The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-03-04

, The brig Marsden from London, bound I
. Carolina. Nothing could exceed the kind
ness with which Capt. Evans treated US al
igying US beds and providing tho best re
sources his vessel could afford He frs
, tried to land US on the coast Of France, b,l
the wind shifting, he was obliged to stan,
out 10 sea in the hope Of falling in with al
inward bound ship. This not occurring, b.
determined to land Us on tho coast Of Eng
land, and tried for Falmouth The wealth
er became hazy, the wind began to blow
and as be bad not been able to get sigh
Of the sun at noon on Tuesday, and tb,
weather thickened in the direction Of tn,
English coast, toward evening he stood .,
the Channel, made the Eddystcne Light
house about IL, and anchored in Plymouth
Harbor between IL and l o'clock.
/. THE MELsTRoM WHIRLPOOL
from gentleman in Washington to ,hs
Hon. A. B. Woodward, Judge Of MiddI,
Florida:
This wonderful phenomenon, that ha.
excited the wonder and astonishment Of The
world have seen. There are few of m,
countrymcn who have had the opportun
|ty, in consequence of the situation of i
being remote from any part Of commerce
Its latitude and longitude, do no, cxactl,
recollect. Il is situated between two Is
lands, belonging to group ofthe coast o
Norway. called the Low.in.statf' Islands be
tween Drontheim, (being the most south
ern point OF commerce) and the North
Cape. ! suppose the latitude to be abou
SO North, but will not be certain.
/ had occasion some years ago to navi
gate ship from North Cape to Drontheim
nearly all the way between the Islands OF
rocks and the main. On inquiring of my
Norway pilot, about the praciicability 81
running near the whirlpool, he told me
that with a good breeze il could be ap
preached near enough for examination
without danger. at once determined Il
satisfy myself We began to near il about
10 o'clock A. NJ in the month Of September
with fine wind northwest. Two good
seamen were placed Al the helm, and the
mate on the quarter deck, all hands at their
stations for working ship and the pilo,
standing on the bowsprit between the
night heads. | went on the maintopsai
yard with good glass. lhad been seated
but few moments when my ship entered
the dish of the whirlpool; tho velocity O
the water altered her course three point.
towards the center, although going eigh,
kuo,s through the water.
| This alarmed me extremely; for a,mo
ment | thought destruction was inevitable
She, however, answered her helm sweeily
and We ran along the edge, the waves foam
ing around Us in every form, while she
was dancing gaily over them. The sensa
tions experienced are difficult to describe
Imagine to yourself an immense circle
running round diameter Of one and hall
miles, the velocity increasing as it approx
imated toward the center, and gradually
changing its dark blue color to white
fosming, tumbing, rushing 10 the vortex.
very much corcave, as much so ss the wa
ter in funnel when halfrun out; the noise
too, Kissing roaring, dasbing-all pressing
on tho mind at once, presented the most
awful. grand, solemn sight ! ever expert
enced.
We were near il about eighteen min
utes, and ia sight Of il about two hours.
Il is evidently subterranean passage that
leads-the lord knows where. From its
magnitude should not doubt that instant
destruction would be the fate Of a dozen Of
our largest ships, were they drawn in at
the same moment. The pilot says that
several vessels have been sucked down,
and that whales, also, have been destroyed.
Tho first ! think probable enough, but !
rather doubt the latter.
INCREDIBLE PUNIsHMENT.-"A great
book is great evil" says an ancient wri-
ter; an axiom which an unfortunate Rus
sian author felt at bis cost:
While was at Moscow, says traveller.
a quarto volume was published in favor Of
the liberties Of the people; singular sub
ject, when we considerable place where the
book was printed In this work the ini-
quitous venality Of public functioaaries,
and even the conduct of the sovereign.
was scrutinized and censurcd vito great
freedom. Such book, and in such coun
try, naturally attracted general notice, and
the offender was taken into custody. AZ
ter being tried in summary way, his pro
duction was termed to he libel, and he
was condemned TO cat bis own words
The singularity of such sentence indu'
ced me TO SEQ il put into execution.
A scaffold was erected in ono Of the
most public streets in the city; the impair
tial provost, the magistrates, the physl
clans, and the Gar attended; the book
was separated from the binding, the mar
gin Gu, of, and every leaf rolled up like a
lottery ticket when taken out Of the wheel.
The author was then served with them.
leaf by leaf, by the provost, who put them
into bis mouth, TO the no small diversion OF
the spectators; and he was obliged to swal
low this unpnlatable food, on pain Of the
knout, more feared in Russia than death
As soon as the medical gentlemen beIiev-
ed that he had received into his stomach
as much at time as was consistent with
his safety, the transgressor was sent back
10 prison, and the business was resumed
the Two following days. After three very
hearty hut unpleasant meals, am conShn-
ced, by ocular proof, that every leaf Of the
book was actually swallowed.
@ fPrisOners' Friend.