Accord

THE modus operandi of the copying-telegraph has at length been revealed. ing to the specification of the patent, two cylinders are made to revolve by clockwork, regulated by an electro-magnet, four times in each revolution, so as to be perfectly coincident in time of rotation. On one is rolled a sheet of tinfoil, and on the other a sheet of paper saturated with a solution which electricity will easily decompose and blacken through a metallic pointer, which presses on it and conducts the current to the paper after it passes from the tinfoil on the other cylinder, through a similar metallic pointer pressing on it. The apparatus thus prepared, and the cylinders made to revolve, with the electricity in action, the pointers are carried gradually from one end of the cylinders to the other, so that a spiral series of dark lines, closely continuous, is described on the paper from end to end, unless the current of electricity be intermitted, which it is by means of writing, or other characters or forms, on the conducting tinfoil round the other cylinder, traced with a non-conducting varnish in place of ink. It is thus manifest that an exact copy of the tracing will be picked out as it were by blank intervals in the black or blue lined spiral tracery on the papered eylinder, the pointer ceasing to blacken the paper wherever its fellow passes over or across the varnish on the tinfoil; and thus, by a contrivance of the most ingenious and simple description, accomplishing one of the most astonishing miracles of this age of wonders. With a single wire, four hundred letters per minute can thus be transmitted. And the wonder does not end here; for the message or letter transmitted by correspondents, (to their own paper, and from their own tinfoil, of course, if desired,) with its signature, &c., is a perfect fac-simile of the original in form or tracery, only written, as it were, in white ink, on a dark ground, like an engraving. Drawings, it is clear, too, or even portraits, plans, &c., may as readily be thus not only copied, but transmitted hundreds of miles at one and the same moment. The name of the inventor of this triumph of

genius, is Blakewell. The specification of the patent includes improvements in opening and closing communications with different stations by means of one wire, and points to the establishment of a system of half-hourly dispatches. The facilitating and cheapening of newspaper reports too by such means are very obvious, especially as shorthand can thus be still more readily and rapidly copied than ordinary writing.-Builder,

MANUFACTURE OF GLASS BEADS.

BESIDES the invention of mirror and reticulating glasses, for which we have to thank the Venetians, the art of making glass beads was also first discovered in the glass-houses of Murano, and is practised there at the present day on a very extensive scale. The small glass beads are fragments cut from pieces of glass tubing, the sharp edges of which are rounded by fusion. Glass tubes of the proper size are first drawn from one hundred to two hundred feet in length, and of all possible colours, (in Venice they prepare two hundred different shades,) and are broken into lengths of two feet. These are then cut, by aid of a knife, into fragments of the same length as their diameters: they now present the form of beads, the edges of which, however, are so sharp that they would cut the thread on which they have to be strung. The edges have, consequently, to be rounded by fusion; and, as this operation must be performed upon a great number at once, and they must not be allowed to stick together, they are mixed with coal-dust and powdered clay, previous to their being placed in the revolving cylinder in which they are heated. The finished beads are then passed through sieves sorted to their size, and strung upon threads by women. Besides the ordinary knitting-beads, another kind is manufactured, called perles à la lune, which are firmer and more expensive. These are prepared by twisting a small rod of glass, softened by a glass-blower's lamp, round an iron wire. The glass beads made in imitation of natural pearls for toilet ornaments, the invention of which dates from the year 1656, are very

different from the preceding, both as regards their application, mode of production, and origin. These are small solid glass beads, of the same size as native pearls, which they are made to resemble by a coating of varnish, and which gives them a peculiar pearly lustre and colour. A maker of rosaries, by name Jaquin, was the first to discover that the scales of a species of fish, (Cyprinus alburnus,) or bleak, communicated a pearly hue to water. Based upon this observation, glass globules were first covered on the outside, but at a later period on the inside, with this aqueous essence. The costly essence, however, of which only a quarter of a pound

could be obtained from the scales of four thousand, was subject to one great evil, that of decay. After trying alcohol without success, in consequence of its destroying the lustre of the substance, sal-ammoniac was at length found to be the best medium in which to apply the essence; a little isinglass is also mixed with it, which causes it to adhere better. The pearls are blown singly at the lamp; a drop of the essence is then blown into them through a thin tube, spread out by rolling, and the dried varnish is then covered in a similar manner by a layer of wax.Knapp's Chemistry applied to Arts and Manufactures.

MARRIAGE PROCESSION.

IN all ages, and by all people raised above barbarism, the importance of the social condition, of which marriage was the commencement, has always been acknowledged. It is, in fact, the foundation and cement of society. Holy Scripture brings its origin before us, distinctly refers to its divine appointment, and affirms its sacred character. Universal and unbroken experience shows that no departure from the scriptural principles of the subject can be allowed without injury to society. In this respect, Scripture and nature go hand in hand, and are inseparably interwoven with each other.

Marriage, applying the term to the com

mencement of the union, has been almost uniformly connected with various ceremonies; some of them designed to indicate symbolically the character of the institution, and others, the joyfulness of the occasion. Among the ancients these ceremonies were, and among the Orientals they still are, much more numerous and settled than they have become among the modern Europeans, who, in addition to a far less imaginative character, are taught by the religion which, by the favour of Providence, they enjoy, the true nature of the institution. Among ourselves in this country, for instance, there is no customary ceremonial to be observed. The festivities of the occasion are comparatively domestic and private, and governed by no

rule but the will of the various parties concerned. The only ceremony concerned is that which expresses the religious character of the institution, its divine appointment and cbligations. The parties go, therefore, to the house of God, pledge their vows to each other in the place in which His presence is specially recognised, and seek His blessing on the solemn engagements on which they enter. Marriage, indeed, is in some respects a civil institution, as involving civil duties and rights; but it is also a religious one; God himself appointed it. It is He who in fact has said, Marriage shall be, and such shall be marriage. In connecting a religious ceremony with the formation of the union, there is, therefore, a strict and beautiful propriety. Society, indeed, can only take notice of the civil character of the relation; although a Christian country, in legislating upon it, is bound to conform its legislation to the laws of God on the subject. But individual Christians, who know that they are commanded to "acknowledge God in all their ways," will feel that on an occasion of so vast importance, entering as they then do on a divinely-appointed and divinely-regulated union, they are obeying only what we could almost term a natural instinct of conscience in connecting it with such religious observances as shall acknowledge God in it.

The Greeks had their nuptial ceremonies. At the wedding, generally in the evening, sometimes even late at night, the bridegroom went in procession to the dwelling of the bride to conduct her, with much pomp, to his own house. In this procession, nuptial torches were borne before the bridegroom and bride; bridal odes were sung by a retinue of unmarried youths and females, with musical instruments; and dancing-progressive daneing usually accompanied the music. The whole was followed by a nuptial feast.

Among the Romans the form was somewhat different. The bride was adorned with a robe and veil prepared for the occasion. A sheep, two years old, was offered to Juno, the goddess of marriage. In the evening, the bride was conducted, with many ceremonies, to the house of her husband. She was taken, seemingly by force, from the arms of her mother, or nearest female relation. She went, with a distaff in her hand, and stepped, or was lifted, over the threshold of

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both houses. A youth preceded her with a lighted torch, two supported her, and a fourth followed her, carrying in a covered vase some of her utensils, and toys, and ornaments. She bound the door-posts of her new residence with white woollen fillets, and anointed them with wolf-fat. A sheepskin was spread before the entrance, on which she stepped, and called aloud for the bridegroom, who came and offered her the key of the house, which she then gave to the chief servant. Both now touched fire and water, as a symbol of purity and fidelity. The house had been on the preceding day adorned with garlands and flowers. After her arrival, the nuptial banquet was held, which was accompanied by music and song. The marriage odes (epithalamia) were likewise sung.

Two

As to modern marriage processions, in Egypt and the East, their character will at once be perceived by referring to our engraving, after reading what has been said above concerning the customs of the Greeks and Romans. There is the procession with torches, trumpets, and cymbals. seniors on horseback are seen going before the camel which carries the bride, closely concealed from view, and young men and females, with torches, walk by its side. But instead of these general descriptions, we will give an account of a marriage at Hebron, in Judæa, as witnessed by the Rev. Mr. Woodcock, who travelled in the Holy Land in the summer of 1848. He says: "The first day I was in Hebron there was a marriage procession through the streets, about four o'clock in the afternoon, consisting of a long troop of women, clad mostly in white, and dancing, waving their arms, and uttering all sorts of loud cries as they went along. In front of them, a little apart, were two or three with tambourines, or timbrels, which they strummed most violently; and in the midst of the chief company was the bride, with a red veil over her head. Children ran in troops, and seemed to be a part of the procession. They paraded the streets in this manner without a single male in their procession; but in the middle of the night I was roused from my slumber by a great shouting and flashing of torches; and, 'behold, the bridegroom came,' and paraded the streets, with his male friends, in like manner as the women had done."

THE RIVER JORDAN AND THE DEAD SEA.

[THE present really seems to be an age of travelling, and of publishing volumes of travels. Both these facts furnish advantages

and pleasures. Time was, when, in the maps that those who wished to know something of the position of the various countries of the world had to consult, large spaces were found with the mortifying inscription in

each, terra incognita, "unknown land." All this is rapidly disappearing,—indeed, has well nigh disappeared. Every corner of the globe is ransacked. Observations are made so scientifically, that our maps are becoming perfect; and by the aid of the volumes that are now poured forth from the press, we may sit quietly and comfortably by our own firesides, and without trouble, danger, or expense, become far better acquainted with our large world, than Homer's hero of the

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Odyssey," who voyaged, and saw many cities, and the manners and customs of men, could possibly be, even with his comparatively small world. Pleasure and improvement are thus easily within our reach. Lands that

were quite a mystery to our forefathers,-at all events, to our grandsires,-are becoming as well known to us as the town we live in, and its surrounding neighbourhood. Very many of our readers, we doubt not, will be glad to have occasionally afforded to them the opportunity of an excursion into some distant country,- an excursion requiring from them not more than ten or twenty minutes of easy reading; although by the original writer some days of hard travelling were necessary. By a careful reference, in our selections, to the useful and the agreeable, we hope to minister to the profit and gratification of all who shall please to accept our guidance.-EDS.]

THE Government of the United States resolved, in 1847, to fit out an expedition for a more exact and scientific "exploration" of the "Dead Sea," that singular sheet of water, whose billows roll heavily over the region on which once stood the cities of the plain, on whose sinful inhabitants the judgments of God so came down, as to make even the place of their dwelling a perpetual monument of the holy vengeance of the Judge of all the earth.

The expedition was provided with all things necessary for the prosecution of its design; among other things boats, which might be conveyed from the coast to the sea of Galilee, from which, on the celebrated stream of Jordan, the parties might float down to the lake which they were charged to examine. The boats were taken to Tiberias, at the southern extremity of the lake of that name, where the Jordan issues from its enclosure. From the lake of Tiberias to the Dead Sea, the distance, in a straight line, is about sixty miles; but such are the windings of the Jordan, that the boats were found to have sailed two hundred miles. There is likewise a great difference between the level of this northern extremity of the Jordan, and that of its southern one, where it enters the Dead Sea. This has been computed to be between nine hundred and one thousand feet. The current of the river is therefore generally very swift, and several dangerous rapids and falls occur in its course.

"April 10th, (1848,) Monday. This morn ing we rise, take breakfast, strike our tents, and prepare for a 'sail.' The boats are now in their element. We pulled slowly down the lake, and soon reached the mouth of the Jordan. We were then able to ease our oars a little. Presently we came near to the ruins of a bridge, in the immediate vicinity of which was a streaming rapid, and a steep and dangerous fall. Over this we had to pass somehow or other. There was no circumnavigating it. The fall was there, and we must dash over it at all hazard. We first unloaded the boats, and then firmly braved the danger. Away went the boats, all hands ready to jump overboard if they should strike the rocks, and come 'broadside on' to the edge of the fall, and so slew round and capsize. But despite all their skill, she struck and slewed round, with all hands in her, and dash she went into the midst of the stream. Fortunately we received no injury. The iron boat leaped the dangerous fall without any damage. We soon after hauled the boats to the banks for the night, having before us a continuation of dangerous rapids and falls.

"April 11th. Set out again this morning on this circuitous stream. Rapids and falls awaited our advance. There was one to begin with ten or fifteen feet deep; but 'onwards' was our motto. We made fast a stout rope to a tree on the bank, having one end in the boats, and then, guiding them into the current, tried to ease them over the fall. One or two persons were in each of the boats to manage them; the rest were overboard, hanging on to the sides; and so, coming into the midst of the fall, dash they went, one after the other, down the rushing stream. We escaped without any damage. After this, we manned our boats, and guided them down the stream. We passed an Arab town, built on the peak of a high mountain, and some two hundred of the inhabitants came running down the slope, shouting to us. Our 'carbines' now underwent a close scrutiny; but the Arabs seemed chiefly to be moved by the novelty of the scene. Their display of curiosity in examining our boats was truly amusing: probably they had never seen one before. Many of them came into the water and tried to stop them, catching hold of the sides, while the current was eight or nine knots (miles) strong: this soon wearied them in their attempts to stop our progress. Thus gliding snugly along, about sundown we approached the caravan of our fellow expeditioners,' who were travelling by land, on the western side of the river. We encamped for the night, however, about half a mile from them, in consequence of an intervening rapid and fall. Hitherto, the banks of the Jordan appear beautifully studded with vegetation. The cultivation of the ground is not so extensive as it would be if the crops were secured to the cultivator from the desperadoes

who scour the whole region. The waters are clear and transparent, except immediately connected with the rapids and falls. The river is well calculated for fertilizing the valleys of its course. Plenty of fish may be found in its course. We saw no traces of the lions and bears which once inhabited the thickets between its lower and higher banks. However, the footmarks of the wild boar are occasionally to be seen.

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"April 12th. We made another start, passing in the course of the day through a series of our usual difficulties, more or less dangerous. Few of our party can boast of dry clothes since we left the placid sea of Tiberias, or of experiencing much of what is called comfort."

(The remainder of the voyage in our next.)

ANECDOTES OF DR. CHALMERS'S PREACHING.

THE objection urged against the sincere Preacher of the word ever since the days of the Apostles, was brought against him. At the time when his preaching was making so great and extensive an impression, his friend, the good Dr. Balfour of the "Outer Kirk," was met by a co-Presbyter, who was rather noted for neglect of parochial duty, and careless preparation for the pulpit. The conversation turned upon the eloquent Preacher in the Tron. "They say," said the latter, "that he has a bee in his bonnet." "I am sure," retorted the Doctor, "that it is not a drone." And his clerical detractor was silent. Others who made a similar objection, having been led to hear him, were convinced of their error, and learned to pray. A person well known in Glasgow for superior talent and scientific attainments, but, withal, for a tinge of scepticism in religion, was met by an old companion hurrying to the Tron Church, while the bells were ringing for the afternoon service. "Come," said his friend, "and hear Chalmers." "I shall do no such thing," was the reply. "Do you think I would trouble myself to hear a madman?" "You had better judge for yourself by coming for once." And, taking his arm, they were both speedily seated in the densely-crowded church. What was the astonishment of the sceptical gentleman, when the Doctor gave out for his text, "I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness!" He felt that his false judgment of the Preacher was rebuked, as it were, by a voice from heaven; and the sermon which he heard-the object of which was to fix the charge of madness where it ought to be fixed, on those who, believing in a future world, continue to live without God and without hope; while it was shown that truth and soberness were only with those who act according to their belief and profession of the Gospel-was admirably fitted for deepening the impression made by the text, and for removing the flimsy

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arguments of " philosophy falsely so called." From that day forth, the gentleman became a constant hearer of Dr. Chalmers, a confirmed believer in the doctrines, and a steady performer of the duties, of the Christian faith. We have heard an eminent Minister of another Church describe his feelings on hearing that discourse that afternoon. said that, during its delivery, he was led to experience how a person, by the intensity of his attention to an object, might remain, for the time, unconscious of bodily annoyance and pain. He was standing in the midst of a dense crowd, in the lower passage fronting the pulpit. An honest woman, plainly dressed, had been standing behind him. She, apparently unconscious of what she did, had fixed her elbows between the shoulders of our informant, and in that attitude remained till the orator released them by concluding the sermon. It was only then that, by the difficulty of breathing, and excessive pain in the upper part of his back, he became aware of the pressure he had endured.--Free Church Magazine.

KING GEORGE II.

AN anecdote of the first arrival of George the Second in his palace of St. James's, is related in the published correspondence of Horace Walpole. Sir Robert often complained to him in Latin (for the Minister spoke no German, and the King no English) that the Hanoverians in his train were so venal and rapacious; to which His Majesty at once replied by giving an instance of the venality and rapacity of English servants, always on the look out for vails. "This is a strange country," said the King. "The first morning after my arrival at St. James's, I looked out of the window, and saw a park, with walks, a canal, &c., which they told me were mine. The next day, Lord Chetwynd, the Ranger of my park, sent me a fine brace of carp, out of my canal; and I was told I must give five guineas to Lord Chetwynd's servant for bringing me my own carp, out of my own canal, in my own park."