The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-03-19

hye, and quite broken down at thirty, how near
can you come to the old Doctors simple standard
of health?
The Borrow OF THE SEA.-0ur Investigations &C
to show that the roaring waves and the mighties
pillows of the ocean, repose not upon hard or trou
bIed beds, but upon cushions Of still water; shat
everywhere at the bottom of the deep sea the solid
ribs OF the earth are protected as with garment
from the abrsding action of its currents; that the
cradle of its restless waves is lined by stratum
OF water at rest; or so nearly at rest, that it can
neither wear nor move the lighest bit of drift that
once lodges there. The uniform appearance of
these microscopic shells, and the almost total alb
sence among them of any sediment from the sea or
foreign matter, suggest most forcibly the idea of
perfect repose at the bottom Of the sea. Some of
the specimens are as pure and as free from sand
as the fresh-faen snowflake is from the dust OF
the earth. Indeed, these soundings almost prove
that the sea, like the snOw-coud with its flakes in
calm, is always letting fall upon its bed showers
of these minute shells; and we may readily ina
CINE that the wrecks which strew its bottom are
in the process of ages, hidden under this feecy
covering, presenting the rounded appearance
which is seen over the body of the traveller who
has persisted in the snOwstorm. The ocean, es-
pecially within and near the tropics, swarms with
life. The remains of its myrads of moving things
are conveyed by currents and scattered and lodged
IN the course of time all its bottom This pro.
cess, continued for ages has covered the depths of
the ocean as with mantle, consisting of organisms
as delicate as hoar-lrost, and as light in the water
as down is in the air. The tooth of running water
is very sharp. See how the Niagara has cut its
way through LAYER after layer of solid rock But
what Is the Niagara, with all the fresh water
courses of the world, by the side of the great cur
rents of ocean? And what is the pressure of fresh
water upon river beds in comparison with the pres
sure OF ocean water upon the bottom of the deep
sea? 1t is not great by contrast as the cutters
In the streets are to the cataract. Then why have
not the currents of the sea worn its bottom away?
Simply because they are not permitted to get down
to it.-AU the Year Round.
The New FRENCH CANYoY.-The following are
further particular relative to the ortar cannon
to which alluded on the Dist ult The tube or
barrel Is formed of several cylinders or rings of
cast or wrought iron, its longitudinal cylindrical
parts affording the means of uniting the rings
The interior OF the tube is rihed by means of
number Of projecting spiral rods, shaped in tri-
angular prisms. The tube can be heightened at
pleasure. The breach of the gun is a mortar, to
which the tube is attached, and from which it NAV
be detached either for the purpose of loading it at
the breech or of making use of it as mortar 1t
is alleged that this cannon cannot become heated,
that the process of cleansing after each discharge
Is unnecessary, except as regards the breech, and
that 1t may be fired four or five times during the
space now required to fire any other gun once
Another consequence said to follow from the non
heating of the barrel of the gun is, that there is
no danger of bursting, either from defect in the
metal or from overcharge. The gun may other
wise be heightened or shortened at pleasure The
ih'eHtoI states tHdI gun throwing q S10t OF lZU
10. weight may be taken to pieces and conveyed on
the back OF horse or mule over roads impossible
for carriages He shows that there is considera-
Bile saving in the construction of this gun in conse-
luence of the tube being of open work, and ofiron
IN place of bronze. 1t may be as light as is con-
3istent with the resistance which its weight must
necessarily oppose to the recoil produced by its
discharge. The inventor expects that this gun
will supersede mortars, and that every cannon
mounted a ships deck may be used both as a
n md hat hin trhi oh
les 40 guns may be said to carry 40 guns and 40
nortars.-Pdris correspondence Of the London
Times.
IRON SHIPS OF WAR.-Mr. Scott Russell has pub.
ished a reply to Sir Howard Douglass recent
pamphlet on the comparative value of iron and
wooden ships of war; Sir Towards opinion is
that ships formed wholly, or nearly so, of iron,
re utterly unfit for all the purposes and contin
,encies OF war, whether as fighting ships or as
transports for troops" In opposition to this, Mr..
scott kusteil submits:-l That iron steamships-of-
var may be built as strong as wooden ships of
greater weight, and stronger than wooden ships of
quail weight. 2 That iron ships of equal strength !
AN go on less draught Of water than wooden ships.
!. That they are more durable. 4. That they are
afeT against the sea. 5. That they are safer
gainst fire. 6. That they are much safer against
Explosive shells. 7. That they are much safer
g inst red-hot shot. s. That they are much safer
gainst molten metal. 0. That they can be made
even against solid shot. The following
II.
rom the Mechanics Maguzine:-
AS Sir ID. Douglas had attacked the construction
nd sailing qualities of the Great Eastern his op-
onent first disproves his assertions and predictions
egarding her, and then states the facts regarding
ron ships which have been ascertained by act,
al experiment Experience has proved, first that
when the thickness of vessels side is not more |
han half an inch shots fired obquely have glanced
II the iron vessel which would have penetrated a |
'ooden ship; second that shots fired directly have
hnth cof tbae oh, Ill.
amage to the ship directly and less damage by
pllnters, than would have been the case in timber
hips third, that the shot holes have been as easily
topped, and more expeditiously and less expensive
repaired than in wooden ships; fourth that their
lates of wrought iron, fiveeighths of an inch,
re proof against shells; that plates two inches
nick are impenetrable, even to the pieces and
agments of shells; that iron plates four Inches and
half thick are nearly impenetrable to shot fired
ON the heaviest nature of guns; and finally, that
ates six inches thick are practically impenetra-
e."
GENERAL MoREAU's DEArH-BLow BEFORE DREs-
sN.-A little after this, as the Emperor, Gen.
oreau, Lord Cathcart, myself and suite, were
assiDg on the right of the centre in the wake of
rench battery which still played, ball came and
fects were seen or heard, but then General Moreau
led ooh !" and perceived him, for l was next
pom bis left, struggling and endeavoring to dis
cunt. Immediately said, "Sire, Gen. Moreau
wounded" And almost at the instant saw him
lrow himself from his horse, with leg shat
red and tn inside of mis- left knee all mangled.-
Is horse which had stood firm till the general fell,
wv staggered and threw himself down close to his
aster. The violent struggles of the horse
armed General Moreau, who said, "keep the
orse down." but the horse died before any one
ould get near him. Moreau then lifted himself
. little, looked at his legs, and sad "Cest passe
zee moi mon cfaire est fate" The Emperor, on
ding away, ordered him to be carried off the
I'D. Some Cossacks lifted him on their pixies, and
moved him to the nearest village The operation
amputating both legs was performed by the
nperor's surgeon, Wiley. Moreau bore it as a
ldier, and during the whole day kept cheerful
renity that proved the possession Of extraordina.
powers of mind General Wilson's Private
iary