The National Register.
London, England, 1818-01-12 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

NIAGARA FALLS. Augusta Porter, Esq. the proprie-
tor of the American ale of the Falls of Niagara,
some time since purchased Goat Island, lying in Niagara
river. dividing the Fulls. This island, being situate in
the Rapids, has hitherto been deemed quite inaccessible,
or dangerous of access, there being only one point to
approach it, and that by putting into the river a mile
or more above the Falls, and then dropping down be-
twbea the Rapids on the head of the island. This way,
however, could not always be considered secure, as the
leten mismanagement of the boat in departing the island
would be fatal. In order, therefore, to approach the
island in safety, and to improve it to advantage, the en-
terprising proprietor has constructed a bridge 34 rods
in length, founded on 11 piers, each pier when filled
will contain 50 tons of stone ; and from the size of the
piers and their foundation being solid rock, it is confi-
dently believed that the bridge will be permanent. It
is, we understand, the intention of Judge Porter to
cultivate this enchanting island, and erect thereon suit-
able buildings for the accommodation of strangers and
others, who desire to view one of the grandest curiosi-
ties of nature, in a new character. The falls have here-
tofore been observed on either side of the Niagara river
with rapture; but what would Counsellor Phillips say,
were he perched ou this romantic spot? Would he not
tell you, of the wild roaring rapids above, on either side
the vast sheetz rolling o'er the dreadful precipices, and
the seeming► distant thunder in the terrific abyss beneath,
the soaring cloud before him pierced by the sun-beam,
and decked with the Islstre of the rainbow ? The island
contains about 80 acres of land, and about 100 rods
wide, but at the lower end, between the Fulls, it is only
90 rods.—Americas Paper.
Nrw BAYONET EXERiISE.—In order to evince the
superiority of the new exercise, detachments of the 90th
and 64th regiments were lately ordered to assemble on
Mount Wise, Plymouth Dock, and came to the charge
in presence of Major General Brown, Capt. Faden (the
inventor), a number of military Officers, and of a nu-
merous assemblage of spectators. The utmost caution
was used to prevent accidents, and the points of the
bayonets were enveloped in a ball, or fbil, which being
sprinkled with white powder, would show the number
of thrust received by each party. It soon, however,
became necessary to separate the combatants, as the
lounges of the 90th, who practised the new exercise,
enabled them to over-reach the 64th, their supposed op-
ponents; and the latter, not being inclined to recede,
received the thrusts with no great complacency. After
some deliberation the men where marched into George's
square, and the gates were closed to all but Officers
Several charges were given and received, in bodies, and
in individual attacks ; bat. the superiority of the new
exercise was such ns to render it evident, that comba-
tants on the old plan, receiving its attacks; would be
destroyed on the first moment of onset.

Hooper, whose death was &announced last week, was
buried yesterday. The chief nueurners were Mr. Wat-
son, commmonly called the Doctor, Thomas Preston,
and Keene ; there were about .52 couple besides.—
Ilooper's wife (or substitute thr one), accompanied by a
young woman, dressed in deep mourning closed the
procession. The procession milved along 131ackfriar's-
read, over 131aekaiars-bridge, Midge-greet, Ludgate-
hill, St. Paul's Church-yard, Cheapside; Cornhill, Ma-
ga° High-street, White-chapel, Mile-End-road, to
'Stepney (laird), where he was interred, in a grave
at the east end of the church-yard, near Cashman.—
Owing to its being Sunday, the streets through which
the proetnision passed were rendered nearly impassible
f:•om the crowd of idle persons who followed ; and the
pr,ssitre to get into the church-yard was so treat. that
we fear many aecidenttimust have happened. About
3 o'clock the body .was consigned to the earth ; after
vslticli tile pi... .ioa returned in the same manner to
the hcuse of the undertaker.
Laurent, formerly al' celebrated a Clown, and distin-
odshed fir his uncommon feats of activity, and who
was possessed at one time of considerable property, has
been so reduceit in his circumstances, that on Thursday
he applied to the Magistrates at Union Hall, for an
ostler to the Overseers at Lambeth (his parish) to grant
him relief or to receive hint into the workhouse. The
Magiitrates instructed him in the mode of application
to the parish officers, and directed him to return to
Union Hall in case he was not relieved, and they
wild(' issue their necessary order.

Au ingenious manufieturer at Birmingham has in-
vented a method of plating copper with pure gold,
which is attended to apply to a great number of arti-
cles, table services, &e.
V 5 understand that the London Company have ren-
dered their doe k and basin secure against those unto-
ward accidents which have occurred lately, and that a
similar security is nowin progress at the Blackwall end
of the City Cana'.
On Thursday, at his house, in Duke-street, St.
Jaines's, ied Count Z.',tobio, in his i,tith year The
Count was descentled fr..at the tint families in Europe
among the noldesse, being not only a Prince in the
Venetian Itepth:ia, bait al:a a P:ince of the liaise of
Anstris. (7teint Zenobio was also the mapliew or limo,
the late Admiral of Venice ; was the owner of two
of the allot palacs iu the worli, Low anti Zeautio.

Lox tioN :—Print,-.1 and publi•hect by I?. I% ti, • . No. 18Z,
Ft.twr-M raLF.T. I,...tween rt. DuttFtan's and Fcttat
I.anc, nod scrw.;c:td into lobe t'onntry by a Nokainqi
Clerks of the frtc of rcitagg,