomenon has cp-
pcarances which confirm the theory. IL is compu.
| ted that the diameter of the spot is over 30 900
miles, or three times that Of the carths diameter.
Maryland Republican.
This is really, (says the Baltimore Gaxc,tc,) the
| first old fashioned Indian Summer which we have
fclt for several seasons, and the delightful mild
ness of the atmosphere, when the sun is in his
meridian spcndor, imparts a cheering influence to
overy thing around, and warns of the gratitude
we. owe to that beneiicent Being W no has kindly
provided Season, tho recollection OF which is
calculated to mitigate the rgor of that which is
follow.
| The Pleasure of Amusement compared Nth the
| Pleasure from Industry in our CaiLngs.--How is
that man deceived who thinks TO maintain
slant tenure of pleasure by continued pursuit of
sports and recreationr. The most vOluptuou and
loose person breathing, were he but tied follow his
hawks and his hounds, his dice and his courtships,
every day, would find it tho greatest torment that
could befal him; he wodld fly to the mines and the
galleys for his recreato and to the spade and the
mattock for diversion from tho miscry of a con-
tinual unremitted pleasure. But, on the contrary.
the providence of God has ordered the course of
things that there is no action, tho usefulness of
which has made IT the matter of duty and ofprofcss-
ion. bnt man may lead the continual pursuit of it
without loathing and safety. The shop and
trade that employs man in his youth, employs him
also in his age. Every morning he rises fresh his
hammer and anvil; he passes The day singing; GUS
tom has naturaliZed his labor to him; his shop liz
his element, and he cannot, with any enjoy nient
| of himself, live out of it. Johnson thought the
happiest life that of man of business, with
some literary pursuit for amusement: and that, in
general. no one could he vrtuous happy, that
was not completely employed "Be not solitary,
be not idle" is the conclusion of Burton's Anato
my of Melancholy"
| From the Gennessee Farmer.
Mr. Editor.--Tho Rev. Samuel Deane, ID. d.
Vice President of Bowdoin College, and Fellow of
the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, has
given us in his New England Farmer or Geurgi.
cal Dictionary, long article concerning the food
| OF plants Truly, ] apprehend that Mr.. Deane
understood Theology better than A agriculture. The
ignorance Displaced this subject would seem in
| excusnble in one who sets up for teacher. He
tells us that plants only receive their food in
liquid states that as most plants contain "air water
salts and oils" their food must necessarily be of
| the same nature.
| lwould ask Mr.. Deane, how it comes the Cicuta
contains poisonous juice, while tho cabbage,
growing beside it. is perfectly Innocent Why a
crab apple stock when grated, will produce the
the peach' Why the msletoc grow on the oak, 90
feet or more from the sart!2 Questions of a SINH
lar nature might be asked to infnity; the natural
inference s. that the food of plants is principally
drawn from the atmdsphere-and that TN oblcd is
differently modified by the digestive org Ave the
plant. We may analize the earth and ain. much
as we please, and find nothing in them either of air,
water, salts oil, and nothing else pnrtaking of
the nature of the ccuta cabbage. Yours &c.
Sept. H. 1882. II. NJ W.
| DIAMOND Null AT AMsrEnpAM-The diamond
mill is one of the most interesting objects in Am
sterdam. 1t is the property of i Jew, whose son,
clever lad, obligingly conducted us through the
rooms, and explained the various parts Of the pro-
cess of polishing diamonds. Four horses turn
wheel, setting IN motion number of smaller
wheels in the room above, whose cogs acting on
circular metal plates, keep them in continued re-
'oiution' fuiveIized diamond is placed on these;
and the stone to be polished, fastened the ind of
| a piece of wood by means of an amalgam of zinc
and quicksilver, is submitted to the friction of the
adamantine PARTICLES. This is the only mode of
acung on diamond, which can be ground, and
even cut, ny PARTICLES of the substance. In
tho latter operation, diamond dust is fixed on a
metal wire that is moved rapidly backwards and
forwards over the stone to be cut Y OH are pro-
badly aware of the distinction between a rose d.
amond and brilliant. The one is entire and set
vertically, the other is divided and set horizontaly
The largest diaWonds reserved for roses which
| always rise IN the centre to ANGLE the smaller
are used as briillants, and have fiat octagon on
the upper surface.-[ Eitotrs North of Europe.
nary usages of life, social, commercial and martial
may be traced up to the remotest antiquity. Who
would suppose that sale by auction, and the red
flag. which denote tho loca iy of him of the ham.
Her could by the stretch of fancy be assirniIated
with the Roman General or Imperator, welding
bs baton or truncheonj the symbol, in all ages OF
military commando And yet they are the Same,
as tar as their functions with respect sales are
concerRcd. The system of sale by auction origi-
mated with the Romans, who sold, their spells in
war under speaT fixed in front of the Generals
tent. The spear decorated with, or in the inn,
| mediate vicinity of tho crimson standard, which
indicated the tent residence Of the supreme
commander, in the centre OF his camp.
Sir Walter Scott meeting an Irish beggar Ia the
street, who importuned him for sx.pencc, tho
Great Unknown not having one, gave him sbil-
hng' adding with smile, ''mind, now, sir you
owe me sixPeDce." "Ocb, sure enough" said the
beggar, land God grant you may live till pay
| YOU"