THE history, customs, and traditions of Wales contain very abundant materials for the ground-work of fictitious narrative; but, strange to say, no one has yet succeeded in properly availing himself of the advantages of so rich and fertile a source. We say no one, because, although the scenes of several novels, or tales, or whatever they may be called, have been laid in the principality, the attempts which have been made to delineate the manners of the people, or the scenery of the country, have been ridiculously wretched. We remember, some three or four years ago, meeting at a "public" in Shropshire, with an erudite work, entitled, if we recollect rightly, "Travellers' Tales." This contained what was called a Welsh Tale, wherein the author or authoress ventures to display his or her knowledge, not only of Welsh manners and antiquities, but also of the Welsh language, to the great confusion of his or her readers, and to the utter manifestation of his or her own palpable ignorance. Two or three other things have been also written, all equally worthless and trashy; not even excepting that ingenious hoax called "Walladmor." The reason of all this is evident enough: not one of these sage scribblers know a syllable about the history, the traditions, the superstitions, or the pastoral manners of the people whose peculiarities they have attempted to pourtray. A young lady, or a young gentleman, the former, perhaps, holding the situation of governess in some respectable tradesman's family in Cockaine; the latter, having escaped for a month or six weeks from the shop or counting-house, flies through Wales on the top of a stage coach; and, having seen Snowdon and Cadir Idris, gazed on the battlements of Caernarvon castle, tasted cwrw dda at Llangollen, mutton at Wrexham, and browas at Ruabon, bathed, moreover, at Barmouth, and danced at the assize balls at Dolgelly, returns to dear London, and perpetrates a novel or a tale. This is the way these things are done: shall we say how they ought to be managed? In the first place, none but a native can ever succeed in delineating a faithful portrait of the Welsh; but where is that native to be found? He who would wish to succeed in the undertaking must understand the language well. He must mingle, moreover, with the people; live amidst the mountains; partake of the boisterous and warm-hearted hospitality of the Welsh "laird;" dance, sing, and laugh with the lasses; and kick football and wrestle with the lads. In this manner he will gain an intimate knowledge of their various pastimes and customs; he will witness the festive revelry of their weddings, and the soleinn simplicity of their funerals; he will become acquainted also with many of their wild and poetical supersti tions; and be made a welcome partaker of their joyous celebration of All Saints' eve and New-year's day. With knowledge thus attain ed, to what excellent account might it not be turned by a Washington Irving or a Walter Scott! But we fear it will be long before Wales will produce a child so favoured or so renowned. We have said that the history of Wales might afford copious materials for narrative. We do not mean the earlier annals of the country, although in them, indeed, there would be no deficiency of subject-matter, but that particular period which intervened between Owain Glyndwr's abortive attempt to free his country from the yoke of England, and its effectual union in the reign of Henry the Eighth. This period, although one of gloom and anarchy, was replete with interesting events and turbulent commotion. The strongest hand and the stoutest heart carried the day; and feuds and forays were the pastimes of the people. In so disturbed a state was the principality at this time, that no gentleman dared to venture abroad unarmed or unguarded. "Questioning with my uncle," says sir John Wynn, the venerable historian of Gwedir, "what should move him to demolish an old church which stood in a great thicket, and build it in a plain, stronger and greater than it was before; his answer was, he had good reason for the same; because the country was wild, and he might be oppressed by his enemies on the suddaine, in that wooddie countrey; it therefore stood him in a policie to have diverse places of retreat. Certaine it was, that he durst not goe to church on a Sunday from his house of Penanmen, but he must leave the same guarded with men, and have the doors sure barred and boulted, and a watchman to stand at the Garreg big during divine service: the Garreg was a rock, whence he might see both the church and the house, and raise the crie if the house was assaulted. He durst not, although he was guarded with twenty tall archers, make knowne when he went to church or elsewhere, or goe or come the same way through the woods and narrow places, lest he should be lay'd for: this was in the beginning of his time." The disordered state of Wales during this tumultuous period afforded ample opportunity for the commission of illegal depredations; and "soe bloudy and ireful were quarreles on those days, and the revenge of the sworde at such libertie, as almost nothing was punished by law, whatsoever happened." As to law, there were, it was true, several statutes* enacted for the express purpose of preventing these tumultuous transactions; but the great difficulty was, to put the laws, thus enacted, into execution. The English dared not venture into Wales, or, if they did, it was at the imminent peril of their lives. A species of petty warfare, indeed, was established between the English and Welsh on the borders, which was carried on with the utmost animosity and rancour. From this sprang a system of mutual robbery and rapine, which became prevalent throughout the whole line of the Marches, and for the prevention of which the most active and summary measures were resorted to by both parties. The dwellings of the English were surrounded by moats, and defended by palisadoes, and embankments. For the intimidation of their predatory opponents, a gallows was erected in every frontier manor; and if any Welshman was luckless enough to be captured beyond the line of demarcation between the two countries, he was immediately hanged upon the said gallows, and there suspended in terrorem, until another victim was ready to supply his place. Every town within the Marches had also a horseman, ready equipped with a sworde and speare," who was maintained for the express purpose of apprehending these marauders. On the other hand the Welsh * See particularly the second and fourth statutes of Henry the Fourth, and the first of Henry the Fifth. trusted for their safety to the intricate recesses of their deep woods, and to the ruggedness and strength of their mountain-fastnesses; and they did not fail to put in force the lex talionis, whenever an opportunity occurred, to its fullest and most rigorous extent. This disturbed state of the country gave origin also to numerous outlaws or brigands. These were generally the retainers of petty chieftains, commanding vassals devotedly attached to their leader, and inheriting that deadly hatred towards the English which had arisen from the war that subjugated Wales, and which was fostered with a desire of revenge on the one hand, and a powerful striving for mastery on the other. One of the most celebrated as well as most daring of these marauders, was Reginald Meredith Griffith, who resided near Mold, in Flintshire, at a strong hold called Tower, a castellated building of great strengih, part of which, modernized into a comfortable mansion, is yet to be seen. Here lived Reginald, in the fifteenth century, exercising undisputed authority over his little clan, by whose willing assistance he continued to molest and plunder all who were obnoxious to him. The principal objects of his attention in this respect seem to have been the inhabitants of Chester, (which is about twelve miles from Mold,) with whom he was continually involved in dispute; nay, a regular system of warfare appears to have been carried on between the two parties, and many a dire and deadly conflict was the consequence. In 1465, during one of those flimsy amnesties, which were occasionally contracted between the parties, a considerable number of the tradespeople of Chester repaired to Mold fair, for the purposes of sale and barter. This was an opportunity not to be resisted by the unconscionable freebooter, who determined to enrich himself at the expense of "the good men of Chester," notwithstanding the existence of their mutual treaty. The honest merchants had disposed of their commodities, and were preparing, like peaceful men, to return home, when Reginald came down upon them with his followers, and, after killing several, took possession of their goods and money, and so acquired a considerable booty. It is said that a principal incitement to this outrage was a ve hement desire of the freebooter to avenge himself on the person of Robert Browne, or Bryne, the mayor of Chester, who, being a draper, had attended the fair for purposes connected with his trade, as well, probably as in his magisterial capacity. He was an old and inveterate enemy of Reginald, and had several times executed very summary justice upon divers members of his band: but he paid with his life the forfeit of his temerity in venturing so near the haunts of the outlaw. Upon his capture, he was hurried up to Tower immediately after the action, and there hanged, sans cérémonie, on an iron staple, fixed in the ceiling of the great hall. Browne's fellow-townsmen, scandalized at this breach of faith, attempted, a short time afterwards, to avenge his death by the seizure of Reginald. For this purpose, two hundred stout and active men left Chester, and proceeded forthwith to Tower. But the vigilant freebooter gained timely notice of their approach, and, quitting his house retired with his men to a neighbouring wood, where he remained to watch the operations of his visiters, who, as he anticipated, rushed eagerly into the house. No sooner had they all fairly entered, than Reginald hastened from his ambush, sur. rounded Tower with his men, and set it on fire, cutting down the Chester men as they hurried out, without mercy or hesitation. Few escaped to relate the fate of their comrades, and the outlaw of Mold experienced no further *This staple, the engine of so much cruelty, might have been seen some time ago in its original position, where it remained a terrible memento of the lawless ferocity which distinguished Wales during the fifteenth and six teenth centuries. molestation for a while from the intimidated inhabitants of Chester. Notwithstanding his unjustifiable contempt of the laws, and his numerous atrocities, he procured a pardon from Thomas, lord Stanley, president of the council of Wales, which was subsequently ratified, under the great seal, by Edward the Fourth; and he died, like many other rogues, at "a good old age," and, no doubt, "grievously lamented by his brave and faithful followers." Literary Port Folio. NOTES ON THE PAST WEEK. Friday-Lord Wellington says that the Russians ought to have reached Constantinople in the first campaign.The Washington Telegraph, and the Courier and Enquirer of New York, are disputing about the next presidency, both being in favour of the reelection of President Jackson!-Mr. Hunter is said to be a midshipman, and not a lieutenant. A correspondent of one or two papers requests the public to suspend their opinion! for that perhaps something may be disco. vered to palliate, if not to excuse, this murder: we are not willing to trust to reports, but even those which are said to come from Mr. Hunter's friends have no tendency to lessen our abhorrence. A town meeting has been held upon the subject of the proposed incorporation of a company to carry a rail road from York to Baltimore, at which our most respectable citizens attended, and spoke the strong sense of the whole town, in deprecating the measure as one certain to produce great injury to Philadelphia and to Pennsylvania. The Milledgeville Statesman, of the 13th instant, says: "We are informed by a correspondent from Lawrenceville, Gwinnet county, under date of the 7th inst., that a company of United States troops passed through Decatur, Dekalb county, a few days since, to put off the gold diggers from the Indian territory. Report says, resistance is threatened." This is as it should be. Jackson seems determined to administer justice to the Indians. The intruders will hardly have the hardihood to resist. The same paper adds-"We have seen another beautiful specimen of Habersham gold, brought down by our intelligent fellow citizen, Colonel James Blair, senator of that county. It was so pure, and so nicely cleaned of foreign substances, that 55 dwts. 14 grs., after melting, produced 54 dwts. 16 grs., having lost but 21 grs., or little more than 1 per cent." The Brooklyn Star says, that much excitement and amusement was exhibited at the ferry, in that village, on Monday afternoon last, which was occasioned by the following circumstance: a hackney coach, with a man and woman, entered the ferry boat on New York side, Brooklyn. A man also entered just as the boat started off, who proceeded to the carriage, tain Symmes' Theory of the Earth, and in presence of the people, claimed and who has now gone out on the the lady as his wife, who was running South Sea Expedition, writes from He started Bona Vesta, one of the Cape de Verd away with a Frenchman. the man out of the carriage and took Islands, on the 14th of November, that his place, and commanded the driver the brig Annawan and her crew had to stop at the ferry tavern of Cock and arrived there in good condition, and Conklin. He wished to apprehend the were waiting for her consort the SeFrenchman, but he was afraid to leave raph, to proceed on the voyage. The his wife, and the man started off, fol- Seraph left Stonington the same day lowed by the mob. The husband re- the Annawan sailed from New York. fused to pay the hackman, whom he The theory which Mr. R. undertook to censured for carrying off the runaways. explain, was laughed at by every body "My dear, did you contract with this at first, but in all the number of perdriver?" said the affectionate fellow. sons attending his lectures, we have "No, my dear, I did not," was the, never met with any one who did so equally affectionate reply. The driver afterwards. We are not sufficiently was discharged, and another procured, skilled in natural philosophy to have and the lady with her band-boxes taken any opinion of our own, but we have in, to be transported back to New never heard any arguments that apYork. peared to us to overthrow those of Mr. Reynolds. The Religious Magazine for March, published at this office, contains a beautiful engraving by Hatch, of the Martyrdom of Cranmer, with twentynine interesting articles-price $3 a year. The Museum of Foreign Literature, &c., has begun a new series of plates to every number: January contained an engraving of Penn's Treaty by Moore, from West's painting; February, a splendid engraving by Cone, of Richard in Palestine, from a painting by Loutherbourg; March, a fine engraving by Ellis, of Cromwell suppressing the mutiny in the army, from a painting by Smirk; and the April number will contain a first rate engraving by Kearney, of the condemnation of Anne Boleyn, from a painting by Smirk. Poor Sam Patch is in the papers again, for almost the last time:-The body found at the mouth of the Genesee river on the 16th inst., has been identified as the body of Sam Patch. It was buried on the following day, in the cemetery near the settlement of Charlotte. The Rochester Morning Courier states that the citizens of that place were about to hold a meeting to take into consideration the propriety of removing the body, and burying it near the spot where he signalized himself by his "last leap." The Secretary of the Treasury acknowledges the receipt of two thousand dollars, transmitted to him from New York by an unknown person, as "due to the United States." We are glad that Commodore Porter has been appointed Consul General to the Barbary Powers. He is an energetic man, and we think deserves the favour of the government for his conduct at Foxardo, even if it were possible to forget his other claims. A tragedy, called Arnold the Traitor, has been written in Charleston. Saturday.-Mr. Reynolds, the gentleman who delivered lectures in this city and many other places, upon Cap As a lady was breaking a boiled egg, lately, preparatory to eating it, a hard substance (in shape, size, and colour resembling a cherry stone) dropped from the interior upon her plate, which proved on examination to be itself an egg, having a hard shell with a film, and wanting only a yolk to make it perfect. Monday.-A mode of impelling coaches by condensed air, instead of steam, is now talked of in London. It is said to be equally efficient and less dangerous, and to have the advantage of less weight than the steam apparatus. So many improvements are announced now, that we shall not invest much money in any of them; for however ingenious and true each may be, it is quickly thrown aside for another of greater claims. Meantime, if we wait for the pause of the "march of mind," before we set up our carriage, we are likely to go on foot all our lives. Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.The season has already begun to display the beneficial importance of this great work. We are informed, from good authority, that the trade has already surpassed the sanguine expectations of those particularly interested in it. During the week ending on Saturday, one hundred and thirty vessels had gone through, and fifteen hundred dollars of tolls were received. Nor is this all; an advantageous increase of trade in this city has been already perceived, which, it cannot be doubted, will be much augmented as the facilities afforded by the canal become more extensively known. The only impediment which remains, arises from the circuitous and occasionally shallow channel of Back Creek. This stream is a public highway or tide harbour, and as such under the care of the general government, whose attention has been called in repeated memorials. We trust it will not be neglected. It is of great importance to an immense quantity of the coast ing trade of several States, as well as The Daily Chronicle mentions that thirty boys, belonging to a Rouen, France, were skating on the Loire, when the ice gave way and all were drowned. The next day the master blew out his brains in despair. Now we must postpone our grief upon this occasion until we are better convinced of the schoolmaster's death. A supplement to the act against duelling has been reported in the legislature of this State. Mr. Hunter is said to have fled to England. "We understand," says the Boston Traveller, "that a beautiful and accomplished young lady, an orphan, from the south, whose name we are not at liberty to mention has lately taken the veil and gone into seclusion for life, at the Ursuline Convent, Mount Benedict; resigning a large fortune to the disposal of the Catholic priest." ing an officer and a gentleman," may A little girl, daughter of Mr. Jacob turn she found the girl enveloped in fire, and the boy endeavouring to blow There were 12 arrivals at this city 17th March, in Boston, Garafilia Molalby, a Greek of Ipsera, aged 13. The fortune, character, and fate, of this lainterest. Few lives, which have been as short mented child, possess an uncommon degree of as hers, have been so full of thrilling incident; and her disposition and qualities were peculi arly calculated to deepen the sympathies in her favour, which her history could not fail to excite. She was born in Ipsera, and her parents were among the most respectable of the islanders. When she was about seven years of age, the place of her nativity was totally destroyed by the Turks. Saved by almost a miracle from violent death, she fell into the hands of the enemy, was separated from her grandmother and sister, taken to Smyrna, and there was ransomed by an American merchant, to whose knees she clung for protection in the street. This gentleman took her home with him, and became so much engaged by her intelligence and amiableness, that he determined to send her to his relations in Boston, in order that she might receive, at his expense, an accomplished education in a free and undistractland. The following story is headed "a fact," but we fear it is merely an intemperate invention." A German innkeeper of Pennsylvania, became a zealous member of an anti-dram-drinking society. To wean off from the bar was rather a hard task, and he began to "The scene at the police office in complain of a weak stomach. What the morning," says the New York was to be done? His stomach grew Journal of Commerce, "during the worse daily; and the good wife, after examinations of the watch-returns, is a solemn consultation, determined to oftentimes of the most melancholy and call in the doctor. That grave peraffecting character. Many of the per-sonage arrived-felt his pulse-threw sons in the custody of the watch are a knowing look at the ceiling-and, in half-clothed wrecks of humanity, who a low whisper, ordered him an ounce are picked up shivering, starving, and of brandy, per diem. When the doc-ed pilfering in different parts of the city. tor had made his exit, in came Chris- Garafilia arrived at Boston in the year 1827, Creeping from door to door, their fea- topher, the eldest son. Christoffle! was immediately domesticated in the family of her liberator's father, and very soon found her tures haggard with misery, their limbs Christoffle!' cried the old anti, 'go way into all their hearts. She won affections emaciated by exposure to the rigour down stairs agin un pring up te Sisas by magic. Her protector knew no distincof the weather, and their voices hoarse tant, and look among te tables how tion in his feelings between her and his own and sepulchral by excessive intoxica- much makes an ounce of prandy.'-daughters-he was her father-they were sistion; they present a spectacle that Christopher complied, and read aloud cannot but awaken feelings of com- from the book, 'eight drachms make passion for their wretchedness, in one ounce. Stop dere, Christoffle, every human breast. Many of them stop dere, I say-tat is te toctor for me are females, who have, evidently, in -he understands my case-he gives many cases, seen better days, and who me eight drams a day, un I never took have been driven, by extreme penury, more as six afore, put I always wantfirst to beg and then to steal. ed eight--so pring on-te society don't prevent us from takin medicine.' The largest proportion, however, are the miserable slaves of rum, who are brought up daily, weekly, or monthly, until death removes them from the scene, or justice consigns them to a prison, as an atonement for offences committed in their moments of madness. The New York Constellation says, "that an Italian artist of that city has secretly disinterred the body of Elias Hicks, the celebrated Quaker pracher, and moulded his bust. It seems he had applied to the friends of the deceased to take a moulding previous to Tuesday Morning.-In the House of his interment, but was refused. SusRepresentatives at Harrisburg, on Sa-picion being excited that the grave had turday, Mr. Moore, of Beaver, moved been disturbed, it was examined, and that the President of the United States some bits of plaster were found adherbe requested to strike from the list of ing to the hair of the deceased. The the Navy, the name of Midshipman Italian was visited, and owned that, as Hunter. The motion was postponed he had been denied the privilege of taking a bust before interment, he had adopted this only method of obtaining one. We have heard nothing more on the subject, except that the bust is a most excellent likeness." for the present. Murder would hardly be deemed a sufficient reason for such a measure,' for it has too long been suffered to pass unpunished-but "conduct unbecom ters. She was so mild and gentle, so free from selfishness, so attentive to the wants of others, so ready to prefer their wishes to her own, so submissive and tractable, and withal so bright and cheerful-the beauty of her mind and morals harmonized so completely with the grace, and truly Grecian loveliness of her person, that it was impossible to know, and not become strongly attached to her. Her manners were much older than her years, and so considerate in every respect, that far from have been a care to her adopted father. Withbeing a burden, she could hardly be said to out stepping over the strictest bounds of truth, it may be asserted, that the first grief, which she brought into his house, was when she sickened and died. Her constitution had never been a strong one. Toward the close of the past winter, she exhibited the symptoms of a rapid decline. During her illness, the singular submissiveloped. She uttered no complaint, was grateful ness of her character was remarkably devefor the least attention, and her only anxiety seemed to be to avoid giving trouble to any one. Her mental faculties remained clear to the last, and till within a few days of her death, she read daily in her Bible, which she always kept close by her side or under her pillow. She died without a struggle, and apparently without a pang. 24th, Mr. John Walters. 25th, Mr. John Barnes, aged 42. No. 14. PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, APRIL 8, Terms.-Published every Thursday by E. Littell & Brother, corner of Chestnut and Seventh Streets, Philadelphia. It will contain four handsome engravings every year. Price Two Dollars and a Half a year, payable in advance. Agents who procure and forward payment for four subscribers, shall receive the fifth copy for one year; and so in proportion for a larger number. Literary Port Folio. The article which should have accompanied the Plate in this number will in our appear next. NOTES ON THE PAST WEEK. The following puff perverse, at the sprightly editor of the Village Record, is from the Philadelphia Gazette, and is much more pleasant than denouncing him as anti-republican, which according to the better practice in our political papers is the generic term for all heresy as well as for all real independence. "The editor of the Village Record has gone to Luzerne county, whence he has forwarded an epistle to his subscribers, setting forth the immense profit they would derive from an investment of their funds in coal lands. "He mentions the sale of a tract at 20 dol lars an acre, and then gives the following cal culation. 'Suppose the vein of 12 feet coal runs through it? And put it at one cent a bushel in the mine. 20,000 tons to the acre. 600,000 tons. 168,000 dollars! But that is too much. Well they pay twice that per ton, in the mine, at Friday-The National Gazette has for several days been republishing Mr. Senior's lecture on the Cost of Obtaining Money. We have not read it, but we can conceive it to be a catalogue of crimes and meannesses. Alas! how few people do count the cost of obtaining money! How much time that ought to have been devoted to reading good books, (such as the Museum, published at this office at six dollars a year. A new series of which has just begun, containing splendid engravings in every number-Subscriptions for which will be thankfully received.) How much time, we say, that ought to be spent in improving their minds and hearts, do our merchants, doctors, lawyers, and mechanics, spend in obtaining money. We should rather say, in trying to obtain it, for more than half of them fail to become rich after all. "As one great furnace flamed,"' (No comma is to be put after the I looked at the glowing grate, and could not word fail.) How much vexation of but wonder whether any where was heat more spirit-how much miserable cunning coal mines, I could not get through Miltonintense. In short my mind was so filled with how many offences both against so I thought to slide along in the smooth numman and his Creator, would be avoid-bers of Pope. I went through 'Vertumnus and ed, if before they blind themselves in Pomona,' with pleasure, for it was a great the pursuit, men would wisely calculate his Essay on Man, could not help reading, while since I had seen it; but when I took up the cost of obtaining money! "This is very encouraging: but if one acre "How do I spend my leisure hours?" I attempted to read-took up Milton: but when 1 came to But joy unequalled if a Mine he gain: 1830. shall probably make other extracts. We have a kinsman whom we should suspect of writing it, but that it appears to come from England, and that he has been too much engaged lately in "the early days" of somebody else, to have thought much of his own. If there be really such a clock as is described below, we cannot deny to its inventor the discovery of perpetual motion, so long a desideratum. We fear however that it would run down in one of the steadily bitter cold days we shall have next winter. "We witnessed yesterday a wonderful and ingenious piece of mechanism and discovery in the construction of a clock: it possesses the power of winding itself up by the mere change of the atmosphere and is calculated to go as long as the materials which it is composed of lasts. It makes a beautiful piece of furniture for a parlour, and so simple in its nature, that a child may handle it without causing any derangement in its operations. It has been going upwards of twelve months, and the owner states he will set it in competition, respecting keep. ing time, with any patent lever watch or clock in the world. The discoverer of it is a plain New England farmer, who had one in operation some time before he made it known to the world. Those who are desirous of seeing and judg ing of the merits of this wonderful discovery, can have an opportunity by applying to Mr. C. Goodyear, in Church alley, where it may be seen in the course of the day." The following calculation, made by the Portland Courier, is one of the most alarming attacks upon the lottery system we have seen. Many a man who has heretofore bought a lottery. ticket in full confidence of drawing the highest prize, has neglected to make his will for the disposal of it, although the chance was two to one against his living to enjoy it himself. "Thunder and Lightning and Lottery Tickets! It is ascertained that in the year ending Jan. 1, 1830, the number of persons killed by lightning, in the United States, has been dou ble the high prizes in all the lotteries drawn in the same time. Consequently, every person Our friend, the Rev. Dr. Ely, who now conducts the Philadelphian, is attacked very fiercely on all sides. The advocates of Sunday mails-and the large class of persons who are afraid that religion may be incorpo-priate verses. Take the following, by example, buying a ticket, has the comfortable reflection rated into politics (those who know politicians have no fear of any such alliance) these are not the only people who write against him. Many of the numerous classes who are sincerely attached to the great cause to which Dr. E. professes to devote himself, scold at him for being imprudent and violent, and many more things than we can remember. So much the better for him! He receives unharmed either in argument or in temper, all their onsets and however vigorously he may retort, we know of no one who is more free from all "envy, hatred and malice"-if he will allow us to quote the liturgy of our own church. He may see that we are not so fond of the quotation as to carry it to the extreme. "This is very fine: but the editor of the Village Record might have found more appro Moore. that he stands two chances of being killed by lightning, to one of drawing the high prize. A very pretty reflection!" The article headed Early Printing in the United States, we copy from the Morning Journal. How full of deep interest is the retrospect; and how anxious will be the benevolent man, who considers how great is the influence of the press in this country, that our newspapers should be under the direction of our best men. Is it now so? Are the editors of the thousand newspapers in the United States, men of extensive knowledge, of enlarged powers, of wise hearts? Are one-tenth of them such?-In one hundred years, at its present rate of increase, the population of this country will rise from 12 millions, to 200 millions. No pub lic teacher should for a moment let the great thought depart from him, that the seed sown by him, whether good or bad, will bring forth fruit an hundred fold, after its kind. poorhouses. We were much gratiladies and children. The number of passengers on board, deck and cabin united, was befied to learn some weeks ago that the tween four and five hundred. I had almost managers of the Alms House of this finished my breakfast, when the pilot rung his city, have determined to raise silk by bell for the engineer to put the machinery in the labour of a part of the disabled motion. The boat having just shoved off, I was in the act of raising my cup to my lip, the paupers. Such an application of the tingling of the pilot bell yet on my ear, when labour of persons supported by public I heard an explosion, resembling the discharge charity is especially happy, for it does of a small piece of artillery-the report was not interfere with any established busi- perhaps louder than usual in such cases-for ness by which the more industrious an exclamation was half uttered by me to the and economical poor support them-effect that the gun was well loaded, when the selves. The Committee on Finance in the Senate, have reported in favour of the existing state of the currency, and of the United States Bank-and against all new schemes. A meeting of the Democratic members of the legislature" of this state has been held, and a committee appointed to prepare an address expressive of their opinion in favour of the re-election of President Jackson. Perhaps this may keep some of the politicians quiet a while longer. We hear nothing as to Mr. Adams' intentions, but if there is to be a contested election, we should prefer having him as the opposing candidate, for in such case all the political pieces that were Monday-The U. S. Gazette constereotyped before would do again with- tains a communication from an antiout the expense of altering the names. New Yorker. Such open hostility to a No, it would not! for the word admin-nation with which Philadelphia is not istration (to which, by the way, being at war, deserves the severest punishan early Jacksonman we are not yet ment: The writer ought to be forced entirely reconciled)-this word would to stand in Broadway with his eyes have to change sides. open, on a windy day. The following remarks on the freedom of the press are copied from the National Gazette-and might be published at any time in this country, with a certainty that they would apply to some recent occasion. There is very little freedom of the press here. Messrs. Pollock and Abadie adver tise a school in which "good society" will be provided for the pupils. It has rained "something as black as ink" in Union county, Kentucky. When it dried it looked like ashes and powder." It afterwards snowed black. It will be recollected that Kentucky is a slave state. Every reflecting person conversant with human nature and human history, knows that the mass of a community may be excited, by The conduct of the executive in reference to sudden alarms of selfishness, or impulses of the duel, will form a new era in the history of passion, to proceedings at war with reason, justice, and ultimate advantage, and likely the decision may at first appear, it will neverour Navy and Army; and, bold and stern as to be regretted by themselves, when they theless be fully sanctioned by the moral sense have become again sedately deliberative. It is of the public. It is a measure that has been then for their good that individuals of their number, who escape the general excitement, long and loudly called for. It will now be vishould be tolerated in the declaration of dis-gorously prosecuted: it is to be extended to sent, and in decorous remonstrance. We say nothing of the freedom of the press, because, whenever it is really used,-that is, on occasions of great public or private sensation-of a partial or general tumult of opinion,-it seems to be the most obnoxious and perilous of all the liberties. In such conjunctures, those who may toast it at public dinners, or boast in florid harangues, of the felicity of Americans in possessing it exclusively, resemble somewhat the famous rovers, the Barbarossas, who were the friends of the sea, but the enemies of all that sailed upon the wide waters. An editor has then scarcely any refuge except dead silence or full chorus. He must lie snug in port, or bear down with "the friends of the sea," upon all whom they please to consider as necessary antagonists and natural prey. every duel in which any person holding an office in our military or naval service shall be engaged. This will go far towards it, if it does not entirely exterminate from the camp and navy this guilty and foolish custom. Our government has the power, and we are glad to see it has the independence and virtue, to stamp with opprobrium a practice which, though it has no foundation in reason or common sense, has nevertheless tyrannized over the life and better faith of thousands.-Ameri can Spectator. STEAM BOAT HELEN M'GREGOR. [THE following description of the dreadful accident, we copy from the Washington Telegraph, omitting some particulars too horrible to be repeated.] On the morning of the 24th of February, the Helen McGregor stopped at Memphis to deliver freight and land a number of passengers, who resided in that section of Tennessee. The time occupied in so doing could not have exceeded three-quarters of an hour. When the boat landed, I went ashore to see a gentleman with whom I had some business. I found him on the beach; and, after a short conversation, Saturday-Mr. Spencer, from the committee to whom the subject of silk in the United States was referred, reports to Congress that 8 pounds of cocoons from the American silk-worm will produce as much silk as 12 pounds from the French or Italianthat every state in the union is adapt-returned to the boat. I recollect looking at my ed to the culture-that we imported last year 8 millions of dollars in silk. A correspondent of the Albany Argus adds, that the town of Mansfield produced $25,000 in silk last year-that one fringe maker in Philadelphia, consumes $20,000 worth a year. He recommends the subject to farmers with large families, and to overseers of watch as I passed the gangway. It was half past eight o'clock. A great number of persons being that part of the upper deck situated imwere standing on what is called the boiler deck, mediately over the boilers. It was crowded to excess, and presented one dense mass of human bodies. bodies. In a few minutes we sat down to breakfast in the cabin. The table, although extending the whole length of the cabin, was completely filled, there being upwards of sixty cabin passengers, among whom were several rushing sound of steam, and the rattling of glass in some of the cabin windows checked my speech, and told too well what had occurred. I almost involuntarily bent my head and body down to the floor-a vague idea seemed to shoot across my mind that more than one boiler might burst, and that, by assuming this posture, the destroying matter would pass over without touching me. The general cry of "a boiler has burst" resounded from one end of the table to the other; and, as if by a simultaneous movement, all started on their feet. Then commenced a general race to the ladies' cabin, which lay more towards the stern of the boat. All regard to order or deference to sex seemed to be lost in the struggle for which should be first and furthest removed from the dreaded boilers. The danger had already passed away. I remained standing by the chair on which I had been previously sitting. Only one person or two staid in the cabin with me. As yet, not more than half a minute had elapsed since the explosion; but, in that brief space, how had the scene changed! In that "drop of time" what confusion, distress, and dismay! An instant before, and all were in the quiet repose of security-another, and they were overwhelmed with alarm and consternation. It is but justice to say, that in this scene of terror the ladies exhibited a degree of firmness worthy of all praise. No screaming, no fainting; their fears, when uttered, were for their husbands and children, not for themselves. I advanced from my position to one of the cabin doors, for the purpose of inquiring who were injured, when, just as I reached it, a man entered at the opposite one, both his hands covering his face, and exclaiming "Oh God! Ob God! I am lost! I am ruined!" He imme diately began to tear off his clothes. When stripped, he presented a inost shocking and afflicting spectacle; his face was entirely black -his body without a particle of skin. He had been flayed alive. He gave me his name, and place of abode-then sunk in a state of exhaustion and agony on the floor. I assisted in placing him on a mattress taken from one of the births, and covered him with blankets. He complained of heat and cold as at once oppressing him. He bore his torments with a manly fortitude, yet a convulsive shriek would occasionally burst from him. His wife, his children, were his constant theme; it was hard to die without seeing them-"it was hard to go without bidding them one farewell!" Oil and cotton were applied to his wounds; but he soon became insensible to earthly misery. Before I had done attending to him, the whole floor of the cabin was covered with unfortunate sufferers. Some bore up under the horrors of their situation with a degree of resolution amounting to heroism. Others were wholly overcome by the sense of pain, the suddenness of the fatal disaster, and the near approach of death, which even to them was evident-whose pangs they already felt. Some implored us, as an act of humanity, to complete the work of destruction, and free them from present suffering. One enby him, declaring he was not fit to die. 1 intreated the presence of a clergyman to pray quired; none could be had. On every side were to be heard groans and mingled exclamations of grief and despair. To add to the confusion, persons were every moment running about to learn the fate of their friends and relatives; fathers, sons, brothers for, in this scene of unmixed calamity, it was |