The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-21

ture history. Who can be unmoved when such
struggles for supremacy are about to commence
who could slt unconcerned on hill that overlooked
such battle field In Austria, they seem to think
that the clouds of are gathering in thu east and
in the west. It is considered that Louis Napoleon
will not hesitate ere long to plunge Europeinto war;
from the circumstance of his past omnous silence
regarding the treaty Of 1916 from the fact Of his
having shown how unscrupulous he is in the means
to indulge the vain glory and pride of the people
whom he rules, and from regard to tradition con-
nected with the name Of Napoleon, which has
hitherto been the herald Of war to Europe. 1t is said
that the Pope himself would give the brightest jewel
in his triple crown to evacuate Rome Of the French
and to get the Austrians to occupy in their place.
Perhaps the Pope Is not unmindfal Of the past
hankering OF the Napoleon family for italian
crowns and also Of the past escapades of Louis
Napoleon himself in the Romagna. But whilst Rome
trembles, and Belgium and Savoy are also getting
alarmed about their borders, Austria and Rus
STA areSalculating revival Of the ancient feuds Of
France and England whereby, whilst these old ene-
mics fall " to clapper-clawing, they may be ena-
bed at last efectually to divide the East between
them. The state of the Greek and Sclavonic popu-
ations in the north of Turkey is in q fair way Of
giving the required cause for foreign interference.
Austrian troops are already being hurried off in
considerable numbers to the military borders
in the West and the South, and even meditating for
the ultimate establishment Of Russian harbOr in
the Adriatic. Surely, under such circumstances,
England has good reason to be preparing for future
Of Sir james Macintosh, that "the human race
have not yet arrived at the promised land Of uni
versal peace = and that although the tendency Of
human affairs may be towards a better state, ex-
perence does not justify us in supposing that many
steps Of the progress may be Immediately for the
worse.
The Guan0 Discoveries In the Pacific.
From the London Gazette, March 24.l
The announce ment in the Shipping and Mercan-
tile Gazette, of Monday, Of the discovery of an ex-
tensiye guanO deposit upon an island in the South
Pacific Ocean, is causing SO many inquiries, that We
readily put before readers such further norma-
ton upon the matter have been able to CLEAN.
1t appears that several months since the fact ofthe
existence of guano was communicated by an old
whaling captain to his owner, who at once deter
mined that the matter should be kept secret until
more fully substantiated and if found to be correct
then to place the discovery before the shipping in
terest With this view, he gave instructions to the
captain of vessel he was despatching upon avoyage
round the Horn, to search for the island in the ati
tude and longitude furnished him, and to report to
him all particulars, from the first port he could
make. So faithfully and successfully have these
orders been fulfilled that, by the last mail from
Panama, we are told that the owner had the origi-
nal statement fully confirmed and received sam
pies OF the guano, taken from the spot by his own
by an eminent London chemist, and give the follow
ing result
~ parts salts of ammonia.
animal organic matter.
sulphate of muriate Of potash and soda.
81 phosphate of lime and phosphate Of
magnesia.
u d" sand.
liz F." moisture.
100
BY comparison Of this analysis with that of the
best Peruvian guano now selling at 81. 5s per ton,
we understand the value Of the new article will be
is probable that many cargoes will find their way 10
Mauritius, and other colonial and foreign markets,
the value will be found to vary materially and,
the samples are said to have been taken from the
surface, the amount of ammonia will in all proba-
blity, increase the bulk becomes worked into.
The quantity deposited is stated to be considerable
that % suppostion can be safely ventured upon and
the island, from not being near any coast is quite
free from the dangers attending the loading at lcha
Doe, and other islands on the west coast Of Africa
from the setting in Of rollers.
discovery of this description, at time when
SO many vessels are lying unemployed at San Fran
cisco, andso many others, idle seeking, in
Australian colonies, and also in India we look upon
as means Of profitable employment, which many
island, are informed, is at present unclaimed by
any government, and the British flag was the first
banner planted upon it.
curious experiment, demonstrating The protec-
tive quality Of gutta percha against the escape Of
the electric fluid, was tried the premises of the
ondon Gutta Percha Company. A series of
LOCO feet long, and in the aggregate amount
ing to 275 miles, immersed in the water
Of the Regents Canal-all, except the parts where
each wire joined its fellow. The juncture was un-
fected by mere twisted contact, condition very ef
favorable to the ready transmission of the fuid--and
the yoltaic battery employed in passing the dis
charge was on the old construction of DIR. Wollas-
ton, consisting of 3S4 pairs Of inch square plates
Of copper and zinc, put in action by dilute sulphu
ric acid. On completing the yoltaic circuit, the
plosion was instantaneous notwithstanding the
wires had been immersed in water ever since the
18th Of January By employing stronger battery,
electrical ignition. The usual plan of infaming
gunpowder by means Of voltaic electricity, consists
in making the fluid traverse slender platinum
wire, which thereby is rendered. incandescent--a
plan which certainly would not have been effective
at SO long distance as 275 miles, with the battery
employed. Probably it would have been impossible
with any battery. The plan actually followed was
discovered by Mr. Statham the chemist at the gutta
percha works, and consists in passing the voltaic
discharge through small layer of the salt (proba-
bly, sulphuret Of copper). which forms when copper
is brought into contact with sulphurised gutta
percha.
Paris on the Goth ult THE French government
has got into n curious scraIe. few years ago the
Chevalier Sante, an Italian gentleman, having,
while at Rome in 1897, made copy of Raphaefs
celebrated picture of the TRANSPORTATION. the size of
the original brought it to Paris and placed it in the
Church of St. Roch. There the picture remained
for some years, and in the meantime the cure died,
while M. Sante went to England. Matters
in this state when Sir Ferguson Davy, with whose
family Sante is connected, being in Paris, made
inquiry about the picture. when he ascertained
that it had been removed by order of the Minister
of the Interior but enc could say to what place
or w NJ
written to. He came to Paris forthwith, and soon
ascertained that his picture had been taken to the
mandatory of the Gobclins, where for the last
year it had been used model for the students !;
men had been employed in making n copy in tapes
try from it. NJ. Santc claimed the picture rs his
property and his claim at once allowed. He
also insists that the government should either pur-
chase the picture or make him an indemnity for the
use Of it, and he claims 100000 the value of his
ric.ure. The figure Ia q large one. but the Minis