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Georgi alii Statesman. TERMS,—93 PER AN NUT, IN ADVANCE,] By BURR ITT & M EACH AM. THE GEORGIA STATESMAN Is published weekly at the Seat of K3overn ment, opposite the State-House Square, at Three Dollars per ann. in advance, or Four Dollars if not paid in six months. N. B. Sales of land and negroes, by Ad ministrators, Executors, or Guardians, are required by law, to be held on the first Tues day in the month, between the hours of ten in the forenoon, and three in the afternoon, at the court house of the county in which the property is situate. Notice of these sal s must be given in a public Gazette SIXTY days previous to the day of sale. Notice of the sale <}f personal property must be given in like manner, FORTY days previous to the day of sale. Notice to the debtors and creditors of an estate must be published fpr FORTY days. Notice that application will be made to the Court of Ordinary for leave to si II land, must be published for NINE vioN l lts. Ai l Letters must be POST PAip. From the Worcester Magazine. . I Narrative of the Attempt to Burn the British Frigates in J\Torlh Fiver, July, 177 G. It is related by Marshall, in his lift of Washington, that in July, 1770, while the American army yet had possession of Ntew-York, Lord Howe, who had but recently arrived before that city with his fleet sent up two frigates by the American batteries, which took their stations in North River, and thereby put a stcqi to tjhc* communication between the armies at Nevv-York and at Ticoideroga. And that, to remove this interrup tion, a plan was formed to set the frigates on fire, by means offire ship,, and hich, though address and courage were manifested in the enterprise, failed in the execution, ai.d only a tender was burnt. We have alluded to this event, in order to dh justice to the character of some of the men who risked their lives in the hazardous attempt to destoy these frigates, in the manner already described. One of them is vet living yi our* neighbourhood, from whom we have learned the cir cumstances attending the transac tion, and although we are willing to make all suitable allowance for the coloring which an actor in such a . cene would be apt to give its descrip tion, yet we believe it to be substan tially correct, as we find it corrolfori ed by history, and other testimony of living witnesses. The individual to whon w allude is Mr. Joseph Bass, of Leicester, whose narrative we will endeavour to give, as Repeated by himself; though qpw a humble in dividual in society, we have i;icon test ible proof -that he was a brave -soldier i:i the war of our iiul pen dcncc. He was, at this time, attached to the “water service,” finder the com mand of Commodore 'flipper, who was directed to prepare and send up two fire ships to the British frigates. The Commodore selected Bass to take charge of one, and put the other under the command of Capt. Thomas, who belonged to New Lon don. The vessel commanded by Bass was a sloop, called the Polly, of about one hundred tons burden, nearly-new. That commanded by Thomas, was of a small size. The firigat slay ab-mt eight miles above Kings bridge, but having intimaliom thut they might b attacked, remov ed their station towards the western shore cf the river, where the shen was bolder, and the water deepei than on the east side.- The vessels ii tended for fire ships were prepared at Ncw-York, and moved up the river on the day be fore the intended attack, to a cr ek, near Kingsbridge, which crosses ii. from the east, called Spiking Devil '- r Cr!{. The vessels hn<i been prepared with faggots of very combustibh wood, which had J>ecn dipped in melted pitch, and bundles of straw < ut about a foot long prepared in the same way. These faggots and bundles filed the deck, and commu nicated with a trough of line gun powder which extended along under the deck from the hold into the ca bin, and into this was inserted a match, that might be tired by a per son in the cabin, who would have time to escape through a door cut in the side of the vessel, into a whale boat, that was lashed to the ‘‘quarter” oft he sloop. Beside these’ combus tibles, there were in each versei It or 12 barrels*of pitch, and a very great, number of yards o( canvass, cut in strips about a toot in width, covering the yards and rigging, and extending down the deck, all ot which had been dipped in tin? spirits of turpentine. Every thing bad been so prepar and that a moment was sul ficient to put the whole into full blaze. The fire ships started from the creek about dark, with a south wind, and a favourable tide. The night was cloudy and dark, with occasi ' ,i --1/ a little rain. Bass had nine men attached to his vessel, throe o whom he stationed in the whale-boat, one acted as pilot, while lie station ed himself w ith a match in the cabin f > fio’ 4he materials. _ Resides the twq British frigates, there were a bomb ketch'-and two tenders in company, and moored near them. They were at anchor, in a line about north and south ; first the Phenix of 44 guns; next thi Rose of 36 guns ; then he bomb ketch, and above that, lay the ten ders. As the night was dark, and 4he (ire-sliip kept near the middle of the river, they were not aware that that they were near tiic British v s sels, until they heard, immediately on their ieft, the bells of the vessels, and the cry of the serffinels of “ all’s well” from their several decks. It was twelve o’clock, and little did those who were slumbering there imagiue the destruction that hung over them. The shore was bold, and rose above the masts, so that the Americans did not perceive till that sound, how near they had ap* proached, nor could they distinguish the situation of the vessels enough to ascertain their size, or which of them were the frigates. Bass was a considerable distance in fidvance of Thomas,' and upon hearing the cry of sentiels, immediately bore down upon the line of the British fleet. He was already very near the bomb-ketch before he was dis covered by the enemy, who im mcdiatley began a severe cannonade upon his vessel, which damaged her rigging and mast, and some of the shot entered the hull. But he was now under so rapid a “headway” that lie had no opportunity, even if lie had been inclined, to have retreat ed. as he saw himself near enough to the vessel towards which he was steering, to be sure that she could not escape, he gave orders for his men to take to the boat, anil touching the match, he leaped into the whale boat and “cast off” from his ship. Her direction had been too sure. The grappling irons'upon bowsprit, yards, &c. became inter locked with tile rigging of the bomb ketch, and they were both almost immediately in a blaze. The pamc >truck crew of the ketch were see; pouring from the quarters of that ship in the utmost agony of consterna tion. The fire of the burning vessel lighted up the surrounding scenery with a horrid glare of splendor. The first one flint reached the deck of the ketch from the cabin, was her commander, who was struck dead by a falling spar. He was followed by two women, and one or more chil dren, whose cries were heard amidst the din of battle that now raged, and the imprecations of the crew, many threw themselves over board and perished, while those who remained on board, retreated to the point most distant from the flames, but soon sunk down into them, suffocated, bewildered, and exhausted. Capt. Thomas had not been so fonunate: he was so far in the rear that the light of the flames from Bass’s ship showed his position to the .enemy, and partially prepared them to meet 1 1 is attack. Not, however, daunted by being discovered, he immediately bore down upon the I’henix, ami became grappled with her. He then ;o plied his match to his combusti bles, but in such a way that lie he- came eritangl and in bis own fire, and was obliged to leap over board to • scape from the flames, but not be ing able to reach Ihe boat, lie perish 'd in the river. lie also lost five men, while*Bass ecaped without the loss of one. Although on tire in several places, the Plieni.x escaped from destruction, by cutting her rig ging and slipping her cables, with the loss of but few lives. Ot the crew of the ketch, few escaped. Nearly seventy men, besides some women and children, were the victims of this merciless attack. We can scarcely cenccive a scene more ter rible than the one we have nttomptod to describe, or one so caculated to awaken fear in the breasts of those engaged in it. The hour of the night, the uncertainty of success, the the almost certainty of destruction, would he enough to awaken a panic in the stoutest heart; while the awful destruction that awaited the victims of success would stagger the resolu tion of the bravest. The darkness of the hour, the unearthly light that gleamed upon the wild scenery around, the roar oi artillery, and the groans and shrieks of those perishing in tortures at which humanity shud ders, must have made it a scene unrivalled in sublimity and terror. Vet the feelings of that day were of ,i kind to delight in such*an exibition of vengeance upon the foes to our country. It was a spectacle on which hundreds, and v-» uiay say thousands, of the Americans gazed, that night, with the deepest interest. And this itile ban?, although they had, in a aood degree failed in the accomplish ment of the plan to destroy the In gates, were received wish the war mest acclamations ot gratitude, on their return from their perilous en terprise. ll® tibieruntarte-j pacisque imponere morem, parent* *' J hj-cti# et debellofe sMperbo*. — V ik.il. Milledgeville, Tuesday, May, 23, IB2G. The attempt however, was not without its effect. The frigates moved down the river the next day, and joined the English licet, and left the river for a short time open for the communication of the Americans. GREAT FIRE IN NEW YORK. About 2 o’clock this morning, ( Fri day, ) tli ■ citizens in the lower part ofihe city were aroused from sleep by the cry offire. In a few minutes afterwards the flames burst forth from the upper story of pne of the four story buildings of that immense pile called the “ Exchange Build ings,” situated on William and Gar den-stre ts, and partly on.the site of the old post office. .Most of the en gines were soon on the spot, and reg ular line formed from the East River hut notwithstanding the greatest ex ertions were used by the several companies, before five o,clock the whole of this inaguiliciciit corner was a heap of smoking ruins. Two buildings on William Street, adjoin ing the Exchange building, two or three on the north side of Garden Street, and two two story buildings on the south side of the latter street, were consiil rably injured. At one period great fears were entertained for the post office, the fire having communicated to the adjoining build ing, but it was fortunately arrested at that house. Great praise is due to the clerks of the post office for their indefatigable exertions to save the letters’ and'othcr public proper ty. All the letters, &c. were w li tied up, and deposited in the bags ready to be removed to a place for safety. For about one hourth flakes and sparks flow in showers. The roofs of several distant buildings took fire but were promptly extinguished by the activity of the fireman, several ofimom had their cloths burnt. The loss sustained cannot be cor rectly asceitaincd : but we have been infoimed Unit it is not less than iwo hundred thousand dollars ; on which there was an insurance of one hundred and thirty two thousand dol lars, in five offices, viz: $ 42,000; $ 40’UUU ; 30’000 ; lo’OOO and o’OOO. A hard case occurred with the first ..diice. Merchandise to the amount ol $ m’OOO was to have been remo ved yesterday afternoon, had the weather been fair, the whole ot which was deslr yed. • The sufferers as far as wo have been able to ascertain, are as fol lows : The Exchange Building were owned by Delcvan A:Lord ; aud oc cupied by the Marble Company, John B Murray &. Son, Samuel Chandler Cos. Arthur Bronson, Timothy Kellog, Moses AuAice, A. VV. Ilurdie tk Cos. R. L. Lord, E. C Deleyan, A C. Rossicre, B. McGin uess, F. A. C. Brichta, N. Castalis, Oliver Hoisted, and the Rhode Is land Coni Company. The houses much iujurred on Garden street, are owned by Mr. John West, of the Gazette, and were occupied by Mr. Saunders, Israel Munroe, and as of fices by C. i). Gulden, Charles Gra ham, William Vanhook, William 11. Maxwell, J. P. Strong, and Isaac Paris,Esq’s. The tire is supposed to have originated in the third sto ry of one of the houses in Garden street aud there being but a slender board partition in the fourth story the lire in a lew minutes spread from one extremity of the building to the other. We regret to state that several persons were seriously injured, hut. we have not been able to ascertain whether any are dangerous. Wc have never witnessed better order »bany fire, than was preserved at this, by Chief Martial Hayes and his assistants. For nearb*two hours the specta cle was one of awful grandeur and sublimity. The buildings were new and the quantities of oil used in the paint, added much to the fury of the dames, which ascended in a stupen dous column to a great height* and illuminatad the whole city. In the lower part of the city particularly, the spectacle was one of uncommon and terrific grandeur. The ringing of the bells, the noise of the firemen with their engines, mingling with theroarrng and crackling of the flames caused altogether a deep and heavy noise like the united sounds of the tramp of steeds in the din of battle, and the rush of mighty waters. The lurid light glared fear fully upon the windows and roofs of bouses for a great distance, while the lofty si-i.o v.-f r r..nit 7 0i...,0t, shone amid the gloom of night like a huge pillar of burnished gold. This fire has disclosed the fact, that the owners of the building were most shamefully taken in by the builders, or that they attend far more to the outward appearance, and the magnitude of its structure than to its durability. The whole mass of buildings were put up with out carrying up the partition walls with brick, beyond the third story, as the law requires Some of these partitions were made of common daal boards, of slender workmanship, And the walls, which'appeared so firm and beautiful to the eye, tum bled to pieces as though they had been laid only in sand.—We n ■ ;r saw a building of its magnitude sooner consumed, and from the man ner in which it tumbled to piece*, it was soon ascertained in be what is called “ a fireman’s trap. From the -Vsw-YwA American. The great tire of Thursday* night has caused much conversation, and excited a good deal t>f feelinjg. The buildings, however, were undoubt edly not put up for sale, hut for a permanent investment of funds, bv their owners. Hence it was their interest that they should be well put.up, and they accordingly made a contract w ith r -sponsible and ex perienced builders, that such should lie the case. How these builders, on whom much blame is thrown, ac count lor the falling of the walls, &c. will he seen by the following expla nation, which they give under their names: The Master Carpenters who were engaged in building the stores lately burni on the corner of William and Garden streets, feel themselves oblig ed, in consequence of the blame at tached to them on account of the destruction of those buildings, to submit a statement of facts to the public. In planning these buildings, it was a principle object to dispose of the ground to the best advantage, and to make the stores as convenient as possible —Owing talheir being very narrow in front and rear, it was found necessary to make one opening ans wer for two entrances to tbe upper stories, in consequence of which it was impossible to have the party walls connected with the front and rear walls, which was the cause of their falling so easily In order to secure the front and rear walls, gird ers, or pieces of timber 12 inches square, were laid into the ends ofthe party walls, extending into the front and rear walls over the openings, strongly anchored at each end. The beams that framed into these gird ers, lying next the front and rear wall, were also strongly anchored to the walls. Bridgings of plank were then let into t e beams, extending from front to rear, making all strong and secure. Respecting the garretts, it was expected that they would*not be wanted or used by the tenants indi vidually, and they therefore were left in one apartment.—Besides, if th party walls had,been carried up to tlie roof, it would have been im impossible to have constructed the hoist whe* Is so as 10 have answered the purpose, owing to the shape of the stores. With regard to the mortar separating from the bricks, it is well known by every experienc ed builder, that bricks laid in the best lime and sand morter, and in the best manner, will not be so cement ed together in eight mouths, includ ing the winter months, that fire will not easily separate them. The un dersigned builders who executed tlie carpenter’s work, being present every day while the buildings were m progress, know that the mason wofk was done in the best manner and with the beat materials, by Mr. Joseph Tucker, who has been amas ter mason for the last ten years, and has not been know n to do a piece of bail work during that time. The brick walls throughout were a brick and a half thick, except the party walls of the fourth story, which were the length of one brick. The iron columns were well sus tained with strong stone works at the bottom, as well as with the best Georgia pine timber. The timber was incased in the walls to support them while new, but when they be came dry, the stone work was cal culated to support them, Without the aid of the wood. It is well known, that the iron columns fell last and that the timber was so inclosed in brick, as to be the last part of the wood work to burn.* We further state, that in our con tract with the owners of this prop erty, we engaged that the best ma terials should be used in every de partment, and the work done in the most substantial and workmanlike manner, and they paid »us our full estimate as fir<t liandciFffK and vve ready to ffive the most satisfac tory proofs that our contract has been faithfully executed GEER& RILEY, Builders AFRICAN COLONY. • The Board of Managers of the American Colonization Society, have the satisfaction to Mate that despatches have oeen received from the Colony at Liberia, bearing date 23d January, 1826. The com munications from Mr. Ashmun, tm* indefatigable and intelligent agent there, are copious in detailing the condition of the Colony, in all the relations which it sustains. It ap pears that there is a degree of pros perity in the present, and security as to the future of that establishment which, with all their expectations* the friends of African Colonization, could scarcely have been led to hope. Through the accredited me dium. the African Repository, the communications will be published at large; but, in the mean lime, the following brief statement is submit ted. In all the internal concerns, aipl foreign relations ofthe(solony, there is every evidence of growing pros perity, strength, and security. The health of the Colonists, that first and great consideration, is as good as that of any community. Since June 1825, to the date oftlie despatches, there have occurred five deaths, three adults and two children. Thu scorbutic ulcers which excited some apprehensions, have almost entirely disappeared, occasioning but one death. They occur as other disea ses in the progress of acclaimation during the first year, and exempt the subjects of them from other and more fatal sickness. Those who are affected with pulmonary weak ness and rheumatism, are entirely freed from these infirmities. Aft r acclaimation, the coloreu emigrants acquire a perfect vigor of constitu tion, accomodation to the African climate, and ability to support every hardship which ordinary life or con tingencies may impose. Many of the whites # have fallen victims : to is added Mr. Sessions, who died on his return to America.— While (he black population, even un iter the privations and sufferings pe culiarly incidental to the sickness on arrival, are found to bear the change with safety—whatever tfle danger may have been, the increasing com fort#which emigrants meet on their arrival, will tend to reduce it to one of a little moment. The Colonists arc under the in fluence ofa mild but energetic Gov ernment—one which is a*terror to eiyl doers, and a protection to the good. As the settlement has in creased in population, commerce and wealth, the moral charact r has ad vanced ; the intelligence and virtue’ of the People evincing the capacity for self-government.. The arrange inents now making for the settlement of families on farms, promise that agriculture shall keep pace with commerce ; and those ' two great sources of support ami wealth, are now in such happy operation at Mon rovia, as to assure the adequacy of the Colony to its own maiut affiance, in its present condition. The trade in rice, coffee, camwood, and ivory, is already considerable, and so regu lated as to inspire the confidence of the .natives in the liberal and fair dealing of the Colonists. During the past, year two church es have been built. Five schools are in active operation, besides Sab bath schools ; the children, emi grant and native, the latter sixty in number, are well instructed. The adults arc busily engaged in finish ing and improving their dwellings and property. Mechanics receive $2 per day, laborers from 75 cents to gl 25, with constant employment. The whole prospect is anamating to the resident, and to the numerous foreigners ivho resort to Monrovia. A vessel of ten tons, called the St. Paul, admirably fitted for the coasting trade, and for pro curing supplies, has been bilflt by one of the colonists, according to the plan, and under the direction of the agent, other boats belong to the establishment. Fort Stoclon has been rebuilt, so as to be one ot the most conspicuous objects on the Cape, and with some other fortifica tions, renders the town perfectly se cure against any foe. Two well dis ciplined companies, one ot infantry, the other of artillery, present an ac tive force, ready for any service at a momentai warning. The emigrants from Boston have bfccu .received as “ brothers and sisters. r To the American public, to the State and Na tional Legislatures, to the free peo ple of color, who may desire to emi grate, the Board ofManagers declare that a peaceful, healthful, prosperous commul ity has been founded at Monrovia, and was, in January, the Li, -r i-ae» advices, in most flourishing circumstances ; and they do, therefore, with renewed confi dence, declare their object worthy of the continued patronage ofa gen erous, Christian people, and ot its wise and patriotic Legislators. In consequence of a piratical act committed on a British merchant [OR $4 IF NOT PAHJJN SIX MONTHS. Number- 23, Vol. 1 vessel, in Liberia *bay, and within our jurisdiction, by a Spanish slave trader, it became necessary for the agent at Monrovia to interfere, and destroy three slave factories 10 miles of the {own. In doing this 116 miserable victims were rescued from slavery, and arc now comforta bly clothed, fed, and in progress of education, at Monrovia. The cir cumstances have been minutely de tailed to the government, and the report to the Board, assures them of the judicious, firm, and proper course of the agent. The neighbor ing tribes have congratulated the Colonists on theq enegetic measure?, and in the language of the agenf, “ between Cape Mount and Trade Town, comprehending a line of 140 miles, not a slaver now dares to at tempt his guilty traffic-’* A settlement thus formed on the African coast, on a most salubrious spot, with a fine fertile territory, en joying the respect and confidence ot the natives, with a Government in systematic operation ; with a milita ry force competent to its perfect pro tection ; with a commcrcd steadily improving/with Christian and civil institutions of the purest character ; affixing the seal of performanre to the promises, and of reality to the hopes of the friends of Colonization & speaks to the people of this enlight- and ened country, with an emphasis, which, It is hoped, will not be lost on (lie patriot and statesman. May Heaven direct the attention of the wise and good amongst us, to the Colony of Liberia, as the means of averting calamity from our land, ot securing the happiness of a large portion of our fellow r.rifatures, ol freeing our political institutions from their only blemish, and thus consti tuting our nation the fairest, as it is the freest on the globi^,.. The Board of Managers have, un der the blessings of Providence, ac complished an important object. It is where they end, that tlip National and State Legislatures- must com tnencezjf the work is to he carried on to its desired completion. The ap peal is sounded from America and Africa ; dictated by Christianity, humanity, and national policy, it will* be heard and answered by a nation's approbation and energies. From the JYeto- York American. . The following eloquent reflection; written m Paris by an old associate, and colleague m Urn Chamber of Deputies of La Fayette, M Keratrv, will be read with pleasure, and como most opportunely to hand. They were called forth by the knowledge that on the 17th June La | Fayette was to lay the corner stone of the Bunker Hill Monument, and feelingly appeal to our pride, our feelings and our recollections. We owe many thanks to .the friend who kindly furnished then to us. Upon the anniversay of the 17th Juno, 1775* and Hie laying of the cerncr stone,.by General La Fayette, of the monument to be erected in « Boston to tbe heroes of Bunker 11 ill. Nations discharge a sacred dept, when they honour the memory of il lustrious citizens, hi so doing, they perform an act of self preservation, since nothing can more strongly incite to gtgierous devotion, that the cer tainty its author would acquire es escaping from oblivffin. There is, indeed, in the acchimn tions of public gratitude, something so inspiring, and so almost contagious, t as to exalt man above himsglt, and the interests of common life. This is sacrificed, in order to secure a more brilliant and endurind one. It is vain to say that these honours will only be decreed to coldeand senseless ashes : pe feel that vve should revise and live again in this glorious here after ; and thus, by a miracle of patriotism, the general wellare of a country is the result ot all individu al sacrifices anil abnegations. People capable of such sacrifices at the moment when they were seek ing to shake oft' the yoke of oppres sion, whose incvinable effect it is to degrade our species, wheresoever they submit to it’ w re never with out virtues. If, as »e have the strongest conviction, God waits for men, and subjects them, one by one, to judgment, according to their deed., in the body, which constitutes the justice of the life to come, he passes in mass, here below, upon nations, according to their collective merit, and in that way makes manifest the providential "justice of our present economy; as he has weighed tflem they prosper or «sink —thus hordes have become empires—thus empires have disappeared. Americans of tiic North, men of an enfranchised world, this it is that lias permitted you to constitute your sell'vus into a nation—this it is that guarantees to you a perpetuity oF* noble existence! Your civic virtues have sprung from your laborious ha bit 0 . and rour domestic virtues. The