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ITRY.
From the Christian Observer.
TO A LADY IN HER LAST ILLNESS
Oh I La lv, ’ti« a fearful thing to die;
To bid farewell to earth, to fade away,
Enwrapt in the close shroud ol death; to
lie
So cold in the dark vault; the w»pi«
Of greedy worms; shut trom the face o
Anl this I right =un «0 jorous to the sight,
And thin ! air w >r\ l, so smiling and so gay;
A T beneath the tomb’s remorseless
To rot
\ud tfrSack gloom and silence of eternal
' night 1 '
Obi Lady, »tis a fearful thing to die!
To hear the billows beat, the tempests roar,
,V . crnlf. Eternity!
Upon 111.y stormy t fc blast bc -
,ternity
How the poor spirit
And trembles, as it gains the unknown
How awful'stands the judgement-seat of
How fierce* the pains for sinners laid in
Yet, oh-the Saviour drops his chastening
To gr
™ t d ’his ransomed saints; and opes
their blest abode l
Ob' Lady, 3 tis a fearful thing to die!
Hart! toll,e wort* “Ye ruraed oneade-
Tt*o outer worlds o? night. dejiart, and fly
T„"fains ao'> ««• ! ’’ D ° ll sta "i
Children of darkness! Do ye wnlhe ami
Beneath the whips ol vengeance? Do ye
And curse the vipers now, that round your
Fn* wine tosting? In vain, alas! ye moan
AmCweeping, gnash your teeth; ye reap
what wc have sown I
Ob' Ladv, 5 t!« a fearful thing to die!
But hath the Saviour’s lovethy spirit blest,
Tbs love of h'm, who once on L-alvaiv
For sinners bowed and died! Hath grace
Th’ Christian’s holy faith upon thy breast ?
Then on thy blest Redeemer’s merits trust,
When night steals on; and in the shadowy
Thy last of suns goes down; when dust to
dust , , ,
Returns; and o’er thee steals the graves
cold cankering rust!
Oli! Lady,’tis a fearful thing to die*
But art thou Christ’s? Then to thy Sav
iour’s care
Joyful commit thy soul; and calm Tely
Upon his pardoning biood. * ear not. the
Shall balmy incense keep; the skies shall
Their softest smiles; angels shall round
thee tread, . . „
And to thy fainting bosom comfort hear.
And wave thy sparkling plumes above thy
And whisper sounds of peace around thy
dying bed 1
Oh! Lady, ’tis a fearful thing to die 1
But art thou Christ’s? Then constant at
thv side,
Christ’s messengers shall stand. O, mur-
mur by . ...
Gently, ye winds; ye waters,sweetly glide;
And let her fragile hark serenely ride
Into the port of rest! ye tempests, cease
To rage \ ye gates of glory, open wide;
And lot her way-worn spirit mid release,
And on her Saviour’s bosomsleejmn^eace.
From the Richmond Compiler.
FURTHER—OF IRELAND.
The cause of Ireland increases in
interest. The feelings which have
risen the re, have extended themselves
here. The sous of the Emerald Hie
urc noted for th.3ir warm hearts, and
their -u Achmcm. to 'he cause of liber
ty. Though settled in America, they
cannot forget their native country.
They feel that it has still some claims
upon them which they cannot overlook.
They feel deeply desirous of her e-
mancipation. It is their usual char
acter (o testify this sentiment on all
occasions.
We lay before our readers the tol-
lovving interesting account of an Insti
tution’ which is exerting a tremendous
influence in Ireland—and is regarded
by all parties as one of the most for
midable engines ever invented for
operating on the British Government.
It was the medal of the Order of Lib
erators, that O’Connell wore on his
person, when he appeared on the Hust
ings of the County of Clare. Con
nected with the Rent Fund, and the
active influence ol the Catholic
Priests, who now publicly appear to
animate their flocks, in behalf of Cath
olic Emancipation, they are more a-
larnging, U the eyes of the British Go
vernment, than the former Society of
“Uiiffld frishrxen.”
“0‘*de r of Liberators.—This associ
ation originated in the election for the
comity of Waterford, held in the year
1825. On this occasion, it was deter
mined by the Catholics; to exert to
the utmost, that power whichtbo for
ty shilling freeholders of the county
gave to "their body. The authority
and influence of the Beresford family)
had been paramount, and no one be
fore had ever ventured to oppose
them, or bad done so with any success.
They were, notwithstanding, exceed
ingly unpopular, as the decided and
uncompromising opporients of the
Catholic claims; and as the vast ma
jority of the electors were of this per
suasion, it was supposed by the friends
of the emancipation, that a successful
opposition at this period would be a
decided proof of the growing and im
portant influence of the Catholic body.
Accordingly, Mr. Villiers Stewart, a
uear relative of the Grandison family,
was invited to offer himself as a Can
dida e in opposition to Lord George
Beresford, brother to the late Mar
quis of Waterford. In the year 1782,
when Ireland was struggling for a free
trade and aa.Independent Parliament,
the Protestant electors, to whom the
franchise was at that time confined,
had entered into resolutions, “that no
tie of connexion, or even consanguini
ty, should influence an elector to vote
for any inaa whose politics are hostile
to the interests of the country.” On
this principle they acted: they secur
ed the groat objects of their efforts,
but they rent asunder the tics of land
lord and tenant, who then, for the first
time in Ireland, w ere seen to vote for
opposite candidates. This example
of the Protestants in 1782, the Catho
lics were determined to follow in
1825. They revived and enforced
the principle on the Catholic tenantry;
the landlords were every where aban
doned; and the Beresford family, who
for a century had returned a member
to parliament, were now excluded
As the persons who had thus thrown
open the representation of the county
and shaken off what was called the
“Beresford bondage” were styled for
their services “Liberators,” an asso
ciation was immediately after formed,
to keep alive the principle; and the
Catholic association, and particularly
Mr. O’Connell, to give it consistency
and stability, recommended that it
should assume an “order,” the mem
bers of which were to be distinguish
ed by a medal and other insignia
This advice was immediately acted
op; a medal was struck for the occa
sion; and the following regulations
were drawn up, declaring the objects
of the association:
“As a mode of expressing the grati
tude and confidence of the people for
past services. The formation of a so
ciety of persons, who will consider it
a duty to their country to effectuate
the following purposes: To prevent
the erection and continuance, in their
respective vicinage, of any secret so
ciety or confederacy as the greatest
evil in Ireland, and that which has
tended most to impede the ameliora
tion of the country. To conciliate all
classes of Irishmen in one bond of
brotherhood and affection, so that all
religious animosities may forever cease
among them. To bury in total obliv
ion all causes of mutual reproach, no
matter by whom caused or suffered.
To promote the collection of a nation
al fund for national purposes, as far as
it can be done consistently with the
law. To protect all persons possess
ed of the elective franchise, and par
ticularly forty shilling tree-holders,
from all vindictive proceedings on ac
count of the free exercise of such
franchise. To promote the acquisi
tion of such franchise, and its due re
gistry. To promote the system of
dealing exclusively with the friends of
civil and religious liberty, Protestant
and Catholic, with a selection, when
a choice can bo made, of Protestant
friends, as the more disinterested, and
to prevent, as much as possible, all
dealing with the enemies of Ireland,
whether Protestant Orangemen or
Orange Catholics, the worst of all
Orangists.
Admission of Members.-*-Every in
dividual, who has taken a part in libe
rating the county of Waterford at the
late election, is entitled to be admit
ted a “liberator.” Every person de
siring admission, must have the signa
tures of seven collectors of Catholic
rent for the oity or county of Water
ford; and uo collector is entitled to
sign,who has not been three months
in the collection. Every certificate
must contain a statement of one serv
ice at least rendered by the applicant
to Ireland. Every man who has done
any act to evince an intention not to as
sume a bigoted or exclusive domina
tion over his country, is entitled to
have it considered a service to Ire
land. A book shall be kept In Water
ford, in which the name of the mem
fcer shall be enrolled, with the act of
seiviee rendered to his country, ns a
perpetual record. Every member,
on admission, shall receive his instal
ment at the hands of the chairman, on
one knee; and when the medal is sus
pended about his neck, he shall place
his right fyind on his breast, and re
peat thess words after the secretary:
“I hereby pledge myself faithfully to
observe tje rules and obligations of
this instil tion; to persevere openly
and hones ly in the service of my coun
try,!^ ai. constitutional means, until
her freedom and happiness shall be a-
ehieved, by the extinction of civil and
religious animosity from among her
children.” •
“On the obversd of the model of
the order, is a female figure represen
ting Ireland, having on her right a
sword, and the celebrated fierce ban
dog of Irish story, andVm her left a
harp: and the designation of the socie
ty. “The Order of Liberators.”—
On the exergue, “Irelanqas she ought
to be.”
“On the reverse, a crcfcs surround
ed by a glory of light, having on its
right side three hands joined in token
oi unity, and on its left the cap of lib
erty; and the inscription, “In hoc sig-
no vinces.” On the exergue, “Erin
go bragh.
“Such are the origin, the character,
and the declared objects of the order
of Liberators, now assuming so port
entous an aspect in Ireland.”
the other in basket formed of a hoop f si&ns threaten to approach Constant;*
i * i. . • . • i_i_ ** l.li.
PEARL FISHING AT CEYLON
INTH
The mar
of our notie
the pearl,
purpose of
INDIAN OCEAN,
e animal most deserving
is the oyster which yields
ind which is taken for the
procuring that valuable
article. Oniofthe most celebrated
and productive pearl fisheries is on
the W. coas of Ceylon off the bay of
Condatchy, cbout 12 miles S. from the
island of Mfnaar. This bay is the
great rendezvous for the boats em
ployed, and jthe persons concerned in
it. This paift of the country is san
dy, and scarijely inhabited at all, ex
cept on thes<f occasions.
But duringithe pearl fishery it bran
ches out into a populous town with
many streets a mile long. The most
active persoss in erecting the huts are
the Mahometan natives of the island.
None of the Singalese are divers,
which some ascribe to the timidity of
their character; but many of them re
sort to the place as to a fair, particu
larly fishermen to supply the multi
tude with fish. About the end of Oc
tober, in the year preceding a pearl
fishery, during a short interval of line
weather, an examination of the banks
takes place, a few oysters being ta
ken for a specimen. The banks ex
tend over a space of 30 miles long and
24 broad, and 14 in number. The
largest bed is 10 miles long and 2 in
breadth. When fishery is determined
advertisements are circulated for
all concerned to repair to the place
on the 20th of the succeeding Febru
ary, when the boats come from Jaffna,
Ramisseram, Nagore, Tutakoreen,
l ravancore, Kilkerry, and other parts
on the coasts of Coromandel. The
banks are about 15 miles (or three
hours sailing) from the shore of Con
dalchy. The pearl oysters are all of
the same species, but vary in their
qualities according to the nature of
the ground to which they are attach
ed, and the appearance of the numer
ous and often large zoophytes which
adhere to the outsides of their shells.
Their number on the banks varies
considerably, being sometimes wash
ed away by the currents of the tide,
and sometimes buried in tie sand de
posited by the water. The pearls
are in the fleshy part of the oyster,
near one of the angles at fhe hinge.—
Each generally contains several pearls
The fishery is rented generally to
one individual for a stipulated sum
two-thirds of which is paid in advance
In 1804, the renter biought with him
a large family with 73 palanquins, to
ecoh of which thirteen well dres
sed bearers were attached. He is
allowed 150 boats’ fishing for thirty
days. The boatmen and their attend
ants to the numter of 6000 are roused
a little before midnight with immense
bustle, and, after their ablutions and
incantations, set sail. About half
past G in the morning the diving be
gins. A kind of open scaffolding is
projected from each side of the boat,
which the diving tackle is suspended,
consisting of three stones 56 pounds in
weight on one side and two on the oth
er. The diving stone hangs by a rope
and slip knot, descending a little into
the water. In the rope just above,
there is al*> a strong loop to receive
like a stirrup the foot of the diver.
The latter puts one foot hi the loop and
and net work. When duly prepared
he grasps Ids nostrils with one hand,
and with the other gives a sudden pull
to the running knot and instantly de
scends; both the rope of the sione and
that of the basket follow, him. The
moment he reaches the bottom he dis
engages his foot from the stone wiiich
is immediately drawn to be ready for
the next diver. The diver at the bot
tom throws himself on his face and
collects every thing he can lay hold of
into the basket.
When ready to ascend, he gives a
a jerk to the basket rope and is speed
ily hauled up by the persons in the
boat; using in the mean time his own
exertions in working up by the rope,
he arrives at the surface a considera
ble time before the basket. He
swims about, or remains at rest laying
hold of an oar or rope till his turn
comes to descend again. Some of the
divers perform-a dip in one minute:
a minute and a half or two minutes
are assigned as the utmost that any
one remains under water. The bas
ket is often so heavy as to require
more than one man to haul it up.
The shark-charmers form an indis
pensable part of the establishment.—
All these impostors belong to one fam
ily. The natives will not descend
without knowing that one of them is
present in the fleet. Two are con
stantly employed, one in the head pi
lot’s boat, and another performing
ceremonies on shore. Sharks are of
ten seen from the boats and by the di
vers while in the water, but an acci
dent rarely occurs. This prejudice
operates as a protection to the oyster
banks from plunder at other times.—
Where the bed is rich, a diver often
puts upwards of 150 oysters into his
basket at one d\p, when they are thin
ly scattered not more than five. Af
ter diving a small quantity of blood u-
suallv issues from the nose and ears
which is considered as a favorable
symptom, and they perform the oper
ation with greater comfort after the
bleeding has commenced.
They seem to enjoy the labor as a
pleasant pastime, and never complain
of fatigue unless the banks are poor
in oysters.
Two divers are attached to each
stone and go down alternately. The
period allotted for this operation con
tinues from 5 to 6 hours.
About 1 or 2 o’clock at the setting
in of the sea breeze, on a signal given
by the head pilot, the fleet sets sail
for the shore and arrives about 4 or 5
o’clock amidst an immenso concourse
of people.
They never fish on Sundays, all the
pilots and many divers being Romish
Christians, and the day of rest being
also convenient for the Hindoos.—
Each diver has a fourth part of the oy
sters which he brings up, from which
however he has various claims to sat
isfy He sells his share on the spot
to the numerous adventures who re
sort to the place. In a successful
fishery each man carries home at the
end of the season forty or fifty pagod
as.
A boat has been known to land in
one day 33000 oysters, and in another
not more than 300. Those belonging
to the renter are piled up in enclosures
formed by palisadoes, and the opening
of them does not commence till the
fishery is considerably advanced.
Adventurers on a small scale open
them when they buy them or on the
following morning. Many of the na
tive merchants who resort hither from
Madras and other parts are extreme
ly wealthy and make a great display
of opulence in their personal appear
ance, their retinue, and the quantity
of specie which accompanies them
Pearls sell at a higher price in the
market ef Condatchy during the sea
son, than in any part of India.
No fishery took place between the
years 1768 and 1796. The fishery of
the latter year was rented by some
native of Jaffnapatam at 60,000/. and
they cleared three times that sum by
the adventure. In 1797 the nett pro
ceeds were 144,000/. and in 1798
192,000/. That of 1799 only yielded
30,000/. There was a fishery off a-
nother part of the coast of Chilaw in
1803, which yielded 15,000/. and one
at Aripo in 1806, which yielded 35,-
000/.
The fisheries, on the whole, present
an amusing scene, from the number of
strange characters, deformed persons,
jugglers, and dancers, tumblers, me
chanics and retailors, who resort to
the place from the remotest parts of
India.
nople, it is highly probable that this is
the gate by which they will enter
and the very same passage that ad
mitted the crecent, will again admit
the cross. It is very well known,
that this is an event which the Turks
are expecting; and their anticipations
of it are not confined to military pre
parations. Their great burying ground
lies on the Asiatic shore, and is to be
see.n extending its dark cypress grove
for'a considerable distance in the vi
cinity of Scutari. This is perhaps,
the largest cemetry in the world, be
ing one hour, or three miles in length;
and it has increased to its present size
in consequence of the extraordinary
predilection the Turks of Constantino-
pie entertain for it. They are per
suaded they will again be compelled
to retire to Asia, whence they came;
and they wish their bodies to be laid
in a place where Christian infidels
cannot disturb them. The majority
therefore, of those who die in Con
stantinople, are transported by their
friends across the Bosphorus; and the
stairs on the slip at which they em
bark, is called, for this reason Meitis-
kelli, or the Ladder of the Dead.”
Walsh.
DESERT ASPECT OP THE COUNTRY
NEAR CONSTANTINOPLE.
We now entered the plain that sur*.
rounds Constantinople, and the eye
could commaud an extensive view of
the country on all sides. The first
and most striking impression was the
exceeding solitude that reigned every
where around. We were within a
few hundred yards of the walls of an
immense metropolis, where 700,000
people lived together; but if we were
at the same distance only from the ru
ins of Palmyra, we could not have
witnessed more silence and desolation.
The usual villas which are scattered
near the suburbs ot a large city were
not to be seen, and the crowds which
generally throng the entrance no where
to be met with. A single team of
Butlaloes, dragging an aruba, or solita
ry horseman scarcely visible on the
horizon, were the only object that in
dicated the existence ef social life
close by the great city. Nothing,
perhaps, marks the indolence of the
Turkish character more than this cir
cumstance. The shores of the Bos
phorus are very populous, and from
Constantinople to near the Black Sea,
is one continued village. The inter
course is proportionality great, and the
surface of the water is a moving pic
ture of boats passing and re-passing.”
Ib.
THE GREAT TURKISH CEMETRY.
A.? this i? the side on which the Ru<j-
Extract of a letter from Capt. Thomas An
thony,- dated
Cantonment Gihson, (A. T.) July j,
“General Chilly M’Intosh and twen
ty seven of our Creek Indians have
been on a buffalo Hunt; and after an ab
sence of t wenty days, returned with
the meat of 24 buffaloes, which they
killed. They saw about 600 buffa
loes, and an immense number of deer,
whilst out, and would have killed
more, hut had not the means of bring
ing the meat home, every horse hav
ing as much as lie could carry. A
seeoml party will go out next month,
when they anticipate much sport.—
All the Indians are delighted with this
country, which is rich and well calcu
lated for our people, who can live
well by agriculture and hunting
We have no fears of their suffering, as
the crops look well. We shall have
roasting ears of corn in two weeks,
out of new ground cultivated since
March last. We have some good
gardens with cucumbers, lettuce,
radishes, plenty of Irish and sweet
potatoes, beans, peas, beets, water-
mellons, &c. Col. Brearly will raise
1500 bushels of corn, which we plant
ed since I have been here.”
“We have had a deputation of Del
aware Indians amongst us, who claim
to be the grand-father of all Indian
tribes. I went to our Public Square
with them, and held a talk. They
presented beads and tobacco, which
was received in ancient form; and re
ceived presents of the same articles in
return. All this is right; and we do
not anticipate difficulty with any of
the Indian tribes. * We shall avoid all
alliances. This has been my advice
to the Indians. There are, however,
a number of Indians who do not re
spect the rights of any nation: that go
upon a war expedition to gain the
name and character of warriors, and
will take any person’s scalp, and nm
1 the risk of the consequences.”
* JSvft JPotst.
