The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-12-02
10 the Editors IF the Jyslmiagtoaiaa.

In your paper of the 18th Nov'r. have notic-
cd your criticisms on the production of ono of
your poetical correspondents. You say his piece
is totally devoid of merit and you advise him
TO "shift his quarters" II has however one
claim to merit, which perhaps you overlooked!
mean the merit which the plogiGrist displays by
infusng into his productions the ideas and ex-
prcssions of authors whose talents entitle them
to distinction. From the specimen you have
given us of ''Stanzas addressed to the Whip
poor-will'' it is very observable that the author
has been guilty of a literary heft; though like
the magpie who stole the miser's guinea, he did
not know how to put his stolen goods to good
use. The following stanzas which appeared
some years ago in the 'sSayanna Georgian, will
think, subAtantiatc the charge of plagiarism q
gainst your correspondent:
There is strange mysterious bird
Which few have seen but all have heard
Low perch'd upon fallen tree
lie sings all highland thus sings he
Whipperwill.
Whipporwill!
This bird in secret spends his days,
A stranger to the fcathercd race;
When all the warbers sleep ut night
Thus sings the lonely anchoric--
Whippcwill!
Whipperwill!
How gladly this bird would be
From worldly noise and folly free;
by day I'd seek the stillcst wood
And cry all night in solitude
Whippcrwill
Whippcrwil!
The rich mans scorn, the poor mans care,
foiiy in silk, and Hls9om bare
Firtue on foot and Jjce astrde
No more should yex me while cried
Whippcrwil!
Whipperwill!
The Kentucky Argus, in its account of the
late conAagration of the State-Housc, at
Frankfort, in that state, gives the following
additional particulars Of the loss occasioned
by that catastrophe:
elm addition to the building, the value of
public property consumed is very great.
Besides most of the furniture and books be-
longing to the General Assembly, all the pa
pers relative to the business Of former scs-
sions, which filled several large presses, and
were deposited in one of the Committee
rooms, were consumed.-Near 1000 stand
of arms deposited in one of the rooms OH the
lower floor, were destroyed, only small
number having been saved. About 500 sets
of the Digest of the Statute Laws, nearly all
the volumes of the Decisions of the Court of
Appeals belonging to the state, including the
three last volumes of Littcll's Reports, which
have not yet been distributed, were consum-
ed. All the printed Acts Of former sessions
Of the Legislature belonging to the state,
shared the same fate. The number of vo-
lumes destroyed, probably exceeded 5000.
"The State House, furniture, &c. may be
estimated to be worth about $4,000; the
arms about 10000 in specie, or $4,000 in cur
rency, and the books at about 5000, making
total of 100, ,0O0in currency. THERE'S, how
ever, an immense pile of brick walls, large
portion of which is unnjured, and will be va
luable, provided the State House shall be re-
built on the same site and on the same di
mensions, and at any rate the brick will be
worth something.
"The State house was a fine building of
two lofty stories, 100 feet long and IS wide,
having on the lower flower, rooms for the
Federal Court and Court of Appeals, Jury
room, a room which was used as an arsenal,
and broad passage. In the second story
were the Representative chamber, large
beautiful room OF an oval form, handsomely
PAINTED, the Senate Chamber, committee
room, and passage
La Fayette contcmplates visit to the
western states in the spring. He has had
an invitation from Missouri, Tennessee, and
Kentucky,