The Macon advertiser and agricultural and mercantile intelligencer. (Macon, Ga.) 1831-1832, May 20, 1831, Image 2

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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