Mariposa Democrat., 1857-06-11

at this season the hunting grounds above, and
until the seals begin to form their basket holes,
some ten days later, the walrus is the single
spoil
incline to the opinion that these animals
frequent the halfbroken ice margin throughout
the year; for, after the season has become com
paritively open, they are still found in groups,
with their young disporting in the leads and
shore water. They are, of course, secure under
such circumstances, from the Esqimeaux hunt
ers of the far north, who, not having the kay
ak Of the more southern settlements, can only
approach them on the ice.
The Transatlantic ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF
the Niagara.
The new steam frigate Niagara, at once the
largest and most beautiful war vessel aloat,
being 345 feet long and measuring $500 tons,
has sailed for England to take on board one
half Of the Atlantic telegraph cable which is
intended to establish instantaneous communi
cation between Europe and America. After a
most successful trip Of two days-a trip which
fully justified the expectations formed from
her majestic graceful lines and from the repu-
tation of her architect, the late George Steers,
the builder of the Yacht America which out
sailed the best crafts of England at the Worlds
Fair Exhibition-she proceeded on her desti
nation on Friday night, having on board Pro-
fessor Morse, not only the inventor of the
electric telegraph, but the first constructor Of
a submarine cable fifteen years ago.
The difficulty experienced by Morse from
the impossibity of insulating the wire from
contact with the water was obviated eight
years ago when the valuable properties oi
gutta percha were discovered. This substance
not only completely protects the wire from IN
corrosive action Of the water but being at the
same time non-conductor, the strength Of tho
electric current is maintained unmpaired, un-
less so far II is weakened by friction through
the wire itself, which is equally great by land
or water. The first tclegraphc marine cable
ever successfully laid, was between France and
England in 1850, the tcrmini being Dover and
Calais, n distance Of 21 miles. The work was
accomplished in six or seven hours. The next
wire cable was laid between England and Ire
land from Holyhead to Howth, in 1852, dis
tance of sixty-fve miles. Others have since
been laid, but the longest was that through the
black sea frora Baaklava to Varna, a distance
of 374 miles, put down during the late war
with Russia But for the first time it is now
attempted to connect the shores Of the Old
World and the New, by this most subtle and
mysterious agent. A few years ago when the
stupendous undertaking was talked Of, scarce
ly any person believed it within the range OF
possibility Even men of true science secuted
at the idea But then the advocates Of the
Transatlantic telegraph recollected that the
great DR.. Lardner, whose name stood SO high
in the scientific world had demonstrated that
the Atlantic could never be crossed by steam
Ship and exactly in one month after the deed
was done
Should this great enterprise be crowned
with success there can be no doubt that il will
be regarded as the great work of the age, not
only from its difficult nature, but from the ex-
traordinary consequences that will flow from
it.
= Not only will we have instantaneous intelli-
gence of what is passing in England but, par
adoxical as it may seem, we shall know the
event before it happens. That is, if speech
should be made in Parliament at four o'clock
in the afternoon, we shall have report of it
here at twelve o'clock, four hours sooner,
which is the difference between the meridian
of the two countries, that is the sun rises four
hours sooner in London than it does in New
York so that if Parliament met in the day
time like Congress and at the same hour, we
would have the news of its doings several
hours before we could have tecgraphic con-
gressional reports from Washington of the
same days proceedings IN Y. Citizen
CouLD'NT HOLD his ToNGuE.-Dr. Locock,
the Queens physician, has been peremptorily
dismissed from further attendance on the royal