The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-10-25
WHOLE NUMBER 4S3.
NEW INVENTIONS.

NEW INVENTIONS.
A London letter Of 3lst August, publish
ed 10 the N. Y. Commercial Advertiser,
has the following items:
"A valuable invention has beer made m
Belgium. It. destined 10 effect az great
a reform in the manufacture Of linen cloths
as the steam loom has made 10 that Of VOL
lens. Its nothing less than steam loon
for linen fabrics. All the ingenuity and
perseverance Of manufacturers have leen
tested to invent machine ofthis kind but
the fabrics have been uniformly so poor
that tho machines have heen thrown away
and manual labor again resoried TO. The
difficulty has been removed bv the scien-
tific skill Of q Belgian engineer. A model
Of bis machine, with specimens nf bis fab
RIGS, has been exhibited at the fair at Client.
The cloths are said to rival in frmness,
6neness and smooibness the best Of those
made by hand. II, on farther trial, it shalt
be found practicable on large scale,
revolution will doubtless be effected in the
linen industry Of Belgium, which will have
a powerful influence on the Political corr
dition Of the country, one-half of the popula-
ton Of Flanders living, in one way or an
other, on the profits Of that industry.
A late Improvement in the musket will
certainly rneliorate greatly the art Of war.
This has been made in Prussia, and the
secret is strictly guarded by the Govern
ment. Nobody is permitted to examine
the work in the manufactures, and the SOL
diers are forbidden to show their muskets.
But these precautions are all useless; tho
improvement will be certainly known and
adopted by other countries. Captain Stone,
Of the American army, now in Sweden,
is, believe, in possession Of the secret
The United States offered 10 sell 10 Mexico
her flint lock guns; she will soon be able, |
hope, to sell her percussion ones. From
what have seen oftbe new gun, ~ well ~
from what have heard, I can say i few
words 10 satisfy in part the curiosity Of our
officers and eun-makers. The musket has
no lock and is loaded at the stock end Of the
barrel.
The bali is long aud cone shsped, round
ed at the big end. The barrel is slightly
rifed, but the grooves are perfectly straight,
and not spiral az in the American gun.-
The ball is consequently thrown much
greater distance, none Of the force Of the
powder being wasted in giving II useless
rotary motion. The common charge ID
one-half Of that used 10 The percussion gun,
and is said to carry the ball TO its mark nine
hundred yards. None Of the powder is
wasted, the fire being communicated from
the side Of the barrel. and not from tho
breack. This is effected BY an ingenious
continuance. The part Of the cartridge
next the ball is filled with an explosive
substance similar TO that in 4 percussion
cap. This 10 made TO explode by the con-
tact Of piece Of steel about the length Of
no eight penny nail, which passes from the
outside Of the barrel through the cartridge.
The gun is called the Anail frer." II can
be discharged by common soldier eight
times in minute and need not be taken
from the shoulder to be reloaded.
The best soldier cannot discharge the
percussion gun more than 3 or 4 tis.eS 4
minute, and in battle an officer cannot
count on more than one discharge 10 THU
time. Another advantage Of the Prussisn
gun is that the distance to which il carries
enables force to fire sohne twenty five at
thirty times, before an enemy armed Win
the percussion musket can get within shoot
ing distance. The efficacy ofthe Prussian
troops is thus doubled. The Prussian ar
my nigh, be reduced to half its present
numbers, to the great delight ofevery body
except the monarch and his immediate ad-
vsers.
| A Crazy Doe.-Chews tobacco like a
Man. A friend has Just related 70 MA
curious fact in natural history RESPECTING
dog. In north At,leboro,' Mass. there
is kept, in manufacturing Establishment,
large mastiff who takes - much com.
fort with Tlid Of tobacco, Is does,he most
inve,erate lover OF the weed. So habited
has lie become TO ito use, that he must have
il, and will set all day in The centre Of tho
workshop. chewing away with great appe-
tile and good relish. lie became thus
much like rnnh, playing, when young,
with soid sogers,' a. the end Of segars arc
professionally termed. 10 such play,
would occasionally find 'soger' IN his
mouth, until ut length taste was formed
for the tobacco, which has since continued
10 increase and now he is what Ne 10. We
believe this Ia be the 'only instance on
record Of any animal but msn, and ons
species ofwnrtn, using the weed from pufe
love ofit.-BOskon Cabinet.
In I77l,a fatal duel took place between
. Major Hobbs, Of Liverpool. and Lieut.,
Sussex, Of the l1th dragons. Tho latter
was killed ut the third FIRE. To the aston
ishment and horror Of al, the victim proved
TO- be woman. Major Hobbs proceeded
10 London and blew out his brains.