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THE REFLECTOR. L. I. MILLEDGEVILLE, G. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1818. NO. 1$. Literary Intelligence. ~jcome their patrons, if not their equals, and FROM THK AMERICAN MONTHLY MA9ASIRL. tters from the South,” written flftring cursion in the summer of 1816. By thorof John Bull and Brother Jona- &c. &c. New-York, James Eastbura . 181 r .2 yls. 8vo. 514 pp. e hare been much gratified with this Although there is too often an unsuc- I effort at wit, yet there are many hap- lies ; and though the style is sometimes ed by phrases unnecessarily vulgar, and ons, not so much familiar and striking, ey are low and unseemly, yet on the it is easy, animated and nervous. Letters purport to have been written Virginia, andthesubjccts on which they are various and interesting; bat the ipal object of the publication seems to been to delineate the Virginian charac- which the author having been born and , as far north as the state of New-York may judge from the internal evidence 'hed by his letters, and being a man of rous sentiments and much knowledge say a scholar, and acquainted with and things, is well qualified to do. He kindly entertained by the Virginians, has repaid their hospitality, not with y, for hc'has indicated their faults as as held up their virtues, but with just onest praise. His remarks on cliarac d manners, which are numerous, and sted by an extensive and vigilant ob ation of his countrymen, arc in our opi- accurate and instructive ; they abound good sense and patriotic feeling; and is wisdom has put on a merry guise, it is for that reason, the less wisdom, while voiding all austerity of manner, he has d his book for the perusal of those who t need the advice it contains, to a much ater extent than he would if he had been grave and elaborate. As a specimen ie caustic humor of the author, and als the hope that it may prove useful, we e the following portrait of a certain class oung men of fashion. It is sketched with it, and may it is to be regretted, be ap- riated by numbers in all our more con- rablc towns. But little D , on the contrary, was rmincdto be a gentleman, according to fashionable idea of the present day in our . As he was to be rich, there was no ion for him to know any thing—but how joy it like a gentleman. He according •;k his degree as first dunce in the col- * and the first thing he did on coming to possession of nearly half a million, was end out his measure for a suit of clothes London tailor. He forthwith enlisted self under some tavern bucks, and strut up and down , with a surtout that ed the corporation the trouble of sweep- the streets—was seen every w here at pub- places and parties, without doing any g but yawn at the one, and stand in eve- ody’s way in the other, eating pickled crs. His estimate of a party, where a of feeling and refinement would go to y elegant society, and rational amuse- t, was always founded on the quantity of cr, wine and pickled oysters handed a- nd. Never was he known, on any ocean , to contribute any one thing cither plcas- or useful, and of course, in a little time attained to the reputation of a fine gcntlc- n ; because, as he never did any thing, he st needs be so ; employment being unwor- f that high character. Some of the best ;d people doubted his pretensions, until lie night of finding fault with every thing he ard and saw, when the opinion of his high ceding became unanimous. • Whether the people got tired of him, or grew tired of the people, I don’t exactly low; but in order to get a new gloss, hi nt abroad, staid six months, and came ck vastly improved; for he found this untry more intolerable than ever—a sure ;n of excessive refinement, especially as made a point of proclaiming his opinion »ud at ail parties. When 1 was last at , I saw him in a book-store, reading a ok upside down, and dressed as follows, -wit, one little hat, with a steeple crown ; e pair of corsets; one coat, so tight he uld just breathe; one pair of pantaloons, immeasurably wide and loose you could dly tell whether they were petticoats or it; I don’t recollect the residue of his cos ine—but his hair came out from beneath s hat like an ostrich’s tail, and he stuck out hind like the African Venus. “ One lAight moralize and speculate on hat had been the different estimation of esc young men, at least hereafter, had they irsued a course becoming their fortune and lucation, and devoted themselves to a use- tor brilliant career. Had they employed irt of their fortunes, and their leisure, in lorning their minds, and encouraging a ste for refined, elegant and scientific pur- lits, although perhaps they might not have tained to any lofty eminence, they would ive become associated, at least with those tat were eminent. They might have be. attained to a blameless, nay, noble immortal as the magnificent cncouragcrs of ge Aius ; instead of being in their lives, the contempt of the virtuous and the wise ; and in their deaths, the companions of oblivion.” “ The Balance of Comfort; or the Old Maid and Married Woman.” A Novel. By Mrs. Ross, author of the Marchioness, &c. Ac. 2 vols. New-York, 1817. “ Some thing superior to the mass of similar pub lications, our readers must not expect to meet with many traits ot superlative excel lence in the volumes before us. Indications of a tolerably extensive, if not very definite and discriminating, acquaintance with the ordinary varieties of every-day life, are by no means unlrequcnt; and the facility anil liveliness with which they arc touched off, would be amusing enough, were the outlines more gracefully sketched, and the tints deep er and more determinate. With the digni fied incident and diction of the higher class of modern novels, it would be ridiculous to compare wlproduction, which the authoress evidently intended to occupy its unambitious station by the sido of her former publica tions. Her representations of low character are drawn with a vigour and facetiousness that evince her familiarity with the species ; but in her delineation from the polished world, she is often and obviously at fault, continually mistaking vulgar grossness and rough raillery for elegant wit and refined humour: throughout her attempts of this description, there is too much horse-play; while occasionally, she rushes into scenes, and ventures upon allusions very suitable indeed to the pages of Tom Jones and Rode rick Random, but altogether inconsistent with the chasteness of scniriuent, and deli cacy of language, which ought to charac terize the works of female writers.” “ The Essence of English Grammar” by Samuel Houston, A. B. Principal of Rural Valley Seminary in Rockbridge, Virginia, Harrisonburg, Lawrence Wartniami. 12 mo. pp. 49. “ This essence of English Gram mar, as distilled through the alembic of Mr. Houston’s brain, is a product as different from the material, as whiskey is from rye. liter whose prescription “ it was composed,” (to borrow an expression of the author, when speaking of elegant composition,') we know not, but imagine that the diligent and exclusive study of Hannah Glttsse’s recipes might enable one to produce something tVry like it.” “ A Grammar of Moral Philosophy, and Natural Theology, with a summary of the Evidences of Christianity, abstracted chief ly from the worksof Dr. Paley. To which arc subjoined Questions and Tables, adapted to the study of the sacred striptures.” By the Rev. J. W. Baker. New-York, David Longworth, l2ino. 248 pp. This is a judi cious abstract, bringing into small compass and in a discreet arrangement, much of the most important matter on the subjects treat ed, and would form a good text-hook for the older and more advanced scholars in our principal schools.” Reply to Dr. Warden.—A work has been atcly published in England, professing to he a reply to the narrative of Warden con cerning Napoleon—the materials of which are said to have been partly devived from a work now preparing by the ^.i-Emperor himself. Notwithstanding the apparent au thenticity which clothed the publication of Dr. Warden, the correctness of several por tions of it has been repeatedly questioned ; and the improbability tiiat Napoleon would contribute materials for the latter, renders it not unlikely that this is a second contriv ance to raise funds at his expense.—Bal. Vat. England.—Sir Humphrey Davy has made a further discovery in regard to combustion, which will prove a very great improvement to his safety lamp. He thus describes it in a letter to the Rev. J. Hodgson of Hcwortli: “ I have succeeded in producing a light per fectly safe and economical, which is most brilliant, in atm.spheres in which the flam 1 * of the safety lamp is extinguished, and which burns in every mixture of carburettod hy drogen gas that is respirable. It consists of a slender mctalic tissue of platinum, which is hung in the top of the interior of the com mon lamp of wire gauze, or in that of the twilled lamp. It costs from 6d. to Is. and is imperishable. This tissue, when the com mon lamp is introduced into an explosive at mosphere, becomes red hot, and conti nues to burn the gas in contact with it as long as the air is respirable ; when tins atmos phere again becomes explosive ; the flame is -elightcd. I can now bum any inflammable vapour cither with or without flame at plea sure, and make the wire consume it either with red or white heat. I was led to this re sult by discovering slow combustions with out flame, and at last I found a metal which made these harmless combustions visible.” CON Git ESS. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Tuesday, Jan. 13. Amongst the petitions this day presented was one by Mr. llan ison, from Col. Need ham, and sundry other British officers, late, ly arrested and imprisoned at Philadelphia, on a charge of violating the neutrality of the United States between Spain and her colonics, but subsequently discharged from arrest and confinement, praying, for the ex pense, trouble and inconvenience which they have suffered, such relief as Congress shall deem just and reasonable. The petition was referred to a special committee. - Mr. Johnson of Ky. from the committee on military affairs, reported a bill providing for half pay pensions, to invalid pensioners, and for other purposes ; which was twice read by its title and committed. [The pro visions of this bill are subtantially the fol lowing :—«The first section gives to the Se cretary of war the power of placing upon the pension fist all officers and soldiers of the revolutionary war, who arc entitled to Such by the provisions of the act making pro vision on this subject, in the year 1816 Rules and regulations in force; or hereafter to be made, and put in force, as to the ad mission of the officers and soldiers of the militia, and the regular Soldiers, on the pen sion roll of the United States, are made ap plicable to the invalids of the revolution, and of the Indian wars, placing all entitled to pensions on an equality. Section second ex tends half pay pensions of five years to the widows and orphans of the officers and sol diers of the militia, and others, now entitled by law, for a further term of five additional years, which will make the pension, if a ^lopted, equal to half pay pensions to widows and orphans of ten years. Section third provides half pay pensions, for the term of live years, for the widows of the soldiers of the regular army, who were killed in battle or who died in the servico, during the late war. Section fourth extends half pay pen sions to all such widows as lost their Inis bauds after their return home from the mili tary service of the United States, provided they die within 6 months after such return, and of diseases contracted in the servico.— By the fifth section, indigent mothers, who have lost an only son in the military service of the United States, provided sucli son dietl without wife or children, are to pe provided for. Section sixth provides that every wid ow, whose husband was killed in battle, or died in the service of his country, during the revolutionary war, shall receive a half pay pension for five years.] Cast of John Anderson.—The House hav ing resumed the consideration of this subject, Mr. Spencer rose, and withdrew the pre amble to the resolutions ho had offered— leaving alone for consideration the resoiu tions, directing all further proceedings a gainst the accused to cease, directing the Attorney General to institute proceedings a- gainst him, and instructing the judiciary committee to enquire into the expediency »f providing for the punishment of contempt of either House, for breach of privilege, &c. On the general question, previously discus sed, the debate was renewed, and continued with unabated animation to the close of the sitting. Messrs. Tallmadge, Hopkinson and Sergeant delivered their steniments at large on the subject. In the course of the debate, Mr. Rhea, with some incidental re marks on the resolutions, proposed a substi tute to them, by way of amendment, in the following words :—“ Resolved, that this House possesseth the competent power to punish John Anderson for his contempt of the House, and his outrage upon one of its members; and, therefore, Resolved, That the Sergeant at Arms be directed to conduct the said John Anderson to the bar of the House. This motion was undecided, when, at a late hour,—.The House adjourned. * Tuesday, January 15. The house resumed the consideration of the case of Col. Anderson. The following resolution moved by Mr. Rhea, by way of,a- inendment, being yet under consideration. « Resolved, that this house possesseth com petent power to punish for contempts of its authority. Therefore, resolved, that the sergeant at arms be directed to conduct John Anderson to the bar of the house.” Mr. Rhea, with a view to put hi9 amend ment in a shape moro acceptable to gentle men, modified his motion for amendment, so as to make the first resolution read as fol lows:—“Resolved, that this house possess ad equate power to punish for contempts a- gainst it.” Mr. Pitkin assigned the reasons wliy he wished to avoid placing on the journals any thiug affirming the authority of the house on the one hand, or dcnyiug it on the other : and, to escape the alternative presented to the house by the proposed resolution and amend ment, he moved to postpone indefinitely the consideration of the main question and the amendment proposed thereto. After some questions to the chair, and ex- planations therefrom, respecting the effect of such a postponement, that effect was pro nounced from the chair to be, to place the question in the state in which it wap when the motion of Mr. Spencer was first made ; and, if this course was pursued, that the house would be at full liberty to take any course in respect to John Anderson, which in its opinion was within the scope of its con stitutional powers. After explanatory remarks from various members—'The question was taken on the postponement; and decided as follow : for indefinite postponement, 117—against it 42. The propositions before the house were inde finitely postponed. Whereupon Mr. Tallmadge offered the fol lowing rcsplution for consideration. “ Re solved, that John Anderson be fqrthwith brought to the bar of the house.” Mr. Rich proposed to amend the resolu tion by adding thereto the following : “ And th^t he have an opportunity of offering to the house any explanation of his allcdged of fence, which he he may think proper.” This motion Mr. Rich supported by obser vations regarding the general question, in which he opposed the expediency of proceed ing further than he had suggested in the pre sent case. After a few observations from Mr. Ser geant, however, Mr. Rich withdrew his pro position. Mr. Rich subsequently moved to insert art amendment, denying the power of the house to judge or punish any individual, its own members excepted; which motion was nega tived by a large majority. Mr. Culbretli then moved to strike out the whole of Mr. Tallmadgc’s resolution, and to substitute by way of amendment the follow ing : •< Whereas John Anderson i$ in custo dy for an offence which this house does not possess the constitutional power to try, or right to punish : therefore, “ Resolved, that the said John Anderson be discharged from the custody of the ser geant at arms.” And the question was taken on the amend ment thus proposed, and decided as follows : yeas, 47—nays, 119. So the house refused to agree to the amend ment proposed by Mr. Culbretli. The question was then taken on the motioii that “ John Anderson he forthwith brought to the bar of this house,” and decided in the affirmative, by yeas and nays : 118 to 45.— Whereupon the sergeant at arms brought the prisoner to the bar, and the speaker pro pounded to him the following interrogatories, to which he made the replies thereto : 1. Do you acknowledge yourself to be John Anderson ? Answer. Yes. 2. Did you write and deliver to Lewis! Williams, a member of this house, the letter of which a copy has been furnished you by the clerk i Ans. I did. 3. From what part of the city did you write the letter i Aits. I wrote it at Mr. Res tor’s where I board. 4. What is the amount of your own claims; which you are attempting to liquidate ? Aus. About 89,000 5. What is the amount of those of others, which you are soliciting ? Ans. About S'21,000. 6. Have you any interest In the latter?— Ans. None, of a pecuniary kind, but am influenced in' t.ioir pursuit by motives of charity. 7. Had you any authority from the per sons you represent to make the offer con tained in your letter ? Ans. I have a ge neral power of attorney to do for them as I would do for myself, but had no instructions to make that or any other offer. 8. Are you acquainted with any persons now in the city soliciting the claims of o- thers ? if so name them. Ans. I am : there is a Mr. Pomeroy, who is soliciting his owii claim, and Col. Watson, who is a general agent. 9. Have you made any other offer to any person ? Ans. No. 10. Did you consult or advise with any person before you wrote and delivered the let ter ? Ans. I did not. 11. Who is the Mr. Hulbard you mention in the letter ? Ans. He is a gentleman I be came partially acquainted with during the troubles at the River Raisin. I have not seen him since that time, till I arrived in this city at the present Session of Congress, and did not recognize him until ho made himself known to me. 12. Has be any claim to solicit ? Aus.—> None,*to my knowledge. 13. Have you any witnesses to examine, or defence to make, in justification or ex planation of your conduct ? If you have the house is now ready to hear you. The prisoner at the bar then called upon his witnesses, viz.: Gen. Harrison, Col. Johnson, members of the house i Mr. R. J*