Litchfield enquirer., 1834-09-04


symptoms of scarlet fever; and while she
is thinking what to say next, you may read
the next piece in the Magazine.
! From the Boston Courier.
DR.. Beecher and the Charlottesville the
course of a sermon on Sabbath afternoon,
preached at the Essex-street Church, DR..
Beecher gave his views Of the manner in
which the Catholics, should BE- treated in
this country. He began by regretting the
late unhappy occurrence, and deprecated
the use Of physical force and the wanton
destruction of property, both as measure
of policy and justice. He contended that
the Catholics should be treated with kind
ness and affection, that they should have
full liberty to found and endow institutions,
erect churches, and use all lawful means to
propagate their faith, and make proselytes.
They might convert him if they could, and
blow up Calvinism. He wished to have
free inquiry and free discussion. He would
admit the Catholics to a free participation
in all secular employments, and religious,
literary, and political privileges. He wish
ed them to come among US and assimilate
with our people, mingling as the rain drops
mingle in the ocean. He would not put
straw in the way Of their having free and
equal rights and privileges. Bot while he
accorded them their rights, he would not
give up Our Own. He would freely canvass
| the history and tendency of the Roman
Catholic Church, relate the history of their
prosecutions, show what Romanism had
been, and prove what they dared not deny,
that it was the same mOaO, only the policy
was changed in this country. He would
also make public their doings, and the plan
proposed TO convert this whole nation to
the use of his holiness the Pope. This
we believe to be the true aud right ground |;
let all good citizens set their faces against
mobs however odioDs Nunneries may be
in republican country, the law alone must
take cognizance of them. A free, indepen-
dent, and candid discussion We must have.
As DR.. B. observed, whoever publishes a
book, lays it before the public, and the
contents are fair matter Of criticism.-
Whoever comes here to establish new
religion, must expect to have that religion
pass through the ordeal Of public opinion.
and to have all its tendencies and princi-
pies barred TO the light.
We hope to see no trucking, no cring-
ing on this subject; man should not live
moment longer than he can be free
| Let US ask neither the Catholic nor the
Protestant Bishop what we shall preach
Let the pulpit and the press be unclaimed
and free, and let US all rally around the law,
and protect all and every denomination in
the peaceable enjoyment Of their rights.
THE FIG.
The fig was probably known to the peo-
pie of the east long before they learned the
art of raising wheat, barley, &c. and i. is
supposed that it stood in the same relation
to the earliest inhabitants Of the world,
that the banana does to tho Indian tribes
of South America at the present time. 1t
required but little cultivation, and yet yiel-
ded a nutritious food, whether in fresh or
dried state.
As We proceed to a more advanced pc
riod of the worlds history, we still find the
fig an object of general attention. lfthe
6g-tree did not blossom, the Jews regarded
it as most grievous calamity. The A
thenians regarded this fruit of so much con-
sequence, that they forbade its expectation.
! In the professions Of Rome, ID honor of
Bacchus, the fg was carried next to the
vine. Among the presents which the Wild
ow of Nabal brought to David, were cakes
Of figs. When Lycurgus deereed that the
men Of Sparta should dine in common
hall, each individual was required to con-
tribute to the general stock, by bringing
-four, wine, cheese, and figs. All this goes
to prove that the fig contributed very large
Iy to human support. The circumstance
that it was considered a peculiar blessing
of Heaven for every man to sit under his
own 6g-tree,' also shows its importance.
The fig has no visible flower. The fruit
arises Immediately from the joints Of the
tree, in the form Of little buds, with per-
foration al the end but never opening or
showing any thing like petals. AS the fig
enlarges, the flower comes to maturity IN
its concealment.
In many eastern countries this fruit is
subjected to singular process, called cap
r;fcation. This is performed by suspend
ing, by threads, above the cultivated figs,
branches of the wild fig, which are foil OF
a certain kind ofinsect. When the insect
has become winged it quits the wild figs.
81