davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-11-24
New YoRx. Nov. Q I8A7

L he visit oil the distinguished and learned Swiss
NATURALIST froiessor AGAssIz, To this city, and his
interesting lectures, now in progress, have ava
kened new interest IN the subject of natural his
'ory, a"9 given new impulse TO philosophical in
curry. 1t was an interesting scene last evening Ia
see three or four hundred medical gentlemen and
others OF philosophical and enquirnc minds. Al
the Professors second lecture ON ovology and orr,
briology, taking their several turns to look through
microscopes TO examine the internal structure az :.
common hens egg, In order that they might th,.
more clearly understand the lecturers descrjp,ion.
of the various charges which occur in the eo,t,
both before and after the commencement Of animal
life. This branch Of natural science is co,npaia
lively new, owing its development thus far, in tho
Professors view. TO the peculiar character of the
German mind. IL is, as yet, German science.
and most of its demonstrations have been made
within few years, many of them SO recently than
they have not yet been embodied in text books.
But the developments and demonstrations ara
wonderful, furnishing TO the mind new illustro
lions Of the infinite wisdom and power of the Great
Architect of the universe.
In his other leciuTes-the course on natural his
tory-Prolessor Agassz has given his opinion. in
answer to questions sent to him with regard to the
views and specuaticns contained in a book called
the 'Vestiges of Creation" which attracted GOOD
deal OF attention year or two past and which il
thought strongly to favor notions of infdeity and
10 Shake faith In divine revelation. The research
% VI ',e ao'e NATURALIST nave gone much deeper
than the researches of the book in question. He
pronounces ii absurd and unscientiiic, and unwor.
thy the attention ofa scientific man and in one or
two Instances he demonstrated It's absurdty and
overthrow lis conclusions. This was happiy and
beautifully done. to the satisfaction of the audience
In reiu'ng the idea of Spontaneous generation Of
animal life" of the strongest Arguments in e,
vor of which is the existence of intestinal wornsr
IN animals and fishes The Professor showed. bv
beautiful series of illustrations, that by long and
patient investigation it had in some cases been de-
monstrated how these worms were introduced into
the animal, and also that they are subject TO the
ordinary laws OF animal life. He left the doctrine
OF spontaneous generation of animal life no ground
TO stand upon | could not but exclam TO myself
in the old couplet--
"a little learning is dangerous thing;
Drink deep or taste not the Picrian Spring.
Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-11-24
The Washington Union has called nnblic alton

=. The Washington Union has called public atten-
non particularly to one Of Mr. Clay's resolutions.
II Is that in which the wish or desire to acnuire
foreign territory .for The purpose ofpropagating sla
very OF OF introducing slavery from the u States,
is emphatically disclaimed The Union seems r.
think that there is something sinister in this reso
luton: Is that paper so soon cbiyinns of the fac,
that, not fortnight SINCE in its own editorial col
umns, the same disclaimer, and almost in the same
language, was made in reply to one of the lato..na,
9Tal allies" in New York, on behalf Of the .qdmin-
; ;Sno1tomf IL MI Polk, through his organ, may
Innocentiy and properly make the declaration lb,,
ne has not sought TO obtain Mexican territory .G
me PWPoser OF introducing therein slavery from
TN, ,he United States, why may not Mr.. CLAW make n
ike disclaimer, without subeciing himself TO the
repIoaches OF that organ? Surely he may be per
United TO concur with the President in a singie in
stance, without mourning the special censure of ,ho
Executive champion for his views upon thai acc;
dental point OF agreement r. UHir.
Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-11-24
"a little learning is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep or taste not the Picriap Sprinp. -
New YORK, November IS. ISd7

must refer again to Professor Arassiz The
conviction that, rs naturalist he is great man NJ
the age, grows stronger and stronger at each suc
eessive lecture which have had the opportunity of
i!e"ri"g from hln cannot help believing that the
Time Will come when his name will stand ahovotb,,
or Linn9us, and, if not above that of Cuvier NJ
least side by side with it; and begin to feel sort
OF national pride that he has adopted our country ne
MS future home and the scene Of his future l,bor
lie Is comparatively yet but very little known in
ms country, but his name will one day become n
household word throughout all the land All onr
schools and colleges will look up to him. and the
results OF his labors their great teacher in natural
science, and he will leave his mind impressed upon
the age as indeliby as the fossil remains are I'M
pressed upon the earth, which the peculiar power of
ms intellect brings forth from their dark recesses
and arranges in such beautiful order before ms
showing their relations and gradations for tbousonds
and thousands of wears
III ms lecture last evening he entered upon the
consideration of vertcbrated animals. commenc;no
win llshes. He has adopted an entirely new cIas
scaoh OF fishes, different from that of any other
naturalist. The classification Of Linnaus which
Is based upon the fms, he showed to be very inner
iect and homogeneous The new classification bv
I'oi. hSasslZ Is based upon the scales the last nor
tohs OF the animal that would seem to suuoest
themselves as the basis of great scientific system
Dut MS Illustrations showed conclusvely the great
superiority OF his plan of arrangement In eyaIn;n
ing the scales OF fishes he found MANY pecuiar;,e
about them, both in form and substance. and b,,
pursuing his Investigations he found different spe
cies OF hshes were marked by the character of their
scales And at last he found the scale sucb !, ror
feet index to the fish, that having the scale Of an
unknown fish before him, he would describe the
,on ana snow Its characteristics, form, and proper
tions. This was strikingly and wonderfully nrn,,a
in the years 1883 and sd r'o'eu
In the year 1888 the scale of a fossil fish. which
nae had lain IN tho earth nobody knows how many
Agassz in Switzerland. FROM that Scale he bu;it
his llsh, described it, made drawing of it, and
sent 1t back to England. The newt year he was in
England himself and had the pleasure to find tha.
a whole fossil fish of that species had then iust
oeen discovered, a drawing ofwhich was published
ana ana 10 which the one he had already constructed
rom single scale, so nearly correspondent in all ito
details as to need very little alteration These f,ct
were brought out by the lecturer with so mnch
clearness and at the same time with such manifest
o"IsI, .la' ihe audience could not refrain from
marked expressions fapplause
Correspondent Mai Int
Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-11-24
THE WATER WORKS.

We are glad to learn that plan is in contem-
plation, by which we shall secure supply Of wa
tor, abundant for every contingency. We under
stand that this desirable result can DO obtained
without any increase of tho present rates of taxa
ton, and we have doubt citizens will sus
tain the Council in any reasonable expenditure fol
SO important an object.
The spirit of improvement is abroad in our town
and it will give pleasure to record as one of its
results, falling supply Of pure water.
Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-11-24
Correspondence Of the Baltimore S,n

- w AohiNGToN, NOV. II, p M
INC oecreta'y@ The Treasury Conquering a Peace.
MI. walker has recommended, and the Presi-
dent has signed, the following salutarv fi,ano;a,
measures in regard to Mexico:
LIST. The export duties exacted by the Mexc,u
Government before the war; are to BE- levied hv
| our officers as military contribution.
I'd Wherever it is practicable, all internal nro-
perry, taxes OF any description, whether upon ner
s0HS or property. enacted by the Government of
Mexico OF by any department, Town, or ,;: -: ero-
oil, are TO be collected by our officer and annro,
ted as Military contribution towards as.oPi'
the expenses OF the war, excepting transit du}ios
when are check upon commerce.
= ~ he export duties on the precious metals ara ,s
ioiows Gold, coined or wrought. 3 ne2 con,
ollVeT com, do; Silver, wrought with or with
9u1 "ieSigan certificates, do Gold ore or dust,
. do; Silver ore, do. ''
~ b-When the precious metals are take,
from a city In our possession, the duty ON tber,
us' oe prepaid, or is charged double at the noTt If
expectation. WIG PVt' o'
l. lie same writer, IN letter of a still later date
says we shall now seize upon the whole revenue Of
Mexico derived from internal or external taxation
Whether IL be levied in the form of State County
or City tax.
The Union of Thursday evening last contains
an order of the President, to this effect.
IHE WHEAT HULLING MAcHiNE.-We no.
tced, few weeks since, an important inveption
by Mr.. Samuel Bentz, of Boonsboro, Md; for com,
Pletely removing all iran and exraneous matter
from Wheat in its natural state We have heen
furnished by Mr.. Barnes, the agent for the inven-
ton, with three specimens, showing the operation
of the machine
!. The Wheat in its natural state
Z. ne unframed Wheat, the same as sample
No. 80 f'0
o, The bran from sample No g.
Inc invention strikes us as being one OF the
most important Of the age-producing an immense
saving OF time in grinding, but, what is more i'm
Portant, a saving Of from 40 to so pounds of Wheat
over and above the average amount used in every
barrel OF Flour now manufactured
If, too, it should prove preventive TO so,,yine,
by thorough removal of that portion OF the BRAN
which causes fermentation in hot climates. still
greater value must be allowed to the invention.
Winchester Republican,
Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-11-24

Dnrlng the past summer, gentleman fom Po-
sey county, Indiana, was travelling down the Ohio
river In steamer, with mare and two ,ear-od
colt, when by sudden careen Of the boat Il; three
Were tilted into the river. The Hoosiq. as he
rose pulling and blowing above the water, cauoh,
hold OF the tail of the colt not having do,bt tina,
the natural instinct of the animal would cary hin
sale ashore. The old mare took '.beeli,e'' 70,
me shore, but tho frightened colt swan Justify
down the current, with its owner still HANGING fac;
LET 60 the colt and hang on to tho Mares Shout
ed his friends. "Booh!" exclaimed the man
SsPo"ti"g tho water from his mouth, and shaking
his head like Newfoundland dog, ''to a man tha
can't swim, this isn't exactly the time for swan
ping horses ="
Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-11-24

o. We have received from our friend, w Dun
LAP, near Middlebrook, eight Turnips, weighing
al lbs-Ihe average is So that tits difficult to
distinguish which is the largest. They are none
of your Cow turnips, bu, the genuine smooth skin
ned, flat turnips.
Also, Cabbage, that is cabbage, from our
friend SAMUEL BLACKBURN, esq, of tlp Pastures.
Its circumference is feet inches, and weighs
l6i lbs.
Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-11-24
GEORGIA SEN

The Savannah Republican, Of the 10th. briups
us the gratifying intelligence Of the election on
tne 10Th, OF Hon. John NJ. Berrien and Hon. w.
-. Dawson, the former TO fill his own vacancy die
I kH that OF Mr.. Colquitt, occurring in IS1o-
we perceive that the name of Gen. Twggs was
announced on the last ballot, and supported nv the
party which has such dread Of military Chief
talns.-Rich. Repub ''''''
Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-11-24
FROM ruE RICHMOND TIMES.
THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.

IL appears, from notices in the papers OF ycstcr-
day, that this body, created matter of conven-
icnce To execute mere ministerial duty, have eX-
ercised discretionary power in relation to the
ecut'on oil the laws, which seems To nc was not
contemplated as In the SCOPE of their pOweIs.--
They have declined subscribe to the stock of the
Louisa Railroad, as required by the act of March
9Th, 1917. The language Of the act gives no dis
cretion-it provides 'that when twenty thousand
dollars shall have been subscribed by others than
the Commonwealth, and paid secured to DC paid,
The Board Of Public Iorks shall subscribe the sum
Of thirty thousand dollars, and shall continue TO sub
scribe in the same proportions" sc. sc.
AT one time they expressed doubts about the con
strucuon oil this lava call was made on the At
torney General the constitutional adviser of the Of
Ulcers ot the Government, to give his opinion. 1t
sustained, as am Informed, the construction con-
tended Tor by the Company, viz that tho selection
of the route was intended to be left open for their
decision-a most onerous and difficult eXaction of
"bond and approccd security" to insure the pay
ment OF the private subscription, was complied with
but they, nevertheless, declined.
Have these gentlemen weighed well the nature
and consequences of this act? 1t may be said that
| the meeting of the General Assembly is so near,
that 1t is safe to refer the subject TO them-why
then, call on the Attorney General? But ii is the
same thing an principle, whether the interval be
long or short between their act and the meeting OF
the Legislature. If they possess this power OF re-
curing second action Of the Legislature IN case.
" appropriation, it would be as well to give them
the right of repeal at once. They had better DO in
vested with the powers of Legislation that sub
Ject, as 1t would save expense. How many of the
acts of internal improvement of tho last session
would pass If forced back to another trial. standing
single and alone, with difficulties to encounter thai
arose Subsequent to the passage Of the act? The
question the Board should have settled was-no
whether the act should have been passed not whe
Their the right of selecting the route ough, to hav,
been given-but the question was, did the act civ,
the right? II may be, that the act should not hav,
Passed-but is most dangerous precedent for tina
body to assume the right to decide such questions
1t appears TO me to De power equivalent to lc
glslatlon concede it, and they will defeat any worl
they think proper, by bringing it again and again
under revision OF 4 different Legislature from tina
which authorized it, This is question not alon,
concerning The Louisa Railroad, but every othc
work In the State; yea more, it involves the ques
ton whether a mere ministerial body shall he al
lowed to assume powers taniamount TO Legislation
The above are the hurried views, not of an ex
travagant supporter ofinternal improvements, bu
oi CITIZEN.
Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-11-24

Custom House Rciyenchpeut Ne,r VOL.
Express says that Mr.. Secretary Walker has issued
ofoefS, directing reduction of ten per cent to be
MADE IN tho wages of those employed in tho vari-
GUS Custom Houses throughout the country. 1t is
also stated that this reduction is applicable only to
the laborers, and those OF small salaries.
Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-11-24

o. Mr. G. F. HAMILTON, Daguerrean Artist.
requests us to inform the citizens Of Staunton and
its vicinity, that he will be absent for few weeks
on visit TO Lexington, and that on his return he
will be pleased to wait upon those who desire his
services. MIR. III. is hard TO beat Daugerreo-
typist, and in the "Athens of Virginia" he will
no doubt meet with the Same encouragement tina,
he has met with wherever he has been.
Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-11-24

IENNgssEE.-The Legislature of this State has
not yet succeeded in electing Senator, the votes
OF the Wing members being still divided. in tbreo
additional ballots, between the three different can
alda'es. lho cause Of the difficulty consists not
Wings OF the Legislature, but in the condict;rg
CLAIMS OF different sections of the State to the honor
of having the Senator WV ''O'''i
Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-11-24

The last advices from the West Coast of Afri-
ca announce the important fact that the colony a,
Monrovla has proclaimed itself a nation, under the
name OF "Ihe Republic Of Liberia" They have
published Declaration of Rights, and formed a
Constitute for their government. They have n
President Senate and House of Representa-
tiyes
Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-11-24

The Washington correspondent of heBaltimore
Sun says that the Post Master General is busiIy
engaged in his Annual Report, which will show
the gratifying fact that the Cheap Postage system
has succeeded. The deficit in the PostofIice rev
enue for the first year after the adoption the new
system was 100000; the deficit last wear was
$4,000; this year it is only &c, 900 dolarsi
Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-11-24

In letter from the city of Mexico, Mr.. Ken
dali writes that ''both Generals Shields and Pillow
are out. The wound Of the latter is stated not IN
nave been as severe as wasfrst represented 1t was
bruIse IA Their than a wound, and was received in
the grove at the foot Of Chapultepec
Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-11-24

The great Galloway estate" in Bucks county.
Pa, which was advertised for sale a short time
ago, has been sold at auction for the aggregate sum
of $l1S,4l5 ISL
Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-11-24
Enlistment of Intoxicated Recruit,- sn,,

enlistment Of Intoxicated Recruits-The Supe
flor Court Of New York, in the case of Henri,
Pinkham, have decided that an enlistment in ,t,
army whilst the recruit is in state of ntoxcalion
is not valid The complainant in the above case is
respectable family, and was clerk in whole.
sale store at salary of over 5000 year. Beino
intoxicated, ne was induced to enlist and SIGN the
roll, but was not paid his bounty moDev.-.Nat r.,
Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-11-24

The Chicago Journal estimates tho quantity Of
TneS 6 winch VIII DC received at that place before
TIC %''h OF November, at ono million of bushels.
Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-11-24
SOUTHERN PLANTER

We have received the Southern Planter for No
y,ember. 1t IS now conducted by John NJ. Daniel
ESD Tor some time IFS associate editor. and in ev
cry way competent 10 sustain the usefulness and
interest Of the work
Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-11-24

sent splendid swords to Col James RanIbosJ pn,,
capt. John Is. Magrudcr, as testimonials Of their
r!gh appreciation of the distinguished military SER
vices OF these brave men. Both of these officers
are natives of Caroline county. 70
Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-11-24

03- TAKE NoTIcE.-T'hoso Of on, s,,h.o.;,.-.
who have contracted to furnish US with Fla arI
WOOD IN payment of their subscriptions. arc here
ny noI1ed that unless their contracts are conoi;o
WIN be fore the first day Of January next, the Cns5
VIII be required ofthem. ''0 '"'''
Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-11-24
Another critic SAYS !:
LOUISA RAILROAD

The Board of Public Works yesterday, we I'M
dersland, came 10 the resolution to decline subscri-
olhg' on the part OF the State, to the additional
stock for the extension of the Louisa Railroad, I'M
der the act passed by the Legislature at its last
sion. We are not appraised of the exact grounds
upon which the Board bases its action, and il is
PROBABLE they may not be made public until thew
are communicated to the Legislature
we are authorized to state that Notwithstanding
,his decision OF the Board the work advertised will
be let out to contractors on the 23d inst.-JTI;,
Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-11-24

The Washington correspondent of the N Y.
Journal of Commerce very truly says that the Off
cia dispatches from the seat of war are in general
highly creditable 10 the writers. "Gen Scott Che
adds) Is considered to have been remarkably happy
in the style and matter of his bulletins. Gen PHI
low borders too much on the Homeric, and deals
too much in Italics. His reports will, presume.
be reproduced in the London Times at length, and
all the others omitted III this way it will be at
tempted TO countcract the favorable impression made
IN all Europe by the admirable dispatches of Gen
Taylor"
Another critic says
1t is amusing to note the difference in the STYLE of
the several reports of the Generals Worth saws.
when speaking of his orders, ''the order was Giy-
en- &c Gen. Pillow says: 81 gave orders''-
Sin obedience TO my orders-''I despatched an off
cer''-and 50 on, so that the world might clearly
understand that 81 Major Gen. Pillow - was ca
live and kicking" with tremendous power ON the
battle field
The banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1844-1847, 1847-02-24
Most Of ths mills were working short
time, on account Of the very high price
Of cotton.

|> IRELAND. 81
THE FAmlNE.-John Coughlan, Pa
Irish Priest of KiIkelly,. County Dayo,
has addressed letter to the London
Times, in which he says. ;.
| Two months ago my parishioners
exeeeded 5000 souls ; they are now re-
duced considerably below that number
death, by starvation, has made its fear
full rayages. This week two persons
haye.died Of hunger, one girl named
Mary Dodd, Of Barcoll, aged. .:l6 years,
the other man named James g, Don
nell, of sownaciane, aged 50 yeats i
attended another last nigh, named VIII;
liam Fallan, dying &, starvation. OF
the entire number Of about $3.50 now
living, / solemnly declare, to the best Of
my opinion, tha. not more than 200 Of
them have more to support nature than
half a mealin 4he "a hours. The corn
is all gone; nst even the seed for the
ensuing year remains. The turnipg
used. = We have no Indian meal.
very small qpanthy: of oatmeal 10
l6und is selling az per liz bs.s
Indian meal iishot pto . So had il Sligo fofs f,f
lssst than l9 pounds. per ton. The peo-,s'
spls On the public works are not permit
The banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1844-1847, 1847-02-24

1dI0lsls Nata q. Is, Y. ~ &
With he aonsf az inssI.t g f5sb;
cents per square nj thssfirst iassrs ~;
and S74 cents for each CON e net
longer ones charged init lSiStopof ton F FkosSs
not having the desired: numher of iiisep$s
tions marked upon theips sili "a cuhtiuuad
until ordered out, and chszced according s
For advertising KstrSys T oiled, TWO:
DOLLARS. to be paid by the MseiStrate.s
For announcing a Candidate, two
DOLLARS, in advances, Il &: 3;,st 8
~ All letters or ommunieations must.
be directed 70 the Editp postage paid. s.