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TO THE COTTON PLANTER* jlfrlß
CHANTS, FACTORS, AN 0 rmiSl
-11 ENTS AND DIRECTORS OF THE
SEVERAL lIA.Mis OF THE SOUTH
ERN STATES: x
CIRCULAR.
Fellow Citium : Interested like your
selves, in the ml ivntion and disposal of the
great staple f American agriculture anil com
merce, we have accidentally met in thia city, !
in the midst of a criaw which discloses sortie
atriklngly innmcntou* feat urea in the history
of thia moat important branch of the trade of
our country.
When the Cotton Crop of the United Ntate*
w as a mere item in n trade, ami did nut reach
a production exceeding live hundred llinuaand
bale*, it waa perhaps safe to consoler il a* one
among many ar idea of Imrter and exchange,
which, lefl enlirely to the fortuiiou* circum
stance* of commerce, would find its level un
der the influence of the ordinary lawaof trade,
without the necessity of restoring to any means
of precautionary protsetiou.
Tinina, however, have changed. Cotton liaa
pasted from the,condition of a mere article of
commerce, to the performance of the mighty
function of being in a great degree ihe regula
tor ofthesxchanges, and the atandardof value
of our eouniry. If the nature of this material
forbid* it* entering into otn circulation, it is
scarcely less ihe basis of our currency, than
the precious metals ; for the fluctuations in its
price are felt with a sensibility equally a* acute
aud searching, tuinny of these variations which
belong to the demand and supply of these sen
sitive and mysterious tokens of national value.
The products of this staple, has now become
mo immense, that it behooves those who pro
duce it by n large investment of capital at a
high rate of incidental cost, und in a climate
perilous to human health, to consider well,
whether Ihere are not some material circum
stances in reference to ilie mode in which this
product of their labor is shipped from tins
country, and is brought to market at the point
of its final sale mid consumption, which de
mand the application ofaprompl und effective
remedy. In one word is not the luiportuntjuct
disclosed, that such is the umvicidy amount of
ibis great staple of aouthcru industry, I hat it
cannot be sent forward and disposed of at fair
remunerating prices, through the, ordinary me
dium of the mercantile establishment* of this
country ami in Europe, without the direct co
operation of our banking institutions 1 if we
huve become satisfied of this ciU'dlt ‘Xt
’’ m *° f) t~ga | a syrdCTh. which ahull give per
_l£i;Vl!C<surity to this great interest in ihe com
vn rcc mid flnnm is of our country 7 The un
wise, and ruinous system of sending the crop
forward to houses of circumscribed means, on
the other side of the water, who are incapable
of holding their consignments an hour beyond
the maturity of the bills drawn against such
shipments, subject in fact, nearly the w hole
i,numrit of American interests to foreign com
bination, which might act, not only with entire
concert, hut with a perfect knowledge of the
period, when from the maturity of tin* accep
tances in Question, properly to a stupendous
amount belonging to this country, maybe rea
dy for sacrifice.
The great ami vital change which must be
operated, is to sustain American interests, by
Vtnoricait credit. To realize at home, the re
sources necessary for the protection of our
property abroad, without the necessity of large
■md inooimuiielil iltalis oil Ihe capital and
means of our great customer. In other words,
Viva comuereuit reform w ilnsire, is to wurui
our great staple to market, without the period
being determined by the date of u Mill of Ex
change, when it is to be brought forward foi
absolute and Onnecesaary sMtrifiee. We be
lieve that the > tcadiness in price, which would
result from a portion, nt least, of the Cotton
crop being exempt from the di strous fluctu
ations arising from compulsory ales, would in
the end, be scarcely less viiliumiti to the spin
ner mid consumer in England, than to the
grower and shipper here. V fact, wditrh ve
titiui, >. , ,if>ie from tin- inflowing posi.i
fates, which we consider altogether seif e vi
dent :
1, The natural price of Oitton is ilie effect
♦ft the fair and natural influence of supply und
demand.
2. The price rinnot be steady, and Ihe ar
ticle cannot be current, so as to admit of safe
caluiat ions on ihe part ofthe planters, theinau
ufacturer and tho merchant, unless ihe price
be natural. It is consequently the interest of
these three classes, that ilie article should be
protected, on the one hand from anv great ami
undue specu! stive action, which might inflate
prices above the natural rate—and on the oth
er Croup any derangement in the money mar
ket, or any other accidental cause, which might
depress it below that rate. The effect of freut
and undue speculation being to derange the
money market, ami to produce reaction, with
an undue depre—.ion ol prices.
ft. The state of the currency mainly depends
on the means which the country posse *,*, to
pay its foreign debt, by shipments ol h.s pro
duce. To llio extent its produce or manufac
ture fails short of that object, exports of spe
cie may be induced, the effect of which must
be n reduction of the circulation, with depre
ciation of property and general distress.
1. Cotton, in this country, being by far the
most important produce, and affording the
great means of paying its foreign debt, it is iho
interest of (liecommunity, and particularly of
the monied institutions, that the price of it in
England, (the great market.) should be steady ,
and that the article should be of current sale,
mo a to be the means of large and effective re
mittance. It follows, that the interest of the
banking institutions here, are the same as those
of the three classes first mentioned, namely,
ihattbo price should be natural, that it may lie
t-lemly, and of easy realisation.
ft. The interest of the British Government,
*ft the Bank of England, and of the hanks of
that country in respect to this article, are the
same a* the interests of the banks here. The
importation here being immense, and the em
ployment of a most numerous body of the la
boring classes, depending on the steadiness of
prices. When they are not steady—the for
eign demand for manufactured cotton is redu
ced greatly, the operatives are thrown out of
employment, and the great means of settling
ihe balance of trade, without the exportation
of the precious metals are withdrawn. Manu
factured cottons affording by fur, the most ini
portnnt branch of their export trade.
6. Consequently, nn v arrangement that could
be formed, by which the article would he pro
tected from the effects undue speculation, and
from depression in the money market, and by
which steadiness of price, with currency of
sale, would he promoted—would save some of
the greatest and best interests in both coun
tries.
7. It is therefore proposed to form a system
by which, with the commencementof the new
crop, advances on Cotton shall be made with
the capital or credit of Banks here, thereby
relieving the consignee in Europe from care or
consideration, except the advantageou sale of
iiis stock, which would promote all these in
terests, and afford general satisfaction ui both j
aides of the water, provided it were uot mad*
the means or indirectly, of undue speculation
or monopoly.
Having thus indicated the principles on
which the proposed system must find its juris
diction and basis we will now as succinctly
ts possible. <!•:?">! ‘he means of carrying into
effwv.
We re far from imputing any premeditated
hostility of the Bank of England to American
interests; on the contrary, it is one of the be--
nevoleni influences of commercial intercourse,
. 0 promote peace mid good writ) among nations
I and men. Hence this great engine of the eom
-1 mcrciai grandeur and opulence of Great Brit
{ ain. acting under an enlightened instinct, must ■
■ rather desire that its beat customer should nt all
time* be in a condition to meet her engage-!
: menu with entile punctuality and success.
Bui there are epoch* in the commerce of 1
England, whether from msuflicieni harvests, u
i inguid demand for h* r rouiiulaciurers, or po
litical combinations, when the bank may. from
| an urgent policy, limit her discounts, and in
eraese her rate of interest. This event,cwi
never occur, without its having a blighting in
fluence on any surplus of our great staple,
which might be unsold in England. Hurely,
if the Bank of England can exercise (unavoid
edly,) an influence thus prejudicial, we may
resort to our own American banks, as a means
of security, and production, without the invid
ious clamor of combination aud monopoly. It
is lime that the absorb and senselcssity on the
•object of banks making advances on Cotton,
tlunt.d be understood, and finally put down.
The truth is, that by the mere purchase of
the foreign exchanges of the country, they
advance on nearly every bale of Cotton sub
ject to foreign export, and this withon! the se
curity of the bill ol ludiqg and policy of insur
ance, on the mere personal rcspoucihility of
the drawers mid indorsers of the bill. Hence
these lessons are most comprehensive and dis
astrous after every commercial crisis and re
vulsion.
Now we propose giving to flic banks In all
cases, the higher protection of these securities,
and that early next autumn, one or more bunks
In each of the great commercial Cotton mark
et* of the South, should commence making ad
vances on the crop, according to a scale lo e
graduated by what will beasafe calculation of
its probable amount, assuming 12 12 cent! at
home, to be about the lair natural avi rage and
remunerating price of this staple, on a product
of sixteen him.,red thousand bales, which is
about a- largo a return as the actual labor of
the eouhlry now engaged in ibis branch of in
dustry, is capable ol harvesting. The embar
rassment* of tin South Western Slates having
prevented the planters of these States from
making any purchases of slaves from the Al
lantc States, during Ihe lust two year*, whilst
not less than 10 per cent, of the slave lph>nr of
the South, has been abstracted in the same pe
riod, from the cultivation of Cotton, urid up
plied to the raising of provisions, and to tiie
construction of those extensive railroads i ovv
in progress, throughout that portion of the
Union.
For these advances, we propose that the
Bunks should issue to Ilie planters, merchants
and factors of the country, on the production
of the hill of Lading, und the assignment of the
policy of insurance, Post notesof such descrip
lion, und payable atauch periods us u Conven
tion hereafter contemplated, muy suggest;
notes, which may be made lo answer botii the
purposes of currency und exchange, the de
tails of which we refer to tluit body. By this
arrangement however, we feel satisfied the
credits enube so distributed, that from the duy
of the shipment of our cotton, it may probably
nr held at least six monthsiu Europe, without
the foreign consignee being under an advance
of one farthing, and we think il quite easy to
confer on the houses, to which the shipments
are confided, sufficient strength, to enable them
to hold over (or even a longer period, should
safe remunerating prices not to be obtained ou
Ipr maturity of the bills.
W ith the view ol securing this strength, ft
is indispensably necessary, that the consign
ments should nut be to much diffused, but con
fined to a limited number of houses in Liver
pool and Havre, who acting as the agents of
all those who will come into lifts conservative
system, will feel a common interest, und will
naturally aid and assist each other under all
and every contingency.
Thu F'd'-nv Chi • n ; nt the 1 ... f .us’;,,,
jot a grout scheme, for the protection of onr
Commerce, Finance, and Exchanges, the do
ails of which, must be left for profound delib
eration, und concerted action. To accomplish
this subject, wo hereby invite the planters, fac
tors and cotton merchants of each distiict or
county in the Southern States, und Territory
of Florida, together u tth the Banks, in each of
the said States and Territory, to send Delegates
to meet us in Convention at Macon, Georgia,
on tiie Foruth Tuesday of October next, which
will be on the 22nd day of that month that we
may carefully consider the important matters
disclosed in this Circular.
We invite a candid examination of this whole
scheme, for the protection, not alone of south
ern interests, bui for the security of the com
merce of the whole country.
Let it at least be tested by patient invrstiga
lion, and enlightened research ; if by this plan
one third of the entire cotton crop <>i the coun
try can be placed beyond the possibility of
sacrifice, it will give security to the residue,
uot by entrenching it behind the guards of a
speculative monopoly, but by holding it in tluit
state of security, which the just relations of
supply and demand will always in the long
run, establish and sustain in the trade of a great
and civilized country.
That no time may be lost, wc beg 1-nve to
apprise you that an agent, having our confidence
will leave this riioitrv for Europe, clothed
with ample insti actions, to make such prelim
inary arrangements with the houses iu Liver
pool and Havre, which may, by the sanction
of the Convention, have the proposed consign
ments.
W e are aware of the very potent opposition,
which a plan looking ev en to self-defence, must
invite both at home and abroad, us it runs
counter to a variety of interests, 100 powerful
and too susceptible of combination, not to be
aroused into active, and perhaps inexorable
hostility. If our apology is not to be found in
’ the plea, that vv c hav e u right to hoid our own
property by the. means of the credit of our own
country, then we fearlessly sav, ice mean at
lens! (a attempt it , in despite of an opposition
however eager and iinplicable.
\\ e have seen m the face of a crop of 1.350,-
000 Bales, an effort made, and very nearly re
sulting in success, to coerce the acceptance of
the same prices, which were incident lo one of
1,800,000 bales. We ought not to rest our secu
rily cw the adverse omens of the crop, which
is now growing under the will and dispensn-!
tion of Providence, w hich has already suffered
iu ma iv quarters from an intense drought, and j
in others from the ravages of the insects so
destructive to its grow th and maturity. We
should look beyond the era of the short supply
of the last year, and an apprehended deficit
during the coining season. The lessons oft
economical w isdom belong to ail seasons, and ;
and ail times, and there is a salutary truth in
the homely aphorism, that those who do not
take care of tAenutelves, are not likely to be
taken care of by other*. We therefore submit
this call and invitation to you, with the earnest j
hope, that you w ill be prepared to co-operate
with us in a measure, in which we believe the
highest interests of our commou country are :
involved. . j
Wc r- main, very Respectfully,
Yourob t. sev'ls.
NATUT.. A. V, ARE. of Mississippi.
JO CN G. GAMBLE. Florida.
THOMAS E. TARTT. Alabama.
1). P. HILLHOUSE, Georgia
J. J. HUGHES. Yazoo. Mississippi.
NATHAN McGKHEE. Louisiana.
GUO. McPUFFIE. Sooth Uuroiina.
tiie mazuToa h oovnt sr huhal#^
1). K. DODGE, Florida.
J L. HUNTER. Alabama.
JAMES HAMILTON, Mouth Carolina.
A. B. DAVIS, Georgia,
HENRY W. HILLARD, Montgomery, Ala.
JOHN BRANCH, North Carolina.
New York, July Slh, 183!).
’1 ins Village UarbisoK.—lt happened,
in the course of the Thirty Years’ War,
thalGonsulvode Cordovo, who commanded
the Spanish troops then overrunning the
I'elatinatc, found it necessary to posses*
himself of a little walled village, called
Ogrrsheim, that lay in his way. On hi* in
telligence of hi* approach, till the inhapi
tant* fled to Manhcin ; and when Gonsalvo
at length drew near, and summoned the
place to surrender, theie remaided within
the walls only a poor shepherd and his
wife, the latter of whom having that very
morning brought a little infant into this
world of missery, was unable to leave her
bed : and her husband, of course, staid with
her.
The anxiety and distress of the poor man
“•.ly he, more easily conceived than descri
bed. Fortunately, however, he possessed
both courage and shrewdness ; and, on the
spur of the moment, bethought himself of a
scheme to give bis wife and baby a chance
of escape, which, after embracing them
both, tie hastened lo put into execution.
The inhabitants having quited the town
in great haste, hud left almost all their
property at his disposal; so he had no dif
ficulty in finding what was requisite for his
purpose,—namely, u complete change of
dress. Having first accounlred his lower
man in military guise, he tossed away iiis
shepherd’s hat which he replaced with a
huge helmet,” a world 100 wide," —he
bucketed a long sword to his side, threw a
goodly cloak over liis shoulders, stuck two
enormous pistols in f,i* belt, and fastened to
his high heeled hoots a pair of those pro
djgous jingling spurs which were the fash
ion of the times. Thus accoutred, he forth
with betook himself to the walls, and !*•
big with a pompous air on ins sword, he
listened coolly to the herald, who advan
ced to summon the village to surrender
“ Friend,” said our hero, as soon a* the
herald had concluded his speech, “ tell
,- our commander, shat though 1 have not
yet made up my mind to surrender at all, I
may possibly be induced to do so provided
i lie agrees to the three following conditions,
! in which I shall make no abatement what*
I ever:—First, the garrison must be allow
ed to march out w ith military honors ; sec
| owl, the live* and property of the inhabi
tants must be protected ; third, they must
ho left to enjoy the free exercise of the
Protestant religion.”
The herald immediately replied, that
such prepostcriousconditions could not for
a moment be listened to ; adding, that the
garrison was known to be weak, and con
cluded by again demanding the instant sur
render of the place.
” My good friend,” answered the shep
herd, “do not he too rash. I advise you
to inform your general from me, that uotli
-1 big but my desire to avoid bloodshed could
make me think of surrendering on any terms
whatever, - and please to add, that if he
does not choose to agree to those I have
already stated, lie will gain possession of
the town, only at the point of the sword ;
for I declare to you, by the faith ofan hon
est man and a Christian, as well os by the
i honor of a gentleman, that the garrison has
lately received a reinforcement he little
! di earn* of.”
Ho saying, the shepherd lighted his pipe,
ami puffed away with an air oi the most
i consummate nonchalance. Confounded
by this appearance of boldness and securi
ty, the herald thought it prudent to return
and state to Gonsalvo the demands which
had been made. The Spanish general,
; deceived by this state of resistance, and
i big unwilling to waste either time or men
in reducing this paltry town, resolved to
agree to the condition* offered ; and, fol
lowed by his troops, approached the gates.
Thislenientdetermination was announced
by the herald to the shepherd, who only
vouchsafed to say in reply,” I find vour
commander a man of some sense. He then
left the walls, let down the drawbridge,
deliberately opened the gates, and allow ed
the Spanish troops to pour into tiie town.
Surprised at seeing no one in the street but
a strange looking fellow, whose carica
ture of a military costume hung upon him
like patchwork, Gonsalvo began to suspert
treachery, and seizing the shepherd, deman
ded to know where the garrison was !
“ If vour highness will follow me I w ill
show yon,’, answered the rustic.
“ Keep by my stirup then,” exclaimed
Gonsalvo ;“and on the least symptom that
you mean to betray me. I shall send a bul
let through your heart.”
“ Agreed,” said our friend. “ Follow
me. Spaniards ! fori declare to you, l>v the
word of an honest man and a Christian, as
well as hv the honor of a gentleman, that
the garrison will offer you no injury.”
He then placed himself by Gonsalvo’s
stirrup, and, followed by the troops, pas
sed through several silent and deserted
streets, till at length, turning into a narrow
lane he stopped before a mean looking
house, and having prevailed on Gonsalvo
to enter, he led him into a small room,
where lay his wife, with her little boy be
side her.
” Noble general! “he said, pointing to
the former this is our garrison ; and
this, ” lie added, taking Ifts son in his
arms, “ is the reinforcement of which 1 told
you.”
Aware, now, of the real state of matters,
the absurdity and cleverness of the trick
moved even the Spanish gravity, and Gun
salvo gave free course to his mirth. Then
taking off a rich gold chain which decora
ted his own person, he passed it round the
neck of the infant.
“Permit me to offer this mark of my
esteem,” he said, good-naturedly, “ for the
valiant garrison of Ogersheira. By the
haudofa soldier, I envy you the possess
ion of such a reinforcement ,• and you must
let me present you with this purse of gold
for the use of the young recruit.”
He then stooped down and kissed the
delighted mother and her bov, and quitted
the house, leaving the shepherd to boast for
many a summer day and winter night, of
the success of his stratagem.*
•The above anecdote is authentic, and
mentioned in the Memoirs of the Flector
Palatine.
EXTRACT FROM A SPEECH,
BY DAVID PAUL BROWN, EHQ.
“Why, gentlemen, who was it that shed
the brightest lustre upon the vast science of
astronomy lone David Kittcnhouse, a native
of Pennsylvania, who followed tho plough.
Who was it that tore the lightning from
heaven, and sceptre from tyrants ? one Ben
Franklin, a printer's boy, who protected
himself from the inclemency of the winter
by exercise alone, and lived upon a single
roll of bread a day. Who was it, when the
veteran armies ofGreat Britain faltered and
lied, in the Indian war, safely conducted
the retreat, und secured the remnant of the
army, though he had ‘never seta squadron
in the field, nor the division of a battlc
knevv more tiian a spinster ; one George
Washington, a Virginia Planter. Who
was it that shed the brightest halo around
the brightest reign that the world ever
knew, the reign of Elizabeth —the age of
the Raleighs—the Bacons and Sidney 1— j
why it was one Ben Johnson, a quondam
apprentice to a bricklayer; and one Will
Mhakapeare, a peasant boy, shrewdly sus
pected of pcochiug upon hi* neighbour's
deer. Or passing from astronomy and poe
try, to law, who was it rose from low be
ginning, to be Lord Chief Justice of Eng
land ? one Charley Abbot, whose father
was a barber. Who was it that rose to be
Lord High Chancellor of England? one
Jack Copley, whose father was an Anatneri
can painter. Who was it that became the
brightest star in the judical constellation of
Great Britain ? one Phil Yorke, whose fath
er no man knew. Or passing to a still fur
ther illustration who was it that subjuga
ted three fourths of Europe, and confident
against the world inarms, made the Autoc
rat of all the Russias tremble upon his
throne ? one Napoleon, who rose from the
station of a corporal to such consummate
power, to such dazzling heights, as to en
able him to look down upon emperors,
kings, princes, and the other potentates q/
the earth, w hile he unmade them. * *
“Alth"Uift 1 do not mean to ray that there
never was a great man among th< wealth,,
curled dai lings of the nation, yet I do mean
to say, and history sustains the assertion,
that luxury and affluence are calculated to
enfeeble the mind, and that those, there
fore. who are great in despite of them
would probably lie much greater if remo
ved from their influence. Ills a we!! known
fact that among gentlemen of the turf, that
blooded horses, who for years have been
permitted to brows and carter on broken,
irregular and mountainous pastures, have
acquired s much greater muscular strength,
in sportsman's phrase, better bottom, than
those who are fed upon a let el surface. The
application of this, although a phisical il
lustration, is not difficult. Men, whose
lives have been an uninterrupted course of
difficulty, a perfect uphill work, acquire in
time a selfdependence, and a self-suffieicncy
and promptitude iu every emergency,
which those who have been accustomed to
stand for fame on their forefather’s feet,
or to lean for ail pleasure upon another’s
breast never have known and never can
know.”
Perilous Escape, —Brig Emma of Bos
ton, arrived at Portsmouth on the 9th, from
New Orleans, reports that about IStiftilt,
on the first day out, about 25 miles from
land, picked up a boat with a man in it, who
says his name is Francis Martin, that he
lives on iot No, 14, about ten miles above
Port Jnrk-'v.i, near the Grand (or Big)
Prairie, on New Orleans river, following
the fishing business, supplying the planta
tions, eke; and that he is by birth a French
man and about 98 years of age. He says
his wife lay dead and he was on his way
down the river to get sand to make a grave
over her, when he drifted (or was blown)
off out of sight of land and could not get
hack. Captain Dwight states that when
picked up he was entirely exhausted ami
was lying under the sail, and not aware
that any vessel was near him, and was only
aroused by hultooing ; probably would not
long have survived ; had been four days
absent front home. There was some bread
on board Ifts boat no waterand he had drank
salt water. Captain 1). says he endeavor
ed to speak some vessel bound to New Or
l*-ans, or that way, to pul him on board,
but had not been able. He is now nearly
well and anxious to obtain a passage to
New Orleans.
Militia op Pennsylvania. —From the
report of the Adjutant General, we learn
that the army of Pennsylvania is numbered
and divided ns followes. Considering that
we are a free people, wc have a pretty
large army— on paper.
1 Commander-in-chief.
ID Major Generals—3l Brigadiers.
34 Brigade Inspectors—l Adjutant Gen.
3 Arsenals.
130 Regular regiments and 5 irregular
battalions militia, numbering - - 175,929
Cavalry, 5,000
Artillery and Infantry,- 14,567
Riflemen, 1 1,967—31,53 1
Grand total of militiamen, - - 207,463
AVe understand that a law has been pas
sed by the Pennsylvania Legislature, au
thorising the Canal commissioners to per
mit military companies to travel on the
state works toll free. Any company wish
ing to taken jaunt, have only to request a
permit from the Canal Board.
A Large Receipt.— Wc are informed
that one thousand dollars were received on
the Philadelphia, Germantown and Norris
town Rail Road, on the 4th inst., tor the
conveyances of passengers.— Telegraph.
Importation of Yellow Fever into
Portland , (.Main.) —The Eastern Aigits
says that the West India Yellow Fever is
making sad havoc w ith New England sail
ors. Wc have recorded the death of sever
al within a few weeks, ol” our own towns
men, and those who reside in our vicinity.
The brig Charles Jfiller, which arrived
here yesterday, lost by this terrible disease,
before she sailed front Havana, one of her
males, John Powell, of. this city—also,
William Cox, a seaman ; and on the pas
sage, Mi. John Cook, of Wakefield, N. H.,
(a passenger.) died July 6th.
When the disease is thus being imported
North and South, it behoves our Health
Officer to exert the utmost violence to
keep it on - of this city - . Y. Yor\- Star.
Bbau Ideal or a Belle.—ln her person she
is well dcvolapcd, clean limbed, full of health
and life, and sprightly a* the morning lark.
Her heart is as lender as a young squash; and
warm as the light of the evening sun. Her
mind unshackled by prejudice, and unwarped
by early fooleries is the tablet of truth; her
soul is the temple of righteous affection, and
her tongue the oracle of w Mom. She early
selects a partuer for life, and they glide along
the current of time with the mean velocity of
a raft; and pilch over the falls together, as qui
etly as the warm turtle drops from hi* log.
Cincinnati Sew*.
Fhoji the New Oni.ea.nb Picvycne.
CRUELTY OF INDIANS.
The barbarity of the Americans savage had
become matter of history. They carried their
system of torture even beyond the heartless
refinement*of religious zeal and w ild fanati
cism. The rack mid the screw, and all the
inodes of inflicting pain on the human form
invented by civilized man, dwindle into noth
ingness at the bare recital af the horrid plans
devised by tiie Indians to prolong the pangs of
their immolated captives. The groans and
exclamations of suffering victims, when every
cry of agony was deemed a sound grateful to
the deity, did not produce in the breast of the
misguided enthusiasts or vengeful despot one
moiety of the delight which auimitcd the sav
age in witnessing the throes and anguish and
writhing* of his tortured prisoner.
We do not know that we ever read any
thing rnors revolting than the following recital
of the barbarous mode in which the Indian
treated his captives, recounted by Peter Wil
liamson, a Scot hman, who was for a long time
a prisoner of the Stisquehannahs, and was ail
eye witness of their horrible atrocities. It
cannot fail to cause an involuntary shudder in j
the least sensitive, and make the blood of the
timid run cold.
“The three prisoners (hat were brought with
additional forces, constantly repining at their j
lot, and almost dead wilh their excessive hard
treatment, contrived at last to make their
escape; but being far from their own settle- .
meats, ;t>d not knowing the country, were
soon iftrfr rne by some others of the tribe or
naliolte at war with us, and brought bark. The
“poor creatures who were almost famished for |
want of sustenance, having had none’ during
tiie time of their elopem nit, were no sooner in
the ciulchesofthe barbarians, itun two of them j
were tied to a tree and a great fire in ide round j
them, where they remained till they were ter- j
nbie scorched and burnt; when one of the vil- |
tains with his scalping knife ripped open their |
bellies, took out their entrails, and burnt them j
before their eyes, w hile the others were cut- ;
ting, piercing and tearing the flesh from their !
breasts, hands, arms and les, with red hot
irons, till they were dead. The third unhappy ;
victim w - as reserved a few hours longer, to
be, if possible, sacrificed in a m ire eruel man
ner; his arms were tied cios to his body, and ;
a hole dug deep enough for him to stand up-:
right: he was put therein, and the earth ram- ,
med and beat in all parts round his body up to :
Ifts neck, so that his neck only appeared above i
ground. They then scalped him, and there
let him remain for three or four hours in the
greatest agonies imaginable, while the poor j
creature could only cry for mercy to kill him
immediately, for his brains were boiling in his
head. Inexorable to all his plaints, they con
tinued the fire, while shocking to behold, his
eye* gushed out of their sockets, and such ag
onizing torments did the unhappy creature
suffer for near two hours, till he was quite dead.
They then cutoff his head and buried it with
the other bodies; my task being to dig the
graves, which, feeble and terrified as I was,
tiie dread of suffering the same fate enabled me
to do.”
It is stated in the New York Gazette that
when the upper deck of ihcsteam boat Sam
son fell, on the 4th instant, one of those
who were wounded by the evident was
placed with the dead. Dr. Wood, a res
pectable phisician of the city, being on
board, very fortunately fell the pulse of
Mr. Henriquest, then supposed lobe dead,
and discovered that he was alive. 7’he
Doctor promptly gave the patient some
brandy and waier; when he began to revive.
The crowd then collected around the Doc
tor, insisted that the patient should be
bled ! The worthy Doctor declined, and
told thc.'ft. that he would not commit mur
der by bleeding; that the patient was too
much injured to aurrfttof the looss of any
more blood. The silly belief that it was
necessary on all occasions of accident to
bleed, left the Doctor in bad repute with
the passengers, but his judicious treatment
of Mr. H. saved that gentleman’s life. The
course pursued by Dr. W. was approved
by two of the best eminent surgeons of
New York, who held the opinion that had
he yielded to the solicitations of the pas
sengers and bled the patient, he could not
have survived.
Ocean Steam Navigation. —By Octo
ber. 1841, there will be thirteen large and
splendid steam ships running across the
Atlantic Ocean. Not one will be smaller
than the Liverpool ami more than half of
them will be larger than the Great Wes
tern. Four of thirteen willply between
Liverpool, Halifax and Boston, and the bal
ance will run from Bristol, London, Liver
pool and Clyde to New York. The Brit
ish Queen is expected hourly and the
President will be over next spring; then
follows the United Kingdom, Citv of New
York, the Clyde Steamer and the United
States, in rapid succession. The four
Halifax steamers will be ready early in
1841.
There may be twenty or thirty steamers
running over the Atlantic from different
points in Europe to this country, but we can
only speak positively of thirteen. A gen
tleman who arrived in the Liverpool, told
us yesterday, that the frame of the Presi
dent was up and ‘hat she would be ready to
enter the lists by the first of next May, She
is larger than the British Queen.
Types. —At the annual dinner of the Ty
pographical Society of Cineinatti, the edi
tor of the republican gives this good toast :
The Journeyman Printer. An odd
yet favourable specimen of nature’s handy
work ; often a roan a genius ; sometimes a
poet ; never a fool ; always a philosopher;
a character in which has been blended
much of the light shade of humility - , and
u here substantial qualities, both of the head
and heart, atone for many an error ; mis
fortunes which overtake the best and wi
sest ot mankind in their journey through
life.
Ac ic Wheat. —The first parcel of wheat
of the new crop was received in the Balti
more market on Saturday by - Messrs, John
Trimble & Son. It was a lot of 900 bush
els prime red, from Tyrrell countv, N. C.
and was sold at S! 30 per bushel. Balt.
American.
A BLOODY BATTLE.
TWO THOUSAND MEN KILLED.
Buenos Ayres papers to May Hill, received
: via Boston, bring the particulars of a bloody
! battle which took place on the 31st of March,
■ at a place called Pago Largo, between the ar
’ my of Corriente* (one of the Provinces of the
Republic of Kin de la Plain) and the troops of
Kmre Rios (another of said Province,) which
i theCornentian, i t connexion with ihe Orien
| i*l Republic (of which Monis Video is the
i capital) were attempting to icvolutumisc. It
| w ill be recollected lh.it not many months since,
Gen. Fruetuaso Rivera, or Frutos as he is
j famil arly called, raised ati insurrection m tho
; Oriental Republic, and succeeded in oust ng
Gen. Oribe from the Presidential chair, which
Rivera of course immediately ascended, adopt
ing such forms of procedure as would best
save appearances -
Oribe, with a number of his friends esenp
;cd to Buenos Ayres, and awakened in that
capital so much interest iu his own behalf and
in opposiiion to Rivera, that the latter determ
ined on revenge, and accordingly issued a de
claration of waragamst the United Provinces.
In this tie was encouraged by the French
authorities at Monte Video, who were in hopes
the movement would result in the downfall of
Rows (Governor of Bueno* Ayres, and there
fore ex-officio conductor of the foreign oper
ations o the United Provinces.) This hope
was strengthened w hen, soon after, means were
found to gain the co operation of the Province
of Corrientes, through the influence of iis Gov
ernor. Gen. Astrada. Ho here w ere the Ori
enlal Republic and the Province of Corrientes,
encouraged by the French authorities at Mon
tevideo. about to make war upon the United
Provinces. And for convenience sake they
directed their first operations against the Pro
vince of E lire Rios. The rest is sufficiently
told in the annexed extracts:
Buenos Avbe*. May 4.— The official details
of the battle of Pago Largo, are published in
the Gaeeta Merc.intil, in a despatch from Gene
ral Pascual Echagus to H. K. the Governor of
Buenos Ayres, dated head quarters Curusa
cn ilia, sth ult. It slates ih it the army of Cor
rientes, in number more than five thousand
men, including 450iofaniry,and artillery, with
three t pounder*, occupied advantageous |hi
sitions. The right sing of ihe army of Bistro
Rios was commanded by General justo Jose
I’rqtiisa, the centre by General Servitude
Gomez, nod ihe loft under tiie immediate or
ders of the commander in Chief General Pas
cual Esehague. The Emre Rios Cavalty
charged that of Corrientes with such impetu
osity, that the latter was speedily thrown into
disorder, and cm down in all directions, whilst
the infantry of Eutre Rios, consisting of 360
men, with two 2 pounders, killed or took pri
soners all the infantry of their opponents, and
eaptured the three pieces of cannon above
mentioned.
The reserve of the Eutre Rios army took no
part in the action: its assistance not being ne
cessary. The Correntinos left on the field of
battle i,960 inen killed, including 84 officers,
a* al*o Genaro Heron de Astrada, Governor
and Captain G - neral of the Province of Cor
rientes and CoiLiii.aider in Chief of its army.
450 prisoners, 500 muskets, 1500 lances, 360
carbides, a nearly equal number of swords, 6
wagons of ammunition, more than 4000 horses,
a standard, the baggag*’, correspondence, &c.
fell into the bands of the victors.
The despatch concludes a* follows—
“ Our loss in this glorious victory over the
i rebel army consists of 5 officers killed, 8 wound
ed, 50 soldiers killed and b 6 wounded.”
Buenos Ayres, May 11. — The Legislature
of Corrientes has reversed all tiie enaefn ents
made under the Beron de Astrada administra
tion, both as regards the alliance with Don
Fructuoso . Rivera, [President of the Banda
Oriental Republic,) and concession to the
French; and declared tiie firm determination
of their constituents to stand by their country
men in the struggle for National Independ
ence. It now appears in the most unquest
j hiu i’ - ’ in tut, tlt.it not only the Legislature
j and the (ujople, but even a great portion ol the
! army were opposed lo the proceedins* of the
late Governor, and that ‘measures were in
progress for removing him from the command,
when he precipitated the action which had
I such a decisive issue. Amongst the officers
j killed, there were many pledged to promote
the conti mplated change, nd amongst them
| Colonel Itolon. It is stated that the new Gov
| ernor of Corrientes will be Col. Jose Antonio
Roiuero, with Dr. Theodore Ganna for his
Minister. Such an ejection it appears would
m et the approbation of the otiicr governments
| of ihe Confederation.
THE SINGULAR GAMBLING MACHINE.
Ihe principle of the. divice mentioned by
the New Orleans Bee of July 2, is not alto
gether new, and thousands have probably
been plundered of their money by similar
means. A discovery of the samckind was
made in this city about fifteen years ago, iu
a house opposite the Chestnut street thea*
Ire. The only difference was, that in. this
instant the wires communicated wilh a cov
ered bench occupied by the player, who
was in the secret, and the hint was feelingly
given by pricking him with a stout needle on
the sitting part. The spnr was doubtless
applied by a concealed associate, when he
touched the proper card to play, the “ hand”
of the dope being visible from abo-V2- Thin
mode of telegraphic communication, though
doubtless as vivid as electro-magnethsm,
and well calculated lo arouse aud fix atten
tion, must have been sufficiently painful, as
the neeblc was no trifle, being remarkably
thick as well as sharp. A tough hide, stea
dy nerves, and an unusual command of
countenance were of course essential requi
j sites for the individual whose business it
was to bear such severe applications, and
even then it is not easy to imagine that he
could play long without wincing and grim
acing at the process of acupunciuralion to
which lie uas subjected, especially if the
confederate above excited with the sport
and jurked tile wires with spirit. But the
: hope of gain is potent in gifting men with
. patience, and he doubtless thought with
Macbeth, that “ the labor we delight in
i phisics pain,” even if caused by a needle.
This extraodinary apparatus, which was
j evidently an improvement on what Dr.
Johnson considered the only way of impart
ing ciasical knowledge to boys, was discov
ered by the owner of the house after the
sudden flitting of the rogues, who left their
ingenious contrivance, for the admiration
of the public.— Pennsylvanian.
What’s in a Name ? —The New Hamp
shire Whig says it once heard of a faceli
tious person whose name was “ Sew'” who
named his first child “ Something ,” as it
was “ Something New,” His second was
christened “ Nothing it being “ Nothing
New”
Accident to Mr. Clay. —The Cincinnati
Gazette , of the tHh inst, says that the stage,
ill which Mr. Clay was a passenger, upset
near Palmyra (Ohio,) and that he was slight
ly injured. Another passenger had hi? leg
broken.