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R3TJU03 R0TSI3M 3
[rSOM THE N. V. JOURNAL OF CuMMRKCS.]
A CHAPTEll OSi COMi!IS.
It is a jioiel much disputed, whether the phenom
enon recently observed in the West, no hour or
*we after sun-set, is a Comet, or whether it is only
an exhibition of Zodiacal Light. In favor of the
ffo-mor opinion is tho fact that tho phunoinenon, or
a similar ono, was first seen at noon.dnv ; and wo
arenot iware that tho Zodiacal Light was ever seen
at noon day. Comets have frequently been seen in
the day»tiino. On tho other hand an ossontlal part
ofn Comet is n nucleus ; and there is no satisfacto
ry evidence that the truin recently seen, has a nil.
c:eus. In having its hruadest end farthest from
the sun, it most resembles a Comet. In disappear
ing while yet above tho horizon in the evening, it
in.nt resembles the Zodiacal Light. (Jut tho Zo.
di ical Light,(which proceeds from the. sun,) ought
to extend down to the horizon—tho Appearance the
ether evening did not. Without undertaking to
■deci le a question which belongs 10 astronomers
•rather than to ourselves, we proceed to give a chap.
1er on comets, from Murry’s Encyclopaedia of
Geography. But we will first premis i that Prof.
Niohol, ot Glasgow University, in his Architecture
•of the Heavens, ns well at in his work on the Solar
System, regards Comets as mere nebula, of the
most elhciial nature, and therefore incapable of
■doing any mischief, though their nuclei should come
in contact with the earth or lun. Ho says—•' A
Comet is a vast mass of nebulous pr purely etheri.nl
muter, so light and filmy that nothing on this cnrili
can bn compared to It. Itwns calculated of ono,
that its whale Upmenun-vidumu, it" Qompnsssetl into
aThrnstty equal to our atmuspbern, would not occu.
py more than a cubic inch ! Even tho riunser part
of those bodies—their apparent nucleus—is all
ge lliiir filmy ; for, through the very heart of a Com.
el of considerable brightness, stars of ihu Him
magnitude liavo bcnii described.” And again,
“Comets , ro nothing but nebulosities. Even tiini
nuclei dis.ulvc into a.log under tlio inspeclion of a
telescope. Through the heart ofiuie, Sir John
Horscliell onco descried a cluster of stars of the
10th maguitude." Murray, on thr oilier hand, or
rather I' of. Wallaco, who wroto tho Astronomical
.part of the Eucyclopoedin, is quite, eluquent (see be
low) in describing the disnslroun Consequences
which wo dd result from a collision of a Comet
with the i trill, and hints a conjecture that Nou'i's
Flood was occasioned by such a collision. M. Ann
go appeal i to occupy a middle ground between tho
two. I)e however comes to tint conclusion that n
■Comet cannot sensibly change the course of tliu
earth's Munsons,or modify ita temperature. Aim
that ther t'is not one chance in 281,01)0,000,(of a
Comets coming in collision with the earth or any
• oihor p!a .ot, within u long (ties consi rablo) pe
riod, bill that such on event is not absolutely ini.
,po isihle,
A com it rcmarbahle for its beauty appeared in
1811 . The tail of this comet was composed of two
■divulging streams of faint light, slightly colored,
which inndo an angle of from 15to 20 degrees, ami
smneiimus much more, mid wore hunt outwards
Tim spu :e betweon was .comparatively obscure
When at its greatest length, the tuii subtonded a
nil angle of at least 10 degress, and was then corn,
puled to extend about 23,00!),0Q0 miles ii
length.
Besides Dr- flnllev’a comet there are two other
whose returns have hi.i ii observed, and the olu
munis of their orbits determined, witli such cer
itaimy as to cnuble astronomers to predict their re
cpporance.
One of those wits recognised for tile first tirn
,1819 as a periodic comet, Kncko, a German ns.
tronumer, lias determined the time of its rcvolutim
•about the sun, to be three years and three month,
nearly. The other was In i seen in 1832. Its pe
riodic time was determined by Biola, a lioheiniat
astronomer, to uo six years and three quurlers. Al.
together, then, there are only throo comets whose
.periods are certainly known.
Danger framConiels.—As the cornels transvorsi
tho planetary regions in all directions, it is natural
to inquire v bother there is not a possibility thru
eiimu one ol them may approach so near to the
earth, es greatly to disturb its motion, or by an ac
tualcuiilnot lo produce the most disastrous?!'finds.
Upon this subject there is no reasonable ground fur
four. II it is not absolutely impossible that ft com
et may emm: in contact with the enrilt, the probuJ
bililius against such an event happening are us
millions a. one. Among bodios so small in cum.
pnrismi with the immense space in which they I
move, mid moving with all velocities, mid in orbits
that are inclined in ull directions, and are of all
dimensions, how small must be the probability
tlial any'wo shall coine in contact! Small how.
ever, ns this probability Is for any ono ago, if wo
take iulo account a long series ofages, tho probu.
bility may l.j greatly increased.
If we suppose the earth actually lo receive such
a shock, it u easy to imagine tho calamitous conse
quence: which must follow, Tho axis and motion
of rotnlinu being changed, the waters of the ocean
would leave tuoir ancient position, and wo,.1.1 be
precipitated towards tho (new equator. A great
jturlnfthe human race, and of the lower animals,
would be drowned by this universal deluge, nr do-
•Iroyed by tbo violent sliock impressed on terres.
Xial globe. Whole species of allium.s might lie
annihilated. All the monuments of human inilus.
try and invention would be uverthrown. In such
a cnlnstrb; lie wo find, too, a enure adequate to
account lor tlm ocean having overflowed lofty
mountains, on which it bus left incontestable ovi-
slcncc of its presence ; and lo explain lunv the an
imals and plants of the .south may have existed in
tile climates ol’tlio north, where we line! tile remains
and impressions of them. Lastly, such an event
accounts for the rocentness of the modern world,
tlm monuments of which go back scarcely 3900
years. The human race, reduced lo a small num.
bor of individuals, and to the most miserab'
dilion, would foi a longtimubo mainly occupied in
providing for their preservation, amidst tliu wreck
which surrounded them, and would loso till re.
mumluance of urts and sciences ; am! when, by
tile progress of civilization, they al Icnglli beenmo
sensible of tho want of these, they would find it
necessary to recommence), as if man had been
new I Vi placed upon the earth.
It seems i impossible to contemplate,the picture of
calamity l ore drawn, without being forcibly struel
with tho singular coincidence ; that if wo suppose
the period of the comet of 1090 (which in that
year mad,• a considerably near approach to the
earth’s orbit) to be 615 1-2 years; and count
back, from the year 1680, sevcu revolutions, or
a period ol 4028 years, we rench tliu year 231!)
before Christ—ihe^year of the doitigo. as fixed In
chronnlogii.
If ive mite into consideration the great velocity
with whic i the comets move ill approaching to and
recoding |rum tho sun. it is evident that the uteri
approximation of the comet to the terrestrial orbit,
would Ic productive of little or no effect. Ac-
cordingly. though a cmnei is said to have eclipsed
theniouu.iu which Case u must have heeu very
mar the earth, no sensible died was produc
ed
Nature of Comets—in ages of ignorance, com
ets liavn always, from their extraordinary appear
ancc, been sources of superstitious terror lo man
kind. This fear lias been disssi..u:cd by the ligh
of science, which has shown that tho appearance:
of comets ate regulated by the same tuns as other
celestial phenomena. Wc are still, however, ul-
most entirely ignorant nl the nature of those, though
a great many bypotncscs have been formed con
cerning them. They wero considered by soiiio of
the ancients, and particularly by Aristotle, as an.
cidenial fires or meteors generated in the atmos
phere of the earth ; hut this opinion is obviously
groundless. Ifthey wore Connected with tho earth
or its atmosphere, they would partake of the diur
nal motion on tho axis, and could not therefore np.
penrtohavea diurnal revolution in tho heavens
* along with the other celestial bodies. Besides,
thcic having no diurnal pnrnllnx proves that they
■ re at great distance from the earth , while tlm
j annual motion of thajprih,
j 'unted in the planetary
demonstrated that,
innnent bodies,
Jight from Ihc sun
)■
of tlmtarih, diuivs that they arc .sit
lanctnry repans. Observation h i
lliat, like the Linnets, lliuy aro pur
i, and in nil [iftbebillty, derive tlioi
their
un.
From llnr»mnil portion of tho orbit of any cornel
which wo ii«.vs an opport 4jiy of observing, we
cannot ascertain with suflV dot accuracy tliu elo.
meats for determining tliu j tri id of its return ; but
supposing that their oibits url not disturbed by any
nny/;auso in those distant’r gions of space through
which the greater portion ji: the paths of comets lie,
it is evident that by accor.kily observing all the
comets that cumo within vi, ■», and cqrcfully tenor,
ding the results, in ikp coin * of ages tho return of
many comets may ft detec il and ll.oir periodic
times ascertained, I lain:,.' Be grantor axis of, the
orbit of enclij—iiiy liednton bled by Kepler’s third
law; and iho comet’s lo.ist llllaiice from lliu sun
being found by observation, llu: loss axis will also
become known, in this fir,finer ibe periodic time
of comets has becii found, a I their return predic
ted.
Tho first and most remni tlblo instance is that
of Dr. Halley, wim, by enquiring his observa
tions on ills comet of SOH'.’.-wiili tlinse of Kepler
on Ihu enmnt of l(i07flnd hose of A pin II on the
comet of 1331, found jfttst flu conclude, from [die
agroornent of the ciicuhislsilci's of each, that what
had boen considered llin distinct comets were
.ally re appearances of tl.o Anne comet after a pe
riod of about 70 years.- i Lill tlio three cilsos the
distance of tho comet (ppmpie sun when nearest
(n him wnsnlmost the sum* the position of the
cornet in the hunrutis at tie tiino of its neatest ap.
preach to tho sun likciyjoc‘corresponded ; »s did
also the inclination of the orbit, tin! place of the
nodes, and tho variableness of. the million, as bo.
mg direct or retrograde, i
These coincidences rendered the identity of the
comet almost absolutely certain. Hence Ilalloy
predicted its return iailieend of 1738 or tliu bo.
pinning of 1750. it nppnarcd about the end of
December 17.78. and tnajlo its nearest approach to
tlio sun un the 13th of iMIielv 1709, (lifiuring noi
many days from the time uxpoctoil. Again il
made its appearanco, as'-predicted, at the eompln.
tiou of ita period, toward the end of August,
1835,
Though there cun'liif ito doubt of tliu identity of
(ho comet of 1031. 1697, 1682, 1759, and 1835.
ilie appearances wore considerably difleront. In
1531 tho comet was of a bright gold color; in
16117 if was dark and livid ; it w as bright again in
1682 ; aud obscure in (709.
Tho mean distance nf this comet from the son is
about eighteen time s that of the earlli; but in con.
sequence of the groat oqccniricity of its orbit, its
distance, when at the farther extermily of its great-
hr axis, is nearly double that of Uranus, the moat
distant of the planets. When nearest to die sun,
its ilisiuuco I'roin him is about 6.19th parts of tho
earth's mean distance.
A very reniarkuhle Comet, was seen in the end
of 1080 and beginning of 1081. Iistail extended
71) dugs., aud-ivas very brilliunl. This cornet, of
all (those which liavo been observed, approaches
nearest to the sun. Descending with immense
velocity in a path almost perpendicular to his sur.
face, it proceeded until its distance from his centre
was only about oUljOUO miles. .Sir Isaac, Newton
computed that, in consequence of so near an np.
proaeh to the sun, it must have received u heal 2009
limes greater than fhul of iron almost going into
fusion ; and that if it was equal ill magnitude lo
our earth, and cooled in the samo manner us tor-
restinl bodies, its heat would not be expended in
lens than 59.000 yours.
Three observutipua on comets are recorded in
history, agreeing in remarkable circumstances with
Ihe unmet of 1680-ono in the 41th year before
Christ; another in the consulate of Lainpadius and
Orestes about ihu year of Christ 531 ; nail ihe third
in the reign of Henry I of England, in the year
11U0. Those dates aro nearly nt cquul distances
of time, namely, #76 years ; which is also the pe.
rlod between II00 and 1081. Hence Dr. liulley
conjectured that those might be successive appear
ances of one and tho same comet, revolving about
Iho sun in tho poriod of about 575 years, if this
conjecture is well founded, this comet limy be ex
pected again, after finishing tliu same period, about
the year 2255.
[lillOM TintENCVCI.tll'KDIA OP UKOUllAFAV.l
UOJIET.
The fixed stars and the planets aro always visi-
bio when not obscured by tliu superior light of the
sun ; but the class of bodies eullod coMkts are
seen only when they are in that part of their sever,
ul paths w liicli lies nonrest to the sun; at alio,
liter limes they move through regions of space far
beyond the reach of our vision, even when assisted
by the must powerful telescopes. Tho motions of
the comets uru like those of the pluiiots, perform
ed in elliptic orbits according* to Kepler’s laws ;
but. unlike tho planetary orbits, the ellipses which
the comets described are extremely elongated; so
that tho small portion oflheir orbits through which
ive have uu opportunity of tracing them, cuincides
very nearly with a parabola, the curve of which is
the limit of Iho eclipse when ils greater axis is in.
definitely increased. Thu inclination of the or-
bits of the comets is vui'y various; some move in
plaitcs almost coineiilcnt with tho ocliptic, and o
liters in planes nearly perpendicular to it. They
move also in very different directions ; tbo motion
of some being direct, and of Olliers retrograde
The co'uiols diU'er widely from the planets in
their appearance, ns well as in the figure and posi
turn of their orbits. When u comet is first seen
il is usually surrounded by a family luminous va
por, which becomes more bright as the comet »j>-
proclios the sun, and nt length shoots out into a long
luminous ami transparent train, very much resem
bling a streamer, and extending in a direction op
posite lo the sun. The dense part of the comet,
which both to the naked eye, and when viewed
through a telescope, resembles much planetary be-
dies, is culled the nucleus ; tliu faintly luminous
vapor by which il is surrounded is called the conn
and the long luminous truin proceeding from the
comet in no opposite direction from the sun is cull-
cl the tail. Between the nucleus mid tho coma
.lies a purl fainter than the former, but briglicr than
the Inner, anil in which the nucleus seems involv
ed ; this is called iho head of the comet.
Tho length of the tail is very various. Some
'lines it extends only a few degrees ; in other
cases it has been found to reneli over more than
fourth part of the heavens. If a comet doos not
come very near the sun, ilia coma doos not shoot
into a mil, but retains the appearance of u nebulosi
ty round the comet during tho whole period of its
Doing visible. The tail sometimes consists of two
or more diverging streams of light, and is ulwuy
so transparent that the smallest stars are seen
through it without any sensible diminution of
their brilliancy.
Tub Power of Politeness.—Mr. Cusimir lie-
jour, in un essay on politeness relates this anec
dole :•—"Tlio Murehloue.se do Coislin one day sol
cited an audience; it was granted, butFouclie, who
was resolved to refuse whatever tho marchioness
might ask lor, received Iter standing, with his el
bow resting uu the chimney piece, and did not in
vile her to a sent. •Citizen minister,' said 111
marchioness, 'I come to ask what crime my sister,
M. d’A vary, lias committed, that she should ho exil
cd. ‘She is an enemy of the Government,’ replied
Faoche. ‘nnd has the audacity to set il at defi
atico.’—'She audacious V retorted the marchio
ness, ‘she defy the First Consul 1 . Jow little you
know her. Sho is so timid that sho would not
oven venture .o say, ‘Citi'/eh minister, have the
goodness to hand me a chair !’ At these words
Fouclie was so disconcerted that bo lost all his
courage to be hostile. Mad. da Coisiin had
chair, aud Mad. d’Avroy received permission to
return to Paris.”
[from the Poston journal,]
A VAVAI. reminiscence.
• In the tmvai public service commanders must
act upon delicate suspicions—upon the evidence of
their own eves, they* must give desperate conn
rounds nnd they mini require instantaneous obedi
ence.—Chancellor Kent.
in the year 1823rtne Caribbean Sea was.infest
ed with Spanish privateers—amongst them was a
fairy like luig inline, called the “Fanchita”—she
was thevery ivitdi of the walers—and u'tliougli
prnfc sseilly after Columbian property, she often in
dulged in the less honorable practice of taking upon
rasy terms cordage, duck, provisions, ita., from,
neutral vessels.
At about this time, tho U. S. schooner Grampus,
under the command of Lieut- Francis il. Gregory,*
dropped anchor in the lino harbor of St. Thomas—
Vessels which had been relieved in one wav or un
other by tiie sharkisli Pancliilu, w ere continually
arriving nt that port, and the brig’s reputation ns ii
very free trader, was pretty well established.
After short slay, the Grampus sailed on n cruise
am! soon found herself on the weather quarter and
within pistol shut of (ho well-armed nnd daring
•■Paucbmu." Tho American ensign waved at the
peak of tho Grampus, and the sickly.looking flag of
Spain hung at the umin of tho corsair.
•'Haul down your colors to the United Slates
schooner Grampus!” shouted Gregory, trumpet,
tonguod, from the lee arm chest.
Nu disposition lo obey the peremptory summons
was manifested by theSpnniarri, and his flag still
curled in the breeze. Presently, a fellow, whose
luxuriant mustachius, red silk jacket and yellow
vesl, denoted uuthority, took his cigar from bis
mouth, and ia on under lone gave some order,
which caused uhlight movement umougsl tbo yaga-
bonds around him.
T'iio brig cafrieil a long brnss eightcon-pounder
a midships, orrn pivot—this had early attracted the
intention ot iho American, anil lie still continued to
seen it with much interest, it not with admiration.
The littile Grampus was only fifteen months old,
uud of course too young to listen to Iho tom s of
this beautiful but ponderous invtruniout. indeed,
from tho first, liar Commander had docided not to
permit uny practical illustration of its powers;
consequently, when he saw a red-hot poker, lie
expressed his dislike in tho shape of a broadside,
which was slipped into tho brig with most nnnoy-
iug celerity- A liner exhibition of gunnery was
never seen ! Tho long eighteen was in tho lee
scuppers, nnd n dozen or less deserving fellows had
escaped the gnllmvs., and the upper works of tho
brig were completely demolished. Site wus sent
Into St. Thomas to repair, und from thence sailed
as a prize lor the United States, where she arrived
with the American ensign (lying ever the (red) flag
of the licensed pirate.
The Pnnchitnlmd n regular commission from the
Governor of Porlo Rico—and it is not, therefore
st range that her capture was considered by many
as one of Iho most daring nggressions ever com
mitted upon the (lag of any nation. Tho writer
lived nl that lime, and for a long lime after, near
the scene of this exploit, and never knew, or does
not remember how tlio rnnltor wus settled by the
two Governments, nor is it probable lie would
ever have recurred lo tho subject, but f.<r tho cla
morous maledictions which have lately been tutor,
ed against the meritorious commander of tlio So.
mars, for having ‘‘transcended his pouters in taking
of human life,"
If a deep laid plan for MUTiNy and MURDER, must
■' put in active operation, before it can bo consid
ered as any thing more than sport, llion perhaps,
the question may coino up amongst the relatives
f tin! slaughtered pirates, whether the gnllaat Gre-
y was impelled by "fear” in firing into the Run.
la ; arid whether he was not bound to consider
the act of introducing tho red hot poltcr to tho lung
thti.'on, “a mere piece of fun”—tbo exuberance
Youthful romance !
RINGBOLT-
'Now Captain lirneory, tho worthy coniniantlcruf tlio U.
■evenly lour, Norlli Carolina.
Idleness.—Up and he doing, my friends! up
ami ho doing. Idleness is a sad tiling. What!
uve we feet, and shall we not walk ? Have wo
hands, und shall wo not work ? We have more to
than wo shall evc%accomplish, if wo are iudue-
ms ; how then shall we got through if wu nro
idle ? Every bird building her nest, overy spider
caving her web, every nut laying up for the win
;r, is a reproach to un idle man. Up nnd bo
ping, 1 suy ! and do not expect the pot to boil!
while you let the-tiro goj] out. We must climb
he hill to view tho prospect; we must sow the seed
o roup the harvest ; we must crack tho nut
;et the kernel. 1 cannot bear your tattling,
liking, interfering busy bodies, attending to tile
Hairs of others, and leaving their own duties un-
; hut yet, it is a sad failing to go to sleep
when we ought to he wide awake, to be croopitig
and crawling like snails wlionjwo ought to he bound.
forward like greyhounds, it is a sad thing, I
say, nnd we ought to ho nslinmed of it. 1 liavo
Down blind men, and lame men, who, without an
eye to see with or foot to stand upon, have done
more for the good of their neighbors than many of
s who liuvo the use of all our (acuities. Then up
and be doing, and lot not the grass grow undur
feet ! Though tho flesh ho weak, if tho spirit
he willing, you will not bo happy in standing still.
If you cannot hew wood, you may draw wntor. If
cannot preach in public, you can pray in pri-
vote, and lie striving to cnlcr in rather than waiting
to be carried through, the straight gate that Icadeth
into life. Let us not complain of poverty, with n
mine of gold under our feet: let us not die of thirst,
with n fountain of living wator within our reach.—
I’wo have health and strength, let us work for the
road that perishes; and having the means of
nice, lot us be diligent lo obtain that bread that is
eternal.
According to Ihe Texas account of tho battle o(
Mier, tho Mexicans lost from 400 to 709 men. The
^____ Mexican account on tho other hand, states the Ins
fact of their uppurent motion being affected by ilie| in killed ut only 20.—Somewhat ol'a ditl'cruuce.
OF MESMERISM.
A uiatui;;tJ39ed]>ri>l«ssor of this new and valua.
ble art or science (whichever it be) has, we per.
reive, ascertained a new principle in it, viz: that
its transtiission is governed by the same law as
that of I^glit; lliat certain bodies reflect it; and
that it isleturned from the surface of the reflecting
body ut «i angle equal to that in which it strikes it.
All thesfeare properties quite foreign to the fluid
which h» been hitherto looked on as the agent in
Animal liugnetism ; and though thoy thus servo,
for til" ifcment, only still more to obscure what
was already by no means lucid, eventually they will
no doiibl serve for tlio basis of a new and surer
theory or tho existence of Thought as a positive nnd
material substance, not a mere spiritual thing.
The fillowing is an extract from a letter » ritten
by Dr, Cullyer, of Boston, to Professor Eliottson,
of London, giving an account of his discovery.
"Deax Doctor :—On the 8th of January, 1843.
. I perforryed a most extraordinary experiment, and
repeated it several times with the like success. It
is us folio'vs : A Indy who hail been magnetized
by the Rev. Mr. Clark, ofCanondnigua, was intro"
duced to me. 1 lournl her extremely susceptible to
tho nervo electric agency, and cqnhl presont ideas
to her mind in the waking or natural state, by tho
■ concentration of my own thoughts. 1 have al
ways advocated the philosophy that tho nervous
fluid was governed by the same cede of lows which
govern heal, light, &c.—us radiation und reflec
tion ; and actually made this lady perform the
same dess of phenomena wlflclt is the wonder of
(rnvcril«i in the East. She was required to look
iulo a c*;i of molasses, (any other dark fluid will
nhsiveHlIte.same purpose,) and whon the angle of
ii rndiantte from my brain wus equal to (be angle of
refloijlioq in her brain, she distinctly saw the image
of iny thoughts at the point of coincidence, and
gave minute Descriptions of many persons whom
she coiini liaio no idea of. She saw the persons
and things int the fluid only when the ungles of
thought converged. I am not riwarb that this ex-
poriment was ever performed before except by the
iudiuns of 1 lie (East.
* iielievd me, as ever, vours truly,
1 ROBT. H. COLLYER.
AliianvNp.w York, Feb. 1, 1843.”
Let us endeavor to deduce some of the new prin
clples which must follow from the law in Animal
-Magnetism which Dr. Collyer has thus established.
Henceforth, it is clear, men may lenrn how to
t hink with other people’s brains instead of their
own, which will cerlninly bo u great advantage for
i nany people fn private life and some in high pub.
lie trusts lo whom Nature bus given insufficient
I icudpiecus. it will favor tlio establishment of a
just equality nmung men, by nbolisiiing that unjust
iponopoly which some few aristocrats of tho Intel-
loot liavo enjoyed. Henceforth, no man will be
i ible to have any property even in his own thoughts;
• put there shall be a community of ideas as well as
i )f goods.
If thought is reflected from mirror-like bodies, of
< iourse it lias die power of refraction as well as re-
I leetkm. il could therefore bo transmitted through
lenses; so that men whose mental action wants
i ntensity will be able to get their thought thrown
j lito a focus ivliun thoy like. Nor is this nil: it
' vill be easy ufler this, by means of proper optical
i nsirumcnts. to collect, from a hundred or a thous-
ind heads at once, their thoughts, ami direct them
a II into a single brain; so that you can produce any
q uantity ef intellectual power you please. The
i ivention of the steam-engine is nothing to what
Mis will Ire.—Nat. Int,
Love one anotiieii.”—A Welch parson prea
ching from this loxt, "I.ovo one another,” told his
congregation, that in kind and respectable treat,
moot to our fellow creatures wo were inferior to j
the brute creation.—As an illustration of the truth
of this remark, he quoted an instance of two goals
in hjp own parish, that once met upon a bridge so
very narrow that they could not pass by without
one thrusting the Otliei into the river. "And,
(continued lie,)how do you think they acted?—
Why, I will tell you. One goat laid himself down
and let the other leap over him.”
Living without Drink.—Tho last Boston Modi,
cal Journal contains a communication from Dr.
W. A. Alcott, in which lie states that lie drank no
thing during the whole cf iho yeur 1842 ; und in
fact that he had nut yet returned to the use of
drink. With one exception lie suffered less than
formerly fromtlinst. "This exception Wus in Ju-
iy, when, in order to make a fair experiment, ho
worked hard ut having. Tho first day or two, it
being very hot weather, he felt n return of thirst,
which lie allayed by gurgling his throat with cold
wator, and eatiiig bread crumbled in water. Af
ter two days lie felt no more thirst, though lie
worked hard. The object of the experiment was
tu prove, for the benefit of the friends of temper
ance, that if our food is simple and plain, wo need
but very liitle drink. His diet wus bread fruits,
and succulent vegetables."
Girls ! go to Iowa, if you want lo be snapped up
by husbands, even ns tile woodpecker snappelh up
tlio worm. When a boat arrives with young ladies
the bachelors crowd ou the wharf, ns our cab ineo
do hero, and sing out : ‘Have a husband, miss ?
have a husband ?”
A Millorlte named Moses Torreis, residing in
Centre street. New York, made an attempt to com.
mil suicide on Sunday, in the following singular
manner- He melted a leaden spoon, nnd white tho
lend was boiling ho), swallowed it. His tongue
was burnt to a crisp, and in great agony lie was
conveyed to tliu Anns House, where his recovery
is considered very doubtful.
Millerism.—The New York Union Tuesday
1 jst says :—A partner of ono of our oust l cspcclu
I fie Pearl street jobbing houses, who bus for years
I won deemed u pattern ofindustry and one of the
I msl salesman in the street ; who by frugality and
| wrseverence amassed a comfortable property,
I ins become completely insane on tho «ubject of
I diliorism, believes fully of the approach of the
i rorjd’s termination, has relinquished his interest
1 n the concern, is perfectly reckless as to whul be.
i lomes of his property, carries a biblo under his|nrm
i.Brough Iho streets, nnd takes ovory opportunity of
• jndeuvoring to convince his acquaintances nnd
1 ’fiends lliat they should givtr up ull wordly con
: ildi.rations and prepare fur their speedy exit.
The Tomb ol'.Nupolcon.
Mr. Walsh in his last letter to the National In-
t eliigencer gives the following nolos of tho Tomb
i if Napoleon :—
■ "it having been nnnounced officially that, on the
1 Ifith instant, the chapel of Saint Jerome, which
1 (bill the remains of Napoleon, ut the Hotel des III-
v ttliils, would be closed to the public, in order that
i kie progress might he made in the crypt or subler.
r luican innniunoiit in which they are finally to rest,
i re took advantage of the rich sunshine of the 23d
i o pay the chapel a visit. Thorn was a concourse
i il visitors but nut so lingo us to interfere with n
I iisurely inspection. Wo entored by tho right
s Ble of tho chapel, where stood, each vvillia tri-col.
■ Uud sword ling in his hand two veteran pensioners
\ Vito directed us to advance on that side and with.
i haw by tho other. A lady whom I escorted stop-
\ fcd (o ask an aged subaltern,seated near, whether
l r hud been with the Emperor nnd if so, what bat-
t In ? “Ask madam [wus tho immediate reply) in
v flint battle- I did not follow tho great Napoleon,
i Jgypt, Eodi, Dresden, ull saw me in the ranks
I fchiing for him wiio lies yonder." The language
i wed was French of course, and the old soldier,
i vhom we discovered to be sightless when lie rais-sd
I lis hand to touch his military cap, uttered it with
i in earnestness that for us proved it to bo extem
pore. The circular chapel was insulated from tlio
| jreal church of tho Hospital ; converted into a
sanctuary from noise and light; hung with violet
velvet glittering here an9 there with hoails; ami,
iltogethor, with its half darkness and ritual drape,
ry, produced an effect which the French call gran-
Hose, but which impressed mo with sentiments tile
reverse of that epithet. The coffin which encloses
l die imperial remains is of dark wood resembling
radar, it appears heavy and solid, and has a bur-
i tislied handle ntoucli end. It ivns covered with a
i iaiiopy of purple velvet, lined with ermine, and
i 'ii'lfly figured with Jlctlrs de lis; nt one corner tlio
LniliuJ N. and at the oihor the imperial eagle
i brought in gold. At the head was the Napoleon
< '.rown, and, on a cushion nt tho foot, wore tho va-
i ions sp'.ended insignia which once shfino on his
1 if'cst. Above waved the banners gained in migli-
t y battles, Austerlitz, Ulrn, Lodi, Jena, &c. which
a re inscribed in golden characterrs on tile sides of
. t ho chapel, and n pyramidal urn head of the coffin
I srars lliu words Honneurct Patrice* A lump has
l Hen kept constantly burning near the corpse.
Every day scores of wreutb* were thrown
through the grates by devout worshippers. The
repository or tomb will be beneath the pavement of
lh’3 main edifice under flic axis of the dome—an
arrangement which is severely criticised. The
rejtl monument will he a huge exuestrian statue in
lilt' middle oftlie court. Five years are asked for
the' execution of the whole design.
The Count de Monitor!, son ul Jerome Buna-
parte, has le r t Marseilles, hv sou, for the purpose
of successively visiting Spain, and the United
Mutes of America.
It is generally believed in the commercial circles,
t hat tiie government will propose to do something
i ritli the sugar duties, and to rcgulnto the admis
sion of American agricultural produce, through
Oanuda, into British ports upon a more liberal
!>asis.
Tlio Breton of Nantes, gives an account of the
lament death ill that city, of uu old woniau, named
Jtilicgo Davy, who for more tliuu half tier life
otore men’s clothes, and was not known to be o
tamale.
Wo are informed, bv a gentleman from St.
Louis, mi old resident of that city, that tiie revival
of business there lias been much retarded the pre
sent spring by the Miller excitement, many persons
nol^ying disposed to enter into new engagements
bo ascertained whether tho predictions
(p c to Iro verified.—JBc. Jour.
\
Tartar Vkngeance*—The Russian journals'
contain the following picture of tho “ domestic man
ners” of those tribes which inhabit tho vast plains
of Chinese Tartary :—
It appears that Segeb-Mohelam, a young Khan,
chief of one of those tribes, being benighted on a
hunting party, demanded hospitality in a peasant s
hut. The daughter of his host being very benuti-
ful, &c M the young Khan became in due course
desperately enamoured, and loaded the peasant
family with the fruits of his benevolence. Ihe
parvenu's did not, however, bear their good fortune
with humility, but gave themselves the most extra
vagant airs, aud filled the splendid halls of their
gorgeous palace with the ancient nobility, from
whom they expected the most cringing subser
vience. Their haughty demeanin' made them
many enemies, and at length led lo the following
catastrophe.—
The young Khun was riding one evening to visit
his mistress, when he was met by two of hi* atten*
dants, who galloping towards him, exclaimed that,
Itis mistress and uli her fumily were now sm ou ‘^ er *
iug under the ruins of what, but a few hour* ^ e *
fore, had been their magnificent palace. S°g l ‘b
fell senseless from his horse ou receiving, this n eW:1
rode like a madman through the burning embers, a,, d
at length found tiie mutilated corpse of his beloved
Naharin. Vengeance from that moment dispelled
despair. He instantly assembled his council ; the
result of their investigations led to the arrest of
two biolhers, nobles, and a little girl aged ton
daughter of one of the prisoners. The child de
posed that she was in bed in her father’s tent, when
a noble lady magnificently attired, entered aud of
fered her father a lage sum of money if he would
firstset fire to Naharin's castle, and then mdVder
her and ufl her family. To this request, after ur
gent entreaties, her father uuhappily consented.
The child was then secretly despatched to tho can*
tie, with orders from her father to set fire to the
curtains. This aim accomplished—the flames
spread with frightful ropidity, and tho father nnd
his myrmidons eextrushed through the burning halls
of tho castle, murdering all its minutes, so that not
ono escaped.
The child, on being asked whether she could re
cognise the lady who hud caused all the horror,
said that she should know her by voice, but that she
did not see hor face us sho pretended to be asleep
during tho interview between the lady und her
father.
Tito Khan ordered all tho ladies of hi9 Court to
pass before the little girl, each repeating a verse
ol tho Korun ; 70 hud already passed, there re
mained but one to pass; an awful stillness now
reigned through tlio Council. The child instantly
recognised this lady as the instigator of the dread,
ful deed ; on her veil being removed what was the
astonishment of all present when tho features of the
Khan’s mother was revealed. The Khan appear
cd thunderstruck, but said to tho Council, let justice
tako its course, as if it wore the meanest of my
subjects.
The Council then condemned the two brothers to
death ; the Khan’s mother to lose her right hand,
und acquitted the child.
The cartege then moved slowly forward to the
place of execution. Tho aged princess fefl ul her
son’s feet and implored mercy. The Khan drew
his scimitar, and excluimed, *• Mother, I am going
to pny the debt which you owe to God and man.
May this sacrifice iti expiation of your crime, prove
the power of the prince has not weakened tlio res-
peel and urtection of tlm son.” He then put h
right arm on the trunk of a tree, aud with one
stroke severed his hand. Loud cheers and ap
pjauso imrnef iately followed this horoi<#nct. The
Khan then held up his mutilated arm, and said,
“ Now let justico take its course; my mother bus
paid her ransom—let tbo others who uro guilty pay
their penalty.”
The two brothers wero then given over to the
executioner.
Mesmeric Experiments.—A friend, in the into
rior of the Slate, writes thus, under date of tlio ‘20th
instant, of his progress in Mesmerism : •
“ I can now paralyze the arms and leave them so
after the subject awakes, without any power to move
them, unless 1 remove the influence.
“ 1 can puralyze tho arm of a susceptible patient
ichilc awake, so as to make the muscles rigid und
insensible to pain.
“ 1 have tried some curious%xperiments with
the magnet, which produces very powerful effects
on the subject mesmerized—the south polo produ
cing pain and the north relieving it. The phono
menu of mesmerism vary much indifferent tndivi-
duals—and some patients shew irnluc-nces which
others do not. Gen. A has mesmerized many.
but no one has shewed any sympathy with him as to
pain inflicted on him—and yet he orders ono of
them about by the will without speaking.
11 You must watch them after frequent experi
merits and deepen the sleep occasionally by your
will und spcnk'.ng to them,or they may wake up ac
cidentally when you do not expect it. 1 pul a girl
into tho sleep, u few evenings ago, and shewed
many experiments. I then put her in a chair aside
to sleep until 1 exhibited another case. While 1
was engaged with tho other her sleep terminated,
nnd prevented my trying soveral experiments,
which I wished to do with tho two, as dancing to.
gether, &c.”—Charleston Courier.
To make Permanent Marking Ink.—Take
six nnd a quarter cents worth of lunar caustic, and,
having pul in an ounce vial filled with vinegar, cork
it tight and hang it in the sun. In a couple of days,
it will be fit for use.
To make the preparation for the above, take a
lump of pcarlash the size of a chesnut and dissolve
it in u gillof rain-water.
The part of the muslin which is to bo written
upon is to be wet with the preparation, and dried
and glazed with a warm flat.iron : immediately af.
ter which it is ready for marking.
A little vinegar, in which a rusty nail has re
mained for a few days, makes a mark on linen
which is not easily obliterated—forming whnt is
commonly called iron-mould.—Louisville Jour-
nal.
Rubs wax.—The neatest way, says the Farmer’s
Cabinet to separate beeswax from the comb, is, to
tie it up in a linen or woollen cloth or bag, with a
pebble or two to keep it from floating ; place it in a
kettle of cold water, which hang over the fire ; as
the wuter heats, the wax melts and rises to the sur-
face, while all the impurities remain in the bug.
A Large Fowl.—A wild goose of extraordina
ry sizo, was recently killed ut Guilford Point, in
Connecticut. Its length, from the end of its bill to
the end of its toe, was 6 feet 7 inches; and
spread from tho tip of ono wing to that of the other,
8 feel 2 inches. The length of its neck was 2 feet
10 inches. It wus probably one of the largest, if
not the very largest of its species ever killed in
that region. 9
Very Correct.—We observe that Avery Bibb
has taken unto wile, the lovely Catharine Tucker,
in Lowell, Moss. There is a natural affinity be
tween “bib and tucker” and matrimony.
Murder at a Wedding.— Wo learn from the
Buffalo Commercial, that a young man named En
glish, wus murdered at a wedding party in tha
place on Friday last, under the most aggravated
circumstances. It seems that a man t urned McCul.
lock was, among others, present, celebrating the
marriage of the sister of the deceased, when voun
English playfully took oir McCullock’a hat, but
w hich he immediately replaced again whereupon
McC. stabbed him, and he died in fifleen minutes.
The assassin was secured and committed to
prison.
A Fair Retly.—A fugitive Slave undergoing an
examination nt Northampton, Conn., when asked
if his master was a (Christian, replied “Nusir; he
wasa member ofC-tigress.”
The Earthquake ot (Jamlatoupe.
A slip from tiie Norfolk B» aeon rentes that iho
bri' f Sarah Jane, Capt. Gill, at that purl* ^ ro, J f
Jub„s, P. R. brings advices to the 22d ufi. Capt.
G. reports mat nearly 4tHK)bodies had bqcn dug
from the ruirw at Point Poire, Guadeloupe, aud
were lightered off and thrown into tho sea.
Vessels Imd arrived ut St. Thoida# from tlur
windward islands,imploring supplies tor the in.
habitants who escaped destruction—they arc with,
out provisions of any kind.
Capt. G. further report** that Bassutcwre, (Guud.)
Nevis, St. Pierres, and Port R-»yal, (Mart,) were
nearly ull destroyed.
Tiie C. S. brig Bainbrige, Lieut. Com. Johnson,
from New York via St. dago d«- Cnba r arrived ut
St. Johns about the 15th or l(kh ult. r officers and
welt. Lieut. J. informed Cap*. Gifl that ho di*.
line;ly felt the shock—tl>e noise resembling the
rolling of slmt fore and all the deck.
Additional Particulars.
Captain Knowls, ol selvr. Eih*n, at New York
from Si. Thomas, states that before he left, new*
had been received from Point Pet re, Gautfoloope*
that by iho great earthquake of the 8th of February 9
every building was thrown down, and from ten ti>
fifteen thousand person* killed. The American
Cooaul was killed at Point Pet re.
The scene was terrific. It wad breakfast hour
with tho inhabitants. Capt. Maher, of un A*n.
vessel, when the shock commenced, waa sitting in
the lower story of a store fronting the water, and*
sprang for his boat at the end of the wharf, in an
jiifttndt he was nt the end of the wharf, but the
wharf and the boat both rocked so furiously that he
hesitated. Just then the ground opened beneath
his feet,and with a loop* he reached the boat and
was saved. Several other Cnp*um*.wwertf with t.
Captain Fisher ut the time, and all saved. Ves
sels were so much shaken os to be in greut dan.
ger.
Mr. Ridgely, a comedian from Philadelphia, was
on tf»e lower floor of a ItoteL, and sprang into ihe
•street. On ali sides he saw own throwing theYn-
jjelveaupoo tlieir luces on the ground. In another
instunt the stonewalls fell and buried all beneuth
them, except a few who were so fortunate as to
find themselves above H. When Mr. R. recover,
cd himself, he wus unharmed, though all tho per-
sons he Imd'jmt seen were hopelessly buried.-—
His little son, a lad of seven years of age, w;»s rho
first object-he saw, springing to embrace his fa.
ther.
How thoy c*.\me sn near together Mr. Riilgley
could not understand, as the lad wus. nt the com*
■mcncement of the shock, in the third story of n
house four squares off The boy says that all ho
remembers is, that when he heard the cry—Earth
quake ! lie jumped out of the window. The hoy
was sitting at breakfast with the family, und all
the family perished, except a small girl who after
the shock, was standing by tbc side of young
Ridgley.
The earth rocked so tha: a man could not keep
his feet, it opened in several places und closed
again, swallowing up people and buildings, and ia
some instances, the water flew up sixty and seventy
feet.—Many large openings remained. Abouft.
two-thirds of the Inhabitants perished. Of the-
garrison of eight hundred men, only seventy sur-
vlved.
A furious fire broke out immediately after the?
earthquake, which raged for txmiu days, adding,
greatly lo the horrors of the scene.
Four thousand bodies had been dug out of tho-
ruins of Point Petre by the sailors in the harbor*
and taken out to sea in boats, in order to prevent a
pestilence.
Among the killed i3 the American Consul- Ho
was taken from under tho ruins with both legs bro
ken und put on board an American vessel in tho
hahor, hut died the next day.
The massive fortifications were a heap of ruins*
nnd tho mouth of the harbor wa* completely chunk
ed up by rocks forced from tho bottom of tlm sea-
It was feared that the vessels in port wouid never
be got out.
At St. Bart’s the church anif several other build
ings were thrown down, and the earth opuucd in tho
centre of a street to the width of a foot, the fissure*
extending 60(3 yards in length.
Only JU lives wero lost at Antigua, although al
most every building in St. John’s was thrown
down.
At St. Eustntia tho damage was confined main
ly to buildings, some being very badly injur
ed.
At St. Christopher’s several of the public build-
lags were utterly destroyed. Only ono person
lost hor life, hut some others wero Imdly hurt*
At Nevis and St. Bartholomew’s tho earth open.
<d and water with a sulphurous smell issued from
the crevices.
Nothing fartl>er had been heard from Montser
rat.— Wuou last scat) the island was enveloped in
a dense cloud of smoke or dust. The sea around
was violently agitated.
At St. Vincent the shock was felt but slight-
iy-
Sr.coND Earthquake in tile Wert Indies.—Wo
learn trom Capt. Smith, of the sebr. Francis Cannady,
arrived yesterday morning, that a second shock of an
earthquake was experienced at the North part of Guad-
aloupe on the 3d inst. At the time tiie Captain of u
vessel off the North Point of the Island stated that il
shook with such severity, tha; it wus with difficulty tho
crow could keey their feet. A dense cloud of smoke
ascended from live vicinity of Bassaterre, and periods
fears was entertained for tiie safety of that place. It
•. as quite sickly at Point Petre, caused from the offca-
siveness of the mine of the town.*
The Comet recently seen at this place, was seen at
St. f l horaaa on the 2d of tin* present month ; it was so
brilliant as to cause ronrideraldc alarm to the inliubi-
tants. A shock of earthquake was also |felt at St.
Tnomas on the 5th Inst, about 9$ o’clock at night, No
material damage was done:
To Cure Siiebp Skins with the Wool on.—Tako
a spoontul of alum aud two ol saltpetre ; pulverize and
nux well together, then sprinkletho powder on the fle9li
side of the shn>, and lay the two flesh sides together,
leaving the woal outside. Then fold up the whole skin
ns tight as you can and hang in a dry place ; in two or
three days, as soon as dry, take down and scrape with a
blunt knife till clean and supie. This completes the
nrocess, ami makes you a most excellent saddle cover*
It when you kill your mutton you treat the skins in this
way, you can get more for them from the saddler than
you can for the wool and skin separately disposed of
otherwise.
N. il. oilier skins which you desire to cure w-ith tho
fur and hair on, may be treated in tho same way.
Selected.
An Earnest Prayer.—The following capital an
ecdote ia related of Col. Harry Babcock, late of ihe U.
S. Army, who was an educated man of brilliant ora
torical powers, though a somewhat eccentric person
age :—
On a certain time when bi« regiment was formed
for prayers, it was announced that the chaplain was
unable to attend through a sudden indisposition. Tho
colonei MMtnntiy ascended the drum pulpit, command
ed attention, assumed a reverential attitude, and burst
forth iu a strain of the most impassioned eloquence.—
Supplication for every earthly blessing, and the con.
version of both Jew and Gentile nation, were offered up
in a subhmityjof language aud manner never before
witnessed. 1 hen, after an appropriate pause, he pro
ceeded : “And for our enemies in particular, O, Lord
we beseech thee to hear our prayer, that they may see
the error of their ways and be speedily brought to a
sense of justice, in end of their oppressive and wicked
usurpations. But if not, (cl.angi,,. his voice and man
lier in a corresponding dej.-vi\) then, O, Lord, brace our
hearts, nerve our arms, and permit us to take vengeance
into our o,-n hands ;" l>tT6 # of a sudden bo cumo to nn
abrupt pause nf some few moments. Then breaking
forth anew, in a contrasted style of oratory, he added :
“But, O, L>rd, what shall wesay of those cursed In
dians?—Damn’em all. Amen” Tiie amen was rc-
sponfird lu ly every one, and fallowed by three, luud
huzzas.
AGf.m.—Wc find the billowing arithmetical toast,
by a schoolmaster, in one of our exchange papers—
•‘The fmr daughters of America—may they add virtue
to beauty, *<ubtract envy from friciidsbip, multiply amia
ble accomplishments by sweetness of temper, divide
tiim* by sort bility and economy,aud reduce scandal to
its Jow oat denomination.