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CIIIIONIOI.R AND SENTINKL.
AUUVSTA.
THURSDAY MORNING, JULY 4.
FOR GOVERNOR,
CIIAU L E S I) OUGIIE U T Y ,
OF CLAIIK COUMTT.
ORDER OF CELEBRATION OF IT 11 OF JULY,
1539.
The committee appointed to make arrangements
for the celebration of the approaching Anniversary
of American Independence, have appointed Maj.
Samuel C. Wilson, Marshal of the day.
At half past ten o’clock, A. M. a procession
will be formed in front of the United Stales Hotel,
anil proceed to the Presbyterian Church, under
the command of the Marshal of the day, when,
after divine serviee, the Declaration of American
Independence will be read by VN illiam R. Mi Lavi a
E»(|,, and an address suitable to the occasion will
lie delivered by A, 11. Matthews, Esq.
The order of Procession will be ns follows;
1. The Clinch Rifle Company.
3. Major General and Staff.
3. Brigadier General and Staff.
4. Col. of the 10th Regiment and Staff, and the
Officers of the 10th Regiment.
5. Officers of the Army and Navy.
6. Orator and Reader.
7. The Reverend the Clergy.
H. Magistrates of the City and County.
9. The Masonic Institutions of this city.
10. The Different Fire Companies of the city.
11. The Mechanics of the City.
12. The different Societies of the City.
13. The Medical Faculty and Students.
10. Citizens.
The Pews on the right and left of the centre
aisle, will be reserved for the procession.
The authorilios of the City and County, the
Reverend the Clergy, the Masonic Institutions of
this city, the members of the Fire Department,
the Mechanics of the city, the Societies of the
city, the Medical Faculty and Students, ami the
citizens generally are respectfully invited to join
the procession in the above order.
At day light a national salute will he fired op
posite the City Hall.
Committee—G. F. Parish, W. Rankin, and S.
M. Thompson, on the part of the City Council;
F. C. Curtis, H. O. Cook and P. H. Strong, on
he part of the Clinch Riflemen.
To-day being the 4th, no paper will ho pub
lished at this office to-morrow.
Time in its progress has performed another
annual revolution, and the birth day ul Ameri
can freedom ami independence has once more
been ushered in, with all those demonstrations
of rejoicing, l>y which a free people can hallow
and keep alive its sacred recollections. 'J his is
emphatically the anniversary of unations birth—
a day we have by common consent consecrated
to liberty—a day sacred to associations connect
ed with past deeds of valor and patriotism—a
day fraughtjwilh events, the tendency ot which )
lies secured for us among the nations of tho
earth—if not their fear—at least respect, and a
day, the remembrance of which, il kept in view
by the rulers and councillors of our country
must secure from generations yet unborn, that
respect and veneration due to those who act well
their part in achieving and perpetuating a na
tions freedom—a peoples glory. Upon us, on
this day dawned the first gleam ol hopeful li
berty—and when it shall have ceased to be
cherished and remembered—it will be written of
all that our sires struggled to secure, our lathers
cherished and respected, or our children honored
and revered, that it teas but is not. Such
we humbly trust, is not tho destiny that awaits
our country.
Ours is, or should be the government, not of a
party, but of a people, united by the same politi
cal bond, bound by the same interests, and leagu
ed for the same object and the same end ; and if
on this day of all others, we should meet, meet us
one—meet like the combatants of France and
Prussia, on a certain battle field; like them drink
from the same fountain, and like them again re
turn to the same conflict—it will be with feelings
soothed and softened by tho contact. Forgetting
for the day at least, the political divisions which
exist among us—the feelings which divide us ;
we may, without compromitting our principle or
designs; mingle our orisons at the same shrine,
breathe incense from the same altar, and oiler to
the same “God of bait las” the homage duo to
Him, and the veneration to those, who in his
hands, have been the instruments of our glory
and elevarion —our honor and renown.
In addition to the Uaibocue given at the Hamp
ton Course, by Mr. Eheatisn; we are also reques
ted to state that there will be one given at Belj
Air, by Mr. Pilcher. An extra train of cars will
leave for Bell Air, at one o'clock.
The attention of the reader is referred to an
interesting report of Mr. Mercer, upon the prac
ticability of a Ship-canal across the Isthmus of
Panama, connecting the waters of tho Pacific
and Atlantic Oceans.
The Internal Improvement Bill, which finally
passed the Legislature of Pennsylvania on the
last day of the recent session, contains appropria
tions to the amount of $2,050,000.
Eihtikiv akk. —Three severe shocks of earth
quake, were experienced at Aguadilla, Porto Rico,
on the 10th inst., but no damage was done to
- properly.
A stupendous project of internal improvement
is broached in the St. Louis papers : being no
less than the connexion of Boston with S'. Louis
by a line of Railroads. A meeting to consider
the subject was to have been held at St. Louis, on
the 20th instant.
When this is completed we shall expect to
breakfast in Boston, dine in Augusta, and sup in
St. Louis. Whew ! How we shall go it.
(£jr* M c have been requested to say that the
Meehanh - Anaeclulion, will inert at the M »•;«>■•
te 11*1.1,, Thin Eoenini', ul half past 9 o’elcok,
preparatory to joining in the prove; sion.
It is stated that the millers of Rochester, N, V
will lose half a million of dollars hy the favourable
slate of the wheat crops.
South sit n Mail —Disamlinuance rs Ihc Ex
press .Mull. —The (I lobe of the 28th nil. says:—
‘•We arc requested to state, for the information ol
those concerned, that an arrangement, hy which
the great mail is to he transported between New
Vork and New-Orleans in nine days, will take
effect on the first of next month. In consequence
of this improvement, the express mail between
Augusta, (In., and Mobile, Ala., as well us the
branch now in operation between Montgomery,
Ala., and Nashville Tenu., will cease to run on
that day.”
Mechanics’ .Heeling.
An adjourned meeting of the Mechanic's of
this eily, was held at the United States Hotel, on
the evening of the 2nd insl. O. F. Parish Esq. in
the Chair, and Mr. Win. 11. Pritchard,Secretary.
“ The report of the Committee of eleven was
then called for, and read.
“The Committee to whom was referred the
consideration of the propriety of the Mechanics
generally, joining in the procession on the 4th of
July, beg leave to report the following resolutions.
Resolved, That it is respectfully requested of
the Mechanics generally, of this city and neigh"
borhood, that they join in the procession on the
approaching anniversary of American Independ
ence.
Resolved, That badges be provided, with an
appropriate devise, and the Mechanics’ associa
tion be furnished with them on the morning of
Ihc 4 th of July.
Resolved, That when this meeting adjourn, it
will meet again on Thursday morning next, ul
hull past nine o’clock, at the Masonic Hall.
The report of the above committee was unani"
mously adopted.
On motion,(J. F. Parish, Esq., was appointed
marshall oflhc day.
The business of the adjourned meeting having
been concluded, Mr. William H. Pritchard offer
ed the following resolutions, which were adopted.
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this meet,
pig, the formation of a Mechanics’ Society, in the
city of Augusla, would bo productive of much
good to the mechanics generally, and redound to
the high character which they should at all times
maintain.
Result'd/, That a Committee of nine he ap
pointed hy the Chair to report upon Ihc expedien
cy of a society, to a meetingof the merhsnies, nf
some subsequent time, when the purpose of the
committee shall have been accomplished.
The Chair then appointed tire following Oom
mitttee,
Wn. 11. PniTcimin,
Koii’t Phillips,
li. J. Chew,
K. T. Gutcueub,
Sam’l M. Thompson,
Wm. O. Eve,
John J. Mxnimtr.,
Join Finn,
Philip Chump.
On motion, G. F. Parish, and D. M. Clark,
were added to the above Committee.
It was ordered, that the Augusta Sentinel, be
requested to publish the proceedings of this meet
ing.
O. F. PARISH, Chairman.
W. H. Pkitchahi), Scc’ry.
From the New Orleans Louisianian of the 2S//i ult.
Mexico.
By tiro schooner Byron, which sailed from
Matumorus the 20th instant, wo have received
intelligence up to that date, from the Mexican
republic. The Byron brings no papers; hut wc
have perused several commercial letters addressed
to merchants oflhis city.
The town ofMatamoras was tranquil when the
Byron sailed. The news of the capture of Tam
pico had been received there. It was reported the
forces under Bustumcnte and Arista, would repair
to Matumorus in order to tranquilize the province.
There was a rumour at MaUmoras that an en
gagement had taken place at Monterey between
Generals Canalize and Lemus, in which the for
mer was defeated.—This rumour was not belie
ved—hut it was supposed that General Lemus
had obtained possession of the town of Saltillo.
The U. S. sloop of war Vandaliu arrived oil
the bar of Rio del Norte, and cast anchor on the
lillli hist.
Little business was doing at Matamoras; there
was a great want of money, all the roads were in
terrupted, and traders were prevented from arri
ving from the interior.
We are indebted) for the following letter to the
keeper of the Merchant’s Exchange.
M s pam on *s, June 8, 1839.
Business is dull, and the federalists have put
a veto upon all goods that leave this place for the
interior by compelling them to pay heavy duty.
Money is in demand at 3 per cent per month.
Another fight at Sutillo. The federalists at
tacked that place with about 500 men, command
ed by General Lemus, and after an engagement
ot five hours succeeded in taking the town. The
commander of the government troops was shot
dead. The report goes that there was an Ame
rican with General Lomus, who had the credit ol
sending a Texas visiting card, which took him
under the eye.
It is also reported that General Canalizo hat
been defeated in an attempt to take Monterey
If the report should prove true. Matamoras wil
fall, and Bustamente will have to leave Tampico
It is his calculation to march into Texas nex
September, with 5000 men, and 2000 Indian:
are to join them. We have an old follow here
who has returned from paying the president i
visit (from Nacogdoches,) and is now goitq
back to keep note of the times. General b*anu
Ana will do every thing to put Bustamente ou
of tlie way ; consequently will push him oil't,
Texas, ns he knows there is but one chance it
a hundred of his ever returning.
Intkhnal Improvements in the West.—
There are constructing, in the five western statei
of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Michi
gan
Os Canals, about 1253 miles
“ Slaekwnler navigation... 7SO ~
“ Railroads 1 54 1) «
“ McAdam Roads 1400 «
Total, 4940 »
Making, in the general aggregate of work tt
e which the states are purlieu, about five thousand
; . miles of artificial communications.
Os laliorers directly employed on these works,
’’ there is supposed to he, at the lowest estimate
nolle** than twenty thousand, during the gteat
est portion of the year. II to these we add the
. numerous body of public officers, engineers, con-
I tractor, agents store-keepers, and the ordinary
proportion of families, we shall find a population
of not less than one hundred and fifty thousand,
who are dependent ufcjn the public works of the
r- western stales. The expenditures now actually
_ amount to between four and five millions of dol
lars, and the sum total of money solemnly pledg
’ ed by legislative enactments to the completion of
h these works, with what has already been expeml
v ed on them, is at least the enormous sum of forly
eight millions of dollars. To this sum we may
add, at least five millions pledged on the parts of
0 individuals, and large sums for the completion of
t the National Hoad. Oflhis aggregate about ten
B millions have already been expended, and it is
within hounds to say that an amount fully equal
’ to the sum total will he expended on these and
1 other similar undertakings within the next eight
years.
C'nnnl across the Isthmus.
j. House of Rephksentatives, March 2, 1839.
Mr. Mercer, from the Committee on Roads
1 and Canals, submitted the following report :
> The Committee on Roads and Canals, to whom
was referred the memorial of Aaron Clark, Mayor
of the city of New York, Herman Lc Roy, Wil
liam Radcliff, and other merchants and inhabi
tants of that city, and of Mathew Carey, of the
s city of Philadelphia, and other citizens thereof,
g praying the aid of the Government of the United
j. Stales in procuring the construction of a ship
channel, or navigable canal, across the Isthmus
• between North and South America, have had that
I subject under consideration, and report :
That the object of the memorialists has, from a
remote period, attracted the attention of the civil
' ized world.
It is impossible to survey the relative position
ol the old and new continents, and the impedi
ments thence resulting to the intercourse of the
various countries upon the shores of the Pacific
" and its numerous islands, with the commercial
f nations of Europe and the Slates bordering on
the Atlantic, without being struck by the number
( and magnitude of the interests, commercial, so
cial, and political, involved in the construction
t and untrammelled use of u ship-channel across
the narrow isthmus, stretching over seven dc
. gn es of latitude, from the Idolize, or Gulf of Hon
duras, to the mouth olThe river Chagres and the
hay of Panama.
1 The United States of America, especially,
whose territory extends from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, cannot hut regard with solicitude any en
terprise which, if practicable, will so greatly ap
proximate their eastern and western frontiers, by
substituting a voyage through the isthmus of Pa
nama for the necessity of doubling the southern
cape of cither continent. If science, Christianity,
and civilization be allowed to mingle their voices
in behalf of nn enterprise so beneficicnt; it is not
possible to contemplate on the surface of our globe
one which has greater claims to the favorable re
gard of the world. •
Accordingly, it xvill be seen that, in addition to
the suggestions ofnumcrous voyagistsand travel
lers, explorations and experimental surveys have
been made across the isthmus of Panama, with a
view to ascertain the practicability of effecting
such a communication. And amidst the bloody
commotions of a political revolution, unrivalled
for the extent of the dominion which it suddenly
subverted, and of the countries whose indepen
dence it established, legislation has not been wan
ting in its efforts to deduce from those experi
ments some practicable benefit to mankind.
The great extent of the territory comprehended
at present under the general denomination of the
isthmus of Panama has presented to the imagina
tion so many routes across it for canals, and,,of
late, for railroads, as to have hitherto prevented
1 that concentrated action essential to the accom
plishment of any one.
The States of Spanish America whose jurisdic
tion embraces that portion of the continent ex
hausted by their effort to overthrow their former
1 government, and still more by their intestine
commotions, could not be expected to undertake,
. without the assistance of foreign capital, a work
of such vast magnitude. They have, neverthe
less, demonstrated their sense of its importance to
their own prosperity; ns well as to that of the
commercial world; and, what redounds still more
to their honor, they have expressed their readi
ness to receive the aid of other nations towards
this enterprise, upon conditions which manifest
■ a disposition to waive, for the welfare of mankind,
every narrow and unsocial suggestion of local in
, terest.
I It is obvious that, if the'contemplalcd conimtt
ii mention from sea to sea by a ship-canal be practi
-0 cable, the nation which has the right to appropri
j ate its exclusive use to itself might lawfully con
trol the richest commerce of the world, or pre
c scribe to all other States the terms upon which
- they may be admitted to share its enjoyment.
e The policy is not less apparent which should
r prompt the United States to co-operate in thisen
. terprise, liberally and efficiently, before other dis
. positions maybe awakened in the particular State
n within whose territory it may lie seated; or other
.. nations shall seek, by negotiation, to engross a
.. commerce which is now, and should ever contin
s ue, open to all.
The public mind has so far settled the relative
ff cost and advantages of the rival communications
u by railroads and canals, regarded as mere chan
nels of trade, that there will exist no hesitation, it
■c is presumed, in preferring a water to a land tran
. sit across the isthmus,
i_ If other considerations did not prompt this de
cision, it should suffice for its confirmation, to
e contrast the continuous voyage of the same vessel
across the two oceans, divided by the isthmus,
with the transhipment of a heavy cargo between
,1 vessels of equal burden, and the intervening e\-
e pease of land transportation, double port duties
and commissions, added to the damage of shifting
and exposing very valuable commodities to waste
(. and depredation.
|. Most of the objections to the double voyage
it apply with nearly equal force to any canal com
et munication of a capacity unsuited to that of the
, t vessels now engaged in the India and China trade.
The reduction of the present circuitous route
>f around the Southern extremity of either conti
n nent, by a distance of from nine to twelve thou
sand miles, would admit, it is true, without ang
iS mettled cost, of the use in this trade of ships of
diminished burden. Rut it would be eminently
II beneficial to a commerce in which the returns of
a. profit must continue to be remote, that the vc«-
nt ai 'la engaged in it would retain their present tnn
is nage ; and lor such vessels a canal would be rc
e, quired exceeding in dimensions any now known
a to exist.
ig The Caledonia Canal of Scotland, one of the
Ut °nly ° canals in Great Britain constructed by
it her Government, and that of Holland, connecting
to Amsterdam with the German Ocean, at the Hel
n der, are capacious enough to admit the passage of
vessels drawing less than twenty feet water.
The former was effected by excavations 23 miles
in extent, and a lockage of 190 feet, connecting
_ a succession of fresh-water lakes, the beds and
>s outlets of which were deepened to correspond with
j. the intervening canals; the latter, of 50$ miles
in extent, with a single guard-lock at each en
s. trance, draws its supply of water from the ocean.
For Cana’s of such large dimensions, (and these
are not deep enough for a heavily-freighted India
man with a war complement of guns and men,)
an adequate supply of water, at a very high level
above the sea, will rarely be found anywhere.
;o The narrow breadth of the isthmus,'and conse
queutly, of the surface of laud drained by lU nv- |
cr.-j, added to the long-continued prevalence of
dry weather at certain season*, in nil tropical cli
mates, discourages the hope that sucli a supply i
can he obtained near the summits of it* mountain
ous and rugged surface. The expediency has in- •
deed been suggested, but on very incompetent j
data, to extend an open cut from sea to sea, of j
dimensions suited to the largest ships; and at- s
tempts have been made to trace on the maps a ,
route for this gigantic enterprise. As yet, none !
such has been discovered in the isthmus, and it [
is confidently believed that none will ever be found, j
An objection has been intimated to its use, it i
practicable, on account of the supposed difference j
in the natural elevation of the seas to be united I
by it. Captain Cook believed the surface of the j
Atlantic to be near twenty feet higher than that
of the Pacific; and the tides of this ocean arc
known greatly to exceed those of the Atlantic on
the opposite shores of the American isthmus;
hence has arisen the apprehension that the influx
of water from the higher to the lower surface,
through an open cut, would change the relative
elevation of those oceans so as to flood the shores
of one, and lay dry those of the other.
Illhcre be a real difference in the levels of those
seas, as there has been ascertained to be in their
periodical tides such apprehension must be allay
ed on considering the vast extent of the effect to
he produced, and the incompetency of the cause
assigned for it—the wide extent of cither ocean,
and the great length and comparatively narrow
dimensions of any open cut designed to connect
them for the purposes of navigation.
But it is hazarding nothing in the present state
of our knowledge of the isthmus, to affirm that
such an open cut, through any one of its narrow
est and lowest passes, would constitute a labor
surpassing very far in magnitude not only any
single one of the greatest wcgks of ancient or
modern times, but all of them collectively.
If abandoned in despair of its accomplishment,
then an adequate supply of water must be sought
at a higher elevation than the natural surface of
either of the oceans to be united.
Accordingly, the appendix discloses a scries of
levels, repeated at intervals not exceeding a hun
dred yards apart, between the southern shore of
Lake Nicaragua and the Pacific, comprising a dis
tance of very little more than seventeen English
miles.
From the tables which supply the details of
those levels, the author to whose work they are
annexed infers Ihe elevation of the surface of Lake
Nicaragua above the Pacific Ocean to be 133 feet
11 J inches ; and the greatest height of any part
of the intervening land, above the lake, to be hut
19 feet 1 inch.
In this assumption he mistakes the true import
of the tables, and substitutes the comparative
elevation of two contiguous stations, on the long
series oflevels. for the highest rise above the lake
The subjoined delineation of the cross section
of the country traversed in the survey to which
the tables refer, prepared in conformity with their
details by the Topographical bureau of the War
Department, at the request of the committee, pre
sents the outline of the surface along this selected
route for a canal.
For 9 miles and 700 yards (English) from the
Pacific, the earth is not found to rise above the
level of the lake ; the ascent is gradual through
out that distance, and as favorable for a canal as
could bo desired. The succeeding mile rises
above the lake, at one place, 40 feet, (Spanish)
but the average height does not, in this distance,
exceed 25 feet.
The difficulties attending the construction of
a continuous canal on this route are confined to
the seven or eight miles next to the lake, for
about six miles of which the earth rises to an
elevation above its surface exceeding GO feet; —
for two miles of the six, it averages 135 feet; and
for a third of a mile, 150 feet j but it never ex
ceeds that height.
If the level of the lake he assumed for the
summit of a canal, there must be added to the
elevation above, mentioned, an excavation of the
depth of the channel for navigation, which should
not be less than the draught of a large frigate, or
near twenty-six feet.
Various representations are furnished, by dif
ferent authors and travellers, of the navigation
of lake Nicaragua, and of its outlet to the At
lantic, the river San Juan. That to be found in
the appendix to this report is extracted from a
work which carries an official stamp upon its
face, and was, by permission, dedicated to the
monarch in whose service the author was em
ployed, shortly after the revolution which libe
rated the province of Guatemala from the do
minion of Spain.
Much remains to be discovered, provided the
surface of the country between lake Nicaragua,
or the more northern lake of Leon, as has been
suggested, and the shore of the Pacific, admits of
the extension of a ship-channel between them.
Before such an enterprise should be commenced,
it should be previously ascertained that an ade
quate supply of water can be furnished by the
lake at all seasons, or at least for the far greater
part of the year; that suitable harbors can be
provided at each extremity of the line of navi
gation ; and that it affords the best route for a
ship channel across the American isthmus.
Looking much further to the south, Navy
bay, on the Atlantic, in the vicinity, and hut a
few miles to the east of the mouth of the river
Chagrcs; the bays of Panama and Chorrera, on
the Pacific; that river itself, and its chief tribu
tary, the Trinidad, descending from the north,
have been proposed as the entrances and the
route of a ship channel between the oceans.
The mouth of the Chagres Is reputed too un
healthy for tha eastern deboucheof a line of con
tinuous navigation of such importance ; but
Navy bay affords a deep, secure, and salubrious
harbor, at all seasons ; and is approached so near
by the river, in its descent to the Atlantic, as to
present every requisite facility for its connexion
with the Chagrcs by a ship-canal not exceeding
two miles in length.
The river Chagres is obstructed in its ascent
by rapids, and decreases in its volume, till, at
Cruces, it ceases to be navigable. From thence,
a portage of about fifteen miles leads over an
intervening ridge, to the ancient town of Pana
ma. which gives its name to the entire isthmus.
Not far above its mouth, this river receives the
Trinidad, of which less is known—too little to
determine whether it be practicable to render its
valley and its sources subservient to the interest
ing purpose of this inquiry. But the bay of
Chorrera, on the Pacific, reputed to afford a bet
ter harbor than that of Panama, is represented as
approaching very near the head-waters of this
branch of the Chagres ; if, indeed, the Trinidad
be not entitled to be regarded as the principal
stream, and the Chagres as its tributary.
The present road from Cruces, over land, to
Panama, is mountainous for a distance of six
miles; and, as the cordillera of the Andes declines
in height as it runs northwardly through the isth
mus, until it subsides into the comparatively level
country near the lakes Nicaragua and Leon, the
country is, in all probability, more elevated here
than at the sources of the Trinidad.
The fact that the valley of the Chagres has
been contemplateikas the route of a railroad, de
signed to supersede a water communication be
tween the Atlantic and Pacific, and that a char
ter was obtained from the former Government of
Central America for the construction of such a
road, by an agent of the United States, deputed
by the President, in pursuance of a resolution of
the Senate, to explore the route of a ship-channel
through the isthmus, diminishes the hope that a
continuous water communication could be opened
on this route. The Trinidad, however, remains
to be explored ; and, rising where the isthmus
expands in breadth, the route for a ship-channel
between Chorrera and Navy bay cannot be pro
' . *
i nouuced impracticable without further esaimna
lion.
While a tropical climate, dividing jhe year into
j but two seasons, denominated wot and dry, expo
' scs any line of artificial navigation which may be
I conducted across the American isthmus to inler
| ruptions from drought, it is proper to notice that,
! during its periodical rains, more than twice the
' quantity of water descends upon the earth than
annually falls upon a 'ike extant of surface in any
■ part of Europe or of the United States. A cele
brated traveller, Baron Humboldt, represents the
j quantity of rain annually falling in America, as
far north as Ua Vera Cruz, to vary from 89 to
9G inches; while the highest estimated average
for the temperate climates of Europe or Ame
rica does not much exceed 20 inches, and that
of the year often falls short of that quantity.
The practicability of tilling, and retaining full 1
for a great part of the year, reservoirs of the lar
gest dimeasions, anywhere within the isthmus,
may be regarded as demonstrable; but as yet,
suflicient data are not supplied for the measure
ment of the loss of water to be sustained in the
dry season of a tropical climate from evapora
tion alone; and, although a redundancy of water
would be supplied in the wet season, the capa
city of the resevoir limits the measure of all that
could be preserved for the purposes of naviga
tion.
The House need not be informed that artificial
reservoirs of greater or less dimensions, collecting
the surplus water in wet seasons, to be used in
those of protracted drought, have been often suc
cessfully applied to the necessities of navigation ;
and experience has not only established their
utility, but prescribed the extent of the reliance
to be had upon them for adequate supplies of wa
ter in particular climates, and for canals of given
dimensions and use. The great canal of Lang
uedoc, regarded by the co-temporaries of Louis
XIV as one of the greatest achicacments of his
brilliant reign, several canals of Great Britain,
and those of recent construction in the States of 1
Ohio and Pennsylvania, afford illustrations of the
successful application of such reservoirs to the
supply of water for artificial navigation.
England and the United States, as well as
France, furnish examples of the supply of canals
with water by more costly agents, as well as of its
elevation to great heights above its natural level
for other purposes.
The water-works of Marie, designed to embel
lish with canals and fountains the grounds in
front of the royal palace of Versailles, employ the
current of the Seine to elevate its water to the
level of the aqueduct, which conveys it over a
distance of several miles.
Those of Philadelphia—the pride of that beau
tiful city—elevate the water of the Schuylkill,
by more simple and efficient machinery,to a con
siderable height, for a more useful purpose—to
supply two hundred thousand people with the
means of health and comfort. The Union canal
of Pennsylvania, which connects the navigation
of that river with the canal of the Susquehanna,
relied, for some years, and may still depend in
some measure, on a supply of its summit-level
upon a like resource, commanded at an enhanced
cost.
A mechanical agent has, of late years, been
developed in the application of steam as a pro
pelling power, to the improvement of which ex
perience teaches that no limitation can be pre
scribed; and it should not be deemed extravagant
if the anticipation be indulged of its future adap
tation, whero fuel is both inexhaustible and
cheap, to the elevation of an adequate quantity of
water for the supply of the summit-levels of the
largest canals.
The committee forbear further to enlarge on
the various routes by which it has been, at any
time, proposed to connect the waters of the At
lantic and Pacific oceans, through the narrow
isthmus which divides them. Os these, the cel
ebrated traveller whose name has been already
mentioned enumerates as many as seven.
An allusion to some of them, not hitherto no
ticed in this report, will be seen in the appen
dix.
The committee have dwelt more particularly
on the two routes of which they have treated in
detail, because the late agent of the United States
deputed to examine them was especially instruct
ed to inquire into their feasibility; and they have,
separately, occasioned the only acts of legislation
passed by the. Government immediately interested
in their improvement.
One of them, moreover, obtained the favorable
regard of a monarch whose subjects have ever
been sedulously watchful of every source of com
mercial aggrandizement, and who manifested his
zeal to promote their views by adventuring a
large capital, ns an individual subscriber, to the
private slock of an incorporated company.
The hostilities which suddenly brokeout a few
' years ago between the Netherlands and Belgium,
arrested the organization of this company, and
their chartcrhas since expired.
In conclusion, the committee are very far from
deciding that an enterprise of such incalculable
importance as a continuous navigation, by ves
sels of heavy tonnage, between the Atlantic and
Pacific, in the nearest direction from the ports of
the United Slates to the Indian ocean, should be
abandoned as impracticable, because a channel
for such navigation has not yet been definitively
traced across the isthmus between North and
South America, nor the cost of its construction
accurately determined.
Sensible not only of the benefit which would
, accrue to mankind, and to the United States es
> pccially, but also of the glory to be acquired by
promoting the accomplishment of a work so tru
ly beneficient, the committee recommend to the
. House of Representatives the adoption of a rcso
, lufion, which is very nearly a transsript from one
i passed several years ago by the other branch of
- the National Legislature, and, having received at
i that time a liberal construction from the Ex
i eeulive, led to the acquisition of some of the facts
comprised in this rcpoit.
The committee owe it to themselves to say
1 that, in the absence of information to enable
t them to form a conclusive opinion on the subject
, referred to them by the House, they have ap
i proached it with a distrust of their own judgment,
. but with a confident belief that, whatever may be
the issue of the inquiry which they propose to re
new, it can be successfully prosecuted only in
, the country upon the topography of which its so
lution depends.
Resolved, That the President of the United
f States be requested to consider the expediency of
. opening or continuing negotiations with the Go
i vernment of other nations, and particularly with
s those the territorial jurisdiction of which compre-
I hendsthe isthmus of Panama, and to which the U.
1 States have accredited ministers or agents, for the
purpose of ascertaining the practicability of effeet
> ing a communication between the Atlantic and
; Pacific oceans, by the construction of a ship-ca
i nal across the isthmus ; and of securing forever,
. by suitable treaty stipulations, the free and equal
I right of navigating such canal to all nations, on
i the payment of reasonable tolls.
i [This report, made at the close of the late ses
sion of Congress, was ordered to be printed for
i the information of members, but could not be ta
ken up at that session for want of time.]
A illagg Church. — Ihe following from
a late Knickerbocker, is Washington Irving’s
description of a village church. The picture is
true to'the life; “As the dominie generally preach
ed by the hour, a bucket of water was provi
dently placed on a bench near the door, in sum
mer, with a tin cup beside it, for the solace of
those who might be athirst, either from the heat
of the weather, or the drouth of the sermon. • »
Around the pulpit, and behind the communion
table, sat the elders of the church, reverend, grey
headed, leal' ern visaged men, whom I regarded
► Vv
with awe, as so many apostles. They -were
stern in their sanctity, kept a vigilant eye upon
my giggling companions and myself, and shook
a rebuking finger at any boyish device to relieve
the tediousness of compulsory devotion. Vain,
however, were all their efforts at vigilance.—
Scarcely had the preacher held forth for half an
hour, in one of his interminable sermons, than it
seemed as if the drowsy influence of Sleepy
Hollow breathed into the place ; one by one the
congregation sank into slumber; the sanctified
elders leaned back in their pews, spreading their
handkerchiefs over their faces, as if to keep otf
i the flies ; while the locusts in the neighboring
I trees would spin out their sultry summer notes,
vicing with the sleep-provoking tones of the
dominie.”
Gen. Washington's Teeth. — A few day*
since, a small engraved profile was shown us,
under which were these words “J. Greenwood,
Dentist to his Excellency, General Washington*’
This led to further inquiries, when we were in
formed, that General Washington, in the latter
part of his life, wore a complete set .of artificial
teeth, on both jaws, which were manufactured by
this Mr. Greenwood, who then resided in the city
of New York. Washington usually had two
sets on hand, in case those in use were broken.
A letter is extant, in which he requests Mr. Green
wood to forward a new set, that he might be pre
pared to speak before the ensuing Congress.—
The last tooth which was extracted from the
■General, being carefully preserved, came ultimate
ly into the possession of Mr. Greenwood, also an
eminent dentist of New York, who had it secured
very choicely in a gold seal, many years ago, and
which is still kept, and believed to be the only
organic relic, not entombed, of that great and
good man.
■ ,
MARRIED, \
/ In Louisville, on the 20th ult., by the Rev. Ed
ward White, Mr. William A. Hayles, to Miss /
* Amelia Sikes, all of Louisville, Ga. |j y
CTwsiguees per South Carolina Rail Road.
Hamburg, July 3, 1839.
Stovall. Simmons & Co.; E. Hall; Clam, McTeir
& Co.; G. T. Dortic; Wm. E. Jones; M. Griffith;
Reese & Beall; Haviland, Uisley & Co.; Sibley &
Crapon ; defiers & Uoulware : J. F. Benson ; Geo.
Parrott.
COMMERCIAL.
Latest dates from Liverpool, May 20
Latest dates from Havre May 15
AUGUSTA MARKET.
Cotton —The receipts of this article are becom
ing very light, end the sales quite small. Prices
have settled down to 11 cents for ordinary, 11 $ a
12$ for middling and middling fair, and 13$ a 14
cents for prime and choice.
Exchange.' —Checks on New York are 2 percent
premium for city money, and 3 per cent for current
Bank notes. On Charleston, 2 per cent is asked.—
j Country Bank notes are sold at a discount of 1 a 1$
' percent. Darien Bank hills arc 12$ al5 per cent
discount.
Freights continue at old rates. The River has
risen at least two feet.
MARINE INTELLIGENCE. ,
• —— j
Savannah, July 2.
Arrived yesterday. —British ship George Wilkin
son, Brown, Liverpool; Revenue Cutter Crawford,
Evans, Baltimore.
Charleston, July 3.
Cleared. —Ship Thomas Bennett, Hague, Liver
! pool.
THE MECHANICS
of Augusta, generally,
This at half
July 4 past nine o’clock,
LIST OF LETTERS
Remaining in the Post Office at Waynesboro Ga.
on the Ist July, 1839.
Bell Arthur Lowery Osborn iVI
Bell Dempsey Lumpkin Edmund W
Bell Mrs Amand F Lester E
Barden A G Lawson A J
Berrien Col Thos M McElmurry James 3
Ballard Reddick Morrison Miss Sarah
Bcrly Daniel McColgan Daniel
Baxton Hiram care of Henry Lewis
Bigham John McKinney Dr John
Beazelc Willis Murphree Alexander
Burch Littleherry 2 Mclntire Owen
Blount A W MaynorJessee
Blount 11J 2 Mathews T Dehon
Blount SW 3 McNotril Aenry
Blount T H 6 Nelson Richards
Corker Stephen Owen John
Caruthers James Pemberton \
Carsewcil J W Perry Joshua M
Cotes Joseph Parsons S A
Churchill Calvin B 2 Parsons J A
Cox Moses, guardian of Parsons Alexander
his orphans Parsons Dr Thos A 2
Clark Mrs Martha 2 Rayals James 11 V
Cook Mrs M Louisa Rutledge John
Carpenter Baily Rawlcs Hosey
Daniels Moses Sturges N L
Dun Thomas Smith Mrs Demarias
Evans Richard Smith Mrs Mary
F yyer F Smith John T
Gibson Shelby Slarnes capt E
Goodley representatives Thomas Gen Joseph D 2
of Mrs Drucilla Triggs Rev John J
Godbee James H Taylor Geo D, of
Hill Mrs Sarah A Kev Joshua Key
Hicks Miss Francis J Ward Mrs Nancy
Haies Mrs Martha Ward James
HillHughyG 2 Ward Charles A
ij • i Watkins Elisha
Heath Rigdon Whitfield Lewis
Hatcher Ed Willford Willis T
Hampton James Williams Dr Thos
Hughes W W Williams W
Johnson Wm Wimberly Edward
Jones Vincent Wimberly Frederick
Kent S A West William R
Khunze George W Williams Hezekiah
Lewis John Williams Aaron
July 4 wSt ROBERT if. GRAY. P. M.
‘ s '^'HOOX— A t the request of a number of
of friends Miss Duel will continue her School
through the summer. Shelias taken, in addition
to the room she now has, the one llately occupied
by Mr. 1 latt, and is to have them fitted up in such
a manner as will make them convenient and pleas
uni looms fora School.
F’orfuUhcr information she would refer to Mr.
nfhnr c,.h n ’ am W .‘, th re S aid to the improvement
Ik IIH ’ 5 th . ose P arc «‘s that have placed
their children under her charge. F
Tnt!? 1 * neXt (iuartcr wiil commence on the Bth of
- y - «t July 1
grower and
rAHMER S MANUAL —A monthly publication
designed to extend and encourage the growth of Silk
throughout the Dnited States. Edited by Ward*
Cheney and Brothers, Burlington, N. J.,and pub*
hshed in Philadelphia, at the low price of One
Dollar a year.
Subscriptions received at this office. ap
0 M BENEVOLENT SOCIETY^for thiJenefA
qf the Sick Poor of Augusta and its vicinity
as foUows n?C ° mmitteeS fortheensuin gmonth aie ‘
Division No. I.—Mr. A. McLane, Mr. C. Pike
Mrs. Smith, Miss Marshall. ’
Division No. 2—Dr. B. Harris, Mr Wm Tutt
Mrs. Trembly, Mrs. Cole. m ’ 1 Utt ’
Division No. 3.—Mr. J. Cashin Mr M Witcv
Mrs. Berryhill, Mrs. MeKinnie ’ ° X ’
Any member of the committees may obtain funds
by calling on the President, (W. W. Holt Eso 1 a
his office, Camming’* Piaza. ’
June 24 G. F. SPURGES, Secretary.