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—itrvcinus Moults? A breed of pert precocious things <
foolish mammas and dunder-hcndcd papas to ex
hibit after dinner bribe* their silently-euduring, but
inwardly blaspheming guests.
A line way it is to learn a child humility, to cram its
little hesd with hard, dry names, dates, and facts,
which, though its memory may retain, its yet weakly '
intellect cannot by any possibility digest or turn into
knowledge, but which names, dates, and tacts it is ve
ry likely to discover full-grown people know nothing
about, having never known, or having long since for
gotten them. A very pretty way. But it is not your
dull or ordinary children, who simply learn to babble
almut a multitude of things they do not understand,
that are so much to be pitied. It is the naturally tine,
apt, intelligent child that is the most Inhumanly vie
titniied. 11 is quick to learn, ami its quickness is
praised. The craving after knowledge enters its
young breast, and instead of being repressed or care
fully regulated, it is excited nnd fed by the wonder
and approbation of all who come in contact with the
juvenile prodigy. To add to the evil, more pains
arc taken with it by its teachers than with ordinary
children; it s.better than an advertisement to them;
a living proof of thcir-wfliciency as instructors; its
gratified parents are grateful for their assiduity, and.
with the best intentions on their part, its little brain is
daily and hourly stimulated wit’., mental brandy, no
less hurtful to that organ, accoMutg to the best medi
cal authorities, than the spirit itself would be. Such
children are generally of a delicate constitution—
“So wise so young, they say do ne’er live long!”
and some fatal disease, proceeding from that poor
o’erwrought brain, carries it oft* Amid the tears and
lamentations of its yell-meaning destroyers. Or, if
it docs live, ten to one that its maturity fulfils the pro
mise of its childhood. Commonly its intellect waxes
feeble instead of gradually strengthening and expan
ding, and it is often outstripped in after life by far
duller, and therefore less abused children.
And of what use to them is two-thirds of the (so
called) knowledge with wbich they are burdened to
the ruin of health and exclusion, of enjoyment. A
young girl, for instance. Os what utility to her in
after life is the smattering of astronomy,
botany, zoology, orni'hology, or anylbther ology
which she may pick up. Is it not a tnorewteresiing
fact to her that her pet dove is the of true
love, than that it is of the genus Columba, Jgnd she
can derive pleasure from the beauty and fragrance of
flowers, endeared to herby their common name and
associations, and feel their moral purity, without both
ering her little head about the cramp titles with which
Linnaeus and others may disguise them. Is she ever
likely to call the “Forget-me-not” by its Latin name?
And what to her is the use of the globes, without her
lover be a sailor, and then she probably mistakes lat
itude for loqgitude'and longitude for latitude? What
to her is the planetary system, that caused her so ma
ny hours of trouble and perplexity, unless she a fleets
a soldier, and has a curiosity to know when Venus
and Mars are likely to come into conjunction; and
what again to her is the ring of Saturn in comparison
with one of much smaller dimensions ? Will the signs
of the zodiac give her any idea of the fashions? and
what cares she now about the distance of Georgium
Sidtts from the earth she treads? These things were
troublesome to her when she was a girl at school;
they cheated her of her ball, and skipping ropes, anti
scamper in the,fields, but that is over now. She is a
woman— she has done with them.
And are not our boys equally taught too early and
too much? They are poring over the rudiments of
learning when they should be bracing their young
limbs with healthful exercises, and they are studying
the fragments and tail-ends ofjciences (soon to be for
gotten) when they should be imbibing the rudiments
of learning. Why should we be in such a haste io
indict the pains of education and the penalties of im
prisonment upon the young varlets ? It dulls or over
taxes their brain, and checks the healthy current of
their blood. They must learn, but let it be in due
season. It makes one sad to sec a fine little fellow
sent to study Euclid at the age he should be reading
Robinson Crusoe; and it equally docs a man good
to see such a one enjoying his young existence in an
appropriate manner. Few there are who cannot en
ter into the feeling so finely given in the very beauti
ful lines of an American poet, commencing—
“ There’s something iri n noble boy,
A brave, frecliesrtcd, careless one.
With his unchecked, unbidden joy.
His dreed of books end love of fun,
And in his clear nnd ready smile,
Unshaded by a thought of guile,
And nnrepressed by sadness—
Which brings-mc to my childhood back,
As if 1 trod its very track,
And felt its very gladness.”
Then let the children have their play out. C.
THE MAN IN THE rac— A Sketch from the Gertnan.
There were two brothers who were both soldiers ; the
one had grown rich, but the other had had no luck, and
was very poor. The poor man thought lie would try to
better himself; so, pulling oil’ his red coat, lie became a
gardener, and dug his ground well, and sowed turnips.
When the crop came up there was one plant larger
than all the rest; and it kept getting larger, and larger,
and seemed as it it would never cease growhtg, so that it
might have been called the prince of turnips; for there
never was such a ono seen before, and never will again.
At last it was so big that it filled a cart, and two oxen
could hardly draw it; but the gardener did not know what
in the world to do with it, nor whether it would be a bles
sing or a curse to him. One day be said to himself, —
“ What shall I do with it? if 1 sell it, it will bring me
no more than another would ; and as for eating it, the
little turnips, I am sure, are Letter than this great one.—
The best thing perhaps, that 1 can do, will be to give it
to the king, as a mark of my respect.”
Then he yoked liis oxen, and drew the turnip to the
court, and gave it to the king. “What a wonderful thing!”
said the king. ” 1 have seen many strange things in my
life, but such a monster as this 1 never saw before. Where
did you get the seed 1 or is it only your good luck ? If
so, you are a true child of (oitune. “ Ah, no I” answer
ed tho gardener, “ 1 am no child of fortune: J am a poor
soldier who never could get enough to live upon ; so I set
to work, tilling the ground. I have a brother Who is rich,
and your majesty knows him well, and all the world knows
him ; but as I am poor every body forgets me.”
Then the king took pity on him, and said, “ You shall
be poor no longer. I will give you so much, that you
shall be even richer than your brother.” So he gave him
money, and lands, and flocks, and herds; and made him
so rich, that his brother’s wealth could not at all be com
pared with his.
When the brother heard of all this, and how a turnip
bad made the gardener so rich, he envied him sorely, and
bethought himself how he could please the king, and got
the same good luck for himself. However, he thought be
would manage more cleverly than bis brother; so he got
together a rich gift of jewels and fine horses for the king,
thinking that he must have a much larger gift in return ;
for it his brother had so much given him for a turnip, what
must hi* gift be worth ? Tho king took die gift very gra
ciously, and said he knew not what he could give in re
turn more costly and wonderful than the great turnip;
so the soldier was forced to put it into a cart, and drag u
home with him. When he reached home, he knew not
jjpon whom to vent his rage and envy ; and at length tvick-
rd thoughts came into his head, and he sought to kill his
brother.
So he hired some villains to murder him ; nnd having
shown tltem where to lie in ambush, he went to his broth
er, and said, “ Dear brother, I have found a hidden trea
sure; let us c” and dig it up, and share it between us.”
The other had no thought of fear of his brother’s roguery ;
so they went out together, ami ns they were travelling*
alrttg, tho murderers rushed out upon him, bound him,
and were going to hang him on tt tree.
But whilst they were getting till ready, they heard the
trampling of a horse itlur <4l’ which so frightened them
that they pushed their prisoner, neck and shouldets to
gether, into a sack, and swung him up, bv a cord, to ti.c
tree, where they left him dant’linc, aud inn anny, mean
ing to conic back and despatch him in the evening.
Meantime, however, lie walked and worked away till
he had made a hole large enon<>h to put out his head.—
When the horseman came up, he pioved to be a student,
a merry fellow, who was journeying along on his n ig and
singing as ho went. As soon as the man in the hag saw
film passing under the tree, he cried out, “ Good morning!
good morning to thee, my frit nr! I” The student’ looked
about, and seeing no one, ai’.tl not knotting where tho
voice came from, cried out, “ Who calls me?”
Thon tin man in the bag ciied out. “ Lift up thine eyes;
for, behold, hero I sit, in lite sack of wisdom ! Here have
I, in a short lime, learned great and wondrous things.—
Compared to what is taught in this seat, all the learning
of the schools is as empty air. A little longer, and I
shall know all that man can know, and shall come forth
wiser than tho wisest of mankind. II ‘re I discern the
signs and motions of the heavens mid the stars; the laws
that control the winds, the number of the sands on the
seashore, the healing of the sick, the virtues of all simples,
of birds, and of precious stones. . Wert thou but once
here, my friend, thou wouldst soon feel the power of
knowledge.”
The student listened to all this, and wondered much;
at last he said, “ Blessed be the day and hour when 1
found ton ! Cannot you let me into the sack for a little
while?” Then the other answered,as if very unwilling
ly, “ z\ little space 1 may allow thee to sit here, if thou
wilt reward me well, and treat me kindly ; but thou must
tarry yet an hour below, till I have learnt some little mat
ters that are yet unknown to me.”
So the stndent sat himself down and waited a while—
but the time hung heavy upon him, and he begg-jd hard
that he might ascend forthwith, fur his thirst of kn wledge
was very great. Then the other began to give way, and
said, “Thon must let the bag of wisdom descend, by un
tying yonder cord, and then thoti shall enter.” So the
student let him down, opened the bag and set him free.
“Nowthen,” cried lie, “let me mount quickly I” As
he began to put himself into the sack, heels first, “ Wait
a while !” said the gatdencr, “ this is not the
Then he pushed him in, head first, tied up the bag’s mouth,
and soon swung up the searcher after wisdom, dangling
in the air. ‘'How is it with thee, friend ?” said he, “dost
thou not feel that wisdom cometh unto thee? Rest theie
in peace, till thou art a wiser man than thou wert 1”
So saying, he borrowed the student’s nag to ride home
upon, and trotted off as fast as lie could, for fear the vil
lains should return ; and he left the poor student to gather
wisdom, till somebody should come and let him down,
when he had found out in which posture he was wisest—
on his itead or his heels.
t’roinn Mobile paper of tho 11th inst.
AWFRL CONFLAGRATION.
Destruction or upwards of Thirteen Squares in the
HEART OF THE CITV, INCLUDING THE PLANTERS AND MER
CHANTS Bank, the Mansion House, New Hotel, Post
Office, ano upwards of Five Hundred othijr Build
ings!—Our loss is so recent and its extent so app ‘Hing, that
we cannot compose our feelings or command sufficient cairn
ness to eiiteriuto a circumstantial detail of the late distressing
fires with that minuteness we would wish. Wc shall endea
vor, however, to give such a description of the course taken
by tho devastating clement after i commencement, and the
extent of ground embraced within these bounds, as will con
vey some idea to those uuacquuiuted with <hn localities of
our city, of the unparalleled destruction which has over
whelmed us.
In our paper of this day week, we detailed briefly the oc
currences of/eur different fires, all of which had taken place
within the six previous days, and the last one of which had
been of very considerable extent. It would have been sup
posed that the most deep-rooted aud hellish feelings which
the human heart could engender would have been satisfied
with the distress nod suffering w hich these heavy afflictions,
in connexion with the ravages of the pestilential disease, had
caused our community to groan under. It seems, however,
we were reserved for still greater sufferings. All of these
fires were evidently the work of design.
On Monday night hist, at abojnß o'clock P. M , a file was
discovered in an old wooden tenement in the rear of the buil
dings on the southeast corner of Dauphin and Conception
streets, owned by A. Pinto, and opposite the City Square.
The building iu which the fire originated was unoccupied at
the time. The wind dining the whole of tho day bad been
very fresh from about E. by S. E., and at the time of the
breakiug out of the flames was quiie high. The buildings on
the south aud north, as well as uiose iu the heart of the block,
write speedily enveloped in flames, the houses being old and
very combustible. The course of the fire from its starting
wes iu a lateral direction across the squme, abut a. E. till
it struck Dauphin street, ttoariy nsidw y between St Eman
uel and Conception streets, when it was checked iu its fur
thorcourse eastwardly. On this block there were about ten
buildings consumed, beside outhouses—none of them, how
ever, were very valuable. There remains one old Spanish
house on the southwest corner, and four or five buildings on
the northeast corner of the square—two of them brick.
From the houses on the east side, the fire communicated
to these on the west side of Conception street. This entire
scpiarc, bounded east by Conception, south by Conti, west by
Joachim, and north by Dauphin s rcets, was totally cousu
rued. The buildings were all of wood, closely built, aud
mostly occupied as retail shops aud small dwellings; there
were however, several good houses, and the livery stable of
Mr', Raiu ott Conception street.
From the last described block, the flames crossed Dauphin
street to the square lying north, being west of Conception,
South of St. Francis, and east of Joachim streets. This
square like the otb< r. wa* compactly built ol w ood, some of
the bouses having stood upwards, of twenty years, and was
also chiefly tenanted by retail deal is, work shops, and small
dwelling houses. On the* northeast corner of the square a
oue story frame building and the new brick livery stable ad
joining on Conception street escaped, the course of the
flames being probably deverted more Westwardly by the
wind. Tho lively stable of Van Epps &. Short was ou this
square aud is consumed, as was also, with the exception
above, every building on the block.
The fire next crossed St. Francis street, taking in its course
the two fiame dwellings on the northwest corner of Joachim
and St. Francis, which with the outhouses attached, wete
the only ones burnt on this block.
The square immediately west of tho one last mentioned,
was only partially built, being the site of a fire in 1829; it had
however, a number of small buildings fronting on St. Mich
ael street, which have escaped, and one tenement on the
southwest sorucr of St. Frauds and Jackson sheets burnt.
The course of the file was oldrqnely through this block.
The block south of the last, formed by Jackson, Dauphin,
Joachim and St. Francis streets, wari. also, w ithout a single
exception, consumed at the-same time- Ou this square were
a number of fine dwellings and the livery stable of Mr. Webb.
Tho square was closely built ep, chiefly with frame build
ings, one or two of which were elected under the Spanish
government. On this square, fronting ou Ihiuphin street,
was the handsome three-story range of brick stores, owned
nnd occupied by Dr. H. Gates. Richard Stuart aud Levi
Fletcher.
Simultaneously with the two blocks last mentioned, the
entire square south, formed by Dauphin, Joachim, Conti and
Jackson streets, was reduced to ashes, and not a building sa
ved. On the north side of this square, mid fronting on Dau
phin street, the buildings were, with the exception of Mr.
Stepcusou's resilience, occupied as dry goods and grocery
stores, including Mr. J. B. llcipin’s new thiee story brick
building. Tho other sides of the square were principally
dwelling houses.
The fire had now spread from north to south, over three
entire squares, having St. Michael street for its boundary on
the north and Conti street on the south, with which terrific
front the flames, fed writh such combustible material and fan
ned by a stiffTtreeze into a fierceness never before witnessed,
continued their course westwardly, destroying every building
on the three squares west of Jackson and east of Claiborne
streets with one solitary exception, which for its remaikatde
escape, deserves to bo mentioned. This wns a one-story
frame dwelling, on the northwest corner of St. Michael and
Jackson streets, occupied by Mr. Scott; how it was preserv
ed is a matter ot astonishment. These, squares wete densely
settled mid contained many beautiful dwellings.
I he course of the conflagration was still onward; crossing
Claiborne street, it advanced with the same extent of front
until it reached Franklin street, the next west of Claiborne,
destroy ing in its course every tenement on the three squares.
1 wo ot the three possessed ugreater proportion of fine dwel
ling houses than perhaps those of jmy burnt on this night.
1 lie square lying between Dauphin and Conti streets is that
known as the Catholic Church Square, anti contained, we
believe, but one building on the southeast coiner, occupied
as a school house—the foundation of the ufew church is only
a tew feet high. . This vacant space arrested tho further pro
gress of the fire in that quarter, and by the time the flames
i>ii the other two squares had reached the east side of Frank
lin stre t, the wind had greatly abated, which induced redou
bled exertions to stop its further course. Several houses
were blown up, nnd every means which sagacity or experi
ence could suggest, were employed Uy the few exhausted and
dispirited citizens who continued up to this time to strive
against b°P f '. Their efforts on the square between St. Fran
cis and St. Michael streets were successful, and tho Method
ist Church on tho west side of Franklin, as well'as the two
story dwelling of Mr. Win. Bowrin, comer us St. Michael aud
F'l'anklin streets, aud the two-story dwelling of Mr. J. S,
GliMdon. corner of Franklin and St. Francis streets, were
saved, though with extreme difficulty.
The fire was not, however, st} easily subdued ou the squafb
south of St. Francis and north of Dauphin streets. It cross
ed Franklin, in the rear-of th? two-story dwelling of Mr. D.
Goodman, N. W. corner of Dauphin" and Franklin, burning,
the stables, etc. attached, and three buildings north, fronting
on Franklin street." The last fnitned houses were the prop
erty of Mr. Gliddoit, onfe'of A’ifich was of brick.—Beyond
this westwardly, mi'd on the sopth. side of St. Francis street.,
the remainder of the squtire. was vacant, and here the pro
gress of this terrible element was stayed, ■
It is utterly impossible to convey an idea of the scent pre
sented by this conflagration, while careering madly Onward,
the flames toweting mountain high, and roaring in the most
teirific manner. . The country for six or seven miles around
was lighted np with tho reflection, arfd the noise of the.de
vouring flames wire distinctly heard upwards of three miles
from the city. -Cinders, leaves of books, fragments ol cloth
ing and portions-of burnt shingles, three, or four inches
square, ivoro.picled-up three and a half miles from the fire.
Still agothcr /treremaitts to bo chronicled. Ou the follow
ing nigh;, or about 2 o'clock ou the morning of Wednesday,
the east room iti'a wing of the Mansion House, fronting on
Conti street and afjoiniiig the bakery of Mr. G. Yuille, was
discovered to be on fire. This room was being painted, and
had not been occupied for several weeks past, so that the in
ference is irresistablethat this building was seton, fire. The
wind was about east, and light, which permitted the flames
to burn slowly, but they had progressed so far, when the en
gines were ready to play, and the bpilding being three stories
high, that it was iouud impossible to anest their course.
The fire companies worked . with tho most commendable
perseverence, although worn out and exhausted by the con
tinued labors of tho past two weeks, and they succeeded in
checking tfie flames in other buildings, although defeated in
their efforts on behalf o the Mansion House. This splendid
hotel, wbieh stood ou tke southeast-corner of Conti and Roy
al streets itas entirely crinsmned; tho northeast wing on
Conti street extended about half the depth of the block, the
lower story of which w»s occupied,as offices by several of our
physicians, attorneys, «tc., the corner office being that occu
pied for many years as*a po§t office. On Royal street the
offices of C. A. Henry.and B. Wilkins, Esqrs., wore iu the
basement story. Mansion House was owned aud occu
pied by Mr. Charles CiiHurr.f •
The extensive five-story building, south of tho Mansion
House, and on the twrtheas; corner of Royal and Govern
ment streets, known bs the Government-street Hotel, caught
next. This was the largest building in the city; it was cov
ered in the past winter, but in other'respects unfinished ; it
burnt with the most intense heat, and soon fell, aheap of ru-.
ins. While the Mansion House and the new Hotei were burn
ing, fire from the former was communicated to the wooden
pillars of the cupola on the Planters and Merchants Bank,
northeast corner of Conti apd Royal streets. It is said that
a proper aud prompt application of water would in all proba
bility haved save this beautiful building, after it had takeu fire,
but from some misundersta'iding, or mismanagement it was
not done until too late, and the building was consumed. All
the books at.d papers were got out and a large proportion of
tho furniture, but the vault of the Bank was not opened ; it
is said, to bo remarkably thick and will most likely be unin
jured. With this building ou the east, the brick stores of Mr.
Phillip M'Loskey and others, were iu imminent danger, but
fortunately escaped. • - c . . -
Whilst tho fno .was raging on these buildings, the Upper,
or Vegetable Market in Government street, took fire
from the new Hotel, and was burnt to the grouud. The
threo-story brick range on the north side of Government, op
posite the Meat Market, also took fire from the Hotel, but
from the great exertions of’tho fire companies, it was con
fined to the first store, occupied by Mr. Wm. Cunningham,
the-two upper stories of which were burnt. At this time, se
rious apprehcusoiis existed ’that tho Meal Market would also
burn, in which eveut, the block of four-story brick stores and
dwellings on the south side.pf Government street, must also
have gone, involving with them, probably, a great portion of
the South Ward; from this we have been fortunately saved,
at least for the present.
The flames, whilst the Mansion House aud Hotel were
burning, crossed Royal street, and fired the brick stores and
offices of Mr. M. D. Eslttva.* on the west side, extending
sojith to the corner of Royal and Government streets, sweeps
ing every thing iu its coiirsv.’tind westwardly, on both side
of the square, until it readied the extremity of Eslava’s row,
north side of Government street; here a small frame house
was blown up, aud the next lot being vacant, stopped its
progress on this line. On Conti, the brick house, at the cor
ner of that street anil Royal, was saved, and the Mayor’s Of
fice and the Guard House, at the northeast corner of the
square; the intervening range of shops being burnt down.
The Mayor’s Office was on fire repeatedly, but eventually
saved. The three story brick building, northwest corner of
Conti nnd Royal, occupied by the Chronicle printing office,
was also sped several times, but finally pi eserved.
We have thus imperfectly, endeavored to sketch an ac
count of the great conflagrations of Monday night aud Wed
nesday morning. All attempts at a description of the dis
tress -and suffering 1 produced, must be faint, and would fall
far short of the real condition of our afflicted aud horror
stricken community. Hundreds of families have beeu al
most in a moment reduced to actual want of the necessary
means of preserving their existence. Tito fne of Monday
night was so extensive and moved with rapidity, that
but few saved any thing, while by far the greater proportion,
escaped with only the clothes on their bodies. The actual
number of houses burnt is not yet ascertained, but they are
estirnased by most persdus at from Five to Six Hundred.
The loss probably, iu the Iwo fires, is fully Twelve Hun
dred Thousand Dollars! We have no authentic infor
mation as to the proportion of this covered by insurance,
but are satisfied that a majority of the sufferers by the first
fire were entirely unprotected. Tho district embraced by
this conflagration, being beyond tho fire limits and nearly all
composed of wooden buildings, many of them old, the offices
would rarely take risks upon them. Iu the fire of Wednes
day morning, the loss of the Insurance Companies must be
im.nettse. Tire Mansion House alone had $(17,000 insu
rance, and we suppose most of the other buildings were cov
ered. ■ . ' z ■ . .
Alas! for our doomed city, tho tnle is not yet told. On
returning from tho yet burning ruins of the morning’s fire,
on Wednesday evening we sat down to wiito the foregoing
account, lint before we had concluded, the frightful alarm
again rung in our ears ! —About 7 o'clock of Wednesday eve
ning, a wooden tenement on Church street, between Clai
borne and Franklin streets, was discovered to be on fire.
This fire, like tho others, was the fiendish work of incendia
ries; the building we are informed wns vacant. The fire
rapidly communicated to the adjacent houses, and swept
round the square to Government street Theatre, which, with
the handsome two story dwelling of Mr. G. G. Henry, on
the cast, and several ftamc buildings on both sides, were en
tirely burnt to tho ground. The fire crossed Franklin street,
and burnt a few small tenements, fencing, etc. on the west,
side of that street, but extended no further. Tho night was
calm, and the squares in that part of the city were not closely
built upon, which contributed greatly to its being confined to
tho block in which it originated.
The great width of Government street, rendered the hou
ses on tho north side comparatively safe ; tho coals and
sparks, however fell in showers for a great distance round.
The number of buildings consumed hy this fire, were about
12 or 15, and the loss probably, near $20,000.
Al) is confusion, excitement, and distress; beset by
the'most fiendish and unrelenting villains, and Ileaveu alone
cau determine whether or ao our calamities are to end here.
Our city is ruined.
The citizen* held a meeting on Wednesday morning,
al which a committee of 25 were appointed te enforce the
laws in relation to vagrants, and to endeavor to suppress
the conflagration of houses.—Capt. Huggins, of the City
Troup, volunteered the services of that corps. Another
meeting was held yesterday at 12 o.clock, at the Court
House, at .which resolutions were adopted, conferring full
power on a committee, subsequently appointed, to be
styled a committee of vigftapcc and safety ; to arrest, ex
amine ami commit all suspected persons, and to take such
other measures as they deem expedient'for the inter
est of the city, and thejipoiection of the Infies and proper-'
ty of our citizens. The meeting Was* fully attended* Wm.
R. Hallet, Esq* in the chair, and M. J. M’Rae Esq.
secretary.
We have beeninfored that the vaults of the Planters and
Merchants Bank were yesterday examined and that every
thing is safe. . .
Several other attempts were made during the last few
nights, to fire the city in different places ; matches, hay,
and otlicr combustibles were discovered. Agreat number
of arrests have taken place, and although we- havp not
heard of any agafnst whom evfdence is clear and direA, it
is believed there arc strong circumstances of guilt resting
upon some of those in custody;
The Books and pa |>er S of the Planters and Marchants;
Bai k, have been removed into the old banking house on
Royal street, south of the Court House, and the business
of the institution will be conducted tltere.^— lb. , ■ .
From thf. hatches Free Trader. . , , :
DISASTROUS CONFLAGRATION. - r
This morning, (September 5,) at about three o’clock,
an alarming and destructive conflagration- broke out in
Colton Alley,, leading from Pearl to Commerce streets,
dividing the square east and west equally between Franklin 1
and Main streets.
The fire orignated in'iin old stable on lite north side
of the Alley,’lately occupied by Mr. Valentine Boyer,
owned now by the Natchez Insurance Company, and
attached to the building on Commerce street ot*ned by
the same company; and tenanted by Dr. A. A. Jahes, Bo
tanic Physician, and' John R. Stockman, as a stere and
family residence;.,
The fire having .got under good headway before it was
discovered, spread rapidly up and down Cotton Ailey,
burning the outer warehouses on both sides, and ending
only at Pearl street with the conflagration of jhe latge
warehouse and cotton yard of Messrs. Stanton, Buckner &.
Co., on the north side of the Alky, and the large warehouse
of Jacob Soria & Co., on the south side. - <
On the north side of Cotton Alley, the following ware
houses were burned : 'beginning at Pearl street, Ist, Jacob
Soria &. Co.’s, a large brick warehouse, filled with goods
on commission, to which Mr. Soria had, but'two-or three
days ago, removed all the goads belonging to the firm
individually, as he was clearing the rooms above his auc»
tion room for a family residence : rough estimate of the
loss of property in his ware-rooms deposited there on
commission and held as an individual firm front $25,000-
to $30,000 —no insurance.
The next back warehouse on Cotton Alley that was
consumed was ojcupied'hy A; L. paines de Co.; in wbich
a large and valuable quantity of goods, chiefly on consign
ment, were consumed—including 150 barrels of pork,
bagging, rope, and winter clothing—estimate, $15,000
The next back yvarehouse on Cdtton Alley that burned
was occupied by Cannon & Ayres, filled with hardware,
zinc, and crowp glass^ —rough estimate of loss, $2,500.
The next back warehouse above oh Cotton Alley con
sumed, belonged tpMr. Lilliard, occupied by James VVem
ple. This was a double brick warehouse, filled with
goods belonging to Mr. Wetnple, amounting, on a rough
estimate, to $4,000 or $5,000. The front store of Mr.
VVemple, on Main street was only saved by the darirfg ex
ertions of firemen afid citizens, powerfully seconded by a
negro man, belonging ta Mr. Lillard, who used a huge
bucket in a back cistern as if he were Neptune’s deputy.
The next t>;xck. wa re b o, ‘ so Consumed on Cotton Alley,
was Mr. Newman’s, firm of Caradine & Newman. Here
we tire sorry to say that all the furniture belonging to the
Rev. Mr. Bruner, late of the Female Academy, was total
ly consumed, having been stored in this warehouse. The
loss of Messrs. Caradine <& Newman was from S6OO to
SBOO.
The next back warehouse above consumed, was occu
pied by J. G. Dickerman, whose loss was chiefly in boots
and shoes, to the amount of about ss,ooo—the greater
part of the loss falling on consignees.
All the before named back warehouses were substantial
ly built of brick, but were generally loir. It was a won
der of wonders, that such a mass of heated and blazing
brick edifice did not destroy the front stores on Main street
—many of which were on fire at different times.
Running, down from the stable on Cotton'Alley to Pearl
street, the fire consumed the large noble brick commission
store of Stanton,. Buckner & Co., with the cotton-shed
attached. .Tim loss of the building is $10;0U0, other
losses about $5,000. There were only twelve bales of
cotton burned frjjthe,s)teS—-five belongihg to John Rayn
ton, Esq., and seven to another " gentleman £ forty-two
bales of new cotton Ijad bepn from this ytrd lhe
day before. * i . . ’•
Running up Cotton Alley from the stable to Commerce
street, the fire wa* most destructive ;jt burned the large
bouse on Commerce street belonging to. the Natchez In
surance Company, occupied by Dr. A. A. Jones, Botanic
Physician, as a drug store, and by John R. Stockman as a
store and family residence. Dr. Jones saved * few things,
but lost about $2,008 worth of drug;.
John R. Stockman, Esq., saved scarcely any thing
even the most of bis wearing apparel and that of his fami
ly having been cupturned—quite happy to have escaped
from the devouring element with their lives. Mr.
Stockman's loss cannot fail of being SIO,OOO or $15,000.
The next store below, to the north of John R. Stock
man's was occupied by Cyrus Marsh, Esq., who, we are
happy to learn, had -time to remove most of his goods.
The next building below, corner of Commerce and
Franklin streets, WA* the large boardinghouse owned 1 and
kept by Mrs. Cornell, which was wHiolly consumed, giving
lime, however,for tliat lady and and respec
table boarders, to remove most of their furniture atid ef
fects. Mrs. Cornell, we are informed, was insured on
her house and furniture to the amount of $22,000.
Two gentlemen who rented store-rooms of Mrs. Corn
ell—James Stockman, and Messrs. T. A. Holmes 4c C*.
had tinw to remove most of their effects. .
A back warehouse belonging to C. Marsh, of brick,
fire proof, and filled with pork, stands unharmed in the
midst of the ruins,as an oasis in a burning desert.
• SUSPENSION ()P SPECIE PAYMENTS IR RICHMOND.
[T'rohi the Richmond Compiler, Oct, 12.]
News was received in this city yesterday morning of
suspensions by the Ranks in Philadelphia and Baltimore,
and by the U. S. Bank in New York, whereupon meet
ings of the Directors of our different Batiks were convened
and they resolved to suspend specie payments for the pre
sent.
Suspension in Charleston.— We regret to perceive from
their address ia our columns, that most of our Banks have
been constrained to follow the example of the Philadelphia
and Baltimore Banksand suspend specie payments. It is
creditable, however, to’bur banking institutions, that they
have never taken the lead in such a measure, but have done
all they could to uphold the credit of the country, yielding
only when compelled to do so, on the principle of
self-defence, by the course of like institutions in other
places. The Bank of the State of South-Carolina, and
lhe Bank of Charleston have not yet unitedin the measure
of suspension, and We tfust that our community will with
one accord sustain them in their present attitude.
STATE RIGHTS AND UNITED STATES RIGHTS.
< THE TREE ISSUE.
Shall mirs be a GOVERUMEKT OF THE BAjfKS
or a GOFERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE! Shall «m
have a CONSTITUTIONAL TREASURY, or am UN
CONSTITUTIONAL NATIONAL BANK! Shalit*
have a CONSTITUTIONAL CURRENCY afoot* arb
silver orono of IRREDEEMABLE PAPER! Shall
we live under the despotism of a MONIED ARISTOCRA C Y,
orunder the safeguards of a FREE CONSTITUTION !
[ Washington Chroniela.
TUESDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 22, 1839.
DEMOCRATIC TICKET.
FOR PRESIDENT,
JHARTUM VAM BVREA.
FOR VICE. PRESIDENT.
JO FOKSYTB.
CALAMITOUS FIRE. '
It has been truly said, that the inhabitants of Mobil* “sir*
■silting iu the sackcloth of sorrow, and.the asbM of rain-nod
d’esrilation.*' -
The ’accditut that wo publish to-day, of tho.torriU* «♦■-
flygratiou which ba» awapt that growing city, m it wore with
th* “IpHom us destruction,” ia almost without * parallel la
the history of disastrous avents.
It is but a few days since, that w* aunouaeed a similar vis
itation apou tho cities of New York tud Philadelphia, toes
dostructiso to b* tor* io comparison with their sOtont aad
populatiau, but vast ia the amount ef«|oM aud suffering to
hundreds and thoyuauda 'heir citizens, and at tho end of
but a single .week, it become* our painful duly to add anoth
er to tbejist w|iieb-ka* rodi»ced almost an entire city to iui»,
and thousands to poverty aud misery.
We give them all that we have, our deepest sympathy,
and wodld that w* had something more substantial la bestow.
1839* 1837.
a to S» SP ft
I i f
Appling, .... t» 46 161 98
Baker, .... m 142 161 58
Baldwin, ...."' 329 277 805 827
Bibb, . .. . . . 710 490 629 656
. Bryan, . i . . 7 99 74 79
Bulloch, . ; . . 312 7 282 H
Burke, . . U 4 585 206 598
Butts, . . i . . 893 189 379 245
Camden, .... m 80 221 146
Campbell, ... m 315 461 220
Carroll, .... 526 200 470 233
Cass, . . ... 705 481 523 837
Chatham, . . 330 260 573 411
Chattooga, ... 228 168
Cherokee, ... 480 326 885 159
Clarke m 221 390 56ft
Cobb, . . . i 044 332 480 251
Columbia, . . ; 252 374 275 418
Coweta, .... m 182 699 590
Crawford, ... 479 255 510 311
Dade, .... tn 115
Decatur, * . . . ' m 30 254 317
DeKalb, .... - 653 . 466 794 564
Dooly, .... 301 , 137 322 154
Early,. . . fr-. -360 165 346, 169
Effingham, ... 66 M 3 130 160
Elbert, .... 79 905 115 964
Emanuel,. ’ . . > 152 . 114,. 204 125
Fayette, . • t . tn 186 • 533 834 >•
Floyd,. . 382 .188 ', 308 J 92
Forsyth, .... 417 298 1 449 276
Frankliu,. .... m 397 681 445
Gilmer, .... m 194 170 29
Glynn, * , 33 131 46| 78
Greene, . ; . .. 71 786 57 787
Gwinnett. . \ ’. '619 • 608 ' 755 780. '
HabersMhm, . .’. m2lO 681 382
IlaH, ’ ; 506 470 587.452 ,
Hancbak, n . 301 376 272 446
HariSs,, 405 792 452 775 f
Heard, . . . 389 264 3581 285 *
Henry, . 835 649 868 730
Houston, ... „m 206 ' 647 598
IrWin,. ~ . . 257 14 235 20'
Jackson, . .. 520 506 571 504
Jasper, 507 440 503 619 *
Jefferson; s ‘. . 108 456 116 492
Jones,. . . 503 447 481 482
Laurens, , 5 390 10 469
Lee, . . ; m 18 186 182
•Liberty, ... 87 139 78 149
Linceln, . l . . " m 49 226 295
Loundfe*," . 224 349 247 80!
Lumpkin, *.’’ I' . 651 249 608 252
Macon',* '• i v • 3J7 243
Madison, ... 309 279 826 264
Marion, ~r>. . 224 332 337 490
MclntosJu 128 119 139 62
Meriwether.. ~ 766 6.71 754 647
Mohrw, J' 1 ? 802 670 764 783
Montgomery, . . 10 242 24 161
Morgan, • . . 322 460 351 466
Murray, : . . . 542 87 240 117
Muscogee’ . 850 861 726 900
Newton, ... 467 850 «5 793
Oglethorpe, . . , 107 497 126 6)3
Paulding, » 165 96
Pike, • . . 492 349 553 449
Pulaski, ... 379 214
Putnam, ~ ' 243 519 264 615
Rabun, . . . 241 10
Randolph, ... 508 490 430 811
Richmbud, . . 872 449 448 826
Striven, ... 134 211 184 281
Stewart, ... 617 574
Sumter, ... m 12 270 376
Talbot, • ... 855 787 853 815
Taliaferro, ... 33 414 31 4IJ
■ Tatnall, ... 68 276 77 235
Telfair, ... m 55 166 202
Troup’’ ** ’ 942 3891132
TwigS, .. • 461 327 44| 361
Upson’ .’ •’ 393 ™ 409 580
Walton, ... 621 443 772 454
Ware ... m 181 150 9
Warren ... 317 429 514 591
Washington, • • 514 588 544 580
Wavne. •’ •’ • mB2 135 28
Walker, .. . • m 231 405 275
Wdkes, ... ™ 12'
Wilkinson, • • • 49v 391 J 017? MB