Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-07-29
Chips ano CLIPPINGS.

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The French Government has had for several
years, scientific corps engaged in researches
IN ancient Assyria and Persia, including the ex-
plorations at Ninnevah and Babylon and several
distinguished scholars from England and Gerna-
ny are on The same ground, though not under the
orders OF their governments, occupied upon the
inscriptions and sculptures, of which great nnm-
bers have been brought to view. The results of
these explorations are OF Importance, as thew
throw much light on the ancient history of coun-
tries hitherto involved in darkness At Behistup
midway between Babylon aud Ecbatana is an
inscription cut in several large tables on rock
at the base of a mountain, extending TO four
hundred miles, in the arrow headed character
This great work has been fully deciphered by
Major Rawlinson, of the British army, who has
employed much Of his time during the last ten
yetrs in effecung it. Professor Grotefend Las
sen and Westergard, have also been diligently
employed on the same inscription, and have con-
tributed much to its complete decypherment and
grammatical translation. 1t is memorial ofthe
time of Darius Hystaspis, who lived in the sixth
century before Christ, the purport OF which
to the historian, must be of equal interest with
the pecuarities Of the language to the philoo-
gist.
DR.. CHAMBERLAIN EXAMPLE TO YouTH.-
1t is estimated, in the Edinburgh journals, that
the funeral OF DR.. Chalmers was attended by at
ledsl One nunQTeu thousand persons. scotland
had never before, in the memory Of man, witness
sed such funeral; and it was tribute never 10
be paid except to a very rare combination of in.
tellGctual and moral greatness lie was the
champion of truth and every noble virtue, and
by his goodness had purchased the homage and
gratitude Of mankind.
Like all truly greet men, he has left the i'm
press OF his character on the age in which he
lived. Indeed, such men create all era in the
| worlds history Mathematics uoS in oorl,, ECa
his favorite sciences but he learned to estimate
magnitude and the proportions of magnitude"
chiefly by the relation of time to eternity. His
conversion took place after he entered on the
public duties of life and we can readily con-
ceive the impression made on his noble nature
when his mighty mind first submitted to the
teachings of the Holy Spirit with the humility
of "a little child"
When Moses, the leader of Israel's hosts, as.
cended Mount Nebo, from the plains of Moab,
and was thence removed to the upper world, his
departure was made known, by Jehovah, TO JOSH
ua, In the words, "Moses my servant is dead"
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the
Free Church Of Scotland, made these words the
basis OF his funeral discourse on the death of DR..
Chalmers. He was the great leader of the five
or six hundred independent churches in Scotland,
in that most remarkable event in ecclesiastical
history, when they threw off all connection with
the State establishment and magnanimously en-
countered poverty and the oppression Of civil
power.
Well may Scotland remember with generation
her most distinguished son--an ornament alike
to his country and his race. What sublime
spectacle! A man without wealth or patronage,
or any civil office, is conveyed to his resting
place, and the tears Of nation honor his grave.
What noble, inspiring example to youth =
His mental strength and grasp was the result of
personal effort. His moral greatness, the crown
ing excellence OF his character, was the result
OF humble submission to divine teaching, and of
that reliance on Omnpotence which made him
ever bold before men. When such a man rests
from his labors," his "works follow him;' and
the spontaneous sentiment of mankind is that
he is not dead, but that his sun has gone down
in glory, only to rise in brighter heavens.-Bos-
ton Atlas.
PROBABLE DISCOVERY OF THE HIsToRY OF
A FORMER RACE. The Lower Sandusky (O)
Democrat states that, about Two miles from that
village, on land known the Korr tract there
is an ancient mound, circular at the base. about
thlrly-nlne feet at the diameter, rising oyally to
point, which is surmounted by an oaken stnmn
probably originally two feet in diameter. which
Is almost totally decayed from age. A few davs
since, some boys dug into the mound and near
y under the stump, at the depth of three feet. a
skeleton was found, much decayed but portions
OF 1t in fair state of preservation. Near the
head were found two stone halchets. an arrow
head, stone pipe, and far more sinpular-a lot
OF plates, apparently isinglass, which are cover
ed with lines and hleroglyphcs of different and
beautiful colors. The coIors and workmanship
beloken more advanced and entirely different
state OF the arts than has been heretofore dscoy-
cred In the remains of the Indian tribes. Some
OF the plates were destroyed, but there are ff
teen preserved. They are circular. oval in shane
and about seven inches by ten in size. A pine.
bowl, beautifully finished from stone. was also
found, the bowl OF which is nearly round. rises
from base, on the bottom of which are the fip-
ures 'l46l.' Measures have been taken under
Tue supervision OF some intelligent citizens far
ther to explore this singular mound. There Is
flfte DOUBT That these plates contain the history of
some former race that has inhabited This country,
and farther discoveries will be awaited with I'M
patience.
A REMARKABLE PHENOMENON The Gin
cinna;i Signal relates the following, which, if
authentic, is certainly very singular:
"The most remarkable phenomenon we ever
heard of is now to be seen in this city. 1t con.
ssts OF two young pigs, having the heads of ele-
phants. The protocols, mouth, teeth, ears and
eyes, and so far as we have been able to Judge
from a superficial examination, the head perfect
ly formed, of an elephant. In one case the pro-
bosis is thrown over and back of the head in the
position we soIHetlneS sec Tue elephant hold It,
In the other, it hangs over the mouth. The ewes
of one are in the usual place for the elephants
while in the other they are sitused near the CEN
tire of the forehead, not unlike the hippotamus.
The skin Of one of these prodigies has hair like
hog; the other precisely like an elephant
Their history is, that the menagerie was passing
the neighborhood, and the animals were turned
in the field where the sow was, to foed-an ele-
plant being of the number. They are the result.
We hope some of the scientific savans will ex-
anime these curious ties, and report the result to
the public. We believe doubts have been en-
tertained of the possibility ofsuch an occurrence;
If so, they exist no longer.
PERFECTION ATTAINED IN THE MANUFAc-
TURE OF GLASS. 1t is difficult to see to what
perfection the manufacture of glass may be
brought and to what purposes the article may
yet be applied. The batance-spring OF a chro.
nometer is nor made Of glass, as substitute for
Steel and possesses grealer degree Of elasticity
and greater poloer Of resisting the alterations
Of heat and cold. a chrononeter with glass
balance-sprng was sent 10 the North Sea, and
exposed TO a competition with nine other chro-
nometers, and the result of the experiment was a
report in favor of the glass spring one.
Usr OF ETHER IN LONDON. Our London
correspondent writes that the use of Ether in
England is now doing much more harm than