The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-10-17
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CIRcAssIA.-Circassia is a noun
tainous, but very fine and beautiful
country, bordering upon the Black Sea,
at its Eastern extremity. 1t is also
contiguous to the Russian territory ly-
ing toward the extremity of the Euxine,
and intcrposc lis lofty mountains and
fertile valleys between the clutch of
Russia and those more level and less
wild countries towards the Euphrates
and the Tigris. 1t is the aim of this
ambitious power, Russia, to become pos
sesscd, if it can, of all the realms con.
tiguous to the Black Sea, on all sides.
On one side the sWolf' has already laid
his paws on the Danubian Provinces,
on Moldavia, Bulgaria, Walaohia, and
is, on this side, therefore, fast advanc-
ing towards Constantinoplc. But be-
fore it can enslavc the tracts lying on
the southern coasts of this sea, it must
subdue and pass the fine people of Cir
cassia--a race i'll physical requisites
the finest specimens of men now to be
found on this globe, and Of courage and
activity msurpassablc. Against these
noble but unoffending people the Mus
covitc scrfs have now, for many years,
been carrying on, cruelty, bloody but
fruitless vars. No quarter is yivcn,
and the amount Olive lost isnot known,
excepting, that generally, it is very
great. 1t is believed that taking bat
tie, sickness, fatigue, al: scthcr into
account, not less than 100000 Russian
serts have left their bones among the
wild passes; and this without gaining
any ground that is tcnable. The Car,
in furthcrancc Of this murdcrous con-
Hict, tries to stop all access by sea to
ssia.--LonGon STANDARD Of Free.
DOM.
CALCINED GRANITE AS a MATERIAL
FOR FICTILE PURPOSES. "A large num-
ber Of experiments have lately been
made by Mr.. Archibald M'Donald, at
the Scyton Pottery, Aberdeen, upon
calcined granite as a substitute for clay
in the manufacture Of pipes and other
carthenwarc articles. lie states in a
note to us, that the material stands a
strong fire, and is not affected by transi-
tons from heat and cold. The native
color of the stone can be nearly retain
cd in the formation Of busts, statues,
vases, urns, and general pottery, as also
in chimney places, spouts, and chimney
cans. In such articles as are intended
to withstand the effects Of great heat,
where an extract only Of stone is used,
the color cannot be kept 50 well las,
for example, rctorts, cruciblcs, and mel
ting pots; but any preparation Of the
material, when once properly finished,
may be heated to whitcness without in
jury. Up to the present time, the cx-
perimental trials have been carried on
under every disadvantage, as, from the
circumstances of the inventor, the pre-
paration of the material has been entire
ly performed at spare moments in his
own dwelling house, the articles being
afterwards carried to the pottery to be
fired. AS the existing furnaces would
not fuse suitable glaze, the ordinary
brown ware glaze had to be used, thus
spelling the true tint Of the stone. Mr..
M'Donald is also the posscssor Of new
composition for coating ships bottoms,
as a preservative. 1t is transparent
black, not brittle, but very adhesive,
and it is said to destroy marine insects
and prevent vegetable deposit u Prac.
Nee. JoW.
1t is said that an artist in this city,