Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-08-23

Melancholy Occurrence.-The Norfolk Her.
aid sayS:-On "Wednesday afternoon, Charles
Rapp, a seaman, lately discarged from the frigate
Java (receiving ship,) at Gosport, laid himself
off in the dOrmeI window OF his boarding house
"a three story building) in Wide Water street,
the better to enjoy the little air that was stirring
and slept secure till about ten o'clock, when the
poor fellow rolled out upon the roof and fell up
on the pavement below Ia decent OF 30 feet;) by
which he was so much hurt that he died In six
hours after. He belonged to Salem, Mass.
Letters from the Missionary GutZlah, who has
excited so deep an interest in America, state,
that he returned to Canton the latter part OF
March from the Token province, where he had
been successfully engaged in his philanthropic
abOrs. He was about to proceed to Singapore,
whence he intended to return again to his vast
Parish, the Chinese empire.-N y, Jour Com.
The New York Evangelist, as il is most map.
prOpriately called, yet continues its reprebensl-
bic course on the exciting question which led to
the recent disgraceful outrageS in this city. We
will not assert that il is the deliberate purpose
Of the editor to prolong, and ultimately to in
crease that excitement until it shall again burst
forth in popular uproar and fury. But were
such the design, the course Of the paper could
not well be more effectualiy directed to that
end. Deny the doctrine as they may, there is
an editorial article in the last Evangelist, the
whole scope and drift Of which is in favor of
the odious principle of AMALGAMATIoN. We re-
fer to the running commentary upon certain
extracts it has made from a recent letter. I'm.
derStood to have been written by learned and
eloquent Clergyman of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church--ProfeSsor DIM y Com.
SiRgUidr PheR0msnOn-We have received
the following communication from gentleman
In whose statements the most implicit conf
dence may Ge placed; and so far as our knowl-
edge extends the case is unparalleled in this coun-
try Though the heat OF the sun was excessive,
yet it seems impossible that it could have been
sufficiently intense to cause ignition, without a
concentration of its rays. We hope therefore.
our correspondent will thoroughly investigate
the subject and see if there was not something
that operated as a lens to draw the rays To n
focus at the place where the fire was first dis
covered. We shall be obliged TO him for the
result Of his enquiries.-Nep England Reriep.
Wood set on fire by the heat of the Sun-On
Tuesday the 9Th of August three men being AZ
work at hay in meadow about one mile east
OF this village, about O'Clock p. NJ they disco
Vered, few rods from them on a piece Of bar
zen upland which had been cleared some seven
years since, small smoke arising; the sun shin
ing excessively hot at the time which induced
mem men to go and examine it. They found the
H n[e was just kindled and had not commenced
!oallng, nor consumed any OF the fuel in which
commenced, which was the remains of an old
secayed hemlock log. 1t Immediately burst in
" oiaze and burned wildly, and when the
, "l"et OF TINS saw II, more than twenty hours af
ssr' had consumed most of the old log and
. %uch Tor more than four feet square, and was
wei wen burning. From the locality of the place,
Saa all the other circumstances, the fire cannot
&c accounted for at all, but from the direct infu-
eu'e OF the rays Of the sun, which shined bright
81, ana hotter, at that time than any time previ-
aus su ms season. This with us is thought to be
E;nS HSIaordinary circumstance, nothing of the
Aad having been known to occur in this region
eseEoeiore. The men who saw it are respecta-
re ,, men OF the striotest integrity.
"Hcaester, Centre, Conneeticut, Aug. 1884,