The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-01-09

That the brilliant and coveted diamond, diff.
fered only in its combination from charcoal, its
chemical nature being the same. Lamp-black
bears the same relation to the diamond, that burnt
alum does to the crystal of alum. This discov-
cry led many wild dreamers astray, and many
valuable fortunes were spent in trying to change
charcoal to the diamond Battling the applica-
tons of the most powerful agents. it has remain
ed the same. Exposed to the intense heat of
galvanic battery, placed in the contracting
power of evaporating ether, it is still far from
the precious stone, and admits of all change save
humiliation and chrystalizaton
Although Chemistry has solved ten thousand
mysteries, it is yet in its infancy, for the first no.
BILE investigators of this important science have
hardly passed from among us, and their weary
pens are scarcely dry from the page of lore.
That which was once examined in the dark
ened room, and under the strictest secresy, by
men the world deemed mad, is now the school
boy s easy lesson
1t has bestowed incalculable blessings upon
mankind. By thorough knowledge ofthe laws
governing calorc, the navi gator can send his
ship ploughing through the ocean with the speed
of racehorse, on the land with his car he out
speeds the goss- hawks flight. Long and tedious
would be my task to attempt to enumerate the
vast variety of purposes to which the active pow.
er of caloric laws has been applied The most
complicated labors are performed by it. Iron
yields to it like melting wax. The heavy ano
cumbrous anchor, and the cambria needle-the
wheels of the massive foundry, and the minute
and delicate machinery ofthe watch-the, fines
thread of silk, whose gossamer texture woult
shame spiders web, are all formed by it's pow
err. 1t will make FIVE hundred nails at one an
vii in minute, and spin a thread of cottor
of such exquisite fneness and texture, ant
such rapdty, as to cause it to run to the spool
through the hot flame of a spirit lamp unscorch
ed and without change of color.
But by the aid of Chemistry, how different ha
been the effect produced upon the material worl'
by the abstraction Of caloric. Taken from wa
ter while in liquid state, the bulk OF the wpte
is lessened until it arrives at certain degree
Ifthen more calorc is taken away, its volume
rapidly increases.
This is a singular phenomenon, and at frs
glance seems a matter Of mere curiosity. 1t |
far otherwise, and even to the simply curious
should possess deep interest.
Water at temperature of 40 degrees, has bee1
closely confined in balls iron, of massive thick
ness, and exposed to low temperature; it nigh
as well have been in glass; the water becam
ice, and burst it's iron band, as easily as the chill
parts the spiders net.
But for the presence of caloric, the mighty o
cean would become solid as block of marble t
its deepest caves. Deprive it of its electricity
and its Shiny waves would would sleep in thei
quiet beds, and ''ships rot saHlortess' upon it
turbd surface. The zephyr would wake no rip
pie on its CLASSY mirror, nor the storm-king rous
its fury. Then take one more property from il
and the ruin is complete. Extract chlorine, an
its waves would become fresh and putrid, lik
the tabled waters of the Jordan, life become eS
tnct within its bosom, and the mighty sea mas
of putrifaction.
ELLA