Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1854-08-19

|
their consuls, too, are extensively acquainted
with foreign languages. So, although Mrs
Putnam has, perhaps no equal in any country
in the world for critical knowledge of languages,
| for " she converses readily in French, Italian,
German, Polish, Swedish and Hungarian, and
| Is familiar with twenty more dialects besides
Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Persian and Arabic -
although this extent of the linguistic acquire
| ments is paralleled only by Cardinal Merchants
and some half dozen great names of both worlds
| and sexes still, the fact of one American woman
being thus accomplished, marks the studious
tendency of her people.
Egy The Evening Post is occasionally keenly
satirca4. In common with the whole New
York press it censures severely the burning of
oreytown, but we did not expect its armory
contained quite so pointed a lance as the fol-
lowing:
ATTENTION PoETs.-Our navy achieved a
great victory; with single sloop- war, one
OF our gallant captains has scared the inhab-
itants of a foreign seaport into the woods and
burned their houses to ashes. The efficiency of
Luciter matches for combustible purposes has
been vindicated, and the impudence of Jamaica
negroes has been rebuked. All that is now
wanting is some good poets to assist in trans
hitting this great victory to posterity.
In order to foster the latent poetical talent of
the country, and that Capt. Hollins and his gal
liant men may never feel the want which was so
fatal to the memories of those brave heroes who
lived before Agamemnon, we hereby offer the
following premiums for the five best poems
which may be furnished US within the period
and upon the terms hereinafter specified:
FIRST premium .....................S25 90
second premium. ........-...,......... 10 90
Third premium. Observation-Disclosures. 5 90
Fourth premium Observation-Disclosures. 100
Fifth premium ............... O61
In view of the difficulty of being brief upon
such an inspiring topic, we have deemed it
proper to limit. the candidates for the highest
premium to one hundred lines Upon those who
write for the lower prizes we shall impose no
restrictions. They need not stop till they feel
perfectly relieved.
No pieces received after Wednesday next, the
second day of August, at II o'clock, will be
entitled to premium.
THEOLOGICAL PLAGIAR1sM-A writer in Nor
toms Literary Gazette charges Rev. DR.. Scott,
late Of New Orleans, with extensive plagiarism
in his new work entitled Daniel Model for
Young Men" The writer says:
&c Incredible as it may appear, we are salts
fed that at least one tenth part of the entire
work Of Dr. Scott, (perhaps we should speak
within bounds if we@said one-eighth part1 IS
taken almost word for word from these two
Understandings Lectures on the Book Of
Daniel and DR.. Kitto's Bible Illustrations. This
piracy bears marks Of being done with the ut
most deliberation and care; the order of ar
gument pursued by DR.. G. is sometimes much
modified: there are frequent interpretations Of
WO epc. fhom ho1o
tence is worked over for an American instead Of
British audience; and, indeed, it is very rare
for an entire paragraph to be transferred with
out any alteration. Occasionally sentence APP
pears with quotation marks, or a marginal note
gives credit for the thought; but this sometimes
only blinds the reader, inasmuch as credit is
given for the smallest part Of what is borrowed
in such connection -
In support of these charges extensive quota
tons from the authors named are given side
by side with DIR. SCOTS own lectures, and the
resemblance is too exact to be accidental
A PLAIN SPOKEN CONVICTION The New
York Sunday Mercury, apaper that is generally
right and does not much mince matters in
telling what it believes, now and then, speaks
thus plainly Of the late attempt of commits
sion merchant to destroy his store and contents
in that city,.
We care not how this case Of Mr.. Peverelly
turns out-for we believe he will escape pun
ishment-it cannot shake our belief in the fact
that three fourths of all the fires in Seventh and
Eighth districts are the work of the merchants
who occupy the stores, and to whom q burning
out comes as a salvation from utter insolvency.
a hoy of ti,o%x L.
breezes have direful effect upon fur stores;
that steamers news announcing a heavy fall
in the price of cotton always lights up mid
night fire in store piled with that commodity;
and that the refusal of the banks to discount the
notes of a wholesale dealer always compels the
insurance companies to pay for his stock The
rowdy iremen, who set fire to stores, can be
found in the countingrooms all along Cedar,
Pearl, Water First, South, and other business
streets down town.
NOBLE LIBERALITY.-Jesse Ketchum, of Buff
falo, says the Albany Evening Journal, has
made wise and manigfcent disposition of Gods
gifts by devoting five acres of land and suit
able building, as park and retreat for Sabbath
and public school children. It was opened on
Saturday to two or three hundred happy children.
for whom Mr. Ketchum had provided bountiful
repast, consisting of cake, fruit, confectionery,
&c, &c. In addition to the land and building,
Mr.. Ketchum has given $4,000 to adorn the
grounds.
This is a noble act, and is in keeping with the
character of Mr.. X. He was a resident of the
upper province of Canada, before the union,
and was member of Parliament, and has ever
been spoken Of as worthy and generous man.
STARVING FOR CoSscIENcE.-The captain of
a ship, arrived from the East Indies, has been
complained Of at Boston by one of his crew,
for not supplying them with sufficient food.
The complainant is Hindoo, and in the charge
which ne makes out against the captain he is
to be supported by the testimony of thirty of
his shipmates, who are also Hindoos. The cap
tain had On board an abundance of animal and
other food, such as is used by English and
American seamen, which he offered to his crew,
but this the Hindoos would not eat, and because
(tanI Read would ne rritb