Harpers-Ferry free press. [volume], May 28, 1823, Image 1

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.
“to shew virtue her own feature, scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time, his form and pressure.”
VOL. II.—43.
HARPERS-FERRY, VIRGINIA, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 1823.
Whole No. 95,
PUBLISHED, WEEKLY, BY
JOHN S. GALLAHER & CO.
AT TWO DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
FAMILY BIBLE,
PERSONS wishing to be furnished
with this invaluable work, can, by
leaving1 their names at this office, obtain
a large Quarto Edition, with plates, for
Five Dollars. A specimen may be seen
at the Office, where may also be had,
The True Masonic Chart,
and a new and complete Tutor for the
Violin. May 7, 1823.
For Sale at the Free Press Office.
Beauties of the Bible,
New Testament, Watts’ Hymns,
Loves of the Angels, a new poem, by
Thomas Moore,
Ladies’ Library,
The Monastery, 3 vols. by the author of
Waverly, &c.
New-York City Hall Recorder, contain
ing a full report of trials, with the
speeches of counsel, and the charges of
the presiding judges,
History of Bristol (with elegant plates,)
Goldsmith’s Rome, do. England,
Grimshaw’s History of England,
Buchan’s Domestic Medicine,
Children of the Abbey, (an elegant edi
tion, VYith plates,)
Caroline of Litchfield, (with engravings,)
Columbian Orator,
Pike’s Arithmetic,
Introduction to the English Reader,
Webster’s Spelling Book, and
English Reader, and a number of other
useful and interesting works, which
will be sold very cheap.
Orders will be received for any Books
which may be wanted, and measures tak
en to furnish them in a reasonable time,
at low prices.
Just Received,
^/"ALKER’s Critical Pronouncing’
Dictionary, §3 50.
^gray’s English Grammar,
S'jPfgs of Zion, for the use of Methodists,
-ra.sop’s Fables,
The Builder’s Price Book, containing
rules for measuring and valuing car
penters’ and plaisterers’ work,
Domestic Cookery,
Blank Books, Writing Books,
Cyphering Books, Paper, Quills, See.
For sale at the Printing Office.
May 21, 1821.
Musical Instruments.
JUST received by us, a case of Violins
and violin strings, as also Flutes and
Clarionet Reeds—together with a further
supply of DRY GOODS & GROCE
RIES. WEED Sc WARING.
May 21, 1823.
CROCKERY, $c.
WE have just finished opening sever
al Crates of CROCKERY, con
sisting of China, Blue and other fine Li
verpool, common enamelled, and Queen’s
Ware ; likewise GLASS WARE, of eve
ry description. We have, also, WOOD
EN WARE, such as Tubs, Buckets,
Barrel Churns, common Churns, Oval
Coolers, &c. &c. and a supply of Tin
"W ARE.
WEED Sc WARING.
May 14, 1S23.
DR. JOHN R. HAYDEN
Respectfully offers his profes
sional services to the citizens of
Harpers-Ferry and its vicinity, in the
practice of Medicine, Surgery, and Mid
wifery. He also particularly invites those
who may labor under the disease of Can
cer to give him a call, as he is certain
that it would be to their advantage. Fie
has succeeded in curing (in the last eight
years) 42 cases out of 44.
His residence is at Mudfort,in the new
brick building belonging to Mr. George
Rowles, opposite to the house of Mr.
Robert Avis.
April 30, 1823.
FOR RENT,
AT the Brick Mill, on the Road be
tween Charlestown and Harpers
Ferry, a comfortable
Dwelling House and good Shop.
The„re are few situations (if any) more
eligible for a competent wagon and plough
maker. None but parsons of sober ha
bits and industry need apply.
JOHN PETER.
April 30, 1823.<—6\v.
CANAL NAVIGATION.
UTICA, N. Y. APRIL 29.
Our village on Friday, 25th inst. pre
sented a scene of bustle and stir never
before witnessed here. Owing to some
necessary repairs at one of the aqueducts,
a few miles below this, the water was
not let into the canal east of the Oriska
ny feeder, before the 24th'—'that evening
and the next morning about 60 boats ar
rived, heavily laden with the rich pro
ductions of the West. By the account
of arrivals, &c. published below, it will
be seen that more than 11,000 bbls. of
flour had arrived during the four first,
days of navigation this spring. On Sat
urday the Packet Boat for Rochester,
left here with eighty-four passengers, on
her first trip. A boat will leave this
every morning, Sundays excepted, dur
ing the season, and continue through to
Genesee river. We think this a very
judicious arrangement of the Company,
as passengers are greatly incommoded
by changing from one boat to another.
The boat which leaves this in the morn
ing, arrives the evening before, thereby
allowing time to overhaul and cleanse,
and get their supplies on board. The
new boats which have been added to
this line, are built in the best manner,
and fitted up in a style of magnificence
that could hardly have been anticipated
in the infancy ©f canal navigation in this
country.
NORFOLK,APRIL 30.
On Monday a vessel entered our har
bor, whose arrival was a greater cause
of congratulation than that of any vessel
before her. She was not from Liverpool
nor from London ; neither was she from
the West nor the East Indies—nor had
she a very costly cargo. Not to keep
the reader in suspense-—she was not even
from sea ; nor, in truth was she from up
the bay, or' from any of the great rivers
in our neighborhood. To come to the
point, we refer to the arrival of the schr,
Rebecca Edwards, Capt. Burgess, from
Halifax, (N. C.) through Albemarle
Sound and the Dismal Swamp Canal,
with a cargo consisting of fifty-nine bales
of cotton, forty-nine barrels of flour, and
thirty-nine hogsheads of tobacco, con
signed to Messrs. J. & P. E. Tabb anc! J.
& W. Southgate, of this town.
The advantages promised by the ca
nal are to their fullest extent, demon
strated by this arrival. If a single ves
sel can pass through the canal with a
cargo sufficient to load thirty wagons,
the produce of the country on the Roan
oke must take this direction—-whether
it is destined to stop here, or to proceed
on to Petersburg or Richmond.
This is a subject that requires no in
genuity on our part to set it off to the
best advantage. The fact we have stated
speaks with sufficient plainness both to
the planter and the merchant—who can
read their own interest in it without our
interference.
The Rebecca Edwards left the schr.
Dan, Capt. Watkins, to sail in a few days.
New Jersey Northern Canal.—The
Morristown Palladium states that the
Commissioners appointed to survey the
most eligible route for a canal, to connect
the waters of the Delaware and Hudson,
will make the contemplated survey in
the month of June and July. They are
to be assisted by the chief engineer, Ben
jamin Wright, of the New-York Grand
Canal. The New York Legislature at
the late session, by a resolution, which
passed both houses, have authorised their
Commissioners of the Northern Canal, to
grant the aid and assistance of their prin
cipal engineers for this purpose—deem
ing the enterprize beneficial, as well to
New York as to New Jersey.
The mineralogical survey by C. Kin
sey, Esq. and Dr. Langstaff, of N. York,
will commence very soon.
Charleston, May 13.—By the schoo
ner Arringdon, we have received a file of
Barbadoes papers to the 25th ult. No
reinforcement to the British squadron,
in the West Indies, had appeared Avhen
theArringdon sailed, which circumstance
throws still more into the shade the ab
surd stories that are circulated over this
country of large British fleets and armies
being collected among the islands for the
purpose ef seizing upon Porto Rico-and
Cuba, Not a regiment of troops had
left Great Britain for the West Indies for
this twelvemonth, except those that have
been sent to take the place of others or
dered home.—Mercury.
porter’s squadron.
Extract of a letter to the Editors of the
Norfolk Beacon, from a friend on board
of the40 Wild Cat,55 received, via Charles
ton, dated
U. S. schr. Wild Cat, off the Moro £
of Havana, April 27th, 1823. 3
“ I wrote some time since, informing
you of the capture of.the piratical schoo
ner, formerly Pilot, of Norfolk; she is
now bruizing under our flag. It is tdse
opinion of all well informed persons, that
piracy is suppressed on the coast of Cu
ba, (at least for the present.) The schTs.
and barges have scoured and continue
scouring every bay and creek of the Island
and convoys sail regularly from Havana
and Matanzas—-from the former place on
Saturdays, and the latter on Sundays.
This vessel has now under charge fifteen
sail of Americans, principally coffee and
sugar, loaded for European markets ; in
our last convoy we had five English and
three Americans. We afford protection
to vessels of all nations requesting it of
us; in one fleet from this place, we had
Euglish, Danish, Hamburgh, and Bre
men colors mixed with our own. The
“ Grey Hound,” Lt. com. Kearney, and
Weazel, Lt. Com. Kennoe, convoy from
Matanzas; this vessel and the Beagle,
Lt. Com. Newton from Havana. We
had formerly the Matanzas convoys, but
are now in charge of those from Havana.
Our barges in one of their recent excur
sions up a small river, found the wrecks
of three schooners, which had been a
bandoned by the pirates and burned, to
keep them out of our hands ; their arms
arid munitions of war were preserved,
and the crews dispersed to seek their
fortunes elsewhere, perhaps pursuing the
same vile Course on land, they were com
pelled to abandon on the ocean. You
witnout doubt hear many exaggerated
accounts of atrocities committed by the
Pirates, most of which never occurred,
and those that did occur, told in so ma
ny* different ways, that each appears a
separate and distiuct occurrence. This
is much to be regretted as they excite
much uneasiness in the minds of those
engaged its commerce, and mortify the
officers, who are literally broiling in the
sun all day, and soaking in open boats,
exposed to heavy dews all night, or con
fined on board small schooners, searching
their way through among the shoals and
keys with which this Island is surround
ed—of all other duties these are the most
arduous and harrassing, and to which
we are constantly exposed.—Should we
have a moment’s leisure whilst watering,
and pick up a newspaper, perhaps the
first paragraph will be a statement of
some robbery or murder on this coast,
with a remark appended, that notwith*
standing our being here, these things take
place every day, which is utterly false.
The last act of piracy was committed off
the Moro, by the Pilot.
“ V essels continue to arrive daily at
Havana and Matanzas, from all quarters
of the globe, without the least interrup
tion ; many sail in the middle of the week
without convoy, the fear of robbery is
subsiding fast, and few pirates live, ex
cept in the imaginations of our wonder
loving countrymen; many of whom on
their arrival report having been chased
by a pirate, though they generally escape
by their superior skill and management.
Many a poor Droger is taken for a rob
ber, particularly should he be standing
in for the harbors, at the same time with
one of our timid gentry. We sailed a
few days since, in company with thirty
two small Spanish Drogers, all of our rig,
and of course of suspicious appearance.
I have this moment fallen in with the
Sea Gull, Com. Porter : she is now go
ing into Havana by steam. Four Barges
are also at Havana under Lieut. Corn’d
Cassin. The Sea Gull is last from Se
wappa Bay and Matanzas.”
The editors of the Beacon have receiv
ed another letter from an officer attached
to the Cuba expedition, from which the
following extract is made.
“ The Spaniards of the Islands of Por
to Rico and Cuba, are extremely hostile
towards us—Indeed, the authorities of
those Islands have gone so far as almost
to prohibit the entrance of our ships of
war into their harbors. The lower order
of people have become extremely insult
ing. At Matanzas, where our boats found
it necessary to communicate with the
shore, the officers in charge of them were
grossly insulted by the crews of one or
more Spanish vessels, by blackguard
gesticulations and frequent drawing and
flourishing of knifes, See. The public
authorities of this place may not counte
nance piracy; but it is strongly impressed
upon my mind, that a great number of
watermen and other low characters, sally*
forth from this place, and aid in commit
ting piracies within a few leagues of the
harbor.
“ Cora. Porter appears to be much in
favor of his officers' and men.-—For my
part, I consider him one of the best and
most agreeable of Commanders' in our
service.” ,
Pensacola, We have had a con
versation with a gentleman who left Pen
sacola about a month since, who states
that, at the time he left that country, the
town was in the enjoyment of perfect
health, and enlivened by business and so
cial intercourse. No apprehensions were
entertained by the inhabitants, either
Spanish or American, of a return at the
coming season of the fever of last year:
on the contrary, the opinion there was
general, that the dreadful sickness with
which the place was afflicted last autumn,
proceeded from accidental causes, most
of which may not exist again in a hun
dred years. The cargo of putrid fish
and fruit, and the great influx of persons,
and their consequent confined accommo
dation, the former particularly, are con
considered by all as the main causes of
the sickness referred to. The American
part of the population appear to think
that the bad state of the police also as
sisted to produce it, The Board of
Health and other authorities of the place
are taking every means in their power to
prevent its recurrence.
i lie Spanish population is represented
to be warmly attached to the U. States'
government, and as being a very inter
esting people. The greatest harmony
prevailed between the different authori*
ties, civil and military. The military,
it is said, entertained great deference and
respect for the individuals who filled the
various civil appointments of the go
vernment, and the civil authorities and
people are so well satisfied with the pre
sence of the troops, at Pensacola, and at
the Barrancas, that they would view
their removal from that place as a cala
mity. Indeed, the citizens, hearing, by
report, that their removal was contem
plated, have lately got up a petition to
the government against that measure.—
Our informant speaks of the corps sta
tioned near Pensacola as fine bodies of
men, commanded by able officers, and
under excellent police and discipline.
An affray took place the day before
our informant left Pensacola between
two individuals. The disturbers of the
peace were arrested, and all the evidence
of the witnesses taken on the same day,
and the sentence of the final court was
to be had in eight or ten days afterwards.
Civil suits are decided, in that infant
territory, with equal despatch, and both
are decided with so small a tax by way
of fees and costs as to be scarcely worth
mentioning! All this is done under a
new code of laws, framed and adopted
by a small local legislature or council,
which has been no expense to the peo
ple of the territory, and a very trifling
one to the government.
The gentleman speaks highly of the
towns of Mobile and Blakeley, in Ala
bama, as places of business. They are
rising fast into great importance. From
those two ports alone, which are as yet
scarcely known to the people of the Us
States generally, were shipped, during
the last year, about 70,000 bales of cot
ton. On the day our informant left
Blakeley there was an arrival at that port
of a very fine vessel from Cadiz: on the
day previous, there was one at Mobile
from Vera Cruz. There had lately been
several other foreign arrivals, besides
vessels from our own ports, and coasting
and inland vessels almost without num
ber. New Orleans he describes as a lit
tle world, and as greatly increasing la
importance.—[Nat. Int.
IMPORTANT.
BALTIMORE, MAY 17.
A gentleman passenger in the steam
boat yesterday morning from Philadel
phia, informs that as they were leaving
New Castle on Thursday, the ship Hun
ter, from Bordeaux just anchored—-the
j officer of the Revenue Cutter boarded
her, and returned on shore, reported she
had a passage of 35 days, (leaving about
10th April,) that the French Army had
passed the lines and entered the Spanish
territory.
By the steam boat we learn, that the
U. S. frigate Congress, Capt. Biddle, left
Norfolk, for the Delaware. It is presum
ed she is to take Mr. Rodney on board
at Wilmington, and from thence proceed
to Buenos Ayres..