_ the sea beat with terrible fury.
the upright position, and Augerstofi‘ all the while
unc.(insClOllSl_\' strengthened this bellefby exclaim-
ing, ‘ She will capsize! shift the ballast 0l‘.W8
must go to the bottom l.’ In the midst of this 1
kept my station upon deck, intently watching the
boat, which was still s_evet'2il_miles distant. I wait.
ed in fearful expectation, tliinking that CV9“? m°:“’
wave against which we were impelled would biiist
upon our vessel and overwhelm us, while out‘ P_l1I‘-
suers were too far off to afford any assistance.
The idea of perishing when on the point of being
saved, was inexpressibly agonizing. '
As the day advanced, the hopes I had enter-
taintd of the boat making up with its gradually
diminished. The wind blew violently, and we
drifted along at a rapid rate, and the weather
grew so hazy that our pursuers soon became un-
distinguishable. Marietta and Angerstoff ap-
peared to be stupified with terror. '1 hey stood
motionless, holding firmly by the bulwarks of the
vessel; and though the waves frequently broke
overthe deck, and rushed down the gangway. they
did not offer to shut the companion doot', which
would have remained open. had I not closed it.—--
The tempest, ;.r,loom,‘and danger, that thickened
around us, neither elicited from them any ex-
pressions of mutual regard, nor seemed_to pro-
duce the sliglitest sympathetic emotion in tlictt‘
bosoms. They gazed sternly at each other and
at me, and every time the vessel rolled, clung
with convulsive eagerness to whatever lay with-
in their reach. '
About sunset our attention was attracted by a
dreadful roaring,which evidently did not proceed
from the waves around us; but the atmospliert:
being very hazy, we were unable to ascertain the
cause ofit, for a long time. At lengtli we dis-
tinguished a range of high cliffs, against which
' ' Vllhenever the
surge broke upon them, large jets of foam started
up to a great height, and flushed angrily over
their black and rugged surfaces, while ihe wind
moaned and whistled with fearful capriceamong
the projecting points of rock. A dense mist cov-
ered the upper part of the cliffs, and pi'eveiited
‘us from seeing. iftherc were any houses upon their
summits, though this point appeared of little im-
portance, for we drifted towards the shore so fast
that immediate death seemed inevitable.
We soon left our vessel bound twice against
the sand. and, in a‘ little time after, a heavy sea
carried her up the beach, where she remained‘
inibedded and hard a-ground. During the ebb of
the waves there was not more than two feet of
water round her bows. I immediately perceived
this, and watching a favorable opportunity, swung
myselfduwn to the beach, by means ofpart ofthe
cable that projected through the hawse-hole. I
began to run towards the cliffs, the moment my
feet touched the ground, and Angerstoff attempt-
ed to follow me that he might prevent my es-
cape ; but while in the act of desending from the
vessels the sea flowed in with such violence, that
he was 4.':l)llg€(l to spring on board again to save
h.-Imsetf‘ from being overwhelmed by its waters.
I hurried on and began to climb up the rocks,
winch were very steep and slippery ; but I soon
grew breathless from fatigue, and found it neces-
sary to stop. It was now almost dark,and when I
looked around, I neither saw any thing distinctly,
nor could I form the feast idea how far I had still
to ascend before I reached the top of the cliffs.-—
,I knew not which way to turn my steps, and re-
mained irresolutc. till the barking of a dog faintly
struck my ear, I jnyfuily followed the sound, and
after an hour of perilous exertion, discovered a
light at some distance, which I found to proceed
from the window of a small but. After I had
knocked repeateclljr‘, the door was opened by an
old man, with a lamp in his hand. He st:1t'ted
back on seeing me, for my dress was wet and dis-
ordered, my face and hands had been wounded
while scrambling among the rocks, and fatigue
and terror had given me a wan and agitated look.
I emered the house, the inmates of which were a
woman and a boy ; and having seated myself near
the fire, related to my host every thing that
had occurred on board the floating be acon,
and then requested him to accompany me down
to the becah, that we might search for An-
gerstoff and Marietta. ‘ N0, 00,’ CI‘l€d he-
‘ that is impossible. Hear how the storm rages!
Worlds would not induce me to have any commu-
nication with murderers. It would be impious
to attempt it on such a night as this. The Al-
mighty is surely punishing them now I Come
here and look out.’ I followed him to the door,
but the moment he opened it,the wind extinguish-
edlhe lamp. Total darkness prevailed without,
and achaos of rushing, bursting. and moaning
sounds swelled upon the ear with irregular loud-
ness. The blast swept round the but in violent
éddyings, and we felt the chilly spray of the sea
driving upon our faces at intervals. I shuddered.
and the old man closed the door, and then resu-
med his seat near the fire. ‘
. My entertainer made a bed for me upon the
floor ,‘ but the noise of the tempest, and the anxi-
ety Ifelt about the fate of Angerstoff and Mariet-
ta. kept‘ me awake the greater part of the night.
Soon after dawn my host accompanied me down
to the beach. VVe found the wrech ofthe float-
ing ‘beacon, but were unable to discover any tra-
ces of the guilty pair whom I had left on board
of it.
at:4:-t;~<;..;;.,;:=e>-4z:-:::x>a::-:2-:2-:: ‘-£Z‘=<IZ‘><>:1l:-¢I2*=$>:f><3=4t’3>=II>*}3":"l“
From Me .«’V'atz'o7zal Intcllzgcncsr.
./Igreai: Paintz’1zg.—Mr. Samuel F. B. Morseta
diflmguishetl artist, has in hand a Painting, the
subject of which is calculated to_give it great in-
terest, and the execution of which we presume
willclothe it with all the effect of which it is sus-
ceptib ‘e. The subject is an interior view of the
' _]'{epresentatives’ Chamber in the Capitol, at the
time of candle light, whilst the great chandelier,
suspended in the centre of the chamber, is light-
ing. The members are supposed to _be assem-
|,img for an evening sitting ; and the picture will
contain more than a hundred figures, all portraits
for sittings by the different persons-—among
whom, besides members of the House, will be
some of the members of the Superior Court, and
other distingiiislicd characters. VVe can hardly
conceive ofa subject more attractive.
M,-_ M...-se contemplates, we learp, two other
paintings. to make np,a series. . '1 he one, the
Senate Chamber, uith portraits of all the Sena-
(org ; the other, the President’s Drawing _Ro0mt
“-1.5, the portraitsof the President and family, the
‘He-ails of Depziitm.~.nt, rlistinguished Naval aficl
2«’f:li‘tary Officers, Foreign Ministers, Sac.
'.
'_] in-nuétxee
CONGRESS.‘
Extrartfrom the Re/tart ofthe Committee on Roads
and Canals, in the House :3] Rcfzresentati-ace, Jan.
2, attain/ianying the Billfzending in_ that House.
The Committee on Roads and Canals report:
That they have considered the general subject
submitted to their charge, and also the specific
objects of internal improvements, which have
been referred to them.
In relation to the subject, under its general
head, they believe it will not be controvertcd,' that,
after the formation ofa good government, it is the
next interest ofa nation to adopt such a system of
I|'ll6i'I]dl policy as will enable the people to enjoy,
as soon as practicable, all the natural advantages
belonging to the country in which they live. La-
bor is justly considered to be the wealth ofa na-
tion ; pioduction of every description, and all
things valuable, are produced by it; and the whole
operation ofa society of people, as regards their
political economy and social intercourse, consists
in obtaining what are usually called first materi-
als ; in the conversion and fashioning of these for
use ; and the transportation of the raw or manti-
facturcd articles to the places where they are fi-
nally wanted. The transportation necessarily
forms a heavy charge on the fund of labor, and, in
proportion to the reduction oflabor, in this res-
pect, will be the gain ofa nation, as the part saved
can be employed to advantage in other objects.
The great extension ofour territory, and its va-
rious latitudes, abounding in almost every spe-
cics of products, will always render theiiexpense
pf ll'allSpOl‘lall0l-1 an object of great and national
importance.
Although artificial works may not, for a while
afford a profit: to the undertakers, still they will
be beneficial to the comtnunity at large, not only
by the increased value they will give to produc.
tions at a distance from market, but, also, by an
increase in the quantity of productions, in conse.
quence of the additional excitement to enter-prize,
and the general diffusion ofindustry.
The utility of good roads and canals has been
tested by long experience in other countries. In
Cflltllila It IS saith that. by means of their water car-
riage. their home market is nearly equal to the
whole market in Europe. Satisfactory evidence
ofthe immense advantages to be derived from ca-
rials, is likewise furnished from almost every part
of Europe, and particularly in England, where
they have been _exteuded, within the last fifty
years, in every direction, supplying the demands
of one place by the resources of another,‘ and so
extensively spreading industry, as to enable them
to supply their own wants, and to furnish vast ex-
ports to exchange for the wealth of other coun-
tries. It must be a source of gratification to eve-
ry American, when he reflects that his own coun-
try. possesses advantages. in this respect, not in-
ferior to that of any other on the globe ; and that
there is none that presents higher inducements
for the legislative aid of its councils. or where
there is a greater certainty of being repaid for any
expenses which their patriotism may bestow.
From a well regulated system ofinternal com-
merce in the United States by the means of good
roads and canals, the happiest consequences may
be CXpt‘3ClC.(l IO flow. ‘enjoy. ajmost eve;-Y Va.
riety of climate, and possess populous ci/i.e_s and
condensed settlements, as well as vast tracts of
country thinly inhabited. A regular trade in the
exchange of manufactured articles for raw mate-
rials would take place, and the nation would re-
ceive, within itself, the whole benefit that is usu-
ally gaiued between old and new countries. It is
admitted, by the ablest writers on political econ-
omy, that the most important branch ofthe com-
merce of any nation is that which is carried on
between the inhabitants ofthe towns and those of
the country : customers become acquaintc,-(l with
each other, and less risk is generally incurred,
The committee will not undertake to make re-
of canals and internal iinprovments in ancient or
modern times, in foreign countries ; but the task
many of the states. The works that have already
rience has been derived, as to skill and economy,
that will be very useful hereafter. Their‘ influ-
ence should operate as a pt-isuasive indticement
to the general government, to begin her own great
work for her own benefit.
In Massachusetts, at magnificent work or dam, a
mile and three quarters in length, has been con-
structed, to connect the town of Boston with the
main land, at an expense of about six hundred
thousand dollars. An allusion need only be made
to the patriotic and laudable efforts of the state _of
New York, as to grandeur in the designs, and the
execution of so great a part of their immense un-
dertakings; Pennsylvania has made great advan-
cesin the construction of permanent bridges over
her large rivers and in the making.-of artificial
roads ; and is’now'engaged in the grand object of
connecting the Susquchannah with the Schuyl-
kill, by the Union Canal. Maryland has "made
expensive roads, in many directions,‘ for the ac-
commodation of her citizens, and to bring trade
to her capital. Virginia, in l8l6, erected a law,
creating a board of public -works, with power to
appoint engineers and surveyors, and, also, crea-
dering navigable. and uniting by canals the prin-
cipal rivers, and more intimately connecting, by
means of public highways the different parts of
the commonwealth. North Carolina has made
many and expensive improvements in roads and
canals.—-—ln the state of Georgia. it appears, from
official documents, that one hundred and eighty
nine thousand dollars have lately been expended
in public improvements, besides one hundred
thousand dollars for free schools. In the state of
Tennessee, the legislature has unanimously ap-
propriated five hundred thousand dollars for the
purpose of improvingthe navigation of" the rivers
in the state.
Public examples need not, at present, be fur-
- ther traced.
The national objects, which in the opiiiiiin of
the committee, claim the first attention of gov-
ernment, are, '
1. The great line of canals, from the harbor of
Boston to the south, along the Atlaiitic sea coast.
ting a fund, to be applied exclusively to the ren- ,
male to connect thewaters of the Ohio, a-
bore, with those below, the falls, at Louisville ;
Lake Erie with the Ohio river; and the tide wa-
ters of the Potomac with the same stream at
Cumberland.
4. Communications between the Susquehan-
snah and the rivers Seneca and Genesec, which
empty into Lake Ontario.‘
5. Communications beiweenthe Tennessee and
Savannah, and between the Tennessee, Alabama,
and Tombeckhee rivers.
For the more particular information, relating to
these objects, and for their magnitude, and the
many and high advantages which they would pro-
duce to the Union. either in times of war or peace,
the House are referred to the report of the
Secretary of the Treasury, and to the very inter.
esting and convincing report of the Secretary of
War, dated January 7th, 1819, which reports the
committee beg may be annexed to their present
report. As to some ofthe objects mentioned, or
parts of them, it will be important, previous to
the commencement of any general system. to
form the basis of it upon the best information that
can be obtained by scientific men; the committee,
tharefore, beg leave to report a bill, entitled ‘An
act to procure the necessary surveys, plans, and
estimates, on the subject of roads and canals.’
The committee will make separate reports on
the subject of the Cfiesapeake and Delaware canal,
and the other objects referred to them.
‘HousE_oi= REP'.RESl~JN'l‘ATIVES, Jan. 18.
Amongiother petitions presented this morning
Wr. (jambreleng presented one from sundry in-
habitants of the city of New-Yurk, against the
passage ofthe bankrupt law. And a similar pe-
tition was presented by Mr. Dickcnson from in-
habitants of Troy.
Mr. Floyd, from the committee appointed on
the subject, reported a bill to authorize the occu.
patioii of Columbia River: this bill was twice
read and committed.
The committee on the judiciary were instruct-
ed toinquire. whether any measures are necessa-
ry to secure the government from imposition by
the exhibition offraudulent claims.
Mr. Cockc was dissatisfied with the recent
communication of the Secretary at VVar. The
resolution had called for full and detailed inform-
ation on the subject. and the Second Auditor had
taken itupoii himself to decide what part of the
information it wss proper to communicate, and
what it was proper to withhold. Mr. C. was dis-
posed tojudgc for himselfun that point, and wish-
ed for some criterion, by which to jusiify himself
to his constituents and to his own conscience, for
the votes which he was called upon to give on
this subject. He submitted the following resolu-
tion, which was adopted.
Resolved, That the Secretary of War he di-
rectcd to lay before this House a copy ofthe ac-
count ciiI"l'tllt of the governor of the Michigan
territory, which shall exhibit a perfect view of his
supcrintendaucy of Indian affairs for the year
I820. and, as far as in his power, the accoum of
said superintendency for the year l82l, specify-
ing the particular items of expenditure. and to
whom paid; and also a Si"lIl.7¢I' account for said
years of the superintendancy of the government
of the late territory of Missouri.
On motion of Mt‘. Toinlinson, the committee
of ways and means were instructed to inquire in-
to the expediency of appropriating ihesum of
$500, to carry into effect a resolution of Congress.
of .lune I777. providing for the erection ofa mon-
ument to the memory ofGen. VVooster, who fell
bravely repelling an inroad of British forces at
Danbury, in Connecticut.
J.nz. 2l.—-i‘vlr. Movgan presented a memorial
from sundry inhabitants of the city and state of N.
York, praying for additional encouragement by
the government in aid of domestic niaizulactures,
by increasing the tariff and imposing further res-
searcfies into the history ofthe rise and progress ll'1ll“l5 0" ‘-titlt‘-* 31 3UCll0h, which received its ap-
propriatereference, and was ordered to be printed.
Mr. (Iambrclcng presented a memorial from
is an agreeable one, to pursue, even partially, the sundry citizens of New-York, remonstrating a-
public spirit that has prevailed on this subject. in gainst the passage of-a bankrupt law.
Mr. Cushman presented a memorial from sun-
been constructed are so many evidences ofthe 0- dry "€"°lUll"""”'Y 5°ldlel'5 l'“5ifll"g l“ the Dlslllcl
pinion of the people in favor of their utility be- Of Mdlllfi Emil €lSVWll9"€g Pl‘3)’"lg for Such an al-
yontl their expense, and from them much expe. teration of the «law relating to revolutionary pen.
sions as may extend the benefits intendec-l to be
produced by that law, which was referred.
BANKRUPT BiLL.—-On motion of Mr.Set'gcant,
the House then resolved itself into a committee
of the whole on the hill to establish an uniform
system ofbankrupicy, Mr. Taylor in the chair.
The first section of the bill being under consid-
eration—
Mr. Sergeant addressed the chair. The s_ub-
ject of this bill, he said, had received an unusual
share of the attention, not only of the public, but
of the members of the House. Its principles were
so important, and so deeply interested to the com-
mercial world, that it was hardly surprising that
it should have become an object of national con-
cern. It was not a matter ofidle spectilatioii. It
was‘ looked to. on one, side, and on the other, with
anxious‘ solicittide by "all ; and whilst sonie were
a‘pp‘réhcrisive'of‘ its consequence, others regarded
it as a most necessary and salutary measure. The
bill before" the House, Mr- S. remarked, was
meant as a matter of experiment; its duration
wasilimited to the period of three years. It
would then cease its operation unless all branches
of the government should concur in re enacting
it. But withholding its sanction, either of the
co-ordinate branches would then have the power
of a vii tual repeal of it. if, in their opinion, expe-
rience had given judgment against it. Such an_
experiment seemed to him to be due to the con-
stitotioii of the U. States, which gives expressly
the power of making such law. Not indeed that
stich enaction is imperative upon the Congress.
but under such a state of things as now exists—
and a strongerouc in relation to the constitution-
al provisiou, could not have been contemplated
by the framers ofthat instrument-—it did seem to
be a duty imposed upon Congress to try its ef-
fects under sanction of the Constitution. He
could say, and safely say.th.tt a large body of un-
fortunate. men, in whose favor the bankrupt law
was expected to operate. existed in the commu-
nity, whose case called loudly upon this House to
exercise the power given by the Constitution.——
In relation to the subject before the House there
were ‘perhaps three classes of opinion among
2. A road from the city of Washington to that
l of New-Orleans.
thoscby whom the decision was to be made ; lst,
those iv ho were in favor ofthe law; 2nd, those
who were against it; and 3d. those who, coming
froth districts not immediately and essentially at‘.
fected by its provisions, are in a measure indiffer.
ent to its adoption. and uncommitted by the fre.
quent arguments that have been raised upon it.-—.,
To the latter class he would more particularly zip.
peal-—and he would seriously ask, whether such
an experiment was not due to humanity and poli-
cy ? Was it not due to the unexampled numbers
and sufferings of this description of men? ’l‘lic.-c
were more insolvent debtors in this country, at
this time, he said, than at any former period...
and a greater proportion too, of such debtors who
were so innocently by the iinforescen dig-agje,-3 of
the times. . Bya rapid transition, we had passed
from a period of unexampltd prosperity. to 3 (iif.
fercnt state. The best men in society are amo,-,3.
those who have been bnwerl down by deb, and
cut off from hope or relief by the laws ;. mld so
universal has been the sweep of mislbi-tun,-, (ha,
there must be {div indeed, even in this Home
who have not seen and dcploied it_ To mi;
Congress then their make their appeal. Here is
the Cons: itutional depository of l he power
deem them; and they come stien_r;i|,e,,c
the arguments that they can look rib where el-e
for relief. The states, who know their clisasteis
and witness their sufferings, have no; u,
to relieve the unfortunate debtors.
attempted it, but - in- ‘vain. Next-.Ym-k, Rjj0(!e
l:-land, and l.ouisiana, cum-incerl of the necesejt
and policy or the |l1CLl5IllC,l;ave g,,U_.esS“_el);‘. cl:
nacted such laws; but they have been declared
unconstitutional. and thclast hope of the unfortu-
nate debtor is snspended upon ilie bill on the fa-
ble. This bill, however, does not confi
eration to the l‘t'llLl of the poor debtor
also provides for the security of the cr
With respect to the debtors, the bill coiitempla.
ted but one description of them, viz ; mcrchams
S_liould the bill, if passed-into law, be found bene-
ficial in its operation, its provisions mightbe ex.
tended as the wisdom and discretion of the legis-
lature might direct. \Vith respect to cpedj,o,.S,
all were enibraced. Under the present system,
or rather want of system, in commercial affairs
the insolvent has the entire power to control in;
direction of whatever funds be may allot to the
payment of his debts. He is, in fact, l!][rus[gd
with the sole disposal of his property, and may
give it such direction as caprice or consci.¢,,c,_.,
hate or affection, policy'or principle, may pre-
scribe. lhe first qiiestion, therefore, to be de-
lt-‘-l'm1"“l: “'35; Whether it was expedient to take
the estate out ofthe hands of the insolvent, and
to place it in the hands of others, for the bgncfit
of his creditors, to whom it of right belonged, or
to leave it in‘his hands, subject to his exizlusivc
control and direction? Our govgrnmcnt was e~S_
tablished, not to aggandize the lurdling-,and spread
its story l>rtt'vmi>1in:; in the dust the child of
misfortune; but for the nobler purpose of giving
equal security to the peasant who sleeps on. straw
and to the wealthy satrap who reposes on down.
Shall the creditor incarcerate his debtor at plgas.
ure——shall the doniiuion of dollars and cents,
give him the power to say that there he shall live,
that there he shall die, and that there he shall be
buried .7 In that gloomy abode, he hangs no long.
er on the skirts of mercy. Hope is boovndedfby
payment. and the limit of grace, is the balance‘o'f
‘the ledger. It is indeed easy to say to the datum.-,
why did you ask for credit ? And to the'creditor,
why ditlyou give it? But it \\ as not éqUtil|y.eaSY
to practice on the inquiry. Commerce is carried
on upon the principle of credit. It is m,il’(,,-m 3;
universal throughout the world. The bill under
consideraiion, had a strong bearing upon otir pub-
lic morals, and national rep-.;tation. Etc:-y civ.
ilized commercial nation within his knowledge,
had made provision of this sort. I‘. had been
done, peculiarly for the security ofthe creditor-—
and it was ma ter ofsyv trial ol)sei~t-ance, mat at
this moment, an absent merchant in the United
States is in a worse sitmttion, both debtor and
creditor, than he would be in England, Scotland,
Ireland, Holland, France, or Spain. It was also
worthy of remark, that no nation that has been
known ever once t5 adopt abankrupt systcm,po5-
sessed ofthese cardinal qualities, has ever abau.
cloned it afterwards. There is also s rem-at kable
coincidence in these laws of the several nations.
They come to the same result. The banlzrupt-.
law of Spain was enacted in 1757; Iftwothirds
of the creditors in number,and one halfiu amount,
or halfin number, and two thirds in amount, a-
gree upon any principle of exoneration with {ha
debtor, the rest ofthe creditors are bound by the
compromise. So it is also in Holland; their law
permits the major part ofthe creditors in number
and in value, in like manner to enter into a com-
promise that shall bind the minority. The bank.
rupt law of England, Mr. S. observed, was well
known to all——It required neither comment not-
illustration. Having been enacted so early as
the year 154-2, in the earliest days ofcommerce
in that country, when the principles of govern-
ment and trade were little understood, it was not
surprising. though it was unfortunate, that princi-
ples and imperfections were infused in its early
progress, that have grown with its gt-nwgh, and
materially injured its subsequent usefulness.--
Whatever it was, it was known to all; and the
operation ofthe bankrupt system in that counuy
required neither argument nor illustration. Ire-
land had no bankrupt law until 1779. They had
been acquainted with the English bankrupt law
for three centuries--and about 50 years ago, they
enacted a system of their own, which" continues
to the present. Scotland had only 3 partial bunk;
rupt law, till the year 1793. it uas continued
until 1814, when its pi'ovisi<,-ns were improved and
extended, andis now the law of Scotland. I
Mr. S. was proceeding in his remarks, when
the debate was interrupted by a message from‘
the Senate, after the delivery of which (the usual
hour of adjournment having arrived) on motion,
the committee rose, reported progress, and ob-.
tained leave to sit again.
Jan. 22,-A bill was twice read, to remit the
duties on a sword imported, to be presented to
Com. Macdonougli.
Mr. Sergeant, from the committee on the 13,
diciary, reported a bill for ihc_establi.-.limeiit ofia
Territorial Government in Florida; which was
twice read and committed.
'l‘he House having resolved itselfinto a com-
mittee ofthe whole, Mr. Sergeant rose and con-
cluded his remarks of _vestci'r.:iy, on the Bankrupt
Bill. Mr. Stevenson then submitted. a motion to
n
strike out the l1‘.'Sl. section of the bill--He propo-
l
to re-
d with
8 power
They have
He‘ its op.
only—.. It
editor.‘
Norwalk Chronicler