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national road, and had been fortified and repaired | Mexicans had blocked it up with large stones, with the greatest care by Santa Anna. One side rolled down from the neighboring hills. This night was inaccessible by nature, the rest had been made we encamped at a most beautiful olive grove, of so by art. Batteries, in all mounting 50 guns of immense size and accommodating at once both dividifferent calibres, had been placed on its sides, and sions. In the town, as well as in Chalco, there are a deep ditch, 24 feet wide and 10 deep, filled with still standing the churches of the Indians where the water, had been cut connecting the parts already fire-worshippers assembled before Cortez had introsurrounded by marshes. On this side Santa Anna duced a new religion. They are large and sombre had 25,000 men against our force of a little over edifices, differing but little from the churches of this 9,000 all told. country, and being near the city, are said to have been formerly resorted to by the ancient kings.

The next day we arrived in sight of the rest of the army, and heard the guns with which Worth was breaching the walls of San Antonio. That night the news of the death of Captain Thornton of the second dragoons reached us. He was a brave officer and a thorough gentleman, but was always unfortunate in his military career.

On the 22d, we made a reconnoissance of the work, which was pronounced impracticable, as the lives of 5,000 men would be lost before the ditch could be crossed. We continued our search, and found another road which went round on the left, but when within five miles of the city, were halted by coming suddenly upon five strong batteries on the hill which commanded this road, at a place called Mexicalcingo. We soon countermarched, and then On the morning of the 19th, we left the little vilsaw our danger. With one regiment and three lage where we had heard this sad news, and took companies of cavalry, in all about 400 men, we saw the road to San Juan, about seven miles to the west that El Pinnol lay directly between us and our and only about ten miles from the city. When we camp, distant full 15 miles. Every eye was fixed arrived here, we heard the sound of General on the hill with expectation of an approaching col- Worth's guns, who was said to have attacked San umn, which should drive us back into a Mexican Augustine, a village three miles nearer the capital, prison, while we stepped off with the speed and where Santa Anna was said to be with 20,000 men. endurance of 400 Captain Barclays! At about When we arrived at San Juan, the men were told midnight we arrived safely at camp, and General to sling their blankets across their shoulders, put Scott did us the honor of calling it "the boldest their knapsacks into their wagons, and to put two reconnoissance of the war." General Worth was days' bread and beef in their haversacks. When encamped about five miles off, that is, in a straight this order came, all knew that the time had come. line, across the Lake Chalco, at a place of the same The officers arranged their effects, put on their old but about ten miles by the road. The Mex-coats, and filled their haversacks and flasks. Soon icans had a foundry in the mountains, at which we were getting some shells made, and on returning from which, Lieutenant Schuyler Hamilton was badly wounded.

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we were all ready for anything but a thrashing. We here heard the position of the enemy, which was nearly as follows:-Santa Anna with 20,000 men was at San Augustine; Valencia with 10,000 By means of his scouts, General Worth had was at a hill called Contreras, which commanded found a path round the left of Lake Chalco, which another road parallel to the San Augustine road, led us to the western gate of the city, and which, but which led into it between the city and Santa up to that time, had not been fortified. On the Anna. Now, by cutting a road across, if we could 14th, the other divisions commenced their march, whip Valencia, we could follow the road up and while we brought up the train and the rear. In thus get in between Santa Anna and Mexico, and the morning, the train was sent in advance, while whip him too. General Worth, supported by GenSmith's brigade acted as rear guard. It was com- eral Quitman, was to keep Santa Anna in check, posed of the rifles, 1st artillery, and the 3d infan- while Twiggs, backed by Pillow, was to try and try, with Taylor's battery. As the rear guard, astonish Valencia, which, you will see, he did very marching slowly along, came up with the train, effectually. Pillow with some of the ten regiments word came to General Twiggs that a force of about was to cut the road. We left San Juan about 1 five thousand men were trying to cross the road o'clock, not particularly desiring a fight so late in between them and the train, in order to cut it off. the day, but still not shunning it in case we could We were then passing through a small village have a respectable chance. About 2 P. M., as we which, by a curious coincidence, was called Buena had crawled to the top of a hill, whither we had Vista. On our left were large fields of half-grown been ourselves pulling Magruder's battery and the barley, through which was seen advancing, in mountain howitzers, we suddenly espied Valencia splendid order, the enemy's column. It was the fortified on a hill about 200 yards off, and strongly most splendid sight I had ever seen. The yellow reinforced by a column which had just come out of cloaks, red caps and jackets of the lancers, and the the city. We laid down close to avoid drawing their bright blue and white uniforms of the infantry, were fire, while the battery moved past at a full gallop. most beautifully contrasted with the green of the Just then General Smith's manly voice rung out, barley field. Our line of battle was soon formed," Forward the rifles-to support the battery.' and we deployed through the grain to turn their left and cut them off from the mountains. A few shots, however, from the battery, soon showed them that they were observed, and countermarching in haste, they left their dead on the field. Thus ended our fight of Buena Vista. That night we stayed at Chalco. The next day we made a long and toilsome march over a horrible road, through which, with the utmost difficulty, we dragged our wagons by the assistance of both men and mules. The next was nearly the same, except that the road was, if possible, worse than before, as the

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they went, till we got about 800 yards from the work, when the enemy opened upon them with his long guns, which were afterward found to be sixteen and eight inch howitzers. The ground was the worst possible for artillery, covered with rocks large and small, prickly pear and cactus, intersected by ditches filled with water and lined with maguey plant, itself imperviable to cavalry, and with patches of corn which concealed the enemy's skirmishers, while it impeded our own passage. The artillery advanced but slowly, under a most tremendous fire, which greatly injured it before it could be got in.

a force of four to one against us, and one half defeated already, no succor from Puebla, and no news from General Scott, all seemed dark.

Suddenly the words came whispered along," We storm at midnight." Now we are ourselves again! But what a horrible night. There we lay-too tired to eat, too wet to sleep, in the middle of that muddy road, officers and men side by side, with a heavy rain pouring down upon us, the officers without blankets or overcoats, (they had lost them in coming across,) and the men worn out with fatigue. About midnight the rain was so heavy that the streams in the road flooded us, and there we stood crowded together, drenched and benumbed, waiting till daylight. At half past three the welcome word, "Fall in," was passed down, and we commenced our march. The enemy's works were on a hill-side, behind which rose other and slightly higher hills separated by deep ravines and gullies and intersected by streams. The whole face of the country was of stiff clay, which rendered it almost impossible to advance. We formed our line about a quarter of a mile from the enemy's works, Riley's brigade on our right. At about 4 we started, winding through a thick orchard which effectually concealed us, even had it not been dark, debouching into a deep ravine which ran within about 500 yards of the work, and which carried us directly in rear and out of sight of their batteries. At dawn of day we reached our place, after incredible exertions, and got ready for our charge. The men threw off their wet blankets and looked to their pieces, while the officers got ready for a rush, and the first smile that lit up our faces for twelve hours boded but little good for the Mexicans. On the right, and opposite the right of their work, was Riley's brigade of the 2d and 1st infantry and 4th artillery, next the rifles, then the 1st artillery and 3d infantry. In rear of our left was Cadwallader's brigade as a support, with Shields' brigade in rear as a reserve, the whole division under command of General Smith in the absence of General Twiggs. They had a smooth place to rush down on the enemy's work, with the brow of the hill to keep under until the word was given.

range, and the thickness of the undergrowth caused the skirmishers thrown forward to lose their relative position, as well as the column. About 4 the battery got in position under a most murderous fire of grape, canister and round shot. Here the superiority of the enemy's pieces rendered our fire nugatory. We could get but three pieces in battery, while they had twenty-seven, all of them three times the calibre of ours. For two hours our troops stood the storm of iron and lead they hailed upon them, unmoved. At every discharge they laid flat down to avoid the storm, and then sprung up to serve the guns. At the end of that time, two of the guns were dismounted and we badly hurt; thirteen of the horses were killed and disabled, and fifteen of the cannoneers killed and wounded. The regiment was then recalled. The lancers had been repelled in three successive charges. The 3d infantry and 1st artillery had also engaged and successfully repelled the enemy's skirmishers without loss of either officers or men. The greatest loss had been at the batteries. Officers looked gloomy for the first day's fight, but the brigade was formed, and General Smith in person took command. All felt revived, and followed him with a yell, as, creeping low to avoid the grape, which was coming very fast, we made a circuit in rear of the batteries, and passing off to the right we were soon lost to view in the chapparal and cactus. Passing over the path that we scrambled through, behold us, at almost 6 o'clock in the evening, tired, hungry and sorrowful, emerging from the chapparal and crossing the road between it and Valencia. Here we found Cadwallader and his brigade already formed, and discovered Riley's brigade skirmishing in rear of the enemy's works. Valencia was ignorant of our approach, and we were as yet safe. In front of us was Valencia strongly entrenched on a hill-side and surrounded by a regular field work concealed from us by an orchard in our rear. Mendoza with a column of 6000 was in the road, but thinking us to be friends. On our right was a large range of hills, whose continued crest was parallel to the road, and in which were formed in line of battle 5000 of the best Mexican cavalry. On our left we were separ- At last, just at daylight, Gen. Smith, slowly walkated from our own forces by an almost impassable ing up, asked if all was ready. A look answered wilderness, and it was now twilight. Even Smith him. Men, forward." "And we did" forward." looked round for help. Suddenly a thousand vivas Springing up at once, Riley's brigade opened, when came across the hill-side, like the yells of prairie the crack of a hundred rifles started the Mexicans wolves in the dead of night, and the squadrons on from their astonishment, and they opened their fire. our right formed for charging. Smith's himself Useless fire, for we were so close that they overagain!"Face to the rear!" "Wait till you see shot us, and before they could turn their pieces on their red caps, and then give it to them!" Furi- us we were on them. Then such cheers arose as ously they came on a few yards, then changed you never heard. The men rushed forward like their minds, and, disgusted at our cool reception, demons, yelling and firing the while. The carnage retired to their couches. On the edge of the road was frightful, and though they fired sharply it was between us and Valencia, a Mexican hamlet spread of no use. The earthen parapet was cleared in an out with its mud huts, large orchards, deep cut instant, and the blows of the stocks could be plainly roads and a strong church, and through the centre heard, mingled with the yells and groans around. of this hamlet ran a path parallel to the main road, Just before the charge was made, a large body of but concealed from it: it is nearly a mile long. In lancers came winding up the road, looking most this road Smith's and Riley's brigade spent the splendidly in their brilliant uniforms. They never night. Shields, who came up in the night, lay in got to the work, but turned and fled. In an instant the orchard, while Cadwallader was nearest the all was one mass of confusion, each trying to be enemy's works. As we were within range of their foremost in the flight. The road was literally batteries, which could enfilade the road in which blocked up, and while many perished by their own we lay, we built a stone breastwork at either end guns, it was almost impossible to fire on the mass, to conceal ourselves from their view and grape. from the danger of killing our own men. Some fled There we were, completely surrounded by the up the ravine on the left, or on the right, and many enemy, cut off from our communications, ignorant of these were slain by turning their own gur.s on of the ground, without artillery, weary, dispirited, them. Toward the city the rifles and 2d infantry and dejected; we were a disheartened set. With led off the pursuit. Seeing that a large crowd of Santa Anna and Salas' promise of "no quarter," the fugitives were jammed up in a pass in the road,

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some of our men ran through the cornfield, and by thus heading them off and firing down upon them, about 30 men took over 500 prisoners, nearly a hundred of them officers.

After disarming the prisoners, as the pursuit had ceased, we went back to the fort, where we found our troops in full possession, and the rout complete. We found that the enemy's position was much stronger than we had supposed, and their artillery much larger and more abundant. Our own loss was small, which may be accounted for by their perfect surprise at our charge, as to them we appeared as if rising out of the earth, so unperceived was our approach. Our loss was one officer killed, Captain Hanson of the 7th infantry, and Lieutenant Van Buren of the rifles shot through the leg;-and about 50 men killed and wounded. Their force consisted of 8000 men under Valencia, with a reserve, which had not yet arrived, under Santa Anna. Their loss, as since ascertained, was as follows:killed and buried since the fight, 750-wounded 1000, and 1500 prisoners, exclusive of officers, including four generals, Salas, Mendoza, Garcia and Guadalupe, in addition to dozens of colonels, majors, captains, &c. We captured in all on the hill 22 pieces of cannon, including five 8 inch howitzers, two long 18, three long 16, and several of 12 and 8 inches, and also the two identical 6 pounders captured by the Mexicans at Buena Vista, taken from Captain Washington's battery of the 4th artillery. The first officer who saw them happened to be the officer of the 4th, selected by General Scott to command the new battery of that regiment, Captain Drum. In addition were taken immense quantities of ammunition and muskets; in fact, the way was strewed with muskets, escopets, lances and flags for miles. Large quantities of horses and mules were also captured, though large numbers were killed.

Thus ended the glorious battle of Contreras, in which 2000 men, under General P. F. Smith, completely routed and destroyed an army of 8000 men under General Valencia, with Santa Anna and a force of 20,000 men within five miles. Their army was so completely routed that not 1500 men rejoined Santa Anna and participated in the second battle. Most people would have thought that a pretty good day's work. Not so. We had only saved ourselves, not conquered Mexico, and men's work was before us yet.

At 8 A. M. we formed again, and General Twiggs having taken command, we started on the road to Mexico. We had hardly marched a mile before we were sharply fired upon from both sides of the road, and our right was deployed to drive the enemy in. We soon found that we had caught up with the retreating party, from the very brisk firing in front, and we drove them through the little town of San Angelo, where they had been halting in force. About half a mile from this town we entered the suburbs of another called San Katherina, when a large party in the church-yard fired on the head of the column, and the balls came right among us. Our men kept rushing on their rear and cutting them down, until a discharge of grape shot from a large piece in front drove them back to the column. In this short space of time five men were killed, ten taken prisoners, and a small color captured, which was carried the rest of the day.

Meanwhile General Worth had made a demonstration on San Antonio, where the enemy was fortified in a strong hacienda; but they retired on his approach to Cherubusco, where the works were

deemed impregnable. They consisted of a fortified hacienda, which was surrounded by a high and thick wall on all sides. Inside the wall was a stone building, the roof of which was flat and higher than the walls. Above all this was a stone church, still higher than the rest and having a large steeple. The wall was pierced with loop-holes and so arranged that there were two tiers of men firing at the same time. They thus had four different ranges of men firing at once, and four ranks were formed on each range and placed at such a height that they could not only overlook all the surrounding country, but at the same time they had a plunging fire upon us. Outside the hacienda, and completely commanding the avenues of approach, was a field work extending around two sides of the work and protected by a deep, wet ditch, and armed with seven large pieces. This hacienda is at the commencement of the causeway leading to the western gate of the city, and had to be passed before getting on the road. About 300 yards in rear of this work, another field work had been built where a cross road meets the causeway, at a point where it crosses a river, thus forming a bridge head, or tête de pont. This was also very strong and armed with three very large pieces of cannon. The works were surrounded on every side by large corn-fields, which were filled with the enemy's skirmishers, so that it was difficult to make a reconnoissance. It was therefore decided to make the attack immediately, as they were full of men and extended for nearly a mile on the road to the city, completely covering the causeway. The attack commenced about 1 P. M. General Twiggs' division attacked on the side towards which they approached the fort, i. e., opposite the city. General Worth's attacked the bridge head, which he took in about an hour and a half; while Generals Pillow and Quitman were on the extreme left, between the causeway and Twiggs' division. The rifles were on the left and in rear of the work, entrusted by General Scott with the task of charging the work in case General Pierce gave way. The firing was most tremendous-in fact, one continued roll while the combat lasted. The enemy, from their elevated position, could readily see our men, who were unable to get a clear view from their position. Three of the pieces were manned by "The Deserters," a body of about 100, who had deserted from the ranks of our army during the war. They were enrolled in two companies, commanded by a deserter, and were better uniformed and disciplined than the rest of the army. These men fought most desperately, and are said not only to have shot down several of our officers whom they knew, but to have pulled down the white flag of surrender no less than three times.

The battle raged most furiously for about three hours, when, both sides having lost a great many, the enemy began to give way. As soon as they commenced retreating, Kearney's squadron passed through the tête de pont, and charging through the retreating column, pursued them to the very gate of the city. As they got within about 500 yards of the gate, they were opened upon with grape and canister, and several officers wounded. Amongst the number was Captain Kearney, 1st dragoons, who lost his left arm above the elbow. Lieutenant Graham, of New York, received a severe flesh wound in his left arm. Captain McReynolds, ditto. Our loss in this second battle was large. We lost in killed seven officers, Capts. Capron, Burke, 1st artillery; Lieuts. Irons, Johnson, Hoffman, Captain Anderson, Lieut. Easely, 2d, infantry; Captain Han

son, 7th infantry. Lieut. Irons died on the 28th. | operation of that establishment. The arrangement Colonel Butler, of South Carolina, and about 30 of the details of the work was entrusted to Sears officers wounded-exclusive of the volunteers. The C. Walker, one of the assistants of the survey. It official returns give our loss in killed and wounded is understood that a full and detailed report of these at 1150, besides officers. The Mexican loss is 500 operations will be made this autumn, by the superkilled in the second battle, 1000 wounded, and 1100 intendent, to the secretary of the treasury. As prisoners, exclusive of officers. Three more gen- some partial notices of the work have already found erals were taken, among them General Rincon, and their way prematurely into the public prints, we Anaya, the provisional president; also 10 pieces are authorized to lay before our readers, in an auof cannon, and an immense amount of ammunition thentic form, a general view of the nature of these and stores. Santa Anna, in his report, states his operations, of which the results will, in proper time, loss in killed, wounded and missing at 12,000. He be made public. had only 18,000 left out of 30,000 which he gives as his force on the 20th in both actions.

Thus ended the battle of Cherubusco, one of the most furious and deadly, for its length, of any of the war. For reasons which he deemed conclusive, General Scott did not enter the city that night, but encamped on the battle field about four miles from the western gate of the city. The next day a flag of truce came out and propositions were made which resulted in an armistice.

Meanwhile the army is encamped in the villages around the city, recruiting from their fatigue and nursing the sick and wounded. There are but few sick, and the wounded are getting along comfortably in their hospitals.

The clocks at the observatories having been carefully regulated by astronomical observations, at 10 P. M., possession of the line for the night is given over to the astronomers, and skilful operators accompanying them at each station.

The performances of the 3d of August, 1847, may be quoted as an example of a successful night's work. The source of electrical power was a Grove's constant battery, having forty-four half-pint cups. The magnets were adjusted by the operators, and twenty clock signals were given by Mr. Zantzinger, the operator at Jersey city, at intervals of ten seconds each, and at coincidences with the clock beats. These twenty signals were compared with the Jersey city clock by Professor Loomis, and by Professor Hubbard, U. S. N., (then on a visit to Jersey city.) The same twenty were received and compared with the clock of the Philadelphia observatory by three observers, Messrs. Walker, Reynolds, and Mason, (Professor Kendall being absent.) ONE of the earliest uses of Morse's electro-mag- The same set of twenty signals was also received netic telegraph, was that of determining geograph- and compared with the clock at the Washington ical longitude. A few signals were passed between observatory by Professor Keith, the officer charged Washington and Baltimore in 1844, under the direc-with this duty by Lieutenant Maury.

From the Union.

DIFFERENCE OF LONGITUDE BY TELEGRAPH.

tion of Captain Wilkes, by carrying chronometers In the same manner the twenty signals from from astronomical stations to the telegraph offices. But the most complete trial of this method extant, has recently been made under the direction of the present superintendent of the United States coast survey, Professor Bache.

Philadelphia and from Washington were recorded at the three stations. It is known that no two observers, with the same transit instrument and clock, obtain for it the same correction. Each has his peculiar habit of seeing and hearing. It became necessary for all the observers to meet together, and to make observations at the same place, on the same evening, with the same instruments, in order to find the reduction of each one's clock correction to a normal or average value.

In the autumn of 1815, arrangements were commenced for making an experiment on the whole extent of the line from Jersey city to Washington, a distance of 250 miles. Immediately after the completion of the line in 1846, trials were made. The violent storms of the autumn, and the continual After applying this correction for the peculiarities repairs along these new lines, prevented complete of the observers, it may be presumed, from the exsuccess in 1846. Accordingly, in the months of cellence of the instruments and experience of the July and August of this year, operations were re-observers, that the corrected clocks at Washington, sumed on the new and more perfectly insulated Philadelphia, and Jersey city, indicated the true lines. siderial time of these meridians, within a quarterperhaps within a tenth part-of a second.

resented by a line, or tenth of an inch. The precision of a full night's work may be readily reduced within forty feet, so far as the levelling instrument is concerned.

Professor Bache had built, at the expense of the survey, a line from the Washington post-office to The method adopted of observing zenith stars bethe National Observatory. He had procured for fore and after reversal of the transit instrument, the three observatories of Washington, Philadel- gives to the clock time, after correcting for personal phia, and Jersey city, full and complete telegraph equations, a precision little short of the actual levelapparatus, and had connected them with the main ling. Now, with the levels in use at these places, line, so as to make these observatories temporary a second of arc, or seventy feet of longitude, is reptelegraph offices; having rented the line of the Telegraph Company for astronomical purposes only. Professor Bache had also, at the expense of the survey, erected the temporary observatory at Jersey city, and engaged the services of Professor Loomis, the late distinguished director of the Western Reserve Observatory, now in the chair of physics in the New York University. He had also engaged the services of Professor Kendall, the director of the observatory of the Central High School of Philadelphia. Lieutenant Maury, the superintendent of the National Observatory, had, early in 1845, tendered to Professor Bache the co

If these clocks, or chronometers, so corrected, could be suddenly brought side by side, without deranging their motions, a simple comparison of their corrected readings for the same instant of time would give the difference of longitude, with a precision not far short of the clock corrections themselves, or of the levelling observations on which they chiefly depend. This method forms the basis of the chronometer expeditions, of which extensive

and successful use was made by Robert Treat Paine, | United States coast survey a precision which, for Esq., in the Massachusetts survey. want of such a method, no other nation has attained.

It is in the same manner that the observatories of Liverpool, England, and of Cambridge, New England, have been connected together by William Cranch Bond, Esq., by means of the chronometers of the Liverpool steamers.

But the magnetic telegraph method dispenses with the transportation of chonometers, and only transports the essential portion, viz., the clock beat itself.

The practised observer can readily strike on his key with such precision that the most delicate ear cannot distinguish any want of accord between the clock beats and the key beats. This method of beating time resembles the process of the leader of an orchestra.

Previous to the application of Morse's telegraph to purposes of geodesy by Dr. Bache, (with the exception of Robert Treat Paine's stations in New England,) hardly two points in America, out of sight of each other, could be relied upon for longitudes obtained by astronomical methods, within a thousand feet. After its free use in the United States coast survey, it may happen that this uncertainty of a thousand feet may be reduced below a hundred -a degree of precision hardly attained to by any two observations in Europe. W.

SHIP-BUILDING IN THE WEST.

So far, then, as the giving of signals is concerned, WE have no doubt that the building of sea vesno error need be apprehended. But the party who, sels will hereafter become a much more important at another observatory, receives this signal and en-interest to the west than it has heretofore been. The ters the clock time of it, according to the best of his judgment, is liable to three separate and independent sources of error.

The first is in the time (if any) employed by the electro-magnetic fluid or wave, in traversing, for instance, the two hundred and fifty miles of the wire that connects the Washington and Jersey city observatories.

The second is the time that elapses after the fluid or wave has traversed the interval and commenced the induction of magnetic action in the receiving magnet, and before it brings up the armature, and causes an armature beat that is recorded by the receiving observer.

The third is the error committed by the receiving observer, in noting the fraction of a second between the clock beats preceding and following his armature beat.

From this enumeration of the sources of error, it appears that, when we take the mean of the two values for the longitude between two observatories by the eastern and the western signals, the result requires four corrections:-one is for the difference, or personal equation, of the clock corrections; one is for that of clock notings; a third is for that of circuit time, (astronomically, aberration time;) and a fourth for that of armature time.

The first two corrections are ascertained by bringing the two observers together. The sum of the other two may be obtained by subtracting the longitude, by eastern signals, from the longitude by western signals. Half the remainder is the sum of the two circuit times and of the two armature times. Now, the more the experiments are repeated, and the greater the care bestowed on them, the more nearly does the sum of these four errors approach to nothing. The conclusion from this circumstance is irresistible, that if the sum of these two pairs of quantities (all positive) is inappreciable, the difference between the two similar individuals of these pairs is, for a stronger reason, insensible.

The number of clock signals transmitted along the line is about a thousand; the number of clock notings for signals, and for personal equations, is about five thousand. It appears from a discussion of them, as might have been expected beforehand, that this method of determining geographical longitude between the stations of a trigonometrical survey, first put into successful practice by Dr. Bache, is free from all appreciable sources of constant error; and that a sufficient multiplication of the nights of observations, (those of 1846 include eleven nights,) must give to the astronomical department of the

experiments in ship-building that have already been made have succeeded admirably, and the enterprise of those who have engaged in that branch of industry has been properly rewarded. That the west possesses peculiar advantages for ship-building is known to all who have ever devoted attention to the subject. We have timber, iron, hemp, and every material that enters into the construction of ships, in great abundance, and the skill to put them together in their most perfect form. The vessels that have been built on the Ohio have been noticed in the seaports for their excellence, and have made their trips in such time as to prove themselves to be good sailers.

We take the subjoined article, in relation to this interesting subject, from a late Philadelphia paper :

"Our attention has been attracted, within a few days past, to a remarkably beautiful bark lying at the foot of Washington street wharf, Southwark, the history of which, we know, would awaken the interest of our citizens. She is named the John Farnum, in honor of the senior partner of the firm of Farnum, Newhall & Co., of this city. The bark was built in Marietta, Ohio, by Capt. William Knox, for Messrs. A. & I. Waters, of that place, who are engaged extensively in the project of ship-building,

This vessel is built in modern and approved style, and, in the judgment of many, will favorably compare with the best and prettiest of the eastern built ships.

"The John Farnum was sent laden with Ohio corn to Ireland; arrived in good order and well conditioned' at Cork, and then sailed for this city.

"The feasibility of ship-building on the Ohio is no longer to be questioned. On the contrary, for many reasons, it appears to be an admirable investment for eastern capital. The difficulty of getting vessels to sea is entirely obviated; four times in the year a sufficient amount of water may be depended upon in the Ohio and Mississippi, and, with the assistance of a steamer, a vessel of any ordinary draught may be safely towed to New Orleans from Marietta, a distance of two thousand miles, in less than eight days. Nor is there any difficulty in procuring freight at Cincinnati or other places at any time, of pork, flour, or other western produce, for the eastern cities, which will pay a net profit of twenty per cent., on the cost of the vessel.

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"The Marietta ship-builders have all the timber necessary within a few miles of the place the best white oak, white pine, black locust, and black walnut. The durability of the work and materials may

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