Year: 1871

PRINCE AND DUKE ON THE BATTLE OF DOR
KING.-The Prince of Wales, supported by
Prince Arthur and the Duke of Cambridge, pre-
sided on the Oath of June, at the annual dinner
of the royal Caledonian asylum. The Prince of
Wales, in proposing "The army, navy and re-
serve forces" said: 81 am sure that every En-
glishman and Scotchman, being proud of our
army, navy and reserve forces, will duly honor
this toast Much has been said lately respect
ing changes that are to be made in the army of
this country. Now, whatever the nature Of
these changes may be, let us trust that, at any
rate, they will be conducive to the good of the
army and to the safety of the country. Much
has also been said, dare say, about the subject
of a certain publication which doubtless every
body in this room has seen, mean The Battle
of Dorking. The only remark l venture to
make is that sincerely trust that the prophecy
to which that publication gives expression will
never be realized. Still there was an object in
writing that little book, that object being to
give broad hint to all of us that we must not
be found mapping and believe if we but take
that hint, and give to our defensive forces the
attention they deserve, the prophecy will never
be realized"


The Duke of Cambridge, in responding, re-
marked that he had the honor for many years
of having been under the favor of the sovereign,
and he trusted with the confidence of the coun-
try, at the head of the noble profession with
which all his life had been so intimately asso-
ciated. He cordially echoed the wish which had
been expressed by his royal highness the chair
man, that the future of the army might be such
as to do honor to the country and credit to him
self. In its past history the army had always
deserved the good opinion of the country, and
in spite of the experience of recent events
abroad, he must express his belief that our
army was equal to the performance of any du-
ties it could be called upon to discharge, and
that the battle of Dorking, if ever it should
have to be fought, would have an issue far diff
ferent from that which its pleasant author had
predicted It would, indeed, be greatly to be
deplored if ever the time should come when the
people of England were Unable to defend their
hearths and their homes from the insults of
foreign foe.


NOVEL SUBSTITUTE FOR GUTTA PRRCHA.-
A singular marine plant is washed up on the
shores in the vicinity of the Cape of Good Hope,
South Africa, which has come into considerable
use as a substitute for gutta percha and similar
substances, in the manufacture of fancy articles,
such as canes, picture frames, inlaid work, ETC.
1t is of dark color, and, when fresh, it is
thick and fleshy; but when it is dried it be-
comes compact, and its surface looks like a
beautifully grained deer's horn. After it be-
comes dry and hard, it can be rendered soft
again by sleeping in water, and in this cOndi-
ton may be stretched and formed into various
shapes II can also be reduced, when dry, TO
powder, then made plastic by soaking in water,
and in this condition it may be struck into al
most any shape in die press-coming out Of
the mould like articles formed Of gutta percha,
The plant is prepared for its industrial uses by
cleaning it first with weak caustic altali, and
then with diluted suphuric acid, after which it
is washed, and before it is quite dry it may be
pressed into sheets or any other form. 1t then
may be rendered very hard by stepping it in
hot solution of alum, after which it is removed
to hot room where it is dried, and retains its
shape afterward Reduced to powder, it may
also be mined with various substances, like in
dia rubber, and moulded into great variety of
articles