Newspaper Page Text
teller from Nicholas Kiddle, Lsq. to the
Hon. John ({. Adams.
)> thr Hon. John Quincy Adams, Washington, D. C
Puii.adKl.puia, Dec. 10, 1838.
My Dear Sir—The general resumption ot'spc
eie payments presents a Jit occasion la close our
correspondence with an explanation olthe course
of the Hank o( t!ic United Slates in regard to that
•object. J his shall be don • brief!v and finally.
On the loth of May, 1837,th. Hanks of Now-
York suspended specie payments, and their ex
ample was immediately and necessarily followed
by the other Banks in the United States. ’J'hc
country was thus placed in n situation ul extreme
ditficuity, Irom which it could he extricated only
by instant and vigorous measure-for its protection.
The dangers were—lue total prostration of its
credit and character abroad—the depreciation in
prices o! all its public securities and its staple
productions—and, last and worst, that the delen
•ive remedy ol suspension might be protracted
Until it became itsell a disease. Jt ivas Inanilest
too that the calamity hid outgrown the capacity
ol mure politicians—thru the country must take
care ofitoelfand roly only upon itself— and ns, in
times ot peril, the voice of the humblest citizen
nny sometimes lie hoard above the tumult, my
own personal position se niad to justify the as
sumption ol instant and deep responsibility. Ac
cordingly, nt the very mom, nl when this national
misfortune occurred, immediate m i .hits were
adopted to mitigate and to repair it. Ul these in
their order.
f. Aware that lue first intelligence of the sus
pension would degrade tiie character of the coun
try, and subject us to the reproach of had faith and
insolvency, J addressed to you it published letter,
which went to Europe at the same time with the
news of the suspension, in which I ventured to
pi dge my sell lor the fidelity ol our countrymen.
In that letter, of the 1 Dili of-May, 1837, 1 said
In the meantime two great duties devolve on the
Hank an I the eountiy. Trie first regards foreign
nations—the second our ow n. We owe u debt
to foreigners, by no means large for our resources:
but disproportnmod to our present means of pay
n»v'itl. M'c must lake euro that this late meas
ure shall not seem to be. an effort to avoid the
payment of our honest debts to them. We have
worn anil eaten and drunk the produce of their
Industry,--—ton mu ll ol all perliups—but that is
our fault—not theirs, \\ oin ly take less in,, -
alter; but the country is dishonoured unless we
discharge lli.it debt to the utmost t.irtliing.”
For this purpose—the early and total discharge
ot our debt to loreigncrs—the whole power of the
Hank of the United Mutes w„s devoted. In such
MTisist it was evident that if resort was had to ii-
Kid curtailments, the ability to pay would be pro
portionality diminished : —while the only irne
system was. to k« cp the country as much at eu-a
sr consisted with its su cty , so in to enable the
debtors to collect their resources tor the discharge
ol then debts. I'or the same purpose die Uilnh
though entirely out of its course of business ; and
in some degree ol collision with its own exclusive
interest, assumed an active agency j„ collecting
the debts of tile Hank of England— gave every
fie day for the ree vvery of all debts, and stimula
ted our country men t> this duly by earnest nod
constant appeals to their honor and their true in
terests. With what a generous emulation that
appeal was answered, you well know—lor it
touched a chord winch lies deep in nil Yincricim
hearts, ft the universal distress which pervaded
the community, could not bo witnessed without a
p imlul sympathy,—its melancholy was redeemed
by the high m l manly spirit which it roused
throughout thr country. Fur novur, on its must
glorious fields of brittle, was there display od a rnoro
lofty sentiment of honor rind courage than was
then exhibited. The honest payment of debt,
»h" homely duty oi private lile— whs elevated by
its universality into n sentiment of national hon
oar ; as the whole country in one mass pressed
forward to its performance, as to some sacred and
patriotic obligation.— Whatever could Ire paid was
paid instantly and cheerfully ; vvlmt it was intpos
sdilo to pay at once was secured with ample inter
e,t tor the delay, with an utter abandonment of
mere selfishness, and a disregard ofnny pecunia
ry sacrifice necessary to fulfil their engagements.
Accordingly the manner in which the I . .Slates
have settled their immense commercial debt to
Europe is a lasting monument of their integrity.
A'u country could have better performed its dutv.
Even in the calmest moments of prosperity such
a s Htlerneiu could scarcely lie imagined ns was
accomplished amidst the gcnortil vv reek and con
fusion ot all its great interests with which the
country was ntiliclod. The eonsc.pitmce is, that
the general credit ot the country never stood high
er than at this moment; for it' hui now earned a
distinction entirely exclusive and characteristic
that while the (iovernment of the U. Stales is the
only Ciovcrnment on earth that has over paid to
the last cent its im'ionnl debt, tin people of the
I idled States have discharged their private on -
gagemnils with un unexampled fidelitya ri.fi
glory this, worth a thousand victories.
In the midst of these troubles the character of
our institutions was threatened by a combination
rrl politicians in Pennsylvania, who endeavored
to establish, as the basis of Am *rican legislation,
that a charter or oilier engagements made by any
IMate Legislature was liable to be annulled by any
snbse jaenl Legislature—and still m ,re t tVeelu ,i
--ly by any politics! meeting called a Convention
—which is ou\y another form of extruuniuj,.i \ |
legislation—ami an attempt w.ts aiiliouneod to j
carry thill dogma into elfrl at a I'onveiitiou llteii
approaching. Pile assertion of such a right by
tiie State Government, to annul all its engage
ineats to foreigners, put forth at a m uncut when
the country was laboring under a temporary ina
bility to pay its debts. Was calculated to desires
all confidence in the integrity of our American
institutions; and I therefore said to you in my
letter, “This must not be. it must be decided
whether this Pennsylvania of ours is a virtuous
community or a mere society of plunderers—nor
will the Inuor of tin Statebj relieved either ul
home or abroad,from the slain which u few small
politicians Wished to lix upon her. until the Con
vention adopts some solemn declaration that there
is no power in this nation capable e>f vi elating the
mend engagements of the Male authorities.
Thai should be done, and if any efforts ot mine
may avail, that shall be done, for the honor of
this Mute, for the character of her sis,or state),
ond for the stability of our popular institutions.”
Accordingly, when the Convention met, one
ot its most decided nets wai the following resolu
tion, passed on the Slat of November, 1837.
J{ solved. That it is the sense of this Conven
tion that a charter duly granted und.r un act of
Assembly, to a B irk or other private corporation,
is, when accepted, a contract with the parties to
whom the grant is made; and if such charter la*
unduly granted, or subsequently misuscd.it may
ho avoided by tire judgement of a Court of Jus
lice in due course of ir.v, and not othorw Iso. mi ’
less in pursuance ol a power expressly reserved in
the charter.”
The obligation of the .''tale Legislatures t v ful
fil all their engagements made with foreigners—
and ths anxiety of individuals to pay their lor
eign debts, being thus established, the next care
was to enable both to comply with tlroir contracts
at as little sacrifice as possible. It vxas due to
foreigners that every debt should ho paid—it was
due to ourselves to make the most of our resour
ces in the settlement. Now those resources con
sisted mainly in the public securities, and the sta
ple productions of the country. The shock of
suspension would of course sink both to the low
ed point of depression, and it seemed expedient
to save themfnm sacrifice by two measurer ap
# plicable to each.
There can scarcely la* any form of security
more safe than the pocuilairy engagements of
the states. They have a most luxuriant soil—
cslmbls products—infinite natural advantages—
e untiring industry in developing them. They
have every thing but money,—and lor that the;
, arc able to pay, and willing to pay, much more
than the less productive industry of Europe can
atlord to pay. Their loans 100, instead oi being
wasted in wars or extravagance, go to the direct
i r improvement of the borrowing States, —so dial
e there can ire no belter application of the means ul
it any European capitalist than to double his income
by American investments. Vet all these require
r. knowledge—local information—the means of ex
;• citing contiden o,—and it was (bought most expe
j dientto establish an American age ney in London
c as tiie common centre and the general support ol
e ail American securities,—where in addition to the
y appropriate business of th • Bank, iisvlt, all tin
i, public and corporate Stocks of the Mates, might
s find shelter and protection.
, In like manlier the derangement of the currcn
c <7 placed the staples of the South entirely ut the
mercy ot the forcin purchaser, who could have
| dictated the terms ol sale to tiie prostrated planter,
t It win thought proper to overt lha- evil l y cm
, ploying u large p irtion of the capital of tiie hank
e 111 matting advance •on Southern produce. This
i had two ell rets—tiie first was to provide remit
i lances 1., pay j, s own bonds in England, issued to
the New York merchants in their extreme dis
. tress, for nsVlic Bank could nut of course pur
. chase these staples, il made advances upon them
1 in the Mmlli, receiving in exchange bills on E«-
* rope. I lie second elfect was to introduce into
i the market a new competition, and thus prevent
the unconditional subjection of the planter to tie
. foreign purchase. Throe advances were made,
. n*las in past years on tin* mere personal sectiritv
I of I lie merchants, —which the confusion of ail
, piivale credit would have rendered too hazardous,
■ —hut on the actual shipment of the procure to
, an American houscin England, willing and idle
. *■” protect American properly from the reckless
waste with vviiieii ii lias been too o,t n thrown
, into the market, with an entire.'(l sregard of all
ilneiican inlet) sis. The combination ol these
eouses the application ol capital on tins side am]
ttiu prudent re >ervc on tiie other—have saved to
the planting interest an amount which il is tlilli
-I*llll to e. innate below ten or Jilteen indiums ol
dollars. I believe, 100, that nearly one h *lf of
the commercial debt of this country to Eunqa
lias been paid by the mere difference between tin*
actual sales ol the securities and staples, uml the
prices they would hav ■ realized had they been
thrown unprotected into the bands of Europeans.
I he.se measures were essentially of a temporary
nature—they w ere measures of emergency adopt
iu in the midst ol u public calamity, and to be
discontinued with Iho non - ity which caused
them. \s soon then li re as the capital and in
dustry of the country hid lime to subside into
' L<'ir liven tomeil channels, these operations were
relinquished. and now .hey him to ally and linallv
ceased.
Hi. 1 7 11 r:n*r these movements it became impor
tant to mid. stand distinctly the course of the
Government. In mV letter to you of the (ilii ol
\piil last, 1 slated my “conviction that there
could ha no sale or perm,m lit resumption of spe
cie payments hy the Banks until the policy ul
tliv I Mivernment towards them was changed.”
Ihi - elninge was* soon and happily made. On
the Doth of May the specie circular, requiring pay
ments in coin in the L ind Ollices, was repealed
by *■■ uegress. On the S3ih of June the bill call
ud tin* .‘Siib.’l’roiwiiry, requiring coin in all pay
ments to the Government, was negatived. In the
iiionlh ol Ju|v the Gov nnnent agreed to receive
an anticipated payment of the li.mdi of (he Bank
to Hu* amount of between four and live millions
ol'dodiii'N in a credit to tlie Treasury on the hooks
ot the Bank—ami arrangements were made for
tin* more distant public disbursements in the notes
ol tin* Banks. These arrangements, as honorable
to lie* Executive officers, as they were beneficial
t 0 I’tthli * service, brought the Government in
fo elii ient co-operation for the rc-estahlishmcnl
of the currency, uml opened the way to a resump- 1
tion of specie payments. That resumption ac
cordingly, took place throughout the middle Mates
on the 13th ot August, and in many of the south
ern Btales soon after. |
IV. Il remained only to aid gome of tho south- ,i
western Stales for the same object. Their activi
ty in extending their public and private improve- I
incuts had made them debtor States, un i dopre- 1
dated their currency by its excess. But ib.-y ,
had abundant resaureoa. «»v\ perfect willingness j
to pay—and all that win needed seemed to lie n
longei i/rriod to rccuit their exhausted means—so 11
as to derive from the approaching crops, by a p
short anticipation, ability to meet tlioir engage- i
meats. Tho Bank of the United States has used
its utmost endeavors for that purpose, by milking
advances to the amount of fnany millions to the d
Banks in those states; till of whom will, it. is pro- ,j
sunn d, by the month of January, resume specie
pay menls, uml thus c miplete tho circle of resump
tion throughout the whole Union.
An i now. upon reviewing the events which
followed the suspension, it is a source of great I
giatil'n*..,nm to see tluil all that it was designed to t
do has been done.
II was proposed to protect the character of the 1
the c mnt ey from the first shoes of the sukp nsion
to eh. cl tiie honorfthle fiisehurge of our foreign l
dehtois with the leas' M.ieritiee ol tin* property ot
the deports—to vindicate the good faith of the
Male Li gist itiires—to discourage all premature
attempts to v.-'inm* —but. by 11 ee.n'.iuns del c.,
I those Miiti- w : 1 h*’ 1 were less prepared, accomplish
a universal resumption. Alt these are done, and
the trouble of the country have happily ceased.
Os the future, it is dillicult to speak; hut in that
future the bank ol the United Males will no lon
ger occupy its past position. The Bunk ot the
United Mates bid ceased 10 be a national institu
tion in IB3fi, and was preparing to occupy its
new place as 11 Male B ink, when the troubles of
1837, forced ii in some degree back into its old
position; uml it tlru devoted all its power to as
sist in carry iug the country unhurt through its
recant troubles. Having done this, its extraordi
-11 try duties ceased. For the future. it abdicates I
this involuntary power. Il lias no longer any re
sponsibility to the I nion. It has no longer any '
controversies with the Government of the Union. !
It now ib sires only repose, and itwiil take its rank ,
hereafter as a Simple state Institution, devoted ex
clusively to ns own special i oiinras.
1 rejoice, too. tint this new position of the Bank 1
absolves me from many caies mid duties. In the j
general Confusion of public itrtiiirs during the Inst !
two years it has been my lot to lie more prominent j
til in my ow n iiiclin ilion prompted, and often to
assume a station which would have better fitted !
others. Put public cal unities justify the nppa- i
rent forwardness tliev require—as grout dangers j
j are bet met by defying them. My task is now
on led—and 1 gladly vv ithdruw from the *e respon
sibilities. curry big with me tiie only satisfu -tion 1
ever sought in them—the consciousness of having
done 111 y duty to the country ns a good citizen.—
Willi great regard, vours, Ac.
A. BIDDLE.
Tin; Si*b-Tiikvsniv Scheme von ritk at)-
VAXCEMKNT OF NIMITHEHV INTERESTS. VVo
perceive that tiie conning New Yorkers are al
ready dm J ling with delight over tiie present
schemes of Van Huron uml Ualhoun for tin* regu
lation of the currencies. A recent letter writer
of that oily says that it is not for fbe Gothamites
to complain 0! such measures, for the people over
the mountains and south of the Potomac will be
the sufferers, while they ol the great commercial
Emporium will be the gainers. This w riter stales
tb it he once heard Mr. Calhoun in the Senate
denounce tho whole Safety Fund Banking sys
lent of New Y ork us a contrivance of Mr. Von
1 Huron in his hostility to the United State.-, Bank,
to destroy that institution for the purpose of ma
king New York Safety Fund Bills current every
whore, thus to enlarge their circulation and make
the Union tributary to the empire stale.— Match's
Cyir'er.
;'■! dill RNiCLE an I) SENTINEL. j
C | ——
"! AUGUST A.
x I SATURDAY MORNIMG, DECEMBER
1 CCj’ The Northern Express Mail failed again
£ jes-erday.
The Giraffe.
The exhibition of this tall stranger hes been
,1 removed to the lot corner of Centre and Ellis sts.
e and is to remain in this city until Christmas
day, None should neglect the opportunity offer
ed to visit this most singular quap uped, it being
i- the (test living Giraffe ever brought to this con
'■ tinent, and,froni the extreme difficulty in obtain
‘ ing this animal, and bringing them several hun
i- dred miles from the interior of Centrrl Africa^
It passing dreary deserts and many tribes of unci
s vili/.ed and barbarous Alri-ans, it is highly’ piob
() able that years may elapse, and evtn centuries,
i- before the stately Giraffe will make its appear
ance among us again. It should be seen by all,
i ___
Florida.
u Cur latest information dVorn the theatre of war,
1 is, that 120 or 1 .JO Indians had gone in at Tam
pa Bay, to git Jnl.
\ Wild Cut was said to be in a swamp, with
I about I 5 followers.
Bam Jones is yet alive, us intractable as ever,
and has n large hand of followers.
, A Challenge (<> the World.
I A Mr. Wiliams,of Hinds county, Mississippi,
' who lately “used up” a celebrated marksman, of
Claiborne county, in a rifle shooting, now throw
» •' 7 07 H
down the gauntlet, to any man, any name
I distance, from twi iffy to sixty yards, olf hand,
with a rillo gun, lor any amount, of money that,
may be named. His residence is near New Town,
Hinds county, Mississippi.—AV ho will try him !
i ... J
Capture «1 Hill Johnson.
The Albany Argus states, that through the
vigilance ol Captain W illiam Vaughn, .Master
L. B. Navy, of .Sachet s Harbor, and Deputy
Marshal, J. W. Turner, of Oswego, Wm. John
son has been re-captured and delivered to the
Marshal.
We learn that a history of the Mormon
troubles in Missouri, is about to be published by’
one intimately conversant with all (he facts.
The first Shad brought to the Savannah mar
ket, were sold on the I Mb, at £ 1,2/5 each.
The Hon. Samuel A. Elliott, was re-elected
Mayor of Boston, on the 10th hist., by T a majority
of Iff 13 votes. The entire Whig ticket for Al
dermen was elected,
Dl the re-election of Mr. Tallmadge, to the
United States Senate, from the State of New*
York, there appears to be little or noduuht enter
tained. The movement of the Whigs in all parts
of the State points to him as the man.
i
The interments in Now \ ork, during the week I
ending on the 15th inst., were 184.
From Harrisburg. j
Our advices from Harrisburg, says the Balti- H
more American, of the 15th to Thurs- [
day nigWi, ffo not mention any variation i» tho i
previous existing state of affairs. The Senate t
hud not yet rceogniioj either branch ol the House
of Representatives, nor Jiad it settled the conflict- p
ing claims to scuts of some of its own members, o
in two of the contested cases of which Commit- 1
tees had been appointed. The Governor elect
David R. Porter, Esip, arrived at Harrisburg, on
Thursday. Some of the volunteer companies had
departed for their homes, and general peace and c
quiet prevailed. o
p
Communicated. 1,1
. . ot it
A writer tn your paper of the 181“ lll »u, ove r {
the signature, of “as oustuvr la ' ,ors Vl ’ r - o
to prove that groat ovil- - *' HI How trout the ope- e
ration of the banki’M hiw ot the Stale ot New- j
Vork. The rtvmU of that law acknowledge
that it is an experiment, and that evils may pos- |
sihlv grow out of it, as all human legislation is t
liceessufilv imperfect, but I shall be slow to be
ta vo that <lie law in question, is not a decided
improvement upon the present vicious sy .tcm of
Stale Banks, which un ler all circumstances £
have subjected the community to heavy losses i
and have aUo wholly failed in furnishing a sound •
and uniform cunvncv.
. ‘ . l
iu canvassing tlic merits of this law of New j
Vork, some little credit is due to the hitherto i
enlightened policy of that Stale, not only in the 1
regulation of her hanks, but to hpr vast works of '
internal improvements, the commencement and ,
completion of which, in advance of her sister j i
States, won, for the projectors, imperishable 1
renown. But the far-seeing sagacity of New
Vork, seems to have made little or no impression i
on the mind of “ax oiiskuvkh,” for he sets
himself to work to expose the blunders of her
banking law, and also to enlighten our own Le
gislature;—but in stating his beau idea! of bank
ing, he appears to have forgotten that when this
law of New Vork was enacted, the people of
that State were opposed to a National Bunk, —
a i also were a majority of the people of the
whole Union, and consequently a great Na
.
i tioual Institution was out of tho question.
Ho, also overlooks the fact, that the rule of hank
-1 iag which he tells us, •• practice has proved to he
correct, viz: always to have as much specie on
j hand as may amount to a third part of their lia
| hililios including deposited and issues," has never
prevailed throughout the United States, nor of
; laic years in England, and that such a system in
the Stale of New York, would he very impolitic, j
, i for the exchange of the whole Union is in her
1 favor, while her specie is only one-tilth of her
| j circulation and deposiles, while thit ol Georgia
is one-third —under such circumstances the Le
gislature of New-York, has not been so foolish
■ as to compel her banks to have always on hand
1 a greater amount of specie, compared \\ ith their
1 cash liabilities, than is usually kept by the Bank
. of England, notwithstanding “as ouseiivkii,”
’ insinuates that the LegisKtors of New York,
j were •• perhaps ignorant that the Bank of Eng-
; land never think- herself safe unless she has a
I ihrd-purf of the liabiiitic-, including hath defo- j
1 titu mid ismuts, always in specie or in huliun, \
lin her possession." Now, whatever the Bank of ■
i England, may •• think" on the subject of “specie |
! or bullion,” or whatever “ an observer,” may !
allcdge that institution never ha 1 in her possess
ion one-third part of her deposites and issues, in
coin or bullion, in the years of 1834, ‘5, and ’O.
During that time we heard nothing about the
safety of the bank, although her bullion at one
time, was only one-eighth part of her cir
culation and deposites. This is the operation
of that r.le which “ as odseuv ku ” recommends
us to adopt, a rule which the Dank of England,
almost wholly disregards in practice, whatever
may be its theories.
In a country like the United States, with a
papulation scattered over so vast an extent ol
territory, the specie basis which is requisite to j
sustain a sound circulation, is less in proportion
than is required, is so small a country as Eng
land, with a dense population; and the probability
is that the day is far distant when the specie
basis ot this country will be one to three, when
compared with circulation un I deposiles. \Vc
have recently had a sure experiment iu the way
ol forcing specie into the country, against the
laws ol trade, and it seems to me to be the dutv
ol our law makers, not to require the banks to
perform impossibilities, but compel them to de
pos to ample securities with the .States s fiicicnt
in amount, and of such a character as would
redeem their issues in any emergency, no mat
ter how unfortunate the banks might he in their
general business. This opinion is fast gaining
ground,and on this opinion tin- people must pass
their verdict, for no one can expect that a great
National Institution, founded on the credit and
resources of the whole Union, with power to fur
nish the exclusive currency of the country, will
c\er receive the sanction of the people of this
confederacy, however desirable such an institu
tion might he.
There is much of philosophical remark in the
coninuinication of “ax ohsbuvku,” bull should
like to know from what school he bus drawn his
ideas of currency, or by what process of reason
ing or observation, —lie arrives at lire conclusion,
that a Bank of Kilty Millions of capital could
have on hand at one time, deposiles to the amount
of One Hundred and Fifty Millions. “We can
hardly believe our eyes” when such a statement
as this is put forth, which for grandeur of con
ception, throws Law entirely into the shade. If
the evils which are to follow the passage of the
banking law now before our Legislature, are as
apparent as “ax observer” would make us
believe, such an extreme case as this, need not
be cited to prove them, for the deposites of all
the hanks in the L nited Blates. have newer reached
the enormous sum of One Hundred and Fifty
Millions. RICHMOND. j
The Natchez Courier of the 13th, remarks as (
follows, in relation to the state of the money tnur
.... * i
ket tn that city :
“With feelings of much pleasure we publish
this day’s condition of our money market. Com- 1
paring the table of this week with its predeces
sors, we must congratulate ourselves on the more
respectable stand which our currency has now
\j • o.Datth nines, ir will be seen can be 1
had for Natchez city paper at 2 A per cent, pre- ii
inhnn, and specie would be equally low were it
not that at present there is a great scarcity of it c
among the brokers. There is a great demand 11
for Natchez Bank notes and 4 per cent, premium,
over other bankable river money has been offered i
for it.” ...
in
Tlie New \ ork Herald, of the 101 - r“ a^*u S g;
of Mr. Biddle’s letter, savs:— V
The letter of Mr. IV A' 0 ’ "’ith regard to the £
course ot tho U. K creatod n ,° sur l?,T tc
unusual •• -* HatloUlll Wall street to day. J lie
positin'- OI 1110 bank has been well understood by p
pw leading men in the country. Tho facts con- T
mined in the letter have been published in the w
Herald some weeks since, and have now become 0
official under the signature of Mr. Biddle. The ®
condition of the cotton market, and its future |j
prospects, arc in no wise involved by the dedue- j
tions to be drawn from the letter in question. The j
course of the U. States Bank will, no doubt, be a
pursued in tile same direction in which that insli- *
tut ion has heretofore operated.
From the Montgomery, (Ala.) Jour. E:. .'ra, Dec. 10.
Fire.
On Sunday night last, about 11 o’clock, our *'
citizens were alarmed by the cry of lire. Itorigi-
naled at. or near the office of the Alabama Jour- p
nul, as that building was the first discovered to be (
on lire, apparently on the outside.* The flames !•
immediately communicated to the adjoining build
ings, among which was the spacious brick build- c
ing the "Planters’ Hotel,” occupied by Herbert
and Madigan, and owned by Mr. Abner McGehee. J'
All tho buildings on a line with tlie Journal office
wete consumed or destroyed, ns far up Court
street us the bank. The progress of the flames
in the rear of the fire, was stayed by blowing up
a large wooden building attached to the Planter’s t
Hotel. The amount of property destroyed is t
supposed to he near seventy thousand dollars; and
consists of thirteen Houses, besides out-buildings *
—all belonging to Abner McGehee, with the ex-
ci pi ion of three offices, owned by Col. J. Hutch- 1
iusoti, and Dr. Vickers. We understand that
there was no insurance upon any of the property. ;
except a partial one upon the two offices owned ;
by C >l. J. Hutchinson. The principal sufferers ’
were, Abner McGehee, J. J. Hutchinson, Esq.,
Ur. Vickers, Col. J. Hutchinson, Herbert and
Madigan, and David Boren. We were also in- (
formed that Mrs. A. Adams, the talented actress
who was boarding at the Planters’ Hotel, lost her
costly wardrobe and jewels to a large amount. !
Charles Horn, an Irishman, was dangerously
hurl by a fall, in attempting to escape from the
H .'el when in flames. His arm and thigh were
broken, and his skull much injured.
These are the principal facts relative to this
distressing occurrence. There was much energy
displayed by our citizens, though nil who witness
ed their efforts, must have seen the necessity of
i organized Fire Companies, to ensure a concert of
j action. Our former hints upon this subject,
| might, if appreciated, have shortened the detail of
j this catastrophe; the most destructive that has
I ever visited our hitherto fortunate city.
* Since he above was in type, we have ascer
tained fiat the lire did originate in the Journal office,
and "a.- drobnbly the result of accident, as some
individual, unknown to us, had taken the liberty of
going in there on Sunday night with a candle.
Akothsh Fi ur.—About! o'clock on Monday
morning, a lire was discovered in tile three story
brick bull ling on Market stria t, between First and
Bocond streets which was entirely destroyed, to
gether w ith its entire contents, it was occupied
' on the tii«i floor by H. M’ieman iS, Co., grb-ers,
and tiic upper stories ly C. Sk
dealers. J’ho former ADiM/mo be faijinifoedV
the latter but partially. The building bchmgar
to E. Bredell, and was in-ured. We have not
heard the amount of the loss estimated, but it
| mustbo consumable,— St. Louis Com. Bull. 11.
The *• Washington Chronicle” and the New
\ork ‘’Colored American,” the former edited by
Mr. Cralle and tho latter by a full-blooded negro,
are actively engaged in abusing Air. Clay, and it
is particularly observable that they resemble each
other very strongly in the general tone and spirit
ol their abuse. Either tho negro imitates Cralle,
or Cralle the negro—that’s certain. They would •
do well to unite their papers ; they might achieve
wonders by the vigorous exercises ol their con
joined energies.— Lou. Journal,
f rom the SicketVs Harbor Journal, Dec. f).
LvKciTiox on Glx. Vox Bhocltz.—Wc
have been informed by a gentleman who witness
ed the scene, that the Patriot commander, Von
Shoult/., was hung in Kingston yesterday morn
; ing, and that fob Abney and Air. George were
i to be executed on \V ednesdaV morning next, and
perhaps Mr. Woodruff’, though tlio Governor’r
sanction of theconviclion and sentence of Wood
ruff had not been received at Kingston when cur
informant left.
Nicnf.n Gkntilitv.—“Look here, Sambo
you got dat quarli t dollar you owes rne 1”
*S imho —La! Cuff.no. Money sr scarce, so
many stoperages in Mobile—there aint no money
in circulation.
L’t'jf —O sho ! Sambo, what de nasliun you
got to do wid Mobile ! Nigger, pay up, pay up.
Sa nho —A\ ell, look here, Cull’—me hear massa
tell more dan twenty men same tale; and 1
haiat seen no gentlemen treat him like \ou me.
Act like a gentlemen if you is a nigger.
Si in bo —No gentleman is a gentleman if him
burnt got no money.
Consignees per South Cttrolinn Rail u« a
Hamuuko, December 20.
_ Ih’cs Sr ffeall. Bnnd& Scranton, Could &Bulktv,
K. 1). Cooke. T. Lawson, Spears & White, F. If.
( ooKe, Aldrich & Shove. Stovall, Simmons & t'o.,
G. H. Jessup, Slices & Brothers, Rankin, Togas &
Co., lirochon it 11., A. U, Mallory,C. K. Huffman,
R. Phillips. J. W. & T. S. Stoy, M. Putt, A. M.
Lgerton, J'.. M. Robeitson, W. VV. Starke, G. Par
rott, 11. 1.. Jeffers, 1. N. Oliver, J. F. Denson.
December 31.
Rrnkm &. Boggg ,7, s. Hutchinson. Rathbone &
Baker, Clark, MeTcir& Co., if 11. Cooke, A. Saba),
. * -'MilliT, Movfill k Hmnbn, b. \V Fo ce,
Stovall & Simmons. Could &. Bu'kk-y, S. Knre’aui
6 Son, Rees & Beall, Spears & White, P. Golly,
Purse, E. J). Cooke, 11. W. Sullivan, J. F. Bcnaon.
COMMERCIAL.
Natchez, December 13.
Cotton —The market, this week, has shown much
more animation among buyers than during any pre
vious part ol the season. There is now Rule or no
doubt entertained that the better policy of the plan
ter is, 11 he can, to hold back his cotton from mar
ket, an I all who are in a situation to do so have
idsolved to adopt this course. An improvement in
prices ba: taken place for all qualities, s : nce our
last, and the market continues on the rise ; mean
time our classification to-day represents the rates
at wbicii a majority ol the sales have been effected,
there are a number of agents travelling through
ie Mate who seem eager to buy largely ; for what
booses or institutions they are acting it is not
Known. They have not, however, been able to
■■peculate much, ns the advances offered by the
1111111 /tank and some other institutions affords
greater inducements than immediate sales. The
f moil bank has already advanced on a good deal of
cotton, and by this step, we believe, done a great
deal otgood throughout the State.
Aboutßoo bales ot cotton have comedo marxet
w’ffbin the week, and about 500 bavu boon sold at
prices quoted.
CAa i deation. —lnferior, 9 a 101; middling 104 a
114; lair, 114 a 124; good fair and fno 124 a ld|.
— Courier.
New Orleans, December 17.
iq — Kcceiv cd from the 9th to the loth inst,
Jd,UOU bales, exported 12,180 bales ; stock on hand
including all on ship board not ’eared, 55,825 bis.
in Uiu early part ol the past week but few lev,,
cis came jonvard who were willing tor-upon by
the quotations in oar last review anxiety to elfet t
sellers, who generally shewveiging not more than
donn 1 * “L'ogifd'hands, including a fancy lino
*ii. -Louisiana, at 17 cts. per lb., for a northern
ii’arket the highest price yet paid this season. On
■Tidily the express mail put us in possession of tho
Sheffield's accounts from Liverpool to the sth till,
aid Havre to 27th Oct. which being very favorable
or the article, also a better feeling in the N. York,
ind all intermediate markets, with an advance of 4
o i of a cent per lb., gave us a fresh impulse, and
die sa.es on that day and Saturday were large and
n most instances at an advance pf ;} cent per ]b.
the small quantity’ now ar.iving from Mississippi,
with a very light stock in first hands at this season
jf tho ycaron sale increases the confidence of hoid
ars, and the market closed with an upward tendency
for all sorts. The sales have been to the extent of
S),000 bales, in Mississippi and Louisiana, at 11, to
17 cts. extremes, fair 13 a 13$,in Western Districts
124 a 12$ cts. for average lots, and in Mobiles at 12
a 114 cents.
MARINE INTELLIGENCE.
Savannah, December 20.
Cleared—- Trig Excel, Sherwood, New York: br.
schr. Pamona, Milles, Nassau.
Arrived —Schr. Eagle, Wiley, Havana; steam
boat Oglethorpe, Hubbard, Augusta; steamboat
Chatham, Winy, Augusta ; steamboat Free Trade,
(Toiler, Augusta; steamboat Anson, Burden,Gareys
Ferry.
Went to sea —Ship Henry Leeds, Marshall, Liv
crpoo’; brig Excel, Sherwood, New York.
Deported —Steam! oat New Vork. Wright,Charles
ton; steamboat Lamar,(Tesweli, Augusta; steam
boat Isis. Pearson, Garey’s Ferry ; steamboat Ogle
thorpe, Hubbard, Augusta.
Charleston, December 21. 1
Arrived yesterday —Brig Josephine, Smith, Bos
ton ; steam packet North Carolina, Davis, Wilming
ton.
Cleared —Ship Marathon, Shaw, Havre; linesh’p
Calhoun,O’Neill, New York ; brig Lottery, Hinson,
West Indies; schr. Ursula. Davis, Mobile; schr.
Levant. Willey, Jacksonville.
Went to sea yederduy —Ship Benj. Morgan, John
son, Havre; hr. brig liezin K. Reece, Tuzo, West
Indies; hr. brig Belle, Poll; schr. Ursula, Davis,
Vobi'e ; steam packet New York, Wright, New
York, via Norfolk.
Qpj' Mr. CAMPBELL will preach in Augusta,
on the Ith, ;>th and Otb days of January next
dec 2.3 trwtd
■rj' THE NEW ENGLAND SOCIETY will
hold its Annual Meeting on SATURDAY, 22d inst.
at half past live o’clock, P. M., at the Globe Hotel.
Punctual attendance is particularly requested.
The Anniversary Dinner will be on the tabU• at
7 o’clock.
T. J. PAR.-MELEE, x „ .
W. P. HATH BOM E, i Committee of
J. M. ADAMS. 3 arrangements.
dec 10 tj
————— •
Benevolent Society.
The Visiting Committees for the ensuing month
are as follow -;
Division No. 1. —Mir. A. McLauc, Mir. C. Pike,
Mr<. Crump, Miss E. Mlarshall.
Division No. 2.—Mr. Joseph Davis, Mir. George
Rackett, Mrs. Boggs,Mrs. Cole.
Division No. 3. —Mr. John Flemming, Mir. John
W. F’Jton, Mlrs. Berry-field, .Mrs. Hart.
dec 17 _ C. F. STURGIS, ffec’y.
j y We are authorised to announce ETHEL
liRKD J T.'.iii ER, as a candidate for County
Surveyor ol Richmond County, at the approaching
election in January. td dec 17
erj‘ We are authorized to announce COSBY
DICKINSON as a candidate for re-election to the
office of Receiver of Tax Returns for Richmond
ounty, »t the election on the first Monday in J-<n
ua;y next, dec 4 td*
V Xcitit unis.
, Halt,
IVJTh , mf.-rras his
It JL < laV)C N ••‘ini the lovers of the ai t? «■ >.iera 1 ■
l-.iat tic secoii; tvm o; hit i, r wng A-adomv com.’
«»““ 7 U 7r lU - V ’ U ‘ e *< oi JanW'neu
°‘ jnl 3 11 kvoraolu opportunity fort o,e w .6 wou a
1 ‘ era ’ elves 01 a knowledge of this delight
. 118 1,95 no ’ v at llis ro--m- besides his own Draw-
some p.oiuct.uns ou'upils, which ha submits
to die atcenLoa of tli i public.
. - Vl: ' 11 f- Niiiit Classes, forge-it craan, will com
nunc>. auo,o i the 21 la luary. lw de; 22
0! It- c,. All persons indebted to the estate of
• il James Roberts, of Kcrivcu county, deceased
me K-quired to come forward and make immediate
payment, and those having demands are required to
render them in avoiding to the requisitions of the
law. JOHN S. MANER. Administrator.
December 22.1838. wtit
A J.L persons ind.J tod to tiiecst.it. 1 of Emily
j. s. Robert.-, of Striven county, deceased, arc re
t]iiuc Ito rome forward and male immediate pay.
meut, and t nose having demands are required "to
rend-r them in a cording to the requisitions of the
aw. JiiH.N S. .MAN Eli, Administrator.
Dt'ceni! or 22,1838. w 6t
Georgia, Sci iven county;
\\/ il EKI.Ah Anry Ceatisseaux applies for let
t v tors ot adniini Ration on the estate of
1 etcr Cin nssoaiix. decc-.,si d, ol this county.
j’in re are t icrefure to cite and admonish, all and
singular, the kindred and cicdito.s of said deceased
to he and appear at my office, witiii.i the time pre
scribed by nuv, to show cause, if any they have
why said letters should not be granted.
Diven under my hand, at office, this 19th Dr c >m
ber,mß. [dog22] JOSHUA PERKY, Cle.i-.
Course of Instruction in the Natural
Sciences.
A RISC I EAR and thorough course of Instruction
*a. in the Natural Sciences, with Lectures and
Experiments, will he commenced on the first day
of January next, id Air. Egeitoi’s rooms, by Mr.
Merrit Platt, from Mew fiav.n.
d he subjects first liken up. will be Chemistry and
Natural Philosopliy. Hours of instruction to com
mence at 12 o’clock, M. and -1 P. 21.
A 01100- ladies, who may wish 1u avail themselves
of instruction in this important and interesting de
partment, without becoming mem! cis of the school,
wi:l be admitted at $5 each ; former pupils of the
school arc invited tu attend gratuitously.
The course will continue till about the middle of
June, and so far us the dine will allow will include
besides the above, Ecology Mineralogy, Botanv,
and (Audiology. ' ‘ ’
_dec 21 * dtrStw ts
II Vll LI 4H. ANNUAL'S l''0!l 1539.
OOK of Rovalty
9 Linden’s Tul leaux,
licauty’s Costume,
Drawing Roam Scrap Book,
Juvenile Scrap Rook,
Oiimt.il Annual,
Landscape do
Keepsake
forget Ale Not
With many other English and all the American
Annuals lor IS i.O, with other tin ; books, suitable
lor the approaclpingy io y.lays. For sale by
d £l 20 _ * ' T. 11. PLANT.
JF. SE TZK, has received an additional sun
• p'y of
Rest jet black Italian Lustring Silk,
“ “ Gros da Rhine li
blue and jet black Reps
Fancy fign.ed, colored do
Blue and jet black, figured Poult do Sore,
}’! ai “ “ “ do do
fig d blue, black, Armine Silk
Sp endid needle-worked Co lain, all prices
Rich black, Chantilla f i lls, from SC to $22
Ladies black Mohair, Me.ino and Thibet Hose
black Thibet-wool Shawls
Black, while, pink and blue Satins
White, blue and pint - coos de Naples Silk
Long Picnic emves
6-4 Irßa 4.111011, suitable for Pil'ow cases
ma a F S'u h wo r !'i ,u ClotiiS ' aiHl Dros dc Nap Merino
i>lac.\ Phibet Cloth
Rich piano Covers dcc 20
<*»ANITE company,
f ’ 1 V . , ’ “Dangers, one and all, did you know
V teat about 8 miles from Augusta the;e is ap
parently an mxhanstablc quarry of excellent Gran
ite, which has been buried in the bowels of the
earth for ages p«t, and has hitherto been of no
service. H.vww of this, tiiemw--. °
1 tmmm no lOngi-nT dormant for tne want ot hard
Urmnlro f>\ vnnilf'e . .uUai.io for building. There
fore we have taken a lease of the Quarry, and en
tered into co-partnership fur. the purpose of carry
ing on the Stone Cutting business in all Us branch
es. We will lay tiie St.me down in any part of
Augusta, at the Boston prices, with the freight and
commission from that place to this added. We are
now prepared to receive orders for P'rents of any
description, also Window Caps and .Sills, Door do.,
Edge Stone, Gutter Stone, and in fact all kinds of
work that Granite was ever used for.
dec 5 ts CHTP.MAN & HEAD.
171011 SALE—A large and valuable Plantation,
' in the 6th di- trkt of Early county, on Spring
creek, and in the neighborhood of lands belonging
to Major Robert Taylor, of Athens. It contains
about Ticu Thousand acres; six hundred and fifty
of which arc under new, high and substantial lances.
About four hundred acres have been cultivated, and
on the remainder of that which is under fence, the
timber has been deadened and it would produce well
another year. The place has every necessary out
building, gin house, screw-pack, barn, corn houses,
stables, negro houses, See. &c.,aU large and commo
dious. It is the wish of the subscriber to sell with
the plantation, corn fodder, stock of every descrip
tion, plantation utensils, St. 1 ,, negroes excepted.
A groat bargain is offered in the above property;
! it be ing too distant from my residence, is the reason
j for desiring to dispose of it. The location of the
I settlement indicates health, and up to this time, the
negroes employed upon it have enjoyed line health. ,
Major Taylor knows the property, and will inform
any one respecting it—or information can be had by
application to mo at Savannah,
nov C trwStwCw E. D. IIUGUENIN.
(fj"'The Columbus Enquirer will please publish
the above six times, and charge the same to this
I office.
CO-PA KT.VEIiMI IP.
rip HE undersigned having I alien A. ROWLAND
t! into partnership, the WAREHOUSE AND
COMMISSION BUS.NT ESS will he conducted un
der the linn ol Baird Jj- Howland, alter Ist of Octo]
her n xt. HLiNJ BAIRD
sent. 18 20
ITVJE DOLLARS RFAVAKD.
Strayed or Stolen, from a lot it
the upper end of Broad street, At’
U* ‘Wt gusta, a bay P('NV, with a bridlt
JSj^iiiinilsaddle; his hind feet up to tin
A t fjUi fetlock joints are botii white, and hii
left eye is out. He is well knowt
j in Augusta, having formerly belonged to L. P. Du
gas, and Mr. Wilcox. A reward ol live dollars will
be given for him. JOHN M. C. EVANS,
nov 20 dim
Cl LOTH CLOAKS. —Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s
J Cloth Cloaks, of superior qualities, and made
| in the best manner, just received and forstlebwby
nov 24 witrwtlstmar J. D. CRANE & Co.
N'OTIGE. —Sealed proposals will be received at
the Augusta Arsenal until the first day of Jan
uary next, for supplying the Garrison with wood,
corn, and hay, in such quantities as may be required,
and also, for renting the old Arsenal lot and man
sion thereon. The wood is to be of good sound oak,
i and to be corded as c!o-e as practicable, the sticks
j straight and of medium size, caL each cord to con
tain 12S cubic feet. The corn "d hay or fodder (in
| case l ay cannot be procured,) must liken se be
sound and of fair merchantable qua ity. Security
! wifi he required for the faithful performance of all
| obligations entered into under this notice. Address
| Commanding Clficer. td dec 12
! PROTECT'IOW IiVSUUANCKCOMPANY.
1 1 HIE undersigned, ngenls of the Protection In
* surancoCompany of Hanford, Connecticut.
I are prepared to insure buildings and ilieir ciiiilcnte
against loss or damage by fin on the mosl reas-ina
bleterms. VV, & J. CI.CATLIN.
or* 31 elf 255
bliarieston lusarance Ae Trust Company
Capital One Million Dollars —all paid in,
ACtIKCV, AUGUSTA.
rs>l IE subscriber is prepared to take Fire ain! t Mr,-
X lino risks at the current rates of premium.
robf.rt McDonald,
oct 30 3m Agent C. L&: 1, Ce,