'cs: they are distinguished front eacliotheri
after being lanced; sometimes she will sound
‘' ,’ ,. . _
$‘.:...5._, ..,.-_\..l._._ 4 _J.V.,.,._ . , ‘_:_u:.A_‘ .:n.-- _.t', _:. .- _,
From the Mzttifzzclsef Inquirtr. ,
Taking of Wr'tafes.—0f Whales there are
five species ; the spermaceti wltale,tltetnitnp
hacks, fin backs, right whales, and grap,ipus-
at great distances, by their spouts, ‘and by the
time oftheir remainitig above water._ The
spertnaceti w ale tiiakcs a low‘, wltit.e‘,,and
-bushy spout, and .will: co,nttntte._bl9“{l_D'g for
upwards of halfan hour: it is a very ngly fish,
has a large squa'r'e lfead, as hard, almost as 1-
ron, with along lu_m_p on the tpp ofthe back,
"and glides through the _wa't,er._w't‘th incredible
speed for such an llq\V_lE‘.l(,ly.‘fi.b)ll. Thehump-
back whale nuilt-es it sinalland low spout, and
"disappears in a few tninnt‘cs. Its head is sharp
and it also has .-. ‘sI'nal'l hump upon the back.
The ‘fiti-back whale, so called from having a
sliitirlp fin upon the back, makes a very high
spout indeed; and seldom blows more than
five or six times. It has a sharp ltead like
the hump-back. Theright whale has neither
hump or flu upon_ the back, and ntakes a fork-
ed spout. Grarnpnses are seldom taken by
whale ships. Sperntaceti whales are by far
the ‘mostvaluable.
A ‘whale ship is furnished with proper ap-
paratus for trying out the oil, and for heaving
in the whale blubb'er:_ it is surprising with what
facility the blubber ‘ofa large whale is ‘taltcn
‘gm board, Two men are ‘constantly fk_epta-
loft, agtlre top-gallant heads, from s't'rn-'~r_ise till
s"un-set, to look out fo‘rwhz’tles, and the 'm'stant
they are discovered, they halloo with all their
might, ‘ T/t'er'e ‘she‘bfo’:rs.” a most joyful sound
to all hands. The captain now goes aloft;
and ifthe whales are to windward, he orders
the ship to be'beat up to them, or ifto le'eward
to be kept off. After running as n'ear them
with the ship, as'prudent, the boats are lower.
ed down. The larboarcl boat is headed by the
chief mate, the waste boat by the 9d ‘rtiate.
and the starboard boat by the 3d mate, iftlie
capt. does not go himself. These whale boats
like those used for smuggling, at Deal, are
sharp at each end, and in lieu ofa rudder are
_steered by along car. In the centre ofthe
boat, well coiled in a tub, and Sottfathotns in
ieiigtlt, is the line; one end of which IS made
’f.tIqt to the harpoon. Five men_row the boat,
and the man at the forward 03? 15 the h?|TP00‘
ner; who strikes the whale: These b03lS 21"?
furnished with five harpoons, three .lflnCB5,and
a sharp spade. The boat having rowed up to
the whale, the harpooner stands up_and (i'r{.l'l5
both ltarpoonsunder her hump, if possible;
as there the icons will hold the best, and the
men ‘ stern all,5 with all their might, to get the
boat clear ofthe whale. Sometitucs the whale
is killed outright with the iron; at other times
the whale without fighting will very soon die,
or descend to great depths under water, at
which time the line flies out ofthe boat with
the rapidity oflightning, the friction frequent-
ly setting on fire the loggerhead, a wooden
block around which the line turns. Other
whales, ‘when struck, will take to running, and
always to windward ; and as the line is held
on in the boat, they skim through the water
with amazing velocity; others will fight to
that degree, that the boat cannot get up to
them. To stop a whale’s running, the sharp
‘spade is darted through her flakes, and this
seldom fails to bring her to; ifshe goes down
the instant she seeks the t_ipp_cr,air, the boat is
briskly hauled up to her, and the person who
heads the boat,standin‘g in the head, attempts
with his lance to prick her over or under the
shoulder blade; if he s'ucceeds“,‘shegquickly
dies; as it is here that her life lies. A Just pre-
vious to her death, she goes ir'uo her flurry:
she will now run round and round, fight with
her flakes and head, till when, with loss of
blood, and quite exhausted, site ftirns ‘upon
her side, her head always towards the sun,
dead; and she is then towed along side the
ship. Sperm whales, when dead, seldom sink;
other whales very frequently; the former are
found of all sizes, and will make from 1 to
120 barrels of oil.
, From the Providence Journal.
Steam; Bc.‘ats.i-—Mncb anxiety seems to pre-
vail in other states, with respect to the course
which will be‘ followed by our legislature on
the Steam Boat question. Fears are enter-
tained that either the prohibitory bill, intro-
duced into the House of Representatives, or
the bill for taxing passengers, passed through
the Senate and postponed in the House, will
become a law atthe next session. We have
no fears ‘ofthis kind.
Without saying any thing ofthe motives of
those by whom these bills were introduced,it
will only be necessary for the legislature to
examine the subject with candor and liberal-
ity, to perceive the unconstitutionality and in-
expediency of both the proposed measures.—
They contetnplate the exercise by a localleg-
islature to suit the views‘ of-.1 small section on-
ly ofits own territory, of powers which the
people ofthis state, in common‘ with their fel-
low freemen of other states, have expressly
‘granted to Congress, for general purposes.--
They threaten to exclude from a common
highway ofall states, which ‘the laws of na-
ture and of nations have secured to all, either
a parliculttr kind of navigation, or the indi-
viduals ofthis and other states who may choose
to navigate that highway in a particular man-
ner--or what amounts, in principle, to the
same, they threaten to impose on such indi-
viduals a tax, which shall operate as a pertai-
ty for such their choice or preference. We
say the.s'ame in principle, because if fifty cents
may be legally demanded, so may fifty dollars
which would certainly operate an exclusion.
The adoption of either measure would be
impolitic-—because passengers will prefer the
cheapest and most pleasant and expeditious
modes of travelling-—because they will land.
in some other state which does not exclude
them, if they cannot land in Rliotle Island—-
and because the state of Massaclittsetts will
not be so blind to her own interest, as to ex-
clude them. it will be inefficient, because if
they. cannot land in this state, there are points
enough in the State of Massaclitisetts in our
bay, at wlxicli they may land, so as entirely to
defeat the object ofthe law. Passengers for
Boston-may land at Fall River, or Somerset;
and passengers for Providence may ,land in
Rehoboth, within three quarters of a mile of
the Providence Hotels.
For the above reasons, and others which
migltt be stated, we feel assured‘ that neither
of the proposed laws will be adopted.
, New-Yonx, May 21.
T7te.N'aval./lcliorr, of Porto Ctzucllo.-—'Front
a perfectly authentic source“ we l'earn’ th‘at the
sea. It excited even the admiration of the
Spaniards themselves so far that the Com-
n'it'mdant of Puerto Cabello wrote a compli-
metttary letter _'to General_Softblette, the In-
tendant of Cairaccas-,‘extolli1ng th‘e gallant con-
duct of Com. D. and pro‘t'nisin_g 'to treat him
with every respect. His ‘wntittds are not dan-
gerous,and there :‘treev‘en 'lett'_e‘r's arrived from
him to his family. ‘When he 'recognized the
Spanish squadron to be en'em‘i’e‘s', he bore
down and boarded the frigate in _'d superior
style, and the damage the Spanish vessel sus-
tained is so great, that it is doubtful whether
they will ever be able to quit Pue'rt'o Cabello ;
they we're so disabled that -the Bolivar, which
came up "attlte close of ‘the a‘ct'i('m, far from
sheering eff, chased ‘the, Spanish corvette,
which ran into Pnerto Cabello with difliculty.
The brig -M‘t‘t_sr'ptito, wltich was on shore and
whi‘ch Corn. D. was occupied in getting otfut
the time tlte'S'panislt squadron came up, was
not capt'ure_d‘, but ‘run into Curacoa for repairs.
The Bolivar is ‘yet ‘cr‘t'tit?.ing off Porto Cavello,
and the Musquito would soon join her. This
is the state of things: and as the corvette Ma-
ria Francisca Mi‘: ":1 prize, the only loss of the
Colombians, is ‘the ‘r.‘orve.tte Carabobo. Con-
sidering the disabled ‘state ofthe Spanish ves-
sels and their prizes, it may well be remark-
ed in the words ‘of Sir Thamas Cochrane,
contrnander ofthe Briti-sh squadron in the An-
tilles, such a loss to the Colombians, is tanta-
ntour‘tt to a victory.
The frigate cotttt'acterl for in England will,
notwithstanding the difficulties ofthe loan of
Mr.'Zea, but which we understand are already
preliminary settled among the principal par-
ties, come out without delay; to this the con-
tractors have pledged themselves. And when
we recollect that the Spanish vessels will be
dogged by superior French naval force in
those seas, it is to be confidently presumed
that the Spanish Commodore Laborde’s lau-
rels will soon fade, and that Spain will gain
nothing by this expedition, but an additional
expense to the t'reasury.—.lIerc. ./Itlv.
Rro JANt:fu‘to.——By an arrival at Baltimore,
advices from Rio Janeiro are received to the
10th of March, 16 days later than before.
The Cortes of Brazil had not assettibled as
was expected, two members being wartte to
make a quorum. Affairs we're going on qui-
etly at Rio, though it was said there was se-
cret discontent in the public mind. The lib-
erty ofthe press had been abridged, and utany
crying abuses were left unredrcssed and spo-
ken of only in low murmurs, some persons
having been arrested for too tnuch freedom of
speech. The government had refused to hon-
or Gen. Le Cor’s bills from Monte Video un-
der frivolous and disltonorable pretexts, of
which a very large amount was lying under
protest. He had set himself down to besiege
Monte Video with 9,500 troops and it was be-
lieved the Europeans would finally embark.
Extract of a lcllcrfrom. an ofiicer of Com. Por-
ter’s squadron, dated ./Illentan, May 1 I.
lVe havejust returned from a most fatigue-
ing cruize, but I have not time to enter into
all the details. It hasresnlted in the capture
oftlte piratical schooner Pilot and a felacca
by the schooners anti barges under Captain
Cassin——the burning ofthree piratical schrs.
(in consequence of our approach) by the pi-
rates—-the burning by our boats ofone vessel,
on the stocks, and about a dozen ofhouscs in
different piratical establishments under the
Colorado Reef, and the complete breaking up
and dispersion of all the piratical gangs on
this side ofthe Island. It is not believed that
a single pirate is to be found afloat between
Point Yeacos and Cape Antonio,* but the in-
terior of the Island is much infested by them.
Large bands of them were roving about the
country near Matanzas when we were last
there, plundering plantations and murdering
the inhabitants. A considerable body of Ca-
valry was sent out after them and brought in
five prisoners. The militia were also under
arms and scouring the country.
The pirates are well manned and well arm-
ed, and I think it likely they will give the in-
habitants of the Island tnnch trouble: but as
the evil is now brought hotne to them, I think
the authorities will feel it incumbent on them
to use every means in their power for their
suppression.
' P. S. You will frequently hear of vessels of
a piratical character and appearance chasing
vessels on this side the Island. Do not believe
it——our schooners often chase vessels, but
there are no pirates here, and but few ofthe
accounts you have heard are to be credited.
One storywill assume a dozen different shapes
before it is new vamped to answer another
turn to the printers. Every idle rumour that
is heard in Havana or Matanzas is seized on
by our merchant captains, taken to the prin-
ters, and from as many different months as
they get them, so many different stories they
give to the public, all of which, nine times
out of ten, are false in every particular. That
piracy has flourished here there is no doubt,
but that it exists at present is without founda-
tion.--Balt. ./ilmerican.
*PHlACY.——IlrIt‘.Al)net' Toppan,late mate of
the brig Reuben 8; Eliza, Charles Harris,mas-
ter,-of thislport,has arrived in town,fro.-n whom
we learn the following particulars ofthe cap-
ture of that vessel by the Pirates, on her pas-
sage from Cadiz for Havana. On the 5th of
May, inst. offthe Isle of Pines, Cuba, at ten,
A. M. the Reuben Sr. Eliza was hailed by a
piratical s‘chr. of about 60 tons, with 20 to 30
men, anti ordered to send her boat with the
captain and papers on board itnmediately, or
they would sink her. Captain Harris accor-
dingly got out of the boat and went on board
the schooner, with two men, where they were
detained. The pirates" then boarded the brig,
took out all the light artic.’:“s they could lay
their hands on, put a prize master on board
and ordered her to follow the scltr. _Two or
three vessels appearing in sight at that time,
a schooner stood for them,'with alight windi-
At. midnight, our informant, with four of the
crew of the Reuben &t. Eliza, contrived to ef-
fect their escape in the boat, taking with them
a few bottles of water and a little bread.-—
They were induced to do this from overhear-
ing the pirates expressa deter‘-m'ination' to mur-
der them‘ all. Next morning at day light,
they reached the shore, front‘ whence they saw
the brig and s‘chr.' near fogetlter, and a‘ boat
passing b‘etwe‘e‘n them. The last they saw of
the brig. they we're taking -her. round a‘ p‘oint
of land for a ltarbor, where they would p‘rob-
ably land‘ every a‘r‘tic‘le they -zuultl, and destroy
battle fought by Gom.—D‘an'iels, was, on his
,the veSsel.'—‘,'lIerc. fldv‘.
- (2 ‘~ . ‘- 1 - - . . " ‘
side, as gallant an action as ever took place at
Ni-fir-Trina, May 30.
FROM Bottom-:.——We are favored with the
Dublin Evening Mail of the 25th ult. brought
by the Robert Burns, which contains London
new f the 23d, and Paris advices ofthe Qlst.
April 20, announces as follows.
' The Maj. General to the'_Minister of 'War.
‘ We found 31 pi'e'ees_of cannon at Pancor-
bo, with b'ouibs and shot. The head quarters
is at Vittoria, where his Royal Highness the
duke d’An_gouleme,was rec’d with enthusiasm.’
A b‘ull‘eti‘r‘t ‘was issfted front Carlton palace,
on the 923d ult. announcing that the king was
visited the in ht ‘p'i’evi’<"3tts with an attack of
the gout, and unable t‘o see company.
In tlfc Housie r'9'fC,jommons on the 22d, Mr.
Canning ntovéd an Address, which was carri-
ed, for additi'o'n‘al papers respecting the For-
eign Negociations. Mr. Warre asked wheth-
er the five allied Powers agreed to a treaty at
Verona, for ‘assisting France in the attack on
Spain. Mr. C. had never heard of such an
undertaking, and did not believe that any such
instrunt'eu‘t.w‘as signed at Verona..——-—ln the
House of Lords, a motion for copies ofthe
comn‘utui‘c‘a'ti'ons with Portugal, was resisted
by I:i0t'd Liverpool, who declined to produce
the papers at present. He said, if Portugal
was at’ta'cked without provocation, England
was b‘ound to interpose—-but if it were with
provocation, Great Britain was not bound to
iuterfer,e.—-—-’I‘he Minister being further in-
terrogated as to the truth ofthe French gov-
ernment having snpplied the insurgents 'of
Spain with money, said that the British min-
ister at Madrid, had received such informa-
tion as amounted to a belief of tliefalct; but
_there was no actual proof.—-—*-Lord Liverpool
promised to Jay before the House the docu-
uments in regard to the negociations at Vero-
in on the subject of the Slave tirade.-——He
also stated that the negociations for a cornpo-
sition with respect to the Austrian Loan,,were
likely to terminate satisfittttorily; Lord Hol-
land_ remarked that he had not seen the Em-
peror of Austria grzzctttztl, but it, was well
known he had been declared a bankrupt, and
was under the necessity of compounding with
his_,cr’edit,ors. .
Ire_:land.—Tlte disturbances in Ireland con-
tinued. The Dublin and Londonderry Mail
had recently been robbed, and the guard shot.
Twelve persons charged with being concerned
in this outrage, were arrestet.l.—-—Tlie last
Cork paper mentions, the following depreda-
tions. The house of E.Walsh, nearSix Mile
Water, set on fire-, and 32 horses and S cows
burned. A house ofAdam Newman, Esq. of
Uromore, set on fire and destroyed. A barn,
owned by Mr. Sherlock ; a farm house of a
Mr. Sullivan, a house near 'I‘wo-Pot-house,
and a stable of Garrett Neagle, were also all
set on fire the same night and destroyed.-——
A notice signed by order of./ohn Rock, was
posted on the Chapel of Colaratta, threaten-
ing John Clifford with death on the tst of
May, and that his house should be burned.-—
The last Limerick Chronicle states, that
Riverstwon House, near Croom, the property
ofS:tmnel Bennett, Esq. was set fire to, and
totally consumed on Monday night, by the in-
surgents Early on the morning of Friday
last,several armed rullians attacked and broke
into the lodge belonging to Sandes, abouts
miles from Askeaton, where his son, \Villiam
Sandes, slept, and who had the day pre-
vious received some rents out ofhis father’s
property, in this county; three of the party
rushed into the room, anti being armed with
a blunderbuss, pistol and bayoncts, assaulted
and compelled Mr. Sandes to deliver up, in
bank notes and money, lief. and a case of
valuable pocket pistols, with which, after vio-
lent threats, they absconded. On Sunday
night, the house of Castlesion, in the county
of Cork, was attacked, the windows and doors
demolished,and a large stack ofhay consum-
ed in the held the property of a farmer nam-
ed Su|livan.——-——Yesterda_v evening, between
6 and 7 o’clock, a party of 10 Whitehoys, at-
tacked two houses, in the ueighborltood of
Ballystein, and destroyed all the furniture,
cutting the feather beds, and scattering them
abont.———At Ballylongford, a notice was pos-
ted on Sunday,threatening with fire and sword
any person who presumed to purchase at a
sale of goods distrained for rent.
Front the Plulazlclphia .7V'ational Gazelle.
In the sitting of the French Chamber of
Deputies, on the l‘.’th April, the government
asked for a law authorizing a military levy of
40,000 men from the class ofpersons liable to
service only after the first January, l8£4.—
This anticipation was represented as an expe-
dient to provide a reserve in the event of war.
On the same occasion, bitter complaint was
made of the depredations committed upon the
French trade in the Levant, by the Greek
cruizers. One of the speakers said—
‘ Yesterday, amemhergave you an eloquent
and true picture ofthe mischiefs which the
Greeks inflict on our merchant vessels in the
Levant. I agree with him that the Greeks
‘arc the greatest enemies ofFrench commerce.
Certainly Iam far from desiring the destruc-
tion of a Christian people and subjectiugthetn
to persecution: but I should much prefer the
Turk, who, faithful to his religion, observes
the law of nations, to pirates who, under the
standard of the cross, ltave become the terror
of European ships.’
The Minister of the Marine, protesting a-
gainst a deduction recommended from the an-
nual appropriation for the navy, remarked—
‘ Do you wish, gentlemen, to be convinced
of the necessity of having :1 powerful navy in
the situation in which Providence has placed
us? Contemplate history and observe what
weight naval power has given in the political
scale, I will not say to the nations only but to
the cities which have made it the chief and
constantobject oftheir efforts. Call to mind
Tyre, Athens, Carthage——recollect, in mod-
ern times, Genoa and Venice. Even Rome
herself became the mistress ofthe world, only
when she became so ofthesert. Look at Eng-
land. To ,what cause does she owe her strenght
her power, bet‘ unparallelled prosperity ?~ It is
to her navy. I know that she enjoys an insu-
lar position besides ; but our position is not
less favorable. Natureltas done every thing
for France—-she possesses extensive coasts ;
immense naval depots ; and a good nursery
ofseamen. Ueder these circumstances,France
is constrained to have a navy: she should aim
at becoming a maritime poivefoftltc first or-
der. This endeavour is prescribed not by hon-
lour alone, but by necessity. We are, we must
be, we slral'l ever be, a great naval power.
f Views like these are not‘ adapted to reconcile
the British‘ Governtrrentto the maritinte dis-
' plays ofthe Frenclt‘ ag';ti't't'sf the Spaniards.
A Lelegrapliic Despatch froth Bayonne, of
_ _,... _ _
. ,,,, -. .,__
+
T-C:0N.N'ECT1CUT LE G1SL.d TURE.
Friday, Jlfay §25.—l\1r. Darling, from the
Select Committee on the memorial of the
Phoenix Bank, made a favorable report, ac-
companied by a bill modifying their charter
in the _ma‘nner prayed for. The bill was read
the first time-.1 Mr. Pitkin, frotn the Com-
mittee to whom was referred the returns of
the several Banks, submitted a report, which
states that the requirements of the law have,
generally, been complied with, and recom-
mends that the statetnents be lodged with the
Comptroller, and that he prepare an abstract
ofthetn for publication. The report x is read
and accepted. The bill in form, incorpo-
rating the Sharon Canal Company, came
front the Senate amended, by expungingtlte
amendment which was adopted in the House
on Wednesday lest ; a motion for reconsider-
ation and concurrence, was carried.-——TlIe
resolve on the petition of the Trustees of the
Missionary Society of Connecticnt,came from
the Senate, negatived ;on motion, a Commit-
tee of conference was appointed.--Mr.Bolles
offered a resolution, which was adopted, ap-
pointing a committee to inquire into the pre-
sent laws respecting Alewive fisheries on Con-
necticut river. Mr. B. observed, that he had
introd‘uced this resolution at the request of a
great number of his constituents—tltat it was
the settled. opinion oftnany well-informed
persons that Alewives were nothing more nor
less than young Shad; ifso, it would certain-
ly be expedient to devise some plan to pre-
vent their being taken before they are fully
grown. _It was for the purpose ofinstituting
an inquiry to ascertain, if possible, the truth
of tbelsupposition, that he had brought for-
ward this proposition. Mr. Looniis objected
to the inquiry, he thought the subject frivol-
ous, b'eneath the dignity of the House, and
not worth the time and trouble it would occa-
sion. fr. Foot was in favor ofits adoption;
he said, gentlemen seemed disposed to trifle
with it; it was certainly entitled to a respect-
ful reception, nor was it incompatible with
the dignily ofthis House to investigate a sub-
ject brought up at the request ofso respecta-
ble a portion of the community; it was inde-
corous to offer such objections as had been
raised, and he hoped it would pass. A few
more observations were made by different
members, upon the merits ofthe ‘question, and
a disposition manifested to treat the subject
lightly.-——-The bill for an act to repeal the
Steam Boat Law, had a second reading, when
Mr. Mitchell stated that the law it proposed
to repealwas designed to bring about some
favorable arrangements with the New York
Steam Boat Company. It had entirely fail-
ed to effect that object, and the eastern sec-
tion of the state, or that part of it where he
belonged, were great sufferers. He could see
no possible evil in repealing the law, and for
one he hoped the bill might pass. Mr.Thomp-
son expressed himselfto the same effect, and
said that the act ofthe last session had opera-
ted most injlidiclottsly to the interests ofthosc
living on the sea board. The people had pa-
tiently submitted, hoping and believing it
would be repealed at the present session. Mr.
Rider said the sentiments oftnembers on this
question had been pretty clearly ascertained,
he would, therefore move, that the bill be in-
definitely postponed. The motion was second-
ed, when an interesting and animated discus-
sion ensued. The Yeas and Nays were re-
quired, and there were in the afiirmative, 189.;
Negative 68.——Mr.Fairchild, from theCom-
mittee on the judiciary bill, submitted are-
port, accompanied by a bill, which was read
the first time. This bill contains many new
and important provisions, an analysis ofwhich
will be given on the next reading. The
bill for the assessment and collection of taxes
was read a second time. Mr. Williams ex-
plained the views bywhich the committee who
reported this bill, were governed. The prin-
cipal feature is, that all property shall have
an equal valuation and be placed in the list
at a per centage—polls are fixed at 380, em-
bracing all white male inhabitants, between
the ages of 2! and 60 years.
.M(1._y 224.—A bill was passed appointing Jus-
tices of the Peace for the county of Fairlleld :
a bill was introduced regulating civil actions,
read the first time; it empowers justices of
the peace to take depositions in all cases.—--
’I‘he bill to exempt the polls of officers of the
Navy, was read a third time. It was warmly
opposed, and rejected.——Mr. Church offer-
ed a resolution which was adopted, fixing
’I‘hntqIay 29th May inst. as the day for atl-
journntcnt.———Bills were passed appointing
Robert Fairchild, chief judge of the coun-
ty court for the county of Fairfield, and Zai-
mon Wildman and Benjamin [saacs associate
judges.-——-Bills passed appointing the follow-
ingjudges of probate. Samuel C. Blackman
for the district of Newtown ; Wm. M. Betts,
for the district of Norwalk ; Ruben Booth, for
the district ofDanbury; David Plant, for the
district of Stratford and David Hill for the
district of Fairfield.
May .°26.—Mr. N. Johnson, from the Com-
mittee to whom was referred a bill respecting
punishments for Theft, reported the saute bill
with an amendment. [The bill as amended,
provides that in all cases of conviction for
theft, Justices ofthe Peace may sentence de-
linquents to hard labor in the Work-House,
not exceeding ninety days.l Mr. Johnson
stated the views by which theCommittee were
governed, and that it was thought‘ that the
alterations it had undergone, would remove
the objections that had been brought against
it. Several members spoke in commenda-
tion of the essential features of the bill. It
was however suggested, that it ought to com-
prehend all tninor offences, for which, at pre-
sent, no suitable punishment was established.
With a view to make it more comprehensive,
it was on motion, laid on the table. . The
bill authorising the Captain General to make
alterations in the uniform dress ofFlankCom-
panics, &Lc. was read a second time, and refer-
red to the Committee to receive military re
turns.-——Tlte bill empowering Justices of
the Peace to take deposition, by process of
subpoena, Ste. had a second reading. An :1-
mendment was offered by Mr. P. Smith, pro-
posing to exempt from its operation all suits
nowypcnding which was rejected. The bill
underwent an investigation on the part of
Messrs. Church, Pitkin and F-airchild, who
supported it; and of Messrs. Smith and Tra-
cy, who opposed it, and was postponed to a
third reading.———Mr. Tracy, from the Com-
mittee on that part of the Governor’s Message
which relates to limited partnerships and par-
tial assignments ofproperty, rcported,'that in
their opinion, it is not necessary, to adopt a-
ny further measures on that s.thject-. Title re-
port was submitted, and accepted on Saturdzry,
last.-——The bill respecting imprisonment of
females fofdebt, &.c. was again called up :.——'-‘
Messrs. Bulklcy and Faxon made a few ob-
servations in support ofit, when the question
was put, and the bill rejected.---"-On motion,
the House resumed the consideration of the
resolution for districting the State, 8Lc.-—--—
Mr. T. Coe delivered his sentiments in favor
he’ found himselfin an embarrassed situation,
because wholly unacqttainted with the quali-
fications of candidates. This is tltecase with
the great mass of the people—they cannot act
understandingly--=they cannot act with inde-
gained by this method, would be an increased .
degree ofinterest in tlldse'el'ections. At pre-
sent, it is difficult to prevail orl persons to re-
main and vote for Senators-—he would pre- .
fer an amendment that would preserve to
each county its due proportion of. Senators,
that it tnightbe brought as near home as pos-
sible. If members were elected ofthe same‘
political creed, be it su—if.ofdiffereut vie‘w‘s,
be it so--he had not much confidence_in any
political party; he hoped it would pass._-—-
ed his vote on the preposition now before-the
House—he had uniformly been in favor ofdis-
to any numcrcial increase ofthe Senate,with-
out a corresponding diminution ofthis branch
ofthe Legislature—-he must, therefore, to be
consistent, vote againstithis resolution. Mrij
Tuthill said he had not intended to have offer-
ed tothe house any remarks, asmost gentle’-
men had doubtless reflected deliberately on
the subject under consideration, and had prob-
ably made up their minds upon it. He now
rose, principally to correct erroneous views,‘
taken by gentleman opposed to the resolutions
before the House. It is asked by one gentle-
man, ifthis is the time for theorists to spread
their novel schemes before the public ? The
principle of districting, he replied, is by no
means a novel one. It has long been well
known, most advantageously acted upon in
this community; not indeed, in the election
of Senators, but in that ofmembers ofour own
branch of the Legislature. Vl/'herc shall we
look for a more perfect specimen of district
elections, than is furnished by our mode of
choosing Representatives to this House? It
is utterly impossible for any government to
bring the elections nearer home to the people
than is here done, so far as relates to this part
of the Legislature. And it is for the adoption
oftltis same well-known principle,in the choice
ofthe upper House, that our constituents now
call, and call loudly. -They wish to krjow their
candidates——-they wish to know, and should
know, to whom they delegate their rights, and
upon whom they are bestowing their confi-
ddence. [t is the election of the men who are
best known to them, that the people feel the
deepest interest. A single fact is sufficient to
establish this position. At our annual elec-
tions, all is activity and life and interest, while
the Representatives are choosing; but as soon
as this is completed, there are evident symp-
toms ofindiffcrence, and usually many retire
to their homes. And why is this? The reas-
on is obvions :-—lVith their Representatives.
and their characters, the people are well ac-
quainted, but of the other candidates, they‘
know little ornothing, and naturally take lit-
tle interest in their election. *. * * *
It may be thought byisome, that if this plan
be adopted, it may introduce gentlemen of
different sentiments into the Senate. They
may perhaps no longer be all of one mind.
Evert should this be the result, Mr. T; said, he
did not known that it was to be deprecated as
an evil. The existence of a vigilant minori-
ty, and even ofa powerful minority, is bene-
ficial to every legislative assembly. Such is
the nature of man—‘-‘such his proneness to err,
that he does best where he is tnost closely
watched. Whatever party may be dominant,
it is important that every branch ofthe legis-
lature should have in it a keen sighted minor-
ity, who will scrutinize with an eagle eye, ev-
ery step that is taken, and will sift to the ot-
termost, every measure that is adopted. ‘ A
minority,’ said the immortal Pitt on a memo-
rable occasion, ‘ A minority my friends, is im-
portant—nay, I had almost said, indispensa-
hly necessary, to keep us honest; we are falli-
ble men.’ It is the collision ofopposite inter-
ests that produces discussion and elicits tal-
ents. Mr. T. here entered at large into the
merits ofthe resolutions now before thcHonse,
urging the importance of increasing the Sc-
nate, and stating what be conceived to be the
advantages of the proposed system over oth-
ers that had been and might be suggested. He
insisted that the adoption ofthe ratio of num-
bers was the only just and equitable mode of
apportioning the contemplated districts, while
an adherence to the count-y lines, as a part
of the same system, was probably the only
plan that could be carried into effect, and the
only one that would give general satisfaction.-
Mr.Foot remarked, that he had either been
mis-understood,or else he had himselftn'is-'ap-
prehended the gentleman last up. He said
that he ltad merely intended to state, that he
was placed in a singlar dilemma——that'to pre-
serve eonsistcncy, he could not vote for any
measure for districting the state, unless ac-
companied by one to reduce the numbers on
the floor ofthis House; if any gentleman will
introduce a proposition for districting the
state, it will receive my vote; and ifanothcr
to increase the Senate without a correspond-
ing reduction ofthe House, it will not receive
my vote.———Mr. N. Johnson observed, that
he ltad always been in favor ofthe proposed
measure, that it was one of very great impor-
tance, &t.c. but in order to prepare some a-
mendments which he wished to make, he
would move to postpone the fu_rther consider-
ation of the resolution, and that it be tnatie
the order of the day for to-tnorrow morninv.
So ordered.-———The bill empowering Select-
men to abate town taxes, &t.c. was read a third
time, and after an amendment, offered by Mr.
Johnson, extending the authority of Select-
tnen to the abatement of state taxes also, and
a few remarks by Messrs. Darling and Gris-
wold, it was passed.—-—The bill respecting
the registry of lamls distributed on testate and
other estates, tine. was read the third time, and
after Mr. Clturch had observed that it would
furnish an easy "mode of access to the records
of real estate, that it would also accommodate
a very large number ofthe people, by simply-
fying the title or evidences of all real proper-
ty, &t.c. it was passed.
' May a7.—A bill to: an act in addition to.
of the tneastire; ‘he said he had always advo- - ,
cated the plan, that when called on to vote,- -
pendence--one great object in his-view, to be -
Mr. Foot observed,that he had often recordr~ . *
tricting the State, and as uniformly opposed -
(as be conceived them to be,)wltich had been -~.
l
Norwalk Chronicler