Constitutional Whig. [volume], March 23, 1824, Image 4

About Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832

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AMklAI, REPORT I
or THE
CAM L COJILMiSSlOJV'E RS,
OF THE STATE OF fiEW-YOUK,
MIESKM'KD TO TIIH LKfilSUTl'UE, 1'Er.lU‘AUY
ao, uhu.
(tOXCM'DED.)
Between Lockport ;\ml Rochester, the canal lias
been prosecuted with energy, though owing to im
controuluble ^causes, it has not nil hcen mane rca
dv for navigation. Tlic spring and tall have both
aiforded very little good wcathet during the last sea
son, and we have hud to encounter much more rock
on this part of the line than was expected. And
there are grounds to believe, that what remains to
he tlone, may he managed more economically during
the ensuing season, than it could have hcen dining
the last. For, in consequence of the competition for
labourers, on so great u length of line as was then
in the course of construction, wages were high. And
the severe drought of IIS^.', made it very expensive
to obtain the vegetables for men, and the coarse
grain and hay for cattle. The completion of the
Champlain Canal, ot the eastern section of the Uric
canal, and of a part of the western section thereof,
with the more abundant harvests of last season,
have now reduced these causes of expense, within
moderate limits.
The whole country lyw^bctwren Gr-ncssec river
and the Mountain Ridge, whore the canal nuts, is j
underlaid by rock, but very little stink beneath the I
surface of the earth. In several places rock con-!
stitutes the surface, and in many others, we conic in j
contact with it considerably above the bottom of;
the canal. On this section of the canal line, we i
have met with rock from two to eighteen feet in j
depth, or thirty-six sections. And the expense ofi
excavating this material, as well as the quantity to 1
he removed, has much exceeded all previous calcu
lation. It has cost from three to ten shillings per cu- !
bic yard. Anil we have almost uniformly found,
that wherever rock occurs, the earth around is un
commonly hard, heavy, and expensive to break up
and remove. Of the rock sections, fourteen arc en
tirely completed, and in the,aggregate, at least three
fourths of the other sections are excavated.
From Rochester to Brock Fort, the canal was
completed and filled with water about the tenth of
■October; and this part of the line, about 200 miles ,
in length, produced a toll, before the season closed, ]
of 131 1J. From Brock Port to the Mountain !
Ridge, is about forty-live miles, as measured by the |
canal. Many sections included in this distance are i
completed. AH the heavy mason-work is done;
and the four great embankments at Oak-Orchard
creek, Fish creek. Otter creek and Sandy creek, are
nearly done. In lire county of lienes.ee, the canal
line passes more numerous ridges and ravines, than
it docs any where else in tho same length. In .Mur
ray, Barrc, Gair.os ami Ridgeway, there are several
high ridges to be cut through, and many considera
ble hollows and ravines are there to be filled up, be
sides the four above mentioned. And it is a con
sideratiou of some interest in reference to all these
embankments, that being nearly rais.il to their ut
most height at the close of the last season, they will
be rendered more safe for the admission of water,
when they shall l>c finished, by the greater solidity
nnd compactness which the breaking up of the win
ter, and the rains of the spring will be sure to giro
them. Sandy creek embankment is the highest on the
Erie canal, being about seventy-six feet. The great
embankment across the valley of the Irondetjuot is
saventy-two.
From lltock Tort tajluff.ilo, the Eiie canal is not
yet completed; the distance being about seventy-six
miles. And the best estimate we are able to make
of the money necessary for its completion, is as fol
lows, viz:
From Brock. Port to the brow of the
Mountain Ridge,
For the completion of the five pair of
locks at I.uckuoit,
From Lockpurt to Toncwanta creek,
Tow path, along ToneWanta creek,
Bridges on said tow path.
One lift-lock, and three guard-locks.
From Tone wanta creek to Black Bock
harbor,
Black Bock harbor,
From Black Bock to Buffalo,
Sloop Lock,
.<100,000 J
(it).OOO
1.10,100
1:1,000
1,200
a. >,ooo
70,009
7. >,000 I
■10,500 !
i 2,000 i
$'*:r.,')Oo i
This is exclusive of r»J[ claims for damage®, ami :
all disbursements for superintendence and repair. i
The great aqueduct across the Genesseo river is j
completed. It is a structure of admirable solidity
and beauty, and composed of the most durable ma
terials. It is 802 teet in length, and consists of ele
ven arches supported by the necessary abutments
and piers, and surmounted by strong parapet
wails properly laced on both sides, and protect
ed on the top by a coping of very large and beau
tiful limestone. The whole work is laid in good
water-proof liinc, and thoroughly grouted. The bot
tom of the trunk consists of flagging stone, well fit
ted together, and bedded in thin mortar, and the
towing path is protected on the outside by a sub
stantial, but plain iron railing.
This work has cost more than was originally an
ticipated for the following reasons:
1st. After the contract was taken, and while the
work.was going on, there was a great increase, in
that part of the spate, in tiro price of the necessaries
of life, and of course in that of labour. There
were two successive contracts executed for the com
pletion of this work, the first in Juuc 1821, and the
second in the latter part of the same year. The
second contract was rendered necessary, by the
r death of the man, into whose hands the charge of
the work fell, under the first. Throughout the year
18.21, the price of nil articles required for the sub
sistence of men and cattle, was very low, and the
e xpenses of carrying on canal contracts, was propor
tionabjy reduced. Under the inflpcncc ol this state
of thing®, propositions were made and received for
the construction of the aqueduct. But in 1822, the
advantages of the navigation enjoyed, on that part
of the Erie canal, which was finished, had a great
effect to increase the expcncc of further operations;
and this effect was augmented in the vicinity of
Genesee river, by the extended navigation of 11123.
This was an effect not realized, when the contracts
for the aqueduct were entered into, and it was of
our procurement.
2d. The quarriesof stone which were judged suit
able for this work, were abandoned on trial in con
sequence of their being found insufficient to resist
the power of frost; But before giving them up, con
siderable expense and labor had been laid out upon
them. On searching for other quarries, after /Treat
pains had been taken, none could be found contain
ing stone combining all the qualities, which were
not very difficult of access, very expensive to quar
ry, and very hard to rut. \nd being admonished,
by all our observation of the dangers to which this
work would he exposed, we thought it our duty to
encourage and insist on the using of .tone of unusu
al size, and on having them secured together by
more numerous and larger iron clamps let into the
stone and securely bolted, than we have any where
else thought necessary. The stone chiefly used in
the body of the work, are red sand-stone of very fine
grain and strong cohesion, and composed of silex
and iron. And in quarrying them, which was done
by and splitting,it became requisite to remove many
thousand cubic yards of hard earth, ns the top of
the quarry vas from <ix to fourteen feet below the
surface of the ground. In the plan of this structure,
the elevation of the bottom of the canal above the
bed of the river, and the necessity of providin'* as
much space as possible to discharge the abundant
floods and float wood of the stream, made it iiulis
pcnsiblo to have nearly all the stone cut,and n great
proportion of them to a pattern. The circumstances,
taking into consideration the hardness of the stone
and the wear and tear of tools, has tended greatly
to the increase of expense.
3d, The stone above alluded to, were- unsuitable
for coping. They were found in layers of from two
to five feet thick, and they ronld be detached from
the quarry alone in very large blocks; and we found
it impossible to split them in such a way, as to give
them large beds, with no more than desired thick
ness, The coping used, is of the best quality, and
was obtained from Cayuga county. It is one foot
thick, find is composed of pieces, each one of which
has it large surface ; many of them contain forty
Sttperftcial feet, and the largest still more.
4th. More rock has been excavated in the .bottom
of the river, for the foundation of the abutments and
j»ifr and for the direction of th** float-wood, 'itj-jcV
the centre? of the arches, than wa- exported to “if I
necessary ; and exp. tience has shown tliut tlic ex
cavation of rock,every where,is Rictt e\pc nsi vc than
wo had calculated.
5th. The arches have, nine of them, a span of fif- i
ty feet each, and os their curvature is very gentle, •
and the stone very heavy, strong centres were re
ijuiicil; and as the work of raisin*; and sustaining ;
tn.:.ie was done in tin: channel of a river, it was
inmetitne? inconvenient to use the necessary ma
chinery, and it was subject to other unfavorable con- j
tingeucios.
t»th. When the contracts were both made, it was ;
believed, from some experiments which had been
made, that good water-proof liule might he obtain- J
ed within a short distance from the aqueduct. Hut j
this expectation was disappointed ; none could lie
found and obtained without much greater expense j
than has been anticipated. And much of it was tie- j
tua’ly obtained from a distance of thirty utiles, and I
still more from a distance of seventy miles. The |
quantity of lime used, was about tiiiy thousand bush- I
els, and the cost of furnishing it was great.
We have experienced some trouble fiotn the sand
through which ,ve were compelled to carry the ca
nal. There have been several small breaches of the
banks in 1’ittsford, where this kind of earth pre
vailed, ami in l’erriuton Swamp, considerable quan
tities of it have run into the bottom of the canal.
These evils have been remedied speedily after they
had occurred, and the condition of the bunks has ma
terially improved.
l'ccliug much anxiety in respect to the great em
bankment across the Irondequot, wc took the pre
caution, early in last season, to carry in clay (o line I
the bottom ami sides of that work within, to the
depth of two feet. And from this measure we de
rived great advantage. Still that embankment was
so expensive, and the effect of a breach would be so
injurious, that wc thought it our duty to have it
watched every day, and to have the water drawn
off from it entirely, for about six hours every’ night,
for two thirds of the period during which it has been
navigated. The latter part of the season, water j
stood constantly upon it to the depth of upwards of
three feet. It leaked much less at the close of the
year than it did at the rotnnien~eincnt: and although
an alarm was circulated of its being in danger, afe
tor the navigation was closed, the result of a careful
examination was a firm conviction that the alarm
was groundless.*
During some part of the fall, the quick'nmls in the
Cayuga Marsh subjected the navigation there to
some inconvenience. When the Seneca river was
lowest, heavy loaded boats were not able to pass
clear of the bottom; and some of them employed
lighters. It will probably be expedient to try the
effect of further excavation, with a suitable ma
chine, if the same inconvenience shall occur again.
And, if after all, this mode of operation shall prov
inelVcctual, the evil may he wholly remedied by
building a lock with a small lift.
Between the (jcnc<scc and Seneca rivers, the fol
lowing amounts of toll have been collected in the
course of the past year, viz:
At Kochcster, - 40
Falinyrq, - - 11501 7G
Lyons, - 92C9 95
§20954 11
In all ....
In relation to the iniilillc section :
With the exception of tlie undermining of a small
| culvert, there has been no breach in the canal, or in
terruption in the navigation on this section from the
npetiining of it in the spring, until the close of it by
the ice on the approach of winter.
The supply of water has been more abundant, and
the waste by leaks and absorption, has been less the
last year, than in any former season.
| The locks at Salina, have been completed, and
the side cut lias been extended and connected with
1 the navigation of the Onondaga lake and the .Sene
Exclusive of this work and tiic improvement at
the Otiskanv creek, the expense of this section in re
pairs, and including the construction of some new
| culverts, and drains, and the compensation of the sti
perintendants of toll, amounts to the sum of eight
l thousand nine hundred and ninety-four dollars.
The following amount of toll was collected on this
! Tolls collected ut Mcntz, £26,302 77
: Syracuse 6,-101 46
Salina, 113 71
Rome, 4.165 61
! l.tlca, 40,199 61
£77.593 ‘26
i In relation to the Easton section :
Owing to some repairs that hn<l become necessa
ry, the navigation on this section, early in the spring,
opened no further to tiie eastward titan the Little
Kalis.
In the mouth of May. it was extended to Sprakcr's,
twenty-two miles below the Kalis, where it termina
ted for several months on account of a deficiency of
water between that place and the Schoharie creek.
The LVpiaga. Crewman's, and Sparker’s creeks,
which fall into the line of the canal, at and above
Sprakei’s, and from which a considerable supply of
water had been expected, were at this early period
nearly exhausted hv the uncommon drought which
prevailed in this part of the country.
Under these circumstances, no doubt remained of
I the necessity of obtaining a more copious feeder
j Loin the Mohawk.
Accor tingiy, a (lain was thrown across thr river,
at Johnsville, in the town ofOppenheim, anil the wa
ter thereby so much elevated, as to cause it to flow
into the canal, by a cut of a mile and a half length.
While this was in progress, the opportunity was
improved of strengthening the banks along the line,
particularly near the city of Schenectady, where the
embankments which had been formed of tire alluvi
on of the flats were found too light and porous to
sustain the heavy pressure of more titan ten feet
head of water which had been thrown upon them.
At this place it was necessary to incur a considera
ble expense, in raising the bottom of the canal, and
thus lessening the depth and pressure of the water.
. This precaution had been omitted in constructing!
the canal, in consideration of the difficulty of obtain
ing earth from the adjoining ground, the damage
which it would occasion, the expense of the work,
and in the hope that it would not lie itidispensible.'
The dam above mentioned, together with a guard
lock, the excavation of the cut, and all the other
works connected with tire feeder, were finished in
September, and the abundant supply of water deri
ved from that sourer, after the work was completed,
leaves no appiehciision of a deficiency in future.
The progress of the work between Schenectady
and Albany, was urged with so much effect, that the
whole line was prepared for the reception of the wa
ter abot the fir a of October.
On this part of the canal arc two stupendous n
queducts across the Mohawk, whose aggregate length
exclusive of thewings, is eighteen hundred and nine
ty-two feet.
AnT although it was feared by some, that they
would not be able to resist the impetus of the ire and
current, in the breaking up of the river, by winter fre
shets j yet they have already born twice subjected
lo the hazard of such an occurrence without exhi
biting the lca-it appearance of injury or damage.—
And with the precaution? which are now taking to
secure the lower aqueduct from the infringement of
large masses of floating ice. these works will proba
bly be as permanent as any works of a similar na
ture on the canal.
Between Schenectady and Albany, arc twenty
nine locks, including two at the side, but opposite
the city of Troy, most of which were completed flu
ring the last season, and it is confidently believed,
that some of them, for beauty of material.*, elegance
of woiKinan«hip, and symefry of form, will compare
with any locks in the world.
This part of the line, presented a great variety of
formidable and appalling obstructions, fu some
places it occupies the bed of the river, and is over
hung with lofty precipice.,', which seem to threaten
the temerity of the navigator below. At others, it
is forced through hills and spars of rock, of more
than thirty feet in height, and in its course, ravines
an filled up to the depth ot forty feet, and rallies
are elevated to plains.
I itc work on all that part of the eastern section
which is confuted within (hr narrow valley of the Mo
hawk, has been obstructed with a greater complica
tion of difficulties than can \rt found in any other
part of the canal.
The river for eon idemble di-fences, is hounded
by abrupt shore;, li-inr to great elevation, alternat
ing 1) ‘trtrti rock a; d -’ipwitg rl iV h*l!»J
'f bcsc diore* arc ^fcqucntlj \\ Itli
gtjMics, which sccin to liuvc bceu excavated by moun
tain (orients. It was necessary sometime^ to pro
ject tiie line along tlic face of tlic steep banks, and in
several places, upon the sides of hedges and elitTs.
Whore the canal occupies the bed of the river,the
inter side of the bank is surmounted by enormous
s. pe walls to protect it from abrasion.
K'otie but those who had examined the line previ
ous to the commence lumit of the work ; who lntd
seen the rude anti undulating surface u I'.ich it tra
versed, the rocks which were to he blasted, the iric
giilar ledges filled a it Ii chasms and fibres which were
to form the sides anti basis of a water-tight canal;
the spungy swamps, and gravel beds, ami quick
sands, which were to bo made impervious to water:
and in short, the huge masses of rough materials,
which, with immense labour, were to be reducetl to
svnietry and form, can duly appreciate the etl'ort
which it has required to surmount these various ob
stacles.
The execution of the various works on tlii.v secti
on. has put in requUion all the skill and experience
which had been previously actpiircd.
It has imposed the necessity of constant vigilance
in examining and calculating probabilities in care
fully balancing one difficulty against another, and
in striving to adopt not only the most judicious'plans,
but the best mode of effecting them.
And the canal commissioners and their engineers,
do not hesitate to admit, that hod this section been
roniineiiced originally while their information outlie
Subject of constructing canals was merely theoreti
cal, it is probable that the attempt to complete it.
would either have been entirely abortive, or so im
perfectly executed as to have defeated, and perhaps
| postponed, for a century, the accomplishment -of five
; great work of internal improvement, v. inch is alrea
dy so nearly perfected.
On thu eighth day of October, the first boats pass,
j cd from tile west and the north,' through the junction
canal, into the tidewaters of the Hudson at Albany.
Ami this day was celebrated in a manner which o
vinced the lively satisfaction of thousands of our ci
tizens, at the triumph of art over the formidable im
pediments which nature had thrown in the road to
prosperity.
From the eighth of October, until the canal was
closed by the'ice, there was hut one small breach,
which did not obstruct the navigation but three days;
and during this period, from thirty to forty loaded
boats were seen to pass in the course of twenty-four
i o complete tne work >*n tnc eastern section,tin
banks must lie raised and strengthened in several
places, the fencing must be finished, a number of
j lock-keepers’ houses must be built, a great number
of drains must be cut, a number of side culverts arc
required around the lorks, to conduct the water
front one level to another.
The inside slope of the hanks at the foot of the
locks,in many instances must he supported, and pro
tected from the force of the water discharged from
tire lock gates.
The dam at Bowman’s creek, which lias been
partly carried away by a freshest the present win
ter, must be repaired ; several other dams which
cross violent streams,have been found too high.and
to endanger the bridges across them, and in some
instances'tint neighboring buildings.
These must be cut down and secured. Basins
guaged, and graduated for the weighing of boatsand
their loading, are necessary to be constructed to in
sure the payment of the full amount of the toll. A
considerable amount of work is necessary to be done
on the Troy side cut, to enable boats to pass from it !
into the Hudson, and probably a good deal of work I
which is not now recollected, and more which can- ■
not be foreseen must be accomplished.
The damages throughout the greatest part of the
section, must be assessed, entered on record, and
paid. .
The general regulation of the navigation on the
canal, and the. collection of the tolls u hich has now
become so important, will demand particular at
tention.
The abovementioned subjects, with the adjust- !
ment of suspended claims, and unsettled accounts,
comprise the principal duties required of the canal j
coininisMoners on this section the ensuing season,
and will probably involve an expenditure, of more !
than one hundred thousand dollars.
The following amount of tolls was collected on j
this section :
Collected at Little Falls, fP,213 10
i Schenectady, 7,G:il 02 |
Watervlief, 91 ;
.f‘27,114 09
! In relation (o the Champlain Ganal.
j The works on tiiit* canal, and also the sloop lock
j dam were finished during the last season, so that
i from the tenth day of September, until the setting
| in of winter, the whole line was in operation.
In the sudden freshet A; breaking up of the river,
which took place in the beginning of January last,
a breach was made in the old part of the dam, which
was built ten or twelve years ago.
The breach has lately been examined, & is found
to be about one hundred and sixty feet long, and
from soundings which have been taken, will contain
an average depth of water, where there is no rise in I
the river,of about seventeen feet.
iiicu.im, except a lew rods oi tno west end, rests
upon a bed of gravel and pebbles. Tins gravel bed
is underlaid with shistous rock which 'gradually
rises from the east to the west shore,so that the west
end of the dam, for several rods, stands upon the
naked rock which appears near the surface of the
The breach which took place in the fall of 1C22.
(and which is described in the last annual report)
was near the east end of the rlain; and through this
breach the water passed with such vclocitv, as to
sweep away the gravel do\rn to tire solid rock, and
leave a depth of water in one place of more than
thirty-eight, and an average depth of thirty-one feet.
The present breach is near the middle of the river,
' and where the rock, as appears by the soundings, is
within seventeen feet of the surface.
Where this breach took place, the dam stood up
on gravel bed, which rose nearly to the surface ol
the water ; and this gravel having been carried a
way by the current, affords an opportunity of build
ini' upon the rock.
As near as can he ascertained, it will co-t from
six to ten thousand dollars to repair the breach.
W hen the Champlain canal was first put in ope
ration between Fort Kdward and Whitehall, the
great quantities of hoards, plank and other sawed
stuff which moved from the lake to the south was
construrted into rafts, and in that manner was v.-to
cd through the canal.
I hesc rafts were frequently upwards of a thou
sand feet in length ; and in drawing them along with
a strong team, their sides would frequently come in
contact with the hank, by which very considerable
injuries were done to the canal.
The attempts to induce those who navigated the
canal to keep the rafts clear from the banks were
found to be in a great measure ineffectual. An
expedient was finally adopted by the board, which
has in a great measure relieved the canal from this
evil, and which in a short time will piuducc a to
tal change in the mode of transporting sawed lum
ber.
The toll which is charged and collected on this
lumber where it is transported in rafts, is double the
amount of the toil which is charged on the same ar
ticle when it is conveyed in boats.
Under tins regulation more than three fourths of
tile sawed stuff has been conveyed in boats through
the canal the la>t season, and the injury to the hanks
has been very much diminished.
In eighteen hundred twenty-one, it is understood
that above ten boats were in u9i» on the canal, ari'l
in eighteen hundred twenty-three, the number i-=
said to have exceeded one hundred.
Several small breaches took place on the line
during the last season, hut they wore so promptly
repaired as to interrupt the navigation but a short
Between Whitehall and Fort Edward, the cam.
was thoroughly repaired; the bottom was cleared oi
and the banks were raised and strengthened ; and
is believed, that this part of the line has never h e
in as good repair as it is at present, .since its f,r.
co nst ruction.
I he building of a few additional houses for lock
keepers, will be necessary, and it will also be well
to construct a tow-path across the Mohawk in or
der to facilitate the transportation upon the canal.
hi the great pres Ure and complication o| business
which has beet thrown upon tire acting e fJtntft in -
llic i;. orc aud'several other n'ttrls of minor im
portance, have been necessarily postponed.
The new feeder, which is calculated to conduct
the water front above (denV Falls, to the canal was
>o far finished as to receive the water front the riv er,
and to convey it to the neighborhood of Sand-Hill.
That paitol’ the feeder which is composed of
lime—tone lock, and filled with seams and cracks,
leaked so much on the admission of the "water that
it was found necessary to draw iiotfiu order to
tighten the bottom and sides.
Aftei sevcial attempts,this object was accomplish
ed, and ttvc water was conducted farther to the east
ward into tin sandy part.
Alter the sand hanks had become saturated u itl*
water, they settled couside raldy, and showed strong
symptoms of failure in several places ; and it will he
necessary inline them with clay l'oca considerable
distance before they will be secure.
This feeder was not finished during the last sea
son because there was not a sufficiency of funds for
that purpose, ami also for the completion of the
eastern »cdiu;t; and because the Cliainplain canal
is already amply supplied with water by the great
dam and feeder at Fort Edward*
T!:e con-trnctioit however of a navigable feeder
from above < den's Falls, will open to the canal, lire
lumber and other productions of a considerable tract
of country.
The folio vir.g Is the amount of tolls collected on
the canal. :
At
Whin-half,
I'urt Ann,
Fort IMward,
Fort Miller.
Waterford,
blate Sloop Lock,
£14,132 53
7b3 91
2.G73 35
1,601 00
2.313 03
4,742 02
731 03
$20,906 07
l lie amount of rruiispoitatinn on the Champlain
I canal, during the time the whole line was iii opera
! lion, gives a much greater promise of it future use
I fulness than had originally been expected. ,
'I a complete the Erie canal west of Genesee liver
will require an expenditure of about one inillidn'of
dollars.
The remainder of the Erie canal, together with
the C iianijilaiii canal, vvillfprobably require an ex
penditure of two hundred thousand dallars ; and if
a canal is made between Fort Edward and Fort
Mi Her,in lieu of the river navigation, the expenditure
may be increased to three hundred ami fifty thou
sand dollars,
Tlie damages on a great part of the Champlain
canal, are yet to be appraised, as also wait of the
sections of the Erie canal.
What sum it will Ire necessary to apppropriate for
this purpose, tlie canal commissioners are unable to
state ; and it is submitted to the legislature to make
such prov ision as their wisdom shall direct.
The tolls:collected on the canals during the last
year, have much exceeded the amount that was ex
pected : And if no material accidents should delay
or interrupt the navigation the ensuing season will
probably give not less than two hundred and fifty
thousand dollars.
All which jis respectfully submitted.
SAMUEL YOUNG,
!\1 FKON IIOLLEY,
HENRY SEYMOUR,
will. c. holck,
20/A Fd>. 1321.
i LATEST FROM BUENOS AYRES,
i By captain I latch, of the brig- Brazilian, in 7G
j days from Buenos Ayres, we have received pa
! pers to the uth of January. At the end of De
l ccrnber, there was some alarm spread at Monte
! Video & Buenos Ayres, in consequence of a re
! port brought by a vessel from Gibraltar, that
; France, Spain, and England had formed a coa
j lifion, and intimated to the North Americans,
j that they were to receive a king from some of
i the reigning dynasties; and also, that an expe
dition was preparing by France for some point
I in the southern seas
Thc news of the capture of Cadiz, reached
i Buenos Ayres on the 22d December.
I Jan. 5.—Arrived, Am brrig Chilian, Andros,
' from New York ; brig Argos, Gilpatrick, from
I Monte Video ; brig Perseverance, from Rio Ja
jneiru; brig Jose, Jach son, from do; Eng brig
; Maria, from Liverpool, loading ; Ain brig jui
, nerva, for N. York ; brig Edward, Thompson,
; Havana; brig William, Patagonia; brig Ur
chin, Chadwick, fur N. York in 8 days.—Ship
Gen. Sipith, Robinson, up for Baltimore. Brig
Lima, for Philadelphia. Ship Ceres for sale.
Dec. 27.—American flour, M, 4 a-—perbbl.
Rice, Carolina, 1,4 a 1, 6 ; Tobacco, Virginia
11 a 12 ; Hides, bull, 4, G a 5 ; Cow, 5, 2 a 5,
4 ; Chinchilla Skins, 4, 4 a 4, G ; Wool, Sheep in
ar 7 ; salt meat, 4, 2 a 4, 4, pr. D.
EGYPTIAN COTTON.
; Translation of a Idler from. Marseilles to the
Editor of the Paris Jourml (lu Commerce,
; dated Dee. 21, 1G23.
“It falls within tho province of your Journal
| to make public a revolution which is preparing’
j in one of the most important branches of our
| commerce.
“It is now four years since M. Jumcl, a
Frenchman, conceived the idea of introducing
the cotton plant into Egypt from Brazil. The
experiment completely succeeded; the Pacha
ordered the plants to be propagated as fast as
possible, and upon the most extensive scale. He
lias ordered also that this production ’should be
called Jiimel Cotton. In the serond year the
culture produced nearly 100,000 killogrames;
in the third year twenty times us much, and non
in the fourth year, at the moment of my writing,
there in the lazaretto of Marseilles 4000 bales,
equal to 600,000 killogrames, Which are ready
for the manufacturer. The lnzarettocs of Leg
horn and Trieste contain about the samequantitv
we have here, and letters of the highest authori
j ty say that the entire crop will exceed 5,000,000
killogrames. We can place no limits to the
future increase of this plant); the Pacha has it
cultivated very high up the S'ilc.
“ The quality of this Cotton, which is of the
long staple kind, is excellent; when it obtains a
little more whiteness in color, and is better han
dled, it will entirely supercede Louisiana and
Pernambuco Cotton. Jt is probable that our
manufactures will give it the preference, more
especially on account of the low price to which
the abundant crops will reduce it.—What will
be the effect of this upon our commercial rela
tions with the United Stales?
“ I »t“l> here and leave this subject, of which
the consequences will he vast, to the considem
tion of your readers, and of manufacturers and
merchants.
[Signed] ARM AND.
Prom the (Quebec Mercury.
The duties according to the new scale are in
many instances, so exorbitant as to amount to a
prohibition Upon their importation, and as the
greater part of the articles enumerated are of
British manufacture, and such as arc essential
to the comforts of life, the blow is perhaps aim
ed at the commerce ol England, and intended a.;
a ground on which to negotiate for their new
pretension to the navigation of the Saint Law- j
rcnce—the exorbitancy of the tarill* will in all |
probability, defeat its ends, and deprive the
country of an important branch of its revenue bv
the encouragement it will afford to the contra
band trade, agaimt which it i* impossible for a
country situated as is America, effectually to
guard.
In spite of the Ttepublicnn virtue which glows
in the breast of every American some unprhi
eipled trades will be found as was the case dur- j
ing the existence of the non-intercourse measure j
who will avail themselves of dark nights and a
long extent of open frontier, to supply the wants |
of their felloiv citizens. If the proposed measure *
should be adopted, it will be highly beneficial ■
to those provinces, which will then become the
channel through winch, as heretofore, under
similar -circumstances, the prohibted articles
' will be introduce I i»ii>> tl r 1 «r|fnd Si; fes.
Boston, March'f3. |
Inrurrertioii ai the Stale Prison.—-A most
daring* attempt was made yesterday at sunrise,
bv some of the convicts at the State'Prison tocs
cajic. They rushed upon one of the onicers Si
threatened his life, in outer to get the kees
which he had in Iris possession, l'oilcd in this
attempt, they retreated to the eating-hall; and
a spirit of mutiny and insubordination became
general through the Prison. The whole number
of the convicts assembled there, many of them
armed with dangerous tvcajions, and refused to
leave the hall or go to labor, unless theiriellows,
who had attempted the life of the ofticcr, could
he excused from punishment. The situation of
the otliccrs, especially those who having charge
of the shops, were by this unexpected combi
nation in the power of the convicts, became se
riously alarming. The ordinary force in the
government ol‘ the prison, was found-insullicicnt
to quell the mutiny, ttulcss at the expense of
life, which it woud have been horrible ti>have
incurred. Under these circninstances, a re
quest was made to Major Wainw right, com
manding thcU. S. Marines, at the Navy Yard,
for assistance, who with great readiness ordered
out It is command and repaired himself to the
Prison. Immediately ou his appearance, all
resistance by the convicts was terminated, the
ringleaders were subjected to punishment, and
good order restored throughout the yard. Great
credit is due to Major Wainwright lor the
prompt assistance which lie rendered on this cri
tical occasion, by tlve display of a force which
made all further resistance unavailing, and com
pelled tint convicts to submit to outliorky with
out tire loss of livear.
In tlic assembly at the hall, two or three of
the prisoners who were disposed to obey the or
ders of the government and return to labor, were
severely beaten, and soyic of them dangerously
wounded by the mutineers, but the insurrection,
we are happy to lean, was quelled without any
other injury. {Patriot.
E
WM. II. FITZWHYLSONN,
cookseli.uk and stationer,
Has just reeetciied,
^ ■ D1NBURG Review, No. LXXVH,
Kocca’s History of the French War in Spain,
Bacon's Abridgement,
Revised Code of 1019,
Honing’s Justice, Tate’s Digest,
Pccrc Williams's Reports,
Wasliington’s Reports, a new edition^
Laws U. States,
Munford's Reports,
-General Index,
Johnson's Life of Green,
Burke’s History of Virginia,
Raymond's Pulitcul Economy
Seybert's Statistical Annals ; with a great variety
of letter and other writing "papers, water colors,
spectacles, mathematical instruments, pen knives
school books, Sic. Sic.
March 19
HENRY GIBSON
WILL in lulure attend the Superior and Infe
rior Courts of Cumberland county, in addi
tion to the Courts held in this city. His office is
immediately over the store of Messrs. Geo. Dyball
it Co.
March 19 14t
RZCHARD FOILARD
rdTRANSACTS business in Lynchburg, as
■A. Auctioneer and General Commission Mer
chant.
February 00. isCne
T. A. HOLCOIVIBE.
OFFERS his services as a COMMISSION
MERCHANT to the Planters, who trade to
Lynchburg. His knowledge of the quality of To- i
bacco, his foreign and domestic advices as to its
v.tlue, and his acquaintance with ihe purchasers in
this market, will enable him to do justice to every
planter who may confide produce to his care.
Lyushburg, Feb. 21 ts!2
LOCKS, 1st March, 1821.
OX Taking possession of the Locks since
the.death of the late Lofck keeper, Mr.
West, l found a cask of Leaf Tobacco, stated
on the books to have been taken from Ogilsby
Scruggs’s boat, (head man Ben,) on the 18th of
February. The owner of the abovementioned
property will please come forward, prove bis
ownership, pay charges, and take possession,
otherwise it will be disposed-of as.the law di
rects.
ISHAM RANDOLPH,
Lock-Keeper.
w6w—11
A
I.L persons having- claims against Henry
Beth, deed. wiU make them known to
JOHN 1IETH, LVr.
Coal Pits, ChesterGeld Chy, |
Feb. 13, 1324.
FIRE INSURANCE.
rjjpiIE subscriber as Agent of the Xtna Insurance
Company, for the suite of Virginia, is ready
to receive proposalsaiul issue POLICIES for insur
ing against Firo, ail kinds of insurable Property.
THOMAS MAY,
Cary Street.
march 9. wGwl3
I3ottoi\ \ayw, \jwy l\*on,
COUNTRY STEEL, &c.
Tic hare just received from JVtw York,
A Bales Cotton Yarn, l'rom No. 5 to 17,
1 .vf 10 tons Bar Iron,
3 do. Country Steel.
AND IIAVE IN STORE,
30 barrels Loaf and Famil y Sugar,
COO casks Nails from the Belle Isle Factory, and
Freeborn’s Patent Ploughs.
All of which will be sold low for cash, or nego
tiable paper.
B J iOCKEN BROUG11 & HARVIE.
January 27. tsl
FARMERS* BANK OF VIRGINIA.
Al’ the request of a competent number of the
Stockholders, and in pursuance of the requisi
tion of the act of Assembly, passed on the 6th day
of March, instant, entitled, “An act for extending
the Charter of the Farmers’ Bank of Virginia,” no
tice is hereby given, that a General Meeting of the
said Stockholders will take place at their Banking
House, in the City of Richmond, on Tuesday, the
27lit day of April next, to take into consideration
tin- propriety of approving and ratifying the terms
of extending the Charter of the said Bank.
P. N. NICHOLAS, President.
March 12, 1824. trim 14
U : It will hr necessary that all Proxies be given
after the 31st of March.
Domestic iioiu\s.
Jf'c hove on hand, Sc leill rerrire in a f. ir days, ahmii
A i kj V Packages Domestic Plaids, Sheetings and
■ x Shillings, of the most approved manu
facture in the United States.
Mon cure, Robinson if Pleasants.
January 27. tsl
&ugftY & Coffee.
f|^IIK Cargo of the brig Frances will he landed
-J*. in a day or two, consisting of
U)7 Bags PRIME GHEbN COFFEE,
10 lllids. Jamaica Sugar,
Loaf Sugar and Window Glass.
We are now receiving, and will receive in a few days,
I Hit Barrels I,oaf Sugar, of various qualities,
200 Boxes Window Glass.
Moncure, Robinson fy Pleasants.
.Titnunry 27. l«l
TO HIRE
OR
the remainder of the vear, or by the month,
e i.'elleut BLACKSMITH.
8AML, CARY.
2tl J
>T.». h 9
LAW SCHOOL.
TTIE foftrth session of the Law- Scnoor., <u
Meed/mm, in the county of Cumberland, near
Fannvillt, hi tin- county of Prince Eduard, os th«V
Appomattox, in Virui.yia, will begin on the first
Monday in April next, and end with the year:
A'KcmuM, is situated on the stage mad, from the
rity of \\ Asmxoto.v, to Hockingham, in North
Carolina; and within less titan four miles of the
stage road, from Jluhtnond to Lynchburg ; mid is*
in point ot salubrity, equal to njiy part of the n.id
dle coutitry: besides 1 shall liu\c another oRicu
completed by May or before, with some lodging a
partsueiits, which may tend to facilitate the opera
tions oi the Laic School: the rules and conditions
ol which, will be, (except as hereinafter mentioned)
as heretofore ; and, for w 1 licit,I refer to the journal*
thereof.
THE TERMS OF THE LAW SCHOOL.
No one will be received, as a student for a les*
time thau the whole session, unless he lias hern li
censed to practice law v and then for not less thaa
six months : the ruiliou foes, for the whole tcssioife
will be ninety dollars : and, tor the six months, sixty
dollars; both payable in advance.
AS TO ACCOMMODATIONS:
farmvillc, not more than a mile and a quarter
from A'ccdham has in a most excellent public
house, and kept bv a rttost respectable citixen Mr,.
Trkaiuvay, who is preparing, to take bnardeiSr
for the LawSchotd, on very reasonable terms.
A lew gentlemen, ton, can live at JVeedharn, (is
members of my family, (with the exception, of their
washing) paying in advance, for nine mouths, S225i
and for six months, $150, including their books.
1 he Laic School, has frequently been attended
by young gentlemen licensed for the bar ; and it was
fioui their example that, I was led to shorten fhw
tone, as to them, in future ; and, to them, it is mo^t
vespoctfully submitted, whether thev lin'd not better
uvakc their first essay at the bar of the Mvot-L’ourt
attached to the Laiv School, fnr the time proposed,,
than lo tak* the course which is- mme generally pur
sued : here let me Invite tlirir attention, to what
Mr. JEFFERSON says, in a letter to me, in rela
tion to the Lair School: “Of the utility of the in
stitution there can he no doubt it gives opportune—
“ tics to students of practising their lessons in rheto
“ «c, ofhabituating themselves to think and to speak
“ with method, aud lessens the shock of a premkr
M debut at the bar, so terrible in a first essay of
•‘strength before the public”—And, now let me add
that, with these advantages The student might ac
quire, a stock of practical knowledge, in the same
time, w hich, he would never get by study.
The only advantage, the student basin reading
at the Lave School, over the student in his closet, is,
the strict examination, lie so frequently undergoes,
upon the law and upon the practice of it.
It is iny purpose, if the students of the next scssiou
of the Law School, shall wish it, without any other
expense to them, lo attach also, to the Law School.
a Moot Assembly, (once a month) composed of a
senate and house of delegates, to he governed in all
respects, by our constitution and laws; and to pro
ceed in all matters hy the rules aud regulations of
the General Assembly of Virginia ; and hjr tin;
manual of Mr. Jefferson, When necessary: And
should 1 he so fortunate, in conducting the delibera
tions of my pupils, in their legislative operations,
as I have been in their judicial proceedings, and
they shall be in like manner benefited I shall bo
most amply rewarded. Every pledge that I have
made in relation to the publication of the journal of
! the Law School, shall he redeemed according to tin;
pledge ; And, if any one doubt about the utility of
I jutiw umuui, or oi rpe correctness ot tile proceed
ings in it, I do most respectfully invite him to visit
it, and unless lie hj without any relish for the law, I
am persuaded, he would leave it under tho most
friendly impressions.
I will only add, that the Inst Thursday in every
i month,is the day of public examination: and on
i die last Friday in every month, the Moot-Court is
opened in any grade of the courts which counsel
may ask for ; and, on every Saturday as a month
ly court: unless the judge be absent: and if so,
! when he returns, ha makes up for it: Apd, as to
gentlemen, who left the last session, under circtim
I stances over which they had no control, before the
end of it, they will be allowed the time they lost,
upon returning, in the next session.
CREED TAYLOR.
Virginia, Richmond, March 182-1.
Tin Editors of the National Intelligencer pjir
Fredericksburg Herald, of the Petersburg tnieiiigen
ccr, of the. Lynchburg Virginian, nnf.r/the Winches
ter Republican, trill hare Hu goodness to give tho
foregoing notice au insertion in their papers respec
tively once a iceek only throughout this month, and
inclose their accounts to me by mail to Farmville or
otherwise, and they shall be duly paid, by their obe
dient serrant, CREED TAYLOR. '
_ March 8 w.jw
DISSOLUTION OF PARTNERSHIP
THE Partnership heretofore existing under
the firm of BROOKE Si IIUBBARD, is -
this day dissolved by mutual consent. Exuiu
S. IIur.n.tm>, is authorised, to settle the bus.
siuess of the concern.
RICHARD BROOKE,
EXUAI S. IIUBBARD.
Jan. 30th, 1821.
AUCTION AND COMMISSION BUSINESS.
rjnHE subscribers Imre this clay, connected
A themselves in business under die lirm of
BROOKE & COSBYS. They keep their sTore
under the Bell Tavern. Any business, en
trusted to UiCin, vvill be parficul vfy attended
t0> Any article deposited tvitl; them for sale
a liberal advance will be made in cash.
KlCMAnO BROOKE,
JOHN COSBY,
SAMUEL COSBY.
Jan. 30th, 1824.
WARP, ELECTION. '
THE Election for Common Couiy ”,-nien in it „
, ,sc'e™' 'Vz:;’., m me City of Richmond" wiH
be he.., on tne first W eduesdny in April next;—In
Jefferson Ward No. l,at the Union lintel ; in Ma
dison Ward No.2, at the Eagle IIoteRand in Mon
roe W ard No. 3, at the Sbockte Hill Tavern._
‘•The Freeholders of Lots within the said rity,whe
tlicr improved or not, and the housekeepers and in-•
habitants of the said city, who shall have resided
therein at any time for the space of three months,
without intervention of one twelve months, and pos
sess in their own right within the same,'move a ble
nnd immoveable property to the value of one hun
dred pounds,” arc entitled to vote. The polls will
be opened at ten o’clock, A. M.
W. D. WREN, skuj’t. c. n.
Mftrctl _tdelJ^
TO THE MEMBERS
Ti 1 TILE SOCIETY OF VIRGINIA.
YOL R Awircar. Mkktivo is appointed, at fh£
First Baptist Church in the City of Richmond,
on Tuesday, the 6th day of April, 1821, at eleven
o’clock in the morning.—Divine service w ill lie per
formed, and a sermon appropriate .to the occasion
delivered, by the Rev’d. Henry I,. Koeling; after
which, the Annual Report of the Mana-..r-Wtll bo
read, and other business of the micicty Trtinsai tcdi
All persons arc invited attend.
By Older of me Board of Managers.
W M. MEN FORD, Recording See'y.
*6_ trim ‘
SALES BY At CTRL\T~
BANK SHARES AHD STOCK.
FB ^ H F. Marin k I jvsvn a vct^ Coat pa n v ok R tat-.
■_ monti, for the pur^.:,^e of dividing tbrir funds
among liic stock-owners, will sell by auction, for
ready money, on MONDAY, the 29 th dm/ of this
j month, at II o’clock, at their office, tla; followina
I STOCKS, \r> wit:
2^2 Shares F'armcrs’ Bank Stock,
206 w Virginia “ “
67 M U. States’ “ “
j J 2? .’(X) Six per cent. Stock of the U. States, mill
j Z s€el00 do. City of Richmond, on which inter
est is paid quarterly.
' Ttie above stocks will be sold in lots to suit the
purchasers, and the stock-owners are particularly
j requested to attend the Sale.
| March It#
WM. MACTiENZlE,
«ll5 Sir O,