Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-07-12
EXA. GAZETTE & VIRGINIA ADVERTISER.
The Museum Of the University DIVA.
Correspondence of the Rich. W

IL
things which it contains The writer spent
about two hours in the museum under the gul
dance of Professor Mallet, who pointed out the
principal objects of interest and briefly explain
cd them.
The first apartment we examined looked like
small druggist shop. Here upon Que shelf
were innumerable little glass jars containing a
sample OF every oil known to commerce. from
the kerosene, in all its stages Of manufacture,
to the perfumed oils of the Orient.
Here" said DIR. Mallet, ''are specimens of
peanut oil in different conditions of manufac-
ture. 1t is used as substitute for olive oil
tor packing sardnes, for making soap and for
burning in lieu of kerosene. The expectation
this oil is one Of the two chief industries of the
west coast of Airica-the other being the ex-
portation of palm to Englaod for the manufac-
ture OF palm oil which you see here.
''Can the peanut oil be made here?' in
quired.
'It certainly could, aud with considerable
profit.
On table was specim en- Of Bassla butter,
semi solid product Of the Bassia tree of Ben
gal
Professor Mallct-"rhis is the Esparto gra> s
for making parer. Here is specimen of the
crude grass, the second specimen has been trca-
ted with alkali; the third is the paper pulp;
that in the fourth jar has gone through the
final prcpa, atory process Of bleaching. The
Esparto grows in the sea marshes Of Spain,
and little Goubt would grew in similar places
here. The trails worth making. Thousands
of tons are annually exported to England for
paper making.
A vast number of neat little glass bottles con-
tain samples of every perfume of every nation !;
Grecian and Indian odors, faint and delicate !;
seusuous perfumes Of France and Germany !;
scents from Italy, Turkey, Hungary and every
other cline under the sum- Here are foreign
wines, also, Of every variety.
Here are the amaline colors-reccnty dis
covcrcd-the surprising and beautiful varla-
tions of which DR.. Mallet exhibited by treat
ment with spray of alcohol These colors are
from coal tar.
A glass jar contains spoons, ladies and other
articles of use made OF the newly Invented
metal bronze aluninium-a compound OF
aluminium and copper. 1t is the best substl-
tute for gold for many uses, and is now en-
ploycd, instead Of steel, for perforating sheets
Of postage stamps
What chemistry can do to utilize the most
common and worthless materials is aptly illus
trated by specimens of products from common
sawdust This sawdust, treated with caustlc
potash, becomes caustc soda; roasted on iron
plates, eached with water, residue decomposed
with lime, becomes oXaatc of lime; decom-
posed with sulphuric acid gives oXallc acid,
used by calico printers. dyerS, &c. We pas
into smaller room A cabinet of minerals is
on one side, comprising the principal ores for
the analytical practice of the students.
DIR. Mallct-"Herc we have specimens of all
sorts and grades of sugars, teas cottecs dye
stutfs, &C., and here is the India rubber milk
just as it flowed from the tree. Ionder is a
nice collection of poisons This, the iuspisated
Juice OF the upas tree, native OF Java, and
one of the swiitest and deadliest Of poisons
This other is the curare poison OF South Amer
lea, iu which the saVages dipped their arrows,
might result in horrible death. This spec-
men is the iuspisated juice Of the vine 1t pro-
duces fearful death by slow paralysis
An iron half-bushel measure, labelled Abe
marie Co., l746 and two bell shaped iron
weights, and an iron yard measure, designating
the cloth ells are among the curiosities OF this
apartment They represent weights and mea-
sures of the time Henry VII, and Elizabeth,
varying considerably from present standards.
Here is cabinet containing curious and
beautiful articles from the East. Bengal silks
Of brilliant dyes, woods, &c; necklace OF cut
rock crystal, hunting knives pocket knives OF
the East Ind an. The handles are rude and
primitive but the Indian keeps his knives, eS-
of razor. In another division of the building
We see cabinets of American and foreign iron
and steal manufactures Immense bars of the
celebrated wrought iron Of the Lowmoor manu-
factory, Yorkshire, are twisted into tancltul
knots showing its wonderful hcXibility. Specl
mems of armor plates, iudcnted by shot, are
very interesting. especially large section of
plate, A inches thick, from the British iron
clad "Warrior.' This shows the deep indcnta-
ton of the ball which struck and shattered it
during the English experiment at Woolwlch
The curious effect upon solid shot striking an
iron surface is illustrated by specimens.
Professor Mallct-''Ilere arc specimens of
the famous Bessemer steel don't suppose
any man has ever made as much by one iuveu-
as Bcsscmer. His royalties alone amount to
Il 900 in England, and as much probably both
IN America aud on the Continent. He has ina
mense incomes also, from his own steel works
| believe his patent will shortly expire.
From the Berlin Iron Works there are some
very unique and delicate ornaments of iron,
suitable for ladies wcar-bracelets, &c.
CASE OF ANNABLE.-W. j. Annable, clerk
of Henrico County Court, was befure the grand
Jury Yesterday, the investigation resulting in
the following prescntments: First, for destroying
and sccreting sixty-six ballots containing tn;
names OF slxty-six persons who had been selected
TO serve as grand Jurors Second, for falsely
making an entry in the minutes OF the Doaro
ofSupervisors Of an allowance Of 1925 to himself
when there was only s125 allowed him. Third
for fraudalenty erasing the name of J. }. Um
!auf from the list of persons to serve as grand
jurors, and Inserting in place thereof the name
OF A j. Waldrop. Bail in the sun of 5 ,OOJ
oa each OF the above (aggregati ,g $4,000 was
required for Annables appearance today al
III o clock A. NJ to answer the further action
of the jury, and the court accepted Samuel l.
Annable father Of the aecused) as surety The
further charge of obtaining money under false