, 1863-10-10

truction among the galleys of the enemy.
For 400 years its secret was successfully
by the Romans of The East,
the vengeance of heaven beiSg Implicated
upon whomsoeyer should divulge this COM
position, which the people were taught to
believe was mysteriously revealed by an
angel to the first and greatest Of the Con
stantines The MahammedanS finally OBJ
tanned the secret, and in the holy wars OF
Syria and Egypt turned the art against the
Christians. Joinville in his HiSoire de S.
Louts describes the fire as coming through
the air like winged long-tailed dragon,
about the thickness Of hogshead, with
the report Of thunder and the velocity Of
producing so much light from
the quantity of fire it threw out, that one
might see in the camp as if it had been
day-a description not inapplicabe to the
rocket. Its use was continued until the
middle of the Fourteenth century, when it
gave place to the more efficient compound
of somewhat similar nature then invented.
The name Of Greek Fire has been applied
TO compounds that burn on the surface of
or under the water. An iufammable Ii
ouor of this chal acter is said to have been
discovered in 1775 by goldsmith of Paris,
named Dupfe, who was not, however, per-
mitted to make its character known. The
photographer, M. Neipce de st, Victor has
experimental by request of the Nench
Minister of war, upon the property of BEN
zole to burn upon water, and of igniing if
bit of potassium or of phosphuret Of cal
cium be contained in it. He fonud that if
a glass vessel containing 800 grammes of
benzole and half a gramme Of potassium
we're broken on the surface of the water
the benzole would Immediately overspread
a considerable surface bursting at the same
time into fame. A mixture of three parts
of benzole and one of sulphuret of carbon,
being put into a hand grenade previously
heated by immersion in boiling water, pro-
duced a disarrangement of vapor which
could be ignited and would coniuuero burn
from Jet till the whole was consumed.
Phosphorus in solution increases its power
of setting fire 10 other objects. Oil Of pc
troleum may be substituted for the benzole.
Itwas thought that this might be used in
naval warfare as the ancient Greek fire was
employed. The subject is fully treated by
Scoffern in his work "Projectlle weapons of
war and Explosive Compounds, London,
1857 in which he also names several liquid
mixtures that spontaneously ignite, and
may be used for the same purposes as Greek
fire A solution Of phosphorus in sulphu-
ret of carbon thrown in a glass grenade
was found, in experiments conducted at
Woolwich, to ignite soon after the liquid
was scattered. Chloride Of sulphur may
be substituted for the sulphuret of carbon,
the ignition not taking place quite so soon,
thus giving time for the liquid to penetrate
into wood work and canvas, An abomiua-
BILE odor is diffused during the combustion
Tho Massachusetts, Herald, leading re-
publican paper Of that State, does not be-
lieve in the doctrines promulgated by the
fanatics Of the North. In speaking of
the position of North Carolina, it has the
following pertinent paragraph
We are told that North Carolina can
come back if she will do something about
slavery. The slavery question has moth
ing more to do with her coming back than
it has to do with next years thunder and
Whenever her act Of secession
falls, she is back-that is, she does not re-
turn to the Union, for she never was ont
of it, but she returns from a disloyal to
loyal condition. The treason of JEFF Da-
Wis and Governor Harris could no more
carry Tennessee out of the Union than the
riot of Andrews and the other mobocra's
cou d carry New York city out Of that
State The laws Of the State were not op-
erative while the mob controlled, but when
that was subdued, New York was where
she has been, and entitled to all me rights
which the laws guaranteed her. So the re-
bellion prevents the execution of national
laws for a time; but when the rebellion is
subdued and the loyal people control, Ten
nessee will hold her place among the other
States, according to the conditions on
which she was admitted to the Union orig
inally.
The Louisville Journal, commenting up
on the above, says;
The view thus forcibly expressed by the
Newburyport Herald is shared by num-
Der of other Republican papers, including
the Albany Evening Journal a paper of
influence in the Republican
ranks. There is indeed excellent reason to
believe, that, in the coming national strug-
gle at the ballot-box, the conservative
ranks will be recruited very largely from
the conservative wing Of the Republicans.
The truth is, at least half Of the members
Of the Republican party, though radicals by
accidental position, are conservatives by
instinct and by conviction, and, in the great
civil contest that is approaching, will ca
gerly embrace the opportunity to make
their position quadrate with their instincts
and convictions. They now occupy false
position, and their position is growing fall
ser with every radical stride. They must
and will abandon their present position
and national preservation alike
demand it.. The very folly and wicked
ness Of the radical leaders thus tend pow
erfully 10 promote the overthrow of radi-
callsm in the Presidential election of next
year. Heaven grant that these agencies at
the lowest may be powerfully seconded by
the wisdom and virtue of the conservative
leaders.
MODERN oMANcE.-Albert rode with
the speed of an arrow to the garden, sprang
like the wind from his steed, climbed like a
squirrel over the hedge, writhed like
snake through the palings, flew like hawk
to the arbor crept up to her all unseen,
threw himself passonately at her feet.
swore frantically that he would shoot him
self was, however, Immediately heard,
seated himself in blessed delight at her
side. sank on her bosom, swan in a sea Of