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Extract* freon tlir Knuktrbockrr fur February.
THE IPIRIT.
Whnrchain the eptrit!—sooner niight’at thou chain
The bouiwhng billows to the rock-rib!)ed chore,
Or pluck the thunder from the tempe-t’s roar,
When the keen lightnings sting the foaming main,
And royal Midnight holds right solemn reign :
Or, sooner might'st thou tethr r with n thre ad
The ponderous clouds, w hich, with an airol'drcad,
Do pioneer the sea-born hurricane ;
And this is the soul's mystery ! —w.nd and night,
And .he big storms winch wrestle far at sea,
And clouds which gird themselves with might.
And with the mountains h >ld society.
These have proud freedom, hut the soul ha* more :
An endless life of on an eternal shore.
H. W. R.
FREEDOM.
A Fragment • Translatedlram the German.
When sinks the sun beneath the western wave,
Say, is that blue expanse his hopeless grave ?
O no! for though on us he shines no more,
He gilds with rising beams some distant shore.
So. Freedom, tee thy light no more behold,
Yet art thou not for ever dead and cold;
But where Coi.rMßtA greets the Atlantic morn
Thy golden rays her happy dime adorn!
A SCENE AT FLORENCE.
FT A NFW CUXTKIBCTOR.
Mnrk that pale ami emaciated man, with his
head bowed over a book, taken trom one ol
those stands upon which the richest libraries of
Florence expose their works for sale, and be
sides which lie is stan ling ! He is too poor
to purchase the treasures lie holds, but he de
vours it with his eyes, and engraves its contents
in ineffaceable cliaracteis upon the tablet of his
memory. The copyists of Sarbonne have sent
the work hither, in hopes of ootaining a higher
price than at Paris.
It was a fete day; all Florence was out; and
gay and noisy crowds thronged past the reader.
The Florentine lords, with their pompous
walk, and magnificent cloaks; beautiful and
high-born girls; noble matrons on ambling
paifries. with suites of valets and pages sup
porting their embroidered trains ; processions,
followed by long files of the people, filling tbe
air with their songs and acclamations; all
alike passed unheeded and unnoticed by tlie
solitary stranger. He remained us fixed and
immovable as a statue.
His dark olive complexion, thick beard,
black and curling hair; bis high and deeply
furrowed forehead, aquiline nose, and strongly
cornjiicssed bps ; his noble, grave, and poetic
pii siognomy—<■//, in ins person, attracted
attention, and commanded respect. . The
crowds involuntary shrank back as the ap
proached him; and more than one young giri
cast her pious looks towards the stone ma
donna, in « niche at the corner, and crossed
herself as she passed him.
‘Ho not disturb him. but pass qmctly on,’
said one of these to her companion.
‘ And why,Camilla?
‘ He is one that can descend to the infernal
regions, nd transport thither the ibjccts of his
hatred and pleasure 1’
4 Ah! is that lie V replied the other ; and
they quickened their pace. He who had ex
cited their terror, only raised his head, sighed,
and was again absorbed in the contents of his
volume.
At this moment, an ecclesiastic passing,
mounted upon a mule richly capai isoned,
stopped an instant, and in an under tone sa.d
to the stranger: • Read, read I —lor to-muriow
thou diest at the stake!’
Perhaps tlie stranger h ard him. He rais
ed not his head, but remained immovable, and
continued his reading. Night came, and
closing the book, with a sigh, lie returned it to
its place, and quitted the spot where he had
remained since dawn of day.
The next morning, as he approached the
place where the day previous he had perhaps
spent a few happy hours, he found the hooks
gone, and the stand removed, and was inform
ed that the fiction of ‘ The Blacks,' hud, in
one of their secret assemblies, held during the
night, at the convent of St. Pierre, proscribed
him, and it was dangerous for him to be pub
licly seen in the streets of Florence.
‘Eh lien!' was his only answer. A num
ber of his friends were soon collected a ound
him.
’"tYou are condemned to die!’ said one of
them.
4 Without being heard !’
* 1 have proof that they intend this night to
set your house on fire, and sulfur you to perish
in the flames, or assassinate you, if you attempt
to escape. Save yourself, then, by a timeiv
flight!’
‘ I will remain.’
4 1 or tiie sake of your childrccn, save your
self!’
4 i will leave them my name for an heri
tage !’
4 In the name of one you have made immor
tal on earth, as site is in heaven,’ cried « friend
pressing through the crowd, ‘in the name of
Beatrice, I conjure you to flv 1’
Tiie stranger inclined his head, and and ac
companied by his fnend, turned his head to
wards the Roman gate ol Florence.
4 How will you be avenged on your enemies
for their cruelties and insults
The stranger replied not ; but drawing from
his bosom a roll of parchment, he pointed
with a significaht air, to three words inscribed
thereon : ‘Divina Commedla Ixfer.no.’ Tnen
casting a last, long, lingeri' g look toward his
native Florence, lie passed through the gate,
o:i foot and alone.
SOCRATES.
11l all your philosophic drove
From at os, colonnade, or crove,
You had but one alone :
And him, O Athens ! Athens prized
At nought—you basely sacrificed,
T p fl itter a bulion.
Where was your famed Minerva then ?
Hid she direct your wisest men ?
Did she concoct the bowl ?
Ah no! with indignation fled
That goddess bright, hut in her stead
To rule, s' e left her owl!
A scholmastcr, on being asked the meaning
of tiie word •• fortification,” replied that •• two
twentificutiQti* make n fortification,"
AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.
During the last month or six weeks, crowds
of persons evidently of a superior class of
sue ety, have, to tiie great surprise of tiie in- ;
habitants of the quiet neighborhood of Solo, j
been seen wei.di g towards, and inqu ring
tiieir way to an obscure house. No. 6,Carlisle
street near Solo square. In the course of the j
past week tueexcitement has greatly increased j
by a \a-t assemblage of the nobility, members
of tiie administration, fellows of Colleges and
of scientific institutions, eminent engineers,
naval architects, surveyors, rail-road directors,
painters, and a whole host of the , atrons of
t ie .arts and sciences all of whom were (as we
found out by following in the wake) attracted
thither by the exhibition of a model of a loco
motive steam engine, which with other new
and apperently simple inventions acting and
harmonizing therewith are destined to work
the following wondrous changes and improve
ments in the present syst 'in of steam carriage
conveyance—a desideratum and a “ consum
mate i devoutly to be wished:”
The engines and trains cannot possibly go
off the rail-way or upset.
They can. un on any requited curve with
speed, safety, and a minimum degree of fric
| tion.
They can ascend and deccnd all aclivittes
'..♦hat ran Itf* 10/introd in i-iiliipnya, nnrt with
speed and convenience.
'I hey are relieved of all the dead weight
rendered necessary by titt present system, and
are no heavier than is required to bear the load
of goods and passengers.
I lie carriages, bodies, and weight, will be
almost on the ground.
They will be less expensive than those at
present in use; and the immense expenditure
of tunneling, embankments, cuttings, dec. &c.
will be entirely avoided.
The repairs of the railway, the “ wear and
tear of the engines, and trains, will be much
!es»e\pensive than those now in use.
I he inconvenience and enormous outlay of
cutting through parks or other peculiarly
situated property is avoided by the power of
giving the line any desired direction.
The ngenious inventor and patentee of this
new system, which he illustrates with great
clearness, s a Mr Kol matt, a gentleman well
known and tunc i re pcctcd hid admired in the
se.etitiiic c;: cies ! He attends in Carl lie street
three days a week, for t •• purpose of exhibi
biting It is models and engine, the hitter of
which has been beutifully manufactured at an
expenee of £3)O ; and is on the scale of one
and a had inch to a foot. London Observer.
REMARK A RLE INVENTION.
A journeyman c ockmakerin the neighbor
hood ol Havre is taking measures to procure
a patent for a discovery which, if it really leads
to the results announced in the inventor, must
hiing about a sudden and complete revolution
in horology. The invention of our fellow citi
z.en consists in this: we cannot, of course, speak
of the process; this is the property of the in
veil tor. M. r * lias changed entirely the me
chanism ol' watches, pendulums and clocks;
lie has so simplified them that the present
price ol these machines must submit to a re
uction of 50 per cent, on the present price,
and will then furnish a great profit to the m?,.
uufacturer. The simplifying process, and the
consequent reduction of price is no* the only
advantage of tins discovery. Another, still
more valuable, is the method of making a
lady’s watch go, without being wound up dur
ing a whole year, a gentleman’s watch during
tiueo years, a pendulum of middling size
twenty yeais, and a public clock for a space
td two hundred and eighty years, and follow
mg tut inverse progression. M.** inanufac
turns watches of so small a size that they can
he fixed as the seal of a ring, and will require
to be wound up but once in fifteen days. A
wat h of this species will cost but 50 francs.
One worn by the Empress Maria Louisa on
the fore finger of her left hand was a jewel,
the preparation of which did not cost less than
256.000. I’iie watches made by M.** can
only be wound up by himself, or those ac
quainted with the set ret of his parent. They
areenclosed in a case hcrmeticallly sealed, and
have no more thickness than a common watch.
I he fear ol exposing himself to indiscreet
solicitations compels him to maintain great se
crecy as to his process. We must add. that. I
according to the process of this inventor, the
striking of bolls cannot be connected with the
clockwork which he manufactures.
VESUVIUS.
Extract of a letter from Naples, dated the sth
January, 1839:—“Early in the morning of
New-Year’s day, we were awakened by a
violent explosion like the report of a cannon,
and soon discovered that it was at• eruption of
\ esuvius. In half an hour afterwards a dense
cloud of smoke and ashes covered Naples,
having the same effect from the electrical fluid
issuing from it, as generally pr< ceeds a summer
storm. Apprehensions were entertained for
the city ; but tiie wind changed and carried
the cinders towards the shore at Portici. The
eruption ceased in the evening, but the detona
tions recommenced on the 2d, and continued
throughout tl«' day. The earth was c instant
ly tremulous under our feet. In the evening,
\ esuvius was all on fire, and the lava flowed
do.vn into the plains between Portici and
Torre del Greco, committing great ravages.
On the 3d the Mountain became more quiet,
and in the evening was not so much inflamed
as on the preceding night, but sent out con
tinu ♦ 1 flashes, which is a phenomenon extreme
ly rare. Since yesterday it has been at rest.
If the eruption hail continued as it liegan, we
should have ><• n a ren wal ol what happened
m 1*22. w en during three days, Naples was
covered with cinders, and candles hud to be
ligated at mid-day. French paper.
The Rev. Charles W. Howard, the agent
I hot.or to state, that the only reason I have to
appointed by tiie state of Georgia, to col
lect documents connected with its early
i history, from the public olfices in England,
lias returned, after accomplishing, in a great
1 measure, to his satisfaction, the object of his
agency. We hate not had an opportunity
yet. of h ok mg at the (some) 20 volumes of
documentaly history which he has collected,!
but have no doubt that it will l»e found bv tfie!
historiographer of (Jeorgia, a rich mine for the ‘
1 ustiat on of the most interesting |>ortioii of j
our history. Millcdgei ille Krrofilcr.
THE SOU TIIE R N I>OS T.
INSTRUCTION OF CHILDREN.
! If we attentively observe children, from !
three years of age to twelve and upwards, we
in general find lhat they take a great deligut
in acquiring individual facts and occurrences.
I Every new object, whether it fie a picture, a
toy, or machine, affords them, on contem
plating it, great pleasure. They look at it
again and again. If it be a tiling which they j
can handle, they turn it round and examine it
|in every direction. When puzzled to ac
; count for what they see, they put many ques
j tions to their guardians, in order to have then
i difficulties solved ; and so interested are they i
in it that it frequently forms the subject of j
conversation and wonder for many days after- i
wards. Another peculiar feature in tiieir clia
[ racter, is their love of incidents. It has often
been our lot to witness, collected around the
hearth, on a cold winter’s night, a group of
children, and to note the deep attention with
which they listened to a simple tale, or fairy j
legend, which was either related by one of
themselves, or by a kind parent. During the
j time of its relation, their tricks and gambols
were ia:d aside: and every thing that could
disturb them was carefully excluded; so ab
sorbed were they that the slightest noise would
make them start, and the hearty laugh, or tear
that trickled down their cheeks, told how deep,
ly they sympathized with the subjection of thej
narration. But we have often observed, on
the other hand, that the attention of a group
like this, which, was so busy during the narra
tion of a simple story, soon flagged when an
abstract discourse, however simple in lan.
guage, was read to them. The little ones be
came listless and uneasy, and seemed to feel,
when it was terminated, as if they had been
freed from bondage. No doubt they might
strum every nerve to learn the words bv rote,
Tor the purpose of obtaining a reward of a
higher | lace in their class; but, on asking
them about the meaning of what they had re
peated, they knew nothing but tiie words
| which they had learned ; and the very joy they
manifested when the catechising was at an
end, showed the little heartfelt interest which
they took in their tasks.
From this short survey of the phenomena
of mind which are exhibited in the conduct of
children, it would appear that those powers ;
which enable men to delight in and appreciate
abstract truths, are in children in a very im
perfect state of development; while those fa
cilities that enable them to acquire facts and j
incidents are in very great activity. From a!
consideration of these circumstances, the in- j
ference is plain, that we ought to adapt our
instruction to the intellectual powers which
the Deity, in !ns infinite wisdom, has thought
proper to confer upon them ; that our instruc
. lions ought, for the most part, to consist of
facts, and those incidents that arrest their at-,
tention—that give scope to their fancy—-that
rouse their feelings to activity—and the moral
!of which is so s mple that tiny emi almost
de< uoe it themselves. To proceed otherwise!
in the instruction of c'.Viidren, would he to act
against the clearest light, and be the means of
j throwing stumbling blocks in the way of their;
I advancement in knowledge.
A “ Goddess of Silence" is proposed by Mr.
Clarke, of New Y r ork, to occupy a niche in
j the House of Representatives. The marble
[divinity is thus imagined in the txordium of his
• late speech:
I most sincerely wish, sir, (and in this wish,
f feel assured, yourself, a large majority of the
House, and a large majority of the nation will
join) that we iiad more dummies on this floor.
I am a passionate admirer of silence and of si
lent men. They are the real salt of the earth,
and particularly of this Babel body. They
combine nineteen-twentieths of the real, solid,
useful talent of the Mouse, f admire them
for their quiet, retired and dignified deport
ment, for their devotion to the public business,
and for their economy of the public time,
which is public money. The man whose in
genuity should devise some plan by which the
public business might be transacted in silence,
would be entitled to the nation’s gratitude,and
more especially to the be ledict.on of the thou
sand applicants to your justice as claimants,
and to your generosity as petitioners for your
bounty. Splendid rewards should be offered
[to the literary talent of the country for the
best written dissertation on the sublime virtues
: of silence.
We should have before us some striking
memento ot silence, which would constantly
remind us of the importance of action, the true
eloquence of legislation. I would employ the
ablest sculptor of the age. whore chisel would
impart life and beauty to the cold, inanimate
marble, to execute a statue, or (without giving
offence to the enemies of Heathen Mythology)
a Goddess of Silence. Her countenance
should be bright and radiant, beaming with
thought and intellect. Her pedestal, the musty
and forgotten volumes of Congressional
Speeches. Her brow should be entwined j
with a perennial wreath, made up of the De
claration of Independence, and the testament- j
ary legacy of the Father of his Country, as a
fit compliment to the illustrious authors of
these deathless productions, and due to them
as notable examples of taciturn wisdom.
The fingers of her dexter hand should rest
impressively on her lip. In her left, should
be displayed a scroll, inscribed with the adage,
as old as w.se, “ Have a care of whom you
speak, of what, and where, and when.” Then,
sir, 1 would eject from the niche over your
head, if niche it be where niche there is none, j
that unmeaning figure of colossal proportions,
| and place in its stead this emblematic person- j
j age. It should then be a standing rule of the
House, that every member, on entering this j
Hall, should gaze intently on the “ genius lo
ci,” and pray to him who “ tunes the silent
music of the spheres” to give him the grace
and wisdom and the courage to be silent.
If this would not produce the desired results,
I would resort to |>eiial enactments. Speeches
should be graduated and limit and by time
thirty minutes being the maximum. An in
fraction of this luw should subject the violator
to the loss of otie-sixteenth of au inch of the
offending member.
44 Why is wine lik : italic V' askedn printer,
|“ Because it makes language emphatic," rc-
I plied Shooting Stick.
Translated for the New-York Mirror.
TREACHERV FOR TREACHERY.
It) the midst of one of the forests of West- }
phalia, in a vast glade, stands a tribunal, con- :
structed with the trunks of trees. At the four
corners are four men armed with axes. In i
front is placed a block, covered with black
drapery, on which is a sword. By the light
of torches, attached to the trees, are seen mov
ing at a distance in the forest, men enveloped
in cloaks, who converse, who make unusual
ge Mures, and pace the ground in tumultuous
agitation.
Suddenly seven nten, likewise enveloped in
cloaks, and with high plumes on their heads.!
mount their tribunal. The crowd approaches j
and presses under the trees which suriound
the glade. The four men armed with axes
pioclaim the sinister cry of WehemGerichl—
(a word of recognition of the free judges.)
44 What is the hour ?” asked the chief of the
seven judges.
‘•lt is the first hour of day,” reply the four
executioners.
* It is well,” says the grandmaster, seating
himself.
And the four executioners proclaim in a I
loud voice—“ Silence for the judgment of the [
free counts.”
Ihe grandmaster rises and says—“Thej
emperor addresses to as the order to dissolve]
our austere tribunal. But can Sigismund de
stroy that which Charlemagne has established ?
Can he dispense with transmitting to his suc
cessor the sword which he has received from [
those who have preceded him upon the throne ?
It is not for Sigismund more than for any of
the Emperors who may reign after him, that
we have been created by those who have foun- [
ded the empire. Sigismund has not, then, the [
right to dissolve us. I maintain that we should
appeal from his decree to the future emperors,
and that we o :gh to exist until we are recog-!
nized by ourselves as having become useless, i
by a true reformation in the conduct of those
who obey, and ofthose who reign.”
The discourse of the grand master is wel
comed by a murmur of approbation. The
cry of “Secret tribunal!” “Secret tribunal!”
is beard from all sides. The judges alone
shuddered ; for it seemed to them that in the
midst of the cries, of the crowd, and through
the sound oftlie wind, a voice had pronounced
the famous cry of the partisans of the imperial
power, “ Prohibited tribunal!”
The grandmaster rises a second time and
says—“ Wo he to us, if hate oi friendship have
any influence on our decisions ! May the
blood of the it'Tioeent, as well as the impunity
ot the guilty, lie on our head ! I cite before you
as guilty of treachery, the knight Eberhard Von
Wolfenbuttel.”
The four men armed with axes, placed at
the four corners of the tribunal, repeated three
times in a loud voice—“ Eberhard Von YVolf
enbuttel.”
Here different opinions arose between the
other six knights and the free judges.
“ Tnere is a decision of the emperor against
us. Who will dare to charge himself with
the execution of the sentence of death ? Wo
tothose who will have pronounced it! Besides,
is it certain that we are not assisting here private
vengeance?”
“ Here there is no private vengeance,” an
swered the grandmastes. “ The law speaks
Eberhard merits death. I have sent knights
to seize him in his castle. He will be con
victed by his own words, and put to death by
our swords.”
For the second time the four men armed with
axes exclaimed in a loud voice—“ Eberhard
Von Wolfenbuttel!” and tiie crowd answered
by the shouts of “ Respect to the free judges !
Fulfi meut to the justice of the free counts !” j
At this moment, at the extremity of the
glade, appeared a knight, tied on his horse, and
conducted by four armed men, who walked
with drawn swords in their hands.
Two knights advanced, and received in a
low voice the password that the guards of the
prisoner transm tied to them ; and then halting
at some distance from the tribunal, exclaimed—
•• B hold Eherhard Von VVolfenbuttel!” The
night was gloomy ; dark clouds Bitted across
the moon ; the torches attached to the trees
threw but a feeble light; the greater number
of the nights, terrified by the orders of the
emperor, feared equally to recognize those who
surrounded them, and to be recognized them
selves.
“Art thou Eberhard of VVolfenbuttel ?” de
manded the grandmaster of the prisoner.
“ 1 am lie,” replied a voice, that all theknights
present recognized for that of Eberhard,
It was remarked only, that the knight who
was tied on his horse let his head fall on his
breast ; some be icved that they lieai da stifled
gro in. But ail were attentive to the words
of the grand-master; and the forest was be
ginning to be agitated by an approaching
storm.
“ Eberhard,” said the grandmaster, “ thou
art accused of treachery ; what hast thou to
say in thy defence ”
“ The treachery,” answered Eberhard, “ is;
that of him who has no tear to send his son into
my castle, under pretext of hospitality, to take
possession of my person, and conduct me be
fore this tribunal of blood.”
“ There is no treachery towards traitors,” j
replied the grandmaster.
“ I think so likewise,” answered Eberhard.
“TmOU art accused of treachery,” said the
grandmaster ; “ what hast thou to say in thy
defei ce ?”
“Free counts.” rejoined Eberhard. “be judges
between him and me. One of the sons of the
grandmaster had dishonored the sister of my
friend; and, to withdraw himself from his
vengeance, lie became a monk. Notwithstan
ding the sancity of his mbit, my friend dared
to slay him. According to your laws he
merited death. I was chosen by the grand
master to assassinate him. I preferred mv
friend to my oath. I declared to him the pass,
word, and aided him to cross the Rhine. Os
w hat am I guilty TANARUS”
“ Os a crime which merits death,” answered
ull the free judges.
“ What!” cried Eberhard, “ there is then no
distinction of motives? lie who reveals the
secrets of tho order must perish ?”
44 Thou hast said it,” aswered the grand
master.
i “ But if lie were a prisoner in the castle o
his enemy ; if he were menaced with tortures
if he were approached by red-hot braziers?”
“ If he declares the words oftlie order hi
must jtensh,” replied the grand master.
“It is you that have said it!’’ exclaimed
Eberhard. “ May the blood which is about to
■ be shed be on your head.”
At this moment the four armed men con
ducted the horse oftlie night to the fatal block.
Sword in hand, they forced him to descend.
The unfortunate groaned faintly, and his stifled
sighs contrasted with the language which had
been just heard.
! 44 YVno will charge himself with the execu
tion ?” demanded the grandmaster.
No voice answered. The orders of the
emperor were so formidable and precise, that
no one present* and himself.
“ It shall then be myself,” rejoined the grand
master with eagerness, and as if irritated by
this silence.
“He descended ftorn the tribunal. He ad
vanced, followed by the four executioners.
Arrived near the armed men, he demanded of
them—“ Where is inv son ?” They replied—
He is uoi far.” Thereupon they retired, and
were lost in the crowd.
“ At last thou art going to die, Eberhard !”
exclaimed the old man, w'ith a fierce-joy.
A stifled groan was all the response of the
prisoner.
44 On thy knees, coward !” exclaimed the
grandmaster.
And as the prisoner hesitated the execu
tioners forced him to kneel, and seizing his
hair, held his head upon the block. The old
man struck. There wats a profound silence.
Then, lifting his sword, he cried in a trium
phant voice—“ He is dead !”
44 Who is it that is dead ?” demanded a voice,
that all the assistants recognized with affright,
for that of Eberhard.
They bri ig torches. They examine the
corpse. A gag had closed his mouth. Tie
grandmaster recognized with horrour his own
son ! He rises. “ Light torches ! Search the
forest! Knights aid me to find the traitor, who
is hidden among us !”
A voice makes itself heard.
“YVo to those who have transgressed the
orders oftlie emperor!”
Suddenly the torches go out. There is a
profound silence; and the enire assembly
separates, as if it had been dispersed by a
prodigy.
DR. FRANKLIN ON THE INFLUENCE OF IN
FIDELITY.
The following letter of Dr. Franklin, found
in his works, edited by his grandson, William
Temple Franklin, (London edition, vol. 3, p.
279) addressed to the author of an infidel
publication, submitted to him in inanuscr pt,
(probably Paine) claims the attention of every
American citizen:
44 Dear Sir: —l have read your manuscript
with some attention. By the argument which
it contains against a particular Provide ice.
you strike at the foundations of all religion.
For, without the belief of a Providence, that
takes cognizance of, guards and guides, and
may favor particular persons, there is no mo
tive to worship a Deity, to fear its displeasure,
or to pray for its protection. I will not enter
into any discussion of your principles, though
you seem to desire it. At pit sent I shuf! only
give you my opinion, that though voui reason
ings are subtle, and may prevail with some
readers, you will not succeed so as to change
the gener 1 sentiments of mankind on that
subject, and Ihe consequences of printing this
piece will he. a great deal of odium drawn
upon yourself, mischief to you, and no benefit
to others. He that spits against the w nd,
spits in his own face. But were you to sue
ceed, do you imagine any good will be done
by it? You yourself may find it easy to live
a virtuous life, without the assistance afforded
by religion, you having a clear perception of
advantages of virtue aud the disadvantages of
vice, and possessing a strength of resolution
sufficient to enable you to resist common
temptations. But think how great a portion
of mankind consists of ignorant men and wo.
inen, and of inexperienced, inconsiderate
youth of both sexes, who have need of the mo
tives of religion to restrain them from vice,
support their virtue, and retain them in the
practice of it till it becomes habitual, which is
the great point of its security. And perhaps
you are indebted to her originally, that is, to
your reilgious < ducation, for the habits of vir
jtue upon which you now justly value your
] self. You might easily display your excellent
j talents of reasoning uuon a less hazardous
subject, and thereby obtain a rank with our
most distinguished authors. For among us
j it is not necessary, as among the Hottentots,
| that a youth, to be raised into the company of
men, should prove his manhood by beating
his mother. I would advise you, therefore,
not to attempt unchaining the tiger, but to
burn this piece before it is seen by any other
person, whereby you will save yourself a great
deal of mortification from the enemies it may
; raise against you, and perhaps a good deal of
j regret arid repentance.
“If men are so wicked with religion , what
would they be without it? I intend this letter
j itself, as a proof of my friendship, and, there
(fore, add no professions to it, but subscribe
myself, Yours, B. Franklin.
LOSING GOOD MORALS BY AN EARTHQUAKE.
An American sh p lay in Talcahuana at
the time the severe earthquakes were expe
rienced there. Shortly afterwards, while ly
ing in another port, the captain thought it ne
cessary to punish a man, but allowed that, if
the offender could advance any reason for his
immoral conduct, he would be pardoned.
“ Why, sir, says Jack, “you see as how I
think that are earthquake shook my moral
principles out o’ me.” Such able reasoning
had the desired effect, and Jack was forgiven.
GOOD DOCTRINE.
On the last Sabbath of the year 1838, an
eloquent Boston clergyman told his hearers to
pay up their bills fertile year just closing—
particularly their newspaper tnils f
A NEW SOURCE OF AMUSEMENT
One of the captive “ pat. lots ’ in the'citadel
tiuebee, in a letter to his father tn Michi
an, says, with much naivete « The officers
>! the garrison are very kind to us, and fumid
~s w ‘ ,l ‘ books a,ld papers, which enuble us m
spend much of our time in reading • snm
times we sing, at others w< tell stores, X
e ’ fife “ ,Kj dance ? e'> d , when all X
• ourcM of amusement fail, rather than be idle
BOUNDARY QUESTION^
FROM THE MAINE BORDER.
The New York Commercial Advertiser n r
the 23d ult. says, the eastern papers bring u »
little information of any moment, although
they put forth terrible articles upon the sub.
ject, abounding with conjectures, comments'
invective and indignation. After patiently
wading through several columns, we have mi
titered the followmg items, as the substance:
what ts not familiar to our readers '
! r. M Laughlin, the New Brunswick war
den, arrived at Bangor on the 17th, and took
lodgings at the Bangor House. He was very
cmlly treated by his captors. A letter in the
l ortland Advertiser gives the following « s his
account of the arrest, &c
He says he had been up in the neighbor
hood of Madawaska, about Fish River, stop,
ping t respasses ; that he came to the mouth of
the Tobique; there he learned, for the first
time, that a disturbance Imd taken place. He
there met an order from Sir John Harvev, to
inquire into tin matter. He found that M’[„.
tire had been carried off. and that aliout 15 or
20 trespassers were concerned in it, who Imd
aims, and this was all the force that had been
engaged in it. As M’lniire had been carried
away, he followed up the A i oostook, abeut 80
miles, till he came to the force then stationed
at No. 10. Captain Rates informed him. after
consulting with Ins comrades, that he must
consider himself a prisoner, as tin offset for the
detention of M Inti re ; and he thereupon start.
ud 5 for Bangor, under a small command.—
M Laughlin thinks no difficulty will grow out
of it; that Sir John Harvey will fully concur
with us in all measures to stop trespassing.
He says there has never been more than 15 or
20 men with arms engaged. As soon as in
formation arrived, that the arsenal had been
broken open, and the arms stolen, the most
effectual means were adopted to stop it.”
♦ * % 3fc * $
I ne newspapers will have us believe that
there wtis immense excitement in Bangor,
Augusta, Portland, and other places of Maine
—that volunteers were starting forth in all di
rections—that companies of troops were
marching, drums rolling, ammunition wagons
creaking, Ac. Ac.; but we suspect that a
nearer approach to truth would Ik;, to say that
the pens of editors and letter-writers were (ly
ing with great activity.
A let er of the 18th, from Bangor says that
full 590 men were, at that date, on their wav
to the Aroostook ; and another, that Sheriff
Strickland was throwing money about very
freely in the way of enlistment. He is said
to offer )B>3o a month and all expenses paid
—at which rate we imagine he may drum up
quite a little army.
Alter all, we suspect, there will lie no fight
ing-
It wili be noticed that all the accounts we
have yet published have been from Maine ; it
seems but fair to hear what the folks on the
oilier side may have to say, and we, therefore,
copy ttie following from the St. Johns (New
Brunswick) Chronicle oftlie 15th.
INVASION OF NEW BRUNSWICK.
Information has been received at headqunr
ters, that a large party of armed persons, to
the number of two hundred or more, from the
state of Maine, have invaded a portion of this
province, on which British lumberers were cut
ting timber; succeeded in driving off the lum
berers, and seized their property. In conse
quence of this aggression on the part of the
Americans, a large number of the lumberers
came into Woodstock on Monday night last,
j between ten and eleven o’clock, and carried
away 12i) stand of rifles and muskets, 40 car
bines, and 4 kegs, containing 2,000 tounds of
ball cartridge, with a detei mination to repel
the invaders of British soil.
It is stated that the lumberers had relay of
horses every ten miles ; that they came down
to Woodstock, to the number of sixty or sev
enty tean s, and were under the command of
an old veteran of the gallant 104th regiment,
and other equally brave and determined fel
lows. Before the following morning, they
were far on their route from Woodstock, and
it was supposed they would reach the scene of
action in the course of yesterday, and in all
probability, ere this, some blood has been shed
on both sides. It is to be regretted that any
circumstance should have driven the lumber
ers to commit the illegal act of taking the arms,
Are., without permission ; and his excellency
the governor has very properly issued his pro
clamation, condemning their proceedings, and
commanding the return of the arms and am
munition so taken.
The feelings and sufferings, however, of the
lumberers, when considered, will, we trust,
have some weight in mitigating this high
handed offence; it is probable that their whole
autumn and winter’s earnings are at stake,
and consequently their means of subsistence
for the ensuing summer ; in addition to which,
it is staled that the Div iders have orders not to
molest American lumberers under license from
the state of Maine; but that all British lumber
ers were to be expelled and their properties
taken from them. With all their faults, we
cannot withhold our hearty wish is for their
complete success in recovering their prope -
ties, and in expelling foreign invaders from
our rightful soil. His excellency Sir John Har
vey is determined to repel foreign invasion,
and is acting with great promptitude; up
ward of twenty teams of soldiers have already
proceeded from head quarters, ami mm re are
preparing for the same destination if required.
We learn by tVe New-York Sunday Packet,
of the 24th ult., that a loiter had been received
in that city from Rochester stating that the
great Locoloco loafer, McKenzie, Imd been