missable, and the last cannot lie entertained for one 
moment—lor action, action—and action is what we 
require. 
Now with regard to the other two propositions, it 
is evident that unless you re-enforce Gen. E. K. 
Smith nt Chattanooga, be will he overpowered hy 
Buell, and then our communications with the East, 
and onr supplies at, Atlanta, Augusta, Ac, will he 
cut off. Also, that a partial re-enforcement would 
so weaken you at Tupelo as to paralyze yon for any 
other movements from there ; hence you have 
adopted the wisest course in sending to Smith all 
your available fortes, except just enough to guard 
your depots, Ac., to the rear of your present posi¬ 
tion at Tupelo. 
The third proposition would have afforded you 
some success, but not as brilliant and important in 
results as the second one, if the newspapers will 
permit you to carry it successfully into effect: for 
Ilalleck and Buell, occupying the base of a long 
isosceles triangle, of which Mobile is the apex, 
could get to Chattanooga before you, if they should 
become aware of your movements; mwl then you 
would have to contend again with superior forces— 
as usual with us. The moment von get to Chatta¬ 
nooga you ought to take the offensive, keeping in 
mind the following grand principles of the art of 
war: 
1. Always bring the masses of your army in con¬ 
tact with the fractions of the enemy. 
2. Operate as much as possifile on his communi¬ 
cations without exposing your own. 
3. Operate always on interior or shorter lines. I 
have no doubt, that with anything like equal num¬ 
bers, you will always meet with success. 
I am happy to see 1 liat my two lieutenants, Mor¬ 
gan and Forrest, are doing such good 'service in 
Kentucky and Tennessee. When 1 appointed them, 
l thought they would leave their mark wherever 
they passed. ‘By the by, I think we ought hereaf¬ 
ter, in our official papers, to call the ••Yankees” 
“Abolitionists" instead of “ Federal*,” for they now 
proclaim not only the abolition of slavery but of all 
our Constitutional rights, and that name will have 
a stinging effect ou our Western enemies. I intend 
to issue a general order on the subject, whenever I 
assume a command. 
Sincerely your friend, 
G. T. Beauregard. 
Gen. Braxton Bragg, Commanding Department No. 
2, Mobile, Ala. 
List of Prize Steamers—Tho Prize Law. 
Tuk N. Y. I hr aid gives the following list of 
steamers—English and Confederate—that have thus 
far been captured by our cruisers, aud the probabil¬ 
ities are that the list will swell rapidly, unless our 
friends in England, the Bahamas and Cuba tind they 
are furnishing us at, an extremely low figure, a min¬ 
iature navy, with the arms, munitions of war and 
provisions to supply it, and the wherewithal to 
clothe the officers and crews. Wo have no objection, 
and can only say, “ Keep sendin’ ’em:” 
Nation- 
Where captured. Cargo. ality. 
Off the Mississippi,..Assorted._English. 
Mississippi Sound,.. .Turp & resin. Rebel 
. “ " Rebel. 
Cotton,. Rebel. 
“ English. 
Assorted,_English. 
“ Rebel. 
, Powd & arms,English. 
. U nknown_English. 
Cotton & turp Rebel. 
rw.tivm to.A.,, I 
Our Western Flotilla and Its Prizes. 
Tub Western flotilla under command of Commo¬ 
dore Davis has not been inactive as the following 
list of prizes fully proves: 
Eastpcirt, raptured in the Tvnncsse river, side-wheel steam¬ 
er ; transferred into a federal gunboat, 
H. R. W Hill, captured at Memphis, side-wheel steamer ; 
now used as a eominissary boat. 
Allred Robb, captured in the Tennessee river, stern-wheel 
steamer ; transferred into light draft gunboat. 
Kentucky, captured at Memphis, side-wheel steamer ; laid 
up. 
De Soto, captured at Island No. 10, side-wheel steamer ; 
used os despatch boat. 
Admiral, captured at Island No. 10, side-wheel steamer; 
transferred to army. 
Mars, captured at Island No. 10, side-wheel steamer ; trans¬ 
ferred to army. 
Sovereign, captured at Memphis, side-wheel steamer ; used 
as naval store ship 
Vic folia, captured at Memphts, side-wheel steamer; used as 
naval despatch'boat. 
New National, captured at Memphis, side-wheel steamer; 
used as receiving ship. 
Acacia, captured at Memphis, stern-wheel steamer ; trans¬ 
ferred to army and lost, 
Clara Wolsen,* captured in the White river, side-wheel 
steamer; used as receiving ship. 
Red Rover, captured at Island No. 10, side-wheel steamer ; 
used as naval hospital boat. 
New Madrid, captured at Island No. 10, New Madrid wharf 
boat; transferred to array. 
Sumter, captured at Memphis, rebel gunboat; used as gun¬ 
boat aud lost. 
General Bragg, captured at Memphis, rebel gunboat; used 
as gunboat mid lost. 
General Price, captured at Memphis, rebel gunboat; being 
altered to towboat 
Little Rebel, captured at Memphis, rebel gunboat; used as 
gunboat. 
Beauregard, captured at Memphis, rebel gunboat 
less. 
Algiers, captured at Lsland No. 10, floating dock 
PHOTOGRAPHY AND MICROSCOPICAL 
RESEARCH. 
PnoTOGRAniY has been applied to the micros¬ 
cope, in reducing for special purposes, large objects 
into such small dimensions that they are invisible 
to the naked eye, and can be seen only in the mi¬ 
croscope. Mr. Shad bolt, seems to have been the 
first (March, 1854) who executed these small photo¬ 
graphs, by making an achromatic object-glass 1 or 
11 inch focus the lens of a camera, and using a 
structureless collodion. II is photographs of single 
persons varied from the 1 -201h to the l-40thof an inch, 
and could bear a magnifying power of a hundred 
times. The finest microscopic photographs which 
we have seen are those ot Mr. Dancer, ot Manches¬ 
ter, consisting of single portraits, monumental in¬ 
scriptions, and family and other groups. 
One of them, a family group, contains .seven full- 
length portraits, occupying a space the size of a pin’s 
bead, so that ten thousand single portraits could be 
included iu a square inch! In 1857, the writer of 
this article, who took several of these to Borne, pro¬ 
posed to M. Castellani, the celebrated jeweller there, 
to have them placed in the center of a brooch, a 
locket, or a ring, and magnified by the single or the 
central jewel, cut into lens sufficient to exhibit the 
group distinctly when looked into or held up to the 
light. It was also suggested to a distinguished 
diplomatist, that copies of dispatches might be 
transmitted by post, of words placed in spaces not 
larger than a full stop or a small blot, of ink. 
Among the wonderful applications of photography, 
we cannot avoid mentioning one by M. Crusco, 
who, iu May, 1850, presented to the Academy of 
Sciences a photograph of a morbid alteration in the 
choroid coat of the human eye, as seen in the op- 
thalmoscope, to which he has the name of partial 
atrophy. The photograph shows that a large por¬ 
tion of the choroid wants both the vessels and the 
pigment, and the sclerotic coat is seen through it 
M. Cusco has obtained many other photographs of 
intra-ocular lesions, both in the living and the dead 
subject —Sir David Brewster. 
[Written for Moore's Rural New-Yorker.] 
A FRATERNAL EPISTLE. 
Fellow Teachers:— I have a word to say to 
you. I have been humbugged long enough. To¬ 
day for the ninety-ninth time I have been bored to 
death with a book agent. Yes, and only think of it. 
one of the Board of Education has so far forgotten 
his duty as to try to palm off, for pay , the wares of 
some publisher who wants to make money by de¬ 
priving children of their honest rights , (l mean good 
books,) and make the teacher play the dunce, all for 
the glorious privilege of receiving gratis, a whole set 
of the wonderful works 1 Why can not teachers be 
independent and bold to their own rights like other 
people? Why not tell the honest truth about a book, 
of their own accord, without being dragooned iuto a 
long palaver about Prof. Puke's new Primary Paco- 
matic(Poco you know is the Spanish for little,) 
Ponphlogeslic, (Homer's word for all-fire, ) Practi¬ 
cal Arithmetic, or Dr. Solomon Say So's Synthetic, 
Syllogistic, Steam-Pressure System of General Go- 
ahead Grammar? 
There, now, 1 feel better. Don’t think I am crusty 
and ape Old Fogyism. None of that. Changes 
must, and ought to come, but let them come honestly 
and for some good. Here is a pile of books before 
me to examine, among which I find a note whose 
tenor is something after this sort: 
“ rtease notice, especially, Arts. 123 and 179, Ac., 
on my new method of treating Fractions. Any 
favor you may show the work will be gratefully 
received , as I am personally interested in it.” 
Now, does be suppose I am so green as not to 
know he is interested in it,? Pray, what man would 
write such fawning words unless it were to line his 
pockets? It is not done to benefit the scholar. Well, 
wh.tt if you do answer his question just as you 
think? He will get mad, of course. A package 
came to me from New York, some time since, in re¬ 
turn for which I wrote to the publishers, that some 
ware tolerable and one or two positively bad. I men¬ 
tioned the faul ts. What was the consequence ? Not 
another book from that house. But how are we to 
get rid of this great evil? Let the teachers judge for 
themselves aud send the agents to the winds. I 
know, on account, of the multitude of books, it’s a 
favor to a teacher, sometimes, to receive copies of 
text-books; but that need not oblige bim to praise a 
worthless one, just for the privilege of having a fee 
simple in one copy. Better do without it, or steal it 
in a more honest way. Worse yet, if he place it in 
the hands of his pupils, How I pity, (no I almost 
hale) an officer in educational matters, who can not 
make a living without selling himself, body and soul, 
to some book-maker, i am glad they forbid it in 
New York State. 
I will quit right here, and go to the Institute, 
where I intend to free my mind. Meanwhile, rues 
amis , gardes ms droits . and let us have some aim 
and spirit like other men. 
Fraternally yours, Jopas. 
Seville Academy, Medina Co., Ohio, Oct., 1862. 
Remarks. — The above has the ring of the true 
metal — exhibiting a spirit of honesty and indepen¬ 
dence a- rare as it is gratifying. If more teachers 
were imbued with a like spirit, and would act in 
accordance with their promptings and convictions, 
school book publishers- and agents would make less 
money, and community save “more than consider¬ 
able” that is now loolishly expended. The truth is 
that, the system of buying school teachers, trustees, 
commissioners, etc., has become an intolerable nuis¬ 
ance in many localities and ought to be abated, 
Though it maybe forbidden in this Slate (us our 
correspondent asserts,) it is nevertheless practiced— 
to the shame and disgrace of the contracting parlies, 
and injury of parents and pupils. If parents and 
guardians would luok as closely to the rights and 
interests of children as they do to their own — not. 
only seeing that they have good teachers, but good 
books also.—a salutary reform might be instituted 
in this matter. And if the press would also dis¬ 
charge its duty, the reform would soon become 
thorough and general. Editors who commend edu¬ 
cational works without examination, or, worse yet, 
insert notices written by the authors, publishers or 
agents, (parties personally interested in selling both 
the books and the people,) are not blameless in this 
matter, but responsible for much of the expensive 
nonsense introduced in schools under the guise of 
text-b 'Oks. Brethren, “reform it altogether.” 
Thkhs's a bright and starry pennant 
Floating wide upon the air, 
With its hues of changeless beauty, 
Borrowed from the rainbow fair ; 
’Tis our banner, our proud banner, 
The glorious emblem of the free ; 
’Tis the lile-boat of our nation— 
’Tis the smile of Liberty I 
ROCHESTER, N. Y., NOVEMBER 8, 1862. 
THE WAITS PROGRESS 
Gen. G. T. Beaurcgnrd’s Art of War. 
It was announced in a recent issue of the 
Rural that important rebel correspondence had 
been captured by Gen. Buell, and that the docu¬ 
ments had been forwarded to Washington, It. is 
now published, and we give that portion emanating 
from Gen. Beauregard: 
GENERAL BEAUREGARD TO ADJUTANT-GENERAL 
cooper. (Confidential.) 
Momr/tf, Ala., Sept. Otli, 1S62. 
General :—Under the supposition that nn the res¬ 
toration ot my health I would be returned to the 
OOtmnand of Department No. 2, I had prepared, 
while at Bladin, Ala., a plan of operations in Ten¬ 
nessee and Kentucky,-based on my knowledge of 
that part or the theater of war; but learning that my 
just expectations are tobe disappointed, I have the 
honor to communicate it to the War Department, in 
the hope that it may he of service to our arms and 
to our cause. Tt, was submitted by me to Gen. 
Bragg on the 2d inst. 
By looking at the map. it will he seen that the 
worth 
; worthless. 
Mohawk, captured at Island No. 10, stern-wheel steamer ; 
worthless. 
Grampus, captured at Island No. 10 ; stem-wheel steamer ; 
worthless. 
John Simons, captured at Island No. 10, side-wheel steamer; 
worthless. 
Yazoo, captured at Island No. 10, side-wheel steamer ; 
worthless. 
Prince, captured at Island No. 10, side-wheel steamer; 
worthless. 
Winchester, captured at Island No. 10, side-wheel steamer ; 
worthless. 
S&lUft Wood, captured at Fort Henry ; stern-wheel steamer; 
used as naval despatch boat and lost. 
General Lovell, captured at Memphis, rebel gunboat; worth¬ 
less. 
Mnuripas, captured in the White river, rebel gunboat; 
worthless. 
Eliza G, captured iu the White river, side-wheel steamer ; 
worthless. 
John Gault, captured in the Wtiite river, stern-wheel steam¬ 
er ; worthless. 
Trade Water Belle, captured in the White river J stem-wheel 
steamer; worthless. 
William Terry, captured in the White river, stern-wheel 
steamer; worthless. 
Gen. Pillow, captured at Memphis, side-wheel steamer; 
used as a light draft gunboat. 
Jeff Thompson, captured at Memphis, side-wheel steamer ; 
used as n light draft gunboat. 
Fair I’lay.1 captured at Milliken's Bend, Mississippi river, 
side wheel steamer; used as a light draft gunboat. 
* With 120 bales of cotton. 
tWirh 7,400 stand of arms and immense quantities of am¬ 
munition. This prize is estimated to be worth from $125,000 
to $150,01)0. 
A creature that depends upon its own exertions 
to capture the active prey upon which it feeds, must, 
necessarily be furnished with powerful eyes, which 
are capable of extending the faculty of vision over 
a very large field. These eyes are seen on the front 
margin of the crab, placed on footstalks, and having 
a peculiar nacreous luster on their grey-brown sur¬ 
faces. Ou examination with a good pocket, lens, 
the eyes are seen to be compound, i. c., formed of a 
great number of facets, each possessing the power 
of vision, and all communicating with their com¬ 
mon optic nerve. The delicate raised lines caused 
hy the serried ranks of these compound eyes are 
the origin of the peculiar luster just mentioned. It 
will be seen, too, that the visual portion of these 
organs passes partially round the footstalks, so that 
when the creature protrudes its eyes it can see 
objects on all sides with equal ease. Now, replace 
the crab in the water, and watch it as it exhibits the 
instinct which has been implanted in its being by 
its Maker. Advancing with the flowing tide, and 
ever remaining within a foot or two of the edge, the 
crab keeps Us eager watch for food, and suffers few 
living things to pass without capturing them. The 
whole nature of the animal seems to be changed 
while it is seeking its prey. The timid, fearful 
demeanor which it assumes when taken at a disad¬ 
vantage wholly vanishes, and the apparently un¬ 
gainly crab becomes lull of tile and spirit, active 
and fierce as the hungry leopard, and no less des¬ 
tructive among the smaller beings that frequent the 
same locality.—Once a Week. 
hence they will lie unable to support each other, 
being unprovided with pontoon trains; but their 
operations must be more or less dependent on, and 
connected with each other. I will first reler to those 
in Fast Tennessee, and then to those west of it. 
Iu the first case our objective points must be, first, 
Louisville, and then Cincinnati. How best to reach 
them from Chattanooga, with Buell at Huntsville, 
and Stevenson, is the question. It is evident he has 
the advantage of two liases of operations, the Cum¬ 
berland and Tennessee rivers, and that if we ad¬ 
vanced toward our “objective points” without get¬ 
ting rid of him. we would expose our lines of com¬ 
munication with Chattanooga. We must then give 
him battle first, or compel him to retire before us. 
Should he retire on Nashville, (as the newspapers 
say he is now doing.) we will lie advancing toward 
Louisville; but should he venture on Florence or 
Savannah, to unite his forces with Rosecrans or 
Grant, we will have to concentrate enough of our 
forces front Middle and East Tennessee to follow 
him rapidly aud dulcet him iu a great battle—when 
we would be able to resume our march as before 
indicaUel. We must, bovvver. a: soon a - practica¬ 
ble, construct strong works to command the Ten¬ 
nessee and Cumberland rivers, for, otherw ise, our 
communications would be cut off by the enemy, as 
soon as those two rivers shall have risen sufficiently 
to admit the entrance of their gunboats and trans¬ 
ports. 
The best position for such works is about forty 
miles below Forts Douelson and Henry, not far 
from Eddysville, where those two rivers come 
within one antija half miles of each other. I am 
informed there is at that point a commanding eleva¬ 
tion, where a Strong fluid work could be constructed 
for a garrison of about twenty-five hundred or three 
thousand men, who could hold out. (with ample pro¬ 
visions and ammunition) against a large army. 
Under the gums of this work and along the banks of 
each river a series of batteries, armed with the 
heaviest guns, (8, 9, 10-iuch and rifled guns,) could 
be constructed, hearing directly on obstructions 
placed in each of said rivers. When Louisville 
shall have fallen into oar possession, 1 would con¬ 
struct a work there for the command of the Ohio 
aud the canal; and 1 would destroy the latter a- 
soon as possible, so cotnpfefely that future travelers 
would hardly know where it was. This i would do, 
as a return for the Yankee vandalism in attempting 
to Obstruct forever the harbors of Charleston and 
Savannah. A detachment of our army could, I 
thiuls, lake Louisville, whilst the mailt body could 
be marching to Cincinnati, but if we could get; boats 
enough, it would be shorter to go up the Ohio in 
them. To keep the corn maud of Cincinnati, I 
would construct a strong work, heavily armed, at 
Covington. 
Now lor the operalion on Western Tennessee. 
The object should tie to drive the enemy from there, 
and resume the command of the Mississippi river. 
For these purposes I would concentrate rapidly, at 
Grand J auction, Brice's army, and all that could be 
spared from Vicksburg of Van Dorn’s. From there 
i would make a forced march to Fort Pillow, which 
I would lake with probably only a very small loss. 
It is evident the forces at Memphis and Yazoo river 
would then have their Hue of communication by the 
river with the North cut off, and they would have 
either to surrender or cross without resources into 
Arkansas, where Gen. llolmes would take good 
care of them. From Fort Pillow, l would compel 
the forces at Corinth aud Jackson, Tenn, to fall 
back precipitately to Humboldt and Columbus, 
or their lines of communication would be cut off 
also. We would then pursue them vigorously 
beyond the Mississippi at Columbus, or the Ohio at 
Paducah. 
We would thus compel the enemy to evacuate at 
once the State of Mississippi and Western Tennes¬ 
see. with probably the loss on our part ot only a lew 
hundred meu. Gen. Price could then be detached 
into Missouri to support his friends, where his 
presence alone would be worth an army to the Con¬ 
federacy. 
The armament and ammunition of the works 
retorred to, to be collected as soon as possible at 
Meridian and Chattanooga. 
Such are the operations which I would carry into 
effect, with such modifications as circumstances 
might require, if the President had judged proper 
to order me back to the command of that army 
which I had, with Gen. Bragg's assistance, Collected 
together ami organized, and which l had only left 
to recover my shattered health, while my presence 
could be spared from it, and until he inlbrmed me 
that it was ready to take the offensive. 
Hoping for its entire success, I remain, very re- 
specllully, your obedient servant, 
G. T. Beauregard, 
General C. S. A. 
Gen. Sam. Cooper, Adjutant General, Ac., Rich¬ 
mond, Ya. _ 
GEN. BEAUREGARD TO GEN. BRAXTON BRAGG. 
(Confidential.) 
Cru.PM Si'ltlNiiS, Bladin, Ala., July 28,. 1862. 
My Dear General ;—Your letter of the 22d inst. 
was only received last night. I give you with plea¬ 
sure the lullowiug views oo your proposed opera¬ 
tions from Tupelo, for 1 wl-li you tire amplest suc¬ 
cess, both oil your and the country’s account. Yon 
had evidently but one of four things to do. 
1. Tu attack Ilalleck at Corinth. 
2. To attack Buell at or about Chattanooga. 
3. To attack Grant at or about Memphis. 
4. To remain idle at Tupelo. 
From what you state the first is evidently inad- 
Names. 
1 Calhoun,... 
2 Wallace,_ 
3 Lewis_ 
4 Magnolia,... 
ft Florida.. 
0 CarcftSsian,. 
T Havana.__ 
8 Ann,_ 
9 Adrift, 
10 Swaun._ 
11 Reliance,_ 
12 Bermuda,.. 
13 Ella Warley 
14 Naoau.. 
15 Stettin. 
Ui Cambria,... 
17 Memphis, .. 
IS Tubal Gain, 
Hi Lttdona,-... 
2<i Planter,.... 
21 Sunbeam,... 
22 Wucliuta,.. 
Off Mobile,_ 
St Andrew's Bay,. 
.Off const ot' Cuba, 
Destroyed iu 
; Dead Man s Bay, 
.Off Fort Morgan, 
.Off Abano,. 
.Off Cuba. 
.Off' Abaeo,_ 
Oil' coast of S. C. 
Fruits of the Victory ut Corinth. 
Tuk speciul correspondent of the Chicago 
Times, writing from Jackson, Tenn., on the 15th ult., 
remarks that the records of the recent defeats of Van 
Dorn and Price are incomplete, without something 
of a statement of the doings of the army under Gen. 
Rosecrans, sent in pursuit of the enemy. 
The advanced division came upon the rear guard 
of the enemy at Chewullo. They were drawn up in 
line of battle, when a sharp engagement occurred 
between the skirmishers, the enemy falliug back, 
and,after two shots from their artillery, they suddenly 
decamped. The pursuit was renewed aud continued 
until night, when our pickets came upon the rear of 
the enemy on the bluffs skirting the Tuscumbia 
river. Heavy skirmishing was carried on during 
some time, the First Kansas losing one Lieutenant 
killed and seven meu wounded. The enemy were 
driven from their position, and our wearied troops 
encamped on what is called the Mountain. McAr¬ 
thur’s division came up during the night, and took 
part in theiurther advance movement. 
Ou reaching Ibe bridge over the Tuscumbia, the 
next morning, it was found that the enemy had suc¬ 
ceeded iu crossing the same and. had burned it. Our 
troops, however, were soon across, and rushed upon 
the enemy with great energy, who made every pos¬ 
sible exertion to effect their escape, throwing away 
their arms, tents, camp equippage, baggage, and 
leaving eleven guns, horses, wagons, blown-up cais¬ 
sons, and everything that impeded their march. In 
fact, for ten miles between the Tuscumbia and the 
Uatchle rivers, the ground was literally strewn with 
the equipments and plunder of an army. Several 
hundred prisoners were picked up in this ten-mile 
march. They were in a very destitute aud hungry 
condition. 
Coming upon the Hatcliie, on Monday, it was 
found that the enemy had just crossed, and left the 
bridge burning. In two hours the Engineer Regi¬ 
ment had the bridge repaired, and our army were 
in full chase again, driving the enemy through 
.) onesboro and encamping there that night. The 
pursuit was renewed in the morning, and the cavalry 
pushed them rapidly through Knckerville. At this 
point the Seventh Kansas cavalry joined our forces. 
A faint attempt to make a stand was made by the 
rebels beyond the town, but a few shells sent them 
on their best gait for Ripley, where another attempt 
to fight was made, which lasted just lung enough to 
get one fire and one dash after them, when they dis¬ 
appeared in all directions, and their scattered frag¬ 
ments are supposed to have made the best of their 
way to Holly Springs. 
McPherson encamped three miles beyond Ripley, 
and here the pursuit ended. The rebel army organ¬ 
ization had been completely broken up. But a small 
fragment was left to make their way to Holly 
Springs, in the most destitute and deplorable man¬ 
ner. We had a thousand prisoners, any quantity ot 
small arms, and Davis’ division brought^back to 
Corinth 30 pieces of artillery, all the rebel camp 
eqnippage, stores, aud personal effects, fell into our 
bauds. 
Rebel prisoners state that Price started for his 
attack ou Corinth, with 60 pieces of artillery, and 
escaped with 30; that Yau Dorn had Co pieces, and 
escaped with 10 or 12; and what of these have not 
been brought in were probably buried. 
For this energetic pursuit, Gen. M i’berson has 
been made a Major-General, and 1 think worthily so. 
He is a man of great energy and perseverance, and 
I shall be mistaken if he does not make a distin- 
PnoSFJlORUS.—The price at which this article has 
been sold shows, in a striking manner, the effect 
which large demand has on the cost of production. 
Al the beginning ul the eighteenth century, llanclc- 
witz, the first person who prepared phosphorus for 
sale, advertised its price at three pounds sterlingtbe 
ounce. In 1833, when it was first applied to the 
manufacture of matches, it was sold wholesale at 
four guineas a pound; in H37 at two guineas; and 
at the present time at less than half-a-crowu. The 
only important application of phosphorus, as far as 
quantity is concerned, is in the manufacture of 
matches. This has now assumed the most gigantic 
dimensions. Although the ingredients used in the 
manufacture are numerous, and somewhat trouble¬ 
some to make, and each match has to pass through 
the hands of about seventeen persons, the consump¬ 
tion is so great as to enable them to be sold at prices 
almost fabulously low. In London alone, one saw¬ 
mill is pretty nearly always at work in cutting up 
large timbers into splints, 5,000,000,000 of matches 
yearly being produced in the metropolis .—London 
lleview. 
TOO MUCH REQUIRED 
The question of right and wrong in morals is 
often one merely of degree. Ou the oue hand, 
there is the danger of too little / and on the other, 
the equal or greater oue of loo much. What is thus 
true iu the province of morals, is equally true iu 
that of education; especially in respect to the 
amount of labor required of the pupil. It is a com¬ 
mon mistake, we think, of teachers at the present 
day to require too much. 
This may he done indirectly, by assuming that 
facts and principles long familiar to the teacher are 
equally so to his pupils, and thus in effect requiring 
too much ot previous kuowledgo. Any teacher 
who will test the proficiency of his pupils by search¬ 
ing questions, will soon find that he has made mis¬ 
takes of this sort. 
But a more common error is that of assigning les¬ 
sons too long, or too difficult to bo thoroughly mas¬ 
tered. This practice is none the less injurious that 
it springs from a laudable desire on the part of the 
teacher to do the most bo can for bis pupils. He 
should remember (hat lie will do the most for them 
by not attempting too much. Instead then of begin¬ 
ning the term with the foregone conclusion that a 
certain amount of ground must be traveled over 
during the term, let the purpose be formed, and 
steadily adhered to, that whatever is done, shall be 
done intelligently and thoroughly —that difficulties 
that fairly lie within the compass ot the lesson shall 
be explained aud illustrated uutil they are under¬ 
stood by all iu the class; aud let this be done hubit- 
ually. So far a3 the point under consideration is 
involved, the secret of successful leaching lies in 
this :—the thorough mastery of every lesson given to 
the class, followed by frequent and search lug re views. 
The old maxim, directing the Rumau pupil how to 
use books, of, “ much not many,' r is as good for both 
pupils and teachers of the present day as for those 
to whom it was first given .—Connecticut Common 
School ifoumal. 
Congelation of Water.— Dr. Robinet has ad¬ 
dressed a curious communication on the congela¬ 
tion of water to the Academy of Medicine. It is 
well known that the blocks ot ice formed in the sea 
yield fresh water by liquefaction. When sea water 
or any saline dissolution Is congealed the pure 
water is separated in the form of ice, and there re¬ 
mains a concentrated watery solution of the saline 
matter. It is thus salt is economically obtained in 
the north of Europe. To increase the alcoholic 
strength of wine it may be subjected to artificial 
cold, whereby the water alone which it contains is 
congealed and the wine becomes richer in alcohol. 
By operating ill a similar manner on potable water 
Dr. Robinet has found that it loses nearly all its 
salts, whether soluble or not. The waters ot the 
Bois de Boulogne having been subjected to the op¬ 
eration, the small quantity of calcareous and mag¬ 
nesian salts they contained were eliminated. The 
purity of the water is such that it may be used in 
many cases instead of distilled water. 
Machinery Useful in Making Shoes. —Mak¬ 
ing shoes by machinery is getting to be quite an in¬ 
stitution iu these parts. There are several manu¬ 
facturers who are about putting in the pegging and 
sewing machines both by hand and steam power. 
This will have the effect of concentrating the busi¬ 
ness, and insure a stock of shoes to the manufactur¬ 
er in a short space of lime. Good workmen should 
combine together and run a machine on their own 
account. The workmen will be left entirely in the 
shade unless they form gangs and work by machin¬ 
ery. The car of progress is moving forward, and 
the laborer must keep up. It would not- be at all 
surprising to us if there were twenty machines of 
both kinds at work in this place in less than a year. 
No war can stop New England enterprise .—Essex 
(Mass.) Banner. 
In science, read, by preference, the newest works; 
in literature the oldest. The classic literature is 
always modern. New books revive and re-decorate 
old ideas; old books suggest and invigorate new 
ideas.— Bulwer. 
