Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-03-05

| VALUABLE Instrument. We have hsd ouf
attention called TO newly invented instrument
for practical surveying, by Robert ID. Llll-y
son of Col James NJ. Ley Of Greenville, Augusta
county, Va by whom patent has recently Deenoo
tanned. The instrument gives the bearings the lat
tude and Departure tina hor 9onts distance, correcis
varis'ion calculates the area OF trsus'ss neiElts
and distances works right and oblque angled trigo'
| nometry. &c, &c. The instrument is highly recon-
, ,gended BY many Of the most scientific and d'stn
guish-d citizens .f the State and is certainly worthy
| Of the attention Of Surveyor.
| A VIRGINIA CONTRIBUTION TO ScIEScE.-At 3
meeting of the American Theological Society, held
in rev York city Friday last Dr. Wills DE Has,
OF Virginia, read paper on the subject OF IN nscrp
tinn in twenty three unknown characters, upon u
small stone tablet fouHd in mound at Grave Creek
in Western Virginia. IL appears that there has been
great deal OF doubt in the mind. OF the Swans, both
here and IN Europe AZ 10 the Renuineness OF thls small
stone tablet with twenty three unknown characters
but the paper Of Dr. De Hsss puts an end to all cavi
and the relic acknowledged TO be one of the moot
valuable contributions to American archaeology that
has been made for years.
the .Whig") the following letter from Halifax court
house: "Tsrs il stated in almost every paper in Nlr.
gins, which ha fallen under my eye, "hat Tuck, tn.
murderer Of Ashby, had been arrested and committed
10 js" There is nol porG IF truth IN the report;
aud the statement doubtless fret inserted in 0olns
newspaper TO enable him to escape with eHs difficulty
on the cars the conductors Of which had been keep
ing constant look out for him. Please correct this
report order that he may be- brought 10 usrca; and
il hoped that every oner editor who has copied this
iasa statement, 80 well calculated and doubtless ILL
tended 10 facilitate his escape will do the same"
Henry A. WAsHISGToS, Eco. who met with an
unmely death in Washington On Sunday afternoon
by the accidental discharge of air-gun, was well
known throughout Virginia and the South. He had
for some weeks been invalid under medical treat.
m.nt in Washington, and generally amused himself
by prscticing from window upon pigeons. Deceased
was son-insw of the late Judge Tucker. ard has
for several years past been Professor of History in
William and Mary College. lie was the editor Of the
last edition Of the Jefferson Papers was ripe scholar
and accomplished gentleman He leaves wife
and daughter, and had made preparations to leave
with hi. family on Monday for Williamsburg. His
age was only thirty-sk years.
Oh SrR!yGs.-A letter from Writ Court House
describes the petroleum SOURCES in that neighbour.
hood. They were first discovered by an old hunter
named Stokely, on lIughes river, near the junction
with the little kanawha. This oil ia found at very
short distance below the surface of the ground, and
extends in horizontal bed about one mile along the
river running west, and back north and south, for
about fifteen miles. 1t lies ssturatng stratum OF
coarse sand six feet deep, and from every spsce Of ten
square feet about ten barrels of oil may be secured.
ALLEGED MAIL RoBBgR ARREsrrD.-We learn
from the Columbus Gazette that Mr.. Prentss. agent
OF the Post Office Department, succeeded IN Wednes
day lat in srreSting Dr. Walker, Post Master ut
Rockford, Tuscarawas county Ohio. charged with
robbing the mail and forging DIR. Walker is HI old
and settled around him, and has hitherto been highly
respected.
MIsFoHTuSE.-We learn that the fire which de-
stroyed tbs Southern Greenwood Nursery, on Sunday
night, has left Mr.. Lewis Tudor, the gentleman in
possession Of the place. in an unfortunate condition,
his stables, houses farming utensils. 40, having
been burnt. There lie, we are informed disposition
the part OF of citizens TO raise fund for
his relief. Ii ia commsndaGle object
WoRKMES DIsCHARGED.-It ID stated that there
were twenty-five of the employees in the machine
department OF the Gosport IVA hayward dis-
charged last Saturday. On the same day tifiy.four
carpenters and boilers were discharged from the
hayward at Chatlestown, Massachusetts.
In LUCK-The Supreme Court of the United States
have decided that Mr.. Thomas Green, present owner
of the Fsuquer White Sulphur Springs, is entitled to
q tract of land in the State of Texas, numbering
ninety three thousand acres, and valued at more
than two millions OF dollars. So says the Warrenton
Wing.
Cow JoyEs-The Alexandra Sentinel brings the
melancholy intelligence that there bas been i'm
provement in the health of the venerable Commodore
Jones' but that he lies extremely low at hi. residence
10 Fairfax.
SALE OF REAL EsTATE.-The building on Main
street Norfolk Va formerly known IA the Bee.T Hive
was sold oo Saturday for sl0.5O5. VIM. Ii. Talbot,
ESQ, was the purchaser.
The OHIO RlvER.-Dspstcbes from Wheeling
and Psrkersburg Va report that the ice in the river
has broken up and that there over six feet Of
water in the channel on Monday, and e.ill rising.
-.e-
POISONED BY OYsTERs.-Severa instances of being
poisoned by eating oysters have recently occurred
On Friday morning the family of Mr.. Benz. Starwell,
residing at No 400 Front street. made quite sick
by eating oysters which had become poisonous by ex.
posure to the air. They were seized with violent
vontings, and exhibited all the symptoms which
Usually follow the taking of arsenic. A physician
was called in, and no serious results followed-CH.
Gas.
BURNING OF A STEAMER.
MOBILE, March 3-The steamer Eliza Battle, with
400 bales of cotton on board vaa destroyed nv FIRE