A knave outwitted.—A man lately came into a merchant's store in Newbern, N. C. and told the merchant he owed him five dollars for goods he lately had of him. The merchant being a correct man in his business, finding no charge against him on book, and knowing also that he never gave credit to strangers, told the honest man he must be mistaken; but he insisted he was not, and paid the money. A few days afterwards he called again and wanted credit for goods to the amount of about $30, which the merchant declined letting him have. The man pretended to be surprised that he, who had shown such honesty in paying a debt, which the merchant had forgotten, should be refused a further credit; but says the merchant, if I have been foolish enough, for once to trust a stranger, I shall not be such a fool again.
Mineralogy.—The science of mineralogy is at present pursued with uncommon assiduity in England.—The elementary treatises on the subject, as published there, are numerous, but lately Mr. Philips published a second edition of a Manual of Mineralogy, of which in 9 months he sold 900 copies. In Paris there are four lectures on the subject, and last year the only four students who were foreigners, were all from Pennsylvania—these were the young Messrs. Gallatin, Seybert, Keating, and Vancexin. The science seems to be highly deserving of encouragement here, as it has become reduced to such general rules as enables the mineralist or geologist to ascertain with tolerable certainty what substances are, and what are not to be found in the bowels of different parts of the earth, by inspection of its surface, as well as to ascertain by sight, or by analysis, their nature, composition, properties, and uses.
Cave in Virginia.—Of Wier's Cave in Virginia, general C. Jones, of that state, has lately given a description, of which the following is a summary. The cave is of limestone, generally descending in its course. The entrance, about 4 feet square, brings you first into a room 12 or 15 feet high; you then creep along a narrow passage into another room—then, descending a ladder, you enter Solomon's temple, in which is a large fluted column, called Solomon's pillar, and on the sides curtains descend from the ceiling to the floor, the room about 25 feet high; ascending a ladder, you pass a steep narrow rock, and then descend into the curtain room, profusely ornamented with drapery, having more of the appearance of art than of chance, the curtains hanging from 6 to 12 inches apart, and mostly white and transparent:—next is the music room, abounding with stalactites similar to those forming the curtains just mentioned, but of firm texture, on which enchanting music can be made, when struck with a skilful hand:—You next descend a natural staircase, with something like balusters on one side, and then, down a ladder, into the ballroom, 100 feet long, and from 16 to 20 high, the floor smooth, the sides ornamented with curtains, and in which there is a sofa, remarkable for its resemblance to the reality. You next encounter a long difficult narrow passage, creeping and sliding part of the way, and then, descending some steps, you enter the vestibule, the arch about 25 feet high, in which is a saloon, and Mary's gallery, the latter formed of a horizontal sheet of rock, a foot thick, and 20 in diameter:—You then enter Washington-Hall, the grandest part of the cavern, the floor of which is level, and rings to the tread, the arch above 80 feet high, and on one side is something like a a row of marble statuary:—The next is Lady Washington's drawing room, a handsome large apartment, with something like a bureau in it, on which are inscribed a number of names:—The diamond room is next, its walls sparkling with brilliants; then the enchanted room, in which is a basin containing about two hogsheads of pure water, and a column, about 25 feet in diameter, called the tower of Babel; and the last is the Garden of Eden. This is a spacious apartment, in which a rock seems to be floating over head, called Elijah's mantle, and a large white curtain, and a rock called the salt mountain, are seen at a distance. The general, and the party with him, were two hours and three quarters before they regained the mouth of the cavern.
Missouri.—The Missouri Convention, having completed its labours in the formation of a constitution for that state, have designated St. Louis as the seat of government for the state until 1827, when it is to be permanently established on the Missouri, at or near the mouth of the Osage, which place is to be called Missouriopolis, the former part of the name being Indian, and the latter Grecian.
Iron Rail or Carriage-ways.—In the neighbourhood of Newcastle, this ingenious mode of reducing friction, and facilitating the conveyance of loaded wagons, has been adopted to a very great extent. According to M. Gallois, an extent of 28 square miles on the surface of the earth, presents a series of 75 miles for this species of conveyance; while the interior of the adjacent coal mines contains them to as large an amount. Five or six wagons, made entirely of iron, fastened to each other in regular succession, descend these roads without any other mover than their own gravitating force. By means of a pulley, or wheel, a certain number of carriages in descending occasion a certain number of others to mount, in order to take in a load at the summit of the inclined plane they traverse. We are, however, naturally led to believe that, excepting in very peculiar circumstances, there will always be a great saving of power in conveyances by water, for this simple reason, that the whole weight of the burden so transported, is transported by the stream with a comparatively small loss of power by friction, while the inclined plane, on which the carriage runs, supports only a part of its weight. On the other hand, however, it cannot be denied that many situations in which it would be quite impossible to open a canal, might admit of the establishment of metallic and other rail-ways.
Varnish for Wood.—The Italian cabinet work, in this respect, excels that of any other country. To produce this effect, the workmen first saturate the surface with olive oil, and then apply a solution of gum arabic in boiling alcohol. This mode of varnishing is equally brilliant, if not superiour, to that employed by the French in their most elaborate works.
American Saltpetre.—A Boston paper says—"We have seen a quantity of Saltpetre refined and chrystallized at the Gunpowder Manufactory of Chelmsford, which, for whiteness and clearness, was much superiour to that of foreign preparations, with which it was compared; and we understand it can be afforded at a less price. The chrystallization of the American articles is uncommonly handsome, and will gratify the attention of any who may view it."
The Horse.—J. Carver, Veterinary Surgeon, has written a letter to the editor of the Plough Boy, wherein he stated he had been applied to by a gentleman to cut the Lampas out of his horse's mouth, but that he had declined on the ground that there was no necessity for such an operation; and that the disorder could be cured in the following simple manner:—"Rub the upper part of the roof of the mouth, which you find on those occasions red and swollen, with coarse salt, three or four times a day—throw in his manger also a few ears of the hardest corn; and thus, a few days would totally remedy the evil."
Mr. Carver expresses some astonishment that persons "should fall into the ridiculous and absurd belief, that horses are subject to that imaginary disease called Lampas. Because, examining the palate or roof of the mouth would be quite sufficient to convince a judicious investigator, that the supposed enlargement cannot deprive the animal of his food; since it is not in the least sore, nor shows any signs of sensibility on pressure."
He states that the error proceeds from a want of the knowledge of the animal, and the obstinacy and ignorance of stabularian philosophers; that the operation of "cutting and burning the palate with a red hot iron, not only prevents the animal from eating his food for some weeks, but is frequently attended with the most serious consequences by opening the palatine artery, which has bled many a horse to death for want of proper assistance."