The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-05
Yucr"c last NIGHT
TIE Telcscopc-Lecture b. -. .-Aericas

TIE TelcscOpc-Ieciure Bs-.-. IN. Aesacas
sscouu !" Nv inter series Of twelve scientific
lectures .slvered before the American Institute
iass enng by Professor Alexander, OF the College
v New Jersey Princeton, the lecturer taxing Is the
subject Of his discourse 1.-THE Telescope" An au-
dience OF about seven hundred persons appeared
deeply interested in the theme treateo Oh W INC
speaker and manifested their appreciation OF MS
efforts by frequent applause.
In opening his remarks he said that the principle
OF the telescope was not by any means recent IN
vention or discovery though It was OF late years only
that its powers had been developed to such degree
as to render II one OF the most valuable agents Of
science and astronomic study. The magnfying
glass, although OF somewhat limited capacity,
was known TO the ancient5 OF Inc time or Phar0an,
and specimens had been found Ia excavating " g
remains OF some Of the Egyptian cities OF that per-
Explaining the principles OF the relracuon OF light
philosophy OF the magnifying qualities OF rle discs
and lenses used in telescopes, whlch Was that Of
concentrating by means OF convex lens or concave
mirror q greater number Of rays than would
naturally converge on the eye, and Producing at the
local point On image o. the object The invention Of
and others and In primitive form, though on the
general principle OF that now used IL was used about
the middle Of the seventeenth century. AS an aid to
the researches OF astronomy navigation and engi-
neerng 1t was almost invaluable; but in the former
science especially had it been the Of the most
gratifying results to the world. The primary obstacle
encountered In the construction OF the telescope
disc was IN obtaining the glass OF SUFFICIENT purity
ness Of the material depended the distnctness with
which objects were discerned. while by the adjust
men OF Its proportions the proper production OF the
magnifying light from the coors reflected was OBJ
tanned. A disc two feet in diameter was the largest
now produced and would cost not less than three
thousand five hundred dollars. He concluded by
referring to the fact that an American optician was
now considered as one OF the first In the world
and had succeeded in manufacturing glasses
equal to any now made. number OF astronomical
diagrams were used by the speaker during the even
Ing to facilitate the Illustration OF his ideas.
Abyssinia and the observation-disclosures by T..
III. Hall.
Mr.. +. II. Hall delivered a lecture last evening be-
fore the Travellers Club on Abyssna and the Abyss
sinians. There was pretty large attendance Of the
members OF the club and their families present, who
all seemed to be very much interested in the nara
tive given by the lecturer OF the country its inhab
tants, their manners and customs, climate and pro-
auctions. The people claimed to be the very earliest
Christians OF the world, and it is belief OF the rm
est kind among them that the Virgin Mary and
Joseph made their country their abode when they
fed from before Herod. Christianity had, however,
greatly deterorated and the priests OF the low
est kind OF their class anywhere throughout the
world. The country generally was OF an elevated
feet the Of the
sea. The climate was consequently very varied, but
generally very salubrous and healthiul. = The pro-
auctions were numerous and diversified. Travellers
well acquainted with the subject have declared that
no country on earth was better adapted for the
growth Of cotton. The richest coffee in the world
was produced there-the far-famed M0cha-the
fruits consisted OF all that is grown in ntertropca
lands. The apple, peach, orange. and banana
abOunded. The people were all Of the Ethiopian
cast, and were first known to the Portuguese under
the name OF Hobish, which means congregation or
q multitude. The term at present was not very
applicable to them, as they were not at all numer-
GUS race, the whole Abyssinian tribes probably not
numbering more than three millions and half
There were three distinct races in the country,
the Calais being the strongest and most
numerous The written language very much resem-
bed the Egyptian hieroglyphics, showing that they
originally came from that country. The English ex
petition had done much to open up the country to
Europeans, and the country nrst explored by Bruce,
and subsequently by Spoke and Grant, was still too
interesting study to be neglected by the curious
traveller. The home Of the Nile was too dear to oil
travellers not to make It an attractive scene for
many years to come, and the field OF discovery 1t
opened 100 rich In undeveloped treasures not to
lncite men for many years to come TO visit It. The
lecturer closed very interesting lecture by predict
ing before many years the dawn OF q new era for
Abyssinia, when religion and civilization would
open 1t to the world and bring the Apyssnian nearer
to the family Of nations. ON concluding Mr.. Hall
was very warmly applauded.