smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1861

On Tuesday night Sir William Atherton. Attorney
General ard u p. for Durham, addressed meet,


ny Of his constituents IN the Town II al 10 that city
The chsIr was occupied by Mr.. John lIend 7 son.


The Attorney General observed Ia his speech:
Sir William next referred to the subisct Of the
foreign policy Of the u7try, ci.jag evDressing
his adhesion TO the words employed by Rus
sell at the lnquei in Newcastle on tn previous
evening. With reference 70 the American war
Earl Russell had observed that nothing but mischief
would appear to be possible from continuance o f
that war The sword did not bind it suudered; and


It seemed to be next to impossible that in the event
Of one orthe other Of those States being victorious
in the fed, union should be brought about in con
sequence which should either resemble the original
Union or which should have in itself either the
elements Of advantage or durability. Is must be
the wish Of every that that unfortunate strug-
gle might come TO an early close, and that blood
shed IN those countries might cease.


But that struggle had an aspect rather important
to US In its bearing upon the commerce and indus
try especially upon the northern parts Of this eOun-
try. Let them take the case Of the county of Ian
caster, with very extended population with mill


lions upon millions Of capital invested in mills and
machinery, in the manufacture Of cotton The em-
PlOyment Of the people, the employment of capital,
the employment of machinery, all depending upon
the raw material, and withdraw cotton from Ian
clshire, and how bread was to find its wsy 70 the
mouths of the workmen, it was very difficult to
understand. Therefore 1t was impossible, without
in the face and to consider the possibilities Of the
coming winter without great alsrm-at least anx-
lety. It was to be hoped, however, that an over
ruling Providence might bring about events tho
of which We were at present unable
10 discern or predict
Year: 1861

The question now for the consideration Of our
government and that of France is, how long shall
the present state of things be suffered to eOntinue
How long is maritime commerce 70 be Embarrassed
to suit the of the Cabinet Of Washington II
we are to scquiesce II the capture and conscatiOn
Of British ships and their csrgOes, which commit
no offence except that they happen to enter a port
contrary to proclamation Of which they may not
have heard or, if they did which was unsupported
by the presence Of an armed fOrce-if ports like
Charleston, Wilmington and Beaufort are to be IN
der Blockade, and not under blockade 1t the same
time and at the caprice of the Federal Government
or Of those who do their bidding, England may as
well at once reverse her policy, and acknowledge
once more the validity of paper blockades.
Year: 1861

A memorial has been presented to Mr.. Seward


the Secretary Of State, with view to prevent our


correspondent from continuing 70 send letters from


the Union. This document represents one of his


communications to contain treasOnabe matter -


and declares the c0nvicOnof the il


is the design of the writer to bring the credit and


fame of this Government into disreputs in foreign


countries. For such passages it is easy to Judge


what amount of common sense belonged to the
trainers and signers of the memorial That an


English writer should wish to bring the American
Government into dsrepu.e is perhaps an idea which
might enter the minds of the most ignorant and
angry citizens; but the evil could be remedied bv
declaring unfriendly comments to be reasonable and
ejectng the writer from 1.-The country, could be the
fancy only of men from whose minds passion
had driven out all power of judgment. The
reply of Mr.. Seward is, in substance sensible
enough, though there is evident undercurrent of
spite, directed against English opinion in general
and the Times newspaper IN particular. The polls
tician who, few months since, was for conquering
Canada 70 make up for the loss of the South which
in his opinion it would be prepOsterous to attempt
to coerce By war is now intolerant Of all differ
ence from his new creed the memorialists them
selves, though his common sense forces him to re-
ect this application. The usual official stve of not
having read. land being engrOSsed with public cares
md duties is assumed after the fashion Of the pOIi-
icisns of Europe, but the accusations of 'libe" o.
'perverting hospitality" and ''Writing Injurious
is in accordance with the spirit of
he American memorialists. However. Mr.. Seward


ZONES to the proper conclusion that there is
N for interference, and so far must thank him
or Just exercise of his judgement.


We trust that in very short time this irritation
will have passed away. The English public have
cad our correspondents letters, and they know
veil how unfoundedi thechaFge of ill-wll towards
he Government of the United States Not in one
word or syllable that he has written is there the
lightest ground for such a suspicion. Of course,
n want Of other matter, the old accusation of Civ
Dg information to the enemy is brought up but


title stress is laid BY this it IS too obviously fu-
Year: 1861

outermost and flank ortfcation before alluded to. 1t
is nearly finished, and its guns will soon be ready to
thunder their salute to the Union. Other extensive
works are being thrown up on several commanding emf
uenees of in the direction of Long Bridge from here.


Two-thirds of th4 distance between here and MuHsons
H almost straight lne and most of the way over
pleasant road alcng the summit of the ridge brings
you 10 Bailey's Cross Roads. This is exactly one mile
from the fortifcatioDs Munson's Hill The work ap-
pears to be extensive and elaborate, and there no in
dication OF the thing being sham. No guns however
can be seen mounted asyyet.


Returning direct t6 Long Bridge by way.of Airing
ION Mills, found embankments thrown across the road
at one place. trees eled at another and breasForks
for rfemen to command the passage of the branch at
the foot OF the steep bill where the Mills are located
which is also the crossing of the Loudon and Hampshire
Railroad No vehicles of course pass the road nor
did meet a soul on it except pickets All communi
cation with the country back is suspended.


1t must not be supposed from this description that
have undertaken to mention all the Notifications which
meet tile eye every hand from the Chain Bridge to
Alexandria. TO do would require twice or thrice
the space have devoted to them and would only
fuse and bewder the reader 1t is not using too strong
language to say that | was trausfxed with amazement
at their number and extent (nearly all having been
thrown up since was last here) ranging from the most
elaborate earhen forts to simple lines Of entertainments
and rifle pits, aud constituting chain OF defence that
is absolutely impregnabe to any army marshalIed
into the field. Whole forests have also been cut down
to give an unobstructed and wider range from the va
rious positions


Nor is this all. Ga the Maryland sde with the ex-
cepon of south of the East Branch, the city is sur
rounded with works of equally formidable character
the whole begun not f7e weeks ago. Ia one week
more nearly all both sides of the river, not yet
finished, will be ready for the guns, and portion Of
them mounted. The army that marches against them
were not such thing too absurd for supposition-
would stand better chance against the Rock Of Glib
| ratar They will excite the wonder, and fear call
down the satire of future generations and prove an un-
ailing source of revenue to hackmen tor all time to
come.


Is il not humilatng to think that with all the num-
bers powers and resources of this Government and a
ter four months preparation, it should suddenly be
seized with fearful panic and ignoby yielding up its
dignity and proud prerogative of supremacy, with the
energy of desperation rush into orying itself against
the aggressons OF power whose treason il has under
taken to crush out? What commentary upon our
hoasted greatness will these witnesses present in the fl
ture!
Year: 1861

the truth of history and for this purpose no t,ort
on my part shall be wanting. Indeed, am very
certain, before we are both through with this mat
ter, he will give me as great credit for my dill
genee in this respect he has already been pleas
ed to give me on the battle field, for g carrying
has orders" 1t would greatly facilitate my la
bors, however, if Col. Jones would point single
person TO whom [ carried his orders on that day.
L received good many from him mediately, but
they remained with myself or were communicated
to others in the execution of them


Trusting, then, that this whole matter for the
present will lie I" sub judice" in the public mind
[ remain, respectfully,


Your obedient servant,


JAMES SINCLAIR
Year: 1861

The falling eff in the rate OF increase not to be at
trbuted to increased death rates. for it is certain that
the average duration of life in the chief districts of both
town and country has, through sanitary improvements,
been considerably increased.


The population of tue city of London, on the con-


ary shows very large increase indeed, the increase
for the last years has been less than 44098 or
about 9 per cent on the population in 1851. 1t is
not little singular to note that the enaency 10 the
Eastern States of this country well as in England,
is to mass the population in the cities London which
bad but one-eghth of the population in England in
1851, has than oneftth of the increase for the
last ten years. and now contains considerably more
than one-seventh of the population of the kingdom
The actual increase OF the population of this the arg-
est city in the world is so remarkable that give it
Year: 1861

OF the 81 metropolitan dlstrIclS INTO WHICH LUUuUu
is divided have actually decreased in population. the
decrease in the city of London being no less than TO-


1872 inhabitants In the most of the other central dis
trics the population of London like that of Philadelphia
does not pile up in masses it spreads out over the
country This is specially shown by the number OF IN
habited houses which has increased almost IN the pre-
Year: 1861

SEIZURE OF SULPHUR-The Confederate
Government has been informed that the Gov
ernor OF Lou sians had taken possession of
two hundred tons Of sulphur in his State, for
the purpose OF making gunpowder for the
army: 1t belonged to private individuals, and
was obtained by them for the purpose of being
used in refining or manufacturing sugar. 1t Is
said the sugar planters or refners will suffer
considerable inconvenience in consequence of
this seizure; but Governor Moore deemed the
necessities Of the State and Confederate States
of more importance than the convenience OF
individuals. This sulphur is sufficient to make
l 500 tuns of gunpowder. Sulphur is an article
of importation and contraband of war. 1t can
not be obtained in this country, except by
making it from the sulphurets of iron, copper,
or other minerals, or from the sulphur springs.
The process would be exceedingly tedious,
laborious and expensive, of making sulphur
from these substances, or from sulphur water.
There is not SO much difficulty in obtaining
saltpetre, for there are caves of nitrous earth
in most OF the Confederate States. So that il
We have sulphur enough there need be no fear
Of an abundant supply of gunpowder for the
most extensive and prolonged war-N. o.
Picayuns.
Year: 1861

When l was little boy at school, and car
ried my dinner in satchel made Of calico, some
of nv schooimates carried theirs in fashionable
willow baskets, and sometimes teased me be
cause carried mine in IL poke. ! felt Yexed
but reconciled myself with the recollection
that if did carry calico poke, mother made
it," In less than twenty-five years after that
time, one of these same schOOlmateS was hap
DIV to avail himself of the privilege of sending
his children to my school to receive gratuitous
instruction, profsred in view Of his extreme
poverty His children came to school without
any dinner. They had no nice willow basket ;
they needed no calico poke


William Foster ruled his copy-boOk with a
pencil set in a ine silver case. He said he would
not carry such an ugly club of pencil as mine.
compared tha pencils; his was the haadsom-
est, but no better than mine. 1 had good lead
pencil hammered out of piece of lead
sMether made it, and l was satisfied with it,
After we grew up to be men, William FOstsr
came to me to calculate interest on asmall note
at six per cent. per annum; he carried pencil
worth four ceptsf


l had no gum elastic ball; but had one made
Of wooden ravelings and covered with leathsr
Mother made it."


Wheu in my twenty-secOnd year left home
to attend school in L.. There were in
the school sone fast young men, the sons of
wealthy parents. There were Others whose
good sense was not annihilated by pecuniary
advantages or the former class was John
Stokes, who wore very fine broadcloth. Ny
best coat was not so fine the cloth cost two
dollars and fifty cents a yard my mother had
traded tow check of our own manufacture for
it, while l was working TO assist my father in
raising his family; she paid fifty cents for get
Ting tho garment cut, aud made ii herself
Johu Stokes came one day TO my desk, held
out his arm, compared his coat with mine,
and inquired ironically where I got such a
fine coat / proudly told him My mother
made it."


He feigned great surprise, and sarcastically
observed that be had mistaken it for imported
goods; he wished he could get such fine clothes,
and wondered if mother would mol get him up
= fine coat A short time afterwards, while in
q tailors shop one morning with fellow-stu
dent, John Stokes's fine coat was brought in
by q lad, with instructions to scour and press
it. He was not in his class that day; he had
been seen the previous night on Water street
rolling in the mud, druhk as Bacchus. He left
school in disgrace. He now lies in drunk
ards grave.


boarded myself while I attended school
here. | walked nine miles home at the close Of
each wsek, and returned on Monday morning
with my loaf Of bread under my arm 1t
would become stale hefaFe Friday evening, but
always relished il when l recollegIsd that
"moIher made it,"


/ sm now so far advanced in life that my
friends call me old. But have not lived long
Year: 1861

Strawberries require more heating TO pre-
serve them than any other fruit We have put
up, aud more sugar. II only scalded, or just
brought to boiling point, like other fruit


they will not spoil, but lose their color, and
look, when they come upon the table as
though they had been soaked in water, end be
quite deficient in flavor After some trials


we found that, W hen slowly boiled for about
five minutes, with, say about quarter of a
pound Of sugar TO Tie quart, if well scaled


they preserve both color and flavor, without
The slightest change after being put up. Last
year we preserved two bushels, and now have
them in perfection, and not a bottle injured


Those who have been selling glass jars the
past two years, have furnished miserable
corks, entirely unfit for the purpose, being full
Of large boles. see that every cork is good
before you purchase jars, and reject all cd
corks that are not perfect.-RUrai Nel0 York
Year: 1861

Provide barrel or cask with bung i
it holds more than you wish to make it is uo
matter. Take quarts dry or quarts wine
measure of good ripe berries for every gallon
OF wine you wish to mike. Mash or reduce
to fine pomice ami add to the mass pounds
good sugar (OnCe refned) for every gallon Of
wine, with warm soft water sufficient to make
the mass liquid. Frrpare barrel with holes


in the bottom and clean straw like leach
and put the mass to drain through. and add to
the punico as it becomes dry, lukewarlu soft
water till you have the desired quantity OF
clear liquor. Place the cask in a secure place
in cool cellar Make ihe bung = inches
long and bore half way through it from the
top with half inch bit and the rest Of the way
with cimlet-insert half inch lead tube 10 or
IL inches long and make both bung and tube
AR tight in their places hy patty or wax
Now with tumbier Of water sitting near the
amy, bend the tube over till the end dP' un
der me water In this way the gas will escape
in bubbles through the water. but no air can
reach the wine, and If the bubbles cease before
blu; six weeks see TO the putty around the
lung and tube. When the bubbles cease il is
fr for use, but keep it hungrd tight without
-aol,ing of aud il will improve by sge.-- Field
AotoS-
Year: 1861

The person who goes slIpshod six days in q
week. cannot walk with ease and grace on the
seventh in new shoes. To conceal at all times
ones true self is beyond the power of the
most shrewd and ingenious Would we try
70 shine in an unnatural sphere, to assume a
false and foreign character the tongue-that
''unruly member" viii. ere we are aware, be-
tray Us.


Both our words and our actions win con-
dema rs. II is not with that ease which
some suppose, that we can throw of the home
character. The language We speak at home
we must speak abroad toe character We
sustain at home, we must sustain abroad in
short the life we live at home, we must live
everywhere.


Home is the place where we form many. If
net most OF cur habits, both Of action and Of
speech. And these habits cling 10 us ike
leeches. The vugarities the coarse sayings
the low jssts, the vulgar phrases, the gram
NAUTICAL blunders, all the impreprieties which
form part of our home conversation. will en-
ter into our conversation at all times aud at
ali places. IL we permit vile bar-room say
ings, street rigmaroles, and clownish vulgar.
isms to corrupt our home speech, they viii haunt
us in places where We shall be mortified to
have them fall from our lips. IF the language
Of every day life is not well chosen and cor
rect Il will be in vain to attempt 10 speak
well abroad or even to write well ia the
StHdy- This will partly explain why soleeisms,
vulgar phrases and idioms, commonplace and
eaEts Expressions ETC., 80 abound in the pub
lie efforts Of some great men. Every element
{ Of the home character 1ciH out in some way
Tcone has good character, he imparts some
thing Of its goodness TO all with whom be as
sociafes. If his heart is radient with the
.hghF Of virtue. that light shines in upon the
hearts of others. He can scarcely look at
another person without impressing something
OF bis own character on the heart of that
person.


A man'sfnce generally is the index Of his
eharacler. YOu might as well attempt to
shAdeahs bright face Of the sun, as to con-
rceal long, or lock up amaHis character from
the sight OF his fellows. Character will shine
out in the face aud in the actions.


There IS an Invisible communication be-
tween soul and soul-a mysterious spirit-me-
dunn by which the character of one mind is
unconsciously conveyed to another.
Year: 1861

This is the month for shearing sheap, and
the clip of wool, SO Important to farmers as
yielding lheH! an instant SUPPLY ofcash, is GER
tain to be large; but the state Of the manufac-
turing interest is expected TO lead to u very
moderate range Of prices. The great stock OF
woo.eGs on hand, the cessation OF all active de-
mand ard the partial working Of the mills
intinlidate the manufacturers from making
large purchases Of The raw article. Tire West
ern press is eXhoriny the firnlcrs not to be
too eager to sell. hut tie farmers want the
money, and they cannot expect to keep up the
prices obtained last year when all other inter
ests are SO depressed: We advise them to
take fair prices, suitable to the tii.es, and lie,
the manufacturers keep at werk to ut least
moderate extent. last year prices were high
est AT the time of the clip. This is usually the
case; but the high prices Of 1860 cannot now
be obtained. and the farming interest will have
to do what all other classes of the community
must do-work for less. Let the farmers take
t he first offers, which, in our Judgment, will
certainly be the best New York Indepen-
dent.
Year: 1861

HCXAN DIGSITY.--The right use Of
Fate IL to bring up our conduct to the
lOitiness Of nature. Rude and invincible
except by themselves are tho elements.
So let man Le. Let him empty his breast
Of his easy conceits; and show his lord
ship by manners and deeds on the scale Of
nature. Let him hold his purpose Is
with the tug of gravitatiOn. No power,
no persuasion, no bribe shall make him
give up his point. A man ought to CON-
pare advantageOusly with river, an oak,
or a mountain. tie shall have not less
than the flow, the expansion, and the re-
sistance Of these.


'Tis the best use Of Fate to teach q "a.
tai courage. Go face the 6re at sea, or
the cholera in your friends house, or the
burgler in your own, or what danger lies
in the way Of duty, knowing you are
guarded by the cherubiIn Of Destiny. II
you believe in your charm believe Il, at
least for your good.
Year: 1861

The treasure Of some men Is gold, and
the love Of it grows SO strong as to be-
come idolatrOus. Such men never rise
above the mercst drudgery in the world.
They eat and drink. but it is to enable
them to successfully toll on. Morning.
noon and night, it il the same drudging
slavery and submission to the cravings OF
vicious appetite. There is not one no.
ble sentiment or feeling that can live in
their heart, because the lust Of gain fills
it so completely as to leave no room for
anything else. They can do nothing but
grOvel, like an earth worm, eating dust,
and casting out their slime, in order to
form pathway along which to crawl. II
is pitiable and sad to think Of, but It is q
sight only too often seen in this sin .strick-
en- world Of ours.
Year: 1861

Some one unknown to US, has beauti-
fully said:


at is then, when all is still and calm
when tho shadows creep among the
trees, and the green meadows are covered
with q glittering mantle Of light-whcn
the flowers absorb the gentle dew that
falls from Heaven to refresh them, and
prepare to rear their dropping heads in
the warmth Of the morrOw's sun-when
the waters sleep beneath the pure cover
lid above-when birds are motionless and
beasts are dumb-it is then, in the midst
Of silence that can be felt that the
Spirit Of Beauty walks the earth and fills
the heart Of the wanderer with . voiceless
music-with songs in the night"
Year: 1861

- The committee Of conference on the
part of the two Houses on the disagreeng
amendment to the tariff bill had q meeting last
night The committee on the part of the Sen
ate agreed to recommend to that body to re-
cede from that amendment, namely, the tax on
tea and coffee. The Seuate will doubtless &C.
ouiesce. This insures the passage Of the bill
.ish Ill the Senate smsudmsnts, save this one
Year: 1861

The Vote on Secession in the Pan Handle.


The Wheeling Intelligencer of Monday
SAYS: The vote of the four counties of our
glorious little Pan Handle against the in
famous ordinance of secession amounts to
the incredulous sum of six thousand eight
hundred and twenty-eight. Take from this
vote the pitiful batch of secession ballots
that we're cast, amounting to four hundred
and thirty one, and we have clean major
ity of six thousand three hundred and nine
ty-seven. aU uc7
Year: 1861

statesman was to speak in their village.
The old town hall was crowded. What
was it that so moved the hearts of the
villageG 1t was not alone his wondrous
eloquence; Ned Thomson, the pauper boy,
stood before them. He greeted them
kindly; he sought out the burial place of
his mother, and erected to her memory a
handsome monument.


His head is now hoary, his hand trem-
bles, his voice has lost much of its pow
er; the venerable statesman and orator
will soon go the way of all the earth; but
his name will have place upon the his
toric record; it will be remembered as
among tho most brilliant of his genera
tion.- Godey's Lady's Book.