St. Mary's beacon., 1858-04-22
March %, 1853.

OVERLAIE CHILDREN.-lnqucStS upon the
bodies OF infants who have died while lying in
bed beside the mother or nurse, are not unusual
occurrences even in this country; but in Eng
land they are alarmingly frequent. The coro-
ncr of MiddlcScX county recently took occasion
to correct the error which usually prevails as
to the cause of death. He observed that chill
Arcn found dead i'll bed were said t. have been
ovcrain but this was an error, as not one in a
hundred of such deaths occurred in this way,
and then OILY III the case Of infants very young
indeed On the contrary, children assumed to
have died from having been oycrlain in bed
are really sutiocatcd by means of carbonic-acid
gaS, and it happens III this way y very COM
mon ana dangerous practice prevails with mo-
theirs and nurses, who, Immediately they get
into bed, begin to suckle the child, its head be-
ing nearly always partially below the bed
clothes In a very short time the sucking
draws both mother and infant off toslecp when
the bcdclothes cover the head of the infant, and
it is placed as if in well with tAc lid close
upon it, The consequence * that there is no
struggle, no nOiSe-ln fact, no movement OF
any kind whatever, to indicate tie fatal mis-
chief that is going on. All are fist and sound
asleep with nothing to disturb them. The
little victim is not found dead at lnlf-past ten
o'clock, nor twelve O'Clock. but, as a rule, af~
ter three o'clock in the morning-sLowing that
the process Of poisoning was slow, but not the
less sure. We cannot too strongly condemn
the practice of mothers and nurses giving the
breast ~ children, under such circumstances,
or going to sleep whilst az infant is sucking.
The remedy for this evil is simpb one-ne-
yer t. suckle child at night except i'll sit
ing posture. But it were far better 10 dispense
with the danger which must alwaysbXis when
an infant lies in the bed of an adult and to let
the Labe lie il its own crib or cradle.
4 New STEAMER-Mcssrs. Alrahams &
Ashcroft have en- the stocks, and which it Is
cxpcctcd will be launched on next Thursday,
pretty steamer, built for the MeSsrs. WeemS.
and designed to ply between Baltimore and
the Patuxcnt river. Her length is 200 feet on
deck beam 81 feet and 81 feet over all; depth
Of hold g feet. She has her main deck cabin
finished in the most approved modern style
60 feet in length, with sleeping apartments, &c
Her uppcr or hurricane deck will accommodate
one hundred and fifty passengers, with state
rooms and open berths. 1t will cover the en-
tire length of the boat. There is CONNIE ctec
with the boat, all the conveniences OF pantrles
kitchen, &c. The painting on her is not gor
geous, but ncat being almost entirely white
with gilded mouldings. Mr.. George Morri
did the shipjoiner's work, Mr.. James Sicwar
the painting, and Mr.. Henry Boss the copper
ing, which is being done before launching
Richard Waite is the shipsmith.
Mr.. Charles Reeder is making her engine
which is lever beam Of $50 horse power. L
will he put in as soon as she Is launched. Sh
will be under the command of Capt. IheodOr
/ WeemS, with the veteran Anthony Hcmlin:
as engineer.
/ 1t is a little curious to look back at the pro
/ gress of trade on the Chesapeake. AS far bacl
/ as the year 1900, Capt. George Weems was tn
owner of two or three sailing packet boat:
which run regularly from that section Of tn
State to Baltimore This was kept up unit
about 1920, when he got a steamboat calle
the Surprise" This boat did not come t
much account. Shortly after that, the Eagl
was taken in hand, and she exploded, ciFeum
stance well known to some Of our Older cit
zens. Now the same trade employs the stea
mer Patuxent, Captain George Weems; III
Planter, Captain Theodore Necms; the Mar
Washington, Capt. Mason Weems, and Il
new steamer will be put on the route torti
with. All these gentlemen are sons of Cap
Geo. Wcems. who more than a half centur
ago traded back and forth In small sailin
Bait. Patriot.
j A PRoTECToRATE FOR MExICO.-In Il
/, United States Senate, Mr.. Houston, of Texa
= gave notice that on Monday next he wou
: move for the establishment of a Protectora
over Mexico. This cannot but he regarded
an important step, and it will doubtless lead
an exciting debate. Mexico is in a troubl
and uncertain condition, and several of {
leading journals of the South have for mont
y past been urging upon the United States 60
Il ernment the necessity Of taking some ste
: with view to future events, as relates 20 Il
!. unfortunate republic. General Houston sol
= time since submitted resolution in relation
~ Protectorate, and he will ON Monday ne
No doubt disclose his views in full.