MINES OF CINNABAR, IN UPPER CALIFORNIA.

The mine of New Almaden is situated in one of the ridges of Sierra Azul Mountain, about midway between San Francisco and Monterey. The mouth of the mine is a few yards down from the summit of the highest hill that has yet been found to contain quicksilver, and is about 1,200 feet above the neighboring plain, and not much more above the ocean. This mine, known to the aborigines from time immemorial as a "cave of red earth," from which they obtained paint for their bodies, was discovered about four years since to contain quicksilver, by some Mexicans who were smelting the ore for the purpose of obtaining gold, which they supposed it contained.

About two years ago it fell into the hands of Barron Forbes & Co., who sent on hands, tools, and funds to commence working it. The vessel fell into the hands of the United States, and was confiscated. The operations were of course delayed till a few months since, when Mr. Forbes went out there with tools, &c., to test the capability of the mine. With the inefficient apparatus necessarily attendant on the first working of a mine in a distant country, there have, however, been extracted, within the two months preceding March last, between 15,000 and 20,000 pounds of metal, and this with only twenty hands employed about the whole establishment. The mine is probably realizing now, with its crude apparatus, a nett profit of $100,000 a year. With suitable furnaces and iron cylinders, the profit could, without doubt, be swelled to $1,000,000. Mr. Forbes was, in March last, about to sail to Europe for the apparatus necessary.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOOT CRIMPS.

Mr. Cosman White, of Galway, in New York, has recently patented an improvement in boot crimps, by which arrangement he secures a uniform distance of parallelism of the inner side of the jaws with the outer sides of the tapered crimp board during the operation of raising and lowering the jaws for crimping the upper, by which an equal pressure is produced upon the leather, by means of a combination of a dog, screw, and plates, with slotted bars, and curved jaws, operating together for the purpose described, the dog being free to play up and down loosely between the form and the base of the frame. He also claims the interlocking the ends of the jaws by means of cogs and mortices, in combination with oblong mortices in the frame, in which the cogs rise and fall during the operation of the jaws, and also the manner of connecting the shutters to the plate by means of socket joints. He further claims making the frame with a curved form, the shape of the lower edge of the crimp board, upon which the leather to be crimped is first placed preparatory to its being pressed over the crimp board.

REVOLVING HEELS TO BOOTS.

The editor of the Baltimore Clipper says that he has examined a beautiful boot, made by Mr. Robert T. Harman, to which he has attached what is called the Revolving Heel, an invention of his own, for which he is about to take out a patent. The heel is put on by means of a screw, and can be taken off or put on by a single turn of the hand. A great many persons usually wear one side of the heels off in a few days, and thus, although "as good as new," make them set uneven and assume an ugly shape. By this invention, it is only necessary to give the screw a slight turn with the hand, and the side of the heel not worn off is made to take the place of the one which is gone, so that the boot soon again sets evenly, as well as easily, on the foot. It appears to be an excellent invention..

AMERICAN FACTORY GIRLS.

It has been supposed by many, that the establishment of our manufactories requiring female labor would be most disastrous to health and morals, judging from the confinement to which females are subjected in English factories. It has, however, produced no such results. It is stated on authority, that in one mill in Lowell, eighty-two boys, and four hundred and five girls have been married in eighteen years; and that in another mill, one hundred and eighty-seven girls have been married in five years, and that twenty-eight have been married from one room in a single year. Why, this is a great matrimonial mart, where honest men can find industrious wives, and where the character they bring from their employers, their education, good manners, and personal attractions, are passports to matrimony among any class of suitors. Some wealthy and fashionable ladies have graduated from the mills, and are not ashamed of it.

MERCANTILE MISCELLANIES.

MORALS IN TRADE.

No greater mistake is conceivable, than the common one of excluding the principles of high-toned morality from the calculations of business. There are thousands ready to ask, with astonishment, "What possible connection can there be between a man's moral principles and character, and his success in business matters?" Nor is this all. Not a few are in the habit of imagining that a very strict and conscientious adherence to moral principle is not only no help, but a very serious hindrance to prosperity in trade; and that a man, to get ahead in the world, must at times stretch his conscience a little, overreach his neighbor occasionally, or take advantage of his ignorance or inattention.

Now, without wishing to assume the position of lecturer on morals to mercantile readers, we must be permitted to doubt not only, but deny utterly, the expediency, in a business view merely, of disregarding any of the dictates of sound morals in the conduct of business affairs. We not only deny the necessity of any resort to overreaching, any violation of the strictest rule of integrity, or any violence to our own conscience in matters of business, but we are prepared to maintain that every kind and degree of dishonest dealing with our fellow-men is a positive, and serious, and often fatal impediment to ultimate success. We believe that a large proportion of the failures of individuals and associations are owing to bad moral principles, or a deficient rule of integrity. The late Gideon Lee, of New York, a memoir of whose life will be found in the eighth volume of the Merchants' Magazine-himself one of our most upright, and at the same time most successful business men-was accustomed to predict the ultimate failure of those whose strict uprightness he had seen reason to doubt. On one occasion, an individual dealing with him boasted that he had overreached him in a particular transaction. It came to the ears of Mr. Lee, who simply remarked that he regretted it for the individual's sake; for, with such principles, he could not fail ultimately to overreach himself and get into straits. The event proved the sagacity of the prediction. In a few years, the individual in question, from being a man of handsome property, became a penniless dependant upon charity, and applied to Mr. Lee, among others, for assistance.

It is seldom, indeed, that the revulsions in trade which disturb the general prosperity are attributable to physical, providential influences. It is not the earthquake, the pestilence, the famine, or the failure of natural causes to work their results, that is chargeable, in most cases, with the decline of a people's prosperity, but the silent, sure operation of moral disorder; and so it is with individuals. Most men fail in business, not through overwhelming physical misfortune, such as loss of health or reason, or the destruction by fire or flood of their property, but generally through disregard of the simplest principles of morals. In most cases, we suspect, it would appear, were the truth known, that the ruined man has brought his affairs into hopeless condition by his grasping spirit involving him in ruinous extensions and speculations; or by his overreaching disposition, which, becoming notorious, has driven off his customers; or by his meanness, which has disgusted them; or by some other bad ingredient in his moral mixture.

The same principle operates in the case of corporations; for, notwithstanding the adage that "corporations have no souls," there is a public sentiment at all times surrounding them, which holds them to a rigid moral responsibility, and dooms them if they disregard it. We see the fragments of broken institutions-banks, for example-floating down to infamy, simply because they had not the wisdom to fulfil honestly the purposes of their existence; and we see others rapidly tending to the same inglorious destiny, not because there is not profitable business enough for them, but because they are not held by a strong sense of moral obligation to the path of their duty, and because, like grasping individuals, they are not content with legitimate and reasonable gains. Morally corrupt in their internal administration, they not only insure their own ultimate decline, but involve in it the community they were bound to serve; for there is a prodigious force in the corrupting influence of a bankrupt bank upon mercantile morals. A bank that sets at nought its solemn promises to pay its obligations, opens the flood-gates through which individual honor and responsibility are swept away. To be as good as the bank, is the climax of mercantile credit, and few men care to be regarded as better. The bank is the standard; and when that falls, those who were regulated by it fall also, and a common and promiscuous corruption reigns.

It is bad enough when physical calamity overwhelms a community, such as New York

suffered from the great fires of '35 and '45, when many millions of property were in a few hours reduced to ashes, and the monuments of industry and enterprize which a century of toil had reared, tottered and fell in vast blackened ruins. But from such calamities we can recover. Under such afflictions we gather strength, resolution, and buoyancy, and, like the fabled phoenix springing from her ashes, we rise in brighter forms. The memorials of destruction are effaced, the warehouses of commerce are restored, and the labors of enterprize resumed with four-fold energy. Such calamities do not unmake, but make us. But when the lofty tone of mercantile honor, integrity, and stern morals, is lowered --when the craft and cunning, the shrewd overreaching, and the inordinate grasping of the peddler, usurp the spirit and principles of the high-minded merchant-when trade becomes a trick, and mercantile enterprize a game, in which the parties only aim to circumvent each other and sweep the gains into their own coffers-then are we ruined indeed, without hope and beyond remedy.

We make these remarks because the keen encounter of competition, in this day of intense activity in all mercantile pursuits, tends constantly and powerfully to blant the moral sense, to deteriorate the better feelings of our nature, and to superinduce a narrow, selfish, grasping, immoral sentiment, than which no greater evil can befall us. But space fails us, and we must leave the subject to the reader's own thoughts.

SHORT MEASURE AND DECEPTION IN FABRICS.

"We have before called the attention of the trade to the important and increasing evil of short measure, and would add," says the Merchants' Gazette, a paper devoted to the interests of the dry goods trade, "for its consideration, the deception practiced by many manufacturers, particularly among small carpet weavers. We have seen several cases of the most flagrant attempts to cheat by commencing the pieces with wool filling, and after some ten or fifteen yards the whole fabric is changed from wool to cotton, reducing the value thirty or forty per cent less than the first of the piece represents. These frauds are becoming so common that the honest manufacturer is materially affected. Some means should be adopted to bring these parties to the punishment they deserve. We would suggest that there should be a legislative enactment, by which a forfeiture should be made of ull descriptions of merchandise which is evidently manufactured and sold with the intent to cheat. The regular manufacturer is as much interested as the purchaser, and no doubt would willingly join in every proper measure to put a stop to so villainous a system. Nothing acts so strongly against regular business as these innovations, made by worthless adventurers; and nothing secures with more certainty the success of any branch of manufacturing than a uniform, reliable fabric. What has given us so great a preference over others in foreign markets, except a strict adherence to weight, length, and uniform texture. The vexation and trouble which this species of swindling gives to all parties, is far beyond any advantage that can ever temporarily be derived from any such glaring deception. In the end, the short measure must be allowed, and the quality made good. Some instances may be found where a considerable time will elapse before the day of retribution; but it comes at last, and if not met and satisfied will involve the parties in legal controversies, and end in disgrace, as well as heavy additional charges, if not absolute punishment. The remedy lies with the purchasers: they must examine, and claim damages, insisting upon a fair remuneration for time misspent and injury sustained."

CULTURE OF TEA IN THE UNITED STATES.

An interesting article in Skinner's new periodical, entitled "The Plough, the Loom, and the Anvil," upon the culture of the Tea Plant, corrects the opinion long entertained, that it cannot be cultivated with success out of the Celestial Empire, and shows that it is cultivated there in the northern and mountain region, where snow lies on the ground three or four months to the year; that it is found wild in Assam, and is cultivated in quantities at the foot of the Himmelah Mountains. From these facts, with other information derived from traders, &c., returned residents of tea countries, the writer is fully convinced that this country, from Texas to New York, will grow tea equal in quality to two-thirds of that imported, and that some of the States will grow it equal to or better than the best that comes from China. The article also states that a gentleman recently returned from Calcutta, who for five or six years managed one of the company's tea plantations in Assam, has written a book upon the subject, not yet published, and has expressed an opinion that this country "can grow as good tea as any portion of the world." The writer thinks" the child is now born that will live to see the United States export, instead of import, tea."

BUSINESS ENTERPRIZE AND PERSEVERANCE.

The Trenton (N. J.) State Gazette publishes the following authentic history of a former resident of that city for the "advantage of all such as are disposed to sit down in despair, and rail at fate for such disappointments in life as are sure properly to be ascribed to indolence." It illustrates the importance of industry, energy, and perseverance, in the character of the business man:

Some years ago, an individual well known in Trenton, concluded to try the experiment of bettering his condition by adventuring to the Western country. Leaving his family behind, he bade farewell to Trenton one fine morning, and with little else than a light heart and a good constitution, in the way of capital, he commenced his journey. In a few weeks he found himself in the city of St. Louis, without a solitary acquaintance in the place, and but a solitary shilling in his pocket. This he reserved to pay for an obscure lodging, and went supperless to bed. The next morning he went to look for work, and soon got a contract to dig a well. On this job he cleared several dollars, and we next find him building a mill-dam for some person in St. Louis, which he accomplished with his own labor, to the decided advantage of his hitherto lean purse.

By thus turning his hands to whatever they could find to do, without regard to the humbleness of the occupation, our adventurer returned, after an absence of a year, with seven hundred dollars in clear cash, and no unpaid debts to harass his fear. In a short time he again sought his new home, and arrived in St. Louis in the heat of a copper mine mania which had sprung up from the discoveries about Lake Superior. Without friends, without education, without experience in the matter, he put out for the mining region to see what could be done by such a person as himself. In an open boat, he minutely explored the rock-bound coast of the mighty lake for several hundred miles; and after an absence of some years, returned again to Trenton with several thousand dollars in hard cash, and with deeds in his pocket that showed him to be the owner of some of the West. With the knowledge he had thus acquired by patient assiduity, our whilom well-digger went to Flemington, New Jersey, and succeeded in instilling new life into the owners of the well known copper mine of that place, and in a few months sold out his interest in that concern at an advance of over ten thousand dollars. A few days since he returned to Missouri, where he has stores, lead and copper mines, &c., all in the full tide of suecessful operation. All these results have been achieved by individual sagacity, aided by unyielding perseverance. Meanness and parsimony have had no share in the success we have recorded, for our hero is as open-handed as a prince. His generosity is unlimited, as more than one person, who owe all they possess to his friendly munificence, can testify.

A MODEL BOOK PUBLISHING HOUSE.

The book publishing business has reached a high degree of perfection in New York says the "Day Book," yet every year witnesses some improvement and enlargement Among the enterprizing establishments now in successful operation, that of Messrs. A. S. Barnes & Co., No. 51 John-Street, as publishers of standard educational works, ranks deservedly with the foremost. Their establishment comprises two large four story buildings, containing twenty apartments, with all the machinery and other conveniences for printing, ruling, binding, &c. &c. In the cellar is a steam engine of six horse power, which keeps in operation four hand and six power presses in the second story, and other machinery in various parts of the building. About one hundred and twenty hands are employed, one-third of whom are females, and the most perfect order and system prevail throughout the establishment. The work turned out by this firm is of the best description. The writer noticed some specimens of wood plate printing, almost equal in appearance to steel engraving. This firm has, by untiring industry, activity, and apright dealing, reached a position in their line of business second to none. A record of progress and success in the art of publishing is not without interest and instruction.

AMERICAN BONNETS IN ENGLAND.

An article in the London Court Journal says, a new summer bonnet has been adopted by the ladies of the Court as the greatest novelty of the season. It is called the Neapolitan bonnet, and, strange to say, it is the production of Brother Jonathan, over the water. Its weight is only two ounces, and its elasticity is such, that no bruises can derange its shape. But its greatest novelty consists in having an alabaster semi-transparency, which, by throwing a side light upon the features, gives them the indescribable softness and expression which the Italian ladies obtain by lighting up their rooms with lamps reflected through vases of Oriental alabaster.

THE BOOK TRADE.

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1.-Lead Diseases: a Treatise from the French of L. Tanquerel des Planches, with Notes and Additions on the Use of the Lead Pipe and its Substitutes. By SAMUEL L. DANA, M. D., LL. D., Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Corresponding Member of the Boston Society of Natural History, of the Academy of Natural Science at Philadelphia, and of the National Institute at Washington. Svo., pp. 441. Lowell: Daniel Bixby.

The original work, of which this is both a translation and an abridgment, is in two volumes, octavo, comprising about eleven hundred pages. In condensing the work, Dr. Dana, we are assured, has given faithfully the meaning of the author, without confining himself to a simple translation of the language; and in selecting portions of the original to form the body of the present volume, he has been guided more by the practical, than the theoretical results and views of the author. The historical details have been compressed, but all that was essential has been retained. The work is divided into parts and chapters, a feature not in the original; and the unity of the whole preserved, without violence to the plan and intention of Tanquerel. Lead diseases are classed under four well determined forms-Colic, Asthralyz, Paralysis, and Encephalopathy; which, the author maintains, have no real and necessary relation, except their common origin. The facts collected by Tanquerel enabled him to point out many established errors, and to add largely to our knowledge of this disease, and the description found in this work is unquestionably more complete than that of preceding authors. The Hospital of Charity, where nearly all the lead diseased workmen in Paris or the environs resort, furnished the author with the means of carrying on his observations upon an extensive scale. For eight years he visited the patients of that hospital afflicted with lead diseases in all their varieties, but few of whom escaped his examination. This work received the Montyon prize of 6,000 francs from the French Royal Academy of Medicine in 1841, for "completely fulfilling the intent of the founder of the prize, being the best work improving medicine or surgery, and diminishing the danger of certain trades in the mechanic arts." The American translator has added an interesting appendix, embracing much valuable information on the subject, with letters from several distinguished medical and scientific men, all bearing testimony of the most satisfactory character, as to its intrinsic value and importance. We should be glad, were this the place, to extract a letter (in the appendix) from a New York lady of the highest respectability, referring to the disease of a son, which would of itself sufficiently elucidate the vast importance of this great work. We shall endeavor, however, to refer to it in a future number of our Magazine. In the meantime, we would earnestly commend it to the medical profession, and more particularly to all persons in any way connected with certain branches of the mechanic arts.

2.-General Principles of the Philosophy of Nature: with an Outline of some of its Recent Developments among the Germans, embracing the Philosophical Systems of Schelling and Hegel, and Oken's System of Nature. By J. B. STALLO, A. M., lately Professor of Analytical Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, and Chemistry, in St. John's College, New York. 12mo., pp. 520. Boston: Wm. Crosby & H. P. Nichols.

By adopting very nearly the language of the author, we shall be able to give the design of this work, as far as that can be accomplished in the limited space allotted to book notices in our Journal. The work is divided into two parts. The first is programmatic, and simply assigns the general points of view for a philosophical study of the natural sciences. The principles laid down are an abstract of a larger treatise, containing developments and applications especially to Physics and Chemistry, which Professor Stallo has reserved for future publication. The second part is an attempt at a delineation of German "philosophy of nature" in some of its most notable phases, embracing principally the philosophical systems of Schelling (with Oken's System of Nature) and Hegel. The author examines the critical philosophy, and gives an admirable analysis of Kant's "Critique of Pure Reason" The fundamental principle, upon which, according to the author's conviction, all true philosophy of nature rests, is, that the different manifestations of the vitality which bursts forth in nature's phenomena are comprehensively united-centred in the mind; that the implacable rigor of cosmic laws, which sway extensive matter. is identical with the eternal freedom of mind in its infinite intensity. The work bears the impress of a profound and philosophical mind, and is evidently the fruit of a long and serious study, bestowed upon the works referred to in the text.