The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-02-08
THE ORIGINAL REVOLVER

writer in the Scientific American, who signs
/ himself Thomas r. Murray, says:
notice that correspondent Of the PETERSBURG
t IVA. Daily Express has come TO the conclusion
that the original revolving fre-arm is the one de-
scrlbed in the book entitled, cat Home ncd
Abroad" From what the author saws am led to
believe that he is of the same opinion Ny object
in writing this letter is to deny that conclusion.
ana to point out the genuine, original revolving
hrearm. | will quote his words: " Warwick
Castle, only six miles distant, offers remarkable
contrast to Kenilworth. Like the latter the date
OF is foundation is unknown, and its most ancient
part pears the name OF Caesars fower; but, while
Wentworth Is fast crumbling to pieces this remans
entire, and is inhabited in every part =
w g saw, also, the armory, which is usually closed
to visitors 1t is rich in the ancient arrnor and
rare ana curious OBJECTS, among which l may men
ton the crystal-hilted dagger of Queen Elizabeth
her skirt OF chain mall her saddle and the trappncs
OF her horses but was most struck with two thinSs
"a revolving musket, more than two hundred
years o!G, and mask taken from the face of Oliver
cromwell after death. The revolver (of the anti
putty OF which there can be no doubt\ is almost
precisely similar to Colts, having single barrel
to which Is attached revolving cylinder, contain.
ing SIX chambers There is & flint lock and pan to
each chamber, and the firing Of one DISCHARGE
brings the succeeding chamber t, the barrel.
had peen aware OF the existence of this curious
weapon, but was not prepared to find the idea of
revolver so perfectly developed" page Sc and
seq. The original one, similar to Colts in styla
IS IN existence at the present time, and was on ex-
nlpltlon at the Mechanical and Agricultural Fair at
Newbern, N. G., in 1859. The inventor was poor
man "a blacksmith), and scarcely could get the
necessary funds to pay his travelling expenses and
Tor his patent His friends (?) laughed at his folly
the absurdty of spending what little money he
had lnsuch reckless manner. He finally started,
but between Ri chmond and " Washington CITY he lost
his fortune. 1t is useless for me to say more: the
balance of the story may be imagined The poor
man retu. ned home to be laughed at and scorned
and reproached for his shallowness of mind. Alas!
poor Gill, the blacksmith, died, and was buried
'Unwept unhonored and unsung"
Any information concerning this revolver can be
obtained by addressing the Mayor, Frederick Lane.
or the Matthews family at New bern, ;. c. the lat
ter of whom own this implement of warfare" The
one intended and used as Z model has fourteen
chambers, instead of five or six. The barrel is
brass. While was editing the Newborn Gazette.
l kept putting off my description and illustration
OF this instrument until the paper was discontinued
Revolving firearms have an origin, and the nation
should knew who is the original inventor.
''SHoor HIM Down ON THE Spor This is the
closing phrase of the late instructions of the new
Secretary OF the Treasury to the Collector of the
port at New Orleans. 1t is the first command to
shed blood that has been issued in the present cri.
sis. 1t is but preparation for coercion policy
on the part of the incoming administration as
might have been expected from an aboltionist
ringleader in the great barnburner conspiracy of
l64S. The people of the North repr0hate the idea
OF civil discord shadowed forth in Mr. Dix's Off
| clai despatch.-NeiC York Herald
The Daily Post, of Chicago, in speaking Of the
new government building lately completed in that
city, gives brief but very hatterng description OF
the heating apparatus which was contracted for and
erected by our fellow-townsmen Messrs HAYWARD
Bartlett Co. Great the novelty may be in
Chicago, this system Of heating has been for some
time extensively used in the Eastern cities, where
Its unrlvaled merits are fast bringing it into use
Several OF our new public buildings and many
OF our large first class dwellings in this city, are
heated By this apparatus, which in every case has
| given great satisfaction.
We take occasion to mention this as an evidence
OF the growing Importance of our city, and as q
deserved tribute to the enterprise of Messrs Hay.
ward, Bartlett Co., which has enabled them tc
compete successfully in the West with New York
and other cities. with whom they are more direct
| ly in communication.