Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-12-25

officers of the army and navy, with many dis
tngushed civilians were present yesterday, by ap-
pontment at the Washington Arsenal to witness ex
detrimental tests of inventions of great Importance
patent train fuse, invented by Gomez and Mills appear
ed to possess all the advantages of the gavanc battery
in velocity of ignition, WHILE as it is not decorating IL
cannot be exploded by any chance below Cannon were
fired with it almost quicker than thought at long dis
tance and it was fired thirty-yards under water.
Haes improved rocket also satisfactorily tested
The rockets were fired from their carriage and struck
with remarkable accuracy at distance OF $50 yards
They gave the greatest satisfaction
The great feature of the exhibition, however, the
test of the breechloadng rifle of Mr. Morse OF Louisi
ana which proved remarkable weapon, possessing ma
ny points of novelty and of excellence The mechanism
bv which the breech of the gun is opened Tor load
ING is simple vet strong and The charge con-
tanned in in small metallic cartridges which have at
extremity conical pointed hollow ball then comes the
very small amount of powder required and at the other
extremity is the percussion cap. These cartridges can
be easily loaded, waterproof and can be used Tor
long time The piece is loaded and fired in four motions,
viz the first opens the breech withdraws the shell of
the last cartridge fired and cocks the piece at the second
motion the lOded cartridge inserted the third motion
closes the becch and at the fourth motion the cock
be let down. the piece fired. After the most severe
tests there was evidence of the escape of the charge
of any gas, except at the muzzle Of the piece.
The accuracy with which the rifle be fired is tru
y astonishing, and was conclusvey proved. The Sec
rotary Of War used one with great effect hitting mark
elgnt nundrC1 ana OtHer gen
temen gave equally satisfactory proofs of the excelency
and the accuracy of this wonderful weapon The acili
ty with which it can be loaded and fired also per-
ecty demonstrated, and the utility Of the weapon
more fully shown by placing it under water, letting it
remain there and then firing it. 1t also placed
der water when loaded and then fired neither did the
admXture of sand with the water clog the movement of
the lock- Nothing can be perfect than its opera
on more accurate than its aim and it received the
highest praise from the many distinguished and we'll
qualified judges present. Major Bell the commandment
at the Arsenal entertained the gentlemen present with
his accustomed hospitality Washington Union.
Hastings of Punch.
Punchs first picture represents fierce Chinese army,
with shields spears bamboos and pig tails, driven off by
corps of Italian orgenists playing My Mary Ann
Bobbing Around and Poor Dog Tray"
The English beat the Yankees in one thing-brag-
ging Witness Punch =
Thnnaopyip and Cu,r.porr.
The glory of Leonidas
Eternal will and should remain,
With his small band who held the Pass,
When those three hundred men were slain.
England has sons as good as he,
AS hard brunt well who bore
Old Sparta kept Thermopya:
Old England longer held Cawnpore
And Lucknow relieved and won.
Against an overwhelming mass,
And Haveock, conquering chief, has done
Yet better than IeOndas
How LacedRmon noby failed,
Will history never cease to tell
How England, in like strait prevailed,
And Brtons triumphed as they fell.
Punch jokes little about the panic, and chronicles
few of its effects:
Mr.. Larker was so engaged in the city while the
money pressure lasted that he reached home
until past midnight, and then so much overcome
that he could not take his boots off.
McFlmsy Co., the great North Country house, had
been preparing to smash for upwards ola welvemonth
and now it is believed, will attribute their misfortune
entirely to the panic, and doubt will be rewarded with
first class certificate.
The wife of respectable and highly cautious stock
broker alarmed by what she heard her husband
say about the low state of the bank resources and the
drain of gold from the establishment, that she made
haste to realize the notes she had for housekeeping and
in her hurry purchased things for her wardrobe
than the arder
Another bill discounter, of strictly Christian tenes
was thrown in such state of mind by finding that some
paper he had been doing" had in fact been doing
him. that to compose himself for rest he prescribed
the strongest anodyne and Mr.. Smiths Poems
failed to set him nOdding
Mr.. Browns wife's mother, CHANGING to be staying
with Them look occasion of the panic to read lecture
on economy to Mr. B at dinner time in answer to his
grumbing at " that blanked cold mutton y
The chairman at a meeting Of agricultural society
affected by the sight of the soveregns he was
awarding to prize aborers that he Immediately wrote off
letter to the Times declaring that there need be no
fears OF distress among the working classes for the peas
antry he knew had boards of gold which they when out
of work, could well fall back upon.
A Begravan foOtman who had been investing
some spare puckwsts in three per cents was over
lOyeu at Ie suspension OF the Dank act and the cOSe
quent advance OF government securities, that he actually
returned civil answer to lady who called to apply for
Ia gOverness's place
Punch labels his large picture The American Cri-
sis John addresses Jonathan paternally V" The fact
is both you and your wife have been living too fast -
Jonathan is smoking as he bestrides rocking-chair
with his face to the back of it. His wife is weeping
for the loss of carriage and xins." John Bull looks
like the old fool that he is buying things in this country
that nobody here would buy, and lending to people here
double of what they could get trusted in America We
suspect John will discover before he gets through that
he and his wife, well Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan have
been living too fast
Punch's " take off, of Fanny Fern is capital
though sooh to say he compliments her over much in
selecting her style the speech of American
womanhOod Fanny is made to conclude as follows -
The men have shown that they amt up to the pace
required in these go-ahead days. so now we'll try our
luck. Let them be off to Saratoga or Sarah anybody
they like. We conclude to take the business in hand.
Yes, Stree. Well begin by making one big bonfire in
Broadway of all their books and bills and botheration
and the gallant remen of New York ar nobor fellows,
have said elsewhere than any of the naughty arts
tocracy of England, the upper ten either shall
that don't set the city afire. Then we'll take bust
ness into own keeping, and whip me for fool if by
next fall everything amt slick and slavery. No more
oaning and discounts and protests Except about
beauty, eh, girls p and all that botherumske, the
poor Irish exied patriots prettily call it. We will have
the almighty dollar naked i'll all its silver lowell
and he shall be wrapped up in no paper of any
kind Thatsour basis, our declaration of independence,
and we'll fight any number of Bunkers Hills upon it
Hail, Columbia, happy land the gals have took your
cause in hand What do you say to that, my Cats?
FANNY FERN"
The Universal Alphaba.-It has only three letters,
but they are understood all the world, viz L.
s. d."
Motto for Queen EabsUa.-" The pleasures that we
| love physics (S)pain'