The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-04-01
I From the Po,vnes;au Fsb 1s1

20
From the PoIyaesian Feb 161
IHE CRUISE OF THE FENNIMoRE CooPER-The
United States schooner Fennmore Cooper returned
TO tins port on Saturday week from cruise of
about $50 miles to the northward and westward
The object OF the cruise to ascertain the ex-
act position OF the many islands and shoals living
in that direction. longer time wouId have baonn
devoted to this object had it not been necessary IN
leave shortly for the coasts of China and Ja1an
in order to reach those places before the breakin%
up of the northeast monsoon. Careful SURVEYS vera
made of Bird island, Necker island French Fri
gate shoal, Gardeners island, Marc reef, and Law
sans island. The results of these surveys are not
yet fully determined
Before leaving this port her chrnnometers were
accurately rated, and are being rated again so
that the calculations may be as near correct as pos
sibe. When this is accomplished the exact differ
ence of longitude between each of the above places
and Honolulu will be arrived at but to correct
them for the meridian of Greenwich, the longitude
of this place must first be definitely established
This will, OF course, be done before the schooner
leaves the islands. Besides visiting the places
named, the Fennmore Cooper sailed over the posi-
tions of an island to the westward of the French
Frigate Shoal. the Two Brothers. and Neva Island
Pollard and Gardner's islands are doubtless one
and the same, so probably are Iisanskv's and
PePs islands In the neighborhood of the positions
of Neva and Lisiansky's islands found numerous
reefs and shoals.
Having squally weather, with uncertain winds
and currents, the schooner stood to the northward
for the westerly winds. January 20, in latitude
29o N, longitude 1850 W, encountered a heavy
gale from N E. by E., which continued nine days
Was six-days lying to under foresail only Marc
rect Is very dangerons-low and covered with
breakers. On French Frigate Shoal found an av-
ensve deposit OF guano, took formal possession of
the island and left a notice to that effect All the
islands visited ofvolcanic origin and increased
by coral formation. Views of several have been
beautifully executed by Mr. Kearn. the accompIish
ed craftsman OF the expedition. In this cruise ma
teral assistance was derived from information piv
en- by Captain John Paty who sailed over the same
route some months since in the schooner Kalama.
An impression appears to have gained ground to
the effect that the Fennimore Cooper was fitted ont
to search for guano islands. Thisis an error, The
government OF the United States never takes DOS
session of islands for its own benefit but extends
protection over them to secure the rights of its
citizens Such being the case, it would be absurd
to tit out an expedition for their discovery The
present expedition is purely scientific one OF
this no better evidence is needed than the fact of
its being under the command of an officer of so ex
tensive reputation Lieut.. John NJ Brooke.
Its objects were given at length in issue of No
vember 49,
From the Cincinnati CommerciaE1
FLOOD ON THE MfssIssIpPI-The Lower Mississip
pl IS again desolating the country At the mouth
OF "hlte river, on Thursday evening last, it was
reported that the Mississippi was an inch higher
than at any period last spring. The officers of the
steamer Pacific, just arrived at Louisville report the
river rising all the way from New Orleans to Cairo;
and along in Kentucky bend and various other
points, the water was out of all bounds, with moth
ing but water and the tops of trees to be seen as far
as the eye could reach. There are more breaks in
the levees than last year, and the destruction of
| property will be enormous. The latest news from
the Missouri is that it still rising rapidly ioin-
! ing its mighty flood to the overwhelming waters
| below. The Memphis Ledger of Saturday evening
| saws:
! The most disastrous results are apprehended from
the late break in the levee at Friar's Point The
| water is breaking through with such violence and
with such force as to threaten the washing away of
the houses IN its course. Great damage has al
| ready been caused. A break has occurred in the
| leYee at Indian Bay Landing on White river where
the water is six inches above the flood line of last
year Several fine plantations are from twelve to
| htteen inches under water, and hundreds of acres
| OF early planted corn DESTROYED
The Memphis AUalanche of Saturday saws:
| The river Is within twelve and one-fourth inches
! OF the high water mark Of the spring of 1885, and
within six and oneourh inches of the height of
! the late rise AT Grand Lake, the water was over
the top of the bank, fully foot higher than it
was last year, and boats landed against the houses
The New Orleans boats, owing to the overflow,
slppl, unless to points where wharf boats oca-
ted or to the various towns along the route
Plantation orders they cannot fill.
Dispatches from Vicskburg, dated Saturday the
26th state that the river had Overfowed the banks
below that point, the levees along the railroad had
broken, and the railroad track was washed away
for considerable distance. The particulars of the
disaster were not given.
THE French IMPROVED SYSTEM OF ARrrLLERY.-
1t is affirmed that the new system of artillery which
has been under examination for than two
years past is now completed and the last expert
ments have decided its adoption The various cali
bres that before existed according to this plan
reduced to two-l2 Founders siege guns, and 4
Founders field guns. The pieces are rined; the pro
jectiles are hollow, and produce double effect
that OF solid shot and shell. Their form is copica
and leaden Gettes give to the ball precision
obtained before. The informant of the Times cor
Hny in Bnr
idea of the terrible effect of these new pieces it suf
hces to say that a l2pounder new model) will with
one half the number Of sh its of the old pieces of "a
produce the same effect; and the new pattern Il
pouncer produces at seventy metres, the same re
suit as the old "a at thirtvve and requires no more
than one-sixth of the charge. The proiectes pene
citrate into a block of stone of the hardest cemen
TO an extent OF eighty centmetres, (more than two
1eet) and an enormous breach is made by tie expIo
! sion. The advantages of the 4-pounder are still
more remarkable. 1t requires but 500 grammes Of
powder to throw ball a distance of one kilometri-
cal league. The precision is such that at the dis
tahce of 3,l00 metres it strikes single man on
| horseback, and at that distance would destroy a
| body of cavalry infantry. All the pieces con.
Stfucted on the new system are loaded at the muz-
| Zie, the loading at the breach beinr riyen M rs
many experiments have shown it to be incopyenient
and even dangerous, so much to counterbalauce
the advantages. Scientific men affirm that these
improvements have raised the art of destruction bv
artillery to all but perfection"
Charles Dickens announces his new periodical to
appear on the 3Oth of April with the singular title
"AU Round the Year" A new serial tale by Mr.
Dickens will be commenced in the first number
The last number of Household Woras will appear
on the last Saturday of May.
Prof: Henry d. Rogers great work on the Geo
logy of Pennsylvania, published by j. B. Lippin
colt Co., is favorably reviewed by the London
papers. 1t is not yet out in this country.
AIRY Scheffer's picture, the "Christus Consola
tor" sold at the sale of the Duchess of Or
leans for the of 10000 francs-E2, 400. The
purchaser of the picture was NJ. Fodor, Dutch
gentleman.
The restoration of the venerable cathedral at
| Sazburg has been commenced. The architect is
Herr George Schneider, of Munich.
Shipping 5ntsIilgenfs.