Oracle post — Portsmouth, N.H., 1803-12-27 00:00:00, page 2

In an institution, eminently deferring of pub
lic support, it was not so difficult to obtain funds
and to form a committee, as to fecare a local
Situation, and, engage propper inftrudors, for so
novel an undertaking In spite of the zeal of
the committee, above fix months intervened be
fore the school could be opened. It occupies
part of the buildings formerly known by the name
of the Dog and Deck, in St. Georges Fields,and
once applied to very diffiinilar purposes. Five
boys were admitted on the 4th of August, tßoc ;
and in September five more boys ; their ages be
ing from eight to fifteen years. Ineffectual en
quiries had, in the mean time, been made, after
a teacher ; until a person was obtained from the
' school at Liverpool. For. en more blind boys
have since been admitted;leaving(after a deduction
. of the names of seven of them returned to their
friends) a total of seventeen, at present in the
school.
In December, tßoo, a school was opened for
the admission of girls, ten of whom are now in
the school ; I employed in making flfh line, the
others in Spinning ; their ages from twelve to
twenty years. Only one of them, and three of
the boys have turned out capable of indrudion.
The occupation of the boys is principally in bas
ket making ; a trade eafiiy learnt, requiring on
ly a small dock to let up with, and pollening a
very ready vent for its commodities. Much
however, of gain, from work mud not be expec
ted in the commencement of a school for the
Blind. There will inevitably be more waste of
knateriaisqand less progress of profit, (n the in
fancy or@ch an ehablidiment, than in that of
other schools of industry. Some advancement has
however, been made ; and in the beginning of
November lad, ten boys, and four of the girls
had their talks of earnings fixed, with the con
dition that they ffiould be entitled to half of
what they ihouid earn beyond that sum. The
earnings of the fchollars in the proceeding week
was 1/. 17s. toM of which weekly amount fix
(hillings & two pence were earned by Charlotte
Crippin, a blind girl aged fourteen, and admit
ted to the school in January, 18M. bhe is soon
to be returned to her friends, as capable of earn
ing her maintainence, with only twelve monhs
ir.drudion, and notwithstanding the calamitous
disadvantage of blindness.
It has been a circumstance of peculiar good
fortune to the blind children admitted into this
school, that their eyes are always examined by a
very able and eminent occulift ; and that if any
thing can be done for the recovery of their fight
they havd the advantage of the belt possible ad
vice & assistance.
— 0 —
Extrafl of a letter-dated on board the Immortalite
Frigate, Downs, Offaber 17.
On Thursday, being off Boulogne, we had a
complete view of the flotilla. They saluted us
with fix shells ; one went over us, and the second
fell short ; the remainder were badly directed, as
they burst East and Weft of us nearly half a mile.
We could didin&ly count eighty five gun boats,
and perceive an immense hurry and bustle on
shore, and in the harbour. The camps on the hills
make a very formidable appearance ; and, from
their extent, we fuppoie muff contain 30,000
men at least. Their security, however,would be of
very short duration, were it not for their batteries,
which are not only numerous, but placed in ev
ery direction that can bear on an assailable point,
and protest the flipping. We shall, notwithftand-
Ing try their metal very shortly, as I have been
informed this morning, an attack on the pier head
at Boulogne will take place in a few days. You
may therefore expert to hear of smart work be
fore tty week elapses, and, I tfuft, a complete
difeommture of the enemy.
During our visits to the French coasts, we ve
ry frequently perceive the soldiery on the shores
employed in gathering muscles, or fifhing; and
have not been a little entertained with their ma
noeuvres, as our flip approached the land.
When they imagine we can reach them with our
guns, they take to their heels like heroes,and either
pop dpen behind the sand hills, or fly into the
interior of the country. Along the French coast
the inhabitants seem to have deserted their dwel
lings, especially those situated near the sea. Their
fears are unnecessary, as we never molest them.
Private advices from Paris slate, that the ut
most distrust prevails throughout the whole of
the moneyed circles there ; and that not more
than five banking houses are able to answer the
demands upon them.
Orders have been issued for the immediate creation of
perseverance ; and certainly a good man can scarce
ly have a more agreeable refledionthan what must
arise from his condud upon this occasion.
[ Evening Pod.
School for the Indigent Blind in London.
The following account'by the Bishop of Dur
ham, of a school for the indigent blind in Lon
don, may afford to the friends of humanity, in
this country some ufeful hints for the relief of
this helpless class of society.
An account of the Liverpool school for the
inftrndion of the indigent blind was published
in the year 1 7§o. The success which in that,
and other places, has attended every effort of
benevolence to inftrud the blind and make them
ufeful and happpy, induced force individuals to
attempt in the following year, to form such an
establishment in the metropolis ^ might
not only be of use to the indigent blind, but al-
To to others, fuffering from the loss of fight, so
as to inftruft them to increase their c mfort by
a greater degree of utility and occupation, in
their progress thro' a feene of trial and probation
to an awful eternity.
A general meeting of fubferibers was called on
the Bth January, 1800, when resolutions were
'adopted, for cQablilhing, in the metropolis, “ A
School for the Indigent Blind." A president,
two Vice Presidents, and twelve other fubferibers
were appointed a committee to prepare a draft
of regulations, and to engage a local situation
for the school.
fire beacons, ten feet high on all the principal eminences
in the county of Saffex.
VIENNA, OCT. 18.
The Ottoman Porte has had recourse to Rus
sia, as a protestor from the dorm which ap
pears impending over the Empire.. It hasmade
a proportion for an alliance. We have not learnt
the fate of the proposition.
— —-0
Paris, October 16.,
" The preperations for the expedition against Eng
land are continued with unabated adivity ; there
will be no thought ofpeace, till the decision of the
great feene now preparing. Two couriers have
arrived here frbmMadrid,one to the Spanidi arobaff
ador the Chevalier Azarra, & the other to the Min
ister Talleyrand. Spain is now unanimous with
France with refpe& to the measures now to be
taken : We shall soon fee the consequences of our
union in a war ^gainft England. The gun boats
provided with pieces of heavy artillery, which are
built according to the dire&ions of the counsellor
of date Tarfoit, are much preferable to those built
towards the clofeof the lad war. A vessel is building
at St. Maloes, for the First Conful.a
The greater part of our troops are now in full
motion, the army defined for the landing and for
other purposes, will now be organized with the u{-
most activity. The Generals and chief of the ftaff
of the armies at ^ayonn? and St. Ome^ and Brufl
els have all set out for the place of their destination,
and the troops which will compole these armies are
either already arrived or on their march. The army
of reserve, is also now formed. General Ney, who
is to have the command of it, is immediately ex
pcAed at Campeigne from Switzerland.; from each
co rpaoy of the Codfuhr Guard, 50 men will be
taken for the landing. The experienced Gen. Lac
oUrbe will takepau in the expedition . Yesterday
the General of Brigade, Ramond Dutlilles, set out
for the camp, as Chief of the ftaff.
. It is (ktrreined, tee are assured, that B unp^rte
will place himfelf at the head of the expedition a
gainst England, and goon board one of the land
ing veflels. A plan has lately been laid before the
ICouncil of Rate for fitting out a large number of
flat bottomed boats, which will be fattened to
gether with iron chains and will carry a great num
ber of men.. Bonaparte is eftabbflfog a marine
guard, to consist of chosen tailors wto will form
the crew on board, of the vtffel on which he em
barks. —
AMSTERDAM, OCT. Ifr
lo'ur Courant, it is laid, under thread Fails,
that, the Ruffian envoy, Count Marckaff has given
a note to the French government, lignifying that
his court will not fee with indifference the march
of the French troops through Spain, to take pos
session of Portugal.
1.11 I I—
BREST, OCT. 2^
Within the space of twenty-five miles of this
town 170,000 men are cantoned. Their object
is laid to be Ireland. There are 22 fail of the line
and five frigates, in this harbour ; betides 190
loose transports.
st. OmeAs, oct. 15, The First Consul. is
daily expected here PetitiolLhourly reach his
ear; b£feeching him not to rift his faered person.
600 flapjotcom boats are ready to carry 50 men
each ; and 1400 more are in forwardneft—ln
this vicinity there are 160,000 men.—from
spain to the Baltic 400,000 are to be allotted for
the expedition, of which 200,000 expeA to be
facriticed ; with the remainder England wi.l be
made a Department of France. ro'
Dunkirk, oct. 16. An embargo has been
laid on all flipping here. The sailors havebeen
impressed something serious is about totake
place Before December comes in the attempt
on England will certainly be made. From Hol
land we fhalldraw 400 merchantmen. The troops
in Holland, French and Dutch amount to 50,000
and are certainly defined for scotland. Our
floating batteries are terrible ; and formed on
the model of those used by sweden against the
Ruffians, advised by sir sidney smith. Our
flatbottom boats carry 18 oars.—The men prac
tice going in & out of them, jumping in them up
to the chin.
Paris, oct. 24. Detachmen's of the Consu
lar Guard have marched from this city for the
coast. The firft Confyl, it is said will set out
next week.
Eighteen gun-boats have got out of Havre &
fafely arrived at Boulogne ; and on the 16th a
flotilla of 26 armed vessels. left St. Maloes, and
arrived fafely in Brest. The soldiers rowed,
singing martial songs.
The French infantry in Switzerland are or
dered for the coast, to be employed in the expe
dition against England.
The diplomatic audience of yesterday, was
splendidly attended ; and the presentations in
cludeda great number of Noblemen and foreign
ers of dihindion.—Amongft them was M. de.
Kotzebue, Member of the Academy of Berlin.
Brussels, oct. 27. The Minister at War
has ordered that all the artillery horses shall be
sent without delay to Bruges.
The First Consul's head quarters are to be neat
Dunkirk. Part of his camp equipage, & guard,
are on their way thither.
Above 200 transports are assembled at Oftend
and all sailors and filherman, even boys 12 years
old, must immediately be in readiness to efr
bark.
It is fad every movement,in every place makes
it certain that an attempt on England will short
ly be made. —The whole army under Gen D'
Avouft will embark at Dunkirk, Oftend, and
Brefkens.
The Minister at War, Berthier, has visited all
the ports on the coast, and has returned to Paris.
LONDON, NOV. 6.
The Chief Cohful had not left Paris, the 75th
October.
Yesterday dispatches were received from Ad.
Cornwallis. —They are said to announce extra
ordinary bustle in Brest ; from which it was infer
red that the enemy's fleet was preparing for sea.
Bonaparte keeps himfelf surrounded by a body
By the latest arrivals.
guild of 600 c horse and foot, each of whom ik
not less than fix feet high.
Four (hips of the line, and some frigates are
ordered to reinforce our fleet in the Mediterra
nean.
.. Nov. 8. Our squadron has been at work again
upon the French coast . • Yesterday afternoon a
heavy firing was heard at Deal and Dover, in the
quar^r of Boulogne, from which it was conclu
ded that a bombardment was taking place,or the
attack had been renewed upon the gun-boats. No
particulars had reached our coast at the depar
ture of the post lift night.
, We fated yefterday\that the body guard of Bona
parte conftfs of 6000 men, all of whom are fixfeet
high ; they receive a pay of 2s per day ; an onormous
friary on the Continent The Consul, it is said, goes
to mass every Sunday, and has actually ordered a Cha
pel to be built at Malmai/on The old fiber coinage
of Paris has been fopped, and a nd)one is issued, as
well as of gold The principal piece is of 40 livres ;
its value is marked in the centre of onefde, surround
ed by a wreath ; and on the other is a portrait of the
Consul, with the infeription "N. Buonaparte, Pre
mier Consul de la Republique Francois." On
the milled edge is, "Dieu Protege la France."
This coinage has cdufed all paper money to disappear.
Liverpool, Nov. 3. ,
-London, Nov. %
, Dispatches have been sent to Plymouth, to be for
warded with all possible expedition to Lord Nelson, in
the Mediterranean. They are to be sent out by the
Hussar, of 38 guns, Captain Wilkinson Govern
ment has received undoubted information of the drfgn
of Bonaparte to attempt the landing of a considerable
force in Egypt The Hussar will, it is said, be fol
.lowed by four feips of the line and some frigates, to re
inforce ourfeet in that quarter.•
„Liverpool, Nov. 16.
Extract of a letter from London, Nov. 8.
"The note of preparation on this fide of the water
has increased in a finguiar manner Jince % las: -
the hottest press for fe amen ever known took place all
down the river late on Monday evening; and ofcourfe
a greater number of men were taken ; probably be
tween the river and the Nore nearly iooofr"lt is
further underfood, that to carry the regulations lately
agreed upon for rifling an invasion into the mos ac
tive and immediate effeft, the Lords Lieutenants of
Counties, have been ordered, by bis majeffsfgn ma
nual to take the mos prompt iftafures for driving cat
tle, removing horses, corn, breaking up of reads, itlc.
The northern coast of this kingdom is to befrengthened
without delay—a party of the artillery porting 6
field-pieces, 6 curricle guns, 12 ammunition waggons,
bread waggons, &c. Jet out on Monday from Wool
wich for Tynemonth and Hull, and another detach
ment is ready to follow them.—ln fall, a speedy and
a terrible conflift is now looked for with confidence,
and from the peculiar slate of this country ratoer
courted than otherwise.
"This dijpofition of the public mind mus certainly
be increased by the statement of Lieutenant Honlt,
who havingjuft escaped from Dieppe, obtains corfder
able credence. Being supposed by the French to have
been an American officer, when be has urged the im
prariicability of the invafon of England, the reply of
the French officers has been, "Very wed, :f 100,000
of us perish, France will be just where foe was ; for
Jhe can fend another 100,000, and another after that;
but if we get on shore in England, we will do the
bufnefs."
Dover, Nov, 5.
Some very heavy firing has been heard at times
ail the week ; but we have been without any par
ticulars until this evening. The Admiral Much
hired armed cutter, Lieutenant Sheppard, of this
port, is just arrived, very much fluttered, in conse
quence of an a&ion fought by her with a French
gun-brig of 12 thirty two pounders, and 3 French
gun-boats. On Monday last, being off Boulogne,
th y diftinAly counted 84 gun beats at anchor in
Boulogne Roads ; at ten, A. M. they difeovered fix
fail (landing in (hore/and tacked to difeover whaf
they wete. The French brig hoisted her colours,
and flood out to engage the cutter, while the gun
boats kept firing at a diftanCe. The brig being
pretty near gave the cutter her broadside ; onethir
ty-two pound foot Went thro' her larboard quarter,
took off a man's leg, knocked away the top of the
companion, and went out the opposite tide; the
cotter flood oh, and reserved her fire until within
pistol flint, and then gave the enemy a br^dfide of
round and grape; on which the brg tacked and
ran shore, the cutter following her, until file went
on fliore on the sharp rocks off Portee Point. One
gun boat was also driven on the rocks, the other
three found refuge under a large French battery,
where the cutter continued cannonading them un
til (he had expended 147 rounds ; when, being so
much disabled, the water nearly up to her cabin
floor, gaft (hot away in two places, the mast fevtr
ely wounded by pieces of shells from the shore,
and the matter and four men wounded, (he haul d
off. Luckily the Lark Hoop of war immediately
came up, received her wounded men, and went in
and continued theaaion. The cutter bore away
for Statord Roars but the weather becoming mod
erate, die arrived here this evening."
"Bonaparte, has got himfelf surrounded by a body
guard of fix thousand horse and foot, each of whom are
not less thanfxfeet high ! He has got befdes bis gun
boats, a number of vessels called Caroncers, at leaf
18 of them ; these vessels are confrutted about 70 feet
long, are schooner rigged, with oars, and carry each a
impounder in bow and fern, with swivels, and are
manned with 80 artillery men..
"Within 25 miles of Brest, cantonments are formed,
where there are according to our information no lejs
than 170,000 troops, who are cheered by their officers
with the pleasing theme of the plunder of Ireland.
"Twenty-two foips of the line, befdes 190 tranf
ports,gun boats, &c. are said to be in the inner har
bour of Bref.
"Accounts from St. Omers reports, that 600 flat
bottomed boats were read) three weeks fnee, aud 1400
more in great for<wardnefs. They aljo talk of having
16,000 men upon the Flefliifo coaf, independent of
these floating batteries at Brest, which have oars, and
36 pounders ; and jome others at Dunkirk, resembling
those used by the late King of Sweden with great suc
cess against the Ruffians.
"The French also announce a newly tonftrufied
mortar, calculated to annoy us very considerably.
RAILEIGH, N. C. DEC. 5.
A bed of Gold ore has been lately difeoverd in
Cabarrus County in this State, in a Creek run
ning thro' the land of Mr. John Reed, a native of
Hesse Caffel, in Germany,which promises to be a
fodree of great riches to theproprietor The metal
was firft found byz or 3 children of Mr. Reed, who
were fifhing.—They brought a few pieces home
to their father, as a curiosity, ignorant of its val
ue. On examination the ore was found not on
ly to be gold, but gold of a pure quality. Since
this difeovery, these little boys have picked up
daily from 100 to 120 penny-weights(worth up
wards of 201. sterling) but the proprietor has
lately found a lump or the ore 28 pounds
weight, which it is supposed, when fluxed will
yield twenty seven pounds of pure gold, and is
worth upwards of foe thoufandfx hundred dollars !
These fads are assured to us by one the Mem
bers of our General assembly from Cabarrus,now
in this city.
From St. Domingo.
Information has been received from Jeremie to the 18th
tilt. A large force was colleaing to assist in the siege ol
Cape-Francois Coffee was high. A French privateer had
been fitted out at St, Jago de Cuba, for the express pur,ofe
of capturing v<ffels trading With the Brigands . She had
taken two Baltimore febooners, but it was said feared xbt
lives of the crews, contrary to inftruaicns from Rocham
beau, which were to capture all vessels trading with the
Brigands, take no prisoners, but put ^ll to death. Such
were reported to be his orders. &
—_, „
DOVER, DECEMBER 1,.
We hear that a number of persons have been lately ap
prehended in different parts of the Country, charged with
making and passing counterfeit Bank Bills of this State. In
the neighborhood of this place were arrested last week and
committed to the gaol in this town, William Hurd and
John Jones —Their places of retreat being pretty accu
rately afeertained, a number of gentlemen of the town vol
unteered in the cause, and with proper officers, surrounded
their refpe&ive houses, by night, and compelled them to
surrender not only with much exertion arid fatigue of the
purfuers,but at the rifque of their lives, for Jones in his des
perate resistance severely wounded the officer and several
others, by difeharging whole brick tats, and various deadly
weapons prepared for bis d@f G ne 6 .
We hope to hear that similar exertions are made, in other
places, if such Pests to feciety should be difeovered, for it is
evident that by such public spirit and energy, and by that
alone they can be secured, and a flop put to a practice so
deftru&ive to Community, especially to the honest farmer,
and others in the interior parts of the country who have
not the means of detecting the fraud.
It has been well observed, that "those persons who per
mit such idle, straggling, suspicious Characters to reforc to,
and find protection under their roofs, although not actually
engaged in the traffic themfclves, are almost equally crimi
nal with the principals ; for without such asylums to retreat
to,their limits would soon be too narrow for their protection
—and that Citizen who refufes to assist in detecting or
apprehending such gross offenders, whea occasion requires
must not be surprised if it induces suspicious against him
whatever may be their sentiments or their motives."
The Oracle,.
TUESDAY, December 27.
A petition has been prefeuted to the Legislature of this
Bate, for permission to eftablil h a bank at Keene
Extract of a letter from St. Martins, dated Nov. 24, 180,
This day arrived a schooner from Baltimore, which in
lat, 32, 0 N long 66, 0, W.took the people from the wreck
cf the (hip Hawk, capt Alexander Night, from Drma ata,
bound to Portsmouth, N. H. The people left the flip in
their own beat, and went along fide the schooner—the sea
rurning very high, every mau jumped on board the schooner
excepting three passengers, a man, his wife and child. The
man banded bis child -on board, the boat not being toade
faft, and half full of water, dropped ' off and himfelf and
wife were both drowned, it being eight o'clock in the even
ing aud very dark. I saw the child this morning, he is a
fine toy of only eleven months old—A Gentleman of the
name of Howell, has taken the child as one of his own. I
had the above from captain Night, who desired me to have
it published in the Portsmouth papers.
N. B. The (hip belonged to Demarara, and was brnmd to
Portsmouth to be repaired. The persons drowned were
English. —■——,..-..-.
Captain Parrot, arrived at Baltimore from Madeira, t*
giving an account cf the late terrible storm at that place,
thus writes, — v
" It tfas nearly two days before I came in again, but
whilst at sea, experienced the mod tremendous fight ID,
eyes ever beheld,- —the whole farfacc of the sea was appar
ently covered with trees, parts of houses, pipes of wine,
boats, oars, hogs, (heap, goats, cattle, mules and tn short ev
ery thing that the ifl.-nd affords Numbers were dug out of
the rubbish, after the disaster, Bill alive—and to the aft on
iffiment of all, a woman was found dead with her infant
child at her breast, alive, and likely .to survive."
&
Bank of North-America, Philadelphia, Nov. 2fr
Caution against Freuds —There are in circulation coßfl
terfeits of the United States Gold Coinage, viz. Base eagle#
not easily to be dete&ed by the eye, but which weighing
will be found near 4dwt. lighter then the genuine coins—
the interior of the counterfeit appears to be blanched cop.
per, H.D. jun.
FROM NEW.ORLEANS.
Accounts from this place to Nov. 22, have been received-
Arrangements were making for the surrender of the coun
try to the United States. On the sth Nov, General Wife
kinfon left Pensacola for the H. Qat Fort Adams---whence
he was to proceed to New Orleans with an efeort of 1000
men, on or about the 20th infl. The Aurora fays, " the
government has direded, that the plafe be taken poffeffim?
of firft according to treaty- -and to palaver afterwards." A
Spanish frigate hfyJ strived at N:w Orleans to pay off th#
Spaniffi ctheera.
Boston, Dec. 19.
Latefl from Europe.
Arrived at this port, on Saturday last the ich,
Anson, Capt. Wefenat, in %, days from Cork.
Capt Wefcoat, lelt the rivet on the tyh Nov. but
had no intercourse with the city for five or fix days
previous. His papers are therefore no later than
our accounts hired from England, At the time of
tys departure, no events of any magnitude had
hanfpired—the invasion of that kingdom, as well
as England, was expe&ed—and they were prepared
at all points to receive the foe—on this fubjed,
there appeared to be no division of fentimenr, and
no clatbing to interest —on the check of the cath
olic, ,s well as the proteflant—the inforgent as the
loyalist the ardour of patriotism gfd^ed with an
equal heat and fervour, when called on to repel a
foreign uturper. Os the late rebellion but little
was heard—the chiefs had been principally arrested,
and were hung out of the way.
== == —... rT-fe 1-■ ±ts
By the latest Mails.