Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

17 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

The Siege of Charleston.

The Situation in Tennessee.

,The Mexican Question.

PREVENTION. OF INFANTICIDE.

EXTRACTING A-BATS TEETH. !

DEATH OF THE MARQUIS OF HUNT'LY.

THE RUSSIAN REPLY TO ENGLAND.

JENNY BIND AT A HARVEST .FESTIVAL.

WHOLESALE SMUGGLING WROM HEM:…

| GREEK FIRE.

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

| GREEK FIRE. The term Greek nre," as applied to the substance which the Federals are pouring into Charleston, is strictly a misnomer. The, secret of the manufacture of the original Greek fire has been lost for nearly 950 years, and it is probable that it will not again be found, seeing that modern chemistry suggests agents quite as dangerous, and perhaps simpler, than the original. Its modern representative, although in- tended for the same purposes, is different in character, more portable, more certain, more terrible. It is a fluid substance, is cheaply made, keeps for years, and is produced so quickly that the ingredients of which it is composed may be put together at the moment when tne compound is required. In using the liquid it has to be inclosed in a shell which shall burst at a snven point of destination, and allow the fluid to be dis- tributed. The construction of modern liquid fire is based on simple scientific principles, and more methods than one may be discovered for producing it. I think and I know the inventor, to whom I shall refer in a moment, thinks so too—that it might be so formed that it would actually burn under water. But, how- ever much it might be modified in detail, the principle would be the same, and the principle is this: a rapidly oxydisable substance—which means a substance that in combining greedily with oxygen whenever it can get it, gives rise to the evolution of heat and flame- is suspended for a time through a liquid, in which it is held innocuous, so long as the two are confined toge- ther, but from which it is separated spontaneously wlien^ botn are in tlie air. The modern chemist who first brought liquid fire into notice was Mr. WentwoTth Scott. I have been told that the method suggested by the late Lord Dondonald was of the same nature; but, for special scientifio reasons, this view is not probable. Mr. Scott suggested the principle about eleven years ago, and during the Russian war he Was untiring in his efforts to get it practically into use in our army and navy. There is an official board which received Mr. Scott, heard his plans, promised him means for experiment, nibbled at his idea, and then repudiated it, and did many very foolish things which it is not worth while to rake up; suffice it, that after tantalising Mr. Scott for a long season, and aiter supplying him with lots of forms," 'our circumlocutionists became acquainted with another gentleman who proposed- a liquid fire, but vdio, I believe, in the end was gently dropped also-I mean Captain Disney. At last; that which the English nation, or rather Government, refused to study. as a means of warfare, has been turned to practical account in America. Liquid fire has-found. its way into Charles- ton, and the question to be, asked is, Will its appllea- tion stop there ? It is folly to! rest content with saying that the practice is barbarous- Barbarity pertains to the use of bayonets, and swords, and grenades, and all to, be recognised are the facts—thafi tils- Americans are using this* liquid fire; that they will soon find means of improving their first attempts;; tiaat the successful employment of one liquid will; suggest others, and that suddenly we may be aroused to the unpleasant consciousness' that all our great alm,ainents, all our forces, all our ships, all our men, are at the mercy of a foe who has- learned a new art in war, in which science has sapped courage, and in which brute fosree stands but second in the contest.- Dr. RîchardsOt; in the Social Science Review.

DEATH OF THE RIGHT HON. EDWARD…

DEATH ON THE ROAD.

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; A DVEL BETWEEN TWO LADIES.

THE SUICIDE OF A YOUNG MAN…

; MR. DISRAELI ON HARVEST…

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