Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-12-17

Ptaries, and Of the fierce flies which
sometimes rage across them.
'.Trareliers have described these
fires as sweeping with n rapidity which
renders it hazardous to attempt to Nv
before them. Such is not the case or
isrue only of few rare instances.
The thick sward Of the prarie presents
considerable mass OF fuel, and offers
a barrier to the progress of the flame,
which Is not easily surmountei. The
fire advances slowly, and with power,
The heat is intense The flames often
extend across vide prairie, and adj.
vance long line, no sight can he more
sublime, than TO behold in the night,
stream o! fire several miles in breadth
advancing across these wide plains,
heavinJ behind it black cloud OF
smoke, and perpctually throwing be-
fore it a VIVID glare which light up the
whole landscape with the briliancy OF
noon day. A roaring and a cracking
sound is heard like the rushing of a
hurricane. The flame, which in gen.
eral rising to the height Of twenty feet,
is seen singing aud darling upward in
spires, precisely as the waves dash a.
gainst each other, and as the spray
fires up into the air; and the whole APP
pearance is that OF boiling and fam.
ing sea, violently agitated. The pro-
gress of the fire is SO slow, and the heat
so great, that every combustibe object
in-its course is consumed. Wo to the
farmer, whose ripe corn fields extend
into the prairie and who suffers the tall
grass to grow in contact with hisfences!
The whole labor of the year is swept "a
way in few hours! But such acct
dents are comparatively unfrequent, as
the preventive is simple, and easily APP
piled"
II Nep Pian.-Some of the citizens
of Wheeling. Va. propose forminga set
Element IN some part Ofthe State Of Hill
nois. Their plan is to purchase land
enough for a county, to be divided in
to shares of the value Of fifty dollars,
each individual will be allowed to have
two for himself, and one for each of his
children. Near the centre, a city is to
be laid out, in which provision is to be
made for the public schools, of which
each member of the community may
have the benefit, and religious worship
a Bank is to be established, to be the
common property ofthe whole commu-
nifty. Domestic Warehouses are to be
erected at the public expense, where
every family may purchase their goods
at reasonable rates. The poor are to
he provided with the means Of support
ing themselves, by rearing silk worms
The Government is to be strictly |
republican,-and all intoxicating Ii
quors are to be excluded from the com
,punity.
Duel.-On Saturday morning last, a
duel was fought on the east side of the
Mississippi. opposite mouth Of White
River, between DR.. John III. Cooke. and
Major w. F. Pope, both OF this place,
which happily terminated without seri-
aus injury to either party-three shots
were exchanged. AT the second fire,
the ball of DR. G. passed the clothing of
his antagonist. and broke the skin of
the abdomcn-he fell, but Immediately
arose, and after, the third fire which
was without effect, compromise
was effected. and all difficulties arrano-
ed.-Littls Rock Adrocate.
Tie Philadelphia papers mention
Grape Vine, growing near the bank oil
the Schuylkill in the township of Up
per Merton, on the farm of Mr.. Isaac
Jones, which measures at several places
between the root and the heiglt of ten