NO. 1. VOL. II.] WASHINGTON, SATURDAY AUGUST 31, 1816. [WHOLE NO. 27. PUBLISHED WEEKLY, BY JOEL K. MEAD, AT FIVE DOLLARS PER ANNUM, To the literary and professional gentlemen in the United States who are willing to afford their aid to the dissemination of useful knowledge, the following letter is respectfully addressed: CIRCULAR. OFFICE OF THE National RegISTER, Washington City, Aug. 31, 1816. nication to diffuse such information as might be acquired; a proper repository in which it might be preserved, and one which would call the public attention to these points. The form of the Register has been chosen as the most convenient for present use and future preservation; and the Editor now invites the public to aid him in the accomplishment of this national desideratum. He is desirous to collect the most material facts in of the various sections of our country, with a view to form a concise history, which may exhibit not only facts, but the state of the wealth and resources of the nation. Geographical delineations and topographical descriptions are also solicited, to afford materials for a correct historical and fore invites communications on the whole or either of the subjects enumerated below; whic may be forwarded through the mail. Communications of this kind, being for a public benefit, the Editor conceives that post masters will have no hesitation in franking them; but ir, cases where they do not feel at liberty to do so, the postage will be cheerfully paid. It is hoped that gentlemen will accompany their communications with their names, and state whether they have any objections to their being published or not. The increasing importance of the United States, and their steady and rapid advancement to a pre-relation to the early settlement and improvement eminent rank among the nations of the world, Justly awakens a laudable curiosity to become seruainted with their early history, their internal Improvement, and their resources. Of their wars much has been written, but a developement of their early settlement, their rise, and present state of improvement in agriculture, manufac-geographical dictionary of the whole. He theretures, and in the arts of civil life, in many of these States have not been sufficiently the subject of attention. Of the western parts of this republic but little is known in the Atlantic States, and as they will doubtless, in a very few years, constitute not the least important section of the Union, and as their improvement is rapid, and their re⚫sources every day unfolding themselves, they are, in an eminent degree, an important subject of inquiry. But every section and every State merit particular attention. We are one great political * family, having one common interest. It is with regret we have observed the efforts of a few journalists to set up territorial distinctions, and thus increasing local prejudices, whilst at the same time they talk loudly about union; but, to the honour of the American press, these illiberal exertions are confined but to a few, whilst many meritorious and valuable journals, under the guidance of liberal and enlightened minds, of both political parties, stand as faithful sentinels to watch the incumbents of office, and guard the liberties of the republic from usurpations or dangerous innovations. Hitherto no journal has appeared whose primary object, next to that of recording the public documents and proceedings of the general government, was to collect and embody histories of the early settlement of the different parts of our country, with sketches of their natural productions and their present state of improvement. It is believed that this subject has not been neglected because it was not consi- What encouragement is there given to Schools, dered in itself important, or because there was a || Colleges, and Seminaries of Learning? What has deficiency of genius, observation, or intelligence, but for the want of a proper vehicle of commuVOL. II. A. Information is requested on the following 1. CIVIL HISTORY. Manners, Customs, and Amusements. State of Religion and Morals. Biography. Antiquities. 2. STATISTICS. Embracing Agriculture, and its products. Manufactures. Commerce. Population. Banks, or circulating medium, Horses, Cattle, Sheep, &c. with thoughts on improving them. 3. GEOGRAPHY AND TOPOGRAPHY. As some progress has already been made in the collection of materials for a full and complete geographical dictionary or general gazetteer of the United States, it is earnestly requested that as much aid may be afforded on this head, as will lead to the full accomplishment of the object in view. 4. EDUCATION, been done, or is doing, to advance Literature and diffuse Knowledge? What Literary Journals and Newspapers are published. in your town or || lative branch of our government. We are sorry county? 5. ARTS AND SCIENCES. #4 Their progress and present state. 6. NATURAL HISTORY. Zoology, Botany, and Mineralogy. Medicinal and other remarkable Springs, their nature and properties. to see so much prejudice existing against the seat of government amongst those whose knowledge and experience should induce them to think more liberally. The reasons usually assigned against the establishment of a national university at this place are, in our opinion, futile and unsatisfactory; while the arguments which might be of fered in favour of its location here are numerous and powerful. A few of these arguments we 7. MEDICAL. Epidemic and other Diseases. The influence of the climate; of particular situations, employ-shall enumerate, our limits not permitting us to ments, or aliments, and especially the effects of spirituous liquors on the human constitution. Remarkable instances of Longevity and Fecundity. 8. POLITICAL. Military depots, Forts, and Garrisons. ment of Crimes, and Houses of Correction. enter into a minute examination of the subject. Placed, as it would be here, immediately under the eye of government, its professors would be more vigilant, and its pupils more eager to acquire those sciences, and that excellence in litePunish-rature and morals, so essential to the character of a scholar and a gentleman. The consciousness of being observed, not only by their immediate instructors, but by the rulers of their country, would necessarily beget in the students an emulation eminently conducive to their advancement in learning and virtue; while the acquisition of the abstruse and difficult science of politics would be rendered easy by the practical observations they would necessarily make in their occasional attendance to the debates of the national legisla Editors willing to aid in the attainment of our object will confer an obligation by giving the above an insertion in their respective papers. NATIONAL UNIVERSITY. We are happy to perceive that a society has recently been established in this city, called the "Columbian Institute," whose object is to pro-ture. There are many politicians, but few real mote the arts and sciences, but particularly those statesmen in our country. There are many who of mineralogy and botany. We conceive that an can tell what may be conducive to the interests institution of this kind will be essentially benefi- || of their particular constituents; who can discuss cial to the American community, by contributing the measures of European policy, and deduce erto enlarge our knowledge of the botanical and roneous consequences from them in relation to zoological productions of this country-an ob- their own country; whose views are confined and ject peculiarly to be desired. Nature has been, limited to the sphere from which they are rein an eminent degree, beneficent and liberal to turned, and whose notions of government are obthis land of freedom, and it becomes its citizens scure and contracted: but there are few indeed, to draw forth those gifts, and render them ad- who are capable of governing in a manner that vantageous to the world. We are as yet but im- will contribute to the welfare and happiness of perfectly acquainted with the physical resources the whole nation; whose views are enlarged and of the United States; and that ignorance origin- extended; and who are perfectly versed in all the ates from the little attention which has hitherto complicated machinery of the political body, and been devoted to the acquisition of those sciences can manage them at pleasure. This is a knowconnected with the productions of nature. We ledge which will rarely be required but in an inare inclined to hope, however, that this indiffer- stitution founded as this should be, where the ence will no longer exist, and that botany, mi- theory and the practice of government are conneralogy, and natural history, will become more stantly in view, and where, while young men are generally understood in this country. This insti-learning what constitutes the wealth, happiness, tution, in addition to its other peculiar advan- || and power of a nation, they have those subjects tages, will be beneficial in the event of the esta-illustrated and exemplified constantly before them. blishment of a national university, with which it || The discussions which take place in the national may be connected. The establishment of a great literary institution like this, cannot but be desired by every man of liberal views: and we eagerly hope that the reiterated recommendations of the President of the United States on this subject will yet meet with due consideration by the legis legislature, on subjects of general policy, are sometimes interesting, edifying, and useful; and the eloquence which is often displayed in both houses of congress, and in the supreme court of the United States, where perhaps the greatest talent of the country is embodied, must inevitably DISTURBANCES IN IRELAND. The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland has made an official statement of the late disturbances in that unfortunate country, in which he gives a history of the nature and extent of those disturbances, and the means the British government have adopted to suppress them. He states that many of the outrages were committed by two combinations, very widely extended among the lower or assumed the name of Caravats and Shanavests, between which violent animosities existed. These disturbances broke out in 1811; and in 1813 he says many daring offences against the public peace were committed in several counties, but particularly in Waterford, Westmeath, Roscommon, and the Kings county, which proved that the same system of violence and disorder still existed. In 1814 it still continued: the principal object among the disturbers being to collect arms and amunition, and to intimidate those who might be likely to inform against them. It was not found that they possessed any leaders of talents or property who could give effect to the insurrection. In consequence of the continuance of those disturbances, the Lord Lieutenant states, that he suggested the expediency of extending the powers of the government and the magistry, and that in 1814 a bill was introduced, enabling the Lord Lieutenant, in council, to proclaim any district in a state of disturbance, and to station in it an establishment of constables proportionate to the extent of the district, who should be under the superintendence of a magistrate appointed by have a tendency to form the taste of the student in forensic and parliamentary elocution. There is another consideration which must not be forgotten, and which, though inconsiderable, will undoubtedly have some weight. The location of a national university here will afford parents, relations, and friends, who may be sent to congress, or who may come on business, an opportunity to see their children, or those of their friends and relations, at least once a year, and thus be ena-ders of the Roman Catholic population, which bled to mark their progress in learning, and to stimulate them to exertion and perseverance.But perhaps the greatest advantage resulting from a national university, which, tho' general, we must not neglect to mention, is the necessary destruction of those local, or state prejudices, which now en generally exist. These jealousies may nltimately destroy the harmony which is necessary to the preservation of the Union, by engendering a clanish disposition, inimical to that liberality of thinking, and that concord of sentiment, so essential to the existence of a republic. The youth of America will assemble here from all quarters of the United States, for the benefit of their education; they will associate with each other in harmony; will form attachments and friendships which may continue through life, and which will lead them to forget those prejudices they might have entertained. Thus the bond of union will be strengthened, and the political cord more closely bound. It is stated, as a fact, that among all the young men who received their military education at West-Point, not one duel took place during the last war, while those who had before been strangers to each other, were conThose disturbances are, however, not yet supstantly on the field.-These are a few of the arguments which may be offered in favour of the pressed; nor is it likely they will ever be crushed establishment of a national university here: there till a less rigorous system is adopted by Engare many others which our limits will not permit land. The emigrations from Ireland to this counus to enumerate. We hope these, however, will try threaten its depopulation; and those emigra be sufficient to induce congress to reconsider the tions consist of the manufacturing and labouring subject, and contribute to the benefit of the na-classes of society, who constitute the strength tion, by authorizing its establishment. Hereafter and wealth of a nationwe will endeavour to furnish a project, or scheme, for its organization. PEALE'S MUSEUM. the Lord Lieutenant. "Princes and lords may flourish or may fade, For the National Register. We understand that Mr. Peale has offered his museum for sale. We should be happy if the general government would purchase it, and fix it in Washington. The advantages of such an es- A few days ago, having business with the autablishment would be considerable to the nation, thor, he showed me a new treatise on book-keepand would redound not a little to the reputa-ing, in MS. which I spent some time in examintion of the government. We hope it may be ef- ing. In his introductory part, or school book. fected. Mr. Hands so fully and clearly explains the fun |