Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1821-02-20

Gers. -sk
New York, Feb. i6.
Extract Of a letter, dated Edwardsville,
Dec. 81.
| Having little leisure, there being
no church here TO go TO, permit me to Gil
up part of the afternoon, in giving you
a sketch of the situation If this country,
once so much cried up for its wealth and
resources.
| The Bilious fever and fever and ague
have been very prevalent for the last year
10 Missouri and Illinois. Few oil those
that have spent the summer and autumn
in either state have escaped its ravases,
and many have fell victims
! The situation of all the western country
as to its monied matters, is truly deplora-
bic; nothing will bring money, even Of
the spurious trash currem in the west.
You will see by the papers that all the
western states are passing relief laws, es.
tablishing state banks and loan offices,
which may afford temporary relief to the
western people themselves for time, but
in the end will PROSTATE the whole coun-
try 10 ruin. Grain and produce Of every
description is mere drug, and lands or
real property will not sell for any thing.
The sales Of public lands in this state and
Missouri have almost ceased, and on an
average don't believe the land offices in
either state take in much more than the
Expenses Of the officers and survey ing the
lands.
Laying off towns aud selling town lots
have been heretofore in these states great
business, and some have made money by
| them---But it is now all over. One lot
three years ago would sell for more than
whole town would at the present time.
The town makers, land spectators, and
all theoretical dealers, are put TO a stand
they say the fools are not all dead 10 the
east, and batch Of these gentry have
lately started for your state, &c. laden
with from 40 TO $4,000 worth (by their
computation) Of western lands, town lots,
&c. &c. to trade away for money, goods
books, or any thing else they may be able
TO get for them in your city, OF elsewhere.
Le9k out for them; aud although am
myself pretty large iandholder in this
quarter, my advice 10 the eastern people
would be 10 hold as little property or make
as few debts as possible west Of the moun-
tains, but more particularly vest OF the
Ohio and Mississippi"
Extract Of letter from an officer Of the
U. S. frigafe Constellation, dated Rio
Janeiro, 3oth Sept. 1920.
"We arrived here few days since,
after long passage Of sixty days, but
one of the most pleasant l ever expert.
enced, for we had not two days Of bad
weather. We had, however, the misfor-
tune to lose midshipman Kuhn, who died
Of liver complaint. He was che Of the
most promising young men in the ship.
Our captains extreme kindness to him
during his illness, has made him more
beloved among the midshipmen than any
commander everknew.
" The Dons here gave lis rathar an un.
friendly reception. In entering the bay,
a vessel has to pass Immediately under the
guns OF very heavy fort, and as we
passed after sun down, they pretended to
take us for a merchantmen, and according
| ly ordered US to heave to, threatening, al
the same time, il we did not, to fire into
us. Our captain took not the least notice
of them, but stood steadily on towards the
town. They continued their threats as
long as we were within hearing, and then
fired two or three gus, which we snppos.
ed at first were directed at us, but they
turned out to be only signal guns. An
officer afterwards boarded us and apollo
| gised for the threats, by saying that we
were mistaken for merchantmen"
| The Esguimaur Indians. Having in
| serted several articles rejecting upon the
character of Capt. HadIock, who has
been exhibiting these Indians, it is due to
truth and justice that we should give to
our country readers, who may not have
seen the report Of the trial published ID
some Of the city papers, q short epitome
of it. The action was brought 10 the
! Supreme Court, 10 behalf of the Indians
!. by some person who supposed them tc
have been kidnapped and maItreaied by
, the defendant. The defendants counsel
produced the afiidavits Of the first and
second mates Of Capt. Hadlock, stating thai
} at Greedy Harbor, on the coast Of Lab.
rador, last fall, Capt. III. applied to a
!, Scotch trader, resident there, for permits.
; sion to take two Indians to the Uuitet
: States. to exhibit them-that the character
Of Capt. H. was inquired into by the mer
8 chant, Of two American captains, after
(which, permission was given Capt II. to