Du Buque visitor. [volume], November 09, 1836, Image 1

About Du Buque visitor. [volume] (Dubuque, Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1836-1837

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PUBLISHED WEEKLY
BY JOHN KIKC,
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0HE
From the Knickerbocker.
AMERICAN SOLDIER'S SONG.
Here's ait arm for thee, my country!
'Twill far and sternly dare,
When the cloudy battle gathers dark,
And the war-shouts rend the air.
Here's a heart for theo my country!
Free be its red blood spilt:
A coward!—'tis the name who yields,
While one warm pulse is felt!
Here's a soul for thee my country!
A firm determined soul—
Press on to glory or the grave,
Press to the hero's goal!
My beautiful green country!
A glorious real is thine,
Witli the oceans for thy mighty bounds—
Our eagle swept their brine.
Land of our patriot fathers!
Land of the 'mighty free!'
Here's along hurrah for Washington,
And his home of liberty!
Lift the noble flag above us!
Let the stormy war-drums roll
Those stars are high as the warrior's hopes,—
That music speaks his soul.
Arm for the stirring conflict,
Lot the serried spears flash high
Ann! for the god of battle leads
Our hosts to vie tory!
GAMBLING HOUSES.—It is the custom with the
press of this city, when speaking of the capture of
any malefactor by a police officer, or the apprehen
sion, after a long and arduous chase, of a refugee
from justice, to trumpet the praise of a police "of
ficer who effected the exploit, and to designate him
as "active,'t "intelligent," "indefatigable," and
"vigilant," and to exhaust the laudatory terms of
the dictionary in eulogiuius upon his tact and assi
duity, his unerring sagacity, his skill in developing
the deepest laid schemes of iniquity, and his inte
grity in withstanding the most alluring offers to in
duce him to connive at the escape and impunity of
the offenders. VVe have 110 doubt that jail this is
well founded, and that the police of New York is
endowed with the most super-eminent keenness of
observation, and that as a "committee of public
safety" they are unrivalled!—and yet how is it,
that, with such efficient, omniscient, and omnipre
sent characteristics, we hear daily such complaints
made of the prevalence of gambling, and the ruin
of so in&ny individuals, and the distress of so many
families attributed to this shocking propensity and
infatuation] In the immediate neighborhood of
the theatres, we are told, that these dens of infamy
and villany, these veritable "hells," flourish ex
ceedingly, and are carried on openly, and without
precaution that access thereto is a matter of the
completes! facility, and that young and old, trades
men and clerks, are to be found there nightly, woo
ing the fickle goddess, and rushing to her embraces
over aground strewed with ruined hopes, perverted
genius, mental qualities which have become a curse
to their possessor, and all the bright promises of
life tarnished and baffled, and offer up as a sacri
fice to the fatal idol of excitement and avarice,
which end in madness, and whose disappointment
is met by despair and suicide.
Th* approaches to this ensnaring vice are more
insidious than the blandishments by which the young
and inexperienced are allured to any other forbid
den enjoyment amusement becomcs habitude
and an evil habit degenerates into a positive vice
vicious indulgences assume the aspect of crime, and
the headlong desccnt to fraud, violence, and murder
is marvellously rapid. While an individual gazes
in fancied security at the scene, he is insensibly
harried to the brink of the precipice and after
merely hazarding his own means, he comes by de
grees to take the property of others to feed his des
tructive appetite for play, and his imprudence in
the first instance paves the way to robbery forgery
comes next and the fearful catalogue of mortal
frailty is closed with self-destruction or murder.
The number of these establishments where rou
lette and faio tables are accessible in ihiscily would
frighten the innocent, and should be a matter of
deep anxiety to the city 'authorities,and their agents.
It is not by adjudicating upon crimes already com
mitted, and punishing the perpetrators, that the
R£f.ce ""dgood order of society can be preserved.
I his can only be effected by removing and destroy
ing the facilities and means of crime—and this end
it is in the power of the police to accomplish. They
know the location of every establishment of this
kind as well as of every biothel, and it is their du
iml.and
V,eco'ne
,he
out this deadly evil.
instruments ol rooting
xf
they do not choose to de­
tain and expose those caught in the forbidden game,
they can at least destroy the implements
of mischief
—-and until this be done, it w ill be absurd for us to
raise an outcry against the viciousness of other ci
ties, and proclaim our own superior morality. The
negligcnce and supinenessof the police is, in fact
^een*e•
an('
of
®ve« i« Paris, the great sink
Of European vice and depravity, they have refused
to allow the existence of licensed establishments of
this character!
ihl8 "I'1
th°roughlyand
timely probed,
eradicated, and a searching caustic applied, the
consequences will be awfully manifest, and the in-
®nme? broach of trust, plunder, forgery,
and the other crimes which follow in the train ofd£
grace and despair will succeed in fearful and rap-
10
increase. We. have said our §ay.
jy. York TratueripL
A BACHELORS IDEA OP A WIFE.
A wife should have nine qualifica
tions which begin with the letter P.
Piety, Perseverance, Patience, Pru
dence, Patriotism,Politeness,Persua
sion, Penetration, and portion.-That
Which should be first of all, and most
of all in consideration, which is piety,
is now-a-day the least of all, the last
of all, and with many not at all.-—
That which should be the last of all,
of all in consideration, which
become first of all
E E O
OR, SCENES AT THE GENERA L.WAYNE,
A TALE BY MISS LESLIE.
(Continued from Nn. 20.)
The (upper table was now sot, and Mr. Culpep
per had aecome so gracious with his landlord, as to
propose :hat he and his nephews should eat with
the family during their stay. "That is what my
guests aiways do," said Colonel llrighain "and
then we can see that all is right, and th&t they are
well served."
When supper cK^ie in, -Mr. Culpepper declined
leaving the drc-silo and having previously had
some tapioca brought from one of his travelling box
es, and prepared according to his own directions,
he commenced his repast on a small round table or
stand, that was placed beside him, declaring that
his evening meal never consisted of any thing more
than a little tapioca, sago, or arrow root.
But after taking a survey of the variety of nice
looking things that were profusely spread on the
supper-table, the old gentleman so far broke through
his rule, as to say he would try a cup of tea and a
rusk. When Mrs. Brigham had poured it out, the
four nephews, who at their uncle's sign manual,
had just taken their scats at the table, all started
up at once tohand him his cup, though there was
a black boy in attendance. The business was final
ly adjusted by one of the Mr. Lambleys taking the
tea-cup, one the cream-jug,
one the sugar-dish, and
one the plate of rusk and he of the cup was kept
going all the time, first to have more water put in
to it, then more tea, then more water, and then
more tea again. The inavlid next concludcd to
try a cup of coffee to counteract, as lie said, any
bad effects that might arise from the lea and he
ventured, also, 011 some well-buttered buck-wheat
cake and honey. He was afterwards emboldened
to attempt some stewed chicken and milk-toast, and
finally finished with preserved poaches and crcam.
All these articles were carried to him by his ne
phews, jumping up and running with an empresse
mcnt, that excited the amazement of Mrs. Brig
ham, the pity of Fanny, the smiles of her father,
atid the indignation ot'Oliver.
The females retired with the supper equipage
and finding that Col. Brigham had served in the
war of independence, Mr. Culpepper engaged him
in recounting some reiuiniscncesof those eventful
times for the veteran had seen and known much
that was well worth hearing.
The Mr. Lambleys, unaccustomed to feel or to
afleet an interest in any thing that was not said or
done by their uncle, looked very weary, and at last
became palpably sleepy. They all sat in full view,
and within reach of old Culpepper, who, whenever
he perceived them to nod, or to show any other in
dication of drowsiness, poked at them with his cane,
so as effectually to rouse them for a time, causing
them to start forward, and set their faces to a smile,
stretching up their eyes lokeep them wide open.
At last the Colonel, who was much amused by the
absurdity of the scene, cume to a full pause. "Uo
on," said Culpepper, "never mind their nodding.
1'jl see that they do not go to sleep."
The Colonel, out of compassion to the young
men, shortened his story as much as possible, and
finally,
011 Mrs. Briglutm sending in tlio black boy
with bed-candles, Mr. Culpepper looked at his
watch, and rose from his chair. The nephews
were all on their feel in a moment. One tied the
old man's fur tippet round his neck, to prevent his
taking cold in ascending the stair-case, another put
on his hat for him, and the two others contended
for the happiness of carrying his cloak. "What are
you about."' said Mr. Culpepper, "do you not see
my great coat there on the chair? Take that, one
of you."
He bade good night, and the procession began to
move, headed by Peter, the black boy, lighting
them upstairs.
As soon as they were entirely out of hearing,
Colonel Brigham, who had with difficulty restrain
ed himself, broke out into ri laugh, but Oliver tra
versed the room indignantly.
"I have 110 patience," said he, "with such fel
lows. To think that full-grown men—men that have
hands to work and get their own living, should hum
ble themselves to the dust, and submit to be treat
ed as lacqueys by an old uncle, (or indeed' by any
body,) merely because he happens to be rich, and
they expect to get his money when he sees proper to
die, which may not be these twenty years, for it is
plain that nothing ails him. 'I'd rather be a dog
and bay the 1110011,' as I once heard an actor say in
the Philadelphia play-house—Now I talk of Phila
delphia 1 have engaged allour nextbarley to Wort
ley and Hopkins. Tliey pay better than Maltman
and Co.—But these Lambleys, Shcepleys rather—
1 saw them from the barn handing the old fellow out
of the stage. I almost expected to see them lift his
feet for him I was glad he scattered them all as
soon as he had got down the steps. I dare say if
he rides on horseback, they all four run beside hiin
and hold him 011 his horse.—Now I talk of horses,
I've concluded to keep the two bay colts, and raise
them myself. Tom Martingale shall not have them
for the price he offers.—To see how these chaps
fetch and carry, and raise up and sit down, just at
that old fellow's beck. It would be harder work to
111c than following the plough from sun-rise to sun
set, were
1 obliged to do so.—Now I talk of plough
ing I bought another yoke of oxen yesterday, and
hired a Dutchman. I shall put the five acre field in
corn.—That old villain! you may see by his eye
that he is despising them all the time. Why should
not he 7 ninnies as they are. I wonder where they
all came froin 1
do not believe they are Ameri
cans]"
"And yet," said Colonel Brigham, "they do not
speak like Englishmen, and I am sure they are nei
ther Scotch nor Irish."
"Ihear them all pacing about up stairs in the old
fellow's room," said Oliver "think of four men
putting one man to bed, or of
any one man allowing
four to do it. But 'their souls are subdued to what
they work in,' as I heard another play-actor say.
By tho bye, the old rogue has forgotlon his red box,
and left it on the inantle-piece. I wonder what is
in it?"
"May be its full of gold money," said Mrs. Brig
ham, who had just entered the room with Fanny,
the daughterproceedingto put,back the chairs, while
the mother swept up the hearth.
"Bank notes rather," said Oliver.
"Jewels, I think," said Fanny.
"Deeds of property, perhaps,'? said the Colonel.
''Well, well," said Mrs. Brigham, "'tis time
for all good people to be in bed, so we'll let the
strangers and their box rest till to-morrow."
"I think," observed the Colonel, "the box had
better be carried up to thein. Take it Oliver."
"I just heard the young men leave their uncle's
room to go to their own," said Mrs. Brigham. "May
be it won't do to disturb him, now he's in bed."
"Then let it be taken to the young men," return
ed the Colonel. "Where have you put them?"
"I told Peter to shew them all to the four-bedded
room, at the other end of tha house," answered
Mrs. Brigham, "as they seemed to be alike in eve
ry thing, Isujiposed they'always preferred sleeping
in the same pfewe. All the four beds hare exactly
the same blue and white coverlets."
"Well," said Oliver, "I'll take them the box
as I pass their room on the way to my own. But I
must go first to the stable, and see how Sorrell's
foot is I cannot be satisfied if I do not look at it
VOL. I.] DU BUQUE, (LEAD MINES,) WISCONSIN TERRITORY, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9,11836.
U O U U I E E U I O O O U A I
their apartments, and Olivor took a lantern and
went to the stable, to inspoct again the^state of the
disabled horse.
When the four Lambleys waited on their uncle
out of the parlor, they all perceived that tho old
gentleman had for the first time forgotten to take
the red morocco box with him, and thoy allexcfean
ged glances to this effect, being used to oach other's
signs. After they had gone through tho tedious
process of seeing him to bed, and carefully folding
Jip-hi«-4i-uiiieiiou.4 £«uuiuuu, ihey~iic1d a cousulfa-
tion in their own roem and, accustomed to aelitig
in concert, they concludcd that 3s soon as the home
was quiet, they would all go down stairs tqgetlitr
and bring up the red box. Fortunately fqf' them,
they knew Mr. Culpepper to be a sound*sleeper,
notwithstanding his constant assertions tl the con
trary, and that he always went to sleep is soon as
he was in bed. i
When they came into the parlor, whire all was
now dark and silent, they set their caiulli on the ta
ble, and taking down the red box, one ol them said,
"At last we have an opportunity of satiifying our
selves."
'Tis the first time," said another, "that tho
box has ever been out of the old villain'spogsession.
How strange that he should not have missed it. He
must have had something in his head «iore than u
sual to-night."
"He even forgot to take his lozenges before he
wentto-bed," said tho third.
"James," said the fourth, "didyou slip the little
key out of his under waistcoat pocket, as I signed
to you to do while you wcro folding it up 7"
"To be sure I did," replied James, "here it is,"
(dangling it by the red ribbon that was tied to it.)
"But do you open the box George, for I am afraid."
"CJive me the key then," said George, "for wo
have no time to lose."
hat a lucky chance said Richard Lambley.
"Now," said W illiam, "we shall learn what we
have been longing to discover lor the last 5years."
The key was turned, and the box opened. A fol
ded parchment lay within it, tied round with a rcifc
tape. Each of the brothers simultaneously put out)
a hand to grasp it. 1
"One at a time," said the elder, taking it out anil
opening it "just as we suspected. It is the oh}
fellow's will, regularly drawn up, signed and wit
nessed."
They looked over each other's shoulders in in
tense anxiety, whilo the eldest of the brothers, in a
low voice, ran over the contents of the parchment,
There was a unanimous exclamation of surprise
that amounted almost to horror, when, after the u
sual preamble, they came to some explicit words,
by which tho testator devoted the whole of his prop
erty to the endowmentof a hospital for idiots. They
had proceeded thus far, when thoy wore startled by
tho entrance of Oliver, who saw in a moment in'
what manner they were all engaged. They hastU
ly folded up the will, and replaced it in the box, of
which they directly turned tho key, looking very
much disconcerted.
"I was coming," said Oliver, selling down ihis
lantern, "to get that box and take it to you, fiat
you might keep it safe for your uncle till morning.
I have been detained at the stable longer than ex
pected, doing something fbralamc horse."
There was a whispering among the Lamblej?.
"Very well," said one of them to Oliver, "the
box can stand 011 the mantle-piece till morning,and
then when my uncle comes down he can gel it for
himself, lie must not be disturbed with itto-u fcht
and no doubt it will bo safe enough here."
The trurli was, they were all justly improved
with the persuasion, thai if Mr. Culpepper knew
the box to have been all night in thoir rrtoin,
he would believe, as a thing of course, that they had
opened it by some means, and examined its ton
tents. Servility and integrity rarely go together.
They whispered again, and each advanced to
wardsOiiver, holding out a dollar.
"What is this for," said Oliver, drawing bafik.
"We do not wish you," said one of the Lamb
leys, "to mention to any one, that you found us
examining this box."
"Why should i men'ion it?" replied Oliver, "do
you suppose I tell every thing I. see and hear? But
what is that money for?"
"For you," said tho Lambleys
"What am I to do for it?"
"Keep our secret."
Oliverstaited back, coloured to his temples, con
tracted his brow, and clonching his hands, said, "I
think I could beat you all four. 1 am sure of it.
could knock every one of you down, and keep you
there, one after another. Audi will do it too, if
you don't put up that money this instant."
The Lambleys quickly returned the dollars to
their pockets, murmuring an apology and Oliver
paced the room in great agitation, saying, "I'll go
west. I'll go to the backest of the back woods no
body there will affront me with money."
The Lambleys hastily leplaced the red bo* on
the mantle-piece, and taking an opportunity when
Oliver, as he walked up and down, was at the far
end of the room, with his back to them, they all stole
past him and glided up stairs, to talk over the dis
covery of the night.
Having 110 longer the same motive for submitting
to,the iron rule of thoir uncle, they were eager to
bo Emancipated from his tyranny, and they spent
stnceral hours in canvassing the manner ill which
this was to be effected. They had not candor e
nough to acknowledge that they had inspected the
will, nor courage to break out into open rebellion,
still, knowing what they now did, they feared that
it would be impossible for thein to persevere in their
usual assiduities to Mr. Culpepper, for whom they
could find 110 term that eseiuod sufficiently oppro
brious.
Habit is second nature. The morning found
them wuMial, ijMheir uncle's room to assist at his
toilet, with airtffcif accustomed submission. The
one that had purloined the key of the red box, took
care to contrive an opportunity of slipping it unper
ceived into the pocket, as he unfolded and handed
Mr. Culpepper his under waistcoat.
After he was shaved and drest, and ready to go
down stairs, the old gentleman suddenly missed the
red box, and exclaimed, "Why, where is my box?
What has gone with it? Who has taken it I"
The nephews had all turned their faces to the
windows, and were steadfastly engaged in observ
ing the pigeons
that were walking about the roof of
the porch.
Where's my red box, I say?" vocefcrated the
old mail. "Go and see if I left it down stairs last
night. A thing impossible, though. No, stay, I'll
not trust one of you. I'll go down myself."
He then actually ran down stairs, and on enter
ing the parlor where the breakfast table was alrea
dy set, and tho family all assembled, he espied the
red box standing quietly on the inaiitlc-piece.
"Ah he ejaculated, "there it is. I feared I
had lost it." And he felt 111 his waistcoat pocket
to ascertain if the key was safe.
To Mrs. Brigham's i.iquiry, of "how ho had rest
ed," Mr. Culpepper replied In a melancholy tone,
that he had not slept a wink the whole night. O11
her asking if any thing had disturbed him, here'
plied, "Nothing whatever nothing but the usual
restlessness of ill health." And lie seemed almost
offended when she suggested the possibility of being
asleep without knowing it.
Though he assured the family, when he (at down,
that he had not the slightest appetite, iht howl, of
soon pushed aside, and his breakfast became the
counterpart of his supper the night before.
In taking their soats, the Lambleys, instead of
their customary amicable contention, as to which
of them should sit next their uncle, now, in tho awk
iwardhess of their embarrassment, all got to the oth
|er side of tho table, and ranged themselves opposite
to him in a row. Mr. Culpepper looked surprised,
ead invited Fanny and Oliver to place thcinsolvcs
Ixjside him.
Fiic four young men were very irregular and in
consistent in thoir behavior. As often as their ui\
*rle Slpnifisd any of his numerous wanvrf their ha
bitual sycophancy caused thein to start forward to
wait 011 him but their rocent disappointment with
regard to the disposal of his wealth, and thoir se
cret consciousness of the illicit means they had
made use of to discover the tenor of his will, ren
dered them unable to watch his countenance, and
anticipate his demands by keeping their eyes 011
his face, as heretofore.
Their uncle saw that they were all in a strange
way, and that something unusual was possessing
them, and frequently in the midst of his talk with
Col. Brigham, he stopped to look at them and won
der. Something having reminded him of acortain
ridiculous anecdote, he related it to the amusement
Dftho
Brighams, who heard it for the first time. Mr.
Culpepper, 011 looking over at his nephews, per
ceived that instead of laughing in concert, (as they
always did at this, his favorite joke,) thoy all ap
peared distrait, and as if thoy had not paid tho
slightest attention to it. He bent forward across
tho table, and fixing his keen eyes upon them, said
witha scrutinizing look and in anundcr-tono, "You
have been reading my will!"
The poor Lambleys
all la
id down their knivesand
forks, turned pale, and nearly fell back in their
chairs.
"Don't expose yourselves farther," whispered
Culpepper, leaning across to them, "I know you
all and then turning to Colonel Brigham, ho
with much sangfroid pursued tho conversation.
Oliver, (who alone of the family understood what
was passing,) began to foel much compassion for
tho poor young men. The scene bocame very pain
ful to him, and finding that his aversion to the un
cle was increasing almost beyond concealment, ho
hastily finished hiscoffee, and quitted tho room.
When breakfast was over, and thoy were all loa
ving tho table, old Culpepper said aside to his ne
phews, "In founding an hospital lor idiots, I still
give you an opportunity of benefiting by my boun
ty."
They reddened, and were about to quit the par
lour, when their unclc, takiug a chair himself, said
to them, "sit down, ail of you." They mechani
cally obeyed, looking as if they were about to re
ceive sentence
of death. Fanny began to feel fright
ened, and glided out of the room her mother having
just followed the departure of tho breakfast things.
Colonel Brigham rose also to go, whon Mr. Cul
pepper stopped him, saying, "Kemain my good
friend. Stay and hoarmy cxplanition ofsoiuo things
that must have excited your curiosity."
He then took down the red box. The nephews
looked at each other, and a sort of whisper ran a
long the line, which-ended iu their all jumping up
together, and bolting out at the door.
Mr. Culpepper gazed after them awhile, and
then turned towards Colonel Brigham with a sardo
nic laugh on his face. "Well, well," said he,"they
are right. It is refreshing to see them for once act
ing naturally. It was, perhaps, expecting too much,
even of them, to suppose thoy would set still and lis
ten to all I was likely to say, for they know me
well. Yet, if they hud not read my will, they would
not have dared to quit the room when 1 ordered
them to remain."
He then proceeded to relate that he was a native
of Quebec, where iu early life he had long been en
gaged in a very profitable commercial business, and
had been left a widower at tho age ol lorty. A few
years afterwards he married again. Hissecond wife
was a lady
of large fortune, which she made over to
him, on condition that he should take her family
liumo of Culpepper. The Mr. Lambleys were the
nephews of his wife, being the childron of her
younger sister. O11 the death of their parents, ho
was induced by her to give them a home in his
house.
The four Lomblcys had very
little property of their
own, their father having dissipated nearly all that
he had acquired by his marriage. They had -been
educated for professions, in which it was soon found
that they had neither the ability nor tho persever
ance to succeed theirwhole souls seeming concen
trated to 011a point, that of gaining the favor of their
uncle, (who lost his second wife a few years a.'t:
their marriage,) and with this object they vied with
each other in a course of unremitting and untiring
servilities, foolishly supposing it the only way to
accomplish their aim of eventually becoming his
heirsr
All that they gained beyond tho payment of their
current expenses, was Mr. Culpepper's unqualified
contempt. Ho made a secret resolution to revenge
himself011 their duplicity, and to disappoint their
mercenary views by playing them a trick at the last,
and he had a will drawn up, in which he devised
his whole property to the establishment of a hospi
tal. This will he always carried about with him
in the morocco box.
lie had come to ihe United States on a tour for
the benefit of his health, and also to satisfy himself
as to the truth of all lie had heard respecting the
unparalleled improvement of the country since it
had throwu off lite yoke, which his fellow subjects
ofCanada were still satisfied to wear.
"And now," continued Mr. Culpepper to his
landlord, "you have not seen all that is iu the red
box. 1 know not by what presentiment I am im
pelled, but short as our acquaintance has been, 1
cannot resist an unaccountable inclination to speak
more openly ofiny private affairs to you, Colonel
Brigham, than to any person I have ever mot with,
i foci pereuaded that I shall find no causc to regret
having done so. It is a long time since I have had
any one near me to whom I could talk {confidential
ly." And he added with a sigh, "I fear that I
inay say with Shakspcare's Itichard, 'there is 110
creature loves me.'"
Mr. Culpepper then opened the red box, and took
out from beneath the will, and several other docu
ments that lay under it, a folded paper, which he
hold in his hand for some moments in silence. He
then gave it to Col. Brigham, saying, "Do.you o
pen it I cannot. It is more than twenty yeais
since
I
have seen it."
To be continued.)
THE FAR WEST.—Where shall we fiud the far
west? Within your recollection nnd mine, this
spot was so considered but now, tho west is barely
thought of, whon speaking of Buffalo and evon at
Chicago, you hear tho west spoken of, as wo did of
Buffalo a few years ago. The. vast tide of emigra
tion cannot be stopped until the Pacific opposes a
barrier. I have just left a gentleman who has made
large purchases on the Rock River,and who informs
1 me that it is one of the most beautiful countrios in
the western world.
i At tho early period of the settlement of this coun
try, the water craft were canoes now Buffalo har
bor resembles more a sea-port than many of your
Atlantic cities. Since I have been here (3 days,)
the arrivals have been upward of thirty each day.
Among thein was the new ship Milwaukee, from
Chicago, with a earao of upward of three thousand
unite th»ft 300
tons, of fino model, andhas cfcellent accommoda
tions for passengers: tho farcin the
In tie year 1834,
cabin, to Chi­
cago, is $20. Besides two slws, three brigs, and
a large number of schooners an sloops, (upwards
of
fifty of theni are owned in Bumlo,) there are thir
ty-five American steamboats Ji lake Erie, the ton
nage of which is 8,000 tons—tie capital invested*!!
steam boat stock alone excess one million of dol
lars. Some of tho boats arofof theBfirst class and
are equal 10 your Boston boils—eighteen are over
three hundred tons. Therl fJValeo four British
steam boats which ply on sonw
MR of
this lafe—tho
Mcnuessetuuk, on lake St. j.C'i" ft.rtnWMy.Yti
pairing for Maiden—tho ^humes, aiuTTc*tangue
shine, which runs from Lake Huron to the pper
lakes. Tho annual consumption of wood by tlqge
boats exceeds fifteen thousand cords every season.
During tSe year 1835, there was received at Buf
falo by tVe canal, merchandise, destined for the
west, and without the bounds of thiB state
.•)(!,fUl,.%21bs.
34,W».\l89lbB.
Bring an increase of 2,027,8731bs.
It the same period there was re
ceived at Buffalo,by tho canal, mor
chindiso for Buffalo,
and other pla
ces in western New York 23,3'15,3541bs.
In tho year 1831, 13,-251,f861bs.
-.Being an increase of 9,090,7681bs.
The amount of manufactures the past year was
over two millions of dollars, and the sales of mer
chandise cstimatod at nearly sixmillions and ono
hundred and thirty thousand dollars have been ex
pended in the erection of buildings. These sta
tist ics 1 have gathered from Mr. Crary's history of
Buffalo.—-JV. Y. Spectator.
From tho Michigan Statesman.
SPECULATION.—The rage for spec
ulation in wild lands, though natural
enough in the present stat« of things,
and, indeed, unavoidable to some ex
tent, is, notwithstanding, a great rmpe
diment to the pursuit of agriculture.
Men come to this country to make mo
iiey- by speculating, not by steadily
pursuing a course of tilling the fertile
soil, ol which they become the tempo
rary proprietors, and which soon pass
es into the hands of others, who are
equally disposed to sell out at an ad
vance. llence the low state of the a
gricultural art every where to be seen
in this state and until all the public
land is sold, we despair of seeing even
a beginning to a regular system of cul
tivation^) It is no uncommon sight to
see beautiful and fcHile tracts of land,
even within the view of our villages,
as yet unused to the echo of the wood
man's axe, and lying untoched by the
shear of the ploughman. The minds
of all are too much occupied in dreams
of gathering wealth'in handsful of dol
lars, by speculation, instead of aid
ing dame Nature in her throes to yield
a slow, but sure reward to her votaries.
How much better it would be, if those
who purchase lan«|, would purchase
moderately, and pUt their team to the
plough? Some writer has made the
remark that, "He vho has caused one
spear of grass to grow, where none grew
before, is deserving tl)e gratitude of his
countrymen." But speculators are
thorough egotists. The public good
never enters into their calculations.
For ourselves, we do not look with
complacency on the present rabid state
of the public mind *s to speculation.
The bubble will soori burst, and leave
its usual froth behind, as the only con
solation left for wearisome days and
nights
spent in pursuit evanescent for
tune.
i
There is another view to be taken
of this subject. The present mode of
speculation is a species of gambling,
leading men to rely Upon uncertain c
vents for the completion of their grasp
ing and eager wishes for wealth. It
puts a stop to the pursuit of every oth
er object worth the attainment of good
and virtuous citizens. It operates as an
essential check to efforts to arrive at
moral and intellectual excellence. It
impedes the progress of science and li
terature, and of every species of moral
culture. It leaves the mind a barren
waste, unprepared for the reception ei
ther of moral or religious impressions.
It is the moral upas, which taints, with
the poison of its influence, every aspi
ration of the mind after purity of tho't
and integrity of conduct. Happy is
the man who escapes unscathed the en
ticing vortex!
STOCK-JOBBING,SPECULATION,
&C.-
That a large proportion of the crimes
committed, result directly or indirectly
from the unregulated spirit of specula
tion now so general throughout the U
nioil, is believed by many—though it
might be difficult in most cases to show
their dependence satisfactorily to the
public—that the practic^o!**gambling
in stocks uniformly exert^ deleteri
ous influence on tht. fpofa! perception
of those who induifj^g 't, scarcely ad
mits.of a doubt atmni it unchantabie
to refer many of the suicides that oc
cur among men of supposed fair stand
ing, to an anticipated ruin from a bad
speculation? How many, too, of thoie
who tenant our penitentiaries—-men
whja acquiremcuU ire
such
[NO. 9ff
honor to themselves & country, can date
the downfall of their character and
hopes, to an unlawful effort to retrieve1
an unfortunate throw on the dice board
of gambling speculation? How ^nany
who have been called to consummately
their existence on the scaffold, cover"1*
ing their own and relatives' names with
infamy an® degradation, might tracer
Iated desire for the attainment of wealtn
a desire too vehement to await the
certain results of persevering and pa
tieriyindustry! Why will men jeih
pardiiv their good name so rashly as
many dbywho have already much more
than they need, when they may not
only lose that, but what they prize far
more highly, an honest fame?
Forgeries, and often murder, flow
from the wild spirit of speculation
which is imbibed more or less by tho
American people, and without preten
ding to prescience, we believe a day
of fearful retribution awaits many whose
temerity has outstripped their judg
ments. Can it be expected that crimes
will not increase apace when the geni
al current that warms and enlivens so-^
ci'ety, is chilled or frozen by the breath.
of an all-absorbing avarice? We may
boast of our augmenting wealth, but it
will in the end prove in a measure de«
ceptive, or be found to have been ac
quired at the expense of the moral
wealth of the body politic. These
crude remarks may be baseless, which
will only show we have erred and
should this be the case, there will be a
redeeming consideration in the fact,~
that such error was on the side of safe
ty.—Rochester Republican.
Prince Potemkin.—Of all the men
of his time, the most powerful, the
richest, the most magnificent, without
any contradiction, was Prince Potem
kin. It is impossible to repeat here
all that has been said of this celebrated
favorite of the empress Catharine. He
was ingenious in his magnificence, and
delicate in his gallantry. He was de
sirous, at one time, to oiler to a lady
he admired, a Cashmere shawl, the
most splendid to be found in Europe^1
But how should he manage to induce
her to accept it? He immediately
formed a lottery, and two hundred la
dies each drew by it a Cashmere, that
the richest one might-&H as- a prtitfTO
the lady of his lore. After Catha*J^
rine's journey to the Crimea, and hef^"
return to St. Petersburgh, Potemkin
returned to the army. Several ofjtbe
generals under his command had brot'
their wives there. It was on this oc
casion that he become acquainted with
the princess Dalgorouski» Her name
was Catharine, the same as was the em
press', and when her saint's day arriv
ed, Potemkin, gave a great dinner, as
if in honor of the empress. But he
had the princess placed near himself.
At the dessert, crystal cups, filled with
diamonds, were brought, and the la
dies were served by the spoonful and
when the queen of the feast expressed
her surprise at so much magnificence,
'How can you be astonished at any
thing,' said he, in a low voice, 'when
it is for you that the feast is made.'
This princess, so feasted and honor
ed in a camp, with Asiatic luxury, ex
pressed a wish to see a place assaulted
by the army. She set out before the
appointed time. The breach was not
prepared. The assault was made, how
ever and the consequence of this pre
mature movement was, that two or
three thousand men were sacrificed un
der the walls of Oczakoff, to satisfy the
cruel curiosity of a woman, and the
blind passion of her lover, the cora
mander-in-chiefc
Potemkin, who had governed so
long the empire and the empress, died.
with vexation at seeing a new favorite
preferred to hinwelf. The peace had
just been signed against hts will, oleic
before, he became mortally ill. .Noth
ing, however, could prevent him from
setting out for St. Petersburgh. His
diseases made, in a hours, horrible
advances. The motfj&n of the Carriage4
became insupportable to him. They
laid him
down on a meadow, and there
Potemkin
breathed his last,on the 15th
October, 1791, in the arms of the prin-^*^
cess Branitska, his neice.
dear,' said the princess Qalitgjfrgg|r•
'this great prince, who bad
power, so many diamond»^«ld*MWiP
o i e o n e a e n
property, after
175 mill ions.—J?kc* V
dame Le Brun*
The greatness of life is, to
pf oqnwlve.
as to da
U
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