IVORY PAPER. The Society for the Encourage-state from impending clouds of waste and desola. ment of Arts and Manufactures, have given the tion, they respectfully solicit that an extra session sum of 30 guineas to Mr. Finsley, for the invention may be speedily called. of ivory paper. This paper possesses a surface, hav ing many of the valuable properties of ivory, and, at the same time, has the superior advantage of be ing obtained of a much greater size than ivory can possibly furnish, even nearly as large as the usual sheets of drawing paper.

ILLEGAL SLAVE-DEALING.

At a Court of Quarter Sessions held in April last, for the County of Sussex, (Del.) Lemuel Tam was convicted of selling, for exportation, a manumitted slave, and sentenced by the court to pay the sum of $500, the penalty enforced by the act of Assembly.

At the same term James Jones [who had been convicted at the Nov. term last] was sentenced by the court to pay the same sum of 500 dollars, for exporting a manumitted slave.

The undersigned, inhabitants of Somerset county, most respectfully present the following causes. for an early convention of the general assembly.

1st. That the productions of our agriculture, of our forests, and fisheries, the great staples of our passive commerce, are reduced in value to a most

The penalties in the above cases will be paid by the defendants-Del. Watch.

uinous extent.

2. That a large proportion of our population and those of the most enterprising and industrious classes, are involved in debt, and although possessed of property, are utterly unable to discharge their obligations.

-

25:

In order that the wisdom of the Legislature may be employed in affording relief in sirelding the

21

3

3

2

37

4

8

It is calculated that the population of Germany increases at the rate of 450,000 yearly. The pre-has, put together.—[Compiler. sent population of the Danish states is estimated at 1,862,000; namely, Denmark, 1,100,000, Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein 680,000, Duchy of Laueburg 30,000, Faroe Isles, &c. 52,000.

Georgia
Kentucky
Tennessee

GERMANY.

Ia all one hundred and two graduates. Of these,

The German papers state that the assassin of M. Virginia claims more than one third! She has six'de Kotzebue, is still living. teen more than Pennsylvania herself, the seat of est on the list, with the exception of Pennsylvania, the University. She has as many as the nine high

1

Ohio

Louisiana

1

Missouri Ter. 1
Ireland
1
And Canada 1

1

DOMESTIC.

A motion to repeal the law passed last year, to Extra Session of the Maryland Legislature.-A pe- reduce the superior judges from nine to five, was tition to be presented to his excellency the Gover-rejected by the casting vote of the speaker. A nor. That similar applications may be transmitted, committee had been raised to report on the expefrom such sections of the state as may incline to diency of levying a tax of one dollar on passengers promote the object, the public prints are requested passing through Connecticut, in Steam Boats the to give it insertion. proceeds of which, it had been proposed, should thres, and the cod and whale fisheries. be appropriated to encourage agriculture, manufac

'To his excellency Charles Goldsborough, esq. governor of the State of Maryland.

Connecticut. The Legislature is in session, and appears to be busily engaged, this being the first session under the constitution.

Among the private petitions read, was one from a Rev. Daniel Parker, praying to be exempted from arrest for debt for five years. He sets forth, that he had become involved, and obliged to leave the had been a settled clergyman-had speculated state; and that during his exile he had been censured and expelled by his Ecclesiastical brethren: and that, wishing to return to demand a new trial, he solicited the eqemption prayed for. The house rejected the application unanimously.

The House of Representatives, en Friday last, made choice of Messrs. S. T. Hosmer, J. T. Peters, Asa Chapman, J. C. Brainard, and Wm. Bristol, as judges of the superior court. The Senate made

ca. There are already 16,000 soldiers encamped, commanded by Gen. O'Donnel, who is of Irish ex. traction. He is very popular with his soldiers, who are, I am told, fine looking men, well clothed and fed. There are seven ships of the line, as many frigates, and several sloops of war, gun brigs, and schooners, lying at anchor doing nothing, while the Patriots are destroying their commerce. They are all in miserable order. The frigate Diana sailed, not long since, on a cruise of three days. She has not been heard of since. It is thought she is taken. We are not very popular at this place, owing, I pre. sume, to the Florida business."

Nat Int.

FIRE. On Friday morning last, the dwelling house of Mr, Cummins, of Westford, was consumed by fire, and, melancholy to add, three small children, from one to four years old, were burnt to death. The circumstances were that Mr. C. was absent at Boston, and his wife was gone to put the cows to pasture, and on return, found the house in flameo. The bodies of the tie ones, after the fire was reduced, were found, and exhibited a most shocking and distressing spectacle.

||

PITTSBURG, May 25.-A most alarming fire burst out on Thursday afternoon last about 2 o'clock, at the arsenal in Lawrenceville, two miles from this place. The first intimation we received of this melancholy occurrence, was from a violent explosion, which by many was thought to be an earthquake, but the flames were soon after seen bursting from a part of the United States works. It proceeded from that part of the buildings which serves for a labora tory, in which some men were engaged in making rockets; it was caused by one of the persons driv ing a rocket too suddenly, which exploded in consequence, and soon commuuicated to what is called

EDITOR'S CABINET.

City of Washington, May 29th. Paper Money, &c.-The paper-mongers and land speculators in the Western states are striving very hard to preserve themselves. But it is all in vain. They must come to their natural level. Town and county meetings and resolutions, will not coin money. Words will not alter the nature of

the composition room; where a great quantity of materials was prepared; the roof of the building was immediately blown off, and the whole building enveloped in flames. The prompt arrival of the citizens of Pittsburg, and their efficient co-operation with the military, saved all the neighboring build- things. You might as well declare war withings; none were destroyed but those employed as a laboratory. A serious loss, however, we are informont either regular army, or navy, or militia, ed occurred, in the burning of a large quantity of as to declare bank notes good money, withFailure well seasoned timber. We have heard no estimate out gold and silver to back them. of the amount of the loss. The officer superinten- and ridicule must follow in either case. The ding the making of the rockets, is said to have dis- land speculators, as well as all other sorts of played he greatest coolness and presence of mind, and only quitted the room when its destruction be speculators, must be brought down to their came inevitable. Major Woolley and all the offi- natural size and proportions; and they will cers, deserve much credit for the judicious and be brought down. They might as well subprompt exertions which they made to preserve mit with a good grace, for they cannot help this beautiful establishment. The citizens of Pitts-it. burg displayed their usual energy on the occasion.

They have too long been deceivers in society. They were not, and are not, men of wealth; rich, substantial men. They have been counterfeits, and, like all other counterfeits, they should be stopped from passing for an undue value. We hear a great deal said, in the way of compassion, for the speculators who have failed and arc failing. But do they deserve compassion? Are they, indeed, to be pitied? Not at all. It is the men of industry whom they have ruined who deserve compassion: the poor man, who has worked hard for his few dollars, and who finds them falling to half their value, and to nothing, who merits commiseration. What has happened in the price of the stock of the Bank of the United States has also happened in the price of Western Lands. Speculators bought vast quantities on credit, or for money

Lancaster, Ohio, May 13.-A gentleman from Indiana, passed through this town on Monday last, on his way to Washington City, where he intends get ting a patent for converting Wheat into Sugar, and Corn into Molasses; he had a sample of each with him, and they appear to be of equal quality with that made from the Maple. He informs us that one bushel of Wheat will make 15 pounds of Sugar: and one bushel of Corn will make three gallons of Molasses. He likewise informs us; that it takes less wood, water or labor, than the usual mode of mak ing sugar from the Maple-tree,

A letter from an officer on board the U. S. ship Hornet, to his friend in this city, dated April 19, say, "The Hornet arrived, with Mr. Forsyth, at Cadiz, 14th April There is very little news here: the public mind appears entirely engrossed with an expedition that is fitting out here for South Ameri

No. 23.]

WASHINGTON CITY, JUNE 5, 1819.

Printed and Published, every Saturday, by JONATHAN ELLIOT, at five dollars per annum.

TOPOGRAPHY.

Contents of this No. of the National Register.

The plain on which the town is built is extenSive, and about eight feet in altitude above the surface of the sea The soil is composed of a grey, and in some places, of a white sand, which is ex

Topography-Port of Pensacola, 353-Baton Rouge, 363. TerMiscellany-Discovery of ritorial Affairs-Missouri, 354. Manuscript, attributed to the Poet Gay, 354-British Marriage Act, 364, 365-Etna, 354-Navigation of the Revel open during the winter, 354. South America-Late Intelli-tremely sterile, sustaining little grass, but considegence, 355-Installation of the Venezuelian Congress, 356-rable useless shrubbery; so loose and yielding to the Defeat of General M'Gregor, at Porto Bello, 365. Arctic foot is the sand in the streets, that walking is very Discoveries-Capt. Ross' Narrative, 358, 359. State Con- fatiguing and disagreeable; and the dazzling lustre cerns-Massachusetts-Gov. Brooks' Speech to the Legisla- of the sun's reflection therefrom very painful and lature the 1st of June, 361, 362-Separation of Maine, 362, dangerous to the eyes in clear weather. 363. Foreign Affairs, 365. Domestic Affairs, 367-Resolutions of the Citizens of Missouri, condemning the right of Congress to interfere in the formation and the provisions of their State Constitution, 457, 458-Re-appearonce of the Sea Serpent, 453.

The population of Pensacola at present is about fifteen hundred persons of all colors, and the number of houses do not exceed four hundred; many of which are falling to ruins-and but few fitted for convenient stores, and mercantile business.

PORT OF PENSACOLA.

[VOL VII

town, which lies on the north side, ten miles from the gulf

Pensacola, May 6, 1819.

Mr. G. F. Mott-Dear Sir: On the evening of the 3d inst. I arrived in this town, after a very pleasant|| journey from Blakely by the circuitous route of the new road around the head of the Rio Perdido.The distance that way to this place I find to be about 95 miles; but when a road shall be open from Blakely to this town in the most eligible course, the distance will not exceed 55 miles.

For two days I have been constantly in motion surveying this aged city, in pursuit of such facts and information as I deem necessary, to make an estimate of its value and importance as a maritime

As the island of St. Rosa interlocks with points of the main land, and shuts out the surf and fury of the sea, the whole American navy may ride her in safety at all times, except during violent hurricanes This bay is six miles wide and about 30 in length, extending from the Barancas nearly east past the

Though no seaport town of the size of this can have less trade, or fewer charms for the sojourner, yet the price of real estate here at present, is extravagantly high. Some house-lots even in the rear of the town, in their natural state, have been sold this spring for 3.000 dollars, with only 80 feet front, and 170 feet depth. Water lots of the same size, with old useless buildings on them, are held at 5, 6, and 7000 dollars.

town.

As a sea port the local situation of Pensacola may be reckoned on the scale of mediocrity. It possesses some essential advantages over many southern ports; but is, at the same time, subject to sundry inconveniences unknown in other commercial cities.

The purchasers have been generally from the interior of the southern and western states, and are of the speculating class of society, who appear to entertain a high opinion of the commercial advantages of this port, and anticipate a great advance on their lots at the change of government here in the fall. But whether the new proprietors will realize the objects of their fond hopes is very questionable-at all events, it must be granted that the prosperity of this town will not be promoted by snch monopoly of lots by men, who will not improve thein The engrossment of the most eligible situations for commercial establishments by peo. ple who buy merely to sell again, will, inevitably retard the growth of Pensacola, even had it an extensive back country to support its trade. But as The most material disadvantage this place at the good lands on the small rivers emptying into present labors under, in regard to its harbor, is the this bay are very limited, and scarcely any settlevery extensive shoal which stretches along the ments as yet made on them, the exports from this shore of the bay in front of the whole town. Al-place are at present not worth notice; and cannot though the channel leading from the sea past the be much until agriculture subdues the forests of the Barancas into this bay, commands, as I am informed, interior. Therefore, I consider the present price four fathom at ordinary high water; yet a vessel of lots here not warranted by any rational calculadrawing eight feet water, cannot approach within tion. three hundred yards of the shore. In fact, from my own observation, I find that at the distance of one hundred yards in a depth only of three feet at low water, and only five at high water, the tide rising ordinarily only two feet, and but one in 24 hours The bottom, however, being of a hard white sand, admits of a good foundation for wharves and piers, which may be made at great expense by merchants, who have capital to lay out in supplying this radical defect of nature in the celebrated harbor of Pensacola.

However, if the main argument which the advocates of the high commercial destiny of Pensacola advance in support of their lots here, is a sound one, then the prices are reasonable enough.

The reason urged by those, who contend that this town is soon to become the principal commercial depot west of Cape Florida is predicated, not on the expectation of much support from the back country embraced by its own waters, but upon a belief that the grand rivers of the Alabama and Tombigbee are, on a change of flags at this place, to betray the high trust which nature hath confided to them by deserting the spacious bay of Mobile, and pouring their treasures into the bosom of Pensacola through artificial channels that exist only in the fervid imagination of those, whose interest that event might possibly promote.

Though I consider such logic entirely fallacious, into the valley of Missisippi; whence by a chain and the calculation founded thereon, pregnant with of inland seas and the Canal Clinton (when finishdisappointment, if not with the ruin of many; yeed) she might arrive, by a circumnavigation of a reference in argument to the experience of all many thousand miles, at the point from which she ages, and to the commercial history of all countries, irst sailed, Such are lines of water comunicaappears to have no influence on the settled opinion:tion, such the means of Commercial inter course, of this class of sanguine adventurers. And some ci formed by Nature, in the magnificent regions of the these people are so ardent in their fond hopes and Missouri and Mississippi, and of which there is no expectations of immediate wealth, that they even paralled on face of the globe. contend that Pensacola will ere long out-strip New Orleans in commerce, and draw from the Mississip-GENCER AND BOON'S LICK ADVERTISER," has pi the trade of that vast emporium!! just been received at this office. It is printed at Franklin, the seat of Justice for Howard county, by Messrs. Patton and Holliday. The political aspect of the paper is 1epublican, and the editorial articles well written. It seems already to have a good patronage; the first number containing no less han eight columns of advertisements. Friends to the progress of light, of science, and human advancement-admirers of the great Dr Franklinwill see with interest the establishment of a News

This first number of the " MISSOURI INTELLI

All these wonderful changes in the course of na ture are to be wrought by the magic of canal and steam navigation. To be sure a canal may be open with competent capital so as to connect the bay of Mobile with that of Pensacola: but it by no means follows, even should that event ever happen, that the produce of the state of Alabama will in that case, be directed to this place for exportation.

The salubrity of the climate of Pensacola is undoubtedly well established. The dryness of the scite of the town, and the nudity and sterility of the sand bills and waste plains in its rear, together with the sea-breezes which prevail in hot weather, render the atmosphere pure and salubrious.

paper two hundred miles up the Missouri, in a town of more than a thousand souls, bearing the name of Franklin, and containing in its first number the adIvice of that great man to young printers.

The portable water here is wholesome and abun dant; two small brooks arising from a cold morass in the rear of the town, along the foot of the first rising ground, flow in opposite directions, (enclosing the compact part of the city) into the bay; and will always supply the place with a plenty of good water; though it does not possess that cool quality, that characterizes the best spring in the pine woods Yours, &c.

of Florida.

S. HAINES.

REVEL, Feb. 20, (March 4)-The navigation hitherto to has not been closed-a circumstance

that has not occurred in the recollection of the oldest person here.

ST. LOUIS, May 12. Governor Clark left St, Louis on Sunday, 9th to be absent for some, time for the same reason which occasioned his absence last winter, the continued indisposition of Mrs. Clark In the meantime the government of the Territory will be exercised by Mr. Bates, the se cretary of the territory.

THE MAID OF ORLEANS, This beautiful vessel was built at Philadelphia, and is equally intended for river and sea navigation; the latter by sails, the former by steam power.-— She came to New Orleans schooner-igged, ascend INTERESTING DISCOVERY-It is well known among cd the Mississippi by steam, and is the first vessel biographers, that Barnstaple had the honor of giv which has arrived at St. Louis from the Atlantic ing birth to the poet Gay. A correspondent informs port. Men of reflection, men who observe the us that a gentleman of that town has long been in progress of human affairs, will mark this event, possession of a curious antique chair, which is adwill follow the voyage of this ve sel on the map,mitted, by the relatives of the poet, to have been and will see in its issue the commencement of that his property. Strongly corroborative proofs of its new order of things which is to line the banks of identity may be gathered from the peculiarity of its the Mississippi with sea-port towns, and to raise form, and the convenient attached apparatus for. writing and reading, forming, in every respect, a up, at certain commanding points, commercial ci complete student's chair. But what renders it par ties rivalling the greatest of those which the sea shore exhibits. They will mark the outset of this ticularly interesting to the literary world is, that a vessel leaving her port in north latitude 40 degrees,cabinet maker, to whom it was sent to be repaired, sailing down to the gulf of Mexico, entering it, and accidentally discovered a concealed or secret drawer, in which were several manuscript papers, some quitting it again, to penetrate by a noble liver the interior and central parts of the North American of them in the hand writing of Gay.Eng. pap.

continent. Arrived at St. Louis after an ascent of ETNA-The circumference of the visible hori1600 miles. they will see her almost in the latitude from which she sat out; and having noted what she miles: At Malla, which is near 200 miles distant, zon on the top of Etna cannot be less than 2000 has done, will cast forward their eyes to see what they perceive all the eruptions from the second rethe might do Looking up the Alissouri, they gion; and that island is often discovered from about would see that 1000 miles more would take her to one half the elevation of the mountaiin; so that at the Mandan Villages, above the latitude of Quebec, the whole clevation, the horizon must extend to and that 800 more would carry her west to the first near double that distance, or 400 miles, which fails of the Missouri river, Looking up the Mis makes 800, for the diameter of the circle, and sissippi they would see that 1000 miles would carry 2409 for the circumference. But this is by much her to the falls of St Anthony, in the latitude of too vast for our senses, not intended to grasp so Vermont; whence a canal of half a mile at the headboundless a scene. I find, indeed, by some of the of the river St. Croix would enable her to enter the Sicilian authors, particularly Massa, that the Afri Caspian sea of North America. Looking up the can coast as well as that of Naples, with many of Illinois they would see that 500 miles would carry its islands have been discovered from the top of her to the gate which is to open the Michigan lake Etna.-Vol. I. p. 134