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Commodore Porter, United States Navy.
This gallant officer, one ofilie bright luminaries
tlmt lend lo the page of American History u lustre
tuai relloels at oneo their country’s glory ami ilit'ii
own, was born in Boston, liu was tlio son ol* a
•• North-Endor,” and sprang from that hardy stock
whence emanated tho “ Liberty Boys,” the ** Tea
Puity,” the“ Minute Mon,” of tho earliest revolu
tionary times. •* The Sailor's Jmmo” is tho name
of a invent, which now stands on tin* spot, near
Hancock’s Wharf, where the future Commodore
first drew bicutlu ,
l'ho name of Porter first appears conspicuously
in tho history of tho American Navy, in toe year
1800, when a midshipman on hoard the “ ivvperi-
nicnt,” under the gallant Stewart, liu signalized
himself in the memorable action with the Preach
tnguto L’lnsurgcntc. liis stuiion in the engug -
meat was in the loretop, and such was his conduct
that the luck of influential friends alone is said to
have prevented Ills preferment. This, however,
was no*, long in coining. Merit like his coo. I not
ho disregarded in that infant day of our gallant
Navy. Upon Commodore Barron’s coming into
the command of the •* Constellation,”—Porter was
made lieutenant, and was appointed to the “Expert-
incut,” under Captain Matey, on the West India
station. On this station he signalized hiniscll hy
many exploits of cool bravery anJ gallantry. lie*
eeivmg from Captain Talbot the Command of the
•• Amphitrile,” a prize schooner with five gnus and
fifteen men, he captured a French privateer, heav
ily manned and armed, with much loss to the ene
my. and not any whatever to himself. This gave
him a name and a station in the Navy, which he
has never lost, but which in tho rapid progress of
advancement, identified him with the must gallant
spirits in that service.
At the period of tho declaration of war against
Ore.it Britain, in 1S12, we find Porter a captain, in
command of the “JEsstix” frigalo, 82 guns. After
the g orious capture of the “Gunmen*,” by “ Old
Irousiucs/’Capt. Bainbridgo (Captain Hull desir
ing to he relieved from that command,) was appoin
ted to thu latter, and a squadron was placed under
his command, consisting of the “Essex,” Porter,
and the “ Hornet,” Lawrence. This was in Sep*
tetuiier, lsl2. Buiuhridgo issued orders fur the
cruise, proscribing to Porter a certain course, at
tho end of which, not meeting with tho squadron
at a specified point, ho was to act at discretion.
Thus directed, Porter sailed from the Delaware on
the 27th of October, 1812, and commenced one ol
the most glorious cruises recorded in our Navy’s
•chronicles.
Under the letter of his instructions, he proceeded
from the Delaware to tho Brazil coast, capturing by
the wav an English packet, which yielded a large
amount in prize money. Tho vessel was sent to
the United States. He then scouted the coast to
the La Plata, and thence lor the Pacific, arriving
at Valparaiso, after a long succession of had weath
er,on the 141it of March, 1M3. Thence lie went
to the Chilian and Peruvian coasts, and encountered
a Peruvian Corsair, which ho ton’:, and among
whose prisoners ho found twenty.four Americans,
the crews of two whaling vessels taken on the coast
of Chili. Porter threw the pirate’s guns and am-
million overboard, and freed ttie prisoners. He
also recovered one of the slops taken hy the pirate,
as she was going into Lima.
He then pursued his meteor like course in the
Pacific, doing immense injury to the British com
merce in that ocean, capturing many valuable car-
goes, sending some of tho Prizes to the United
Stales, and lilting out others as consorts in his gal
lant cruise. With the stripes and stars at Ins rims!
head, lie carried ids little squadron into action, and
became a perfect scourge to the enemy in these
sens, by the rapid and during devastation commit
ted upon their commerce there. “A single frigate,”
says a recent writer, “was lording it over the Pa
cific, roving about that ocean in saucy defiance of a
thousand English ships, revelling in the spoils ol
boundless wealth, ai d almost banishing the British
flag from those regions, where it hud so long waved
proudly predominant.”
In vain were vessels afa r vessels sent forth in
pursuit of him. Ilis manner of cruising bailie l all
their attempts. No traces of his whereabouts »id
he leave, as now shooting into the open Son, and
now lurking among tho islands, keeping clear of
the coast, he kept all resmtich of the foe at hay, and
went on ull the time with his brilliant exploits, lie
took possession ol an island in the Pacific, called it
Madison’s, (after the then President,) fought* wiili
the natives, reduced thorn, repaired his ship, and
having quite refitted and restored her, sailed for the
Chilian const, in December, 1813. Thence he
went to Valparaiso, and there fell in with the Brit
ish Commodore llillyer, with two ships. As lie
went into the harbor, one of these vessels fell find
of tho “Essex,” and was at tho mercy of Porter.
The port was a neutral one, and bo did not avail
himself of this advantage, lie was us muguunim
ous as brave, and this conduct earned him the warn
acknowledgement of the British commander.
While in jvjit, the most social and friendly relations
subsisted between them and their crows.
The English Commodore put out of port, keep,
ing his ships together, to avoid a separate action,
and regularly blocking Porter at Valparaiso. In
vain did the latter try to get a fight out of either of
his foes singly. Hillyc-r kept them snug, determin
ed to give his enemy no advantage. At length, the
gallant Yankee “put out”; the foe bore down upon
him. anil after n most desperate struggle against a
far superior force, ids gallant frigate, so long the
terror and scourge of the British Lion, wus cap-
tured. His loss was tremendous. Nowhere in the
whole history of naval warfare is there any record
of an action more sanguinary, gallant, and ohstin-
tile. The battle was seen from the heights of Val
paraiso, and all tho sympathy of the spectators were
enlisted in the cause of the' brave commander and
crew of the gallant little frigate, defenclin,
herself so bravely against a greatly superior foe.
No battle ever fought upon the land or ocean
more strongly and satisfactorily illustrated tho true
courage which is innate in the AmcricQii charac
ter, than this same contest#!* the “Essex” with the
“Phebo” and “Cherub.” At its termination Por
ter was liberated on Ids parole, a.id returned, witu
tho remnant ol his devoted crew to tho United
States, in the “ Essex Junior.” Before he could
come into tho port of New York, another British
vessel overhauled him, and took him prisoner, thus
violating the terms of the parole.—Being there at
liberty to act ns he should find occasion, the intrep
id Purler found means io escape, landed on Long
Bland, and wns received by his fellow citizens with
enthusiastic and grateful warmth. He wus a hero
in their eyes, his exploits for tho last year having
filled all minds with the highest admiration of his
bravery and gallantry.
Tho subsequent career of Commodoro Porter w
familiar to ull our readers. Pcaco being ratified,
tho life of the most gallant of our navy wus thence
forth to derive its lustre by reflection from the past.
The hero of “the Saucy Essex.” had gathered a
harvest of laurels, upon which his fume could safe-
ly repose for ull time, and while he over stood rea-
dy to vindicate anew tho high nnrno his country had
ncquircd in urms, if need should he, ho yet needed
no new occasion to signulize his clnim to the re-
incmbraiice of posterity, as one of her most gallant
defenders.
Being appointed by his Government to a diplo
matic station, at Constantinople, he had resided
near that capital for several years, during which
time hi* had discharged ull the duties of his posi
tion acceptably, when on Friday, tiie 3rd of last
month, priciaely at meridian, lie breathed his lust,
in a laud of strangers, hut not without warm and
attached friends around him* to roceivo’his last ro
quests, and to perform for him tho la*t sad offices.
His disc use was pleurisy, and for some days prior to
)ijs decease, be had felt suro that that event wus
not distant. Letters from Constantinople, dated on
tho day of his death, inform us that it was his Inst
will that his body should be buried at the foot of the
American Ang.staff*. How like tho last request of
ilia compeer, the gallant Lawrence, that that flag
should be his shroud I
A deep grave was accordingly prepared beneath
tho waving of tho batnior of his couniiy; tho di- j Curious Pact.— I lie efficacy ol siik in repel-
plontulic corps resident at tno Turkish capital, with ling a musket or pistol shot, has frequently been
all the Americans in that port, followed the re- i niudo a subject ol doubt and discussion. NVo have
mains thither, ami the earth now covers them. But j lately met with what wo conceive to he a stron
will they he permitted to remain there ? No! Tin
grateful country, for which the brave Captain fought
so long and so well, w ill never permit Ids horn s to
lie in a foreign soil.—The remains of tho gallant
dead belong to tho laud that has so much reason to
bo proud of tho deeds of tho living hero ; and tho
period, wr feel assured, is not far distant, when that
country wi!* reclaim them, and lay them to rest, un-
.til thu last trumpet shall sound, within tho giccn
and peaceful bosom of that fren home, which his
youth and manhood so gallantly defended.
Hi- -plnmliil M. |iitfvonn*nts shall lout: Htiinjr tho nmes
Of nil tv In* i li*» I’li'Kongs uf l‘'ii'i'i|ntii inherit;
A 'i t hU hi* i!»«* honor* such merit i|i**rrv»**,
Amlileitr InVncIi linponi hi* (Jvuth-il.irin^ spirit!
high sliuni sli.ill Riirliinnu'iif*iiiniiitniii,
mu I'liitmliii tin in to Tiiiu’’* hitesi roimi ; ,
*••«. in ihr Rtory,our Hoii’-slinll iispirn
:h deed..,—uml to glow with niic.h fire !
iV. V'. Aurora,
And Art*.
While, ii
Lord Chief Justice Jlnus'ictd on Insanity.
demonstration of repelling force in a late publica
tion, byu medical officer of the army, Dr. Adam
Neale, which derives additional interest from tho
celebrity of tlm person principally concerned-:—
A very promising young officer of Engineers ;
with whom I lived inhabits of the greatest iutima-
cy and friendship, while employed in repairing tho
hrcachus of Ciudad Rodrigo, consulted me res
pecting an obstinate headache and giddiness, which
l found was principally occasioned by his wearing
a Mlill*black leather stock. 1 earnestly recommend-
ed him to lay it aside, which he tcnncii usly declin
ed ; when as a farther inducement I told him that
in the event of substituting a black silk handker
chief, it might one day preserve his life, ns silk
would certainly turn a ball which might penetrate
leather. At length ho complied, and, as I predic
ted, his headache left him. We soon after sepnr*
i nted, he going to the light division, and my station
! being with Lord Hill. The campaign commenced,
and in a few weeks I learned with the greatest
grief, that my gallant friend had fallen at the head
of the first storming party at St. Sebastian. 1 was
then stationed at Rcsimzc, many leagues distant.
As I believed him dead, my surprise and joy were
great cm receiving a letter from him sonic weeks af
terwards, acquainting mo that when on tho very
iacis. he had been wounded wi.h a ball hy a man
At the trial of Bellingham for the murder of Mr.,
Perceval, Lord Chief Justice Mansfield addressed
the jury, alter the evidence for the proset utiou and
the defence Imd been concluded to the following
ellect : “lit? commenced by observing to them
that they had now to trv an indictment which charg
ed tho prisoner at the bar with thu wilful murder
<d Mr. S, m.cer Perceval, wlm was murdered with j S^wnll^
a pistol loaded with a bullet. \\ hen he mentioned , c . ( | j„ profusion from his mouth and nostrils ; ono
and s
evered ns that
the mime of a man
of Mr. Spence
suppress his nv
tiny thing of the distinguished talents
that amiable mail might tend lo excite
emotions in the minds of the jury, ho should with
bold tltmo feelings which pressed for utterance
from his heart, and leave them to form t eir judg.
. of his own corps drugged him immediately into tho
Perceval, he louml it difficult lo « tnsn eli. He was carried to Ills quarters, and the
feelings. As, however, to say j wound on examination, was pronounced mortal;
I virtues of; tho ball not being found, was supposed to have
improper | lodged in the neck, lie lived, however, for three
; days, and no bad symptoms coming on, tho stir-
I geous began to doubt the accuracy of their opin
ions. The -sapper who saw him tall was examined*.
"poll the t.viileiicu whiuli Imd lieen adduced j u, nsccimii. wheilu r ho hiul suimi llio bullel; wliiclt
in support of ihe ease, imlnased hy any unfair in* was instantly produced from his waistcoat pocket.
diguatiou which they might feel against his murdc
cr, by any description, however faint, of the excel
lent qualities of the deceased. They were to try
tlio unfortunate man at the bar in thu snmu man
ner as if lie were arraigned for tho murder of any
other man. Tho law protected tho lives of all his
saying, that untying Mr. Reid’s silk handkerchief,
lie found part of it carried into tiie wound, and us
ing n little forco in withdrawing it, the ball came
out with it; nut a single thread of tho silk hand-
kerchief having given way, as appeared on exam
ination. Mr. Reid recovered.and is now a Lieu-
M 'jesiy s subjects alike, and the crime was thu tenant Colonel in the nrmv, and Governor of the
same whether committed upon the person of the
highest and most distinguished character in the
country or upon thut of the lowest. Tho only
question they had to try was, whether the prisons
Bermudas.— Glitscow Courier %
Scriptural Illustrations.—The Arabs of tho
Desert commonly clothe themselves also in rnauu-
did wilfully and maliciously murder Mr. Spencer faetures of camel’s hair; and tho article most
Perceval or not ? it was not necessary to go very | prized by them is the “ Imik,” or cloak of that ma-
minuiely into tho evidence which had been prnduc- ! torinl. It is either black or white, with or without.
ed to the fact, as there wns little doubt ns
main object of their inquiry. The first thing
proceeded to read the testimony given by the su
oral witnesses examined. That of Mr. W. Smith, the sumo description
Surgeon Lynn,and Mr. Burgess,clearly suhstanti- j his favorite child. \V
the j broad stripes ; it consists of u square piece with
they ; holes for the arms, and has no seam. The Druses
had to say was, whether the poison charged with of Lebanon, and the people of Mesopotamia, noi
having murdered .Mr. Perceval had so murdered : only wear a coat which is “ without a seam,” but.
him 1 and whether that murder had been commit- ■ “of many colors,” having variegated stripes pro-
led with a pistol bullet ? The learned Judge then cceding lo a point downwards from the shoulders,.
reversed pyramid. This is believed to be of
that bestowed hy Jacob on
: are informed that our Sa
uted the fact that tho deceased had died m consc- j viour also wore “ a coat w ithout scam, woven from,
quence of a pistol bullet which had been dischurg- « thu lop throughout,” and that, in the wilderness,,
ed into his breast, and that the hand of tho prisoner j *St. John “ had his raiment ofcamd’s hair, and a.
was the hand which had discharged that weapon, leathern girdle about his loins.” The**Suckelodt”'
Wit'u respect to the deliberation that Imd been > of the Scriptures was a similar manufacture, but.
proven by other witnesses, from what he could col- of the roughest and coarsest kind, like that wtuch.
lec*. from tho prisoner’s defence, it seemed to ' is worn bv dervishes and reputed saints. It is still
amount to a conclusion that lie conceived himself
justified in wliut ho hud done, hy his Majesty’s Go-
vernmeni having refused to redress sonic supposed
grievances. Such dreadful reasoning could not he
too strongly reprobated. If u man fancied he was
right, and in consequence conceived that if that fan
cy was not gratified he hud a right to obtain justice
by any means which his physical strength gnve
him. there was no knowing where so pernicious a
doctrine might end. By the same reason every
used for sacks and tentcovers. Wo can ea sily
understand the necessity of a girdle; no pemous
with loose flowing robes can enmmo in active oc
cupations without first “girding up the loin?!”—
thut is, taking up a portion of their dresses on t of
thetr way. *5 jiiio lay aside their outer guru lent
for tiie time: others prepare lo put forth their
strength by fastening ti hell or girdle round the
waist, mid by laying bare the arms to tho shoul dors.
. Thus Elijah “girded up bis loins, ami ran before
person who presided in a court of justice in the j Alia!) to Jezrucl,” and tlm sacred writings a tiound
country, who might refuse to meet the wishes of a in passages nv
passage
ph\ i Hi if, would bo liable to revenge equally ntroei- , those who
ous. hi another purl of the prisoner’s dele
which was not, however, urged hy himself, it
attempted to l>o proved that at the- time of the com
vhieh. lik
this, illustrate tho habits of
mini costume.
$ | A Second Pocahontas.—Tiie Committc o on
. | Indian Allaiis in the late l louse of Represents \tives
sion of the crime he was insane. With respect j 1‘uported a hill allowing a pension ior life to A liliy.
lo this the law was extremely clear, it a man
deprived ol all power of reasoning, so as nut to he
j an Indian woman, of tiie Creek tribe, dnughu r of
the celebrated prophet and chief Francis, who was
able to distinguish whether it was right or wrong ! executed by order of Gen. Jackson in tho Sciu inolo
to commit tfie most wicked or the most innocent j wai ’ °! 18i7-’l 8. I ho subject was brought to tho
transaction, lie could not certainly c rnirnit nil net I notice of the Committee hy tho Secretary of War
gainst the law. Such a man, so destitute of all
power of judgment could have no intention .it all-
in order to support this defence, however, it ought
to be proved by the most distinct and miqucsiionu- v^rnmont was founded.
at the instance of Lieut. Col. Hitchcock,
communicated the puticulnrs of tho incident upon
which the recommendation to the favor of the Go-
able evidence that the criminal was incapable of
judging between right or wrong. It must, in fact,
be proved beyond all doubt, that at the time he com
mitted the atrocious net with which he stood charg
ed he did not consider minder was a crime against
the laws of God and nature. There was no other
proof of insanity which could excuse murder or
any other crime. There were various species of
insanity. Some human creatures were void of nil
power of reasoning from their birth ; such could not
ho guilty of any crime. There was another spe
cies of madness, in which persons were subject to
temporary paroxysms, in which they were guilty of
nets of extravagance ; this was called lunacy. If
these persons committed u crime when they were
not a fleeted with the malady, they wore to nil in-
tents and purposes, amenable to justice. So long
as they could distinguish good Irom evil, so long
would they he answerable for their conduct. There
was a third species of insanity, in which the patient
fancied the existence of injury, and sought unoppor*
tunity of gratifying revenge hy some hostile act. If
such a person was capable, in other respota, of di
Milly, at the age of sixteen, when her no tion
was at war with the United States, and her father
was one of the most decided and iudefatighle en
emies of tho white people, saved the life of an
American citizen who had been taken prisoner by
her tribe. The captive was bound to a tree, and
the savage warriors, with their rifles, were dauc ing
around him, preparatory to putting him to dcst'h.
Tho young Indian girl filled with pity for the do vo
ted prisoner besought her father to spare him;
hut tiie Chief declined lo interfere, saying that the
life of the prisoner was in the hands of his cap*
tors, whose right it was to put him to death.—h’iie
then turned to the wurriors and implored them it-
forbear thetr deadly purpose ; but she was repair
ed ; and one of them, much enraged, told her that,
he hud lost two sisters in tho war, and that the
prisoner must die. Her intercession however con
tinued : she persevered in entreaties, and used all
the arts of persuasion which her woman’s nature
suggested ; and she finally succeeded in saving his
file on condition that the young white man should
adopt the Indian dress, and become one of tho
Anguishing right from wrong, there wns no excuse | tribe,
for any act of atrocity which he might commit un-| It apponrs from the information communicated
dor tins description of derangement. Tho wit- i by Col. Hitchcock thut sometime afior this event
nesses who had been called to support this extrnur* j tlco white man sought his benefactress in marriage,
dinary defence had given a very singular account, I but she declined, and subsequently married one of
in order to show that at the time of tho commission I her own people. Her husband is oonv dead. Her
of the crime tho prisoner wns insane. What might father was put to death in the war of 1817,-*18.
have been the stute of his mind some time ago wus I and her mother and sister have since died. Sim
perfectly immaterial. Tho single question was, is now friendless and poor, residing amongst her
whether at tho time this net was committed he pos*
eased a sufficient degree of understanding to dis
j people in their new country. i:eur the mouth of Ver-
| digris river. Sho has three children, a hoy and
tiuguish good from evii, right from wrung, and j two girls, nil too young to provide for themselves*
whether murder was a crime not only a gainst the j and const quoutly dependent upon their mother for
law of God, but against the law ol his country ? i support.
Here it appeared that the prisoner had gone out i The Committee thought that the occasion pro*
like another; thut ho came up to London by | seuted by this case wasu suitable one, not only to
himself Christmas Inst; flint no medical vnun find reward a meritorious act, but nlso to show to the
attended him to cure bis malady ; that he was per- ! Indian tribes how mercy and Immunity are uppre-
Icctly regular in all bis habits ; in short, there was cinted by tho Government. Tho grant of n pen—
no one proof adduced lo slmw that ids understan
ding was so deranged as not to enable him to
know that murder wns tt crime. On the contra
ry, the testimony adduced in his defence hail
most distinctly proved from a description of his
general demeanor, that he was in every respect
a full and competent judge of ull his actions.
Having then commented on the evidenoe of Mrs.
Clarke, Mrs. Billet, and Mary Fnlgeon, his Lord-
ship concluded by exhorting the Jury to take all
the facts into their most serious consideration.
If they Imd any doubt, they would give the prist,
oner the benefit of that doubt; hut if they con.
hidored him guilty of the crime alleged against
him, in that case they would find him guilt).”
London Paper*
“Aro you fond of painting ?” asked a blue stock
ing of a gentleman. “Not very,” said ho. “Oh
1 delight in the art,” said the blue. “Do you paint
yourself ?” was the return question. Tho lady
couldn't blush.
A lady requested a friend of ours to tell her to
what order of natural history man wus usually as
signed. Hoof course unswerea her philosophi
cally, and desired her to give him woman’s loca-
lion. “Oh” said she with a smile, “man embraces
woman."—Exchange paper.
It is said that a corset hoard supports and strong-
thens the chest of a lady. If so. it may be proper
ly termed thu “ board of health.”
with a clear exposition of the grounds of its.
allowance, would have a salutary influence, it was
believed, upon savage customs in future. A bill
was accordingly reported to allow to Milly a pen
sion of $t)(i per an..urn, or eight dollars per mouth
for life,—Baltimore American.
Improve your lands and your cultivation ; culti
vate no more land than is rich enough to give back
a profit upon the labor of cultivation. .Make all
the manure you can. Carry into your farm ynnja
corn stalks, weeds, leaves, and every tiling that is
convertible into manure. Sprinkle over this lit-
lor, when first spread over the yard, some lime or
plustcr, if you have it; or, if not, save ull your ash.
os, (do this at any rate.) keep it under cover un-
leached, and use it as a substitute. Renew this
litter, from time to time as may he necessary, turn
«iver the whole mass two or three times during tho
winter, and in tl.o spring yon nn II have n large sup.
ply of good manure, which plough in, if used for
corn, hut not too (loop. Cover the yard again with
litter after tlm manure is carried out. Shelter
vour stock as well as you possibly can. Raise ut
least ns much ns will supply your own wants—of
hogs especially—keep them well; they will pay
well fur it.
The Mobile Herald takes ground in defence of
the Indies* corsets. It says, a corset board supports
mid strengthens the chest of it ladv. Thai may be
tlm case, Imt wo know it plays the mischief with
their trunks, causing them to waste away rapidly.
Napoleon’s Opinion of the Saviour.—A for-
eign journal lately published a conversation, rela
ted by Count do 71/onlholon, tho faithful friend of
the Emperor Napoleon.
“ I knew men,” said Napoleon, “ and I tell you
that Jesus is not man ! Tno religion of Christ is n
mystery which subsists by its own force, and pro*
coeds from a mind which is not a human mind. We
find it in u marked individuality, which originated
a train ol words und actions unknown before.
Jesus borrowed nothing from our knowledge. He
exhibited in himself a perfect example of his pre
cepts. Jesus is not a philosopher, Ibr his proofs
are miracles ; and from the first his disciples ador
ed him. In fact, learning and philosophy are of
no use for salvation ; and Jesus came into the
world to reveal thu mysteries of heaven and the laws
of the Spirit.
“ Alexander, Cajsnr, Charlemagne*, and myself,
founded empires ; hut on what foundation did we
rest the creations of our genius? Upon force.—
Jesus Christ nlouo founded his empire upon looc\
ami at this hour, millions of men would die for
him.
“ I die before my time, and my body will ho given
back to the earth, to become food for the worms.
BiicIi is tho fate of him who lias been called the
great Napoleon. What an abyss between my deep
mystery and the eternal kingdom of Christ, which
is proclaimed, loved nud adored, and which is ex*
tending over tho whole earth.—Call yc this dying?
Is it not living rather ?”
The Approach of Insanity.—Tho management
of the early stage of insanity requires on the part
of the physician great delicacy, discrimination and
judgment under these circumstances, where the
brain is in an irritable condition, and the mind is
struggling between sanity and insanity, tho per
son being conscious that his “ wits” are beginning
“ to turn,” the moaicnl attendant should proceed
cautiously in his oxnminat ion. If the patient is led
to believe, from tho conduct of the physician, or
from anything which falls from him, that derange
ment of mind is suspected, tho most painful and
disastrous consequences may ensue. In tho early
stugeof insanity the patient’s suspicions are mor-
bidiy excited. He has a dread of “ going mad,”
expresses a horror of such u calamity, ami often
most positively refuses to allow himself lo be ques-
tinned on tho subject of his licnlth. Should the pa
tient believe that he is suspected to be deranged,
he will sometimes exhibit great violence and ex
citement, and denounce his friends and family,
charging them with a conspiracy against his life
and liberty.—F. Winslow's Health of Body and
Mind.
Signs in the Heavens.—-The attention of our
citizens wns arrested on Saturday morning by tbe
singular appearance of a narrow luminous cloud,
which seemed to describe a great circle in the ce
lestial concave. extending from the zenith in oppo
site directions, NV. N. XV. and E. S. E., to the
horizon* XVc first noticed it about half past nine
o’clock, when tho borders of tho cloud were very
distinct. It was afterwards wafted gradually
from t'jo zenith, in a Northern direction, becom
ing more and more confused till its Western quad-
rant disappeared, and, at half-past ten, it would not
have attracted attention from its singularity. It
being the day before 23d of April, tho Milloritos
doubtless regarded the omen as “confirmation
strong” of their apprehensions. The phenomenon
wns very generally observed , hut ns a like state
of the atmosphere has heretofore produced similar
appearances, the attention it excited is attributable
in no small degree to the predictions of Futhcr
Miller.—N. Y. Jour, of Com.
The Retort Courteous.—Mr. Everett, our
present Minister to England, delivered an oration
he loro the I’hi Beta Kappa Society at Cambridge,
at tlieir annual celebration’ll few years ago, and,
after the public exercises were over, the Society
had u dinner, ns is usual on such occasions. Judge
Story, who presided at the tuhlcs, is said to have
proposed tho following sentiment, after the
cloth was removed, in compliment to tho ora
tor ;
“ Tho Orator of the day : Applause follows
tlm footsteps of fame wheremr it (Fvorctt)
goes.”
This directed the attention of the whole company
to Mr. Everett, who immediately rose and made
the following very happy retort :
“The Members of the Legal Profession ; How-
soever lofty their aspirations may be, they never
can rise higher than o/ic Story."
If you can, grind ail the corn fed to your stock.
Cut up your long forage also, und mix for horses
und mules. Evenjshticks, where there is nothing
else, or whore fodder, oats, and hay, are saleable,
cut and moistened with salt-water some hours be
fore feeding, arc excellent to mix with ground stuff
of any kind.
If the cob he ciushcd and ground with the corn, a
mixtuie nfone third or one half of good wheat bran
is recommended.
A Fragment.—1 saw a pule mourner stand
bending over the tomb, and his tears fell fast and
often. As he raised his humid eyes to heavtm, lie
cried.
“My brother!—oh, my brother !”
A sage passed thut way, and said,
“For whom dost thou mourn ?”
“One.” replied he, “whom I did not sufficiently
love while living; hut whose inestimable worth I
now feel.”
“Wliat wouldst thou do, if ho were restored to
thee ?”
The mourner replied, “that he would never of
fend him by an unkind ivord, but would take eve
ry oceusiou to show his friendship, if he could hut
come buck to his fond embrace.'
“Then waste not thy time in useless grief.” said
the sage ; “but, if thou bust friends, go and cher
ish the living, remembering that they will one day
he dead also.”
A factVor the curious—A fact worthy of in-
vostigution by those who are curious in «uch mat
ters, has lately come under our observation : it i»
this.
If the most delicate plants are kept covered they
will endure repeated and severe freezings without
the least injury. Wo had two very tender plants
of the same kind in the lute severely cold weather,
one of them was frozen, without having been cov
ered, and not withstanding ull the remedies in such
cases usually applied, it drooped and died ; the
other was covered with a glass tumbler inverted
over it anil fitted closely at thu bottom. This was
suflered to remain over the plant tiil it hud coin-
oletely thawed, and it was not in the least injured.
It has been frozen nud thawed in the same manner
several times, und yet looks as fresh ls ever.
Never having been inflated into tbe mysteries of
philosophy, wo ure nimble to give a scientific ex
planation of the reasons of this diflcrcncc in the ef
fect of cold on the plant that was covered and the
one that was not.
Church Pew.—In the practice of politely how.
ing strangers out of a pew where there is still room
to spare, is tnere nut a lack of even worldly court
esy? “Have you* not mistaken the pew, sir?”
blandly said one of those Sunday Chesterfields, as
w ith emphatic gracefulness, lie opened the door.
“I beg pardon,” replied tho stranger, rising to go
out; “i fear 1 luvu. 1 look it fora Christian’s.”
JV. V. American,
Truk.— No matter how wealthy n young man
may be, he should engage in some useful business
—otherwise his gold will be the curse of his exis
tence. Better for him a thousand times that he
drank the cup of poverty to its very dregs. A
contented m ini cun sweeten the bitterest portion.
A minister at a camp meeting, said, “if the lady
with the blue hat, red hair and cross eyes, don’t
stop talking, she will be pointed out to tile congre
gation.”
New York, ipril 29.
Still Later from Washington—Tc Ministry
clearing up.—Our accounts from WuslLigtou last
evening begin to bo u little more consisted and pro.
bablo, relative to tho changes in the culinct—tho
“ where ahull I go”of Mr. Webster—tht position
of Captain Tyler—nud tho general policy of the
administration.
Wo now learn from several sources, hat Mr.
Webster will leave thu cabinet on the 1h or tho
15th of May, or thereabouts—that he will ntui n to
Massachusetts, and probably retire a few inoiths to
the private wulks of Marshfield, to catch fi*h and
make chowder. 11 Mr. Everett should go to China
or to France, then Mr. Webster muy go toEng-
land, and endeavor to negotiate a commercial lieu-
ty, or international tarifl*—and also try tosottli the
Oregon question. At all events, Mr. Wehsterwill
ko« p aloof from tho contest of the next Presideicy,
and 1)0 ready to enter the field thereafter on his jwii
hook.
Mr. Lcgaro, of Sou'll Carolina, will assume the
seals of the Stale Department ad interim, until a
successor is chosen, which may not be till uutumn.'
or the meeting of the next Congress.
Mr. Fletcher Webster, tho Under Secretary of
State, has been appointed Secretary of the Chinu le
gation ; and it is said that Edward Curtis, Esq., of
this city, the Collector of the port, will receive the
appointment of Minister to the Celestial empire,
thus giving the President an opportunity to renovate
and renew the w hole Custom House of New York.
Mr. Curtis prefers this to the uncertainty of hold
ing the office of Collector.
Il is now certain that the *;tnr of John C. Spencer
is the “lord of the ascendant,” and that a general
infusion of the “ young democracy” will he made
into all the government oflices in New York—Cus-
tom House, Post Office, Navy Yard, and therea
bouts. We look for wonders in a few days.
In tho meantime, preparations arc making by tho
“young democracie,” who buvo been badly treated
by the Van Huron men, to hold a public meeting,
and have a grand celebration over the departure of
Daniel Webster for Marshfield. It will be as great
a rejoicing as that which Phuroah and the Egypt
ians held over tlie departure of the Israelites out of
Egypt. Prepare for signs and wonders.—Herald.
Result of Industry.—The Goddard estate was
recently sold at auction for ninety.two thousand
dollars, to u citizen of Boston who commenced bu
siness us a tailor, and for a long time kept what i9
called a “slop shop” in Ann-sl. lie was asked,
after the sale, if he would like a part of tho amount
mentioned to rcniuin on mortgage, and he answer
ed in the negative, and in his rough,ofThand man-
ner, inquired whether ho should give a check for
the nineiy.two thousand, or the hills. As in these
perilous times the bills were deemed to be quite ns
good as tuilors checks, they were preferred, and the
tailor immediately proceeded toStnte-st. presented
his check for the ninety.two thousand—received
ninety-two bills of the denomination of one thou
sand each, and trudged back to pay the amount for
the Goddard estate, which is now his property-
Such is sometimes the result of industry and per-
veranee.—Boston Bulletin.
Death of Mr. Daniel.—Ii becomes our pain
ful duty to record tho fatal result of the accident
to which we alluded in our paper of lust week.—
On Thursday last the unfortunate young man had
sufficiently recovered to enable him to be removed
from the American Hotel to the residence of Dr.
John Wingfield, where he received every attention
that even parental solicitude could have suggested.
So general was the opinion that he was fast reco.
vering, that during the past week inquiries were
less frequently made hy our deeply sympathising
citizens, as to his condition, and it was not until af
ter his brother hud loft on Thursday evening, to
visit his sick family in Greene, that his symptoms
became alarming. 1 le expressed himself sensible
of his impending death on yesterday morning, from
which time until noon he lingered with great suf
fering, and died ut about half past one o’clock.—
From the first, his physicians were apprehensive
of dnngcr from tho injury he had received in tho
lung*, which fears were but too sadly realized.
Wo understand the deceased will be conveyed to
his father's residence, in Greene, for burial.
Southern Miscellany.
Endowing A Cat.—Miss Larato Tapping, an
English spinister, who recently died, left the fol
lowing clause in her obituary papers for the benefit
of three well beloved cats :
“1 will and bequeath that thero shall bo raised
from the most unencumbered part of my property,
a fond of which tbe annual income shall he nt least
800 francs, (about 8100 ; which income shall oe
placed quarterly in the hands of a person to be
named m a codicil to this my will, or by my exe
cutors if I should omit it, for the purpose of main
taining and taking care of my three cats, known
under the name9 of Nina, Fanfan ami Mimi, or
such others as I shall have at the time of my
death.” “This income shall ho so set apart us
long as either of tho aforesaid cats shall live. My
executors shall he empowered in a case of any neg
lect or ill usage of those amiable animals, to with-
draw their pension and their persons fr<»m the care
of the individual abusing this sacred trust, und
confide them to more philofelinc hands.”
Life in Boston.—Another “Battle,"—Wo clip
the following from tho second edition of the Mail of
Thursday, Mr. Henry A. Fenton, merchant, in the
Amory Hall block, was assaulted near the Old
Lain!) Tavern, about 3 o’clock, by a Mr. H. O.
Wood, Copt. Bascoin, and others, and severely
beaten him with a cowhide. A great crowd of
persons almost instantly collected, among the num-
her. John Blake, Esq., of the firm of Kittrcdge &
Blake, who, seeing how the mutter stood, nobly
interfered, und seizing the cowhide, wrested it
from thu hands of Mr. Wood, und applied it right
and left to Wood, Bascom, Asc., Ate., scattering the
whole party, and ending the affray in handsome
st) le.
Imprisonment for Dept-—We have always consid
ered this relic of barbarity, that ought not to be tolera
ted in a Christian land, ami the more we think on the
sub net, the more firmly arc we impressed with the cru
el and oppressive character of the laws which sanction
it. Personal Liberty is one of the highest enjoyments,
ns well as one of the most sacred rights of a Freeman.
Confinement by disease for days, ana weeks, and months
though grievous on his own account, is not felt like Im
prisonment inflicted as a forfeiture or a penalty, when
the body is in health, and the muscles in full discip
line. The former is endured as a corporal evil only ;
but in the latter case, “the iron enters tbe soul"—the
fetters arc upon the will; the mind, itself, is circum
scribed within the walls.
B inaparte, with the range of an Island, the revenue
of a Province, and thu honors of an Emperor to minis-
ter to bis comfort, to gralily liis appetite, and to flatter
Ins vanity, was, perhaps, the most unhappy being that
ever lived. And why ! Because there was a defined
limit to Ins personal liberty, and that limit shut up Ins
amt)it ion, has desires, and Ins hopes, within a compass
winch lie culd measure with Ins eye. lie felt as if ho
was impaled upon the rock of *St. Helena, because he
could do more quit it, than the man who is stretched
upon a gallows, can descend from that situation.
If personal liberty then, be so dear and precious,
that the light of our eyes, the vigor of our limbs, the
heahh of our frames, nay life itself, in many instances,
be little esteemed in comparison with it—surely, sure
ly, it ought not to be lightly taken away, nor m any case
whatever, ought tho misery of restriction to he aggra
vated by any evil not indispcumbiy connected w ith tho
thing Usell.—Raleigh Register.
Personal Courage.—Here are two or three sensi
ble remarks on tins subject:—Personal courage in a
powriful man scarcely commands our admiral ion, not
only trom its being ho common, and because il seems
to be only a natural sense ol bodily superiority which it
costs little to exhibit, but because it might generally
be displayed with safety ; but whore it m unsup|K>rted
by physical strength—where it is the triumph ol a gal-
lant spirit over a feeble franc—the very danger that
accompanies its exertion enhances its merit, and in
creases the respect with which we contemplate it. Had
Grace Darling's intrepidity hi saving tho fives of the
shipwrecked sailors been exhibited by an old mariner,
•t would have excited comparatively but hale alien-
tion.
GREAT FIRE AT W1L9INGTON, N. C.
Chronicle Office, April hOtk)
4 o'clock, P. M, 1 1
An extensive and valuable portion of our unfortunate I
town has been within tho past few hours laid m r m M
by a fire—protiablv the most calamitous ono ihat ever
visited it. At least two hundred buildings wc tlttwkuf
every kind are destroyed, besides an iminvnsn dealof I
property of o her kinds. Between 11 and tu day I
whilst a very heavy gale of wind was blowing front tlm I
South, the greater part of the inhabitants hem-rat || |1? I
i engaged at tho Clin relies, the roof of °tlio 0 !41
•bou.-e known aw McKay’s,* on the alley North of I
tbe Bank at Cape Fear, was discovered to tn> on ti rP I
Almost immediately tbe flames took hold ol other«v*ood! I
on buildings near by, and swept in a few minutes aj r o»i I
Princess Street, to tho dwellings of Mrs. Hobcat.n, Mr I
Anderson, and Mr Calder, when nil hope was ion of I
saving any of the Northern part of the town above those I
points, between Front and Water and Front and Sev I
und street. Onward and onward the flames protrre,,.
ed, leaping from building lo building with fearful ra* l
piditiy. In two hours from the time the alarm wasim. I
en, the lire had reached the Railroad Depot building/ I
a distance of three eighths of a mile from where it I
commenced. Between Princess street and die Hail. I
road, and speond street and the river, not more than JI
dozen buildings are left standing. On the upper I
w harves there was an immense quantity of couiitrr I
produce, such as naval stores, lumber &c., all of winch I
was destroyed. Many families lost the whole of i| )eir I
furniture, others a part. We do not think there was a I
very great value in merchandize destroyed, the greater!
part being got out, as the stores were not so directly m |
the range of the fire as the dwelling houses. AJanvof |
the houses were among the best in town, and a very |
large proportion were valuable ones.
The los< by this dreadful fire is estimated at 8800-
000. There is insurance to the extent of 8100,000 as
is supposed leaving a sad deficit to he homo bv nvu'ea. I
izens, under all tho other depressing circumstances of I
the times. 1
All the Railroad Depot buildings of every descrip. I
tion, including live Locomotives, some cars, the bridge |
over the ravine, and two or three hundred yards of th* I
road whore there were several trachs were’ destroyed I
Books and papers saved 1
Rail Road Meeting.—A Rail Road Meeting u.
held in tins place on the 27th mst. in pursuanccof the I
notice given m our last week’s paper. It organized by [
calling Dr. Miller, to the Chair, and appointing Mr. I
Nathan Yarborough, Becielary. Tin* meeting xv as ad. |
dressed hy the Chairman, and Messsre. A. J. Han. I
sell, Latham, Irwin, J. W. M. Berrien, am] Brown, 1
Esqrs. Their remarks elicited a lively attention, and l
i*e are sure that our fellow citizens wul recollect with I
ratitude’ the cheerfulness, ability and zeal, with which, I
those especially, who had no immediate interest in our I
Rul Road, advocated and enforced its importance; I
The result has been most satisfactory. At the clo«i I
of the meeting, the grading of about two thirds of ifo I
road, and several miles of superstructure, was under- [
taken by perfectly able and relyable citizens, ami Me I
feel a perfect assurance that the work of construction I
will be immediately commenced. The entire length I
of the Rail Road is only 17j miles. The grading*n [
of tho most easy description. By unity, energy, and |
determination, the whole can be accomplished in a
twelvemonth. This will not only add a few nulct o(
Rul Rond to that already in progress in the state, but I
w ill connect with the Rail Roads of Georgia one of the I
most beautiful rivers in the Southern Statos. Wean. I
ticipalc with confidence that in Irt 1-4 an internal coiu. I
muuication from Savannah, and in all probability Char. I
lesion, will be in successful operation to tho Ten [
Island-shoals upon the Coosa River in Alabama. Tli* I
prospect is most cheering, and when we consider bow I
much has been done, ami how little yet remains to do, I
w e are certain it is not delusive.—Georgia (Rmr,) I
Courier,
Wealth in Boston.—The Roston Courier thu |
speaks of the amount of taxation in that city :
The highest amount of teal estate taxed to one con. I
corn is loan individual, 8001,000, who is also taxed tor I
8300,000 personal property ; the second on the list iu I
orporation 8572,000, the third is to an individual,
8187,000, w ho is partner in a firm whose personal os-1
is valued at 8100,000; the fourth is an individual I
8175,100 nud he pays tax on 840,000 personal property, I
besides his share ol the personal and real estate of a firm I
of which he is a partner, amounting to 805,000.
On real estate there are seventy seven individual)
and companies taxed for more than 8100,000.
There are fifty two individuals and companies taxed I
for over 8100,000 prrsonnl estate, in addition to real I
estate, and the highest on the list is n trust amounting I
to 8500,01)0 ; the second is a firm in meri’miti'e .hum-1
ness whose property is estimated al 8150,000; two |
brothers are taxed 8250,000 each, besides for real cs. |
tale, ami a third brother of the saint family for
000.
Cure for the Cataract in the Eye.—The roof of I
the weed commonly called the devil's shoestring, soak-1
ed in water and used as a wash, will cut tiie film I
(called cataract) oil’the eyes of man or beast, morel
effectually than the surgeon's knife, without pain, mi I
or apprehension.”
“The Unity of the I’auty.”—Tho breach between
the Cailioun and Van Burcn interest may he regarded
as now fairly accomplished. Neither parly will yield.
Both arc resolute hi favor of their peculiar candidate*.
The Federal Union and other Calhoun papers have be-
gun to turn upon the Globe and vice versa the Gld*
with all the authoritalivenoas of a Democratic oiaclc.
levels its scarcely concealed indignation against da-
seniors. These two grand divisions cannot remain for*
ever opposed. They cannot either of them oppose sing
ly, nor both together, trio Whig party. We have ever
predicted that the so called Democratic party lias scf-
the acme of its prosperity. That school has nursed too
many ambitious men, whose sole end and aim is polit
ical life. Tlmy cannot all be gratified under the Ik*
public as it is. The Democratic party will find enough
to do to furnish forth from its ranks supporters for Ty
ler, Calhoun and Van Burcn.—Sac. Rep.
Marriage Extraordinary.—There aro few of ocr
readers m this city or in any of the principal towns'J
the country, who have not soon the famous united broth
ers, the Siamese twins. They have been residing '
several years past in North Carolina, where they put-
chased a plantation. We had not hoard of them for*
long tune, when wc received a letter yesterday from «
correspondent in North Carolina, informing us that th*
had entered into a state of double blessedness. Gur
correspondent says:
“On Thursday, April 13th, married at Wilkes Co.
N. G\, by Elder Culhy Sparks, of the Baptist. Church*
Messrs. Chang and Eng, the Siamese twin brother/,
Misses Sarah and Adeline, 'daughters of Mr. B® VI ^
Yeates, of Wilkes, Co, N. C. Whether thu happy
quadruple started on a journey to pass ofl* the honey-
tuoon, or remained at home, wc aro not informed-
Cour. tj- Enq-
Extraordinary indeed. So much so that were it not
for the evidence daily aflbrdcdof what unnatural thing*
men and women will do, we should pronounce the » £ *
count incredible. What sort of women can they ^
who have entered into such a marriage? What sort*
lather to consent! What sort of clergymen ho wb*
performed the unnatural ceremony.—A’. Y. Com.
Lusus Natural—A lien, belonging to Benj. Gall*"
way. Esq., of Weakley county, Tennessee, was io® 1
time ago bitten by a rattlesnake, but by proper atten'
tion, the wound was cured. However, strange to R' 1 ’
wo arc informed that every egg laid since that thue ry
l his hen has a picture of a raltle-snakc represented up 1
on tho shell. Mr. Callaway, who is a franl to uiotl| w *
eggs in the family, has kept them, and will with plea*
sure exhibit thcmlo the inspection of the mcrodulou*-
Mills PL Derail
Inland Cotton Trade—Something Nkw.—T*
Cineiiiriati Times of the lUth mst. states that a sM®'
fioat passed that city the day before, (merely stopP 1 "*
to land some passengers) hound to Pittsburg, and l°*°*
ed with twelve or fft ecu hundred baits of cotton, prmc >•
pally of Arkansas and Tennessee growth ; deslinati 0 *
the Eastern factories. This route is adopted incoW“
quciicc of the course adopted by New Orleans in lc\'*
mg “ warfage dues.”
Miller’s Prophecy Conurmld.—Some
tical chap who has been looking into Miller’s *y , * cl- '
confirms it in the following manner. Ho has di»tuvrf'
ed that Luther wore pegged bools.—Now, lie >».'*» 1
you multiply tho number ol years that Pius was P'P**
(whit'll Pius is not recollected as there were seven “
ihat title) by the number of pegs in Luther's
that sum by the nails in the heels, and then add a
belonging to Miller and another belonging to Mr- B' 11 ’
the total will be 1843. Of course tins calculi
settles tho question.
Effects «-f the Earthquake.—A rorrespondfitj'’'
the New Orleans Tropic writing from Havana*
that the I-dand of Martinique has changed its level *
the northern side it is two leel higher above Inch **
mark than formerly ; on the lee side it is sunk 100
All the houses have an inclination from a perpen •
lar. In Antigua a large mountain has been rr ‘* u, fI .
dcr, leaving a fissure in it of one mile and a half m ^
tent 75 foil deep, and 35 in bread:h. Il is
to save the sugar crops, as the mills arc so broken
they cannot be repaired in lime to grind c orn.