Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-05-20


the Palladium, have received papers to
the 9th of Jan. from which the following
articles are extracted
CALcurra, Jan. 8.
The accounts from Madras are of
distressing nature, and have come upun
US with SuddcnnesS Which renders the
horror more striking. We we're prepa-
red to expect scarcity of grain on the
coast, but had not the most distant idea
OF the extent to which the failure OF the
crops bad reached Madras and tho
surrounding country is in state OK
famine. independently Of The accounts
we publish to-day from Madras papers,
private letters all agree too infinitely in
the distressing details for us TO doubt q
second that the most dreadful effects
are to be apprehended. II is stated
that even the dread of tie arms of the
military. who are necessarily placed at
the Godowns where the Rice is distri-
bnted, Is scarcely sufficient 10 prevent
depredations. Parents are abandoning
their children, and several have died
from absolute starvation, This is but
the commencement of the appalling
consequences of famine. Disease ~
sure to follow, and although we are GER
tain that every possible means within
the power Of government viii be cm-
ployed TO lessen the effect Of this dire.
Visitation, we trust also that the aid OF
the Bengal public will not be withheld
MspRAs, Dcc.23.
Itis with regret that we notice the
increasing distress prevalent among the
natives from the scarcity of rice; in the
hazars it is not TO be procured, and only
one Bankshallis now open for its sale,
consequently the rush of the people 10
obtain portion OF this small supply Is
dreadful, and the North Beach is cover
ed with hundreds, waiting with the faint
hope of being at last fortunate enough
to reach its door. Many Europc an gen.
| tlemen are seen mingled with the crowd
endeayorlng 60 procure grain for their
servants. which after having succeeded,
the difficulty Of carrying il away is con-
siderable, as the right Of the strongest,
the only law Of necessity. seems ,iniver-
sally acknowledged. Some few mer-
chants are dealing out their stock Of
rice scantily during the middle OF the
night, to avoid the scene of confusion
and violence attendant on public sale
of il. Grain Of the worst and oldest
description is bought up with ayidity,
and many are reduced to subsist on
Grain; this even is rot to be purchased
except in small quantities, and al an
enormous price, Several deaths have.
occurred amou0et the lowest order of
the natives which have been occasioned
by starvation, and so miserable is their
condition that many children have in
despair been abandoned by their pa
rents.
The inhabitants Of Ponticherry we
regret to learn are also sufferers for the
want of food. We can now no longer
indulge the expectation that fall rain
yet save the harvest Of the coming year
as we understand from those acquainted
with the subject, that the Crops are all
ready destroyed; we however sincerely
hope that plentiful supplies from Bengal
and the Northward will soon reach this
port to obviate the distressing effects OF
a scarcity, which presses so severely on
all classes of the native population.
DECEMBER 25.
On Monday night, vast multitude
assembled in the Black Town, and pro-
ceeded TO break open some Of the Rice
Stores belonging to native merchants,
which were ptindered, and much grain
carried sff-- Guards of Native Troops
we're sent to protect property of this de-
scription; the mob. however, behaved in
the most daring and outrageous manner
towards the Seboys--while the latter,
we understand, acted with the greatest
forbearanee, under very trying circum-
stances--two of the mob, however, are
reported to be wounded, and one killed.
II is imagined that not less than 100000
persons were collected.
CALCUTTA, Jan. Q.
AT Serampore (the seat of the Baptist
Mission in Bengal) on Sunday the i4sh
Dec. the Sacrament of Baptism was
administered to respectable Jewess,
daughter of Joseph Levi, by Ere de It.
Augustine, Vicar ofthe Roman Catholic
Church at the above mentioned place
She was christened by the name of Ma
ria,
A subscription forthe Greeks has been
commenced at Calcutta, and up to the 9Th