Chapter 2

The workmen, says a Paris paper, are still busily engaged in excavating Montmartre in quest of holy vases and other riches said to have been deposited there in early days of the French revolution by the orders of Lady Superior of the Abbey of Montmartre. Two workmen, who were at the time charged with transporting the wealth to the place designated were never seen, and it is supposed that they were sacrificed to the necessity of the secret. The Superior, at her death, bequeathed the secret to a lady friend, who in turn, on her death bed, divulged it to her daughter, then 13 years of age. The child, now a sexagenary, disclosed it to the municipiality. Her statements have thus far been found scrupulously correct. The _cesarian_ operation is actively going on, an excavation of fifty feet having been made, and the mountain's speedy deliverance of a mine of wealth is anticipated. May it not prove a mouse!

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THE POPE'S WILL.

The late Pope has left a fortune of eleven millions of francs, which, after some religious bequests; is to be divided among his relations! upon the singular condition that they never contest the will, and that they never take up their residence in Rome.

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IMPROVED RAILROAD.

The Harlem Railroad Company have laid down a section of their road with cast iron rails of a new construction, invented by Mr. Imley. These rails are highly approved, and are expected to supersede the common wrought rails to a considerable extent.

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It is reported that Mr. Isaac Fisk of Massachusetts, spells his name "Eyzurk Physque." Well, what if he does?

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SAGEISMS.

He who is passionate and hasty is generally honest. It's your cool, dissembling, smiling hypocrite, of whom you should beware. There is no deceit about a bull dog. It's only the cur that sneaks up and bites you when your back's turned. Again, we say, beware of a man who has psalmody in his looks.

If a person is bent on quarrelling with you, leave the whole of it to himself, and he will soon become weary of his unencouraged occupation. Even the most malicious ram will soon cease to butt against a disregarding object, and will usually find his own head more injured than the object of his blind animosity. So let them kick.

An easy flow of words is no sign of an abundance of ideas. Swift made a wise comparison when he likened a well stored mind to a crowded church, where the people elbow each other, and cannot get out.

"If a civil word or two will render a man happy," said a French king, "he must be a wretch indeed who will not give them to him. Such a disposition is like lighting another man's candle by one's own, which loses none of its brilliancy by what the other gains."

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IN PREPARATION.

We have in course of preparation for future numbers, some large and elegant engravings, illustrative of some of the most interest and deeply scientific _new inventions_, together with illustrations of architecture, geometry and magnetism. Also a variety of intelligence in _arts and trades_.

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A STRONG POSITION.

"Gentlemen of the jury," said an eminent lawyer, "there are four points in this case. In the first place, we contend that we never had the plaintiff's horse; second, that we paid him for the use of the horse; third, he agreed to let us use the horse for his keeping, without any charge; and fourth, that his horse is a jackass."

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AS GOOD AS CASH.

An editor out west having asked the consent of a father to his daughter's hand in marriage, the provident old gentleman inquired how much money he could bring the bride. The editor said he hadn't got any money, but he would give her a puff in his paper. The father was satisfied.

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HOW VERY HOT IT IS.

The following lines would have been inserted earlier, but the weather was so hot we could not attend to it.

Did you ever know such weather? Seven bright burning days together! Swelt'ring nights and broiling days, Sultry moonbeams, sun's hot rays: No one knows which way to turn him, All things either melt or burn him; Half the weight of all the nation, Is flying off in perspiration, And every man, and woman too, As languidly they look at you, Exclaims, with moist and mournful phiz, "Dear me! how very hot it is!"

Ladies all languid in muslin array, Loll upon couches the live long day, Looking more lovely than we can say-- Though, alas! they are rapidly melting away "Bring me _an ice!_" they languidly cry, But alas and alack! it is "all in my eye"-- For before it reaches the top of the stairs, It's turned into water quite "unawares," While John with his salver, looks red and stares, And the moist confectioner inwardly swears, As he wipes with his apron his long, pale phiz, "Oh--pooh! how infernally hot it is!"

Oh, what a treat 'twould be to wade Chin deep in fresh ice and lemonade! Or to sit a deep marble bowl within, And camphor gurgling around your chin-- Hissing and sparkling round your nose, Till you open your mouth and down it goes, Gulp by gulp, and sup by sup, As you "catawumpishly chew it up." Refreshing your heart and cooling your faces-- Burnt down as they've been with all sorts of sauces Oh, the fellow who thus could lave his phiz Needn't care how hot the weather is!

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A son of the Emperor Nicholas, of Russia, is now travelling in the United States. He is said to be an intelligent looking man.

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CALIFORNIA FARMING.

A gentleman, writing from California to the editors of the Saint Louis Reveille, says his stock consists of about four thousand head of oxen, one thousand seven hundred horses and mules, three thousand sheep, and as many hogs. They all pasture! themselves without difficulty in the rich prairies and bottoms of the Sacremento, and only require to be attended. This is dune by the Indians, of whom he employs four hundred. His annual crop of wheat is about twelve thousand bushels, with barley, peas, beans, etc, in proportion.

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DIVERSIFICATION OF LANGUAGE.

_A poetic line from Gray admits of the following twenty-eight variations without changing the accent:_

The weary ploughman plods his homeward way, The ploughman, weary, plods his homeward way, His homeward way the weary ploughman plods, His homeward way the ploughman weary plods, The weary ploughman homeward plods his way, The ploughman, weary, homeward plods his way, His way, the weary ploughman homeward plods, His way, the ploughman, weary, homeward plods, The ploughman, homeward, plods his weary way, His way the ploughman, homeward, weary plods, His homeward weary way the ploughman plods, Weary, the ploughman homeward plods his way, Weary, the ploughman plods his homeward way, Homeward, his way the weary ploughman plods, Homeward, his way the ploughman, weary, plods, Homeward, his weary way, the ploughman plods, The ploughman, homeward, weary plods his way, The ploughman, weary, homeward plods his way, His weary way, the ploughman homeward plods, His weary way, the homeward ploughman plods, Homeward the plowman plods his weary way, Homeward the weary ploughman plods his way, The weary ploughman, his way, homeward plods, The ploughman, weary, his way homeward plods, The ploughman plods his weary, homeward way, Weary, the ploughman, his way homeward plods, Weary, his homeward way the ploughman plods.

From the Gem of the Prairie.

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"KEEP THAT TESTAMENT IN YOUR VEST POCKET, OVER YOUR HEART."

We have been forcibly reminded of an interesting anecdote of the Revolution, while witnessing so many young men in the ranks of the volunteer companies, in connection with the highly praiseworthy resolution of the Nashville Young Men's Bible Society, to present a copy of the New Testament to each officer and private constituting the regiment quartered here.

The fond-hearted mother had assisted in adjusting upon her son the "tow frock and trowsers," had tightly secured the knapsack, canteen and cartridge box in the strings twisted with her own fingers from the same material as his clothes; as he turned, on opening the door, to speak the "manly good-bye," she suppressed the parting tear, lest it might damp the flame of freedom which fired his noble soul, and echoed the "good-bye" with a forced smile.

As she went to the window to take another look, she discovered the Testament had been forgotten; she caught it in her hand, ran to the door--called him loudly, holding the book in her uplifted hand, in order to show him why she stopped, and soon stood by his side. Without uttering a word she put the book in its place, grasped his hand, looked him full in the face, and with quivering lips, heart big with emotion, checks bedewed with tears of maternal affection, she spoke: "My son, I would not have you stay; your country has the FIRST claim upon you; be true to that as you have been dutiful to me, and Heaven will protect you--KEEP THAT TESTAMENT IN YOUR VEST POCKET, OVER YOUR HEART!"

After faithfully serving the term of his enlistment, he returned to his home. Before he uttered a word, he took from his "vest pocket" the old Testament, and there lay British bullet, snugly imbedded where the force of the powder had driven it, and this was the only shot he had received while fighting for his country.--_Nashville Union_.

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TEMPERANCE IN THE ARMY.

We are gratified to learn that Gen. Taylor has totally prohibited the traffic in intoxicating liquors in the vicinity of the army. One fellow, persisting in the trade, was put in the guard house by Capt. Miles: and when liberated, on going to Gen. Taylor's tent with a complaint, was kicked out. He finally took marching orders _t'other way_.

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MODES OF RAISING PONDEROUS ARTICLES.

A wedge is considered to be the most simple of "mechanical powers," and is often used in cases where no other apparatus can be made to apply; as in splitting logs and other adhesive articles. If a massive rock is to be elevated from the ground, a wedge must first be driven between that and its foundation, preparatory to the application of levers. Yet the wedge is in most cases objectionable on account of the friction with which its use is attended. The next, and most common power applied for elevating buildings on large rocks, is the simple lever, commonly called a pry. This usually consists of a long straight beam or pole, one end of which is placed under the object to be raised, while a fulcrum consisting of a stone or block of wood, is placed under the lever, at a short distance from the object to be raised. The opposite extremity then being forced down by the weight of one or more of the workmen, a force is applied to the object to be raised, bearing the same proportion to that applied to the lever, that the distance between the fulcrum and the extreme end of the lever does to that between the fulcrum and the object. Levers made of iron, and simply denominated "iron bars," are commonly used in raising and removing rocks. A machine called a "bed-screw" is frequently used for elevating buildings. It originally consisted principally of a large vertical screw, which was placed on a foundation called the "bed," and was turned by levers; but many improvements and variations have been added, till, in some instances, the screw has been dispensed with, and a rack and pinion have been substituted. Some of the best in use consist of a vertical iron rack, which is occasionally forced upward by the teeth of a pinion: a geer wheel on the same axle with the pinion being driven by the thread of a horizontal screw, to the head of which is attached a crank. By a machine of this construction, properly proportioned, one man may raise about twenty tons weight. Vertical screws, turned by levers, have been frequently used for the purpose of raising vessels to repair. But in these cases a large portion of the power applied is lost in the friction of the screw, and the process is laborious and tedious. This is probably the most awkward and injudicious method that has been applied to that purpose. Another method which has been applied to the purpose of elevating vessels, is decidedly ridiculous, although less laborious than the former. It is called the "hydraulic power," and consists in forcing water into large cylinders, by forcing pumps which are operated by steam power; while the water thus forced into the cylinder moves a piston and piston-rod, to which is connected several stout chains, which passing over corresponding pulleys, descend to a platform, on which rests the vessel to be raised. An expensive apparatus, called the "Marine Railway," constructed on the principle of the _inclined plane_, with a huge and complicated carriage to travel thereon, has been extensively used for taking vessels out of the water to repair. This plan is objectionable, however, on several accounts. It requires the application of a great quantity of power to overcome the friction of its many axles and machinery, in addition to what is requisite to overcome the gravity of the vessel. It is, moreover, injurious to the vessels which are taken up thereby, on account of its elevating the forward part, before the centre and stern become seated on the carriage. The most judicious mode in present use, for raising vessels to repair, and which must be preferred to all others, where there is a supply of water from an elevated reservoir, is on the principle of locks; the vessel being floated into one apartment, is elevated by the induction of water from above, till it can be floated over an elevated platform, where it is left at rest, while the water is allowed to pass off below. The sides of this upper box or apartment, are moveable, being attached to the bottom or platform by hinge joints, so that they may be let down to a horizontal position, thus giving the workmen the advantage of light and convenience. The "dry dock" in the Navy Yard at Charlestown, Mass., is constructed awkwardly enough; but as the vessels at that place are not _raised_, it does not come under this head. The massive stones which were used in the construction of some of the ancient edifices, were evidently raised by inclined planes. A huge mound of earth was built up round the building, completely enclosing it; and the elevation of the mound kept pace with that of the edifice: thus giving the laborers a chance to roll up the stones to their places. They used no other mechanical power than the simple windlass and lever; and no other carriage than a drag, under which was placed rollers. When the building was completed, the earth was taken away, and levelled about the vicinity. The modern method of raising stones for building, and which is now used in the building of heavy stone edifices, is by the use of a set of stout tackle blocks, the _fall rope_ of which is taken up by a geered windlass, operated by a steam engine; the upper block being of course attached to an elevated _shears_ or derick. Vessels, and other bodies, which have been sunk in the ocean, have been sometimes raised by means of airtight sacks, attached to different parts of the object by means of diving bells, been inflated with air, forced down through hollow tubes by pumps, till they thus acquired a buoyancy sufficient for the purpose. The power of buoyancy has also been applied for elevating vessels above water, by placing hollow trunks, filled with water, under the keel of the vessel, and then pumping them out. One of the best methods that has ever yet been proposed for raising vessels to repair, is to place under the keel a horizontal platform, to which is attached four large hollow trunks under its four corners: the trunks to be filled with water, and to have open apertures in the bottom of each. Then by allowing a stream of atmospheric air, to rush by its own expansive force from the reservoirs in which it had been previously compressed, through suitable pipes or hose, into each trunk, the water is expelled through the apertures in the bottom, and the vessel is elevated immediately, and without loss of time. In this case, the reservoirs (iron cylinders) of compressed air, may be recharged by steam or other power, during the process of repairing one vessel, and be thus in readiness for another. A patent has been granted for this invention, but it has not yet been put in operation on a scale of practical use, though the patentee would willingly give the right of the patent to any person or company who should be disposed to construct the apparatus on a large scale. We have recently given a description of Mr. Spencer's plan for elevating vessels, and some other modes have been recently projected, which we may describe in a future number.

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INFORMATION TO PERSONS HAVING BUSINESS TO TRANSACT AT THE PATENT OFFICE.

SEC. 1. The existing laws relating to patents are those approved July 4, 1836, March 3, 1837, and March 3, 1839; all former acts having been repealed by the act of 1836.

SEC. 2. "Patents are granted for any new and useful art, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement on any art, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, not known or used by others before his or their discovery or invention thereof, and not, at the time of his application for a patent, in public use, or on sale, with his or their consent, or allowance, as the inventor or discoverer." Act of 1836, section 6. "No patent shall be held to be invalid by reason of the purchase, sale, or use [of the invention,] prior to the application for a patent as aforesaid, except on proof of abandonment of such invention to the public, or that such purchase, sale or public use, has been for more than two years prior to such application for a patent."--Act of March 3, 1839.

SEC. 3. The term for which a patent is granted, is fourteen years; but it may, under certain circumstances, be renewed for seven years, as hereinafter mentioned.

SEC. 4. Patents are granted to citizens of the United States, to aliens who shall have been resident in the United States one year preceding, and shall have made oath of their intention to become citizens thereof, and also to foreigners who are inventors or discoverers.

SEC. 5. A patent may be taken out by the inventor in a foreign country, without affecting his right to a patent in the United States, provided the invention has not been introduced into public and common use in the United States prior to the application for such patent. In every such case the patent is limited to fourteen years from the date of the foreign letter patent. A patent is not granted upon introduction of a new invention from a foreign country, unless the person who introduced it be the inventor or discoverer. If an alien neglects to put and continue on sale the invention in the United States, to the public, on reasonable terms, for eighteen months, the patentee Uses all benefit of the patent.

SEC. 6. Joint inventors are entitled to a joint patent, but neither can claim one separately.

SEC. 7. An invention can assign his right before a patent is obtained, so as to enable the assignee to take out a patent in his own name; but the assignment must be first entered on record; and the application therefor must be duly made, and the specification signed, and sworn to by the inventor. And in the case of an assignment by a foreigner, the same fee will be required as if the patent issued to the inventor.

SEC. 8. The assignment of a patent may be to the whole or to an undivided part, "by any instrument in writing." All assignments, and also the grant or conveyance of the use of the patent in any town, comity, State, or specified district, must be recorded in the Patent Office, within three months from date of the same.--But assignments, if recorded after three months have expired, will be on record as notice to protect against subsequent purchases. No fee is now charged for recording assignments. Patents, grants, and assignments, recorded prior to the 15th of December, 1836, must be recorded anew before they can be valid as evidence of any title. This is also free of expense.

SEC. 9. In case of the decease of an inventor, before he had obtained a patent for his invention, "the right of applying for and obtaining such patent shall devolve on the administrator or executor of such person, in trust for the heirs of law of the deceased, if he shall have died intestate; but if otherwise, then in trust for his devisees, in as full and ample manner, and under the same conditions, limitations, and restrictions, as the same was held, or might have been claimed or enjoyed, by such person in his or her lifetime; and when application for a patent shall be made by such legal representatives, the oath or affirmation shall be so varied as to be applicable to them."--Act of 1836, sec. 10.

SEC. 10, The Patent Office will be open for examination during office hours, and applicants can personally, or by attorney, satisfy themselves on inspection of models and specifications, of the expediency of filing an application for a patent.

SEC. 11. All fees received are paid into the Treasury, and the law has required the payment of the patent fee before the application is considered; two-thirds of which fee is refunded on withdrawing the application. But no money is refunded on the withdrawal of an application, after an appeal has been taken from the decision of the Commissioner of Patents. And no part of the fee paid for caveats, and on applications for the addition of improvements re-issues, and appeals, can be withdrawn.

SEC. 12. It is a frequent practice for inventors to send a description of their inventions to the office, and inquire whether there exists any thing like it, and whether a patent can be had therefor. _As the law does not provide for the examination of descriptions of new inventions, except upon application for a Patent, no answer can be given to such inquiries_.

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A sentimental writer says it is astonishing how much light a man may radiate upon the world around him, especially when the body he admires is beside him.

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Among the persons who recently laid in the Boston jail over Sunday, and were fined Monday morning for intemperance or rowdyism, were a member of the bar and a clergy man.

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Said a bishop to a rough wagoner, "you seem better fed than taught." "Of course," replied the fellow, "for we _feed_ ourselves, but for teaching we depend on _you._"

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