Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-01-10
THE CONVENTION.

LIE Sldte CoHVeHtlOIl, as our readers Will
gather from the full report published in the sur-
pement furnished them, determined, on Wednes-
day, to hold its sessions in the Unitarian Church
on Marion Street, which, we believe, is expected
to be in readiness for its reception early next week
The body will not get regularly to work for some
time, except in its various committees
letter from Mr. Senator FoorE appeared in
the Union newspaper Wednesday in reference to
the, Union Convention that has been suggested to
be held in Washington City. Mr.. Foote denies
that this proposed movement had any connection
with the Presidential question, and explains the
object of it as having relation merely to the sup
port of the adjustment of the last session in all its
parts, and to imparting additional zeal and eff
cheney to the efforts of the friends of the Union
in every section of the Republic.
DR.. SMITH's LECTURE was, we learn. flor we
were denied the pleasure of hearing it, most in
teresting discourse, and gave great delight and
satisfaction to his audience
A claimant for the honor of the invention OF the
electric telegraph has appeared in France. The
proofs thus put forth in French Journal:
A few days since took place the public sale of
the library Of NJ. Derault. In the collection was
found dusty old manuscript entitled Dissertatio
sur etectricie applique la Transmission des noure
Fes ltbears date 1865 overthe signature of Lou
is Lesage and is said to be enriched with valuable
portrait of Charles Bonnet the celebrated Gene
vese metaphysician and natural philosopher.
The manuscript was knocked down to D rofessor
of the University of Claskow. The physician
Lesage was the son of Frenchman settled in
Switzerland. A Frenchman by birth, his medi.
cal and scientific studies were completed at Paris
which was for several years his residence. In
1850 he returned to Switzerland and in I774,
as the account goes, he ctually established in
Geneva an electric telegraph. This telegraph was
composed of twenty-four separating wires an
swering TO the twenty-tour letters ofthe alphabet.
His apparatus, all imperfect it was, is averred
TO have contained and illustrated the principle of
that which is now in such general use.
If the MSS. proves to be genuine we shall
doubtless hear more,if it would greatly CRAFTY
French vanity to establishin favor of Frenchman.
priority OF invention, barren though tproved to be-
EcLIPsEsM ls5l.-There will! be foureclinses
in the present year, the most prominent of which
will bea great and visible eclipse of the SUM- The
first is partial and visible eclipse of the moon on
Friday, January II, commencing at forty minute.
past three in the afternoon, and terminating exact
ly at six o'clock nearly one-haf of the moon will
be obscured. The second is an annular eclipse of
the sun on Saturday, February visible to us. The
thirds partial and invisible eclipse of the moon
on Saturday, the 18th of July; and the fourth is
The great eclipse of the sun on Monday, the 2sth
OF July; the greatest solar eclipse we shall have
IN England until March, 1858. 1t begins Oh. 8m.
lSs.
SMITH OBRIEN.-44ttenlpt TO Escape-We bav.
later adyces from Australia. The Hobart Town Con.
riar If he 9TH IF AM oiya RI fol
OF an attempted escape Of SIN it'll O'Brien
On Sunday and Monday the Victoria cutter, COM
manded by named Ellis, was observed towering
about the island, the wind being Light until evening
when II iel calm Shortly before shutdown, Mr.. Smith
OBren " no notwithstanding his ayowed intention of
should an ahla