Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-02-27

house in that place, occupied oy the families oil
Doctor Christie, Of the United States Navy,
(who is now absent on board the frigate Con-
s,itution,) and Captain Theodore Maurice, of
the Corps Of Typographical Engineers, (or-
merly of Norfolk was destroyed by fire on the
night of the sth inst. So great had been the
progress of the flames before they were discov-
cred. that Mrs Christie and her children, (the
latter five in number, and the oldest only years
of age,) had barely time to escape with only
the clothes in which they rose from their beds,
before the flames burst into the room. They
hurried into the street IN the midst of pitiess
storm of snow, which had covered the ground
a foot in depth, and were convyed TO the resi-
dence of Mrs Chris1ie's sister, where their 81
tuation was rendered as comfortable as posi-
ble Capt. Maurice, his lady, and their infant
daughter, also FASTENED out, with little more
than their night clothes on. cit was sight,
(adds the letter. to have moved compassion in
the hardest heart, to behold the dear little chill
dren thus turned out from their warm beds, in
most Indictment night, without shoes or stock
1ngs, and only light flannel gown upon them -
After placing his wife and children in safety,
Capt. Maurice returned to the house, and, with
the assistance of his friends, succeeded in saw.
ing the most of his furniture, and the whole OF
his valuable books and papers.
Mrs Christie lost every thing except two
trunks Of clothes, one Of her husbands, and
one of her own With considerable exertion
and pulling down Capt Maurice's office, the
flames were prevented from spreading to the
adjacent buildings. The fire is supposed to
have been communicated by candle which a
servant had accidentally set down near some
clothes which had been hung up TO dry, and
with which the fame of the candle probably
came in contact.
VIRGINIA SLATURE-FEBRUARY %
The important engrossed bill "Concerning
Circuit Courts" (giving the present Judges OF
the General Court Chancery powers, and de-
signaling the present Chancellors as General
Court Judges, and for appointing one new
Judge; thus instituting twenty Judges OF Law
and Equity occupied much of this days SEES
sion. After it was called up, and blank in it
filled, with s 1900 as the future salary of the
Judges, Mr. M'Mahon submitted Ryder,
which Mr.. Macrae moved to amend; wbereup-
on Mr. Dunton moved the indefinite postpone
ment of the whole bill.
This molten was not decided-when I'd
proposition 10 adjourn succeeded.
The Members Of the Legislature talk OF adj
iourning tomorrow week, March Sd.
The Missouri Legislature assembled on the
18th ult for the purpose Of counting the votes
for Governor of the State. The session was
opened by Message from A. ]. Williams, the
acting Governor. In the message he states the
peculiar situation Of the State, in consequence
of the death of frederick Bates, Esq. and the
resignation of Benjamin H. Reeves, Esq. Lieut.
Governor, which had devolved upon him as
President of the Senate pro. tenn. the office OF
Governor. Thus placed in the chair OF the
Executive, he exercised the right which cir
cumstances had given 10 him, by ordering the
election Of Governor, which resulted in the
choice of John Miller.
On the goth, Governor Miller was qualified,
and sent message to The Legislature. In re-
ference to the subject of the Lead Mines, he
gives his opinion that great advantages must
result from the property Of these mines being
transferred from the government to individ-
uals. The Message touches on the advantages
to be derived from an extended improvement
of the navigation of the Mississippi river, and
the completion of the canal to connect the IL
lnois river with Lake Michigan, as well as the
internal trade with Mexico.
The Legislature did but little business, and
after session of three days, adjourned on Sa-
turday the Goth ult
In the Ohio Legislature, which adjourned
on the 9th inst. some close voting took place
on the allowance to the Canal Commissioners,
which resulted in fixing the per diem compen-
satlon at three dollars. A bill was passed au-
thorizing the Commissioner to take loan of
100000 without limitation as to interest,
payable in two years, which is in addition to
similar sum appropriated for the present year,
by the canal law of last session.
An association of the shipmasters Of Port
land has been recently formed, for purposes
connected with the improvement of Nautical
Science. The constitution of the society,
which is signed by fifty nine shipmas,ers Of
Portland, and thirty-twe of Nantucket, provides
that every member, when bound on a voyage,
shall be furnished by the society with an alb
stract journal-book, in which he shall record
all extraordinary occurrences that may trans
pire during his absence, his experiments in
dangerous and difficult situations, descrip-
tons of currents, soundings, appearances
of ice, thermometrical ex experiments, variations
of the compass, Of the tides, &c. &c.-He is
also to give descriptions Of any interesting
subjects in natural history and wien con-
venient to procure specimens to be deposited
81 holI ~ . E..l> .f