The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-04
CITY INTELLIGENCE.

SMITHSONIAN LKcTUBEs-lIhe third lecture Of Prof
CasweFs Ooarse postponed "Wednesday in consequence
Of the rain of last evening before slim audience
The subject planetary distances The principle on
which the distance Of heavenly body computed
simply that by which the width Of river could be
ascertaned from line measured upon Of its banks
The problem Of finding the distance Of any planet
sisted simply in obtaining the dimensions Of the triangle
formed by the planet the centre Of the earth and the
point observation The computation OF the distance
Of the sun had been the dcIt task in the history
Of astronomy Inc theory 81 Ptocmy that it thir-
teen times farther on thn the moon received until
the Time OF Keppler The relative distances of all the
planets well known before the absolute distance Of
any one had been determined. The transit Of Venus
was the circumstance to which astronomers owed their
present knowledge Of the suns distance This transit
took place irregular intervals varying from eight TO
hundred and twenty years, and by means Of
careful observation Of its circumstances from various
points The distance sought fr computed beyond the
possibility Of any material The solution OF this
problem formed the most important in astronomical
science.
VlsT TO PnIEApFLrHA.--A delegation of our German
citizens intend going Philadelphia u attend the twelfth
annual fcy-baIl OF the Malnsrcor Of that CITY, which
is be held Tuesday evening next The Lgsr says
alne Mennerchor the oldest organization of its kind
in the United States viii hold its fancy ball at the
AGA ieny OF Music on Tuesday evening next the stl
inst Previous to the ball the entire company win per
form ia full costume the celebrated and impressive oath
and blessing OF the poignads from the fourth act OF
Myegheers Grand Opera the Hugnenofs The assoca-
hive been very lryis in their expenditures in pro-
curing the Opera House beautiful and appropriate cos
TUNES and fun orchestra Of forty performers under
the direction OF Professor Carl Gaertner the ball
orchestra being under the direction Of the Messs Haas
Ter 10 give sufficient reom to the house the entire
parqnet will be oored and every precauton taken
have the participants enjoy evening Of uninsr
rupted pleasure The vocal performance which has been
in stsndy rehearsal io time viii be grand and i'm
posing Z
FUNERAL OF Az Opp FELLowM Mr., Thomas Bowling
who was an original msaber Of the first Odd Fellows
Ledge established in this country, at Baltimore but who
has for years past been resident Of this District
died IN Georgetown on Wednesday. He VIII he buried
by Mechanical Lodge No. u.s. and il expected that the
order viii in large nubels at lis funeral on
Friday afternoon.
AAnSDE HoSon sBLE--The Washington correspondent
Of Boston paper having stated by mistake that Of
the students Of Georgetown College misbehased them
seues ia this city at Christmas time has very handsome
" corrected his unintcniioaal eTror The young gentle
men III the Georgetown College justly famed for
their correct department alros1 they for their
scholastic advancement at that venerable seat Of leanng
TUE ASYLUM CONTAINS about hundred and fifty
inmates of whom some sixty Ave in the work house
department The management Of the Intsndent Is high
ly commended by visitors, and the building
nearly completed-is we adapted for the purpose TO
which il is devoted
Tan OpEnA-1he opera OF ''Don Pasquale,
nouncsd for Monday evening is admirably calculated TO
display the yiyaoous acting and the vocal talents Of Pic
e5lomini Those who wish good seats should lose
time ia obtaining them.
MILITARY DrSER-The two fine corps Of cadets at the
Georgetown College commanded BY Captains Ward and
Marion, viii parade on Saturday and visit this city
where they win dine with invited guests at the National
Hotel
wAsHISGr9S TaEAmE.--NIiss Davenport won fresh lau
rels last night in the school for Scandal aud delight
ed the large and fashionable audisnce. Tonight she
win appear I'm obedience to general request in Masks
and Faces. "
GroRGK1oWx DEMOCRATS should remember that 1t Is
their duty to give hearty support the regularly
nominated candidate Of their party the ensuing cleo
tion for mayor.
Sea- The democratic members OF the House Of
Representatives messing party
MARTIN j. fRAwFufD Georgia,
~ r. n. GAKSf.TF, Virginia.
G.. l. vAIAaNIHGiiAN, Ohio,
u. c. iNfgiETT, kcntncky,
= MARSHALL. Illinois,
Cosnuitee