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BY JAMES W. JONES The Southern Whig, PUBLISHED EV URY SATURDAY MORNING. TEBSS. Three dollars per annum, payable within six months after the receipt of the fn st number, or fur dollars if not paid within the year. Sub scribers living out us the State, will be expect ed in all cases, to pay in advance. No subscription received for less than one year, unless the money is paid in advance; and no paper will be discontinued until all arrear ages are paid, except at the. option of the pub lisher. Persons requesting a discontinuance, of their Papers, are requested to bear in mind, a settement of their accounts. Advertisements will be inserted at the usual rates; when the number of insertions is not specified, they will be continued until ordered out. fry- All Letters to the Editor or Proprietor, on matters connected with the establishment, must be post paid in orderto secure attention Notice of the sale of Land and Negroes, by Administrators, Executors, or Guardians, must be publislied sixty days previous to the day of sale. The sale of personal Property, in like manner, must be published forty days previous to the day of sale. Notice to debtors and creditors of an estate must be published forty days. Notice that Application will be made to the Court of Ordinary for Leave to sell Land or Ne groes, must be published four months. Notice that Application will be made for Letters of administration, must be published thirty d ays and Letters of Dismission, six months. For Advertising—Letters of Citation. § 2 75 Notice to Debtors and Creditors, (40 days) 325 Four Months Notices, 4 00 Sales of Personal Property by Executors, Administrators, or Guardians, 3 25 Sales of Land or Negroes by do. 4 75 Application for Letters of Dismission, 4 50 Other Advertisements will be charged 75 cents for every thirteen lines of small type, (or space equivalent,) first insertion, and 50 cents for each weekly continuance. If published every other week, 62 1-2 cents for each continuance. If published once a month, it will be charged each time as a new advertisement. For a single insertion, §1 00 per square. PROSPECTUS “ OF THE THIo paper formerly edited by Wm. E. Jones, is now under the direction of the undersigned. The growing importance of Ath ens, the state of parties in Georgia, and the agitation of certain questions having a direct influence on southern interests; fender it neces sary that the northwestern part of Georgia should have sorrie vigilant, faithful always on the watch tower, devoted construction of the true spirit ofthc c , the maintainance of the rightsand of the States, the retrenchment of executive* patronage, reform, and a strict accountability of ail public officers; moderate, yet firm and decided in his censures, “ nothing extenuate or setdown ought in malice,” —to expose prompt ly abuses and corruption when and whereevr discovered— ; such an one the undersigned pro doses to make the Whig; while it will contain the most authentic and important information connected with our foreign and domestic rela pons. the latest commercial intelligence, ori tiinal articles, and selections from the mos gopular works of the day in the various depart! meats of Agriculture. Literature and the Arts. To Georgians the undersigned is conscious he appeals not in vain for an increase of patron age—and he respectfully asks the friends of Constitutional liberty to make an effort, to ob tain subscribers. The Southern Whig is published weekly in Athens Georgia, at Three Dollars per annum ! payable in advance, Three Dollars and fifty ( cents if not paid within six months, or Four if not paid until the end of the vean J. W. JONES. PROSPECTUS? AT the late meeting of the Alumni of Frank lin College, it was unanimously resolved to be expedient to make arrangements to issue a Monthly Literary Magazine, to be called THE ATHENIAN. The undersigned were appointed by the So ciety a committee of publication and joint Edi tors of the work, until the next meeting of tue Society. We have no interest in the work, ex cept that which we take in the welfare of the country and honor of the State. We, of the South, have too long depended upon foreign parts forour Literature, and neglected our own talents. We shall be weak so long as we think we are weak: and dependent until we make ef forts to be independent. We hope all the friends of Literature in the State, and especially the Alumni of Franklin College, will patronize the enterprise both by word and deed. State pride the love of Literal are, our interest in the cause of general Education, all call upon us to sustain an enterprise so necessary to our improvement, and the honor of the State. A. S. CLAYTON, JAMES JACKSON, R. D. MOORE, WM. L. MITCHELL, C. F. McCAY, SAMUEL P. PRESSLEI', 11. HULL. Tmb Athenian shall issue monthly, on fine paper, Stitched and covered in pamphlet form, and shall contain sixty-four pages royal octavo. Nothing derogatory to religion, offensive to any denomination of Christians, or of any political party, shall appear in the Athenian. ' Its pages shall be honestly devoted to general Literature, the cause of Education, the Review of new works, and notices of improvements in Science, Arts and Agriculture. Price Five Dollars per annum, payable on the delivery of the first num ber. FOUR months after dale, application will lie made to the Honorable Inferior Court of Clark county, when sitting for Ordinary purposes, for leave to sell all the real estate of Robert R. Billups, late of Stewart county de ceased. ELIZABETH W. BILLUPS, Ex’r. Nov. 26— 30—4 m. S’© " s’raas©- YM/'E feel it a duty we owe to ourselves, to in ** form our friends of certain reports which are “on the tongues of every one” that some teachers in Scottsboro’ are Abolitionists. We are not the only teachers in Scottsboro,’ and those who know us would be the last to Charge us with such hateful principles—they know us to be Southern men (natives of Virginia, but Georgians by adoption) by birth education and in feeling. L. LATASTE, January 28—39—4 t V. LATASTE. Editors who have published a previous ad vertisement of ours, will please discontinue that and insert the above once a week for four weeks. So'ut i)cvu From the Aew London Gazette. THE SPIRIT OF LIGHT. Lines suggested by the Phenomenon on the night of the 27th inst. Look I look to the north !—wh at a glorioUs cloud ! See see ! how it mantles on high ! Wrapping darkness and night in a blooil-red shroud— And sweeping far over the sky ! What art thou I 0 wonderful spirit of light! Array’d in thy fearful attire— And mocking the snowy-capped earth, with the sight Os thy broad-speading banner of fire ! Art thou come—magnificent pilgrim of night! Art thou come t’ outvie our pale queen 1 Outpouring thy splendor aloft on the height, And drowning the stars in thy'sheen 11 Now, hiding the light-blue curtain of lieaven, W ith thy proud vaulted pageant show’rs ; Now, gracefully twining the mild brow of ev’n A g arland of exquisite ilow’rs ? Oh ! speak to me ! solemn mysterious guest! Thy name, and thy nature I crave ; Say wherefore that smile on the face of the west— The blush—on the white-crested wave ! “I aim king of the meteors, ign’rarit child, And Fire is my nature and name ! I reign over ocean and forest wild— And regen’rate earth with my flame,- I flow in bright streams from the dark thunder cloud— In sparks from thy diamond ring,— From the heaving volcano I call aloud— When away from its depths I spring ! lam Nature’s Great Agent,her light and Life » Creative love is my power;— And the meanest thing in existence is rife. With the gifts of my fathomless dowT! I have come a bright emblemof Truth Divine! Over all my mantle is casi— My office on earth is to cleanse and refine— Till all through my furnace have pass’d ! The day-star is up ! I depart—l depart— We mingle our glory in one; — Life love from on high, shed abroad in the heart From the Father and Gospel-Son !” Farewell! O thou beautiful spirit of light! AUrad’ant with wisdom tiion art.— When, when wilt thou Inger again on the height, Another great truth to iunart'! •$?. Andreus Standard. The Forest Foundling*. Averse, as we are, to the practice of seizing on any little local incident, and rendering it the subject of embellished detail, yet we occasion ally hear of occurrences so touching and pa thetic in their nature, as to awaken our sym pathies, and interest us in their narration.— Os such a nature is that which we now present to rhe readers Mr. Charles Berrghan left the north east part ofthis province a shorttime ago, and took what is called the tipper ro?d from Frederic ton to St. Stephens, on his way to the United States. On the sth Aug. he passed the thriv ing village at Hurt’s Mills on the Rtishagonis very early in the morning, and expected to reach Trew’s tavern, at the Piskahagan, by night. Properly equipped for the woods, fur nished with suitable provisions, his blanket, his axe slung behind, and his gun on his shoul der, he trudged gaily along until he arrived at Shin creek, which is unbridged; and was at that time much swollen with late rains. A woodman seldom hesitates at such obstacles ; he proceeded up the bank of the stream and set about falling a tree across it, to serve as a temporary bridge ; it swung aside m falling, and launching into deep water, it moved away majestically down the stream. Our traveller ‘* looked and looked, and wist not what to do.” He was not inclined to resume the axe, and therefore resolved to proceed up stream, in hope of finding a favorable place for crossings At length he arrived at one of those placid look ing pools which form deep stretches in our ri vers and are generally termed still water pla ces. Here he made it kind of raft sufficient to bear up his clothes and gtin; and keep them dry, while he swam over and drew- them after him. He was soon busily engaged in re-habit ing his limbs, and refreshing himself with a bit of biscuit, seated on the flowery magin of a natural meadow which extended along the banks of the stream, when his ear Was startled by a whining noise resembling the sounds fre quently uttered by yoiing bears. He instantly seized his gun, examined the touchhole and re printed ; then clapping a ball into the barrel; “ with look intent; And eye and ear attentive bent,” he cautiously stole towards the spot whence the sounds issued. They were no longer Uttered, but he now and then heard a crackling noise among the underbrush and perceived a twitch ing motion ofthc twigs and spray, but could not discover what caused them. Convinced, however, that he had some animal to encoun ter, his gun was at his shoulder and his finger to the trigger. He then silently reasoned witL himself whether or not he should fire -irJ* dtmi, but experience cautioned him iigaiK 5 ’ , rash an action, for more than a wounded bee mused, eyes became Jdieart throb, bed violently, Triet, and let the but of his g • • ' • ithe ground! Behold! among'v. k’.'Aes,-and seen through the intefA ' m>y twinkling leaves of dewy , Jy/a beautiful in fantile arm fitfully and little taper fingers plucking the nch, ripe, crimson fruit. After he had experienced the first flush of the mingled etn'otions of surprise at the extra ordinarysight—of horror at the bare idea of his gun and his intended aet —and of pleasure in the expectation of meeting society in these deep and solemn solitudes, our ti aveller advanc ed and beheld a little girl, about seven years old, sedulously engaged in pulling and eating of the abundant wild berries which were spread in great variety over that naturally rich and verdant spot. She appeared to be an interest ing child ; her clothes had a respectable look, albeit they were most woefully rent and worn, her fair hair played in disordered ringlets over her check, which was begrimed and pale, am! "WHERE POWERS ARE ASSUMED WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN DELEGATED, A NULLIFICATION OF THE ACT IS THE RIGHTFUL REMEDY.”— JefferSOII. her soft blue eyes were red with weeping;— She burst out. into wild hysteric wailings itliich sunk suddenly into convulsive sobs. The traveller was lost in utter amazement, and hemmed aloud; to attract the child’s at tention. Alarmed, in her turn, at his appear ance; half habited as he was, she screamed— fled a few steps —fell, and covered her face with her hands. He was quickly by her side, and used the kindest and most soothing ex pressions to gain her confidence and calm her fears. She had fallen more from bodily weak ness than from fear, although she had been greatly alarmed at the unexpected appearance of the stranger. At length sho ventured to look up; and with a sweet but languid smile, said slowly and fdintly, “Oh now—l am sure you won’t hurt me—O, I am very sure you will not kill me.” “ Kill you I God forbid,” was the full-hearted reply. “(), I’am very tired—l’ve been very, very hungry, but I got plenty raspberries here—l only eat the goody ones; I never take them as have the spiders on ’em, mother bid me not to.”—“ Where is your mother, thy dear child?” eagerly inquired the traveller, and he was answered in great simplicity,■ '• she’s at home, sir, I guess—but. | mam don’t know where I be—l can’t find out I the way home ever so long.” “What! my I child, have you strayed and are lost? (lonic ■ to that flowery knoll with me—God has sent. I me to preserve your life—come, I will give you some nice biscuit and a bite of meat—you are weak and worn, but I will take care of you.” The poor innocent’s soul burst forth in a flood of grateful tears, not attended with that hysteric affection which she had lately suffer ed. She derived great relief from weeping, and prepared to follow her neW benefactor, but the excitement she had just experienced, act ing on her sensative. delicate and exhausted frame, had shaken every nerve ar.d completely prostrated her strength; She was unable to | walk, but the kind and generous Bearghancar j ried her to the bankof the river where he had ! left his little store, and judiciously regaled her with spare and gradual portions offood. As soon as she was moderately refreshed, her artless answers to his enquiries informed ( him that her name was Lydia Harper, her 1 parents lived near Hart’s mills; she had been sent with dinner to her father, who was making shingles, a little way in the woods, but missed the right track, got bewildered and wandered astray. “ When I knew I was lost,” she said. '“O I was very frightened—l screamed and I rim about, and threw away fathers dinner.” j It appears that she walked the first night until' I she sank down nearly stupified with fatigue. I The traveller asked if she was not afraid when i I it grew dark and she was alone and lost in the ! woods, to which she replied, “I was a kind of j frightened all the time, but when I lay down 1 | said my prayers that mam leart me, and then I wa’nt frightened.” “Do you remember the prayer?” “O, I do sir, it is : “I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest, for it is thou, Lord, only, that makest file to dwell in safety; and into thy hands I com mend my spirit, my soul and my body, for thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, thou God of truth !” I Amen. ■ Mr. Bearghan next began to consider how the child was to be brought along. He was sixteen miles past her father’s, and his business would not allow him to return, he was about 12 milts ffom Trew’s and no house between. The child was unable to walk ; he rigged out a contrivance by means of his blanket, and car ried her forward on his Hack. The delightful consciousness of performing a good action buoyed up his spirits and nerved his frame, and he beguiled the rigor of his laborious task by the prattle of his little foundling, who had now become more sprightly and free. As he journeyed along tie inquired if she had seen wild beasts in the woods, and she answei 1 - ed “No, I did’nt—only once—two black dogs were comingto me—they were not Mr. Burpe’s dogs—they stopt, and one stood on his hind feet—-they diu’ul bark,but runned away again.’’ Our traveller Smiled at the child’s simplicity, while she continued to say, “ O sir, last night —O when I aWoke in the middle of the night, O how glad I was! I thought I was close to home, for 1 thought. 1 heard the cattle tramp ling about me, 1 could’nt sea nothing, none of them had bells—and when I called • Star and Bright.,’ they lay still: O, I was glad and my heart was beating—l lay very still too to lis ten, and so I just dropt away asleep again: I was i't it a pity—they were all gone in the morning.” “ Providence seetris to have de j fended you in an especial manner, my child, against hidden dangers and death,” said the traveller. Having cart-led his helpless charge until day light was gone, his fatigue was increased bv the difficulty of walking on an almost trackless road in the dark, and the moon did not rise I until neat’ ten o’clock. At length he arrived at a deserted log hut within two miles of Trew’s j and being almost exhausted, he determined to make a short stoppage to recruit. Here he thought to leave the child; wrapped in Ins blan ket, whilst he should hurry on and semi back immediate relief; He struck it light, partook of some refreshments with her; but found gi-eat difficulty in getting her to consent to remain behind. After he had prepared a pfetty com fortable bed for her, and placed her snugly in it, he sat down to tratcll until she should tall asleep. The iiKton hud just risen,- and before he started; he gently apptoaclied tile child to | find if she Vt-et-c perfectly composed; lie held the light towards her, she opened her blue eyes full upon him; she averted her head; and sob bed. “No !” exclaimed the travelh r, “By all that’s sacred, I swear I Wili not leave you behind !” He forthwith slung his ate and his Lun, resumed Iris former equipment, raised Wb.iJ.A diu from her lonely couch, and carried aft 'safely to the long looked for hoiiSe of’en tamtaimnent. Although it was quite lute, Cap. pain Josiah Trew Was easily aroused to admit the toil-worn traveller and his little companion, who now stood beside him at the thrcshhold •’ for something told him that it was more seem ly that she should walk th'aH be carried iu the [ hutrse. lie had also tied 1 a handkerchief un j der her chin, in the fashion of the gVpSev head . dress.- . Tlrey were sooh- placed by a comfortable | fire in a good house, well stored, and blessed j with a hearty and hospitable landlord. The i females, as is the custom of lire Con'ntry, were I speedily afoot and busy preparing the inquired | repast.- We fancy we Can see the mirthful coUutcn'ance of the facetious Josiah, beaming with down right exultation as he issued his multifarious orders for every viand : the house could afford to Comfort the wearied travellers. We can also fancy that vie sfee his feature? overclouded and his eye glistening with genu inc feelingas he related that the whole colmtrv ' side had been up and in search of a child lost I m the woods; that pafli'es had gone in all di- I rections, but mihaypily without success, and ATBIEYS, GEORGIA, SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 1837. I that one of the people deeply distressed on the ; occasion was now (n the house. Our travel ler immediately exclaimed that Providence had made Awn the happy instrument of recovering that lost child who now sat before them. Eve ry one flew arodnd the little girl, examined and fondled her; and Vented exclamations of amaze ment and sdttsfaction. During this sudden bustle a person from the adjoining chamber rushed Wildly in among the company, snatch ed the hand of little Lydia, gazed on fier for a moment, then clasped her to his boaoifi. jt was Iler father! W hat a scene was here ! what an overflow ing of the finest, feelings which adorn humani. ty ! what a giddying interchange of those pure affections which spring from sincerity find truth! But what tongue can tell, wliat pen portray the varied emotions which fleeted in rapid succession through the minds of that pain s fully happy group? The half frantic joy and | gratitude of the parent—the wandering fits of I delight of the enfeebled li'tlc sufferer—the conscious self-satisfaction of the deliverer— ; the officious but sincere gratulatlons of theex- I cited inmates—must all bo estimated by the i susceptibility ofthe reader. ! The beautiful train of circumstances which | Providence employed in this affecting story is [ worthy of serious consideration. If the tra- I veller had passed Hart’s mills when the people [ were stirring abroad ; if Shin’s creek had been I bridged; if the tree had fallen across, if he had had no gun when he thought a bear was by— if these facts had happened, the child might have perished. He who sustains the mighty planets in their courses and controls the motion of a particle of dust—He who rules the awful storm and sends forth the smiling sunbeam, works his wise pur poses in mystery to us— “ Come then expressive silence and muse His praise.” SONG. BY MRS. HSMANS. “Oh cast thou not Affection from thee! in this bitter world I Hold to thy heart, that only treasure fast, Watch—guard it—-suffer not a breath to dim The bright gem’s purity I” If thou hast crushed a flower, The root may not bit blighted ; If thou hast quenched a lamp, OnCe more it may be lighted ; ' But on thy harp or on thy lute, The string which tliou hast broken 1 Shall never in sweet sound again Give to thy touch a token. I ; Ifthou hast loosed a bird, TVhose voice of song would cheer thee, I Still, still he may be won From the skies to warble near thee ; i But. if upon the troubled sea Thou hast thrown a gem unheeded, Hope not that wind or wave shall bring The treasure back when needed. If thou hast bruised a vine. The summer’s breath is healing, And its cluster yet may glow Thro’ the leaves their bloom revealing ; j But if thou hast a cup o’er thrown With a bright draft filled—oh! never Shall earth give back the lavished wealth To cool thy parched lip’s fever. The heart is like that cup, It thou waste the love it bore thee, ) And like that jewel gone, M hich the deep will not restore thee ; Arid like that string of harp or lute Whence the sweet, sound is scattered ; Gently, oh ! gently touch the chords ( So soon for ever shattered. | From Scientific Tracts. OewSog-y, Order of Creation. The general order of time in which the earth, with its furniture and its inhabitants, I came to its present form; is sufficiently mani- I fest from the only authentic history we have | of its creation, from reason, and from obser vation. 'I he first step which was taken to change the original chaos into a convenient : dwelling place, tor living, acting, and intelli i get.’t beings, was the formation of drv land. I 1 nat was necessary to provide for the accom modation of animal and vegetable life. When j provision was made tor tho existence and sup. i port ot the vegetable kingdom, ‘‘the earth biouglit forth grass and herb yielding seed af j tyr their kmd, and th<> tree yielding fruit after I his kind, whose seed was iu itself after his ‘ kind,” - Ihe creation, and continued production of the vegetable kingdom, made provision for the j animal.— I hen the earth brought fb'i'th cattie that walk upon tho earth, fowls that flv in the i firmament ot heaveti; reptiles that creep in the dust, and fishes that move in the waters; and ; each after his kind. ! But the tenant for whom tho earth, with all its productions ot animal and vegetable lite, , and so richly provided with liirniturc of a thou , sand kinds, was not yet created. His crea- ■ tion was to close this august, work of the Great - Architect ot the universe. Atah was ntit for ! med and plated upon the earth, until the earth was fitted tor his nc< ption, his convenience, { and his happiness—until two great lights were formed, one to rule the day,- and the oth r to rule the night, and the stars also—until the ' water; which were under the firmament were ; divided from those above the tirmairient, and j gathered together in one place, and drv land | appeared—until grass, herbs, and trees yield- ‘ ■ ed st;ed and frifit after their kind, and cattle. I | the fbMs of the heaven, every creeping thing, j i and eve:‘v lining Creature which moves in the i waters, were forfiied, and ifnide produce oth- I ers after their kind, and put in subjection to! the lord of this lowur creation. Sti'ch is the general order in the work of creation, as learned from the Bible, from rea son and froth observation ; and jfei we bkve the strongest evidence, that this order was not strictly and minutely pursued through the whole process of bringing tin: earth into the state in which it is now preaented to our view. ! 1 he whole of the mineral kingdom, all rocks and metals, soils and mountains, were not. com pleted before the creation of tiie vegetable i and 1 animal kingdoms vvere commenced. Sb far from it, rocks, sot's, and niqtuls,' afe daily fofhVmg at the present time. In many instan ces. Vegetables and animals are deposited iu solid rocks far below the surface ot' tii'e earth. Nay, whole mouhtaiiis of a great height, and | hundreds of mrl’cs in extent, are composed of little else- Miii! the relics of animals. The] ; greater part of these animals were evidently . different kinds of shell fish. But fishes, of ] the kind that swim, are also found inclosed in r solid rocks. In one instance, the relicsot the . one fish were found in the mouth of another, i ! apparently in the act of struggling for his free . ) dom, when both captive and captor were stid i | denly arrested, and confined, where they clo • sed their struggles and their lives together; . and were afterwards converted into stone. In L another instance, one hundred and sixteen dit ; ferent kinds of fish were found petrified with, in a short distance. It has been remarked, that these fishes had probably met in general assembly, and were taken when in the act of ( legislating. | In excavating the section ofthe Erie canal [ at Lockport, after descending twent} r feet into . solid rack, several rattlesnakes were found . with their whole forms, though in a state of | stone, almost precisely retained; At the same ’ place, and nearly thv same deupth. a toad U’as . taken from the solid rock, which, when found, . was in a torpid state, which he had retained, perhaps, for thousands of years; but, when ex posed to air and heat, soon gave indications of life, aud after a short time gained strength enough to hop, but after a few hops closed his existence forever. Not many years since, in the vicinity of Pa ris, there Was found imbedded in solid rock, and forty feet below its Surface; a board sev- I oral feet long and eight or nine inches wide. ! At the sarrie place a hammer was found, the handle of which, with the board, petrified ; but the hammer being of iron, retained its na tural state. These are a few instances, among thousands which might be mentioned, to prove that the changes our earth has undergone, have been gradual and constant, and that minerals, rocks and soils; and even mountains have been form ed since the creation both of the vegetable and animal kingdoms commenced, and even after man ivas formed, and had made some advances in the arts of civilization. Indeed, no one can doubt for a moment, who has paid the least at tention to the subject, that our globe has been subject to constant and important changes from the time that the materials out of which it is composed were formed out of nothing, until the present time. And these changes which come within oui knowledge are so great, as to afford strong evidence that the earth could not have existed for a much longer period than that assigned by Moses. Ages of Rocks. From views and facts already presented, it must be concluded that rocks dud mountains have different ages. Some have existed for I six thousand years, while others are at this moment in a process of formation. And there j is good reason to believe, that every moment I during the whole of this petiod, these forma | tions have been going on. ! We not only know that rocks have different i ages, but we know which are oldest. All ge j olbgists unite in the opinion, that granite was i j the first solid substance formed frorri the great I j chaotic ocean ; and thattfie coarsest masses of] ; this rock are older than those of a finer tex i tore. Next in age to granite, is gneiss, consisting of the same ingredients, but of a finer tex’ure and a more slaty character. Mica slate is considered by most geologists as the third rock in age. Lime has been forming in all ages bf the world. Some deposits of limestone are older than the most recent granite, while others are forming at the present moment. The oldest specimens are coarse and of a crystaline struc ture ; the most recent is fine or compact in its texture, aud destitute of every appearance of crystalization. A bed of the most ancient limestone is found in Bolton, Massachusetts. i In the western part of New York, deposits of ■ the same rock are constantly foririing at the | present time. Elements of Rocks. J Notwithstanding the rich and endleSs varie | ty in the appearance of rocks, their elements I are few and simple; anil this apparent and ■ beautiful variety is owing more to the propor ’ tion and arrangement of the ingredients which ■ compose them, than to their number or va riety. Nine simple minerals have been supposed, by many geologists; to be the elementary sub stances of which al! rocks are compreed. Aiid it is well known, that, four or five of th ;se, constitute by far the greatest part of rocky and mountain masses, Itnd that more than half, both of rocks and soils, are formed from tft’o of them. The names of these simple minerals, shme- I times called the geological alphabet; are quartz, felspar, mica, hornblende, limie; argillite, (com- I mon slate.) gypsum, tale, and chlofite. The I two first are the most common and most ab'an- I dant materials which compose the solid riiass ! of ourearth; Os the highest and most exten- ! sive ffinuntains upon our globe, they, are the j principal, and; to some extent the only ingre- ] dients. They are also the essential elements ' us soils, and upon the proper nrixturb of qttarlz ! I and felspar, or of silex and alumine, (sand ( and clay,) the ultimate principles fb’und in i these tw 6 minerals, the fertility of s'oils de pends. These tivo abundant and important minerals, ' in many instances, nearly resemble each ' other, though a little experience will enable j any one to distinguish theiil Quarts is harder I than felspar, and much more various in its ap- I pearance. It is of every shade of color from nearly black to milk white. The White peb- I bles so trimmon in the streets and by the way- [ side,' frequently known by the name of flint.! ! stone,' are a common species of quartz. Gun-; j flint is another. —Sometimes it is transparent I | and perfectly Crystulized, when it is improper- I j)v called diamond. Diamond rocks and bills | I are known in many towns in almost every sec- i I tion of our country. The real diamond is ! found but in two or three places upon the j eiiith; I Crystalized quartz is srifnetimes of a putple I color, when it is called' amethyst. Juspar, I eoniblion, calcedony, opal, and other pfectous stones, are frit)feed in the family of qua rtz. Felspar is generally white or of a light co-1 lor, sometimes yellowish'.' light red, or green, seldom of a dark dolor. Its fracture differs from that of quartz, as it breaks in small even I surfaces or plates, somewhat resembling steps; A strong light througn upon a recent fracture, gives a peculiar indescribable lustre, fry wh'i'ch it can always be distinguished from qxi irtz. These two minerals are not only useful as constituting the greater part of soils, rocks, j and mountains, but frir an' important purpose I to wh'ich each is applied in tbe arts. Quartz I is the essential, and almost only ingredient used in the manufactory of glass, whether for win dows, decanters, tumblers, bottles, or any offi cer purpose. Felspar is always used in the manufactory of porcelain or china ware. The substance known by the name of kaolin, or porcelain clay, used both in China and 'his country in the manufactory of porcelain, is de composed felspar. Mica, frequently but improperly called isin glass, is extensively associated Writh the two simple minerals, already described in the struc ture of rocks. I his mineral is sometimes found in plates two or three feet in diameter, but much more commonly in fine scales but lit tle larger than the head of a pin. it is com monly white, but sometimes black, arid always more or less transparent. In some places, especially in Muscovy, mi ca is used for the windows of houses, and is hence called Mtiscovy glass. It is also used for lanterns, and some purposes abord of ships, where glass would be liable to break. HOW ANO WHEN TO WOO. BY WILLIAM C. BRYANT. Dost thou idly ask to hear At what gentle seasons Nymphs relent, when lovers near Press the tenderest reasons 1 Ah they give their faith too oft To the careless wooer ; Maidens’hearts are alway s soft, Would that men’s were truer! Woo the fair one when around, Early birds are singing, When o’er all the fragrant ground, Early herbs are springing ; W hen the brookside, bank and grove, All with blossoms laden. Shine with beauty, breathe oflove Woo the timid maiden. Woo her when, with rosy blush Summer eve is sinking; When on rills that softly gush, j Stars are softly winking; When through houghs that knit the bower, I Moonlight gleams arc stealing ; Woo her, ’till the gentle hour Wakes a gentler feeling. Woo her when autumnal dyes Tinge the woody mountain; When the drooping foliage lies In the half choked fountain. Let the scene that tells how fast Youth is passing over, Warn her, ere Ler bloom is past, To secure her lover. Woo her when the northwinds Call At the lattice nightly ; When within the cheerful hall, Blaze the faggots brightly ; While the wintry tempest round Sweeps the landscape hoary Sweeter in her ear shall sound Love's delightful story, Natural History. Boa Constrictor.— The Nantucket Enquirer says:—“The Ohio of this port, just returned from the Pacific Ocean, visited in the course of her voyage, the Three Maria Islands, off' the coast of California; and sent a party of men on shore for some supplies While thus engaged, the men discovered in a clump of trees at a short distance, an enormous snake writhing about among the branches, with great activity, and were at length alarmed on seeing the reptile dart to the earth, and make towards them. The first officer immediately seized a musket, and despatched the assailant by a shot in the head. It was taken on board, evisce rated, and its stuffed hide brought home by Captain Coffin. It measures nearly twelve feet iu length; and in girth about fifteen inches ; and very much resembles the Boa Constrictor. I Tho island whence it was brought, lies in i about the 21st degree of north latitude—the same parallel in which serpehts of this spe cies are so abundant on the opposite side of the globe. i j The King Snake.— There is a Iritge species • 1 of speckled snake commonly called in the I southern States, the King Shake, perhaps be ' cause he is the riiost formidable enemy of the I rattlesnake. It seems to lie the chief ob ect i of his existence, to seek, to pursue, and to de ' stroy the latter, whose retreats and presence i is by the ehiission of a peculiar 1 sniell resembling that ol the cucumber vine. The King Snake to all, other than reptiles, is the most gentle and harmless of Creatures; I you may strike him, he shows no resentment, ( he hisses not, he turns not; nor does he exhib. it any terror or sluggishness. Drawn bv the ' Smell of the cucumber, he frequently enters ■ gardens, but his appearance excites no alarm in any human being, that knows he is the King ! Snake ; on the contrary, women and children I will approach him; turn him about with a stick, j and playfully annoy him, with impunity; he ! is only a relentless enemy of the rattlesnake, I whose strength and venom avail nothing ! against the activity and mode of attack of the j ! King Snake, who is always victor in every i ! combat. Yet the rattlesnake is a terrible reptile.— The I'6 is a peculiarity truly appalling in the sound of his rattles, being Unlike the noise of any other creature ; and when yod hear it the first time,' the true instinct of nature impt esses mu your quailing heart that, danger and death are near. Nevershall I forget one horrid event of my life! I was fishing in a southern lake, one summer day, when an unusua. disposition to sleep affected me. I stuck the end of my fishing rod in the bank cf the lake, and sought a beautiful place of shade, formed bv the 'in. terlacing boughs of gigantic live-oaks, and towering magnolias, peffumed by the delicate odour of a beautiful wild orange, then tn bl noth', which had sprung up in luxuriant gran deur u >der the leafy canopy, the seed of which had probably been dropped in this lotielv spot by the Indian hunter or the Wandering wi d bird. At its base, upon a carpet of green moss sprinkled over with its fallen and snowy bloom. I stretched myself in luxurious fangour for an hour’s repose. I slept. When 1 awoke I turned bn my side, and perceived at some dis taiice fro n me, two brilliant orbs—and instant ly a tremulous, mingled sensation of an indefi. nablb nature came upbn my faculties. Some thing of an instinctive dictate or impulse counselled me to avert my looks; but then there was such an absorbing, wishful delight in gasi g into eyes, that intently and melting, ly gated into mine, that eVen the tremulous pul sation of fear fixed my frame, and I remained so fascinated that I could see nothing but the most beautiful colors. In short, I was totally lost, so completely bewildered with commin gled emotions, that I could not withdraw mv gaze, nor even move. Suddenly, the melting eyeballs glared with Vo!. IV-No. 44. : sparks of fire—there vis a movement — I was ! still in a dreamy state — but yet distinctly saw an enormous Rattlesnake— lying in his coil, his tail quivering with a vibrating motion, his head erect and drawn back, with the jaws dis tended and the fangs barred— within three feet |of -where. I lay ! Its gaze had been disturbed ; I and when I heard the hateful rattle sing, the | full consciousness of my dangerous situation aroused me, and through all tny frame I felt the extremity of terror ; and just as I was on the point of obeying a frenzied impulse to rise and fly—God of heaven! 1 felt the deadly reptil. as 1 thought, coiling arourid niy neck ; I saw part of his body—l felt the cold rind sli my skin upon my neck, and the shiver of hor-. [ ror went through every joint and member of my frame. Such a feeling of agdny! my eyeballs were filled with scorching fire; my veins Were frozen; all things Became of a blood-red hue—and then of a sickly and loathe, some yellowish green. There are moment’s of existence, which involve the sensations ot years, and when the w-hole detail of a thou sand feeli 'gs scarcely occupy the brief space of a leisure thought. Nature could endure nd more, and I lost al! sense. At length I had the painfill tingling sensa tion of returning life through my veins, and when in full consciousness I arose from the earth, I saw near me. tranquilly and quietly, a living King S lake, and farther off the lifeless length of a tremendous Rattlesnake. I sat upon a log aud refl cted; and I ani now satis fied that the King S >ake hud crept over my neck to my resem-—there being a live-oak at mv feet, and the lake immediately back of the orange tree on whose mossy foot niy head had bee ■ pillowed—so that his-nearest route to the enemy was over my body. But although my life was providentially preserved, yet the effects of that scene are the exhaustion of a great portion of my excitability, and the introduction of grey haits; and premature debility, in alt my powers of mind and body.— Anecdotes of the South. From the Philadelphia Saturday Hfews. A Slight Mistake. During the late snow, three gentlemen, re turning from the western part of the state; arrived a little before tin at niglit, ata house on one ofthe principal high roads leading to Philadelphia, which hid for many years been celebrated as an inn where excellent entertain ment might be procured, both for man and horse To their regret they found the house closed ; bu*. as they had travelled far. and were nearly starved with cold, they resolved to rouse the landlord, and claim the privilege of thawing their chilled limbs.—Accordingly, they alight, ed from their sleigh, and began to beat an alarm which might have startled the seven sleepers. Presently the door was carefully opened, and rushing tumultuously i,i—for after an hour’s exposure to an atmosphere at zero, compliments and ceremony are both dispensed with—they found themselves in company wilh a young la dy, of agreeable appearance, who stood as if waiting to know the meaning of the uproar. “Is Mr. at home?” inquired one of the gentlemen, naming the landlord. “He is,” was the reply ; “but he has retired for the night.” “Will you Be good eiiotigh to shoiv us to a fire?” asked another of the party— “fcr we are actually perishing with the co'd ” •‘I am sorry you cannot be accommodated; gentlemen,” answered the la ly, “but our fires are all raked and covered.” “Cannot we find some id the kitchen?” be-’ seechingly interposed the third member of the party, shivering as if he had an ague-fit. “No, sir,” was the brief response. I To the travellers this was all inexplicable. 1 For nearly half a century “Old-—,” as ! the landlord of the was familiarly call- j ed, had maintained a high reputation for abun dance in his larder, and civility to HiS giiests. and though he loved his ease, he not unfrequent ly rose at midnight to give shelter to some belated wanderer. Now. ho»v different? be fore ten o’clock—an early hour at all Reasons for a taverner on a main road to seek his b’ed; and especially early in the sleighing times— his establishment was entirely closed, and three persons; having the appearance, dress, ami de portment ofgentlemen, who had gained en- > trance by a sort of violence, were permitted I to stand in a cold passage, without so mluch as a kind word in the way of welcome or greet ing. To add to their amazement, just at the moment they had been informed there was no fife in the kitchen, the door of that apartment opened, and discovered a capacious hearth' hovered with hickory logs, blati ig and crack ling in the merriest mood imaginable j and ’ surrounded by domestics. At the same time, ■ too. a spruce chambermaid d see id-.-d she stairs ; which communicated with the upper apart ; meats; and passed into a room which seemed [ to be well.lighted,.and made comfortable by a I cheerful grate. Presently she Returned, and I our travellers, to whom the mystery Was any thing but agreeable, civilly entered the mom' she had quitted. Here they found all the fur niture of a modern parlour— ottoma s—pier tables— mirrors. &c., and a large centre-table, on which an argand lamp was burning, and strewed upon w hich were a variety of bijoux; annuals, &c. Co gra u'atmg themselves upon' having found such comtbrtable quarters, the gentlemen drew themselves close to the fire, threw off their cloaks, wrappers, and over shoes; and one of them, more provident than his companions, drew forth and placed upon 1 the table a black bottle, which he said contain ed a specific for all t|ie ills that frosty nights commonly lead to. V\ h tie he and his compan ions were deliberating how to procure glasses.' the door of the room was opened, and a beau titul and graceful girl glided into the apartment and, after dropping a slight and very fofm.il courtesy to the gentlemen, seated herself be side the ’.able, and immediately Commenced reading, with apparent earnestness, a book which she had brought in in her hand. The gentlemen, restrained by her presence, ceased their conversation, and two of them withdrew to seek an explanation, leaving the third tete a-tete with the lady. His position, as he de scribed it to us, vas rather ludic ous. Direct ly between him and the lady stood the black bottle in all its unveiled proportions, and he could eVery now and then perceive his fair incognita glance suspiciously at it, as ifdoubt ful of its contents. Plucking up heart of-grace he addressed her one or two remarks on com mon-place topics, but her answers, though not uncivil, were so pointedly brief, that he was obliged to desist from further efforts. Finally, he was obliged to retreat ; and in the passage they had first entered, he found his compan ions, who had just learned that the house they were in bad not been occupied as a tavern for six months previously. The landlord, who’ had grown rich bad retired from business;