Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-01-19
DAILY EVENING STAR.
IOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

delivered by DR.. j. Lawrence Smith, at the abov.
.,u.d MACE on Carbon. The lecturer stated at the
commencement, that he thought the subject would
occupy three lectures In the lecture Of last night
he principally treated upon carbon it exists in q
pure brn and upon IFS combinations with oxygen
This substance, namely, carbon, was the only one
of the simple bodies, with the exception of sulphur
which was found in nature in pure state. Ii was
found ncay pure under three forms, that of coal.
p,umbaco or black lead, and the diamond. Anthraci.
coal was nearly pure carbon, containing from 95 to
81 per of that substance. lie then touched upon
the manufacture of charcoals describing first the
mode OF making it, when 4 very rure article is re
ouired as for the manufacture of gunpowder. H.
this latter case, any grains of sand mixed with thu
charcoal might cau-e the powder to explode unex
pcctedIy. The common mode of making charcoal,
merely for fuel, then treated upon, and its man
ufacture briefly described.
The next subject treated upon was that of plum
baco or black lead, which, the lecturer stated wa
wholly derived from six or eight mines. The manner
of cutting the slabs of this substance for lead pencils
was then mentioned, and the process which is yer,
simple, he described. The large slabs or blocks ar.
now becoming scarce, and artificial means are now
employed TO unite the small pieces and dust into
slabs of suitable size for the manufacture The
processes employed for the purpose, were either the
fusion with sulphur and anthony, else by intsns,
pressure under partial vacuum. Nearly all III,
pumbago used for the black lead parcels in common
use was obtained by these means and hence ,bej,
lnteriority.
The subject Of :. the diamond formed tire third
part of the lecture. To person unaccustomed TO
the subject, it might appear singular, that charcoal
and the diamond Identical in their composition
The opinion of Sir David Brewster was quoted, that
the diamond was probababIy the petrified gum
tree, and That this was probably correct. II was
found in Brazil and Borneo, in the former countr,
IN the sands OF the valley The value ofthe diamond
was then gwen, It's worth increasing in keometrica
ratio with It's weight. Thswas illustrated BY diagram,
which the lecturer drew ON the board behind him.
Indeed, lie frequently avaiIed himself of this useful
mode of illustration during the delivery Of the lee
ture, TO explain different parts. The two different
terms of ''briant'' and s'rosc diamond - BY which
this precious stone is known were then explained
the former is fiat understood, on its face ARD
Is generally LETT by the lspidary deep or thick it is
broad, thereby Il better reflection being insured
The other or rose diamond" is worked to a point
The celebrated ''Koh inoor'' diamond, which wa:
exhibited at the Worlds Fair in London was like
wise spoken of. Tavernier, the celebrated French
traveller IN the 18th century, gave description a,
that time of the above diamond, which, according
to him, weighed over five ounces or nearly half
British, it was found not to weigh much more than
quarter of the weight above mentioned. nwas MI.
Tenants opinion that it had been split into tire,
tb.,,
ton III which diamond, although difficult to be
cut, can be split by sharp chisel. One portion o.
ilis celebrated diamond was supposed to be in Per
sa, another in Russia, and the third is the Kohl
hoor This latter, when exhibited, was found to
have been cut nudicionsly that il did not reflect
the light much better THIN common piece of glass
In consequence of this defect il had been cut over
again.
The mode adopted for cutting diamonds is to en-
ploy an iron wheel, revolving at great velocity and
supplied with diamond dust, and in the instance Just
mentioned, the wheel was made to revolve at the
enormous rate Of 300 time, per minute. The Koh-
lnoor in the operation lost third of its weight.
The combinations of carbon with oxygen, were
next enlarged upon, and particularly that important
substance, carbonic acid. A great number of inter
OF the peculiar qualities of the last mentioned par
ueulariy It's power of e1tinsuishlng flame, &c. Al
though carbonic acid generally exists as gas, il
could be reduced to the liquid and even to the solid
form Here diagram was exhibited, illustrative of
the ingenious mode of preparing it i'm Iiaui form.
small degree of heat increased the elastic force
of this gas tremendously and owing to this PROPERLY
many inventors had attempted to employ it as mo-
tive power instead of steam. gentleman of George
town was now busiy engaged in perfecting an in
Vention or this description. The lecturer observed
that he had not seen the invention, but that the
chief difficulty To be overcome was in keeping the
points perfectly tight. and also in obseryatine the
danger from the sudden changes in the elastic force
OF the gas. The lecturer then gave a sketch of bis
i';ea OF such an invention, proposing to employ
cylinder and piston as iii the ordinary steam engine
and to supply the top and bottom alternately with
carbonic acid IN the liquid state. Its temperature
was then to be raised, which would have the effect
oil increasing the elastic force TO very great extent
Nary Tard-71e Nep Ordnance Builaiuy-Tse
Ordnance Departure nj OF the Navy Yard is perhaps
the most interesting to the visitor from the large ey
1850 - sii"t h1S DSci cHpiOJeu upon III. Al
more remote period, the Ordnance Department,
was entirely "ppertanng TO The land service, Tut OF
late years so many Improvements have been made in
the Navy, that il requires separate Ordnance De-
pirtnent OF IL oSn. The building i'm hich This de.
plrtnent l. 1T prcsoDt located, will, however, BE-
soon vacated for another, which has been lately
erected, and which is COW being fitted up fer III.
above purpose. his Eew Ordnance building is com
posed OF two stories; forming tie ground floor
and another above ii. Tie former cons lists of one
large room, 80 feet long by 60 feet wide, III which
the machinery used in this dcps rtment will be
placed, and some Smaller rooms for ofiices. The
steam engine for driving the machinery is quite new
and Is placed in adjoining building, which i.
divided by bIIcA wall into two Compartments Oh.
Tor The engine and the other for the boiler. The
upper floor, which Is partly supported 10y two rows
vi handsome cast iron columns that Jun along the
centre of the floor below consists OF the large room
OF somewhat smaller dimensions Than that under
hedh which Ill be used aImoTy for small arms,
end OF two ranges OF apartments for Offices separated
by corridor IL is intended believe, to place
IONS oil muskets along ih. tide walls of the passage
30 that Tie upper floor altogether Will present
unique appearance, the large room bTistlDg with
tayoneiS and small arms, arranged iii ornamental
shapes, and the corridor presenting of musket.
Oh 10th sides, ready for Use. Thus reminding the