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LETTERS FltO*I irtlE NORTH.
No. 6.—Albany.
TO TIIB EDITORS OP TIIE GEORGIAN.
I foot tlmt l shall tiro you with the tedious length
of my communications, ns they “drug their slow
length along.” X cun only, however, promise a-
mend meet in future, and givo you a carle blanche
to cut or carve them us suits your humor or con
venience. I believe I have little of the pride of
authorship; perhaps if I had more I would consult
it by suppressing the whole that I have writtuu,
dropplug my pen ou the spot, uud saviug you pos
tage and myself some labor of body—of miud ve-
jry little, as you will have perceived if you have pro.
peeded thus far. I cannot,however,resist tho temp
tation of giviug you the cucloscd extract, which
you 44 arb ut liberty to use as you think proper,”
that is, publish if you please, You will perceive
that some of the opinions expressed are fur from
agreeing with mine, but they may not bo of less
weight. Without further preface, here it is.
From Peregrine Barnacle to Matthew Oldstylc,E*Q•
My dear Matthew—1 have too long delayed the
fulfilment of my promise to you. But my time
Lns been so fully occupied, although I cannot suy
to much advantage, that I have not been abbs to
effect it until the present moment. Indeed, during
my 6tay in the city of New York, I found myself
incapuble of writing or of doing any thing else. Iu-
decd, in a large, populous and noisy towu, “ where
now a rabble rages, now a fire,” is scarcely the
place for reflection or recollection to one whose
hey-day of life is passed, und who has been accus
tomed to peaceful retirement. I was therefore
glad to escapo from its turmoil and dust, by an ex
cursion to the Springs. But I verily believe the
demon of discomfort takes particular pleasure in
haunting me for the sinofleuviiigmy home ut this
minds or in attending to tlioir domestic arrange
ments.
Thoy are busily engaged in mending their ways
in Albany, and are Macadamizing tho Troy road.
It is much required. The principal mode of com
voyance, however, is by steam—two boats, the
Matilda and Little Garoluiaarc uow running-last
summer there were four. The latter has perhaps
pcrfbrmcd ns long a voyage as any boat in the
world of her size i. e. to buvnmiali. You may re
collect her as the mail boat between Savaiinuli
and Purysburg. I always prefer her for old ac
quaintance sako, though her opponent is a larger
nnd better boot. The excursion is a pleasant one,
and the price (121-2 cents) moderate. .
A plan bus long been formed for the construction
of a rail road from Albany to Schenectady, und an
act of incorporation obtained for carrying tho plan
into effect. But it has never been commenced.—
The distance is less than sixteen miles. Indeed, It
appears to me that tho few successful attempts
made in the construction of rail roads, and tho en
tire absence of any one of great length,even whore
immense sums have been expended upou canals,
indiente, either that there is some peculiar difficul
ty in their construction, or that those advantages
promised by them,are not sufficient to warrant their
construction on an extended scale, when compar
ed with canals, as a means of inter-communication,
to a large extent, or common roads, where the
trade uud population do not warrant cauals.
A mineral spring was discovered iu Albany a few
yenrs since, by boring through a slate rock to the
depth of 501) feet. Tuo partners in this, however,
having disagreed, one of them, (McCulloch, a
Scotchman) commenced boring on his own account,
in tho same neighbourhood,, und at the depth of
617 feet struck upon another, much superior in its
qualities, and approaching mure ucurly to the
Congress Spring at Surutoga, than any other in tho
United States, it contaius rather more of the Sa
line substance, ami is an active cathartic. Its taste
is much more disngrecuble than the Congress
Spring, which is attributed to the iron contained in
it. It is highly combustible, burning furiously on
the application of a burning paper to the water
when running from the veiit. It is now iu a hand
some garden, and much of it is drunk.
The city as 1 have said before, rises on a con
siderable lull—on the top of this is the capital, to
which State street directly leads. This is a spn-
cious street, filled with very large stores, and on
time of day, to join in the follies of a summer ex- which are situated the best of the splendid board
cursion, when I might be more usefully employed fcSS
at home, and benefit my neighbours by the circu
lation of the mouey expended so far from it. The
boat in which we left New York, from which t°
this place the fore is but one dollar, was crowded
with some three or four hundred passengers, com
prising of course, a very mixed compuny, of nil
ages, characters and sizes. We remained ut West
Point a day, where I was pleased to find tho ac
commodations so excellent; and tho cadets so
perfect in drill and discipline. Indeed, it is an in
stitution which I could not view without pride.—
From West Point to Albany it ruined almost inces
santly, and. I was rejoiced to be delivered from the
pains and penalties of steam, once more to enjoy
the comforts of my elbow chuir, nnd a house in
which I can cull some spot my own,and obtain my
meals in peace and somedegreeofquietness. The
Legislature of New York have passed laws con
taining many salutary regulations relative to the
steam boats on the Hudson. But they require
more. I would prevent them from carrying more
than a certain number of passengers—a provision
as much required as that allowing hut a certain
number of pussengers in Europeun vessels. I
would prohibit racing—I would compel rivul lines
to keep at u distance from euch other in port, and
not to annoy passengers—I would prevent landing
in bouts ut ull times, or at night in any way—and
1 would appoint au inspector of boilers, und pro
hibit more than a certain quantity of steam—in
short, l would (had I the power) correct all the
evils which could bv possibility exist, or which l
could anticipate. After all, those were the good
old times wlien you nnd 1 travelled on this same
spot—then how different! Then a voyage upon
Ihc river was a matter of grave consideration; hav
ing arranged your affairs, your mind was at case ;
you experienced all the hopes and anxieties which
render a voyage pleasing, long or short—you slept
in a comfortable birth, and you were not cramped
nnd confined in it by a layer ofhumun bodies wedg
ed in on setteer, like tiers of nogroespn the hold of
aGuiueaship; your sleep was not interrupted by
passengers hurrying ou nhoro or nn hniml, nor by
the ete.rnnljar ami lient of the engines, amidst the
confined effluvia or two or three hundred human
bodies ; and you did not lose your Imt or your pock
et hook during a restless night,uor wero you com
pelled to perambulate tho cabin nans cut at Ic. in con
sequence of some nocturnal change. When you
rose in the morning, you were eager to ascertain
where you were; you came to anchor to wait
a tide, mid you went ashore in the hunt for
milk or butter, and to gallant with the dairy maid
or perambulate the beach; or you fished tor your
dinner, und you enjoyed the fruits of your amuse
ment in peace ami comfort with your companions,
for you entertained that friendly und social feeling
which mutual dependence upon each other for hap
piness in a small community always creates, and
no where more than iu the cttbtu ot a vessel. You
did not proceed at the rate of 15 miles per hour,hut
you run no risk of bursting your boiler ; you ar
rived after a long puss-age, but you landed without
risking your neck, or your baggage—you did not
travel against time—hut you emphatically travel
led for pleasure, nnd you enjoyed it. How difl'er-
entfromthe present hustling, heartless age of
which the higher branches of education arc taught.
Most of the other streets are narrow, und do uot
appear to lie kept in the best order. The Basin,
connected with the cnnnls, the great northern uud
western uniting 8 1-2 miles from the city, is a work
of great utility und expense, 4U0U feet long. The
wharves which are continued along the whole
length of the city on the Hudson river, are ulso
very creditable to tho city of Albany, mid many of
the stores nrc large and well filled, und the quanti
ty of goods us well nsvpussengers, received and
forwarded, by the cauals, is inmieuse.
N.». ti—Tiif. Shakers—Canal.
Our parly this day, having resolved in council to pay
a visit to the Shaker village, near Albany, we proceed
ed to carry it into effect without delay. Proceeding fur
the distunce of eight miles, we arrived at their establish
ment. A visit to these singular people is well descrv-
■. The J
6team competition—burry und business, folly mid
fashion. These are old-fashioned notions, and per
haps to another I would not communicate them ;
but when a man arrives at the wrong side of.V), he
may he indulged in uttering them to an old fash
ioned friend, an honest and a true one.
Albany is a place which does not afford much at
traction to a stranger, l.ike all tin* principal pla
ces in this great state, it has changed its appear
ance greatly since ( was here; and could the hon
est Dutch burgomasters and schcpens of the oast
ace receive information of the present stnflb of their
villa
vfllugc, they would hens incredulous as their Hy
ing countrymen off the Cape of Good Hope when
receiving the revelations ot Tom Willis, relative to
the good city of Amsterdam. Although the chan
ges in Albany are great, yet there still remain
some of tho old Dutch buildings with their gable
ends to tho street, the walls carried up ill steps to
the peak of the roof. There w in this age of inno
vation, a charm in antiquity however trilling, und
I reverence it in any thing except in antiquated
maids and—shall 1 say it!—antiquated bachelors.
Many new buildings are going up, uud other indi
cations of prosperity are shown—but the same
complaints exist of hard times and scarcity of mo-*
ney as elsewhere. When we complain of scarcity
of mouey it is too often our own prodigality that is
in fault, nnd no prosperity will ever remove the
effect until the cause has censed.
Believe me, my dear Mat, 1 pant with the most
ardent anxiety for tho hour of my return to the spot
endeared to me by every recollection of infancy
and manhood, for which I have made a poor ex
change in the pleasures of my tour thus for. It
will be a long time before I snail tempt fortune
again by leaving my own fields and courting mise
ry elsewhere—ou the contrary, I shall return at ns
early a period ns possible, with a redoubled zest
for their peaceful enjoyment, tired, jaded and dis-
S Listed, an example to all old bachelors of 50, who
csertthe calm security of home for the affectation,
hcartlessness, and coldness of modern fashion,uud
the fatigue, hubbub, danger nnd suffering of a fly
ing summer tour. Your friend,
I*. Raunaclf..
Thus differ the opinions of youth nnd mnturer
age. To me there is nothing in the world half so
delightful as this summer tour, which, in the eyes
ofthe honest Major appears dressed in horrors ac
cumulated on horror's head. A few words of Al
bany—then our respects to the Shakers—anil last,
not least, hey ! for the springs and a week’s rest
and recreation, during which L am in strong hopes
tte good humor of the Major will be restored to its
wonted pitch.
Albany is at the commencement of the canal
navigation ofthe State of New York, und is the
common landing place of nil the steamboats from
the city of New York, and is therefore the great
est thoroughfare in the, State. It is also the capi
tal, which adds to its importance—its resident pop
ulation it about 20,000. From the wharves to the
distance of ft few hundred yards, it is level, after
which it is built upou n considerable hill—precise
ly one of those agreenblc situations which require
an effort to walk up, and as great nn effort to walk
down most ofthe streets, thun which I know of no
greater bore to the lounger. From this cause, or
perhaps because the ladies are more domestic in
their dispositions than those of New York, ve ry
few arc seen in the streets—at least such was the
case when we were there—there is no Broadway
and no Battery. There is a regular theatre, and
in the universal spirit of opposition, tlirt cirrus is
fitted up as another—hut one has generally exhibit
ed the “ Manager in Distress,” or left him to ex
hibit hi& “LoatKick” solus. Perhaps,however,tho*
the ladies are not given to promenading the streets,
ing tho attention of the traveller. * The Shakers are the
followers of Ann Leo, called by them Mother'Ann, a
religious cnlliusiust, who was born in England some
time nnticedcnt to tho Revolutionary war, uud while
yet in her youth, suffered much tribulution, und deep
exercises uf spirit, in her conversion from the sin oftliis
world to a state of greater perfection. She endured
sweats of blood, and other severe trials, and much per
secution, according to her own account, lrotn her
countrymen. She was ulterwurds favored with visions,
miracles were performed in bur favor, tfcc. Although
in enrly life herself tho wifo of a poor blacksmith, the
principal tenet of her creed is absolute und entire celiba
cy, which iu depended ou various spiritual grounds, un
necessary hero to repout, but which may bo found in a
work recently published iu Albany, nnd sold by tho
•Shakers themselves. They consider marriage, ns a
gral'ficalionof the senses, and not of divine origin, that
wu should renounce it us one t>1 lho pleasures of the
world, iu older to live a life of sob-denial, und separate
ourselves from the vanities of human nature, und render
ourselves period in the eye of heaven ; und urge thut if
the world siiuuld be. depopulated,'ll is no reason why wo
should live u life of impuiity. The reasons by which
they support this repulsive creed arc highly amusing to
the imnnughlcnod; but I do not perceive, why the most
ol tucm are uoi ns some! an r
sometimes urged against the amusements and enjoy
ments of the world, by those whose opinions we urc ac
customed to attach much mere weight to, tlmn to those
of Mother Ann, or her followers. In consequence of
the persecutions experienc'd by Mother Ann iu En
gland, she came to this country, and established a small
society which has been followed by the establishment ol
others, of which this is one. Her lollowers regard her
with pious veneration, ami consider themselves as the
only people in possession ofthe true light. Some ofthe
oldest and most perfect members, it is said, pretend to
“speak with longues,” heal diseases by a touch, &c.
but 1 could not ascertain whether they do or not. The
marria<'u contract is dissolved on joining their society ;
their association is a norlcct community of goods, ail pri
vate property being thrown into the common stock, and
they profess to bam*>h the love of ambition, wealth and
luxury from their gloomy territories.
Their fields und establishments generally are kept in
the most perfect order, of which wo saw a proof in the
pains taken by thu women during our visd, in cutting
away with their pocket knives the grass Irani the sides
of their walks. Tho Society heiu own two thousand
acres of excellent land, laid out and kept in the order,
neatness and_cleanliness, which ulways distinguish their
sect, and which are strongly enjoined by Mother Ann.
This is divided into soi it farms, or liimdies, as they are
called, occupied by -about seventy -five persons each, of
both sexes and alleges—Ibr them were children in the
cstahli.-dimcnl—recruited of course from the people of
(he world, connected to the faith with their parents.—
They cultivate garden studs, seeds, bic. for s do, as well
as every thing neces: ».ry for their own support, and thev
manufacture brooms, pads, scives, und various useful
and ornamental articles. These, as well as the surplus
produce ofthe farm, are sold in various cities in the
state, bv some of the shrewdest among them, who are
the travel.mg traders ot tho community, and tho avails
are deposited in one ofthe Albany Banks until required.
The division oflabor which they carry into practice,
every occupation being entrusted to separnto members,
and their economical habits, render their gains very
considerable. The superiority of their produce anil
manufactures, always commands the highest price, nnd
•heir honesty nud'plain doling, rive their customers
and creditors where they have the latter, ilio most un
limited confidence in therm The state of their finances
is very nourishing, if we may judge from the new build
ings they are erecting. These aro of brick, three or
four stones high, and compactly and conveniently built
for their modo of living—and the three, (one for each of
tho families we visited,) could not coat less titan 20 or
25,000 dollars* The men work ns farmers, carpenters,
shoemakers, tailors, &c.—tho women ut weaving, spin
ning, washing, cooking nnd in tho duties of the farm,
making and mending clothes, &c. Tho spinning is
done by a machine turning 15 or 20 spindles at a time,
and worked by bund, One room in their bouses is ap
propriated to every object of domestic economy, making
and inending, washing, &c. and particular days and
hours urc appropriated (a each. The trades of the
men and the occupations ofthe women are performed in
separato buildings—on o"nc farm they have a wind-mill
for sawing fire wood, and on another a steam engine is
used for sawing a3 well as other operations. The
houses aro warmed in winter by stoves, which save fuel
(indeed economy seems to be consulted in overy tiling.)
The cooking is done in tho lower story, and (heir kitchen
is admirably calculated for so largo a family, and to save
labor and fuel, the water being introduced into it in
pipes, wiih conduits to lo convey away tho filth. The
men and women eat separately, und neither of them will
sit down to a incal with tho “world’s people,” as thoy
call us, although tho women wailed on us at dinner.—
The floors aro stained and polished until they shine like
mahogany, only those parts being covered with home
made carnr.t, which are absolutely required, as nothing
is used which may bo dispensed wiih—nnd I observed
(hat though some ofthe mm chewed tubacco, they care
fully ejected tho saliva from the doors. Tho dress of
tho men is the usual qtinkcr drub, perfectly plain, that
ol the women grey, with white caps, all made as plain
and easy as possible. I saw no books among them,
except “tho big Ila’ Bil2r*,” ami one upon the subject of
Mother Leo and her faith, lo which I navo alluded. In
the r conversation literally, their yea is yea, nnd nay,
nay, and their plainness is carried so fur that they never
invito to refreshment, or request any thing a second
time, although it is cheerfully rendered, and their Cur
rant YVino and Wintcrgrcen Cordial, both excellent in
their kind, arc immediately brought forth for their guests.
They all have a peculiar walk,but especially the females,
in consequence of their modo ol worship,—from which
they derive their namq of Shakers, a strange nnd disn-
grceable mode of dancing, accompanied with a monoto
nous song. I purposely omit a description of this bo-
cnUHQ it lias previously been described in tho Gcorgion,
and it is difliculi to bo understood liom the best descrip
tion. The young members of the community aro regu
larly taught tho steps i»i this dnneo by tho older ones,
before they arc permitted to join in public worship. It
tno lauies are liuigivi'ii iu kuiuh! muy arc pcmuiH'U lO join in public worslltp. I
they may be quite as usefully, though not as fasli- is usual before the admission of a member to ull the pri-
tonobly employed ttt home, in improving their j vileges of the Society, to impose a noviciate of three
months, when if he so desires he may leave them,
if (tot
he is regu arly admitted a member, and throws his pro-
they
come
perty into the common slock. At present they sa
uo not wish any accession of members, unless they
well provided--Abstracted as they uref om the World,
they always keep an eye to f the main t rnnee. Not
withstanding tho severity of their discipline as to celiba
cy, the little mischiof-mukcr whose “only delight is to
tease” and harass hapless youths and mu lens has in
vaded the sacred precincts ol thoir sociotj —a cupid in a
struit coat and broad-brimmed hat, playin his pranks
with a lady fair, in liudsey woolsoy pctiicW'ehu high-
heeled shoes, is a ludicrous idea. Yet fell out
upon a day," u ybuiig man and a young woman, both
belonging to the Society, despite the doctrines of Mo
ther Ann, (who by tho way tried the married state her
self,) not lung siuco fell from the perfection of her doc
trines, into the worldly sin of—love—yea, into tho ve
ry pit of love. This unheard of event in an association
in which tho unhallowed passion is held in utter a-bo-
tni-na-ti-on, in which the affection of the sexes, that ce
ment and humaniser of society is proscribed and con
demned as a heresy, and the Blind God is consi
dered as no better than tho Devil himself, was heard
with consternation, and deep was tho tribulation of the
Socicly on tho occasion ; for it was a disease which was
not only fatal to the individual, but being of a contagious
nature, might bo taken up by others.* They wrestled
with the tempter, nnd the elders prayed for and with
ti»e victim to the dreaded enemy of tlie sect, and urged
and entreated : but in vain—he who conquers all, was
too much for all tho efforts ofthe advocites of celibacy
nnd drub, and tho unhappy backslider tbsented herself
from her duties, followed in a day or two by her amor
ous Aminadab—und they wero married ! The sequel to
the story will afford pleasure to those who take an in
terest iu true love, the course of which the poet sayi
“never does run smooth,” but which triumphs over iht
obstacles iu its path, as in this instance, whilst it dis
plays a good feeling ouihu part of this ecmumical peo
ple, uud a generosity for which we aro not always upt
to credit them. Finding tho evil communicated and
past remedy, thoy sent sufficient furniture to the young
couple, lo begin the world with, urging as urcason, that
they had long worked for them, and it was jut just that
thoy should receive a reward—nnd for aujht 1 know,
they live happily, and certainly more useful)’, ii their
new relutiou to tho world, at this present wiling, and I
hopu may long continue so to live.
One individual has left another society, aier spending
some thirty or forty years among them, uni has com
menced a suit in Chancery for tho recovery of hiishare
of the common stock, and it is thought by suno lit will
recover it. So that atler all their eH'orte to seclude
themselves from the world, it would appear that they
aro slid subject lo some of ns vexations and perplexities.
The men and women with whom we associated, were
generally old, they were cheerful in some degree, but to
me at least it did not appear to bo natural the
general expression of their countenances was one
of apathy without any thing attractive. They did
not uppear disposed lo introduce us into the compa
ny ofthe females a!!, especially the young ones; but
from u transient glance at a few, they appeared to ex
hibit the appearance of unhappiness—or at least apa
thy—that expression indicating an abscnco ofthe natu
ral feelings which light the eye, and give a glow to the
features of youth. From what I saw of them, I wiw
half inclined to be of tho opinion of the Major, that the
obligation of celibacy required uo great exertion of self-
denial, at least on the part of the male members—and
generally (for considering that he himself had volunta
rily chosen a life of “single blessedness,” ho was ex
tremely severe upon ihe whole sect)—that a system
founded upon gross superstition, and which violates one
of tho first laws of nature, cannot meet tho approbation
of any good citizen, nor bo expected to increase to any
great —— — * c — • •
0
SATURDAY MORNING, SEPT. 19.
Barney Blynn is received, but owing of
other matter on hand, we are unable to say
"hen we can find room for him.
Vuttcir
By tho sloop John Chevalier. Sisson, arri
ved on Thursday night, we havo the Charles
ton Patriot end Courier of that day.
A bale of Sea Island Cotton of the new
crop, being the first Ibis season, was received
on Thursday from the plantation of John D-
Mongin, Esq. at Dawfuskie. It is of very
fine quality.
The Weather.—In Providence on the
2d insl. the thermometer stood at 94. and on
the evening of tho next day tee was found in
an open garden. In Boston there was a
change of 27 degrees. Here, for Severn]
days past, with a strong wind from the N. E.
we have had remarkably cool weather. The
ihermotnotcrat 8 A.M. yesterday stood at
A letter from Athens, vro saw yeatordny,
dated 14th inst. says 44 on Saturday morn
ing a slight frost was discovered iu Ibis place,
which I believe is the earliest ever known in
this part of the Stale.”
extent, or to exist for a long period, carrying us
it does the seeds ol its own dissolution with it.
Returning to Albany, we preferred proceeding by tho
way of tho Canal, on account ofthe interest of the
route ? over any other. About a mile from tho centre of
tho city, we passed the scat of the Hon. Stephen Van
Rensselaer, culled the Fatroon of Albany. lie is con
sidered one ofthe most extensive landholders in the
Slate, the estate hero extending ten miles along the ri
erund twenty miles cast and west—in addition'll* which
ho owns extensive tracts of laud elsewhere. Tins large
properly has been thus far preserved by being entailed
ito the oldest son ; but on the death ofthe present pro
prietor, it is tube divided among tiie children, thus giv-
ng to each liis proper share, and afi'ording another
proof as Co pi. I lull would suy, of the evils of our demo
cratic principles, which level ihe hopes ofan aristocracy
by a division of lands, every generation. The name of
Uuj Fatroon is connected with a liberal encouragement
ol the arts ami sciences and improvements ol his native
state, and one of his sons distinguished him.ch'nnd was
honorably wounded at Quocustuwn, during the late war.
Al (tritiumsvilln, f, j.u miles Irmil Albany, is the United
alates Arsenal, said to bo the principal depot of arms
und equipment* in the non hern states. There ii here
a large quantity of arms and munitions ofwar,wiiinvnrk-
shops for repairing them, manufacturing locks, kc.—
Ihe muskets,bayonets,swords nnd pistols are nrrin’ r cd
in n portion of if, with great taste and kepi m fine infer.
Ihe buildings are elegant ami spacious, und it is at or
nament to lltobunk ol ihe river, as well as from itssitu-
atmn, an excellent place fur u depot Amorm iln* can
non in tho yard, wiih delerenee to Cap-. I|,,iT be itspo-
ken, (as i learn from the n uilioin traveller,) me four
12 pounders, one 21, and one howitzer, all taken at.Sar
atoga ; lour I2’s and ono howitzer, taken at Yorktown
Rice.—We alluded to the product qualify
and nature of growth, peculiar to a certain
species of this graio, in our last number, bu
omitted to state that it was tho Bearded kind
that wo meant. It produced 550 bushels from
the sowing of to, and although of too hard a
grain for the pestle, yet &b it is susceptible
of highland culture, it may answer very well
as a substitute for Indian Corn in our low
country. '
The Returns of the census going on in S.
Caroiiua give for the several divisions 43,-
204—of which Charleston district has 17,302»
Colleton 5,364 ; Horry 3,771; Beaufort 5 296»
Williamsburg 2,663 ; Georgetown 1,970
Marion 6,938.
two long antique pieces and one eijjlit inch mortar, ta
ken at Stony Point : two old French I pounders, and I-I
guns sent by Lewis XVI, to ihe Continental Congress,
irt Ihe revolution—all of brass and indhl of them highly
ornamented, wi h each an individual name, and (he 0 in
scription “ULTIMI HATH! UMiUM.” There nrc also
three or four howtirers cast m New York and Philadel
phia in the revolution, some of tho oldest specimens of
tins manufacture in this country—and bearin'* the ini
tials U. C. for United Colonies. J
Seven miles from Albany, we pass Troy, of which
more hereafter. One mile nnd a half further wo arrive
nt the junction ofthe Grand Northern and Western Ca
nals—the former commencing at Whitehall, on Lake
Champlain,63 1-2miles—the latter at Buffalo on Lake
Erie, 362 miles—the latter has t-J locks, which raise
and lower the water 688 feet in all. At tho junction the
banks ofthe canal from the number of boats constantly
passing through the locks in its neighborhood, pre.-ent
a sped aide of activity and business, of a novel charac
ter, to one who has never w itnessed canal navigation—
the banks are lined with taverns and places of refresh
ment, ami the number of persons on them, engaged at
the locks or stores, as well as the passengers who fre
quently walk on the tow path, as the boats pass the
l<vks, give it tho appearance lor a considerable distance,
cf a continuous village or town.
Wc. take the course ofthe W. Canal. There is n
considerable rhe from Albany to the Cohoes Fulls,
which is surmounted by unless than 19 locks,most
of them close to each other. On the right of the
canal, from which they may he seen, urc tlm Co
hoes foils. Thn Mohawk river is here interrupted
by n sudden descent of 62 feet the wuole w idth of its
rooky hod, over which its waters ore thrown. The
formation ofthe rock and the sliallowuoss of the
river above the fall, divide the water into a num
ber of streams of different sizes, separated by the
points ofthe rocks, giving it a wovv.1 and pleasing
appearance—in one place'tumbling in a large body
—in others separated into numerous ribbons of
foam, or descending-more gradually in the form of
many cascades. The whole presents a charming
and romantic view. Below, the water descends
into separate Imsins,probably worn by the constant
attrition, nnd continues its course as above, over a
flmllow, rocky hed.a great portion of which is bare.
I lie luniks of the river nrc formed of high walls of
rock ot great height, below the foils, unu the canal
which runs to its left, is cut through the same.-
Undcr the falls there is excellent fishing, and we
saw many anglers engaged in the. sport, and cov-
ered with the spray. It was in taking a view of
these fulls, that a young artist, whose name 1 huvo
forgotten, was unfortunately drowned about a year
since. They are a very beautiful subject for the
peued, but I do uot recollect that I have ever seen
a view of them. Some very beautiful lines were
composed by Thomas Moore in viewing this lovely
cascade some thirty years ago, which may be re
collected by your readers. Between this and tiie
town of Schenectady, the canal is carried no less
than twice across the Mohawk—the first place
called the lower acqueduct, is *> 1-2 miles ; it was •
found easier to carry the can il over the river there 1
than to cut it on the side it has hitherto passed,
there being n natural channel on the opposite side 1
of the river—this acqueduct is 1188' feet long, and I
rests on 26 stone fners nnd abutments—the other
acqueduct, 12 miles further, is 750 feet long, and
rests on 16 piers. These works were completed
ut great expense,nnd must have required immense
labour. Indeed, nny person who travels tliis ca
nal will find repeated cause of admiration, at the
wonderful perseverance nnd enterprise displayed
iu their construction nnd completion.
Schenectady, where we araived at night, by the
cannl, is 2H miles from Albany : by land but 15—it
is one ofthe oldest settlements in the State, having
been occupied as n frontier fortress in 1665. There
is nothing particularly remarkable in Schenecta
dy, except Union College, a very splendid estab
lishment, conspicuously situated, a sliort distance
from tlie town. It is the place from which the
packet canal boats start for lluffulo, Jc a thorough
fare for u vast number of travellers iu the season
of travelling to the Springs.
♦Another marriage has taken place since this was
written.
Mexico.—-This country, on account of its
proximity to our own, is an object of consi
derable interest, always ; nnd now, that the
Spaniard shave again invaded it furihe purpose
of conquest, it becomes peculiarly so. Nor
is this feeling confined to tho United Slates,
for the London Courier of July 31 meutionb
(bat some of the English Merchants hadwoi
led on Lord Aberdeen, the day before, upon
the subject.
Ilia Lordship replied that British subjects
Would bo effectually protected; trad Minted
that the government would take into consi
deration the now position in which affairs ha.i
become placed. To qnuto the words of the
i\ T . Y. Advert! or, tlm meaning oftliis latter
clause appears to be—Hut too British cabi
net may prububh n <»v consider tho-:o objec
tions which they expressed a few months ugo
against an expedition reported to be in pro*
pn ration in Colombia and Mexico against the
island of Cuba. If such should be the case
it is highly probable that Spam may tepeni
having, by this Quixotic experiment, voluu*
tarily withdraw her favoritojaland from the
protection of England, under which it may be
said to havo securely reposed for some time
past.
We are informed by a friend, that the
Spanish Army, now at Tampico, is compo
sed of the best troops of Spain ; added to
whiph, a great number of the men are volun
teers, and these are constitutionalists who
would abaudon their colours, if the country
where they no ware could afford (hem protec
(ion. The Commander in-chief of the Expe
dition, Geo. Isidore Barradas, is not consider
ed as a mao of talent; nevertheless, ho en
joys the reputation of a good officer, and al
though a very rigid disciplinarian, yet tho
soldiers are very mu^h attached to him on ac
count of the impartial, generous, and amiable
nature of his character. r ‘
Tho provinces of Yucatan, Tabasco, and
Guaxaca are thinly peopled ; and being chief
ly inhabited by Indians, who are not only la
zy and poor, but also under the influence o'
Priestcraft,they will be very ensilj overrun
by the invading army. Nevertheless, that
conquest will be one of very li.tfe avail, un
less there be a strong party farther in the in
terior favorable to the Spanish cause ; espe
cially, when it is considered, that Don Bar*
radas’ forces (feeble as they are in number)
will have to travel more than 300 miles be
fore they will be enabled to reach the City
of Mexico, during which march, they will be
cblit-ed lo pass through a mountainous coun-
< »r. which there are of course, many diffi-
».uli defiles, and were they must carry every
luing necessary, not for their own subsistence
only, but also for the support of the very dis
trict they traverse.
Some apprehend that Ihe policy of Spain in
sending out this expedition, does not extend
to conquest, but rather to constraining the
Mexican Government to a treaty favorable to
its commerce ; and also, to extort a sum of
money from it, as a price for the acdoowledg-
mentofils independence.
It is said, that Gen. Guerero, the Presi
dent of that Republic, but with whaL truth
wo know not, is an improvement of the
Moorish castle, by having acquired an extra
ordinary addition of African blood.
. Tho Charleston papers mention the receipt
in that city of three wagon loads of new Up
lands, of a quality from good to prime. A
part of it lias been shipped to New York.
A lotter from Georgetown, of 13th instant,
published in the Gnzolto, says—•“ Tho fresh*
ets on the Peedeo and ^Vaccamaw, high up,
have swept every thing before them. Sev.
oral Rice Plantations on the HUyer? have been
under water for ton days at a time, and con
sequently their crops are totally lost. Some
Planters are trying to harvest by cutting un
der the water—but this won’t do. The loss
is immense. t
The workmen engaged in graduating Ab
ercorn street, yesterday, in tho centre of it
and imnedialcdiatcly opposite tho present
cctnenty, about four feet below the surface,
found a number of human bones, some of the
skulls, according to tho account given by tho
ditchers, lying with the face downward. Wo,
however, wore present at ^ho exhumation of
one which lay in the usual way. Before the
present wall was erected around thecemen
lery, bodies were interred in all parts ofthe
ground in its neighborhood.
When Greek meets Greeks then comes the
lug of War.—It is understood, that there
wa9 a rencontre between two persons of em
viablo notor oty, yosturJay, in consequence
of some improper language held by one of
them in relation to a female mendicant who
daily parades our streets- Whether aoy oth
er ccnscquooccs than this will result from it,
we are at a loss to conjecture ;—but. wo
live in hope, unless indeed the Law should
keep its promise (o the cor and eye alone.
Ooe these gentlemen (for to this class of So
ciety, does one of tho Duo, or Trio, as you
pleaso, belong,) was sent from Darien to
this place,by virtue of a subscription entered
into for that purpose.
Capt. J esse D Elliott, ofthe U States’ Na
vy, left Carlisle, Penn, on the 7lh inst. for
Washington City, to proceed immediately to
tbo West Indies, to take tho command on that
station.
The National Gazette says— 44 Bilious fo
vers ore said to bo particularly rife nearWash
iogton and the shores ofthe Potomac geoor
ally. Intermittents and remittents prevail
in some of our suburbs, and in the neighbor
hood of New York. So far, tho season ii
not the most healthy.”
Tlio Nnw-York City inspector reports the
deaths of 130 persons in that city during the
week ending tho 5tli inst, viz : 32 men, 22
women, 38 boys and 38 girls. 22 were by
consumption and 9 by fevers.
The Mobilo* Register of 4tli inr.t has the
following paragraph:—“Since our font notice
’f tho health of tho City, and OKpecnilIy du
nng the Iasi week or ten days Micro hove op
••eared suveral ciuen of billions fever of i
high grade that have terminated family ; we
aro authorised by l ho Board of Health, lunv-
over, to sny that uo cases of yellow fever have
occurred, and that (hero is no cause of nlnrtn
to ihe citizens or strangers sojourning among
us '*
’bom NEW-VORK^-Py tiie packet bfifc
Courier, strived yesterday, we have received
N York papers of 11th the ioBt. They con-'
tain no news. Wo give below a few mis
cellaneous items j—*
Wo mentioned yesterday that a person
who advertised lately in this paper for a clerk
received sixty seven applications for the same.
Another gentleman, who not long ego made
a similar publication,’ mentioned to us yes
terday, that the number of applicants for the
situation, amounted, io one day to one hun
dred and thirty.
A letter from Now-Orleans, in giving an
account of the ravages which the yellow fe
ver is making in that city* states that the na*
lives of that city have not escaped—sevoral
of them had fallen victims.
Two colored men went from Brooklyn, a
few days since, with guns, into the woods, to
shoot pigeons. They separated, and by some
mistake one of them was shot by the other r
and inBtanly killed.—Post.
Tho Commercial states that out of seven
hundred and fifty thousand dollars required
to be subscribed in this city as tho capital of
two new banka, chartered on Governor Van
Buren’s safety principle, only one poor hun
dred thousand could bo raised.
Lately, at the Brattleborough Lyceum,the
question debated was—whether early mar-
ringo wns productive of moro good than evil?
The ladies voted, and it was decided' in tha
affirmative, by an overwhelming majority.
JVtfi/o’# Garden.— Herr Clioo’s benefit
took place last evening, and ho performed
his astonishing fete on the tight rope by as
cending with a wheelbarrow a distance of
250 feet. There wore nearly 2500 porsons
in tho garden.
Early Frost.—The York, (Pa.) Recorder
says that on Friday morning there was con
siderable frost in the meadows & low grounds
in that viciqity.
A Rhode Island paper mehtions that a largo
pond in the South part of (he town of Coven
try, called the Narrow lane pond, which a-
bouoded with fish known by tho namo of mud
pouts, has experienced a singular mortality.
Without any yiaibio cause, the fish began to
die in June, and have continued since, in
such numbers, that a cart may be loaded at
any time with dead fish on the banks.
A pickpocket and a notorious scoundrel by
the nine of J. G. Harpham, was tried ona
Wednesday at the Court of Seuioni^ for
stealing a snuffbox, the property of Dr.
Whitehead. Tho prisoner has been a tun-
ant of several Slato Prisons, and a robber
upon a large scalo. He arrived io this city
about the 27th of August, made a trip to Al
bany nt tho time so many robberies wero
committed on bourd steam boats, returned
tho next day, went to a public garden in the
evening, robbed Dr. Whitehead of bis snuff
box, and tho next day was preparing for an^
other trip to Albany,aod^wbile near tho boat,
just to keep his hand in, attempted to take a
watch from the pocket of a coloured man,
but was detected and secured. Hu was sen
te need to throe years in tho Penitentiary;
Canal Tpli.s.—Tlio New York papers
inform us Hint the toll* on tho Elio Canal up
to the firal of the present month, nic said l
have faPon short 100,000 of tho amount re
ceived to the same period hist year. The
lateness of ih opening of the cannl this you
is said to be the cause uf this deficiency.
In New Y**rk ilie numbrr of Excise Li,
censes given out in tho fir«t • ifrht mouth? of
1829 is greater than in 1828. by 13; while
the number of Tavern Licenses is less by 161.
Showing a net decrcaso in ihc aggregate of
one hundred aud forty eight. Supposing the
same number to bo grouted in the remaining
•maths of 1829 as woic issued to ihe correB
doncing months of 1828. it will give a total,
for the )cn/*, of 3117, which is one to ever
64 inhabitants, including men, women arid
children; i. e one to every 12 or 13 families!
Extensive preparations were malting at
Baltimore for celebrating the anniversary of
(he Battle of Baltimore. Volunteer corps
from Philadelphia and other places were to
bo present.
Wild pigeons appear to be in great plenty
at the North. Al Philadelphia, flocks were
seen two or three miles long. A New Ha
ven paper of 8th inst. says—The air for a few
days past has been alive with pigeons, and
the woods thronged with sportsmen. So great
a flight of pigeons has not been observed these
twenty years. Great numbers have been
killed and taken, and they have been affor
ded in market at the extremely low price of
I2£ cents the dozen. Some sportsmen who
have stages, have taken twenty or thirty d".
zen in a day. Mr. Tood, of East Haven,
caught, we are informed, 1302 pigeons on
Friday, in a net—most of them young birds,
very fat and very fine.”
Large Grapes.—Wo have received,from
a citizen, ^communication stating that Mr.
Adam Lindsay, of this city, after reading the
notice of the large grapes in South Carolina,
published in tho Intelligencer ofthe 3«l inst.
selected from his vineyard, near the Navy
Yard, two grape*, one a Georgia hullo •,
weighing 82 grains, and the other an Italian
called the Roman plum, weighing 135
grains Mr. Lindsay lias taken much pains
lor several years, to procure European vari
eties of the grape, and has cultivated them
with much success. His vineyard is worth
visiting, either tur pleasure or instruction.
Aat llelljgemer.
SPANISH EXPEDITION.
By the schooner Galga, 9 days from Hi
vnna.wo have received advices that tho Spat
ish squadron bad returned to that port fror
Tampico, six days previous to the sailing c
the Gtiign, and that when she lett,lho squac
run and transports were actively engaged ii
shipping obout six or seven thousand troop
Iff munitions of war, to assist the dotacbineii
which has nlrendt landed at Tampico. Tlier
wero 25.0U0 a 27,000 regular troops at Ha
vana. und upwards that number of organize
militia. Our informant liitewiee states tba
nearly overy vessel which had arrived fron
the ports of Spam brought from two to fiv<
hundred troops, in the capacity of passengers
who aro ontcred at the Out.tom House ai
such, aud immediately enrolled iathe roguia
army..
W u havo also been informed by a respect
ab.» merchant in this place, that he had seoi
Spanish papers in which wero statod nn ac
count of on expedition, (which was dailj
looked for nt Havana) consisting of 16,001
mcc—-five thousand from Corunna,and elev
eh thousand from Cadiz. The same journal)
hkuwis*: htate, that a second expedition o
equal magnitude was to bo filled out with thi
least possible delay after tho former hat
sailed
The above is from the New Orleans Me
cantile Advertiser of the 28th ult. It fo pr
nounccd by the Louisiana Advertiser of th
next day, and we tliiuk justly, to be high!
erroneous. Wo have Havana dates vii
Charleston to the 20th ult. at which peril
but one vessel (tho frigate Restoration) bi
hngiugto tho expedition had returned ; an
the reinforcement proparing is stated by th
same advices to consist of about 4000 met
The following are the remarks of the la
named paper:—
Tho aforesaid schooner Galga, arrived (
the Balize on tho 26th instant, and left Hi
vanna nine days previous, which of coun
would be on tho 17th. Admiral Labordi
with his squadron, arrrived at Havana si
days before tbjo Galga sailed, which consi
quently would bo on the 1 lfh. Now it m
yubliBhed, in thi, city, a few d ay , s ’ 0> , h|
Laborde sailed from 1 amplco on the 121
August for Havana. Then, the que.tiou u
How or m what niannner did Admiral Li
horde reach Havana on tho eleventh when
is proved that he .ailed from Tampico oq tl
twelfth. August? This i. matterr dfepeculi
lion for the ou nous. W bother Admiral Li
horde, like Joshua of old, commanded tl;
»un and moon to stand stdl until he reache
his port of doBtinatiou, or whether he unfur
ed tho embroidered petticoat, of bismasto
which on doubt worh miracle, whon engoge
in BO holy a oouae, to produce this umqti
phenomenon, wo shnll not hero stop | 0 it
^juiro. It ia enough for us, that the falsehoo
is detected—that thd.o visionary armed,
expected, from the old dominion exist only i
the brains of disappointed and ambition
royalist,.
In addition, and as a further contrndiotio
to the foregoing paragraph, we have the fol
lowing information from a respectable gentli
man, of undoubted veracity, whose knpwl
edge of Spanish affaire in tbo island of Cub
ia extensive and correct, being founded o
practical observation, acquirod by a Ion
re.iiience on that ulnnd. J 1
Before the Spanish expedition sailed fror
Havana for tho invasion of Mexico, the num
bur of veteran troops in the island of Cub
did not exceud 13,001) men, and these wer
dietnouted throughout the provinceeofSan
Itogo do Cuba Principe, Trinidad or Cnatri
\ tiles and Havana. 3000 of theso soldier
were mUon by Don Iirdorc Unrradas, t, l