The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-08-10

An experiment was made last week at the Hip
podrome upon the guidance of balloons. The trial
was not public, but there was large attendance
Of invited guests-editors, men of science, and ar
tists NJ. Giffard, the inventor, made most mel.
anchoty failure, as was foreseen by every one, on
examining the construction Of the erostat. The
balloon itself was immense, and in the form of
sperm whale; in fact, may say with Polonius,
that II was very like q whale. The motive power
was steam. engine Of five horse power, and the
rudder a sort of flying jb, rugged at what ap-
peared to be the stern OF the contriyance. The
balloon was distended with ordinary lighting gas.
Six o'clock was the hour appointed, but at eight
the eronaut and his steam engine were still on
terra frma. At exactly FIVE minutes past, the
whole concern, M. Giffard and all, rose maiesti-
cally seventeen feet, and then came down again.
The audience, rather painfully impressed by the
discontinue of the mechanician, dispersed slowly
and silently. One more miscarriage! Still an
other failure But the public are still hopeful. and
know of two other dstinct inventions that are to
have trial before the season Is over
M. Vattemare has just returned to Paris, after
three month"; absence in Belgium and Holland,
spent as usual in the prosecution of his plans Of
international exchange. He was everywhere re.
ceved with cordiality by governments, academies.
and scientific societies. At the Hagal, the Min
lister of the Colonies presented to him, for the
French Minister of the Interior, the most
cent and complete documents upon the Dutch
establishments in the East Indies One Of these
the government here had been seeking for vainiy
since lS4S. The Academic Society Of Brussels
promised to present to the United States coec.
ton of valuable French works, and one single
publisher made donation, for this purpose, of five
hundred volumes. Bo:h Belgium and Holland
have entered, by authority of their Ministers OF
lists between tho United States and France.
The personal property, furniture, and gallery OF
works of art belonging to the deceased sculptor
Pradier, to be sold to-day at the Institute.
Among the prominent objects are his statue Of Sap
pho, which obtained, at the exposition just closed,
the honorary medal Of the value Of $500; Pandora
in bronze, one yard high; Venus and Cupid in
bronze of the size of life; this group figured in the
exposition at London. Several models in plaster
will be sold, the purchaser to have the right of re-
production. The principal of these is a group
representing Polyphemos discovering Acis and
Golothea in grotto. During late tour in Italy
Pradier had purchased colossal block of marble,
in which he meant to carve this group, giving the
are paintings by Wovermans, Teniers, and Greuze;
a large screen of six leaves, painted by Vatican,
Chinese and Japanese porcelain, inlaid and carved
oak furniture, &C., sc. The rooms were open to
the public yesterday, (Sunday,) and were throng-
ed from morning to might M. Smart, one of Pra-
dier's pupils, has been elected by the Academy of
Fine Arts to fill his place in the Section of Sculp.
ture. FRANCO.