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ndewvor to impress upon her mind the folly
f annoying (tie Cow-keeper, and informing
rr, that if she still persisted in doing so, it
’ould only lead to great discomfiture oo her
u t.—English paper.
A WORD TO STUDENTS.
l.iecdotes of Linker, Sir Isaac Newton and Pre
sident Edwards
Be persuaded to strict temperance by a con-
/deration of its happy influence on the health and
•C:gor both of mind and body. The most emi-
>!-.nt physicians bear uniform testimony to this
propitious effect of entire abstinence. And the
Hpirit of inspiration has recorded, He that stri-
rth for the mastery, is temperate in all things.
'Iany striking examples might be adduced.—
.'he mother of Sampson, that prodigy of hu-
nun strength was instructed by an angel of
iod to preserve him from the slightest touch
f "wine or strong drink, or any uncleaD thing.”
Vnd Luther, who burst the chains of half Eu-
ope, was as remarkable for temperance as for
great bodily and intellectual vigor. ‘‘It often
lappened,” says his biographer, "that for se
veral days and nights he locked himself up in
lis study, and took no other nourishment than
•read and water, that he might the more unin-
crruptedly pursue his labors. Sir Isaac New-
'on, also, while composing his Treatise on
Light, a work requiring the greatest clearness
jf intellect, abstained not only from spirit, hut
'rom all stimulating food. The immortal Ed
wards, too, repeatedly records his own experi
ence of the happy effect of strict temperance
>oth in mind and body. And the recent re
formations from moderate drinking, in different
parts of the land have revealed numerous ex
amples of renovated health and spirits in con
sequence ofthe change. But not to multiply
nstanccs; let any youth, oppressed with heavi
ness of brain or dullness of intellect thorough
ly try the experiment of temperance in all things,
united with great activity, and he will himself
be surprised at the happy cfTect.—National
Preacher.
against his majesty. These warlike prepara
tions bring to mind the story of the bmtle be
tween Rcgulus and the snake. The terrene
brother of the sea-serpent will hardly be able
to escape the rifle balls of the western hunters
who have got upon his "trail” and ascertained
that it terminates in a cavern.—N. Y. Evening
post.
DOMESTIC
Condition of Turkish Women.—The gardens
;n the neighborhood of Pera, are also favorite
places of resort for the Turkish ladies; and
large parties of them are frequently seen re
pairing thither, either walking with a hurried
«nd shuffling pace, or riding in small tilted wa
gons. drawn by four little white oxen gaily ca
parisoned. Their whole figure is enveloped
in a shapeless cloak or pelisse, called a Ferre-
; : eh; and the Mahratnah, or thick white hand
kerchief, in which the face and head are muf
fled up, effectually prevents them frein being
recognized.
Their eyes only are visible, and they are ge
nerally of sparkling blackness, and expressive
•of any feeling rather than melancholy. The
•cheerfulness and merriment indeed which pre
vail, whenever a group of Turkish women is
collected together, may serve to contradict
some of the notions which are generally enter
tained respecting them; and may show, to use
the words of an intelligent traveller, "how gra
tuitous and mi-placed is the pity which we
sometimes bestow upon beings who are not
perhaps sensible that they can be objects of
any other feeling than envy and admiration.”—
Happily for mankind, the influence of the fair
sex is not limited to any particular mode of so
ciety, but may be as powerfully exercised in
the retirement of the harem as in the glitter of
the drawing room. Nor does the seclusion,
which we should think imprisonment, excite h-
mong the Turkish women any discontent; on
the contrary, it is considered as cne of the
great distinctions between the higher and low
cr orders, and in the marriage contract it is
sometimes stipulated that the lady shall have
the privilege of remaining at home, and not be
obliged to go out shopping in the streets and
bazzars like the wives and daughters of trades
men.—Turkish Empire.
horse crawling through a post. —A story is
told of the lute Ilev. Mr. Sprague, of Dublin,
N. H. which sets the remarkable simplicity of
the learneJ parson in a very ludicrous 1'ght.—
Paying a visit to one of his parishioners, he
threw the bridle ofhis horse over the post of a
rail fence dear the house. During his stay,
the animal contrived to disengage the bridle
from the post, and get it under his feet—see
ing which, a servant girl drew the reins thro’
one of the mortices and over the top of the
post in the form of a noose. The parson took
his leave, and going to untie his horse, was in
describably astonished to find the bridle, which
be had simply thrown over the post, thus pas
sed through one of the holes. "This beats
all!” ejaculated he to himself, "1 never saw
the like of it before! To be sure, we read of a
camel going through the eye of a needle—but
this was in the days ot miracles. No, no, I
never saw the like of it before!” He examin
ed it anew; he tried to get the bridle out, but
it surpassed his ingenuity. "Yes, it must be,”
said he, "the horse has actually crawled thro'
the post hole—there’s no other way to account
for it!” Full of this impression, and despair
ing of making the animal retrace his steps, he
whipped out his knife, and was about cutting
the reins, when the same girl, perceiving his
quandary, released the horse and explained the
mystery. But if the simple parson was aston
ished before, he was little less so now, to find
his penetration surpassed by that of a servant
girl. ‘ Heh, girl,” said he, "1 believe you’r
right; but how in the name of wonder should
a girl like you know more than a man of mv
iearning. It’s astonishing 1 astonishing! Mira
culous! miraculous!”—N Y. Constellation.
The Kentucky Serpent.—A few days since
we copied an account into this paper of an
enormous snake that had been seen in the
neighborhood of Lexington Kentuky. This
monstrous reptile was represented to be about
20 feet in length, and as large round as an ordi
nary stove pipe, the story seems not to have
been a fable. The Lexington Gazette men
tions that he was committing "terrible havoc”
among the horses, cows, and other cattle in
that neighborhood, his bellowing had been dis
tinctly heard a night or too before, at intervals
through the whole night. So formidable and
much apprehended is this extraordinary snake,
that a reward of five hundred dollars has been
offered to him who shall kill it, and several
companies of the Kentucky militia had been or
FROM THE GEORGIA COURIER.
NATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS.
The writer has read with attention, the late
message of the President of the United States,
to thellouse of Representatives, on the
subject ofhis refusal to sign the bill, to author
ise a susbeription of Stock in the Maysviile
and Lexington Turnpike Company.
There are two grand points and principles
which govern the position and features of the
whole communication: In one of which the
President is perfectly correct, and in the other
he is most egregeously wrong; and the writer
pledges himself to convince even his Excel
lency, of this fact, whom he believes a man
always open to conviction. The subject
of Internal Improvement, particularly in those
objects, which Congress might, and ought to
participate, and have a deep interest, is but
partially understood, even by the first States
men of the country.
The objects of improvement, which can be
justly called national, and to which the aid and
funds of the General Government can be Con
stitutionally applied, are but few in the United
States; and may be briefly pointed out as fol
lows:—A connexion of the Wabash or Illinois,
with the Lakes;—the Erie Canal,—already
effected without the aid of the General Gov
ernment;— the Chesapeak and Ohio Canal to
he constructed by the Bal timore Rail Road,
on the East side of the Mountains; (any further
extension of the Rail Road, will be found to
cost more than it would ever remunerate the
owners.) The Cumberland Road—There is
an important rout for an improved communi
cation between the James and Great Kanahwa
rivers in Virginia—The Charleston Rail Road,
to be continued, hereafter, through Georgia,
near the United States Arsenal in the neigh
borhood of Augusta, as a central outlet to the
Atlantic, for Tennessee Alabama and the
States in their rear; as well as the interior ot
South Carolina and Georgia—The Florida
Canal across the Isthmus—A Canal, or Rail
Road Communication, between the Tennessee
river, below the Muscle Shoals and the Tom
beebee, and such further improvement as is
practicable in the line of inland navigation.from
the Dismal Swamp Canal and the waters of
the Chesapeake, along the sea-board of the
Southern states, to the river St. Johns, and
from the west end of the Florida canal, or St
Marks, to the Mississippi, by way of Lake
Ponchartrain and Bayou Manchanc.
It is conceived that the above are the only
principal nine leading objects of int°rnal im
provement, to which Congress can, Constitu
tionally and prudently, give aid and support
out of the National Treasury:—On this point,
the President seems to sanction the principle
as correct. The other grand point, and in
which the President is io an prror of judgment
and foresight upon this subject, (hut not from
the heart) is contained in his message to Con
gress at the opening of the session, and refer
red to again in the message above alluded to,
that the surplus of revenue and national funds,
in case of such anticipated contingency, should
be distributed among the different States, for
the purpose of internal improvement, upon the
basis and ratio of Representation.
This view, at first, would seem vert plau«i
ble to satisfy all parties; hut. upon the geo
graphical principles and scientific practice ne
cessary to be observed and applied to such ob
jects as is conceived, that Congress have
Constitutional right to participate, it will be
found altogether erroneous, under the follow
ing heads.
First.—Tt should not he forgotten that s
supernatural power has left the country so sit
uated, with a diversity of interceptions of in
land riv r communications, for carrying on
commerce, facilitating agriculture and defend
ing the country and the Government in time of
war, that there are certain great commanding
points and routes left, by the Creator of the
Universe, for improved connections by the en
terprise and ingenuity of man; and it seems
that those objects were designed, bv nature,
without regard to the subsequent boundaries of
states and "State Rights," and particularly
when situated like these United States, for the
purpose of national improvements.
Hence, it will be perceived that there are
many states which do not participate at all ; n
the geographical location of these routes for
the applicat ion of internal improvement, which
can be considered national, and within the pal«
of the Constitution; and vet. bv opening cer
tain obstructions to transportation between
their fine rivers and inland navigation, leading
to and from the various points of commerce
upon the Atlantic, it will be perceived that
many of those States remote from th'* imme
diate location of the above named great na
tional objects of connection and expenditure,
would participate in their mutual benefits.
Secondly.—Suppose, for instance, that the
Territory of Florida was to receive national
encouragement only in proportion to its Repre
sentation? —And still its locality between the
Western and Atlantic States, and capability of
affording a national thorough fare between
them, renders a Steam Boat Canal across thf*
Isthmus, the most important object of the
kind, and of the most general utility, to which
the national funds can be applied.
On the other hand—suppose the surplus re
venue was to be distributed among the diffe
rent states, agreeable to the ratio of their res
pective Representation? There would be a
complete squandering of such surplus revenue
and national funds upon detached legal objects.
so as to destroy every vestige of benefit to the
great leading national arteries of the country;
and instead of promoting its Union and wel
fare, internal peace, prosperity and defence in
time of war, those great objects, which should
be the unceasing solicitude of the General Go
vernment, would be entirely defeated.
On mature reflection the writer will venture
to assert, that the President of the U. States
is impoftani^and the above remarks lire ad
vanced in the most friendly hope ot eliciting
sound wisdim and foresight upon a subject,
which is becoming every day, more and more
important to the country.
It is whispered among members of Con
gress, that Mr. Van Buren is the author of
the suggestions of the distribution of the
"surplus revenue,’* as recommended by the
President, an! that his primary object for so
doing is, no diubt, to establish a Congressional
system of divdir.g the public money ot the
whole people, mder the specious pretext of in
ternal improvehet, upon the basis and ratio of
Representation; whereby, he would not only
render himself the more popular in his own
Slate, but enable New York, whose national
object, (the Erie Canal) has already been
completed, to pay off the balance of her State
debt. &c. in consequence of her overwhelming
number of Representatives, over any other
State, upon "the ratio of Representation; while
other parts of the Union, in which national ob*
objects of improvement have yet received no
no aid or encouragement, would be turned off
with a lean "ratio” to be applied to detached,
local objects, in direct contradiction of the
great and main principle on which the Presi
dent lefused to sign the Mavsvillc and Lex
ington Turnpike hill.
This shews clearly that the people—the
great mass of the people and their Represen
tatives want mere light npon this important
subject, so as to enable them, as well as the
President, to guard against the great talent
of the Nothern as well as the Southern Dema
gogues.
The three most important routes, out of the
nine above mentioned, and now entitled to the
first attention and aid of Congress, are the
Chesapeak and Ohio Canal—the Charleston
Rail Road, and the Florida Canal; and the oth
ers, hearafter, in rotation of their respective
importance, as the means and population of
• he country progress.
The communication between the Tennessee
and Tombecbee, would be out of order till the
Florida canal is completed.
Unless Congress will adopt 90ine national
measure of this kind, based upon the geogra
phy of the country and the great practicable
leading arteries between the Western anJ At
lantic States, without regard to their bound
aries and sectional "State rights;’ and inde
pendent of the electioneering bickerings of par
ties, headed only by qflief. hunters, am! Djsu-
nionist, I say, unless Congress can adopt sod**'
such system to be applied to national objects
only, the country will never become improved,
and millions of public money will be thrown
away without effecting, even one single object
as desired, and as might be Constitutionally
and judicionsly executed for the mutual bene
fit of the whole.
Where is the use, and where is the justice
to the people and the treasury, for Congress
to effect surveys of minor local routes ail over
the country | vher> t ey caonot Constitutionally
carry the work into execution?—und would
it not be the height of precipitancy and impru
dence for tho General Government to sub
scribe to stock in auy Canal or Rail Road
of her
FROM THE RICHMOND ENTIRE*-
JWr. Jefferson*s Letter about J\fr. Clay.
When we first saw this Letter published by
the R. Island Literary Subaltern, we suspetc-
edits autheoticy; because it appeared in a pa
per, which is devoted body and soul to the in
terests of Mr. Clay, and was the very first to
raise hi9 flag and announce his nomination
because the name of the "distinguished manu
facturer and capitalist of Massachusetts” was
not published along with it-^-and because we
bad the best reasons to believe, that Mr. Jef
ferson did not entertain the high opinion of Mr.
Clay, which this letter professes. But, of one
thing we were perfectly certain—that, if this
letter were genuine—-if Mr J. did express so
favorable an opinion of Mr. C. in 1823, he
charged it most materially afterwards—that af
ter Mr. C’s visit to Monticello, we think in the
fall of 1824, Mr J. avowed a very slighting o-
pinion of his talents and principles as a States
man—We know this, not only from the publish
ed letter of his son-in-law. Col. T. M. Ran
dolph, but from the information ot a particular
friend, to whom Mr. J. had expressed himself
in the freest terms of the qualifications of Mr.
C. There can be no donbt upon this subject
Mr. C. was one of the last men. whom Mr J
in the latter period ofhis life would have wish
ed to see the President of the United States.
Mr. Southworth the Editor of the Literary
Subaltern, has not, as far as we are aware,
cleared up the doubt and mystery which hang
over the letter
But the following testimony adds nt'w force to
the suspicions upon this subject. It is extract
ed from the last Charlottesville Advocate, edi
ted by a relation of Mr. Jefferson—and the ar
ticle itself is founded upon a critical scrutiny
into his private papers. Mr. Southworth »s
now, therefore, imperiously called upon to pro
duce the original letter—to say to whom it
was addressed; and to clear himself of the sus
picions which attach to a publication, which
was made just before the fourth of July with a
view, no doubt, of inspiring the Toasters and
the Orators in favor of Mr. Clay. We forbear
further comments until Mr. S has bad an op
portunity of proving the authenticity of the
paper in question.
(From the Charlottesville Advocate, July 23.)
The Rhode Island Literary Subaltern, of the
25th ult. contains a letter purporting to be
from Mr Jefferson, to "a distinguished manu
facturer and capitalist of Massachusetts.” The
name of the person to whom it is addressed is
Advice on such no occasion, were ! even qualified
to give it, would incur a fearful responsibility* I shall be
perfectly contented with any choice my fellow ciiizms
shall make, hoping always that it will be of a character
friendly to peace, to economy, to the republican princi
ples of our constitution, and to its salutary fistriijutiou
cf powers between the two co-ordinate branches of go
vernment, foreign and domestic. Accept assurances cf
my great rrepttt.” T H.' JEFFERSON.
Mr. James Morse.
May 3d, 1823.
To Gen S. Smith:
"On the subject of the next presidential e-
lection, I am a mere looker on. I never permit
myself,” &c.
The extract of the letter to Gen. Smith
containing the same sentiments, in nearly the
same words, we have deemed needless to give
in full.
We think we are fully borne out in pro
nouncing the letter to "a distinguished manu
facturer and capitalist of Massachusetts” to
be a FORGERY. With this brand upon its*
forehead, we dismiss it for the present. Be
hold the Coalition! Such are the props of
Henry Clay!
in auy
Company, without first sending some
own Engineers, on whom she could depend, to
thoroughly investigate the practicability and
usefulness of the enterprise, that might be
tproposedfor aid out of the United States
Treasury. National Improvement.
dereJ to hold themslves in rendioess logo eot l will coincide tvilh this view of the subject;-!
Sudden squall at N. York —One of the most
severe and sudden squalls came across the
lower part of the city of New-York a few min
utes after five o’cclock, on Saturday after
noon, that we ever witnessed. There were
no indications of a storm—the sun was yet
pouring down his besms with melting intensitv
—and there was no gathering blackness in the
west. There was .‘carcely a breath of air,
and a part of the sky only was obscured by
a lew light hazy clouds. Suddenly there was
a roar from the west, like the rushing ofmigh
ty waters. We were in Broadway, and glan
cing our eyes through Liberty street to the
North River, the whole waters seemed boil
ing in foam. In an instant more, the rain
descended over the lower part of the city,
like a second delnge, driven by a furious
whirlwind. Many accidents occurred, of which
we gather the following notices from the mor
ning papers: "Nearly opposite the Battery,
a small sloop sunk in an instant; an rye witness
who described the scene, mentioned that he
observed the sails filled; at the instant he was
turning, to speak to a companion who stood
beside him; with the same glance, he observ
ed that the sails yielded by a sudden veering
ot the wind, and in about a second, when he
again looked, the vessel had sunk! A small
row boat is said to have been capsized, and
several lives were lost. It has, however, not
been ascertained how many. Nearly opposite
the Albany Basin, two small sail boats, each
two persons, were capsized, but no lives lost.
Some eight or ten. Norfolk, Richmond and
other packets, lying in Ccffee House Slip
broke loose and drifted out together. Seve
ral brokenl bowsprits and some other minor
damage* were the consequence. But for the
peculiar security of our harbor, the East River
would have been covered witn drifting vessels
A good dual ot damage was done to merchan
dize on the wharves by the rain, and torrents
of water which so suddenly filled the gutters
and other low places.” It is remarkable that
although the storm was so severe, it was not
felt above Canal street—and what is still
more remarkable, the sun shone out during
the whole tempest. Several people in the
streets were thrown down, and one of the car
riers of this paper waslifted^p and throw down
somewhat injured, lie thought bis foot struck
against the inoon—but is not positive.—Prob
ably it was a fixed star, as the moon must have
been shining upon the antipodes at the time.—
N. Y Com. Mv.
Tar for Sheep.—A gentleman who keeps
a large flock of Sheep assures us that during
the season of grazing, he gives his sheep tar
at the rate of a gill a day to every twenty
sheep. He puts the tar in troughs, sprinkles
a little fine salt over it, and the sheep consume
it eagerly. This preserves them from worms
in the head, promotes their general growth,
and is supposed to be a specific against rot.—-
Knoxville Register.
not given. The letter is as follows.
Monticello, May 25, 1823.
"Dear Sir—I have received your letter of the 10th of
this month; and at the same time, was delivered me by
Capt. Barlow, a piece of domestic fabric called negro
cloth, containing twenty-six yards, for my acceptance and
inspection. I thank you for ‘he kind and very flattering
expressions contained in your letter; and for the har.d-
som present of the cloth, I should be happy to return you
something more solid than empty thanks.
‘‘I have examined the cloth, ar.d although I am of opin
ion that it is well calculated for the dress of negro slaves,
who reside in South Carolihn and the more genial climates
of the South, I am fearful that it would not be found ade
quate to the ivants of the Vircinia slaves. F r the sum
mer, it would be too warm—for the winter too cold: still,
if you could improve the fabric, bv putting a little more
wool in the Ailing, and mixing a little with the warp. I do
not know but it might be found adequate to all our pur-
p >sc».
"Yon ask my opinion of the American System? Rela
tive to that somewhat absorbing question, 1 should hope
that the whole of my past life and policy had siven a s itis-
fictory reply. I have always been of opinion that thr
people of this nation should manufacture all the fabrics
that their exigences demand, if th<-y can do so, end that
they can do so without applying to the work-shops of Eng
land. France, and Germany, who will doubt? Cottons,
and woollens, we make in rare abundance and a quality
quite good enough to answer all our wants and demands;
why then should we travel to Europe for our supplies?—
For our silks and fine linens, we must, for some time to j
come, go to the work-shops of Europe; but I apprehend
that the day ig not far distant when even they will be ma
nufactured h^native industry.
"You asb my opinion of the merits of Mr. ITenrt
Clay, and his policy for the protection of domestic indus
try and manufactures. These are questions which I feel
delicacv abont answering; first, because Mr. Clay is now
a candidate for the Presidency, and secondly, l never ye*
fully understood to what ends his policy extends; and al
though I will advance my opinions relative to thr questions
you put to me, I must beg that you will not at this junc
ture give my views to the public through the press. As
for Mr. Clay, I consider him to be one of the most talent
ed and brilliant men and Statesmen that the country has ev
er produced, and should 1 live many years longer, I hope
to se»- him hold the place of Chief Executive cf the Ameri
can Republic. His career, thus far in life, has been a ca
reer of glory, and he has achieved that for his country
while engaged in her cause, that which would ornament th*
brightest place in the escutcheon of the most favored
statesman of any age or nation. I say thus much in r -
ply to your interrogatories, but, as I said before, I do not
wish to have my remarks given to tbe press, for the sim
ple reason, that this country is involved in a political ex
citement, in which I am not disposed to take part, as I
have long since resolved not to take part in the politics of
tbe times. Mv wrist which is quite lame, admonishes me
to di*continue th»s hasty note. With assurances of the
most perfect respect, I am your obliged fellow-citizen,
THOS. JEFFERSON.’*
On casting our eyes on the above letter
we are at once satisfied that it was FORGERY,
Those who remember the Statements of the
Late Govorner Randolph of Virginia, of Mr.
Jefferson’s sentiments with respect to Mr. Clay,
could not credit the genuineness of the letter
without implying the grossest and most degra
ding inconsistency in Mr Jefferson The sen
timents approving the political character of
Henrv Clay and his hopes of witnessing his fu
ture distinction, are entirely incompatible with
those we have ourselves heard him express.
We have deferred noticing the above letter
until we had it in our power to make the in
vestigations which authorise us to pronounce
it, aeivef'el little hesitation in doing, an UN
PRINCIPLED FORGERY. It was the well
known habit of Mr Jefferson to preserve co
pies of every thing he ever wrote. If he over
wrote the letter to a distinguished manufactur
er and’canitalist in Masachusetts,” we expect
ed certainly to find it among his correspond
ence. We have ourselves examined his au
tograph correspondence for the entire month
of May. 1823. NO SUCH LETTERMS TO
BE FOUND. A friend who has a bettor op
portunity for making the examination, has ex
amined hisentire correspondence for the year
1823, and finds no such letter We subjoin
the only letters from Mr. Jefferson about the
period refered to, having any reference to the
late Presidential election. The first is a let
ter to a Mr. James Morse under date of April
20th 1823. The other an extract ©f a letter
to Gen. S Smith, May 3d. 1823. The letter
to Mr. Morse is as follows :
Monticello, A^ril 30, 1823.
“Sir—I must beg to be excused from answering the
question proposed to me in your favor of the 11 th inst.
on the subject of the next presidency. 1 lay it down
as a law to mj6clf to take no part in tbat election
Extract of a letter from Charleston, dated
22d instant:—The political Horizon of our
State is overcast, and as our elections ap
proach the clouds gather—Our election cam
paign is opened, inflammatory and personal
pieces daily appear in our newspapers. State
Rights, oppression of the South and Tariff
oppressors are duly commented upon by our
Slate Right men or as they are called "dis-
unionites” and "Nullifiers.” The other par
ty claims the title of Union men and State
Rights to a certain ex’ent. These are the
parties arrayed against each other, but which
is the strongest can only be determined al
the election. My own opinion is that the
"State Rights” men are the strongest, I think
our affairs in South Carolina tvear a gloomy
aspect, and I wish that my family and self
were out of it. not from any personal fear but
from the depreciation of property, no pros
pect of a revival of business, and much un
pleasant feeling arising from political excite
ment, and the attempts that are making from
the north to excite dissatisfaction among our
negroes. Some more incendiary pamphlets
have been discovered although it was only re
cently a man was sentenced to a year’s im
prisonment, and a fine of $2000, for his a-
gency in circulating some of the same kind.—
Savannah Georgian.
The 4 origin of Nullification—Mrs. Royall
claims the rather equivocal merit of having
originated tbe entire doctrine of Nullification
in a letter to Judge Cooper of Columbia, who
ungraciously, h is refused and still doth refuse
to give her credit therefor —S. C Gaz.
FonxixeN.
Guatemala, May 3.
The Anniversary of the taking of this capital
has been terrible for its unfortunate inhabit
ants. Every thing that was left by the civil
wars, is now doomed to destruction by the
eartbqmkes. Since the first of April, they
began to be felt in the village of Amatillan,
where there were many resident families, and
others tbat had gone there that they nrght
not witness the celebration ofih-* anniversary of
the capitulation ofGuatemala, on the 12th inst.
In one day, there were felt no less than thirty
five shocks, and the inhabitants were obliged
to go out in the utmost hast. These shocks
succeeded each other with such force tha£
they destroyed all that place ns well the neigh
boring ones of Pinula, Petassa, and the plant
ation of Vill.ilobo 1 -: duiJJeu, Fraijanes el R<j-
sario Laguniila, and los Dolores.
Up to lhat time, this capital had suffered
nothing in its edifices, hut on the 27th ult.
they were repeated so forcibly that ev tv
building suffered -every house is abandoned
—‘beds and huts are built up in the squares
ami n the houses that have large courts. The
rains having commenced, the distress among
us is incalculable: particularly among the poor
er classes. The State assembly h:i9 suspend
ed its sessions for a fortnight, as the shocks do
not cease. The State government, and all
(he authorities are in Jocutcnago, with a great
proportion of the inhabitants, who are now II-
v.rig in the houses of tbe Indians. Tbe Fede-
rnj Government is in the Great Square, where
they pnt up an awning made of a sail, and
Congress under a shed, placed upon the scite
of the University. The scarcity and dearness
of provisions are beginning to be felt.—Some
robberies have been committed in the houses
abandoned by their owners.
1 he handsomest buildings are ruined with
the exception of the Cathedra’, the churches of'
of St. Domingo and la Merced. The rest are
left almost useless, especially the magnifficer.t
one of St Francisco, which was not entirely
finished. <$* those of Recoletos, Santa Theresa
el Carmen, Santa Catalina, and Candalaria —
It has been found necessary to take out the
Nuns from the Convent of Santa Clara, not
only because it has suffered much; but alsooa
account of the ruined towers of St Francisco,
which threaten to fall in the direction of the
Convent. The Government has ordered
those towers to be pulled downed, and the
neighboring streets have been stopped up to
prevent the people from passing by them.—
The private houses h?ve suffered much, bat
few of them, however, are entirely ruined.
As all the funds are exhausted, and the
people impoverished by the civil wars, by the
confiscations, and by the emigration of the
principal inhabitants, the government can do
nothing; tbe edifices which adorned the city
can never he repaired, the rank grass will cov
er them, and they will become the habitation
of the owl, whoso cries will mingle with our
own lamentations over the accumulated calam
ities a city worthy of another fate. This mis
fortune must necessarily augment the poverty
and the emigration ofthe people, and the two
Guatemalas will only be the doleful objects of
the cariosity of the traveller that may come
to meditate among their ruins.
Even while I am writing this letter, violent
shocks are again repeated; and thi3 day tho
Parish of San Sebastians is demolished. It is
impossible to conceive the terror of tbe peo
ple. 1 do not know what will become of jus.
and I am sorry to give you the news, becat&c
it will leave you in suspense until the ndsxt
mail.