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seven hundred occupy the Maryland Colony
at Cape Palmas. To these may be added a
bout five hundred natives, civilized and ad
mitted to the privileges of the polls, and the
rights of citizenship in general. The natives
residing on land owned by the Colony, and
directly amenable to its laws, are estimated
from 10,000 to 15,000. The population of
the allied tribes in the interior, who are bound
by treaty to abstain from the slave trade nd
other barbarous practices, is not accurately
known, but may be estimated at 150,000.
A WISE ANSWER.
In West Africa, the church Missionary So
ciety of England have a school for poor ne
gro children. It is related of a little girl who
belonged to that school, that one of her fel
low pupils had beaten her. She was asked,
“ Did you beat her again ?” She answered,
u No, I left it to God.” The annals of phil
osophy and human wisdom might be searched
in vain for any thing equal to that answer.
GENIUS.
He is not the greatest man, who, with a gi
ant intellect, can startle the multitude as with
sudden thunder. The impression left on the
mind is not agreeable and lasting. He who
would stir up the soul, must have a calm,
sympathizing heart. It is this which vibrates
through the human heart, leaps in the warm
pulses, and urges us to deeds of mercy. The
man whose sympathies are with common hu
manity—whose heart is moved by pure be
nevolence—breathes thoughts that will never
die. Like the silent dews, they descend on
the bosom to cheer, to bless and to save. The
breath of true life is thus felt in the heart.—
Such a writer blends genius with humanity,
and is destined to sway the multitude and
urge them on to deeds of mercy and unend
ing glory.
P)Uosopl)j) for tl)c People.
COKING DIAMONDS.
Intelligent readers are aware of the fact, as
a curiosity of science, that the royal diamond
and plebeian coal are one and the same sub
stance, identical in composition, only differ
ing in their condition, the one being in a rude
state of nature, coarse and barbarous, the oth
er refined and sublimated into the highest
ranks of crystalline excellence; and that the
diamond is capable of being burned away like
charcoal, as is occasionally demonstrated by
lecturers on chemistry, in their experiments.
Not satisfied with our knowing so much on
this subject, greatly, of course, as the know
ledge operates to the dispraise of the monarch
of gems, a French savant, M. Jacquelain, has
discovered another humiliating fact, viz : that
it may be coked—turned like a piece of base,
sea-coal, without combustion, from a bright
diamond, into a good bit of coke, such as they
turn out in such quantities, every day, at the
gas-works.
The diamond can only be coked by the in
tense heat of electricity. M. Jacquelain’s
process was as follows, —as we find it des
cribed by the London Athenaeum, in a report
of a lecture by Faraday u on the conversion
of diamond into coke.”
Having attached a piece of hard gas retort
carbon to the positive wire of Bunsen’s bat
tery of 100 elements, he placed on it a small
piece of diamond. He then armed the nega
tive wire with a cone of the same carbon, and,
by dexterous manipulation, enveloped the di
amond with electric flame. After a short in
terval, the diamond underwent a sort of ebul
lition, became disentegrated, softened, and was
actual coke. —Scientific American.
LIGHTNING.
So long as lightning is occasioned merely
by the action of two clouds, one upon anoth
er, not the slightest danger is to be appre
hended. Thunder being only a report, is per
fectly harmless at all times. But when the
electricity comes within the attraction of the
earth, either by a cloud crossing over a lofty
mountain or sinking near the earth's surface,
it passes down from the cloud to the earth,
sometimes in a straight line of lire, sometimes
rolling along like a large ball, clearing out
of its way everything that offers resistance to
it; thus it will often tear up trees, set houses
on fire, and even destroy animal life, should
it impede its progress. This ball is a liquid
in state of fusion, and not (as has been sup
posed by some persons unacquainted with
the science) a metallic substance called a
thunderbolt. are metallic substances
sometimes precipitated from the air; these
are termed aerolites, and have nothing to do
with the electricity of storms. As soon as
the clouds disperse, which is usually after a
§®olflS g[R m ft, IITF BiB& IE ¥ ® ASSTFIf s*
vivid flash of lightning and a very loud clap
of thunder, the rain descends, the electrical
power is destroyed, and the storm ceases.
Although storms arise from what may be call
ed the accidents of nature, they are of great
importance as an effort of nature, by which
the atmosphere is cleared of all those impu
rities it imbibes from noxious vapors, and oth
er sources; and hence, despite their danger
ous tendencies and the terrors to which they
give rise, they are productive of much advan
tage.—Sharp's London Magazine ,
HOW TO ENLARGE VEGETABLES.
A vast increase of food may be obtained by
managing judiciously, and systematically car
rying out for a time the principle of increase.
Take, for instance, a pea. Plant it in a very
rich ground. Allow it to bear the first year,
say half a dozen pods only: remove all oth
ers. Save the largest single pea of these—
sow it the next year, and retain of the pro
duce three pods only: sow the largest one
the following year, and retain one pod.—
Again select the largest, and the next year
the sort will have trebled its size and weight.
Ever afterwards sow the largest seed. By
these means you will get peas (or anything
else) of a bulk of which we at present have
no conception.
®l)e tUovking fttan.
BENEFITS OF MACHINERY TO THE
POOR.
The New York American in an article on
this subject, states that fifty years ago wages
were no better, in fact less then, than at the
present day, and the comforts and luxuries of
life far more difficult to obtain. Articles need
ed by the poor man, cost in those days of
comparative freedom from machinery, from
twice to three times v/hat they do now, and
often more ; and you will find that the great
est reductions are in those articles to which
machinery has been most successfully ap
plied There is no article of luxury or com
fort to which machinery has been extensively
and successfully applied, of which the poor
man cannot now’ get more for a day’s labot
than he could before such application of ma
chinery. Salt is now less than one third, iron
less than one half; shirtings and calicoes and
cloth generally from one half to one fourth.
Pins, needles, shoes, hats, everything in sim
ilar proportions.
Forty years ago such articles of use and
ornament as clocks were scarcely known, and
could be afforded by the rich only. Farmers’
wagons were chiefly sleds, their houses cab
ins, their chairs stools and benches, bureaus
pins drove in the wall or poles hung across,
and their windows often an old sheet or blank
et. Nails and glass cost money in those days,
and labor commanded little !
Since machinery has been applied,—better
roads, turnpikes, rail-roads, all of which are
a species of machinery, have been construct
ed. Steam has been made to propel the boat
and the great ship, and to give power to the
mill, to the jenny and the loom. Production
in many articles has been more than trebled,
and every thing the laborer needs has fallen,
while his wages have raised or remain sta
tionary. The clock which the farmer had
not and could not afford, now adorns the man
tle of his poorer tenant, and summons him to
his meals.
There have been less improvements in ag
ricultural implements than in machinery for
manufacturing purposes—but this is the age
of improvement. Let machinery be applied
to husbandry also. Let bread and meat be
as cheap as clothing, and if the distribution
j is not as equal as it might be, let us rejoice
that if the rich man has more, so also the
! poor man has much more.
The cottager has now by the aid of ma
chinery here, what great kings have not in
Africa, and wha t the kings of England had
not before the introduction of machinery.—
The great Alfred sat upon a three legged stool,
while many an English or American tenant
reclines on a gilded sofa. If the poor of Eng
land and America are not so well off as they
should be, machinery is not at fault. It is
machinery that has saved them from much
i greater misery, and the reforms which they
; need are chiefly governmental and social.—
i RAIL-ROAD SPEED IN ENGLAND.
Upon the Rail-ivays in England locomo
tives attain a great spec 1, owing, perhaps, to
the substantial manner in which the roads are
built. Trains on the Great Western Railway
have gone 194 miles in three hours and 38
minutes, at the same time drawing (JO tons
weight. Deducting 32 minutes for stoppages,
iit gives a rate of speed equal to about (5-1
miles per hour. The usual time however, for
performing this distance is four and a half
hours, including stoppages, with a train of 40
freight cars, which is drawn with perfect ease.
Formerly, it took two hours to perform the
journey between Edinburg and Glasgow, a
distance of 46 miles. The road is now gone
over by the mail trains in an hour and a quar
ter.
The usual rate of travel upon the English
railways, of “ swift trains,” is 50 miles per
hour, including stoppages.— Appleton's Rail-
Road Companion.
CURE FOR THE TOOTHACHE.
Take a piece of sheet zinc, about the size
of a sixpence, and a piece of silver say a
quarter of a dollar, place them together, and
hold the defective tooth between or contigu
ous to them—in a few minutes the pain will
be gone as if by magic. The zinc and silver
acting as a galvanic battery, will produce on
the nerves of the tooth sufficient electricity to
establish a current, and consequently relieve
the pain.
2ln (£*traorliinan} JJocm.
For the Southern Literary Gazette.
A GEORGIA MUSTER.
The following remarkable Poem was re
cently placed in our hands, subject to our
will and pleasure, and we cannot resist the
temptation to lay it before our readers, premi
sing that we have preserved the metre and
the orthography of the original.— Ed. South
ern Lit. Gazette.
It was in the year of eighteen hundred forty four,
Having orthoritj r , the Govinor once more,
Called for a General Review,
With the exception of a very few.
Invalids, over and under age, not ehuse
Others had no right to refuse.
In August, on the 23rd and fourth,
When the men were, all, called forth.
This was done by the Colonel’s command:
By such officers as he chused to demand.
How this was done I need not say.
For you, all very well, know the way.
And where this muster was seen,
Was in the celebrated County Greene.
The General was absent, by a eaus unknown :
At least to me it has not been shown.
It is true, he sent Players of fife and drum,
With another Negro, very fond of rum ;
Then the Colonel marched the men out of town,
And they were soon on the muster Ground.
In preparing the Officers to call,
He took too much of Alcoholl;
But they were soon at hand
To receive the words of his Command.
The Malitia, off in Piattoons, were soon laid,
And their Captains and guides were soon made,
These by the Colonel’s orders were sennt:
And to their places they quickly went.
To the Ridgement, himself, he did address,
To try to cheer their minds afresh
By saying short would be their stay,
If his commands they only would obey ;
But if careless and negligent none
Should leave till the going down of the sun.
He whealed the m on the rights and lefts of guides,
Which made some very awkward strides,
And when, into open columns, they
Marched in a very bad way,
For after the guides the men were marched too soon
Forming many circles and half moon.
Several bobbles there were made
By the men marching retrograde.
Reader, let mo tell you now,
Back in town they went, no matter how ;
In a gallop ofl‘ the Colonel rode
Nearly as tight as a toad;
The marching men he did dismiss.
Being in a hurry his glass to kisa.
Now, before I shall close
These lines, without any prose,
I"1I tell you how the men did dress,
Without giving them any caress:
From their plantations many a Peasant,
Os rural occupation, then was presant,
Armed with his own gun,
Others borrowed, some had none ;
And some sticks did take,
Some uinberrelas, through mistake ;
Some took oil tho muster to shun.
Others Whiskey, Brandy, Gin, or Ruin ;
Some would get drunk and tight.
1 exclaimed, ah ! w hat an awful s : ght !
l .es. mo tell you, in conclusion,
There was a very great confusion ;
I cannot tell you near all
About the great nrtster Hall;
So you must take but half,
W h'.t.h will make you all laugh.
EDITOR’S DEPARTMENT.
ATHENS, SATURDAY, SEPT. 23, 1848.
Singing in our Churches.
We shall offer no apology, whatever, for noticin'-
tliissubjcct in the columns of the “ Gazette,” deem
ing it of such importance as to deserve and demand
attention. Accustomed, as we have ever been to
regard singing as one of the most delightful and
profitable of all the services of the Sanctuary, when
it is judiciously performed, we cannot forbear lend
ing the influence of our Journal, and of our pen, to
urge upon our readers a more earnest regard for this
portion of divine worship.
It has been remarked, and observation abundant
ly attests the truth of the statement, that the most
devotional congregations generally pay the most at
tention to Church Psalmody. By this, we are far
from designing to intimate that those congregations
for whom all the singing is done by a band of hired
vocalists and instrumentalists—who have no heart
felt interest in their performance—arc devotional
congregations. Far from it: we utterly repudiate
such singing—and if it were not a contradiction of
terms, should call it, perhaps, Operatic or Theatri
cal Psalmody! We are decided advocates for sing
ing by the-congregation—by which, of course, we
mean all those in the congregation who have good
voices and a tolerable knowledge of the principles
of music.
Singing is eminently a devotional act —it is tho
poetry of worship, if such a terra be allowable. Tho
heart and the voice encourage each other in son".
Hence, all who can sing should unite in this portion
of the public services of God’s house. No duty is
more frequently enjoined in the Bible than that of
praise. We are commanded to “serve tho Lord
with gladness, and come before his presence with
singing:” and the sweet singer of Israel exclaims,
“ Let the people praise thee, O God; let all thk
TEOrLE praise thee!” The duty of singing praises,
then, is a clear and positive one; but how are we to
sing praises I Here, too, the Bible is our instruc
tor: “ Sing ye praises with understanding.”
Now, we shall endeavor to show that to “sing
praises with the spirit, and with the under standin*
also,” requires a knowledge of music—not a perfect
acquaintance with its theory and science, but a
knowledge of its general rules —an idea of time, a
correct ear and a correct taste. These, added to a
good voice, will enable their possessor to “sing
with the understanding.” Let us now enquire if
such are the qualifications of many who make great
pretensions to efficiency in Church Psalmody, and
who aspire to lead the congregation in this branch
of devotion. We have known men set up for chor
isters whose entire stock of musical knowledge con
sisted of half a dozen antiquated tunes —assorted,
from long to short metre —and whose musical taste
was as much more deficient than their knowledge,
as a cipher is less than a unit —who never heard of
time, and who never conceived of melody ! Their
singing is of the nasal genus, all their sounds being
forced out of their leading organs, as if there was
not a larger channel of exit just below them
Then, too, they have a curious habit of introduc
ing—for euphony’s sake, we presume—certain favo
rite letters into words, besides the usual compliment,
such as d’s and n’s. We do not know that we can
execute a specimen of their singing, but as near a
type will express it, let us attempt, in their 3tyle.
popular stanza:
“Am Ida sol-n-dier dos the Cross —
D.i follower dos the Lamb-d?
Dan Khali di fear to ow-d-n hid cause —
Dor bludh to spea-d-k hid name.”
But it is not only the nasal execution that w ob
ject to in such loaders of the public devotion. J here
are other serious errors. It, requires, we apprehend,
good taste to select tunes suitable to the hymns an
nounced. Tho choristers whom we describe-" 1111 '*
but too truly—have no idea at all of this, but would
probably raise a quick, lively and spirited air— :
they knew such —to a solemn, penitential hymn, and
a slow, mournful melody, such as Dundee or Wind
ham. to an exulting song of gratitude and
giving. Thcyrush through every stanza , moreover,
with the same pitch of the voice, and in tones e.
thunder that stun our ears, mar the exquisite pal* 1 “’
and tenderness of such lines as the following:
“ Soft be the gently breaching noted
That sing the Saviour’s dying love;
Soft ad the evening Zephyr floats—
And soft as tuneful lyres above:
Soft as the morning dews descend,