Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-01-06

The LECTURE Of Mr. Clemson, at the Smithso-
nian last night, on Water, drew a large audience.
The lecturer commenced by abiding to the uni
versatility OF this element. IL pervsded all cres-
ton In some form other, and had existed with
precisely the same properties that IL now pos
sesses from the foundation Of The world, a. shown
by specimens contained in primeval rocks. He
spoke Of the three states In which water exists
the liquid, gaseous, and solid-of its incompres-
sibility ard its irresistible hydrostatic and gas
eous power. With diagrams on largely mag
n'led scale, he showed the different forms in
which water crystalizes In snow and frost These
diagrams were very interesting, showing differ
rnt forms Of capitalization, but all perfectly geo
Hetrical in proportion. He spoke Of the virtues
cf water as a medicine. He had known all other
treatments and ali other remedies to fail and
water, simply water, to restore the diving patient
to health and vigor; he said he mentioned the
facts, and allowed folks to draw their own con-
illusions.
great many people had an idea that rain.wa
Ter was the purest water In existence Such was
not the case IL was more or less tinctured with
the nitrate OF ammonia received from the air
through which II fell. The frst part of a shower
contained more Of this property than the last,
the atmosphere being washed cut, As IL WERE by
the falling rain On falling to the ground and
being soaked up by the earth, the ram water
parted with the peculiar property which It re-
oeived In falling through the air, and became
impregnated with new qualities, according TO
the nature Of the ground through which Il de-
scended Among other substances that 1t re-
ceivsd from the earth, one Of the most common
was the carbonate of lime which made what IL
called hard water.
The most interesting and important, as we'll as
novel part OF MT Clemson's lecture was IN
gard 10 water as fertilizer. II was Natures
great fertilizer. Without water and heat there
cOnid De no vegetation. He regarded the ocean
rs the great receptacle in which Nature husbands
mr. resources and recuperates her exhausted en-
eiglrs IL teemed with organic matter and fer
uIhY-received the returning waters from the
lnvigorated continents. and sent forth over the
world new clouds Of fertilizing vapors He con
sldered the saline matter contained in sea water
an excellent fertilizer for certain crops He had
seen plantations on the sea shore In Cuba which
hed been worked In corn crops eveTy wear for
sNty, seventy, and a hundred years without apy
f'rtilIZing application, and sometimes with two
crops year, and which seemed to be rich and
productive as ever. This he attributed TO the
absorption of saline matter and other nutrjment
from the contiguous sea. But these sea shore
plantations would no, do for sugar cane sugar and
salt Were antagOnistic substances He consid-
cred the feTtiizng properties OF fresh water GEN
eral and very great. Water, he said was com
posed Of organic matter, and as the microscope
would show, animal matter
The ready decomposition Of water on being
exposed to favorable circumstances of air, heat
&c FULLY showed its fertilizing qualities This
ture's great fertilizer. IL only REQUIRED a few
DAYS stagnant exposure Of this to the air and
moderate warmth to develOpe Its animalcula to
TIE size OF visibility by the naked eve The leo
turer also alluded to the fertIizipp Qualities of
phosphorus, and stated how that a pre- a, deal Of
the bone dust" offered in the market was only
Mr.. Clemson spoke eloquentIy of the import.
anee OF fertilization to the human race He con-
s,deIed II worthy the attention of all nations
he cited the value to mankind of a single plant
the cotton plan, for instance which clothed it,
millions, and whitened the oceans of the world
with It's commerce and its fabric
The DIsrRIcI IN COxGREss following
matters possessing local interest transpired in
the Senate Yesterday:
MI Pedrce submitted a memorial from citi-
hens OF ueoIgetown, urging upon Congress that
tne metropolitan Railroad Company may be au-
.noilzed 10 construct the said road from George
town into and through the CITY of Washin1to
Also, a memorial from citizens Of WasbIng-
ION, humerou>ly signed, asking that the Same
company may be authorized to construct thsiT
road along Pennsylvania avenue 10 he R,Innnra
railroad depot. 'iiiioie
MT Mason presented a memorial from VIM.
cs-,n resson asking Indemnity tor injuries to
dcetaln mill and wafer rights, done by the ex
eouton Of law Of Congress, for supplyinU The
public buildings with water 'A'
MI Brown submitted resolution of the po,rd
VI common Council ofthe corporation of Georye
Town, In favor Of the erection of a permanent
bridge over the Potomac upon The pier, Of the
aqueduct above that city. wv
Also, memorial from citizens of wasbIra,o,
MMdihS In the southern portion If the Fifth
Wsd, asking certain Improvements to be made
In New Jersey avenue.
MI Bright gave notice that he would n.vs %
tol grounds to-day.
PREsENTATIoN.-On New Years day. IN. Rev
John L. smith, ID. d., (pastor of the Fourth
Presbyterian church, having received a very
handsome reclining chair, presented bv IN.
young men OF the congregation, invited them TO
meet him at his house on the "Wednesday even
ing following. In accordance with this invita-
non, on last evening they assembled when after
the usual salutstions, they were kindly welcomed
In an impressive and interesting speech nv ,bet,
Pastor, which was responded to, on the part of
hy NJ n
Few very pertinent remarks.
WORTH LOOKING To.-Now that the late heavy
rains have erased and the aspect OF thing, under
foot has changed little for the better, II would
be well for the police to be looking with as it'll.
delay Ms possible, 10 the existence Of street nuJ
sences which have been accumul.tin0 for Oh.
past six weeks and which, in some 6eIgbhor
hoods, have become intolerable to the bubble
sense The alleys leading into ID street between
Seventh and Tenth streets at the present time a.
well a. Ninth street between and street. re-
CURE especial notice on the part OF the municipal
authorities.
The THEATRE-The performance ofNr Bour.
cicaults supernatural play Of the Phantom, last
night, was grand success in all res poets, scenic
dramatic, and orchestral. The audience wa,.
extremely fortunate in having the author of the /
play 70 represent the leading character No other
actor could have done II justice In fact, we be.
heVe no one but Mr. Bourcicault undertakes 10
Personate this peculiar character, and probabIv
Will not AZ long as he remains upon the stage
me performance tonight In Violet, or the Life
OF an Actress-Miss Agnes Robertson as VioIst
and Mr. Bourcicault as Grimaldi
SUPREME CouRr.-Yesterday, Thomas 8. Phil
lips, Esq, Of Kentucky, was admitted an attor.
ney and counsellor Of this court
No 81 Reuben Middleton, PLAINTIFF In error
agt william McGrew. IL was ordered by the |
court that this cause be continued until the peIt
term. " A |
No IS. The United States, appellants, agt.
1oon suffer The argument OF this cause
was continued by Messrs. CTittenden and Butler 4
Tor the appellee.
Adjourned
C"UNTERFEIT NOrEs-Onicer Boss has shown |
US dangerous counterfeit As note on the Gill;
Iens Bank Of Baltimore, which the public |
.npotd be on their guard against. as Il is ntely |
W oe put In circulation here; and, as Onicer b |
Wv justly remarks, the people OF Washington |
Tafe no more money than they nerd already |
ne imitation IL well calculated TO deceive hut |
a., .iose examination shows a blurred look about
tbr words - CitiTenfs Rank Il a.,