Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1821-01-02
From the Kew-york Statesman.


From the Kew-York Statesman.
Extract ofa letter dated, Utica. Sept. 1920.
nv dear Sir, In the course Of my tours
II frequently met with extraordinary
haracters-indeed / think that there are
more persons Of this description in this
than ia any other country. Eccentrici-
ties and pecuIisrities Of conduct will al
ways prevail most IN democratic countries
where freedom is INDUCED in all the mod
IificatioDs of thought, speech aud action,
that do not infringe on the laws; and as
the population Of America is derived from
almost all the nations Of Europe, it must
nnquestionabIy combine Heterogeneous
qualities, which have not as yet been
moulded Into uniformity and sameness.
What Rochester in his witty poem upon
nothing, said ironically, may as il respects
part Of the first, and the whole Of the
second line, be applied in sober serious-
ness to the American people
" French truth, Dutch prdzoess British policy,
H;bernian learning, Scotch cipiGty,
spaniard's dispatch, Danes wit, are mainly seen
in thee"
In my last voyage on the canal, ! met
with an old sea Captain, who appeared to
unite in his characterize honest bluntness
and generous frankness of a sailor, with
the Characteristic ingenuity and enter
prising spirit OF the Yankee. He had
often doubled Cape Horn, andpursued
the whale 10 the great South Sea. He
had visited many Of the ports OF Great
Britain, and every Island in the West
Indies was familiar to him. AT the break
| ing out of the Revolutionary war. he en-
tered on board ola privateer as second 10
command-was captured by fifty gun
ship--and incarcerated in the prisonship
lin New.York, where he fingered out
years Of squaIid wretchedness. On the
return of peace, he resumed his profess
sion but being thrown out OF business
by the system Of commercial restrictions,
he turned bis eyes to the regions Of the
west, and procuring batteau, he embark
ed with his wife, family, furniture, from a
small port in Connecticut. Like our first
parents
C The world was all before them, where to choose
Their place Of rest, and Providence their guide "
He sailed up the Hudson river TO Al
bapy, and after conveying his boat and
Accomplishments by land to Schenectady,
he navigated the Mohawk to Rome. After
many unsuccessful attempts to select a
residence, he finally fixed his habitaiion
linear the Oneida Creek. On the day Of
This arrival, he erected a shed with bark
covering, open at the sides. In the CEN
tire he kindIed fire, and committing
themselves to the guardian care OF Provi-
dence, the family, after homeiy sepast
spread themselves for sleep on the ground,
serenaded by the growing OF bears, the
bowling Of wolves, and the barking Of
foxes. The next day, the bark shed was
converted into building called a chanty,
and the dwelling has since become sim
gle story frame house Of humble dimen.
sions.
1 1t is useless to describe the early snf-
feriugs Of this family, in new country, 10
q new theatre Of action--wilhout neighbors
to assist--without physicians to heal
without ministers Of the gospel TO console.
The cultivation Of garden, cornfield, a
potatoe patch, aud the rearing OF poultry,
hogs, and cows, employed all their atten-
ton. 10 few years, settlements were
formed round them, and as the blessings
Of comfort, society andpIenty, were bright
ening about them, the wife of the old sea
man died. His children were married,
and had removed to distance--and bis
only consolation was an orphan grand
daughter, which his deceased wife had
brought up. She acted as his nnrse-his
housekeeper-- superintendent all bis
domestic economy.
When death separates in old age those
who have been united by marriage, and
who have lived 10 the interpretations Of
affection, the survivor rarely lives any
length Of time. Haret iateri lethalis
arundo. The gangreen Of the heart is
incurable. A morbid melancholy, which
continually increases by nursing its sor-