American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-06-22

j Mr. Robert Carr, an American citizen, through
the mediation OF Mr.. c. Racquet, United States
Consul at Rio de Janeiro, offered to the govern
ment there box containing a collection of seeds
OF various North American plants, which to be
planted in the national botanical garden, now in
charge OF F. Leandro de Sacramento, who had the
honor OF being elected, on the 5th of this month";
by the Columbian Institutes corresponding mem
Der OF that body.
French .NaUal Force on the South american Coast
i 1t having been stated in the British House OF
Commons, by Mr.. CANNING, who made the state
menl on the authority OF the Ambassador from Paris
to the Court Of ST. James, that the French had
only two vesselsof war the Brazilian Coast, and
that one OF them was about to to France, we
can, in reply state, on the authority OF gentleman
who has just arrived in this city from Rio Janei,o
that, TO his knowledge, ten or twelve French yes
sells OF war, oil different sizes, none of them he be
lieves above the class Of frgates, had recently,
short intervals, touched at Rio, and had sailed, as it
was there publicly reported, Tor the Pacific Ocean,
and were TO rendezvous at the Island OF Chile. 1t
may naturally be asked, for what purpose is so ex.
lensive French naval force to assemble at so sus.
picious point in the Pacific? Is The intelligence
obtained by the London Morning Chronicle Of the
alleged views of France against South American In
dependence, correct, and has Mr.. Canning been
lduped by the orally Minister Of the Bourbons r
! The French minister might be within the line OF
truth, In declaring there not at the period al
iuded to, more than French ships Of war on the
!, brazilian coast; there may not have been more
here at any one time, but it does not follow that
there had not been several short intervals on their
way to point which, from its position, and various
local circumstances, seems admirably calculated for
the combination and direction of hostile measures.
covert or otherwise, against the new governments
along the coast of the Pacific.
CHLOE is considerable island in the South
Pacific Ocean, producing all kinds of refreshments
and provisions, and the government exercises luris.
diction several of the small islands contiguous,
OF some importance in point of populaon-these
islands have never yet come under the patro, gov.
eminent, but have generally maintained kind Of
halt neutrality, but always leaning strongly to the
lroyat Cause baltimore Fed. Ga&ette.
II The Mermatd.-Of all the strange fish that visit
This metropolis Of notions, during the election week,
the Mermaid, brought here by captain Dodge, from
Manila, is surely the strangest. A new made
tor, suffering all the tortures that be inflicted
10y the constitutional prefix honorable TO his chris
, tan name; representative, newly translated from
behind his counter, where he sold tea by the quar-
ter, molasses by the pint, rum by thmblefulls, and
gunpowder by The dozen, nothing at all, great
and wonderful curiosities as they are, in compari
son with the Mermaid.
The question continually asked is is it really and
truly, bona .fde, "a Mermaid? We answer, go and
lsee. Examine for yourself. If the skin of large
Goldfish stuffed with skeleton OF a chd's body put
on in the place OF the Gods head the Jaws and teeth
o cat inserted into that which represents the head
of the child, and The whole, except the scaly part,
i, eoped IN bladder, or some other skinny sub
stance, and smoked well with burning camphor, can
make Mermaid, then as sure as a fish is FISH, or
f as certainly as Doctor Mitch is great phIoso-
pher and witch, there is Mermaid 10 be
seen in the room adjoining the New England
+, Museum, Court street, where may be seen great
many curlosities, for the small sum OF twenty five
cents. We hope that captain Dodge will not think
us ill-natured, and DESTROYS of preventing people
from going to see the Mermaid. We wish to do
him service; and doubtless, the more we abuse his
!, odd fish, the more money he gets But, seriously,
we advise him 10 submit it immediately TO the in
spection of learned professors, who are skilled
in ichthyological anatomy and procure iti6cate
OF its character. If they will say their honors,
alter anatonizIng the creature that it is nothing
= more nor less than Mermaid, he may pull in his
. quarters of dollar by bushels, msuere the YAM
. Epyre of the Ocean, the Egyptian Mummy, even
. the Sea Serpent. Boston Gatary
e British Macy and Ship Building. THE London
s Monthly Magazine for May, received by Wilder
d and Campbell, contains article from John Bur
= ridge, Naval Dry Rot" in which we find a
1t statement that will asloDsh every II is assert
n ed that all the british Macy has been consumed
since the peace. ercept serehyone ships, in 9TH
er words that nine hundred and sixtynine vessels
: were broken up, sold, condemned, &c. between
IT 1914 and 1890.
IS The same writer observes that the decline OF Brit
II sh ship building is nonstrousy alarming. In the
year 1918, he there were 1859 ships built, OF
If $3.50 tons and in 1892 only 72S ships built, Of
62,534 tons--pot much above one-ba the tonnage
actually built four years before. The number Of
merchantmen and tonnage employed, however, Is
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