The enquirer. [volume], August 25, 1804, Image 4

About The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815

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MISCELLANEOUS.
Deft if tier; if the /liver MiffJJlf.fi, et xj it* D-lt.ts yrith
t^at oj the tutj.rcent J.irtj at l.n •if :n.:, fie li'itlijttt
Dunbar, tf the Nateh. z, cimen’tnicateJ L tea Author,
a lAtmuet of the Sechty ; thiM'gh tut PrfjiJtnt.
[ tori » INVEPi J j
Erratum.—This part of the defcriptioft fhould :
have frtitdtd that which appeared in the lull paper.
The current being lefs, immediatt ly to the right and <
left, than in front, of the mouth of the river, the depo- I
lition and accumulation of matter will corfequently j
proceed more rapidly on either fide, and the velocity ;
ol the current being increafed by the contra&ion of
tile channel, the bar will be protruded further into the i
Cceau ; hence it appears why the mouths of all alluvi- j
al tirer* terminate in promontory projecting more or )
lefs into the ocO ul ; this lafl mentioned operathiu of [
nature points out the method of improving the navi-|
gat ion of the entrance of the Mifl'ouppi, which nay
be cfTciSed at no very coufiderable expence by carry
ing out a pier on each fide of the principal branch,
compofed of piles, fo far as may be found fufficient to
procure the defirtd depth ; tire bar jvill thereby be
thrown into deeper water, and in proccfs of time will
accumulate and aicend to its former height, which will
demand a view promulgation of the piers. Every
fn all rivulu palling through lower I.ouifiana is a mi
niature of the MiiGiTippi ; what may he performed
Upon a fin ill fcale in rcfpcdf to the latter, will certain
ly iuecced (by v.ell dirc&ed efforts) on the former._
(]'.■ r.vcr bt. Jolm’s, (JO or 80 feet wide, entering
biHe Pontchartrain to the north of N - w-Orleans, was
found frequently fo choaked up and impeded by a bar
aero's its mouth, that canoes could foiretimes with du
fi ulty enter; floops and bapteaux being obliged at
fuch times «> remain in the lake expofed to danger_
the government dire&ed two very fimplt piers," each
com poled of a double row of rpftud rough piles, to be
carried from the Ihore acrofs the bar, and although
piers were pervious to the water, yet 1b much ve
locity was acquired, that the bar was very fpeedily
fvveept off, and the river has al\\ ays fir.ee remained
navigable t?r fir.fil floors and .fchooners, width pro
ceed up to the city by the i ivcr and canal of Caronde
let.
The depth of the river dimtniihrs cetifiderably as
VC advance upwards; probably owing to the increafed
tenacity of tbe matter funning its bed : at Natchez,
when the waters are low, it is about • 2 fathoms, and
there are fit Rations below the Ohio, where the ordi
nary boats have been cmbarr.uTed to find a palTr.ge
both upwards and down wan’s ; a moderate frelh n<_
verthelefsrenders the Millifiippi navigable up to the
falls of St. Anthony, about two thoufand miles frorr.
its mouth. The breadth of the river appears to be
upsn the incrcafe upwards, in proportion as we gjta
bovc the alluvial country, as high as the MiiTouri, r.ot
v/ithft Hiding the !ofs cf a number of principal rivers
which do* in below ; in latitude 42°. it is laid to be
half a mil? in breadth which probably equals its mean
breadth from Yaxooz to its mouth.
'i’lifi I „ . L t • » ns *
, « ... iidlJU lO
bo found mills valley of the As tha river
overflows its banks, the waters immediately begin to
depofit their groffeft particles, which are chiefly fund
an 1 black marl, and in their progrefs backwards this
depofition is continued until at length, antatter is de
poGted fo highly levigated that,t>pou the retiring of
.tlie waters, it aifumesa compaiTtnefs and foliditv refem
bling pitch : when the river by dil'ruption alters its
courfe, %ud new accumulations of ilime, fund and marl
are laid upon this very cornua# earth, a falfe belief
might be induced tha; this foiid foil is not the o.T
fprfcig of the liver, but the original parent earth coe
val with theMilfiDir.pt itfelf, upon which this great
river had afterwards depofited the rich fpoils of tbe
northern regions, home down hy its mighty tide • this
coiopa# foil I have found at the depth of from 10 to
JOieet; and in other lifuations no pnpdarance is to he
feen of another than the common foil forme.1 of the
rr.nd of the fiver. The foil rear the river is fancy
particularly that which has been latelv fiwmot .
a quarter to half a mile from the margin of the river
the fand is lefsapparent, and it lofts its name ni ‘ ter
re fablooneufe,’ acquiring that of “ terre grafll,” being
therichefl black marl, with a moderate admixture of
fund ; at greater diftances, and frequently at fome
depth under the !aft mentioned foils,* is found the a
b J,X' ^■;nVoneJ impact ‘•arth, called gkife (potters
ec.rth it is no doubt eminently adapted to the ufe of
the potter, though hitherto not much applied to the
manufacture of earthen ware. Upon all lands long
fuoj t# to culture and defended from the inundation,
although pear to the margin, the appearance of fand,
r. almofl loft, but it is evident from the friability of the
;°‘l, an;1 tIl,? facility with which it is cultivated, that a
rirge portion ftill remains intimately mixed with it,'
whereas the terre grafle (unmixed or pure marl) yields
v/ith difficulty to the plough; it exhibits proofs of the
ruin*it marl, a flight fhower caufmg It to crumble into
powder alter being turned up : yet as our climate is
e .p • icd to Hidden and violent falls of rain with fuhfe
quentiiot fun-iliine, it irequently becomes fo fiiun and
tmy.'t .ding, after the crop has been planted, that no
, ™ot'e of cultivation can be conveniently applied, but
bare y by fcratching the furface with the hoe ; yet
this b.ic.une with the Trench indigo planters u favmt
rttefoil; although lefs productive, it is more eaflly
Ven: clear of weeds, the compared foil refusing a puf
fage to the r tender fibrous roots, while the vigorous
taproot of the indigo plant conquers rhe obftinacy 0»r,
the fuojacent ftrafum.— b.-oni the river hank a natural
glacis is formed, whofe declivity at New-Orlcana may
tie at the rate of 6 or 3 incites in 100 feet, to the dis
tance of 5 or 700 toifes, diminifhing, after which the]
du cent becomes almoft imperceptible, and is gradually
loll m ftramps, marfhas and lakes which finally com- l
iBumcat? with the fex t
* j.iar uruccurv oj rne lands formed by the
operation of the great river itfc'.f, has j.ointej „ut to
the ingenuity or man, a fimple and natural mode of
delen ling Ins plantation againfl the encroachment of
the inundation : He commences by forming an cm
j.inhnient near tbs margin of the rive r. elpvated above
the hig/ifit waters and of iufficient ftrength to rcfifl *
th^r pruffitre; he ii now prote<9ed from the direct *
niMux of the MitfiiTirpi, but the tranfudafion from the
nwraiafo cmfidcrable, that his plantation would 1M j
no oetter than a quagmire ; be is tbc-rfore under the I
Mcefhtv of r .»
c roiling eacn other at right angles, by which the l.nl
is conipietely drained aftd placed in the mnft favotira
, ,tuat:on to dilplay the wonder* of its inexhauftihle
f rnlity. V\ ithm die MifliiTipni territory a vaft body
of alluvial land exifts, but the fcheme of draining !,y
crofs ditches would produce here no beneficial c«Fe<ft, i
nvcacifv the waters rind no'mcans of efcaping in th<- 1
rtvr, hut being hemmed iu bv the high land, would
At length *ccu-Tqilr.te fo : s t» produce an im-nents ba
lon, horde-vd by the embankment on one hand, and
b ’the high land on the other: Although no furrefs
. a,f^P* ** j'k *Iy tf> ho m «d<* in our day, yet pofte- i
ri.y wjl reclaim thole lands When the induftryofa
full population, (hall have ft imped an intriiific value
upon t - f.,1 of our cour.rry. the ingenuity of man
wtil dtJcovcf -i remedy : probably the fleam rr;<»in« ft,
highly Mi<| roved „f h*e yours will h. n!! d in to ac- !
compli'h thn ohjefl. ft* application in Holland to
the draining of the H-er lam nicer, and ev.*n for tie
redudion of ti e Zuyik-Ace, which the late war, it
appears, naaindeed lui'peiiiied, It ivcs j m little donSt1
i Ta r*r ‘ y.^r r P0.rr°fe of inferior magnitude. I
L mds fufrepuldc ofcuhivauon do not n|,on * , average
trtfCr.d to tbter quarters of an, l« fr .n the river, a!- 1
} i.i forme placti they my re.-ch to two mil.:?, *
•’i tfhc; C;tmtiors donnt ex<r-ed ere quarter of •,
rul-: there s no doubt but u frriipub.,. auction M
n i pcr.iAionol the embank-mm** wi*| every where 1
VI m.-i*nt the tpi entity of nUivihle land : kr.d we hu-!
*" ’. '"!i »• ?r- ‘ lSiV •'>*' a' fo.t-e fl;.urp ,jay l!l8
Py. ...ctivv fur,-ce Of Imwer ,vl)| ,f n:u!,j. :
j,", V'‘ ™ 5 .? rr] 5nf«rr-fim; population, con.
dueled |.v - Wife nr c. patriofic gov* Air.ie.it, wili ,„erc.
v/it i a,;;:,,,' «’•;'> th * alluvial cot.rirv in *h ,t>dj.
f tion f ,r. lid jftt,. , Will f,e pn.v d d to cor.datl to
tiie ocean tbv fuprdiaous vc.nt rs wb'cih now drowfi ■
fo: ti.rv. 'numbscf tU)(,r, nine innthsof the .unn- ,
- lty if; • w^o's- flit five Ol thfi I. t,d will then be rer "bn- I
ed *Ha betnmfc li fjr <*,«. boost uliun of man ; the ,-kh- j
eft ♦rill be coi*e£cc<\ from a foil of the moft
CiuWr.tnt fertility, which perhaps n< time can exhauft:
Should however vegetation at length feetn to advance
with a tluggiih pace, the planter has Ills remedy at
hand, he may call in the aid of the clement*; let the
waters o! a fitigle inundation flow over his field, and
it will receive a manure which 20 years cultivation
cannot abforb. Refervcics might bo formed, as in :in
dent l'lgypt, to retain a portion that doe* not require
! iuch precaution ; the feailei of the inundation fumiia
Ies le's rain than at any other times, but if is fo order
ed by the courfe of nature, that about the fame time
] the waters retire, rcfrcfhing Ihowcr* fall alnioft dally
| throughout l.ower l.ouifiana, which continues to in
i vigorate the crops until the approach to the harvell
| feafon.
JERVASE the Painter, and CARTER the
SCULPTOR.
A very anctJelt ftcn tit F.vroj>.*in Mava*ine. j
Carter, the Statuary, or as he was then termed,«
the ftoue-cutter, whpi a very young man, had a (hed j
near the Chapel in May-Fair, indeed I think upon the
very fpot where the fair was formwly celebrated.'—
Ilis bufir.efs was then confined to w hat may literally '
he termed the Imvtr hrarebtt of Ids profeflion, fitch as ,
tomh-ftone«, graveGabs, fee.; for it is well known, j
in the common run of architedure of thoft day6, fcuJp- j
tore was very iparingly introduced.
O-i this foot and in this manner, Carter ufed to la- i
hour front day to day, from tl.e riling until the fettiug
of tiie fun. As he was one morning at work, he ob
lerved a gentleman rather it* years, whom be brad fre
quently leen pals by, and foir.ctirv.es Hop at his window
enter his {hop.
The gentleman alked him fonie queftiops re fje cling
his bufinefs; r.rd the fculptor, thinking he widled to
employ him displayed his frnnjl collodion of models,
raid Gircifled hi*attention to the works he had in hard.
The gentleman, commending his induftry, defined
he might not hinder him ; fo after forre apology’, he
began to chip his ftorre.—His vititor Good a {hurt time i
obfervipg him, and then departed.
Probably Carter was difappointtd at this terminati
on of the vifit; however, he went on with his work.
In a day or two the Granger, at a very early hour, call
ed upon him again. The fculptor fcarccly lifted his
eyes f»om the block, till a queftion from his gueft,
who alked, whether he was a married or Cngle man ?
attraded his attention.
He replied that l<o was married to the heft woman
in tjxe w orld.
The ftranger fmiled : “ Have you any children r”
“ One of the bciutifulleft infants that ever was
feen.”
Again the gentleman fmiled, and continued; “ you
j feem a moft induftrious young man.”
I “ liiduftrious !” faid Carter ; “ ore had netd
| be fo in theft times ; you fee T cannot even afford to
keepr. labourer conftantly ; Ido almoft every thing
my fell.”
“ Do you want any money ?”
Carter Gared : “ Want money ? J,ord love me !
yes! 1 believe 1 do.”
“ Would a hundred pounds be of fervief to you ?”
“ A hundred pounds!” fai<l the aftonilhed fculptor ;
“ Lord love me ! why it would be the making of me
forever.”
“ How fo ?”
“ Ready money would enable me to purrhafe ma
I ter;als at a cheaper rate ; to employ a joumevniar.;
to extend my bufinefs: in fa cl it vvould make a man
of me.”
„ Do you know Charles ft reel ?” faid the Gran-rer.
" Lord love me! to be fure 1 do \ it is but juft
by.”
” ' ou mull breekfafl with me to-morrow morr.La-v
at ftine o’clock.”
“ Who muft I enquire for ?”
“ Mr. Jervafe,” replied the Gentleman.
' “ You war.: a jjL dime ?”
Many, returned Jervale ; “ therefore be punc
tual.” 1
i “ Ah!” faid the fculptor, “ there’s no doubt of
i that.’.
, V,Tliitfw?er Carter, who tod little connection with
artiils, & therefore did not know him, thought of his
| vifitor, is uncertain. He however, in expedition of
! employment took care to be pundual and found dm
| lie refided in a very elegant htiule.—Jervafe received
.him with the great eft pleaft.rc and poiitenefg; during
| the courle of their breakfaft, he faid «. Mr. Carter, I
i ^ave ^or* feme time obferved and marked you as a
I young man of confiderable talents 8t unremitting in duf
j ti y driving, I fear rather againlttheftream. I am happy
1 that providence has put it into mv power to infill
your efforts Here is the hundred' pounds that you
leerned to think would be fo ferriceable to you. But
as I know the necefllty there is for capital in your pro
fe-.on, I by no means "intend to limit my afllftance to
tins fum. I have numerous friends and connexions
and will recommend you ; and as your bufinefi in
crealcs, fhall always be ready to fccond your endea
vours both with my purfe and advice.”
It would be a vain effort to attempt to deferibe the
aftonifhtnent and the gratitude of tbe fcnlptor to his
friend, whom he r. garded almoft as a fupernntural
.being. He took the hundred pounds; and Jervafe
ii.ii the fatisfa&ion to find in a fhort time that his
b.-e^ J was not caft upon the water. Every thing fuc
ceedtd with Carter, ids bufinefs extended, and, I 'think
he engaged in feme of the new erections in May
l .pr and its v.cmity. Thus, by his ingenuity and
induftry, he realized what in thofe days was termed a
large fortune.
^ “S'" has tjlrnplatr in ibe Cbarltjlon paperi, on the
utility of gun Lo.tj in protecting tntr trade. 'fur fol
Uiri’-.g at:ovr.t of a g:m boat lately coni rubied in Rng
tnmi by a Mr. fame. Moon, bat Lem introduced by tic
f i. ndttf tie tnenfure, to illujlrate the efficacy of tbit
mod: vf defense.
Dntfi'n 10 ic/vi
Tiie i i^ht hrn. Y/.lliam Pitt csire into town ycf
t'.Tcl :y about three o’clock, and embarked on board
one of our great boats, named the Polecat, to make
trial of a gtm fitted up on tlie undermentioned con
nrudlion. He fet fail, accompanied by Col. Phipps,
Capt. Eifington, I.ieuts. Stowe and Greenfword, and
Mr. James Moon, who planned the fixing of the gun.
A'rci i.iiliriy o*T tv/o or three miles, the jrun, which
was p.ii is p-.uroer, w»-ifiredthree time*with round
and t\\ ice with canniftcr ihot,end wa* found to anfwer
ver. completely, being fired in feveral dire«ions.
The b.r.t in which the gun is fitted is nr, feet long,
and 1.1 wide, riggid lugger fadiion, and the gun is
fought on a moveable Ikid in the center of the boat
on * Circle, fotimt it can be pointed in any diredKon_
apiece of the circle take* out forward, and aifo a piece
ana.i, fo that, if more convenient, the gun can he
im-de to run <-n its (kid forward, or fought on the bt/w,
or -toTt, and fought a* the fiern ; and as the great dan
ger of heavy cannon in hoars arifes from tlitir being
top heavy, and liable to break lonfewith the motion of
tne boat svflrn it Mow* hard, it is fo conftftnSed, that
by means of two fcrews,one man can lower the gun
down on the hr-lfon of the boat, where it fervt-s for
additional ballad, and, if wanted for ufe, one mar ca*i
ruuc it to it* place for figiitirg (although it, weight is
21 cwt); this boat manned by the Dover Sea henci
o-ts. under ti.e command of Capt. Eflington, of the
P.oy«l ...ivy, attended by his lieutenant*, Stow and
»r>.er.lword, l'a*nue! Collet, efq. James Moore, and
tsvo or three other privute gentlemen, ft-* fail, in com
pany with o-i t of our f.ifi failing pilot boats ; anda'ter
Hu y had found out the trim of th- fmciblc boat, it
Wj, found th * file would fail, even u
''"7 ry to th“ ofhrr tw, *nd thtt in tomirur |
b.-.L of the tv r.d, fl„ completely diftanrcd the other
, 5 JL,aI " " '“€T m :dc r‘"’1 s»a. which w- f r
cdifi .I f -ir«,j dire clirrs, nice time*, and was faund
ro anWer beyond their mnff fanzine erpedUtinnn—
r.’i' ri' dl vv* r(.; .. |e) jfovf thr piece was Tired thiee
t.i.uw heime it xv«* nwtfiV rv to run th<* gun out, and
!* fJ*‘*t,,Jt , ,e circle on which it is fixed in the
l"jf7 *hfte '* f*'‘t of f»tb hoit, -tvcM he ,K»re then a
,’/ r ,tr fnf.fl prifetrer lint n>tr t-rv, r> th~fc
rind from their Tup rinr failing, either in foie
e-etitfier.when IHe cun Jikewrfebe rowed w.th twen
f-cij ht oars, or when it l.lo-rs hard, muff fi-pnofe
»«• toh*ve,*itfrt;;t adv^iiagr^er s-.t.y of the h. avy
>u;1 boat. v. ilk which the cueroy intended :o invade
V>y taking fuch aftnr.tion as they could an-my the
enemy, without being much annoyed themfelves, cf- (;
pecially when manned by feamen fo much ufed to tiie
boats as our's are, end to fututrior to French teamen ,
>>'. fuch emit. ‘The uuMii^tVil'itidcLted for -this ufetul i,
inlormation fo Mr. Juir.es Moon, harbour Oixlfihere,
svjjo has fpareduo pauper expence to render it per- J
feCt. Fifty beats and wiTels are to be fitted Lu a fi* !
ni iar way immediately, and our brave tars burn to fr*
nulifa themtelves, and will, ua doubt, thould tbe enemy
give them an opportunity, make them repent of their
raili undertaking.
ana *vsil any oj ot*r re+dsrtjbtd any ligtt vfM tbefsl- »
U ruingftljcti ?
Wefome years firceattradleJ the attention ofthcptih- I
Ic t<* a lubjed which we then deemed it important to |
illYclligUte -/At* rl.ej^rj j'rfprcJliQti oj the ri oris oj J Jr. \
FrjrHin. No elucidation having been made, the l'ub- i
|ecl has acquired additional confcqucnce. From the j
fileiice with which the enquiries made h_re been j
treated, the fnfpicicus then afloat have derived conG- ;
d* rahle confirmation. If they are well founded, the ;
tranl'avHion to which they relate is of lo criminal a line
aa to requite the fevertll auiaiadverfion ; and if they I
are untrue, it is cf fome importance to relieve inno
rt'iit men from afperfion. We trull, therefore, that
the new notice, now : bout to be taken, will draw
forth uifbmtatiatt that Hull guide th** public in the
information of a correct decifion.
It was fome years ago corfidattly refort.il that Tern- !
pic Franklin, the grandfon of tiie Dodlor, to whom
was bequeuted h'.a boohs and papers, repaired to Lon
don for the purpolq of publilhing his life and wi kings
including l'everal ur.pubiifhed tracts. It is certain that j
Benjamin Eache, then refidirig in Philadelphia, te-I
peatedly fluted that a complete edition of the Linker's j
works was compiling hy Temple Franklin, with a '
view to publication at 1/iiiilon to fupply the Europe- i
an demand, anu that a co-temporaneous edition would ;
mv printed by him at Philadelphia to fupply the* de- I
nu-nd in this country 'l his was at Jeaft Icven years |
ago. About that time enquiries were often made
when the work was to appear; to width it was an
swered that it might be looked, for daily. From that
duy to this no i..s of Franklin, or any of his perform
ances unpi-.blilhed while be lived, have upneared \ nor
has any reufon been alfigned by Temple Franklin for
their nor.-upj earunce.—It was alfo reported fame years
lmce that Mr. Diily, an eminent London Bookleller,
had bought the copy right of the Do&or’e works from
Temple Franklin for a large fum ; on what terms was
not flated:—but, that irdlead of publilhing them, he
had afterwards diijHjf-d of them for a larger fum to
the Englifl: mini dry, who bought them with a view to
their iuppreuiou, and that tbev have been accordingly
fupprefled. * 6 J
In afeertaining the truth of tills flatement not only
*.lie-friends of the chara&er of Franklin, blit like wife
his country ami the whole iiterar? and political world
are iutere*fted. If it be true, it nutnifeds a turpitude
that will be but inadequately punifhed by the levered
reprehenfion.
No man enjoyed a wider field for acquiring correct
political information Fefpe&ing the American revoluti
on than Dr. Franklin. He pofie-lVd the confidence cf
his own government, and likewife, in an unulual de
gree, that oi the courts to which he was lent. No
°*le» front natural penetration, and from flic acceis
which his great reputation gave him to the great, was
mor^ qualified to trace the facret fprings of adHr.n.
Hence the drong curmlity excited by the enpedled
publication of his works! In France, the Focr.s of in
formation, he occupied the highell reputation, and was
in the confidence of ad dtferiptions of peifons, er.joy
ing equally ilk: r€fpeCi and foc:ety of the votary of
i pleafure and ambition. His Ihure in the great events
| of this country is known to all j and it is iikewife
known tha* no man among us wasbetterqualified, from
t.’.e l.rength of his judgment, and a happy knowledge
of men, to deveiope motives .and impartially to record
events;
r yr* trull that thofe who pofTefs the means'of fatis
fymg thefe enquiries will not deem it unimportant to
giVv i.iol tnmimaiioii which aione can or ought to allay
the national l'enfibiiity already excited.—AVimu/ ln
telligc.rar.
Extra*} of n letter from a gentleman, now tra
velling for the purpofe of viewing the natural
curiof.iiesin the Wejhm Parts of this State, to
his friend in PcterJburg) dated Lee Covrt-boufe,
26(hfu/j, 1804.
“ I accompjilhed on Monday lafr the mod la
borious job I ever undertook: this was, the
meafunrfg the A'atnral Bridge in this county,
“ the nioft fublime of nature’s works.”—This
bridge is 134 feet highet- than the Natural Bridge
in IlpcKbriJge county ; being 339 feet in per
pendicular height, its fuinmit projects 87 feet
over its bafe, it frentp to the fouth-weft, and is
arched as regular as could be by the hand of
art; the arch in front is about 200 feet high,
and Hopes off to 60 feet at the diftance of 106
l'cet from the entrance—from its mouth in a
straight direction mcafiireg 4Q6 fet t— thence at
light angles soo feet.; thence croHing the fecond
line at 80 feet from the wall to the other end
340 feet; the roof is regularly arched, and gra
dually defeends to 18 feet, which is the lowed
part at the interfedlion of the fecond angle ; it
then rifes to Co, 3o, 4d, and 75 feet, which is
the height of the north-call entrance. The ftream
of water which runs under this bridge is from
35—to, to 55 feet wide, at its common height.
T lie head of this ftream (Stock creek) is from
three to four miles above the bridge, riling out
of a knob or lpur of Clinch Mouatain, and
empties itfdf three miles below into Clinch river
—uuk is luuacniy lweneu oy rams lomc
timesto 10 and 12 feet perpendicular, but is
foon run out. There is a waggon road over the
bridge, w hich is only ufed in time of frefhcs,
and that is the only part that can be crolfed—
on approaching it to the fouth-wcft front, it
produces the molt pleating, awful fenfations;
the front isafolidrockof limeftone, the furfaceve
ryfmooth and regular, fonnedinafemi-circle, the
rock of a bright yellow colour, which colour is
heightened by the rays of the fun, the arch is
partly obfoured l>y a fpur of the ridge which f
runs down to the edge of the creek in front of i
the arch. Acrofs the creek ftand found beau- .
fif'd trees ;—the moft elegant and luxuriant is j
a Cm umber Tree, teeming with fruit: the leaves
are from 2 to 2 I-2 feet in length, and one foot I
in width*—this, with two white cedars, and I
two white walnut trees, adds very much to the '
beauty of the feene—to delcribe it, would be I
a vain attempt, and can only be done by the I
fkillfiii limner.
ji me iccncpciow creates men pieanng icn
fations, what innft that from above be ? It (ills
the mind with horror. From the level of the
fummit of the ridge where the road pafTes to the
verge of the fiflure, the mountain def.'ends a
Ixmf 4.5 degrees of an angle, and is from 4.5 to
.50 feet perpendicular height—you involuntarily
Hide down feet foremoft, holding on to every
twig you pah, until you reach the verge, which
is tor u or a feet, left deep ; the rock ir. covered
with a thick ftratum ol earth, which gives
growth to many large tre-s; from this landing
place to the verge is a defernt of') feet fo deep
that it cannot he approached near enough to
look over—to the w eft of the arch about 400
yards, t! e afeent to the verge is much Icvcler,
where you may look into the abyft below. My
guide was an cel hunter who had for many years
been ac<?udomed to clambering over the fie- peft
mountains—on approaching the verge, the
horror oflliefcene below intimidated him for a
few moments, but he could pr-fently walk n
lorg the verge with compofurc. This bridge
may be parted by thoufauds, without a know,
ledge of it, unit Is attracted by the roaring ©f
the water below.”— £/V/. Lit.
Laf\ Sunday fomc negh> fellod's tilled a Hut
le Snake, within a few miles of this city, on the
Savannah road ; it meafured feven feet, exclu
ive of the rattle*, and was upwards of twelve
nehes in circumference ; it was an OLl SerJ><rnt,
wing twenty years of age. Mr. Chatfield, who
i»as got the Hein, intends making a prei'ent of it,
we undcrlUmd, to the tjnivei fity at Athens
Citrcn. Aiigujl 4.
The new.coinage of crown-pieces, from dol
lars, is nn\v going on with all poflVble difpatcu,
at Mr. Bolton’s mint, at Soho, near Birnur.gbam.
Within thcfe few days two waggons, containing
about fcven tons of dollars each, were f at un
der proper cfeort frofn the bank to that place,
where eight dies are employed at ti e fame time,
each of which will ttrike 66 in s minute, giving
the impreilion on both tides at one "rok*-, and
fo limply conftruded as to be worked by one
man, without the fmallcft danger; the piece
difeharging itfelf from the die, a..other iullantly
flips into its place, llis majefty’s head and the
reverie are done in a mafltrTy flilc, forming a v>
rv beautiful coin, and will be extremely diffi
cult to counterfeit.— [Lew. jap.
M. Mojon, the Chemift, who difeovered the
weH of oil in the ftatc of Parma, and with which
the town of Genoa is now lighted, has lately
found in Liguria, at the uifiance of about 96
miles from the former, a depot of bituminous
wood, of which 1*1. Mojor. gives the following
very interfiling account:
“ C.'.fUe Mouvo is a country of Lunagairx, on
the confines of the Italian Republic. It is in
the plain of that country, half a league from the
mouth of the liver Viagra, that the mine in
queftion has been found. It is littlated in a foil
fmmed of ftrata of clay and lime, more or lefs
thiek, and inclined in different directions thro’
the v. hole extent. The nature of the foil'd, as
well as the conftitution of the foil, evidently
fhews that thefe ftratas were formed by great
floods, and carried with them, and buried whole
fortfts. The extent of this depofit has not vet
been afeertained ; hitherto only one pit, about
4o feet deep, has been dug, and the prefence of
the water prevents its being funk lower.*
“ This bituminous wood, which in force pla
ces appears altroft uncovered at the ftiriace of
the ground, ftill retains its primitive figure;
trunks of diFerent diameters up to two feet,
have been dug up. The colour is black, grey
ifli, or brows:. The former fomerimes has the
fplendour of glafs ; the others are natnrallv dull,
but will receive a Alining polifti.
“ Its texture is entirely that of wood, as it
has not been altered by the bitumen, with which
it is impregnated ; fo that in fome.places- the
tree to which they belonged, may be deterniin
cd ; thofe which arc quite black exhibit fill the
characters of fir ; others have a texture ftmiiar
to oak.
“ It is not fo brittle as coal; and when fawn
in a dire*ftion perpendicular to the axis of the
trunks,exhibits a foiid comparand very fmooth
furface, and capable of beiug worked by a lathe
to refemblc ebony. The concentric first a of
the fibres of which the trunk compofed, niay
beealily feparated by introducing the point of
any inftrument. It readily kindles without ibe
aid of any other combuftible, and gives in burn
ing, a lively brilliant flame. The heat it giveais
moreintenfe and durable than that of vegetable
coal, and i3 greater than the heat of oak char
coal in the proportion of tight to feven, and
when once kindled, never becomes extinft until
entirely cor.fumed, leaving very lit»le afhec,
(225 grains from 12 pounds). It is lighter than
coal, and the fragments which exhibit the cha
radlers of oak are fti!! lighter * 'fo f*-. ; - .....
vity is to that of diftilled water as 123." to 1000.
*•*« * a vr ivi u 1 lUi^.
NEJV RUDDER,
t Invented by Capt. Mugford of the fliip UlyfTes of
iJ'.s port, in January Lift, on hia paflage to Marftiiles
and to which we have given the name of “ tiie muc
foiin rudder" in honour of tlie inveri^r.
The Ulyfles, under the command of Cajtt. Wilt.i a m
Miinrotn, and belonging to Mr. William Gray.jun.
of this town, failed from Suleri, early in January, hoflfnd
to Marft iiles. On the 5th of January, Lat. 41,1 ,or,g
05 experienced a heavv g:i!e of wind, and while run
ning 8 and 9 knots, a large fea ftruck the ftem of the
fliip, and earned 3way the ruddder at the water's edge
when the veflel immediately broached to. The main
maft was fprnng, and the hnll lay expofed to every
fea. I:i this unfortunate fituation Capt Mugford was
reduced to the neceflity of fleering the fliip with ca
bles over the quarters for upwards of 20 days making
however the bell of the way towards the V/eftem Ifl
ands and Madeira. The weather duriug all the time
was extremely boifterons, and the fliip much expofed
to the leas. It was 'during this interval that Capt.
Mugford planned and c?;ecutcd a rudder which he af
terwards proceeded in fccuring in Its proper place, at
the ftem of the Ihip.—It is entirely of a new con
ftrutHion, and does the inventor the greateft honor.
Merchants and feanien in particular, nmft he under
great obligations to Capt. Mugford, for the invention
and the United States will fee! proud in having given
birth to a citizen who has conceived?, plm fouf.?fu!
and important to the commercial intereft, and from
which we may calculate that the lives of mariner*
may be rendered more ferine, and the property of our
merchants he lefs expofed white cn the ocean.
I he Ulyfles returned to this pert a few days flnee
and feveral gentlemen having examined the rudder
and a model and drawing of it, we arc enabled to wiva
the following dafertption of this highly ufeful machinp.
i fie rtidcer has a fo'frJtrrn frjl attached to it, made
from a fpnre topm:irc which is about ‘JO feet in length
—The main part of the rudder it formed from a piece
of the fame topmaft, and four {Inditing fail booms fe
citred together make the hack p-.rt, the whole being
lathed with final! ropes, and fi*<-d in a r.rn-ur
with bolts, and handed on the fidet with boards. The
rudder is J 4 feet in length, and 4 feet wide. It has 8
or 10 rye bo'h, and there is an equal number ofl the
fatftjhrn p,f, through which pieces, of Iron crow-hars
were put and ufed a* pintals, and which, when pro
perl / placed, attached and fecured the rudder to the
falfijhrn pf, in the fame manner that pintaN, gud
geons, and braces feeure common rudders to a IhipV
iL-rn poll. The old iron tiller of the fttip, almut G
Feet long, paflis;. through the body of the fudihir, near
(lie upj.tr parr, and from which on each fide, ropes
were p-lfi-d over the quarters of the Ihrp, to a top-m:ift,
running out nv-.r the rnizrn chairs and having a fin
ale block at the end, the proper tiller ropes were rtfv»
through them, ar.d the fhip then fleered in the ufual
m inner with the wheel There are fi-veral large
Ih ..ps faftem-tl to tht/,rlfi-fenpeji, from which hawJets
were puff 'd on each fide of the velfel, in or.ter to ft
1 ”re i» in its proper ft.ition, upon the old Hern poft.
I'he old giidp eons ftil! i emaining of theftempoft, it was
•eceffiry to cut mortifes into the falfe one to receive
hem and thefe were found of very tfiential ferviccin
keeping the whole machine firmly fixed in the alTigned
fif.ir-.tion : On the 3d of February the whole was pre
[viml -and t!i•; weather being then f i-fourdsle, tlie new
i udder was hoifted over the ftern of the ftiip with a 4
f»«nd cannon to fink it to the proper depth, and the
G’f, f„,, pof being entered into the rudder cafe the
in irter ropes hauled tight, and a few bolts puffed
hnwiffh i* from the head of the old ft.-vn poll, it war
hu* fecured and found to anfwer perfectly well and
he Pulp fleered her courts without a*iy difficulty
I hey were then in lat. 3*. and I, ng. 4.4. The
paffage to Marfeiltes was now performed in the
rafetl manner. When they arrived in MnrfcilW the
icvsrudder excited coufidemble attention. I he French
:ook drawings of it, and all the Captains in port took
arc to furnifh themfelves with complete models of it.
Vf oft unqneftionahty as it relates to ibq s, it i« the moft
rfvful invention of the age. The plan is v-ry Cm pit,
ami iheref' rc Tt rrrre ti.fily f* iT- v «il >ov. it is found
* at. Lvery Clip is provided with n at.*ri htonuhe
• > c.-i a rudder—gun carriages UTnilhed the j nper.-.r.
' > and the fpure fpa.« ■ n rieck cl • tiy t! <■ < ;f, n*
| ter^b — Heretofore Seamen I* ive uh\a• • !< , . •». ;s
pcllihle to focurc the now ioddtr totht < id t eru »H !h
The prefetit plan uvchls this difficulty. A , , V../*
\ f:, / foj! L inveu/.J, an? the r.,-rj ru.h'.is f.n k' /rf/
J -‘o rt h-Jore it here, tiejhif \i e\ h, a:ill tl:iu» the gi r.it ,
| *b u«Sion to fixing ri:ddns «t lea,L- urr.icvnted. I’.ii.r,
Mnpl-.id, ceriamly deftrvfc. d o higheft encomium*
■ i i flu invention, and w« ttul. that a •jratt lu’o.un. y
v. :d arVnowii.iyo,to ! .in in are in.icb.td fir: i
, d;lfovory i.tfordjr.g usw Icctiritp to the lives of men
j a: d til.u* property, when c\|>ofc 1 to the dangers of a
! “,orn'y aa-l tempef.iicus ocean. To iV.uiten it will h»
! a’nioft unneceflarv to ::dd that the cannon was with
; drawn from the rudder after i* win winced in 1- rr^
per birth, and tnteii cti board the Jhip again.—hs'-n
j We learn that Mr.Cooper, and Mr. Pncfricy
i of Northumberland in Pemfylvnnia, are cr.v:’
; id in writing the biography of rjr Fritblcy A
, monSpapers left by the Dodor is an account
ot his own life for ? number of years, nr m il a*
| we recoiled, about feventecn. This is likely to
i he a precious literary relic. From the wnfert
!td mode tty which invariably rharndi rif.ri the
ilotfror, and from the ingenneufuefs bis miad
ar.il his ardent love of truth, we may expert a
fail Mill record of his thoughts. Aw >i»g the
moft agreeable legacies of this nature Uf hy e
mincat btcrary charadcrs, our readers will re
coiled the intireftir.g narratives of Franklin,
Kurae and Gibbon. The plain and uundupud
ftatcinents they have made, have given us a
; more corred in fight into their charartcm, and
have more fuccefsfuily contributed to fhield
theirtgme from urjuft afpirfion, than all the
eulogiums pronounced by thtir admirers. V.’c
j may be permitted to indulge the hope that the
artleft narratives of a Prieftly, whounited to the
I cogfcioufncfs of talent felt by a gtt at mind the
j fimplicity infpirefj by true genius, will form the
j heft monument to the purity of his motives, and
! to the beneficence of a (pint adively occupied
through a long Hfe in the fervice of his fedovr
men.—[AW. Tr.t.
Fb* tbs ENQUTRJSR.
I Parted from (lie parent main,
I Glides the wave in varying maze,
Aid* the river’s fc’tlling traia,
Or in the rr.olTy fountain plays.
Down the hill, in flow meanders,
Many a lonely region o’er,
Ever plaining ?.s it wanders,
Murmurs-to its native ft) ore.
Ey GENIUS.
A REFLEXION AT SEA.
3r Mr. Moor?.
See how beneath the Moon beam’s fmile,
Yon little billow heaves its hreaft,
And foams ar.d fprfrkles for a while,
And murmuring then fnbfides to reft.
Thus man, the (port of blifs and care,
Rifes on Time's eventful fea,
And having (welled a moment there,
lie melts into Eternity.
NORTKUMBE’RLAND COUNTY COURT
HALL ->
v?. (. . Tr,
JEl'T’s heirs & reprefentntives. j Coarteerj.
i V1 v‘,lue “ Decree of the Court intLis loir,
* * WILL BL SOLD, on the }ft of October
next, if fair, if not, the mxt fair day, at the
late dwelling houle of Mrs. Elizabeth Jett, dec.
to the higheft bidder, for ready money, the
three following TRACTS or PARCELS of
LAND, (or fo much thereof as may he fuTci
ent to raife t!ie fum of two thoufsr.d dollars
v,i,h intcreftandcoftsof fuit)—to wit, atradt dr «
v:fed to Capt. William Ball by his father, con
taining by eftimation 376 acres, be the fame
more or lefs ; out of this trad! will be excepted
an old Mill, with tiig and thereto adjacent'and
appertaining. The trad on which the faid Jett
rel.ded at the time of her death, containing <J0
j acres, more or lefs. And one other tradt‘for
merly part of the eftate of Max’n Haynie, dec.
containing 20 acres, more or lefs.
1 htfe tradt3 lie contiguous to e2ch other, and
have been ufed as one farm ; they are fituate
near.the Potowmac, about two miles below*
the courthoufe on the main road leading to
[•airfields Cnurch, and about the fame diftance *
from Coan Warehoufes.
The quality of tlm lane! is not inferior to
any in its neighbourhood, and nearly two-thirds
of it is well timbered. Its fituation affords an
abundance of excellent fifti, oyftci s, &c. The
dwelling and out houfes are fuitablefor the ac
commodation ofa Anal I family. Mr. Samuel
Harding, living rear the prernifes, will [hew
tnem to any perfon wifhing to purchafe.
THOMAS D. DOWNING, 1 O
RICHARD EDWARDS, (§
HIGROMEL. OPIE, (2
PETER C. RICE. J ?
July 28. Cp—5W
Mctl'item it) can 1 ’ass/ nrfs.
VTOTICE is hereby given, that it has been
^ deemed expedient to change the form of
the Mediterranean paiTpoit ill'ued to veffels of
the United States; that from the 8tli day of Ju
ly next, thofe of the new form will be blued at
thcrn'tom I’OUIl’? tO CVtT” VClIe! -
plication may be made on a compliance with
the terms preferibed by law and furrendering the
former paffport of wliich fhe may be poffelJed,
if any, in which latter cafe no fees will be requi
red for the exchange : and that by an arrange
ment agreed upon by the Barbary powers with
whom we arc at peace, either the old or the
new form of paffport will lx fufficient to pro
tect the veffels of the United States, from cap
ture until the Iff of July 180.% after which the
old form of pafipovt will be unavailable and the
new one alone in ufe.
Department of State, 7
2nd of May, iroi. j
The printers of the laws of the United States are
rrqnrjfrd to insert the above in their Gazettes
twice a week for the space offix months, and the
Co Ile it ors of t hr enfioms to keep copies of it pojhd
up in their offices.
June, 2.
I OK SALE OR RENT.
'T HE fubftribcr nvifhrs to fell nr rent, the
• place he now refides at, fit noted on the main
road leading from Richmond to Petcrfurg, con
taining two f.ots ; on faid Lots, there are a good
dwelling houfi, eOntriningi three rooms above and >
three below, a fore houfr, a good kitchen and rn
excellent garden, and a well of good nvater at tie
door. ft is a good fat'd for a retail fore or a
Tavern. It is preftm able any perfon who wiftts
to purchafe faid property will prrviovfy view it,
at -which time he may contract with the proprie
tor on fnch terns as may render it an objcP. wor
thy of his attention.
rni.UAM firAxs,
OJborrtes, Aitguf 20, 1804.— [elf ivj 7.5t<f.