Page images
PDF
EPUB

ed themselves, by the extraordinary seasons that we have lately experienced; insomuch that there is a plenty of apples in many parts of the country. It is desirable that farmers should use the best economy with respect to the fruit, and the management of the liquor to be extracted from it. With a little seasonable attention, it may undoubtedly be made a much more important article, in ruraled and often airty condition. It has been but economy, than it has been in times past.

Sometimes it is necessary to gather the fruit early, to prevent its being lost; or because it is more convenient to perform this labour then, than it would be at a later period.

If apples are picked from the tree when unripe, they should be suffered to remain in heaps, on the barn floor, or under cover, until they shall have lost some of their austere hardness. It is better that they should thus become too mellow, and even begin to decay, than to be put in the mill while hard.

The trouble of sorting and grinding together those of the same description, as nearly as may be, will be fully compensated by the improvement of the liquor.

Appies should be ground or macerated more into a pulp, and continue longer in that state before the juice is expressed, than has been usually practised.

Some farmers are in the habit of filtering their cider through sand. They think that it not only frees it from all foreign particles, but likewise that it has a tendency to preserve its natural vinous taste, and prevent it from growing sour. Particular care ought to be used, with respect to the cleanliness of the casks, to prevent it from being musty.

a service to the community, in deciding this point by experience. Some of the members of the society are making laudable efforts for the purpose. It is well ascertained, that the pomace, from which cider has been obtained, still retains a great deal of nourishment for animals, and that most kinds of live stock eat it greedily, in its neglect. rarely laid up for use in the winter. During the present scarcity of hay, when recourse ought to be had to every possible expedient for increasing and eking out the quantity of forage, would it not be advisable to save all the pomace, in the best possible manner? If no better be suggested, it is recommended, after the cheese shall have been sufficiently pressed, that it should be cut up and dried only so much as to prevent its souring or rotting by fermentation, and then placed in th layers, in a mow or stack, with a competent layer of any kind of straw between every two layers of pomace. Some of its nutritious qualities will be imbibed by the straw; and a portion of salt, sprinkled in the mass, will make it still more palatable. A few farmers, who have made the experiment of curing pomace, state that it is worth at least, a dollar a hundred in common seasons.

Others have attempted to convert pomace into manure; but they are said to have failed of success, for want of adopting a right mode for cor||recting the vegetable acid.

The result of all further trials, for making an article, which has hitherto been of little utility, valuable in any way, would be acceptable to the agricultural society. After the earnest invitations which have been given to farmers in general, it is a remarkable fact, that but one communication has It is believed that cider, well made here, is been made to them in answer to the questions commonly of a better quality, than it is in Eng-proposed in the Agricultural Almanack for the land, or on the continent of Europe, whether year 1816, by any person, who was not a member drank from the barrel or bottle. The month of of the society. March is the time for bottling. When carefully N. B. The same method, which is above reprepared and bottled, it is almost equal to Cham-commended, may be made use of, for curing Inpaigne wine. Many good judges have been de-dian corn, which has been sowed, in broadcast, ceived and pronounced it to be the latter. When farmers cannot procure bottles for any part of their cider, they may render it highly pleasant to the palate, and valuable in the market, at a trifling expense, by drawing it from one cask into another; and thus ripening and refining it.

for forage.

[Gonn. Herald.

Extract of a letter from a midshipman on board the
U. S. ship Washington, dated Naples, July 17,

1816.

In many places it is sold for a quarter of a dollar "We arrived at Gibraltar after a passage of a bottle. It is such an excellent succedaneum for twenty-two days. Our ship sails well, is in exthe juice of the grape, that imported spirituous li- cellent order, and was much admired by the Engquors may be in a great measure dispensed with,||lish, Dutch, and Spanish navy officers. provided proper skill be bestowed, in the process "The Dutch have a squadron lying at Gibraland preparation of the cider. The fruit is at hand, tar, and several more ships are expected to join and is plenty. Within the last twenty years, a them, when they intend making an attack on Algreat improvement has taken place, by the intro-giers, in connection with the English fleet. duction of several kinds of fine apples, before uncultivated in the state. It must be owing to the negligence of any owner of a little land, who shall be long without them.

In the first settlement of New-England by the Europeans, probably there was hardly a mile square, in which grape vines were not found. The soil and climate are, therefore, favorable to their growth.

"The Dutch character does not stand very high as they pass so much of their time in port; but it was reported, however, that one of their frigates had taken an Algerine, after a desperate battle, in which the former lost 160 killed and wounded.

"Gibraltar is a complete garrison.-There are nearly 8,000 soldiers stationed there, the finest looking fellows I ever beheld. The streets are filled with people of all nations, among them I saw Vineyards might doubtless flourish, and wines Algerines, most frightful looking objects. From of a good quality be made,, in great abundance.noon till night there is a continual buz, it seems Much labor, however, would be required. It is a question, yet to be decided, whether it be most "I visited the different batteries of that extraadvantageous to cultivate orchards or vineyards. || ordinary fortress. About 500 feet nearly perpenThose, who have the conveniences, would render | dicular we entered gallery No. I. It is a battery

like a fair.

It

cut out of solid rock, ten feet wide and eight feet, the Portuguese, whom they had never wronged, high, and extends nearly three quarters of a mile should come against them in a hostile manner. in length, no light entering except through the adds "whether they come as friends or foes, we port holes, which gives it a gloomy appearance. are ready to receive them." The same paper No one without seeing it, can form any idea of such || gives a detail from the Chili papers, of the teran Herculean labor. There are several other gal-mination of Admiral Brown's expedition in Februleries, also some remarkable caves, no end to one ary last. It appears from this account that Brown of which has yet been discovered. The top of and a part of his squadron had been captured and the rock is seventeen hundred and eighty feet carried in Guayaguil, and that the residue of the high, from which you can see a great distance in-squadron attacked that town, made a number of to Spain. Here a 64 pound carronade and a long the principal inhabitants prisoners, and did some 24 are mounted; how they got them there I can-damage to the place, when a truce was finally setnot conceive, tled on the 29th, by which the Admiral was exchanged for the men his ships had captured; and one of his vessels restored for the sum of 22,000 dollars.

"On our arrival at Naples, we found several of their men of war in the harbor, but they instantly seemed suspicious of us, and hauled into a dock, as soon as they discovered who we were.-They have ordered us under a quarantine of twenty-one days (which does not look very friendly,) merely because we stopped at Gibraltar.

"From where we lay we can see the place where once stood the city of Herculaneum, also the tomb of Virgil, which places I intend to visit. I was disappointed in the view of the bay of Naples. I think if Boston harbor had a few ancient || Castles to set it off, it would be vastly more beautiful. Mount Vesuvius is however a grand sight. In the day you can see about as much smoke, apparently, as proceeds from a chimney that has been recently on fire-In the night you can discover a blaze apparently about three or four feet high.

"We expect to visit Messina, Palermo, Syracuse, Algiers, &c."

FROM SOUTH AMERICA.

[blocks in formation]

W. C. NICHOLAS.

Capt. Cook, of the brig Active, from Rio Janeiro, sailed thence the 4th of July, (not so late as It is presumed that the necessity for convening the Hippomenes, which has arrived at New-York.) the Legislature of the state of Virginia is groundThe expedition from Rio departed about the mid-ed upon the law passed at their last session, makdle of June, before Capt. Cook arrived there, con- ing it obligatory on the Banks of that state to pay sisting of ships of the line, frigates, &c. with, as all the notes, bills and checks upon them in spewas stated, about 10,000 troops on board: its des- cie, on demand, after the 15th November next. tination said to be Monte Video, but it was under- The question was agitated in the Council of State, stood they would stop at St. Catherines, and re- some few weeks since, and as it is well known main there through the rainy season of winter, and that the banks every where have an aversion to go on again some time in September. The season part with the precious metals, no reasonable doubt had been violently tempestuous, and one frigate can remain as to the particular object of this earhad been so disabled as to be towed back by an ly convention of the Legislature by the ExecuAmerican whaler: on board this frigate it was tive. As we have not published the law alluded said there were not more than a dozen real sea- to, we will now give a few extracts from it to men. The English and Americans who witnessed show its bearing, and leave our readers to draw the ordinary fighting of the ships, and the inex-such conclusions, as to the policy or impolicy of perienced and unskilful crews with which they revising or abrogating it before it goes into opewere manned, had little faith in the expedition || ration, as may appear to them to be correct. The accomplishing its design; the noise of its prepa-first ration, however, had already produced the effect of a stagnation of business in the ports of the River Plata. [Salem Gaz.

Buenos Ayres Papers.

section, which contains the marrow of the whole, is as follows:

"Be it enacted by the General Asembly, That if, at any time after the 15th day of November next, any bank within this commonwealth shall fail or refuse to pay in specie any note, bill or check, New-York, Sept. 30. justly due from such Bank, when the same shall A gentleman of this city has favoured the Edi- be presented for payment within the usual hours tors of the Mercantile Advertiser with an imper- for doing business at such Bank, the person or fect file of the Buenos Ayres Gazette to the 20th persons, body or bodies politic or corporate, inof July, received by the Adeline, arrived at Phila-jured by such failure, shall and may obtain a delphia. That of the last date announces that the government had been duly apprised of the sailing of the Portuguese expedition from Rio Janeiro, and it was supposed to pay a visit to the river La Plata. The paper expresses much surprise that

judgment and execution for the amount of such note, bill or check, with six per centum per annum interest thereon, to be computed from the time of such failure or refusal, and costs, on motion in any court of record having jurisdiction

thereof, upon ten days notice of such motion, to | The King of Sardinia is said to be making a conbe served in writing upon the cashier, chiet clerk,|| siderable levy of troops to co-operate with the president, any director or manager of such bank, expedition. being at the time of such service within the county or corporation within which such bank is establisned."

The 2d section extends the process to any note or bill of any bank within this commonwealth, made payable at the office of Discount and Deposit|| of one of its Branches, in which case the motion is to be made against the officers of such branch. The execution is to be levied in the county or corporation where the judgment is obtained, or any where else in the commonwealth, if there be not sufficient property in such county or corporation.

The Porte will not, it is said, make any effort to support the Barbary powers.

There are various reports of the disturbances at Nantz, Strasburg, &c. and of an affray at Mentz, between some Russian and Prussian troops-the latter a mere tavern frolic-the former of no consequence.

The report that a meeting of the allied sovereigns was to take place at Toplitz, is contradicted.

A severe shock of an earth-quake was felt in Scotland on the 13th of August-the tops of many chimneys were thrown down.

The 3d section directs that on the bank's ap- The London Gazette of the 13th of August pearing by attorney, and pleading immediately to contains an order in council prohibiting the exissue, a jury is to be impannelled to try the factsportation of gunpowder, saltpetre, arms and amin issue; but if the bank fails to appear, the court may enter up judgment and award execution, without the interposition of a jury.

The 4th section refuses the same summary remedy to the bank, but requires the plaintiff to make oath, that the sum demanded by him, is his

own.

SUMMARY-FOREIGN & DOMETIC.

FOREIGN.

munition, for six months from that date-Lord Cochran had been tried for breaking out of prison, and found guilty, and recommended to mercy. He wanted justice, not mercy, he said.

France. A new ministry is about to be formed. An officer of the war department had organized a conspiracy at Nantz, to take possession of the tower and several persons of the royal familyseveral half-pay officers co-operated. Twenty minutes before it was to explode, it was discovered to Gen. Villatte; who caused 11 of the conThe public mind is much interested upon the spirators and 26 of their accomplices to be seized movements of our squadron in the Mediterranean, of this number 19 were ex-officers-many fled. and some speculation is afloat as to the nature of Our consul at Nantz has had several warm distheir instructions. Every account from that quar-cussions with the commissary; who endeavours ter is sought after with much anxiety, and excites to subject the Americans to unnecessary and vexcuriosity, however flimsey and improbable it may atious formalities. The tendency of his opinions be. Some imagine our squadron will co-operate has been arrogantly criticised, and he was orderwith the British, in their contemplated attack up-ed to remove the Eagle from his gates: but Mr. on Algiers; whilst others think it would be dis- Wilson, desirous to preserve inviolate the em graceful to fight with those, who are always ready || blematic arms of his country, declined obedience. to arrogate to themselves, victories they have ne- An armed force removed the Eagle, by order of ver won; and filch from others, that honor which the commissary. Our consul forwarded energetic is the legitimate reward of skill and valor. By an complaints to Paris-an investigation of the affair arrival at Boston from Liverpool, which brings took place-a proper excuse was made, and the dates up to the 24th August, we are enabled to|| Eagle restored. give our readers the following account, which we believe is derived from very questionable authority: It is brought by a Sardinian vessel from Sassari, arrived at Civita Vecchia, and is published there under date of August 21. It is there stated,|| that our squadron in the Mediterranean had again appeared before Algiers, and demanded of the Dey, satisfaction for the violation of the treaty. The Dey is said to have sent one of his nephews on board our Commodore's ship, who at first refused to receive him, but on his second return he was admitted, and offered every satisfaction our officers could desire. It is stated, that the Commodore required, that the Christians of all nations, who wished to quit Algiers, should be set at liberty and placed at his disposal; this seems not to have been apprehended by the Dey, who expected to get off by an act of submission.

In the Journal of La Drome, published at Paris, under date of 21st August, the following statement appears under the head of Valence, August 9" They write from Marseilles, that the Americans have bombarded Algiers. According to these accounts, Lord Exmouth will have little to do. The details are expected immediately."

The English fleet destined against Algiers, was expected at Genoa, to take on board 2,500 men.

||

[ocr errors]

Spain.-A great expedition is preparing in Spain for South America. Seamen are impressed to man the fleet. Gen. Don Julien Sauches, better known during the last war among the partizan chiefs by Don Julian, is appointed Governor of Santona, on the coast of Cantabria; and his colleague, Logan, has taken the command of the town and co st of Bilboa.

Naples.-The Washington 74, Com. Chauncey, and two other American armed ships, were in the roads of Naples on the 3d August. Mr. Pinkney and suite were on board. Our consul at Palermo, Mr. Abraham Gibbs, is lately deceased. He was found in his chamber at the foot of his bed, bathed in his blood, and a pistol by his side.

DOMESTIC.

Mr. Dallas left this city for Philadelphia on Tuesday last. It is understood he will continue to act as secretary of the treasury until a successor shall be appointed.-The Degrees of Doctor of Laws has been recently conferred by Princeton College on William Wirt of Virginia, and Aaron Ogden of New-Jersey.—The election in Maryland takes place on Monday next, for their legislature and for representatives in the 15th congress. The necessity of a convention of the people to amend the constitution of that state begins to be talked of

NO. 7. VOL. II.]

WASHINGTON, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1816.

[WHOLE NO. 33.

PUBLISHED WEEKLY, BY JOEL K. MEAD, AT FIVE DOLLARS PER ANNUM.

PRETENSIONS OF THE UNITED STATES TO EXCEL-
LENCE IN THE ARTS, &c.

own countrymen with the slime of detraction, and fasten on the reputation of a young author, like the sloth upon the neck of a deer, till death terminates its miseries. No wonder, then, that we should not be suffered to escape.

The antipathy to this country which seems to exist on the part of Great Britain, is much to be lamented, as it blinds her to the excellencies which America really possesses, and often leads her writers to abuse and censure without discri

bility and greatness, has opened the eyes of the world, and taught nations to respect and honour it for its magnanimity, its independence, its geIt has so long been the practice of Britishnius, and its information. Britain yet, however, writers to revile and depreciate every thing Ame-continues to derogate from its reputation, and to rican, that we begin now to regard it with an disparage its fame. The editors of public joureye of indifference or contempt. There was anals, both political and literary, in that nation, time, however, when this plan of detraction was still labour to undervalue and depreciate whatever looked upon as a thing necessary to our advance- || America can produce in the arts or the sciences. ment in learning and improvement, and as the The opinions and dictatorial nonsense of these lawful and salutary admonitions of a parent to men, however, blinded by prejudice, or warped. her child, which it would be worse than irrever-by interest, are not to be relied on as founded on ence to treat with indecency, or object to with the basis of truth. It is their business to revile warmth. The effect of such a system was, per- and to abuse: they fatten on the spoils of reputahaps, for a while, to paralize the exertions of the tion, and exist, like the vulture of Prometheus, American intellect and genius; to render the on the vitals of fame. Like their great prototype mind nerveless and dispirited, and to cause every and master, Dr. Kenrick, they "sip aqua vite and American production of art, learning, or imagi-spit aqua fortis," they daub and besmear their nation, to be regarded as unworthy attention, in comparison with the vast and sublime productions of British talent and genius. But this was of short duration: the mists of error are soon dispelled by the irradiations of truth; and comparison quickly enables the mind to acquire a know? ledge of its powers and its superiority. The child who is taught to regard his rich companion || as his superior will continue to treat him as such, till a contest of mind or body enables him to see his error in the weakness or imbecility of his an-mination, and without judgment. The United Bagonist. The charm which awed him to rever- States need not be ashamed of their progress in ence is dissolved; the native independence of his the arts and sciences. For a nation yet in its inmind towers above the trammels by which it had fancy, we have done wonders. America has probeen confined and enchained; and his former su- duced men who, in the powers of genius and inperior sinks at once, in his estimation, to a con- tellect, would not shrink from a comparison with dition of humble inferiority. The silly hypothesis some of the most illustrious names in Europe. of Buffon, Reynal, De Paw, and others, that the Her Franklins, her Rittenhouses, and her Fultons, climate of the new world was unpropitious to have been equalled by few, and perhaps surpassed genius and unfavourable to the progress of the by none in invention, research, and practical utilhuman intellect, was for a long time regarded in y. In some of the useful arts we, though yet in Europe as indisputable and unanswerable. La- our infancy, stand unrivalled. The perfection borious and tiresome inquiries, erroneously de- and excellence to which naval architecture has nominated philosophical, were constantly insti- attained in this country seems to astonish and surtuted into the cause of so singular a phenomenon, prise the natives of the old world. Our vessels till Mr. Jefferson, in his notes on Virginia, under- of war and of commerce are alike objects of adtook the defence of the new world, and by the miration, and have become models for imitation force of his arguments and the unanswerable na- to nations who had scarcely heard of our name, ture of his examples and facts, compelled Reynal || and to those, too, who have affected to despise to renounce his absurd opinions and acknowledge and depreciate American genius. The Washingthe correctness and energy of his reasoning. The ton 74 is a model of beauty: she has been gazed American revolution removed this error in every at by the British mariners in the Mediterranean part of Europe but Britain; and the rapid ad- with astonishment and wonder; and has excited vancement of the American republic to respecta-equal admiration wherever she has been. Į

VOL. IL

1

printing, also, we rival, if we do not excel, the presses of Europe. The great epic poem of Barlow is printed and engraved in a style that has drawn forth the eulogies of the Europeans themselves, disposed as they are to undervalue the productions of American taste and invention.

AGRICULTURE.

METHOD OF CURING THE ROT IN GRAIN,

Translated for the National Register. The rot consists in a black and fetid dust, which attaches itself to the grain, and infects it. If the rotted grain be mixed with the sound, it will communicate this virus to it; and if the seed be infected the whole crop will be so; and the consumption of the bad grain will produce epidemics. The means of preventing this contagion is to wash the rotted grain in lye water; which should be done with such celerity as that the grain may not have time to imbibe the water, because if it penetrate the grain, it will introduce the virus of the rot.

An English gentleman who possesses much arable land in Pendon, has constructed a mill to grind bones, which, when reduced to a gross powder, serves to fertilize his ground. Repeated experiments, in many parts of the kingdom, prove that this species of compost renders land extremely productive, and preserves them in that

But this country has produced another specimen of art, which we do not hesitate to declare has not been surpassed by any Europe has ever exhibited. The Ornithology of Wilson is a work which, for splendour and accuracy of colouring, and delicacy and beauty of delineation, must stand deservedly high in the estimation of every man of taste, discernment, and feeling. Buffon and Catesby, whose coloured plates we have seen, are far inferior to Wilson in accuracy of outline, and richness and delicacy of colouring. This splendid work should be prized by every American, as a specimen of art which gives no little reputation to the taste of his country, and which, executed, as it was, under all the oppressive horrors of po. verty, exhibits to the world a model of excellence that may never be surpassed. While we pass these merited encomiums on this magnificent work of Mr. Wilson, we cannot but regret that our go-state for many years. vernment should have suffered its author to languish for the want of patronage and encouragement. A salary of 2,000 dollars a year would have enabled Mr. Wilson to prosecute his researches, and to indulge his favourite inclination in obtaining and describing the various ornithological productions of this country; while, at the same time, the American public would have been gratified by a complete delineation of all the feathered inhabitants of the United States. But such seems always to be the fate of genius. The man who, by his talents, his labour, and his research, was contributing to enhance the reputa-fire, like tinder, when a spark of flint is applied

tion of his country, was suffered to travel for days in the accomplishment of this magnificent object, often without a cent to save him from starvation. He is now no more. Perhaps his indigence and his exertions in the undertaking in which he was engaged, contributed to terminate the career of his usefulness, and to bring him to the grave. But he has left behind him a monument "aere perenius," that will never perish, and that will transmit his name to posterity.

In the few desultory observations we have made, we think we have justified the pretensions of this country to a character among the nations of the old world, for genius, intelligence, and taste; and we have no hesitation in believing, that whenever an unprejudiced comparison is made, the result will be perfectly favourable to the reputation of the United States,

For the National Register.

NATURAL HISTORY.

In looking over the "Journal Polytype,"Ifound the following account of a singular spring in Virginia, which I send you for publication, with a view to ascertain from some of the residents of that county, whether it really exists or not.

W

"The county of Fincastle, in Virginia, pos sesses a small fountain, the water of which takes

to it. It will, then, burn like spirituous liquors, until it is wholly consumed; after which the earth which serves as a bed presents all the ap pearance of a bed of ashes. As soon as there exists no water to nourish the flame, it spouts out anew from the crevices in the bottom, and in half an hour its customary abundance is restored.”

ICHTHYOLOY.

The flying fish, known to the ancients under the name of kite fish, or sea swallow, and by Linnæus under that of trigla volitans, is found in the Mediterranean and Indian seas. It is distin guished from other flying fish by a species of fingers, or distinct rays, which are placed before each pectoral fin; its head is also covered over with a kind of bony cuirass, terminated behind by sharp projections. Its pectoral fins are very large, black, and marked with bluish stripes.

« PreviousContinue »