The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-09-08 00:00:00

ATROCIOUS PIRACY.

The brig Pedlar, Captain Vermilye, arrived last
Night in 48 days from Havre.sle-Grace. and 38 from
Plymouth. England. having been obliged to put in
thither by stress of weather, and detained there four
dills by continued gales from the westward. On
the 9111 instant, in latitude 34. 10. longitude 54.
tiie brig was boarded by an armed +chi:inner (having
an armed ship in company. under French colours),
mounting 14 go" and manned by blacks and mu-
lattoev. They came on hoard with pistols, swords.
rad long knives. end having severely beaten the
officers and crew, amid druven them all into the fore-
castle, they commenced all indiscriminate plunder
of clothing, money, liquors, dry goods. &c. They
broke open most of the packages on board, and
took away the most valuable parts of the cargo.
If iving been occupied about live hours in taking
away and securing their plunder. they permitted
the ling to proceed on her voyuge.--(Aew York
Paper, Joly 516, 1819.)
ST. LOUIS (111. T ). JUNE 93. 1819.
SCIENTIFIC EXPVIII EOITION
MISSOURI. TO THE SOURCES OF
The iffeatorts Elogioeer set out from St. Louis
on Mewl% 41st instant, to ascend the Mita.

'anti. We understand that site Is
to time, and will proceed at leisure la elsplore
the 'vast • regions of OW' atimapea, ea a all
her tributary streams. The cause of Matte is
exciFediagly interested in the Malts of this ex-
rrdition. Every body knows. who *knows the
Missonri river at all, Mot she differs in all
her qualities and attributes, and characteristics.
from all other rivers in the world. Her water
told, rapid, light, muddy. sweet, and salubri-
one ; the atmosphere throagh which she lows
dry and elastic, and so favourable to health. that
the voyagers and traders consider themselves as
leaving disease and sickness behind, the moment
they enter the stream of the river. What is
stirred on by all mankind, literate sad illiterate,
must be so; but though all are sensible of
the astonishing qualities of the Missouri weer,
and the unrivalled healthiness of the climate
through which it flows, it belongs to the learned
alone to tell the causes. A region so vast, so dif-
ferent from all others in air and water, must haves
vegetable kingdom of its own, and the botanist
will doubtless find abundant subjects for the em-
ployment of his talent. In the history of the white,
or grisly bear, the zoologist will discover fresh
tame for covering wish contempt that theory of
the Count Buffo,' and the Abbe Raymil, which at-
tributed to nature • disposition to belittle her ani-
mal productions in • the New World. This bear
finds so parallel in the Old World among the rest
of his species, either in his size, his strength, or
his dauntless ferocity. Beyond the Rocky Moun-
tains, if these should he passed. a still nobler in-
stance of animal production will be found. The
horse of the Columbia River, taken all in all, is
perhaps the finest animal of his kind in the known
world. Ile is derived from the Old World, but
instead of degenerating, has improved on the banks
of the Columbia. Fineness of form, fulness of all
the muscular parts, docility of spirit, capacity to
sustain great fatigue, to provide food for himself,
and to hunt down the deer and the buffalo for his
master, are a part of his characteristics. The geo-
logy and the mineralogy of the country will present
inquiries of great interest. Different parts of the
region through which the river flows, exhibit clays
and earths of great fineness, and most uncommon
coinposiiion, from the properties of which the river
is supposed to derive its peculiar qualities.
The Rocky Mountains have not yet been exs-
mined. They are supposed to contain minerals,
precious stones, awl gold and silver ore. It is but
of late they have taken the name of Rocky Moun-
tains—a name which imports nothing appropriate
or !teenier. as all mountains are rocky. B 7 all the
old travellers they are called Shining Mainititins,
" from an infinite nninher of crystal stones. of an
amazing size. with which they are covered, and
which, when the sun shines full upon them, sparkle
so as to be seen at a great distance."—(Cerver.)—
The swine early travellers gave it as their opinion,
" that in future ages these mountains might be
tumid to contain more riches in their bowels than
those of Ilindostan and Malabar. or which are
found on the golden coast of Guinea. or in the
mines of Peru."

MILITARY EXPEDITION TO THE UPPER
MISSOURI. _ _

It is siipposed that Colonel Atkinson's regiment
will leave Belle Fontaine in the course of this week.
The expedition will easily reach the Council Bluffs,
thattitit 700 miles, in the month of August, where
it is intended to winter. Repacking the provi-
sions, and the non-arrival of some of the steam-
boats, have alone • prevented the departure of the
expedition before this time. The Calhoun hiss
not arrived ; she is below in the river, and, from •
defect in her machinery. or in her management,
makes a wretched progress against the current of
the Mississippi. General Jesup has returned from
having seen her, and it is believed that Colonel At.
kiuson will not wait many days for her arrival.
RUTLAND (VERMONT), JULY 20.
A gentleman from Middlebury relates to us an
event which Inns excited no small degree of surprise.
Sonic time last week a body of earth, some distance
below the falls, between Middlebury village and
Weybridge, covering about two acres, together
with a dwelling-house and some other buildings
therein•. precipitated itself from a side hill, some
distance, into the creek. and so completely dammed
np the water that the creek became nearly dry be-
low, and the mills all stopped at Vergennes. The
water, however, after rising about fifteen feet, found
its way through in a different direction into the
usurl channel. Thera was a family living in the
house, which we were happy to find, though very
ninth frightened. were not materially hurt. The
buildings were completely demolished.

From the Chterkstun Times of July 17.)
A large make was this morning seen on the roof
of a three story brick building in Church-street.
near Elliott-street. He succeeded in eluding the
vigilance of his pursuer. who was armed with a
duuble barrel gun. and still maintains his lofty
position.