Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-03-14
For the Journal.


Mr.. EDrToR : The following young Gentlemen
and Ladies received the first honor Of
Classes the session just closed, of Topsal Academy
LIST Glass Algebra and Geometry, Hardy l. Fenncll.
I'd Class Algebra, Kindrick fl Futch.
Sd Glass Algebra, John M. Sharpe and Richard Nixon.
LIST Glass Arithmetic, Miss Julia A. Futch
I'd Glass Arithmetic, Robert H. H. Pigott.
Sd Class Arithmetic, Amanda p Larkins
4th Glass Arithmetic, James Smith.
9Th Class Arithmetic, Levi Alexander.
list Glass Latin, John M. Sharpe.
ID Glass Latin O. j. Brent K. H. Fuch Richard Nixon,
G. w. Pollock, and Charles McClammy.
Sd Glass Latin, Walker Gardner
Greek Class William Franklin Alderman.
Mental Philosophy William Franklin Alderman and John
NJ. Sharpe.
Natural Philosophy Alexander Futch, and Miss Comfort
Nichols.
1st Glass Astronomy, w. Gardner Richard Nixon, and
K H. Futch.
2d Glass Astronomy, Simmons H. Iser, and Amanda P.
Larkins.
LIST Glass History, w. Gardner R. Nixon, and Lewis
| Howard.
I'd Glass History, Simmons H. Isler, Amanda P Larkns,
and Thomas Grssom.
Physiology, Walker Gardner.
Geography Simmons H. Isler and Amanda P Larkins.
English Grammar, Simmons H. lsler, and Amanda T.
Larkins.
Defamation, VIM Alderman, and Charles McCammy
JAMES H. BRENT, Principal!
Topsail Academy, March LIST, 1851.
For the Journal
MEssRs ED1ToRs-The following graphic and
thrilling description of the suerngs of the English
captives in the Black Hole at Calcutta is extract
from Macaulays Miscellaneous Writings: book
that should be read by all who desire to be acquaint
ed with the history of the English in the East After
noticing the march of Suraja Dowlah's army against
Fort William, he proceeds
"The Fort was taken after feeble resistance, and
great numbers of the English fell into the hands of
the conquerors The Nabob seated himself with
regal pomp in the principal hall of the facory, and
ordered Mr.. Howell, the first in rank among the
prisoners, to be brought before him. He abused the
insoence of the English and grumbled at the small
ness of the treasure he had found but promised to
spare their lives, and retired to rest.
Then was committed that great crime, memora-
BILE for its singular for the tre-
mendous retribution by which it was followed. The
English captives were left the mercy of the guards
and the guards determined to secure them for the
ght in the prison Of. the garrison, chamber known
by the fearful name of the Black Hole.
| "Even for a single European malefactor that dun
geon would in such climate have been too close
and narrow. The space only twenty feet square.
The air-holes were small and INSTRUCTED. 1t was
the summer solstice-the season when the fierce heat
of Bengal can scarcely be rendered tolerable to
tives of England by lofty halls and the constant
wing of fans The number of the prisoners was one
hundred and forty-six. When they were ordered to
enter the CELL they imagined that the soldiers
joking and, being in high spirits account of the
promise of the Nabob to spare their lives they laugh
ed and TESTED at the absurdity of the notion.
| "They soon discovered their mistake. They ex
postulated-they entreated- in vain. The guard:
threatened to cut down all who hesitated. The cap
tves were driven into the cell at the point of the
sword, and the door was instantly shut and locked
upon them.
"Nothing in history or fction-not even the sto
ry which Ugolino told in the sea of everlasting ice
after he had wiped his bloody lips the scalp of his
interchangeable the horrors which were re-
counted by the few survivors of that night.
:'They cried for mercy. They strove to burst the
door. Howell, who even in that extremity retained
some presence of mind, offered large brides to the
jailers. But the answer that nothing could be
done without the Nabob's orders, that the Nabot
was asleep, and that he would be angry if anybody
awoke him. Then the prisoners went mad with de-
spair They trampled each other down-fought fol
the places at the windows-fought for the pittanct
of water with which the cruel mercy of the murder
ers Knocked their agonies-raved, prayed blasphemeC
-implored the guards to fire among them. The
iaiers in the meantime held lights to the bars anc
shouted with laughter at the frantic struggles O.
their victims. At length the tumult died away ii
low gasps and meanings. The day broke. The Ma
bob had slept off his debauch and permitted the door
to be opened. But it was sometime before the sol
diers could make lane for the survivors, by piline
upon each side the heaps of corpses on which the
burning climate had already begun to do its loath
some work. When at length passage was made
twenty three CHASTITY figures, such as their own moth
ers would not have known, staggered one by one ou
of the charnel house. pit was instantly dug. The
dead bodies, hundred and twenty three in number
were flung into it promiscuously and covered up"
D. S.
From the Mobile Register.
nh Gto&Ha.