Newspaper Page Text
AN AUSTRALIAN A l> V K N T V II K .
Wo extract the following stirringly written nor.
rilivc from the columns of our distant contem
porary, the Adelaide Chronicle. It is written in
the first person, and signed J. A. W. :—A short
limn ngo, 1 had occasion to be travelling some dis
tance in the interior of New South Wales, in or-
der to visit n friend whom 1 had not seen for many
years. Tho evening before I oxi ceted to reach
the dwelling of my friend, 1 put up at an inn on the
road, where 1 re mu i nud during the night.
On the ensuing morning, my first enre w as to
iee that my horse was properly fed and ready for
the long journey ho had before him. Having
satisfied myself on this point, I returned to the
house. 1 was much surprised, upon arriving ai
tho door, to find it ajar, us I distinctly remember
closing il, on account of leaving several valuable
trinkets on the dressing table. Silently opening
it, however, l was amazed at perceiving the
stranger, whom 1 had particularly noticed tho pro.
ceding evening, standing at the toiiietto table with
his back to the door, and diligently engaged in
withdrawing tho contents of my travelling pis-
tols.
My liist impulse was to rush forward and seize
the follow by the collar. A moment's considera
tion, however, determined me on following a dif.
ferent course. Carefully placing the door in the
same position that I found it, l retired,undiscovered,
to the pub ie sitting-room, where John Brown, with
several of his neighbors, wero conversing relative
to the murder of the schoolmaster,an occurrence of
which .hev had just heard. Immediately afterwards
the stranger entered tne room.
“It appears to me, then,” said I, after listening
to the details of the murder, “that travelling in
these districts must be exceedingly dangerous.—
However, I have an excellent puir of pistols ; and
If any one interferes with me, I will give him or
them a warm reception.”
“Yes/* observed tho stranger, “it would bo
stupid, indeed, for uny man to ride through the
bush, in times like these, without being well arm-
ed. 1 hear too, that Donohue is somewhere near
Patrick’s Plains, As Pin travelling that wav, l
hope he will not treutrne with an ounce of cold
lead. I only wish that l could meet with a com*
panion, and then there would he uu fear.”
1 perfectly well understood the oiler thus indi
rectly thrown out for my acceptance, but as l
would rather have had his room than his company,
I did not pretend to comprehend the allusion.
“I would advise you to he careful, Mr. Stan-
field,” observed tho landlord, “and sen that your
pistols are well charged and primed.”
I glanced at the stranger, and despite his best
exertions to appear unconcerned, the contraction
of tho brows fully discovered how interested lie
fell in '.he reply.
“O i ! there is no occasion for fear on my ac.
count,” replied I carelessly—“1 took the precaution
to load my pistol’s yesterday evening, and they
only require being placed in the holsters.*,
“You’ro travelling towards the Upper Districts
then, l presume, sir 7” said tho stranger, address,
ing himself to me ; “would you have any objec
tion to me as a companion ? If two heads are
better than one, surely four arms must be better 1
than two,”
“Holloa ! Mr. Holder” (for that I now found |
was tho stranger’s name,) said tl.o landlord—“win t,
are you bound to the Upper Districts ? Why I j
thought you had settled on the Hnwkesburv !” ’ i
Mr. Holder, at tliis unexpected address, appear, j
ed greatly confused. Quickly recovering his com- j
posure, lie co diy observed that “being desirous of
purchasing maze, he was unable to do so ; unless bo
attended in person.”
I remarked that a slight shadoof suspicion
spread itself over tho frank countenance of the
landlord, on hearing this observation. He was,
however silent ; and as Mr. Holder did not renew
his oftor of companionship, which proposal was
not seconded by any of the individuals present, 1
retired to my own room.
Si.ently fastening the door to prevent intrusion,
I proceeded to examine the pistols, and found that
the balls had been exit acted, while the powder had ,
been suffered to remain. Fearing, however, that i
some trick might have been j.laved with the latter
1 withdrew the charges, and carefully reloaded
the instruments, which I placed in the holsters in
such a manner that, if they had been meddled with,
1 must instantly have perceived it.
Having completed these arrangements, I pro.
ceeded calmly and deliberately to consider of the
best measures to he adopted under these suspi-
cions circumstances. That I was to bo attacked
on my way I entertained not the least boubt. This,
however, could with facility he remedied by in
forming the landlord, who was a constable, of my
suspicious, together with the circumstance of tho
charge of my pistols having been extracted, j
could, too, wait for tho detachment of mounted
police, which was daily, nav, hourly expected,—
Rut none of these alternatives would l embrace.
I felt uii irrestible desiro to punish Mr. Holder,
who 1 was innately convinced was the murderer
of the aged schoolmaster, and, l strongly suspect,
ed, of NVidium Clementine too. Besides, I was
only nineteen years of ago, and having followed a
seafaring life, was liberally imbued with tint spirit
of daring and enterprise which that profession is
•o well calculated to induce. I thcieforo deter-
mined to keep strictly silent regarding ail that hud
passed, knowing that the most advisable plan was
to impress Mr. Holder with a conviction that his
artifice remained undiscovered. Should l come in
collision witlf him, I felt the most perfect coiift.
donee in my own resources, having long been con-
side red an excellent marksman with tho pistol.
My resolution being thus formed, I proceeded to
the sitting.room, and was not much surprised to
hear that Mr. Holder hud left tho inn.
“I hardly know what to think of that man,”
observed one of tho neighbors : “he is here to-rinv.
and gone to-m irrow. Resides, ho calls himself
a settler on the Hawkcsbury—now, I know ihu
Hawkesbury well enough, and am certain thnt
three months since there was no settler of that
name there ; and yet our landlord tolls us that it#
has been frequenting his bouse for the past eight
months, saying ibis and saying tho other, and yet I
cannot find that hoover bought a single grain of
wheat, with all his talk.”
“I don’t half like that excuse of his,” said John
Brown, “about going up the country to buy maize.
This is not time of tho your for that work: be
sides, couldn’t he have samples sent to him, like
all other purchasers have. Yon did right, Mr.
Stanfield, not to go with him—he spends his mo-
ney too freely to get it honestly.”
The houwhaving now arrived at which it was in.
tended thnt l should start, l called for my bill,
which betokened honest John’s moderation in
charges, and the horse being at the door, I was
about to mount, when the landlord requested to
•peak with me privately.
“Mr. Stunficd,” said ilia honest fellow, “you ore
yet unacquainted with the manners of these bush,
rangers, and I am inclined to suspect this Mr. Ho!-
der to ho one. 1 do not suppose that any of them
would murder you, unless you desperately resisted.
II is not their fashion to kill strnngers, but only
those settlers against whom they have some grudge,
or who have many prisoners in their employ, J
would, therefore, ndviso you to leave any money
you have by you with mo if it is a largo sum, and
only take as much as would sulisfy the villains.—
If you should meet with any of them, and be inclin
ed to resist, don’t stand parleying wiih them, hut
fire at once. Depend on it, that’s the only way to
get off
Thanking the landlord for his advice, and in.
forming him that 1 had but a trifling sum with
me, 1 baric him a hearty farewell, and proceeded
on my journey in conformity with the directions
furnished me.
The path that I had to travel was truly a soli,
tary one. and shortly after leaving Maitland, it
commenced a drifting shower, which, in despito of
IDY travrvljjig cloak, soon welted mo to the akin.-*
The Kcnr*cri*p leaves, loo, rustled across the roud,|
adding, if possible, to the dreariness of the scene.
Resides, I was ignorant of the truck, and no cuio
lion can ho more unpleasing than that of huving a
long journey before you, while every slop you pro
gress is troddeo with uncertainly. This fouling
becomes bitterly painful to the traveller in vast
forests, where, if once lost, small indeed is tho pro-
bn i ility of meeting with any but u hamlet, at which
von might apply lor directions concerning your
route. 1 strenuously endeavored, however* us 1
rode under the withered and wide spreading branches
ofitgrd trees, that overshadowed the path, and ren
dered tho truck hardly perceptible, to raise my
spirits, but tho elfirt was useless. The deep
gloom that prevailed, the loneliness of tho pluce,
the uncertainty of mind, and the dismal aspect ol
surrounding objects, struck coldly upon my heart.
Then, too, I was momentarily in expectation of
being engaged in a conflict, whereby one must die,
with a remorseless desperado. Often was I nt the
point of turning the head of my horse, and retrnc-
ing my stops : hut pride, invariably interposed,
and would not permit mo to carry the procedure
into effect, I was thus wavering and ir resole to,
when my feelings wero fairly uroused by my at
tention being diverted to a circumstance of more
immediate import.
This was some object that could not be defined
in the obscurity of the forest, but which was evi.
dent.y moving in a parallel line with myself. The
sight was mure than sufficient to put me on my
guard. To loosen the holsters and abstract the
pistols was but the work of u moment. These J
concealed order my clonk in such n manner ns to
be ready for instantaneous use. and then calmly
awaited the result. In order, however, to discov-
cr if my suspicions were well grounded, i spurred
on my horse to a sharp cantor, and remarked that
my example was immediately followed by the oh-
ject in the forest. In this manner l progressed a
few miles, when, at an opening in the bush, which
would not admit of further concealment, the figure
came galloping in the path, and, as 1 iully expected,
tho soi distant Mr. Holder rode up alongside of
•• Well, Mr. Stanfield,” said he, “ so I see thnt
you are upon your journey, and u wet day you
have for it too,”
•• I am so, Mr. Holder,” returned I. looking in-
tcntly at his countenance, “ and I find the roads
sufficiently difficult without riding for miles in the
bush, among fallen timber.”
“Oil,” said the bushranger (for so I must now
term him), as n frown overspreud liis countenance,
*• I lost my wav, and ”
" And that accounts for your riding so many
miles ubngsddc of me,” interrupted I.
“ I suppose every one may please himself,” an-
swered the robber.
Tub Comet struck the Sun.—Sears C. Wal
ker, Esq., of the l'liiladelpliia Observatory, has
communicated to Mr. Chandler’s Gazette a series
of observations which lie made upon the late Cum.
et, and which have occupied him eight to ten hours
a day since the llthof March. Mr. Walker has
been assisted by Mqmsis. Kendall and Downs.—
Mr. W. concludes that the lute Comet, did on tho
27th of February last, strike the Sun and He bound !
I f these calculations prove correct, Hus must be
considered the most rtmiurkublc circumstance in
the unnals of astronomy. We have time and room
only for the concluding passages of their communi
cation.
“Mr. Walker states that “Enckt ’s comet is grad,
nn 11 v winding itself up, and uuisi some time or oth
er experience the fate of the Comet of 184*3. That
is to sav, it must actually come in contact with the
atmosphere or permanent portions of Hie body of
the sun. Il has already been matter of speculation
with astronomers when this event shall occur,
(however remote) what will he the fu»e of the com.
el ? Will it join the mass of the sun— a drop in
an ocean—or will it rebound and ginnee off in an
other orbit, an hyperbola, for instance, and never
return 7 Now that which is destined some day to
he the fine ol Kneke’s cou#t, seems actually to have
occurred with the recent comet, h nppeu’s to
have come in contact with the permuuout portion
of the atmosphere of the sun, and to have been so
much resisted in its course as to puss off in a path
which piolonged backwards, enters the Sun. It
may have been before a parbola or an eclipse, nnd
it may have been tho comet of 17(19 or 1090, or
both, and in this ensu something 'like a shock, or
rebound, must have occurred at thi< perihelion pas.
sage, which has changed the orbit into a hyper bo
la, passing through U»o Sun.—Whenever a shock
of two bodies takes place of which one is consider
ed as fixed, the subsequent path of the other pro-
longed backwards, passes through the first. We
request, that we offer the views of the subject as
suggestions merely, nnd hope that others will bo
more fortunate in arriving nt a positive certainty.
Tho perturbations have not been computed. It is
hardly possible that they can have produced tliis
alteration of the orbit. If such nil alteration has
actually taken place, the powerful resistance of a
medium near tlie sun—or actual contact with the
sun’s atmosphere can alone account for it.”
Death of Doctor John Scudder, the Ocu-
list. &c.—The decease of this celebrated man
has passed without a word of comment from the
press. He expired at the Almshouse in this city.
Of his history or his talents, his eccentric charnc-
ter and perverted and ruined intellect, 1 will not
speak ; they are too well known to bear repetition
now. His ahjectness, destitution and poverty leach
a great lesson to us all. Possessed of u mind
... , - , of great powers, original in its conceptions, quick
Ol couise thev mav, and it is therefore mv, , . 1 • * .
• as lightning hi its perceptions, and able by its sin-
isure to ride alone. , ° , ... * ,
. , . •! • ele and unussistca eiiurt* to grasp anv science, nnd
13 it suppose i think proper to rule wit.i vou a n . ... . , * * * , , ,.
- - 1 - - | grapple, giaut-like, with any theory, the dawn ol
| his earthly career broke in unclouded brilliance,
and for a lime the sun ol prosperity shone io noon,
day splendor upon his pulh.wny along the highway
of life, lie fed from bis high estate, nnd never
rose again
few miles,” he ironically rejoined.
•* I do not choose to keep company with a mtir-
deror,” was the cool reply.
“Ha! a murderer!—and pray, youngster,”
surlily observed the villain, throwing off ail
reserve, “ I low do you know that I'm a murder-
er P
“ D > you imagine I marked not tho demoniac
scow is that followed the aged harmless man whom
you murdered last night ? Had you no feelings of
mercy on his silvery hair or his utter helplessness?’
Cowardly assassin !” continued f, in an excited
voice, “ you were the murderer, too, of that unof
fending boy, William Clementine. I know you
well, now. and er« we part you shall render to me
a dearboughl account of your actions.”
“ And ivlionm I, then?” growled tho bushrang.
er, as lie vainly essayed to laugh scornfully
at my threats, while liia bosom was inflated with
rage.
“ Donohue—that demon whose career is sodden
with blood V*
“ Tis false !” vociferated the assassin—“ false
as hell! Yes! I murdered thnt old fool of a man
for imprecating curses on my head; and i hated
him because lie was liked. I murdered, too, that
sickly hoy they culled Clementine. He gave evi
dence against me in court,and through him my IL-sh
was mutilated by lushes—ay* by lashes from n
base-born menial, who would once have cringed
at my feet for support. ’Turns then I swore—
that I would have full, lasting revenge against all
who are free. And I have had it—1 have enjoyed
it—and I will still enjoy it. Djnohue !” continued
the villain, as a sarcastic smile settled on his flush
ed brow, “do you think that iio would have trifled
away his time with that hoy Clementine, in taking
paltry gifts presented by weak mothers? Dono
hue ! do you think, youngster, that there arc not
hearts as bold, and arms as prompt to strike, as
his ! Donohue! When the bright flash gleams,
*iis then ho speaks—but my revenge is equally
sure.”
“ You may be Donohue, or you may not he,”
answered I, “ but I swear by heaven that I spare
you not!”
“ Sparc !—ha ! ha ! 4 spare !’ 1 could and would
have spared you, because you have not yet tram-
pled over unfortunate men—because you arc a
stranger, nnd will shortly leave this accursed land;
but now/* he sternly added, “ your doom is fixed.
Ten minutes is tiiu uttermost span of vour exis
tence.”
As the murderer repeated these words, he pulled
from his pocket u watch, and murmuring u few
words, returned it to its receptacle.
“ l have already wasted loo much time. You
will now please to follow me,” observed the bush
ranger, with mock politeness. “ I shall require
your company for a little time.”
•• I do not intend to remove one step out of this
path, 1 coolly rejoined.”
“Then 1 must have recourse to something that
will make you,” was the reply. And the hush,
ranger leant forward to extricute his pistols fr
their fastening.
“ Stop !” vociferated I, in a voice that made the
villain start—“ slop ! cre you have the contents of
this pistol through your head !”
“ Young gentleman should not leave pistol
about their rooms,” was the ironical answer; “peo
ple are apt to meddle with them, and see what thev
contain ! Now, Mr. Stanfield, will you come with
me before l lire ?”
I replied not—the pistol was raised—the fatal
pressure applied to its trigger—the stillness of the
forest was broken—there was a loud piercing shriek
—and the bushranger rolled a Jifeiess corpse on
tiie path!
[from THE QUEBEC MERCURY]
Beautiful Natural I’henomf.non.—Singular
Phenomenon.—Oncol those wonders of Nature
rarely witnessed was yesterday seen by several of
this city, whose station and respectibiliiy place their
testimony beyond dispute. One of the gentlemen
who was fortunate enough to have seen what wo
ure about to narrate, is our informant. Tho fog
which yesterday overhung the city spreud in dense
volumes over the valley which lies between the
town and the heights towards the northwest. Ear.
Ivin the afternoon, a lady reading in Si. Lewis
street hod her attention drawn by one of her chib
dren, who was gazing from tho window, to the re
semblance of a ship in the air. Tiie appearance
presented was that of a miuature vessel—a brig—
beating to windward, with all sails sot, and appar
ently flouting on the surface of the mist. So di*.
tinctly visible was it that the spectators (for it was
veil at the same lime by several others) could
‘.race tho shrouds and the smallest of the i iguing ;
the mainsail appeared to bedewed up to three pla
ces. What rendered the sight still more beautiful
was the presence of a shadow of the vessel, ns in
tho water, the outline, masts, &c. being reversed,
us when thrown from a vessel actually moving
through the water. Tho phenomenon was again
seen towards the evening, but less distinctly visi.
tile. It appeared in tho fog over the valley below
Chnrlesbtirg.
This evil spirit (rum) took a hold of
his great spirit, w hich not even its giant strength
enabled him, hard and often struggled, to shake olf.
Ho went Iromoue depth to another, until at length
ruined, broken in strength of mind and body, but a
shadow of his former self, ho went to tlic Alms,
house to lie down and die. Death came suddenly,
but not unexpected, upon him. lie knew that Ins
hour was at hand, and calling the attendants and
such friends as were will) him at the try ing moment
about his bedside, lie told them that he forgave ev
ery man on earth w ho had injured him, and asked
forgiveness of a 11 whom lie had ollcnded. Then
turning his face to the wail, lie addressed himself
to his M iker, in prayer and supplication, clothing
thoughts in such language as I never before beard
fall from the lips of mortal man. He seemed to be
talking luce to face with his God. The scene was
inoraliy sublime and aw ful. The prayer ceased—
his lips no longer moved—he sank down in his bed
—his head dropped one side—lie was dead !—Al
bany payer.
Wealth.—One ol the best and most satisfactory
uses of w ealth, mv dear boy, (says Bunch in lii.s let
ters to his -sou,) is to dazzle with our riches the
eyes of our neighbors. Your mother once hit this
point to a nicety. Wo had long expected the pay.
merit o( a small legacy bequeathed to her by a dis.
taut relation, whose exact degrees of kindred I car-
ed not much to inquire into. It was enough for us
that your dear mother’s name w as down in the vv til;
and that the executors premised some day to faith-
fully perform the injunctions of tin; dear deceased.
“And when we get this money,” siid your Mother
to me in a moment of connubial confidence, 4 *! tell
you what we’ll do with it—l tell you my love, what
wo’tl do with it.” As l knew she would proceed
no further until I begged to know hor intentions, 1
at once put the question : “What, mv dearest, what
will you do with it {” “Why, my love,” answer
ed your parent, her eyes sparkling with pleasure,
we’d take the plate out of pawn,and give a party.”
—\ us—the great gratification to he gathered from
tho legacy was, that we might flash our four tea
spoons and pair of tongs in the eyes of people for
whom we hud not the slightest esteem ; and to one
of whom, your mother had, I know on three occa.
sious captiously refused the loan of her bellows. I
think I have heard you say, my love, the face ol
nature—the open sky- -tbe fields, the trees, tiie
shining river, all are glorious to you ! My dear
boy, w hatever may be your present delight in con-
templating these objects, ns vet you know nothing
of their value. Look upon them with tho eye of a
proprietor, and what a bloom w ill come upon tho
picture! Every bit of turf will bo an emerald to
you ; every grasshopper will chirrup—a very tinge I
to your self-compluconcy ; every tree, moved bv
the wind, will bow to you as you pass by it ; the
very fish in the river will “ show the sun their wav.
ed coats dropp’d wi'li gold,” reflecting these your
wealth, and not their beauty. Nay, that portion of
tho sky. which rains and shines its blessings upon
your land,you w ill behold as yours ; yea, human
pride, strong in its faith of properly, will read upon
the face of heaven itself, 'Ll/ei/m /” (mine.) Eve-
rv sunbeam will be to you as if it were an ingot.
How delicious and how entrancing must have been
the feelings of Adam w hen lie awoke in E len, to
find liimseif—u land propiictor!—London pa
per.
[from THE ALII A.NY (OA.) CuURir.ll ]
It is gratifying to read the effort* of the Geor
gia Journal to wake up '.lie people of our State* to
u due nppi relation of tho rights of married women.
And in so doing, the injustice and iiurdship of the
laws on this subject have been Iully exposed and a
remedy called lor; iu this, the writer wishes them
success iu heart and soul, and hopes to see tho day,
when the wife has u protection under the laws—
when her properly shall he secured to her and her
children, and not left as it now is, to be squandered
by a reckless liusbuud’s conduct, either at the gam.
I bung table ur iu same other way equally abhorrent
to me principles of jus; ice. Her position bus ma
terially changed in society since flu; adoption of
those laws merged her existence into that of her
husband ; and not withstanding the change of her
condition from that of a mere automaton, to an in
tellectual being capable of learning, of thought and
reflection, still the ancient rigour of those law s re
mains the same. Laws should la; passed to meet
the exigencies of society in its various i-«*l*itions,
and pro mu to so far as the adoption of he in. lieial laws
are concerned,its permanent prosperity. Shoui.i
not the present system which is the csmmicc of in.
justice to be. uholished, and tne rigtus of woman
placed under the peculiar protecti oi of the laws of
our Siate l Tbe intelligence and candor of our
people, l feel, will warrant me in uusweting in tin-
uliii rnative.
In tho absence of the desiied laws to shield the
wile from the many misfortunes inseparable from
present laws, we behold many flu-sides, otherwise
pleasant and happy, the scene of sorrow and dt-ej
humilinti n. Thu wife’s property becomes the
husband's on marriage, and subject, not only to pay
bis debts afterwards, but even prior to its cousuin-
maiion. This is the law on Hu? subject, and the
writer '.voukl-be glad if lie could say that lie had
neither seen nor heard of any practical illustration
of its rigours. Neither county nor Community can
he found in the length ami breadth nt our -state
(and l might say 25 out ol 26 of the United States,)
tan have exhibited frequent and painful illustrations
of the w ile’s defenceless condition.* Tuo father
may have labored and toiled fin* years to acquire
property lor his daughter; after his death she be
comes United to a husband esteemed, both prudent
1 and honest. In tlio process of time, the husband is
encompassed by pecuniary embarrassments, is
j sued, and the lust dollar’s worth of properly loll by
I the deceased father to bis daughter, is taken ami
exposed to sale to pay a debt contracted before
| marriage, upon which property the creditor in jus-
I lice had no sort of right or claim. We are told taut
! the wile can now protect herself by settling her
| property through the intervention of a trustee, and
j that such a law is not called for. To ihi* I answer.
I let u law be passed by the Legislature ut our State;,
I which shall declare what prudence dictates—tin*
| wile’s property, exempt from the piyment ol tiie
husband's debts either belorc or alter marriage.
The civil law on this point is worthy of all imi
tation- The greater portion of Europe bus adopt
ed it, and one of tho {States of the American con*
Icdorucy has followed iu their wake. Shall Geor
gia still cling to a system fraught with such perni
cious consequences to the well being of society, to
its love of equal and exact justice to all ? 1 trust
there is an abiding sense ol justice in the hearts ol
al! Georgians, and that the evil may the remedied.
Between minds patriotically disposed anil c-qua I lx
intent on doing justice, there is reason to hope for
unanimity of sentiment. This must r- suit when
mankind have no interest ut stake, no sinister mo*
live to govern the feelings or bias their sentiments
ou A question of right and w rong. Let il be an
nounced that the last dollar of tne wife’s property
has been sold to pay the debts of tbe husband—say,
security debts, or debts contracted before marriage
—or say, that the w il'u is driven from the house left
her by her father—indignation is immediately fell
by every generous heart, on the recital of her
wrongs—the husband is denounced and npprobium
heaped upon his name. Yet these things w ill oc
cur so long as the laws remain as they ure ; change
the laws, breathe into them the spirit and equity of
the civil law, ai d pecuniary distress may overtake
the husband, and lie maybe wrecked forever—hut
the wife specially protected, will stand as she would
have stood without the union, ou a proud basis.
It might be urged by some that innovation is
dangerous, and ever attended with doubtful benefit;
or in other words that, w e had better submit to
slavish authority than the repeal of laws which art-
supported neither by reason imr sound policy. Let
our legislature wipeout this odious feature of our
law founded in prejudice und oppression,—the off.
spring of barbarous times, and worthy of the uuen-
lightened age that gave them birth. The immuta
ble principle of truth and justice, the advanced
stage of public intelligence nnd social Improvement
requires that the yKgean of protection should b.*-
thrown around the domestic hearth.
These lines have been hastily thrown together
to congratulate the Journal on its advocacy of a
measure loudly called for by the Hue interest of
the people ofour State. If the past is an earnest
of its future labors iu tiie cause, great good must
flow by keeping il before tho people. Advocates
will spring up in every section ofthe Slate, and tin*,
dav w ill soon cornu, w hen tiie present trammels
will he removed, and the females justly rejoice at
it, as the day of'their emancipation. To tins pur
pose I invoke tiie serious reflection of every liout-M
lie-art.
BAKER.
Palliation.—“Bray, sir,” said the Judge to a
bankrupt brought up to be discharged on his peti
tion—“Bray, sir, how could you w ilfully, and with
your eves open, contract such a number cf debi*
without any visible meumt of paying them ?” “Whv,
Judge,” said the petitioner “you labor under a great
mistake—I have never in mv life contracted a debt,
on the contrary, I have invariably dune every
tiling to enlarge them.
Awful and Destructive Conflagration.—
About five o’clock on Thursday afternoon Inst, a
lire bioke out in the stables attached to the Wuslt*
iiigton Ilull in this city, which, before any effort
could he made to stop the progress of the flames,
was communicated to the Hotel, which wus speedi
ly wrapped inflames. From the Hotel it crossed
the street, communicated to several small buildings
on the north, end proceeded with fearful rapidity.
(J.ipt. Bond’s store was soon on fire, and notwith
standing efforts .vere made to blow up the buildings
iu advance, the whole of the two blocks or squares
south of Washington Square and east of Monn e
street were speedily consumed.
Some hopes were entertained that the fire might
he in rested lieu;—but intense heat communicated
tin; lire across Monroe street, which ppreud with
feurlui rapidity carrying destruction and ruin in its
progress to the C-iurt House square, north of M’*
Guriy street. Here fortunately the flames were
stayed, but not till seven sepia res, ull the entire Im.
■mi* ss part of tho city, were levelled to 11n: ground.
The scene was awfully grand mid terrific. Tho
activi* exertions of our citizens prevented the fire
from crossing Adams street, or almost the entire
city would have born destroyed. From the Capi
tol to th - C mrt Douse square, and between Adams
and Calhoun hii. <:N, thorn are but three or four
buildings standing—tin- PI niter's Hotel, Dr. Ran
dolph’* dwoiiirg, Dr. Tnv.nr’s office, und one or
twosmuli buildings on McCtrty street, occupied by
Mrs. Rea. I fi r store at tiie corner was blown up,
but did not lake fin*.
Our city is a perfect mass of ruins—and so rapid
s the progress of the 11 tines* that very little pro-
tv was saved from the gtmeruf destruction. Ma-
goods taken from tbe stores und removed to sup.
ied places of safety, were also consumed.
Bne loss is variously estimated at from three hun
dred thousand to half a million of dollars—and with
but very little, iusurunce—pi roups not 630,000
asm ed.
Our merchants, and indeed the whole commuui.
y were p issing through one of tiie most pressing,
md gloomy periods iu the history of Tallahassee,
n i:s monetary affairs ; scarcely recovered from
the elU-cts of the dreadful pestilence which little
more tlmn a year ago carried mourning, weep,
ing, lamentation and dismay over our community
— w e are again cast into sadness hv the loss of the
little of our property which had been left us, where
upon to recruit, by prudence, economy and indus
try, our ruined and shattered fortunes.
Yet although cast dow n we are yet undismayed.
Our merchant:' pro removing the few remains of
the destructive to other rooms in the few buildings
left, and instead of a settled gloom, there are yet
smiling countenances to he met with. Our loss,
es although ruinous in many cases ure met with that
fortitude which has ever characterised our people ;
and we trust yet to see Tallahassee rebuilt, rising
like a p..o;uix from the ashes.
Perpetual Motion.—Tho nearest approach
which man can make to the perpetual motion of
the planets, is in our opinion, tiie construction of a
machine which when set in motion, will continue
until the materials of which it is constructed wear
out—and a piece of mechanism is now being made
iu this city* with confident expectations of success.
It is n self-w inding clock, and from the ingenuity
und skill cf the artist, (Mr. Henry Julho,) wo -slmil
not be surprised at his accomplishing the object.
He has ulreudy constructed u clock, with only three
wheels, which not only keeps exeoflent time, hut
exhibits I lie days ol the month midweek in addi
tion to the hours nnd seconds—and it is wound up
w ithout the slightest loss of lime. It is- a beautiful
lime-piece, and is not so liable to get out of order
ns ordinary clocks.—Balt. Pat.
Van Itiiren oil the Tuii/T.
4 * lie, mought nnd he mought not.”
The repiy of Mr. Van Buren to tho Indiana
Convention is about ns clear distinct, nnd i<> the
point, ns the following testimony of a North Car
olina witness;
The “ Oid North State,” published at Elizabeth
Citv, gives the following ludicrmn scene, which
occurred at a late term of mo Stiperi »r Court nt
that place—Judge Bearson presiding:
“Considerable amusement was produced iu Court,
hv a witness in a ease of assault, named Harring
ton. As tho tho counsel con id got nothing
out of iiiid, the Judge undertook to question
LtNR water to kill Worms.—To six quarts of
water, add half a pound of caustic lime, and after
letting it stand a few minutes, commence watering
the grout-d infested hv worms, nnd they will soon
be seen rising to the surface writhing about, and
will die in a lew minutes, especially if n little more
of the lime watei i* then sprinkled on them.
Judge, Were yon present at tho place on the
(fay liii-s light took place ?
H. I don’t know—I mought and I mought
not.
Judge, You don’t know whether you were
there or not? recollect wliat happened to tiie best
of your knowledge.
U. 1 mought have been there some time in the
dfly, I don’t know to best ol mv know*.
,C lg«.
Judge. Did not the defendant toil you to give
evidence in Ins favor!
11. I don't know—ho maught an l he mo uht
not.
Judge. Whore were you horn and raised?
H. 1 don’t know where l wa> burn. I was
raised in Ferginny.
Judge. Cmi \oil Icdi the truth?
11. 1 don’t Know, sir—l mought nnd I mought
not,
Tho Judge, finding it impo-.-sible to elicit nnv
information from such answers, let him retire.”
Van Buren “ mought” go lor it Turill*. and lie
“ mought not.” Thu fact is. Van *• don’t know
to the b st of liis Unowic Ige” whether lie will or
he wont. ILs friends in New York think lie
“mought,” while Citizen Ritchie is clearly ol the
opinion that ho •* mought not.”—Petersburg Iat.
Tho Cincinnati Gazette, referring to n current
report that the lion. John McLean, of Ohio, is to
ho brought out ns a Whig candidate for President*
decidedly observes :
“Who are tho supposed projectors of this invHo*
rious plan, or what may he their views, we cannot
divine. But we do know from un authority which
cannot be questioned that Judge McLean has no
know ledge of any such design, and that he wiil not
sanction any movement, come from what qtiartor il
may, which would make him n candidate for the
Presidency in opposition to Mr. ('lay "
Welch’s departure for China.—Gen Welch’s
Circus Company, numbering over fifty performers
I this morning al) go on board the
ul ho
Orchard* should never bo cultivated in grans or
sniull grum. Corn or r iots of any kind may he
therein grown with decided advantugo to the trees,
nnd when* these nre cultivated, the ground should
* o ploughed.
Mr. Al nr »lm 11 ofKeulucki.
This gentleman thus speaks of General J 4 , c k.
‘•Ho has never been through life without nn n n .
(agonist, and iio has always been victorious. ||,*
hoises ulwuy* won when ho wuh w racer, lie )iq,|
u contest with Dickinson, nnd itilh d him. |] 8
had u fracus with the Bullions and cleared them out
lie used up Buckenhuin nud the British Army
New Orleans,those veterans who had gone throng,
the war of Peninsula, without moeti g an advert
ry who could withstand them for n mom nt. |j
hung A rbutliiiot nud A monster, and bullied \\
Senate when nulled to account for it, |]*.
John Q lincv Adams in the race tot the Presidency
and crushed the “monster Rank” under the |,/ e [
of his military boot. For the many injuries lie | n
done the country, it would seem that some retriliu
lion were due in the next world if not in this,
even there the Hero bus pioved too hard for hi**,,
einv ; lor he has turned Breshyteriuu ami cbenteil
the Devil himself.”
Astounding Rumor.—For a week past it has
been whi-poivd about in this city, that a draft
drawn by the Mexican Government in favor of Sum
Houston. President of Texas, for twenty-live thous
and dollars, has been paid at the counter of one of
the most prominent commercial houses in Aew Or
leans !
Wi- 1: arn further, that hv the steamship Now.
^ oi l;, which sailed on Monday evening for Galves
ton, information of such a character w as transmit
ted t.» Texas, as will leave scarcely the shadow of
a doubt upon the minds of the people there, of the
truth of tuo rumor which was only whispered here.
Tho next news fiom Texas will bo most anxiously
expected, and may be fraught with intense interest.
JY. O. Tropic of 24th inst.
Highly Important from the Bacific.—Tito
brig Architect* Capt. Gray arrived here yesterday,
m eight days from Vera Cruz, bringing the highly
important iuteiiigence that the British authorities
have taken formal possession of Hie {Sandwich
Islands. Lor i Buulct commanding H. 13. M, ship
Carrosfoot, raised the British flag on the 25th of
February last, in honor of the annexation of the
kingdom to the British empire, nnd on tho snme
day notified the Consul of tho Coiled States that
lie could no longer exercise his official functions
w ithout being aeknow.edged by the British Govern-
meat. The King made a lengthy and formal pro.
t- st ugainM this procedure, which has been trails,
mined to Washington by a special express who
arrived in the Architect. Express couriers had
ulso arrived at Vera Cruz for England to proceed
via Havana nnd the United Slates* All the papers
explanatory of these proceedings were brought by
the Architect.—JV. t). Bulletin.
Francis Aniv. owned by Messrs. Welch and Mann,
and commanded by Captain Givcrson. She lies
at tiie foot of Bike street, and is hound hcuco f«»r
Cadiz, Spain, Mr. Welch goes out in her himself,
accompained by Nathans and his pupils, Mrs.
Howard and Mr. Howard, Rogers, and various
other performers of his old company. He leaves
Mr. Mann behind him. his partner iu the business,
to take Ins place. Mr. Welch goes out on his
foreign tmir, with the full determination, ns he
seriously- insures us, to visit China before his re
turn. It is undoubtedly one of the most curious
and remarkable enterprises ever undertaken; nnd
n » man is bettor qualified to undertake it than Mr.
Welch. He has already travelled pretty much all
over North and South America nnd Africa, (in
the latter country catching giraffes, elephants,
lions hi.cl fLh.) and he is now going to look over
Europe nnd Asia. He is competent to undertake
anything, and has dune almost every thing except
•lodge nn earthquake ; and that his partner Mr. Mann
did at St. ThomaK, at the time ofthe great Gaudaloupe
earthquake. Mr. Welch is tho beau ideal of a hero of
romance, and undoubtedly will go down as such to pop.
terity. No man over left the country with more friends
and well wishers behind him.—,V. Y. Herald.
President Tyler's Pro cosed Visit,—Wo un.
derstund, says the New York Sun, that in proceed,
mg to B.Mou to attend the Bunker Hill Celcbrn-
lion, on the 17th June, the Bre>idmit will remain a
day or two iu New York. From Boston he will
take tho Western Railroad, visit the U. S. Armory
at rfpringfield. Mass., and Arsenal at Wutcrvliot,
New York, stopping at Albany and Troy. Whetli-
«-r he u i.l extend Ids tour to Buffalo, around Lake
Em: to (-Vveiaud, and thence hv the valley of tlie
Ohio and the Baltimore Railroad hack to Washing,
'■on, wo have not been informed.
It may not be amiss to quote in juxtaposition
with the above, certain sentiments given bv Pres
ident T\ n-r in \
Travelling Presidents.—The whole nation will
respond w.tii ac--|.dilution to Hie following, in which
Mr. Tyler idinv.-q must join, if Im adheres to the
principle* laid down iu Ids own toast, on a former
ocea-*• ion. Hear him!
-I Toast from John Tyler in 1939.— 41 By John
I > I« i—Bi grim Presidents iiik! Travelling Cahi.
nets : The fruitful offsprings ■»! the second Bresi.
•lentini term. One term and no rc election—tho
uest interests of too co.miiy depend upon it—will
not the popular suffrage decree it So 1840.”
The above i- a clincher. It alluded to Mr. Van
Buren and hisCnib et, who were then on a pilgrim-
ag»* beating up for a “second Presidential term.”
Has '1' yler changed • »r nave the people changed f
7 aunt on Whig.
Mr.A'-t.'RiNG Mu»ic.— A wuul'l.bo wag, green iu
trade, went into a tailor’s shop yes'erduv, where a
solemn-looking Yankee youth was cutting out
dollies.
“Have you any jewshorps ?’ said the new asp;,
rant to w iu
’•No,” replied tho Yankee tailor boy, “hut wo
can take the measure of y >ur mouth and make you
A Tragic Scene.—Amongst the m;.ny heart,
rending details that Imvo been given in the fomj»,
journals of the sad effects of the earthquake nt
Guadnloupe, we the find following in a letter m,b.
lished in the Baris Cons tit utionnel. After describ.
ing many disastrous occurrences, the writer
says :
“Suddenly I beheld the lifeless body ofa man in
the prime of life, and near him a beautiful young
woman. She appeared absorbed in grief; one
could ulrnost imagine her a marble figure weeping
over a tomb. In her cheeks was still discernible
tbe faint blush ofa rose, and a smiie was on her lips
—and yet she was dead ! A young girl, to escape
from certain death, rushed out from her father’s
house, but,at the moment when she considered
herself safe, a house fell near her, and part of the
ruins held her firmly to the snot hv the lower ex
tremities. She called loudly for help, the more
as the flames appeared advancing with a giant’s
pace, A soldier endeavored to extricate her, but
in vain. She then besought him to cut off tier two
legs, in order to save her from the fire which had
already reached her. The soldier yielding to her
entreaties, drew* his sword nnd prepared to cut the
legs, when, his heart failing him, he fled. The
young girl was soon consumed.”
Agricultural Anecdote.—A knowledge ofthe
habits of animals is sometimes of gieut service
even in the salvation of cities. James, in liis re.
cent history ofthe Black Prince, givesan amusing in,
stance of this in tho defence of Rennes, n town ut
Britany, besieged by theDuke ofLnncnster. In order
to effect the surrender of the pluce the Duke enfurc,
ed a strict blockade, which soon reduced the garrison
to great straits. But Iio know they would hold out
to the last extremity, and determined to try n trick
of war. For this purpose, he drew oil' hissoldiert
as if he hud left the piuce, nnd formed un ambus,
cade in some bushes behind tho town. He then
caused a number of hogs to he turned loose in the
plain, iu the hope that tho starv ing garrison would
run out lor the prize. But they understood hit
trick and turned it to their advantage. They open
cd one of the sally-ports, and hung up n young now
by the hind legs to the lintel. She of course mode
a great outcry, and the hogs came rushing up to
the place from whence the noise proceeded; she
was then cut down, nnd driven through one ofthe
streets and forced to keep up her music. The sol*
dims sprang up from their umbusende in ordnrto
try and prevent this unlooked for termination of
their experiment; but, James soys, the hogs with
that intuitive perception of tho way their mas.
tors do not wish them to go, which has ever mark
ed their nature, went rustling tumultuously into th«
town, nnd afforded the garrison very seasonable re.
lief.—Louisville Journal.
Correct Sentiments.—A writer in the New
burypo it Herald advances the following judirious
sentiments in relation to persons filling public mu
lions.
When men of good education, strong mind and
generous views, can be rnuiid.lo serve us legisla-
tors, they deserve the thanks ofthe community, hiiJ
should be rewarded with its approbatory esteem by
a continuance in the posts they so ably li I. and not
set aside for raw recruits—militia—who are unfit
to lend the van, where only the trained soldier
should be trusted.
There should be such changes in our prnctic®*!
will not only induce us to select the must lit in the
last instance, but will also stimulate our public $er
vunts to well doing, by discriminating applause,
and equally discriminating censure. The tnnuy
evils inflicted upon the country, by rush and ignor-
ant legislators, should he a sufficient inducement
with those in whom live power of selection lies o
present the very best talent as well as the most un-
sm.lied characters that can ho obtained, for legisla
tive posts. When such tests nre made the rules of
choice, we may hope to see tho churnctcr of our
legislative bodies rise to the proper stundurd mark,
and ignorant demagogues on the one hand, and mo
ney making politicians on the other, who now too
oft**n dishonor them, driven back to their proper
spheres in privuto life.
The following article appeared in Thursday*!
Journal of Commerce :
“Land Ho !—The great cotton mnnufsctonei
of Lowell and other parts uf New England have
•old out their heavy stocks, slick and clean, nr,5
are now working on contrucs. A gentleman
who was in Boston on Tuesday was unable to bu;
a bale of sheeting of the make of either of seven
factories whose goods have heretofore been l)ir<<
piled up. The goods have recently paid we.
wherever they have been shipped, exciting a de
mand that has swept the market. A comparixoL
of the cash price of tho lower grades of cotton
cloth at Boston and nt Manchester, proves th*'
pricesure now from lento twenty per cent, cite*-
per on this side than on the other; so that the
Bostonians have actually inndo shipment to hi
verpool, with orders to pay the duly, winch in but
ten per. cent, and forward the goods to Mancliei-
ter for sale.”
The Queen City of the West.—Tho city ol
Buifiilo seems destined to be the inightcst ini**-
city upou this continent. Its trade is rapid.)* i n
creasing. It already claims 3.000,000 of iahat
ituuts tributary to its commercial interests—■to**
ing an import and export trade four times as larp
as the whole foreign trade of the thirteen Co
lonies at tiie commencement of tho Revolution***
JV. Y. Herald.
Pigeons !—A gentleman from Berrien it'forrri
us that about threo miles and a half fro iii
village, the pigeons have tuken possession of |!if
woods, about live miles square, where they me
tii.g, nnd that there is f rom ten to seventy-five ne* •
on end) tree. Largo branches of tiees ore b«u*
k«*n by them and the ground is strewed with
Ou approaching thu spot one would imagine tit* 1 ^
w as neur the Falls of Niagara, so incessant ° , J
lou-1 is their thunder.—(Michigan) JIrpu 1 ‘
can.
Question and Answer.—A Loco Foco p®P e
.-i'k>—Snull ours be a Government of the H** 1 * *'
or n Government of tbe people?
We answer—n government of be People,
well regulated Banks.—Raleigh Iicg'Slcr.
Peacii Worm—Tar.—A neighbor inform*
thnt the application of hot tar to Hie roots uf p <c
irecs,effectually excludes the worm. J hi ear ‘
is removed for a few inches down, und the ' nr
•died. It is not intended, of course, to desiro)
worm, hut to prevent its entrance
a fleeted.—Cultivator.
tied) «I Ul ‘
Clover, Sainfoin, Lucern* and nil g ,nss .
this family require that there should he J‘« n0 . ,0 j
soil on which iliev may ho grown, and ,n ' |lf
may he said to be labor lost, to attempt ,0 cu
in advantageously on lands in winch dm m ^
■«..■ f ...... » Afiukiiiiaiuiii 4 ii»inenL—’
ul does not form a constituent element
Farmer.