The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-01-21

phenomenon, thunderstorm in mid. d.winter. which
recently visited Massachusetts, The electric force
IN the atmosphere was particularly manifested on
the telegraph wires. Twelve fine wires attached
10 tue relay magnet on the Cape Cod Telegraph
were burned. At Quincy and at South Braintree
me me electricity destroyed the magnets At North
Sohasset the magnet was burned, and on the
nctuate line thirteen telegraph poles were sbiver
@ ed INTO kindling-wood. In the town of Hanson
th tll VSeh poles were Frustrated. At South Brain
Tt Tee Ine most singular effects we're observable
e lauy operator at the office there saws she heard
only one clap of thunder, which sounded like the
report OF distant gun. The lightning in the
Teegrapn ONCE played curious but harmless pranks
narrow paths to the edge, and from another mag0
net to linen collar lying near it, which it black
ened and charred. Experienced operators saw
they have never before known these wires to be
troubled by atmospheric electricity at this season.
THE PRINCE OF WALES AT RICHMOND Lord LYONS
mas eas written the following letter in reply to one
from Mayor Mayo, of Richmond. This vexed aues-
ZION may now be considered settled:
O.. WARRINGTON, Jan. lst. 1861.
olF-l mad yesterday the honor of receivinp the
letter dated the 2sth of last month, in which Won
ask me TO inform you whether at any time or place
during the visit of the Prince of Wales to Rich,
mona, saw or heard anything insulting, unkind
or dlscourteous to His Royal Highness.
unnesitatingly answer that neither saw or
heard anything insulting, unkind or discourteous
to the Prince. | considered the reception of His
Royal Highness at Richmond to be in no degree in
met with IN the other cities which he visited in the
United States. | need say more to assure you
that 1t was regarded as perfectly satisfactory, and
remembered with pleasure and gratitude
am, sir, your HOnor's most ODE 1ient humble
servant, JyoNs
The Hon. Joseph Mayo, Mayor of Richmond.
Books ABOUT AMERIoA.-A great many more
poOas about America have been written than most
americans suppose. A French catalogue of sfLi-
po'S care ct Curteur," from the library of an old
eeionoPole, which has recently appeared in Paris,
furnishes us with the titles of some of these works
Among them are the General Description of
America. by P. D'Avity," published in Paris in
1887; "The New World, or Christopher Columbus"
AZ poem BY one l. SURE; "News from America, or
iss A%GT,eaR he omet published at Rouen in
tos, by J. L. Rouband, physician to the Counts
manuscript, still legible, and relating to the
america1 An war; "The Siege of Yorktown, Amer
lca saved, a heroic-comic disauisition in prose
published in $780, "Lettres Lroduoises. or Political
historical and Critical Correspondence between an
iroquois travelling in Europe with his correspon-
dtf dtFss IN america published in 1888; entirely
inherent work from that by Mauoert bearing the
same name. All these volumes are written in
French. "'-'''A III
=, EEiLs OF THE WHALE FIsHRRY.-A letter from
mr.; JoD N. Sherman, third mate of ship Mary Ann.
OF falrnaVen gives the following particulars of his
escape from death while pursuing a whale. Tbo
whale struck the boat and threw him riobt acroso
the monsters mouth, that both legs were in its
mouth, and then went down with him. Fortunate
- .ue "naie soon came up, so the could
Dreath-ln the meantime he had extrcated one of
his legs; but the whale Immediately went down
again, carrying Mr.. Sherman down the second
time. time. Mr.: Sherman then thought of his sheath
knife, which he used on the whales under law
causing it to let go its hold, when Mr. Sherman
arose to the surface of the water, about ship's
length from the boat, and be was rescued nearly
exhausted, Dy selzing him by the hair of the head
as ne was SINKING. On examination he found HIM
sell minus his pants, and with hole in one leg
large, enough to receive an egg.-Ne,o Bedford
STANDARD, Jan. l6.
RUSSIAN NoBLEMAN REWARDED FOR HIS Ev,Nc,-
PATTON LABoRs.-A Russian dictionary of high
rank, OF st. Petersburg, who has taken a yerv ec-
tive part in bringing about the emancipation of
serfs, and is we'll known for the liberaity of his
opinions, received, few weeks since large pack
et, carefully sealed, containing shares in the Rus
sian stocks to the value of fifty thousand roubes
and an anonymous letter praying him to accent the
gilt from one who respected and admired him for
the services he had rendered to the country and
especially e to the cause of emancipation. 81
rich" said the writer, "whereas your private in
terests have suffered from your devotion to the pub
Tic veal DO not scrupe to accept, for the sake of
your children, the gift offer you You will learn
learn 1t soon, for am already old" The Empe
ror decided that there was reason why a gift so
delicately offered should be refused.
LIFE INSURANCE SUIT RESISTED ON THE GROUND OF
lNTEMPERANCE.-Last week the Circuit Court al
Rochester, New York, was engaged in the trial of
a case entitled Henry Rawles u.s. American Life In
surance Company. The plaintiff had policy of .
insurance on the life of John l.. Fish, taken in
1888 to secure debt. The company declined to
pay the amount of the policy, on the ground that
Fish was Incorporate when it was issued The
case was tried and decided for the plaintiff for the
tuil amount claimed. An appeal was taken and the
General Term set aside the verdict account of
an error in ruling. The was again tried and
resulted in verdict for 81 0Sl 81 the full amount
claimed and interest In the progress of the suit,
the question arose asto how much man might
drink and not be drunkard. Witnesses varied
their answers according to their peculiar notions
some thought two or three glasses day were suf-
hclent, while others contended for more
A remarkable meteor was seen on the morning
OF the llth INST, at quarter before o'clock, at
various places in Illinois. 1t was yerv larpe and
brilliant, and exploded with a report like canon
1t remained in sight from three to five seconds
aud disappeared in the northeast its course having
been eastward with great velocity, in a right line
httle inclined downward. At Geneva three or
four large meteoTs were seen, but accounts from
other places mention that there was one body like
ball OF molten iron, and some smaller ones an
parently merely detached portions Of it. In some
places the explosion is spoken of as having been
tremendous, like the bursting Of a steam boiler,
followed by a loud, deep rumbling sound, that
gradually died away At Darlington and Lake
Zurich the houses snOok and windows ratified and
the people awoke from sleep very much alarmed.
The AMERICANS AT SEvAsroPoL.-CoI. Gowan.
the American contractor for raising the vessels
sunk in Sevastopol harbor during the Crmean
war, employs daily about 200 men, who, with
clerks, &c, occupy the naval arsenal which was
converted into rendezvous specially for them
The operations connected with the raising of the
sunken ships, &C., are on large scale, and it is
supposed will occupy two years more before the
harbor is totally cleared, although it is now nayi-
gable. Col. Gowan, who is held high in the esti-
nation OF both the Russian and American Govern
ments, along with Capt. Nichols and Mr.. France,
are the parties who have the charge of the grave
yards.
THROWN OvERBoARD.-The rumor that the Mar.
quis of Devonshire had thrown his daughters
lover overheard from his yacht, in Naples and
drowned him, is explained by the London Times as
Misrepresentation of the common idiomated
phrase, "thrown overheard" 1t is said that a
letter was written by of the party board the
Sylrhide to friend at Turin, in which he desert
bed very trivial disappointment sustained BY
another of the party by the words we have quoted
The phrase, however vague, is in such common
use, and so perfectly understood in its restricted
sense as ''foied," or "disappointed' that no En-
glishman would probably have misapprehended its
meaning.
THREE BRoTHERs SUDDENLY INsANE.-One of the
most singular and painful exhibitions of insanity and
in single family, that we remember to have heard
Of has just occurred at Henderson, Jefferson coun-
ty, n. Y. VIM. Gill, j. W. Gill, and Daniel R.
Gill; three brothers, who live in the town of Hen
derson, near Salisbury's Mills, and who are well
known as extensive farmers have each within a
period of five months become insane. The brothers
Gill are very extensive landhoders, owning in the
aggregate about ,UUO acres, included in which
the Galloe Islands, in Lake Ontario. 1t is said
upon this there large membranes, which
have considerably embarI assed the owners, and
which doubtless has been the of their insani-
ty.
THE ExlLEs OF SlBERIA-The average number of
persons exilea to Siberia yearly is about $500,
elusive of the women and children that accompany
them. To get to the station of Tobosk they have
travel from 927 to $500 verstes according to the
district they start from. From Tobolsk to Tumen
is journey of So days, to Krasnojersk ll6 DAYS,
and to 1rkuts III days. Most of the exiles 90
through Irkuts to Merchnsk. This long Journey,
made by the criminals promiscuousy with the
women and children, has lamentsbe effect on their
morals.
We received package OF the Times last night,
with this endorsement:
"Returned from Columbus, Georgia, where the
proprietors would be hung were they to show their
heads"
We shall not "show under such circumstances
We would not go half that distance for the promised
reward.-NeiO York Times, Jan. 10.
ADVANCE WAGES TO BE PAID TO THE SAILOR IN
PERsoN.-It being found impossible to overcome
the combined influence of the sailor boarding house
keepers, in abolshing the pernicious custom of
paying advance wages to seamen, Judge Hoar, of
the Supreme Court in this State, has decided that
the wages must be paid directly to the seaman,
and not at his order, thus establishing in him at
least nominal control over his own money.
The most important drinking fountain vet de-
signed for London is being erected, through the
muniicence of Miss Burnett Coutts in Victoria
Park. 1t includes a coonnade around four foun-
tains, covered with a dome and will hn con