informed whether the bug is their original form || thrown to the ground by great rains and other

or not.

A SUBSCRIBER.

inclemency of the weather, and thoroughly soaked with wet, they crept along in quest of holes We received the above communication from a in the earth, dung, and straw; where, being shelcorrespondent at Northumberland C. H. but not tered from the rains, they laid a vast number of being acquainted with the natural history of this eggs, which stuck together by a viscid juice, and famous insect ourselves, we extract the following were longer and smaller than what is commonly account of them from Rees's Cyclopædia, which called an ant's egg, or very like grains of oats. may be found under the word Gryllus. As many The females, having laid their eggs, die, like the of our readers may not have an opportunity to silk-worm. When they entered the fields of examine that work, this extract, we hope, in the Transylvania, they did not seem to intend represent dearth of news will not be unacceptable.maining there, but were thrown to the ground by "The migratory locust is a native of Tartary, the force of the wind, and there laid their eggs, from the eastern parts of which it sometimes a vast number of which being turned up and emigrates over the adjacent countries in such im- crushed by the plough in the beginning of the mense legions, as to occasion the most incredible ensuing spring, yielded a yellowish juice. In the mischief. These hosts of depredators are often-spring of 1748, certain little blackish worms were times so numerous as to darken the air at noon- seen lying in the fields, and among the bushes, day in their flights. Wherever they settle, the sticking together and collected in clusters, not most fertile regions are, in a few days, rendered unlike the hillocks of moles or ants. As nobody desolate; and the very putrefaction arising from knew what they were, so there was little or no the number of their dead becomes the source of notice taken of them, and in May they were copestilence to man and animals. It is seldom, ex-vered by the shooting of the corn sown in winter; cept in eastern countries, that these calamities are experienced to such a dreadful extent, though they sometimes are, as the visitation of the locust in Europe, about the middle of the eighteenth century, very clearly proves. The ravages committed by locusts in the south of Europe, about the period last mentioned, are described at great length by Roesel, from which the more material part of the curious information on that subject, detailed in the 46th volume of the Transactions of the Royal Society, seems to be selected. This account relates to the myriads of locusts that overran Walachia, Moldavia, Transylvania, Hungary and Poland, in 1747 and 1748, and which, being recorded by an eye witness of unquestionable accuracy, explains the history of that destructive creature in a satisfactory manner: the follow-end of June they cast off their outward covering, ing is the substance of the observations alluded

to.

but the subsequent June discovered what these worms were; for then, as the corn sown in spring was pretty high, these creatures began to spread over the fields, and became destructive to the vegetables by their numbers. Then, at length, the country people, who had slighted the warning given to them, began to repent of their negligence; for as these insects were now dispersed all over the fields, they could not be extirpated without injuring the corn. At that time they dif fered very little from our common grasshoppers, having their heads, sides, and back of a dark colour, with a yellow belly, and the rest of a reddish hue. About the middle of June they were generally a finger's length; but their shape and colour continued as before. Towards the

and then it plainly appeared they had wings, but as yet unripe and unexpanded, the body being "The first swarms of the locusts entered Tran- also tender and of a yellowish green; then, in sylvania in August, 1747: these were succeeded order to render themselves fit for flying, they by others, which were so surprisingly numerous, gradually unfolded their wings with their hinder that when they reached the fortification called the feet, and as soon as any of them found themRed Tower they were full four hours in their selves able to use their wings, they soared up, and passage over that place; and they flew so close, by flying round the others, enticed them to do that they made a sort of noise in the air by the the same; and thus their numbers increased daily : beating of their wings against one another. The they took flights in a circular manner, of twenty width of the swarm was some hundreds of fathoms, or thirty yards square, until they were joined by and its height or density so considerable as to the rest; and after miserably laying waste their hide the sun, and darken the sky to that de-native fields, they proceeded elsewhere in large gree, when they flew low, that people could not troops. Wherever these bodies of locusts hapknow one another at the distance of twenty paces.pened to pitch they spared no sort of vegetables; Arriving at the river that runs through the vallies of the Red Tower, they could neither find resting place nor food, and being at length tired of their flight, one part of them settled on the unripe || corn on the hither side of the Red Tower, such as the millet and Turkish wheat, &c. and the other pitched on a low wood, where, having miserably wasted the produce of the land, they continued their journey, as if a signal had actually been given for a march.

"The guards of the Red Tower attempted to stop their irruption into Transylvania, by firing at them; and, indeed, where the balls and shot swept through the swarm they gave way and divided; but having filled up their ranks in a moment, they proceeded on their journey. In the month of September some troops of them were

they eat up the young corn, and the very grass: but nothing was more dismal than to behold the lands in which they were hatched; for they so greedily devoured every trace of herbage before they could fly, that they left the ground quite bare.

"The devastations of locusts in various parts of the world, at different periods, are recorded by many writers, some examples of which are very remarkable. Thus in the year 593 of the Christian era, after a great drought, these animals appeared in such vast legions as to cause a famine in many countries. In 677 Syria and Mesopotamia were overrun by them. In 852 immense swarms took their flight from the eastern regions into the west, flying with such a sound that they might have been mistaken for birds; they destroyed all

vegetables, not sparing even the bark of trees || the most honorable character, composed of the and the thatch of houses; and devouring the corn highest grade of officers in the navy; their imso rapidly as to destroy, on computation, a hun-partiality, candor and deliberate decision, have dred and forty acres in a day; their daily marches sanctioned the correctness of the charges against or distances of flight, were computed at twenty you, so far as the intention of violating the law; miles; and these were regulated by leaders or and for this offence, highly derogatory in its nakings, who flew first, and settled on the spot which ture to the reputation of our navy, they have prowas to be visited at the same hour the next day nounced the mild sentence of an official reprimand by the whole legion: the marches were always un- from the Secretary of the Navy, as the organ of dertaken at sun-rise. These locusts were at length the President of the United States. driven by the force of the winds into the Belgic ocean, and being thrown back by the tide and left on the shore, caused a dreadful pestilence by their smell. In 1271 all the corn fields of Milan were destroyed; and in 1339 all those of Lombardy. In 1541 incredible hosts afflicted Poland, Walachia, and all the adjoining territories, darkching the sun with their numbers, and spreading desolation throughout the land."

PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.

NAVAL COURT-MARTIAL.

It is my incumbent duty to censure your conduct, in the transaction alluded to, and to warn you against a recurrence to any similar attempt, by which you will forfeit the commission you hold, and be at the same time, publicly degraded. You will now consider yourself subject to the orders of this department for duty; and, I trust, in the future exercise of your prudence and discretion, you may avoid reproach, and merit the approbation of your government. B. W. CROWINSHIELD. To the Editor of the New-York Evening Post. SIR,

A naval court-martial, consisting of five post-article inserted in your paper from the National You are requested to correct an error in the captains, was recently held, by order of the Secretary of the Navy, at this port, on board the United States ship Franklin, for the trial of Herman Thorn, Esq. a purser in the navy, upon a complaint by Commodore Stephen Decatur, the commander of the United States late squadron in the Mediterranean, "for violating the 23d article of the act of Congress, entitled, "An act for the better govern ment of the navy of the United States, passed 23d April, 1800;" which article is in the following words, viz:

"If any commander, or other officer, shall receive, or permit to be received on board his vessel, any goods or merchandize, other than for the sole use of his vessel, except gold, silver, or jewels, and except the goods or merchandize of vessels which may be in distress or ship-wrecked, or in imminent danger of being ship-wrecked, in order to preserve them for their owner, without orders from the President of the United States, or the Navy Department, he shall, on conviction thereof, be cashiered, and be incapacitated forever afterwards, for any place or office in the Navy."

Upon which the court pronounced the said purser Thorn "not guilty of selling, and guilty of attempting to sell, and of authorising to be sold," and sentenced the accused to be reprimanded by the Secretary of the Navy."

The sentence of the court, after mature considesation, having been regularly approved, the following letter of reprimand was addressed to the said Herman Thorn:

NAVY DEPARTMENT, MAY 9, 1816.

Herman Thorn, Esq.

SIR,

Purser U. S. Navy, New-York.

Intelligencer, of June 5. The trial of Mr. Thorn but at his own request, and after repeated solici took place, not on the complaint of Com. Decatur, tations. It occurred too during the absence of Captain Gordon, his commander, in the Mediterranean, and most of those whose evidence could could be brought to bear against his character was have exculpated him, while all the testimony that admitted: The weight that ought to be attached to the reprimand of the Hon, the Secretary of the Navy, (independently of the respect due his individual worth) will be determined by its conformity to a decision in which Mr. Thorn is found specifically guiltless of any conduct unbecoming an officer, while he is simply found to have attempted a sale, which was proved, on the trial, to have been done without any improper design, and which he never denied.

Adjutant and Inspector General's Office,
May 17, 1816.
GENERAL ORDER.

VACANCIES IN THE ARMY, AS FAR AS THEY ARE
KNOWN AT THIS OFFICE.

Peyton; 1st Lieutenants, Lamar, Kinloch.
Light artillery.-Captains Manigault, Stribling,

Blake; 1st Lieutenants Smyth, Dearing, Edwards;
Corps of artillery.-Captains Boyle, Villard,
2d Lieutenants Niel, Reynolds, Cooper, Kirby,
Gordon, Britt, Shade; 3d Lieutenant Pendleton.

First regiment of infantry.-Captain Read; 1st
Lieutenant Thibault; 2d Lieutenants Watts, Davis;
Surgeon Scull.

Second regiment of infantry.-Captain Van Beuren; 1st Lieutenant Nourse.

Third regiment of infantry.-Major Gardner; Captains Stockton and M'Donald.

Lieutenants Lissenhoff and Wright.

In the course of my official functions, unpleasant duties inevitably occur. Among these, is the task of reprimanding officers of the United States Fourth regiment of infantry.-Captains Barnard, Navy for misconduct, and carrying into execu-Sangster, Madison; 1st Lieutenant Belton; 2d tion the decisions of courts martial, affecting the character of officers, who, by their grade and responsible stations, ought to be peculiarly exempt from charges of violating the established rules and regulations of the naval service, enacted by the high authority of our national legislature. The court lately convened for your trial was of||

Fifth regiment of infantry.-2d Lieutenants Keeler, Craig, Blake.

Sixth regiment of infantry.-Major Wool; and 1st Lieutenant Tappan.

Seventh regiment of infantry.-2d Lieutenant

Bridges.

Eighth regiment of infantry.-Captain Quack- Third Lieutenant.-Charles Ward, 17th May, enbos; 1st Lieutenants Ligon, Brady; 2d Lieu-|| 1816. tenant Bryan.

1

It was conceived, by a most ingenious and enterprising citizen, that the power of steam could be employed to propel a floating battery, carrying heavy guns, to the destruction of any hostile force that should hover on the shores, or enter the ports of our Atlantic frontier. The perfect and admirable success of his project for moving boats containing travellers and baggage by the same elastic agent, opened the way to its employment for carrying warriors and apparatus for fighting. the executive of an enlightened government. The plan was submitted to the consideration of Congress, influenced by the most liberal and patriotic spirit, appropriated money for the experi ment, and the navy department, then conducted by hon. William Jones, appointed commissioners to superintend the construction of a convenient vessel under the direction of Robert Fulton, Esq. the inventor, as engineer, and Messrs. Adam and Noah Brown as naval constructors. The enter

prise, from its commencement, and during a considerable part of its preparatory operations, was aided by the zealous co-operation of Major General Dearborn, then holding his head-quarters at the city of New-York, as the officer commanding the third military district. The loss of his valuable counsel in conducting a work which he had maturely considered, and which he strongly recommended, was the consequence of his removal to another section of the Union, where his professional talents were specially required.

The light artillery, Newport, R. I. 1st infantry, Pasa, Christianna, Louisiana. 2d infantry, Sackett's Harbour, N. Y. 3d infantry, Detroit, Michigan. 4th infantry, Fort Hawkins, Georgia. 5th infantry, Detroit, Michigan. The keels of this steam frigate were laid on 6th infantry, Plattsburg, N. Y. the 20th day of June, 1814. The strictest block7th infantry, Fort Hawkins, Georgia. ade the enemy could enforce interrupted the 8th infantry, St. Louis, Missouri Territory. coasting trade, and greatly enhanced the price of Rifle regiment, St. Louis, Missouri Territory. Officers of the staff, engineers, ordnance, and timber. The vigilance with which he guarded of the corps of artillery, will be disposed of in rendered difficult the importation of copper and our coast against intercourse with foreign nations separate orders. Commanding officers will report the names of all who do not forthwith repair iron. The same impediment attended the supto their stations.-The army is too small to tole-plies of coal heretofore brought to New-York rate idlers, and they will be dismissed the service. By order of the Secretary of War.

from Richmond and Liverpool. Lead, in like manner, was procured under additional disadvantages. These attempts of the enemy to frusD. PARKER, trate the design were vain and impotent. All Adj. and Insp. Gen. the obstacles were surmounted. Scarcity of the necessary woods and metals was overcome by strenuous exertions; and all the blockading squadron could achieve was not a disappointment in the undertaking, but merely an increase of the expense.

STEAM FRIGATES.
Report of Henry Rutgers, Samuel L. Mitchell, and
Thomas Morris, the commissioners superintending
the construction of a steam vessel of war, (at New-
York) to the Secretary of the Navy.

NEW-YORK, Dec. 28, 1815. SIR,-The war which was terminated by the treaty of Ghent afforded, during its short continuance, a glorious display of the valour of the U. States by land and by sea-it made them better known to foreign nations, and, what is of much greater importance, it contributed to make them better acquainted with themselves-it excited new enterprises-it induced latent talents-it stimulated to exertions unknown to our people before.

So, in respect to tradesmen and labourers, there was an extraordinary difficulty. Shipwrights had repaired to the lakes for repelling the enemy, in such numbers, that, comparatively speaking, few were left on the sea-board. A large portion of the men who had been engaged in daily work had enlisted as soldiers, and had marched under the banners of the nation to the defence of its rights- yet, amidst the scarcity of hands, a sufficient number were procured for the purpose which the commissioners had in charge. An increase of wages was the chief impediment, and this they were enabled practically to overcome. By the exemplary combination of diligence and A long extent of coast was exposed to an ene-skill, on the part of the engineer, and the conmy, powerful above every other on the ocean. structors, the business was so accelerated that His commanders threatened to lay waste our the vessel was launched on the 29th day of Octocountry with fire and sword, and actually, in va- ber, amidst the plaudits of an unusual number of rious instances, carried their menaces into execu-citizens. tion. It became necessary, for our defence, to Measures were immediately taken to complete resist, by every practicable method, such a formi-her equipment; the boiler, the engine, and the machinery were put on board with all possible ex

dible foe.

pedition. Their weight and size far surpassed At length all matters were ready for a trial of the any thing that had been witnessed before among us. machinery to urge such a bulky vessel through the The stores of artillery in New-York not furnish-water. This essay was on the 1st day of June, ing the number and kind of cannon which she was 1815. She proved herself capable of opposing the destined to carry, it became necessary to transport wind, and of stemming the tide, of crossing curguns from Philadelphia. A prize, taken from the rents, and of being steered among vessels riding at enemy, put some fit and excellent pieces at the anchor, though the weather was boisterous and the disposition of the Navy Department. To avoid water rough. Her performance demonstrated, that the danger of capture by the enemy's cruizers, the project was successful-no doubt remained these were carted over the miry roads of N. Jer-that a floating battery, composed of heavy artille. sey. Twenty heavy cannon were thus conveyed ry, could be moved by steam. The commissioners by the strength of horses. Carriages of the most returned from the exercise of the day, satisfied that approved model were constructed, and every thing the vessel would answer the intended purpose, and done to bring her into prompt action, as an effi-consoled themselves that their care had been bescient instrument of war. towed upon a worthy object.

But it was discovered, that various alterations were necessary. Guided by the light of experience, they caused some errors to be corrected, and some defects to be supplied. She was prepared for a se cond voyage with all practicable speed.

About this time, an officer pre-eminent for bravery and discipline, was commissioned by the government to her command. Prior to this event. it had been intended by the commissioners to finish her conformably to the plan originally submitted to the executive. She was a structure resting up- On the 4th day of July she was again put in ac on two boats, and keels separated from end to tion. She performed a trip to the ocean, eastward end by a canal 15 feet wide, and 156 long. One of Sandy Hook, and back again, a distance of 53 boat contained the cauldrons of copper to prepare miles, in eight hours and twenty minutes. A part the steam. The vast cylinder of iron, with its of this time she had the tide against her, and had pisto, lever and wheels, occupied a part of its fel-no assistance whatever from sails. Of the gentlelow; the great water-wheel revolved in the space men who formed the company invited to witness between them; the main or gun deck supported the experiment, not one entertained a doubt of her her armament, and was protected by a bulwark of fitness for the intended purpose. 4 feet 10 inches thick, of solid timber. This was Additional expedients were, notwithstanding, nepierced by 30 port holes, to enable as many 32cessary to be sought for quickening and directing pounders to fire red hot balls; her upper or spar her motion. These were devised and executed deck was plain, and she was to be propelled by with all possible care. her enginery alone.

It was the opinion of Captain Porter and Mr. Fulton, that the upper deck ought to be surrounded with a bulwark and stanchions-that two stout masts should be erected to support latteen sailsthat there should be bowsprits for jibs, and that she should be rigged in a corresponding style. Under authorities so great, and with the expectation of being able to raise the blockade of New London, by destroying, taking or routing the enemy's ships, all these additions were adopted and incorporated with the vessel.

Suitable arrangements having been made, a third trial of her powers was attempted on the 11th day of September with the weight of 26 of her long ponderous guns, and a considerable quantity of her ammunition and stores on board; her draft of water was short of 11 feet. She changed her course by inverting the motion of the wheels without the necessity of putting about. She fired salutes as she passed the forts, and she overcome the wind and tide in her progress down the bay. She performed beautiful maneuvres around the United States frigate Java, then at anchor near the light house. She moved with remarkable celerity, and she was perfectly obedient to her double helm. It was observed that the explosions of powder produced very little concussion.

It must here be observed, that during the ex. hausted state of the treasury, and the temporary depression of public credit, the commissioners were exceedingly embarrassed-their payments were made in treasury notes, which they were The machinery was not affected by it in the " positively instructed to negociate at par. On seve smallest degree. Her progress, during the firing, ral occasions even these were so long withheld, was steady and uninterrupted. On the most accuthat the persons who had advanced materials and rate calculations, derived from heaving the log, her labour, were importunate for payment, or silently average velocity was 54 miles per hour. Notwithdiscontented. To a certain extent, the commis-standing the resistance of currents, she was found sioners pledged their private credit. Notwith- to make headway at the rate of 2 miles an hour standing all this, the men at one time actually against the ebb of the East river, running 34 knots. broke off. The work was retarded, and her com- The day's exercise was satisfactory to the respec pletion unavoidably deferred, to the great disap-table company who attended, beyond their utmost pointment of the commissioners, until winter rendered it impossible for her to act.

expectations. It was universally agreed, that we now possessed a new auxiliary against every maritime invader. The city of New York, exposed as it is, was considered as heaving the means of rendering itself invulnerable.-The Delaware, the Chesapeake, Long Island Sound, and every other bay and harbour in the nation may be protected by the same tremendous power.

Under all this pressure, they nevertheless persevered in the important object confided to them. But their exertions were further retarded by the premature and unexpected death of the engineer. The world was deprived of his invaluable labors before he had completed this favorite undertaking. We will not inquire wherefore, in the dispensations Among the inconveniences observable during the of Divine Providence, he was not permitted to re-experiment, was the heat endured by the men who alize his grand conception. His discoveries, how-attended the fires. To enable a correct judgment ever, survive for the benefit of mankind, and will || to be formed on this point, one of the Commissioners extend to unborn generations. (Dr. Mitchill) descended and examined, by a ther