Du Buque visitor. [volume] (Dubuque, Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1836-1837, 1837-01-11

To the same awful visitation may
'e attributed the combination of strata
f lava with intervening strata Of earth,
in Bristed's Travels as ha-
ling been discovered near Vesuvius;
md represented as requiring period
,fl2,Ooo years to complete the forma-
ion, until by subsequent discovery
near the same spot, Of similar combi-
nation, ascertained by positive historic
cal documents to have been produced
within the last $50 years, that wild
presumption was blown away. n
The aew yi52e.-A writer in the Ma
tional Intelligencer states that Mr..
Cochran's many chambered rifle has
; Just beef. submitted to Cal. but strict
trial, at the United States Arsenal in
Washington. This rifle, it appears,
was fired zoos times, and was in the
same order at the termination as at the
commencement of the firing In or
der totest the influence OF rain and wet
from other causes, water was put into
the chambers, and left there one hour
and ten minutes; the rife was then
discharged, and with the same ease and
effect as previously. The cylinder in
this rifle thus contained nine chambers;
md in comparative trial instituted
between it and Hall's carabine, both
pieces having been loaded, the whole
nine discharges were made from the RI
file before second could be made from
the carbinc.
During the whole trial not single
cap missed fire; and at the distance OF
$50 yards, with 10 grains Of powder,
the bail perforated an inch pine board
and was fiattened againsta brick wall be-
hindit.
Some apprehension was entertained
that from the contigiity Of the char.
ges, accidental ignition might be pro
duced. To prove the entire freedom
of his rife from this danger, Mr.. Coch.
ran placed loose powder in the cham.
bers, over the balls, and around the
caps, and. SO circums:anccd, it was dis
charged as safely as before.
Capt. Ramsay observes, that viii
the closest scrutiny he could not disco
yer any objection to Mr.. Cochran's in.
vcation: and Liets- Scott SAYS, that fol
simplicity, il surpsssss any thing of the
kind he hoseYer seen, and that lis quail
ity IS s-e-arrn can be summed up IL
three words. sET Is PERFECT
a neac principle Of .7svostufsen.-
Al recent meeting OF the academy
OF sciences, nj Paris, paper was pre-
scented, entitled s.New Ideas on Aerial
Narigation.' The author Of this pa
per Processes therein TO hare DISCOVER
ed means OF giving any required HI
rsrf5on 10 a balioon, by means similar
10 THESE used IN steam navigation; and
the balloon itself he proposes to make
of coppsr, which is TO recaive its as
csna1ng power by drawing out the air
and forming vacuum. To effect the
rarnnn. his proposal Is to fill the ma
chime with water, and then draw il off
gradually by means ola long tube, with
Ont admitting the air. Here, he says,
reasoning notin very intelligentma
mr. that the pressure offhe atmosphere
viii have no influence nponthebaliDun,
howeyerfhin may be fhemetal of which
il is composed. The apparatus {steam)
for giving motion to and guiding the
machine IS tn be placed ! y fl,ecar, and
to turn round sails, which resemble
The paddles of steam boat. Aerosta-
ion with this machine (says the au-
Ihor, but with every cautious prori-
SOY IL should succeed would pro-
ceed ata rate more rapid than the fight
of carrier pigeon, and would surpass
al that has ever been heard Of
Johnstown, in Montgomery County,
New York. was nearly destroyed BY
FIRE on Saturday of last week. The FIRE
in Messrs. Read & Schriver's
grocery store, in Main-street, & spread
with alarming rspidity in every direc-.
ton. A great number Of buildings
were destroyed, involving loss Of a
bout $4,000 dollars. On the Episco-
pal Church, which was consumed, there
is an insurance of SIS, 900.
Taxing The ueU.-The Alexandria
Gazette says, that during the last week,
at the convent Of Visitation in George
town, the following young ladies un-
derwent the ceremony Of taking the
white veil:-Miss Elizabeth Grcnnell
Of Charles County, Md, now Sister Boz
romea, aged lG years: Miss Ann Hur-
ley, Of Philadelphia, now Sister Mary
Rose. aged 10: Miss Rosey Neale, Of