Herald of the United States (Warren, R.I.), 1806-09-27 00:00:00

Gerald of the United States.
WARREN:—PUBLISHED NEAR THE POST-OFFICE, BY NATHANIEL PHILLIPS.
[No. 51, of Vol. XIV.]
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1806.
[Whole No. 717.]
WEEKLY ALMANACK.
   SEPTEMBER. S. M. T. W. T. F. S. REMARKS.     28 Sunday, 6 8 6 7 49 8 28   29 Monday, 6 9 6 8 30 9 6 Northern lights   30 Tuesday, 6 11 6 9 27 9 45 about this time   1 OCTOBER 6 12 6 10 33 10 45   2 Thursday, 6 14 6 11 42 11 46 Clear and pleasant.   3 Friday, 6 15 6 12 42 12 42   4 Saturday, 6 16 6 13 55 13 37  
MISCELLANY.
FROM THE PALLADIUM.
MESSRS. EDITORS, THE following is an extract from an ancient book called, the "HISTORY OF THE DEVIL," by DANIEL DE FOE. Though the book was written many years since, the personage described seems to retain the same qualities and attributes, and still to maintain an empire among men extensive as the domains of the Emperor of the French.
EXTRACTS.
"I RETURN to Satan's interest in the several governments and nations, by virtue of his invisibility, and which he carries on by possession; 'tis by this invisibility that he presides in all the councils of foreign Powers, (for we never mean our own, that we always presume;) and what though it is alledged by the critics, that he does not preside, because there is always a President; I say, if he be not in the President's chair, yet if he be in the President himself, the difference is not much; and if he does not vote as a counsellor, he votes in the counsellor, 'tis much the same; and here, as it was in the story of Ahab the king of Israel, as he was a lying Spirit in the mouths of all his Prophets; so we find him a Spirit of some particular evil quality or other, in all the transactions and transactors on that stage of life we call the state."
"In the great men of the world, take them a degree lower than the class of crowned heads, he has the same secret influence; and hence it comes to pass, that the greatest heroes, and men of the highest character for achievements of glory, either by their virtue or valor, however they have been crowned with victories, and elevated by human tongues, whatever the most consummate virtues or good qualities they have been known by, yet they have always had some Devil or other in them, to preserve Satan's claim to them uninterrupted, and prevent their escape out of his hands; thus we have seen a bloody Devil in a D'Alva; a postigate Devil in a Buckingham; a lying, artful, and politic Devil in a Richelieu; a treacherous Devil in a Mazarin; a cruel, merciless Devil in a Cortez; a debauched Devil in a Eugene; a conjuring Devil in a Luxemburg; and a covetous Devil in a M——: in a word, tell me the man, and I will tell you the Spirit that reigned in him."
"From men of figure we descend to the mob, and 'tis there the same thing; possession, like the plague, is Morbus Plubet; not a family, but he is a Spirit of strife and contention among them; not a man but he has a part in him; he is a drunken Devil in one, a whoring Devil in another, a thieving Devil in a third, a lying Devil in the fourth, and so on to a thousand, and a hundred thousand, ad infinitum."
"From degrees of persons, to professions and employments, 'tis the same; we find the Devil is a true postrine-master, he assumes any dress, appears in any shape, counterfeits every voice, acts upon every stage; here he wears a gown, there a long robe; here he wears the jack-boots, there the small-sword; in here an antibusast, there a buffoon; on this side he acts the mountebank, on that side the merry-andrew; nothing comes amiss to him from the great mogul to the scarecrow; the Devil is in them, more or less, and plays his game so well, that he makes sure work with them all; he knows where the common foible lies, which is universal passion, what handle to take hold of every man by, and how to cultivate his interest so, as to not fail of his end, or mistake the means."
"What is our language, when we look back with reflection and reproach on past follies? I think I was bewitched, I was possessed, certainly the Devil was in me, or else I had never been such a Sot: Devil in you, Sir, ay, who doubts it; you may be sure the Devil was in you, and there he is still, and next time he can catch you in the same snare you'll be just the same Sot that you say you were before."
"As to men, nature has satisfied herself in letting them be their own disguise, and in suffering them to act the old Women, as old women are vulgarly understood, in matters of council and politics; but if at any time they have occasion for the Devil in person, they are obliged to call him to their aid in such shape as he pleases to make use of, pro hac vice; and of all those shapes, the most agreeable to him seems to be that of a Female of quality, in which he has infinite opportunity to act to perfection, what part soever he is called in for."
"How happy are those people who they say have the particular quality or acquired habit call'd the second sight; one sort of whom they tell us are able to distinguish the Devil, in whatever case or outside of flesh and blood he is pleased to put on, and consequently could know the Devil wherever they met him? Were I dealt with this excellent and useful accomplishment, how pleasant would it be, and how would it particularly gratify my spleen, and all that which is in common with my fellow creatures, carry about me, called ill-nature, to stand in the Mall, or at the entrance to any of our Assemblies of Beauties, and point them out as they pass by, with this particular mark, that's a Devil; that fine young toast in a Devil; there's a Devil drest in a new habit for the ball; there's a Devil in a coach and six, cum aliis. In short, it would make a merry world among us if we could but enter upon some proper method of such discriminations; but, Lour'd, what a hurricane would it raise, if like those who they say scourged the Devil so often, that he durst not come near him in any shape whatever, we could find some new method out to make the Devil osnalk."
"In a word, a secret power of discovering what Devils we have among us, and where and what business they are doing, would be a vast advantage to us all; that we might know among the crowd of Devils that walk about streets who are apparitions and who are not."
"I had a long discourse upon this subject one day, with a beautiful young lady of my acquaintance, who the world very much admired; and as the world judges no farther than they can see, (and how should they, you will say,) they took her to be as she really was, a most charming creature."
"To me, indeed, she discovered herself many ways, besides the advantage I had of my extraordinary penetration, by the magic powers which I am vested with; to me, I say, she appeared, a fury, a fairy, a very little fiend as could possibly be drest up in flesh; in short, she appeared to me what she really was, a very Devil, it is natural to human creatures to desire to discover any extraordinary powers they are possessed of superior to others: and this it is prevailing on me among the rest, I was impatient to let this lady know that I understood her composition perfectly well, nay, as well as she did herself."
"In order to do this, happening to be in the family once for some days, and having the honor to be very intimate with her and her husband too, I took an opportunity on an extraordinary occasion, when she was in the height of good humor, to talk with her: you must note that as I said, the lady was in an extraordinary good humor, and there had been a great deal of mirth in the family for some days; but one evening, Sir E——, her husband, upon some very sharp turn she gave to another gentleman, which made all the company pleasant, ran to her, and with a passion of good humor takes her in his arms, and turning to me, says he, Jack, this wife of mine is full of wit and good humor, but when she has a mind to be smart, she is the keenest little Devil in the world; this was alluding to the quick turn she had given the other gentleman."
"Is that the best language you can give your wife? says my lady. O madam, says I, such Devils as you are all Angels; ay, ay, says my lady, I know that, he has only let a truth fly out that he does not understand: look you there now, says Sir Edward, could any thing but such a dear Devil as this have said a thing so pointed? Well, well, sdds, he, Devil to a lady in a man's arms, is a word of divers interpretations. Thus they rallied for a good while, he holding her fast all the while in his arms, and frequently kissing her, and at last it went off, all in sunshine and mirth."
"But the next day, for I had the honor to lodge in the lady's father's house, where it all happen'd; I say, the next day my lady begins with me upon the subject, and that very smartly, so that I did not know at first, whether she was in jest or earnest: ay, ay, says she, you men make nothing of your wives, after you have them, alluding to the discourse with Sir Edward the night before."
"Why, madam, says I, we men, as you are pleased to term it, if we meet with good wives worship them, and make idols of them, what would you have more of us?"
"No, no, says she, before you have them they are Angels, but when you have been in heaven, asus she, then they are Devils."
"Why, madam, says I, Devils are Angels you know, and where the highest sort of Angels once."
"Yes, says she, very smartly, all Devils are Angels, but all Angels are not Devils."
"Sat, madam, says I, you should never take it ill to be call'd Devil, you know."
"A Devil! Yes, Madam, says I, without doubt a mere Devil; take it as you please, I can't help it; and so I began to take it ill that she should be disguised as opening such a well-known truth to her."
"With that she discovered it all at once, for she turn'd fury in the very letter of it; flew out in a passion, railed at me, curs'd me most heartily and immediately disappeared; which you know is the particular mark of a spirit or apparition."
"These are particular instances; but, alas! I could run you at length beyond all those examples, and give you such a list of Devils among the gay things of the town, that would fright you to think of; and you would presently conclude, with me, that all the perfect beauties are Devils, mere apparitions;
but time and paper fails, so we must only leave the men the caution, let them venture at their peril."
"We have a great many charming Apparitions of like kind who go daily about the world in complete masquerade, and, though we must not say so, they are in themselves mere Devils, wicked, dangerous, murdering Devils, that kill various ways, some, Basilisk-like, with their Eyes; some Syren like, with their Tongues; all Murderers, even from the beginning: It is true, 'tis pity these pretty apparitions should be Devils, and be so mischievous as they are; but since it is so, I can do no less than to advertise you of it, that you may shun the Devil, in whatever shape you meet with him."
Latest Foreign Intelligence.
FRANCE. PARIS, JULY 22. THE Jesuits have been ordered to quit the city of Naples in 24 hours, and the kingdom as soon as possible. It is supposed they will retire to Russia, the rules of their order not permitting them to settle in any of the Catholic states, not even in those of the Holy Father.
23d.—A courier from Britain has trod closely in the steps of the secretary to the Russian ambassador, who arrived at Calais on the 18th, with dispatches for M. Oubril; the former arrived on the 19th, and immediately proceeded for Paris. The smallest appearance of a reconciliation, receives the wishes and hopes of the friends of peace and of humanity.
24th.—The Minister of Marine has written a circular to the different ports, announcing the signing of the Peace between France and Russia, and ordered, that all Admirals, &c. and commandants of ports, to treat the Russian vessels as friends.
The Fete announced for August is put off till September, to give time for the Grand Army to be present.
It is said, that on the 15th of this month, the discussions which have been carrying on for the arrangements of the affairs of Germany, are terminated; and that the ministers of the Kings of Bavaria and Wurttemberg, of the Elector of Baden, the Land Grave of Hesse Darmstadt, the Duke of Cleves and Berg, the Princes of the House of Nassau, &c. &c. have concluded a treaty of alliance and reciprocal guarantee, under the title of FEDERATION OF THE RHINE. We believe they have come to a resolution to separate themselves from the Germanic Body, in order to have no contradiction between their interests and policy.
This FEDERATION is to be under the protection of FRANCE—that they will have on foot 60,000 men; and the Elector of Baden, the Landgrave of Darmstadt, and the Duke of Cleves, will take the title of Grand Dukes.
The Jewish deputies assemble for the first time on Saturday next in the ancient chapel of St. John, which has been prepared for the occasion. The Kingdom of Italy will send 16 deputies.
26th.—The movement of the troops from the interior, towards Germany, has been suspended, in consequence of the peace with Russia. In a few hours after its signature, M. Oubril set off for St. Petersburg in haste, having first taken a hotel for the new Russian Ambassador. It is tho' the ratifications will be exchanged in a month.
28th.—It is believed, that Lord Yarmouth, lately arrived from England, will soon appear in a public character.
ENGLAND. LONDON, AUG. 4.
On Saturday evening, about five o'clock, Lord Lauderdale, appointed minister plenipotentiary on the part of our government, to conduct the negotiation that has for some time been
going on with the court of St. Cloud, left town. Mr. Goddard, the person who brought over the dispatches received on Friday, did not accompany his Lordship as stated in some morning papers, but followed him yesterday. His Lordship was accompanied by professor Dugald Stuart, and M. Basilico, the messenger, who will bring back the first dispatches from his Lordship.
About 1 o'clock yesterday morning Lord Lauderdale reached Deal, and soon after embarked on board the Clyde frigate, Commodore Owen, which sailed for the French coast between five and six o'clock, and landed his Lordship at Calais at ten o'clock the same morning. His Lordship would probably reach Paris this day.
The Funds still keep rising from the hope that peace will result from the present negotiations. At one o'clock this day the following were the prices:—Consols for money 65 3/4—Ditto Aug. 65 3/4—Reduced 64 3/4—Omnium, for money 12 1/2—Exchequer Bills, 2s. to 3s. prem.—4 per cents. 85—Navy 5 per cents. 98 3/4.
THE EXPEDITIONS.—Were it not that Lord Lauderdale has actually set out for Paris we should have been inclined to think that several circumstances connected with the expedition to Sicily seemed rather to indicate apprehensions of the failure of the negotiation. The Guards, who have been for some time kept rather in an undecided state at Chatham, Deal, Ramsgate, &c. and marched and countermarched in various directions, after being at length embarked, have been ordered to proceed with all expedition to Portsmouth whence the expedition for Sicily will start.
Many officers of the Guards have proceeded to Portsmouth by land: most of the staff of them have done so. There are to be immediately embarked, and to follow to Portsmouth with all speed—the Royal Staff corps, the Royal Waggon corps, the Royal Artillery, the 95th regiment five companies, the 10th regiment, the 52d do. the 62d do. and the 88th do.
AUG. 5.
The Clyde frigate returned to Deal yesterday, after having safely landed Lord Lauderdale at Calais.—Some Messengers have proceeded to France with dispatches, since his Lordship left town, but no dispatches have yet been received from his Lordship. The dispatches with the result of his first conference with the French plenipotentiary, or the Minister for Foreign Affairs himself, may be expected at the close of the present, or early in the next week.
Many people are so sanguine in their expectation of peace, that they allow themselves to believe the business in such forwardness, that Lord Lauderdale will have little else to do but to sign the preliminaries immediately, and that the definitive treaty will be concluded soon after. This, however, will not be so speedily effected as they promise themselves, for there are many important points to arrange, which will take up a considerable time; nor must we infer any thing from the preceptancy with which M. D'Oubril signed a preliminary treaty for Russia. Indeed, we can take upon us to state with confidence, that he is believed to have exceeded the powers which were given him, and that not only our government, but the Russian embassy here, were very much surprized at the haste with which that plenipotentiary signed a treaty, which must have been ready drawn up by the French ministry, before he arrived in Paris, and which could not possibly have been discussed with that deliberation which a matter of such magnitude required. Now that it has been signed, the Court of St. Petersburg has to decide on the

ratification, but to many politicians it would, even now, be no surprising event to see that court hesitate on the measure.
The emperor of Russia is understood to have proposed to his Swedish Majesty to discontinue the blockade of the Prussian ports; and it is supposed if his representations should not be attended to, that he would give his permission for the invasion of Pomerania. It was generally believed in that province, that the Prussians would pass the frontier on the 25th ult. This apprehension, however, may be considered as premature. Prussia will scarcely proceed to extremities until the result of the representations last made by her to the Court of St. Petersburg is known. There is nothing now in the state of the continent to induce his Swedish Majesty to continue in that dignified attitude which he has so long preserved, with so much honor to his country, and advantage to his personal character.
An opinion is prevalent in Germany, that Russia and the Porte are on the eve of war, and that the latter is to receive the assistance of the powerful army which the French have collected in Dalmatia. Between its enemies and its allies, the Turkish Power is in a fair way of being driven out of Europe.
It is now pretty well known, that Lt. General Simcoe, is to be the successor to Lord Lake in the East-Indies.
Accounts by the Lisbon mail state, that Bonaparte had required of the King of Spain to receive an ambassador from the new created king of Naples. It was also insisted on, that his Catholic Majesty should agree to the dethroning of his own daughter, the Queen of Etruria, and that he should further consent to the incorporation of four of his provinces with the kingdom of France, viz. Catalonia, Arragon, Navarre, and Biscay, thereby making the river Ebro the boundary between France and Spain, instead of the Pyrenees. The Court of Madrid made strong remonstrances against such unjustifiable pretensions; and war was even declared by the French minister six hours before his Catholic Majesty consented to the measure.
Wednesday at the ordinary meeting of the Town Council of Edinburgh, the Right Hon. Lord Viscount Melville was introduced, and took his seat at the Lord Provost's right hand. His Lordship addressed the Council in a very elegant speech, returning them thanks for their kindness and attention on a late occasion, which he should ever remember with the warmest gratitude.
THE LATE AFFRAY AT TULLAMORE.
"On the 22d inst. 4 companies of Irish Militia, light infantry, the Londonderry, Monaghan, Sligo and county of Limerick, halted in Tullamore, on their march to their different regiments from Birr, where they had been quartered.
"Early in the evening a militia man was addressed on the bridge by a boy, who cannot be discovered, and who pointing to a German Soldier, desired the militia man to take care of those Germans, calling them at the same time by an offensive appellation. Upon this the militia man struck the German a violent blow on the head with a stick which brought him to the ground. The German being severely hurt, complained much, and a German Officer seized the militia man, and giving him up to the patrol, ordered him to be taken to the guard-house. This produced some little confusion, and, unfortunately at that moment the militia bugle sounded to assemble the men at their usual hour of parade, or in consequence of the interference of some ill-disposed persons, but upon hearing it, the militia men crowded into the streets with their arms. A party of them formed, fixed their bayonets, and rushed on the street towards the guard-house, to which the prisoner had been conveyed. One of the Officers, Capt. Jones, of the Sligo, exerted himself without effect to restrain them, and a Brigade Major (a German Officer, but dressed in a scarlet uniform, and probably not known to be such) drew his sword, ran in front of them, succeeded in appeasing them for a moment, and with the assistance of Capt. Jones forced them down a lane. There they soon became ungovernable again, rushed into the street in different directions and began to fire upon the German infantry, who by this time had assembled to considerable numbers. The Germans fought at first only with the bayonet, but having made some prisoners, they took their ammunition and fired upon the militia. The battle then became general, and
several fell on both sides; but General Lingen, who had before ineffectually interfered to appease the riot, ordered out the cavalry, charged through the streets, and put an end to the business. During the remainder of the night nothing occurred, the peace being preserved by patrols, and the militia were marched off the next morning by Gen. Dunn, (who had been absent upon duty at Birr) upon their several routes, with the exception of such as he detained upon the charge of their having been particularly active. It appears that 25 Germans had been wounded, eight very slightly, one has since died, another (an officer) is not expected to recover. Of the militia 13 are wounded, five slightly, and one died almost immediately on being removed to the hospital.
"It is quite certain that the inhabitants of the town took no part whatever in the affray: one of them, by mere accident, was cut down and badly wounded by a dragoon in the charge of cavalry; but there has been no interruption of the harmony and good will which had prevailed antecedently between them and the German troops.
AUG. 6.
Yesterday dispatches were received by a flag of truce, from Boulogne. Their contents have not transpired.
Stocks declined yesterday towards the close of the market. The fall was variously accounted for. Some would have it that dispatches had been received from France, which brought accounts unfavorable to peace. Others sent a messenger from Lord Lauderdale to order his immediate return. The real cause, however, was simply this: Several holders of omnium finding the price high enough, wished to realise their profit, and brought large sums into the market for sale. The following were the prices at 1 o'clock this day: Consols, for money, 65—ditto for August, 65 1-8 1-4—Reduced 65 5-8 3-4—Omnium 11—Exchequer bills, par. 3s. prem.
We stated yesterday, and on the best authority, that M. D'Oubril had, in signing the preliminary treaty with France gone beyond his instructions.
We can now add, that the terms are so ignominious and disadvantageous to Russia, that it is thought by some diplomatists, the Emperor Alexander will probably hesitate to ratify them.
In the mean time, Napoleon acts as if even the Definitive Treaty were signed. On the very day that D'Oubril signed the preliminary treaty, it was intimated to the Austrian ambassador, that his master must immediately abdicate the crown he has so long worn as head of the German empire, and confine himself in future to such matters as concern only his own house.
The Lord Hobart packet, from New-York and Halifax, is arrived at Falmouth.
Admiralty Office, London, Aug. 2.
Copy of a letter from the Earl of St. Vincent, K. B. admiral and commander in chief of his majesty's fleet employed in the Channel, Soundings, &c. to William Marston, Esq. dated on board his majesty's ship the Hibernia, off Ushant, the 27th July, 1806.
SIR—I enclose the relation of a very gallant action in which the most intrepid valour has been manifested, and the national character highly sustained; but I greatly lament the loss of a number of brave men in the performance of it, flattering myself, however, that sixteen of them are prisoners.
I am, &c.
(Signed) ST. VINCENT.
Indefatigable, off Rochefort, July 17.
SIR—I have the honor to acquaint you, in obedience to your orders of the 14th inst. I gave the command of the boats of the squadron you sent me by the list, for the purpose of endeavoring to capture or destroy the French convoy in the entrance of the river of Bordeaux (with the addition of three from the Indefatigable, and three from the Iris) to lieutenant Sibly, of the Centaur, with all the information I was in possession of respecting their situation, on the evening of the 15th, it appearing a favorable time to make the attempt; though some time after the boats had quitted the Indefatigable, the wind shifted to the westward and came on to blow fresh, notwithstanding the boats proceeded to Verdon Road, boarded and carried the French brig Le Cesar, of 18 guns, and by the rolle d'équipage eighty-six men, commanded by Monsieur Louis Francois Hector Fourre, lieutenant de vaisseau. The conflict was severe on both sides, the Frenchmen being in every respect well prepared, expecting the attack. The wind coming on to blow fresh, and the tide running strong, was much against the boats; but nothing could withstand such men led on by the officers who commanded them. Lieutenant Sibly, I lament to say, is badly wounded in several places, though, from the reports of the surgeon, I trust will recover. To this gallant officer (whose conduct is spoken of by all who were under his command with admiration) I beg to refer you for particulars. There is much credit due to Lieut. Thomas Parker, first of the Indefatigable, who took the command of Le Cesar after she was carried, for his conduct in working her out of
the batteries, which kept up a constant cross fire on her, and engaged by the Teseer brig (late in his majesty's service) for nearly two hours; the same attaches to the other officers and men for their coolness and conduct whilst they were engaged. The greater part of the boats were either shot through, or so badly stove, that they were swamped, and obliged to be cut adrift from the brig, except the Indefatigable's launch and Iris's cutter. The Revenge's boat, officer, and crew, are missing.—Le Cesar is a fine brig, evidently falls well, 5 years old, eighty-eight feet long, twenty-three wide, coppered, and appears fit for his majesty's service. Inclosed is a list of the killed and wounded. I have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed) JOHN T. TODD.
Total—six killed; 36 wounded; 21 missing.—Many on the above list are but slightly wounded.
N. B. By intelligence gained yesterday from a Portuguese vessel of sixteen English prisoners having been marched into Rochefort from Bordeaux, it is considered they are the Revenge's men, missing in the above report.
Surrender of Capri, to Sir Sidney Smith.
The following Letter from Sir Sidney Smith, to Vice-Admiral Collingwood, was received at the Admiralty-Office on the 29th of July.
Pompee, at anchor off Scilia, May 24.
MY LORD—I arrived at Palermo in the Pompee on the 21st ult. and took on me the command of the squadron, your Lordship had done me the honor to place under my orders. I found things in the state that may be well imagined on the government being displaced from its capital, with the loss of one of the two kingdoms, and the dispersion of the army assembled in Calabria. The judicious arrangement made by Capt. SOTHERON, of the ships under his orders, and the position of the British army under Sir JOHN STUART, at Messina, had, however, prevented farther mischief.
I had the satisfaction of learning that Gera still held out, although as yet without succour, from a mistaken idea, much too prevalent, that the progress of the French armies is irresistible. It was my first care to see that the necessary supplies should be safely conveyed to the governor. I had the inexpressible satisfaction of conveying the most essential articles to Gera, and of communicating to his Serene Highness the Governor (on the Breach Battery, which he never quits) the assurance of farther support to any extent within my power, for the maintenance of that important fortress, hitherto so long preserved by his intrepidity and example.—Things wore a new aspect immediately on the arrival of the ammunition; the redoubled fire of the enemy with red-hot shot into the Mole (being answered with redoubled vigor) did not prevent the landing of every thing we had brought, together with four of the Excellent's lower deck guns, to answer this galling fire, which bore directly on the landing place.
A second convoy, with the Intrepid, placed the garrison beyond the immediate want of any thing essential, and the enemy, from advancing his nearest approaches within 250 yards, was reduced to the defensive in a degree, dreading one of those sorties which the Prince of Hesse had already shown him his garrison was equal to, and which was become a much safer operation, now that the flanking fire of eight Neapolitan gun-boats, I had brought with me, in addition to his highness had already used successfully, would cover it, even to the rear of the enemy's trenches. Arrangements were put in train for this purpose, and according to a wise suggestion of his Serene Highness, measures were taken for the embarkation of a small party from the garrison, to land in the rear of the enemy's batteries to the northward.
I confided the execution of the naval part of this arrangement to Capt. RICHARDSON, of his majesty's ship Juno, putting the Neapolitan frigate and gun-boats under his orders. His serene highness possessing the experience of European warfare, and a most firm mind, having no occasion for farther aid on the spot, I felt I should quit the garrison without apprehensions for its safety in such hands, with the present means of defence, and that I could best co-operate with him by drawing some of the attacking force off for the defence of Naples. I accordingly proceeded thither with a line of battle ships named in the margin.* The enemy's apprehension of attack occasioned him to convey some of the battering train from the trenches before Gera to Naples. The city was illuminated on account of JOSEPH BONAPARTE proclaiming himself King of the Two Sicilies. The junction of the Eagle made us five sail of the line, and it would have been easy for their fire to have interrupted this ceremony and throw of festivity; but I considered that the unfortunate inhabitants had evil enough on them; that the restoration of the capital to its lawful Sovereign, and its fugitive inhabitants would be no gratification, if it should be found a heap of ruins, ashes and bones; and that, as I had no force to land and keep order, in case of the French army retiring to the fortress, I should leave an opulent city a prey to the licentious part of the community, who would not fail to profit by the confusion, the flames would occasion: not a gun was fired; but no such consideration operated in my mind to prevent me dislodging the French garrison from the island of Capri, which, from its situation, protecting the coasting communication southward, was a great object for the enemy to keep, and by so much one for me to wrest from him. I accordingly summoned the French commandant to surrender: on his non-acquiescence (see the annexed correspondence) I directed Capt. ROWLEY, in his majesty's ship Eagle, to cover the landing of marines and boats crews, and caused an attack to be made under his orders. That brave officer placed his ship judiciously, nor did he open his fire till he was secured, and his distance marked by the effect of musketry upon his quarter-deck, where the first lieutenant JAMES CRAWLEY,
fell wounded, and a seaman was killed: although Capt. ROWLEY regretted much the services of that meritorious officer in such a critical moment, he has since recovered.
An hour's fire from both decks of the Eagle (between nine and ten o'clock) with that of two Neapolitan mortar-boats under an active officer, lieutenant RIVERS, drove the enemy from the viresayas within their walls; the marines were landed, and gallantly led by Capt. Bunce; the seamen in like manner, under lieutenant MORRELL of the Eagle; and lieut. REDDING, of the Pompee, mounted the steps; for such was their road, headed by the officers, nearer to the narrow pass by which alone they could ascend. Lieut. CARROL had thus an opportunity of particularly distinguishing himself. Capt. STANNUS, commanding the Athenienne's marines, gallantly pressing forward gained the heights, and the French commandant fell by his hand; this event being known, the enemy beat a parley; a letter from the second in command claimed the terms offered, but being dated on the 12th after midnight, some difficulty occurred, my limitation as to time being precise; but on the assurance that the drum beat before twelve, the capitulation annexed was signed, and the garrison allowed to march out and pass over to Naples with every honor of war, after the interment of their former brave commander with due respect. We thus became masters of this important post. The enemy not having been allowed time to bring two pieces of heavy cannon with their ammunition, to Capri, the boat containing them, together with a boat loaded with timber for the construction of gun-boats at Castellamare, took refuge at Massa, on the main land opposite to the island, where the guard had hauled the whole upon the beach. I detached the two mortar-boats and a Gera privateer, under the orders of Lieutenant FALVERNE and RIVERS, to bring them off, sending only Mr. WILLIAMS, midshipman of the Pompee, from the squadron, on purpose to let the Neapolitans have the credit of the action, which they fairly obtained; for, after dislodging the enemy from a strong tower, they not only brought off the boats and two 35-pounders, but the powder (20 barrels) from the magazine of the tower, before the enemy assembled in force.
The projected sorties took place on the 13th and 15th, in the morning, in a manner to reflect credit on the part of the garrison and naval force employed. The covering fire from a fleet was judiciously directed by Captains RICHARDSON and VACUDA, whose conduct on this whole service merits my warmest approbation.
On the 12th ult. the boats of the Pompee under Lieut. BEAUCROFT, brought out a merchant vessel from Scavitra, near Salerno, although protected by a heavy fire of musketry. That officer and Mr. STARLING, distinguished themselves much. The enemy are endeavoring to establish a land carriage there to Naples.
On the 23d, obtaining intelligence that the enemy had two 36-pounders in a small vessel on the beach at Scilia, I sent the Pompee's boats in for them; but the French troops were too well posted in the houses of the town, for them to succeed without the cover of the ship. I accordingly stood in with the Pompee; sent a message to the inhabitants to withdraw, which being done, a few of the Pompee's lower deck guns cleared the town and neighboring hills, while the launch, commanded by Lieut. MOURAYLIAN, with Lieut. OATS, of the marines, and Mr. WILLIAMS, drove the French, with their armed adherents, from the guns, and took possession of the castle, and of them. Finding on my landing, that the town was teeming against any force the enemy could bring against me from the nearest garrison in a given time, I took post with the marines; and, under cover of their position, by the extreme exertions of Lieut. GARROL, Mr. IVES, master, and the petty officers and boats crew, the guns were conveyed to the Pompee with 22 barrels of powder. I have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed) W. SIDNEY SMITH.
[Killed in the action, 1 seaman and 1 marine; 4 seamen and 6 marines wounded.—Lt. J. CRAWLEY, slightly wounded.]
* Pompee, Excellent, Athenienne, Intrepid.
Domestic Occurrences.
VIRGINIA. NORFOLK, SEPT. 16.
L'Impetueux destroyed —We stop the press, after having some of our papers worked off, having seen some of the officers of the British frigate Melampus, who inform, that on Sunday morning they descried to the southward of Cape Henry, a line of battle ship dismasted, which they immediately gave chase to and ran ashore on Currituck, about 30 miles to the S. of the Cape, and after taking the officers and men (amounting to about 600) set fire to her, when she was totally destroyed. She proved to be the L'Impetueux, Mons. L. V. Belaw, of 74 guns. The Melampus is now in Hampton Roads.
On Saturday arrived the brig Nancy, Decker, 24 days from Dominica, bound to Wilkesport, in want of provisions.
Capt. D. gives us the following information—on the 29th of August, lat. 28, 14, long. 67, 14, fell in with the French ship of war L'Bole, of 74 guns, commanded by Mons. Peouse de la Croix, who had lost all her lower masts and bowsprit, also her rudder, and otherwise much damaged in her hull. Capt. D. was ordered on board with his papers, and detained, his vessel ordered to follow the man of war, with the following vessels:
Brig Polly, Cobb, of New-York, from Guadaloupe bound to New-York; brig Sally, Glavies, from Baltimore to Trinidad; schr. Nancy, Giezler, from Martinique to Boston.—On the 4th of September, they detained the schr. Sassafras, Thompson, from Guadaloupe to Philadelphia; also a Danish brig from Mazantier, to St. Thomas.

These vessels were all detained, and made to keep company with the L'Etoile, to prevent giving information. Captains Thompson and Decker were kept on board the man of war, and were treated politely. The mates and crews of the other vessels were taken out, and Frenchmen put on board. They made the best of their way for the Chesapeake; and on the 11 of this month, Cape Henry bearing N. W. by W. distant about 15 leagues, saw from the poop an English 74 gun ship and a frigate. In the first instance it was determined to abandon the L'Etoile, and endeavour to escape in the American vessels that were detained; but afterwards they resolved to stand in for the land, and if they could not escape to endeavour to run her ashore.
It would appear that they were not seen by the English 74, or if seen were supposed to be bound to the northward, which course was held until half past ten at night, when they bore away for the Chesapeake, and got into the Capes about 9 o'clock on Friday morning, and proceeded up to Annapolis.
All the account that Capt. Decker could obtain, with respect to the rest of Jerome's fleet, was, that they parted on the night of the 19th August, in the gale.
MARYLAND. BALTIMORE, SEPT. 16. MORE DISTRESSES.
The schr. Luke, Capt. Mars, arrived here on Saturday from Washington, (N. C.) Mr. Thomas Bowen, a passenger on board said vessel, informs us that on the 3d of September a most tremendous gale was experienced at Occoack. He arrived there on the 3d, and was an eye witness to the ravages of that destructive day. A pilot informed him that of 34 vessels riding in the harbour, 20 were drove on shore, among which was the brig Jupiter of New-York. She was nearly high and dry, and believed her irrecoverably lost as to getting her afloat. Two vessels were drove out to sea dismasted, and three rode out the gale, 25 Proofs were issued from the Notary's office on the morning of the 4th.
PENNSYLVANIA.
PHILADELPHIA, SEPT. 20. Notwithstanding it was said that "the Marquis d'Yrujo had set off in his carriage for Washington, to present his new credentials," we find it was only a trip by the New-Castle stage to Baltimore and back, as he arrived yesterday from thence. By the following article from a Baltimore paper, it appears he did not go further than that town.
VERY STRANGE!—The Marquis Casa Yrujo, who came as far as this city on Sunday last, and who intended to proceed to the seat of government next morning, continued here till yesterday morning, when he returned to Philadelphia in the French-Town packet.
STATE OF NEW-YORK. NEW-YORK, SEPT. 19. MORE NEWS FROM MIRANDA.
The schr. Amazon left Laguira in the evening of Sunday, 24th August—early the next morning was boarded by Lieut. Boyd, of the British armed schr. Gypsy, who gave us the following information:—that about the 13th August he went into Coro in order to ask leave of General Miranda to repair his schooner in that harbor; that a day or two after his arrival there, Captain Thompson, of the ship Leander, went with a number of his people to the watering place (about 5 miles from Coro) in order to obtain water for his ship; that the Spaniards, finding so small a party at such a distance from Coro, attacked and killed Captain Thompson and fourteen of his men—as soon as Miranda had notice of this attack, he marched his troops out towards the watering place, upon which the Spaniards immediately retreated to the mountains. Capt. Boyd says this is the only engagement of any kind, that has taken place between Miranda and the Spaniards, since the former got possession of Coro. Capt. Boyd states further, that Gen. Miranda, having only between 3 and 400 men, and surrounded by from two to four thousand Spaniards, (who, notwithstanding, had never dared to attack him) had thought proper to abandon his situation; he was induced to do this particularly on account of having no advantageous heights near Coro, on which to fortify. Gen. Miranda accordingly embarked his troops in the night of the 16th of August (at which Capt. Boyd assisted) and the next evening left Coro with his whole squadron, in order to seek a more eligible situation, but which way he has directed his course, whether to windward or leeward, Capt. Boyd could not tell. Capt. Boyd came out of Coro in company with Miranda's fleet, and parted from it the same night: He states, that the English shipping now assisting Miranda, are the Lilly sloop of war, two brigs, and several gun-boats.
SEPT. 20. A letter from Naples of the 19th of July, contains the following official Note of the Surrender of Gaea.
Yesterday the 13th, at 6 P. M. the fortress of Gaea surrendered to the French. As soon as the great breach was formed in the citadel, at the foot of the counter scarp, which in extent was sufficient to contain 16 men in front, three Columns of French troops were ready to ascend it; and the grenadiers which composed the first, waited with glorious impatience, the signal of assault.
The Marshal Massena demanded the surrender for the last time. The besieged asked for several hours delay, in order to obtain the permission of the Prince Phillipstadt (who it appears by another paper, had been wounded, and repaired on board a British vessel); but, they were answered, that in 1 hour, the place would be taken by force of arms. The appearance of the columns, ready to march at a moment's warning, a breach already made and easy to be mounted, and the security of being treated agreeably to the laws of war, were the potent reasons which induced the garrison to capitulate.
The garrison are prisoners of war, with permission to march off, but not to serve in 18 months. The artillery and magazines were delivered to the French in the state in which they were found.—The other articles are as yet unknown.
SEPT. 22. About 10 o'clock last night, the house No. 176 Pearl-Street, owned and occupied by Mr. Benjamin Bekewell, merchant, was discovered to be on fire. The family being in the country, the front door was broke open with axes; and by the exertions of the firemen and citizens, the fire was extinguished after considerable injury had been sustained. The fire originated in the cellar, and is supposed to have been done by design.
A letter from an officer on board the ship Pekin, of Philadelphia, dated Leghorn, 1st August, says,—"In the Straits of Gibraltar was brought too by three Spanish gun-boats, examined and dismissed. Same time saw them capture two American ships, and take them into Algeiras. Passing Carthagena 12th July, we saw the Spanish fleet of 6 sail of the line chasing two English frigates; and off Toulon the French fleet of 4 sail of the line and 4 frigates, just out from that port."
Extract of a letter from a respectable gentleman in Curacoa, dated August 18.
"Last evening an open boat came in express, with a letter from the commandant of Coro, dated the 4th inst. I have been favoured with the following extract from it:
"Miranda has at last evacuated Coro and Lavela, and retired with his shipping. On the 11th inst. a skirmish took place, while his people were taking in water at Rio Negro, in which he lost 20 killed, 17 wounded, and some dispersed in the country."
"The force opposed to him is said to have been 150 regulars, 50 horse, and a body of Indians, how many I have not heard. Report says he had with him 14 armed vessels, and that he is protected by H. B. M. ship Lilly. It is generally supposed that he has gone to Aruba."
WARREN: SATURDAY, SEPT. 27, 1806. MILITARY REVIEW.
On Thursday last, the Regiment under the command of Lieut. Col. SETH PECK was reviewed on a field adjacent to this town; where (considering a lowry day) various military evolutions were performed in a manner that reflected much honor to the officers and men; Maj. Gen. WHIPPLE, with two aids, Brig. Gen. SHELDON, with Maj. STALL Inspector of Brigade, and Lieut. CAHOONS and Lieut. MELVILLE of the Newport Volunteers, honored them with their presence at the review and expressed a hearty approbation of the order and discipline exhibited on the occasion.
The ship Two Brothers, Candler, which sailed from hence, on Thursday last, has returned, and put into Marblehead, on account, it is said, of the indisposition of the Tunisian Ambassador. [N. E. Pal.]
FROM SPAIN. Capt. Shattuck, who arrived here on Wednesday, sailed from Cadiz on the 13th of August. On the 10th, an express came to Cadiz with information of the conclusion of a general Peace. It was said, the preliminaries were signed at Paris on the 31st of July. There were 15 sail of the line lying at Cadiz (French and Spanish) ready for sea. A grand feu de joie was fired from the ships and forts soon after the receipt of the news of peace. The people were almost distracted with joy at the intelligence.
Advices from France and England, which are to the 7th Aug. shews that there must be some mistake in this report, as they completely destroy its validity.
It was reported, that the French troops in Naples had made an attempt against Sicily, and been defeated with great loss.
There were no rumours respecting the posture of the American negotiation with Spain. The frigate Constitution had been at Cadiz, but not being admitted to practice, had failed, for Lisbon, as was supposed. [Bost. Pal.]
It appears certain, however, that a Separate Peace was signed on the 20th of July, between Austria and France—The terms are not published.
We have seen a letter from Nantz of the first of August, which states, that it was reported, that the Preliminaries of Peace between Great-Britain and France, was signed at Paris on the 25th of July. The writer says, this wants confirmation.
The same letter says, "Last evenings mail brought news from Paris, authorising the free exportation of grain to any port or ports, by neutrals—This shews a pacific disposition towards England."
The Harvest in France is stated to be the most abundant ever known—Wheat would not sell for more than six livres. [N. Y. Gaz.]
A late English paper, states the number of the French Navy, as it now stands, to consist of
4 Ships of 120 guns, 2 do. of 80 do. 46 do. of 74 do. And 47 do. of inferior forces—principally frigates.
IMPORTANT.
Capt. Story, who arrived at New-York, on the 19th inst. in 47 days from Leghorn, informs, that on the 16th of August, off Malaga, he was boarded by several officers from the British cutter L'Eclair, Capt. Hope, then only two days from Gibraltar. They informed Capt. Story, (and in such a way as to induce Capt. S. to believe the news), that authentic accounts had reached Gibraltar, direct, that on the 4th of August, the PRELIMINARIES OF PEACE were signed at Madrid, between SPAIN and GREAT-BRITAIN—and that it was the general opinion, at Gibraltar that a GENERAL PEACE would soon take place.
MARRIED.
At Somerset, on Thursday last, by the Rev. LUTHER BAKER, Mr. PASCHAL ALLEN, merchant, of this town, to Miss LOUISA BOWERS, of the former place.
DIED.
In this town, on Monday morning last, in the 17th year of her age, Miss BETSEY CHILD, daughter of Mr. Simeon Child.
SHIP NEWS.
STATE OF RHODE-ISLAND.
DISTRICT OF NEWPORT.
ENTERED, FROM Sloop New-York-Packet, Bretton, Martinique CLEARED, FOR Sloop Fame, Bliss, New-York Ship George & Mary, Hyatt, Cape of Good Hope
DISTRICT OF PROVIDENCE.
ENTERED, FROM Sloop Polly, Brown, New-York Alonzo, Graves, Ditto Eliza, Crapon, Ditto Rolla, Earle, Charleston (S. C.) Brig Hope, Bowen, St. Domingo CLEARED, FOR Sloop Ann & Sarah, Justin, New-York Schooner Hannah, Eldridge, Sandwich Brig George Washington, Sheldon, Alexandria
The brig Betty and Polly, of Bristol, was spoke Sept. 23, lat. 40 N. for Africa. At Amsterdam, July 22, Columbia, Lyndon, of Newport (R. I.) to sail in 10 days.
The ship Cornelia, of Providence, for Amsterdam, 33 days out, was spoke Aug. 4.
The ship Rose in Bloom has been towed into the Delaware; the specie that was on board principally saved.
The ship Arthur, Townsend, of Providence, for Canton, was spoke Sept. 9, lat. 38, 7, long. 69, 6 days out.
At Leghorn, brigs Nancy, Adams, of Bristol; Semerimas, do.; Angenora, Pitman, do.
STOP THIEF!!
STOLEN from the STORE of James Allen, in Bristol, on the night of the 12th instant:
1 Piece Red Baize, 1 do. home made Fustian, 1 do. Coating, 7 do. Calicoes different Colours, 1 do. Purple & White Shawls, 1 do. Red Pocket Hankerchief, 2 do. Silk & Cotton, do. 1 do. Striped Black Velvet, 1 do. Blue Shallon, together with a number of other Articles.
ALSO, from the Shop of Nathan-iel P. Swan, a number of Pair BOOTS and SHOES.
LIKEWISE, from the Shop of Palmer Brown, Taylor, a quantity of Cloth and ready made Clothes.
100 DOLLARS REWARD, is offered for apprehending the Thief or Thieves, that they may be brought to Justice, and will be paid by the Subscribers; any information respecting the above Goods will be received as a favour and duly rewarded.
JOHN W. BOURN, SAMUEL SMITH, 2d. JOHN WARDWELL. Com. Bristol, Sept. 17, 1806.
TO BE SOLD, At BARKER'S Hotel, Bristol, on Monday the 13th of Oct. next, at 12 o'Clock.
THAT well known beautiful FARM called the JENCKES FARM, situated on Boston neck, S. Kingstown, consisting of about 350 ACRES: for its excellent properties and advantageous situation, no mention need be made as they are well known. Conditions made known at time and place of Sale. Undoubt'd title will be given.
JAMES D'WOLFE, Attorney to Abigail D'Wolfe. September 19, 1806.
Bristol, Sept. 2, 1806.
WHEREAS, RUFUS FRINK, my Husband, has left my bed and board, and behaved in an unbecoming manner; I therefore forbid all Persons harbouring or trusting him on my account, as I will not pay any Debts of his contracting after this date.
BETSEY FRINK. Rehoboth, Aug. 29, 1806.
WHEREAS, BETSEY FRINK, my Wife, has behaved in a very unbecoming manner, I filed a Libel in the Clerk's Office, at Taunton, on Thursday 7th of August last, in order for a Bill of Divorcement from her, which caused her in anger to advertise me in the United States Herald without any other cause: I now therefore forbid all Persons harbouring or trusting her on my account, as I shall pay no Debts of her contracting after this date.
RUFUS FRINK. Rehoboth, Sept. 12, 1806.
NOTICE.
THE Subscriber having been appointed Agent by sundry Officers and Soldiers and others holding evidences of the claims for Services done in the revolutionary War, in the Rhode-Island Brigade of Troops, commanded by Gen. CORNELL, for the purpose of obtaining from Congress, compensation for such Services, and having already been at the seat of Government and made considerable proficiency towards obtaining the object of his mission: as he contemplates another journey to Washington, at the ensuing session of Congress, for the purpose aforesaid, hereby gives this public notice, that all persons who may wish to employ him in the capacity aforesaid, will forward their respective Powers of Attorney to Providence, by mail (post free) by the first of November next, which shall receive punctual and faithful attention.
WILLIAM BARTON. Providence, (R. I.) August 12, 1806.
*Those concerned, living in Warren, or its vicinity, will please call on JOSEPH WHITMAN, Esq. in Warren, who will give them whatever information on the subject they may wish.
FOR SALE, BY
C. WHEATON & Wm. CARR, 62 Puncheons good flavored 3d Proof Antigua RUM. 9 Hogheads excellent retailing MOLASSES. WARREN, AUG. 22.
FOR SALE,
THE staunch and well Built BRIG COMMERCE, Burthen 106 Tons, now lying at the Wharf of Charles Collins, Esq. and can be fitted for sea at a small expence.—Apply to HENRY SISSON. Warren, July 25, 1806.
ALL persons indebted to JOSIAH MUNRO by book or note, are requested to make immediate payment to the Subscriber; an Assignment of all his property being made for the express purpose of a speedy settlement with all concerned. N. M. BURR, Assignee. Warren, July 4, 1806.
FOR SALE, BY
RUFUS & NATHAN M. BURR, 65 puncheons 3d proof Rum, Coarse Rock Salt, for the Diary, 14 half bbls. Mefs Mutton, 20 nest Molasses Casks, 2 bbls. R. Beef.
Terms of payment liberal. Inquire of the above. Warren, May 10, 1806.

the daughter of the cottager is exalted into a countess, and the laborer at the anvil or the mine, soon graces the court and the drawing-room. The hero and heroine are involved in difficulties in which no other mortals ever were involved, and generally delivered by means by which none but themselves, ever were delivered. They are, however, always married at last, and attain, in the possession of each other, such happiness as no human being ever yet attained, and such as Nature & Providence with all their bounty never will bestow.
By the constant perusal of narratives of this description, the youth of both sexes are encouraged to cherish expectations that never can be realized, and to form notions of each other, which painful experience will every day refute. The mind too, by exercising only its weaker powers, becomes enervated and enfeebled, disgusted with the tumult of business, or the roughness of contradiction the most valuable season of life is spent in the sport of musing, instead of the labor of thinking, in the indulgence of the fairy visions of hope, and the reveries of a perverted imagination instead of the pursuit of science, the formation of maxims of wisdom, and the establishment of the principles of moral duty.
The votes of the judicious are, we doubt not, against that folly, so fashionable, and so fascinating, of novel-reading; but the practice of the majority is clearly on the other side; and against measures, which they can neither approve nor prevent, all that the minority can perform, is to assert the arguments of truth, and to enter the protest of reprobation.
NATURE HER OWN SURGEON: A curious case of a compound Fracture, related by Dr. Hunter, at his lectures.
SPEAKING of the nature and cure of simple and compound fractures, Dr. HUNTER observed in his lectures, that, in treating the compound, many surgeons did mischief and irritated the wound, by their officious and artificial manner of dressing it. Instead of that practice, he recommended treating the compound, as much as possible, in the same way as the simple fracture; and in confirmation of that practice, used to relate the following singular case, which was always heard with great attention, because the instruction was conveyed in the way of pleasantry.
"A maniacal patient, Mr. G—, who was confined in the infirmary at Edinburg, (he says it was about thirty years ago,) seeming to have recovered a calm and rational state of mind, was allowed to take an airing in the garden by himself. Here he took the resolution of making his escape, and got over the garden wall. In dropping himself from the wall, which was very high, he pulled a large top-stone along with him, and suffered a very large compound fracture in his leg.
He was carried round and lodged again in the infirmary, in this unhappy condition; and the surgeon, who was instantly brought to him, set the leg, dressed the wound, applied the 18-tailed bandage, &c. in the usual way. After all this, the patient appeared to be very calm, the surgeon gave some proper directions, went away, and the patient was left alone to get some rest, which was thought proper, and seemed to be his own desire. His madness now took a singular whimsical turn; he knew very well that he had got a miserable broken leg; but his crazy imagination made him believe, that the surgeon had mistaken his leg, had stowed all his cunning upon the sound leg, which required no attention, and had left the shattered limb to shift for itself. Under this firm persuasion, convinced that his surgeon was too ignorant to perceive his blunder, too conceited to be set right, and too proud to suffer such humiliation, he thought it would be most prudent, in his present state of subjection, for the cure of his broken leg, to make the best use he could of the dexterity which God had given him. He removed all the apparatus from the broken leg with great attention, that he might be able to apply it to the other leg so exactly
in the same manner, that the surgeon should not be able to discover the alteration, and lest any suspicion should arise, and lead to an inquiry or discovery, he thought he should be still more secure by secreting or hiding the other leg, that it might not be found and appear in evidence against him; he therefore tore a large hole in the sheet and feather bed, and buried the wounded leg among the feathers.
Next day when the surgeon visited him, he said that for a while he had been in pain, but that by a fortunate and accidental motion of the foot, the pain went off as by a charm; that he had continued perfectly easy ever since, and therefore was resolved to keep it as steady as possible in the same situation. The surgeon finding him easy, the pulse quiet, and no symptoms whatever of fever, went to the foot of the bed, and lifting up the clothes, said "let us just see how the foot and leg looks." The patient seemed much alarmed with the proposal, and intreated him for mercy's sake to desist; because said he, the least motion in the world would disturb it, and bring all his pain back again. The surgeon assured him that the bed-clothes touched nothing but the cradle, and that the lifting of them up could not in the least move either leg or foot; and then observing to the students, that the appearance of the foot was as favorable as he could wish, he expressed his satisfaction and went away.
Every day's visit after this turned out equally satisfactory, both to the surgeon and patient, till the fifth or sixth day, when the surgeon grew very anxious to see the wound, lest any lurking mischief should be concealed, and was determined to remove the dressing.
This the patient resisted, first with prayers, and then with imprecations, &c. but at last he was obliged to submit. The surgeon, with a cautious and tender hand, removed the bandages; and as he went on, expressed the pleasure which he felt on seeing the skin, both below and above the wound in so natural a condition. At length he lifted up the dressing, which he found quite loose, and seeing a leg now perfectly sound, which a few days before he had seen in such a lamentable state, you can better conceive than I can tell how he looked. After a short pause he passed his fingers along the rib, and then said, "I only know that a fracture and wound there certainly was, and now there are certainly neither." Presently he recovered himself enough to recollect that it was the other leg which he had set and dressed, and said, "where is the other leg?" (turning off the bed clothes at the same time.) Lunatics are quick in resources, and not easily put out of countenance, and imagine that nobody can doubt what they assert. Mr. G. sensible now that the leg would be discovered, drew it out from among the feathers, saying with great resentment and rage, that he would now expose the surgeon's ignorance to the world; — that he always knew surgeons to be a set of ignorant fellows, though they wore large wigs, and now he would prove it, by a shocking instance to the satisfaction of all present.
This leg, said he, (holding out the broken leg, with the cake of blood and feathers crusted over the wound) this leg, thank God, is as sound as any man's; there, (pointing to the other) is the broken leg: you see what a condition it is in: he was called to set a broken leg, and bound up this. After venting some more of his indignation and rage in sarcastic and coarse language, he begged that some of the young surgeons would bind up his broken leg again (meaning the sound one) for that it was in great pain, was much disturbed by this impertinent examination, and, if not taken care of, would make him a miserable object, at best a cripple for life.
The surgeon, seeing his patient's imagination so strongly perverted, and being convinced by the agitation which that misapprehension had raised, that it would, upon the whole, be safer to indulge him in this wild conceit, with
humanity as well as good sense, desired the young men to humor him, by putting the apparatus on the sound leg. From that time he was calm, and in all other things reasonable. The cure went on with perfect success; the scab at last dropped off; the wound was then found to be healed, and the callus completed. A memorable lesson for surgeons, and a striking instance of the weakness of human reason, of the imperfection of our boasted art, and the power of nature.
SOLEMN REFLECTIONS.
"Our Fathers, Where are they?"
HOW many solemn ideas, affectionate and profound, do the silent tombs yield to the mind which contemplates them with gravity and consults them with seriousness. When we reflect that it is the house prepared for all the living; when we consider that numbers younger than ourselves now moulder in the dust; that some of our own families, our nearest and dearest connexions, have made their exit from this vale of tears, and bring to mind the uncertainty of earthly enjoyments, that we know not what a day or an hour will bring forth, what awful impressions crowd in upon our minds; awful because hostile to our wishes, and corrode our guilty consciences; awful because we are unprepared to meet at the tribunal of heaven, and be weighed at the gates of eternity; awful, because we see our folly in neglecting to improve our privileges until the setting sun of life.
"Our Fathers, Where are they?"
We have followed them to the grave, we have committed them to the bowels of the earth, they have taken their subterraneous passage to eternity; and the places which once knew them, know them no more forever. Where are the living? going down the rapid tide of time, and according to the invariable laws of nature, must soon sleep in dust. Do not these considerations suggest a necessity of preparation? Can any harm accrue from having our lamps trimmed and burning, ready for our departure hence? If not, let us establish our principles and conduct by the rules of Christianity, let the criterion of our actions be in consonance with the oracles of truth, which require us to renounce all unwillingness and cupidity, and to live righteously and soberly, to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly in the world.
Let him who vaunteth in his youth, his strength, activity, and prospect of long life, go to the silent tombs and learn that the monster death is ambitious and insatiate, and discriminates not between young and old, but selects his victims from every age, from every rank and condition in life.
ADVERTISEMENT.
THE Subscriber hereby gives notice, that there will be sold at PUBLIC AUCTION, in Somerset, Mals. on Monday the First day of December next, at 11 o'Clock, A. M. the following real Estates belonging to the heirs of SIMEON POTTER, Esq. late of Swansey, deceased, viz.
THE very pleasantly situated MAN- sion House, being the well known Seat of the late Henry Bowers, Esq. with the out- Houses and Eighty ACRES of Land adjoining, all under good improvement and well fenced with Stone-Wall. This seat presents one of the best views on the River, and is in the very heart of Somerset .
THE DWELLING-HOUSE, STORES and WHARF, heretofore belonging to Mr. Lloyd Bowers, this is confessedly the best stand in Somerset for Business. The Stores are ample and convenient, the Wharf is in good repair and well built, is at the head of the deep navigable water, and at ordinary Tides, Vessels of 200 Tons will float along side.
THE MANSION-HOUSE and LOT whereon it stands, fronting the Main-Street, and very conveniently situated for Business, heretofore the property of Mr. Caleb Bowers, subject to a right of Dower.
A TEN ACRE LOT at the head of broad Cove, a WOOD LOT of 12 Acres, and another of Three Acres. The above Estates will be Sold entire or in Lots as shall suit purchasers. — The Terms of Sale will be made known at the Time and Place of sale, which will be on the Premises. For any information that may be wanted about the Premises, apply to Mr. David Anstey, of Somerset . — By Order and in behalf of the Heirs of Col. Simeon Potter.
WILLIAM D'WOLFE.
Agent for the Heirs.
*BRISTOL, JUNE 13, 1806.
From an "ESSAY ON EDUCATION," by Dr. BARROW, the following observations are extracted. — We recommend them to the attentive perusal of novel-reading MASTERS and MISTRESSES.
THE READING OF NOVELS.
MANY works of this disposition, in our language, may be read with innocence and safety. The novels of Fielding, of Richardson; and of Radcliffe, no man of taste will peruse without pleasure, & no man of reflection without improvement. But far different from these, are the volumes which usually crowd the shelves of a circulating library, or are seen tumbling on the sofas of a fashionable drawing-room. It is not the occasional perusal of the best, but the habitual reading of the worst, which it is the wish of every wise, and good man to censure and restrain. Not a few of these, instead of possessing that ease, perspicuity, and elegance of style, which should seem essential to lighter compositions, and works intended only for amusement, are so defective in the common properties of expression, and even the ordinary rules of grammar, that they cannot fail to corrupt the language and deprave the taste of all who bestow their time and attention upon them. The authors of others seem ambitious, on every occasion, to introduce, not only foreign idioms and phraseology, and the inflated efflorescence of Gallic oratory, but such colloquial terms and sentences from French writers, as they would persuade us, convey their ideas with greater force or perspicuity, than any expression which our own defective language can supply. The real motive of the writers is, probably, nothing more than the contemptible affectation of superior learning; but the practice has an obvious tendency to corrupt the purity and destroy the character of our English diction, and as far as it is in the power of novelists to effect it, to reduce us to babble a dialect of France. Some of these publications betray such alaxity in their doctrines of morality, and exhibit such licentiousness of sentiment and description, as cannot fail to inflame the passions, which they ought to restrain, and to undermine the virtue which they profess to support. Others are made the vehicle of principles, hostile to our civil and ecclesiastical establishments. A still greater, because a more general fault, is the misrepresentation of human characters and human life. Love, restless love, is there considered as the general agent in terrestrial transactions; as the sole distributor of good and evil, of happiness and misery, to mankind. Personal attachment conceived at sight, and matured in a moment, bears down alike the distinctions of rank and the maxims of prudence; and, by the magic wand of the genius of romance,