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("From the Columbus Enquirer.]
To the People of Western Georgia :
The Legislature at its session in 1836, hav
ing passed an act incorporating the Columbus
Kail Road and Banking Company, made it the
duty of the Council of the City of Columbus,
to take measures to carry into effect the great
purposes contemplated in the act of incorjxj
ration. The vital importance of the subject
not only to the commercial prosperity of our
City, but the great advantages to be derived
by every section of our country, naturally con
nected with us, or which may-be brought in
communication by the completion of the work,
have induced the City Council to bestow upon
the subject the best and most practical consid
eration of which they were capable. The re
sult of our labors has been placed before you,
and we ask your serious and unprejudiced at
tention to it, confidently believing that upon
the speedy and successful execution of this,
or a similar w ork, depends not only the com-!
mcrcial existence of our City, but also the j
importance and influence both commercial j
and political of the Western part of Georgia. |
The City Council arc unable to designate 5
the route upon which the contemplated Rail J
Road may run, that being a matter to be de- j
termined by actual survey, under the order of j
the Company, when organized. The Charter j
however, prescribes, that it shall not terminate j
south of West Point, and that the Company i
may connect the road with the great State
work, from the Chattahoochee to the Tennes
see river.
The State Engineer has issued proposals
for entering into contracts, on apart of the
State work, to commence near Decatur, in De-
Kalb county, and there is no doubt, but that
the State will successfully prosecute her
project. Our efforts tfion, ought to be directed
to the construction of a Road which shall con
nect with it. We suppose therefore, that the
Columbus Rail Road and Banking Company,
when encouraged, w ill make it its first busi
liess to survey the country for the purpose of
ascertaining the best route to Decatur, a dis
tance of about ninety geographical miles
from Columbus, and passing on a line through
the counties of Muscogee, Harris, Merriweth
er, Coweta, Fayette and DeKalb.
It is believed, the work, with the necessary
apparatus, will cost about one million of dol
lars, which when completed, in connection
with the State project, will open to us the
trade of the Cherokee country, and a portion
of Tennessee. It is believed that the Charter
is a valuable one, and ought, not to be lost by
negligence on our part. The City Council
therefore, propose to carry it into effect by the
issue of City Bonds, for an amount sufficient
to make the ..first payment of twenty-five per
cent., say seven hundred and fifty thousand
dollars, which bonds are to be predicated up
on the faith, property and revenues of the
City of Columbus, and upon pledges of Real
Estate, made by each individual Stockholder
in the Company to the amount of one half the
Stock subscribed for.
Having determined that the work contem
plated is an important and useful one, and that
the privileges granted in the charter should,
by no means, be forfeited by neglect, the only
question to determine is that of the practica
bility of the plan adopted by the City for car
rying it into effect.
Upon this subject the following reflections
suggest themselves to us. Real estate, at. the
valuation usually given to it in this country,
constitutes as safe and permanent a basis upon
which to predicate public works ora circulat
ing medium, as any thing short of gold and
silver. It is better than suspended Bank notes
which might be paid in for stock, and which
must depend for their ultimate redemption up
on the solvency of personal securities, which
are always more or less effected by the fluctu
ations of commerce and change of times. It
is n fact observed by all, that real estate, par
ticularly in the country, sustains itself better
under the greatest commercial embarrass
ments, than any other species of property,
and as town property must depend for its
worth upon the quantity of commerce carried
on in it, it is obvious that every work which fa
cilitates trade, increases its value. There is
one consideration which concerns us all.
Money for the last ten years has been, and
in all probability for the next thirty years will
be, worth twelve and a half per cent. This is
a state ol things naturally connected with our
situation, as inhabitants of anew and growing
country, where he who is sharp enough to get
money at all, will hardly be found so dull that
he cannot turn it over to twenty-five percent,
advantage in the course of the year. It is
thereAfc-e clear if money cm be brought into
the country at a less rate of interest, than the
amount between that which is given for it,
and that for which it can be disposed of, is so
much saved to the country. Again, it is bet
ter for the stockholders and the country to
make up the company upon a pledge of real
estate, than to pay in the money, allowing it to
be entirely convenient to do so, because you
would lose the use and interest of it, untifthe
Bank and Rail Road Company commenced
making loans and dividends, whereas bv a
pledge of a real estate, you may borrow ‘the
money at one half the interest lor which von
can dispose of yours, and yet have all the use
and benefit of the property pledged, together
with your surplus cash. If the plan contem
plated by the City Council can be carried into
execution, it is believed that Stockholders
will not be called on to make an additional
payment upon their stock under two years
from the organization of the company, and
ti:oa, perhapo, forsssc sat •exceeding five
dollars per share for each four or six months,
as tiie work may be made to progress, and
there is but little doubt but tint the dividends
arising from the Banking operations, will pay
the interest upon the whole amount borrow
ed, as it may annually fall due, without call
ing upon the Stockholders for one cent for
that purpose, or even touching the dividends
which may arise from suDsequent payments
by the Stockholders.
Again—a very important reason wiry we
should at once enter into this project, arises
from the great probability that the State will
lend her own credit to all organised internal
improvement companies, which will enable,
them at once to go on in the execution of their 1
projects. Stock in these companies, which
are even now under all these disadvantages,
above par, will rise still higher, and afford a
handsome profit to the owner, as an article of
trade.
If we can succeed in negociating the City
Bonds, the company will require less aid from
tire credit of the State; if we fail, we shall
certainly be in no worse condition than we
are now, and the company being organized,
we shall have tire better ground for expecting
i~ie benefit of the State’s credit. Ties view
of the case derives strength from the fact that j
a general spirit of enterprise on internal im
provements seems to jiervade the people of
Georgia, and indeed it is high time we had
waked up to our interest; for how can we
stand coldly by and see our young sister Ala
bama push her cdhimercial facilities into the
limits of Georgia, and snatch away from us
the very means of our existence as a city.
Shall we fold our arms, whilst Macon is ex
tending her improvements towards that sec
tion of country, naturally dependent upon Co
lumbus for its commerce? Will we still be
satisfied with that state of affairs which gives
to Columbus thirty thousand bags of Cotton,
whilst Macon, with no superior natural advan
tages, is receiving her hundred thousands?
Shall we longer indulge the vain fancy that
the Companies in Eastern Georgia, will not
execute their vast plan of running a Rail
Road across our very threshold, to West Point
and thereby effectually bhist our every com
mercial prospect? Can we contemplate with
any sort of pleasure, that state of affairs which
will show us the grass grown trail, witli the
pointer designating it as “the road to old Co
lumbus?” These things may yet come to pass;
but if they do, the City Council of Columbus
will have the proud satisfaction of knowing
that they have discharged their duty, by mak
ing every effort to prevent it.
All of which ia respectfully submitted, by
the Committee, appointed by the honorable
Mayor, under an order of the Citv Council.
WILEY WILLIAMS,
J. L. LEWIS,
R. A. WARE,
Committee.
[From the Savannah Georgian.]
STATEMENT
Exhibiting the. progress of the (h ntral
Hail Hoad.
“The grading of the road is under
contract to a point fill miles from this ci
ty, and advertised for letting (on the sth
of April) 13 1-2 miles further, making in
all 82 1-2 miles. Os this distance" 50
miles are completed and ready for the
rails. On ‘2O miles the rails are laid.
Contracts have been made for timber
to reach tit) miles from Savannah, and
the contractors have about half the quan
tity furnished.
Explorations and instrumental surveys
have been made, defining the route of
the road to the “double bridge’’ on Wil
liamson’s swamp, in Washington County.
From this point westward, much examin
ation will he required to find the most
eligible line, as there are several different
routes, each respectively having its claims
to a preference. The former surveys
have been with a view to a route from
Samlersville, down Buffalo Creek and its
tributaries, to the Oconee, thence falling
down to the flats of Big Sandy Creek,
and ascending by the valley of that sirca:n
to the summit ol the dividing ridge be
tween the Oconee and Ocmulgee—pass
ing this summit the descent to the Oc
mulgee is made by the valley ol' Stout
Creek, and thence to Macon.
An inspection ol the State map will
readily show, that a more direct route
would he preferable. It is, therefore,
necessary that the country between .Ma
con and the Oconee River should he fur
ther examined, with a view to a route less
circuitous and less expensive. It is hop-]
ed that Walnut Creek and its branches!
may afford us an ascent to the summit,!
and that w e may descend to the Oconee
by the valley of Commissioners Creek.]
This route involves a location of the linej
in the vicinity of Macon, very different
from the one before described. A com
mencement of the work at Macon cannot
therefore be made, until the line is deter-,
mined thence to the Oconee River.
Our engineer corps has been diligently
employed during the last summer and
present winter, and in the preliminary
surveys and definite location of the east
ern portion of tin' road, and the superin
tendence of its construction. To have
made the surveys and locations of the 1
western end at the same time, w ould have
required the corps to he doubled. This!
would have been attended with great un
necessary expense, as the present 1111111-]
her will afford an exploring party for that]
end during the spring and summer, when i
the labor on the road shall have been so
far reduced as not to require so great a
number in superintendence. But admit
ting that the road was definitely located |
throughout, the placing a force on it near j
Macon at this time would he extremely
impolitic. The transport of iron for the
track would cost more than the freight
over the Atlantic. The expense of a
separate establishment of operatives, with;
all the cost of supervision and superin-j
tendcnce would be immense, and much
enhance the cost of that portion of the ]
road, w ithout any equivalent profit or i
benefit., except merely to gratify the curi
osity of a few people in Macon who are
desirous of seeing the work going on
near them.
It is presumed that the fact of our ex
ploring party having been for the last two
months on the west side of the Ogeechee, i
will quiet the fears of any persons whoj
suspect that our intention is to connect j
with Augusta and not Macon:—and it is l
to be hoped that no friend to the road 1
would wish us to forego the great advan-j
tages which will result from postponing j
the commencement of the work at Ma-i
con, until we reach a point within 50 or;
(50 miles of it from this eud. A constant
communication may then be had with!
the work, and at the same time the road
will be made useful to the public, and
j profitable to the stockholders, as it advan
ces.”
Indian Statistics. We learn from offi
cial documents that the Indians now east of
the Mississippi nnmber 49,‘)65. Os these the
following are under treaty Stipulations to re
move west of the Mississippi:—The Winnc
BRUNSWICK ADVOCATE.
bagoes, 4,500; Ottawak of Ohio, 100; Potta
watamies of Indiana, 2950; Chippewas, Otta
was, and Pottawatamies, 1,500; Cherokees,
14,000; Creeks, 1000, Chickasaw’s, 1000; Sem
inolcs, 5000; Apalachicolas, 400; Ottawas and
Chippewas in the peninsula of Michigan, 6,-
500—total, 30,950.
Those not under treaty stipulations to re
move, amount to 12,415, as follows:—New
York Indians, 4176; Wyandots, 575; Miamies,
1100; Menomonies, 4,000; Ottawas and Chip
pew-as of the Lakes 2504.
The number of Indians who have emigrated
from the east to the west of the Mississippi is
51,327, viz:—Chickasaws, 549; Chippewas,
Ottawas, and Pottawatamies, 2191; Choctaws,
15,000, Quapaws, 470; Creeks, 470; Semi
noles, 407; Apalachicolas, 205; Cherokees,
7911; Kickapoos, 588; Delawares, 820; Shaw
nees, 1272; Ottawas, 1174; Weas, 222; Piank
shaws, 102; Peorias and Kaskaskias, 132;
Pottawatamies of Indiana, 53; Senecas, 251;
Senecas and Shawnees, 211.
The number of the indigenous tribes with
in striking distance of the western frontier, is
231,806, to wit:—Sioux 21,000; lowas 1500;
Sacs 4800; Foxes 1000; Sacs of the Missouri
500; Osages 5120; Kanzas 1000; Omahas
1000; Ottocs and Missouris 1000; Pawnees
12,500; Camanchcs 19,200; Kioways 1800;
Maudlins 3200: Quapaws 450; Minatarees
2000; Pagans 80,000; Assineboius 15,000;
Appacher 20,280; Crees 3000; Arrepahas
3000; Gros Ventres 10,800; Eutaws 19,200;
Crows 7200; Caddoes 2000; Poncas 900; Ar
ickarees 2750; Cheyennes 3200; Blackfeet
30,000.
The whole number of the Indians above
enumerated is 332,498. Assuming that every
fifth one may be considered a warrior, the
number of their fighting men is 00,409.
United States Pensioners. The whole
number of Pensioners in the United States
is 41, 708. Os these, 2140 are in Maine, 2,-
037 in New Hampshire, 4:181 in Massachu
setts, 2.535 in Connecticut, 904 in Rhode Is
land, 2497 in Vermont, 8030 in New York,
1 100 in New Jersey, 2049 in Pennsylvania, 41
in Delaware, 457, in Maryland, 2584 in Vir
ginia, 1 130 in South Carolina, 532 in Georgia,
54 in Mississippi, 379 in Alabama, 72 in Lou
isiana, 2058 in Tennessee, 2205 in Kentucky,
2304 in Ohio, 781 in Indiana, 322 in Illinois,
203 in Missouri, 21 in Florida, 25 in Arkansas
105 in Michigan, 5 in Wisconsin, 142 in Dis
trict of Columbia. The number of Pension
ers added to the list from Oct. 21, 1830, to Oc
tober 21, 1837, was 2111. Deaths during the
same period, 1045.
The Pulaski. We are rejoiced to learn
from the following communication that this
splendid steam packet, identified in name, as
her owners are in affection and in interest
with our soil, is not to leave our waters except
to bear from or to our wharves the traveller
for pleasure or for business. Asa regular
packet between this city and New’ York, via
Charleston, inducements w ill be held out in
her superior accommodations to the citizen or
stranger, w hich must make them prefer a con
veyance in whicli speed and comfort are com
bined. Her recent voyage from Charleston
evinces her powers in the water, while a visit
to to the steamer will convince all of the su
peiiority of her accommodations.
We cherish this noble seaboat as a stan
dard of that spirit which in “enterprises of
great pith and moment” will not “lose the
name of action,” but increase until Savannah
in her prosperous state —her great rail road,
and her splendid steam vessels, will silence
t!ie taunts of jealous scribblers. As the Pu
laski will not probably commence her trips to
New York until April, we suggest, for the
csii.iidoration of the directors, a trip or more
to Charleston or elsewhere, on a pleasure ex
cursion, in which we expect many would par
ticipate.—[Havananh Georgian.
The Commonwealth Bank. We
learn from the Louisville Journal, that a
judgment was obtained some weeks since
in the Circuit Court at Louisville, on a
joint note of $3990, payable to the Com
monwealth Bank of Boston, signed by
Shadruch Penn, jr. a Van Buren editor,
free Tom M oore, Patrick IT. Pope, Al
bert G. Hawes, ami Richard M. Johnson.
The ease went by default. 111 calling the
defendant, after running through this cat
alogue of political worthies, the Sheriff,
who was a good Jackson man, archly ask
ed of the judge, in an under tone, “if he
should call Martin Van Buren?”—[N. Y.
Courier & Inquirer.
Mr. Senator Wright upon thf. Sun-
Treasuhv. A great effort is made to put
the speccli of this Senator afloat. All
the Loco Foco papers publish it with a
great clangor of trumpets and a huge
'sired; of praise. Much of the mischief
will be neutralized, if the reader will bear
in mind one thing, that in 1834, the same*
Silas W right made just as great a speech
in defence of the Pet Bank System, and
the whole cordon of Banks he now de
nounces. He agrees just as well on one
side of the question as upon another, be
ing a man o (principle just in proportion
to bis interest. —[N. York Express.
Suh-Treasurkrs with Legs. There
a! been in the Post Office Department
alone, 1832 defaulters within eight years.
Pile Sub-Treasury Bill proposes to com
mit tiie gold and silver in the Traesury,
extorted from the People, to such Sub-
Treirsurers, with legs to run away with
them.
A Stranger. The new ‘ steamer Isis,
Capt. James Hart, arrived yesterday at our
wharves from New York, via Norfolk and
Smithville.
The Isis made her voyage from New York
to Norfolk in 31 hours, and run from Smith
ville to this port in ‘2(5 hours. She was built
by Bell &. Brown for a packet (day) boat to
ply between New York and Shrewsbury, (N.
J.) and the engine is of the manufacture of
Mr. Allaire. Messrs. Claghorn & Wood have
purchased her for river navigation, and her
fight draft of water, two feet ten inches, with
wood, &c. on board, will recommend her to
public patronage. She encountered three
heavy gales during her recent voyage, aud as
Capt. 11. represents, behaved nobly, and fur
ther states, is as fine a seaboat as he ever
commanded. Her length is 100 feet, 3 inches;
her beam, 20 feet: her depth of hold 7 feet,
and her burden 130 5-95 tons.—[Sav. Geor.
We notice an advertisement in* the Bruns
wick Advocate, of Thomas G. Cary, General A
gent of the Brunswick Canal and Land Com
panies, offering a reward of SIOOO to any per
son who will find the outer bar of the Brunswick
harbor, (as has been reported,) a hindrance to
the entrance of vessels (merchant) of the larg
est class. And also, a reward of SSOO to the
individual who shall find a bar across the in
ner channel of Oglethorpe Bay, of only the
depth of 0 or 8 feet, at low tide.
We are rejoiced at this, inasmuch as it
places beyond a doubt the truth of the asser
tion, that Brunswick is the safest and most
accessible harbor along the Southern coast,
both for the establishment of a Navy Yard, and
the intercourse and trade that Georgia can
keep up w ith the largest class of merchant
vessels. We sincerely wish it all the success
and prosperity that it deserves, and hope the
attention of the State will be drawn toward it
If it has the facilities necessary for a naval de
pot, now is the time to press its claims, or else
the opportunity may be lost forever.—[South
ern Post.
From the Savannah Georgian.
Launch. The new steamboat, constructed
at the ship yard of Messrs. Watts, Corwin &
Dorsctt, for the Savannah and Augusta Steam
boat Company, glided into her destined ele
ment yesterday morning at the hour designat
ed. She was christened The Hamburg, lifter
the flourishing little town of that name, found
ed by the enterprising Shultz,of our elder sis
ter South Carolina. She now floats with the
stars and stripes at her bow, and will soon be a
gallant, though young competitor, in towing
the rich products of the two States to their
destined markets, to return w-ith the fruits of
northern industry. She is the first vessel, we
presume, w hich has sprung into life from the
new ship yard east of the city. May her suc
cessful career induce the enterprise of our nu
merous companies to be still further developed,
and her future existence be as bright as the
] atmosphere of yesterday, in which floated the
j gay flags welcoming her first appearance in the
mingled waters of the Savannah.
From the Savannah Georgian.
Coroner’s Report. A Coroner’s In
quest was held on Thursday last, 22d inst.
on board of the Br. barque Fairfield, Capt.
Slack, over the bony of Richard Plan
ton, a native of Hull, England. The
Jury returned a Verdict, that the deceas
ed came to his death by being accidental
ly drowned in the Savannah River, on the
21st. As soon as the alarm was given
that the deceased had fallen ont of a boat
into the river, exertions were used from
the barque to save him ; but, before assis
tance reached him, he sunk. It is due to
Capt. Slack to say, that as soon as the de
ceased was drowned, lie set his men to
drag for him, and they succeeded in re
covering the body in three hours after;
and after the Inquest was held, the Captain
ordered a decent coffin made, and the
body buried by the Sexton. The Captain
and bis crew, with other friends of the
deceased, accompanied the Horse to the
grave yard, where they paid the last re
spects to his remains.
The deceased was an indented Appren
tice to the owners of the barque.
TIIOS. EDEN, c. c. c.
The Cherkoees. The Western Geor
gian of the 17th inst. says—“We under
stand that Gen. Smith, the Cherokee em
igrating agent, has appointed a special
agent to visit the Indians, and ascertain
whether they intend to emigrate or not,
anil their feelings on the subject. It is
understood here (from rumor) that the
head chiefs of the principal settlements or
towns, as they are termed, have received
letters from Ross recently. The purport
of those letters is not known ; but, it is
also rumored that the Indians are advised
to remain ; not to resist the Whites, but
not to leave the country. The truth is,
that the conduct of the Indians will he
regulated by the conduct of Ross. lie
may not advise them to proceed to ex
tremities; but, unless he uses his influ
ence to suppress their discontent, we have
no doubt but there will be some diffi
culty.” -
The Charleston Courier says —‘‘The
Rev. Wm. T. Braxtly, the recently in
stalled Pastor of the Baptist Church, in
this city, iias accepted the Presidency of
the Charleston College.
“In consequence of his acceptance of
this trust, Mr. Branti.y has relinquished
the editorial chair of the Southern Watch-\
man; and Mr. Burges, the publisher of
that paper, announces that in future it
will be united with the Biblical Recorder,
under the editorial management of the
Rev. Mr. Meredith.”
FOR C. R. G.
The Match Chess Games. The last
moves in the match, between the New
York and Washington City Chess Clubs,
will. found in. the following description j
of the games, from the commencement: j
FIRST GAME.
N. Y. King’s pawn, two squares.
W. The same.
N. Y. King’s bishop to Queen’s bish
op, fourtli square.
W. The same.
N. Y. Queen’s bishop’s pawn, one
square.
SECOND GAME.
W. King’s pawn, two squares.
N. Y. The same.
W. King’s knight to bishop’s third
square.
N. Y. Queen’s knight to bishop’s
third square.
IV. Queen’s pawn, two squares.
N. Y. King’s pawn, takes pawn.
The last moves in the New York and
Washington City Chess Match, are as fol
lows: First Game, Washington. Queen'
to King’s 2d. Second Game. Washing
ton. King’s Bishop to Queen’s Bishoifs
lth. *
• From the Jfew-York Mirror.
THE RIFLEMAN’S SONG AT BENNING
TON.
Why come ye hither, stranger ?
Your mind what madness fills ?
In our vailies there is danger,
And danger on the hills ?
Hear ye not the singing
Os the bugle, wild and free?
Full soon ye’ll know the ringing
Os the rifle from the tree !
The rifle, the sharp rifle !
In our hands it is no trifle !
Ye ride a goodly steed—
He may know another master :
Ye forward coine with speed,
But ye’ll back much faster
When ye meet our mountain boys
And their leader, Joliny Starke !
Lads who make but little noise,
But who always hit the mark
With the rifle, the true rifle !
In their hands ’twill prove no trifle !
Had ye no graves at home,
Across the briny water,
That hither ye must come,
Like bullocks to the slaughter ?
If we the work must do,
Why the sooner ’tis begun,
If flint and trigger hold but true,
The quicker ’twill be done
But the rifle, the good rifle !
In our hands it is no trifle !
[From the New England Farmer.]
On the Properties and Preservation
of Eugs. The sensible qualities of eggs va
ry materially. The albumen of a hen’s egg
coagulated by boiling is a perfectly opaque
milk-white substance; that of a duck’s egg is
slightly transparent, and coagulates with less
heat than that of a hen’s egg, in consequence
I of which, it should not be boiled for so long a
time. In frosty weather all eggs require a
longer time to coagulate the albumen than in
! warm weather, the difference being about half
! a minute. The egg of the goose is strong,
yet not disagreeable; that of the turkey is al
most as mild as a hen’s egg, and that of the
duck is glutinous, but not quite so delicate.
The egg of the guinea-hen is smaller and
j more delicate than the common hen’s egg.
The ostrich is of a sweetish taste, is gross,
I and soon satiates the appetite, but it keeps
longer than a hen’s egg, owing to the thickness
of its shell, which by age grows as hard as
ivory. Edible eggs vary much in size. Some
naturalists affirm that the ostrich egg weighs
iifteen pounds; but one laid in the menagerie
at Paris, as large as any brought from Africa,
weighed but two pounds and fourteen ounces.
It Held a pint and was six inches deep. The
smallest hen’s egg weighs about one ounce
and three fourths; the average is two ounces
and a quarter; and the largest that ever oc
curs does not exceed 4 ounces.
Eggs, in general, are esteemed for their
freshness, and the absence of ill smell, a qual
ity, which without artificial means, it is impos
sible long to preserve. They are prone to ob
serve odors and flavors, and therefore must be
carefully protected. A newly laid egg, left
in mahogany shavings, will shortly acquire a
flavor that will prove disagreeable to the taste;
and it is well known that musty straw speed
ily imparts a very unpleasant flavor.
Eggs may be preserved by greasing the
shells, or by immersion in a thin mixture of
lime and water, the whole being contained in
a glass vessel well corked and cemented. By
this process they have been kept perfectly
fresh for six years. Let newly laid eggs be
put into jars also, and packed with raspings of
bread, being corked and lilted, and exposed in
a water both to the temperature of 200 F., and
in six mouths they will be as lrcsh as ever.
Eggs nitty also be preserved by packing them
into pots and covering them with melted but
ter or lard. In this state they will keep a
long time, but the method is expensive. Some
eggs preserve by packing them in salt These
modes probably act by excluding the air, an
agent which greatly promotes putrefaction.
1 lovvever close the shell of an egg may appear
it is, in reality, very porous, for if an egg be
laid on the naked fire, and attentively watched,
the albumen may be seen forcing its way
through the pores before the shell bursts. At ]
Herculaneum, egg shells were found perfect
ly unbroken, yet empty, which proves that the
contents must have evaporated through the
pores. It has also been proved by experiment
that eggs sensibly grow’ lighter by being
kept In Scotland it is common to preserve
eggs by dipping them into boiling water, in
order to destroy, as is said, the vital principle;
but, more probably, to coagulate a stratum of
albumen next the shell, and thus to obstruct
the entrance of air through the pores.
The Inquisition. The data for an accu
rate calculation of the number of victims sac
rificed by the Inquisition during this reign are
not very satisfactory. From such as exist,
however, Llorente has been led to the most
frightful results. He computes, that, during
the eighteen years of Torqsemada’s ministry,)
there were no less than 10,220 burnt, t>,Bt>o!
condemned, and burnt in effigy as absent or
dead, and 97,.'121, reconciled by various other
penances; affording an average of more than |
(5000 convicted persons annually. In this
enormous sum ot human misery is not includ-;
ed die ‘multitude of orphans, who from the,
confiscation of their paternal inheritance,
rrt-jc turned over to indigence aud vice.—
Many of die reconciled were afterwards sen-'
tenced as relapsed, and the curate of Los 1
Palacois expresses the charitable wish that the j
whole accursed race of Jews, male and fe
male, of twenty years of age, and upwards,!
might be punished with fire and fagot.
* * * ‘The personage, who is entitled
to so high a rank among those who have been i
the authors of unmixed evil to their species,
was permitted to reacli a very old age, and to |
die quietly in his bed. Yet he lived in such 1
constant apprehension of assassination diat [
he is said to have kept a reputed unicorn’s [
horn always on his table, which was imagined |
to have the don er ot detecting and neutraliz- j
ing poisons; while for the more complete pro- j
tecdon of his person, he was allowed an es-1
cort of fifty horse and two hundred foot in his j
progresses through the kingdom.” [Priscott’s
Ferdinand and Isabella.
The worst of all knaves are those who
can mimic their lost honesty.
FIRE AT THE MILITARY ACADEMY
AT WEST POINT.
The following though far from particular is
the best account of the late fire at West Point
we can extract from our exchange papers :
[From the New York Herald, 20th inst.]
Great Fire at West Point. We
are much obliged to our polite and atten
tive correspondent at West Point, for his
timely intellligence of the destructive
conflagration at the military academy by
which the scientific and military depart
ments have suffered.
West Point, N. Y. Feb. 19, 1838.
Sir—As your truly valuable paper has
the most extensive circulation of any
now printed, and is sought after with the
greatest avidity, I have taken the liberty
of forwarding to you the disastrous fi re
which took place early this mornino-.
Between two and three o’clock this
morning a fire broke out in the east end
wing cf the building, which contained
the library, philosophical, chemical and
engineering academies. As the wind
was very strong from the N. W., the
flames did not extend very rapidly, but
they were so violent, that at first it was
deemed impossible to save the library.
Some of the cadets, however, planted
ladders at the windows, and with the
courage and coolness of veteran firemen
they entered and began to throw out the
books and paintings, whilst others remov
ed them out of danger. Not more than
one hundred books were lost. All the
philosophical and chemical apparatus was
saved: but the contents of the enaineer
mg academy and adjutant’s office” were
destroyed. Nothing remains of the
building but the walls, though every thiinr
might have been saved if an engine fit for
service could have been found—the one
they had was out of order.
The greatest praise is due to the offi
cers and cadets, for their exertions; ev
ery one exerted himself, and with the
greatest success. I cannot refrain from
mentioning Lieuts. Alvord, Waggaman,
and Vogdcs, also Cadets Granger, Casey,
McKinstry, Dearborn, Reeves, Beaure
gard, Barry, Wickliffe, Wheeler, Clayton,
and Leach, as amongst the most distin
guished; it is to their almost unparalled
exertions, that the preservation of the
library is principally due; for though re
quested to descend, they continued their
labors till every thing was saved.
Cadets Stevens and Callcndar, merit
the thanks of the whole scientific commu
nity of the United States, for their pres
ence of mind, in rescuing the large tele
scope.
To-day every one is engaged in trans
porting the books, &,c. to the late hotel.
The loss is estimated at about SIO,OOO.
If you think this account worthy of your
paper, it will be but justice to the above
mentioned gentlemen to insert it.
I remain yours respectfully,
To James Gordon Bennett, Esq.
Editor of Herald.
The i.ate fire at West Point. —The
burning of the building at the Military A
cademy, West Point, which we gave an
account of the day before yesterday, will
prove a serious loss to the government. —
A friend on the spot writes us that he es
timates the damage at $50,000. Thus,
in a few hours, says lie, “what has been
the labor and workmanship of years has
been destroyed.”
The following remark we extract from
the letter before us, ak applicable to the
occasion :
“Every physical energy was exerted to
arrest the progress of the flames, and if
there had been a proper engine on the
spot, (which several boards of visitors
have hitherto recommended,) these efforts
might have been successful, and the dam
age prevented.
“One thing at least is certain, that the
interest exhibited and the deference paid
by every one to the directions of the wor
thy superintendent, who was present dur
ing the whole time of the fire, evinces a
due subordination and reciprocal feeling
towards the government, whose indulgence
they enjoy.” [N. Y. Courier, 23d inst.
Better Currency. A twenty dollar bill
on the Bank of Macon, payable at die Branch
in Columbus, dated 9th May, 1837, signed
Philip Dash, cashier, and N. K. Knowles, pres
ident, was yesterday (says the Augusta Chron
icle and Sentinel of the‘2Bth ult.) offered in this
city. It would be well to guard against such
imposition. The plate is evidently genuine,
but has been filled up to defraud. The Bank
of Macon has been extinct six or seven years.
Diamond cut Diamond. A looker on at
a gaining table having observed one player
very grossly cheating anodier, took the “pig
eoti” aside and said, ’'Gooah&a.vens' have you
not observed how villainously that man has
been packing die cards?” The other smiling
ly answered, “Pray, don’t be under the least
1 concern about that; I intend to pick his pocket
as soon as he has done playing.”
Sentiment. - A wagon passing along,
had nearly run over a servant girl, when
the driver called out —“take care, Sally ?”
The girl, however, without attempting to
escape the danger, looked up to the coach
man with an air of offended pride, and
said, “It is’nt Sally or any such common
stuff —its Amelia Ann.”
Editorial Apology. The editor of
the Tuscarawas Advocate publishes the
following apologetical notice:
‘The absence of the editor for part of
the week, is offered as an apology for the
want of originality in our columns. Be
ing engaged in thrashing out our reheat
to pay our debts, we have no time to
thrash a few case-hardened politicians,
who want cleaning out badly.