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About Harpers-Ferry free press. [volume] (Harper's Ferry, Va. [i.e. Harpers Ferry, W. Va.]) 1821-1824

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?HARPERS-FERRY FREE PRESS.
ii TO SHEW VIRTUE HER OWN FEATURE, SCORN HER OWN IMAGE, AND THE VERY AGE AND BODY OF THE TIME, HIS FORM AND PRESSURE.”
VOL. I.
HARPERS-FERRY, VIRGINIA, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 80, 1821.
No. 18.
PUBLISHED, WEEKLY, BY
JOHN S. GALLAHER & CO.
CONDITIONS.
The “ Free Press” is published at two
dollars per annum, if paid in advance;
two dollars and twenty-five cents if paid
within six months; or, two dollars and
fifty cents at the expiration of the year.
Distant subscribers are expected to pay
in advance.
As payment in advance will serve
theynterest of all concerned, that mode is
respectfully solicited.
%* Advertisements inserted three times
for o'.ie dollar per square; twenty-five
cents for every subsequent insertion.
Classical fij Ejiglisli School Books
0'i D A VIS, Bridge street, Georgetown,
WX® has on hand the following School
Books, which are offered for sale on the
most reasonal terms, viz :
CLASSICAL.
Ainsworth’s Latin Dictionary
C esar Delphini—-Cicero do.-—Horace do.
Hutchinson’s Xenophon
Greek Lexicon—Longinus
Ovid Delphini—Stoughton’s Virgil
Sallust—Juvenal Delphini—Virgil do.
Clarke’s Erasmus—do. Nepos—Corderi
Greek Vocabulary
Enitek’s Latin Dictionary
Greek Grammar—Greek Testament
Boss’ Latin Grammar
Mine’s Introduction—Veri Romse
Murphy’s Lucian—Titii Livii
Ashley’s ^Sftphon—Clarke’s Homer
Selectee /tvsop’s Fables
Histori
Ruddirff,
Cicero
darns’ Latin Grammar
ents—Greek Minora
Fergu,:
M urri_
B o i m e t c
. ■,, .) h
Co-, e}■ s
ling Bo^jBHPming’s Universal do.
Jess’s Arithmetic—Adams on the Globes
Gibson’s Surveying—Jess’s Surveying
Ramsay’s Washington
Simplon’s Algebra—VValker’sDictionary
Vv nrewicau p -
:r—A meric an O rator
Jackson’s Book Keeping
Tytier’s Elements of General History
Morse’s Geography—Adams’ do.
American Class Book
Adams’ Arithmetic
Brackenridge’s Late War
Bonnycastle’s Algebra
Con: ley’s'Grammar
Cummings’ Geography
Dihvorth’s Spelling Book
Goldsmith’s England—do. Greece
Do. Borne—Judson’s Arithmetic
Joyce’s Arithmetic
Murray’s Spelling Book, Key, Sequel,
English Reader, Exercises, Introduction
O’Neal’s Geography—Robinson Crusoe
Snowdon’s America
Walsh’s Arithmetic
October 9
’ noticeT
rfHHE members of the Library Society
I of Harpers-Ferry are hereby inform
ed that their annual meeting wiil take
place at the Shenandoah School Room
on Monday, 5th day of November next,
at six o’clock in the evening.
By order of the President,
JAMES CLARK, Librarian.
Harfiers-Ferry, Oct. 23.
Wanted Immediately,
r|lWO JOURNEYMEN TAILORS,
I to whom constant employment and
the highest wages will be given. None
need apply but men of steady habits.
WILLIAM SMALL.
Oct. 23
ENOCH C. BREEDIN,
Attorney at Law,
1 PRACTISES in the superior and in
ferior Courts of Jefferson and Lou
doun counties.
For the information of persons residing
at a distance, he would remark, that
Charlestown, Shepherdstown, Smithfield,
and this place, are in Jefferson ; and Lees
burg, Middleburg, and Hillsborough, are
in Loudoun.
Harpers-Ferry, June 2d, 1821.
JOHN M-FARLANE,
Attorney at Law,
TILL practise in the High Court of
Chancery at Winchester, Virginia.
June 23, 1821.
WANTED TO HIRE,
NEGRO GIRL, from 12 to 16 years
JAL of age. One from the country would
be preferred. Enquire of the
Oct. 9 PRINTERS.
4
ON EDUCATION—No. V.
FOR THE FREE PRESS.
Extracts from Bates' Inaugural Oration,
“ Education forms the mind.” The
great philosopher of human intellect, by
a thorough analysis of thq, understanding
and a complete investigation of its pro
perties, has successfully refuted the an
cient doctrine of “ innate ideas,” and thus
justified the inference that the contempo
raneous doctrine of intuitive knowledge
is unsupported by sound philosophy. In
the uncultivated mind intellectual powers
do indeed exist; but, like the unpolished
diamond, they exist in obscurity. Edu
cation brings them to light, displays
their brilliancy, unfolds their beauty, and
exhibits their real value ; it excites their
latent energies and controls their opera
tion; it gives tnem activity, ana applies
them to the purposes for which they were
designed, and to which they are adapted
by Infinite Wisdom. We can indeed dis
cern nothing in'the human mind, distinct
from the effects of education, but a capa
city to receive instruction—a faculty to
learn-—a power to acquire and retain
knowledge. Of this capacity, it is ad
mitted that there are various degrees be
tween those extremes which are denomi
nated genius and stupidity. These ex
tremes, however, are rarely found in na
ture. In most cases, ordinary minds, un
der the fostering hand of education united
with persevering industry, may rise to
excellence and obtain the rewards of ge
nius ; or by neglect and sloth may sink
to the lowest depth of stupidity, and re
main the mere receptacle of folly. Buffbn
has said “ genius isnothingbut patience.”
If this position is not true, in its fullest
extent; if the attention and patience of
an age would invent nothing without a
peculiar disposition of the organs of sense
and a native acuteness of the powers of
perception, yet it is certain that the ac
quisitions of genius always suppose vi
gorous application and patient investiga
tion. With very few exceptions, the dis
tinctions among men in knowledge, in
strength of understanding, and even in
brilliancy of imagination, depend more
on variety of education than on original
difference in capacity. Hence we per
ceive the high importance of a good edu
cation for all the purposes of life. With
out that degree of instruction by which a
person is enabled to read with facility,
write with propriety, and compute with
accuracy, no one is prepared to act well
his part in any station of society, or pur
sue any employment with satisfaction to
himself and usefulness to others. It
should never be forgotten, therefore, by
the guardians of society and the friends
of humanity, that primary schools, to
which the children of the poor as well as
the rich may have free access, are of the
first importance to the community, im
periously demanding their attention and
patronage—especially in a country like
ours; and under forms of government like
ours neither public virtue nor civil liber
ty can be maintained without a general
diffusion of knowledge, and a liberal pro
vision for the support of schools.
But although a common school educa
tion is sufficient to qualify youth for the
common purposes'and ordinary employ
ments of life, there are functions to be
performed in civilized society which re
quire a more liberal education; which
cannot, indeed, be performed without ex
tensive knowledge and enlarged views of
men and tilings—without an acquaint
ance with literature and the great circle
of human science.
Those men who, by native energy of
mind, and unwearied assiduity, have over
come the disadvantages of defective edu
cation, raised themselves to offices of
trust, and devoted themselves to the pub
lic good, surely deserve well of their
country and merit peculiar praise. But
how much higher would the same men
have risen, and how much further would
their benign influence have extended, if
the superstructure of their knowledge had
been erected on a broader foundation'—if,
in youth, they had received a literary and
scientific education—if their noble minds
had been disciplined by study, and direct
ed by instruction.
liberal education and literary institu
tions drew forth from the cloister the
light of life, which had been concealed for
more than ten centuries, and gave liberty
of conscience to the Christian world. Lu
ther opened the treasures of literature,
burst the leading strings of science, and
rising with the energy of truth and the
power .of divine grace, established forever
the right of free enquiry, and vindicated
this noble principle—“Examine and sub
mit yourselves only to conviction.” From
that period, learning and religion became
mutual coadjutors; and though sometimes
unnaturally divided, they have generally
maintained an intimate alliance, and uni
ted their influence to civilize the world
and bless mankind. As Learning had lent
her aid to break the chains in which reli
gion herself was bound, so Religion, in
turn, gave new energy and lustre to learn
ing, Ancient literature awoke from her
slumbers. Science pushed her researches.
Copernicus rose with Luther, and follow
ed the track of the heavenly bodies. New
ton succeeded them, and investigated the
laws of nature; and Locke, pursuing in
the train, analyzed the human mind.
AN AMERICAN.'
in;il III CANE IN THE SOUTH.
ST. AUGUSTINE, SEPT. 22.
About ten o’clock on Saturday night,
15th inst. it commenced blowing quite
fresh, and continued with increased and
increasing violence, until in a few hours
it raged a most destructive storm. The
gale continued with unabated fury until
about three o’clock on Monday morning,
when it moderated to something more
than our usual breeze. We have heard
of no lives lost, and little or no damage
was done to the houses here or in the
neighborhood; but the shipping suffered
very severely. There were 12 or 13 brigs,
sch’rs and sloops, lying at anchor in the
bay opposite the town—of which, six, by
parting their cables or dragging their an
chors, were driven on shore. It is thought
five of these will be restored to their ele
ment, without material injury, though at
heavy expense. But it is feared that the
sixth is irrecoverably lost; she is the brig
Maryland, Bissel, last from the Havana.
We fear that very great misc hief has been
done on the Gulf and the Lakes. We
know of several vessels out from New
Orleans for this place that have as yet not
been heard of; and, from the lapse of time,
it is next to miraculous if a part, or all of
them, are not lost.
It is thought by some that the damage
done in our bay will materially affect the
fair fame of our harbor ; but we cannot
consent t©-«ww-ew\h. rondfl r4-ot»' : for, from
the ease and safety with which the other
vessels rode out the gale, we certainly
may assert that all the vessels driven on
our beach, suffered their misfortune from
the insufficiency of their appointment in
cables, anchors, &c. 8cc. and this is the
general character of our lake craft, of
which description all were, except the
Maryland.
POSTSCRIPT.
We stop the press to announce the fol
lowing distressing intelligence, received
by the sch’r Maria, Ferrand, master, ar
rived late last evening from New Orleans,
in five days, (having sailed the day after
the gale) :—Capt. F. states, that the St.
Stephens, Jones, and the Washington,
Wynne, of New-Orleans ; and the Bright
Phoebus, Sherman, of this place, were lost
in the storm on Sunday last. Capt. Fer
rand reports, that all on board the Wash
ington perished; in the St. Stephens and
Bright Phoebus no lives were lost.
Capt. F. reports two other vessels lost
near the Pass Christian, name; unknown.
[Floridian.
NEW-ORLEANS, SEPT. 24.
It is our melancholy task to record a
new calamity : and one which is the more
afflicting, because its extent is unknown.
The gale which we experienced on yes
terday week had excited some concern ;
although no serious consequences had re
sulted to our city and its immediate vi
cinity.
What was apprehension, has become
sad reality. The accounts from the coast
between this and Pensacola are truly dis
tressing. It needs no pencilling to excite
the tear of sympathy, when whole fami
lies—when father and mother, brother
and sister, sink together, and in each
other’s arms prematurely perish.
The dead bodies of Dr. Ludlow, his
wife, and two children, as well as that of
Miss Judson, the niece of Mr. Banks, of
this city, have, it is believed, all been re
cognized, and interred at the Bay of St.
Louis.
In addition to the information found in
the following letter from Col. Taylor, the
commanding officer at the Bay of St.
Louis, we also learn that the dead bodies
of two children had drifted ashore at the
Bay ; the one supposed to be 5, the other
, 6 years old.
We also learn that the schT Bagatelle,
bound from New Orleans to the Bay of
St. Louis, had suddenly disappeared, and
no doubt both vessel and crew are lost.
The St. Stephens, capt. Jones, whilst
at anchor under Horn Island, was struck
by a sea early on Sunday morning, and
lost-part of her stem, bowsprit, foremast,
and mainmast, but the vessel and cargo
saved.
The U. States’ sch’r Tom Shields left
the Bay of St. Louis on the Thursday be
fore the storm, for Pensacola; and, al
though the wind was ahead, as she sails
well, it is hoped had reached Pensacola
before Sunday.
We have conversed with Mr. Day, of
this city, directly from the Bay of St.
Louis, who confirms this melancholy re
cital.
The sufferers by the storm speak in
warm terms of the conduct of Col. Tay
lor and the officers of the Bay, as also of
our townsman, Coi. George Morgan.
TIE CENT PIRACIES.
NEW-YORK, OCT. 20.
Captain Davis, arrived at Boston from
Havana, furnishes the following- account
of recent piracies in that neighborhood .
We are happy to state that the informa
tion from Matanzas, via Charleston, pub
lished a few days ago, relative to the
murder of the captain and crew of the
brig George, of Boston, is incorrect*
The report no doubt originated from a
circumstance related below, by captain
French, of the sloop Collector :
“ The sch’r Louisa, Sherman, from
Rhode Island, fell in with a boat and nine
men, who boarded her with pistols and
cutlasses, struck the. mate several times,
drove them all below, threatened the cap
tain’s life if he did not say where the
doubloons were; finding there were none,
they took about 2000 cheese; the captain
delivered his own money to them, about
g 150 ; they then robbed them of all their
clothes, not even leaving the captain a
shirt to put on ; they hoisted out his long*
boat, filled her with the cargo, and what
they could not take in their own boat—
the vessel then close into the mouth of
the Matanzas. The commander of the
boat dressed himself in the captain of the
schooner’s best clothes, hat, boots, and
walking the quarter deck, looked at him
self with exultation.
“ The brig George, of Bost*k was rob
bed by an open boat of eight ™en only,
armed with pistols and cutlasses. When
they came on board they demanded the
560 ounces the captain had in his posses
sion. It is presumed they must have re
ceived some advice of the money being on
board. After tearing the ceiling from
the foot of the sternpost, then down the
rudder case, they found the amount.
They previously drove the people into the
forecastle, where they secured them, and
threatened the captain’s life if he did not
disclose where the money was hid, which
he refused, handing them at the same
time a few doubloons of his own.
“The sloop Collector, French, of
Bristol, Rhode Island, was boarded by the
same boat the day before, and after the
pirates had abused and wounded most of
the seamen of the sloop, and given the
captain two sabre cuts on the arm and a
heavy stroke on the neck, they set fire to
the cabin of the sloop, taking the long
boat with them. Fortunately, captain
French had not his stern boat lashed, and
let it down directly on their leaving him,
otherwise it would have been destroyed
immediately, by the fire making from the
cabin window. The Collector was bound
from Matanzas to Rhode Island, with a
cargo of sugars, and capt. French heard
them say, during the time he was in their
powers “Let us treat these damn’d ras
cals as we did the crew of the brig yes
terday,” from which he supposed they
had murdered the crew of the vessel, or
merely spoke thus to intimidate capt. F,
Some six or seven other vessels had been
robbed by them, and the people treated
roughly—but not any robbed of a large
amount. Several small vessels have been
fitted out from Matanzas, and from Ha
vana, to put a stop to these depredations ;
and it is said the government mean to fit
out some small armed vessels.”
wwi/w
NEW ORLEANS', SEPT. 17.
A person just arrived from Pensacola
reports, that a duel had been fought there
between an officer m the U. S. army, said
to be a Frenchman, and capt. Gayare, in
the Spanish service. The difference arose
about the affairs betweenGov. Jackson and
Col. Callava. They fought with swords,
and the American officer was killed.
A duel was fought at Frederickton, N.
B. on the 4th inst. between two young
lawyers, one of whom fell at the second
shot, having received the ball in his head,
and died in three hours. The other, and
his two seconds, (officers of the army)
had fled. ,