Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-05-07
News Of the Day.
"70 show the pery age and body Of the TINES.


In the year 1856, says contemporary, MIR.
March, an able chemist, connected with the
Royal Arsenal, discovered that it was an inva.
riabe rule with iron which has remained
considerable time under water, when re-
duced to small grains or an impalpable pow
der, to become red hot, and ignite any sub
stances with which it comes III contact
This he found by scraping some corroded
metal from gun, which ignited the paper
containing it, and burnt a hole in his pocket.
The knowledge of this fact is of immense i'm
portance, as it may account for many sponta-
neous fires and explosions. The tendency
of moistened particles of iron to ignite was
discovered by the great French chemist,
Lemary, as far back as the year 1910.
The Illinois Central Railroad, at town
called Nation, is crossed by the Terre Haute
and Alton Railroad. Every day, at about 2
P NJ, is seen at this point one of the most
splendid effects of the triumph of mind over
space and matter that can be witnessed
anywhere 1t is that of four trains coming
from four different directions, arriving at
this point ut the same time to q second every
day. They can be seen as they approach
for ten miles in each direction, the prairies
there being smooth, broad expanse, stretch
ing away to the horizon without any Unequal
tiles to obstruct the sight.
A private letter from Naples, dated April
6, says: yesterday took place a most Curl
Gus and interesting procession. For the first
time | believe, since l84S, the Court sailed
forth in state to visit the churches. The
Young Queen was in full dress, with long
train of black velvet and q dress covered
with black lace, and wearing on her head the
Spanish mantilla She walked by the side
of his Majesty, preceded by the chief officers
attached to the Royal service"
The National Medical Convention before
their final adjournment appointed the fol-
lowing committee on revision and publica-
ton of the Pharmacop9ia: DR.. Franklin
Bache, of Philadelphia; DR.. E. r. Squibb, of
New York: DR.. c. T. Carney, of Mass; DR..
Geo. B. Wood, of Philad.; DR.. II. L. Cum
ming, of Maine; Mr.. VIM. Proctor, of Philad.;
Mr.. Ira Carson, do; Mr.. VIM S. Thompson,
of Baltimore, and Mr.. A. B. Taylor, of Phil
adelphla. ..
The will of Mr.. Lawrence Johnson, type
founder in Philadelphia, lately deceased,
contains the following bequests providing
that his real and personal estate shall exceed
1924 900, one year after his death:-To the
Printers Benevolent Association, 81 200;
American Sunday School Union, $1,000;
Union Benevolent Association, 81 900; Tenn
porary Home for Friendless Children, 50, 900:
Pennsylvania Institution for Blind, 1000;
Deaf and Dumb ASYLUM 81 600
There has been much excitement among
southern democratic Congressman upon pro-
position for their uniting in a request to the
southern delegates to Charleston that did not
secede from the convention, to join, at Rich
mond, those that did secede. The effort may
prove unavailing. For all that, several SEN
ators and Representatives, from what is
termed the cotton States, will sign a request
to the effect above stated.
In the Seceders' convention at Charleston,
Mr. Yancey, of Alabama, said that the plat
form adopted by the majority of the COM
mittee, rejected by the regular convention,
and taken in charge by the Seceders, was
"the maidstone" to the builders OF the Dem
ocratic party A headstone is proper ap-
pendsge to grave. Mr.. Iancey probably
meant cornerstone" but his language was
significant.
Long before gold was discovered in Cali
fornia and Australia, Sir Roderick Murchi
son, an eminent English savan, strongly re-
commended the unemployed Cornish miners
to emigrate to New South Wales and dig
for gold in the debris and drift of what he
call the Australian Cordilera, where he an
ticipated, from the similarity with the Ural
mountains, that it would be found in album
dance.
Mr. Norman W. Kingsley, of New York,
has lately invented an artificial roof and
palate of vulcanised India rubber of very
complete and successful character. 1t is to
remedy defect in those parts existing from
birth in the person of "a young lady, who was
deprived by the affection of the faculty Of
articulate speech, and the power to swallow
without holding the nose at each effort.
The foolish practice Of betting on cleo
tons was INDUCED in to considerable ex-
tent at the recent election in Philadelphia.
A large amount was staked on the result;
some men betting all they could raise; others
wagered their real estate, and an individual
in the upper part of the city bet his horse
and cart, with which he supported himself
and family.
The Bennington Banner says that John
Sherman, in Pownal, Vt, had born to him,
on the day he completed his SEVENTEEN year,
a son, and he called his name Levi; and on
the same day were born unto him a grand
son and great grandson. the parents at the
time residing in three different States. All
three of the boys are living now.
The Chicago Press and Tribune contains
a long communication from Mr.. j. G. Gin
dele, advocating the construction Of canal
sufficiently large to be navigated by steam
boats, to connect the great Lakes at Chlca-
90 with the Mississippi river and its tTbu
taries. He estimates the cost at about six
millions of dollars.
The Messrs Leland, of the Metropolitan
Hotel, in New York, having been requested
by the committee of the Common Council, to
prepare for the reception and entertainment
of the japanese Commissioners and suite,
during their stay in New York, are making
extensive arrangements for that purpose.
Mrs. Margaret Preble, aged ninety-nine
yaars TON months and six DAVIS died on the