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THE MESSENGER.
LATEST FROM SPAIN.
An arrival from Spain brings Ma
drid dates to the 2Gth April —the
following extracts will show that
nothing very decisive had at that
time transpired.
Seville, April 20.
We have learned for certain,
that a Decree ot Jlis Majesty has
been sent to day to the Council of
State which contains a solemn de
claration of war of the Spanish na
tion against the French. Kven in
this particular, we have the advan
tage of that government, which has
so treacherously ordered an inva
sion of our territory without a for
mal declaration of war, against the
custom of all civilized nations.
As soon as the government re
cieved notice of the French inva
sion, they sent expresses to all the
authorities, commanding them to
proceed to hostilities against them
by all the means in their power,
without omitting any.
We are asurecl that his majesty
has recieved the resignation of
Don Sebastian Fernandez Vallesa,
of his officers of Secretary of State
und Despatch, of Grace and Jus
tice.
According to intelligence re
ceived by the government, the war
has assumed a character entirely
national. Napoleon the First fell
from his throne under our blows—
let us be united and constant, and a
similar fate awaits our new and un
grateful enemy.
Madrid, April 16,
They write from Saragossa, un
der date of the 13th, that the vol
unteer militia of that city have
offered their services as a perman
ent troop during the war, in case
of invasion. They add, that ‘Col.
‘Gurrea has arrived at Lerida with
2000 men, and Don Partricio Dom
ingo ez with 4 pieces of artillery,
and that they were going against
Mequinenza.
April 17. —News from Santiago
of the 9th states, that the factious
troops, collected and headed by
the ex-governors Marin and Vas
quez, were completely routed on
the 4th. The mountains and plains
tvere strewed with their dead ; 200
prisoners were taken, with Vas
quez, and many arms. This victory
-was gained by troops lately raised,
and called quintes , or fifths-men.
April 19.—The national troops
fought vigorously against the
French in the Province of Bilboa,
when they retreated on seeing the
great superiority in number of the
invaders. As soon as the column
of the Frenchified Spaniards enter
ed Vittoria, they laid a contribution
of £>Booo on the inhabitants ; the
commander made a proclamation
calling all the young men to arms;
they shot several militiamen and
J
patriots, and plundered several
houses; the French troops still
repeat the same atrocities.
\Ve have recicved a letter from
Madrid, dated the 17th, which
says: “Considering our circum
stances, all is tranquil, and the pure
royalists of Saint Louis will be
recieved with valor and lesignation,
while our armies are completely
organizing, and preparing to do
more than merely to recicve them.
If the French rascals are bold
enough to march to this capital,
rest assured that they will pay
dearly for their temerity. All the
soldiers are burning with a degree
of glory and revenge.”
We have no news from the Pen
insula, and reports of the Freneh
army has certainly passed Vittoria,
but that signifies nothing, for the
nearer they come they know they
must divide, and the easier will be
our warfare.
■JV. York Advocate.
Paris, April 24.
The circumstances under which
the loss at St. Sebastian took place,
and its extent, are differently stated
—but the probable truth seems to
be that the Duke of Angouleme
having sent a bribe to the Governor,
which the latter accepted, a detach
ment from the French army was
sent to take possession of the town
as agreed on. On their arrival at
the gates, the gallant ana trustwor
thy Governor at the head of the
garison, made a vigorous sortie,
and repulsed the enemy with consi
do able loss, 800 or 1,000 men. The
money (a tnilion ot francs) was sent
to the Cortes.
On Ihe night of the 9th June, a dis
tressing tire occurred in Fredericks
burg, V'a. It originated in the stable
of die Farmers’ Hotel, in w hich twen
ty valuable horses were consumed.
An adjoining stable, and I4 dwellings
were destroyed before the tire could
be got under. The tire was undoubt
edly the work of an incendiary.
ACTION IOR SLANDER.
Captains Rodgers, Cliauncy, and
Morris, United .States Navy Commis
sioners, now in this city, were arres
ted yesterday morning, at the suit of
David Leinan, blacksmith, of Charles
town, Mass, and held to bail for their
appearance at the next term of com
mon pleas to be holden at Concord,
in the county of Middlesex, in Sep
tember next. The report of the com
missioners. which was published at
the result of a court of inquiry in the
case of Capt. Hull, some months
since, we undersand, is the cause of
action. The damages are laid at live
thousand dollars. Boston Gcz.
A Cow raised by Mr. Bishop of
West Hartford, Con. gave 8993
pounds, or about 1000 gallons of
milk, from May 22, 1822, to April
1, 1823, averaging near 13 qnarts a
day, for 313 days.
Hartford Paper.
PHILADELPHIA WATER WORKS.
This fine city is now abundantly
supplied with good water, from the
Schuylkill, and a magnificent estab
lishment for that purpose is com
pleted at Fair Mount, five miles
above the city at the falls of the
Schuylkill. The entire -expense,
including the purchase of the site is
8426,330, but the money appears to
have been well bestowed, as the
success of the experiment is com
plete. The river at the falls is
about nine hundred feet wide ; the
depth at high water is thirty feet;
its average rise and fall is six feet,
and it is liable to sudden and violent
freshets. “The whole length ofi
the overfall is one thousand two
hundred and four feet, and the
whole extent of the dam including
the western pier, about one thou
sand six hundred feet,” backing
the water up the river about six
miles.
The water power created, is cal
culated to be equal to raise into the
reservoir by eight wheels and
pumps, upwards of ten millions of
gallons per diem. The river, in
the dry season, will afford four hun
dred and forty millions every twen
ty-four hours; and as it is calcula
ted, that forty gallons upon the
wheel will raise one into the reser
voir—eleven million of gallons may
be raised each day.
The machinery in actual opera
tion, is able to raise upwards of
four millions of gallons in twenty
four hours into the reservoir, which
is of such an elevation as to afford
the hydrostatic pressure of ninety
two feet, throwing upon the pumps
a pressure of seven thousand nine
hundred pounds. There are two
reservoirs, one of which is one hun
dred and thirty-nine feet by three
hundred and sixteen, and twelve
feet deep, having the capacity of
three millions of gallons: it is con
nected with another reservoir which
contains four millions of gallons.—
The water being raised into these,
one hundred and two feet above low
tide, and fifty-six above the high
est ground in the city ; is thence
conveyed in the iron pipes the whole
extent of which is now thirty-five
thousand two hundred and five feet
“ and in no instance has a leak been
discovered.” The greater part of
the pipes now laid are of American
manufacture, none ever having been
imported except as samples.
The system obviously admits of
indefinite extensions. The com
mittee justly remark, that “ the
uses and importance of this water,
it is impossible sufficiently to value.
The additional cleanliness of the ci
ty, (which with the suburbs con
tains between 120,000 and 130,000
people) the supply of the neigh
bouring districts culinary purposes,
as well as for purposes of refresh
ment —the great advantage in ease
of fire—the ornament of fountains
in the public squares so wisely pro
vided by our great founder —the
benefit to manufactures, and the es
tablishment of water power in the
city for various purposes, may he
named among the advantages of
I this new work ; but above ail we |
arc to place its effect upon the
health of a great and growing com
munity, which of itself would justi
fy a much greater expenditure.”
Si Hi marl’s Journal.
The last number of Silliman’s
Journal notices a Chain Bridge
which is in a state of forwardness
over the Mcnai,an arm of the Irish
Sea which separates Anglesea from
Noith Wales. It will have the un
precedented length of 560 feet, be
tween the two supports, one on each
shore ; and its height above the wa
ter will be 126 feet, so that vessels
may pass beneath it under full sail.
The abutments are of masonry sur
mounted by wood pyramids 50 feet
high over which the chains pass.—
The bridge is 28 feet wide con
taining a foot path of four feet wide,
in the middle. It will cost 7 G0,0U0
pounds sterling.
A botanical fete in honor of Lin
naeus was given at F’lushing, L. I.)
in the Garden of Mr. Prince, on the
24th inst.
The party, consisting of about 200
ladies and gentleman, were conveyed
to the place from New-York in a steam
boat. Among a great number of dis
tinguished citizens and strangers who
attended was the countryman of Lin
naeus, Mr. Gahn, Swedish Consul, —
the Count D’Espenville, French con
sul General, Prince Murat nephew to
Napoleon Bonaparte, Mr. Ilanswolflf,
a distinguished naturalist of New-Or
leans, Mr. Clinton, late governor, &c.
During the passage, Dr. Mitchell amu
sed the company by exhibiting the
“ identical money bag” of the celebra
ted Rob Roy, which was brought to
this country in 1821. At the place a
temporary hall was erected,ornament
ed with a pi ofusiou of evergreens and
flowers where the exercises were per
formed. Among several appropriate
addresses was one by Dr. Mitchell on
the character of Linmeus. “ Fortu
nately the Doctor treated his subject
in a wav, which heightened the roman
tic nature of the festival. Instead of
adopting the cold didactic form, he in
troduced a novel method, and spoke
as it were in parables. He threw him
self into a state of somnambulism,when
a series of splendid visions rose to
view, by means of which he enjoyed,
or seemed to enjoy, the satisfaction of
conversing with the mighty dead of all
countries, who were honoured with ther
friendship, or acquainted with the di
versified pursuits and attainments of
Linmeus. The sketch, which is to be
published, abounded with science and
erudition.” An ode, by Janies Gordon
Brooks, alais “ Florio,” was recited—
it was a charming wreath, bright and
redolent as the flowers that inspired it.
A dinner was served up, and several
toasts drank—it was closed with the
coronation of Dr. Mitchell by a young
lady with a wreath of pine ; when
Mr. Clinton gave the following senti
ment : “ The wreath of honor placed
on the brow of merit by the hand of
beauty.”
If these scientific celebrations are of
no other use, they (as was remarked
by a foreign guest) have a salutary
tendency to break down the barriers of
national prejudice, and to promote a
friendly intercourse between distant
countries.
MARQUIS LA FAYETTE.
The noble conduct of General
La Fayette in the late disgraceful
affair of Manuel in the Chamber of
Deputies gives him additional
claims to the leve and veneration
of all the friends of liberty. As
Americans, we require nothing to
call this consistent friend of the hu
man race to our recollection, but
as we find many are under the im
pression that he is much farther ad
vanced in years than he really is,
we subjoin the extract from M.
Campan’s late work :
The father of the Marquis De
La Fayette, fell at the famous bat
tle of Hosback, leaving his wife
pregnant of a son, who was born on
the Ist Sept. 1757; of course, Gen
eral La Fayette will be 66 years of
age next September. He embra
ced the cause of American Inde
pendence in 1777, when Congress
bad so in France or in
Europe, that their commissioners
at Paris could not procure a vessel
to facilitate the passage to the U.
States of M. De La Fayette and
some officers, who wished to follow
his example. He purchased, at his
own expense, a vessel which he
called the Victorie; but Lord Stor
mount, the English minister at Pa
ris, being informed of his design,
forced the French ministry to op
pose it—After various attempts,
he at length succeeded in reaching
America, and was kindly received
by Washington. “ 1 come (says
he) to ask of you two lavdu , one
is, that you will permit me to serve
under you as a simple volunteer
the other, that I am to receive no
pay or emolument.”
, General La Fayette is not rich,
though by strict economy he may
| be said to he at his ease in his la
tnily chateau of La Grange, under
whose venerable roof Americans
of respectability are always wel
come : indeed a visit to this antique
mansion is a sort of pilgrimage lor
our countrymen who visit trance ;
and the enlightened travellers ol all
countries readily join in rendering
homage to a man, who, from a strict
adherence to the virtuous principles
of Washington, has become the
most distinguished and admired
patriot now living in the two hem
ispheres. Wash. Repub.
A match to ride on a horse 125
miles in twenty-four hours was lately
performed in England. The first halt
distance was done in 10 hours and a
quarter. The horse was then baited
and the rider refreshed. Forty miles
more were then performed, when the
rider went to bed for an hour and a
half, l lie match was won, the rider
much fatigued but the horse fresh.
The British and Foreign Bible
Society have promoted, either di
rectly or indirectly, the printing or
distribution of the Bible in 140 lan
guages. The last of which is a
new translation in the modern
Greek.
Mr. Canning, Minister from G.
Britain, has given orders for dispo
sing, by public sale, of the large as
sortmentof elegant Furniture, prin
cipally British, at his house in
Washington. It is inferred from
this circumstance, that Mr. Can
ning will not return to this coun
try, from his intended visit to En
gland.
The Prince Regent, a ship of 120
guns, was launched at Chatham, Eng.
a short time since. The length of
her gun deck is 205 feet and her whole
length 244. Her greatest depth is 64
feet, and her width 53,} feet. She is
2620 tons. Her head is decorated
with a colossal figure of the king in
an admiral’s uniform and a sword in
his right hand. She is calculated to
cost 8900,000
A Philadelphia paper remarks that
the Prince Regent is not so long as a
ship of war now building in that city.
Missouri. —The following conclu
ding paragraph of a letter from Mr.
Benton,a senator from the state of Mis
souri, to one of his constituents,dated
4th March last, gives us an imposing
view of the resources and prospective
importance of that state : “ I am hap
py to state that emigration is re-com
mencing toMissouri, and that just no
tions of its pre-eminent advantages are
again employing the public mind. In
the senate on the bill to sell the lead
mines and salt springs, Mr. Lloyd of
Massachusetts declared it to be his
opinion that Missouri, taking into
view her rich lands, fine climate min
eral wealth, navigable rivers, agricul
tural advantages, her fur trade, salines,
and immeasurable extended lines of
internal commerce, was the richest
country upon the face of the globe. I
say too, and believe that eight or ten
years will prove it.”
Pensacola, May 3.
According to the custom of the
Floridians, (probably one of the
lingering traces of the age of chiv
alry) it is usual at each ball to se
lect, by vote of the ladies, a king for
the next occasion—who ennobles
some fair lady as his queen. ‘The
royal honors were awarded on a
previous gala day to Charles Pindar ,
Esq. Russian Consul for this port,
who selected for his queen, a lady
with beauty enough to have been a
princess ; and this last night of their
reign was as brilliant as vivid roses
in profusion, and sparkling eyes by
numbers, and glittering uniforms
of officers, and bright faces of hap
py guests, could well make it.—
Fine wines and a well arranged col
lation added to the enjoyment, and
the graceful recreation of dancing
was only interrupted by occasional
attention to the fine performances
of the band of the 4th IJ. S. Infant
ry. The American, Spanish, and
Russian standards, decorated the
hall, and the numerous beautiful
flowers of our region seemed to be
literally showering from the roof
upon the gay groups below. It
was really a fairy scene, and his
majesty with his fair consort cer
tainly veignell with great eclat.
A vomlci fill and terrific r.iir„cU
been wrought in the neighborhood 0 f
New York, portending dire mishap t>
that ill-fated city, which has created
as much stir among the grown children
as if the renowned Jack-thc-Giaut.
Killer, or the no less chivalrous Tom
my Thumb himself, had: paid that good
city a visit: indeed, the house in which
the great event occurred, we are in.
formed, has been “ for several days as
completely thronged as was ever the
tomb of Thomas-a-Becket.” This
great event is narrated in the word*
following, to wit: Sav. Georgian.
“ The story is, that a new-born
babe, at Broolyn, when it first
found itself in this wonder-loving
world of ours, raised its little hands
and eves, and solemnly proclaimed
that the whole of Hew York was to
he desolated with the yellow fever the
present season, beyond any former af
fliction of the kind that has ever be
fallen it, and that those who should
escape the ravages of the pestilence
WOULD NOT BE SUFFICIENTLY - NU
MEROUS TO BURY THE DEAD !!—-
The prophetic words were uttered
in deep and solemn tones, and, as
we learn, in verse, rivalling, proba
bly, the loftiest efforts of the muse
of David, Solomon, or Milton.-
Having uttered this protentous war
ning, and accomplished the great
object of its mission, the messenger
immediately closed its eyes, and its
spirits departed to the regions
whence it came.
“ Let us talk of the Ghost without head,
That kiss’d Mather Mump in the
cellar:
That frightened the barber’s boy dead,
Ami let us all be unhappy together.”
A novel sight was presented yes
terday in Maiden-Lane, by the re
moval of a three story brick house
a considerable distance back from
the street, entire, and without the
slightest injury. It is the building
lately occupied by Messrs. Clark 8c
Sons, Druggists, and as it stood on
the eastern side of Maiden-Lane,
was destined to the fate of the
neighbouring houses, which have
been all levelled to the ground.—
The ingenuity of Mr. Brow n, how
ever, has saved much expense
which was at first considered inevi
table, for by gradually removing
the foundation and replacing it
with large timbers formed like the
ways used in launching a ship lie
prepared it for a removal of twenty
one feet back, which he has already
effected. The new ’revel of the
street is to be from 12 to 15 inches
higher than the old, which made it
necessary to give the ways a corres
ponding elevation ; this ponderous
mass of brick was slowly moved up
an inclined plane by the force of
five iron screws, three of which are
applied horizontally’ to the front of
the building, and the oilier two in
tha cellar. So smooth and gradual
was the motion, that not the slight
est injury v/as visible, though we
observed glass vessels standing on
one of the mantle pieces, and the
lull adequacy of the force to the ob
ject, is proved by the fact, that a
considerable number of people were
in the house, and were walking
about the chambers in the third sto
ry during the removal.
Mr. Brown is a man of great me
chanical genius, and a native of
Massachusetts. It is hoped he will
receive the encouragement due to
so ingenious and useful an inven
tion ; which may save a large ex
pense to the city a year. He has
made other successful attempts of
this sort, among which that of the
house at Richmond Hill is the most
remarkable, where he removed a
large frame house filled with brick,
and lowered it about 30 feet, with
two stacks of chimnics standing.—
But this is the first experiment he
has made on a building entirely of
brick, and it bids fair to be equallv
successful. N. 2". Ado.
Georgetow'n, and. c. June 2..
The other evening a gentleman re
turning lrom Georgetown to Wash*
ington was stopped in the commom
by two loot pads, who demanded
his money—alter it vvas handed
them, one of them felt his fob for
his watch, hut not finding it, de
camped. Let us talk no more ot
Black Heath Commons—Mrs. Rat
cliff’s celebrated novel is said to
have so frighted the English girls,
that they do not like to sleep alone,
for the truth of that assertion, how
ever, we cannot vouch, but we be
lieve we may safely affirm, that this
robbery has so frightened the people
ot Georgetown, that they have ceas
ed carrying any money in their pocl
efs. Metropolitan.