Newspaper Page Text
NO. 45.
THE REFLECTOR.
MILLEDGEVILLE, G. TUESDAY. SIS PTE MM fill 15. I.U 8
BIOGRAPHY.
ICJIIOI.Y3 M.VKfiL'KItlTK CARNOT,
at Nolay in Burgtind;, Ala;
At an early age lie was platen
of engineers, when his as.sidui
, and his great acquirements pro-
a rapid promotion. An cuing;
Nanhaii, and some well written
sod him to be noticed by several
ieties. lie was captain of engi-
night of Saint Louis, when the
took place. He took the popular
Sept. 1791. was appointed adepu-
gislatiire, from tlie department of
ais. One of bis first proposals
ed against the emigrant princes,
ashed to have formally accused
abandoned their country and tn-
gainst it. lie afterwards propo
se the oflicers of the army b;
and erased from the rules of war.
1c of passive obedience to oflicers.
,500,000 pikes to lie manufactured
nsc of arming the Sans culottes,
rwards deputed to the camps ot
yl Chalons where he notified the
cker, of the degree which dc-
is XVI.
Vaine a member of the nation;.1
and voted for the death of the
F ?arrli, 1795, he set out for the
north, and cashiered on the field
“neral Gratien, wlm had retreat-
enemy. He afterwards march-
at the head of the republican co-
d animated them liv his presence,
urn to the convention, lie was ap-
member of the committee of puh-
w liich governed under the name
ivention. and was itself governed
pierre. From that time lie began
:e a powerful influence over all lib
erations. All the plans deposited
ce of the minister of war. from the
ouis XIV . to the period of his ap-
t, being in his possession, he di-
ntie the movements of the French
nd appeared anxious to appropriate
f this kind of glory ; and it is said
[ttributed to himself, the success of
of Maubeuge, at which he was
in the rapacity of commissary
ntion. It cannot however he denied,
emorialsand instructions whirl) In
. in the name of the committee of
jfety, contributed in a great mea-
jie victories of the French; and to
e country is certainly indebted for
irtion of her military glory,
s president of the convention in
en the deputation of the Jacobin
c to the bar of the convention, to
ir belief of the existence of a God,
plied to them “ your present con-
itself a sufficient answer to all the
which have been heaped upon your
Having escaped from the jealousy
ierre, who for some time had pro-
rnly his hatred against him, two
ter the 9l.li of Thcrmidor, lie rharg-
re and Turreau, with ultra revoln-
nduct in La Vendee, and declared
eneral Hue bet, who was accused
in that unfortunate country, had
there against his inclination, by
e orders of Robespierre. lie per-
withstanding that his reputation
proportion as that of Taltio and
reased, and in a report made in
795, on the success of the army of
he endeavored, hut in vain, to rc-
ve forms of the old committee.—
et, Billaud and Barrere were call-
make answer to the accusations
venrion, Carnot, who had but lit-
ion with them, and still less cs-
em, came boldly forward as their
and on the 22d of March denoun
ced, w hich was entitled « The Na-
sin,” which proposed to send im-
7o thescaffold, all those who should
leak, in favor of those members
friends. Carnot was loudly ar-
ng these proceedings. Legendre,
en thirsting for vengeance, since
fDanton, repeatedly and carnest-
ed iiis arrest, after the insurrec-
first of Prairial, and the decree
passed, if Bourdon del*Oise had
the rising tumult, by crying a-
. organizations of this mail, have
ries to your armies.”
ecame a member of the directory,
ew authority was established, in
and for a long time had great in
i them ; hue Burras took from
filiation of the war department,
at time became his enemy. Car-
reil to ruin his adversary by in-
th parties in the councils ; but
ions of Barras he was included
riptiou of the 18th of Fructidor.
transportation to Cayenne, by
rrnanv, where he published a
anatory of his conduct. This
e arguments nf which are strong
»e ends by protesting that he is
‘ the irreconcilable enemy of kings,” is a
publication worthy of remark, from its be
ing printed under the protection of those mo-
narclis. who had granted him an asylum to
protect him from his enemies, which pro-
tectipn he required by declarations similar
to the above.
After the revolution of the 18th of Dru-
maire, Carnot w as recalled to France aim
first appointed inspector of reviews, and af
terwards minister of war on the 2(1 of April.
1800 ; which post he did not long keep, bul
abandoned it on account of the interference
and opposition ol Napoleon, whose despotism
could never be reconciled with the republi
can principles and firmness of Carnot. He
retired to live with his family, hut on the
9th of March, 1802, he was called to the
tribunate, where he displayed the same in
flexibility of principles that had before dis
tinguished him. lie frequently opposed the
views of government, was the only oar. who
voted against the consulate for life: but a-
bove all attacked with great courage and ex
traordinary vehemence the proposition of de
claring Bonaparte emperor. His speech,
though its reasoning was weak, was strong
in ils principles ; it was opposed with bitter
ness by many of his colleagues, who wish
ing to gain favor at the expense of Carn.n,
retraced his revolutionary conduct with more
malice than truth ; he however persisted in
his opinion, ami alone refused to sign the re
gistur of adhesion.
On the dissolution of the tribunate, he a-
gain employed himself in his military studies
published in 1811, a work on the defence of
places ; he lived for a long time in a kind ol
obscurity, attentive only to his family, aim
in 1814 was appointed commander of Ant
werp, at the very period when the enemy was
approaching it. His preparations for dc
fence were prompt and vigorous. He pre
served however the suburbs, particularly
one very superb part, the inhabitants of winch
have since erected a monument iu honor ol
him. He concluded an armistice with the
English general Graham, to whom by order
of the king, he ga.’c ujt the post. On his re
turn to the capital, it is said, that he had an
audience with the king with which lie was
satisfied ; hut the progress of the puliti. at
reaction, the natural result of the events
which had just taken place tu France, made
him fear a general proscription, and some
months after his return to Baris he published
a pamphlet which again drew upon him the
attention of the nation, in this work he
gave advice to the king, reproached the min
isters w ith their faults and incapacity, anti
predicted a new political convulsion, if the
c\ sis pointed out were not promptly remedi
ed. Ilis prophecies proved true, for Napo
leon soon landed at Cannes, and arrived af
Paris without striking a blow. Carnot Hav
ing spoken very freely of Napoleon in his
publication had no expectation of being em
ploy ed, and notwithstanding a refusal, lie fi
nally consented to act as minister of the in
terior, upon the repeated requests of tlie par-
tizans of Napoleon, who represented to film
the fatal consequences of a refusal to act,
under the circumstances that then existed,
lie was successively created a count and a
peer, and exerted himself as much as pos
sible to second the new views of N'apolecfti
But the Emperor dictated to him, while oth
ers impeded the operation of his measures,
even the choice of the prefects was not left
to him.
In order to adhere strictly to truth, it is
necessary to say, that Carnot did not make
use of those violent measures, which, with
so much reason, were with fear expected
from him ; the changes which lie made in his
department were hut few. Having become
member of the provincial government after
the second fall of Bonaparte, he acted with
his usual honesty and good faith ; hut, as was
believed, he was duped by a minister more
crafty than himself. He contributed how
ever to the negotiations which preserved the
capital, and was the only member of that
authority, who was comprised in the ordi
nance of the king, of the 24t!i of July, 1815,
and retired to Corny under the inspection of
the minister of the. general police. He soon
published a new memorial which was written
with that sort of openness and sincerity for
which he had alway s been noted ; envy ami
malice alone can find in it cause for censure,
but the honorable and honest of all parties,
will recognize the manly language of truth,
and with propriety may ask, why is this
man alone, the object of the furious attacks
at once of the jacobins, the Bonapartists,
and the rovalists ?
NOTICE.
T HE public are hereby cautioned from trading
for five notes, extorted from me by one James
Tool, when 1 was drunk. As I never received
any value for them, I am determined never to
pav them. The notes were dated the 12th day
of 'August last, and made payable one day after
date, tour of them were for twenty-five dollars
each, and one for twenty-three dollars.
LEONAUD CARLTON.
Jones county, September 4.
NATURAL HISTORY.
Immense Boa.—Sometime ago Mr. Edwin,
an Englishman, resident in the East-Indies,
saw a boa constrictor that measured thirty -
thrce.fc.ct four inches in'length. It was co
vered with scales, and ridged in the centre;
the head was green, \Utli large black spots
in the middle, yellow streaks around the
jaws, and a circle like a golden collar round
the neck,and another black spot behind that,
the head was fiat and broad, with eyes mon
strously large and terrible ; ils sides were
of a dusky olive color; its hack was ex
tremely beautiful, a broad streak of black
eurlcd and waved at the sides, run
ning along it—along the edges of this and a
narrow streak of fleshy colour, on tlie out
side of which was a broad streak of a bright
yellow, waved and curled, and spotted at
<i small distance with roundish and long
blotches of a blood colour. When it moved
iu the sun it appeared exquisitely beautiful.
It had perched itself on a large palm tree;
is a fox passed by, it darted down upon him
and in a few minutes took him into his stoin-
•>"li- Next morning a monstrous tiger about
• ue height of a heifer, passing, it darted
down, seized him by the hack with its teeth,
and twined itself three or four times round
uis body ; it then loosed its teeth from Ids
cock and seized his head, tearing, anil grind
ing, and choking him at once, wdiilst the furi-
U' tiger resisted to the utmost; finding him
urd to he conquered, and his hones not easi
ly broken, it, by winding its tail round his
loc k, dragged him to the tree, and then sit
ting him against il, twined himself about
hath him and the tree, and crushed him a-
gainst it till Iiis ribs and the bones of his legs,
ui(?at last his skull, w ere broken and bruis
ed ; after it had killed him w ith this inex
pressible torture of about a day’s continu
ance, it coated over his body with slaver till
it became like a lump of red flesh, and at
last, w ith a labour of some hours’ continu
ance, su keel up the whole carcass into his
stomach. Y\ bile it was gorged herewith,
and no doubt fatigued with the late toil, Mr.
Edwin and his Ceylonese companions killed
it with clubs ; its flesh was whiter than veal,
and had a fine taste, and indeed in Brazil,
and many other places, serpent’s flesh is eat
en for food.—Literary 1’unorama,
EDUCATION
SELECT REFLECTIONS ON EDUCA'l ION.
A fortune acquired by commerce, w hen i:
is discreetly expended in advancing learning,
acquires a grace anil elegance, which a life
devoted to the arciimulati.. of money, for
its own sake, can seldom possess.
Few of us are so improved by philosophy,
though we study and admire it,'as not to feV
the influence of interested motives. Thi
insensibly blinds (he understanding, and ol
ten impels tho judgement to decide unjustly,
without the guilt of intention.
Not only the taste, but the religion, th
virtue, and even the liberties of our country,
greatly depend upon that discipline which
lays the foundation of improvement in an
cient learning. True patriotism anil true
valor, originate from that enlargement of
mind, which the well regulated study of phi
losophy, poetry and history, tends to pro
duce; and if we can rccal the ancient dis
cipline wc may perhaps reral the generous
spirit of ancient virtue. He who is conver
sant with the best Greek and Roman writers,
with a Plato, a Xenophon, and a Cicero,
must imbibe, if lie he not deficient in the
powers of intellect, sentiments no less libe
ral than ingenuous and elegant.
A certain enlargement, refinement and
embellishment of flic mind, is the best and
noblest effect of classical instruction. It is
not only desirable, as it qualifies the mind
for ttiis or that profession, hut as it opens the
source of pure pleasures, unknown to the
vulgar. Its tendency is to adorn and im
prove human nature, and to give the ideas a
noble elevation.
The possession of a fortune, and the en
joyment of a good conscience is far superior
to both.
The passions will sometimes ruffle the
stream of happiness in every man ; but they
are least likely to discompose him, who
spends Ills time in letters, and who at the
same time studies virtue and innocence,
which indeed have a natural connection with
true learning. *
He who has caught the spirit of the polite
writers of the politest ages and cities, must
possess a peculiar degree of polish and com
prehension of mind.
The best kind of education is that which
endeavors to improve die powers of under
standing for their own sake ; for the sake of
exalting the endowments of human nature,
and becoming capable of sublime and refined
contemplation. This furnishes a power of
finding satisfactory amusement for these
hours of solitude, which every man must
sometimes know in the busiest walks of life ;
and it constitutes one of the best supports of
old age, as well as the most graceful orna
ments of manhood. Even in the commercial
(lepartmciit it is most desirable ; for besides
that it gives a grace to the man in the active
stage of life, and in the midst of his negoti
ations, it “enables him to enjoy his retreat
with elegance,” when his industry lias accu
mulated the, object of his endeavors.
If taste, which classical learning immedi
ately tends to produce, hate no influence in
amending the heart, or in promoting virtu
ous affections ; if it contributes not to ren
der men more humane, and more likely to he
disgusted with improper behavior, as a de
formed object, and pleased with rectitude of
conduct, as beautiful in itself; if it be mere
ly an ornamental appendage ; it must he
owned, that life is indeed too short to admit
of long attention to mere embellishment.
Polite learning, on the contrary, is found to
be friendly to all that is amiable in social in
tercourse ; friendly to morality. It has a
secret but powerful influence in softening
and meliorating the disposition. True and
correct taste directly tends to restrain the
extravagancies of passion, a disordered ima
gination.
To be completely skilled in ancient learning
by no means a work of such insuperable
pains. The very progress itself is attended
with delight, and resembles a journey thro’
some pleasant country, where every mile wo
advance new charms arise. It is certainly
as easy to lie a scholar, as a gamester, or
many other characters equally illiberal and
low. The same application, the same quan
tity of habit, will fit us for one as well as for
the other. As to those who tell us with an
air of seeming wisdom, that it is by men,
not hooks, that we must study to become
knowing : repeated experience teaches this
to he the common consolation and language
of dunces.
RURAL ECONOMY.
“ fForlliy of imitation.—The Duke of Atlml
is now enjoying the benefit which ;> •ovhlent
ancestors sometimes confer upon their heirs.
Iiis Grace’s estates have been hitherto con
sidered as rather extensive than productive ;
ml his forests have now attained to such a
grow th, that, wo understand, he will he able
iu cut timber to the amount of 20,0001. a
year, we may say almost in perpetuity, as he
has continued the practice of his noble father,
and planted millions of trees annually.”
In reading the above article, we could not
suppress a feeling of regret at the evident
contrast presented in the conduct of the
Duke of Athol’s “ provident ancestor,” to
the improvidence of lundholdersgcnerally in
this country. The deercase of timber for
building, fuel, Jvx. is already a great incori-
veriicnc c, and is every day becoming more
serious in the prospects growing out of it.
The evil is not so much in the use or con
sumption of the timber, (although that may
be unnecessarily extravagant) but in the ut
ter neglect wliic li appears every where to
prevail, of repairing tlie devastation, by
planting new trees, and taking care of tho
young growth. Observation has convinced
us, tiiat in no part of tlie country is this neg
lect more apparent, than in the lower parts
of Delaware, and the adjeccnt part of Ma
ryland. We mention this district nf coun
try particularly, because in travelling over
it, (we allude especially to the country called
the Levels, and on the Bohemia, and Sassa
fras rivers) we were struck with its fine ap
pearance, its soil, its fine streams, and its ea
sy access to market. It is probably to this
last circumstance that the evil complained
of, may in some part, he attributed ; the
nigh price of timber at Baltimore having in
duced the proprietors or tenants to apply the
axe with so devastating a hand, that the
country is almost bare of tim'ur, and no ef
forts seem to have been adopted to supply
i lie waste. The consequence of this destruc
tive habit is, that the best land in the. penin
sula, and as good as any in the country, with
all its advantages from fine navigable streams,
will not sell for more than 15, 20 or 25 dol
lars per acre ; in addition to the inconven
ience arising from a deficiency of fuel, and
timber for building. If. may be said, that tho
tenures by. w hich real property is held in this
country. —el its frequent circulation from
hand to hand, present an obstacle to any
plans of permanent improvement; that far
mers do not like to expend money, the profits
of which are to be enjoyed by posterity.
Wc would regret to s^e such an objection
seriously urged, involving as it does a cen
sure upon the freedom of our institutions,
w hich are intimately connected with the pro
per circulation and equalization of real pro
perty. We suggest the subject to the agri
cultural society of this county, as a proper
one for their consideration ; if they will en
courage the planting of forest trees, and
support it with their examples, it will have
a good effect. The price of land will he un
doubtedly increased, A the interests of ag
riculture advanced.
There is one fact, of which the society
i must be awtue ; that, in this country and