Harpers-Ferry free press. [volume], May 15, 1822, Image 2

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

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LATEST FROM ENGLAND.
BOSTON, MAY 5.
On Saturday evening, the British ship
Mary Catharine, captain Pace, arrived at
this port in the short passage of 25 days
from Liverpool. We have been favored
by Mr. Topliff with London papers to
April 6. Their contents begin to assume
more interest and importance than those
brought by former and recent arrivals.
From the article dated London, 5th, glv
eti below, it appears, that the negotiations
between Turkey and Prussia will not ter
minate so favorably to peace as had been
before anticipated. We have never seen
any previous language of the Courier, up
on this subject, which had so decidedly a
warlike character. It would seem also
to have been prompted by authentic in
formation, as but two days before the
same paper had said, in decided terms,
there could be no doubt that peace would
be preserved.
The subject of opening the West India
trade has been brought before Parliament,
and from the manner in which it was
brought forward, it seems highly proba
ble^ that this measure, recommended by
the ministry, and supported with its in
fluence, will receive the approbation of
parliament.—-[Patriot.
BRITISH WEST INDIA TRADE.
On the 1st of April, the President of
the Board of Trade, Mr. F. Robinson,
brought forward in the House of Com
mons two resolutions, which were agreed
to and reported, and leave was given to
bring in two bills, founded upon these re
solutions ; the one for regulating the trade
between the British West Indies and the
United States ; the second to regulate the
trade between the former and other parts
of the world. By the first of these bills,
as Mr. Robinson explained himself in a
speech to the House, preparatory to mov
ing his resolutions, is intended to open the
West India Islands to a direct trade with
this country, subjecting such of our ex
ports as are also produced in Great Bri
tain and in the British North American
colonies, viz. corn, flour, and timber, to a
small discriminating duty. The second
bill contemplates to provide for a direct
trade between the West India Islands and
the other parts of the world. The proba
bility of the complete independence of
South America seems to have been among
the principal inducements to this mea
sure.
On account of the holidays, Parliament
adjourned on the 3d April for a fortnight.
The Courier of the 3d ult. contains a se
ries of official papers relative to the Af
rican Slave Trade, printed by the order of
the House of Commons, which present
melancholy evidence, of the increase of
this execrable traffic. A report upon the
agricultural distresses of the country had
also been made to the House of Com
mons, but not acted upon. The Courier
praises it as an able “ expose” of the state
of the country, while the opposition pa
pers are loud in condemning it as falla
cious and unsatisfactory. It recommends
no measure for the permanent relief of
the agricultural distresses, but proposes
some temporary expedients.
The disturbances, outrages, and mur
ders, continued in Ireland. Executions
of the discontented were constantly taking
place, under the protection of a powerful
military escort. The discontented ap
pear to be well supplied with arms and
ammunition.
In the county of Sussex, England, the
system of burning in the night corn
stacks, and destroying other produce, was
extending itself.
| The English private bankers have been
making great profits by discounting at 4
per cent, while the Bank of England has
asked the old rate of 5 per cent. The
Courier expresses its belief, that the Bank
of England would also shortly discount at
4 ner cent.
ST PETERSBURG, MARCH 9.
We expect that the new tariff will soon
be published, by which it is probable that
trade will be rendered more brisk, an ex
traordinary stagnation having arisen from
the incredibly great importation, and the
want of sale caused by the difficulty of
communication with the interior from the
mildness of the winter.
LONDON, APRIL 5.
The contents of the French papers re
ceived this morning, as might be expect
ed, are of a most warlike character; and
it can be no longer doubted, we appre
hend, that the pacific hopes which were so
strongly entertained a week ago, are now,
if not at an end, at least considerably di
minished. The cause of this sudden
change in the temper of the Turkish gov
ernment has not transpired; and in the
absence of positive facts, conjecture, as
usual, is very active. Some say that the
Divan have been all along cajoling the
European ministers at Constantinople, in
order to gain time, others, that the fate of
Ali Pacha has inspired this fatal energy;
while a third class of reasoners maintain,
that the dread of provoking the Janissa
ries has induced the Sultan to abandon
his pacific policy. It may be that all these
various motives are among the ingre
dients of that resolution which appears to
have been decisively taken at last; but,
on the other hand, it is just as likely that
mere uaroariun caprice ib me suniiu)
cause. The political consequences to
which a war will lead, we shall not even
glance at, till the fact that war will ensue
is more certain.—[ Courier.
PHILADELPHIA, MAY 8.
Pirates.—By the brig Joseph Eastburn,
capt. Earl, arrived at this port, in 13 days
from St. Bartholomews, we learn, that,
on the 19th April last, the decree by the
court of St. Bartholomews was passed on
Jive men and a boy, that had wantonly at
tacked an American schooner called the
American, for the purpose of robbing and
murdering the captain, crew, and a pas
senger, and had succeeded in getting
alongside, and shooting one of the crew,
when, by some fortunate means, their boat
sheered off', which caused the escape of
those persons on board from a horrid and
untimely fate. It was well known that the
passenger had on board a few thousand
dollars in cash. The pirates were sen
tenced, with the exception of the boy, to
death: the boy, being a minor, is to re
ceive fifteen pair of rods, and banishment
for life. The indefatigable zeal of the
governor and his officers, on this occa
sion, is worthy of the highest praise j es
pecially the town mayor, Mr. Iiaasum,
who went in pursuit of them ; but the su
perior sailing and management of their
boat favored their escape from him. It
is to be regretted that the leader of this
band was mortally wounded, as it has de
prived the government from tracing this
blackest of crimes to its extent, he having
expressed, in his last moments, that he
could implicate many more if he wished !!
He received his wound from the musket
of one of the sailors on board Mr. Mar
call’s schooner, the Model. Mr. M. hav
ing intelligence of their being out, went
immediately in pursuit, and apprehended
them. An action so readily undertaken
as this was by Mr. M. merits the highest
praise. It is, however, of such a nature
as ought to call the attention of every good
citizen, as a duty incumbent upon them,
to aid a government and island to whom
they ought to be well-wishers.—-Sentinel.
■mem
PITTSBURG, APRIL 19.
We cannot avoid noticing- the expedi
tion with which goods have lately been
transported from the eastward to differ
ent points on the western waters. A
load of goods arrived here on the 5th of
last month, only 14 days from Philadel
phia, and was put on board the steam
boat General Neville that evening; in 12
days more they were delivered at St.
Louis, making in all 26 days, being the
shortest time allowed for keel boats to
that place in the best stages of the river.
The same boat left this place on the 13th
inst. for the falls-—the morning she left
here Mr. Logan put on board a wagon
load of goods for Cincinnati, which had
been 18 days on the road from Philadel
phia, to which add three days more for
the trip, and those goods will have arriv
ed at Cincinnati in 21 days from Phila
delphia. These are facts that speak vo
lumes in favor of steam boat navigation
and turnpike roads, and augur favorably
for the future prosperity of Pittsburg.
Travelling by Steam.—We are inform
ed that the possibility of travelling and
transporting goods in carriages moved by
steam, will soon be tried on a most ex
tensive scale. So confident are the pro
jectors of their success^ that, not content
ed with securing their means by patent
in England, they have made themselves ci
tizens of Holland & France, & taken such
steps in Germany as will enable them to
try their experiment over half Europe
simultaneously. We are not instructed
in the details of this invention, or rather
application of invented principles in me
chanism, and in the use of that powerful
agent, Steam; but persons of judgment
in such matters speak in sanguine terms
of the plan.—[ London Lit. Gaz.
The following paragraph appears in the
Gazette de France-—At a masked ball,
which took place at Cassel on the 21st
January, the prince royal being pursued
by several masks, and apprehensive of be
ing recognised, changed his mask with
his valet de chambre. The latter was
accosted by the persons who had followed
the Prince, and had the imprudence to
accept from them a glass of grog. Fie
was immediately taken ill, and expired
the next day. The letter of the 9th Feb
ruary, which announces this event, states
up to that day no traces had been discov
ered of the parties implicated in this
crime.
A quantity of Silver Plate, consisting
of a coffee-pot, tea-pot, sugar-pot, table
spoons, tea-spoons, &c. stolen from the
family of the late Mr. Thomas Shipboy,
of this city, 40 years ago, viz. in the year
1778, were, a few days since, found by a
person, while ploughing up a new field
on the hill west of this city, dnd not ma
terially injured, though it had remained
for nearly half a century buried in the
earth. Only one of Mr. Shipbov’s family
is now living, Mrs. Visscher, wife of col.
Sebastian Visscher, of this city.
I Alb, Daily Arf'ver.
U. ■ S. firig- Enterfirize.—We learn, by
the sloop Edward, that this vessel was left
at Tampico, 26 days since, taking in wa
ter, bound on a cruize, and to this port.
Capt. Savage, at Boston, reports, that the
Enterprize arrived at Campeachy about
the middle of March, and sailed on the
27th for Vera Cruz. He understood she
had taken, at different times, 17 sail of
piratical vessels, and destroyed most of
them, but made no prisoners, their crews
having all made their escape.
We learn, says the Palladium, that capt.
Savage brought information that a differ
ence had occurred between the Governor
of Campeachy and Capt. Kearney: the
former intending to seize upon some pro
perty which the latter considered Ameri
can and was determined to protect, and to
retaliate any hostile measures.
From Curracoa.—Capt. Ireland, of the
Vestal, informs, that the Patriot forces
were blockading Porto Cabeilo, which, it
was expected, would surrender to them
in a few days. It was also reported that
Coro was taken. General Morrell was
close to Maracaibo with 3000 men.—■Gaz.
Extract of a letter from an inhabitant of
I New York, residing at Port au Pnncc,
dated April 13, 1822.
“ I have the pleasure to inform you that
the great Boyer has broken the shackles
from the slaves throughout the island of
St. Domingo,and there is NOT A SLAVE
that now inhabits that fertile land, but
peace and liberty reigns universally.5’
[ Daily Adver.
KENTUCKY CURRENCY.
We are happy to state, that the alarm
which so suddenly arose respecting our
currency, has, as suddenly, subsided.
Specie and eastern funds have declined
very considerably during: the last week,
and Commonwealth’s Bank Notes have
much improved. This circumstance con
firms the opinion we expressed in our last,
that a steady adherence to the prudent
and judicious course marked out by the
bank, will ensure the credit of its paper,
and soon bring it up to a nearer approxi
mation, in value, to specie. We regret as
much as any of our neighbours the pres
ent unfortunate state of things, and depre
cate the establishment of a system of pa
per currency. Yet we believe it, under
existing circumstances, to be at once the
interest and the imperative duty of every
good citizen, to contribute, so far as may
be in his power, to the support of the
credit of the circulating medium of the
state. We hope and trust that the differ
ence of exchange will continue to decline
until it becomes comparatively inconsi
derable.—jj Western Monitor.
New Military Post.—*We understand
that the War Department has determined
to establish a military post at the Sault,
St. Mary’s, between lakes Huron and Su
perior. It is to be occupied by a detach
ment of 250 of the 2d regiment now at
Sackett’s Harbor.—[Bupfaloe Journal.
Whaling at home.—The two New Lon
don smacks which have undertaken wha
ling off Sandy Hook this spring, have al
ready taken three, and carried them a
shore at the Hook for their oil, besides
losing one they had struck; finding an
abundance of that animal within a short
distance from the shore.
The East-India Company.-—The first
order of the East-India Company for the
importation of tea, was in 1667-8 ; it was
for their agents to send one hundred
pounds weight only! In 1814, the quan
tity of tea consumed in England w.as
24,740,000 lbs.; yielding a revenue to the
government of more than four millions
sterling !
The English East India Company com
menced business with a capital of ^72,000
sterling, which in 200 years has increas
ed to 21,000,000 ; they own 380,000 square
miles; have 80,000,000 of inhabitants;
150,000 soldiers; and 17,000,000 annual
income. This is a prodigious power for
an incorporated company to possess. No
wonder that England opposed Russia in
attempts to subjugate Turkey and find a
short cut to India.
Thomas T. Kinney, Esq. Surrogate of
the county of Essex, New-Jersey, has giv
en notice to all persons interested, to ap
pear before the Orphans’ Court in that
county on the 10th of June, put in, and
show claim to the right of administration
in the case of Emanuel Antonio, alias Mr.
Lewis, the mysterious stranger, who died
suddenly in Newark some weeks since,
and on whom a considerable sum of mo
ney was found. The Centinel states that
no less than 4 women claim a right, as
widows of the deceased.
A person having purchased a watch,
placed it in his fob, and strutting across
the floor, says to his wife, “ Where shall
I drive a nail to hang my watch upon ?”
“ I do not know a safer place,” replied
the wife, “ than our meat barret—-I’m sure
; no one will go there to disturb it.”
The Great 'JVaval Epcfierimen t.—A t
appointed hour yesterday morning, all jB
arrangements having been completed, 'ThF
experiment was commenced which was -
to test the practicability of hauling up, .
on an inclined plane, upon the plan in- o
vented by commodore Rogers, a large ship :(
of war. The new frigate Potomac, of the '
class of 44 guns, and weighing, with the
apparatus attached to her, about 1600 1
tons, was the, ship with which this inte- I
resting and important experiment was to j
be tried. Though a light wind prevailed,
the ship was introduced without accident
between the ways on which she was to ,
ascend, and at nine o’clock the power of
three windlasses, worked by 40 or 50 men 1
each, was applied to the immense floating I
castle, and she began slowly to ascend.
The operation was Continued successful
ly, until the ship was drawn almost out of
the water. At this moment, the lashings
which Connected the block of the centre
purchase with the large cable that passed
around the ship, fore and aft, and drew
her on, parted. This accident, however,
had been guarded against, and means ta
ken, in case of such an occurrence, to pre
vent the ship from running back. The n;
vessel, therefore, remained firm in her
place; but, as it required some hours to
repair the damage, the remainder of the
operation was deferred until this morn
ing. The experiment has so far answer
ed the expectations of its friends, and we
believe there is no doubt entertained of
its complete success. Should their hopes
be realized, the invention will be of incal
culable advantage to all maritime na
tions, as it will enable them to preserve a
naval force of any magnitude, always in
readiness for the time of war, without the
expense and deterioration which necessa
rily attend the keeping a greater portion
afloat, than may be requisite for a time
of neace.
A large concourse of citizens attended
to witness this interesting spectacle ; and
we ai’e sorry to add that a young son of
col. Wm. Brent had his leg broke by the
falling cable, when it gave .way.—Intel.
NAVIGATION OF THE POTOMAC.
It will be recollected that an unfortu
nate difference of opinion, in a mere mat
ter of form, of the very least importance,
between the Governor and the Council of
Virginia, prevented the effective appoint
ment of commissioners, last year, to act
in conjunction with those appointed by
the Executive of Maryland, to survey the
river Potomac, and to make a report
thereon to the legislatures of those states,
with a view to the commencement of ef
fectual measures for completely opening
the navigation of that important river.
That a year should thus be lost, was a
matter much to be regretted, not only on
account of the great and lucrative com
merce which seeks that channel, but tha(jj
great importance which is so justly at
tached to it as a medium of communica
tion between the East and the West as a
link binding those parts of the Union, to
gether, more especially as, in the mean
time, some very erroneous opinions with
respect to that navigation have been
broached, (and in some degree acted up
on) which can exist only with the most
imperfect knowledge of the subject, or
have been produced by the most incorrect
information. But we have the satisfac
tion to find, that the legislature of Virgi
nia, at their last session, took that busi
ness out of the hands of the Governor and
Council, aud, by a special act, themselves
appointed the commissioners on the part
of Virginia. It is to be hoped that these
commissioners now, in conjunction with
those appointed on the part of Maryland,
will soon enter upon the discharge of this
important trust. The earlier this is done
in the season the better. The commis
sioners appointed on the part of Virginia
are, Mr. William Temple Thompson Ma
son, of Loudoun county, Mr. Moses Hun
ter, of Martinsburgh, and Mr. William
Naylor, of Romney; which three or any
two of whom may act. The commission
ers appointed on the part of Maryland,
are, Mr Eli Williams, and Mr. Athana
sias Fenwick.
On this subject, a very interesting Re
port was made by the committee of the
District of Columbia, of which Mr. Mer
cer was the Chairman, on the last day but
one of the session. This report, with
other important public documents, we
shall in due time lay before our readers.
\_JSTut. Intel.
BOSTON, MAY 2.
Bunker Hill.—-The spot of ground up
on which stands the monument erected
in commemoration of the battle of Bunk
er Hill, was yesterday knocked off to Dr.
John C. Warren, of this city, for $640. ,
As Dr. W arren is a nephe w of the lament- I
ed gen. Warren, who fell in Bunker Hill
battle, we presume he has made this pur
chase with a view of preserving uninjured
the few remaining traces of that import
ant event.—--[PaHiot.
The State Arsenal, at Rome, N. Y. was
destroyed by fire on the afternoon of the
2d inst. At this depot there were about
700 stand of arms arms and accoutrements,
the priticjnal part of which were burnt.