motion, and as a general substitute for the dangerous agency of steam," and that an appropriation of twenty thousand dollars' had been made to enable him to test his discovery by practical experiments. These experiments have been made, and Dr. Page deems it his duty to communicate these results to Congress and the country, and to do it in a manner more satisfactory than by a mere written report to Congress. For this purpose he proposed to exhibit the result of his experiments, and illustrate them by remarks and explanation; and, as the most suitable place, and at a time most convenient to the members of Congress, officers of the government, and the citizens, will exhibit his experiments at the Smithsonian Institution, in this city, to-morrow evening, Saturday, commencing at a quarter before six o'clock.

The practical question which has occupied Dr. Page, is the question of cost-moneyed cost-of producing this power. Its capacity and applicability had been previously established-its capacity unlimited-its applicability convenient and safe. But the great question of cost remained, and that has been deemed too great to admit of its use in the business operations of the country. In Europe the cost has been held to be fifty times greater than the cost of producing steam. Dr. Page, in a written communication now in my hands, says that he produces this power at a less cost than steam can be produced. His words are: "With the same size of battery, and much less cost, I am enabled now to exert a force of six hundred pounds, where, little more than a year ago, I obtained a force of only fifty pounds. With a consumption of two and a half pounds of zinc, I now produce one horse power for twenty-four hours. This is nearly as cheap as the cheapest steam engine in the world, and much cheaper than steam under some conditions."

Supposing Dr. Page to be right in this statement of the present cost of producing the electro-magnetic power, the hitherto insuperable objection to its use as a propelling power is entirely obviated, and the cost actually converted into a consideration in its favour. It is now cheaper, and must become more so, when the demand for zinc shall occasion that to be brought into market which is now thrown away, as a refuse of lead ore, in the vast lead mines of Missouri and the Upper Mississippi. Dr. Page now gives eight cents a pound for the zinc which he uses: when a large demand is created for it, it may be furnished for much less, and at the same time open a market for an article now thrown away.

So much for comparative cost-the electro-magnetic power becoming an economy-a moneyed economy-in its production. But how many economies will follow from its use? Dr. Page

enumerates them, putting at their head, and justly, the economy of human life, now so deplorably wasted by the dangers incident to the use of steam. All danger from explosion, and the main cause of danger from conflagration, will be avoided-a consummation devoutly to be wished by every human being. Other economies are thus stated. In navigation-saving room in the vessel, the engine and battery requiring but little space, and the fuel very compact compared to coal-doing away with chimneys, smoke-stacks, and their cumbrous fixtures-instantaneous communicability of the full power, so important in changing course and avoiding collision-capacity to run a blockade, making no noise and showing no light, except at pleasure-simplicity in the construction of vessels-diminution of insurance from absence of danger from explosions and conflagrations, and less danger from collisions. In land carriage-no stoppages to take in wood and water, and saving the expense of all structures and attendance for such purposes, one charge of the battery being sufficient for twenty-four hours, or more-no danger to cars or property from fires-diminution of insurance from absence of danger from fire -comfort to passengers in freedom from smoke, sparks, and ashes-safe entrance into towns and cities from the absence of all the annoyances and dangers which result from the use of steam. Such are some of the economies claimed by Dr. Page, of which, one alone, that of human life, would give an immeasurable preponderance to this power over that of steam, if the cost of its production should be made near equal, much more if it should be made cheaper than steam, as Dr. Page avers it can be. All these points will be illustrated to-morrow evening, when Dr. Page will run a circular saw, driven by an electro-magnetic battery of five horse power, and will exemplify in practical experiment all the advantages and capabilities which he has claimed for this new power.

Subsequently Professor Page, in a course of lectures delivered before the Smithsonian Institution, stated that there was no longer any doubts of the application of the electro-magnetic power as a substitute for steam. The National Intelligencer thus describes one of his lectures:

He exhibited the most imposing experiments ever witnessed in this branch of science. An immense bar of iron, weighing one hundred and sixty pounds, was made to spring up by magnetic action, and to move rapidly up and down, dancing like a feather in the air, without any visible support. The force operating upon this bar he stated to average three hundred pounds through ten inches of its motion. He said he could raise this bar one hundred

feet as readily as through ten inches, and he expected no difficulty in doing the same with a bar weighing one ton, or a hundred tons. He could make a pile-driver or a forge-hammer with great simplicity, and could make an engine with a stroke of six, twelve, twenty, or any number of feet.

The most beautiful experiment we ever witnessed was the loud sound and brilliant flash from the galvanic spark, when produced near a certain point in his great magnet. Each snap was as loud as a pistol; and when he produced the same spark at a little distance from this point, it made no noise at all. This recent discovery he stated to have a practical bearing upon the construction of an electro-magnetic engine. Truly, a great power is here; and where is the limit to it?

He then exhibited his engine, of between four and five horse power, operated by a battery contained within a space of three cubic feet. It looked very unlike a magnetic machine. It was a reciprocating engine of two feet stroke, and the whole engine and battery weighed about one ton. When the power was thrown on by the motion of a lever, the engine started off magnificently, making one hundred and fourteen strokes per minute; though, when it drove a circular saw ten inches in diameter, sawing up boards an inch and a quarter thick into laths, the engine made but about eighty strokes per minute. There was great anxiety on the part of the spectators to obtain specimens of these laths, to preserve as trophies of this great mechanical triumph. The force operating upon his magnetic cylinder throughout the whole motion of two feet, was stated to be six hundred pounds when the engine was moving very slowly; but he had not been able to ascertain what the force was when the engine was running at a working speed, though it was considerably less. The most important and interesting point, however, is the expense of the power. Professor Page stated that he had reduced the cost so far that it was less than steam under many and most conditions, though not so low as the cheapest steam engines. With all the imperfections of the engine, the consumption of three pounds of zinc per day would produce one horse power. The larger his engines (contrary to what has been known before) the greater the economy. Professor Page was himself surprised at the result. There were yet practical difficulties to be overcome; the battery had yet to be improved; and it remained yet to try the experiment on a grander scale, to make a power of one hundred horse,

or more.

Truly the age is fraught with wonders; and we can now look forward with certainty to the time when coal will be put to better uses than to burn, scald, and destroy.

RELIGIOUS AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.

[At page 393 of the 2d volume of the Register, will be found an account of the origin of these institutions. We now give the operations of the past year.]

AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETIES.

The number of new auxiliaries formed is 64; most of them in the Western states and territories.

The receipts of the year, from all sources, have been $284,614.84: about one-third as donations.

The number of Bibles and Testaments issued in the same time 633,395. These books have been distributed in every state and territory of the Union; in the West Indies, in Spanish and Portuguese America, in Canada and New Brunswick; among seamen, boatmen, immigrants, hospitals, prisons, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Romanists, white men, red men, and coloured men; indeed among all who were in need, and could be reached.

A New Testament, with Spanish and English in parallel columns, has been prepared; also the book of Genesis in Grebo for West Africa, and the book of Acts for an Indian tribe in South America.

The number of agents employed has been thirty, including two in Texas, one in California, and one in the West Indies.

Besides the grants of books from the depository, moneys have been sent for making the same in France, Turkey, Syria, Persia, at Bombay, Madras, Ceylon, and Lodiana, in India; also in China, in South Africa, and the Sandwich Islands. The whole amount of these payments is $17,900; and there is still voted, but not yet paid, nearly the same amount.

The board consider that the year, on the whole, has been highly successful, and that prospects for future distributions were never better.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

It appeared, from a view of the plans and operations of the society, which was submitted to the annual meeting, that, during the forty-five years of its existence, the society had put into circulation nearly 22,000,000 copies of the Scriptures, either in whole or in part, and its expenditure for this purpose had exceeded £3,500,000 sterling. The receipts for the past year, alone, had amounted to £9593 3s. 1d., arising from the usual sources of donations, annual subscriptions, sales, and legacies; the pay

ments during the same period having been £88,831 1s. 2d., and its engagements had exceeded £67,000. There had been issued from its depositories, at home and abroad, within the same year no fewer than 1,107,518 copies; and if the aggregate issues of foreign Bible societies were added to those of the British and Foreign Bible Society, the grand total would amount to more than 36,000,000 copies of the entire Bible or New Testament, or integral portions thereof, in different languages. The society had promoted the distribution of printing, or translation of the Sacred volume, in whole or in part, directly in eighty-one, and indirectly in fifty-nine languages or dialects. Within the United kingdom, there were no fewer than 3217 auxiliary branches or associations, and 525 in the British colonies and their dependencies. There were also more than fifty principal foreign societies, with their respective branches, spreading their salutary influence over the states of Europe, all more or less effective in the distribution of the Scriptures.

In connection with these operations for the distribution of the Bible, our readers may desire to have the following account of the proceedings of the late Baptist convention, held in Rhode Island, in relation to a new version of the Bible.

The most engrossing matter which engaged the attention of the convention, in the afternoon, was the following preamble and resolution, offered by Professor Caswell, of Brown University :

Whereas, this convention has learned with deep regret that some of the officers and friends of the American and Foreign Bible Society have it in contemplation to publish, under the auspices of said society, a revised, and so-called improved translation of the Holy Scriptures-therefore,

Resolved, That, in the judgment of this convention, such publication is uncalled for, and eminently inexpedient, and, under existing circumstances, could not but be productive of harm to the best interests of religion throughout our churches.

The resolution was seconded by Rev. Henry Jackson, and passed with great unanimity.

In offering this resolution, Prof. Caswell said, he did not claim. that our English translation of the Scriptures is in all respects perfect. But all are agreed that it is a translation of eminent excellence.

Prof. Gammell thought the leaders in this movement for an amended version of the Bible had overlooked the difficulty which always lies in the way of changing a language. Of this we had