Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-10-01
EGYPT.

Under date of Aug. %. correspondent oil
the New York Herald writes from Cairo as
follows:
l sm glad to know that our old friends in our
far off land have not forgotten us. We are all
pleasantly situated here, and treated by our
noble Viceroy with great kindness and conside-
ration, and all are busl'y engaged in our Varl-
Gus departments, organizing and giving them
a system. Heretofore all has been confusion.
Our reports have been most tavoraby received,
and doubtless will be adopted. We hope to
be, and no doubt will be, of service to this
country, and 10 short time make the army Of
Egypt the best little army in the world.
| have never seen such material. The SOL
diers are the finest looking men [ have ever
seen, we'll behaved and subordinate. They
would charge the gates of darkness. am
pleased to say the American officers are very
popular with the soldiers and people. 1t was
very different with the French officers who
we're here before US. We have had quite hot
summer. II We had come out i0 the fall in.
stead OF the spriog, it would have been better,
as the heat has greatly exhausted US. With
regard to the American officers here [ will in
form you that Gen. 9. p. Stone is the chc
of staff. Gen. A. W. Reynolds is quartermas-
ter, commissary and paymaster general, Gen.
Loring is inspector general Of all the infantry,
Gen. Slbley is inspector general OF artillery,
Col. Rhett is chiet OF ordnance, Col. kennon
is 10 charge Of the coast defences, Col. +. A
Reynolds is colonel OF light artillery, but is at
present acting as assistant Inspector general:
Z.nser is inspector Of cavalry. Gen. Mott. who
had that position, having been transferred
to the staff OF the Viceroy. While l am
writing a regiment of infantry is just passing.
I have never seen such q body of men. Their
movements are like cockwork. l have visited
most Of the places OF interest and am much
pleased with all have seen. There is always
something going on which interests Us in the
way of tetes and amusements. | am told the
winter here is most delightful. The Viceroy
cxpends large sums of money to amuse his
people. We have one OF the finest opera
houses in the world. The Viceroy pays al
expenses and has the best performers in Europe
engaged He will have none but the best anu
the prettiest women as performers His bal S
are magnificent. We are all excited just now
on the war question in Europe.
The Viceroy is prince of great ability, and
foresaw the trouble cow existing In Europe.
He had many French officers in his service,
but he knew that when the Emperor wanted
his subjects they would be demanded and
would have to 60. Such has been the case,
and the French are now leaving Egypt. Th,
Viceroy has employed American officers OF
distinction on whom he can rely. OF course
they are acting independently OF the United
States, though in their contracts they are not
required or expected to serve IN any way
against the United States. The kindness OF
the Viceroy and bis ministers is very marked
to his American pets, while they IN return are
exertiDg every nerve to deserve his good opln
ion All the court have returned to Cairo for
IL -, oh ,o ted fn ha
and delightful. The Viceroy is the riches,
prince on this side the water and more liberal
than princes generally are. lie is loved by
his people and rides out like private gentle
man without fear. AS he passes every one
stops and salutes him, which he returns like
an old soldier. He is about forty hive years
old, handsome, and speaks several languages.
He has given his Americans several dinners,
and is anxious they should bring out their
families this fall.
The Viceroy reads the American newspa-
pers. He is one OF the most progressive men
of the age.
A PETRIFIED FoREsT.-While on visit to
Caistoga Springs | was told of a petrifed tree,
which could be seen by going upon the noun
tains, about five miles distant. As it was rare
or uncommon to 6ud such petrihcations above
ground. and being much interested as an anna
teur in geology, went with the landlord OF
the Spring, hotel to the locality. and very
much to my astonisbmeot and pleasure, dis
covered twelve petri6ed trees lying upon the
ground. The largest of the number is about
twenty feet in length by six feet 10 diameter,
the roots being below the surface of the SOIL
This tree is broken in seven places, squarely
across, proving concuslveIy that 1t was petrlh-
ed when it fell, 1t cannot be otherwise, for no
such fracture of living tree was ever seen. L
looked around, hoping to see one OF them
standing, but saw none. They all show the
same fracture, being broken squarely across
the trunk. with the parts separated as they
struck the ground, for o foot or SO, by the
weight Of their tall.
They are situated upon small bill or eleva-
ton rising from the plateau; and the bill ls
not soil, but rock, which crops out at Intervals
There are many similar petrlhcatlons, L am
told, in this State. but thus far all OF them
have been found below the soil. think DR.:
Lardner mentions a case where be supposed
the trees to have been pushed up from below
by some convulsion after petrlfcation occurred
but have never heard of any other discovery
OF such trees lying on the surface. On Sun,,
day, two gentlemen visited the locality, aud
reported that they found more than forty OF
of it, as of the twelve l saw, found the last
two occasionally crystazations or opazcd
accidentally coming off the ground. Being a
stranger, and unacquainted with the variety OF
trees that grew in this State, l am unable to
tell what kind of species these trees are tut
the wood is silici6ed having the quality of
scratching glass aud shows snots through and
upon it.-San Francisco Bulletin.
GRATING THE TOMATO ON TIE PoTATo--A
correspondent states that be succeeded perfect
" in grating scion of the tomato upon th'
potato vine. He cut about one third OF th
potato shoot of, just above leaf, taking car
not to ipjure the bud at its base. Ibe scion
beiog shielded from the sun, was every "a
sprlnkled with little water, and 1t took reaa
y. 10 The fall the tomato was loadeu VIII
ripe and unripe fruit, and had grown 10
large size.