Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-03-09
DAILY EVENING STAR.
LOCAL INTRLIIGENCR.

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION Last night, DR..
J Lawrence Smith delivered another of his
popular course of lectures, in the theatre of the
aSve named Institution, before i very large
audience. the hall being crowded with people.
The subject of the lecture was on the ebuIli-
ton and congelation of water. with a short
account Of the application Of the yapor Of
water rs a motive power.
Previously, however. to treating upon this
subject, the lee urer made some remarks upon
light houses. which had formed the subject of
his preceding lecture. He explained the prin-
eiple Of the Argand burner, which is used in
light houses. and observed that in order to
throw the light to great distance, two mirrors
we're employed. The illumination from this
kind of light was, however, limited in foggy
weather to distance Of five or ten miles, in
clear weather the light could be seen at o dis
lance of twenty miles.
The principle of the Fresnel light was then
explained and illustrated by diagrams, the
lecturer Temarking that the great difficulty to
be overcome. was in making the lens OF a
proper shape TO combine two contrary adyan-
tages. This was very ingeniously managedby
Fresnel, who used only portion OF the cir
conference Of the lens, so that in reality the
lens of his construction consists of sections or
parts of circle which are placed together as
concentric rings, the lens being thus made up
ofsuaII Sc yments ofcircleS. A specimen of the
fre3QSx
fixed in light houses was exhibited, to show
more clearly the manner in which the lens was
made.
The lecturer then explained the manner in
which the light was made to revolve and the
reason for selecting this kind of light in pre-
fa~e1ee to a fixed one. The reason of the
Fiesnel light being made to revoive upon its
axis was 10 prevent one light along the coast
being mistaken for another, as each light could
Il. ,.Ixa in
This " as done by clock wosk, so that according
TO the arrangement. the fash of light, which is
peculiar to the Fresnel method, was presented
to a vessel in any position, With regard TO the
light house, every minute or half minute, as
gre sailed along. By thus making each light
l0use to give the fash at any specified period,
ayeSsel could always know on what point of
the toas: she was touching, ths different light
houses being distinguished from each other by
giving the fash, In q longer or shorter interval
Of time.
In the course Of his remarks the lecturer
mentioned curious incident of the power of a
lens in rejecting light and heat. Aiarge mir
ror. belonging TO the lighthouse board, which
the lecturer had in the hall to elucidate some
of bis observations, was kept in the library of
the Institution, and some time ago lady, who
was standing before it, unaware of her danger,
had her dress set ON fire by the reflected RAYS
toned other Instances, in which places had
been set on FIRE by the same unknown means.
The lecturer then proceeded to the con-
slderatiol Ut water In lis physical properties
remarking that it was the most solvent agent
Known, even granite, as was we'll known, be-
ing worn away by the continual action of drops
of water. 1t was an axiom in chemistry, tha
a body insoluble in water, cannot be POISON
The lecturer continued TO give ycry inter
md ma, sfi, a q he
subject Of water, and concluded by some ex-
periinents to show the intense brilliancy of the
Fresnel light.
TELEGRAPHIC CoNvENrIoN.-A Articles have
appeared IN several of the Washington and
Baltimore papers respecting a Geographic con-
ventlon held III this city, which, from their
''grandioso" style, are likely to make out
siders believe that it was very big affair. We
would, therefore, inform our readers that the
convention alluded to consisted, when We saw
them, Of some half dozen individuals, interest
ed, We believe, in Morse's Telegraph As.
however, the subject OF teIegraphs is interest
ing to large class of persons ON account of
the business now transacted through them VIC
have appended the following synopsis of what
has been adopted by the convention during
their session in this city.
L. Measures to carry out fully the resoIu.
.. The consideration Of plan to secure the
certain delivery Of messages by repe ating and
graduating tariff.
j. The adoption of check for Offices to no.
THY the Office sending of the time of delivery
or non-deliyery of message
4. The adoption of uniform system to fur
nlsh materials to the respective lines
D. Inc adoption OF Shaffner's compound ia
rim scale for the use of companie, and the
public.
D.. Recommending all telegraph companies
OF America not to make exclusive arrange.
ments in giving preference, but opening equal
privileges to all upon the principle of {. tirst
come first served y
q Establishes the head quarters of the con.
federation in the city of New York. locating
the secretary in that city
.. repeating the resolution of the conyen-
ton OF 1898, relative to changing part of the
alphabet.
FINE ARTs.-We noticed some time ago
that the rotundo of the Capitol was fast be-
coming receptacle of new inventions several
articles OF various sorts having been placed
there for exhibition, some of which we have
already described; We also observed that i'm
the same place there were. likewise On ex-
hlDItlon some paintings and articles of scuIp-
ture Among these there has been on exhibition
Tor some time painting of the battle of New
orleans, which we should not have mentioned
but 10 express our surprise that so pitIful q
daub Is allowed to be placed in so public a
position. Merits, it has none of any sort to re-
qulre Its presence. We observe also. that a
painting by the venerable Mr. Gusts is like
wise on exhibition, representing the surrender
OF Yorktown. Paintings of this kind, depicting
an historical event, are valuable, inasmuch as
they ere accurate ikenesses of the prominent
individuals represented. How far the painting
above mentioned fuifils this essential REQUIRE
ment. we are not able to say, but tnis, we be-
heve, is the great value of Trumbulls paint
ings. namely: their fidelity in depicting the
Individuals represented
An HONEST HACK DRIvER-Llst night a
gentleman hired hack TO take him from the
railroad depot to Mrs. Nevins' boarding house
on street opposite the General Post Office.
and on his arrival handed the driver. whose
Fame Is Fay, ten dollar gold piece by mis-
take for a quarter of dollar-hIs fare The
diver who was not aware at the time of what
he had taken, shortly afterwards returned with
the piece of gold, and informed the gentleman
of the error he had committed Is people
are continually complaining of the sxtortions
practissd by hack drivers in demanding more
than their farg, it is but just that this driver
honesty in rectifying an error that had been
iEadT ertently made, should be recorded as an
example for others of his calling.
METROPOLITAN RMLROAD.-The Board of
Directors of the above named company, melton
tuesday nj .ht at Georgetown, but no business
OF Importance WAS acted upon. The surveys of
the several rDIitcs were InakaJ arar and tho