The Perrysburg journal. [volume], May 13, 1854, Page 76, Image 4

About The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861

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The Russian Language.
The Kussiarvtongue is almost insurmount
able to a foreigner, and to master it, suffi
ciently for literary purposes, would be in it
self, for such a person, the labor of a life.
Excepting the Chinese, there is, perhaps, no
language in the world fraught with so many
difficulties. In the first place, the Russian
alphabet possesses nine more letters than the
English, and is made up of the Greek, Ro
man, and Sclavonic characters. In 1666
the first Russian book was printed at Am
sterdam, and it was about the year 1704 or
1705 that Peter the Great himself made
many alterations in the old Sclavonic letters,
for the purpose of assimilating them more
nearly to the Latin ones; and the first Rus
sian journal was printed with this type at St.
Petersburgh in 1705, four years "after the
foundation of that city, from a font which
had been cast for him by artists brought
from Holland.
In the old Sclavonic alphabet there aTe
forty-six letters, but the modern Russian
language, comprises only thirty-five. In all
matters, however, of a theological nature,
the antique form is even now retained, and
this constitutes the difference between the
Czerkovnoi and Grashdanskoi, or the civil
and church alphabet. This in a great meas
ure must explain the difficulties which a
foreigner would have to contend with, in
attempting to render himself master of the
Russian language ; but if it were possible
for him to do so perfectly, he would discover
an extraordinary copiousness, a delicacy and
beauty of expression, that would indeed
surprise him.
In common with all dialects of Sclavonic
origin, the .Russian is also remarkable for
its euphony and versatility. It also em
braces not only the sounds of every known
language, but every gutteral lisp and slur of
which the human voice is capable. But the
language is also divided into three leading
dialects. The first is the Russian proper, or
the language spoken in the two capitals,
Moscow and St. Petersburgh, and through
out the northern and central portion of the
empire. It is the literary language of the
Russians. ;Secondly, in the southern and
southeastern provinces the Malo Russian is
spoken, which dialect is supposed to ap
proach nearer to the old Sclavonic than any
of the others; the idiom of Red Russia, in
the northern and eastern districts of Hunga
ry, and to the eastward of Gallacia, inhabit
ed by theTwUSsiacks, is almost identical with
the Malo Russian. Thirdly, in Lithunia
and Volhynia, and other portions of White
Russia, the people speak the White Russia
dialect. The geographical position of these
districts should fully account for the Polish
words and idioms which are here to be found.
This is the youngest of the Russian dialects
although the first translation of the Holy
Scriptures was made in it, it is also the far
thest removed of the three from the old Scla
vonic. Rumors may go abroad that cholera is pre
vailing in this city. Two cases have oc
curred under the following circumstances :
On Tuesday last Mr. William H. Hall, one
of the victims of the disease, started from
Dubuque, Iowa, with two ladies from a
Hotel where the cholera was prevailing. On
arriving at Chicago, he despatched one of
them to Detroit, and the other was so ner
vous and excited with fear, that he sent her
on to his residence in Toledo, in advance of
himself. Mr. Hall came on in. a subsequent
train, and soon after his arrival, the affright
ed girl was attacked and died of cholera on
Thursday . On Saturday Mr. Ball himself
vrs attacked at about 1 o'clock, and died at
10 o'clock P. M.
For about four weeks Mr. Hall had been
undergoing fatigue, and often deprived of
rest. He had been to Virginia and to Iowa,
and arrived at home on Wednesday last lit
erally worn out with mental and physical
exhaustion.
It thus appears that so far as these cases
are concerned, and we know of no others,
the disease was incurred and germinated
elsewhere, that the victims wen; peculiarly
iiU6ceptible to its attacks, and that literally
ihey only came home to die, leaving a start
ling and malancholy impression upon their
frirnds and the community. Toledo Blade.
Foreign Wars of Great Britain.
We have prepared for the Herald the state
ment below, which will doubtless interest
our readers at this time. Besides the nume
rous wars between England, Scotland, Wales,
and Ireland, Great Britain has been engaged
in the following wars with foreign nations :
Duration
Year.
War with France, 1116
1161
1194
1201
1224
5294
1339
136S
1422
1492
1512
1522
1549
1557
" " 1562
" Spain, 15S3
1624
1627
Peace
of war.
Year. Y'rs.
1118
1186
1195
1216
1234
1299
1360
1420
1471
1493
1514
1527
1550
1559
1564
1604
1629
1629
1651
1660
166S
1663
1663
1671
1674
1697
25
1
15
10
5
21
52
49
1
2
5
1
2
o
16
" " France
" Holland, 1651
" " Spain, 1655
" France, 1666
" " Denmark, 1666
" Holland, 1666
" Algiers, 1669
"Holland, 1672
" France, 1689
The general treaty of peace of Ryswick,
between England, Germany, Holland and
Spain on the one part, and Fiance on the
other, was signed by the ministers of these
powers at the palace of Ryswick, near the
Hague, in Holland, Sept. 20, 1697. It con
cluded this last war. The event is commem
orated by a pyramidal monument at that
place.
The great modern and extensive wars of
Great Britain, have been as follows:
War of the succession with France, Spain,
&c, commenced in May, 1702, and closed
in March, 1713, by the peace of Utrecht;
duration, 11 years. The most important
stipulations in this treaty were, the security
of the Protestant succession in England, the
disuniting the French and Spanish crowns,
and the enlargement of the British colonies
in America.
War with Spain, December, 1718. to the
peace of 1721 ; duration of war, over two
years.
War with Spain, October, 1739, to the
peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, April 31, 1748;
duration of war, eight years and six months.
War with France, March, 1741, closed al
so by the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, April 30,
1748 ; duration of war, over four years.
The seven years war with France, lasted
from June 9, 1756, to the peace of Paris, Feb.
10, 1763. By this war Great Britain acqui
red Canada and other French colonies.
War with Spain, January, 17U2, closi by
the general peace of February 10th, 1763.
War with the United States, from April,
1775, to the peace of Paris, November 30th,
1782. Duration of war, nearly eight years.
War with France, Feb. 6, 1778. Peace
of Paris, Jan. 20, 1783. Duration of war,
about five years.
War with Spain, April 17, 1780. Closed
by treaty of Paris, June 20, 1783. Duration
of war, about three years.
War with Holland, December 21, 1780.
Treaty of peace signed September 2, 1783.
Duration of war, over two years.
It will be observed that during the latter
part ot trie American revolutionary war,
which was closed by the treaty of Paris.
England was at war with America, France,
Spain and Holland.
War with France during the French revo
lution, from February 1, 1793, to the peace
of Amierts, March 27, 1802, Duration of
the war, nine years.
War with France and her allies, under Na
poleon Bonaparte, from April 3d, 1S03, to
the treaty of Paris in 1814, eleven years.
War against Napoleon on his return from
Elba, in March, 1825, finally closed by the
battle of Waterloo, June 18, 1815.
War with the United States, from June 18,
1812, to the treaty of Ghent, December 24,
!
1814. Duration of war, two years and six
months.
In the war against Napoleon, the great
powers of Europe leagued sometimes with,
and sometimes against Great Britain. Rus
sia leagued with France and Austria at the
peace of Tilsit, in July, 1807, against Great
Britain, but that league only lasted about
five years, and there was no conflict between
the arms of England and Russia. They be
came allies again in 1812.
England spent 65 years in war, and 62 in
peace, previous to the close of the war with
France in 1815, since when the general peace
lias lasted 39 years, nc; vly. In the war of
16S8, Englandspent 3n. 000,000 ; in the war
.i. - t ...... no nno nno . '.i
the Spanish war, 54.000,000 ; in the seven
years war, 112,1)00,000 : in ttie American
revolutionary war, 136.li00.000; in the war
of the French revolution, 464,000,000; and
in the war against Napoleon, 1,159,000,000,
thus making a total expenditure for war, in
127 years, (from the English revolution in
16S9, to the. downfall of Napoleon in 1815.)
of 2,023,000,000 pounds sterling. M. d'Pratt
estimates the loss of life bv the French for-jevery
ces in the six campaigns of the Peninsular
war, (Spain and Portugal) at 600,000 men. j
The loss sustained by the Spaniards and their)
allies was probably "as great, making the to- j
tal destruction of human beings in the Pen-j
insular war alone, about 1,200.000.. I
The British conquests in India comment-
ed in 1757, and continued at various times
to the annexation of the Punjaub or
country of the Sikhs to the British crown,
in March, 1S49. The war with China coir.-
menced in IS 10, and continued to the peace
of August 29, 1642, when a treaty was sign
ed on board the Comwallis ship of war, by
the British and Chinese commissioners.
f, . . , . . . , .
Certainly two of the most singular histo-
J , .. ., j
ries on record are those ot the grandmothers
e i -- i i .1 .i. .-I
v.. ...w , ... ...
of lurkey, Abil ul Medjid. Ihese two wor
thies, the emperor and the sultan, are grand-
i nuv nine mi-
x,' , .i -.i . f
v e give it on the authority of
sons of America n Creole girls ! As this seems
incredible, their history will not prove un
interesting.
the Pittsburg Po.st. These two Creole girls,
grandmothers, Josephine de Tascher and a
ficc3 Q wuro Krtrti ami mica ! in
lUU.l . V KSS it UIIU I U lw V - 411
the lovely West India isle of Martinique.
were of French origin their fathers
planters ami near neighbors. At the
death of her father, Josephine went to France,
and was married toM.de Beauhamais. by j
she had one son, Eugene, and a daugh-!
ter, Ilortense. Some time after the death of i
Beauhamais, Josephine was married to Na
poleon Bonaparte, and became empress of
France. Her daughter, Ilortense, was mar-j
ried to Joseph Bonaparte, then king of Hol
land; and the present emperor of France is
her son by that marriage. The history of
Miss S. io more wildly romantic and singu
lar. This lady quitted the island of Martin
ique some time beforti her friend. The ves
sel carrying her to France, wasattacked and
taken by the Algerine corsairs, and the crew
and passengers made, p.-isoners. But this
corsair ship was, in turn, attacked and pil
laged by Tunis pirates, and Miss S. was car
ried by them to Constantinople, and offered
for sale as a slave. Her extraordinary beau
ty and accomplishments iound her a purcha
ser in the sultan himself; and she soon be
came the chief lady of the, seraglio and sul
tana of Turkey. Mahrnoud II. was her son ;
and the present sultan. Abdul Medjid, is the
son of Mahrnoud. What a history ! Can
its parallel be found in any true record? The
sultana died in 1811, the enpress Josephine
in 1814. Their grandsons now rule over two
wide and powerful empires, and are entering
as friends and allies upon one of the most
momentous and sanguinary struggles in
which Europe was ever engaged. How lit-
tie couki u ue guesseu by ttmse two lovely
Creole girls that their early friendships were
to result thus!
It is said that many of the relatives of this
sultana left the island of Martinique and
settled at Constantinople, where their de
scendants still reside, and enjoy the favor of
the sultan. Those whom Josephine elevated
to power are almost numberless, and to this
day their influence almost guides the desti
nies of France. San. Register,
Foreign Wars of Great Britain. A New Invention--Gas for Country Use.
By a new invention, people living in
towns where no coal gas is or can be profit
ably formed, may still obtain the luxury of
a brilliant home-made gas light, at u cost
cheaper than that of the ordinary oil or
fluid. We witnessed this important im
provement in complete operation, u feu
evenings since, at the residence of a well
known literary and scientific gentleman on
Spring Hill, Soinmerville being the first
house into which it had been introduced in
this section of the country. The light pro
duced is superior to that of coal gas, being
clearer and more powerful, us the flame is
of fuller volume, and bums with greater
steadiness, while the expense is about the
jsanio as coal gas, at $2.50 per thousand feet.
It is the combustion of benzole, a resinous
liquid, sold at 81.50 per gallon, mixed with
atmospheric air the gas being gem-rated by
an ingenious and not inelegant apparatus
which may stand in th' house entry-way, oi
even be placed on a closet shelf, and from
which common gas fixtures in iv extend in
all directions, and give the light in any or
room at pleasure. The apparatus
(generates no more gas than is immediaJeiy
consumed, and requires for the purpo.-e oniv
the heat of one of the burners used as a light
so that the whole cost of the gas is that
of the apparatus and the benzole,
An apparatus of sufficient capacity for a
(good sized dwelling house is offered for H15M.
it is so constructed that by means of a rota
down ting air pump, which is revolved by a cor.l
ami a weight wound up by a crank, a stream
0f air is forced into the generator, which is
partially filled with benzole. The generator
contains a vaporator exposing a large sur
face of benzole to the action of the air as
the latter is forced through bolh apartment-,
by the pump and weight and the thus
.evaporated benzole comb n ng with the air
. , , , " ...
produces a gas of the highest quality tor
., ,- y ? 1 -c .
1 1 1 u ijjuiu hum. i hi: u pirn i u i us is su uenecuv
simple, safe, and durable, that it may be
ii.i lii.i
imauaiieu uv llie uui est domestic, on v re-
m J
quiring the weight to be wound up before
use, and the generator to Ik: filled twice a
i. ., , ..r. .... .1... l
turn i, ui uui as uiicii, as mc nji i urt- en -
' 0
This beautiful invention was patented in
August last by Mr. O. P. Drake, a practi-
the backwoods," may eniov as much a-
those of the cities in the way of artificial
"enlightenment'' in their domestic ar
rangements. Boston Transcript.
- ' . ' '
,cul electrician ot lioston, and must be re
They U1'" s ''-e ll)e ost utilitarian im
buing provements of the tunes. It is applicable
u houses, shops, hotels, factories or other
jjlace,s th country, or even on ship
whom board .Hereafter the dwellers on the re-
molest m i-tops. or in tne deepest shades ot
Renovating Old Grape-Vines. Th:
best mode of renovating an old grape-vine,
is to make bare its roots for several feet
around its stem remove the ground entire
ly, and then apply two or three busheU ot
bones, which should always be preserved
about a place for this purpose, partially
broken up ; and on the top of these add from
one to two bushels of wood ashes, according
to the size of the. hole to be filled, mixed
with some hog manure and rich soil. In
one year, should this plan be pursued, a
marked change for the better would be pro
duced. In pruning an old grape-vine which has
been allowed for years to take, its own
course, it fchould not be topped too short the
first year. About 12 or 15 feet, according
to size, should be left to reinain ; the lattera?
branches should be thinned out to one or
two feet apart, and at that distance tied to
the trellis firmly. The fruit bearing twigs
found upon these, should be pruned down
so as to allow about three buds to each.
And the work is done.
The best time to prune is at any period
before the sap begins to circulate say jn
January, February and the first half of
March.
No external application to trie branches
will help their productiveness. Soap-suds
applied to the roots plentifully, on washing
days are of great adyantage,-r-JGermantoWn
Telegraph,