Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-06-20


rican) BY letters from Vera Cruz, that the yel.
low fever was raging with uaexampled violence
at that city.
letter from Matanzas, dated the Sd inst.
published in the New York American, says that
the unprecedented scarcity of money, and the
impossibili,y of selling bills, either on the U.
S. or Europe, has put every thing a, com.
ple,e stand.
Sugars of the first quality are held at 7all
rs, and many think Of an advance later in the
season; however, many are forced to sell in or
der 10 raise money.
Coffee that was sold 2 months ago at TO 81,
is now offered of the same quality, a; a cents,
and few buyers.
Molasses is scarce at 4 rs, and should the de-
mard increase it may go as high as S rs, in all
this month, in case the raining season sets in
with vigor, which may be daily expected.
American produce is at present plenty, owing
to the small consumption at this season IF the
year, particularly the articles Of rice and cod.
fish; the former cannot be sold New Charles
ton at even S4a--duty 1903 cents per cwt.
1t is stated in The Boston papers, on the au-
thori,y Of stage passengers, that FIRE broke
out in Salem on Wednesday last, at the valua-
bic White Lead works in that town. The FIRE
occurred between and o'clock, and arose
from spontaneous combustion. Two wooden
buildings were burnt--the brick ones of the es-
adjustment being but little injured.
The Editor Of the Commercial Advertiser,
speaking Of the preparations making a: Alba
ny for the approaching gubernatorial election,
SAYS: "It is perhaps well for the people to be
brushing up their armour, and preparing for
the campaign in good season. But we have
concluded not TO buckle on the harness until
alter the 4th Of July We are all going to join
in the celebration Of the Grand Jubilee, and we
think it better to eat our ratons quietly togeth-
er on that occasion, and do the fighting after
wards. There will be time enough 10 max" all
the necessary arrangements for re-electing
Clinton BY 10000 majority, after the dog!days.
The notorious ERASMUS Roor, late Lieut.
Governor Of the State of New-York, COM
menced libel ssd against the Editors OF the
New-York American, in 1924, for publica-
ton made BY them, charging him with being
intoxicated in the Chair o. the Senate, at the
afternoon session Of the memorable 5th August,
of that wear. The venue Of this suit was laid
in the county Of Delaware, the residence Of
the plaintiff This venue was, on the apphca-
ton Of The defendants, changed By the Supreme
Court to New-York On a reheaIing, howe
YER, it was at the instance Of the plaintiff, re-
stored TO Delaware county, where he swore to
having more than ten essential witnesses; tho
on the trial, one only residing there was pro-
duced by him. On Tuesday last this cause
was tried before Judge Belts, and after long
and critical investigation, the Jury returned
verdict for the plaintiff Of 400 dollars Dana.
ges, and cents costs. This very extraordina-
ry verdict, was procured by the very express
directions which the presiding judge gave to
the jury, as to the law applicable to the cast -
These directions, on the three leading points in
the cause, were TO the following effect:
First. That the defendants could not succeed
in justifying the publication in question, unless
they proved the intoxication and appearance
of the plaintiff exactly as they had described it
in the libel, with all the attendant circumstan-
ees.
Secondly, That inasmuch as the writer had
undertaken to speak Of what he saw, the gene
raj con,emporaneous belief and opinion at AL
bany tina, the plaintiff was intoxicated, as charg-
ed by the defendants, could not be received, Ell
ther in Justification or mitigation of damages.
Thirdly. That the general character of the
plaintiff as to intemperance, could not be re-
eeived by the Jurors in mitigation of damages,
unless il was of the same quality and degree as