Oracle post — Portsmouth, N.H., 1804-02-28 00:00:00, page 1

OF ALL THE DISPOSITIONS AND HABITS
WHICH LEAD TO POLITICAL PROSPERITY,
RELIGION and MORALITY ARE INDISPENSA
BLE SUPPORTS. Wfogta', Legacy.
noralistT'
'" ' VIRTUE. ''
Virtue is the daughter of Heaven ; happy
those who cultivate it from their infancy ; they
pass their youth in serenity, their manhood in
tranquility, and their old age without remorse.
There is nothing in this world fit to be compar
ed with it ; all its withes and desires tend to ce
ieftial enjoyments,which are not liable to change.
The virtuous man looks back on his pall conduct
without regret, because his time has been well
employed ; and has no apprehensions for the fu
ture because his fate cannot but be happy. His
mind is the feat of cheerfulnefs, and his a&ions
are the foundations of felicity ; he is rich amidst
poverty, and no one can deprive him of what he
pouffes; he is all perfection, for his lite is spot
less ; and he has nothing to with for, since he
possesses every thing. Alexander was celebrated
for his courage, Ptolomy for his learning, Tra
jan for his love of truth, Antoninus for his pie
ty, Conttantius for his temperance, Scipio, for
hi s continence, and Theodofics for his humility.
O glorious virtue, which in foro/way or other
rewards allits admirers, and without whom there
can be no real bappinefs !"
' POETRY.
The Swiss Emigrant.
Farewell, farewell my native land,
A long farewell to life and thee!
Oa thy last rock J liog'ring stand,
Thy last rude rock, how dear to me!
Once more I view thy rallies fair,
But dimly view, with tearful eye ;
Once more I breathe thy healthful air,
But breathe it in how deep a sigh!
Ye vales with downy verdure spread,
Ye groves that drink the sparkling flream,
As burning from the mountain's head
Its foaming waves in fitver gleam ;
Ye lakes that catch the golden beam
That floods with fire yob peak of fuow,
As evening vapours bluely stream,
And Hilly roll their volumes flow;—
Scenes, on this burning heart imprefs'd,
By ev'ry thrill of joy, of woe;
The bliss of childhood's vacant breast,
Or warmer youth's impaffion'd glow ;
> The tears by filial duty shed
Upon the low, the peaceful tomb,
Where sleep, too bleft, the reverend deacr,
Unconfeious of their country's doom.
• Say / can Helvetia 's patriot child,l
A wretched exile, bear to roam,
Nor fink upon the lonely wild,
Nor die to leave his native home ?
His native home /—no home has he—
He scorns in servile yoke to how,
He scorns the land no longer free,
Alas—he has no country now /
Ye snow-clad Alps, whole mighty moun^,
Great nature's adamantine wall,
In vain oppos'd your awful bound
To check the prone defeending Gaul;
What Hunter now, with darting leaps,
Shall chafe the Ibex, o'er your rocks,
Who clothe with vines your craggy steeps, , ,
Who guard from wolves your rambling flocks ?
While low the free-born sons of toil
Lie funk amid the flaughter'd brave,
To freedom true the stubborn foil
Shall pine and Harve the puny Have..
Spoilers, who pour'd your rav'niog bands
To gorge on Latium's fertile plains,
And fill'd your gold rapacious hands
From Regal domes, and fculptur'd sanes,
What feck ye here ? Our niggard earth,
Nor gold, nor fculptur'd trophies owns;
Our wealth was peace, and guiklefs mirth,
Our trophies are our tyrant's bones.
Burst not my heart, as dimly swell
Morat's proud glories on my view;
Heroic feenes, a long farewell,
I fly from madness and from you.
Thou vanquish'd land, once proud and free,
Where firft this fleeting breach I drew,
This heart must ever beat for thee,
In abfcencc near—in misery true ;
Means of increasing the quantities of heat ob
tained by burning of Coal-by Count Rumford.
See Journals of the Royal leftitution p. <B. City Library
No. 2947.
It is afaft «wbicb has been long known, that days
and fever al incombufliWfabftonce> , when mixed with
sea coal, cause tie coal to give out more beat in its com
buflien than it can le made to produce when it is tarnt
pure and unmixed. It is lately ascertained, that
when thejides and back &/ an open chimney fire place
in which coals are burned, are compofcd of fire bricks,
and heated red hot, the, throw off into the room in
-Icomparably wore heat than all the coal which could
pflibly befeut into the gt ate, even sassing them to
burn with the greats pfible degree of brightnefs—
hence it appears that a red hot coal does nos fend off
so much heat as a piece of red brick or Jlone, of tie
fame dimenfsons ; this inferefting difeover, will ena
ble us to make important improvements in the construe-
A lion of our fires —the fuel irflead of being employed to
beat the room direftly, Jhould be placed to heat the
fde and back of the fire place whichfsould never be of
Iron. —Afew coals therefore, properly placed, will
make a much better fire than a larger quantity in the
general mode. Shallow grates properly confrutted
give more heat and consume left fuel, as large masses of
coal interrupt the beat from the back iffdes of thegrate
coming into the room and prevent also the beating of the
back andjita Efficiently to be of much fervice —h is
¥=—^
Vol. XIV.]
however pffible b, a simple contrivance to make a good
and an economical fire in an, grate — Make a quanti
ty of globular fire balls of good fire bricks or artificial
fireftone well burnt 2^ to finches diameter, with them
cover the bottom of the grate with a Jingle layer-on
this layer of balls the fire is to be kindled, and in filing
the grate, more balls are to be added with the coals that
are laid on, care being taken to prevent the balls getting
together in a heap, in which case the, would cool mt
having furroundingfuel to keep red hot, but if a due pro
portion is kept and the, are Well mixed all of them ex
cept possibly those at the bottom will become red hot, arid|
the fire not only be very beautiful, but will give out a
ve r , great heat for a great length of time—those who
have praclifed this method in England are of opinion
that it saves 3 of the coals used in the common way,
and with judicious management may save z — these
balls made in moulds and burnt in a kiln, would cost
little and last a long time ; at the fire burns down
they will fettle towards the bottom of the grate when
they must be raised by the tongs and even of fame of
them removed, Until frefe coal is put on.
1 he balls fauldbe made of hard burnt brick,reduced to
a coarse powder by founding, — mixed with clay, for
med in moulds, then dried and well burnt in a kiln.
Rapid and economical mode of heating by fleams.
In the fame book page 34.
Is to be found aver, interefling account of the ap
plication offteam to dying and other manufactures,
where large quantities of liquors are required to be
boi ed, & afo tebeating rooms. The Lehure room of
, the Roya\ InJlitution capable ofemtaining 900 perfoni,
and 60 feet diameter, is heated b, Copper Seam Tubes
8 inches in diameter, more th/n 60 feet long, conceal
ed under the feats and is ftpplied with fleams from
underneath — The beat efidping through the copper.
' LOUISIANA.
Copy of a letter from Dr. John Sibley, late of Fayetteville
(now of Louisiana,) to J. Gales; printer, in Raleigh.
Louifana, dug. 5, 1803.
Dear Sir, ,
ABOUT twelve months ago I was called by
some business to Natches : I took (hipping
at Charleston, landed at New-Orleans, and pro
ceeded on to Natches by land, along the Miffifippi.
The distance is called 390 miles.
Not being able immediately to accomplish toy
business at Natches, I thoroughly explored the Mif
fifippi territory. After which finding my return
to C -olina would be unavoidably prograded for
some time, and hearing much of the country of
Louisiana; I conceived the plan of taking a ram
ble thither. I therefore applied to the SpaniSh
government and obtained permission to travel
through, and explore that country where 1 pleased.
For that purpose I left Natches the sth of March
last, and have been since that time through various
parts of Louisiana, but principally on Red River,
—I have kept an accurate journal of ray travels
since I left Charleston, interspersed with notes and
observations, which at this time is fuelled to a con
siderable size.
A few days ago I received a letter from Gov.
Claiborne, of Natchez, informing me of the cession
of this country to the U. S. which has made me
the medium through which this important infor
mation has been communicated to the inhabitants
of this part of Louisiana; nineteenth twentieths of
whom are French, fpsak none but their own na
tive language, and understand but little of the gov
ernment of the United States. My room has been
crowded almost every day since I received Gov.
Claiborne's letter; some having heard the report,
and wishing to know the truth of it ; others to ob
tain some knowledge of the American Government,
under which they expe& soon to pass.
I have done all in my power to reconcile them
to the change : And it has afforded me much fatis
faaion to observe the success of my efforts; though
IJiave been astonished at the misrepresentations
which have been spread among these people here,
concerning the government of the United States,
which had excited prejudices that in some instanc
es I found much difficulty to remove.
I have represented to the people, (hat &hile they
were under an European government, they were
held as an article of traffic, were bought and fold
from one European power to another, as they buy
and fell their cattle, mules and horses ; that the Eu
ropeans were eternally at war with one another, and
let them belong to whichever of these powers they
would, they must be a party in their wars, and lia
ble to be plundered by their enemies ; and that they
knew, b, experience, how little an European colo
ny had to expe&, situated 4 or 5000 miles from the
feat of Government. Although this country has
been fettled nearly as long as Pennsylvania, in many
refpe&s pofleffiog superior advantages, how small in
its progress in improvement compared to that Rate !
Which difference is intirely to be attributed to the
difference of government.
Without prejudice to the governments of France
and Spain, 1 have represented to them the mildness
of the American Government. It interferes with'
no one's religion, but proteas all. Its disposition
to-encourage commerce, agriculture, internal navi
giion, manufaaures, arts and Science; and that
they will never fell them, and that it is able, and
will always be willing to protea them, and whose
finances are such that they will not be oppressed
with taxes. ( .
As some description of this country, which will
Alertly become part of the U. S. cannot faikto be
interesting, I will give you some extrads from my
journal refpeaing ty which muff be in a very a
bridg-manner, or it would too far exceed the
bounds of a letter, which I hope has not already be
come tiresome, and which has no other recommen
dations than the novelty of the fabjeft and a Aria
adherence to truth.
The island of New-Orleans,which make a part of
Louisiana, is on the east fide of the Mississippi river;
The fouth end of it forms one part of the mouth of
the river Balize and is a point. It is bounded on
the cast by Spirtu Shnto Bay, the lakes Fonchartraia
ORACLE POST.
TUESDAY^Febew&^J^
and Mourepas ; and on the North by the Ba}an
Mauch,ack, or which is sometimes called the river
Iberville, which is dry when the Mississippi is low,
but when that river is high, its waters break thro'
th^Bayau, falling into lake Maprepas, from thence
to i onchartrain, and from thence into Spiritu San
to Bay. The length of this idand is about 200
mbit's, and in breadth from two totwenty. About
the middle of it, on the bank of the Mississippi, is
the town of N. Orleans. This town is regularly
bit off:the streets are go feet wide, and interfeaed
Hit right angles ; the houses are principally of brick,
ome two and some three Tories higli,many of
t^ero elegant, with flat roofs. The town is more
half the size of Charleston, and several of its
meets next the river, are well built as any in
Gurlefton—there is one large handsome Church,
areovernment house and nunnery, a theatre and
ra> iiofpitals ; and contains about 15,000 inhabi
'ta*>4 fifths of whom are French.
I ^0.84.0 tiles above the Balize, and 6g below
Oil is, 'idle fetikments begin and are mu~h alike
on both dues <- r the river. Strung all along 40 or
go yards from the river, behind the Seine, or em
bankment, and (except a point or turn) within half
a mile of each other, and the cleared and extending
back from half a mile to a mile and a half, and is
generally bounded by a cypress swamp. The lands
from the edge of the river back, gradually fall till
they become too low to cultivate ; it never can ad
mit of but one row of fettlemenis.—
These plantations are interchangably planted in
sugar-cane, rice, and Cotton. Nothing can exceed
the luxuriance of their crops. The population of
the island of Orleans including the town may be
estimated at 20,000 inhabitants. On the opposite
fide of the river is another island, in length about
170 miles, formed by the Bayau. La Faufh which
like Manchack is dry at low water ; but at high
water a large (hip might conveniently pass it.
This Bayau falls into Vermillion bay, nearly 100
miles weft of Orleans. All along the banks of
La Faufh for 70 or 80 miles, is a, thick fettled as
any part of the Banks of the Mississippi.
There are several other islands along the Gulf of
Mexico, weft of the Miffifippi, on which are some
iettlemeots, particularly Barataria, at which I was.
Among these bays and islands are found, in the
greatest perfe-ion and abundance, turtle, fidi, oyst
ers, &c. and in winter, plenty of fowl. Farther,
to the weft ward, on the bay, is the large, rich settle
ment of Tuckepa, interspersed with beautiful prai
ries (land without sorest growth) rivers and creeks,
some of which are navigable for small vessels;
The population of this diftria, is 965 families'
they have large flocks of very large sized cattle,
make considerable sugar and cotton for exportation.
North of Tuckepa, and diredly back of it, is
the diftria of Appalufa, in extent nearly one hun
dred miles by fifty. This is a high rich and beau
tiful country, skirted with clumps of flourifliing
trees, and interspersed with fine rich prairies, which
produce corn and cotton, in great perfeaion. But
the immense flocks of cattle with which they are
covered, ara^lmoft incredible: ten thqufand head
may be seen in view. The population of Apalwfa
is 470 families. A river called Chaffeli runs
through Apalufa, and empties into the Gulf of
Mexico, at Tuckepa. This is a part of the Miffi
fippi that breaks out about 200 miles above New-
Orleaqs, just below, and in fight of the mouth of
Red-River.—The navigation of the Chaffeli has
been considerably obtruded for some years past, by
drift wood, that in floating down the Millilippi had
lodged at its mouth.
North of Apalula, and joining, begin the settle
ments on the waters of Red river. This river
heads in the fame mountains of the Missouri and
the river Grand, which feperate the waters of the
Miffifippi and the Gulf of Mexico, from those of
the Weftern Ocean. Red river is near 2000 miles
in length; it falls into the Miffifippi about 300
miles from its mouth, and is navigable, it is laid,
for boats more tban 1200 miles. In alcending it;
the firft high land that will admit of being fettled
(on account of its overflowing) is Izavial, which is
about 7g miles up it by water, and 40 miles above
the Mouth of Black river.
Izavial is called an island; and is so at high wa
ter; it is a beautiful prairie, on the fouth fide of
Red river about 20 miles in length, and 4 or §in
breadth, of an oval form, surrounded with thick
wood, interspersed with handsome clumps of trees,
tufted over with fine grass, and fettled all round the
edge in 2 circular form. Their fields are in the
prairie, in front of their houses, and the centre of
the prairie (which is not cul(ivated) is covered
with cattle of a very large size. I passed through I
zavial in the month of March ; I accurately ascer
tained the number of families, which is 226. The
land, when ploughed, has a very rich appearance,
and produces corn and cotton abundantly, but not
to be compared to the river lands, or the Apalula
or Tuckepa prairies. On each fide of Red river
are some Scattering settlements for about go miles,
to Mayou Rapide, on which are about too families.
The land here, in point of fertility, is inferior to
none in the world ; and for about 40 miles hence,
to the beginning of the Appalufa prairies, palling
Biyou Robert and Rayau Boeuf (on which a few
settlements are beginning) the country is equa 4
rich, and as well timbered as any land can be. It
is perfedly level, (r^fembling a river bed) the foil 20
feet deep, and like a bed of manure.
Higher up Red river, the banks and low grounds
(which are 5 or 6 miles wide) are nearly of the fame
quality as the lands on Bayau Rapide, with only this
difference, being of a texture somewhat looser, which
is perhaps an advantage. Here are but few Settle
ments, till you arriveat the river Cane Set lements,
(so called) which is 60 or 70 miles higher up Red
river. From this up to the village or port of Nat
chitoches, which is about go miles, arid for 25 miles
above it, the banks of one branch of Red river are
fettled in the fame manner As the Miffifippi. It is
impossible to conceive of more beautiful fields and
plantations, or more luxuriant crops of corn, cotton
and tobacco.
The town or port of Nalchitofo, (where is a
= fi ™= Qi *" B== 8 === Rro rc^9HOEraiiHCTftrc^#Z^SUreß©3Bß^^
church, the residence of the commandant, prieff,
ten or 12 merchants and 30 or 40 families) was for
merly a French garrison and an out post. It is
handsomely Situated on a hill, which overlooks a
great extent of well cultivated fields : it was
much larger 50 or 60 years ign than at present,
owing to many of the inhabitants, who before
lived in the garrison, having, within these 30 or
40 years past, fettled on plantations up and down
the river.
From this place the great weftern road takes
off towards Mexico, and it will ever be an im
portant place, being the key to an immense rich
country. The population of the diftrid of Nat
chitoches, is between 4 and 5,000. The low
grounds cf red River are generally 5 or 6 miles
wide, and no foil can be richer, and nearly all.
alike ; considerable part of which is overflowed
annually in the month of April, but it continues
up but a Short time and always falls in time to plant
corn and tobacco, and fifes no more till the fame
time the n&t year.
There are fields that from the best account I cam
obtain, have been planted fucceffivefy for near rob
years in corn or tobacco, and never known to fail
in producing plentiful crops, nor is the foil appar
ently in the least exhausted. It is particularly fa
vourable for tobaco, which grows remarkably lux
uriant, and hasa very fine flavour. The foil bas e
Saline impregnation which imparts something of it
to the tobacco.
The well and river water is some what brackifh-'
lam convinced that one hand here can make
us much tobacco in a season, as 4 of g on the best
lands in Virgina or N< Carolina. It is made
without any hills being raised and grows so quick
(from the Sirenght and warmth ofthe foil) that the,
usually cut it three times : When prepared for
market, it is stemmed and made into twills of five
pounds each.
From So to 100 bushels of corn can be madeto
the acre. Cotton produce equally well. The
gardens on the natural Sail (for they cannot be made
richer by manure) are not the less astonishing or
extraordinary. I have particularly observed the
v "y great height to which the artichoke grows;
they are usually 10 feet, and very frequently izand
fifteen feet high.
In the neighborhood of Natchitoches are sever
al salt Springs, the waters of which are at least;
three times as strong as sea water. Two men
with 10 or 12 old pots and kettles, fcpply the
settlement, on red River, with salt. The springs
are almost inexhauf/dble, and would admit of
very large quantities of salt being made from
them.
There are plenty of iron and copper ore, pify
coal, Shell and stone lime.
The different branches of the river, the lakes,
creeks, and Bayans, abound with very fine nth
cockles, foft Shelled turtle and in the winter,
great varieties of wild fowl. This country is far
from being sickly. The river being very deep,
does riot get much heated ; the houses are im
mediately on its banks, which are kept perfedl,
clean } and the water being faltifh, prevents the
exhalations of sickly vapours ; and it is happil,
freed from many of those troublesome infers so
common in the southern states, particularly the
bed-bug. The mufquetoe is very rarely seen
here.
, The high lands, which are all vacant and un
settled, are covered with a thick growth' of oak,
hickory, aih, gum, faffafras, dog-wobd, buck-eye,
grapevines, &c. intermixed with some Short
leaved pine, and interspersed with prairies, creeks,
lakes and fountains : It is not mountaneous, but
gently rising hills and vallies, and generally z
Strong clay foil.—But the appearance of both
the timber and land is very much injured by the
frequent burning of the woods.-
The country on Red river, which I esteem most
valuable, begins about go or 60 miles above the
upper settlements, and extends 4 or goo miles
The river there never overflows its banks ; the
low grounds are wide, and from the river, far 40
miles on each fide, the lands are remarkable rich,
interspersed with handsome prairies, beautiful streams
and fountains - 'alfo quarries of free stone, lime,
flint, Slate, grit and almost everv kind of stone.
About 80 or 90 years ago,a number of Frenchmen
fettled on this part of Red river ; they built a merch
ant mill, with Burr floors, (which they brot from
France) and cultivated wheatin the prairies with
much luecefs, and made excellent flour for fever
al,years, till, by the repeated incursions of the Oza
Indians they were compelled to abandon the settle
ment.
The Oil's are a race of Indans living in a prairie,
between Red river and a branch of the Missouri,
at three remarkable large firings ; they formerly
confided of coco warriors, but near two thirds of
them were deltroyed by the small pox a few tears
ago. They are in file gigantic, and in disposition
cruel and ferocious ; they are always at war
with their Indian neighbors, and are inveterate
enemies of all white people, particularly the
Spaniards.
Something more than twenty years ago, an
attempt was made, by the Spaniards, to re-fettle
this country ; for this purpose, some piefts, a
company of soldiers, and a number of families,
with a rich outfit, repaired thither. They had
been there but a Ihort time, before the Oza's felt
upon them, and destroyed every one of them.
No attempt has since been made to fettle it.
I am well acquainted with an elderly French
gentleman of very large fortune, and drift vera
city, who was born there, and who went there a
few years ago, and brought away the burr mill-
Hones which was left there by the French. Frora
him I have had an accurate description of that
country. He fays there are, to his certain
knowledge, three silver mines, as rich as any in
Mexico, from which he has taken ore and had
it proved. He likewise described to me a quarry
of fate, that is on the bank of the river, from
[No. 20.