The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-09-10

man would overturn any system. however con.
ventional. The misery of the elective affinity
scheme is, that men are not chemical sub
stances, and that, in nine cases out of ten, the
force OF the attraction works more constantly
and lastingly upon the woman than the man.
The Mormon Polygamy is nothing more than a
plant from the same evil seed sown in a baser
soil, and Is an attempt to compromise between
the higher instincts of mankind, organized in
their institutions, and the bestial propensities
OF sensualized individuals. "-James Russell
LosceU
DTsRAELI IN PARIS 1t is stated that the
Ministers OF Louis Napoleon had frequently
consulted Mr.. Disrseli, while in Paris. on the
Swiss question. The Emperor himself paid
him the most marked attention, and more than
once solicited him to express his opinion free.
y on the state of affairs. He looks consider.
ably worn by the political excitement he has
passed through of late years. The Jet black
nalr seems as black as ever, but the crop is
oy no means 30 luxuriant. The Jewish physiog.
nomy, as ne grows older, becomes more and
more characteristic. The eyes are especially
heprewlstic. His complexion is sallow brown
out regularly smooth and childlike, and. alto
gether, he reminds one more of a large school.
boy than OF one whose words have echoed tn
the farthest ends of the world, and shook from
his throne England's greatest statesman. His
voice Is peculiarly soft, and his manner more
subtle and cautious than seems consistent with
very large breadth of mind. His wife is eyi
gently person of superior mind. She is some
ten years older than himself if one may Judge
from appearances, but, should conceive, of
invaluable use to man carving his way, like
Disraeli, to place and power. She is plain in
FEATURES, with coarse yellow skin, but her ears
and eyes are everywhere not a sound or cir
cumstance escapes her, where there is the slight
est chance of realizing political capital; and
the moment she has got hold of it, she is off in
stanter to fetch her husband to clinch the nail
she has partially driven. She calls her husband
Dizzy" and her handwriting is of that mas
cullne character, and her expression of that
diplomatic terseness, which bespeak her me-
culiar order of mind. She was originally the
wife of Mr.. Windham, and, by her influence
brought in Disraeli on the radical interest. as
his colleague for the borough of Maidstone.
Afterwards, becoming widow, with five thou.
sand pounds year, she became Mrs. Dsrael
and no doubt gave her husband support and
encouragement when he uttered his philippics
against Peel.
SILVER IN THE SEA.-Three French chem
lists. as we learn from Household Words, have
been experimenting on the subject, and their
labors have led them to the conclusion that the
ocean holds dissolved two millions of tons of
silver. They took water from the coast of
st. Malo, few leagues from the land, and
Analysed 1t In two ways. A portion of the wa
ter they acted upon by the usual tests of silver.
and the presence of the precious metal was
clearly ascertained. The remainder of the water
they evaporated, and the salt they obtained
they boiled with lead. This lump of impure
lead they placed on a saucer made of lime
and then submitted it to heat sufficient to
melt the lead, but not to affect the silver should
any be present. The lead, as it melted, was
sucked up by the porous saucer, and finally
small globuie of silver sparkled in the vessel
This process is called cupelation, and is the
ordinary moas Of sTf tie 2
with the same success. From these expert
ments they made the calculation that a cubic
mile of ocean contains two pounds and three
quarters weight of silver.
MIR. Biddle was a wit as we'll as a financier
During the session ofthe Legislature of Pennsyl,
vania IN the year 1874, bill was up appro.
priating large sum for continuing the State
provements. Mr.. 81. of Berks, an honest Ger
man member, was very hostile to the BILL and
in fact opposed to State improvements as they
involved such an expenditure of money. He
knew the wishes of his constituents, but his
general knowledge was rather limited. While
the bill was under consideration, Mr. Bidde of
the city moved an amendment, appropriating
1000 for the improvement of the Alimentary
Canal The member from Berks was instantly
upon his feet, declaring his purpose to oppose
any appropriation for the Alimentary or any
other canal-declaring the appropriation to be
unnecessary, and against the wishes of the peo
pie. The amendment was instantly withdrawn,
amidst the general mirth of the members, at
the expense of the honest member from Berks.
The Rev. DR.. Backus, of Bethlehem, Con-
necticut, was man of power, as well as of &c.
centricity. He had a habit of dropping the
thread of his discourse, and delivering himself
of any thought that suddenly struck him. Thus
throwing up his spectacles, and leaning his ell
bows on the Bible and his chin on his hands,
he would break out, "Scandal I'll tell YOU
what scandal is Brother Smith has heard
something about Brother Jones, but it was told
to him under pledge of great secresy; and he
finds it so hard to keep it all alone, that be
tries to find some one to help him aud he i'm.
parts it to neighbor Jennings, and it proves too
weighty for their united capacities to bear, and
they soon manage to share it with Brother Fra
ser and so it spreads from one to another, till
at last Polly Downs hears of it, and then, whew
away it goes, and everybody knows it. And
that's scandal"