Star.
London, England, 1811-09-13 00:00:00

4MEAIC.IN NAria: BIOGRAPHT.

No. R.
Captain George Geddis is a native of DuOin, in
Ireland, and emigrated to America before the Revo-
lution, and was Master of a merchantman between
the ports of Dublin and Phdadelphia. During the
revolutionary war, he got a commission in the Arne-
ricari service ; and on the partial warfare breaking ,
outibetweea the United States and France, he ob-
tained the command of the sloop of war Potapsecoe,
and cruized most actively, for two years, off the
,Windward West India Islands. Just before the dif-
ferences were settled with France, he was appointed
' to convey a fleet of merchantmen from Curacoa to
the United States. On their passage, part of the con- ,
voy were boarded by two English frigates, who im-
pressed some men out of them. The Jeffersonian
party had just got into office, and this was construed
into a great crime. The Aurora newspaper, then pa-
tronised by President Jefferson, was quite enraged
that the American flag should have been thus insul-
ted. " Captain Geddis ought to have struck his
flag, or he ought to have :thawed his vessel to be
sunk, and his convoy captured, before he should have
allowed the degradation of a man's being impressed."
Thus did the Aurora rave. Captain Geddis has not
been since employed. He, however, has a son, a
Lieutenant in the service, a most worthy young man.
Whether Captain Geddis, in the instance vie have
mentioned, acted prudently, or the contrary, it is not
for us to inquire ; but if we presume to give an opi-
nion, it must coincide with his conduct ; for to have
made resistance would have been vain with such a
superior force, and to have struck his flag would have
only tended to snake a breach between the two coun-
tries. The courage of Captain Geddis never was
doubted, and it was not necessary for him to be he-
roic in vain to maintain it. No man bears a better
character for the finer attributes of the heart he is
humane to the nicest degree, a pleasant companion,
full master of his profession, both in theory and prac-
tice ; be does not take any share in politics, but isnot
democratic mad, and has a strong love for the coun-
try which gave him birth ; he is about 60 years of
age, five feet nine inches in height, and made in pro-'
portion ; his countenance is pleasing, but has what
is denominated a sleepy eye. Since he has left the
United States service, he has assumed his original
situation of Master of a merchantman between Dub-
lin and Philadelphia.

being at length exhausted by the loss of blood, he
begged for his life ; the negro told him he would
save his life if he would tell him where his money,
was ; Wheeler instantly complied with his request,
and the negro left him and returned to the house,
Thursday se'nnight the stand-house at the race- where he found Wheeler's mother, an old woman of
course, Cork, in consequence of too many crowding , 60 or 70 years of age, weeping over Frazier, who was
upon it, gave way : providentially no lives were lost; i still lying on the floor apparently dead. He struck
one Gentleman had his thigh broke, and some others' the old woman en the head, and killed her instantly.
were-slightly hurt. A poor man's leg, it is feared, He looked under one of the beds, and found there a
was also broke ; two of the band of the Northumber- I Mr. Thomas, who, being drunk, had, during the
land, Militia were hurt, but are not in immediate time the negro vas out of the house, crawled under
danger-;—the Musical instruments were all broken to it, He was dragged out, and beaten until he ap-
pieces. peared to tt dead. The negro next took all the mo-
ney he could find, and then went away. Wheeler's
CURIOUS ADVENTURE. Two Gentlemen have
lately arrived in the neihbourhood of Londonderry, wife crept behind a large chest, and was not discover-
from New York, who relate a very extraordinary oc-
ed, otherwise she would have shared the same fate.
currence, which happened to a young man that erni- The skulls of Frazier and Thomas are broken to
grated some veal s since from the parish of Glender- pieces. They were alive yesterday, but no hope is
tnott to the United States. It seems that the latter, entertained of their recovery. Wheeler will proba-
a6companied by a middle-aged man, was travelling bly get well. The negro has been apprehended, and
through some thick woods, when he espied a very is now in gaol ; there is no doubt of his conviction."
large tree, on the branches of which appeared a path- Beautiful White Teeth may be regarded as ettt of
way prom ;• being struck with its appearance, his the greatest blessins Providence can bestow, without
curios;fy ppted him to ascend its summit, which which the finest formed face is imperfect; inattention
had been previously broken off, and displayed a yawn- to the teeth and gums is the principal cause of an
A ing hollow trunk; after having viewed it, he was offensive breath.—BUTLEß'S VEGETABLE RESTORA.-
; about to descend, when, by some accident, he missed TIVE Tobru POWDER is a most elegant and certain
his foot, and fell into the trunk, at the bottom of remedy for all diseases of the teeth and gums ; its
which lay two very young hears. Here he remained particular qualities are not simply confined tr. clean-
t,,r some time, before the old man had courage to sing the teeth, but will preserve them in the highest
s. al ch for him—when he did, he was unable to sea- state of perfection ; it will render them beautifully
j‘r him any assistance. He went, however, to pro. white, fasten such as may be loose, and restore them
core a rope. During his absence, the old bear came to their original purity, entirely eradicate the scurvy
—and what must be the sensations of the unfortunate it the gums, cause them to adhere close and firm to
youth, on seeing
.the huge body of the ferocious ani- the teeth, render them of a healthful red, and the
mai, darkening, in its descent, his dreary habitation, breath delicately sweet, relieve and cure the most
which he might then literally consider his coffin ! excruciating tooth-ach, gam-byes, and swelled face.
The nature of the place, however, rendered it neces. —Sold wholesale and retail at Mr. Butler's, 4, Cheap
s try for his frightful neighbour to descend with her side, corner of P,ateraoster-row; and retail by Belanr
tail foremost, as ,otherwise she could not have re. and Sharp, Portsmouth; Hall and Johnson, Gospost ;
turned. Finding her in this posture, his only remedy, Allnutt, Weston, Mallory and Jones, Portsea ; Trew.
he thought, was to lay fast hold of her posteriors, man, Exeter ; Cookworthy, Glenville, Gilbert and
which so affrighted the bear, that she immediately Hokgrod, Plymouth ; Newbury, Dublin; Baxter and
mended, dragging him up to the top—and her fear M'Donald, Glasgow ; Smith, Islanderston; Scott and
was so great, that she fell off a branch and broke her Cargil, Edinburet ; Crutwell, Bath ; Ross and Peck,
heart ! while the other quietly descended, to the great Hull • Gregson and Billinge, Liverpool ; Stains and
s.aistaction of his old companion, whom he met re- Lynch, Manchester ; Bowen, Norwich ; Knott and
-yarning with assistance. He has since, it is added, Lloyd, Birmingham • Gregory, end
Brighton; most
13...c0ut0 insorensely rich.—(Belfea Nicol latter.) Medicine Venders. in Boxes 2s. 9d. each.
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TO THE► EDIT OR OF THE STAR.

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Stn—The following representation of a people and
a district, with which Europeans in general are not
familiarly acquainted, will no doubt be 'acceptable to
your numerous readers. These are the Seiks, who
occupy a portion of the Punjaub, a region comprehen-
ded within the five great rivers, the Hydaspes, the
Hydraotes, Acesines, Hyphasis, and Sittledge :
44 The Seiks are armed with a spear, matchlock and
scymetar ; their method of fighting is singular; alter
performing the requisite duties of their religion by ab-
lution and prayer, they comb their hair and beards
with peculiar care, then mounting their horses, ride
forth towards the enemy, with whom they engage in
a continual skirmish, advancing and retreating, until
man and horse become equally fatigued ;- they then
draw off to some distance from the enemy, and merg-
ing with cultivated ground, they permit their horses
to graze on their own accord, while they parch a little
grain for themselves ' • and, after satisfying nature by
this frugal repast, if the enemy be near, they' renew
the skirmishing; should he have retreated, the: pro-
vide forage for their cattle, and endeavour to procure
a meal for themselves. Accustomed from their ear-
liest infancy to a life of hardship and difficulty, the
Seiks despise the comforts of a tent ; in lieu of this,
each horseman is furnished with two blankets, one
fur himself, and they other for his horse. These blan-
kets, which are placed beneath the saddle, with a gram
bag,and heel ropes, comprise, in time of war, the bag-
gage of a Seik. Their cooking utensils are carried on
tattoos. Considering this mode of life, and the extra-
ordinary rapidity of their movements, it cannot be
matter of wonder, if they perform marches, which to
those who are only accustomed to European warfare,
must appear almost incredible. The Seiks, among
other customs singular in their nature, never suffer
their hair, or beards* to be cut, consequently, when
mounted on horseback, their black flowing locks, and
half naked bodies, which are formed in the stoutest
and most athletic mould, the glittering of their arms,
and the size and speed of their horses, render their ap-
pearance imposing and formidable, and superior to
most of the cavalry in Hindostan. The Seiks in their
disposition are false, sanguinary, and faithless, they
are addicted to plunder, and the acquirement of
wealth by any means, however nefarious ; instances
have occurred of a child's arm being raised against
his parent, and of brothers destroying each other.—
Women among them are held in little estimation, and
though ill-treated by their husbands, and prohibited
from accompanying them in these wars, these unhappy
females nevertheless attend to their domestic concerns
' with a diligence and sedulousness deserving a better
fate. In the Seik army the modes of payment are
various, but the most common is at the time of har-
vest, when every soldier receives the amount of his
pay in grain and- other articles, the produce of the
country ; to some is given money in small sums, and
to others lands are allotted for their maintenance.

A Seik soldier has also his portion of the plunder ac-
quired in the course of a campaign ; this is bet aside
as a reward for his services, and in addition to it, he

sometimes increases his gain by secreting the public
money."

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CITESTONIAN MI DICTWP.s.
CASS xXtit..--ro Mr. BA I SETT GUI bt, NU 11, areit Strivey-
street, Bisektriars-R.ad.
COME time ablut the month of OetoSet,,lBoq,
I...ins,•uhjeet to rag. I perrn!ttcd a
.resort hiert.th
a Phrici.in, (who then lodged in my house), Qs al.plgaesucs c
to my erm, which be said would cure me. 'fire cstiwic beteg
applied. I slithered the must ascrucialng torture, mud in two days
I found all the flesh round it entirely destroyed, ird a very laq.
painful ulcer the caosesornee. t lu.d recourse to the flirt
cal men in the tutighhout hood, to whose directions 1 'tritely cos.
formed twelve miniths, and finding my arm grew worse, I pro-
cared a !mit- or recommendation to a public Dinette:4T, from
which I gained no relief; when, worn oat with expence and pain.
I sacked tl!t• aiis!stance or Mr. G,.est, who, Irani naotrves of
charity aline, mulestisok the cure of mii, at the same than it..
-forming me 1-.. t never meddled with !turf ical cases. His Lydon
was applied a.l round the diseased parts, and produced almo,t
immediate ease from pain; in a few days thrust of my .ern ee-s
restored to me, aid In five weeks I wts quite well, as witness
my hand, this 20th day of January, IRO%
JOHN FARTHING,
No. I ft , York-street, Surrey-rcsf.
(Case 24 will arrear in a tutor* Paper.)

Early yesterday morning the house of Mr. Griffin,
in Old-street-road, was broken open by some thieves,
and robbed of various articles of furniture, linen, and
other goods, to the amount of between thirty and
forty pounds,with which the villains made their escape.
ADVERTISEMENT—To
those who wish to be well ac-
quainted with the sanguinary warfare that the French
are carrying on in the Peninsula, and their cruelty
towards the unfortunate inhabitants, we recommend
the perusal cf a new work, just published, intiticd,
" Santo, de Motanor, or Annals of a Patriot Family,"
founded on recent facts, in 3 vols. Bvo. dedicated to

the memory of the late Duke of Ausunounitctuz, by
the Author of the Historical Chart of the eventful
reign of his present Majesty. Sold by N. L. Pannier,
15, Leicester-place, Leicester-square, price 18s. sewed.
PRIVATE MARRIAGES.—Many years ago the Par-
sons of the Fleet, and of May Fair, were noted for
the celebration of private marriages ; and it appears
that the village of Hampstead was not less remarkable
for its conveniencies of that kind to couples who
wished to increase their happiness by a little air and
exercise. About the beginning of the last century
there stood, near the Wells, a place called Sion Cha-
pel, which appears to have been the property of the
keeper of an adjoining Tavern. By the following
tadvertisement.; from the Papers of 1710 and 1716, it
will be seen what temptations he held out to such
parties as should keep their wedding-dinner in his
gardens :
" April 13,1710.—As there are many weddings at Sion Cha-
pel, Hampstead, lye ihillinzs only is required for all the church-
fees of asy couple that are married there, provided they bring
with them a licence or certificate, according to the Act of Parlia-
ment. Two sermons are continued to be preached in the said
Chapel every Sunday; and the place will be given to any Clergy-
man that is willing to accept of it, Kiwis approved of."
" September 8, 1716.—Sion Chapel, at Hampstead, being a
private and pleasant place, many persons of the bed fes:nere bays
lately bets married there. Now, as a Minister is obliged cone
stamly to attend, this is to give notice, that an persons upon
bringing a licence, and who ►hall Rave their weddiag-dinner in
the gardens, may be married in the said Chapel vretkoatzi vie: any
fee or reward whatsoever; and such as do not keep their wed-
ding-dinner at the gardens, only five shillings will be demanded
of them for all fees!"

DIED.
Tuesday, the 10th Instant, in the 76th year of his age, Henry
Howard, Esq. of Tower House, Arundel, Sussex, only surviving
brother of the late Sir George Howard, K.B. and father of Gene-
ral Howard now in Spain. He was the lineal descendant of Lord
William Howard, created Baron of Effingh:,m in 1554.
On the tech ult. John Anderson, of Barlow, near Ryton, shoe-
maker, aged 108.—He died in the act of soling a pair of shoes.—
He enjoyed good health, and never wore spectacles in his life.
Tuesday night, suddenly, Lieut. Allen, Governor of the Nava!
Knight's Establishment at Windsor.
At Loran, Miss Frances Cope, daughter of the late Rev. Davi,
Cape, Rector of Twain.
At Keith, on the St9th ult. John Dean, manufacturer.—He ha
gone to bed in good health, about halt east ten'o clock, and wt
dead against midnight : and nest morning, James Forsyth, alf
bourer, who lived in the same street, only a few doors from ti
house of the forraer;•on going out early to his yard, in his uses
health, for the porpose of doing some work, dropped down, at
instantly expired.
In Limerick, suddenly, octasis oned by the excessive drinking
spirkuous liquors, Denis Kayla, a musician in the baud 91
cialway regiment.

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