The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-06-07

first comprehending an investigation in the ma
lure and operation OF our own minds; the sec
ond, into the various properties and conditions
of matter, or the objects which we perceive in
the external world. II is by strict examina.
ton into these we berome acquainted with the
laws of nature; without some acquaintance with
them we must be continually passing over many
objects and many events unnoticed, that would
excite The greatest possible interest and admira.
ton. Nor is this all; for when any event
does occur, Of so uncommon and striking kind
as to attract our attention, and so to awaken
our ignorance, five are unable to explain il on
fixed principles, we must fall back upon the
mere suggestions of fancy, which, as all hsto.
nv has proved, lead to the most absurd super
stit;ons. Thunder and lightning, comets, me.
teors, northern lights, rainhows, and indeed
every phenomenon of nature has in its turn cx.
cited those superSi,ious feelings which appear
natural to man while in state of ignorance.
In ancient times thunder and lightning were
regarded as occurrences beyond the common
course of nature. Under the Mosaical dis
pensaiion, the Jews were accustomed TO open
the doors and windows oi their dwellings du.
a thunder storm. in the expectation of the prom
ised Messiah making his appearance amidst this
war of the elements The Roman Catholics,
in many districts of Germany, toll the bells Of
The churches during the continuance oi
thunder storm; and in Athens, when a person
was struck dead by lightning the spot on which
the accident occurred was enclosed. and in al.
tar raised for the people, offering up sacrifices
TO their gods. The superstilions of the igno.
! rant, which can bend to such customs, have
| from the rapid advancement in our own days
of the knowledge ofscicnce, not only been dis.
pelled, but VIC have contrived, by very sim
pie eXpedieni to rob the cloud of it's lightning.
Comets have, from very early period been re.
garded as predicting the most dismal calami-
ties. The Roman attached undue importance
to the comet which appeared a short time pre-
viouS 10 the Augustan war, and to that which
attended the battle of Pharsalia; neither has
Josephus, the celebrated Jewish historian, been
sparinu of them a, the destruction of Jerusalem.
We are happy that such is =, the condition OF
the working men Of the nineteenth century.
The schoomaster is abroad-and cheap press
has wrought wonderful charges.
PATENT Hoops-A machine has lately been
invented for making hoops, which bids fair to
do away the necessities Of growing hoop poles
hereafter. Any tough, straight grained timber
will answer the purpose. IL is hrst sawn mo
square strips the width desired for the hoop
these strps are next turned round, like hoe
handle, and then slit through the centre. Each
stick thus makes two halcrornd hoops. They
are then steamed and bent. Casks hooped with
them, present an extra and neat appearance
The whole work is done by machinery. just
previous to setting lhcm it is necessary to wet
them in cold water. A specimen of these
hoops was exhibited al the late Architectural
show Of Syracus.
A SOLEMN ScEyE-William Durgan Ham
mond was brought before our Court OF Ap.
peals Yesterday morning to hear the result OF
the motions in his case He was convicted at
our late Spring term for the murder of his ia
ther, Joshua Hammond, on the 2Oth October
last after fair and impartial hearing, In the
course of which Judge Wardaw laid before
the jury everything that could possibly welgh
in his favor
His counsel, Messrs. TradewclI and Arthur
who then defended him with zeal and ability.
submitted motions in arrest of Judgment, and
for new trial, which were argued by them last
week, and the result was, that the judges unanl,
mousl " but with evident reluctance, were forced
to the conclusion that they could not Interfere
with the verdict Of the jury. After a capltuia'
ton by Judge Evans, the President OF the
Court, of the leading facts of the case, the sol
cmn sentence of the law was pronounced by
Judge WardIaw, who showed, in his touching
remarks, as well as in the feelings which exhlb
itcd themselves in his manner, that he was deep
ly and painfully alive to the solemntles OF the
occasion, which was rendered still more heart
rcnding by the insensibility and stolcal lnd'fter
encc displayed by him who should have felt the
deepest interest
The prisoners sontenec is to be carried int
effect on the 18th July proximo, and the records
of our jurisprudence will thus contain the his
tory of one more victim of intemperance.
Columbia Telegraph, 4M INST.
AyIScIDEyT IN FRONTIER LlPE.-Ihe Min
nesota Chronicle, of recent date, gives tht
following anccdotc:
"Two travellers from Fort Gaines arrived
on Wednesday morning last at one of the trib
utaries of the Mississippi, twelve miles this sld'
of the fort The acting Charon at that point
for the time, Mr.. Dupue, was on the opposite
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