The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-05-01

The House consists of "A Wings and % Loco
Focos.
From the New York Express.
STEAM SHIPS SIRIUS ~ GREAT WESTERN.
Yesterday was day of unusual Joy and excite
ment in this city, it being almost universally con-
sdered tho beginning of era in the history
of Atlantic navigation. The steam ship Sirius hav-
ing arrived Sunday night, thousands assembled to
see her the news spread about the city. She
was anchored but short distance from the Castle,
and the crowds upon the Battery had fair view of
her from that promenade. The sun shone with I'M
usual clearness, and the weather was as hne as
could be wished
The Sirius sailed from Cork on the evening of the
4th instant, and made the Highlands of New York
at six o'clock p, Nj. on the 22d thus making the
passage in Is days, and having on board Al passen
gers. During the day, her sides thronged by
small boats filed with passengers to view this fine
vessel from the old world, curiosity seemed TO
be highly delighted with this visit Of the stranger
over The deep 1t announced about one o clock,
by telegraph, that the steamer Great Western was
off the Hook, when additional thousands poured
down Broadway; and the Battery p. Nj present
I'D most brilliant appearance. The crowd re-
minded one OF the landing of the Nations Guest,
I" La Fayette," and there was an increase of 1t in
numbers till 4 p. NJ.
The smoke of the Great Western was seen in the
horizon ascending in black volumes long before her
huh was visible. The ship, however, soon came
in sight, and as she passed Bedow Island, receiy-
ed salute from the Fort of 20 guns She approach
cd the Battery through a fleet of row boats and
small craft sprnked the surface, and cheer
ed apparently by every one. She soon ranged "a
long side The Castle, sailed round the Sirius which
vessel gave her u salute--when the crowd from the
wharves, Castle, boats, &c, gave her three hearty
cheers which returned by those on board. She
then pursued her course up East River and came to
anchor near Pike'St THIS successful experiment,
and this of Ste am Packets between this and
England, gave life and Joy 10 ALL
The steam ships are not the first which have
crossed the Atlantic, American, as well as Brit
ish steam ships, having before made the passage,
but these ships are Pioneers, business, and
are the first to promise TO begin regular trade.
Thus they shorten all our ideas of the great Distance
over the Atlantic Ocean, and abridge, as 1t were,
time and space. What attaches to these arrivals so
much of extraordinary interest, is the
tablished in Steam Navigation, being. one of these
great events in the history of human advancement,
which, If less remarkable than the discovery of
America by Columbus is nevertheless, highly Ina
portant on of the close connexlon II estab
fishes between the Old World and the New be-
TIVE the great city of the United States and the
great cities of Europe.
The Great Western left kingroad, Bristol, o.
clock, April 7th and here she was o'clock, April
the Esd, in only 16 days,--thus bringing England
nearer to us than many parts of our own country.
This has been done in season of the year, not of
summer sunshine, but of gales, storms, sIeet and
hail and thus the Experiment of Steam Navigation
across the Atlantic is no longer an Experiment, but
a plain matter OF iact.-The thing has been done
riumphantly.
Case of .AbRer KReetGRd. II has been stated in
the newspapers, that Abner Kneeland was convict
ed of blasphemy for denying the exstance of a Ged
This is not true. He was convicted for denying the
exstance of God and contumeliously reproaching
the Saviour, aoih the malicious sntcnt to soound the
feelings of Christians, and it this malicious pur
pose, and this alone, which constituted the crime,
under the statute, held by all the judges 1t
was expressly said, and more than once repeated,
in the able and learned opinions delivered by the
Chief Justice and Judge Morton, that neither the
speaking, the publishing, of any. opinion what
ever, concerning God the Savior, could subject
IL man to be convicted under this statute, unless the
jury found that such opinion spoken publish
ed with this unia1eful and malicious intent. Abner
Kneeland has therefore the same claim to be deem
ed martyr to the cause of free discussion and a
Il free press any other of the numerous persons
who have been convicted in this Commonwealth,
of publishing malicious HbeIs individuals and
bodies of men, with the design of wounding the
feelings, and exciting the anger, and disturbing the
peace of the community, and he has other claim
whatsoever. In neither case is the punishment in |
niced for an offence against the subject of the libel
or for entertaining expressing erroneous opin-
ion and in both cases the offence consists in the |
wicked intent disturb the peace of community
Boston Daily .AdUertiSer