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THE GEORGIA JOURNAL. 01,. I. MILLEDGEVILLE, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1809. No. 8. VLBLI^HED BY SEATON GRANTLAND, (PRINTER TO THE STATE,) ON JEF FERSON STREET, OPPOSITE THE NORTH END OF THE STATE-HOUSE TERMS THREE DOLLARS PER AN NUM, ONE HALF TO BE PAID IN AD VANCE. ADVERTISEMENTS WILL BF. THANK FULLY RECEIVED, AND PUBLISHED AT THE CUSTOMARY PRICES. MISCELLANY. THOMAS HALVE. The biography of Mr. Thomas Paine, is known ; lie was of low o- rigin; but even in his youth of a strong resolution Sc constant temper He had from his infancy adopted the opinions he so successfully pro r . ml gated in his neighborhood. All his literary productions evince an acute, profound, determined mind ; his language is simple, accurate, and nervous, adapted to all capacities, so pointed & unequivocal,that there is no misconceiving it ; he is sententious ; hi:; axioms are incontrovertible, seli- cvklent, and their impression indei- lible. No human being’s efforts have done more tor liberty—he made more converts than S, Jney or Rus sell. His “ Common Sense” enfran chised America. America was di vided into two parties—the argu ments of this little pamphlet decided the contest. His“ Rights of Man” had nearly a similar effect in Eng land. Innumerable replies have ap peared againgt it—but so weak and lutile as to injure the cause they wete meant to sustain. He reason ed from facts, and his diction was irresistible—he pours like a torrent, and breaks every thing down before him—he was prosecuted for his works, but they are so admired they are in every library. He seemed stem and morose, but he was leni ent, friendly and benevolent. He instanced his humanity by his reso lute vote to save the king’s life. The sanguinary Robespierre imprisoned him, but the apostle of liberty, though in such imminent danger, never re tracted his opinions, or solicited mer cy—it pleased Providence that he ehould escape this monster. Bold, manly and fearless, he never con cealed his sentiments—positive and inflexible, they never varied. He continued in Paris long after Bona parte rendered himself supreme in the State, and spoke as freely as ever, He told the writer of this article at Paris, on the peace of Amiens, that he was preparing for America—that he could not reside in comfort in the dominion* of Bonaparte—that if he was to govern like an angel, he should always remember that he had perjured himself—that he had heard ,hiin swear that France should be a pure Republic—and that he Would die rather than endure the authori ty of any one single individual—he would end his days in America, for he thought there was no liberty any where, else. There he soon went, and there he paid the debt of nature «—but his memory will never perish London paper. From, a London Paper* I THE MERMAID, Seen on the coast of Caithness. Letter from Miss Mackay, daughter of the Rev’d. David Mackay, Mi nister of Reay, to Miss Innes, Dowager of I.andside. Reay Manse, May 25, 1809 Madam—To establish the truth > of what has hitherto been consider ed improbable and fabulous, must be at all times a difficult task, and 1 have not the vanity to think, that my testimony alone would be sufficient for this purpose ; but when to this is added that of four others, I hop it will have some effect in removing the doubts of those, who may sup pose that the wonderful appearance reported having seen in the sea on on the 12th Jan. was not a Mer maid, but some other uncommon, though less remarkable inhabitant of th • deep. As I would willingly con tribute to remove the doubt of the -sceptical on thu subject, 1 begleav to state to you the following account, after premising that my cousin whose name is affixed along with mine, was one of the lour witnesses who beheld with me this uncommon spectacle. While she and I were walking by the sea shore, on the 12th January’, about noon, our attention was at tracted by seeing three people, who were on a rock at some distance, shewing signs of terror and astonish ment at something they saw in the water. On approaching them, we discovered that the object of their wonder was a face resembling the human countenance, which appeared floating on the waves ; at that time nothing but the face was visible. It may not be improper to observe, be fore I proceed further, that the face, throat, and arms, are all that I can attempt to describe, all our at tempts to discover the appearance and position of the body’ being una vailing. The sea at that time ran very high, and as the waves advan ced, the Mermaid gently sunk under them, and afterwards re-appeared rhe face seemed plump and round, die eyes and nose were small, the for ner were of a light grey color, and the mouth was large, and, from the lape of the jaw-bone, which seem ed straight, the lace looked short ts to the inside of the mouth, I can say nothing, not having attended to it, though sometimes open. The forehead, nose, and chin, were white, the whole side-face of a bright pink colour. The head was exceedingly’ round, the hair thick and long, of a green oilv cast, and appeared troublesome to it, the waves generally throwing it down over the face, it seemed to feel the annoyance, and as the waves retreated with both its hands fre quently threw back the hair, and rubbed its throat, as if to remove a- ny soiling it might have received from it. The throat was slender, smooth and white ; we did not think of observing whether it had elbows, but from the manner in which it used its arms, I must conclude that it had. Tile arms are very long and slender as were the hands and fingers ; the latter were not webbed. The arms, one of them at least, was frequently extended over its head, as if to fright en a bird that hovered over it, and seemed to distress it much ; when that had no effect, it sometimes turn ed round several times successively. At a little distance we observed seal. It sometimes laid its right hand under its cheek, and in this po sition floated for some time. We saw nothing like hair or scales upon any part of it, indeed the smoothness of the skin particularly caught our attention. The time it was discern able wa.-. about an hour. The sun was shining clearly at the time ; it was distant from us a few yards on ly. These are the few observations made by us during tne appearance of this strange phenomenon. If they afford you any satisfaction, I shall be perfectly happy ; I have stated nothing hut what I clearly re collect ; as my cousin and I had fre quently’ previous to this period, com bated an assertion which is very’ com mon among the lower class here, that Mermaids had been frequently seen on this coast, our evidence can not be thought biassed by former prejudices in favour of the existence of this wonderful creature. To contribute iu any degree to your pleasure and amusement, will add to the happiness of, Madam, your greatlv obliged, (Signed) ELIZ.’MACKAY.\ C. MACKENZIE. And fortune sets them in the strongest light, “ ’Tis all below of heaven we may view, “ And all but adoration is vour due.’ We too often judge of men by’ the splendor, and not by’ the merit of their actions. Alexander demanded of a pirate whom he had taken, bv what right he infested the seas ? By the same right, replied he boldly, that you enslave the world. I am called a robber, because I have only one small vessel ; but you are styled a conqueror, because j’ou command great fleets and armies. An aged gentleman, a few days a* go in a party, was observed to pay § 2. And be it farther enacted. That in case the Justices of the In ferior Courts shall fail to appoint persons to take the enumeration within the period of sixty days after the adjournment of the Le gislature, that then the justices of the Peace, or any three of them, shall have and exercise like powers res pecting the said Census ; and if the Census or enumeration of any’ coun ty shall not be so taken and return ed, then and in'that case the General -Assembly shall apportion tile Repre-Jand government of the town of Clin sentation of such cuuntv accordingjton in the county of Jones. confiscating the estates of such per* sons as are therein declared guilty >f treason and for other purpose* therein mentioned* so far as respect* the banishment of Stephen Corker. 6 An act for the better regulating fences on Harris’s neck in the coun ty of M’lntosh. 7 Ait act to establish the site of the public buildings in the county of Lanrens and to appropriate th mo nies arising from the sale of lots. 8 An act for the better regulation to the best evidence in their power, relative to their population $ 3. And be it further enacted, That the persons appointed to take the Census or enumaration, shall receive particular attention to one of thejthe sum of six and a quarter cents young ladies, who in the course of for each family so taken and enu- the evening, dropped her glove, mcrated. which the ge ntleman picked up, and BENJAMIN WHITAKER, put into his pocket. The next day Speaker of the House of he sent the glove to the lady with the following lines: If you from Glove, do take the letter U, The Glove is love, and that I send to thee. JOHN PAGE, Tne lady immediately returned her anscr: If you from Page, do take the letter P, The Page is age, and that w’On’t do for me. ilabid of ^lorgia. AN ACT To prohibit Dueling, &c. § 1. BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Ge neral Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That from and after the first clay of March next, any person or persons who shall give, bear, or accept a challenge, knowing it to be so, in writing or otherwise, or having giv en, borne or accepteed a challenge, or shall in any way be concerned therein, or aceesarv thereto, either as second or principal in the promo tion of a duel, and being thereof du ly convicted, shall not thereafter be capable of holding any office of ho nor, trust or profit within this state. BENJ.AMIN WHITAKER, Speaker of the House of Representatives. HENRY MITCHELL, President of the Senate. Executive department, Georgia. Assented to, December 12, 1809. D.B. MITCHELL, Governor. WOMAN. Perhaps no language can pfdducea more elegant tribute to the fair sex, than that by Doctor Young, in “ The force of Religion,” a Di vine Poem, on the fate of the ines tiinable lady Jane Gray. Virtue is beauty. But when charms of mind. With elegance of outward form are join’d ; “ When youth makes such bright ob jects eiili mors bright, AN ACT To provide fo. taking the Census of this state, as required by the Con stitution. § 1 BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Ge neral Assembly met, and by the au thority of the same, That it shall be the duty of the Justices of the Infe rior court, or any three of them in each county respectively, within six ty days after the adjournment of this Legislature, to appoint one or more persons in each county, that is to say, one person in each Battalion that may be in the respective coun ties, whose duty it shall be to take a full and accurate Census or enume ration of all free white persons and people of colour residing therein, distinguishing in separate columns, the free white persons from the per sons of colour and return the same to the clerks of the Superior Courts of the several counties, certified un der their hands, on or before the 1st day of October next ; the persons so appointed being first severally sworn before the said Justices, or either of them, duly and faithfully to perform the trust reposed in them ; and it shall be the duty of the said clerks to transmit all such returns under seal to the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the first Monday in November next; and it shall be the duty of the Legislature at their next session to apportion the mem bers of the House of Representa tives among the several counties a greeable to the plan prescribed by the Constitution, Representatives HENRY MITCHELL, President of the Senate. Executive Department, Georgia, Assented to, December 12th, 1809. D. B. MITCHELL, Governor. AN ACT More effectually to punish the crime of horse-stealing. § 1. BE it enacted by the Senate, And House oj' Representatives of the State of Georgia in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the au thority of the same, That from and immediately after the passing of this act, all and every person or persons who may or shall be hereafter con victed of feloniously stealing, lead ing, taking, or driving away any horse, gelding, mare, colt, filly, ass or mule, or be accessory thereto, shall, on being duly convicted there of, for the first offence, be sentenced to receive 39 lashes on his, her or their bare back, on three several days, and on the said several days stand in the pillo. y one hour, and shall at th<4 same time be sentenced to imprisonment, not exceeding one month nor less than twenty days. $ 2 And be it further enacted, That if any person or persons shall here after be a second time convicted ol fcdoniously stealing, taking, or dri ving away any horse, gelding, filly, colt, ass, or mule, or of being acces sary thereto, he, she, or they, shall be adjudged guilty of felonv, & shall sufl'er death without benefit of clcr- gy. § 3 And be it further enacted, That the keeper of the jail where such pri soner or prisoners may be commit ted under sentence of the court be fore whom such prisoner or prison ers may be convicted, shall forth- ith discharge the prisoner or prisoners, as the case may be, up on their complying with the sen tence of said court, and upon pay ing the cost of his, her or their pro secution. $ 4 And beitfurther enacted, That all laws or parts of laws, which may in any wise militate against the pro vision i of this act, shall be, and the same is hereby repealed. BENJAMIN WHITAKER, Speaker of the House of Representatives, HENRY MITCHELL, President of the Senate. Executive Department, Georgia, Assented to, 12th December, 1809. D. B. MITCHELL, Governor. %i$t of 'aCctiS, Passed at the late session of the Ge neral Assembly. 1 An act to authorize the judge of the Superior courts of the middle district to hold an extra session it the county of Richmonds 2 An act to incorporate the com missioners of the Academy of Ef fingham county. 3 An act for the relief of Thos. B Sample and Aaron Springfield. 4 An act to amend an act entitled an act to incorporate Augusta and improve the public roads in the neighborhood thereof. 5 An act to repeal an act entitled an act for inflicting penalties on and 9 An act to alter and change the names of certain persons therein mentioned. 10 An act to authorise the Trus* tees of the Richmond Academy to convey a lot to the Baptist Society, and to lay off another range of lots in the city of Augusta. 11 An act to alter the name of Rebecca Burnett to that of Rebecca Turner, and the name of Bartlett King to that of Bartlett M’Cready. 12 An act to amend the third sec tion of an act entitled an act to esta blish the town of Wrightsborough in the county of Columbia, & to se cure to the inhabitants thereof* cer tain lands appropriated for their be nefit, and to incorporate the same, passed the 16th of Feb. 1799. 13 An act to enable thii commission ers of the Camden county Academv, to ascertain and collect the amount of the funds belonging to the said in stitution. 14 An act to repeal “ an act to compel clerks to keep their offices at or within one mile of their respective court-houses,” so far as respects the county of Scriven. 15 An act to amend the 7th secti on of an act, entitled, “ an act to al ter and amend the several Militia Laws of this state, and to organize the Cavalry,” passed the 17th De cember, 1808. 16 An act to give relief to all or dained Ministers of the Gospel, so far as respects their serving as jurors, or doing Militia duty. 17 An act to secure to Joshua Grinage the right to erect a ferry o- ver little river, at or near his mills in the county of Lincoln, on the road leading from Augusta to Petersburg. 18 An act to provide for taking the Census of this state, as required by the Constitution. 19 An act to continue in force an ict passed on the 22nd day of De cember, 1808, giving further time to the fortunate drawers in the late land lotteries td take out their grants. 20 An act to make permanent the site of the public buildirigs in Morgan county at the town of Madison, and to incorporate the same. 21 An act to compile and arrange the laws and resolutions of this statQ passed since the political year 1800. 22 An act supplemental to an act to appropriate the funds heretofore set apart for the redemption of the pub lic debt. 23 An act to alter and amend the 83rd section of the Judiciary* passed the 9th of February 1797* and to a- mend the Judiciary passed the 16th February, 1799. 24 An act to divorce William Sor row and Priscilla his wife. 25 An act to regulate the town of Eatonton, in the county of Putnam. 26 An act for the relief of certain Wharf-holders in the city of Savan nah. 27 An act to amend the 26th sec* tion of the Judiciary law of this state. 28 An act to prohibit duelling &c. 29 An act to levy an extra tax upon the lands of absentees, in the county of Glynn, to be applied to the erecting bridges, &c. in said county. jO An act further to extend the powers of the Comptroller General so far as to relieve the heirs and le* gal representatives of IVm. Pearce, a soldier in the late state troops. 31 An act more effectually to pu nish the crime of horse-stealing, &c. 32 An act to amend the tax acts now in force in this state. 33 An act to make permanent the seat of the public buildings of the county of Pulaski. 34 An act to authorize Sherwood M‘Call to erect a Bridge across the river Great Qgccheu on his land SC high bluff*