The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-08


sensations made by some of the "sportsmen
who harass them, that they are treacherous,
savage, and revengeful; when tormeuted by
the guns of their prosecutors, they, no DOUBT,
display their powers and sagacity IN efforts to
retalate or escape but here their every move
ment was indicative of innocence and timidity.
After a struggle, in which they evinced no dis
position to violence or revenge, they Submitted
with the calmness of despair. Their attitudes
were pitiable, their grief was most touching,
and their low moaning went to the heart. 1t
would not have been tolerable, had they either
been captured with unnecessary pain or reserT-
ed for ill.treatment afterwards.
Sir James Tenant, in his recent work on
Ceylon, gives the following account Of a mus
cal fish found in lake in that island
"On the occasion of another visit which l
made TO Batdcaloa, in September, le48, l
made some inquiries relative to a story which
had heard Of musical sounds, said to be- heard
issuing from the bottom of the lake, at several
places both above and below the ferry opposite
the old Dutch Fort, and which the natives
suppose to proceed from some fish peculiar 10
the locality The report was confirmed TO me
in all its particulars, and one or the spots
whence the sounds proceed was pointed out
between the pier and rock which intersects
the channel, two or three hundred yards TO the
eastward. They were said TO be heard at
night, and most distinctly when the moon was
nearest the full, and they were described as re-
sembliug the faint sweet notes Of au -EoliaR
harp. | sent for some of the fishermen, who
said they were perfectly aware of the fact, and
that their fathers had always known of the eX-
istence of the musical sounds heard, they sad,
at the spot alluded to, but Only during the dry
season, and they cease when the lake IS swollen
by the freshes after the rain. They believed
them to proceed from she'll which is known
by the Tamil name of oOrie coOl00rOs crGG0e,
Tor the crying SHE'LL name in which tho
sound seems TO have been adopted as an ccho
of the sense. l sent them in search OF the
shell, and they returned, bringing me some
living specimens of different shells, chiefly
ltH0riad and eeritti,im. In the evening, when
the moon had risen, took a boat, and accom-.
panied the fishermen to the spot. We rowed
about two hundred yards northeast of the lefty
by the fort gate. There was not breath Of
wind, nor a ripple, except that caused by the
dip OF our oars; and on coming to the point
mentioned, | distinctly heard the sounds IN
question. They came up from the water like
the gentle trills Of a musical chord, OF the
faint vibrations of winc-g glass, when It's rim is
rubbed by wet finger. 1t was not one sus-
tanned note, but multitude of tiny sounds,
| treble ningiing with the lowest bass. On APP
plying the ear to the woodwork OF the boat
the vibration was greatly increased in volume
by conduction. The sounds varied consider
ably at different points, as we moved across
the lake, as If the number of the animals from
which they proceeded was greatest in particular
spots and occasionally we rowed out OF hear
ing of them altogether, until on returning to
the original locality the sounds were at once
renewed"
EX-GOV. ADAMS OF SOUTH CARO-
LIMA ON SECTIONAL ISSUES.
The subjoined extracts are from recent
guIshed men OF South Carolina. Revering to
the Charleston Convention, he says:
From all that can see, the chief difficulty
with that assembly will be to ascertain how
much farther the South will yield-how much
longer she viii submit. This point satisfactorily
settled, it will be matter of secondary consid-
Grafton whether their stasdard-bearer halls from
the Rio Grande Beech Island, Richmond, or
Chicago. A gutta percha platform is all that
will be wanted TO send them away rejoicing
to enter with renewed zeal and enthusiasm on
the glorious work of bamboozlns the masses
with continuing the Democratic party in power
for another term"
Here is the way the Ex-Gov. would meet the
crisis:
Instead of sitting down in calm corsidera-
ton of potency Of moderation in arresting the
onward march of our foes, l think it time that
The public heart be aroused, by holding up tho
proud examples of the past, and encouraging
the fearless imitation of them. The feeling
which inspired the noble seutiment-we have
couated the cost and find nothing so intolera-
BILE as voluntary submission TO insult and
wrong--is not dead in the hearts of our people,
and if our leaders would but rise superior to
the Establishments and temptations of Wash
ington, they could kindle blaze in the South
ern heart that would cause the very knees OF
our enemies to knock together with fear and
trembling. / could name ten Southern Sen
ators, who, by concerted movement, could in
less than three months rally their respective
constituents in favor of Southern Confederacy.
"* \ The Union is not the Union
which our fathers bargained for. Under il We
are daily insulted, outraged, and pundered,
and the sooner it is dissolved tho better To
talk Of friendship with those whom our reason
forbids US to have faith, and Our affections
wounded through q thousand pores instruct us
to detest, is madness and folly.
"With high regard, l have the honor to be
your obedient servant, j. Fl. ADAMS"
ELI THAYER's FREE-LABoR CoLoNY IN VfR-
GIN1A.-In the Ceredo (Va.) Crescent Of No
vember s we find a number Of items of interest
in regard to the progress Of that young but Wig.
orous colony. An euterprising and experienced
boatbuilder has begun the construction OF
barges and fat boats. 1t is also proposed 10
have steamboat, owned by Ceredo capitalists,
to run between Cincinnati and Ceredo. Peti-
tons have been extensively circulated through
the county for the introduction of the eeschool
system. This is eminently characteristic
Where New England men and women go, the
free school win soon spring up. We observe,
also, that Miss Capron, Of Massachusetts, well
known in Worcester county as successful
and experienced teacher, was to have COM
menced school in Ceredo on Monday, the
18th of November. The Ceredo Lyceum, also,
is in fourishing condition. Large numbers
of ladies attend its debates.
We also learn from friend in Ceredo "that
the prospects of the colony were never so good
as at present. The miserable Harper's Ferry
raid cannot injure us here, but is constantly
helping us, by exhibiting, in striking contrast,
the two methods Of revolutionizing Virginia.
There are several New England men Of infu,
ence and means, too, here now, who are all
much pleased with the country, and will prob
ably make it their future home. .
Hon. Mr.. Dean, member Of Congress from
Connecticut, is visiting here, observing the prog
sources of the region" Worcester Mass. Spy.
FoRNEY--BUCHANAY-B Forney,
of the Philadelphia press, it will be remember
ed, was the right.hand man of Buchanan in the
Presidential contest, and literally won the Pres
idency for the Sage of Wheatland." Col. For