Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-08-26

burned the box very considerably both on the III
side and outside. Ii however went out without
farther damage. We think the late decision, at
Philadelphia. which was, that the shipper IN such
cases is liable for all damages. a very important
one, and hope it will have a good effect on dealers
in such articles. -Easip0rt Sentinel.
From The New Haven Republican, .A"g. 60.
T~onNApo.-0n the afternoon of Tuesday last,
this city and It's vicinity was visited ny a tornado
of uncommon violence, attended with lightning,
rain and hail. The hail was unusually large
We picked up two tumblers full, and alter the
souail had passed, enioved the rare luxury Of a
glass of goud hail stone punch. The hail sener-
ally was az large as fIberts: but we picked up
one tumbler full, of the size at the largest wal
nuts. We heard of some, four inches in circum-
ference, and we doubt not that we saw some OF
| that size: but it was as much as ones lie W.
worth to gather them in the height OF the gale.
The stones were not all spherical, but would tai Z
occasionally in large irregular masses, some ot'
| which after being shattered on the pavement were
aninch and a half square. The round ones were
formed with singular beauty. In the centre wasa
milk white nucleus like a birds eye, surrounded
with concentric circles. some what like the bottom
of an eye.stone. OF course sky-lights and win.
dow glass suffered considerably. But this Is
not all. While the wind was at the west and at
the strongest, a new house in Howe street, just
covered, and belonging to Mr.. VIM. Daggctt.
and the frame of alarge house at the upper end of
State st. just ready to be singled, the property
of Mr.. Ira. Merwin, were prostrated; and OF
course, the frames seriously damaged. llhs Sust
lasted about half an hour. 1t was by Tar the most
violent hail storm we ever saw. 1t was regular
tornado. Attimcs there was a perfect whIrlwind.
the rain and hail crossing in every dircctIon, and
the foliage of the trees drawn upward, in the
close embrace of the gust, as may be illustrated
by drawing a plumb through Jour hand. Ii was
truly curious and appalling to see a big elm
writhing and shivering in the close grasp, or ra-
Their, of one of these whirls, as we have seen a
living animal in the coil of an anaconda. We
expected every moment to see it yield to the pow
err of the aerial vortex, and quit its strong hold
on Terra Firma, for the upper regions OF the at
mospbere. We have not heard of any damage
by the lightning.
Astronomical m,stake-When a young, beautl-
fnl and syIph-like demoIselle threads the malses
of the ball room. or sraces the domestic hearth,
the vivid Imagination of man. fancIes her a celes-
tial Venus-but dull reality, soon comes to aid.
and il is found that a mere mortal had been mis-
taken for the mother of Cupid. We find that
her namesake Planet is often the ~causeoof many
mistakes. An account of various celestial phe-
nomena, to take place in this present month OF
August. lately appeared in a Baltimore paper,
which has gone - the rounds" In this account, 1t
was stated among other things, that Venus would
be in opposition TO the sun on a particular day.
In a we'll written article too, copied into various
papers from the Enslishman's Magazine. entitled
1.-THE Pilgrimage to Ellen Ora" it is stated that
tive young lovers seldom returned from their
evening walks, until Venus had risen above a Ger.
tain hill. Now, asingle glance at the subject will
show the error in both cases, for Venus being an
inferior planet, can never be seen IN opposition
to the sun-nor can she rise IN the evening. The
first mistake, no doubt, occurred in consequence
of the near resemblance of the characters which
represent the planet Venus and NE asteroedl Ce-
res-and the latter mistake may have been from
the authors ignorance of the subject.
New York Mercantile.
voItaire was fond of speaking English, and
conyersed in that language with Dr. Franklin,
the Lycurgus Of America. Madame Dennis be.
ing present said, '.She would be very glad if they
would speak French, that she might understand
and improve BY their DISCOURSE" "Neice," re-
piled Voltaire. II own | am proud Of being able
to speak the language Of a franklin"
"L.ett them be stricken from The rolls. Gen.
Jackson has appointed Samuel J. Carr, Of South
Carolina. Consul to Morocco. Mr.. Carr is the
same person, we believe, who had the misfortune
to kill a son of Judge Martin, of the Eastern
Shore of this State, in a duel, some two or three
years ago.-Frsderick IND. Eram.
Protection of Lambs and Geese.-lt is but lit.
lie known, but is nevertheless a fact. says the
Portland Mirror, that a little tar rubbed on the
necks of young lambs or geese, will prevent the
depredations of foxes upon them. these animals
having an uncomfortable aversion to the smell OF
tar.
WHEAT WANTED
At TIE !