In answer to the foregoing, we would remind our correspondent, that in his former communication, he proposed a limited weight of apparatus, and in our answer, it was far from our intention to allow an additional weight on account of the requisite extent of surface. With regard to the philosophy of the flight of the eagle, it must be borne in mind that atmospheric resistance is as the square of the velocity _downward_ and the only way in which the phenomenon of the flight of the eagle can be reconciled with the laws of mechanical science as established by experiment, is by supposing the velocity of the wing downward to be equal to 70 feet per second, whereby a resistance would be encountered equal to 12 pounds per square foot of surface to the wings. It is a fact, however, that kites, and hawks are often seen to continue suspended in the air several minutes without any apparent motion of the wings; but by what law or theory the feat is accomplished, natural philosophy has ventured no other conjecture than that the bird is endowed with the faculty of suspending occasionally its ordinary subjection to the laws of gravity. If any observing theorist will give any more rational conjecture on the subject, we should be glad to have him examine it. * * * * * It is proposed and urged by the papers in several States, to have a thanksgiving day throughout the Union, on the 26th of November. * * * * * "As dull as a hoe," is a very common phrase, and implies that hoes are necessarily or ordinarily dull. But it is advisible for farmers to keep their hoes sharp, as they regard a saving of labor. * * * * * [Illustration: the conical windlass] THE CONICAL WINDLASS.