The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-04

MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Palmetto state banner.
From Tue PaImetto Slate BANNER
DIR. LIEBERs ARTIcLE-GUN COTTON
DR.. ELLEFS RECENT EXPERIMENTS.


DR.. LIEBER'S ARTICLE-GUN COTTON
DIR. ELLRr'S RECENT EXPERIMENTS.
We need not invite the attention of the reader to
the article from DIR. Lieber's pen, which will be
found in another column. ..-.. ..
In addition to what is SO clearly set forth by DR..
Lieber, we have il in our power to state that DR..
EIlet, the distinguished professor Of chemistry in
the South Carolina college, has not only succeeded
in making gun-eoon, but he has quite recently dis
covered process by which the best Of gun-cotton
can be made far cheaper than by the process which
has been published TO the world.
The last number of the Southern Chronicle con-
tains interesting article on Professor Ellet's
production of gun-coton, and his successful expert
ments on preparation which may prove superior
to that which the papers have published the gun
cotton now known in Europe. | beg TO state fact,
in eonneIion with Doct. Elet's experiments which
may be as interesting to your readers as II certainly
has been TO me. On the l4th ofoctober last, read
IN German paper, received me by on that day, for
the first time, ofProfessor Schenbein's invention IL
bare statement of the results at which this in
genious chemist had arrived. communicated the
fact TO my colleague late in the evening. Dr. Ellet,
who then heard of the discovery for the first time,
replied, after a moments reflection: "Ths much be
done with nitric acid. | have no doubt the cotton
is stepped in nitric acid, and then well washed in
pure water" He gave me his reasons for his con-
lecture, and next morning he sent me word that he
had succeeded in producing the same results as
those at which the German Professor had arrived.
He had produced gun-cotton, which he exploded
in my presence.
And now, Mr.. Editor, let me congratulate you
and oil Of US on this new discovery, not only in
pecuniary sense, because 1t may fayorably effect
our staple article; not only because the gun-cotton
will probably make cheaper an exploding and pro-
jectng material Of vast use in the world, land what
article Of extensive application be made cheap
er, is so much gain for mankind but believe we
shall have reason to congratulate ourselves in
higher This gun-coton will greatly reduce the
price of one ofthe chief materials used in war il WILL
therefore, greatly increase warlke destrucuveness
and-so far history teaches us-we find that
whatever has increased the intensity of martial de.
structiveness, be 1t by giving more deadly power
TO the materials by the increase Of armies, by their
greater moyeability, or by the continuation of
campaigns through all seasons, has always tended
to shorten wars and promote peace We know
now OF no seven years wars, thirty years wars, Pei
oponnesian wars. Gigantic wars are short, like
violent feS ers; sanguinsry, teasing euds like feser
ing cancers, and the everlasting n,ernecine saugh-
Of the hunters tribes keep whole continents un-
peopled. | remember that Prussan general, of
the highest scientific standing, said in my hear
ing "the time will come when a man will be able
TO carry destruction 10 five hundred men in his
waistcoat pocket, and then there will be peace on
earth" He was the same general who thought il
not impossible TO surround large cities, OF such
ment, both in modern civilization and modern wars,
with galsane batteries of a magnitude that whole
battalions might be struck down at their approach,
as by concentrated lightning.
Eminent philosophers have long thought that II
gunpowdsr were cheaper, it might be advantage
ously use propelling power of machinery and
railway cars May not gun-cotton prove efficient
agent Of this sort, especially il consider that the
danger of gunpowder, and the difficulty of regula-
ling successive explosions, must always have
proved great obstacles in the way Of adopting it as
a propelling agent-dificulties which gun-cotton
will not offer.
lam, Mr.. Editor, &c, &c,
FRANCIS LEIBER,
s. c. COLLEGE.