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i 1 EALTH AND LONGEVITY.
FROM THE LOST DON X.ITERA R V GAZETTE.]
> he Effects of the principal Arts, Trades,
' Professions, and of Civic States and
•< its of Living on Health and Longevity
8y C. Turner Thackrah.)
jseful m an eminent measure do we con
fer Mr. Thackrah’s inquiries and pubbca*
n calculated to be. Practical research
s led him to an accumulation of facts at
ce cur.oue in themselves, and vitally in
res! mg to every living being.
Mr. Thackrah goes into his striking de
ls, divining for that purpose, the population
o four great classes of operatives, dealers,
ister-inanufacturers, merchants, and profes
ail men ; and examining “the atmosphere
ey breathe—the muscular exercise they
ke—the postures of bodies they maintain—
-110 variations of temperature and humidity to
which they are exposed—their diets and hab
?s of life; and finally, in some classes, their
ate of mind.” We will display some of the
suits in almost a tabular form.
OUT-OF-DOORS.
“ Butchers , and the slaughtermen, their
ives, and their errand boys, almost all eat
’ :sh-cooked meat at least twice a day. They
e plump and rosy.—They are generally also
tearful and good-natured. Neither does
i ;ir bloody occupation, nor their beefeating
ider them savage, as some theorist pretend
. J even as the Engl i law presumes.—
I ley are not subject to such anxieties as the
ictuations of other- trades produce—for
.eat is always in request; and butchers live
unfortably in times as well of general dis
: css as of general prosperity. They are not
j eject to few ailments, and these the result
<■ plethora.” Though more free from dis
.ses than other trad', s, they however, do not
joy greater longevity :on the contrary, Mr.
. thinks their lives shot u r than those ofoth
r men who spend much time in the open
Cattle and horse dealers are generally
\aalthy, except when their habits are intem
rate.
Fishmongers, though much exposed to the
veather, are hardy, temperate, healthy, and
ung lived.
Cart-drivers, if sufficiently fed and tempe
rate, the same.
Laborers in husbandry, &ic. suffer from a
deficiency of nourishment.
Brickmakers, with full muscular exercise'
in the epen air, though exposed to the vicis-
Uudes of cold and wot avoid rheumatism
:id inflammatory diseases, and attain good
old age. •
Chaise-drivers, postilions, coachmen,
r uards, 6ic. from ).he position of the two for.
icr on the saddle, irrregular living, &c. and
■ am the want of muscular exercise in the two
- .tter, are subject to gastric disorders, and,
ff rally, appoplexy and palsy, which shortens
. :tir lives.
Car [tenters, Coopers, XVheehvrights, die.
ere healthy and long lived.
Smiths, often intemperate, and die compar
i ively young.
R ope-makers and Gardeners suffer from
t icir stooping postures.
Paviers, subject to car. .plaints in the loins,
l icreasing in age, but they life long.
iN-nooa occupations.
Tailors, notwithstanding their confined
; : uosphere and bad posture, are not liable to
. ite diseases, but give way to stomach com
• lints and consumption. “It is apparent,
.en from ouserving only the expression of
mntenance, the complexion and the gait,
: .at the functions of the stomach and the
i art are greatly impaired, even in those who
• .insider themselves well. We see no plump
id rosy tailors; none of fine form and strong
; iusc!e. The spine is generally curved : the
i Auction in the circumference of the chest is
it so much as we might expect; the average
(• our measurements presented 83 ‘to 34 in
i ies, while that of other artisans is about 36.
Vhe capacity of the lungs, as evinced by
z .easuriug the air thrown out an expiration,
m not less than common : the average of six
individuals was 7 2-3 pints. The prejudicial
ifluence of their employ is more insidious
ian urgent —it undermines rather than des
> oys life. * * * Of twenty two of the
workmen employed in Leeds, not one had
j, itained the age of sixty; two had passed fif
i ; and of the rest, not more than two had
reached forty. We heard of an instance or
t .vo of great age; but the individuals had liv
• and chiefly in the country.”
SiaymaJeers have impaired health, but live
to a good average.
Milliners, dress-makers, and straw-bonnet
riakers, are unhealthy and short lived.
Spinners, cloth-dressers, weavers, &c. &c.
.re more or less healthy, as they have exer
cise and air. Those exposed to inhale im
perceptible particles of dressing, &c., such
s frizers, suffer froindiscase and are soonest
, cut off.
• “Butchers (he says) ih fact live too highly—
| not too highly for temporary htAlth, but too high
| 3y for long life. Is every man gifted at birth with
Ia portion of the pabulum of life, which be cannot
I increase, but which he may prematurely consume.
I in other words, does nature endow us with a vi
[ tal patrimony, which he may exhaust, not only
j by profligate indulgence, but even by regular
draughts too frequently repeated? Or rather, does
not high living (lor I speak not at present of ex
cess or intemperance)—-does not high living pro
duce that plethoric state which gradually leads to
disease I I believe the latter. Congestion of
hlood, affecting chiefly the vessels of the abdo
men and head, shortens the lives of numbers who
i are plump, rosy, and apparently' strong. My ve
ry intelligent friend Dr. Murray, of Scarborough,^
(lie adds, “concurs in the statement relative to
butchers. ‘The high living of butchers assured
ly leads to plethora and premature dissolution.’--
He adds:—‘Thus coal-meters. &c. of London,
rarely, if ever, attain the age of forty, though men
i remarkable for muscular bulk and stream. They
work most laboriously, perspire immensely hud
supply such waste by extraordinary and almost
ineredible potation* of porter, which ultimately
without much positive and actual intemperanqc,
brings on irregularities of the digestive system,
structural changes, and, death - ’
f On the bent posture, which Mr. T. considers
so injurious, we may remark, that a French phy
siologist has just published a memoir, in proof
that tVspiunl marrow, has properly speaking, no
; soecial action upon the circulation distinct Irom
'the general action of nervous centre', and that it is
: i not tn that 'he essential principle, still less the ux
ypT.-i vp principle, of the circulation resides.
TIIE MACON ADVERTISER, AND AGRICULTURAL AND MERCANTILE INTELLIGENCER.
Shoemakers are placed in a bad posture: —
“Digestion and circulation are so much im
paired, that the countenance would mark a
shoemaker almost as well as a tailor. We
suppose that from the reduction of perspira
tion and other evacuations, in this and simi
lar em) loyments, the blood is impure, and
consequently the complexion darkened. The
secretion of bile is generally unhealthy, and
bowel complaints are frequent. The capa
city of the lungs, in the individuals examin
ed, we found to average six and one-third,
and the circumference of the chest thirty-five
inches. In the few shoemakers who live to
old age, there is often a remarkable hollow at
the base of the breast-bone, occasioned by
the pressure of the last.”
Curriers und leather-dressers arc very heal
thy and live to old age.
Saddlers lean forward, and suffer accor
ding!}’ from the headache and indigestion.
Printers our (worthy co-operators) “are
kept in a confined atmosphere, and generally
want exercise. Pressmen, however, have
good and varied labour- Compositors are of
ten subjected to injury from the types.—
These, a compound of lead and antimony,
emit when heated, a fume which affects per
spiration, and are said also to produce par
tial palsy of the hands. Among the printers
however; of whom w T e have inquired, care is
generally taken to avoid composing till the
types are cold, and thu9 no injury is sustain
ed. The constant application of the eyes to
minute objects gradually enfeebles these or
gans. The standing posture long hnantained
here, as well a in other occupations, tends
to injure the digestive organ#. Some prin
ters complain of disorders of the stomach and
head; and few appear to enjoy full health.—
Consumption is frequent. We can scarcely
find or hear of any compositor above the age
of fifty.”
Bookbinders —a healthy employment.
Carvers and gilders look pale and weakly,
but their lives are not abbreviated in a mark
ed degree.
Clockmakers, generally healthy and long
lived.
Watchmakers, the reverse.
House-servants, in large, smoky towns,un
healthy.
Colliers and well-sinkers, a class by them
selves, seldom reach the age of fifty.
Employments producing dust, odor, or ga
seous e.rhaltations.
If from animal substances not injurious;
nor from the vapors of wine or spirits.
Tobacco-marnfacvrers do not appear to
suffer from the floating poison in their atmos
phere.
Snuff-making is more pernicious.
Men in oil-mills, generally healthy.
Brush makers live to a very great age.
Grooms and ostlers inspire ammoniacal
gas, and arc robust, healthy, aud long-lived.
Glue and size boilers, exposed to the most
noxious stench, are fresh-looking end ro
bust.
Tallow-chandlers, also exposed to offen
sive animal odor, attain considerable age 4
Tanners, remarkably strong, and exempt
from consumption.
Corn-millers, breathing an atmosphere
loaded with flour, are pale and sickly; very
rarely attain old age.
Malstcrs can not live long, and must leave
the trade in middle life.
Tea-men suffer from the dust, especially of
green teas; but the injury is not permanent.
Coffee-roasters become asthmatic, and sub
ject to head-ache and indigestion.
Paper-makers, when aged, cannot endure
the effect of the dust from cutting the rags.—
The author suggests the use of machinery in
this process. In the wet, and wear and tear
of the mills, they are not seriously affected ;
but live long.
Masons are short-lived, dying generally
before forty. They inhale particles of sand
and dust, lift heavy weights and are too often
intemperate.
Miners die prematurely.j|
Machine-makers “6ecm to suffer only from
the dust they inhale, and the consequent
bronchial irritation. The filers (iron) are al
most all unhealthy men, andrcmnrkablv short
lived.”
Founders (in brass) “suffer from the inhala
tion of the volatilized metal, in the found
ing of yellow brass in particular, the evolu
tion of oxide of zinc is very great. They
seldom reach forty years.
Copper-smiths “are considerably affected
by the fine scales which rise from the imper
fectly volatilized metal, and by the fumes of
the ‘spelter,’ in solder of brass. The men
are generally unhealthy, suffering from disor
ders similar to those of the brass-founders.
“ Tinjdatc-workers are subjected to fumes
from muriate ol ammonia,and sulphureous ex
halations from the coke which they burn.—
These exhalations, however, appear to be
annoying rather than injurious; as the men
are tolerably healthy, and live to a considera
ble age. Tinners also are subject only to teni
por.jy inconvenience from the fumes of the
soldering.
'•‘•Plumpers are exposed to the volatilized
oxide of load, which rises during the process
of‘casting.” They are sickly in appearance,
and short-lived.
_ House-painters arc unhealthy, and do not
£renerull*' attain full age.
Chemists and Druggists in laboratories,
are sickly and consumptive.
Potters , affected through the pores of the
skin become paralytic, and are remarkably
subject to constipation.
Hatters, grocers, bakers, and chimney
.weepers (a droll association,) also suffer
through the skin ; but though the irritation
occasions diseases, they are not, except in
the last class fatal.
Dyers are healthy and long-lived.
Brewers are, as a body, far i'roin healthy.—
“Under a robust and florid appearance, they
conceal chronic diseases of the abdomen, par
ticularly a conjestcd state of the venous sys.
t “During the plague in London it was remark
able that this class of men Suffered much less than
others.”
i “Last year, there were in the village of Arken
daie (in the heart of the mining district) not less
than thirty w idows under thirty years of age.—
The prevalent maladies appear to be affections of
the lungs and bowels. Smelting is considered a
moat fatal occupation. The appearance of the
men is haggard in the extreme.”
tern. When these men are accidentally hurt
or wounded, they are more liable than other
individuals to severe and dangerous effects.”
Cooks and Confectioners “are subjected to
considerable heat. Our common cooks are
more unhealthy than housemaids. Their di
gestive organs are frequently disordered, they
are subject to headache, and their tempers ren
dered irritable.
Glass-workers are healthy • glass-blowers
often die suddenly.
With this ends Mr. Thackrah’® examina
tion of the first great division —the laboring
classes; and here for the present we must
pause.
THE MOTHER OF*WASHINCTON.
A memorial has been i.:snctl by a number
of the citizens of Fredericksburg, Va. solici
ting subscription towards a fund for the erec
tion of a tomb over the remains of the moth
er of Washington. It is a laudable and patri
otic undertaking, and as such will meet with
favour. The following is a paragraph from
the memorial—
The undersigned inhabitants of the town'of
Frederickburg, and State of Virginia, being a
committee appointed for that purpose,to their
fellow citizens throughout the United States,
respectfully represent—
That Mrs. Mary Washington, the mother of
the illustrious George Washington, w’as for
many years an inhabitant of this town; that
she died here an i was interred in our imme
diate vicinity, where her remains now lie:
that the field which contains her humble grave
is used for agricultural purposes, and that
the grave itself is unhonoured and almost un
known : that the present liberal and highmin
ded proprietor, notwithstanding the interest
ing associations with which it is connected,
and which are of necessity communicated to
his domain, has at once renounced the influ
ence of selfish feelings,and will zealously co
operate with us in procuring a proper and
permanent asylum for these revered relics,
aware that however pious the care which is
now exerted for their protection, the period
must in process of time ai rive when the plough
share and the harrow will obliterate every re
maining trace of her who bore and reared
George Washington—the nurse of his infan
cy, and architect of his character.
They would farther represent that the m#m
bers of the Presbyterian church of this place,
with the aid of their fellow citizens here, and
elsewhere, are about to erect anew house of
worship; that funds adequate to that purpose
are already secured, and that the work will
speedily be commenced; that it is highly im
probable that another church will be built in
this place, by any other denomination, for ma
ny years yet to come, and it has been sugges
ted that the present is the most favourable,
and perhaps the only opportunity that will ev
er occur, for erecting in connection with a
house of worship, a neat and permanent mon
ument of the mother of Washington, in the
town where she resided for many years, and
where she closed her valuable arid exemplary
life. The very house in which she lived and
died is now owned and occupied by the pas
tor of the church to which we propose to at
tach her monument. This object cannot be
accomplished without your pecuniary assist
ance : we therefore respectfully solicit your
aid with entire confidence in the result.
INDIAN ELOQUENCE-
The following is extracted from a late
speech before the Governor and Assembly of
Pennsylvania, by the Chief of the Menotni
nies. It has all the figurative energy of In
dian eloquence.
“ Brother—We sen your Council House—
It is large and beautiful. But the Council of j
the Red Man is much larger. The earth is
the floor—the clear sky is the roof—a blazing
fire is the Chair of the Chief Orator, and the
green grass the scats of our Chiefs.—You
speak by paper, and record your words in
books, but we speak from our hearts, and
memory records our words in the hearts of our
people.”
“The price of Liberty is eternal vigilance.”
MR. RANDOLPH
TO THE EDITORS OF THE ENQUIRER.
Gentlemen: —Having seen in your Paper
of the 9!h November, 1830, an Epitome of a
publication in the.N. York Journal of Com
merce, and the N. Y. Commercial, relative to
Air. John Randolph of Roane ke, Envoy Ex
traordinary of the United States of America
to Russia, and seeing with indignation, that
the accounts ol that Gentleman’s deportment
at St. Petersburgh, as published in those pa
pers, are utterly devoid of truth,\ deem it to
be my duty to contradict them, in the most
positive manner.
Mr. Randolph’s conduct, on all occasions,
was that which became himself and his of
fice—such it was, and will always be, to per
sons who are worthy of his notice. The gross
slanders contained in the Paragraph alluded
to above, are so preposterous that they can
scarcely impose on the most credulous; —but
as the writer of them may have had his own
purposes in view, it may be well to disap.
point him, by a flat contradiction of his state
ments. But to be more particular:
It is said that Mr. Randolph conducted
himself in a most ridiculous manner, before
tire Emperor. Tins is false ; and the best
proof of its beiug untrue is, ihat his Imperial
Majesty has expressed the greatest esteem
for him; which would certainty not be the
case, if any thing outre had happened-at the
presentation. As for the oilier acts said to
have been done—such as tearing the Cards of
the Foreign Ministers to pieces, &c. &tc
the idea of endeavouring to impose on the
Public with such trash, is so shallow, and, at
the same time so base, that folly itself would
laugh at it.
Then say these inventive Editors, Mr.
Randolph refused, at first, to receive a note
from Prince Lievcn, the principle Minister of
State. This I know to be false also; and
moreover state, that there was the most cor
dial, 1 may say friendly, intercourse between
the Minister and the American Envoy— so
much so, that when I went to ask Mr. Ran
dolph's Passports, and to explain the urgent
necessity of his leaving St. I’ctcrburgh, on
account of the very dangerous state of his
4 *
health, Prince Lievcn expressed the utmost
concern, on hearing the news, and immedi
ately proposed to see Mr. Randolph, which
was only prevented by a mistake of mine in
giving hint the wrong number of the house.
All other charges are as much founded in
truth, as those which I have noticed particular
ly-
It is thus, that the wicked traduce the char
acters of the just: and it is thus, that envy,
conscious of its own demerits, endeavours to
assassinate the reputations of the exalted
and worthy. Conscious of the badness of
their cause and still anxious to set rolling a
ball, that will attract the notice of a gossip
for a moment, the busy-bodies of our nation
invent the grossest calumnies, and to effect
flitir designs, they always lay hold of the most
conspicuous and generous men.
This is no defence of Mr. Randolph’s con
duct—for it defends itself. To conclude—
and as small events go far in circumstantial
evidence, to prove that facts are true or not
so—it may be well to observe, that it is sta
ted by these lovers of veracity, that “Mr. R.
took an upper chamber at Mrs. Wilson’s;” —
whereas the fact is, that both Mr. Randolph
and myself occupied lower rooms in this good
lady’s house. This last, altho’rather a min
ute circumstance to notice, serves to show
that the correspondent of the New-York Edi
tors imagined he lived at Mr. Wilson’s, and
imagined the whole tissue of slander and
abuse. I am, gentlemen,
Your most obedient servant,
JOHN R. CLAY.
Secretary of Legation and charged’ Affair
es of the U. States at St. Petersburgli.
St. Petersburgh Jan. 17 th, 1830.
“As regards the ensuing Presidential elec
tion, symptoms by no means equivocal, have
already begun to manifest themselves, to the
utter discomfiture of every previous progno
sis. Nor does it require any refined sagacity
to discover their proximate cause —Jackson
has had the firmness and consistency to frown
on the machinations to which we have alrea
dy adverted, and hence, some of those that
rang the loudest notes of praise, are begin
ning to wail their feeble cries, or to fulmin
ate their coarsest anathemas. To call this
only political defection, were a feeble phrase:
in our opinion it involves a much more seri
ous charge of gross moral delinquency, for it
must puzzle even nullification sophistry it
self to point out the vast discrepances between
Jackson the idolized, and Jackson the forsa
ken. In what has he fallen short of the glo
rious anticipations, of which these very men
were the vouchers and proclaimers ? What
duty has he neglected ! What responsibilities
has ha evaded? What recent occurrences
have cast their darkening shadows over a life
of unparalleled devotedness, and incalcula
ble public services?—For ourselves, as we
were among the first to support, we are now
confirmed in our confidence in the man, by
the very measures that have entailed the dis
pleasure of his opponents; and if any possible
contingency could induce us to swerve from
our fidelity, it would most assuredly be of a
more important character than a personal dif
ference with Mr. Calhoun, with which the
public have, properly, nothing at all to do.”
“Just as the twig is bent, the tree ’s inclined."
To the respectable Teachers of Georgia.
The high character of your office—the deep
ly important results consequent upon your
labors, demand the attention of every enlight
ened individual to this important fact, that it
is a profession, to which all your energies, all
your time, all your hopes, should be directed.
The elevated points to which every scientific
instructor ought to aspire in directing the
minds of oar children, should be a guarantee
against the exercise of ignoble jealousies.—
The neglect of these considerations has been
productive of the most lamentable results.
The highly gifted have not studied the sci
ence of instruction, because suitable facilities
are not presented, and the want of intercourse
and co-operation among those who pursue the
business of teaching, has retarded the im
provement of a system which must be entire
ly regenerated. . ‘
Bball an appeal be made to us in vain? Shall
the dignified profession—the teaching of
youth—longer ue without recognition among
the other professions, which are neither more
valuable, more exalted nor more interesting
than ours ? Shall the student read Law, and
undergo an examination from those whose ex
perience and situation entitle them to be cen
sors, before he can practice his desired pro
fession ? The devotee to Medicine, read, la
bour, mark the practice of others in the heal
ing art, attend lectures, get a diploma from
those who are able to judge of his qualifica
tions, before he can lawfully administer or pre
scribe in his own name—shall the pious under
go scrutiny, labour at the desk, bear the inter
rogaties of the Presbytery ere they can speak
witli authority the truth of God—and shall
the instructor of youth take upon him the
good or evil of posterity—undertake to guide
those upon whom the joys of relatives, the
hopes of parents,the happiness of communities
the destinies of nations depend, without pre-
Imration (as tnany do) — without deeming (he
Business he pursues noble enough to be called
a profession, with considering it worth, a few
years devotion of mind—without esteeming
It such as is high enough to be the business of
life ? Every Christian, philanthropist—every
parent, every enlightened citizen, will an
swer no. Then let a communication be open
ed immediately between the respectable
teachers of the State, a meeting appointed
and measures taken for the formation of a
Teachers Society of the State ofGeorgia. The
community will applaud—will aid. Our
children will have reason to rejoice. Igno
rance and immorality will shun the light, and
science shed its benign influence over the
land by the effort of every teacher.
Mr. Cummin of Alacon, proposes a meeting
in that town in December next. We are of
the opinion that this step may not suit the
views of many. The time and place we are
not determined on, but we think that if every
teacher willing to unite in forming a Society,
would address a line to some te&cher, 6ay Mr.
Beman of Mount Zion or Mr. Cummin, and
state concurrence in such an object, mention
the time and place most desirable m his view,
a majority of nomination might determine
that point. A meeting could then be called
with some hope of success. Let every teach
er then, willing to join in this matter, write
either of these gentlemen, and state a deter
mination to meet the rest at the time and place
having the moat in favor of them —and we
earnestly hope the object will soon he t arried
into effect. :
Scottsbdtv? Institute, May-IGth, 1831.
OCr* Editors favorable to the improvement
of children, will confer a favor by rcpubl. h
ing this invitation—and noticing the object.
ROBERT C. BROWN.
“ Of these most brisk and giddy-paced times.”
From the N. 1. Jour ml of Commerce.
The American Navy. —There are now in
commission, in ordinary, or on the stocks,
twelve ships of the line and seventeen fri
gates, (besides various smaller vessels,) most
of which could be got to sea on short notice.
In general, it would require a longer time,
and much greaterexper.se, to repair the ves
sels in ordinary, than to launch those on the
stocks. The ships of the line, although ra
ted as 74’s, are generally larger, several of
them carrying from 90 to 120 guns; and
most of the new frigates are on a correspond
ing scale, both as to size and weight of metal.
So that in fact, our Navy is much more effi
cient in these respects, than would be infer
red from the number and rate of the vessels
composing it. The following are the ships
of the line:
Independence, in ordinary’, at Boston.
Columbus, do. do.
Ohio, do. New York.
Franklin, do. do.
Washington, do. „ do.
Delaware, do. do.
North Carolina, do. do.
Alabama, on the stocks, Portsmouth.
Vermont, do. Boston.
Virginia, do. do.
Pennsylvania, do. Philadelphia.
New York, do. Norfolk.
The following are the frigates 1
Java, in commission, Mediterranean.
Brandywine, do. do.
Hudson, do. Brazil.
Guerriere, do. Pacific.
Constitution, in ordinary *at Boston.
United States, do. New York.
Potomac, do. Washington.
John Adams, do. Gosport.
Macedonian, do. do.
Congress, do. do.
Santee, on the stocks, Portsmouth.
Cumberland, do. Boston.
Sabin, do. New York.
Savannah, do. do.
Raritan, do. Philadelphia.
Columbia, do. Washington.
St. Lawrence, do. Norfolk.
Contracts have been made, under an Act
of March, 1827, for the live oak frames of
five additional ships of the line, five frigates,
and five sloops of war. In fulfilment of these
contracts, deliveries have been made, at dif
ferent Navy Yards, of 321, 714 cubic feet of
said timber, for which has been paid the sum
of §368,300.
The policy of the United States in build
ing their ships of war a size larger than the
nominal rate, has put the naval powers of the
Old World to considerable inconvenience,
who at once perceived that in case of a war
with this country, their 74’s would be a source
of perpetual embarrassment and anxiety, as
they could not, single-handed, encounter a
first rate American 74, without an almost
certainty of being captured. And so of their
frigates, none of which could stand against
the first class of American frigates. The
consequence would be, that they would either
have to run away from vessels of the same
class with themselves, or submit to the still
more mortifying alternative of being captur
ed. Foreseeing this, the French have al
ready followed our example, to a considerable
extent, and the English are “beginning to
think about it.” A late number of the Lon
don United Service Journal says:—
The classification ofo ir ships is of vast im
portance, and difficult, not so much in the
suggestion, as in the execution. We have
but to look to what other nations are doing in
order to determine on the best rates, throwing
aside all attachment to old models, and suit
ing our opinions and speculations to the times.
The most obvious arrangement seems to be
that hitherto adopted by the Americans, and
in the course of being followed by the French.
I. A large three-decked ship, carrying
from 120 to 130 guns, like the Pennsylvani
an (3010 tons) Wagram and Nelson.
11. A two*decked ship like the Ohio, car
rying with guns on her gangways, 102 guns,
without them 90.
111. A6O gun frigate, not less than 1700,
tons like the Brandywine, (1750 tons) and
Barham, (L 760.)
IV. A corvette from 24 to 28 guns, like
the Boston, (700 tons,) or what the razeed
L’Aigle will be, and what the ships built af
ter the Ilebe, and cut down, would be.
V. A ten-gun brig, and
VI. The separate but not less important
class of steamers.
In such ships, and in such only, British sea
men will stand a fair chance. They will be
in the situation where their bravery and no
ble spirit alone deserve to lie placed, by a
country which owes much of its riches and
success to their exertion. These are unex
ceptional classes, containing English frigates,
which can never receive orders “not to en
gage ships of superior force,” meaning Amer
ican frigates: and in which Captains will
never be placed in the heart-breaking dilem
ma of either running away from an enemy
nominally of the same class and with the same
number of decks, and being branded in his
country as a coward, or of submitting to be
butchered and disgraced by a ship largo e
nough to swallow him.
A - 74, such as the Northumberland, would
not be a safe ship to send to sea on a declura
lion of war. If she had the misfortune to fall
in with the North Carolina, a two decked ship
of 102 guns, the Americans would larnrii at
her and blow her to atoms.
The idea, then, of continuing the antiqua
ted seventy-four, must be dismissed. Cut
them down to such splendid frigates as the
Barham, which may be economically done.
llks Lancaster and Winchester measure only
1460 tons, that is, they are 290 tons smaller
than the foreign sixties.
After reading the above, can it be
that a naval officer should write in thi* way?
The pamphlet, speaking of the Endymion, of
44 guns and 1250 tons, says, “Such a ship,
well-manned and well-managed, might go a
long side the finest single-decked ship in the
world” (the Potomac for instance, a 1750 ton
60) “with perfect confidence of success.” She
must be a witch indeed.
The new Nondescripts, frigates mounting
only 36 guns, of heavy calibre, are generally
found fault with. The Commander natural
ly asks, what are they meant for ? A corvftte
might fairly decline to fight them, and a six
ty would annihilate them. Another novelty
has just been announced ;we give her size
and arrnarnept along side of an American’s of
the same class, which w ill speak for itself.
New English Corvettes Acorn and Argus.
Bate. Description of Guns. Guns. Tons.
1831. 18 Medium 32 pounders. 18. Under 500.
The number of Mm not known.
American Corvette Lexington.
Date. Description of Guns. Guns. Tons.
i 4 lon 2 24 P oun <lers. 5 0 , c r ~n
524 medium ditto. i *' 4
MEN.
1 Capt. 4 Lieuts. 8 Mids. 180 men.
The idea of converting the 46 and 52 gun
frigates into fine corvettes is excellent; and
the actual transformation of L’Aigle bids fair
for the execution of this just and° reasonable
proiect.
From the London Register of Arts for April.
American Silk. —You have probably ob
served the notice taken by Mr. Ewart, (on
the 15th of February, in the house of Com
mons,) of the first importation of raw silk from
the United States of America, and likewise in
the Times of the 24th of Feb. on the same
subject. A subject of sufficient importance
to render a more detailed account interesting
to the numerous readers of your widely cir
culated Journal.
Mr. Duponccau, of Philadelphia the Presi
dent of the American Philosophical Society,
with his usual foresight and patriotism, long
since thought of the advantages to arise from
extending the culture of the white mulberry
tree, and the propagation of the silk-worm, as
objects highly important to the United States;
where the variety of soil and climate render
the mere production of silk easy. But diffi
culties arose in preparing it for the market.
These impediments for a long time del. i
the adoption of his plan; though sewing si ll
has been manufactured iu Connecticut, and
proved of superior fineness and strength.
M. D’Homorgue, of Nismes, in France,
paid a visit to Philadelphia, and afforded Mr.
Duponceau an opportunity of putting his lau
dable views into practice, by establishing a
Filature undeT his direction. M. Bi Tlom
ergue having previously managed one at Nis
mes, and seen a good deal of the culture and
preparation of silk in France, felt sanguine of
its success in America.
The result of the first trial has shown, that
their labors are likely to be crowned with
success.
It was not to be expected, that the Ameri
can operatives, when first employed in anew,
and to them strange process, should turn out
of their hands, an article as well prepared as
that furnished by Italy or France; where it
h®3 been so long the staple of the country. —
Yet the sample received, has shown that Mr.
D. Homergue’s lessons have been addressed
to willing and apt scholars, who will, it is
hoped, soon equal the reelers of France or
Italy.
It may now be added, that an intelligent
gentleman has tried a sample of this :*ilk, in
the different processes of winding, throwing,
and dying, and the result is highly satisfacto
ry; so much so, that he thinks a fine field is
open for the culture of the article in Ameri
ca. The quality he considers superior to In
dia silk generally, and fully equal to Fruli or
Treat. He had some of it dyed, black (the
color which most tries the silk) and which it
takes very well. And concludes by suggest
ing some improvements in the reeling; which
a little more practice may soon effect.
The present importation is a mere sample,
being a very small package; and was produc
ed (as the correspondent of the Times states)
in Pennsylvania, and reeled from the cocoons
in Mr. Duponceau'c Filature at Philadelphia,
under the direction of Mr. D’Homergue It
has been submitted to some of the Lest judges
in this country, who think it is a very fair be
ginning. The texture is finer than the Ital
ian silk, and produces a larger return from
the same quantity of cocoons.
Some silk from the same Filature has been
boiled, dyed, and woven into very fine stuff,
in America; although not thrown, as they
have no throwing mills at present there.
Should the production of silk increase ns
rapidly in America, ascotton has done in the
last 30 years, it will become an article of great
consequence in our trade with that country.
The Americans sending the raw material, and
taking back the manufactured article in re
turn, as is now the case with cotton.
The white mulberry tree and silk worm are
said to succeed in almost all the States of the-
Union, and the latter candle brought forward!
at the time the former is in leaf.
This subject has been taken up by a com
mittee of the American Congress, and strong
ly recommended by them, to the attention of
that government and country. And any ob
ject that will promote the intercourse or
strengthen the tits between the two countries
is well deserving the attention of both.
Mechanic's If ives.—Speaking of middle
ranks of life, a good writer observes:—There
we behold woman in all her glory ; and not a
doll to carry silks and jewels, not a puppet
to be dangled by fops, an idol for profane ad
oration ; reverenced to-day, discarded to-mor
row, always jostled out of the place which na
ture and society would assign her, by sensu
ality pr contempt; admired, but not respect
ed; desired, but not esteemed; ruling by pas
sion, not affection ; impairing her weakness,
not her constancy, to the sex which she should
exalt, the source and mirror of vanity ; we see
her as a wife partaking the cares, and cheer
ing the anxiety of a husband; dividing the
labors by her domestic dilligence, spreading ,
cheerfulness around her; for his sake sharing
the decent refinements of the world w tliout
being vain of them ; placing all her pr Jc, all
her joy* all her happiness, .in the m n she