Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-05-09


The following curious facts are stated very
forcibly i'm a book which has recently engaged
a large share of public attention, entitled Yes
tigcS of Creation:
1t is stated that Mr.. WEEKEs, Of Sandwich,
Instituted certain experiments i'm imitation of
some previously performed by a Mr.. CROSSE,
which had resulted in the production of lining
insects. He caused powerful voltaic battery
to operate upon a saturated solution of silicate
of potash. The fluid first became turbid, and
then of a milky appearance round the mega
s mere H galh nc eds a Pa Quantity fsG Of WHAT th@io seemed ses iiGai &;
be gelstlnous matter; and from this Mr..
WEEKEs observed one of the insects in the We
~ act OF emerging, Immediately after which
1T assembled to the surface of the fluid, and
sought concealment in an obscure corner of
the apparatus.
The previous experiments of Mr.. Crosse
had been attended with the same result. In
sects emerged, under his powerful voltaic bat
terry, not only from the s~ilicate of potash, but
also from nitrate of copper, which is a deadly
poison; He discontinued his experiments,
being discouraged by the ridicule with which
they were assailed; but Mr.. WEEKEs resumed
them some years later, and repeatedly pro-
duced the same effects. After irving it with
the silicate of potash, he employed feno-cya-
nures oil potassium, on account of its contain
Ing a greater proportion of carbon, the princi-
pal element OF organic bodies and from this
substance the insects were produced in in
creased numbers.
The insects, in the case of Mr.. Crosse, were
produced by the action of the battery in a few
weeks: The battery of Mr.. Weekes was
much less powerful, and his first attempts re-
CURED about eleven months. The insects, in
DOM cases, were the same, a species of acdrus,
minute and semi-transparent, and furnished
with long ~bristles, which could only be seen
by the aid Of microscope. They were some
times observed to 90 back to the fluid to feed,
and occasionally devoured each other.
These experiments were made by Mr..
Weekes, IN 1912. The very general opinion
oil SCIENTIFIC men seemed TO be that the insects
were produced from eggs deposited i'm the
wood. But against this suggestion is the
facts that the wood used had previously been
baked In a powerful heat that the apuara-
tus was so covered that the air was thorough
ly excluded that the water used was distil-
led and that the substance of the silicate had
been subjected TO a white heat. These pre-.
cautions seem to forbid the suspicion of any
fallacy in the experiment but, beside them,
1t is stated by a writer in the British and For.
elgn Medical review, that the insects deposit
ed eggs while they remained in the solution,
winch were 80 large that they could not have
escaped observation had any previously ex.
listed.
The alleged results are certainly among tn,
most curious facts of Natural History, and az
lord, so Tar as we are aware, the first ~instanc,
in which il has ever been asserted that anima
life could be produced by any artificial means
The scientific world, however, ii must be adj
ded, has generally refused its credence to the
facts alleged.
ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.-Tbe FOLLOW.
ing is the Proclamation Of President JoYrs
converting the Congress Of Texas to take into
consideration the proposition of the Congress,
OF the United States for anncxing that count
to this:
Blythe President of The Republic of Teras.
l. PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS, since the close OF the last Session o
Congress, q Joint Resolution respecting the
Annexation of Texas to the United States
has by their Congress been adopted .authoriz.
ing the President of the United States ia
select the alternative Of two certain proposi.
ton contained in the said Joint Resolution
as the basis for consumating the proposed
annexation:
And, whereas, the President of the United
states selected the first and second sections
oil the Resolutions as such basis,and notified
tins Government thereof.
/ Here fpllnx.s a. ---I.s