The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-10-27

following account of the wisdom Of the pop
uiace of San Bias, small sea port OF
Mexico, on the mouth of the Gulf OF Cali
fornia:
" An amusing instance occurred one day,
that gave us a practical lesson, which we
did not fail to turn to account, on the neces-
sity of attending :. the prejudices of the
populace. An American ship arrived at
San Bias with cargo for sale. Some diff
cultics at the custom-house prevented her
unloading for few days: in the mean
while, few small articles found their way
on shore, and amongst others, several pairs
of shoes, which were exposed in the mar
ket. These shoes, like many other kinds Of
American gcods, bore the stamp OF all ca
gle on the sole. AS the Mexicans, about
month before, had established themselves
into All independent imperial state, of which
the Eagle was the emblem, the San Blasan-
ians sapicntly conceived, that the North
Americans, inplacng an Eagle on the soles
| Of their shoes. meant to imply their
contempt ofthe country by trampling its in
siguia under foot A vast commotion was
raised in a few minutes; all business was
put a stop to; the shops and houses were
shut up, and a riot ensued, such as we had
not witnessed before, and such as We had
never expected to witness among race in
general SO tranquil.
The illustrious Ayuntamiento were speed
lily assembled, and after much grave discus
sion, a despatch was written to the COM
mandant ON this important subject. How
ever ridiculous he must of course have con-
sidcred the whole affair, he could not ap-
pease the fcrment, without directing CON-
mission to examine the American ship, and
to inquire into and report upon the matter.
The commissioners accordingly went on
board in great state, and when they COM
menced their survey, they were thunder
struck with the multitude of eagles that cv-
cry where met their eyes. On the guns
on the sails--on the sailors jackets-on ev-
cry thing, in short, was stamped an eagle !:
! and they returned to the shore half distract
ed with the sight of the imperial bird The
populace were eventually pacihed, and or
der gradually restored; but the original
impression left by the shoes was never to-
tally removed, and the crew of the ship were
ever afterwards viewed with Jealousy and
distrust."
, Presence Of mind-A person we'll ac-
quainted with anecdotes relating to the Rus-
/ sian Court, gave me, says M. Dumont,
while / was at Petersburgh, the following
i account of the origin of the success OF the
Hign Chancellor Besborodko being still
: in subordinate office belonging to the chan
Gerry, one day, when he had presented va
3 rious ukases to the Empress, (Catharine
second, J he 4" received that he had forgotten
to compose one, that he had been partlcu-
lally commanded to prepare. His hrst
| alarm being over, he determined how to act,
and pretended to read the ukase in question,
t though he held in his hand only sheet OF
t blank paper. The Empress was so we'll
f satisfied. with the performance, that she de-
$ sired to sign it Immediately. The discon-
5 cArted clerk was compelled TO acknowledge
his neglect.-Thc Empress, less offended
i with the imposition than struck by the pres
, ence of mind which it displayed, forthwith
placed him at the head of the department
in which before he had held only = subor'
$ dinate situation.
4 The Empcrors of China look no further
/ for their wives, than among their own sub
{ jccts, and ifthcy are virtuous and hands2snc
: they have no respect to their birth or tor
: tune SO it often happens, that they marry
+ artlhcer's daughters. One of them was a
mason's daughter, and always kept trow-
/ ell bv her when she was dignihed with the
character of Empress; and if at any time
the Young prince, her SON, carried on toe
proudly, she humbled him with the sight Of
: that instrument, wherewith his grandfather
subsisted himself and family, which would
+ bring him to reason.