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THE REFLECTOR.
MILLKDGEVILLE, G. TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 1S1B.
XU. S3.
Weary $ fine arts.
GRAMMAR.
study of this art lias been too much
ed; which undoubtedly is the chief
f the solecism and impropriety often
ound in polite conversation itself, am^
inaccurate and slovenly sentiment anu
ion which frequently disfigure the
of great authors. It is impossible to
any language with propriety and ele-
, without studying it grammatically,
ed intercourse, and reading of the most
ved models, may improve and refine
aste and stylo; but they are inadequate
m a correct and pure composer. To
well in any language, it seems to be ab
ly necessary, in the first place to be
acquainted with its principles and its
tore ; in the second, to study with care
Tories of those who write it with most
•iety ; in the third, to acquire by pro -1
the habit of composition. The first oi l
throe expedients is the foundation oi
thcr two. .Without a competent know-
• «f the structure of language, we ran
or perceive nor relish the refined merits if
ompositions of others, nor realize these
ts in compositions of ottr own. Indeed
e of these expedients will succeed with-
c aid of the rest: combined, however,
contribute to form whatever is elegant,
te and unexceptionable iu mental effort,
h(1st the scholar will recognize the ne-
itv of an attentive study of the gram
's of the ancient languages, he will see the
priety of a thorough knowledge of his
n, abounding, as we have seen it docs,
h peculiarities and variations requiring a
arate ami distinct investigation ; and
ubly important is this knowledge to those
situated as not to know the analogies of
ssical instruction. A inind unacquainted
tli the principles of English grammar, lias
ucli to fear from inaccuracy. Such ignor
es would be unpardonable in a. schoolboy,
d betrays an insensibility to the merits of
r native longues, which it may be truly
id, is the vehicle of more sound wisdom,
re genuine philosophy, and more pure re
ion than any othe r.—Ana. Magazine.
GEOGRAPHY.
The. progress which has been made in this
poHant and necessary science in the U
tCS within ten years, is unexampled in a
country. Like our own country, it li.is
ned on us a new world, and promoted the
owlcdgc of the old. The interest excited
the grand military operation^ of the
rench revolution, propably was the inait*.
ring of this excitement. We may perhaps,
ithout improper pride, presume that the
urora has had some share in exciting to
to study of this elegant and interesting sci-
in which every step taken affords re-
■wed and augmented pleasure.
Mi*. Mclish, of this city, hits however,
nc more to bring tho accommodations for
udy and usefulness home to our threshold,
an any other person. His numerous maps
handsomely executed, and ftiany of them
rapidly brought forth under the exigencies
the moment, during the war, tended very
tich to enlarge the sphere of public know-
dge, by bringing at once to the eye scenes
which the heart took the deepest interest.
Mr. Mclish has lately issued a new map
f the United States, or.rather of tlie whole
f North America, which surpasses in cx-
ellcnce of execution and comprehensive use,
;iy thing of the kind hitherto published any
here. The engraving rivals the celebrated
ardico dor minuteness and beauty. This
ap comprehends frogi 23°to 53° mirth, thus
inprehendiitg the, whole west coast of North
merica from QueenCharlottc’A island in the
to the southern extremity of California ;
thence crossing Mexico eastward, emhra-
'ng the gulf of Mexico, part of Havana,
d the whole cluster of Bahama* and the
hole face of Florida, and the Atlantic coast
Spiny Island on the Labrador shore.
He bas to the geographical lately added
c geological picture of the same surface,
dapting to this valuable map, tho geologi-
al delineations of William Maclnrc, esq’r.
Jlurom.
MAP OF THE WORLD.
“We have boon highly gratified by the pe-
usal of a map of the world, on Mercator’s
rejection, about to he published by John
Wish* geographer, and Samuel Harrison,
ngraver, in this city.
The map exhibits at a glance, a view of
c whole world, Including all the latest dis-
overirs. It is so minute, that it exhibits
e United States subdivided into states and
rritorios : and Europe subdivided agreea-
y to tho arrangements made by the congress
f Vienna. The engraving is beautifully cx-
-uted, and the wliolo so harmoniously ar-
nged and in so compact a form, that it
resents to the eye a very beautiful picture,
jiitable for the parlor, the library, or tho
mpting house.
A very important Statistical Tabic, show
ing tho length, breadth, area, and population
of the several countries of the world, is at
tached to the map $ together with a triangu
lar scale of great utility for measuring dis
tances, and it is ornamented by a Vignette
Title, executed in A most beautiful style, by
Mr. Murray.
The map is to be accompanied by a des
cription, giving a view of the leading fea
tures of tuc geography of the world, illus
trated by a set of valuable statistical tables.
We are informed in the prospectus, that it
was the desire of the author, that this map
should serve as a work of general reference
on ail leading points of geography ; and as
a companion to his map of the United States
—the one being the picture of a country be
come one of the most interesting on the globe
—the other giving a general display bf the'
world at a gl tnec. From a perusal of the
specimen, \v>- have no doubt but his desire
will be fulfilled, and have no hesitation In re-
| commending this map to the attention of our
llow-citizcns.— I me. CeiUikel.
MISCELLANY.
>• LETTERS FROM 1'HE SOUTH.”
The subject of slavery never occurs to our
tourist without proprr comments. His sen
timents arc alike honorable to his head and
heart, lie observes very justly in vindica
tion of the holders of slaves, that the fault
belongs not to them. This is an entailed e-
stale which we cannot easily alienate. Bat
we know, from much personal observation,
that those unfortunate beings arc in a far bet
tor condition than is generally believed.—
This meliority is particularly to be seen ir.
Maryland, out of the city of Baltimore.—
That metropolis, besides other evils which
we can indicate when time serves, nourishes
a parcel of right worshipful gentlemen, call
ed trading magistrates s that is, they are so
termed because they are suspected of shar-
spnils with their constables, and the con
stables are iu league with a gang of wretches
who seem to have contracted for the sup
ply of Georgia and New Orleans. The jai
lor of course comes in for a participation in
the plunder. Here we shall fortify ourselves
by quoting a letter from a Quaker to a mem
ber of the house of delegates of Maryland,
which has recently appeared in the public
prints :
“ it in order to communicate some of tho
information which has come within my know
ledge upon this gloomy subject, that I make
the present communication to thee, under the
hope that it may liavo a tendency to excite
thy attention to it, and bu the means,in some
measure, of removing so great an iniquity
from our country. There -.re at this time in
the city of Baltimore, exclusive of the pub
lic jail, several private duugeons, appro
priated as depots or receptacles for negroes
which are stolen or bought up for the south
ern trade. These places are in confined, re
tired situations, with small close grated win
dows, and in them the miserable victims who
fall into the power of these traders,are chain
ed, crowded together in tho most obscene
and indecent manner, without regard to sox
or condition, until a sufficient number are
collected to form a caravan, when they are
from time to time taken off, connected to
gethcr by iron chains, and drjvcn through
the country, or carried away by water
The persons engaged in this trade, arc, it is
believed, united hy art extensive connexion
which reaches from hence to tho southern
states. When a stolen negro is found upon
them, they commonly exhibit a bill of sale
from some one of their accomplices, who in
the mean time lias made bis escape, so that,
although many Stolen negroes have been re
covered from tltem in this city, yet such is
their dexterity in eluding the laws, that
scarcely an instance has occurred, in which
any of these miscreants have been brought
to punishment. The African slave trade,
has, oh account of the cruelties and suffer
ings which it indicted, received the univer
sal disapprobation of every enlightened go
vernment of Europe, and the general exe
cration of the benevolent, in every country
upon the barth, who have had an opportu
nity of becoming acquainted with its charac
ter ; yet it is a fact, which cannot be con
troverted or denied, that the internal slave
trade now carried bn in this free and enlight
ened country, a country blessed with a larg
er portion of civil and religious liberty, than
any other on tire globe, is characterized by
the same horrible features, consequence and
tendencies, as the African slave trade ; the
same painful separation* of husbands, wives,
children, parents, and friends j the same op
pressions, outrages, barbarities and suffer
ings ! With what mournful presages, then,
must every pious reflecting mind look for
ward, to the future consequences of such ac
cumulated wrongs beiug permitted, nay, le
gally sanctioned in our country.”
We shall complete this outline, by a des
cription of one of these caravans, which we
find in the “Letters” under consideration :
“ Jogging alone from the house where we
left the caitiff, who will one day, 1 fear, bring
down some great calamity on the country of
his birth, it was our fate to incot with ano
ther example of the tricks men will play be
fore high Heaven, when not only custom,
hut the laws, sanction oppression. The Sjm
was shining out very hot,—-and in turning an
angle of the road, wo encountered the follow
ing group : First, a little cart, drawn by one
horse, in which five or six half naked black
children were tumbled like pigs, together.
The cart had no covering—and they seemed
to have been actually broiled to steep. Behind
the cart marched tlirco black women, with
licadv neck and breasts uncovered, and wTSl-
out shoes or stockings : next came three men
bare-headed, half naked, and chained toge
ther with an ox-chain. Last of all came a
white man,—a white man! Frank,—on horse
back, carrying pistols in his belt, and who,
as we passed him, had the impudence to
look us iu the face without blushing. I should
like to have keen him hunted by bloodhounds.
At a house where we stopped a little further
on, we learned, that he had bought these mi
serable wretches in Maryland, and was
marching them in this manner to some one of
the more southern states. Shame on the
state of Maryland ! I say,—and shame on
the stale of Virginia !—taud on every state,
through which this wretched cavalcade was
permitted to pass ! Do they expect that such
exhibitions will not dishonor them in the eyes
f strangers, however they may be reconcil
ed to them by education and habit?”—P.Folio
being able to throw a stone with sufficient
force to sink into the giant’s head. On this
he appealed to the company, and in particu
lar to a grave gentleman of the denomination
called “ Quakers,” who sat silent in one
corner of tly: carriage. “ Indeed triend,”
replied he, “ I do not think it all improbable,
if the Philistine’s head was as soft as thine.”
PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.
KISSING.
The women of England, says Polydore
Virgil, not only salute their relations with a
kiss, hut all persons promiscuously ; and
this ceremony they repeat gently touching
them with the lips, not only with grace but,
without tho least immodesty.
Erasmus writes in rapturcb on this sub
jeet to one of his friends :—did you but know
my Fau/Kus, the pleasures which England
a fiords, you would fly here on winged feet
and if your great folks would not allow you
you would wish yourself a Dscdalus. T
mention to you one among many things, her'
are nymphs of the loveliest looks, good hu
moured, easy of access, and whom you would
prefer cveh to your favourite males. Her
also prevails a custom never enough to b
commended, that wherever you Come, every
one 'receives you with a kiss, and where yo
take your leave every one gives you a kiss
when you return, kisses again meet you.-
11’ any one leaves you, they go within kiss
if you meet any one, the first salutation is
kiss ; in short, wUercvor you go, kisses eve
ry where abound ; which, my Faustus, did
you but once taste bow very sweet and how
very fragrant they are, you would not, lik
Solon, wish for a ten years exile, in England
but would desire there to spend the whole of.
your life.
Antonio Perez, secretary to the embassy
liom Philip the Second of Spain, writes thus
to the carl of Essex : “ I have this day, ai
cording to the custom of your country, kis
rftetl at an entertainment seven females, all of
them accomplished in mind, and beautiful in
person.” It would be as ridiculous to place
this custom among the manners of the pre
sent day, in England, as it was absurd in the
editor of the Monthly Magazine to repre
sent the ladies of Philadelphia, as never
wearing shoes or stockings but on gala oc
casions. It may not be amiss to add that,
the salutation which delighted Polydore Vir
gil so much, is very freely indulged oA our
stage, and that the actors and actresses, with
probably not muro than a single exception,
are from England. The practice is an of
fence against decorum and ought to be dis
continued.—Port Folio.
Lord Chatham.—Mr. Grattan novel 1 light
ed the fire of his eloquence into a more splen
did blaze, than when he pronounced a pane
gyric on the great lard Chatham. Grattan
said of lord Chatham, “ his eloquence was
an mra in the senate peculiar and spontanc.
ous, familiarly expressing gigantic senti
ments and instructive wisdom ; not like tli
torrents of' Demosthenes, or the splendid
conflagration of Tully ; it resembled some
times the thunder, and sometimes the music
of the spheres. It lightened on the subject,
and readied the point by the flashings of the
mind, which, like those Of his eye, were felt,
but could not he foilovvcd.—Upon tho whole,
there was In this man something that could
create, subvert, or reform ; an understand
ing, a spirit and an eloquence to summon
mankind to society, or to break the bonds of
slavery asunder, and to rule the wilderness
of free minds with unbounded authority :
something that could establish or overwhelm
an empire, and strike a blow in the world
that^hould resound through the universe,”
Infidd wit repelled.—A gay youngspavk of
a dejslical turn, travelling in a stage coach,
forced his sentiments on the company hy at
tempting to ridicule the Scriptures ; and a-
niong other topics made himself merry with
the story of David and Goliah; strongly urg
ing the impossibility of a youth liko David,
STATE OF SOUTH AMERICA.
Report ot' the Secretary of State, transmitted by the Pre
sident to the House of Representatives, on the 25tli ult.
The secretary of state, to whom lias been
referred the resolution of the House of Re
presentatives of the 10th of December, has
the honor of submitting the documents here
with transmitted, as containing the informa
tion possessed at his department, requested
by that resolution.
In the communications received from Doa
Manael II. ile Aguirre, there are referents
to certain conferences between him and the
secretary of State, which appear to require
soifte explanation.
The character in which Mr. Aguirre pre
sented himself was that of a public agent
from the government of La Plata, and of
private agent from that of Chili—his com
missions from botli simply qualified him as a-
gent; but his letter from the supreme direc
tor Pucyrredoh, Vo the president of the Unit-
d States, requested that he might be rereiv-
(I with the consideration due to his diploma
tic character, lie had no commission as a
public minister of any rank, 'dor any full
lower to negotiate as such. Neither tho
ttcr, of which he was the bearer, nor bo
himself, at the first interviews with the se
cretary, of state, suggested that he was au
thorised to ask the acknowledgment of Ins
government as independent—a circumstance
which derived additional weight from rbc»
fact, that his predecessor, Don M ;-trn
Thompson, had been dismissed by the direc
tor Pucyrredon for having transcended his
powers ; of which the letter brought by Mrs.
Aguirre gave notice to the president.
It Was some time after the commencement
if the session of congress that ho mad this
demand, as will be seen by the dates if his
written communications to the department;
in the conferences held with him on th.d sub
ject, among other questions which it nat i r
rally suggested, Were those of the manner
in which the acknowledgment of his govern
ment, should it he deemed advisable, might
he made ? and what were the territories
which he considered as forming the state or
nation to be recognized ? It was observed,
that tho manner in which the United States
had bceh acknowledged as an independent
power by France, was by a treaty conclud
ed with them, as an existing independent
power, and in which each one of the states
then composing the union, was Uistim tly
named : that come, thing of the same kind
seemed to be necessary in tho first acknow
ledgment of a new government, that some
definite idea might be formed, not of the pre
cise bbundaVies, but of'the general extent of
the country thus recognized. He said, the
government of which he desired the acknow
ledgment was of the country which had be
fore tho revolution, been the vice royalty of
La Plata. It was then asked} whether that
did not include Montevideo and the territiwy
occupied by the Portuguese : thcTjanda Ori
ental, understood to be under the government
of General Artigas, and several provinces*
still iii the undisputed possession of the Span
ish government. He said it did ; but oiis i v-
od, that Artigas, though in hostility with
the government of Buenos Ayres, support 'd
however, the cause of independence of Sp un
—& that the Portuguese could not ultimately
maintain their possession of Montevideo.
It was after this that Mr. Aguirre wrote the
letter, offering tmenter into a negotiation for
conducting a treaty j though admitting i hat
he had no authority to that effect from his
government. It may be proper to observe,
that the inode of recognition by concluding a
treaty had not been suggested as the only
one practicable or usual, but merely as that
which had been adopted by France with the
United States, and as offering the most con
venient means of designating the extent of the
territory acknowledged as a new dominion.
The remark to Mr. Aguirre, that if Bue
nos Ayres should be acknowledged as inde
pendent, others of the contending provinces
would, perhaps, demand the same, had par
ticular reference to the Banda Oriental.—
The enquiry w as, whether General Artigas
might not advance a claim of independence
for those provinces, conflicting with that of
Buenos Ayres for the whole vice inyalty of
La Plata ? The Portuguese possession of
Montevideo was noticed in reference to a
similar question.
It should be added that these observations
were connected with othefs, stating the rea
sons upon which the present acknowledgment
of the government of La Plata, in any mode,
was deemed hy the president, inexpedient,
iirrcgard as well to their interests as to.those
of the United States.
' JOHN QUINSY AEA^3.