The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-20
EDITORS CORRESPONDENCE
[Ffom our regular correspondenl.l

From our regular correspondent
New YoRx, Oct II, l645.
A foreign paper announces that M. Lebechie, Of
France, who il one Of the principal employees Of
the administration dss tsbscs, who was sent to Alge
ria to ascertain the extent TO which tobacco could
be produced there (and its quality, had returned
He states that in ten years, the supply would in all
probability be made equal to great portion Of the
annual demand Of the mother country. This re-
suit ! am led to doubt. France has also, to some
extent, tried the growing Of cotton in Algeria but
without success. The climate 10 too hot and dry.
With the soil Of Florida and Texas added to our
tobacco lands, we have little fear but we shall con-
tinue TO be the principal tobacco-growers as well al
cotton-producers. As far back an 1910, IN walking
through the Conserpotore dss s s daferes IN Paris
saw-cotton gins which had been imported from the
United States to be forwarded TO Algeria, for the
purpose of being used to clean cotton conem plated
to be grown in that country. lH
Russia, also, is ambitious of obtaining cotton
soil the Black sea, or in the central portions Of
Asia; but all attempts by other governments to com.
pete with the United States in cotton, tobacco, and
wheat, must prove unavailing.
The Conservatoirs dss .arts 1t Matferes s q saloon
in Paris where all models of improved machinery
or new inventions, are exhibited. Once a year. gen.
orally in the autumn, the institution is opened with
great ceremony, preceded by an address from SOME
man Of distinction. At the time referred to, Baror
Charles Dupin delivered the annual address, which
was characterized for much good sense and cleal
reasoning qis a fet
The saloon contains vast collection of models
quietly arranged in glass cases, which greatly les
sens the interest felt in the novelty of the contr
vances. The Importance of an invention, or i'm
proved machine, can only be fully understood anG
appreciated by seeing it put in motion. The effec
is lost upon the observer, by its being placed in
state of Quiescence beneath glass case, ID don't
with models at the Patent Office in Warrington.
The surplus receipts at this Office should be ap
A. -
CINE, placed beneath the floor of the model-room
and its motive-power employed in putting in motor
the various models deposited at the Office; which
would, in most interesting manner, illustrate the
peculiarities of the machine. ] will defy the bes
engineer or machinist 70 comprehend clearly the
character and novelty of machine which is sta
tionary beneath glass cases.
Eek The want of motive power in the saloon of thu
Conservative dss .fts ct Matieres felt to be seri
Gus defect. As ] walked through the vast collec
ton, could do nothing than look at their out
lines through panes of glass, comprehendng it'll,
more Of their nature than was denoted on their la
bells. e3a $50
& The models were numerous, neatly and wei
made representing articles in arts and manufactures
from the tools of blacksmith shop up through i'm
pements employed in potteries, roling-mlls, steam
engines, beet-root sugar-mills, steamboats,, &c.
saw in this collection Gas may always be seen in
every collection of the kind elsewhere) many thing,
that are worthless, with many that are mechanical
absurdities or Representatives, which have
been tried and abandoned, and revived again new
Much Of the labor of human intellect seeming
to run in circle, and at each turn of the circle the
successor picks up something supposed to be new
which his predecessor, a long time previously had
tried and laid aside. It may be, that out of hun
dred inventions, only may be found truly valua
Bile; but without taking in the hundred that are
less, we might fail in obtaining the one truly and
eminently useful.
ri The desire for distinction as inventors Of useful
machinery il growing in France, which for centu-
ries had lain dormant, had been superseded by
an inordinats passion for military glory The gov
eminent very wisely encourages useful inventions
to much greater extent than formerly.
Ono Of tho most interesting collections of fire.
arms In thu world il the usee ddrtiiiere in Paris
II contains specimens Of firearms Of every descrip-
zion, used in every age, from the invention Of gun
powder to tho present time Also, all armor, shields
spears, coatsof-mail, &C., in during the feudal
times. The knights of different Gallo reigns are
seen standing in full size, armed cap apple, or mount
ed ON horseback, as seen in the Tower Of London.
The modelled animals being ornamented with
shields Of defence, composed of the same materials
as those worn by the knights who bestride them.
= Tho collection of od-fnshoned guns, pistols, and
cannon, ID very curious, and so extensive ms TO fill
two or three. large saloons. No duplicates Of the
same arms are seen. 9fts,f
81 II Is little curious, that in the od-fash0ned gun
used in early times, the ire-ock so constructed
that the flint struck backwards instead Of forwards
the priming-pan being in 'front.' instead of occupy
ing its present position. a
Another curious fact noticed in this splendid
museum Of firearms, was an old gun with revolv-
ing breech, for firing several charges in succession.
This gun is said to be from 100 to 200 years old.
In this specimen Cochrane, Colt, and other invent
ors of revolving-breech guns and pistols, may find
similar contrivance to their Wanted discoveries.
They may have modified and improved upon il, yet
the principle is precisely the same; which proves
what before said, that the human mind often
travels in circle.
Several ingenious revolving pistols are on exhi-
btion at Niblo, which ought never to be carried as
concealed weapons. They no doubt, in the heat
of passion, often infict sudden death on many in
nocent men, to the infinite regret Of those who thus
murdcrously use them, when they regain their rea-
son and reflection. Their sale and use, if possible,
ought to be prohibited by law. a
The methods adopted by smugglers between
France and her neghbors are very ingenious. II
people are (as said be the CASEY the most in
genouspeople inthe world they ought if disposed, to
be the greatest smuggers in the world. In England,
a lady, whose stays looked very large, on landing
from the continent recently, attracted the notice of
the custom-house inspectors, who took the liberty
of examining into the new style of their maDufac-
turc and found, instead of whalebone several pounds
Of leaf tobacco had been substituted for whalebone
to give greater stiffness. She had to pay twenty
one shillings, or 60 to Jail. In France, lately,
wood-raft was ovcrhauled passing on the canal from
the Rhine to the Rhone. Beneath the raft was
found suspended submarine zinc box, or boat,
made perfectly water-tight, which they found filed
with large quantity Of the richest musins, CALI
Goes, and other contraband goods, valued at $4,000
francs 1t 10 supposed this method had been in use
for long while. How much better would it be for
the revenue, for the manufacturers and the honest
dealers, to have duties reduced TO a standard 30
moderate an to render smuggling improbable.
Madagascar is an island in the southern ocean
lying opposite the east coast Of Africa extending
from latitude 40 to $50 south, and between 400
and 500 Of longitude east. In 1925 and 1896, the
savages inhabiting the country were governed by a
humane and induigent prince, who permitted mis-
sionarics from France and England to settle in the
country, for the purpose Of teaching and propaga-
ting christianity. Many citizens Of France and
England also settled in the country. This liberal
ruler, however, died, and was succeeded by man
Of wholly different disposition. He drove out the
Missionaries and endeavored to cface every vestge
Of civilization introduced by the Europeans.
Not long since Hovas the monarch ise,,sd n de-