Litchfield enquirer., 1842-04-21


supposing he was known to his neighbor, he
was confirmed in hurry, imprudently 1t is
true, but excusable enough when all things
are considered.
Perilous Position Of 81. PeterSJurg.-It is
melancholy TO contemplate the constant dan
ger in which this brilliant capital is placed.
II Mr. kohl's picture is not overcharged, by
the occurrence of strong westerly wind and
high water just ut the breaking up OF the
ice, would at any time suffice to occasion an
inundation sufficient 10 drown the whole pop
ulalion and to convert the entire city with
all its sumptuous palaces into chaotic mass
of ruins. The Gulf of Finland runs to Il
point as it approaches the mouth of the Me-
va, where the most violent gales are always
those from the west, SO that the mass of wa
tiers, on such occasions is always forcibly inn
PEELED towards the city. The islands form
ing the Delta of the Neva, on which st. Pc
tersburg stands, are extremely low and flat
and the highest point in the city is probably
not more than 10 or twelve feet above the
sea. A rise of fifteen feet is therefore
enough to drown almost every human being
il in the place. The poor inhabitants are
therefore in constant danger of destruction,
and never can be certain that the whole
100000 OF them may not, within the next "a
hours be washed out of their houses like so
many rats. To say the truth, the subject
ought hardly to be spoken of with evity, for
the danger is imminent, and the reflection Of
ten makes hearts quake in st. Petersburg
The only hope Of this apparently doomed
city, is, that the three circumstances may
never occur simultaneously, viz. high water,
the breaking up of the ice, and the gale from
the west. There are so many points of the
compass for the wind to choose among, that
ii would seem perverse in the extreme 10 Sc
lect the west at so critical moment; never
theless, the wind does blow very often from
the west during spring, and the ice floating
in the Neva and the Gulf of Finland is of
bulk AMPLY sufficient to oppose formida-
bic obstacle to the water in the upper part
OF the river. Had the ancient sages of Okhta
kept meteorological records, one might be
able TO calculate how often in thousand
years, such flood as we are here supposing
might be likely to occur. AS it is, the world
need not be at all surprised to read in the
one OF these days that st. Peters,
burg, after rising like bright meteor from
the swaInps Of Finland, has us suddenly been
in them like mere will.o'-the-
wisp. May Heaven protect the city.
Foreign Quarterly Review.
A Female Village. The village of Manda-
ma, which is about IA German miles (sixty
English) from Kustschack, in Wallachia, Of
ters at the present moment a curious ethno-
graphical singularity, having been inhab-
tied by women only, for the last thirty years.
AT one period, this feminine population a.
mounted to 1000. The ladies did not live as
like the Amazons Of old, but they
q VOiHpH nlI xuitia
way from their territories all who approach
ed with matrimonial intentions. This anti.i
social settlement is now on the decline at
least no more recruits are made from the
or love. crossed, and the men,
bers OF the population are rapidly decreas-
ing. These women are nearly all Mahome-
dans.-N. Y. Arena.
TEMPERANCE IN New ZEALAND THE Go.
vernon of New Zealand has recently impos-
ed heavy tax amounting in fact to q pro-
hIbition, upon the importation Of ardent spir.
its.
Encke's Con,et.-This body, which few
years since was visible, j, appears has renew.
ed its visit, and according to Prof. Olmsted,
of Yale College, can be seen through tele.
scopes less powerful than those ordinarily
used in our observatories. lis figure saws
the professor is nearly round, and its bright
ness exceeds that of 1888, Cat the last time of
its appearance) the light being more dense
towards the central parts, and the margin
better defined. Its position is little south
OF the head of Aries. 1t is now approaching
the earth ut the rate of two millions of miles
a day, and its distance from US will be re.
duced e-half in less than a month.
Great Fire at Babylon, L. I've learn
from the jamaica Farmer that the pine
woods at Bah ylon took fire from the passing
locomotive of the Long Island Rail Road
Company, on Thursday afternoon last, and
spread to the destruction of timber and three
barns. Total loss is estimated about &c.
900.
Amistad A.fricans.-By an arrival yester.
DAY from Sierra Leone, as we learn from the
N. Y. Tribune, letters have been received to
Feb. 18th from Messrs. Steele, Raymond and
Wilson, the Missionaries who accompanied
the Mendians TO their native land. They
had been one month at Sierra Leone, and in
excellent health, with the exception of Mrs.
kaymond and her infant daughter, who had
the tever slightly. There was difficulties
about their reaching Mendi, and MIR. Steele,
under the advice OF the new British Govern.
or, Sir George Mcdonald. had gone, with
a few others. on an exploring tour. His re.
turn was daily expected. There were seve-
raj hundreds Of Mendians at Sierra Leone.
some of whom had recognised several of the
Amis.ad Africans. The Mendians continued
to study, but some Of them had rushed into
their former licentious habits. The Mission.
aries, however, were full of hope.
Western Rail Road.-The travel increases