, 1857-09-18
Science, Art, and Mechanics.

bridge, intends to publish an exposition
Of the creation Of the universe upon the
basis of the nebuar hypothesis, embracing
the eternal fire theory as one that can be
sustained. 1t is not contended that the
evidence in favor of the centre of the earth
being a mass Of fire is Of positive nature,
as in that case the reasoning would cease
to be hypothetical. But the evidence for
the affirmative is regarded as accumulative,
and TO such degree that it has been coA-
sidercd by vast majority Of the scientific
world as almost conclusive Even admit
ting what is alleged as the cause of the
high temperature Of springs and mines, ii is
argued that it by no means follows that TO
the same origin may be traced the source
Of the fire poured from the bowels Of the
earth. Prof Doremus is of the opinion
that the crust of the earth must have been
formed by the colling process, and that the
metals, being exceedingly dense, must
abound more largely deep down than near
the surface. The whole earth is four or
Eve tfhes as dense as water, while the crust
is only two and half times therefore the
interior must consist of metals which ore
eight, ten, twenty, or more times as dense
as water.
LipRoyEp TEIEGRApuIc CApLE.-One of
the most complete achievements Of scientific
mechanism is the construction of the sub
marine telegraph cable on the newly in
vented plan designed to meet the require
ments of the English and American oceanic
linn Eppnn fitn .ul. .i,l,
have been published OF this cable, it ap-
pears that the diameter is ont three-fourths
Of an inch In the centre are seven small
copper wires twisted upon themselves, and
the whole insulated by thick covering Of
gutta.perch. Eighteen strands of slender
iron wire, each strand composed of seven
threads loosely twisted upon themselves,
constitute the outer covering. The weight
Of the whole is eighteen hundred pounds to
the mile, aud its strength such tha: it will
bear in water over six miles of its own
length If suspended vertically. Its specific
gravity is such that it is thought there can
be no question about lis sinking readily to
the bottom, being much heavier than the
shells brought up by sounding. The OBJ
lection that the strands of wire forming the
outer covering will suffer corrosion or de.
composition is met by the statement, based
it is said, on satisfactory experiments, that
in corroding, the material Of which. the
outer covering consists will enter into
chemical union with the soft mud in which
the cable is embedded, aud will thus form
concrete mass Of calcarious or siliceous
substance, aiIording its very best possible
protection. The gutta percha and central
copper wire are thought 10 be indestructible
under water The aeXibility Of the cable
is snch as to make it almost as manageable
as a small hemp line. Its selection was the
result of months Of experiment and trial
hundreds of specimens having been made,
comprising every variety Of form and size
and structure, before this one was decided
upon.
INGENIOUS AND CONVENIENT HAND Pass
Tho unique machine invented by Dr.
Lewis, of Buffalo, has lever about two
feet long which projects from beneath the
bed, where the machinery which gives the
pressure is fixed. The platten is hinged
TO the edge Of the bed opposite the lever
and in lifting, spiral springs at the hinges
act in counter balancing the weight. The
frisket is hinged to the platten. When the
platten is down upon the form there is al
iron bail working upon the top of the plat
ten upon centre-pin {; underneath the bee
there is a reverse of this bail supported
upon q spiral spring The FIRST moyemen
of the handle trips a trigger at the iurLhel
end of the lever, which throws the uppel
bail around and locks the two together
then, as the pressure of the handle is con
tinued, the effect is to carry down the lowe
bail, and Of course the upper one, being
locked into it, must Come down equally
and that, resting upon the platten, whicl
is suspended by the springs over the form
it must come down so as to give an.
amount of pressure, which is regulated b.
the platten's clothing.
THE ARIruMoNETRE.-The attention o
the learned world is now engrossed, say
the Independence Bege, by new invention
which promises to be Of universal usefulness
Mr. Thomas, of Colmar, after thirty year
of hard study and assiduouS labor, has a
last solved the problem of calculation b.
mechanism His machine, which he ha
called Arithmometre, is applicable t.
the mechanical solution Of all arithmetca
operations, from the simplest to the mos
complicated ones. His instrument solves
! with mfallable correctness, not only th
four rules-addition, subtraction, multipl
cation, and division-but also ascertain
the power of quantities, extracts the root
of numbers, resolves trianslcs, ruduccs oil
dnary and decimal fractions, aud define
the rules of proportion, &c Its rapidit
Of execution is such us to defy the ables
. calculators. A multiplication Of eigll
numbers with eight numbers is executed i
eighteen seconds division of sixtec
ciphers through eight ciphers in twenty
: four seconds. The machery is so simpl
, that, after the expiration Of five minutes {
S instruction, any body eau calculate wit
1 rapidity and correctness. The Aritl
: mometre" is placed in q small light boy