davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-04
CHRISTIAN HEROISM.

The following singular account OF case OF
benevolence, wherein one man chose to die in
stead of another, is from Carlyles Life of Ster-
ling.
One other little event dwells with me- out OF
those Falmouth times exact date now forgot
ten; pleasant little matter, in which Ster-
ling and principally the Misses Fox bright,
CHEEKY young creatures, were concerned, which,
for the sake of its human interest 1t is worth
mention.
In certain Cornish mine, said the newspa-
pers, duly specifying it, two miners deep down
in the shaft were engaged putting in shot for
blasting; they had completed their affair and
were about to give the signal for being hoisted
up-oDe at time was all their coadjutor at
the top could manage, and the second was to
kindle the match, and then mount with all
speed. Now it CHANGED, while they were both
still below, one of them thought the match too
long tried to break it shorter; took couple
of stones fiat and sharp to cut it shorter
did cut it of the due length, but horrible to
relate, kindled it at the same time, and both
were still below Both shouted vehemently to
the coadjutor at the windlass, both sprang at
the basket the windiass man could not move
it with them both. Here was a moment for
poor miner Jack and miner Will Instant,
horrible death hangs over both, when Will
generously resigns himself " Go aloft, Jack, "
and sits down; away; in one minute shall
be in heaven!" Jack bounds aloft the eIplo-
sion instantly follows, bruises his face as he
looks over he is safe above ground and poor
viii? Descending eagerly they find Will,
too, as if by miracle, buried under rocks which
had arched themselves over him, and little in
iw-Sa Ue too is BROUGHT mn safely and sll
ends joyfullS say the newspapers. -
i aS4oA i rss--.& = = .-ygT7Zi;tyAe o",'
salutary human heroism was worth investi-
eating 1t was investigated, found to be accu-
rate to the letter-with this addition and ex-
PLANTATION, that Will, an honest, ignorant good
man. entirely given up to Methodism, had been
perfect in the " faith of assurance" certain that
he should get to heaven if he died, certain that
Jack would not, which had been the ground of
his decision in that moment for the rest that
he much wished to learn reading and writing,
and find some way of life above ground, in
stead of below. By the aid of Misses Fox and
the rest of that family, subscription modest,
Anti-Hudson testimOnial) was raised to this
Methodist hero He emerged into daylight
with fifty pounds in his pocket did strenu-
ously try, for certain months, to learn reading
and writing found he could not lear those
arts, or either of them; took his money and
bought cows with it, wedding at the same time
a religious, likely milkmaid; and was, the last
heard of him, prosperous, modest dairyman,
thankful for the upper light and safety from
the wrath to come Sterling had some hand
in this affair but, as l said, it was the two
young ladies of the family that mainly did it.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-04
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CHILLICoTHE PRES
BYTERY.

WEST UNION, Ono, October rs, 1851.
To the Editor of the National Era.
The following was adopted by the Chillcothe
Presbytery, in session ut Union, September last.
and, by order of the same is sent with the re-
quest that il be inserted in the columns of your
paper JoHN p. VANDYKE, s. Clerk.
inaSmuch as the words of God, and the con-
sL'tu,on oi the Presbyterian church. make it
1ho un'y OF rresbyteries TO resolve questions of
proposed and to condemn erroneous onn;ons
which mjure the peace or purity of the church
and inasmuch as the minds of some ser;ons
persons are known TO be embarrassed bv the
law, usually styled the fugitive slave law
the Presbytery of Chillicothe considered il their
duty to publish the following declaration
/. Resolved, That the authority and laws of
the Most High God are paramount and there.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-04
SCIENCE, WEALTH, AND MORALS.

The undersigned very respectfully invite pub
lie attention to two great objects of individual
and general prosperlty-the development of the
| natural resources of our country, and the pro-
motion of practical science To large extent,
these two objects are one and the same, as
knowledge of the natural resources of industry
and of wealth is pre-eminently practical science
The more this knowledge becomes individual,
making every farmer acquainted with the char
acter aud capabilities of his own fields and all
classes familiar with the natural wealth imme-
diately surrounding them, the more thoroughly
will it be promoted, the more widely ditfused.
The most direct-perhaps the only-mode of
securing effectually these two objects combined
in one is by making practical science subject
Of primary instruction in schools especially
aided by the reciprocating efforts of families.
Such step, at once simple and direct, is rem
dered vigorous and effective by the eagerness
with which children pursue, and the rapidity
with which they acquire, knowledge of natural
objects so richly scattered around them by the
hand of their Creator Thus occupied, inter-
ested and instructed they are most efectually
drawn from objects and pursuits leading to dis
order, lawlessness, and violence, now but too
manifest in all parts of the country, threaten
ing, if unchecked the perpetuity Of our repub-
lican institutions
As the two leading objects of human pursuit
are agriculture and mechanism, it is self
evident truth that institutions especially de-
signed to fit those entering upon the stage OF
action for their future vacations should teach
primarily and thoroughly subjects connected
with those pursuits-that schools teach prom-
nently and vigorously subjects and modes fun
damental in the success of the farmer and me-
chanc. The sciences especially embracing
agriculture and mechanism are geology, chem
istry, and geometry, to be thaught practically
and experimentally.
The unparalleled progress made in these SCI
ences especially the first, within few years
past renders their future advancement easy,
certain, and rapid, directly applied to the daily
pursuits of all classes The developments and
presentations made of these subjects by Mr..
Josiah Holbrook, and the results of his past
efforts in aiding their advancement render it
proper that special attention be directed to the
plans and measures now proposed by him for
their continued progress and still wider diffu-
| SION
Such being the plain dictates of common
sense suggested by the progress of our country
and the spirit Of the age, the undersigned invite
to them the attention of all interested in human
progress, and especially the public functionaries
whose official duty and highest pleasure must
alike induce them to give the whole subject
their prompt efforts and hearty reciprocations
| We only add, that we consider the plans and
! proposals of Mr. Hobrook, IA shown above, OF
great value, and entitled to the favorable con-
| sideration of the nuhlic
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-04
THE NATIONAL ERA WASHINGTON, C, DECEMBER 1851.

of necessity, they shall be free to make repre-
sensations regarding their affairs through their
Agent to the Sublime Porte.
When this my imperial will shall be brought
to your knowledge and appreciation, you will
have this august decree registered in the neces-
sary departments, and then give it over to re.
main in the hands of these my subjects. And
see you to it. that its requirements be always
in future performed in their full import.
Thus know thou, and respect my sacred sig
net Written in the holy month OF Mohar-
rem 1867. November, 1867
Given in the well-guarded city CONSTANT
neniyeh.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-04
VOL. v.

well might be supposed, still less leisure for 49,,
speculations of this kind II would mor Wa any
lsuch was the conclusion of her little snoooe
be readily forgiven her. the wife of Kossu 1gSn
man whom the general voice. not moro ~
her own heart, pronounced distinguished ;s s, at
submitted herself entirely to his euidanco a snS
never thought Of emancipation The od %nu
rable pertinence of this reply will he douh lil,
appreciated when it is mentioned Tho. U U
anne Kossuth was altogether unnrenar . 'iS e
the address OF these ladies.-London Pm, 'Or
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-04
THE AFRICAN CITY OF ABEOKUTA.

Notices of this place have recently appear.
ed, for the first time, in our missionary jour.
mails and as it is quite unknown to moN per-
sons the following facts which have cost
considerable research, may be useful to our
readers.
Abeokuta stands on the Ogee river, in lati-
tude deg min. north 1t is the capital OF
the Yariba country, lying contiguous on the
eastward to Dahomey. and about l4O miles
eastward of Liberia, in nearly the same lati-
tude. Abeokuta is so miles from Badagry
and about the same distance from Lagos, in
the Blight of Benin, where Clapperton, and
both the Landers, landed on their exploring
expeditions to the river Niger The inhabit,
ants of this Kingdom are called YombdS
The city of Abeokuta is about eleven miles
in circuit and contains according to some
authors $4,000 inhabitants Others give it
$4,000 and one, 100000.
About 5000 of the inhabitants are natives
of this region, who had been carried off as
whence after few years they found their way
back, bringing with them q valuable amount
of knowledge and civilization.
The market is daily supplied with all the
necessaries of life and an active trade is car
Tleu vi Will TIC iutcIioi tuouSu dttcuucu VIII
great risk of property and life. kidnapping is
very common, and the citizens are continually
in danger of being seized and sold by their
more warlike neighbors.
The chief of AbeOkuta seems to possess in
telligence and energy. He is the man who
first attempted to initiate our mode OF build
ing houses His doors will admit a person to
enter erect, he has windows and rooms ioored
with boards, and paint on his house. His ex-
ample and influence will doubtless be felt for
good by his people. They are already greatly
ahead Of the tribes around Sierra Leone in in
telligence and civilization Arrangements were
i'll progress at our last adyices, to establish "a
model farm"
Three black clergymen of the Church OF
England are settled here, viz: ID. II. Trotter,
s. Crowther, and Mr. Townsend, all well edu-
Gated men. There is also Methodist station
and missionary here. The number of disci-
Piles to Christianity is about 300, some OF
whom became converts at Sierra Leone. The
mass of the natives adhere to their supersti-
ton, but the existence and operations of Chris
tian teachers is exciting much attention In the
interior
The people of Abeokuta stand in constant
terror OF the people of Lagos as the latter are
devoted to the slave trade, and often seize and
sell citizens of adjacent regions The Abeoku-
tans have law prohibiting kidnapping, under
the heaviest penalty; but the chiefs are not
able to enforce it fully and never will be, while
Lagos is under the influence of the Portuguese
and Razilians-ColOnizatton Herald.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-04

one to three hundred dollars per head, and
have made sales as high as one thousand dol,
lars per head. This breed of sheep is calculated
to improve the stock of sheep in this country
more than anything that has been done for
years 1t will pay man well for going con-
siderable distance to see them, whether he IS a
sheep-breeder or not-they are so much superior
to anything that has been in this country be.
fore. Lest should weary your patience, VIII
close by wishing the breeders of good stock
success Yours truly.
A READER or THE ERA.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-04
BURLINGTON, VI, NoremJcr II, 1851.
70 the Editor Of The National Era.
CuRRENTE CALAMo.

buRLlNGToN' VT, NorembCr IT, 1851.
To the Editor Of The National Era:
DEAR SIR: In looking over the columns of tho
National Era find Currente Calamos dcscrip-
tion of the annual show of the Maryland Arri.
cultural Society; and the reason OF my writing
you is, ! see he has given Il description Of their
French merinOes exhibited there, and in
speaking Of their weight, mentions one four.
year-old buck, that weighed two hundred and
forty pounds, and yielded a fleece of twenty.
four pounds Now, Mr. Editor | can tell a
story that will beat that; Messrs, Jewett, Morse
and Holabird, of this county, have imported a
flock of French merinoes this season, of about
two hundred and they have Bucks fifteen
months old that cut last spring twenty-five
pounds Of wool, and their carcass weighed two
hundred and twenty pounds Mr.. Holabird
tells me be saw a buck, while in France this
ss&sou- that weighed three hundred and forty
ssysn pounds and cut, ] think about thirty
poCnds Of wool They are selling them from
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-04

fore. when the laws of mans making contra
yene His authority and laws by making IL q
renal offence to discharge any OF the duties we
owe TO God or our fellow man-such as feeding
the hungry clothing the naked or receiving
and entertaining the stranger knowing HIM to
no claimed by fellow mortal-or by requiring
MS 10 assist the oppressor in catching human
beings who are escaping from q land where
thew are held as chattels personal, deprived OF
their nalienable rights and the means of saliva
tion-we should obey God rather than men
2. Resolved That no intelligent and consci-
entious man ought to feel himself bound to re-
gard the requirements of the fugitive slave law.
Ii is written in Gods book. to be read OF all
nations and in every age of the world "Woe
unto him that buildeth his house by unright-
eousness and his chambers by wrong; that useth
his neighbor' service without wages, and glveth
him not for his work. The Shareholders OF the
South hold their slaves by the same tenure by
which Pharoah held his, viz they are the ehH-
dren of Sldre mothers For that sin. God rained
down judgments even hail-stones and Goals OF
fire. on the land of Egypt. The righteous Judge
of all the earth doomed the whole nation OF the
Amalekites to determination for the SIN OF
rising and hindering the slaves when they were
escaping from their masters. The God OF Israel
made it a standing ordinance OF his church,
that no Ammonite nor Moabite. even to the
tenth generation, should enter into the congre-
CATION, because they did not meet the slaves
with bread and water, and assist them IN es-
Gaping from a land of slavery. 1t was law
of perpetual obligation. that no man should de-
liver to his master the servant that is escaping
from his master. The standing injunction of
an inspired Apostle to all Christian servants de-
prived of freedom is Art thou called, being
servant care not for it but if thou mayest be
free, use it rather
3. Resolred That lift be Christian privilege
to disregard the claims Of Gods law because
the laws of mans making require it, the
Prophets and Apostles, and all martyrs died
az the fool dieth."
l. RESOLVED, That to assist slave-hunters to
catch men, women and little children. who are
escaping from slavery, or in any way to assist
in carving out law so fiagrantly unrighteOus
as the fugitive slave law, is a sin requiring the
cognizancc of the judicatories of the church
and the church sessions under the supervision
of this Presbytery are enjoined, in cases Of con-
yiCsioa :, L. Tyrssss, to exclude from the
communion o. iSie1s 80 - 80 a." ',y'i
4 --,si ,~tA-1,~4o,.r, eri,ie1eo >f concordance
5 Reso},rd- That the Presbytery would not
be understood as advising active resistance to
any of the laws of the land but cnjon it upon
all under our authority to submit quietly to the
penalty of the law, when they cannot with
good conscience obey its precept
JNO. y. NANDYKE, Il. Clerk.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-04
SOLDIERS, CI.I,.s

AM still engaged In the prosecution Of c,,,u...
such Of the soldier. the Mexican
them suspended rejected, or who have nn ana had
well 20 open correspondence with ms. as - VII 90
lana IN most ever, Tier. s.s
can have allowed IL authorized TO act for me winch
word TO the wise is sufficient Snsht "A
10 suspended claims under act Of Septembe, DC to,o
also successfully prosecuted and no Zee will Ia 90 osV
any case unless land 10 procured. Address seu IN
Sept %. A. M GANGEWEK Wa.,,u..
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-04

David in such case, and say, ~ would rather
be doorkeeper in the house of the Lord, than
dwell in the tents Of iniquityn
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-04
PLAINrIELD, IND, Norember TO- 1851.


To the Editor of the National Era:
DEAR SIR: In u New York paper of March
last. noticed statement to the effect that
"omnbuses were propelled by steam through
the streets of London and more recently
some of the publications contain accounts Of
"ploughng by steam in Great Britain" and
as editors are supposed to know all things |
write that may learn through the columns of
your excellent paper. whether or not there has
been such an application made of steam, as to
enable the operator to turn TO the right or the
hfl If so, whdt IS the principle or manner Of
ats applicatioai Or does the engine follow a
given track, as the horsepower omnibuses of
New York
Respectfully, w LocKHART
p s. We are not verscd in such matters,
and leave it to somebody else to reply.
Editor Era.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-04

HypRoGRApHicAL SURVEY OF THE LAKES
The Straits of Mackinaw, which are the KEY
to Lakes Michigan and Superior, have recently
been surveyed by a party of Government
officers. This party consisted of twenty-five
persons; n portion of the force was occupied
ON the mainland coast, the islands having
been principally sounded and nearly completed,
10 as to enable Capt. Macomb to form the
charts. To give some idea of the elaborate
ness and accurateness of the survey. the small
island of Bots Blanc about four miles in
circumference, has eight points under the
main triangulation; and in all these thoxe are
twenty-eight points The surveys at Mackinac
have occupied the force in hard irork for two
years under Capt Macomb, and it is evident
that the greatest benefits will result to our lake
marine. Among other important facts dis
closed by their survey, about seventeen miles
T.. N f. of Mackinac, among what is called
the SHOWS (chemaux) there is a fine harbor,
completely land-locked and having at its
entrance six or seven fathoms of water In
the waters in the vicinity of Saginaw Bay.
which were supposed to be unfathomable in
| depth, soundings have been taken on the usual
Steamboat route. at forty and fifty miles from
Thunder Bay lighthouse, off Saginaw Bay and
bottom was found at the depth of twenty eight
| fathoms and at thirty-two f;,thoms The bot.
tom is Of sand, black and white specks, good
| specimen having been brought up in both
| instances. On the 30th October, sounding
| was taken abreast of the dock ut Fort Gratiot
| and the water in the narrow part of the st.
Clair river was found to be seventeen fathoms
or more than half AS deep as Saginaw vicinity.
There IL no account of any accurate sounding
oh. - AsA, .ATI h
Huron is as low as the surface of the ocean,
| although it has frequently been stated 10 de-
scend below that level-Philadelphia Ledger.
ScoTcH VITA meeting Of the elders of
certain kirk had assembled for the purpose of
determining about the position of a stove which
was to be erected for the purpose of warming
| the building on Sundays After considerable
| discussion, an old man. who had hitherto said
but little, was asked for his opinion I'm my
humble opinion he said the stove should
be placed in the pulpit for it is by far the
eouidea place IN a the house"
EMANCIPATION OF WoMEN-A few DAYS
! since an address was presented 10 Madame
kossuth, by deputaton from the Society
for the Emancipation of Women In addition
to an expression of sympathy, this address con-
tanned the wish that the wife Of the honored hero
Of the day would communicate to these ladies
her sentiments respecting their efforts to achieve
the freedom of her sex. Madame Kossuth re-
piled that she thanked them heartily for this
proof of their sympathy towards herself and,
through her, more particularly towards her
country that, with respect to her own views
on the emancipation Of women, she had IN
earlier years confined herself 10 the circle OF
her domestic duties, and had never been tempt
ed to look beyond it and that latterly the
overwhelming course Of events had left her, Us
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-04

}. Nj. Mason of Virginia, IT, States Senate.
Sam Houston, of Texas do
Jas. Whitcomb, of Indiana, do.
Henry Dodge, of Wisconsin, do.
Scion Borland, of Arkansas, do.
Jas Shields of Illinois, do
John Bell of Tennessee do.
Lewis Cass. of Michigan. do.
Jas, Cooper of Pennsylvania, do.
VIM. Upham of Vermont. do.
solomon Foot of Vermont do.
Rich. Brodhead, of Pennsylvania, do.
). A. Douglas, Of Illinois, do.
VIM. II. Seward, of New York do.
A. {. Dodge, of Iowa, do
Alpheus Felch, Of Michigan, do.
Truman Smith, of Connecticut do.
Jackson Morton, of Florida, do.
John Mclean, Supreme Court U. States.
Levi Woodbury., do do.
John Mctlueen, of South Carolina, Nj. c.
Thomas s. Bocock, of Virginia, Nj. c.
James Mcdowell. of Virginia Nj. C.
+. 7. Stanton, of Tennessee Nj. c.
j. X. j. Daniel of North Carolina Nj. C..
:, w Harris, Of Alabama, Nj. e.
Robert C. Schenck, of Ohio, nj. c.
VIM. Duer of New York, NJ c.
Preston King. of New York, M. C.
Emery ID. Potter of Ohio Nj. C..
Jos Henry, Sec'y Smithsonian Institution
Jeremiah Morton, of Virginia, NJ c.
Allen +. Owen, of Georgia, NJ c.
c, b, Calvert President Md. Ag. Society.
Edmund Burke Ex-Com'r of Patents.
Elisha Whittlesey, First Comptr Treasury
Washington, March 3, 1851.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-04

OCAL and travelling Agents to for Fire and
IL Life Insurance Companies throughout the different
and counties Of Ohio sntocky indiana and Illinois
Address post paid, Box No 90l Cincinnati Nov ~ 81
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-04
LIGHTS LITERARY AGENCY,
No. 8 Cornhiil, Boston,

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