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St Augustine, November , 1829,
Sir : The nature of the present com
munication will present the best apology
J can offer for asking your attention te its
objects. A long experience, acquired in
the situation of Phyiiciau to the “ Infir
mary for diseases of the Lungs,” estab
lished in the City of New York, led me
to the Same result that all others, conver
sant with the disease, have arrived at; that
in cates of decided character in Consump
tion, the only rervdy is & change of cli
mate. Italy, France, and the West In
dia Islauds, have all been resorted to ;
blit each has peculiarities that at least
have neutralized the advantages they pos
sess. Weil attested cases of ihe good ef
fects of a change to the climate of Flori
da, had been so frequently presented to
my attention, that I was at length induced
to try the experiment iu a case in which
my own feelings were deeply concerned,
and wiib a view to a more thorough ex
amination of the subject, I determined to
visit the place mvself. I am now satisfi
ed -beyond question, that this favored land
.of ours contains the spot that presents
more advantages to the valetudinarian in
consumptive cases, than any ether on
earth, and that this spot is the City of St.
Augustine, in the Territory of East Flo
rida. Convinced that by disseminating a
few facts with regard to this place, in re
lation to its connection with this subject,
I shall be subserving the causo of human
ity, I have taken the liberty of addressing
to you this Circular; with a request that!
ro far as convenient, you would commu
nicate it to those who within your know!-
edge may bo interested in the informa
tion.
The City of St. Augustine, one of the
oldest places on the Continent, is situat
ed on the Atlantic coa*t in about Lat.
-30° The suit around the place for miles
is a mixture of shell and sand. The hou
ses are generally built of shell stone or
wood, after the old Spanish mode, with
o/ange groves in the rear ; but owing to
their age and peculiarity of construction,
not offering, it must be confessed, much
attraction at first to the inhabitants of the
States. A latge hotel, however, is about
to be erected,- which is intended to reme
dy any objection on that score. There
is now in the place a Catholic Church, a
Methodist meeting house, a Presbyterian
Church nearly completed, and measures
are in train for the erection of an Episco
pal Church. The markets present a suf
ficient variety of meat and vegetables.
Beef, though lean, of good flavour ; poul
try, wild and tame unkies, and venison in
ahundaoce; and fish equal to any in the
world, sheopshead, bass, mullet, whitipg,
crabs, tur les and oysters—all light, easy,
yet nourishing food. Among the fruits
are the orange, the lime, the fig, and a
great variety of kitchen vegetables. The
vine, olive, and date, would also flourish,
and will no doubt be shortly introduced.
That it is a place io some reflects not
presenting all the conveniences of a large
aud more busy city, is certainly not to
ha denied ; that, however, is an evil that
will soon cure itself. The water loo*
though drinkable, is like that of must
southern latitudes, rather hard. The
price of board and lodging per week is
from seven to teo dollars. All the above
circumstaoces aud facts are no doubt of
some importance to most persous ; yet to
&and invalid in search of health, there are
othe* things of far greater interest ; and it
is here that St. Augustine stands (indoubt,
edly unrivalled—in air, in temperature, in
physical peculiarities aud advantages ge
nerally.
The climate is as equal and as agreeable
the year round as in the nature of thiugs
can be. The meao temperature by Fah
renheit, for January in 1829, was as fol
lows:—-for January, 1829. at 7 A. M.
53°, at 2 P. M. 60°, at 9 P. M-. 54°; for
February, at 7 A M. 53°, at 2 P. M.
60°, at 9 P. M. 52°; for March, at 7 A
M. 53°‘ at 2 P. M. 63°, at 9 P. M. 54°;
for April, at 7 A. M. 61°, at 2 P. M. 74°.
at 9 P. M 66 c . In the summer months
it ranges from 80° to 90°, but the heat is
by no means as oppressive as the same
height would indicate in more northern lat
itudes, on account of the dryness, clear
ness, and consequent elasticity of the at
mosphere. Tbe *rade wind sets in about
20 A M. and blows steadily until daylight
next morning. There are no marshes in
Ihe vicinity, and cousequeuily no fresh
water vapours, and the frame is therefore
generally braced and the spirts io a state
of exhilaration that at first is astonishing.
This is no doubt the true secret of those
enthusiastic and glowing descriptions of
this land of flowers, that characterize all
the earlier accounts of this cuuntry; and
while it is one of the greatest sources of
enjoyment, is also in itself a most efficient
remedy. So remarkable indeed, and so
well understood are the effects of the trade
wind, that it is familiarly styled among the
inhabitants, “ the Doctor.”
The nature of ihe soil assists the oper'
ation of these causes. Consisting of
ehells, and sand, it absorb* the rain that
falls very rapidly, and thus prevents tbe
rise and accumulation of vapour, and
tiVoids tbe unhealthy decomposition of
vegetable matter, thoke prolific sources of
fever and disease in our own climate; and
even when occasionally the air may be
somewhat damp, it is so impregnated with
«al< as to be peifectly harmless. One
fact is worthy of particular remark, as be
ing to consumptive patients-ot great im
portance: this is that there is no liability
to taking cold in this climate; no ordinary
exposure is unhealthy or dangerous.
This fact* however curious, is unques
tionable, and is accounted for on the
plainest principle*. There are no sud
den changes from heat to cold, nor from
dry to damp During the day the re
freshing trade wind pour* a steady current
of air over the coast, and you retire to
bed while this operation of nature is going
on: of waking at night or in the
morning, and feeling the chill of the night
damp, the weather has uniformity grown
warmer and milder from the gradual with
drawal of the effect of the wind, which
ceases entirely about daylight. Iu other
climates the night is almost invariably,
and is always liable to be colder and dam
per than the dav. In St. Augustine the
reverse is the case, and thus the delicate
lungs of a patient are relieved from one
of tha greatest sources of irritation.
This it is in my opinion that constitutes
the secret of the climate; it creates the
most bland and uniform temperature of
the atmosphere, and there are no local
causes to impede its complete operation.
In accordance with this general view
of the matter, the diseases which general
ly prevail are those of old age, palsy, ap
oplexy, and slight fever, from irregulari
ty of diet. The diseases not Unowu here
are all the diseases of children, such as
measles, whooping cough, scarlet fever
and small pox, intermittent and bilious
fevers, except when brought from the
country, and mania, except mania a potu,
have never been known among 2000 in-,
habitants. It is a remarkable fact, that
that new disease, the dengue fever, after
visiting the West India Islands, crossed
over the Continent, and travelled as far.
north as Philadelphia, but omitted to pay
this favored place even a passing notice.
Several cases came from Charleston, but
without communicating it in a single in
stance. . The climate of this city will be
found of great benefit in cases of spitting
o’ blood, asthma,scrofula, dyspepsia and
rheumatism, as well as in cqosumpfipo in
its different varieties. There are a,num
ber of persons who have resided here for
six or eight years p >st free from attacks of
disease, who came originally as invalids,
the history of whose cases wou}d lead me 1
to conclude that some of them were in the
last-stage of consumption; others with
profuse and frequent hemorrhage from the
kings; and some with rheumatism. Du
ring the last winter there arrived here
about sixty inyalids of all sorts; of this
number only three died. I have since
heard of the dejarh of five individuals us
this number since their return tq the
north. Takidg then a . roview of the
above facts, together with the testimony
of several. respectable gentlemen who
bate passed, a winter in the South of
France, in Italy, and in St Cioix, and
who with one consent prefer the climate
of St. Augustine to either, we must con
clude that it i* far,preferable for tjie inva
lid to trust to the healing qualities of this
fine climate, within,frptp six to ten d,ays
sail of,his h'-mo, under,the same laws,
and among his own .people, with whose
habits and manners he is familiar, than to,
transport himself to a foreign land, among
strangers whose services and sympathies
can be purchased only at every sacrifice,
and at the risk of every thing held most
dear. Yours, respectfully, {
ANDREW ANDERSON. M. D.
From the Sporting Magazine,
Hunting the wild cat.
ds mjoytd in North Carolina.
Nbwbern, Sept. 22, 1832.
Mr. Editor, —We have a species of
game with us which I believe is peculiar
to this section of country—at least 1 see no
mention made of it in your excellent
magazine,whete I have met with descrip
tions of every other variety of hunting
And yet, the wild cat will affetd the huois
man as much sport, and the hounds as
much work* as any other animal that I e
ver followed. Indeed it requires a sta
nch and uuuierous pack to take them, for
even when run to a stand still—no easy
work by the by—-they are enabled from
from their great strength and ferocity, to
keep five or six dogs at bay, without diffi
culty. -
The wild cat is much larger, and infin
itely stronger than the grey fox, (the red
not being an inhabitant of our woods, I
know nothing of.) It is about as fleet as
the common fox, but as it confines its run
to very strong and thick covers, the chase
lasts much longer than'that of the fox.
Aud being iu addition to all this,a tetribfe
enemy of the farmyard, taking off pigs,
poultry, lambs, aud sometimes even grown
sheep, our sportsmen, who are all farm
ers, pursue them with inveterate indus
try. Invited by the flattering appearance
of the weather last week, Mr. W. and
myselfdfitermined to give our dogs a -trail.
We, accordingly, rode to cover on Satur
day morning, with six couple of as fine
dogs as ever followed deer, fox, or wild
cat. It oui first turn out this season
—the whole pack was, consequently, full
of riot, and the young dogs iu particular,
farotic. The morning was as auspicious
as we could wish—ihe dog fennel and
pine bushes hung droopmgly, overloaded
with dew. It was quite cool, clear as a
bell, and so perfectly calm, that the joy
ous note* of the dogs, as they gambolled
in wild excitement before us, or leaped
up fawningiy upon eur horses,were heard
to re-echo over the distant Natise. Af
ter leaving the river a little to the right
we threw off \he hounds into a very pro
mising cover, on the North side of Smith
creek. Here we had nut proceeded very
long, when old Drummer told us, some
prowler h tdbeeu Hissing during theuight.
The scent was very cold, he followed it
slowly& with difficulty,along the windings
of the creek; frequently interupted by the
outbursts of the young dogs, after rabbi's,
&i. By dint of whipping and scolding,
we succeeded in bringing these last un
der some subjection. The trail still ap
pearing very cold, we made a cast on the
opposite bank of the creek, but with n<>
better success. The game had been
here, but it must have been very early
on the previous evening. In the mean
time, old Drummer had got back to his
old trail, and continued to work.it with
untiring perseverance. The drag ap
pearing to grow warmer, we concluded to
hark the other dogs to hint. Echo and
Rover s >on gave tongue, Macduff and
Nimrod joioed in. Siill our best fox
dug, old Milton, refused to recognise the
the trail as legitimate; we were now
sure of the nature of our it must be
a wild cat. We continued to encouiage
the dogs with increased anxiety At la*t
all of them, young and old acknowledged
the trail, and growing into a confirmed
drag, it proceeds through the river swamp
deep into the marsh, far along the margin
of the river, and then—what a crash, you
might have heard them ddwu the wind
three miles of. And now, swelling into
a louder and still a louder strain, the
quarry make* directly for the spot wheie
we had taken our stand, upon the verge
of the swamp, as far in as we could well
make our way* We had raised our voi
ces in one exulting shout, when that wild
burst bad told us, the game was up. But
iu the tumultous roar behind him, evetv
other sound was hushed, and the cat made
straight fer us, either uoi hearing or heed *
ing our halloo. We were now still as
statues—and the pack caine rushing—the
crashing of the reeds, the rending of the
undergrowth, the splashing of the mud
and water, and the deep mouthered roar ■
ing of the bounds, uniting together, like
the mingling tumults of a Septembe* gale,
and seeming to give to the tenified ani-'
nual the wings of the wind. He must
have passed within ten steps of us, but;
owing to the thick c*>ver, wo could no'
catch a view. The pack, however, were
close upon him, for they passed us, run
ning breast high, all toge'her—no run \
niag dog, or in line, but each emulonsh
dashing for the lead. The cat seemed
de ermined to try their mettle, and beat
them by downright game. Contrary t«*
the usual practice of the animal, he made
a straight stretch over the highland, along
the bolder of Smith’s old field,and at such
u slashing rare, that, to lie by them, made
Madge blow like a blacksmith’s bellow*
on a frosty mTiling... SheV a liltlo >eo
fat at preseot, and not long from gras-..
Finding this game could never lasi long,
the cat endeavored te throw them ou», by
a rapid succession of ugly dodges, which
bothered the young and -gs excessively
But old Milton was wide awake—he had
followed too many foxes in Ins dav to he
out-generalled even by a wild cat. He
followed bim cautiously, but unerringly
through all his circles and angles, and the
whole pack winding after him, with such
close and unremitting assiduity, that they
only made two losses, and then, for only
two minutes.
After circling for about half an hour, in a
very thick gum swamp, where he had a
great advantage over the dogs, “ Monsieur
le Chat ,” finding himself considerably in
advance of the hounds, thought he uiiglr
try theqr again at loog taw. ; >o hoisting
out all canvass, ho made sail for Bache
lor’s creek. This was just what >he pack
wan .ed ; the young d>'gs were terribly
pestered in the swamp, but here again, all
was plain sailing ; and so the cat seemt and
to think too, for finding that he could uo
make good bis retreat to Bachelor, he
tached ship, aod stood back on Ins old
(rack—but he was d->ne up. lie did in
deed contrive te get back to his old place
of refuge, the swamp; but we knew, bv
the manner in which the old dogs were
pushing for the lead, that his fate was
sealed. He bad been now two hours and
a half on the pad, and we could tell, as we
saw him mount a log, his eyes flashiug,
his hair bristling, his short tail lashing,
"us doubting to return or .fly”—his
race of existence was rqn. As we rais
ed the view halloo, his tail dropped a
gain, which he was elevating as a signal
for combat, and lie. dragged hiin«*lffrom
the log, with weak and uusteady steps;
scarcely had he jumped from one end of
the log, when Milton and Echo mounted
it at the other, followed by the rest of the
pack. Animated by our clteer, and the
devoted game, they seemed to gain addi
liona)' vigor, and, before we had made
our way a hundred yards further in the
swamp, we heard a sharp, angry growl,
then Echo’s shrill yelp, as she leaped up
on the prey, and then a cry from her, as if
she had run afoul of a kettle of hot water.
Talleyrand next gave a howl of agony, as
he shrunk from the rude welcome of the
wild cat. AH the rest as they came up,
seemed to acknowledge by their .cries,
tha: they had caught a tartar. But wha<
can one do against twelve?—most of them,
too, young, strong and active. Whv,
Jackson and Beaufort alone, are strong w
uough to pull down the siongest buck that
ever stood at bay. Even a wild cat must
yield to such fearful odds; so that when we
succeeded in scrambling to them, we found
our enemy, (and a huge one he was) dead
upon the field, and the dogs limping and
baying around, manifesting by their con
dition, the severity us the chase and com -
bat.
Yours, respectfully, A. F. G.
The Martiage Ring. —lt is often in
terest which presents, and love which re
ceives it. It must be acknowledged, to
our shame, that in marriages for iuterest,
which are numerous, the villainy is al
ways on the side of the man. A woman
seeks less a rich husband than a lover
whose love she may return. What is
the cause of this difference 1 Because,
generally, when a man marries, his heart
has been hacknied in the ways of love,
while that of the woman is still pure and
untouched. The following is an extract
from “Admiral Secrets” of Weeker:—
“When the Piicst has united two persons,
the husband, newly blest, gives to his
wife >he marriage ring to confirm the al
liance. This momeut is one of the great,
est interest for the woman, and requires
all her attention.
If the husband stops the ring at the top
of the finger, and does not pass it beyond
the second joint, the wife will be the
queen and mistress of every thing in the
household. But wtien a man is ungentle
enough to pusli the ring up to the root of
the finger, and to fix itself in the place it
ought to occupy, that man is and will be
the Sovereign lord aud master of all around
him. For this reason, well bred ladies
take care to beud the ring finger at the
moment they receive the marrige ring,
so as to stop it dt the firslor second joint;
and it is to this little artifice that they
still owe the pleasure of governing their
husbands, who always, however, boast
that they guide their own vessels.”— Capt
Rock.
From, the Rhode Island Amefican. *
A CAitD.
To the Editor of the Providence Ame
rican.
Sir.—The National Intelligencer of
the 16 h ifrs'aot, which lias just been
handed to me at this place informs me
that my name has been presented in «e
--ference to the election of President in
1836 ’7. It is proper, I think, (hat I
should, without delay, place my own
vie vs of the suujcei before you, and re
quest that they may be made public for
the information of hose whe may take an
interest iu them. I consider the nomina
tion which I accepted as having been fi
lially disposed of at the recent election ;
and. the sentiment of. defetertce which,
under the circumstances of '.he case, led
me to yield my own wishes to those of a
portion of my fellow citizens in assenting
.o tbat nomination, now binds me with
increased obligation lo acquiesce in the
decision of the? whole which has been
made upon it- The question of renomi
uaiion is anew question on which I may
be expected to be heaid. If it should be
thought expedient to make it, at a time
proper for its consideration. That time
I think it not the present. The electiou
i* too far off, and the future ton entiiely
unknown, to,permit one to judge of what
i' way, hereafter be proper to do.
Should he question even be put for my
decismu, 1 shall answer it according to
mv sense of my duty as a citizen ot the
United States. I know of no legitimate
purpose of such a nomination, but the
electiou of a President for the common
good »nd happiness of the country. In
my former iener of accep'ance, I said
distinctly tha> l could never consent to
be the President of a party, and she
samo sentiment will continue to influence
me in am future decision I may be called
to make upon this subject. Meaowme
there are other subject* of fearful magni
tude thnt press themselves on the irame
dime attention of 'lie patriot, and demand
all his solicitude. The Union itself is in
danger, and the signs of the nines render
it problematical whether it may be the
will of Heaven tha> we shall ever have
another Presidential Election under the
present Constitution of the United States
l .-intend to no right te conti ol th** press
mi the selection of its topics. But 1 may
rightfully desire to have it uudeistood
that, at such a time as -his, and under the
circumstances us public anxiety aud alarm
that surround us, I >ake no pleasure, but
the reverse, in seeing my name the re
newed subject of newspaper discussion,
for a purpose so remote and contingent.
I am sensible of the favorable regard
which, 1 have no doubt, prompted your
article, and am grateful lor it. But I
should lose all self respect, if, at such a
time, and under such circumstances, I
could bethinking of myself, or sanction,
by my sileuce, what *eeni9 to me *o very
unreasonable an obtrusion of my name no
tbe consideration of the public.
There is already far too much.of ex
asperated feeling among our people, from
other causes us immediate and unavoida
ble pressure. The efforts us every true
friend of his country should be directed
tu the great purpose of conciliation and
peace. lustead, therefore, of opening a
> ew source of excitement by the pretua
ure. discussion of tbe subject of the next
election, I am more disposed to unite in
an endeavour to shut up those other
fountains that are already sending out
their bitter waters so freely among
to see if it be not possible to bring buck
something like that state of great aod
disinterested, love of country and frater
nal concord,in which the war of revolution
left us, and the Federal Government
found us. It was that auspicious state of
thingsthat made the introduction of free
Government so easy, and its ection hi*
■ herto so prosperous. I indulge in no
romantic expectations of the return of
•hat golden age. But, uuless something
effectual can be done to allay the agi
tation that has already arisen, and bring
our people to a kinder slate of feeling,
and a more harmonious action, it requires
ii« great stretch of political sagacity to
see that our institutions will rush to spee
dy ruin.
At such a time, and in such a state
of things, I must be excused from any
agency, express or tacit, in the prema
ture agitation of the question of the next
election of the President.
YVM* WIRT.
Anaapolis, Oov. 17th, 1832.
Charlotte Cos., Nov. 22d, 1832.
To the Writer in the Richmond Enqui
rer, under the signature of a “ F riend
to Truth.”
Sir: Perceiving that in your strictures
upon the public character of Mr. Cal
houn you have drawn my name into
question, 1 avail myself of my right,
which in this instance 1 deem also to be
a duty, to put myself righ. in the court
of public opinion, before which you have
summoned me. t
In the course of that debt te I did ex
plicitly, and mnre than ones, impute to
the doctrines maintained by Mr. Cal
houn, an irreconcilable hostility to the
very existence of the State governments.
And whilst 1 admitted that, from his ig
ourance and incapacity, Mr. Clay might
not be aware of the inevitable tendency
of the system which he supported I had
too much respect fur the understanding
es Mr. Calhoun te believe it possible
that he could be blind to the conse
quences. And I forewarned both him
and Mr. Lowndes, that this was but the
commencement of a scheme which must
end iq the utter subversion es the rights
of the States generally; and of robbery
and oppression of the slave-holding por
tion of the Union, which it would be
impossible for them to submit to.
I told those gemtemen that five years
would not elapse before we should be
called upon to pay another tribute to
our masters—the manufacturers ; and I
took the term of five years, because four
is the tetm limited fur the Presidential
service; and I knew that at each ap
proaching election a bribe would be held
out to buy up the ifote and iuterest of
the stronger portion of the Uoiou. Ex
perience has confirmed the truth of my
calculation: and the Tariffs of ’22, ’24
and their successors attest the soundness
of the theory to which the practice will
in eveiy instance, have been found rigidly
to •ouform.
When Mr. Lowndes, by hi* strenuous
opposition to the Tariff of 24, was buying
golden opinion’s from all svris of men, I
took occasion to remind him, to him and
Mr. Calhoun, the Southern States would
be mainly indebted for the system of pil
lage and oppression which was then be
ing established over them. In plain truth
Mr. Clay, Mr. Calhoun and Mi Lowndes
all came into the House of Representa
tives, for the first time, at thu same ses
sion, (1811 12,) each with a single eye
on the presidency—and commenced a
system of bidding at the auction of popu
larity—which, with Mr. Lowides was
terminated only with hi* life,'and hasibeen
unremittingly followed up by the other
>wo,downlo the present hour. In this
coutesi Mr. Clay has decidedly the van
tage ground, having given himself ap en
tirely lo the friends of the Americnu
System of which he has, moreover, the
repula'ion us being the architect as well
as the chief supporter. Altho' Mr. Cal
houn was the father of the pre.sent Bank of
the U Sta<es* yet his zeal in its support
Ins been quickened by the liope of pro
pitiating P«nnsylviania, aud rallying Un
der bis standard all the friends aud de
pendents of that colossal uebeme of cor
ruption, wherever they ace to be found—
whether on this, or the rpher side of the
Atlantic. Accordingly we see the Stock
Brokers of Lmdun—following suit to the
load of the Orator <f the West, and
hear them chaunting in the very word*
and in the -same key note of the gicat
author of the American System.
Ths friends a:.d admirers of Mr. L*wn
deg, may, and ptob -bly will, he wounded
by this statement but it is due tu truth.
Among the lost—rhis admiters—l claim
a place ; although, from the time that
he lent himself to Mr. Clay, on Ins mo
tion to chaOce the rules aud orders of
the House—a motion levelled person
ally at me, and utieiiy regardless and
subversive of the freedom of speech and
debate—l lost, never to be regained, all
my respect for> him, no: only as a states
man, but. ai a mao and a gentleman.
His conduct ou that occasion, was the
conduct of a pimp and a parasite ; such
as the humblest member of the S. Ca
rolina delegation would have scorue-J to
descend to. B it such ate iho temptation*
and the wages of ambition.
To sumo it may appear, that, iu this
address, I have departed from a rule
by which my conduct has been governed
ever since I came into public life ; ne
ver to descend to its defence in the
newspapers. But they who will give
themselves the trouble to examine into
the circumstances of the case, will ren
dily perceive that the inconsistency- is
in appearance only, and that having been
drawn before the public without being
consulted, and indeed, against my own
consent, it behoved me to vindicate the
course which I had pursued, and the mo
tives by which I had been actuated.
I am, Sir, with much respect for the
opinion* which you avow, and the ability
with which you sustain them, your obe
dient servant,
XOHN RANDOLPH, of Roanoke.
Serious Witticism.— -Some friends
were commenting no Byron's scheme f*r
collecting into a melancholy jest book, the
last sallies of distinguished men. “ Sir
Thomas More” said one, ” was witty
even on the scaffold “ aye” replied
another, ” and it is well known that the
grave Charles I. was s< struck with the
gesticulation of the executioner, that he
could not keep his countenance.
From the Petersburg intelligencer, Nov. 27.
SWIFT TRAVELLING.
The Locomotive “ Roanoke ” and her
train of cars, 'made the trip between
Petersburg and the Cential Depot (30
miles) on Tuesday last, in an hour and
forty five minutes ; stopping twenty-five
minutes by the way to take iu some wood
and water, and to afford the Engineer of
the Rail Road, Mr. Robinson, and the
principal Assistant, Mr. Gwvnn, time to
examine some portions of the work. Du
ring the laigest part of the journey, the
engine was letting off steam, and we un
derstand there would have been no dif
ficulty in accomplishing it in an hour, but
for the apprehensions entertained that a
higher velocity might have been attended
with danger to the chilled wheels ou
which the burthen cars are mourned.
The company expect shortly to put
upon the road, cars of an improved con
struction, meuDted ou springs, and having
wheels banded with rolled iron tires.—
With .hese, we are informed, no danger
need be apprehended at a much higher
rate of speed ; and that by adopting them
for the ordinary purposes of the road,
(he whole distance between Petersburg
and the Roanoke may be
with ease and safety in two hours.
The power as well as the speed of the
“RoANoKe” would scarcely be suspected
by those who have seen her quiescent,
and been struck only with her lightness
aud beauty. On Monday, the day previous
to the performance above cited, the drew
a load consisting of 66 bales of cottrsu, 10
barrels of corn and 30 passengers (B 5 tons)
from tbe Central Depot iu two and a half
hours to Petersburg, or at the rate of 12
miles per hour.
The whole weight of the engine inclu
ding fuel and water is something short of
five tons. \ .
TRAINING.
‘•’Tenjiou! feller sogers,” said the
captain', in a stentorian voice, “ advance
backwards! music, quick step!” The
soldiers made a quick retrogade move
ment, and came with their backs plump
against the fence.
“ There! by forty said the cap'ain*
“ now see if you can keep straight.” But
he had scarcely performed this success
full manoeuvre ; and was about to resume
his manual'exercise, when the clouds be
gan to thieaien rain, and the soldiers,
squinting at the aspect of the heavens,
commenced desering their ranks, and
moving in a!l baste toward* a neighbour*
ing tavern.
“Halt! halt!” roared the captain—*
“halt! Isay, feller sogers; where tbe
devd are you going to 1” „
“ VVe’ie goin tu get out of the rain.”
“Out of the rain, you cowards ! halt !
Isay, or 1M stick the fi>st man I cau
catch.”
“ ill take care you shan’t catch'mo,’*
shouted each one as he took to his heels.
Ip less than a minute, the whole compa
ny had deserted ; and the captain, wh >se
motions were much retarded by bis regi
mentals, bad little chance of slicking them,
f<*r the very sufficient reason that he
could not overtake '.ham.
“ By forty!” said he, after standing f- r
two or three minutes in speechless ait' <*-
nishmeut, “ if this don’t beat ail the mi
lintary movements I ever Iteeid <d ! just
as I’d gut them into a S'raight a line bv a
new manoeuvre—to desert me thus ! Bit
(here’s no use in keeping the field all
alone; I may aa well go to the tavern
too ” So saying, he sheathed his swoid,
and followed -the supers
From the N. F. Journal Com - 23,- inst.
Latest from Europe.
CAPTURE OK DON MIQUEL’S
F(,EE r.
Our news schooner Juurpnl of Com
merce, came u;> at half past 4 o’clock,,
this morning, with the important verbal
report, brought by Capt. Farren, of tht>
brig Moniflvideu, who loft Cadiz, Oct"*
her 23rd, that the entire fleet «t Don Mi
guel had snrieodered to that of Don Pe
dro. Oar previous accounts left the fleet
of Don Miguel at Vigo, where it put in
September 29th, under tho pieteneeof 1
making repair*, but had been received
coldly, and ordered to perform a quaran
tine of eight davs, the Admiral’s remon
strance to die control v not withstanding.
The statement of Capt. Fallen is, that
on the morning lie left Cadiz, a Spanish
brig arrived there from Vigo, the captain
of which stated, that in order to maintain
the neutrality of their port, the authori- '
tfes of Vigo had doomed it proper to re
quire that the fleet should leave their ?
port or be dismantled. The Admiral
preferred the latter, and during die night '
put to sea, but came in contact with the
fleet of Don Pedro under Admiral Sarto- *
rius which iav off the port. An action
ensued which resulted in a complete vie- '
tory by Surtorius, and both squadrons
were seen steering for Oporto in **'m
pany.
The report was generally credited in
Cadiz, and received with apparent pleas
ure by the inhabitants.
Tb" squadron of Don Miguel consisted
of the L>nn Juan VI/of 80 guns ami 773
Royal frigdte of DO guns
and 480 men, Cyhele sloop of war, 2f>
guns and 234 men, Isibelle 24 guns and
199 men, brig Fer«> 20 guns and 151 men,
brig Audacious 18 guts and 144 tneo.
Total, 218 guns, 1996 men.
All was quiet (o Cadiz. The Queen
Regent had issued a decree of amnesty
towards persons engaged in
conspiracies during the King's .extreme
sickness, which, however, excluded fif
teen peisons. King Ferdinand’s health
was improving.
One day later from England.
At a still later hour this morning our
news schooner Evening Edition came up
from the ship Ajax, Capt. Hiern, which
was boarded 35 miles out-side the Hook,
with Liverpool papers to October 22nd,
and London papers to October 21st.
London, Oct. 21.
CONTINUED SUCCESS OF DON
PEDRO.
Private accounts have been received
from Madrid stating that a continued at
tack was made on Oporto on the 29th
and SOth September, and Ist
The Miguelites were obliged tu abandon
'their out-posts, aud have retreated five
leagues fmm Oporto.
The Migueli'e sqaadron entered V.go
Bay on the 29-h September. Sartorious
arrived off Vigo ou the 3rd October, and
was blockading them at both mouths of
the bay.
London, Oct. 21.
Advices have been received from Bor
deaux, of the 14th inst. stating that un the
10th the Miguelite army before Oporto
had retreated five leagues (15 miles) to
Penafiel.
KING OF HOLLAND’S WAR*
LIKE SPEECH.—The speech deliv
ered by (he Kiug of Holland on opening
the Assembly of the States-General, is