Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-02-16

Carter, Chandler, and johnston, and DR..
DUNCAN, and others, to join the steamer Ar
gentine at Buenos Ayres, and complies the
surrey ard exploration Of that river and the
Paraua to their head waters, for which pur-
pose the steamer Argentine Was built upon,
a model OF Captain r. B. Forbes, of Boston.
The difficulties with Paraguay will not pre-
vent the ,euetratiOn Of this little steamer
drawing only eighteen inches, lnto vast re-
gions almost unknown TO commerce..
The Board appointed by the War Depart
ment to examine Sharps' breach loading pis-
tolls, Of similar construction with the breach
loading carbiue, have made a report, the OBJ
iect being to ascertain how long they may be
used without cleaning. Alter tweuty-six
shots with the eight inch and thirteen with
the ten inch pistols, the movable or sliding
breach became 80 foul as to work with diff
Guilty, and render further experiments i'm
practicable. Ten shots were fired IN a
minute.
1t has been well remarked, by one of our
contemporaries, whose feelings are by no
means unfriendly to the present Emperor OF
the French, that he is the last man who
should complain of the protection afforded
by England to persons prescribed by her
npirhbors. The time has been when he was
glad to avail himself Of that protection. and
when he made use of the security thus afford
ed him, for the purpose of organizing expe-
ditions for the invasion of France, and for
overturnips her monarchy.
At the suggestion of several Southern gen
tlemen, the Secretary of the Interior has re-
ouestad Gen. Luther Blake, Of Georgia, to
Join Col. Rector and Major Garrett, Indian
at Tampa Bay, to aid in e~ffectiug the
peaceable removal IF the Seminars from
Florida. The Generals influence with Billy
BJwlegs, and bis tribe, now occupying the
everglades Of Florida, warrants the belief
that ere long they will consent to JOIN their
brethren west of the Mississippi.
Most of our readers will remember that
Ex-Governor VIM. Bebb. of Ohio, who now
resides near Rockford, Illinois, was last Fall
for shooting at and MORALLY wound
ing one of a party of reckless young men
who were infesting his residence and annoy
ing his family with a charivari Or horning
party on the occasion OF the marriage OF one
of Gov. BIS sons. He was tried for murder
week, at Rockford, and t~riumphantlY ac-
Quilted.
The Va. Legislature has been engaged sew
ersl days recently, in discussing the propriety
of altering or abolishing the office OF Hour IN
spector in the city Of Richmond. The mat
ter is brought up Just DOW in the form oil COM
plants made by millers that the Inspector
takes from each barrel q larger amount OF
-four than he is entitled to by law. 1t comes
ont in the discussion that the Richmond ln,
snec,or's emoluments from his Office exceed
Sl3, 900 per snnum.
The Bangor papers say that the skating
in that quarter was nearly destroyed oy
the hail and sleet with which they were VS.
ted last week. The tremen Of Bangor, how
ever. have gallautly volunteered to turn out
with their engines and wet down a SUFFICIENT
on the river, to afford a skating PRIV
ileee for the ladies Of the city, OF whom
there are about fifty well skilled IN THIS
bealtbful amusement.
The Rev. Samuel Gilman. D. D., pastor Of
the Unitarian church Of Charleston, 5. T..
died last week at the residence of bic son.in-
Rev. Charles j.. Bowen, at Kingston,
Mass. Ii appears that he had been In de-
clinipg health for some Time ana hau gone
North for the purpose ct seeking tne aaVap-
tages which might result from traVei anu d
of climate.
The widow of the late President Harrison
has been for a considerable time confined 10
her bed. at the residence of her son, }. Scott
Harrison. near North Bend, Ohio. Old age,
than any particular disease, 1t is stated
has asserted its Influence upon @ naturally
organization. The venerable iaay
now over eighty years OF age.
The Massachusetts, House Of Representa-
tiyes has by a large majority passeda Dill y
which persons usually styled Atheists are
t, testify 10 courts of justice. Upon
he Question of reconsideration Hon. Caleb
Gushing opposed the measure as iorcio'y as
,ould. hut without affecting the hnal re-
sult, for the bill has gone to the Senate.
All speculations in regard to the ice crop,
At the North at least, may now be set aside.
We have accounts from Boston, Maine, New
uamnsbire Albany and along the North river
.,hieb state that ice from eight to eighteen
aches in thickness is now being harvested
with a fair prospect of the quantity ihc'ea'-
ing.
S. b. Martin, an itinerant artist, sno' anu
killed Mr.. Cunningham, aged sixty years. OF
Mansfield, Louisiana. The difficulty ori-
gipated in words which passed between Inc
parties while Martin was intoxicated. He
was committed to Jail.
A Chinese woman vas baptised IN the
First Presbyterian Church, in Pittsburg. last
Sunday week. She was about forty years
of age, and had been purse to the children
of Rev. DR.. Harper, q returned missionary to
China.