The native American., 1838-02-03
FOREIGN EXTRACTS.

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Whit arsen;c having been detected 10 conside- |
rahla extent in some candles lately come much
into use. 1t appears that these candies, wmch
are very much in appearance IKE wax owe 'ieii
beauty and brilliancy in burning 10 arsenic
which fact has been proved by experiments made
bv Mr. Everett, the lecturer on Chemistry at the
Middesex Hospital, and Mr.. Phillips, OF ST.
Thomas's Hospital. DIR. Scott also stated that
two manufacturers of these new German wax
lights had acknowledged to him that the quantity
used was one part of white arsenic to twenty
seven parts of fatty matter. Considerable discus
sion ensued in the society to the effect OF such
quantity of deleterous substance like arsenic
being consumed in this way in houses or crowded
churches-in some of which they had been lately
introduced, as also in theatres. From the known
i'll effects of this mineral on those persons who
are in the habit of using it in various manufacto-
ries, as well as the wretched breath and short
lives of miners in Saxony and other parts from
which it is procured in combination with other
substances, most of the members were led to con-
slider its effects would be exceedingly injurious
to health, and that it was right the public should
be made acquainted with the fact. One or two
members stated that they had used the candles
for some time without experiencing any ill effects,
while others of a weaker habit of body had found
them injurious. The candle may be known to
wick smells like garlic; fact indicating the pre-
sence of metallic arsenic, in which state small
portion only of the mineral is--the great proper
ton being white arsenic-the most deadly form
of the poison. The lights in question are sold
cheap, and in many instances fraud is practised
on the public by the substitution of them for true
wax lights; the fraud may be detected by the test
we have mentioned.
Mr.. Crosses Ne,c Msects-A letter from Mr.
Crosse, to friend in London, accompanying
thirty of his newly formed insects, preserved in
spirits of wine, has been published. From this
letter we extract the following passages:-''I am
quite as much surprised, and quite much in the
dark about this affair as / was at first. / have
had lately several new families of them and have
them at this present time growing on piece o
iron wire plunged into silicite of potash, and q
quarter of an inch under the surface of the fluid
at the positive pole of battery consisting oi
twenty pairs Of small zinc and copper cylinders
l likewise have them forming on the surface OF
constantly electrified sulphate of copper, at the
edge OF the fluid, and strangely mixed up with
crystals of sulphate of copper. In fact / have
them in all stages, from their earliest formation tc
their full perfection, and crawling about pretty
nimbly. Most of their formations took place in
the dark. The access of light is very prejudicia
to them, as far as / have observed. | have had
hundreds OF vessels of the same water as that
used in the solution in the same room, and in
other rooms, with not the slightest appearance Of
similar insect, or the germ Of one. In one oI
these experiments the vessel was covered with
paper, and yet the insects were formed as before
NY friend Mr.. ---- has seen and pretty closely
examined with powerful lens their different an
pearances, and they have been seen by grea
number of persons. / believe the younger in
sects have only six legs, and, when more adj
vanced, eight, and this is, | understand, not un-
common in the mite genus. Although these in
sects formed either below the surface, or at
the edge of an electrified fluid, yet when once
they have left it, they drowned on falling
into it.
Several months ago, the parents of Young
lady at Tours, Mile. B, were extremely ur-
gent for her marrying a cousin of the same name;
but having formed an attachment to another gen.
teman, she declared that she would rather die
first, or enter convent This alternative beine
refused her, she eloped with her lover, but they
were overtaken, and the fugitive maid brough
back to the paternal mansion, and afterwards ken
in convent for six weeks. At the end of thi.
period, appearing to be overcome by the importu
mites of her parents, she consented to give he
hand to her cousin, and their marriage took place
in due form before the civil magistrate TIL,
wedding party returned to the house of the bride
the nuptial benediction. During this short inter
val the young lady disappeared, and every searcl
and inquiry for her was completely bafled till tn
7th instant, when the disconsolate bridegroom
while wandering on the heights which commant
the Loire, had his attention attracted by crowt
collected on the bank to view the steamer from
the Upper Loire, which had got aground on the
sands of Saint Pierre des Corps. How pene-
tratng are the eyes of Love and Jealousy! Our
deserted husband from this distance deserted on
the deck of the boat his lost fair one, and by her
side the destroyer Of his peace, in the garb of a
sailor. With all speed Mr.. B - fastened to
the Commissary of Police, who, with two of his
myrmidons, got into small boat, and without loss
of time, returned with the two fugitives in Gus
tody. They were afterwards sent to Tours,
where, no doubt, their romance will be finally
wound up in the Tribunal of Correctional Police.
Abdel Kader has named as his representative
at Algiers, M. Garvarine, Consul of the United
States, and has announced the nomination in >
somewhat curious letter, with his "Greetino to
the Consul, Charles Gavarine, and to all who fol-
low the path of Justice" After the usual Maho-
metan formula of Homage to God, whois the only
God," etc., the Emir besows an eulogium on the
Consul, ga man of sense and of heart,' and,