The Washington union., 1857-11-26
TIL THE WASHINGTON UNION.
LOCAL news.

PArENrs. Sixty patents were issued from the United
States Patent Office during the past week. OF these,
three for improved machines 30 aid ahmecai calcu
stions While there IL for feeding the flour, mix
Ing the materials, and kneading doughi-to TO sustain
lie-there several TO facilitate violent deaths by
means of many -chanbered rotating brcech firearms
and projectle for fire arms. An improvement in the
method officiating horses etc. rivers is among the
productions OF exuberant genius. An Improvement in
-shapener is not less important than that in
.candle-snufers, although candles not fashion
able they before the resort TO the brilliant
and now more popular gas. Improvements continue TO
be made in washing machines but perfection has not yet
been reached Three four gentlemen have obtained,
EACH the broad seal Of the Office, in attestation of the
fact that they have done something toward mitigating
the toll heretofore altogether required at the wash
tub.
Among the luxuries are Improvements in yentilating
rocking chairs and machine for making cgarght-
ers 'An improvement in watches is in the catalogue,
but for the improvement of watchmen the latter
everywhere desirable
TnssKscvINo DAY--Ihe city government having de-
sgnaed to-day of Thanksgiving and praise to
the Almighty public and private business will doubtless
be generally suspended There will be Divine service in
nearly every place Of worship and trust that every
citizen will respond to the publcycxpressed desire of
the mayor that the day s'may be observed becomes
Christian people sacred an occasion"
This public tribute of grateful acknowledgment the
Amighter Disposcr Of human events unqucstionably
due from every Our metropolis has been blessed
during the past year with almost unprecedented health
that greatest of all temporal blessings Abundant har
vests all around promise plentiful supply of the
cessaries Of life The majesty of the law has been
tanned in the midst of painful evaporation of public
feeling. And as community we have great for
thankfulness in surveying pecuniary position
that revulsions of trade and consequent financial ebar
rassments filling other communities with the
ployed and the destitute. remembrance of all these
with many other merces should prompt every Christian
citizen suspend his avocons renqush his pleasures
and make to-day Day of Thanksgiving
SMITHSONIAN LECTURES We learn that the winter series
of public lectures at the Smithsonian Institution will be
nauguaed by rscof six lectures by Professor John
lie Conte of the College of South Carolina His subjects
will be l. The from which the earth derives Its
temperature H. Distribution of solar heat the
face of the earth Ill Extent and general constitution
of the atmosphere ~ Physical and chemical constitu-
ton of the atmosphere " Physical of winds and
oceanic currents and their effects climate VI Causes
of rain its distribution and influence on climate
Due notice will be given of the time when these inter
estng topics will be discussed by Professor e Conte who
is one of tho abest scholars In the Union and will doubt
less attract large audiences Arrangements being made
by the efficient secretary of the Institution for other lee
lures, which will be duly announced.
REMEMBER THE PooR.We fear that, owing to the late
monetary revulson and necessity for rerench
ment the deserving poor have not received the usual
charities from citizens. This is the to be
gretted the needy and the destitute the most d
recty affected by hard times, which generally deprive
them of what little employment they can find,
To-day is Thanksgiving How gratitude for Di-
vine merces be better displayed than in seeking
some poor yet deserving family and furnishing them
with Thanksgiving dinner The day cannot be more
protably passed than in minsterng to the wants of
others, and is the time to that suffer for
the want of food fuel in the cold days and nights that
will soon be here. H@a,s ..
The ATLANTIC TBiAGRApH.-The visit to this city of
gentlemen prominently connected with the submarine
telegraph has naturally made 1t prominent topic Of
conversation Some gentlemen who have given attention
to the subject of opinion that in laying the cable the
vessel containing il should start from this side Of
the Atlantic The wind generally blows from the west
ward along the proposed route and the current sets In
the same direction.
Born PARTIES SENT CouRT.--The other day a coun-
ty constable bound court by one Of the ma
gisates for participation in riot The constable then
entered complaint before another magistrate against the
apprehendng officer for assault and battery arresting
him without warrant and the officer was yesterday
bound over to answer the charge.
p r. BARNUM, of New York. yesterday gained suit in
our circuit court in which the verdict was for 81 GIG I5
and interest.
CANAL NAVIGATION learn that the flames L.
cathcart," steam propeller for canal navigation, has
proved eminently successful.