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From the Liverpool Advertiser, January 18.
THE ISLAND OF SUMATRA.
By the arrival of the Kingston, from Java,
intelligence of much importance as affecting
British interests in the Indian seas has been re
ceived.; The governor of fort Marlborough (sir
Tv S. Raffles) has displayed, his characteristic
energy and activity since his arrival in Sumatra,
and has anxiously endeavored to extend the Brit
ish influence over the whole of that valuable and
extensive island. Sumatra has hitherto been ve
ry little known. The European establishments
are entirely on the coast—Europeans had never
penetrated into the interior. All attempts to do
so, indeed, were reckoned desperate; no Euro
pean would embark in them. The population
1 of the interior were considered as savages, and
the mountains impassable, and yet the natives
w ould still bring down their gold, and cassia, and
camphor, &c. for which Sumatra had from the
earliest ages been famcu#. The governor felt
there was but one alternative, and that was to
©pen the road by going himself. His enterprise
was crowned’with success. He penetrated into
the interior in three different directions; to the
southward inland of Manna, to the important pro
vinces occupied by a people called the Passum
mahs; to the northward to Menangcabon, the far
famed capital of the Malay empire; and inland
of Bencbolen, across the island to Palembang.
The result has been, the discovery of a mine
of wealth-—a country highly cultivated and
abounding in precious metals. The Passum
mahs are an athletic, fine race of men, as superi
or to the people on the coast as it is possible to
conceive; they are agricultural and numerous.—
. At Menangcabon he was gratified w th a popu
lation and country, fully equal to any part of
Java. Within the space of twenty miles the
population does not fall short of a million. In
short it is the governor’s opinion, that, with a lit
tle encouragement, far greater resources are to
be found'in Sumatia than the British have deriv
ed from Java; but much remains to be done.—
A central government must be established, the
whole island must be brought under control, and
the avenues of commerce, now closed up, re
opened. Our readers are aware, that Menang
cabon was the placfe whence.ailthe gold that gave
Meiano the name of the golden Chersonesus was
earned. . ~.. * ■■■? ■
These discoveries have not, however, been
made without great personal risk and fatigue.—
The country could only be explored on foot—
mountains 6,000 feet high were to,, be crossed,
and rocks, precipices and forests, to be travers
ed, For many nights the party had no shelter
but the leaves tfiey could collect after their day’s
journey; and their journeys were seldom less
than from 20 to 30 miles a day, over the very
worst roads that ever were passed. In this ex
pedition the governor was accompanied by iady
Raffles; she was occasionally carried on a man’s
back, but generally walked, as the roads were
too bad to admit of her being carried in a chair.
Doctor Arnold, physician and naturalist, fell a
sacrifice to the fatigue and died of a violent fever.
Dr. Horsefield, who accompanied -the goVemor
to Menangcabon, was on the 12th August, the
date of our latest intelligence from fort Marlbo
rough, dangerously ill with a dysentery, but we
hope his life will be spared to carry home the
important collections he has made both in Java
and Sumatra.
As this was the first appearance of the Euro
pean authority in the interior, lady Raflies was
the most peaceable standard the party could hoist.
It was impossible -for the natives to consider their
object warlike, when the governor proceeded
unarmed, and confidedhis wife to their hospitali
ty.
They found the country beautiful and magni
ficent. Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles has thrown
the trade open, and reformed all the establish
ments. Treaties have been entered into with
the princes of Menangcabon. * ‘
Londox, January 27.
A German astronomer (says the Gazette de
Bayreuth,) ha, predicted the weather of the pre
sent year. The spring, he says, will commence
early; the months of March and April will be
very fine; all the harvests will be abundant,, the
cherries and prunes alone will fail; the wine will
be of excellent quality, and above all very saccha
rine, but there will be less of it than in 1818; there
■will be some dry fogs in the month of August,
and the month of September willhave some very
cald’'days in it. Those who live near volcanoes,
must be on their guard, for there will be many
eruptions, preceded by earthquakes. Two com
ets will approach our planet, but not cause any
evil. They will be without tails, and frized ala
Titus.
From the Liverpool Advertised, Jan. 30.
The Gazette of-Saturday last coutains an or
der for the court’s going into mourning, on the
24th instant, for her late majesty the queen of
Spain, which is to continue till the 4th Feb.
By order of government, the Spanish schooner
captured some time ago, by the Union Venezue
lean privateer, and carried into Falmouth by the
Fox revenue cutter, has been restored to the cap
tors.
JVew Expedition, —Government, it seems, have
hymn determined upon fitting out two ships for
of discovery to the North West,which
Ijgmßfcaii early in ihe ensuing spring, under the
Parry, instead of rapt. Ross;
year another attempt will be
P ou 1 rt ’ * iic
t. . ‘ )cj>: U .:'d. ..I
. a. <1 t'.o; MU ;-|iiv
1
results were truly appalling. On moving the rod
from the hip to the heel, the knee being previous
ly bent, the leg was thrown out witn such vio
lence, as nearly to overturn one of the assistants,
I who in vain attempted to prevent its extention!
In the second experiment, the rod was applied
to the phrenic nerve in the neck, when laborious
breathing instantly commenced; the chest heav
ed and fell; the belly was protruded and collaps
ed, with the relaxing and retiring diaphragm:
and it is thought, that but from the complete e
vacuation of the blood, pulsation might have oc
curred!!—ln the third experiment the supra-or
bital nerve was touched, when every muscle in
the murderer’s face “was thrown into fearful ac
tion.’* The scene was hideous—several of the
spectators left the room, and one gentleman ac
tually fainted, from teffor or sickness!!’ In the
fourth experiment, the transmitting of the elec
tral power from the spinal marrow to the ulnar
nerve, at the elbow, the fingers were instantly
put in motion, and the agitation of the arm was
so great, that the corpse seemed to point to dif
ferent spectators, some of whom thought it had
come to life! Dr. Ure appears to be,of opinion,
that had not incisions been made in the blood ves
sels of the neck, and the spinal marrow been la->
cerated, the criminal might have been restored to
lift!* r .V-
Mount Vesuvius. —A letter from Naples, dat
ed Dec. 8, says that Mount Vesuvius exhibits
one of those terrific spectacles too often
alarm that unfortunate city. The crater Opened
with a dreadful noise, and after having darted forth
whirlwinds of fire, and inflammable matter, itvo
mited lava over the adjoining country, as far as
the foot of the village of Torre del Greco.
Lord Byron has just sent home another poem,
the title or subject of which we have not been
able to ascertain; but which will no doubt be
speedily announced;
Crabbe , who has justly and appropriately been
styled “nature’s sternest painter—but her best,”
has recently disposed of a poem, which we be
lieve will be hjs last production, for two thousand
guineas. This may with some truth be chiied
“the golden age” of poets, if not of poetry.
Paine’B Works.' —An indictment has peen pre
sented to the grand jury, at tne Old Bailey; against
John Carlisle, for publishing Paine’s age of rea
son; and a true bill was found. The trial has
been moved into the King’s Bench.
Another Comet. —Besides the comets discover
ed in the constellation# of Pegasus and Hydra;
a third has been discovered at the observatory of
Konigsberg. This last is in the constellation of
the Swan; it is not visible to the naked eye,
-The little marquis of Casa Yru jo, is making
every effort, by one sweeping plan, and dreadful
blow,to annihilate the independence of S. .America,
and put an end to the revolution at once. Hfc con
templates raising 10,000 men for Venezuela,
8,000 for Mexico, 14,000 for Buenos Ayres, and
8,000 for Chili—in all 40,000. These calcula
tions are made in his cabinet at Madrid, while
smoking a comfortable papelito. The ministry
did the same in our re volution. But how to raise
the “ways and means” to pay these troops—pre
suming that they could be collected together.
Imprimis —he intends to make over in fee simple ,
Majorca, Minorca and Ivica to Russia; tire Ca
nary Islands to Holland; Cuba to John Bull; and
Porto Rico, Santa Domingo and the Philippine
Islands to France —and they will loan the need
ful. This is “paying dear for the whistle.” In
the first place, the Balearic Islands belong al
ready to Russia, for the ships and frigates sold to
Spain, and they will get them whenever Great
Britain consents to have an active rival ib the
Mediterranean. Holland wants no more colonies,
and the allied sovereigns have sufncientlystrength
ened that kingdoih; .Cuba ii too near Florida for
Great Britain to. possess—we can occupy it more
conveniently, and France requires no new islands;
—altogether, the project is a kind of captain Bob
adil oiie, and which contemplates giving up real
and valuable possessions for doubtful contingen
cies.—r-Better offer Spain for sale; at once, if a good
pjice can be obtained in specie.—A! Y. JYational
Advocate. , ,t , , - -
Imjiortant to Merchants. —The legislature of
this state have, during their present session, in
compiiancfc with the memorial of the chamber
of commerce, passed a law imposing the follow
ing damages, on bills of exchange that may here
after be drawn.on places within the United States,
or places adjacent thereto, and returned under
protest for non-payment, to wit: -
Drafts on New Hampshire, Vermont, Massa
chusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, or
District of Columbia, Jr per cent,
On North or South Carolina, or Georgia,
per cent.
On any other state or territory of the United
States, on or adjacent to this continent, and north
of the equator, comprehending the British and
all other foreign possessions in the West Indies,
and elsewhere in the Western Atlantic Ocean,
ID per cent. , •
These damages to be in lieu of interest, and all
: charges to the time at which the notice of pro
; test has been given; and the amount, if drawn in
the currency of the United States, to be paid at
par; if any other currency, at the rate of ex
change current at the time of such notice.
Much benefit maybe expected by the com
mercial community, from this necessary and long
wished for provision against the innumerable
spoliations of financiering speculators.—A*. York
March 18...” x ‘i. ‘> ... “A .
fcV | THE PROGRESS OP EMPIRE. / . 1
Pr.Aecy in iht-no.ory in <8 Ip';/,
“It is well known that empire Has been travel
ling from east to west. Probably her last and
broadest seat will be America. There the sci
ences and arts of civilized life are to receive their
highest improvement; there civil and religious
lib.erty is to flourish, unchecked by the cruel hand
of civil or ecclesiastical tyranny; there genius,
aided by all the improvements of former ages, is
to be exerted in humanizing mankind—in expand
ing and enriching their minds with religious and
philosophical knowledge, and in planning and
executing a form of government which will em
brace aH the excellencies of former governments,
with as few of their defects as are consistent with
the imperfection of human affaire, and which will
be calculated to protect and unite, in a manner
consistent with the natural rights of mankind, tne
largest empire that ever existed. Elevated with
these prospects, which are not merely the visions
of fancy, we cannot but anticipate the period, as
not far distant, when the American republic shall
contain millions of souls west of the Mississippi.
Judging upon probable grounds, the Mississippi
was never designed as the western boundary of
the American empire. The God of nature nev
er intended that some of the best parts of his earth
should ever be inhabited by the subjects of a mon
arch four thousand miles from them. And we
may venture to predict, that when the rights of
mankind shall be more fully known, and the
knowledge of them is fast increasing both in Eu
rope and America, the power of European kings
will be confined to Europe, and their present A
merican dominions, become, like the United
States, free, sovereign and independent nations.”
’ W IKtEftBOTHAM.
—— ■ >:
AMERICAN CLAIMS.
It is asserted that the amount of claims for
Spanish spoliations possessed in Boston, exceeds
one and a half million of dollars-—the proportion
of one merchant being §350,000, besides interest
for fifteen years. Baltimore comes in for her full
share on this occasion. The claims to be adjust
ed and paid under the new treaty with Spain, are
believed to be classed as follows:—*
Ist. Those under the convention of 1802.
2d. French spoliations, in Spanish ports.
3d. For damages on account of the suspension
of the right of deposit at New-Orleans.
4th. Spanish captures, at sea, or in the ports ol
the Spanish colonies, since 1802.
sth. Other claims, from 1802 to the date of the
treaty, which have been exhibited to the secretary
of State, oi- to the American minister at Madrid,
and in which the interposition of the American
government is requested.
The claims to b&jj|djusted and settled by three
conmiqgioncrs, appointed by the president ana
senatey and sums allowed, to be paid either in
money, or in stock, at 6 per cent, payable out oi
the Sales of lands.
We understand there are claims to a very con
sldefs&le amount; rtnOv new Banish treaty,
held in Providence; and it is calculated that the
five millions appropriated by that treaty, will not
pay 25 per cent, of the whole amount claimed. —
On this subject, the Newburyport Herald appo
sitely observes—*“lf the Spanish government are
as long in ratifying the convention, lately conclud
ed by Don Onis,as they were the treaty of 1802,
( 16 years,) the present claimants for spoliations,
may bequeath the proceeds to their posterity, but
can hardly expect to realize them themselves.”
—Baltimore Patriot. ; jj’ V
—j m i 4*’ ‘
v SUPREME COURT.
Washington, Friday, March 12. i
Justice Johnson, delivered the opinion of ‘
the court, in the case of certain goods taken out <
of the Spanish ship Caradad, affirming the de
cree of the inferior court, restoring the goods to i
the possession of the Carthagenian captors, upon ;
the ground that the privateer, by whom they <
were originally captured, was cruizing under a’
commission from the republic or province of Car
thagena, and was not fitted out in this country,
nor had committed any other violation of the
strict and impartial neutrality which is maintain
ed by the United States, in the present war be
tween Spain and her revolted colonies.
The time having arrived when it is necessary
for the'judges to go on the spring circuits, the
court adjourned sine die, after heating and de
ciding a greater number of important causes
than have ever been determined at any former
tenp.
APPOINTMENTS BY THE PRESIDENT.
( William Barnett, of Alabama territory, receiv
er of public monies for lands of the United States
at Jackson court house.
Willoughby Barton, of Georgia, register of the
land office at Jackson court horn*.
Charles & Cosby, of Louisiana, register of the
land office kt St. Helena.
Fulipar Skifiwith, of Louisiana, receiver of
public monies for lands Os the United States, at
St. Helena.
In the steam-boat Roanoke, which arrived here
on Wednesday night from Washington City,
came passengers brigadier general Wm. M‘ln
tosh, of the Creek nation of Indians, with his
suite, consisting of bolonel Gfco. Lovett and
Samuel Hawkins, Major Emuttie, and Captains
IsmuOiVe and Charles Cournels—-Col. Lovett,
Maj. Emuittie, and Capt. Cournels, will leave
here this morning in the southern stage; gen.
M‘lntosh, col. Hawkins, and capt. Ismudiye,
will take passage by water, for Savannah, on Sun
day next.
It will be recollected that gen. M‘lntosh com
manded the friendly Creeks in the late war with
the Seminolie Indians, and has, on former occa
sions, rendered important services to his country.
Beacon , Match 19* t
INDIAN ELOQUENCE.
Copy of a letter from an officer of the Yellow Storia
Expedition to his friend at Belle Fontaine dated
Martin’s Cantonment, January 14, 1819.
Sir—Th*e conduct of the Kansas, since our ar
rival at this place, has been so audacious and even
outrageous as to induce captain Martin, the
commanding officer, to seize the chief, with sev
eral of the principal offenders and confine them
to the guard-house in irons.
* These reputed, unsophisticated beings, are
deeply versed in intrigue and deceit, although
the style of the bar is a language as little known
to them as that of China.
After a punishment of a few days confineme nt*
the covnmauding ifficer arraigned them bes re
him, specified tne charges exhibited against tnem
and admitted them to plead in their own behaif.
They were eharged Ist, with theft, stealing
both public and private property from the gar
rison, while permitted to encamp near it. Thus
repaying our civility and hospitality with insult
and ingratitude. :
2d. With having repeatedly robbed our hun
ters of their game, ammunition and wearing ap
parel, thereby breaking those bands of peace
and friendship, which they had pledged them
selves to observe. Thus proving themselves
false and treacherous, unworthy either of our
protection or confidence. “ ,
In reply to these charges, their chief rose, and
after casting his eyes over the guard of soldiers
which invested him, thus addressed the com
manding officer: ‘
“Father—Your young men are prescribed
within certain bounds; not one of them can pass
that chain of centinels without your permisaiufc
thus ever within our powei,‘ you govern them
with ease. My warriors impatient of restraint
as the wild horse in the toils of tne hunter, brook
no control, free as the air which they breathe,
light and impetuous as the Antelope, they bound
over mountain and moor; in the pursuit of plea
sures which nature has ordained they should en
joy. To confine them to one valley would de
prive them of their subsistence—they would pine
and die in penury and want.
Father—These woods and streams are our’s;
the beaver which inhabit this river, and the buffa
loe which range in these forests are our’s; their
skins afford us clothing and a shelter from v c
rude blast of winter; their meat a luxurious sub
sistance. Shall we then, who are loirs of the
forest, quit the pleasures and the advantages of
the hunt, and like you, confine ourselves to one
solitary valley, to practice decipline and subor
dination, to live in idleness and indolence. No,
Father—ln pursuit of the elk and antelope, w©
will snuff the morning breeze on the mountains,
and in the evening repose among the liliiesofthe
vale, revelling on the spoils of our hunters, and
in the embraces of our wives.
Father—These pleasures we invite you topar
ticipate; we also invest you with an equal fight
with ourselves to take meat from our forests and
W* our fountains; as freely as the Great
Spirit gave them to us.
Father—\tye love and respect you, and mourn
that there are bad men among us, who have done
you wrong. Their actions, Father, were not
within my control. Punish not the innocent for
the guilty. Free our hands from these chains,
we will seek out the culprits who have injured
you; although they crouch in the thickest glen,
or lie concealed in the recesses of the most inac-
cessable mountain.
Father—We will deliver them to you, to pun
ish to your satisfac’ion, for the outrages they
have committed against you and pledge oursel ■'*.
that should one of our nation at any future peri*
od evince an evil disposition towards you, we
will give him to your power, that with the rod
of correction, you may open his eyes to reproof.’*
The sophistry of this address however,, did. not
deter the commanding officer from severely fla
gellating five of the culprits who were recognis
ed as the offenders; after which they were per
mitted to retire;wrongly enjoined to mend their
manners and morals. ‘ .
lam happy to inform you that the prompt
ness with which captain Marlin, seized and pun
ished these offenders has made a desirable and
deep impression on the minds of the whole na
tion, since which they have evinced the most
peaceable and friendly disposition, uniformly
whenever they have met with our hunters, cf ur
teously taken their burthen of game and borne it
to our camp. .V-;
Notwithstanding’ the reluctance evinced by
our troops on their embarkation, and their pre
sent exiled situation, the utmost cheerfulness,
harmony and good humor prevails; every one
appeare enraptured with the expedition and “for
bold adventures eager.’*
This happy change may I think be attributed
to the uniform and correct system of discipline,
which has been observed by the officers, and the
prompt and regular manner in which they have
been paid.
One of our best soldiers lately received an ac
cidental shot in the knee which has eventuated
in the loss of a leg; on which the commander im
mediately very generously presented him with a
donation of eleven hundred dollars for his future
support.
The troops are remarkably healthy, and the
season beyond description fine.
4 -r ‘
NOTICE TO MARINERS.
■ There has been , placed off Tybee, two larg®
coppered buoys, one on the tail of the knoll, in
two fathoms water, bearing from the light house
N. N. W. the Other in 4| fathoms, N. E. by N.
from the light-house, in mid channel, wherp large
vessels may anchor with safety, when wind wi
tide will not permit to proceed higher up. W)
order of the Commissioners of pilot .; ge. ftad
ABRAHAM NlCHQJ^||jiM