Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-05-18

he Chancellor could induce him 20 coreeo tn, |
use and curiosity Of at least, trying one passage
~ tho boat-in word. no persuasions could in
luce him TO be handed into the stage; and while
,oor coachee drove sulky away with empty seats
the cunning traveller, singing his saddle bag,
scross his arm, trudged down to the wharf am
took has passage on board the machine. So tha'
when all came To all, the propre.ors of the Obi.
gence,' the' Mail,' the Sw,ftsure,' and perhaps
many others, were compelled, in vulgar terms,
10 hdm fi their horns little, and indeed there is
reason to think, that had stern Boreas declared
IN their favour, and resolved not to give way
with his icy barrier during the winter season to
the bold manuuvres Of the Steam Boat, the 'Dli.
gence,' the MAIL the Swiftsure' and the whole
fraternity of stages would at this day have lain
rc'tms behind the stable, and Billy and Cate and
Tom and Dick been harnessed to the plough
me next class of citizens whose eyes could not
bear the sight ofChancellor Livingston's machine
were the owners and masters Of packets. About
the time when the old gentleman had put his boat
INTO operation, there were two elegant vessels of
that description plying between Hudson and New
York, distance of $50 miles. They professed
TO carry nothing but passengers & their baggage,
ana so did the Steamboat. But, being com.
mandcd by Quakers, who assured the public that
tthe wind failed them they had a knack of max.
|
Tors call sVhife-dsh breeze, (rowing) people
were for long time in doubt on whose side the
victory would terminate. 1t beng found, how
ever, at last, that the Chancellor's boat, which
| ne rather eminently named The North Riue.
cared neither for wind nor tide, but pushed her
way boldly through the water upon an even
Keel, and that, on the other hand, the packets
were often obliged to so IN a zigzag direction
and lay upon their sides in frightful manner
when the wind was adverse and strong, and a.
Dove all, that they seldom arrived in time the
PR ference was at once awarded to the North
h'uer and the packets given up. Much the
same course was pursued by the other packets
rom the different towns and villages on the
banks OF the Hudson The Albany skatber,
sometimes ran purposely foul of their VICTORIOUS
antagonist, who being armed only with swivel
in the bow to fire the signal of departure. was
unable to make any defence, and generally, after
receiving little damage and confusion, resumed
her course. Some lines in fit of rage they
WOULD shove her on bar with their fla bottom
ca sioops at low tide, and with shouts of dersion
eaVe her to wat for the coming flood When
the WIND favored and the glass had gone merrlly
rouha' they would poke holes in her sides with
their clumsy bowsprits and scarcely ever me,
ner IN passing without sending negro up the
snrouds to curse and swear at her in Dutch. Not
witnstand'ng all these unexpected faculties the
Norli hWer continued her operations in the same
manner, until at length the skibpers gave
up he hopeless contest, and instead of live stock.
! snd rum '>i WY o0'H'
., me third and last class of men who felt
themselves hurt by the ChanceIlor's invent;on,
were the Hotel keepers on the two great roure,
oe,weeh Albany and N. York The first thing
ney discovered was wonderful falling off m tn
oIt spanish segars, crackers and cheese Law
pneu oi heaps without any perceptible dim nu-
l'oh--tne hostess complained that splendid din
were no more called for, and that she sold no
"ore Hh'iN Tor punch-Miss Kitty thought she
6na a,am "u zen SO lonesome time, and so few
ine Seh'emen trarelng-even poor Bob. the
hostier, declared he mad not received +, s;yn.nce.
u month TO hold gentieman's stirrun. or shut
carnage door Now and then an honest tar
IN VI uie DrIny deep, came along, and by his
e ecu posture and ruddy looks, at a distance m
tne stage, would light ray ofhops in Boniface,s
go. put 1ace would only al ght to take his
n,O5 anu renew ms quid oftobacco, and then re-
mount 10 quarrel for the reins. Under such dis.
couragemen S, the sign must certanIv have hem
1aNeii down had not Boreas interfered as in tn
case hrst mentioned, and the love of LIQUOR in.
'reaseo amongst the nelghbors around This.
~ auu'.'oh TO the frequency of Town-meet mrs
'usIices courts and evening clubs, by degrees
enAoieu one keepers to dispose of their superb
ua" e.ooh, ana to regulate their affairs upon
more contracted scale
ineSe remarks, it is presumed, will apply TO
-noats on other rivers as we'll as TO those on
ne hudson. So extensive indeed. are the nub
uc dement's derived from the operations of these
uSeie' vessels; that we need not woader If some
revolution takes place in the occupations of Ger.
tam classes IN the community where one of them
IS set agolng; Those now plying on the Ohio and
nlsslSsiPPI, have already given sevese shock
10 .he land carriage b. wcen Pittsburg and Ph;la
e,Pha, and no doubt in the course of few
ears WIN entirely Danish from the road be ween
CONS that now engross il. But nubl,c heneSt
mould always be rated above private In,eres,. &
no consistent man should refuse his aid to nro.
note he employment of Stean-B ats upon every
naViS"oie RIVER within the United States.