The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-02-25
CITY INTELLIGENCE.

MERRILLS PATENT FIRE ARMs.-On Wednesday
last Mr.. Merrill, of the firm of Merrill, Thomas &
Co., made some experiments with his new patent
breechoading gun, with the following results:
The cavalry carbine, with the breech loading i'm
provement, with 40 grains of powder, threw an
elongated ball, weighing 4l0 grains with astonish-
ing accuracy, distance of one mile and quarter.
greater distance than this even was attained but
it impossible to observe from the nature of the
place where the exhibition took place, where the
ball struck. series of experiments were then
commenced to show with what rapdity the gun
could be fired. At given signal Mr.. Merrill com
menced, and in one minute and a quarter loaded
and fired twenty rounds. Five of the cartridges
which were fired had been placed in pool Cf water
for the space of half an hour, and they put in
the gun with the water dripping from them and
fired as though they were just taken from the
fridge box. Mr.. Merrill has patented the water
proof cartridge, which certainly is valuable i'm
provement. Another great advantage, claimed for
the gun. is the fact that it may be fired hundreds of
times without any inconvenience arising from foul
ness. To demonstrate this the gun was fired 300
times in less than one hour and after the last shot
single swab with tow cleaned the barrel that
on opening the breech and looking through it to
the muzzle it had the appearance of highly pol
! ished Steel The operation ofloading is simple
that small boy, fourteen years of age, fired fifty
cartridges in ten minutes Other varieties of arms
with the Improvement attached tried and
with the most satisfactory results. At distance
| of thirty yards ball sent through twelve
pine boards, measuring fourteen inches in thick
| ness anu LOOK eHecI In DOaru placeu some 1eet
| in the rear OF the target, making deep indenta-
| ton. Any kind of arms can be made to conform
to the breech hloading pattern with but slight alter
alton in the stock, and either the ordinary cap or
| Maynard's patent primer be used. The gun is
admirably adapted for military purposes, a man
being able to load 1t when on full run. Mr.. Mer-
| rill has just returned from Washington, where his
improvement was thoroughly tested by gentlemen
! connected with the Government, and a most favor
able report made in regard to it.
| Tha
| Churchman says: "The Vestry of the Church
| of the Ascension Baltimore, were highly gratifed
recently, by receiving from the Rector, the Rev.
John c. McCabe, check for one thousand dollars
the result of one months collection in aid of the
Church fund. This congregation is now in a most
healthy condition, both to its naaterie and pros
poets, as the following will show: When DR..
| McCabe took charge of the Church, little more
amounted to not quite $500; they reach 81 300
The Sunday collections before, not over $500 per
annum, now go beyond 5000. There have been
two vistations by the Bishop of the Diocese since
the present Rectoral charge; the number confirmed
| 81, adults. The Rector has baptised SO persons
adults and infants, and attended 40 funerals. This
in city where there are twenty -one two Episco
| pal Churches, shows that the "Church of the Ascen
sion,' is not the least in discharging her duty One
gratifying fact to the Rector and Vestry is tha,
every eligible pew in the Church is occupied anc
others less eligible, are being taken. The congrega
tion has more than doubled since July, 1852.
| CONFIRMATION OF THE MAYORS APPOINTMENTS
Last night the two Branches of the City Counci
met in Convention to act the nominations of the
Mayor, which had been laid over the light previous
After session of three hours, they confirmed al
with the exception of the following: Nathan T.
Dushane, Commissioner for Opening Streets; jaime:
Dwinelle, Vaccine Physician for the End ward
Stephen H. Manly, Deputy Marshal; VIM. H. Ira
vers, Lieutenant Eastern District police; George
Freeberger, policeman Eastern Districts Y. P AZ
faroux, policeman Middle District; Alexander Su
ter, ST., policeman Western District
| PHOTOGRAPHS OF PRIsoNERs.-Mr Israel, Photo
graphst at the request OF the relatives of one of tht
prisoners confined in the Jail, awaiting execution
took his apparatus to the prison on Wednesday fol
the purpose of taking Photographs. He succeeded
IN getting excellent pictures of Cropps Corrie
Duvall, and the negro Cyphus Cropps picture il
particularly good. Gambrill and Ford refused tc
sit for theirs
LECTURE AT CARROLL HALL.-Last night Davic
Paul Brown, Esq, of Philadelphia. delivered a
lecture on the ''Pdssons," at Carroll Hail. befor,
the members of the Grand Section of the Cadets o
Temperance. The discourse, which occupied near
ly two hours in its delivery was well received anG
very much applauded by the audience.
For Court Captain Hammer, of the shir
Mackinaw, charged with in1icting cruel and un
usual punishment upon seamen on board said vessel
had a hearing yesterday morning before Unitec
States Commissioner Hanna He was released OF
security for trial before the United States Distric
| COurt