, 1862-04-11
War and Chemistry.
fErntu 43.a hon.yo4t- TEna1a /


When Solomon declared that there wAs
nothing new under the sun he must have linn
tied his meaning to the moral world, every
phase Of which is embraced and illustrated bv
his proverbs to-day as it was three Thousand
years ago. Or, SIS to the material world, he
may hare affirmed that its elements would
have continued tho same, though new future
combinations among them mig Tit exist. Ger
tainly the wisest Of men would have felt his
experience enlarged by tho fore knowledge
Of a modern battle. or Of gunboat chasing a
raflroad train, Yet 1t is ns true as strange that
many. warlike appliances Of this day are but
rcpetitions and improvements Of ancient prac.
tice. The terrible Greek fire resembles in
many respects the Congrcye rocket. 4 COM
bat between iron-ulad ships is only duel Of
mailed nights, maggnifed and transferred to
the sea, and the steam-ra1n simply repro
4uetlon, With grander motive power, Of the
Still the science which is to make wa. dead
ly, and the cost which is to make it rare, are
yet far from their climax. Attack and defense
hare an ample range before them, in inven-
tions, tor connterpoising Development and ri
leteand gunpowderfu futile, as stone and wooden
wallis have already ceased to be in7incib1e, and
the New York Hor2d Of . century hence may
record such battle as the recent one in Hamp-
ton Roads in terms something like theses
The conflict between the rebel electric propel.
Ter, the SnIphuric and the national vessel the Nd
riatic has ragged during the last fortnight with IN
abated fury. From the lens-windowB OF our Office
observatory Its progress is distinctly seen and pho
geographically recorded Owing to anaec1dent IN our
calcium, bY which its power at q distance beyond
two hundred miles WIS sensibly affected we lost
some Of lastnight's details The rebel glass boats
tic Uric and Hippurtc, arc still hsvering about
the action, though the terrific electric discharge
inflicted on the latter week a.o bY the Mi
riatc- which stifed and blasted half her crew, has
Induced them to keep some ten leagues distant,
nearly out Of range The Sulphuric has suoe..
rior laboratory and continues pour floods Of acid
from her fifty yissi6ed tubes over the Muriatics
/ decks. but the new platinum hose Of the latter
gives her 3 marked advantage in replying.
There are eigDs OF deep corrosion in some Of the
bow-r1ates OF the former, and the 1udder Of the
Mu1iatic is rapidly decomroeing, having been
honeycombed three days ago By fortunate squirt
from the Sufphurice etern tube. The eupp1y oil
clemicals. however, in the rebel vessel is cyi,
IDENTIFY filling, while the tanks Of Oh Of rittio1 or
pected TO arrive In time to replenish the 1nids o
the Mu1iatic.
"P. S-The gold plated two-retort battery, the
Nitric has just galvanized herself into the Roads
and 1afd the Sulphur:c close aboard Her mail Il
Of couree fmpervious. The Uric and Hipputic al;
cro,vdipg all their electricity aud running out 0
| the action. Strong magnets have been hoisted a
the fort 10 draw them within range again.
"Ldter.-The Nitric has opened with potassium
| ard benzole. A cencentEated pour Of kakodyi
from the Muriatic aided her Efforts, and the last
| the crew of the snlphuric has just dashed over
bosr1 to escape suffocation, leaving her helplez
prize to the national yes4els. So perish ali the en-
e1niee OF the Republict"