The Whampoa Island is long and narrow. anchorage extends two or three miles in length; the American vessels generally occupying the higher berths, and the English the lower. The river varies from 50 to 100 rods wide, and from 3 to 6 fathoms deep. The tide rises from 3 to 6 feet. The village on Whampoa Island contains several thousand inhabitants. At the West end of this island is a petty custom-house, or guard-house, where all Chinese boats, having anything to do with foreigners, are obliged to stop and obtain a permit, called a chop, and the house is hence called a chophouse. Three Pagodas are represented on the cut. That on the left-hand near the edge of the cut, the top of which only is visible, is called "the half-way Pagoda," it being half way from the anchorage to Canton. It is much decayed. This is the one from which some American sailors, a few years ago, in a frolic, took one of the small images which are kept in the first story, and on being discovered, they drowned the idol in the river, which cost the Comprador and others some hundreds of dollars. The large Pagoda, about the middle of the cut, is called, by foreigners, the Whampoa Pagoda. It is built of brick, nine stories high, amounting from 200 to 250 feet. It is said to be in good repair. It is uninhabited, hollow, and octagonal. The date of its erection is said to preserved within it, and to be about 400 years ago. The natives believe that, being very lofty, it has an influence on the air, and serves to avert storms and tempests. The other on the right side of the cut, is a small and modern built Pagoda, two or three stories high, and was built, as is said, to commemorate their victory over the British navy, in 1808. From the anchorage, at Whampoa, to the sea is about 75 miles. Macao lies near the sea. Lintin is an island in the river, half-way from Macao to Whampoa.-Sailor's Mag. The following brief description of the passage up the river, from its mouth to Whampoa, we extract from the "Cruise of the Potomac," by Mr. Warriner. The night was fair, and the moon shone. We stood on till two o'clock in the morning, when we came to anchor abreast the city of Macao. In a few hours after we were on our way to Lintin. Lintin is a small, barren, rugged island, the ground composing various eminences, one of which is not less than seven hundred feet. The island is a mile and a quarter in diameter, and has but few inhabitants, most of whom are fishermen. On account of the barrenness of the soil, the island of Lintin remained entirely uninhabited till the year 1814, when the East India Company's ships were detained there, in consequence of a dispute between the select committee, and the Chinese government. At that time a temporary market for vegetables and fowls was opened, which attracted a considerable population to the spot. Subsequently, the introduction of opium into Macao and Canton having been prohibited, this place became the principal depot of that article. The article now forms so large a branch of illicit commerce, that it is smuggled into the kingdom, by this and other ports, to the amount of a million of dollars a month. Seven or eight vessels are stationed at the island in prosecution of this trade. [This is changed since the war.-ED.] Some distance above Lintin, we passed an island called Lankeet, which means the Dragon's Den. A tongue of land runs out into the river on the opposite side, which bears the name of Chuen-pee, or the Bored Nose, from a singular rock which forms its most striking feature, perforated through. I observed a watchtower on one of these points; and in Anson's Bay, which is near it, several menof-war junks lying at anchor, and many other vessels of inferior size. ture. Tiger island, which lies still higher up the river, has its name from the resemblance of its figure to that of a tiger in a reclining posOn it is a battery of considerable size, and on the opposite bank another battery, called Anung Hoy, or the Lady's Shoe. Both these batteries are of granite, and one of them extends from the shore, up an inclined plane. The walls could have afforded no protection against cannon shot, and to all appearance a broadside could not have failed to do great execution. The fort now contains from thirty to forty twelve pounders; and, what seems ridiculous, the portlids are painted with figures of tigers and demons. The entrance to the river Tigris, called Bocca Tigris, a Portuguese name signifying the Mouth of Tigris, is between Anung Hoy and Tiger island. The scenery here is more inviting, and we passed several plantations of bamboos, bananas, and rice. After passing the first and second bars, we reached Whampoa, the anchoring ground for all foreign vessels trading with Canton. A Hunting Adventure -Amongst the company who joined the hounds on Wednesday last, in the vicinity of Keswick, was a little boy of the name of Williamson, whose parents reside at Applethwaite-under-Skiddaw, and so wrapped up in the chase had the little fellow been that he continued his pursuit until night-fall, at which time he was last seen near the summit of Skiddaw, apparently bending his course homewards, but in this direction, it would appear, he had not long continued. Night came on, and the non-appearance of the tiny sportsman at the home of his father naturally created the greatest uneasiness, and especially as the night was wild and stormy. In the morning, however, the only hope of the little fellow's safety vanished, on the distracted parents learning that their son had not taken up his night's lodging with any of the parties who had joined in the chase, and that he was last seen a little before dark near the top of Skiddaw. The whole population of the neighborhood instantly volunteered their services to aid in the search for the remains of the lost boy, as his outliving the storm of such a night and in such a situation was regarded as next to impossible. Accordingly, on Thursday forenoon scores of persons were seen upon the breast of the gigantic Skiddaw wending their way in all directions, and prying into every ravine, creek, and corner into which it was thought probable the lost youth might have fallen, or sought shelter from the inclemency of the weather. Search was long and fruitless, but at length one of the party chanced to reach the sh oting box of General Wyndham, situate in the centre of Skiddaw forest, where to his utter amazement, the object of his search was just quitting his bed of straw; and as soon as the journey over the snowcovered mountain could be accomplished, the lost youth was restored to his sorrowing parents, whose grief for the supposed melancholy bereavement of a favorite son was instantly converted to joy. The account the little wanderer gives of his night's adventure on Skiddaw is brief. He says that when on the very summit of the mountain, the two lakes, Derwent and Bassenthwaite, appeared to him no larger than two small tarns, which, added to the whole face of the country being covered with snow, so deceived him that he imagined he was looking to the eastward instead of down into the vale of Crosthwaite, and under this impression turned round and bent his steps in the opposite direction. After wandering for some time until completely exhausted, he espied the uninhabited shooting box of General Wyndham, towards which he repaired, and having gained admission into an out-house where a quantity of straw had been deposited, he instantly crept amongst it, and worn out with the fatigue of the day's chase and his bewildered wanderings amongst the snow he presently fell asleep, and enjoyed several hours of uninterrupted repose.-Cumberland Pacquet. The First American Frigate at Constantinople. From the Travels of Edward Daniel Clark, LLD. The arrival of an American frigate, for the first time (1801), at Constantinople, caused considerable sensation, not only among the Turks, but also throughout the whole diplo matic corps stationed in Pera. This ship, commanded by Capt. Bainbridge, came from Algiers, with a letter and presents from the Dey to the Sultan and Capudan Pacha. The presents consisted of tigers and other animals, sent with a view to conciliate the Turkish Government, whom the Dey had offended. When she came to an anchor, and a message went to the Porte that an American frigate was in the harbor, the Turks were altogether unable to comprehend where the country was situated whose flag they were to salute. A great deal of time was therefore lost in settling this important point, and in considering how to receive the stranger. In the mean time, we went on board to visit the captain, and were sitting with him in his cabin, when a messenger came from the Turkish Government, to ask whether America were not otherwise called the New World; and, being answered in the affirmative, he assured the captain that he was welcome, and would be treated with the utmost cordiality and respect. The messengers from the Dey were then ordered on board the Capudan Pacha's ship; who, receiving the letter from their sovereign, with great rage first spat and then stamped upon it, telling them to go back to their master, and inform him that he would be served in the same manner whenever the Turkish admiral met him. Capt. Bainbridge was, however, received with every mark of attention, and rewarded with magnificent presents. The fine order of his ship and the healthy state of her crew became topics of general conversation in Pera, and the different ministers strove who should first receive him in their palaces. We accompanied him in his long-boat to the Black Sea, as he was desirous of hoisting there, for the first time, the American flag; and, upon his return, we were amused by a very singular entertainment at his table, during dinner. Upon the four corners were as many decanters, containing fresh water from the four quarters of the globe. The natives of Europe, Asia, Africa and America sat down together at the same table, and were regaled with flesh, fruit, bread, and other viands-while of every article a sample from each quarter of the globe was presented at the same time. The means of accomplishing this are easily explained, by his having touched at Algiers, in his passage from America, and being at anchor so near the shores both of Europe and Asia. FOREIGN LANGUAGES. Remarks on the History of Italian Poetry. Qualunque sia stata la provincia onde traesse la sua origine l'Italiana poesia, per quanto deboli e fiacchi vogliano dirsi i primi suoi passi, ella si vide certamente nella Toscana al principio del secolo decimo quarto calcare con fermo piede le scoscese cime del Pindo. Dante e il Petrarca sì fanno anche oggidì venerare non tanto come i padri, quanto come i veri maestri della poesía; e il Petrarca singolarmente condusse tant' oltre la dolcezza e soavità della lingua, l'armonia, e la tornitura del verso, che nessuno in tanta serie di secoli l'ha potuto finora sorpassare: l'esempio di questi due grand' uomini rimase infruttuoso per molti anni. Non solo nello stesso secolo decimoquarto, ma neppur nel seguente non si levarono eccellenti poeti, che ardissero gareggiare con quelli; anzi di tutto il secolo decimo quinto si contrano appena il Conti ed il Poliziano, che possono meritare la lettura de' posteri. Ma sortì poi nel decimosesto una copiosa vena d'acque Castalie, che servì a fecondare tutti i campi dell' Italiana poesía. Allora la lirica ebbe un sì numeroso e nobile seguito d'illustri poeti, che appena fra l'immensa folla distinguere si potevano i Bembi, i Molza, i Casa, i Costanzi, i Cari, ed altri sì rinomati Campioni dell' Italiano Parnasso. Allora la drammatica lasciando le volgari farse, e i puerili trattenimenti, fece i suoi sforzi per richiamare sul teatro Italiano il coturno ed il socco greco, ed introdurvi il buon gusto. Allora la didascalica incontro i piu fedeli imitatori del gran Virgilio. Allora la burlevole e maligna satira, allora la buccolica e pastorale, allora tutti i generi di poesia furono con molto ardore coltivati, e noi vedremo quanti vantaggi abbia ciascuno ricevuti dagli studj degli Italiani. L'epica singolarmente venne per la lor opera a sì alto grado di dignità, che nessuna altra nazione ha mai potuto uguagliarla; ed un Ariosto ed un Tasso non si trovano registrati negli annali poetici d'alcun popolo fuor dell' Italia. Ma appunto dopo questo innalzamento cominciò a decadere; e le Muse Italiane, capaci di destare invidia col loro canto alla greca ad alla romana, cambiarono stile, e in bocca al Marini, all' Achillini, ed al Preti, invece della naturale armonía, e della spontanea soavità fecero sentire l'effeminatezza e l'affettazione, e i meretricj lezzi succedettero alla matronale maestà. Per buona sorte del gusto Italiano quel male non ebbe lunga durata; e lo stesso secolo, che l'introdusse con tanto applauso, lo vide sbandire con vitupero. Alla fine del passato secolo si cominciò già a muover guerra al corrotto gusto, e a ristabilire il sano nell' Italiana poesía, che per tanto tempo gli aveva fatta lieta accoglienza. Ma al principio di questo secolo uomini di maggior peso applicaro le rispettabili loro mani alla conclusione gloriosa di questa nobile impresa. Così la poesía Italiana grande si può dire dallo stesso suo nascere: ha poi sofferte varie vicende; ma ha saputo conservar sempre il suo buon nome, e si è fatta rispettare da tutte le altre nazioni. All' Italia. Di V. Filicaia. Italia, Italia, o tu a cui feo la sorte Che in fronte scritti per gran doglia porte: Nè te vedrei, del non tuo ferro cinta, Pugnar col braccio di straniere genti Per servir sempre o vincitrice o vinta. La Bellezza in Liberta. Gemeva la Bellezza D' Amor fra le catene avvinta e oppressa; Il Tempo le si appressa, E colla falce le divide e spezza; A lei che esulta allor lieta e felice, Le presenta uno specchio, e poi le dice JUVENILE DEPARTMENT. MINERALS. No. 5. Hornblend is not so common a stone as the three first described, in the three last. numbers of this Magazine. It is also not so remarkable in its appearance, and therefore may be more difficult for a stranger to discover, and to become acquainted with. It is dark-colored, commonly black or greenish, in small plates, shining feebly, like imperfect chrystals, as they are. It may be mistaken for black isinglass; but if you pick it with a pin, though it is easily scratched, it it will not split, and it is not elastic. Sometimes it is found in lumps, and is then very heavy and tough. Hornblend is not put to any use, but forms part of a kind of rock now much used in building in some parts of our country. This is Sienite, a rock composed of feldspar and hornblend. It is sometimes called granite, or Quincy granite, but incorrectly. The New York Exchange and many other buildings here and in some of our other cities, are made of it. Remarks on some of the principal rocks. -It is remarkable that, in all countries, certain rocks are found deep down in the earth, with no other kinds below them, and that these are made of quartz, feldspar and mica, or of feldspar and Hornblend. The same kinds of rocks are also found on the tops and in the hearts of the highest mountains on the globe. There they have the appearance of having been raised up from below by almighty power. Many of the metals and precious stones are found in those rocks, so that it is important to be acquainted with them. The primitive, or original rocks, are generally known by having shining particles, being crystaline in their structure. They never have petrifactions of any kind in them. There are several kinds of primitive rocks yet to be mentioned. They are now generally believed to have been once melted by some great heat. No. 6.-Gypsum or Plaster of Paris.Whoever does not know this useful and curious stone, should get a specimen as soon as he can, and lay it by, and look at it often, until he becomes familiar with it. So he should do with others, as I have said before. It is commonly nearly white, and sometimes quite so. It varies in shades to brown, and is sometimes yellowish, reddish, and the most beautiful specimens are pink. Often a light-colored piece has dark crystals in it. It was such a stone which first turned my attention to mineralogy, on the science of stones, as I have mentioned in the 8th number of this Magazine, page 125. Gypsum is soft. You can commonly scratch it with your finger nail. It crystalizes in flat, transparent plates, like glass, and is often mistaken for isinglass, but will not split so thin, and is not elastic. In northern Syria and some other countries it is used to make windows. Fibrous gypsum looks as if it were made of threads stuck together. It sometimes breaks in flakes, lake a boiled fish. Internal Qualities. We learn from Chemistry that Gypsum is made of lime and a very strong acid, which when pure, looks like oil, and will take the skin off from your hand in a moment. Pure lime will do the same. But, when both are united, they make this stone, which is perfectly harmless. This acid is oil of vitriol, or sulphuric acid, being made of sulphur and a kind of air or gas, called oxygen, which is found in most acids. Gypsum is called sulphate of lime, by chemists, according to a plan they have for naming things. Of this I may tell you more hereafter. But beside these two things, gypsum contains a great deal of water. "Water?" you will say, perhaps, "why don't we see it then?" Because as it is kept solid in ice by cold, it is in gypsum without cold. Do you want to know why? That you understand as well as I or any body else. We cannot find out why, any more than what makes grass green. Uses.-Gypsum is chiefly used to fertilize land. A few bushels, ground fine and spread on an acre, will often make things grow a great deal better. It was for a long time brought to our country from Nova Scotia; but now we get great quantities in several of our states. It is used also to make images and ornaments, to cover our house walls, to make moulds in stereotyping, &c. Any body can copy coins with it, or a cutglass dish, or the shape of an apple. Grind the plaster to powder and heat it in a kettle. It will boil like water, because the water in it is turned by the heat to vapor. When it stops boiling, cool it. Mix it with water like paste and put it into or on what you wish to copy. In about a quarter or half an hour it will be turned to stone, and will easily come off, if the thing is so shaped as to let it. In this way statues are often copied, and cast made of men's faces. The man lies on a table, shuts his eyes, has two pipes or rolls of paper stuck into his nostrils, and then wet plaster is laid on his face till it hardens. More plaster is then cast into this mould. MISCELLANEOUS. The Portland Vase. It will be gratifying to the lovers of the antique, and to the patrons of modern ingenuity to know, that the attempt to restore the Portland Vase as mentioned in our last English files, and undertaken by Mr. Doubleday of London, is announced as being quite successful. A number of the London Sun received by the Great Western, states that the vase was shortly to be submitted to public inspection very little blemished by the effects of an injury which at first seemed to be irreparable. Sir Henry Ellis and other antiquarians have expressed their approbation of the neatness with which the work has been completed, and of the ingenuity of the artists employed. Edward Lloyd, the author of the mischief, left London, it is said, immediately on his discharge, and returned to Dublin, and it is understood to be the intention of the Duke of Portland to insti tute proceedings against him for the damage done to his property.-Selected. A True Gentleman.-A true gentleman is God's servant, the world's master, and his own man. His virtue is his business, his study his recreation, contentedness his rest, and happiness his reward; God is his father, and the church is his mother, the saints his brethren; all that need him his friends, and heaven his inheritance. Religion is his mistress, Loyalty and Justice his two Maids of honor; Devotion is his chaplain, Chastity his chamberlain, Sobriety his butler, Temperance his cook, Hospitality his housekeeper, Provi dence his steward, Charity his treasurer, Piety his companion, and Discretion his porter, to let in and out, as is most fit. Thus is his whole family made af virtues, and he is the true master of the family. He is necessitated to take the world in his way to heaven, but he walks through it as fast as he can, but all his business by the way is to make himself and others happy. Take him in all in two words, he is a Man and a Christian.-Selected. Receipts. From "Every Lady's Book" a little volume just pub · lished by a Lady of New York. To Make Wheat Bread.-To one quart of warm water put a gill of good yeast, stir in flour to make a thin batter, and let it stand in a warm place all night. Next morning put seven pounds of flour in a wooden bowi or tray; heap it around the sides, leaving a hollow in the centre; add to the sponge or yeast batter, a bit of volatile salts the size of a small nutmeg, dissolved in hot water, and a piece of alum as large as a hickory-nut, finely powdered; stir it with a spoon until it is a light foam; then pour it into the hollow of flour; add to it a heaping tablespoonful of salt, and a quart or more of warm water; with this, work all the flour into a dough; dip your hands in flour frequently, to keep the dough from sticking to them; work the dough well; when it is a smooth mass, divide it into two or three loaves, and put it into buttered basins; stick the top of each with a fork; let them stand for one hour; then bake. The rule for bread-baking is a hot oven, and one hour; if the loaves are large, they may require longer baking. If this receipt is strictly followed, there can be no failure. One teaspoonful of salæratus may be used in place of the volatile salts and alum but the bread is not as white or sweet. When the volatile salts are used, more than a quart of water will be necessary. French Rolls. Work one pound of butter into a pound of flour; put to it one beaten egg, two teaspoonsfuls of yeast, one teaspoonful of salt, and as much warm milk as will make a soft dough; strew flour over; cover it with a cloth, and set it in a warm place for an hour or more, until light; flour your hands well; make it in small rolls; bake in a quick oven. English and Continental Railways.Great Britain counts at present 1,984 miles of railway at work, and nearly 1,240 in course of construction. Germany possesses 1,320 miles, decreed and in progress. Belgium has finished 152 miles of railway, and is now making 86 more. Taken in reference to the population of each country, the lengths of railway, finished or in progress, gives-In England, 11,78 miles to 100 ininhabitants; in Belgium, 10-74 miles to 100 inhabitants; in Germany, 9-64 miles to 100 inhabitants; in France, 9-50 miles to every 100 inhabitants. France, therefore, holds the last rank, and of all the great nations of the continent makes, iudividually, the least exertion in favor of railways.-Selected. Iron Mines in Missouri.-The qualities of the iron ore which composes the vast mountain to the westward of St. Louis, Misousri, has at last been fairly tested. The Governor of Missouri has received from Monsieur Alexander Vattemare, of Paris, an acknowledgement of the receipt of specimens of that ore, which were submitted to the Royal Institute of mines, and on a proper analysis, it has been discovered to be superior to the best Sweedish iron, which for a long time has been considered the best in Europe.-St. Louis New Era. This A few days ago at Noras, in the commune of Olivet (Loiret), a considerable portion of the surface of the earth sunk suddenly, and in its place a lake, 60 yards in circumference, and 20 yards in depth was formed. phenomenon is presumed to have been caused by the falling in of some old quarries, and that the water comes from the Loiret, which had found some subterranean channel, and, perhaps, by its constant working, had undermined the ground. It is very fortunate that no one was lost on the occasion, as a much frequented path between Olivet and Ardon passed over the very spot.-Selected. ROUTE TO CHINA.-The Missouri Reporter says:-"In a letter written by Mr. Jefferson, soon after the purchase of Louisiana, that distinguished statesman pointed out the practicability of a route to China over the western prairies and the Pacific. This grand idea, based on the remarkable forecast of that wonderful man, has been revamped repeatedly since by other persons, and palmed off as original with themselves. That such a route will be established, at some day not far distant, recent events authorize us to believe most sincerely." |
