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THE M A C O CiEOROIA TELEGRAPH.
In
From the Knickerbockrrfor May.
Tin: of st. *i icons.
Fori8*er*lj(ar.< the hres Im p deposited the
The Up
ent 1
honey
: j.nt Simon's Island,
r. Her. Mr. WalkKit,
nt tlie proceeds to tlie
of the
off the rimi of Georgia.
ha» regularly sold the h
Mission try Fun ts.
There lies, far in the
-At. island fai
All summer long the pi
Are busy there.
The honey which they gathsr in their round,
Buzzing from flower to flower.
They hoi • 1 • in a quaint bee hive they've found
In the old church t j-.ver.
f the seas,
ittle bees
Their -tore !i taken every year, nor do
The Iters complain;
They know that (iod will send, next Spring a new
Supply again.
The produce of their careful gathering goes
To men in lands abroad.
Who preach "glad tidings of great joy” to those
Who knew not God.
The Doctor came up, and saluted. I ‘Here is the valedictory of the press ’ said Stuart. takiig i they llnd COVeted from the hands of the M'lS-
* I am very happy to meet you, gentlemen.’ said he, * aed up one of the public journals and reading. ‘VV e 3 " : tyrants * not with the D ircllinent orfiltilU Jg
witliou. pretend ng to the poier of divination. I venture U> continue our journal to-day The universal consternate.. j D 13mS • ,ln 1L LP ‘ , ° p. j.
assert, your conversation is about the universal subject, the unfits ourselves, as well as our readers, to sustain it. We and COfnm. ndabODS cd* MttVi OCOl tl.HO, i I esi
comet; and, in that belief, will take the liberty to continue , rely on
it. I have .ht-ard, Mr. Richmond, that you hare made resume
many observations on its course, with a view of determin- quite app:
in" its nearest approach to tht earth. Pray, is Such the the rapid t— — » . ,
case?' places this be\ond doubt. The greatest security we tmnfc
• It ts even so, sir/ replied Richmond. j is on shipboard; but as very few can obtain it. we reerm-
* I have great confidence in their accuracy,* said the Doc- mend the construction of rafts, the materials^for whi.*li, tnay
tor. * and my object, this morning, was to propose, that we ■ be found in every dwelling. If the waters riseandsubside
meet to-morrow, and compare wuat we have done. 1 hare [ without commotion, most of us may yet escape. ''® con *
made several observations, myself; but I find it an injury to j fide in the belief, that the benevolence ofthe deity 'will yel
tny eyes to continue litem. I have no doubt, however, that i pres?rve this fair creation, and turn aside toe ujjuiued arm
the observations we have both made, furnish sufiicient data J ofthe destroying angel..
to determine tlie distance of the comet at its nearest ap- ‘
proacli to the earth.'
• Then you do not believe in th. probability of a collision
of the two bodies.’ said Vivian.
L itr Jonathan, when fainting he did roam
The hungry waste,
Uo> was be quickened when a honey-comb
He did but taste!
6o to those weary laborers on lone shores,
This hnmble bive sapplirs
The luscious droppings ofits annual stores
To light their eyes.
Poor Christian! e’en in inch small folk as these
A lesson see!
Doth God take such pood care for tiny bees.
Yet none for thee ?
Then say not. Little faith, thou hast no power
To gather baney too;
All round thee bloom the flowers, end every flower
Is filled with dew.
Savannah, Jan. 82,1843. J. H. H.
THE COMET.
BY S. AUSTIN, Jit.
tt was a fine, clear night, in the summer of •**". A par
ty c 'serensders were abroad ia the city. One of them, re
mirkirg upon the brilliancy of the hesvens, discovered
imdl sta\ of qnuaual color and singular appearanre.
• It is nnlike a star, comet, or planet,’ said he, showing
to his cm,ii tiion.
• ’ l'.s the lot, Pleiad,’ said one. • in search of her sisters,
’ Ye» ’ said another, • our music has led her astray;
* For music shall untune the spheres.’ ’
• Let the stars leak to tire matter," said a third; ’ 1
concern «f ours. What is Hecuba to us? Come! it is af
ter m dnight, and we have yat three places to visit.’
A sentiment ilist ait at bis window—There was the -ran
deurof the miJnight firmament; the subli.ne silence of the
scene; ‘the poetry of heaven.’
He saw a star, with a red and scowling aspect. Its eye,
contraited wiib those around, was unlike, strange, unnatu
rsl. It was a blemish upon Night’s escutcheon.
A wag mer trudged by the side of his team. They stop,
pe J to drink at a lonely brook. He looked mand upon the
aky ; ’My eyes, what a power o’ stirs I’ There was one.
a strange and queer looking sort of a star. * It looks dike a
scarecrow in a cornfield!’
There appeared a few days after, in one of the public
journals, in a column of unimportant items, a short para
graph : ’ a small cornet has appeared in the south-west part
of the heavens, visible about midnight.’
The serenader and his friend were lounging abroad.
* I was right,’ aaid he, • in uiy conjecture the other night,
it was a comer which wc saw.’
• And what then ?’ said his friend.
• Why, then, my vision is more acute than yours.’
’ And what then V a lid his friend.
Why, then, I advise yon to procure a tub, and live like
your prototype of eld, Diogenes ’
* Is there anything new in the gay world ?’ said the send
tnentalist, to a lovely young lady ; • anything to amuse
* The mind of desultory map;
Studious of change, and pleased with novelty ?’ ’
*Oh, yes/ said she. ‘we have a stranger come to town.’
• • And who may be be ?’
• One who cninej under very auspicious circumstances.
He brings letters to ne one; his face is flushed, and indi
cates intemperance; and bis course has been very erratic.’
* Ho is not likely to meet with an excess of hospitality/
aaid the sentimentalist.
• Indeed, he may. though/ aaid she, • far he increases
every hour In public estimation ; and,] were yon near him.
you waold at once acknowledge the warmth and ardor of his
temperament.’
’ A man of talents 1’ H
‘ I cannot say precisely; but he is acknawledged to be
veiv quick and brilliant..’
* It >a plain, that I am not so; otherwise, I should not have
been so long in discovering that you were amusingyourself
at my expenst."
Oh, by no means/ ssid she, laughing; ’how could I be
more explicit or unequivocal; ’tis the comet, about which I
am talking.’
‘ Yes, scry explicit and unequivocal indeed; but do you
know this same comet belongs to me ?’
• Ah, indeed 1’
’ Yes, by right of discovery. I saw it laat Tuesday, near
midnight, and. I suspect, before any one else.’
‘ Well,’ aaid she, • I apprehend no one will come to dis
turb yon in your salamander kingdom.’
Landlord! what news are you reading on ?’ said the
wagoner, in the bar-room.
'Why. they say a comet’s come/
* A comet 1 faith, the very same,’ said^MAvagoner, • I
saw it first. I’ll bet; I was coming over T^^P.rnpike last
Tuesday night, and just afore I got to Browus Comer, JI
turned nvet to Lilly Brook, to water; and I went to push
up my hat to see if the moon was’nt riz, and 1 broke my to-
ba co pipe, which I had stuck in roy hat-band, confound it.
anJ as I was looking aboti', I tee a queer looking sort of
comet-like star; I know 'twas a comet; it looked like a
• tar just blown out; and I see it afore tlie printer, or any
body else. I'll bet. I say, landlord, you’ve got this ere tod
dy a little sweet, I guess.’
Meantime, the earth knot onward; wheeling her rapid
and sublime flight round tne sun, regardless of the little
bustling creature, man. upon the surface; and heeding not
« small fiery body, which lay in ambush among a cluster of
stars, m a remote part of the heavens.
R chin ii J was a yoang sstrsnoiner, who had distinguish
ed ittmsell in the scienre. He was an enthusiast and sur
veyed the heavens a^ his own: and with all the complacen
cy of cnii.i ious skill mi 1 ! knowledge. He regarded the
earth merely ns a travelling observatory. He was the first
to discover the comet, prowling near tlie borders of tne so-
lirqrgsn. Every night, equipped with (extant and tele-
scope.he sallied out tarerunmiiire the enemy. Hequickly
perceived there was danger.
Asvst, the far-off comet was r. it present to the world of
men’s thoughts. Matters of immediate concernment filled
theirminds; fi r present necessity, the power which rules
the destinies of mortals, exacts undivided, unceasing devo
tion.
From his d'stant abode, the comet was eyeing the tolar
system:
•• Watclfng, in grim repose, bis evening prey.”
By and by he set himself in motion ; and the astronomer
could see him a great way off, moving in solitary grandeur,
through the wilds of distant space, llis pace accelerated,
nnd Ins cour.-e was right onward toward the earth. His as
pect was a pslo red ; and he looked I ke an angry man, rush
ing with fell purpose upon his object.
The astronomors were attuned; they saw the danger,
a t 1 nwakenrd the pre- % • It is now,’ said one of the pub
lic journals. ‘neariy three weeks since the comet was first
diw-emable; its increase has been rapid, beyond aH for
mer precedent; and in size, it much exceeds the great com
et of ICeO. We could last night at midnight, distinctly
read a book printed in a small character. An anxious feel
ing pervades too whole community; it is indeed remarka
ble, that none of our leading astronomers, have developed
its elements and course ; we trust that another week will
not pass, without some relief to the general anxiety on the
subject.’ ‘ Last night, said another journal,’the heavens
were unclouded, and the comet was out in great pomp. lie
ceased lobe the grand, and is now the terrible. His night
ly increase is appalling, and his nucleus nearly as large as
the ann. A gwony foreboding has seized liie public mind.
Wc hive not as yet s-en any calculations from those who
profess much skill in astronomy, but in the result of such a*
have appeared, there is a fearful, alarming coincidence/
• A ahip.’ said a third, • arrived last night; all Europe was
in consternation at the progress of the comet. It was the
general belief, that it would approach so near the earth, as
to endanger every animated cxisten-'e, and that a universal
catastrophe was at hand.’
The comet was now advancing from tlie southern part of
the heavens, and drove onward with fierce careering and
deadly menace toward the earth. Every n'glu he came
out w?th augmented splendor. The stars seemed to recede
‘ No/ replied the Doctor, ‘ I have no such fears. I am
a firm believer in the permanency ofthe solar system.’
• I shall not fail to bo present, sir, to-morrow/ said Rich
mond.
• Mr. Vivian, you must also be with us/ said the Doctor.
• we have all a common interest in the result.'
Vivian bowed ; he should be most happy to be present.
During the three preceding nights thi heavens (tad been
overcast; yet tlie light of the comet struck through the
clouds, and showed its near presence and great power; the
next night the clouds broke away, and partly disclosed its
disc, it had trebled in size daring that short period, and
the pnsit'on of its train still continued tlie same, indicating
the direetneas of its course upon the earth. The tides had
rapidly increased, and that night they rushed in with great
violence; and no cause could t e assigned but the attraction
of the comet.
• We hrpe to be able/ said the press of the next my-
uing. 'to Stile to our readers conclusive and satisfactoty in
formation relative to the future course of the comet, wo
have asrertnned that Dr. H and other gentlemen of
astronomical skill, have appointed a meeting for the purpose
of determining it; and, whatever the result of their calcula
tions may be, we shall present it forthwith to our readers.
The most fatal certiinty can scarce be so harrassing as the
present anxious suspense/
The next day Vivian met the Doctor at the appointed
place. He was alone, walking the room, and impatient at
the absence of Richmond.
■ Where is Mr. Richmond ?’ said he.
• I do not know.' replied Vivian/ • it is but just the time
agreed on; he will be lteteimmediately, without doubt.—
Have you no apprehensions of a catastrophe from the com
et V
No,' replied the Doctor, • my faith is unshaken in the per
manency of our svstem ; yet. tn my obse-vstions last night
upon the come', 1 was particularly struck with the near co
incidence of its orbit with that of the earth, and also with its
t,s no density, as indicated hy its power over the tides. It may
come quite near to the earth, however, without doing us
mischief; nothing but actual contact would destroy the ex
isting order of things on our planet; and of this contact I
think there is a cry little probability.’
What is you r opinion of the recent theory of the asteroids
in our system—Vesta, Ceres. Juno and Fallas ?’
• I have examined the facts and reasonings relative to
thattheoty/ said the Doctor, ‘and think the inference, that
these bodies were originally a comet, and planet, split by
conrnssinn, is ingenious and plausible. but not conclusive.
I should have almost given it credence, but from a preju
dice which I am sensible I entertain against any theory
which unsett'es the solar system.’
Richmond entered at this moment; he took his seat at the
table without speaking; the Doctor did the same.
• Are you not about to attempt tlie solution of the problem
of th-ee bodies?’ said Vivian, ‘sincethe moon, as well as
the earth and comet, most enter into your reasoning.'
• No/ replied the Doctor, “ we shall neglect the moon’s
agency; she is in such a position, that her influence will not
be material ’
The observations previously made by tie Doctor and
Richmond, wete folly compared; they differed but little—
and the mean was taken; and on this datum each undertook
the solution of the problem; to find the distance at which
the comet would be from the earth at the point of its nearest
appreach.
Vivian was leaning over the hack of a chair in front of the
table. He remarked the feverish and agitated manner of
the Doctor, after he had made some progress in the solution.
The fate ofthe world seemad to be involved in a combina
tion of tiguras and diagrams
They had been some time engaged at the work ; and the
Doctor was unconsciously carrying on his solution in an au
dible voice and hurried manner. They overset the ink-
stand—neither of them heeded it; they dipped their pens
in the paddle on the table. The work continued with fe
verish intensity.
‘Good God 1’ said the Doctor, of a sudden, ‘ is it possi
ble ?’
His solution was astounding. It brought the comet into
actual concussion with the earth, and within fivedavs.
It cannot be so/ said he, striking his fist on tke table, ‘ 'tis
impossible/
He caught at the solution which Richmond had just com
pleted. It did not agree with his own. * Ha!’ said he,
was confident X was in error. 1 knew I was wrong.’
His eye glanced rapidly over the {calculation. But his
countenance aoon changed and fell.
‘ You have made an error. Mr. Richmond, this denomina
tor his changed places with its numerator.’
Richmond took his Solution, with some chagrin, to correct
The Doctor walked the room, endeavoring to repress
his excitement.
It cannot be so/ said he, there must be some error
somewhere—so overwhelming—impossible!' He twice ap
proached the table, an i recast his calculations. Mr. Vivi
an, do me th* favor to review this solution, I am rather con
fused this morning.’
Vivian did so. It was correct, and agreed by a slight dif
ference only, with the one Richmond had just completed.
• Have
these resu
ilvvt-lupe V
' That is sufficient, surely.’ replied the Doctor. • I cannot
reconcile myself to sneb a dreadful catastrophe—actual con
tact!—impossible!—There must he an error somewhere;
we might as well assert, that the Deity had made a blunder
the solar system; this moral inference is sufficient to show
we are wrong.’
After a short pauje. he suddenly turned to Richmond:
’ What table of logarithms have we been using V
Sherwin’s.’
• iSberwin’a F said he, quickly, * there is the error, be
yond a doubt.’ He wrote a note, and called a lad. * Carry
this to my house—they will give you a book—bring it back
immediately. Sherwin ! I have no faith in Sherwin; obso
lete and full rf errors. Yes, yes, it lies there, beyond n
doubt. I have known frequent errors in the first figure of
hiit decimals. He,or his printer, lias done much mischief
his day.’ -
He continued walking and soliloquizing, and had quite
convinced himself, that error existed in the' tables of loga
rithms. when the boy returned with the book. The Doctor
seized it instantly.
• Mr. Richmond.’ said be, ‘let us take out all the loga-
tlims we have used from Sherwin. and compare them with
the tables of Gardeniar, which I have before me, and we
shall detect an err'r some where.’
• The logarithms, which had been used, were carefully ta
ken out, one by one, and compared with those in the new
t tides. It so happened, that they all agreed, each with the
other, to the lowest place of figures. Not a doubt or hope
remained. There was a short pause.
The Doctor was a man, who had placed himselfinthe
first rank in scientific attainment and celebrity. He had
lame, friends, and fortune, beside the consciousness that he
owed none of these to accidental circumstances. A stupe
fy ing amazement came over him, when he saw all these ties
about to be violentlv rent asunder. He stood fora tew mo
ments with a bewildered air, leaning against tit* table; and
then, without apeaking, walked mechanically out ofthe
room.
‘Five days/ said Vivian, ‘is -ather a short notice, in
which to settle up one’s temporal matters.’
‘ Yes, and five days.’ aaid Richmond, ‘ is what we make a
maximum;—confound my eagerness! the Doctor rather
cairied it over tne in the solution/
• It will not matter much/ said Vivian, * at the end of
yottr maximum.’
• Very true; but it will vex me until then.’
It was known to many, the purpose for which the Doctor
and Richmond had met; and a great number collerted
re you any other reason to doubt' the ac.-’uracy of
esults/ said Vivian, • than tbe universal ruin they
< mww
before the blaze of his fire. He overthrew the dominion of
night, ana scattered its shades be! re him. His disc and
shining train appeared like the shield of a wsrrior.^With the
red horsehair streaming from his helmet. The timid be
came anxious and alkative; men of firm nerves were si
lent. Tlie churches were filled, nnd charities abundant.
The book-sellers sold great numbers of astronomical treatis-
e«, nnd essays on comets, heat, gravity, and density. Soli
citude, the younger sister of I-'ear. had thrown her checker
ed inutile overall;—a'lchildhood, happy with its marbles,
lops and ball*, and its ignorance of to morrow.
■ Ti.ii.' said it ■ nil III I M ids fr ■- d Vivian, * this is the
astronomical •• reign of terrorat.d has a mighty influence
on the conduct of men There is in absence of crime, and
a punctilious performance of duty ; knavety is obsolete and
honesty in fashion. Fear is a wonderful quickenerof the
moral principle.’
•Yes.' said Vivian, ‘and is an energy impelling man in
a’mo.t all his action*. Above, below, around, the powerof
fear is ttatvarsaL In heaven he is the prime agent of Jove,
aiui all the lessor gods are subjected tc. his sway. On
earth he is the Atlas, and grand conservative principle of
the moral world. He is the presidingdemon in the infernal
regmns. ami makes them hell. If. however, your comet is
• x potent ns many think I,a is. the empire of Fear “now
toilers to its fail." as well as every other empire.’ _
‘I am a little rkepticnl on that point.’ said Richmond;
1 my belief is, that the comet will approach near the earth
without coining in contact; we shall probably be singed,
sod frightened, hot not annihilated. There must be an ac
tus! collision ofbodie-. to destroy animal life entirely. Ah,
, lucky coincidence! Itcie comes Dr. —.whose «eicnti-
f.ra ah:'. :} rn.ii • - l.it.t a *- r‘ ■ ■' e:: s-a. Ir in the present cri-
P-ay, what is the result J"
His countenance, full of anxiety, answered the question
he endenvured to evade. * We must hope for the best.’
’ Then there is hope V said they.
* Whilst there is life, there is hope/ said ths Dsctor.
* But how long will there be life?’
* That is a question which no man can answer.* said the
Doctor, and passed on.
Those around, oxcited by the Doctor's evasion, pressed
into the room, where they knew Richmond was. ‘Mr.
Richmond/said the fbreinost, ‘you are aware ofthe uni
versal solicitude in this matter; pray inform us, at what
conclusion yourself nnd the Doctor have arrived I Is there
no reason to hope the threatened catastrsphe will be avert-
edl’
Richmond was closely intent upon ltij figures snd dia
grams; reviewing his calculations,—Fluxion ofthe attrac
tion of P is as.
n #
ax x’—‘ why/ ssid he, • the Doctor and myself differ ma
terially about the result,—we differ materially.’
' But to what doea this difference relate V said the inter
rogator. impatiently.
* Relate* to time,' said Richmond. • We differ fear min
utes. two seconds, a third/
‘ But about what?’
‘ Ob, about the moment of contact,’
‘ Moment of contact!' Moment of contact, did you aay ?’
‘ Yes, moment of contact/ said Richmond ; that ia to say,
the inatantwhen they touch.’
His words struck the ear of those around like the sen
tence of death. One by one they slunk away in silence.
-At this period, the inmn, in her progress around the earth,
had gotten within the influence of the comet, and that night,
when she rose she w:ts seen oscillating on her centre, and
displaying a portion of her sphere, which had been hidden
from man since the creation. Her vibrations quic kened, as
she continued to rise; snd she seemed conscious ofthe
grasp of some rathless and tremendous power. Men felt
the presence of *n evil genius.
It was up«n them like a nightmare oppression. No eye
was closed, and the night passed in baffled, feverish pray
er, and sharp anxiety. _
[Here follows a philosophical conversation, which we
omit for want of room.J
All this availeth nnthing,’ said Richmond.
‘For Fate and tlie dooming g ds are deaf to tears,*
•There is more piety than philosophy in what you have
read.’
•Why so ?’
•Because it appears to me. that the head of the comet,
which is now ao palpable, will so rarefy the atmosphere,
that this, together with its attraction at the point over which
it m ty be vertical, will cause such a rash of the ocean and
atmosphere towards that point, as to produce a whirlwind
and deluge such as man never saw, and render utterly una
vailing all human efibrt to escape from it.
• Within about twenty nine hours/ said Vivian /every
animated existence on the face of this earth shall be des
troyed. The knell ofthe human race is tolling/ '
• Ah !’ said Stuart, ‘that thought must be grateful to the
wormwood of your misanthropy.’
• Rather say/replied Vivian, ‘to my sympathy for hu
man suffering, which must so soon have an end/
•When/said Stuart,
•• Whnn will you there meet again 1"
• That will be.' said Richmond.
“ Wheu, wrapped in flames, in ruin hurled.
Sinks tbe fatri: of the world."
•We cannot choose in the matter/ said Cleon; ‘let us a-
gree when next we meet to sup with Fiuto/
•To sup with Fiuto! So let it be.’
They separated.
All that night tbe house-tops and high places were filled
with people watching in anxious silence tlie fiery spectre
in tbe heavens. Its flight towards the earth was so rapid,
that t tey «o ild see its disc enlarge and expand with the na
ked eye T.te spirit of man, as he gazed at it, died away
within him The thought of to-morrow fell like a palsy on
the soul. .
The dawn of day discovered man almost exhausted with
watching and dismay; yet hope stood by his side, and ottte
more rallied him to action. Every where he was seen, -n
anxiousliasie,constructing rafts; tbe streets and highways
were blocked np with whatever was buoyant; all the ves
sels had been moved off tbe quays and wharves, and were
filled with men, endeavoring to beat off others, who attemp
ted to get on board. The crowd broke into the naval ars-
senal. and seized three great ships; they overset two of
them in rushing on board; the third sunk under the load.
Here might be seen, by the streets, a .d way side, woman
praying in loud aud fervid accents. The sick now deser
ted? were seen, witli their pa'.id faces thrust from some
window, imoloring help, in feeble wailing. Along the
shore, there was a contest to. get possession of the boats
and small vessels. The tide, which had riseit to an unpre
cedented height, now began to recede, and continued to do
so until the whole of the great bay in from of the city xvas
quite bate. There were seen boxes and bales, drowned
men and sunken vessels. The waters receded so far, that
> part of tbe ocean was visible from the city.
The sun had risen, and was just above the horizon. His
eye was dim and lustreless. He bad seen man for six
thousand years, struggling with adverse destinies and lie
now <-ame a lagging and unwilling witness to his death.
The tide had begun to return, and tlie wavps, at the sum
moisa of the comet, came rushing with tumultuous violence
to the shore, overlapping each other, and the sea njyiynring
like a rolling wall of waters. The people stuod. hy their
boats, rafts, and frail machines, in fearful solicitude, and in
the hope they would be borne up, and subside without
commotion, until the catastrophe had passed. At this peri
od u was discovered th,l the city was on fire. The wa
ters had flowed into buildings containing lime, which sla
ked and inflamed. Tbe fire unopposed and impelled by
the rising wind, strode across the city, driving every thing
before it. Tbe city was bail upon a pef insula. Oa one
side ef the road along the isthmus, was the public cetnete
rv. the tombs built up from n level witli tbe road. Tbe tide
of the preceding, day had swept across, overthrown the
walls, and scattered coffins and aea bodie» in every direc
tion. Here might be seen the body recently entombed
and in the white bridal dress in winch it had wedded Heath;
the ghastly half consumed corpse, the grinning skeleton
and broken coffins, scattered promiscuously along tbs road.
Over this stratum ofthe dead swept the living tide of men,
women and children, driven bv the flames end flood, to the
highlands beyond the city. The lowlands were qu’ckly
overflowed; "and the waves rushed through the valleys
bearing down every thing before them.
The comet was now risen. His coming was preceded
by incessant flashes of light.—the banners of the desttoviug
angel,—-darting up from North to South, along the whole
of the eastern horizon. His disc covered nearly a (nun;
part ofthe heavens. It was of a fiery, intensity, increasing
evety instant, and glowing like molted iron. The powero!
of gravity was gradually diminished; and. as the come*
mounted towards the meridian, a strange sensation of light
ness was perceivable. The wind blew with frightful vio
lence and smote down ail before it. The waves struck
against the foot of the bill*, and rebounded to a prodigious
height, leaping upwards to tbe giant attraction of the comet
Its light resembled the sun’s -when seen through a smoked
glass ; it threw a brassy glare over the whole scene. The
dome ef heaven appeared as if on fire; far the body of tlie
comet shot off incessant streams of light, which the attrac
tion of the earth drew down to every part ofthe horizon
The soul seemed to dilate to the magnificence of the ocen
sion. for the scene was unspeakahly grand; and Death lost
half his terrors in its splendid sublimity.
It was now about eleven o’clock, and the come: nearly
half way up tlie heave... The wrath of tbe stora every
moment increased. It sprung at and overwhelmed, a mis
erable remnant of men, who had fled to the highland*.
But a single mountain remained. o,i which was a massive
stone tower. Tbe top of lliti m untain was a flat tf many
acres. On this was huddled a dense mass of human biings
all striving to get intothe tower. The mountain itself stood
up like a colossal altar, itstopcove edwith victims, a huge
sacrifice at the coming obsequies of Nature. The force of
the tempest struck off the tops of the waves, and nude the
whole sea foam and seethe like a boiting caaldmn. It
drove the sea birds against the tower with such forte, that
they dropped dead at its base. The noise of the whirl
wind was a trumpet sound. It sounded like a shrill con
tinuous, rattling peal of thunder The demon of destruc
tion with his terrible energies, put forth the whole of his
blasting power. He rioted in the savage fury of the ele
ments- The foundations o! nature were rent asunder at
bis hands. The solid earth seemed to stagger before his
power. Men stood as if in the presence of an angered
Deity. They we re confounded and paralyzed at the oppa
ling sublimity of the scene.
Meantime the ocean lashed round the sides of the moun
tain with indescribable fury. At each heave its ferocious
rush swept off some of the miter circle of women and chil
dren. The men in the centre seemed to be seized with
the spirit of the storm, in their infuriate struggle to get into
the tower. A ship from tlie ocean, tlie last ot her kind,
came flying in affr-ght before the blast; the crew clinging
to the shrouds anti broken top masts. She dashed into tlie
valley below, rolled over and was annihilated in an in
stant. On the top of the mountain all was rife with horror
and distress. The ocean, as it rose narrowed the circle,
and swept offits victiun one after another in the f taming
vortex. Tlie unheaving waves had'now risen to a level
with the height ofthe mountain and one,n little higher than
the rest, lif-ed up,overwhelmed, and scattered this doom-
1 remnant of tlie human race. A sharp shriek, faintly
heard through the roar ofthe elements was the last energy
of animated nature.
homeward bound heroes. They were too
conscious of the dignity of man to ctoop to umns
such artifices, they presented; themselves in
all the majesty of steamboat hands fresli from
the labors of the furnace and the wood-pie!
Here was glory with a vengence.
The facts proved to be somewhat like these-
After the collegians took their leave for
GreeC'’, they, by some misdirection, found
themselves in ihe West about Louisville and
Cincinnati, sp 1 n ing much of their time in the
following the hotels that pass up and down
Ohio and Mississippi. In those days, and in
the-e hotels, there was a perfect menagery t>f
wild he ists, of which the Tiger was the chief.
The young travellers fought this animal des
perately, and came off second best. They
were st mulaie I to the combat hy the purest
love of Greece, and staked all the r funds,
which d d n -t exceed four or five thousand dol
lars, ufon the' v ry flat ei i ig calculation of
geitin j len limes that s <m, with which they
cuu d rase an I equip a halt 1 on of tiioir own
for the d fence of Missolnng u. But in pro-
MB. VA»\ BFttBS’S LETTEK. J len”cd to produce a single instance m i
The reply ol Mr. Van Buren, to the eiiqui- : the Presidential veto failed to be sustai,
ries ofthe Committee ofthe Indiana Demoera j the people. Ied h|
tic State Convention, lias betn receiv ed. The j To jour Ininterrogatory. J u
fully iuio an exposition of 1 >is tinglyanswer,Yes.Thedenincracv'oft 1 I
the various subjects referred to by will not fail, as I am sure th> y ought n'o: ' 'I
the'Committee, and occupit s about eight col- dopt every precaution to secure, thum.lj, 10 ■
fur the present we have only room lor instrum'ora i y ofthe convention ili ev p r tl! t
tlie subjoined extracts: j to hold, an honest and full expression n f^ ! |
I am opposed to the establishment of a Na- j wishes and opinions of a majority of iLtir *
tional Bank in any form or under disguise both litical associates. K
on constitutional grounds and grounds of ex-j My nameiand pretensions, howcvr rS i,t.,
pediency. note tu importance, shall never be »h the
lam opposed to the distribution ofthe pro- j pusnl of any person wantever, for the r M ^ t
ceerls of tlie public lands among the States, j of creating distract ioi or division in the 1)^*1
The best evidence 1 can give jou of my pre- ; cratic party. Every attempt to use thejTI
sent opinion, in t egard to I he proper disposition j sucha purpose whenever and whatever nJi
of tlie public lanes, is to refer you to those shall be arrested by an interference 0 g 1 j
which were avowed and acted upon by me I part, alike prompt and d eisive. Ire -urj^J
whilst iu office, aud which were very fully sta- j Presidency ns the high-stand most hotm a*I
1 " n of political distinctions—yet it is only a , 7* I
undoubted mtl fee will offering of the Di *1
ted in my first annual message to Congress, in
December, 1S37.
My views in relation to the Protective Sy
tem, were also called for tbe Shocco Sp ings
meeting in 1S32, and freely given. A con
viction that the establishment of Commercial
regulations with a view to tlie encouragement
of domestic interests, is within tlie constitute)
nal power of Congress was on that occasion
d stiuctly avowed.—But hold ng this opinion
portion as thev b * am; chivalrous, the Tiger I at the same time denied tlie propriety of e
grew blood thir ty, and relieved them of all ercising this power in a manner calculated i
their coin. Here was a dilemma in which oppress any portion of my f-How cittizeus, <
A Grnina Hero iu Tronblc.
Some eighteen yeats ago, when the Greek
revolution was at its zenith, calling forth the
sympathies of nearly all Christendom; when
supplies of clothing, provisions and money
were furnished liberally by the people of the
around tlie iloor, to know the re»ult. As soon aa tin, Doctor United State*; to tin* Fallanr enn<s nf fj-rnere in
appeared, they Dressed around hint with earnest inquiry, u,, ! uu states IO Hie gallant sons or IjrreLCt , in
their dark struggle to throw off t ho Mo hum
med m yoke,—several enthusi stic young
men, in different quarters of the Union inspir
ed bv tlie examples of Kosciusko, Pulaski and
LnFayette, made up their minds to tread the
classic soil ofGreece, mid to aid in fighting her
battles. Among the daring spit its thus resol
ved were three sludents of ]?rnnk]in College,
Georgia, who being iheir own guardians, cut
short their pupilage, anti, after receiving con
tributions and blessings from their friends, de
parted for the land of Homer and Demosthe
nes.
Months elapsed and nothing was heard of
the young adventures. Their names could not
be found on ihe ii-as ofpassengers sailing from
any of the American ports, nor could they be
traced in the copious intelligence brought by
every foreign arrival. They w rn supposed
however to be safely enrelled in the service for
which they had embarked, and many were the
sighs of relatives Jest the hazards of war should,
have numbered these brave youths with the
gory slain, after the fashion of Marcus Bozza-
rts. All was suspense and unxiety in relation
to their fute, when at the end of twelve or fif
teen months from their departure from Ath
ens (not in Greece) they appeared among
their friends, not crowned with laurels from
the battlefield; not g iy and valorous as had
they look counsel of necessity. The Grecian
heiOjsbo it/ n‘longerable to occipy cham
bers with the Tiger, nor inde-d to procure
any th : ng to eat, c .nclu lo/ t<»d fer their trip to
Europe to a in.if.: propitious stason. They
agreed to s-paiate, and each man to take a
school until their pockets cou’d be regenerated
After several months, they again met, and co t
st tuting ove of their numner First Lord of tlie
Treasury, turned their ftces towards Greece,
Bu' the romance o "(It -ir dest ny was yet in
c mp’ei : their Treasurer renewed his diffi
culty with th » Tiger, and got wholly used up
individual and trust f nds toir'ot.
The ctse was now plain; it was impossible
to fight the Turks, or even reach th-in, with
out money, and ihe disconsolate heroes res l
ved lo gtt back to their friends, and try col
lege life once more, if iheir extravagant pttrio-
tism could be forgiven or orer!o>k‘d. B
to travel or not to travel, w is the q testio i;
co eat or not to eat, was the experiment. To
put an end to all p ilotophy on the subject,
they reported themselves to the Captain'of m
stenm-boat, as pennylt-ss gentlemen who bad
met with ill luck in their ramb e*. and were de
sirous oiemployment on his boat. The Cap
tain knew h chapter or two of life, and. gave
them situations accordingly. One he n a le a
fireman; ano'lier he sent to grease the engine,
and the third was made bar keeper. Lest
they might be jealous, and accuse him of pur
t'alily in ass gnm* their work, ihe Capta n
made them alternate, that is, the bar-keeper
played fireman awhile; then greasem >n, »hde
the other two exchanged places as occasion
required. In this manner they found their
way home, covered with soot, rags a id the us-
unl quantity of ornaments proceeding from
Grease; iheir beards were long and grizzly,
and their hair flowed in pendulous ; masses, s»
nicely tangled, as to shimu the to isor al ait,
Of course when they arrived among then
friends in this anti-heroic plight, the young
gentlemen hud rot only to tell their names by
way of introduction, but were driven to the
necessity ol mentioning a number of little inci
dents with which they were known to have
b£en associated before they could convince
others of their personal identity.
The o ie win had fil'ei the office oftrex'ui-
er and in his official capacity, had fought the
Tiger with such havoc, w is asked w y he hail
n t bet n to Greece, fighting her battles, tis he
promisedt He replied, with great readiness,
that lie had b en to Grease, and bad fought
some of the Grersie-st battles ever placi d on
record. The whole history of the campaign
w as then divulged, and the young heroes, after
enconn’ering many jeers, again settled down
as ifnothing onto’the usual course of events
had transpired.—Years rolled on. One mar-
ied a very interesting lady, who in a few short
months, was shot a corps s hy the accidental
discharge of a gun in tlie bands of her hus
band. Not long afterwards tie died fr m a
wounded spirit. What became of one of the
three volu tleers to Greece, whether he is dead
or living, we know not; but the other who
appeared to bo the master spirit of them all,
and who acted as financier in ihe contest with
the Tiger, has become a subject of much news
paper and even judicial attention, whhin the
few weeks. Tlie matter may be rendered
thus;
Cherishing in m iture life the ardent devo-
ion to liberty which burned in bis young bos-
m. when li; fled from the wills of a eotlege to
aid an oppressed people, alike renowned for
iheir ananut greatness and recent misfortunes,
it is possible that he believed Greece yet in
the midst of her struggles, imploring him to her
rescue.—Thus impressed, he knew it was vain
to obey the call, unless he could take with him
the sinews of war.
Ho>v were they to be obtained? The aris
tocracy owned a b ink, with diverse sums of
gold, which neither dialre-s at home nor a-
broad could m tke open its va tits for the good
ofthe greatest number. Having sworn tb.<<
to advance the interests of one section of the
Union ut the expense of another.
4 is appar« nt that the manufacturing inter
eR derives an advantage from the coll ■‘•lion of
the revenues of the Fe/eial Government
through the custom houses, instead of their tie
ing obtained by the mode of taxation adopted
by the S ates. incomparably greater than any
other of the important interes s of tlie country—
in lee I, than nil of them put together. Thu
this advantage consists iu a, preference in the
American market over their foreign competi
tors, jf not 'ess than 30 p r cent, when the re
venue standard is reduced to an average of 20
per cent and liable to be increased as before
stated. That it enjoyed by virtue of a tar ff,
the collection of the duties imposed by which
whilst it subjects all to taxation, invariably and
almost inevitably bears with uiiequl severity
up.m a very large, and uulitppily in general
necessitous portion ol tlie people—a protection
t ie indirect a lv,in age< of wh ch to oilier in
lene-its, even under a tariff f>r protection, are
as much the subject of doubt and d s/uta
tion as i hey ever were, but lor which those con
ceriv’d in oilier pu s lit* have for a long serie
of years paid i i advance, and received heir e
quivalenl in promises, of the p 'rfor nance of
which they are not and do not serin lik ly to
be soon satisfied. This advant ge .to the man
ufucturer is not, it is true, the object of, but on
ly incidental to a larifTfir revenue. St II it is
not, i*n that account, tbe less beneficial to I im
The position assumed hy your convention
and in which l fully concur, is, that the innd mi
tal protection thus derived, is all the legis
huive favor which can at this day he conferred
upon the manufacturer without great irijus ice
to other interests. The expedi nee of th
adoption by Congres at any lime of lerop >r.try
measures of reta intio i, when 1 kel v to be c ec-
Mul in coenteructing f uwig i legislation inj ir-
ons to Amrican interests, is a question iovol
ving diffitem considerations.
When the convention speak of a d’seriminn-
ting tar fffor r ve tie, I understand them a
referring to discriminations below the maxi
mum rate of duties upon imported articles, n<v
designed to increase the protection already af
ford d to domestic mantif.ctures, but to c ir-
ry out views of policy d ff rent in their charac
ter, nnd which may properly be embraced in
such a measure.
Oft le constitutional power to make discri
mination 1 have no doubt. Equally clear it is
that the practice of making them has existed
from the Commencement ofthe government, nnd
cons'itutes a feature in every principal tar ffbi 1
which is to be found upon our statute b >ok.
They are indeed i 'diaponsihlt; to the successful
operation of every revenue b.ll. whether their
design be to guard against smuggli g on the
one hand, where tlie nalue of the article is such
as to nfiord ficdiiies for the practice, or on the
other to prevent loss to tlie treasury hy the im
position of duties higher than the value of the
article will bear, at d thus prohibiting its intro-
d ictioii into the country.
I am satisfied wi It tlie Veto Power as it exist
by the co stitution, and opposed t o any modi
fication which shall materially change the prm-
c pies upon which it rests.
To enable him to perform his important du
ties, a portion of the powers necessary to good
government, is by the cons itution vested in
the Executive Department. 'I he veto consti-
tutus tin important,and in my opinion, a very
useful pa't of those powt rs. It is a part. also,
which can seldom, if ever, be employed by an
incumbent<>f the Presidential chair t
cracy ofthe Nation that i couju accept jt t i
cause it is in that aspect only, that I couldp’ ^I
to rcttdor'the discharge of its high du'iej,',^I
useful lo the country or honorable to
From the Baltimore Republican.
A Ilcnulifiil Speech,
The Natchez Frt e Trader contains j..,
of a speech of C -I. Cobb, the celebrated
myaelt
ff-poi
breed chief of the Choctaws, made ia
m
fpplytt
\ J. McRae, Esq. the agent for enrolling^
emigrating ihe Indians to the west of the M"
sissippi, who h id made a speech to the hjj,
about one thousand in number, a'seat bled .
Hop dtkn, informing them that “their couJ
fires no more he kindled here;” that
warriors can have no field for their glory, j-*
that their spirits will decay within them,"
if they should •’ take the hand of iheir greatfj.
titer, the President, which is now offered h
them to the r western horn", then will
hopes be higher, their destinies brighter "
Tne N 'tela z Courier appropriately savs0 -
this bit of eloquence, that for cnmprelieniiu,
ness and brexily; for beauty of diction aiN)fa tr
for affecti g sublimity and propriety of seri
ment, wo have never seen any production t,
excel it. We publish it as a composition w w .
ihv to bn presen e.l.
SPEECH OF COL. COBB.
Head Mingo of the Choctaws, east ofies
Mississippi, in repi.v to the Agent
of the United States.
BROTHER : We have heard you talk a
from our father, the gre.-.t White Ci.ief gl
Washington, and my peop : e have callej upj
me *‘i speak to you—The Red man has H
hooks an i w re t he wishes lo tn-.ke knownfJ
views, like h's fathers before him, he speau
from his mouth. He is afraid of writing. Wfe'H
he speaks, he knows wh it he says; .the Gat;
Spirit hears him. Writing .is the inventiunrf
the pale ftces; it gives birth lo error and o
feuds. The Great Spirit talks—we ltr.r bis
in tile thunder—in the rushing winds and its
mighty waters—hut he never writes,
lirot'icr: My voice is weak; you cu
scarcely hear me; it is not the shout t fa nr-
rior. but the wailing of an infa t. 1 liavelo*
it in in 'iirnii. g over thenvsfortunes of uiy pea-
pi/. Thesj a ct ' e'r graves, and in those aged
pines you hear the ghosts of the departs
riteir ashes rre here, a >d wo have bent Uf:
to prefect them. Oar warriors are nea ly tS
gone to the fir country west; but here are
ead; Shall we go too, and give their bina
to the wi Ives ?
Brother: Two sleeps have passed aka
we h ard you talk. We have thought iiponk
ou ask us to !e ive our epuntry and tell usiiit
ur Fathei‘s wish. We would not des'rc 1:
displ are our Father. We respect hint,
ou his ch Id. But the Choctaw alwi
thinks. We want time to answer.
Brother: Our hearts are full. Ttreln
winters ago our Chiefs sold our country. E*!"
ry warrior that you seo here was opposed »|
the treaty. If the dead could have bt en C''^
te<l, it could never h.iveb, en made; but a'a*
though they stood around; they cou'd not li
seen or heurJ. Their tears came in the rail
dr"p.sai:d their voiees in the wailit g wind,Mj
the pal - faces kt.ew it not, and ourlmd W
aken away.
Brat cr: We do not now complain. Tit
Ci octaw stiff is, butbe n**ver weeps. f a
ave the str ing arm and we cmnot resist. B
the pale lace worships the Gre at Spirit. $
does the red tn >n. The Groat Spirit l«d|
truh. Wt ten you took our country, you pr>
mired us lai d. There is your promise inti*
book. Twelve timss have the trees dropiwi
their leaves, nnd yt t we have received no hut
ur houses have been taken finm us. Tu
bite m tit’s plough turns op the hones of 11 *
diets. We d arc !i"t kindle our fires; and of
■u said we might remain and you would g' f
land.
l<rot/icr : Is this troth? But we bel« r!
ow our Great Father knows unr con litioit;fc*
i.it< n to us; we are os mourning orphans*
promote
personal objects. Tnis consideration cannot be our country; but our Father will take us - r
too highly appreciated. It is the prob tbility i ihe hand; when he fuhih his premise "'e' 4
of public tru»ts to be thusti bused, that has been '■ answer in talk. He mentis well; we k»0"'
the canker ofevery public service. The oc. | but we cannot think now; grief has made c'*
c ts on would be a rare one, indeed upon which
th • President could, by the exercise t f the ve
to power,minister to his gratification, or to that
of his friet ds. or ev< n lo the advancement of
his political interests, exrept by means of tbe
most honorable, and thro’ a channel in an emi-
Gret eg should be emancipated by his arm, and j neiit degree free from excep ion. By refits
b-ing perfectly convinced that no discounts ' his assent lo a b II which had passe I both Itou-
wottid be had in that btnk upon such terms us - • - *
suited his ideas of generosity, he made five lo
divide with the institution the trouble of keep
ing its depositee and to transport to Greece or
elsewhere such an amount as would re-pay,
with a Ir'gh annual interest, what the Tiger c i-
pnciousl/ grabbed lrom A him, and which, for
ought lit knew, might be, in part that identi
cal treasure. The motive or the act is not fur
ses. lie is sure to excite ut the outs- t the formi
dable opposition of those influen ia' bodies, to
off md the particular interests which expect to
be advanced by the measure, and to expose
himself to the temporary odium of running
counter to what he properly regarded as pre-
sumpiive evidence ol the will of the people.
No public man will be apt to place himself
in a position so trying u less he ia influenced
us lo divine, neither arc we exactly saii-fied of by a t irresistible conviction of right, aud a firm
the ju'tico oflevying contributions on tbe aris
tocracy, to the tune of $60,000, either to fight
the Tiger with renewed zeal, or the Turks in
imagination. It would have been equally wise
and patriotic, to have let the bank alone, even
though it would do nothing for the champions
of Greece, nor the combatants of the Tiger.
Since the officers of the law have taken the
case in hand, and tlie public prints have an
nounced Thomas C. McKeen as a party, wo
have only to confess that he is one of tne three
truants from college, and First Lord of the
Treasury to whom we have alluded. His ex
ample will pass for what it is worth.— Tusca
loosa Monitor•
confi fence in the ultimate rectuile ol that pub
lic opinion by which I can alone hope to be
sustained. Our political sysem does not,
therefore, clothe any ofthe agents it employs
with authority which is more likely lo bt: ex
pressed from pure motives, and to patriotic
ends. We have in these considerations, the
best ofhumnn securities that this negative pow
er will be but seldom exercised and never
when there is not good reason to believe that
the legislature has, for the moment, through
inadvertence, error of opinion, or other causes
placed itself in opposition to tlie interests and
wishes of the. people. The inference in fully
sustained by experience.—The administration
of tho elder Adorns, of Mr. Jefferson, nod of
that over which I Imd tlie honor to preside, did
diet: oftis; when our business is settled "C 3
be men ng tit, nnd talk to our Great FatU|
about what be h »s proposed.
Brother: You stand iu the moccadns,
the Great Chief; you sp“ak the words »•
mighty nation, an I your t;.lk was long- i
; people are small; their shadow scarcely rt- 1
cites to your knee; they are scattered andfF
witen I riiotii I hear my voice in the de; , :; |
tlie woods, but no answering shout come' b
My words, therefore, are few; I have not i
more t'» suv, but to tell what I have s >id ® l: ;|
tall Chief of the pale faces whose bro'.b :
stands by your side.
•William Tyler, ofVirginia, brother to 1*1
President of the United Slates, recently 'V j
pointed one of the Cnoctaw commissioned
Ylth year Locusts.—It is said there will be
dense swarms of Locusts this year throughout' not, I believe, produce a single veto. The
all parts of the country. It has been 17 years j whole number since the establishment of the
been their wont before the expedition; not I since they inundated the land, and every 17 , government is very small; and those who make
with sabre cuts on their manly foreheads, os { years they pay us a visit. - war upon the principles, may be safely chal-
Signs and Wonders. . .
A Mr. Bliiidtnun, pilot on a flat boat, on! " I
Ohio. recently .‘■aw a most wonderful s'S' 1 ,
the heavens. He was watching eager!.' .
Comet’s tail, when ail at t itcu he sa' v d ;e "
curl up, and form in big letters, the wore’"
pay: .
He diden’t pay much attention to it, 1>“‘'
u few minutes lie looked round ugnin. ami '*
distinctly in the same phire, tbe word—•
the:: ,
Astonished at this, lie ran below to n ,‘ 'j
ihe captain and when lie got back and I°° ■ j
up at ihe tail, lie found that it bad changed aS 1 '”
aud had formed th** word—
PRINTER:!!
Whereupon be and the captain mar ', f . ;
greatly,and did resolve, instantly, lo lteed 1 .
admonition, and ns soon as they got
go and pay the printer.
honi?-