The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-06-25
MISCELLANIES.

existence which belonged to a former generation has
created some little commotion IN the religious world.
! We allude to the recent death of the Marauise de
Soyecourt superior and foundress of the Carmelites
Allied to all the noble houses in the kingdom cee-
braed in her youth for her great beauty possessed
of immense wealth and influence, she sacrificed
while yet in the prime of existence, every advan-
age which the world can afford, in order to devote
herself TO religious life. She expended the great
er part of her fortune in the purchase of the ancient
COnventofthe Carmes-soc celebrated fort horrible
massacre which took place when the Septembriseurs
broke into the prison Paris. She succeeded only
two years ago in accomplishing the great object for
which she had lived-that of founding retreat for
| the aged and inirm members of the priesthood at
the head of which is placed the Able Poyet the
single individual who escaped that frightful butch
cry in the little chapel of the convent. He is still
hale and hearty, laboring under no other infrmity
| than the lameness accustomed by the breaking of
! both his ANGLE joints when he leaped over the wall
| unobserved while slaughter was going on around
him. Ii is like dream of the past to behold him
sometimes kneeng IN prayer before the very altar
| which was used as the block wherein were behead-
ed his fellow-prisoners. The dark crimson stains
of blood still visible over the stone flooring,
| and ascend in dismal splashes almost to the very
| roof BY singular obstnacy, which can be ac-
counted for only by some secret souvenir unknown
| TO all save herself, Madame de Soyecourt would
never consent TO either the cleansing of the walls or
the concealment of the flooring; but, as if she ex-
perienced gloomy pleasure in the contemplation
of these mementos of violence and murder has suf-
| fered them TO remain until this hour in the very
state wherein the events of that fatal Cd of Septem
Der had left them.
/ II Miss Edgeoorths long literary life was usefuy
| employed, so also were her claims and services
adequately acknowledged during her life time. Her
friendships were many; her place in the world of
English and Irish society was distinguished. By
| ron (llttle gwen 10 commencing the women whom
he did not make love 10, or who did not make love
! to hlm) approved her Scott when personally a
stranger TO her, addressed her like an cd friend and
sister. There Is hardly tourist of worth or note
who has visited ireland for the last ifty years
without bearing testimony to her value and vivacty
as one Of a large aud united home-circle She was
small m stature, lIyey OF address, and dfuse as q
!etter writer. To sum up-it may be said that the
changes and Developments whlcn have convulsed
the world Of Imagination, since Miss Edgeworth 5
career of authorship began, have not shaken her
from her pedestal nor bloued out her name from
the honorable place which IL must always keep in
the records of European fiction.
ThGckerny (author Of Vanity Fair has the ad-
! vantage over ms predecessors of having seen and
observed more, known more men and countries
His h-.'@Vns 40 infinitely more extended than that
oil ." ater Scctt. Thrown hither and ihther hk,
hheas, by the incidents of his life, he mas con
.bs Young eeobs 81 STUDENT Se IL hs ,tdosk
his pointed felt couture; ie is as familiar with he
musical tables d'hote Of the banks of the Rhine as
the London clubs or the Partisan circles He has
mingled with the majestically pd representatives
which India sends back TO England, and with the
habtues of Tortonis. He is, in fine, man of ex.
per.ence and Of the world who does not write 20
blacken paper he is man who has felt and suffer
ed much, the inevitable law Of all originality. HIS
books are nothing more than experience drama
tized.
SCIENTIFIC GossIr-A tenth planet has been add
ed TO the interesting group between Mars and
Jupiter On the 18th Of last month il was observed
for the first time by Sgnor de Gaspari at Naples;
and Profs. Schumacher and Capocci have issued
circulars from that observatory giving directions by
which Il may be readily found by astronomers
Mr.. Fnaday's discovery Of Oia-magnetic phe-
nomena is likely to lead rapidly to some important
knowledge Of the molecular forces which determine
the Conditions Of the material creation.
Gun Cotton dissolved IN alkai has been shown
70 have the property Of precIpItating metals Il ON
their solutions; and by floating over glass plates
solutions Of silver, or mercury, TO which the Gun
Cotton solution has been added, mirrors Of a very
noe description are, IN this way, readily manuiac-
tured.
Count d, Uerdnsky has patented a locomotive
engine, which Is 10 be worked with entire freedom
from explosion by lgniung small portion, Of gun
cotton underneath the piston IN It's cylinder.
An ingenious application of electricity has been
made by Mr.. Arthur Dunn, by means Of which
signals are gwen that indicate the pressure OF
steam m the boiler Of an engine Tubes being filled
with mercury are made part Of gavanic circuit
and connected with bells the mercury rises from
increasing pressure in the boiler the circuit is thus
completed, and the bells respc lively rung indicate
the amount Of pressure.
Inptniion tr stopping Steam-engines.-A CORE.
spohdent Of a London paper gives the following &C.
count Of piece Of machinery in operation at the
mandatory Of Messrs. Smith d Booth, Southga,e
by means Of which steam-engine Of 30-horse pow
er was stopped almost instsntsneoUsly. We were
taken to one end Of a spinning-room when the ma
chlnery Of the whole mil was in full operation with
the steam-engine at full speed when valve was
opened that admitted the atmospheric air which in
SANITY choked the condenser Of the engine, shut of
the throttle and water valves, and opened the blow
valves. The instant this was done the hy-whee
only made one revolution and quarter In the
ordinary manner Of stopping the engine the fly
wheel makes FIVE revolutions before il can be brought
TO a stand. So complete IL this simple piece Of
mechanism that although the whole machinery
throughout the mill is stopped so suddenly, not q
single thread is broken, but all remains ready 70,
resuming work when the engine is again set 10 mo-
ton. A patent has been sealed for this invention
m the names Of Mr.. @. +. Donisthorpe and jaime,
Mills.
The EGYPTIAN STEhN-FnGhTE SHARKu.-Thi,
powerful frgaie was originally constructed at Alex
andra, under the direction Of Mohamed Bey, a high
ly intelligent native Of Egypt, and il an exceen
specimen Of ffy-gun frigate Of the English styi,
Of naval architecture The Sharkie was built ex
pressv Ivy order Of Mehemet Ali, for the convey
ance Of his Highness 10 England on a visit TO her
Majesty. She 800 feet in length, 49, feet II
breadth extreme win % feet depth OF hold and
il Of 400 tons burden. About twelve months age
she was nsvigated 10 England to be fted with en-
glnef Of $50 horse power, and o screw propeller o.
IL feet inches in diameter. The interior Of III,
principal cabin, intended for his late Hichness is
VERY Ella Jorste the pillars and panels being pr, f1se
. ly maid with mother Of pear b. ebony snd rose
pood The officers cabins are also highly FINISHED
$ and IN excellent keeping, and me eng ne-rooms ar,
j. auacious and wel-ventiieted HtT speed averaged
= II Mules an hour.
q War and instruction are inevitably c0nOclasts
and mach injury il s he ieared has been done u
q the cause Of Art IN the many European capitals
. where they have shown their heads. Meanwhile
a Lord Broughau has obtained from VI. Manzoni
!. who is nov Ia London, an assurance that no works
u Art have been removed from their places IN Rom,
| either by himself on bV any partIes whatever.