Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-10-30
miscellaneous Items,

1t will be recollcctedby readers that some
months ago AN effort was started by an associa-
ton of patriotic ladies' of this state for raising
funds 10 purchase the property of Mount Vernon.
The Philadelphia Enquirer states that between
sixty and seventy thousand dollars or about
third of the purchase money has already been
collected. This success encourages them to per-
sever.
A serious disturbance was threatened on Mon
day between the police and the students at jeff
erson Medical College in Philadelphia. 1t APP
pears thu police requested them not TO stand on
the sidewalk and obstruct the passage of pedes-
TRANS. A slight resistance made and two
of the students were arrested. Subsequently
their comrades made such threats and acted in
such violent manner as made it necessary to
call out mn extra police force. Soon after Mayor
Conrad visited the college and addressed the
students, which had the effect of restoring peace
aud obedience TO the law.
\ late notable discovery is that of process
for Transforming plaster of Paris into marbe,puro
white, or of whatever grain, and scarcely vary
ing from real marble in weight, while it is imper-
yious TO wet and cold and is susceptible of the
highest polish. The discovery has been made
by one of our New York artists Mr.. Wallace
Witherspoon, the landscape painter 1t has I'm
its products) been critically examined by leading
builders and marble workers. and pronounced the
dCsideratum.
A man named David Merrill, lately returned
from California TO Boston, attempted to murder
his wife and kill himself on Sunday. 1t is sta
ted in the Boston Herald that he inflicted no less
than thirteen wounds, with knife, ION her breast
and arms, when she broke his grasp and jumped
through Il window. He then stabbed himself six
times and soon afterwards arrested. Both
parties are in critical condition. Jealousy Is
supposed to be- the cause of the act.
NJ Montigny, French Consul in China, says
that the Chinese mix arsenic freely with the to-
bacco which they smoke, and those who do 80
nre described rs ''stout fellows with lungs like
blacksmith's bellows and rosy as chorubs.' This
statement has called out letter from Dr.. Lon
da. who announces that some years ago, in the
course of n discussion at the Academy of Medi-
cine ON the agents to be employed to cure tu-
bercular COM sumption he told the assembled doc
tors that he found but one means of combating
ting this dreadful disease. viz the smoking OF ar
senic and the doctor reatlirms his Communications
of that remedy.
The United States Attorney General has de-
cided that it is no departure from neutrality for
the citizens of neutral State TO sell to helliger-
ents gunpowdcr, arms, munitions. or any other
article of merchandise contraband of war, or for
the merchant ships of neutral State TO trans
port the troops or military munitions of either
belligerent. Such commerce is perfectly lawful
in itself, subject always to the chances of hostile
capture by the other belligerentand in the present
want supplies ofgunpowder,or other articles con
traband of war and military transportations, have
been furnished of lawful right, by citizens of the
United States, 10 each of the beligerents, and
more especially, and in larger proportions TO
! Great Britain and to France.
The people of Wisconsin sick of the anti
Capital Punishment Law. At great meeting in
Milwaukee, on the 10Th inst, relative to the mur
| der of Herman G.. Adams, Esq, (the Banker,)
full two thirds of those present voted in favor of
n restoration ofthe Death Penalty So much
| for Progress" and "liumanitaranism," false
| ly so-caled,) out there.
In the course of long article on the financial
prospects of Europe, the London Economist es-
Inmates the expenses of England alone at up
wards of fifty millions sterling per annum; those
| of France ut one hundred millions, and there is
| then that of Russia and Turkey to be considered.
| AT the lowest calculation it may be said that the
| present war absorbs three hundred millions ster-
ling, OF. fifteen hundred million dollars per an
num- Well may the Economist conclude that a
upon the money market and exchanges.