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Fours.?. From <ho Episcopal Watchman. “WATCH YE.”—Mark xiv. 38. When Sommer decks thy path with flow ers, . And pleasures smile is sweetest; When not a clou t above thee lowers, And sunshine lea Is ilv happy hours, Thv 1' 1> an ’ lh > fleelest ’> 01 watch thou then, lest pleasure’s smile, Thy spirit of its hope beguile. When round time gathering storms arc nish, A nd grief thy days hath shade 1 ; When earthly joys bloom but to die, And tears suffuse thv weeping eye, And hope’s bright how hath faded; O! watch thou then, lest anxious care, Invade thy heart, and rankle there. Through all life’s scenes—tlirongh weal and wo, Through days of mirth and sadness, Where’er thy wandering footsteps go— Oh! think how transient heiebelow Thv sorrow and thv gladness: And watch thou always, lest thou stray, From Him Who points thy heavenward LlTIMORE. miscellaneous. Blowing vp of a Turkish ship oj tlic line.—The Turkish licet was lying quietly and unsuspectingly at anchor off Soto, on a line night, in the month of June; the hour was waxing very late; the coffee-shops on hoard had ceased to give out tiie chibouques and cups; the Turks were reposing, hud dled together like sheep, on the deck; the Captain Pacha had retired to his splendid cabin, his officers hod follow ed his example; no regular watch be ing ever kept on board a l urkish man oi war. I, and a few Greek lads, still lingered on the upper deck, and, for want of better amusement, were watching the progress of a dark sail, •which \ve saw emerge from the Spal- m a do re Islands, and bear down Ihe channel in our direction She came stilly on, approaching us nearer and nearer, and we kept gazing at her, without, however, apprehending any thing until we saw another sail in sight, and perceived that the vessel we had lirst made out was hauling up in such a manner as would soon bring her right alongside of our lofty three- decker. I then ventured to go below and speak to one iff tlie Turkish of ficers. This gentleman cursed me for disturbing him, and called me a fool, and after speaking disrespect fully of the mother that bore me, grumbled out that they must he mer chant vessels fioin Smyrna, turned himself on his other side, and fell a- gain to sleep. Siill the suspicious came on nearer and nearer; I spoke to some of the men, who replied much in the same manner as the officer had done, wondering wh .t I had got into my head, to be running about break ing people’s rest at such a time of the night. What more could ! do? VYiu u 1 again ascended the quarter deih, the vessel was close astern— v\ 1,11111 hail. She was a large brig, as black as Satan, but not a soul cuuiu l see on boai it except the man at me helm. Of my own accord 1 cried out to them to hold off, or he would ue split to pieces against us. No answer was returned but, tavoured by a gentle breeze, on came the brig, silent and sombre as the grave.— Whilst fixing my eyes intently on these incomprehensible proceedings, I saw the helmsman leave bis post, having secured his tiller hard a-port —the next instant l heard a noise like that made <y the manning of oars —then I saw a boat drop astern from under a ice of the brig—and ere I could again draw breath, the brig struck violently against our side, to which (by means 1 could not then con ceive) she became at once attached like a crab, or the many armed poly- p i#. Before one third of the slum bering Turks were aroused, before dozen of them had seized their spikes anil spars to detach their dangerous neighbor—she exploded—A discharge —a fire—a shock, like mighty erup tiou of some vast volcano, rose from the dark, narrow bosom, and quickly site was scattered in minute frag ments, high in the astonished, but placid heavens, wide over the sea, and among our decks and rig ging—-destroyed herself in the act ol destroying, though we could sec the hands that had directed and impelled the movement of the dreadful engine pulling fast away in the boat. They might have taken it more coolly, for fie Turks had other matters to think of, than pursuing them—our ship was in a blaze—the flames were runnin? like lightning along our rigging, and had seized on so many parts at once, that the contused crew knew not where todircet their attention. The Captain i’acha rushed upon deck like a man who had heard the sound of the last trumpet; he did not, how ever, lose much time in beating bis forehead and tearing his beard; be proceeded with great firmness of, mind to give judicious orders, but the fire was too widely spread, and the consternation of the crew too exces sive to admit of any good being done. While he gave commands to inter cept the flames that were already playing down the main-top-mast, he heard the cry from below, that the lower deck was on lire, and numbers ot his men rushed by him and leaped into the sea. It was in vain lie ran from place to place, attempting by prayers and threats to establish some thing like unity and purpose of action —the fellows had lost their reason in their extreme fear. It was all in vain that he drew forth his splendid purse, and scattered its rich contents before them—w hat was money to a man who lelt that, if lie lingered for a minute, he should be sent into the air on the wings of gunpowder! Sonic of our boats had caught fire; others were towered, and you will not wonder that all these were swamped or upset by the num bers that rushed into them. Mean while tho tire spread, & spread—at each instc.nt it might teach the powder magazines—the guns too, that were* all double-shotted or crammed with grape, began to be heated; anil as the Hie flames flashed over them, already went ofl'at intervals with tremendous roar. '1 he w ild shrieks, curses, and phrensied actions of some of the > re tv, the speechless despair, and stupid passiveness of others; and the shrill, reckless maniac laugh (lor ma ny of them were downi ight mail) were humble to witness. People may talk about Mahometan resigna tion, and the surprising influence of their doctrine of fatalism, but for my part, i saw' littie result from their boasted equanimity or lirmsel belief: they seemed to be affected just as oilier moitills would have been in a similar trying situation, and indeed (with the exception of a few of su perior rank among the Turks) the de spised Greeks showed infinitely more firmness anil presence of mind than their masters. The far greater part of the latter leaped into the sea without reflecting whether they could swim two miles—or, indeed, whether they could swim at all, (a- inong nearly eight hundred Turks,) & without calculating the certain havoc to be committed on them in the water by the terrible discharges of the guns. 1 shall not attempt to vaunt my own courage; 1 was a worn-out spirit-broken man—1 was going to throw myself overboard, when a Greek, a tow nsman of mine, as brave anil clever a lad as ever lived, caught hold of my arm, and drew me aside. ‘What! are you mad, like the stupid Turks? ’’ said he in an under tone of voice; “if you leap into the water now, you will he either drowned in the dying grasp of some heavy Osman- li, or have your brains knocked out by the cannon shot—the ship may not blow up yet for awhile; and do you not see, that now as the cables are cut, and the wind is towards shore, we are every moment drifting nearer to the Island? Come along, Yorghi!” I followed my adviser to the bow of the ship—here I saw a number of Greeks, hanging on the bowsprit and on the rigging outside of the bows. We took our station with them await ing in almost breathless silence the moment when the powder magazine should explode. I should tell you, though, before I left the deck I saw the Captain Pacha make an attempt to leave the ship, in a boat that had sustained little injury. His at tendants succeeded in embarking bis treasures and valuables, and he was descending the ship’s side, when a number of frantic Turks leaped into the boat, and down she went, mah- moudiers, golden coffee-cups, amber pipes, shawls, Turl s. and all! It has been generally said that the Captain Pacha was killed in Ihe boats by the fall of part of the ship’s masts; hut this, I can assure you, is not correct —he was blown up with the ship. As 1 was getting over the bows. I saw him through the smoke and flames, standing with his hack against the bulwark, his hands crossed on his breast, and his head raised towards the heavens, which looked pitilessly and on lire; and one of my companions afterwards assured me he saw him in the same position the very moment before the final explosion. Of the ex plosion itself I can say little, but that it was indeed tremendous—1 remem bered nothing but a dreadful roar, an astounding shock, burst of flames that seemed to threaten the confla gration of the globe, and a rain of fie ry matter that fell thick, and hissed in the troubled sea like ten thousand serpents. The shock threw iH^near- ' ly all from the bows; some, though ! not many, were killed by the falling timbers, the rest swam off for shore, from which we were still distant more than a mile. My limbs bail no longer the strength anil activity that in former times enabled me to swim from Stanchio to Calyinna; but with the assistance of a floating fragment, I did very well, and was among the foremost of the Greeks who reached the little light-house, that stands on Scio s ancient and ruined mole. On looking back at the wreck, the fore part of the ship appeared still afloat, and thy fore-mast erect, but they soon parted, and the next day nothing was seen of the immense ship, but minute and innumerable fragments scattered on the water and on the shore of the Island. Of about nine hundred persons in all, who were on board, only eighty-three escaped, and among these, as far as I could ascer tain, there was not one Turk! Many unfortunate Greek prisoners or slaves perished with the ship, and among them three young Sciote children. From the Savannah Mercury, May 15. INDEPENDENCE OF THE PRESS, Or the Printer and his patrons. As we sat turning over the leaves of our subscription list, too other morning, we looked up and saw our old friend Fudge Puffendorl, before us. v •I see you have not learnt all the secrets ol your trade, (savs he) and 1 have called to give ytm a little wholesome advice.” NVe have great pleasure in receiv ing advice— “And too little discretion in follow ing it, (said he)—I see how it is; but no matter; l will open it to you—” But here lie was interrupted by a knocking at the door, and in a mo ment he shrunk behind the screen, as our patron A entered. “1 am very sorry (says Mr A) that you came out with that piece this morning, it will play the devil with your concern. 1 have heard several people say that they mean to stop your paper.’’ Can t help it; an editor, you know, must speak his mind. “0 certainly! I like to see editors independent—But then it’s always host to be on the right side.—And to tell yon the truth, I have no wish to sup port a paper which propagates such dangerous doctrines. I just give you a piece of my mind. Good mor ning.” And he went out; but the door had scarcely closed, when in came Air. B. “That was a capital piece this morning (says lie,) just the thing. Put my name down as a subscriber. 1 like to see editors independent. Here's a long advertisement, keep it in a month.” But before wc liffil time to con gratulatc ourselves on the event, Mr. C. made his appearance. “Sir, (says he) I have called to tell you that you may stop my paper never can support an editor who en tertains such absurd opinions.” Certainly, sir-shall w e receipt your bill? “Why, as to that, another time will do as well.-But I take the berty of telling you that the tarifl is ruinous to the country; and moreover diabolical, and if you do not come out against it, we will put you down, that’s all. I like to see editors indepen dent.” 4fcnd he departed in high dudgeon. Bq^in a moment aflerj'Mr. D. came in. “Good morning, Mr Editor (says he); I have just called to let you know' that my friend Mr. Spifllikins is a- bout to start for alderntnn, and I wish you to give him a lift in your pa per.” Why to he sure, (said we) Mr. Spifllikins is a very decent man; but should suppose we might select a more useful man. “True; I must confess, there are smarter men than Mr. Spifllikins; but tlieii I have a reason for wishing him elected. And certainly you cannot refuse to support him, considering that we have always supported you, and as we all agree in politics.” That to be sure, is a great matter; but, in the selection ol public officers, we ought to look to the public good, and not to be governed by private feel ing. “Very well, sir, very well,, my practice is to support those w ho sup port me. Just stop my paper.—I am for an independent editor, who 1 will stick to his friends without regard to consequences.” And he turned on his heel in a great pet. But our embarrassments were not yet at an end. Mr D s back was scarcely turned before in came Mr. E. “I understand (says he) that old Spifllikins has been put up as a candi date for alderman. Now 1 want you to lay him out as cold as a wedge. It may be done in three lines. And, do you hear? Call him an old fool—an old dunderhead—anil all that kind of thing. Don’t fear consequences! There’s nothing like independence in an editor.” But consider Mr. E, there is some thing due to the feelings of a worthy old man, even tho’ he be no Solomon. It is not every one for whom we can not vote, that we feel free to arraign before the public. “What! you wont write against him then! Just stop my paper. I won’t support an editor who can’t be independent.” You see sir, (said we toour friend Puffendorf, who rejoined us as the heavy tramp of our lust angry visiter I died away on the ear,) bow impossible ' it is for an editor to please every bo dy. These are all equally friends; all equally admirers of the independ ence of the press.—And yet either of them w ould in a moment sacrifice it to- his own convenience; w ould trample it under foot, whenever it crossed his own path, or interfered with his own peculiar feelings or prejudices. You see that the same paragraph which excites the admiration of the one, will provoke the hostility of the other. And that in contested elections, the editor is posted between two fires; and he is sure to he scorched by one, perhaps by both. You have found it out then, at last (said oui old friend Puffendorf;) that is the very subject of, and concerning which, I wished to give you a little sage advice. In the first place, let me advise you, never to commit your selves on an subject. If you find it necessary 1o say any thing, speak ve ry dubiiously; first say a smart thing on this side, and then on that. 1 If you speak out, you will most certain ly interfere with some of the precon ceived notions of some of your pat rons, and then you will he sure to lose your business. In all eases of contest ed elections, never support or oppose any candidate; os yo.i will certainly make an enemy of the party you op pose, and perhaps also of the party whose interests you espouse. Be cause it is not often that a condidate will be content with the measure of praise that you are disposed to mete out. If he have no character of his own, lie will expect you to give him one; and if your imagination be not very prolific, he will be disappointed in these just expectations. If he have pretensions, he will be convinced that you have not done him justice. If he succeed, he will suspect that the public believes lie owes you an obliga tion: and he will therefore be your enemy. If he lose his election, be will attribute bis failure to your want of zeal, or ability in the management of his cause; and he will dislike you on that account. It is always danger ous for an editor to oppose an indivi dual, it is scarcely less so, to support him.” Why, according to your policy, an editor must say nothing at all. “You have hit it very neatly. There arc very few topics he can speak out, without crossing the views of some one. But this simple max im will carry you thro’ every diffi culty. Whatever may be the sub ject, however important it may at the first view appear—never commit your selves. Let your editorials be like Del phic oracles, every paragraph an enig ma. Every reader will then inter pret it to suit his own prejudices and opinions. This is what has raised many an editor into popularity, and extended his patronage. This is what they mean when they talk about the independence of the press. ESCAPE FROM A SHARE. ‘In company with Charles, one beautiful atlernoon, rambling over the rocky clitfs at me back ol the island, we came lo a spot where the silliness and the clear transparency of lire vva-. ter invited us to uatbe. It was not deep. As tve’ stood above, on the promontory, we could see the bottom in every part. Under the little head land which formed the opposite side of the eove, there w as a cavern, to which, as the shore was steep) there was no access but by swimming, and vve resolved to explore it. Vv e soorf reached its mouth, and were enchant ed with its romantic grandeur and wild beauty. It extended, we iouiid, a long way back, and had several na tural baths, into all of which we sue* eessively threw ourselves, each, a? they receded farther from the mouth of the cavern, being colder than the last. The tide, it was evident, had free ingress, and renewed the water every twelve hours. Here we thoughtlessly amused ourselves lor some time, quoting Aeis & Galatea, Diana & hernympns, ix. every classic sto'Y applicable lo llie scene. i-At length the declining sun warned us that it was time to take our depar ture from the cave, when, at nog.eat distance from us, vve saw the back, or doisal fin ot a monstrous shark a-’ hove the surface ot the water, and liis whole length visible beneath it. YVe looked at him and at each other with dismay, hoping that he would soon take tns departure, and go in search of other prey; but the rogue swam to a id fro, just like a frigate blockading an enemy s port, and vve felt, 1 sup pose, very much as we used to make the French and Dutch feel last war, at Blest and the Texel. “The ieiitinel paraded before us, about ten or fifteen yards in trout of the cave, tack and tack, waiting only to serve one, if not both of us, as we should have served a shrimp or and oyster. We had no intention, how ever, in this, as in other instances, of throwing ourselves on the court. In vain did vve look for relief from other quarters; the promontory above ug was inaccessible; the tide was rising, and the sun touching the clear blue edge of the horizon. “I, being the leader, pretended to a little knowing in ichthyology, and told my conpanion that lisli could hear as well as see, and that therefore the less we said the belter; and the anil sooner vve retreated out of his sight, the sooner he would take himself off. This w as our only chance, and that a poor one; for the flow of the water would soon have enabled him to enter the cave and help him self, as he seemed perfectly acquain ted with the lecale, and knew that vve had no mode of retreat but by the way we came. We dievv back, out of sight, and i don’t know when 1 ev>> or passed a more unpleasant quarter of an hour. A suit m Chancery, or even a spring lounge in Newgate, would have been almost luxury to what I felt when the shades ol night began to darken the mouth of our cave, and this infernal monster continued to parade, like a water-bailiff, before its door. At last, uot seeing the shark’s fin above water, 1 made a sign to diaries that, coutc qui cculc, vve must swim for it; for vve bail nolice to quit, by Hie tide; and if vve did not depart should soon have an exe cution in the house. We had been careful not to utter a word; and, si lently pressing each other by the hand, vve slipped into the water. “My sensations were indescribably horrible. I may occasionally write or talk of the circumstance with levi ty, but whenever I recal it to mind, I> tremble at the recollection of the dreadful fate that seemed inevitable. My companion was not so expert a swimmer as I was, so that I distanced him many feet, when I heard him ut ter a faint cry. I turned round, con vinced that the shark had seized him hut it was not so; my having left him so far behind had increased his terror, and induced him to draw my attention. 1 returned to him, held him up, and encouraged him. Without this he would certainly have sunk; he revived with my help, & we reached the san dy beach in safety, having eluded our enemy; who, when he neither saw nor heard us, had, as I concluded lie would, quitted the spot."-Naval Offi cer. CHEROKEE CONSTITUTION, Printed in both languages in parallel columns, for sale at this Office.