.,,_‘_.. _ .,-. . .--..-.
_HUMANIT_Y’S GEM-.
‘ Lorenzo, hast thou ever weiglftl E1 sigh,
Or studied the philosophy of tears ?
A science yet unlcctured in our schools.
Youatg.
How sweet is the tear of regret, »
A That drops from Humanity’: eye;
How lovely the check that is wet,
And the bosom that heaves with a sigh:
This world is a sorrowful stage,
, A valley of weeping and woe";
From childhood to garrulous age,
The tear uninvited will flow.
Our own, or a'nother’s distress,
VVill force the soft lustres to fall ;
Nor can the mild bosom do less
Than grieve for the sorrows of all ';
For he who has nought to impart,
May at least :z_'zve the wrett-lied a tear ;
’Ttvill comfort the sorrowful heart,
When no other comfort is near.
.L,_..,
The SAVPDUR in sympathy wept,
And gave the divincst relief,
Wlieii Lazarus mortally slept-,
To his sisters o’erwhelmed with grief‘:
He sorrovr’d for Solyma’s doom,
As he sat upon Olivet’s steep ;
He thought on her judgment to come,
And Pity constrain’d him to weep.
When after a long absence, a friend
Returns to delight us, and’ kiss,
Our tears with our cxtacics blend,
And sweeten the relish of bliss.
Then gay is the tear ofdeliglit, ,
When raptur‘d the bosom o’erflows,
Like a star on the azure ofnight,
Or a dew drop that falls from the rose.
Ah I give me the peniteut tear,
That flows from Contrition divine!
It brings the sweet comforter near,
Of pardon the prelude and sign-.
Grief only continues a night,
The beauty for ashes shall bloom,
And sorrow subside to delight,
VVhen Peace, Hope and Favorillume.
' ' “"—oi¢1‘fl%'$"l®
FROM THE} N.:‘.’I‘IONAL GA'l.l:".l'.‘TE.
Biographical notice qf Capt.JOH./VSH.’1’W,
late of the .N'at‘-y of thc_Unt'ted Slates.
Capt. Shaw was born in Ireland, in 1773.
At the age of 17' he emigrated to the U.States
with an elder brother, and or. at N. York,l)ec.
31st, 1790. After passing a short time in that
city he came to Philadelphia, where he re-
mained until March, 1791, when he embark-
ed for the East Indies, to which he perfortnctl
four voyages,_in the c_ourse ofthe ensuing six
years. In the l_ast,Vf0_V2'-§'.<: he was made the
first officer of.th’_e,slrip. He found time in the
same interval to incite hiurseiftnaster of the
duties of a clerk in a ’merchaut’s counting-
liouse,and'to urarch as a volunteer with ‘Mac-
pherson’sBluc.«;,’ on the expedition against the
insurgents in tlrewcstern part nfPenns_vlvania.
"During his S1dit"oy‘a,-gs to Canton, the ship
Sampson, in which he.‘ sailed, was attacketl in
the night, in the Straits ofBanca,by a fleet of
Malay prov.-‘s. The Sampson beat them of,and
Mr. S. displayed much coir:-2:-_.;'e in the action.
In the latter part of 1797, on his return to
Baltimore from a voyage to the IV. Indies, as
master of a brig, he Oliftllnfltl, thro’ the inter-
est of Geu.Sumuel Smith, a lie-ntenant’s com-
mission in the I'J.'S. Navy, and joined the na-
tional ship Montezuma, Capt. Alex. Murray.
Having passed a year on board this ship in the
W.I. seas, he returned to Baltimore. Shortly
after, Capt.i‘v'Iurray, whom his conduct during
the cruize had inspired with great esteem for
his clraracter, procured for him the command
of the U.S.schooner .lL'rt.'c7'prizc, a new vcsscl,
mounting 12 six pounders, With a crew of76
men. In Dec. 1799, he sailed in the schr. ac-
cording to orders, for the Windwartl Island
station, and there cruized against the French.
In February, 1300, returning from the Island
of Curacoa, he fell in with the U. S. frigate
Constellatiomafter her action with thcFreuch
national, ship La Vengeance. Coui.Truxtun
cliarged him’ with tlespatches for the govern-
ment,with which he returned home in 15 days.
The Enterprize sailed again, in March, for.
Philadelphia, with orders to join Com. Trux-
tun in Jamaica. "When offtlre east end oftbat
island,Capt.Sltaw learned that the Constella-
tion had sailed with convoy for the U. States.
In turning to windward to gain his station at
St. Christopher’s, hc discovered,ofi"the Mona
passage, :1 brig ofwar to the south-east, gave
chase, and closed with her fast. At the dis-
tance of about a mile, the brig, mounting 13
guns, shewed Spanish colors, and opened a
fire upon the Enterprise. The latter, showing
her colors, still advanced under a press ofsail,
and when sufficiently near, took a position on
the larboard quarter ofthe Spaniard, and re-
turned her firc. A sharp contestensued,whicb
lasted 30 minutes. The vessels then separated
both being considerably injured. The Enter-
prise put into St.Thomas to refit. ’ Here a cir-
cumstance occurred,that shows the impression
which the character of the American navy,
thenin the dawn of its existence, had already
made on the minds of theeuemy.
Captain Shaw received a message from a
large French lugger, that mounted 12 car-
riage guns, with a crew of about 100 men, in-
viting him to atrial o'.f,_strengtli, which was
accepted with three cheers by all hands on
board the Enter-prize. At the hour appoint-
ed, Shaw was under weigh, and when clear
of the Danish limits, he have to and fired a
shot towards the harbor, and repeated this five
several times through -the day, as a signal
that the Enterprize was waiting for the chal-
lenger to sally out. But the French captain,
havinw robabl reconsidered thé matter had
5 P Y 3
come to the conclusion that it was better to
keep his anchorage. After a cruise of some
days to leeward of the Island of St. Croix,
the Enterprize beat up to St.Kitts, took to
provisions and water, and proceeded on an-
other voyage. Soon afterwards(May, 1800,)
shefell in with a French privateer, Lu. Cigna,
of fo\_ir guns and 57 men, and brought her to
a close action, which was short, bntsevere
while it lasted. The captain of the privateer
inanifeited great perseverance and personal
brayery‘, He would not consent tomsurrender,
until hehad nearly. one half of his crew cut
down, arid his rigging and sails much shat-
tered. _ This prize was ’ordered to St. Kitts.
About itfortnight after the capture of La
Cigua, Ca[\t. Shaw fell in with the; La Citoy-
enne of six, guns and -17 men. .llus vessel
was also lirdpglit to a close action. ‘Her capt.
and crew fought desperately, and yielded on-
ly when all ‘hope of success or escape had
vanished. Slip was also despatched to St.
\.
‘x
\
' ifitts. hi the two actions, the Enterprise has} '
one marine killed, and 6 or '7 men wound’ed.
_ _It was not long before ‘she was engaged in
another. . Cruising near Antigua, she fell in
with a large French three-m,ast_ed‘ logger,
bound to France which Capt. Shaw ‘recogniz-
ed to be the.sa‘me wllicli had; challenged him
to fight at the Island of St. Tliomas. , After
exchanging a few shots ,;, the logger hauled
her colors down.
were "a Major General, and several other ‘of-
ficers, who were made prisoners.
In June, 1800, Capt. Shaw fell in with the
French privateer, La Eagle, of 10 guns and
70 men, at fast sailer and fortunate cruiser.
He brought her to a very close action. Each
vessel discharged her first broadside on the
opposite tack and close on board the other.
The Etiterprizc tacked as she passed, and fir-
ed 4 guns into La Eagle’s stern; in 1:’) min-
utes afterwards, she ran alongside and board-
ed without meeting the smallest opposition.
In consequence of the well directed broadside
of the Enterprize, the crew of the privateer
hail fled the deck and taken shelter in the
hold. The French captain, who bore a high
reputation for skill and bravery, was struck
on the top of his forehead, with a round shot,
which knocketl him down, tore off his scalp,
and left him for dead outhe deck. The first
lieutenant was struck in the breast by a round
shot and killed. The second officer was hit
by a cannon shot, which tookofl a part of one
ear and all the skin on the same side of the
head. He also appeared to be dead. The
privateer became a prize and had_8 killed and
9 wounded, while the Enterprize had only 9.
or 9 men wounded. The prize was taken in-
to St. Kitts.———In Julyl800, being to the lee-
ward ofthe Island of Domingo, Capt. Shaw
discovered, early one morning, a French ves-1,
sel called Le Flatnbeau, mounting 1‘). guns,
with a crmv of 100 persons, oflicers included,
pulling with all her sweeps on theEnterprize.
About to o’clock, A. M. the sea breeze strtwk
the Enterprize and she immediately tnadeall
sail for the enemy. But the latter, as theEn-
tcrprizc neared, made all sail from her. At
2 u’clock, P. M. she was within range of the
-‘.nterprize’s shot, but Capt. Shaw had deter-
mined not to fire until close on board. The
French vessel rnanueuvretl well, autl with
great quickness. As soon as the Enterprize
tilt)!-.e(l with her she commenced a heavy fire
of umsquetry which was returned by the runs-
uetry of her antagonist, until the two vessels
were close on board each other. Then the
Enterprize, shortcut-tl sail, edged ofl, receiv-
ed a broadside, and immediately gave one in
return, The action became wartu, and was
niaiutaiued with much spirit by the enemy for
about 20 minutes, when she trimmed all her
sheets and lacked. The F.uterprize attempt-
ed to tack also, but ruisscd stays and lost
ground. On discovering that the other wish-
ed to avoid the fight, Capt. Shaw trimmed
ship again in order to get alongside. The
batteries of the two vessels were again open-
ed on each other. The cnemy’s foremost,
which had been wounded, being struck with
a heavy flaw of wind, went overboard with 6
men on it. These wcre immetliately picked
up by the boat of the Enterprizc. By this
time she ranged along side, and the French
vessel quickly struck her colors. The action
lasted 4-0 minutes, during which time the Eu-
tcrprizc tired 14 round shot through the hull
of the other. On the. side of the French, 7
men were killetl and 8:3 woun(lcd—on that of
the Americans, 5 men were wounded, all of
whom recovered. The prize wastaken to St.
Kills. Her force was superior in the action.
She had a. crew of 100 men—the Enterprize
but 83. Again, while cruising in the An-
tigua passage in August, the Enterprize took,
after a chase of 5 hours, the French privateer
La Polina, of 6 guns and 40 men ; and, in
S(‘.l)i.(".llll)el‘, in the same passage, after ex-
changing a few shots, the French Letter of
hlarquc Guadaloupien, of 7 guns and 4:’; men,
bound to France with a cargo of coffee and
sugar.-——--During these various cruises ofthe
idnterprize, the average of lrer recaptures of
American vessels in possession of the enemy
was nearly one a month.
At this time the decline of his health com-
pclled Capt. Shaw to resign the command of
the Enterprise, and to return to the United
States. lie arrived in the Delaware late in
1'-Ioveuihcr 1800. At VV’asliitigt(itr, which be
visited the next month, he received in person
the compliments and thanks of the President
and the Secretary of the Navy, for his valua-
ble serviccs abroad. Verbal orders were giv-
cn to him, to hold himself in readiness to pro-
-seed to Boston, and take command of the
French national ship Bcrceau of £26 guns,cap-
turcd by the frigate Boston. The peace with
France was succeeded by a navy peace estab-
lislnuent, in which he was retained a lieuten-
ant, and placed in the command ofthe frigate
George Washington, that carried out the trib-
utary stores to the Dey of Algiers. In this
ship he remained in the blcditcrraneau for a
twelve-month, conveying the American trade.
He returned with her, in 1802, to Philadel-
phia, where she was sold. The new regula-
tions putting him on half pay, he asked, and
obtained a furlough, and made a voyage to
the Isle of France and Canton. During his
absence, :1 term of 18 months, he was promo-
ted (on the 23d May, 1804,) to the rank of’
master commandant.
The warthen waged against Tripoli, was
actively prosecuted by that intrepid and alert
officer, Com. Prcble ; but his tlespatches an-
nounced that hc was in great want of gun
boats. This infonnation induced Captain
Shaw to address a letter to the Navy Depart-
meat, in which he tendered his services to
conduct an expedition of gun boats to the
tileditcrranean, and suggested the manner in
which it should be equipped and tlespatched.
The arrival of Com. Preble in the U. States,
and his personal representations to govern-
ment, determined t_he._.adoption of Captain
Shaw’s offer and plan. Accordiiigly, 8sail
of gun boats were got ready in‘difI’ercut ports
and despatched for the I‘I.lctiiterrane'.in frotn
the port of N. York. Three sail proceeded
(May, 1305,) under the convoy ofCapt._Shaw
who had then the command of the frigate
Jolm Adams, with 300 seamen on board, in
addition to her crew, for the l‘v'Ietliterrauean
squadron. But in consequence of the peace
with the Barbary powers, the frigate returned
in December, to Washington, where her crew
were discharged, and she was place_d in dock,
In the same month, _Capt. Shaw wifs ordered
to New-Orleans to equip a division of gun-_
boats then building on the western waters.
On the arrival of Gen_.l.Vilkinson from Na-
cogdocbes, in‘ the winterof 1806--7, Captain
Among her passengers,‘
signs ’ofCol;. Burr,-,aha.iar ti. time‘ when. his
force in die-river was yery itiadequate to meet
an invading foe. ';'1‘ivo bontb-ketchcs arriving
about tliis period, 'add'ed,, lioivcver, much‘ to
his strength ;, and by: great «exertions he_w_as
"able 10 "equip ‘a fleet of 11 sail-,of. gun,-boats
and barges, mounting 6! guns, and maimed
with 448 seamen and troops o_ftlie line doing
duty as mariners. The whole__of this squad-»
ron arrived off Natchez, early? February,
1807, and were moored in close order, _to_~op-
pose any force that should descend the river
with hostile views on NewOrleans. Col-.Burr
having lied, and his adherents being dispers-
ed, Captain Shaw returned to‘Ncw-Orleans,
wherelte received ordersto repair to Wash-
ingtonf On his arrival he was sunuuoned to
Richm'ond,as a witness on the trial of Colonel
Burr. In Dec. 1807, he was ordered to Nor-
folk, as a member of the court-martial, in the
case of Com. Barron. In the same year, he
was promoted to therank of Post-Captain.
After the dissolution of the court-ma,iti.1l,
he was invested with the command ofthe na-
vy-yard at that place, and held it,.;‘till August
1810, when he received orders torepair to N.
Orleans. He arrived at Natchez in Novem-
ber, aud found there Gov.Claihorne, prepared
to wrest from the Spanish patriots the post of
Baton Rouge. An immediate movement of
a body oftroops in its vicinity, in conjunction
with a division of gun-boats which had been
lying at anchor off Natchez for many months,
and which covered the landing of the troops,
secured the capture ofthe fort and garrison.
In .18! I, Capt. Shaw anticipating the rup-
tote with England, made a particular exam-
ination of the eastern passes leading to the
city of New-Orleans. In July, 181%, the de-
claration of war reached him and incited him
to renewed exertions for the increase and bet-
ter organization of the small force under his
command. In 1813, his attention was direct-
ed to the construction of a large block-ship
laid down by order of the government 0!! 21
secluded stream leading into lake Pouchar-
train, and distant from New-Orleans ahoutlfi
leagues. The tuain deck ofthis ship was cal-
culated to mount 9.6 long 32.’ pounders, and
her draft of wot er, with all her armament and
stores on board,woultl not have exceeded 8 ft.
In the year last mentioned, Capt. Shaw co-
operated with Gen. Wilkinson in taking pos-
session of'Fort Charlotte, Mobile, and all the
country west ofPerdido river. lie transport-
ed to Mobile Point, in his division of gun-
boats all the caution and munitions of war
captured on the occasion. Various other ar-
rangements and measures for the security of
that region, devolved on him. He was inde-
fatigable in devising plans and collecting ma-
terials for the purpose. He caused to be well
mounted on maliugany, 40 ofthe heaviest pie-
ces of the cannon at the Navy Yard of New-
Orleans which were afterwards distributed a-
long the lines of Gcn.Jackson’s defence, and
found to he sigually useful. It was in conse-
quence of his representation that the Secreta-
ry of the Navy determined to have 6 schrs.
built and sent to N. Orleans, for the suppres-
sion of pirates and smugglers about thclsland.
Leaving, beside a fine train ofartillery, a
full magazine of powder, and plenty of can-
non and grape shot, he returned to Washing--
ton by land, and remained there until the15th
June, 1814, in order to settle sortie accounts.
Thence he proceeded to New-London and
assumed the command of the frigate U.States
which, with the frigate Macedonian and sloop
Hornet, continued to be closely bluckadcd by
the enemy until the termination of the war.
When released, she was ordered to Boston, to
be fitted out for the Mediterranean. In 1815,
Capt. Shaw joined, in her, the American
squadron at Malaga. The peace signed with
Algiers caused the return of a part of the
squadron to the U. States. The forces re-
maiuing, as well as the instructions of the
government, were then transferred to Capt.
Shaw by his predecessor Com. Braiubridge.
In this charge he was earnestly employed, un-
til he was relieved, in 1816, by Com. Chaun-
ccy ; but the frigate U. States reniaincd on
the station, under his couunand, as late as
Nov. 1817. The Constellntloii being order-
-ed home for repairs, and there being no pros-
pect of any particular active service in the
iljlediterrauean, he returned in her, and au-
chored in Hampton roads on the 26th Dec.
1817. He soon afterwards obtained permis-
sion to visit his fuxnily in Philadelphia, from
which he had been aliscnt, on duty upwzirds
of-I years. Unhappily his constitution was
so much impaired as to require for several
months the unremitting care of an eminent
physician, and to compel him to spend 14
months in travelling for the recovery ofbis
health. In Nov. 18l9, he took the com-
mand afloat of the Boston station, and retain-
ed it until he was suspended from duty, for ti
months, in April 13°22. This suspension was
caused by an unfortunate controversy with
Capt.Hull, the commandant ofthe NavyYard
at Gharlestown, who preferred against him,
before a court martial various charges of cori-
temptuous and hostile treatment. The Court
adjudged that he was guilty of‘ unoflicer-like
conduct,’ but not guilty of ‘ uugcutlcmau-like
conduct.’ In fact, the conduct pronounced to
be unofficer-like, consistetl only in measures
which be deemed of sclf-defence, and for the
honor ofthe Navy and the interests ofthe na-
tional treasury. The rccord of his trial de-
tracts nothing from his character ;aud his ap-
poiutment to the command of the Naval sta-
tion at Cliarleston, soon after the expiration
of the sentence of suspension, proves that he
suffered not at all in the estimation of the
government. But his career was about to be
closed, by the hand of death. Itr the begin-
ning ofthe summer oft825, ho had again to
seek medical aid in Pliiladclpliia and appear-
ed to be recovering under skilful treatment ;
when he was seized with dysentery, which
terminated his existence in little more than a
week, on the 17th of Sept. He was 50 years
of age at the time of his tlecease. He left a
widow, and two children, the eldest of whom
is married to Lieutenant 1*‘. H. Gregory, of
the U. States Navy.
The funeral of Com. Shaw took place in
Philadelphia, from the house of his particular
friend, Robert Kid,Esq. in which he had been
nursed for saveral weeks with the utmost at-
tention. The colors of the shipping in the
harbor were lowered halfmaston the occasion
and his remains were interred with martial
honors‘: The pall-bearers were Captains
Nicholson, -_t'B_rown, Dallas, Read, Deacon,
‘and General Cadwallader.
The foregoing simple detail. of the tnost
prominent incidents ofthe life of C-om.Sbaw,
is sufficient to produce a just impres:-ionofliis
Shaw was first apprised of the traitorous de-
services and value, as a naval counnander, to
. I?
'i'ils adopted cojiiniry. He was fearless, 'aleif't,4‘
ahcfdistittguislietl for 'searnan'sliip*-aml profe_s-;
sional sagacity. His letters, _writtetvfrom_N§.
’0rleans,,befo_rev the last war, prove-that_.—h_e
fqresatv the dangers towwhich that great mart"
would be exposetl,'antl»?indicated the means’
by_\vlr_ich.it_co_ultl be re_ridere,d'sectii'e; Gen-
erosity, candor, probity, were leading traits in
his disposition :7—h_is .‘de'meanor was always
frank and manly.” He acquired the esteem
audiafiection of all who knew him well. His
family and intimate friends loved him at"dent-
ly and deeply deplore hisloss. I .
THE BOA CONSTRICTOR. ,
We lately copied an article from the Salem
Gazette, which mentioned that the skin ofa
young serpent of the species of Boa, 6 feet 8
inches III length, had been deposited in the
East India Museum ofthat town. When this
reptile arrives at its full growth, it sometimes
measures upwards of 30 feet in length, and is
said to be a favorite food with the natives of
some countries. A living one was lately ex
liibited in London which measured alioiit 18
feet. In the narrative of the wreck of the
Britisli frigate Alcaste, by Mo Leod, the sur-
geon ofthat vessel,is an account ofa Boa Cori-
strictor of great interest.—.N'. Y. Eve. Post.
This Boa was a native of Borneo, and had
been sent to Batavia where he was embarked.
‘ He was brought on board shut up in a wood-
en crib or cage, the bars of which were stifli-
cieutly close to prevent his escape, and it had
a sliding door, for the purpose of admitting
the articles on which he was to subsist; the
dimensions ofthe crib were about 4 feet high,
and about five feet square, a space sufliciently
large to allow him to coil himself round in
the cage- _'_I‘hfelive stock for his use during
the passage, consisting of 6 coats of the ordi-
nary size, were sent with him on board, five
being consider.ed_ as a fair allowance for as
many months: At an early period ofthe voy-
age we had an exhibition of his talent in the
way of eating, which was publicly performed
on the quarter-deck, upon which he was
brought. The sliding door being opened, one
ofthe goats was thrust in, and the door of the
case sluit. The poor goat, as if instantly a-
ware of all the horrors of its perilous situation,
innuediatcly began to utter the most piercing
and distressing crlcs, butting instinctively, at
the same time, with its head towards the ser-
pent, in self defence.
"l‘he snake, which at first appeared scarce-
ly to notice thepoor animal, soon began to
stir a little, and turning his head in the direc-
‘ tion of the goat,it at length fixed a deadly and
malignant eye on the trembling victim,whose
agony and terror seemed to increase; for pre-
vious to the snake seizing its prey, it shook in
every limb, but still continuing its unavailiug
show ofattack, by butting at the serpent, who
now became sufliciently animated to prepare
for the banquet. The first operation was that
of darting out his forked tongue, and at the
sainetime rearing a little his head, then sud-
denly seizing the goat by the fore leg with his
mouth, and throwing him down, he was en-
circled in an instant in his horrid folds. So
quick, indeed, and so instantaneous was the
act, that it was impossible for the eye to fol-
low the rapid convolution of his elongated
body. It was not a regular screwlike turn
that was formed,but resembling rather a knot,
one part of the body overlaying the other, as
ifto add weight to the muscular pressure, the
more effectually to crush his object. During
this time he continued to grasp with his
mouth, though it appeared an unnecessary
precaution, that part of the animal he had
first seized. The poor goat, in the tneau time,
continued its feeble and half stifled cries for
some tninutes, but they soon became more
and more faint, and at last it expired. The
snake, however, retained it for a considerable
time in its grasp, after it was apparently lll0-
tionless. He then began slowly and can-
tiously to unfold himself till the goat fell dead
from his monstrous embrace, when he began
to prepare himself for the feast. Placiirg his
mouth in froutof_the head ofthe dead animal,
he commenced by lubricating with his saliva
that part of the goat; and then taking its
muzzle into its tnouth, which had, and indeed
always has, the appearance ofa raw laccratetl
wound ; be sucked it in, as far as the horns
would allow. Those protnberauces opposed
some little difficulty ; not so much from their
extent as from their points; however, they
also, in a very short time, disappeared; that
is to say externally ; but their progress was
still to be traced very distinctly on the out-
side, threateuing every moment to protrude
through the skin. The victim had now des-
tteutletl as far as the shoulders; and it was an
astonishing sight to observe the extraordinary
action of the suake’s muscles when stretched
to such an unnatural extent ;an extent which
must have utterly destroyed all muscular pow-
er in any animal that was not, like itself, en-
dowed with very peculiar faculties of expan-
sion aud action at the same time. VVhen lns
head and neck had no other appearance than
that ofa serpcnt’s skin, stufled almost to burst-
ing, still the workings of the muscles were
evident, and his power of suction, as it is er-
roneously called, unabated.
‘ The whole operation of completely gorg-
ing thg goat, occupied about two hours and 92.0
minutes ; at the end of which time the lume-
faction was confined to the middle part ofthe
hotly, or stomach, the superior parts, which
had been so much distended, having resumed
their natural dimensions. He" now, coiled
himselfup again, and laid quietly in his usual
torpid state for about three weeks or a month,
when his last meal appearing to be complete
ly digested and dissolved, he was presented
with another goat, which he devoured with e-
qual facility.
‘ As the ship approached the Cape of Good
Hope, this animal began to droop ; between
the Cape and St. Helena he was found dead
in his cage; and, on tlissectiou, the coats of
his stomach were discovered to be excoriated
and perforated by worms. Nothing remained
ofthe goat except one of the horns, cvcry oth-
er part being dissolved.
fin .fl_rrny of 4024 Legi'sla.tor3.—Gov. Plu-
mer, in the 95th number of his ‘ Cincinuatus,’
lately published in the N. H. Collections, de-
monstrates in a striking manner, says the Sn-
lem Gazette, that we have the happiness to
live not only under a government of Laws,but
a government of Legislators. He says-
‘I know of no nation that has so many le-
gislators (certainly none of equal population)
as we have, or that pays so much for legisla-
tion as we do. The several state legislatures
consist of559 senators, and 3,198 representa-
tives. 'I‘o these we may add the Senators,
a . /.-
Representanves,-"ai’i§iiijeiég‘atés~in Congress,
amounting in all ro::4Qg£t-legislarors !, Antitru-
”t_'Jf the ‘United Stafei.‘ 'Tlie*expetrse"of§-Evucli it ~'
worthy of,ctin,sideration,' ,.\vl,ri,:‘t1‘;'~‘§\'t,'_¢3_ déliberatte.
upon the number of .whic_ll.'=a l;'igi§l,a_tii_§,¢;3ptrgiit
to’ be ctzmposed. In'_rny opiiiioiy, t'|1’e‘ liegit
numfikr for the popular ,brancl31"_‘: sour state
legisllatures, except in small statesfiis 100, and
the Senate one-"fourth ' that number. This
number would give 3000state-legislators,which
is 757 less than the presetit nuinber. .-'1‘he
constitutions of the several--states make”.vari-
ous and tlifferent provisions-‘on this subject.
In twelve of. the states, the nuniber of their
representatives is limited ; in, one state at 40,
one at 50, oneat 72, six at 100, one .at IQ-1,
one at 128, and one at 200. Nine of the»-
.~tates_are-litnited bythe nmnlier either oftheir
counties or towns; and ,three of the states, N.
Ilzittrpslrirze, M assacluisetts and Vermont, are
limited only by tlleir population. In fourteen
of the states, the represehtatives cannot ex-
ceedlO0, and in sixteen cannot extend tol30.’
./Qhoble deed.—About 20. years ago a far-
mer in Bricks county, Penn. in good circum-
stances,,died and left his farm, stuck, Zszc. to
one ofbis son§ : to the other, who had offend-
ed him, he bequeathed six hundred pounds.
Notwithstanding the utmost efforts of the
poorer brother, he found himself unable to’
obtain the six hundred pounds from his more
wealthy brother, and with a family he.was o-
bliged to struggle through life without getting
any portion of the money left him by the will
ofbis father. Lately the wealthy brother di-
ed, and his property fell to an only son. So
soon as the latter got possession of the pro-
perty, be ascertained the amount ofthe lega-
cy bequeathed by his grandfather to his uncle,
be then added the interest which had accrued
all the time the legacy had been withheld,
and for the whole amount he forthwith sent
a check to his uncle. May he long live hap-
pily to enjoy the wealth he has, and may it
increase tenfold under his upright adnrinistra.-
tion of it.——Democralic Press.
S.'1mneful cond:tct.——-A letter dated Matan‘-
zas, Oct. .f6, states that a few days previous,
the sloop Two Brothers, ofNcwport, R. I. af-
ter getting under way in that harbor, was
boarded from the U. S. schr. VVi|d Cat,aud
ortlerctl for the U. States, in consequence of
some blacks being on board, _who were sup-
posed to have been brought in that vessel from
Africa. As there were two Americans there
who were deeply interested in the sloop, they
have caused government to protest against
the captain oftheWild Cat. ‘These Ameri-
cans, (to their shame be it spoken) have tried
to get leave ofthe fort here, to sink the U. S.
schr. or to send and demand and take by force
the sails and rudder of the schr. and to impri-
son the captaiu ; but the government has been
prudent enough not to accecd to any such
measures. All that these countrymen of ours
can do is to foam and swear. One of them
offers :50 tloubloons for the man whoiuforin-
ed the schr. ofthe negroes on board the sloop,
and he says that the one who iuform_cd shall
have but a few days to live. He likewise says,
that 50 men are ready to, tear the captain‘ of
the schr. in pieces ; but he has been ashore‘
four times since, without any violence being
offered to him. - .
‘ Piracy, perforce,'is put down ; but ifthn
United States’ fleet should withdraw from this
island for twenty days, it would be as bad as
ever. I daily see and converse with the for-
mer commantlers of piratical cruisers, who.
with their crews, now walk at large in the
streets of this place.’
Late .. 'orthern E.r:pcditiur2.—'I‘lre Liver-=
ppol Mercury states that the point to which
Lapt. Parry peuetratetl,on this occasion, was
not we understand, nearly so far to the north
as the spot where he formerly wintered, not
mncltfarther mdeed,thau Capt. Franklin was
lug Hiitlsoii’s Bay, were carried along by an
immense current of drift ice for about 239
miles, in great, danger every moment of be-
ing crushed to pieces, and then stick fast amid
the solid waste. Here they remained ~irmuo-
vably locked up, and almost despairing of-a-
gain revisiting Old England, till exactly a
were enabled to effect their escape. No soon-
er howcver, did the vessels again plough the
deep than new dangers awaited them. A vi-
olcnt storm came on, in which the vessels.
much injured by being long locked up in the
ice, had nearly perished; and during their
whole passage home they have encountereed
the most tempestuous weather.
While locked up in the ice, the ships were
visited by some parties of Esquimaux,who re-
mained with them along time, residing in
snow houses,which they constructed for them-
selves iu the vicinity. On one occasion, these
which they gave Captain Parry to t1ndet'stand
they had procured from two vessels, which
were on their beatns-ends about I50 miles off.
Captain Parry (as we understood our infor-
mant) seut out a party In search of these
wrecks,who reported that the vessels were Eu-
glisli wlialers,of the crews of l.\ hich they could.
find uotrace. '
ive, as far as regards itstnain object, yet from
the intelligence of its commander and officers
and othergentlcmen employed under him,we
have no doubt that science will be considera-
bly beucfittetl by the many interesting obser-
vations which they l'llll.slllt1'v'e~lll1ltlt$ during
their long stay in the Polar regions.
Cold Weather in .Mobilv.—-The night of fst
Nov. was severely cold for the lat. :3_0, 80; so
much so, that we had ice 1-4 of an inch thick
in the morning. The winters have of late
years been more sex‘:-ire than formerly in Lou-
isiana and Florida;the natives ofthccunntry
will have it, thattlie cold weather is brought.
by the Yaukees.~—.«iIu.’)t'lc Argus.
It would have been amusmg at least if the
manner, according to the opinions of the nar-
tives, the yunkees introduce frost - among
them.—.\'. 1'. Deli. flalv.
flfriicrtn Ta:z:(zfz'on.—'I‘lre manner in which
taxes are imposed by an African Prince is
somewhat singular. The I_§iug ofCongo some-
timcs walks out on a_tlry day when there is a.
high wind. He then puts his bonnet over one
car ou|_v,aud when it is blown oil‘ by the wind,
he imposes atax on those subjects who livcin
the quarter from which the wind blew.
~b__e'r more than equa _o tiv_o-tliirjtls of _ thefai'niy_.j"
._,_host of legislzitors is vie.-y great-"—'an_,?=objcl!t= .
able to reach by land. The sbips after lcav- ~
tnonth ago, when the ice broke up, and they .
people brought to the ship two barrel staves, -
Although the expedition has pmveda_bort- -
Editorofthc Argus had informed us-in what _ «
In
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Norwalk Chronicler