THE REFLECTOR. VOL. I. M1LLEDGEVILLE, G. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1817. NO. MISCELLANY. A CLASSICAL NOMENCLATUUE. In a late number of tlio American Monthly Magazine, Mr. Biglow lias reported, among other transactions of the learned societies in N. York an abstract of a paper read by one of our scientific countrymen, on tho subject of a classical nomenclature, invented and ar ranged for the more easy discrimination of the various branches of the. science of dissec tion. The author has not merely compre hended in his system that part of science which relates to the dissection of tho human body, but has with great propriety extended it to the various inferior grades of animal life. The utility of thus extending our researches in this most useful branch of the sciences, is obvious. We know that the most perfect harmony and symmetry pervade all the works of nature ; and although man has been intel lectually endowed with faculties of an exaltod nature, yet in his animal system, and its o- perations, he approximates the brute, and in many respects the vegetable creation—e.g.— In infancy, he feeds on milk like the calf— grows upwards like, a tree—spreads outward like a cabbage—feeds on vegetables like the ox—on meat like the wolf.—eats like the horse—drinks like the, fish—feeds himself like the monkey—winks like the hawk— sleeps like the bear—lias as many cars as an ass—eyes as an owl—legs as a goose—choaks Without drink—starves without food—-is warmed by r the heat—chilled by the cold— sickened by disease—and dies like the dog. Indeed such an affinity seems to exist between .them, that it lias often been observed that from habitual intercourse in the society o each other, they assimilate even in disposi tion, habits, and relative condition. Thus a poor man has a lean dog—a fat butcher sell's fat meat, and a lazy man always has a lazy horse. The comparison if pursued, would be extended beyond the limits of a newspaper communication. However, an idea deserving particular notice, has been started by Dr, Lavater, which, if diligently pursued other learned doctors, might lead to a complete de velopment of the arcana and mysteries which abound on the hitherto unexplored confines which separate the intellectual from the ani mal world. He has discovered many strik ing analogies between the human and brute physiognomy, and has suggested a theory that the quantum of intelligence and sagacity with which any animal is endowed, is in di rect proportion to the approximation of the skull to the human cranium. From my own observation I am inclined to believe that this theory, however fanciful it may at first ap pear, will on further investigation be found to be an important link in the great chain which connects together all the orders of ere ation. Since, then, such is the close and inti mate connexion between those works of na ture, seemingly most distant from each other, and such may be the utility of pursuing the science of dissection until all their various analogies, similitudes and approximations to each other shall be fully discovered and de veloped, nothing can render greater facility in arriving at this acme of that truly noble art, than this ingenious nomenclature. Since, however, like the first experiments in all oth er great inventions, it may admit of many useful improvements, I would with all due dcferrcnce suggest one, which in my judg ment would more widely diffuse the benefits of this grand desideratum. The terms in this vocabulary arc chiefly derived from the Greek and Latin—and as few undci-stand these languages, and none among us speak them, so that these terms can only be acquir ed and retained . through great labor, study and attention, all of which might be saved by substituting others derived from various more familiar sources, I have prepared a nomen clature formed on another plan, graduated to the understanding of the great mass of tfic community, which I lately had the honor to read before “ The Rustic Society for the lev elling of the Arts and Sciences.” From this I subjoin a few terms, hoping that should it reach the tables of the learned societies in N. York, it will meet with their friendly attention. Yours, HUMBUG-OLOGY. I7orni-thology,relating to the dissectionlof horn ed cattle, generally. Boo-atomy, of bull. Mno-otomoj, of cows. Cornu-otomy, of unicorns. Rhino-cerology, of rhinoceroses. Baa-otomy, of sheep. Scratch-otomy, of cats in general, Mow-ow-oiogy, of the male cat. ■Mew-otomy, of the female cat. Bow-wow-otomy, of dogs. As-tronomy, ol asses. Ptg-ology, of pigs. Snake-otumy, of snakes. Snake-Ann-otomy, of Capc-Ann snakes. Tweedle-tweedle-otomy, of Canary birds. flea- otomy, of fleas. Mitchell-otomy, of streaked bass, Babel-ology, of brick bats. Bob-mac-ulogj, canvass-back, duck, &c. 8cc. [Albany flatly Adv. EXTRAORDINARY ELEPHANTS. The astonishing evidences afforded by dai ly observation of the intelligence, shrewd ness, and sagacity of tho Elephant, would appear like romance, if they were not estab lished by the most iucontestible facts. Tlicrb seems, from man downwards, a sort of gra- lation of intellect, until it becomes finally extinguished, and we do not think it too much to say, that the elephant stands next to the human species. The following copy of an official letter from the odlcor coinmamfng the Ramghur battal ion, in Bengal, to the magistrate of that zil- lan, (division,) is we understand, new to the public.—•“ i have the honor to state to you, that on the 24th of March, at midnight, I re ceived information that two elephants of an uncuinmon size, had made their appearance within a few hundred yards of the cantonc- moots, and close to a village, the inhabitants of which were in the greatest alarm. I lost no time in despatching all the public and pri vate elephants at the station in pursuit of them, and af day break of the 2'itli, was in formed that their very superior size and ap parent fierceness, had rendered all attempts for their seizure unavailing, and that the most experienced 'driver was dangerously wounded, the elephant having been struck to the ground by one of the wild ones, which with its companion, had afterwards retreat ed to a sugar plantation adjoining the village of Jusipoor. I immediately ordered out the guns of this place ; hut very desirous in the first instance, to try every means of catching them, I assembled the inhabitants of this neighborhood, with the assistance of Ragah Ragnaut Sing, and caused two pits to be pre pared on the edge of the sugar cane planta tion in which our elephants and people, with the utmost difficulty contrived to retain the animals during the day. When the pits were reported ready, we repaired to the spot, and they were with much difficulty driven into them ; but unfortunately one of the pits did not prove sufficiently deep, and tho elephant that escaped from it, in the presence of many witnesses, assisted his companion out witli iiis trunk ; both were however, brought hack witli much trouble, to the sugar cane planta tion, aud no particular instance of vice or fierceness having appeared in tho course ot the day, 1 was anxious to make another trial to catch them. The pioneers therefore set to work to deepen ttie old, aud prepare new holes, aga.nst day break, when 1 proposed making the final attempt. At 4 o'clock ot the morning of yesterday, however they hurst through all iny guards, and making for a vil lage three miles distant, entered with so much rapidity, that the horsemen who galloped in front of them, had not time to apprise the in habitants of their danger ; and i regret to say, that one man was torn limb from limb, and a child trodden to death, and two women wounded. Their destruction was now be come absolutely necessary, and as they ap pcared to show no inclination to quit tiie vil lage, we gained time to bring up the dour pounders, from which they soon received round shot, and abundance of grape each.— The largest of the two was soon brought to the ground, by a round shot in the head, hut after remaining there a quarter of an hour apparently lifeless, he got up as vigorous as ever, and the desperation of both exceeded all description—tliey made repeated charges nearly witli one hundred yards of the guns, and had it not been for the uncommon steadi ness and bravery of the artillerymen (who more than once turned them off by shot in tiie head when within a few yards of them,) many casualties must have happened. We were now obliged to desist for tiie want of ammu nition, and before afresh supply could he ob tained the elephants quitted tue village, and though streaming with blood fromone hun dred wounds, proceeded with a rapidity ol which I had no idea, to Hazarabang. They were at length brought up by the horsemen and our elephants, when withiu a very short space of a crowder, (Bazar,) and ultimately, after many renewals of their most formidabli attack on the guns, they gave up the contest with their lives. Thirty-six four pound shot were taken out of their bodies. 1 have been thus particular, both because I think the transaction worthy of being recorded, and also from a hope, that you will concur with h the propriety of an application to go vernment for a compensation for the damages suffered by the ( owners of the villages of Ju sipoor and Orad,from the destruction of much grain, &c. I enclose a correct measurement of one of the elephants which will be read with surprise. 1 am of opinion they must have escaped from fjydrapad or some part of the Decan, for I have never heard of, or seen animals of this size in this part of India. Length from one end of the trunk to the end of the tail 26 feet and 9 inches ; height 11 feet; round the body 17 feet and 8 inch es ; length from the crown of the head to be neath the jaw 7 feet and 8 inches. The other elephant was rather smaller.”—•London paper, to us all, that useful hints will be accepted— take these suggestions, proceeding from a sensible and liberal mind.—“ In our progress through the world a thousand things stand continually in our way. Some people meet us full in the face, with opposite opinions and inclinations. Sonic stand before us in our pursuit of pleasure or interest, and others follow close upon our heels. Now we ought in the first place, to consider that tho road is as live for one as for another,, aud there fore sve have no right to expect that persons should go out of their way to let us pass, any re than we out of ours. Then if we do not mutually yield and accommodate a little, it is clear that we must all stand still, or be thrown into perpetual confusion of squeezing and jostling. If, we are all in a hurry to go oil as fast as possible to some point of plea sure or interest in our uiesv, and do not occa sionally hold hack when the crowd gathers and angry contentions arise, we shall only aug.ncut the tumult, ^without advancing our own progress. On the whole, it is our busi ness to move onwards steadily hut quickly , obstructing others as little as possible, yield ing little to this man’s prejudices, that mail’s desires, and doing every thing in oui power to mako the journey of life as easy as possible to all our fellow travellers as to ourselves.” MEDICAL. The march nf Life, is so truly interesting of the college, the custom of smoking was never so general as of late years ; that it was conceded by all, that individuals never car ried the practice to such excess before ; that it was confessed by ail, that the sons of Har vard never appeared so languid and unheal thy ; that he,could say as a physician, that during the three and twenty years he had been a professor in the college, he had never seen so many marks < f dedining health, Hbr ever knew so many hectical habits and con sumptive affections, as of late years ; and that he could trace this alarming ill road on their tender constitutions to the pernicious custom of smoking segars, and its equally pernicious concomitants. Although this lecture was replete with so lemn advice, and was in some passages a strong invective against darling fashion; yet the students immediately requested a copy for the press, which we hope, will be the means of checking a very serious evil. U. S. Gazette. CONGRESS. DR. WATERHOUSES’ LECTURE On the pernicious effects of Smoking Segars. The professor of die theory and practice ol physic finished his discourse by a public lec ture in the Chapel of Cambridge, which has justly excited no small attention without as well as within the walls of the college. We shall not attempt ail analysis of it, but simply mention sonic of its most striking features. l’he subject is indeed interesting to the com munity, being a comparative view of the health of the scholars at present, and iu years past. It is clearly proved, that instances ot depraved health had increased, and were iii- rcasing ; and that there were more hectical end consumptive complaints within three or four years past, than for upwards of twenty years previous, during wuicfi time the profes sor made his observations. He aduccd this striking fact, that the table set for the fresh men in the hall, was generally cleared of its ontents ; while those students three or four years in advance, left nearly half that was set before them. If a keen appetite he a cri terion of health, tiiere was something of late years in a college life, which depraved the ap petite ; inasmuch as those who come in rud- ly, hale and hungry, go out pale languid, smoke dried, and dispectick. The cause ol this declining health was sought lor, when it was found to originate principally from an ndolent or sedentary habit of life, brought on and continued by the very prevalent and nearly universal custom of smoking segars. It was rendered evident, that these two caus es co-operated and aggravated each other ; that the relaxing habit of smoking disinclin ed them from exercising in the open air, as was the custom before the filthy fashion of smoking segars became so general. The professor then descanted on toe narcotick ef fects of tobacco, which, lie said, like rum or brandy, first stimulated and then stupitied ; that when chewed, it was a consolidated or dry dram. He then explained the importance of the saliva to digestion ; especially iu young persons who had not attained their full growth, by ejecting it. It was said that inor dinate smokers were iu danger of becoming tiplers, from the unnatural tfiirst created by the process of hot fumigation and that to re move the fainting and sinking of the stomach, incident to young smokers too mhny iiad re course to stimulating drinks. The professor held up to view the picture of intemperance aud contrasted it witli the picture of juvenile health and vigor; he entreated the young gentlemen in an affectionate manner to guard against, and resist the first inroads upon their youthful constitutions, and pointed out, in a forcible, hut delicate manner, the effects of that folly, “ which most easily besets them. The Doctor allowed that smoking was cor dial and comforting to elderly people, in cer tain situations, and under certain circum stances. He said he should be unwilling to deprive the laboring man of the soporilerous regale, after a hard day’s work; or the grief- worn weary negro, after he has finished his hard task on the plantation, & whose wretch cd condition excites a wish “ to steep his sens es in forgetfulness.” Nay, said he, I would light the pipe myself, for this dark son of af fliction, if its fumes would induce him for a moment to forget his wretchedness. But for a young person, a young gentleman, not yet arrived at the perfection of his growth and faculties, and who is, or ought to be, all life, activity, alertness and neatness ; for him to wish “ to steep his senses iu forgetfulness,” is, if not a vice, a shameful depravity—abso lutely unworthy the blooming energies of youth. The professor likewise remarked that it was allowed by all, that since the foundation THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE. Washington City, flee. 2, 1817.—This day at 12 o’clock, the President of the United States, transmited, tobotli Houses of Congress, by Mr. Joseph Jones Monroe, his secretary, the following Message : Fellow-Citizens of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives, At no period of our political existence had we so much cause to felicitate ourselves at the pros perous and happy condition of our country. The abundant fruits of the earth have filled it with plenty. An extensive and profitable commerce has greatly augmented our revenue. The public credit has attained an extraordinary elevation Our preparations for defence,in case of future wars, from which, by the experience of all nations we aught not expect to be exempted, are advancing, under a well digested system, with all the dispatch which so important a work will admit. Our free government, founded on the interest and affec tions of the people, has gained, and is daily gain ing, strength. Local jealousies are rapidly yield ing to more generous, enlarged and enlightened views of national policy. For advantages so nu merous and highly important,it is our duty to unite iu grateful acknowledgments to that omnipotent Being from whom they are derived, and in unceas ing prayer that he will endow us with virtue and strength to maintain and hand them down, in their utmost purity, to our latest posterity. I have the satisfaction to inform you, that an ar rangement, which had been commenced by my predecessor, with the British government, lor the reduction of the naval force, by Great-Britain and the United States, on the lakes, has been con cluded ; by which it is provided, that neither par ty shall keep in service, on lake Champlain, more than one vessel; on lake Ontario, more than one ; and on lake Erie, and the upper lakes, more than two ; to be armed, each, with one cannon only ; and that all the other armed vessels, of both par ties, of which an exact list is interchanged, shall be dismantled. It is also agreed, that the force retained shall be restricted in its duty, to the in ternal purposes of each party ; and that the ar rangement shall remaiu in force until Bix months shall have expired, after notice given by one of the parties to the other of its desire that it should terminate. By this arrangement, useless expense on both sides, and what is of still greater impor- tance, the danger of collision, between armed ves sels, in those inland waters, which was great, is prevented. I have the satisfaction also to state, that the commissioners, under (he fourth article of the treaty of Ghent, to whom it was referred to de cide, to which party the several islands in the bay of Passamaijuoddy belonged under the treaty of one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three, have agreed in a report, by which all tiie islands in the possession of each party before the late war have been decreed to it. The commissioners acting under the other articles of the treaty of Ghent, for the settlement of boundaries, have al go been engaged in the discharge of their respec tive duties, but have not yet completed them. The difference which arose between the two go vernments under that treaty, respecting the right of the United States to take and cure fish on the coast of the British provinces north of our limits, which had been secured by the treaty of one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three, is still in negotiation. The proposition made by this go vernment, to extend to the colonies of“ England the principle of the convention of London, by which the commerce between the ports of the U. States and British ports in Europe, had been plac ed on a footing of'equality, has been declined by the British government. This subject having been thss amicably discussed between the two govern ments, and it appearing that the British govern ment is unwilling to depart from its present regu lations, it remains for Congress to decide wheth er they will make any other regulations, in conse quence thereof, for the protection and improve ment of our navigation. T.he negotiation with Spain, for spoliations on our commerce, and the settlement ot boundaries, remains, essentiaffy, in the state it held, by the communications that were made' to Congress by tny predecessor. It has been evidently toe policy «t the Spanish governmeet to keep the negotia- tio.n suspended, and in this the U. States have ac- quiesced, trom an amicable disposition towards Spain, and id the expectation that her government would) from a sense of justice) finally accede to such an arrangement as would be equal between the parties.. A disposition has been lately shewn by the Spanish government to move in the nego tiation, which has been met by this government, and, should the conciliatory and friendly poliev,
