“But we cannot repair the watch without having it.” “Faith, thin, ye’ll not have it; ye’ll be taking something frae it.” Now, this is an extreme case of ignorance, pardonable, perhaps, in this instance, but the public embraces multitudes just as ignorant where an allowance cannot be made. I do not expect the JOURNAL to reach such cases, or to influence the general mass, but my hope is that it will, by raising the general self-respect and tone of the repairers, indirectly elevate the respect felt for them by the public at large. But I am writing too long and rambling a letter. I wish to express my hearty wishes for your prosperity. And, in conclusion, will you allow me to express a hope that you will give us the knowledge we need--that is, post us up on the minutiæ of repairing in the latest styles, the newest processes devised, and, above all, give us an article on the lathe and its uses? Yours truly, W. L. C. We have the pleasure to give our correspondent the assurance that an expert will contribute to our next number an article interesting as well as valuable in instruction as to the use of the lathe. Eclipse of the Sun. The approaching total eclipse of the sun, on the 7th of August next, is exciting much interest. The obscuration first occurs in latitude 39° 53´ 3´´ north, longitude 138° 37´ 4´´ west--Washington being the meridian. The first totality is on the Pacific coast of Siberia, at sunrise, in lat. 52° 41´ 9´´ north, and long. 165° 26´ 4´´ west. The eclipse is total at noon in Alaska, lat. 61° 46´ 9´´ north, and long. 68° 4´ 6´´ west. The line of the total eclipse now runs south-easterly, grazing the coast near Sitka, thence north into British America; then entering the United States, near the head of Milk River, long. 30° W.; thence through the south-west corner of Minnesota, diagonally through Iowa, crosses the Mississippi at Burlington; thence through Illinois, a little north of Springfield, crosses the Ohio river at or near Louisville, Ky., passes through the south-west corner of West Virginia, through North Carolina, just south of Raleigh, ending on the Atlantic coast at sunset, just north of Beaufort, N. C., in lat. 31° 15´ 2´´ north, and long. 9° 36´ 6´´ east. The line thus described will be that of totality, only partial in any other part of the United States. The United States Government is, or has been, establishing a meridian line at Springfield, partly to make observations on this coming eclipse, and with the further view of determining a standard of surveyed lines--all of the Government surveys in Illinois having been geodetic. Professor Austin, of the Smithsonian Institute, is in charge of the work, aided by an able corps of assistants. Diamond-Cutting. At the Great Exhibition in Paris, in a part of the park contiguous to the Netherland section, M. Coster, of Amsterdam, has erected a building wherein all the processes of diamond-cutting are carried on.