Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-08-28

British government. The New York Soci-
CIV Library, among its excellent and rare
works, amounting 10 $4,000 volumes, pos
sesses in this association the most precious
body of historical materials Tor reference
and research which can be any wher'
found within the same compass. Though
not of any apparent obvions utility, 'hei
value as legal and ecclesiastical record
and authentic historical data it is scarce
possible to estmate.-N Y Com ADJ.
The DEAD SEA.-. 10 i"'"wing des-
cription of she Dead sea, Is from the pen
of Mr.. Thomson, Oh of the missionarie,
Of the American Board, who visited it il
April of last wear.
After TIE pilgrims had haihed Gin the
Jordan, y we left them and turned down to
The soath, in company with three or four
othsr English travellers and a guard from
he governor, to visit the Dead Sea. We
rode across plains of barren sands for an
hour and half, when we stood upon the
banks of this memorable lake. Without
any reference to what others have SAID, /
can testify to tho following facts. The
water is perfectly clear and transparent.
The taste is bitter and salt far beyond that
of the Ocean. 1t acts upon the tongue and
mouth, like alum, and snaris in the eye
like camphor, and produces burning
|pricking sensation over the whole body 1t
|stiffened the hair of the head much like
pomaium. The wates has much greater
specific gravity than The human body, and
hence, no efforts would cause us 10 sink
below the surface; and standing perpendc-
ular, you would not descend lower than the
arms. Although there was evidence in the
sands thrown upon the beach, that in great
storms there were waves, vet there appear
ed to be some foundation of its immobiity.
Notwithstanding there was considerable
breeze the water lay perfectly lifelcss, eau
sing not the slightest FLASHING against the
pebbles on the shore. The ancient histo-
rlans say that large quantities of bitumen
were gathered from the surface of this lake
and is it not quite possible to say the least
hat it formerly existed in such qantities as
to spread over the whole face of the sea.
and thus etfectuaily prevent the wind from,
Iinterrupting its death like quietude? Mod.
ern travellers state that there Is very little
of this substance now to be found, and
certainy we saw nothing like it. We saw
no fish or living animals in the water, tho
birds were flying over it in varous direc
tons unframed. We all noticed an unna.
tural gloom hanging, not merely over the
sea, but also over the whole plain below
Jericho. This is mentioned also by an.
cient historians. 1t had the appearance
of the Indian summer of the "Valley."-
Like vast funeral pail let down from
Heaven, ii completely shut out all prospect
at short distance down the sea.
We find the following sing liar article in
The London Spectator. 1t is not easy ia
this country, TO credit the account of an
occurrence Of This sort
Selling WJe.-On the 7lh inst. one
}of those whimsical sales, which are easily
reconcileabie to that English reverence TO,
law oi which we so oiten boast took place
lat Lancaster. The NAN was farmer II
The height, rhood; the wife, buxom, 90, c
looking wonian, of about TWENTY-FIVE
They had been married in 1928, aud hav
ing no children, aud seldom agreeing, they
at length agreed TO part. The Lancastc,
Herald puts the following speech into tbs
mouth Of the husband, which, if genuine
is a curiosity 10 its way.
"Gentlemrn, have to offer to Your no.
iicc my wife, Mary Ann Thompson, her.
wise williamson, whom moan to sell IL
the highest and best bidder.
"Gent!emen, it is her wish as well az
mine, to part forever. She has been TO me
only bosom serpent. took her for nv
comfor, and the good of my house; but she
became my tormenter, a doaest.c curse. a
nigh, invasion, and a dali, devil. Gen
Iemen, Ispeak truth from my heart, whec
say may God deliver us from trou,,iesomf
wives and frolicsome widows. Avoid .heu
as you would mad dog. IA roaring lion. Il
loaded pistol, cholera morbus, Mount Al,
na, or any other pesticnlIal phenomena in
naiure. have shown YOU The dark side
of my wife and told you her faults and her
tailings; will now introduce the bria h, and
sunny side of her, and explain her quail.
fications and goodness. She can read nov.
els, and milk cows, she can laugh and weep
with the same ease that you could take a
lass of ale when you are thirsty: Indeed
gentlemen, she reminds me of what the
poet saws of women in general.
sHeaven gave to woman that peculiar grace.
To laugh, to weep, and cheat the humai II race
She can make butter and sculd the maid
she can sing Moore's melodies, and p!ait
her iril!s and caps; she cannot mike rum.