The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-04-01

TINS sclEScE AND Arr on cnEss 10 the title Of a now
and elaborate treatise on this noble game, sent 10 us by
Franklin Philip. The work uniolds clearly the first and
leading principles of chess, enters into a Systematic sur
yey Of the openings, and concludes with a new aud original
chapter on Plan, which is oopiously illustrated by a Sc
res Of i've games from masters in the art. Very many
Of the best writer's and players, troIn Daniano to Morphy,
are laid under contribution. while a large portion Of the
work possesses just claims TO novelty. The English mo-
tation Is adopted, which, II not more scientific, Is Ger
tainly more inteligible than the complicated German
system. We eommend the book TO the attention Of chess
players DESTROYS Of distinction in the game.
~
A NV srYLH OF TnSr-Nr. John Rider, Of New
York, has lately been exhibiting in our city a tent com
posed Of five gutta- percha k~napsacks, somewhat after the
style of the Tnhs d Ar6ri OF the French service, under
which most Of the French army nintered, as we'll as sum.
mered, in the Crimean war. The invention attracted a great
deal Of attention among the gentlemen connected with
the War Department. Agutta- pcrcha water keg, designed
to serve not only for carrying water, but for pontoon
bridges and coverings for powder, as may be required,
was also viewed with much interest by those of our mill
tary men, who in their frontier service have felt the need
Of some such device.
InE ART FESTIVAL LAST EVENING. The Art Gallery
last night presented u scene more genial than its lifelike
portraits had yet looked down upon. Two long tables,
loaded with all the luxuries that can please the appe
tite, were spread invitingly before a goodly assembIage of
the lovers of art, among Whom a large number of ladies
were included.
Among the guests we noticed Secretaries Cas- and
Thompson, Mayor Beret, Hon. Geo. Taylor, Prof Dimi-
try, Leutze, the artist, and a number of other distin-
guished gentlemen. Shortly after nine o'clock the sup
per began during the entertainment a number OF toasts
were offered and speeches made, and ii was late before
the festivities closed.
RAILROAD ACCIDENT Yesterday morning, as the north
crn mail train approached the bridge over Gunpowder
river, between Havre de Grace and Baltimore, that struc-
turc was discovered to be on fire, and a considerable gap
had been burnt out, Fortunately, there was a large force
Of employees in the vicinity, and, after n detention of
two and a half hours, the trnin passed over safely, and
the domestic and foreign mails reached Washington at
III O'Clock, a m.
IMPORTANT DECISION. The following decision, made in
the orphans court ON Wednesday, win be read with in
terest
James Dixon, a native of Scotland, ~emigrated to the
United States and located in Washington city about thirty
years ago, and became Il citizen by naturalization after
which he acquired property, both real and personal, in
the District of Columbia. He has recently departed
this life interstate, and the administration of ha estate
has been committed by this court to Jas. Walker.
1t appears. as stated by the administrator, that de-
ceased left no issue, but rs next of kin he left three sis
tiers, viz Jeanette, Elizabeth, and Margaret, and the
children of a deceased brother, William, all being aliens.
The sister Margaret has two sons in this District, who
have been naturalized. The question presented before
this court was, who are the parties entitled to the es
tate in controversy The court decided that ''this es-
tate will be decreed to the nearest of kin, no matter in
what country they may reside. When the heirship in
the case shall be legally established, the orphans court
will pronounce a decree of distribution of the said per
sonal estate in accordance with the foregoing opinion"