Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-10-18

Of the largest oak trees ever cut down in
this kingdom. 1t grew in the parish OF
Basssleg, Monmouthshire, about four
miles from Newport, near the Canal; was
Gu, down last year, and purchased by Mr..
T. Harrison. The trunk 10 feet In length
measured 47o feet; IL limbs, respectively,
GO, LOG, SIS, 452, ass, 113, %, 156,
81, 20, 90, and IS feet, altogether 24o2
feet of sound timber dead limbs 1916 feet
Of timber, making total of 2428 feet of
timber and it required the labor of four
meu for 30 days, 10 fall the tree aud strip
the bark.
Madame Blanchard, in one of her late
ascents from Paris in a balloon, was caught
IN a storm of hail and ram; but no,with-
standing, assembled so high that she was
lost in clouds and whirlwinds, and did not
alight from her balloon near Vincenpes till
between six and seven in the morning the
day aftei she arose from Paris. 10 conse.
quence of the prodigious height the balloon
assembled, Madame Blanchard tainted, and
continued lnsensible for some time. Her
ascension continued fourteen hours and a
half.
Extract of letter received from Pet.
worth this day -" A few days since a
laboring man, engaged ploughing in field
at Bignor, near Pe,worth, found the
plough obstructed by heavy stone, when
he obtained assistance and removed it; i,
is of marble, and beneath is flight of steps
OF the same, leading to large arched pas
sage, where they discovered an entire Ro.
Rath III tsooatutsd
perfect preservation. The bath is of hex.
agonal form, surrounded with seats, in the
centre is metallic pipe the bottom OF
the bath is abou, two feet below the pave
ment and FIVE feet wide; the Jesse lated
floor represents various figures in danci ne
attitudes, most beautifully wrought. La
digging further, they found a dolphin and
various other antiquities of the most costly
materials. tits supposed TO be the re mains
ola Roman palace, A Roman road has
also been discovered leading through the
field aad supposed 20 extend much farther
but It Is not at present suffered to be ex.
| pored. A gentleman in the vicinity has
an ancient ms. which particularly speaks
of this place, and many attempts had been
made to discover it, before it was SO for
tunately accomplished by accident. In
this manuscript many other curiosities are
spoken of, which are expected to be discov-
cred on a further exploration. Persons
from alt round the vicinity have been to ex.
anime the place. A very considerable sum
mas been offered for the field on a specula-
ton, but refused.
Lucien Bonaparte is settled in his new
residence near Worcester. The establish.
ment is about so offamily. All the young
Bonapartes have two servants in constant
attendance on their person, besides cook
and tutor. About fortnight ago the
whole family were employed in making hay
| before the house. They used nothing but
| their Hands in throwing it about and
laughed at such English people of the
| ne ghborhood who had different customs.
Lucien appears to be always wrapped in
thought and gloom he moves gracefully
to such people as salute him but never
speaks. l he latter may be owing to his be-
ing almost ignorant of the E nglish language.
Madame is agreeable and chatty and very
particular in making the young part of the
family observe the strictest politeness to
strangers. The furniture of the house is
an odd mixture of splendor and meanness !,
as is the dress of the family in general
The youngest child has SO much gilt and
glitter in its dress thatin the sun shine il
resembles an orb of moving fire. Lucien
gets the Moniteurs forwarded to him. and
such French papers as are published in
England. The inspector of his letters, &c.
goes daily to Thorngrove as the mail comes
in. There is very little land attached TO
the house and so tar from Lucien being an
agriculturalist, he does not appear to have
any ideas on the subject. He reads poetry
in the fields, and generally walks some