Star.
London, England, 1831-05-07 00:00:00


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THE DEAD SEA.
COMINO SODOM AND 6011011 LAN.

In the course of the ride, the weather brightened ; but
this only served to unfold, in more fr'ghtfal distinctness,
the awful scene of devastation which lay before me. It
was similar to lifting. up the shroud from the dreadful dis-
figurati.ins of death. That soil, which, for the sin of its
inhabitants, had been accursed, over which my path now
lay, was a suit Of (+ilk or white dust, which the wet had
literally chamxed int,' mortar. Trace of animal or vegetable
existence' there was none. They had been extirpated by
the wend of ALM it; irry GOD ; or, to use the expression of
the royal penman, a fruitful land is turned into barrenness.
for the wickedness of them who dwelled therein. As I
proceeded, my attention was vividly excited by views of re-
gularly formed castles, fortifications, towers, and other
edifices, many of them of the finest architecture I had
ever beheld ; hut. on approaching which, it proved an
effect produced by the sun's beams, and the illusion vanished
as if in an instint. _

In any other place. and among objects of a different cha-
racter. these curious deceptions of nature, similar to the tni-
tage I explained in going through the desert in Egypt,
might have created pleasing sensations; but here they were
only calculated to fill the mind with awe and dread. They
seemed to he the very mockery of human gteatness, amidst
monuments of mysterious power, which had been at work on
the spot, and was departed, sweeping away in its course all
trace of man and of life. It may here be observed, that on
the east and west of the lake are exceedingly high moun-
tains; on the north it is bounded by the plain of Jericho;
while on the south it opens and extends beyond the eye.
Oh, that I had the pen of a ready writer, or could speak
as with a tongue of fire to the unbeliever, that i might
convey to him a faithful picture of this devoted region and
shadow of death ! No language, indeed. can suffice ade-
quately to describe the mournful devastation which reigns
around, as a memorial of the curses denounced against
it; or can express that solemn horror which the scene is so
well calculated to inspire. Truly may it be considered
as " an astonishment to every one that passeth by it,"
and most appallingly monumental of the consuming wrath
of GOD, where the inhabitants, alas, " were brought into
desolation as in a moment, and consumed with terror ;"
and holds out a dreadful warning to mankind, that they
might know and understand, however marvellous it may
appear in their eyes, that the LORD bath dune this, who
maketh himself known by the judgments which he exe-
cuteth. To those terrible acts, exercised in his vengeance
on this devoted place, which has been so scorched and
blasted with lightning, we find the most pointed allusions in
the sacred volume that language can possibly convey, in the
denunciations of divine wrath upon apostate Israel.
I now drew near to that particular spot where the GOD of
heaven out of his vials had,

In dreadful ire,
Rained on earth, of old, a storm of fire,
T' avenge the wrongs which nature's laws endured,
On that dire race to horrid deeds inured.
Here was, indeed, no hiding-place from the wind, nor
covert from the tempest. A profound silence, awful as
death, broods over the lake, but which was interrupted by
the dreary sound of its waters, darkening as they rolled
before the wind, which blew strongly at the time, accom-
panied with rain, added to the impending gloom of the
high surrounding mountains, which appeared as if guardino. I
the whole extent of water, and were those to which the !:
angels called upon Lot to escape with his family, lest they !,
might be consumed in the city. At this moment, after I
reading from the inspired record the description of that ,
event, on the dismal vestiges, and indeed vouchers, of which
I gazed, surrounded by my savage guards, I became rivetted
to the spot in silent wonder, and shaking like the aspen leaf,
under a feeling as if I had been brought to the very verge
of the habitable world, when I did " exceedingly fear and
quake." At this never-to-be-forgotten moment, 1 could only
exclaim, in the language of holy writ, " This is the Loan's
doing, and marvellous in our eyes." Wherever, indeed,
the ALMIGHTY is represented as immediately acting'
or speaking, every thing terrible in nature is called up to
heighten the awe and solemnity of the Divine presence. No
warning of their impending fate was held out to these de-
voted cities by any thing striking in the heavens or earth;
for we are told that the sun bad risen, and was then shilling
on the plain, when the visitation took p!ace. Frightful—
frightful catastrophe! What awful woe and destruction in
a moment ! The dwellings of men laid in one mass of
ruins; herds, flock, and substance, all destroyed; the inha-
bitants, who so lately revelled in every folly, sensuality, and
vanity, now annihilated ; the soil burned up and engulphed
in a lake of brimstone ; the very smoke of the whole country ,
ascending " as that of a furnace."
Here would I address myself to sceptics, scoffers, and
free-thinkers, in tl.e present age of disaffection and infi-
delity ; and who, sitting at ease in carnal security, and
lulling themselves in their self-complacency, not only apply
to their own souls a flattering unction, but strive to blind
be eyes of °their:, and shake their well-grounded faith in
he word of Gun—which, by their blasphemous publi-
cations and seditious meetings, they would bring into
contempt. I play you, then, to contemplate this place,
marked by the le:au' vengeance of GOD, which turned
populous cities into a desolation,--a wilderness,—a land
wherein none dwelleth. Here, 1 feel confident, your lofty
imaginations would be laid low with the dust,—you will be
shaken to the very centre, and conviction seize upon your
deluded minds, as you gazed Li.on r:.e ashes of destruction,
which lie scattered around, demonstrative evidences of the
truth of that revelation, against which your envenomed
shafts have been so frequently discharged, when it declares
the being of that power which here you may behold mani-
fested, and Le taught a lesson you so much need, that it is
a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living GOD.—
Rae Wilson' Travels in Judea.

PICTURES OF THE DIVINITY IN THE RUSSIAN I
CHU RCHES..—WithOUt saying any thing of the profaneness
of pretending, to delineate the Supreme Being, the absurtli-
sies into vdlich the greatest artists have fallen, whenever
they have attempted it, are such as shock taste and propriety
equally with religious feeling. Painters uniformly repro-
sent the Divinity under the form of an aged man, as if age
was an attribute of that Being who is eternal, and v.ho ,
existed before all worlds ;—as if the semblance of infirmity I
and decay could belong to Him who is all perfection—to
Him who is altogether incapable of change !—Rae Wilson's
Travels in Poland and Russia.
NORTON'S RIFLE SIIELL.—W'e were witness to an ex-
periment made by Captain Norton at Moore's shooting
ground, Notting Hill, with his percussion rifle shell, on the
23d ult. before the Master General of the Ordnance,
Major General Sir Andrew Barnard ; General Nor-
colt, Colonel Fox, and several other officers.—
The result was quite satisfactory, as proving the utility of
these projectiles; the object fired at was /Ismail box, of about
a foot square, its front being of oak, one inch in thickness.
and back of elm, of an inch and a quarter ; between these
was an enclosed space of one inch, filled with powder. The
shell was discharged from a military regulation rifle, having
the head of its ramrod hollowed out, to prevent preemie on
the percussion car, the distance about 50 yards. The first and'
sect rid shots missed the object, and the shells passed through
a broad iron plate, which clamped together a three inch
boarded screen, against which the experiments were made,
the thud discharge carried the shell clear through the box,
and caused an instant explosion.— United Service Journal.

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11141111 P.„

PANORAMA OF THE BitiTiSH
EMPIRE.
BATH JOURNAL, MAY 2.
ARRIVALS.-The Lord Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry, Lord
Brecknock, Lord John Thynne, Lord Mount Edeecombe, Lady
Kennaway, Lady Fraser, Lady Thornborough, Mr. and Lady
Halkett, Sir Biilingham Graham, Colonel Coffin, Colonel and Mrs.
Mansell, Col. and Mrs. Wallaston, Col. Caulfield, Col. Bailey, Major
Greene, Captains Gordon, Logan, Probie, Manning, Clithrow • Rev.
Dr. England, Dr. Waterhouse, Dr. Oarlike; Rev. Messrs. Daniel, Ed•
wards, Oarlike, Wilson Bowles, far.
Mr LICRHAY, APRIL 25.-Our market to-day was thinly supplied
with beef, which sold from 9s to 10s 6d per score. Mutton in de-
mand, at from 6d to 7d per pound, without the wool; with it, about
Is 2d per pound more.
Reading-Wheat 62a to 83s; Barley 364 to 50s ; Oats 254 to 374
Beans J7s to 395. Newbury-Wheat 56s to 77s • Barley 30a to 465;
Oats 24s to 345; Beans 37s to 475. Wantagt=2Wheat 55s to 80s;
Barley 34s to 4as; Oats 21s to 38s; Beans 34a to 48s. Salisbury-
Wheat 56s to 68s; Barley 36s to 431 ; Oats 27s to 325; Beans 401 to
50s. Yeova--Wheat 64s to 725; Barley 32s to 38s ; Oats 24s to 265;
Beans 36. to 40s. Taunton-Wheat MI to 725; Barley 355; Oats
20s ; Beans 38s. Gloucester-Wheat 56s to 70s ; Batley 40s to 455;
Oat. 25. to 32a; Beans 38. to 60s. Exeter-Wheat 66s to 80s;
Burley 37s to 411.
iIARRIED.-The Rev. Edw. Rowden, vicar of Highworth, Wilts,
to Ellen, eldest daughter of the Rev. Dr. A.Trenchard, of Stanton-house
-J. Eldridge, Esq. Pockeridge-house, Corsham, Wilts, to Mary Ann,
eldest daughter of the late S. Yockney, Esq. Upper East Hayes, Bath-
At At Bailiwick Church, Capt. William Henry Baptist Proby, R. N. to
Louisa Mat y, eldest daughter of the late Reverend Samuel How, of
Stickland- Mr. John Smith, solicitor, of Bristol, to Marianne,
youngest daughter of the late Nathaniel Stockdale Esq of Drimpton,
Dorset-William, seoond son of W. Baker, Esq. of East Brent,
Somerset, to Celia, second son of Mr. J. F. Norman-Wm. Bexley,
Esq. of Exeter, to Sarah Taylor, only child of R. T. Williams, Esq.
surgeon, of Bristol-At Plymouth, H. T. Smith, Esq. solicitor, of
Devonport, to Miss M. Parkyn-.At Gloucester, Capt. John Campbell,
to Miss Stone, of that city.
DIED.-At Stratford, near Stroud, aged 74, Nath. Jones, Esq-
Daniel Payne, Esq. 89, of Claremont place, late of Gloucester-At
Monmouth, Thomas Tudor, Esq. 94-At Exeter, Mrs. Hicks, relict
of Wm. Hicks, Esq-At Exmouth, aged 81, Mrs. Russell, relict of
R. Russell, Esq. banker-At Dartmouth, Mr. 0. Love, surgeon-
At Alphington, 87 years, the Rev. Win. Ellicombe, Vicar-St. Vin.
cent's.-place, 53. Mr. G. Strong, late of Exeter-At Upavon, 53,
Charlotte, widow of the late Francis Giffard, Esq-Mr. Wm. Saun-
ders, solicitor, Reading-Frances, 91, relict of Wm. Ghost, Esq. of
Salisbury-Mr. Bethell, b 6, of Lady Down-At Chippenham, Mr. E.
Leaking.
CHELTENHAM CHRONICLE, MAY 5.
Astarvms.- Hon. Henry Moreton, Sir B. W. Guise, Lady Wil-
liams, Gen. and Mrs. Marriott, Lieut. Colonel Gray, Major Powell,
Major Mahon, Rev. Mr. Street, Captain Eccles.
°prom, Amin. 30.-On Thursday last, the following Degrees
were conferred :-
Bachelor in Divinity-Rev. E. P. New, Fellow of St. John's.
Masters of Arts-Rev. A. L. Kaye, Brannon ; Rev. E. Riley,
Lincoln ; G. C. Lewis, Student of Christ Church ; Rev. G. lanes,
Scholar of Trinity ; William harry Surman, trinity.
Bachelors of Am-Rev. C. W. Alston, and E. R. Berens, St Mary
Hall ; B. Hemming, Magdalen Hall; E. Harland, Waltham ; H.
James, Worcester ; J. Abaco), Brasenose ; W. B. Moulton, W. P.
Phillips, and J. B. Eckley, Trinity; W. 11. Hughes, Lincoln; W.
R. Parker, and A. Perkins, Oriel ; C. James, W. Bray, and J.
Foottit, Exeter; George F. Fowl; Raliol ; Thomas, Wm. Creaser,
Pembroke.
Ecclesiastical Preferments-Rev. R. Clifton, M.A. of Worcester
college, to hold by dispensation the Rectory of Somerton, Oxon, with
the Rectory of St. Nicholas, Worcester. Rev. LI. B. Owen, M.D. of
St. John's college, Rector of St. Olave's, Hart.street, has been inducted
by the Lord Bishop of London, to the Rectory of Throcking, Hens.
Patron, John Raye, Esq. of Families,.
GLOUC ENT ER, SATURDAY, APRIL ?A.-Wheat 7s. 7d. to Bs.
10d. Barley to ss. 6d. Beans ss. sd. to Si. bd. Oats 3s Id. to 4s.
Id. Fine Flour, 56.. to 63.. Seconds, 50s. to 60s. per sack. Assize
price of Bread at Gloucester, 104 d per quartein loaf.
111ARRIED.--At Gloucester, John Kennaway, Esq. eldest son of
the late sir J. Kennaway, of Eacot, Devon, to Emily Frances, daugh-
ter of the late Thos. Kingseote, Esq. of Kingscote-Colonel T. Steuart,
of the Madras army, to Miss Campbell, thenclaruail House, Argyle.
shire.
DIED.-At Alstone Green, Mr. John Roberts-The Rev. Wm,
Loggia, rector of Long Marston-Mary, relict of the Rev. henry
Bond Fowler, late Vicar of Elmstone Hanlwick-Miss Funny Kea.
tioge, daughter of the late very Rev. the Dean of St. Patrick's, Dublin.
NORTHAMPTON FREE PRESS, MAY 4.

Yesterday se'nnight, a detachment of the 4th, or King's own Regi-
ment of Foot, consisting of one hundred and twenty men, halted at
Aylesbury, on their route front Staley-bridge, near Manchester, to
Chatham. In the comse of the evenir.g a ludicrous affair occurred at
the Black Horse public-house, where several of the soldiers were bil.
letted. Two men, one by trade a shoemaker, and the other a baker,
who had been sacrificing rather too freely at the shrine of Bacchus,
imagining they should make very fine soldiers, proposed to exchange
clothes fur a short time with two of the privates of the regiment, in or.
der to see which of them would look the best ; this was agreed to and
performed instanter. No sooner, however, had the soldiers taken off
their regimentals, and put on the clothes of their frolicsome compani-
ons, than they paid a visit to their knapsacks, and taking therefrom
their clean shirts and stockings, decamped ; leaving the would-be sol-
diers the option of marching or not, as it pleased them, with the regi-
ment on the following morning. Notwithstanding the inquiries that
have been made, we believe nothing has yet been heard of tite desert.
ers, who left our accommodatiug tradesmen minus—the shoemaker his
coat and hat ; and the baker all his clothes, with the exception of his
shirt and stockings.
OUNDLE GaaMuAa SCHOOL.—The worshipful Company of Gro-
eels have generously presented to this school two exhibitions of 301.
per annum each, and the sum of 101. per annum for the purchase of
books to be distributed as prises at the annual examination. The tx-
I hibitions are open to either university and any college, and to be held
till the exhibitor shall have taken the degree of B. A. No boy can be
eligible to an exhibition unless he shall have been a regular scholar at
this school for at least five years. The candidates are to be examilled as
to their proficiency by two clergymen •.f the Church of England, and
the result of such examination is to he certified by the master, counter-
; signed by the examiners. One scholar only to be elected in one year.
' The scholar on his election will be required to sign a written engage.
ment to report to the Grocers' Company what degree, previously to his
leavuto, college, he shall have taken. The above school was founded
about 1550, by Sir Wm. Laxion. a native of Oundle, who in the year
1554 was Lord Mayor of London. He was a member of the Grocers'
, Company, to which inch nt corporation he bequeathed his property,
I charging it with the patronage of the Oundle Grammar-school, the wel.
fare of which, to the present period, has been an object of the Com.
party's great solicitude.
At the sale of Mr. Ravcnshaw'a stock, at Uckington, Salop, about
200 pure Leicester ewes and lambs brought from Nis to 67s a pair.—
The stock of pure Hereford heifers and calves sold rapidly at Irom
,251. to 371. each pair.
MAIUT Hannoaounn-1,1 heat 745 to 80s; Barley 38s to 44, ;
Oats 23s to 305 ; New Beans 42s ; line Flour 60s ; Thirds 565; 316.1
76s ; Butter 12d to Wed per lb. Eggs 228 for Is.
DAVENTRY—Wheat 70s to 76's ; Barley 34s to 445; Oats 265 to
130 s 6d ; Beans tOs. to 445.
TYNE MERCURY, MAY 3.
THE COAL OWNERS AND THE PITMEN.—The viewers on the
part of the coal owners, and the delegates on the part of the pitmen,
had a meeting here on Friday last, to endeavour to settle the differences
which unhappily exist between them. There were sine points In dis-
pute, and after a good deal of argument, seven of these were agreed
upon. The remaining two, however, which are still unsettled, are the
most important. These are, first—the claim of the pitmen to be em-
ployed eleven days in the fortnight, at three shillings per day ; and, se-
, condly, the claim to have the tines abolished. To suppose tor a mo-
ment that the coal-owners can give eleven days' employment per fort-
night, as nearly as possible constant work, to the whole body of pitmen,
is clearly absurd; they have it not in their power. If the number
were diminished one-hall, there could be little difficulty, perhaps ; but
to leave one-half wholly unemployed, would be much worse for them
than to give limited work to the whole body, by which all might earl' a
decent livelihood. With regard to the fines, we understard from persons
well acquainted with the coal trade, that it would be impossible to carry
on the collieries without them. But let the coal-owners meet the pitmen
on this point, let them du all they can fairly do to effect an adjustment:
let them show that they do not wish to take the tines to themselves: let
them establish a fund with the fines, expressly for the purpose of edu-
cating the children of the pitmen. Tots will show a proper feeling,
and, we should hope, would lead to a setsement of their differences.
The colliers belonging to the Tyne, we are assured, are anxious to
return to their work, and are only deferred by the influence of the
Wear men.
NEWCASTLE, April 30.—We had this morning a moderate supply
of country Wheat, which was taken off slowly at the prices of this day
se'nnight. The arrivals of foreign Wheat continue large, and it is held
at touch the same prices as last week. The stocks of Rye increase, but
prices are not lower. The best malting Barley support their price, but
grinding is rather cheaper. Fine Malt sells freely. Oats are lather
dearer. Fine Flour 501. to 531. per sack.—Beef sold at his; Mutton,
8s 2d to 84 9d per stone, sinking offal.—Northumberland Bacon 52a to
548 ; Hants, 58* to 00s per cwt. Butter, new, 48s to 50s per firkin ;
Do. old, nominal. Cumberland Baton, 511 to 52s ; Hams, 56, to tsgs
per cwt. Butter, new, 411. w 50. per firkin; Do. old, nominal.
MA R lED.—At Hexham, Mr. Michael Armstrong, to Miss Isa-
bella Dickenson.—At Berwick, Thomas Gilchrist, Esq. solicitor, to
Margaret, third daughter of the Rev. Josoph Barnes.—Christian John,

a

onmingpmenor

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L.: $V REPORTS.
COURT OF KING'S BENCH, MAT 6.

iumglirr

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Rh
ma of Wm. Robinson, of Nam Meek taiga; to Mirk
Rhsaboth, oldest daughter of Anwiek &skit, ll*it Lwagtay Orono,
Durham.
DIED.—Mr. Edmondstone, late swam& Illeekett-strost—At
Bishopwearmouth, Mr. Wm. Dixon, ship-owner, 44.—At the Leases.
near &dale, Mrs. Arden, the only surviving daughter of the late John
Arden, Bag. of Stockport.
CALEDONIAN MERCURY, MAT 3.
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So great was the excitement to learn the decision of the King, re-
garding the dissolution of Parliament, that there were at least 5000
people in Waterloo-place on Sunday, awaiting the arrival of the mail •
and the moment the driver announced the prorogation, notwithstanding
the proverbial respect paid to the Sabbath in this country, the intelli-
gence was received with the loudest cheering, which lasted for several
minutes. When the first newspaper was got out, the person to whom
it belonged was prevented from leaving the lobby of the Post Office till
he had read his Majesty's speech, at the end of every sentence of which
three hearty cheers were given, and " one cheer more" was given at
the conclusion for King William. Nearly a similar scene was enacted
on Saturday, when the guard of the mail announced a dissolution of
Parliament, which was then premature.
Sir D. K. Sandford rode several miles out of Glasgow on Friday
afternoon, in order to learn from the guard of the London mail the fate
of the reform measure, ;and reached town again about seventeen mi-
nutes before its arrival, when he announced the result. At the Royal
Exchange the intelligence was received by the party opposed to the
measure with cheering, and by the liberal party with groans and hisses.
In the Tontine coffee-room, the news was received in silence.
The emigration from Greenock to Canada is at present brisk. The
Favourite, which sailed on Monday, carried out upwards of seventy
passengers ' • and the Nailer, which sailed on Thutsday, had a bun.
dred on board.
St. Gi LES' CATHEDRAL.—The exterior mason work of this ancient
and now renovated pile, was finished on Saturday, with great rejoicing
by the numerous workmeni employed. The building is now gene-
rally acknowledged to be the moat splendid either in Auld or New
Reekie.

The Edinburgh Shaksperian Theatrical Club celebrated the natal
day of the immortal bard at the Waterloo Tavern (Stevenson's) 00
Friday. Sixty gentlemen assembled. James Meiklam, Esq. of Cairn-
hroe, presided, and Mr. Pritchard, of the Theatre Royal, was crou-
pier. Among those present were Mr. P. Robertson, advocate; Mr.
Stein, &c. The music of the evening was selected entirely front
Shakspeare's plays and poems.
A NDESSONIAN t. 401 REE.—On Monday evening Dr. Scouller gave
an account of a fossil ctustaceous animal, which had been found at
Bathgate in the carboniferous limestone- The animal must have be-
longed to the same division as the Limuli or Molucca Crabs, but dif-
fered in having an articulated tail like the Cyclops. As far as we are
aware, it is the that specimen of the kind that has been observed.—
This rare specimen was presented to the museum by Mr. Watson.
A number of workmen are now employed within the enclosure:of the
National Monument, in preparing atones for the monument about
to be erected on the Calton Hill to the memory of the late Dugald
Stewart.

BLOWICK CORN SlAttmr, Arms, 30.—The supply of wheat,
Parley, and oats here to-day was very small. Wheut met a very heavy
sale. Barley and oats in demand, at about the rates of this day
sennight. %Meat 53s to 58s ; fine, 59s to 60s per quarter. Barley,
35s to 36s ; fine, 375. Oats, Potatoe, 28s Gd to 30 ;Angus, 265. Beans, '
38s to 395. Pease, 40s. Butter, tiOs 521 per firkin. Eggs, Ss Gd per
hundred. Pork, 4s. per stone. Salmon, 2s per lb. Trout, Is.
per pound.
MARRIED.—At Garteraig, B. 111°Nair, M.D. to Mary Rennie,
daughter of the late John Miller, Esq, Jamaica.— Henry Patterson,
Esq. to Ann, eldest daughter of the late Richard Gardiner, Esq.—
John Dunlop, Esq. Haddington, to Jessie, daughter of Win. Dunlop,
Eq. Edinburgh.—The Rev. David Duncan, minister of Abernethy,
to %les. Jean Thomson, relict of John litrray, E-q. of Conland.--At
Friskey Hall, Andrew Young, E•q. liainburgli, to Janet Colhoun.
Odes' daughter of J. Murdoch, Esq.—James 111ciklam, Esq. of Cairn-
brae, to Silas Campbell, eldest daughter of Colin Campbell, Esq. of
Jura.—James Gordon, Esq. 92d Highlanders, to Janet Georgina,
daughter of the late Major John Grant.
DIRD.—At Paisley, 89, Mrs. Margaret Forrester, relict of Benja-
min Downie, Esq of Blairgorts.—Major-General Sir George Adam
Wood, Governor of Carlisle.—At Glasgow, Francis Garden, F.sq.—
At York-place, Miss Sinclair of Murkle.

DE LA CHAUMLTTE V. THE COVENNON AND COMPANY OF THE