The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-19


sAfrlsoNiAS lEcNRns. Notwithstanding the unlnsi.
ting aspect Of the night The bright beacon hight in TIE
large circular window Of the Institution announced as
night 10 Che denizes ts side Of the canal that there
would be no pcsponenent Of TIE lsotne On account Of
weather, aud fair audience assembled In the haI Prof
Cook took up the subject Of nitrcgen Ii was NOT sup
porter either q combustion Of animal life and yet Il
was by no means the inert negative body that these ual
tiles would seem 70 prove il It's nepa characteristic
was the number and importance OF the compound which
il forms, especially with oxygen The most prominent
Of these MAS nitric acid usually known aquaiortis
which contains 1--WE atoms OF oxygen to one OF nitrogen
IL was strong oxydizing agent and this he illustrated
By pouring the acid upon charcoal and turpentine each
OF which ID ignted He described the process by
which cotton wool converted Into the lnianmable
substance called gun cotton, He also treated Of am
mona and eyanogen, illustrating the properties Of each
by appropriate experiments
TnE oHPHASs' FAm.-we would cali attention 10 the
fact that the ladies fair for the benefit Of ST. Joseph
Male Orphan Asylum Is now open al the Assembly
Rooms. OF louisiana avenue, Sixth street. The
rich display OF fancy ARTICLES the tempting array of good
y ebles, both the choicest confections and the more
solid attraction of substantial supper and than
ALL the beamng faces of the fair ladies who have under
taken the good work. render the entertainment really
Inviting But, apart fom these considerations, the fact
that the proceeds to be appropriated to the support Of
Institution which, while it shelters and educates
large number of fiendess children subssts only on the
benevolence OF the charitable eommends ID to the pat
ronage of the discerning public.
~. =.
TnE BURNS CENTENARY appears to have been celebrated
with great enthusiasm in Great Britain Fourteen thou
sand persons attended the Crystal Palace festival where
the prize poem read, There were coo poems pre-
scented competition Of them from the United
Stat s.
We informed that the olresponding secretary OF
the centenary, in this metropolis yesterday received the
last instanen of the speeches, Sc entrusted to his
editorial care, and that the pamphlet will be issued early
next week. The profits of this publication be
to the surviving relatives of the poet and in order
secure 1t large sale newspaper reports have been
thoriz by the society. Those which have appeared have
been what printers tenn especial notices
PosrroSENESr, The lecture by the Hon. Chas Ea,nes
late United States minister to Venezuela annouuced for
last evening" postponed in consequence Of the
pleasant condition of the Streets which prevented the
usual full attendance. IL will off however with
out fail, ON Monday next On next Friday Rev C. NJ
Butler of Trinity church, win lecture and on the fol-
lowing Monday, the Hon. II. L. Stanton.
APocpIL Accouxrs of the Napier ball were publish
ostensbly received by telegraph The 'entsrpriss u,
fortunately betrays itself in the OF the
Of those who danced the first set and the endeavor
to rob the Messrs Willard Of the credit having provi-
ded the supper
The Arr RATTLE ct Philips bookstore affords a fine
opportunity for obtaiang very pleasing works OF
art In return for a small investment Go and see the
collection of water color paintings chrome Autographs
engravings, &C., TO be ratied
rE PRESIDENTS MOUNTED GUARD, Capt. Joseph Peck,
will parade the 22i, and give supper ia the evening
This fine corps viii doubtless sustain its reputation and
deserves credit for thus observing what should be re-
gailed a national holiday.
New BooKs.-We have several new works on our table,
which shall notice to
NEWS BY TELEGRAPH.
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